If you're after a cure for your Christmas meat-and-beer hangover, don't be put off by the hordes of children swarming the Moana showings. This Boxing Day, if you can block out their shrieks, you'll be rewarded with one of Disney's best animated films to date. Although to be honest, when you look at the team behind the film, that's not really that surprising. At the helm are The Little Mermaid directors John Musker and Ron Clements, kickin' it old school and revisiting a narrative structure as old as time. Moana (Auli'i Cravalho), the title character and daughter of a Polynesian prince, is launched on a quest to save her people after a curse threatens their island. After she's chosen by the ocean (who turns out to be a major source of comedic relief), she defies her sea-fearing father and seeks out Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Maui, a shape-shifting demigod, is the one who originally put the curse on the islands by stealing the heart of the goddess Te Fiti. Once Moana finds and wrangles Maui into submission, the pair travel together to recover his magical fish hook and restore the heart. Along the way, Moana discovers something about her people – they weren't always bound to their islands. Her quest isn't about seeking family honour, love, or personal development – she's an island chief with bigger concerns. The complete lack of any romantic notions is also refreshing. Moana is a cocktail of all of the best elements of the Disney princess tropes – a desperate quest, charismatic supporting cast, catchy tunes and an animal sidekick – but with one subtle but important difference. Unlike most Disney princesses, Moana doesn't need a training montage to become a boss bitch, because she's strong to begin with. Not only is she a dutiful and diligent chief-in-training, she respects her parents, listens to her grandmother, champions the underdog and walks to the beat of her own drum. She's superficially goofy, but not in a way that undermines her capability or authority. She's a beautiful role model, and maybe the best Disney princess so far. Moreover, the movie's score, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa'i, is the music its heroine deserves. Prepare your ears to hear the main refrain 'How Far I'll Go' more than that damn 'Let It Go' song from Frozen. We ain't mad, though, because it's the perfect summer jam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFuXETZUsI
The past two months have been big for Melburnians, and for Victoria as a whole as well. The state has now clocked up 23 consecutive days without any new COVID-19 cases, and restrictions keep relaxing — with even more set to ease tonight, Sunday, November 22. When Premier Daniel Andrews announced the last coronavirus roadmap changes back on Sunday, November 8, he also outlined plans for the next stage, which comes into effect at 11.59pm this evening. Of particular interest: rules around venues and gatherings, so prepare to spend some more time in more places with more people. In the hospitality sector, bigger venues will be able to welcome in up to 100 people indoors and 200 outside (with one person per four square metres), up to a cap of 300 in total. Smaller venues, under 200 square metres of floor space, will be have up to 50 people at once (with a less-strict density cap of one person per two square metres). And, regardless of size, all venues will need to use QR codes to track patrons. Both seated and non-seated entertainment venues (such as cinemas and galleries) will be able to welcome in up to 150 people per space. For larger sites, such as the National Gallery of Victoria, they'll be able to operate at a density up to 25-percent of their capacity. Drive-in cinemas won't have any caps, and community venues and libraries will be allowed 150 people inside and 300 people outside. Public outdoor gatherings will increase to 50 and private gatherings — so, folks coming over to your house — will increase to 15 from any number of other households. The latter is a daily limit, however, so you can only have 15 people over across one whole day, even if they come at different times in various-sized groups. Also, travel-wise, you'll be able to head out of town in line with the private gathering cap (so in groups of 15 people from any number of other households). https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1330294526653685760 Gyms and fitness studios will increase to a maximum of 150 people per venue in groups of 20 people, with one person per four square metres. Indoor pools can have 150 people, while outdoor pools can host 300 people. And religious gatherings will be able to have 150 people indoors and 300 outdoors. Weddings will also be able to have 150 people in attendance. Regarding masks, the rules are changing there as well. You'll need to keep wearing them indoors and on public transport, and also where you're unable to maintain social distancing. Otherwise, if you're outdoors and you can keep a safe distance, masks will no longer be compulsory. Premier Andrews also announced a few future dates of importance — and revealed what's in store on each date. The first, on Monday, November 30, is when office staff can start heading back to working onsite. That's capped at 25 percent of workers, and only applies to the private sector, with public sector employees continuing to work from home. On Sunday, December 6, the next stage of eased restrictions will be unveiled, getting the state closer to the step it's calling 'COVID-normal'. But it has already been revealed that, from 11.59pm on Sunday, December 13, Victorians will be able to host more people in their homes. Yes, it's timed for Christmas gatherings — and the cap will go up from 15 to 30. Again, that's a daily limit, so you can only have 30 people over across one whole day, even if they come at different times. Running through all of the above, Premier Andrews noted the enormous change in Victoria's COVID-19 situation in the past few months. "Three months ago, Victoria had 4293 active cases. Today we have one. It's an incredible achievement. And the clearest evidence there is of our determination to not only get on top of this virus – but to squash it." For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website — and for further details about Victoria's steps for reopening, head to the roadmap itself. Top image: Kate Shanasy.
The inner-city pocket of West Melbourne is slated for quite the reawakening, as part of a vision by The City of Melbourne to manage and steer expected population growth over the next decade. The plans have been pulled together and laid out in the council's new Municipal Planning Strategy — a comprehensive blueprint for the city's future that was put before councillors at the Future Melbourne Committee meeting earlier this week. The council outlined six key goals underpinning the overall Municipal Planning Strategy, which spans the next 10-20 years and includes considerations like celebrating First Nations culture and identity, as well as preserving Melbourne's distinctive places, people and culture. [caption id="attachment_717296" align="alignnone" width="1920"] West Melbourne cafe 279.[/caption] The blueprint covers multiple districts across Melbourne, outlining various changes for different parts of the city municipality, depending on their current vibe and existing level of development. While the plan stretches from South Yarra up to Parkville and Flemington Racecourse, West Melbourne and the CBD's north (that northwest corner of the CBD) is one of the areas that has been flagged for significant revamps. The strategy plots West Melbourne's evolution into one of "Melbourne's distinct inner urban neighbourhoods", aka a truly happening little spot. As part of the proposed plan, the top stretch of Spencer Street would be transformed into a lively shopping, commercial and creative precinct. It'd also score a mix of converted warehouses, Victorian shop fronts and heritage corner pubs, as part of an overall bid to encourage the retention of heritage and 'special character' buildings. Elsewhere in the suburb, there are plans for new walking and cycling routes, improved pedestrian access to surrounding areas, and a boost for public transport in an effort to minimise car traffic. There'd also be a stack of new trees and public green space added, including a new linear park along Hawke Street. In a post to Facebook following this week's Future Melbourne Committee meeting, Councillor Rohan Leppert indicated that the Municipal Planning Strategy would now be given a few tweaks during the amendment process. Once they've been made, the blueprint will be put on a public exhibition in the coming months so people can provide feedback and community consultation can begin. For more info about the Municipal Planning Strategy, see the City of Melbourne website. Top Image: Michelle Maria via Wiki Commons
So. You've watched all the documentaries on VICE's YouTube channel. You're up to your second viewing up just about everything on SBS's Food Network. You definitely don't want to watch A Current Affair. What's a news-hungry millennial to do? In answer to your free-to-air TV dreams, SBS and VICE today launched not only a new show, but a whole goddamn TV channel for your viewing pleasure. The new channel was announced earlier this year, but was set live at 4pm today, Tuesday, November 15, replacing SBS 2. It will be an extension of VICE's online TV channel VICELAND, and will be called by the same name. Along with some of SBS 2's news, sport and entertainment programs, VICELAND's programming will include VICE's own newscasts and doco series including Black Market (starring The Wire's Michael K Williams), Ellen Page's Gaycation, and F*ck That's Delicious with Action Bronson. VICELAND launched online earlier this year with a collection of Spike Jonze-produced docos. You can view the full schedule here or switch on your TV to SBS 2.
Spoil your mum, or the mother figure in your life, this Mother's Day by taking them to the riverside restaurant Ludlow Bar in Southbank. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted with a glass of Chandon NV Brut which will set the mood of the lavish lunch ahead. The feast begins with a tapas platter of shucked oysters, grilled chorizo, bruschetta and tortilla. Then, choose from a seafood paella loaded with tiger prawns, snapper, loligo squid and green-lipped mussels or a 12-hour slow-braised lamb banjo with rosemary kipfler potatoes and confit garlic vichy carrots for mains. To finish, there's an indulgent dessert platter on offer or, if mum prefers, a cheese board. Spots are $79 per person — children can dine from the al la carte menu — and can be booked anytime from 11am on Sunday, May 9. Bookings are essential so head here to lock in your lunch. Plus, every online booking will go in the draw to win a Chandon Hamper valued at $500, which will be drawn on the day.
Multi-storey Meyers Place venue Loop has already taken the concept of a vertical garden to soaring new heights, with a wall of greenery that extends from its street level alcoves right up to third storey rooftop terrace, Loop Roof. It's packed with over 100 species of plants. Now, Director and Co-Founder Adam Bunny has gone one step further, adding a whole new lush, green rooftop, up on Level 4. Launching to the public last month, Loop Top is the building's new crowning glory, with space for an extra 100 punters, on top of the existing 100-person capacity of Loop Roof below. The two have combined to create a split-level, sky-high oasis, boasting even more of those panoramic views across the city. [caption id="attachment_749975" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eugene Hyland[/caption] Jazzing up Loop Top, you'll find a vast array of plant life, designed to evoke the feeling of an urban jungle and complement the existing vertical garden. A couple of majestic tree aloes join the two already presiding over Level 3, along with a riot of prickly pear, bottle trees, bougainvillea, Hollywood mint and Madagascar dragons. It's all accompanied by mammoth blue and yellow umbrellas, and more decorative pops of colour to match the set-up below. Fittingly, the new drinks lineup has a botanical focus, headlined by a healthy array of spritzes, including the Life's A Salty Peach – a fusion of Mathilde pêche liqueur, salted caramel Stolichnaya and peach bitters. Elsewhere, you'll find highballs and house creations — such as the Patient Summerthyme with gin, vermouth, lemon and thyme — plus a diverse spread of beers and largely local wines. And to match, a bar menu runs from buffalo chicken bites to vegan mushroom 'wings' and burgers, like the signature beef Big Loop. Find Loop Top at Level 4, 23 Meyers Place, Melbourne. It's open Monday–Thursday 3pm–midnight and Friday–Sunday midday–1am. Images: Eugene Hyland
According to fast food joints, taxis and supermarkets, living in southeast Queensland is a little like living in the future. Already, the region has trialled KFC delivery by drone. And, using self-flying cabs for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics has been floated. The latest move in this same space, aka the Sunshine State's skies? Coles' new store-to-door grocery deliveries by drone. If finger-lickin'-good chicken pieces, burgers, nuggets and fries can be ferried to hungry Queenslanders' homes via air, then household staples can, too — and the same drone company is behind it. As well as working with KFC, on-demand drone outfit Wing is teaming up with Coles to bring groceries to consumers within minutes. For now, the trial is limited to southeast Queensland, and to the Gold Coast — to the suburbs of Ormeau, Ormeau Hills and Yatala, to be exact. That's where Coles' first store-to-door deliveries will be tested from Wednesday, November 2, soaring to customers from the supermarket brand's location at Ormeau Village Shopping Centre. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a drone carrying bread, fresh produce and snacks? Clearly, the latter now applies on the Gold Coast. Wing's Coles deliveries will also carry convenience meals, health care items and other household essentials, with 500 of the supermarket chain's most popular grocery items available for the drone service. After this trial, the plan is to expand to nearby suburbs on the Gold Coast. Also, Wing will offer Coles items for delivery in Logan in the near future, departing from the rooftop of Grand Plaza — where locals have been able to get goods flown to them by drone from select onsite businesses for more than 12 months. And, given that Gold Coast deliveries follow a Canberra pilot program that started in March 2022, albeit flying groceries from a Wing drone centre rather than direct from a Coles location, watch this space — and the heavens — for more developments. If you're now wondering "will people actually get their groceries sent by drone?" — a fair and reasonable question, and also a sign of the times — the answer based on the Canberra test is yes. Wing says that it made more than 5000 trips in the ACT, bringing folks everything from fresh fruit, milk and eggs to confectionery and cold drinks. Residents of Ormeau, Ormeau Hills and Yatala will need to download the Wing delivery app to have their pantry and fridge items swoop down from above — and the service will only operate from 9am–4.30pm Tuesday–Sunday. Here's how it works: after you place your order, Coles staff members will process and pack them. They'll then hand your goods over to the Wing team, who will operate a fleet of delivery drones in the Ormeau Village Shopping Centre carpark. Once loaded, the drone will fly to your house within around ten minutes, slow down upon arrival, bring itself to a delivery height of about seven metres above the ground, and gently lower your food on a tether — which'll automatically release. You don't need to unclip anything, and the drone doesn't need to land, either. Don't live in southeast Queensland, the Gold Coast and those three specific suburbs? Fingers crossed that you'll be living in the future soon, too. To order groceries from Coles via drone from Wednesday, November 2 if you live in Ormeau, Ormeau Hills and Yatala, download the Wing delivery app.
If you've been meaning to make plans to head down the rabbit hole at ACMI's new Alice in Wonderland exhibition, consider putting your plans off for a few hours, having a bite to eat first and then rolling up on a Friday night once the sun has gone down. Wonderland Late Nights will be a series of monthly nighttime escapades that will accompany Alice's adventures at ACMI. First up in May is Nai Palm, describe by Pitchfork as a "wildling rock star" and also claiming the title of being one quarter of jazz-funk-soul quartet Hiatus Kaiyote. Her solo album Needle Paw was released last year, she'll provide her captivating voice and stage presence as a counterpoint to the Alice business going on inside. The next four nights are locked in already too, and include sets from Melbourne's own Habits, local producer duo Saatsuma, rock band Liars and queer disco slingers Honcho Disko. Cocktails, live art performances and a DJ decks will top off a solid weekend night for you. Tickets cost $30 and include entry to the exhibition as well. WONDERLAND LATE NIGHTS LINEUP Friday, May 25 — DJ Mz Rizk, Nai Palm Friday, June 29 — Habits, Jay Boogie Friday, July 27 — Saatsuma Live, Isaak and Marcus Friday, August 31 — Honcho Disko, The Huxleys, Rachel Burke Friday, September 28 — Liars, Go Get Mum, Muma Doesa
Ever wondered if it was safe to go back into the water? You have Jaws to thank. When the killer shark flick swam into cinemas in 1975, it didn't just become Hollywood's first blockbuster — it also sparked phobias that have lingered for generations. Almost everyone has seen the eerily effective creature feature. Too many movies since have wanted to be it, too. Even if you somehow haven't watched the famed horror film, you still know of it, and you likely get creeped out whenever you heard just a few notes from its oft-deployed score. But if it weren't for Australian spearfisher and diver-turned-oceanographer and filmmaker Valerie Taylor and her husband Ron, Jaws may not have become the popular culture behemoth it is. It mightn't have had beachgoers thinking twice about taking a dip in the sea for the past 46 years, either, or had the same bite — or success — overall. Steven Spielberg directed Jaws, but the Taylors shot its underwater shark sequences — off the coast of Port Lincoln in South Australia, in fact. And, when one of the animals they were filming lashed out at a metal cage that had held a stuntman mere moments before, the pair captured one of the picture's most nerve-rattling scenes by accident. As everyone who has seen the huge hit has witnessed, Jaws benefits significantly from the Taylors' efforts. Indeed, before Peter Benchley's novel of the same name was even published, the duo was sent a copy of the book and asked if it would make a good feature (the answer: yes). Helping to make Jaws the phenomenon it is ranks among Valerie's many achievements, alongside surviving polio as a child, her scuba and spearfishing prowess, breaking boundaries by excelling in male-dominated fields in 60s, and the conservation activism that has drawn much of her focus in her later years. Linked to the latter, and also a feat that many can't manage: her willingness to confront her missteps and then do better. The apprehension that many folks feel when they're about to splash in the ocean? The deep-seated fear and even hatred of sharks, too? That's what Valerie regrets. Thanks to Jaws, being afraid of sharks is as natural to most people as breathing, and Valerie has spent decades wishing otherwise. That's the tale that Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks tells as it steps through her life and career. Taking a standard birth-to-now approach, the documentary has ample time for many of the aforementioned highlights, with Valerie herself either offering her memories via narration or popping up to talk viewers through her exploits. But two things linger above all else in this entertaining, engaging and insightful doco: the stunning archival footage, with Ron Taylor credited first among the feature's five cinematographers; and the work that Valerie has spearheaded to try to redress the world's fright-driven perception of sharks. The remarkable remastered clips shot by Ron make for astonishing and affecting viewing. Seeing the Taylors switch from chasing sharks to playing with and saving them does as well. Filmmaker Sally Aitken understands this and, helming her second big-screen documentary about an Aussie icon in the past four years — following 2017's David Stratton: A Cinematic Life — builds the bulk of her film around these decades-old materials. That choice also helps underscore Valerie and Ron's change of heart. Both were successful spearfishers, but Valerie is candid about the impact that killing a nurse shark in her line of work had. Helping to make 1971 documentary Blue Water White Death and then Jaws, the pair became committed to shooting with cameras rather than spears. Watching their footage, it's easy to see why. Valerie was known for her fearlessness (Ron even nicknamed her "give-it-a-go Valerie"), and her willingness to get up close and personal with the types of underwater critters most of us have nightmares about results in breathtaking imagery. Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of Jacques, is one of Playing with Sharks' other talking heads — and his dad wasn't envious of the Taylors' work, he should've been. All that footage should turn David Attenborough green-eyed as well; it brings him to mind more than once, actually. Playing with Sharks keeps its focus on Valerie — she isn't presented as a supporting player to her late husband, or appreciated here solely because she was once one of the rare woman working in her chosen fields — but the film's archival visuals also spark the kind of wonder and awe that's synonymous with Attenborough's documentaries. Some of the coral reefs dived by the Taylors no longer exist, but audiences can see them here. As images of her underwater frolics with sharks and other marine life fill the screen, Valerie speaks of the sheer abundance of critters she waded among, and the misguided 60s-era perception that that'd never change. The footage shot by the Taylors acts as a time capsule, harking back to a very recent stage in the earth's history that'll likely never be repeated. Even if it wasn't combined with Valerie's life story and reflections, these clips would still prove inspiring, especially when it comes to rethinking prevailing opinions about sharks — including great whites — and fighting for their conservation. Shark haters, consider this a warning: Playing with Sharks will have you reassessing your opinion. Any movie could've laid out the facts regarding shark behaviour, unpacked the hysteria or chronicled Valerie's impact, but her enthusiasm and passion are infectious here — including when the now 85-year-old pops a red ribbon in her hair again, slips her aching shoulder into her pink wetsuit, goes for a dive in Fiji and beams about how a shark just hit her. This isn't just a biographical doco about someone known for working with sharks; like last year's David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, 2017's Jane Goodall documentary Jane and underwhelming 2021 Oscar-winner My Octopus Teacher, it's a movie about being profoundly changed by the natural world and all of its splendour. Aitken doesn't take any risks with her format, and noticeably so — but given Valerie's powerful story, she doesn't need to.
As the nights heat up each summer, the NGV proves it knows how to party like the best of them, serving up its signature after-hours summertime sessions filled with tunes, food, pop-up bars and more. And this year, the much-loved NGV Friday Nights have made their sweet return, running every Friday night — except Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve — from December 10 until April 22. Happening from 6–10pm each week, the sessions have something for gallery-lovers and general night owls alike. Guests will gain exclusive after-hours access to explore the new Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto exhibition, browsing its impressive collection of over 100 vintage garments and peering into the career of one of fashion's most influential designers. After it launches on December 17, guests will also be able to take a spin around major ground floor exhibition Bark Ladies: Eleven Artists from Yirrkala. You can book gallery entry here. Meanwhile, across the ground level and the NGV Garden, top Melbourne DJs are delivering a sparkling soundtrack to these summertime soirees. Gracing the decks, expect local favourites including Andras, MzRizk, DJ Jnett, Hot Wax Sound System, Banoffee, Edd Fisher and more. To wash it all down, you'll find three different bars serving a hefty array of refreshments. Hit the Four Pillars Gin Bar in the Grollo Equiset Garden for G&Ts and signature cocktails, or swing past the Pommery Champagne Bar for fine bubbles and oysters. There's also a Yering Station pop-up pouring a selection of acclaimed Yarra Valley wines along with tasting flights. And in the garden, there'll be giveaways on offer from the David Jones Vault, which will open for a fleeting time each Friday.
No matter where you are in Australia, you've probably spent the majority of the year in your own state (if not the majority of the year in your own bedroom), with many states and territories keeping their borders firmly closed. But, the last of the interstate restrictions are starting to ease. With the exceptions of WA (which has flagged easing its hard border restrictions from tomorrow), Sydneysiders not being able to visit Queensland and Victorians being restricted to intrastate travel for the moment (but interstate travel to NSW and Tasmania is set to be allowed later this month), Australians can pretty much visit anywhere in the country without quarantining. To celebrate, Virgin Australia is selling over half-a-million fares to destinations around the country, starting from just $75 a pop. Hang on, Virgin? Yes. The same airline that, just months ago, entered voluntary administration. It has since been sold to US private investment firm Bain Capital, launched a comeback sale in early July and its voluntary administration is set to officially end on Tuesday, November 17. The domestic flight sale kicks off at 8.30am today and runs until midnight on Friday, November 20, or sold out. In the sale, you'll find cheap flights on more than 52 routes to destinations across the country, with travel dates between December 1 and June 23, 2021. If you've been waiting to book Christmas flights home — or a summer getaway — now might be the time. Discounted flights are economy and include seat selection and a 23-kilogram baggage allowance. Some of the routes on offer include Sydney to Ballina from $75, Melbourne to Launceston from $79, Brisbane to Hobart from $139, Adelaide to Sydney from $119, and Melbourne to Perth from $169. [caption id="attachment_743607" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whitsunday Beach by Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] The discounted flights are part of Virgin's new travel campaign, 'You Can't Keep a Good Thing Down' celebrating both the company's return and the country's reopening. As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying is little different to normal. Virgin has introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and face masks provided to all passengers (but wearing them is not mandatory). Virgin is also waiving change fees and allowed unlimited booking changes between now and January 31, 2020. You can read more about its new flexible options over here. Virgin's 'Go You Good Thing' domestic sale runs from Friday, November 13 until 11.59pm AEDT Friday, November 20, or until sold out. Find out more about current interstate border restrictions over here.
Like karaoke? Fond of singing in public in general, whether you're solo or in a group? Then it's time to up your crooning game. Boozy Choir is exactly what it sounds like — aka a gathering of folks belting out a tune, together, over drinks. It's basically what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the jukebox, but in a more organised fashion. Occurring on the second Wednesday of each month from August 8, Boozy Choir takes place in Welcome to Thornbury's private event space The Showroom, which means that the food truck hangout will be alive with the sound of music. Participation is free, although you'll need to pay for whatever you'd like to drink — and yes, singing and sipping go hand-in-hand. And, if you're not usually the type of person to unleash their inner Beyonce in front of the masses, don't worry. The great thing about choirs is that everyone is singing, so you are literally a voice in the crowd. You'll be taught a new song by a local musician each month, and you might just find joining in the fun cathartic. If you can't feel free when you're crooning along with a group, when can you?
If anything's going to get you geared up for the balmy summer months to come, it's a food-focused Sunday session, at Melbourne's shiniest new rooftop bar. Sitting atop Fancy Hanks' new Bourke Street digs, Good Heavens will launch with a baptism of fire, as Fancy Hanks' Mike Patrick joins Duncan Welgemoed (Africola), and Morgane McGlone (Belles Hot Chicken) on the grill, for one flame-driven afternoon for Good Food Month. On the day, you'll get to sample a dish from each chef, with Melbourne Moonshine cocktails, Coopers brews, and laidback tunes on hand to help nudge you into rooftop season.
When you've won over one of television's most cynical characters with a serenade, what comes next? Taking the tunes on the road. During his time on beloved and hilarious Emmy-winning sitcom Schitt's Creek, Noah Reid did far more than sing Tina Turner's 'The Best' to Dan Levy's David Rose, of course. When he joined the show from season three onwards as Patrick Brewer, he helped bring balance to the Rose family's fish-out-of-water antics, and became one half of its big love story. But the series kept finding ways to get Reid singing, including having Patrick star in the comedy's version of Cabaret — and now he'll be taking to the microphone Down Under. Off-screen, Reid is indeed a musician, releasing his first album Songs From a Broken Chair back in 2016 before joining Schitt's Creek. Since then, he's dropped two follow-ups: 2020's Gemini and 2022's Adjustments. Next, he's bringing his live gigs to Australia for the first time ever. Yes, 'The Best' usually features on his setlists overseas. Beyond that, the Canadian actor and musician will be playing tracks from across all three of his records when he heads Down Under this spring. Reid will kick off his tour in Sydney, before hitting Brisbane and Melbourne on the east coast, then venturing west for a show in Perth. "Music has always been a space where I get to control my creative output in a way that I don't in my acting career. Acting is really creative and there's definitely artistry to it but I don't thank that just because you're an actor, you're automatically an artist. I've worked really hard for years to create these records," said Reid, announcing his Australian tour. "People might know me more widely as an actor, but music is a space where I've loved working for years, and I'm really excited to finally be able to share my music with people in Australia. It feels like a long time coming!" Reid continued. Since Schitt's Creek, Reid has popped up on sci-fi western Outer Range — and also has past appearances on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Alphas and House of Lies on his pre-Schitt's Creek resume. NOAH REID EVERYTHING IS FINE 2023 AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Friday, September 29 — The Enmore, Sydney Saturday, September 30 — Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane Monday, October 2 — The Forum, Melbourne Tuesday, October 3 — The Astor, Perth Noah Reid tours Australia in September and October 2023. For more information, and for tickets from 10am on Monday, May 1, head to the tour website.
"Is fashion art?" asks The First Monday in May as it peers inside the couture-obsessed confines of the Met's Costume Institute. The answer may seem obvious, yet it's a much more complicated concept than it might at first appear. For starters, there's the sexist fact that all things clothing-oriented have traditionally seen seen as more feminine, and therefore deemed less worthy of serious consideration. Then there's the complicating factor that is today's focus on celebrities, drawing attention not just to fancy threads but to the famous folks donning the outfits. Taking its name from the date of the party that opens the Costume Institute's annual exhibition, it's the second point that proves particularly pertinent to Andrew Rossi's documentary. On the one hand, the Met Gala raises money for a gallery space dedicated to championing the very best in fashion, and shines a spotlight on their yearly showcase, such as last year's China: Through the Looking Glass. On the other, it requires as much energy to fill the venue's walls with celebrity attendees for one single night as does to put on the actual exhibit itself. It's an awkward balance, and one the film remains happy enough to depict without ever really dissecting. The film splits its time between chief curator Andrew Bolton and his passion for the artistry of garment making, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour in party-planning mode. The allure of celebrity is inescapable, as the film cuts from discussions regarding the influence of Chinese fashion on the West to whether Orlando Bloom is still famous enough to be invited, then wrapping it all up by following Kate Hudson through the exhibition and watching Justin Bieber watch Rihanna perform. That it leans so heavily on Wintour and her famous guests says more about the documentary than it really should. An entire film could've been made around Bolton, who glows with inspiration when he's talking about why his work is important. Yet The First Monday in May seems desperate to spend as much time as possible with Wintour. She might be responsible for turning the event into the fashion equivalent of the Super Bowl, but she's the least interesting part about the whole affair. As such, when filmmakers Wong Kar-wai (In the Mood for Love) and Baz Luhrmann (The Great Gatsby) pop up – one acting as artistic director of the exhibition and the other as a creative consultant on the gala – their added perspectives prove extremely valuable. As pinch-worthy as the backstage access undoubtedly proves to anyone who has ever wanted to attend the star-studded shindig, it's disappointing that it remains the film's main focus. With Page One: Inside the New York Times also on his resume, Rossi has peeked behind the scenes of a New York institution before, but that was a much more thorough excursion. Unlikely to recruit any new fans, and unwilling to delve too deeply into its stated topic, The First Monday in May becomes a slickly made, stylishly shot but ultimately superficial overview of a celebrated occasion, instead of a thoughtful exploration of the question it initially poses. Its savviest touch is actually its timing, releasing while news of this year's titular occasion is still fresh in the collective memory.
When SXSW arrives in Sydney for the first time ever, it'll give Australia perhaps the biggest tech, innovation, screen, music, games and culture festival that the country has ever seen. It's fitting, then, that the event has just added one of the nation's most famous acting names at home and in America: Nicole Kidman. 2023 marks 40 years since Kidman starred in BMX Bandits, but that's not why she'll be taking to the SXSW Sydney stage as part of its massive speaker lineup. Instead, she'll be chatting with her producing partner Per Saari about her production company Blossom Films. On its resume: the Nickers-starring Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing and Rabbit Hole, as well as this year's Elizabeth Olsen (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)-led Love & Death. [caption id="attachment_921120" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ryan Pfluger[/caption] Among SXSW Sydney's latest additions, Kidman is joined by a few fellow Aussie talents who also know more than a thing or two about working in Hollywood. Indeed, in a separate session called Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, actor Jason Clarke and filmmaker Phillip Noyce will get talking about working in America's showbiz mecca. Jason Clarke has Oppenheimer, Zero Dark Thirty, First Man, Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty, playing John Connor in Terminator Genisys and more on his resume. Rabbit Proof Fence helmer Noyce's US credits include Salt, The Quiet American, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, The Saint and Revenge (and no, he won't be joining forces with Kidman to dig into Dead Calm). As well as Clarke and Noyce, this session features actor Charmaine Bingwa from The Good Fight, plus Crazy Rich Asians 2 screenwriter Amy Wang. [caption id="attachment_921123" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Warrick Page/HBO[/caption] The two new SXSW Sydney sessions hail from the Los Angeles-based Australians in Film, which is about developing screen talent, and add to an already-hefty lineup of speakers. Charlie Brooker is on the bill, diving into Black Mirror of course, while Chance The Rapper will talk about 50 years of hip hop, Coachella CEO Paul Tollett clearly has his own fest to discuss, and Future Today Institute founder and CEO Amy Webb also sits among the big names. "Over the past 20 years, AiF has created a unique and supportive community of Australian screen talent in Los Angeles, from emerging actors and filmmakers through to our most revered screen icons. We are excited to have this opportunity to bring the spirit and energy of AiF and our Hollywood community to SXSW Sydney, together with our partner Screen Australia," said Australians in Film Chair Emma Cooper. "From the team at SXSW Sydney, I'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Australians in Film and Screen Australia for their ongoing support. We appreciate the time everyone is taking to travel and join us in our first year — our story will be about these visionaries, and about the diverse and compelling voices emerging alongside them," added SXSW Sydney Managing Director Colin Daniels. Also on the SXSW Sydney lineup: a 700-plus strong bill of talent, covering over 300 sessions. The event will feature more than 300 gigs across 25 venues, too, including an array of music highlights and must-attend parties. Its dedicated gaming strand will feature a tabletop game expo. And, the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival will open with The Royal Hotel, then host the world premiere of Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles among a heap of other standout flicks. The entire event — the festivals within the bigger fest, exhibitions, talks, networking opportunities and streetside activations — will happen within a walkable precinct in the Sydney CBD, Haymarket, Darling Harbour, Ultimo, Chippendale and more, with the SXSW Sydney's footprint operating as a huge hub. Venues include Powerhouse Museum, ICC Sydney, UTS, Central Park Mall, the Goods Line Walk, The Abercrombie and Lansdowne Hotel. [caption id="attachment_910713" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brittany Hallberg[/caption] SXSW Sydney runs from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues, with the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival running from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21 at The ICC's Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and more venues to be announced. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. Top image: The Undoing, Niko Tavernise/HBO. If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
For whatever reason, Vin Diesel and the gang have yet to take their globe-hopping Fast and Furious franchise to New Zealand. But if they do, they'll be racing in the tyre tracks of a couple of Mini-focused homegrown films. Back in 1981, Goodbye Pork Pie saw a ragtag bunch of misfits careen across the country's two islands in a tiny yellow vehicle. Driving into remake territory with a newer model, Pork Pie takes the idea out for another spin. When struggling novelist Jon (Dean O'Gorman) fails to win his girlfriend back at a pal's wedding, he decides to try again after she heads down south to Invercargill. Luckily, he crosses paths with Luke (James Rolleston), who's driving a stolen car and fleeing a troubled past. Recently unemployed fast food worker and animal rights activist Kiera (Ashleigh Cummings) soon hops in as well, and the trio of strangers are suddenly on the road to adventure – albeit with the cops hot on their trail, the media going mad, and the entire nation seemingly watching their every move. Will they all become friends, learn life lessons and grow into better people on their journey? Will you see so many shots of a glistening Mini that you'll think you're watching a car commercial? Will the film showcase just as many scenic New Zealand sights as the Lord of the Rings films? The answer to all three of these questions is a resounding yes. Still, what Pork Pie lacks in surprises, it endeavours to make up for in jovial road trip vibes. Put it this way: if you were stuck travelling for a couple of hours with nothing but this movie for entertainment, you wouldn't mind. Even if they don't always prove the best long-haul companions on-screen, it helps that the three central performers make the most of their roles. None of their characters are particularly well-developed, but the genuine rapport between the energetic O'Gorman, charismatic Rolleston and spirited Cummings more than helps pass the time. Writer-director Matt Murphy boasts a significant connection to the original — it was helmed by his father Geoff Murphy, and Matt was part of the crew. It shouldn't be surprising then that the remake focuses on two things that made the first outing memorable: stunts and humour. In terms of the former, prepare for a standout dash through Wellington that happens to involve a coffin, and cars and trains colliding (but not in the way you might expect). As for the latter, it's more warm smiles and light chuckles than belly laughs. The gags are mostly conventional, but then that's Pork Pie to a tee: affable, enjoyable, but not quite as freewheeling and frenetic as it thinks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPJpLfKG1AI
Victoria's Grampians National Park has long been home to world-class hiking trails, but it's just scored a giant new one that's a whole trip in itself. Start stretching, hikers, because this is a big one — a 160-kilometre trail that takes 13 days to traverse, in fact. Originally set to be completed in 2020, but finally officially opening to the public on Saturday, November 12 — just in time for summer, handily — the Grampians Peaks Trail connects some of the Grampians' best mountain peaks. If you start at Mount Zero in the north and start heading southwards, you'll pass over the summit of Gar (Mount Difficult), and then hit Halls Gap. You'll also mosey through and past Redman Bluff, Mount William, Major Mitchell Plateau, Signal Peak, Mount Abrupt and Mount Sturgeon en route to Dunkeld, spying panoramic views of the southern volcanic plains along the way, and winding through the park's low-lying greenery and waterfalls, too. Eleven hike-in campgrounds are situated along the trail, complete with raised tent pads and communal shelters, plus small huts at two sites. That said, the entire track has been designed so that everyone can get some use out of it — whether you're looking for a leisurely day trip or an overnight hike, or you're ready to commit to an epic two-week adventure. Gariwerd — as it's known by the land's Traditional Owners, the Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung peoples — is more than just its rugged, sandstone mountains. The park is heritage-listed for its Indigenous significance, including its ancient rock art paintings and shelters, as well as for its abundance of animal and plant life, plus its damn spectacular views. For the new trail, Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation all worked with Parks Victoria to guide the path's route — and to also have input into visitor information and stories, in order to help promote awareness of and respect for the cultural landscape. If you're now raring to get started, there are one-day treks at Mount Stapylton, the lower waterfalls of Gar (Mount Difficult), the Lake Wartook lookout, Signal Peak and from Lake Wartook lookout to Halls Gap. Overnight treks come with stopovers at either the Barigar and Bugiga campgrounds, while suggested three-day itineraries span Gar and Werdug, Bugiga and Barri Yalug, Duwul and Durd Durd, Yarram and Wannon, and Djardji-djawara and Mud-dadjug. Grampians Peaks Trail was funded via a $33.2 million project, including $23.2 million from the Victorian Government and $10 million from the Commonwealth Government via Horsham Rural City Council. The Victorian Government has also committed cash to other parts of Grampians National Park, with $7.76 million earmarked for upgrading the MacKenzie Falls visitor area, $5.8 million for Brambuk — the National Park and Cultural Centre and $5.5 million to add more access points to the trail. The Grampians Peaks Trail is now open. For further information, head to the Parks Victoria website. Images: Parks Victoria.
UPDATE, Friday, March 15, 2024: The Aqua with Special Guests tour is no longer taking place on Friday, March 22 at Melbourne's John Cain Arena, moving to Wednesday, March 27 at Margaret Court Arena instead. Also, 2 Unlimited are now the only support act. This article has been updated to reflect that change. For the past year, we've all been living in a Barbie world, with Greta Gerwig's Margot Robbie-starring Barbie film the biggest thing in pop culture over the past 12 months. What happens when you combine the planet's love for the pink-hued hit with the never-ending trend that is 90s nostalgia? Aqua touring Australia to bust out 'Barbie Girl' at a throwback party, that's what. Life in plastic will be fantastic when the Danish-Norwegian band make their first trip Down Under since 2019. Back then, the group responsible for still having their best-known single stuck in your head, plus 'Doctor Jones' and 'Turn Back Time' as well, toured on a bill filled with other acts from the era. This time, they're doing the same thing. Joining Aqua on Wednesday, March 27 at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena: Belgian-Dutch dance duo 2 Unlimited. Originally, the show was set to include British boy band East 17, R&B group Big Brovaz, and English dance acts Phats & Small, Booty Luv and Urban Cookie Collective, too, but they're no longer on the bill. Your latest excuse to keep celebrating all things Barbie-related — and to get a big blast from the past — comes after Aqua popped up on the movie's soundtrack with rapper Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice on the tune 'Barbie World'.
Have you made plans to dial up the romance with your partner on Valentine's and shower your friends with love on Galentine's? But what about your four-legged bestie? Enter the Lonely Barks Club — a free pop-up event hosted by Kip to reduce your pets' loneliness and separation anxiety this V-Day. From Monday, February 12 to Friday, February 16, you can drop off your pooch at Kip's doggy daycare in Brunswick, where they'll be treated to activities ranging from a cuddle corner and dog-themed movies to romantic storytime and a Yappy Hour speed-dating event on Thursday, February 15 from 6.30—7.30pm. Kip is on a mission to transform dog daycare with pick-up and drop-off services, daily activities and state-of-the-art facilities so you can trust that your loved ones are in good hands. Attendance to the Yappy Hour is free with registration, but in order to ensure a safe and fun experience for other dogs, all pups will need to pass a temperament test and complete a profile before entry. If you can't make it to the event but still want to check out Kip's doggy daycare, Kip has a limited-time offering for first-time customers: a deal of three visits for $78. The Lonely Barks Club runs from Monday, February 12 to Friday, February 16 at Kip's Brunswick Doggy Daycare. Register your spot and find out more at Kip's website. Images: Ruthless Photos
The Crown has reached that part of its story: the details that everyone knows no matter how invested you are in Britain's royal family, headlines about them or Netflix's regal drama. With its sixth and final season, the series will step into the relationship between Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed, including the tragic events of their trip to Paris — all of which will be the focus of its four-episode first half. As the just-dropped trailer for the opening part of the show's goodbye demonstrates, heartbreak is on its way. Australian Tenet, The Burnt Orange Heresy and Widows star Elizabeth Debicki earns the bulk of the spotlight as Diana, including the frenzied attention she received from the media. Also seen in the sneak peek: the news arriving of Diana and Dodi's car accident, and the Palace's reaction. Start practising your royal wave: it's time to bid farewell to the hit drama in two sittings, with both arriving before 2023 is out. The first four episodes will stream from Tuesday, November 16, and then the second from Saturday, December 16. As well as saying goodbye to the series overall, viewers will also be moving on from The Crown's time in the 20th century in this sixth and final season. After covering Diana's death and the aftermath, the hit show will embrace the 21st century in its latest run. Accordingly, The Crown will cover the early days of Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship, and focus on the man currently second in line to the throne after Queen Elizabeth II's passing in 2022. Screen debutant Ed McVey takes on the role of Prince William, while newcomer Meg Bellamy is slipping into Middleton's shoes. The show's sixth season will follow the IRL pair's first meeting at university in St Andrew's, starting the story that's played out in plenty of headlines and a ridiculous amount of worldwide media coverage since 2001. This dramatised take on history's last season will also cover the Queen's (Imelda Staunton, Paddington) Golden Jubilee and Charles' (Dominic West, The Pursuit of Love) marriage to Camilla (Olivia Williams, The Father). When The Crown began, it kicked off with Queen Elizabeth II's life from her marriage to Prince Philip back in 1947. The first season made its way to the mid-50s, the second season leapt into the 60s, and season three spanned all the way up to the late 70s. In season four, the royal family hit the 80s, while season five hopped to the 90s. Just like in season five, Game of Thrones and Tales from the Loop's Jonathan Pryce wears Prince Philip's shoes — and Princess Margaret is played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. News around the show's fifth and sixth seasons has changed a few times over the past few years. At the beginning of 2020, Netflix announced that it would end the royal drama after its fifth season. Then, the streaming platform had a change of heart, revealing it would continue the series for a sixth season after all. Check out the trailer for the first part of The Crown season six below: The Crown's sixth season will hit Netflix in two parts, with the first four episodes streaming from Tuesday, November 16, and then the second from Saturday, December 16. Images: Daniel Escale, Netflix / Leftbank.
Sydney-based designer Jeremy Saunders has built a career out of transforming films into evocative and arrestingly beautiful movie posters. In the last 10 years, he has produced the key artwork for such modern classics as George Clooney's Good Night and Good Luck, the Che Guevara biopic The Motorcycle Diaries, and Heath Ledger's heroin-fuelled love story Candy. Now Saunders has turned his hand to his own artwork, redesigning posters for films of his own choosing. First up is the poster series LYNCHED, based on the stylish and darkly mysterious world of director and cult legend David Lynch. By focusing on key objects in Lynch's films, such as the dismembered ear in Blue Velvet or the videotape in Lost Highway, Saunders has created a series of beautifully minimalist posters illustrating the bizarre details in Lynch's works that have made his filmography so iconic and enduring. Saunders told us that while he was inspired by the distinctive 'Lynch style', the motivation to create the posters came from a sudden artistic impulse. "Over the last few years the rise of the 'minimalist redesign' for existing movies has become more and more prevalent around the web," he says. "I'd always been a bit snooty about it, I think, because designing something that nods to a pre-existing understanding of a film is completely oppositional to the much harder task of creating a desire for something no-one's familiar with yet. "So I'd avoided doing them. Plus, you know, I was kind of busy with making movie posters as my day job. But one afternoon I was watching Lost Highway and the image came to me, and over the course of the next day I created the artworks." Have a look below to see all the posters from LYNCHED and check out Saunders website if you'd like to get your hands on your own movie poster.
When we sniff the word 'birthday' being thrown about somewhere, there's that instant ding in our minds: 'Ah yes. Official right to par-ty!' (never mind whose birthday it actually is). This time around it's our old mate Jack Daniels, and he's made it to 161 fine years. To celebrate, he's throwing one mighty big blow out. This year, a bevvy of musical acts are paying homage to one of Australia's greats, Icehouse – they who brought us 'Great Southern Land', 'Electric Blue', 'Crazy' and more (this would be your cue to hold a mini Icehouse YouTube party in your bedroom). Heading up the pack is Art Vs Science, who are no strangers to the cover, having taken on Daft Punk on Triple J's Like A Version. Along for the ride are Kate Miller-Heidke, Patience Hodgeson of The Grates, and Dappled Cities' Tim Derricourt. Plus, Purple Sneakers DJs will be at the decks to get things moving. To go in the running for one of four double passes to the JD Set, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email us with your preference of Sydney or Melbourne shows. Entries close Friday, September 9 at 5pm. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HRwis9CWcjA
The past year and a half hasn't delivered many reasons to laugh. It hasn't seen many big-name international comedians hit our stages to try to get us giggling and guffawing, either. And, if you wanted to end 2021 by chucking at Bill Bailey, that isn't going to happen either. Back in May, the British favourite announced that he was bringing his En Route to Normal tour to our shores this October and November, which would've marked three years since he last had the country in stitches back in 2018. But those plans have just changed due to Australia's COVID-19 restrictions, so you'll need to wait until September, October and November 2022 instead. Known for everything from Have I Got News for You and QI to Spaced, Hot Fuzz and Skins — and Black Books, obviously — Bailey will be pondering some of life's big questions during his delayed En Route to Normal sets. And, while the pandemic is certain to get a mention, he actually named the show before lockdowns, social distancing and always knowing how many active cases are in your state became our current definition of normal. Bailey will still kick off the tour in Queensland, before making his way — and taking his distinctive locks — to Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Plus, in some states, he won't just be sticking to capital cities. Tickets for 2021 dates will be transferred over to their new 2022 equivalents. [caption id="attachment_812863" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andy Hollingworth[/caption] BILL BAILEY EN ROUTE TO NORMAL TOUR 2022: September 22 — Empire Theatre , Toowoomba September 24 — The Events Centre, Caloundra September 25, 27–28 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane September 30 — Star Theatre, Gold Coast October 3–4 — Riverside Theatre, Perth October 6 — Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah October 9 — Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart October 10 — Princess Theatre, Launceston October 12–13 — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide October 15 — Costa Hall, Geelong October 17–18 — Wollongong Town Hall, Wollongong October 20–22 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne October 26–28 — State Theatre, Sydney October 30–31 — Civic Theatre, Newcastle November 1 — Coliseum Theatre, Sydney November 3 — Civic Hall, Ballarat November 4 — Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo November 5 — Royal Theatre, Canberra Bill Bailey's En Route to Normal tour will make its way around the country between September–November 2022. For further information and tickets, head to the tour website. Top image: Brian Marks via Wikimedia Commons.
International fast food giant KFC is inviting its diehard fans to take their gravy drinking habits to the next level, unveiling one of its wackiest, most unnecessary releases yet — a series of cocktail recipes crafted on its signature gravy. Yep, the same marketing team that last year gifted the world with fried chicken-scented bath bombs has found another way to infuse flavours of the deep frier where they probably shouldn't be infused. According to the Independent, KFC's taken cues from bone broth cocktails that have been creeping onto forward-thinking (read: paleo) drink lists around the world, working with cocktail pros to design three boozy sips that hero its legendary gravy. The lineup includes a meaty version of the classic bloody mary (complete with a popcorn chicken skewer as the suggested garnish), and The Southern Twist, featuring bourbon and a parsley brown sugar rim. Requiring a touch more flair is the Finger Lickin' Sour, made with mezcal, cherry liqueur, marmalade and egg white. Gravy so good you can drink it... #BlueMonday pic.twitter.com/G5C1IgfM0H — KFC UK & Ireland (@KFC_UKI) January 15, 2018 This is of course another elaborate publicity campaign by the brand, but one that admittedly sums up weird food trends pretty well. And the recipes are indeed available online, along with videos created by London-based ad agency Mother, just in case you feel like getting creative the next time you order KFC. Come to think of it, this would make one hell of a hair of the dog drink. Via the Independent. Image: YouTube.
Some things never change, like packing a suitcase full of everything you think you might need on holiday, only to discover when you get to your destination that you've forgotten a crucial item. We've all been there, and more than once. When jetting overseas for a getaway becomes a reality again — and international travel returns in a big way, rather than just via quarantine-free bubbles — we all have that to look forward to. Even after Australia's borders have been closed for so long, that kind of thing isn't going to stop happening. But, if you're flying with Qantas and Jetstar, you will also need to add something new to your travel routine. Over the past 18 months, Qantas has responded to the pandemic in a number of ways. The carrier has sold off its fully stocked bar carts, done the same with its pyjamas and launched an athleisure wear range. It announced new routes for domestic getaways, released a gin and floated the idea of only allowing vaccinated passengers to travel. And, it ran a trial of digital health passports, in the hopes of using an app to facilitate safe travel when the global tourism market does reopen — which it has now announced it'll definitely put to use when it is able to resume international flights. The airline will work with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to use its digital Travel Pass app. The same pass was also assessed by Air New Zealand, which tested it on its Auckland to Sydney routes back in April. The big drawcard: enabling travellers to verify their COVID-19 vaccination information and test results with border and health officials, as well as with airline staff. While the final app is still in development, it'll connect customers to certified testing labs, which is how your test results will be accessed. So, it'll allow you to show proof that you've tested negative before your flight — and to show that you have a vaccine certificate also. Handily, the IATA Travel Pass will cross-reference your health details against the entry requirements for the country you're heading to as well, providing specific information for your exact trip. Announcing the news, Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said that "we want to get our international flights back in the air and our people back to work and a digital health pass will be a key part of that. Many governments are already requiring proof of vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test result for international travel. Even if it wasn't a government requirement, Qantas has always been a leader in safety and we have a responsibility to our customers and crew." Last November, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce first advised that the airline was "looking at changing our terms and conditions to say, for international travellers, that we will ask people to have a vaccination before they can get on the aircraft". He continued: "certainly for international visitors coming out and people leaving the country, we think that's a necessity". For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
Sometimes it can hard to get through the working week. Even if you love your job, it always helps to add a little mid-week joviality to get you through to Friday afternoon. Concrete Playground, with help from Debit MasterCard, are giving you the chance to win a night out that will keep you grinning all week at your desk (if you make it to work at all the next day). One lucky person will win a priceless Sydney night out with three of their best mates, dolled up in a brand new outfit from free-spirited Sydney fashion label, Strummer. Your night will start at the The Norfolk where you can sit in the leafy courtyard and sip beers or one of their cooling cocktail jugs to get warmed up before you head off to The Carrington, one of our favourite new venues, for a fab meal. Once you're well-fed and merry, you will head to the Seymour Centre with your VIP tickets in hand to see Florence + the Machine, whose powerful pop songs have won them fans all over the world, debut their new album, Ceremonials. Then, while still on a post-gig high, you and your friends will head for an after-party at the The Flinders to continue your night of dancing. The sold out gig is is part of Debit Mastercard's Priceless Music series, which has commissioned previous shows by other awesome bands like Birds of Tokyo at Cockatoo Island and Kasabian at Melbourne's Docklands, and is set to take place on November 15. For your chance to win the perfect night out, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then leave your email address in the box below. The winner will be notified by email on November 11, 2011. Note: Entries for this competition have now closed. [email_capture] https://youtube.com/watch?v=WbN0nX61rIs
One day a year, each and every year, American football attracts fans around the world who don't watch any NFL games at any other time. The reason: the Super Bowl. Maybe you just check it out for the half-time show. Perhaps you're just keen on the film and TV trailers that drop during the match. Either way, there's no avoiding Super Bowl Monday, as it is in Australia, when it rolls around. The 2024 Super Bowl is different. The Kansas City Chiefs are taking on the San Francisco 49ers. Usher is doing the mid-game performance. But plenty of people watching will be hoping to say "yeah!" to a different music superstar. Everyone knows that Taylor Swift is dating Travis Kelce, who plays for the Chiefs. In fact, the NFL has already confirmed that Swift is on the ground in Las Vegas for the match. Taylor Swift is here with Ice Spice and Blake Lively! #SBLVIII pic.twitter.com/0x4XIDRupW — NFL (@NFL) February 11, 2024 So, where can you watch in Australia? If you're streaming along from work or home, you have a few options. Via free-to-air TV, 7mate and 7plus are showing the game, which starts at 10.30am AEDT / 10am ACT / 9.30am AEST / 7.30am AWST, with coverage commencing half an hour earlier. Or, if you have Foxtel or Kayo, you can also stream the match there. The half-time show is expected to kick off at midday AEDT / 11.30am ADCT / 11am AEST / 9am AWST. [caption id="attachment_940494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] D.roller.saparena via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] While much of the focus has been on Swift, including if she'd make to Las Vegas after her Tokyo Eras gigs before heading to Australia for her Down Under tour leg, there's another reason for Aussies to be interested. Mitch Wishnowsky plays for the 49ers, and could become the first Australian to play in and win the Super Bowl if his team beats the Chiefs. Jesse Williams received a Super Bowl ring for the Seattle Seahawks in 2024, but didn't actually play in the match. The Chiefs also won 2023's Super Bowl, plus 2020's — against the the 49ers in the latter. [caption id="attachment_940492" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Accedie via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] The 2024 Super Bowl takes place from 10am AEDT / 10am ACT / 9am AEST / 7.30am AWST on Monday, February 12 in Australia. Watch along via 7mate and 7plus, Foxtel or Kayo. Top image: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia via Wikimedia Commons.
The Sapphires is a feel-good, sparkle-spangled film uncovering the journey of four Aboriginal girls as they are plucked from a remote Australian mission and thrust onto the world stage performing for black US marines in Vietnam in 1968. The film was not only snapped up by The Weinstein Company for North American release before it even premiered at the Cannes Festival earlier this year, but it also received an impressive 10-minute standing ovation following its midnight screening at the festival. The Sapphires is an adaptation of the iconic stage musical of the same name, inspired by the true story of writer Tony Brigg's mother and three aunts. The charismatic quartet is played by AFI award-winning Deborah Mailman, who plays the protective mama-bear, Gail, newby Miranda Tapsell as the sassy sister Cynthia, Aussie pop sensation Jessica Mauboy portraying the feisty younger sister Julie, and Shari Sebbens as the estranged cousin, Kay, brought up with a white family in Melbourne as part of the stolen generation. The girls are spotted by Irish soul-lover Dave (Bridesmaids' Chris O'Dowd), who has a kind heart and an ear for raw talent. Under the condition that they switch from their beloved country western style to the toe-tapping beats of soul, Dave takes the four divas under his wing and secures them a spot on a tour performing for the Vietnam troops. The racial struggle and social upheaval of the heady days of the late '60s and the Vietnam War are largely overshadowed by exuberant songs, complete with Motown, Stax and Atlantic Records classics, soulful performances and lessons learned about love, life and friendship. Director and first-time filmmaker Wayne Blair has produced an effervescent and upbeat movie which will be sure to get you belting out hit tunes from the likes of Marvin Gaye, Linda Lyndell and Jackson Five. Mention must also go to O'Dowd, who delivers a hilarious performance with his clumsy character that will leave you giggling long after the credits roll. The film is opening the world-renowned Melbourne International Film Festival on August 3 and hits cinemas on August 9. Concrete Playground has five double passes to giveaway. To go in the running to win tickets to The Sapphires, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Empire of the Sun are back, proving that video making is still an art; Owl Eyes are telling golden lies; and Bastille are taking full advantage of the acoustics properties of a museum corner to give you the perfect Sunday song. 1. 'ALIVE' - EMPIRE OF THE SUN Empire of the Sun dropped their much-awaited new track 'Alive' just the other week. Tuesday saw the release of the accompanying video, and the apt word is wow. It almost looks like a futuristic Game of Thrones scene and it proves that Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore just know how to do epic. They also prove that despite the dwindling numbers tuning into MTV, the music video is still a valid art form. It also helps that the track is incredibly catchy. We should give a warm welcome back to the absurdly dressed duo. 2. 'GET LUCKY' - DAUGHTER And so the covers of the best song so far this year begin. Daft Punk's heralded return track has been covered here by brooding British band and anticipated Splendour act Daughter and is a surprisingly excellent cover, perhaps because they have taken such a different path to the French gods of electronica. Hopefully any other covers that follow are up to this quality. 3. 'YOUNG & BEAUTIFUL' - LANA DEL REY Anything to do with the upcoming movie The Great Gatsby gets me excited, mainly as everything is so secretive. The soundtrack is promising to be as epic as the film itself, with Jay-Z, Florence and the Machine and Sia just some of the artists who recorded for the film. For a long time we only heard snippets of sound, but now full tracks are starting to leak out. Lana Del Rey dropped this treat and, like all things Gatsby, it is suspenseful, epic and beautiful. Enjoy at will. 4. 'GOLDEN LIES' - OWL EYES Owl Eyes are telling us golden lies and I don't mind what truth they are covering up so long as it keeps sounding as good as this. 'Golden Lies' is one of the twelve dance-inducing tracks from Nightswim, Owl Eyes' debut album released just last week. Do yourself a favour and put this on repeat. 5. 'POMPEII' - BASTILLE These British boys were invited to perform 'Pompeii' at the opening of the British Museum's Pompeii exhibit, and we should all be very glad that Bastille accepted, as it turns out that the corner of a museum is the perfect place for a haunting voice, a guitar and three pairs of hands percussively beating thighs to make perfectly serendipitous music. Excellent for that relaxing Sunday afternoon.
Sometimes it seems like most up-and-coming bands gather their inspiration from the same batch of indie artists. If you've grown tired of the monotony, fear not, for some new sounds are coming to Australia soon — Japanese alt sounds, that is. Sonny King of Melbourne rock band Lucy's Crown is eager to show just how great Japanese alternative music can be with Australia's first Japan Music Festival. Featuring bands Jill, 101A, Sparky Quano and Kaimokujisho, King set out to represent the large range of sound that exists in the underground music scene of Japan, from J-Pop to J-Rock. "I was on tour with Lucy's Crown in Tokyo and was astonished just how good the Japanese underground bands were that we played with and thought that Australia should see them," says King. Choosing bands that were enthusiastic about coming to Australia was another big factor in how the acts were chosen. He also took into account how Australian audiences might respond to them. "It was a difficult process because there were so many good bands but we wanted diversity in both music and image and we also needed them to be accessible to the people going to the gigs," says King. Japanese music, especially of the underground variety, is constantly evolving. Yet it still holds onto the roots of the previous musical trend. Bars and clubs that cater to a particular music genre or band are very popular in Tokyo. "There are Ritchie Blackmore bars, Yngwie Malmsteen bars, Jeff Beck bars, clubs and restaurants for The Stones and The Beatles, '60s bars, '70s bars, '80s bars, the list is almost endless," says King. King is optimistic about the future reach of Japanese music in Australia. With the internet becoming such an influential way to get smaller bands heard, it's only a matter of time before musicians from Japan and other similar countries break into international markets. The problem, he says, is the oversaturation now prevalent in the music world. "It's a bit like learning to read and then being taken to a world library and being told to help yourself," says King. "You'd start with what is familiar, Australian, English, American, etcetera. and eventually you'd get around to the Japanese stuff, and that's the same with exploring world music." Though this is only the first Japan Music Festival, King is optimistic about the future. "We already have the foundations in place for next year and are receiving discs from Japanese bands who want to come." With four shows scheduled in three cities, and music and instrument demonstrations happening at select JB Hi-Fi stores, the Japan Music Festival promises music entirely different from the usual festival line-up. For now, King is keeping focused on running a successful first festival. "This is the inaugural event so once it's finished I can sit back, take a look at it with fresh eyes and raise the bar for next year." The Japan Music Festival is at the Esplanade Hotel on April 3 and The Retreat in Brunswick on April 6.
If you're anything like us, you don't really feel like sipping on a tannic shiraz or a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon when the mercury hits above 26. And, if we're being totally honest with ourselves, we've really given the standard rosé (frosé, rosé icy poles, rosé spritz, rosé Christmas ornaments, rosé bath bombs…) a good run for its money. So, we think, maybe, it's time to branch out. This is where the orange wines, the skin-contacts, the pét-nats and the naturals step in. If you haven't had one yet, you've heard your friends talk about them. And they're perfect summer drinking — light, textured and exciting. To help you make some educated oenological decisions these holidays, we asked funky-wine aficionado Joel Amos, co-founder of DRNKS — an online wine store specialising in sustainable, organic and biodynamic wine — to give us a rundown of the top ten interesting drops to drink during the scorching summer months. To buy these wines, head to DRNKS (they're offering same-day delivery from now until Christmas in the Sydney metro), check the wineries' websites or ask your favourite local bottle-o. KIDS OF THE BLACK HOLE, OCHOTA BARRELS, ADELAIDE HILLS Ochota Barrels began as a conversation during a Mexican surf trip, now it's a name synonymous with natural wine. If you're a stranger to funky wines, this is a good place to jump in. This drop is a light skin-contact riesling, so it has a touch of orange colour but tastes fresh and zippy. For the uninitiated, skin-contact refers to white wines that are fermented with the grape skins left on for longer, which gives the wine an orange colour (usually the skins are removed before fermentation when making white wine). Amos says this wine is, "kind of like perfect perfection being made perfectly". So, perfect? SKINS, FROM SUNDAY, ORANGE "Orange wine from orange," says Amos. "It's always exciting to see interesting wines out of NSW." You'll notice that a lot of wines on this list are from SA, but NSW has been producing some interesting wines recently, too. This one is a skin-contact pinot gris — it's light, but textured, and way too easy to drink. It's also more rose-coloured than orange, but don't be tricked by its tint, we still recommend drinking it chilled. Then, taking it outdoors to a beach, park, forest or garden. RIESLING 2017, OISEAU ET RENARD, CLARE VALLEY Bird and Fox (the English translation of its name) made a similar skin-contact riesling in 2016 that was widely popular. This is the 2017 version and it doesn't disappoint. It's fresh and pretty, while still have a noticeable texture. It's also fermented in an amphora — a terracotta jar used often in Roman times — instead of barrels or stainless steel tanks. Amos says that it's, "pretty special stuff". We think you should order a bottle before it sells out. GEWURZTRAMINER, YETTI AND THE KOKONUT, BAROSSA VALLEY This wine label possibly has the best name in the business (yes, big call). It has also produced a might fine array of wines during its two years in production. A typically European grape, this gewürztraminer was grown in SA then fermented on skins. Now, you can find it in a host of restaurants and bottle shops around Australia. Amos says it's "fruit juice that can get you drunk", so we're going to recommend you drink with caution. RAINBOW JUICE, GENTLE FOLK, ADELAIDE HILLS Do you want to drink rainbow juice? We want to drink rainbow juice. We think the more rainbows in 2017 and beyond, the better. Gentle Folk is another big name in the funky-wine business, and another name that sells out quickly — so don't hesitate when buying your rainbow juice. It's made from 23 different red and white grape varieties, from around Basket and Forest Range, that spent some time fermenting in oak. Once again, Amos would like you to not be fooled by its colour — "serve it ice cold". PINOT BLANC, LUCY MARGAUX, ADELAIDE HILLS Last year's Lucy Margaux wines were pretty wild — highly textural and oft described as pond scum (which is not necessarily a bad thing with natural wine). This year they're slightly more pared back, light, fresh and really well priced. This pinot blanc is made organically (as are all the LM wines) and slightly dry and carbonated. We suggest pairing with a secluded beach. PINK, SI, MARGARET RIVER OK. We lied. We included a rosé. But it's not a typical rosé. It's a minimal-intervention cabernet sauvignon (with a touch of malbec) grown and fermented in Western Australia. Amos says, "this is really light and pretty — who knew you could have a not gross cabernet rosé?." Si knew. Now you know. And Santa won't cross you off his Christmas list if you turn it into frosé. PASH RASH, BORACHIO, ADELAIDE HILLS Luckily, this pash rash has nothing in common with the one you experienced during high school. It's a blend of pinot gris and sauvignon blanc and it's tart and easy to drink. The winemakers, Mark Warner and Alicia Basa — who can usually be found stomping grapes at another natural winery, Jauma — call it "boozy pub squash". GOOD TIMES, LATTA VINO, WESTERN VICTORIA Rounding out the lineup with a bang (literally), is this 1.5-litre bottle of pétillant-naturel. A pétillant-naturel, or pét-nat, is a sparkling wine made using the traditional méthode ancestrale — it's not a quick process to describe, but there's a full rundown here if you're interested. This juicy bottle is made using pinot gris and we highly recommend you ring in the new year with a bottle or two.
One of the only things better than sitting down to a sumptuous multi-course dinner, is doing so knowing that you're helping out a great cause at the same time. And that's the sort of feel-good dining you're in for when Feast to Feed takes over the St Kilda Town Hall for one flavour-packed night on Thursday, April 27. A lineup of local culinary legends will be helping to bring this inaugural event to life, teaming up and hitting the kitchen to raise funds for Alex Makes Meals — a Melbourne-based charity that provides meals for those battling food insecurity. Snap up a $190 ticket and you'll be treated to a five-course degustation featuring dishes from the likes of Tom Sarafian, Attica alum Alessandro Luppolo, Lollo's Adam D'Sylva and more. Expect a globe-trotting feast starring plates like tortellini cacio e pepe, yellow curry with crispy duck, Sri Lankan-style curry leaf-cured kingfish and a chocolate limoncello tiramisu. Guests will also enjoy a cocktail on arrival, followed by a selection of Yalumba wines and beers by Deeds Brewing. There'll be goody bags to take home, too. Top image: Attica alum Alessandro Luppolo
Following the massive success of its Hokusai exhibition in 2017, the NGV will once again look to the cultural influence of Japan with an exploration of the country's widespread impact on Western modern art. Running from May 25 to October 28, Japonisme: Japan and the Birth of Modern Art considers the crucial period of time following the reopening of international trade from Japan in 1854. As artworks began to flow from Japan into Europe and America, a cultural revolution of sorts was set in motion as Western artists became exposed to the artworks and visual language of Japan for the first time. Influencing artists like Vincent van Gogh and other legends of the day, this moment in history is considered one of the crucial events that lay the foundations of Western modern art. Japonisme delves into the NGV's huge Asian arts collection, showcasing examples that demonstrate Japan's influence of much of the world's art throughout the last 150 years. Western decorative arts, paper works, paintings, fashion and textiles, photography, as well as Japanese artworks are on display. Specific highlights include Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's much-loved Divan Japonais poster, examples from the 1866 Bracquemond-Rousseau dinner service, and an undulating art nouveau cabinet designed by Louis Majorelle, demonstrating the influence of Japanese styling on French furniture. Throughout Japonisme, it becomes clear how the Japanese respect for the environment influenced European artists, and you'll notice just how many examples of European art highlight the reworked organic forms, rich colours and gentle textures typically associated with Japanese aesthetics. Image: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Divan Japonais (1893).
Summer hit Sydney in full force yesterday as the city sweated through its second hottest day ever recorded. Temperatures in Penrith hit a whopping 47.3 degrees at 3.25pm, according to live data from the Bureau of Meteorology. #SydneyHeat UPDATE: #Penrith has now reached 47.3 degrees at 3:25pm according to the preliminary live data from the weather station there. — Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) January 7, 2018 Earlier in the day, the Bureau mistakenly tweeted that Sydney had blitzed its previous record of 47.0 degrees from February 2017, before discovering old 1939 data from a now-closed Richmond weather station. Those temperatures remain the highest on record, clocking in at 47.8 degrees. #SydneyHeat: Sorry, in our earlier checks we missed a 47.8 degrees C temperature recorded at an old #Richmond station (now closed) in 1939. 47.3 today still beats the previous #Penrith record. — Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) January 7, 2018 In the city at Observatory Hill, the temperature hit a still-high 42.3 degrees at 1pm. While Sydney's weather's not expected to be quite as apocalyptic today, it's still set to be a scorcher, with temperatures in the low 30s predicted for the CBD and over 40 degrees in store for the western suburbs. Things will remain pretty sweaty tomorrow with highs of around 30 degrees, before we score a much more palatable top of 25 degrees on Wednesday.
Melbourne's summer festival calendar just scored a wild and wonderful new addition, celebrating our boundary-pushing urban art scene. Dubbed Can't Do Tomorrow, it's set to take over the warehouses of Kensington's famed underground space The Facility, dishing up a dynamic festival of contemporary culture from February 20–29, 2020. A melting pot of creativity, music, discussion and art, the ten-day fiesta promises to be immersive, eclectic and entirely thought-provoking. A lineup of more than 100 artists, galleries, crews and collectives will transform the former wool stores into a large-scale smorgasbord of urban art for you to feast on, interact with, experience and even buy. We won't find out exactly which talent is on board until later in the year, though you can expect just about everything from sculpture, photography and murals to stencil, video production and monumental immersive installations. Organisers are even describing it as "an outlandish Eden", as they set out to show people a new way of consuming, or being consumed by, art. [caption id="attachment_729368" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex Jovanovic[/caption] Can't Do Tomorrow's offering will be split into three main parts, backed by a program of live music, workshops, performances and talks. 'Unleash' will act as a modern art show of sorts, where you'll be able to browse and buy works from over 80 independent artists. Next, 'Unlock' will feature a series of solo shows and group exhibitions from some of Melbourne's established galleries and collectives, throwing together both new and significant older works. Then, 'Unlimited' will take the form of an escapist realm, filled with mind-bending installations, imagined dreamscapes and site-specific murals by some of the scene's big guns. Names like Kaff-eine, Alex Lehours, Georgie Seccull and Ben Frost are set to work their magic on this one. While that's all the info we have at the moment, the festival is looking for artists to submit their works and ideas. If you think that's you, you can get in touch here. Can't Do Tomorrow will take over The Facility, at 2R Chelmsford St, Kensington, from February 20 to 29, 2020. The full program is slated to drop in November — we'll let you know when it does. Images: Mayonaize and Camscale by Alex Jovanovic
Some may call it ambitious, given the mess of uncertainty that 2020 has been. Most will simply celebrate having something big, loud and live to look forward to. But whatever your thoughts, music agency Novel has announced plans for its next huge live music event and you're all invited. Set to take over an undisclosed space on March 7, 2021, and headlined by Berlin DJ great Ben Klock, is Novel's grand post-pandemic debut, Smalltown Street Rave. The COVID-safe dance party will be the first IRL outing in about 12 months for the group, which is the same crew behind events like Let Them Eat Cake and Pitch Music & Arts. Crowd restrictions have meant that it's been a tough year for the music industry as a whole, with Novel managing to squeeze in just a handful of shows before COVID-19 swooped in. And of course, that's off the back of its 2019 venue dramas, which involved VCAT hearings, a head-to-head with local council and the last-minute relocation of one of its huge Smalltown events. But next up, Smalltown Street Rave looks set to close curtains on past issues and end Novel's hibernation with a bang. And a big one at that: the team's managed to nab a 5000-person-capacity inner-city venue for the occasion. They're keeping the exact location under wraps for now, but we're told it's in a secluded industrial area, with minimal sound restrictions and acres of space. The secret will be out soon, but in the meantime, just think back to past Novel offerings at sites like Marvel Stadium's underground carpark, St Kilda Foreshore and Werribee Mansion, and let your imagination run wild. [caption id="attachment_671505" align="alignnone" width="1920"] B3 underground car park[/caption] There's also no word yet on exactly who will be joining Ben Klock in making excellent use of the Funktion-One Soundsystem, though Novel is, of course, well-known for pulling the big guns. Past Smalltown events have drawn such heavy hitters as DJ KOZE, Nina Kraviz and Stephen Bodzin. For now, just know there'll be international guests among the lineup, with names to be revealed in the coming months. The music agency is countering the uncertainty that this year's pandemic has thrown our way by initially selling tickets for just 25 percent of the venue's capacity, until future crowd restrictions become a little more predictable. You can snap one up from 12pm this Wednesday, October 7, safe in the knowledge that both refunds and ticket exchanges will be offered in the case of any postponement. Smalltown Street Rave will also be compliant with all regulations, including following a COVID-19 Safe plan. Smalltown Street Rave is set to takeover a yet-to-be-announced Melbourne location from 12–11pm on Sunday, March 7. Tickets go on sale from 12pm, Wednesday, October 7. You can grab yours here. Top image: Let Them Eat Cake
The team behind The Legend of Tarzan has done something very interesting with their film. Rather than simply giving us another version of the boy becomes man, man becomes hero, hero becomes legend tale, the film plays out much more like the final instalment of a trilogy, in which its hero's days of daring and valour are already all but behind him. Not unlike the bearded and beleaguered Bruce Wayne of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgård) is, at the start of this story, Tarzan no more. Seated opposite the British Prime Minister in his most fashionable three-piece, the iconic jungle man now lives a secluded life in his remote castle and goes by his rightful birth name and title: John Clayton, Viscount of Greystoke, Member of the House of Lords. That introduction alone gives The Legend of Tarzan a more complex and compelling platform from which to launch its story than many of its superhero contemporaries, whose protagonists consistently flounder and fall for lack of any clear-cut motivation other than generally being super. In this instance, it's the suspicion of slave trading in the Congo that compels Tarzan to resume his moniker and return to his beloved Africa, along with his wife Jane (Margot Robbie) and the real-life American Civil War hero turned politician and lawyer George Washington Williams (Samuel L Jackson). This undercurrent of slavery, along with allusions to ivory trading and ethnic cleansing, all serve to ground The Legend of Tarzan in something more than unadulterated comic book fun. The result is a superhero movie with a social conscience that continually flits in and out of getting the balance right. In the titular role, Skarsgård looks every bit the part. With his flowing blond locks and unreasonably buff physique, you could comfortably sell just about any cologne or luxury watch simply by placing its logo on top of him and gently whispering its name. For a role so ridiculous (and truly, a man raised by gorillas who commutes via jungle vine is about as ridiculous as it gets), Skarsgård does an extraordinary job of keeping the audience's disbelief at bay. His dialogue is sensibly sparse, opting instead to speak through impressively expressive eyes and CGI-heavy action that's not nearly as awful as the early trailers made out. Opposite him in the role of the villain, Christopher Waltz (Inglorious Bastards) again offers up his signature cocktail of eloquent menace paired with a spine-chilling grin. In truth it's a more nuanced and credible performance than his turn as Bond's arch-nemesis in last year's Spectre. Robbie, too, puts in a charming turn as Tarzan's wife Jane, yet despite every effort to establish her character's strength, courage and independence, she still ends up very much on the sidelines; an underutilized spectator to the action rather than an active participant. In all, critics have been quick to condemn The Legend of Tarzan for both its hobbled story and themes, asking what place such an antiquated tale has in the modern world. Well the answer is 'fun', which the film most definitely is. Yes, the action is scattershot and often feels hurried, which is why its strongest scenes are also its most subtle ones – be they fireside singalongs, candlelit dinners or silent interactions with the jungle's magnificent creatures. The Legend of Tarzan could very easily have ended up another Lone Ranger-style disaster. Instead, director David Yates has managed to orchestrate an old-school adventure with an unshrinking social conscience. It's far from perfect, but it's darned good fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj7ty6sViiU
National Young Writers' Festival (NYWF) is the four-day writerly celebration that takes over the imaginations of young writers around the country. Directors Alexandra Neill, Jessica Alice and Lex Hirst have just announced their colourful program featuring familiar names like Benjamin Law, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Clementine Ford, Lawrence Leung, Genevieve Fricker, Steph Harmon, James Colley, Patrick Lenton and more (including some other names you might not recognise now but definitely will in the next five years). As well as more serious talks on slacktivism, mandatory detention and identity, NYWF won't be holding back on the life's practical truths, informing young writers about how to get paid as a writer, how to become an astronaut, how to make a sumptuously good sandwich and how to keep a diary and still be cool. Like any good writers' festival, Breakfast Book Club will start each day with impassioned discussion on life changing books, ones that make you plain angry and ones that are so good you turn into a nocturnal creature. Over 60 panels, discussions, workshops, performances and launches will carry you through deep into the evening when you'll get to sit back and relax to late night romance, crime and dystopian readings. Did we mention the whole festival is free? Yep, all of it. Blowing out 17 candles this year, NYWF is growing bigger and wiser by the year. But a festival is never too old for an intergalactic-themed ball and a spelling bee-cross-Hunger Games-style battle of the brains, right? NYWF runs from 2-5 October. Check out the full program here. Image: Alan Weedon.
With summer on the horizon, we'll soon have another excuse to get out there and hit the water, as GoBoat finally splashes into Geelong. Since 2014, the Denmark-born company has been busy launching its eco-friendly picnic boats all over Europe, as well as in Canberra, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney's Parramatta River. And now, from Monday, November 21, it's sailing along the Geelong waterfront as well. Aimed at making the whole boating caper more accessible for everyday folk, the Scandinavian-designed vessels are slow-moving, a breeze to operate and don't require a boating licence, making for some fun, fuss-free sailing sessions. In a win for the planet, they also run on silent, pollution-free, electric engines, and are crafted from a mix of reclaimed timber and recycled PET bottles. Each of the contemporary GoBoats clocks in at 18-feet long, boasting a central picnic table with room for eight people (and all the necessary snacks and booze). And despite what you might be thinking, they're even affordable enough to fit your budget — simply BYO food and drinks, find enough eager sailors to jump aboard and a GoBoat session will you less than $13 per person, per hour. A one-hour session starts from $99, with a five-hour sail setting your crew back $329–409. GoBoat's Geelong fleet will be setting sail from Wangim Walk in conjunction with the Royal Geelong Yacht Club — and before you hit the water, you'll receive a safety briefing and demonstration. All boats are speed-limited, too, and obviously decked out with safety equipment including life jackets. The vessels are family-friendly and, in even more exciting news, they're also pet-friendly. Surely you've got a very good boy who deserves a river jaunt this summer. [caption id="attachment_826123" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lean Timms[/caption] Find GoBoat Geelong at Wangim Walk on the Geelong waterfront, from Monday, November 21. For more information or to make a booking, visit the service's website.
It's been almost twenty years since the aliens of Independence Day came down and made a global nuisance of themselves. Fair to say a lot's happened since then, mostly to do with iPhones and TV shows about 'real housewives'. But in the world of Roland Emmerich's movie, things have advanced even further. We're talking flying cars, moon bases and even above ground monorails! Hybrid alien/earth technology has led to giant leaps forward in almost every facet of life, not to mention ushering in an unprecedented era of global peace. But then, wouldn't you know it, the aliens return, and – surprise surprise – they are pissed. Independence Day: Resurgence reunites pretty much the entire cast of the original film save for Will Smith – who has been unceremoniously killed off – while also introducing some newer, younger and more marketable faces in the form of Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe, Jessie Usher and Chinese superstar Angelababy. Then it does EXACTLY THE SAME THING AS LAST TIME. First, aliens invade and park a giant ship where there was clearly a no parking sign, ruining several perfectly lovely cities like London and Hong Kong in the process. Next, Earth launches a counter-attack with an impressive aerial armada, only to be completely scuttled and sent packing with our tails between our legs. Then the aliens reveal their true purpose (literally to do again what they came to do last time, exactly the same way), before Bill Pullman gets into a fighter plane and brings down the invaders with not a second to spare because – and we can't stress this point enough – 'that's what worked last time'. The result is an altogether dull blockbuster, assuming that's not an oxymoron. There's zero chemistry between any two members of the cast, while the battle scenes feel disappointingly familiar. It's also one of those frustrating films where giant plot holes are constantly pulling you out of the story, as you find yourself wanting to yell questions at the screen. These may include: "Why are we still baffled by the alien shields if we knew they had them twenty years ago?" or: "Why are we surprised by the speed of the alien ships when they've not changed since the last time?" and of course: "Why do we have countdowns on our earth-defending weapons, when all they do is give the aliens more time to blow them up?" Big, dumb and fun is an established genre in Hollywood these days, and one that's not entirely without its merits. Silly blockbusters are great for whiling away a rainy afternoon or getting you to the end of a long-haul flight. But when the 'dumb' is so overbearing that it drowns out the 'fun', and the 'big' being made 'bigger' represents the only substantive change, then you're left with a massively expensive yet spectacularly hollow sequel that quite simply fails to entertain. Rest in peace, Will Smith's character. Yours is the only one whose memory hasn't been soiled. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbduDRH2m2M
Lime Cordiale are sleeping at your door, Bel Heir are kissing the devil whilst Magic Man are simply enjoying every day — as you should this weekend. You've earned it. 1. 'SLEEPING AT YOUR DOOR' - LIME CORDIALE Welcome spring! We have endured the cold winter months just to feel your warm, sun-filled embrace and it has been a wonderful first week. Farewelling winter also means that our speakers are set to be overrun by upbeat tracks that everybody can dance to all summer long, and Lime Cordiale have delivered one that will be on repeat until the cold returns. 'Sleeping At Your Door' is a 3 minute 18 second long bundle of energy and if it leaves you craving more, then do not fret, as their new album was released today. Keep it up spring! 2. 'MAD' - DE VERRE Hypnotising is the best adjective to describe De Verre's debut musical offering. The Southern Californians have delivered a sensual number dripping in allure. It is intoxicating, arousing and soothing all at once, with a video to match. This one is for later in the evening; step aside Barry White. 3. 'KISS THE DEVIL' - BEL HEIR Since Bel Heir announced that they would release a new track on the first Tuesday of each month for the rest of 2013, I have been looking forward to their monthly treat. If 'Kiss The Devil' is anything to go by, then we have three more incredible songs on their way. So have a listen to this track and if you haven't already noted the first Tuesday of October, November and December by the end of it then do so now. Also, extra kudos for their excellent band name. 4. 'HEALTH' - STILL PARADE Still Parade released a beautiful song 'Actors' in May and then went silent, until now. 'Health' is refreshingly simplistic, pulling you onto an emotional roller-coaster that has just the right amount of twists and turns. If they are going to produce gems like this, then I think we should all be okay with letting them disappear for four months at a time to return with musical magic. 5. 'EVERY DAY' - MAGIC MAN Speaking of magic, Magic Man has decided to pull out the guitars and drums and play them harmoniously to create 'Every Day', a track set to lighten 2013 road trip playlists. The band has a similar sound to HAIM, which is a compliment and a half so be sure to pick up their EP You Are Here on Tuesday, 10 September, whilst you wait for HAIM's debut.
The same team behind Frankie Magazine is about to launch a new publication entitled Smith Journal, a kind of guy-friendly take on the concept that has worked so brilliantly for the ladies. Over the years Frankie has created its own niche in the world of magazines. its creators saw a dearth of publications lacking warmth, impeccable design and solid content, so they filled the gap and they’ve done spectacularly well off it. In the past two years Frankie has had astounding jumps in circulation, making it the fastest growing magazine in the country. And the reasons for that are many, including their clean, environmentally-friendly design, support for underground acts and emerging creatives, and their emphasis on strong content, publishing distinctive writers like Benjamin Law and Marieke Hardy. Now they’re applying the same logic to the world of gentlemen’s magazines. The idea behind the name – Smith – is that of blokes doing stuff with their hands – blacksmiths and wordsmiths and the like. Their positioning is both old fashioned and down to earth, but never attempting to be cool or exclusive. And just like Frankie doesn’t bar the boys from the clubhouse, Smith also welcomes lady readers. The difference between Smith and Frankie is that it’s going to be a wee bit bigger and a little less regular. It’ll be printed out at a not-entirely-bus-friendly edition of 140+ pages, with only two issues a year in limited release. The first issue is out September 5.
Winter is well and truly upon us, but that doesn't mean you need to lock yourself away. Melbourne's cultural calendar is as jam-packed as ever, with endless activities to coax you out into the cold. From ice skating in the CBD to getting dressed up and watching the ballet to hearty long lunches, there's no shortage of fun to be had in this city, which has a way of looking especially beautiful in the rain. And the best part is, you can do all of these very weather-appropriate activities with a drink in hand. So you don't miss out on any of these winter happenings, we've partnered with Tanqueray to bring you some top activities to tackle this season. HIT THE ICE AT FED SQUARE'S WINTER VILLAGE Nothing says winter quite like strapping on your skates, and there's no better place to do it than at Federation Square's Winter Village. This seasonal pop-up in the very heart of the Melbourne CBD includes an ice rink and a charming igloo village, as well as hot chocolate and dessert stations. After carving it up out on the ice, treat yourself to a late-night martini at nearby Juniper haven Gin Palace on Russell Place. Alternatively, 1806 on Exhibition Street boasts a killer cocktail selection. The gin-based options range from the classics (negronis and dry martinis) to something a little more special like the Red Snapper — a gin-based take on a bloody mary with sherry. SIP PRE-SHOW COCKTAILS BEFORE CATCHING A MUSICAL Hamilton won't arrive on our shores until 2021, but you can still get your Lin-Manuel Miranda fix this winter with Bring It On: The Musical. On stage at the Athenaeum Theatre from Thursday, July 11–Sunday, July 28, the Tony-nominated production will have you cartwheeling in the aisles as you relive your younger self's favourite movie. If you want to bring a little high-brow to this decidedly low-brow night of fun, stop by Melbourne institution Eau de Vie on Malthouse Lane for a pre-show cocktail. The Opera-inspired Carmen 23, made with Tanqueray No.10, fino sherry, rosemary and rosewater sounds fitting, don't you think? [caption id="attachment_722852" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] HAVE AN ARTY AFTERNOON THEN GO FOR A LAVISH LUNCH They're often described as the eighth wonder of the world. And, for the next few months at the National Gallery of Victoria, you can see them with your own two eyes. In town as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, the ancient Terracotta Warriors are presented here alongside new works by celebrated contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang — a powerful contrast of Chinese art old and new. When you're finished, why not grab a tipple and a bite to eat at The Barre next door at the Arts Centre? The food is seriously moreish — think squid ink linguine, tuna loin tataki and charcuterie boards — and it's all perfectly suited to enjoy with a Tanqueray No.10 and tonic. TUCK INTO A LUNCH DEGUSTATION THEN HEAD TO THE BALLET Enjoy a feast fit for a king, or maybe a hare and Mad Hatter, at fine dining establishment Lûmé in South Melbourne. Its recently relaunched long lunch degustation is the perfect thing for a chilly Saturday afternoon, with barbecue pork glazed in black banana, pumpkin molé tart and calamari with coconut, cucumber and chrysanthemum as just some of the options on offer. To drink, you can't go past the Negroni Fizz made with Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, mandarin orange and vermouth. Keep the whimsy going by taking in the Australian Ballet's magical production of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, running at Arts Centre Melbourne from June 8–22. CELEBRATE WORLD GIN DAY What better way to kick off winter (aka gin season) than with a whole day dedicated to your favourite spirit? World Gin Day falls on Saturday, June 8 this year — the start to the Queen's birthday long weekend. So, in honour of this spirit and Australia's undying love for it, hit the streets and head to a Melbourne bar or restaurant for tastiest gin cocktail you can find. For an inventive tipple that can be enjoyed with some equally inventive bites, head to Saké on Flinders Street for the Berri Kawaii — this vibrant mix features spicy yuzu kosho shaken with sake and house-made berry jam. Or, if you'd like your gin served with a killer view on the side, head to Arbory Bar to sip a gin bramble, with creme de mure, lemon, blackberries and lemonade — you can order this as an individual drink or in a jug if the whole gin-loving crew has tagged along. But, if you'd rather keep things simple, make tracks to Garden State Hotel for a classic Negroni. Top Image: Gin Palace.
Winter is not traditionally ice cream weather. However, when that ice cream is being served up by Helados Jauja, seasons no longer matter, only the taste and the chance to devour as much as you can, and that chance just became a whole lot easier thanks to UBER. The on-demand private driver service has teamed up with the Argentinian artisan gelateria for Friday, July 19, only to deliver their deliciousness directly to your door. UBER Ice Cream Trucks will be transporting specially prepared packs of Helados Jauja around Melbourne from 2pm to 10pm and you can enjoy this service with the simple flick of a finger. To order, download the UBER app, then just open it, move the slider to the 'Ice Cream' option and request a delivery to your door in minutes — $20 will get you a 500ml tub and some UBER merch. It's easier than serving your own ice cream at home, and definitely more delicious. You can keep up to date with all of the action on Twitter and Instagram if you want (@Uber_Melbourne and #UberIceCream) whilst devouring your mouthwatering treat but remember, this is for today Friday, July 19, only (or, as I like to call it, ice-cream Christmas), so take advantage of this offer whilst you can. Concrete Playground readers get an exclusive offer when they join Uber. Use the code CPVIP and get $20 off your first ride. The offer is available to new users only and is valid for all Black and Lux car services.
One Drink Jack Nicholson wears sunglasses. Harrison Ford wears an earring. Ellen thanks Seth MacFarlane for setting the bar so low. Winner thanks God or Jesus. Winner pays tribute to the late, great Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Winner commends losing nominees. Winner’s speech is played off by the orchestra. George Clooney says something earnest and/or pulls a “hilarious prank”. Leonardo DiCaprio smiles with an “Another year, another supermodel” look. George or Leo brings his mother as his date (five drinks if they bring each other’s mothers). Matthew McConaughy makes an incomprehensible speech and/or beats his chest in rhythm. Presenter refers to “The McConaissance” Jennifer Lawrence does something adorably “real” (three drinks if it’s a fashion mishap). Michael B. Jordan offers to star in the sequel to Space Jam. Channing Tatum refutes the suggestion that 22 Jump St will be the last in the series because he can’t count any higher. Jennifer Garner reminds us she's married to Ben Affleck who has TWO Oscars. Kevin Spacey refers to that corrupt, pernicious, money-hungry institution ... HOLLYWOOD. Not CONGRESS. HOLLYWOOD! Two Drinks Jack Nicholson wears sunglasses and a hat. Harrison Ford wears an earring and an Indiana Jones hat. Ellen jokes that the show will be longer than the Sochi Games and almost as long as Wolf of Wall Street. Winner thanks Buddha or Ganesh. Winner pays tribute to the late, great James Gandolfini. Winner describes his/her film as “important” Winner describes his/her film’s director as “a genius”. Special effects winner has a ponytail. Brad Pitt says something insightful/poignant, or Angeline Joie says something lighhearted. Jessica Biel says that marrying Justin Timberlake was irrelevant to getting a presenter’s gig. Liam Neeson looks genuinely surprised he wasn’t nominated for anything. Goldie Hawn tells Kate Hudson that she should give Matthew McConaughy a call now that he’s all respectable and accomplished. Anne Hathaway makes a rambling joke about rambling in her acceptance speech last year (three drinks if she also sings). Joaquin Phoenix brings a “Galaxy S5 – new from Samsung!” as his date. Amy Adams says it was awkward to be upstaged by her own cleavage in American Hustle. Kerry Washington mentions the potential for “scandal”. Emma Watson refers to the “magic of filmmaking”. Bendict Cumberbatch, referencing Smaug, is disappointed to be surrounded by golden statues he can’t keep himself. Three Drinks Jack Nicholson wears sunglasses and an Indiana Jones hat. Harrison Ford wears an earring, sunglasses, and an Indiana Jones hat. Ellen conducts a divorce of some of the couples who were married at Grammys but have found marriage to be “overrated”. Winner thanks Allah or Mohammed. Winner pays tribute to the late, great Paul Walker. Losing nominee mouths “fuck” when the winner is announced. Non-human presents an award. Congratulatory kiss or embrace from presenter “gets awkward”. Keanu Reeves throws a tantrum because they are re-making Point Break. Chris Hemsworth says he’s shocked that Liam and Miley’s engagement didn’t work out. Jonah Hill is reminded that he’s a two-time Oscar nominee and chuckles, “Who’s ‘super bad’ now, Michael Cera?” Naomi Watts congratulates Robin Wright on her engagement (five drinks if she also notes that Ben Foster is not quite young enough to be either of their sons). Jared Leto and Lupita Nyong’o win and make out on stage. The Lone Ranger wins for Best Visual Effects and everyone is just confused. Daniel Day-Lewis says he’d give his left foot to have Phillip Seymour Hoffman back. Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd dress as Ghostbusters to farewell Harold Ramis (five drinks if Ernie Hudson also gets on stage). Jospeh Godon-Levitt or Tyler Perry makes a reference to marriage equality, Jason Collins, Michael Sam, or the Arizona veto. Five Drinks Ellen announces that presenters do not have to hand over awards to any winner who is ... from Arizona. Gravity wins an award and Neil DeGrasse Tyson rushes the stage to protest. John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson take Christoph Waltz hostage, demanding that Quentin Tarantino make them relevant again. “Jackass” and “the Oscar goes to...” are used in the same sentence. Chiwetel Ejiofor or Michael Fassbender notes that it’s a bit weird that the two main actors in a movie about American slavery are English and German.
Do you struggle with the basic task of ordering in restaurants? Do you sometimes wish there was some kind of elaborate computer program that could just decide on a menu item for you? If your answer to both those questions is "yes", then consider paying a visit to a KFC in Beijing's financial district, where facial recognition technology is being used to pick meals for customers based on their age, gender and mood. According to a press release put out by Chinese tech giant Baidu, who collaborated with Colonel Sanders on the technology, customers stand in front of a machine which scans their face and then makes recommendations as to what they might like to order. For example, a male in his 20s would likely be recommended "a set meal of crispy chicken hamburger, roasted chicken wings and Coke," while a woman in her fifties would be encouraged to purchase "porridge and soybean milk." Already, this jumps out as pretty sexist/ageist — after all, who is this robot to say that I, a male in his 20s, wouldn't also like to order a delicious bowl of KFC porridge? Mmm... appetising. Perhaps more promising is the fact that the machine can recall the faces of returning customers, along with their favourite menu items. That's the theory at least, although it didn't remember Amy Hawkins, a reporter for The Guardian who tried the machine twice but failed to leave an impression. Hawkins also noted that a vast majority of people in the Beijing restaurant seemed to prefer ordering the old-fashioned way. According to one customer she spoke to, "if it knows in future what I want to eat that's great, but at the moment it's not very smart." Perhaps they're scared off by privacy concerns? Personally, I don't know that I want there to be a digital paper trail of how frequently I visit KFC, or how much I order when I do (spoiler: it's a lot). Nevertheless, KFC is reportedly planning to roll out the technology to 5000 stores across China. It's a brave new world we're living in folks. A brave, greasy new world.
Across the last two months of 2023, most folks will celebrate festive season. Here's something else to mark this year: Godzilla season. New streaming series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters arrives in mid-November, combining kaiju with both Kurt (Fast and Furious 9) and Wyatt Russell (Under the Banner of Heaven). Then, the unrelated Godzilla Minus One will stomp onto the big screen Down Under to kick off December. This film marks a big return, and not just because Godzilla as a creature is huge in size (even though exactly how large the critter is varies between on-screen appearances). To the delight of fans of Zilly's rampages through its homeland's cinema, Godzilla Minus One is the first live-action Japanese Godzilla release about its namesake since 2016's excellent Shin Godzilla. When Godzilla first crawled out of the ocean and into cinemas, the famous movie monster made its debut appearance in the shadow of the Second World War. The link between the film's fears of nuclear holocaust and what Japan had just experienced wasn't an accident, in a picture that isn't just an excellent creature feature — the franchise-starting flick is stellar all round, including its glorious score. It was back in 1954 that Godzilla initially greeted the world. Now, almost seven decades later, 37 other movies have followed. The latest: Godzilla Minus One, which gives Zilly aficionados a long-awaited new Japanese Godzilla movie and takes its titular figure back to the country's postwar era. As seen in the both the first trailer for Godzilla Minus One and its just-dropped latest sneak peek, Japan is still coping with the aftermath of WWII's atomic bombings when the kaiju appears. The question: in a place that's already rebuilding, how will everyone both endure and battle against this towering critter? In a feature written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki (Lupin III: The First, Ghost Book), cue plenty of rampaging through the streets by Godzilla, plus fleeing by the film's humans. Cue buildings levelled, the ground both rumbling and crumbling, and explosions wreaking more havoc, too. Referencing going backwards from zero in its moniker, cue a film that follows people trying to survive and fight — all back in the time that gave birth to all things Godzilla. Already in cinemas in Japan since early November, Godzilla Minus One will hit the big screen Down Under from Friday, December 1. It follows three animated streaming efforts since Shin Godzilla: 2017's Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, and 2018's Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle and Godzilla: The Planet Eater. Of course, the broader franchise also includes America's take on Godzilla, starting with a low in 1998, then including another try in 2014, 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters and 2021's Godzilla vs Kong. After TV's Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, a sequel to Godzilla vs Kong, is due in 2024. Check out the latest trailer for Godzilla Minus One below: Godzilla Minus One will hit cinemas Down Under on Friday, December 1.
Wins can be hard to come by, whereas fails, well, when it rains, it pours, right? When you've missed your morning train, been yelled at by your boss, come home to a huge electricity bill and then realised you've got nothing in the fridge for dinner — a win can feel like a distant memory. It's in moments like these where you've got to recognise the little wins — those seemingly minor things that can reshape your day and make you feel all warm and fuzzy. We've put our heads together with our friends at Coopers to come up with some foolproof, easy ways of making you feel like everything's coming up you. The win might be as simple as growing your own basil, but don't underestimate the effect that putting a fresh herb — one that you've nurtured from a little baby seed — into a homemade dish can have. Trust us, you'll feel like an accomplished gardener and your food will taste delicious. Win, win. Look at that, two wins in a row. MONDAY: READ A BOOK TO AN ELDERLY COMPANION Remember how soothing it was when your mum read you a bedtime story? Very. There's something really nice about being read to, so spare a thought for those who could use it. Go visit your nan, your friend's nan or even a stranger's nan, and take a book you've been meaning to read — that way you'll kill two birds with one stone, get through a chunk of your book and spend some quality time with an elderly companion. If you don't know an elderly person, just walk into your nearest respite or aged care facility — or even a hospice — and get to know someone who's no doubt lived quite a life. TUESDAY: EAT AT A NEW RESTAURANT There's nothing wrong with your tried-and-true Indian eatery down the road nor clicking the 're-order' button time and time again on Deliveroo. But there's also a lot to be said about trying new places and foods. How about Ethiopian instead of Indian? Moroccan instead of burgers? There are heaps of new places popping up across our cities all the time, so treat your tastebuds to new flavours from a fresh venue. Hit up one per week, even if you have to trek out to the other side of the river or harbour, and your stomach will thank you for it. What's more, trying a new place every week will give you a whole wealth of dining knowledge in your city. On our list, Half Acre in Melbourne, Lankan Filling Station in Sydney and Little Big House in Brisbane. WEDNESDAY: GROW YOUR OWN HERBS Making a pasta sauce from scratch is super nourishing for the soul and makes you feel like a nonna who's been doing it for generations. Every good homemade bolognese needs fresh herbs, so, why not push yourself even further and grow them in your own garden? Then you can attest to the freshness of every ingredient (well, perhaps you didn't grow the tomatoes, but if you can do parsley you can do tomatoes, too). Find a sunny — but not too sunny — spot in your backyard, plant your parsley and basil seeds in the ground or in a pot and don't forget to water them (that's probably the most important part). Now you're a bona fide green thumb, bravo. THURSDAY: DO A BOOK SWAP No more excuses, this year is the year that you'll read that Tolstoy novel. Okay, maybe next year... But this year you are going to read more, you can promise yourself that. While it can be hard to find the motivation to devour a lengthy novel, it becomes much easier when you do it in tandem with a friend — it's like a good type of peer pressure. Swap a book you love for one of theirs and off you go. Or, step things up a notch and start a book club. If you aim to meet once a month, you can get away with reading a few pages a night. And, the best part is, it'll improve your media consumption habits, too. No more Instagram right before bed? That's a win for your sleep habits, mental health and eyeballs. FRIDAY: HEAD TO DANCE PARTY You might be tired after a full work week but muster your second wind, Friday night beckons. Corral your mates, have some beers and head to a themed dance party. Nothing says 'win' more than living out your dream of dancing at a Beyonce vs. Rihanna party (seen in the past at Melbourne venue Yah Yahs). If you're in Sydney, keep an eye on what The Bait Shop is up to — often themed nights around sub-cultures and music of the noughties — or Brisbanites should monitor The Brightside, which held a Hogwarts-themed event this year. SATURDAY: GET ACQUAINTED WITH A NEW STYLE OF MUSIC Though your music likes and dislikes are probably set in stone and your favourite Spotify playlist forever on repeat, why not refresh your listening habits with some tunes outside of your usual genres? Head to live music venue — no, not your regular — and spend the evening getting acquainted with a new style of music. Head to The Night Cat in Melbourne for some rhythm and blues, Lazybones Lounge in Sydney for some folk and country or Doo-Bop Jazz Bar in Brisbane for, well, jazz. [caption id="attachment_680605" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Buffalo Bar, Brisbane.[/caption] SUNDAY: WATCH FOOTY WITH SOME RANDOMS If you've ever travelled overseas during AFL season and walked into a pub while a game is on the big screen, you'll know that it's never easier to make 20 new best friends than over footy and beer. If you're new in town, bored in your own town or just feel like you could do with some new friends, head to a pub where they broadcast live sport and shout "GO [insert team here]!". Before you know it, you will have gained a whole family of fellow supporters who'll probably have your back through thick and thin — and that's a massive win. We suggest, the Bellevue in Sydney, the Royal Saxon in Melbourne and Buffalo Bar in Brisbane. Bring on the beers and cheers. Kick off your 'easy wins' by enjoying a Coopers Dry, or two, with your mates. Top Image: Half Acre by Tim Ross.
Although 'art' and 'extreme trek' don't often go together, Mountain to Mouth is revising that for you this weekend. Unfolding its 80-kilometre self over two days, it'll be an extreme arts walk for those brave enough to partake the full distance. Mountain to Mouth (M~M) is a biennial event that takes walkers on a hefty 80-kilometre journey of discovery from Geelong to Queenscliff, creating a songline across the regions it travels, echoing the Wadawurrung traditional landowners. Starting at Big Rock at the You Yangs mountain range, you'll walk to Geelong and, come nightfall, M~M will arrive in the city centre to coincide with Geelong After Dark. Then, at dawn the next day, the walk will continue along Bellarine farmland before finishing up at Barwon Heads. There will be artworks installed at the 12 stations along the way, and different ceremonies will punctuate the journey from beginning to end, along with a ceremonial sculptural 'canoe' journeying along with walkers. You don't have to commit to the whole 80 kilometres, either. You're able to jump in and out of the walk as you please — you can buy a 'visa' to walk one stage of the journey, a pass for one day or a pass for the whole two days. You can also book a bus to take you from Geelong to the starting point, or from the end point back to town. It's a choose your own adventure-type event, but the celebration of art and land will be standard for everyone involved.
