Groovin' the Moo has announced its 2013 line-up a day early after a Music Feeds source discovered a leak via Moshtix. And after reading through the list of acts appearing at this year’s festival, it's little wonder those involved got so prematurely excited. International acts hit double digits this year, with USA heavyweights The Bronx and The Amity Affliction, the UK's Frightened Rabbit and The Kooks and Canadian twins Tegan and Sara all set to strap on their gumboots and distribute their fresh sonic goods across five regional locations. Local heavyweights on the bill include Tama Impala, Flume, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Blue Mountains beatmaker Urthboy, Melbourne sextet Alpine, electronic trio Midnight Juggernauts and the awesomely named Yolanda Be Cool. Even dubstep gets a repping courtesy of Shockone. Besides music, the festival will provide local food stalls with fresh produce of the culinary variety, markets filled with knickknacks, licensed bar facilities, slingshot rides, and plenty of spacious chill-out areas. Presale tickets go on sale Thursday, January 31, at 9am via Moshtix with the presale ticket code Haystack #GTM2013 (also revealed today). Groovin' the Moo 2013 Line-up: Alison Wonderland Alpine The Amity Affliction The Bronx (USA) DZ Deathrays (DJ Set) Example (UK) Flume Frightened Rabbit (UK) Hungry Kids Of Hungary The Kooks (UK) Last Dinosaurs Matt And Kim (USA) Midnight Juggernauts Pez Regurgitator Seth Sentry Shockone Tame Impala Tegan And Sara (Canada) The Temper Trap They Might Be Giants (USA) Tuka with Ellesquire Urthboy DJ Woody’s Big Phat 90?S Mixtape (UK) Yacht (USA) Yolanda Be Cool Groovin' the Moo 2013 Dates: Saturday, April 27 Maitland Showground Blomfield St, Maitland NSW 2320 Sunday, April 28 University of Canberra Kirinari St Bruce ACT 2617 Saturday, May 4 Bendigo’s Prince of Wales Showground 42 – 72 Holmes Rd, Bendigo VIC 3550 Sunday, May 5 Murray Sports Complex – Townsville Cricket Grounds Mervyn Crossman Dr & Murray Lyons Cres, Idalia QLD 4811 Saturday, May 11 Hay Park (off) Parade Rd Bunbury WA 6230
Four years after rock 'n' roll den Heartbreaker joined the family, acclaimed Fitzroy cocktail haven The Everleigh is set to score another younger sibling, as Michael and Zara Madrusan's Made In The Shade group (MITS) gears up to launch its latest venue. Dubbed Bar Margaux, the Lonsdale Street basement bar brings to life one of Michael's long-held dreams, opening his own riff on the Parisian-style brasseries he frequented during his years as a bartender in New York during the early 2000s. While The Everleigh is elegant and poised, and Heartbreaker boasts a more rebellious, dive bar attitude, this newcomer will capture a little of both. As Zara explains, "she'll be sophisticated and feminine, but lively and late." The space itself will be a big nod to those Big Apple brasseries, complete with chequered floors, banquettes in deep red and an impressive zinc-topped bar. Working to MITS's signature focus on top-quality drinks, food and service, the new 80-seater will be a spot for cocktail and snack sessions, dining room feasts and everything in between. And it's dishing up the goods delightfully late, with French-inspired classics on offer until midnight and a supper menu doing the rounds right up until 5am on Fridays and Saturdays. [caption id="attachment_636584" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Everleigh, James Morgan.[/caption] As for the drinks offering, it's another cracking collaboration between Michael and Marty McCaig (MITS Group Manager and co-owner of South Yarra wine bar South Press). Expect lots of familiar French varieties, natural wines aplenty and what is expected to be one of Melbourne's most enviable Champagne collections. Meanwhile, the cocktail list will star a good spread of wine-based cocktails, with half-sized martinis and manhattans available, too. Bar Margaux is slated to open in May at 111 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
Prepare your handlebar moustaches and jokes about rich mahogany; Ron Burgundy is returning in a sequel to 2004's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Appearing on the Conan O'Brien show on Wednesday night, Will Ferrell, in full Burgundy costume accompanied by his jazz flute, announced that a deal had been struck between Paramount and the character who launched a cult following eight years ago. Ferrell had previously written off the idea of an Anchorman sequel, saying it would be too expensive to get the cast back together, and while there's no confirmation as yet that Christina Applegate and Steve Carrell will return as Veronica Corningstone and Brick Tamland, respectively, it's expected the majority of the original cast will make an appearance in the sequel. After a couple of minutes of banter with Conan, Ferrell proclaimed, "I actually have an announcement. I want to announce this here to everyone in the Americas. To our friends in Spain, Turkey and the UK, including England, that as of 0900 mountain time, Paramount Pictures and myself, Ronald Joseph Aaron Burgundy have come to terms on a sequel to anchorman. It is official: there will be a sequel to Anchorman." And then he sauntered off backstage playing the jazz flute. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MrNA7RjU91I
Despite brighter-than-summer colours and clearer-than-Crater Lake sound, virtual reality is still bigger on virtuality than it is on reality. That's largely because the acceptance of digital life demands the denial of touch, smell and taste. Researchers at the National University of Singapore, however, are hoping to change this. They're one step closer to adding at least one sensory dimension to cyberspace. An electrodes-driven simulator has been developed that stimulates the tastebuds to recreate four of the sensations essential to the gustatory experience: sweet, salt, sour and bitter. A digital interface enables micro-alterations in temperature. Engineer Dr Nimesha Ranasinghe told the UK Telegraph, "It uses two methods — electrical stimulation and thermal stimulation to stimulate the tip of the human tongue non-invasively ... By manipulating the magnitude of current, frequency and temperature — both heating and cooling — thus far salty, sour, sweet and bitter sensations have been successfully generated ... Simulating food is one of the future directions of this technology." It's intended that users will be able to share meals virtually and taste the results of popular cooking shows. However, there's still work to be done. The simulator is yet to prove successful at stimulating at the fifth basic flavour, umami. Plus, researchers have acknowledged that our experience of taste is shaped by a variety of complex factors, including texture, colours and smell. In a side-project, the team is simultaneously developing a digital lollipop. The plan is to provide consumers with a sweet hit without the usual risks: weight gain and tooth decay. Previous attempts at facilitating digital taste have been rendered unsuccessful by their dependence on chemicals. Requiring constant mixing and frequent renewing, they're messy, costly and impractical. Via PSFK.
What gets a new face every couple of years, and a different tone, too — and stalks stealthily through the dark but loves being projected big upon a glistening silver screen? Fans of Gotham City's famous purveyor of justice know the answer to that riddle, of course. Actually, after oh-so-many different iterations of the Dark Knight over the decades, the world in general does as well. In 2022, The Batman gave us a new version, with Robert Pattinson following in the footsteps of everyone from Adam West, Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer to George Clooney, Christian Bale and Ben Affleck. In fantastic news, the moody, brooding and gloomy end result is one of the best Batman flicks yet — and, although it only hit Australian cinemas just over a month ago, RPatz's turn in the cape and cowl has now been fast-tracked to digital. So, here's another conundrum: catch the Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes)-directed, 70s crime thriller-style superhero movie on the big screen, or settle in to watch it without leaving the house? There's no right answer, because you now have options. That said, nothing beats the cinema experience — especially for a film that makes all things Batman feel new again, as this excellent effort does. Still, if that's your couch time for tonight sorted, you'll find The Batman available to rent digitally from all the usual places. In the process, you'll also find a bruised and battered take on the vigilante, a pitch-perfect turn from Tenet star Pattinson — including far more reluctance as the titular character's alter-ego Bruce Wayne than usual, and welcomely so — and a top-notch supporting cast. Also featured: Zoe Kravitz (Kimi) as Catwoman, Paul Dano (Escape at Dannemora) as the Riddler, Colin Farrell (he North Water) as the Penguin, Jeffrey Wright (The French Dispatch) as Commissioner Gordon and Andy Serkis (Long Shot) as Alfred Pennyworth. No one really needs a plot synopsis for Batman films by now, but when The Batman begins (not to be confused with Batman Begins), it's with the slaying of a powerful Gotham figure. A shocking crime that scandalises the city, it leaves a traumatised boy behind, and couldn't be more influential in the detective-style tale of blood and vengeance that follows. But viewers haven't seen this story before, despite appearances. It isn't the start of pop culture's lonesome billionaire orphan's usual plight, although he's there, all dressed in black, and has an instant affinity for the sorrowful kid. Behold the first standout feat achieved by this excellent latest take on the Dark Knight (not to be confused with The Dark Knight): realising that no one needs to see Bruce Wayne's parents meet their end for what'd feel like the millionth time. From there, The Batman follows its namesake's efforts to get to the bottom of the crime — a tricky task in Gotham, unsurprisingly. And yes, this film meant to stand completely apart from the most recent Affleck-starring DC Extended Universe version of the character. So, basically, what DC Films and Warner Bros Pictures did with Joker in 2019 — serving up a grimmer, grittier iteration of the infamous figure that has absolutely nothing to do with the rightfully hated Jared Leto version — they've done again for Batman now. Check out the trailer for The Batman below: The Batman is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream online via video on demand — including via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review.
Sure, the animal heads adorning the walls of Shady Pines are pretty cool. And I like the faux Andy Warhol studio decor of the Oxford Art Factory as much as the next person. But when it comes to mind-boggling designs, wacky themes and unique going-out experiences then these ten bars are a cut above the rest. For many bar-owners, the humble "pub" is not simply a local watering hole or after work hideaway but a sanctuary for unreal creative expression and a place where your most bizarre and bewildering fantasies can become a reality. Here we present ten of the weirdest and most wonderful bars from across the globe with themes ranging from a mental asylum to under the sea and unbelievable locations such as inside a 6,000 year-old tree to a giant coffin. Check out the photos below to see what a little bit of imagination, an incredible locality and a whole lot of money can do to transform your average bar into something straight out of a Stanley-Kubrick-on-LSD dream. HR Giger Bar Where: Chur, Switzerland Designed by the manic genius that is Swiss artist H.R. Giger, Switzerland's two Giger bars are modeled on the artist's most famous creation: the nightmarish, intergalactic creatures in Ridley Scott's sci-fi masterpiece Alien. With its giant skeletal arches and torture device chairs, a trip to the Giger bars is an eerie and unnerving experience and provides customers with the distinct feeling that they have been transported into the belly of one of Giger's grotesque alien creatures. Alux Lounge Where: Playa del Carmen, Mexico If descending into the belly of the beast is not your idea of a good time then perhaps descending into a bar carved into an underground cave is more tempting. The bar is not one but a whole system of interlocking caves, with each cave playing host to a different form of nocturnal entertainment, and every room filled with an arresting array of stalactites and stalagmites that surround you on all sides. The Clinic Bar Where: Singapore As the name suggests, the Clinic Bar is a hospital-themed pub that pushes the boundaries of the imagination almost as much as it pushes the boundaries of taste. Some of the medical-themed highlights of this strange establishment include gilded wheelchair seats, hospital bed booths, operating room light fixtures and most peculiarly, drinks served in IV bags and test tubes. Red Sea Star Bar Where: Eliat, Israel While oceanic themed bars and restaurants can be found in just about every seaside town, the Red Sea Star Bar not only resembles an underwater palace but it is in fact located six metres under the Red Sea. Although it may sound camp and kitsch, the combined effect of the sand and sea urchin decor along with the panoramic views of the Red Sea's beautiful coral and sealife provides for an enchanting and fantastical experience unlike any other bar in the world. The Sunland Pub Where: Limpopo Province, South Africa The pub itself is really not much to look at. Consisting of a dusty old dart board, a collection of rusted knick-knacks and the tiniest of bar tables, the Sunland Pub resembles nothing more than a derelict family bar. Yet travelers and locals alike have been known to line up for hours at a time to get a peak of The Sunland Pub thanks to the fact that this remarkable pub is located in a giant Baobab tree. The tree is estimated at being more than 6,000 years old making it one of the world's oldest living trees. Sky Bar Where: Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok has become globally renowned for its beautiful collection of rooftop bars scattered across its sprawling metropolis. None of these bars however bare any comparison to the most famous of them all: the super-ritzy and unbelievably spectacular Sky Bar. Suspended above the city at a staggering 63 floors, the Sky Bar provides visitors with 360 degree views of the city and the majestic Chao Phraya River. Alcatraz ER Where: Tokyo, Japan The weird and wacky tastes of Japanese party-goers has meant that Tokyo has become a hotbed for some truly bizarre themed bars. One of the city's oldest and undoubtedly one of its most deranged is Alcatraz ER, which provides visitors with an experience somewhere between a One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest style mental asylum and a medieval dungeon (no, actually). Customers are locked and chained up in prison cells, while waitresses dressed as nurses serve cocktails with names like "Acute Mental Stabilizer" and men with giant syringes terrorise the unsuspecting visitors. A class act through and through. Eternity, The Coffin Bar Where: Truskavets, Ukraine On the theme of politically incorrect bars is the Ukraine's disturbing and aptly named "Eternity", which was designed to resemble a giant coffin. If the thought of drinking away your sorrows in the world's largest coffin doesn't scare you off then perhaps its equally chilling interior might, with the bar decked out with a highly tasteful collection of small coffin tables, novelty sized wreaths and cathedral-like lighting. Ice Bar Where: Stockholm, Sweden The thought of an ice cold drink in an ice cold bar has taken the world by storm with ice bars popping up in major cities all over the world (including Sydney's very own Ice Bar and Minus5). The original, however, was Stockholm's Ice Bar, in which everything from the bar stools to the glasses you drink from are made from ice harvested from Sweden's Torne River. With the bar set at a frosty -5 degrees celsius and surrounded in Stockholm's stunning winter wonderland, this bar is the perfect place to chill out and grab a couple of cold ones. NASA Pub Where: Bangalore, India With waiters and bartenders that wear spacesuits, spectacular laser shows and all exits and entries shaped like space shuttle doors it is hard not to love Bangalore's most famous novelty pub. While most of us will unfortunately never get to experience what it is like to live aboard a NASA spaceship, this remarkable bar will take you on a celestial and otherworldly experience faster than you can say "open the pod bay doors, HAL".
The Kook is a short film made on a small budget that's taking the US independent film festivals by storm (and walking away with all the awards too). Already given the Official Selection title at a number of festivals, including Austin, New Orleans, Riverrun and Slamdance, the film is set to screen at several others in the US and Europe too. The film's story follows Fa, a gentle and unassuming member of an eccentric religious sect, as she inadvertently discovers an unsettling truth about the cult's leader. It's a dark comedy that plays with the realisation that everything Fa has ever believed in is fake, but it's not just The Kook's universal themes of truth and deception that has won audiences over. Although the cult's yellow jogging suits and dark bowl-cut hairdos probably make a lasting impression for many of the film's audiences, it's an 18-minute film that feels like nod to '80s soft-focus cinematography and the creation of a kooky world that's, worryingly, not too unlike our own. Actress T. Sahara Meer, who plays the naive Fa, recently received an award for best actress at a comedy festival in LA and, just a few days ago, the film's directors - New Yorkers Gregory Mitnick and Nat Livingston Johnson - took home the Audience Award at LES Film Festival in Manhattan. It looks like it'll be a big year for this little film. Now we just need to convince them to show it off down under. https://youtube.com/watch?v=t8u284szuk4
Urban beekeepers in Australia are on the increase, with more and more people besotted by an unusual new love affair with backyard native beekeeping. According to Sydney's Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, the new trend has brought an element of nature back to the city, where residents and native bees alike are reaping its benefits. The Asylum Seekers Centre community garden in Surry Hills is currently home to several hundred sugarbag bees. Volunteer Jess Perini says that asylum seekers are “hooked” on the beauty of the tiny bees, which produce roughly one kilo of sugarbag honey – an expensive, nutritious variety – a year. Not only do the creatures add to the splendour and biodiversity of the garden, they have also helped to break down language barriers for asylum seekers. Sydneysiders can expect the backyard beekeeping craze to stay with the instalment of native beehives in several community gardens later this year. In Brisbane, a code of practice for urban beekeeping has already been established. And in Melbourne, an organisation called Rooftop Honey offers people the chance to sponsor their own hives. Australia is home to ten different species of stingless bees which grow to only a few millimetres. Tiny and harmless, they quite literally take the sting out of a mutually beneficial relationship. Backyard beekeepers are able to harvest their own sources of honey, while the bees find sanctuary from the destruction of their habitats from land clearing. Native bees also play an important role in balancing the natural ecosystem by pollinating native plant species and crops. With so many environmental and community benefits, it’s not hard to see why urban beekeeping has generated such a buzz. And it’s not limited to Australia – since a ban on beekeeping in New York was overturned in 2010, the popular pastime has hit the roof on NYC's rooftops.
Pond want to give you a giant tortoise, Pitchfork have the hots for Jagwar Ma, and Cheyenne Tozzi has the voice of a chain-smoking angel. Here are five new tracks to put on high rotation this weekend. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qE9Dz0pl5mk 1. 'GIANT TORTOISE' — POND Pond just dropped this thrasher at lunchtime today, meaning that if you go here and download it for free you'll be one of the first (thousand) people in the world to get a taste of Hobo Rocket, the follow-up album to last year's wildly successful Beard, Wives, Denim. Crank up your speakers first. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qFLIU0Km3So 2. 'REACH YOU' — VAN HOORN When she's not doing Vogue covers or cavorting around Los Angeles with Paris Hilton, the Sutherland Shire's Cheyenne Tozzi sings in a band called Van Hoorn. And Van Hoorn is a pretty good band too, with plenty of dirty vocals and bluesy down-home guitars. They celebrated the launch of their EP last night at Bondi's Canteen. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1vU6a7Haw78 3. 'THE THROW' — JAGWAR MA The newest members of the Future Classic family, Jagwar Ma, have their Pitchfork-approved psychedelic dance track 'The Throw' visualised in this buoyant, neon-lit video. You can purchase the song and its 6:54 extended edition here. 4. 'CRANK' — JAYSWAYS When I was 16 I was still pretending not to like Good Charlotte, and here is this kid from Sydney making some of the best electronic music around right now. It would probably make you angry at him if he wasn't giving it away for free. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LRBCoXw4RDQ 5. 'IN A DREAM' — HIGH HIGHS Brooklyn-via-Sydney boys High Highs finally released their debut album Open Season last Friday, and celebrated with their first proper Australian show at the Oxford Art Factory last night. Here is the latest single from that record, a folksy and lyrical yet grounded combination of honeyed harmonies and subtly arranged synths.
Fashion zombies of the '90s, your favourite mood readers have had a big ol' 2014 update. Mood rings have become the latest focus of a new startup out of Finland, who've taken your shitty piece of faux emotion-reading tin and turned it into a piece of wearable tech that can actually tell you how you're feeling. Finnish techheads Moodmetric unveiled a brand new smart ring at the Slush startup conference in Helsinki, Finland last week, one that can apparently actually use a biometric sensor to report on those pesky feelings of yours — rather than waiting for your $2 Reject Shop toy to turn blue. Always blue. Proposed to launch commercially in 2015 after an upcoming crowdfunding campaign, Moodmetric's ring is the smallest wearable technology in the world for measuring emotions. Apparently the device works using a biometric sensor to measure the small changes in your skin generated by your nervous system, which can measure your "emotional voltage". Then, your little wearable buddy sends the data to your smartphone app and diarises your moods for the day. International Business Times compared the Moodmetric ring to current developments like the Smarty Ring, Ringly or MOTA, but noted this new ring isn't just a notification extension of your smartphone inbox — it reads you. "It's possible for people to analyse their emotional levels throughout the day and learn when they're the most stressed, what makes them calm down and what times of the day are significant in terms if emotional intensity," Moodmetric COO Niina Venho told the IBT. "By naming those feelings Moodmetric allows people to get to know themselves better." One step further than the ol' teenage jewellery box edition, the Moodmetric ring has teamed up with your 'Dear Diary' time to help you track your emotional ups and downs and to calm your mind at certain "emotional load peaks" of the day. A ring that helps us de-stress? Proposal accepted. Via IBT and Dazed.
If you listen carefully, you might just hear the sound of a light- to medium-bodied red wine sloshing around a glass. That's because the world's favourite celebration of pinot noir is returning again in 2023, with Pinot Palooza also settling back into its pre-pandemic spring timeslot. In its decade of life to-date, the Melbourne-born wine tasting festival has become a global affair, with an estimated 65,000 tickets sold globally before its 2022 events. But once COVID-19 hit in 2020, the popular event was shelved for two-and-a-half years, before making a comeback last year. This year — in the wine-swilling fest's 11th year — it has October dates locked in for Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, all for a two-day stint. So far, venues are yet to be announced. Also, tickets will go on sale in May. The vino-sipping fun will play out similarly to before, although exactly who'll be doing the pouring is also yet to be revealed. Whoever it is, Pinot Palooza's lineup always spans drops from Australia, New Zealand and further afield. Last year, more than 70 winemakers came to the party. As always, attendees will spend their session swirling and sampling that huge array of pinot noir, and hitting up pop-up bars and food stalls between drinks. And, while Pinot Palooza as a standalone fest only has east coast dates for 2023, in Perth it's part of an already-announced collaboration with cheese festival Mould. PINOT PALOOZA 2023 DATES: Friday, October 6–Saturday, October 7: Sydney, venue TBC Friday, October 13–Saturday, October 14: Brisbane, venue TBC Friday, October 27–Saturday, October 28: Melbourne, venue TBC Pinot Palooza will tour Australia's east coast in October 2023. For more information, and for tickets from May, head to the event's website.
Whether you're a particularly nervous flyer or usually keep it calm and cruisy, no one like turbulence when they're high in the sky. Tell-tale beeps telling you to buckle up your seatbelt and a few bumps and jumps are one thing; feeling like you're on a particularly adventurous rollercoaster is another. Thankfully, Boeing is hoping to solve the latter. The aircraft company can't control the weather, but they can create and implement a laser system that detects oncoming rough patches at a greater range. Called Light Detection and Ranging or LIDAR, the system is expected to "to spot clear-air turbulence more than 60 seconds ahead of the aircraft, or about 17.5 kilometres," Boeing's Stefan Bieniawski, the program's lead investigator, told WIRED. Specifically, it focuses on clear-air turbulence, which is the type that doesn't usually come with any warning signs — that is, it happens in clear not cloudy skies, as its name indicates. For those eager to know just how it works, LIDAR emits pulses of laser light from the nose of the plane, not that anyone watching will be able to see it. The beams then scatter off of small dust and other particulates, reflecting into segments and measuring wind speed along the entire direction of the laser. Software collates the results, with pilots given more time to steer around hazards. Boeing has been working on the system with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency since 2010, and plan to test the remote-sensing technology in 2018. If it works, knocked elbows and spilled in-flight drinks could become a thing of the past — and, if you're one of the lucky folks who can fall sleep during flights, rude awakenings to your slumber as well. Via Boeing / WIRED.
Alex Chinneck carved up the road today, and not in a Top Gear way. Literally ripped it up. The Hackney-based installation artist, who recently made a section of Covent Garden 'levitate', has today unveiled his latest work at London's Southbank Centre, Pick Yourself Up and Pull Yourself Together. Sitting in the Hungerford Car Park of the Southbank Centre, the work sees a sizeable bit of tarmac pulled up in a wave, casually suspending a Vauxhall Corsa 4.5 metres above the ground. Using cars in installation art is no mean feat; if you caught Cai Guo Qiang's Inopportune at the 2010 Biennale of Sydney you'll know what we're saying. Commissioned by Vauxhall as a made-you-look type of spectacle activation, Chinneck's installation uses hidden steel to keep the car in place — the work involved a whole bunch of metal workers, carpenters, tarmac layers, structural engineers, steel benders and road painters. Best bit? The team installed the artwork overnight. Crafty devils. Via Dezeen.
In yet another major carbon-reduction move, London has just seen the completion of the world’s biggest solar bridge. The development follows plans to heat homes with the Underground and recycle sewer waste via a ‘fat plant’. Blackfriars Bridge has been covered with 4,400 photovoltaic panels, comprising 6,000 square metres. These will harness energy to power 50 percent of Blackfriars Station's needs, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 511 tonnes annually. That's equal to about 89,000 average trips in a car. In addition, the entire station has been revamped, acquiring four extra platforms and two new entrances, one providing access to South Bank and the other to New Bridge Street on the river's north side. The development is part of the US$10.7 billion Thameslink Programme, the goal of which is to increase the frequency and capacity of London's north-south railway line. "Our work at Blackfriars demonstrates two key benefits of solar," said Frans van den Heuvel, CEO of Solarcentury, the company that delivered the project. "First, it can be integrated into the architecture to create a stunning addition to London's skyline. Second, it can be integrated into the most complex of engineering projects; in this case being built above a construction site, over a rail track over a river. We are confident that future major infrastructure projects can and will benefit from solar.” The bridge was officially launched on January 22, 2014, with a massive hot beverage giveaway featuring Britain's biggest tea cup. Via gizmag.
A conglomerate of sights, sounds and savouries, the Auckland cityscape of things to do is vast. From Waitemata Harbour in the north, to Manukau Harbour in the south, there's a bounty of things to eat, drink and discover, not to mention see, with stellar views in pretty much any direction you look. But for the time-poor among us (see everyone), taking time to explore the City of Sails may have been bumped down the to do list, whether you're Auckland dwellers in need of a staycation, Wellingtonians looking for a weekend escape, or even you Aussies hoping to up the ante on a short getaway*. That's where we come in. In partnership with Adina Apartment Hotels, we're giving away two days of accommodation, plus some spending money so you can hit up a few of our favourites spots in town. We've planned a pretty indulgent experience. Think two nights accommodation at Adina Apartment Hotel in Britomart, a massage for two, dinner at Amano where you can fill up on some of New Zealand's freshest pasta around, and $250 to spend at Ponsonby's Mea Culpa to top off the night with a few of their carefully crafted cocktails. Plus, we've slipped in some extra cash so you can splash out at all the shops around Britomart. With some of Auckland's creme de la creme right at the doorstep of your Adina Apartment Hotel abode, you'll be perfectly positioned to continue your exploration of the city. But if you're not sure where to head after massages and before dinner, you can use our local's guide to get some hot tips and start planning the rest of your stay. Enter your details below, say yes to the terms and conditions and you're in the running. Entries close on Wednesday, July 5 at 11.59pm. [competition]626226[/competition] *Prize doesn't include travel costs.
In great news for your wanderlust, flight sales aren't rare. Still, a round of discounted flights that starts at $26 isn't an everyday occurrence. The reason for the super-cheap fares: Jetstar is hosting its latest member-only sale. If you're a Club Jetstar member — already or if you now sign up — you've got two days to nab a bargain. Pack your suitcases for getaways to the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Tasmania, Byron Bay and more, with flights to and from all of the above from some Australian cities coming in at the $26 price. That cost will get you from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast, Melbourne to the Gold Coast, Brisbane to Hobart, Melbourne to Launceston, Melbourne to Ballina/Byron Bay, Melbourne to Adelaide and Sydney to Brisbane, or vice versa, all one-way and without checked baggage. [caption id="attachment_976496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darren Tierney[/caption] Other fares include Sydney to Hervey Bay from $39, Brisbane to the Whitsunday Coast from $49 and Melbourne to Uluru from $79. Or, there's flights from Perth to Adelaide from $119, Sydney to Margaret River from $129 and Darwin to Sydney from $149. The sale kicks off at 9am AEDT on Monday, October 21, running through until 11.59pm AEST on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 — or until sold out, if snapped up earlier. Accordingly, if you're keen for a holiday at reduced prices, you'll want to get in quick. In total, 26,000 discounted flights are on offer. Travel periods vary, with late-July–early-September 2025 among them. Again, you'll pay extra for checked baggage if you need it, or you'll want to travel super light. Club Jetstar membership costs $65 a year, which you can join online while making a flight booking, and also gives you 20-percent off checked bags and seat selection. [caption id="attachment_928567" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania, Luke Tscharke[/caption] The Club Jetstar member-only sale runs from 9am AEDT on Monday, October 21–11.59pm AEST on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 — or until sold out, if snapped up earlier. Top image: Jesse Shaw Photography. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
The Archibald Prize isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of artistic gadgetry. This coveted national portrait prize is often full of celebrities, sure, but they're usually rendered in expressionistic swathes of paint or meticulous photorealism. It's rare that we get treated to something on the vanguard — and even rarer to have someone deem Wil Anderson's familiar one-liners worthy of a place in one of the nation's best galleries. The portrait, which has been submitted for consideration of the Archibald Prize this week, is the work of Canberra artist Luke Cornish (aka E.L.K.). Predominantly known for his stencil work, Cornish has stepped out into unfamiliar territory creating an interactive artwork of the much-loved comedian that comes to life with the help of a video app. While the piece that hangs on the wall appears as a regular stencilled portrait, when you point a tablet of smartphone at the artwork, the image turns into a real-time video within the frame. A creepy virtual reality version of Wil Anderson leaps forth from your device and starts riffing on religion and Steve Jobs. It's as excellent as it is terrifying. The result of a collaboration with augmented reality specialist — aka the person with the coolest job ever — Amber Standley, this work looks like the start of something very exciting not only for the Archibald itself, but for art in general. "My plan is to start doing some large-scale mural portraits," the artist told The Herald Sun. "You can imagine walking down Elizabeth Street and holding your phone up to a mural and it just comes to life." A far cry from the unsightly QR codes that we still don't quite know how to figure out, this is some gadgetry we can definitely get behind. Instead of walking down the street flipping mindlessly through Instagram and Facebook we could now be interacting with the street art around us — while still firmly affixed to our phones, of course. As far as Cornish's portrait goes, we won't know if it's a finalist for the prize until July 10, and we won't be able to see it until the exhibition opens in Sydney on July 19. But, suffice to say, we have a good feeling it'll get through. Get your smartphones at the ready — this is definitely one to check out (even if you can't stand Wil Anderson). Via Herald Sun and Citynews.
Rohan Anderson is a man of his word. Though the terms “sustainability”, “ethics” and “green living” are slung about a lot these days, they are values that few people fully live by. But just a month ago, Anderson threw himself out of the cannon and into the unthinkable: he quit his job and started living off the land. “I was working part-time as a graphic designer,” he says. “I would go to an office under the fluorescent light and stare at the computer screen and do the work and put up with all the internal politics of the workplace. And none of it....none of it felt real. None of it made any sense at all. It was so unnatural and so unhuman.” He also, this month, launched a cook book called Whole Larder Love, based on his blog which chronicles his quest for semi-self-sufficiency in rural Victoria. Four years ago Anderson was feeding his kids frozen chicken nuggets. He now purchases “only really basic stuff: flour, sugar, salt, yeast, milk, deodorant, toothpaste. What we’ve eliminated from our shopping trolley is the cardboard packaged food, frozen food, fresh food that’s out of season and meat from supermarkets.” Anderson’s grimy-nailed, bloody-shirted, sweaty-palmed account of hunting, gathering and harvesting is miles away from the sanitised green consumerism spruiked by celebrity chefs from the safety of their stainless steel kitchens. Though the book contains epicurean delights like Rabbit with Mustard Sauce, he flatly rejects the term “foodie”. “My grandfather is from Barcelona. Imagine if you went up to him and said, ‘because you eat beautiful Spanish tapas, you’re a gourmet, you’re artisan because you love good food’. No, that’s just food. That’s just normal food. I definitely want to distance myself from being the wanker foodie that loves a bit of foam on the plate. I don’t eat out at restaurants. It’s not the reality of what food should be. Food shouldn’t be overcomplicated. Otherwise, you distance the notion of accessibility and being clever with basic ingredients.” Food for Anderson is not just a source of fuel or even gastronomical enjoyment, but a political and an environmental concern. “I hate calling Whole Larder Love a cookbook,” he says. “It obviously is a cookbook, but there’s more of a subversive intention there. I really do want to promote the idea of people going back to the old ways of growing their own food. It will dramatically reduce our reliance on supermarkets. Most people know that there are big lorries that drive all this food around and food is actually air- and ship-freighted from other countries. That takes a lot of finite resources. I don’t think that system can last much longer. We’re now in a system of food production where we’re relying on a pretty massive machine that one day could fall over. I have gone back to embracing my animalness, which means taking care of all my food with my hands as all other animals do in the natural world. I’m going back to the good life, and I grow my food and I hunt.” “The real philosophy behind it is that I want to show people that it is possible in 2012 and to marry old techniques and state of the art communication technology. Today I’ve just shovelled a trailer load of manure from Ballarat to go on the pumpkin patch. And the pumpkins will grow all summer, they'll be cured, and we'll have about forty pumpkins for winter for the six of us. Then this afternoon I’m going to go out and chuck two trailer loads of timber for firewood for preparation for next winter. Then I will sit there on my MacBook Air and write up a blogpost.” It’s a mindset loaded with idealism and a book that motivates people to pick up alternative ways of thinking, and more importantly, doing. “My lifestyle is not for everybody. But I will continue to communicate it. The best thing is when people send me photos of what they’ve harvested on the weekend, how they’ve been inspired, how they’ve bought some chooks and built a chook-house. I love that the blog has had an effect on some people.” As a result of his interactions with readers, Anderson reckons more people are bulking at the artificial delineations between the built and natural worlds. “I was in Chippendale a couple of weeks ago - they have worm farms and vegie gardens on the nature strips.” Along with growing your own produce, he says engaging with these kinds of community gardens and farmers’ markets are pragmatic ways to break down what he sees as “the boxed-in areas of nature” that typify unhealthy, unsustainable city life. And he insists that his hunting and gathering lifestyle doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing: city-dwellers can do it too. “People who even just have a balcony, a rooftop, a backyard - where-ever you are in the Western world - can grow food. In the big cities in Italy - Rome, Florence and Milan - the nonnas that live there have so many vegies growing on their verandahs. It’s like an oasis on your verandah, as opposed to your typical Aussie gas barbeque, a couple of dead ornamental plants and maybe somebody’s bike. These gardens in Italy were just full. It was so inspirational to see what could be done in very tight spaces. Someone had pumpkins on a verandah - they were massive and this person had trained these pumpkins to go vertical, diagonal, anyway in any space possible. That was a beautiful thing to see, that even in the cities, they want to grow and smell and feel fresh food. That’s such a beautiful thing.” Photos courtesy of Rohan Anderson.
South By Southwest's annual SXSW Festival offers technology and music enthusiasts the chance to convene and discuss the next big bands, apps, social networks and start-ups. Previous festivals have featured not-yet popular Twitter and Facebook, but one of the initiatives at this year's festivities, held in Austin, Texas, has sparked an ethical controversy. The instigator is Homeless Hotspots, a newly introduced initiative by ad agency BBH Labs,which has employed 13 local homeless people as 'Hotspot Managers'. Equipped with a wireless router, and clad in a "I'm a 4G Hotspot" t-shirt, each manager was paid to remain in a strategic place throughout SXSW, which is known for its mobile coverage black spots and lack of wireless internet, offering festival-goers wireless internet access for a small charge. Melvin Hughes (pictured above), a Homeless Hotspots employee, reports earning US$20 for each of the four 6-hour shifts he completed last weekend. Hughes keeps all of his earnings in full, and also has the opportunity to collect donations from generous festival-goers. Saneel Radia, the program's organiser, sought to clarify the program's payment methods on the company's blog, stating: "These volunteers were guaranteed [to] make at least $50/day, for a maximum of 6 hours work. This amount equates to more than the Texas state minimum wage of $7.25/hr for the same number hours....BBH provides a $20 cash ”stipend” to the volunteers each day regardless of their own sales." Still, accusations of commodifying and exploiting Austin's homeless contributed to the backlash against Homeless Hotspots. In response to the controversy surrounding the ethics behind the initiative, Radia said, "The worry is that these people are suddenly just hardware, but frankly, I wouldn't have done this if I didn't believe otherwise." Homeless Hotspots is reportedly modelled off the corner sale of newspapers by homeless people, incorporating the same goals of increasing the self-confidence and self-worth of the vendors. The company's ultimate goal for the initiative, however, is to provide homeless participants with a 'digital writing platform'.
That delightful period of multiple public holidays that we had in April is already starting to feel like a distant memory. Well, on to the next. The Queen's Birthday long weekend will be here before we know it and we've already found a top-notch fun and furry activity to mark down in your calendar. From Saturday, June 8—Monday, June 10, Healesville Sanctuary will be hosting its Wine & Wildlife event. From 11am–4pm each day, the Sanctuary will showcase local wineries and breweries in its secluded bushland setting, becoming one of the best gourmet destinations in the Yarra Valley (mainly due to its proximity to many, many cute creatures). Chow down on dumplings, loaded potatoes and barbecued meats from pop-up stalls by Sanctuary Harvest. To celebrate this special event, we are giving away a VIP experience at Wine & Wildlife. Your prize will include entry to Wine & Wildlife (including general admission entry to Healesville Sanctuary) for you and three mates. You'll also score four passes to a kangaroo close-up encounter, giving you the chance to personally meet some of Australia's finest native animals. Enter your details below for a chance to win. [competition]719984[/competition]
Computing technology has long been praised for its potential paper-saving powers. Now, it's taking on air pollution. We know that the capacity for air purification is probably not the first thing that most laptop shoppers take into consideration. But, when you think about, why not? Why work in a cloud of cigarette smoke, city smog, dust or unpleasant aromas, when your brain (and nasal passages) could be benefitting from clean air? Well, that's the opinion of the designers of the new Fujitsu Lifebook AH78, anyway. Their creation is the world's first laptop to contain an air purification unit. Called a 'nanoe', it's produced by Panasonic. According to Fujitsu, company testing indicates that the nanoe reduces odours and allergens (including fungi, pollen, mold, viruses and mites) by 99% in an area of one square metre around the Lifebook. The technology is already available on Fujitsu's desktop PCs, so it's had a bit of a run in homes around the world. Its introduction to laptops means that those liable to allergic reactions and/or intolerant of nasty smells can work in public spaces in greater comfort. Fujitsu America's Vice-President of Mobile Management and Marketing, Paul Moore, is also excited about the Lifebook AH78's sleek 15.6 inch design. 'Design considerations for the future - delivering a device that fits the decor and can accomplish multiple tasks,' he said. 'Design is critical. Gone are the days when a PC looked like a piece of office equipment.' [via PSFK]
A stunning new Melbourne arts, cultural and entertainment precinct has beat out stiff competition across the globe to take out the Architecture of the Year prize at the International Design Awards 2017. Bunjil Place, which was designed by acclaimed architectural studio Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt), also scooped up gold awards for two design disciplines: 'institutional' and 'landmarks, symbolic structures, memorials, public'. Opened to the public in October 2017, the $125 million Narre Warren project was imagined as "an inviting central heart for the community that celebrates participation, belonging and pride". Both its name and its impressive design are linked to cultural themes of importance to the traditional owners and inhabitants of the land, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. fjmt Design Director Richard Francis-Jones is understandably stoked with the win, though says he's been just as happy with the design's reception closer to home. "While recognition in the form of international design awards is much valued, more important has been to see the community embrace Bunjil Place as their own," he noted. Those keen to get up close and personal with the award-winning design can experience Bunjil Place during Open House Melbourne Weekend on July 28 and 29. It's set to host a whole range of activities, including film screenings, design talks and guided tours with VIP access behind the scenes. You can find Bunjil Place at 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren.
Brad Pitt (Babylon) and Angelina Jolie's (Eternals) time as pop culture's only Mr and Mrs Smith in something called Mr & Mrs Smith is going the way of their IRL relationship, all thanks to a new TV spin on the 2005 movie. Now, it's Donald Glover (Atlanta) and Maya Erskine's (PEN15) turn to combine espionage and matrimony, with the upcoming eight-part Prime Video streaming series just unveiling its debut teaser trailer. Almost two decades back, an action-comedy cast Brangelina as a bored married duo who didn't know that they were actually both assassins, let alone that they'd each been tasked with killing the other. While Pitt and Jolie's off-screen relationship afterwards was more memorable than the flick itself in general, the concept struck enough of a chord to be brought back for another whirl. So, in 2024, Mr & Mrs Smith is now taking the path from the big to the small screen that everything from Dead Ringers and Irma Vep to A League of Their Own and Interview with the Vampire also has of late. There's a twist, however, with Glover and Erskine playing strangers who have to pretend to be wed as part of their job. So, that's how one becomes John Smith and the other takes on the identity of Jane Smith — and how the two embark upon a high-risk spy life together. The tradeoff for faking a romance: the lucrative gig, money, travelling the world, a dream Manhattan brownstone and, in this take on the premise, these strangers actually falling for each other. Pretending to be a couple but seeing sparks fly is one of Hollywood's current obsessions, with rom-com Anyone But You taking the idea to the big screen — without espionage or anything to do with Mr & Mrs Smith, though. Adding another TV show to his resume, Glover co-created the new Mr & Mrs Smith with Francesca Sloane (also Atlanta), with the end result set to drop in full on Friday, February 2, 2024. If you have vague memories of Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) being involved, she was initially slated to play Jane until Erskine took over her role. The series does feature a heap of other well-known names, with Alexander Skarsgård (Infinity Pool), Sarah Paulson (The Bear), Eiza González (Ambulance), Michaela Coel (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Paul Dano (Dumb Money) all popping up — and Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), Ron Perlman (Poker Face), Billy Campbell (Troll), Úrsula Corberó (Money Heist), John Turturro (Severance), Parker Posey (Beau Is Afraid) and Wagner Moura (The Gray Man) as well. Check out the first teaser trailer for the Mr & Mrs Smith TV series below: Mr & Mrs Smith will stream via Prime Video from Friday, February 2, 2024.
Wadjda (Waad Mohammed) resides within a system of oppression, yet refuses to accept her restrictions. On the cusp of adolescence, the ten-year-old rallies against her surroundings in Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, be it the strictness of her schooling or the expectations of her gender — appropriate interests, friends and public behaviour included. She desires a green bicycle, but is told no. She wants to cycle in the street, but is strongly discouraged. She yearns to enjoy the same freedoms as her male counterparts, such as her neighbour, Abdullah (Abdullrahman Al Gohani). The feature's missive of female empowerment is evident in its protagonist, though its message is never bluntly handled. Of course, Wadjda's on-screen statement and subversion bears the weight of its revolutionary off-screen status, as the first feature shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, and the first full-length film made by a female Saudi director. Writer/director Haifaa Al-Mansour (who studied at the University of Sydney) remains subtle in her debut fictional effort. Lightness, rather than solemnity, is her pervasive tone. Read our full review of Wadjda here. Wadjda is in cinemas on Thursday, March 20, and thanks to eOne Films, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=v-4kosdSXR8
Sometimes, enjoying the music festival experience involves gumboots, picking the best outfit with the most pockets and dancing in huge crowds. At other times, it spans making shapes at home while pretending you're at the real thing. Yes, the latter became familiar during the pandemic, but it's also been a way to live the Coachella life without heading to Indio, California for more than a decade now. And, for the 2023 fest, that means hitting up the YouTube livestream once again. This year, for the first time ever, the entire event is being beamed to the world — all six stages on all six days across two hefty weekends. Sure, you can still wish that you were at the Empire Polo Club across April 14–16 and April 21–23. Yes, there's nothing quite like being there in person. But if you're all about seeing the fest's impressive lineup — seeing as much of it as possible, too — without the plane ticket, make a date with your couch. 2023's bill is worth getting excited about, with Bad Bunny headlining the Friday nights, BLACKPINK doing the Saturday nights and Frank Ocean on Sunday nights. Down Under, you'll be tuning in on Saturday, Sunday and Monday to catch each, so mark your diaries now — actually, go one better with exact times too, now that Coachella has also announced its schedule for the first weekend. Also among the highlights on the Friday bill (so, Saturday in Australia and NZ) alongside Bad Bunny: The Chemical Brothers, Gorillaz, Blondie, Kaytranada, Pusha T, Idris Elba and last-minute addition blink-182, with the newly reunited group's classic lineup breaking out their live set before heading our way in 2024 on their latest live tour. On the Saturday lineup (so, Sunday Down Under) with BLACKPINK: Calvin Harris, The Kid LAROI, ROSALÍA, Charlie XCX, boygenius, The Breeders and Underworld — and more, obviously. And, come Sunday (yes, Monday Down Under), Frank Ocean will be joined by Björk, Fisher, Porter Robinson, Gordo and Weyes Blood, with the list going on there as well. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) Coachella has been teaming up with YouTube for 11 years now. Earlier in 2023, the fest announced that it has locked in that arrangement till 2026. In-between this year's sets, YouTube will fill its feeds with more on-the-ground coverage, so you'll be able to scope out the art and installations around the fest, head behind the scenes, see how the acts get partying before the hit the stage and more. Bookmark Coachella's YouTube channel ASAP — or hit it up below: Coachella runs from April 14–16 and April 21–23 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. To watch the livestream, head to YouTube from 9am AEST on Saturday, April 15 Down Under.
Euphoria isn't returning until 2025, but it isn't the only series starring Jacob Elordi that you have to look forward to. Also on the way: The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which was first announced in 2023, and has now just dropped a couple of images to give viewers — and Saltburn fans, of course — an initial sneak peek. Pre-Euphoria, Saltburn and Priscilla — and before the three Kissing Booth films also helped boost his career first — Elordi scored his first on-screen acting credit beyond short films in Aussie movie Swinging Safari. Since then, however, the Brisbane-born talent has largely focused on working overseas. So The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a rarity of late on his resume, with the actor returning home to film the a new five-part streaming drama series. Elordi leads the cast for the series, which makes the leap to Prime Video from the page, adapting Richard Flanagan's Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name. Also featuring among the show's starry lineup of talent: Olivia DeJonge, fresh from playing Priscilla Presley in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis; her The Staircase co-star Odessa Young; Limbo and Boy Swallows Universe's Simon Baker; Heartbreak High's Thomas Weatherall; Love Me's Heather Mitchell; Belfast's Ciarán Hinds; Show Kasamatsu (Tokyo Vice); and Charles An (Last King of the Cross). Prime Video has also revealed that filming has ended on the series — and advised that more cast members, such as Essie Davis (One Day), William Lodder (Love Me), Eduard Geyl (Born to Spy) and Christian Byers (Bump), are co-starring as well. The project's impressive talent extend behind the camera, with The Narrow Road to the Deep North hailing from Snowtown, True History of the Kelly Gang and Nitram collaborators Justin Kurzel and Shaun Grant. Kurzel directs, while Grant is on adaptation duties — and both are also executive producing. [caption id="attachment_927127" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic for HBO via Getty Images, supplied by Prime Video.[/caption] Elordi shares the role of Dorrigo Evans with Hinds, playing the younger version of the character in a tale that jumps between different time periods. The Narrow Road to the Deep North's protagonist is a Lieutenant who becomes a prisoner of war on the Thailand-Burma Railway. His story encompasses becoming a surgeon and war hero, and a life-changing stint of falling in love with Amy Mulvaney (Young). DeJonge and Baker feature with Elordi and Young in the show's 40s-set segments, where World War II obviously casts a shadow. Hinds hops in when the series gets to the 80s, which is where Mitchell, Weatherall, Kasamatsu and An will pop up as well. Exactly when the series will hit your streaming queue hasn't been announced yet, but add it to your future must-watch list anyway. [caption id="attachment_919075" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saltburn[/caption] The Narrow Road to the Deep North doesn't yet have a release date, but will stream via Prime Video — we'll update you with more details when they're announced. Images: Prime Video.
You'll be able to go further into brain-imploding Water Temples, delve into more shitty dungeons and ride Epona across more of the Sacred Realm gathering rupees; the brand new Legend of Zelda game is going to go open world. Finally (finally) taking cues from long-celebrated megamap games like Oblivion and Fallout 3, Nintendo looked back to Zelda's history to develop their eighteenth official adventure — and online opinions are predictably flying. Series producer Eiji Aonuma announced the new Wii U Legend of Zelda game during the Nintendo Digital Presentation at the annual E3 annual video game conference overnight in LA. Nintendo needed a big ol' eel slap of a new game announcement last night, leaning on Mario Kart 8 to kickstart struggling Wii U sales. Looking back to older Zelda games, the developers decided it was high time for Link to explore bigger maps again (many, many years after Oblivion, Skyrim and even Fallout 3 had delivered gamechanging —heh — open world formats). Expanding the best bits of the old school 2D Link to the Past, everyone's favourite Ocarina of Time and GameCube's 2002 Wind Waker, Nintendo are finally cottoning on to the joys of open world in RPGs. To be fair, the new game looks badass. If I had an Ocarina in my possession, I'd be throwing down notes on Epona's Song and hitching a ride there immediately. The new Legend of Zelda is expected in 2015. https://youtube.com/watch?v=mM9MGY2OL8o Via Kotaku.
Word is, good things come in threes, but if you're in the market for some new gear for your home, then it looks like the magic number this week is four. That's because furniture and homewares giant IKEA has kicked off a giant four-day sale, slashing the price of a huge range of products at stores across the country. Running from today until Sunday, October 21, the clearance sale is dishing up bargains on 400 different IKEA products, from flatpack furniture, to those random storage solutions you can never seem to have too many of. And the reductions are well worth battling one of IKEA's impossible maze-like stores for, with all sale prices promising at least 40 percent off. Venture in to stock up on budget-friendly pieces like coffee tables, chairs, beds and homewares — the offers are available in-store only. To check out what's discounted at your local store, head to the Ikea website and punch in your postcode. The IKEA Clearance Sale runs from October 18–21. For more information, head to the IKEA website.
Eerie things happen in shipping containers when Realscape Productions is around. Across the country, the team has been creeping everyone out with its immersive installations for a few years now, with Séance, Flight, Eulogy and Coma each serving up different unnerving experiences. Sensory deprivation, simulating sitting in an aircraft cabin when events turn unsettling, wandering through a labyrinthine hotel, falling into a dream state in a bunk bed: they're all part of the Darkfield suite, terrifyingly so. Next up from the Realscape Productions crew comes a dance with sci-fi, this time in a 40-foot haulage truck. Future Cargo sees Darkfield's David Rosenberg join forces with UK-based choreographer Frauke Requardt on an otherworldly outdoor performance, which will make its Australian premiere at 2024's Adelaide Fringe from Friday, February 16–Saturday, March 17. The aim: combining a vast spectacle with intimacy, and putting on a dance show filled with shiny aliens and seduced humans that will lure in all kinds of audiences, even if watching dance isn't normally high on your to-do list. So, as attendees sit in the open air at twilight, the truck will roll up its side to reveal a machine, which starts a mysterious process. Cue power surges, electromagnetic waves and making contact, with viewers listening in via binaural sound while wearing headphones. "We've come together to develop Future Cargo because David and I are constantly fascinated by how to connect performance and audiences in unique ways in public space," explains Requardt. "By working with different architectural constraints and inviting audiences to discover bold and beautiful contemporary dance in and amongst them, we hope to ignite a passion for the arts in people who wouldn't usually watch dance, while also captivating those already in love with the art form." So far, only an Adelaide run is confirmed — but cross your fingers that Realscape will tour its latest production, as it has with Séance, Flight, Eulogy and Coma. "David and Frauke have developed a show unlike anything that has ever played in Australia before. We know Australians have developed an appetite for multidimensional experiences, and Future Cargo brings something new to Adelaide Fringe, creating a spectacle through dance, lighting, binaural sound and science fiction. We can't wait to watch Adelaide fall in love with a new way to experience dance at the Garden of Unearthly Delights come February," said Realscape Productions producer Amy Johnson. Future Cargo will premiere at Adelaide Fringe 2024 from Friday, February 16–Saturday, March 17 at the festival's Garden of Unearthly Delights — head to the fest website for further details and tickets. Images: Camilla Greenwell / Henry Curtis.
Multi-arts festival Rising is set to transform a host of inner-city precincts for the next two weeks as its blockbuster program of immersive art and performance descends on Melbourne. And even the Yarra is scoring an art makeover of sorts, thanks to a monumental work by leading audio-visual artist Robin Fox. On show nightly for the festival's duration (Wednesday, June 1–Sunday, June 12), Monochord will light up the Birrarung like never before. The work takes the form of a powerful laser, beamed one kilometre down the river's length, the light sitting just above its surface. It's thought to be the highest intensity laser ever before used in Melbourne. You'll be able to see this roaring light beam from multiple points along the river as it flickers, pulses and sweeps to a synchronised soundscape. You can also tune into the Monochord audio via the website. The laser will be visible from 6.30pm each night. [caption id="attachment_856329" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Monochord', photographed by Zillah Morrow and Robin Fox[/caption]
Far outdoing their traditional duty as reminder memos, these 30,000 Post-its serve to shock and impress as components of Yo Shimada's 'Post-it Structures'. Shimada, of Tato Architects, collaborated with students at the Kyoto University of Art and Design to create this massive, neon-bright structure now on display in Kyoto City, Japan. Each Post-it is adhered to another to create a building-like structure which has walls running through the entirety of the gallery. Delicate and precarious-looking, the wall is reminiscent of a house of cards, a gentle balancing act. Gallery visitors are invited to respond to the work. Comments may be written via (what else?) Post-its and stuck to the facing wall of the gallery space. We want to know what happens if someone accidentally sneezes. [via Designboom]
Melburnian burger-lovers, it just became a whole lot easier to get your mouth around an Easey's creation on your lunch break, with the Collingwood cult burger venue launching two new food pop-ups this past month. Just weeks after announcing a kitchen take-over of South Yarra's Two Wrongs, it turns out Easey's has also landed itself some new CBD digs, setting up shop within The Bottom End as part of the bar's recent revamp. The crew's working their magic out of a casual pub-style space on the ground floor, serving up burger-fuelled good times from 11.30am, five days a week. Foodwise, expect a similar offering to what you've been scoffing down at the original Easey's; from gutsy burgers and hot dog creations, through to those glorious sides, and the occasional amped-up special. There'll also be a handful of venue specific additions, including the mi goreng fried chicken sandwich (yep, that's fried chicken, coated in noodles) being given permanent residency on the menu. Of course, if Collingwood's Easey's taught us anything, it's that a can of Melbourne Bitter is the perfect accompaniment to a messy ol' cheeseburger, and they've worked the drinks list here accordingly. Backing up the eats, you'll find a range of easy-drinking tap beers and tinnies, and a lineup of low-key cocktails, with weekday happy hour specials between 4-7pm. Get your Easey's burger fix at The Bottom End, 579 Little Collins Street, CBD, from 11.30am till late, Monday to Saturday.
Remember when your mum told you it's what's on the inside that counts? At the Australian Interior Design Awards, that's definitely the case. Now in its 14th year, the country's premier interior design gongs reward excellence in hospitality, installation, residential, workplace, retail and public design as well as residential decoration — and they've just revealed their 2017 shortlist. A word of warning for those who like their interiors swish, plush, luxurious and stylish all round: you're going to want to live in or visit all of the places vying for this year's awards. Thankfully, with plenty of bars and restaurants in the running — 116 tried their hand, and 41 have made it through to this stage — the latter is definitely possible. In Sydney, the likes of Ume Burger, Handpicked Wines, The Dolphin Hotel, Bar Brosé, and both Fred's and Charlie Parker's are vying for glory. Well, a shiny prize and plenty of recognition to go with their shiny interiors, that is. Melbourne's Crux & Co, The Penny Drop and Higher Ground are in the running, while the Gold Coast's The Star and The Kitchens at Robina Town Centre also made the cut. Overall, a record number of 525 entries were received across all categories for the 2017 awards, with more than 100 designs filling out the hefty selection. The winners will be announced on June 9 at a ceremony in Melbourne. For the full rundown, head to the Australian Interior Design Awards website — and then start thinking about heading to some of the hospitality spots on the list.
Summer's en route, which means it's almost time to start planning those backyard barbeques. Or, you could leave the hard work to a professional — namely acclaimed chef Matt Wilkinson, as he returns to the Pope Joan barbie for his annual Summer Camp Cookouts series. After the smokin' success of last summer's debut season, the al fresco dining series will once again see Wilkinson take over the Brunswick East cafe's backyard for a 12-night stint slinging charry, seasonal dishes hot off the coals. On offer Tuesdays through Fridays from December 5 to 22, this year's menu features a summery lineup of local mussels; chargrilled chicken hearts, lamb and turkey; oysters and squid; veggie dishes aplenty and an array of 'things-in-tins'. Meanwhile, sister and next-door neighbour The Pie Shop will be keeping things sweet, plating up a special edition peach, lemon verbena and raspberry pie for dessert. Bookings for Pope Joan's Summer Camp Cookouts open Monday, November 20. Contact the eatery by phone or email to reserve your place. Images: Annika Kafcaloudis
When you step inside an IKEA superstore, it feels as though you have been transported to a different world entirely. Endless floors filled with endless shelves, filled with endless minimalistic, cost-effective products. It's planet IKEA. And now we might not be too far from the real-life version. Not long after launching fully furnished IKEA homes, IKEA has published plans to build a private neighbourhood. Set to start construction next year, the neighbourhood will cover 11 hectares of land in London to be named 'Strand East'. It will incorporate 1,200 homes and apartments, all owned by the Swedish furniture company. “We are in keeping with the IKEA philosophy: we don’t want to produce for the rich or the super-rich; we want to produce for the families, for the people,” says Harald Müller, the head of LandProp, the property-development branch of Inter IKEA, told The Globe and Mail. IKEA promises that the all-rental homes will appeal to a variety of income levels, and 40% will be large enough to house a family. The neighbourhood will be peppered by condominiums and offices, and will include a hotel as well. Underneath it all will lie an underground parking lot to avoid cars cluttering the interior streets. It all sounds rather Utopian, but does a furniture company really have what it takes to manage 6,000 residents? “We’d have a very good understanding of rubbish collection, of cleanliness, of landscape management,” Andrew Cobden, the project manager, says. “We would have a fairly firm line on undesirable activity, whatever that may be. But we also feel we can say, okay, because we’ve kept control of the management of the commercial facilities, we have a fairly strong hand in what is said in terms of the activities that are held on site.” Mr. Müller says that IKEA will act much like a municipal government to its neighbourhood, organising community events and creating a "sense of place". Looks like IKEA execs have had a lot more on the brain than "Ektorp" sofas and Swedish meatballs. Welcome to Ikea-land. [via PSFK]
When you've created a huge hit HBO TV show that's known for filling its frames with parties, drugs, attractive actors and plenty of drama, what do you move onto next? If you're Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, you keep doing what's worked for you so far. The writer, director, producer and creator isn't done with his Zendaya-starring success just yet — it's been renewed for a third season, so more is definitely in the works — but he's also teamed up with Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye on upcoming HBO series The Idol. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is clearly Levinson's motto. "If it ain't broke, bust it out again elsewhere" works, too. This time, however, instead of exploring the ups and downs of high school, he's jumping into the music industry. Starring and co-created by The Weeknd — with writer and executive producer Reza Fahim also credited as a co-creator — The Idol is set to chronicle the chaos that comes with chasing pop stardom. From the just-dropped first teaser, it spans the parties and drugs as well. The focus: a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult, played by The Weeknd, as well as the up-and-coming pop idol that he starts a complicated relationship with. Lily-Rose Depp (Voyagers, The King) also stars. From there, details get thinner. The trailer sets a vibe but gives away few other narrative details, other than thrusting Depp's character into a heady new world — and having an unseen figure, presumably The Weeknd, ask if she trusts them. When it was originally announced in November 2021, The Idol was set to span six episodes, all filmed in Los Angeles — with She Dies Tomorrow's Amy Seimetz directing every single one. But back in April this year, it was revealed that Seimetz had left the project and reshoots were underway as a result. How that'll impact the end product is obviously yet to be seen. Exactly when The Idol will surface both in the US and Down Under hasn't been announced yet, either. Also set to pop up in the series: Troye Sivan (Boy Erased), Steve Zissis (Happy Death Day 2U), Melanie Liburd (This Is Us), Tunde Adebimpe (Marriage Story), Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (Saved By the Bell), Nico Hiraga (Booksmart) and Anne Heche (All Rise). That said, whether the show's cast has been affected by the reshoots also hasn't been revealed. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Idol below: The Idol doesn't yet have a release date, including Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
This year, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival isn't all about fancy, super spenny sit-down food events — it's about partying a little bit too. The Windsor & Co. Block Party is a tastier-than-average Sunday session, incorporating all the best of southside's food, art and produce in Artists Lane. There'll be food from some of Windsor's best (including Mr Miyagi, Parlour Diner and Massive Wieners), music from Doss Blockos, street art and lots of good vibes. So spend your Sunday on the street getting down and downing dumplings and curly fries.
When caped crusaders team up on the page or the screen to battle a threat to the world or galaxy, there's probably no such thing as too many superheroes. For audiences, however, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been testing exactly how many spandex-heavy capers get everyone switching off. It hasn't been stretching the limits specifically to answer that question; Disney has just been releasing a hefty amount of Marvel movies and TV shows. If you've been feeling MCU fatigue as a result, the Mouse House hears you. Going forward, fewer new Marvel films and television series will arrive each year. "We've been working hard with the studios to reduce output and focus more on quality — that's particularly true with Marvel," advised CEO Bob Iger on Disney's second-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, May 7. "We're slowly going to decrease volume and go to about two TV series a year, instead of what had become four — and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two or a maximum three," Iger continued. [caption id="attachment_925151" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] The move comes in what's set to be a quieter Marvel year in cinemas anyway. Picture palaces in 2024 are only welcoming Deadpool & Wolverine, which releases in July. The streaming slate might be busier, after Echo hit Disney+ in January — and with WandaVision spinoff Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, plus the animated Eyes of Wakanda and Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, yet to get air dates — but there'll definitely be fewer MCU tales hitting screens in total. In contrast, 2023 was huge Marvel for viewers, with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Marvels on the big screen, plus Secret Invasion, Loki and What If...? on screaming. 2022 was also massive, thanks to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Moon Knight, Ms Marvel and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. And in 2021, Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Solider, and the first Loki and What If...? seasons all dropped. [caption id="attachment_899279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Jessica Miglio. © 2023 MARVEL.[/caption] Marvel has already floated spacing out its releases so that its schedule in cinemas and on streaming isn't as jam-packed, and then pushed back a few titles during 2023's Hollywood strikes. Now, it's sticking to a strategy that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told Entertainment Weekly about last year, saying that "the pace at which we're putting out the Disney+ shows will change so they can each get a chance to shine". Right now, audiences will see Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts on the silver screen in 2025 — the first in February and the second in May. The new Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us)-, Vanessa Kirby (Napoleon)-, Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear)-starring Fantastic Four is also dated to arrive next year, in July. 2025 is meant to welcome Blade back to the screen, too, as led by Moonlight and Green Book Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, but that'd make four films in one year. So, if Iger is sticking to three movies or less in a year, that could change. From there, just two new Avengers flicks are locked in with release dates at the moment, one in 2026 and the other in 2027. On the small screen, Daredevil: Born Again is due in 2025, while Ironhart, Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man and Vision Quest don't yet have dates. From Marvel's upcoming slate, only Deadpool & Wolverine has a trailer — check it out below: For more information about Marvel's upcoming slate of films and TV shows, head to the company's website. Images: Disney.
The cinephiles behind Yarraville's iconic Sun Theatre have announced their plans to open a second location in nearby Footscray, with the eight-screen complex set to spring to life in 2019 or 2020 as part of a major new retail and residential development. According to Star Weekly, the $70 million development at the former Forbes department store site on Albert Street will include a supermarket, shops, a 120-room retirement facility and more than 200 apartments. But it's the cinema that really has the potential to capture the imagination of the locals. "I think every part of the community will be served," says Sun Theatre co-owner Michael Smith. "In Yarraville we've got subtitled films playing alongside Fast and the Furious. Different audiences like different things. There are the films my mum wants to see and the films my kids want to see." "We're really committed to the inner west of Melbourne," he continues. "Footscray feels a bit like Yarraville did 15 years ago." Smith sees the new theatre very much as a companion to The Sun, one that will allow them to expand their filmic offering. "The really big films, we'll have on at both locations, but a lot of those smaller ones we'll have at one or the other," he says. "As time goes on we might find that one film suits one site more than the other." In terms of the décor, Smith isn't planning on recreating The Sun's art deco look, but promises a space "with its own unique style" that will reflect the surrounding suburb. He also hopes to provide "a really good community area out the front," pointing to the success of the blocked-off street garden out the front of The Sun. "It's been enormously popular," he says. "It's a focal point for the community, not just for people coming to the cinema, but to anyone coming into the village. Those things are important." With a grand opening still a few years away, Smith plans on building hype by hosting a number of outdoor screenings on the rooftop of the building next door. "Two or three screenings each summer for the next couple of years, until the cinema opens," he tells us. "It's pretty cool up there."
Why spend your treasured lunch hour sitting in the same old spot, eating the same old sandwich? Swedes have discovered the magic of an off-beat lunch break by introducing a little mid-day clubbing. Lunch Beat, a trendy, non-profit lunchtime event, originated in Stockholm in June 2010 with a measly crowd of 14. Today, the monthly Stockholm events attract hundreds and have inspired copycat events throughout other European cities. For 100 kroner (around $15), attendees can dance to club beats beneath the flashing disco lights, enjoy a sandwich, and then return to their various jobs sweaty and energised. The party starts at noon, and lasts for an hour. "You just have to get in there and dance, because the hour ends pretty quickly," says organizer Daniel Odelstad. Lunch Beat only has two rules: no alcohol, and dance. "If you don't want to dance during your lunch hour, then you should eat your lunch somewhere else," says Odelstad. Lunch Beat draws an eclectic crowd, from the young to the old, and from secretaries to business-suited bigwigs; all have come looking for a good time. "It is absolutely fantastic!" says Asa Anderson, a coffee shop employee and Lunch Beat newcomer. "It is the first time I'm here. I'm totally happy and ecstatic, totally covered in sweat, and I'm full of energy. It does not get any better than this." [via Gawker]
"Everything they told you about severance is a lie." Those words might ring true in the world of Severance, the Apple TV+ sci-fi thriller that debuted in 2022 and proved one of that year's best new shows, but it isn't accurate about the series itself. Based on its first season, this mindbender deserves all the praise that it gets and more, and it's all 100-percent correct. If the teaser trailer for the upcoming second season is anything to go by, it'll be serving up more work-life nightmares — and twists, tension and must-see viewing — from January. Thinking about how to best balance your professional and personal spheres, and the time you dedicate to them, is an annual tradition when each new year starts. The Christmas break has been and gone, everyone is making resolutions for the 12 months ahead, and better dividing your time between work and everything else becomes a goal for most. Come Friday, January 17, 2025, however, the subject will get a bigger push via this hugely anticipated TV return — and so will how work-life balance can weigh on your mind, or not. Capitalising on perfect timing, Apple TV+ is finally ending the wait for more Severance, the series where disconnecting from your job come quittin' time — and giving your gig every ounce of your focus during your daily grind — has become literal in a hellish way. At Lumon Industries, employees agree to undertake the titular procedure, which splits their memories between work and home. But as Macrodata Refinement division employee Mark S (Adam Scott, Loot) start to discover, nothing about the situation is what it seems. Severance's comeback calls for a waffle party, an egg bar or a melon bar — or at least a big bunch of blue balloons with the face of Mark S on them. The latter have popped up in sneak peeks at the new season so far, including the date announcement clip and the just-released teaser trailer. If you missed season one, its dive into the kind of scenario that Black Mirror might've dreamed up, and technology that could've been used if Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was about punching the clock instead of romance, saw Mark S willingly sign up for severance, all to help process his grief over the death of his wife. And he's happy with the situation until his work BFF Petey (Yul Vazquez, The Outsider) leaves suddenly without saying goodbye, then new staff member Helly (Britt Lower, American Horror Stories) comes in to replace him — and instantly starts questioning the insidious setup, the rules and restrictions needed to keep it in place, and why on earth her "outie" (as the outside versions of Lumon employees are known) agreed to this in the first place. In season two, Mark and his work pals will attempt to dig deeper into the consequences of the severance procedure, and trying to escape it. They'll also learn the ramifications of messing with the system — and Lumon isn't just filled with the same familiar faces. Tramell Tillman (Hunters), Zach Cherry (Fallout), Jen Tullock (Perry Mason), Michael Chernus (Carol & the End of the World), Dichen Lachman (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), John Turturro (Mr & Mrs Smith), Christopher Walken (Dune: Part Two) and Patricia Arquette (High Desert) all return — with new cast members including Gwendoline Christie (Wednesday), Bob Balaban (Asteroid City), Merritt Wever (Memory), Alia Shawkat (The Old Man) and John Noble (Twilight of the Gods). Ben Stiller (Escape at Dannemora) is back as a director on five episodes, and executive producer across the whole season, with ten episodes on the way. Apple TV+ will drop instalments through until Friday, March 21, 2025. Check out the teaser trailer for Severance season two below: Severance returns for season two on Friday, January 17, 2025 via Apple TV+.
If you've got a penchant for things in buns, prepare for the ultimate feasting situation, at Dandenong Market's National Burger Day celebrations, this Sunday, May 28. For one delicious day, 13 of the market's vendors are turning burger mad, and will offer their own limited edition riffs on the classic two-hand feed. Running from the savoury to the sweet — and repping a host of different cuisines — these clever creations will take your burger obsession to the next level. You could find yourself cosying up with a goat curry burger, biting into a burger-inspired cupcake by Melina's Bakery & Larder, or perhaps tucking into Osaka Kitchen's teriyaki sushi burger, with sushi rice in place of the usual bread bun. Dandee Donuts will even be doing a Tim Tam burger, with a Tim Tam, jam sauce and cream inside a hot doughnut. Those with real game can even take a seat on the official Burger Day Throne (actual thing) to try their luck against the monster Freak Force Burger. This is a four-patty whopper designed by Melbourne's burger Instagrammer Damian Edgan (@damoforce) and imagined by the market's own burger-slinging bosses, The Grill. Conquer that to score yourself a commemorative trophy, or go into the draw to win $500 in market vouchers every time you get your 'burger passport' stamped by a vendor on the day.
If you go on picnics, or eat lunch on the go, or are just insatiably hungry at all times to the point where you get anxious when your next meal is unplanned (is this normal?) then Fold Project might have a solution. Fold Project is a start up company based in Auckland, and is the brainchild of entrepreneur slash industrial design lecturer, Oscar Fernandez. The company has recently announced their first product launch following a successful crowdfunding scheme, where they raised over $2000 towards their project. The star product is a fold up eating set. It’s like origami meets crockery. Basically plates, bowls, containers and cutlery that unfold into flat sheets of plastic for easy storage. Because one receives weird looks when one reveals their Shrek lunchbox in the office, and ice cream containers make a square bulge in your handbag, Fold Project’s eating set is minimalistic, stowable and uber practical. The sets are plain colours, and consist of a few tabs and slits for foldability. Fold it into shape to eat, then unfold it once you're done, rinse it off, tuck it back into your bag and you're away. The best part is that they’re all made in New Zealand and 100% BPA free. They’re recyclable and dishwasher safe. Low maintenance. And since the Fold Up team is just getting started, they’ve got a whole heap of expansion ideas on the horizon. Foldable chairs and tables are looking like promising next steps, but imagine a foldable tent and never having that actual-tent-is-seven-times-bigger-than-tent-bag struggle again. That’s the real dream.
A country so fond of singing other people's tunes in public, it invented the machine that revolutionised the concept, Japan has long been known for its karaoke obsession. Throw a stone in Tokyo, and you'll find a bar dedicated to crooning tunes — and now, you'll find a ferris wheel as well. Located in Bunkyo, Tokyo Dome City has been operating as an amusement park for decades, and has boasted the Big-O Ferris Wheel for the bulk of this century. Letting patrons sing within eight of gondolas is a new addition for the ride, however. In 15-minute bursts, theme park attendees with a song in their heart can gather with up to three friends and choose from up to 50 tracks. With the Big-O already considered the world's first hubless version, aka there's no spokes in the middle, joining forces with karaoke company Joysound really was the next logical way to up the ante (and eclipse Japan's other recent mashup, a hot tub amusement park). Tickets cost ¥820 (or around AU$9.40) per person for a single ride, or ¥3,900 (AU$44.90) for an unlimited day pass — because who wants to sing and spin just once? Via Travel + Leisure. Image: calbeeb.
What has Jedi, Wookiees, a spate of deaths, and a new villain swinging around a red lightsaber and wearing a zipper-faced black mask? According to the first trailer from back in March and the new sneak peek that's just dropped for May the fourth, The Acolyte does. Star Wars, but make it a murder-mystery thriller? If that's your dream for a galaxy far, far away, it's looks like it's coming true in the sixth live-action series in the George Lucas-started sprawling saga to hit Disney+. This eight-episode effort will plunge into a grim spree — someone is killing Jedi — when it joins your streaming queue this winter, debuting its first two instalments on Tuesday, June 4. The Acolyte follows a Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game) who is forced to face a mysterious warrior (Amandla Stenberg, Bodies Bodies Bodies) from his past when bodies start piling up. Also in the stacked cast: Manny Jacinto (Nine Perfect Strangers), Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Charlie Barnett (Russian Doll), Jodie Turner-Smith (Sex Education) and Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix Resurrections). Rebecca Henderson (You Hurt My Feelings), Dean-Charles Chapman (Game of Thrones) and Joonas Suotamo (who played Chewbacca in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker) also co-star. It was true in the first trailer and it remains that way now: the vibe in these two first glimpses is deeply moody, leaning into the dark side and filled with confrontation. Visually, there's a gloomier look to much of the trailers as well, with creator Leslye Headland (Russian Doll) adding something distinctive to the ever-expanding space-opera franchise. Also different is the fact that The Acolyte takes place during High Republic era, which means that its events precede Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace by a century. Don't go expecting a heap of familiar faces popping up, then, whether Stenberg's assassin is attempting to slay Moss' Jedi, lightsabers are being swung, or a Wookiee or a never-bef0re-seen Sith are making an appearance. On the small screen, The Acolyte slips into the Star Wars realm after The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor and Ahsoka, all of which have arrived since 2019. Both Andor and Ahsoka also have second seasons on the way. Only one film in the saga has been released in that period, with The Rise of Skywalker closing out the third big-screen trilogy in the franchise just a month after The Mandalorian premiered. The next movie expected: The Mandalorian spinoff The Mandalorian & Grogu. Check out the new trailer for The Acolyte below: The Acolyte will stream via Disney+ from Tuesday, June 4, 2o24. Images: ©2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
A village in Oxfordshire is about to become home to England's first hotel gardening school. From July 2017, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons — an extremely stately hotel with a two Michelin-starred restaurant — will open The Raymond Blanc Gardening School, giving guests the chance to green up their thumb in between luxe spa treatments and croquet matches. Belmond Le Manoir is already pretty well-known for its 30 acres of landscaped gardens, particularly its lush kitchen garden. There are two acres of edibles, including 90 veggies and 70 herbs. Head gardener Anne Marie Owens knows a thing or two about growing — she's been running the garden for more than 30 years. If you've ever wondered how to trick your tomatoes onto a trellis or pump up your pumpkins, she'd be the person to ask. Just some of the things that Anne Marie and her crew will be teaching include courses on understanding soil and growing organics, micro greens, mushrooms, seasonal veggies. On top of those, occasional classes will be run by special guests, covering more left-field topics, such as the medicinal properties of herbs and pruning fruit trees. You can attend for a half-day or a full day. Either way, you'll be learning in the Hartley Botanic Glasshouse, within the hotel's Heritage Garden. And of course, you could always book a night at the hotel — although, rooms sit at around a quite ludicrous £1000 a night. The school gets its name from hotelier and head chef Raymond Blanc OBE. Born in France, he's been running the Quat'Saisons restaurant since 1977 and the hotel since 1984. The Raymond Blanc Gardening School will launch in July 2017 at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Milton, Oxford, UK. For more info, visit their website.
For most folks, starring in one of the best new shows of 2022 so far would be the highlight of their resume for the year. But, of course, most folks aren't Taika Waititi. After getting streaming viewers swooning over warm-hearted pirate comedy Our Flag Means Death, he's about to unleash a little movie called Thor: Love and Thunder upon cinemas. And, based on the just-dropped first teaser trailer for his second contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a director, the goofy vibes, old-school rock tunes and delight that is Chris Hemsworth firmly in comedic mode are all back this time around. In fact, if you watched Thor: Ragnarok, laughed along heartily, lapped up the looser mood and instantly wanted more of Waititi's take on the MCU, you're in luck — because he also co-wrote the script for Thor: Love and Thunder with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Sweet/Vicious). In the trailer, that results in a comic look at Thor (Hemsworth, Extraction) dealing with the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame by reassessing his future and opting for retirement. But, if that was all there was to the story, it wouldn't be a Marvel movie. As shot in Australia, Thor: Love and Thunder sees its namesake come up against Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale, Ford v Ferrari), a galactic killer with a world-changing plan: eradicating the gods. So, Thor has to give up his search for inner peace, and call upon help from King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson, Passing) and Korg (Waititi, doing triple duty) — and his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman, Vox Lux), who is now in possession of Mjolnir. Thor: Love and Thunder marks Portman's return to the MCU after appearing in the first Thor flick back in 2011, but sitting out the rest. Given the path her character has taken, it's easy to see why she's back. As set to the sounds of Guns 'N Roses' 'Sweet Child 'O Mine', the trailer makes the most of her new ownership of the god of thunder's magical hammer — understandably. Also popping up in the initial sneak peek for the fourth Thor flick: the Guardians of the Galaxy crew (as played and/or voiced by Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel), and a lightning-bolt wielding figure who it's safe to expect is Russell Crowe (Unhinged) as Zeus. When it hits cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 7, following Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in early May, Thor: Love and Thunder will mark the 29th MCU movie overall. And, it mightn't be the last big-screen release Waititi has for us this year, either, with his documentary-to-feature adaptation of soccer story Next Goal Wins also in the pipeline. Check out the teaser trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder below: Thor: Love and Thunder opens in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 7.
Over the past year or so, we've heard a lot about self-driving cars being tested overseas — Uber's doing it in the US, as is ride-sharing service Lyft, there's driverless bus in Washington D.C. and a driverless delivery service in Japan. But save for a very adorable bus launched in Perth back in September, Australia is yet to foray into the sort of terrifying world of self-driving vehicles. Until now, that is, because the Victorian Government has just announced it will start to trial driverless cars on Melbourne roads from next year. The Andrews Labor Government yesterday announced they will partner with toll road management company Transurban to test driverless cars currently on the market to see how they interact with Melbourne's road infrastructure — that is lane signals, electronic speed signs, line markings and that pesky Montague Street Bridge. They'll be letting the cars loose on CityLink, including the Monash and Tullamarine Freeways, albeit with a real-life human driver in the car to take back control if needed. The news that the Victorian Government is committing to a trial of self-driving cars makes their insertion into our daily lives much more plausible for the near future. Indeed, it could mean great things for people who may not otherwise be able to drive, and has the potential to reduce the amount of accidents that occur from human error. "We want to work with the automotive and technology industries so Victoria can be at the forefront of automated vehicle technology and create jobs here in Victoria," said Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan in a statement. "Keeping people safe on our roads is our number one priority and that's why we're running these innovative trials in the safest possible way for all road users. By removing human error from the equation, autonomous vehicles will play a critical role in reducing deaths and serious injuries on Victorian roads." The trial is set to start early next year, so if you're in Melbourne, keep an eye out for any of this.
Online wine boutique Magnum + Queens made the move to bricks and mortar last year, launching its permanent South Melbourne store in June. Now, more expansion is on the cards, with the space set to welcome its own wine bar from next month. With its diverse range of over 1000 wines and lineup of craft beers, ciders, spirits and mixers, the Coventry Street shop has become a firm favourite for customers in the market for a great take-home drop. And come March 1, it'll also be a spot where you can pull up a seat and unwind over a few of co-founder Virginia Selleck's expert booze picks, matched to classic drinking snacks. Here, a weekly-changing drink-in offering will be kicking things off with the likes of the Bertrand Bespoke rosé from Heathcote, a Basket Ranges Wines pét-nat and the 2015 Jean Bourdy Côtes du Jura rouge. A Coravin set-up allows for a few more interesting special releases to be enjoyed without opening the bottles, too. The matching snack situation is looking mighty fine, with bites like spiced almonds, tinned sardines or anchovies served with crostini and pickled onion, French cheese and maybe some crusty bread alongside a smoky walnut and eggplant dip. The Magnum + Queens wine bar will launch in conjunction with its new Queens Tasting Table, weekly in-store wine tastings from 12–2pm every Saturday. Find the Magnum + Queens Wine store and wine bar at 274–276 Coventry Street, South Melbourne from March 1. Images: Kirsten Dickie.
