It's been a month since the George Calombaris-led Made Establishment Group went into voluntary administration and announced the closure of twelve of its Melbourne restaurants and eateries. And while the future still looks uncertain for most of those venues, five have already been snapped up by new owners, including the Jimmy Grants in Fitzroy and the CBD, which have been purchased by the owners of 24-hour Greek institution Stalactites. As well as its legendary Lonsdale Street eatery, the hospo group also owns takeaway shop Hella Good, with the first store opened along Elizabeth Street in 2017, which it plans to replicate at these newly purchased sites. Hella Good has a simple menu, offering just four souvas, including marinated lamb and chicken sliced from the spit, plus veg and vegan options. The shop also has a Coeliac Australia accreditation (and is one of the only Greek restaurants in Australia that does) and all sandos can be made using gluten-free pita. Diners can also tuck into various snack packs and house-made dips, including the requisite tzatziki and hummus, plus tarama, babaganoush and spicy feta and chilli. With all souvlaki coming in under $15, snack packs sitting at $16 and desserts (baklava and rice pudding) both $5, Hella Good is a pretty affordable dinner option — and a good post-drinks option, too. The Elizabeth Street store is also open till 5am on Friday and Saturday and we're expecting the two new ones will also open equally late. The Emporium location of Hella Good is set to open in mid-2020, while the David Street digs are slated for a late-2020 launch. The new owners plan to rehire many of the existing staff from each store, too. At present, five other Jimmy Grants, as well as Made Establishment's Elektra Dining in the CBD and Hotel Argentina in Williamstown, remain unsold. But, the former Kew and Brighton Hellenic Republic outposts and the short-lived, vegetable-forward Crofter Dining in Brunswick East (previously the site of the OG Hellenic Republic) all have new owners. The latter is set to become the new home of The Que Club — a barbecue-focused eatery, cooking school and retail store currently located in Fitzroy North. The Made Establishment closures come after wage scandals shook many of its restaurants, with the group admitting to staff underpayments of up to $7.8 million. KordaMentha also highlighted the resulting huge dip in patronage, as well as a dive in consumer spending, rising food prices and competition with food delivery services as reasons for the group's financial woes. The two new Hella Good outposts are slated to open in mid and late 2020 at Emporium, 287 Lonsdale Street Melbourne and 113 David Street, Fitzroy. We'll keep you updated with these opening, as well as the news on The Que Club and the new Kew and Brighton venues. Top image: Hella Good
For 125 million film and television lovers around the world, Netflix's two-note intro sound is synonymous with one thing: settling in to watch an episode or movie on your TV at home (or on your computer during your lunch break, or on your phone during your commute, let's face it). Soon, however, it could also echo through cinemas, with the streaming platform apparently looking into buying its own theatres. First reported by The Los Angeles Times regarding the sale of one particular US chain — Landmark Theatres, which Netflix ultimately opted not to purchase — the potential move would assist the company in achieving two things. Firstly, it could give the company a bigger footprint within the entertainment landscape. Secondly, it'd provide a cinematic outlet for its films. And, as you might've noticed, there's no shortage of the latter. Indeed, whether it's snapping up flicks at festivals, funding them from the get-go or saving the day when traditional distributors want to back out of putting their movies in theatres — as happened with both The Cloverfield Paradox and Annihilation earlier this year — Netflix's slate of originals is only growing. It has released more than 20 so far this year, and will more than double that number by the time December comes to a close. In total, Netflix will spend up to $8 billion on content in 2018 alone, and CEO Reed Hastings has recently said that's not enough. You mightn't think screening their films in cinemas would be important to the streaming behemoth, but playing in theatres is absolutely essential for one thing: collecting Oscars and other industry accolades. And they're starting to do just that, with Netflix's Icarus picking up the Academy Award for best documentary this year, while drama Mudbound garnered four nominations. Both had a short cinema run, something that's a necessity to meet the Academy's criteria. But, unsurprisingly, few existing theatre chains are eager to screen flicks that are also available on the streaming platform at the same time or shortly afterwards. On the international front, it's a battle that saw Netflix withdraw its films from this year's Cannes Film Festival, after the fest announced it had banned flicks that wouldn't also play in French cinemas. Part of the prestigious event's requirements is that movies also screen locally; however France also stipulates that a film can't make its way to home entertainment platforms, be it DVD or streaming, for three years after its big-screen appearance. Obviously, that doesn't work for Netflix. Last year, Okja was available online a month after it premiered it Cannes, while the Noah Baumbach-directed, Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller-starring The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) released in October. Just how far Netflix will pursue their cinema prospects is yet to be seen, but the company isn't known for doing things by halves. At present, reports centre on opening theatres in the US, with no word on any international plans. Via The Los Angeles Times.
In Yiddish, the word 'Mensch' means a person of integrity and honour. Not exactly traits you'd associate with those in the entertainment industry, let alone the drug-addled hedonist who introduced the world to Alice Cooper. Yet despite his often outlandish lifestyle, talent manager Shep Gordon is by all accounts considered one of the nicest people working in the biz. Directed by Mike Myers (yes, that Mike Myers), Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon takes audiences through the agent's astounding career, from getting high with Jimi Hendrix to cooking breakfast for the Dalai Lama and amassing an astounding rolodex of friends along the way. Gordon got his start in the mid '60s, selling pot to the likes of Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin. Around that same time, he also forged what was to become one of his closest relationships with up-and-coming shock rocker Alice Cooper. Gordon's managerial strategy was simple: whatever parents hated, teenagers tended to love, and so he went about orchestrating scandal wherever he possibly could. Hoax calls to police. Paying-off paparazzo. Chickens torn to pieces live on stage. Listening to the documentary tell it, you could be forgiven for thinking Gordon was singlehandedly responsible for corrupting an entire generation of youths. Whether or not that's true, it's bizarre trying to reconcile his unashamedly sleazy tactics with the fact that no one seems to have a bad word to say about him. Myers, in his lively directorial debut, enlists the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Tom Arnold and Michael Douglas to testify to Gordon's generosity. In later years, the agent's million dollar Hawaii home became a safe haven for beleaguered celebrities; Myers himself spent two months living there while grieving the death of his father. Given that, it's hardly surprising that the movie paints Gordon in a benevolent light. Myers never even attempts objectivity about his friend, whose life, surely, has been far too eventful to be entirely free of skeletons. Nor does the film spend much time examining Gordon's self-reflexive claims that fame has no inherent worth, instead preferring to indulge in yet another A-list anecdote. Then again, when that anecdote is about how Gordon used to shared a cat with Cary Grant, or how Alice Cooper used to have nightly sleepovers with Groucho Marx, it becomes frightfully easy to forgive the film for its bias. Some of Gordon's stories are nothing short of flabbergasting — and ultimately, his kindness speaks for itself. His later years are filled with some incredible acts of altruism including essentially adopting the grandkids of an ex-girlfriend after their mother passed away. All things considered, the word Mensch doesn't seem so inappropriate after all. This film is being presented as part of ACMI's Summer of Sound Program alongside Super Duper Alice Cooper, Jimi: All Is By My Side, and Beautiful Noise. Head to the ACMI website for more information.
You've danced the night away to 'Good Luck', 'Do Your Thing' and 'Romeo'. Every time you hear it, you can't get 'Where's Your Head At' out of of your head — or the monkeys from the song's music video. But when it comes to electronic music duo Basement Jaxx, we're guessing there's one thing you haven't done. If you've never seen the British act play live with an orchestra, here's your chance. On Saturday, April 13, Basement Jaxx Vs The Metropolitan Orchestra will take over the Margaret Court Arena for a night of reimagined bangers. Expect all of the group's floor-filling hits, but expect them to sound rather different. And, as well as sharing the stage with Sydney's The Metropolitan Orchestra, Basement Jaxx will also have singers Vula and Sharlene Hector pumping out vocals.
In Dune, Josh Brolin jumped wholeheartedly into one of the best sci-fi subgenres there is: the space opera. When a movie follows a spice-war fought by feuding houses on far-flung planets, no other description fits the bill. And, the 2021 big-screen hit — and 2022 big-time Oscar-nominee — firmly did its slice of science fiction proud. But, as well showing up for next year's sequel Dune: Part Two, Brolin definitely isn't done with sci-fi just yet. Making a rare small-screen appearance — his first ongoing episodic role since 2003, in fact — the Milk Oscar-nominee leads Outer Range, the next trippy streaming series that you'll want to add to your queue. That recommendation is based on the just-dropped first teaser trailer for the eight-part series, which'll hit Prime Video from Friday, April 15, and promises quite the mind-bending supernatural western. The setup: on a ranch in Wyoming, Brolin's Royal Abbott is trying to keep his land, and ensure that his family stays together, after his daughter-in-law Rebecca goes missing. His neighbours, the Tillersons, are after his parcel of turf, and strange things start happening — including an eerie black void in the middle of the Abbotts' west pasture. So far, the show is keeping most of its small town-set storyline close to its sci-fi/western/thriller/mystery chest — but the sneak peek certainly sets an unsettling tone. And yes, it's shaping up to be a big year for unnerving stories set in vast expanses of US land, with Jordan Peele's latest horror epic Nope covering the same terrain. Outer Range will drop two episodes per week, so you'll spend around a month soaking in its mysteries, turf wars and wild revelations. If you've currently got a Yellowjackets shaped hole in your viewing schedule, this might just fill it. On-screen, Brolin is joined by an impressive cast that includes Imogen Poots (The Father), Lili Taylor (Perry Mason), Tamara Podemski (Run), Tom Pelphrey (Ozark) and Noah Reid (Schitt's Creek). Check out the trailer for Outer Range below: Outer Range will start streaming via Prime Video Down Under on Friday, April 15.
A brand new performing arts festival is on its way to Melbourne, featuring works by creatives from all across Asia. Running from January to April in 2017, the first ever Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts is a joint venture between various government entities, the Sidney Myer Fund, and a number of the city's leading cultural institutions — including the Arts Centre Melbourne, the NGV and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Suffice it to say, we've got big expectations. The inaugural Asia TOPA lineup includes 60 events and more than 350 artists, hailing from China, Japan, India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and beyond. Standout shows include a special performance by the MSO featuring prolific Bollywood composer A.R. Rahman, a pop music pop-up and bar in the Immigration Museum courtyard, and the first ever Australian performance by the National Chinese Ballet of their most iconic work, The Red Detachment of Women. Many works on the program are the result of cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary collaboration. In One Beautiful Thing, acclaimed local circus company Circa will join forces with acrobats from India to showcase the centuries old gymnastic practice of mallakhamb. Meanwhile, Chunky Move choreographer Anouk van Dijk has teamed up with Singaporean visual artist Ho Tzu Nyen on the immersive new dance work ANTI GRAVITY. Also on the menu are a number of moving image works. These include a free exhibition at ACMI about the early days of Bollywood, a showcase of four episodes that reimagine urban mythologies and traditional Filipino folklore from Australian-Filipino collective Club Ate, and a special screening of Satan Jawa, the new film from Indonesia's Garin Nugroho, featuring a live score by the MSO and 20 gamelan players. Image: Balud (Jai Jai), Ex Nilalang (2015). Shot by Gregory Lorenzutti.
Borneo-born chef Esca Khoo made quite the splash during his stint helming the kitchen at Miss Mi, even earning it a Chef's Hat. But if you missed out on catching his playfully inventive neo-Asian fare in the CBD, you've got one final chance to get acquainted before Khoo jets off to launch his upcoming Malaysia restaurant venture. The Noma Sydney and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal alum is hitting Balaclava's Moonhouse for a one-night-only farewell feast on Tuesday, October 25. [caption id="attachment_856124" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moonhouse, by Parker Blain[/caption] Guests are in for a five-course spread built on Khoo's signature fusion of traditional Asian technique, and Malaysian and Australian flavours. Expect a healthy dose of Hong Kong influence throughout, across a menu that features a slew of exclusive new creations. We're talking the likes of caramelised boar san choy bow; a scallop, octopus and prawn chee cheong fun with kelp dressing; Spam fried rice starring grilled char siew pork chop; and Hong Kong-style French toast elevated with sesame and pecan butter. Tickets come in at $145, including a signature Moonhouse cocktail on arrival. You can make a booking online from 5.30pm. [caption id="attachment_856128" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moonhouse, by Parker Blain[/caption]
2018 came and went without new episodes of two of television's most popular series. Thankfully, the same won't prove true of 2019. Game of Thrones' final season is coming in April — before winter — and Stranger Things will return mid-year. Mark your calendars accordingly. In the case of everyone's favourite 80s-set sci-fi/horror series, Stranger Things will drop its third season on Thursday, July 4. Prepare to return to Hawkins and face the demogorgon once more — and to find out what 1985 has in store for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Will (Noah Schnapp), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Galen Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and the gang. Netflix unveiled the date as part of a brief teaser, which doesn't feature any new footage from the forthcoming eight-episode season, but does interrupt a New Year's Eve broadcast with cryptic government messages. It also reveals that the series will be set around the July 4 American holiday, continuing a trend of releasing new episodes to coincide with special occasions. The show's second season dropped in October 2017, with Halloween weaved into its storyline. While the streaming platform is yet to launch a proper trailer for season three of Stranger Things, it did reveal the season's episode titles in another teaser back in December. Feel free to ponder the meaning of names such as 'Suzie, Do You Copy?', 'The Mall Rats', 'The Case of the Missing Lifeguard' and 'The Battle of Starcourt' until July 4 rolls around. https://www.facebook.com/NetflixANZ/videos/366266914175965/?__xts__[0]=68.ARB6tA30GHZBliVxnjVfAQxVNsz_44Zuezt6075kSgJQk1NDr6kHK5hQSmwE2gCZIba35AqA010k8OC9d1oImVX3qqzIh89nRh4BIPIfRfFeZlosAB31BFi-mC6se4R0ibCnvdo3R9RSi4Ip36BjZ_j_UmOpbYQdZdlUPAYsg4kQhBxseS4PgzCL3nYHlLTru5XVDn1GV5dzbtMsMGjQmlmRqzND6gm9xeqit_zmru8SrmgqXGSOJhoL42UFS5cUGT45wf_7vlSdE0PcfB5WK0OfczrE8pUODXnX0KNVzBvIzICi_tw-Klap4ZgIDKKInsCSUU-lGzAkgFZMt42oackL8lqMKpVaedzLZA&__tn__=-R Stranger Things season eight will arrive on Netflix on Thursday, July 4.
Whether you watched along during its original 2010–12 run, or you've been hooked to repeats of old episodes over the past nine years, there's no denying the joys of SBS game show Letters and Numbers. It celebrates clever contestants doing word and number puzzles, each episode has an engagingly low-key vibe — all while still remaining tense as competitors try to work out the right answers, of course — and it's very easy and immensely enjoyable to play along with from home. The show didn't use a new format, though, with the Aussie series taking its cues from both French TV's Des chiffres et des lettres, which dates back to 1965, and also from Britain's Countdown, which has been on the air since 1982. So, now that Letters and Numbers is coming back — which is obviously fantastic news — it's doing so with a twist that also takes inspiration from overseas. Get ready to spend your time watching Celebrity Letters and Numbers. Yes, the change of focus is right there in the title, with famous folks rather than everyday people battling it out — to make words out of nine randomly selected letters, to use six also randomly chosen numbers in equations to reach a set figure, and to rearrange a jumble of nine more letters into one lengthty word in the final round. There's a big emphasis on comedians this time around, too, so this is basically SBS's Aussie version of the great 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (which SBS also airs, so it clearly knows that it's ace). Celebrity Letters and Numbers will start airing from 7.30pm on Saturday, October 2, with its twelve-episode first season dropping new instalments weekly on both SBS on TV and via SBS On Demand. You'll be getting twice as much puzzling this time, with eps running for an hour. Also, the series will air at least two seasons, with the second set to land in 2022. There is one other significant change, too, with comedian Michael Hing taking over hosting duties from Richard Morecroft. That said, Lily Serna will return to flip numbers and show off her maths skills, and David Astle will again tell contestants whether they've found real words or just made them up, all with his trusty dictionary in hand. And, if you're wondering who'll be competing, guests include Hamish Blake, Matt Okine, Merrick Watts, Jennifer Wong, Aaron Chen and Susie Youssef. They'll each be vying for a single book per episode, which is being sourced from a vintage 80s encyclopaedia collection that's been gifted by Michael Hing's parents (after they cleaned out their garage). Check out the trailer below: Celebrity Letters and Numbers will start airing on SBS and SBS On Demand from Saturday, October 2, with new episodes dropping weekly.
You might not be able to flit away to Europe this weekend, but you can soak up a taste of German festival culture right here in your own backyard. It's all thanks to electro production crew Flow Music, who have rounded up a top-shelf lineup of international dance acts for a rollicking party at North Melbourne's The Third Day. Kicking off from 1pm, this day festival promises a thumping dance floor guided by Berlin-born house sensation Madmotormiquel, German producer Seth Schwarz, Amsterdam-based DJ Franca and Dutch star Joep Mencke. Also hitting the decks will be Melbourne's own Deep Ghosh going back-to-back with Sriracha. It's a whole lot cheaper than a plane fare, too — tickets clock in at just $30. [caption id="attachment_887279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sriracha[/caption] What's more, you'll be grooving for a great cause. The party was originally set to take place aboard floating club ATET before it was damaged in a fire earlier this week. In support of the venue, all profits from this event will now go towards helping ATET rebuild. Top image: Joep Mencke
Lune's legendary croissants have long been a weekend staple, the original Fitzroy bakery pulling its heftiest queues every Saturday and Sunday. But now, Kate Reid's internationally renowned, French-style pastries are set to become part of many a workday routine, too, with Lune's second store opening in the heart of the CBD this week. The standing-room-only Collins Street space will be open and baking buttery delights from 7am to 3pm weekdays, kicking off this morning, Tuesday, October 2. The ovens are set to keep firing right through each day, offering a selection of five Lune staples — the traditional croissant, a pain au chocolate, a ham and gruyère savoury number, a lemon curd cruffin and the cult-favourite, twice-baked almond croissant — along with a few surprise appearances here and there. But if you're worried about your weekend pastry fix, don't be — Reid assures it'll remain business as usual at the original store. At the new store, top-notch coffee will again come courtesy of Small Batch, with Patrick Janowicz (Patricia, Coffee Supreme) heading things up front of house. Visitors will be able to grab a coffee and croissant to go, or indulge in a bite at the espresso bar, while watching some magic unfold through the bakery's viewing window. Design-wise, Lune 2.0 takes plenty of inspiration from its sibling, referencing the sleek concrete and dramatic black accents, though the new semi-subterranean bunker space taps into plenty of its own personality as well. Swing by the CBD store during the first two weeks and you'll be able to see Reid herself working the new bakery, alongside what she calls "Lune's crack team" of pastry masters. Find Lune Croissanterie's new CBD space at Shop 16, 161 Collins Street, Melbourne (enter via Russell Street). It's open from 7am till 3pm (or sold out) Monday to Friday.
Thanks to the events of the past year, you've probably forgotten what an overseas holiday feels like — unless you've either already taken advantage of the newly opened trans-Tasman travel bubble with New Zealand, or you've made plans to hop across the ditch sometime soon. Don't go pulling out a map of the rest of the globe just yet, however, because the folks at Qantas and Jetstar have just announced a delay to their plans to start flying to other international destinations again. Initially, the airlines were hoping to begin soaring to a number of overseas spots in October. Qantas had outlined plans to recommence flights to 22 of its 25 international destinations — including London, Singapore and Los Angeles — while Jetstar was intending to resume trips to all of its 13 international routes by the same projected date. The Qantas Group, the company behind both carriers, has since updated that timeframe, announcing that it's now hoping to restart its international flights to places other than NZ in late December this year. The change follows recent forecasting by the Federal Government, which noted that Australia's borders wouldn't reopen to international travel until at least mid-2022 — as well as the fact that the nation's vaccine rollout hasn't been proceeding as quickly as originally advised. So, a lot still needs to go to plan for the two airlines to have you jetting off to foreign lands this summer. That's Qantas and Jetstar's current target date, though. It has been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic first forced Qantas and Jetstar to suspend international flights, which happened back in March 2020. There has been talk of other travel bubbles, however, including a possible one with Singapore — with Qantas Group saying that it remains "optimistic that additional bubbles will open once Australia's vaccine rollout is complete to countries who, by then, are in a similar position." The airlines will contact anyone who has already booked flights from October onwards, but notes that "recent levels of uncertainty meant international booking levels were relatively low." When overseas flights to spots other than NZ do resume, you might not be able to fly until you've received your jab, with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce previously stating the airline would only allow vaccinated passengers to travel on international flights. The airline is also currently trialling digital health pass apps, such as Common Pass and IATA Travel Pass, which contain information about a passenger's COVID-19 status, testing and vaccinations, on current international repatriation flights. Of course, even once international flights are up and running again, you can expect a much lower capacity than pre-COVID travel — Qantas previously said that it's not anticipating a full return to normality until 2024. To find out more about Qantas and Jetstar's international travel plans, visit the Qantas website.
If your days spent working from home and social distancing could do with a few more adorable animals, you'll be happy to know the internet is filled with many. Melbourne's zoos are live streaming their penguins, leopard cubs and giraffes, Sydney's aquarium brought us playtime with Pig the dugong and the Wild Life zoo is prepping for cuddles with quokkas. At a Queensland wildlife sanctuary, however, one of Australia's cutest native marsupials is the star of the show: the koala. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it does have 15 webcams running. Yes, 15. And eight of them are dedicated to observing the sanctuary's 130 koalas, 24/7. So, you can watch them eating, climbing, hanging out with each other and, mostly, sleeping. Koalas sleep for about 18-20 hours a day, so you will see many many sleeping furry boys and girls. https://youtu.be/6TYHWQt1YV0 While they are sleeping, though, you can tune into some of the other live-streams, which follow the sanctuary's dingo puppies (awww), reptiles, platypus and birds. There are also a few highlight reels if all the residents are particularly quiet. As the koala cams are running all day, every day, we can't promise this won't put a slight dent in your productivity, but we can promise that it'll help brighten up your day every so slightly. Check out Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary's webcams over here.
After heading to Australia earlier this year for a one-night-only show at the Sydney Opera House, Margaret Atwood is heading Down Under once again in early 2020. This time, though, she'll be hitting up six Aussie cities (Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart and Perth) as well as Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. The Canadian writer also has some very exciting new material to discuss — her long-awaited sequel to 'The Handmaid's Tale', called 'The Testaments'. Released 34 years after the original, the novel is set 15 years after Offred's final scene and is narrated by three female characters. Since it's release in September, 'The Testaments' has already garnered one of the world's biggest literary awards, the Booker Prize, which it won jointly with Bernardine Evaristo's 'Girl, Woman, Other'. As well as discussing her award-winning new novel, the seminal 1985 book and the captivating TV drama it inspired, Atwood will chat about her life and career, and the rest of her very extensive body of works. While it seems this talk won't be quite as political as her SOH conversation, it's likely Atwood will dip into topics such as extremist politics, feminism and climate change — they are themes that are brought up time and time again in her fictional works, after all. It'll be an interesting, if not eyebrow-raising, talk — as well as being an obvious advocate for women's rights, Atwood has came under fire for her controversial take on the #MeToo movement and her reluctance to call The Handmaid's Tale feminist. It's said the talks will also have a Q&A segment, so putt on your thinking hats and get some questions ready. [caption id="attachment_751168" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Margaret Atwood via Wiki Commons, Image credit: Mauro Rico/Ministerio de Cultura de la Nación[/caption] IN CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET ATWOOD 2020 DATES February 10 — Wellington, Michael Fowler Centre February 11 — Auckland, The Civic February 12 — Christchurch, Christchurch Town Hall February 16–17 — Sydney, ICC February 19 — Canberra, Canberra Theatre Centre February 22 — Brisbane, QPAC Concert Hall February 23 — Melbourne, Arts Centre Melbourne February 24 — Hobart, Wrest Point March 1 — Perth, Riverside Theatre Tickets for In Conversation with Margaret Atwood go on sale Monday, November 25. Image: Jean Malek
Harrison Ford fans, rejoice: first came the legendary actor's debut regular small-screen role in western drama 1923 late in 2022, then arrived his second such part in comedy Shrinking, and 2023 will also deliver his fifth big-screen stint as Indiana Jones, too. But when Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny arrives midyear, complete with Ford donning the famous hat once more, his new co-star will prove just as exciting: Fleabag favourite Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Hitting cinemas in late June 2023, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny heads back to the 60s, and uses the Space Race between the US and the Soviet Union as a backdrop. And, as both the movie's initial trailer back in 2022 and its just-dropped new sneak peek during the Super Bowl both show, he has his goddaughter in tow — with Waller-Bridge's Helena even dropping in to rescue the hero archaeologist in the latest clip. Wondering what else is in store? As well as Ford, Dr Henry Walton 'Indiana' Jones Jr's famous headwear and that whip — two different looks at Ford, actually, including Indy in the film's present day and Indy in the past, with the movie using digital de-aging technology — there are Nazis to battle and the famous John Williams-composed theme soundtracking the action as well. The archaeologist's latest outing does bring in a few changes to the series, however. Firstly, Steven Spielberg isn't in the director's chair for the first time ever, handing over the reins to Logan and Ford v Ferrari's James Mangold. And, George Lucas doesn't have a part in the script, either with Mangold co-scripting with Ford v Ferrari's Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth. Cast-wise, expect the return of John Rhys-Davies as Sallah, too, plus Antonio Banderas (Official Competition), Mads Mikkelsen (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore), Thomas Kretschmann (Das Boot), Toby Jones (The English), Boyd Holbrook (The Sandman) joining the on-screen talent alongside Shaunette Renee Wilson (Black Panther), Oliver Richters (The King's Man) and Ethann Isidore (Mortel). When it crusades across the big screen from June, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will arrive a whopping 42 years after Raiders of the Lost Ark, 39 since Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and 34 since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (and 15 years after Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull). And yes, if it's a big blockbuster franchise, it stars Harrison Ford, and it debuted in the 70s or 80s, then it's always coming back to the screen — as Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens and its sequels have, as well as Blade Runner 2049. Check out the latest teaser for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny below: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny releases in cinemas Down Under on June 29, 2023. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
One for the bargain hunters: Northcote Social Club's NS-Flea Market is back on Sunday, October 23. After the success of the first iteration back in May, the market's are working with even more local creators and collectors for this second edition. From 12pm-4pm, creators will be slinging their wares — hoping to help the upcycling revolution. Plus, it's all indoors, so there's no need to fear the rain in the usual flea market carpark setting. Browse in peace. We recommend coming here to swap the online shopping life for something far more fun and fruitful. Expect all manners of items, ranging from jewellery and clothes, to art, plants and handmade goods. Who knows what you'll find at an event like this? There's even grub available in between shopping. Head to Northcote Social Club's pub to get a classic Sunday roast for $25, alongside all the beers and pub feeds you know and love.
A classic treat for young and old, a good choccy milk goes down just as nicely after a session in the playground, as it does after a long day of adulting. So, you can bet there are smiles across the board at the news that hot chocolate specialists Mörk and award-winning St David Dairy are ringing in autumn with a chocolate milk collaboration of their own. Made in small batches at the Fitzroy dairy and bottled in 300mL serves, the limited edition, dark chocolate drink boasts just three quality ingredients. Here, they've ditched the nasties and preservatives, for a simple blend of farm-fresh full cream milk, ethically-sourced chocolate, and organic coconut blossom sugar. Basically, worlds apart from the sugar-loaded choccy drinks you might have slurped as a kid. While it's the first collaboration of its type for both of these small, local companies, it's a bit of a no-brainer given their shared commitment to making natural, sustainable, and flavour-packed products. The Mörk x St David Dairy drinking chocolate will be available from tomorrow (February 28), only until the end of autumn. Grab yours from the Mörk Chocolate Brewhouse (150 Errol Street, North Melbourne), the retail space at St David Dairy (16-18 St David Street, Fitzroy), or a selection of chocolate-loving cafes across Melbourne.
From FernGully: the Last Rainforest to Moana — and including everything from Studio Ghibli's Pom Poko and Princess Mononoke to Pixar's Wall-E, too — many an animated movie has combined stunning frames with a stirring message about the environment. Add new Irish film Wolfwalkers to the list, with the gorgeous feature heading to Apple TV+ this year and likely to become your next favourite animated flick. Story-wise, the film follows a young wannabe hunter by the name of Robyn Goodfellowe (voiced by Honor Kneafsey). In a tale set centuries ago, she moves to Ireland with her father Bill (Sean Bean) when he's hired to eradicate the last wolf pack lurking in the woods. The locals, as overseen by an English Lord Protector (Simon McBurney), want to wipe out the wolves so that they can tear down the forest in the name of progress. But, after sneaking out to go exploring, Robyn befriends a girl called Mebh (Eva Whittaker) who just might be a member of a mythical tribe that's able to shapeshift into wolves while they're dreaming. As well as a rousing eco-conscious narrative, Wolfwalkers serves up distinctive, eye-catching animation — as its first teaser trailer makes plain. Expect earthy, natural colours, with greens, browns, oranges and yellows dancing across the screen. Expect a line-heavy animation style, too, which is almost reminiscent of woodblock prints. None of the above should come as a surprise given the film's roster of talent — including Tomm Moore, director of Oscar-nominated and equally stunning duo The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea. He co-directs with a veteran of both movies, with Ross Stewart working as the art director of the former and a concept artist on the latter. Wolfwalkers is also the latest feature produced by the Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon, which also has the similarly Academy Award-nominated The Breadwinner on its resume. After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival this month, just when Wolfwalkers will hit Apple TV+ is yet to be revealed, other than it'll drop sometime later in 2020. And, obviously, whether Game of Thrones star Bean will survive in his latest role is something that you'll only find out by watching. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj72cf3x5KM&feature=youtu.be Wolfwalkers is set to hit Apple TV+ sometime later in 2020 — we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced.
Summer in Australia is hard to beat. With its enviable beaches, regularly sunny days and laidback vibes, our country does the warmer months well — very well. And while Melbourne has all these things in spades, it must be said that our city rival — Sydney — also does a pretty good job at it. We're not saying better (we'd never dare), but there are many places on that stretch of coastline that are synonymous with summer. With Sydney's best venues really coming alive in the sun — especially those with outdoor spaces and killer views — you could be having beers by the beach, vinos on a lush rooftop and cocktails at the Opera House. Though, with so much choice, it can be hard to narrow it down to the perfect spot for a weekday sundowner or Sunday session while you're on your Sydney vacay. That's why we've teamed up with top-notch tequila brand Patrón to bring you our pick of spots. These six watering holes serve up stunning Sydney vistas — and damn fine cocktails to boot. Grab your partner in crime and get stuck into a few of these on your getaway. MCA X PATRÓN POP-UP The Museum of Contemporary Art has once again opened its ground floor pop-up bar for summer. And this year, it's tequila-fuelled — thanks to Patrón. You'll find this airy, garden-inspired bar on the lawn in front of the museum. It boasts unrestricted views across Circular Quay and the harbour. Here, you can sip negronis, highballs and old-fashioneds, all with a tequila twist. Of course, summertime staples like margaritas, palomas and Patrón, lime and soda are available, too. There are also plenty of Mexican eats and live entertainment to pair with your drinks — the latter includes DJ sets, performances, art installations and even VR experiences. This pop-up bar is part of a bigger Patrón takeover of the Circular Quay precinct with activations also happening at Bar Patrón, Quay Bar and The Argyle. So you can turn a visit here into the beginning of a tequila-centric harbourside bar crawl. THE BUCKET LIST Bondi mainstay The Bucket List is a local favourite any time of year, but it really comes alive during summer. Here, the beach vibes are going strong — as you'd expect considering the proximity to the beach. You're nearly standing on the sand when seated at the outdoor terrace, so perch on one of the couches and watch the crowds and surfers do their thing. Meanwhile, you can split a cocktail jug and tuck into seaside-themed snacks sashimi bowls. There are also heaps of events on here, including weekend DJ sessions. Plus, between November 6–December 6, the bar is amping up the tropical vibes by hosting a Patrón pop-up with Tommy's margaritas, watermelon tequila spritzes and fish tacos. BATHERS' PAVILION With its brand new makeover, Bathers' Pavilion is a must-visit this season. The heritage-listed beachside spot now sports a fancy fit-out by award-winning design studio Luchetti Krelle (Manly Greenhouse, Verandah, Banksii) — and the newly installed floor-to-ceiling windows make every seat in the house an ocean view. The venue spans several spaces, including the bistro, the bar, the kiosk, the fine dining restaurant and, our favourite, the terrace. Here, you can indulge in refreshing drinks while snacking on a prawn cocktail, Spanish anchovy on focaccia and chicken liver pâté with fig compote. And did we mention the panoramic views of the ocean looking out across Balmoral Beach? COOGEE PAVILION ROOFTOP Once you've had enough of the Coogee sand and surf for the day, there's no better post-beach hang than up at the Coogee Pavilion Rooftop. Its conservatory-style fit-out is chockers with greenery, sketches of exotic birds and indoor greenhouse structures — as well as four indoor and outdoor bars and unrivalled views across the shoreline. This local oasis comes complete with Mediterranean-influenced food, like harissa-spiced lamb flatbread, burnt honey haloumi and baby squid with crispy capers and aioli. Or bring a group and enjoy the reasonably priced (and extensive) share menu for $44–54 per person, along with a few cocktails while you're at it. [caption id="attachment_696867" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] OPERA BAR With its sweeping Sydney views and good time vibes, Opera Bar remains a firm favourite among tourists and locals alike. And now that the warm weather has returned, the harbourside venue really becomes the place to be. Whatever you drink of choice is, you really can't go wrong here. Just make sure to add some of the bar bites curated by highly lauded chef Matt Moran to your order — you can snack on seafood platters, crispy chicken with jalapeño mayo and salt and pepper calamari, plus cheese and charcuterie aplenty. And those views really are unbeatable, especially at sunset. [caption id="attachment_659941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cole Bennetts[/caption] BARANGAROO HOUSE For a different angle on Sydney's classic waterside view, it has to be Barangaroo House — and, more specifically, its top-level rooftop bar. Smoke's expansive timber deck offers both harbour and city skyline views and is exactly where you need to be for celebratory sundowners with your team after a rough day (or week) in the office. For that drink, there's an impressive by-the-glass wine list, alongside a selection of seasonally appropriate cocktails — we're eyeing up the Hacienda Spritz, which features Patrón Blanco tequila, aloe vera, agave, tonic and mint. For bar food, double wagyu cheese sliders and miso-glazed eggplant skewers sit alongside the usual oysters and charcuterie. The Patrón Pop-up will run from Thursday, October 31 through February 16 (excluding public holidays and New Year's Eve). It is open every Wednesday through Sunday from 4–10pm. Visit Patron's website for more details.
Discerning meat eaters, Southern-style food lovers and smoked meat savants, this is the event for you. Possibly the only event where you can get all dressed up, sit down at a shared table and then chow down on some slow-cooked brisket, the Carnivores Ball is a delicious ode to all things meaty. The ball comes after last year's events held both here and in Austin, Texas, with BurgerMary (Jess Pryles) curating three glorious Texan-inspired courses that all revolve around meat (yes, even dessert). With creations from some of Melbourne's best Southern chefs featuring on the menu, expect Rockwell & Sons' fried chicken and biscuits, smoked lamb and brisket from Silver Creek Smokers and a pork fat caramel doughnut with pork scratching and cinnamon sugar from Shaun Quade and Gavin Baker for dessert. If the thought of three courses of meat has you a bit hot under the collar, we suggest you book yourself a seat (and a day to recover). The Carnivores Ball will be held on both Friday 4 and Saturday 5 April at a country-clad Ormond Hall.
If Harry Potter and Singing in the Rain were mashed up, this gadget would be the key prop. It might look like a magic wand, but it acts like an umbrella. By sucking in air at one end and pushing it out at the other, the motorised head creates a jet airflow, pushing raindrops away from you. Hence, you’re kept dry, without the inconvenience of carrying around a soggy piece of fabric that will invariably whack your fellow pedestrians in the face. Created by Nanjing-based inventor Chuan Wang, the air umbrella is currently funding on Kickstarter. It began life as a prototype back in November 2012. Wang then spent time working with PhD graduates from the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics to reduce the size, while maintaining an effective level of airflow. A controller at the base of the handle enables the user to manipulate the umbrella’s force, to meet the rain’s intensity. With ten days to go, the Kickstarter campaign has exceeded its target goal, thanks to 97 backers pledging to the tune of $10,283. Three sizes are available, the ‘A’, which is selling for $88; the ‘B’, priced at $98; and the ‘C’ at $108. The smallest measures 30 centimetres and weighs in at 500 grams, while the largest is extendable, to a length of 80 centimetres, and weighs 850 grams. The invention has some weaknesses. For one, it looks dodgy as. Dyson should really put this sleeker concept into production. Two, it eats battery life faster than Facebook for iPhone. Despite the significant size of the rechargeable lithium pack, umbrella ‘A’ offers only 15 minutes of protection at a time, while ‘C’ provides 30 minutes. Via PSFK.
Victoria has just entered its fourth day of a snap five-day lockdown, in an attempt to stop Melbourne's Holiday Inn COVID-19 cluster from growing. But if you visited the Queen Victoria Market during a specific window of time back on Thursday, February 11, you'll need to get comfortable at home for a while longer — because parts of the venue have been added to the exposure site list. A confirmed COVID-19 case visited QVM's sheds A and B between 8.25–10.10am on the day in question, which covers the area also known as section two — including the market's fruit and vegetable setup. These parts of QVM are now classified as 'Tier 1', which means that anyone who visited them during the designated time is required to immediately isolate, get a test and remain isolated for 14 days, regardless of the test result. Three tram trips on the same morning have also been added to the Tier 1 list: the number 11 from Harbour Esplanade/Collins Street (stop D16) to William Street/Collins Street (stop 3), which made that journey between 7.55–8.10am; the number 58 from Bourke Street/William Street (stop 5) to Victoria Market/Peel Street (stop 9) from 8.10–8.25am; and the number 58 again, this time making the reverse journey from 9.40–9.55am. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1360834414809255940 New exposure sites keep being added as new cases are confirmed, and you can find the full list of exposure sites at the Victorian Government Department of Health website. For those looking to get tested, you can find a list of testing sites — including regularly updated waiting times — also on the Victorian Government Department of Health website. At the time of writing, Victoria has 25 active COVID-19 cases, including two new locally acquired cases reported in the 24 hours to 12am today, Tuesday, February 16. Victoria had previously spanned 28 days without any new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, before a hotel quarantine worker at the Grand Hyatt Hotel tested positive to the virus on Wednesday, February 3. Just four days later, a second hotel quarantine worker, this time at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport also tested positive. For further details on the latest exposure sites and updated public health advice, see the Department of Health and Human Services website.
It seems strange that street art comes with a press release these days. Its creation was once banished to the darkest hours of the night to be carried out by wanted dudes in hoodies and runners; now it gets its own fanfare. Is it even still a crime? Regardless, it makes sense that this one was delivered to our inbox today. After being the star of zillions of Instagram posts in downtown LA, Colette Miller's Wings installation is coming to the streets of Melbourne and Sydney. Brace yourselves, this is sure to trend in no time. Originally created in 2012, the now-famous installation was imagined as a way for people to start interacting with art in urban spaces. As it encouraged people to take photos with it, this multi-colour paste-up was a hit — an instant classic to the growing list of must-see artworks around the streets of LA. Since then, it's been brought to Washington, Nairobi and now Australia. It appears that the desire to be a giant neon angel is universal. Melbournians and Sydneysiders can experience this strange privilege for a limited time this month. Flying over to Sydney first as part of Arts Brookfield, the wings will be plastered at World Square and King Street Wharf from September 5 'til October 9. At two metres high and three metres wide, they'll be hard to miss — not to mention the crowd of happy snappers that will invariably surround them. The wings will be appearing in Melbourne from September 15 to October 15 at Southern Cross Lane near the corner of Bourke and Exhibition Streets. And, with such a central CBD location, the artist's point is pretty clear. "Cities bring humans together and Wings is accessible art that aims to capture the imagination of workers as they transverse the city," said Miller. "My Wings are a universal archetypal symbol of humanity and its divine self." While we think the latter point is reaching a little far, we wholeheartedly agree with the former. Everyone deserves some sprawling, neon art to admire on their lunch break and it's well worth taking the time for a selfie.
In what may be the ultimate fusion of practicality and style, Brookstone are now selling cufflinks that offer both Wi-Fi when plugged into devices and two gigabites of storage. These magical miniatures will be perfect for frequent overseas travellers who need quick internet access, and nine-to-fivers will decrease their danger of leaving their most important work at home. Furthermore, if you ever need to undergo an investigative spy mission, these will be a perfect place for you to store all the secret documents and images you can collect. After all, nobody ever suspects your cufflinks of housing information. There are other products which offer just the USB storage, which hold up to four gigabytes. You can also engrave these for that personal touch. Sitting at around $250, these cufflinks will undoubtedly please fashionable tech geeks and businessman ballers. [via Mashable]
Every two years Melbourne’s inner western suburbs stage their very own Big West Festival. The 65 events that make up the festival sees work developed with local communities curated with an approach that reflects the area’s strong multiculturalism. The quality of the performance works alone demonstrate that Big West punches well above its weight as a suburban festival, including the return season of Melbourne Fringe favourite The Waiting Room by physical theatre collective Born in a Taxi, and the premiere of Stray at The Substation. Perhaps most anticipated of all is The Container, Clare Bayley’s immersive, challenging story of European asylum seekers travelling in a shipping container which played to sell-out seasons across the UK, where it was judged Best Show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Some other highlights of Big West include the festival’s Opening Night Party, featuring music by artists like Diafrix, as well as the coveted Footscray Street Art Prize.
Prahran is now home to the second outpost of Andrew McConnell's chic Euro-style food store, Morning Market. And locals have quickly embraced its lockdown-friendly curation of groceries, sandwiches and gourmet pantry items. In this bright corner spot on High Street, on-the-go diners will find seasonal options like a hot-smoked salmon melt with crème fraîche and comté ($15); a continental roll starring provolone, nduja and three styles of cured meat on Baker Bleu ciabatta ($14); and a winter vegetable salad loaded with spiced pumpkin and freekeh ($14). Coffee comes courtesy of a house-blend by Single Origin. There's plenty more of cult-favourite Baker Bleu's bread available to purchase, with fresh country-style loaves, ficelle and bagels sitting alongside a range of pastries, pies and sweet treats. You might be tempted by some pistachio-dusted escargot ($6), an apple and cinnamon bundt ($5), the signature Basque cheesecake ($12), or the house-made rum and vanilla caneles ($4). Those stocking their pantries will also find themselves spoilt for choice here, thanks to a top-quality selection of locally sourced fresh produce, gourmet staples and specialty food items — from organic dry goods and artisan pasta, to fancier things in cans and tins. And last-minute dinners are sorted, with Morning Market's signature range of ready-to-heat meals, as well as a selection of meat cuts, snags and charcuterie from sibling store Meatsmith. Elsewhere, you'll find a selection of food-related gifts and homewares, plus an abundance of freshly-cut blooms from local grower Guy McDermott. [caption id="attachment_809360" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jo McGann[/caption] Images: Jo McGann
Nite Art is a contemporary art event for budding artists, enthusiasts and those searching for something to do on a Wednesday night that isn't watching cats waking up their owners on YouTube. Galleries and art institutions swing open their doors at once and keep them open until late into the night (not White Night late, but late). This year eight precincts, 28 art sites, 35 exhibitions and upwards of 80 artists are involved, so it's by no means a small 'artsy' evening. There will be art walks, talks, exhibition openings, artist-run spaces as well as access to notable art institutions, galleries and museums. Partnering up with Open House Melbourne, The Ian Potter Museum, ACMI and the University of Melbourne, Nite Art has all the right foundations for an engaging and inspiring night out. If looking at work isn't your thing, then listening to interesting people might be. With talks from artists and curators at numerous venues across the city as well as readings, there really is something for everyone. Nite Art will be running from 6pm to late, so you've got enough time to run home, change, download your site map and get out there.
Left your Christmas shopping to the last minute? No need to stress, the good guys at Craft are turning their gallery space into a marketplace to help you snag the perfect gift for the festive season. But this is no ordinary store. Supermarket will feature work from a select group of Melbourne artists who've created collections specifically for the event. The marketplace will be curated by Debbie Pryor, and will feature artists including Katherine Bowman, Kris Coad, Andrei Davidoff, Bin Dixon–Ward, Amanda Dziedzic, Pennie Jagiello, Kate Jones, Mattt Bags, Sarah O’Sullivan, Philip Stokes and Karla Way. If you want to support our city's local talent and pick up a gift that's both rare and beautiful, this is the place to be.
"Attention players: you will now compete for our biggest cash prize in reality-show history." They're the first words spoken in the new teaser trailer for Squid Game: The Challenge, aka the competition series that was always going to happen when Squid Game became a massive Netflix success. Once more, 456 players come together. And, they will indeed compete to win $4.56 million. There's no murder this time, however — nor fictional thrills. If you're one of the hordes of viewers who watched Squid Game when it instantly became one of the best new TV programs of 2021, as we all are — and you thought that playing hopscotch, marbles, sugar honeycombs and tug of war sounds like fun, too — then you'll understand the concept at the heart of Squid Game: The Challenge. As seen in the just-dropped new sneak peek for the show, the whole pesky compete-to-the-death angle is missing, obviously, but everything about the series looks exactly like its inspiration otherwise. The red and green tracksuits, the games, the decor and, yes, the notorious Red Light, Green Light doll: they're all accounted for. The reality competition TV show received the green light back in 2022, after the streaming platform had also confirmed that a second season of Squid Game itself was on its way. In June 2023, Netflix also announced that Squid Game: The Challenge would arrive in November. The service has now gone one better, locking in Wednesday, November 22 as the spinoff's launch date. How does it work? Again, you already know the details. Those 456 folks — all ordinary people, and not actors — will try to score $4.56 million by playing a series of games inspired by the extremely fictional South Korean thriller, as well as a few new additions. Also, competitors will be eliminated as the games go on, and forming strategies and alliances will play a huge part. So, Squid Game: The Challenge is clearly designed to get as close to the OG Squid Game as possible, just without the body count. It's all being overseen by a Front Man, too, because of course it is. The results will unfurl over ten episodes, in what Netflix has dubbed "the biggest reality competition series ever". Well, it certainly has the biggest cast. Making a gripping and brutal TV show that satirises capitalism, then bringing its games into real life does sound like something that might happen in Squid Game itself if the show was getting meta. As for the second season the OG series, Squid Game's dramatised return doesn't yet boast a release date, but it does have a heap of cast members locked in. Lee Jung-jae (Deliver Us From Evil) returns as the show's protagonist Seong Gi-hun, while Lee Byung-hun (The Magnificent Seven) will be back as the masked Front Man as well. They'll be joined by Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) as detective Hwang Jun-ho, plus Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place. A show about a deadly competition that has folks competing for ridiculous riches comes with a hefty bodycount, which means that new faces were always going to be essential in Squid Game season two. Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) will all join the series, but Netflix is keeping quiet about their characters at the moment. Check out the latest teaser trailer for Squid Game: The Challenge: Squid Game: The Challenge will hit Netflix in on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. Squid Game's first season is available to stream via Netflix — we'll update you with a release date for season two when one is announced. Images: Netflix.
Australia's most prestigious portrait award, the Archibald Prize is one of the country's most anticipated annual arts events, making a huge splash across the Aussie creative scene each year. For the past few years, the event has announced its finalists in early May, then revealed its winner around a week later — and unveiled its exhibition at the Art Galley of NSW at the same time. In 2020, however, the Archibald has been postponed, with new dates yet to be revealed. It's the latest event affected by the growing spread of COVID-19, as well as Australia's various efforts to stop the illness — including banning outdoor gatherings with more than 500 people, banning indoor gatherings with more than 100 people, and implementing a limit of one person per four square metres in inside spaces and venues. In a statement on the Art Gallery of NSW website, the venue announced that "due to COVID-19, the gallery intends to hold the 2020 exhibition later this year". That applies not just to the Archibald, but to the Wynne and Sulman Prizes — which recognise the best landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture and the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project, respectively. At present, entries have been suspended for all three prizes, with dates for submission and delivery of entries to the prizes postponed. [caption id="attachment_721079" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Lindy Lee by Tony Costa.[/caption] In 2019, Sydney painter Tony Costa took out the Archibald with his oil painting of fellow artist Lindy Lee — marking the first time in the award's 98-year history that a portrait of an Asian Australian has taken out the coveted prize. The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize exhibitions will no longer open on May 9 at the Art Gallery of NSW. For further details, visit the gallery's website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
You probably recognise Lea DeLaria from her role on Netflix's Orange Is the New Black. But while she's best known for playing inmate Big Boo, the truth is she's been around a hell of a lot longer than that. The first openly gay comic to appear on American television, DeLaria has been appearing on stage and screen for more than three decades, and will appear at the Melbourne Recital Centre for an evening of stand-up and song. Heading to Melbourne on Thursday, June 7, Lea DeLaria Live In Concert will see the singer, actor and comedian – who has five jazz records to her name, by the way – perform songs from her latest album, House of David. If the name didn't give it away, it lovingly reimagines the music of the late great David Bowie, so you'll be getting two icons for the price of one.
Dig It Up!, the Hoodoo Gurus' second invitational concert in as many years, is an afternoon of world firsts: the Hoodoos' first live performance of their sophomore album, Mars Needs Guitars, in its entirety; Blue Oyster Cult's first Australian tour; and the Flamin' Groovies' first live appearance (since 1981) in its original Cyril Jordan/Chris Wilson/George Alexander line-up. The event, which includes an extravaganza at the Enmore Theatre as well as multi-stage/multi-band performances in many of Australia's capital cities, marks the 31 years that have passed since the Hoodoo Gurus recorded their debut single, 'Leilani'. According to lead singer Dave Faulkner, the main problem with programming was ensuring the gig matched up to last year's standard, that being "rock 'n' roll perfection". However, he has decided that "Dig It Up! 2013 will be the gig of the year THIS year." Other acts on the bill include the Buzzcocks, Peter Case (and band), the Stems, the Lime Spiders, the Moodists, Deniz Tek (ex-Radio Birdman) and Ray Ahn (the Hard Ons' bassist).
Western Australia is known for its stunning beaches, incredible nature, top-notch eats and plenty of excellent vino. So, it's no wonder some of the best chefs and sommeliers from around the globe want to come Down Under this spring. Come November, rockstar chefs and wine experts will flock to Western Australia for an epic food and wine fair — Western Australia Gourmet Escape presented by Westpac. Taking over the Swan Valley, Perth and Margaret River for ten days (Friday, November 8 – Sunday, November 17), the event is an extravaganza of long lunches, cruises, wine tasting sessions and masterclasses. You can count on more than 50 events featuring more than 50 world-class talents. Coming from the UK, Michelin-starred chef Marco Pierre White will host a one-off dinner at Swan Valley's Sittella Winery. You'll also find him at the new Gourmet Feast in the Valley, which will run from Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10. The weekend-long shindig of food, music and workshops will also host Jess Pryles (author of Hardcore Carnivore), Christian Stevenson (aka DJ BBQ), DJ-chef Yo Levins and Aussie band The Rubens playing live. Plus, you can expect artisan producers and wineries, hands-on activities, masterclasses and a lineup of Perth's best food trucks, too. Head down to Margaret River and you can also hit up a barbecue on the beach with the famed Momofuku empire's executive chef David Chang or a twilight vegetarian degustation at the idyllic Margaret River's Secret Garden, hosted by WA chef George Cooper (Tiller Dining) and Amanda Cohen from New York's Dirt Candy. You can also join chef Mark Best (ex-Marque) on a luxury catamaran to cruise around Geographe Bay, Margaret River, from Friday, November 15–Sunday, November 17. With plenty of food, wine and culinary stars hitting our western coast, a trip over could be a hot option before diving into summer. There's plenty more food and wine frivolity in store, which you can check out in the festival's massive programme over here. Tickets to Western Australia Gourmet Escape presented by Westpac go on sale at 9am on Thursday, July 18. To see our picks of the best events to check out at this epic food and wine festival, head here. UPDATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 5 – Western Australia Gourmet Escape is hosting a one-off event in Sydney. On Tuesday, August 13, you can join WA chef Luke Mangan, Gage Roads Brewing Co's chief brewer Aaron Heary and Annabelle Coppin from the Pilbara's Outback Beef, plus Sydney-based wine expert Mike Bennie for a four-course dinner at The Hilton Hotel Sydney's restaurant, Glass Brasserie. Kicking off at 6pm, the event is a celebration of Western Australian produce, with tickets costing $123 per person. Tickets include four courses matched with Gage Roads brews or with optional pairings of Margaret River wines available as an alternative. For tickets, head here.
Last year, HBO said goodbye to Game of Thrones, at least for now. It also farewelled Veep and wrapped up Big Little Lies, although the latter apparently could still make a comeback. But don't go thinking that the US cable network has gaps in its schedule in 2020. Not only did Westworld return, but The Outsider, Perry Mason, Lovecraft Country, I May Destroy You and The Undoing all proved must-see viewing. Australian viewers can watch its Italian-set mini-series We Are Who We Are from this month, too — and in December, HBO's new six-part psychological thriller The Third Day will also hit local screens. Starring Jude Law, Naomie Harris (Moonlight, Spectre), Paddy Considine (The Outsider), Emily Watson (Chernobyl) and Katherine Waterston (the Fantastic Beasts franchise), The Third Day is comprised of two halves: 'Summer' and 'Winter'. In the show's first three episodes, it follows a man called Sam (Law) who is drawn to an island off the British coast, only to discover that he can't leave. In its second three episodes, it spends time with Helen (Harris), who also finds herself on the tiny Osea Island. If it sounds familiar, that's because it started airing in the US in mid-September and just finished up its overseas run in mid-October. Now Australian viewers will be able to enjoy its intriguing premise, eerie setting and top-notch cast, with The Third Day hitting Foxtel from Monday, December 7 — airing weekly, and also making every episode available to stream via Foxtel Go and Foxtel Now. There's no word as yet regarding The Third Day's other component, called 'Fall' — a day-long event that featured Law, Watson and Waterston, was broadcast in real time and was also captured in one continuous take. Behind the scenes, the show stems from creators Felix Barrett and Dennis Kelly, with Barrett founding British theatre company Punchdrunk — which created the aforementioned 'Fall' segment of the show — and Kelly writing the original UK version of Utopia. Check out the trailer for The Third Day below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hHT5FlMaIQ&feature=youtu.be The Third Day starts screening via Foxtel from 8.30pm on Monday, December 7, with new episodes airing each week. All six episodes will also be available to stream on the same date via Foxtel Go and Foxtel Now. Top image: Liam Daniel/HBO.
This exhibition at Edmund Pearce Gallery embraces its defiance to categorisation. Curator Sharon Flynn wrangles some disparate responses to the themes of rupture and identity by seven artists whose work operates across a vast spectrum of forms – from lens-based media to live art. It is also the first time this gallery has allowed the use of live bodies and performance within the space. This show was one of our top picks for Midsumma 2014, see our full list here.
An offshoot of Hannah Brontë's feminist rap Still I Rise for Next Wave Festival, this Sunday night gig at Howler in Brunswick will see a selection of Indigenous fem-cees and DJs take control of the decks and the dancefloor. Curated by Brontë, the lineup will include SEZZO, SOVTRAK, Busty Beatz and Amrita Amrita, as well as an open mic session which will be open to all female MCs. Should be the perfect way to shake the lead out ahead of the final week of the fest.
While social distancing and public gathering rules are still in place across the country, some companies are starting to look to the less-restricted future. Qantas yesterday said interstate travel could be back on the cards by July, Restaurant and Catering Australia wants hospitality venues reopened in June and, now, Falls Festival has announced it's powering ahead with plans for its New Year's festival — with some big changes. In a statement released this morning, Falls Co-Producers Jessica Ducro and Paul Piticco said they'd decided to push ahead with the end-of-year festival. "As Australia heads towards the recovery phase of COVID-19 we have decided to move forward with optimism, and work towards presenting our Dec 2020/Jan 2021 event in a way that will best bolster Australia's live music industry," the statement said. Details of the summer festival, which usually takes places at Tassie's Marion Bay, Lorne in Victoria, North Byron and Fremantle, are scarce for now, but the duo has announced one big change: an all-Aussie lineup. With Australia's borders currently closed and even travel between just Australia and New Zealand "still some time away", keeping the lineup local does seem the smart choice — and it has the added bonus of helping Aussie musicians, many of which have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown. According to website I Lost My Gig, Australian music industry workers have lost approximately $340 million worth of income since the crisis began. Falls Festival hopes it'll be able to help support some of those impacted with its locally focused festival. "We have some of the most exciting acts in the world and this special 'home grown' edition of Falls will ensure that money stays in our local economy, providing maximum financial benefit for the Australian music community – artists, management, crew, agents, roadies, production etc — as well as the thousands of contractors and suppliers who rely on our events for their income," Ducro and Piticco said in the statement. The festival will also help raise funds for Support Act, a charity delivery crisis relief services to those in the music industry. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_04sZGhybw/ It's positive news for those in the industry and music fans alike, but the the festival is not yet set in stone. Two-person public gathering rules are still currently in place in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, and Australia's ban on non-essential mass gatherings of over 500 people was one of the first restrictions implemented — way back on March 13, 2020 — so could, if we're to work backwards, be one of the last lifted. The Australian Government has also said some level of social distancing measures will need to remain in place until a vaccine is found, which Federal Science Minister Karen Andrews told the ABC earlier this week was still 10–15 months away. So, if the festival is to go ahead, it could look a little different — and a have a lot less punters in tow. Falls Byron usually has around 25,000 attendees, while Falls Lorne has 9000. Last year, the music festival was impacted by the bushfires, with the Lorne leg cancelled one day in because of extreme and hazardous weather. Falls Festival is hoping to go ahead in December 2020/January 2021. We'll let you know if and when more details are announced.
The 40th parallel is much more than simply a line of latitude spanning the distance of America from East to West; and Bruce Myren's photographs of it are much more than just photos. The line N 40° 00' 00'' bisects the country from New Jersey's shore crossing through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, over the border between Nebraska and Kansas, following on past Colorado, Utah, Nevada and finally finishing in California. Myren is not only capturing the stunning surroundings of these landscapes, but is trying to understand and portray the "human desire to create systems and then locate ourselves within them". The fortieth parallel north is a tool for measurement, as well as acting as the baseline for creating homesteads and townships, functioning as a useful marker during Western settlement. The project began as a fairly small and basic undertaking, using maps to identify the areas because GPS's were not widely available during that time. However, as geographical technology began to grow and develop, so too did Myren's photo series. Using an 8 x 10 Deardoff camera and colour transparency film, Myren produced panoramas by snapping three shots moving from left to right then adding them together during editing. The photographer is aiming to take a landscape panorama shot at every longitudinal point along the line, adding up to a total of 52 locations and images, spaced roughly 53 miles apart from each other. So far he has captured 28 stunning images of these locations. Here are 10 of the inspired images from his series, aimed to make you "consider the history of landscape photography, American development , but most importantly [your] own relationship to place." N 40° 00' o0'' W 109° 00' 00", Rangely, Colorado, 2000 N 40° 00' 00" W 108° 00' 00", Meeker, Colorado, 2000 N 40° 00' 00" W 101° 00' 00", Ludell, Kansas, 2011 N 40° 00' 00" W 98° 00' 00", Webber, Kansas, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 97° 00' 00", Hollenberg, Kansas, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 95° 00' 00", Fillmore, Missouri, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 93° 00' 00", Winigan, Missouri, 2011 N 40° 00' 00" W 81° 00' 00", Belmont, Ohio, 1999 N 40° 00' 00" W 76° 00' 00", Gap, Pennsylvania, 1999 N 40° 00' 00" W 74° 03' 32", Normandy Beach, New Jersey, 1998
As part of the flurry of new streaming services competing for our eyeballs, FanForce TV joined the online viewing fold during the COVID-19 pandemic — with the pay-per-view platform not only screening movies, but pairing them with virtual Q&A sessions as well. Now, between Wednesday, November 11–Sunday, November 15 it's also hosting an online film fest: its second Virtual Indigenous Film Festival. The returning event coincides with NAIDOC Week, and will showcase five films: In My Own Words, The Song Keepers, The Flood, Wik vs Queensland and Westwind: Djalu's Legacy. That means you can watch your way through an array of Aussie movies focused on Indigenous stories, spanning both dramas and documentaries — and exploring race relations in the process. Sessions will also feature guest speakers, such as The Flood's writer/director/producer Victoria Wharfe McIntyre, The Song Keepers' filmmaker Naina Sen and Ben Strunin from Westwind: Djalu's Legacy. Viewers can tune in on a film-by-film basis, or buy an all-access pass to tune into everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY3O5LtMo9Q&feature=emb_logo Top image: Westwind: Djalu's Legacy
Whiplash is a drama about the pursuit of artistic greatness. Its characters push the boundaries in their determination to reach their goal. The film stars Miles Teller as an aspiring jazz percussionist, Andrew Neyman, who becomes so absorbed in his art he overworks himself mentally and physically, making his fingers bleed from overwork on multiple occasions. Starring alongside him is JK Simmons, playing his volatile music teacher, Terrence Fletcher, at a prestigious music academy. Wholly absorbed in a desire to create the best musicians of our time, Fletcher adopts a sort of survival-of-the-fittest teaching method, which borders on sociopathic. Oscillating between cruel mind games, verbal attacks and feigned pleasantness, he continually isolates his students — forcing nothing but the best. The film has won a string of awards, including the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award (US Dramatic) at the Sundance Film Festival, and is so far 96 percent certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Whiplash is in cinemas on October 23 (with sneak previews 17-19 October at select locations). Thanks to Sony Pictures, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our review of Whiplash here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=8J6JH-R-TN0
What were you doing on 10/10/10? It appears that innumerable professional and amateur filmmakers from over 200 countries were filming the world around them as part of the One Day On Earth Project. The initiative aimed to collect the many and varied stories and images of that particular day - pregnant bellies, soccer games, guitar playing, arrests, little colourful fish and hair-washing to name but a few - and in the process became one of the biggest participatory events in history. The project was the brainchild of founder Kyle Ruddick who, in 2008, had the idea of using cinema to connect people from across the globe. Since then, with the support of non-government organisations and the United Nations Development Program, it has turned into a social networking phenomenon where not only films but stories and information are shared. A feature length film of the project will be released in the near future, but for now a trailer has been released to give a brief glimpse into this ambitious project.
In our brunch-obsessed times, lunch can sometimes feel like the neglected middle child of the dining scene. If you're a lunch lover keen to convert your breakfast-biased friends, now's your chance. Appletiser and Sunday Style have teamed up with over 30 of the leading eateries in Sydney and Melbourne to create the Appletiser Lunch Club. With a collection of speciality menus and exclusive offers to suit a range of budgets, a memorable leisurely lunch can soon be yours. Sydney gourmands can dine to their hearts content at venues including The Commons in Darlinghurst, Balcony Bar in the city and Alexandria's Vicinity Dining. For $30 per person, Redfern's Black Penny is offering share plates like tiger prawn skewers and zucchini flower bouquets stuffed with pumpkin, onion and goats cheese, accompanied by an Appletiser Pimms cocktail. North shore-dwellers can head to Roseville's HUX Dining for their Appletiser-roasted pork belly with apple and fennel sauce for just $25. Melburnians, you can patronise restaurants including the Southbank's Red Emperor, Platform 28 in the heart of the Docklands, Mail Exchange on Bourke Street and North Melbourne's Castle Hotel. Slide into Chuckle Park for a Summer Appletiser Pimms Cocktail and your choice of their signature pork roll, meatball wrap or frittata roll for $25. The same amount at Captain Melville gets you a trio of signature sliders: soft shell crab, western plains pork belly and a mini parmie, served with (of course) Appletiser. If your taste buds are already tingling in anticipation, make sure to book in your lunch before offers end on December 15. For the full list of participating restaurants, visit www.appletiser.com.au/LunchClub.
Radiohead do things a little differently to most bands. When they released In Rainbows in 2007 using a pay-what-you-think-is-fair approach to selling records, they engineered a recalibration of the music world as a whole and showed us that it wasn't the industry that was dying after all, just the traditional businesses and approaches within it. Since then bands have created their own TV shows and asked fans to make their albums for them, technology companies have launched music services and broadcast entire music festivals live, and Radiohead has continued to produce some of the most consistently innovative work of them all. The band premiered a broadcast of The King of Limbs 'Live From The Basement' on Spanish TV over the weekend, and it has now surfaced online. Whilst no Australian air date has been announced, you can watch the entire performance here, including new tracks 'The Daily Mail' and 'Staircase'. https://youtube.com/watch?v=k8byXSML4bY
The world's first wandering institution dedicated to showcasing the creative efforts of ordinary folks is coming to Australia. That'd be the The Museum of Everything, which will head to Tasmania for a ten-month stint filled with pieces that you won't find in any other gallery. Launching during MONA's Dark Mofo in June, then running through until April 2, 2018, the exhibition will feature over 1500 works in themed spaces, taking visitors on an informal journey through human making. Drawings, sculptures, paintings, ceramics, collage, photography, assemblage, found objects and installations will all be on display during its first trip to our shores. Starting in London in 2009, and touring to Paris, Venice, Moscow and Rotterdam since, The Museum of Everything aims to improve the profile of art that falls outside of the usual channels. Forget famous names — you won't find them here. Instead, lining its walls are works crafted by untrained, unintentional, undiscovered and and otherwise unclassifiable artists from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Indeed, the people responsible for the kind of pieces favoured by the travelling display are compelled to channel their creativity into new, different and experimental works, but they don't fit the conventional definition of artists. As founder James Brett explains, "our artists do not create for the markets or museums. They make because they must and— from Henry Darger to Nek Chand Saini — have something vital to say about the essence of their lives". Image: George Widener, c. 2007, courtesy of The Museum of Everything.
Did you know that for the last 12 years, Richard Linklater has been tinkering away on the same project? Oh yes, in between Before Midnight and Before Sunset, A Scanner Darkly and Bernie, there's been Boyhood, an intimate coming-of-age drama utilising the same cast (Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and kids Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater) and interested in the kind of authenticity that can be created when you're not artificially ageing or swapping in older actors. "There has simply never been anything like this film," wrote Rolling Stone, and we're inclined to agree. It's a unique way to experience the growing pains of a child — and that of his young, still-nutting-things-out parents. Boyhood is in cinemas on September 4, and in advanced screenings this weekend. Thanks to Universal Pictures, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ys-mbHXyWX4
If you haven't nabbed tickets to see Kendrick Lamar when he tours Australia at the end of 2025, you now have more chances to head along. First, in news worth exclaiming "DAMN"- and "LOVE" about, he was announced as Spilt Milk's 2025 headliner. Then, not content with taking to the stage Down Under in Ballarat, Perth, Canberra and on the Gold Coast, the acclaimed hip hop artist locked in two solo Aussie stadium shows — one each in Melbourne and Sydney. Now Lamar has expanded those standalone gigs on his Grand National tour, adding an extra date in each city. Accordingly, after making its way around North America and Europe, Lamar's latest string of live dates now spans two nights apiece in the Victorian and New South Wales capitals. First up: Melbourne, at AAMI Park across Wednesday, December 3–Thursday, December 4, 2025. Then comes Allianz Stadium in the Harbour City over Wednesday, December 10–Thursday, December 11, 2025. [caption id="attachment_1008775" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gregory Shamus/Getty Images[/caption] Lamar's Aussie stadium shows still kick off before his Spilt Milk dates, then slot in-between the festival's two weekend runs. The fest hits Ballarat on Saturday, December 6; Perth on Sunday, December 7; Canberra on Saturday, December 13; and the Gold Coast on Sunday, December 14. For company at his solo gigs, he'll have ScHoolboy Q in support on Wednesday, December 3 and Wednesday, December 10, as previously announced. On the new dates — so on Thursday, December 4 and Thursday, December 11 — Doechii will be doing the honours. December clearly suits Lamar for a jaunt Down Under — that's when the Pulitzer Music Prize-winning musician also made the trip in 2022. Lamar is one of the most-critically acclaimed and successful hip hop artists of our generation. He currently has 22 Grammys to his name, plus an Academy Award nomination for one of his contributions to the Black Panther soundtrack. He won the 2017 Triple J Hottest 100 and, when he nabbed his Pulitzer in 2018, he also became the first ever artist to take out the prestigious award for contemporary music. GNX, his most-recent studio album, dropped in November 2024 — with his extensive catalogue also spanning 2011's Section.80, 2012's good kid, m.A.A.d city, 2015's To Pimp A Butterfly, 2017's DAMN and 2022's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Kendrick Lamar Grand National Tour 2025 Australian Dates Wednesday, December 3–Thursday, December 4 — AAMI Park, Melbourne Wednesday, December 10–Thursday, December 11 — Allianz Stadium, Sydney Spilt Milk 2025 Dates Saturday, December 6 — Victoria Park, Ballarat Sunday, December 7 — Claremont Showground, Perth Saturday, December 13 — Exhibition Park, Canberra Sunday, December 14 — Gold Coast Sports Precinct, Gold Coast Kendrick Lamar is touring Australia in December 2025, with ticket presales for his second Melbourne gig kicking off at 11am on Thursday, August 7, and for his second Sydney gig at 12pm on Thursday, August 7 — with general sales from 1pm on Monday, August 11 in Melbourne and 2pm on Monday, August 11 in Sydney. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Timothy Norris/Getty Images for pgLang, Amazon Music, & Free Lunch.
Keen to combine romance and gambling? Sadly an overnight getaway to Vegas is probably off the cards for a while yet, so if you're looking for an over-the-top way to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, this might be the next best thing. QT Hotels around New Zealand and Australia are offering loved-up couples the chance to win big when they book a Valentine's stay at any of their hotels in February, and we mean really big. Live in the hotel for the rest of the month, big. Yup, that's right Chuck Bass. For the price of one night's stay, you could be living it up in a hotel for weeks, ordering breakfast to your bed and dialling into Zoom calls poolside. View this post on Instagram A post shared by QT Auckland (@qtauckland) It's all part of the new Love Is Blind promotion run by QT, inviting guests to roll the dice in a low-risk, high-reward game of romantic roulette. Book a stay with your beau (or bestie, or even your mum) between Friday, February 11 and Tuesday, February and you'll be surprised with either an upgrade or downgrade on check-in. The upgrades are all looking pretty sweet. You might get your champagne bottle levelled up to a magnum, or even your room upgraded to a suite. The best prize on offer is having your stay extended until Monday, February 28 — that's 17 nights for the price of one. And that offer is on at every QT Hotel in Australia and New Zealand, so you're in with a decent shot at winning. Of course, the flipside is risking a downgrade — that's gambling for you. QT promises that downgrades are "rare" but they're there: you might get a mere chocolate on the pillow (still sounds yum tbh) or have your King-sized bed downgraded to two twin beds. Sexy! The novel promotion is not out of character for the hotel chain, which is known for its quirky campaigns. Back in 2020, it ran a Rock Star package encouraging you to book out an entire floor to party with your mates. Upon opening in Auckland, the hotel hid 150 room keys around the city in a giant treasure hunt. In this case, you're relying on a fair bit of luck to be on your side — but if you're already lucky in love, this will just be the icing on the cake. The Love Is Blind package is available at QT Sydney, QT Bondi, QT Canberra, QT Melbourne, QT Gold Coast, QT Perth, QT Auckland, QT Wellington and QT Queenstown between Friday 11 February to Tuesday 15 February 2022. Bookings are available now, with February 14 the last available day to book.
This week, the Gillard Government announced their long-awaited arts and cultural policy: Creative Australia. Fashioned as a sort of 21st-century sequel to Keating's groundbreaking Creative Nation, the $235 million policy is perhaps the most comprehensive and wide-ranging articulation of and investment in the arts ever seen in Australia. And thus far the policy has been met with the sort of response that the Gillard Government has grown increasingly unaccustomed to: overwhelming support. But what does Creative Australia actually have to offer? The 152-page policy takes real steps to reflect the artistic diversity of Australia through major investments in Aboriginal art and international artistic partnerships, particularly in Asia. It also demonstrates the government's desire to support the cultural industry as exactly that: an industry. By putting money in the pockets of artists and cultural institutions, the government is hoping to create jobs and expand an industry that currently employs over 531,000 people and has produced an estimated $93.2 billion in profits. Having ploughed through pages of the usual PR guff, it has been a pleasant surprise to find that Creative Australia actually has the potential to radically expand and reform Australia's cultural industry. As the policy states, "culture is not created by government but enabled by it", and while this statement has a distinctly hollow political ring to it, it is a surprisingly accurate way of describing how these four features of Creative Australia could revamp our artistic landscape. A GREATER FOCUS ON ASIA A couple of generations ago, depending on who you speak to, Australians began celebrating and/or bemoaning the invasion of American culture into our own artistic landscape. These days, Asia is the new kid on the block, and the Australian government are hoping to capitalise on Asia’s growing cultural dominance through the creation and strengthening of various formal and informal artistic partnerships with the region. In the world of cinema, this means more co-production agreements between Australian and Asian filmmakers. Such partnerships with Singapore have already produced the Jaws-esque horror blockbuster Bait 3D (which reached number one at the box office in China) and the forthcoming TV project Serangoon Road, which is set to air on the ABC and Home Box Office Asia later this year. In the world of visual art, this means the introduction of new legislation protecting overseas loans, such that more Japanese and Chinese art will be popping up in your local gallery in exchange for Australian artworks gaining greater exposure in Asian galleries. SUPPORTING THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION Australia's most neglected (yet highest grossing) digital artform is finally getting the sort of government attention it most richly deserves: video games. The newly formed Australian Interactive Games Fund is set to receive $20 million over the next three years in an effort to support Australia's independent games studios in the creation of digital content. Digital media has likewise radicalised the way we consume music, films and television and the Creative Australia policy reflects this converging cultural market. The Federal Government has outlined a variety of policy initiatives including the creation of an online production fund, a $10 million investment to support the production of screen and television suitable for digital platforms, a $5.4 million investment into Australian music and radio and a comprehensive review of Australia's copyright laws to determine whether they appropriately reflect Australia's digital media landscape. INCREASED FUNDING FOR SIX PERFORMING ARTS COMPANIES A central component of the Creative Australia policy has been to support artistic institutions that tell distinctly Australian stories. While once upon a time, the term 'Australian stories' was synonymous with ocker comedies and gross stereotypes of the Crocodile Dundee and Barry McKenzie variety, the term has now come to represent a multiplicity of experiences that have a uniquely Australian character. The Federal Government have invested $9.3 million in six performing arts companies who by their estimations have developed a reputation for telling meaningful Australian stories, whether this be through original productions or contemporary reinterpretations of classics. The six companies are Bangarra Dance Theatre (NSW), Belvoir (Company B) (NSW), Black Swan State Theatre Company (WA), Malthouse Theatre (Vic), Circus Oz (Vic) and West Australian Ballet (WA). This funding has the potential to transform these often small, boutique performing arts companies into world-beating artistic hubs. FURTHER JOB CREATION IN THE ARTS Creating jobs in the cultural industry takes one primary form in the Creative Australia policy: nurturing and capturing talent through investment in educational institutes. This investment isn't just for elite training organisations, though the government is pumping an extra $20.8 million into these institutions, but also for younger budding artists and performers. Particularly notable is the investment of $8.1 million into the Creative Young Stars Program, encouraging artists from primary school age to those in their early twenties to roll up their sleeves and get stuck into the arts. The Gillard government have also recognised the increasing difficultly faced by artists and performers in transitioning from tertiary education into the workforce. This is seen in the $9.7 million investment into ArtStart, which focuses on making artists more business-savvy in the dog-eat-dog world of art and the $3.4 million given to the ArtsReady program to support school and university graduates transform their love of art, music, dance, performance or drama into a fulltime profession.
