After Christmas 2020 saw Australians explore their own backyards, 2021's festive season will welcome the return of a familiar end-of-year tradition. If your summer break usually involves venturing overseas, that'll be back on the cards again as the nation reopens to international travel from November. And if you're still eager to enjoy the sunny, beachy weather, you'll be able to head to Fiji. On Monday, October 11, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced that the Pacific nation will reopen its borders to Australian tourists, with quarantine-free visits restarting from Thursday, November 11. Australia is on a list of travel partner countries — which also includes New Zealand, the US, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Qatar, Germany, Spain, France, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, and most Pacific Island countries and territories — that are being prioritised by Fiji due to their widespread vaccination status. There will still be protocols in place, however, so that's something you'll need to factor into your plans if you can now see a tropical holiday in your future. Firstly, there'll be a no jab, no fly policy, so you'll have to be double vaccinated with the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson and Johnson vaccines. You'll also need to test negative to COVID-19 within three days of departure — and, you'll have to download the country's Care Fiji app to your phone when you arrive. After that, tourists will also need to spend their first two days in Fiji in their hotels. You'll be free to use the facilities and amenities, but you won't be able to mosey any further until you take another COVID-19 test 48 hours after arrival. Once that comes back negative, you'll then be able to visit spots deemed 'safe-travel areas'. While exactly where these regions will cover is still being worked out, the Fiji Prime Minister advised that "they will be large enough for tourists to enjoy the best of Fiji, but restrictive enough to protect areas with low vaccination coverage." The two-day hotel period is expected to relax as more Fijians become double vaccinated. In response to Fiji's announcement, Virgin Australia was quick to reveal that it'll restart its flights to Nadi from Thursday, December 16. It'll fly return from Sydney up to twice daily, return from Melbourne once a day and return from Brisbane three times a week — and, it's doing a sale on fares from $289 one-way. Virgin's Fiji flights will mark its first relaunched international routes, ahead of restarting its services from Australia to New Zealand and Bali sometime in 2022. For more information about Fiji's reopening plan, head to the Fiji Government's website. For further details about Virgin Australia's Fiji flight sale, head to the airline's website.
If you've watched Thor: Ragnarok recently or, say, binged on four seasons of Vikings in one week, your quest for Norse mythology, hectic battles and hair inspiration isn't over. In fact, it may finally be fully realised with the Melbourne arrival of Vikings: Beyond The Legend. Melbourne Museum's newest exhibition opened on March 23 and it's enormous — taking the title of largest collection of Viking artifacts ever to be seen in Australia. Born from the Swedish History Museum, it's already done the global rounds, having hit up The States last year and hosted millions of visitors to date. With over 450 different artifacts on display, the exhibition will detail Viking domestic life, cultural beliefs and rituals. Among the cool antiques to ogle are the skeletal remnants of a Viking long ship, swords that date back to 700 AD and a Thor's hammer pendant (sans Chris Hemsworth, sadly). Also on offer are hands-on activities and games that further the immersive aspect of the exhibition. If you've still got a hankering for more Norse-themed offerings, check out Mjolner — the Viking-themed carvery and whisky bar hails from Sydney and is now open down Melbourne's Hardware Lane.
American choreographer Meg Stuart will bring her show An Evening of Solo Works to Melbourne's Dancehouse for two performances only this March 23 and 24. As founder of Brussels dance company Damaged Goods, Stuart has created over 30 works in her career that cover a number of mediums — this has seen her collaborate with visual artists and musicians and dabbling in theatre as well as dance. She received the Gold Lion for Lifetime Achievement from La Biennale di Venezia this year. This work showcases the oeuvre of the choreographer, and will headline the public program for this year's Keir Choreographic Award in Sydney, where it will have its Australian premiere. Stuart says her work "navigates the tension between dance and theatre, thought and action, remembering and forgetting". Through the evening, she will explore everyday movements and emotional states through one of her main tools: improvisation. An Evening of Solo Works will incorporate both performance from her own body of work as well as excerpts from full-length pieces Stuart has performed in the past. It will demonstrate just how the choreographer has developed her own language and creation methods through her work.
The Premier's Active April is here again — a whole month-long bonanza of free classes, discounts on sportswear and sport programs, and some pretty great two-for-one deals that'll have you rediscovering your inner kid and the energy you once had (you can go to Legoland, you're never too old). A yearly campaign run by the Victorian Government, Active April encourages Victorians to do 30 minutes of physical activity every day during the month of April. To take part, you just need to register online — it's free and you can download an app to log your progress and explore what's going on in your local area. Just to start, you get heaps of free stuff. Ten free passes to participating YMCA facilities, free tennis court hire and five free dance lessons at Dancesport Victoria. There are also a heap of discounts, including 15-percent off at Sportsmart — so you can stock up on activewear — and a two-for-one offer at Golf Victoria courses. Then there's the two-for-one Legoland scenario and two-for-one passes to the Melbourne Aquarium, too. By signing up and participating, you also go into the draw to win a slew of prizes, which include tickets to the 2019 Australian Open finals. As well as snaggin' some sweet discounts, you'll be able to prove your "drunk talking New Year's Eve post-midnight" self right – you will get more fit this year. Head here to register for Active April — you have until April 30 to signup — and start popping squats all over the place.
A spoonful of sugar may be needed to make this medicine go down: the Mary Poppins musical will soon be leaving Melbourne. Umbrellas at the ready because this supercalifragilisticexpialidocious singing nanny is only taking over Her Majesty's Theatre until Sunday, June 18. Mary Poppins has come to Melbourne after previously flying into both Sydney and Brisbane, and hails from Disney and theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh. This current version of the show tells the same enchanting tale that everyone knows from the hugely popular, five-time Oscar-winning 1964 film — which, as well as inspiring this stage adaptation, also gave rise to the big-screen sequel Mary Poppins Returns in 2018. Everything to do with the English governess harks back to P.L. Travers' books about the character, of course, and pop culture has been thankful for and downright delighted with her stories for almost six decades now. Escape the chilly Melbourne evenings as winter draws near and grab your friends for a magical night out on the town — there are fantastic seats available for midweek performances, so take advantage of early bird meals and happy hours with your mates before seeing Mary Poppins take flight. Local theatre fans can enjoy this updated version of the show that last graced Australia's stages — and won eight Helpmann Awards — back in 2011. Since Mackintosh first teamed up with writer Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) to bring Mary Poppins to the theatre in 2004, the production has won four Olivier Awards and a Tony, too. "Mary Poppins has really incredible staging, and the performances from the leads are world-class," says Suz Tucker our editorial director. "Jack Chambers [Bert] is a treat and astonishingly light-footed. But Stefanie Jones [Mary Poppins] is particularly excellent. She's got just the right amount of enigmatic Mona Lisa quality, graceful comic timing and firmness." Find out for yourself before the play's run ends on June 18. Get in fast to secure your tickets to this must-see performance, it's the ultimate winter activity for theatre lovers and Disney fans alike. If you are looking for things to do in Melbourne this winter, Mary Poppins is showing at Her Majesty's Theatre until Sunday, June 18. Tickets to Mary Poppins start from $49.90 and are available to purchase from TicketTek. Images: Daniel Boud. Updated May 24.
If Melbourne town's end-of-year weather is getting you down — sweltering one day, streaming from the skies the next — here is some small solace for you. Melbourne's Boho Luxe Market (their words, not ours) is determined to make you remember those times when you could dip your toes in the ocean without needing an umbrella, and take you to a sun-dappled place of dreamcatchers and flower crowns. Because these things are apparently synonymous with Byron Bay, the market's goal is to bring "that Byron Bay vibe to Melbourne" — so expect all of the above except for the beach bit. For their festive run, they'll be in town on Sunday, December 10, when you can treat yourself to a day of Christmas wanderlust in the Atrium at Federation Square. There'll be heaps of stalls featuring bohemian fashion, jewellery, homewares, pet products and kids stuff for tiny people too. There are even some complimentary tote bags on offer for the first 100 shoppers; the likes of cupcakes, doughnuts, vegan chocolate and Vietnamese dishes to eat, and live music amping up the relaxed vibes as well.
One of the great things about Christmas is getting your family and friends to help you out with your homewares and furniture wishlist. Got your eye on a new lamp but spent your own pennies on festive shenanigans? Need some new linen, chairs or glassware, but not enough to bust your budget? Too busy splashing cash on gifts for everyone else to worry about your own broken shelves? Cue the handy answer to your mum's annual "what do you want for Christmas?" question — and cue IKEA's new way to assist, too. 'Tis the season for the Swedish retailer to launch its IKEA Gift Registry in Australia, capitalising upon all the present-buying — and just general browsing — that everyone's doing in December. This is a year-round offering, however, letting you set up a registry filled with all the IKEA products your house really needs, ready to send to whoever's doing the purchasing. Use it for Christmas or birthdays, the choice is yours. The registry will also come in handy for couples about to get hitched, and is bound to be super popular for housewarmings. Whichever fits, it operates in the same way — and it's also designed to help making gift-shopping even quicker. You'll need an IKEA Family account to create a registry, then it's a simple matter of adding whatever your heart and home desire, sharing it when your loved ones and waiting till the relevant big occasion. The gift registry updates in real time, too, so everyone can see what's already taken — avoiding double ups. IKEA has launched the registry alongside app-based checkout, a self-service feature that lets you scan what you're buying as you're browsing its ten Aussie stores. Once you've wandered the aisles, you can then just scan the QR code at the dedicated mobile checkouts, without needing to go through your trolley or bag again (or even unpack them). That leaves more time for eating Swedish meatballs, obviously. The last 12 months has seen IKEA add a range of new services in Australia, helping you fill your house with its wares. Also on the list: an online marketplace for discontinued, ex-display and pre-loved products, plan and order point concept stores outside its usual warehouse setup and sustainable living-focused shops. For more information about the IKEA Gift Registry, head to the chain's website.
Internationally renowned sculptor Ken Unsworth was born in Melbourne, but, during his 50-year career, he's not had a major exhibition in the city. Until now, that is. This spring, he'll be bringing skeletons, crying babies and a grand piano to the National Gallery of Victoria, for Ken Unsworth: Truly, Madly. The free show will feature key works spanning Unsworth's past. Among them are When the angel of the lord came down, a tribute to his late wife, Elisabeth Unsworth, who was a concert pianist, and Mind games, in which two skeletons face one another across a table. Look out, too, for brand new pieces, including When snowflakes turn to stone, an oversized skeleton encircled with stones, and Alphaville, which immerses you in five-metre high buildings and their sounds – from barking dogs to prayer rituals. Now 87, Unsworth worked as a high school art teacher before becoming a full-time artist. He exhibited at the 1976 Sydney Biennale; numerous Australian Sculptural Triennials; Biennales in Paris, Venice and Istanbul; and several other major international shows, including Magiciens de la Terre, curated by Jean-Hubert Martin at The Pompidou Centre in 1989. Images: Mind Games 2014, Ken Unsworth; When snowflakes turn to stone 2018, Ken Unsworth; In concert (1983-84), Ken Unsworth; Below the horizon 2017, Ken Unsworth. All photos by Eugene Hyland.
UPDATE Monday, March 27: Due to unforeseen circumstances, 'Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience' will no longer take place this weekend. For details, see the website. With its latest movie-fuelled event, Immersive Cinema is hoping that you've never felt like this before — and that you love Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey dancing up a storm in a much-adored 1987 romantic drama. The second part is easy. As for the first, you might've actually stepped into this interactive Dirty Dancing experience back in 2019 when it first came to Australia. Who doesn't want to have the time of their life twice, though? For its second Aussie stint, Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience is only heading to Melbourne, taking over the Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, April 1–Sunday, April 2, 2023. If Francis 'Baby' Houseman can take a trip to Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills with her family, you can hit up the venue to get whisked away to the next best thing. Here, attendees will get plunged into the world of Dirty Dancing. Taking over the outdoor venue, Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience won't just screen one of Swayze's biggest film roles, but will recreate the world of the popular film. That means that attendees will travel back to 1963 in spirit, check into the flick's setting, and enjoy a day of painting classes, volleyball, croquet, mini golf and — of course — dance lessons. You can probably also expect a stint of carrying watermelons, and definitely a dance showcase. And yes, it all ends with an evening screening of Dirty Dancing on the big screen. You'd be just a fool to believe that's all that's on the agenda. Actors and dancers will roam around like the wind and, food- and drink-wise, Americana-style eats will be available at 12 different dining spots, while seven pop-up bars will sling summery cocktails — all on offer for those with hungry eyes (and stomachs). Also, there'll be a dedicated watermelon stand, plus a picnic area among the rose bushes. You'll also be able to wander through recreations of Kellerman's famous fictional spaces. That includes the staff quarters where Baby Houseman gets her first taste of dirty dancing, as well as the studios where she learns all the steps from and starts swooning over Johnny Castle. Wherever you head, nobody will be putting Baby in a corner. Like the film version of Kellerman's, the event is also an all-ages affair — and everyone is encouraged to dress up like it's the 60s, but appropriate footwear for dancing is a must. Also, because no one had phones back in the 60s, it's a technology-free experience as well. The only screen that matters: the big one showing the movie, of course.
One of Melbourne's favourite year-round floating bars, Yarra Botanica, is hosting a new monthly market. Kicking off on Sunday, May 28 and running each month throughout winter, some of Victoria's best producers and growers will be swinging by the Yarra River's two-storey pontoon bar and eatery. Come along on Sunday, June 25 and you'll be treated to Infinity Blue's local barra and drinks from Rye-based Penni Ave Distillery. Sunday, July 30 brings along Wattle Farm's oyster mushrooms and Banks Botanicals' alc-free selection of spirits for Dry July. Finally, Richmond favourite Brogan's Way and Thomastown's That's Amore fromage will be popping down on Sunday, August 20. To celebrate their special guests, the team at Yarra Botanica will also be curating specials to showcase all the goodies, so snag a spot riverside to sip and snack through the afternoon. Images: Supplied.
Carnegie's new café Left Field has been in the making for six months. If you know what the space on the corner of Koornang and Leila Roads looked like before, you'll understand why. The building, famous among locals, used to be the bright pink home of a suburban Indian restaurant; now, in its reincarnation as Left Field, it's been painted in much more understated hues of white and blue. Inside, its fit-out — featuring wooden outdoor seating and indoor plants — is very similar to what you'd find at two other cafes by the owners, Touchwood and Tall Timber. "It was a bit of a monster as far as demolition and renovation goes, but we're blown away with the results," says Ryan Lording, who comes from Tall Timber not only as a chef, but as a part owner as well. Convenient really, as he lives just up the road. The locals in the area have been incredibly supportive of the new venture in Melbourne's southeast — many of them young families who moved from places like Prahran or Richmond to Carnegie. "One of our owners was looking for a house in the area when we discovered this spot," he says. "A lot of the Tall Timber regulars moved out this way to live and start families. There's more space." On the menu, the food toes the line between healthy and indulgent. There's the smashed pea bruschetta with prosciutto, goats' cheese zucchini and basil, and the beetroot-cured ocean trout with quinoa, avocado hummus and black tahini. But then there's the Benedict, the pulled pork burger (on a black brioche bun), the Oreo cookies and cream ice cream sliders and an array of colourful muffins, doughnuts and treats sitting pretty at the counter. "People should be tossing up between five to six options, instead of the standard one or two possibilities on most menus," says Lording. With the food, they serve Niccolo coffee along with specialty drinks like kombucha, Golden Grind (a latte mix of turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper) and Matcha Maiden. Despite opening to a strong customer base who have already made Left Field their local, Lording says there's still a lot to come, like outdoor roofing and heating. His aim? To make the eatery the food destination of the southeastern suburbs. And judging by the success it's had so far, that statement isn't actually too far out of left field. Images: Melissa Cowan.
If you fancy ringing in 2018 with a classic Aussie feed and lots of locally made craft beers, then grab yourself a ticket to Stomping Ground's New Year's Eve feast. On December 31, the Collingwood Brewery will be dishing up a proper, three-course Australian BBQ dinner, to help you wrap-up the year in style. It's a bargain, too, with adult tickets $39 including a glass of celebratory bubbly, and kids tickets priced at just $15. As an added bonus, all of Stomping Ground's usual drinks lineup will be available at regular bar prices. That means you'll be partying on into the night sipping treats like the Gipps St pale ale, bubbles from Brunswick's Noisy Ritual and The Everleigh's bottled cocktails, instead of some sad NYE drinks package. There are two sittings to choose from — a family-friendly earlybird session from 5pm, or an 8pm sitting that'll let you camp out until 1am.
Keen for a beachside beverage and in the vicinity of the St Kilda foreshore? Don't go rushing to the sand with a drink in hand just yet. The City of Port Phillip has extended its existing temporary ban on boozing, which was initially put in place after a wild Christmas day party and will now last through until April 3. That means that coastal Easter shindigs will also need to be drink-free, as the council contemplates its next steps. A long-term ban has been under consideration since approximately 5000 people gathered at the popular spot on December 25, resulting in unruly behaviour through the afternoon and evening, 29 tonnes of rubbish and a clean-up bill of around $23,000. "This is about doing our best to balance safety with celebration," said Mayor Bernadene Voss following the Council meeting on February 7. "We heard, and sympathised, with some residents who told us they want the right to be able to drink responsibly on our beautiful St Kilda foreshore... but we also heard local traders, residents and emergency services personnel telling us that alcohol is a problem and is getting worse." The council will engage with the community to ascertain views on the effectiveness of the current trial ban, and whether it was encouraging or deterring use of the area. Possibly permitting well-managed events to supply alcohol on Christmas Day, rather than visitors bringing their own, will also be explored. Restrictions were initially planned to run over the New Year's Eve period, were first extended prior to Christmas and then subsequently increased to continue until February 15 following the unruly incident. The area affected spans from Marina Reserve to West Beach. Via The Age.
It's a pretty good time to be a fan of rooftop bars, barbecue or both if you live in Melbourne. We announced back in June that the Fancy Hank's BBQ crew were planning to open a dedicated, two-storey barbecue joint on Bourke Street — and it has just opened in doors. Plus, the new rooftop bar we were buzzing about in August is set to join them, possibly as soon as this week. Yep, it's an upstairs/downstairs kind of place, and you can enjoy the former while the Fancy Hank's puts the finishing touches on the latter. The new 100-seat restaurant is basically a bigger, better version of their venue at The Mercat, complete with a two-tonne smoker that had to be brought in through the first-storey window. They'll need it; co-owner Michael Patrick says the menu features their signature smoked meats, as well as a rotating vegetarian main, such as a smoked eggplant or sweet potato, as well as a few more surprises. "The sides will be a bit more considered as well — a bit more seasonal, a bit more made to order, a bit more interesting," he says. "And mains will be served up on platters, family-style — that's the way to go. We'll be adding a dessert cabinet too." Head above, and you'll feel like you're in the heavens — or Good Heavens, as the bar will be called. A whole new concept set to open any day now, it's a casual rooftop bar that's unlike anything the Fancy Hank's guys have done before. The bar has chosen to champion brightly-coloured '80s-inspired cocktails (blue curaçao may be making an appearance), as well as barbecue snacks like spicy southern chicken ribs, chilli nachos and a seared and smoked lamb neck grilled cheese sandwich. Of course, new doors might be opening, but old ones don't have to close. The Mercat still has ties to your beloved Fancy Hanks, but it's now called Knuckles Sandwich Bar. It's a scaled-back version of the original, but still as tasty — and there's no prizes for guessing what they serve. Fancy Hank's is now open at 1/79 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Good Heavens is due to follow later this month. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates. By Imogen Baker, Lauren Vadnjal and Sarah Ward.
Soon, in North Sydney, smokers mightn't just have to stub out their cigarettes in public areas — rather, puffing away in the entire central business district could be banned. At a meeting this week, the North Sydney Council moved to create a smoke-free CBD, prohibiting smoking in all public spaces within the North Sydney local government area. The motion received the unanimous support of attending councillors, with determining community support listed as the next step in the meeting minutes. North Sydney, Sydney's second largest CBD, already boasts a number of smoke-free zones at Brett Whiteley Place and Elizabeth Plaza. Both are self-regulated, which is how the council proposes that the new CBD-wide ban would work — and with participating restaurants, bars and cafes placing council-produced and -providers stickers in their windows to help raise awareness. "Council's creation of self-regulated, no smoking zones has been well received by the community and I believe a push to expand this policy would be widely welcomed," North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson states in the minutes. The mayor advised the ABC that fines won't be issued for those who flout the ban — and if locals supported the smoke-free plan, it could be in place by Christmas or early 2019. And, Gibson told the Sydney Morning Herald, the eventual aim is to make the entirety of North Sydney's shared public spaces smoke-free, including streets, plazas, parks and outdoor seating. Throughout New South Wales more broadly, smoking in enclosed areas of licensed premises has been illegal since 2007, while lighting up in outdoor spaces such as public transport stops and stations, the entrances to public buildings, around children's playgrounds and near spectators at sporting facilities has been banned since 2012. In 2015, the state prohibited smoking in outdoor dining areas as well, including on on footpaths outside licensed cafes and pubs. And, since September 2016, Pitt Street Mall Place in the Sydney CBD has been smoke-free. Queensland outlawed smoking in outdoor dining areas in 2006, while Victoria followed suit in 2017. And both Brisbane and Melbourne have designated smoke-free areas in their CBDs — either through state-wide restrictions on smoking in outdoor pedestrian malls, or through specific smoke-free sites. Hobart also has a number of designated smoke-free sites.
Each year Splendour in the Grass ups the ante. Combining the best in international and local acts, the music festival caters for all music tastes making it as inclusive as it is entertaining. Set at the picturesque Woodfordia site in Queensland, carloads of people from across the east coast plough up the highway, arriving at their destination to camp for the better part of the week in isolated companionship. But if you missed out on tickets never fear, Splendour sideshows have promised the best of the festival making its way to capital cities around Australia. Sporting some of the most illustrious names in today's music, the announcement of Sydney sideshows includes heroes of 90s Britpop Pulp, LA electo-pop lords Foster The People, post-dubstep poster boy James Blake, London indie kids The Vaccines, Swedish maestros The Hives and Bloc Party's Kele. Keep an eye out for more annoucements but in the meantime tickets for these excellent show go on sale this Friday, May 27. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MVgEaDemxjc
Spike Lee. Denzel Washington. They're two of the biggest names in America cinema, and they're back in business together, teaming up for Highest 2 Lowest. Premiering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, the latest Lee-directed joint not only sees two icons reunite, but also reimagines the work of another. With their new collaboration, the two Oscar-winners (Lee for BlacKkKLansman's screenplay, Washington for Glory and Training Day) are reinterpreting 1963 crime thriller High and Low from Akira Kurosawa. If you've forgotten where else Lee (American Utopia) and Washington (Gladiator II) have joined forces before, the just-dropped teaser trailer for Highest 2 Lowest offers a reminder, starting by running through their past flicks together: Mo' Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game and Inside Man. "There's more to life than just making money," utters Washington as the film titles flash up on the screen. "There's integrity. There's what you stand for. There's what you actually believe in," he continues. In the New York City-set flick, Washington plays a music mogul who is about to navigate quite the chaos. "Can you handle the mayhem?" Highest 2 Lowest's star also asks in the movie's debut sneak peek, which is set to James Brown's 'The Big Payback'. His character is renowned for having the "best ears in the business", then is saddled with a ransom plot. "Can you handle the money? Can you handle the success? Can you handle the failure? Can you handle the lovers? Can you handle the memes? Can you handle everything that there is in-between?" he also queries. While this is Lee and Washington's fifth time working together in 35 years, it's their first collab in 19 years, since Inside Man released in 2006. It's also Lee's first film at all since 2020, when both feature Da 5 Bloods and concert movie American Utopia released. Washington's Highest 2 Lowest costars include Jeffrey Wright (The Last of Us), Ice Spice and A$AP Rocky (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You). After premiering at Cannes, the movie has a date with US cinemas from Friday, August 22, 2025, but details of a Down Under big-screen release haven't been revealed. Whether or not it hits picture palaces in Australia and New Zealand, viewers will be able to watch Highest 2 Lowest via Apple TV+ from Friday, September 5, 2025. Check out the first teaser trailer for Highest 2 Lowest below: Highest 2 Lowest opens in US cinemas from Friday, August 22, 2025 and doesn't yet have a Down Under big-screen release date, but screens via Apple TV+ from Friday, September 5, 2025.
In the beginning there was Coca Cola, followed quickly by Pepsi. Diet Coke begat Pepsi Max. Pepsi fired a Gatorade salvo only to be hit back with Coke's answer, Powerade. Coke launched Sprite, Pepsi quickly responded with 7 Up. The product war has waged for over a hundred years and doesn't look like stopping any time soon, with both companies now aiming to create communities around their products whilst using the help of celebrity endorsement, collaboration and technology. At a recent trade fair, Pepsi unveiled its newest invention: the social vending machine. These touch screen incarnations don't just allow you to buy a drink for yourself now you can "gift" a Pepsi to a friend (who receives a code via text which allows redemption of product). You can also opt for what is by far the most philanthropic option: the Random Act of Refreshment. This will purchase a drink for a "complete stranger in a different city". It seems to be a natural progression for PepsiCo, who are rebranding themselves as more charitable and approachable than their competitors. Their latest PR campaign saw the introduction of the Pepsi Refresh Project grants, with Pepsi giving out millions of dollars in grants each month to ideas-based community projects across the United States. Coca Cola, the number one drink in the world, is continuing along a similar tack. Coke are trying to make the purchase of their beverage an experience to create a community as the cornerstone of the brand's latest efforts. The Perfect Harmony campaign teams up R&B artist Taio Cruz and American Idol, allowing Coke customers the chance to to write a verse for his next song and see it performed on national television. However, Diet Coke is opting for a different and more exclusive image. For the second year in a row the brand's bottles are being designed by fashion dynamo Karl Lagerfeld. The Chanel creative director, who famously lost 42 kg with the aid of the drink, says he's happy to work with Diet Coke because he's "a fan". Seems Coke is trying to use its industry weight to pull celebrity endorsements, not just for advertisements but for collaboration, attempting to best Pepsi which is better known for its celebrity endorsements (Michael Jackson, the Spice Girls and David Beckham to name a few).
If you like watching Eric Bana (A Sacrifice) trying to solve mysteries, cinemas have been delivering in recent years. First, the Australian actor stepped into Aaron Falk's shoes in the movie adaptation of author Jane Harper's The Dry in 2020. Come 2024, that Aussie hit scored a sequel, with Bana returning as the lead in Force of Nature: The Dry 2. On the small screen, now comes Untamed, which has nothing to do with Harper's Falk novels — but still puts Bana in murder-mystery mode. As the just-dropped trailer for the Netflix limited series illustrates, the show tasks the Chopper, Dirty John, Blueback and Memoir of a Snail star with playing an Investigative Services Branch agent of the US National Parks Service who is looking into a death in Yosemite National Park. If you also enjoy watching whodunnits and detective tales where the person doing the sleuthing is forced to confront their own past in the course of their investigation, that's Untamed across six episodes as well, as viewers will see when it arrives on Netflix on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Bana's Kyle Turner is "looking into this girl who went up El Capitan", he advises at the start of the sneak peek. Before the trailer is out, Sam Neill (The Twelve) as his colleague and chief park ranger Paul Souter is advising "you have to stop beating yourself to death with memories". Skeletons, scratch marks, evil, explosions: they're all a part of the footage for the show so far, as is facing the task of working on a case that spreads across close to a million acres of wilderness. Rosemarie DeWitt (Smile 2), Lily Santiago (La Brea) and Wilson Bethel (Daredevil: Born Again) also feature among the cast, portraying Kyle's remarried ex-wife Jill, Los Angeles police officer Naya Vasquez and former army ranger-turned-park wildlife management officer Shane Maguire, respectively. Bana not only stars but executive produces, with Untamed created by Mark L Smith (Twisters) — in his second new Netflix series of 2025 after American Primeval — and boasting The Pitt's John Wells as another of its executive producers. Check out the trailer for Untamed below: Untamed streams via Netflix from Thursday, July 17, 2025. Images: Ricardo Hubbs / Netflix © 2025.
Are you feeling a bit left out at work when people are discussing their weekend whisky sour at Shady Pines because you are at a loss as to what is in that drink or where that bar is? Or do you miss the camaraderie that comes with a university pub crawl but feel your palette has matured beyond fire engines and snake bites? Do not fret if so, Sydney Bar Tours has arrived. Headed up by two of Sydney's most illustrious foodies, Alex Adams from EatDrinkPlay.com and Simon McGoram, drinks editor of Australian Bartender magazine, the tours are aiming to illuminate the ever changing Sydney nightlife landscape. The experience is simple but unique, a small group of ten (friends or strangers) introduced to Sydney's best new bars. You'll meet the owners, managers and bartenders, sample the bars menu and even have cocktails and drinks designed just for you. McGoram points out: "In short, you'll get the rock star treatment." Currently offering two tours focusing on the small bars in Darlinghurst and the CBD, the operation looks to expand to the locales of Surry Hills, Bondi Beach and Kings Cross. The tours run for a little over three hours, include food and drinks, and tickets are limited. Check out Eat Drink Play for more details.
Among the many ideas that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has conjured up, and the array of casting choices that've been involved as well, tasking Pedro Pascal (Materialists), Vanessa Kirby (Napoleon), Joseph Quinn (Gladiator II) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear) with suiting up in a Fantastic Four movie sounds particularly, well, fantastic. Audiences have had more than a year to soak in their excitement, but now discovering how this lineup of actors fares in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is almost upon us — and, as the film's July 2025 release date approaches, Marvel has unveiled a new trailer. Here's your latest look at Pascal, Kirby and company's battle against Galactus (Ralph Ineson, Nosferatu) — and at the space god's herald, aka the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner, Wolf Man), bringing ominous tidings. This is your newest sneak peek at Mister Fantastic, The Invisible Woman, The Thing and The Human Torch's beginnings in the 1960s, too, as alarms keep going off figuratively and literally. In a massive year for Pascal on the big screen — Down Under, first came Materialists, then arrives First Steps, then Ari Aster's (Beau Is Afraid) Eddington, all in a three-month span — The Last of Us star is getting stretchy as Reed Richards. Kirby is bending light as one of the Storm siblings, Sue; Quinn is proving fiery as Johnny, her brother; and Moss-Bachrach is no one's cousin here, but huge, rocky and super strong as Ben Grimm instead. The latter also knows what everyone wants him to say in the new trailer, but isn't eager to oblige. This is the third glimpse at The Fantastic Four: First Steps — and family dinners, big life changes, the worries that come with that, facing stresses together and world-threatening foes all keep popping up. WandaVision, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Succession's Matt Shakman directs, with Paul Walter Hauser (Cobra Kai), John Malkovich (Ripley), Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face) and Sarah Niles (F1) co-starring. And yes, Pascal, Kirby, Quinn and Moss-Bachrach's characters have hit cinemas before. Before there was a MCU, there were Fantastic Four movies. The first two to earn a big-screen release arrived in 2005 and 2007, with the latter hitting the year before Iron Man kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As Deadpool and Wolverine did 2024's Deadpool and Wolverine, the Stan Lee- and Jack Kirby-created superhero quartet now join the list of characters who are being brought into the MCU fold, as has been on the cards ever since Disney bought 20th Century Fox. Pascal and company are taking over from two batches of past film takes on the superhero team. In the 2005 and 2007 flicks, Ioan Gruffudd (Bad Boys: Ride or Die), Jessica Alba (Trigger Warning), a pre-Captain America Chris Evans (Materialists) and Michael Chiklis (Accused) starred. Then, in 2015, Chronicle filmmaker Josh Trank gave the group a spin — still outside of the MCU — with Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick), Kate Mara (Friendship), a pre-Black Panther Michael B Jordan (Sinners) and Jamie Bell (All of Us Strangers). Check out the final trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps below: The Fantastic Four: First Steps releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Images: courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and 2025 MARVEL.
Coffee can do many things. It can bring you back to life when you've had a big one and need to drag your ol' bag of bones to the office. And it can keep those tired eyes open after hours of staring at the same screen. Yep, coffee can get you raring, but it won't be what keeps you going. That's food. The wonders of a square meal in your stomach via a very good feed are many so, together with our friends at American Express, we've compiled a list of six places to head to when you need to refuel your empty tank. Haircuts, groceries, taxes: you can power through them all, thanks to food (and your American Express Card). It turns out eating isn't cheating when it comes to getting things done.
Australians all let us rejoice, for the public holiday is here and we plan on making the most of it. As happens every year, our calendar is full to bursting, loaded with events and parties that celebrate our multicultural country and our shared exaltation of the humble snag. Whether you’re looking to take in a live performance, satisfy your tastebuds or just want to go for a dip in the sea, this list will make sure you have yourself a cracker of a day. And yes, we've included plenty of places where you can listen to the Hottest 100. Of course, it's a day of great contention in Australia, often called ‘Invasion Day’, ‘Day of Mourning’, ‘Survival Day’ or ‘Aboriginal Sovereignty Day’ (since 2006). There's a huge protest happening on the steps of Parliament House if you're interested.
More things in life should remind the world about Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, 2021's wonderfully goofy (and just wonderful) Florida-set comedy starring Kristen Wiig (MacGruber) and Annie Mumolo (Barbie), plus Jamie Dornan (The Tourist) singing to seagulls. The also Wiig-led Palm Royale is one such prompt. Thankfully, watching Apple TV+'s new page-to-screen dramedy doesn't cause audiences to wish that they were just viewing Barb and Star, though. The two share the same US state as a locale, too, alongside bright colour schemes, a bouncy pace and a willingness to get silly, especially with sea life, but Palm Royale — which streams its first season from Wednesday, March 20 — engages all on its own. Adapting Juliet McDaniel's Mr & Mrs American Pie for the small screen, this 60s-set effort also knows how to make gleaming use of its best asset: Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids and Ghostbusters alum Wiig. In its ten-episode first season, the show's storyline centres on Maxine Simmons. A former beauty-pageant queen out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, she thinks nothing of scaling the wall to the titular country club, then breezing about like she's meant to be there — sipping grasshoppers and endeavouring to eavesdrop her way into a social-climbing friendship with Palm Beach's high-society set — and Wiig sells every second of the character's twist-filled journey. Even better: she heartily and entertainingly conveys the everywoman aspects of someone who has yearning for a better life as her main motivation, and isn't willing to settle for anything less than she thinks that she deserves, even in hardly relatable circumstances. There's no doubting that Maxine is both an underdog and an outsider in the milieu that she so frenziedly covets. When she's not swanning around poolside, idolising self-appointed bigwig Evelyn Rollins (Allison Janney, The Creator) and ambassador's wife Dinah Donahue (Leslie Bibb, About My Father) among the regulars — their clique spans widow Mary Jones Davidsoul (Julia Duffy, Christmas with the Campbells) and mobster spouse Raquel Kimberly-Maco (Claudia Ferri, Arlette) — and ordering her cocktail of choice from bartender Robert (Ricky Martin, American Crime Story), she's staying in a far-from-glamorous motel. Funding for her quest to fit in with the rich and gossip-column famous comes via pawning jewellery owned by her pilot husband Douglas'(Josh Lucas, Yellowstone) comatose aunt Norma Dellacorte (Carol Burnett, Better Call Saul), the plastics and mouthwash heiress who ruled the scene until suffering an embolism. To say that Maxine has pluck is an understatement. To say that Palm Royale takes her lead is as well. Glossily made, and also supremely stylish in its gem- and pastel-hued costuming and production design — Maxine borrows from Norma's wardrobe, too; caftans, not culottes, are a favourite among the crowd she's clamouring to join — the series bounds along with wit, verve, humour and an eagerness to unpack as much as satirise. Creator Abe Sylvia (George & Tammy, Dead to Me, Filthy Rich), who also co-directs and co-writes, knows how ridiculous that lives revolving around superficial popularity, lavishness and being seen to host the best galas can seem — and how divorced from almost everyone's reality, whether or not you consider Evelyn and Dinah's existence aspirational as Maxine does — while devotedly ensuring that none of Palm Royale's key characters are as flimsy as their materialism-driven concept of happiness. Wiig sings Peggy Lee's 'Is That All There Is?' in her leading part — it released in 1969, the specific year when Palm Royale takes place — but the show itself doesn't inspire the same question. There's always more bubbling up in the series, which also finds a sweet spot in both Desperate Housewives and The Stepford Wives territory. Affairs, betrayal, secrets, blackmail, criminal antics and fraud flow as frequently as martinis and quaaludes, as do subterfuge, ulterior motives, big reveals and attempted murders. Patently, all that glitters for its characters doesn't equate to the gold that is blissful and carefree days. Palm Royale's aesthetics shimmer and shine, but the vision of the American dream that Maxine, Evelyn, Dinah and company are chasing is anything but flawless. A comedy, a skewering, a drama, a soap: this self-aware series isn't ever content saying "that's all there is" to any of them. Simply shaking together all of the above into a fun and chic blend doesn't satisfy Sylvia, either. Diving Mad Men-level deep may not be Palm Royale's aim, but there's weight to its time beyond the well-to-do in Nixon's America. The inclusion of Linda Shaw (Laura Dern, The Son), who runs a feminist bookstore in West Palm Beach with her friend Virginia (Amber Chardae Robinson, Loot) — and a collective that's actively protesting the Vietnam War — makes certain that the politics of the time are never ignored, for instance, nor the fact that doggedly pursuing the cashed-up fantasy life is not everyone's wish. Ambition isn't lacking for Maxine or for the show, then — or when it comes to making the most of such a starry cast. Surrounding Wiig, Janney and Bibb are each a treasure as frenemies with equally delicious lines, and as women who appear to uphold the rich idyll yet typify how money can't buy everything. Dern, who also executive produces as Wiig does, invests sincerity and earthiness; her moments with her IRL father Bruce Dern (Old Dads), playing dad and daughter, are a particular highlight. While being bedridden is her lot to begin with, no one casts comedy legend Burnett just to keep her character unconscious. And if there's a breakout surprise among the performances, it's from Martin, who inhabits Robert, a fellow interloper alongside Maxine, with soul and thoughtfulness as he weathers Palm Beach's la vida loca. It might seem erratic, seesawing between Big Little Lies-esque intrigue and dramas among the affluent, or pretending to be, and letting Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar-style absurdity kick in — and also bringing the far darker Ingrid Goes West, aka Maxine's plight if it was the 2010s instead, to mind. Indeed, it's no minor feat that Palm Royale's mix hit the mark. That said, the precarious feeling that tints Maxine's life and dreams is shared by the series, because there's no shortage of ways that this could've crumpled. Going all in while striving for glory may prove chaotic for its protagonist, but it works a treat for the show that she's in. Check out the trailer for Palm Royale below: Palm Royale streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, March 20.
Think you've seen it all when it comes to wedding fairs? Think again — this one's a little less about the dress and a little more suited for, well, suits. Groom Fest will unite around 40 wedding vendors from all over Australia to concentrate on those who need a snappy three-piece suit and a pocket square to top it all off — the grooms of the world. There'll be much to see in the way of men's fashion, not to mention suiting, styling and grooming advice, with a barber setting up shop to do live hairstyling demonstrations. Presenter and wedding celebrant Shura Taft will play MC for the day, while you wander through the stalls and get that special day sorted. To help you sail even closer to being your smoothest self, live panel sessions will cover everything from delivering a killer wedding speech to nailing that daunting first dance. There'll be plenty of food and drinks on offer, including gin tastings from Sydney-based distillery Archie Rose and live music performances from The White Tree Band (to help settle that band-versus-DJ argument once and for all). The event is open to all (not just grooms), so round up the troops for a two-hour wedding planning power session. All attendees will score a free goodie bag filled with items from Hunter Lab, a free Hello May magazine and the official Pocket Groom's Guide, written and produced exclusively for the event. Groom Fest will take place from 7.30–9.30pm on Tuesday, March 26 at The Toff in Town. Entry is free but RSVPs are essential — and you can add a donation to Movember at check-out if you wish. To reserve your ticket, head this way. Images: The White Tree.
Encompassing York, Clarence and Kent Street in Sydney's CBD, the Harbour City's YCK Precinct has just been recognised in an international pilot program as an outstanding hub of nightlife, becoming Australia's first designated Purple Flag district. The Purple Flag program is an international accreditation scheme dedicated to recognising nightlife areas that are diverse, vibrant and safe. Each recognised district must meet a set of criteria judging its public transport, street lighting, food and beverage offerings, and entertainment. YCK Precinct will join areas across England, Sweden and New Zealand as Purple Flag districts, as the program strives to highlight the best after-dark cultural spots the world has to offer. [caption id="attachment_654874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] "We are working to deliver a better night out for all and Purple Flag will boost Sydney's reputation as a global nightlife destination, creating a thriving 24-hour economy across the state as more precincts apply for accreditation," said New South Wales' 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Mike Rodrigues. "A collaborative and coordinated effort is required to build a vibrant and strong 24-hour economy and the YCK team has shown considered planning and a willingness to innovate in earning Purple Flag status." Boasting beloved and accomplished venues like Since I Left You, PS40, Esteban, Cash Only and The Prince of York, the YCK Precinct launched in 2021 in order to bring more attention to the three busy inner-city streets. Since then, it has worked to capitalise upon its venues, and the forces behind them, to promote the vitality of the Sydney CBD — and host several multi-day food, drink, music and arts festivals in the process. "Whether it's for some retail therapy, to visit one of the superb small bars, grab a late-night bite or enjoy one of our regular arts and cultural events, we are committed to delivering our patrons a safe, friendly and fun experience," YCK Laneways Association Vice President Karl Schlothauer said. Also in Sydney, the Purple Flag pilot program is still running in the Parramatta CBD, Haldon Street in Lakemba and Marrickville, with these three hotspots still yet to be given the official go-ahead as a Purple Flag district. Don't live in New South Wales? Sydney's latest accolade is bound to reignite Australia's capital-city rivalries. [caption id="attachment_805684" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Lobo[/caption] Learn more about the Purple Flag program in Sydney at the NSW Government's website.
All killer, no filler: when it comes to HBO comedy Barry, that firmly applies. The premise is pure TV gold, following an assassin who'd rather be an actor, but finds it hard to cut ties with his murderous gig. Making it even better across two seasons now, with a third set to drop in April: the pitch-perfect casting of former Saturday Night Live great Bill Hader as the eponymous hitman. Here's the setup: when Hader's Barry Berkman heads from Cleveland to Los Angeles for his job, he discovers a previously unknown passion for acting after he stumbles into a class held by veteran thespian Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, The French Dispatch). The catch? Barry kills people for money, and that isn't a line of work that you can leave easily, especially when you become caught in the Chechen mafia's violent and deadly dramas. As SNL fans will already know, Hader is an on-screen treasure, but he's never been better than he is in this part-comedy, part-tragedy series. Barry's struggle mightn't seem that relatable on paper, but it proves exactly that with Hader in the role. Also excellent is Winkler, expectedly. And, similarly great is Bill & Ted Face the Music's Anthony Carrigan as Chechen gangster Noho Hank — who befriends Barry, isn't that skilled at the whole crime business and quickly becomes one of the most memorable characters to ever grace a TV series. It's no wonder that fans have been hanging out for the third season of this Emmy-winner, which finally arrives in April — on Monday, April 25 in Australia via Binge, in fact — after a three-year gap since season two. Based on the just-dropped first teaser trailer, Barry's quest to go on the straight and narrow — and pursue acting — is still as chaotic as ever. In fact, this season will focus on the other factors, including his own psyche, that saw Barry become a killer to begin with. Another big part of the new episodes, according to HBO: fellow characters trying to make the right choices. Also returning are Stephen Root (The Tragedy of Macbeth) as Barry's former handler Monroe, who is in hiding; Sarah Goldberg (The Night House) as Barry's girlfriend Sarah, who is also an actor; D'Arcy Carden (The Good Place) as a fellow acting student; and Sarah Burns (Werewolves Within) as Detective Mae Dunn. And Hader isn't just phenomenally excellent on-screen in Barry — he also co-created it, has directed a heap of episodes, and also co-wrote others. Check out the first teaser trailer for Barry season three below: Barry's third season will start streaming via Binge in Australia from Monday, April 25. In NZ, look out for the new season via Neon. Top image: Merrick Morton/HBO.
Ever wonder what goes on at the museum before it opens? Turns out it's less like Night at the Museum, and more like the inside of a yoga studio. That's because, from July 18, Melbourne Museum is opening its doors for a series of workout classes from 7.30–9am. Using the surrounding museum environment, exercise instructor and choreography assistant Jo Lloyd will be leading classes of 20 people through yoga, dance and aerobics. In an effort to use the museum space for more than just slow shuffling, BalletLab has developed this hour-long class for all fitness levels. A healthy breakfast is included in the $35 ticket too (if you like to be rewarded for all physical exercise — and rightly so). So you can start your day in Warrior II with the dinosaurs, climbing stairs like the insects in the Bug Lab, or stretching like the squids and sharks. Museum Moves will take place on July 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 from 7.30am. If you'd like to return after dark, the museum is also running a series of adults-only parties on Friday nights.
By now, the fact that any new season will likely be hotter than average in Australia should hardly come as a surprise. It's a recurrent trend, especially in autumn and winter, when things are supposed to cool down. And, now that summer is behind us for 2021, this year is staying true to form. According to the Bureau of Meteorology's climate outlook for the March to May period, much of the country is in for both warm weather and wet conditions over the coming months. If you live in Australia's north, Tasmania, southern Victoria or along the west coast of Western Australia, expect toastier autumn days this year, with a more than 60-percent chance that'll be the case. Nights are also expected to be warmer over the same period, hitting an 80-percent likelihood in the northern tropics, eastern Queensland, southern Victoria and Tasmania. For folks in New South Wales, you could buck the trend. BOM is currently forecasting cooler than average autumn days for parts of the state, with a 60-percent probability. But, overall, even when Australia gets down to its minimum temperatures between March and May, they're expected to be higher than average across most of the country (other that parts of southern WA and western and central South Australia). To give an idea of exactly what that all means, the average daily maximum temperature for March sits at around 23.9 degrees in Melbourne, 24.8 in Sydney and 28 in Brisbane. In May, it's around 16.7 degrees for Melbourne, with 19.5 for Sydney and 23.2 for Brisbane. BOM is forecasting that in all three cities we'll see warmer temperatures than that across the three months — and in Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin as well — although some rises might be minimal. In good news for farmers, much of the nation's east looks set for more rain, too. That's predicted to be the case in most of NSW, southern and eastern Queensland, Arnhem Land in the NT, eastern SA and eastern Tasmania — although, the higher probability of that happening (over 70 percent) is largely concentrated to small parts of southern Queensland and northeast NSW). In WA, the rest of the NT, Victoria, and the western parts of Queensland, SA and Tasmania, there's no indication that it'll be much wetter or drier than normal. Autumn's predicted wetter and warmer conditions across parts of the country follow Australia's rainiest summer for four years, BOM announced, topping figures since 2016–17 everywhere except greater southeastern Queensland (from the NSW border up to the Capricornia region). To finish off 2020, the country actually experienced its third wettest December since national records began in 1900; however, the nation's summer temperatures also look set to be our lowest since 2011–2012, only reaching above average in parts of Queensland and WA's west coast. If you're wondering why rain has been such a feature lately, BOM attributes it to La Niña, but notes that it is starting to subside. Bureau climatologist Dr Naomi Benger says that "the tropical Pacific Ocean is forecast to return to neutral conditions (neither El Niño nor La Niña) during autumn, consistent with the typical lifecycle of La Niña events. However, it is not uncommon for the effects of La Niña to still be felt as the event declines. That means an increased chance of above average rainfall, particularly for eastern regions". For more information about forecast weather conditions between March–May 2021, head to the Bureau of Meteorology's climate outlook.
It is said that the Lord Krishna opened his mouth and revealed the entire universe inside. Want to wear the entire solar system on your wrist, orbiting in real time? Try the Midnight Planetarium, which may well be the most beautiful watch ever made. Leading watchmakers went head to head at a private trade fair in Geneva, showing off their latest designs and being incredibly punctual. All manner of elegant and unusual timepieces debut at this convention, putting your plastic Swatches and iPhone clocks to shame. At the 2014 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, Van Cleff & Arpels unveiled a watch like no other, a watch so original, finely crafted and whimsical that its US$245,000 price tag almost seems reasonable: the exquisitely named Complication Poetique Midnight Planetarium. So what's the deal with this thing? How do you even read the time? The watchface contains tiny globes representing the planets visible from earth, from Mr. Sun to Saturn. Made of precious and semi-precious gemstones like red jasper, blue agate, turquoise, serpentine and more, our celestial neighbours are encased on their orbit inside an 18 carat rose gold mount, with a black alligator strap to hold your personal planetarium in place. They rotate on a glittering starscape, accurately mimicking the movement of the planets IRL — yes, that means the Mercury gem will rotate fully in three months, and Saturn? Twenty-nine and a half years. Such a meticulous and gradual rate of motion is truly a feat of fine engineering. The process of painstakingly assembling the 396 components must have required nothing less than a Pacific Ocean of Red Bull. As for clocking regular Earth hours, a tiny shooting star along the outer rim of the watchface indicates the hour. There's also a cute bonus in the form of a whimsical 'Lucky Star' which you can set to appear over the Earth on an appointed day, casting luck on all your doings. The Midnight Planetarium is one of a series of Complication Poetique watches which explore time in its poetic as well as literal dimensions. They're all worth checking out here. As for our little stargazer, watch the video below for more angles on this artistic marvel.
The endless buzz, 24-hour culture and chaotic energy of New York City is a major part of its appeal. But if you want a change of pace without venturing too far beyond the concrete jungle of the five boroughs, you've got options aplenty. Whether you prefer charming villages, counterculture havens or beachfront getaways, adding an extra dimension to your NYC holiday is an easy train or rental car's ride away. Ready to book your journey? We've teamed up with New York State to highlight some of the best spots to visit that ensure your time outside the Big Apple is well spent. [caption id="attachment_853428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED , Darren McGee[/caption] WOODSTOCK, THE CATSKILLS Woodstock has a permanent place in the annals of music history, having lent its name to the legendary counterculture music festival of 1960 (which actually went down about 60 miles away at a dairy farm in Bethel). Nevertheless, this small town in the Catskills is still overflowing with the same free-spirited creativity that people associate with the Woodstock name. There's the Woodstock Art Exchange which shows work by diverse artists living across the region; The Center for Photography which supports emerging and established photographers; and Levon Helm Studios, where local musicians perform a few nights a week, in the space founded by the bonafide rock legend from The Band. The town's culinary scene also has a legit claim to fame. Head to Garden Cafe for farm-fresh vegan cuisine or Silvia when you're in the mood for Modern American food and cocktails. Woodstock is also bursting with outdoor adventures, like Overlook Mountain's summit hike, which plays host to unbeatable views of the Catskills. How far? Woodstock is about two hours from Manhattan. [caption id="attachment_846970" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] COLD SPRING, HUDSON VALLEY Cruise alongside the Hudson River for a little over an hour to find yourself in Cold Spring, a wonderfully charming waterfront village with a strong hipster energy. Main Street is where you'll find most of the action — a leafy avenue lined with quaint storefronts showcasing local clothing designers, homewares and antiquarians. Also along this thoroughfare is a cluster of restaurants, pubs and cafes including the Hudson House Inn, a top choice for steaks and seafood overlooking the river. For a hit of nature and highland views, head to the bucolic Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary (about five minutes out of town by car), or hike the Breakneck Ridge Loop and explore the Stonecrop Gardens to find native plants and farm-fresh air. How far? Cold Spring is about 70 minutes from Manhattan. [caption id="attachment_853510" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] FIRE ISLAND, LONG ISLAND Fire Island is the ideal day trip for those after a complete departure from the city. Getting there requires a ferry ride from mainland Long Island which feels like an adventure in itself. Its major attraction is the landscape and surrounding coastline, which offers ample opportunity for hiking and swimming. Robert Moses State Park is especially impressive, with its five-mile-long beach and historic lighthouse. Meanwhile, the captivating Sunken Forest is also a must-see destination, featuring a boardwalk that traverses through a rare ecological phenomenon. How far? Fire Island is about 90 minutes from Manhattan. [caption id="attachment_846976" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] NEW PALTZ, HUDSON VALLEY Visiting New Paltz from NYC is simple, with a drive straight up the New York State Thruway delivering you right into this classic collegiate town. While the student population ensures plenty of bars and live music venues exist across town, the area is also renowned for its world-class hiking and mountaineering locations. Mohonk Mountain House is a National Historic Landmark resort that provides guests with an award-winning spa, a range of dining options (from al fresco lakeside eating to an old fashioned soda fountain), and is the perfect stay to access some of the region's best hiking — including the famous Labyrinth rock scramble and Lemon Squeeze crevice which demand a challenging climb through massive boulders for the reward of spectacular views of the Hudson valley. This part of the Hudson Valley is also celebrated for its vineyards and breweries with highlights including Robibero Winery and Kettleborough Cider House. How far? New Paltz is about 90 minutes from Manhattan. [caption id="attachment_846977" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] ALBANY, CAPITAL-SARATOGA If you're still getting up to speed on your New York geography, Albany is the capital city of New York State. Head to the venerable Albany Institute of History and Art to deep dive into this historic city's storied past. Once you've brushed up on your local history, you can experience the region's scenic landscapes and native wildlife with a trip to the striking Albany Pine Bush Preserve. For your many pit stops in Albany, the city has a handful of stellar breweries for beer lovers with options like Fort Orange Brewing and Druthers Brewing Company offering excellent local brews and hearty meals. How far? Albany is about 2.5 hours from Manhattan. To start planning your trip to New York State, head to iloveny.com. Also, be sure to check out our recommendations for the best food and drink stops, cultural experiences, outdoor adventures and places to stay. Top image: NYSDED, Darren McGee
Having conquered the hearts of southsiders with her South Melbourne croissant haven, Agathé Pâtisserie, Agathe Kerr has been busy working on yet another treat, opening a pint-sized patisserie in the city's Royal Arcade. Launched on January 18, Agathé Pâtisserie Petite is a miniature version of the 'Croissant Queen's' South Melbourne Market outpost – a shop window brimming with a daily haul of Kerr's best-selling creations, fresh from the oven each morning. "I always wanted to have a small shop in the CBD; a hole in the wall is really something very specific to Melbourne that I haven't really seen in Paris," Kerr explains. "We haven't been open very long, but so far it is definitely a good fit." Now, city workers can infuse their days with a blissful taste of France. Think buttery croissants to make those mornings more bearable, a cherry or apricot Danish with that mid-morning latte, and maybe a classic escargot for that train ride home. Filled croissants will be the stars of the show, with flavours changing regularly so that customers can always get their hands on something new and exciting. Paris-born Kerr, who trained with the best at the Ecole de Boulangerie et Patisserie de Paris, launched her first store shortly after arriving in Melbourne in 2013. Quickly, her baked goodies achieved cult status, ranging from traditional French-style pastries and dessert cakes to more innovative treats, like matcha-filled croissants and peanut caramel-infused cruffins. Three years on and the pastry chef has just welcomed her second and third ventures: the city store, and a bakery neighbouring the original South Melbourne patisserie. Agathé Pâtisserie Petite is now open at 49A Royal Arcade from 8am to 3pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and will extend these hours in the coming months. For more information, visit Agathe's Facebook page.
Melbourne's hospitality businesses have done it tough during the pandemic, with three separate lockdowns severely impacting the industry. They've also weathered some significant changes, including embracing outdoor dining in a big way. Eating outside isn't an unfamiliar concept, of course, but it has been a key part of COVID-safe operating plans for restaurants, cafes and bars (when the city isn't under stay-at-home orders, that is). And, to the surprise of no one, it isn't going anywhere soon. The City of Melbourne's current outdoor dining program was due to expire on March 31, but the local government body has just announced that the scheme is being extended for three months, running through until the end of June. So, if you've been spending time in all of those parklets that've popped up around town, you'll be able to keep doing so for a little bit longer. Since the program was set up in line with Melbourne's reopening after the city's second lockdown, nearly 1500 permits have been issued. More than 200 outdoor dining parklets have made their home on Melbourne's streets, laneways, footpaths and on-street car parking spaces, too. Permits are free, with the plan forming part of the City of Melbourne and Victorian Government's $100 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund. [caption id="attachment_667169" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Congress by Kate Shanasy[/caption] While the onset of Melbourne's chilly winter might seem like a sensible time to roll back the program, it's possible that it'll be extended again, with the city's councillors set to evaluate the scheme and consider the benefits of keeping it going beyond June. "Businesses can have confidence that outdoor dining will continue in the City of Melbourne until winter," said Lord Mayor Sally Capp in a statement. "We're looking into additional features to support outdoor dining during the cooler months such as weather protection," she continued. For more information about the City of Melbourne's extended outdoor dining permits, visit the local government body's website. Additional details about the City of Melbourne's COVID-19 response are also available on its the website. Top image: Good Times by Kate Shanasy
Believe it or not, Tarts Anon is just about to celebrate its fifth birthday, growing from a lockdown side-hustle into one of the biggest names on the pastry scene. And to ring in the milestone, the team is bringing back one of its all-time favourites, the St Honoré slice. Available for a limited time from Saturday, November 15–Saturday, November 22, don't miss your chance to experience this classic pastry, inspired by the patron saint of patissiers, Gâteau St-Honoré. Expect layers of buttery hazelnut caramel, smooth vanilla custard and light chantilly cream, finished with caramelised choux pastry filled with vanilla-bean pastry cream. With this creation as beautiful as it is delicious, it's only fitting that Tarts Anon has teamed up with Melbourne jewellery label S-kin Studio for a week-long giveaway. Paying respect to the enchanting St. Honoré, each slice is served with a special scratchie card offering instant-win prizes from both brands. Think free coffee, discounted tarts, takeaway packs and special-edition merch. Plus, you might just score an exclusive S-kin x Tarts Anon charm inspired by the tart itself. Meanwhile, S-kin Studio customers will also receive a golden ticket with every online purchase, meaning they have the same chance of scoring must-have rewards too.
The Heide Museum of Modern Art is one of Melbourne's most significant cultural institutions, with a history that dates back to 1934 and an exhibition program that often plays host to some of the biggest names in Australian art. Boasting 16 stunning acres in Bulleen, it's usually a prime spot for laidback weekend adventures. The gallery is, in-line with current COVID-19 restrictions, closed to the public until at least June 30, but when you visit later in 2020 expect to find a new multi-sensory exhibition: a Healing Garden. Designed by architecture studio Openwork, it's inspired by Heide founder Sunday Reed's passion for plants. While it's not promising to cure any of you ailments, the circular garden is hoping to be a place that'll "improve people's wellbeing and restore a sense of equilibrium". Kind of like The Secret Garden, but in 2020 Melbourne. Sandwiched between Reed's existing heritage-listed kitchen garden and the Heide cottage, the new Healing Garden will be split into six different 'mini exhibits'. When you first enter, you'll be greeted by a cacophony of aromas from the Scented Entries section, which will feature some of Reed's original roses. Then, you'll move through two edible gardens: a Sensory Kitchen Garden and a Bush Tucker Garden. Here, you'll be able to touch, smell and even eat some of the plants. Elsewhere in the maze-like area, you'll find a Haptic Play Garden with a water feature; The Meadow, which is promising to be "rambunctious" and "immersive"; and the climbing rose-filled Wild Garden. Dotted throughout, there'll be limestone seating and nooks where you can sit and socialise (distantly, most likely). When you visit Heide in the hopefully not-too-distant future — with the museum set to reopen on June 30 — you'll also be able to browse the architecturally stunning galleries, explore the mid-century Heide house and cruise through the sculpture park while moseying among the lush green grounds. The Healing Garden is slated to open at the Heide Museum in late 2020. The museum is set to reopen on June 30. Images: Design render of Heide Museum of Modern Art's Healing Garden courtesy Openwork.
Melbourne culture guide seeks eager writerly types. Ideal applicant will bond with us over pricey gin, strong coffee and excellent words. Passion for good food, great art, local theatre and loud music is a plus. Casual commitment. No walks on the beach necessary. Concrete Playground is an online weather vane pointing you to the cultural tornadoes that are just about to hit. The Melbourne site is currently on the lookout for both food writers and arts writers — bonus points to those who can cover both. Are you infamous to the baristas of Brunswick? On first name basis with the receptionist at the NGV? Maybe you have a personalised seat at La Mama? Please, lend us your cultural genius. Your job will be filling us in on the latest cultural happenings and culinary openings through the means of event previews, reviews and features. Writers will be paid per published article at set rates. To apply, please forward a short bio and some relevant writing samples to rima@concreteplayground.com.au. Image: Joybot via photopin cc.
If you're a boutique cinema that's spent a decade showing movies, here's how you celebrate it: with a week of $5 tickets and a big-screen trip down memory lane to revisit the best of the best to grace your screens over that time. That's Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn's approach from Thursday, August 7–Wednesday, August 13, 2025. 2015 is the year that not only Lido launched, but that the world gained the Australian sci-fi/action spectacular that is Mad Max: Fury Road, so of course George Miller's fourth title in the franchise — and the movie that sparked 2024's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga — is on the lineup at the venue's Ten-Film Anniversary Retrospective. Then, 2016's pick covers a feature that will always be remembered for its Oscars glory, no matter the mixup announcing its win as Best Picture: Moonlight from director Barry Jenkins (Mufasa: The Lion King). From 2017, the program boasts a yearning dose of Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), and its first of two Luca Guadagnino (Queer) flicks, via Call Me By Your Name. 2018's selection goes with horror thanks to Ari Aster's (Eddington) unnerving debut Hereditary, while 2019's Portrait of a Lady on Fire from Céline Sciamma (Petite Maman) is another title on the program to swoon over. Rachel Sennott (Saturday Night)- and Molly Gordon (The Bear)-starring comedy Shiva Baby is 2020's choice, then Joachim Trier's (Sentimental Value) Renate Reinsve (Presumed Innocent)-led The Worst Person in the World from 2021. Paul Mescal (Gladiator II) makes an appearance on the lineup thanks to Charlotte Wells' Aftersun, the film that earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination, as 2022's pick. Finally, two very different love triangles — 2023's Past Lives from Materialists' helmer Celine Song, and 2024's Challengers starring Zendaya and helmed by Guadagnino — round out the bill. Aftersun image: Sarah Makharine. Challengers image: Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Just when you thought Melbourne had seen just about every variation of yum cha and high tea imaginable, Gazi throws something entirely fresh into the mix: a series of weekly Greek yum cha feasts. Leaning into the CBD eatery's Hellenic roots, while also staying true to those classic yum cha stylings, the Sunday lunches will see diners tucking into a parade of Greek-Asian dishes. With the kitchen firing from noon until 3pm each Sunday, you can enjoy all ten of the new menu items for $49 per person. Expect innovative fusion bites, like spanakopita gyoza, feta spring rolls with honey and sesame, and a lamb-filled char-tsoureki (Greek sweet bread) that nods to the classic Chinese pork bun. Those looking to make a Sunday session of it can add on three hours of bottomless cocktails for an extra $35 per person. We're talking summery sips like the Oolong Island Iced Tea — featuring black tapioca pearls and a 'cola' whipped up from oolong tea, muscovado and lime — and San-Grecian a concoction of Greek white wine, peach, strawberry, lemon and rose.
You've likely caught a flick at the cinema there (indoors and out) or maybe even sipped beers in the courtyard of its newest resident, BrewDog. But come autumn, Melburnians will have a brand-new — and somewhat eerie — reason to visit Coburg's historic bluestone Pentridge Prison precinct. From Wednesday, March 1, the prison itself will be throwing open the doors and kicking off daily guided tours, diving deep into the heritage-listed site's dark past. There'll be two 90-minute experiences running, touring B-Division and H-Division (also known as Hell Division), both delivered in collaboration with the National Trust Victoria and award-winning creative tech company Art Processors. The latter's work has featured at the likes of Mona, the Australian Sports Museum and the Sydney Opera House. Visitors are in for an intriguing humanised history fix, with immersive audio elements and voiceovers by the likes of the late Uncle Jack Charles, a former inmate, and celebrated Indigenous Australian actress and director Rachael Maza. You'll hear first-hand accounts of time spent within the walls of the prison since it opened in 1851, encountering plenty of grisly truths and out-there history along the way — including the questionable treatment of its First Nations prisoners. Both tours will kick off exploring the multimedia exhibition in the former Warders' Residence, before heading off on a guided jaunt where the site's notorious history is brought to life via original scores, true stories and engaging installations. You'll have the chance to see the prison's panopticon, known as the 'airing yards', and to wander through the original cells of B-Division. And, if you're ok with getting a little darker, you can tour the somewhat grimmer high-security unit of H-Division, with its observation cells and breaking yards. "The National Trust Victoria believes that for too long, these stories have been shrouded in mystery and although the past is confronting, it is crucial that we do not forget the realities of those who were incarcerated, and we respectfully learn and share their truths," says Simon Ambrose, CEO National Trust Victoria. Pentridge Prison Tours will launch daily from Wednesday, March 1 at Pentridge Prison, Coburg. Tickets are available online from Thursday, February 23.
When The Simpsons first found its way into viewers' hearts, it also made its way to the top of the charts. Yes, back in 1991, 'Do the Bartman' hit number one in Australia. Both before and since, the hit animated sitcom hasn't shied away from crooning a tune or two — and if you've now got "Dr Zaius, Dr Zaius, ohhhhh Dr Zaius" or "Who holds back the electric car? Who made Steve Guttenburg a star?" stuck in your head, then you know what we're talking about. The show has sung many a song, and also released many an album — and it's 1997's Songs in The Key of Springfield that's in the spotlight at this Melbourne show of the same name. One night. One huge record. So many catchy songs. That's what's on the agenda from 8pm on Wednesday, April 24. Sing along to everything from 'Can I Borrow a Feeling?' to 'See My Vest' to 'We Put The Spring in Springfield' as they're performed live by Boadz. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 on the night, with the tunes going down at The Toff in Town.
Following in the footsteps of renowned ramen joint Ippudo and Manila's popular TuanTuan Chinese Brasserie, another big-name Asian restaurant chain has landed in Melbourne. This time, it's Malaysian favourite GO Noodle House tempting local tastebuds, opening its first Australian store in the heart of Melbourne's CBD. With more than 30 outlets across Southeast Asia and the original Malaysian store that pumps out up to 2000 bowls of noodle soup over a weekend, it's safe to say the brand has its fair share of fans. It's made a name for its clear seafood bisque-style 'Superior Soup' and dry mi xian noodles, the bowls are usually finished with a splash of rice wine — a trend apparently started by Emperor Kangxi back in the Qing Dynasty of the 17th century. The Melbourne restaurant's menu will carry through those classic GO Noodle House flavours, though with local ingredients. Head in for customisable bowls of that hearty, seafood-based noodle soup, or a hot and sour variation, loaded with additions like meat balls, stuffed chillies, cooked prawns or mixed mushrooms. Other dishes include the likes of homemade fish dumplings, Hakka-style pan mee noodles, slow-cooked slices of pork belly and a street snack dubbed Nine Dragon Balls. If you're feeling game (and extra hungry), there's the GNH Challenge dish — a $49 mega bowl of noodles, soup, pork and beef that's free if you can polish it all off in 30 minutes.
Florian Rivière, an 'urban hackivist', wants to inject a little fun into the urban mundane. Whether the 'fun' involves a spontaneous game of soccer or a curbside beer depends on whichever of Rivière's masterpieces you stumble across. His installations, or interventions if you will, convert the material of Strasbourg, France into a humourous spattering of playthings. Benches become recliners, a meter-maid becomes a bottle-opener, and an ironing board is stationed as a diving board. By cheekily altering the everyday objects one may pass on the street everyday, Riviere transforms the city into a giant jungle gym. [via Architizer]
Oliver Show's 'Street Furniture' has been taking over the streets of Hamburg, Germany, creating utilitarian yet comfortable seating out of existing city structures. By wrapping and securing flexible drainage pipes around the downtown infrastructure, Show hopes to reclaim the city for the public. Not necessarily designed for aesthetic pleasure, Show's pieces gather their charm from their intentionally simple, low-maintenance design. “The interventionist and experimental approach to me is more important than the quest for a ‘perfect’ product,” says Show, who has earned a design award from the HFBK Leinemann Foundation for Education and the Arts for 'Street Furniture'. Each installation is ingeniously resourceful: low-cost and weather-resistant. They are all entirely user-friendly as well. Suddenly, a bridge is an armchair, and a bike rack is a sofa, each beckoning to Hamburg residents, urging them to sit down and stay a while. [via Architizer]
Imagine flying to a mysterious and remote spot in the middle of the ocean, and not only enjoying the incredibly scenic surroundings, but also getting to live out your wildest dreams. From the late 70s until the mid 80s, that was the premise of TV series Fantasy Island — and while the fantasies came with a price, the show definitely didn't fall into the horror genre. Thanks to prolific producer Jason Blum, now that premise comes with bumps, jumps, thrills and scares. Already remade for television in the late 90s, Fantasy Island is getting another do-over — for the big screen, and as a horror movie. The setup is the same, with folks zipping into an idyllic locale ready to live out their fantasy of choice. The cost, though, now lingers firmly in nightmarish territory. Yes, it's basically a case of turning everyone's mum's advice — "be careful what you wish for" — into a scary movie set in luxurious surroundings. And, yes, it jumps on the eerie island trend that Netflix series The I-Land also leaned into a few months back. The original series was famous for the character of Mr. Roarke (Ricardo Montalban), who was in charge of making guests's dreams come true — as well as his diminutive assistant Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize). Based on the just-released trailer for the remake, it seems that only Roarke has made the leap to the movie. Here, he's played by Michael Peña (Ant-Man and the Wasp). Cast-wise, Fantasy Island circa 2020 also features Maggie Q (Designated Survivor), Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars), Austin Stowell (12 Strong), Portia Doubleday (Mr Robot), Jimmy O. Yang (Crazy Rich Asians), Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars) and Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) — and behind the camera, Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2) is in the director's chair. The filmmaker has played in high-concept horror territory before with 2018's Truth or Dare, although that didn't turn out so well. If you're a fan of unsettling flicks with a clear-cut gimmick, cross your fingers that history doesn't repeat itself. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QVk_lcMyx4&feature=youtu.be Fantasy Island releases in Australian cinemas on February 13, 2020.
A year filled with catastrophic bushfires, seemingly never-ending Brexit negotiations and a US President that Tweets this, 2019 doesn't particularly inspire the phrase "dependable and stable". But Pantone is hoping 2020 will. Its colour experts have just announced the 2020 Colour of the Year and they're saying (or hoping) it'll signal a "new era" that's a little less shaky. Classic Blue (Pantone 19-4052) is the elegant, simple and enduring colour Pantone has chosen for the turn of the decade. As well as highlighting "our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era", the cooling shade makes us think of summer — well, all those beaches, ocean pools and rivers we'll be jumping into during the warmer months. Speaking of water, hopefully Classic Blue also inspires some more of it to fall down on Australia, parts of which are pushing through a two-year drought. [caption id="attachment_663542" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bilgola Beach by Paros Huckstepp[/caption] According to the Pantone experts, Classic Blue can also do a lot for you mentally — including bringing "a sense of peace and tranquility" and helping concentration, clarity and reflection. So paint your room in it, cover your body in it or just buy some snazzy blue socks — it might help you get through this crazy messed up world in 2020. You can check out all the previous Colours of the Year, head to the Pantone website.
"I find that it takes a while for people to return to themselves after the film." For anyone who's seen The Stranger, writer/director Thomas M Wright's observations might sound like an understatement. For those who haven't yet watched the actor-turned-filmmaker's second feature behind the lens, after 2018's Adam Cullen biopic Acute Misfortune, it may come across the same way. In Australia in particular, the fact that the Joel Edgerton- (Thirteen Lives) and Sean Harris (Spencer)-starring crime-thriller is based on the 2003 abduction and murder of Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe has garnered attention. The Stranger takes its cues from that monstrous real-life case, adapting Kate Kyriacou's non-fiction book The Sting: The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe's Killer; however, it doesn't recreate the crime. It also doesn't depict the victim, or refer to him by name. Everyone has been fictionalised, and there's no violence in the film. Instead, it tracks the enormous police effort to capture a culprit using a criminal gang as a ruse, in what's known as the 'Mr Big' technique. Edgerton plays the incognito cop tasked with befriending the suspect, while Harris is relentlessly perturbing in the latter part. It was Edgerton, also The Stranger's producer, who optioned Kyriacou's text, saw Acute Misfortune and proposed the feature to Wright. The director was initially reluctant, but sticking to the above stipulations was the only way that he could approach the picture, and was willing to. "Those decisions about a complete unwillingness to represent any violence, to represent the victim, to represent those that cared for them — and to centre the film on a fictionalised version of a police operation like the one used in that particular case — those aren't thin acknowledgements," Wright explains. "They're deeply layered considerations that've been placed at the centre of the entire film." In every second, The Stranger feels as carefully and meticulously constructed as Wright's framework suggests — and, by design, dictates. It also feels not just tense but tough, as it should given the story it's interrogating. Debuting at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, the feature received a seven-minute standing ovation. Now, it plays Aussie cinemas from October 6 before reaching audiences globally via Netflix on October 19. "It's an undeniably different experience," Wright notes of watching The Stranger at home versus on the big screen. "It's an intensely discomforting and very powerful film to invite into your home. For the two hours that the film lasts, I think it will take people into a completely different mindset, into a different psychological realm," he continues, while chatting us through making a movie that's both unshakeably potent and personal. ON WORKING OUT THE BEST APPROACH TO A HORRIFIC REAL-LIFE CASE "Kate Kyriacou's book The Sting, which Joel had optioned, is a non-fiction work of investigative journalism about that specific case. It goes into personal details about the victim, those affected, the other suspects — and I felt that I had no right to represent the victim, that any attempt to represent them would only diminish them and all of their infinite possibilities, and that I couldn't presume to know anything about what that family and those who cared for him went through. So early on, the initial terms for me were: there'll be no representation of the victim of any sort, there'll be no representation of the people who cared for them, there'll be no violence whatsoever in this film. There's an unconscionable way of making this film. There's a morally unforgivable way of making this film. It would not be difficult to create tension in a film about the physical vulnerability of a child, and I wasn't interested to use that space, which is sacred to those real people, for the ease of making a film. So I began to think about these strangers, and that stranger of the title could refer to the perpetrator and that archetypal fear of the stranger in our society — but actually we are a society of strangers. It could also refer to the victim, to their family. Or, to that central figure and all those undercover operatives in the film whose real names we never learn. Or, to all those nameless people, the detectives and searchers at the end of the film who provide resolution for those strangers for them, that family and the victims who've they've never met. It clearly became to me this idea of connection as a society, and of empathy, as the gravity that is going to bind film together. At the time that I was writing it, I live in the inner north in Melbourne, it's where I grew up, it's where my family lives, and there were a whole series of murders of women by strangers, by people they've never met. And it shook the entire foundation of the society — and every state and territory has their own version of these cases that totally shift our perception of safety and of the social contract. They make it feel like a lie or something weak, and it had such an effect on the community down there. It was an outpouring of empathy. And these are just the cases also that have created headlines and achieved large police commitments, and where there has been public recognition. There are so many people out there, and so many crimes that take place, where there is none of that. We still have a woman a week dying of incidences of domestic violence in Australia, and many of those victims go unacknowledged. Of course, I'm not setting out to make a public service announcement in this film, but there are individuals who have to be the first person there, and who give years of their lives, and their mental and physical health, to trying to resolve those incidences of violence." ON FINDING PERSONAL REASONS TO MAKE THE FILM "When we began work on the film, I told everybody that I worked with that I wanted them to find their own reason for making this film — and I wanted them to find a personal reason to make this film. I do think it was a very personal film for all of us who worked on it. Joel said the other day that it was the quietest set he has ever worked on. It was a very tense set because of the seriousness of the material that we're dealing with, and the moral responsibility we felt, and the focus it required of us. For me, it absorbed every waking and dreaming moment of my life for three years, and I felt a tremendous moral responsibility to get it right and make something that we could all stand behind — and that didn't let any of my collaborators down. I'm not talking about the Academy Award-winning producers. I'm talking about the sound recordist and production designer and assistant editors, and everyone with whom you make a film. And also because of the presence my son in the film, because I wrote it for my son to portray Joel's son in the film. In the process of filming, Joel found out that he was going to be a father. That made it intensely personal and emotional for him also, and I watched it change him and shift his entire being. Both Joel and Sean were transformed by the process of making this film. Sean's wife actually saw the film after we'd finished and said that there was nothing of him left in that character, that he was completely absent. She didn't recognise him, and I think she found that really overwhelming and very powerful. I can attest to that as the person that was there beside them the entire time — this was a tense, difficult film to make that just took those central cast, and I include here Jada Alberts in particular, into a place where they really weren't their selves anymore." ON MAKING THE FILM PERSONAL FOR AUDIENCES "Cinema has always been a collective experience, and when films really work, we're simultaneously aware that they're a shared experience but they're also deeply personal. This film, for people who respond to it — obviously not for everybody — gets itself into a very personal place. I think it does that by making itself physical and physically felt. That's why breath was such a key part of the film to me. I wanted to begin with something that made an audience active, even in the most subtle, underlying way, because every part of the film asks that the audience be active in that physical, subjective experience of what Mark [Joel Edgerton's character] is going through. You're trying to tune people to the frequency of the film, to the psyche of the people working on this kind of case. There's a hyper-alertness. It's a film partly about trauma more generally — a film about the fact that those of us who reach adulthood, we come into the world and at some point in time we become aware of the darkness and the unknowable things within it. We have to find a way to be able to reconcile that and continue to move forward and find meaning, because the thing about violence is that it threatens to strip things of their meaning. It renders things meaningless. So you're dealing with a hyper-alert psychology. It's certainly something that we were actively trying to encourage in the audience. When you set out to make a film, you are trying to show people something they haven't seen before, to get them to feel something they haven't seen before — and, to relate to the film in a different way while understanding it's part of an impossibly deep lineage of stories, and these kinds of modalities of storytelling that are well-established now in cinema." ON AUSTRALIA'S OBSESSION WITH CRIME STORIES — AND STANDING OUT "Even though the film is part of a strong lineage of Australian crime cinema, I just think it sits outside a lot of that work in its intentions. A lot of these kind of films are more realist depictions of people, and head toward a kind of final emphatic act of violence, which often takes place off-screen. That's certainly the case in Snowtown. It's the case in Nitram. It's the case in a film like The Boys. Even though the reason for The Stranger is violence, it's not its subject… It begins in the aftermath of that violence. It's an attempt to make meaning and to reconcile the after-effects of violence on individuals and by extension on society. I think there's a reason that that this genre and these ideas are so prevalent in Australian thinking. It's certainly not limited to Australian film. When you look at our most prominent authors — Richard Flanagan, Chloe Hooper, Helen Garner, Tim Winton, Patrick White — this is a subject that has been grappled with. And in our visual art, and in our music. We return to it over and over again. I think that has to do with an unreconciled relationship to violence in this country, a landscape that has been marked by violence, and that we know that. We can intuit it, but for the main, we don't have a way to unpack that — and it remains there, unresolved." The Stranger releases in Australian cinemas on October 6, then streams via Netflix from October 19. Read our full review.
With winter on our doorstep, you've likely got a few hearty cook-ups and comfort food sessions in mind. And some fresh kitchen gear wouldn't go astray, right? Well, local cooking whizzes are in luck, because famed French cookware label Le Creuset is hosting a huge Melbourne warehouse sale this weekend. Taking over Melbourne Showgrounds' Agricultural Hall on Saturday, June 1, it'll feature a whole heap of bargains, with up to 70 percent off across a sprawling range of high-quality stoneware, stainless steel pots, toughened non-stick pans, cast iron cookware and wine accessories. Le Creuset's colourful pieces don't usually come cheap — but they do last a lifetime — so this is an opportunity not to miss. The sale only lasts for one day, kicking off at 9am, so if you want to score some kitchen bargains, you might want to forego that Saturday sleep-in. It's also a cash-free event, so be sure to bring your plastic. Le Creuset Melbourne Warehouse Sale runs from 9am–5pm.
Brisbane's hyped-up and Island-signed foursome The Cairos are about to embark on a national tour that you cannot afford to miss but certainly can afford to attend. Immediately following a national support slot for Sydney big timers The Holidays, the triple j Unearthed-winning newbies to Island Records are taking their celebrated sound across the country with their own headliner tour. The Brissy lads are keeping the motor running off the back of releasing their brand new debut album Dream of Reason. Tracks 'Desire' and 'We All Buy Stars' just scream "hear me live" and if the feedback coming out of their recent Asia tour is anything to go by, this is going to be one of the most justified sub $30 spends this year (now you can't even use budget-related gripes as an excuse to not go). Plus they just got a new keyboard. Now you're really obliged to head along. Make sure to get there early as Chinese psych band Nova Heart kicks things off. Seems Beijing psychedelia proves a perfect support pairing ahead of the Brisbane up-and-comers, so pop in early for a crispy Ding Dong bevvy and a fully-fledged bliss out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LAsjO3UIUsY
Awareness of one's surroundings is paramount while bike riding or jogging. With Chilli Technology's new headphones, you can maintain this awareness while simultaneously listening to music. Conventional headphones project sound directly into the ear by creating air pressure waves, but these "bone conduction" headphones use the cheekbone to transfer auditory signals to the ear. Thus, the ear is left uncovered and susceptible to passing sound. Even amidst traffic, music is still audible. The controls, which contain a volume button as well as an of-and-off button, can be clipped onto clothes. The speakers may be placed over the ears when not riding or running, although the original design does allow for ear comfort and less impact on ear drums. You no longer have to sacrifice your music for safety's sake. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MHkqyGLmhAk [via PSFK]
Your next Australian streaming obsession is on its way — and it's set to tell a story so wild that it can only be true. The tale of Australian cult The Family always falls into that category, as seen in the excellent and supremely creepy 2016 documentary that shares the cult's name, plus the 2019 series The Cult of the Family, both by filmmaker Rosie Jones. Now, the sinister Aussie sect is also providing inspiration for Disney+'s new eight-part series The Clearing, which will hit the service globally in May. First announced in 2022, this new show is a drama and based on a novel — but The Family is clearly an influence. If you're new to these details, then strap yourself in for quite the story. The Family was very real, forming in the 1960s around Melbourne, with charismatic yoga teacher Anne Hamilton-Byrne at its head. A cult run by a woman is already extremely rare, but this tale also includes adopting kids who looked identical, dressing them in matching clothing, claiming that Hamilton-Byrne was a living god and, because that's not enough, a lot of LSD. Police raided the sect's Lake Eildon compound back in 1987, all those children were removed from the property, and Hamilton-Byrne and her husband fled Australia, but were arrested in the US in 1993. There's more to this story, which inspired JP Pomare's book In the Clearing alongside other cults around the world — and that's what The Clearing adapts. The show steps into the fictionalised but still chaotic details by following a woman who starts to confront her nightmarish past to stop a secret cult that's gathering up children to serve its master plan. Unsurprisingly, the mood is tense in the psychological thriller's just-dropped first teaser trailer, which arrives ahead of the series premiering its first two episodes on Wednesday, May 24. Cast-wise, almost every famous Aussie acting name possible is involved, or so it seems, including Teresa Palmer (Ride Like a Girl), Miranda Otto (Wellmania) and Guy Pearce (Mare of Easttown), as well as Claudia Karvan (Bump) and Mark Coles-Smith (Mystery Road: Origin). Also set to appear on-screen: Hazem Shammas (The Twelve), Kate Mulvany (Hunters), Xavier Samuel (Elvis), Anna Lise Phillips (Fires), Harry Greenwood (Wakefield) Erroll Shand (The Justice of Bunny King), Doris Younane (Five Bedrooms), Miah Madden (Dive Club), Julia Savage (Blaze), Gary Sweet (Wentworth), Alicia Gardiner (Offspring), Matt Okine (The Other Guy) and Jeremy Blewitt (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart), plus Lily La Torre (Run Rabbit Run) and Ras-Samuel Welda'abzgi (Neighbours). We told you it was a hefty list. Behind the lens, Jeffrey Walker (Lambs of God) and Gracie Otto (Seriously Red) are on directing duties, with Elise McCredie (Stateless) and Matt Cameron (Jack Irish) creating and writing The Clearing — with help from co-writer Osamah Sami (Ali's Wedding). And if all of the above information doesn't have you ready to watch ASAP, the trailer will — complete with blonde-haired kids everywhere, Otto at her most unnerving, Palmer looking frantic and a police investigation heating up. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Clearing below: The Clearing will stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, May 24.
