Despite Australian supermarkets' current two-item limits, trying to get your hands on — and covered in — sanitiser is much harder than it should be at present. The liquid disinfectant is on everyone's must-buy list, leaving empty supermarket shelves seemingly everywhere. Luckily, a bunch of Australian distilleries are using their booze to make the now-essential product. It makes sense, because alcohol is a crucial ingredient in sanitiser — especially ones that are effective against COVID-19. So, next time you slather your hands with sanitiser, you could be covering them with your favourite booze, too. Meaning there's now no excuse not to clean your hands, you detty pigs. 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. MANLY SPIRITS CO Normally, north Sydney's Manly Spirits Co makes gin, vodka, whisky and liqueurs. Of course, these aren't normal times, so it's using its high-grade gin to whip up its own sanitiser. So, if you're wanting to disinfect your hands and smell like botanicals, now you can. Understandably, that's likely to make you thirsty, so the company is making 50 millilitre bottles available for free with every Manly Spirits Co bottle of spirits purchased, which can be ordered here. To discourage stockpiling, however, there is a limit of one free sanitiser per person. Plus, it's supplying its Manly Spirits Hand Sanitiser with Gin Aroma to local community groups, charities and organisations in larger five-litre sizes, to assist with their crucial operations. MR BLACK COFFEE LIQUEUR Fans of caffeinated booze can look forward to freshening their fingers with their preferred tipple thanks to Mr Black's new hand sanitiser. The distillery has made thousands of bottles and you can grab a maximum of two 500 millilitre bottles, for $19.95 each, plus a $10 flat-rate national shipping fee. It's also donated bottles of its A-class sani to a bunch of charities, medical centres and COVID-19 testing clinics. The hand sanitiser is made using a World Health Organisation recipe with 80 percent ethanol, and as bottles don't come with a pump they're designed to be used as refills. While currently out of stock, Mr Black will be adding more early next week and you can join a waitlist over here. And if you decide to invest in some actual coffee liqueur while you're on the site — the OG ($60), single-origin ($75) and amaro ($80) versions are all for sale, as is the most adorable 50-millilitre bottle ($5.99) — or some sweet merch, and spend over $80, you'll get free shipping. BRIX DISTILLERS Sydney's only rum distillery has also jumped on the sanitiser wagon — and selling twin-packs of 300-millilitre bottles for $34. While you're on the site, you can nab a bottle of white, gold or spiced rum; a mix-your-own espresso martini pack; or barrel-aged rum negroni from these guys, too. Plus, Brix is offering $10 off and free shipping on its core range of rums. Nab your booze and sani over here. CAPE BYRON DISTILLERY Premium spirits slinger Cape Byron Distillery is turning its awarded Brookie's Byron Gin into a natural hand and surface sanitiser. Made with 70 percent ethanol, gin byproducts, filtered spring water, aloe vera and citrus, this hand cleaner is also scented with lime and gin botanicals, so your hands will smell like a G&T. As well as supplying large containers of the stuff to local medical centres, doctors, hospitals and care workers, 500-millilitre bottles are also available for purchase via Cape Byron's website for a reasonable $14.99. ARCHIE ROSE The much-loved Rosebery distillery has reallocated its spirits production capacity to hand sanitiser. And in doing so, it's been able to keep majority of its staff in a job. Unsurprisingly, Archie Rose's sanitiser sold out in an instant, but you can pre-order a 500-millilitre bottle via the website. The latest release will leave Archie Rose's facilities the week of April 27, so hopefully you have some in the cupboard for the meantime. ANIMUS DISTILLERY Located in Victoria's Macedon Ranges, Animus is known for its small-batch gins and is using its distillery to now make sanitiser. A 100-millilitre bottle will only cost you $10 and is available for purchase online or pick up in person at the distillery. To discourage hoarding, there's a six-bottle limit per person. You can feel good about buying it, too, with 50 percent of all profits being used to subsidise access to sanitiser for those in need. POOR TOMS GIN Need to restock your gin supply? Poor Toms is still delivering its goods — and it's throwing in a free bottle of its hand sani with any gin purchase. But only for a limited time, so best be quick. As the distillery is supplying frontline healthcare professionals, the botanical-scented sanitiser is not available for retail sale. So, nab yourself some of its classic, strawberry-infused or Fool's Cut gin and maybe throw in a bottle of its amaro, too, and you'll receive 200 millilitres of high-grade, limited-edition sanitiser. It's only $10 shipping across Australia. Available online.
Every three years, the Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and Queensland Art Gallery take stock of their place in the world. From their riverside stretch of South Brisbane, the neighbouring art institutions are keenly aware of the importance of celebrating not only the city's creativity, but that of the country and the Asia-Pacific region as well. That's exactly what the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art is all about, and has been since 1993. The huge multi-gallery exhibition highlights the wealth of artistic treasures crafted in our own backyard — from the skyscrapers to the suburbs, the outback to the ocean, and the heart of Australia to the sprawl of neighbouring Asian cities. Marking its ninth event and running until April 28, 2019, the latest APT takes its task seriously. There's so much excellent art from the region to showcase, and so many talented artists as well. Indeed, the numbers paint one of the exhibition's biggest pictures, with the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art featuring more than 400 artworks by over 80 individuals, collectives and groups. If you're wondering which of APT9's pictures, paintings, sculptures, videos, installations and more that you should see at the free exhibition, we've singled out six must-sees. [caption id="attachment_700271" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Gary Carsley 'Purple Reign'. APT9 Kids. GOMA 1.4. Installation view.[/caption] 'PURPLE REIGN' BY GARY CARSLEY Ignore GOMA's Children's Art Centre at your peril. The home of Yayoi Kusama's Obliteration Room every time that it comes to town, it's a space where art and interactivity combine for big and little kids alike. For APT9, it's overflowing with something that (basically) everyone loves: jacarandas. Most of Brisbane has just been blossoming with the distinctive purple flowers, but here they're taking over the walls. This piece is called Purple Reign for a reason (and not just to make a great Prince pun). As inspired by R Godfrey Rivers's painting Under the jacaranda 1903, visitors play with touch screens and video to explore the gorgeous blooms, which brighten up nearly every surface in the room. [caption id="attachment_700275" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] ALBAIQUNI Zico. Indonesia, b. 1987. When it Shook - The Earth stood Still (After Pirous) 2018. Oil on canvas. 200 x 120 cm. Courtesy: The artist and Yavuz Gallery.[/caption] THE WORK OF ZICO ALBAIQUNI In a huge exhibition designed to catch many an eye — both as a whole, and via its individual artworks — some of APT9's most vibrant pieces take art aficionados to Indonesia. More than that, they delve into the country's landscape and history — but not quite how you might expect. That's what artist Zico Albaiquni does, with exploring his country's traditions, its time under Dutch colonial rule and the state of the environment today all part of his practise. Working at the larger end of the scale, his paintings envelop viewers with their size, their scale and with their use of design, as well as with their almost forceful (and definitely attention-grabbing) use of colour. [caption id="attachment_700270" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] CAO Fei. Beijing, China b. 1978. Asia One 2018. HD video installation: 63:20 minutes, sound, colour, ed. 2/7 (edition TBC). Collection: Queensland Art Gallery.[/caption] 'ASIA ONE' AND '11.11' BY CAO FEI Every room holds a treasure at APT9, particularly the darkened corner of GOMA where Cao Fei's video works play on a loop. The Chinese artist is particularly interested in a topic that's beginning to monopolise cinematic pieces from the region: the changing way of life that's accompanying China's rapid modernisation. For both narrative effort Asia One and documentary 11.11, she steps inside the logistics hub of online retailer JD.com, exploring today's daily reality and pondering the intersection of humanity and technology in the future. And while the videos are worth watching alone, the exhibition's staging helps draw you in — you'll feel like you're in a warehouse rather than a gallery. [caption id="attachment_700273" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] "On the second day, Saturday, your three minutes..."Art Basel HK Encounter, 2017, performance/installation[/caption] 'ON THE SECOND SATURDAY, YOUR THREE MINUTES' BY JOYCE HO Need a rest, art lovers? Fancy sitting down and contemplating everything that you've seen? Thanks to Joyce Ho's addition to the exhibition, you'll find two lines of seats ready and waiting. This isn't about getting cosy, however, with the seats set up in separate spaces that resemble waiting rooms. There are no magazines or muted TVs here, but rather a mirrored window between the two chambers. Plonk yourself down on either side, and you'll spy both your reflection and the ghostly image of whoever happens to be sitting opposite, with the two combining in quite the striking and memorable fashion. [caption id="attachment_700267" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, GOMA, The 9th Asia and Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT9), Exhibition no. 2018.05.Organisation Queensland Art Gallery, Start date 24 November 2018. End date 28 April 2019. Installation view.[/caption] 'UNTITLED (GIRAN)' BY JONATHAN JONES Nearly 2000 sculptures comprise Australian artist Jonathan Jones' piece, which spans across an entire wall. It's the kind of artwork that stuns from afar, making you step back to appreciate its full glory, while simultaneously inviting you closer to investigate its exceptional detail. Curved in appearance and with feathers featuring prominently, it's designed to resemble birds flying on the wind, although each individual element is actually one of six different types of tool. Made with family and Wiradjuri community members from raw materials, and crafted in collaboration with elder Dr Uncle Stan Grant Snr, it instantly conveys the movement and change that comes with the breeze — and turning an already evocative static piece into an immersive installation, it's also accompanied by sounds of the wind, bird calls, breathing and the Wiradjuri language. [caption id="attachment_700272" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. QAG Watermall. The 9th Asia and Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT9). Exhibition no. 2018.05. Organisation Queensland Art Gallery. Start date 24 November 2018. End date 28 April 2019. Installation view.[/caption] 'MY FOREST IS NOT YOUR GARDEN' BY DONNA ONG AND ROBERT ZHAO RENHUI A sea of green above a pool of water sounds like everyone's ideal of blissful eye candy. At APT9, it's Donna One and Robert Zhao Renhui's contribution to the fold, as found in QAG's already peaceful and serene Watermall. Walk across the platform above the indoor pond, and plenty of plants await, although these aren't any old potted pieces. They're actually a mixed-media assemblage that makes a statement about the use of nature in both Chinese and European art, with each one littered with tiny animals. Plus, while you're wandering through this leafy part of the exhibition, you'll also be able to see Kawayan de Guia's bright wall of works — a mashup of pop culture images and references to Filipino politics — in front of it. The 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art runs until April 28, 2019 at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, South Brisbane. Top image: CAO Fei. Beijing, China b. 1978. Asia One 2018. HD video installation: 63:20 minutes, sound, colour, ed. 2/7 (edition TBC) Collection: Queensland Art Gallery.
Francophiles know there's something inherently romantic about the Parisian lifestyle, shown to us Aussies through countless rom-coms and years of Instagram pics of proposals by the Eiffel Tower. Everyone knows at least one person who has spent their winter months chasing the European sun, coming home with tales of wandering the streets of Paris looking for the perfect croissant and weekenders in the French countryside. Alas, it's not that time of year right now and you're (presumably) not in that part of the world either. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to embrace the French lifestyle and make the most of the spectacular Australian summer in your own backyard. We've partnered with French vodka Grey Goose, to show you how to live like a Parisian in your own city this summer. [caption id="attachment_697085" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marcie Raw[/caption] START THE DAY WITH CROISSANTS Of course, one of the best things about being in Paris is strolling down to a market in the morning and carefully selecting a fresh croissant made from an old family recipe. The flaky, buttery treats are perfect for an easy brekkie on the go before a day of sightseeing or shopping, or perched in a window table with an espresso accompaniment. Thankfully, we've got some truly talented pastry chefs down in this part of the world, too. In Melbourne, you'll find internationally renowned croissants at Lune in Fitzroy and on Collins Street in the CBD; head to Flour and Stone in Woolloomooloo for some of Sydney's best pastries; while in Brisbane you can find scrumptious croissants all around town at Le Bon Choix. [caption id="attachment_753173" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr/Creative Commons/Tim Green[/caption] SIGN UP FOR A FRENCH LANGUAGE CLASS Parlez-vous francais? Non? True Parisians won't speak English if they don't have to, so why not sign up for a French language class this summer (or as your 2020 goal) and become a worldly bilingual? Alliance Francais — a network of not-for-profit organisations aimed at promoting French language and culture — has chapters in all capital cities and major regional hubs, which all run a bunch of different courses that will have you speaking like a Parisian in no time. If nightmares of your high school language classes still haunt you, it'll be comforting to know that Alliance Francais' classes are small and casual, and they run a variety of social events and workshops, such as Melbourne's weekly Vin and Fromage night. [caption id="attachment_737107" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Formaggi Ocello[/caption] GRAB LUNCH FROM A FROMAGERIE Cheese, but make it fancy. Surry Hills' Formaggi Ocello has Sydneysiders covered, with the cheese specialist stocking more than 200 varieties, from French classics to lesser-known imports, plus everything you need for a truly impressive cheese board. Pop in any time for a nibble and a tipple, sign up for one its monthly cheese and wine tasting nights or stop by from 4pm for an aperitif, where you get a free cheese tasting plate with your glass of wine. In Melbourne, La Parisienne Pates is a French deli that has been specialising in traditional smallgoods for more than 20 years. At its Carlton and South Yarra cafes, you'll find rare cheeses that you'd struggle to find elsewhere in Australia, plus gourmet charcuterie delicacies and French pastries made the old-fashioned way. Up in Brisbane, market favourite turned Morningside store Le Fromage Yard will help make all your cheese dreams come true. TAKE YOUR GREY GOOSE X MAISON LABICHE TOWEL TO THE BEACH In honour of the small celebrations we have in the summer, such as catching up with friends, and making the most of the outdoors, Grey Goose and French fashion label Maison Labiche have extended their annual Riviera collaboration into a collection of fashion and travel pieces to help you live in the moment this summer. There's also a limited-edition French Riviera-themed bottle of Grey Goose that you can buy. Our pick is the Maison Labiche beach towel. Take it to the beach or a park and (if permitted — check your local council websites) make a batched Grey Goose cocktail for a boozy afternoon in the sun. [caption id="attachment_742671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] So French So Chic[/caption] LISTEN TO THE LINEUP FOR SO FRENCHY SO CHIC There's nothing like a good soundtrack to get you in a particular mood, so cue up some French vibes by the stellar artists taking the stage at the upcoming So Frenchy So Chic festival in Melbourne and Sydney. Say hello to disco-electronica queen Corine, who channels the glamour artists of the Parisian nightclub scene of the 70s and 80s with an erotic spin that is all her own; bow down to French pop royalty Lou Doillon (the daughter of actor Jane Birkin and director Jacques Doillon) and her 2019 album Soliloquy; celebrate new wave cover band Nouvelle Vague's 15th year as a group; and fall in love with the soulful voice of Senegal-born French troubadour Tété. [caption id="attachment_753163" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr/Erin Stevenson O'Connor[/caption] CHALLENGE YOUR MATES TO A GAME OF PETANQUE Make the most of a warm summer day with a little friendly competition and embrace petanque like you're holidaying in Provence. If you're wondering what the difference is between petanque and other boules games like bocce, it's all in the name. Derived from an old expression, pes tancats, meaning 'feet planted' — petanque is for the truly lazy, as you keep your feet firmly on the ground. The St Kilda Petanque Club welcomes curious visitors at its weekly social gathering on Fridays at 5pm. In Sydney, the Boules Artistes Petanque Club hosts weekly social games in Kirribilli and Coogee, while the Brisbane Petanque Club welcomes novices at Kalinga Park. Or you can borrow Nan's boules set and hit the local park or beach and make it up as you go along. [caption id="attachment_526669" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Incu[/caption] PICK UP A MAISON BALZAC CANDLE FOR A SENSORY THROWBACK French-born and Sydney-based Elise Pioch had the right idea when she created Maison Balzac — she wanted to develop a product that would take her right back to her childhood. Short of creating a time machine, she achieved that goal with her range of candles, or "signature objects that evoke olfactory memories or experiences". You can pick up one of her luxurious candles — with scents inspired by mornings in the Mediterranean, long summer days on the beach, roses from Pioch's grandmother's garden and spiritual havens in the villages of France — from Incu in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. MAKE YOURSELF A LE GRAND FIZZ To really make it feel like you're on holiday, you need a cocktail. Level up your beverage game with something ice cold with a refreshing taste, and just a little more sophisticated than your usual savvy b. Thankfully, you don't need to go out and buy a full bartending kit and a heap of ingredients. All you need for the Le Grand Fizz (find the recipe, and others, here) is Grey Goose vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh limes and soda water. [caption id="attachment_751776" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Felix[/caption] TREAT YOURSELF TO A NIGHT OUT AT A FRENCH RESTAURANT Relive (or imagine) long afternoons that stretch into evenings, sipping wine and luxuriating over supper at a French bistro. There are plenty of spots around Australia serving authentic French food with all the trimmings — perfect for living like a Parisian on a night out this summer. Enjoy yellowfin tuna crudo at Felix or steak frites at Kittyhawk in Sydney, have oysters on the terrace at Entrecote or beetroot gazpacho Philippe in Melbourne, and sample the saucisson brioche at Montrachet or mille-feuille aux escargots at La Cache a Vin in Brisbane. Upgrade your summer by choosing premium vodka Grey Goose. Each bottle is distilled in France, and the high quality vodka has a 100-percent traceable production process, from crop to cork.
It might've hit our streaming queues way back in mid-2019, but we all remember how Stranger Things wrapped up its third season. Change swept through the 80s-set Netflix sci-fi series in a big way — seeing multiple characters head out town and venture towards several destinations will do that — leaving us all wondering how things will play out in season four. In 2022, we'll finally find out after a hefty delay due to the pandemic. And to help fill the gap, Netflix has dropped another teaser trailer that offers a glimpse of what's to come. Yes, another one. This time around, the brief clip heads to California, which is where Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, Godzilla vs Kong), Joyce (Winona Ryder, The Plot Against America), Will (Noah Schnapp, Waiting for Anya) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton, The New Mutants) have washed up. Eleven is settling in as well as she can settle in anywhere, as she explains in a letter to Mike (Finn Wolfhard, The Goldfinch) — but she also can't wait until she can see him in person again. It's the latest Stranger Things season four trailer in a long line of them, starting back in February 2020. Since then, a couple more teasers dropped in May this year, then another one back in August, followed by yet another in September. So, we've now caught a glimpse of what happens to beloved police chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour, Black Widow) after season three's big cliffhanger and Russian-set post-script, and spent time with Steve (Joe Keery, Spree), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo, The Angry Birds Movie 2), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin, Concrete Cowboy) and Max's (Sadie Sink, The Last Castle) in a haunted house in Hawkins. We've also headed back to Hawkins Laboratory and its whole eerie setup and, now, seen a new Californian future as well. Of course, it's worth remembering that when Netflix announced the show's renewal for a fourth season back in 2019, it did so with the catchphrase "we're not in Hawkins anymore". That clearly applies in a number of different ways. If you're wishing it was 2022 already, you're not alone. Check out the latest Stranger Things season four sneak peek below: Stranger Things season four will be able to stream via Netflix sometime in 2022 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced.
Melbourne is fond of a good light show, particularly when the temperatures drop and the nights start to get a little darker. Here to add to the city's illuminated winter calendar is newly-announced Rialto Aglow. The free, after-dark lights festival will take over the Rialto Piazza, nestled in an intersection of Collins, Flinders and King Streets in the CBD. Head down from 5pm between 19 July–29 July to see the public precinct transformed with interactive light installations, large-scale projection artwork and appropriately themed food and bevvies. Highlights include Amigo & Amigo studio's Accordion, comprised of six interactive, oversized archways inspired by the instrument of the same. The same studio will pay tribute to the cycles of the moon with Lunar Lamp Posts, a brand-new large-scale installation with over 40 different sounds and illuminated animations. Beloved Melbourne-based neon light artist Carla O'Brien, whose previous works appeared at Burning Man and White Night, will also pop-up throughout the ten-day festival. Rialto Aglow will host works including Neon Play The Music, a fun and playful live instrument installation, and Double Rainbow Love Heart Archway, set to be an irresistible social media snapping opportunity. The Rialto Aglow Winter Lights Festival is part of the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund, granting funding for after-dark activities to all to give the night-time economy a hefty boost. [caption id="attachment_897494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Amigo & Amigo's Affinity at Illuminate Adelaide[/caption]
The minds behind one of Melbourne's best-known rum festivals, I Hart Rum, are back for another boozy tasting party at Whitehart — only this time around, they're swapping sugarcane for the humble agave plant. And they're digging in deep. Across two sessions on Sunday, October 30 (12pm and 4pm), I Hart Agave will see the container bar transformed into a temple to tequila, mezcal and sotol, where you'll get to sample pours from more than 20 different local and international brands. Sip your way through both levels of the festival, then settle in with a few of the day's discounted agave cocktails, or drop by the dedicated frozen margarita bar. For those keen to learn more, there's a program of expert-led masterclasses and seminars, plus a Q&A panel where you can unpack any burning agave-related questions. As always, Whitehart will be dishing up DJ tunes, projections and a roster of food trucks. And if you taste something you love? Hit the pop-up takeaway bottle shop to stock up your home agave collection.
Melbourne's northern suburbs are set to ring in the New Year with an exciting new food and entertainment hub, as part of Westfield Plenty Valley's $80 million revamp. The Mill Park development – which is slated to launch in early 2018 – will pull together a juicy lineup of restaurants and eateries, including North Sydney's acclaimed Italian Street Kitchen making its Victorian debut. The vibrant Italian spot has become a firm favourite north of the border, renowned for its authentic eats and warm, Euro-style hospitality. It'll find itself in good companyt here, joined by the likes of Martini & Co, ENA Greek Food, Fukutontei Raman, Cielo Gelateria, Dosa Hut and that childhood classic, The Pancake Parlour. To complement the dining offering, the precinct will feature a mix of indoor and openair spaces, with a sprawling central lawn designed for year-round use. There'll also be a state-of-the-art Village Cinemas complex, complete with Gold Class, Vpremium, Vmax and Vjunior theatres. Westfield Plenty Valley's new dining and entertainment precinct will open early 2018, at 415 McDonalds Rd, Mill Park.
Put down your Kit Kat, for we’ve just discovered a break that's even better than snappable chocolate-covered wafers: smashing stuff. To be more specific, we mean smashing stuff with a baseball bat — and it's a legitimate, all above-board activity at new Brunswick pop-up, The Break Room. Currently housed in the back of Hope Street's new shoe warehouse-turned-espresso bar Kines, an appointment at The Break Room is a five-minute, sweaty task that puts you behind thick, plastic walls, wields you with a pink baseball bat and some protective headgear and lets you go to town on some very satisfyingly smashable items. For the moment, they’re using plates and glasses as collateral. But if anyone can produce it, our ‘ultimate smashable’ would be a ceramic Matryoshka filled with glitter. The Break Room was born in a moment of frustration (and through the efficacy of podcasts) by founder Ed Hunter, after he realised that everybody wants to blow off steam in their own way. And while some might prefer to hit the gym, Hunter is inviting you to hit some crockery off a stool instead. Speaking of the stools, notches of pink residue from the so-coloured bats have been passionately left on them; reminders that other members of the baseball bat cathartic club (do I hear badges?) have bashed their way to sanity before you. For anyone studying their swatch patterns, the pink is Baker-Miller, and has been used in correctional facilities across America to help calm violent inmates. Yet Hunter heeds that The Break Room’s goal isn’t violence, but rather to reduce stress and harness those destructive tendencies in a controlled and fun way. A video posted by The Break Room (@thebreakroom) on Feb 10, 2016 at 8:46pm PST At $50 to smash your way to calmness for five minutes, this emotional outlet may seem a bit on the spenny side, but the beauty is in the fact that you’re not breaking your own stuff — and some other guy will be picking up the pieces after you. These pieces are, in fact, added to the pile that hides further out back, where both shattered crockery and snapped pink swords from liberated brethren lay, which is a good indicator that the allocated time is probably ample. So wait until the shutters go down, don your best Joaquin Phoenix impersonation and swing away at those inner aliens of yours by taking your aggression out in some organised chaos. The Break Room is currently located at Kines, 11 Hope Street, Brunswick, and is open every day from 3pm every day. For more information, visit thebreakroom.com.au.
Whether TLC is singing about chasing waterfalls, Backstreet Boys are reminding us that they're back, Elton John is saying farewell again or Billy Joel is saying that it's still rock 'n' roll to him, Australia and Aotearoa's music venues are frequently alive with the sounds of nostalgia. Going retro is big touring business of late, and it's hip hop and R&B festival Juicy Fest's whole angle — with T-Pain, Ashanti and The Game on the bill for its just-announced 2024 events. Expect to hear auto-tune aplenty when the 'Buy U a Drank', 'I'm Sprung' and 'Can't Believe It' rapper hits the stage, performing tracks from a career that's also included featured appearances on Flo-Rida's 'Low', Akon's 'I Can't Wait', The Lonely Island's 'I'm on a Boat' and Snoop Dogg's 'Boom'. If it seems like a while since he's been our way, it has: this will be his first time in Australia in more than a decade, too. When Juicy Fest kicks off its January 2024 season in Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland, then heads across the ditch to Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast, it'll see Ashanti return Down Under after appearing on 2022's Fridayz Live tour in Australia and Friday Jams tour in New Zealand. As for The Game, who came to fame in the 00s in the West Coast scene, he was meant to tour Down Under in March 2023, but was replaced by AB Original. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are also on the bill, as are T.I., Trey Songz, Fabolous, Mario and Keri Hilson. And, there's still one headliner to be announced down the line. Juicy Fest's 2024 run will mark its second, after debuting in January 2023 and attracting more than 100,000 attendees. The event has only announced a specific venue so far for the Gold Coast, hitting up Doug Jennings Park, with further details to come. JUICY FEST 2024 DATES: Wednesday, January 3 — Venue TBC, Christchurch Friday, January 5 — Venue TBC, Wellington Saturday, January 6 — Venue TBC, Tauranga Sunday, January 7 — Venue TBC, Auckland Friday, January 12 — Venue TBC, Melbourne Saturday, January 13 — Venue TBC, Sydney Sunday, January 14 — Venue TBC, Perth Friday, January 19 — Venue TBC, Adelaide Saturday, January 20 — Doug Jennings Park, Gold Coast JUICY FEST 2024 LINEUP: T-Pain T.I. Ashanti The Game Trey Songz Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Fabolous Mario Keri Hilson Juicy Fest will tour Australia and New Zealand in January 2024, with tickets on sale from Wednesday, April 26. Head to the festival's website to register for pre-sale access.
Nestled among the Coast Mountains, Whistler is a magical township located a couple of hours' drive north of Vancouver, Canada. The snow-laden village is best known for the mighty Whistler Blackcomb, which is by far and away the biggest ski resort in North America, made up of two majestic peaks joined by the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, the highest and longest cablecar of its kind in the world. Should you be planning a trip to this wintry wonderland, you'd be remiss not to involve some outdoorsy adventures, including a few days' skiing or boarding some of the world's most beautiful runs. Beyond carving and shredding your way down Whistler's mountains, however, there are bucket loads of other escapades to be had, from dog sledding in the stunning old growth forest of the Callaghan Valley and snowshoeing around ghost towns to ice skating on frozen lakes and ice fishing in secret water holes. There's plenty of adventure to be had in Whistler, so start planning your trip with our guide to the village's best outdoor winter activities. [caption id="attachment_630393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Whistler/Eric Berger.[/caption] SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING WHISTLER BLACKCOMB At Whistler Blackcomb, you'll find 200 official runs, which means you can ski for days without covering the same ground twice. Plus, with over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain, Whistler and Blackcomb mountains offer something for every level and style of skier and rider. If you're a beginner, you're in luck, as 35% of Whistler Blackcomb's trails (covering almost 3,000 acres) have your name on them — the most beautiful being Burnt Stew Trail in the Symphony Zone on Whistler Mountain, which winds gently through open bowls and alpine forest. For intermediate skiers, 7th Heaven offers a suitably challenging terrain, with loads of trees and stunning panoramas. And if you're an expert on the slopes, then head to Couloir Extreme, rated as one of the planet's most terrifying (and thrilling) runs. There's also plenty of terrain accessible from the Peak Chair at the top of Whistler. Something to mention about skiing at Whistler Blackcomb is that the pedestrian-only Whistler Village is nestled right at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb, meaning runs feed right into the village centre off both mountains. The transition from shredding and carving to après-ski is a total breeze — especially with the many après joints loved by visitors and locals alike. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Lost Lake doesn't just sound like something out of a C.S. Lewis novel, it looks like it, too. You'll find this magical spot 15 minutes' walk from Whistler Village, so when you feel like a break from downhill thrills, and are ready to move at a slower, more exploratory pace, take a cross-country glide. If you're after some exploration further afield from Whistler Village, then head to the extensive cross-country skiing trails out in the Callaghan Valley. The area offers picturesque, natural surrounds, and the Ski Callaghan Nordic centre is just a short shuttle ride from the heart of Whistler. [caption id="attachment_629729" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Whistler/JustaJeskova.[/caption] WALKING THE VALLEY TRAIL You might think of hiking as more of a summer sport, but the Valley Trail makes trekking through Whistler's natural surrounds possible all year round. This 40-kilometre network dedicated to walkers is paved, cleared of snow, car-free and provides a connection between the area's many villages, lakes and parks. How you go about experiencing it is your call. With plenty of walks to choose from, you can take in many amazing mountain vistas, discover a forest of giant cedars and even check out a few local craft breweries on the way. [caption id="attachment_630888" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Scandinave Spa.[/caption] SOAKING IN STEAMY OUTDOOR HOT POOLS After a day in subzero temperatures, there's no better way to wind down than with a dip in a hot pool. On the periphery of Whistler's Lost Lake Park forest, nestled among spruce and cedar trees, you'll find Scandinave Spa. Here you can hang out in a eucalyptus steam bath and Finnish sauna before plunging into a Nordic waterfall, then recovering in Hammock Haven. Any iciness left in your bones from a day in the snow will surely melt away. The spa also offers massages, plus has a cafe onsite just in case you need a little pick me up. WINTER ZIP LINING Yep, flying through the air at 100 kilometres per hour, 200 metres above the ground, in sub-zero temperatures is absolutely doable in Whistler; in fact, there's a stack of zip line tours to choose from. Go with Superfly, and you'll catch a 4WD up Rainbow Mountain, before taking off on a 1.3-kilometre long ride that spans deep valleys and old growth forests. Look to Ziptrek for several options, categorised according to adrenaline hit. For newbies, there's the Bear Tour, which covers five zip lines joined by treetop bridges, while hardened thrill seekers have the Mammoth Tour, which takes in ten zip lines, suspension bridges, boardwalks and trails. ICE CLIMBING BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN Whether you're new to ice climbing or quite accustomed to hanging off of a glacier, suspended by just an axe, there's a frozen vertical trek for you in Whistler. Novices get an introduction to climbing techniques and a safety pep talk before starting, while the more experienced are able to choose from a variety of routes, according to their ability. Both multi-pitch and multi-day tours are available, plus, at Blackcomb you can begin with a lift ride, conquer a couple hours of ice climbing, then ski back to base. Tour companies include Mountain Skills Academy and Coast Mountain Guides. DOG SLEDDING SNOWY TERRAINS If you're keen to explore, but don't want to do all the work yourself, enlist a pack of huskies and a sled, then kick back like a Snow Queen and relax. Canadians have been getting around this way for more than four thousand years now, and there are a few tour operators that'll show you how, including Canadian Wilderness Adventures and Blackcomb Dogsled. Both will take you on a journey into Callaghan Valley, a wonderland of old growth forest and lakes just fifteen minutes south of Whistler. If the surrounds look familiar, that's probably because you saw them during the 2010 Winter Olympics. [caption id="attachment_631261" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pemberton Fish Finder.[/caption] ICE FISHING You haven't tasted fish until you've tasted it straight from the ice. On a Whistler ice fishing tour, your guide will pick you up, drive you to a remote alpine lake, frozen river or secret water hole, and take you through the tricky process of nabbing a bite. There'll be plenty of sitting about and admiring the scenery to be done, which also gives you a good chunk of time to learn more about the millennia-old art of ice fishing and how to improve your skills. Tours usually include transport and gear. [caption id="attachment_631259" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Whistler/Mike Crane.[/caption] ICE SKATING Smack bang in the middle of Whistler Village is a free, outdoor ice skating rink. All you need are your skates or six bucks to hire a pair — and if you're a beginner, maybe a push bar (or a friend's hand) to help you along. For a more exotic experience, head to a skate-able local lake, and maybe even pick up a game of hockey. Popular options are Alta Lake, with one square kilometre of ice to glide across, backdropped by mountain views, and to the north, the larger Green Lake at double the size of Alta. Lake ice skating runs informally only, so you'll need to take care safety-wise and bring your own pair of skates. Plan an adventure into the great Canadian outdoors and discover all Whistler has to offer here. Lead image: Tourism Whistler/David McColm.
If you're itching to head off on a long-awaited, well-deserved overseas getaway once Australia's borders reopen to international travel, then getting vaccinated is likely part of your pre-travel plans. And, once you get both of your jabs, you'll be eligible to receive an extra bonus to put towards your next holiday thanks to Australian airline Qantas. Via its newly launched 'Been vaccinated? Be rewarded' vaccination incentives initiative, the Aussie carrier is handing out flight discounts, frequent flyer points and status points to Australians who've been fully vaxxed. Everyone over the age of 18 who has received both jabs can score their choice of one of the three rewards — as long as you're a member of Qantas' frequent flyer program. You can pick between a $20 flight discount for a Qantas or Jetstar flight, 1000 Qantas points or 15 status credits (which you need to move up tiers in the airline's frequent flyer scheme). If you've already had both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and you're a member of the carrier's frequent flyer program, you can hit up the Qantas app from 8am on Tuesday, August 24 to claim your reward. Otherwise, once you've had both jabs — with Australia's vaccination rollout opening up to Aussies aged between 16–39 from Monday, August 30 — you can then do the same. Qantas frequent flyer membership is free, too, if you're not yet onboard. Also up for grabs: a year of flights, accommodation and fuel, worth around $85,450, which'll be given to eight people — one from each state and territory. To have your travel covered for a year, you'll need to win the prize draw. But, as soon as you hop onto the Qantas app to claim your other reward, you'll automatically be put in the running for the big giveaway, which'll let you jet between any destination that Qantas and Jetstar fly to and from once borders begin to reopen. Keen to nab a flight voucher, some points or credits? And to give yourself the chance to win a year of free flights, accommodation and fuel? You can claim away until Friday, December 31 — with just one claim per person, obviously — and then the mega prize winners will be announced in January 2022. Also, if you're wondering how you'll verify that you've been vaxxed in order to nab your Qantas reward, you'll need to use the Medicare app to access and upload your COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate before you're able to select your chosen option. The airline will then delete the certificate information once you've been through that verification step. Announcing the scheme, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said that "getting vaccinated is an important step that every Australian can take that brings us that little bit closer to life as we knew it. As the national carrier, we want to recognise those who have made the effort to protect themselves and the community." Virgin Australia has also announced that it'll be launching a new competition called VA-X & Win, which will hand out millions of Velocity Frequent Flyer Points and dozens of free flights to Aussie who've had the jab — and make one person a Velocity Points millionaire, with the lucky winner then able to put those points to plenty of use. It hasn't opened the campaign yet, or announced how you'll prove you're eligible, how to enter and exactly what prizes will be on offer, as it has opted not to do so until COVID-19 vaccines are made available to all Australian adults. If you're eager to look for vaccination clinics — to get vaxxed now, or to plan ahead for when you can get the jab — you can check out a handy online map that collates vaccination hub, clinic and GP locations. It covers all Australian states and territories, including New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. To redeem your reward from Qantas' 'Been vaccinated? Be rewarded' vaccination incentives campaign, head to the Qantas app from 8am on Tuesday, August 24. For further details about the initiative, head to the airline's website. Top image: Brent Winstone.
As technology and art continue to collide in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways, a new smartphone app called Smartify is out to make sharing and discovering art a whole lot easier. Working similarly to how Shazam identifies music, Smartify can be used to identify art — simply hold the app up in front of an artwork to discover its name, tap into a wealth of extra information about the piece and even access audio commentary. With this in your hand, there'll be no more battling the gallery crowds for a peek at that tiny wall plaque. Users can also save favourite artworks to their Smartify profile, creating a mini art gallery within their smartphone. The app was founded by a group of four UK friends who were keen to add another dimension to the art experience beyond simply looking at pictures on a gallery wall. To bring this to life while still protecting artist copyright, they've teamed up with museum and gallery partners around the world, who help generate and direct Smartify's content. The app's currently live at famed destinations like The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, London's National Portrait Gallery and the Museo San Donato in Italy, with lots more to come. Venues are encouraged to get on board here — let's hope some local additions are just around the corner.
Trips between Melbourne and Geelong could soon be a whole lot faster — and way less crowded — with the Victorian Government announcing it's kicked off work on a high-speed train between the two cities. It's revealed that planning work and technical investigations on the proposed rail project are set to launch soon, with the infrastructure promised $50 million out of the next Victorian Budget. Currently, the government's looking into a host of different options for the proposed line, including electrification along the existing rail corridor and brand new high-speed rail infrastructure. Also on the cards is a new fleet of trains, which run at speeds between 250 and 300 kilometres per hour. By comparison, the current V/Line Vlocity trains run at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour. It's hoped that the rail will be able to link to airport, via a new Melbourne Airport Link also proposed in the budget. "This vital work will help determine the best way to deliver high-speed rail to Geelong as part of the Melbourne Airport Link," explained Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan. The former Melbourne Metro Rail Authority will now become Rail Projects Victoria, and will oversee this proposed Geelong rail link, as well as both the Metro Tunnel and the $1.7 billion Regional Rail Revival project.
Designated drivers have been doing it for decades, but abstaining from a boozy beverage is no longer just for whoever agrees to ferry everyone home from the pub. And yet, heading out without hitting the drink isn't always easy. We're not talking about willpower — rather, we're referring to the paltry range of drinks usually on offer. Just because you're not keen on the hard stuff that night, for a short spell or even for good, that doesn't mean that you only want to down soft drink, sparkling water or juice. For years, they've been the main options if you're not hitting the sauce, but thankfully the booze-free scene is growing. Melbourne has its own alcohol-free bar, plenty of non-alcoholic options have been popping up in bottle shops — beers, spirits and wines alike — and now one big national hospitality chain is launching a sizeable new zero-proof menu. At 57 of its venues around the country from Thursday, July 1, Australian Venue Co will start serving its zero-proof lineup. Yes, the menu's launch is timed to start Dry July, but this range of non-boozy beverages is also here to stay. So, next time you don't feel like alcohol — or a hangover the next day — you can opt for low- and no-alcohol beers from Heineken, Heaps Normal and Nort; McGuigan's zero sparkling, rose, sauvignon blanc and shiraz; both Seedlip and Lyre's spirit range; and a number of non-booze versions of popular cocktails. AVC's espresso martino, nogroni, Amalfi spritz, berry tiki, dark and spicy, and smooth operator tipples all use Lyre's range instead of hard spirits, but don't skimp on the taste. If you're now keen to say cheers to a booze-free tipple next time you're at the pub, you'll have a few places to head, depending on where you live. In New South Wales, Bungalow 8, Cargo Bar, Kingsleys, The Rook and The Winery are among the places pouring the new menu — while The Duke, Imperial Bourke Street, Hopscotch, Harlow, Sarah Sands Hotel, The Smith and Fargo and Co are just some of the spots doing the honours in Victoria. Queenslanders, you can now add The Jindalee Hotel, Cleveland Sands, Bribie Island Hotel, Redcliffe Tavern and Brighton Hotel to your list. In South Australia, Parkside, Brighton Metro and Payneham Tavern beckon — and in Western Australia, choices include Wolf Lane, The Guildford Hotel, The Aviary and Sweetwater. These are just some of the venues that'll serve the zero-proof menu in each state, too. Yes, when it comes to drinking without the headache, you've now got options on multiple levels. Australian Venue Co's zero-proof drinks list will launch on Thursday, July 1. For further details, head to the hospitality chain's website.
Simple, local, and sustainable. That's the name of the game at this excellent Little Ryrie Street spot. The kitchen's ingredients are sourced as widely as possible from local farms — through sustainability and education, Little Green Corner wants to promote the idea that creating tasty, hearty food can still be kind to the planet. Some of the cafe's food waste, for example, goes straight to the chickens who produce the eggs. The produce-driven menu ensures that it's an ever-evolving one, but an excellent meal is all but guaranteed whenever you come. Little Green Corner is also behind The Good Meal Project, which was set up to further the mission of showcasing local produce, while also allowing customers to pay a meal forward to a family in need. The cafe also offers a range of regular workshops — upcoming sessions include salami making and guided mushroom foraging. Images: Julia Sansone
American company Momix describe themselves as "dance illusionists". What exactly does that mean? You can find out when they perform Botanica at the Arts Centre. The show, which first played in New York in 2009, is a stylised ode to nature, a trip through the four seasons represented by a series of visual set pieces crafted using movement performance, elaborate props, lush costumery, puppetry, projection and shadow theatre. Expect lots of billowing silk, abstract dance and New Age musical stylings, the emphasis heavily on spectacle. While critics in America have criticised Botanica for not turning any new ground for the company, Momix haven't toured to Melbourne since 2003 (Opus Cactus) so their signature style is likely still fresh for local audiences. At the very least, a stage full of dancers in giant flower costumes might serve to remind us poor winter-stricken Melburnians what spring feels like.
Anyone who lives in a teeny, tiny apartment will love this one. The 1900s-invented wall-folding bed (or 'Murphy bed') isn't new by any means — Charlie Chaplin fought one in the the 1916 comedy short, One A.M. and James Bond was surprised by assassins in one to open 1967's You Only Live Twice — but Latvia-based Boxetti designer Rolands Landsbergs has taken the old space-saving trick to a new slick level. Landsbergs' 'Bedroom in a Box' is the most compact, Fifth Element-looking design we've seen in Murphy beds yet — primarily because it's not just the bed that shuts away, it's the whole room. Containing all the elements of a regular bedroom, 'Bedroom in a Box' contains your bed, bedside table, reading spotlight, headboard ambience lighting, wardrobe space and bookshelf, all in one origami-like, wall-mountable rectangle. But why fold away just your bedroom? Landsbergs has developed a whole series of modules to make your whole home able to pack away, from the kitchen to the lounge room. So if you're living in a claustrophobic loft, awkwardly small sharehouse or just want more floor space for at-home yoga/YouTube dance lessons/fisticuffs with Corben Dallas, there's a setup for you. Via Inhabitat.
All the talented people you follow online are about to jump straight out of Tumblr and into the real world, the Independent Photography Festival is back for another year. Co-ordinated by the local legends from Hard Workers Club, Smalltime Projects and The Good Copy Shop, this unique love-in will be hosted in Melbourne's best small galleries, shops and bars. Featuring seven solo exhibitions, a zine fair and a few cheeky soirees, this little gem of a festival is the best place to discover the amazing art that's right on your doorstep. This year, the festival hub will once again be at The Good Copy shop on Johnston Street. Here you can bunker down in a hands-on collage workshop with Minna Gilligan or survey the spoils of the annual zine fair. For individual exhibitions you'll have to cruise through a selection of galleries in the city and inner north, but to get you started we suggest heading along to Opening Night at Strange Neighbour. With submissions from the 2014 IPF Photo Prize plastered all over the walls, it'll be the perfect transition for those still pining for their Tumblr dashboard. See the full Independent Photography Festival program here. Photo: Ben Clement.
Gin has come a long way in the past few years. No longer confined to your gran's dusty antique liquor cabinet, this refreshing and versatile nectar has shaken off the cobwebs by quickly becoming a staple component of any summertime drinking sesh. G&Ts have officially replaced vodka sodas as your beachfront drink of choice, and now Bombay Sapphire are taking things one step further. This summer they'll be opening a dedicated gin bar in North Melbourne. From November 19 until December 6, Bombay are treating us to a world of ginny bliss in the form of Project Botanicals. Pioneering the alluring idea of 'ginstronomy', this idyllic little hideaway will be serving up a curated menu of 10 dishes from Masterchef's Gary Mehigan paired with 10 unique cocktails from brand ambassador and certified gin master Raj Nagra. Taking inspiration from the aromatic depth of Bombay Sapphire, each pairing will be inspired by a botanical extract from the gin itself. Lemon will be utilised in a citrusy twist of a classic Tom Collins paired with cured kingfish, and coriander will be replacing the usual mint in a gin-based version of the Moscow Mule, paired with Vietnamese rolls and yellowfin tuna. It's safe to say, it's time to venture beyond the classic G&T. Project Botanicals will be open every Wednesday-Sunday evening at 64 Sutton Street, North Melbourne. For just $35 per person, you'll be treated to two cocktails and matching tapas style dishes. Book your tickets here or, if you fancy some free tickets, we're giving away two double passes. Shoot your details through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au to be in the draw.
To celebrate an incredible 40 years on the air, beloved broadcaster and your best friend on a road trip Triple J will host a big one-off party in The Domain as part of next year's Sydney Festival. Taking place on January 15, Beat the Drum will feature The Presets, Hilltop Hoods, The Cat Empire and Vance Joy among others. No worries if you won't be in Sydney. The whole thing will be broadcast live on Triple J. The lineup, which hasn't yet been fully released, will be full of high-rotation Australian tunes. As well as the above artists, Beat the Drum will feature You Am I, Ball Park Music, The Preatues, Adalita, Courtney Barnett, Remi, Owl Eyes, Tkay Maidza, as well as Alister Wright and Heidi Lenfeer of Cloud Control. As always, Nina Las Vegas will also be on the decks. It seems appropriate that this celebration be announced this week, following all the nostalgia that came with the death of the legendary Gough Whitlam. Establishing the station (then called Double J) in 1975, Whitlam is the reason Triple J exists at all. As Faster Louder wrote following the news of Whitlam's death, he also "introduced FM radio to Australia in 1974, established local content quotas for commercial broadcasters and created independent arts funding body the Australia Council for the Arts." This legacy continues today. On the 40th anniversary of this excellent institution, Beat the Drum will not only feature an all-Australian lineup, it will also be beaming out some covers of iconic Triple J hits. Prepare to take a stroll through the history books of the Hottest 100. The lineup so far: Hilltop Hoods The Presets The Cat Empire You Am I Vance Joy Ball Park Music The Preatures Nina Las Vegas KLP (DJ Set) Adalita Courtney Barnett Remi Owl Eyes Tkay Maidza Alister Wright and Heidi Lenffer (Cloud Control) Beat the Drum will take place 4pm-11pm on Friday, January 16, 2014 at The Domain, Sydney. Tickets go on sale Monday, October 27 via Sydney Festival. Via FasterLouder.
As anyone who has booked a flight, had to suddenly change their trip and been stuck paying handsomely knows, travel and flexibility haven't always gone hand in hand. But with the entire idea of making firm and definite plans undergoing quite the shift in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Virgin Australia is responding to this uncertain period by scrapping its change fees until next year. Make a reservation to travel between now and January 31, 2021 and, if life gets in your way and you need to rearrange your trip, you'll be able to make unlimited changes to your booking without being charged extra. It's worth noting, however, that this only applies to the usual change fee — that is, the amount travellers can be slugged with just for the act of altering their itinerary. If changing your flights involves a difference in fare, you will still have to pay any shortfall amount. The idea, unsurprisingly, is to encourage Australians to get booking — even knowing that little is certain when it comes to leaving the house, interstate borders or just life in general in these coronavirus-afflicted times. Virgin is calling the move its 'Passenger Promise', which spans a number of other measures designed to make travellers feel safer and more confident about taking to the skies. Also included: contactless check-in, pre-flight health screening questionnaires for all travellers when checking in, staggered boarding as part of social-distancing measures, distancing between passengers onboard where possible and minimising movement during the flight. Passengers will also receive free face masks and hand sanitiser kits, and be asked to scan their own boarding passes to limit their contact with crew, while increased cleaning protocols are also in place. To find out more about Virgin Australia's new change fee policy, visit the airline's website.
Melburnians generally love to try new cuisines. We have a long history of warmly embracing flavours and cooking styles from all over the world, which has led to the creation of our vibrant multicultural food scene — something we are a bit smug about. But plenty of cuisines haven't made it to the mainstream over here. One of them being Chifa — a fusion of Peruvian and Cantonese cuisines. Thankfully, hospo veterans Vincent Lombino and Jared Thibault (Lona Misa and QT's Rooftop) are now changing that with their new Peruvian-Chinese restaurant and bar, Casa Chino. They already brought Chifa food to Brisbane in 2022 with Casa Chow — we're a bit gutted that Brissie beat us to this one — and the success of this spot has led them to create a similar version down in our fine city. Sharing plates are the name of the game here, with diners expected to order a heap of small and large dishes to fight over. Kick off with baos, raw dishes, skewers and dim sum treats before diving into the bigger wok-cooked plates. In just about every dish, you'll find a blend of both Chinese and Peruvian traditions. We also see quite a few Japanese influences throughout the menu. Check out how these cuisines combine in the tempura fish bao bun with aji amarillo peppers and fresh lime; the crab and prawn toast served with creamy rocoto, tobiko and bonito; and the lap cheong pipis with garlic chives, ginger and chipotle. Big and bold flavours are on show all over this menu. We don't expect that you'll be reaching for the salt or chilli when dining at Casa Chino. Drinks-wise, you can't miss the pisco. The team has a 20-strong list of piscos behind the bar, five different pisco sours and a plum and pisco negroni. Beyond that, there's a heap of signature cocktails that champion both Peruvian and Chinese flavours, plus a solid collection of beers, wines and other spirits. Either drop by for some cocktails and snacks or stick around for a Chifa feast at this new Brunswick haunt. You'll find Casa Chino at 212-214 Albion Street, Brunswick, open 5pm–late on Wednesday and Thursday and 12pm–late on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit the venue's website. Images: Parker Blain.
At last, the air is starting to thaw and the clouds are starting to part. Winter has come and gone again, and it's time to enjoy that spring has, in fact, sprung. This October, Melbourne Quarter is playing host to a seasonal celebration to help you shake off the winter blues and spring into the coming months. For an entire week, the new neighbourhood along Collins Street will be playing host to celebrations of art and culture. From Monday, October 10, Scottish Melbourne-based illustrator and muralist Lynn Bremner will be creating a vibrant art mural in Gunpowder Walk. And on Wednesday, October 12, the lobby of One Melbourne Quarter will transform into a high-end runway that will showcase new pieces from the spring collection of sustainable First Nations label Ngali. [caption id="attachment_870871" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ngali Australia[/caption] Visitors will also be able to contribute to a floral installation. Simply look for a Melbourne Quarter representative handing out flowers to help add a touch of spring to the laneway, and score a voucher to use at participating Melbourne Quarter retailers for your efforts. And you can say goodbye to any midweek blues on October 12 and 13, when you can stop by the precinct during lunch to soak up live and local tunes and sit back on a bean bag as you chow down on a delicious meal from one of the nearby eateries. Melbourne Quarter's spring celebrations take place from Monday, October 10 to Friday, October 14. Entry is free and spaces for the fashion show are limited. The program is subject to change with weather conditions. For more details, head to the website.
It's cold. It's rainy. It's windy. It's Melbourne in winter and, as much as we complain about it, we've just got to rug up and deal with it until spring hits. But while you're waiting for that first whiff of September air and the slew of warm-weather music fests to roll in, we've got a few festivals that will get you out of the house and occupied until the winter chill dissipates.
Gelato Messina first introduced its cookie pies to the world in 2020, and tastebuds across Australia thanked them. Then, it kept bringing the OTT dessert back when we all needed an extra dose of sweetness across the year. Those cravings haven't subsided, especially as lockdowns have kept popping up, so the dessert fiends have been serving up its special creations for well over a year now. Messina celebrated that 12-month milestone back in April; however, it isn't done with cookie pies yet. Here's hoping that it never will be, because the dessert chain just keeps finding ways to level up these mouthwatering creations. The latest example: the cone-ception cookie pie. If you like cookie pies and you like the waffle cones that Messina's gelato usually comes scooped in, you're in luck. This new limited-edition — and characteristically OTT — dessert combines milk and dark choc chips, caramel custard and waffle cone spread all in one bake-at-home cookie pie. Hang on, a cookie pie? If you're not familiar with the concept yet, it's a pie — obviously — but it's made of cookie dough. And it serves two–six people — or just you. You bake it yourself, too, so you get to enjoy that oh-so-amazing smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen. This time, you'll enjoy the scent of ice cream cones as well. What's waffle cone spread? It's what Messina makes when it blends a heap of waffle cones into a smooth paste. That's what's stuffed inside the cone-ception cookie pie, and a crumble made of waffle cones is also sprinkled on top. The new pies will be available for preorder on Monday, August 9, so that's your chance to get yourself a piece of the pie. This time, because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand is staggering the on-sale times — with folks in Queensland and the ACT able to purchase at 9am, Victorians at 10am, and New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (with pies from Circular Quay, Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick and Miranda on sale at 11am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 12pm; and Darling Square, Newtown, Rosebery and Penrith at 1pm). You can only buy this pie in kits, which means that you'll get some of the cult ice creamery's famed gelato along with it. You can opt for a 500-millilitre tub for $38, a one-litre tub for $44 or a 1.5-litre tub for $48. The catch? You'll have to peel yourself off the couch and head to your local Messina store to pick up your order. They'll be available for collection between Friday, August 13–Sunday, August 15. Sydneysiders, remember to abide by lockdown restrictions when it comes to picking up your pie — with a ten-kilometre limit in place for picking up food in most lockdown areas, and a five-kilometre limit in place in Local Government Areas of concern. Folks in southeast Queensland, if lockdown is extended until then, you'll also only be permitted to travel within a ten-kilometre radius to pick up food. You can preorder a Messina cone-ception cookie pie from Monday, August 9, to pick up from Friday, August 13–Sunday, August 15.
This year's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras brightened up the Harbour City back in February and March, complete with help from The Wiggles — but today, Friday, June 24, marks a huge milestone for the event. On this day back in 1978, Sydney's first-ever Mardi Gras was held. So, to celebrate, what better day to create a human progress pride flag on the Sydney Opera House steps? That glorious display has already happened, taking place around lunchtime today. That said, like most things in life these days, there are photos. Nearly 1000 Sydneysiders lined up on the steps for the multi-hued display, arranged in colourful lines beneath one of the city's — and Australia's — most recognisable landmarks. [caption id="attachment_859007" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] As well as commemorating the date, the flag was created — albeit temporarily, obviously — in the lead up to Sydney WorldPride in 2023. The New South Wales capital will host the global event from February 17–March 5 next year, which'll span 17 days and 300-plus LGBTQIA+ festivities. Included on the Sydney WorldPride bill: the Mardi Gras Parade, of course. It'll make its way down Oxford Street for the first time in three years, after the pandemic scuppered its usual plans and sent it to the SCG in 2021 and 2022. Sydney WorldPride will also feature a huge opening concert hosted by Courtney Act and Casey Donovan, pride villages set up in sections of Crown Street and Riley Street, a giant weekend-long street party on Oxford Street, a Bondi beach party that'll turn the iconic sandy stretch into a club for 12,000 people, and a Blak & Deadly First Nations gala concert. [caption id="attachment_859015" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Getty Images[/caption] Plus, there'll be a dance party in The Domain for 10,000, which is being dubbed as the biggest LGBQTIA+ outdoor dance party in Australia; a pride march, sending 50,000 people across the Sydney Harbour Bridge; and huge queer show Rainbow Republic, again at The Domain, this time with six hours of live music, DJs and performances spanning both international and local acts. The Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference is also on the bill, as is a six-night First Nations gathering space at Carriageworks — and Ultra Violet, an inclusive LGBTQIA+ women's party at Town Hall. Yes, it's going to be huge — and it's expected that more than 500,000 people will participate. [caption id="attachment_859017" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Getty Images[/caption] Sydney WorldPride will run from February 17–March 5, 2023. For more information, or for general ticket sales from 9am AEST on Friday, July 15, head to the event's website. Images: Daniel Boud / Getty Images.
After recently opening a Sydney surplus store and holding one hell of a sale in it, minimalist Aussie clothing designer Assembly Label is bringing some stock down south for its first ever Melbourne warehouse sale. It's hosting a four-day bargain blitz in Collingwood from Thursday, June 28 through to Sunday, July 1. This means the warehouse's samples and pieces from past seasons will be going at up to 70 percent off. That includes much-needed jackets and knitwear for the coming winter months, plus denim, tops, shorts, pants, swimwear and accessories in both men's and women's designs. The label is known for its linen basics and relaxed coastal vibes that makes up the wardrobe of many an Australian in summer. The sale will be open from 2–7pm on Thursday, 9am–5.30pm on Friday, and 9am–5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Burger lovers of Sydney and Melbourne, rejoice — yet another place selling your favourite food is posed to join the culinary lineup. If you've ever been on holiday in Queensland and grabbed a burg on the Gold or Sunshine coasts, then you might be familiar with the newest joint heading down south: Betty's Burgers. Don't go donning your best stretchy pants just yet, though. An opening date for Betty's first two ventures outside of their home state is yet to be announced (setting up a retro burger barn that'll make you feel like you've been whisked back to '50s America takes time, after all). But, expect them sooner rather than later — Melbourne staff have started training in the lead up to the new 97 Elizabeth Street firing up the grills, and the Betty's Facebook page has been posting pictures of Manly in Sydney. Of course, good things come to those that wait, as your mum always told you. That includes five types of burgers, including classic, crispy chicken, pork belly and shroom selections. And there's also the massive stacked concoction that combines a good old' beef burg with its mushroom sibling. If your stomach is already grumbling, that's understandable; Betty's meat-and-bread (and veg-and-bread) fare tastes as good as it sounds. Plus, it's not just the titular fare that's the attraction here, thanks to their Shake Shack-style frozen custard desserts known as 'concretes', which are available in everything from peanut butter brittle to hot fudge doughnut flavours. For more information about Betty's Burgers' Sydney and Melbourne stores, keep an eye on their Facebook page.
Sydney's no stranger to world-class drinking dens, but even we're due for a few surprises when one of the world's best, and most enduring, speakeasies hits Aussie shores next month. Since the first Employees Only bar opened its doors in New York back in 2004, it has picked up a whole swag of accolades — including ranking among The World's 50 Best Bars for ten years running, this year coming in at 26 — and its founders have successfully taken the concept global, launching outposts in Singapore, Hong Kong and Miami. And now, they're headed Down Under, taking over a heritage basement space in Sydney's CBD and bringing in Sydney native Anna Fang, for the bar's much-anticipated Australian debut. Here, Employees Only is sticking to its original principles, promising memorable cocktails and sophisticated fare in a beautiful space. But it'll also be rounded out with a distinctly local edge and a healthy dose of Sydney style. The Sydney outpost is being run by EO co-founder Dushan Zaric, along with EO New York bartender Robert Krueger and Fang as venue manager. And it seems no one is deterred by the city's ongoing lockout law woes, with Krueger saying, "We're excited to work with the incredible local bar community, together helping to reinvigorate Sydney's nightlife and bring it back onto the global stage." To that end, expect a cocktail offering that lives up to the hype, with some of the New York outpost's favourites sitting alongside a slew of new, Sydney-exclusive creations. Must-try classics that will appear on the menu include the Amelia, crafted on vodka, elderflower liqueur, puréed blackberries and fresh lemon, and the Provençal, with lavender-infused gin, vermouth and Cointreau. Meanwhile, the kitchen is taking its cues from classic New York bistro fare, the menu sporting a mix of Employee's Only favourites — think house-made pork sausage cavatelli, bone marrow poppers with bordelaise sauce, and the now legendary steak tartare, here done with hand-cut filet mignon — and Head Chef Aurelian Girault's latest Australian-inspired creations. Enter beneath the signature neon "psychic" sign, pull up a seat at the curved, brass-topped bar and get ready for some pretty exceptional boozing. Employees Only Sydney is slated to open in November at 9 Barrack Street, Sydney. Images: Robert Krueger and Anna Fang, by Joe Cheng.
Direct flights from Australia's east coast to New York — and London, too — are on their way, with Qantas committing to make the massive trips from 2025. But first, the Aussie airline is heading non-stop from Auckland to the Big Apple. The carrier has announced two pieces of exciting news for travellers Down Under, both of which might change your holiday plans from 2023 onwards. Firstly, it's starting those direct Auckland–New York routes, kicking off on June 14. Secondly, it's recommencing flying to NY in general, including a new Sydney–Auckland–New York flight. Initially, the new service will run three days a week, starting in Sydney before soaring non-stop from NZ to NY. The latter part will take a whopping 16 hours, which is slightly shorter than the 17-hour direct Perth–London route that first hit the air back in 2018, but will still be a mammoth undertaking. Yes, time feels like it means nothing when you're on one plane for that long. Yes, if you're keen on as few stopovers as possible whenever you're jetting around the world, that hefty non-stop leg is worth it. When Qantas returns to NY for the first time in three years due to the pandemic, travellers will be flying on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with the airline taking delivery of three new aircraft in 2023. If you now know what you're doing next winter — enjoying a hot NY summer, obviously — the Sydney–Auckland–New York flights have just gone on sale today, Thursday, August 25. The airline will also increase its daily services from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Auckland from six to 11 when the new route commences, to help Aussies can take advantage of it. In flying direct from NZ to NYC, Qantas follows in the footsteps of Air New Zealand, which announced its plans back in 2019 and will start the route in September 2022. Qantas will restart flying to New York via its new Sydney–Auckland–New York route from June 14, 2023. For more information or to make a booking, head to the airline's website.
The two-kilometre coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama is always a stunning Sydney sight no matter when you mosey along it, but it's especially impressive during Sculpture by the Sea. Once a year since 1997 — except during the pandemic's early days — the outdoor art event displays large-scale pieces with the ocean as a backdrop. Understandably, it isn't just one of the annual highlights of Sydney's cultural calendar, but of Australia's. That excuse to soak up the great outdoors in the Harbour City returns again in 2023, from Friday, October 20–Monday, November 6. On the agenda once more: 100-plus artworks by Australian and international sculptors, all along a two-kilometre walk. But this is the 25th Sculpture by the Sea, so it's celebrating notching up that milestone with pieces by artists who displayed at the event back at its beginning. Paul Bacon, Stephen King, Michael Le Grand, John Petrie, James Rogers and Margarita Sampson earn those honours, bookending a quarter-century run. Sculpture by the Sea 2023 will also feature works by Philip Spelman and Ron Gomboc, who reach double decades displaying at the event; Lucy Barker and Ayako Saito, who hit a decade; and Chinese artist Chen Wenling. Discovering exactly who'll be showing what and where is part of the fun of taking the spring stroll, but this year's event won't be short on talent. As always, the exhibition is set to draw a crowd. Each year, Sculpture by the Sea attracts approximately 450,000 visitors over 18 days, with the same number of art lovers expected this time around. The past few years have been particularly eventful for the exhibition, which had to sit out 2020 like oh-so-many festivities around the world, then tried to make a comeback in October 2021 but also had to scrap those plans due to the pandemic. It did successfully stage a CBD spinoff, Sculpture Rocks, in autumn 2021, however. Even before the current global health situation interrupted its annual plans, organisers were also at loggerheads with the Council over the construction of a new path back in mid-2019, and were scoping out alternative locations for the long-running art exhibition. In fact, it was only early in 2021 that the parties came to an agreement to remain in Bondi until 2030, with the organisers and Council agreeing to a ten-year deal. Amid all of the above, the Sculpture by the Sea team also branched in 2022, opening the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. It's a permanent 100-kilometre collection of outdoor art along the Snowy Valleys Way, passing through the towns of Adelong, Batlow and Tumbarumba, the hamlet of Tooma, plus the Tumbarumba wine region's cellar doors. Sculpture by the Sea will return to the Bondi–Tamarama coastal walk for 2023 from Friday, October 20–Monday, November 6. For more information, head to sculpturebythesea.com. Images: Charlotte Curd, Reni Indrawan, Clyde Yee, Jack Bett, Jarrad Seng, W Patino, G Carr and Samantha Burns.
For his latest solo exhibition at the Museum for Contemporary Art in Tokyo, Tokujin Yoshioka has again indulged his fascination with organic structures and natural processes, embracing the interaction between prisms, space and light. In his series of striking sculptures and installations, Yoshioka aims to expose the beauty and energy present within self-generating wonders such as crystal formation, harnessing the process to become part of the art itself. He quite literally grows his artworks, using a special liquid that allows natural crystals to develop into whatever shape they choose, after which he sometimes decides to attach them to a base of some kind. And, like any true gardening fanatic, he believes in playing music to his 'plants' as they grow. His series entitled Swan Lake apparently blossomed under the soothing companionship of Tchaikovsky. Whilst we happen to think the huge fairy floss-like clouds of crystal comprising Tornado 2007 are pretty spectacular, the large-scale installation Rainbow Church has been heralded as the exhibition's highlight: a huge window made of 500 crystal prisms inspired by Henri Matisse's designs for the Rosaire Chapel. Yoshioka is known for combining architecture, design and installation art. His furniture designs appear at Salone del Mobile annually and he has also designed store interiors for high fashion brands such as Hermès and Issey Miyake. Via Yatzer.com. Images from the MOT.
Whatever your plans are on Tuesday, November 8, change them — or find a way to include peering at the sky into your diary, too. For 85 minutes, folks Down Under will be treated to a blood moon and a total lunar eclipse, giving you a stellar reason to spend your night staring upwards. While blood moons aren't particularly rare, there is one big reason to look up this time around. This total lunar eclipse is the last one that'll be able to be seen in Australia and New Zealand until 2025. If you're wondering what else you need to know, we've run through the details below. WHAT IS IT? If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know. When a full moon happens to coincide with a total lunar eclipse, it's also called a blood moon. Why? Yes, it has to do with the colour. When the astronomical body passes directly into the earth's actual shadow, it turns a blood-red shade thanks to sunlight that's filtered and refracted by the earth's atmosphere. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? If you're keen to catch a glimpse, you'll want to peek outside on Tuesday, November 8. According to Timeanddate.com, the total lunar eclipse is due to begin at 9.16pm AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne — and, because of daylight saving in the southern states, at 8.16pm AEST in Brisbane. Those times adjust accordingly in Adelaide (8.46pm) and Perth (6.16pm) — with the full total lunar eclipse running for 85 minutes. In NZ, you'll be looking up from 11.16pm. Moonrise will happen before that, and the partial eclipse will begin 67 minutes prior to the totality times, too — so at 8.09pm in Sydney and Melbourne and 7.09pm in Brisbane, for instance. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? You can take a gander from your backyard or balcony, but the standard advice regarding looking into the night sky always applies. So, city-dwellers will want to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the absolute best view. Naturally, you'll be hoping for cloud-free skies that evening. If you can't get a clear vantage, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live-streaming from the skyline above Rome from 8.30pm AEDT / 7.30pm AEST / 10.30pm NZ time. The blood moon and total lunar eclipse will take place on Tuesday, November 8, with the full total lunar eclipse starting at 9.16pm AEDT / 8.16pm AEST / 11.16pm NZ time. For further information, including about timing, head to Timeanddate.com.
Lorde is back — but she won't be back doing live gigs for a bit longer. After five years away from music, the New Zealand pop sensation returned this year with a third studio album, with Solar Power releasing back August. Back in June, she also announced a massive 2022 tour of Australia and New Zealand; however, those shows have now been delayed until 2023. The tour has been postponed due to New Zealand's current COVID-19 outbreak and the uncertainty surrounding what'll be permitted next February and March, which is when Lorde's gigs were originally set to take place. "I am beyond devastated to be postponing these shows. Starting the tour in New Zealand was always really important to me, and would have been a huge high," Lorde said in a statement. "I fought this decision for a long time, but the truth is that touring internationally through a COVID outbreak has a ton of unforeseen moving parts, and I'd much rather play for you when we're all confident it will go smoothly. I want to apologise wholeheartedly to the fans. I'm so gutted to let you down, but so grateful for your understanding." [caption id="attachment_816623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Come Up Show[/caption] When it kicks off in 2023, the tour will now run from Tuesday, February 21 through till Saturday, March 18. Australians are scoring eight dates across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, while New Zealanders can choose from seven shows. The Australian and New Zealand tour will begin at Days Bay at Lower Hutt on Tuesday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 22. From there the 'Royals' singer will make her way around New Zealand throughout late February and early March, and arrive in Australia on Tuesday, March 7 for two shows at the Brisbane Riverstage. Australia's east coast will be treated to two more shows each at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the ICC's Aware Super Theatre in Sydney, before the tour wraps up with a couple of gigs at Perth's Belvoir Amphitheatre. The last time either country was treated to Lorde's live set was her headline set at Splendour in the Grass 2018, a full circle moment for the singer as she returned to the stage of one of her first ever performances as a last-minute replacement for Frank Ocean back in 2013. A year prior, in 2017, Lorde also toured some of Australia's largest and most iconic outdoor venues including the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. Existing tickets will remain valid for the new dates, while tickets to newly announced gigs in Lower Hutt, Brisbane and Perth start pre-sales on Wednesday, November 17 ahead of general ticket sales on Friday, November 19. LORDE 'SOLAR POWER' 2023 TOUR DATES Tuesday, February 21 – Days Bay, Lower Hutt Wednesday, February 22 – Days Bay, Lower Hutt — new show Saturday, February 25 – Electric Avenue, Christchurch Monday, February 27 – Neudorf Vineyards, Upper Moutere Wednesday, March 1 – Black Barn Vineyards, Havelock North Friday, March 3 – TSB Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth Saturday, March 4 – Outer Fields Western Springs, Auckland Tuesday, March 7 – Riverstage, Brisbane — new show Wednesday, March 8 – Riverstage, Brisbane Friday, March 10 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Saturday, March 11 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Monday, March 13 – Aware Super Theatre, Sydney Tuesday, March 14 – Aware Super Theatre, Sydney Friday, March 17 – Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth — new show Saturday, March 18 – Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth Lorde's Solar Power Tour will now take place between Tuesday, February 21–Saturday, March 18, 2023. Head to the Frontier website for all info on tickets. Top image: Liliane Callegari via Wikimedia Commons.
If you're thinking small for your next domestic getaway, there's a new pint-sized accommodation option to add to that holiday radar. NRMA, aka the National Roads and Motorists' Association, has just unveiled two new stylishly-repurposed shipping containers it's calling 'glamtainers' — and they'll be making their home on New South Wales' Central Coast until autumn next year. Easily movable and extendable in size, the seven-metre-long luxury tiny homes have room to sleep four, each boasting two queen beds, a full bathroom and a decent sized kitchenette. What's more, they're fitted out in style, with upscale features including comfy King Koil mattresses, plush linens, air-conditioning and attached outdoor entertaining spaces. No slumming it here, that's for sure. Currently located at NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort, the two new glamtainers are the work of Melbourne company GlamXperience, which makes a whole suite of glamping tents and mini retreats — and whose creations you might have spied at the likes of St Jerome's The Hotel and the newly launched Clifftop at Hepburn. They're designed to allow guests to experience staying amongst the great outdoors, without sacrificing comfort. Bookings are already filling up fast for the glamtainers' debut stint on the NSW Central Coast, with prices starting from $180 per night. And, because the entire concept of turning shipping containers into places to stay means they're easily portable, the pair of glamtainers will be packed up and shuttled off to NRMA's Jindabyne resort come late autumn — where they'll enjoy a second iteration during ski season. The glamtainers are now available to book at NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort. Head to the website to check availability and make a booking. Images: Shan Rose Photography
When someone says the word 'desk', it usually conjures up images of uninspired objects with a flat top and four legs. We have stumbled on some innovative and quirky desks that could change those mundane conceptions for good. Bring life to your desk and ensure your working day is never average again with these fun and unorthodox desk designs. 1. The Abstract Desk Having boxes at odd angles all over your desk is bound to get the creative juices flowing. Store your documents in fun ways with this abstract and unique desk, called the Overdose Desk by Bulo. Because straight and neatly stacked is overrated. 2. The Wave Desk The marvellous woodwork of this stunning piece by Robert Brou is a compact and handy design, and the desk surface looks so incredibly smooth that it could lull you into trance-like state of pure productivity. 3. The Purple Desk Why waste floor space in your room, when you can simply stack your desks up on the wall? The peculiar Storyteller desk by Isabel Quiroga very effectively creates storage and shelf space, and is the perfect little enclave for a quirky student or work-from-home business person. 4. The Star Wars Desk Although this style of desk may not suit everyone, Star Wars fanatics are sure to love this creation by Tom Spina Designs. This desk houses a frozen Han Solo beneath a quarter inch thick solid sheet of glass. 5. The Pod Desk The Rewrite desk by GamFratesi allows you to dive completely into your own little world - or at least your own little pod. Say goodbye to procrastination. 6. The Suitcase Desk This desk by Maarten De Ceulaer is perfectly suited for lovers of travel, lovers of suitcases, or lovers of all things out of the ordinary. The eccentric and colourful style will be sure to stimulate the mind. 7. The Wall-Art Desk The K Workstation by Miso Soup Design is a modern take, appearing to climb along the wall at odd angles as it simultaneously acts as shelf space and wall art. 8. The Bike Desk The old saying 'kill two birds with one stone' takes on new meaning with the Pit In desk, which doubles as a bike rack. Not only can you skip the hassle of having to tie up your bike, but also ensure your posture remains upright throughout the day. 9. The Briefcase Desk Remove the difficulty of having to rummage through drawers of papers and files when trying to find documents for your suitcase by combining the two. All you need to do with these innovative suitcase-drawers is pull them out of the desk, by Jung-Ah Kim, and you're good to go. 10. The Car Desk Rev up the engine that is your mind and set off on an exciting journey, all from the comfort of your Mini Cooper office desk.
Midsumma Festival returns to Melbourne in the new year, bringing together the LGBTQI+ community and artists from across the state for its annual queer arts and cultural festival. It spans from January 19 through February 9, with 194 events taking place in venues all over Melbourne. The massive program kicks off with a bang at the Midsumma Carnival, on Sunday, January 19, in Alexandra Gardens. There'll be 11 hours of live music and entertainment on the main stage, heaps of food stalls and bars, plus the return of the ever-popular Midsumma Dog Show. Once the sun starts to set, the park is transformed into one enormous dance floor, with DJs and artists performing well into the night. And it's 100 percent free. The festival continues with a heap of talks, performances, installations, exhibitions and parties, all aimed at celebrating the diverse stories of the queer arts scene. In the 2020 major project, Queen Unsettled, unheard voices and marginalised communities are front and centre in a multidisciplinary attack on colonisation. Attend a Lunar New Year Disco with Drag Race Thailand stars after hours at Melbourne Museum; hear from Pacific womxn of colour and Indigenous femmes in BLOW and FAMILI; and be entranced by The Sky After Rain, a video installation exploring three queer Iranian diasporas. Other Midsumma highlights include the Midsumma and Australia Post Art Award exhibition, a music festival of queer women and non-binary musicians, the Midsumma Extravaganza showcase at Hamer Hall, and the 25th annual Midsumma Pride March on Sunday, February 2. Images: Midsumma Carnival, Jackson Grant/Suzanne Balding.
Beyond: Two Souls is a staggering achievement in gaming. If you're a semi-regular gamer, you already know that. But it's if you don't include games in your current recreational repertoire that the information is most pertinent. Because Beyond is quite unlike your Grand Theft Autos, Call of Dutys, Wii tennises and nearly every other blockbuster title on the market, and it might be the one that sucks you in. Made for a reputed $28 million, Beyond stars Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe in leading roles and screened its demo at this year's prestigious Tribeca Film Festival. It sits somewhere between cinema and what we think of as games, crafting an interactive drama that you play in the first person. French studio Quantic Dream, who explored a similar form with Heavy Rain (2010), are really concerned with the possibilities of immersive storytelling using new technologies. Curious? Here are a few reasons to give Beyond: Two Souls a go. Because you like film and TV Let's face it, of all the screen arts, video games are not the ones known for their complexity of story, character or emotion; they're known for their abundance of things to shoot at. But storytelling comes first in Beyond: There are some action scenes, but they happen in the broader context of the life of one specific girl, Jodie Holmes (Page), who is blessed/cursed with various psychic powers that make her valuable to the CIA and government research departments but chilling to her parents and peers. Her whole life she has felt a connection to the invisible 'entity' Aiden, and much of the tension in the game comes from the love/hate relationship she has with her constant companion. As the player, you see Jodie from the ages of six to twenty-one, though you play the chapters out of chronological order, piecing together the puzzles of her life. "We tried to create an interactive experience, more than just another video game," said Beyond's writer/director David Cage at a recent game preview in Sydney. He takes his cues from the world of cinema, adding elements from the game designers' toolkit to make you even more invested in the story. Because you want to see Ellen Page's Oscar-worthy performance There are so many sub-reasons it's great to see Ellen Page in the main role in Beyond, and the fact that she's not some 'sassy' and pneumatically boobed animation — she's Ellen Page — is just the tip of the iceberg. "A mix of technology and talent" is Cage's catch cry for Beyond, which would've been a far lesser game without the perfect female lead to embody your journey. And embodying it really is — Page is not just lending her voice or her face; she and the rest of the cast acted out this 2000-page script in a bare room kitted out in the latest in performance capture technology. They even developed a new method of capturing eye movement, placing small markers all around the eye to track minute muscle contractions and so basically eliminating that 'cold dead eyes' effect that has long plagued computer-generated imaging. The process is truly a sight to behold. In this sometimes testing, sometimes liberating environment, Page puts in an entrancing performance as Jodie, a character who's a pretty intense contradiction of feelings over many years of her life. "It's really bare acting," says Cage. "It's just you in this silly suit and all you can trust is your imagination, the script, the director helping you and, of course, the other actors. But it's really about acting in its pure, pure form." Because you think emotional journeys are the core of story "The idea is really to make you feel emotions that are usually rarely found in video games," says Cage. Specifically, rather than stress, competition and (a hopefully cathartic) rage, there's more hurt, mourning, nervousness, pride and love. Beyond's emotional palette is that of growing up, moving forward and mourning (Cage was inspired to write the story after the death of someone close to him). While there's plenty of this kind of exploration going on in indie games, such as That Game Company's phenomenal Journey, Beyond is perhaps the only big-budget, high-production-value game with this agenda. "We really tried to put you in the shoes of this young woman," says Cage. "You will feel like you've known her since she was a kid because you've been with her in the happy and difficult moments of her life, you know what she went through and where she comes from. My hope is that by the time you are done with the game and you turn off the console you will be a little bit sad, because you may never see her again." Because you won't get stuck on level 6 Or any level before or after. Beyond is all about the consequences your actions have on a life. And just like life, there are no do-overs. Instead, the game will funnel you on to the next chapter, via a slightly different road. Get caught by the cops? Maybe your invisible friend can help you out of those cuffs. Asphyxiate in a fire? Here's that 'come toward the light' sequence you were definitely going to see at some point. You will not keep dying at that one tricky spot in perpetuity. That means no matter your skills, Beyond will take you about 12 hours to play through. The control scheme is also a bit different and quite simple — an annoyance to some regular gamers but great for newbies. Quantic Dream have carefully designed the gameplay to be so integrated into the story that it's basically invisible, and at its best moments, it's very elegant. The goal is not to pull you out of the story with the trials of a complex controller dance but to allow you to lose yourself in it. And if it's the controller itself that unnerves you, Beyond even allows you to sync up your Android or iOS device and use familiar swipes and taps instead. Because you won't be able to help it Beyond has its successes and failures it's true, but its single-minded inventiveness is so inspiring, film and new media makers are lapping it up. It's a bold step in the direction of 'convergence', which sees film and games blend, borrow from each other and sometimes forge something completely new. Don't play it now and you'll instead see some flicker of it, in some medium, some time in the future. Beyond: Two Souls is out now on PS3.
When you think of the Mornington Peninsula, images of stunning beaches, wineries and charming towns might float into your mind. But there's something new to get excited about in the region: Colt Dining, an upcoming restaurant from acclaimed chef Matt Fallon that will open on Friday, October 6. After having life-saving brain surgery in 2019, Fallon made the decision to pack up his Byron Bay digs and head home to create the restaurant he's always dreamed of. The result? Colt Dining, which will showcase the best of what the Mornington Peninsula has to offer, with dishes made with seasonal ingredients from the region's farms, gardens and waters. From a menu that will go big on woodfired dishes and modern Australian flavours, highlights include barramundi wrapped in steamed kelp; Otway shiitake mushrooms over charcoal flames, then paired with pumpkin seed miso for a nice fusion of earthy flavours; pressed brisket accompanied by deep notes of black garlic; and crisp toast topped with succulent yabbie, crowned with a zesty sprinkle of native pepper. In a 95-person space that will boast a 70s-inspired fitout, plus booths inside and a breezy outdoor terrace, there's also a focus on wine and cocktails. Low-intervention drops from the region will sit alongside old-world tipples, while a selection of "otherworldy" cocktails will be curated by beverage manager Zac Abbot. Fallon says he wants Colt Dining to be a place where people can come together to enjoy good food, drinks and company. "The vision is simple — we want to give Mornington high-quality, accessible dining, driven by love for local produce, foraging and growing our own food." "Colt's style of cuisine will be that of a pared-back yet refined dining experience, without labels of fusion or rustic or any other boxes people like to put restaurants in." Colt Dining is set to open at 9a Main Street, Mornington on Friday, October 6.
A few months ago, Federation Square's Skyline Terrace was a winter wonderland filled with pop-up igloos and an ice-skating rink. But come January 3, the openair space above Flinders Street Station's eastern railway tracks will be whacking on the sunscreen and shades, and transforming into a warm-weather paradise for the debut of Summertime Social. Sticking around until early April 2020, the huge al fresco summer playground will take over the rooftop space with whole swag of sun-soaked fun. For those after a break from their own backyard, Summertime Social's grassy communal lawn is the place to be. It'll host a stack of free lawn games, including giant Jenga, though it's also your go-to for picnics and sunny chill sessions, as you make the most of the pop-up's food and drink offering. On Sundays, punters can duke it out for prizes and glory at the lawn's weekly giant games battle, while Fridays and Saturdays promise a lineup of sunset DJs spinning from 5–10pm. More games, from bocce to shuffleboard, will be going down in the games lane. These ones you'll need to book and start from $30 per 20-minute session. For a more private summer do, nab your crew one of the comfy huts or converted caravans. The huts can be booked for up to 20 people, while the boho-style caravans have space for 10, customised with your choice of picnic eats, boozy ice cream, beer-filled eskies and board games. Pop-up bars throughout Summertime Social will be serving up tap cocktails, booze-infused slushies (including mango daiquiris and margaritas), beer, wine, spirits and even stocked mini-eskies. Meanwhile, a weekday happy hour means $6 Furphy, cocktails, rosé and prosecco from 4–6pm. As for the food, you'll be able to settle in with woodfired pizzas; Dirty Birdie's fried chicken, salad bowls and burgers; and boozy frozen treats from a pop-up ice cream cart. If you fancy making a day of it, a range of picnic baskets are also up for grabs, including the two-person Classic Basket, loaded with cheeses, party pies, chicken tenders and potato salad. On Saturdays, you can enjoy Summertime Social's bottomless brunch, offering 90 minutes of free-flowing beer, prosecco, mimosas and tap cocktails and your choice of brunch dish for $49. To eat, you can choose from a PBJ ice cream sanga, a BLT, a veggie burger or calzone. Find Summertime Social at Federation Square's Skyline Terrace from Friday, January 3 till April, 2020. It's open from 11am–10pm Monday–Sunday.
If you're looking for your latest glimpse of the next Star Wars movie, there's no need to travel to a galaxy far, far away, because the full final trailer has just dropped in this one. Two months before the main franchise's ninth episode (and 11th theatrical flick overall) hits cinemas, Disney has delivered its last sneak peek of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker — as well as reiterating the claim that this flick will end the whole Skywalker saga. Don't worry — more Star Wars movies are definitely in the works, courtesy of two big-screen spinoff trilogies by Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi helmer Rian Johnson and Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, respectively. Just next month, new TV series The Mandalorian will start screening on Disney's new streaming platform as well. An Obi-Wan Kenobi-focused television show is also in development, with Ewan McGregor returning as the beloved Jedi master. And, even if The Rise of Skywalker wants to tell us otherwise for now, we have a good feeling that we won't see the last of all of the other Star Wars characters that everyone already knows and loves. Given The Rise of Skywalker's title, the way that The Last Jedi wrapped up and the theories that have been swirling around Daisy Ridley's Rey since she was first introduced in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, it should come as no surprise that the scavenger-turned-pilot takes centre stage in the new trailer — as she did in the first teaser earlier this year. Also popping up are Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron and John Boyega's ex-stormtrooper Finn, helping out the film's plucky heroine once more; Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, wielding his red lightsaber for the dark side yet again; and long-standing series favourites Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO, of course. The late Carrie Fisher features as well, with the actor's appearance as General Leia Organa made possible by using previously filmed footage. And two other familiar characters also rejoin the fold, including Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian and a sinister figure who's once again heard rather than seen. The huge cast list keeps going, with Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran and Lupita Nyong'o all returning, Mark Hamill also included, and Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell and Naomi Ackie among the Star Wars newcomers. As he did with The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams also sits in the director's chair. Feel the force with the full final trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qn_spdM5Zg Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker releases in Australian cinemas on December 19. Images: (c) 2019 and TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
All too often, being vegan and being spoilt for choice are two mutually exclusive concepts. But at the newly hatched Vincent's Marketplace, they're cohabitating very happily together under the one roof, thank you very much. The latest venture from meat-free wholesalers Vincent Vegetarian Food, the new Brunswick Street site features both a comprehensive vegan supermarket and a cosy plant-based cafe to visit pre- or post-shop. The retail shelves carry a huge array of products, offering the kind of diverse range that's been synonymous with Vincent's since it started life as a vegetarian superstore in Footscray back in 1996. Here in Fitzroy, you'll spy plenty of plant-based goodies not found in too many other Melbourne stores — such as vegan condensed milk, whipped cream and honeycomb — as well as an exclusive line of signature Vincent's products that includes vegan fried 'chicken', dumplings, party snacks and faux bacon. [caption id="attachment_697391" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Weirdoughs by Kate Shanasy[/caption] Sitting next to it is a standing-room-only cafe pouring top-notch St Ali coffee and selling innovative pastries from the CBD's Weirdoughs. These guys are famous for whipping up wild and wonderful plant-based treats, from Aperol spritz-filled doughnuts to cube-shaped croissants. Vincent's Marketplace adds to Fitzroy's already thriving vegan and vegetarian scene, joining vegan bar and restaurant Smith & Daughters, sibling Smith & Deli, the long-running Vegie Bar, plant-based dessert bar Girls & Boys, and many more. Find Vincent's Marketplace at 379 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. The retail store is open from Monday–Saturday 10am–6pm and Sunday 10am–5pm, while the cafe runs from Monday to Friday 7am–4pm and Saturday–Sunday 8am–3pm.
Tucked between the lively restaurants and bars of Yarraville Village, Lonni is the embodiment of everything owner and local resident Roselyn Moncrieff loves. Stocking a rich variety of Australian brands across fashion and lifestyle, Moncrieff has chosen everything inside herself, as she's gradually curated a selection of wares that she considers the best in the business. Featuring the likes of Rolla's Jeans, Assembly Label, Elka Collective and Zulu & Zephyr, Lonni has a keen focus on supporting local brands who also have a positive ethos. Spend some time between the shelves among the large collection of indoor plants, we're sure you'll find something you love. Image: Immerse Creative.
From the wild, WTF and wonderful finalists, the Art Gallery of New South Wales has announced their 204 Archibald Prize winner. Fiona Lowry has won the prestigious prize for her portrait of Penelope Seidler. Runner up was Mitch Cairns with his portrait of Red Richardson AM. The Wynne and Sulman Prizes have also been announced. Taking the Wynne for landscape or sculpture was Michael Johnson with his abstract Oceania High Low: And the Sulman (best subject painting, genre painting or mural project) landed on Andrew Sullivan's T-Rex: Check out our picks for weirdest and most wonderful Archibald finalist tales over here.
Having recently spent a crazy couple of months living in Berlin, the news of East Berlin club Salon Zur Wilden Renate installing a real life maze in the two-storey abandoned building comes as no surprise. With the intention of creating an other-worldly, ethereal experience, the Peristal Singum labyrinth uses confined spaces to confuse your sensory perceptions, where one visitor at a time is forced to crawl, duck, and slide to their salvation. Prepare for a lucid mind where your whole metaphysical being is questioned while disproportionately-sized objects create the illusion of fantasy characters that roam rooms that seem smaller than they actually are. There is no marked pathway, so drinking too much prior to entering may not be the wisest of ideas. Peristal Singum
UPDATE: JULY 24, 2020 — Gami's Melbourne restaurants are currently closed to dine-in, but it's offering delivery via Deliveroo, UberEats and DoorDash. On the menu: a 'comfort pack' for two (or one) with eight wings, chips and half a boneless chicken for a very reasonable $35. In Korean, gami loosely translates to "beautiful taste" and this popular chicken and beer joint certainly embodies that sentiment. The casual eatery in Hawthorn is known for making some pretty epic fried chicken. All you need to do is agree on bones or no bones, and whether you want it served up in its OG crunchy format, or coated in one of three sauces – sweet chilli, soy garlic or spicy. You can also get amongst some traditional Korean side dishes like kimchi or the dangerously moreish tteok-bokki (stir-fried rice cakes covered in chilli sauce). Beer is obviously the other big player and it's available in glasses just bigger than a pot, a jug or a large oak barrel.
