Telling your co-workers to wash their damn plates has never looked so suave. Comic Sans, the "I'm not like a regular mom, I'm a cool mom," of the font world, has been given a streamlined, minimalist makeover and is lurking dangerously close to legitimate suavity. Taking cues from the more sophisticated typography go-tos like Helvetica Neue, Comic Neue could potentially be suited for more than passive-aggressive staff kitchen notices and school canteen specials. Constantly scorned for its combination of rounded edges and likeness to the Foundation Handwriting font taught at preschools, Comic Sans has long worn the crown for biggest lamebot in the font family. Writers at McSweeney’s tried to convince us otherwise, but until graphic designer Craig Rozynski decided to give the font a new pair of pants, it was doomed to the Angelfire blogs of yesteryear. Japan-based Australian designer Rozynski saw an overlooked elegance in the world’s most ridiculed font. “Comic Sans wasn’t designed to be the world’s most ubiquitous casual typeface,” he says on the font’s own website. “The squashed, wonky, and weird glyphs of Comic Sans have been beaten into shape while maintaining the honesty that made Comic Sans so popular.” Sporting a makeover to rival Rachel Leigh Cook’s She’s All That staircase descent, Comic Neue is sure to score all the invites to prom with its new schwanky look. Rozynski believes teaching a an old dog new tricks will impress even the biggest font snobs. “Comic Neue aspires to be the casual script choice for everyone including the typographically savvy.” You can test drive Comic Neue over here for free for a limited time. Go on, lightly warn the good people about the consequences of taking people's fridge food. It's going to look damn classy. Via Mashable.
Midweek dining just got more comforting — Brunswick East hotspot Etta is serving its famed coconut curry laksa in the front bar every Wednesday throughout winter. Created by Head Chef Lorcán Kan, the dish has long been a restaurant favourite not only for guests, but also the staff seeking an enriching pre-service family meal. Delving into the ingredients, it's not hard to understand why it's become so popular. Headlined by a rich aromatic broth steeped in lemongrass, garlic, makrut lime, galangal and chilli, a mix of egg and rice noodles combine with house-made golden tofu, fresh herbs and punchy Nonya sambal. There are just 20 serves available each Wednesday, so book ahead to secure your bowl. Each laksa is complemented with lok-lok, a skewer of deep-fried school prawns which you're invited to dip. Inspired by classic Malaysian street-food vendors, affectionately known as 'skewer aunties', this much-loved steamboat-style skewer is ever-present in the country's night markets and roadside stalls. Opened in 2017 by renowned restaurateur Hannah Green, Etta has become one of Brunswick East's most cherished restaurants. Kan's Chinese-Malaysian heritage guides the venue's menu, bursting with forward-thinking but approachable dishes. Supported by a stellar wine list, Etta's reputation has only grown stronger in recent years. Now Green is preparing for the launch of her next project just a couple of doors down, with Daphne expected to open in the former home of Bar Romantica in September. Focused on elevated woodfired cuisine, expect a welcoming space that Green hopes will feel like stepping into her home, where you can stop for a quick wine or a fully fledged meal. In the meantime, Lorcán's Laksa & Lok-Lok special is more than enough reason to plan a midweek visit to Brunswick East. Priced at $30, the special also lets skewer fans explore additional lok-lok options for $8 — including house-made fish balls of flame tail snapper, arrowhead squid brushed in sambal and cooked over hot coals, and woodfired satay curry-marinated chicken. Etta's Laksa & Lok-Lok special is available every Wednesday night throughout winter. Head to the website for more information. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen.
2023 marks a mere five years since Netflix released its first-ever Australian original series, with Tidelands hitting the streaming service three years after it officially launched Down Under. That supernatural drama didn't usher in a non-stop influx of new Aussie content. While older local titles sit among the platform's catalogue, freshly commissioned fare such as Heartbreak High and Wellmania is still fairly rare. But Netflix's small pool of homegrown Australian projects has locked in a few more additions, with four just-announced newcomers on their way. The novel-to-screen adaptation of Boy Swallows Universe is also in the works, but that was initially revealed almost 18 months back. Following it to your queue will be another book-to-TV effort, an outback family-feud tale and two movies — one starring Delta Goodrem and the other a documentary about ONEFOUR. First, your future binges: The Survivors and Desert King (although they're just working titles, so those monikers might change). The first is heading to Netflix from the pages of Jane Harper's text of the same name, while the second sounds like it wants to give Succession-meets-Yellowstone a Top End spin. Neither have casts as yet, or release dates. [caption id="attachment_905971" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Force of Nature, Narelle Portanier[/caption] Yes, Australia's screen industry currently loves bringing Harper's works to the screen. The Dry proved a massive smash, after all, and that flick's sequel Force of Nature will hit cinemas when Hollywood's actors' strike is over. The Survivors isn't linked to either movie by anything but author, so there's no Aaron Falk this time. Instead, the Tasmanian-set story follows families still coping with the loss caused by a massive storm in their seaside town 15 years earlier, then faced with a new murder. As for Desert King, it will be set on the world's largest cattle station, which the Lawson family runs. When the property is left without a firm successor, the fights start — and everyone from billionaire miners and desert gangsters to Indigenous elders and other cattle barons get involved. Netflix will get bonus points from audiences if they manage to get Sarah Snook to star. [caption id="attachment_914014" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Netflix © 2023[/caption] With the streamer's upcoming Aussie movies, Goodrem has been born to give her acting chops another try, this time in a romance called Love Is in the Air. There's no word on whether the film will feature Delta singing John Paul Young's Aussie song of the same name, which first released in the 70s and became a hit again in the 90s thanks to Strictly Ballroom. What is known, however, is that the flick is about a seaplane pilot who falls for the man who's meant to be tanking her business — and that it'll be filmed in the Whitsundays. ONEFOUR: Against All Odds will tell its namesake's story, including the drill rap group's huge popularity and the police taskforce attempting to stop them performing. "The story of ONEFOUR is one of the most significant cultural moments in recent Australian history. It's about the changing face of this country and who gets to have a voice in it," said writer/director Gabriel Gasparinatos. "Australia markets this sunkissed image of itself and it's so important to show it's not all like that, and that there is another side to this country the world is only just starting to see. I'm so grateful to ONEFOUR for trusting us with their story and to Netflix for bringing it to the global audience it deserves." Announced previously, Netflix is also making a second season of its Heartbreak High revival, as well as Surviving Summer. The former is due in 2024 and the latter this September. And, for kids, Eddie's Lil Homies is on its way, based on childrens' books by former AFL superstar Eddie Betts, and following an eight-year-old Eddie and his friends. Netflix's just-announced new Australian projects don't yet have release dates — we'll update you when more information is announced. Top image: The Dry.
What will inspire you to spend your Sunday nights busting out your music trivia knowledge, and also playing along with one of the most-beloved Australian TV shows there is? The return of Spicks and Specks for 2024. Back in 2023, the ABC announced that it was bringing the series back for a new season after it took the past year off — and you can now mark Sunday, June 9 in your diary for the big comeback. Among everything that the ABC has ever broadcast — news, entertainment, after-school kids shows, oh-so-much Doctor Who and late-night music videos to keep you occupied after a few drinks all included — the Adam Hills-, Myf Warhurst- and Alan Brough-led Spicks and Specks is up there among the favourites. If you're keen to watch a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about tunes again, this season's guests from the music side of things include Anthony Callea, Marlon Williams, Elly-May Barnes, Nooky, Montaigne and Dan Sultan, as well as Mark Seymour, Oli from Lime Cordiale. Among the comedians, Hamish Blake, Tommy Little, Steph Tisdell, Abbie Chatfield, Shane Jacobson and Jenny Tian will feature. Plus, Adrian Eagle, Gut Health and Lime Cordiale will perform. Here's how it works, if you've forgotten: the show's contestants answer questions, compete for points and just generally be funny, too. That's the concept behind the series, which takes more than a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, pits Aussie musos and comedians against each other, and has proven a hit several times over. It was a weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011 — and it keeps being resurrected. As fans already know, Spicks and Specks has enjoyed more comebacks than John Farnham, although that has meant different things over the years. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it did so with a new host and team captains, for instance. And when it started to make a return with its original lineup of Hills, Warhurst and Brough, it first did so via a one-off reunion special. That 2018 comeback proved more than a little popular. It became the ABC's most-watched show of that year, in fact. So, the broadcaster then decided to drop four new Spicks and Specks specials across 2019–20 and, for 2021, to bring back Spicks and Specks in its regular format. In 2022, ten new episodes hit. The new season will air at 7.30pm on Sunday evenings via ABC and ABC iView — and new segments will also be part of the fun. T0 tide you over until June, here's a classic clip from past Spicks and Specks runs: Spicks and Specks will return to ABC TV and via ABC iView from 7.30pm on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
UPDATE, 3 JUNE 2021: Heathcote on Show has been cancelled due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria. For more information, head to the Heathcote on Show Facebook page. We Melburnians are truly spoiled to have a world-class wine region like Heathcote practically on our doorstep. About a 1.5 hour's drive north of the city, the region is brimming with award-winning chefs, brewers, artists and (most importantly) winemakers. The region is probably best known for shiraz, but it also boasts other excellent red varieties such as sangiovese, tempranillo, petit verdot and cabernet sauvignon, as well as white wine grapes like riesling and viognier. Grapes here are grown mainly in calcium-rich Cambrian soil, and prized for its water retention that leads to rich, concentrated wines. During this Queen's Birthday Long Weekend (Saturday, June 12 to Monday, June 14), the region is coming together for Heathcote on Show. This annual, three-day event will see more than 30 locations throughout the region offering wine tastings, food pairings, live music and masterclasses. There will also be a shuttle bus to take you between venues, so you can get around without having to think too much about it. Here are nine mustn't-miss spots to put on your radar this long weekend. [caption id="attachment_813175" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Allie Claire[/caption] RED EDGE Home to the oldest living vines in Heathcote, Red Edge is one of the Heathcote region's most impressive wineries. What started as a two-hectare block of shiraz and cabernet planted in 1971, the vineyard now boasts 14 hectares and grows other classic European varieties, including mourvedre, tempranillo and touriga nacional. Here, vines are hand-pruned, grapes are hand-picked and the wines are made with minimal intervention. Swing by on the June long weekend for exclusive barrel room tastings of the 2019-20 vintages with winemaker (and estate owner) Peter Dredge; complimentary tastings of current and cellar-release wines; and a sausage sizzle with locally made pork and beef snags, with proceeds going to MND Victoria. Between 12–5pm on Saturday and Sunday, it'll all be set to a live soundtrack of americana and country music. Find Red Edge at 54 Golden Gully Road, Heathcote. CONDIE ESTATE Boasting a postcard-worthy backdrop of Wild Duck Creek, Condie Estate showcases traditional winemaking methods with its small-batch drops. For Heathcote on Show, the estate will open the doors to its barrel room, and offer tastings of its sangiovese, viognier and award-winning shiraz. Pair your glass with a woodfired pizza, followed by a slice of cake and coffee. Entertainment-wise, there'll be live music, a petting zoo and a jumping castle for the kids. Find Condie Estate at 480 Heathcote-Redesdale Road, Heathcote. VINEA MARSON In the early 2000s, Mario Marson planted his first seven hectares of vines in Heathcote — he selected the region specifically for its geography, which he saw fit to fulfil his vision of creating new-world versions of his favourite Italian varieties. It's probably no surprise, then, that all things Italian will be celebrated at the Mount Camel winery over the Heathcote on Show weekend. Swing by for samples of prosecco, pinot bianco and picolit, sangiovese, nebbiolo and more. You'll be able to pair your glass with plates of pasta, polenta, porchetta and formaggio. There will also be coffee and cannoli on offer, as well as traditional Italian music throughout the weekend. Find Vinea Marson at 411 Heathcote-Rochester Road, Mount Camel. MUNARI WINES Just north of Heathcote and situated in the foothills of the Mount Ida Range, Munari Wines is a family-owned vineyard steeped in history. The original homestead dates back to 1871, while the former stables now house a charming cellar door. During Heathcote on Show, you'll have the chance to sit among the vines and sample a range of the estate's premium wines. There'll be a heated marquee on-site as well as hot food and live entertainment, including a ticketed concert on the grounds on the Saturday night. Find Munari Wines at 1129 Northern Highway, Ladys Pass. SILVER SPOON ESTATE Named after an abandoned nearby mine, Silver Spoon Estate dedicates most of its 51 acres of plantings — which date back to 2000 — to shiraz grapes, but also makes room for viognier, grenache, mourvedre and tempranillo vines. The estate is 100 percent off-grid, with solar panels powering everything from the winemaking equipment to the on-site residence. During Heathcote on Show, Silver Spoon Estate will offer daily wine tastings and grazing platters from 11am–5pm, plus live music on Saturday and Sunday, all of which you can enjoy either indoors or outdoors while taking in the scenic views. On Saturday night, Silver Spoon will host a Casablanca-themed dinner and show in the estate's piano lounge (and for which bookings are essential). Find Silver Spoon Estate at 503 Heathcote-Rochester Road, Mount Camel. DOMAINE ASMARA Domaine Asmara is celebrating its tenth anniversary over the Queen's Birthday long weekend, and you're invited to join the party. Head to the Toolleen estate to sample an excellent range of James Halliday-approved wines, including durif, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, and take advantage of anniversary specials. The grounds also have a perfect picnic spot overlooking Mount Camel, so pack a basket and sit back and enjoy some of the region's finest wines. Find Domaine Asmara at 61 Gibb Road, Toolleen. HEATHCOTE WINE HUB Whether you're pressed for time over the long weekend or looking to brush up your knowledge on the wide range of wines produced in the Heathcote region, a visit to Heathcote Wine Hub is a must. Home to Australia's largest selection of Heathcote wines and set in a former 1870s corner store, complete with an open fireplace and dog-friendly courtyard, the store is located in the centre of town and will be abuzz with activity over the long weekend. Head over to sample a range of local wine, beer, cider and coffee, as well as vegan food options, southern-style barbecue meats and picnic packs. There'll also be live music from 12–7pm on Saturday and Sunday, with four local bands on the lineup. Find Heathcote Wine Hub at 105 High Street, Heathcote. SANGUINE ESTATE There's plenty happening at the award-winning Sanguine Estate for Heathcote on Show. On Saturday and Sunday there will be coffee and treats provided by local legends Con Cariño Mobile Coffee, plus live music from 1pm. Sunday will also see a Goldfield Farmhouse Cheese stall on the grounds all day, should you fancy a spot of cheese and wine. You can also learn more about local produce when winemaker Mark Hunter runs a tasting masterclass of five rare wines on Saturday morning, and Goldfields hosts a full-day cheesemaking class on Monday. Bookings are required for both sessions. Find Sanguine Estate at 77 Shurans Lane, Heathcote. WREN ESTATE Boasting a place in the top ten in the 2021 Halliday Wine Companion's Best New Wineries category, Wren Estate is an unmissable stop on any Heathcote wine tour. Owner and winemaker Michael Wren enjoyed a career that took him all over the world for nearly two decades before establishing his very own vineyard in Heathcote in 2017. Despite Wren Estate being relatively young, its shiraz has already won a number of awards. Over the long weekend, it will be hosting a masterclass ($65) with Michael on Saturday and Sunday, which includes sampling five Single Block drop for the first time ever (bookings are essential). If you're keen to just drop by in the afternoon, you'll be able to graze on a charcuterie board featuring olive oil direct from the on-site grove. From 12–3pm on Saturday and Sunday, you'll also have the option to pair house-made dumplings with vino (make sure you book ahead for this one, too). Find Wren Estate at 389 Heathcote-Rochester Road, Mount Camel. For more about Heathcote on Show and to plan your trip, head to the official website.
At this point in human history, we've left the world 'normal' far behind us. We live in an age of out-there ideas across all mediums, from entertainment to food and beyond. So why limit yourself to routine plans, basic weekenders and tickets to the same old festivals when you could shake up your calendar with something a little more unique? There's no shortage of offbeat events taking place in New South Wales in 2023, so we've partnered with Destination NSW to showcase some of the more left-of-centre and memorable attractions across this vast state. From existential dread to fabulous festivals and some good old-fashioned silly fun, we invite you to consider the following...
You'll know Untitled Group best as the crew behind hit music events such as Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Grapevine Gathering. But as it turns out, these guys have some chops when it comes to making top-notch booze, too. They've gone and launched their own vodka brand, Ugly — a new Australian-made spirit crafted from imperfect apples that would otherwise be headed straight to landfill. Made in Melbourne in collaboration with the pre-batched cocktail experts at 80proof Liquor, the new drop is distilled five times to create an extra smooth sip without any residual apple flavour. It uses unwanted fruit sourced from the Goulburn Valley, with the apples containing a starch extract that works similarly to the potatoes in regular vodka. An innovative response to the issue of food wastage, Ugly gives new life to imperfect fruit that would otherwise be chucked out, having not made the cut to end up in the neat piles of good-looking apples at the supermarket. This preference for perfection contributes a huge amount of food waste to landfill, which leads to hefty CO2 emissions. After 80proof co-founder Danny Grant witnessed the impacts first-hand while on his research trips and talking to farmers, he was inspired to create a new drink that would help undo some of the damage. An initial limited-run batch of Ugly has hit shelves, having rescued an estimated 20 tonnes of unwanted apples from heading to landfill. Ugly Vodka clocks in at 40% ABV and is priced at $64.99 RRP. You can grab a bottle online. Images: Michael Woods
There is a lot of hype surrounding the remake of Stephen King's It, an adaptation of the 1986 novel (and 1990 Tim Curry-starring mini-series, of course) in which a murderous clown terrorises a group of Maine children, due on September 7. If you can't wait until then to get your Pennywise fix (if you're into terrifying clowns), and if you happen to be on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles, you'll find a two-storey replica of 'where IT lives' open to the public and totally free. Groups of seven will be guided by 'Georgie' through the 464 square-metre house, room by room, through immersive film-inspired scenes complete with authentic set props, "disorienting images", jump-scares and shit-your-pants terror, for what will probably be the longest 20 minutes of your life. What's the catch? There isn't one, really. But visitors are advised to "be prepared to be scared" and enter at their own risk. They also have to sign a waiver beforehand. "People with medical and emotional conditions should not enter The IT Experience: Neibolt House Hollywood including, without limitation, those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, anxiety or emotional disorders, fear of enclosed spaces, medical sensitivity to dizziness, movement or disorientation, and expectant mothers." You know those crappy haunted houses you get at run-down theme parks where the animatronics don't work and the scariest thing you might find is a used condom? We've got a feeling this will not be one of those things. From August 14 until September 10, 1–11pm. See 'The IT Experience' for more information.
Socials have been abuzz for the past couple of weeks with the news that KFC, one of the most hallowed fast food institutions, is hosting an 11-course degustation dinner in collaboration with Surry Hills fine diner Nel. In the two weeks after the news broke, more than 24,000 hungry and curious Sydneysiders added their name to a lottery, in the hopes of scoring an elusive seat at the three-night dinner series. I was lucky enough to score an invite to the media preview for a first peek at the mad scientist-like creations of celebrated chef Nelly Robinson. Here's everything that happened. THE VIBE The dinner takes place in an airy warehouse space at the end of an unmarked Alexandria alleyway, at the entrance to which lies the most unobtrusive of red carpets. Already this isn't feeling like a typical dinner. Once inside, there's free-flowing pre-dinner sparkling in a staging area that is dominated by what your correspondent thought was a fluffy cloud hanging over the bar. Then it's pointed out to me that I'm looking at it from the wrong angle. It turns out that the focal point of the room is, in fact, an illuminated cloud that takes the unmistakable form of a KFC drumstick, because of course it is. We soon move into the spacious, elegant dining room, which is all dark tones and understated pendant lighting. Once seated, a candle is brought to the table, lit and glasses are topped up. It's showtime. THE FOOD Eleven courses of KFC with a wine pairing to boot? Challenge accepted. Course One: You Call That a Burger? This KFC burger-inspired take on Nel's signature savoury marshmallow is a mind-boggling delight. It's light, it's fluffy, it nearly falls apart in your fingers and immediately disintegrates on contact with your tongue — but it also hits the sweet, salty, umami notes of a burger. Course Two: Zinger Katsu Who would have ever thought that a micro Zinger could be so satisfying? But enough about my last Grindr date. Course two of this KFC feast is an immediate hit at the table, a two-bite appetiser featuring a finger-sized Zinger patty on a pillowy oblong of deep-fried potato finished in katsu jus, and then topped with a drizzle of curry mayo and a dusting of dill. I would very much like this in burger form. Course Three: Supercharged Wings Wicked wings, but light them on fire. Perfectly crunchy and juicy wings are presented on a bed of charcoal sticks that are lit on fire at the table — because who doesn't love dinner and a show — which makes them about 15 percent better than a normal KFC wing. Course Four: Potato and Gravy Remember that candle I mentioned earlier? By the time our beautifully brown, perfectly spherical potato buns are placed on the table after the amuses-bouche are cleared, the candle has melted. No, it's not a cheapo that couldn't even last until mains, but in fact made of KFC chicken fat (what else) which, now completely liquefied, is garnished at the table with a couple of rounds of gravy and into which the potato buns can be dipped. And they are. Liberally. Course Five: Zinger Kingfish The first of the mains is, in the very best way, an absolute mindfuck. Slightly torched kingfish is coated in a crumb of the eleven secret herbs and spices and served on a bed of ever-so-smoky yoghurt slaw — itself an elegant take on the classic KFC side. Though it could have very well been actual KFC coleslaw. At this stage up was down and left was right. In introducing the dish, Robinson told us that there was some resistance from team KFC around putting fish on the menu, but he stuck to his guns and the menu is all the better for him having done so. Course Six: Tongue Twister/Twister Sister I still remember when the Twister was launched. Wraps were having a moment thanks to the Atkins diet and variations incarnations thereof (the 90s were truly wild) and it was like Christmas had come early for this chunky, primary school-aged kid who could not get enough fried chicken. Any excitement I might have had about lower-carb KFC was quickly dashed, however, when my first (and to-date only) Twister led to a bout of gastro... So when I discover that the second main course of the evening was a two-part take on the KFC wrap, I'm a little sceptical. That is, until I see the Colonel's face on a plate — or at least a colourful interpretation of it made of emulsified fried chicken, lettuce, tomato and pepper mayo. Our task: pick up the plate and lick the Colonel right off it. Not in a million years did I ever think I'd be tonguing old mate Sanders, but now that I've had a chicken fat candle and KF-fish, I guess the rulebook is out the window. To accompany this surprisingly sensuous dish comes a jazzed-up take on a Twister in the form of a fried chicken taco on a soft spinach tortilla and finished with lettuce, pearl barley risotto, sundried tomato, pepper mayo and an edible flower. It's very, very good. Course Seven: Popcorn Chicken You know what's better than popcorn chicken? Popcorn chicken in a creamy celeriac and mushroom soup with fresh gnocchi and fragrant basil oil. Says my dining companion: "Next time I get popcorn chicken, I'm going to buy a tin of Campbell's cream of mushroom to go with it." Sure, it's a cheat version of this silky, umami-laden dish, but I suggest you consider doing the same. Course Eight: La Di Da Drumstick AKA Fried Gold A dramatic hush suddenly descends upon the room. From the moment the first tall, glass, smoke-filled cloche enters the dining room for the final savoury course, the anticipation for what we know is coming is truly palpable. Underneath, revealed in a hypnotically synchronised flourish, lies a single KFC drumstick. But, reader, this is no ordinary drumstick. This is a gently smoke-infused piece of original recipe resting on a bed of black garlic and cauliflower purée, quinoa and edible gold, and looked like something out of a fairy tale. It tasted as good as it looked. Course Nine: Chips for Dessert Facts: fries dipped in ice cream is a god-tier pairing. For me, this is usually happening when coming out of a drive-through with one hand trying to get my soft serve-to-chip ratio just right, while the other hand is actually trying to drive. No such theatrics are needed for this first of three desserts, however, as I practically inhale this delightful dish of a single dehydrated, de-starched potato chip with wattleseed ice cream and burnt pineapple and mead purée. Course Ten: Our Chocolate Mousse Here, generous nugget-sized serves of light and airy chocolate mousse are dipped in liquid nitrogen and topped with popping candy. I've never eaten chocolate mousse — or any mousse, for that matter — with my hands, but this is so finger lickin' good (you know I had to) that all decorum flew the coop (I'll stop now). Course Eleven: Petit Krusher This is a creative take on an after-dinner mint inspired by the gone-but-not-forgotten KFC Krusher. I'd tell you what this tasted like but, despite being told to have this truffle ball-looking morsel in one bite, I somehow forgot how to eat and ended up inelegantly spraying most of this all over the table. But after all, what's KFC without a bit of mess? THE VERDICT This dinner series might begin on April Fool's Day, but it's no joke. It's a clever, creative menu that serves as both a love letter to KFC and a truly fascinating exploration of the possibilities of fried chicken. A wanky take? Perhaps. But when I'm eating KFC with knives and forks and liquid nitrogen and, it must be said, an excellent wine pairing, the least I can do is get a bit extra with a review. I was asked by a colleague if the meal is as good as big bucket of KFC, and the answer is both yes and no. This dinner doesn't hit the same spot that only a Family Feast can, but that's not the point. It's pure escapism — fun for the sake of fun, an opportunity to just enjoy what's in front of you. And these days, who can argue with that?
Named the live music capital of the world back in 2018, Melbourne's gig scene is legendary — and, even after a tough couple of pandemic-affected years when it comes to live performances, it has the hefty array of venues to prove it. But every city can always use more places for more bands to play, which is where St Kilda's latest addition comes in. Get ready for gigs with a breeze right by the seaside, because you'll find Palace Foreshore adjacent to the Palais Theatre and Luna Park. Billed as a summer venue, the new outdoor music space will start hosting live gigs this November, and will be installed fresh each year when the weather is warm. That means that soaking up tunes, and the sunshine, all with Port Phillip Bay as a backdrop is now on your annual agenda. [caption id="attachment_814905" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Amy Whelan[/caption] Doing the honours to christen the venue: an initial lineup that starts with Sam Fender in mid-November, then welcomes in The Black Crowes, Tim Minchin, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and more. Keshi and Rei Brown, Six60 and Grentperez, and The Teskey Brothers and Cory Henry all also have dates with the venue — with more acts to be confirmed. Global entertainment outfit Live Nation has teamed up with Publica Australia, Pavilion Australia and the City of Port Phillip on the venue, which will host everything from day-long festivals to headline gigs — and can welcome in 5000 people per show. [caption id="attachment_876098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Galea[/caption] Live Nation owns and operates the Palais Theatre, too, so it knows the neighbourhood. In Palace Foreshore's case, the new venue has also received funding support from the Australian Government's Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund, which aims to help get the arts and entertainment sector back to its best after the chaotic last few years. Here, that money will help the venue upgrade its outdoor site facilities, and also support Aussie talents. PALACE FORESHORE 2022-23 FIRST GIGS: Friday, November 18 — Sam Fender Sunday, November 20 — The Black Crowes Tuesday, November 22 — Keshi + Rei Brown Saturday, November 26 — An evening with Tim Minchin Thursday, December 1 — Six60 + Grentperez Sunday, December 4 — The Teskey Brothers + Cory Henry Saturday, December 10 — King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Palace Foreshore will start hosting gigs in St Kilda, adjacent to the Palais Theatre and Luna Park, from mid-November 2022. For more information, head to the venue's website.
After a sold-out run at Perth’s Proximity Festival, theatremaker and dramaturge Hallie Shellam will be bringing her show home for its Melbourne premiere. Is This Somewhere You’ve Been Before? is, in many ways, not your average theatre piece. To start with, the performance is played out with one audience member at a time. A one-on-one discussion turns into an interrogation, in an attempt to remember an event that never even happened. Secondly, it plays with the olfactory senses, such as smell and taste, to explore where memory and imagination collide. By integrating these senses, the theatre piece takes on an unexpected dimension, as well as commenting on the effect of the ephemeral in the digital age. This part forensic interview, part dramatic reenactment is as innovative as it is interactive. Is This Somewhere You’ve Been Before? is part of Metanoia Live Works Program at Brunswick’s newest performance venue, The Mechanics Institute. Bookings are essential, so don’t delay.
Inspired by owners Stephen and Niharika Hogan's recent jaunts across South America, Onda brings a healthy dose of colour and good times vibes to Richmond. It's a playful Bridge Road space with a vibrant fitout of botanical artwork and polished brass. Stephen, who is also the restaurant's head chef, uses South America flavours throughout the menu and leans on his experience in kitchens across Melbourne and New Zealand (Chin Chin, Bistro Guillaume, St. Ali and Sir Charles to name just a few). A bright and lively menu complements its surrounds, starring generous plates like the grilled wagyu rump cap with bone marrow-toasted croutons, chimichurri and beef jugo; and a barramundi baked in corn husk. Light, fresh additions include a kingfish ceviche with purple yam crisps and coconut chicken wings, while vegetarians will be just as satisfied diving into dishes like whole roast cauliflower with puffed buckwheat crumb or mozzarella chipa puffs (Paraguayan-style cheese rolls) with dark mole sauce. When you're done with savoury bites, we recommend ordering the the black sesame and chocolate dessert cigars. Loaded with dulce de leche and banana, the cigars look as good as they taste. Extending the light-hearted and colourful vibes is the drinks list — a couple of bubbly options and a lineup of fun signature cocktails prove a perfect match to the Onda mood.
When you're feeling a little bit fancy, Left Bank Melbourne offers pretty great views of the Yarra and the city skyline, with the cocktails and lounge vibes to match. This bar and restaurant is open from the early morning to late into the night with a wide-ranging menu to suit any occasion. Kick the afternoon off right with a round of oysters prepared three ways ($16.50 for three and $29.50 for six) to try these slimy morsels drizzled in a raspberry mignonette, chilli mint mango and decadent caviar pickled ginger. Add a bottle of bubbles or a round of spritzes to the order and you're well on your way to having a luxurious day out in the city. As the day stretches on, you can opt for a series of small and large plates of modern Australian food as well as some classic pizzas and burgers. Left Bank Melbourne's supper menu is also a great win for those needing late night nibbles — served from 10:30pm. Grab some aged mozzarella and leek arancini ($18), wagyu sliders ($21) and some more pizza until the kitchen closes late in the evening Cocktails from the impressive bar menu will certainly be on the agenda, too. Grab La Dolce Vita ($23) made from blood orange gin, lemonade, blackberries sage and Prosecco or the Agave Inferno ($25) made with cumin infused tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, coriander and chilli. Alternatively, you can have a big day on the wines, beers or ciders. Whatever you choose, you'll have a super glam day or night down by the Yarra River. Head to Left Bank Melbourne's website to book a table.
Earlier this week, we were pretty floored by the sci-fi-turned-reality that is the underwater home. Now, the latest in architecture is once again daring us to new extremes — this time in the form of the jaw-dropping Cliff House. Conjured up by Melbourne company Modscape, the five-storey dwelling clings to your regular cliff face, affording dramatic ocean views, avoiding neighbours and enabling coastal development without the dreaded high-rise skyline. It's also the most terrifying holiday home we've ever seen. We're not sure who has the cojones to live here, as this is next level extreme real estate — for example, is that last storey a pool or a ocean-accessing hole? Overall, according to the Modscape site, the design is "inspired by the way barnacles cling to the hull of a ship... visualised as a natural extension of the cliff face rather than an addition to the landscape, creating an absolute connection with the ocean." The Cliff House came about as a response to an increasing number of requests from clients wanting to inhabit Australia's more treacherous coastal sections. Obviously, the big question — how does the house not plunge perilously into the ocean? Modscape's modular design and prefabrication technologies are crucial to the concept. Several modules are stacked on top of one another and kept in place with engineered steel pins. You enter the house through a top floor carport, where you meet an elevator that descends to each of the five floors. As far as interior design goes, the mock-up emphasises minimalism, allowing for total appreciation of the location. At this stage, the Cliff House is still in concept phase, but the company is confident that given the right cliff face, it'll be totally doable — if you're game. Via Inhabitat.
It's not often that you look at a Christmas present and you're more interested in the wrapping than what's inside. But with MECCA's Holiday 2023 artwork, this might just be the case. The Australian brand has become one of the biggest beauty retailers across Australia and New Zealand throughout its 17 year tenure, establishing itself as the place for Aussies and Kiwis to shop for high quality skin, make up, hair and fragrance products. For the past eight years, MECCA has worked with the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne to find an artist to create their holiday packaging, which adorns MECCA's carry bags and gift boxes throughout the silly season. The design also acts as a backdrop for MECCA's very own holiday gift sets, which include everything from Christmas crackers filled with sunscreen to tree ornaments made out of lip oil. Not only will MECCA's packaging get a makeover, the chosen artist will also have their designs shown in the National Gallery of Victoria, a huge platform for budding artists. The artist who was bestowed this honour for 2023 is Kaylene Whiskey from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in the northwest of South Australia. To create her design, Whiskey combined pop culture references – such as the Wonder Woman-inspired figure that appears throughout her work – with her knowledge of Anangu traditions,reflecting elements of Whiskey's life in her community. With her vibrant, colourful design, Whiskey wanted to show the culture of the Anangu community and what she learnt growing up, layered with how the current generation of children from her community are growing up. Created using former tourism flyers, Whiskey shows how these two generations can exist alongside each other, illustrating Anangu traditions like hunting amidst the Australian landscape while women sing and play instruments and a superhero figure flies above. Whiskey's artwork can be summed up by a phrase she plugged herself whilst creating the design, which hits the nail on the head when it comes to the holiday season and MECCA: "Everyone together, looking so good". MECCA Holiday 2023 is now available online and in stores throughout New Zealand and Australia. Head to the MECCA website to see the full range of Whiskey's artwork.
Australians have hotly anticipated the opening of the very first Il Mercato Centrale in Melbourne ever since it was first announced in 2022. At that time, it was expected to launch late the same year. But it's now 2024, and we still have no hard date for its opening. The highly ambitious venture came across a heap of setbacks, as the team behind it is determined to create a hospitality venue unlike anything that Melbourne has ever seen. All the red tape has now been sorted, however, and construction is charging ahead at 546 Collins Street at lightning speed. [caption id="attachment_856983" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Il Mercato Centrale in Turin[/caption] First off, the 3500-square-metre space, spread across three stories, truly is enormous. The first floor will have a market feel to it but with more flash, fun and tech. Each of the vendors will be slinging their own specialty goods, with none competing with the other. There'll be a bakery, patisserie, pasta shop, pizza joint, cheese maker, butcher and seafood stall, to name a few. Here, you can get fresh produce to take away or order it to be cooked up right in front of you. That means that you can buy a steak to eat at home or ask them to pop it on the grill while you start on some wine that you ordered from the bar right in the centre of the ground floor. Want to make it a surf and turf? Order some grilled calamari from the seafood stall next door and create your own feast. Conveniently, you'll be able to order from any and all vendors all in one transaction by using a QR code — or even pre-order from your office to pick up when it's ready. It going to be one of the easiest Melbourne food halls to order from. Then, on the second floor of Melbourne's Il Mercato Centrale, you'll find a fine-dining restaurant, cocktail bar, pasta restaurant (all made by hand), pizzeria, gelateria, wine bar, a gin and vodka distillery, and live music stage. We told you, it's huge. Up here, you'll even be able to order some of the food from downstairs to be delivered to you. Say you're sipping on a negroni at the bar upstairs and get a bit hungry. All you've got to do is order a cheeseboard and perhaps some slices of pizza on your phone, and the team will bring it up to you. If it all works out how the crew wants it to, it will be a huge feat of tech and service ingenuity. The top floor of Il Mercato Centrale will then be dedicated to private events and masterclasses, where each of the vendors will run workshops on their particular trades each month. [caption id="attachment_856981" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Il Mercato Centrale Rome[/caption] There will even be a big outdoor seating area right on Collins Street, something that was not easy for the Il Mercato Centrale team to secure. Taking Concrete Playground on a tour of the site, General Manager Gary Patikkis couldn't share the details about the outside area, but he noted that it is set to be unlike any other street-level drinking and dining space in the CBD. The venue will have a 3am liquor license (another rarity for new venues in Melbourne) and be open until from 7am–12am every day of the week. Patikkis was reluctant to share any opening dates, but rest assured that Il Mercato Centrale is coming. And Melburnians and visitors alike hopefully won't have to wait much longer before being able to dine on a massive range of Italian eats in the Victorian capital's CBD. [caption id="attachment_856978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Il Mercato Centrale Firenze[/caption] Mercato Centrale Melbourne is set to open at 546 Collins Street, Melbourne. We'll share more information as it is announced, and you can head to the venue's website in the interim. Top image: Il Mercato Centrale Milan.
Evie's Disco Diner is a queer-friendly, bottomless brunch-serving, drag-bingo-playing bar that's loved by Fitzroy's late-night revellers. It's big, brash and doesn't take itself too seriously. This has been a winning combo for the team running the Gertrude Street haunt — one of our picks for Melbourne's best bars for dancing. But when they decided to open a spot in the CBD, they didn't want to replicate this formula exactly. Instead, new bar Champagne Problems is like Evie's grown-up sister. She still likes to party and have a big night out, but now prefers to do so while sipping on signature cocktails, and snacking on shared plates and cheese fondue. The crew running the show describes the aesthetic and vibe as "elevated camp". Where Evie's accents are all bright pink, Champagne Problems is fully embracing lime green, from the neon sign out front, to the chairs, painted walls and cocktails like its appletini and Japanese slipper — and yes, we are as confused as you are by Midori's unexpected return to so many Melbourne bars. The team has also left plenty of room inside for when long drinking and dining sessions lead into dancing around the bar late at night. A regular lineup of DJs will help set this party mood as well. But before the party gets going, plenty of food is up for grabs. Small plates dominate the menu, like devilled eggs, prawn cocktails, seared scallops with beets and roasted garlic puree, oysters with champagne granita, and cheese and meat boards. A few bigger dishes also feature, like the lobster roll, beef burger, steak frites and duck a l'orange. Late at night, the kitchen serves decadent truffle gruyere jaffles and caviar bumps. And cheese fondue is also on the cards for winter, great for big group hangs. You can pair these eats with beer and wine, but Champagne Problems is more about cocktails — surprisingly, not champagne. When the sun is shining, you can sit on the outdoor tables with limoncello and yuzu spritzes and margaritas. Those wanting the harder stuff can try the cherry negroni or coconut old fashioned. Classics can also be whipped up without fuss if the signatures don't do it for you. If you loved drinking and dancing at Evie's but now feel a little too old for it, consider a trip to its older sibling in the CBD. You'll find Champagne Problems at 238 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, open 4pm–late from Wednesday to Sunday. For more details, head to the venue's website. Images: Luke Robinson, Drop Media
In the coming years, the Gold Coast is set to welcome a new man-made surf wave pool, as well as a hotel and resort at Dreamworld. Later in 2021, it'll also boast a cabana-filled oceanside precinct on a rooftop. But before all of that comes to fruition, the popular southeast Queensland tourist destination is set to score another new attraction — with its new $60.5 million, six-level art gallery opening its doors on Saturday, May 8. First announced back in 2018, and given a launch date earlier this year, the new addition is part of HOTA, Home of the Arts in Surfers Paradise. Simply called the HOTA Gallery, it has been built at the top of the site's concert lawn, overlooking HOTA's outdoor stage. It's now the country's largest art gallery outside of a capital city and, obviously, it's giving art lovers both locally and Australia-wide plenty to get excited about. Designed by Melbourne-based architects ARM, the multi-floor gallery spans more than 2000 square metres of exhibition space. That includes a main area for touring exhibitions, a permanent collection space across three levels and a children's gallery. There's also an area for storing works that aren't on display, which is pivotal given that the site houses the Gold Coast's $32 million, 4400-piece City Collection. [caption id="attachment_811097" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Back wall: Nicola Moss Local Air 2021; Kirsty Bruce Wonderwall 2021; Aaron Chapman The Towers Project 2021; Back right: Michael Candy, Steal the Sunshine 2021; Front: Ali Bezer I Can Hear Water 2021; SOLID GOLD: Artists from Paradise, HOTA Gallery. Photo by Paul Harris Photography.[/caption] View-wise, there's much to look at already if you're keen on gazing at creative pieces. Running until July 4, Solid Gold: Artists from Paradise, showcases new works by Gold Coast artists, while Lyrical Landscapes: The Art of William Robinson pays tribute to one of Australia's greatest landscape painters until October 3. There's also Contemporary Masters from New York: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, which makes its world premiere until February 27 – and features 70 works from the likes of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Richard Prince and Jeff Koons. In the children's gallery, World Upside Down runs until October 10, and is designed to be interactive for audiences of all ages. Visitors can also peer at more than just the art gracing the walls. The building's windows offer a stellar view of Surfers Paradise — and, outside, sculptural installations await. Queensland Waanyi artist Judy Watson's addition to the site heroes Indigenous native plants, and includes a pathway that forms a topographical map of Nerang prior to European settlement. It also spans Piccabeen basket and dilly bag sculptures designed with Quandamooka artists Libby Harward and Elisa Jane Carmichael, and features a two-metre-tall feather canopy and snippets of local language sandblasted onto the bleachers. And Sri-Lankan born, Sydney based artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran has crafted a six-metre-high, double-sided sculpture made out of bronze, concrete, neon and fibreglass that's designed to reflect the vibrancy of the new building. [caption id="attachment_811082" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brett Boardman[/caption] Back inside the building, a rooftop bar and restaurant is also opening its doors. Called The Exhibitionist Bar, it takes over 233 square metres, and pairs panoramic views with tapas, share plates, cocktails, wine, beer and house-made sodas. Both indoor and outdoor terrace seating are a feature, and you'll get a vantage that sprawls over the Goldie's waterways, Surfers' Paradise skyline and the hinterland. Plus, in terms of decor, the venue takes its cues from rainforests — as does the immensely colourful building itself, which is inspired by William Robinson's 'The Rainforest'. HOTA Gallery and The Exhibitionist Bar will both open at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise on Saturday, May 8. For more information, visit the HOTA website. Top images: Brett Boardman
If you're looking for somewhere new and exceptional to eat, drink or sleep, where in the world should you head? That's the perennial question, whether you're keen to make the most of your own city, visit somewhere else around Australia or venture overseas. Here's one way to make your next pick: by working through the selections on Condé Nast Traveler's 2025 Hot List, four of which you'll find right here Down Under. Two Aussie restaurants made the list of top new eateries. Two hotels did the same on their corresponding rundown. The 2025 Hot List features venues from all around the globe; think: eateries in Paris, São Paulo, Girona, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Kigali, St Moritz and more, and hotels everywhere from Botswana, Seychelles, Japan and Austria to Belgium, Greece, Mexico and Grenada. Among them, locations in Sydney, Brisbane, Yamba and Melbourne also carved out a spot. [caption id="attachment_986313" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christopher Pearce[/caption] First, where to dine. Sydney's place on the restaurant list won't come as a surprise. Adding to the many accolades notched up by Josh and Julie Niland, the pair's Saint Peter at the Grand National has earned Condé Nast Traveler's attention. "This is where the who's who of Sydney are keen to dine right now," said the publication of the relocated restaurant. "With traceability at its core, straight from sea to store, Niland's whole-fish cooking remains a trailblazer worldwide, and the new outpost of Saint Peter is proof," it also notes. Brisbanites, you also have a Condé Nast Traveler-approved eatery at home, with Supernormal Brisbane making the cut. Restaurateur Andrew McConnell brought the Melbourne-born chain to the Sunshine State in 2024, to a prime waterfront spot in the state capital's CBD. As the publication notes, though, he "doesn't do cut-and-paste jobs". It continues: "McConnell has taken one of his most beloved outlets — a neon-lit Melbourne laneway diner — and given it a tropical makeover to suit this riverside setting". If you're eager to book in your next getaway without leaving the country, Yamba and Melbourne are your destinations. So, you have coastal town and bustling city options. With the first, the New South Wales spot's Il Delfino Seaside Inn made the list. "Perched on the cliffside and peering over the Pacific Ocean, the original 1940s wave-lashed building has been transformed into a chic seaside inn that feels snatched from the Mediterranean," Condé Nast Traveler advises. In the Victorian capital, Melbourne Place on Russell Street nabbed a spot — and a glowing description. "This striking rust-coloured 191-room hotel built from local bricks, concrete and hardwood is a distillation of what makes this thrumming city tick," the publication notes. Also getting some love in the process: the hotel's sky-high offerings. "The rooftop, with its bar and retractable-rooftop restaurant Mid Air, is encased by a soaring brick wall and feels like a floating fortress with dramatic portholes that look like giant eyes watching over the city. It's here where everyone from guests to locals gather, casually lounging on sofas and seated at tables, with some of the best views across the city." For more information about Condé Nast Traveler's 2025 Hot List, head to the publication's website. Top image: Earl Carter.
When you're fresh from donning armour and sparking an international frenzy in one of TV's biggest franchises, what comes next? For Ryan Corr, following up his stint as Ser Harwin Strong in House of the Dragon means sliding into a six-part Brisbane-shot ABC dramedy about loss and mental health. In its themes, tone, scale and budget, In Limbo is in another world to Game of Thrones and its prequel series — it's about a thirtysomething man struggling with the sudden death of his best friend and his mental health in general, and it's also a supernatural buddy comedy — but the Australian star wouldn't have that contrast of parts any other way. "I guess subconsciously, I try to get them as different as possible, like going from a bikie to a man in a suit," Corr says of picking his roles two decades into his career. "I think that I do that because I've done this since I was a kid, and I'm in pursuit of that challenge, and knocking down boundaries that I didn't think I could necessarily do." Corr has done plenty since earning his first screen credit as a teenager in Aussie series The Sleepover Club. Most homegrown TV shows since have featured the charismatic actor, from Blue Heelers, Neighbours, Underbelly and Tangle to Love Child, Cleverman, Hungry Ghosts and Wakefield — and, of course, his 60-plus-episode run on Packed to the Rafters. On the big screen, he made his movie debut in the film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are, then added everything from rom-com Not Suitable for Children and horror sequel Wolf Creek 2 to biopic Holding the Man and bikie drama 1% to his resume, plus Ali's Wedding, Mary Magdalene, Ladies in Black and High Ground as well. Across a body of work with no shortage of highlights, his two most recent projects still stand out. House of the Dragon had Corr playing the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms and, amid the global attention that followed, sparked an onslaught of 'Six Things You Might Not Know About Ser Harwin Strong' and 'Ryan Corr Has Gone From Blue Water High to Westeros'-style articles. "I don't see myself as a six-foot-five strong knight, and sure as hell not the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms," he says. "But the challenge was how do I replicate that in my idea of what strength is and what the essence is? And can I portray that?" In Limbo, which is streaming now on ABC iView and airing weekly on ABC TV, swaps physical brawn for emotional vulnerability. After crane operator Charlie loses his lifelong best mate Nate (Bob Morley, Love Me), everything unsurprisingly changes, but Nate remains a presence in his life from the afterlife. "When I got the script, it really moved me. I found it laugh-out-loud funny, and really upsetting at times — and I thought it was really fresh. I don't think we've tried to deal with themes like this in quite this way before," Corr advises. There's a sense of responsibility that comes with a series like In Limbo, as well as that challenge that Corr is always seeking. Thanks to its subject matter, the show always felt personal while he was making it, too. Corr chatted with Concrete Playground about all about the above, having a profound reaction to the project, balancing In Limbo's tones and themes, his past year and his career highlights so far. ON MAKING A COMEDY THAT'S THOUGHTFUL AND WEIGHTY — AND IN LIMBO'S PERSONAL FEEL "There was a much longer rehearsal process than usual, where we just got to sit down together, weigh in and talk about what we were about to tackle subject-wise — and there were safety networks all around us while we did so — and also start to share and open up about our own lives and experiences, both direct and indirectly, to do with loss, so that we could develop trust together as people while we navigate these ideas. Because I think the series has to have heart. I found that everyone in the making of it — the crew all up in Brisbane, everyone that read this script — had a profound reaction to it and said 'I want to be a part of this'. I think you can feel everyone leaning into it in the final product. I hope so. I've, of course, experienced loss, as have most people that I know. I think it's a very personal tale. I very much based Charlie's relationship with Nate on some of my early childhood friends, who are a bridge past that now — we're not friends anymore, they're more like brothers and sisters, they are my family. So I very much know where that relationship lives, and the idea of losing one of them is the earth-shattering. We all actively worked through it, communicating with each other, personalising what we've been through and were going through, so that we could trust each other — and so you can invest the series with that heart and that meaning. I don't think it's possible if you don't." ON DRAWING UPON REALITY TO INFORM IN LIMBO'S MIX OF TONES AND GENRES "When I lost my grandfather, I was sitting around with a group of my friends and family, and we're all holding hands as he was literally leaving. And he did something funny in some of his final breaths, he made a funny noise or something. And so I found that my family were all holding each other and crying, and then laughing all of a sudden. We were saying goodbye to someone we love, and all of a sudden he made one of the funny noises and we laughed, and there was a wonderful lesson in that — it had both. And I think in life, it has both. And what In Limbo tries to explore is that — I think In Limbo is more about life than it is about death. Strangely, in the losing of Nate, Charlie discovers more about himself in the pursuit of trying to find answers about Nate. He becomes closer to his family, and it exposes things, it brings things to the forefront that he may have not been dealing with previously. And in a strange way, Nate guides Charlie through — in death, Nate helps Charlie through his life. And it's about the way that the people that are left continue to live, the way they come together, and the way they support each other and water those relationships and friendships, and help each other grieve and process. And that's what life is, you know? And within that, within this thing that we call life, there are often — at least I've found — moments of hysterical laughter, of mundane things that make you lose your shit laughing." ON PREPARING FOR IN LIMBO "Like with all characters, there are some parts that you research and some parts of yourself. I have some experiences with mental health myself personally, and with my family and with my friends. So it's not hard for me to go to places where I was in darker spaces with my anxiety and depression, and knowing what that felt like, and not being able to see the light. One the things that In Limbo brings up is that it's not always visible. In fact, it's very, very rarely visible. And I remember, just simply for me personally, that it wasn't until I was going through some shit for a couple of years until I was like 'oh, I don't think I'm happy right now' or 'I think what I'm feeling is muted. I don't feel the highs. I don't feel the lows'. I remember that being rather confronting, like 'oh [how long] have I felt like this for?". One of things that In Limbo tries to do is shed a bit of light on that. You ask more often if people are okay. When they say that they are, it's not always necessarily the full story. And it's about just trying a little further, it's about asking a little more and it's about checking on yourself. Everyone in In Limbo, we all have to pull from our personal worlds. This is an intimate story, and it's about family and it's about loss. So researching things like this, you have to draw from things in your own life, and then have an environment where you can leave that at the door and feel safe to expose it with other people and be safe going home afterwards. I think they very much made that environment for us." ON THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH TACKLING MENTAL HEALTH "It's not our responsibility to give answers or to hammer over the head any of our ideas around this — it's about starting a conversation, and I think that everyone in the creative process very much took that responsibility on board, and tried to keep that close through the shooting of it as our as our main drive. Our number-one prerogative was to take that responsibility seriously. You have responsibility to all characters you play. If you're doing it properly, it has to cost you something — and particularly with something like this, there's no phoning it in. So we made sure that being comfortable around dealing with these things, both as performers and as people, was right the forefront. And that we weren't trying to hand people any simple answers." ON WHAT CORR LOOKS FOR IN A PART "It can be a number of things, but usually something that challenges me or that I don't think I can do initially — something where I go 'all right, now we're gonna go over here'. It's about challenge and primarily it's about chase. It's about the pursuit of great writing and great directors. When you have language on your side, when you have great ideas on your side, that's the pursuit of this industry. It's raising to those writers and it's raising to those ideas — not making it about yourself and saying 'this is how it is when I feel', it's about trying to play your part in the whole of the narrative. It's really the pursuit of writing that excites me — and directors that, when you sit down and have meetings with them, the way they talk about their ideas gets you excited and inspires you, and you can see it as they talk. It's working with creatives who have a similar pursuit as I do." ON JUMPING FROM HOUSE OF THE DRAGON TO IN LIMBO "Obviously there's a difference in the scale and the reach, but honestly there's not a big difference between In Limbo and Thrones. There's more people, but it's ultimately always the same job. In fact, if anything, I find that the the bigger they get and the more expansive, the less personal they become, and the less involved with the people you're working with. You can shoot a scene over half a week [on House of the Dragon] — one scene of a sequence over half a week. On In Limbo, we're shooting 16 scenes the day and then waking up at 4am to do it again the next day. And we had bugger all time to do it in, like five weeks, so it becomes a completely different exercise in trusting each other. [With House of the Dragon] you just expand upon that. Instead of going into a house that we've decked out in Brisbane, it's a giant setpiece that is an operational castle — you can walk up the stairs, and there's 30 people teaching someone dance for next week, teams and teams of people. It's the same thing extended upon, obviously, because there's huge amounts of money involved, and because the shows are so big. I just tried to go in and fill Harwin's shoes the best way I knew how. There wasn't a huge amount of him in the book, so I had to fill in the lines. That part of it was exactly the same as sitting in the lounge room with In Limbo… working through these scenes, mining them for the best ideas, workshopping the best ways to do it, rehearsing it and then getting out there and trying to give it our all." ON THE PROJECT ON CORR'S RESUME THAT STANDS OUT "Honestly, every one — but two things. Kevin Jackson is my acting mentor who's just recently passed away — he was the acting teacher at NIDA for many, many years, and is responsible for framing the lives and artistry of many people that I know, including myself. I went at 17. I'd done teen shows, and I made the decision at that age — I was like 'I want take this seriously and I want to study it'. So I took myself out of the industry, went to drama school and that's where I met a man in Kevin that taught me what great writing was and how what we did was above ourselves. Like I say, he is 'the writer is God'. He's the reason that I pursue writing the way that I do. It's not about how you feel, it's not about bringing it down to you. It's about pain reaching these ideas. Can you make something of these ideas? And therefore it's universal. When I was growing up, I took a lot of my lessons, my understanding of emotion, my understanding of love, my understanding of grief, from a lot of the films that I inhaled. That was my go-to, that's what spoke to me and that felt important to me. And so, if I'm going to do it as my career, Kevin was very much a pivotal part of helping me understand what it is that we do. Also Holding the Man, I would say as an experience, as a film, working with [director] Neil Armfield, working with Tommy [playwright and screenwriter Tommy Murphy]. And having for the first time the yardstick of what I was doing, as my job slightly changed. It wasn't just 'here's my version of a character and I hope it's good' — it was someone's family. And I met that family, and I had them hand over their journals and their personal belongings, and I had his friends reach out from all throughout Melbourne. And we had the Victorian AIDS Council say, 'hey, can we can we do rehearsals here?'. I was just overwhelmed with the amount of compassion and the amount of love that reached towards us in doing it. And it made me realise that my job here wasn't to do a good job — it was to represent a real person's memory and their legacy and their love to the absolute nth degree that I possibly can. That felt important and, like with In Limbo, I felt a responsibility to the people that I was playing and to what it meant, and that really resonated with me throughout the years. It's not like you can have jobs like that all the time, but it really did entrench what this industry, what this thing that I call a job, what the arts can be and what it can do and how important it is." In Limbo streams via ABC iView. Read our full review. House of the Dragon streams via Binge. Read our full review.
First dropping anchor with its debut season in 2022, Our Flag Means Death didn't wash up on streaming's shores like an unexpected message in a bottle. With a treasure chest of impressive talents involved, it arrived with definite fanfare, as expected of a Rhys Darby (Uproar)-led and Taika Waititi-executive produced series that also features the Thor: Love and Thunder filmmaker as a key co-star — and the director of its premiere episode. But the feeling of watching, especially as Our Flag Means Death cruised through later chapters in its initial ten-episode run, resembled discovering a new world. What started out as a kindhearted and satirical 18th century-set pirate comedy also became a sweet and earnest queer rom-com. Folks on-screen waiting to walk the plank weren't the only ones all a-quiver. Our Flag Means Death's ensemble runs deep, with Samson Kayo (Bloods), Ewen Bremner (Creation Stories), Joel Fry (Bank of Dave), Kristian Nairn (Game of Thrones), Matthew Maher (Hello Tomorrow!) and Nat Faxon (Loot) adding to the familiar faces, plus Vico Ortiz (The Sex Lives of College Girls), Con O'Neill (The Batman), David Fane (The Messenger) and Samba Schutte (Forspoken) also among the regulars. As guest stars in season one, Leslie Jones (BMF), Fred Armisen (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson), Will Arnett (The Morning Show), Tim Heidecker (Miracle Workers), Kristen Johnston (The Righteous Gemstones), Nick Kroll (Big Mouth), Kristen Schaal (What We Do in the Shadows), Claudia O'Doherty (Killing It), Angus Sampson (Bump) and Rory Kinnear (Men) made their presence known. Under creator David Jenkins (People of Earth), this group of actors helped the show find a mooring among the best new series that the year had to offer, and a renewal for a keenly anticipated second season. Now back from Thursday, October 5 via Binge in Australia and Friday, October 6 via Neon in New Zealand, Our Flag Means Death's return go-around is still a refreshing breeze and gleaming trove of gold. The premise has always glinted brightly itself, following Darby as self-styled 'gentleman pirate' Stede Bonnet. Born to a life of privilege, he felt that seafaring and swashbuckling was his calling, leaving his life on land behind to hop on a ship — details that all spring from reality. Jenkins isn't interested in telling the exact IRL tale, however. Consider those basics merely Our Flag Means Death's departure point. On-screen, Stede gets caught up in both a workplace comedy and a boatmance. The first springs from his certainty that there has to be a nicer way to glide through a pirate existence, and the second from his blossoming feelings for feared marauder Edward Teach (Waititi), aka Blackbeard. When season one wrapped up, Stede and Ed had found love in a buccaneering place, but also felt splashes of uncertainty about what their relationship means, leading to heartbreak and a breakup. Season two picks up with the show's motley crew of characters torn in two, with Stede and his loyal faction marooned on the island tourist destination that is The Republic of Pirates — fantasy is as much a part of Our Flag Means Death as comedy and romance — and Blackbeard back to his robbing and murdering ways on The Revenge. The series' attracted opposites will find their way onto the same deck again, but choppy waters are in store for their emotions. Similarly floating their way: rivalries, curses, old pals, new foes, betrayals, forgiveness, glorious silliness, trauma, lopped limbs and a merman. Before Our Flag Means Death, Darby and Waititi had teamed up on everything from Flight of the Conchords and the What We Do in the Shadows film to Wellington Paranormal and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. In what continues to be a dream pairing, the upcoming Next Goal Wins comes next. As Stede and Ed here, they're cutlass-crossed lovers learning how to genuinely be themselves, including going beyond easy archetypes. And, they're navigating complicated terrain in season two. Although joy still beams through Our Flag Means Death's second swim, warmth in its heart to hearts and laughs in general, darkness also lingers. If the first go-around was all about taking exuberant plunges, this follow-up is a season of yearning, coping, and directing hard gazes in Bonnet and Blackbeard's own directions in the always-complex pursuit of sincere happiness. That journey is shared around in Our Flag Means Death, as each member of Stede and Ed's crews — plus everyone that they cross paths with along the way — endeavours to carve out a space where only freedom swells. See also: the other romances that shimmer throughout the series like the waves, such as the Blackbeard-worshipping Black Pete (Maher) with Stede's offsider Lucius (Foad); and the nonbinary Jim (Ortiz) with their best friend Oluwande (Kayo) in season one, then with new crew member Archie (Madeleine Sami, Deadloch) in season two. Working out where everyone can belong beats at the heart of the show's workplace storylines, too. Whether fighting for better conditions or simply to avoid the worst of plundering the sea, the quest to truly feel at ease and at home keeps bobbing up. When Minnie Driver (Starstruck) and Rachel House (Heartbreak High) join the series as ex-pirates now selling antiques and poisoning each other to retain their amorous spark, the same notion sways through as well. It proves accurate again in the storyline surrounding Ruibo Qian's (Servant) Zhang Yi Sao, a soup seller who is more than what she seems — and takes a liking to Olu. While Our Flag Means Death constantly charts a course back to Stede and Ed, its exploration of identity, freedom and comfort spreads across its entire map. In season two, the series also dives deeper into not just subverting ideas of masculinity within the pirate realm, but into the experiences of women wanting to claim their own authentic lives. Parodying pirates with Darby and Waititi was reason enough to tune in when Our Flag Means Death first appeared, with a rewarding voyage resulting. Now that the show has locked in its ideal route, the delights keep coming. Waititi continues to demonstrate his knack for TV comedies, and for shows that fly like the wind in their own distinctive grooves. Reservation Dogs may've wrapped up perfectly with its sublime just-aired third season, but here's hoping that Our Flag Means Death joins What We Do in the Shadows in enjoying a hearty future. Check out the trailer for Our Flag Means Death season two below: Our Flag Means Death season two streams from Thursday, October 5 via Binge in Australia and Friday, October 6 via Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season one. Images: Nicola Dove/ HBO Max.
"Those books were around at the time and they were just incredibly funny. And they had scenes in them. It just seemed like the kind of thing that could get done," explains Andrew Dominik. "It seemed to express a particular aspect of the Australian character that everyone recognised. The books were just really funny, and it was that kind of larrikin — I mean, Chopper always had the perfect line for any occasion, and he'd make you laugh." A stack of tomes penned by Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read about his underworld life, criminal activities and incarceration. A director embarking upon his first feature. From there, an Australian classic sprung. Of course Chopper took its own path. Indeed, there's far more to the film than just bringing the eponymous figure to the screen; however, it began with filmmaker Dominik (Bono: Stories of Surrender) taking inspiration from Read's own words, then being pointed towards more detail for a deeper interrogation by the very same. "When I started working on it, I think the first draft very much just took the books verbatim — I took them as though they were real, and there was something about it, it just felt a bit thin. So I started to do a bit of research into his life," the writer/director tells Concrete Playground. "I basically went through, he had his arrest docket in the back of one of the books, so we just rang up every cop that arrested him." "There were these two cops that he accused of corruption and, as a result of that, they'd done an inquiry into these two policemen. And because of that, they had to account for Mark's life for every day for a six-month period that he was out of jail. And it was extraordinary. One of them still had the hand-up brief and it was like 4000 pages. Sitting through and reading that, a very different picture of a person emerged," Dominik advises. "So all of the stuff from the books at that point just became the fireworks, if you like — his style of presentation, how he handled dialogue, basically. But the behaviour that's in the film largely comes from that, trying to make sense of this person who would shoot someone and drive them to the hospital. Like, what's going on there?" "And that's when it got really interesting. And at that point, I don't know, you just sort of muddled through it. I had to teach myself how to write when I was writing Chopper, because I'd never really written anything before. It took a while." [caption id="attachment_1019038" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alessandro Levati/Getty Images[/caption] There's no sign of Dominik merely getting by in the finished film. Evident in every frame of the Eric Bana (Untamed)-starring crime dramedy — its guiding force considers it a comedy — is proof that this is one of Australian cinema's very best movies. Chopper kickstarted Dominik's feature career as a result, transformed Bana's from its Full Frontal and The Castle beginnings, and set the standard for every plunge into the Aussie underbelly that's followed. Twenty-five years on, it's still as much of a must-see as it was when it initially reached cinemas. The balancing act that the now-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Killing Them Softly, One More Time with Feeling, This Much I Know to Be True and Blonde filmmaker had to manage — one the one hand, boasting a wealth of material from Read himself to draw upon; on the other, also knowing how much of a grain of salt to take Chopper's own words with — is one of the reasons that it is the movie it is. How do you approach attempting to unpack someone as a character when they are, very famously and prolifically, spinning their own story about themselves as a character? And when they're really performing that character themselves? While we all tell, unfurl and consume narratives to make sense of the world, how do you dig into that when someone relays tales in such a dedicated, almost larger-than-life way, as Read did? Wrestling with these questions was also Dominik's task. Casting a lead actor that Read himself suggested, the impact of meeting Chopper's central figure on both the feature and Bana's performance, embracing the comic side, exploring human nature via a film about someone who was such a bundle of contradictions: these are all baked into Chopper's story, too, on its route to becoming an Australian classic. With the film back in Australian theatres since Thursday, August 21, 2025 to mark its 25th anniversary, we also chatted with Dominik about the above, whether there was ever anyone else in mind to play Read, digging into well-known figures across the filmmaker's career since — see: Jesse James and Robert Ford, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Marilyn Monroe, Bono, Mindhunter's serial killers — and what you learn when you make a feature like Chopper, plus more. On Balancing Read's Fondness for Storytelling — Including About Himself — with Reality and an Outside Perspective "Well, he's presented as somebody who has a passing relationship to truth anyway, that's a fantasist, in the film. I think most of the incidents in the film have some sort of counterpart in real life. There might be different people in them, but as far as the behaviour, it's all pretty —it doesn't come from nowhere. It's not made up in the sense that you might think. Even stuff like the dialogue between him and Jimmy Loughnan [Simon Lyndon, Troppo] in the courtroom is straight out of the court transcripts. And the stabbing is straight out of all of the statements that were taken at the time. So a lot of stuff is pretty accurate." [caption id="attachment_857753" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Scanned by Oscans Imaging in July 2021 on authority of Michele Bennett[/caption] On How Crucial Meeting with Read, After He Initially Declined, Was to the Film "It was amazing. It was kind of like I'd been dealing with something that was completely theoretical. I'd seen videotape of him. I'd exchanged letters with him. But to actually see the man himself and get a sense of him, and to get a sense of his emotional forcefield, if you like, it changed everything. It became a flesh and blood thing. And that first time I met him, I think I got more out of that conversation, Michelle and I went to Risdon Prison, and I just got more out of that than — it was extraordinary. That was where it really came to life, I think." On Whether It Was Always the Intention for Chopper to Have a Sense of Humour "I think of Chopper as a comedy. It's just that sort of thing of a human being a release valve is closer to the knuckle in Chopper, maybe. But he is, he's hilarious. I had a videotape of him from when Eric and I went and met him in Tasmania just before we started shooting, and it was about four hours long. And I remember I would put it in for people. They'd say 'what was it like?'. I'd say 'I'll show you'. And I'd just put it in for them, thinking 'okay, they're going to watch a few minutes of it' — and people would just sit there riveted for four hours watching the guy. He was such a great storyteller and so fucking hilarious. The stuff he would say. So it's just who he was. He can't help it. But even when you read police reports and stuff, the cops would be writing about how it was difficult to keep a straight face, 'he was hilarious as usual', that kind of thing." On Whether Dominik Had Anyone Else in Mind to Play Read, Apart From Chopper's Own Suggestion of Eric Bana "Not really. We must have seen over 300 people for the part. And there were a lot of actors who came in that were great and they could do a good performance and all that sort of stuff, but they weren't Mark. You needed somebody who could do the sort of anthropological aspects of character, too. And it was Mark who suggested him. I don't know what it was. He must have been watching Full Frontal or something, and thought 'maybe that guy could do me?'. And it just seemed like a ridiculous idea, like suggesting casting Martin Short or something. But Eric came in. We got him to come in: 'fuck it, we'll give it a go'. And the film, you could see it now. You could see it with him. He was very still. And Eric understood that he needed to create this person. It wasn't about doing a scene well, which is what all the other actors come in and want to do — a good job acting. Eric was creating a person that we could see, that we knew. By this stage, Mark was a public figure. There were various notorious interviews and stuff that he'd done." On Whether It Felt Like a Risk Casting Bana at the Time "I remember telling people that I was casting Eric Bana in the movie and they'd just look at you and feel embarrassed for you little bit. That, I guess, conjured up a picture of what the film was going to be based on what he'd done. But I'm always surprised with the actors I end up with. I didn't think I'd make a movie with Eric Bana and Vince Colosimo [The Family Next Door]. Vince, I just knew from like Street Hero. But he walked in the door and started talking, and it was just obvious. So I try not to be too — if anything, it just taught me to forget your expectations, just to take each person as you find them." On If There's Something That Draws Dominik to Digging Into Well-Known Figures "Well, I think so. I like people who are extreme, that seem to express something about human nature. But it's hard to say. I think that the real lure of a film is its emotional underpinning. The thing with Chopper was that he did stuff and felt bad about it. He seemed to be stuck in this kind of weird cycle of explosion and remorse, like he was trying to work some internal problem out. And I think the real attraction to it was just to show somebody being violent and then all of a sudden being conciliatory — and the conciliatory part is more alarming than the violence. I remember the first time seeing Chopper with an audience, and when he tries to give Keithy George [David Field, Spit] a cigarette after he stabbed him, you could really feel the bottom drop out of the room. The audience just didn't know where they were. And that's how I felt when I read about it. And that to me was just fascinating. And it's not intellectual ‚ it's a kind of a feeling. So with everything that I've done, there's always been some kind of — it gives me a feeling that I wanted to see if I can make manifest when you watch the film." On Getting Across the Film's Juxtaposition of Emotions — and Read's Contradictions "You shoot it until you believe it. He goes through such a wide range of emotions in that sequence [the Keithy George scene]. He's furious, and then he's upset with himself, and then he's looking for some kind of absolution or forgiveness from Keithy. And then he's just cracking jokes. Then he's completely callous about it, and just puts the whole thing away. It was just fascinating to watch it, to watch somebody in that state. But there's beats. You understand 'it's got to be like this and it's got to turn into that, and it's got to turn into this' — and it's all got to happen in a way that surprises you. So you shoot it and you come up with different ways of — when you're dealing with an actor, you come up with different jobs for them to try with each take until you get the one that works. But that was the whole process of making Chopper, it was that: how to bring it to life." [caption id="attachment_963203" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Aubor[/caption] On What Dominik Learned From Making Chopper "I think you always want to be dealing with something that you don't know what you're doing, you don't know how you're doing it. Once you start playing to your strengths, then all of the energy goes out of the thing. So it's not like I have a set process about how to approach something. I'm always looking to stretch, if you like, or to be dealing with something that I don't know how to do it. It seems to me that when I do something that scares me or I'm not sure how I'm going to pull it off, that something much more interesting happens than when I'm doing something where I feel like I know what I'm doing. So I used to have various methodologies about how to approach shooting something or how to approach a performance or how I think should be. It was a very interesting thing when I started doing the documentaries, with Nick. It was the first time I went to work and I had no idea what I was going to do, because it's documentary — you turn up and you've got to make something happen. And I started to really follow my instincts, because there was no choice. I had to do something. So I just did whatever seemed right at the time. And what I discovered was that those instincts actually added up to something. Even if you couldn't see where it was going at the time, if you just kept following them to their logical conclusion, they would take you somewhere. And that really changed my approach to filmmaking. I used to be somebody who would do take after take after take, and the camerawork was very controlled, and there was a definite plan as to how the thing was going to be put together. And now I prefer to work faster, and I'm less interested in doing it well. I just want to do it. And there's a certain energy that comes from that that I really like, where I feel like the thing is more its own thing, and it's less an extension of me. It sort of gives back more — the process gives to me more than me just giving to the process." Chopper reopened in Australian cinemas for its 25th anniversary on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
It's been a huge few weeks for Australian tour news — Kraftwerk! Meredith! Strawberry Fields! This That! Summer Camp! Paul McCartney! Harvest Rock! Pendulum! Flight Facilities! Weezer! Beyond The Valley! Field Day! Bluesfest! — but only one big announcement can whip it, whip it good. When Good Things returns for 2023, it'll hit Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with new-wave icons Devo on the bill. The 'Girl U Want' band will be celebrating 50 years since first forming in 1973, and also saying goodbye on a farewell tour that'll mark their last-ever Australian shows. Devo's famous energy dome hats will be on display at Centennial Park, Flemington Racecourse and Brisbane Showgrounds this December, on a jam-packed Good Things lineup that is brimming with nostalgia-inducing acts — including Fall Out Boy. A day after teasing that they were heading Down Under, the group behind 'Sugar, We're Goin Down' and 'Uma Thurman' have been confirmed as festival headliners, playing both tunes dating back to their 2000s heyday and recent tracks. From there, Good Things keeps rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin' with Limp Bizkit; will see Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor hit the stage solo; and is guaranteed to burst with punk energy thanks to Pennywise. Bullet for My Valentine, Taking Back Sunday and I Prevail are also on the bill, plus Enter Shikari, Pvris, Behemoth and Sepultura. Fresh from featuring a reunited TISM in 2022, Good Things boasts a packed roster of local names in 2023, too, celebrating Australian alternative rock with Spiderbait, Frenzal Rhomb, Jebediah and Eskimo Joe. On both the international and homegrown front, the list goes on, including Hanabie, While She Sleeps, Magnolia Park, Short Stack, Boom Crash Opera, Luca Brasi and more. And yes, this is a fest where you can likely hear 'Whip It', 'Dance, Dance', 'Society' and 'Buy Me a Pony' live on the same day, plus 'The Last Fight', 'Leaving Home', 'Punch in the Face' and a very non-George Michael cover of 'Faith' as well. GOOD THINGS 2023 LINEUP: Fall Out Boy Limp Bizkit Devo (The Farewell Tour celebrating 50 years) I Prevail Bullet For My Valentine Corey Taylor Pennywise Spiderbait Slowly Slowly Enter Shikari Behemoth Sepultura Taking Back Sunday PVRIS Bloom Boom Crash Opera Eskimo Joe Frenzal Rhomb Hanabie Jebediah Luca Brasi Magnolia Park Make Them Suffer Ocean Sleeper Royal & The Serpent Short Stack Slaughter To Prevail Stand Atlantic Tapestry The Plot In You While She Sleeps GOOD THINGS 2023 DATES: Friday, December 1 — Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Saturday, December 2 — Centennial Park, Sydney Sunday, December 3 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Good Things will hit the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in December 2023. Pre-sale tickets go on sale from 10am, Tuesday, August 22, and general sales from 10am on Thursday, August 24. Head to the festival website for more info and to register for pre-sales. Top image: swimfinfan via Wikimedia Commons.
For movie lovers, there'll never be anything quite like watching a film in a cinema. It's the place where big-screen dreams shine bright in the darkness, and where nothing — as long as your fellow audience is respectful enough — can get between you and its celluloid fantasies. It's also where the latest version of West Side Story looked an absolute treat when it hit picture palaces last Boxing Day; however, a great flick will still draw you in even if you watch it at home. Come Wednesday, March 2, this Steven Spielberg-directed, Golden Globe-winning, seven-time Oscar-nominated version of the beloved musical will hit streaming via Disney+, following a long list of recent movies — Dune, The Matrix Resurrections, The French Dispatch and Spencer among them — to get fast-tracked from cinemas to home viewing. So, if you missed it on the silver screen when COVID-19 cases went up over Christmas, or just didn't make it along because life doesn't always find a way, you can now settle in for the famed NYC-set spin on Romeo and Juliet on your couch. Yes, that means that the Jets and the Sharks are facing off once more — on your TV screen. If you're new to all things West Side Story, the two gangs have long been tussling within the movie's narrative, and also on the stage and in film. That first happened back in 1957 on Broadway, thanks to iconic musical figures Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents. West Side Story has rarely been far from theatres worldwide since — and, in 1961, when the first movie version followed, it became an instant classic. The westside-set story: in fair NYC and its rubble-strewn titular neighbourhood where the flick lays its 1950s-era scene, the Jets and the Sharks aren't quite two households both alike in dignity. Led by the swaggering and dogged Riff (Mike Faist, a Tony-nominee for the Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen), the Jets are young, scrappy, angry and full of resentment for anyone they fear is encroaching on their terrain (anyone who isn't white especially). Meanwhile, with boxer Bernardo (David Alvarez, a Tony-winner for Billy Elliot) at the helm, the Sharks have tried to establish new lives outside of their native Puerto Rico through study, jobs and their own businesses. Both gangs refuse to coexist peacefully in the only part of New York where either feels at home — even with the threat of gentrification looming large in every torn-down building, signs for shiny new amenities such as Lincoln Centre popping up around the place and, when either local cops Officer Krupke (Brian d'Arcy James, Hawkeye) or Lieutenant Schrank (Corey Stoll, The Many Saints of Newark) interrupt their feuding, after they're overtly warned as well. But it's a night at a dance, and the love-at-first-sight connection that blooms between Riff's best friend Tony (Ansel Elgort, The Goldfinch) and Bernardo's younger sister María (feature debutant Rachel Zegler), that sparks a showdown. This rumble will decide westside supremacy once and for all, the two sides agree. Also popping up among the cast: Ariana DeBose (The Prom), who looks set to win an Oscar for playing Bernado's girlfriend Anita, plus the great Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time) — who also played that exact role in the original movie and earned an Academy Award for her efforts. And, the film's long list of talent continues off-screen, thanks to a screenplay penned by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Tony Kushner (Lincoln), and choreography courtesy of fellow Tony-recipient Justin Peck. The result is lavish and dynamic, with Spielberg pirouetting back from the awful Ready Player One to make one helluva first musical — a swooning, socially aware story of star-crossed lovers that dances across the screen with rhythmic swirls and thematic twirls. Tonight, tonight, there's only this lavish and dynamic version of West Side Story tonight. Check out the trailer below: West Side Story will be available to stream via Disney+ on Wednesday, March 2. Read our full review.
Willow Urban Retreat has a little something for everyone, with an onsite wellness retreat, yoga studio, spa and cafe tucked away on High Street. The wellness hub has been thoughtfully designed by architect Melanie Beynon and interior designer Megan Hounslow, featuring soaring ceilings and exposed concrete. In the yoga studio, expect a regularly rotating program of sound healing experiences, yoga, pilates, dance and fitness classes. Meanwhile, the wellness retreat is home to infrared saunas, holistic facials and massages which focus on recharging your mind, body and spirit. Head Chef Nick Cree (formerly Supernormal, Top Paddock) heads up the nutritional offering, focusing on brunch plates that are designed to satisfy and nourish. Seasonal avocado on toast is upgraded with baba ganoush and roasted heirloom carrots, scrambled eggs are paired with kimchi and pea tendrils, or for something sweeter, make a beeline for the banana pancakes with house Nutella, raspberry purée, hazelnut crumble and seasonal fruits. Images: supplied.
If you thought The StandardX couldn't get much better, think again. The design-forward Fitzroy hotel's rooftop bar and lounge, On Top, has finally opened to the public right in time for the summer months. On Top accommodates just 60 guests, but now that it's no longer exclusive to hotel guests, it's sure to fill up quickly with locals, in-the-know visitors, and those looking for a laidback yet luxe hang-out. Designed by Woods Bagot and Hecker Guthrie, the warm colour palette, soft lounge seating, and cosy fireplace lend themselves to lazy afternoons with friends, or romantic date nights, all with the glimmering Melbourne city skyline as a backdrop. Snacky bites will be served all day, and include the likes of smoked ocean trout with creme fraiche, chives and flatbread, and oyster mushroom skewers with shio koji and chilli crumbs. If you need to fill the tum, go for a brioche prawn roll, a wagyu slider with BistroX sauce or fried chicken with hot sauce and guindilla chillies. In this setting, it would be rude not to have a drink or two. There's Aperol Spritz, yuzu margs and lager on tap, and a sippable selection of signature cocktails. Try the Nude and Rude with mezcal, amaro, lemon, agave and bitter, a Cloud Clover with apricot brandy, Aperol, Lillet Blanc, and ginger or The Last Dance with vodka, lemon, passionfruit and Aperol. There's also a carefully curated wine list, created by The StandardX and wine importer Lo-Fi, showcasing local suppliers and producers of low-intervention and sustainable wines. For a bit of gimmicky fun, grab a pre-batched cocktail from the Japanese-style vending machine when you hop out of the lift. Rotating DJs will bring sweet sounds through curated sets that will transport patrons to the bars of downtown LA, the beaches of Lagos, and the streets of nineties Brooklyn. Images: Supplied.
When 2022 ends and 2023 begins, Woodfordia in southeast Queensland will host the Woodford Folk Festival for the first since 2019 gave way to 2020. Thousands of music and arts lovers will descend upon the Moreton Bay Hinterland spot, and plenty of them will be camping. It's an annual tradition — if you live in southeast Queensland and you haven't camped at Woodford to see out the year at least once, do you really southeast Queensland? — and, timed perfectly for the upcoming fest, the site's accommodation options just levelled up. Woodfordia has already been home to Lake Gkula for the past three years, with the conservation and recreation habitat part of the event's 500-acre parkland. To take advantage of the site, it's been hosting camping beyond Woodford's usual dates, too. Adding onsite glamping tents was always in the works — and now they're here. Twenty luxury tents are now up and running, joining Woodfordia permanently. Each one features a fully furnished room for four, complete with a queen bed, bunk beds, sofa, dining table and chairs, fixed ensuites and kitchens, and sits in the existing camping grounds around Lake Gkula — close to the General Store. To start with, glamping will be offered at at the Woodford Folk Festival and across Easter in 2023, aka when camping at Lake Gkula is happening anyway. The plan, however, is to welcome in glampers year-round, and give holidaymakers a new getaway option. "The glamping tents will be booked for events ranging from the iconic Woodford Folk Festival to the two-week Lake Gkula Camping period in Easter 2023," said Woodfordia Inc General Manager Amanda Jackes. "Ultimately, these gorgeous glamping tents will be available for bookings year-round during either festivals and events, or for private functions or short-term holiday stays." "Accommodation has always been an issue at Woodfordia, with the most recent festival selling out all our 120 premium luxury bell tents along with the 250 tent city tent motels. These luxury glamping units will bring a new level of indulgent offering for our patrons." Upon launch, prices start at $305 per night with a three-night minimum booking. Even for Easter, some tents are already sold out — so if you're already thinking about your autumn vacation, getting in quick is recommended. Located 75-minutes north of Brisbane by car, Lake Gkula provides quite the scenic backdrop for a holiday. The man-made spot is teeming with fish and plant life, with than 16 species of native freshwater fish and crustaceans are swimming in its waters. For plenty of greenery, over 8000 plants have been planted in and around the lake to-date. Crucially for both the lake's biodiversity and for human swimmers, the entire body of water is chemical-free, using pumps and injectors to keep both a constant water flow and high levels of oxygen. The water is pushed through two wetlands, which act to purify the lake while also encouraging microorganisms to thrive. For more information about glamping at Woodfordia's Lake Gkula, visit the Woodfordia website. The 2022–23 Woodford Folk Festival runs from Tuesday, December 27, 2022–Sunday, January 1, 2023. For further details, head to the Woodford Folk Festival website. Images: Waterscapes / Gain Ryan / Jen Quodling, Woodford Folk Festival via Flickr.
Freedom Time — the free-spirited festival synonymous with balmy summer days, dance-fuelled nights and lush DJ sets — is gearing up for another huge season, today dropping the lineup for its jam-packed third summer series. This time around, the Freedom Time gang are spreading the love even further, adding a January 7 visit to Sydney's Manning Bar and Gardens on top of the usual shows in Perth on New Year's Eve and at Melbourne's Coburg Velodrome on January 1. As always, the festival's gifting us with a diverse lineup of musical guests, assembling a mix of international greats and homegrown heroes that'll have you dancing your little feet off no matter your style. Headlining this eclectic bunch is famed Chicago house producer Larry Heard (aka Mr Fingers), Jamaican dancehall legend Johnny Osbourne and an inter-generational collaborative effort from Leroy Burgess and Melbourne's own Harvey Sutherland. Meanwhile, Rhythm Section International's Bradley Zero will present a handpicked label showcase in each city, featuring a crop of local acts performing alongside modern soul duo, Silentjay and Jace XL. Melbourne will also be grooving to sets from beloved local DJ CC:DISCO, Haiatus Kayote vocalist Nai Palm and singer-songwriter Sampa The Great. FREEDOM TIME 2018 LINEUP Larry Heard (aka Mr. Fingers) Leroy Burgess Harvey Sutherland Johnny Osbourne Sassy J Bradley Zero CC:DISCO Nai Palm Sampa The Great Wax'O Paradiso Nozu Jordan Rakei J'Nett SilentJay & Jace XL Band Krakatau 30/70 Prequel Heartical Hi Powa Phil Stroud Samantha Goldie Big Rig Umut Jeremy Spellacey Winters Cazeaux Oslo Pjenné Millú Freedom Time will take place on New Year's Day at Coburg Velodrome. Tickets will go on sale at 9am, September 26. Grab yours here. Images: David Smiley.
Girls to the front: that's the mantra at Australia's dedicated Centre for the Moving Image in 2023. We're the country that gave the world Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, to name just a few renowned Aussie actresses owning the silver screen in recent years, so we're no stranger to celebrating formidable women in cinema. It tracks, then, that ACMI has curated a world-premiere exhibition dedicated to femininity across screen history — which, from Wednesday, April 5, is now open. Six-month-long showcase Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion declares its affection for ladies of the screen right there in its name. Examining how women are represented in cinema and television, it pays tribute to standout ladies, how depictions and expectations of femininity have changed, and what female talents have symbolised — and been forced to deal with — about and from the society around them. Displaying until Sunday, October 1, it's both a massive and a landmark exhibition. More than 150 original costumes, objects, artworks, props and sketches are now gracing the Federation Square venue's walls and halls, all championing oh-so-many women and their impact. Launched in-person by the one and only Geena Davis, who is also the exhibition's lead ambassador, Goddess fittingly includes outfits worn by her and Susan Sarandon in 1991's Thelma & Louise — and that's just the beginning of its treasures. Among a lineup that spans threads that've never been displayed before, various cinematic trinkets, large-scale projections and other interactive experiences, attendees can check out odes to Marlene Dietrich in 1930's Morocco, Pam Grier's spectacular Blaxploitation career, Tilda Swinton in 1992's Orlando and the aforementioned Robbie via 2020's Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Plus, there's Mae West's sky-high heels from 1934's Belle of the Nineties, as well as Michelle Yeoh's fight-ready silks from 2000's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The list goes on, clearly, covering Anna May Wong, Marilyn Monroe, Laverne Cox and Zendaya as well. And, everything from Glenn Close's Cruella de Vil in 102 Dalmatians to the Carey Mulligan-starring Promising Young Woman also gets time to shine. As it charts how representations of femininity have evolved over the years — not just in different eras, but in different places, too — Goddess also aims to inspire a rethink of plenty of cinema's memorable female characters. Silent-era sirens, classic Hollywood heroines, unforgettable femme fatales and villains, Bollywood stars, women in China and Japan's cinematic histories: they're all being given the spotlight. Goddess is also plunging into provocative on-screen moments from Hollywood's silent days through to today that've not only left an imprint, but also played a part in defining (and altering) what's considered the feminine ideal. So, expect an interrogation of how women on-screen have helped to redefine fashion expectations, sparked boundary-breaking genres and spearheaded the #MeToo movement — and to spend time thinking about how screen culture has shaped the world's views of gender. As it does with its big exhibitions, ACMI is pairing Goddess' wide-ranging display with soundscapes by Melbourne-based composer Chiara Kickdrum, and also hosting a sprawling events program complete with late-night parties, performances and talks — and film screenings, of course. Fancy taking an in-depth curator tour of the exhibition after hours? That's on the bill monthly. There's also a music program called Goddess Nights from late May, which'll focus on three femme-centric live music lineups with performances by DJ JNETT, CD, POOKIE and Ayebatonye — and a curated range of food and booze put together just for each evening. For film buffs, movie series Divine Trailblazers will focus on contemporary actors at the height of their powers, while the Goddess Sundays is all about on-screen personas. So, the first includes Angela Bassett's Oscar-nominated performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Academy Award-winners Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All At Once, Cate Blanchett conducting a masterpiece in Tár, Viola Davis in warrior mode in The Woman King, Filipino actor Dolly De Leon stealing every scene she's in in Triangle of Sadness, and Leah Purcell writing, directing, producing and starring in The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson. Unsurprisingly, the exhibition is ACMI's big midyear blockbuster — and its 2023 contribution to the Victorian Government's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, as Light: Works from Tate's Collection was in 2022. After showing in Melbourne for its premiere season, Goddess will then tour internationally, taking ACMI's celebration of women on-screen to the world. Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion exhibits at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne, from Wednesday, April 5–Sunday, October 1, 2023. For more information and tickets, head to the ACMI website. Images: Eugene Hyland Photography.
Does your dream hotel include luxe rooms and suites, spectacular vistas, a pool with a killer view, a bustling onsite restaurant and bar, and a spot to get sipping outdoors? If so, you'll want to add the first-ever Kimpton Hotel in Brisbane — and Queensland — to your must-stay list. The hotel chain is launching a second Australian site to sit alongside the existing Kimpton Margot Sydney, with Teneriffe in the River City its destination. Set to open in 2028, the Skyring Terrace spot will feature 155 places to slumber, an infinity pool overlooking the Brisbane River, a signature eatery and watering hole that can seat at least 200, and an openair garden terrace bar. Brisbane's Kimpton Hotel will be a partnership between IHG Hotels & Resorts and property developer Kokoda Property, the latter of which is behind the $1.5-billion overall development in the Queensland capital's inner north. Locals will find the spot to stay amid residential apartments, warehouse-style lofts, shops, dining, co-working spaces and a community centre. Brisbanites will also score a lavish staycation go-to, and tourists a new accommodation option. The Kimpton's rooms will push design to the fore, although what that'll entail in its decor hasn't yet been revealed. Think: fancy, though; there'll even be a marquee suite for celebrities and VIPs. Think: views as well, with both the water and the Brisbane city skyline providing a backdrop. Eating at the restaurant and drinking at the bar will mean sky-high vantages, too, with both located on the 14th level. And as for the pool, swimming in it will mean looking out over the water while you're in the water. In addition, patrons can expect waterfront access from the hotel, an onsite spa and a fitness centre, plus meeting and event spaces spanning 618 square metres. Just don't go planning that stay yet — construction is set to start in 2025. [caption id="attachment_936166" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimpton Margot Sydney[/caption] "The Kimpton brand was the ideal choice for, and will be the centrepiece of, our striking Teneriffe development. The brand's lifestyle centric positioning, design and playful guest experiences will fit perfectly into this exciting and unique pocket of Brisbane," said Kokoda Property Founder and Managing Director Mark Stevens. "We're excited to play a part in the transformation of the historic suburb of Teneriffe from its industrial origins into one of the trendiest suburbs of Brisbane. It's a popular year-round hub for fitness, and is set to get even better with Skyring Terrace to connect Brisbane's famed riverwalk between Teneriffe and New Farm and become the cultural heartbeat of the lively area." [caption id="attachment_920155" align="alignnone" width="1947"] Kimpton Margot Sydney[/caption] [caption id="attachment_920154" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimpton Margot Sydney[/caption] [caption id="attachment_920156" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimpton Margot Sydney[/caption] Brisbane's Kimpton Hotel is set to open in 2028 at Kokoda Property's Skyring Terrace development in Teneriffe. Head to the Kokoda Property website for more details.
The new happiest place on earth is mere months away from opening, with Studio Ghibli's very own theme park welcoming in animation lovers when November 1 arrives. Long in the works, Ghibli Park has had animation lovers waiting to wander its 200-hectare expanse in Nagoya's Aichi Prefecture, around a three-hour train trip from Tokyo, since back in 2017. And wondering exactly how magical it will look for just as long, too. The answer? Supremely enchanting; yes, getting spirited away will be easy here. Ghibli has been dropping early glimpses, even if its recent Hayao Miyazaki-directed cat train trailer was solely animated (but still wonderful). Now, it has just unveiled a treasure trove of new sneak peeks at the upcoming venue. The park will open in phases, but the first won't be short on highlights, including what's been dubbed Ghibli's Great Warehouse — aka its main area. Think of it like a fair within the overall attraction, featuring a video exhibition room, three special exhibition rooms, plus shops and cafes all in one space. Many movie lovers' first stop will be Orionza, a cinema that'll seat 170 patrons and screen ten Ghibli shorts — all of which have only previously been seen at the studio's existing Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, a city on the western outskirts Tokyo. The easy highlight: the 13-minute-long sequel to My Neighbour Totoro, which is an absolute delight, unsurprisingly. Fancy entering one of Ghibli's films? The park also includes recreations of 13 famous scenes from the company's cinematic catalogue that you can step into, including becoming Spirited Away's Chihiro by sitting next to Kaonashi on a mysterious train by the sea. Or, another exhibition focuses on Ghibli's knack for drawing delicious-looking food, and is certain to make you hungry. And, if you're curious how Ghibli's works — such as posters, videos, music and books — appear overseas, there's an exhibition about that as well. Because you'll want souvenirs, the Ghibli's warehouse store will sell Ghibli goodies galore, including items specific to the park. Expect two things: to want to purchase everything, so much so that you'll contemplate whether it's worth getting another suitcase to take home with you; and plenty of company while you're browsing and buying. For a bite or a drink, the Great Warehouse's cafe and milk stand will both take their cues The Wind Rises. One will sling sandwiches and pizzas, while the other focuses on sips to drink — and a sweet made of red bean paste between two pieces of castella, as seen in the movie. Yes, it all truly does resemble the Japanese animation house's glorious frames in real life — as that aforementioned Studio Ghibli museum already does as well. Also slated to feature across the whole park: a life-sized version of Howl's Moving Castle, the antique shop from Whisper of the Heart, Kiki's home from Kiki's Delivery Service and a village area that pays tribute to Princess Mononoke. The Aichi Prefecture Expo Park spot is already home to a replica of Satsuki and Mei's house from My Neighbour Totoro, and Totoro still features heavily in the expanded setup — with the site even initially described as having a My Neighbour Totoro focus. Or, you can check out nods to the cat from Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns, buildings with design elements that take their cues from Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and a super-sized garden that'll make you feel like you're one of the tiny characters in Arrietty. Expect more nods to Ghibli's various features to follow, recreating other aspects from its three-decade-old body of work (and possibly its most recent movie, Earwig and the Witch). The animation house also released a new short video with added glimpses at the park, because there's no such thing as too many sneak peeks at something this entrancing pic.twitter.com/oZUKE36Jeg — スタジオジブリ STUDIO GHIBLI (@JP_GHIBLI) September 15, 2022 If you're now planning a Ghibli-centric holiday, Japan's changed its border rules in September to let overseas tourists enter the country without booking guided tours. At the time of writing, you do still need to be travelling on a package tour, however — through a travel agency, even if it just covers your flights and accommodation. Fingers crossed that changes soon. Ghibli Park will open on November 1, 2022. For more information, head to the venue's website. Images: © Studio Ghibli.
Under normal circumstances, when a new-release movie starts playing in cinemas, audiences can't watch it on streaming, video on demand, DVD or blu-ray for a few months. But with the pandemic forcing film industry to make quite a few changes over the past year — widespread movie theatre closures will do that — that's no longer always the case. Maybe you're in lockdown. Perhaps you haven't had time to make it to your local cinema lately. Given the hefty amount of films now releasing each week, maybe you missed something. Film distributors have been fast-tracking some of their new releases from cinemas to streaming recently — movies that might still be playing in theatres in some parts of the country, too. In preparation for your next couch session, here's nine you can watch right now at home. JUNGLE CRUISE Take two charming actors, then couple them up for a feature-length volley of fast-paced banter: that's the screwball rom-com formula. Place this pleasing pair in a scenic but challenging setting — one that'll highlight their individual strengths, see them turn seeming weaknesses into new skills, and will obviously bring them closer together — and that's exactly how plenty of action-adventure movies have unfurled. Sending the always personable and likeable Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt to the Amazon, Jungle Cruise stitches together these two well-established formulas. It traverses its cinematic rapids in the slipstream of 80s fare like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Romancing the Stone (and their respective sequels), and even rollicks along in the footsteps of The Mummy franchise of the late 90s and early 00s (a series which actually gave Johnson his first big-screen roles). But, as anyone with even a passing knowledge of Disney's theme parks knows, Jungle Cruise also falls from the attraction-to-film mould that the Mouse House clearly loves. Pirates of the Caribbean is an overt influence, right down to the way that some of this new flick's villains look, and thrusting all these blatant templates to the fore — and together — doesn't quite result in movie magic. Indeed, despite Johnson and Blunt's charismatic and capable pairing, as well as the movie's visually boisterous imagery, the film's modest pleasures all fade oh-so-quickly, as happens with every amusement ride. Directed by Unknown, Non-Stop, Run All Night and The Commuter's Jaume Collet-Serra, who makes a workmanlike but hardly memorable jump from unleashing Liam Neeson's special set of skills, Jungle Cruise wants to whisk viewers off on a spirited ride. That's the experiential aim of most theme park-based films: these flicks want audiences to feel like they've stepped inside the attraction from their cinema seat. So, before the movie's title card graces the screen, two sequences endeavour to set this tone. It's 1916, and Dr Lily Houghton (Blunt, A Quiet Place Part II) sneaks into an all-male science society to look for a treasured arrowhead from the Amazon. She's tasked her fussy brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall, Good Omens) with deflecting the organisation's members by telling them her theories about a fabled South American tree, called the Tears of the Moon, that can cure any illness or break any curse. The men are dismissive, but she knows they will be. She's there to steal the trinket so it can lead her to the mythical plant, all while Prince Joachim of Germany (Jesse Plemons, Judas and the Black Messiah) tries to get his hands on it as well. When Lily comes out on top, the Houghtons are off to Brazil to hit the river, but they'll need a captain to guide their watery jaunt. In his introductory scene, the roguish Frank Wolff (Johnson, Jumanji: The Next Level) is spied conducting tourist trips down the Amazon, every step choreographed like an amusement park ride, and with his own pun-heavy showman patter narrating the journey. He's corny, and he has a jaguar in on the act, too. Accordingly, there are zero surprises when Lily enlists his services reluctantly and after some subterfuge on his side, or when he keeps trying to trick her into giving up her quest. Jungle Cruise is available to stream via Disney+ with Premier Access. Read our full review. TALL POPPY — A SKATER'S STORY When skateboarding makes its debut as an Olympic sport in Tokyo this winter, it'll do so with Poppy Starr Olsen flying the flag for Australia. A world champion since her teens, she first hit the Bondi Skate Park at the age of eight, and proclaimed at the time that she'd like to spend her adult life carving, ollieing, flipping and grinding — one of those childhood wishes that, in this case, has proven more than just a kid's outlandish fantasy. Audiences know about this youthful exclamation because it was caught on camera. Yes, Tall Poppy — A Skater's Story belongs in the camp of documentaries that are inescapably blessed by the constant lens through which many of our lives have been captured since video cameras became a household gadget and then a standard mobile phone feature. Accordingly, making her first feature-length doco, filmmaker Justine Moyle has ample material to draw upon as she weaves together a portrait of Olsen's life from pint-sized bowl-rider to Australia's best female skater, the fourth best woman on a board in the world and an Olympian, all by the age of 21. This isn't just a film compiled from home videos, though, although the feature. In front of Dane Howell's (Without a Tracey) lens as she has grown up, Olsen is candid, open and relaxed as she literally comes of age before the camera, and her skateboarding skills are just as riveting to watch. You can tell much about Olsen by just seeing her in the bowl or on the park, no matter her age, wherever she happens to be at the time, or if she's competing, practicing or just skating for fun. It hardly comes as a surprise that she takes to the pastime because it feels so freeing; as she rolls up and down in Bondi after first giving skateboarding a try, she may as well be flying. Tall Poppy — A Skater's Story captures the rollercoaster ride from there, as she's eager and enthusiastic at both local and international competitions, visibly nervous at her first X Games, and also a little disillusioned once she's put on an Olympic path. She's a teenager, in other words, and her emotional ups and downs mirror those on the board. This is a film about resilience, perseverance and taking on the world on your own terms, however, as Olsen works out who she wants to be and how that ripples through in her skateboarding. She's already a role model, whether or not you want to follow in her footsteps. Here, she's doubly so for her personal ebbs and flows, including through COVID-19, as much as her professional achievements. Tall Poppy — A Skater's Story is an affectionate movie, of course. Its release is also impeccably timed, it's as deservedly loving towards female skaters as the fictional Skate Kitchen and its TV spinoff Betty, and it shows the beauty in every commonplace and exceptional skateboarding trick. But Olsen's presence, passion and prowess drive this rousing documentary above all else. Tall Poppy — A Skater's Story is available to stream via ABC iView, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. FAST AND FURIOUS 9 Fast cars, furious action stars, a love of family and oh-so-many Coronas: across ten movies over 20 years, that's the Fast and Furious franchise. It might've started out as a high-octane spin on Point Break, but this long-running series has kept motoring across nine flicks in its main storyline, and also via a 2019 spinoff. The latter, Hobbs & Shaw, actually casts a shadow over the saga's latest instalment. Because Dwayne Johnson was part of that sidestep, he doesn't show up in Fast and Furious 9. He's missed, regardless of whether you're usually a diehard fan of the wrestler-turned-actor, because he's managed to perfect the F&F tone. Over his decade-long involvement to-date, Johnson always seems amused in his Fast and Furious performances. He's always sweaty, too, but that's another matter. Entering the F&F realm in Fast Five, he instantly oozed the kind of attitude the franchise needs. He knows that by taking the outlandish stunts, eye-catching setpieces and penchant for family with the utmost seriousness, these films border on comedic — and by navigating five flicks with that mood, he's been the saga's playful and entertaining barometer. Without Johnson, Fast and Furious 9 isn't as willing to admit that it's often downright silly. It's nowhere near as fun, either. Hobbs & Shaw wasn't a franchise standout, but Fast and Furious 9 mainly revs in one gear, even in a movie that features a high-speed car chase through Central American jungles, a plane with a magnet that can scoop up fast-driving vehicles and a trip to space in a rocket car. The latest F&F is as ridiculous as ever, and it's the least-eager F&F film to acknowledge that fact. It's also mostly a soap opera. It leans heavily on its favourite theme — yes, family — by not only swapping in a different wrestler-turned-actor as Dominic Toretto's (Vin Diesel, Bloodshot) long-lost sibling, but also by fleshing out the warring brothers' backstory through flashbacks to their tragic past. Fast and Furious 9 starts with an 80s-era Universal logo, because that's the time period it heads to first — to introduce a teen Dom (Vinnie Bennett, Ghost in the Shell), his never-before-mentioned younger brother Jakob (Finn Cole, Dreamland) and their dad Jack (JD Pardo, Mayans MC). It's 1989, the elder Toretto is behind the wheel on the racetrack, and his sons are part of his pit crew. Then tragedy strikes, tearing the Toretto family apart. In the present day, Dom and Jakob (John Cena, Playing with Fire) definitely don't get along. Indeed, when Roman (Tyrese Gibson, The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two), Tej (Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Show Dogs) and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel, Four Weddings and a Funeral) drive up to the rural hideout that Dom has been calling home with wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez, Crisis) and toddler son Brian (first-timers Isaac and Immanuel Holtane) since the events of 2017's The Fate of the Furious, he doesn't even want to hear about the latest mission that demands their help. The only thing that changes his mind: realising that Jakob is involved and up to no good. Fast and Furious 9 is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. Read our full review. GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE Cutesy name, likeable stars, stylised brutality, a familiar revenge scenario: blend them all together, and that's Gunpowder Milkshake. There's one particular ingredient that's missing from this action-thriller's recipe, though, and its absence is surprising — because much about the film feels like it has jumped from the pages of a comic book. That's one of the movie's best traits, in fact. The world already has too many comics-to-cinema adaptations, but although Gunpowder Milkshake doesn't stem from a graphic novel, it actually looks the part. Its precise framing and camera placement, hyper-vibrant colours and love of neon could've easily been printed in inky hues on paper, then splattered across the screen like the blood and bullets the feature sprays again and again. Writer/director Navot Papushado (Big Bad Wolves) and cinematographer Michael Seresin (War for the Planet of the Apes) have made a visually appealing film, and a movie with evident aesthetic flair. All that gloss is paired with a generic assassin storyline, however, and a half-baked feminist thrust. It's Sin City meets John Wick but gender-flipped, except that the Kill Bill movies and Atomic Blonde have been there and done that. Crafting a film that's entertaining enough, but largely in a mechanical way, Papushado and co-scribe Ehud Lavski (a feature first-timer) attempt to complicate their narrative. The basics are hardly complex, though. As skilled killer Sam (Karen Gillan, Avengers: Endgame) notes in the movie's opening narration, she works for a group of men called The Firm, cleaning up its messes with her deadly prowess. It's an inherited gig, in a way. Fifteen years earlier, she was a fresh-faced teen (Freya Allan, The Witcher) with a mum, Scarlet (Lena Headey, Game of Thrones), who did the same thing. Then her mother abandoned her after a diner shootout, leaving Sam to fend herself — and, to ultimately get her jobs from Nathan (Paul Giamatti, Billions), one of The Firm's flunkies. It's on just that kind of gig that Sam kills the son of a rival crime hotshot (Ralph Ineson, Chernobyl), and he wants revenge. Soon, her employers are also on her trail, after she takes another assignment in an attempt to sort out her first problem, then ends up trying to save eight-year-old Emily (Chloe Coleman, Big Little Lies) from violent kidnappers. The cast also spans the impressive trio of Angela Bassett (Black Panther), Michelle Yeoh (Last Christmas) and Carla Gugino (a Sin City alum), albeit sparingly, with all of Gunpowder Milkshake's female figures solely tasked with navigating an inescapably clear-cut scenario. Gunpowder Milkshake is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. Read our full review. SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY In the misfire that's always been 1996's Space Jam, basketball superstar-turned-unconvincing actor Michael Jordan is asked to hurry up. "C'mon Michael, it's game time! Get your Hanes on, lace up your Nikes, grab your Wheaties and your Gatorade, and we'll pick up a Big Mac on the way to the ballpark," he's told. Spoken by go-to 90s schemester Wayne Knight (aka Seinfeld's Newman), this line couldn't better sum up the film or the franchise it has now spawned. The Space Jam movies aren't really about the comedic chaos that springs when a famous sportsperson pals around with cartoons. That's the plot, complicated in the original flick and now 25-years-later sequel Space Jam: A New Legacy by evil forces that turn a basketball game into a battle ground; however, it's also just a means to an end. These features are truly about bringing brands together in a case of mutual leveraging, as product placement always is. Connect Looney Tunes with the NBA, and audiences will think of both when they think of either, the strategy aims. It has worked, of course — and with A New Legacy, the approach is put to even broader and more shameless use. Everyone who has ever even just heard of Space Jam in passing knows its central equation: Looney Tunes + hoop dreams. The first Space Jam's viewers mightn't also remember the aforementioned product name-drops, but Warner Bros, the studio behind this saga, hopes A New Legacy's audience will forever recall its new references. All the brands shoehorned in here are WB's own, with its other pop culture franchises and properties mentioned repeatedly. The company also has Harry Potter, The Matrix, the DC Extended Universe flicks such as Wonder Woman, and Mad Max: Fury Road in its stable. Its catalogue includes Game of Thrones, Rick and Morty, The Lord of the Rings, and Hanna-Barbera cartoons like The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, too. And, it holds the rights to everything from The Wizard of Oz, Metropolis and Casablanca to A Clockwork Orange and IT. A New Legacy wants to forcefully and brazenly impress these titles into viewers' minds so that they'll always equate them with the studio. In other words, this is just a Warner Bros ad with LeBron James and Looney Tunes as its spokespeople. You don't need to be a cynic or have zero nostalgia for the OG Space Jam to see A New Legacy as purely a marketing exercise, though, because corporate synergy is literally what the movie's villain, an algorithm named Al G Rhythm (Don Cheadle, Avengers: Endgame) that runs the on-screen Warner Bros, aims to achieve in this shambles of a film. Space Jam: A New Legacy is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. Read our full review. DREAM HORSE Life-changing conversations can happen in bars — as Jan Vokes well and truly knows. Played in Dream Horse by Toni Collette (I'm Thinking of Ending Things), the Welsh supermarket employee and pub barmaid overheard Howard Davies (Damian Lewis, Billions) chatting about his past success as a racehorse owner. In his beer-fuelled boasting, he doesn't discuss how it almost left him bankrupt and divorced, but Jan is still inspired to both follow his lead and enlist his help. Having bred whippets and racing pigeons before, and won prizes for doing so, she decides she'll turn her attention to horses. Husband Brian (Owen Teale, Game of Thrones) isn't initially convinced, but soon she's studying guides, finding a mare and then a stallion, and convincing her friends and neighbours to put away a tenner a week to pay for this little endeavour. The syndicate's focus: a foal they name Dream Alliance, who spends his early days being raised on the Vokes' allotment, and eventually ends up with racing hotshot Philip Hobbs (Nicholas Farrell, The Nevers) as its trainer. Dream Horse wouldn't exist if success didn't follow, and it leaves no doubt that that's the case; however, director Euros Lyn (The Library Suicides) and screenwriter Neil McKay (Mad Money) chart lows as well as highs, and always ensure their characters are their primary focus. Dream Alliance was always going to gallop into cinemas, of course — and not just via 2015 documentary Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance. His is a story too crowd-pleasing for filmmakers to ignore, especially given the UK's penchant for against-the-odds tales about motley crews of struggling salt-of-the-earth characters who band together over an unusual but swiftly shared interest that ends up revitalising their lives in more ways than one. That's the template Dream Horse plays to, even though it's based on a true tale and an actual horse. The Full Monty, Calendar Girls and similar feel-good flicks provide as much inspiration here as the actual real-life details, in fact. Accordingly, this is a movie that's easy to get caught up in. It's almost impossible not to, really. That said, it's also a film that wears its warmth, sentimentality and shameless heartstring-pulling as a badge of honour. As a result, it's also impossible to ignore the buttons the movie keeps gleefully pushing, and the parts of the tale that must've been smoothed out to elicit the desired cheer-inducing response — even around Collette's committed performance. But this happily mawkish feature and its characters are all doing it for the "hwyl", a Welsh term that means "emotional motivation and energy", and neither is willing to let that mission dwindle even for a second. Dream Horse is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. SNAKE EYES: GI JOE ORIGINS Every film doesn't have to spawn a franchise, and most shouldn't; however, when a Hollywood studio teams up with a toy manufacturer to turn action figures into a movie, and then wants to keep using the latter to sell the former, apparently that stops being the case. That's why cinema audiences have been forced to suffer through the Transformers movies over the years, and why we also now have Snake Eyes: GI Joe Origins, the latest addition that no one wanted to a dull saga that started with 2009's GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra and then continued via 2013's GI Joe: Retaliation. Channing Tatum isn't part of the story this time around, with the focus shifting to the eponymous Snakes Eyes (Henry Golding, Monsoon). Before the character becomes a member of the GI Joe team, he's a man out to avenge the murder of his father (Steven Allerick, Westworld) from back when he was a kid. That quest first leads him into the employ of yakuza kingpin Kenta (Takehiro Hira, Girl/Haji), where he helps smuggle guns in giant dead fish. From there, he gets his shot with the Arashikage clan — a family-run enclave of Japanese powerbrokers that the ambitious Tommy (Andrew Koji, Warrior) thinks he'll lead next, is unsurprisingly wary of outsiders, but eventually and after much suspicion from head of security Akiko (Haruka Abe, Cruella) lets Snake Eyes undertake its secretive testing process to become a member. It's a credit to director Robert Schwentke (Insurgent and Allegiant), and to writers Evan Spiliotopoulos (The Unholy), Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse (Rebecca), that Snake Eyes isn't obsessed with obnoxiously stressing its franchise ties. It does all lead up to uttering a well-known GI Joe adversary's name, other recognisable characters such as Scarlett (Samara Weaving, Bill & Ted Face the Music) and Baroness (Úrsula Corberó, Money Heist) pop up, and nefarious terrorist organisation Cobra plays a part, but none of these links ever feel like the movie's primary purpose. Still, that half-heartedness speaks volumes about a movie that displays that trait again and again, is fine with remaining a generic Tokyo-set ninja revenge movie — complete with gratingly obvious shots of Mount Fuji, the Shibuya scramble crossing and Tokyo Tower — and also works giant snakes rendered in visually abhorrent CGI into the mix. The best element: Golding, who has never been less than charismatic in any of his on-screen roles (see also: Last Christmas, A Simple Favour and Crazy Rich Asians). He can't lift this formulaic franchise-extending slog, though, and neither can his rapport with both Koji and Abe, Schwentke's eye for his settings or the movie's often eye-catching costuming. The film's unenthused action scenes prove an apt weathervane, because they're by-the-numbers at best, even when The Raid's Iko Uwais is involved. Snake Eyes is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Prime Video. SIR ALEX FERGUSON: NEVER GIVE IN Even among sports agnostics who know next to nothing about football of any code, and don't want to, Sir Alex Ferguson's name still likely rings a bell. The prodigiously successful soccer manager was synonymous with equally prosperous English Premier League team Manchester United for almost three decades between 1986–2013, leading them to 38 different trophies — including 13 EPL titles. He oversaw an era that featured star players such as David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, all famous names that are also known beyond sports fans. Accordingly, Ferguson is a highly obvious candidate for a documentary, particularly an authorised film directed by his own son Jason. But the best docos don't just preach to the already celebratory and converted. A piece of non-fiction cinema has the potential to turn any viewer into an aficionado, and to get everyone watching not only paying attention, but wholly invested. As the vastly dissimilar, not-at-all sports-related The Sparks Brothers also does, that's what Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In achieves. It steps through its eponymous subject's life story, all with the man himself narrating the details, sharing his memories and musings, and looking back on an extraordinary career. Helpfully when it comes to standing out from the crowded sports doco crowd, Never Give In has an angle: in 2018, Sir Alex was rushed to hospital and into surgery due to a brain haemorrhage. At the time, his biggest fear was losing his memories, which the younger Ferguson uses as an entry point — and as a touchstone throughout the birth-to-now recollections that fill the film otherwise. This approach helps reinforce exactly what Sir Alex has to recall, and what it all means to him. It also makes his plight relatable, a feat his footballing achievements were never going to muster (we can all understand the terror of having our lives' best moments ripped from our consciousness, but few people can claim to know what his level of professional success feels like). In his Scottish brogue, the elder Ferguson proves a lively storyteller, talking through his upbringing in Glasgow, his childhood adoration of Rangers Football Club, his ups and downs as a player — including taking to the pitch for Rangers and against them — and the path that led him to coaching first in Scotland, then for Manchester United. A wealth of archival footage assists in fleshing out the tale, as do interviews with players such as Cantona and Ryan Griggs. The result: an easy win of a film, but a nonetheless compelling and skilful one, too. Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. SPIRIT UNTAMED The first time that a Kiger Mustang named Spirit cantered across the silver screen, it was in 2002's Oscar-nominated Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Back then, the film marked just the sixth theatrical feature that Dreamworks Animation had brought to cinemas — following Antz, The Prince of Egypt, The Road to El Dorado, Chicken Run and Shrek — and if anything stood out, it was the movie's hand-drawn animation. Almost two decades later, Spirit Untamed returns the energetic and determined horse back to theatres. The movie he's in still looks gorgeous, even if computers have replaced pencils in bringing him to life. That said, this isn't actually the franchise's second step, with Netflix series Spirit Riding Free also telling the apple-loving animal's story across 78 episodes since 2017. In both look and feel, Spirit Untamed has more in common with its streaming counterpart than its big-screen predecessor, unsurprisingly. It's happy to primarily court the show's young audience, too. Indeed, while voice work by Jake Gyllenhaal (Spider-Man: Far From Home), Julianne Moore (Lisey's Story), Walton Goggins (Fatman), Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Eiza González (Godzilla vs Kong) is designed to appeal to adults, there's little else but scant traces of nostalgia and pastel-hued imagery to keep anyone past their teens interested. Her vocals stem from a different actor — with Isabela Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold) doing the honours — but Fortuna Esperanza "Lucky" Prescott still sits at the heart of Spirit Untamed. Like Spirit Riding Free, the new film tells of Lucky's arrival in the frontier town of Miradero, her connection with Spirit and her efforts to save him from wranglers (led by Goggins). Also covered: her budding friendship with fellow horse-lovers Pru (voiced here by Little's Marsai Martin) and Abigail (Mckenna Grace, Annabelle Comes Home). They're the pals she needs when Spirit and his wild companions are snatched up by the nefarious rustlers, who plan to ship the horses off and sell them. Together, the pre-teen trio then sets off across the dangerous plains, determined to save the galloping animals and do the right thing. There's an obvious but still welcome and powerful message in Lucky's story, as she ignores her worried dad's (Gyllenhaal) warnings and her doting aunt's (Moore) fussing, choosing to follow her own heart and path instead. (Her father frets because her mother, voiced by González, worked as a horse-riding stunt performer and died during a show.) Similarly pleasing, even if the movie basically just remakes the TV show's first episode: that this all-ages wild west tale heroes women, although it pales in comparison to the recent Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary. Spirit Untamed is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. Looking for more at-home viewing options? Check out our lists of movies fast-tracked from cinemas to streaming back in May, June and July. You can also take a look at our monthly streaming recommendations across new straight-to-digital films and TV shows.
Becky with the good hair gets a shoutout in Swarm. Facial bites do as well, complete with a Love & Basketball reference when the culprit flees. This seven-part series about a global pop sensation and her buzzing fans and stans also has its music icon unexpectedly drop a stunner of a visual album, ride a white horse, be married to a well-known rapper, become a mum to twins and see said husband fight with her sister in an elevator. Her sibling is also a singer, and plenty of folks contend she's the more interesting of the two. Still, Swarm's object of fascination — protagonist Dre's (Dominique Fishback, Judas and the Black Messiah) undying obsession — sells out tours, breaks Ticketmaster and headlines one of the biggest music festivals there is. And, while they call themselves the titular term rather than a hive, her devotees are zealous and then some, especially humming around on social media. Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, the show's creators and past colleagues on Glover's exceptional, now-finished Atlanta — Nabers also worked on Watchmen, too — couldn't be more upfront about who they're referring to. No one says Beyoncé's name, however, but Swarm's Houston-born music megastar is the former Destiny's Child singer in everything except moniker. In case anyone watching thinks that this series is trading in coincidences and déjà vu, or just failing to be subtle when it comes to Ni'Jah (Nirine S Brown, Ruthless), the Prime Video newcomer keeps making an overt opening declaration. "This is not a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or events, is intentional," it announces before each episode, all of which stream from Friday, March 17. Ni'Jah is Swarm's sun, radiating her vastly popular glow upon all who choose to bask, and upon the world in general anyway. Always orbiting her from a distance, Dre is the show's earth. This is the latter's tale, as she starts the series as a twentysomething in 2016 who still adores her childhood idol with the same passion she did as a teen and, instalment by instalment, shows how far she's willing to go to prove it. Swarm's debut scene features Dre excitedly tearing open an envelope containing the credit card she needs to buy expensive Ni'Jah tickets she can't afford, which she's purchasing as a birthday present for her best friend and housemate Marissa (Chloe Bailey, Grown-ish). Alas, before the first set of closing credits run, that concert-going dream will be tainted by tragedy and murder, sending Dre across the country to chase her hero, confront Ni'Jah naysayers and work out if she's anyone beyond a stan. Thoroughly unrelated fellow 2023 arrival Poker Face commences in a similar fashion — not with pop goddesses and the people who are crazy, drunk and sometimes dangerously in love them, but with a friendship fractured and a road trip springing in the aftermath. While Swarm isn't a mystery-of-the-week series, it does see Dre head to different places, take up various jobs and befriend an array of people, and lets each chapter unfurl as a largely self-contained narrative. It's also anchored by a compelling lead performance, and one that's calibrated to make a statement. As Dre, Fishback is commanding. She stings with vulnerability and fierceness alike, and floats between the two expertly. Crucially, while she's ferocious, she's purposefully the opposite — or near enough — of Ni'Jah's Queen Bey-esque vision of perfect Black womanhood. Even if Swarm wasn't in formation with the star who runs many fans' worlds, Dre would remain a character rarely seen on-screen. From The King of Comedy through to its own ardent admirer Joker, and including Misery in-between, pop culture isn't lacking in ultra-dedicated enthusiasts who've sipped more than lemonade and can't stop worshipping — but they're never Black women. As Atlanta did before it and so gloriously, Swarm unpacks stereotypical representation. It tears into fame and its costs and consequences as well, plus true-crime and its formula, and it's clearly unafraid of real-world parallels. Surging with the surreal and savage, too, it whirrs and fizzes on a heightened plane (that Swarm's episodes could slot easily into Atlanta is an immense compliment). Awkward to the point of barely speaking at the outset — she lights up in Marissa's presence, then withdraws whenever Khalid (Damson Idris, Snowfall), Marissa's boyfriend, is around — Dre is the type of protagonist that audiences can't look away from even at her worst. Journeying from strip-club gigs to communes, she traverses a coming-of-age story, but a brutal one. Fishback's resume has ample highlights, such as a BAFTA nomination for Judas and the Black Messiah, and also-excellent work in Show Me a Hero, The Hate U Give and The Deuce, but she turns in the TV equivalent to Mia Goth's phenomenal recent work in Pearl here. Both tell of young women who don't feel like they belong, want more than their lot than life, and sport hopes and dreams they're constantly told are pure fantasies. Both won't simply accept that reality, either, no matter who or what gets in their way. There's a particular potency to Glover, aka Childish Gambino, helping to tell Swarm's toxic showbiz fandom tale. Again, the series leans into letting art blatantly imitate and riff on life — not with references to his own career, but in nudges to IRL fame wherever it can. Bailey is one half of Chloe x Halle, a singer and star, and even a former Beyoncé co-star and protege. Popping up as an erotic dancer, Paris Jackson (Gringo) is the daughter of Michael Jackson and, yes, has an album as well. When Dre finds herself with a NXIVM-inspired group, Billie Eilish plays its leader Eva. Brother to Macaulay and Succession's Kieran, Rory Culkin (Under the Banner of Heaven) also features. So does Glover's own sibling Stephen. And, among Swarm's staff writers is Malia Obama, credited as Malia Ann. Winking and nodding serves Swarm nicely, filtering down to its co-director Ibra Ake, who held the same position with Beyoncé's The Lion King visual album Black Is King — a movie where Donald Glover voiced Simba and Beyoncé voiced Nala. Top-notch craft that's as immersive and textured as Atlanta always was, all while veering more prominently into psychological horror-meets-satire territory, proves as important and deftly executed (with the Glovers and Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul's Adamma Ebo also behind the lens). Indeed, Swarm is a gripping series to look at and listen to, and a feat in aesthetics and sound; often grainy and saturated with red, and also literally buzzing whenever Dre's deeds are about to get violent, it's meticulous at plunging viewers into its headspace. Getting obsessed is easy — which, like any pop hit and its hooks, is aptly and knowingly all by design. Check out the trailer for Swarm below: Swarm streams via Prime Video.
In fantastic news, Entrecôte has announced that it is bringing back its famous breakfast offering, so you can indulge your French fantasies with flowing champagne and crisp croissants, all before 11am. For the first time, the Greville Street venue will open its doors to those looking for a buzzy brekkie, because who says you have to save the party for lunch and dinner? It was a classic Melbourne experience, hustling for a prized table in the front terrace of the charming Entrecôte of old (when it was perched next to the Tan in South Yarra), enjoying a buttered baguette in one hand and a coffee in the other. It was about as close as one could get to a Parisian affair without having to leave the country. So Melburnians will be thrilled to once again have the opportunity to enjoy Entrecôte's signature breakfast. "Breakfast at Entrecôte…is a mood, a little bit of mischief, a lot of indulgence", says owner Jason M. Jones, a classic bon vivant and well-known figure across Melbourne's hospitality landscape. The menu, he says, is "a love letter to mornings with a French accent." The elusive golden folded eggs return, as does the glorious Croque Madame with Parisian ham, gruyère and Dijon béchamel, and a fried egg. If you're not worried about clogging your arteries at 9am, go for the La Grande with a minute steak, Toulouse sausage, grilled bacon and fried eggs. Or make it feel like you are on holiday and order the Le Petit Déjeuner Complet. Choose between a baguette with butter, cheese, ham and eggs, or a croissant with jam, yoghurt and granola, all served with juice and a hot beverage. The beverages hold their own here, too, whether you're going alcoholic or keeping it PG. Inspired by the viral hot chocolate from Angelina in Paris, Entrecôte's version sees Belgian dark chocolate steamed with Jersey milk, served with crème Chantilly. The breakfast cocktails, including a breakfast martini with marmalade vodka and a Bloody Marie Antoinette, will have the party starting from bright and early. "Think Paris cafe mornings, only with Melbourne sunshine and a soundtrack of clinking coffee cups and laughter…The terrace is ready, the Taittinger is cold, and Le Petit Déjeuner is back on the menu at Entrecôte. No bookings. No fuss. Just turn up, sit down, and pretend you always start your mornings like this." Images: Ricky Sam. Entrecôte will be serving breakfast from 8am, with last orders at 11.15am. If you're not an early bird, the Prix Fixe, two—or three-course lunch menu is available on weekdays.
If there's two things that the end of the year always includes, it's Christmas decorations and plenty of drinks. They're both all well and good separately, but they might be even better combined — in a Christmas tree made out of tinnies, for instance. A real object that now exists ready for the merriest portion of the 2021 calendar, this Christmas tinnie tree isn't fashioned out of old cans. So, it doesn't merely celebrate the remnants of your past beverages. Instead, it gives you a place to stack new cold ones just waiting to quench your thirst. And yes, it comes with beers, as they're obviously essential to the whole concept. Craft Cartel is slinging these mighty jolly centrepieces this festive season, after giving beer lovers Australia's largest case of craft beer back in 2020. If you're keen to add one to your home — and to get sipping — it'll cost you $399, which covers a flat-pack tree that you then put together yourself, 48 brews ready to wet your whistle and delivery to your door. If you're wondering what you'll be drinking, those 48 tinnies span 24 different varieties — so, two of each. And, alongside cans from Ballistic, Slipstream, Sydney Brewing, Gage Roads, Modus Operandi and Brick Lane, there's seven limited releases among them, such as Stockade's The Mountie Maple Imperial Stout, Akasha's Korben Double IPA, Sauce's Caribbean Fogg Hazy Pale Ale and Moon Dog's Splice of Heaven Mango Ice Cream IPA. Design-wise, the tree itself uses sustainable timber, and is crafted to resemble a traditional pine tree — all thanks to Australian designer Ian Tran of Domus Vim. Who doesn't want to place all their presents around a tower of beer? No one, that's who. And if you decide it needs some tinsel as well, that's up to you. For more information about the Christmas tinnie tree, or to buy one, head to the Craft Cartel website.
Love the fact or not, as far as top-notch tipples and world-class watering holes go, Melbourne just kicked a serious goal. Here to add a little more fuel to the 'which city does it best?' debate, the Victorian capital has outranked all other Australian counterparts to nab a spot in Punch's 2023 guide to the world's most travel-worthy drinking destinations. The international drinks publication has revealed its Where to Drink in 2023 wrap-up, naming Melbourne as one of just five cities worldwide. Also making the unranked list were Buenos Aires in Argentina, Portugal's capital Lisbon, Osaka in Japan and, flying the flag for the United States, Madison in Wisconsin. [caption id="attachment_787570" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick & Nora's by Brook James[/caption] Punch's drinks connoisseurs selected their top five locations based on their ability to deftly balance long-held traditions and old-school sensibilities with fresh, forward-thinking philosophies. "The results are often surprising, sometimes frenetic, tense, even bewildering, but never boring," Punch explains. As for what specifically earned Melbourne a spot in this year's lineup, the publication cited its penchant for the unpretentious, its new-school take on casual service and the cultural diversity that continues to shape its drinks scene. That broad assortment of genres proved a wining formula, too — whether you're into divey rock 'n roll joints like Heartbreaker, sophisticated cocktail haunts like Nick & Nora's, intimate wine bars such as The Moon, or something in between, Melbourne's got a drinking den to suit. The city's commitment to sustainability and innovation also scored a shoutout, as did its famed pub culture — according to Punch, "rivalled only by the U.'s, with a diversity and familiarity that feels particularly Australian." [caption id="attachment_835092" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pearl Diver Cocktail & Oysters[/caption] The publication also shared its top three picks for Melbourne's must-drink cocktails, naming the espresso martini (no shocks there), the New York-style sazerac and the Melbourne-born Japanese Slipper. This boozy new badge of honour comes after Melbourne scored a slew of drinks-related accolades in 2022. CBD bar Caretaker's Cottage nabbed a spot in latest's edition of The World's 50 Best Bars extended 51–100 list, Pearl Diver's Alex Boon was crowned 2022 winner of the Patrón Perfectionists Australian Cocktail Competition and Nick Tesar of Bar Liberty took out the title of Australia's Best Bartender. [caption id="attachment_623310" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar Liberty by Brook James[/caption] Check out Punch's full Where to Drink in 2023 list over at its website. Top image: The Moon.
"The mormons are coming", posters popping up in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane promised in the 2010s. If you spot something similar now, they might feature the words "the mormons are back" instead. After breaking records on its first Australian run, The Book of Mormon is returning Down Under, with the smash-hit musical's suitcases packed for Sydney. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most-lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints and African missions — and to approach both with Parker and Stone's usual humour. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards and a Grammy since it debuted in the US in 2011, when it was called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". Australia's OG date with The Book of Mormon also earned accolades, including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical at the 2017 Helpmann Awards. When the show premiered in the Victorian capital in 2015, it enjoyed the highest-selling on-sale period for a show at Melbourne's Princess Theatre. When it first went to Sydney, it also set a record for the highest-grossing musical in the city's history. A decade ago, Parker and Stone's hilariously irreverent hit production spent a year in Melbourne, then did the same in Sydney, then made two trips to Brisbane — because one wasn't enough. This time, The Book of Mormon is hitting Sydney's Capitol Theatre, starting on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. If missed it then or you're keen to see it again, you'll be plenty excited that you're getting a new chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. Images: Paul Coltas, London Company. Updated: Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
If you can't remember the last time you used a payphone, kudos to you. It means you haven't lost your phone, keys and wallet and had to call your mum with 50 cents you wrangled from some guy on the street. There aren't too many around these days, with Telstra either taking them down or (supposedly) converting them into Wi-Fi hotspots. But in Berlin, they've got a better idea — they're turning disused telephone booths into tiny rave caves. It's called Teledisko, and it's probably the smallest party you'll find in Berlin. At one square metre, the booth can only fit two or three people at one time.It's coin operated, but once you've paid your 'entrance fee', you'll be able to select your tunes from the touchscreen in the booth. You may find it a bit hard to throw shapes, but what it lacks in space it more than makes up for with special effects, including a smoke machine, strobe lights and a disco ball. There's even a photobooth inside that will print your photos or email you a video of your debauchery the next day. At the moment there are only three Telediskos — a pink one at Kater Blau nightclub, a gold one at RAW Flohmarkt (both in the Friedrichshain district) and a silver edition available for hire. However, high demand (and long lines) looks set to see more come into being. Image: Teledisko
For Victorian fans of BrewDog, the wait is finally, almost over. After years of hints and speculation, the Scottish craft beer giant has confirmed its arrival into Melbourne, revealing plans to open a hefty new venue in the historic Pentridge Prison precinct this spring. Following the launch of its first Australian brewery and taproom in Brisbane back in 2019, BrewDog confirmed some lofty ambitions to also expand into other Aussie cities. Now, thanks to a new partnership with Australian Venue Co (AVC) — the group behind spots like Harlow, The Smith, Kewpie and State of Grace — the Melbourne-based part of those plans is finally coming to life. Already the world's largest craft beer bar operator, BrewDog's next Aussie project will feature a two-level pub complete with an indoor dining room and lounge bar, plus a sprawling beer garden sporting its own BrewDog container bar, big screens and dedicated games area. Interiors will pay homage to the Coburg site's heritage, with an upper level playing host to a suite of event spaces. While further details are yet to be revealed, the 1100-square-metre venue is on track to become a go-to craft beer destination. The original Brisbane venue boasts 28 taps pouring both house creations and guest brews, alongside a menu that's known for its burgers, pizza and wings. [caption id="attachment_800310" align="alignnone" width="1920"] BrewDog DogTap Brisbane[/caption] The new BrewDog and AVC partnership is also a win for interstate beer fiends, with the duo confirming they'll be opening more of these bars across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and beyond in the coming years. BrewDog currently operates 102 beer bars worldwide, having recently launched outposts in Mumbai and New Albany (USA), and with huge flagship bars coming soon to Las Vegas and Waterloo (London). Find BrewDog Pentridge in the E Division building at Pentridge Prison, 1 Champ Street, Coburg, from spring 2022. We'll share more details as they drop.
One of the most famous artworks in the world is coming to your home, ready for you to peer at whenever you want. Even better: you don't need a hefty bank balance or to be a Glass Onion-style tech mogul to afford it. You will have to build the iconic piece yourself, however, and it will be fashioned out of plastic bricks — all thanks to the latest addition to Lego's art range. That masterwork: The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai, aka the woodblock print that dates back to 1831, is part of the artist's Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series and is instantly recognisable. Depicting a stormy sea with Mount Fuji in the background, the piece might just be the best-known Japanese artwork ever, with original versions on display everywhere from the Tokyo National Museum to the British Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Great Wave is certainly one of the most reproduced in history, but making the leap to Lego is a first. How many bricks does it take to turn such a beloved nearly 200-year-old print into a Lego creation? That'd be 1810, including tiny circle blocks for intricate detail. Indeed, this layered 3D set doesn't just recreate just the design of Hokusai's original, or the overall image, but its lines and depth as well. The Lego Art Hokusai: The Great Wave kit has started hitting stores worldwide, and will be available Down Under from Wednesday, February 1. Genuinely big enough to hang on your wall, The Great Wave set is unsurprisingly aimed at adults — a group that Lego has been courting for years, including with succulents, orchids, bouquets and bonsai fashioned out of bricks, because the toy brand knows that you don't ever really grow out of its interconnecting blocks. Lego's latest artistic reimagining follows in the footsteps of the company's The Starry Night set in 2021, which gave Vincent van Gogh's masterpiece the same treatment. Also included in The Great Wave kit, which'll cost AU$169.99 / NZ $179.99 when it goes on sale: a decorative tile with Hokusai's signature. Plus, Lego has created a soundtrack to go with it, so you can listen along as you build, as part of its ongoing focus on adults using its bricks to relax. For more information about Lego's new 'The Great Wave' kit, which goes on sale on Down Under on Wednesday, February 1, head to the company's website.
Chapel Street's Lucky Coq — one of Melbourne's best bars for dancing — is turning 18, and it's celebrating by slinging 18-cent pizzas between 2–10pm on Saturday, June 22. And that's not just the price per slice. For 18 cents, you get an entire pie. The Lucky Coq team isn't being stingy with the toppings either, as its entire pizza menu is part of the deal. That includes the Coq's classic capricciosa as well as its cheeseburger-, Indian aloo- and banh mi-inspired numbers, among others. [caption id="attachment_637801" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leah Hulst[/caption] Pair these cheap eats with $8 Goldy lagers, and $15 espresso martinis, spicy margaritas and southsides late into the night. DJs will also be on deck for Lucky Coq's 18th birthday party, with Chapel Street legends John Course, Spacey Space, Chardy and Boogs playing tunes until 3am. If you're on the hunt for a cheap night out with your mates, this ain't a bad spot to start. [caption id="attachment_637809" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leah Hulst[/caption] Top image: Ashley Ludkin.
Spent too much time staring at your same old furniture this winter? Wish you were relaxing somewhere coastal? Digging the desert oasis vibe? Here's one solution to all of the above: Kmart's latest homewares range. The department store's furniture drops have picked up cult followings, perhaps even more so in these steep cost-of-living times. Taking its cues from sandy locales, the August 2023 collection will only fuel that trend. When it comes to decking out your house with impressive but affordable items, Kmart has been giving IKEA a run for its money in recent years. Indeed, if you're already a convert, you probably know just how popular the department store gets whenever it drops a new range — or, you've likely seen everyone else's Instagram snaps that prove it. The current collection arrives on Thursday, July 27 with a mix of neutral tones and bursts of colour, cues taken from seashell and palm silhouettes, a heap of contrasting textures, and even coastal- and desert-themed items for pets. Expect it to fly off the shelves as always. With prices starting at $1.75 — for dinnerware, should the contents of your kitchen cupboards need a revamp — the August Living range in Australian and New Zealand stores is also about mixing and matching trends and styles. Yes, you can deck out your place like it's the beach and somewhere peppered with cacti all at once. Yes, you can do just that without stretching your budget as well. Covering items for the living, bedroom, bathroom and dining room, Kmart's current drop spans everything from oh-so-soft throws and salted caramel-scented candles through to globe-shaped lamps, timber bathroom furniture and several options for four-legged friends. The next time that your cat gets the urge to sharpen their claws, as all felines do, don't get them scratching on any old post. Direct your mouser towards a cactus-shaped version. And when your dog wants to get comfy, perhaps they'll sleep more soundly on a lush green bed. For humans, towels, crockery, wavy glasses, palm-print cushions, forest-hued quilt covers and shell-shaped bath mats are just some of the other items featured. You know how they say that change is as good as a holiday? It isn't, obviously, but swapping your home decor to the kinds of items that you might find on a getaway to the sea or desert should help lift the vibe at least. The August living range goes on sale online, in-store and via Kmart's app from Thursday, July 27 while stocks last. Kmart's August Living range goes on sale in Australia and New Zealand online, in-store and via the brand's app from Thursday, July 27 while stocks last.
Entry to Yah Yahs is usually free, so it's handy if you're after a drink before dinner on one of Smith Street's bazillion restaurants, want to see the band, or just want to rage on after other places have closed. Score a booth seat as soon as one becomes available; they'll be hot property as the drinks continue to sink.
Australia has Lune fever. That's been the case for a few years now, as the world-renowned Melbourne bakery keeps serving up delicious pastries, and also spreading its wares around the country. At present, it boasts stores in Fitzroy, the CBD and Armadale in Melbourne, plus South Brisbane and Burnett Lane in Brisbane — and it has two Sydney shops on the way, one in Darlinghurst and another in Martin Place. Also slinging Lune's wares, just for three days: select Koko Black shops. Why? Lune Croissanterie has teamed up with Koko Black to unveil a limited-edition new croissant collaboration named The Belgian Truffle. Why again? To celebrate World Chocolate Day on Friday, July 7. This year's decadent creation takes Lune's signature pastry and adds a gooey Koko Black cocoa frangipane and Guanaja fondant centre. It's also topped with tempered chocolate shards, salted cookie crumb, mascarpone chantilly and Koko Black Belgian truffles. This delectable treat will be available at Lune's Melbourne and Brisbane outposts, plus selected Koko Black stores in Melbourne and Sydney, plus a special one-off Lune Sydney pop-up over the weekend. If you want to get your hands on a croissant, Friday, July 7–Sunday, July 9 are the dates to mark down in your diary. Melburnians can head to Lune's trio of outposts, plus Koko Black's shops at The Glen, Como Centre, Highpoint, Doncaster, Royal Arcade, Flinders Lane, Melbourne Central and Chadstone. Brisbanites, you're going to Lune and Lune only. "This pastry is a classic for a reason. Our traditional croissant, elevated to celebrate Koko Black's Belgian truffle. It's the ultimate, decadent chocolate treat," said Lune founder Kate Reid. These pastries are set to be in high demand, so it's best to head down early to avoid disappointment. Lune's own venues will be trading as normal, while Koko Black will be open from 9am on Friday and Saturday, and from 10am on Sunday. Lune Croissanterie and Koko Black's 2023 World Chocolate Day special The Belgian Truffle is available at all Lune stores in Melbourne and Brisbane, and select Koko Black stores in Melbourne, from Friday, July 7 – Sunday, July 9.
You can expect a musical celebration for all the senses, when the annual Darebin Music Feast kicks off its 2019 season on Sunday, October 20. The festival's ringing in its 23rd edition with a whopping 85 parties, gigs and industry events, showcasing 20 different venues all across this vibrant pocket of Melbourne's north. Unfolding across eight jam-packed days, the program launches with a free three-stage opening party brimming with girl power. Running across Bar 303, Little Eastment Street car park and Northcote Social Club, the party will feature 15 acts including Alice Skye, Emma Donovan and the Putbacks, Jess Riberio and Kee'ahn. Elsewhere on the program, live music and environmental activism event Green Noise will take over The Thornbury Theatre on Sunday, October 27; celtic tunes and whiskey tasting flights will combine at Buck Mulligan's Wednesday night jam session; and you can join in a holy celebration on Monday with Northcote Social Club's Monday Night Mass. You can also head along to one of two film festivals — one is a brand new festival of music videos at Thornbury Picture House, the other features music-themed films created by La Trobe University students — a musical poetry slam evening and a theatrical masquerade ball. We've only just scratched the surface of what's going on during the jam-packed week, so if you'd like to check out the full program, head to the Darebin Music Feast website. Images: Thornbury Picture House, Nicole Cleary.
Staying at QT Gold Coast is a luxe experience, with the hotel chain serving up its characteristically distinctive version of beachy chic. That's one of the accommodation brand's key traits, matching each of its sites to its surroundings. QT Sydney's glorious gothic look and QT Melbourne's impeccably polished vibe wouldn't suit Surfers Paradise, after all, and the latter's coastal cool wouldn't match anywhere else either. Here's something else that mightn't quite fit at any other QT: the Gold Coast venue's new qtQT rooftop cabins. The chain has converted an otherwise unused lower-level rooftop into an urban oasis, complete with tropical gardens, firepits and six laidback spots for guests to stay — and get away from it all in the middle of the Glitter Strip. Designed by Nic Graham, a regular at working with EVT — QT's parent company — each cabin can welcome in two guests. So, you and your bestie / other half can book one for a blissful vacation, or you can gather the gang and reserve all six at once. Fancy heading along solo? This is the place for that as well. And, QT sees it as a drawcard for retreats and weddings, too. Whoever you're visiting with — or not — you'll find a stay that's designed to help you unplug, with each cabin featuring its own private balcony. They all come equipped with I Love Linen robes, a bed decked out with I Love Linen sheets and Drift candles for ambience, plus board games and coffee table books. That said, you can switch off as much or little as you like. If you still want to use the qtQT cabins as a base to explore the Goldie, the hotel's newest addition has its own 'curator of sunshine' to organise activities for you. Other onsite options include stargazing by those aforementioned firepits, enjoying an aperitivo in the same place, meditating and tucking into a meal al fresco dining area The Terrace — which'll host both bespoke feasts and communal dining experiences. There's also a lawn called The Landing which looks out over the ocean, and is touted as an ideal picnic spot, place to salute the sun with an early-morning yoga session or a breakfast hangout. And, during your stay — with rates starting at $359 per night — you'll also have access to the hotel's pool precinct. QT is launching qtQT on the first day of summer, after all, with bookings open now for trips from Thursday, December 1. Or, you can head to the onsite SpaQ, or eat cooking, eating and drinking at either sushi-making or whisky-tasting sessions at onsite Japanese restaurant Yamagen. The new qtQT concept is also QT's way of testing out a big travel trend, given how popular tiny homes and cabins have proven over the past few years. "When designing the overall QT Gold Coast upgrade, we identified a previously unused lower-level rooftop. We had been exploring the world of tiny accommodation and standing there as the sun set, we knew this would be the perfect location to trial our interpretation of this experience, the QT way," said EVT CEO Jane Hasting, announcing qtQT. Find qtQT at QT Gold Coast, 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise. qtQT is open for bookings for stays from Thursday, December 1. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
