The festive season continues, and what better way to celebrate the Year of the Rat than with a five-course banquet and fancy cocktails — with stunning views, of course. Ocean 12 is going all out for Lunar New Year, offering a special menu and cocktails from January 24 until February 11. To make the most of the occasion, you'll want to book a table for Friday, January 24, when Southbank will come alive with dance, music and performances for the festival's official kick off. Plus, at 10pm, lion dancers will move through the restaurant. Start with a specialty Hennessy VSOP cocktail on the terrace. Choose between the Lucky Lychee Fizz, the Hennessy VSOP and Green Tea or the Fortune in the House — a zesty concoction of Hennessy, orange juice and kumquat. Then, tuck into a Chinese feast of dumplings, pork buns, steamed greens and fried chicken with Chinese salad. Or opt for the chef's daily special for $25. If you want to take things up a notch, you can settle in for a VIP banquet menu in one of Ocean 12's private karaoke rooms. You'll be hosted by the chefs and dining on dishes such as scallop and prawn dumplings; steamed grouper with spiced greens; sautéed lobster with egg noodle; and green beans in XO sauce. Oh, and an opulent wagyu steak drizzled with truffle oyster sauce. It costs a cool $250 a head and is available for group sizes of four to ten people, with the option of Hennessy VSOP pairings for an additional $100. Afterwards, pick up the mic and sing your heart out to keep the party going. Bookings are only required for the VIP banquet menu, which can be made via info@ocean12.com.au or Ocean 12's website.
As December rapidly approaches (it'll be 2020 before you know it, people) and temperatures soar, it's time to enjoy some of those traditionally festive flavours with an Australian twist. Ahead of the holiday season, Grey Goose La Vanille has returned to a selection of local bars for a limited time only. The premium French vodka is infused with natural vanilla flavours from beans harvested in Madagascar — there's no added sugar. The flavour originally swept through bars back in 2003, and though it's not available to buy in shops, it started reappearing on international shelves last year. Now, the bold caramelised toffee notes are back just in time to add a vanilla twist to classic vodka cocktails throughout the holidays. Thankfully, we have the hook ups — here's where you can get your lips around an exclusive cocktail with a vanilla twist. [caption id="attachment_705698" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peaches by Kate Shanasy[/caption] WHERE CAN YOU DRINK IT? With such exclusivity surrounding Grey Goose La Vanille, bartenders around town are taking the opportunity to whip up some special creations for the occasion. At just a handful of bars around Australia — including Sydney's Maybe Sammy, Eleven Rooftop in Brisbane, Geelong's The 18th Amendment Bar and Adelaide's 2KW — you'll find some delightfully summery cocktails championing the smooth vanilla flavour. In Melbourne, get down to Peaches, the CBD cocktail bar just above barbecue restaurant Cheek, where a delicious vanilla cocktail is sure to go down a treat as you relax among the whimsical retro-pink decor. Down in Windsor, Aussie-themed cocktail bar and bottle shop Galah will be mixing up something special with homegrown flavours, too. GALAH: LIVING LEGEND This one is sure to live up to its name. The bold toffee notes of Grey Goose La Vanille meet a fruit salad of sweet and tart flavours, including lychee, passionfruit, grapefruit and lime. Not to stray too far from the Aussie tilt of a Galah, there's also native inspiration in the kakadu plum chardonnay and rivermint to round out the drink, which is shaken and strained into a coupe glass. Pair the Living Legend with modern Australiana bar food, like a leek and potato tart, crocodile skewers or fried cauliflower. [caption id="attachment_705708" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] PEACHES: VANILLA WATERFOWLER The crew at CBD newcomer Peaches have kept it nice and simple with this one. In a collins glass, you'll get Grey Goose La Vanille with lemon, Italicus Rosolio Di Bergamotto Liqueur, vanilla sugar and five mint leaves. It's shaken and strained before being topped with Garage Project White Mischief Salted Peach Sour. It's sure to have you feeling refreshed on a hot summer day, and will go well with Peaches' beloved chicken sanga. Each Grey Goose bottle is distilled and bottled in France, and the high quality vodka has a 100 percent traceable production process, from crop to cork. Upgrade your weekend by choosing the premium vodka — with a vanilla twist — in your classic cocktail.
You might not know that noted film banger of the 00s Bring It On has been made into a stage musical — and, having already done the rounds on Broadway in 2012, it's going to cartwheel into Melbourne in June this year. Responsible for the phrase "cheerocracy" and your unrealistic expectations of high school, it seems the original movie still has some decent cultural capital to give. If you've been wondering, in the last 18 years, what exactly the world of competitive cheerleading might have going on with it these days, this musical is for you. If you had a Kirsten Dunst poster on the back of your childhood bedroom door, this musical is for you. To be honest, if you've watched the film even just a few times, it's probably for you too. With music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (of Hamilton fame) and the stage adaptation by Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), the musical is only loosely based on the original film of 2000, which starred your girls Kirsten and Eliza Dushku. Unlike the five sequels that followed the movie — all of which went directly to VHS — the musical looks like it has a refreshing amount of sass, cutthroat rivalry and aerial stunts. Bust out your best spirit fingers and get them tapping on your keyboard if you want tickets — Bring It On: The Musical is making its way to Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre in June, but it's only going to be step-pivot-split jumping around town for a strictly limited run of ten shows. And keep them fingers crossed the show decides to make its way around the country. Bring It On: The Musical will run from June 7–16, 2018 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketek.
Marvel's first Muslim superhero is coming to your streaming queue, but she'll have to conquer high school along the way. Come Wednesday, June 8, the ever-sprawling and always-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe will add its seventh new TV series in 18 months to streaming platform Disney+, and it's all about Pakistani American teenager Kamala Khan — better known to comic-book readers since 2013 as Ms Marvel. Arriving three years after Captain Marvel, the series that shares Ms Marvel's name focuses on a Carol Danvers superfan — who happens to discover that she has superpowers, too. Kamala (debutant Iman Vellani) doesn't feel like she fits in her hometown of Jersey City, and often escapes into gaming, writing fan fiction and her extremely active imagination; however, everything changes when she learns that she has more in common with her idol than she ever realised. As Ms Marvel's just-dropped first trailer shows, viewers can expect teen dreams and high-school hijinks aplenty — but with a superhero twist. How Kamala will handle living out her fantasy life will fuel the show's six-episode first season, in the leadup to 2023 big-screen release The Marvels, which'll feature Brie Larson as Carol, Vellani as Kamala, and also WandaVision's Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau. Yes, while the MCU's slate of Disney+ series is taking a different approach in 2022 — focusing on bringing characters previously unseen on-screen into the fold, rather than giving existing franchise players their own shows (see: WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and Hawkeye) — it's still linking in with the bigger Marvel Cinematic Universe picture. Ms Marvel also gives the MCU a first — that aforementioned first Muslim superhero — after a decade and a half of hardly presenting diversity on-screen. Across the 28 films that will have hit cinemas before Ms Marvel drops, it took the MCU 18 movies to solely focus on a Black superhero, and 21 features across 11 years to do the same with a female superhero. It also didn't hand the directorial reins to a solo female filmmaker until its 24th movie, either —and, when Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Eternals both released in 2021, they visibly and welcomely stood out from the bulk of the franchise in terms of representation. As well as newcomer Vellani, Ms Marvel's cast includes Aramis Knight (Into the Badlands), Saagar Shaikh (Unfair & Ugly), Rish Shah (India Sweets and Spices), Zenobia Shroff (The Affair), Mohan Kapur (Bullets), Matt Lintz (The Walking Dead), Yasmeen Fletcher (Let Us In) and Laith Nakli (Ramy). And, it'll hit your streaming queue following the MCU's other announced show for 2022 so far — the Oscar Isaac-starring Moon Knight, which arrives on Wednesday, March 30. Check out the trailer for Ms Marvel below: Ms Marvel will start streaming via Disney+ on Wednesday, June 8. Images: ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Just a couple of months ago, spending a few hours in a cinema soaking in a dose of movie magic — and eating plenty of popcorn and choc tops — was a normal everyday activity. Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, mass gatherings were banned and picture palaces closed, however, seeing a film on the big screen in a darkened room filled with other people has become a relic of the past. But with Australia slowly starting to relax coronavirus restrictions, that might only remain the case until mid-July. The National Association of Cinema Operators-Australasia — a nationwide organisation comprised of Australia's major national cinemas, as well as independent movie theatres — has announced that the country's big screens are aiming to open in time for the planned release of Christopher Nolan's Tenet, which is currently slated for Thursday, July 16. As reported by Variety, the NACO board said it "is enthusiastic about the prospect of reopening and is hopeful of conditions enabling it to do so in July". Some Australian states, such as Queensland and New South Wales, have already eased some stay-at-home requirements. More developments in this space are expected in the coming days and weeks — with some social distancing and public gathering rules likely to be limited this coming Friday, May 8, when the national cabinet next meets; Australia-wide principles regarding sport and outdoor recreation already proposed; and Queensland working towards a June reopening date for bars, cafes and restaurants. So, with that timeline in mind, letting folks back into cinemas by mid-July seems perfectly reasonable. There are two major caveats, though. The federal and state governments obviously need to allow cinemas to reopen, after requiring them to close back in March. And, cinemas need access to new movies to screen for audiences — which doesn't just depend on the coronavirus situation in Australia. Over the past few months, a huge number of big-name flicks have postponed their releases, setting new dates for later this year and even next year. This started happening even before COVID-19 cases ramped up outside of China and Italy, because when a new movie hits the silver screen, it's usually a global event. So, the likes of A Quiet Place Part II, No Time to Die, Fast and Furious 9, Wonder Woman 1984, In the Heights, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Candyman and more all pushed back their release dates. Tenet wasn't one of them — in fact, it's one of the only movies that didn't move its original release date — but that could still happen, especially if American cinemas aren't ready to open by mid-July. Without a big movie like Tenet to screen — or Mulan, which moved its release date to Thursday, July 23, so the following week — it's possible that Aussie picture palaces will delay their plans, even if they've been given the go-ahead by the government to start their projectors again. And opening a huge blockbuster like the aforementioned movies in Australia weeks before they open in America just isn't going to happen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdOM0x0XDMo Either way, when Aussie cinemas do reopen, going to the movies won't be quite the same as everyone remembers. "The Board is very mindful of social distancing restrictions needing to be put in place and acknowledges that the impact this will have on trading due to these reduced capacities," NACO said in its statement. That also likely means bigger gaps between session times to avoid crowds milling about in the foyer, only partly filling theatres to ensure social distancing requirements can be met, making hand sanitiser available everywhere, cleaning cinemas more regularly, and preferring contactless and cashless transactions. For Queenslanders, these are some of the new strategies already being put in place at Yatala Drive-In — which first reopened over the weekend of May 2–4, playing movies that were screening in cinemas when they closed. The move was a success, so it'll be doing so again between May 7–10 and May 14–17. Via Variety.
There's a particular texture to Los Angeles after dark that suits stories of crime and self-interest to a tee. A desolate urban badland of freeways and fast food joints, there's this eeriness; this unnaturalness; this inescapable sense of menace; that seems to creep out of the concrete and set your nerves on edge. You can feel it in Michael Mann's Heat, or in Collateral a decade later. You can feel it in sections of Nicholas Winding Refn's Drive. And you can feel it in Nightcrawler, from writer-director Dan Gilroy, as it glides out of the darkness and seizes you by the throat. Always at his best when playing characters gripped by obsession — Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain, Robert Graysmith in Zodiac, or Detective David Loki in last year's masterful Prisoners — Jake Gyllenhaal is in career-best form as Lou Bloom, Gilroy's unsettled protagonist, and our tour guide through the sordid LA underbelly. Inspired after witnessing a car accident, Lou decides to carve out a career as a 'nightcrawler', videotaping crime scenes and selling them to a local TV station for broadcast on the 6am news. Read our full review here. Nightcrawler is in cinemas November 27. Thanks to Madman Entertainment, we have ten double passes to give away in each city. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
A near-silent depiction of a nightmare boarding school for girls, a stage adaptation of a 1950s pornographic novel, a drag odyssey through Australian history — this is hardly the usual fare for the MTC crowd. Yet it's all on the program at NEON, the Melbourne Theatre Company's festival of independent theatre. It's packed with the kind of edgy theatre-making you'd more expect to find in shoebox venues around Fringe season, rather than in a mainstream house like Southbank Theatre. It is, says artistic director Brett Sheehy, one of the company's most significant initiatives to date. "With NEON, we celebrate Melbourne's unique and thriving independent theatre landscape and its astonishing artists," Sheehy says. "Part of our mission is to literally throw open our doors to all of Melbourne and to make Southbank Theatre a place of connection, accessibility and welcome, no matter what form of theatre Melbourne desires." For the festival, which runs from May to July, 2013, Sheehy approached five of Melbourne's most innovative little theatre companies — The Hayloft Project, THE RABBLE, Daniel Schlusser Ensemble, Fraught Outfit and Sisters Grimm — and offered them free access to MTC's stage and technical resources, as well as free creative rein. Benedict Hardie of The Hayloft Project, whose By Their Own Hands looks to be a confronting and stripped-back take on Greek tragedy, says that while creative freedom comes with the territory of independent theatre, practitioners need to work hard for that freedom and it is rare to get the kind of support MTC has offered. Having that support, Hardie says, has enabled the artists involved to push themselves further creatively. "It's an opportunity to dream a bit bigger," he says. The shows on the lineup promise to be confronting, intense, bizarre or even — as with THE RABBLE's adaptation of Story of O, a French novel that was the 50 Shades of Grey of its day — erotic. THE RABBLE's co-artistic director Emma Valente sees the festival as a turning point for the companies involved, not just because of the resources and the greater audience potential provided by MTC but because of what the very existence of the festival says about changing attitudes toward the independent theatre scene. "What it means for independent theatre at large is exciting," says Valente. "In fifteen years doing independent theatre, playing in a mainstream house is something I never would have thought possible." The festival opened on May 16 with Menagerie, Daniel Schlusser's homage to Tennessee Williams and will also feature a program of forums and free workshops featuring a topnotch lineup of playwrights, producers, performers and critics. So whether you are an audience member avid for the avant garde or an underrated artist working on a society-shaking script of your own, Southbank Theatre is, perhaps surprisingly, about to become the place to be. To see the full program of events, head to the MTC website. Tickets to each show are $25, or you can see all five for $100. Top image: The Hayloft Project by Patrick Boland. Second image: Daniel Schlusser Ensemble by Sarah Walker.
Fond of Netflix? Regal intrigue? Combining the two? Then you're obviously a fan of The Crown. And, if so, you've had a busy few years — not just because the series has dropped four seasons since 2016, but because news around the show's fifth and sixth seasons has changed back and forth a few times. At the beginning of 2020, Netflix announced that it would end the royal drama after its fifth season. The, the streaming platform had a change of heart, revealing it would continue the series for a sixth season after all. Now, the service has announced when the next batch of episodes will air, so mark November 2022 in your diary. When season five premieres next year — with the exact date still yet to be revealed — it'll do so two years after season four. But, that's the gap that The Crown tends to take when it changes casts. After starting out with Claire Foy (The Girl in the Spider's Web) as Queen Elizabeth II, Matt Smith (Official Secrets) as Prince Philip and Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret (Pieces of a Woman) in its first two seasons, which aired in 2016 and 2017, the series returned in 2019 with Olivia Colman (The Father), Tobias Menzies (This Way Up) and Helena Bonham Carter (Enola Holmes) in those roles. Plus, it added Josh O'Connor (God's Own Country) as Prince Charles — and, in season four in 2020, Emma Corrin (Misbehaviour) and The X-Files icon Gillian Anderson joined the cast as Lady Diana Spencer and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, respectively. This time around, Downton Abbey, Maleficent and Paddington star Imelda Staunton will don the titular headwear, Game of Thrones and Tales from the Loop's Jonathan Pryce will step into Prince Philip's shoes, and Princess Margaret will be played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. Also, Australian Tenet, The Burnt Orange Heresy and Widows star Elizabeth Debicki will be the new Princess Diana, while The Wire and The Pursuit of Love's Dominic West will play Prince Charles. Season five and six are expected to follow the Queen in the 1990s and 2000s — so yes, that means that Diana will play a big part, and that the series will traverse some of the same territory that Kristen Stewart-starring film Spencer covers as well. Can't wait till next year? It's too early for trailers for season five, but Netflix has dropped an introductory message from Staunton, which you can check out below: The Crown's fifth season will hit Netflix sometime in November 2022 — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced. Images: Keith Bernstein / Alex Bailey / Netflix
When winter hits in 2021, Sydneysiders can prepare to be ensconced in projections once again. After taking a year off in 2020, Vivid Sydney's annual festival of light, music and ideas will transform the city over 23 nights with a jam-packed lineup of cultural events, pop-ups and activations. Public spaces across Sydney will be treated to Vivid's beloved light installations — including the previously announced Cockle Bay light walk and Customs House's 3D visual storytelling project, and the freshly revealed activation Fall, a multi-sensory experience in The Rocks playing off the heritage area's leaky drains as a comment on our collective water consumption. The program's lineup will sprawl across iconic Sydney buildings and open spaces in Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour. [caption id="attachment_761801" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] In Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House's sails will light up with a digital rendition of Yarrkalpa (Hunting Ground), a stunning painting created by the Martu Artists of the Pilbara region. Inside and in front of the iconic harbourside venue, Vivid Live will feature an array of boundary-pushing and fan-favourite musicians from Australia and New Zealand. Across the three-week festival, music fans can catch the world premiere of Sampa the Great's new stage show, a tenth anniversary showcase of Sydney record label Astral People, rock and jazz legends Gareth Liddiard (The Drones), Jim White (Dirty Three) and Chris Abrahams performing together, plus sets from Golden Features, Flight Facilities, Hermitude, Gordi, G Flip, Miiesha and Connan Mockasin. [caption id="attachment_813276" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Vivid Sydney, 2019[/caption] English actor and The Good Place star, Jameela Jamil will appear as part of Vivid Ideas, discussing body positivity, social media, diet trends and mental health via a virtual talk with Australian author and podcast host Jamila Rizvi. Elsewhere on the Vivid ideas program, Magda Szubanski will discuss the importance of art and laughter, and Briggs will be joined by YouTuber Nat's What I Reckon to discuss mental health while discussing food and music they've been loving. Author of Honeybee Craig Silvey will also be in attendance with screenwriter, performer and multi-disciplinary "trans queen" Glace Chase to talk gender fluidity and representation. Away from the Sydney Opera House, cultural events will activate across the city. Carriageworks will play home to a Cantina OK! pop-up, featuring food and cocktails from the CBD bar, a roster of DJs and performances from King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Amyl & the Sniffers. LGBTQIA+ party collective Heaps Gay will bring its Kween's Ball to Luna Park, while FBi Radio will invite audiences into their studio for performances from local musicians. The UTS Great Hall will host a series of talks, seminars and film screening, and the Australian Museum, Parliament House, MCA, the Powerhouse Museum and Maritime Museum will all continue with their after-dark culture series Up Late. [caption id="attachment_809934" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Destination NSW, an artist's render of a Vivid installation.[/caption] Vivid will run from Friday, August 6 until Saturday, August 28. You can check out the full program via Vivid's website.
You may think you have a good handle on David Attenborough docos by now. He waltzes into an amazing natural landscape, dispels an extraordinary amount of knowledge on Everything in the Entire World, and promptly films something incredibly disgusting or depressingly ruthless. I think we're all still trying to forget that time he narrated hermaphroditic slug sex. Nevertheless, his latest venture is set to blow your mind all over again. Returning to Australia in November, this legendary, knighted filmmaker is filming his latest work in 3D at the Great Barrier Reef. Intended as a three-part series, Attenborough is excited about the possibilities of filming underwater in 3D. "People will think ‘for God’s sake not another program on the Barrier Reef. Haven’t we done enough?’ But underwater is a marvellous subject for 3D, I mean it really is absolutely breathtaking," he told The Herald Sun, sporting his trademark British charm. But honestly, we have no idea why Attenborough feels the need to convince us. While we've felt a little tired with the gimmick of 3D in recent years, this is the type of work the technology was made for. Attenborough won't be diving himself — give him a break, he's 88 years old — but he will be exploring the reef with the help of new underwater equipment that renders an incredibly high resolution. Though nothing has been released about the content of the series, Attenborough will more than likely be covering the political and environmental problems the reef has faced in recent times as well as its friendly fauna. It's a topic that has been in the news once again with #fightforthereef emerging on everyone's Twitter feeds earlier this year. Between global warming, the threat of coal ports in surrounding areas, and questionable preservation practices from the state and federal governments, the World Heritage listed site has faced a lot of problems in recent years. Documentary filming begins in November, but we won't know how far off the actual film is for months yet. Regardless, get ready to be transported directly to the heart of all your underwater Disney dreamlands. This is going to be well worth the IMAX money. Via The Herald Sun. Photo credits: ciamabue, stuandgravy, robdownunder, richard ling, richard ling via photopin cc.
It is 1988, and 15 years since president Salvador Allende committed suicide as Pinochet's military jets bore down upon the Chilean presidential palace. Under international pressure, Pinochet has agreed to determine his future by referendum. A 'yes' vote will see the continuation of the torture and 'disappearances' that have characterised his reign (today, over 1000 Chileans remain missing). A 'no' vote will mean the restoration of democracy. For four weeks, each side of the campaign has a daily 15-minute television segment with which to win over voters. Enter advertising creative Rene Saavedra (Gabriel Garcia Bernal). A composite character pieced together by director Pablo Larrain and scriptwriter Pedro Peirano, he has been raised outside of Chile by his exiled father and is expert at conjuring up slick commercials designed to sell Western-style products. It takes some convincing for socialist politician Urrutia (Luis Gnecco) to shake Rene out of his apolitical apathy and get him on board the no campaign, but once he does so, the action begins in earnest. No derives its dramatic tension from two sources: the intersection of advertising propaganda and political rhetoric, and the difficulty of reconciliating the private life with the public. The no campaigners believe that their aim is best achieved through graphic reminders of Pinochet’s brutalities, so Rene must convince them of his strategy: to present post-dictatorship freedom as one would a shiny commodity — symbolised by a rainbow logo, communicated by the slogan 'Happiness Is Coming', and accompanied by a jubilant jingle. Simultaneously, he must navigate his emotions over the departure of his wife, a hardcore activist who sees her husband as lacking courage and conviction. Bernal approaches Rene's character with an enigmatic composure, conveying his conflicting traits through subtleties — standing stock still amidst an erupting crowd upon announcement of the referendum results, or tearing up in silence as he walks away from his wife's door. Larrain's exploration of the power of advertising is not without its ironies. On one hand, we celebrate Rene's backing of justice; on the other, the success of his commercial-style simplification of a complex political situation is disturbing. Larrain touches on this uneasy contradiction through staccato stabs of humour, masterfully interwoven with darker moments. It is worth noting that a recent New York Times article revealed that the film has attracted criticism in Chile for downplaying the significance of the grassroots movement to the no campaign. Seeking an aesthetic reflective of the period, Larrain recorded No with a 1983 U-matic video camera. Flares and flashes are included deliberately. Archival material blends seamlessly with contemporary footage. Some may find this approach a little self-conscious, and it's certainly not pretty, but the intention is to transport viewers back in time. The third feature in Larrain's filmic study of Chile, No is a triumph, historically and dramatically. Sure, its verisimilitude may be questionable, but its study of at least one aspect of the referendum that toppled Pinochet is compelling.
There is nothing quite like an international design competition to put the world's leading architecture firms into a bit of spin. And that is exactly what has happened since the Busan Metropolitian City Government in Korea sponsored a competition to find a design for Busan's new Opera House, set to begin construction in 2014. The brief was fairly straightforward - the winning design needed to completely reenvisage the Busan Opera House on the harbour of South Korea's second largest city, Busan, and create a new cultural landmark which would resonate with the residents of Busan and the surronding marine culture, yet would also put Busan firmly on the international stage. In practical terms, the brief also stipulated that the design had to include an Opera Theatre, a multi-purpose theatre, and provide areas for people to congregate and enjoy views of the city skyine and the ocean. The competition certainly has fired up the imaginations of architects worldwide The Swiss-based architecturel firm Kubota and Bachmann have put forward a design based on Korean traditions, featuring an impressive artificial body of water, while a German firm, Peter Ruge Architekten, have gained significant attention with their sustainable design. Sydney-based architects Lascoste and Stevenson have also weighed in with their pod-shaped design. The final decision on the design of the Opera House will not be known until the second stage of the competition. But whatever the result, it looks like post 2014 Sydney may not be the only harbour city with an enviable Opera House.
Earlier this year, when events worldwide started cancelling, postponing and rescheduling due to COVID-19, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)'s Dark Mofo was sadly one of many that had to pull the plug. It's also just one of the annual festivals that the venue holds and, thankfully, MONA's summer event will be forging ahead — with the venue announcing dates and locations for Mona Foma 2021. Come January, arts and music fans will be able to soak in the fest's eclectic sights and sounds across two weekends — and in two locations. Although Mona Foma was originally held in Hobart, where MONA is located, the event made the move to Launceston in 2019. In 2021, however, it'll split its program between both Tasmanian cities. Launceston will be up first, from January 15–17, with Hobart getting the nod the next week from January 22–24. Just what'll be on the bill hasn't been announced as yet, and won't be until later this year, but the fact that the festival is happening at all is the kind of great news that 2020 has been lacking. As Mona Foma curator Brian Ritchie explained, "Mona Foma thrives on reinvention and we are compelled to do that big time in January 2021. One weekend in Launceston, and one weekend in Hobart, to spread the love. Great Tasmanian artists, unusual venues, and an irrepressible creativity". Focusing on Tassie artists isn't new for the fest, with 61 percent of creatives involved in the 2020 event hailing from the state. [caption id="attachment_784488" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Robin Fox laser installation at the Albert Hall, Launceston, Mona Foma 2019. Photo Credit: MONA/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and MONA Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia[/caption] Of course, before you go making big plans for a weekend getaway down south, you'll want to keep an eye on Tasmania's current border restrictions — which, at the time of writing, requires 14 days in quarantine in government-designated accommodation for non-Tasmanian residents who aren't classified as essential travellers, and additionally requires pre-approval from the Deputy State Controller if you're entering from a location considered high-risk, such as Victoria. Mona Foma will take place from January 15–17, 2021 in Launceston, and from January 22–24, 2021 in Hobart. We'll update you when the full program is announced later this year — but head to the festival website in the interim for further details. Top image: The Flaming Lips, Mona, Hobart, Mona Foma 2016. Photo Credit: MONA/Rémi Chauvin. Image Courtesy Mona, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Although the weather outside is starting to tempt us with cosy nights in, Glenmorangie is giving us six reasons to toss a scarf on and head out to enjoy some fine single malt scotch. World Whisky Day is just around the corner (Saturday, May 18) and the Scottish distillery has partnered with six cocktail bars across Melbourne to celebrate. Each venue will revisit the classic highball — Glenmorangie Original 10 mixed with soda, tonic or ginger ale and fresh orange juice – and rework it, creating reinventions of the classic with a distinct flair. These cocktails will be shaken and stirred until the end of the month because let's face it, one day just isn't enough to applaud this fine spirit. Warm your belly up at Arlechin with a Pink Possum, which features fig, thyme and cabernet shrub, or enjoy the Tarlogie Tang, with notes of fino sherry and apple pulp soda, at Boilermaker House. Meanwhile, Attic at Black Pearl has concocted a spiced coconut, honey and vinegar number — The Pictish Highball — and Williamstown's Sebastian Beach Grill & Bar focuses on peach, fig and cinnamon flavours with its Basque on the Peach. If you're feeling adventurous with your whisky sampling, head to Trinket Bar and try the nutty The Danseur, made with peanut butter, hazelnut oil and orangeade. Or, to get nice and toasty, sip on Iki-Jime's Highball 16, featuring Glenmorangie 10 mixed with the house soda of toasted barley, chamomile, orange zest and leatherwood honey. Top image: Black Pearl
If Melbourne town's end-of-year weather is getting you down — sweltering one day, streaming from the skies the next — here is some small solace for you. Melbourne's Boho Luxe Market (their words, not ours) is determined to make you remember those times when you could dip your toes in the ocean without needing an umbrella, and take you to a sun-dappled place of dreamcatchers and flower crowns. Plus, this year, everything sold will be 100 percent vegan. For the 2018 festive run, you can treat yourself to a day of plant-based Christmas wanderlust in the Atrium at Federation Square. There'll be heaps of stalls featuring ethical activewear and accessories, skincare products and lots of yummy things that will keep you sustained over a vegan Christmas. Expect snacks, live music and festive vibes.
In between running one of Brisbane's favourite vintage cafe bars and teaching us where the best bits of Brisbane are, longtime Aussie music go-to The Grates are back for their first national headline tour since 2011. Brisbanites Patience Hodgson, John Patterson and Ritchie Daniell will be taking their Team Work Makes The Dream Work tour down Australia's east coast with Sydney punk garage band Straight Arrows and Brisbane punk/synth duo Pleasure Symbols. Described as "fun and thrashy pop punk at its best" by triple j, these three have a reputation for giving an incredible live show that'll have you on your feet. The Grates have been seriously productive over the last few months; after releasing their fourth celebrated studio album, Dream Team last year, they went on to absolutely crush it at Splendour In The Grass. The Grates' long-awaited return to the stage is sure to be one of those dance-till-you-drop affairs — here's hoping for a furious '19-20-20' throwback singalong to obliterate our vocal chords once and for all. THE GRATES 'TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK' 2015 TOUR: Saturday, August 8 – The Triffid, Brisbane Friday, August 14 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Saturday, August 15 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne The Grates are touring Australia's east coast this August, and thanks to Secret Service, we have three double passes to give away to their Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne shows. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
Calling all history buffs: now is an excellent time to plan a long weekend in Canberra, with an incredible exhibition celebrating the might of the Roman Empire arriving at the National Museum of Australia (NMA) on Friday, September 21. Rome: City and Empire is a collaborative exhibition with the British Museum and makes the NMA only the second institution to host it worldwide — and the only museum that will do so in Australia. The exhibition showcases over 200 jaw-dropping objects, including marble sculptures, illustrations, geometric jewellery, gold medallions and burial chests — many of which have never toured internationally, let alone reached the Southern Hemisphere. This is once-in-a-lifetime stuff. Whether you're a history aficionado who smashes all the ancient Rome questions at trivia or a total novice, the exhibition offers an opportunity to step back in time to experience what daily life was like in one of the most sophisticated, culturally diverse and creative civilisations the world has ever known. You'll leave with an insight into just how Rome became such a mighty empire — one whose aesthetics, ingenuity and approach to design continue to influence us today. Rome: City and Empire will run from Friday, September 21, 2018 to Sunday, February 3, 2019. Tickets can be purchased via the NMA's website. Images: Fragment of a diadem, Naukratis, Egypt, 67–98 CE, gold; Roman Republican coin for Julius Caesar minted in Rome, Italy, 44 BCE, silver; Mosaic panel, Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum), Turkey, 4th century CE ©Trustees of the British Museum
If mythical creatures, unsolved murders and unease in the Victorian era all sound like your idea of great television, then Amazon Prime Video's new fantasy series might be just up your alley — or row. Starring Cara Delevingne as a faerie and Orlando Bloom has a brooding detective, Carnival Row boasts all of the above, as well as a heavy gothic-meets-steampunk vibe. Story-wise, the drama unpacks the fallout of a turf war, after humanity encroaches upon the homelands of mythological beings. In the aftermath, the latter — including Delevingne's Vignette Stonemoss — attempt to co-exist with non-magical folk. It doesn't go smoothly, with a series of killings under investigation by Bloom's Rycroft Philostrate understandably making matters worse. Releasing on Friday, August 30, Carnival Row appears to follow in the footsteps of plenty of previous tales that've used fantasy, sci-fi and superheroes to explore intolerance, immigration, discrimination and refugees. The twist comes from the period setting and neo-noir atmosphere — so think X-Men meets Penny Dreadful. Created by René Echevarria (The 4400, Teen Wolf) and Travis Beacham (Clash of the Titans, Pacific Rim), Carnival Row is based on the latter's script. Amazon is already confident about the show, renewing it for a second season before the first has even released according to Variety. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=369LHB9N-Ro Carnival Row hits Amazon Prime Video on Friday, August 30.
We've all been there: you're eating something delicious and your adorable dog wants some, but it's just not good for them. Everyone who shares their life with a barking four-legged best friend has experienced this scenario, because pooches always want to do whatever their humans are doing — and eat whatever they're eating, too. Sadly, while cute pups love the sight and smell of plenty of human treats, they just can't stomach some foodstuffs. Chocolate is a culprit, as everyone remembers come Easter. Thanks to its milk and sugar content, ice cream is another. If your four-legged best friend goes yapping mad over heaped ice cream cones, here's the good news: Gelatissimo is releasing a new limited-edition flavour that's both human and canine-friendly. We're not saying that you and your fluffball should share the same cone of the frosty dessert, but you definitely could. Made fresh in-store, the new scoop is banana and strawberry flavoured. To make it suitable for dogs, it's made with oat milk, so it's also vegan. It also features cavendish bananas and strawberries, unsurprisingly. That said, puppers with a history of pancreatitis or allergies do need to steer clear. Those who can tuck into a tub will find it at Gelatissimo outlets around the country from early October, but only for a limited time. If it all sounds familiar, that's because Gelatissimo did something similar back in 2019, but with a peanut butter flavour. "Our last pup-friendly gelato was the hugely popular, limited-edition Pawesome Peanut Butter," says Filiz Kaya, Gelatissimo's Head of Product Innovation. "It is still requested to this day, so we wanted to bring back the concept, but this time with a fresh and fruity twist." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Harvey the Border Collie 🐾 (@henlo.itsharvey) Vegan banana strawberry gelato is available at all Australian Gelatissimo stores for a limited time from early October. For more information and to find your nearest store, visit Gelatissimo's website.
"It isn't the prettiest spectacle...seeing a couple of middle aged types hacking away at each other..." Too right. Winterfall Theatre is inviting audiences to step through the marital shredder as it resurrects Edward Albee's classic, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? this June and July. When George (the orator of the above quote) and Martha invite Nick and Honey over for an impromptu party, they're expecting a relaxed tipple and maybe some sly bookshelf judgement. Instead, they become embroiled in the carnage of their hosts' marriage, as George and Martha spit, kick and scratch their way through an evening of mutually assured destruction. Directed by Denis Moore, this production is Winterfall Theatre's first in their new headquarters, Blackbox Theatre in Kew. Expect more than one vital organ to be left on the stage after curtain.
If you think that there's nothing sweeter than the word "weekend", except for the words "brunch" and "drinks", then you're in hot darn luck. Fancy Hank's, barbecue eatery and general provider of comfort in the form of hot food and cold drinks, is launching a new Sunday brunch session – and, to sweeten the deal even more, it's bottomless. At $50 per person, you can pick two items from the brunch menu and then qualify for bottomless Kentucky Ice Tea and Pomelo Spritz. On the menu are brekky tacos, chicken tamale, spicy spare ribs and – don't worry vegos, they've got you, too – a so-smoky-it's-almost-meaty eggplant dish. You can order an extra dish for $12.50, but bear in mind you've only got between the hours of 12pm and 2pm to stuff yourself and your hollow legs. If you end up wanting to kick on, don't forget Good Heavens is right upstairs. Fancy Hank's bottomless brunch will run every Sunday from 12–2pm. Reservations can be made via the website.
Fatima Fazal, founder of iHeart, has created the Heart Part, a clever contraption which can be used as a knife, fork and scoop. Heart Parts are 100% biodegradable and are made of 88% less plastic than regular utensils. Furthermore, when they're joined together they form a lovely heart shape that will bring a little happiness into your day. Sitting at $8.95 for a box of ten, these are conveniently small, environmentally friendly and easy on the wallet too. I doubt these will get you through a 500 gram rump steak, but they'll be a handy addition for light snacks and party foods. Grab one of these at the iHeart store and do your part to save the world. Watch the video below for a comprehensive rundown on how these work. https://youtube.com/watch?v=jAIVjmQKn0g [via PSFK]
Enter the words 'true crime' or 'serial killer' into Netflix and something thoroughly unsurprising results: a hefty list of shows and movies to watch, dramas and documentaries alike, because the streaming platform sure does love this niche. In the future, those searches will throw up two more results, with 2022 newcomer Monster set to return for another couple of seasons. Monster's debut run came with the unwieldy full title DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. While exactly what season two and three will be called hasn't yet been revealed, they will need to switch that moniker up. For the show's return, it'll turn into an anthology series, creating "two more instalments that will focus on other monstrous figures who have impacted society", the service announced on social media. Following the record-breaking success of DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Ryan Murphy & Ian Brennan will create two more installments that will focus on other monstrous figures who have impacted society. A second season of The Watcher has also been greenlit! pic.twitter.com/NmFdj6soJj — Netflix (@netflix) November 7, 2022 Who'll those monstrous figures will be also hasn't yet been unveiled, but Netflix is expanding its true-crime remit either way — and creator and prolific TV producer Ryan Murphy is adding another anthology series to his resume after American Horror Story and American Crime Story. In its ten-part first season, which dropped in September, Monster starred WandaVision, Mare of Easttown and American Horror Story actor Evan Peters as the titular IRL murderer. Dahmer's story is particularly gruesome, as the series conveyed; between 1978–1991, he murdered and dismembered 17 boys and men — and there's more to his crimes, including cannibalism. Yes, getting well-known faces to play horrific killers is also part of Netflix's true-crime trend so far — which, if you watched Zac Efron play Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile a few years back, you'll already know. Netflix might've stopped adding new Mindhunter episodes to our streaming queues, sadly, but the platform has served up everything from The Serpent and the Conversations with a Killer series to The Stranger and The Good Nurse since. Also included: fellow recent series The Watcher, also produced by Murphy, which is now getting a second season as well. Check out the trailer for DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story below: DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is available to stream via Netflix. We'll update you with release date's for Monster's second and third seasons when they're announced.
The Melbourne International Film Festival has been showcasing the best that cinema has to offer for seven decades now, but it has never hosted a fest like its upcoming 2021 event. Given that every year's festival heralds a fresh lineup filled with new big-screen gems, that's always true in a fashion; however, this is the first time that MIFF is going both physical and digital in a significant way. MIFF's just-announced full 2021 program boasts plenty of must-see movies, including opening night's previously revealed Australian standout The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson; Adam Driver-starring musical Annette, which screens straight from opening this year's Cannes Film Festival; and a festival-record 40 world premieres in total. It also offers multiple ways for audiences to watch its selection, including folks who aren't or can't make the trip to Melbourne. Accordingly, between Thursday, August 5–Sunday, August 22, Melburnians can head to a range of local cinemas — and from Saturday, August 14–Sunday, August 22, cinephiles all around the country can watch from home, too. Neither group will be short on options, although the in-person lineup is considerably bigger than the program of flicks that'll be available to watch on the festival's new online viewing platform, MIFF Play. In total, this year's fest spans 283 titles, including 199 features, 84 shorts and 10 virtual reality experiences, with 62 of those also available to watch digitally. MIFF's 2021 closing night pick is one of the films that movie buffs can choose to view in either setting. Directed by and starring Natalie Morales (The Little Things), and completely filmed via Zoom in 2020, Language Lessons is a platonic rom-com about a Spanish teacher (Morales) and her new student (Mark Duplass, Bombshell). It's also one of the big-name titles on the full lineup this year, alongside Memoria, which features Tilda Swinton in Cemetery of Splendour filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul's English-language debut; Bergman Island, the Tim Roth and Mia Wasikowska-starring latest title from Mia Hansen-Løve (Things to Come); No Sudden Move, Steven Soderbergh's crime flick with Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro and Jon Hamm; and Pig, which sees Nicolas Cage play a truffle hunter (yes, really). Also on the newly revealed complete bill: centrepiece gala selection Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), which is directed Questlove and looks back on the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969; Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, a documentary charting the late presenter and chef's life; and River, the latest musing on the planet we all call home by Sherpa director Jennifer Peedom. There's also Cow, which sees American Honey director Andrea Arnold explore the existence of a dairy cow; Street Gang: How We Hot to Sesame Street, about the beloved children's television staple; and Year of the Everlasting Storm, in which the aforementioned Weerasethakul is joined by six other filmmakers on an anthology about life under lockdown and the power of cinema. Festival attendees can similarly check out There Is No Evil, the searing 2020 Berlinale Golden Bear-winner which screens as part of a showcase of new Iranian cinemas; collaborative doco Those Left Waiting, which has been filmed by refugees around the world; music mockumentary The Nowhere Inn, starring Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney) and Annie Clark (St Vincent); In the Earth, the new film from Free Fire and High-Rise's Ben Wheatley, which steps into a world ravaged by a virus; and blistering thriller New Order, which delves into power and oppression in Mexico City. From the Australian contingent, Fist of Fury Noongar Daa dubs the Bruce Lee-starring Fist of Fury in an Aboriginal Australian language, and becomes the first feature to ever do so — while The Kids looks back on the seminal 90s film Kids, competitive swimming drama Streamline is based on Ian Thorpe's experiences, and Friends & Strangers is an Aussie slacker satire. On the must-see list, these newly revealed titles join the likes of Australian drama Nitram, about the lead up to the events in Port Arthur a quarter-century ago; Petit Mamam, the new film from Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Céline Sciamma; and tweet-to-screen comedy Zola — all of which were announced last month in the fest's first batch of titles. MIFF's physical venues for 2021 include Comedy Theatre, the Forum, RMIT Capitol Theatre, ACMI, Kino Cinemas, Hoyts Melbourne Central, Coburg Drive-In, The Astor, Palace Cinemas Pentridge, The Sun Theatre and Lido Cinemas — and, if you're wondering about the big move into digital as well, that follows 2020's online-only fest, which became MIFF's largest festival ever, audience-wise. The 2021 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 5–Sunday, August 22 at a variety of venues around Melbourne. For further details, visit the MIFF website.
UPDATE, June 10, 2021: Before the lockdown ends, the Victorian Government has changed the mask rules that'll come into effect from 11.59pm on Thursday, June 10. Under this change, which stems from updated public health advice, masks will still be mandatory outdoors. Usually when winter hits, it's tempting to spend more time at home to escape the cold. Melburnians haven't had any other option so far in 2021, with the city under lockdown since the end of May — first as part of week-long statewide stay-at-home conditions to combat Victoria's latest COVID-19 outbreak, and then during a further week of lockdown just in metropolitan Melbourne itself. Come 11.59pm on Thursday, June 10, the city's current stay-at-home stint will come to an end, with Acting Premier James Merlino advising today, Wednesday, June 9, that "significant steps" will be taken. So, from Friday, June 11, you'll be able to leave your house for whatever reason you like. As Melburnians are used to by now, though, some restrictions will be in place. In fact, the rules that'll apply once lockdown lifts are all very familiar. Firstly, the five reasons to leave the house will be scrapped — so you can head out for whatever reason you like. But, you can't venture too far, with ten-kilometre rule giving way to the 25-kilometre rule. Accordingly, travel to regional Victoria will remain off the cards, including over the upcoming long weekend. To exceed your 25-kilometre bubble, you'll need to be heading to work, education, caregiving or to get a vaccination. It's expected that this rule will only be in effect for a week, but further details will be provided next week. https://twitter.com/JamesMerlinoMP/status/1402444545082593281 Other changes coming into effect largely mirror the settings that have been in place in regional Victoria over the past week. You still won't be able to have anyone come over to your house, for instance, but you will be able to gather outdoors with up to ten people. Also, food and hospitality businesses will be able to open for seated service only — with a cap of 100 people per venue and a maximum of 50 people indoors. Retail stores can also reopen, with a density limit of one person per four square metres. Offices can welcome in 25 percent of their employees, too — or ten people at a time, whichever is greater. Religious gatherings and ceremonies can return with 50 people, weddings can have ten attendees and 50 mourners can go to funerals. And, while masks will still remain mandatory indoors, the rules are changing outdoors. You won't have to wear them outside, but only if you can maintain a 1.5-metre distance from other people. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1402398048232349698 Announcing the end of lockdown and the new rules that'll come into effect, Acting Premier Merlino said the government expects that "next Thursday night, that the original metro divisions will come down and we will be able to travel more freely around the state again." He also noted that the city will be hopefully able to further ease restrictions on venues. "We will continue to assess the data each day and provide more detail, more certainty, as soon as we can," he advised. Victoria now has 83 active COVID-19 cases, including just one new local case identified in the 24 hours to midnight last night. Melbourne's lockdown will end at 11.59pm on Thursday, June 10. For more information about the rules that'll be in place from that time, head to the Victorian Department of Health website. Top image: Visit Victoria.
If you've ever had a sneaky little go with some small person's Lego blocks once they're all tucked up in bed, Legoland sees you, tips you their hat… and raises you an adults-only night at its Melbourne Discovery Centre. With no children to get in the way (or outdo your creations), you'll be able to have free rein of Legoland to check out the 4D cinema and rides, take a factory tour, and build to your heart's content in the brick pits. Challenge yourself by taking on the master builder or a speed build and vie for the prizes up for grabs — and go full inner child mode, obviously. It all takes place from 6.30–9pm on Friday, February 7 — and BYO shameless excitement, taste for glory, and creativity to enter the model of the month competition. It'll be a fierce one.
Fresh from his stint in the jungle on I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here, TV and radio personality Nazeem Hussain is taking the stage at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his new show Public Frenemy. As he did time and time again in his brilliant, Logie-nominated sketch series Legally Brown, expect Hussain to carve up social prejudices, shatter expectations and break down in frank, funny terms his "love/not-so-love relationship" with modern day Australia.
Enjoying dinner and a show is a time-honoured theatregoing tradition, but when spring arrives in the Victorian capital in 2024, one menu item mightn't prove so popular. If you've seen Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on the stage before, or caught the 2007 Tim Burton (Wednesday)-directed movie adaptation, then you'll know which dish to avoid when it comes to Arts Centre Melbourne. In this Steven Sondheim-penned musical thriller, meat pies are packed with quite the unwanted ingredients. This murderous tale of slitting throats, then stuffing body parts into baked pastries will play the venue from Saturday, September 14–Saturday, September 21, in a production by the Victorian Opera and New Zealand Opera. Whether you're keen for your first date with music theatre's iconic villain and his partner-in-crime Mrs Lovett, or you've seen see it before and can't wait to repeat the feat again, expect a killer show. Ben Mingay (Shrek the Musical, Frayed, Pirates of Penzance, Packed to the Rafters) is taking up the razor and polishing people off as the titular Sweeney, while Antoinette Halloran (Mary and Max, Macbeth, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll) will join him as Lovett. The production also includes the Victorian Opera Chamber Orchestra helping to perform classic tracks such as 'No Place Like London', 'The Ballad Of Sweeney' and the always-fitting 'The Worst Pies in London'. Victorian Opera Artistic Director Stuart Maunder will direct this Melbourne season of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. "I love this piece. The terror, the thrills. For all its melodrama, blood and gore, this masterpiece of music theatre tells a universal human story; revenge, obsession, and lust, yes — but also pain, yearning and even love. This is Sondheim at his most powerful, moving and terrifying. And what a cast, I am in awe," he advises. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street doesn't just date back to the late, great Sondheim's Tony-winning Broadway and West End smash. Before that, it was a play in 1973 — and it had hit stages, screens and pages, prior, too. The homicidal barber first appeared in the 19th century, in 1846–47 penny dreadful serial The String of Pearls: A Romance, and has just kept slashing his way through popular culture since, novels, ballets, radio plays, comics and TV shows included. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street will play Arts Centre Melbourne from Saturday, September 14–Saturday, September 21, 2024. Head to the Victorian Opera website for further details and tickets. Images: Daniel Boud.
Let's face it, you can't buy a whole lot for 50 cents in 2022. But on one day — Wednesday, April 6 to be exact — you can consider that little dodecagonal coin your best friend. That's all you'll need to grab a cheeseburger at McDonald's on that date, with the fast-food giant treating the whole country to 50-cent burgs. If this sounds familiar, that's because Macca's has dished up this deal a few times now. On this current occasion, which coincides with the launch of McDonald's new chicken range, there are 350,000 50-cent cheeseburgers available Australia-wide. So, you'll want to get in early to get this classic combo for pocket change — beef, bun, onion, pickles, ketchup, cheese and all — because that cheap price will apply on a first-in, first-served basis. To claim your 50-cent burger, you'll first need to download the MyMacca's app via the Apple Store or Google Play. Then, log on, check the My Rewards section and boom — Ronald's your uncle. Unfortunately, there's a limit of one 50-cent cheeseburger per customer, which probably isn't enough to make a meal of. But we're sure there are a few other Macca's menu items that might tempt your tastebuds while you're there. Because you have to use the MyMacca's app, you'll only be able to get your cheap burg via takeaway, drive-thru or in-store — not through McDelivery. McDonald's 350,000 50-cent cheeseburgers are available on Wednesday, April 6 until sold out via the MyMacca's app.
A terrifying advertisement for the Kimberly Peirce remake of Carrie has gone viral, garnering nearly 10 million views since Monday. The ad shows a young girl in a coffee shop telekinetically tearing the joint apart and scaring the living daylights out of customers. The video comes courtesy of Thinkmodo, an agency that has specialised in viral marketing and prankvertising. This developing form of marketing involves "upping the ante in almost every imaginable way", and this Candid Camera-esque advertisement does exactly that. Actors and stunt people fill a small, faux cafe rigged with all manner of pulleys, gears and ropes. Regular folk then wander in off the street for a coffee or sesame bagel and become unsuspecting extras in a horror film of their own. Like all good viral ads, the actual advertisement is hidden until the very end, and, like all good internet videos, there's a shameful dose of cathartic glee to be had. The Carrie film, starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore, is due in Australian cinemas on November 28. https://youtube.com/watch?v=VlOxlSOr3_M
When Disney announced that it was jumping on the streaming bandwagon via its very own platform, it unsurprisingly announced a number of new Marvel series specifically made for the small screen. None are yet to arrive on Disney+ so far, following the service's launch late in 2019 — but that hasn't stopped the Mouse House adding another high-profile show to its upcoming roster. Later this year, WandaVision — focusing on Avengers Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) — will drop. At some point in the future, viewers will also be able to watch The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, about Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie), while Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston, was always slated for 2021. Also in the works are Hawkeye, Ms Marvel, Moon Knight and She-Hulk. And, as Variety reports, now joining them at a yet-to-be-revealed date is a show about Nick Fury. Yes, that means that Samuel L Jackson looks set to score his own Marvel series. At this stage, details are scarce — other than the fact that Jackson will star, and Kyle Bradstreet (Mr Robot) will write and executive produce. But if you've been craving more time with Fury, who usually only pops up as a supporting player, this'll be the news you've been waiting for. Fury, and therefore Jackson, did appear in two episodes of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show in 2013 and 2014, so this won't be the character's first small-screen outing. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Fury has popped up in 11 of its 23 films to-date, after first showing up in 2008's Iron Man. He has since featured in everything from Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger to multiple Avengers films, as well as 2019's Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home. If you need a refresher about one of the character's recent big-screen appearances, check out the Captain Marvel trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1BCujX3pw8 Via Variety. Top image: Marvel's The Avengers. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Photo: Zade Rosenthal. © 2011 MVLFFLLC. TM & © 2011 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
Outside of Melbourne, Bendigo offers one of the richest, liveliest, best-supported art scenes in Victoria — if not Australia. Over the past few years, artists, musicians and writers have flocked to the city, in pursuit of lower rents, bigger spaces, stunning historical buildings and countryside locales. The exodus has inspired several major festivals, including the Bendigo Writers Festival, Victoria's incarnation of Groovin' The Moo and, as of September 2018, the inaugural White Night Bendigo. And as is often the case, good coffee and delicious eats have followed hot on the culture scene's heels. So, if you've been looking for an excuse to escape the city, look no more. We've partnered with Mitsubishi, in celebration of its new Eclipse Cross, to bring you the best things to do in Bendigo on your next weekend escape. Being just a 90 minutes' drive north of Melbourne, it's a small effort for a large return. [caption id="attachment_677150" align="alignnone" width="1280"] White Night.[/caption] SEE AND DO To experience White Night taking over Bendigo for the first time ever, plan your visit for Saturday, September 1. Originating in Paris in 2002, this festival has gone on to illuminate more than 20 cities across the globe each year. That includes Melbourne since 2013 and Ballarat since 2017. Expect to see Bendigo's magnificent architecture, laneways, parks and trams transform into a glowing wonderland of bright lights and installations from 7pm–2am. Headlining the program is Debra Goldsmith's Chandeliers, which will transform Dudley House into a mini Versailles using spectacular chandeliers made from recycled plastic items. Also on the bill, Head in the Clouds — a piece by artist Cameron Ross and illustrator-author Ben Sanders — will transport you to a faraway land of puffy cumulus formations. At the Capitol Theatre, Guerrilla Opera will combine live performance and light, where opera singers will perform on the steps as projections dance in the background. And inside the theatre, you can get a taste of the White Night film festival. [caption id="attachment_669921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bendigo Art Gallery.[/caption] Along with White Night, Bendigo's many galleries beckon. The classic is the Bendigo Art Gallery. Established in 1887, the gallery is one of Australia's oldest (and biggest) regional art institutions. Until Sunday, September 16, explore Another Day in Paradise: a moving post-humous exhibition by Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran, who was executed by order of the Indonesian Government in April 2015. Bendigo Art Gallery is just one stop to make while you're in the View Street Arts Precinct, which features a thriving collection of art spaces, theatres and boutiques. Beyond the confines of four walls, Bendigo's artists have been busy painting murals and building sculptures. Enter Chancery Lane's Gaudi-inspired black gates created by local artist Yvonne George. Beyond the gates, you'll find a world of street art, specialty coffee, craft brews and independent designers. Then, wander through Pennyweight Walk's open-air gallery, where several new commissions are on the boil. Also worth a peek is the Bendigo Living Arts Space, for contemporary exhibitions by emerging and established artists, and the Bendigo Pottery, where ceramicists have been at the wheel for more than 150 years. Watch a demo in action or get your hands dirty making your own pot for just $20. [caption id="attachment_682560" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cortille.[/caption] EAT There are a bunch of excellent cafes around Bendigo, brewing beans from both local roasteries and those in the big smoke. Start at Old Green Bean, a friendly micro-roastery and cafe housed in an old-school dancehall. Here you can dig into tasty, nutritious bites, such as spicy roast mushrooms on sourdough with a poached egg, ricotta, truffle, rocket and parmesan. Take a short wander out the back to find a vintage clothing shop and pick yourself up something nice. Another welcoming spot is The Good Loaf, a bakery and cafe set in a heritage-listed building in the heart of the CBD. For a lighter brekkie, opt for the toasted bread board, which gives you a choice of any of the bakery's breads (you'll also get 20% off on a loaf of bread to save for later); otherwise, try one of the more substantial dishes based around homemade baked goods, such as brioche french toast with berry compote, vanilla bean mascarpone and maple syrup. In Cortille's retro caravan, Axil Coffee comes served alongside seasonal dishes, including a handful of decadent waffles, and at Percy and Percy, linger over colourful breakfast dishes like the breakfast board featuring granola with yoghurt and berries, avocado and a poached egg and bacon on toast with hollandaise. Vegetarians should look to the breakfast bowl packed with black quinoa, roasted broccoli, cauliflower, raisins, smokey tomato relish, avocado, poached egg, radish and herbs. [caption id="attachment_682125" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Woodhouse.[/caption] Come evening, the aromas wafting from The Woodhouse's redgum chargrill will be hard to ignore. Among the dark timbers and exposed brickwork of this hideaway, owner-chef Paul Pitcher elicits the richest, smokiest flavours out of some of the best steak in Victoria — from Cohuna's wagyu to Inglewood's dry-aged eye fillet. At Mr Beebe's, you'll be feasting on more quality produce via creative charcuterie, such as hickory-smoked duck breast with cumquat marmalade, and hefty mains, including lamb shoulder with provencal vegetables and parmesan polenta. If you've cash to splash, book a table at the hatted Masons of Bendigo for plates of locally sourced eats like the McIvor Farm Foods Berkshire pork belly with apple pudding, morcilla, black garlic, fennel and crackle pinwheel. Do be tempted by the Roaming Menu, which relieves you of the decision-making process and serves you a bunch of dishes selected by owner-chefs Nick and Sonia Anthony. [caption id="attachment_680483" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Balfour room in Bishops Court.[/caption] STAY The fact that so much of Bendigo was built in the 19th century (thanks to that gold rush wealth) means that the Airbnb offerings are teeming with cute Victorian cottages you can have entirely to yourself. To stay close to the CBD with a bunch of friends, book this cosy three-bedder or the luxurious Harper House. Alternatively, experience the gold rush era, mansion-style at Bishops Court, built in 1876. In the Balfour room, you'll be immersed in red velvet and antique furnishings, while lazing about in a four-poster bed in front a crackling fire — when you're not wandering around picturesque gardens or trying your hand at croquet, that is. [caption id="attachment_669918" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Quest Schaller Art Series Hotel in Bendigo.[/caption] For 21st-century sleeps, check out the spick-and-span Quest Schaller Hotel. Here, you can count on a spacious and contemporary room inspired by the artworks of Mark Schaller, with a queen-sized bed, balcony, expansive windows and mod cons, including a TV, coffee machine and free wifi. Where to next? Make the most of every week with Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and navigate to your next destination here.
If there's a speed record for greenlighting a new television series, the ABC's decision to make A Dog's World with Tony Armstrong a reality must be right up there. Saying no couldn't have even been an option, because it's just such an innately winning formula. Former AFL player turned ABC News Breakfast sports presenter Armstrong has proven an enormous hit for the national broadcaster since joining in mid-2020 — including when he's accidentally talking about bulging dicks — and everyone loves watching cute canines. Now streaming on ABC iView, as well as airing on ABC, the show that results is exactly what viewers expect — Armstrong fans and dog lovers alike. The former chats through exactly why the four-legged creatures have become humanity's best friend, and how and when, and is occasionally seen on-screen with an array of adorable puppers. Experts on all things pooch lend their commentary, research and general thoughts, too, and barking critters are rarely far from the screen. Across its three parts, the series isn't lacking in informative bite. The first episode bounds through the affinity that humans have found with dogs, and vice versa — including contemplating how dogs evolved, what separates them from wolves now, and how they react to human emotions. Then, in the second instalment, A Dog's World with Tony Armstrong focuses on how canines sense their way through the world, and what type of perspective that gives them. Finally, in part three, pooch happiness and wellbeing is in the spotlight. If you've ever wondered why your pet pupper does what it does — and how it gets you to do what it wants, too — prepare to find out. That wide-eyed look that every dog gives when it's after something, knowing that we're all defenceless against it: yes, the science behind that, including the muscles that make it happen, earn the show's attention. Providing more than just endearing canine footage was always the program's aim, as Armstrong explained when the ABC dropped the first trailer. "When I was approached about the possibility of being involved in A Dog's World, I don't even think I got to the end of the email before I was agreeing to take part," he said. "It was amazing being involved in the project, I learned a lot and I hope everyone who watches enjoys it as much as we enjoyed making it!" It's been a great couple of years for getting your dog fix via a screen, whether you're living vicariously through your viewing because you don't have a barking bestie of your own or you simply (and understandably) believe that there's no such thing as too many dogs. Netflix already gave us two seasons of the docuseries Dogs, recent big-screen release Stray spent time with puppers in Istanbul, Channing Tatum is currently in cinemas road-tripping across the US with a dog and there's even a whole streaming platform made for woofers — because as every pooch owner knows, they like to watch TV, too. Only A Dog's World enlists Armstrong to explore the world of canines, though. Check out the trailer for A Dog's World with Tony Armstrong below: A Dog's World with Tony Armstrong is now available to watch via ABC iView.
UPDATE, FEBRUARY 12 — 12.44pm: The Victorian Government has now classified all of Terminal 4, Melbourne Airport as a Tier 1 exposure site. Anyone who was at Terminal 4 between 4.45am–2pm on Tuesday, February 9 must isolate immediately, get tested and remain isolated for 14 days. As Melbourne's Holiday Inn COVID-19 cluster continues to grow, with 13 cases linked to the outbreak as of 11pm on Thursday, February 11, more sites continue to be added to the list of exposure sites. Five new locally acquired cases were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of active cases to 19, with the list of venues visited by a positive case now sitting at 30. One venue added to the exposure site list as of last night is Brunetti, Terminal 4, Melbourne Airport. The airport cafe was visited by a positive case on Tuesday, February 9 between 4.45am–1.15pm — yes, eight hours. This venue is classified as 'Tier 1', which means anyone who visited the venue during the designated times is required to immediately isolate, get a test and remain isolated for 14 days, regardless of the test result. Other exposure sites that have recently been added to the Tier 1 list include Commonwealth Bank, Glen Waverley between 1.30pm and 2.15pm and HSBC Bank, Glen Waverley between 2.15–3.30pm, both on Tuesday, February 9. One location has also been added to the Tier 2 exposure site list. Anyone who visited the Sunbury Shopping Centre between 3.40–4.30pm on Friday, February 5 is required to get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1359858045526761473 You can find the full list of exposure sites at the Victorian Government Department of Health website. For those looking to get tested, a new drive-thru testing site has opened in Sunbury at the former Masters carpark on the corner of Vineyard Road and McDougall Road. You can find a list of testing sites including regularly updated waiting times here. Victoria had previously been 28 days without any new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, before a hotel quarantine worker at the Grand Hyatt Hotel tested positive to the virus on Wednesday, February 3. Just four days later, a second hotel quarantine worker, this time at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport also tested positive. For further details on the latest exposure sites and updated public health advice, see the Department of Health and Human Services website.
As our fear of global warming intensifies, major cities are coming up with all kinds of piecemeal solutions, from solar-powered bridges to train-powered heating systems. But always in our minds nags the persistent question, 'Will it all prove to be too little, too late?' So, a New York-based research group by the name of Terreform has taken matters further. They've envisioned the city as it would be, were every last block — from Manhattan to The Bronx — self-sustaining. In this green paradise, 147th Street would transmogrify into an urban farming block, Amsterdam Avenue would be free of cars and reclaimed rooftops would each provide food enough for 12,000 individuals. There are even plans for meat production towers, where chickens would range freely (sort of) on outdoor terraces. Terreform put six years of research into the project, which they've named 'New York (Steady) State'. If every detail were to be executed, it'd be possible for New York's citizens to meet every one of their needs without stepping (or trading) outside of the city's geographical boundaries. Food, water, waste disposal, air quality, climate regulation, construction, manufacturing and construction would all be taken care of. Sounds an awful lot better than slowly roasting while watching our coastal cities (Manhattan included) drown. Via PSFK.
If you have dreams bubbling away of swanning about on the French Riviera and downing cocktails as a gentle wind caresses you, and then an irresistible French person arrives and sweeps you off your feet, we've got good news for you. Well, on the first bit — we can't control the weather or your love life, unfortunately. Grey Goose, purveyors of very fine vodka, have whipped up a very European-style summer pop-up for you: the Fountain of Goose. For five days this December, a white marble fountain will be set up in Melbourne's Federation Square, and it's going to be offering more than just a beautiful summer aesthetic. It'll be serving up complimentary vodka, lime and soda mini-cocktails — a classic, summery and simple concoction that requires the best quality ingredients, starting with the vodka. At the bar, you can also catch a glimpse at Grey Goose's collaboration with French fashion label Maison Labiche for its limited-edition 'Riviera' bottle. Plus, at the pop-up, you'll enjoy spontaneous entertainment and other experiences. You'll also be able to pick up a specialty cocktail coupon which you can redeem at Madame Brussels, Ludlow Bar & Dining Room or Spice Market to keep the good summer vibes going. The Fountain of Goose pop-up bar will be open from Saturday, December 7 through Wednesday, December 11. It'll be open from 4–8pm on Saturday and Sunday and from 3–7pm on Monday—Wednesday.
If you've been struggling to defeat the winter blues, here's a little helping hand. And it won't cost you a cent. From October until the mid-November, Serotonin Eatery — an eatery and exercise centre in Burnley — is offering free exercise classes twice a week, every week. Head along to Serotonin Eatery at 7am on a Wednesday or Thursday (or both) and get ready to move your body. The 60-minute workout involved stretching, cardio and strength work and is suitable for all levels of fitness. All you need are runners and a water bottle. While you're at it, you can score a complimentary session with Serotonin's nutritionist, who'll discuss how your eating patterns could be affecting your mood. If you've time to spare afterwards, hang around for a healthy brekkie. There'll be 20 free classes all in all. Should you make it to every single one, you could save yourself $2400 in fees you'd otherwise be paying. Online registration, which you can do over here, is essential. Serotonin's free exercise classes kick off on Wednesday, October, 10 and wrap-up on Thursday, December 13.
Robert Reid's The Joy of Text, directed here by Peita Collard, is meant to be punny. It straight-up references that 1970s classic and explores another radical, albeit fantastical text called The Illusion of Consent — a provocative novel that is being considered for the year 12 syllabus within the play. The four central characters are primed by the performance's focus on a hypothetical story to mar distinctions between truth and fiction. Danny (Colin Craig) is a smart but vindictive teenager. Flabbergasted by his spunky young teacher's refusal to see his assignment on satire as anything other than a smartass send-up of the system, Danny broods on how best to get his own back. What better way than intertextualising, aka intersextualising, his way through his next oral assignment? There's an immediate, juicy twist: Danny’s English teacher has her own relationship with the novel and some rather personal ideas about what constitutes appropriate behaviour between students and teachers. Inspired by famous literary hoaxes, The Joy of Text is packed with wordy dialogue and cultural references. Set designer Rob Sowinski has incorporated two onstage screens to provide intellectual 'footnotes' and Danny's peers are brought into context via large projection screen. Stylistically, the use of multimedia works better in some scenes than others, as at times the stage is distractingly busy. However, by the time Danny films the audience with a hand-held camera, effectively breaking the fourth wall, his explanation of satire is both pithy and poignant. True to its titillating title, The Joy of Text is comedy with an edge — more about literary allusions than laugh-out-loud moments. Overall, it is intelligent and interesting with a focus on clever dialogue, making it enjoyable viewing for big kids who like their schoolroom drama with a serious side of satire.
Attic Erratic have just wrapped their first show of this year’s Melbourne Fringe, with The City They Burned playing to packed-out houses (and bulging waiting lists) for the last three weeks. Tripped looks like a slightly more light-hearted offering than Fleur Kilpatrick’s searing update of Sodom and Gomorrah, but it’s a comedy with the same kind of darkness at its core. Directed by the company’s joint Artistic Director Celeste Cody, Nick Musgrove’s Tripped sets an ambitious target — a darkly-humoured treatment of racial prejudice that sees its two protagonists, Norm and Ahmed, thrash out their differences (and similarities) in a minefield. We’re hanging out to see whether Cody and Musgrove can walk the tightrope between the work’s heavy material and its mordant, comic sensibilities. But, now that the company have well and truly established themselves as one of the city’s leading independent companies, we’re sure they can pull it off. After all, what better time for a play that navigates the monstrous waters of diversity and suspicion to arrive in Melbourne? Image: Sarah Walker
The historic Queen Victoria Market precinct is set to score a new community library, adding to the suite of improvements the multifaceted site will welcome in coming years. The City of Melbourne approved the three-storey library earlier this week, which will form part of the $70 million Munro community hub. It's not just any stuffy old neighbourhood library, either. The proposed facility clocks in at around 3100 square metres, boasting an auditorium, community spaces, meeting rooms, a commercial kitchen and a rooftop terrace "for outdoor reading and activities". All spaces and programs are set to be designed in close consultation with First Nations peoples as well. It's hoped the new addition will boost visitor numbers to the evolving precinct while improving library access for locals and residents. "We're expecting 24,000 new residents in the area by 2040, so we want to provide additional community facilities to meet the needs of a growing population," Lord Mayor Sally Capp said in a statement. The new facility will join the existing City of Melbourne library network as a sibling to the likes of Flinders Lane's City Library, Library at the Dock, and the Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre. The council hopes the new library could open as soon as 2023. Making up a significant part of the ongoing Queen Victoria Market renewal project, the $450 million Munro Development will play host to a community hub featuring family services, shared work spaces and affordable housing units in addition to the new library. A series of retail outlets, a boutique hotel and residential apartments are also set to feature in the completed development. Further upgrades to the Queen Victoria Market's historic sheds and food hall were announced earlier this year, while work on a new pop-up park for the precinct is already underway. The City of Melbourne's new library has been approved for construction within the Munro Development, at 91–111 Therry Street, Melbourne.
Just in case social media didn't already provide us with sufficient scope to project our mood at unwitting strangers, three German artists have provided another, even more public avenue through the 'Public Face'. Their interactive art installation reflects the mood of the city in which it stands with a giant electric emoticon. Hidden cameras at ground level capture the facial expressions of passers-by to measure the general vibe at any given time, and relay it back to the emoticon tower. So long as there are no manic-depressives in the crowd or cause for any emotion beyond happy, sad, or indifferent, the giant smiley will provide an accurate public vibe-o-meter, constantly updating itself to match the collective mood. There are unverified rumours that the Public Face will do the rounds in a variety of cities across the globe in 2012, but this may not be good news for everyone. The smiley's stint atop a lighthouse on Bavaria's Lindau Island last year revealed that the town could do with a little more cheer, where the giant face spent a lot of time being indifferent and was rather reluctant to flash any pearly whites. How to bring the mood of a city down even lower? Show the people how depressed they already are. The Public Face is a quirky piece of interactive art, taking a playful spin on the distillation of emotion that occurs when relationships go digital. [Via Archetizer]
How many times can James Cameron break his own record? How many shades of blue can shimmer across the screen in one movie? Will Avatar's 13-years-later first sequel also dazzle the Oscars, as its predecessor did? Will Avatar: The Way of Water influence everything that comes after it, special effects-wise, also as the initial flick did, too? They're just some of the questions that the mere existence of this Avatar follow-up sparks. Here's another: will you get Eiffel 65's 1998 hit 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' stuck in your head, even though it surely isn't in the film? Audiences will start finding out the answers to these queries in mid-December, when Avatar: The Way of Water hits cinemas worldwide — and Cameron has dropped a full trailer for the movie in the interim. This is Avatar: The Way of Water's second sneak peek, following an earlier look back in May — but this is one of those films that you might only truly believe exists once you're sat in a theatre watching it, because it has been in the works for that long. If you saw Cameron's initial entry in this sci-fi franchise back in 2009, you'll undoubtedly be buying a ticket. Indeed, given that the original Avatar quickly became the highest-grossing picture of all time — a record this one will try to break — it's highly likely that you did and will. Amid blue-hued CGI-filled waters and skies, and surrounded by the franchise's blue-toned Na'vi people, Avatar: The Way of Water steps back into the story of the Sully family, aka Jake (Sam Worthington, Fires), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana, The Adam Project) and their children, on the habitable moon Pandora. This time around, staying safe and alive remains a focus, as trouble keeps finding the Sullys, battles mount and striving to keep together also requires their focus. Also set to feature: Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters: Afterlife), Stephen Lang (Don't Breathe 2), Cliff Curtis (Reminiscence), Joel David Moore (Bones), CCH Pounder (Godzilla: King of the Monsters), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown) and Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement. If the two sneak peeks so far have you excited about re-entering Avatar's blue-heavy world, get ready for more where that came from. A third movie is due in 2024, a fourth in 2026 and a fifth in 2028. Check out the latest Avatar: The Way of Water trailer below: Avatar: The Way of Water releases in cinemas Down Under on December 15. Images: Photos courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Wrapping up high school with the party to end all parties is a rite of passage. Watching movies about the experience has become one as well. Most of their classmates would've pegged Booksmart's Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) for preferring the latter over the former — but, on the night before graduation, after buckling down, studying hard and getting great grades for their entire lives, these two besties are determined to treat themselves to one stereotypically OTT night out before heading off to college. Making her directorial debut, actor-turned-filmmaker Olivia Wilde might have chosen a familiar narrative; however, absolutely nothing about this affectionate and engaging instant-classic teen flick ever feels routine. That includes the genuine rapport between its delightful stars as their characters let loose, and learn plenty about each other and themselves across the course of the wild evening.
Who says the weekend is the only time to do activities other than sitting at a desk? Not us. Don't underestimate the twilight hours of your weekdays — there's so much happening each night of the week so you should have no trouble making plans that aren't emailing clients outside of work hours. From gallery nights to boozy craft sessions to night markets, you can go out straight from work every night of the week if you so wish. So why not engage with something tangible, and see what your city has to offer after dark? In partnership with Hahn, we've compiled a list for when you've got restless feet and a soul hungry for some culture. [caption id="attachment_663766" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Art Gallery of NSW.[/caption] SNEAK INTO AN ART GALLERY AT NIGHT No longer do you need to contend with the Saturday morning crowds at your local art gallery, as more are staying open for longer hours and — in news particularly good for you — at night. After-dark sessions at galleries like the NGV in Melbourne or the MCA in Sydney are increasingly popular and have a different vibe to your headache-inducing Saturday morning experiences. There's a bar-like buzz, more like-minded people, little to no children running around, and often DJs and beers on offer. So why wouldn't you get your art fix at night? Saturday morning gallery drinking does tend to be frowned upon, after all. Where? In Melbourne, Buxton Contemporary is open late on Thursdays and often has free opening parties for exhibitions, and the NGV has a constant stream of special events on in the evenings, such as its Friday Nights series. Sydney side, both the Art Gallery of NSW and the MCA are open until 10pm and 9pm (respectively) on Wednesdays, with the latter holding its ARTBAR event on the last Friday night of each month. In Queensland, GOMA stays open late on Fridays when there's a big exhibition on, and the Institute of Modern Art holds a party on the first Thursday of every month. [caption id="attachment_610655" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Triffid.[/caption] SEE SOME FREE LIVE MUSIC If you're already headed somewhere for a pub feed, consider sticking around and letting some live music warm the cockles of your heart, too; 'Wonderwall' covers are few and far between now, and you can rest assured you'll probably find someone on the mic with some actual talent. There's a bounty of venues that provide free live music in all the major cities, and the only tricky bit is picking which one you want to give a crack. Getting a nice folky soundtrack to your parma and pint has never been so easy and you'll find yourself even praising the ukulele player because you're feeling so cosy and cultured. Where? To get you started, try The Yarra Hotel in Abbotsford in Melbourne, Different Drummer in Sydney's Glebe or The Triffid in Newstead, Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_653238" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud.[/caption] MAKE YOUR OWN MEAL AT A NIGHT MARKET Why have one thing for dinner when you can have five things instead? Albeit generally smaller bites, the best bit about night markets is that you can roll your way around having a very intense snacktime and, before you know it, all your little bites transform into one big meal and you're full. Nothing says 'culture' like a bellyful of hot sugary doughnut washed down with a few beers. Where? Hawker 88 Night Market at Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, Sydney's Chinatown Night Markets, and the Boundary Street Night Market in Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_571310" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Cork and Chroma.[/caption] BYO BEERS TO A PAINTING CLASS If you thought art was not for the likes of you to create, think again. Some of our best work comes out when we've had a drink or two, so consider combining both and giving a BYO painting session a go. An art class is long a very fruitful passage to creating mini masterpieces, and one where you can bring your own bottles of plonk to inspire greatness out of your paintbrush is very civilised indeed. But don't worry — there are instructions and an artist will take you through the actual painting class so it isn't all left up to your novice hands. You just have to organise what you'll be drinking. Where? Cork & Chroma has studios in Collingwood in Melbourne, Surry Hills in Sydney and South Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_529488" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Astor by Charlie Kinross Photography.[/caption] WATCH A CLASSIC FILM Heading out after work to watch the latest blockbuster like Crazy Rich Asians is all well and good (because it's a cracker), but sometimes you want to put aside the Hollywood hits for something more subtle. At those times, try watching a classic film at one of the many cinemas that show them on the reg. Melbourne's Astor Theatre and Sydney's Golden Age are both famous for hosting throwback sessions of classic films and often marathons, too. Use those few precious hours after work to invest in your cultural movie capital by making yourself watch Ben-Hur — because when else are you going to do it? Reality TV be damned — these will make for much better chat around the coffee machine at work the next day. Where? The Astor Theatre in Melbourne, Golden Age Cinema and Bar in Sydney, or Metro Arts in Brisbane. Start planning your mid-week itinerary so you can fit some culture — and a Hahn or two — in before the weekend. Top image: MCA Artbar by Leslie Liu.
Sustainability, maze-like furniture stores and music streaming services are just a few of the things Sweden does better than everybody else. And now, stamps can safely be added to that list. To celebrate the fact that Sweden are pretty darn good at churning out pop musicians, Swedish postal service PostNord have dedicated their next stamp series to some of the best Swedish purveyors of pop. The famous faces include the iconic artist Robyn, folk duo Klara and Johana Söderberg from First Aid Kit, soul singer Seinabo Sey, DJ and producer Avicii and Max Martin, the brain behind at least one of your late-night karaoke faves. And no ABBA, phew. Swedish artist Jenny Mörtsell is responsible for the beautiful illustrations pictured below, which were created from original photos by Alex Wessley, Andreas Larsson, Kirstoffer Berg, Johannes Helje and Mikael Dahl. So how does our good ole national postal service compare? Australia's Stamp Advisory Committee (yes, it's an actual thing) have been celebrating living legends on stamps since 1997 and last year, the Australian Legend series celebrated home-grown musos like Paul Kelly, INXS, The Seekers, Kylie Minogue and others. Not too bad. Maybe with a bit more creativity and by branching out to artists who are, er, born in more recent decades perhaps, we could reach Swedish stamp levels, one day. Just sayin', Australia Post. The pop musician stamps will be available to lick and stick on postal goods in Sweden on January 15. Just enough time to find a Swedish pen pal. Via Pitchfork.
When Sydney scored an expansive coastal walk spanning from Bondi to Manly, it was a huge addition to the city, particularly if you like putting one foot in front of the other while soaking in stellar waterside sights. Soon, you'll have another option, too: a new 91-kilometre shared — and continuous — pathway running from the Sydney Opera House to Parramatta. The idea was first proposed by The McKell Institute, a think tank aligned with Labor, back in 2020. The same year, it was adopted by by then-New South Wales Treasurer and now-Premier Dominic Perrottet, with $500,000 funded in the 2020-21 NSW budget to explore moving ahead. Now, current Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes have confirmed that the walkway is in the works — and yes, it's as huge as it sounds. The NSW Government will put $60 million towards the pathway, which has been dubbed the Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link, and will be able to be used by both pedestrians and cyclists. It'll start by the harbour and end at Parramatta Park — or vice versa, depending on which direction you're heading. In the process, it'll become one of the city's longest transport connections, spanning a whopping 18 suburbs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rob Stokes MP (@robstokesmp) Some existing pathways will be included in the overall track, but others will need to be built. Indeed, part of the funds will go towards working out how to make currently inaccessible foreshore sections accessible. That new stack of cash for the Foreshore Link will be committed in the 2022-23 budget, although exactly when you'll be able to get moseying hasn't yet been revealed. Also included in that $60 million: design work, building on the initial feasibility study and prioritising works in consultation with councils. Whenever it comes to fruition, stunning views will be a big feature, naturally. "This pathway will take in some of our most spectacular sights and unlock the incredible lifestyle and accessibility opportunities the route offers for the benefit of locals and visitors," said Kean, announcing the news. "Since 1811. our city's prosperity has been propelled by road and rail connections between the settlements of Sydney and Parramatta. This new connection will allow walking and cycling trips to proliferate, making lives easier, healthier and more enjoyable for locals, commuters and visitors for centuries to come," added Stokes. For more information about the Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link, head to the NSW Government website.
In great news for your bank account and your wanderlust alike, Australia will soon be home to a new low-cost airline, with Bonza slated to fly 27 routes between 17 destinations around the country when it takes to the skies. In great news for your tastebuds, and for local producers as well, the carrier is also set to throw Aussie foods and brews some love when it does start soaring through the heavens. Although exactly when Bonza will commence its flights is yet to be revealed, those trips will come with a completely homegrown in-flight menu. The airline has announced that its entire culinary lineup will hero Australian items — all 40-plus products — including many made by Aussie small businesses. Travellers can look forward to tucking into banana bread waffles and a snag in a bag, plus fava beans by Happy Snack Company, Mildura Chocolate Company's giant chocolate freckles and bikkies by Aussie Biscuits. The Handmade Food Co, Silver Tongue Foods and Mama Kaz will also be keeping passengers' appetites sated, including via sandwiches, crackers and muffins. Plus, folks after vegan and vegetarian options can expect vegan sandwiches, brownies, Chappy's Snacks chips and AmazeBalls Popped Cheese from Ashgrove Cheese. Drinks-wise, there'll be a focus on Aussie craft beer, including tipples by Your Mates Brewing Co, Ballistic Beer Co and Spinifex Brewing Company. Fancy a brew without the booze? Heaps Normal Quiet XPA will also be on the menu. Back to the hard stuff, Sirromet Wines is taking care of the vino — red, white, rosé and sparkling all included — while Sunshine & Sons is gin, vodka and rum duty. And if you're looking for a coffee instead, Groundskeeper Willie's cold-drop coffee in a can will onboard. For soft drinks, Saxby's cola, lemonade and sugar-free ginger beer will be on offer. In addition to supporting local, many of Bonza's chosen food and beverage suppliers boast significant social and environmental efforts. Ballistic donates to helping injured turtles in the Whitsundays, a portion of Spinifex's profits go to veterans' mental health, Mildura Chocolate Company invests its profits into training and employment opportunities for people with disability or disadvantage, and Aussie Biscuits is a social enterprise that employs people with disability, for instance. Whatever looks set to satisfy your hunger, it won't come to you via a catering trolley. Instead, Bonza's cabin staff will be assigned seat rows to look after on each flight. So, you'll order and pay via the app, then have whatever you've selected brought to your seat. And, you can make multiple purchases throughout your trip rather than having to wait for the trolley to get to you — which is great news if you're sitting in the last row. When it hits the air, the airline will service locations such as Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville and the Whitsundays in Queensland; Albury, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle and Port Macquarie in New South Wales; and Melbourne, Avalon and Mildura in Victoria — with a big focus on regional destinations. Launching with the backing of US private investment firm 777 Partners, which also has a hand in Canada's Flair Airlines and the Southeast Asian-based Value Alliance, Bonza will also base its headquarters on the Sunshine Coast, too. And yes, a number of its food and drink suppliers hail from the region. Bonza doesn't yet have a launch date — we'll update you when one is announced. For more information, head to the airline's website. And for its full list of routes, you'll need to download the airline's app for Android and iOS.
Visiting the Louvre art gallery in Paris is an exciting experience. Battling the crowds to get a glance of Venus de Milo is exciting. Copping an elbow to the face as you attempt to take a selfie with the Mona Lisa is even kinda exciting. But, imagine, if you could spend an entire night inside the Louvre, exploring the halls — and taking many many selfies with Mona Lisa — without any other tourists around. A total dream. And one that could become a reality, thanks to Airbnb. Yep, the company that lets you stay for cheap in other people's homes is giving away a night at the Louvre for you and a mate (date, mum, whoever). As well as spending the night under the iconic glass pyramid, you'll be given a Renaissance-inspired cocktail to toast with Mona — while relaxing on a luxe Parisian lounge and listening to French vinyl records, of course — enjoy an extravagant feast in a pop-up dining room next to Venus de Milo, and watch an acoustic concert inside Napoleon III's lavish apartment. Pick your jaw up off the ground and enter the competition, now. Well, before April 12. This crazy once-in-a-lifetime experience is part of AirBnB's Night At series, where it gifts sleepovers at really over-the-top spots. Previous sleepovers have been held on the Chicago Bulls basketball court, at the top of an Olympic ski jump, in a shark aquarium and on the Great Wall — the list goes on. To enter the competition, you need to answer the question "Why would you be the Mona Lisa's perfect guest?" in 800 characters or less before midnight on Friday, April 12 French time, which the morning of Saturday, April 13 AEDT. The sleepover will take place between April 28 and May 2 (the winner will win a total of three nights in Paris). To win a night at the Louvre head to the Airbnb website. Images: Julian Abrams.
In news set to tickle the fancies of luxury fashion lovers the country over, Melbourne will this month play host to the Aussie leg of Louis Vuitton's Time Capsule exhibition. Chadstone Shopping Centre, which is the largest in the country, has announced it's teamed up with the iconic label to bring the travelling exhibition down under. It comes off the back of recent stops in Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong and Berlin. It'll run for free from February 24 until March 21, treating visitors to a glimpse at the brand's history and celebrating some of its landmark innovations, pulling together a selection of key objects from the Louis Vuitton archive. Expect plenty of local insertions too, with pieces from the likes of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, former Australian Cricket Captain Michael Clarke and wife of David Jones, Mrs Lloyd Jones. The exhibition's broken into six main parts, including the Artisans Room, featuring a 'live' experience with Louis Vuitton craftsmen, and Journey Around the World, which explores how the brand evolved to meet the demands of new forms of transport. Icons of The House will look back at some of Louis Vuitton's most memorable creations, while Magic Malle takes visitors back to where it all began. News of the Louis Vuitton Time Capsule exhibition comes just a few weeks after Chadstone announced plans to open a $130 million luxury hotel, as it looks to cement its status as an international tourist destination. Louis Vuitton's Time Capsule exhibition will be at Chadstone Shopping Centre, 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone from February 24 till March 21, 2018. It will be open from 9am–5pm Monday to Wednesday, 9am–9pm Thursday to Saturday and from 10am–7pm Sunday. For more info, visit chadstone.com.au.
Yep: whenever Jordan Peele drops a new film, it instantly proves a must-see, as both the Oscar-winning Get Out and the equally exceptional Us have shown so far. Also yep: when it comes to making the leap from an iconic sketch comedy series to helming horror movies — and having a hand in bringing everything from BlacKkKlansman and the ace latest Candyman flick to Hunters and Lovecraft Country to our eyeballs, too — the former Key & Peele has been having a helluva past five years. And one last yep: the comedian-turned-filmmaker's next flick, his third big-screen directorial effort Nope, couldn't look more eerie, enticing and exciting (aka the classic Peele combination). That was true back in February, when the first sneak peek at Nope dropped and had Get Out star and Judas and the Black Messiah Oscar-winner Daniel Kaluuya ask "what's a bad miracle?". Now that the film has released a full trailer that sheds further light on its narrative, that still remains 100% accurate. The setup: the Haywood ranch is proudly run by the only Black-owned horse trainers in Hollywood (played by Kaluuya and Hustlers' Keke Palmer), whose connection to show business dates back to the very birth of cinema. But their remote patch of inland California soon becomes home to a disturbing discovery — and the fact that everyone spends a fair amount of time either looking up in horror or running away from something chilling in the sky in both trailers says plenty. In the new sneak peek, Kaluuya and Palmer's brother-and-sister duo OJ and Emerald are rocked by tragedy, then spooked by what's happening above. And, yes, Kaluuya utters the movie's title. Emerald decides that they need to capture what's happening on film, which is where Michael Wincott (Veni Vidi Vici) and Brandon Perea (The OA) come in — one charged with standing behind the lens, the other selling tech equipment. With Nope also lending its attention to other California residents who see this uncanny presence in the sky, Steven Yeun (Minari) also pops up as a rodeo cowboy. As with all of Peele's celluloid nightmares so far, the less you know going in when the movie hits cinemas Down Under in August, the better. That said, the two trailers so far do a fantastic job of teasing all of the unsettling imagery that the filmmaker is about to get lodged in your brain, including fields of colourful inflatable tube men waving in the breeze, the creepiest of clouds and shadows, and a big leap into X-Files territory. Check out the full trailer for Nope below: Nope will release in cinemas Down Under on August 11, 2022.
