Talk about living the dream: when Adelaide-born twins Danny and Michael Philippou unveiled their debut feature Talk to Me in 2023, a new Aussie horror sensation took the genre, and the world, by the hand to share its entertainingly eerie energy. After the movie's huge success, including for cult-favourite distributor A24, sequel Talk 2 Me was quickly greenlit. But the filmmakers who started out their careers behind the camera as YouTubers RackaRacka now also have something else in the works. Horror? Tick. A24 onboard? Tick again. The non-Talk to Me flick that'll combine the two, and also the Philippous (of course), is called Bring Her Back. Deadline reports that it will star The Shape of Water Oscar-nominee — and Wonka, Spencer, Paddington and Godzilla: King of the Monsters actor — Sally Hawkins. But that's about where the details end for now. The movie's plot hasn't yet been revealed, and neither have any other cast members. Expect to see the end result sooner rather than later, though, with production due to start during Australia's winter this year. Whatever Bring Her Back is about, it'll join not only Talk to Me and eventually Talk 2 Me on A24's horror slate, but also Beau Is Afraid, Bodies Bodies Bodies, X, Pearl, Men, Lamb and Saint Maud just from the 2020s alone. A24 have gone all-in on the Philippous after picking up Talk to Me in a Sundance Film Festival bidding war, when the Aussie flick about shaking hands with an embalmed palm, feeling the rush while being haunted, having your mates watch and film it, and dealing with the spooky consequences initially started getting global attention. Danny and Michael made their leap to the big screen after racking up a huge following with RackaRacka's viral videos, and via behind-the-scenes work on Australian films such as The Babadook. Their debut feature has proven a big box-office success, taking in US$10 million on its opening weekend in America alone, which placed it second among A24's films after Hereditary. There's obviously no trailer for Bring Her Back yet, but you can check out the trailer for Talk to Me below: Bring Her Back doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when more details are announced. Read our review of Talk to Me, and our interview with Danny Philippou. Via Deadline.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations, giving you inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we turn our eyes to the holiday hit of Bali, specifically Hotel Komune Resort and Beach Club on the Keramas coastline. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? Bali's legendary sunshine and tropical conditions have cemented it as a standout holiday destination, and its practically un-Australian if you haven't visited at least once. But that popularity can cause a bit of a crowding issue, especially in southwestern tourist hotspots like Kuta or Denpasar. Further east is Keramas, a quieter coastal town that calls this resort home. Hotel Komune has a few outposts around the world, but this one draws a crowd with its adjacency to the black sand beach and epic surf conditions. If you're an avid surfer or someone who just loves being close to the water, this should be at the top of your list for your next Bali stay. If you book through our exclusive deal before Wednesday, December 20, you can get a serious discount on a three- five- or seven-night stay in Hotel Komune. THE ROOMS Hotel Komune's rooms are split between four choices. Beachfront Suites (pictured above) feature stunning views of the Lombok Strait and the renowned Keramas surf break plus private pools, waterfall showers and deep soak tubs (and the iconic Bali floating breakfast). Beach Villas offer similar features in a spacious but private one- or two-bedroom layout, perfect for romantic holidays or small families. Komune Suites are designed for a similar level of space as a more budget-friendly pick with a similar amount of space, and Resort Rooms are your standard accommodation if you're more interested in getting out and exploring Keramas. FOOD AND DRINK Tropical holidays are synonymous with good food and cold drinks, either very close to the water or surrounded by plant life. Here at Hotel Komune you can have it both ways. The resort offers three on-site food and drinks choices, the Beach Club, Health Hub and the Surfers Warung. The Beach Club is the primary pick, situated in sight of the surf break and surrounded by organic gardens and 180 square metres of lawns. The menu covers all meals of the day and drinks (including a very generous juice selection and room service juice cleanses) and a huge range of food to satisfy any craving. The aptly named Health Hub specialises in nutritional serves for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a traditional dining setting or poolside food service in an adults-only pool. There's also a 100% plant-based menu and all food is sourced from either the hotel's own gardens or local farmers. Finally, there's the Surf Warung, a traditional hangout for pre- and post-surfing snacks and drinks that predates the resort and sits right on the beach. The food there is all traditional Balinese style and after dark the space also becomes a buzzing rum bar. [caption id="attachment_912047" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Nurture via iStock[/caption] THE LOCAL AREA Keramas is mostly known for its surf break, a heavy right hander that breaks onto a shallow reef, if you know your surfing jargon. The beach itself is ideal for a quiet stroll, the area is generally a bit quieter as most of the local coastline is backed by fields, stretching out to 1.8 kilometres from end to end, but sadly the beach is less suitable for swimming thanks to the consistent heavy surf. Beyond the beach, a brief trip inland takes you to the village of Keramas. Here you can eat, shop, explore and visit attractions like Keramas Park, an outdoor venue with dining and activities like ATV rides, paintball and a small water park. Up the coast is the Bali Safari and Marine Park, which hosts a range of Asiatic animals and up-close feeding and safari experiences. THE EXTRAS Hotel Komune offers itself up as a choice venue for events, with packages available for weddings and fitness/yoga retreats to be hosted on the beautiful coastal property, or if you're looking for a personal holiday, remember you can book a discounted three, five or seven-night stay through our exclusive package on Concrete Playground Trips if you book before Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Images: Hotel Komune Resort and Beach Club
While Melbourne's weather will undoubtedly be heading into cooler territories in no time, moving indoors for April might not be the Worst Thing Ever, as the list of must-sees on the arts calendar is only getting longer. This month presents a host of new and exciting exhibitions across painting, installation, photography, sculpture and features works from local, international, celebrated and fresh-faced artists alike. Here, we've picked out ten of the best exhibitions taking place across Melbourne and surrounds throughout April.
Vegans, prepare for love at first bite at this 50s-inspired bakehouse. Mister Nice Guy's caters for everyone's needs — and by that, we really mean everyone; the moreish delights are kosher, soy free, organic, fair-trade, locally-sourced (when possible) and, of course, vegan. The beautifully hand-crafted cupcakes cover the classics like red velvet, but for the more curious there's the Zombie Brainz (creamy strawberry brain frosting on chocolate cake) and Popcorn Mudslide. Single and double layer cakes are also available, as well as daily rotating bakery treats. Savvy lovers can rejoice with an old-fashioned sausage roll, meatball sub and baguettes with all the fillings.
Commune Group (Firebird, Moonhouse, New Quarter, Tokyo Tina, Hanoi Hannah and Studio Amaro) is helping hungry folks out this month by giving diners gift vouchers worth 25% of their total bills. Yes, a simple 25% discount would be easier, but let's not be greedy while Melbourne hospo businesses are struggling. Instead, this offer allows you to have more nights out while saving a few bucks. And the venues aren't totally screwed over in the process. [caption id="attachment_959167" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tokyo Tina[/caption] All you've got to do is dine in at any of its restaurants between Monday and Thursday in June — excluding Studio Amaro — and then send a photo of the bill to the team via Commune's online portal. You'll then get a voucher that you can use at any of its other sites — again, not including Studio Amaro. Most of these spots are ideal for group bookings, having great set menus and buzzing vibes. We're also huge fans of New Quarter's unlimited noodles special — one of the best bottomless food deals in Melbourne. So, gather a bunch of mates together for a night out this month and score a big gift voucher to use for your next group hang. [caption id="attachment_936366" align="alignnone" width="1920"] New Quarter[/caption]
Things are getting spicy up at Mt Buller this August as Chin Chin takes over the kitchen at The Whitt — the Ski Club of Victoria's on-mountain dining room — for a weekend-long winter pop-up. Over three nights from Friday, August 1–Sunday, August 3, Chin Chin's Executive Chef Benjamin Cooper and his team will be plating up a multi-course tasting menu of the restaurant's greatest hits in a snow-capped, ski-in/ski-out setting. The menu includes signatures like Chin Chin's caramelised sticky pork and sour herb salad, butter chicken curry, and the much-imitated (yet still unrivalled) kingfish sashimi with lime, chilli, coconut and Thai basil — all served with a generous side of snow-dusted scenery. Kids can get in on the action with a $30 Feed Me menu of their own, and there'll be options for gluten-free and vegan diners, too. You can pair your meal with a frosty Snow Bunny Sour. Created exclusively for the pop-up, the cocktail features gin, lychee, ginger and sake, and has been designed for après-ski sipping. Bookings for this one-off alpine adventure are essential — and to do so, you can phone The Whitt on 5777 6024 or email reservations@skivictoria.com.au. Whether you're a snow junkie, a spice lover or both, Chin Chin at The Whitt is shaping up to be one of winter's hottest reasons to hit the slopes.
If peering at an artist's work is the same as peering into their soul, then staring at a self-portrait is like peeking through a wide-open window. Perhaps Rembrandt believed this? The 17th-century artist certainly loved putting his likeness on paper, whether he was picking up a brush or pencil, or getting etching. Perhaps you can ponder this very notion at Rembrandt — True to Life, which is bringing the Dutch Golden Age master's works to Melbourne's NGV International to brighten up Australia's winter. From Friday, June 2–Sunday, September 10, the St Kilda Road gallery will be home to a wide-ranging exploration of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn's work — so expansive, in fact, that it's the most-comprehensive Rembrandt exhibition to display Down Under in 25 years. On loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, 1659's Self-Portrait is one of the star attractions, and one of around 80 images of himself he's thought to have made. Created when the artist was 53 (and three years after he'd declared bankruptcy), it sits alongside ten etched self-portraits. Combined, they let True to Life attendees chart how he saw himself, and conveyed his soul to the world, over three decades. Etchings comprise a significant portion of the NGV's ode to Rembrandt, with more than 100 from its own collection at the heart of the impressive retrospective. In addition to helping to detail his self-perception, they showcase his innovations as a printmaker and also illustrate how widely and deeply he splashed around his artistic talents. If you're heading to a Rembrandt exhibition, you want to see his paintings, of course, an instinct that the showcase capitalises upon. Thanks to pieces borrowed from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Louvre in Paris, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and the Teylers Museum in Haarlem as well, the artist's prints are placed in context with his paintings. You'll see how they're connected no matter the subject or theme as True to Life steps through not just his portraits, but also his landscapes, scenes of daily life, depictions of religious motifs and nudes. Among his scenery-focused works, his largest landscape etching The three trees, which dates back to 1643, is a drawcard. From his pieces that hone in on the human form — never idealising them — Diana at the bath, an etching from 1631, is another highlight. Taking its cues from passages from the Gospel of St Matthew, 1648's well-known piece The Hundred Guilder Print is also on display as part of the exhibition's survey of Rembrandt's fascination with faith. His two largest prints similarly fall into the same category: The three crosses from 1653 and Christ presented to the people from 1655. Because the artist transformed them both by making continuous adjustments, True to Life shows them in two different states — early and late side by side. Images: Installation view of Rembrandt: True to Life on display from 2 June-10 September at NGV International, Melbourne. Photos: Tom Ross.
Still got a bit of festival action left in this season's tank? Put it to excellent use, with a trip to Tasmania and a few days adventuring at the seventh edition of Party In The Paddock. The laidback music and arts festival makes its yearly return to a property in White Hills, a 20-minute drive southeast of Launceston, from February 7 to 9. And it's bringing with it a good-times lineup well worth crossing Bass Strait for, with UK songstress Lily Allen, four-piece indie rock band The Jungle Giants, electro duo The Presets, Sydney alt-rockers Middle Kids, Melbourne's Slowly Slowly and singer Vera Blue just some of the big-name acts set to grace this year's stage. In addition to three days chock-full of live tunes, the festival is dishing up a hefty arts program, pulled together by the legends at Vibestown. And 2019's version is as big as ever, promising the full gamut of fun, interactive and mind-bending experiences. We're talking existential short film screenings, a funeral ceremony that'll have you farewelling your greatest fears, comedy sessions headlined by Matt Okine and Gen Fricker, morning yoga sessions and a pop-up Willie Smith's bar slinging breakfast cocktails and funky DJ tunes. Browse market stalls filled with top Tassie produce, let collaborative art project Real Talk inspire you to swap social media for some actual conversations, and of course, join the wild, wacky and riotously dressed for the famed Vibestown March. Images: Mitch Lowe and Andy Hardy.
Local maker markets are on the rise these days, as more and more shoppers are seeking out quality wares made by Aussie artists and designers. And while there are some mighty big annual markets at Fed Square and the Royal Exhibition Building, the mere size of these can be overwhelming. That's why we are all for the smaller local markets, where you can casually shop around each of the stalls while taking your time to speak to owners. One of these is the Handmade Design Market at Coburg Town Hall, which showcases all kinds of businesses. From 10am–3pm on Sunday, September 15 and Sunday, December 15 (just before Christmas), punters can head over to Cobrg and discover new products made by local artisans. The full list of traders has yet to be announced, but you can expect to find clothing and accessories, homewares, ceramics, cakes, and beauty products. Just about every kind of maker is free to sell their creations at the Handmade Design Market — as long as their products are made by hand. Entry is $5 at the door or free if you register at the market's website.
In April, Australia scored a promise of international hotel luxury, when global chain Waldorf Astoria announced plans to open its first Aussie outpost in Sydney in 2025. Then, we learned famed Marriott-owned hotel brand the Ritz-Carlton is set to open a sprawling property on the Gold Coast by 2026. But before that all comes to pass, it's Melbourne's turn for a slice of the action, with the Ritz-Carlton also gearing up to launch in the Victorian capital in March 2023. Perhaps best known for its iconic Manhattan hotel that overlooks Central Park and has starred numerous times on the big screen, the Ritz-Carlton will now be making its home on Lonsdale Street. And it's on track to be Australia's tallest hotel, soaring high at an ear-popping 80 storeys, with 257 guest rooms and suites. [caption id="attachment_881631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Gabriel Saunders[/caption] The hotel itself will have all the high-end trimmings you could imagine, including marble bathrooms, custom-made leather and velvet furniture, and a heated indoor infinity pool with views across the city. The glam lobby is perched all the way up on that 80th floor, too. It's also set to deliver some primo food and drink offerings, if the newly-appointed culinary team is anything to go by. Taking the reins as Executive Chef is the renowned Michael Greenlaw, who counts stints at London's Bibendum, Gilt in New York and Vue de Monde on his star-studded resume. Backing him in the role of Culinary Advisor is Aussie food legend, and the celebrated chef behind classics like Peninsula Bistro and Marque, Mark Best. The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne's upscale dining offering will include a restaurant perched high up on the 80th floor, open to both hotel guests and visitors. [caption id="attachment_881634" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Best and Greenlaw[/caption] Find the Ritz-Carlton Melbourne at 650 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, from March 2023. We'll share more details as they drop.
There is no shortage of beautiful furniture and homeware stores in Melbourne, but not all of them actively champion sustainability in the way that Southwood does. Don't get us wrong, although Southwood is all about natural products, it's also about incredible design. Owners and interior designers Val and Maria have always shared a passion for creating engaging spaces that reflect the personalities that live within them, so it's no surprise that their own showroom is the ultimate representation of their design sensibilities — think, Italian woven-style dining chairs, smooth Australian timber tables and minimal couches with wool covers.
There are a lot of gadgets, bits and bobs you can purchase to pretty-up your bicycle. From detachable bike speakers to personalised frames and toilet seats, there are a plethora of things you can attach to your bike to give it character. But the Feats Per Minute prototype bike, created by a team of Dutch designers, is in a league of its own. Unveiled at the Dezeen Space Platform exhibition in London, this bike's designers have reconstructed an old German Alpina Bike they bought for $80 to create a cycling/music machine that plays vinyl records as you ride at a consistent speed. According to its creators, the biggest challenge in creating the vinyl-playing bike was to "make sure that the needles would stick to the record and follow the grooves, without skipping too much." No kidding. It's still a work in progress and only at prototype stage, but as their video report of the Dezeen Space Platform exhibition suggests, once perfected, it is sure to make many people's filmic fantasies come true. https://youtube.com/watch?v=TCxyIKYJ-xo
Benjy's has a dog-friendly karaoke courtyard. We repeat: dog-friendly karaoke. It's yet to be seen if this means doggos are encouraged to sing along, but it's the best regardless. If you've ever found yourself loitering on the northern end of Lygon Street with your diva pup and a song in your heart, your time has come. The venue has a karaoke bar, live bands and musicians, an all-day kitchen (serving vegetarian and vegan fare) and — perhaps most importantly — a beer garden that welcomes all your four-legged friends. The interior is worth a little scream — think Barbie, disco balls and a colour scheme inspired by those candy necklaces you used to crunch in high school. Basically, it provides all the raw ingredients for a banger of a night out — especially if you dress your dog up as Mariah Carey.
A stunning new Melbourne arts, cultural and entertainment precinct has beat out stiff competition across the globe to take out the Architecture of the Year prize at the International Design Awards 2017. Bunjil Place, which was designed by acclaimed architectural studio Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt), also scooped up gold awards for two design disciplines: 'institutional' and 'landmarks, symbolic structures, memorials, public'. Opened to the public in October 2017, the $125 million Narre Warren project was imagined as "an inviting central heart for the community that celebrates participation, belonging and pride". Both its name and its impressive design are linked to cultural themes of importance to the traditional owners and inhabitants of the land, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. fjmt Design Director Richard Francis-Jones is understandably stoked with the win, though says he's been just as happy with the design's reception closer to home. "While recognition in the form of international design awards is much valued, more important has been to see the community embrace Bunjil Place as their own," he noted. Those keen to get up close and personal with the award-winning design can experience Bunjil Place during Open House Melbourne Weekend on July 28 and 29. It's set to host a whole range of activities, including film screenings, design talks and guided tours with VIP access behind the scenes. You can find Bunjil Place at 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren.
Following a rainbow by foot, and celebrating Sydney's — and Australia's — LGBTIQA+ community in the process, isn't hard around the Harbour City, no matter whether you're a local or a visitor. Darlinghurst is famously home to a rainbow crossing. In Surry Hills, the City of Sydney implemented a lengthy path in Prince Alfred Park decked out in the same multicoloured stripes, too. And Coogee also has its own cheerfully hued monument, turning part of the suburb's beachfront into a rainbow walkway. Expect those vibrant colours to blaze brighter in 2023, however — and in more places. WorldPride is coming to Sydney from February 17–March 5, taking place in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time ever, and it has dazzling plans to shower the Greater Sydney region with as many rainbows as it can. Sydney WorldPride will already boast the return of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade to Oxford Street, Kylie Minogue headlining the opening concert, plus MUNA and G Flip doing the same at the closing gig — and now around 45 free public artworks spanning everywhere from the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to the Scenic Skyway in Katoomba are also on the list. The full rundown of floral art and installations hasn't been unveiled, but the highlights so far are impressive. Even just the 50-metre-long floral rainbow wall made up of 18,000 bright plants is, naturally. That floral rainbow wall is coming to The Calyx inside the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, and will be one of the largest living green walls in the Southern Hemisphere. It'll display during current horticultural exhibition Love Your Nature, which, fittingly, is all about diversity in plants. Up in the Blue Mountains, Scenic Skyway will be transformed giant Progress Flag, too — adding colour to its already stunning setup against the Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley's landscapes. And, back in Sydney, Coogee's rainbow walkway is expanding. Randwick Council will update the beachside path to feature the colours of the Progress Flag, to ensure that people of colour and the trans community are represented. This is a permanent feature, but will be unveiled in time for Sydney WorldPride. The 45 artworks will also include an evening rainbow mural that'll glow at the University of Sydney's Footbridge Gallery, at the Camperdown campus, during WorldPride. Designed by Dr Xavier Ho, it'll be comprised of rainbow LED lights, and will mark the 45th anniversary of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Around the city in general, the City of Sydney is set to put up floral installations, too, including planter boxes and a floral wall that'll be filled with plants and foliage in rainbow flag hues. To help Sydneysiders and folks in town for WorldPride to know what to see and where — the festival does span 17 days and 300-plus LGBTQIA+ festivities, after all, with more than 500,000 people expected to participate overall — a Rainbow City map will hit the streets in early February, plotting out where to catch this onslaught of celebratory colour. Sydney WorldPride is also open to hearing from public space holders interested in adding their own substantial artworks to the festival, as long as they're free to access and branding-free. Flowers, lights, water, sculptures, any interpretation of the rainbow: they're all welcome. [caption id="attachment_873469" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katherine Griffiths[/caption] Sydney WorldPride will run from February 17–March 5, 2023. For more information, head to the event's website. Thinking about Sydney WorldPride's big opening gig, Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, too? General admission tickets have sold out, with only Sydney WorldPride's affordability option left — but you can still head along thanks to Concrete Playground Trips. The Sydney WorldPride package includes tickets to the Domain Dance Party and Live and Proud: Opening Concert, plus three nights at the PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney.
Melbourne-based winemaker Werkstatt needs the community's help after an unfortunate forklift accident by a third party saw the small-batch, cult-followed brand lose 2000 litres of premium pinot noir in just a few seconds. With Werkstatt's future now in doubt, a GoFundMe has been established to help cover 50 percent of its direct losses. Founded in 2022, Werkstatt was launched by sole operator winemaker Bridget Mac. While only a few years old, the business has become a favourite in local restaurants and bars that put extra consideration into their wine lists. Mac purchases grapes from organic vineyards, handling them with immense care to produce delicate wines that have won a host of industry awards. In 2024, Bridget received the Young Gun of Wine: Best New Act award, while her 2024 Mount Gambier riesling was featured in journalist Max Allen's top 20 drinks of the year. Most recently, Werkstatt's inaugural gewürztraminer was recognised in the respected Halliday Wine Companion, appearing on its Top 100 Wines of 2025 list. "I make small batches with intense care, and this wine was by far the most substantial amount I have made to date, and easily the most costly to produce," said Mac in the GoFundMe post. "I was hoping to finally break even, pay myself a wage, and share this special vintage beyond the core fans and restaurants who already love it." View this post on Instagram A post shared by YIAGA (@yiaga.au) As it stands, the GoFundMe has a target goal of $75,000 — an amount that covers approximately half of the $150,000 in lost revenue and potential sales resulting from the accident. With the proceeds covering the loss of product, damage to the property and securing the brand's future, Australia's wine-loving community is getting behind the fundraiser. In the uncertain event that Mac is reimbursed through insurance or a settlement, any remaining balance from the fundraiser will be donated to Full Stop Australia — a leading sexual, domestic and family violence response and recovery service. For more information and to donate, head to the GoFundMe page. Top image: Nadeemy Betros.
Glen Waverley might not be Melbourne's biggest food hub, but Trei Cafe's opening on Blackburn Road has got has foodies running southeast. Boasting a clean eating menu options and playful pastel features, order yourself a Snickers smoothie bowl and prepare for the healthiest bowl of chocolate ever. Made with almond mylk, cacao, peanut butter, banana, rice malt syrup and salted peanuts, it's almost certainly the best (and nuttiest) start to the day. It's also running a cracker of a special this year, offering all vegan dishes for only $13. Yep, for less than a lobster you can enjoy cookies and cream hotcakes, mushroom burgers, veggie bowls, curried lentils, sushi bowls and the aforementioned acai bowls. If you're an animal-loving coeliac, you'll be looked after, too. With five gluten-free vegan dishes also on offer for only $13 dollarydoos. If you stopped reading at cookies and cream hotcakes and are organising in a trip already we hardly blame you – however, there's no rush. The vegan menu special will be running through to the end of the year, plenty of time to get yourself there an enough times to try everything.
Need a little fantasy in your life? You'll find a healthy serve of it at Melbourne's Storyville — a bar inspired by fables, fairytales and all the fantastical things that captured your imagination as a little tacker. The Lonsdale Street spot is the brainchild of Steve and Keti Thomas, who've previously helped you escape reality at iconic themed drinking spots 29th Apartment and Pawn & Co. To bring the Storyville concept to life, they've tapped into the creativity of Josh Lefers (East 9th Brewing, Pawn & Co) for a fitout that includes a lofty gold birdcage, a novel-filled library, a Narnia-inspired lounge and a magical toadstool bar decked out with giant glowing funghi. The signature cocktail list comes sprinkled with literary nostalgia as well, with each crafty drink paying homage to a timeless favourite. Through The Looking Glass, featuring a boozy vanilla cream tea and served in a teapot with dry ice, is a nod to Lewis Carroll's iconic story, while Mr Pilkington's Neighbour, a combination of apple liqueur, candied bacon and pork fat-washed bourbon combine to transport you to the pages of George Orwell's Animal Farm. Harry Potter, Hunter S. Thompson, A Clockwork Orange and more also get a nod — and you might even find yourself face-to-face with a garnish of real insects. Meanwhile, the food situation runs from cheese to charcuterie and a selection of jaffles, inspired by stories like The Three Blind Mice and that Dr Seuss favourite, Green Eggs and Ham. Head in for a sip of polyjuice and a tumble down the rabbit hole. Images: Jean-Louis Carvalho.
Turn off the main drag of Toorak Road and onto Avoca Street — it's here that you'll find another small offering of designer boutiques and cafes. One local favourite is Home and Abroad, which showcases a specially curated collection ranging from clothing and ceramics to baby goods and basketware. As the name suggests, many of these fashionable creations are imported from overseas, with owner Sara Lees having a particularly good taste in products from Portugal, India and France. Perfect for finding a unique gift or something to add a touch of class to any space, Home and Abroad is a South Yarra gem. Image: Parker Blain.
Another Emmys year has rolled around, Breaking Bad and Modern Family dominated yet again, Matthew McConaughey missed out on his expected golden accolade for True Detective and everyone was mean about Lena Dunham's dress. Between Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman nabbing matching Sherlockian trophies, American Horror Story popping up in every last category and Australian audiences scrawling down lists of shows they'll be pirating soon, there were a few big ol' magic moments that caught our attention this year — for the high-fivably better and WTF-inducing worse. HIT: Brian Cranston and JLD Had a Big Ol' Pash Dentist Tim Whatley and Elaine Benes reunited in a big fat smooch. Multi Emmy-winning Brian Cranston (who once played Elaine's dentist boyfriend on Seinfeld back in the day) proved he truly is The Danger by planting a big ol' pash on Julia Louis-Dreyfus after she was announced Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Veep. On her way to the stage, Cranston intercepted Louis-Dreyfus for a big wet snog after exclaiming, "You were on Seinfeld!" Mackin' legends. MISS: Sofia Vergara Was Objectified on a Rotating Pedestal During a Speech About Diversity Seriously, what were they actually thinking? Maybe, just maybe, if you're the president of the Academy about to give a speech about diversity on globally-watched television, do not deliver said speech with Modern Family's Sofia Vergara on a rotating pedestal beside you, blatantly revolving like a piece of meat. As Huffington Post points out, only 26 percent of the nominees this year are women, not to mention the fact that the Emmys have only twice awarded a Latina actress with an award. Leave the rotating pedestals out and let Vergara stand on her own two feet huh? HIT: Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey Looked Like a Night at the Roxbury Donning suits akin to Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell in their 1998 comedy, the True Detective bros offered up an offensive amount of swagger in their matching promworthy tuxes. Even Kattan noticed. HIT: Billy Crystal Made the Only Speech that Could Be Made for Robin Williams "He was the greatest friend you could ever imagine... It's very hard to talk about him in the past, because he was so present in our lives," Crystal said, inviting a minute's silence for the recently-passed legend, following the Emmys' 'In Memoriam' segment. "He was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy," he said of his super close friend, before closing with an outstanding last line: "Robin Williams, what a concept." https://youtube.com/watch?v=hYv7qSDIRRY MISS: Julia Roberts Didn't Miss an Opportunity to Make Everything About Julia Roberts Mere seconds before awarding Bryan Cranston with his straight-up deserved Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, presenter Julia Roberts took a moment to remind everyone about number one. "Apologies to anyone who doesn't get to hug me in the next ten seconds," she said, before reading out Cranston's winning spot. Top marks, Roberts. HIT: Everyone Realised the Director of True Detective is a Stone Cold Fox As if we all pictured Cary Joji Fukunaga as a Tom Waits-like, porch-dwelling, gravel-voiced cowboy, the True Detective director got more applause on Twitter for being smokin' hot than he did for his award-winning series. Kind of like every Emmy-winning actress ever. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ygcHfkOoAeQ HIT? Sarah Silverman Might Have Been Stoned "We're just molecules and we're hurling through space right now." We're not sure, Silverman rules anyway. Check out the entire list of Emmy winners and nominees right here.
We’ve known for a while that Public Enemy are headlining the eighth Golden Plains Festival next year, so we knew it would probably kick a fair few arses. But we had no idea it would be this many. The lineup includes such a tasty smorgasbord of local and international artists that the March long weekend can’t come quick enough. The overseas contingent boasts some of the world’s finest, including the soulful, confusing and perpetually beautiful Neko Case, Japanese funk legends Osaka Monaurail and Kiwi super-dub soldiers Fat Freddy’s Drop. The home crowd is just as exciting, with rock stalwarts You Am I leading the charge, followed closely by new rave pioneers Cut Copy and the supernatural soul crew that has earned Questlove’s glowing endorsement, Hiatus Kaiyote. The lineup is an eclectic mix of dance, funk, soul, blues and good ol’ rock 'n' roll, all spaced out with care over a long weekend in the country. Hot damn, we say to Golden Plains. Hot damn to the promise of a chilled-out festival in the middle of nowhere with a lineup that’s got something for everyone, and then a little more. Words cannot express. For the full lineup, check out the Golden Plains website. The ballot is open now for tickets.
Now in its eight year, the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards is looking to inspire passionate creatives across Australia by inviting them to submit their work for the chance to win the prize of a lifetime. In 2011, the SOYAs has expanded the categories of entry, with the roster now including fashion, interactive content and gaming, written word, visual design and communications, film and video, photography, visual arts, craft and object design, music, architecture and interior design, and animation. Australians under the age of 30 are encouraged to present their work in one of these categories, with the closing date of one category occurring each month until October 2012. Each winner will receive a handy $5000 cash prize. Furthermore, each category has a different one-year mentorship program which will allow the winner to work with some of the leading figures within their chosen industry. These include fashion icons Nicky and Simone Zimmermann, Legally Blonde director Robert Luketic, and music producer Lee Groves, whose portoflio includes the likes of Gwen Stefani, Marilyn Manson and Craig David. This will provide newcomers with invaluable experience from industry experts. If that wasn't enough, Qantas will also send the winners on a trip to an exclusive event within their field. These events are scattered all over the world, but are united by their prestige and widespread recognition. These include London Fashion Week, the Edinburgh Film Festival and Cannes Lions. Previous winners of the Spirit of Youth Awards have soared to new heights, such as fashion designers Romance Was Born (pictured), musicians Wolf & Cub and photographer Penny Lane. With the competition's expansion into unprecedented categories, there are now more opportunities for Australia's finest creative minds to showcase their work to the world. Furthermore, winners will be financially assisted and treated to experiences that will allow their talents to flourish.
Following a disastrous farewell show in their hometown, Pulp move to London in search of success. They find fame on the world stage in the 1990s with anthems like 'Disco 2000' and, 25 years (and 10 million album sales) later, they return to Sheffield for their last UK concert. What could go wrong? In Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets, New Zealand director Florian Habicht (Love Story) weaves together the band's personal offerings with dream-like, specially staged tableaux featuring ordinary (you might even say 'common') people recruited on the streets of Sheffield. Plenty of platninum wigs, beef carcasses and pink eyeshadow help to unveil the genuine and deep affection that the inhabitants of Sheffield have for Pulp, and the formative effect the town has had on the band's music. This is a film about music, about pop, and about ambition. It's also about living and dying, about growing up and growing old, and it's unique in its capacity to draw these themes together in a way that's as visually beautiful as it is musically iconic. We got Habicht on the line to talk about how the unique music doco came to be. There have been a lot of gremlins tonight. Even my dog was against our interweb communion. I'm glad I've finally got you, because I bloody loved this film. There's this really existential charge to your film. I think that it's nice you picked up on that. Getting older happens to all of us. That was a theme and something I was aware of when I started filming. I was in that mode when I was filming. I got into that zone early on. Trying to make an honest film, I mean Pulp is a band that is older now, so it was really natural for those things to come out. I was incredibly moved by the fact that, twenty minutes in, you have Candida Doyle talking about the fact that she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 16, and that at the time she was playing with Pulp it was kind of like the clock was ticking for her. What Candida gave in the film was such a huge thing for her and she's had to keep it a secret with the band for her whole career — which would be pretty damn hard. It just felt right for all of that to come out. Jarvis was surprised Candida talked about that. If she didn't have the band … I'm sure that being in PULP really helped her fight that. I love the way you chose to feature as many older and middle-aged people as you did younger and very young folk. The rendition of Help the Aged, by the aged, is really something. That's my favourite scene. And the Sheffield Harmony's version — there's something about middle-aged women singing hymn-style the lyrics "I want to sleep with common people like you/Well what else could I do/ I said I'll see what I can do" that really does it for me. I got to dance with them all at the afterparty. You know I never once got sick of 'Common People' through this film. Yeah, the band were really surprised. They kind of didn't want that song in the film at all because I guess they don't want to be seen as a one-hit wonder. They were glad the song was at the beginning, because they thought, great, we can get it over and done with, but they really loved how it all worked out. I thought maybe I'd get sick of it but you gave it so many different lives in this film. I think the fact there is no such thing as a common person, I think this message comes through. The film definitely veers away from stereotypes. What was the filming like? We filmed for ten days before the concert. I'd invited Jarvis to see my film Love Story at the London Film Festival, and when we met up we both had similar ideas about a film for Pulp. They'd been on this comeback tour but there was no record of it, they'd not done any interviews, and Jarvis thought it'd be nice to make a film ... We weren't total strangers but we'd never met before, so the fact we were able to lift the project off the ground in two months' time was pretty great. We had the same vision for the film. What was the concert like? It was such an amazing gig. Yeah, like the feeling in the room was incredible. Hard to describe. And it was a really long show. They played for two-and-a-half hours. We ran out of cards on our cameras. We had to get our laptops and go around rearranging memory cards to catch it, which was a bit daunting with Jarvis jumping up and down and not being able to back up footage. The concert was incredible. For myself, for my team, to have all access to the place was a buzz. Are you a fan? Yeah they're one of my favourite bands. In a documentary format like this, how much say do you have in terms of wardrobe and staging? Candida Doyle's first appearance is so totally perfect. Rio's T-shirt is spectacular and Liberty's multiple hair corrections straight down the barrel is just genius. I had no say whatsoever in any of that. We have about twenty seconds left you know. Anything else you want to jump in with? We were just in New York, after the launch of the film, and we had a Pulp karaoke contest judged by Jarvis, and a nine-year-old called Graeme won it. Oh nine-year-olds are such winners. It was pretty great. Hey thanks for the chat. Hey thanks to Concrete Playground for spreading the word. The film has a Facebook page, so your readers can check that out if they like. https://youtube.com/watch?v=jh3nleTUr_w Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets had its world premiere at SXSW 2014. It's available on now via digital download or on DVD from September 10.
Plans, pathways, roadmaps, rollouts: no matter which state you live in, Australians have heard these terms more than a few times over the past year and a half. As the country has grappled with COVID-19, our state and federal leaders have unveiled all types of outlines that run through what we can do, what we can't do whenever restrictions are in place, how we're getting vaccinated, where we can travel and how life might someday return to normal. Following the latest National Cabinet meeting between state and territory leaders and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, which was held today, Friday, July 2, the latter has just announced a new plan — 'a National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response', to be precise. It steps through four phases that Australia will now work through to get life back to normal in this pandemic-affected world. Timeframes haven't been noted, so really it's just a list of things that should happen at some point; however, it's a plan nonetheless. Now 16 months since the country first introduced lockdowns and border restrictions due to the pandemic, Australia is currently in the first phase. Here, the aim is to suppress the virus to minimise community transmission, and much of it either sounds familiar or plans to tweak existing arrangements. Lockdowns will be used as a last resort, caps on incoming passenger arrivals will be cut in half to help stop the possible spread of the Delta variant, and the Commonwealth will run more repatriation flights to Howard Springs. Hotel quarantine is set to be reviewed, too, and alternative options — such as home quarantine for returning vaccinated travellers — will be trialled. In this first stage, everyone will be offered their chance to get vaccinated — which, given how slow the rollout has been progressing so far, might explain why no hard dates have been attached to this overall roadmap. Also in the initial phase, the Medicare Vaccination Certificate will be rolled out, Australia will work out how to authenticate digital vaccination status at our international borders and the vaccine booster program will be prepared. Whenever that's all achieved, the nation will move into phase two. That's when restrictions will be eased on folks who've had the jab — including around lockdowns and border controls. It's aimed that, by then, lockdowns will only happen "in extreme circumstances" if needed to prevent increasing hospitalisation rates and deaths. Also in phase two, inbound passenger cabs for unvaccinated returnees will go up, and more vaccinated returning travellers will be allowed to come home. If you're a vaccinated Aussie and you're coming back into the country, there'll be reduced quarantine arrangements. And, this is when the vaccine booster program should be rolled out, too. Up next: a third phase that has absolutely no lockdowns, and frees vaccinated Aussies from all domestic restrictions — and allows them to travel internationally as well. At this point in the plan, there'd be no caps on returning vaccinated travellers at all, and more travel bubbles, like the one floated with Singapore, would open. Also, vaccine boosters would keep being delivered. Finally, phase four sees COVID-19 just treated like other infectious diseases. It'd still be around, but it'd get the same kind of response as the flu. So, there'd be no lockdowns or domestic restrictions ever, vaccinated folks could come and go as they like, and non-vaccinated travellers would just have to get tested before they depart and when they arrive. Again, there are no timeframes attached to any of these phases as yet. That's dependent upon setting vaccination targets for each phase of the plan, based on modelling. And, if Australia's pandemic response so far is any guide, this could all change, take forever or simply not happen — but, if nothing else, it's the stated plan at the time of writing. For further details about the National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response, head to the Prime Minister's website.
If you managed to nab a ticket to Paul Kelly's Making Gravy tour in Melbourne last year, then you were one of the lucky ones. If you weren't and have been lamenting ever since, you can stop. The songwriting legend has just announced that he'll be performing the show all over again this December, in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. As in 2017, you can expect to hear a stack of songs from Kelly's four-decade long career. Listen out for all the hits, from "Dumb Things", from the album Live, May 1992, to "Love Never Runs On Time" from Wanted Man (1994). The Christmas classic "How To Make Gravy", first released in 1996 on an eponymous EP, is on the menu, too. Chances are, you'll also hear some tunes from Kelly's new album, Nature. Due out on 12 October, it features poems by Dylan Thomas, Walt Whitman, Sylvia Plath, Gerard Manley Hopkins and Phillip Larkin, alongside original poems and songs. Last year, his 23rd studio album, Life is Fine, topped the ARIA Albums Chart, becoming the first of his albums to do so. Kelly won't be hitting the road alone: he's inviting a bunch of special guests. He'll be joined by Angus & Julia Stone, playing tunes from 2017 album Snow, Alex Lahey at all shows, with Angie McMahon and D.D Dumbo joining the lineup in Sydney, and Mojo Juju jumping on board in Melbourne and Brisbane. All three shows are outdoors and all-ages. Paul Kelly Making Gravy presale tickets will be available from 2pm on Monday, August 20. General sales will kick off at 10am on Thursday, August 23. Paul Kelly Making Gravy will hit Sydney's Domain on Saturday, December 15; Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Friday, December 14; and Brisbane's Riverstage on Friday, December 21. Image: Cybele Malinowski
In many ways, our objects and possessions define us. In choosing to own something, we make a conscious (or perhaps subconscious) decision about its significance to our lives, who we are and, often, who we want to be. But in a time of mass production, excessive consumption and disposal incomes, perhaps it is the very same 'stuff' we choose to define ourselves by that in fact dilutes our true selves. Whether out in the open or organised neatly into cupboards and shelves, does the collective weight of our belongings mentally drag us down? New South Wales-based artist Lottie Consalvo has embarked on a yearlong performance piece that explores the effect our physical items have on us. Her project — Compartmentalise — was conceived after the birth of her first son, a time where Lottie felt she'd lost control over her time, life and home. In an attempt to find some sense of clarity and regain control, Lottie committed to living with minimal possessions — two tops, two pants, one dress, three pairs of underwear, one knife, one fork, etc. — for 12 months. Despite living with her husband and baby boy, working at a gallery, developing her artistic practice and maintaining an active social life, Lottie has remained within the performance since August 7, 2013, documenting her experiences and musings along the way. With three months until the conclusion of Compartmentalise, we spoke to Lottie about the discomforts and satisfactions of her minimal lifestyle, and whether de-cluttering her possessions has led her to find the clarity she so desperately sought. It's really interesting to see your development through the Compartmentalise entries. Do you feel you have become kinder to yourself throughout the process? I went to a talk this week by performance artist Tehching Hsieh who has done one-year performances, and a 13-year performance. One performance he spoke about was Time Clock Piece, where he punched a time clock every hour for the entire year. He said he got a bit lazy half way through the performance, slept through the occasional alarm and was late to punch, but when he only had three months left he focused more again — although you could hardly call his efforts lazy. When you are being so extreme, after time you start to relax a little and become kinder to yourself, as you say. For example, recently when my pyjamas were in the wash and I was freezing in just a t-shirt, I finally got up and put my husband James' clothes on. I also started letting myself accept and buy books and plants. I would never have done that in the first few months of the performance. However, now that I'm reaching the nine-month mark and the end is in sight, I think I'll be harder on myself again, perhaps so the ending feels more satisfying. I didn't foresee having to replace so many items — my dress, shoes (two pairs have broken though have only replaced one pair), belt, pants, sunglasses, cup, my car (the engine of my old one died). I used to feel guilty when I had to replace something as if I had failed the performance, but as time has gone on I have been more forgiving and accepted it as a part of the performance. So yes, I have become kinder to myself as the performance progresses in that respect. You sold off many of your possessions in a garage sale, but buyers were only allowed to purchase if they could justify why the needed/wanted the item. Why was this significant to you? I hoped that it would make people think beyond the satisfaction of their purchase and the satisfaction of the desire driving them to buy. It really stirred something uncomfortable in people beyond what I had hoped for, and I liked that. What has been the most satisfying aspect of Compartmentalise? Finding out how little I need to live and no longer being scared to let go of things in case I need them in the future. And the most difficult? The discomfort. As the performance has progressed I have become greatly uncomfortable. I often have to wear dirty clothes and wet underwear. I also don't have a cosy outfit to put on other than my pyjamas. Even right now my feet are cold as I have no thick socks. What will you retain from Compartmentalise? I hope to always question what I need before buying more, now knowing that everything I bring home will not only fill my home but also my mind. I hope still to live with limited possessions, though a few more than now. I hate the idea of having a full wardrobe, cupboards and cluttered surfaces again — I have a phobia of it now. I want to carry on buying fewer things that I really love and are better quality even if they cost much more money. I will also treat my belongings with much more respect. Come August 7, what do you think will happen when you finish Compartmentalise? Do you feel like it will be difficult to transition back to having (a few) more possessions? I think I will wake up and put different clothes on. I imagine that I will get pleasure out of the feeling of different clothes hugging my skin in different ways and wearing some colour, however the novelty will probably wear off quickly. I don't think it will be difficult. In fact, it would be very easy to fall back into the habit of buying and collecting — but I don't want this. I want to take it very slowly, it will be a slow transition to a more balanced place. You started this project to help you find clarity. So far, do you feel like you've found some? I'm not sure if I have found clarity so much as I have found a sense of weightlessness. When I look at my empty home I feel the clarity, but through the performance I have found that technology (as wonderful as it is) and work are what stop me from continuing this clarity through my days. Perhaps I need to remove technology, and time. Images courtesy of Lottie Consalvo. Follow the remainder of Lottie's performance via her Compartmentalise blog.
It was back in September 2022 that Weird: The Al Yankovic Story first hit screens, premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival with its happily ridiculous take on its namesake's life, and with Daniel Radcliffe (The Lost City) sporting a mop of curls to play the titular part. And, it was in November last year that the film became available to stream in the US, releasing via The Roku Channel. Since then, however, there has been no sign of the movie Down Under. That is, unless you took Weird Al's advice. The man himself noted on Twitter at the time that "Roku's working on it. In the meantime there's VPN (Very Probably No) way to watch it legally. I'm sure you have a TORRENT of other questions, but I have to move along, sorry." Roku's working on it. In the meantime there's VPN (Very Probably No) way to watch it legally. I'm sure you have a TORRENT of other questions, but I have to move along, sorry. — Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) November 5, 2022 Thankfully, come Thursday, March 2, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will finally hit streaming in Australia thanks to Paramount+. When you're not getting yourself and egg and beating it, you might want to mark that date in your diary. This is the 100-percent Weird Al-authorised take on his own accordion-playing existence, so expect 'weird' to be the word in more ways than one. Indeed, in too many music biopics to count, a star is born — and also rises to fame after putting their talents towards a dream that's inspired them as long as they can remember. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story follows that same formula, but also parodies it. It wouldn't be a movie about Weird Al if it didn't take something that already works, then give it a satirical spin, now would it? "My whole life, all I wanted was to do... was make up new words to a song that already exists," Yankovic, as played by Daniel Radcliffe (The Lost City), says Weird's full trailer — which, yes, looks gloriously ridiculous. This line bookends glimpses of a childhood Al happily thumbing through accordion magazines and getting caught at a polka party. In other words, this humorous look at the man behind oh-so-many humorous songs takes the exact approach a film about Weird Al really has to. Viewers can also expect: accordions, obviously; recreations of Weird Al's film clips and live performances; oh-so-many Hawaiian shirts; chaotic meetings with Madonna, as played by Westworld's Evan Rachel Wood; and origin stories behind tracks like 'My Bologna' and 'Like a Surgeon'. Beneath wire-framed glasses, those shirts, that hair and Yankovic's instantly recognisable moustache — and in a piece of casting that seems like it jumped straight from the internet — Radcliffe looks to be having the time of his life as the musician behind 'Another One Rides the Bus', 'Smells Like Nirvana' and 'Amish Paradise', plus comedic riffs on pretty much every other big song of the past four-plus decades that you can think of. Yankovic is one of the screenwriters, alongside director Eric Appel (a TV sitcom veteran with Happy Endings, New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and top-notch cop-show parody NTSF:SD:SUV on this resume). If the man in the spotlight's career has taught us all anything apart from the wrong words to pop hits, it's that he doesn't take a single thing, including himself, seriously. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will hit Paramount+ in Australia with perfect timing, because Yankovic is touring the country in March, playing Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. Check out the trailer for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story below: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will stream in Australia from Thursday, March 2 via Paramount+.
When you've created a huge hit HBO TV show that's known for filling its frames with parties, drugs, attractive actors and plenty of drama, what do you move onto next? If you're Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, you keep doing what's worked for you so far. The writer, director, producer and creator isn't done with his Zendaya-starring success just yet — it's been renewed for a third season, so more is definitely in the works — but he's also teamed up with Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye on upcoming HBO series The Idol. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is clearly Levinson's motto. "If it ain't broke, bust it out again elsewhere" works, too. This time, however, instead of exploring the ups and downs of high school, he's jumping into the music industry. Starring and co-created by The Weeknd — with writer and executive producer Reza Fahim also credited as a co-creator — The Idol is set to chronicle the chaos that comes with chasing pop stardom. From the just-dropped first teaser, it spans the parties and drugs as well. The focus: a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult, played by The Weeknd, as well as the up-and-coming pop idol that he starts a complicated relationship with. Lily-Rose Depp (Voyagers, The King) also stars. From there, details get thinner. The trailer sets a vibe but gives away few other narrative details, other than thrusting Depp's character into a heady new world — and having an unseen figure, presumably The Weeknd, ask if she trusts them. When it was originally announced in November 2021, The Idol was set to span six episodes, all filmed in Los Angeles — with She Dies Tomorrow's Amy Seimetz directing every single one. But back in April this year, it was revealed that Seimetz had left the project and reshoots were underway as a result. How that'll impact the end product is obviously yet to be seen. Exactly when The Idol will surface both in the US and Down Under hasn't been announced yet, either. Also set to pop up in the series: Troye Sivan (Boy Erased), Steve Zissis (Happy Death Day 2U), Melanie Liburd (This Is Us), Tunde Adebimpe (Marriage Story), Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (Saved By the Bell), Nico Hiraga (Booksmart) and Anne Heche (All Rise). That said, whether the show's cast has been affected by the reshoots also hasn't been revealed. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Idol below: The Idol doesn't yet have a release date, including Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
Residents of 88 Melbourne suburbs are being told to hold off on drinking their tap water today (unless it's boiled), after last night's storms caused electrical damage impacting some of the city's water supply. Yarra Valley Water, which is Melbourne's largest retail water utility, sounded the alert via Twitter this morning. "Some water may have entered our drinking water supply network that had not been treated to the usual standard," the company has warned. Power has since returned and it's addressed the initial issue, though some areas are still being supplied with water that's not been properly treated. https://twitter.com/YVWater/status/1299136129200017408 Until it resolves the problem, Yarra Valley Water is advising residents of the impacted suburbs to take precautions and bring any tap water to a rolling boil before using it to drink, brush teeth, make ice, or prepare food or baby formula. The company Tweeted that the risk of illness from drinking the water is low, but that people should see their doctor if they experience any gastro-type symptoms. It's expecting things to be fixed by this afternoon and says it will send out confirmation when the suburbs' tap water supply is back to normal quality. To make matters worse, Yarra Valley Water's website has been having some issues of its own today and has been down for part of the morning. But if you want to know which suburbs have been affected, here they are: Attwood Bayswater Bayswater North Blackburn Blackburn North Blackburn South Boronia Box Hill North Broadmeadows Bulleen Bundoora Burwood Burwood East Campbellfield Chirnside Park Coburg North Coldstream Coolaroo Craigieburn Croydon Croydon Hills Croydon North Croydon South Dallas Doncaster Doncaster East Donvale Doreen Eltham Epping Fawkner Forest Hill Glen Waverley Greensborough Greensborough Greenvale Heathmont Kalorama Kangaroo Ground Kilsyth Kilsyth South Kingsbury Lalor Lilydale Lower Plenty Meadow Heights Melbourne Airport Mernda Mill Park Mitcham Monbulk Mont Albert North Montmorency Montrose Mooroolbark Mount Dandenong Mount Evelyn Mount Waverley North Warrandyte Nunawading Olinda Park Orchards Plenty Research Reservoir Ringwood Ringwood East Ringwood North Roxburgh Park Silvan Somerton South Morang Templestowe Templestowe Lower The Basin Thomastown Vermont Vermont South Viewbank Wantirna Warrandyte Warrandyte South Warranwood Westmeadows Wollert Wonga Park Yallambie Yarrambat For updates on the water supply issue, keep an eye on Yarra Valley Water's Twitter account.
If you've caught up with some of the highest-profile new movies in recent months, you might have noticed that looking up has been a big part of a few films. Top Gun: Maverick demanded it, while Don't Look Up grappled with the very idea of peering upwards — and the sky plays a significant role in fresh release Nope, too. Tonight, on the evening of Thursday, August 11 Down Under, looking up should be on your agenda as well. Stare at the heavens with your own two eyes and you'll see a stunning sight — and it'll also be visible tomorrow morning, on Friday, August 12, too. Another supermoon is upon us, and will officially be at its peak at 11.35 AEST on Friday — but if you train your peepers towards the sky this evening, you'll still be in for a glowing show. While super full moons aren't particularly rare — several usually happen each year, and one occurred just last month — there is a good reason to peer upwards this time around. If you're wondering why, we've run through the details below. WHAT IS IT? If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know. As we all learned back in November 2016, a supermoon is a new moon or full moon that occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it particularly bright. They're not all that uncommon — and because August's 2022's supermoon is a full moon (and not a new moon), it's called a super full moon. It's also a sturgeon moon, too, which doesn't refer to its shape or any other physical characteristics, but to the time of year. In the northern hemisphere, August is around the time that sturgeon fish start to show up in big numbers in North America's lakes. Of course, that doesn't apply in the southern hemisphere, but the name still sticks. Also, this supermoon happens to the last one of 2022. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? As mentioned above, the sturgeon supermoon will officially be at its peak at 11.35am AEST tomorrow, Friday, August 12, Down Under — but thankfully it will be visible from Thursday night Australia and New Zealand time. The moon does usually appear full for a few days each month, so if you already thought that the night sky looked a little brighter this week, that's why. Still yet to catch a glimpse? You'll want to peek outside when it gets dark to feast your eyes on a luminous lunar sight. Head over to timeanddate.com for the relevant moonrise and moonset times for your area, with the moon rising at 4.22pm AEST on Thursday, August 11. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? You can take a gander from your backyard or balcony, but the standard advice regarding looking into the night sky always applies — so city-dwellers will want to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the absolute best view. Weather-wise, the Bureau of Meteorology advises that Sydney and Perth will be cloudy, Melbourne is in for a few showers, and the wet will increase in Adelaide. In Brisbane, though, clear skies await. Over in NZ, Conditions are fine in Auckland, while Wellington can expect periods of rain. Fancy checking it out online? The Virtual Telescope Project is set to stream the view from Rome at 3pm on Friday, August 12, too. Top image: NASA/Joel Kowsky.
In yet another major carbon-reduction move, London has just seen the completion of the world’s biggest solar bridge. The development follows plans to heat homes with the Underground and recycle sewer waste via a ‘fat plant’. Blackfriars Bridge has been covered with 4,400 photovoltaic panels, comprising 6,000 square metres. These will harness energy to power 50 percent of Blackfriars Station's needs, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 511 tonnes annually. That's equal to about 89,000 average trips in a car. In addition, the entire station has been revamped, acquiring four extra platforms and two new entrances, one providing access to South Bank and the other to New Bridge Street on the river's north side. The development is part of the US$10.7 billion Thameslink Programme, the goal of which is to increase the frequency and capacity of London's north-south railway line. "Our work at Blackfriars demonstrates two key benefits of solar," said Frans van den Heuvel, CEO of Solarcentury, the company that delivered the project. "First, it can be integrated into the architecture to create a stunning addition to London's skyline. Second, it can be integrated into the most complex of engineering projects; in this case being built above a construction site, over a rail track over a river. We are confident that future major infrastructure projects can and will benefit from solar.” The bridge was officially launched on January 22, 2014, with a massive hot beverage giveaway featuring Britain's biggest tea cup. Via gizmag.
Since 2012, Melburnians have been honouring the age old tradition of making salami by throwing their hat in the ring and showing off their product at the Melbourne Salami Festa. For those who are just being introduced to The Salami Army, salami-making is by no means restricted to your elderly Italian neighbours, as every year their salami-tasting competition sees more and more entrants. Making salami is a nose-to-tail approach where every piece is appreciated and nothing is wasted. The process that goes into creating this delicious treat takes skill and patience, and we’re salivating just thinking about taste-testing the rewards. Northcote Town Hall will be set up as a salumi tasting hall, with some of Australia’s best artisan brands selling their product. On top of that, a few of Melbourne’s top restaurants will have pop-up stalls, and there'll be live music throughout the day. If you’re inspired to make your own salami, stick around for a demonstration or two, just don’t forget to make one for us.
It's an ordinary day. You're sitting on the couch with your other half. The TV is on, and you're ready to escape into whatever your streaming queue holds. Then, you notice something odd yet familiar: a show about someone who looks exactly like you, but is played by Salma Hayek Pinault (Magic Mike's Last Dance). Welcome to one of Black Mirror's new nightmares, with upcoming sixth-season episode Joan Is Awful focusing on a woman (Annie Murphy, Kevin Can F**k Himself) whose life is adapted into a prestige drama without her knowing. Call them hallucinations. Call them rabbit holes. Call them mind fucks. Whichever fits — and Black Mirror calls itself all three in season six's just-dropped full trailer — there's more technology-fuelled chaos in store when this new whirlwind of existential dread makes a comeback. It properly teasing its audience about new episodes via Black Mirror's Twitter account in April, then dropped an initial trailer the same month, then unveiled its episode descriptions in May. Now, there's bigger sneak peek has arrived, plus confirmation that the show will return on Thursday, June 15. Charlie Brooker's dystopian series will indeed be satirising streaming — just because it's a streaming smash, that doesn't mean that's off the agenda — with Joan Is Awful also starring Michael Cera (Life & Beth), Himesh Patel (Station Eleven), Rob Delaney (The Power) and Ben Barnes (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities). Also on its way in a five-episode new run: Netflix seeing the darker side of nature documentaries, which, like biographical dramas, it's mighty fond of making itself. In upcoming Black Mirror instalment Loch Henry, a sleepy Scottish town welcomes in a young couple, who are keen to follow in David Attenborough's footsteps. Then they learn of a shocking local story, in an episode with Samuel Blenkin (The Witcher: Blood Origin), Myha'la Herrold (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Daniel Portman (Game of Thrones), John Hannah (The Last of Us) and Monica Dolan (Empire of Light) in its cast. Viewers looking forward to Aaron Paul's (Westworld) return to Black Mirror after first being involved in 2017 will been keen on Beyond the Sea, where it's an alternative 1969, two men are on a high-tech mission and dealing with a tragedy's big consequences, and Josh Hartnett (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre), Kate Mara (Call Jane), Auden Thornton (This Is Us) and Rory Culkin (Swarm) co-star. In Mazey Day, the paparazzi hounds a troubled starlet who is coping with the aftermath of a hit-and-run, with Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Clara Rugaard (I Am Mother) and Danny Ramirez (Stars at Noon) featuring. And in Demon 79, it's 1979 and a sales assistant in Northern England is informed that she has to commit terrible acts or a disaster will occur — with Anjana Vasan (Killing Eve), Paapa Essiedu (Men), Katherine Rose Morley (The Syndicate) and David Shields (Benediction) starring. This chapter is co-penned with Bisha K Ali (Ms Marvel), and has been badged Red Mirror in the new trailer. Season six is being teased as "the most unpredictable, unclassifiable and unexpected season yet", which is saying something given everything that Black Mirror has thrown at the screen in past seasons (and in choose-your-own-adventure-style movie Black Mirror: Bandersnatch). And yes, Brooker does have quite the challenge this time around: making something that manages to be even more dispiriting than reality over the past few years. That's increasingly been one of the show's dilemmas — and noting that something IRL feels just like Black Mirror has become one of the cliches of our times — but this'll be the mind-bending effort's first round of episodes following the pandemic. Check out the full trailer for Black Mirror's sixth season below: Black Mirror season six will stream via Netflix some from Thursday, June 15. Images: Netflix.
Sometimes, a film's premise is all there in its name. In 2008's Kung Fu Panda, a cuddly animal tried to master a skill he didn't appear all that suited for. His exploits blended an underdog story with physical comedy, wrapped up in vibrant animation and leaning on the voice talents of Jack Black. Of course, the movie that resulted hit all the anticipated beats: the training montages, the heart-warming journey from uncertainty to self-confidence, and the repeated sight-gag silliness of a panda showing off his martial arts prowess. Two films later, and not much has changed. Just as you can expect a movie called Kung Fu Panda 3 to feature 'Kung Fu Fighting' on its soundtrack, you can also expect it to stick to the established formula. That's how franchises are made, after all — if it ain't broke, don't fix it, as the old saying goes. When a series is built on little more than a one-joke concept boosted by its cuteness and saddled with a feel-good message, however, it's hardly surprising when it wears thin a few installments in. Po (Black) might have accepted his unlikely status as the Dragon Warrior — the sole kung fu master capable of harnessing limitless power — yet he's still not that comfortable in the role. In fact, he's daunted when he's told by his teacher, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), that he'll now be training his pals (voiced by Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, Angelina Jolie and David Cross), and is thus happily distracted when his long-lost biological father, Li Shan (Bryan Cranston), arrives to whisk him back to a secret panda village. But when the menacing Kai (J. K. Simmons) breaks free from the spirit world with a mission to capture other kung fu warriors' chi, Po has to find a way to believe in himself, unleash his full potential and save his friends. With Po's adopted (James Hong) and birth dads jostling for attention, and a pretty panda (Kate Hudson) vying for his affection, there's plenty going on in the Alessandro Carloni and Jennifer Yuh Nelson-directed effort — though the fact that the duo have worked on the series before, as have writer-producers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, is telling. The stakes might be raised, and many more pandas thrown into the mix, but even younger viewers will be able to see where it's all going, and how they're supposed to feel about it. As too often proves the case with all-ages animated fare, it's left to the film's images to brighten things up with colour and movement, and to add some personality in the process. Kung Fu Panda 3 may not offer up a new narrative, but it tries — and almost manages — to compensate with lively 3D visuals. The voice acting attempts to inject the same kind of energy, although a little bit of Black goes a long way. That said, if another round of laughing at pandas busting kung fu moves and listening to a message about being yourself is your idea of easy, undemanding entertainment, then the film's been-there, done-that approach won't worry you.
Vivid Ideas festival director Jess Scully knows how to get psyched about winter (it ain't all wet feet and friendless Call of Duty marathons). From pickling workshops to no-holds-barred pampering sessions, DIY crafternoons to steamy hot chocolate-Robert Pattinson combos, Scully knows how to embrace winter with a big ol' hug. So throw on your favourite chunky knits and welcome the chilly season with Jess's tried and tested gear-ups. To take advantage of these and even more great Sydney winter experiences, go to lastminute.com.au and line up your fun-filled days and even cooler nights. Get pickled That used to mean something different in my twenties... how times have changed. This year my friends and I are taking a winter pickling workshop at Cornersmith in Marrickville; we're going to learn to do it ourselves, in the hopes of constructing the perfect Ploughman's Lunch down the line. Get pampered I tend to take better care of my skin and hair in winter; in summer I let the sun and sea take over, and I feel healthier just by virtue of being outdoors. But in winter, I go to the experts. My go-to place is Brad Ngata at The Ivy, where I will get a pro-keratin treatment to hydrate my hair (winter actually dries it out) and a gloss to cheat a little and get some all-over shine. Get cosy At the end of Vivid there is nothing I like better than getting a big hot chocolate, getting cosy in a cinema chair and soaking up beautiful images at Sydney Film Festival. This year I'm particularly excited about seeing The Rover — not least because I'll also be able to sit in on a chat with director David Michod and actors Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson, on Sunday June 8... Get hearty For breakfast I'll be trying out every one of the Top Five Porridges in Sydney (as selected by Concrete Playground: expect my rankings shortly!) and then I'll be hunting down the best pub roasts for lunch and dinner. I've also been dreaming of a giant schnitzel and beer from the amazing Concordia Club in Tempe; 'tis the season for mash and gravy! Get crafty After a few months of exhausting mental work, crafting and presenting the Vivid Ideas program, I always feel like doing something with my hands. So I love the workshops at Koskela, giving me a chance to get messy and tactile and hands-on. I took Gemma Patford's rope basket workshop last year, and this year I've got my eyes on a Shibori indigo dyeing workshop. Vivid Ideas runs until June 9. Check out the events still to come over here.
While everybody is pretty damn exited about the announcements made this morning for the musical and lighting parts of this year's Vivid Live festival, there were also some amazing announcements made regarding what's in store for Vivid Ideas. Vivid Ideas is the third integral part of the entire Vivid ethos, hosting a program of public and industry events focused on discussion and creative collaboration. Over the 18-day program the newly made-over Museum of Contemporary Arts will become home to the creative hub of Vivid, connecting industry with emerging talent and global leaders in over 100 events, double the creative industry events of the previous three years. This year's program will see the CEOs of Etsy, Threadless and VICE giving keynote talks, as well as appearances from Cory Doctorow, author and co-founder of weblog Boing Boing, and Henry Holland, from the UK fashion label House of Holland. The talks will run alongside major industry events such as Song Summit, X Media Lab, Mumbrella 360 and SPARC Design. Other highlights include a partnership with the Sydney Film Festival, an Etsy microbusiness conference and a celebration of the 25th anniversary of ABC's Rage at CarriageWorks. The public program includes free and ticketed events and goes on sale on Thursday, March 22. Vivid is unique amongst Australia's festivals, and a major celebration of creative industries. This year's instalment of Vivid Ideas looks to reinforce just how vibrant and innovative this city is becoming. Check out the full program here.
There are lots of reasons people venture into taxidermy. They might want to boast of their hunting conquests (not okay), they could eerily try to preserve a dead pet (not quite okay), or maybe they just work at the Natural History Museum (okay). Rod McRae's latest showing at Deakin University Art Gallery takes a little from each of these worlds, while staying true to none of them. Stating his main themes as conservation, hunting culture, biodiversity, stewardship, colonisation and climate change, McRae's exhibition is inherently political. Featuring myriad taxidermied animals in strange and surreal environments, Wunderkammer is essentially about questioning our relationship with such animals and how audiences react when confronted with once wild creatures in close quarters. Disclaimer from the gallery: All the animals in Wunderkammer have been ethically sourced. No animal has been harmed to make this work in the first instance; the skins are the result of death by natural causes, medical euthanasia, hunting, culling and/or food production and have been traded on, sometimes multiple times, before they became part of this body of work.
Is Black Mirror a sci-fi flight of fancy or a realistic window into the future? Does it take humanity's increasing reliance upon technology to the fictional extreme, or predict what's about to happen? Whichever train of thought you subscribe to, if you're a fan of the Charlie Brooker-created series, you've probably jumped at every possible chance to immerse yourself in the television series. First, there was the interactive Black Mirror exhibition that popped up in London. Then came a super bleak board game. Now there's a retro-style video game as well. Hot on the heels of the program's just-released choose-your-own-adventure movie, Bandersnatch, comes your chance to mash buttons while diving into Black Mirror's twisted realm. The video game is called Nohzdyve, and it's seen in the series' new flick. It's one of the hit titles created by Colin Ritman (Will Poulter), the programmer that Bandersnatch's 19-year-old protagonist Stefan (Fionn Whitehead) first idolises, then buddies up to. The two become colleagues at games development company Tuckersoft when Stefan tries to turn his own dream game into a reality. Avid Black Mirror fans will have spotted that Nohzdyve is a reference to the first episode of the show's third season, Nosedive, aka the Bryce Dallas Howard-starring tale about a world where social media controls life's ups and downs. It's also the episode that was turned into the aforementioned board game — and, clearly, it's one of the series' instalments with the most glaring real-world parallels. In Bandersnatch, the Nohzdyve video game was made in the 80s, which means that social media obviously doesn't rate a mention. Instead, the game involves falling through the sky while collecting eyeballs and avoiding buildings. If you're keen to play it, Nohzdyve can be downloaded from the Tuckersoft website; however there is a catch. It will only run on a downloadable emulator that recreates the ZX Spectrum home computer system from 1982 (aka a British equivalent to the Commodore 64). Still, if you've already worked your way through Bandersnatch's interactive story — deciding what path Stefan's tale takes, picking between branching narrative arcs, and looping back again and again to find all of the endings — you can trade one type of Black Mirror game for another.
You'll soon be able to enjoy the Magnum + Queens Wine experience offline, as the sommelier-curated online wine shop unveil its first bricks-and-mortar store today. The Coventry Street space is being billed as an 'emporium of premium wine, drinks and accompaniments', set to boast a selection of over 700 wines from across the globe. It's a hefty, yet clever curation, focused on interesting new varietals and expert renditions of old favourites, food-friendly drops and those more textural creations. We expect, from the name, that there'll be a few magnums for special occasions, too. And while the Magnum + Queens online store is all about championing that wine, here, the vinous lineup is complemented by a selection of quality craft beer, cider and spirits, from the likes of Balter Brewing, Melbourne Moonshine, Custard & Co. and Japan's Hitachino Nest. There'll also be a small selection of snacks, included Ortiz anchovies and other cured and canned delicacies. A range of barware and glassware will help you keep your home bar in tip-top shape, while a series of regular wine tastings and food matching events is planned to kick off soon. The Magnum + Queens online store, which sells both individual bottles and monthly wine subscription packs, will expand its offering to coincide with the launch of the South Melbourne space. Find the Magnum + Queens Wine store at 274–276 Coventry Street, South Melbourne, from June 6.
If you're looking for a great excuse to get back out and explore the city, here it is: Xplore Melbourne is a free self-guided, augmented reality scavenger hunt that's kicked off this week, inviting you to rekindle your love of moseying around the CBD. Running now until January 2022, the experience will see you scanning QR codes and tracking down clues at ten locations throughout the city, to unlock various artworks, musical treats, giveaways and other fun treasures. With a flick of your smartphone, you'll be able to bring to life the vibrant works you encounter, by artists like Adnate, Meggs, Dvate and Kit Bennett. AR-fuelled performances featuring the likes of Cry Baby, Srisha, KrookLetter and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra are also waiting to be unearthed along your journey. Along with the creative treasures, Xplore also offers the chance to collect some sweet giveaways and prizes as you go, including high tea at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Docklands staycations, jewellery, NGV double passes, Collins 234 gift cards and more. [caption id="attachment_832457" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A new large-scale work by Meggs for Xplore[/caption]
We've got some bad news, snow-bunnies. Despite Victoria's ski resorts being located outside of the 32 local government areas currently in lockdown, Hotham and Falls Creek have today announced that they will be stopping the ski lifts again — just two weeks after reopening. Vail Resorts, the operator of Hotham and Falls Creek — as well as Perisher in NSW, which is running as normal (well, COVID normal) — made the announcement on Thursday, July 9, saying the resorts would be closing immediately until at least Wednesday, August 19, one day before the metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire lockdown is set to end. In a statement, Vail Resorts Senior Vice President and COO Peter Brulisaur acknowledged the impact this decision would have on local businesses, many of which already were impacted by this summer's bushfires, saying: "We did not make this decision lightly as we know our employees, guests and the communities where we operate have already endured so much hardship this year. However, we are focused first and foremost on health and safety, following local health guidelines and doing our part to support efforts across Victoria to address the recent rise in coronavirus cases." https://www.facebook.com/FallsAustralia/photos/a.121185347913186/3429042793794075/?type=3&theater On the company's Facebook page, many Victorians expressed anger at the decision, some saying they were already mid-way through a road trip to the snowfields. While Victorians in the 32 local government areas are under strict stay-at-home orders once again — and can only leave home for one of four reasons — those outside are told to follow new "stay safe" guidelines, which allow them to leave home for almost any reason. These residents still have restrictions on public gatherings sizes. Both Falls Creek and Hotham are providing full refunds for all lift tickets, ski and ride lessons, and rental bookings. Those who have a 2020 Epic Australia Pass and want a refund will need to submit a request over here no later than Sunday, July 12. "We recognise this is incredibly disappointing to our guests and pass holders, including those who have made reservations at Hotham and Falls Creek this season. We thank them for their patience and understanding as we continue to navigate this incredibly challenging time," Brulisaur said in the statement. Mt Buller, Victoria's third major snow resort, will continue to operate until at least Sunday, July 12 and is set to make an announcement about the rest of the snow season by 4pm today, Friday, July 10. For more information about the closures of Falls Creek and Hotham and how to get a refund, head to the resorts' websites.
Get your tissues out. Margaret and David — as in the Margaret and David of At the Movies – are officially, totally and truly, really going off-air. We're in shock. For 28 years now, the legendary duo has been giving us their dynamic weekly film round-up: an idiosyncratic mix of smart commentary, quick wit and frequent sparring. They first paired up at the SBS, where they hosted The Movie Show for eighteen years before moving over to the ABC in 2004. But on December 9, they’ll be recording their final episode. Ever. "After 28 years reviewing films on television with Margaret, ten of them at the ABC, I feel it’s time to go,” David said in a media statement. “We’ve had a wonderful time, thanks to very supportive and encouraging audiences, throughout that period. And we’ve worked with wonderful teams, both at SBS and at the ABC... Most of all, working with Margaret, whose enthusiasm, commitment and passion has been amazing (and only occasionally irritating) has been a joy for over a quarter of a century. But, since I turned 75 last week, I look forward to less pressure and more opportunities to enjoy the movies I love, in the years ahead." Margaret was similarly gracious. "As David says, it’s time to go from the small screen after a great innings,” she said. “Thanks to all our viewers and the fabulous teams we’ve worked with over the years. And thank you to the ABC and SBS. We’ve been lucky to work for two great public broadcasters, and long may they prosper . . . My gratitude goes to David who gave me credibility just by being prepared to sit by me and discuss film when I am just a film enthusiast, not the great walking encyclopedia of film that he is. He’s a grand person, a most generous, decent man, even if a little stubborn at times." And just in case you’re wondering, no more Margaret and David also means no more At the Movies — the last episode will air on ABC on December 9.
If you like your sleep, chances are you missed catching Saturday morning's eclipse, when a red hued moon and the planet Mars put on a rare show at 5.30am. Well, luckily, that wasn't the last of the celestial treats in store this week — last night saw Mars really making its presence known, as it hung out closer to Earth than it's been in 15 years. According to NASA, the red planet only travels close enough to ours for these spectacular views once or twice every 15 or 17 years. Back in 2003, it made its closest approach in almost 60,000 years, and after this week's events, it isn't expected to make its next 'close approach' until October 6, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/nasasolarsystem/photos/a.164320877917.120400.79209882917/10155603764502918/?type=3&theater If you've been skygazing over the past few days, you would have seen Mars appear brightest from July 27 to 30, as it reached the point in its orbit that puts it closest to Earth. It was on show for most of last night, sitting just 57.6 million kilometres away from us — a relative sliver compared to the 401 million kilometre distance it reaches at its farthest. You'll be able to glimpse the planet for a few more nights, though it's set to get fainter by mid-August as it continues on its orbit. To catch the Red Planet, look east. "Mars will be rising as the sun sets, and rising high and high in the eastern sky during the evening," University of Sydney astronomer Tim Bedding told The Age. "Later in the evening it will be more prominent, passing overhead at midnight." If you find yourself stuck with anther cloudy night, NASA has kindly uploaded a four-hour video of the planet's approach from the Griffith Observatory in LA. Image: NASA
You Won't Be Alone isn't just the name of Macedonian Australian writer/director Goran Stolevski's debut feature, which hit cinemas in 2022. It's also a phrase that applies now that his second film is here. Of an Age initially premiered in the same year as well, bowing in Melbourne International Film Festival's opening-night slot — and, while it tells of growing up queer in 90s Melbourne, falling in love for the first time, then sifting through the aftermath a decade later, it's a glorious companion piece to its predecessor. No one is chosen by a sorceress here. The place isn't Macedonia, the period isn't the 19th century and supernatural shapeshifting isn't part of the narrative. But even just a mere duo of movies into his helming career, Stolevski makes pictures that profoundly ruminate upon two of life's purest truths: that absolutely everything changes and, consequently, nothing completely lasts forever. Neither You Won't Be Alone nor Of an Age fly solo in their moods of yearning, either, or in piecing themselves together from familiar elements that still feel fresh — more than that, that feel immediate and hauntingly immersive — in Stolevski's hands. Where his last flick played like a sibling to Robert Eggers' The Witch by way of The Tree of Life and A Hidden Life's Terrence Malick, his latest rich and poetic effort earns the same sensation with 2011's Weekend and 2017's Call Me By Your Name. This too is a tender love story, as both of those recent greats of LGBTQIA+ cinema are. A clock ticks inescapably, this time a single day rather than the respite at the end of the working week or a whole summer. And, in a keenly felt romance that swells and swirls with lingering emotions, two men find their lives eternally altered, while also facing the unshakeable fact that their bliss will be fleeting. 1999 is inching towards becoming Y2K when Of an Age begins, and 17-year-old Nikola aka Kol (Elias Anton, Australia Day) is only hours from taking to the floor at a Melbourne dance championship. That's how his day is meant to pan out, at least, and what he's preparing for when the film meets him practising his smooth ballroom moves in his suburban garage — conjuring up visions of John Travolta in a flick made famous two decades prior, in fact. Kol's ordinary morning fever breaks, however, thanks to friend and dance partner Ebony (Hattie Hook, Savage River) and her bender of an evening. She's awoken on the beach in Altona with no idea where she is, scrounging up change for the payphone call to say she thinks she'll miss the recital unless Kol can pick her up. Stolevski hones in on Ebony early, not because this is primarily her story — it isn't — but to commence his coming-of-age and coming-out tale with compulsive urgency. Anything can happen in the whirlwind from adolescence to maturity when your entire adult future is ahead of you. Anything can occur when you've just finished high school, as Kol and Ebony have, and the days, months and years to come seem endless and brimming with possibility. Any day can be a shock and a surprise as well, as the jittery young woman conveys while scrambling to work out what's going on, where her belongings are, what happened last night and how she'll get home. With cinematographer Matthew Chuang (another You Won't Be Alone alum), and while editing himself, Stolevski's infuses the scene with a freneticism and nerviness that could've barrelled straight out of Good Time or Uncut Gems, adding the Safdies to the picture's influences. That frenzied energy thrums when Kol dons his dance attire, rushes through the streets and looks like a Serbian Elvis all shook up as the Victorian capital wakes up. To attempt to make his big performance, he has to convince Ebony's older brother Adam (Thom Green, Eden) to play taxi — and he's still all aflutter with anxiety, and just the inertia of being so keyed up from endeavouring to sort things out, when he slides into the twentysomething's brown car. They remain in that race against time, although the reality of missing the contest slowly sinks in. Cue the aforementioned other battle with the clock, as what starts as a panicked drive between virtual strangers becomes a leisurely on-the-road chat between kindred spirits warming up. When Ebony hops in the backseat, Adam and Kol only have eyes for each other (plus mentions of music, books and movies traded as tentatively flirtatious currency, all while listening to the soundtrack to Wong Kar-wai's 1997 queer romance Happy Together). An awakening is at the centre of Of an Age, which Stolevski brings to the screen with electrifying specificity and universality in tandem. He achieves an always-sought-after but never-assured feat, making Kol's discovery that he's attracted to Adam and their blossoming bond from there feel so sincere and lived in that it could've only happened for these two characters — as thoughtfully and compellingly performed by the charismatically matched Anton and Green, too — and yet ensuring that it also feels as if it has been ripped from everyone's formative experiences, or near enough. 90s teens of Australia, prepare for a time capsule in the movie's sounds, sights and slang, plus its costuming and vibe, across the feature's first section. This isn't quite a picture of two halves but, after Kol and Adam spend an intense 24 hours in each other's orbit (including at a 21st-birthday party that leads to the moment they've been building towards), it comes with a coda in 2010. Embracing its debt to Weekend and Call Me By Your Name, Of an Age could've stayed in 1999 for its entire duration and still proven a gorgeous, heartfelt and affecting film. It cuts deeper and hits harder courtesy of its final chapter, though — and the dreamy visual sheen of its sequences in 1999, which have the intimacy and glow of fond recollections even when they're at their most fraught (with help from boxed-in Academy framing, and reminiscent of Chuang's work on Blue Bayou), is all the more powerful due to what comes next. When Kol and Adam cross paths again, both returning to Melbourne from abroad, much has shifted and transformed. That spark between them still burns bright, but confronting what it now means and how it too has evolved is another stop in Kol's coming-of-age journey. How moving and entrancing it is to tag along for the ride, and for a Melbourne-set, distinctively Aussie tour through following your heart, trying not to be alone, and understanding that perfect memories and existence-shaping delights quiver and sway just like everything else.
If you're heading to Byron Bay this summer, get ready to ride the world's first solar-powered train. The two-carriage chugger was built in Sydney in 1949, but, from December 16, it'll travel along a three-kilometre track between downtown Byron Bay and Northbeach Station up near Sunrise Beach and the Byron arts and industrial estate, driven solely by the sun's energy. Byron Bay Railroad Company, which is operating as a non-profit, has spent four years restoring the train, which was in disuse. There are seats for 100 passengers, as well as standing room for extras and, importantly, space for surfboards and bicycles. To begin, the train will operate on a limited timetable, but will run once per hour between 8am and 10pm — at a cost of three bucks per person — from January. More frequent runs will be considered in line with passenger demand and operating costs. Back in the day, the train ran on diesel. Its conversion took place at the Lithgow Railway Workshop, where solar panels were added to the roof and solar-charged batteries installed. While Indian Railways did launch a solar-powered train earlier this year, the sun only powers the lights, fans and displays on that vehicle. By comparison, on this train, the batteries can power every system, including lighting, air compressors, control circuits and traction. And, should the sun hide its face for a while, they'll gain energy from the grid's green arm. One diesel engine has been removed and replaced with an electric drive package. The remaining diesel engine is staying on-board for to provide emergency back up in the case of an electrical glitch. The Byron Bay Railroad Company's services operate from 8am to 10pm daily from January. For more information, visit byronbaytrain.com.au.
A long time go, we all used to be friends with Veronica Mars. But if you haven't thought of the teenage private eye drama lately at all (or had its Dandy Warhols-sung theme tune stuck in your head), prepare for that to change. The show initially lasted three seasons across 2004–2007, then set a crowdfunding record to get a movie off the ground in 2014, and even spawned two novels and a web series spin-off after that. Now, it looks set to make a small-screen comeback. While everything from Daria to Buffy the Vampire Slayer seems to be getting a reboot lately, Veronica Mars follows in the footsteps of Twin Peaks — as Variety reports, it'll be a revival featuring original cast members, rather than a new effort that remakes the same concept with different folks and starts all over again with its narrative. And yes, crucially, Ms Mars herself will return, with Kristen Bell poised to resume the role that brought her to fame. Hulu, the streaming platform that turned The Handmaid's Tale into the phenomenon that it is, is behind the eight-episode new season. The deal hasn't yet been finalised for Neptune's favourite blonde-haired, pint-sized sleuth to start solving mysteries again; however it looks like it's a matter of when rather than if. Veronica Mars creator and writer Rob Thomas (no, not that one) is also set to return, and Deadline notes that conversations have been had with cast members other than Bell. Just what the storyline will be, which of Veronica's ex-boyfriends will re-emerge and what cases will need solving haven't been revealed — but, given that the original show featured appearances from Amanda Seyfried, Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat and Michael Cera, Buffy's Alyson Hannigan and Charisma Carpenter, New Girl's Max Greenfield, Thor: Ragnarok's Tessa Thompson and more, you can probably expect a few familiar faces to pop up. One thing that the new series will definitely have to do is work around Bell's schedule on sitcom The Good Place, although that just means she'll be on your TV screen twice as often. Via Variety.
The Night Poodle Markets is making its grand debut at this year's Melbourne Night Noodle Markets. So, if you've got a fur baby you'd like to flaunt, this is your pup's chance to shine. Hosted for one-night-only on Sunday, November 13, the inaugural Paw Parade – presented by Scratch – will feature a dazzling pink runway for all adorable canines to walk down. All doggos will be judged on character, costumes and cuteness by none other than Drag Queen, Sam T. In addition, dogs and their owners will be treated to a mini photo session at the dedicated photo wall, as well as free samples of Scratch's dog food and treats presented in a limited-edition doggy noodle box. Keeping in theme with the family-friendly occasion, Night Noodle Markets will also launch its first Family Day on Saturday, November 19 at 4pm. For three hours, the event will include a bubble artist, a magician, stage entertainment, yard games and a free kids' face painting session with Sparkly Sue. To register your pup for the Paw Parade, head over to this link for more details. Do also check out the Night Noodle Markets 2022 website to see what to expect from Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 27. [caption id="attachment_876884" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Night Noodle Markets - Supplied[/caption] Top image: Night Noodle Markets — supplied
Thanks to the global pandemic and international border closures, the humble staycation is trending — hard. And Melburnians keen to jump onboard and enjoy a fancy local travel adventure of their own can now save themselves a few extra dollars in the process. For a short time, 14 of the city's luxury hotels are offering guests a second night's accommodation for free, as part of the new FOMO Hotel Experience program from the City of Melbourne and the Accommodation Association. Fancy a weekend living it up in the Paris end of the city, at the historic Hotel Windsor? Or, perhaps you'd like to indulge in a mini-break at the brand new Quincy Hotel on Flinders Lane? Now you can do so without parting with too much of your hard-earned cash, scoring one night's stay free, as well as various other package extras like free parking, complimentary breakfast and a free drink in the onsite bar. Other participating hotels offering the staycation deal include top-shelf options like the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Lancemore Crossley Street, The Sebel Melbourne Docklands and both Brady Hotels locations. No slumming it here, that's for sure. To access the FOMO offer, jump over to the City of Melbourne website to see your options. Then, click through to book two nights at your hotel of choice. Yes, a reminder: you will need to pay for one night to claim your freebie. You'll need to be quick though, as the deal can only be redeemed on stays during April 2021. And, because a scheme like this was always going to be popular, availability for some venues is already filling up fast. For more details about the City of Melbourne's FOMO Hotel Experience, head to the website. Images: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, by Josie Withers for Visit Victoria
So you've experienced another winter, and it's safe to say we're all ready to shed our layers and head outdoors for some quality time in the sun. Instead of sticking to your favourite beach or local park in the warmer days ahead, why not venture a little further afield and explore NSW's countryside? Spanning ocean and desert, NSW boasts an abundance of local food, live music and breath-taking nature to take in. From the lush Hunter Valley vineyards to the dusty flats of Broken Hill, there are festivals and events for every taste. And it's all happening in spring, the season that isn't as hot or busy as summer. Do you need any more convincing? Without some planning, however, your next three months are going to look a little dull. To help you out, we've pulled off our winter mittens for good, and teamed up with Destination NSW to put together a handy list of road trip-worthy events to attend with your entourage, just in time for the sun to reveal its glorious face.
Remember a few weeks ago when we told you that New York City were #blessed by the birth of the XL xiao long bao? Remember how we all collectively freaked out and thought 'that's a thing that I want!'? Well, prepare thy loins for a summer of hot, soupy spills because the XL XLB is hittin' Sydney and Melbourne — hotter, bigger and soupier than ever. Din Tai Fung, known for their general dumpling prowess and cute, Chinese New Year themed animal dumplings, are the proud parents of Australia's first super-sized dump dump. Just like their American counterpart, the Din Tai Fung XLB is designed to be sucked up with a straw, so bulbous with soup is she. They'll be serving them for $8.90 a pop throughout November — but unfortunately not at their café court venues. This meal deserves a sit-down experience. For the uninitiated, prepare to have your world rocked. The xiao long bao is a steamed, soupy dumpling filled with a flavoursome broth and a pork and prawn filling. They usually come in mouth-sized portions but Din Tai Fung will be serving them up at seven times their usual size (hence the need for a straw). Grab 'em from November 1 to November 30 at Din Tai Fung World Square, Central Park, Westfield Chatswood and Westfield Miranda in Sydney, and at Emporium in Melbourne.
