Throw on your winter coat and head out into the night as Glow Winter Arts Festival returns to Melbourne's southeast for a luminous 2022 edition. Hosted by the City of Stonnington over fourteen nights, the free after-dark arts fest celebrates the best that local creatives have to offer, with plenty of dazzling light projections to tempt you off the couch. And this year, it'll be spread across two main precincts, descending on Prahran Square from Friday, June 3–Sunday, June 12, before hitting Malvern East's Central Park from Thursday, June 16–Sunday, June 19. Working to the theme 'Metamorphosis', the festival first lights up Prahran Square with intricate new work Now Breathe, by Resolution X collaborators Jamie Russell, David Bartholomeusz and Kait Hall. Expect a giant living organism, crafted from a series of light tubes and backed by a calming soundtrack featuring more than 250 different recordings of human breaths. Then, from June 16, Central Park Gardens will come alive nightly with five eye-popping glowing installations from local artists. Take a wander through works like ENESS' renowned Sky Castle, with its interactive colour-changing archways inspired by a rainbow; or the vibrant, ever-morphing Monolith, by Skunk Control. There's also an over-water carpet of tiny glowing flowers (The Overbloom, by Mandylights), an exploration of the concept of immediacy in the form of a vibrant sculpture (Cautionary Note, by Michael Doolan), and a 3D hot air balloon experience by renowned light artist Carla O'Brien (Taking Flight). While you're there, you'll also find food trucks slinging wintry eats and drinks to warm your hands (and stomach). Catch Glow Winter Arts Festival from 6–10pm. [caption id="attachment_855852" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Skunk Control's 'Monolith'.[/caption] Top Images: 'Sky Castle' by ENESS, photographed by Zhu Rui. Glow Winter Arts Festival, supplied.
If you haven't been able to book a trip to Spain this year, this beachside dinner may be a very tasty consolation. Melbourne's Basque-inspired restaurant Sebastian is throwing a paella party by the water to celebrate Spanish Paella Day To mark the occasion on Wednesday, March 27, the Williamstown newcomer is getting into the paella spirit with a special dinner, running from 6pm. Guests will have the chance to see Head Chef Leigh Robbins in action, whipping up a big, communal version of his signature seafood and chistorra (a Basque-style sausage) paella out on the beachfront deck. Individual serves of paella will set you back $25, while shared portions — or portions for a very, very hungry one person — will be going for $36, until there's nothing left in that pan (also called a paella, if you didn't know). And of course, there's no chance of going thirsty on the night — the bar's lineup of top Spanish wines and jugs of sangria are a perfect match, both to the rice dish and to those balmy bay views.
A 19-year-old woman was found unconscious and convulsing at yesterday's Harbourlife festival at 4.40pm. After being assessed by paramedics, she was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where she was later pronounced dead of multiple organ failure. It's believed that drugs played a role in her death. Though an autopsy is yet to be carried out, friends of the deceased teenager have told police she had taken one-and-a-half pills during the day. The coroner will attempt to find out what was in the pills, but police are taking the opportunity to warn people of the general dangers of illegal drugs. "There's little to no quality control in the production," said Inspector Stewart Leggat in a statement this morning. "Quite simply, you don't know what you are getting — seeking a synthetic high could result in a serious injury or death." Of the 5,200 people in attendance yesterday, 78 were arrested for drug offences. Police are urging anyone with information about illegal substances to come forward. "We don't need to know who you are; all we need is the information you have," said Inspector Leggat. "The information you provide could save someone's life." Via NSW Police and SMH. If you have more information contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the online reporting page.
Blue and green should never be seen without a colour in between. Or was that red and green? I can’t remember and judging by the preview image for his bluntly titled upcoming exhibition, New Work, which opens at Foot-us-crazy's Bruce Gallery on Thursday night, neither can local artist Max Lawrence White. I think that’s pink and red I spy right next to each other there too — a middle finger to the rules of artistic practice according to schoolyard rhymes or is White just an adventurous colour blocker, like this donkey? Either way, his three-dimensional canvasses offer an uplifting ode to colour and its ability to invoke an immediate, almost primal response. New Work is White’s second show for 2013, following the also informatively titled Forced Collaboration, which saw White share Dud Space with fellow artist Cheralyn Lim earlier this year. Image credit Max Lawrence White
Following on from a killer season at Sydney Festival in 2014 and 2015 and sold-out shows in London, Edinburgh, Bogota, Auckland, Adelaide and Munich, LIMBO is making its Melbourne debut, taking up residence in the Spiegeltent during Melbourne Festival. With awe-inducing acrobatics, breathtaking manoeuvres and a serve of cheeky cabaret, LIMBO is circus with a grown-up and grungy twist. Presented by Strut & Fret (producers of La Soirée and Cantina), Underbelly Productions and Southbank Centre, LIMBO has all of the danger of — but much more sexiness than — your regular night at Cirque du Soleil. This is circus with grit, set against the funked-up, old-time jazz, oompah, rap and bossa nova of Sxip Shirey's electric live score. Look forward to performances from squirm-inducing fire eater Heather Holliday; "French gravity-defying Chinese pole master, beatboxer and clown" Mikael Bres; and a trio of acrobats whose routine has them hilariously swaying from poles into the audience. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Festival. Check out the other nine.
The Melbourne Museum's hugely successful Halloween celebration returns for 2025, making it the perfect spot for lovers of all things spooky. On Friday, October 31, families can get a thrill with special kids' activities, while adults can explore something a little scarier throughout the night. For families, there's trick-or-treating, face painting, science shows, collectable skeleton cards and kids-only zones. Families can also take the experience to the next level with the full-moon package: a VIP offering that includes early entry, a treat from the Star Wars Galactic Café, a premium showbag, exclusive access to Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition, and entry to Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard. For adults, Halloween frights start from 8pm and go until midnight. If you're in the mood for spirits, there's an adults-only zone where you can grab a drink at the tavern, try a slime shot and watch a horror movie marathon. You'll also get the chance to watch an adults-only science show, with horrific experiments and jokes for grown-up ears. General entry tickets start at $19 for children and up to $39 for adults, while special tickets range from $115–$134 . Purchase tickets for this Halloween-night-only event from the Melbourne Museum Website.
We all love a good hunk of cheese. Hard, soft, sharp, gooey — you really can't go wrong with the stuff. Now it's time to deepen your love for our often stinky friend, and learn how to make your own fromage. Multipurpose warehouse The Craft & Co. — which houses a cafe, bar, distillery, brewery, bottle shop, bakery, coffee roaster and cured meats rooms (phew) — obviously didn't already have enough in the ol' repertoire, so the team also run cheese making classes to compensate. Learn how to make Romano and ricotta from expert cheesemakers, as they give you a detailed rundown of the entire process. You'll finish your Thursday in a hearty cheese coma, drowsy and content with the new cultured knowledge you've gained.
What do Elvis Presley, Yayoi Kusama, Pablo Picasso and Ancient Greece have in common? In the coming months, all four will have items and objects on display across Victoria. Accordingly, if you're looking for an excuse to spend the cooler months in a museum or gallery, you have several — including peering at 44 ancient works dating back to the early bronze age. Those historic pieces will hit Melbourne Museum courtesy of Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections, a new exhibition that's set to open on Saturday, April 23. Co-created and presented with the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Australian-first showcase will feature pieces from the Greek organisation's collection — which happens to be the richest range of artefacts from Greek antiquity worldwide — all of which will be making an appearance Down Under for the first time. In the case of two of the exhibition's big highlights — the gold Theseus ring, which dates back to the 15th century BCE, as well as a 2500-year-old marble sphinx that depicts a female head with the body of a winged lion — they'll make their debut outside of the National Archaeological Museum, too. Also coming our way: a collection of artefacts depicting Greek hero Heracles, as well as pieces that date through to the Roman period. [caption id="attachment_845137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Column krater, clay, Herakles slaying the king of Egypt, Busiris, and his attendants. B. Maenad and Satyrs. By the Cleveland Painter.Unknown provenance.About 470 BC. Credit National Archaeological Museum and Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. Photographer Eleytherios Galanopoulos[/caption] Overall, Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections will focus on not just Ancient Greece itself, but how the trade of ideas and goods influenced its culture — and how the Greeks also influenced the rest of the ancient world. "Since antiquity, the Greeks have always followed the open horizons of the sea, constantly travelling to every corner of the world. Extroversion, broad-mindedness and cosmopolitanism, as well as the ability to embrace and utilise foreign influences in a creative and original way have been integral elements of Hellenic culture," explains Minister of Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports Dr Lina Mendoni. Announcing the news, Museums Victoria CEO Lynley Crosswell said "we are excited to be collaborating with the National Archaeological Museum to bring some of the most remarkable artefacts direct from Athens for audiences in Melbourne to enjoy. This captivating exhibition will invite visitors to explore the cross-cultural connections that contributed to the formation of Ancient Greece." Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys and Connections opens at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, on Saturday, April 23. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the museum's website. Top image: One of a pair of antefixes Clay Representations of Chimaera and Bellerophon mounting his winged horse, Pegasus. From Thasos. 550-500 BC. Credit National Archaeological Museum and Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. Photographer Magoulas.
Forty years after first forming, Cirque du Soleil still knows how to notch up firsts among its lineup of dazzling circus shows, especially for Australian audiences. In 2023, the Montreal-based company headed Down Under with CRYSTAL, its first-ever ice production on ice. In 2024, it's following that up with LUZIA, which takes inspiration from Mexico, and also marks Cirque du Soleil's first touring performance that features rain in its acrobatic and artistic scenes. LUZIA's name is a combination of the words 'lux' and 'lluvia' in Spanish, with the first translating as light and the second as rain. What that means in the production will be unveiled to Aussie audiences throughout the year, starting in Melbourne in March. Seasons in Adelaide from June, Perth from July, Brisbane from September and Sydney from November will all follow. While it has been four decades since Cirque du Soleil was created back in 1984, 2024 is the 25th anniversary of the troupe's performances in Australia, making LUZIA the tenth big-top show to hit our shores. So, although it's already an ode to Mexican culture, the production has even more to celebrate as it spends the bulk of 2024 and into 2025 making its way around the nation. Packing their bags to help: a team of 120 people, which includes 47 artists from 26 countries. First staged in 2016 and becoming Cirque du Soleil's 38th original production at the time, LUZIA has already been seen by 4.5-million people, a number that'll grow in Australia. Audiences are in for a trip to an imaginary version of Mexico, where the performance gets playful and surreal amid the light and rain. Some of the settings include an old movie set, the desert, the ocean and a dance hall, all backdropping the company's acrobatics, trapeze displays, contortionist feats, juggling and more. In the Cyr wheel, artists will roll and spin through the rain. And that trapeze work? That happens through showers. LUZIA also spans hoop diving on giant treadmills, a natural sinkhole, seven pins being flung in the air by jugglers and street dancing that includes footballs. Daniele Finzi Pasca wrote and directs the production, which begins with a parachutist falling into a field of cempasuchil flowers, turning a huge metallic key, then taking a magical journey. From there, the clown antics give LUZIA a beach clown and clown scuba diving, the acrobatics even take to a bike, a luchador mask makes an appearance in the swing segment — 1000-plus costumes are seen across the show in total — and a hair-suspension act features. Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA — Australian Tour 2024–25: From Sunday, March 24, 2024 — Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne From Sunday, June 9, 2024 — Adelaide Showground, Adelaide From Thursday, July 25, 2024 — Claremont Showgrounds, Perth From Wednesday, September 25, 2024 — Next to Royal Queensland Golf Club, off Curtin Ave East, Brisbane From Sunday, November 24, 2024 — Entertainment Quarter, Sydney Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA tours Australia from March 2024. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the show's website. Images: Anne Colliard.
If you're currently working from home, your pet is either loving or hating your never-ending company. Dogs, typically, will be very excited about the possibility of more walks and pats. Cats, on the other hand, are most likely exasperated and wondering why you won't just let them sleep. Either way, if you're spending more time with your pet, you might be thinking it deserves a few new toys. A perch to hide on. A few new balls to chew. A new addition to the fish tank, perhaps. So you can get them more toys and food without having to leave the house, Petbarn has teamed up with Uber to offer same-day delivery across Melbourne. Which is good news for you and your animal. Available seven days a week for orders made before 4pm (and 3pm on Sunday), the delivery will set you back $9.95 and will arrive by 8pm. It's currently available for a heap of Melbourne suburbs, from Frankston in the south to Sunbury in the north, Mooroolbark in the east and Werribee in the west. You can check out the full map here. To help pet parents that are elderly and vulnerable, health care workers or people in mandatory self-isolation due to COVID-19, Petbarn is also giving away 20,000 same-day deliveries. To register, or help someone who needs it register, you can fill in this form over at the Petbarn website. Petbarn same-day delivering is available for $9.95 seven days a week when you order before 4pm (and 3pm on Sunday).
This spring, Yo-Chi stores across Australia are transforming into a Fun House, filled with games, surprises, activities, and prizes to be won. Taking place from Friday, September 19, through to Sunday, October 12, the Fun House is targeted towards kids and teens on school holidays. At the centre of the festivities is the launch of Yo-Chi's new Bestie Testie card game. Packed with questions from your last Google search to your most regrettable social post, it's designed to spark conversation between Yo-Chi enjoyers. You can play in-store or take a pack home for $12. Each venue will also have its own Chi-E-O, who is responsible for running a rotating lineup of activities, including colouring in and Chi Pong. Then, at random points during the day, a secret song will play across every venue nationally, signalling the ultimate froyo treat: Yo-Chi on the house for whoever's inside at that moment. Yo-Chi is also rolling out a limited-edition strawberry and mango swirl, alongside new toppings like rainbow mochi, sour clouds, wafer discs and choc cone bits. So make sure to try the new flavour and toppings while you explore all that the Yo-Chi Fun House has to offer. The Yo-Chi Fun House runs nationwide from September 19 to October 12. Find out more via the Yo-Chi website.
Whether you're a green thumb or a total gardening novice, you'll score great tips and tricks for growing your own food when FareShare opens its Abbotsford kitchen garden to the public on Saturday, October 14. The food charity cooks as many as 5000 free meals across Australia each day using rescued surplus food, in addition to produce harvested from its own collection of urban kitchen gardens. That includes this lush, 70-bed veggie patch by Victoria Park railway station, a one-time dumping ground that's been given new life thanks to a tribe of volunteers and support from the RACV, Gandel Philanthropy and urban food-growing initiative 3000 Acres. The Open Garden day invites locals along to have a sticky-beak and discover how FareShare is transforming disused urban plots like these into vibrant, veggie-growing wonderlands. There'll be guided tours of the gardens as well as a program of guest speakers covering topics from bee keeping and composting, through to urban agriculture. And if it all leaves you inspired to do some gardening of your own, a range of seedlings will be available to purchase for a gold coin donation.
Portraits aren't all regal furs and awkward "Oh, didn't see you there," poses. Tim Storrier nabbed the Archibald Packing Room Prize today with his unflattering-as-blazes portrait of Dr Sir Leslie Colin Patterson KCB AO, with this morning's announcement of the finalists for Australia's prestigious Archibald Prize. Capturing a realistic, unrelentingly vulnerable likeness of your own reflection, someone you've just met or one of your oldest buds takes a fair few stories, maybe a few beers and a willingness to tackle the intimidating notion of thinking up something new after decades of Archie winners. At the risk of sounding like an HSC essay opener, the final image isn't the whole story. Here's eight of the Archibald finalists making us wake up and pay attention (whether for great or WTF reasons) to Australia's big ol' faces — as told to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in their own words. Peter Churcher, Four self-portraits in a bunch of balloons "One particular evening I was walking down a street and coming towards me was a fellow holding an enormous bunch of balloons. I thought it would make a wonderful subject for a still life. I set up a large bunch in my studio. To my delight, I noticed my own reflection very clearly looking back at me in many of the balloons. I particularly like the way each individual balloon slightly distorted my reflection the way those mirrors in the funfair used to. "I quickly realised I was no longer looking at a straightforward still life. The subject had transformed into a quadruple self-portrait showing myself in my painting studio in four different ways. All this sets up a complex set of different scenarios within the painting. Who is looking at what? Who is looking at who? Is it a still life or a self-portrait?" James Powditch, Citizen Kave "I want to stop people in their tracks with this work and have them scratching their heads, thinking “that’s one hell of a film, how come I don’t remember it? Then when the penny drops that it’s all make believe, that it’s a 'what if' picture from 30 years ago, they’ll start thinking about what they were doing back then, remember all the influences and events in their own lives, all the stuff that moulds us over time and makes us who we are. "Artists like Nick Cave gather all that stuff up: a book from here, a great film from there, music and art. It’s all repackaged and sent out into the world where it is evaluated, absorbed and informs the next generation. He becomes an influence — or if they saw him, maybe a pivotal moment in their lives — and the process just keeps rolling along, repeating endlessly. So the painting represents an imaginary rock opera made in 1983 when Cave was 26 years old, the same age as Orson Welles when he made Citizen Kane in 1941. But it’s about a modern-day media tycoon, Rupert Murdoch rather than William Randolph Hearst. I see Cave and Welles as similar, extraordinary talents, across multiple disciplines." Sophia Hewson, Artist kisses subject "I sought out working with Missy [Higgins] because I belt out her songs in the car. I also know her to be genuinely egoless with a deep respect for artistic autonomy, which meant she was willing to work with me outside the traditional portrait structure. "I’ve been thinking about the proximity of the orgasm to death and spiritual revelation. In my work I’ve been considering the orgasm as a kind of transcendence, and using metaphors like 'orgasming against something plastic' to explore the human experience of when revelation falls short and faith is not found. In this painting it is the constructed nature of the intimacy that suggests ecstasy is just out of reach. I wanted to create something equally portrait, self-portrait, and an examination of post-feminist self-objectification." Rebecca Hastings, The onesie "It’s difficult to take anyone seriously when they are wearing a onesie. In this self-portrait I mock my own inadequacies as a mother and lament the struggle to also be an artist. Instead of a paintbrush I hold aloft a lollypop-like object, satin gloves replace my usual hand protection, and the painter’s apron becomes instead a shimmering onesie. "As a mother of two children I find myself constantly beset by guilt, frustration and anxiety. I consider myself ill-equipped and a bit of a joke when it comes to meeting the lofty, idealistic heights of mummy perfection. This painting is part of a broader exploration of themes relating to 'maternal ambivalence', reflecting my desire to subvert the romantic ideal of motherhood, and chart the unacknowledged, darker side of the complex and contradictory experiences that come with having children." Wendy Sharpe, Mr Ash Flanders, actor "I first saw Ash in a production called Little Mercy. He played Virginia, the mother of an evil seven-year-old girl. Although it was crazy and surreal, Ash played her absolutely straight. It is really moving when something can be ridiculous, funny and poignant at the same time. Ash has now been cast as Hedda Gabler, the female lead in Henrik Ibsen’s famous play at Belvoir Street Theatre: a brave and exciting choice. He is not being a drag queen but will play Hedda seriously with intelligence and sensitivity. "This painting is not about Ash himself but about the uneasy stage persona he will create as Hedda Gabler. The disturbing mix of masculinity and femininity was what excited me to paint the picture. Ash understood exactly what I was after. We worked together in my studio trying different poses and clothes (my dresses, his shoes) to get something intriguing and unnerving, vulnerable and powerful. I was thinking of the paintings of Edvard Munch who, like Ibsen, was Norwegian." Sally Ross, Harvey "His [Harvey Miller of Flight Facilities] elaborate corporate narratives and performances combine beauty, brains and youthful hedonism with rump-shaking, turn-of-the-nineties synth pop, blurring the line between art and pop, performance and cultural satire,’ says Sally Ross. ‘When I first saw his epic Aussie montage music video End of the Earth, I thought I had just experienced the work of Barry Humphries’ secret love children. Harvey and lead singer Monte Morgan have featured in my paintings ever since. "I want to paint clever people that I get to meet in my life, creative people that dare to make the leap of faith required to make art, perform, put their ideas out there. This is a labour of admiration and enthusiasm. My portraits are about asking what do clever people look like? Can a picture have a presence? There is a particular, quite intimate scrutiny created when you paint someone. When I do the “reveal” and show the sitter their portrait for the first time it is completely awkward and wonderful." Rodney Pople, Well dressed for a Sydney audience "During his Weimar cabaret in Sydney last year, Barry Humphries commended the crowd as being “well dressed for a Sydney audience”. The same could have been said of the performer. Later, as he transitioned from performance mode to talking with me backstage, I glimpsed a momentary uncertainty behind the facade of Humphries’ various theatrical personae. It is this image, in addition to the sketches made both backstage and from my seat in the audience that evening, on which the painting is based. The result has, to quote Humphries’ response upon seeing the finished painting, achieved a 'more than flattering likeness'. "The portrait takes its composition form Max Beckmann’s Self portrait in tuxedo 1927, chosen because of Humphries’ interest in Weimar culture. The work of both men combines unsentimental insight and sharp satire to comment on the contemporary society of their respective eras. Where the Beckmann self-portrait conveys a sense of assurance, this painting reveals insight into the man as he moves between roles from stage to sitter. Beckmann’s portrait describes a man at the height of his powers; similarly, this portrait of Humphries celebrates the outstanding career of a man at the pinnacle of success in his 80th year." Paul Ryan, Rox "It was Rox’s inspired character Cleaver Greene in the television series Rake that was the catalyst for my desire to paint [Richard Roxburgh]. My regular practice is an exploration of ideas and images of early colonial men and wild colonial boys: lieutenants, squatters, cowboys and dandies. Cleaver Greene is a contemporary portrait of the wild colonial boy. A larrikin, drunk, womaniser and dandy, he falls somewhere between hero and anti-hero. Some of us want to be him, until he wakes with a hangover in another man’s bedroom with another man’s wife. "The painting is a portrait of an idea of Rox. He is dressed in colonial coat and shirt. It has elements of a likeness but is clearly not a photographic likeness. In the early stages it looked more like Rox but I wasn’t happy with the paint. I moved it around in vigorous swirls with large palette knives. In an instant the image changed and came to life. I had broken free from the constricting desire to capture the face. For me, the best portraits move on from likeness and go deeper." Peter Daverington, The Golden City has ceased "This is a self-portrait of my imagination, where my signature geometric and spatial elements appear among figurative compositions drawn from various painting traditions. The painting’s title is inscribed as a motto beneath the coronet within a coat of arms. The phrase comes from the Old Testament book of Isaiah and refers to the fall of Babylon. In the centre field is a self-portrait in which my face and arms are connected to a female torso. I appear again in a portrait miniature hanging from ribbons beneath the ring. A second motto written at the base of the star on a blue scroll reads From the future with love. My wife Kianga stands on the step-ladder. The image of burning buildings at her feet is taken from a photograph of the fall of Baghdad in 2003. "This painting developed intuitively over 18 months. I have drawn inspiration from socialist propaganda posters, Renaissance art, Romantic landscape painting, medieval European heraldry and religious iconography. The unusual combination of breasts and beard has an interesting precedent in Jusepe de Ribera’s The bearded woman, a portrait of a husband and wife from 1631." Find more stories and the rest of this year's Archibald finalists at the AGNSW website.
Big names from Australia and overseas. A new stage dedicated to dance music. A health and wellness zone with guided meditation and ice baths. With the returning lantern parade, too, as well as Steven Bradbury hosting the Great Australian Pineapple Toss and the onsite ferris wheel offering a helluva view, that's how The Big Pineapple Festival is making the most of its 2025 event. After announcing its Saturday, November 1 date earlier in the year, the Sunshine Coast fest has unveiled its lineup and more about its plans to mark its ten-year anniversary. Leading the bill: Hilltop Hoods, The Cat Empire, The Jungle Giants and PNAU, as well as Polaris, SIX60, Hands Like Houses, MKTO, Rum Jungle and Thelma Plum. Superlove Arena, that purpose-built haven for electronic tunes, will feature Baauer, Bushbaby, Anna Lunoe B2B Nina Las Vegas, KLP B2B Mell Hall, Little Fritter B2B Wongo, Paluma B2B Kessin, Shimmy and Raw Ordio. And Betty Taylor, Beckah Amani, HEADSEND and IVANA are also on the fest's lineup as well, all helping the event back up being named the Festival of the Year for the fourth time at the 2025 Queensland Music Awards. For those keen to dance in the shadow of a giant piece of tropical fruit — and one of Australia's most-famous big things — hitting Pineapple Fields in Woombye also comes with the option of camping, whether you'll be bringing your own tent, hiring one onsite or glamping. "When we started this festival years ago, our goal was to put Australian artists front and centre, and create an unforgettable experience for fans," said Mark Pico, The Big Pineapple Festival's Founder and Festival Director. "To be here over a decade later with the festival stronger than ever and even earning industry awards again ... is incredibly humbling. It's a testament to the amazing community of artists, attendees and partners who have believed in The Big Pineapple Festival from the start." The Big Pineapple Festival 2025 Lineup Hilltop Hoods The Cat Empire The Jungle Giants PNAU Polaris SIX60 Hands Like Houses MKTO Rum Jungle Thelma Plum Baauer Bushbaby Anna Lunoe B2B Nina Las Vegas KLP B2B Mell Hall Little Fritter B2B Wongo Paluma B2B Kessin Shimmy Raw Ordi Betty Taylor Beckah Amani HEADSEND IVANA The Big Pineapple Festival returns on Saturday, November 1, 2025, with presale tickets available from 8am AEST on Monday, July 28 and general tickets from 8am AEST on Tuesday, July 29. Head to the fest's website for more details. Select images: Claudia Ciapocha / Charlie Hardy.
In The Shape of Water, love conquers all, even when a man-like sea creature is involved. That extends to this year's Academy Award nominations, where Guillermo del Toro's monster romance scored a massive 13 nominations — and helped lead the charge for a traditionally under-represented genre. That'd be horror. It doesn't usually get much attention from the Oscars, but the Academy fell head over heels for the gorgeous creature feature, as nods for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Sally Hawkins), Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Best Supporting Actor (Richard Jenkins), Best Original Screenplay (Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor) and more all show. They were also more than a little fond of Get Out, which picked up four nominations. Star Daniel Kaluuya received a Best Actor nod, but it's writer/director Jordan Peele who's rightfully feeling thrilled at the moment. Recognised in the Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture categories, he's the first African-American to earn the trifecta of nominations for writing, directing and producing. https://twitter.com/JordanPeele/status/955807529161801728 Peele also became the fifth black nominee for Best Director in the awards' 90-year history, featuring in a field usually filled with white guys. That's not the directing branch's only welcome departure, with Lady Bird's Greta Gerwig becoming only the fifth woman to earn a directing nod. Dunkirk's Christopher Nolan, Phantom Thread's Paul Thomas Anderson and The Shape of Water's Guillermo del Toro fill out the category. Interestingly, all five nominees also wrote or co-wrote their film's screenplays. Elsewhere, Dunkirk collected eight nominations in total, Golden Globes standout Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri received seven (including for Best Actress favourite Frances McDormand), and Phantom Thread and Darkest Hour six apiece, with Blade Runner 2049 and Lady Bird nabbing five each, and Get Out, Mudbound, Call Me By Your Name and Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi all picking up four. And while that's an impressive spread — and an impressive list of recognised films — this year's Oscars were at their best when they were making history. First-ever female cinematographer to score a nomination? Yep, that'd be Mudbound's Rachel Morrison. First acting nominee from a film directed by a woman of colour? Mudbound again, with Mary J. Blige earning a Best Supporting Actress nod under Dee Rees' direction. First person to receive nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Song? Mudbound and Mary J. Blige once more. Youngest male acting nominee since the 1930s — and oldest acting nominee ever? They came in the form of Call Me By Your Name's Timothée Chalamet and All the Money in the World's Christopher Plummer, the latter getting the tap after famously only stepping into the film mere months ago. And iconic French director Agnes Varda became the oldest nominee ever in any category, thanks to Best Documentary contender Faces Places. As for Australia's efforts, Margot Robbie picked up a Best Actress nomination for I, Tonya, while editor Lee Smith was recognised for Dunkirk. The 90th Academy Awards will take place on March 5 Australian time, and will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Here's the full list of nominations. OSCAR NOMINEES 2018 BEST MOTION PICTURE Call Me by Your Name Darkest Hour Dunkirk Get Out Lady Bird Phantom Thread The Post The Shape of Water Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri BEST DIRECTOR Paul Thomas Anderson, Phantom Thread Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk Jordan Peele, Get Out PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Margot Robbie, I, Tonya Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird Meryl Streep, The Post PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Daniel Day-Lewis, The Phantom Thread Timothée Chalamet, Call Me by Your Name Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq. PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Mary J. Blige, Mudbound Allison Janney, I, Tonya Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR Coco Ferdinand Loving Vincent The Breadwinner The Boss Baby ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY Roger A. Deakins, Blade Runner 2049 Bruno Delbonnel, Darkest Hour Dan Laustsen, The Shape of Water Rachel Morrison, Mudbound Hoyte Van Hoytema, Dunkirk ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN Mark Bridges, Phantom Thread Jacqueline Durran, Darkest Hour Jacqueline Durran, Beauty and the Beast Consolata Boyle, Victoria and Abdul Luis Sequeira, The Shape of Water BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Faces Places Last Men in Aleppo Strong Island Abacus: Small Enough To Jail Icarus BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT Edith + Eddie Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405 Heroin(e) Knife Skills Traffic Stop ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING Jonathan Amos, Paul Machliss, Baby Driver Jon Gregory, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Tatiana S. Riegel, I, Tonya Lee Smith, Dunkirk Sidney Wolinsky, The Shape of Water BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR A Fantastic Woman, Chile Loveless, Russia On Body and Soul, Hungary The Insult, Lebanon The Square, Sweden ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING Daniel Phillips and Lou Sheppard, Victoria and Abdul Arjen Tuiten, Wonder Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinkowski, Lucy Sibbick, Darkest Hour ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SCORE) Alexandre Desplat, The Shape of Water Jonny Greenwood, Phantom Thread Carter Burwell, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri John Williams, Star Wars: The Last Jedi Hans Zimmer, Dunkirk ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SONG) 'Mighty River' from Mudbound by Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq, and Taura Stinson 'Remember Me' from Coco by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez 'Stand Up for Something' from Marshall by Lonnie R. Lynn (Common), Andra Day, and Diane Warren 'The Mystery of Love' from Call Me by Your Name by Sufjan Stevens 'This Is Me' from The Greatest Showman by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis, Dunkirk Paul Denham Austerberry, Shane Vieau, and Jeff Melvin, The Shape of Water Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer, Darkest Hour Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer, Beauty and the Beast Dennis Gassner, Alessandra Querzola, Bladerunner 2049 BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM Dear Basketball Garden Party Negative Space Lou Revolting Rhymes BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM DeKalb Elementary My Nephew Emmett The Silent Child Watu Wote/All of Us The Eleven O'clock ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING Richard King, Alex Gibson, Dunkirk Mark A. Mangini, Theo Green, Blade Runner 2049 Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, The Shape of Water Julian Slater, Baby Driver Matthew Wood, Star Wars: The Last Jedi ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING Ron Bartlett, Dough Hemphill, Mac Ruth, Blade Runner 2049 Tim Cavagin, Julian Slater, Mary H. Ellis, Baby Driver Christian T. Cooke, Filip Hosek, Brad Zoern, The Shape of Water Gregg Landaker, Gary Rizzo, Mark Weingarten, Dunkirk David Parker, Michael Semanchick, Ren Klyce, and Stuart Wilson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS Ben Morris, Michael Mulholland, Neal Scanlan, and Chris Corbould, Star Wars: The Last Jedi Daniel Barrett, Dan Lemmon, Joe Letteri, Joel Whist, War for the Planet of the Apes Stephen Rosenbaum, Jeff White, Scott Benza, Mike Meinardus, Kong: Skull Island John Nelson, Paul Lambert, Richard R. Hoover, Gerd Nefzer, Blade Runner 2049 Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Jonathan Fawkner, Dan Sudick, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Aaron Sorkin, Molly's Game James Ivory, Call Me by Your Name Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green, Logan Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, The Disaster Artist Dee Rees, Virgil Williams, Mudbound ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Guillermo Del Toro & Vanessa Taylor, The Shape of Water Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani, The Big Sick Jordan Peele, Get Out Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
If there's one thing that Gelato Messina loves more than the dessert that shares its name, it's whipping up decadent dishes that either feature its creamy, frosty wares, or pair them with cookie pies or scrolls. These sweet treats have been helping plenty of people get through lockdown; however, under Sydney and Melbourne's travel limits, these specials come with a catch: you can only get one if you live within the right radius of a Messina store. Don't reside near one of the dessert chain's shops? Still hankering for one of its tastebud-tempting once-offs? Been eyeing them off for too long, and have the grumbling stomach to prove it? Finally, the brand has good news for you. Thanks to a new home delivery service, Messina is now bringing its dishes to select parts of Sydney and Melbourne, with a focus on areas that aren't in the vicinity of one of the chain's outlets. If your mouth is now watering, folks in the northern beaches and upper north shore in Sydney, and in Melbourne's southeast and northwest, will get their chance to indulge between Monday, September 6–Thursday, September 9 — with orders open now for deliveries during those dates. In terms of what you can get brought to your door, you do only have one option, though: the Andy Bowdy-inspired banana split kit that made ice cream lovers hungry just this week. Messina is planning to open up its deliveries to new areas each week, so if you're not covered this time around, you'll still want to keep an eye on its website. And, given how the chain likes to mix up its specials, fingers crossed that it switches up its delivery options each week as well. Gelato Messina is now offering home delivery to select parts of Sydney and Melbourne. For further information and to order, head to the brand's website.
If social distancing and isolation has seen you clocking up bulk hours in the kitchen this year, we're betting you've chewed through quite the recipe collection — and, as a result, that you're now in need of some new culinary projects to have a crack at. Your mates at KFC are happy to help, releasing the recipe for a dish you never knew you wanted: hot and spicy mac 'n' cheese, as topped with fried chicken of course. Destined to warm some cockles and answer a few carb cravings this season, the revamped comfort food classic stars KFC's Hot & Spicy chook, which is back on the restaurant chain's menu until Monday, August 10 only. To make the recipe at home, you'll need to nip to your local KFC to stock up on the hero ingredient. But the rest of the lineup is pretty simple, mostly featuring stuff you'll probably already have in the pantry and fridge — like cheese, milk, spices and dried pasta. Here's the recipe — sort out a bowl, a whisk and a saucepan and getting cooking: HOT AND SPICY MAC 'N' CHEESE Serves one KFC Hot & Spicy chicken 150 grams pasta 3/4 cup milk 1 tablespoon plain flour 100 grams grated cheese Fresh herbs 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder If you can't be bothered with the spices, you can just substitute your favourite hot sauce as an alternative. Method: Cook pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside. Place 1/4 cup of milk in a small bowl, then whisk in flour until all the lumps are gone. Place the other 1/2 cup of milk in a small saucepan over medium heat, then mix in the spices/hot sauce. Yo can adjust the amount of spices/sauce based on your preference. Once steam starts rising from the milk, whisk in the milk and flour mixture until the sauce thickens (which should take around four minutes). Turn heat down to low, then mix in the cheese gradually until it has all melted. Remove from heat, stir in the pasta and fresh herbs, then serve in a bowl. Top with Hot & Spicy chicken.
If you live or work around Smith Street Collingwood, pay attention. For just one day this Thursday, June 20, Minor Figures team is giving away free oat lattes to anyone who rocks up to its pop-up at Skydiver Records. Simply head on over, order your brew, and walk away without paying. There's no catch. The baristas won't ask for your personal data, nor get you to sign up to a newsletter. The one-day pop-up is part of the brand's new campaign that champions the fact that Minor Figures oat milk is made in Victoria from 100-percent Australian oats. While you're waiting for your cup of joe to be made, you can flip through Skydiver's impressive selection of records and listen to some great tunes. What a way to start the day!
Everyday food items earning their own cafes: no, it's not a culinary kind of science fiction; it's our current reality. Cereal, avocados, mayonnaise, cookie dough, peanut butter on toast... the list goes on, and now it includes the humble marshmallow. American marshmallow makers XO Marshmallow are taking their online venture into the bricks-and-mortar world after meeting their crowdfunding goal, and plan to open their eatery in the coming months. If you've only ever devoured supermarket marshmallows, then your tastebuds mightn't be tingling at this idea; however their flavour range puts regular old spongy pillows of sugar, water and gelatin to shame. https://www.instagram.com/p/BTuHm7_hVJD/?taken-by=xo.marshmallow It would probably be easier to list the varieties they haven't tried — XO's standard selection includes trusty faves vanilla and raspberry, plus salted caramel, lavender honey, rose, mint, green tea, bourbon, Kahlua and champagne. Among the others they've given a spin are Nutella, mango habanero, pumpkin spice, root beer float, mimosa, double cherry, strawberry and spiked eggnog. Yes, your stomach should be rumbling. If you find yourself in Chicago looking for some marshmallowy goodness, XO's cafe will expand their operations to include s'mores, taco s'mores, rice crispy treats, marshmallow cones, marshmallow pops and toasted marshmallow lattes. For now, feast your eyes on their Instagram feed and just imagine how great their fluffy wonders would taste melted over a fire. Via Food & Wine.
Whether 2023 has been your best year ever, something far more average, completely life-changing or just cruisy business as usual, it has definitely been missing one thing: Spicks and Specks. Thankfully, 2024 won't have that problem. Announcing its lineup for next year, the ABC has confirmed that the beloved music game show will be back — and with Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough, of course. Among everything that the ABC has broadcast — news, entertainment, after-school kids shows, oh-so-much Doctor Who and late-night music videos to keep you occupied after a few drinks all included — Spicks and Specks is up there among the favourites. Exactly how many more instalments are on the way in 2024 hasn't been revealed, but watching a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about music will be back on the agenda. So will watching them do all of the above while answering questions, competing for points and just generally being funny, too. That's the concept behind the series, which takes more than a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, pits Aussie musos and comedians against each other, and has proven a hit several times over. It was a weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011 — and, as it keeps being resurrected. As fans will already know, Spicks and Specks has enjoyed more comebacks than John Farnham, although that has meant different things over the years. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it did so with a new host and team captains, for instance. And when it started to make a return with its original lineup of Hills, Warhurst and Brough, it first did so via a one-off reunion special. That 2018 comeback proved more than a little popular. It became the ABC's most-watched show of that year, in fact. So, the broadcaster then decided to drop four new Spicks and Specks specials across 2019–20 and, for 2021, to bring back Spicks and Specks in its regular format. In 2022, ten new episodes hit. Exactly when Spicks and Specks will start airing in 2024, and who'll be hitting buzzers among the program's guests, hasn't yet been announced. Still, you can add playing along with the show from your couch — yet again — to your plans before 2024 is out. Spicks and Specks will return to ABC TV sometime in 2024. You'll also be able to stream the series via ABC iView. We'll update you when an exact release date is announced.
Melbourne is about to boast not one but two international airports, with Avalon welcoming Air Asia flights from the end of 2018. In good news for travellers, a new curfew-free terminal will be built — and is expected to service 220,000 international passengers each year. Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll and Minister for Tourism John Eren announced that twice-daily flights will begin between Avalon and Kuala Lumpur, in the latest expansion of Avalon's capabilities. The Victorian Government has invested $1.5 million in infrastructure works at the airport, including ensuring that Jetstar will continue to operate at the site 55 kilometres outside of the city. The move, which comes after the Federal Government amended Avalon's lease to allow a new terminal back in 2015, is expected to open up Geelong and the Great Ocean Road to a greater number of international tourists. "We're so proud to have secured the first ever international service for Avalon — attracting thousands more visitors and bringing more business to our region," said Eren.
Police have recovered the body of a man who fell into Darling Harbour last night. It is believed the unidentified man in his 30s fell into the water at 11pm while watching the lights at the first night of Vivid Sydney. After the man fell off the pier, two acquaintances jumped in the water but could not locate him. A search was launched by the Marine Area Command, Police Rescue and NSW Ambulance helicopter service, and his body was found at 1.30am. Acting Inspector Christopher Breed says police have ruled out foul play. "It was known ... that he wasn't a proficient swimmer," Breed told the ABC this morning. While many onlookers became aware of the events unfolding in the water, the main music and light shows from Vivid continued around the scene. The man's death undoubtedly marks a tragic opening night for the festival. Image by James Horan.
If you're a fan of the tennis, but haven't got the cash to splash on actual tickets to the Australian Open, there's another option to watching it on your telly at home: watching it on a huge outdoor screen in Fed Square — with a Pimm's in hand. Located outside the East Shard staircase, the Pimm's Pop-Up bar is open every afternoon for the duration of the tournament, from January 14–27, with the giant screen live streaming most of the matches. They'll also be screened over on Fed Square's five-storey digital facade, located in the Atrium. You can check out the schedule on Channel 9. To drink, you can choose from cups of Pimm's ($10 each) or jugs ($34), and to eat, there are fresh strawberries piled high with cream ($8). With the bar opening at 2pm every weekday (and 11am on weekends), it's a a great spot to stop-by after work — to soak up some summer rays and watch the action. For more options of where to eat and drink near the Australian Open, head here. The Pimm's Pop-Up is open from 2pm–late Monday to Friday, and 11am–late Saturday and Sunday.
Most punters get to Melbourne Park during the Australian Open via public transport, which tends to be packed with hordes of hot and sweaty tennis lovers. But this year, the teams at Uber and Kia are getting more folks into air-conditioned electric cars by giving away free rides throughout the tournament. From Sunday, January 12—Sunday, January 26, you can volley between Melbourne CBD and the tennis precinct for free by booking complimentary rides. And you'll be driven around in one Kia's 50 fully-electric vehicles. How do you snag one of these rides? Simple. When heading to the tennis, just pop 'Rod Laver Arena' as your destination. If you're going home, just pop in your address or anywhere else you feel like heading within a five-kilometre radius. If an EV is available, you can select it and enjoy the ride on Kia's dime. Tourism Victoria via Flickr. But there's a small catch. You've got to be an Uber One member to score the free rides — which can be totally worth signing up for if you are planning to go to the tennis a few times this year. The free rides are also only up for grabs when a car is available, and there is a cap of $100 worth of travel each day per person (which really ain't bad). Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith shared, "As the major partner of the Australian Open, we're already moving Grand Slam athletes around in a fleet of hybrid and electric vehicles and we wanted to give spectators the chance to ride to the tennis precinct in the same style, comfort and with the same reduced carbon footprint that the players are," "We're incredibly proud of our global partnership with Uber which helps unlock activations like this in Australia, allowing their members perks like free trips to and from the tennis in full VIP comfort." Free trip to one of the greatest sporting events on the planet, all in the quiet comfort of a slick EV? That's not a bad start to any day at the tennis. Uber One members can score free rides to and from Melbourne CBD and Melbourne Park from from Sunday, January 12—Sunday, January 26.
The year was 1992. Aladdin, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Batman Returns, Lethal Weapon 3 and A Few Good Men ruled the international box office. Slipping into a habit and sliding in next on the list, becoming the sixth-biggest hit of the year: Sister Act. The film about singing nuns spawned a sequel, with word of a third movie floating around for years since — and, as everything from Mean Girls and Muriel's Wedding to Groundhog Day and Beetlejuice has also done, it inspired a stage musical as well. The theatre take on the Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple)-led film franchise debuted in California in 2006, then hit West End in 2009 and Broadway in 2011. Now, from August 2024, it's finally Australia's turn. Sister Act will make its Aussie premiere at Sydney's Capitol Theatre to see out winter, then make a date with the Regent Theatre in Melbourne from November. (If you live in other cities, start praying that it comes your way as well; however, for now, only Sydney and Melbourne seasons have been announced.) The first movie was filled with songs like 'Rescue Me', 'My Guy' and 'I Will Follow Him', making its soundtrack a smash as well, so the film was always primed to tread the boards. The Sister Act musical features original tunes, with Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid) doing the honours. Among the show's rewards so far: five Tony Award nominations and six Olivier Award nominations. "It is a joyous thing to produce a musical that has never been seen in Australia before and I feel very blessed to be bringing Sister Act to our shores," said producer John Frost, announcing the Aussie seasons. "It's a brilliant, must-see show that will lift audiences up and I know Australians will get into the habit of seeing again and again." Story-wise, the production follows Deloris, who witnesses a murder and has to go into protective custody. Her hideout: a convent. It's there that the nightclub singer finds a struggling choir, which she begins to help. So far, no cast details have been announced for the Aussie run — so who'll literally be donning a habit is yet to be revealed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sister Act The Musical (@sisteractmusicalau) Sister Act Australian Tour 2024: From Tuesday, August 3, 2024 — Capitol Theatre, Sydney From Sunday, November 3, 2024 — Regent Theatre, Melbourne Sister Act will hit the stage in Australia from August 2024. For further information and tickets, head to the show's website. Top image: Sister Act UK & Ireland Touring Production 2023-24, Mark Senior.
Thrilling crime sagas starring spectacular actors: on screens big and small, they've been one of the Australian film and TV industry's biggest successes over the past decade. The Guy Pearce-led Jack Irish franchise did it, starting with three telemovies, then releasing three seasons of television afterwards. Mystery Road managed hit the spot as well, beginning with that eponymous film, followed by big-screen sequel Goldstone, then spanning two seasons of TV so far — and an about-to-drop small-screen prequel series, too. And now The Dry is set to join them. When it reached Aussie cinemas at the beginning of 2021 — making the leap from bookshelves to theatres, adapting the debut novel from author Jane Harper — The Dry became an enormous hit. If you went to the movies at the start of last year, you likely saw it. It currently sits sixth at the box office among local titles over the past ten years, notching up more than $20 million in ticket sales. It also came in sixth in 2021 overall, after Spider-Man: No Way Home, No Time to Die, Godzilla vs Kong, Peter Rabbit 2 and Fast and Furious 9. That kind of response was always likely to spark a sequel (and it shouldn't escape attention that the five movies that made more cash in Australia last year were all either sequels themselves, or part of long-running franchises). So, adapting Harper's second novel Force of Nature, The Dry is now getting a big-screen follow-up. Yes, Eric Bana is back as Detective Aaron Falk. Now shooting in Victoria — with a release date yet to be revealed — Force of Nature focuses on a corporate hiking retreat attended by five women. Afterwards, only four return. So, alongside fellow federal agent Carmen Cooper, Falk heads deep Victoria's mountain ranges to try to find the missing hiker — who also happens to be a whistle-blowing informant — alive. As The Dry was, Force of Nature is being written and directed by Robert Connolly (Paper Planes). Again, it'll boast quite the pair when it comes to Aussie crime cinema — with Connolly the producer of one of the best local crime movies ever made, aka 1998's unnerving The Boys, and Bana was famously the star of the similarly excellent Chopper. Also featuring in Force of Nature, which'll have a powerhouse Aussie cast like its predecessor: Jacqueline McKenzie (Ruby's Choice) as Cooper, Anna Torv (Mindhunter) as missing hiker Alice Russell, plus Deborra-Lee Furness (Jindabyne), Robin McLeavy (Homeland), Sisi Stringer (Mortal Kombat) and Lucy Ansell (Utopia). Richard Roxburgh (Elvis), Tony Briggs (Preppers) and Kenneth Radley (The Power of the Dog) co-star, too, while Jeremy Lindsay-Taylor (Sequin in a Blue Room) is back in the role of Erik Falk. Check out the trailer for The Dry below: Force of Nature doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. Read our full review of The Dry.
The sky-high likeness of a child is set to land atop Melbourne's Hamer Hall, although you won't be able to spot it unless you know it's there. Soaring at a huge 100 metres tall, large-scale public art commission Child of Now is the work of multidisciplinary artist Robert Walton and First Nations author and activist Claire G Coleman — and, because it's an augmented reality piece, it will only be visible on digital screens and mobile devices. Fusing art and computer science, it's set to take to its rooftop perch in 2024. Across a cleverly executed ten-day performance — with dates yet to be revealed — the virtual being will appear to age from zero to 100 years, all while undertaking normal human activities like playing, walking, communicating and dreaming each day. As the installation wraps up on the tenth day, visitors viewers will watch the then 100-year-old character fall asleep for the final time, with the vision played out alongside an onsite candlelit vigil. Child of Now will also be available to watch online, so it can be experienced by people all over the world. The ambitious work is designed to glimpse into the future of an imagined child born in 2021; however, this isn't just any random kid. Child of Now is being created and shaped over the space of a few years, using input from a diverse group of 14,400 Melburnians. The artists, along with a crew of University of Melbourne tech specialists, will use volumetric body scanning and interactive technology to gather these public contributions, fusing all of the captured visions, thoughts and experiences together to generate the final product. And if you're wondering where they plucked that number from, 14,400 is the number of minutes that tick by in ten days. [caption id="attachment_807506" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Child of Now by Robert Walton. Concept image by Xavier Irvin.[/caption] If it sounds like a hefty project, that's because it is. That's why Child of Now isn't expected to be completed and ready for its Hamer Hall performance until 2024. In the meantime, the artists have been busy making a series of giant virtual holograms, which'll then be animated, and working on the artificial intelligence technology needed to do just that. Then, later this year, a Child of Now prototype will appear at Arts Centre Melbourne. That's when the team will call for assistance, too, giving the public the chance to participate. Child of Now is currently in production. The ten-day installation is slated to appear atop Hamer Hall in 2024 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced. Top image: Child of Now concept image by Xavier Irvine
If you've had your eye on one of FAZEEK's stunning pieces, now is the perfect time to treat yourself (or someone else). Melbourne's beloved homewares brand is hosting a warehouse moving sale, offering up to 75% off its much-wanted glassware, ceramics, candles and more. It's in-person-only, so you'll have to jump off Instagram and onto the tram to nab a bargain. That might be a conical carafe that perfectly matches your table, a set of wine glasses that'll have your next dinner party guests talking, or a serene candle that gives your bathroom a new lease on life. If you're familiar with FAZEEK's creations, you'll know there's the right mix of functionality, sculpture and beauty in every piece. They're all the work of multi-disciplinary designer Jackie Fazekas who founded the brand in 2017. The sale will run for just three days, which means it's time to clear out a space in your diary. Get there on Thursday, March 20 from 5pm-8pm, Friday, March 21 from 10am-6pm, or Saturday, March 22 from 9am-4pm. There'll be no refunds or exchanges, so only buy what you truly can't live without.
Heading to Marvel Stadium at Melbourne's Docklands usually means watching a game of AFL. Or, you could be hitting up the venue to see a gig. Moseying beneath the space to wander around an underground light show and labyrinth definitely isn't normally on the cards. That'll change come winter, with the city's Firelight Festival returning for 2024 — and, for the first time, bringing the Firelight Labyrinth with it. The fest itself is a three-day affair over the last weekend in June, running from Friday, June 28–Sunday, June 30 at New Quay Promenade, Victoria Promenade and Harbour Esplanade. On the agenda, as in past years: fire performers, fire pits, fire drums, flame jets, fire arches and fire sculptures. There'll also be live music, African drumming, and an array of stomach-warming food and drink options — such as dumplings, smoked meats, paella, churros and hot chocolates. Flame-filled arts — and bites to feast on and beverages to sip while you're enjoying them — aren't the only drawcard this year, though. Cue more than 144,000 lights beaming beneath Marvel Stadium, with the labyrinth sticking around for over two weeks from Friday, June 28–Sunday, July 14. Accordingly, this year's Firelight Festival is also a huge tourist attraction for locals and visitors alike, especially if you want to see a key Aussie Rules venue in a new light — literally. As well as all of those sources of luminousness, the Firelight Labyrinth will feature immersive audio, making the experience an audio-visual maze. While the festival is free to attend — you'll need your wallet for whatever you eat and drink — the Firelight Labyrinth is ticketed, costing $37.50 for adults. "The festival is a firecracker for the local economy — injecting $4.7 million last year in three days. We're expecting to see double the support for traders this winter with the Firelight Labyrinth experience spanning 17 days," said Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp. "Firelight Festival is a beacon of light for Docklands' traders — driving 100,000 visitors to the precinct in 2023, creating 700 jobs, and delivering a smouldering serving of arts and culture on Melbourne's stunning waterfront," added Activation portfolio lead Councillor Roshena Campbell. Firelight Festival will take over Docklands nightly from Friday, June 28–Sunday, June 30, with the Firelight Labyrinth running from Friday, June 28–Sunday, July 14. For further details — and presale tickets from Wednesday, May 1, then general tickets from Thursday, May 2 — head to the festival's website.
McDonald's has been serving up Big Macs and soft serve cones to Australians for 50 years, and it's been celebrating that fact throughout 2021. That's why the chain gave our tastebuds a Birthday McFlurry earlier this year, among other specials — and now the fast food giant is one-upping that limited-edition treat with a new Caramilk McFlurry. Macca's is no stranger to one-off McFlurry flavours, of course. So, you've probably tried both the good (apple pie) and the bad (bubblegum) varieties before. But Caramilk dessert mashups always take things up a few notches. That's why you've probably already sipped Caramilk cocktails, and eaten the Caramilk dessert jaffles and Caramilk Krispy Kreme doughnuts — and why you've now mentally scheduled in a date with a Caramilk McFlurry (or several). Obviously, this new sweet treat's ingredients are immensely straightforward. We all know what a McFlurry is. We all know what Caramilk is. Combine the two and voila! When it comes to this cult-favourite caramelised white chocolate, there's absolutely no need to overcomplicate things. You'll find the Caramilk McFlurry on the menu at all Australian Macca's outlets from Wednesday, October 13 — and for delivery, too. That said, it really is a limited-edition special, so it's only on offer while stocks last. McDonald's Caramilk McFlurries are available in stores Australia-wide from Wednesday, October 13 while stocks last.
May to September is the dry season in Darwin, which signals plenty of clear blue skies and balmy nights. And it means winter is a popular time of year to experience the city's vibrant nightlife and culture, without worrying about monsoonal storms and humidity. Whether you're planning a short stay or a long sojourn, there are plenty of delicious dining options, outdoor activities and historical sites to explore. Here are the best spots for eating, drinking, playing and resting your head during your next trip to Darwin. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are some restrictions on where you can go on a holiday. But, you can start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. [caption id="attachment_769785" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parap Markets via Tourism Australia[/caption] EAT For coffee that's so good it'll trick you into thinking you've been transported to Melbourne, take a short walk from Darwin's Smith Street Mall to Rabbithole where you will be treated to exceptionally made Campos coffee. Further along, amid the art- and graffiti-covered walls of Austin Lane, PM Eat & Drink serves up fresh seafood share plates, featuring Fremantle octopus and fried Northern Territory coral prawns. If you're after something a little different, CHOW!'s steaming bowls of meaty pho and refreshing, fruity KAPOW! drinks never disappoint. Meanwhile, chef Jimmy Shu will take you on a culinary journey through Southeast Asia at Hanuman, where you can feast on pork rolls, rich garlic dahl and sweet lychee-laced curries. And for an evening showstopper, park yourself at Pee Wee's for a luxe dinner of freshly caught seafood and picturesque waterfront views. Of course, no visit to Darwin would be complete without a stopover at one of the town's famous food markets — so make time to visit at least one of them. You can enjoy unbelievably creamy laksa from Mary's at the Parap Markets and the best banana fritters you'll taste outside of Bangkok at the Rapid Creek Markets. Try different (but delicious) meats like crocodile and kangaroo from the Roadkill Cafe at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets or crepes topped with homemade caramel sauce from Ken's Crepes at the Nightcliff Markets. [caption id="attachment_719163" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lola's Pergola[/caption] DRINK In recent years, Darwin's bar scene has stepped up its game. One of the (relatively) new kids on the block that has really made a splash is The Trader Bar. Serving up espressos by day and cocktails by night, it's your one-stop-shop for a tipple. Six Tanks Brewing Co is another fresh-faced newcomer, slinging stellar handcrafted brews — and currently offering takeout, too. Don't miss the tasty chicken parmigiana. If microbreweries aren't your style, get a little fancy and enjoy some impressive waterfront views at the Darwin Sailing Club or slurp some oysters at wharfside Oyster Bar — try the hot and spicy oyster shots for something a little more colourful. Thrillseekers will also get a kick out of the quirky, circus-themed Lola's Pergola, where you can sip on dark beers like Little Creatures' Hotchkiss Six while surrounded by colourful carousel ponies and giant eyeballs. It's a hoot. [caption id="attachment_769742" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] DO Darwin is the perfect place to admire some of the Top End's amazing art galleries. The first stop on your list should be the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT). It's home to a stuffed crocodile called Sweetheart, an infamous sound booth that lets you experience the deafening power of Cyclone Tracy, a rotating roster of incredible Indigenous artworks and one of the best collections of natural history specimens in the world. It's definitely a unique cultural institution not to be missed. While you're at it, visit the Aboriginal Bush Traders retail gallery to see a phenomenal collection focusing on the craftsmanship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander jewellers. Afterwards, head to the cafe at Lyons Cottage to chow down on modern versions of Australian bush tucker, like saltbush dukkah paired with the ever-popular smashed avo on toast or damper topped with Kakadu plum jam. After you've sent your taste buds into a tailspin, enjoy some downtime at the East Point Reserve. With 200 hectares of green space, there's plenty of room for activities — you can even go kayaking on Lake Alexander. [caption id="attachment_718128" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mindil Beach Resort[/caption] STAY Darwin isn't bursting with a bunch of boutique hotel options, but luxury seekers will find the ideal combination of comfort and style at the sprawling Mindil Beach Casino & Resort (currently closed, but due to reopen later in 2020). Set on Mindil Beach, amid 30 acres of tropical gardens, the lagoon-style pool, swim-up bar and private beach will quickly have you trying to figure out how you can make the hotel your permanent home. Keeping with the waterfront location, Mantra on the Esplanade is known for its fantastic sunset views of the harbour and the beautiful Bicentennial Park. And for those on a budget, the Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront will keep you close to the action without breaking the bank. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Top image: Mindil Beach Sunset Markets courtesy Tourism Australia.
Life keeps finding a way to bring new movies in the Jurassic franchise to cinemas — and its characters keep finding a way to come face to face with prehistoric creatures. Three years after Jurassic World Dominion, the saga's latest instalment will stomp into picture palaces come winter Down Under. Welcome to ... Jurassic World Rebirth. Also, welcome to a cast featuring Scarlett Johansson (Fly Me to the Moon), Jonathan Bailey (Wicked) and Mahershala Ali (Leave the World Behind) embarking upon a clandestine mission to a secret island that was home to the research facility for Jurassic Park's original dino sanctuary. The date for your diary to discover how that turns out (which, for the human characters involved, will be badly): Thursday, July 3, 2025. The idea at the heart of the series' seventh entry, as the just-dropped first trailer for the flick shows: on the landmass at the centre of the new movie, different species of dinosaurs to those that the films have featured before roam — species that were considered too dangerous for the park. Johannson plays covert operations expert Zora Bennett, who heads there with Bailey's palaeontologist Dr Henry Loomis and Ali as her righthand man Duncan Kincaid — and company — to obtain genetic material that could help develop drugs to save human lives. Accordingly, Rebirth turns a Jurassic World movie into a heist film — with pesky rampaging ancient beasts. As well Johansson, Bailey, and Moonlight and Green Book Oscar-winner Ali, the movie's lineup of on-screen talent also spans Rupert Friend (Companion) as a pharmaceutical executive; Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer) as a civilian who gets dragged into the mission after becoming shipwrecked; Luna Blaise (Manifest), David Iacono (The Summer I Turned Pretty) and Audrina Miranda (Lopez vs Lopez) as the latter's family members; and Philippine Velge (The Serpent Queen), Bechir Sylvain (Black Mafia Family) and Ed Skrein (Rebel Moon) among Zora and Krebs' crew. In the feature's storyline, five years have passed since the events of Jurassic World Dominion — which, for audiences, followed 2015's Jurassic World and 2018's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in the Jurassic World saga, plus 1993's Jurassic Park, 1997's The Lost World: Jurassic Park and 2001's Jurassic Park III in the OG Jurassic Park trilogy. Jurassic World Rebirth director Gareth Evans (The Creator) is new to the franchise, but knows a thing or two about flicks about fighting giant creatures courtesy of 2010's Monsters and 2014's Godzilla. Rebirth does have a key link back to the debut Jurassic Park movie, however, with screenwriter David Koepp returning after co-penning the initial film and scripting the second solo. (Koepp also returns to grappling with dinosaurs after a three-movie run writing screenplays for Steven Soderbergh with Kimi, Presence and Black Bag.) Check out the first trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth below: Jurassic World Rebirth releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
One of the most significant fashion designers of the past century is the subject of one of Australia's most significant fashion exhibitions, with the National Gallery of Victoria dedicating its big summer blockbuster show to the late, great Alexander McQueen. For fans of pioneering, boundary-pushing threads, Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse's four-month season promises to be bigger and better than Christmas — complete with more than 120 garments designed by the icon, plus artworks, sketches, videos and photographic works that inspired him. First revealed back in May, and now on display from Sunday, December 11, 2022—Sunday, April 16, 2023, Mind, Mythos, Muse has taken over the NGV International. Inside the Melbourne cultural institution, fashion devotees will find walls and halls filled with a stunning display, as created in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). All things McQueen first graced LACMA, and now it's Australia's turn. While the LA venue organised the exhibition, drawing upon more than 60 garments and accessories from its own holdings, it contacted NGV about both contributing and running its own season. That's where 50 designs by McQueen from the NGV Collection come in, plus other artworks from each institution. Don't go thinking that this is a standard retrospective, however. As Katie Somerville, the NGV's Senior Curator of Fashion and Textiles, explained back when Mind, Mythos, Muse was announced, "it's not a go-to-whoa examination of him from a more biographical point of view". Instead, the aim is to go both deep and broad, and highlight his many sources of inspiration, "exploring him as a creative soul". The NGV has been hoping to put an exhibition like this together ever since the designer first made a splash in the early 90s, and Mind, Mythos, Muse does indeed venture back that far. The showcase features McQueen-designed items dating back to 1994, and 25 different seasonal collections — with 20 seasons covered from its the NGV's own holdings alone. Accordingly, attendees can check out examples from the autumn-winter 1995–1996 Highland Rape collection, the autumn-winter 2006–2007 The Widows of Culloden range, and spring-summer 2010's Plato's Atlantis, McQueen's final complete collection before his death in February 2010. Various sections of the exhibition dive into McQueen's oeuvre in different ways. With Mythos, for example, three collections inspired by mythological and religious belief systems sit together. Then, in Fashioned Narratives, four collections that showcase his knack for world-building are in the spotlight. Next comes Evolution and Existence, which hones in on his interest in life cycles and the human condition — and Technique and Innovation, which is rather self-explanatory. Finally, Dangerous Bodies is all about early collections with a focus on eroticism and empowerment. Helping pull together all of the above are behind-the-scenes snaps by photographer Robert Fairer, taking audiences backstage at McQueen's shows — because his parades were an event and an art — and 80-plus historical artworks spanning painting, sculpture, photography, decorative arts and works on paper, all hailing LACMA and NGV's collections. "Juxtaposing Alexander McQueen's designs with artworks in a wide range of media opens up a new perspective on his process and artistic legacy. We are thrilled to share this groundbreaking exhibition with Australian audiences," said LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director Michael Govan. "Alexander McQueen is beloved for his boundary-pushing and highly conceptual designs that set him apart from his contemporaries. With meticulous craftmanship and an intellectual rigour seldom seen on the runways before or since, he created a new vocabulary for fashion design that still resonates today. Comprising more than 120 works, this showstopping exhibition unites the collections of LACMA and the NGV for the very first time, and celebrates the timeless work of one of the true icons of late twentieth century fashion," added NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM. The NGV is no stranger to big fashion exhibitions while the weather is warm, of course, with Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse following its massive celebration of Coco Chanel's work over last summer. Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse displays from Sunday, December 11, 2022—Sunday, April 16, 2023 at the NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the gallery's website. Images: Installation view of Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse on display at NGV International from 11 December 2022 - 16 April 2023. Photos: Tom Ross and Sean Fennessy.
If the recent World Cup inspired you to get out on the field and unleash your inner Ronaldo or Mbappé, this may be the perfect opportunity to do just that. A five-storey football stadium, dubbed the Phantom Pyramid, has popped up in Birrarung Marr — and it's playing host to an impressive soccer tournament. The tournament, run by Nike, will see teams of five play off against each other in the Phantom League, in a bid to reach Friday's semi-finals. It's open to teams of men and women (but not mixed, unfortunately) so round up your mates with skills and apply here. If you're not quite up to Mbappé-standard — or, you think you could have two left feet — the pyramid is also available for free 30-minute sessions, where you and your mates (or, just you) can run around in the laser-filled stadium and try out Nike's fancy new PhantomVSN boots. You can also sign up to one of the coaching sessions, which are set to be run by some of Australia's and the globe's best soccer talent. Who knows, maybe Tim Cahill will make an appearance (he does have more time on his hands, post-retirement). Not keen to play at all? You can also head along to watch, listen to the bangin' tunes, eat and drink, and cheer on the teams. The stadium will also be bathed in lasers, neon and smoke — so it'll be anything but boring. The Phantom Pyramid will be open from Tuesday, August 7 to Sunday, August 12. Registrations for the Phantom League, Elite Coaching Clinic and Open Sessions are now open.
Fitzroy's Rose Street has landed itself another weekly market, this time with a focus on real, honest, locally produced food. Already home to the ever-popular Rose St. Artists' Market, it looks like this inner north strip is now your one-stop weekend shop. Kicking off on November 25, The Fitzroy Mills Market is the brainchild of siblings Ari, Aphrodite and Chris Vlahos, pitched as a vibrant wellness event for locals and visitors alike. It'll make its home within the former manufacturing mill at 75 Rose Street, from 9am-2pm every Saturday. Aimed at celebrating local farmers and connecting the community to their food growers and makers, the market will feature a curated selection of sought-after vendors, slinging a huge array of produce and artisan goodies direct to the public. Get excited for the likes of coffee and seasonal dishes from nearby roasters Industry Beans, handmade artisan cheese from the Milawa Cheese Company, organic vegan and veggie creations from Bite Me Fine Foods, No Grainer's freshly baked gluten- and grain-free breads, and even healthy snacks for your pooch, courtesy of Canine Wellness Kitchen. There'll also be unique experiences on offer, including floristry tips from ethical Richmond florist Lilac and the Cat, and talks and demonstrations by local health coach Monica Yates. Find The Fitzroy Mills Market at 75 Rose St, Fitzroy from November 25. For more information visit www.thefitzroymills.com.
Hot on the heels of opening a 'DIY' restaurant in London, IKEA has Sydney pegged for its next activation. Presumably trying to make shopping for flatpack furniture a little less relationship-ruining, the Swedish company is setting up their next showroom inside one of Sydney Harbour's iconic ferries — and giving two people the chance to spend the night there. The IKEA Harbour Home (as it's so called) will be transformed into a "home away from home" and will undoubtedly be fully decked out with all things IKEA. Depending on how much you frequent the store, some things might look familiar. But the main drawcard here is obviously the harbour — the ferry will give you the chance to go nigh nighs and wake up on the water. Here's hoping for calm seas. Only one lucky person and a mate will get to spend the night on the ferry in October — you can enter here. The prize includes flights as well as a night on the ferry and all meals and experiences as per the final itinerary. If you're in the market for some new Swedish furnishings, it's a pretty sweet way to shop. And for anyone who's made the trek out to one of IKEA's behemoth locations, we can probably all agree that Sydney Harbour is by far the most aesthetically pleasing of the lot.
The strengths and weaknesses of Legend can be summed up via two of its key scenes. The first comes about halfway through the film, when infamous London gangster Reggie Kray (played by Tom Hardy) does a flawless impersonation of his twin brother Ron. The thing is, Ron is also played by Tom Hardy in one of those Social Network Winklevae situations. It's just that Hardy's performance is so strong and each character is so defined, you genuinely think of the Krays as two entirely distinct humans played by two very different actors. It's a powerhouse performance showcasing Hardy's imposing abilities, both physically and dramatically. The second scene comes a little earlier. The Krays are lured to a neutral pub under the auspices of negotiating a truce with their gangland rivals, only to discover themselves surrounded and grossly outnumbered. Where most would cower, the Krays respond with a mix of nonchalance and outrage: Reggie pulls himself a beer while Ron storms out, complaining of a half-arsed gunfight without any guns. Seconds later, of course, he returns unseen and together with his brother lays waste to the entire group of thugs. The problem with this second scene (and, in turn, much of the film), is that it’s terrifically entertaining. The music, dialogue, performance and direction all play it light and whimsical — even flippant — despite its confronting savagery (the Krays employ a brutal combination of hammers and brass knuckles). Under certain circumstances, the juxtaposition of violence and comedy in film is defensible, even appropriate, so long as the genre fits (think Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, or Pulp Fiction). Here, though, it’s wildly misplaced. Yes, it successfully conveys the Krays’ character and composure, but this isn’t fiction. The Krays brutalised and murdered their way to the top in real life, and the duty of a biopic is to tell a story as it was, not to glorify it as some might have wanted it to be. And that, in short, is Legend: a film defined by its spectacular performances and misfiring direction. Alongside Hardy, the supporting cast of Emily Browning, David Thewlis and Christopher Eccleston does a decent job despite the middling script, but the overall feeling is one of dullness and disappointment.
New year, new resolutions, new you. That's how it works, right? There's another new thing that January 1 always heralds: a new batch of movies to add to your watch list. 2018 was filled with great films, whether you fell head over heels for the year's best picture Oscar winner, reignited your love for web-slinging superheroes or found yourself laughing (and nodding) along to a savage satire. And, yes, we're calling it already — 2019 will serve up another ace cinema slate. We've said it before and we'll say it again: there's never a bad year for movies. With more than 400 hitting Australian cinemas across each and every 12-month period, that's more than 400 chances to be blown away by the latest big-screen offering. They won't all be winners, but some will boast something special. We've got our fingers crossed for crime epics, animated gothic families and the return of everyone's favourite assassin — and the rest of our ten must-sees. JOJO RABBIT When you've made the leap from offbeat New Zealand comedies to one of the most memorable Marvel movies in recent years, what comes next? A film about a young boy trying to survive the Second World War and just casually playing with an imaginary Hitler, obviously. Yes, that's Taika Waititi's next project. As well as writing and directing Jojo Rabbit (as based on Christine Leuen's book Caging Skies), Waititi is playing the Nazi leader, with Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Stephen Merchant, Rebel Wilson and Game of Thrones' Alfie Allen also among the cast. And if you're wondering about the tone, Waititi put it best when asked about being a Maori playing Hitler: "what better 'fuck you' to that guy?!" Release date TBC. THE ADDAMS FAMILY They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, and altogether ooky. They're also headed back to the big screen. The first two 90s-era Addams Family movies are still black comedy delights (just don't ever, ever watch the awful third effort, Addams Family Reunion), so here's hoping that the new animated version lives up to their legacies. And the legacy of the 60s TV series that started it all, of course, introducing the world to an all-round eclectic clan. Simply called The Addams Family, the 2019 flick certainly has the right voice cast, with Oscar Isaac as Gomez, Charlize Theron as Morticia, Chloë Grace Moretz as Wednesday, Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard as Pugsley, and Nick Kroll as Uncle Fester. That said, a live-action version starring Isaac really wouldn't go astray. In cinemas December 5, 2019. [caption id="attachment_702544" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Lady Bird[/caption] LITTLE WOMEN After earning audience applause and critical acclaim for Lady Bird, anticipation was always going to be high for Greta Gerwig's second solo directorial effort. With the Oscar-nominated filmmaker now tackling Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, it's even higher still. Immersed in a family of sisters in 1860s Massachusetts, the novel is a classic for a reason — and, in its eighth big-screen adaptation, it'll come to life with a plethora of fantastic actors. Gerwig not only reunites with Lady Bird's Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet, but also directs everyone from Emma Watson, Lady Macbeth's Florence Pugh and French star Louis Garrel to Bob Odenkirk, Laura Dern and Meryl Streep. Release date TBC. US You shouldn't judge a movie by its poster. You shouldn't judge a movie before you've seen it, full stop. But you should definitely get excited by the first glimpses of Us, which both boast a very welcome phrase: "a new nightmare from the mind of Academy Award-winner Jordan Peele". In his follow-up to 2017's Get Out, the comedian turned writer-director is serving up something creepy once again, this time focusing on two couples (Lupita Nyong'o and Black Panther's Winston Duke, plus Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker) holidaying by the beach. Like Get Out, it's probably best to know as little as possible before you see the psychological thriller, but your interest should well and truly be piqued. In cinemas March 14, 2019. [caption id="attachment_698252" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Shoplifters[/caption] THE TRUTH As well as winning this year's Palme d'Or for Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda has made eleven films this century alone. His twelfth promises something different, however, with the prolific Japanese auteur making his English and French-language debut. He has quite the cast to help, including French stars Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche and Ludivine Sagnier, as well as Ethan Hawke. Story-wise, The Truth focuses on family, as Kore-eda so often does in such an empathetic way. Here, he's charting the reunion of an actress and her daughter, all while the former plays a mother who never ages in her latest sci-fi movie. Release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_621299" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Okja[/caption] PARASITE Whether he's making monster movies or murder thrillers, forcing the remnants of humanity onto a constantly moving train or pondering loveable super pigs, a new Bong Joon-ho film is an event. Two years after Okja, his next effort takes the director back to his native South Korea — and back to working with Memories of Murder, The Host and Snowpiercer's Song Kang-ho. The feature's narrative is reported to follow two families, who are different but alike. It's being called a drama, and yet anything could happen from there in Bong's hands. That said, if you were hoping for something completely otherworldly and odd, apparently Parasite's title isn't as literal as you might expect. Release date TBC. ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD If Once Upon a Time in Hollywood really is Quentin Tarantino's second-last film — he's said he'll stop directing movies after ten — then he's working up to retirement with a bang. The filmmaker's ninth movie features Leonardo DiCaprio as a struggling actor, Brad Pitt as his stunt double and Margot Robbie as his neighbour, who happens to be Sharon Tate. If you know both your Hollywood history and your US crime history, then you'll know that QT's latest isn't just an account of Tinseltown in the 60s. With Australian actor Damon Herriman going all helter skelter, it's also a Manson family murders flick. The rest of the cast is a who's who of Hollywood today, including Tarantino regulars Kurt Russell, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern, Zoe Bell and Michael Madsen, plus Dakota Fanning, Lena Dunham, Al Pacino, Timothy Olyphant and Luke Perry. Oh, and up-and-comers Maya Hawke and Rumer Willis as well, aka the daughters of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, and Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, respectively. In cinemas August 8, 2019. [caption id="attachment_622453" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] John Wick: Chapter 2[/caption] JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 Many a franchise will serve up many a next instalment in 2019, but only one really matters. It happens to be one of the best roles of Keanu Reeves' career. We'd all love a new Bill and Ted movie to happen. Some of us might just faint from excitement if Keanu made a Point Break sequel (Kurt Russell could swap in for Patrick Swayze, easy). But while we're waiting/dreaming for those, John Wick just keeps coming back. Halle Berry and Anjelica Huston join the cast for John Wick: Chapter 3, which sees the skilled assassin trying to stay alive while shooting his way out of New York. Once Keanu's stunt double, director Chad Stahelski is back in the hot seat for the third time, which should mean more kick-ass action scenes. In cinemas May 16, 2019. ` [caption id="attachment_536827" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Girlhood[/caption] PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU In 2011, Tomboy was one of the best films of the year, telling a tale of a young girl's struggle to be herself. In 2014, Girlhood was also ranked among the year's greatest, exploring teenage life on the outskirts of Paris. Come 2016, My Life as a Courgette achieved the same feat, with a gorgeous claymation account of an orphan's quest to be loved. They all stem from the pen of Céline Sciamma, with the French filmmaker also directing the first two — and now she's both writing and helming Portrait de la jeune fille en feu. Starring Valeria Golino (Daughter of Mine) and Adèle Haenel (BPM (Beats Per Minute)), the drama follows Heloise, who, after escaping convent life, is about to be married. Then, as was custom at the end of the 18th century, an artist, Marianne, arrives to paint her wedding portrait. Release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_579627" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Paterson[/caption] THE DEAD DON'T DIE Let's just throw a heap of great names at the page, like Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Tom Waits, Adam Driver and Steve Buscemi. They've all worked with Jim Jarmusch before, and they're doing so again in The Dead Don't Die. If that roster of talent didn't instantly earn your intrigue, the film sees the Paterson, Ghost Dog and Dead Man writer-director enter zombie comedy territory. If he can make a haunting vampire movie, aka Only Lovers Left Alive, then of course he can tackle another type of the undead. The cast keeps going, too, with Chloë Sevigny, Selena Gomez, Caleb Landry Jones and Danny Glover also featuring. Release date TBC.
With a suite of improvements and new features added over the past few years — an ice cave and outdoor stage included — the Peninsula Hot Springs has become quite the multifaceted destination. In fact, between the wellness therapies, spa treatments, holistic experiences, dining venues and many varied geothermal bathing options, there's more than enough on offer here to warrant an overnight stay. And soon enough, punters will be able to enjoy exactly that, with the first phase of the property's new glamping accommodation set to launch next month. From Tuesday, December 1, you can add a luxurious onsite stay to your Hot Springs itinerary. Designed to accommodate two people each, the ten new luxury glamping tents are nestled amongst the natural environment, boasting thermally-heated concrete floors, custom-made furniture and beds decked out in plush linens. Guests will enjoy private ensuites and walk-in robes, complimentary in-room breakfast, and access both to onsite bathing and other wellness experiences. Plus, you can get involved in some of the exclusive glampers-only activities, like a 'salute to the sun' yoga practice and special 'fire and ice' sessions — a restorative therapy that sees you moving back and forth between a steamy sauna and icy plunge pool. There are a trio of different packages to choose from, depending on how much pampering you think you need (or you can afford). As you'd expect, the luxury doesn't come cheap — but if you'd rather not wrap up an indulgent day of bathing and pampering with a trek back to the city or some offsite Airbnb, this new situation is a certain win. Prices starting from $650 per night just for glamping. There's also a $770 'glamp and dine' package, which is self explanatory. And, you can fork out $1260 per night for the most lavish experience — which includes a couples' spa treatment and chef's selection dinner. And, when it comes to Peninsula Hot Springs' expansion plans, it doesn't end there. It's also planning to install a collection of bell tents offering yet more glamping options, along with new features including a food hub, outdoor exercise trail, additional relaxation cabanas and a series of wellness consultation tents. Peninsula Hot Springs' new glamping offering will open to guests from Tuesday, December 1 — at 140 Springs Lane, Fingal, Mornington Peninsula. Head over to the website to make a booking.
Escape the cold and immerse yourself in the tropics at the Mozza & Mazza Jungle Party, hosted by Molly Rose and Marionette this Anzac Day Eve on Wednesday, April 24. Guests can expect to taste the brand new Not Wasted beer, created from Molly Rose's podcast, Do You Realise That You Have The Most Beautiful Taste, in collaboration with brewer Nic Sandery and Marionette. The unique brew features leftover orange peel, hibiscus, fresh pineapple, and a generous splash of rhum agricole, resulting in the vibrant brew. In addition to the beer launch, Jungle Bird Cocktails and an exclusive preview of Marionette's soon-to-be-released pineapple liqueur will appear at the event. Don't worry — you won't just be indulging in booze. A Jungle Curry Banquet will be available for $45 per person, with chicken and vegan options — both featuring rice, leaves, pork or mushroom skewers, and spring rolls. For those with dietary requirements, accommodations can be made upon booking. The Mozza & Mazza Jungle Party will be held at Molly Rose, 279-285 Wellington St, Collingwood.
Stunning acrobatic sights, but on ice: that's Cirque du Soleil's latest spectacular show. Usually when the Montreal-based circus company hits cities around the world, it has audiences rolling up to its big top to see aerial displays and contortionist feats. But CRYSTAL is different — and, sliding into arenas so that it can get frosty, it's proving popular with Australian audiences before it even gets here. Cirque du Soleil's first-ever ice show, CRYSTAL announced its debut Australia run for 2023 back in 2022. Haven't nabbed tickets yet? You now have extra chances. It won't arrive until winter — when else? — but the season has already become a hit, leading the circus to add an extra week of gigs in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth due to overwhelming demand. CRYSTAL still features all the trapeze, juggling, aerial stunts, acrobatics and more that fans have seen and loved across the company's past 41 productions — seven traditional circus acts, in fact, including banquine and hand balancing — but then adds a cold surface rather than its usual stage setup. And, it includes figure skating and extreme skating as well, two disciplines that've never been featured in a Cirque du Soleil production before now. When CRYSTAL heads Down Under, it'll mark Cirque du Soleil's first visit since KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities in 2019 and 2020, although that production's run was interrupted by the pandemic. Also part of CRYSTAL, and another Cirque du Soleil first: remastered pop songs, including Beyoncé's 'Halo', U2's 'Beautiful Day', Nina Simone's 'Sinnerman' and Sia's 'Chandelier', in the company's only touring show so far to use such tracks. CRYSTAL has been doing the rounds worldwide since 2017, with more than 1.8-million people in 115 cities in 12 countries checking it out over the past five years. The all-ages show takes its name from the production's protagonist, who acts as the audience's guide as she follows her destiny to become herself. CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S CRYSTAL — AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2023: Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 30 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre Thursday, August 3–Sunday, August 13 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Thursday, August 17–Sunday, August 27 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Thursday, August 31–Sunday, September 3 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre Friday, September 15—Sunday, September 24 — RAC Arena, Perth Cirque du Soleil's Crystal tours Australia in July–September 2023. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the show's website. Images: Matt Baker / Olivier Brajon.
Sorry Australia and New Zealand, you can't feel it coming after all — Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye and his planned 2023 tour of both countries, that is. Just over two weeks out from his first scheduled gig Down Under as part of his visit, and after having to put on more shows to meet demand before tickets even went on sale, the musician has postponed his trip. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we must reschedule the Australia/New Zealand tour. New dates will be announced next year and current tickets will be valid for the new shows," advises a statement on the Live Nation website, which is credited as a message from The Weeknd to his fans. "Refunds will be available for those unable to attend the new dates. Deeply disappointed but can't wait to be there with you!" the statement continues. "We understand fans will be disappointed, and Live Nation is focused on working with The Weeknd to secure a new tour schedule. We will make a further announcement as soon as possible," added Live Nation Australia and New Zealand. The Canadian singer-songwriter and The Idol star was due to play two shows at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium from Monday, November 20–Tuesday, November 21 to kick off the tour, then head to Sydney for three gigs at Accor Stadium from Friday, November 24–Saturday, November 25 and on Monday, November 27. After that, he had four shows locked in for Marvel Stadium in Melbourne: on Friday, December 1–Saturday, December 2 and Monday, December 4–Tuesday, December 5. Then, it was meant to be Eden Park in Auckland's turn from Friday, December 8–Saturday, December 9. An arena spectacular, The Weeknd's global tour has been notching up soldout shows far and wide. In the UK, The Weekend saw 160,000 folks head to London Stadium across two nights, smashing the venue's attendance record. And in Milan, he became the first artist to sell out the Ippodromo La Maura for two nights. Those feats are just the beginning. In Paris, the 'Starboy', 'I Feel It Coming', 'Can't Feel My Face', 'The Hills' and 'Blinding Lights' artist scored Stade de France's biggest sales this year — and in Nice, the 70,000 tickets sold across his two shows are the most in the city's history. The reason for the whole tour, other than just because — and when it does make its rescheduled trip Down Under — is to celebrate The Weeknd's 2020 record After Hours and its 2022 followup Dawn FM. Obviously, he'll be playing tracks from 2013's Kiss Land, 2015's Beauty Behind the Madness and 2016's Starboy as well. Just like new dates, there's no word yet if Mike Dean and Chxrry22 will still be supporting The Weeknd's Australian and NZ gigs when they do happen. THE WEEKND'S 'AFTER HOURS TIL DAWN TOUR' 2023 — POSTPONED DATES: Monday, November 20–Tuesday, November 21 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Friday, November 24–Saturday, November 25 + Monday, November 27 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Friday, December 1–Saturday, December 2 + Monday, December 4–Tuesday, December 5 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Friday, December 8–Saturday, December 9 — Eden Park, Auckland The Weeknd is no longer touring Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2023. The shows will be rescheduled, with new dates yet to be announced — head to the tour website for more information.
Melburnians, add a regular trip — or several — to enjoy live tunes at Palace Foreshore to your calendar. A couple of years on from the site's initial comeback as an outdoor music venue, the St Kilda spot has locked in plans to host gigs annually. First up: a 2025 season between late-February and mid-March, when the pop-up precinct will welcome Honey Dijon, Fontaines DC and Denzel Curry, plus Magdalena Bay, The Kooks, Maribou State and Six60, to its stage. There's more to come on the 2025 lineup, which'll run between Thursday, February 27–Saturday, March 16, and also more to come in future years, too. Whoever else gets behind the microphone — as curated by a team led by Dark Mofo alum Jay Rayner and Thomas Supple — they'll be doing so at a location that boasts Port Phillip Bay as a backdrop. 2025's season kicks off with The Kooks with Bristol Maroney, before unfurling the rest of its program on various days and dates across its three-week duration. If you want to see Fontaines DC, take note: the Dublin-born outfit's Saturday, March 8 gig has already sold out, while their Monday, March 10 show is selling fast. As well listening to an ace soundtrack, punters will be able to hit up the site's bars, grab a bite from an array of food trucks and tuck into their food on the venue's grassed hill as the sun sets. Wonder Pies, Fritz's Wieners, Smashville, The Lil Dumpling Van, Billy van Creamy, Juicello and Little Eutopia Brew Bar will be on hand, serving up everything from pies, bratwursts, Nashville-style burgers and dumplings to ice cream, juice, gourmet toasties and coffee. [caption id="attachment_976058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Theo Cottle[/caption] "We've been lucky to convince some of the world's hottest bands right now to fly in and play their headline shows with us. Really, St Kilda does a lot of the work for us. We just send them photos of sunsets, crowds and the epic venue location, and they're super keen to come out," said Rayner. " "After curating festivals and programs all over the country it's a real homecoming working on the Palace Foreshore," added Supple. "As a card-carrying supporter of the St Kilda Football Club, and with strong memories of my grandmother's house in Elwood, I've got a real affinity with the beachside suburb, and it lives large in my memory as the place where I had some of my earliest and most formative live music and nightclub experiences." Palace Foreshore 2025 Lineup (So Far) Thursday, February 27: The Kooks with Bristol Maroney Friday, February 28: Maribou State Friday, March 7: Magdalena Bay Sunday, March 2: Denzel Curry Saturday, March 8: Fontaines DC — SOLD OUT Sunday, March 9: Honey Dijon Monday, March 10: Fontaines DC Friday, March 14: Six60 Palace Foreshore's 2025 season runs from Thursday, February 27–Saturday, March 16. For more information and tickets, head to the precinct's website.
If you're after fresh and authentic homemade Thai cuisine, try Camberwell's Charntra, where everything is made from scratch — from the spring rolls and roti to the desserts. Pick up a six-pack of easy-drinking beer with fragrant citrus notes to pair with the sweet, spicy and sour flavours of Thai classics like tom yum prawns, spicy minced chicken larb seasoned with lime juice and fish sauce and pad see ew. There are also a few house specialties, including prawns in a coconut sauce with lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal and Thai basil. The best bit part of the meal? Finishing it all off with a banana fritter and ice cream. Oh, and corkage is free. Charntra Thai offers BYO wine and beer.
Luxury restaurant and food store Calia is bidding farewell to its original Melbourne Emporium digs, though it's not venturing too far. The brand is swapping its Level 3 space for the grand 800-square-metre Lonsdale Street site most recently home to Top Shop. Three years on from its debut and following the success of its younger Chadstone Shopping Centre sibling, Calia is set to take things up a few notches. Not only is its new home giant, spanning over two and a half storeys, it'll be dishing up an extended fancy food offering from breakfast till dinner. Opening in May, it'll have room for over 100 diners, a bigger retail area slinging homewares and gourmet food, an on-site coffee bar and a cafe, all within a sleek space by hospitality design firm Architect Eats. The shopfront will feature a huge retractable glowing curtain that closes at sunset and opens during sunrise, while the rest of the store will be decked out with stacks of lush hanging foliage, a Japanese garden and a soaring six-metre-tall tree in the foyer. Even more special is the addition of an urban cellar door, perfect for when all that shopping gets a bit much. It sees Calia team up with the Yarra Valley's Levantine Hill Estate to offer a similar experience to what you'll find at the winery itself, complete with tastings and an expansive retail selection. Keep an eye out for some exclusive wines not available anywhere else, too. Meanwhile, the kitchen will be delivering a menu filled with Calia signatures, starring ingredients like Japanese sea urchin, A5 Japanese and Robbins Island wagyu, foie gras from southern France and tuna belly flown from Toyosu Fish Market in Japan, alongside sustainably sourced local seafood. And you can get excited to try new dishes including a dry truffle ramen. It's all set to be a pretty high-tech affair, too, with customers able to order and pay for their food via smartphone. Calia Emporium is slated to open at 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne in May 2020. Stay tuned for more details.
Led by the opening of the NGV's annual winter masterpieces show, the month of May looks bright as another host of must-see art exhibitions take place across Melbourne. Head to Melbourne Museum to catch a glimpse of Mick Jagger's stage costume soundtracked to songs of the 60s, get deep in ancient tattoo customs at the Immigration Museum, and get a rare glimpse at what's been called the 'eighth' wonder of the world. Covering topics as diverse as climate change to generational change in China, these seven exhibitions will more than satiate your art and culture cravings this month. Drop by a gallery after work or make a day of it and an exhibition on the weekend — there's great art happening everywhere from Newport to Bendigo.
Melbourne has added another independent cinema to its collection, with the Thornbury Picture House opening its doors. Making its home within a former garage on High Street, the art nouveau theatre and adjoining bar are the brainchild of Gus Berger, whose name you might remember as the one behind St Kilda's George Revival Cinema back in 2013 and 2014. For his latest project, Berger has created a moviegoer's dream: a 57-seat cinema rocking a big six-metre screen, a top-notch Krix 5.1 sound system and an expertly curated program of big screen gems. Open from Wednesday to Sunday each week, the venue's aims to showcase an impressive mix of documentaries, cult classics, festival favourites and international titles, with the first fortnight's lineup featuring Ai Weiwei's doco Human Flow, Oscar winner The Shape of Water, Aussie classic Death in Brunswick, New Zealand comedy What We Do in the Shadows and a session of iconic silent film The General with a live score. In addition, Thornbury Picture House will be giving plenty of screen-time to local filmmakers — it's the new home of Berger's long-running Red Hot Shorts event, and there are plans for it to host a new northside film festival in the not so distant future. Meanwhile, the site's interiors pay homage to the building's art nouveau origins, sprinkled with historic film gear and classic movie posters. The bar, too, is a nod to the good old days, with the original garage features brought to life alongside recycled wooden furniture and pops of green foliage. Here, you can chase a film with Aussie spirits, local beers from the likes of Stomping Ground and Hawkers, a tidy selection of independent wines and batch brew coffee by Padre. Of course, there's plenty of homemade popcorn to round out the moviegoing experience. Find Thornbury Picture House at 802 High Street, Thornbury, or visit thornburypicturehouse.com.au for session times and further details. Images: Tinny Tang.
Picture this: you're eating something delicious and your adorable doggo wants some, but it's just not good for them. Everyone who shares their life with a barking four-legged best friend has experienced this scenario — sadly, while cute pooches love the sight and smell of plenty of human treats, they just can't stomach some foodstuffs. Chocolate is a culprit, as everyone remembers come Easter. Thanks to its milk and sugar content, ice cream is another. If your pet pooch goes yapping mad over heaped ice cream cones, here's the good news: Gelatissimo is releasing a new limited-edition flavour that's both human and dog-friendly. We're not saying that you and your fluffball should share the same cone of the frosty dessert, but you definitely could. Made fresh in-store, the new scoop is called Pawesome Peanut Butter. As the name suggests, it's a peanut butter gelato — and to make it suitable for dogs, it's made from soy, so it's also vegan. Obviously, if you're a human or canine that's allergic to nuts or soy, this isn't for you. Puppers with a history of pancreatitis also need to steer clear. Those who can tuck into a tub will find it at Gelatissimo outlets around the country from Friday, May 3. And if you're in Sydney on Saturday, May 18, you can also to Cook & Philip Park between 9.30–11.30am. The gelato chain is hosting a dog brunch with vegan yum cha, vegan dog treats and Pawesome Peanut Butter gelato to finish, with tickets costing $60 (which includes food for one human and one dog). Pawesome Peanut Butter gelato is available at all 46 Australian Gelatissimo stores for a limited time from Friday, May 3. For more information and to find your nearest store, visit Gelatissimo's website.
Some music festivals introduce you to your future favourites and today's biggest names. Others are all about enjoying yesterday's greats. Australia has no shortage of both kinds of events, but it's adding one more nostalgic-driven fest: the brand-new Pandemonium Rocks, which will debut on the country's east coast in April. Placebo, Blondie, Alice Cooper and Deep Purple lead the lineup, offering decades worth of tunes spanning everything from the Cruel Intentions soundtrack's 'Every You Every Me' to 70s hits 'Heart of Glass', 'School's Out' and 'Smoke on the Water'. The familiar tunes won't stop there, either, with Wheatus sure to bust out 'Teenage Dirtbag', and Wolfmother certain to give 'Woman' and 'Joker and the Thief' a whirl. The Psychedelic Furs, Dead Kennedys, Gang of Four, Palaye Royale, Cosmic Psychos, Gyroscope and Fetch round out the bill, as headed to Melbourne's Caribbean Gardens, The Domain in Sydney, Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast and Bribie Island's Sandstone Point Hotel. For Brisbanites, this means either heading north or south, with no local gig. One important note for folks in Queensland: if you want to see Debbie Harry sing 'Hanging on the Telephone', 'Rapture' and 'Call Me', you'll need to make a trip to the Goldie as Blondie aren't playing Pandemonium Rocks' last stop. The band's latest visit to Australia comes after playing Coachella 2023, which you might've caught on the fest's livestream. [caption id="attachment_938061" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Biha via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] TLC's Aussie trip with Busta Rhymes and En Vogue might've been cancelled, but there's always a new event with a retro-skewed lineup on the way. Another that's hitting the country in March, the month before Pandemonium Rocks: Aqua, 2 Unlimited and East 17. A point of difference with Pandemonium Rocks, however, is the fact that you can bring low-rise beach-style chairs that are smaller than 70 centimetres tall to the outdoor gigs. [caption id="attachment_938062" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arek Olek from Kraków, Poland via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Pandemonium Rocks 2024 Dates: Saturday, April 20 — Caribbean Gardens, Melbourne Thursday, April 25 — The Domain, Sydney Saturday, April 27 — Doug Jennings Park, Gold Coast Sunday, April 28 — Sandstone Point Hotel, Bribie Island Pandemonium Rocks will tour Australia's east coast in April 2024, with tickets on sale from 9am on Tuesday, January 30 and pre-sales prior — head to the festival website for further details. Top image: Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons.
When you're as fond of chocolate as you are of gelato, there's no Easter egg like a Messina Easter egg. And if you're a fan of the brand's ice cream, as well as cheesecake and pretzels, then you probably know that the chain's Mr Messina flavour is one of the best. Combine Messina's annual Easter special with one of its most-beloved gelato varieties, then, and the result is a mighty delicious 2025 treat. Gelato Messina's chocolate eggs come filled with gelato — and while in some years, the purveyors of frosty sweet treats have made multipacks, this year's version remains a one-kilogram giant. Yes, it's giving us the Easter delight that we all coveted when we were kids: a hefty-sized egg. Of course, this one is even better than the foil-wrapped supermarket versions, thanks to the Messina gelato inside. Once you crack into the handpainted chocolate shell, layers of cheesecake mousse await, plus pretzel crumb and clusters coated in milk chocolate. You'll also find pretzel chocolate dip and Basque cheesecake gelato with baked cheesecake chunks, as well as a soft pretzel caramel centre. The chain's 2025 egg is designed to serve six, but if you're keen to keep it to yourself, we understand. You'll be paying $80 either way, and getting in quick when they go on sale is recommended as they usually sell out. Messina's 2025 Easter eggs can only be ordered online on Thursday, March 27 for collection over Easter — naturally — between Thursday, April 17–Sunday, April 20. To get details about specific on-sale times, you'll need to register in advance via the Messina website. Gelato Messina's 2025 gelato Easter eggs are available to order from Thursday, March 27 for pick up between Thursday, April 17–Sunday, April 20 — head to the Messina website for further details.
