Thanks to the events of the past year, you've probably forgotten what an overseas holiday feels like — unless you've either already taken advantage of the newly opened trans-Tasman travel bubble with New Zealand, or you've made plans to hop across the ditch sometime soon. Don't go pulling out a map of the rest of the globe just yet, however, because the folks at Qantas and Jetstar have just announced a delay to their plans to start flying to other international destinations again. Initially, the airlines were hoping to begin soaring to a number of overseas spots in October. Qantas had outlined plans to recommence flights to 22 of its 25 international destinations — including London, Singapore and Los Angeles — while Jetstar was intending to resume trips to all of its 13 international routes by the same projected date. The Qantas Group, the company behind both carriers, has since updated that timeframe, announcing that it's now hoping to restart its international flights to places other than NZ in late December this year. The change follows recent forecasting by the Federal Government, which noted that Australia's borders wouldn't reopen to international travel until at least mid-2022 — as well as the fact that the nation's vaccine rollout hasn't been proceeding as quickly as originally advised. So, a lot still needs to go to plan for the two airlines to have you jetting off to foreign lands this summer. That's Qantas and Jetstar's current target date, though. It has been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic first forced Qantas and Jetstar to suspend international flights, which happened back in March 2020. There has been talk of other travel bubbles, however, including a possible one with Singapore — with Qantas Group saying that it remains "optimistic that additional bubbles will open once Australia's vaccine rollout is complete to countries who, by then, are in a similar position." The airlines will contact anyone who has already booked flights from October onwards, but notes that "recent levels of uncertainty meant international booking levels were relatively low." When overseas flights to spots other than NZ do resume, you might not be able to fly until you've received your jab, with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce previously stating the airline would only allow vaccinated passengers to travel on international flights. The airline is also currently trialling digital health pass apps, such as Common Pass and IATA Travel Pass, which contain information about a passenger's COVID-19 status, testing and vaccinations, on current international repatriation flights. Of course, even once international flights are up and running again, you can expect a much lower capacity than pre-COVID travel — Qantas previously said that it's not anticipating a full return to normality until 2024. To find out more about Qantas and Jetstar's international travel plans, visit the Qantas website.
You may have already heard, indeed the internet has been speaking of nothing else, but Stereosonic will not be returning in 2016. They announced on Facebook that the festival will be back and bigger than ever in 2017 which, tbh, just sounds like a gentle breakup. Why would a beloved festival, a cornerstone event in the calendars of both gym bros and dinger slingers alike, clock out for a whole year? Organisers Totem Onelove say it's because they're committed to bringing fans the best festival experience possible. It may also be attributed to the tragic deaths of two patrons in 2015, or that the American company who own Totem Onelove, SFX, recently filed for bankruptcy. All hypotheticals, all 'could be's. It could be that the Year of the Monkey is just not their year. It could just be a sign of the times. Future Music was cancelled in early 2015 because it doesn't make "financial sense"; Soundwave soon followed due to poor ticket sales (although to be fair, their version of poor ticket sales was around 20k at $170 a pop – about $3.4 million revenue. And now Stereosonic has folded and the big three festival that defined the Aussie festival scene are done and dusted. The real shame here is without a big festival, and the big budgets they bring, there's one less drawcard to get the big acts out to Australia and put on sideshows. It's pretty good news for people who would rather bathe in urine than step foot into a gym-bro festival because at the same time, as you've probably noticed, boutique festivals are going boom — it's been a killer few years for the likes of Sugar Mountain, Secret Garden Festival, Strawberry Fields, Let Them Eat Cake, Inner Varnika, OfftheGrid, Dark Mofo and Meredith to name only a handful. In the place of the massive one-size-fits-all festival giants come hundreds of smaller, niche events. The democratisation of festival culture can only be a good thing right? See ya Stereo. You'll be missed, like the lost revenue from many, many Australian gym memberships this year. Image: Stereosonic.
Welcome to the Wasteland: a first look at the long-awaited Fallout TV adaptation is here, ahead of the streaming series' arrival on Prime Video in April 2024. Almost three decades after first hitting computers back in 1997 — and after three released sequels, a fourth on the way and seven spinoffs — the gaming franchise is getting a live-action take starring Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets), Walton Goggins (I'm a Virgo) and Kyle MacLachlan (Lucky Hank). HBO isn't behind this game-to-television series, unlike spectacular 2023 hit The Last of Us, but Prime Video is taking a similar approach by enlisting the creative forces behind one of the US premium cable network's past hits. Just as co-creator, executive producer, writer and director Craig Mazin made the leap from Chernobyl to a button-mashing favourite, so are Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy — who also executive produced Prime Video's own The Peripheral. Fans of the Fallout game will already know the show's setting: a post-apocalyptic future. The series takes place 200 years after everything went pear-shaped, with people living in luxe fallout shelters ever since. When some such folks leave their cosy confines, they find a hellscape filled with mutants, wild west vibes and plenty of violence. Purnell plays vault-dweller Lucy, while Twin Peaks great MacLachlan is her dad Overseer Hank, who — as his name suggests — oversees Vault 33. On the surface, Goggins is bounty hunter The Ghoul, who has a secret past — and Aaron Moten (Emancipation) also has a pivotal part as Brotherhood of Steel soldier Maximus. Expect to also see Moisés Arias (Samaritan), Sarita Choudhury (And Just Like That...), Michael Emerson (Evil), Leslie Uggams (Extrapolations), Frances Turner (The Boys), Dave Register (Heightened), Zach Cherry (Severance) and Johnny Pemberton (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) on-screen as well — plus Rodrigo Luzzi (Dead Ringers), Annabel O'Hagan (Dear Edward) and Xelia Mendes-Jones (The Wheel of Time) — when this retrofuturistic dystopia starts hitting your streaming queue from Friday, April 12, 2024. As well as executive producing with Joy, Nolan directs the first three episodes. Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Graham Wagner (Silicon Valley) are similarly among Fallout's executive producers, as well as the series' writers and co-showrunners. And yes, Bethesda Game Studios has a hand in finally bringing the games to the screen. There's no trailer for Fallout yet, but Prime Video have dropped a heap of pictures as an initial glimpse at what's to come — see above and below. Fallout will start streaming via Prime Video from Friday, April 12, 2024. Images: courtesy of Prime Video.
The 40th parallel is much more than simply a line of latitude spanning the distance of America from East to West; and Bruce Myren's photographs of it are much more than just photos. The line N 40° 00' 00'' bisects the country from New Jersey's shore crossing through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, over the border between Nebraska and Kansas, following on past Colorado, Utah, Nevada and finally finishing in California. Myren is not only capturing the stunning surroundings of these landscapes, but is trying to understand and portray the "human desire to create systems and then locate ourselves within them". The fortieth parallel north is a tool for measurement, as well as acting as the baseline for creating homesteads and townships, functioning as a useful marker during Western settlement. The project began as a fairly small and basic undertaking, using maps to identify the areas because GPS's were not widely available during that time. However, as geographical technology began to grow and develop, so too did Myren's photo series. Using an 8 x 10 Deardoff camera and colour transparency film, Myren produced panoramas by snapping three shots moving from left to right then adding them together during editing. The photographer is aiming to take a landscape panorama shot at every longitudinal point along the line, adding up to a total of 52 locations and images, spaced roughly 53 miles apart from each other. So far he has captured 28 stunning images of these locations. Here are 10 of the inspired images from his series, aimed to make you "consider the history of landscape photography, American development , but most importantly [your] own relationship to place." N 40° 00' o0'' W 109° 00' 00", Rangely, Colorado, 2000 N 40° 00' 00" W 108° 00' 00", Meeker, Colorado, 2000 N 40° 00' 00" W 101° 00' 00", Ludell, Kansas, 2011 N 40° 00' 00" W 98° 00' 00", Webber, Kansas, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 97° 00' 00", Hollenberg, Kansas, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 95° 00' 00", Fillmore, Missouri, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 93° 00' 00", Winigan, Missouri, 2011 N 40° 00' 00" W 81° 00' 00", Belmont, Ohio, 1999 N 40° 00' 00" W 76° 00' 00", Gap, Pennsylvania, 1999 N 40° 00' 00" W 74° 03' 32", Normandy Beach, New Jersey, 1998
Coffin Flop fans, rejoice — we don't yet know if world's wildest supremely fictional TV series will make a new appearance when I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson returns for season three, but something else just as absurd and wonderful will either way. Will Corncob TV earn another mention? How awkward will this Netflix sketch comedy's namesake get? Which examples of the absolute worst behaviour will it satirise? Do you need to slop up some steaks while watching? How slicked-back is your hair right now? Expect to answer all of this and more on Tuesday, May 30. Baby, baby, baby, that's when one of the best comedies currently being made will return with six new episodes, as led by Detroiters star Tim Robinson. His surreal comic stylings have already gifted viewers hot dog suits, Garfield houses, tense plane encounters and babies who know you used to be a piece shit, and he has plenty more in store as the just-dropped trailer for the third season teases. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson first arrived in 2019 when, on one otherwise normal day, folks sat down on the couch, switched on their televisions, started scrolling through Netflix and came across an instant cult-hit comedy. The best sketch comedy of that year, and one of the best TV shows in general, too, the series' first season was ridiculously easily to binge — and flat-out ridiculous. You don't even need two hours to get through all six episodes but, once you're done, you'll wish that it went for at least twice as long. When season two arrived in 2021, it was just as phenomenal. OTT, hilarious, finding gags about a secret excuse to help men explain away pee stains on their pants, plus quite the loud and lurid shirt, and then a daggy hat — that's this series. Absolutely no one excavates, explores and satirises social discomfort with the gusto, commitment and left-of-centre viewpoint of Robinson, with his skits diving headfirst into excruciating situations, dwelling there and letting them fester. It's no wonder that the former Saturday Night Live comic has a hit on his hands. Just try looking away from his flexible facial expressions alone. That proves the case in the sneak peek, which is filled with multiple fake game shows, adult babies, fedoras, crying and Robinson at his silliest, and will already get you cringing as it's 100-percent designed to do. In season three, Robinson will again be joined by Will Forte (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story), plus everyone from Jason Schwartzman (I Love That for You) and Fred Armisen (Barry) to Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and Tim Meadows (Poker Face). Sam Richardson (The Afterparty) is also back, once again giving Detroiters devotees a glorious reunion. The series also boasts some big names off-screen, with The Lonely Island (aka Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Andy Samberg and his regular comedy partners Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone) its executive producers. Check out the trailer for I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson season three below: I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson's third season will be available to stream via Netflix from Tuesday, May 30. Images: Terence Patrick, Netflix.
When Colin From Accounts arrived for its first season in 2022 with a nipple flash, a dog and strangers committing to take care of a cute injured animal together after a meet-cute, it also began with a "will they, won't they?" story. Ashley (Harriet Dyer, The Invisible Man) and Gordon (Patrick Brammall, Evil) crossed paths in the street in Sydney when she gave him a random peek, then he was distracted behind the wheel. Thanks to the titular pet, the pair were soon intricately involved in each other's lives — and, as they endeavoured to work out what that actually meant, sift through their feelings for one another and navigate the respective chaos that fills everyone's existence anyway, a delightful small-screen Australian rom-com (and one of that year's best new TV shows) was the end result. In season two, which streams weekly on Binge from Thursday, May 30, the series picks up after the duo gave Colin From Accounts to new owners at the end of the show's debut batch of episodes, then immediately regretted the decision. A couple of things are different from the outset: after moving in together, Gordon and Ashley are on a quest to get their pup back and they'll stop at almost nothing for their family to be reunited; also, this award-winning series is now in "should've they or should've they not?" territory about its central romance. (Moving from an all-at-once release to week-by-week instalments is another change for viewers.) Falling in love is easy. Being in the honeymoon period, whether or not you've tied the knot — Colin From Accounts' protagonists haven't — is clearcut, too. Taking a relationship further means peeling away the rosy and glowing surface, however, which is where the series follows its medical student and Inner West microbrewery owner in its second season. A television romantic-comedy with longevity can't be solely fuelled by fluttering hearts and butterflies in stomachs, especially one that's as dedicated to eschewing saccharine cliches as this. Colin From Accounts isn't afraid to be sweet, but a not-insignificant amount of its charm comes from feeling lived in as Ash and Gordon's romance keeps developing. Same show, but with a few new tricks: that's season two, then. Like relationship, like series: when it comes to diving deeper than the first season, that also fits. There has always been a spark between Colin From Accounts' lead characters, or else it wouldn't have made it to air in the first place, but the program's return digs into the reality that taking the next step for any couple is a dance through love's equivalent of dog mess on an otherwise pristine lawn. No matter how well you plot out a clear path, how flexible and adaptable you are to obstacles, and how determined you are to evade the crap, no one can avoid dirty shoes 100-percent of the time. As season two sees Ash and Gordon confronting the everyday details of intertwining their lives, it also has them tackling a range of relatable questions again. This round inspires plenty, in fact. Is there more than just chemistry between them? How much do shared interests count? Does a lack of commonalities cast a shadow, and their age gap as well? Will their routines knit together easily enough? Can they weather setbacks and roadblocks, unpack historical baggage and make space for a new way forward? How will their respective dating histories colour the first real serious relationship that they've each been in? Also, as they continue getting to know each other better — warts and all, and through secrets and surprises — will they still feel the same way? Ash and Gordon have another query to face at the outset of this new set of chapters: without Colin binding them together, who are they are a twosome? The first new instalment starts with a happy park playdate and all seeming being well, until it's revealed that the dog's former guardians are just pestering his new ones (Bump's Sam Cotton and Home and Away's Sophie Bloom), who'd really like them to go bark up another tree. From there, unexpected news, meeting family members, former flames and more await, all with their own tests. Plus, Ash's best friend Megan (Emma Harvie, In Limbo) and Gordon's counterpart Chiara (Genevieve Hegney, In Our Blood) are using the couple's home as a love nest while embarking upon an affair, while brewery employee Brett (Michael Logo, High Country) is being pushed out of home by his parents. Creators, writers and stars Dyer and Brammall keep performing their parts to perfection; given that they're married IRL and no strangers to working side by side (see: the also-excellent No Activity, which ran for two seasons between 2015–18), the charisma between them isn't hard to maintain. Neither is the naturalism in their portrayals, but they're not just playing themselves. As scribes, Dyer and Brammall are also particularly gifted with dialogue, ensuring that everything that the show's characters are saying always feels authentic. Sometimes the banter is amusing, sometimes it's heartfelt, and it can be acerbic and insightful, too — and all of the above combined — but it never sounds like something that works fine on the page yet no one would ever utter aloud. When it initially bolted out of the gate, Colin From Accounts was a fast homegrown hit, then had audiences overseas swooning as well. A series this genuinely funny, heartfelt and honest, and that manages to be light yet weighty and grounded, was always going to earn affection — and the same remains true in season two. Again, Dyer and Brammall have crafted a gem that bounces by with help from its directors (the returning Trent O'Donnell and Madeleine Dyer do the honours once more in season two, plus Summer Love's Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope), and that plays like hanging out with old friends. And yes, in lead, supporting and guest roles alike, casting is another of its treats — including with new additions such as Celeste Barber (Wellmania), Justin Rosniak (Wolf Like Me) and Aunty Donna's Broden Kelly (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe) this time around. Check out the trailer for Colin From Accounts season two below: Colin From Accounts season two streams via Binge from Thursday, May 30, 2024. Images: Lisa Tomasetti / Joel Pratley.
When the beginning of 2023 rolls around, Australian and New Zealand fans of a certain former boy band star-turned-Coachella headliner will be heading in one direction: to your nearest stadium to see Harry Styles finally bring his latest tour Down Under. Just days after he wowed crowds in California and online with his first Coachella set — sequinned jumpsuit, Shania Twain duets and all — the ex-One Direction member turned solo music superstar has locked in February and March 2023 dates in Perth, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Sydney and Auckland. Venue-wise, the Grammy Award-winning, Dunkirk and Eternals co-starring talent is going big — so you'll be singing along to 'Watermelon Sugar', 'As It Was', 'Adore You' and 'Sign of the Times' at arenas. And, attendees will also be listening to UK duo Wet Leg, who've scored the supporting slot. Styles was originally headed our way in November 2020; however, we all know how that panned out and why those shows didn't eventuate. That delay will mean that he won't just have two albums to play, but three, with Styles' third solo studio Harry's House set to release in May 2022. If you're keen for tickets, they'll go on sale via Ticketmaster on Wednesday, April 27, with times varying per city. Or, if you had tickets last time, there's a past purchaser window from Thursday, April 21–Sunday, April 24, plus My Ticketmaster and Live Nation pre-sales from Tuesday, April 26. HARRY STYLES LOVE ON TOUR 2023 AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES: Monday, February 20 – HBF Park, Perth Friday, February 24 – Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Tuesday, February 28 – Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast Friday, March 3 – Accor Stadium, Sydney Tuesday, March 7 – Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Harry Styles will tour Australia and New Zealand in February and March 2022. For further information or to buy tickets, head to the Live Nation website. Top image: Erin McCormack via Flickr.
It might've taken three years, but Netflix has finally produced its first original Aussie series. Shot entirely in Queensland, and providing fuel for late 2018 binge-watch sessions, Tidelands is a supernatural crime drama series about a fictional fishing village, dubbed Orphelin Bay, with strange inhabitants: a group of dangerous half-Sirens, half-humans called 'Tidelanders'. Cal McTeer (Charlotte Best), a young women who returns to the small village after a stint in jail, discovers the body of a local fisherman and must navigate the town's drug smuggling history while also investigating the Tidelanders, who are led by Adrielle Cuthburt (Elsa Pataky). After revealing its first sneak peek teaser back in October, the series now has a full official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhsjoQLKaiY&feature=youtu.be Eight episodes, each running for 50 minutes, have been made by Brisbane's Emmy Award-Winning production company Hoodlum Entertainment. And Tidelands won't just gift Australian users with a new favourite series, with the show set to land in all 190 countries that Netflix is available in. Thinking you've seen plenty of Aussie stuff on Netflix already? You're not wrong, however, there's a difference between throwing old sitcoms and standup specials into a range inexplicably overflowing with new Adam Sandler movies, and actually funding brand new Australian material. Last year, it was announced that they'd join forces with the ABC to co-produce a second season of Glitch, which showed them dipping a toe in the water — but now they're completely diving in. Tidelands will join the platform's hefty stable of original series, which started back in 2013 with House of Cards, and just keeps growing (Orange Is the New Black, The Get Down, The OA, Wet Hot American Summer, Master of None, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Dear White People, BoJack Horseman, four Marvel series with one more to come — the list goes on). Given the premise, here's hoping it'll be the next Stranger Things, and not the new Hemlock Grove. Tidelands will be available globally on Netflix from December 14, 2018.
It has been a big few weeks for Melburnians. Victoria has now clocked up 11 consecutive days without any new COVID-19 cases, and restrictions keep relaxing — including reopening hospitality venues, ditching the 25-kilometre rule and scrapping the regional travel ban, and permitting entertainment venues to relaunch. That's the kind of end-of-year news everyone needs at the moment and, if the city and the surrounding state keep the current case trend going, more is set to follow. When Premier Daniel Andrews announced the latest coronavirus roadmap changes on Sunday, November 8, he also outlined plans for the next stage, which'll hit from 11.59pm on Sunday, November 22. Plenty of current rules will relax even further, including around venues and gatherings — so prepare to spend some more time in more places with more people. Hospitality venues will be able to welcome in up to 100 people indoors (with one person per four square metres) and 200 outside (with one person per two square metres). Public gatherings will increase to 50 and private gatherings — so, folks coming over to your house — will increase to ten from any number of other households. Also, travel-wise, you'll be able to head out of town in line with the private gathering cap (so in groups of ten people from any number of other households). Both seated and non-seated entertainment venues (such as cinemas and galleries) will be able to welcome in up to 100 people per space, too, at a density of one person per four square metres up to 25-percent of their capacity. For outdoor seated events, numbers will go up to 500 (50-percent capacity, and one person per four square metres). https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1325226822175399936 Gyms and fitness studios will increase to a maximum of 100 people per venue and 20 people per space. And religious gatherings will be able to have 20 people in one indoors, up to a total of 100 — and groups of 50 outdoors up to a total of 500. Weddings will also be able to have 100 people in attendance. Announcing the future changes, Premier Andrews noted that Victoria "will only be able to make those changes, take those steps — which is the last step before we reach the COVID-normal [phase], which we were locking well ahead before Christmas before having the COVID-normal Christmas and maintaining those settings and maybe go further again, throughout 2021 — we will only get to that point if each of us fundamentally acknowledge this point: nine days of zero is not the same as a vaccine". He continued: "each of us have played a part in building this precious thing and each of us have to play a part in protecting it. If we want to stay open, we have to stay safe. If we want to enjoy these steps and more, then we all have to play our part. And it is getting tested when you feel sick. It is taking these rules seriously". For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website — and for further details about Victoria's steps for reopening, head to the roadmap itself. Top image: Kate Shanasy.
After years selling their delicious delights at Night Noodle Markets all over the country, the geniuses behind Hoy Pinoy's much-loved Filipino BBQ have set up a permanent restaurant and bar. It's called Frankie Says and you'll find it tucked behind an apartment building complex in an obscure part of Richmond. The hidden-away location has some cracking advantages. First up, it's right on the Yarra River, so you get serene water views and bush vibes with your feast. Secondly, it's just over the road from IKEA. And it's way less crowded and frenetic than most other spots in the city — at least for now. Founders Megan Phillis and James Meehan designed the eatery to make diners feel like they're walking into a private kitchen. "Opening Frankie Says is like inviting people into our home," Megan says. "This is how we love to eat, with flavour, sharing and laughter turned up high." "We want Frankie Says to be somewhere people can feel totally relaxed as they enjoy a Champagne brunch, catch up with friends over an afternoon antipasto, or simply take a moment to themselves in the leafy surrounds with a cup of coffee." The cheery, light-filled, high-ceilinged venue features solid timber pillars and glass walls, which open onto a vast, sunny, outdoor area overlooking the river. Inside, the feel is chic but informal, with hardwood floors, rendered concrete walls, mosaic tiles and pendant lighting. Meanwhile, the menu is designed to encourage repeat visits. Its ever-changing selection of yumminess include antipasto boards, house-made stone-oven pizzas and tasty breakfasts, like a deep dish pancake and truffle eggs with artichoke paste. They also have their own table wines: a 2013 sauvignon blanc and a 2012 cab sav, both from South Australia.
For the next two months, visitors to MoMA PS1 in New York's Queens best start looking up. The gallery has just installed its latest installation, Lumen, which turns the venue's courtyard into a environmentally responsive, colour-changing wonderland. Designed by Jenny Sabin Studio, winning The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1's annual Young Architects Program, and on display until September 4, Lumen consists of cellular canopies made from textiles that react to conditions around them: light and heat, namely. As the environment changes — aka the weather gets gloomy, or day turns to night — so do the hues emitted by its digitally knitted fibres. If you've ever wondered what the '90s Hypercolor fad would look like if it was strung across the sky, this dreamy interactive piece provides the answer. So, how does it work? Well, those fibres are solar-active and photo-luminescent. Almost a million metres of them have been turned into 250 hanging tubular structures, and paired with 100 robotically woven recycled spool stools, as well as a misting system that responds to visitors' proximity. The aim is to use insights and theories from biology, materials science, mathematics and engineering to create an adaptive piece of micro-climate-like architecture that behaves like an organism. As Sabin describes, "by night, Lumen is knitted light, bathing visitors in a responsive glow of photo-luminescence; by day, Lumen offers succor from the summer heat, immersing participants in delicious ground clouds of cooling mist." She continues: "Lumen is a feminine form that offers luminous interiorities, informal networks, social fabrics, and fibrous assemblages that are pliable, transformative, and playful." Via: Inhabitat. Images: Lumen by Jenny Sabin Studio for the Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1's Young Architects Program 2017. Courtesy MoMA PS1. Photo by Pablo Enriquez.
American artist Nina Katchadourian has what could aptly be described as a bit of a book fetish. Having spent the last 20 years trawling through libraries and personal collections across the globe in search of books that she can organise into meaningful stacks of "spine poetry", it seems fair to describe the artist as a fully fledged bibliophile. The Sorted Books project has been a labour of love for Katchadourian, who has now amassed over 130 stacks of books, displaying them as either the physical cluster or as photographs. The resulting poetry is at times quirky, sometimes thought-provoking, often laugh-out-loud funny and even touchingly poignant. For the artist the hope was that each stack would represent the unique character of the collections they were drawn from. Katchadourian writes that "the clusters from each sorting aim to examine that particular library's focus, idiosyncrasies, and inconsistencies — a cross-section of that library's holdings." Beyond this, it is the inspiration Katachadourian gains from the books she finds that has meant this project remains ongoing and unfinished, whether this be the aesthetic beauty of the covers, the highly tactile nature of well-loved literature or simply an enduring passion for the written word. Have a look at some of our favourite clusters below or head to Amazon to get your hands on your own photograph.
If eating at one of the world's best restaurants — and Copenhagen's most acclaimed — has long been on your bucket list, achieving that feat now has a time limit, with René Redzepi's Noma announcing that it's closing its doors. It isn't saying farewell forever, thankfully, but it is ending its current operations, transforming instead into a test kitchen and food laboratory. Redzepi's globally renowned, three-Michelin-starred, five-time World's Best list-topping eatery has shut up shop in the past, back in 2016, before reemerging in 2017 as Noma 2.0. Redzepi and his team have already badged the venue's next phase 3.0, and it'll kick off in 2025 — after Noma's present setup says goodbye in 2024. "Winter 2024 will be the last season of Noma as we know it. We are beginning a new chapter; Noma 3.0," said Redzepi in a statement on the restaurant's website and social media channels. "In 2025, our restaurant is transforming into a giant lab — a pioneering test kitchen dedicated to the work of food innovation and the development of new flavours, one that will share the fruits of our efforts more widely than ever before," Redzepi continues. "Serving guests will still be a part of who we are, but being a restaurant will no longer define us. Instead, much of our time will be spent on exploring new projects and developing many more ideas and products." View this post on Instagram A post shared by noma (@nomacph) If you can manage to nab a highly coveted reservation between now and Noma's 2024 closure, you'll experience the restaurant's last days in its 2.0 guise. After that, it will host pop-ups as part of being a food lab, and will also do a season in Copenhagen. Travelling the globe to share its cuisine has long been a part of Noma's remit anyway, complete with an upcoming ten-week residency in Kyoto from March–May 2023. In the past, the eatery has done the same in Tokyo, Down Under in Sydney as well, and in Tulum, Mexico. "In this next phase, we will continue to travel and search for new ways to share our work. Is there somewhere we must go in the world to learn? Then we will do a Noma pop-up. And when we've gathered enough new ideas and flavors, we will do a season in Copenhagen," added Redzepi. "Our goal is to create a lasting organisation dedicated to groundbreaking work in food, but also to redefine the foundation for a restaurant team, a place where you can learn, you can take risks, and you can grow!" Noma 2.0 will close at Refshalevej 96, 1432 Copenhagen K, in 2024, during winter in Europe, before relaunching in 2025 as a test kitchen and food lab. Head to the restaurant's website for reservations. Top image: Amy Tang.
Not once but twice now, a new sneak peek at The Flight Attendant's second season has hit and dropped some deliciously pointed dialogue along with it. Back in March, when the initial teaser for the show's next batch of episodes arrived, it had Kaley Cuoco's Cassie Bowden exclaiming "I'm still a flight attendant, and I've been making better choices." Now, in season two's just-released full trailer, she's told "you seem very put together." Of course, everything that surrounds those lines of dialogue in both sneak peeks so far immediately contradicts what's uttered — because The Flight Attendant wouldn't be the show it is if chaos wasn't on the itinerary. And this time around, the country-hopping thriller has a new way to dial up the twists. When Cassie escapes into her mind to reflect upon everything that life is throwing her way, which is a lot, she's confronted with multiple versions of herself. Four Cassies — and four Cuocos, too — are better than one, clearly. If you're wondering exactly how that'll play out, you don't have to wait long — with The Flight Attendant's second season arriving in Australia via Binge on Thursday, April 21, and in New Zealand thanks to Neon on Friday, April 22. Obviously, as anyone who quickly found themselves addicted to the extremely watchable series the first time, expecting Cassie to settle into a normal, average, uneventful and calm life is highly unrealistic. In season two, she has indeed moved on from the dramas we all watched back in 2020, though — and moved to Los Angeles, and also started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. That said, Cassie has picked up a part-time job as well, which happens to see her moonlighting for the CIA. And, as this second trailer shows, that new gig comes with consequences. While Cassie is doing great things at both of her jobs — booze-free things, helpfully — it seems that someone else is trying to pass themselves off as her while she's working her side hustle overseas. Cue more globe-trotting intrigue, taking the show to both Berlin and Reykjavik. Cue more of Cassie's inner monologues as well, which is where those four different versions come in. Also new: cast members Mo McRae (Big Little Lies), Callie Hernandez (Under the Silver Lake), JJ Soria (Gentefied), Alanna Ubach (Euphoria), Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Jessie Ennis (Mythic Quest), Mae Martin (Feel Good), Margaret Cho (Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens), Santiago Cabrera (Ema), Sharon Stone (Ratched) and Shohreh Aghdashloo (The Expanse). They'll join Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominee Cuoco, obviously, plus returning co-stars Zosia Mamet (Girls), Griffin Matthews (Dear White People), Deniz Akdeniz (The High Note) and Rosie Perez (The Last Thing He Wanted). And if you're coming to this small-screen adaptation of Chris Bohjalian's 2018 novel of the same name with fresh eyes, the first season unravelled quite the tale — starting high in the sky, bouncing around the globe and delivering a hectic murder-mystery. Filled with sudden revelations and reversals, featuring multiple points of interest playing out across a split-screen setup, and also sporting cliffhangers to end every episode, the slick, swift-moving series knew exactly the kind of story it was telling and went for broke. Check out the full trailer for The Flight Attendant's second season below: The Flight Attendant's second season will be available to stream via Binge in Australia from Thursday, April 21 — and is headed to Neon in New Zealand on Friday, April 22. Read our full review of season one. Images: Jennifer Rose Clasen/HBO Max.
Fans of smoked meats, solid harmonica solos and all things Americana will love this; Melbourne just landed its very own specialised twang-fuelled shindig. Dubbed 'a celebration of Americana music, great food and fine booze' at Seaworks, Williamstown, brand new event Out On the Weekend promises to be one laidback folky affair by the water. A shiny new project developed from Love Police founder Brian 'BT' Taranto's fond country music memories and unfaltering love for Neil Young, the all-day, family-friendly October event hinges around a penchant for the dark desert highways of the US. "Ever since my first concert at the Wandong Country Music Festival in the mid '70s, I have had a fascination with the country sounds, the roots of it all, let's just call it Americana music," says BT. "I've lately wondered at staging an event that celebrates these sounds. One that offers great food with alcoholic drops of liquid gold at a cool space. Not a huge festival, just somewhere to get into it for a day with friends and likeminded folks." Just a few months ago, BT found a space for the event on the Williamstown shore and named the whole thing after his number one guy, Neil Young (quietly nicking his Harvest cover for the event logo). "Hey, I'm a giant Neil Young fan, and I reckon the one thing that will connect everyone at this event will be that they have all heard Harvest in it's entirety, and probably own that 1972 classic from which we take the name of track one." A hearty combination of music, food and top notch booze, Out On the Weekend fronts up a solid lineup of country, folk and roots (all undeniably tainted b a love for 'Muuurica. Right at the top sits acclaimed American singer/songwriter Justin Townes Earle (son of the legendary Steve Earle), who's just announced his brand new album White Gardenias set for release in September. Melbourne's own Henry Wagons and Friends are a natural addition to the Americana-inspired lineup, with Wagons having spent the majority of his time of late touring across the desert-dwelling watering holes of the States. Californian-based Texan Ryan Bingham, Bon Iver-meets-Jackson Browne singer Robert Ellis, smoky-voiced alt-country Canadian Lindi Ortega, Wanda Jackson-like wunderkind Nikki Lane, dreamy, gravelly duo The Delines, formerly-known-as-Johnny-Corndawg funster Johnny Fritz, Sydney folk darling Emma Swift, SA-raised multi-instrumentalist Chris Altmann, Melbourne alt-country foursome Raised By Eagles and raucous six-piece bluegrass band The Morrisons are also set to take things porchside on the day. But we promised food. With Melbourne's love for American cuisine in no danger of faltering any time soon, OOTW's nom lineup is quite the star-spangled menu. Sydney's leading renegade chefs Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz of Porteño/Bodega fame will be setting up a pop-up version of their acclaimed establishment, serving up all the smoked meats and potato salads you can fit in y'gob. Melburnians won't be outdone by a sizzling Sydneysider though, with street food legends Beatbox Kitchen, Taco Truck and All Day Donuts driving on in to satisfy every last taste bud. Further nosh and bevvy announcements are yet to come for OOTW, stay tuned for more lip-smacking, exclamation point-inducing news. Out On the Weekend will take place Saturday, October 18 at Seaworks, Williamstown from 11:30am — 10:30pm. Early bird tickets are $79 (inc. all fees) and on sale Friday 25th July from outontheweekend.com.au or phone 1300 724 867. Free entry for kids under 12 years old. Very limited Cripple Creek Ferry Packages available for $199 (inc. all fees) including return ferry transfer from Dockland to the event with live entertainment aboard, entry to Out on the Weekend, 2 x meal vouchers (for main dishes), 4 x beverage vouchers, limited edition 'Cripple Creek Ferry Package' screen printed poster (distributed to you on the return ferry ride after the event). https://youtube.com/watch?v=UCElUItrLZc
Booking a trip has changed significantly over the last few decades — just 40 years ago, the only way to book a flight, really, was through a travel agent. It wasn't until the early '90s that travellers could take the reins and actually book a ticket for themselves online. Thankfully, we have progressed. Gloriously. Travelling is only getting easier due to the evolution of highly useful, intuitive apps. These ten currently available apps will make your travels that much smoother. And the better news? None of them cost a cent. FOR HEALTH MATTERS: TRAVWELL Let's be real. Health is an easy thing to take for granted while travelling. Powered by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, TravWell brings a great sense of calmness to travellers going overseas. We suggest downloading this well before departing. Users can select the destination they are travelling to, and the app will list which vaccines and medications to take. TravWell also has space to store photos and organise documents such as vaccine records. Plus, for every destination that the app covers, there are corresponding emergency services phone numbers on hand. FOR CONVERTING CASH: CURRENCY CONVERTER PLUS This app is one of the most popular out there, drawing over one million downloads worldwide. Currency Converter Plus hosts 191 currencies and regularly updates conversion rates. When you don't have access to Wi-Fi in that Moroccan souk or Beijing market, the app's ability to work offline definitely comes in handy. It can also convert currency to gold, silver and platinum, perfect if you're indulging in a cheeky jewellery shop during your stopover in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. The calculator function is what separates this app from the rest. Say your Vietnamese feast in Hanoi costs 200,000VND, and you have $5US dollars you want to use — enter both into the app and it will calculate and convert simultaneously, saving you the brainwork. FOR OFFLINE MAPS: MAPS.ME As much as we'd like to assume that our orientation skills are on point, sometimes we get it wrong. Really wrong. And you end up six kilometres away from your hotel, in the dodgy depths of a city with no idea how to get back. MAPS.ME, to the rescue. The app is trusted by over 65 million travellers, probably because it's usable offline. Simply download the map of the country or city you are visiting (when you have internet connection), and it's there for good. Within the app, users can search for restaurants, attractions, ATMs and public transport. We're not done. MAPS.ME also gives people the option to book accommodation through Booking.com. Alternatively, you can't go wrong with offline Google Maps. FOR EDITING HOLIDAY SNAPS: SNAPSEED There's an inordinate number of photo editing apps out there. A lifetime could be devoted looking for the best. Let us save you a little bit of that time. Snapseed, which was created by Google, is not only ridiculously easy to use, but also fun. It has 26 tools and editing features including the ability to adjust exposure, contrast, saturation, ambiance, fix skewed lines, alter perspectives, heal areas of a photo, add in text and throw on a filter. And when you're all finished playing around, Snapseed provides the option to upload to your edited masterpiece straight to Instagram. FOR CONQUERING LANGUAGE BARRIERS: GOOGLE TRANSLATE Speaking of Google (again), it's insanely hard to beat Google Translate at its game. The app offers the most languages out of any single translation engine out there — a mere 103. Now, translating words, phrases and sentences is one thing, but pronouncing them is another. Users can listen to translations before attempting and potentially embarrassing themselves. The app has evolved dramatically since its birth, now integrating a photo feature where you can hold your camera up to a text while Google magically translates it, given the font is readable. The fairy godmother of translators, we're naming it. FOR GROUP TRIPS: SPLITWISE Travelling with friends can get tricky money-wise, no matter how much you try to prevent it. Attempting to recall who shouted what at NYC's Please Don't Tell and how much that friend owes you for dinner at Hong Kong's Ho Lee Fook is too much to keep track of sometimes. Splitwise is a simple way to share bills, and keep track of what everyone has paid. Each person creates an account, and from there groups can be formed. Users then log in to see their balance, what is owed to them and what they owe to others. FOR AIRPORT RELAXATION: LOUNGEKEY LoungeKey is the ultimate airport lounge library. After entering an airport or city name into the app, a list of lounges on offer comes up. LoungeKey details exactly where lounges are located in an airport (don't laugh, some are harder to find that you would assume), what facilities are included, and provides photos, trading hours and prices. There is also a 'nearby' function for when you are absolutely exhausted and just want to pop into the closest lounge. FOR EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS: GUIDES BY LONELY PLANET There's a lot of noise when it comes to travel guides and recommendations, but among all the madness is Lonely Planet — one of the most trustworthy and inspiring names out there. The Guides app incorporates advice from local experts, including must-see sights and essential tips for each location. There's also an offline maps function, language phrasebooks and a currency converter. It's an all-in-one app, currently covering 100 cities, with more to come. FOR CONNECTIVITY: FREE WI-FI FINDER If you don't fancy buying a sim card in every country you visit, and therefore heavily rely on finding a Wi-Fi connection, this one's a winner. Free Wi-Fi Finder promises exactly what's in its title —free Wi-Fi connection spots, with absolutely no charges. The app lists locations in over 50 countries. You can search by state and city, or locate the closest to wherever you find yourself at that point in time. The app also gives users the option to list Wi-Fi spots themselves and assist other travellers. People-powered, we like that. FOR FINDING THINGS TO DO: AIRBNB (FOR THE 'EXPERIENCES' FUNCTION) Airbnb continues its rampage of revolutionising the travel industry. The app hosts a plethora of affordable accommodation options — apartments, cabins, igloos and beyond — opening up a world of travel to those who were unable to access it before. In late 2016, the app took things up a notch, launching Airbnb 'experiences'. These are curated events, tours, classes and workshops created by local guides, inspiring people not just to travel to a place, but immerse themselves in it. Experiences span from two-day food tours in Seoul, three-day salsa camps in Havana or cocktail-making classes in San Francisco.
Turns out it's not just you who's had a spring cut and colour recently. The Forum Theatre in Melbourne has had a bit of a makeover too. Emerging from a whole year's worth of renovations, the theatre on the corner of Flinders and Russell Streets is now looking fancy fresh – or as fancy fresh as a heritage-listed building can. The building is owned by the Marriner Group, who also own the Princess, Regent and Comedy Theatres. But the Forum is arguably their most unique venue, with its Greek/Roman statues dotted here and there, and starry night sky feature inside. First opening in 1929 and long the site of gigs, comedy shows and your late night selfies with the statues, its eccentric vibes have been maintained, but plenty else has changed. That carpet you've been treading your grubby boots over for years in the entrance foyer has been lifted, revealing a tiled mosaic made up of 200,000 tiles. There's also three new bars, a marble staircase, and new booths throughout the theatre. Adjustable-height flooring and a car-accommodating elevator will make the whole shebang more versatile, and a little more James Bond-y. Bands out there will also be happy to hear there are new green rooms, lighting and sound situations, and hungry people will be chuffed with the addition of catering services now offered at the venue. Jason Marriner, CEO and co-owner of Marriner Group, says it's all been a long time coming. "The Forum renovation is 21 years in the making," said Marriner. "Having lived and experienced the space for a long time, when it came to undertaking the work we knew exactly what we wanted to achieve." Ultimately, it's still the venue you know and love. But you'll certainly notice the floor a little more on your way out.
Great renewal news for fans of Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated) usually means bad news for the folks that the trio know on-screen. Only Murders in the Building viewers get more episodes, but that means more deaths within the hit murder-mystery comedy's narrative. That's exactly the case right now, with the series just wrapping up its Paul Rudd (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania)- and Meryl Streep (Don't Look Up)-guest starring third season, then revealing that there's more in store — with the show locked in for season four. More instalments, more killings and more amusing antics are all on the way, then, for the series that first got Gomez, Short and Martin sleuthing in 2021's season one (aka one of the best new shows of that year), then followed it up with 2022's season two (aka one of the best returning shows of that year, too) before arriving for its third go-around in 2023. Details of when the series will return, who else will pop up and the like haven't yet been announced, but expect to spend more time in Only Murders in the Building's world. The show started with three residents of the same New York apartment building crossing paths after a murder in their building — hence the title — then bonding over true-crime podcasts. Next, they did what everyone that's jumped on that bandwagon knows they would if they were ever in the same situation, starting their own audio series that's also called Only Murders in the Building. That's how season one kicked off — and continued, proving a warm, funny, smart and savvy series at every step along the way. In the show's second season, another death needed investigating. That time, it was someone the main trio were all known not to be that fond of, so suspicions kept pointing in their direction. Indeed, every season, another death has given aspiring artist Mabel, Broadway producer Oliver and actor Charles-Haden another case to dive into. In season three, that involved looking into who caused Ben Glenroy (Rudd) to shuffle off this mortal coil at the opening night of Oliver's latest show. "Is this really happening again?" asked the theatre figure in the first teaser trailer for season three. "Yes, yes it is" was the answer from Only Murders in the Building's audience then — and still now. "The trio's journey is far from over," US streaming platform Hulu, which produces the show, announced on social media. There's no sneak peek at season four as yet, but you can check out the full trailer for Only Murders in the Building season three below: Only Murders in the Building's streams Down Under via Star on Disney+. Read our full reviews of season one, season two and season three. Images: Hulu.
It has been eight months since The Handmaid's Tale dropped its first teaser for its upcoming fourth season, which, like plenty of other things over the last year, was postponed. Over that time, it was also announced that the dystopian series would bless our screens for even longer, with a fifth season green-lit before the fourth even airs. But fans keen to actually step back into the show's story, rather than just hear news about it, have been hanging out to do exactly that for quite some time. Thankfully, that delay is about to come to an end, with a US release date just announced for the next batch of episodes. The Handmaid's Tale will start its fourth season in America on April 28 — and while just when it'll air Down Under hasn't been revealed, you shouldn't expect that there'll be much of a wait. Hulu, the platform that airs The Handmaid's Tale in the US, has also just dropped a new trailer for the fourth season, so you can get another glimpse of what's about to hit. In its opening moments, the tense score and images of empty streets are accompanied by a radio broadcast‚ with the resistance in full swing. And yes, the show's protagonist, June (Elisabeth Moss), is still battling against Gilead after season three's cliffhanger ending. Toppling a totalitarian society that's taken over the former United States, tearing down its oppression of women under the guise of 'traditional values', and fighting for freedom and equality doesn't happen quickly, after all. If you're wondering what else in store in the award-winning adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 1985, June's quest isn't likely to be easy — because everything in this series comes with risks and challenges. Check out the latest season four trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmcWPOH4Yqw The fourth season of The Handmaid's Tale will hit US screens from April 28, and it's likely it'll start airing on SBS in Australia around the same time. We'll update you with further details when they're announced.
After a hefty two-year hiatus, one of the bright sparks of Melbourne's frosty winter has made its way back onto the social calendar. Queen Victoria Market's beloved Winter Night Market is heating up your hump day schedule from June 1–August 31. From 5pm every Wednesday, the QVM is transformed into the kind of winter wonderland worth getting excited about, tempting you off the couch with a cosy program of street food, pop-up bars, live entertainment and artisan market stalls. As always, it's serving up a tantalising assortment of street eats each week, with a huge array of food vendors repping dishes from all corners of the world. Get excited for the likes of That's Amore's cheese wheel pasta, 400 Gradi's woodfired pizza, piping-hot bao buns, loaded burgers, soups served in giant bread rolls, Casa Nata's famed Portuguese tarts and stacks more. All perfectly paired with warming sips like mulled wine, hot gin toddies, spiked Milo cocktails and spiced cider. You'll also be kept entertained with a rotation of live gigs and roving performers; after all, what better way to warm your cockles and work off a big serve of cacio e pepe, than a cheeky dance floor session? If you're a longtime fan, you'll know market stalls are also a big part of the offering here. This year, expect as vast a lineup as ever, with vendors slinging everything from jewellery and art, to skincare, homewares and books.
Pushing ladies to the front has always been All About Women's focus, ever since the Sydney Opera House's key feminist festival first took to the stage back in 2013. In 2023, however, it's doing just that with an in-conversation event that couldn't be more perfect: Bikini Kill Speaks, featuring the seminal riot grrrl pioneers — aka Kathleen Hanna, Tobi Vail and Kathi Wilcox — chatting through their music, activism and why their message remains as relevant as ever after three decades. Hanna, Vail and Wilcox's session comes while Bikini Kill are in the country for their first Australian shows in more than 25 years, including stops at Mona Foma and Golden Plains, plus other solo dates around the country — Sydney Opera House among them. In fact, in addition to the in-conversation session, that gig will close out All About Women's 2023 event. [caption id="attachment_875442" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Debi Del Grande[/caption] When All About Women takes place in March, it'll run over three days — from Saturday, March 11—Monday, March 13 — growing again after it only just expanded to two days in 2022. In another big change, it'll be guided by four festival co-curators for the first time ever. Doing the honours: author, podcast presenter and gender equality advocate Jamila Rizvi; Gamilaroi academic and Tell Me Again author Dr Amy Thunig; feminist social commentator, novelist and writer Jane Caro AM; and Sydney Opera House's Head of Talks and Ideas Chip Rolley. The rest of All About Women's 2023 lineup hasn't yet been unveiled, but audiences can expect a range of international and Australian artists, thinkers and storytellers on the bill — exploring a broad variety of topics relevant to gender, justice and equality via panels, conversations, workshops and performances — when the full details drop on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. [caption id="attachment_837695" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] "All About Women is unparalleled in its ability to attract audiences from across the country, with a passion for debates and discussions about gender. The festival always delivers a healthy dose of levity alongside its signature significant local and international conversations," said All About Women festival co-curator Jamila Rizvi. "Striking that balance between impact and frivolity is what my programming style is all about. To say that it is a privilege to co-curate the festival in 2023 is an understatement!" [caption id="attachment_837698" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacquie Manning[/caption] In 2022, while the festival went ahead in-person for Sydneysiders, it also live-streamed to viewers both around Australia and worldwide. Whether that'll be the case again in 2023 hasn't yet been revealed, but if you live outside of the Harbour City, cross your fingers. All About Women 2023 will take place from Saturday, March 11—Monday, March 13 at the Sydney Opera House. The full program will release on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 — check back here then for further details. Tickets for Bikini Kill Speaks go on sale at 9am AEDT on Friday, December 2, with Sydney Opera House Insiders presales from 9am AEDT on Tuesday, November 29 and What's on presales from 9am AEDT on Wednesday, November 30. Top image: Debi Del Grande.
Here's an easy recipe for a movie, and a TV show as well: take a bunch of famous faces, throw them into the same space, knock off one of their characters and let a couple of them get sleuthing, pointing the finger at everyone else. It worked for Knives Out, gloriously so. It's made Only Murders in the Building a treat across not one but two seasons. And while it hasn't really hit the mark in recent Agatha Christie adaptations Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile — especially the later — the same setup remains intact in both flicks. The next film to give the premise a whirl is new whodunnit See How They Run, which definitely has the star-studded cast part taken care of. As seen in the just-dropped trailer, Sam Rockwell (Richard Jewell) plays veteran detective Inspector Stoppard, while Saoirse Ronan (The French Dispatch) steps into the shoes of enthusiastic newcomer Constable Stalker. And, the case they're tasked with looking into also brings Adrien Brody (Succession), Ruth Wilson (His Dark Materials), Reece Shearsmith (Venom: Let There Be Carnage), Harris Dickinson (The Souvenir: Part II), Shirley Henderson (Stan & Ollie) and David Oyelowo (Chaos Walking) into the mix — and more. Set in 1950s London, and in the West End to be precise, the movie follows the aftermath of a big-name death — a Hollywood director who was set to turn a smash-hit play into a film. Cue Stoppard and Stalker entering the sometimes-glamorous, sometimes-unseemly theatre world, trying to work out who's the killer. Slated to hit cinemas at the end of September, the flick hails from first-time feature director Tom George (TV's Defending the Guilty and This Country), with Mark Chappell (Flaked and The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret) on scripting duties. Then mood: jaunty. The tone: comic. Yes, it's firmly murder-mystery comedy. That's another regular part of the whodunnit equation, of course — turning a shock death and the investigation that follows into an amusing picture, that is. Check out the trailer for See How They Run below: See How They Run opens in cinemas Down under on September 29. Images: Parisa Taghizadeh. © 2021 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.
Nestled among the Coast Mountains, Whistler is a magical township located a couple of hours' drive north of Vancouver, Canada. The snow-laden village is best known for the mighty Whistler Blackcomb, which is by far and away the biggest ski resort in North America, made up of two majestic peaks joined by the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, the highest and longest cablecar of its kind in the world. Should you be planning a trip to this wintry wonderland, you'd be remiss not to involve some outdoorsy adventures, including a few days' skiing or boarding some of the world's most beautiful runs. Beyond carving and shredding your way down Whistler's mountains, however, there are bucket loads of other escapades to be had, from dog sledding in the stunning old growth forest of the Callaghan Valley and snowshoeing around ghost towns to ice skating on frozen lakes and ice fishing in secret water holes. There's plenty of adventure to be had in Whistler, so start planning your trip with our guide to the village's best outdoor winter activities. [caption id="attachment_630393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Whistler/Eric Berger.[/caption] SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING WHISTLER BLACKCOMB At Whistler Blackcomb, you'll find 200 official runs, which means you can ski for days without covering the same ground twice. Plus, with over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain, Whistler and Blackcomb mountains offer something for every level and style of skier and rider. If you're a beginner, you're in luck, as 35% of Whistler Blackcomb's trails (covering almost 3,000 acres) have your name on them — the most beautiful being Burnt Stew Trail in the Symphony Zone on Whistler Mountain, which winds gently through open bowls and alpine forest. For intermediate skiers, 7th Heaven offers a suitably challenging terrain, with loads of trees and stunning panoramas. And if you're an expert on the slopes, then head to Couloir Extreme, rated as one of the planet's most terrifying (and thrilling) runs. There's also plenty of terrain accessible from the Peak Chair at the top of Whistler. Something to mention about skiing at Whistler Blackcomb is that the pedestrian-only Whistler Village is nestled right at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb, meaning runs feed right into the village centre off both mountains. The transition from shredding and carving to après-ski is a total breeze — especially with the many après joints loved by visitors and locals alike. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Lost Lake doesn't just sound like something out of a C.S. Lewis novel, it looks like it, too. You'll find this magical spot 15 minutes' walk from Whistler Village, so when you feel like a break from downhill thrills, and are ready to move at a slower, more exploratory pace, take a cross-country glide. If you're after some exploration further afield from Whistler Village, then head to the extensive cross-country skiing trails out in the Callaghan Valley. The area offers picturesque, natural surrounds, and the Ski Callaghan Nordic centre is just a short shuttle ride from the heart of Whistler. [caption id="attachment_629729" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Whistler/JustaJeskova.[/caption] WALKING THE VALLEY TRAIL You might think of hiking as more of a summer sport, but the Valley Trail makes trekking through Whistler's natural surrounds possible all year round. This 40-kilometre network dedicated to walkers is paved, cleared of snow, car-free and provides a connection between the area's many villages, lakes and parks. How you go about experiencing it is your call. With plenty of walks to choose from, you can take in many amazing mountain vistas, discover a forest of giant cedars and even check out a few local craft breweries on the way. [caption id="attachment_630888" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Scandinave Spa.[/caption] SOAKING IN STEAMY OUTDOOR HOT POOLS After a day in subzero temperatures, there's no better way to wind down than with a dip in a hot pool. On the periphery of Whistler's Lost Lake Park forest, nestled among spruce and cedar trees, you'll find Scandinave Spa. Here you can hang out in a eucalyptus steam bath and Finnish sauna before plunging into a Nordic waterfall, then recovering in Hammock Haven. Any iciness left in your bones from a day in the snow will surely melt away. The spa also offers massages, plus has a cafe onsite just in case you need a little pick me up. WINTER ZIP LINING Yep, flying through the air at 100 kilometres per hour, 200 metres above the ground, in sub-zero temperatures is absolutely doable in Whistler; in fact, there's a stack of zip line tours to choose from. Go with Superfly, and you'll catch a 4WD up Rainbow Mountain, before taking off on a 1.3-kilometre long ride that spans deep valleys and old growth forests. Look to Ziptrek for several options, categorised according to adrenaline hit. For newbies, there's the Bear Tour, which covers five zip lines joined by treetop bridges, while hardened thrill seekers have the Mammoth Tour, which takes in ten zip lines, suspension bridges, boardwalks and trails. ICE CLIMBING BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN Whether you're new to ice climbing or quite accustomed to hanging off of a glacier, suspended by just an axe, there's a frozen vertical trek for you in Whistler. Novices get an introduction to climbing techniques and a safety pep talk before starting, while the more experienced are able to choose from a variety of routes, according to their ability. Both multi-pitch and multi-day tours are available, plus, at Blackcomb you can begin with a lift ride, conquer a couple hours of ice climbing, then ski back to base. Tour companies include Mountain Skills Academy and Coast Mountain Guides. DOG SLEDDING SNOWY TERRAINS If you're keen to explore, but don't want to do all the work yourself, enlist a pack of huskies and a sled, then kick back like a Snow Queen and relax. Canadians have been getting around this way for more than four thousand years now, and there are a few tour operators that'll show you how, including Canadian Wilderness Adventures and Blackcomb Dogsled. Both will take you on a journey into Callaghan Valley, a wonderland of old growth forest and lakes just fifteen minutes south of Whistler. If the surrounds look familiar, that's probably because you saw them during the 2010 Winter Olympics. [caption id="attachment_631261" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pemberton Fish Finder.[/caption] ICE FISHING You haven't tasted fish until you've tasted it straight from the ice. On a Whistler ice fishing tour, your guide will pick you up, drive you to a remote alpine lake, frozen river or secret water hole, and take you through the tricky process of nabbing a bite. There'll be plenty of sitting about and admiring the scenery to be done, which also gives you a good chunk of time to learn more about the millennia-old art of ice fishing and how to improve your skills. Tours usually include transport and gear. [caption id="attachment_631259" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Whistler/Mike Crane.[/caption] ICE SKATING Smack bang in the middle of Whistler Village is a free, outdoor ice skating rink. All you need are your skates or six bucks to hire a pair — and if you're a beginner, maybe a push bar (or a friend's hand) to help you along. For a more exotic experience, head to a skate-able local lake, and maybe even pick up a game of hockey. Popular options are Alta Lake, with one square kilometre of ice to glide across, backdropped by mountain views, and to the north, the larger Green Lake at double the size of Alta. Lake ice skating runs informally only, so you'll need to take care safety-wise and bring your own pair of skates. Plan an adventure into the great Canadian outdoors and discover all Whistler has to offer here. Lead image: Tourism Whistler/David McColm.
According to Toronto-based Richard Smith, 'I have a laptop. It needs a case. So I make laptop sleeves.' Although a simple idea at heart, Richard's computer sleeves are nothing short of unique. Made from vintage sweaters and shirts, Computerwear repurposes unused and unappreciated clothing into suave, handmade laptop and iPad cases, transforming your gadget from an inanimate piece of technology into a proper gentleman. If you never leave home without your laptop or iPad, Computerwear will save your gear from the unwanted and unavoidable bumps and scratches of everyday life. Available on Richard's Etsy store, Finders&Keepers, the cases are machine-washable (unless otherwise noted) and dryer friendly, and make for a pretty dapper tech accessory at US$65.
Master sommelier Madeline Triffon describes Pinot Noir as 'sex in a glass', while winemaker Randy Ullom calls it 'the ultimate nirvana'. One of the most challenging grapes in the world of vinification, it's also one of the most surprising and rewarding. No wonder Bottle Shop Concepts — the good folk who brought Game of Rhones our way in June — are coming back to town with Pinot Palooza, an epic travelling wine festival celebrating all things Pinot Noir. For just one day, wine connoisseurs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will have the chance to sample more than 150 drops, direct from the Southern Hemisphere’s best producers. Think Ata Rangi, Yabby Lake, Bay of Fires, Rippon, Kooyong, Mount Difficulty — and that’s just the first few leaves on the vine. Whether you’re a newbie who wants to start with something light and inviting, or a Pinot pro ready for the biggest, most complex mouthful on the menu, there’ll be an abundance of selections at either end — and plenty along the spectrum, too. You’ll even be able to vote for your favourite and go in the draw to win some wine-driven prizes. If, at any point, you need to take a pause in your tasting adventures, you’ll be able to pop into the Alfa Romeo Lounge. There’ll be cosy places to sit and mull over your chosen Pinot, loads of food and the epic Burgundy Bar – a kind of Pinot Noir mecca where you’ll be able to sample bottles worth $150+ at affordable, by-the-glass prices. Expert sommeliers will also be on hand to help you make selections. What's more, those keen to fuel their brains (and not only their taste buds), can indulge in a 'Back Stage Pass'. It's a chance to partake in a master class with some of Australia's smartest wine educators and learn all about what's happening in Burgundy, France — Pinot Noir’s spiritual home. Pinot Palooza will hit Melbourne on Saturday, October 4 at St Kilda Town Hall, Sydney on Monday, October 6 at Carriageworks and Brisbane on Sunday, October 12 at Light Space. Tickets are $60, which includes tastings, a take-home Riedel 'Heart to Heart' Pinot Noir glass and the latest issue of Wine Companion magazine. You can buy tickets right here.
Does Bradley Cooper wish he worked in music, rather than cinema? If the Nightmare Alley and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 star's work as a director is any guide, perhaps. When he first jumped behind the camera just a few years back, it was for the latest take on A Star Is Born, in which he also cast himself as a rocker and sang with Lady Gaga. Now, he's following that up with Maestro, a biopic about famed American composer Leonard Bernstein. Yes, Cooper also plays the conductor, as well as helming — and co-writing the screenplay with Spotlight, The Post and First Man's Josh Singer. The focus isn't just on Bernstein's immense career, but also on his relationship with his Costa Rica-born actor wife Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. Slipping into the latter's shoes: Carey Mulligan (She Said). As the just-dropped first trailer for Maestro shows, audiences can look forward to Cooper picking up the baton, as well as a snapshot of all the acclaim that came Bernstein's way. There's certainly plenty to cover — seven Emmys, two Tonys, 16 Grammys, the music for West Side Story, and being considered one of the greatest conductors of all time all included. But scenes of the Bernstein making music magic aren't the main part of this first sneak peek. Instead, moments that navigate Leonard and Felicia's romance dance prominently through the teaser. Maestro hails from Netflix, with the film hitting the streaming service on December 20. Given that it's being poised as a prime awards contender for the 2024 Oscars, it'll also get a run in select cinemas from November 22, as the streaming platform tends to do with its starry end-of-year flicks. Before all of that, it'll premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September. As well as Cooper and Mulligan, Maestro's cast includes Maya Hawke (Asteroid City), Matt Bomer (Magic Mike's Last Dance), Sarah Silverman (The Bob's Burgers Movie) and Michael Urie (Shrinking). And among the producers? Just a couple of folks who know a thing or two about grand, lavish filmmaking: Martin Scorsese (The Irishman) and Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans). Check out the trailer for Maestro below: Maestro will release in select cinemas on November 22, and hit Netflix on December 20. Images: Jason McDonald/Netflix.
Australia has lost an icon, with news of Olivia Newton-John's death sadly announced on Tuesday, August 9. Across more than half a century in the entertainment industry, the British Australian singer and actor helped give the world everything from Grease to Xanadu — and songs such as 'I Honestly Love You' and 'Physical', too. There are plenty of ways to pay tribute to Newton-John. Singing 'You're the One That I Want' and 'Hopelessly Devoted to You' all day counts. Rewatching Grease for the billionth time does as well. And, so does getting 'Xanadu' or 'Magic' stuck in your head. Or, you can truly take the star's advice and get physical at Retrosweat's tribute sessions. The aerobics outfit is dedicating two sessions this week — its regular classes at 7pm on Tuesday, August 9 and at the same time on Thursday, August 11 — to the Aussie legend. Each one runs for 60 minutes, and dressing like you're stepping out of Newton-John's 'Physical' clip (or even wearing anything Grease or Xanadu-themed that doubles as workout attire) is recommended. Sydneysiders can head along at 242 Young Street in Waterloo on Tuesday — and 525 Crown Street in Surry Hills on Thursday. Fancy joining in at home or from outside of Sydney? Retrosweat livestreams its classes, including these two, if you join its Retrosweat Home Video service. In preparation for the classes — and just to bask in Newton-John's 80s-era glory — you can revisit the 'Physical' music video below:
What helps a formerly active person who has lost both their legs find the will to keep on living? It's rarely a guy like Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts), who fights in illegal bouts, hits his kid, kicks dogs, disrespects women, does dodgy things for cash and is all-round one of the least likeable characters to ever appear on screen. And yet the journey Stephanie (Marion Cotillard) goes on through him makes just enough sense to be believable — powerful, actually — in Jacques Audiard's feature film Rust and Bone. The film is quite a big departure from the source material, Canadian writer Craig Davidson's collection of short stories by the same name, and is in some ways even more brutal. Stephanie is an orca trainer at a Cote d'Azur equivalent of Sea World. One day, to the poetically dissonant backing of Katy Perry's 'Firework', a public performance goes wrong and Stephanie wakes in hospital to find her legs amputated. After weeks of depression, she calls Ali, a nightclub bouncer she met briefly before the accident and thought little of at the time. His company turns out to be relaxed and matter of fact; he does not handle her with kid gloves, and it's just what she needs to begin to figure out her new sense of self. When he starts out on his underground boxing career, she finds herself unexpectedly drawn in. Rust and Bone is an unsentimentally lyrical triumph, unexpected in every way from its narrative to its mise en scene. Cotillard is a sensation. Need it be said? This film about fighters packs a punch. We have 10 double passes to give away to see Rust and Bone. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Read our full review of Rust and Bone here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=x3leZNzz6N8
"I do love this film." So advises Bob Odenkirk, exclaiming his fondness for Nobody 2 as soon as he starts chatting with Concrete Playground. As evident to everyone who sees the sequel to Nobody, that affection is already splashed across the screen. The same proved true in 2021, too, when the franchise's first movie initially gave its star a chance to switch up from leading one of TV's greatest-ever tragedies and series overall, aka Better Call Saul, with a jump into action mode. His task: playing Hutch Mansell, a seemingly ordinary suburban dad with a past that meant that he was never going to let gun-wielding thieves break into his home and upset his family life with his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen, Gladiator II) and their two children (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent's Gage Munroe and Harland Manor's Paisley Cadorath) without making those responsible pay for it. The debut picture set Hutch against the Russian mafia, all to take care of his loved ones. That isn't Mr Show with Bob and David and Breaking Bad alum Odenkirk's IRL path at all, but elements of Nobody were indeed personal. The idea to begin with started with him in his prime Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill/Gene Takovic days. And, as the Nobody 2 director Timo Tjahjanto (The Shadow Strays) explained back when the sequel's initial trailer dropped, "the first film is also sort of based on what happened to Bob in real life — the whole idea that he was confronting this thing that happened in his house, when somebody broke into his house. So he exorcised that sort of, I guess, trauma, by writing a script or writing a story." Four years later, with a movie that follows the Mansells on vacation to Plummerville — Hutch's dad David (Christopher Lloyd, Wednesday) included — this is still a action-flick saga with IRL connectioms for its lead. In his childhood, Odenkirk once went on a similar getaway. Again, the exact scenario that awaits Hutch isn't how its star's real life panned out; however, links to reality remain, including in exploring Plummerville's criminal element. Getting personal and relatable has always been baked into the Nobody films as well in a broader sense, given that both hone in on someone trying to do the best for their nearest and dearest. That's Hutch's emotional journey. Crucially for Nielsen, she tells us, the same applies to Becca. Nobody 2 kicks off pre-holiday, with Hutch working off his $30-million mob debt from the feature's predecessor, and barely spending time at home as a result. Becca isn't thrilled. Cue the trip, at Hutch's suggestion, to Plummerville's Wild Bill's Majestic Midway and Waterpark — a place with youthful memories for the film's protagonist. Of course, running afoul of the corrupt owner of the local theme park (John Ortiz, The Madness), a take-no-prisoners crime boss (Sharon Stone, The Flight Attendant) and underhanded law enforcement (with And Mrs' Colin Hanks as the sheriff) wasn't on anyone's dream vacation itinerary. Writing for Saturday Night Live, plus featuring in everything from Nebraska, Fargo, Little Women, Undone and Lucky Hank to The Bear and Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway, are all on multiple Emmy-nominee Odenkirk's resume. Whether as Hutch in the Nobody films or as Jimmy-slash-Saul, he's been especially focused on bringing to life figures who refuse to get knocked down and stay down for over 15 years now, though — but that's a trait that he stresses he believes applies to everyone. Indeed, there's always a relatability-meets-wish fulfilment mix to Hutch, Becca and the situations they're in. Who can't relate to struggling with work-life balance, or their partner's lack thereof? Or a holiday not quite panning out the way you'd hoped and wanting to set that right? Or protecting those most important to you? Nobody 2 sees Nielsen on-trend in her own career. For the second time in less than a year, she's returning to a big-screen part. First came Lucilla in Gladiator II; now follows Becca. While both are formidable women, as she has played repeatedly across a career that started with screen roles in the 80s and also spans The Devil's Advocate, Rushmore, Brothers, Wonder Woman, Origin and plenty beyond, it is particularly satisfying and gratifying to portray someone who is meant to be an everywoman — as Hutch is an everyman — and who demonstrates that she too, like all women, can hold her own, she notes. Alongside digging into why Nobody 2 is personal, and its focus on family as well as everyday woes — amid and sometimes through the action setpieces — Odenkirk and Nielsen also chatted with us about the origins of all things Nobody, further fleshing out Becca's story in the sequel, tenacity and more. On Whether Odenkirk Was Keen to Find His Next Recurring Character Beyond Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad — and What He Was Looking For Bob: "I didn't really think on the grand scale that you've described to me. I was really thinking about how Better Call Saul, to my surprise, was pleasing people in countries around the world. I really was mystified initially that Better Call Saul played so well in Italy and Romania and Russia and even England — and everywhere. I actually asked a journalist in Europe 'how do you understand the show? Do you have lawyers like this?'. And they said 'well, we've seen a lot of American entertainment and we understand enough about American culture to understand who Saul is in his community, in his world'. And then I saw that it played in China, and it gave me the thought 'well, if I did an action film, that could play around the world, too' — because action is fairly simple and easy to follow. And the value or the kind of drive of the film is easy to relate to. So I asked my manager 'what about an action film?' — and I thought he'd laugh me off the phone, but he did not. He said 'I get what you're saying. That could work'." On Nielsen's Opportunity to Further Build and Flesh Out Becca Mansell in Nobody 2 Connie: "I think Bob is just such a generous writer. He just writes all these situations where the humanity of his wife is just so clear. There is a wisdom that he builds into Becca — and a zenness, like a knowingness, that I find so attractive about Becca. Becca is patient, but she's not long-suffering. The difference is huge. And she is critical but never blames, never uses blame. She holds him accountable for the sake of the family, for what's best for all of them, but not to control. So there's this wonderful way you can build a character, and I think that Bob just really writes that into Becca since day one. I remember the first time when I read the first script and the reason why I decided I wanted to do it, even though I knew that they wouldn't be developing Becca until the second installation — I just knew that I wanted to do it because there was this sensitive, beautiful scene of two people sleeping with a pillow in-between them. And they're both awake, and they just can't figure out how to how to ford that river between them. And I just thought that I've never seen that in an action movie, something as sensitive as that. And I just love that." On Nobody 2's Personal Ties for Odenkirk, as the First Nobody Also Sported Bob: "Nobody 2 is about a family going on vacation. When I was a kid, we went on two vacations: one to the Illinois State Fair and one to the Wisconsin Dells. And the Wisconsin Dells are just like Plummerville — or at least they were 35, well 45 years ago, when I went on vacation to them. They're mostly water-based. There's duck boats. There's a guy who owns all the attractions in town — just like Wyatt Martin, played by John Ortiz. Wisconsin is where Al Capone ran his booze through. He actually had a home there, in Lake Geneva, I believe. So all that stuff that The Barber [Colin Salmon, EastEnders] says to Hutch, 'used to be a bootlegging route' — that's true of this place where I used to go. All of that is true. The backroads of Wisconsin was where they ran alcohol up to Canada during prohibition, ran it out to the other states, ran it through to Wisconsin. So all that stuff is based on my memories of childhood — and also Derek Kolstad [John Wick], who wrote the movie, his memories. He grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, very close to the Wisconsin Dells. So yes, this movie too is connected to my personal experience." On Doing What's Best for Your Family Always Being at the Heart of the Nobody Films, Even as Action Movies Filled with Violence and Vengeance Connie: "It really is, and I think that that's what attracted me to the story — is that it always stays grounded in something real. There's a real family there, kids, and the real community as well. So I love it when you see writing that just makes the small things come alive, because they are the ones that we just inherently use to create reference points to who we are all the time, and I love that kind of writing." On What Appeals to Odenkirk About Playing Characters Who Refuse to Get Knocked Down and Stay Down, and Are Determined to Bounce Back Up However They Can Bob: "Well, you can say that they're special people or they're indefatigable spirits, but I actually think that's actually pretty common. Most people I know don't quit until they're forced to. They kind of just don't quit. People don't quit. Sometimes I think people are limited by what they imagine they'd be capable of. And that limits them more than their spirit of fighting. I think most people fight pretty hard." On What's Satisfying and Gratifying for Nielsen About Portraying Formidable But Also Relatable Women Connie: "I think the most important thing is really showing normal people trying to address the enormous difficulties of living. There's just so much stuff that's hard to do. Family is hard. Relationships are hard. Jobs are hard. And just showing that, I think, at the same time as you're also entertaining, I think that makes people feel like they're seen — that their lives make sense, because everybody is going through that. So I think I really respond to writing where I see a real human struggle, and I also see indicators for where it becomes meaningful — like, that struggle has meaning." Nobody 2 opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
Unfortunately, it's not an unusual problem. You arrive at your destination, but your bag doesn't. For all the airline staff know, it could have been shuffled off to Zanzibar by now. Or maybe it never even left home. With 90,000 or so flights in the air every day, worldwide, its location could be anyone's guess. In an effort to decrease the frequency of the all-too-common mislaid luggage dilemma, British Airways, in conjunction with Densitron and UK-based creative agency Design Works, have come up with a digital solution. They're currently trialling electronic bag tags, which have the potential to replace the current paper-based system. After checking in, the ticket-holder can use a smartphone to send flight details to the tag (via an app). Then, rather than having to stand in lengthy queues, he or she can drop off his or her bag for scanning. Not only does the electronic bag tag promise to make the tracking of luggage easier, it also means more efficient check-in procedures. Plus, it's reusable. "[The e-tag] is more expensive, but ultimately it is re-usable — you would acquire and use it multiple times," Lewis Freeman, an industrial designer from Designworks told the BBC this week. "The life of the product is up to five years. I imagine the technology would move on faster than the tag would need replacing." If the tags prove to be successful, they'll be publicly available in 2014. [via Hypebeast]
If you're lucky enough to now be working from home, it probably means you have a little more time to make yourself breakfast in the morning. Instead of throwing a banana in your bag (never a good idea, really) or chugging a glass of Nippy's breakfast juice before running out the door, you can cook yourself some blueberry pancakes or scramble some eggs. Or, you can really take your brekkie to the next level with this new breakfast box. A collaboration between Australia's famous cultured butter maker Pepe Saya and arguably the country's best crumpets (don't @ us) Crumpets by Merna, the boxes are available for delivery to next-day delivery zones across NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Setting you back $35 a pop (plus a $20 flat rate for shipping), they come filled with a six-pack of golden crumpets, six 15-gram packets of Pepe Saya's lush butter, a pot of crème fraîche and a limited-edited, extremely lush topping. At the moment, you'll find boxes with lemon curd, strawberry jam, stewed rhubarb or Four Pillars marmalade, as well as chocolate crumpets, which the team describes describe as a cross between a crumpet and a chocolate brownie. But expect other flavours to drop regularly, too. If you're wondering just what exactly you'll be making with those ingredients, take a look at this: Yes, the mother of all breakfast crumpets. Hopefully this provides you with the motivation you need to roll out of bed and flip open your laptop on the couch. The new brekkie boxes are available to order on both the Pepe Saya and Crumpets by Merna websites, so, while you're there you can also tack on a six-pack of blueberry or vegan coconut crumpets ($15), perhaps, or a fancy butter knife. Plus, if you spend over $50 on either site, you'll get free shipping. Pepe Saya and Crumpets by Merna Breakfast Box is available for delivery in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Order online via Pepe Saya or Crumpets by Merna.
The Merri Creek Trail is a popular walking, running, biking and strolling track for many northside Melburnians. It's also home to collared sparrowhawks, eastern rosellas and plenty of ducks. You'll be pacing along Wurundjeri Country and it's a route full of nature, as well as plenty of places to stop along the way — including community gardens, cafes and swimming pools. To enhance your next run, we've teamed up with Adidas to bring you seven rewarding pit stops for when you're tackling the Merri Creek Trail. Take a look, then plan your own adventure using the map below. [caption id="attachment_803012" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matthias Zomer[/caption] SUMNER PARK First, head to Sumner Park on Alister Street in Brunswick East. The park features extensive lawns for some light exercises, like leg swings and calf stretches, plus a drinking fountain. Importantly, this park is a regular hangout spot for furry friends, who can run off-leash and play. Is there any better way to warm up than when surrounded by good boys and girls? [caption id="attachment_803088" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jamie Dale Photography[/caption] CERES COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT PARK Make a stop on the corner of Stewart and Roberts Streets at CERES Community Environment Education Centre and Park. Here you can learn some good eco tips and tricks as well as grab some caffeine. The social enterprise has a community garden and nursery, which you can peruse as you pick up some seasonal produce advice or organic seedlings to put in your bum bag. There's also an organic cafe, pouring coffee made from locally roasted organic beans and serving sandwiches, wraps, salads and baked treats. [caption id="attachment_803758" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laya Clode; Unsplash[/caption] MERRI CORNER COMMUNITY GARDEN Past Abrahams Reserve, Merri Corner Community Garden is full of vibrant flowers, plants and plenty of buzzing bees. Catch your breath and slow your heart rate as you walk around the garden beds that are maintained by various groups in the local community. There are benches to enjoy a proper rest, or for calf stretches while you enjoy the floral scent in the air. And, hey, you may even spot an eastern rosella among the sunflowers. [caption id="attachment_804041" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moreland City Council[/caption] DE CHENE RESERVE Just past Bowden Reserve is De Chene Reserve, a large dog park and sports field connected to the Merri Creek Trail. Here you'll find spots to have a breather among the gum trees. There's also an outdoor gym with various exercise equipment for strength training. Or, there's a walking track if you feel like keeping up your cardio at a slower rate. Make use of the drinking tap near the playground, too. COBURG SWIMMING POOL Take a break from moving on foot by heading to Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool, on Murray Road. Swap the trail for a body of water and get some laps in at the 50-metre outdoor pool. There's also a diving pool with a one-metre diving board if you've got a swan-like plunge to show off. Entry is $6.70. Alternatively, Coburg Leisure Centre is just a stone's throw away and has a spa and steam room if that's more your style. It's $10.30 for a swim, spa and steam. THE BOOT FACTORY After your dip, head to The Boot Factory. The family-owned cafe is housed in the old Coburg Penitentiary and dates back to the 1850s. Take in the history while enjoying an eggs benny, sautéed mushroom medley or a wagyu beef, chicken or haloumi burger. Alternatively, give in to your sweet tooth with a rose and pistachio chocolate brownie or lemon cheesecake. [caption id="attachment_803018" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Creative Commons[/caption] COBURG LAKE RESERVE Finish off your run at Coburg Lake Reserve, an picturesque lake surrounded by greenery and wildlife. You'll definitely see a duck or two and white ibises. Cool down in the shade and enjoy the tranquillity of the park. There's also a public bocce court if you want to stick around for the rest of the arvo. In need of a new pair of runners? Take a look at the new Adidas Ultraboost 21 runners here. Launch the map below to start plotting your own running adventure in and around Melbourne. Top image: Pexels
Get ready for "the Super Bowl of stripping", Channing Tatum's latest excuse to get shirtless and the culmination of a franchise about male dancers chasing the American dream — and endeavouring to bring women pleasure — one scantily clad routine at a time. Magic Mike is back for another ride, and another stint onstage, too, courtesy of the the series' third and final flick Magic Mike's Last Dance. Initially confirmed back in November 2021, this threequel brings Tatum (The Lost City) as Mike Lane, the saga's consistent source of smooth, sultry and sweaty moves while wearing very little. As the just-dropped first trailer shows, this time around he's bartending to get by, and hiding that six-pack under the required garb, until he shows his latest love interest (Salma Hayek, House of Gucci) what he's really good at — and she convinces him to get back to what he loves. No, Ginuwine's 90s banger 'Pony' doesn't get another workout in Magic Mike's Last Dance's first sneak peek. Yes, there's another dose of art imitating life here, which has always been the Magic Mike franchise's remit. The initial 2012 hit took its cues from Tatum's own time stripping in Tampa, Florida before becoming a famous actor, and this flick nods to the fact that that movie and its 2015 sequel Magic Mike XXL spawned their own Tatum-produced live show. If you somehow missed the first movie a decade ago, it became one of 2012's most perceptive flicks. The Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello and Alex Pettyfer-starring film unsurprisingly became a box-office success, too, with its combination of blue collar struggles and gyrating on-stage antics striking a chord to the tune of $167.2 million in takings. It was then followed by Magic Mike XXL, which did indeed manage to live up to its name — not merely by doubling down on what made the first movie such a success, but by also shrewdly recognising the power of the female gaze. Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Kimi, No Sudden Move) directed, shot and edited the initial movie, then just shot and edited the second; however, he's sitting back in the helmer's chair for Magic Mike's Last Dance. Also returning is screenwriter Reid Carolin, who has done the honours all the entire franchise so far. As for when you can see the Magic Mike series' last go-around, the bumping and grinding will arrive in cinemas Down Under in February. Savvily, it's timed just before Valentine's Day. Check out the first trailer for Magic Mike's Last Dance below: Magic Mike's Last Dance will release in cinemas Down Under on February 9, 2023.
Can't make it to Venice any time soon? Don't worry — a taste of the Italian city is coming to Australia. At the beginning of every year, the canal-heavy locale erupts into a colourful festival complete with elaborate costumes and masks. It's a tradition dating back to the 12th century, and it's making its first trip to our shores. The Carnevale Australia Masquerade Ball will brighten up The Peninsula at Docklands on February 11, 2017, asking attendees to don their fanciest threads and best facial covering in the name of the most appropriate theme imaginable in mid February: amore, or love. Indeed, the event certainly plans to share plenty of affection, and not just through its elaborate theming and food. The ball will also include a live silent auction, with proceeds going towards earthquake victims in the Italian village of Amatrice. If that sounds like your kind of shindig (and who doesn't want to dress up, party and pretend they're in Venice?), be prepared: masks are mandatory, and with tickets starting at $450, your masquerade fun doesn't come cheap. In good news for anyone that doesn't have that kind of spare cash, it's also a taster for things to come, with the ball acting as a launch event for Carnevale Australia's full two-week celebration, slated to be held in late October / early November 2017. The Carnevale Australia Masquerade Ball takes place on February 11, 2017 at The Peninsula, Docklands. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the event website and Facebook page. Image: L G.
It hasn't been the greatest couple of years for dining out at fancy restaurants. But, when it comes to the World's 50 Best restaurant awards, the show must go on. After a COVID-driven break last year, the prestigious awards have named their 2021 picks for the greatest restaurants in the world. Taking out this year's top spot was the newest incarnation of Denmark's Noma, led by renowned chef René Redzepi. While no Aussie venues claimed a position among 2021's 50 Best list, two Victorian restaurants secured spots in the 51–100 lineup. Dan Hunter's Brae placed 57th — up from its 2019 ranking of 101 — and Ben Shewry's Ripponlea fine diner Attica came in at number 97, shuffling slightly from its previous position at 84. Both have been regular contenders in the awards for the past few years. [caption id="attachment_616539" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dan Hunter and Ben Shewry[/caption] The 2021 World's 50 Best awards were unveiled at a glitzy ceremony held overnight in Antwerp, with the 51–100 lineup announced a couple of weeks earlier, on September 23. Coming in second place was another famed Danish diner, Geranium, while Spain's Asador Etxebarri retained its 2019 title of third best restaurant in the world. If you're planning any future overseas adventures based entirely around food, you'll be interested to know that both the USA and Spain cleaned up in this year's rankings, each with six restaurants earning spots among the top 50. Running annually since 2002, the World's 50 Best awards are chosen by a panel of over 1000 culinary experts, guided by a strict voting procedure. They're now hosted by a different country each year, with Melbourne playing host city back in 2017. Check out the full list of The World's 50 Best award-winners for 2021 over here. Top Images: Colin Page, from the cookbook 'Brae: Recipes and stories from the restaurant'.
UPDATE, Wednesday, May 15, 2024: After two new Olivia Rodrigo shows for October were added at midday today, another two have been announced at 4pm. This article has been updated to reflect all four new gigs — two each in Sydney and Melbourne. Great news if you're a fan of Olivia Rodrigo and the first four tour dates announced for her first-ever Down Under visit didn't suit: four more shows have just been added to the singer and former Disney talent's Australian itinerary. She's still only playing Sydney and Melbourne, adding a third and fourth gig in both cities — and doing so before punters can even buy general tickets, which starts on Thursday, May 16. Big-name acts have a habit of doing this; see also: Taylor Swift, blink-182, Lizzo and The Weeknd, for some recent examples. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise — but it will give you more chances to head along to Rodrigo's huge GUTS world tour Rodrigo has a date with Australia in October, and will now take to the stage at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena from Wednesday, October 9–Thursday, October 10, and also from Sunday, October 13–Monday, October 14. In Sydney, you can catch her at Qudos Bank Arena dates from Thursday, October 17–Friday, October 18, and also from Monday, October 21–Tuesday, October 22. When we say that this tour is big, we mean it. With the Aussie dates alongside gigs in Bangkok, Thailand, Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore, the tour spans more than 80 concerts around the globe. Fans Down Under who aren't in Sydney and Melbourne, however, you'll be needing to travel. In support of her second studio album that's also called GUTS, this marks three-time Grammy-winner Rodrigo's first arena tour. The 'Drivers License', 'Good 4 U' and 'Vampire' singer will have her debut album SOUR to work through as well. The GUTS tour started in Palm Springs in February, saw Rodrigo do four shows at Madison Square Garden in April, and is currently making its way around the UK before heading to Europe, back to the US, then to Asia and Australia. Olivia Rodrigo GUTS World Tour 2024 Australian Dates: Wednesday, October 9–Thursday, October 10 + Sunday, October 13–Monday, October 14 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Thursday, October 17–Friday, October 18 + Monday, October 21–Tuesday, October 22 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olivia Rodrigo is touring Australia in October 2024. Ticket presales start at 1pm on Wednesday, May 15, and general sales at 1pm on Thursday, May 16 — head to the tour website for further details. Images: Chris Polk, Polk Imaging.
This is not your average boat cruise. Chefs on the Harbour: The Vivid Edition is altogether more unique and luxe than anything else out there. For this year's Vivid Sydney festival, a series of famous chefs will take turns running an opulent superyacht's kitchen, serving up unique culinary creations as they cruise around the iconic Sydney Harbour. Local food lovers are all invited to join the five-course degustation dinners aboard The Jackson. The events are each on a Saturday night. Take to the waters on May 27, June 3, June 10 or June 17 to try one of these totally unique dining experiences. Each evening sees a different chef run the pass, with Nelly Robinson, Khanh Ong and Mark Olive already locked in. The final chef to round out this star-studded lineup will be announced soon, too. Keep an eye on The Jackson website for announcements. Nelly Robinson is known for his avant-garde and often kooky degustation menus — prepare for unbridled creativity on his night. Khanh Ong is loved for his infectiously upbeat personality and contemporary Asian cooking. Ong's menu will celebrate family feels and vibrant Vietnamese flavours. And Mark Olive — also known as the Black Olive — is a famous Aboriginal Australian chef who champions native ingredients. Olive will excite tastebuds and educate diners with his own five-course degustation, explaining the nutritional and medicinal properties found in many of these culturally significant native Australian ingredients. Tickets cost $399 per person and include a 3.5-hour beverage package featuring a Belvedere cocktail upon arrival, Tyrell's wines, Young Henrys beer and a heap of non-alcoholic options. But Chefs on the Harbour: The Vivid Edition isn't only about spectacular food, drinks and views. As it is a part of Vivid Sydney, The Jackson crew has joint forces with Fernando Barraza, the Creative Director of Cirkus Bizurkus, to take it all to the next level. Prepare for light shows, art installations, roaming entertainers, red carpet violinists and so much more. If you love fine food, experiential art experiences and fabulous views, you best consider adding Chefs on the Harbour: The Vivid Edition to your list of must-book Vivid Sydney events. Head to The Jackson's website to purchase tickets to Chefs on the Harbour: The Vivid Edition before they sell out.
Heads up, Mother's Day is just one week away. Yep, you can pucker up on our tootsies later. But there's pressie planning afoot, and we've found quite the showstopper for your dear ol' Mumsie this year thanks to Gelato Messina. Never one to miss an opportunity to experiment with new ways to inhale gelato, Messina have been cooking up quite the delicate novelty dessert for Mum: a Italian-inspired chocolate box of gelato-filled nibbles. Each box comes with 12 handmade chocolate and gelato bon bons; best enjoyed with opera blaring in the background, with a strong, black cup of coffee and a shoulder massage. Go on, your mum put up with you through puberty, you owe her one massage. So which crazy tell-your-friends flavours have Messina come up with for their bitty bon bons? There's six in total, each more decadent than the last: blood peach sorbet with rosewater gel, roasted banana gelato with white chocolate ganache, mandarin puree with salted butter caramel gelato, hazelnut and coffee gelato with roasted hazelnuts, wild strawberry sorbet with pistachio praline and (wait for it) shiraz sorbet with dark chocolate ganache and popping candy. If you can find us something that says 'perfect Mother's Day gift' better than shiraz sorbet bon bons, we'll eat this empty bon bon box. The Messina chocolate and gelato bon bon boxes are going for $39 a box (with a cute little card), available to order from Monday, May 4. They're available for collection from May 8-10 from Darlinghurst, Miranda and Parramatta stores in Sydney, as well as the Fitzroy and Coolangatta stores.
There's a lot to be said about breaking bread. It can be a gesture of friendship, of peace and leisure, or even romance. But for Neda Rahmani, it's art. From February 28 to March 15, Neda will be opening up her Northcote home for the most literal translation of the term 'dinner and show' — a home-cooked meal accompanied by stories, song and dance about living in and leaving her Iranian homeland. The work, directed by Xan Coleman, is produced by contemporary performance company A is For Atlas and is actually in its encore season after a short run last year. Reviewers from its initial performance understandably described the piece as "nourishing", and I'm sure it will be no less satisfying this time around. In a time when immigration is such a hot topic on the political scene, a work like this couldn't be more welcome. Take a seat at the table and break some bread — there's no better place to embrace multiculturalism than in the home of a kindly stranger telling you her story. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Each summer, the Aunty team unleashes the Meredith Music Festival, with 2023's fest on its way in December with Kraftwerk, Caroline Polachek, Alvvays, Alex G and more. Each autumn, it's Golden Plains time at the same Victorian spot — and while the lineup isn't here yet, the ballot for tickets has just opened. Music lovers, 2024's pilgrimage to the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre to dance among the autumn leaves will take place from Saturday, March 9–Monday, March 11, 2024. So, mark those dates in your diaries ASAP. Then, go enter the just-launched ticket ballot right this second. This round of Golden Plains will mark the fest's sweet 16th — and if you're wondering what's in store, the Aunty team has provided an evocative description, as usual. "A sublime time in the greatest of outdoors. All singing, all dancing, all afloat in the primordial Sup'. Come as you fancy," the team advised. "Still waters run deep. Enhancement over advancement. Same size, same shape with no commercial sponsors, free range camping, BYO, the No D‑‑‑head Policy, and One Stage Fits All The Golden Treasures," the Aunty gang continued. The online ballot for Golden Plains 2024 will remain open until 10.16pm AEDT on Monday, October 16, which means that clicking ASAP is recommended. Catering to 12,000 punters each year across three days and two nights, the fest has long proven a favourite for its one-stage setup, which skips the need for frantic timetabling. And, like Meredith Music Festival, its sibling, Golden Plains is also known for the Aunty crew's star-studded bills. There's no signs of that lineup just yet, but watch this space — in past years, including in 2023 when Bikini Kill, Carly Rae Jepsen, Soul II Soul and Four Tet led the bill, it has been announced in October. Golden Plains will return to the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre from Saturday, March 9–Monday, March 11, 2024. Head to the festival's website for further details, or to enter the ballot before 10.16pm AEDT on Monday, October 16. Images: Benjamin Fletcher / Suzanne Phoenix / Theresa Harrison / Steve Benn.
What will start Together, then end with Splitsville? The annual midyear cinema celebration that is Sydney Film Festival in 2025. Title-wise, the event's opening and closing picks couldn't be more fitting for a fest that amasses movie lovers for 12 days to feast on as many flicks as they can, then gets everyone saying farewell until the next year. While Together was announced back in April, Splitsville has only just now joined the SFF program. Accordingly, when it comes time to say goodbye for 2025 on Sunday, June 15 — with the festival kicking off on Wednesday, June 4 — audiences will be catching the Australian premiere of a Dakota Johnson (Madame Web)-starring relationship comedy. Splitsville heads to the Harbour City direct from Cannes, where it debuted. Johnson plays Julie, who is in an open marriage with Paul (Michael Angelo Covino, Notice to Quit), news of which comes as a surprise to the film's protagonist Carey (Kyle Marvin, WeCrashed) when his own wife Ashley (Adria Arjona, Andor) asks for a divorce. Covino also directs, and co-wrote Splitsville with Marvin, reteaming after The Climb. Among its cast, Succession's Nicholas Braun and The Handmaid's Tale's O-T Fagbenle feature as well. The film's gala closing-night screening will span SFF's annual award ceremony, as is the case every year, anointing 2025's Sydney Film Prize winner, shorts award winners and other gongs. "We are delighted to close the 72nd Sydney Film Festival with the Australian Premiere of Splitsville. Michael Angelo Covino delivers a witty and well-crafted comedy with outstanding performances from a brilliant ensemble cast. We always want audiences to leave the cinema feeling like they've had a great time, so this is a joyous and fitting way to conclude this year's festival," said SFF Festival Director Nashen Moodley, announcing 2025's closing film. [caption id="attachment_938017" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tim Levy[/caption] SFF's program for this year just keeps growing, after Vivid collaborations, including with music icon Warren Ellis, were revealed in March — and then a bunch of titles were announced at the beginning of April. After that came news of its Jafar Panahi retrospective, a prescient pick given that the Iranian filmmaker has since won the 2025 Palme D'or at Cannes, plus word of Together's opening-night slot. The bulk of the full program arrived to kick off May, followed by adding Free Solo filmmaker Jimmy Chin chatting about his work, DEATH STRANDING and Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima in-conversation with Mad Max and Furiosa director George Miller, and the Australian premiere of Ari Aster's Eddington. Sydney Film Festival 2025 takes place from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information and tickets, head to the festival's website.
Peru-born Alejandro Saravia, the Owner and Executive Chef of Renascence Group (Farmer's Daughters, Victoria by Farmer's Daughters and Morena Sydney), has become a hugely successful chef in Australia. But Saravia didn't start his professional career in hospitality. He did always want to be a chef, yet he made a deal with his father when he was younger: to get a marketing and business degree, and eventually work in that space — leaving cooking as a hobby. This lasted for a while, as Saravia spent years at the likes of L'Oréal and Johnson & Johnson. Nonetheless, the call of the kitchen was too strong, and he eventually quit marketing to pursue the ambitious goal of running his own restaurants To achieve this, Saravia tells Concrete Playground, he made incredibly detailed plans from the outset — something he picked up in his brand management days — which included working at some of the world's best restaurants (learning from top chefs and owners), developing clear business strategies early on and putting in countless hours of hard work. During our long chat with Saravia, we learned that he does nothing on a whim. Everything is planned out (painstakingly so) and executed with the help of many other experts. This, he notes, is key to running successful restaurants. However, he believes many Australian hospo owners aren't running their businesses in this way, which is strongly contributing to the industry's failings. We sat down with Saravia to discuss what restaurants, cafes and bars need to do to survive these trying times — plus he shared more details on his new Morena Melbourne venues and the best advice he ever received. On the Melbourne Hospitality Industry's Collaborative Spirit "Melbourne is the epicentre of collaborations in Australia. The way the Melbourne hospitality industry works is based on collaborations. I think everybody's very open to receiving other people in their kitchens, in their cellars and in their restaurants. We want to show each other what we do because we're very proud of what we represent. I love collaborations and I will go out of my way to do them. I feel it's a really great way to exchange knowledge and experiences, and it works really well when you're trying to do new things." On Defining Contemporary Australian Cusine "I think that the narrative of tagging Australian cuisine has to change dramatically. Instead of focusing on the dishes, I think we should be focusing on the providence of the food. I'm not going to say 'sadly' because it is what it is, but in Australia, we don't have a dish that represents a region. I mean, a pie is a pie everywhere. They will have different versions, but it's not that there's a Tasmanian pie, there is a Victorian pie or even a Gippsland stew. And that's the problem we've been facing for a long time. We are trying to classify Australian cuisine, but at the end of the day, it could be passed as Japanese, southeast Asian or European cuisine. For me, it's what's in those dishes — and the provenance of the food — that matters." On the Need for Melbourne's Hospitality Industry to Be More Business-Minded "The industry is not broken. I think that there are some operators who are more resistant to changing their ways when faced with a situation where we are transitioning into a much more structured industry. I think, now, a lot of the groups that are growing, a lot of the restaurants that are opening and succeeding, are better and more professional. The advice is: don't cut corners, do your due diligence properly, and spend the money that needs to be spent in getting advice on HR, accounting and how to face a lease. It's like that in any other industry. You will not just go in blind and throw X amount of money to open a creative agency, right? Not knowing anything about how to run a creative agency, or at least half of a creative agency. There are also a lot of decisions that I would like to make that are a personal taste, but I don't for business reasons. I tell a few of my chefs that if you want to put caviar in every single dish, do it in your house. We need to make money here. So, there are decisions that sometimes go against your personal taste but they are guided by the market and what your clientele wants. Our industry is becoming more and more professional, and it's becoming more and more serious. That's a good thing." [caption id="attachment_964136" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morena Sydney[/caption] On How Morena Melbourne Differs From Morena Sydney "I like to see the restaurants as a person. And I think that's probably something that I learned during my time at Johnson & Johnson. They started developing a product, and then the product has a person's name and it has a personality — representing a person who the customer wants to be a friend with. With the restaurant, I see the same. I like to give them a female personality because that's the warmth and personality that symbolises hospitality for me. The Morena in Sydney had to embrace that Sydney vibe, personality and charisma. If we wanted to replicate the same concept in Melbourne, it would have clashed because Melbourne people are different. The first difference is that Morena Melbourne has the Barra venue and Sydney does not. This will have Latin American cantina energy, which is loud, festive and fun without being tacky and over the top. It is more casual as well. We want to present small dishes that you can share and snack on and have a nice laidback experience. It's like a Latin American wine bar, if you want to call it that. Morena Restaurant next door is also more innovative than Sydney, in my opinion. The menu is a little more experimental and we're working with concepts of Latin American cuisine that are not traditionally exposed here in Australia. For example, we've been playing a lot with fermenting, similar to the way they do it in the Andean Sierras and the Amazon jungle." On the Best Advice That Saravia Has Ever Received "The general advice that I got and like to pass on to my teams is to always have a plan. I think that's the core of the whole story. And I think that is one of the key points of my success as well. I always had a plan. For me, you can do anything you want. Absolutely everything. There's no barriers, there's no limitations, but you have to have a plan. If you go blind to the fight, then you don't know where you're going and that's when you're going to fail. And you're going to fail without learning, which is worse. I mean, failing is part of the learning process, but if you fail without learning why you fail, that's stupid. I then tell my team that we need to understand the past in order to be prepared for the present and then face the future. When we have a new project, vision or concept, I sit down and analyse it through those three steps of learning. We need to understand the past to be prepared for the present and to face for the future — that's something that I learned in school from my history teacher. It was a tool that he was giving us to face our lives in different ways." Top image: Arianna Leggiero.
One of the world's most iconic paintings is coming to Australia, as part of a cultural exchange with the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. Painted by James McNeill Whistler in 1871, Portrait of the artist's mother, otherwise known as Arrangement in grey and black no. 1 or more commonly as Whistler's Mother, will be displayed at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, forming the centrepiece of an exhibition about the painting's social and historical impact. "Alongside Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Munch's The Scream sits Whistler's Portrait of the artist's mother as one of a handful of artworks which enjoy universal recognition and admiration," said NGV Director Tony Ellwood in a statement that accompanied the announcement. The exhibition will mark the first time the painting has travelled to Australia. In return, the NGV will loan the Musee d'Orsay Pierre Bonnard's 1900 work Siesta. The NGV exhibition, which will run from March 25 until June 19, will aim to explore Whistler's iconic work from a number of different perspectives, chronicling its initially poor reception at the Royal Academy in London, its rise in popularity over the subsequent decades, and its influence on countless prominent artists including many here in Australia. It will also delve into the life of both the artist and his mother, Anna, who is depicted in the painting. The gallery has produced a short film about the significance of the work, and will also present a number of related public programs including a floor talk series and an illustrated panel discussion. Just whatever you do, when you're visiting the exhibition... try not to sneeze. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWqVoaYxgRs Whistler's Mother will be on display at the NGV from March 25 – June 19. For more information, go here. Updated: Thursday, March 24, 2016. Image: Brooke Holm.
Clearing out your wardrobe, sifting through your old clothing and making a pile to give to a new home rank among life's necessary but often overlooked tasks. It's also an easy process to get just partway through — pulling unloved shirts off their hangers and bagging up a heap of your old outfits to donate to charity, but then letting said bag sit in your hallway for months and months. Sound familiar? If you have the enthusiasm to gift your pre-loved clothing to a new home, but never quite get around to dropping off your old pieces for whatever reason, then you might be interested in The Iconic's new donation scheme. Called Giving Made Easy, it's an extension of the online retailer's free returns mechanism. Just print out a pre-paid shipping label from the company's website, pop it on a box or satchel filled with clothes that you're never going to wear again, then take it to an Australia Post box or office. Obviously, it still involves you actually moving your pile of unwanted clothes out of your house — but even if you never manage to make it to a Salvation Army or St Vincent's store or bin, you're never too far away from a post box. Once posted, your old threads will be sent to the Salvos to sell in their 330 shops across the country, which raise money to assist folks dealing with homelessness, addiction, domestic violence and emergency situations. To nab a label, you will need to have an active account with The Iconic. Once you've done that and printed out the label, you can stick it on any box or satchel you choose. And if you're a customer with one of the company's delivery satchels in your possession after your last order, you can also use that to send in your pre-loved pieces. The initiative is part of The Iconic's efforts to help reduce textile waste, with around 6000 kilograms of fabric and clothing ending up in Aussie landfill every ten minutes. As always when you're donating pre-worn clothes, pieces will need to be in good condition. If you'd happily give it to a friend as it is, then it's okay to give it to the Salvos. The charity is accepting dresses, tops, t-shirts, singlets, skirts, pants, shorts, jeans, coats, jackets, jumpsuits, playsuits, sweats, hoodies, jumpers, cardigans, suits, blazers, shirts, polos and activewear, as well as footwear and shoes. Used underwear, socks and hosiery won't be taken, nor anything that's damaged. To find out more about The Iconic's Giving Made Easy scheme — or to download a pre-paid shipping label — visit the online retailer's website. Top image: The Iconic.
Whether you missed out on a Splendour ticket or are gearing up to see your fave acts twice, you'd better be quick if you want to get your mitts on some sideshow tix. Splendour has made its final gig announcements and sales to the general public kick off at 9am sharp on Wednesday, 27 April. In other words, right now. All up, eleven official shows are planned, mainly in Sydney and Melbourne (but there are a few locked in for Adelaide and Perth too). You'll be able to catch James Blake, who exploded onto global stages at the wee age of 22 with he debut EP CMYK and is now working on his third album, Radio Silence. For some post-hardcore action, you'll want a spot booked for when Texan titans At The Drive-In hit town. It was 16 years ago that Relationship of Command was released and these gigs are the band's first since 2012. You might well want to spend some time at the arenas (Sydney Olympic Park and Hisense Arena) finding out why The 1975 is one of the world's most sought after acts. Their second album I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It surmounted its extraordinarily cheesy title to top the ARIA and iTunes charts and secured the band gigs all over the place, from Coachella to Glastonbury. Next up is Jake Bugg, who became the youngest ever bloke to enter the UK charts at number one back in 2012 when he was just 18 — and four years later, is three albums into his career, with On My One due for release on June 17. Just lately, he's been on the road with Mumford & Sons. For some super smooth electro anthems, go see London-based Jack Garratt. This is the kind of guy you want to take camping with you – not only can he sing (in an incredible falsetto), he can also write, record, produce and play several instruments. You'll want your whistling skills handy for this next one. Peter, Bjorn and John (they're a Swedish trio, if you hadn't guessed), are responsible for one of 2006's catchiest tunes, 'Young Folks' and, in April 2015, they made a come back with 'High Up (Take Me To The Top)'. And for an escape from today's ubiquitous pop and electro, save your money for Mark Lanegan. He's 50 years of age and has been involved in the recording of just as many albums, nine of which are studio solo creations. You might well know him better as the front man of '90s rockers Screaming Trees. He brings his epic, Nick Cave-esque baritone to penetrating lyrics and bluesy melodies. So hop to it. SPLENDOUR 2016 SIDESHOWS James Blake SYDNEY: Tuesday, July 26, Hordern Pavilion MELBOURNE: Wednesday, July 27, Margaret Court Arena At The Drive-In SYDNEY: Sunday, July 24, Enmore Theatre MELBOURNE: Friday, July 22, The Forum The 1975 SYDNEY: Saturday, July 23, Sydney Olympic Park MELBOURNE: Sunday, July 24, Hisense Arena Jake Bugg w/ Blossoms SYDNEY: Tuesday, July 26, State Theatre MELBOURNE: Wednesday, July 27, Palais Theatre Jack Garratt w/ Kacy Hill SYDNEY: Thursday, July 21, Metro Theatre MELBOURNE: Wednesday, July 20, 170 Russell Peter, Bjorn & John SYDNEY: Wednesday, July 20, Metro Theatre MELBOURNE: Thursday, July 21, The Corner Hotel Mark Lanegan Band SYDNEY: Saturday, July 23, Factory Theatre MELBOURNE: Friday, July 22, Croxton Bandroom Beach Slang / Spring King SYDNEY: Wednesday, July 20, Oxford Arts Factory MELBOURNE: Sunday, July 24, The Corner Hotel For the full list of sideshows and to book tickets, visit secretsoundstouring.com.
Twisted true tales getting the TV treatment: that's 2022 in a nutshell. The trend isn't confined to this year alone, it won't go away once December 31 hits, and it isn't new or a passing fad; however, the list of crime dramas based on IRL events has just kept growing in recent months. From Pam & Tommy to Inventing Anna, and The Dropout through to The Girl From Plainville and The Staircase, one case after another has been filling streaming queues — and that's just to name a few such shows. Still, even with such a hefty roster reaching screens of late, Black Bird grabs attention. It also boasts an immediately compelling premise: the quest to get a serial killer to confess to his crimes to ensure that he'll never be released from prison. Now available to stream in full via Apple TV+, the six-episode miniseries focuses on Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton, Rocketman), a former star high-school footballer turned drug dealer. A charmer — with women and in his illicit line of work alike — he's happy in his narcotics-financed life, even if facing hairy situations comes with the territory. But that all crumbles when he's arrested in a sting, and has zero chance of escaping jail time. Offered a plea bargain with the promise of a five-year sentence (four with parole) by prosecutor Edmund Beaumont (Robert Wisdom, Barry), he takes the deal on the advice of his former cop dad Big Jim (the late Ray Liotta, The Many Saints of Newark), but ends up getting ten anyway. Seven months afterwards, still fuming at Beaumont and worried about Big Jim's ailing health, Keene is given the opportunity to go free. The catch: as put to him by FBI agent Lauren McCauley (Sepideh Moafi, The Killing of Two Lovers), he needs to transfer to a different maximum-security prison out of state, where the most vicious and violent are held, and where hellish conditions await. While there, he'll have to befriend suspected kidnapper and murderer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser, Cruella), an avid civil war reenactment attendee. Hall is accused of abducting, raping and killing up to 14 girls young teenage girls, possibly more, and Keene's job is to get him to reveal where he's buried his victims' bodies. The first instalment of Black Bird is unsurprisingly instantly gripping, charting Keene's downfall, the out-of-ordinary situation put to him and the police investigation into one Hall's suspected victims. When Jessica Roach (debutant Laney Stiebing) is found dead, Vermilion County sheriff's investigator Brian Miller (Greg Kinnear, Crisis) tracks the clues to the man considered a harmless weirdo by those who know him — and given that includes local law enforcement in Hall's own hometown, the cop's intuition is dismissed. The slow-spoken, sideburn-sporting person of interest, and grave-digger's son, also has a history of confessing to murders, then routinely recanting and proving unreliable. Accordingly, Hall is labelled an attention-seeking serial confessor, but Miller isn't convinced that's all there is to his story. Black Bird takes its tale from Keene's autobiographical novel In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption, making two things plain from the outset for those who don't know the tale. Clearly, he'll have to get to the point where there's a memoir to write — and he'll have to be alive to do so. But that doesn't make the series any less compelling, tense or chilling; in fact, the wild and riveting details just keep on coming in each episode. With Dennis Lehane, author of Gone Baby Gone, Mystic River and Shutter Island, as its behind-the-scenes driving force, Black Bird dives deep into its complicated scenario as Keene starts to truly realise that his own life and freedom aren't the most important things at stake. A prison drama, a catch-a-killer game of cat and mouse, a psychological thriller, a redemption journey: Black Bird ticks all of these boxes. As Keene strikes up a tentative friendship with the reluctant Hall, the series also features a sadistic guard (Joe Williamson, All Rise) extorting Keene for cash under threat of blowing his cover, plus a mafia old-timer (Tony Amendola, Father Stu) with his own veiled threats — and Miller and McCauley's continued investigations, especially after one of Hall's appeals is granted. It covers Hall's relationship with his handsome twin brother Gary (Jake McLaughlin, Quantico) as well, and Big Jim's guilt over failing to stop Jimmy ending up behind bars, which compounds his health woes. These all add emotion and detail, but if Lehane had solely focused Black Bird's grey-hued frames on its two central inmates, the series wouldn't have been any less powerful. At its core, this is an intense two-hander about two men laying bare their true natures in thorny, anxiety-dripping back and forths, and Keene learning the cost of getting his life back in the process. In a weighty acting showcase, the look on Egerton's face frequently says it all in; Keene will always have to live with what he discovers from Larry, with crimes like these impossible to forget. 2022 marks a decade since Egerton's first on-screen credit as a then-23 year old, and he's rarely been out of the cinematic spotlight since — but Black Bird is his most mature performance yet. The confidence that's so crucial to his work in the Kingsman movies dissipates the further that Keene is plunged into a nightmare. The adaptability that worked so well for Egerton as he hopped through Eddie the Eagle, Robin Hood and Rocketman also comes in handy. It's a multi-faceted turn, and it's fantastic. Black Bird is home to excellent performances all round, each one proving pivotal. Liotta makes a firm imprint as Big Jim, and is particularly heartbreaking to watch after the actor's sudden passing in May. Hauser's menacing efforts won't ever be forgotten, either — and ranks among the great on-screen serial killer portrayals. That too is a packed field, but from the sluggish, wheezy voice through to the distinctive casual-yet-taught body language, his time as Hall is that unnerving, that raw, and that eerily extraordinary. If you were to come across the actor in-character after watching the series, you'd want to run the other way. That, and feeling echoes of Mindhunter as well, couldn't be more of a compliment. Check out the trailer for Black Bird below: Black Bird streams via Apple TV+.
We're calling it: this summer is the summer of fresh and fruity cocktails in the backyard with as many mates as possible. Nothing is going to ruin the gin-filled summer we know we deserve — not even La Niña. To celebrate the warmer months, we've teamed up with Whitley Neill Gin to bring you five original cocktail recipes that go well beyond your usual G&T. For the uninitiated, Whitley Neill Gin produces handcrafted artisanal gin from the first gin distillery in London, dating back 200 years — and it's still the only gin distillery in London today. Of course, it's got a London Dry gin, but it's also known for its innovative flavoured gins which take cocktails to new heights. So dust off your cocktail shaker, make a spread of your favourite cheeses and call your mates for an afternoon sip session. [caption id="attachment_838645" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Liddle[/caption] MELON PATCH Serves one If you like your cocktails packed with real fruit and with a slight herby twist, the Melon Patch will be right up your alley. This take on a classic G&T features the Whitley Neill Original London Dry Gin which, with its rich juniper notes, citrus and exotic botanicals, pairs well with the fresh watermelon chunks and mint. It's bound to be a winner after a long day at the beach, when your guests roll in sandy-footed and sun-kissed. Ingredients: 30ml Whitley Neill Original London Dry Gin 3 watermelon chunks 120ml Strangelove Coastal Tonic Water Basil Ice (crushed) Method: Add watermelon pieces and gin into the bottom of a tall glass. Add tonic water and top with crushed ice. Garnish with basil. [caption id="attachment_838646" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Liddle[/caption] BRUNCH MARTINI Serves one Think martini, but fit for brunchtime. In this concoction, the grapefruit gin, tonic and lemon complement each other to make a perfectly sweet and zingy cocktail. And there's a dollop of marmalade, which is an interesting addition to impress your pals. Whether a hair-of-the-dog or a summery concoction to start a long lunch, this one will go down a treat. Ingredients: 30ml Whitley Neill Pink Grapefruit Gin 15ml pink grapefruit juice 15ml lemon juice 1 barspoon (or teaspoon) of marmalade 30ml Fever-Tree Aromatic Tonic Ice Method: Shake gin, both juices and marmalade together over ice. Add 30ml Fever-Tree Aromatic Tonic Water to shaker — but don't shake again. Then, simply strain into a cocktail glass. [caption id="attachment_838648" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Liddle[/caption] POMME SPRITZ Serves one It's a universal truth that spritzes are the go-to balmy weather drink. This one features the Whitley Neill Quince Gin, which has a distinctive flavour that's a real winner. Pair that with a dash of cloudy apple juice and a good pour of prosecco for a fun, bubbly finish. Ingredients: 45ml Whitley Neill Quince Gin 60ml Strangelove pear soda 30ml cloudy apple juice 60ml prosecco 3 thin apple slices Cucumber ribbon Ice Method: Build all ingredients over ice in a highball or balloon glass, then garnish with green apple and cucumber. [caption id="attachment_838649" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Liddle[/caption] CRIMSON COCO COOLER Group serve Serve a jug of this cooler on those sticky summer days when the only activity you can carry out without breaking a sweat is walking from pool to freezer. Refreshing coconut water and fizzy cranberry soda make it the perfect arvo cocktail. Plus, it's ridiculously easy to make — just chuck all the ingredients in a carafe with some ice, give it a quick stir and you're good to go. Ingredients: 120ml Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin 250ml Capi cranberry soda 360ml coconut water 30ml lime juice Raspberries (to garnish) Lemon (to garnish) Cucumber (to garnish) Mint (to garnish) Ice Method: Add gin, cranberry soda, coconut water and lime juice into a carafe and fill with ice. Stir to combine. Garnish with raspberries, lemon wheels, cucumber wheels and mint. [caption id="attachment_838650" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Liddle[/caption] ALL SEASONS Group serve This is a drink for those who like their cocktails fresh, fizzy and sweet. It's also perfect when for when you've got your mates over and you need to look impressive while maintaining conversation and effortlessly whipping up a jug of something. If you really want to impress, make sure you have some edible flowers on hand to garnish. Ingredients: 180ml Whitley Neill Rhubarb and Ginger Gin 200ml mango nectar 300ml Strangelove mandarin soda 90ml lime juice Dehydrated citrus (to garnish) Edible flowers (to garnish) Ice Method: Combine gin, mango nectar, soda and lime juice in a carafe and top with ice. Garnish with dehydrated citrus and flowers, and serve. For more information on the innovative Whitley Neill gin range, head to the website. Top image: Paul Liddle
When it comes to buzzy capital cities, Australia has no shortage of options — but Sydney really does have it all. From cutting-edge underground bars and classic pub fare to historic sights and iconic performances, Sydney is a rich tapestry of creativity, culture, and natural splendour. It's hard to go wrong here, but a little insider intel can help you get it just right. If you're planning a weekend in the Harbour City, Marriott Bonvoy is offering 10% off your stay across six hotels—all you need to do is sign up to become a member (for free). It's also the perfect excuse to extend your stay. To play the role of your well-informed mate on the ground, we've curated a short list of reasons why Sydney is always worth checking into. Descend Into Sydney's Awesome Subterranean Bars When it comes to vibey watering holes, Sydney's list just keeps growing. But when the lights dim and the city starts to wind down, the real magic begins underground. Scattered across the CBD and its surrounding boroughs, these hidden gems require a little insider knowledge — knowing which alley to turn down and which door to knock on. From Mucho Group's Herbs Taverne and Swillhouse's swanky new Caterpillar Club, to The Gidley and Double Deuce Lounge, Sydney's subterranean bar scene is constantly evolving. Check out our full guide here. Check Into a Cosy Hotel Choosing the right hotel can make or break your Sydney stay. While there are plenty of options, it's the city centre's stunning skyline, harbour backdrop, and expansive parklands that set it apart—so you'll want a base that captures all that charm. Marriott Bonvoy's collection of premium hotels promises a memorable stay, plus, with 10% off it's the perfect time to plan a quick trip or extended getaway. From luxury stays like The W Sydney, Pier One Sydney Harbour and the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park to stylish, family-friendly options like the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel Circular Quay and Four Points By Sheraton Sydney in Central Park, you're spoilt for choice. Watch a Performance at The Sydney Opera House Sure, visiting the Opera House for a quick picture is a Sydney bucket list moment for locals and travellers alike — but catching a show inside? That's when the magic really takes place. Beyond the grandeur of the Concert Hall, this cultural icon also houses intimate spaces that host everything from indie gigs and theatre to symphonies and ballet. Visit in the coming months and you can expect atmospheric sets by the likes of early-thousands throwback Bachelor Girl, Lime Cordiale with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and The Australian Ballet — plus a post-show drink with a view that's hard to top. If you're looking to stay within walking distance of the Sydney Opera House, check into the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel Circular Quay for a stylish slice of convenience. Devour an Award-Winning Steak at Bistecca When it comes to must-try meals, few live up to the hype — but Bistecca delivers. Tucked down a CBD laneway, this moody, Tuscan-inspired spot has earned international acclaim, and a place on our list of Sydney's best steaks, for its signature bistecca alla Fiorentina, a thick-cut T-bone, prepared over ironbark and charcoal. You'll surrender your phone at the door, leaving you to focus solely on your steak, vino, and conversation. Equal parts speakeasy and Italian fine dining steakhouse, it's a must for meat lovers and experiential diners. Catch a Film at Sydney's Revamped IMAX Theatre After a seven-year hiatus, Sydney's IMAX theatre has roared back to life — and it's bigger and bolder than ever. Now home to the world's third-largest screen (a jaw-dropping 693 square metres), the high-tech space is tucked beneath the W Sydney and reserved for only the biggest blockbusters. Whether you're seeing Superman, F1 The Movie, or Fantastic Four, expect next-level visuals via a 4K laser projection, crystal-clear surround sound, and custom-designed lenses that'll make every explosion, car chase and close-up feel massive. Tickets are limited, so get in quick. Oh, and be sure to grab a pre-blockbuster cocktail at the W Sydney's rooftop bar, 29/30. Hook Into a Sunday Roast at The Lord Dudley When it comes to winter pub fare, few places are as beloved as The Lord Dudley in Woollahra. Established in 1895, this old-school charmer channels the ambience of a British country manor, with its open fireplaces, dark wooden interiors, and traditional English ales. The main event? It's legendary Sunday roast — chicken or pork — served with crispy roast potatoes, steamed greens, rich gravy, and a golden Yorkshire pudding. Just be warned: if it's cold outside, or there's a good game on, you might be fighting for a patch of carpet, let alone a table. Wander The Halls Of Sydney's Art Institutions Art galleries say a lot about a city — and if Sydney's gallery walls could talk, they'd speak of multiculturalism, a complex past and an enduring thirst for artistic ingenuity. The city is home to a broad stroke of galleries, and wandering through them on a chilly winter's day is the perfect antidote to a deep chill. From intimate spaces like China Heights, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, and White Rabbit Gallery to internationally revered institutions like the Art Gallery of NSW and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, there's something to suit every creative appetite. Hot tip: The Art Gallery of NSW stays open late every Wednesday for Art After Hours, an enticing lineup of talks, art, and music, while White Rabbit Gallery is just a stone's throw from Four Points By Sheraton Central Park. Rug Up And Cheer On Your Team At Accor Stadium Another true Sydney bucket list moment? Watching your ride-or-die team go head-to-head at one of the country's largest and loudest stadiums. Whether you're into rugby league, rugby union, AFL, soccer or cricket, Accor Stadium creates an electrifying atmosphere—especially when 83,000 fellow fans surround you. This winter, the stadium will host a string of rugby league finals, plus the third and final State of Origin showdown. It's an easy trip by public transport, but if you're feeling fancy, split a limo with a few mates—it can cost about the same as a cab. Or better yet, check into the Moxy Sydney Airport Hotel and stay in style just a short drive from the action. Book your Sydney escape before September 30 to access 10% off your stay and dining with Marriott Bonvoy. All you have to do is sign up as a member—and it's completely free. Book 10% off your stay and rediscover Sydney. T&C's apply and vary by participating hotels including blackout dates, cancellation restrictions and more. Offer may not apply in properties not participating in the award and redemption of Marriott Bonvoy. By Elise Cullen
Every year is a big year for movies, but 2023 is set to be downright explosive, all thanks to one of the most-anticipated films of the year. That feature: Christopher Nolan's latest, and his first flick since Tenet. It just explores a little thing called the atomic bomb, focusing on J Robert Oppenheimer. "They won't fear it until they understand it. And they won't understand it until they've used it," says the titular figure in the just-dropped full Oppenheimer trailer. Played by Nolan regular Cillian Murphy (see also: The Dark Knight, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and Dunkirk), the "father of the atomic bomb" narrates the new sneak peek with plenty of such telling comments. Here's another: "I don't know if we can be trusted with such a weapon, but we have no choice". Yes, Nolan is going back to the Second World War again, focusing on the eponymous American physicist, aka the man who helped develop the first nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project. Also earning the director's attention: the fact that Oppenheimer needed to risk destroying the world to save it. Charting his life, his part in birthing the atomic bomb and how it changed the world — and the fallout — should make for gripping viewing, although viewers will need to wait until July 20, 2023 Down Under to find out. The new trailer follows a brief teaser in mid-2022, and provides a bigger glimpse of what's in store. Oppenheimer's story also includes heading up Los Alamos Laboratory — and observing the Trinity Test, the first successful atomic bomb detonation in New Mexico on July 16, 1945 — as this latest bit of footage shows. Nolan is always in serious mode, but this is a solemn affair even by the Memento, Interstellar and Dark Knight trilogy filmmaker's standards. And, it looks like a spectacle, in no small part thanks to being shot in IMAX 65mm and 65mm large-format film photography, including sections in IMAX black and white analogue photography for the first time ever. Based on Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin's Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the film boasts an all-star cast, including Emily Blunt as the physicist's wife, biologist and botanist Kitty (reteaming Blunt with Murphy after A Quiet Place Part II) — plus Matt Damon (The Last Duel) as General Leslie Groves Jr, director of the Manhattan Project; Robert Downey Jr (Dolittle) as Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the US Atomic Energy Commission; and Florence Pugh (The Wonder) as psychiatrist Jean Tatlock. Also set to pop up: Josh Hartnett (Wrath of Man), Michael Angarano (Minx), Benny Safdie (Stars at Noon), Jack Quaid (The Boys), Rami Malek (No Time to Die) and Kenneth Branagh (Death on the Nile). Oh, and there's Dane DeHaan (The Staircase), Jason Clarke (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty), Olivia Thirlby (Y: The Last Man), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story) and Matthew Modine (Stranger Things) as well. Check out the full trailer for Oppenheimer below: Oppenheimer will release in cinemas Down Under on July 20, 2023. Images: © 2022 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
The roof at New York's world famous Metropolitan Museum of Art is playing host to a most unusual dinner party. Created by prolific Argentinean artist Adrián Villar Rojas, The Theater of Disappearance consists of more than 100 characters and objects from the Met's incredible collection that have been digitally scanned and cast as sculptures, before being spread around the Iris and B Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. Made with 3D printers or through a computer-controlled milling process, the outdoor display mixes and matches artwork from all around the globe. Some figures sit around long white banquet tables, while others look out across the Manhattan skyline. Egypt's King Horemheb gives a piggyback ride to a woman in sneakers, who in turn holds Tutankhamun's head in her left hand. Plates and coins and goblets and even medieval armour lay strewn across the table. "I wanted to play with the doodles of culture," Rojas told The New York Times. Unhappy with what he sees as the sterile, constructed world of contemporary museums, he decided to imagine his own museum "without divisions, without geopolitics, totally horizontal." The Theater of Disappearance will be on display at The Met until October 29, weather permitting. Images via The Met on Twitter.
