Make your way down the Princes Freeway and immerse yourself in a world of colour and sound at Geelong After Dark. The Gateway City's answer to Melbourne's White Night, this late-night arts festival will run from 6pm to 10pm and feature dozens of innovative art installations, projections, music acts and live performances. Not a bad way to unwind at the end of a busy week. The festivities will take place in central Geelong across the CBD, including the cultural precinct, Little Malop Street, Moorabool Street and the waterfront. Standouts on the jam-packed program are many and varied, ranging from soundscapes matched with images of the You Yangs to live circus acts in Johnstone Park, and even a storytelling machine that transforms punters' drawings into animations. The city's iconic waterfront carousel will be lit up and spinning, while the National Wool Museum will be hosting a shadow and sound experience based around giant monsters like the Bunyip. For the complete Geelong After Dark program visit their website. Image: Ferne Millen.
Did you turn green with envy when Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger played the ultimate scavenger hunt, aka hunting down horcruxes? Have you always felt that you could use your magical skills in the same way? The City of Melbourne understands, so it's bringing back its Magical Christmas Quest for a second year. This time, however, instead of running for one day, the citywide scavenger hunt is running over five Fridays. Kicking off on Friday, November 27 and ending on Christmas Day, the quest will see Melburnians solve riddles, track down destinations and complete missions in a bid to win prizes. Last year's quest had more of a Harry Potter spin, thanks to prizes of tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but with the performances on hold for the moment, this year's prizes are aimed at encouraging Melburbians to support local businesses that have had a tough run during the pandemic. Every week, you can win a $250 voucher to spend on local shops and hospitality businesses around the city. There's also a major prize up for grabs, which includes 12-month passes to Melbourne Zoo, Museums Victoria and the NGV — so your 2021 can be jam-packed with culture. Five new clues will be released each week, sending you on a journey through Melbourne's laneways, arcades and historic buildings. To kick things off, the City of Melbourne has released the first five clues, which include cryptic statements like "Ms Carey knows her hearts desire" and "this soldier can't move his feet". Once you've worked out what exactly that means, you need to take a photo of the object or destination and send it through to christmas.festival@melbourne.vic.gov.au. The Magical Christmas Quest takes place on every Friday from November 27–December 25. Check the weekly clues over here.
Whatever happens to Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega, Death of a Unicorn) at Nevermore Academy in the second season of the Netflix series that bears her name, she'll be back at school afterwards. Before the sophomore run of the streaming hit begins dropping episodes from August 2025 — splitting season two into two parts, with the first arriving on Wednesday, August 6, then the second batch on Wednesday, September 3 —Wednesday has already been renewed for season three. Of course, all things Addams Family have been delighting audiences for almost 90 years, with the first-ever cartoon panel featuring the creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky brood published in 1938. Following a lineup of other TV shows between the 60s and the 90s, as well as a range of films — live-action and animated alike in both cases — the first season of Netflix's take on the clan became and remains the most-viewed English-language series of all time on the streamer. As for when season three will hit and what's in store, details are unsurprisingly scarce given that season two hasn't yet premiered. "Our goal for season three is the same as it is for every season: to make it the best season of Wednesday we possibly can," Alfred Gough, one of the series' co-creators and showrunner alongside Miles Millar, told Netflix's Tudum. "We want to continue digging deeper into our characters while expanding the world of Nevermore and Wednesday, added Millar. "We will be seeing more Addams family members and learning more family secrets in season three." The pair, who also penned Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice — and are clearly fond of working with the filmmaker, since he's also behind Wednesday, including as both a director and an executive producer — are already promising to expand the Addams crew in season two. Enter Joanna Lumley (Amandaland) as Hester Frump, Wednesday's grandmother, for instance. In the show's second season, its black-clad protagonist is back at Nevermore Academy and being heralded as a hero thanks to her efforts in season one. Wednesday is characteristically unimpressed by the attention, the trailers so far illustrate. Soon, her focus is elsewhere, however, thanks to a premonition of her roommate Enid (Emma Myers, A Minecraft Movie) coming to a grave end, with Wednesday determined to do whatever she can to stop that from happening. Steve Buscemi (The Studio), Billie Piper (Kaos) and Thandiwe Newton (Mufasa: The Lion King) are also among the series' new cast additions in season two, while Catherine Zeta-Jones (National Treasure: Edge of History), Luis Guzmán (Justified: City Primeval) and Isaac Ordonez (Color Box) are back as Morticia, Gomez and Pugsley — plus Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Dreamers) as Deputy Ritchie Santiago. Among its fresh faces, Evie Templeton (Criminal Record), Owen Painter (Tiny Beautiful Things), Noah B Taylor (Law & Order: Organised Crime), Frances O'Connor (The Twelve), Haley Joel Osment (Blink Twice), Heather Matarazzo (Paint) and Joonas Suotamo (The Acolyte) are also onboard — plus Christopher Lloyd (Hacks), following Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets) among the stars of the 90s Addams Family films popping up in Wednesday. Fred Armisen (Fallout) remains Wednesday's take on Uncle Fester, though — one that Netflix is so keen on that there's been talk of a spinoff about the character. Check out the full trailer for Wednesday season two below: Wednesday season two arrives in two parts, with part one dropping on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 and part two on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, both via Netflix. We'll update you with more details about season three when they're announced. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Images: Helen Sloan and Jonathan Hession/Netflix © 2025.
Two decades after Hae Min Lee's murder, the Baltimore high school student's horrific plight continues to dominate the true crime landscape. After featuring on the first season of Sarah Koenig's grimly addictive podcast Serial, it's now the basis for a new documentary series, The Case Against Adnan Syed. The four-part HBO series picks up where everyone's 2014 obsession left off — the trailers below promise to reveal 'a new chapter' — not only exploring 18-year-old Lee's death in 1999 and her ex-boyfriend Syed's conviction in 2000, but the latter's ongoing quest to have the extremely complex legal matter reassessed in the years since he was found guilty. Everything from Lee and Syed's relationship, to the original police investigation and trial, to the developments up until now will feature, with the film gaining exclusive access to Syed, his family and his lawyers. The series couldn't come at a more crucial time for Syed, who was convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison, and continues to fight his case through the courts. While he was granted a new trial in 2016, that ruling was subsequently appealed by the State of Maryland — only for the Court of Special Appeals to agree to vacate Syed's conviction and finally give him that retrial last March. A date for the actual retrial hasn't yet been set, however. Splashed across the small screen, it's certain to make for compelling viewing — but if you think you've spent too much time mulling it all over across the past five years, filmmaker Amy Berg has you beat. Unsurprisingly given how complicated the matter is, the director has been working on the project since 2015. And, with her excellent doco background — with Berg helming 2006's Oscar-nominated 2006 Deliver Us from Evil, about molestation in the Catholic Church; examining the West Memphis Three's quest for freedom in 2012's West of Memphis; and tackling the sexual abuse of teenagers in the film industry in 2014's An Open Secret — her new venture is certain to be thorough. Mere weeks out from launching the series, which airs weekly on HBO from Sunday, March 10, US time, the network has dropped a full trailer. It comes hot on the heels on the first sneak peek earlier this month, which mentioned the investigation of other suspects and new evidence — saying, "the closer you look the more you see". Watch them both here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQaTa5eTxnk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA1qzo2WEew As they did for West of Memphis, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis will provide the score. 'The Case Against Adnan Syed' will air on HBO from Sunday, March 10, US time — and then hit Foxtel for Australian viewers later this year. It's not clear yet if the show will air or stream in New Zealand. We'll update you as soon as further release dates have been announced. Image: Adnan Syed via Syed Family / Courtesy of HBO.
A year after making history for being just the third woman ever to win the Best Director Oscar, as well as the first woman in to receive two nominations in that very category, Jane Campion is coming to the 2023 Sydney Film Festival to discuss that stunning achievement and her impressive four-decade career. The New Zealand filmmaker will have much to talk about, including the body of work that's also being showcased in the fest's retrospective called Jane Campion — Her Way. This year's SFF runs from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18, and it's devoting its spotlight retro programming to the director behind The Piano, The Portrait of a Lady, In the Cut, Bright Star and more — including, of course, the 12-time Academy Award-nominated revisionist western The Power of the Dog. All five films will screen, as will Campion's five-episode debut behind the lens Two Friends, which as made in 1986 for the ABC; the Cannes-premiering 1989 feature Sweetie; 1990's An Angel at My Table, which won the Grand Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival; and 1999's Holy Smoke, complete with an Aussie-accented Kate Winslet (Avatar: The Way of Water). [caption id="attachment_897271" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kirsty Griffin/Netflix[/caption] For the in-conversation part of Jane Campion — Her Way, Campion will chat with David Stratton on Saturday, June 10 following a showing of the new documentary Jane Campion, The Cinema Woman. The screening part of the lineup will play throughout the fest, and also include Campion-helmed shorts Peel, A Girl's Own Story, Passionless Moments, After Hours and The Water Diary. The lineup is a collaboration with Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image and Canberra's National Film and Sound Archive, and will also show in both venues. It'll hit ACMI from Thursday, June 15–Sunday, July 2 — coinciding with its current Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion exhibition that celebrates women in film history — and then the NFSA from Thursday, July 20–Sunday, July 30. "For our 70th edition, we wanted to present a retrospective commensurate with the milestone, reflecting the audacious and boundary pushing filmmaking synonymous with our Festival and region — and there was no one more appropriate than Jane Campion. She is a groundbreaking filmmaker who has made a profound impact on cinema with her daring and unforgettable films," said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley, announcing the program. "Campion has broken barriers for women in the industry, winning two Academy Awards and becoming the first woman to receive the Palme d'Or at Cannes. She has changed the landscape of cinema around the world, crafting films now etched in film history. It will be remarkable to see the full suite of her talents in one program, which take us to unexpected and exciting places with every frame and film," said Moodley. Campion and Jane Campion — Her Way join 2023's SFF lineup alongside 12 other previously announced films, with the full program announced on Wednesday, May 10. Sydney Film Festival 2023 runs from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18, including Jane Campion — Her Way, with the filmmaker's in-conversation session with David Stratton taking place on Saturday, June 10. The film screening series will then hit Melbourne's ACMI from Thursday, June 15–Sunday, July 2, followed by the NFSA in Canberra from Thursday, July 20–Sunday, July 30. Top image: Kirsty Griffin/Netflix.
This news isn't like rain on your wedding day. It doesn't resemble finding a black fly in your chardonnay. And it definitely isn't anything like hitting a traffic jam when you're already late, either. But, it will have you singing those lines — and it is news that you oughta know, too — because 15-time Tony Award-nominated musical Jagged Little Pill is heading to Australia. The Broadway show's trip Down Under was first announced back in April; however, a lot can happen in just a few months during a pandemic. Indeed, back in July, Jagged Little Pill the Musical postponed its planned September launch — but now it's locked in to make its local debut on Thursday, December 2. The acclaimed production is making its first trip beyond Broadway, in fact, when it hits the Theatre Royal Sydney. And, when the curtains are raised, it'll help mark another milestone, reopening the Theatre Royal five years after it closed its doors in 2016. Inspired by Alanis Morissette's 1995 album of the same name, Jagged Little Pill the Musical weaves a story around songs from that iconic record. So yes, it's a jukebox musical like Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You and Rock of Ages. Famed tracks 'Ironic', 'You Oughta Know', 'Hand in My Pocket', 'Head Over Feet' and 'You Learn' all feature, in a production that boasts music by Morissette and her album co-writer and producer Glen Ballard, lyrics by Morissette, and a book by Juno Oscar-winner Diablo Cody. And, songs such as 'Thank U', 'So Pure', 'That I Would Be Good', 'So Unsexy' and 'Hands Clean' all pop up as well, even though they hail from the musician's subsequent albums. At present, tickets are on sale for shows until Sunday, December 19, all starring Natalie Bassingthwaighte. She'll play Mary Jane Healey, with Jagged Little Pill the Musical telling the Healey family's tale as they struggle with their seemingly idyllic suburban lives after a troubling event in their community. Expect to hear Morissette's tunes — including two new songs written just for the show — used in a story about social issues relevant to today, but also with an overall message of hope, healing and togetherness. Australians keen to see the musical can look forward to watching it in a venue with quite the history. The 1100-seat Theatre Royal is one of Australia's oldest theatres, dating back to the 1870s. But most folks will know it in its current form, after it reopened in the 1970s with a design by famed Australian architect Harry Seidler as a replacement for the old theatre that was demolished when the MLC Centre was built. Jagged Little Pill the Musical will play the Theatre Royal Sydney at 108 King Street, Sydney, from Thursday, December 2 — with exact season dates yet to be announced. For further details and to buy tickets, head to the musical's website. Top image: Jagged Little Pill the Musical Broadway opening night curtain call, Bruce Glikas.
You wouldn't think a comedian who bases his act around shire horses, cheese, and the etiquette of eating cake would find a big audience in Australia. But Paul Foot, one of Britain's quirkiest, and most loyally followed comedians, is on his way down to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his fourth consecutive year. With his distinctive haircut, frenetic stage presence and impressive collection of neckties, there's definitely a madness to Foot's style of comedy. We had a chat to him ahead of his MICF show, Words, to see if there's a method to it. He loves 'the madness' Anyone who has seen Paul Foot either in his own show or for skits in the Gala knows that things can get weird pretty quickly. And, though it may seem random, Paul's comedy is actually very carefully constructed. "One of the reasons I write 'the madness' — when I say all of these strange phrases that don't make sense but are amusing and no one knows why — is that I think it creates a different quality of laughter," he says. "I find it very interesting when people are laughing, but they're not sure why they're laughing." This 'madness' also ignores the traditional structure used by most comedians. Audience members will often laugh at the same words at the same time, but for totally different reasons. "You see, it's interesting to have different types of laughter, because you have to question why are there comedians in the first place," Foot says. "People laugh all the time in their real lives. If someone trips over a step or something people laugh, so why do we need comedians if we laugh all the time anyway? I think we need comedians because they make people laugh in a different way and think about things differently." He doesn't watch comedy Foot spends a significant amount of time performing in festivals all over the world. While he gets along well with other comedians, he's not particularly interested in watching them perform in his time off. "If I wasn't a comedian I don't think I'd go to comedy." Foot says. "There are different types of comedians. There are the ones that watch a lot of comedy and have all of the DVDs and know all of the comedians. Some of whom are very original. Then you have the ones who don't watch any comedy and I'm that type." It's also important for Foot to generate his material without external influence. "On stage I do the type of comedy I would want to hear if I was an audience member, and I'm lucky that I've found people who have the same sense of humour as me." He loves murder mysteries and politics So what does he do in his downtime? "I watch murder mysteries and I go swimming and I walk," he says. He recommends Columbo and Inspector Morse if you were wondering. Another thing that intrigues him is politics. "I like watching all the different politicians, I find it like a soap opera, how they all rise and fall." When questioned about Australian politics Paul lights up. "Oh yes I love Australian politics. When I was here before there was all this thing with Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. Now there's all this going on with Tony Abbott, it's all fascinating. I love it." He's never considered himself fashionable, until now Paul Foot has been in the comedy game for 17 years now, but he feels he has only recently found his feet. "When I started I was about 14 years ahead of my time. No one was interested, but I just carried on doing it until I became fashionable, until the zeitgeist was in my favour. It's an imperceptible thing, an intangible thing, the zeitgeist. No one can explain it, but suddenly people wanted it." When questioned about what has changed with his comedy over the years he indicated it was more a shift within the audience than his own alteration. "I never changed. Well I changed a little bit. I did get better. I just carried on doing the same thing and I never deviated, and eventually I think people warmed to that." He doesn't have fans; he has a 'guild of connoisseurs' There are not too many comedians out there today with such a loyal following as Paul Foot and his Guild of Connoisseurs. Foot has conversations with his connoisseurs via Twitter, and they are invited to attend secret shows. Importantly, the connoisseurs are quite influential in his comedy. "They suggest things through the polls on the website. I like it to be a conversation, but I go into different modes. Sometimes I am very conversational and chatty with all of my connoisseurs, and I combine that with being extremely reclusive." Although Paul Foot is unaware of any stalkers amidst the connoisseurs, he does get a pleasant surprise when fans have seen him before. "I've been to some tiny little town up in the north of England and then someone will come up and say 'Oh yes I've seen you in Adelaide'. There are people who have seen me in all different parts of the world and it's quite nice." Luckily, this top secret society is currently taking members. Paul Foot will be performing his latest MICF show, Words, at the Hi-Fi from March 27 - April 20. Buy tickets here.
The war on waste isn't just about banning plastic shopping bags, recycling plastic drink containers, phasing out plastic straws and finding alternatives to disposable coffee cups. That's a great start, but humanity's reliance upon single-use plastics includes cutlery, plates, stirrers, cotton buds and more. Europe has committed to stop using such items by 2021, building upon similar decisions in the UK and France, while Australia is working towards banning all non-recyclable packaging by 2025 — but one Aussie state is now taking matters into its own hands. As originally revealed earlier this year, the South Australian government has been exploring the possibility of implementing its own ban on single-use plastic items. After a consultation period — which followed the initial proposal by SA Environment Minister David Speirs, who released two discussion papers and called for for public feedback — the plan is progressing towards legislation. The government will now draft applicable laws for further community input, with the aim of introducing them to parliament in 2020. If they're enacted, it'll become the first Australian state to take the step. SA Premier Steven Marshall has outlined the proposed ban, which'll occur across multiple phases. At present, the government is trialling plastic-free precincts. When the legislation comes into effect, plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers will be phased out immediately, then takeaway polystyrene containers and cups will follow 12 months later. As for takeaway coffee cups, plastic bags and other takeaway food service, further investigation and consultation will be undertaken before eradicating them from circulation. https://www.facebook.com/StevenMarshallMP/photos/a.334019693384086/2240955376023832/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCgQEDNSaeZW-ix7RSmoon8MNPIMnKTQMdJynEovfagvk0Qc8FeIer17xgDJjo8GTsDkxiNJUMPUPgHPbwasO3fOkX2xwSuybsGzBQZOLx5UOxsgTghfVz4pOfoZ68issh_w_1scmiE6bNXV0QAATbBw8cQplg2d5CzUuCV7b9Ebh_j2toAPshn-xQpP4n76zaucK56WXfhmv58JzY-6HT4HzBgw5Et3NJo2Mg48O0BwM11PwniCfX4tEXlrSEvjnC_vRFqnNsYLNtyHP8KAUwGmKeqdbm8GzM8KaRu05zf-g8NHef-7Bg2Tf78LsmaweIMPp_lceUvUMOY-Qme8bp5qQ&__tn__=-R SA was the first state in the country with a container refund scheme, introducing its 10-cent refund for eligible items back in 1977 — and causing an entire generation of interstate dwellers to grow up making jokes about driving a haul of cans and bottles to Adelaide to collect some cash. It was also the first state to phase out lightweight plastic bags, a move that came into effect in 2009. In comparison, New South Wales only brought in container refunds in 2017 and is yet to commit to banning single-use plastic bags. Victoria doesn't have a container refund scheme on the horizon, but will phase out plastic bags this November. And Queensland enacted both container refunds and a plastic bag ban in 2018. While action at a government level continues to take its time across the country — apart from in Hobart, where takeaway containers will be banned either late this year or early next year — companies and venues have been stepping in themselves. McDonalds will remove plastic straws from its packaging by 2020, IKEA is phasing out single-use plastics by the same year, Melbourne's Crown Casino is cutting down its plastic usage, the Queen Victoria Market is banning plastic bags and straws and Coca-Cola Amatil is also getting rid of plastic straws from 115,000 Aussie venues. In the skies, Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly is committed to becoming the world's first single-use plastic free airline by the end of 2019, while Qantas is eradicating 100 million single-use plastic items from its flights and lounges each year from 2020 onwards.
The story of a beauty and a beast has sparked interest in audiences for generations, as has the tale of the unlikely hero. Giant gorillas, less so, but when you put them all together, with a musical number and a Melbourne-only season. You’re onto a winner. King Kong, the first musical stage adaptation of the classic story, is bringing a 6 metre-long, 1 tonne puppet to life, along with 40 other actors, singers, dancers and performers. The 1930s story sees a film crew run into trouble when the giant silverback gorilla falls for the leading lady. In a quest for fame and fortune, they bring Kong back to New York City. The 2013 stage show brings lighting, dance, song and a really big puppet together seamlessly.
What do you get when you combine generous mentors, borrowed restaurants, trainee waitstaff and a talented chef? Well, you get Scarf Dinners. Scarf is dedicated to providing hospitality training to people who might otherwise not have the opportunity. Trained by staff from the likes of Cumulus Inc, they are in good hands. The team borrows a restaurant, and on nights they wouldn't usually open, they run dinners where the staff get to interact with customers and provide them with a unique dining experience. For June and July, staff will get to take the reigns of Top Paddock in Richmond on Monday nights. Running the pots and pans is Ricky Holt, who ran Rathdown Street Food Store for over 20 years. Guests can expect starters of chorizo and prawn bomba with preserved lemon mayonnaise followed by mains of asparagus and leek risotto with hazelnuts and goat's cheese. Booze is taken care of by the likes of Little Creatures and The West Winds Gin.
International sportswear label Adidas continues its efforts to save the world's oceans, announcing it will contribute $1.5 million USD to the Parley Ocean School Program. The catch? It will donate $1 for every kilometre run, so grab your joggers and pound the pavement for a good cause. Runners can clock their kilometres by joining the Run for the Oceans group within the app Runtastic, which is free to download on iPhone and android. There are also a slew of Adidas and Parley running events happening across Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, New York, Paris, Berlin, London, Barcelona, Milan and Shanghai, which you can also partake in. The initiative is running globally from June 8–16, 2019, and is capped at $1.5 million USD. Last year, 12 million kilometres were run and $1 million USD were raised for the same initiative. https://www.facebook.com/adidasAU/photos/a.614311325637497/779507399117888/?type=3&theater Parley Ocean School Program is a branch of environmental charity Parley for the Oceans that educates and empowers the next generation about the importance of the ocean, the dangers of plastic waste and what we can do to protect the ocean and its marine live. Together with Parley, this is just Adidas' latest campaign to help save the ocean and reach its 2024 goal of eliminating the use of virgin polyester from all products. The 2019 Parley apparel range will also see the the company produce 11 million pairs of shoes made from recycled plastic pulled from the beach. The planet-friendly range features the new slick Alphabounce+ running shoes, water bottles, training tights and backpacks. Adidas' Run for the Oceans initiative runs from June 8–16, 2019. To find out more info and to signup head to adidas.com.au/runfortheoceans.
Across most of Australia, no one expects to feel particularly warm in June. Even in Brisbane, the temperature always starts to dip before midyear hits. But, just days into winter 2021, the frostiest part of the calendar is making sure that Aussies along the east coast definitely feel the cold — so rugging up is recommended for the next week. The country's southeast is expected to be especially chilly, as you might have already started to realise if you're located in Sydney or Melbourne. The Bureau of Meteorology advises that icy air has been heading up from the Southern Ocean, and it's bringing rain, wind and snow with it. In New South Wales, that means cold, wet and windy conditions for most of the state from Tuesday, June 8, plus snow in sections of the northern and central Tablelands — and alpine areas — on Wednesday, June 9 and Thursday, June 10. In Melbourne, don't expect temperatures higher than 13 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday, or above 16 degrees until Sunday, June 13. https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1401658919659917317 Discussing the colder conditions on Sunday, June 6, BOM meteorologist Sarah Scully said that "there is a very strong cold front that's forecast to move across southeastern Australia across Monday and Tuesday" — and "on and beyond that cold front, we're forecasting widespread showers, small hail and isolated thunderstorms." The cold front is expected to move east through NSW and Victoria on Monday and Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, snow is expected to drop to low levels "through parts of Tasmania, Victoria and alpine areas of NSW." From Tuesday night onwards, a complex low pressure area is forecast to develop over the southern part of NSW, then move off the east coast and intensify — bringing a band of rain across the eastern seaboard. That's anticipated to stretch right up from Tasmania to southeast Queensland. "It's a very cold pool of air, so there's the potential for small hail and thunderstorms as well, and showers, and also snow down to low levels," said Scully. https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1401701952052994054 So, Sydneysiders, get ready for minimums as low as eight degrees, showers from late Tuesday until Friday, June 11, and a maximum of 15 degrees on Thursday, June 10. In Melbourne, as well as the low top temps mentioned above, the minimum will hit six degrees on Wednesday, and showers are forecast from Tuesday–Thursday. Damaging winds are also expected in southern and alpine regions. Brisbane has been feeling chillier than usual for a few days, thanks to a cool change that was forecast last week. Back when winter started, BOM noted that there was "an outside chance" that the Granite Belt could get snow this week — but Brisbane is in for eight-degree minimums regardless from Thursday–Sunday, and a maximum of just 18 degrees on Thursday as well. https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1399558171740442627 Of course, while these are BOM's forecasts as issued up until today, Monday, June 7, conditions may change — so keep an eye on the Bureau's website for the most up-to-date information. For latest weather forecasts, head to the Bureau of Meteorology website.
Love heading to a scenic spot to dance to live tunes? Adore sipping wine, too? Music and vino festival Grapevine Gathering understands. That pairing is this annual event's entire setup, with the fest bringing a heap of bands to vineyards each year. Yes, that includes 2022, with its October dates and venues now locked in. And if you live in Queensland or South Australia, get ready to experience Grapevine Gathering on your home turf for the very first time. The fest will return to Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, of course — hitting up Sandalford Wines in Swan Valley, Rochford Wines in the Yarra Valley and Roche Estate in the Hunter Valley, respectively. But this'll mark the first time that Grapevine Gathering has made its way to the Sunshine State and SA. Where it's heading: Sirromet Wines at Mount Cotton and Serafino Wines in McLaren Vale. While it's too early for the event's full lineup, it has dropped one key act: Aussie sketch comedians and Instagram celebrities The Inspired Unemployed. As they did at the last Victorian Grapevine Gathering, they're taking on hosting duties in order to keep you entertained between musos — and also hitting the decks as well. If you're wondering what the duo also known as Jack Steele and Matt Ford might have in store, shenanigans-wise, they did shoeys out of punters' footwear, performed an acoustic version of 'Drops of Jupiter' and hosted a segment of The Bachelorette the last time around. If you're also eager to find out who'll they be introducing, aren't we all — but past fests have been headlined by Two Door Cinema Club, Flight Facilities, The Wombats, Tkay Maidza and The Veronicas. Naturally, sipping wine is a huge part of the attraction. As always, attendees will have access to a heap of vino given the fest's locations, as well as an array of yet-to-be-announced food options. GRAPEVINE GATHERING 2022 DATES: Saturday, October 1 — Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley, Western Australia Sunday, October 2 — Serafino Wines, McLaren Vale, South Australia Saturday, October 8 — Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, Victoria Saturday, October 15 — Roche Estate, Hunter Valley, New South Wales Sunday, October 16 — Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, Queensland Grapevine Gathering will tour Australia in October 2022. The full lineup hasn't been announced yet, but we'll update you when it is. In the interim, you can head to the festival's website to register for further details when it hits.
If you're a diehard cheese fan, you've probably devoured your fair share of cheese wheel pasta. But now, it's time to get acquainted with its cousin — cheesy risotto, served straight out of a big ol' wheel of pecorino. A version of this decadent dish has just hit the menu at Port Melbourne eatery Nonna's Cucina and it's available to warm up your winter nights from now until August 31. Just imagine a classic creamy risotto, infused with five Italian cheeses – fior di latte, pecorino romano, taleggio, pecorino sardo and gorgonzola, in case you're wondering – all tossed together in a cheese wheel and served right to your table. If that's got you drooling, you best start plotting your next visit to Nonna's Cucina, stat. To wash it down, there's a wine list packed full of Italian drops, or you can BYO something from home. Clocking in at $29 per person, the cheese wheel risotto is available Tuesdays to Sundays from 5.30pm until late. You'll need a minimum of two diners to take part, so lock in a mate and book yourselves a table before it all wraps up in five weeks.
If you're looking to change up your style through your hair, this is your place. Whether it's a transformative bob cut or the perfect summer blonde, the hairdressers and stylists at Plumage in Kew are known for their almost telepathic abilities to give their customers exactly what they want. Plus, they're big fans of the environment and know that they have to do their best to protect it — which is exactly why all the salon's products are sourced based on three key factors: ethical practices, natural ingredients and sustainability. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
If war is hell, then military boot camp is purgatory. So told Full Metal Jacket, with Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece making that observation echo and pierce with the relentlessness of machine-gun fire. Now, The Inspection stresses the same point nearing four decades later, plunging into the story of a gay Black man enlisting, then navigating the nightmare that is basic training. This too is a clear-eyed step inside the United States Marine Corps, but drawn from first-time fictional feature filmmaker Elegance Bratton's own experiences. New Yorker Ellis French (Jeremy Pope, One Night in Miami) is the Pier Kids documentarian's on-screen alter ego — an out queer man who has spent a decade from his teens to his mid-20s homeless after being kicked out by his ashamed mother Inez (Gabrielle Union, Strange World), and pledges his post 9/11 freedom away for a place to fit in, even if that means descending into a world of institutional homophobia and racism. It would've been easy for Bratton to just sear and scorch in The Inspection; his film is set in 2005, "don't ask, don't tell" was still the US military forces' policy and discrimination against anyone who isn't a straight white man is horrendously brutal. Life being moulded into naval-infantry soldiers is savage anyway; "our job is not to make Marines, it's to make monsters," says Leland Laws (Bokeem Woodbine, Wu-Tang: An American Saga), Ellis' commanding officer and chief state-sanctioned tormentor. And yet, crafting a film that's as haunting as it is because it's supremely personal, Bratton never shies away from Ellis' embrace of the Marines in his quest to work out how he can be himself. There's nothing simple about someone signing up for such heartbreaking anguish because that's the only option that they can imagine, but this stunning movie is anything but simple. Gulf War veteran Laws is indeed The Inspection's own R Lee Ermey type, seeing Ellis' sexuality as his major malfunction — as do many of the privates training with him, plus Inez. The latter's derision gives agonising context to Ellis' eagerness to don the uniform; being dismissed and denigrated for being gay started at home long before he's at the recruit depot on South Carolina's Parris Island. In fact, Inez's abode, with religious iconography everywhere and her prison-guard hardness festering, is where she unburdens her disappointment during her son's early visit. Unlike for audiences, this isn't the first time he's hearing it. Ellis needs his birth certificate, Inez is as malicious with her words while handing it over as the military's worst, and having a parent who won't accept you for who you are is hell as well. Under the abhorrent Laws, nothing about boot camp in The Inspection comes as a surprise. Played with can't-look-away menace by the ever-reliable Woodbine, he doesn't just set the tone for his charges to follow — he makes punishing any derivation from his perceived norm a cruel and compulsory sport. Accordingly, when Ellis' sexual orientation becomes apparent, it's hazing open season among his peers and superiors. Only drill instructor Rosales (Raúl Castillo, Cha Cha Real Smooth) offers sympathy and kindness. And, in a place where every difference stands out, Muslim enlistee Ismail (Eman Esfandi, King Richard) is largely the only other target. Second-generation Marine Harvey (McCaul Lombardi, Patti Cake$) couldn't relish being a bully more, but it isn't difficult to get the bulk of the cadets sharing his hostility. Writing, directing and also ensuring that cinematographer Lachlan Milne (Minari) shoots with the raw intensity of a memory so unshakeable that it always feels fresh, Bratton stares head-on at his protagonist's distressing ordeal. The physical training is gruelling and grinding, and the abuse fierce and ferocious — but Ellis' determination to stick it out, retain his place and continue asking his mother to attend his graduation is equally as resolute. So is Bratton's, actually, with The Inspection grappling with the contradiction that is shaping one's sense of belonging around an institution that so overtly doesn't want you as you are. His feature is all the better because it refuses to make obvious and unchallenging choices, even when it's at its most arduous and depicting one of cinema's most well-documented routines; IRL, as informs this flick, the filmmaker patently never did either. There's a thick and lingering feeling to The Inspection, too, that peering at this time in Bratton's life was always going to be a thorny process. Based on the details, how could an autobiographical affair like this have proven anything else? His movie depends and thrives on that air, with every move made behind the lens — including whether skewing poetic and dreamlike, or seeping the picture in pain and grimness — letting the knottiness of what he went through, and what Ellis now endures, swish and swirl. Cue those inescapable Full Metal Jacket vibes and the terror that comes with it, but also nods to Moonlight in how The Inspection examines what it means to be Black and gay. Cue, as well, a kindred piece at times to Claire Denis' Beau Travail in visually surveying its military figures and honing in on stolen glances. Bratton was already a talent before The Inspection, and already directing his gaze inwards in a way, earning the Film Independent Spirit Awards' Truer Than Fiction prize in 2021 for Pier Kids and its focus on Black and homeless queer and trans NYC youths. Backing that gong up with a Best First Feature nomination at the same awards in 2023 isn't just his feat alone, however. A contender for two 2019 Tonys for Choir Boy and Ain't Too Proud, and for a 2020 Emmy for Netflix's Hollywood, Pope has also been receiving deserved attention for his debut feature lead portrayal — a simmering, sinewy and soulful turn that nabbed him a Golden Globes nod (albeit losing out to Elvis' Austin Butler) and is as magnetic as performances come. He's powerfully supported by the fear-inducing Woodbine, the subtle work of Castillo and the blistering efforts of Union. Bring It On isn't just the name of a movie she's still well-known for, but a description of how she commits to an emotionally strenuous part in a beautifully complicated film.
The most popular piece of video art ever created is coming to Melbourne, and making time to see it is recommended. Of course, when you're staring at The Clock, all you'll have is time. You won't be able to avoid it. First premiering in 2010 at London's White Cube Gallery, Christian Marclay's mammoth installation is comprised of images of clocks and watches, plus other mentions of and references to the seconds, minutes and hours passing. In total, more than 12,000 clips are featured, cobbled together from an enormous range of films and television shows. The piece is both a meditation on time, humanity's fascination with it and its relationship to our mortality, and an epic trip through eight decades of cinema history. With The Clock's temporal collage unravelling in real time, that means one thing — yes, every second of the day and night is represented. The full version runs for an entire 24 hours, operating as the most intriguing timepiece you're ever likely to come across. As a result, when Marclay's masterpiece comes to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) between Wednesday, January 23 and Sunday, March 10, 2019, it will screen in two formats. You can drop by daily during ACMI's opening hours to see time pass, or you can settle in for the long haul once a week across the seven weeks. Yes, from 10am each Thursday between January 24–March 7, The Clock will screen its whole 24-hour run, which you can get cosy and watch. Taking place in ACMI's Gallery 1, entry is free, with The Clock marking both a return and a finale for the Federation Square spot. Back in 2008, the first solo exhibition held in the gallery was all about Marclay — and this will mark its last before ACMI closes for its huge revamp. Images: Christian Marclay, The Clock, 2010. Photos: Ben Westoby, courtesy of the White Cube, London.
If you need a bottle shop that offers more than just the standard swill, Decanters by the Bay is an obvious pick, with its thoughtfully selected range of beverages going far above and beyond your average supermarket encounter. Stocking a premium range of craft beers, spirits and wine, the staff pride themselves on being some of the most knowledgeable in the business when it comes to helping you find exactly the type of drink you have in mind. Whether you're after a tipple from one of Australia's endless small-run breweries, a fine wine from an international, boutique winery or a specialist spirit from a local distillery, Decanters by the Bay likely has just what you need.
It isn't every day that you can peer up at the Melbourne sky and spot a family of giant hot-air balloon sculptures soaring above the city — but on Saturday, March 19, you can do just that. That's when Patricia Piccinini's Skywhalepapa will make its Melbourne debut, floating through the air alongside the artist's otherworldly Skywhale. Our advice: do look up. Dubbed Skywhales: Every Heart Sings, the distinctive works will take to the air from Yarra Bend's Corban Oval at 5am, then hover above the city. Get up early to see them launch or find a great vantage point to stare into the sky once they're up there — the choice is yours. If you're keen on the former, you'll need to register your interest for tickets, with the eye-catching event taking place as part of this year's MPavilion. [caption id="attachment_799292" align="alignnone" width="1920"] National Gallery of Australia[/caption] New to all things Skywhale and Skywhalepapa? Thirty-four-metres long, more than twice as big as a regular hot air balloon and ripped straight from Piccinini's inimitable mind, Skywhale might just be one of Australia's most recognisable recent pieces of art. It's a sight to see, and also the largest-scale example of the artist's ongoing fascination with the thin line that separates nature and technology — see also: her Flinders Street Station Ballroom exhibition — and in Skywhalepapa, it has finally met its match. The latter made its debut in 2021 thanks to the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, but taking both billowing hot air balloons around the country was always the plan. Of course, the pandemic had something to say about that — Skywhalepapa was originally scheduled to premiere in 2020, in fact — but now the duo of sculptures will finally catch the breeze in Melbourne in just a few weeks. [caption id="attachment_799293" align="alignnone" width="1920"] National Gallery of Australia[/caption] Skywhalepapa is designed to form a family with Skywhale, and was originally commissioned as part of the NGA's Balnaves Contemporary Series. It took 3.6 kilometres of fabric to create the second bulbous sculpture, which also features nine baby Skywhales, safely tucked beneath their father's fins. Obviously, this isn't the kind of thing you see in the sky every day. You can also hear Piccinini chat about the Skywhales as part of the MTalks series — and read her children's book called Every Heart Sings as well — from 5.15pm on Thursday, March 10 at MPavilion. [caption id="attachment_799294" align="alignnone" width="1920"] National Gallery of Australia[/caption] Skywhales: Every Heart Sings will take to the air over Melbourne for MPavilion 2021–22 at 5am on Saturday, March 19 from Yarra Bend's Corban Oval. For more information or to register your interest for tickets, head to the MPavilion website.
Well and truly over tired, dry CBD sandwiches for lunch? The business folk of Melbourne are getting a host of new lunch options, with the imminent arrival of a newly minted food precinct at the west end of Flinders Lane. Nestled on the corner of Flinders and Katherine Place, just a couple of minutes walk from Southern Cross, The Archway is the latest addition to the city's bustling laneway culture. With three tasty operators already up and cooking, and another three expected to open by the end of next month, The Archway is set to dominate CBD lunch breaks for the foreseeable future. Located in Melbourne's so-called New York end, it's only fitting that The Archway includes a selection of NYC style bagels, baked fresh daily by the team at 5 & Dime. Variations include poppy, rye, cinnamon and raisin, along with spreads like maple bacon chipotle, lemon curd and hazelnut chocolate cream cheese. Just in case that wasn't decadent enough, they’re also running a rotating sweets menu, from homemade smores (!) to snickers chocolate tarts. That said, when it comes to tarts, your best option is T by Luxbite. The latest venture by pastry chefs Yen Yee and Bernard Chu, the dessert options here are almost beyond belief. Slices include jackfruit, chilli salt, vanilla and kaffir lime sherbet; salted caramel, marshmallow, chocolate, orange and gold, and the particularly delicious-sounding lemon peel, meringue, vanilla and bamboo charcoal. Seriously, just go and look at their website. It's insane. If you're search for a caffeine hit to go along with your tooth decay, you can head to Altius Coffee Brewers. Run by Hannah Alderton and Jarrod Pageot, formerly of Market Lane, it's one of the few good coffee options west of William Street. In addition to the vendors already in operation, The Archway will soon be welcoming a pair of Asian lunch joints. Delhi Streets promises old school Indian street food, while Mr Huang Jin specialises in Taiwanese dumplings. Rounding out the precinct with a healthier option will be Hunters Roots, an organic cafe serving salads and freshly squeezed juices. The Archway is located at 517 Flinders Lane. For more information visit The Archway's website.
If you're a movie-loving Australian resident, and you're also constantly dreaming of overseas getaways, odds are you have the country's annual film festival lineup to thank. In March, the French holiday cravings kick in courtesy of the relevant cinema showcase. Then, it's time for Spanish fantasies beamed down from the silver screen. A trip to Germany comes next, followed by a whole heap of Scandinavian vacation cravings — and, when September hits, prepare to start wishing you're in Italy. Yes, it's Italian Film Festival time again, and it's doing the rounds with quite the lineup — including everything from Italian box office hits and Sophia Loren-starring classics through to a documentary about a shoemaker to the stars helmed by Call Me By Your Name and Suspiria's Luca Guadagnino. As the fest always does, it's touring its just-announced program around the country, kicking off in Sydney, then heading to Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Byron Bay, all between Tuesday, September 13–Sunday, October 16. This year's IFF will open with Belli Ciao, which did huge box office business in Italy. It both stars and is co-written by comic duo Pio D'Antini and Amedeo Grieco, who play once-inseparable friends who went their own ways after high school — Pio leaves for Milan, Amedeo stays in their hometown — and now reunite, complete with a north-versus-south culture clash. Among there, highlights include The Hummingbird, an ensemble drama with Nanni Moretti (Three Floors) and Berenice Bejo (Final Cut), which hits IFF fresh from premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival; drama Lord of the Ants, about the controversial 1960s trial of intellectual Aldo Braibanti, which screens direct from its Venice Film Festival competition debut; and The King of Laughter, which features Toni Servillo (The Hand of God) as actor and playwright Eduardo Scarpetta. From the documentary selection, two big titles stand out. The aforementioned Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams focuses on Salvatore Ferragamo, while Ennio — The Maestro sees director Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso) pay tribute to legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone (The Hateful Eight). Elsewhere on the bill, there's rom-com Breaking Up in Rome, homecoming drama Nostalgia, play-to-screen adaptation The Great Silence, the fairground-set Swing Ride and prison The Inner Cage — the latter of which also features Servillo. In fact, he pops up again in Casanova's Return, as an acclaimed Italian director making his last movie about Casanova. More than 25 films grace the full lineup — including blasts from the past, such as closing night's Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni-starring Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. To celebrate the centenary of filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini's birth, three of his iconic movies — all adaptations of literary works — will screen as well, with The Canterbury Tales, Arabian Nights and The Decameron all getting big-screen showings. ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2022 DATES: Tuesday, September 13–Wednesday, October 12 — Palace Central, Palace Norton St, Palace Verona and Chauvel Cinema, Sydney Wednesday, September 14–Wednesday, October 12 — Palace Electric Cinema, Canberra Thursday, September 15–Wednesday, October 12 — Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, The Astor and Cinema Nova, Melbourne Wednesday, September 21–Sunday, October 16 — Palace Barracks and Palace James Street, Brisbane Wednesday, September 21–Sunday, October 16 — Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide Thursday, September 22–Sunday, October 16 — Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Windsor Cinema, Perth Friday, September 23–Sunday, October 9 — Palace Byron Bay The 2022 Italian Film Festival tours Australia between Tuesday, September 13–Sunday, October 16. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
While wearable tech is impressive, it's not necessarily subtle or very stylish. You can always tell when someone's wearing a Fitbit and we all know how Google Glass went down. But Google's new piece of wearable tech is integrated into one of society's more practical pieces of clothing: a Levi's denim jacket. Google's Advanced Technology and Projects arm (ATAP) has teamed up with the iconic denim brand to redesign their Commuter Trucker Jacket with Google's Project Jacquard technology. It is the first garment to be made with the tech, which works by weaving a conducive yarn into the fabric. On the jacket, the tech is installed in the left sleeve, which acts as a touchpad and allows for touch and gesture interactivity with your phone. That means that when riding your bike (which is what this technology has been primarily designed for) you will be able to swipe up to get directions, tap to change the song you're listening to or swipe down to answer a call. It's all powered by a clip-on tag, which acts as a battery and, as far as we can tell, is the only real noticeable difference to the jacket. The technology has been in the works for some time now, but further details were announced on-stage by Levi's global product innovation head Paul Dillinger and ATAP's Project Jacquard lead Ivan Poupyrev at SXSW in Austin this weekend. The jacket — which will be made in both women's and men's sizes — will be released in spring this year and retail for about $350 USD. That's not saying the jacket will be officially released in Australia or New Zealand, but it will be available for consumers to purchase. Until then, you'll just have to be content with listening to a shitty song that snuck into your Spotify shuffle until you pull up at a traffic light. Via Mashable. Images: Levi's/YouTube.
How long has Charles Boyle been dreaming of Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago's wedding? What did Rosa Diaz do before she was a cop? Who keeps swooping in and taking the Nine-Nine crew's cases? Which one is Scully and which is Hitchcock? If you can answer all of the above — and name Captain Holt's dog, Terry's twins, Gina's dance troupe and Jake's favourite movie — then you're set for The Mill House's latest trivia night. Yes, it's all about the hit cop sitcom we all know and love. You know, the one that was cancelled and then resurrected in the space of 36 hours. We'd keep asking Brooklyn Nine-Nine questions and dropping tidbits, but we'll save some for the big night. The big night in question is free (huzzah) with B99-themed cocktails available to purchase on the night and a heap of prizes up for grabs. If you're all about keeping your costs down this festive season, head in early for happy hour. Running from 4–7pm, you'll be able to snag $7.50 pints, spirits and wines — as well as $12 pizzas all night long. Last time a trivia evening dedicated to B99 hit town, places were snapped up faster than Terry can snap open a tub of yoghurt. So nab a spot ASAP and it may be your night to shine (and that can be the title of your sex tape if you'd like). To book, call (03) 9662 4002. Trivia registration will open at 6pm on the night before questions kick off at 6.30pm.
Melbourne's current lockdown has got lots of us seeking comfort in life's simple pleasures. Mountains of chocolate. Takeaway pizza. Maybe a healthy dose of gin. Well, how do you feel about upping that mood with artisan cheese — plus some wine to wash it down with? From 5pm on Friday, October 2, That's Amore Cheese is indulging Melburnians' love of vino and cheese in two ways. Firstly, in what it's calling a virtual aperitivo session, you can Zoom in for a tour of Mornington Peninsula vineyards. Also, if you want to do more than just watch, you can order an aperitivo pack — filled with wine and cheese, obviously — to eat and drink your way through at the same time. The Zoom part of proceedings is free — so virtually wandering around Elgee Park and Baillieu Vineyard won't cost you a thing — but you do need to register online. As for the pack, it costs $110 and includes multiple cheeses, antipasto, and both Baillieu rosé and Elgee Park pinot noir. You'll need to order by Wednesday, September 30 in order for it to be delivered in time. If you live within 15 kilometres of Thomastown, bringing it to your door won't cost any extra; however, for the rest of Melbourne (within 25 kilometres of Thomastown), you'll pay an additional $10. That's Amore Cheese's virtual aperitivo session takes place from 5pm on Friday, October 2, with aperitivo packs available to order until Wednesday, September 30.
If the names Peter Quince, Snug, Nick Bottom, Francis Flute, Tom Snout and Robin Starveling sound familiar, it's because they make up a group of very memorable characters from Shakespeare's famed play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Now, this fictional crew of thespian tradies — dubbed 'the Mechanicals' — has scored a promotion of sorts, bumped up to take on the starring roles in Shakespeare Australia's new production, A Midsummer Mechanical's Dream. The side-splitting spin-off will descend on the Royal Botanic Gardens' Southern Cross Lawn from Friday, February 25–Saturday, March 12, created and directed by Glenn Elston OAM. It spotlights the comical Mechanicals as they workshop lines and test out material in the hope of being chosen to perform at the Duke's upcoming nuptials. The limited run of nighttime performances will take place under the stars — you can pack a picnic to enjoy while you watch, or take advantage of the onsite bar.
Live in New South Wales, Victoria or Queensland? Craving a doughnut right about now? There's a very good reason for those hunger pangs. All three states have been affected by Melbourne's latest COVID-19 cluster — the one that saw the city go into lockdown for two weeks, and only just ended — but today, Friday, June 11, the country's entire east coast has recorded zero new locally acquired cases. Yes, it's a doughnut day across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and across the rest of their states as well. Twelve months or so ago, if you uttered that term, you were probably using it in the literal sense between mouthfuls. Thanks to the chaos of the past year, however, the term now refers to this welcome COVID-19 milestone. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1403120157711605764 All three states use slightly different timeframes when it comes to their 24-hour reporting periods — NSW cuts off at 8pm the previous day, for instance, while Victoria counts up until midnight — but the results are the same regardless. In Melbourne, it's the first zero day since the current cluster began. So, it's the first since Monday, May 24. Obviously, with lockdown just finishing last night, that nice round figure is very happy news. While neither Queensland or NSW have had big case numbers lately, the big fat zero is still significant there as well. On Wednesday, it was revealed that two people from Melbourne had driven through NSW and Queensland to the Sunshine Coast, with one then testing positive. The second person then tested positive on Thursday. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1403182248707256320 At the moment, Victoria has 75 active cases, which includes both locally acquired and those in hotel quarantine. NSW has 26 cases being treated at present — and in Queensland there is currently 15 cases. Of course, this doesn't mean the war is over in any of the three states, or around Australia — but it is a very welcome development after the past few days and weeks. For more information about COVID-19 in NSW and current restrictions, head to NSW Health. For more information about COVID-19 in Victoria, head over to the Department of Health website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in the Queensland, visit the Qld COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
At this point, Maybe Sammy not appearing on The World's 50 Best Bars' prestigious annual rankings would be a shock. The personality-packed retro cocktail lounge in Sydney's CBD has earned a spot on the coveted list six years in a row. However, while its previous rankings have earned it the laurel of the nation's best bar, that honour has this year been given to a different watering hole — Caretaker's Cottage in Melbourne. The Little Lonsdale Street bar ranked 21st on this year's list, moving up two spots from its 2023 position of 23rd place. It was also awarded the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award — a gong also previously won by Maybe Sammy — which recognises the bar with the most outstanding service in the world. [caption id="attachment_922565" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Caretaker's Cottage[/caption] Maybe Sammy dropped in the rankings this year from 15th to 26th position, breaking its five-year streak as not only Australia's best bar but also Australasia's. One other Australian bar, Byrdi, also earned a spot on the list, in 35th position, breaking into the top 50 for the first time after only making the 100-strong longlist last year, ranking 61st. The judging panel praised Caretaker's Cottage's owners, veteran bartenders Rob Libecans, Ryan Noreiks and Matt Stirling, for not only opening the bar but also working there too. "They don't shout the pedigree of Caretaker's Cottage to the world, preferring to call it a simple, local pub, and in vibe and design it's very much a neighbourhood joint," the judging notes said. [caption id="attachment_743915" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maybe Sammy, Trent van der Jagt[/caption] The judging panel said Maybe Sammy "has remained [Sydney's] most talked-about bar since it opened in early 2019, lighting up a dreary stretch of street in Sydney's sandstone district, The Rocks," also spotlighting the bar's signature combination of "theatrics and attentive, fun service". Byrdi was praised for its hyper-local focus, with the judging panel noting that the La Trobe Street venue "might very well be the most Australian bar in existence". The judges also highlighted the bar's technical prowess: "There is foraging and fermenting and vacuum distilling – and the drinks are high-concept creations. As for the service, there is a loquaciousness here, a laid back, casual sensibility that, despite all the hard work, experience and knowledge, is determined to show their guests a good time." [caption id="attachment_921792" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Byrdi, Haydn Cattach[/caption] The bar crowned the world's best, announced at a ceremony in Madrid on Tuesday, October 22, was Mexico City's Handshake Speakeasy, with the judges hailing the subtle complexity of the menu: "At first glance, the drinks list is minimalist, but given that head bartender Eric Van Beek uses advanced culinary techniques in prep, each drink is more complex than meets the eye." To see the full list of this year's rankings, head to The World's 50 Best Bars website.
Spending your days in classrooms might be behind you, but binge-watching your way through school-set hit Australian TV shows is something that you never grow out of. When Heartbreak High first arrived on television in the 90s, it became one of the nation's classic teen series. When it returned in 2022 via Netflix, the new Heartbreak High revival also had everyone turning up. Your next date with its dramas: April 2024. 2020s-era Heartbreak High was promptly renewed the show for season two when its first season proved a huge smash. In 2023, Netflix advised that school would be in session again sometime this year. Now, the streaming platform has announced that term starts again on Thursday, April 11, 2024 for the International Emmy-, AACTA- and Logie-winning show. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix Australia & NZ (@netflixanz) Hartley High will be reopening its gates, "rack off" will be the strongest insult there is again and more than just nostalgia for the OG 1994–99 series will be on the agenda. And, as announced last year, there'll be new faces among the students. Sam Rechner (The Fabelmans) will play country boy and classic cinema fan Rowan Callaghan, and he's destined for a love triangle. Also, Kartanya Maynard (Deadloch) joins the Hartley crew as Zoe Clarke, who has big thoughts on celibacy — she's in favour — as part of a gang of Puriteens. Plus, in new news, Bump's Angus Sampson is joining the show as Head of PE Timothy Voss. On the returning crew, character-wise: Amerie (Ayesha Madon, The Moth Effect), Harper (Asher Yasbincek, How to Please a Woman), Darren (screen first-timer James Majoos), Quinni (Chloe Hayden, Jeremy the Dud), Dusty (Josh Heuston, Thor: Love and Thunder), Ca$h (Will McDonald, Home and Away), Malakai (Thomas Weatherall, Troppo), Spider (Bryn Chapman Parish, Mr Inbetween), Ant (debutant Brodie Townsend), Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran, Mustangs FC) and Missy (fellow newcomer Sherry-Lee Watson). [caption id="attachment_938095" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Heartbreak High S2. (L to R) Gemma Chua-Tran as Sasha, Ayesha Madon as Amerie, Sherry-Lee Watson as Missy, James Majoos as Darren, Chloe Hayden as Quinni in Heartbreak High S2. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024[/caption] Season one started with Amerie becoming a pariah at Hartley after a big revelation — an "incest map" plotting out who's hooked up with who throughout the school — and also struggling with a sudden rift in her friendship with bestie Harper. Attempting to repair her reputation, she called on help from her new pals Quinni and Darren, all while working through her crush on Dusty and developing feelings for Malakai. And that's just the start of the Heartbreak High revival's season one story. In season two, everyone will back for a second term after doing some growing up over the holidays, and Hartley is now the lowest-ranking school in the district. Netflix is teasing that threesomes, chlamydia and burning cars will be distant memory for the gang — but there'll still be teen chaos, of course, or this wouldn't be Heartbreak High. [caption id="attachment_869123" align="alignnone" width="1920"] HEARTBREAK HIGH[/caption] It was back in 2020 that Netflix initially announced that it was bringing the series back — and yes, it sure is a 2020s-era take on the Aussie classic, including everything from friendship fights, yelling about vaginas from the top of a building and throwing dildos at walls through to consent, crime, drugs and police brutality. The original Heartbreak High was a massive deal, and was filled with now-familiar faces, including Alex Dimitriades, a pre-Home and Away Ada Nicodemou, and Avengers: Endgame and Mystery Road's Callan Mulvey as Drazic. It painted a multicultural picture of Australia that was unlike anything else on TV at the time. And, for its six-year run across two Aussie networks, the Sydney-shot show was must-see television — not bad for a series that started as a spinoff to the Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades-starring 1993 movie The Heartbreak Kid, too. Check out the trailer for the Heartbreak High revival's first season below: Heartbreak High season two will arrive on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The show's first season is available to stream now via Netflix. Read our full review.
After announcing that they would expand to Western Australia this year, the Falls Music & Arts Festival have this morning announced the dates for their four-city schedule and one kickass headliner: Childish Gambino. Yep, musical (and acting and writing) wunderkind Donald Glover will return to Australia to play all four shows over the New Years period. It's his first visit back since playing Listen Out Festival last year. As always, Falls will be heading to Lorne in Victoria for four nights, and Marion Bay in Tassie and Byron Bay on the NSW coast for three nights over New Year's Eve. They'll also be setting up shop in Fremantle for the first time with Falls Downtown, a two-day city festival slated to take place over the weekend of January 7-8. The main stage will be set up in Freo's town square, while an old-world ballroom and a stone-walled church will house the smaller ones. They'll also be taking over the abandoned Myer building, turning it into a creepy crib for art installations, "unexpected performance areas", markets and "bunkered basement danceterias". There'll even be a small number of glamping tents on the roof. It sounds similar to some of Melbourne Music Week's activations of abandoned spaces, and it sounds insane. This new iteration of the festival and the announcement of Childish Gambino as headliner is another win for Falls, who sell out their Lorne event basically every year. Since its inception in Lorne back in 1993, the festival has grown to span three cities, which include the original site on the Great Ocean Road, Marion Bay in Tassie and, since 2013, Byron Bay. But here's the dates. The full festival lineup will be announced on Tuesday, August 23. Start planning. Lorne, Victoria: December 28-31 Marion Bay, Tasmania: December 29-31 Byron Bay, NSW: December 31 - January 2 Fremantle, WA: January 7-8 For more announcements from Falls Festival, visit their website.
No trip to Japan is complete without introducing your tastebuds to the country's creative array of KitKats, which span everything from pumpkin, wasabi and sake to cough drop-flavoured versions. If you're making the visit from the end of September 2019 onwards, your chocolate-eating quest will now double as a change to enjoy a spot of origami, too — and will be much more environmentally friendly as well. Nestlé Japan has announced that it's changing the packaging on local KitKat products, swapping from plastic to paper wrappers. At first, it'll make the change with the outer packaging on share packs, with five flavours (including regular, matcha and dark matcha) affected. By September 2020, the company plans to do the same for all of its large bags, before replacing all individual wrappers in 2021. With the switch to paper, Nestlé Japan is also making the obvious connection, including origami instructions on the new packaging. Now, when you've finished with your sweet treat, you can fashion the wrapper into a crane — and again a colourful keepsake. The move comes as part of Nestlé's worldwide efforts to ensure that 100-percent of its packaging is recyclable or re-usable by 2025, a plan that it announced last year. While KitKats are sold in more than 80 countries worldwide, just when the packaging might change elsewhere — and if it'll entice chocolate fiends to turn their used wrappers into origami — is yet to be revealed. Images: Nestlé Japan.
Let's face it, when life gives you lemons, you don't always feel like lemonade. For some of us, a bad day at work, an unexpected bill or the total wet blanket that is lockdown can see you reaching for something a little more heavy duty than citrus juice. If the standard Netflix and takeout self-soothing strategy has worn thin, we get it. And that's why we've put together a few strategies to try next time life tosses you a curveball. PRIORITISE YOUR SLEEP How many days of the week do you wake up and feel like you've actually had enough sleep? For us, it's minus three. So when everything hits the fan, one thing we like to focus on is getting a good night's sleep. If you have a hard time falling asleep, there are a few habits you can incorporate into your nightly routine to wind down more easily. NSW Health recommends doing an activity that you find relaxing for an hour or so before bed like reading or taking a bath. Or, you could try incorporating a sleep supplement into your routine to assist in de-stressing from the day and to help you hit the hay at a reasonable hour. TAKE A SOCIAL MEDIA BREAK When things have gone awry it can be easy to distract yourself with mindless activities to escape. One way you might do that is by spending hours doomscrolling on social media platforms. And while social media definitely has its positives, it's not like you can control what other people post. Typically, people use social media to make public declarations of wins they've had, and that's great. We love celebrating our friends. But, if you've just had a loss, no matter how big or small, seeing someone nailing life can send you into a tailspin. That's not to say you can't be happy for people in those moments — you absolutely can. But before you login after a tough day, consider checking in with yourself and figure out whether or not you're emotionally prepared to deal with the feelings that may arise while being online. TAKE YOUR VITAMINS When you're not feeling 100 percent, taking active steps to look after your physical health is a great way to lift yourself out of your slump. Getting on top of the basics like good sleep, a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water is key. And, if you want to go even further, we recommend stocking up on vitamins from JSHealth, too. Whether you need something to help with skin health, hormone balance, sleep or stress, JSHealth has an extensive selection of supplements to choose from to help you take care of yourself. Plus, you'll get access to the JSHealth app for free with any order of vitamins — just use your order ID to access recipes, workouts, meditations and more, so you can get yourself back on track. TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES When you've had a doozy of a day, it can be useful to shift your focus to things that you actually have control over. One of those things is your cash. And while at times it may feel like your money controls you more than you control it, taking time to sort out your finances (and actually following through with your plan) is possible. It can be useful to think of your money like other parts of your wellbeing. For example, if you want to start running, signing up for a marathon may not be the best place to start. The same applies to your dollarydoos. If you need to pay off some debt, want to bolster your savings or have a desire to start investing, you've gotta make time for it. And like running, if you stick to your plan, you'll get closer to your goal every day. Check out the Australian Government's moneysmart website for free tips on how to make your cash make sense (and cents). GET TRIPLE CLEAN We're all fans of freshly washed sheets, right? Crisp, warm and straight of the line on a sunny day are the top-tier kind. But to boost your mood on a less-than-average day, you've got to step things up a notch and get yourself triple clean. Let us talk you through what we mean. Step one is to strip your bed sheets and give your mattress a makeover with a fresh set of threads. Step two is to strip yourself and get squeaky clean in the shower. Then, it's time for step three — fresh PJs. Yep, time to swap out last night's pizza-stained pants for a fresh pair and soon after you'll be feeling like a million-dollar triple-clean queen. DIY PAMPER NIGHT We've never had a bath that we later regretted — ever. So next time things feel like they're spiraling out of control, consider taking a moment to slow yourself down with an at-home pamper session. One of the great things about a DIY pamper sesh is you get to decide how extra you want it to be. If you feel like going all out, pick up a new face mask, bath salts, a candle and a cheeky bottle of something to take to the tub. Or, if you're more the spontaneous type, dig out that gift pack your Secret Santa gave you last year and actually use it. Whether you want to go all out with a foot scrub and at-home microdermabrasion or are stoked by the idea of a classic bubble bath, the whole point is for it to be relaxing — so don't stress over the set up. You can do a lot with dim lighting, a calming soundtrack and warm water. GET SOME FRESH AIR If you spend a lot of time working indoors, a quick whip around the block can do wonders to your mood after a wonky day. There's no need to rush your walk or worry about getting hardcore exercise in while you enjoy the outdoors, either. It's all about getting a change of scenery and a lil fresh air to take you far away from your desk for a moment. To heighten the experience, you can add your favourite podcast to soundtrack the stroll. Or, if you want to get really in touch with nature, go sans headphones and soak up the natural sounds of your surroundings. MAKE A CONNECTION When we're feeling down in the dumps, it can be hard to reach out to loved ones. It's easy to feel like you'll be terrible company and no-one wants to feel like the party pooper in the pack. But think about how many times you've gladly sat with a friend after a breakup. They weren't exactly the life of the party on those occasions but you still happily made yourself available in their time of need. And guess what? Your friends will absolutely want to do that in return. But, if being around people is a no-go for you in those moments of distress, consider making a connection with yourself, instead. You could do this by by journalling, meditating or engaging mindfully in one of your hobbies. CROSS SOMETHING OFF YOUR LIFE ADMIN LIST We all have a list of tasks we've been meaning to get to but for one reason or another it keeps getting put on the backburner. And even more unfortunately, as time goes on, the list keeps getting longer, too. Whether it's returning an online shopping purchase, consolidating your superannuation funds or finally booking your car in for a service — we've all got a thing or two we could cross off our lists. So next time you're feeling like you're in a funk, consult your mental to-do list and tackle one of its tasks for a lil pick me up. SET A BOUNDARY With work from home now a reality for a lot of us, the boundary between work and play has become increasingly blurry — which makes sense considering a lot of dining tables now double as work desks. With physical spaces melding together like this, it's more important than ever to create a healthy set of boundaries, and stick to them. One way to do that is to set times for when you'll respond to work questions (hot tip: try and stick to your regular work hours). Another boundary you may need to implement is knowing when to say no to social occasions so that you can schedule in essential alone time to recharge. Just remember, if your boundaries impact others (and they often do) it's a good idea to communicate what they are so that others can understand your limitations and respect them without trying to read your mind. CP readers can take advantage of a 15% discount on all JSHealth products by using the code: CPLAYGROUND. Learn more about JSHealth by visiting the website here. Images: Unsplash.
Lunchtime doesn't have to mean leftovers and underwhelming sangas — even if you're budgeting. Not since sleek CBD diner Botswana Butchery kicked off its latest lunch special, serving up a daily dose of luxury for a surprisingly meagre sum. Pop into the New Zealand-born eatery between 12–4pm each day and you can get a seafood fix in the form of lobster and bottomless fries for just $29.95. Yep — you'll sit down to half a lobster paired with all the fries you can handle, all for less than $30. If that's not an affordable slice of decadence to get you through your workday, we don't know what is. [caption id="attachment_859635" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Garth Oriander[/caption] If you want to celebrate your lunchbreak win with a matching tipple, Botswana Butchery's hefty drinks list is brimming with options, including a solid lineup of sparkling wines by the glass. There's no catch to the seafood special, other than it's only available to enjoy dining in, for guests in the lower-level dining room or out on the balcony. Bookings are encouraged if you want to be sure to nab a spot.
There are few things in life that smell as good as Aesop products. Freshly cut grass brings with it hayfever; sniffing cinnamon will give you a sneezing fit; and as for newborn babies' heads, surely they just smell like pain and placenta? With its subtle hints of mandarin, lavender, shea butter and rosemary, the Aesop Resurrection hand balm I swipe from the bathrooms of fancy cafes is by far my pick of the bunch. Now this local titan of beauty and wellbeing is taking an interest in our part of the process — the smelling. From April 8 - 23, Aesop will be setting up shop in the Bourke Street Myer windows with an interactive installation featuring over 1,500 plaster casts of noses. But this isn't just a tame version of The Great Wall of Vagina, passersby will also be invited to contribute to the collection. Sit down, take a load off, peruse the offerings from the god that is Aesop, and let them immortalise your schnozz in the name of art and excellent hand balm. Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. The author just really, really likes Aesop.
The past two years have been chaotic for Australia's theatre scene — but thanks to big-name productions such as Hamilton, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Come From Away, Jagged Little Pill the Musical and Girl From the North Country, the show has gone on when it could. Big-name musicals have kept echoing, clearly, with another high-profile show soon to hit both Melbourne and Sydney: four-time Tony-winner An American in Paris. The Broadway and West End smash already kicked off its Aussie shows in Brisbane in January, and now it's set to sing and dance its way to Melbourne and Sydney, with a Perth leg also locked in and Adelaide dates set to come. This vibrant production adapts the 1951 film of the same name to Australian stages — so yes, if you're a fan of classic movies (and classic big-screen musicals starring none other than the inimitable Gene Kelly at that), then that's why the show's name sounds familiar. Story-wise, the musical follows an American soldier in Paris — because its moniker is that straightforward. Set at the end of the Second World War, it charts US GI's Jerry Mulligan's exploits as he falls for a French woman. Well, he is celebrating the end of the combat in the notably romantic city, after all. [caption id="attachment_828886" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tristram Kenton[/caption] Bringing the Oscar-winning 71-year-old film to the stage, this version of An American in Paris is directed by acclaimed contemporary ballet choreographer Christopher Wheeldon — and adapted for theatre and choreographed by him, too. The Aussie run is also being staged in collaboration with the Australian Ballet, so expect to see some of their dancers helping to bring the musical to life. George and Ira Gershwin's songs make the leap to the theatre as well, including 'I Got Rhythm', 'S Wonderful', 'But Not For Me' and 'They Can't Take That Away From Me'. Initially, An American in Paris debuted in Paris — where else? — in 2014, before hitting Broadway, Boston and West End. 'AN AMERICAN IN PARIS' AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2022: Friday, March 18–Sunday, April 24 — State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Friday, April 29–Sunday, June 12 — Theatre Royal, Sydney Saturday, July 9–Wednesday, July 27 — Crown Theatre, Perth Dates TBC — Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide An American in Paris will continue its Australian tour from Friday, March 18, 2022. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the musical's website. Top images: Darren Thomas.
Film festivals seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment, and the 2013 Spanish Film Festival is joining the party this June. In its 16th year, it will span 23 days across the nation. With over 20 films, in true festival style, you can expect a little from column A and a little from column B: comedy, romance, horror, political tales, triller and coming-of-age stories. Some of the highlights include the winner of 10 Argentinian Academy Awards, Clandestine Childhood, a tale of a boy finding his place in the world; A Gun in Each Hand, a witty look at gender roles and growing up; and the Spanish box office hit I Want You, a love story filled with new beginnings and a rocking soundtrack. The Spanish Film Festival is set to entertain and get you thinking. The question is, how many will you see?
Prahran bar The Smith is no stranger to a themed pop-up, regularly dressing up its space with bright blooms and decorations in a nod to the season at hand. And heading into summer, the venue has just unveiled its latest incarnation, embracing the incoming balmy weather with a brand-new look. Midsummer Night's Garden sees The Smith's garden atrium going heavy on the pastel florals and swathes of wisteria, with an archway leading through to a secret dining area. Here, you'll be able to kick back in comfort and enjoy offerings like the $45 Thursday Supper Club, which involves 90 minutes of bottomless bubbly, wine and spritzes, teamed with a cheese board to share. The space will also play host to a New Year's Eve cocktail party, though you can pop past anytime until the end of February to soak up the summery setting with a cocktail and feed among the blooms.
"The bear, it fucking did cocaine. A bear did cocaine!" That's it, that's Cocaine Bear. This based-on-a-true-story caper's title really does say it all, and those understandably concerned words in the trailer sum it up perfectly, too. Meet one of 2023's instant must-sees, complete with a ridiculously entertaining sneak peek that utterly perfects the mood a bear doing cocaine deserves. "Apex predator. High on cocaine. Out of its mind." There's another way to sum up this 80s-set flick, which does indeed follow the chaos that ensues when an American black bear unwittingly ingests a hefty package of cocaine in a Georgia forest. Everyone's exclaiming things in response, really — adults, kids, cops and drug dealers in the trailer, and you while you're watching. "It kind of seems like a thing that stays with a man forever," the sneak peek tells us. It's not wrong. Cocaine Bear marks the third feature stint behind the lens by Call Jane actor Elizabeth Banks, after previously directing Pitch Perfect 2 and Charlie's Angels. And yes, the story behind it very much happened back in 1985, after a drug-running plane crashed. Forget Yogi Bear and his penchant for picnic baskets — this growling 500-pound critter is doing blow, then seeking blood. Among those screaming on-screen about a bear doing coke: a stacked cast featuring Keri Russell (Antlers), O'Shea Jackson Jr (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story) and Margo Martindale (The Watcher), and also including Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project) and Kristofer Hivju (Game of Thrones). Cocaine Bear also marks one of the last films starring the late, great Ray Liotta (The Many Saints of Newark) — and if there's ever been a time for Isiah Whitlock Jr (Da 5 Bloods) to bust out one of his famous "sheeeeeeeit"s, this is it. Cinemagoers Down Under can see the results in February, in what looks like a jaw-on-the-floor kind of good time — from the trailer and the whole 'bear does cocaine' concept, at least. Until then, the film's sneak peak is the wildest thing you'll see all day. Watching it more than once comes with the territory. Check out the trailer for Cocaine Bear below: Cocaine Bear releases in cinemas Down Under on February 23, 2023.
At the moment, every movie franchise you can think of has or is being turned into a TV show, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe, its rival DC Extended Universe, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, IT, The Conjuring and Twilight. Another trend doing the rounds: giving 90s flicks a 2020s remake or sequel, as seen with Hocus Pocus, The Craft, Interview with the Vampire, A League of Their Own and now White Men Can't Jump. Yes, the Woody Harrelson- and Wesley Snipes-starring basketball film is heading back to screens 31 years later, this time getting Jack Harlow bouncing, dribbling, trash talking and trying to use his on-the-court skills to rustle up a big payday. The musician is turning actor to lead White Men Can't Jump circa 2023, as the initial sneak peek earlier in the year and just-dropped full trailer shows, opposite Nanny's Sinqua Walls. Harlow makes his movie debut, in fact, playing former basketball star Jeremy, who is struggling after injuries got in the way of his career. Then, he teams up with Walls as Kamal, a once-promising player who also didn't see his basketball future turning out as he planned. Bring on the streetball hustling from there, clearly. Behind the lens, Calmatic does the honours after also directing a House Party remake — yes, another 90s flick — and helming a heap of music videos, including winning a Grammy for Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road'. Penned by Black-ish's Kenya Barris and Doug Hall, 2023's White Men Can't Jump is headed straight to streaming via Disney+ Down Under, arriving on Friday, May 19. If you're new to all things White Men Can't Jump, as well as the court action, it featured a significant Jeopardy!-related storyline. The trailers for the new movie don't show any signs of bringing that back, sadly. Check out the full trailer for White Men Can't Jump below: White Men Can't Jump will be available to stream on Friday, May 19 via Disney+.
The days are getting crisper, summer holidays are done and dusted, and cosy weekend getaways are likely already on your mind. Happily, this year brings a cracking new regional Victorian accomodation option, with the soon-to-launch Wine Down Pop-Up Hotel. The two beautifully upcycled shipping container hotels are the work of Contained — known for crafting bars, restaurants, offices and hotels out of shipping containers — and are all at once comfy, luxuriously appointed and sustainably crafted. And they'll soon be well-travelled, moving across three of the state's best-loved wine regions between April and July. Designed to inspire some weekend adventures in your own backyard, the pop-up eco hotel will be making its home in pinot noir country at South Gippsland's Waratah Hills Vineyard (April 3–28), before a stint in King Valley at the family-run Dal Zotto Wines, producers of some of Australia's first prosecco (May 6 to June 2). It'll wrap things up at picturesque Macedon spot, Mount Towrong Vineyard (June 7 to July 7). [caption id="attachment_711809" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mount Towrong.[/caption] Nestled among the vines, the self-contained Wine Down retreats come kitted out with a swag of high-end trimmings, boasting a plush queen-size bed with primo Cultiver linen, full bathroom stocked with Hunter Lab toiletries, a locally focused minibar, breakfast and your very own hot tub. Guests will also get to indulge in a private onsite wine tasting experience and a bottle of the property's finest vino. And if you really want to live it up, there are optional add-ons like gourmet picnic hampers, or a guided yoga session among the vines. The Wine Down Pop-Up Hotel is heading to South Gippsland from April 3–28, King Valley from May 6–June 2, and Macedon from June 7–July 7. Prices start at $275 per night from Sundays through Thursdays and booking are now open via visitvictoria.com. Images: Daniel John Bilsborough and Jiwon Kim.
The only theatre company in Europe to be banned by its government on political grounds, the Belarus Free Theatre is coming to Melbourne with tales of persecution, resilience and revolution. Burning Doors will see the BTF join forces with Pussy Riot's Maria Alyokhina in her stage debut. Alyokhina was sentenced to two years in a Russian prison in 2012 for her involvement in Pussy Riot's infamous anti-Putin 'punk prayer' in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Hers is one of a number of stories that will make up the production at the Arts Centre, as the company shines a light on the restriction of artistic freedom around the world, and the work of artists and activists to fight back against creative and political oppression. The show will be on stage from Tuesday, November 29 through to Saturday, December 3.
The leaves are changing colour, the days are fresher and a whole lot of autumn winery hopping awaits. But why should humans have all the fun? This season's weekend adventures are best enjoyed with your pooch by your side, and there are stacks of great Victorian wineries happy to oblige with big open spaces and pats aplenty. Get set for day trips filled with wine quaffing and puppy cuddles; here, we bring you our pick of the state's top dog-friendly wineries. ROCHFORD WINES, YARRA VALLEY Arguably one of the Yarra Valley's best-known wineries, Rochford boasts a stunning lakeside cellar door and eatery. Here, the rolling green expanse of the property is pretty much heaven for roaming pups, while humans will find plenty to love dining al fresco at Isabella's Restaurant. From now until April 5th, as the harvest takes place, you can go on a guided tour of the vineyard, sampling the as-of-yet unharvested grapes straight from the vines or head straight to final produce at the cellar door where you can sample the vintages before settling on your take-home bottle or, for a more relaxed experience, set yourself up with a tasting flight at the restaurant. Opt for some charcuterie including nduja, fennel and garlic salami or the terrine with rhubarb jam to pair, or if hunger has truly set in, go for one of the medium, large or 'enormous' dishes, each offered with the sommelier's wine recommendation. What's suggested? Can you really go past a 16-hour oyster blade of beef with the 2017 single vineyard 'Garrigue' Heathcote syrah or the saffron and orange-glazed chicken with the 2017 single vineyard 'Dans les Bois' chardonnay — both of which we're sure your pooch will enjoy a scrap or two from. STEELS GATE, YARRA RANGES For a nice slice of Yarra Ranges scenery, matched with some top-notch local food and wine, you and your pup will find it hard to beat a visit out to Steels Gate Wines. One of two sibling vineyards, this spot is home to the winery's picturesque cellar door and restaurant. Here, you can sample acclaimed chardonnays, alongside dishes built around produce fresh from the garden. The dog-friendly deck is the perfect location to soak up some of that autumn sunshine while tucking into housemade pâté with shiraz and onion jam, local cured meats and breads or slow-cooked chicken ballotine with lemon and thyme risotto cake and garden greens (available Friday–Sunday). Alternatively, you can grab one of the winery's picnic blankets and a grazing platter for an alfresco session with your pooch on the sprawling green lawn. CANNIBAL CREEK, GIPPSLAND With its rolling green outlook, this Gippsland winery proves the ideal pit-stop for a lazy autumn sipping session, especially if you've got a furry friend in tow. Grab a primo position on the sunny deck, order one of the many award-winning wines (including the blanc de blanc, sav blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, cab merlot and cab sav) and dig into the restaurant's menu made for sharing. Enjoy a cheese board while overlooking the neat rows of vines with your pup by your side (most likely looking longingly at those fine slices of camembert). And when lunchtime's over, head out to explore the vines up close — well-behaved canines are free to explore the surrounding lawns off-leash. BULLER WINES, RUTHERGLEN Boasting plenty of sprawling open spaces and a restaurant with views across the vines, Buller Wines' lush, green Rutherglen vineyard is as much a hit with four-legged visitors as it is with their humans. Pooches may be allowed to mosey around inside the cellar door area on quieter days, though the sights and smells of the big outdoor lawns are sure to prove even more tempting for inquisitive pups. The spacious deck is another great spot for settling in over a few of Buller's hit vinous creations, with water bowls always on hand for furry visitors. Order a glass of chardonnay, shiraz or durif from the Calliope range, which is made in limited quantities from 100-year-old vines, and settle in for a relaxing afternoon with your best friend. DAL ZOTTO, KING VALLEY Known as one of Australia's prosecco pioneers, the King Valley's Dal Zotto Wines is a full family-run affair spanning the generations. First opened by Otto and Elena Dal Zotto in 1987, the winery and attached trattoria are now run by the second generation of Dal Zottos. Focused on Italian grape varietals, the winery has a distinctly European feel, with the trattoria dishing up fresh pasta and Italian classics crafted from fresh ingredients grown in the kitchen garden, maintained by Nonna Elena. Dogs are welcome to make themselves at home in the sunny outdoor spaces, so nab a table on the lawn and settle in for a wine-matched pizza feast, while your pup explores. Oh, and this winery was the first to make prosecco, so make sure you enjoy at least one of the several bubbly options available. For more autumnal places, spaces and events in regional Victoria, visit Your Happy Space.
In the world of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, fighting for power and glory is a lifelong quest, and one shared far and wide across Westeros. In bringing the fictional realm created by author George RR Martin to the small screen, US network HBO seems to have adapted the same mindset — because this hugely popular franchise is only going to keep expanding in its hands. News about what follows the initial page-to-screen show has been bubbling for years now. Indeed, before Game of Thrones even came to an end back in 2019, HBO was looking at spending more time in Westeros. Of course, House of the Dragon has already aired its first season and been renewed for a second, which mightn't arrive till 2024. Chatter about what else might arrive spans a Jon Snow-focused spinoff with Kit Harington (Eternals) reprising his famous role, novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg and an animated GoT show. Beyond that, another three prequels are also reported to have been under consideration. To farewell 2022, Martin himself advised that there actually may not be as many GoT spinoffs on the way; however, now comes word of a brand-new candidate. Variety is reporting that HBO is contemplating another prequel — and another show to focus on the Targaryens, this time exploring how Aegon I took over Westeros with his two sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys, plus three dragons, then became its first king and the first to ever sit on the Iron Throne. There's no confirmation from HBO so far, and obviously nothing in the way of a title, timing or casting. But Variety also advises that this prequel could even start as a movie, then return to the episodic format. And if there's one thing that HBO adores when it comes to Game of Thrones, it's House Targaryen and their complicated history. Wigmakers, rejoice — if this series gets the go ahead, there'll be an even bigger need for artificial blonde mops. Special effects crews will also get plenty of work creating those dragons. Whether this show ends up eventuating or not, our days of watching fiery fights between famous Westerosi names — and games over who gets to sit on the Iron Throne — are definitely far from over. Game of Thrones was that much of a hit, and House of the Dragon has proven the same so far. Until House of the Dragon season two hits, or any other on-screen dances with dragons are confirmed, check out the season one trailer below: The latest proposed Game of Thrones prequel doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you if and when more details are confirmed. House of the Dragon streams Down Under via Foxtel and Binge in Australia, and SoHo, Sky Go and Neon in New Zealand. Read our full review of season one. Via Variety. Images: HBO.
Melbourne is the world's most liveable city, as well as Australia's fastest growing capital. Sydney is the nation's most expensive city. But when it comes to the country's most 'hipster' spot, they've got nothing on one Queensland destination. According to The Hipster Index, a study by international relocation website MoveHub, the Gold Coast claims that title — because sun, surf, sand, theme parks, schoolies, the Commonwealth Games and hipsters apparently go hand-in-hand. The index's criteria actually helps explain the Goldie's top placing, with the study scoring cities based on five data points. The more vegan eateries, coffee shops, tattoo studios, vintage boutiques and record stores a city has, the higher they're ranked — and the tourist destination sure does boast a hefty number of meat-free cafes, spots to grab some caffeine and places to get inked. Queensland seems to be hipster central in general, too. Cairns comes in second, the Sunshine Coast makes sixth position, and the state nabs more places on the list than any other — with Brisbane at 11th and Townsville at 13th. Down south, Geelong ranks fourth and Melbourne fifth, while Newcastle sits at ninth followed by Sydney at tenth and Wollongong at 12th. With the study only ranking cities with populations over 150,000, Hobart, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth also earned a spot. Internationally, however, the Goldie only places 70th, with the index ranking 446 cities across 20 countries. Top honours didn't go to the location you're probably thinking about, aka the city so filled with hipsters, there's literally a television show satirising it. No, Portland actually came in second, with Britain's Brighton and Hove earning hipster bragging rights. Salt Lake City, Seattle and Lisbon round out the top five. Image: Marcus Bichel Lindegaard via Flickr.
Face it. There's nothing, nothing more heartbreaking than going out for a casual walkie with your beloved dog, grabbing a cheeky gelato cup at the beach and not being able to share it with your pooch. Much whimper. Such fail. Too long, too long have pups been shunned from ice creameries simply because the pockets in their dog hoodies rarely hold money and dairy products make them incredibly ill. Enough! No longer will this integral gelato market and prime branding opportunity be ignored. Gelatissimo are stepping up and doing what should have been done years ago (because trending topics). They're releasing a range of doggie gelato that can be enjoyed by both pets and owners alike — please avoid sharing though. Please. Importantly, the gelato is gluten free and flavoured peanut nougat (which is a dogwide favourite ice cream flavour, apparently) and gentle on puppy tums. From March 26, you can grab a scoop from 18 Gelatissimo stores (including Balmain, Bondi Beach, Central Park, Coogee, Cronulla, Newtown, Watsons Bay, Wagga, Manuka, Lane Cove, Lygon Street, Coolangatta, Mackay, Mooloolaba, Noosa, Toowoomba, Norwood and Surfers Paradise). Alright we so know it's a bit much and most of us don't have a weekly budget for dog iced treats, but think of it more as a treat for yourself that you can share with your pupper (if they whimper at you enough). Image: Mochi and Miranda @justanotherdogblog.
Having a drink with friends is such a simple act, but it hasn't been easy for Australians this year. During the country's periods of lockdown — including two for Victorians — clinking glasses with your mates was mostly vanquished to the realm of fantasy. So now that life is slowly returning to normal, we're betting that you're more than a little keen to gather the gang, pick up your preferred beverage and make the most of it. This year hasn't been smooth sailing for the folks who make your favourite drinks either, of course. But when you're saying cheers with your nearest and dearest, you can also say cheers to local standouts like 6Ft6, Billson's and 3 Ravens in the process. They're responsible for three of Victoria's most-loved tipples, and they have the votes to prove it as part of the BWS Local Luvvas initiative. Over the last few months, the bottle shop retailer asked Aussies to pick their top local drinks, in which the winners receive an extra helping hand with getting their products stocked in more BWS stores. That's a big show of love in a year where everyone definitely needs it — and we've chatted to the talented teams behind the scenes at 6Ft6, Billson's and 3 Ravens to hear about their journeys. THE GEELONG WINERY ON AN EX-SHEEP FARM 6Ft6 prides itself on three things: its location, its varieties, and its talented viticulture and winemaking team. They're must-haves for every winery, but this Geelong vineyard boasts a particularly intriguing story behind the first two components on that list. Not only does it sprawl across an old run-down sheep farm in the Moorabool Valley, but it originally began with 90 acres of pinot noir — because when you know what you like to drink and where you'd like to drink it, you naturally go all in. That was back in 1982, when Austin's Wines was first established. It is now run by a second generation of family members, Scott and Belinda Austin, and counts 6Ft6 among its brands. Although many folks in the industry can make the same claim, Scott and Belinda are now living the dream. "We've always had a passion for drinking wine," Belinda explains, "and the love and learnings of growing and making wine has been a fascinating journey to be on". These days, Belinda isn't just passionate about sipping 6Ft6's tipples, but sharing them. "We love to spread a little cheer wherever we go, and this has been very relevant in 2020," she notes. That's an impressive attitude to have in this difficult year, especially one that has brought so many changes to the winery. "We have had to adapt in more ways than we could have imagined, from finding ways to make up for lost revenue for events and restaurant trade, to shifting to a digital focus in our marketing efforts," Belinda says. "The only thing that hasn't changed in 2020 is the grape-growing and winemaking process. We are glad something was predictable!" THE 155-YEAR-OLD BREWERY AND DISTILLERY USING ALPINE SPRING WATER Back in 1865, when English brewer George Billson founded the company that still bears his name, he couldn't have imagined what would follow. Established in Beechworth all those years ago purely to enable easy access to the town's alpine spring water — which it uses in its spirits, beers, cordials and sodas, as sourced from a 150-year-old red-brick well onsite — Billson's is now a must-visit regional destination. "Historically, our small business has relied almost solely on regional tourism," says director Nathan Cowan. That statement doesn't apply to 2020, though. "It's definitely been a challenging year for everyone," he notes. But local support has helped to keep Billson's afloat, and keep its team busy. "It's so awesome to see so many people supporting their local producers. We wouldn't be here without it," he says. "When people choose local, they are supporting far more than just the business. There are so many flow-on benefits to the entire community." When someone chooses Billson's spirits, they're choosing a tipple made by a company that's "completely captivated by the process of spirit-making," Cowan explains, describing the team's approach as "a mix between creative expression and science". Unsurprisingly, Billson's is committed to using local ingredients in that process, too. "We are passionate about showcasing our spectacular region," Cowan says. "Our talented team use as many fresh local ingredients as possible, and we are lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing growers." THE OLDEST INDEPENDENT BREWERY IN A BEER-LOVING CITY It might seem like a fool's errand, asking a Melburnian to pick their favourite local brew — and to select only one, too. When BWS did just that, however, the city showed its support for 3 Ravens. Founded in 2003, the Thornbury-based beer makers, bar and barrel room helped kickstart Australia's craft beer scene, and did the same in Melbourne as well. Sparked by "a love for more flavoursome European style ales at a time when Australian beer drinkers' options were a little lacklustre to say the least," as general manager Nathan Liascos explains, it's now the Victorian capital's oldest independent brewery. That isn't a status that the 3 Ravens team takes lightly. "Brewing good beer is relatively easy, but brewing excellent, award-winning beer requires a lot more attention to detail," he notes. "We're firm believers that even people who claim to not like beer can be won over by an excellent example of something that aligns with their tastes — and we feel like our job is done whenever we hear 'I don't usually like beer, but...'." When you love beer and you feel just as strongly about making it, singing your favourite brew's praises isn't a hard task. But 2020 has thrown more than a few challenges 3 Ravens' way, although Liascos is looking on the bright side. "There have been some positive outcomes that we've been able to celebrate this year so far, such as seeing increased public awareness and support of local and independent businesses, and an incredible level of ingenuity and adaptation to an increasingly challenging world," he says. "It's also been fun delivering to the locals and personally meeting the people that have been supporting us through these turbulent times." To find these or other Victorian drinks as part of the BWS Local Luvva's initiative, head to your nearest BWS store.
With a design that wouldn't feel out of place in any modern Melbourne cafe, Ori Tea sports a slightly different vibe to most of its boba-slinging counterparts. It's a solo player, serving up a whole rainbow of concoctions to suit just about any sort of tea craving. Fans will find those chewy brown sugar pearls showcased in a range of drinks, from vibrant matcha lattes, to milky dragonfruit fusions. Though the caramelly goodness of the signature brown sugar pearl milk drink makes it a firm fan favourite, dense with boba and artful streaks of tea. Elsewhere on the menu, find fruit-forward blends topped with cheese foam and a tidy lineup of desserts.
In a previous article, we asked you what the world would look like if it was run by hipsters. Now, with a new series of artworks by illustrator Ronallman, it seems that this threat may have been more imminent than we ever thought. In a collection named 'The Dic-sters', Ronallman has taken the world's most infamous dictators and given them indie makeovers that would suit the next ASOS advertising campaign. Kim Jong-Illest shows his love for hip-hop by rocking a pair of Kanye shutter shades, while Fidel Hipstro swaps his trademark army greens for a red scarf and aviators. Joseph Stachlin's facial hair gets a neat upgrade, and he also wears a green shirt (top button done up, obviously) with a contrast plaid collar. However, perhaps most terrifying of all is Skritler, a hybrid of brostep champion Skrillex and Germany's most notorious chancellor, Adolf Hitler. Such a character isn't too far-fetched when you remember that Skrillex's music has often been labelled a crime against humanity. Hipsters, with their locally-produced vegan burgers and willingness to complain about anything, are usually aligned with left-wing ideology. However, Ronallman's illustrations prove that their wardrobes might be better suited to conservative nutjobs. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6Z1RRslsFxA [via Complex]
Fear, dread, tension, apprehension, just being creeped out — they're all strong emotions. They're also exactly the types of reactions that Darkfield and Realscape Productions trade in. The two companies have been teaming up for a couple of years now, with UK creators Darkfield first collaborating with the Melbourne-based Realscape Productions on Seance, Coma and Flight, those eerie shipping container installations that have popped up around the country. Then, when the pandemic hit, the pair pivoted to at-home audio experiences. If you've listed along to Double, Visitors and Eternal as part of the Darkfield Radio series — all of which are back streaming again now — you'll know that putting people on edge is firmly on the agenda here. Announcing their latest Darkfield Radio project, Darkfield and Realscape aren't messing with their successful formula — so audiences can expect another unsettling experience designed to be listened to at home. But this duo never serve up the same thing twice, even if their current works all spin nerve-jangling tales and unfurl creepy audio experiences. With Knot, which'll make its Australian premiere on Friday, June 25, you won't just sit in one place, don your headphones and listen attentively, for instance. You'll initially head to a park bench to listen in — still wearing those headphones, of course — and then you'll need to sit in a car. For the last section of this three-part experience, you'll then get comfy in a room in your house. To get the full experience, you need to work through all three of Knot's sections in one evening — untangling them in your head, naturally. Darkfield and Realscape always keep the minutiae of their shows close to their chests, so that audiences experience them for themselves while listening, but they have released one clue for Knot: "Here I am, I have come from nothing, created in this moment, as your brain improvises me into existence, improvised into existence... but with no hidden depths." "Season one exposed audiences to the mysterious and supernatural inside their homes, magnified by Darkfield's signature 360 degree binaural sound,", said Realscape Productions Amy Johnson. "We're looking forward to getting audiences outside of their homes for Season two — in COVID-safe settings of course — and pushing them out of their comfort zones even more." Leading Darkfield Radio's second season, Knot will arrive in Australia fresh from playing as part of the Tribeca Film Festival's 2021 immersive lineup. The company's shows have been earning that kind of attention over the past year, with season one becoming the first audio-only experience to ever be a part of Venice International Film Festival last year. Knot will be available to listen to every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between Friday, June 25–Sunday, September 30. For further details or to buy tickets, head to the Darkfield website. Images: Empty Bottles Media.
The CCP has five exciting new exhibitions opening this week, which gives you five excellent reasons to drop by to view some world-class photography. In Gallery One, Kiron Robinson’s latest exhibition, We Told Ourselves We Needed Separate Beds To Sleep, will be on display. Images are either flattened, scanned or re-photographed to create new images — testing intriguing relationships between the originals. In Gallery Two, animator Dave Jones and interdisciplinary artist Steven Rhall have joined forces to respond to the Australian Grains Genebank for In Debt: Saving Seeds. In Gallery Three, Lift From The Top explores ways in which sculpture and photography intersect in contemporary art practice. It features work from both local and international artists, including Paul Adair, Fleur van Dodewaard, Andrew Hazewinkel, Arini Byng and Georgia Hutchinson, Stephanie Lagarde and Stein Ronning, and is curated by Laura Lantieri and Sarah Wall. Gallery Four contains Sara Oscar’s From Here To Eternity, fuelled by the innuendo from stills of romantic films. Finally, for those who can’t get enough photography, there's also Greg Moncrieff’s work California Revisited presented in the CCP’s Night Projection Window. Image: Kiron Robinson, Young woman kissing old man while he turns his head away (2014), archival pigment inkjet print on Baryta paper.
Picking something to watch is about to get harder, and Australian viewers are set to get even more spoilt for choice. The list of streaming services available Down Under is already hefty, but there'll be at least 50 more channels to choose from once the end of August hits. The reason: the launch of Pluto TV on our shores, which is coming via Network Ten's 10 Play platform. Up and running in the US for almost a decade, Pluto TV is completely free to watch. The catch: it's a FAST service, aka free ad-supported streaming television. So, just like in the days before anyone had even dreamed up Netflix and the like, or pay TV, you won't pay a cent to watch — but you will have to see commercials. Pluto TV's big drawcard is delivering its smorgasbord of content via channels, rather than just having audiences scroll through hundreds or thousands of shows and movies to decide what to watch. Basically, it replicates the linear TV experience on free-to-air, but via streaming. You'll still need to do some choosing, though, given that there's a lengthy roster of themed channels to choose from. And to watch, you'll be headed to the new Pluto TV area on 10 Play, rather than to a specific standalone service. Paramount, which owns and operates Pluto TV and also Network Ten, hasn't revealed the exact number of channels that'll arrive in Australia from Thursday, August 31 — other than it'll be 50-plus. And, while it also hasn't unveiled the full list of what each will show, it has named some specific options. Fancy only viewing South Park? I Love Lucy? Happy Days? Dynasty? MTV's reality shows? Nickelodeon classics? They'll all have their own channels. Whatever else Pluto TV adds to its Aussie offering — Hawaii Five-O, an MTV channel focused on Shores shows, and Nick Toons have also been announced so far — it'll be drawing from the Los Angeles-based company's partnerships with 400-plus international media outfits. And, it'll be expanding the service in yet another location, with Pluto TV already up in running in more than 35 markets. "These 50 Pluto TV channels represent our first step to engage with Australian audiences and we are happy to mark this milestone by partnering with 10 Play, demonstrating once more the strength of our Paramount ecosystem," said Olivier Jollet, Executive Vice President and International General Manager for Pluto TV. "As pioneers in the FAST industry, we are bringing a new and unique user experience through curated channels dedicated to this market. Our mix of local and international content which matches the needs of our local audiences is what makes Pluto TV so valuable for viewers, clients, and partners across the world," Jollet continued. August is clearly a great month for Nickelodeon fans — Network Ten also just added a free-to-air channel devoted to the brand, the first in Australia outside of pay TV, separate to the upcoming Pluto TV options. Pluto TV's channels will be available via 10 Play from Thursday, August 31.
