Back in August, Webjet gave Australian travellers a mighty great reason to book a holiday in the Northern Territory: super-discounted flights to Uluru and Alice Springs starting at $15. Fancy hitting up Darwin instead, or using it as a base to explore the rest of the Red Centre? Now the booking site is doing a flight sale on fares to the NT's capital city, with prices from $19 one-way. For less than a lobster, you can indeed fly from Adelaide to Darwin — and fares obviously vary depending on your departure city. They're still cheap from much of the east coast, though, including starting at $20 from Brisbane, $35 from Sydney and $56 from Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_868754" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism NT, Helen Orr[/caption] The whole sale includes $150 off one-way trips, which is where those budget-friendly prices come from. From some cities, the end cost isn't quite as cheap, however — costing $122 from Hobart, $159 from Perth and $169 from Darwin. Still, if you're the kind of person who picks their getaway spots based on travel bargains, then this might be the sign you were looking for. You've got until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, September 15 to book, or until sold out. Booking ASAP is recommended, because some fares might be snapped up earlier. [caption id="attachment_868753" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism NT, Backyard Bandits[/caption] The sale covers trips to Darwin for travel between September 2022 — yes, this month — through to March 2023. Fancy a spring jaunt to the middle of the country? Making summer plans to help cope with the last of the winter chill? Know that you'll be craving an early-autumn break next year? They're all options. One key caveat: the discounted prices are available for inbound flights only, so you won't receive the same discount to come home. Webjet's Darwin sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, September 15, or earlier if sold out. First top image: Tiwi Island Retreat, Tourism NT.
Dubstep? Fuhgeddaboudit. Call me biased (I am a Kiwi, so you're probably right) but New Zealand artists have been making big waves recently in musical fields that have nothing to do with dubstep or flying anything, whether Conchords or Nuns. Here are ten of our favourites, which while in name might seem alarming (hello Cut Off Your Hands and Die! Die! Die!) are really very pleasant to listen to. https://youtube.com/watch?v=c-36lCKovBg 1. UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA One of the best things to come our of New Zealand in the early '00s was The Mint Chicks, an experimental noise rock/schizo-pop trio who once played a gig so loud that part of the St James Theatre complex actually fell down. The psychedelic spin-off formed by Ruban Nielson is just as good, albeit a little lighter on the ears. https://youtube.com/watch?v=gQSiiNrW8P4 2. OPOSSUM Ruban's brother Kody (also ex Mint Chicks) own pop-sych project is Opossum, a more polished musical venture that also features Michael Logie and solo singer Bic Runga. See the video for single 'Blue Meanies' above, which comes from their excellent just-released album Electric Hawaii and features Kiwi model/ultimate babe Zippora Seven, and see them live this Friday in support of Jinja Safari. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sIDCRga1LjI 3. LAWRENCE ARABIA Blending the quintessentially Kiwi sounds of Flying Nun with influences ranging from classical songwriting to 1970s West Coast Americana, James Milne played bass in The Brunettes and the Ruby Suns before his alter ego Lawrence Arabia was born. His quirky low-key songs have earned him praise in New Zealand for years, but it was a move to London (and a job selling Kiwi goods to homesick expats) that allowed him to gain global recognition. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Uq7aVOzRQow 4. ELECTRIC WIRE HUSTLE Wellington's Electric Wire Hustle have created a rather unique sound fusing hip hop, psychedelica, funk and soul. They're currently giving Europe a taste of their famously colourful live show (the Northern Hemisphere jumped on board the EWH bandwagon back in 2007), but unfortunately their Australian shows are considerably more sporadic. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LAJBwXcexxc 5. CUT OFF YOUR HANDS Cut Off Your Hands find influences in both the late '70s post-punk of Talking Heads and Gang of Four and the poppier sound encapsulated by the aforementioned Mint Chicks and This Night Creeps. The five-piece employ busy musical textures and soft harmonies to create a sound far more pleasant than the name suggests. Late last year the band toured Australia off the back of their album Hollow, which was recorded in Brent Harris' Auckland bedroom and mixed in Sydney. https://youtube.com/watch?v=46A3fqahGlM 6. SURF CITY Don't be confused by the name, Surf City has little to do with the also-good-but-different sound of Wavves, Best Coast, Beach Fossils and Surfer Blood. They were originally called Kill Surf City before they found out another band had already seized that tag, and while the earlier name is a bit sinister it's well suited to the darker, janglier spin they put on an indie surf rock sound. We're eagerly awaiting the follow up to 2010's Kudos. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bsAAZwLPGBg 7. THE VIETNAM WAR 'High Window' is a single from Auckland's alt-country kids The Vietnam War. Though a debut effort the album rattles along like a rollicking, jovial, booze-stained war veteran (in the best way possible), and the video injects some welcome roadside Americana into the Kiwiana outfit. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EKlm-PM-hMc 8. GLASS VAULTS Two boys from rural Manawatu who met at university in Wellington, Richard Larsen and Rowan Pierce make lush textural pop that sounds like nothing else coming out of the windy city. They are best known for 2010's Glass EP (and for recording it on Rowan's grandmother's farm) but new single 'Crystallise', the first offering from their upcoming debut album, promises that the best is yet to come. https://youtube.com/watch?v=4Jf4dwzTx_c 9. DIE! DIE! DIE! Thought their roots are in hardcore punk and their vocals deliciously abrasive, Die! Die! Die! put their own twist on noise pop with rhythms and drums that are both tight and danceable. As indefatigable as their name suggests, these guys are relentless at the gigging in between spitting out albums and will be playing a particularly exciting show at The Standard on Thursday 23 August. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1fdwOd5ACyU 10. STREET CHANT Street Chant has been gigging around Auckland's K Road since 2007, brought into being by a teenage binge drinker, a girl who hated her current band and the fully sick drummer from Don Julio and the Hispanic Mechanic. Since then their sharp, ballsy brand of punk has been winning over fans everywhere from Auckland to Texas, where they drew a massive crowd playing SXSW with The Naked and Famous. The girls also have super rad wardrobes.
Step into your local arthouse theatre these days and you'd be hard pressed not to find a regional film festival going on. From established cinematic powerhouses like France, Germany and Japan, to less spotlighted industries such as Poland, Indonesia and Serbia, the sheer amount of world cinema on the cultural calendar means there's almost always an alternative to the latest blockbuster out of Hollywood. As long as you don't mind reading subtitles, that is. In 2014, the line-up is getting that little bit more crowded, with the inaugural edition of a brand new festival highlighting the films from Europe's frozen north. Covering Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, the first annual Scandinavian Film Festival is set to put the kvikmynd in kvikmyndahátíð. One area where contemporary Scandinavian cinema really seems to excel is the crime genre. Case in point, the Easy Money trilogy, starring Joel 'RoboCop' Kinnaman as a uni student turned drug runner. All three films will screen at the festival — see them before the scheduled US reboot featuring Zac Efron. From across the bridge in Denmark, meanwhile, comes police thriller The Keeper of Lost Causes, one the highest grossing films at the Danish box office last year. Continuing the dramatic thread, Metalhead, out of Iceland, tells the story of a pre-teen girl who copes with her brother's accidental death by taking on his identity. Sounds a little strange, sure, but the film has drawn rave reviews on the international festival circuit and scored a record-breaking 16 nominations at Iceland's prestigious Edda Awards. Thankfully, despite the region's chilly climate, not everything on the program is so severe. Finland's August Fools is a rom-com set against a Cold War era backdrop, while opening night features the informatively titled Swedish comedy The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. For more information about the Scandinavian Film Festival, visit their website.
With both the Indie Beer Showcase and Good Beer Week sadly axed from our calendars this year, organisers have headed online to host a series of virtual beer events instead. And these ones you can enjoy anywhere, any time — heck, even pants-free, if you fancy. Streamed via the Independent Brewers Association YouTube channel, each of these online tasting parties celebrates a different Aussie craft brewery, led by a brewer or key member of the team. They'll chat about a few signature beers, discuss what goes into making them, give an insight into the world of brewing and maybe even offer a sneak-peek at some future releases. The Good Beer Week Facebook page gives a heads-up as to who'll be hitting screens next, so you can stock up in advance at the bottle shop or get that beer delivery sorted. The live stream schedule is fairly loose, though videos are mostly run during prime drinking times like after work on Fridays and Saturday afternoons. That said, the sessions are all kept up on YouTube so you can revisit later at your leisure — tune in any time you're in the mood for a tipple and some beer talk. Image: Simon Shiff
Melbourne has been a real pageant queen lately, having now been crowned Miss Most Liveable City for seven years in a row. We've all seen the glossy shots of laneway cafes and Federation Square that we're known for, and it's true that Melbourne looks great under the sun. But locals know that after dark is when Melbourne truly shines. The city's nightlife is the best on offer in Australia at the moment, and with public transport running all night on weekends, you can enjoy it even more. Instead of waiting out surges, jostling for cabs or sharking innocent pedestrians in an attempt to nab a park, jump on a late-night tram, train or bus and own the night. There's so much on offer at all hours of the eve, and we've got some tips to help you get to know the darker side of Melbourne. SUNSET AT THE BEACH Start your night by jumping on the 96 tram and heading to St Kilda beach. Grab an ice cream or pastry along Acland Street (don't worry about eating dessert before dinner — there are no rules tonight) and head to the sand to sit back and watch as the sun goes down and Luna Park lights up. People-watching is the name of the game here, and dusk is the time of day when all the kookiest subjects come out to play. COCKTAILS AND JAPANESE WITH A TWIST When you've brushed all the sand out of your crevices, it's time to eat. Jump on the 5 tram to Chapel Street, get off at stop 32, and wander down Chapel Street as it comes alive for the dinner rush. Head to Mr Miyagi for dinner, a southside favourite. They don't take bookings for groups of five or less, which is excellent news for cocktail lovers. Wait for your table in their adjacent bar, Yukie's, and sample from their experimental cocktail menu — try the salted watermelon martini garnished with Midori-infused faux olives. Once you're installed at Mr Miyagi's, try their signature snack: the salmon nori taco with grilled salmon belly, sushi rice and spicy mayo, all wrapped up in a seaweed case. Excellent fuel for the long night ahead. POST-DINNER ROOFTOP FEATURE Once you're sufficiently stuffed, prepare your bod for a digestive respite. Head to Windsor Station to get the train to Flinders Street Station. From there, jump on a tram heading up Swanston Street (heck yeah, free tram zone), get off at Bourke Street Mall and head to Rooftop Cinema. For the next few months, they'll be running a cinema program on the roof of the Curtin House building. It features a good mix of cult classics, new releases, deckchairs and a killer view of the city — it's the perfect intermission for your late-night antics. POOL, CRAZY MILKSHAKES OR AFTER-HOURS BOWLS Once you've fully digested both film and food, it's time to kick it up a notch. You have a few options. Take the 86 or 96 trams out to Fitzroy and stop in at the Red Triangle Pool Hall on Argyle Street. Play a few games of pool, and to keep it interesting, make it so the loser buys the winner one of Red Triangle's disgustingly indulgent milkshakes. But if you like your balls close to the ground, stay on the tram a little longer and head up to Fitzroy Bowls Club — it stays open until 10pm and is fully licensed. We recommend booking ahead to guarantee your spot. MIDNIGHT CBD BAR HOPPING Once you're deep in the night, jump on the 86 or 96, and head back into the city. From here, you can choose your own adventure depending on how you feel. We recommend Boilermaker House on Lonsdale for excellent craft beer; Heartbreaker on Russell for pizza, dancing and more pool; Siglo on Spring Street for pure class; Gin Palace down Russell Place for quiet, sexy ambience; or New Guernica to get heavy. Or better yet, take advantage of that free tram zone and stop in at them all. LATE NIGHT KARAOKE No late night is complete without a spot of karaoke. If you need privacy to belt out your heartfelt rendition of When Doves Cry (no judgement — we respect your craft), head to KBOX on La Trobe and book yourself a booth. If you know no shame and want the world to hear your siren song, head to Jankara Karaoke. This tiny, weird karaoke bar on Russell Street is always packed full of people who have no business doing karaoke, but who do it anyway and with unbridled enthusiasm. [caption id="attachment_639262" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Anwyn Howarth.[/caption] EVENING'S END EATS When the night is wrapping up, the sun is peeping over the horizon and you're in serious need of a snack, late night food options are abundant in the city. Shujinko on Russell is 24-hours and Stalactites, everyone's favourite late-night souvas slinger, is also open 'round the clock. And if you need a pick me up, Little Bean Blue on Little Collins opens at 6am, ready to caffeinate you so you don't fall asleep on the tram home — that's definitely not a good look. Whatever you're planning for the weekend, whether it's staying out after midnight or up until dawn, the Night Network will take you wherever you need to go — and then get you home again. Lead image: Brook James.
What do one of 2022's huge box-office behemoths and one of 2023's most-anticipated movies have in common? In Avatar: The Way of Water and the new live-action The Little Mermaid alike, darling it's better down where it's wetter. Come May, the Mouse House's latest remake of its beloved animated hits (see also: Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, Lady and the Tramp, Mulan, Pinocchio) will get Halle Bailey (Grown-ish) slipping into Ariel's scales and tail, and take a dip into the story of a mermaid pining for a different life. While it was busy dropping Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny trailers during the Super Bowl, Disney has just unveiled the latest sneak peek at the new The Little Mermaid — and, like the first glimpse in 2022, it's going big on look and feel. Given that viewers already know and adore the first flick, the trailers for the latest movie don't need to dive too far into the narrative, although the just-released second glance does bring a pivotal figure into the mix. [caption id="attachment_868655" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] Fans of the original 1989 movie, aka everyone given how popular The Little Mermaid-themed events have proven over the years — such as screenings with live orchestral scores and cocktail experiences at aquariums — are well aware that Ariel dreams of being human, and is willing to make a deal with a sea witch to see her wishes come true. That involves a trade, though: giving up her voice to get legs in return, which'll allow her to live above the water. Accordingly, as well as Bailey as Ariel, this new version of The Little Mermaid features Jonah Hauer-King (The Flatshare) as Eric, the human prince that Ariel falls for; Javier Bardem (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) as King Triton, Ariel's protective father; and Melissa McCarthy (Nine Perfect Strangers) as Ursula, said sea witch — who pops up at the end of the new glimpse. Also among the cast, on voice duties: Daveed Diggs (Snowpiercer) as Sebastian the crab, Jacob Tremblay (Doctor Sleep) as Flounder and Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) as Scuttle. Based on the two trailers so far, this take on The Little Mermaid from filmmaker Rob Marshall (Chicago, Nine, Into the Woods and Mary Poppins Returns) and not Sofia Coppola promises vivid underwater realms, glowing light shining down from above, mermaid dances, bright coral, friendly fish and floating jellyfish — and the flick's star singing 'Part of Your World'. As for the tunes, they come courtesy of Alan Menken — returning from the original movie, as do all those old songs — and upcoming Australia visitor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Check out the new teaser trailer for The Little Mermaid below: The Little Mermaid will release in cinemas Down Under on May 25, 2023.
Memory is weird. Sometimes it makes sense and other times it runs in loops, unfinished and unresolved. Memorandum seeks to demonstrate the disconnection between memory and reality, and the strangeness of recollection itself. In this intimate and immersive piece, Kate Hunter explores the weirdness and unreliability of the mind. "I have this ongoing image on my mind from childhood of a number of people — grownups — who have nappies on. So I don’t know what that’s about." The show features Hunter retelling stories varying formats, all the while second guessing the truth of her memory. The topic was actually developed after Hunter spent four years researching cognitive neuroscience for her PHD in Performance Studies. Her performance is strong, her storytelling skills are admirable, and her memories (whether they are accurate or not) are fascinatingly obscure. However among the constantly changing and confusing dialogue, I struggled to find a richer meaning other than 'Goddamn it, why can’t I remember things better?' It would have been good to see a bit more of the scientific side of the concept, or at the very least, a deeper exploration of the concept. Part poetry, part physical theatre, part audio/visual show, Memorandum perhaps tries to cross too many theatre 'to dos' off the list. One that really got me was the microphone capturing Hunter’s breath. Perhaps it was an attempt to remind us of the frailty of the mind, or the life force that drives memory — but really it was just kind of distracting. Plus I hate bodily noises, so... Visually, the piece is beautiful. Hunter crawls through pools of light, stands amidst projections of herself and creates ghoulish shadows across the back wall. There is a particularly striking moment of audiovisual design where words trip down panels of cloth featuring projections of Hunter herself while she recalls yet another unbelievable story from her life. While the production looked good, and the stories were engaging, I didn’t feel particularly challenged by the piece, despite it making a statement I wasn’t sure I understood. However, with such a short work — just under an hour — it was simply a pleasure to be immersed in Hunter’s weird and wonderful mind. Photo credit: Leo Dale.
Yum cha takes a road trip to Southeast Asia for Rice Paper Scissors' Same Same But Different Good Food Month dinner. Harking to its Bangkok origins, the Fitzroy favourite will be plating up a twist on the usual yum cha concept — a drool-worthy prospect, as anyone who's ever wrapped their mouth around the restaurant's lively snacks will assure you. Diners will get to tuck into all the flavour-packed Thai fare their bellies can handle for $55, with plates delivered by tray service to the tables. Throw in a few of the bar's signature cocktails, and you've got yourself a pretty unique yum cha experience.
Australia has scored some pretty high-quality ice creams this summer. First, Peters and Messina teamed up for a limited-edition run of gourmet drumsticks. Now, Streets is getting onboard. It has just dropped a whole heap of vegan ice creams — and all its most-popular brands are involved. Vegan Magnums, Cornettos and Weis Bars, as well as four new dairy-free Ben & Jerry's tubs, have hit the freezer-aisle shelves in supermarkets and convenience stores nationally. The Magnums, available in either dairy-free Classic or Almond, are made using pea protein, which sounds kind of strange, but we're certainly willing to give them a crack. They're $4 each or $7 for a three. The Cornetto can be found exclusively at Woolworths and is made using soy ice cream, hazelnuts and vegan chocolate. They're $9 for a four-pack, but are currently on sale for $6 — so now's the time to try. Dairy-free Weis Bars comes in raspberry and coconut and will set you back $3.20 a pop (or $6.80 for four) while Ben & Jerry's new almond-milk based flavours ($12 for a pint — that's about 475ml) feature fudge brownie, cinnamon buns, peanut butter and cookies and something called the Coconut Seven Layer Bar, which is filled with fudge chunks, walnuts and swirls of graham cracker and caramel. Check out the vegan Almond Magnum and Cornetto in all their dairy-free glory: If you're a Halo Top fan, you'll be happy to know that Ben & Jerry's has also dropped a line of low-cal tubs — chocolate cookies, caramel cookie and peanut butter cookie dough — which clock in at 150–160 cals a pop for 115ml. They're also $12 each and can be found at Coles, petrol stations and convenience stores nationally. There's no word on how long these dairy-free delights are going to hang around for (we're hoping they're in for the long haul) but just in case — run, don't walk. Vegan Magnums, Weis Bars and new Ben & Jerry's tubs can now be found at supermarkets and convenience stores around the country. The Vegan Cornetto is available at Woolworths only.
Calling all Baby Yoda fans: the cutest little Jedi in a galaxy far, far away will be back on your screens come autumn. After streaming its second season back in 2020, The Mandalorian has been absent for a couple of years — and its adorable Grogu with it — but that'll finally change come Wednesday, March 1. As part of a spate of big announcements at Brazil Comic Con, including dropping trailers for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Disney has revealed the pivotal news that Star Wars devotees have been waiting for. With Andor wrapping up its first season, Disney+ viewers currently have a gap in their streaming schedules, but only for a couple of months. If you've somehow missed it before now, the Emmy-nominated show follows the titular bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent); however, it's his encounter with a fuzzy little creature first known as The Child, affectionately named Baby Yoda by everyone watching, and officially called Grogu, that's always had everyone talking. So, it comes as zero surprise that one of the Star Wars universe's best-ever double acts keeps being pushed into the spotlight — including when The Mandalorian dropped its first season-three trailer a few months back. That sneak peek confirmed Din Djarin and Grogu's big reunion, picking up where The Book of Boba Fett left off. But the events of the pair's past streaming adventures have consequences, including seeing The Mandalorian disowned by his fellow Mandalorians. It wouldn't be a Star Wars series if everyone got along — the 'wars' part is right there in the franchise name, after all. Accordingly, the first teaser nods to the obligatory battles, as well as the fallout when its namesake doesn't actually have that title any more. Oh, and plenty of Grogu, naturally. The Mandalorian and Grogu return March 1 only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/h0NrVMIT4V — The Mandalorian (@themandalorian) December 1, 2022 Yes, the Star Wars universe certainly does sprawl far and wide these days, both within its tales and in its many different movies, shows, books and games. When this one first arrived in 2019, it started its story five years after Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi. Also on offer across its run so far: a cast that's included everyone from Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), Carl Weathers (Toy Story 4), Taika Waititi and iconic filmmaker Werner Herzog through to Timothy Olyphant (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), Rosario Dawson (DMZ), Katee Sackhoff (Another Life) and Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett. Check out the first trailer for The Mandalorian season three below: The Mandalorian's third season will hit Disney+ on Wednesday, March 1. Images: ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
When it comes to street art exhibitions, it really doesn't get any bigger than this. A retrospective of Banksy's work is making its way to Australia, featuring more than 80 of the artist's off-street masterpieces. From October 7 to January 22, The Paddock in Melbourne's Federation Square will play host to The Art of Banksy, a massive collection of pieces by the art world's chief enigma — including the darkly satirical, overtly political work that has turned the stencil-loving artist into such an infamous icon. Endeavouring to take audiences on a journey through Banksy's output and mindset, the exhibition will include the well-known Girl with Balloon, Flag Wall and Laugh Now pieces, as well as three efforts that have never before been displayed to the public. If it sounds epic, that's because it is. The art featured has been sourced from over 40 different private collectors around the world, and comprises the largest showcase of Banksy pieces to ever make its way to our shores. As curated by the artist's former manager Steve Lazarides, the exhibition is also a little controversial. While every piece is original, unique and authentic, The Art of Banksy proudly boasts that the entire show is 100 percent unauthorised. No, Banksy hasn't signed off on the event. As well as displaying Banksy's work in a custom-built enclosure, The Art of Banksy will also shine a light on a range of pieces by well-known and emerging local street artists. Expect to find them on the surrounding external surfaces and the inside walls of the exhibition's own Circle Bar, which will serve craft beers and cocktails. Outside, the Welcome to Thornbury team will corral a heap of food trucks into an area called 'The Railyard'. Plus, on Friday nights and Saturday arvos, DJs will also provide appropriate tunes to suit the occasion. Of course, Melburnians will know that this isn't the mysterious figure's first dalliance with the city. The artist's stencils have popped up around the city previously courtesy of a visit in 2003, though many have been destroyed and damaged in the years since. [competition]591262[/competition]
For local whisky lovers, Christmas has come early, as CBD bar Whisky & Alement cracks open its prized cellar for the public to shop — for the first time in eight years. Featuring a mind-blowing collection of rare and covetable whiskies, this treasure trove is the result of years of careful scouting by owners Brooke Hayman and Julian White. And now it's ripe for the picking, open to the public by request in the lead-up to Christmas. It'll complement the already hefty selection of single malts available from the Whisky & Alement bottle shop, with White on-hand during weekdays offering his expert guidance. The lineup runs to hard-to-find drops, discontinued product and bottles not normally available outside of the distilleries where they were made. Some of the most exciting stuff includes a super rare 2013 Japanese number called Ichiro's Malt Port Pipe, and a 24-year-old single cask iteration from the since demolished North Port distillery in Brechin. Find the ultimate Christmas pressie for the whisky fiend in your life, or treat your own damn self to something a bit special for the festive season. Best get in quick though. Whisky & Alement is open from 4pm every day (except for Saturdays, when it opens at 7pm) at 270 Russell Street, Melbourne. For more information, visit the Facebook page.
That feeling you get when a decades-old band either reforms its classic lineup and hits the road, or tours your way with a huge history behind them, kickstarting all those nostalgic old memories? If you're blink-182 fan, you'll know the right words for that: well I guess this is growing up. Actually, if you're a blink-182 fan, you'll be feeling all of the above right now. The group's best-known lineup is indeed back together, with Tom DeLonge rejoining Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker to play together for the first time in nearly a decade. They're heading around the world on a massive tour, and yes, as part of that, they're coming to Australia and New Zealand. 'Coming' is the theme of the announcement video the band put together to reveal the news — so if you're already wondering "what's my age again?", there's another reason for that train of thought. In much of the world everybody will like seeing blink-182 live again in 2023; however, Down Under, that'll happen in February 2024. DeLonge, Hoppus and Barker — with Rise Against in support — will start their Australian run in Perth, then head to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. In NZ, they're playing two shows: Auckland and Christchurch. For three decades, blink-182 have been the voice inside punk and rock fans' heads, especially in the late 90s and early 00s thanks to albums Enema of the State and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. Now that they're back together after DeLonge left the band in 2015, blink-182 are also recording new music together, with single 'Edging' releasing on Friday, October 14. Expect to hear everything from 'Dammit', 'Josie' and 'What's My Age Again?' to 'All the Small Things' and 'I Miss You' live, though — and yes, the latter feels oh-so-apt right now. BLINK-182 2024 AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR: Friday, February 9 — RAC Arena, Perth Sunday, February 11 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Tuesday, February 13 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Friday, February 16 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Monday, February 19 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, February 23 — Spark Arena, Auckland Monday, February 26 — Christchurch Arena, Christchurch Blink-182 will tour Australia and New Zealand in February 2024. Blink-182 fan club pre-sales start at 12pm on Thursday, October 13, with Live Nation and Spotify pre-sales from 1pm on Wednesday, October 19 — and general sales from 1pm on Thursday, October 20 (all local time). For more information, head to the Live Nation website. Top image: Jack Bridgland.
Sydney will play host to the best bartenders in the world next year, when the 11th annual Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final heads Down Under. If you haven't heard of it, the competition pits the best bartenders from over 60 countries against each other. Apart from the main tournament, the competition includes a week-long festival of pop-ups, collaborations and tastings. So, while nothing has been announced just yet, expect Sydney to be buzzing with exciting one-off events come next spring. Launched in 2009, the competition boasts some notable local winners, including Bulletin Place's Tim Philips-Johansson (2012) and, most recently, Lûmé's Orlando Marzo (2018). This year's World Class, held in Glasgow, featured another Aussie finalist: Alex Boon — the lauded bar manager at the Melbourne instalment of The Speakeasy Group's famed Viking-inspired restaurant Mjolner. Bannie Kang of Singapore bar Antidote took out the top gong for 2019. [caption id="attachment_721694" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bulletin Place by Cesar Echeverri[/caption] The competition comes to Sydney at an exciting time, too, with Sydney's lockout laws set to be scrapped in the CBD early next year and the City of Sydney planning to introduce 24-hour trading in the area. The CBD is also home to an exciting lineup of new bars — including Maybe Sammy, Employees Only, Prince of York, Cantina OK! and Double Deuce Lounge — which have all opened in the last twelve months, and join world-class stalwarts like Bulletin Place, The Baxter Inn, The Lobo Plantation and PS40. The 11th annual Diego World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final will take place in Sydney in 2020. For more information and to stay up to date, head to the website. Top image: World Class 2018 winners, Orlando Marzo and Alex Boon.
Just when you thought IKEA had ruined enough relationships with its 'easy-to-follow' 'three-step' 'anyone-can-do-it' DIY furniture, they're now giving punters the opportunity to do it all again over dinner. The Swedish company will next week launch The Dining Club, a pop-up 'DIY' restaurant on London's Shoreditch High Street. If you're thinking a 'DIY restaurant' sounds a little suss — it is. It's like a restaurant in that there will be tables, chairs and food, but less like one in that you have to cook the meal yourself. There will be a sous chef and maître de on-hand to help out though. The whole thing is meant to allow punters to have "an intimate foodie experience in a homely kitchen environment", according to a statement on IKEA's website. Sittings will run for brunch, lunch and dinner, and will feature "a range of modern sharing dishes, including some Scandinavian classics" — which we'll take to mean meatballs will totally be on the menu. The whole experience — including the food, drinks and service — is free of charge but there's only 38 up for grabs in a ballot-like system. Hopeful hosts can register their interest (which includes dreaming up a creative answer to 'who would you invite?') and, if selected by the IKEA gods, can bring along 7-19 friends. Earlier this year IKEA announced it will finally launch an online store for Australian customers — so who knows, maybe a pop-up kitchen will be coming our way too? The Dining Club will run from September 10-25 at 3-10 Shoreditch High Street, London. If you're in London, you can register your interest for a booking at ikeathediningclub.com. Image: Jay Wennington.
With so many fantastic places to visit around the world, it's often hard to decide where to possibly go. A covetable experience wherever you go, is to see something so breathtakingly beautiful, it almost feels surreal. As hard as you may try, no description is quite adequate and you lock this memory away for times when you desire a happy moment and can revel in the images in your mind. With so many websites and travel books available today, it's hard to know where to start looking or whose opinion to take as gospel. We listen to total strangers on TripAdvisor, Thorn Tree and Expedia, look at friend's photos on Facebook (with smart phones we can see it at almost the same time they do), use the good old Lonely Planet, or go for guides that are catered to the stylish individual, like Wallpaper. There is one authority that doesn't follow the fashion or try to sell you heavy tomes. The very first authority on beauty and travel I ever heard about, when I was still a litte'un at school, and the ultimate title to wear - the Miss World of destinations if you will - is the Seven Wonders of the World, or the New7Wonders as it's called on the web. The process of creating the most recent list has been going on since 2007, during which time anyone could suggest sites they thought were natural wonders. Then the choices were voted on, and more than a million were tallied to cut the list of more than 440 contenders in over 220 countries to a shortlist of 77. It was then cut to 28 by a panel of experts. The provisional list of the final seven is below. Check them out and dream of holidays until the final results are announced early in 2012. Halong Bay, Vietnam Iguazu Falls, Argentina Jeju Island, South Korea Komodo, Indonesia Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines The Amazon rainforest Table Mountain, South Africa
Now a decade and a half in — and 28 films, too, plus seven new TV series that've hit queues in the last 18 months — the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an ever-expanding pop-culture behemoth. Sometimes it can be spectacular, as with Black Panther and Thor: Ragnarok. Sometimes it's dispiritingly routine, as seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The MCU keeps shining bright popularity-wise, though, so much so that it's now telling its own tales about how it's so popular. In Ms Marvel, it even focuses on a Marvel superfan, heads to a Marvel fan convention and revels in worshipping at its own altar. Yes, we've reached the point in the biggest current franchise there is where the MCU is overtly and openly celebrating itself within its own on-screen stories — and celebrating the people who celebrate the MCU. Here, Marvel also shows its characters frothing over the very saga they're appearing in, homemade costumes whipped up for cosplay contests and all. That sounds like something out of the supremely non-Marvel superhero satire The Boys, but it's now an IRL status quo. And yet, with new streaming series Ms Marvel — which started its six-episode run on Disney+ on Wednesday, June 8 — all this Marvel self-fandom thankfully doesn't just feel like a massive corporation patting itself on the back in an expensive splash of self-congratulations. One of the reasons that Ms Marvel works: it's a series about a Marvel devotee because it's a coming-of-age series. Today's teens have grown up with the MCU, so a show about a 16-year-old finding her place in the world — with and without powers — can easily acknowledge that fact. The comic-book company isn't being meta or reflective. Rather, as non-Marvel fellow Disney+ release Turning Red was, Ms Marvel is about a teenage girl working out who she is and what she wants to be, and also how that process is shaped by what she loves. Pakistani American Kamala Khan (debutant Iman Vellani) happens to be obsessed with Marvel, and with Captain Marvel (Brie Larson, Just Mercy). Ms Marvel's first two episodes largely set the scene, establishing the MCU's second new-to-screens character in as many Disney+ programs after Moon Knight. Kamala lives in Jersey City with her parents Yusuf (Mohan Kapur, Bullets) and Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff, The Affair) — one friendly, the other strict — plus her elder brother Aamir (Saagar Shaikh, Unfair & Ugly). As well as palling around with her mates Bruno (Matt Lintz, The Walking Dead) and Nakia (Yasmeen Fletcher, Let Us In), often while talking about the Avengers, Kamala makes stop-motion videos fuelled by her Marvel mania. She also wants to do more than her mother allows, such as attending an Avengers convention dressed up as her hero, which Muneeba deems inappropriate. Deepening this tale about a teen desperate to follow her heart — a story that's hardly unique — is how wonderfully culturally specific Ms Marvel proves. The titular character is Marvel's first Muslim superhero, and this TV series embraces Kamala's heritage, as well as the stresses that come with being the American-born child of immigrant parents who want her to take advantage of their adopted home while remaining steadfastly true to their culture. Yes, Bend It Like Beckham did something similar first, just with soccer in Britain rather than superhero devotion in the US. That doesn't make Ms Marvel any less astute and affecting, however, including when it examines Kamala's layered relationship with her family and their expectations, and balancing caped-crusader fandom with tradition, religion and Pakistani pop culture. Of course, if Kamala's on-screen debut was only about a Marvel-loving high schooler with recognisable adolescent woes — even welcomely culturally apt ones — it wouldn't exist. Amid the yearning and rebellion, and just being a Pakistani American teen, arrives superpowers that are a literal dream come true for such a MCU stan. But Kamala doesn't know why she can suddenly create floating energy fields, shooting them a bit like Spider-Man slings webs, or where her abilities stem from. While that setup isn't unique either, creator and head writer Bisha K Ali (Loki, Four Weddings and a Funeral) ties Kamala's tussle with her new skills to everything that makes her who she is. The broader embrace and exploration of her culture doesn't subside; indeed, thanks to family whisperings about the perils of indulging in fantasies, her heritage might be linked to her future path. The MCU has spun coming-of-age tales before, with not one, not two, but three Tom Holland-starring Spider-Man movies within the franchise. There's a touch of the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to Ms Marvel, though, in its infectiously joyous vibe. If the series wasn't as sincere as it is — and as charming, warm and fun as well — it could've easily felt too calculating. Marvel does like to try other genres on for size, often moulding them to fit the house style, and Ms Marvel might've done the same with teen dreams and high-school hijinks. Indeed, it still may have played out that way if its lead casting wasn't so spot-on. Surprisingly given how much of a natural she is in front of the camera, and in the role, Vellani is an on-screen newcomer — and an utter delight. Just as the unrelated Conversations with Friends benefited from casting a new talent without any past credits, Ms Marvel is all the better for having its lead come to the part without any film and TV baggage. But being a fresh face navigating such a sprawling realm isn't why Vellani is so engaging. She's at home selling the show's comedy and drama alike, and its diehard Marvel devotion and adolescent angst as well, and making it all feel as lived in and genuine as the MCU has ever managed. That this miniseries is a lead up to 2023 big-screen release The Marvels, where Vellani will return as Kamala, is gloriously great news as a result. It'll team her up with Larson as Carol Danvers, plus WandaVision's Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau — and, if Ms Marvel is any indication, it's hopefully poised to be much better than the lacklustre Captain Marvel. Check out the trailer for Ms Marvel below: Ms Marvel streams via Disney+ from Wednesday, June 8, with episodes dropping weekly. Images: ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Craft breweries abound in Melbourne, giving locals endless opportunities to sample straight from the source. But it doesn't get much fresher than Burnley Brewing where the brews flow directly from the onsite Brite tanks within days of when it's crafted. There are ten taps pouring a range of seasonal house beers, running from fruit driven sours, to hoppy US-style ales, to gutsy barrel-aged Russian imperial stouts. If beer isn't your thing, there's also a curated wine list, designed by the minds behind Toorak Cellars and Milton Wine Bar, offering a selection of local wines. The food menu is inspired by former resident Romulus and Remus: think pulled pork and beef lasagne and pasta dishes. American-inspired drinking snacks and late-night, vegan-friendly fare rounds out the food selection.
First, the bad news for Marvel Cinematic Universe fans: the reports about the big- and small-screen franchise starting to space out its output are coming to fruition with its next big streaming series Echo. Now, the good news: the five-part miniseries just released its first trailer, and promises rage, darkness, focusing on a superhero who is deaf, bringing back Kingpin and also dropping its entire season at once come January. Echo was previously locked in for a November release, as one of two MCU shows due to stream this spring. While the first series on that list, the second season of Loki, did indeed arrive as planned, Echo has now been pushed to 2024. Hopefully good things will come to those who wait, with this Hawkeye spinoff slated for Wednesday, January 10. While Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is at Echo's centre — as first seen in Hawkeye, she's the gang leader who is deaf that had Clint Barton in her sights for a stint of revenge — the show's debut trailer gives narrating duties to Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio, Dumb Money) to set a brooding tone. "You have so much pain in you, so much rage, that you can't contain it," says the character also seen in Hawkeye, and before that in Daredevil as well. "You and I are the same," Kingpin continues amid sound design that lives up to the show's moniker. When all five instalments of Echo hit at once, the series will enjoy a first for the MCU on streaming. As viewers who've been watching along since WandaVision's small-screen arrival know, Disney+ usually drops a few episodes at once for each MCU entry, then unfurls the rest weekly afterwards ‚ but this one will arrive all at once on the same day. Story-wise, Echo follows Maya as Kingpin's criminal empire chases her down — and as the initial sneak peek illustrates, that ties in with her past. So, yes, this is an origin story. Also featuring alongside Cox and D'Onofrio: Chaske Spencer (The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Run Woman Run), Graham Greene (The Last of Us) and Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds). Check out the trailer for Echo below: Echo will stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Images: Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.
The original Assassin's Creed video game was a sublime blend of world design, innovative mechanics and thrilling gameplay. While high-octane action was available, stealth was definitely favoured as the most useful mode of play, and almost always proved the most gripping. The game's story centred upon a technological breakthrough that allowed direct descendants of an ancient assassin's guild to revisit the memories of their ancestors, essentially re-living their darkest and most dangerous endeavours in order to ascertain the location of a long-lost relic. While some time was spent in the modern world, the lion's share was spent inside the machine, allowing the gamer to experience all the exhilaration of exploring and causing chaos in the age of Renaissance Europe. The film adaptation, by contrast, makes the same ill-conceived decision that doomed the third instalment of the Matrix trilogy, in that it spends far too much time in the real world at the expense of everything that made its source material so innovative and engaging. Worse, when inside the 'Animus', the focus is almost entirely on action, meaning there's almost none of the signature stealth assassination that made the gameplay so tense. Overly-coreographed and devoid of tension, these periodic action scenes depict the assassins as mostly ineffective killers who spend most of their time running away from far superior fighters. Perhaps the greatest disappointment, however, is that Assassin's Creed boasts an outstanding cast whose talents are almost entirely wasted. Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson and Charlotte Rampling are all tasked with delivering exposition-heavy drivel and/or cringeworthy clangers like "Welcome…to the Spanish Inquisition". Truly, the only line that earns a non-ironic laugh and feels genuine to both the film and the actor who delivers it comes about halfway through the film, when Fassbender looks around, laughs to himself and mutters: "What the fuck is going on?" You'd be hard-pressed to find a more fitting tagline to slap on the posters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfJVoF5ko1Y
Sit down for a drink at Amsterdam's Vesper, and your cocktail just might contain more than just alcohol, garnish, ice and mixers. As part of a waste-reducing initiative called Trash the Place!, the Dutch bar is recycling all food-related items that it can, finding imaginative ways to use them, and throwing it all in their beverages. "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is the fitting line of thinking behind it, which sees Vesper's bartenders recovering and re-using food offcuts that were otherwise destined for the garbage pile, particularly where fruit is involved. As the bar's Julian Bayuni told MUNCHIES, "for example, we use strawberries to make our own strawberry Campari.. [then] we filter the fruit out of the Campari and mix it with some mango, fresh tomato, cilantro, and onion to make a fermented salsa, which we serve with our tortilla chips." While operating in a more sustainable fashion is an ongoing focus, Vesper are specifically showcasing their creative, environmentally conscious concoctions until the end of September, with not only their staff getting in on the task, but guest bartenders from other Amsterdam establishments as well. In an industry that creates as much waste as hospitality, it's an inventive and inspiring step — and joins the likes of fellow Dutch venue De Fruithaven, who run on power generated by food waste, plus New Zealand-based vodka company 42BELOW, who've been turning leftover bar garnishes into hand soap. Via MUNCHIES. Image: Vesper.
In February, we announced that Melbourne could soon be home to the world's most sustainable shopping centre. This possibility is now one step closer to a reality as plans for the ground-breaking new shopping centre, and surrounding mixed-use community, have just been approved by council — and construction has, as of today, begun. A highlight of the shopping centre, which is expected to be completed by late 2019, will be a 2000-square-metre rooftop farm and restaurant designed by eco-warrior Joost Bakker (Greenhouse by Joost, Brothl) together with Frasers Property Australia. The rooftop's massive agricultural hub will sit within the complex's 12,700-square-metres of retail and hospitality space, with the urban farm split between greenhouse, external planter box and landscaped growing areas. Some of the sustainable elements Bakker plans to implement include a closed-loop water system, composting capability, and minimal transportation of food and waste. Inside the shopping centre, the sustainability continues with a solar-powered Woolworths, soft plastic recycling facilities and natural refrigerants, which aim to reduce the centre's carbon footprint. The shopping centre and rooftop space will be part of a mixed-used community Burwood Brickworks development — just 15 kilometres south of the Melbourne CBD in a former brickworks site. The development will be made up of 2.5 hectares of open space and parklands, community facilities and 700 homes, which are expected to hit the market as early as spring this year. The design of the wider mixed-use development will also focus on sustainability, using a large solar PV system and an embedded electricity network to target a minimum five-star green rating, with the aim of becoming Australia's first six-star Green Star Design — and to achieve Living Building Challenge accreditation. This accreditation is seriously hard to obtain and means the building must have a net zero carbon footprint, produce more electricity than it consumes, grow agriculture on 20 percent of the site, and prove net water and waste positive. It must also be constructed using non-toxic and recycled materials, and have other social benefits like access to natural daylight and indoor air quality. Once completed in October 2019, the Burwood Brickworks development will join the challenge to determine if it meets the criteria to be considered the world's most sustainable shopping centre. The Burwood Brickworks sustainable shopping centre is expected to be completed by late 2019, with the residential housing following in late 2020.
Two months ago, Australia and New Zealand finally introduced the trans-Tasman bubble, which allows folks from either country to travel across the ditch without needing to go into quarantine upon arrival. During that time, the arrangement has been suspended on several occasions on a state-by-state basis — including during Victoria's recent lockdown, and in response to New South Wales' current outbreak — and now, with COVID-19 cases growing across Australia, NZ has put a pause on the bubble nationwide. Announced on Saturday, June 26 and in effect until at least 11.59pm NZ time (9.59pm AEST) on Tuesday, June 29, the suspension applies to quarantine-free travel from all Aussie states and territories. The initial timeframe will span 72 hours, which is NZ's usual first step. Whether it extends that period or not will obviously depend on coronavirus case numbers. "There are now multiple cases and outbreaks in Australia in differing stages of containment and the health risk for New Zealand in response to these cases is increasing," said NZ COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins in a statement. "As a result, the Government has taken the precautionary step of temporarily widening the current pause with New South Wales to include all of Australia." https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1408712957630902282 When NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the two-way bubble between Australia and New Zealand back in April, she noted that it could and would be paused if and when outbreaks occur — so none of the suspensions so far, including this one, are surprising. The NZ Government advised that this current pause will not only give it "time to get a better understanding of the developing situation," but will also enable it "to consider the potential implementation of a range of measures to make the bubble safer, such as the introduction of pre-departure testing for all flights from Australia to New Zealand." At the moment, Sydney's Bondi cluster keeps growing, with 112 locally acquired cases reported as at 8pm on Saturday, June 26. The Greater Sydney area is currently in a two-week lockdown, while positive cases — some linked, some not — have also been reported in Queensland, Victoria, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Whether you're an Australian on holiday in NZ or a New Zealander who has recently returned from across the ditch, anyone now in NZ who has been in Australia since Friday, June 21 is asked to monitor their health, and keep an eye on the exposure sites lists in various Australian states — such as NSW, Victoria, Queensland, the NT and WA. You're also requested to contact NZ's Healthline if you experience any symptoms. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
If your state was just weeks away from legalising marijuana for recreational use, what plans would you be hatching? Well, one Californian winery has gone and created the world's first commercially available marijuana-infused sauvignon blanc. The winemakers at Rebel Coast Winery — who produce Californian blends and Sonoma chardonnay — have invented a wine that's infused with THC, the psychoactive element of cannabis. It's all ready to start shipping within California on January 1, 2018, which is when recreational marijuana becomes legal across the state. Infusing wine with cannabis is no new thing, but this is the first time is will be sold by official means. There is a difference though: THC and alcohol can't legally be mixed, so the winemakers have switched out the wine's booze content for 16 milligrams of THC per bottle. Apparently it "smells like weed, tastes like wine" and won't haunt you with a hangover the next day. And the high? As Rebel Coast explains on its website, "after one glass you won't be thinking your couch is a hippo with short legs or anything. Our goal is not to kill you after you've had a few glasses. The goal is to get giggly and naked with someone." Obviously recreational use of cannabis is not legal in Australia or New Zealand, so this sav blanc isn't either. However, both countries have recently legalised the consumption and sale of low-THC hemp food products.
Craft beer meets cocktails at this very boozy evening at Dingo's Bar in Collingwood. Presented by small-batch subscription service Club Brewing, this one-off event will showcase three specially made beer-based cocktails (they've teased that there might be a "beer spider") made with Club Brewing's limited-edition brews. Ticket-holders will get the chance to sample all three concoctions and will also get access discounted drinks for the rest of the night.
Mary Eats Cake celebrates the timeless tradition of pairing a nice cuppa with some delicious small bites, calling it a "high tea" and making you feel just that little bit fancy. With two teahouses — one in Brunswick and one in Montrose — Mary has hosted countless high teas, and now she's upping the ante by serving them alongside plenty of gin. Running on every Saturday in September at the Montrose venue, and on Friday, August 24, in Brunswick, the gin-fuelled high teas are hosted in collaboration with Aussie-favourite distiller Four Pillars. The Gin High Tea will set you back $65 a head, and includes a gin and tea cocktail on arrival and a full High Tea menu of sweet and savoury treats matched to two more gin cocktails. And, maybe the important news, you'll also have access to unlimited scones. The Gin High Tea will be held on Friday, August 24, at Mary Eats Cake Brunswick and at Mary Eats Cake Montrose every Saturday in September.
Created in 2010 as an alternative to the Melbourne Art Fair, Notfair is returning in November with an impressive 50-artist-strong lineup. The fair, now in its fifth iteration, was founded to link some of the country's most overlooked and unknown artists to gallery directors, critics, curators and art-loving members of the public. So far, it has been an undeniable success; many of the fair's past artists have featured in major exhibitions and gained commercial representation. The fair's original founders, artists Tony Lloyd and Sam Leach and writer Ashley Crawford, have curated this year's event. It features artists working in experimental installation, sculpture, painting and many more forms. Roam through the Windsor warehouse and purchase cutting-edge art — you may even get to rub shoulders with some leading visual artists while you're at it. Notfair runs from November 11–19 and admission is free. See below for opening hours. NOTFAIR 2017 OPENING HOURS Saturday, November 11 — 3–7pm Sunday, November 12 — 12–5pm Wednesday, November 15 — 3–7pm Thursday, November 16 — 3–7pm Friday, November 17 — 4–7pm Saturday, November 18 — 12–6pm Sunday, November 19 — 12–4pm
Mark Twain once said: "Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough." This seems to be true of Starward Whisky who, after six years distilling out of a former aeroplane maintenance hangar in Essendon Fields, have packed up shop and moved to a warehouse in Port Melbourne. Their new home — which is close to four times the size of their previous distillery — has allowed founder David Vitale and his New World Distillery to bring in new equipment from Europe and amp up the production of his award-winning amber spirit. Working with Australian barley, old wine barrels and Melbourne's four-seasons-in-one-day climate has paid off for the passionate team of distillers. Last year they received the Best Craft Distiller Whisky prize and Double Gold medal at the San Francisco Global Spirits Competition. Considering that a few short decades ago Australian whisky was basically unheard of, this is a pretty remarkable turnaround. The venue is a working distillery and is only open on the weekends to the general public. With a comfy tasting room and large open bar, it's little wonder that crowds of weekend whisky lovers have already begun pouring in. The bar, which, due to its colossal size could have felt quite cavernous and impersonal, has been designed with lots care to make the space approachable and friendly. A large indoor tree takes pride of place, while raw and polished timber, shiny bronze distilling equipment and an impressive bottle display behind the bar bring the space to life. Try some Starward, neat, or get the bartender to whip up a whisky cocktail with it. They also do cheese and charcuterie boards, and there is even space for food trucks should the right event come up. Ever wondered how whisky is made and why it tastes so damn good? Public tours of the distillery are held at 7pm on Fridays and 2pm over weekends. The tour is designed for both whisky enthusiasts and beginners alike — over the course of an hour, the distillers walk small groups through their production methods including mashing in, fermentation, distillation and ageing their special single malt spirit. Tours can be booked online for a cheeky $10 per person.
With Australia's COVID-19 curve flattening, exactly how and when restrictions will be relaxed has dominated conversation of late. Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed that some social distancing and public gathering rules could be loosened in mid-May. Today, Thursday, April 23, Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy shed some light on when international travel could restart. But don't go packing your suitcase just yet. At a senate inquiry meeting into Australia's response to COVID-19, Murphy said that opening borders would be one of the last stages of easing restrictions. "At the moment, any relaxation of border measures would be very risky," Murphy said. "I wouldn't be envisaging any material changes [to border measures] in that three to four months." One exception to that, Murphy hinted to, could be allowing travel between Australia and New Zealand. The Prime Minister echoed this sentiment in a press conference in the middle of the senate inquiry meeting (yes, a busy day), saying that he'd already been in discussions with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about potentially reopening borders. "If there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first," Morrison said. "Undoubtedly that's New Zealand." [caption id="attachment_596427" align="alignnone" width="1280"] A PurePod in New Zealand[/caption] Some of the restrictions that could be eased before then, and possibly as soon as in three weeks, are those in small groups. In NSW, Victoria and Queensland at present, public gatherings are restricted to a maximum of two people or the members of your household. While Murphy said they "would not be contemplating large-scale gatherings" just yet, "some relaxation of the size of small groups is possible". Other restrictions Murphy says the government is currently looking into loosening include "things like community sport and some retail measures". But, as has been the message repeated in the past week, "we have to weigh up the public health risk versus the benefit to society and the economy". If you're wondering why we're hearing a lot from Murphy during COVID-19, and why his opinions hold weight, Murphy is not only the principal medical adviser to the Federal Health Minister, but also he's the chair of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), which makes big decisions in health emergencies — such as global pandemics. There's no exact date on when we'll be able to travel just yet — locally or internationally — but if you want to start dreaming, here are some of our favourite spots to visit in New Zealand. Top image: Mueller Hut Track in New Zealand by Corey Parsons.
UPDATE MONDAY, MARCH 15: For the Love Melbourne has been postponed due to current gathering restrictions. It will now take place on Saturday, September 18. The below article has been updated to reflect this. By this stage, there's every chance you've forgotten what a dance floor even looks like. But the folks at Untitled Group — the same minds behind Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Ability Fest — are here to get you reacquainted. They've just revealed a huge all-Aussie lineup for the 2021 edition of their live music series For The Love, which is headed to Perth, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Across three dates, legendary acts including electronic duo Flight Facilities, dance floor darlings Cosmo's Midnight and Brisbane alt-pop sensation Mallrat will help you dust off the cobwebs and rediscover that groove. The party kicks off at Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast on Saturday, August 7 before continuing on to Perth's McCallum Park on Saturday, September 4 and Birrarung Marr in Melbourne on Saturday, September 18. These three waterfront venues are set to be transformed into blissful dance destinations, heaving to live sounds from favourites like singer-songwriter Running Touch and brother-sister duo Lastlings, along with London Topaz, Boo Seeka, George Maple and Elizabeth Cambage. Punters will also have the opportunity to kick back in style in one of For The Love's VIP lounges, presented by Aussie streetwear label Nana Judy. If an evening spent cutting shapes by the water sounds like a much-needed addition to your calendar, you can purchase tickets online for the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth editions of the festival.
If Bad Neighbours 2 was a party instead of a film, it'd be the kind that everyone has been to at least once. You know the type: a fiesta focused not only on reliving past glories, but trying to outdo them. Going bigger mightn't always be better, yet plenty of fun — both expected and not so — can be had along the way. That's the end result here. While never the complete riot it wants to be, this comedy sequel frequently proves as hilarious as its predecessor, and has more than a few surprises up its sleeve. The film picks up two years after 2014's Bad Neighbours. After surviving life next to a fraternity, Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) just want to sell their house, move somewhere quiet and hang out with their growing family. While they're embracing adult life, former frat leader Teddy (Zac Efron) is remembering the wild antics of his college heyday a little too fondly. Enter Shelby (Chloë Grace Moretz), Beth (Kiersey Clemons) and Nora (Beanie Feldstein), three freshmen eager to make the most of university life, but who don't like the "super rapey" vibe of keggers, or the rule that sororities aren't allowed to throw their own parties. It's not hard to guess where the movie is going, particularly if you've seen its predecessor. Shelby and her pals move in next door to Mac and Kelly, recruit Teddy as their mentor, and start a fresh round of neighbourly fighting for the right to party. Slapstick and gross-out gags remain in the mix, as does Efron's shirtless torso. Once again, director Nicholas Stoller tries to craft a culture-clash comedy that contemplates age and maturity, and for the most part he hits the mark. Admittedly, it may seem as though Bad Neighbours 2 is simply trying to disguise its plot rehash by switching sexes. But there's more going on here — and we don't just mean nods to Minions, Magic Mike and Jackass. In these post-Broad City times, the idea that girls can be as irresponsible and reckless as guys isn't revolutionary. Yet the fact that the film is willing to acknowledge this – not to mention exploring issues such as consent, sexism and privilege – is certainly worth celebrating. Accordingly, if the struggles of growing older added insight and sweetness to the first film's rampant raucousness, interrogating notions of gender, orientation, identity and equality achieves the same feat in the second instalment. Not every joke lands, and for every scene or line that manages to amusingly rework previous material, just as many seem like a stretch. But even when laughs aren't flowing, the movie is always pushing a refreshing, timely and much-needed perspective. Perhaps that's why Bad Neighbours 2 proves both more interesting and slightly less entertaining overall. The message feels new and vital, even if not a lot else does. And while a sense of familiarity certainly assists returning cast members Rogen, Efron and the scene-stealing Byrne, newcomers Moretz, Clemons and Feldstein are rarely asked to do more than embody the film's impressive, progressive attitude.
It only takes one perfect record to make a musician a legend. For Ms Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was that album. The American singer and rapper fronted The Fugees before dropping her only solo release. She starred in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit as well. But come 1998, when the record that bears her name hit, it ensured that she'd always be an icon. 2023 marks 25 years since The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill first arrived — and to celebrate, Hill is touring. Down Under, she has locked in three stops: a headlining gig at Promiseland Festival on the Gold Coast, plus stadium shows in Melbourne and Sydney. Home to singles 'Doo Wop (That Thing)', 'Ex-Factor', 'Everything Is Everything', 'Lost Ones' and 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You', The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was a smash on the charts, with critics and at the Grammys. It peaked at number two in Australia; has been named in oh-so-many lists of 90s, hip hop and rap records, as well as albums of all time and releases by women; and earned five Grammys from ten nominations. During her tour, Hill will play tracks from her time with The Fugees, too — killing audiences softly with the iconic cover that the band is best known for, plus 'Ready or Not', 'Fu-Gee-La' and more. On the Gold Coast, she's part of a two-day lineup that also includes Six60, L.A.B., Davido, Tems, Fiji, House of Shem, Koffee and Fireboy DML, all playing Doug Jennings Park across Saturday, September 30–Sunday, October 1. On her solo shows in New South Wales and Victoria, Koffee will be in support. "The Miseducation album has been a consistently special artwork that has allowed me to tour for 25 years, sharing the message and energy with its loyal appreciators. I'm not even sure if it feels like 25 years have gone by to me," said Hill, announcing the tour. "I'm excited to celebrate this landmark anniversary with the fans in Australia, and I look forward to this time capsule experience. The music itself was born to be anachronistic, at the same time reclaiming precious jewels from the past, and infusing them with the potency and energy of the present, in order to enrich it and the future. Revisiting the album live has renewed my love and appreciation for the music and the period in which it was born, when hip hop was ripe with potential and uncomplicated enthusiasm." MS LAURYN HILL'S THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL TOUR: Sunday, October 1 — Promiseland Festival, Gold Coast Tuesday, October 3 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Thursday, October 5 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Ms Lauryn Hill will play three shows in Australia in October 2023, with tickets on-sale now — head to the Promiseland website and tour website for further details: Top image: Città di Parma via Wikimedia Commons.
Scienceworks is technically for kids and teenagers — but, in recent times, it's been opening up after hours for some adults-only fun. The next 18+ affair is Party Beyond — which, this time, will be curated with Due West Arts Festival. On Saturday, November 16, attendees can get a hit of adult science along with their glass of adult drinks (suck it, kids). Food and drinks will be available to purchase, and you won't be mulling over whatever you've just learnt — performances by local vocalist Rara Zulu, afrohouse duo Mai and the dance-inducing SHOUSE will be featured throughout the six exhibition spaces. Take a look at the unseen (like gravitational waves) in the Beyond Perception installation while Sui Zen performs her electronic tunes — or party inside the Planetarium with Melbourne musician BATTS, who blends folk rock with sound samples from NASA. Plus, Nuestro Planeta will be spinning everything fromfuture club to grime at the Admissions counter. Image: Museums Victoria/Benjamin Healley.
October is made for weird, wild and wonderful movies filled with shocks and scares. 'Tis Halloween season, after all. So, the world obliges, including on screens big and small — and, in 2023, via the return of Australia's genre film festival Monster Fest, which is dedicated to flicks of the spooky, dark, twisted, offbeat and out-there variety. Monster Fest doesn't always pop up in the month when everyone is worshipping pumpkins and thinking about costumes; however, the timing obviously couldn't be more perfect. As it always does, it'll run long in Melbourne, taking over Cinema Nova from Thursday, October 12–Sunday, October 22. Standouts titles on the 2023 program include Suitable Flesh, which stars Heather Graham (Extrapolations) as a doctor going mad, takes its inspiration from HP Lovecraft and boasts Joe Lynch (Creepshow) behind the lens; The Last Video Store, a horror-comedy set, yes, in one of the last video stores; and Norwegian flick There's Something in the Barn, about a gnome uprising that plagues an American family (including Party Down's Martin Starr) who've relocated to Scandinavia. Or, there's also sci-fi comedy Time Addicts, Australian slasher Bloodmoon getting a 4K restoration 33 years after its OG release and Trim Season's nightmarish trip to a weed farm. When Evil Lurks and its demonic infection will launch the Victorian capital's leg of the fest. From there, that's also where Red Rooms, which recently won Best Feature at the 2023 Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, joins the program. And, so does the kung fu-filled The Invisible Fright, a 4K restoration of Jim Jarmusch's (The Dead Don't Die) Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai and a 30th-anniversary session of ninth Friday the 13th entry Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (screening on the appropriate date, of course). On the doco front, erotic thrillers are thrust into the spotlight in We Kill for Love, Satan Wants You looks back at 80s-era satanic panic and Enter the Clones of Bruce surveys the talents that endeavoured to replicate Bruce Lee after his death. Going all in on Bruceploitation, Monster Fest is also putting on a double of The Dragon Lives Again and Challenge of the Tiger, where Dracula and James Bond are among Bruce's foes.
The future is coming and Jason Silva is excited. Very excited. Silva is an American filmaker and self-proclaimed "wonder junkie, ideas DJ, performance philosopher", and he's coming to an Opera House near you this weekend for the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Concrete Playground spoke with him about his provocatively titled festival lecture 'We Are the Gods Now'. We are the Gods is quite the title for a talk. What can we expect to hear from you at the Opera House? In his book about the exponential growth curve of technology, Raymond Kurzweil says, "There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen." In 40 years we've seen computers contract in size from half a building to something 1000 times more powerful that fits in your pocket: the smartphone. If we continue along this exponential trajectory, we can expect computing power to enhance while the physical unit shrinks from pocket-size to the size of a blood cell. Speaking of blood cells, the thing I'm really excited about is the way that biology [the field of study] is fast becoming information technology. If you think growth in computing power is impressive, the rate that we are sequencing genomes is outpacing Moore's Law. Freeman Dyson, the physicist, says we are going to compose genomes the way we compose verse. I know, I know, it sounds like we're tripping, but history tells us this is what we should expect! Artistry is going to spill off the canvas and into the biology lab, and I think we should be excited — and not fearful — of what we're going to create in there. What it means to be human is to transcend our limits, to rebel, to be "cosmic revolutionaries", in Aaron Harrington's words. So, yeah, that's the crux of what I'll be talking about. Really, you think we're fearful of new technology? Apple has people frothing at the mouth about the launch of the iPhone 5 this week. I think the success of the iPhone attests to our love of these tools — we are living in a techno-utopian society — and yet the alarmist media bang on about the demise of interpersonal connections because people are supposedly texting more than they're talking, so on and so forth. I like to remind people that around the advent of the telegraph there was a moral panic that it would hurt our brains, that it wasn't natural. In fact, even Socrates railed against writing! He claimed that the act of transcribing something would atrophy our brains. But there is some truth to what Socrates said, at least in sentiment. I read Nicholas Carr's piece for the Atlantic Is Google Making Us Stupid?, wherein he discusses the netizen's diminishing capacity to "deep read", which he claims is a direct consequence of the way we engage with screen texts, constantly drifting and never really focusing. I totally agree with the concept of bandwidth anxiety — I personally experience it! But you have to think of bandwidth anxiety as analogous to downloading an HD film via a 56k modem connection rather than a fibre-optic cable. In our case, the human biological brain is fixed, but our technology is infinitely upgradeable. We're like a drooling dog looking at a lineup of 50 dogs on heat and we can't possibly mate them all! We have so many options to connect with the world around us, but we have to be disciplined and disconnect. I mean, I turn off my cell phone when I go see a movie or when I read a book. I think Carr's case is that the damage is done, that our brains are capable of rewiring to optimise our experience of digital culture. The damage isn't beyond repair; the brain is plastic, but I can say from personal experience that I now struggle to engage with longer novels where I used to devour them, and I think it's because I'm increasingly feasting on the easy-to-digest, pretty, shiny things — things like your short videos, the so-called "shots of philosophical espresso". Fair enough. I started producing short videos because I felt there was a gap in the market for them. There's no end of intelligent, philosophical discourse in the blogosphere, but there's a real paucity of engaging, short-format video content on the web. I wanted to capture that feeling of two in the morning, in your college dorm with a beautiful girl, discussing the meaning of life — and amplify it to the scale of a cinematic experience. Sure, these short-form bursts of inspiration trigger the release of dopamine and that's an addictive chemical so we have to self-monitor how much we take in. So when you talk about losing the capacity to "deep read" or appreciate silence, I think it's just a matter of growing pains, because we aren't yet equipped physiologically to handle the kind of content we're creating. Once we upgrade our own brains using biotechnology and genetic engineering, we'll be like a computer you can add RAM to — this issue of not being able to multitask will be a thing of the past! This is the Singularity! I can see how these videos might inspire organisations to foster creative culture or even spark cross-industry collaboration, but how to you hope these videos will affect people's day-to-day lives? Art and media are mediums for preparing us for the future. I'm trying to present intelligent content in a cool and sexy format — which, in turn, means the act of engaging with it is cool and sexy. I want there to be an alternative to the overwhelming share of media space given to the likes of Jersey Shore, something that has pop culture cred but doesn't insult the viewer's intelligence. At the end of the day, if you want someone to really care about your product, you need to make them feel something; you need to induce a feeling of wonder, of awe. Once you achieve this, you've set in motion a lust for learning. At a consumer level we have access to an incredible array of tools [high-speed internet, mobile devices, etc.] for engaging with the world of ideas, but most people don't know or don't care for what's out there. What's lacking is a viral outbreak of wonder. The phenomenon of trolling is on the rise and just recently a local TV personality who came under a torrent of online abuse was admitted to a psych ward. And last weekend here in Sydney there was a protest that turned into a riot sparked by the indie film released on YouTube, The Innocence of Muslims. I just wonder how culpable social media is in this sequence of events, given that it's so easy to be offensive when speaking from a disembodied perspective. Dude! The right to offend is a hallmark of a free society! I mean, I don't want to say that riot was an act of cultural or religious immaturity, but violence, no, violence is never justified because someone offended you. Okay, but I'm quoting you from earlier this year when I say, "As we increasingly become sophisticated, cosmopolitan people, the religious impulse is less relevant." Well, look, I sort of abide by the opinions of Ernest Becker, who wrote the book The Denial of Death. He says that the 'religious impulse' is one solution to the problem we face when we contemplate our own mortality. The second, alternative, way we deal with death is the 'romantic impulse', where we turn our lovers into our gods, and the third, and this one I think is the healthiest, is the 'creative impulse', which is to create great work. I think religion had a time and place and was effective at teaching people to be kind to each other as part of a moral system, but time and again we see it corrupted. So you see yourself as your own god? [laughs] Let's just say I think there will come a day when it will be possible with the aid of technology to transcend our biological limitations and manifest a Being that is extraordinarily smart, ultra-powerful, and immortal. But if there comes a day when saying "you only live once" has no motivational power because we've engineered eternal existence, I wonder if we'll just be crippled by chronic procrastination? Ha! You know, man, that's very possible. But if the universe is infinite, with creative possibilities, then so should we be. Sure, some people will just play Grand Theft Auto for all of eternity if that's what they want to do with their existence, but others will amass a phenomenal bank of knowledge and break new frontiers in science. You know, I hate the way we ennoble death. It's a brute biological horror that kills everyone we care about, and yet we say things like 'death gives life meaning'. I say, you know what gives meaning to life? Life! Death was necessary for the evolutionary process, but now that we're switching from genes to memes, death has become obsolete. We don't need to keep dying in order to create new things. But the creation of most new things only comes about because there's a viable commercial application for it, and if technology is replacing itself at an ever-increasing rate, perhaps the threat of rapid supersedence in the marketplace will slow the generation of new technologies? Hmm. I guess I'd have to agree that, yeah, that's very possible. I mean, already we're seeing college graduates emerge into the workforce only to find that their skillset is already obsolete. Interesting. Thanks so much for chatting with me today. Absolutely, man! It's been a mind-meld! Catch Jason Silva at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Sunday, September 30, at 3pm.
Dreaming of cooler pastures? Swap your ice skates for a snorkel and kick back because the only ice you'll find here is in your frozen margarita. For the ultimate Aussie getaway, we head north to Port Douglas, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. There's so much to do, see and eat — not to mention the promise of pristine beaches that stretch for years. Sitting on the picturesque Four Mile Beach, it's only a hop, skip and a jump to the Daintree Rainforest. They're bucket list places to visit, so why not tick them off this summer? Do To get the most out of the Daintree, make your first stop the Daintree Discovery Centre (Corner Baileys Creek & Tulip Oak Road, Cow Bay; open daily 8.30am-5pm). Grab an audio tour as you meander about the forest on the aerial walkway. Climb a few short flights of stairs to get to the top of the tower and gaze out, high above the treetops. It will be one of the best things you'll do all year. The Discovery Centre is a world-class facility and has won a bunch of awards. They're ecotourism masters, and every possible precaution is taken to protect the delicate rainforest. A trip to the Discovery Centre will set you back $32/adult, $16/child. Family passes are $78. Prices include audio tour. It's worth every dollar. If you heard the words 'an hour-long discussion about fruit', you'd be forgiven for hesitating. But the Cape Tribulation Exotic Fruit Farm (Lot 5 Nicole Drive, Cape Tribulation; open Nov - June, Sun, Tue, Thu, 2pm-4pm and every day Jun - Oct) is a seriously good time. You taste ten kinds of fruit, and we don't mean your standard Coles fare. We're talking incredibly rare, tropical fruit from the Amazon, South-East Asia and the Caribbean. Dark, pudding-like fruit that tastes like chocolate. Giant weird fruits that taste like bubble gum. Tiny magic seeds that make everything you eat for the next few hours taste super sweet. Tastings are followed by a tour of the beautiful farm.The groups are reasonably small (depending on what time of year you go) and it will give you an experience unlike anything you've ever had before. Who knew fruit could be so exciting? Bookings must be made in advance. The tasting costs $23/adult, $10.50/child or $62 for a family. Your kids will love it and so will you. See The Great Barrier Reef sells itself. It's easily one of the most beautiful places in the world and you're only a few hours away from it. Grab your flippers and snorkel, hop in, and prepare to be amazed. Fish in every conceivable colour, reef sharks, stingrays, gloriously coloured coral and all manner of delights lie under the ocean's surface. The guys at Ocean Safari are the best tour guides in the area. They're acutely aware of the peril currently facing the reef and take every precaution to preserve the delicate environment. Eco tourism at its best. Prices vary depending on the tour you select but a morning tour will set you back $123/adult, $79/child or $366 for a family pass. Sleep The recently renovated Ferntree Rainforest Lodge (36 Camelot Close, Cape Tribulation) is an environmentally friendly resort set in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest and a short walk from Cape Tribulation's Myall Beach. They have a wide variety of affordable rooms and accommodation options so you'll be able to arrange a wonderful tropical getaway without it costing you the earth. You're looking at $28/night for a budget dorm, $140/night for a private cabin and $200/night for the Pool Room Suite. The lodge is designed to fit in with the surrounding rainforest and its spectacular gardens are specially designed to attract native animals. Take our advice and book a Pool Room Suite. These private rooms each have a balcony that backs onto the lodge's second swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by a lush tropical oasis and is a few steps away from the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge's restaurant. All this at a reasonable price? Yes, please. If you fancy yourself a bit of a luxury bunny then Ultra Port Douglas is the place for you. It offers five-star, highly personalised, VIP holiday house rentals, and you can count on a first-class experience. Limousine transfers, private chefs and butler services are part of some of the packages and pretty much anything you could possibly dream of can be arranged. Now, luxury doesn't come cheap — Ultra Port Douglas is a holiday letting service that operates out of some of the most seriously grown-up real estate in the country. However, if you're cashed up and want to be treated like a celebrity, world leader or member of the European royalty, then Ultra Port Douglas is most definitely the place to be. Pass us the Dom Perignon. Thala Beach Lodge (Oak Beach, Port Douglas) is the only deluxe resort in Port Douglas set on a private headland. What does this mean? The most spectacularly mind-blowing views you could possibly imagine. The panoramic vista encompasses the far north Queensland coast from Double Island to Cape Tribulation and overlooks the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage forests. It's considered to be one of the best eco-tourism resorts in the world. The Lodge sits on 145 acres of gorgeous rainforest and backs onto its own private beach overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. All individual bungalows have views to either the beachfront or the rainforest. Accommodation ranges from around $219 to $1030/night. There's a lot to do at Thala Beach Lodge: star-gazing, nature walks, turtle spotting, sea kayaking, yoga and swimming. Ospreys Restaurant, located within the complex, offers a delicious modern Australian cuisine. You can't go wrong here. Drink The Court House Hotel (Wharf and Macrossan Streets, Port Douglas) is Port Douglas's oldest and most famous hotel. They've been in business for over a century, serving up food and drinks for locals and tourists alike. The hotel is located in the town centre and offers gorgeous views of Anzac Park and the coast. Boasting three bars, two gaming rooms and a restaurant, the 'Courty' (as it's known to locals) is definitely the place to go after a long day's sightseeing. If you're feeling peckish, head to the hotel's restaurant, the Wharf St. Bistro. They're well-known for their great steaks. If you're in the mood to drink, then the hotel offers heaps of outdoor seating and reasonably priced drinks. It's the perfect place for a holiday sundowner. Eat 2 Fish (56 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas) is one of Port Douglas's most awarded restaurants. Specialising in seafood, only the freshest produce is used in the wide range of dishes on offer. The staff know their fish, so it's a good idea to ask for their recommendations. If you're a fan of oysters, start with the mixed dozen, a selection of variously seasoned oysters including Kilpatrick, lime and gin ($34), Bloody Mary, Vietnamese and crispy shallots, Tabasco and lemon and natural oysters. The dishes on the tasting plate menu can be ordered individually as entrees or combined to make a more substantial meal. Order a few, but make sure you don't miss out on the Malaysian butter prawns ($12) or the Atlantic salmon gravlax ($10). The star of the show is the market catch (prices vary). Ask the waiter what the catch of the day is and then choose your garnishes accordingly. A word to the wise: make a booking well in advance. They're seriously popular.
If you had a birthday sometime during the last few months, it probably didn't quite live up to expectations. Because of COVID-19, we've had (very necessary) restrictions on gatherings, which means that birthday shindig was most likely a little smaller than you'd hoped. To help ease the pain every so slightly, Krispy Kreme has announced it's giving away an extremely excessive number of doughnuts. How many? 350,000, to be exact. On Monday, July 13, Krispy Kreme is giving away a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts to Aussies who celebrated a birthday between March 13 and July 13. To snag yourself 12 signature glazed freebies, head to your closest store in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth. Sydneysiders have ten stores — stretching from Penrith to the CBD — to choose from, while Queenslanders can pick from five different doughnut shops, with the most central in the CBD Myer Centre, and Perthians can head to one of three Krispy Kreme stores. The free doughnuts are not available at BPs, Jesters or 7-Elevens. Because of stay-at-home restrictions in Victoria, the deal is only valid at one of three drive-thru stores: Fawkner, Fountain Gate and Bulleen. You can find out more about those restrictions over here. The 350,000 doughnuts will be spread across all Aussies stores. So, you'll want to get in relatively early if you want to kick off your Monday with a free sweet and doughy treat – and don't forget to bring your ID. If you do miss out, however, Krispy Kreme will be offering buy one dozen, get a dozen free from Wednesday, July 15 till Sunday, July 19. Krispy Kreme's free doughnut giveaway is happening nationwide on Monday, July 13 for those born between March 13 and July 13. To find your closest store and check its opening hours, head to the Krispy Kreme website.
Following iterations in Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo earlier this year, White Night is set to take its after-dark fun to Geelong. The inaugural event is scheduled for Saturday, October 13 and will take over the city's streets, laneways, parks and foreshore. Gheringhap Street will act as the central hub, with a host of art installations, interactive projections and performances spilling out on to the surrounding streets. Many local artists are expected to showcase works, and the festival will also feature 19 original pieces that have not been displayed at any other White Night event this year. The bright and colourful light installations include lanterns, chandeliers and a set of neon angel wings, along with a selfie station that projects your photo booth shoot onto an adjacent building. Musical performances range from jazz trios and opera groups to garage bands and drag queen shows, and the Gordon's courtyard will also host a massive lineup of live acts that'll take the stage throughout the night. And, for the dreamers out there, a wish tree will be installed in Johnstone Park where you can write messages on your phone that will appear on the tree's leaves before disappearing into the ether. If you need a break from all of the outdoors action, Geelong Gallery is hosting the 2018 Archibald Prize paintings and the Geelong Library will be transformed by anime characters. This jam-packed schedule will extend from 7pm to 2am, so be prepared for a full-on night and make sure to book accommodation ahead of time. And don't forget to check out our guide to Geelong's arts and culture to make a weekend of it.
Air out that mouldy tent, start rounding up the GoPros, Falls Festival have quite the epic 2014 lineup on their hands. With Byron now extended to a four-day program, Falls Festival is returning to its three sites (Lorne, Marion Bay and North Byron Parklands) for its annual New Year's Eve hootenanny. So who's on the bill? Returning with a Mercury Prize and a million debut album copies sold under their belt, Leeds foursome Alt-J are sure to be one of the packed sets this year. There'll be ass everywhere with the presence of the unmissable Big Freedia. The sublimely talented SBTRKT is set to play a huge live set (one of Laneway Festival's best sets to memory), while the formidable Jamie XX will keep the basslines well up in grill. Fresh from Glastonbury, George Ezra is set to be one of the festival highlights, with the debut set from the legendary Todd Terje, house monarchs Tensnake, Sydney trio Movement and San Francisco's Tycho sure to send everyone on a synthy, beats-fuelled odyssey. Altanta's favourite 'flower punk' band The Black Lips are in. Confirmed after a leak in Cleo, UK's Glass Animals are confirmed to get sultry. Festival favourites Cold War Kids return with their latest album's material (and a few oldies), while Australia's own ARIA-winners The Temper Trap return to the live circuit with material from their upcoming third record. Rap fans have some gleeful squealing to get to, with Brooklyn's Pro Era whiz Joey Bada$$, Killer Mike and El-P's Fool's Gold super-collab Run the Jewels, Melbourne's own Remi locked in. 'Stolen Dance' fans will have plenty to jig about with the first Australian tour of Milky Chance, Sydney's Bluejuice are playing their last round, London's Wolf Alice are sure to generate some buzz, and Canberran trio SAFIA are also buzzworthy inclusions. There's a few Splendour returns: Britpop-loving Sydney dudes DMAs, newbie hip hop firecracker Tkay Maidza, Sydney dance legends The Presets, electronic whiz kid The Kite String Tangle, returning rock heavyweights Spiderbait, singalong starters Sticky Fingers and Riptider Vance Joy. Falls will also see a kickass 'Boogie Nights' program featuring none other than the ever-kickass hip hop legends Salt n Pepa, Melbourne's best-dressed duo Client Liaison, Sydney partystarter Alison Wonderland and Canada's Badbadnotgood. THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2014 LINEUP (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER): ALT-J ASGEIR BIG FREEDIA THE BLACK LIPS BLUEJUICE COLD WAR KIDS DAN SULTAN DMAs EMPIRE OF THE SUN GEORGE EZRA GLASS ANIMALS JAGWAR MA JAMIE XX JOEY BADA$$ JOHN BUTLER TRIO JULIAN CASABLANCAS + THE VOIDZ KIM CHURCHILL THE KITE STRING TANGLE LA ROUX MILKY CHANCE MOVEMENT THE PRESETS REMI RUN THE JEWELS SAFIA SBTRKT SPIDERBAIT STICKY FINGERS THE TEMPER TRAP TENSNAKE TKAY MAIDZA TODD TERJE (live) TYCHO VANCE JOY WOLF ALICE BOOGIE NIGHTS: ALISON WONDERLAND BADBADNOTGOOD CLIENT LIAISON DJ FLETCH DJ WOODY PRESENTS 'HIP HOP IS 40' AV SHOW SALT N PEPA TWERKSHOP COMEDY DAMIEN POWER DANIEL TOWNES HARLEY BREEN LUKE McGREGOR TOMMY DASSALO URZILA CARLSON + MORE Update: Julian Casablancas + The Voidz have unfortunately pulled out of both their Australian tour and Falls appearance due to "unforeseen logistical circumstances". Image: Nigel Drought.
There are some shows that you know you need to see based purely on the name. Assisted Suicide: The Musical is one of them. Written and performed by disability rights campaigner and actor Liz Carr, this "TED talk with showtunes" arrives on our shores following sell-out engagements in the UK, at a time when Victorian state parliament is gearing up for a conscience vote on euthanasia. Carr's toe-tapping production for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival will provide a personal, entertaining perspective on a controversial subject, and may well force a few audience members to confront their own beliefs and prejudices.
The Swiss are renowed for their time-keeping abilities and reliable public transport systems, but they do not exactly have a reputation for unmitigated creativity and artistic pursuits. Ironically, Ursus Wehrli's work may encourage us to rethink our perceptions of Swiss creativity whilst doing little to challenge the stereotype that the Swiss are all a bunch of neat freaks. Artist and comedian Ursus Wehrli first came to attention with his book Tidying Up Art, a collection of his work where he cleverly reinterpreted classics by Van Gogh, Chagall and Seurat by, well, tidying them up. He is back again and up to his old ordering tricks, except this time he's stopped tidying up the art, and has started tidying up everything else. In his latest book, The Art of Clean Up, Wehril reassembles the chaos of everyday life — children's beach toys are lined up into categories in a sand pit, cars are lined up according to their colours in a parking lot and the stars are lined up in the sky. These images are also accompanied by a series of short films that document the painstaking organisation that took place in order for Wehrli's images to be created, providing clever examples of the asethetic appeal of order (and also a reminder of how lovely a little bit of choas is as well). https://youtube.com/watch?v=l200LN39dv4 [Via PSFK]
Calling all nomads and avid campers: a Japanese company called DCW has designed a mobile pod home that will fit in a mini van and can be assembled on any terrain. The pod allows you to choose your own style of living while still being at one with nature, and can be placed on flat ground, steep hills or even turned into a kit houseboat if you feel like taking to the sea. The manufacturer has said it can be easily built "by two women" in half a day but may take a little longer to pull it down, possibly a whole day. Don't let its size fool you; this mobile house may look extremely tiny but it can sleep up to 3 people when you manoeuvre the sofa bed in the right way. The Mobile House Kit has yet to be given a price tag, but surely if you love the outdoors and want to experience nature in style then it will be worth breaking the budget for.
James Bond might famously prefer his martinis shaken, not stirred, but No Time to Die doesn't quite take that advice. While the enterprising spy hasn't changed his drink order, the latest film he's in — the 25th official feature in the franchise across six decades, and the fifth and last that'll star Daniel Craig — gives its regular ingredients both a mix and a jiggle. The action is dazzlingly choreographed, a menacing criminal has an evil scheme and the world is in peril, naturally. Still, there's more weight in Craig's performance, more emotion all round, and a greater willingness to contemplate the stakes and repercussions that come with Bond's globe-trotting, bed-hopping, villain-dispensing existence. There's also an eagerness to shake up parts of the character and Bond template that rarely get a nudge. Together, even following a 19-month pandemic delay, it all makes for a satisfying blockbuster cocktail. For Craig, the actor who first gave Bond a 21st-century flavour back in 2006's Casino Royale (something Pierce Brosnan couldn't manage in 2002's Die Another Day), No Time to Die also provides a fulfilling swansong. That wasn't assured; as much as he's made the tuxedo, gadgets and espionage intrigue his own, the Knives Out and Logan Lucky actor's tenure has charted a seesawing trajectory. His first stint in the role was stellar and franchise-redefining, but 2008's Quantum of Solace made it look like a one-off. Then Skyfall triumphed spectacularly in 2012, before Spectre proved all too standard in 2015. Ups and downs have long been part of this franchise, depending on who's in the suit, who's behind the lens, the era and how far the tone skews towards comedy — but at its best, Craig's run has felt like it's building new levels rather than traipsing through the same old framework. In No Time to Die, Bond does need to look backwards, though — to loves lost, choices made and lingering enemies. Before Billie Eilish's theme song echoes over eye-catching opening credits, the film fills its first scenes with the past, starting with returning psychiatrist Madeleine Swan's (Léa Seydoux, Kursk) links to new mask-wearing villain Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek, The Little Things). There's patience and visual poetry to these early minutes amid Norway's snowy climes, even while littered with violence. No Time to Die is a lengthy yet never slow feature, and Bond first-timer Cary Joji Fukunaga doesn't begin with the pace he means to continue; however, the director behind True Detective's stunning first season establishes a sense of meticulousness, an eye for detail and an inclination to let moments last — and a striking look — that serves him exceptionally moving forward. Back in post-Spectre times, Bond and Swan enjoy an Italian holiday that's cut short by bomb blasts, bridge shootouts and other attempts on 007's life — and Fukunaga is quickly two for two in the action camp. No Time to Die segues commandingly from slow-building and foreboding to fast, frenetic and breathtaking in its two big opening sequences, setting itself a high bar. At this point, the narrative hasn't even properly kicked into gear yet. That happens five years later, when Bond is alone and retired in Jamaica (in a nice nod to where author Ian Fleming wrote his Bond stories). His old CIA pal Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright, Westworld) comes knocking, new politically appointed offsider Logan Ash (Billy Magnussen, The Many Saints of Newark) in tow, asking for the now ex-MI6 agent's help to foil the latest nefarious plan — involving a DNA-targeting virus fuelled by nanobots, of course — that's been hatched by terrorist organisation Spectre. No Time to Die has plenty of time for other magnificent action scenes, albeit fewer than might be expected; a lengthy list of characters, both new and recognisable; and the type of beats that allow Bond ruminate over his accumulated baggage, even when a few routine inclusions also pepper the script. Spectre, the film, gave 007 enough woes from the past — and actually making him grapple with it all, rather than merely throw fists, explode watches and unleash machine-gun fire from his Aston Martin's headlights as though he doesn't have a history, gives this follow-up palpable heft and resonance. In Craig's hands, Bond has become a person first and a suave action figure second. The character still falls into the second category, unsurprisingly, because that's still the gig. But in this iteration, the franchise has evolved past the kind of flicks that gave rise to Austin Powers, Johnny English and their fellow parodies — welcomely so. Indeed, the best sequence in the film takes a stock-standard Bond setup, gives it a firm update and offers Craig's Knives Out co-star Ana de Armas a killer introduction. There are no bikinis involved as per past series instalments, or double-entendre names. Instead, this team-up between Bond and fledgling CIA operative Paloma takes them to a Spectre party in Havana, lets her steal every second with devastating high kicks, fabulous timing and witty dialogue, and shows the fingerprints of Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge — one of No Time to Die's four co-screenwriters. Paloma definitely isn't a stereotypical 60s–90s-style Bond girl, either, and neither are Swan, Moneypenny (the returning Naomie Harris, The Third Day) and replacement 007 Nomi (Captain Marvel standout Lashana Lynch). Everyone is human here, not just Bond himself. In a cast anchored by Craig and his blend of gravitas, pathos, sensitivity, duty and calm, there's barely a weak link. As M and Q, Ralph Fiennes (The Dig) and Ben Whishaw (Little Joe) only pop up briefly, but leave an imprint. Malek isn't a Bond baddie for the ages, yet he makes a chilly demeanour go a long way and easily one-ups Christoph Waltz (Alita: Battle Angel). So much of what makes No Time to Die such a thrill stems from Fukunaga's perceptive choices, however — with ample help from Hans Zimmer's (Wonder Woman 1984) urgent and pulsating score, plus Linus Sandgren's (an Oscar-winner for La La Land) gorgeous globe-hopping cinematography and penchant for long takes (and one particular and glorious upside-down shot). Franchise familiarity bubbles away in the film's veins, expectedly, but Fukunaga knows what to shake, stir, change and challenge, and what makes a moving, ambitious and entertaining farewell.
MONA's summer festival Mona Foma is returning to Launceston this summer — and so is its airline, Air Mofo. After its debut last year, the 'private airline' will once again be on standby to usher guests from the mainland to Tasmania for the 2020 event in serious style — for free. The catch? You don't just get a seat on the purple and yellow Boeing 737 — you get the whole plane. So you'll have 149 seats to fill with your nearest and dearest, and basically anyone else who's free on the main festival weekend of January 17–19. The plane will leave from either Melbourne or Sydney, and everyone on board will be get free return airfares and a three-day festival pass. It goes without saying, you can expect more than just your average in-flight entertainment on-board. Your flight down south will be filled with all sorts of performances and is promising to be 'suitably lit'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmcAp570GRs&feature=youtu.be To enter, you'll have to do some detective work and pinpoint the Air Mofo plane on this map of Tassie. While clues will start going up on the Mona Foma website from today, you'll have to wait until next Thursday, October 10 to enter. First person to find it wins the trip. Then, they'll have just a month to organise their 149 guests. Air Mofo is once again a collaboration between Mona Foma and Tourism Tasmania, and the prize is valued at a whopping $99,000. The summer arts and music fest will take over Launceston from January 11–19. At the moment, the lineup has DJ and producer Flying Lotus coming in to Launnie from LA and a performance from classical musician Ludovico Einaudi — but the full thing will be announced on Friday, October 18. Three-day festival passes are also on sale now — this year priced at $129 for the weekend. And, if you're looking for other ways to enjoy the festival's new surrounds, check out our weekender's guide to Launceston during Mona Foma. Mona Foma 2020 will take over Launceston, Tasmania from January 11–19. Enter the competition over here.
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.
Dramatising the events at Chernobyl in 1986, where a power plant accident caused the worst nuclear disaster in human history, was never going to make for cheery viewing. But the Chernobyl miniseries drips with so much dread and dismay that it oozes from the screen, infecting everyone watching and burrowing deep into viewers' souls. That's by design, and also 100-percent necessary. There's no way to revisit this chapter of history without being horrified. And that reaction applies not just to the intricacies of Saturday, April 26 in that fateful year, but to everything that lead up to the disaster, as well as the bureaucratic and government response that followed. Writer/creator Craig Mazin and director Johan Renck bring all of the above to the screen in devastating, meticulously researched detail, with exceptional help from stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson and Paul Ritter. The end result may only span five episodes, but it represents some of the best TV made in the 21st century.
Weekends love to hog the limelight when it comes to social activities, but we're big advocates of a mid-week hang. Adding a little glamour to a weeknight is a sure-fire way to make the work week go quicker, so this spring, luxe Japanese restaurant Nobu has you covered, tempting you away from the standard 'crawl home at knock-off' routine. For the entire month of September, the restaurant is slinging flutes of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne for $19 plus two snow crab tacos for $15. Yes, for under $40 you will be living your best life and forgetting the fact that it might not even be Wednesday yet. The offer is available daily between 5–9pm, and for extra points, you can also order a whole bottle of Ruinart for $120 if you're feeling particularly flush on payday. Best shared with friends, Champagne and tacos might not be the most traditional of pairings but it'll be your new favourite.
Update Wednesday, 9 February: More Splendour sideshows have been announce from Parquet Courts, Dayglow, Starcrawler, Surfaces & Tai Verdes. You can find all the details on how to purchase tickets to these shows via the Mistletone and Frontier Touring websites. Splendour in the Grass 2022 is a festival that has been three years in the making. After two years of cancellations and postponements, the festival is set to finally grace the fields of North Byron Parklands in July this year, with a lineup that closely resembles the set of acts it originally announced for its 20th anniversary edition back in 2020. If you couldn't score tickets to the three-day festival or haven't been able to get time off work to venture up to Byron Bay in the middle of the year, you're in luck: a heap of the international acts from the lineup have announced sideshows. Heading up the huge announcement is Oasis's Liam Gallagher who will be performing in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth; New York indie legends Yeah Yeah Yeahs popping up in Sydney and Melbourne; and rap sensation Jack Harlow who will be making appearances in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Joining these superstars on the list of sideshows: Duke Dumont, Yungblood, Jungle, Mura Masa, Aitch, Tom Misch, Oliver Tree, Orville Peck, Dillon Francis, Tierra Whack, Jpegamafia, Sofi Tucker, Still Woozy, Holly Humberstone, Biig Piig, Joy Crookes, Hinds and Renforshort, as well as UK viral sensation Wet Leg who will be supporting Yeah Yeah Yeahs on their run of shows. [caption id="attachment_748423" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Orville Peck[/caption] Headliners Tyler the Creator, The Strokes and Gorillaz will also be setting out on their own previously announced sideshows, however tickets to these have already been snatched up, so if you don't have them already you may be out of luck. Sydney and Melbourne have predictably scored shows from all the acts on the roster of sideshows, Auckland and Perth will have the chance to catch a good chunk of the artists, while Brisbane and Adelaide have received one show each — Yungblood in Brisbane and Sofi Tukker in Adelaide. Brisbane is often hard done by when it comes to Splendour's touring gigs, presumably due to its proximity to Byron Bay. As for Adelaide, it's receiving its own Spin Off festival on Friday, July 22 featuring Glass Animals, Jack Harlow, Sapcey Jane, Ball Park Music and Oliver Tree. You can find all the details and the full roster of sideshows at Secret Sounds website. [caption id="attachment_842129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joy Crookes[/caption] Splendour in the Grass will take place at North Byron Parklands Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24. The festival's sideshows are popping up across Australia and New Zealand in July. Tickets go on sale from 9am Monday, February 14.
There's money to be made in the business of curing hangovers. At the moment, the bakery around the corner bears the brunt of my need for three-cheese toasties on sorry-for-myself mornings, but others have had a good crack at trying to strategically break into the market. This Nashi pear juice claimed to help prevent hangovers, and late last year Sydney got its first hangover clinic (although it was soon closed after it landed a patient in hospital). The idea of hooking yourself up to a drip not all that appealing? Luckily for you, my poor, fragile hungover friend, a South Korean convenience store chain has created a much more appealing hangover cure — and it comes in ice cream form. Reuters reports that convenience store chain Withme FS has just launched the Gyeondyo-bar, which roughly translates to "hang in there". As well as providing a much appreciated motivational message, the grapefruit-flavoured ice cream bar is meant to soothe the effects of a hard night on the booze. The magic ingredient is raisin tree fruit juice, which is apparently a traditional 17th century Korean hangover remedy. If you need reassurance from more recent medical research, a 2012 article in the Journal of Neuroscience found that it reduced symptoms of intoxication in rats. This isn't South Korea's first foray into the world of miracle hangover cures. Their vast array of hangover drinks, tablets and even soups amounts to about $175 million in sales each year. This is obviously linked to the city's big drinking culture. According to a 2014 report from the World Health Organization, South Koreans drink 12.3 litres of alcohol per capita each year — that's more than any other country in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia. So if you're a fan of the morning-after Icy Pole, then this hangover cure would be a (literal) treat. Can someone get Messina onto this? Via Reuters. Image: Alex Jones.
