Stargazers in Tasmania and New Zealand are happy they didn't skip town for Vivid last weekend. On Sunday night, Aurora Australis made a pretty dramatic appearance, filling the horizon with a spectrum of light. Also known as the Southern Lights, Aurora Australis tends to show up when a coronal mass ejection (CME) occurs. To cut a long story short, a CME happens when the sun releases a bunch of plasma filled with electrons and protons (the bits inside atoms, Year 7). This plasma travels 150 million kilometres before hitting the Earth's magnetic field at a speed of six million kilometres per hour. The result is a wild geomagnetic storm. As the atoms slow down, they send out light of various colours, which we see most easily at the North and South Poles, where the atmosphere is thinnest. In the North Pole, the aurora is called Aurora Borealis. Like earthquakes, auroras are rated according to their power. While most rate around 1 or 2 kp (out of a possible 9), Sunday night's hit 7, making it particularly spectacular. It's difficult to predict when the next Aurora Australis will appear — your best bet is to keep an eye on the official Facebook page, where hopeful activity is reported. If you're keen to cop an eyeful, then you'll need to head as far south as possible. It's also a good idea to get away from towns and cities, so light pollution doesn't corrupt your view. In Australia, that means making tracks to Tassie. On social media, epic photos of Sunday night's show came in from Devonport and Bruny Island. However, the lights were also seen as far north as New South Wales, including in Merimbula, Bawley Point and Williamstown. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the place to be was the South Island. Over the weekend, Aurora Australis was seriously impressive in Lake Te Anau, Dunedin, Invercargill, Waipapa Point and Queenstown, among other spots. Here's a few otherworldly Instagrams to give you an idea: How lucky have we been in #MySouthland this week with this breathtaking #auroraaustralis light show! Spectacular 📷 @the_curious_kiwi #nzmustdo #southlandnz A post shared by Southland, New Zealand (@southland.nz) on May 30, 2017 at 5:19pm PDT Sunday's breathtaking Aurora Australis as captured by staff member @purnellpictures out on the Otago Peninsula.😍#dunnerstunner #OnlyOtago #auroraaustralis A post shared by University of Otago (@universityofotago) on May 29, 2017 at 10:02pm PDT Incredible #AuroraAustralis in Tasmania's skies 😮. Tassie's the best spot in Australia to view the Southern Lights. Basically, the further south, the better. 📷: Sophie Fazackerly A post shared by ABC News (@abcnews_au) on May 28, 2017 at 7:33pm PDT NIGHT LIGHTS. The Milky Way with a hint of Aurora over Mount Iron earlier this week. Wanaka, NZ. #nightsky #milkyway #stars #aurora #auroraaustralis #southernlights #nzmustdo #purenewzealand #landscape #nofilter #astrophotography #stargazing #stars #starlight #lovewanaka #wanaka #mtiron #southisland #newzealand #longexposure #canon_photos A post shared by @the_viewfinda on May 30, 2017 at 7:57pm PDT After posting a photo of the Southern Lights yesterday people have asked me if I could really see them with the naked eye. The answer is YES. For a few very special minutes they danced like laser beams on the horizon line. The Milky Way stole the limelight afterwards. 🌌✨ A post shared by Kyle Te Kiwi | New Zealand (@barekiwi) on May 30, 2017 at 3:04am PDT After posting a photo of the Southern Lights yesterday people have asked me if I could really see them with the naked eye. The answer is YES. For a few very special minutes they danced like laser beams on the horizon line. The Milky Way stole the limelight afterwards. 🌌✨ A post shared by Kyle Te Kiwi | New Zealand (@barekiwi) on May 30, 2017 at 3:04am PDT Top image: Ben (Flickr).
Victoria's world-famous collection of silo art is about to get even bigger, with the Labor Government announcing plans to help create five more of the large-scale, tourism-boosting artworks throughout the state. Six large-scale paintings already form part of the acclaimed Silo Art Trail — a 200-kilometre-long, regional 'outdoor gallery' project, that's been headed up by Yarriambiack Shire Council and international street art agency Juddy Roller over the past two years. Now, Premier Daniel Andrews has revealed five more silo artworks will be brought to life, having each scored funding and backing through the government's Pick My Project community grants initiative. The proposed installations were among 237 successful projects pitched by Victorians, that'll share in a hefty $30 million of government funding. New designs are set to grace silos in Colbinabbin, Nullawil, Sunshine — in conjunction with an outdoor cinema screening program — Goroke and Kaniva, near the South Australian border. It's hoped that, like with the original Silo Art Trail, the new projects will help boost visitor numbers through some of Victoria's quieter regional areas, support local business and help capture the spirit of rural life. Images: Kaffeine, Nicole Reed
It's a wine store and tasting room, but not quite as you know it. Smith Street newcomer Glou is shaking up the game, exclusively serving wine on tap, both to sip in and take away. An envelope-pushing concept from Rahel Goldmann (IDES, Hell of the North) and Ron Davis (Samuel Pepys, Le Pont Wine Store), the venue's built on a strong commitment to sustainability, though that doesn't mean it's about to go skimping on quality. If the thought of tap wine left you unenthused before, prepare to have your perceptions shaken. Having spent a collective three decades working in upscale restaurants and wine stores across the world, Goldmann and Davis are keen to help revamp the local wine game, stirring positive changes and a shift to embracing more environmentally minded practices from end to end. Doing away with single-use wine bottles, Glou instead pours all of its drops from taps, using an environmentally friendly Key Kegs system. And, rather than limiting themselves to the small pool of winemakers already offering tap wines commercially, the owners are working directly with their favourite sustainably focused wineries to keg a curation of top-notch wines straight from the barrel. Expect the likes of the Barossa's Rasa Wines, Adelaide Hills legend Charlotte Dalton, and Victoria's own Ben Haines and Noisy Ritual. At the venue, you can get the wines poured into 500-millilitre, one-litre, or two-litre reusable takeaway bottles, just as you might with beer growlers. Bring back a vessel to refill again and again, or return it for a rebate. Otherwise, pull up a seat in the minimalist space designed by Berlin artist Matthias George Koerner and Melbourne's Timmy Bourke Design, and quaff a couple of glasses alongside tapas-style Japanese bites courtesy of nearby Mono-XO. There'll be a program of industry tastings, masterclasses and winemaking events, too. Not only is Glou creating less waste, it has also drastically reduced its carbon footprint by not having to transport all that extra weight in wine bottles. Which of course translates to more wallet-friendly prices for the customer. Wines by the glass are available for $8 a pop, while half-litres start at just ten bucks and you can score two full litres from a very reasonably $40. You can check out the full menu over here. Find Glou at 310 Smith Street, Collingwood. It's open 12–9pm Tuesday–Sunday.
Ever worried about what your fashion habit is doing to the people who make your clothing, especially the women comprising 75 percent of the fashion workforce? Well Made Clothes, an Aussie online marketplace dedicated to ethical garments, is hosting an evening dedicated to this issue, and related problems. And, to celebrate, the company has created a gender equal tote bag. The bag, which features a gender equal image, was designed by Sydney-based artist Caroline Walls. She sent her plans to Freeset, which turned it into a real life product using organic cotton and fair-trade production. Freeset is a business based in Kolkata, India, that provides employment opportunities for women saved from sex slavery. The bag is now available online and you can buy it safe in the knowledge that all profits go straight to Freeset. I believe in gender equality and so does @wellmadeclothes_ . They've been working on a project that supports just that and as part of this project I designed a gender equal tote bag which has been made by @freesetglobal, a certified organic and fair trade company which employs women saved from Kolkata's sex slavery industry. Profits for the sale of these tote bags will be be donated to Freeset to help with the creation of a building at the entrance to the red-light distract which will provide services to women trapped in the sex slave industry. You can buy these bags through @wellmadeclothes_ website.. get behind this amazing cause #genderequality A photo posted by Caroline Walls (@carolinewallsart) on Feb 6, 2017 at 10:07pm PST Plus, if you happen to be in Victoria during Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival 2017, you can get along to Well Made Clothes' event, which is titled Good Evening: How Fashion Can Empower Women. To happen at Sunmoth, Melbourne, on Thursday, March 2, it'll involve cocktails by 42Below, canapés and a panel discussion featuring fashion journo Clare Press, Ethical Clothing Australia's Sigrid McCarthy, Kuwaii's Kristy Barber and Freeset's Jeff Ward. Just some of the issues up for debate are fair working conditions, media representations of women, designing for all bodies and ethical production. Tickets, available online, include entry and a complimentary tote bag. Book before February 12 to score earlybird prices.
Take one of popular culture's biggest supervillains, throw in one of today's very best actors and add the director of The Hangover trilogy. Only a few years ago, the above sentence might've seemed like a joke. Today, it's the reality we're living in — the reality that sees a standalone Joker movie cackling its way towards cinema screens, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role. Move over Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger and Jared Leto — it's Phoenix's time to don exaggerated clown makeup, wield a killer smile and wreak havoc on Gotham City. The just-released final trailer for Joker promises plenty of all three, as failed standup comedian Arthur Fleck turns to a life of facepaint-wearing crime (and eventually obsessing over Batman, we're guessing). As directed and co-written by Todd Phillips (Old School, Starsky & Hutch, Due Date), Joker also comes with a suitably unhinged vibe, as if Phoenix's You Were Never Really Here character stumbled into Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy. (Fittingly, the latter film plus Taxi Driver and Raging Bull have been cited as inspirations for the new DC Comics flick, and Scorsese is one of Joker's executive producers.) It also looks certain to help everyone forget that the last take on the famous villain only arrived three years ago, because who wants to remember Leto's green-haired turn in Suicide Squad? If the first and second trailers are anything to go by, it looks like Phoenix will — thankfully — follow in the footsteps of Nicholson and Oscar-winner Ledger instead, as he plays alongside his nemesis (and talk show host) Robert De Niro, his love interest Atlanta's Zazie Beetz and his mother Frances Conroy, as well as Marc Maron and Brett Cullen. But we'll have to wait till October to know for sure. If you'd like a dose of terrifying clown cinema before then, IT: Chapter Two drops next week. In the meantime, check out the final trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAGVQLHvwOY Joker releases in Australian cinemas on October 3, 2019.
Time to wake your brain up from its summer slumber and get those mind grapes squeezing juice again, because the Wheeler Centre has just announced a whole slew of insanely intelligent and creative writers and thinkers will be coming to the stage in the first instalment of their 2016 program. Leading the charge will be none other than Miranda July, along with atheist author Richard Dawkins, Mona founder David Walsh and environmental activist David Suzuki. And that's just the first few months of the year. Recently read The Last Bad Man and wondered who the hell was this woman behind it? Or just fascinated by the whole persona of Miranda July? In what can't be called anything less than a coup, the celebrated writer, filmmaker, actor, artist, app maker, handbag wizard and bona fide enigma will be gracing the stage at Melbourne Town Hall for Lost Child! on Monday, March 7 — right off the back of her talk at the Sydney Opera House's All About Women. She'll be talking through her very varied and unique works, from her time as an artist in Portland to where she is now. Tackling issues of God, proof and reason will be American ethologist, evolutionary biologist and atheist, Richard Dawkins. Best known for his 2006 book The God Delusion (which understandably was a little provocative), Dawkins is apparently rigorous and remorseless in his defence of proof and reason — which should make for very interesting listening. Another interesting one will be David Walsh. The Mona founder will discuss art and why we make it on February 24, and will no doubt crack some some quotable quotes in the process. The inaugural Victorian Indigenous Literary Festival, Blak & Bright, will also be hosted at the Wheeler Centre over February 19-21, with over 20 events happening both at the centre and surrounding venues. Wheeler Centre regulars will be happy to hear that Erotic Fan Fiction is back for another year, as is current affairs series The Fifth Estate, and Question Time will be taking about the big issues of housing prices and healthcare. The Gala Night of Storytelling is also having a 2016 instalment, with All That I Am author Anna Funder, Lee Lin Chin and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre's Kon Karapanagiotidis sharing what books have shaped their thinking. Many of the events on the Wheeler Centre program are free, but bookings are essential. For more information, visit their website.
There are moments in our everyday lives when we're jolted out of our heads and into our bodies — when we stop on our commute home to watch the sunset, or as we feel the cool wind change when we're exercising in the park. And it can feel good to appreciate living in the moment when our lives are often filled with things to do, see and achieve. What feels even better is when those worlds collide, like when you're listening to live music outdoors surrounded by loved ones and picturesque gardens, or taking to the streets as part of an art-filled movement and community. With a little help from Sunglass Hut, we've put together five events that'll help you live in the moment this summer.
When Banksy opened a hotel back in 2017, the famously elusive British artist did so with a purpose, satirising the industry while drawing attention to the political situation on the West Bank border between Palestine and Israel. Before that, when Banksy unveiled depressing theme park Dismaland in 2015, the artist also made a statement — as you'd expect in a place that featured dodgem cars run by the Grim Reaper, and a model boat pond filled with dead bodies and overcrowded asylum-seeker vessels. This time around, the well-known graffiti figure has launched an online art and homewares store, where customers can buy legitimate Banksy items straight from the source. It wouldn't be a Banksy venture without not only pressing a whole heap of topical points, but adding a few twists, of course. And yes, Gross Domestic Product delivers in both areas. Firstly, while there are currently 22 different items on the store's virtual shelves, you can't just click on everything you want, add them to your cart, type in your card details and wait for a delivery. As the site's opening statement explains, there's a registration system and a limit. Each customer (and each household) can only select one item in total — and before your purchase will even be considered, you'll need to answer a question: "Why does art matter?" Fans have until 11.59pm UK time on Monday, October 28 (9.59am AEDT / 8.59 AEST on Tuesday, October 28) to make their selection and come up with their response. Then, entrants will be selected at random and offered the opportunity to buy their chosen object. Your answer can't be more than 50 words, and it "must not be discriminatory or hateful" according to the terms and conditions. And, there'll be a judge — someone who is "impartial and independent, and a professional stand up comedian". https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ryrXJHbmy/ Yes, you're basically entering a competition to win the chance to buy Banksy pieces, which are "produced by a handful of people using recycled material wherever possible in a workplace culture of daytime drinking," the site explains. If you're still keen, each item has a fixed-price rate that Banksy deems to be well below market value — and wealthy art collectors are strongly encouraged not to apply. Everything comes with a certificate of authenticity and, as for what you can purchase, items range from the stab- and bullet-proof vest that Stormzy wore at Glastonbury, a Girl with Balloon t-shirt that comes pre-shredded, an ordinary wall clock from an office supplies store featuring a Banksy rat, and a home entertainment lighting system made from an old police riot helmet and around 650 small mirrors. With prices ranging from £10–750, perhaps you'd prefer a painted mug, a clutch bag made out of a brick, a TV with a painted Banksy piece over the screen (which "does substantially impair viewing quality", the sale description notes), soft toys caught in real beach debris and thenwall-mounted, a goldfish or a tombstone. As well as discouraging rich art folks from snapping up these goods — and noting that Gross Domestic Product reserves the right to cancel purchases if items are put up for re-sale on other sites — the store also links through to a venture called BBay. It's not up and running yet, but it describes itself as "the approved use Banksy dealership" and "your first choice destination to trade in secondhand art by a third-rate artist", so it might just be a new go-to to buy authentic Banksy pieces. Or, given how much the artist loves to rally against the unhealthy intersection of commerce and art (see last year's remote shredding prank, for example), the store and the site could just be Banksy's latest stunt. GDP does come with a disclaimer, after all: "You are advised that GDP may prove to be a disappointing retail experience — especially if you're successful in making a purchase." Image: The Art of Banksy, Olga Rozenbajgier.
Embrace the icy weather at Madame Brussels Lane, which, for the sixth year running, will transform itself into a bustling European-style night market from 5–10pm each Friday in July. Inspired by the picturesque Christmas markets in places like Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the UK, the market will feature some of Melbourne's most decadent food vendors, serving tasty European goodies to warm your insides and satisfy your sweet tooth. Kicking off on July 5, there'll be more European eats than ever before as the market expands to encompass the old Oddfellows Hotel for the first time. You can expect everything cheesy — from French raclette scraped on top of potato and charcuterie to Swiss malakoffs (read: fried cheese balls) — as well as Polish pierogi, Puglia-style vegan panzerotti and Bavarian snacks like pretzels and sausages. There will even be gluten-free cannoli for dessert. That's in addition to the live music and entertainment, and, of course, many, many mugs of piping hot mulled wine and hot toddies. Short of actually taking a holiday to Europe, this is a pretty great way to finish a frosty working week.
It's easy to delay playing tourist in your own backyard. We've all done it, thinking that we'll head overseas now and see Australia's sights later. Looking for motivation to make 2025 the year that you finally visit some Aussie must-sees, wandering around Uluru, relaxing on Hamilton Island or touring Tasmania? Virgin Australia's latest sale on domestic flights is here to help. You've got until Sunday, March 2 to nab a discounted fare — unless they're all snapped up earlier — for flights between Wednesday, April 30, 2025–Wednesday, February 11, 2026. That gives you options for most of this year and the start of next, and across all four seasons, whether autumn, winter, spring or summer getaways best suit your schedule. Prices start cheap at $49. Where can you head? To Byron Bay from Sydney for that low fare, which covers a one-way flight. Other specials include Brisbane–Proserpine from $59, Melbourne–Launceston for the same price, Sydney–Gold Coast from $65, Sydney–Sunshine Coast from $69, Melbourne–Adelaide for $85, Brisbane–Hamilton Island from $105 and Melbourne–Uluru for $109. Or, travel from Sydney–Hamilton Island, also from $109; Brisbane–Uluru from $129; Melbourne–Perth from $189; and Brisbane–Darwin from $195. The list goes on. This sale kicked off on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 — and the cheap fares, which cover both directions between each point in the discounted route, start with Virgin's Economy Lite option. With the travel periods available, all dates vary per route. Inclusions also differ depending on your ticket and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick if you're keen to spend some, part or even most of April 2025–February 2026 anywhere but home. [caption id="attachment_976496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darren Tierney[/caption] Virgin's 'Gotta get away' sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Sunday, March 2, 2025 — unless sold out earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Why spend your treasured lunch hour sitting in the same old spot, eating the same old sandwich? Swedes have discovered the magic of an off-beat lunch break by introducing a little mid-day clubbing. Lunch Beat, a trendy, non-profit lunchtime event, originated in Stockholm in June 2010 with a measly crowd of 14. Today, the monthly Stockholm events attract hundreds and have inspired copycat events throughout other European cities. For 100 kroner (around $15), attendees can dance to club beats beneath the flashing disco lights, enjoy a sandwich, and then return to their various jobs sweaty and energised. The party starts at noon, and lasts for an hour. "You just have to get in there and dance, because the hour ends pretty quickly," says organizer Daniel Odelstad. Lunch Beat only has two rules: no alcohol, and dance. "If you don't want to dance during your lunch hour, then you should eat your lunch somewhere else," says Odelstad. Lunch Beat draws an eclectic crowd, from the young to the old, and from secretaries to business-suited bigwigs; all have come looking for a good time. "It is absolutely fantastic!" says Asa Anderson, a coffee shop employee and Lunch Beat newcomer. "It is the first time I'm here. I'm totally happy and ecstatic, totally covered in sweat, and I'm full of energy. It does not get any better than this." [via Gawker]
It takes a lot to make great wine. It also takes a lot to successfully run a business and a happy family. So, what about when all three things are put together? We chat to three wineries in Victoria's north east that are managing to nail all three. Here are a few stories from their journey through wine, family, tradition and hard work. Brown Brothers Winery – Stories and Shiraz An old lady is fussing about in her kitchen, many moons ago. She takes four teacups and places them in the oven, just until they are too hot to touch. She takes them carefully out of the oven and places them on the table, next to a steaming hot pot of tea. In walk four of her sons. They take a chair at the kitchen table as their mother pours them a cup of tea in the scorching cups. The cups are too hot to touch. They stay that way for a while. The boys linger, telling storing, sharing tales of the family business — tales of the winery. The woman is happy. Her plan to keep them there long enough for their tea to be drinkable is working. The hotter it is, the longer they stayed. A brilliant plan. She is the mother of the Brown brothers and grandmother to Katherine and Caroline — the fourth generation of Browns and the next to take over the reigns of the well-known Brown Brothers family winery. Now picture this: three young, beautiful and driven Brown daughters are sent off into the big bad world. They must complete the non-negotiable task of working outside the family business for four years before being allowed to work within the winery. A beautiful clause, it encourages hard work and avoids entitlement. And it's worked. The daughters ooze with appreciation of the business and a keenness to continue the legacy. Brown Brothers have just relabeled their 18 Eighty Nine range, each fit with a different chair from their family table and a different tale of the family. This dry range includes a fruity Chardonnay, a Shiraz made in Heathcote and a savoury Cabernet Sauvignon. 239 Milawa Bobinawarrah Road, Milawa VIC 3678, brownbrothers.com.au Dal Zotto Wines – Practice and Prosecco Otto, Eleanor, Christian and Michael Dal Zotto are sitting around the large table in their trattoria in King Valley. While Italian voices are coming from one end and Australian accents from the other, there is no denying they are related. Mother, father and two sons. As the kitchen serves up divine, simple, sharing style Italian cooking, the wine begins to pour. A Prosecco to begin, of course. The two wine glasses in front of each person are instantly filled. Then the gentle bickering begins. Where are the rest of the wine glasses? After all, it is only right that each guest have the opportunity to taste all the wines on the table at once. After lunch, stuffed to the brim, they take their guests outside for a throw of the bocce ball, a run with the two dogs in the kitchen garden and to play with the many grandchildren that live just next door. What began as Otto and Eleanor's business — pioneering Prosecco in Australia — is now strongly ingrained in the lives of their children. Michael takes the reigns as the winemaker while Christian looks after the marketing. Spend an afternoon in their trattoria with them if you get the opportunity. The passion is tangible. 4861 Wangaratta-Whitfield Road, Whitfield VIC 3733, dalzotto.com.au Pizzini – Community and Chardonnay Roberto and Rose Pizzini, along with their three children migrated from the Northern Italian Alps to Australia back in 1955. Lost for what to do, digging potatoes became their bread and butter. This later turned into tobacco growing. None of these felt quite right to the Pizzinis. It was only when Brown Brothers planted their first grapes in the King Valley in 1978 that the Pizzini family began farming grapes. A collection of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Shiraz were farmed by Alfred and Katrina and sold to different winemaking companies around Australia. Over the next twenty years Alfred Pizzini began trying his hand at two relatively unknown Northern Italian red grape varieties — Nebbiolo and Sangiovese — and later the white Italian varietals Verduzzo, Picolit and Arneis. It was only in 1994 that Alfred and Katrina Pizzini began the Pizzini label with their signature chardonnay. As they began to build their business they realised they needed to help build up the local area as well. After a cellar door was created from tobacco drying kilns, the Pizzini's invested in three local hospitality venues around town. A little restaurant in Oxley, the Mountain View Hotel in Whitfield and finally they renovated a cottage on the property and turned it into a self-contained B&B. Fast forward to today, Katrina Pizzini running a thriving cooking school, the winery is one of the biggest in the area and the King Valley is never short of wine enthusiasts. The winemaking is now in the capable hands of their son Joel. 175 King Valley Rd, Whitfield VIC 3733, pizzini.com.au
This article is part of our series on the diverse highlights of NZ's Canterbury region, from city to snow. To book your snow trip, visit the 100% Pure New Zealand website. As someone with little-to-no coordination and balance, the prospect of skiing for the first time in my life was pretty terrifying. I honestly couldn't think of a sport that’s scarier for beginners — and I tried, multiple times — or a situation where I wouldn't be hurtling down a vertical run into a tree and/or small child. That's why I’ve always thought it lucky that, for me and every other Adult Who Can't Ski, snow sports are generally pretty easy to avoid. But with the ski season ramping up — and snow weekends already being floated by my seasoned snow bunny friends — I thought it was time to see if I would sink or swim on snow. With myself as sacrifice, and some words of wisdom from Mt Hutt's media coordinator and resident snowboarder Georgie Boyd, we headed across to one of New Zealand's most renowned ski areas (and, as it turns out, biggest mountains) to find out how to slide down a slope without losing a limb — or your dignity. Don't forget your gloves Preparation is key when it comes to skiing, mostly because it involves a lot of stuff. This is no spontaneous sport. If you don't own any snow clothes and can't borrow any from a similarly sized friend (your boyfriend's oversized pants probably won’t make things any easier, just saying), you should look at hiring proper, waterproof clothing. Mt Hutt hire out snow pants and jackets as well as boots and helmets — all of which you'll probably need as a beginner. What they don't have, though, are gloves and goggles, so make sure you you've got that covered before you get up on the mountain. Freezing fingertips don’t make for fun times. Image thanks to arquera via photopin The things you think are the easiest are actually the hardest Here's the thing: no one tells you that walking in ski boots will feel like your shin is snapping in half (which it isn't, but I still have the bruises to say that it came pretty close). Those things are painful, but they say it gets better. Apparently getting on and off the lift gets less terrifying too, but maybe that comes later. And think you can sling your skis over your shoulder like they do in the movies? Think again, noob. There's a particular trick to carrying your skis out to the snow that involves sliding them together and holding onto one of the brakes, but I'll let the ski staff show you that one. Image thanks to Paxson Woelber via photopin Don't think you don't need a lesson Sure, head up to the top of the slope with your friends and be left side-stepping up the mountain while they pass you as they go up and down the run. It's enough to ruin friendships, so heed this: experienced skiers and beginners don't match. Don't underestimate the power of getting a lesson. "The action of skiing and snowboarding isn't always common sense," says Georgie. "Taking a lesson gets you on the right track straight away and will speed up the zero-to-hero process." Contrary to popular misconception, there are plenty of functioning adults who also don't know how to ski — you'll be in a class with them, not four-year-olds (who can probably ski better than you, anyway). Image thanks to Nick J Webb via photopin It's actually not that scary Only after you've strapped on your skis and are successfully standing on a flat lay of snow will you start to feel like maybe this skiing thing isn't so terrifying. Like Georgie says, the most intimidating part for learners is the fear of going too fast and the chairlifts. Once you've mastered slowing down in a lesson (it doesn't matter how long your lesson is, even an hour or two makes a difference), then you can tackle the chairlift. "There are always lifties at the top of the lift to ensure that everyone is getting off the lift safely,” Georgie says. And to make things even easier, Mt Hutt's beginner’s area even has a conveyor belt 'magic carpet', which is the pre-chairlift training to the real deal. Image thanks to Mt Hutt, NZSki Ltd. and Patrick Fallon. It's all about pizza Not the pizza pie kind (well, maybe it can be afterwards — hell, you will have deserved two pizzas by then), but the pizza slice made by the shape of your skis. That's how you stop. For snowboarders, Georgie recommends digging in your heel-side edge will slow you down and safely control an exit off a ski lift. Best you get that one down before you take off down the slopes. Image thanks to FredrikF via photopin What not to do Whatever you do, don't look down. Even though you'll want to look down and make sure your skis are doing what you want them to, it's important that you look at what’s in front of you. There are a lot of obstacles — they're called people. On the subject of people, don't use them as props. Seriously, you grab someone on the way down and no one will look at you the same again. Image thanks to radloff via photopin Any time's a good time The best thing about being a beginner is that you don’t need a lot of snow to have a good time. While all the pros are complaining about lack of snowfall, you'll have all the snow you need. So basically, any time's a good time to start skiing, so just do it already. Image thanks to laszlo-photo via photopin Remember, there is hot chocolate and/or a good story waiting at the end of it Like this one. Image thanks to PunkJr via photopin. Feature image courtesy of Mt Hutt, NZSki Ltd. and Miles Holden.
Dress in your very best Aussie finery and make your way to the Grosvenor Hotel. The iconic Brighton Road pub is going all-out for the public holiday, offering free entry from midday and handing out Australia Day prizes for best and worst dressed. Just remember, there's a very fine line between wearing something ironically and just looking like a tool. Do it right. The radio will be tuned to triple j, of course, while all pints will be priced at $10. They'll also be offering deals on food, including $15 lamb burgers and $5 lamingtons.
Usually when moseying around Aotearoa in a campervan, tourists and locals alike are more transfixed by the spectacle out the window than the mode of transport itself. But art curator Aimee Ralfini has questioned why you can't have both and curated a whimsical art gallery-inspired campervan to help road-trippers have the ultimate immersive sightseeing experience through New Zealand's Coastal Arts Trail. If you haven't ventured along the Coastal Arts Trail, this art-lover's journey through the Manawatū, Whanganui and Taranaki regions is a must-do this summer. After five years of development, the trail was finished thanks to a funding boost from the government to help communities affected by the loss of tourism during COVID. The easy self-drive route allows drivers to hit over 50 stops along the lower west coast of the North Island, from well-known art institutions to hidden small-town gems off the beaten track. If that sounds like a bit of you, this van-art-gallery hybrid — or "Vallery" as she's affectionately named – is a great way to tackle it. The van itself is a moving gallery of over 50 eclectic works from 26 different artists, collected from the region's galleries and featuring commissions from local artists. Those that stay in the van will get to sleep under a glowing night sky thanks to a ceiling commission from Taranaki artist Gabrielle Belz. The drop-down curtains are embellished with a stunning landscape from Manawatū artist Vonnie Sterritt, meaning even at night or on misty travels you'll be surrounded by greenery. Go on a little exploration around the van and you'll find lots of smaller artworks and sculptures s from galleries along the trail, hidden in drawers and mounted in lightboxes. Even the van's groovy exterior is a work of art. Whanganui ceramic artist Ivan Vostina was commissioned to create a ceramic base made with local beach sand, which was then dipped in an ocean-inspired glaze and photographed to be the outer. It gives the van the look of being a handmade ceramic and is sure to elicit grins from other drivers – maybe when they're passing you, if we're honest. And yes, there are all the creature comforts you'd want in a campervan: comfy bench seats that convert into a bed, a small kitchen, a self-contained water system and solar panels on the roof. Ralfini is the artistic curator of 'Vallery', and says that when she was first approached about the project, she questioned if the two worlds of "fine art meets road trip" could coexist. "In the end, my curiosity got the better of me, and I absolutely love a challenge, so I couldn't resist the opportunity to make it work — I love it when art connects with people outside a traditional white box space," she said. "Vallery is a completely immersive art experience: travellers can sleep under art, dine with art and recline on art, and it's all integrated in a comfortable and practical way. We have carefully sealed and protected works, and we have translated art onto hard-wearing surfaces and fabrics so people can just relax and have fun." Vallery is an automatic, diesel van available to hire now from Quirky Campers NZ.
Following weeks of controversy around Bluesfest's decision to book Sticky Fingers for its 2023 edition, the festival has decided to remove the band from its lineup. The announcement comes after both King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Sampa the Great withdrew from this year's event following the band's addition. Five weeks out from the festival, which is scheduled to arrive at North Byron Parklands across the Easter long weekend, Bluesfest has released reluctant a statement announcing that Sticky Fingers will not be performing — while also defending the controversial band. "Bluesfest cannot, sadly, continue to support Sticky Fingers by having them play our 2023 edition, and we apologise to those artists, sponsors and any others we involved in this matter through our mistaken belief that forgiveness and redemption are the rock on which our society is built," the statement reads. "The narrative that they continue to deserve to be cancelled, as well as anyone who publicly supports them, is difficult to accept, wherein a portion of society and media passes eternal judgment toward those, in this case, a diagnosed mentally ill person whom we feel doesn't deserve the continued public scrutiny he's being given." [caption id="attachment_876098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Jason Galea[/caption] In the two weeks following Bluesfest's sixth artist announcement for 2023, which featured Sticky Fingers, the festival experienced acts dropping out. When King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard cancelled their appearance, it cited Bluesfest's decision to book content that conflicts with their values. "As a band and as human beings, we stand against misogyny, racism, transphobia and violence," King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's statement reads. "Surprised and saddened to see Bluesfest commit to presenting content that is in complete opposition to these values." The removal of Sticky Fingers is the fourth confirmed lineup change since Monday, February 20, after The Soul Rebels featuring GZA, Talib Kweli and Big Freedia were also removed from the lineup due to a separate disagreement with the festival's founder Peter Noble. Dylan Frost, Sticky Fingers' frontman, has been the subject of serious allegations which include physically threatening First Nations singer Thelma Plum and harassing a transgender woman at a Sydney pub. Frost and bassist Paddy Cornwall were also caught in an alleged brawl with each other in 2019 which saw Cornwall charged with affray. "We will now move on, put this behind us and continue to plan and present our best-ever edition of Bluesfest... proudly," continues the statement from Bluesfest, before linking to a lengthy article from The Weekend Australian about the band. The festival will continue without Sticky Fingers, The Soul Rebels, King Giz and Sampa the Great from Thursday, April 6 until Monday, April 10 with headliners including Gang of Youths, Paolo Nutini, Tash Sultana, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers and Beck. [caption id="attachment_867504" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kurt Petersen[/caption] Bluesfest 2023 will run from Thursday, April 6–Monday, April 10 at Byron Events Farm, Tyagarah. For the most up-to-date lineup, head to the Bluesfest website. Top image: Lachlan Douglas.
Praise be, Handmaid's Tale fans. The series' third season is due to hit the small screen in June, and the first proper trailer has arrived. Blessed be not only the fruit but the sneak peek, obviously. Revolution looks set to sweep the fictional society of Gilead in the two-minute-long clip, which follows on from the teaser released in February during the Superbowl. That fiery preview told us that it's time to wake up, and it looks like that's exactly what's happening when we rejoin this dystopian world, its creepy and oppressive way of life, and the chaotic existence of Offred/June (Elisabeth Moss) and her fellow subjugated women. Of course, meaty details about the third season are as scarce as a happy woman in red — but expect to spot Yvonne Strahovski's Serena Joy, Joseph Fiennes' Fred Waterford, Ann Dowd's Aunt Lydia, Max Minghella's Nick and new series regular Bradley Whitford as Commander Lawrence, as well as plenty of handmaids. Given how the second season wrapped up, expect the story to get even darker, too. The 13-episode series will hit soon, airing on SBS and becoming available to stream on SBS On Demand at 8.30pm on Thursday, June 6, then continuing weekly. Lucky for us Down Under, this is the same time as it'll be dropping on Hulu in the States, so hopefully no spoilers will crop up. And, there's plenty more Handmaid's Tale bleakness to enjoy this year (well, not that enjoy is necessarily the right term). Margaret Atwood, author of the original 1985 novel that started it all, is releasing a long-awaited sequel. Called The Testaments, it'll hit bookshelves comes September. Check out the new Handmaid's Tale season three trailer below — under his eye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig3h2JdQDI0 The Handmaid's Tale's third season will screen on SBS and SBS On Demand in Australia, airing weekly from 8.30pm on Thursday, June 6.
If ice cream is a gift from the gods, then free ice cream is pure divinity. And that would make the Ben & Jerry's team martyrs, because this Sunday, July 16 they're giving out tubs of their ice cream, gratis. Think of it as a donation to your enjoyment on Earth. If you want to get in on this higher experience, Ben & Jerry's will be stationed at holy sites in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. This is where they'll be: Sydney: Queen's Victoria Building forecourt (next to the statue) from 11am – 1pm, then Manly Wharf from 3–6pm. Melbourne: The entry to Luna Park, St Kilda from 12–4pm. Brisbane: 168 Grey Street, South Brisbane from 1–3pm. All up, they've got 20,000 tubs to give away, including cult favourites like salted caramel, the caramel core Karamel Sutra and Chubby Hubby, which has fudge-covered pretzels and peanut butter swirls. The giveaway will celebrate International Ice Cream Day and the brand's new partnership with food delivery service Foodora. It's a great week for cheapskates, as Lord of the Fries is also giving out no-charge chips on Thursday in Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane's new Lucky Egg West End is doing free fried chicken burgers on Saturday and Sunday. The Ben & Jerry's Big Tub Giveaway will take place on Sunday, July 16 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. For more info, visit their Facebook page.
Just look at that hair. This large-scale installation — which not-so-subtly resembles the dome of Donald Trump — is the work of Canadian-born visual artist Callum Morton. Titled Monument #32: Helter Shelter 2018, the giant protruding head is now on display along Barangaroo Wharf, and you're welcome to sit inside its cavernous fiery interior, too (if you feel comfortable doing so). Morton's thought-provoking and shelter-providing sculpture is on display along with two other works as part of Carriageworks' annual art fair, Sydney Contemporary. Joining the head is Cameron Robbins' installation Remote Sensor, which combines elements of nature, wind, the tides and light in a series of drawings, photographs and moving images that will take residence along the Barangaroo foreshore. If you visit at the right time, you might also catch Mel O'Callaghan's breath-based performance, Breath repertoire. O'Callaghan and Sydney Dance Company will perform an intense movement-focused performance that uses intersecting graphic lines as a language and musical score for the dancers at 12.30pm on September 6, 7 and 13 at Barangaroo's Exchange Place. All three installations are free to view and will be on display until September 24. Sydney Contemporary will return to Sydney for its fourth year on the weekend of September 13–16. The lineup is overflowing with performances, exhibitions, tours, talks and afterparties that celebrate both homegrown and international art. The installation works at Barangaroo for Sydney Contemporary are now open from August 31 through September 24. Check the website for more information.
On September 10, Sydney staged for a huge public rally through the city streets, flying rainbow flags (and dogs) to demand marriage equality and a 'Yes' vote. And now, on Sunday, October 22, Melbourne will do the same. It will be one last rally to urge the country to vote affirmative before the ballot closes on November 7. So send off your vote and get marching. Support group Equal Love is running the rally, urging Australians to campaign for a 'Yes' vote and support all LGBTI+ Australians. Starting at the State Library of Victoria at 1pm, the march will then snake up to Alexandra Gardens for a series of speakers and live performances. With the majority of Australians (a whopping two-thirds) supporting marriage equality, the rally should be stacked. Wear rainbow. Be loud. Images: Letícia Almeida.
In 2017, Australia scored a brand-new arts festival: Asia TOPA, aka the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts, which fills Melbourne venues with a banquet of Asian arts and culture. Then came the early days of the pandemic, putting the event on hiatus since 2020. Thankfully, that gap is ending in 2025 — and bringing a lineup featuring 33 performances, 18 of which will make their world premiere, to locations across the Victorian capital. Asia TOPA is announcing its roster for Thursday, February 20–Monday, March 10, 2025 in stages, with its performance strand its headline program, as well as the first to unveil its details. One big highlight, which was revealed in October: KAGAMI, a mixed-reality concert experience that lets audiences watch a virtual avatar of the late, great Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto at the piano. Making its southern-hemisphere premiere at the festival, the production sees attendees don headsets, enjoy ten original Sakamoto compositions and pay tribute to the music icon. KAGAMI heads Down Under after seasons in New York and UK, and also Singapore prior to Asia TOPA. [caption id="attachment_979460" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tin Drum[/caption] Another of the fest's standouts was also unveiled before the full performance lineup drop — and it's another event with an interactive element. Home Bound by Daniel Kok and Luke George is asking a variety of Melbourne communities to come together to make a woven installation that'll transform Arts Centre Melbourne's forecourt. Whether you take part or not, the results will be a sight to see. Just announced in Asia TOPA's opening-night slot: Milestone from William Yang. As he'll also do at 2025's Sydney Festival, the now 80-year-old artist will reflect upon his life at the one-night-only event, with his photos and stories paired with a new score by Elena Kats-Chernin performed live on stage. In Melbourne, Milestone is headed to Hamer Hall — and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will also be part of the show. [caption id="attachment_979461" align="alignnone" width="1920"] George Gittoes[/caption] Dance company Chunky Move joins the lineup with U>N>I>T>E>D, which will take to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl stage, feature techno beats inspired by Javanese trance and gamelan, and feature six dancers wearing exoskeleton costumes. At Arts Centre Melbourne's Playhouse, Yolŋu, Paiwan and Amis artists hailing from North East Arnhem Land and Taiwan will join forces for cross-cultural collaboration Gapu Ŋgupan (Chasing the Rainbow). And Chinese mourning rituals provide the spark for Mindy Meng Wang and Monica Lim's Opera for the Dead (祭歌) at Space 28 at the University of Melbourne. Patrons can also look forward to Ane Ta Abia, a choral concert featuring singers and musicians from Papua New Guinea and Australia; the tunes, lasers and projections of Oblation by Tamil Australian electronic composer Vijay Thillaimuthu; queer Indigenous arts collective FAFSWAG's dance piece SAUNIGA; and an ode to cute animals via theatremaker Ran Chen's Tiny, Fluffy, Sweet. Or, there's also the return of A Nightime Travesty after its YIRRAMBOI Festival 2023 sellout run, Yumi Umiumare's ButohBAR 番狂わせ OUT of ORDER II turning Abbotsford Convent into a nightclub and family-friendly puppet show Goldfish. [caption id="attachment_979462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cam Matheson[/caption] With the NGV about to go dotty for Yayoi Kusama — starting to already, in fact — for it summer blockbuster exhibition, Melanie Lane's Pulau (Island) is another of Asia TOPA's must-sees. Specifically commissioned for the festival, it's a site-specific response that'll be performed beneath Kusama's Dots Obsession installation, and it's only on the program for two days. "I hope this edition of Asia TOPA resounds with the resilience, joy and creativity of the artists from our region. We want the triennial to be a way for people to build new connections and imagine new futures," said Asia TOPA Creative Director Jeff Khan, announcing the performance strand program. "I hope you join us for this celebration of the inspiring artistry, ideas and possibilities that are so unique to Asia-Pacific art and culture." [caption id="attachment_979463" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gianna Rizzo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chen Chou Chang[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979465" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Pham[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dewie Bukit[/caption] Asia TOPA 2025 runs from Thursday, February 20–Monday, March 10, 2025 at venues across Melbourne. Head to the festival's website for more details and tickets. Top image: Samuel James.
Melbourne's NGV International will celebrate the unique designs and lasting legacy of fashion icon Christian Dior, in a world premiere exhibition launching in August next year. Running from August 27 to November 7, The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture will be one of three major surveys of Dior's groundbreaking work, alongside exhibitions in Paris and New York. The Melbourne show will include more than 140 show-stopping garments, stretching the length and breadth of the label's extraordinary history. "Highlights of the NGV's House of Dior exhibition will include one of the few surviving examples of Christian Dior's New Look collection, which revitalised women's fashion in the post-war era," said gallery director Tony Ellwood while announcing the exhibition at a launch event earlier today. "And of course it wouldn't be a Dior exhibition without their sculptural tailoring, their signature ball gowns and their glamorous evening dresses which have become synonymous with the fashion house." "Audiences will discover the nuances of Dior's fashion design, and observe the ways in which these have evolved through the decades. The exhibition will also celebrate the milestones of Dior's six successive designers," he added. A key element of the exhibition will be an exploration of Dior's historic 1948 spring fashion parade at David Jones in Sydney, considered to be the first complete Dior collection to be shown outside of Paris. The exhibition will also tie in with the gallery's first ever Gala Ball. "Think Met Gala, but with a Melbourne sense of style," said Ellwood. Speaking at the launch, Victoria's Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley called the exhibition "a major milestone for the gallery, for Dior and for our city." "The creativity and imagination of Christian Dior, the depth of his vision, and the range of his skills, could find no better city, and no better partner gallery, for a retrospective display, than Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria," said Mr. Foley. The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture will run August 27 to November 7 at NGV International. Image: National Gallery of Victoria and House of Dior announce House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture at NGV International, August 2017. Shot by Wayne Taylor.
Melbourne has been a real pageant queen lately, having now been crowned Miss Most Liveable City for seven years in a row. We've all seen the glossy shots of laneway cafes and Federation Square that we're known for, and it's true that Melbourne looks great under the sun. But locals know that after dark is when Melbourne truly shines. The city's nightlife is the best on offer in Australia at the moment, and with public transport running all night on weekends, you can enjoy it even more. Instead of waiting out surges, jostling for cabs or sharking innocent pedestrians in an attempt to nab a park, jump on a late-night tram, train or bus and own the night. There's so much on offer at all hours of the eve, and we've got some tips to help you get to know the darker side of Melbourne. SUNSET AT THE BEACH Start your night by jumping on the 96 tram and heading to St Kilda beach. Grab an ice cream or pastry along Acland Street (don't worry about eating dessert before dinner — there are no rules tonight) and head to the sand to sit back and watch as the sun goes down and Luna Park lights up. People-watching is the name of the game here, and dusk is the time of day when all the kookiest subjects come out to play. COCKTAILS AND JAPANESE WITH A TWIST When you've brushed all the sand out of your crevices, it's time to eat. Jump on the 5 tram to Chapel Street, get off at stop 32, and wander down Chapel Street as it comes alive for the dinner rush. Head to Mr Miyagi for dinner, a southside favourite. They don't take bookings for groups of five or less, which is excellent news for cocktail lovers. Wait for your table in their adjacent bar, Yukie's, and sample from their experimental cocktail menu — try the salted watermelon martini garnished with Midori-infused faux olives. Once you're installed at Mr Miyagi's, try their signature snack: the salmon nori taco with grilled salmon belly, sushi rice and spicy mayo, all wrapped up in a seaweed case. Excellent fuel for the long night ahead. POST-DINNER ROOFTOP FEATURE Once you're sufficiently stuffed, prepare your bod for a digestive respite. Head to Windsor Station to get the train to Flinders Street Station. From there, jump on a tram heading up Swanston Street (heck yeah, free tram zone), get off at Bourke Street Mall and head to Rooftop Cinema. For the next few months, they'll be running a cinema program on the roof of the Curtin House building. It features a good mix of cult classics, new releases, deckchairs and a killer view of the city — it's the perfect intermission for your late-night antics. POOL, CRAZY MILKSHAKES OR AFTER-HOURS BOWLS Once you've fully digested both film and food, it's time to kick it up a notch. You have a few options. Take the 86 or 96 trams out to Fitzroy and stop in at the Red Triangle Pool Hall on Argyle Street. Play a few games of pool, and to keep it interesting, make it so the loser buys the winner one of Red Triangle's disgustingly indulgent milkshakes. But if you like your balls close to the ground, stay on the tram a little longer and head up to Fitzroy Bowls Club — it stays open until 10pm and is fully licensed. We recommend booking ahead to guarantee your spot. MIDNIGHT CBD BAR HOPPING Once you're deep in the night, jump on the 86 or 96, and head back into the city. From here, you can choose your own adventure depending on how you feel. We recommend Boilermaker House on Lonsdale for excellent craft beer; Heartbreaker on Russell for pizza, dancing and more pool; Siglo on Spring Street for pure class; Gin Palace down Russell Place for quiet, sexy ambience; or New Guernica to get heavy. Or better yet, take advantage of that free tram zone and stop in at them all. LATE NIGHT KARAOKE No late night is complete without a spot of karaoke. If you need privacy to belt out your heartfelt rendition of When Doves Cry (no judgement — we respect your craft), head to KBOX on La Trobe and book yourself a booth. If you know no shame and want the world to hear your siren song, head to Jankara Karaoke. This tiny, weird karaoke bar on Russell Street is always packed full of people who have no business doing karaoke, but who do it anyway and with unbridled enthusiasm. [caption id="attachment_639262" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Anwyn Howarth.[/caption] EVENING'S END EATS When the night is wrapping up, the sun is peeping over the horizon and you're in serious need of a snack, late night food options are abundant in the city. Shujinko on Russell is 24-hours and Stalactites, everyone's favourite late-night souvas slinger, is also open 'round the clock. And if you need a pick me up, Little Bean Blue on Little Collins opens at 6am, ready to caffeinate you so you don't fall asleep on the tram home — that's definitely not a good look. Whatever you're planning for the weekend, whether it's staying out after midnight or up until dawn, the Night Network will take you wherever you need to go — and then get you home again. Lead image: Brook James.
First, the bad news for Marvel Cinematic Universe fans: the reports about the big- and small-screen franchise starting to space out its output are coming to fruition with its next big streaming series Echo. Now, the good news: the five-part miniseries just released its first trailer, and promises rage, darkness, focusing on a superhero who is deaf, bringing back Kingpin and also dropping its entire season at once come January. Echo was previously locked in for a November release, as one of two MCU shows due to stream this spring. While the first series on that list, the second season of Loki, did indeed arrive as planned, Echo has now been pushed to 2024. Hopefully good things will come to those who wait, with this Hawkeye spinoff slated for Wednesday, January 10. While Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is at Echo's centre — as first seen in Hawkeye, she's the gang leader who is deaf that had Clint Barton in her sights for a stint of revenge — the show's debut trailer gives narrating duties to Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio, Dumb Money) to set a brooding tone. "You have so much pain in you, so much rage, that you can't contain it," says the character also seen in Hawkeye, and before that in Daredevil as well. "You and I are the same," Kingpin continues amid sound design that lives up to the show's moniker. When all five instalments of Echo hit at once, the series will enjoy a first for the MCU on streaming. As viewers who've been watching along since WandaVision's small-screen arrival know, Disney+ usually drops a few episodes at once for each MCU entry, then unfurls the rest weekly afterwards ‚ but this one will arrive all at once on the same day. Story-wise, Echo follows Maya as Kingpin's criminal empire chases her down — and as the initial sneak peek illustrates, that ties in with her past. So, yes, this is an origin story. Also featuring alongside Cox and D'Onofrio: Chaske Spencer (The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Run Woman Run), Graham Greene (The Last of Us) and Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds). Check out the trailer for Echo below: Echo will stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Images: Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.
When you're whipping up a batch of cookies, do you spoon your creations onto the tray and pop them straight into the oven, or do you sneak a taste of the delicious, uncooked dough? We all know that we should say the former — and we all really do the latter. Eating the mushy morsels we'll call pre-bikkies is frowned upon thanks to that little thing called food safety; however New York's newest cafe has the solution. Dō makes their cookie dough from pasteurised eggs and heat-treated flour that ensures those gorging on their products won't get ill. After selling their wares online, they've branched out into the bricks-and-mortar space, setting up shop in Greenwich Village. https://www.instagram.com/p/BPfiYFHF0m4/?taken-by=cookiedonyc There, you'll find scoops of dough, served with or without ice cream, plus sundaes, ice cream sandwiches and cookie dough milkshakes. Pick from flavours such as sugar cookie, brownie batter, salty and sweet, cake batter and peanut butter snickerdoodle — from a range of five classic, eight signature and three seasonal varieties — then indulge in guilt-free gooeyness. Baked snacks such as actual cookies, cookie sandwiches, and cookie cakes are also available, but where's the fun in that? Or, try cookie dough fudge, cookie dough ice cream pie, cookie dough brownies or a cookie bomb — which looks like a cupcake, but is actually dough and frosting. Yum. Via Food and Wine.
Thought gin was just a balmy summer bev? This winter, riverside bar Pilgrim invites you to rethink that old cliche, as you sit down to one of its new gin-matched high tea sessions, primed for the crisp afternoons to come. Kicking off Thursday, May 27 in collaboration with gin festival Juniperlooza, the new high tea series is set to run Thursday–Sunday through the cooler months from 12pm–6pm each day. You'll be able to book in for an indulgent feast of sweet and savoury delights, paired with a whole slew of drinks for a bargain $65 per person. Not only is free-flowing sparkling wine promised, but in a nod to the winter temperatures, you'll also enjoy four signature tea-inspired gin cocktails. Think: warm serves of Brookies Byron Slow Gin with apple and chai, or Alchemy's Chamomile Gin finished with a touch of pineapple and lemon. Regular tea is also included in unlimited amounts for the tea-lovers out there, and you can opt for non-alcoholic gin varieties if you're taking a break from the hard stuff. The high tea sessions run for two hours each and are available for groups of two or more.
UPDATE, June 10, 2021: Before the lockdown ends, the Victorian Government has changed the mask rules that'll come into effect from 11.59pm on Thursday, June 10. Under this change, which stems from updated public health advice, masks will still be mandatory outdoors. Face masks have been compulsory again in Melbourne, both indoors and out, for a few weeks now, with the mandate coming back into effect in late May in response to the city's latest COVID-19 outbreak. That requirement has remained in place during the city's two-week lockdown, in fact — but with stay-at-home conditions set to ease, mask rules are changing as well. You'll still be covering up indoors, with masks remaining mandatory inside. From 11.59pm on Thursday, June 10, however, the rules are changing outdoors. So, you won't have to wear them outside if you can maintain a 1.5-metre distance from other people while you're getting some fresh air. If you can't, you'll need to keep masking up. Obviously, you'll still always need to have a mask with you — even if you're heading out for a stroll and no one else seems to be about. You can expect to see more folks around, too, given that the city's five reasons to leave the house are being scrapped when lockdown ends. https://twitter.com/JamesMerlinoMP/status/1402444545082593281 While you're venturing out of the house for whatever reason you like — and possibly going mask-free if there's no one around you outside — you will still need to stick to a 25-kilometre radius. Yes, the bubble is expanding. Other changes that are coming into effect include gathering outdoors with up to ten people, and being able to eat in at hospitality businesses again. You still can't have anyone over to your house, though. If you're wondering where to grab a fitted mask, we've put together a rundown of local companies making and selling them. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
No one plays with a Barbie too hard when the Mattel product is fresh out of the box. As that new doll smell lingers, and the toy's synthetic limbs gleam and locks glisten, so does a child's sense of wonder. The more that the world-famous mass-produced figurine is trotted through DreamHouses, slipped into convertibles and decked out in different outfits, though — then given non-standard makeovers — the more that playing with the plastic fashion model becomes fantastical. Like globally beloved item, like live-action movie bearing its name. Barbie, the film, starts with glowing aesthetic perfection. It's almost instantly a pink-hued paradise for the eyes, and it's also a cleverly funny flick from its 2001: A Space Odyssey-riffing outset. The longer that it continues, however, the harder and wilder that Lady Bird and Little Women director Greta Gerwig goes, as does her Babylon and Amsterdam star lead-slash-producer Margot Robbie as Barbie. In Barbie's Barbie Land, life is utopian. Robbie's Stereotypical Barbie and her fellow dolls genuinely believe that their rosy beachside suburban excellence is infectious, too. And, they're certain that their female-championing realm — and them being female champions of all skills, talents and appearances — has changed the real world inhabited by humans. But there's a Weird Barbie living in a misshapen abode. While she isn't Barbie's villain, not for a second, her nonconformist look and attitude says everything about Barbie at its most delightful. Sporting cropped hair, a scribbled-on face and legs akimbo, she's brought to life by Saturday Night Live great Kate McKinnon having a blast, and explained as the outcome of a kid somewhere playing too eagerly. Meet Gerwig's spirit animal; when she lets Weird Barbie's vibe rain down like a shower of glitter, covering everything and everyone in sight, the always-intelligent, amusing and dazzling Barbie is at its brightest and most brilliant. This film has much to do, as a Mattel- produced affair that also skewers the brand, and both dotes on and parodies all things Barbie, must. The more askew it gets and revels in it, the better. Indeed, in a movie that not only overflows with a feminist perspective, but pokes glorious fun at the patriarchy — plus 90s male-fronted rock, car and horse obsessions, and men competing and one-upping each other (side note: do Kens have genitalless bulge-measuring contests?) — it throws in a glaring clash that couldn't serve the picture better. Barbies can be anything, be it President (Issa Rae, Insecure), a doctor (Hari Nef, Meet Cute), a diplomat (Nicola Coughlan, Bridgerton), a Nobel Prize-winning physicist (Emma Mackey, Emily), an author (Alexandra Schipp, tick, tick... BOOM!), a Supreme Court justice (Ana Cruz Kayne, Jerry and Marge Go Large), a journalist (Ritu Arya, Polite Society), a lawyer (Sharon Rooney, Jerk) and a mermaid (Dua Lipa, making her movie debut). They can also nearly have the film stolen from them by a Zoolander-esque himbo Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man) at his absolute funniest as Stereotypical Barbie's yearning Ken. Before Ken's stunning late-film, go-for-broke, 50s-musical-adoring song-and-dance number that deserves all of the awards, including for Gosling putting his crooning to use again post-La La Land and loving it, Barbie has to derail the Barbies' constant rotation of best days ever. Gerwig and her Greenberg, Frances Ha, Mistress America and White Noise helmer Noah Baumbach, who co-writes here, wouldn't have a storyline otherwise. Together and apart, the duo has a stellar pedigree in conveying the disappointments of simply being, a notion they pull back out of the box. For Stereotypical Barbara Millicent Roberts, her idyll shifts when her giant blowout party with all the Barbies, planned choreography and a bespoke song sparks thoughts about death for the first time. Next comes messy hair upon waking, burnt breakfast, a fall from her DreamHouse to her car — rather than floating down like a hand is airlifting her — and suddenly unarched feet that can't handle high heels. Only Weird Barbie has an inkling of what's going on, guiding Stereotypical Barbie to the real world to seek out whoever's playing with her, discover why they're less than blissful and fix that human to fix herself. Los Angeles, here she comes — to rollerblade in neon as everyone has known since 2022, and with Ken tagging along. Gosling's Ken is only one Ken, of course. Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Kingsley Ben-Adir (Secret Invasion), Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education) and Scott Evans (Grace and Frankie): they're other Kens. John Cena (Fast X) is a Ken mermaid. Michael Cera (Black Mirror) is Alan, and he's unique. In Barbie Land, everyone who isn't Barbie — even Midge (Emerald Fennell, The Crown) — sits in the Barbies' shadow. When, as they meet Mattel employee Gloria (America Ferrera, Superstore), her teen daughter Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt, 65) and the company's CEO (Will Ferrell, Spirited), Barbie and Ken learn that reality doesn't mirror that setup, their glossy polymer bubble bursts. Weathering a surreal existential crisis or not, and even being the butt of one of narrator Helen Mirren's (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) many wry jokes by name, Robbie is sparkling, warm and sincere. There's nothing PVC about her performance, which is equally light and heartfelt — and still gives Gosling all the room that he can thrust his spray-tanned chest into to deliver a hilarious physical comedy masterclass (and, although Robbie led Babylon, sometimes sashay like he's in Hollywood's Golden Age). Robbie, and Gosling also, keep shimmering when the film feels a touch careful, or falls slightly and briefly flatter. They're the sublime antidote when Barbie stresses that it's lampooning, rather than just doing it. And, though playing characters with painted-on fridge contents (her) and "just beach" as a job (him), they're what makes the movie feel wonderfully real and earnest even when — especially when — it's at its goofiest and silliest. Gerwig has directed a lively, zany, oh-so witty and pretty Barbie flick that's perfectly cast, a costuming showcase and, in Barbie Land, a production-design dream. With Baumbach, she's penned a knowing, mile-a-minute, meta-but-meaningful film that's a tribute and a takedown — happy celebrating Barbie's aspirational role and place in history since 1959, while calling out corporatised girl power, mainstream beauty standards, the ridiculous expectations placed upon women (basically dropping a sequel to Gone Girl's "cool girl" speech, in fact) and capitalism's intellectual property-hungry quest for control. Sometimes, the fingers that are moving Barbie's pieces are a touch too evident, pushing hard instead of just playing hard. Sometimes, they're a tad timid. Thankfully, these are minor issues, like choosing who Barbie should be when the possibilities are endless. This film's charms aren't quite infinite, but they're as ever-present as pink, pink and more pink in an ambitious, inventive and joyously entertaining movie that gave the world a fuchsia paint shortage.
Purrfect news, feline fans: everything a dapper doggo can do, a cute cat can as well. While that's an accurate statement in general, as anyone who has ever shared their life with both a pooch and a kitty will know, it's also the thinking behind Melbourne's returning animal event. From the folks behind the Dog Lovers Show comes the mouser equivalent: the Cat Lovers Show. If you wear the 'crazy cat person' label as a badge of honour, stop to pat every moggie you meet while you're walking down the street or spend your all of your spare time watching cat videos (or all of the above), then you'll want to block out Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 in your diary. Expect Carlton to come alive with the sounds of meows, with the event taking place at the Royal Exhibition Building on Nicholson Street. On the agenda: feline-focused education and celebration. Before you go thinking about adorable kitties wearing glasses and sitting at desks, or popping streamers and wearing party hats (awwwwwwwww), humans will be doing the learning and rejoicing. Really, what's more informative and exuberant than entering the Pat-A-Cat zone and getting cosy with cats of all shapes and sizes — and possibly taking one home with you? Watching a cat talent show or getting comfy at the Cat Cinema comes close, obviously. If that doesn't tickle your whiskers, attendees will also be able to take a purrfect match quiz to find out which type of cat suits them best, meet different breeds, listen to talks by experts and browse more than 120 stalls. You can get also get pampered while having a drink at the Purrfect Paws & Prosecco Parlour, and tuck into a cat-inspired food menu. Just remember: there'll be plenty of mousers in the Cat Lovers Show house, so you'll need to leave your own moggie at home.
Whether she's blowing up brightly coloured pumpkins to larger-than-life size, creating mirrored infinity rooms or asking art lovers to put dots on everything, Yayoi Kusama's work has always had an immersive quality. That feels especially true when you attend one of the Japanese artist's shows around the globe, or visit her dedicated Tokyo museum; however her next huge project will take the notion to another level. In a site-specific exhibition exclusive to the New York Botanical Garden, Kusama's art will feature across The Bronx site's entire 250-acre location — both inside and out. Attendees won't just walk through multiple halls filled with her work, or mosey around an entire gallery. Rather, in a multi-sensory experience, they'll wander around the whole grounds, spying her pieces not only placed on walls and floors everywhere, but mixed among the natural wonders outside. When the showcase kicks off in 2020, running from May 2 to November 1, visitors can expect a host of Kusama's beloved works, plus brand-new items created specifically for the venue. That includes her famous mirrored environments, her polka-dotted sculptures and her giant floral pieces, as well as her nature-based paintings, botanical sketches, collages and soft sculptures. A horticultural showcase is also on the agenda — it is happening at a botanical garden after all — which'll be based on one of her massive paintings. Much to the joy of long-term Kusama fans, a new site-specific pumpkin will pop up, too. [caption id="attachment_732283" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] New York Botanical Garden, Robert Benson[/caption] As well as marking the first-ever large-scale exploration of the acclaimed artist's overflowing fondness for the natural world, the New York Botanical Garden exhibition will feature Kusama's first-ever participatory greenhouse installation. In the kind of news that aims to tempt folks along more than once or twice, it'll transform over the course of the exhibition based on audience interaction. The show's length is designed with the same goal in mind, with the seasons changing from spring to summer to autumn during its duration, each adding a new tone to Kusama's work. If you've been pondering making New York travel plans for next year, you now have some new motivation. Yayoi Kusama's exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden will run from May 2, 2020 to November 1, 2020. Keep an eye on the site's website for ticketing and further details once they're announced.
It's a new year, and with it comes a fresh crop of food trends. The twelve months of 2013 were full of sliders, Mexican waves, salted caramel anything — and it's about time those smoke alarms have a rest. This year, we've gotten a tad greener: hybrid snacks will turn some faces green (ramen burger anyone?) but spit-roasting feasts may turn others green with envy. We’re getting back to nature and becoming all green and eco-friendly by eating at zero-waste cafes, meeting farmers and salvaging scraps. Save all your jam jars, too: there’s some serious fermenting sessions bound to happen, and if we're not eating at home, we'll be dining at Korean BBQs. Hybrid snacks A new wave of outlandish fusion foods is emerging and gourmet junk is on the rise. We want high-fat, high-flavour street food. Why all this (albeit, somewhat delicious) madness? Trend forecaster Chris Sanderson of The Future Laboratory says it's all about Gen Y being "experience-hungry" and "searching for food as fun". "Some days they'll eat nutritionally well, but other days they're gorging on high-cal, high-spec treats," Chris says. Enter the cronut. A cross between a croissant and a doughnut, the calorific treat was created at a Bakery in Manhattan back in May 2013 and has attracted a loyal following since. Our very own King of Sweets — Adriano Zumbo — swiftly jumped on this fad and crafted his own version, aptly named ‘The Zonut’. What ensued were lengthy lines outside his patisserie and other bakeries across the nation dusting off their deep-fryers. Not a fan? Don't worry, it won’t be all cinnamon-sugar coated. Other hybrid snacks that are appearing include savoury waffles and ramen burgers (yes, precisely what you think they are: ramen noodles moulded into the shape of a bun with a burger patty sandwiched between). Also, keep an eye out for the fabled 'townie' — who wouldn't love a brownie and a tart all in one? Superfoods Kale and quinoa will continue to reign as superfoods. According to Sanderson, the ancient grain and verdant vegetable are still pretty obscure foodstuffs for the mainstream, so expect to see more of them for a few years yet. Oscar-worthy appearances for quinoa can be seen in dishes such as salads, soups, sushi, porridges. Sidekick freekah is set to pop up more often too: the green wheat grain from the Middle East has a nutty flavour and is also very 'super'. The 'queen of greens' has without a doubt, singlehandedly supported Breville's blender department. Morning smoothies will remain green for 2014, and keep throwing it in frittatas and salads. Kale chips are the favoured party snack now too — Smiths crinkle cut are so 2012. Hyper-provenance Hyper- what? Hyper-provenance. It involves getting up close and personal with the food we eat — literally. We’re seeking more information than just the country of origin on our food. Sanderson notes that there's a new breed of consumer demanding to know which farm produces their favourite cheese and even which cow was milked. It's all about getting back to our 'roots' and becoming deeply connected to the sources of our food. Already we’ve seen a steady increase in cafes and restaurants highlighting that the tomatoes are from Linda in Petersham and the basil is from Terry in Earlwood. Boutique butcher Feather & Bone visit every producer for firsthand experience to ensure that the farming practices are sustainable: they can tell you where it was raised, what it was fed, right through to slaughter and ageing. Pepe Saya knows the farmers down in Picton, NSW that make the cream for his cultured butter — seasoned with Murray River Pink Salt. But it's not just the small-scale quirky food producers: mainstream brands are getting involved, driving to the farms and saying g’day to Farmer Joe. Australian egg producer ecoeggs has gone one step further to allow consumers to watch its chickens live via a ChookCam. Lays Chip Company in the US has even mapped out their maize. "For a number of years now, they've been able to indicate which farm each of it hundreds of thousands of packets of tortilla chips has provided the maize," says Sanderson. Fermentation and Pickling #ferment4life #healthybugs #fermentation #picklery #picklepickle We may be indulging in the gourmet junk some days, but other days we're all about the good bacteria. We're going to get ourselves into quite a pickle this year. In a good way though — fermented vegetables are the next big thing; pickling classes are being held everywhere. So dust off the granny aprons and save all those jars for your next sauerkraut batch, because it's not just for the yoga-pant-wearing raw-food survivalists. And it is actually super-easy to make at home: all you need is salt and a vegetable in a sealed jar. Store it at room temperature for ten days or more and watch the bubbly activity build healthy bacteria. Yes — it's good for our gut. You might be squirming at the thought of it all, but fermented foods are everywhere. Who doesn't love a pungent spoonful of pickled cabbage alongside your roast chicken? Pigs on parade It might be the year of the horse, but it's all about pigs in 2014. The ovens are being fired up, the spits are turning, pork ribs are being marinated in preparation for sticky-finger feasting and charcuterie boards are being carved to lay the groundwork for a menu replete with cured meats. Continuing with the theme of sustainability, there's a new generation of butchers and chefs that are dedicated to using the entire carcass, not just the prime cuts. A new mobile phone app, called Nose to Tail, promotes full use of the animal and provides information about more than 200 cuts, including recommended preparation. Moreover, embracing a paddock-to-plate attitude means that the pigs being used are healthier and fatter. And we know what fatter means — more flavour and better texture. Hungry diners are enjoying slow-roasted spit roasts and smoky platters of sticky ribs with homemade BBQ sauce. Chefs are perfecting the art of crispy, succulent pork belly that is dripping with all the evils of tastiness: you can get it sandwiched between a soft white bun with cabbage salad and mayo now at any cafe. And if they're not roasting or BBQing it, they're curing it. Move over cheese platter, it's time for the charcuterie board to take the limelight. Think spicy salamis; rich, gamey pates; and translucent, paper-thin prosciutto. Zero waste Food waste is hitting an all-time high. We might all be embracing the sustainable food production and living culture, albeit according to Oz Harvest, Australians are throwing away 3 million tonnes of food every year — the equivalent of 136 kilos per person. So what shall we do with all this? Sanderson's trend alert team says that brands are taking action and "transforming out-of-date produce into edible feasts". Charities all over Australia such as FareShare have a team of volunteers and chefs that transform wasted food from eateries into edible, nourishing meals and also distribute all those untouched restaurant meals to the less fortunate. It may sound off, but it's not the scraps. An estimated 20-40 percent of fruit and vegetables don't reach the shops due to the supermarkets unreasonable aesthetic standards — that’s a lot of jamming and chutney-making to be done here. And if we’ve done all the jamming we can do, visit eateries such as Silo by Joost in Melbourne, who have a "loop-based system whereby packaging and waste is reduced to a minimum", says Sanderson. It literally is a zero-waste cafe: all organic waste is treated in a waste dehydrator and steriliser. Time to take a trip to Bunnings to get that compost bin, perhaps? Korean food We were all about burgers and hot dogs in 2013 — and the American cuisine is set to stick around for a bit longer. Bust out the bibs again, as there's a trending forecast for Southern fried chicken and smoky barbecue stuff to continue hitting our menus. However, Asian food is something we're familiar with and now we're starting to apply great things to it. Korean dishes are set to take centre stage. We’ve done our dash with Thai and Vietnamese, but the travelled foodies are realising that if you venture not too far east, there's an incredible Korean experience waiting to happen. The pickling affair will fit right in here too: the fermented vegetable dish kimchi hits the mainstream, along with ssamjang and gochujang. Fire up those hot pots and spicy BBQs — it's fresh, healthy, packed with vegetables and spice and an ideally complimented with an icy cold lager. One-food wonders Restaurants have been specialising in just one or two dishes for a while now, be they dumpling houses, burger joints, espresso bars, bagel places — there's even an artisanal food craze in San Francisco with cafes solely serving toast (and the lines aren't short). Is it a sign of the economic times or just the tip of the hipster spear? Either way, these extremely curated menus may only have a few items but are all about idiosyncrasy and creating an atmosphere. The increasing taste for specialisation means the chefs can focus on the ingredients and achieve the best possible buns/crepes/tacos/ramen possible. Diners are craving the authentic tastes and more characteristic variations with fewer dishes. Case in point: Mary's in Sydney has a concise food menu of only three burgers. Los Hermanos in Melbourne has only eight menu items, mainly tacos. Wonderbao only sells steamed buns. But isn't there a danger in having such limited choice? Not at all; if it means more time chatting to our pals and less time spent reading the novel-like menus, we're all for one-food wonders. To hear more from the Future Laboratory, check out their Australian events: SYDNEY TREND BRIEFING SERIES Date: Wednesday 19 February Time: 8am – Registration and light breakfast 9am – 12.30pm – Trend Briefing Venue: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh Tickets from Eventbrite. LUXURY FUTURES FORUM, SYDNEY Speakers: Chris Sanderson, Martin Raymond, Megan Quinn, Chris Kyvetos, Loh Lik Peng Date: Thursday, 20th February 2014 Time: 1.30-6.30pm Venue: Golden Age Cinema, Paramount House, 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills Tickets via Eventbrite. MELBOURNE TREND BRIEFING SERIES Date: Wednesday 12 February Time: 8am – Registration and light breakfast 9am – 12.30pm – Trend Briefing Venue: ACMI, Federation Square/Flinders Street, Melbourne Tickets via Eventbrite FOOD AND DRINK FUTURE FORUM, MELBOURNE Speakers: Chris Sanderson, Martin Raymond, Jill Dupleix, Any Gaunt, Andrew McConnell Date: Thursday 13 February 2014 Time: 1.30pm to 6.30pm Venue: RMIT University Design Hub – Building 100, Carlton Tickets via Eventbrite.
Now this will make everyone turn up to boring ol' Monday meetings. British furniture designer Christopher Duffy has obviously spent too many meetings in horribly regular chairs, as he's gone and designed this genuinely high-fiveable solution — meeting swings instead of meeting chairs. Meet the King Arthur Round Table — yep, its actual name. Jensen's giving the annual growth report? Stay awake by swinging. Fire drill training? Swing it out. Duffy's straight-up clever King Arthur set is available from 12-seat down to four-seat options, and you can opt for walnut or birch tops. And predictably, the 12-seat will set your boss back a cheeky $16,000 before tax or shipping. But think of the PowerPoint presentations you could swing through. Attendance would be through the roof. "As soon as people sit in it, they instantly open up, their posture changes and they start smiling," Duffy told Fast Company. "There's a different feeling when you're hanging from something than when you're sitting and you're supported from underneath." If you're not content simply swinging your way through daily meetings, Duffy's also designed a whole two-level swing bar set-up, so you can swing through post-work drinks too. Via Fast Company.
Singapore is a haven for food lovers. You've got some of the world's finest restaurants (52 have at least one Michelin Star), plus countless hawker centres full of street food stalls serving fresh and tasty local dishes at incredibly low prices. Spectacular local restaurants and bars are also scattered all over the country. That's why we decided to create this one-of-a-kind food-filled Singapore holiday in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board and celebrity chef Nelly Robinson from Sydney restaurant NEL. It is a seriously special getaway, taking place from June 16–19. During the exclusive holiday, you'll stay in the luxurious Pan Pacific Singapore (located in the heart of the city) for three nights and spend a full day with Chef Nelly Robinson — going to some of the places which inspired his latest 'Taste of Singapore' menu. [caption id="attachment_864487" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danny Santos[/caption] On the Saturday, you'll go on a unique three-hour food tour of Chinatown, hitting up a few local dining spots as well as the famous Chinatown Complex Food Centre — Singapore's largest hawker centre. You'll then spend all of Sunday with Chef Nelly. First off, he'll join you for a private cookery class led by Singapore cooking personality, Ruqxana Vasanwala (in her own backyard kitchen). This is an incredibly rare opportunity to cook with Chef Nelly himself. After eating your hard work for lunch, head to Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie for a special chocolate tasting. You'll try the bean-to-bar tasting set which showcases the team's sustainability efforts in using all parts of the cacao tree. What's next? After recharging back at the hotel for a short while, guests will go to Hopscotch for avant-garde cocktails before having dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Labyrinth. It will be one magnificent day full of local food and drinks — with a famous chef, known for his bold and creative Sydney degustation menus, joining you for the ride. During the unique getaway, you'll also have the opportunity to explore Singapore at your own leisure, receiving a handful of recommendations from us. [caption id="attachment_892008" align="alignnone" width="1904"] Hopscotch[/caption] Head to the Concrete Playground Trips website to book your spot on this exclusive culinary journey in Singapore with Chef Nelly Robinson, taking place from June 16–19. But hurry, only a limited number of tickets are available. Images: Singapore Tourism Board
Dread doesn't get enough credit. It's the emotion of worried anticipation and, as unpleasant and unsettling as it may be, it's the backbone of any truly unnerving horror movie. While startling bumps might elicit momentary jumps, spending an entire film in a state of distress is another experience entirely. Unravelling the struggles of a family wrestling with loss, trauma and unexplained events, Hereditary serves up more than a few well-executed shocks — but it's the picture's unrelenting mood of apprehension and anxiety that marks Ari Aster's debut feature as a disturbing, discomforting masterpiece. Hereditary begins with a piece of text that no one likes to read: a funeral notice for the Graham family matriarch. Yet as the deceased's relatives prepare for the service, only 13-year-old Charlie (Milly Shapiro) appears visibly upset. If her mum Annie (Toni Collette) bears any sorrow about the passing of her own mother, it's channelled into the miniature dioramas she's busy handcrafting — recreations of her sprawling forest-adjacent house and events from her everyday life, including the dearly departed's final days. Still, all isn't particularly well in the slowly disintegrating Graham household. There's distance between Annie and her psychiatrist husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne), while teenage son Peter (Alex Wolff) is happier smoking joints between his high school classes than interacting with his family. If the story so far sounds like a routine drama, that's Aster's wheelhouse in a way. In acclaimed short films Munchausen and The Strange Thing About the Johnsons, the writer-director probed the problems that reside behind blood ties — only to take seemingly commonplace scenarios, and then up the ante in a provocative and unexpected manner. In Hereditary, he plagues the movie's protagonists with weird occurrences, including strange words etched into walls, odd flashes of light, upsetting strangers and alarming seances. He is making a horror film, after all. But more than that, Aster doubles down on tragedy, stretches the characters' emotional limits and heightens their psychological strain, trapping the Grahams in a situation devoid of hope, escape or choice. There's a reason that one of the movie's most pivotal scenes, involving Annie unburdening her pain to a support group, expands upon the family's history of mental stress. As we've already mentioned, all of the above mightn't sound overly revolutionary, especially if you've seen Rosemary's Baby, The Shining or The Babadook, three films Hereditary recalls in the best possible fashion. In the same vein as many supernatural spookfests, the involvement of a mysterious woman (Ann Dowd) who tries to help Annie with her grief mightn't sound unusual either. But in a movie that embraces the bleakness of life, and the way that grimness can feel like an unshakeable curse, it's how Hereditary tells its sinister tale that lifts the picture well beyond standard scary territory. If Annie's tiny creations appear painstaking and precise, they've got nothing on Aster's level of meticulousness. Thanks to roaming, grey-hued cinematography, every frame of the film bristles with unease. Courtesy of a score heavy on saxophone and percussion, every sound rattles the nerves. And, with the movie taking the slow-burning approach to an intense and insidious extreme, dwelling in the Grahams' unhappy existence is a fist-clenching, teeth-grinding exercise in deep-seeded tension. One of the year's best flicks — frightening or otherwise —Hereditary has another trick up its sleeve. It's not a huge twist or an especially terrifying moment, although the film contains both. Simply put, the movie wouldn't and couldn't be the powerhouse factory of dread that it is without Collette. The Australian actor played with all things unnerving back in The Sixth Sense, but now haunts this picture like a woman possessed with a lifetime's worth of worry, fear and anger. While Shapiro and Wolff also play their parts to perfection, Collette's expressive face couldn't encapsulate Hereditary's horrors better. When she reacts with fright, pain, anxiety and terror, so does the audience. Keen to know more about this terrifying flick? We went behind the scenes with Hereditary director Ari Aster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3__y-uPwbe8
From Mad Max: Fury Road and Girl Asleep to Sweet Country and Breath, the past few years haven't been short on Aussie cinema highlights — and if the local contingent headed to the next Sundance Film Festival is any indication, 2019 looks set to continue that trend. A record six Australian feature films will screen at the Utah festival in January next year, topping the country's previous best of five feature films back in 1997. And, in achievements that are just as impressive, all six feature female protagonists and three are directed by women. Five of the flicks will also enjoy their world premiere at the prestigious fest, including the Mia Wasikowska-led Judy and Punch, about marionette puppeteers; Animals, featuring Alia Shawkat and helmed by 52 Tuesdays' Sophie Hyde; and Little Monsters, the Lupita Nyong'o-starring next effort from Down Under's Abe Forsythe. Filmed in the Northern Territory, Top End Wedding reunites The Sapphires' director Wayne Blair and star Miranda Tapsell, while the Adelaide-shot I Am Mother delves into dystopian sci-fi territory with Hilary Swank, the voice of Rose Byrne and Danish standout Clara Rugaard. If the latter movie sounds familiar, that's because it recently screened a work-in-progress version at the Adelaide Film Festival. Fans of one of The Babadook should add the second film from director Jennifer Kent to their must-see list, although The Nightingale is a very different movie to its predecessor. An award-winner at last year's Venice Film Festival, and one that's set in the wilderness of Tasmania circa 1825, it's a stunning picture about Irish convict Clare (Aisling Franciosi) — who's on a revenge mission against a British officer (Sam Claflin), with Aboriginal tracker Billy (Baykali Ganambarr) as her guide. The Nightingale will also hit Aussie cinemas on January 24 — the day that Sundance kicks off in the US — while local release dates for the rest of the Aussie Sundance slate are yet to be revealed. Images: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
In Mexico, muralists are rewarded with prominence in government buildings and sinking institutes of the arts. Here, we give them furtive street corners, the trendier offices and pride of place in our cafes. Illustrator and artist, Brad Robson, has had a turn a lot of these locations and is looking expand his range, while answering the question "What do Erskineville's Hive Bar, SBS' World Movies office and your own home have in common?" If you're lucky, it could be one of his murals. In an exclusive collaboration with Concrete Playground, Robson is looking to come over and spend a day or two bringing art to a wall of your choosing (and that you can legally paint, naturally) up to 4 x 2 metres large with one of his own signature designs. Robson's recent show at Platform 72 showed off his gleanings from a New York residency, and his Sydney skyline finishes up its run in the window this week (although his show inside keeps on 'til the month is out). What strange vistas will emerge at your locale? For your chance to get Brad to come and paint a wall of your choosing, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground, then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au by 5pm on Monday, May 28, 2012. The winner will be notified by email soon after. Pictured, Robson's multi-wall spanning work from his New York residency.
There's plenty to love about newly-opened, vegan snack bar, Follies. Along with a food and beverage menu that's entirely plant-based, Follies pays homage to the classic pintxos bars found in Barcelona and San Sebastian. Everything on the menu comes in a bite-sized ration, served on toothpicks as a nod to its Basque Country heritage. Follies is the lockdown brainchild of Melbourne-born and bred Olivia Franklin, a young but eager hospitality veteran. A nostalgic ode to the 70s, Follies' fit-out has been brought to life with the help of retro wallpaper prints, bright orange table tops and the fuzzy, original carpet from the 70s. "I have always been drawn to the contrasting colours of the late 70s and early 80s, so Follies is a natural tangible progression of my 70s dreams," Franklin says. Patrons will find a reliable everyday menu of hot, cold, sweet and savoury pintxos priced at $5.50 for a small stick and $7 for a large. The pintxos bar choices run to the likes of peach and goats cheese crostini done with a balsamic glaze, and cream cheese-stuffed peppers laden with walnuts. Extra soft and juicy Italian meatballs are served coated in a rich tomato and red wine sauce, while a Patatas Bravas with roast chickpeas is a must-try. Seasonal and event-themed specials are also promised to make appearances throughout the year. Drinks take the form of house cocktails, spritzes, local beers and an ever-evolving selection of vegan, low-intervention wines. The Frosty Fruit margarita contains a crowd-pleasing tequila, Cointreau, passionfruit and lime, while a Porny Pom mixes vodka, vanilla, pomegranate liquor, molasses and prosecco. Low-to-no alcohol drinks are given plenty of love too, with a range of iced teas, spritzes and pét-nat for guests looking for alternative bevvies. An enticing daily happy hour offers $18 cocktails, $10 spritzes, $9 wines and $7 schooners. Bottomless lunch comes in at an easy $75, including bottomless pintxos, spritz, beer and wine. Follies is now open at 34 Johnston Street, Fitzroy from 5pm–11pm Tuesday–Thursday, 12pm–11pm Friday–Sunday. Images: Genevieve Rankin
Usually, when a new Pixar film hits screens — typically cinemas, but occasionally being fast-tracked to streaming as well — it unleashes a whole heap of emotions. Getting viewers to ponder their feelings is a big part of the animation company's formula, after all, and it's been working well for them for a quarter-century. See: everything from Wall-E and Ratatouille to Inside Out and Soul. When the next Pixar flick arrives in June, it'll tap into a very specific sensation that's been bubbling up since early 2020. And, it's one that we're all familiar with. Are you craving a vacation? Do you feel a strong yearning to travel the globe and see somewhere other than your own backyard, city, state or country? Have you been dreaming of beaches far, far away every night for 12 months? Then the fact that Luca is set in the Italian Riviera and follows two teenagers over summer is certain to stoke your wanderlust. If the just-dropped first trailer for the film is anything to go by, first-time feature director Enrico Casarosa (Pixar short La Luna) and his team seem to have crafted a gorgeous-looking movie that'll have you wishing you're on the other side of the globe. Against those striking animated backdrops, two teens eat gelato, devour pasta, ride scooters, explore caves and splash around in the gleaming blue ocean. Oh, and they try to hide the fact that they're actually sea monsters — which becomes obvious whenever they get wet — too. As this tale unfurls, viewers will hear Jacob Tremblay (Room, Good Boys) as the eponymous 13-year-old Luca Paguro, while Jack Dylan Grazer (Shazam!, We Are Who We Are) voices his pal Alberto Scorfano. Also among the cast: debutant Emma Berman, Maya Rudolph (The Good Place), Marco Barricelli (The Book of Daniel) and Jim Gaffigan (Tesla). Check out the trailer for Luca below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i1fgoMyoG8&feature=youtu.be Luca is set to release in Australian cinemas on June 17. Images: © 2020 Disney/Pixar.
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.
It's not unusual for people to dress as their favourite pop culture icons on Halloween, or to a themed party. However, one couple have taken their love for Star Wars to a different level by dressing up as the movie's characters for their engagement shoot. The photos include the couple dressed in dark cloaks and face paint, carrying lightsabers, and lurking cautiously through the woods as if they are about to be attacked by a savage mob of Wookies. Photographer Michael James said that the couple initially wanted a traditional engagement shoot, but as the conversation progressed their ultimate desires began to show. "We figured out that while I’m more of a Trekkie, their love of all things Star Wars totally surpassed my love of Star Trek,” he said. “So we incorporated their ideas into the shoot. I didn’t think the bride-to-be would actually wear the make-up, but she seriously showed her true colors and went for it. The shoot was shot in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mountain bikers and hikers passed us and everyone thought it was great,” he continued. It's fair to say that I would have been slightly intimidated if approached by a hooded figure wielding a lightsaber in the deserted woods. This photoshoot proves that the best way to celebrate your romance is through a mutual love for a film/TV show. I'm just waiting on the engagement photos with characters from the The Simpsons and Jersey Shore.
When August arrives this year, the Melbourne International Film Festival will celebrate its 70th-anniversary edition — and it's planning to give one lucky filmmaker an enormous gift. To commemorate the longest-running film fest in the southern hemisphere's huge milestone year, the event is launching its own film prize. Cannes has one, and the Venice and Berlin film festivals, too, and now MIFF is joining the party to the sum of $140,000. From a pool of up to ten films, all of which will screen at the fest as part of the new MIFF Film Competition, one movie will be chosen to win the Best Film Award. And if that $140,000 sum sounds like a lot of money, that's because it is. In fact, it's the southern hemisphere's richest feature film prize. Indeed, Sydney Film Festival also has a competition and an accompanying gong, which the New South Wales film fest launched back in 2008 — but while MIFF is setting up its own prize 14 years later, it's more than doubling the amount of cash on offer. MIFF's award will cover all types of feature-length films, spanning fiction, documentary, animation and combinations of the above — and they'll also need to screen at the fest as an Australian premiere (so they won't also be able to show at other fests first, including at the Sydney Film Festival in June). And, the MIFF Film Competition will be focusing on emerging filmmakers, with the official selection also limited to a director's first or second feature-length films. A jury comprised of prominent international and Australian guests will pick the winning feature, with further details about who'll sit on the panel in 2022 — and which films they'll be choosing between — set to be announced closer to MIFF's Thursday, August 4–Sunday, August 21 dates. As for when you'll find out who wins, that'll be revealed at the fest's closing night soiree on Saturday, August 20. [caption id="attachment_769568" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Zara / Dean Walliss[/caption] Announcing the MIFF Film Competition and MIFF Best Film Award, festival Artistic Director Al Cossar said that "the competition will recognise and amplify the new, the next, the breakthrough and the best in-screen from Australia and across the globe, bringing incredible films and filmmakers to Melbourne – and making MIFF truly unmissable in 2022 and beyond." The hefty new award is being supported by the Victorian Government, and is one of two new gongs for this year — with MIFF also introducing the Australian Innovation Prize, which'll recognise an outstanding Australian creative within a festival film that plays in the MIFF program. That award is designed to span a large number of roles, including the winning film's director, technical or creative lead, or other craft positions. MIFF's new prizes come after two tricky years for the fest, with the event screening solely online in both 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. They also now see MIFF become the only film festival in the southern hemisphere with its own film competition, screen content financing market, commissioning fund and talent programs. Movie buffs, August clearly can't come fast enough. The 2022 Melbourne International Film Festival will run from Thursday, August 4–Sunday, August 21. The festival program will release in July — we'll update you when further details are announced.
As the sun starts to dip over the Melbourne skyline, the bar scene starts buzzing. In a city with such a cracking bar scene that only keeps getting better, finding the perfect venue to rendezvous with friends can be a challenging task. But we've got you. Together with Basil Hayden Bourbon, we've selected seven stylish Melbourne bars for when you want to really dial up your next post-work golden hour outing with your closest crew and some classic cocktails to boot. Take your pick then align your diaries and make some plans.
Unstoppable chef and restaurateur Andrew McConnell, whose hospitality empire includes Cutler & Co., Cumulus Inc. and Ricky & Pinky, is embarking on yet another project. This summer, for ten magnificent days, he'll be taking over the Garden Restaurant at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), and transforming it into Supernormal Natsu, a spin-off of Supernormal, his modern Japanese restaurant in Flinders Lane. The pop-up is part of Triennial EXTRA, a 10-day, one-off festival, organised to celebrate the inaugural NGV Triennial, a free exhibition featuring the works of 100 artists from 32 nations, which opens on December 15. Triennial EXTRA and Supernormal Natsu will run from January 19 to 28. Every day, from midday, McConnell's team will be creating dishes inspired by natsu, which is Japanese for summer. Many of them will be emerging from a hibachi grill, to be positioned on the restaurant's terrace. And although the details of specific dishes are yet to be revealed, we can tell you to expect fresh meats and seafood, grilled to perfection, and accompanied by summery ingredients. The dessert menu will include an array of sweet hits based on shaved ice. In addition to Supernormal Natsu, Triennial EXTRA will bring a bunch of free immersive and experiential events to the NGV, covering art, music, dance, live performance, design, fashion and ideas. Images: Ben Swinnerton and Kristoffer Paulsen.
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.
It's been 65 million years since dinosaurs went extinct, but they still keep roaring on screens big and small, in exhibitions dedicated to the prehistoric creatures, and in dino-loving hearts and minds. If you happened to be at Bondi Beach today, Thursday, July 27, you might've also noticed one wandering around — and a seven-foot velociraptor at that. Yes, a dino roamed around one of Australia's most famous beaches. Yes, obviously it wasn't a real dinosaur, but fans of the Jurassic franchise will be happy to go along with it. And yes, this clever girl did look supremely lifelike. Also yes: life really does find a way. The velociraptor was first spotted at Marks Park, then made its way to the beach's south end. Next, following a stint near Icebergs, it ventured up around Bondi Pavilion. That's where it was captured — or, really, where the promotional stunt for Jurassic World: The Exhibition came to an end. Letting a realistic-looking dino loose on Bondi was all about letting people know that the Jurassic World showcase that's been touring the world will hit Sydney this spring, and celebrate 30 years since the first Jurassic Park movie rampaged through cinemas in the process. Before now, the exhibition has made its way to London, San Diego, Paris, Madrid, Seoul, Shanghai, Toronto and more, complete with life-sized and lifelike versions of the movie franchise's animals. What do Bondi Beach and Isla Nublar have in common? Dinosaurs now, although Bondi didn't score its own version of the famous Jurassic Park and Jurassic World gates. That entryway will be on show at the exhibition, however, when it arrives at the 3000-square-metre SuperLuna Pavilion at Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park from Friday, September 22. Tickets are now on sale for Jurassic World: The Exhibition, which is another reason for the promo stunt. Sadly, there were no sightings of Sam Neill, Laura Dern or Jeff Goldblum at Bondi today — just the raptor. Add an ancient critter to the list of attention-grabbing Bondi pop-ups in the past year, including a Stranger Things rift, a giant rainbow sand sculpture in the countdown to Sydney WorldPride and a mass installation for photographer Spencer Tunick, which briefly turned the sandy stretch into a nude beach. It's been a big few years for pop culture-themed pop-ups in Australia, too, including Borat, Nicole Kidman, Homer Simpson and the creepy Red Light, Green Light doll from Squid Game also making an appearance in Sydney. Homer Simpson's huge head made its way to Queensland, too, while Melbourne has scored an Everything Everywhere All At Once-style multidimensional laundromat and a massive Timothée Chalamet mural to promote Dune. Jurassic World: The Exhibition will display at SuperLuna Pavilion, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park from Friday, September 22 — head to the exhibition's website for tickets.
Remember when Melbourne's new observation wheel broke 40 days after opening and took three years to rebuild? Well, that was in the past and all is forgiven, because this year the Melbourne Star is hosting one of the most inspired events of Melbourne Music Week. If you buy a ticket on Friday, November 23, a musician will be waiting for you in your cabin. Who exactly it will be isn't known, but with artists anging from acoustic guitarists to rappers and DJs, your performer could be exactly your cup of tea — or not. But that's half the fun. Tickets are $34 and will get you a complimentary drink and two rotations on the wheel.
In an ironic makeover, a former Chicago meatpacking plant and slaughterhouse has found a new purpose as the city's first self-sustaining, vertical farm. Located in Chi-Town's Union Stock Yards, the 93,500 square foot brick building once specialised in mass-producing red meat - one of the least environmentally-friendly industries out there. Now, it is a sci-fi-like space dedicated to non-waste-producing urban farming. Projects inside 'The Plant' include a tilapia fish farm, beer and Kombucha tea breweries, aquaponic farms which harvest vegetables, and a mushroom garden. The Plant will also host to a group of bakers and caterers that will work together in a communal kitchen area. Upcoming projects include 'living' walls, and rooftop gardens. All of these endeavors have taken up a zero net waste policy, made possible by an interconnecting indoor ecosystem of sorts. The used grains from the beer brewery will be used as fish-food for the tilapia; the waste produced by the fish will nourish the mushroom garden and hydroponic plants; those plants will clean the water, which may be cycled back up to the fish tanks. Initially aided by a combined heat and power system, as well as an anaerobic digester, the Plant will be entirely self-sustaining. The project hopes to be taken off the power grid in just a few years. By the end of this year, the Plant hopes to have five rentable tenant spaces, and its renewable energy system up and running by next June. By 2016, the building is set to be fully functional, creating 125 neighbourhood jobs, and keeping over 10,000 tons of food waste out of landfills each year. Human waste is an obvious problem, says Melanie Hoeskstra, the Plant's director of operations. The renovations made to the Plant are workable in any old building: “It’s not a perfect system, but it’s really close," she says of the Plant. Sounds like city planners should take a note or two.
Possibly the world's most beautifully located bookstore, can now be found in the form of Buenos Aires' El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a shop housed inside what was once one of Argentina's premier theatres. The theatre was originally built in 1919 by an Italian architect and used as a theatre for tango concerts and the like, before being converted into a cinema. Things began to get a bit tough, but instead of letting the beautiful building languish into disrepair, it was leased in 2000 by a publishing house and found new life in the form of a bookstore. Now over a million people come through it's doors every year. The private, velvet-upholstered boxes are now the reading rooms, the stage is an in-store cafe, and the shelves cleave perfectly to the theatre's original shape. Plus you have to admire a building that's calling itself both grand and splendid. I mean, what's not to like? In the wake of bookstores like Borders and Angus & Robertson going bust, and the threats to independent bookshops across the country from cheaper online books and other recession-related woes, places like the Ateneo might point towards a more sustainable future for the industry. By repurposing something beautiful and creating a space people actively seek out and genuinely want to be in, instead of somewhere beige, plastic and muzak-filtered, you can save not just books but the architecture that might otherwise go to waste.
Victoria already boasts a hefty fleet of self-charging electric buses, but the system's about to become even greener, in a win for both the environment and commuters. Off the back of an extensive trial, the state's locally made Volvo hybrid vehicles are set to score new technology that'll allow them to achieve zero emissions along certain areas of their route. Once Volvo's new Zone Management system is fitted out across the whole existing fleet of electric buses, it'll enable them to run exclusively in electric drive mode when travelling through designated zones. That not only allows for the cut in emissions, but also means passengers can enjoy a quieter ride. Plus, other road users, pedestrians and outdoor diners aren't forced to cop an earful of those loud bus noises as the vehicles drive past. The Zone Management system is a first for Australia, run using a combination of geofencing technology and telematics — so a virtual perimeter enforced via technological means. Once installed, it'll help maximise vehicle performance, without the need for pricey charging infrastructure or dipping into the state's electricity grid. Keen to check out the difference for yourself? The system is already getting a run, with nine of Victoria's hybrid buses currently using the new technology, including those on inner-city bus routes 630 and 605. The system will be rolled out across the rest of the fleet over the next four months. Victoria's 50-strong hybrid bus fleet was officially launched in 2019, with the aim of saving 1724 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. That's the equivalent of around 365 passenger vehicles, or the annual electricity usage of around 300 homes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CDCVictoria (@cdcvictoria) The Volvo Zone Management system is currently being installed across CDC Victoria's entire fleet of hybrid buses. You can find out more about the company's sustainability efforts at the website.
