2020 may be behind us, and 2021 might only be a few days old, but the idea that visiting the shops or heading out of the house might mean you need to pay special attention to your health afterwards isn't going away any time soon. Indeed, that scenario is now a normal part of life during a pandemic — and one that Victorian residents have been getting used to during the state's response to COVID-19. Naming locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited is key element of Victoria's containment strategy via the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the government has been listing quite a number of sites as part of the current new wave of cases in the state. Across the past few days — including today, Wednesday, January 6 — it has announced a few big and notable places that Melburnians should be wary of. The big ones: IKEA in Springvale, the MCG and Chadstone Shopping Centre. Anyone who went looking for affordable Swedish furniture between 4–6.30pm on Wednesday, December 30 is asked to get a test for COVID-19 immediately and then self-isolate until they receive a negative result. And, if you went to the onsite cafe and restaurant at IKEA Springvale on the same date, but between 5.30–6.30pm, you must get tested straight away and quarantine for 14 days from that exposure date, even if your initial test result comes back negative. Regarding the MCG, someone who attended the second day of the Boxing Day test has since been diagnosed with COVID-19. Where the person picked up the coronavirus isn't yet known, so DHHS is currently investigating. And, it has named the MCG as a possible acquisition site as a result — which means that folks who also went along on Sunday, December 27, and were seated in The Great Southern Stand, Zone 5, between 12.30–3.30pm, are required to get tested and quarantine until they get a negative result. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1346600759857582082 Chadstone Shopping Centre has also been listed as a possible acquisition site, specifically relating to Saturday, December 26 between 6am–2pm. Yes, that's during the Boxing Day sales. Ten stores within the centre have been named: Culture Kings, Huffer, JD Sports, Jay Jays, H&M, Uniqlo, Myer, Superdry, Footlocker and Dumplings Plus. If you were at any of these shops at Chadstone at the above times, you need to get tested and quarantine until you get a negative result. DHHS' current ongoing register of locations that have been visited by positive COVID-19 cases is lengthy, and is constantly being updated — with the newest additions handily placed at the top. The full list currently includes Bodriggy Brewing Company, Stomping Ground Brewing Company, Village Century City, Rockpool Bar and Grill, Fonda in Flinders Lane, Bunnings in Box Hill South and Mentone, Brighton Beach, Federation Square, Southern Cross station and several Metro train lines, among many other sites — and it's broken down into separate categories depending on whether anyone who went to these places at the specified dates and times needs to get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, get tested immediately and self-isolate until they get a negative result, or monitor for symptoms and then get tested and self-isolate. You can check out the entire list on the DHHS website. And, if you need a reminder, the symptoms to look out for are coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste. You can find a rundown of testing clinic locations online as well. At the time of writing, Victoria has 41 active COVID-19 cases, with one new case acquired locally in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday, January 6 and two new cases acquired overseas. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria, head to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website.
Of all of Earth's natural resources, it is water that is perhaps the most precious. We need it to drink; to grow food; to bathe in. It's the key ingredient in industry and agriculture. It's part of recreation, sport and religious practices all around the world. It drives our entire planet, nourishing every living thing. And so often, we take it for granted. It's a finely tuned balance, but one that can easily be thrown off its axis. Watermark isn't your typical environmental doco, although it makes the need for environmentalism clear. Directed by Canadian documentarian Jennifer Baichwal along with photographer Edward Burtynsky, the film consists of contrasting scenes and interviews, shot in every imaginable corner of the globe. Ranging from images of everyday domesticity to events of staggering scale, each sequences sheds further light on the importance of H2O. Using a variety of techniques including aerial photography, slow motion and time-lapse, the sorts of visuals the filmmakers capture are nothing short of astounding. In the opening few minutes, for example, we see millions of tonnes of water crashing through giant floodgates as part of the annual silt release at the Xiaolangdi Dam in China. One abrupt cut later, and we're looking at a desert; a grey, dried-out wasteland that was once the Colorado River. The juxtaposition could hardly be more striking. Over the next 90 minutes we're taken all around the world. On a single day in India, 30 million Hindus cleanse their sins in the holy Ganges. At Huntington Beach in California, the world's best surfers compete for fortune and fame. On the edge of the East China Sea, abalone farmers tie their floating houses together; the idea is that if a typhoon severs one anchor, the rest hold the structure in place. Elsewhere canals and tributaries weave mesmerising patterns across the land. Yet while the imagery is beautiful, its implications are often dire. In Bangladesh, toxic runoff mixes with river water. Vast areas of the world are ravaged by drought, while at the frozen polar ice caps the sea levels start to rise. Scientists studying ice in Greenland provide the film with its most explicit statements about mankind's effect on our plant. But we also hear from farmers, fisherman and leather tanner in the developing world, communities that feel the impact of environmental changes firsthand. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2FHi2n9NPPY
Here's Underworld: Blood Wars in brief: in the millennia-old conflict between werewolves and vampires, the werewolves (or Lycans) are regrouping while the vampires are down to their last two covens. The good news, however, is that the Paris coven is impregnable. Never been breached in 15 centuries. Not once. Give up now, Lycans. It cannot. Be. Pregged. Well…unless you have a small, mid-priced sedan driven by animatronic Gucci model Theo James, which ploughs through the coven's single-frame, wrought-iron gate like a knife through butter that isn't even butter because it's actually nothing. Not to be deterred, however, the vampires quickly re-attach the gate with a solding iron, rendering the coven once again...impregnable. To quote The Princess Bride, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means". So here's what we need to do. First, we go buy some red baseball caps – bright red ones – then embroider them with the following message: MAKE UNDERWORLD OKAY-ISH AGAIN. The people will follow us. Landslide, guaranteed. The original Underworld, released in 2003, was not without its merit. It didn't have much merit, mind you, but some is still better than none. Kate Beckinsale proved a fantastic choice for the death-dealing werewolf hunter Selene, whose talents and temerity outstripped compatriot and opponent alike. Alongside her, Bill Nighy, Scott Speedman and Michael Sheen rounded out a not-unimpressive supporting cast capable of making even the most laughably bad line somehow resonate with a sense of class and purpose. Yes, it was fetishist-heavy and contained a whole lot of gun porn, but it was a film of its time and found a willing fan base to propel it into a franchise. Underworld: Blood Wars, however, is now the fifth film in said franchise, one that definitely ought to have stopped at two – and my, how the largely-passable have fallen. Honestly, people have written more compelling stories on toilet paper, and they didn't need a pen. This latest instalment takes every one of the already scant, okay-to-decent aspects of the original film and dispenses with them wholesale aside from Beckinsale herself. What little story there is comes across in heavy-handed dialogue which mostly exists to bridge one dull fight scene to the next. The characters, meanwhile, continue to clad themselves in comically revealing black lace or leather like extras from a Judas Priest video. Except for the ones in all white, because they're pacifist vampires, don't ya know. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSlaWHDu5WU
Autumn is still beach weather on Hamilton Island. Getting cosy in Tasmania is one of the best ways to embrace an Australian winter. Celebrating spring or kicking off summer on either the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, or in Byron Bay, will get you primed for sunny days. With Qantas' latest flight sale, discounting one-million seats across routes to 60 domestic destinations — with 35-plus routes under $150 — they're all options. The airline's usual sale starting price for a one-way fare is $109 — and this time, that'll get you either from Brisbane to Proserpine on the Whitsunday Coast or from Sydney to Byron Bay/Ballina (and vice versa on both routes). Flights between the Gold Coast and Sydney kick off at $119, as do fares from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island. For $129, you can head from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast or Tamworth. Then, specials on the Sydney–Brisbane route begin at $139, as do Sydney–Hobart, Melbourne–Adelaide, Sydney–Bendigo and Adelaide–Whyalla. If you're eager to venture between Melbourne–Sydney or Albury–Sydney, that'll set you back $149. Brisbane–Hamilton Island, Burnie–Melbourne, Orange–Sydney and Melbourne–Mildura fares are all $159. Or, $169 covers Brisbane–Melbourne, Davenport–Melbourne, Adelaide–Mount Gambier and Merimbula–Sydney legs, while $179 will get you from Perth–Geraldton, Mt Isa–Townsville and Griffith–Sydney. For those feeling flush and keen to travel business class, that's also part of the airline's sale, starting at $369 from Brisbane to Proserpine. Wherever you're hoping to vacation, you'll need to be able to travel between Tuesday, April 29–Thursday, June 26, Tuesday, July 22–Thursday, September 18 or Tuesday, October 14–Wednesday, December 10, all in 2025. So, that gives you choices across autumn, winter, spring and early summer trips, although the specifics vary per destination — as always. If this is the answer to your holiday dreams, you'll need to get in before 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, March 2, 2025. And yes, the usual caveat applies: if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. [caption id="attachment_928567" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania, Luke Tscharke[/caption] Qantas' 'The 1 million seat sale' runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, March 2, 2025, or until sold out if prior.
They say everything in moderation, but not this month. How can you keep things in check when Melbourne's got a region-wide food celebration, 18 nights of noodle markets and not one, but two festivals dedicated to cheese? You can't. So lean in and get amongst it. Have your cake (and your camembert and chicken nuggets) and eat it, too.
Time for a little serenity? You'll find it in abundance at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit – a new luxury glamping retreat launching over the Easter long weekend. Set between Tamworth and Gunnedah – that's a five-hour drive from Sydney – this picture-perfect accommodation is immersed by the Great Dividing Range from its scenic perch on the edge of Lake Keepit. Created by Reflections Holiday, a leading local outdoor hospitality company, this idyllic escape offers the ideal combination of adventure and indulgence. Designed with a small and responsible footprint, this intimate setting features eight Star Tents and the shared Gilay Lounge, where guests are invited to enjoy social and dining experiences. With each stay offering spectacular panoramic views, sliding into a more comfortable mindset is made easy. Inside each Star Tent, guests will discover plush interiors with all the creature comforts needed for a cosy stay. From king-size beds to a fully enclosed ensuite bathroom and a well-stocked kitchenette, year-round comfort is virtually guaranteed. Meanwhile, the design also factors in the region's remote location, with a skylight positioned above the bed so you can soak in the starry sky once the day's light has faded. Each retreat also features multiple outdoor balconies, as well as an outdoor bath with lake views, ensuring the perfect perspective to admire the beauty of Lake Keepit. Surrounded by lush foliage, expect native birdsongs to soundtrack your stay, while you're sure to catch a glimpse or two of bounding kangaroos and wallabies carving through the bushland. "Wilderluxe Lake Keepit seamlessly blends the untamed beauty of this most remarkable location with an elevated level of sophistication and comfort, catering to the discerning traveller. And with only an easy one-hour flight from Sydney, a weekend of wild luxury in the countryside has never been more accessible," says Nick Baker, CEO of Reflections Holidays. Forming an essential part of the Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experience, the first night includes the 'Big Sky Dreaming' dinner, where local Kamilaroi man, Uncle Len Waters, blends Indigenous and Western astronomy as guests indulge in a gourmet feast. Meanwhile, there's also the chance to design your own adventure for the rest of your stay, with activities like hiking treks, lakeside picnics, farmhouse cooking classes and even scenic cross-country flights on the agenda. Wilderluxe Lake Keepit launches this April at Keepit Dam Road, Keepit. Head to the website for more information.
Sydney's newest hotel is so keen on the whole 'choose-your-own-adventure' idea that, when it opens next month, it will let guests select their own rooms. Billed as the city's "first authentic custom designed hotel", Camperdown's soon-to-open Collectionist Hotel wants to push that concept of individualised guest experiences to a whole new level, letting them pick a favourite from the assortment of designer suites on offer. It's slated to open next month in a former warehouse space, where a team of seven designers and 13 artists have been kept busy creating 39 unique rooms. But instead of being allocated a random suite, guests at The Collectionist will suss out the available rooms at check-in and choose exactly where they want to spend their stay over a welcome drink — a concept Collectic Hotels co-founder Daniel Symonds likens to browsing works of art. No two two rooms are the same, apparently, as each will boast its own unique colours, textures and style. A great idea if you're in the mood to choose, but probably less than ideal when you're crashing hard after a long-haul flight. Or if all the rooms have already been taken by people who arrived earlier than you. Unsurprisingly, The Collectionist has also done away with the usual room number caper, in favour of eclectic names like the Queenie Fah Fah, Cloud Runner and La Chamber Noir. Just don't expect them all to be your cup of tea. "I would be surprised — and a little disappointed, to be honest — if there weren't some divided opinions on the rooms designs," said Symonds. "We have purposely set about creating rooms that will challenge the 'norms' on hotel room design." The Collectionist Hotel will open at 9–13 Marsden Street, Camperdown in May 2018. You can't book a room yet, but you can check the website for updates.
A wool shirt that you can wear for 100 days straight. No washing. No dry cleaning. No wrinkles. No odour. That is the promise from new male fashion manufacturers Wool&Prince, who are transforming the button-down into a woollen wardrobe staple. They have created a wool shirt that they claim is incredibly soft, comfortable, does not need an iron or dry clean and, best of all, will still not smell or need a wash until after at least 100 consecutive days of wear. They know, because that's how long this guy wore his. You can feel good whilst looking good, saving money on your wardrobe and saving water for the world. This is all made possible by their development of CottonSoft wool fabric, which is anti-wrinkle by nature and far more durable. The lightness and breathability of the material is what enables the wearer to smell fresh (but remember, just because the shirt does not need a wash, does not mean that you can get away without one, too). Wool&Prince have already soared past their initial Kickstarter goal of US$30,000, raising more than US$265,000 so far, and after extensive testing around the world, the project is almost ready to go and one can be yours for only US$98. If you buy six, it should set you up for a wash-free year. Via Esquire.
It's true every time that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras announces its annual program: whether you're keen on the parade action, browsing stalls, partying in pools, hitting the dance floor, catching drag performances or plenty more, there's no shortage of options at the Harbour City's celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and culture. For 2025, the just-revealed lineup spans the return of Fair Day, the festival's usual beloved splash-filled soirees, Honey Dijon and Romy from The xx headlining the Mardi Gras Party, plus Trixie Mattel — and that's just the beginning. In total, more than 80 LBGTQIA+ events will take over the Harbour City between Friday, February 14–Sunday, March 2, 2025. One highlight was first a Sydney WorldPride hit in 2023: the Blak & Deadly First Nations gala concert at City Recital Hall. The overarching theme in Mardi Gras' 47th year: "free to be", which nods to the fight for equality, while also championing individuality and the strength of community. "Each year, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras brings people from all corners of the globe together for a celebration of community, visibility and progress. The 2025 festival embodies this spirit, reflecting the resilience, creativity and unity of our LGBTQIA+ communities," explains the event's CEO Gil Beckwith. "We are thrilled to welcome everyone to this year's festivities and look forward to continuing to champion the values of inclusivity and equality." Fair Day's comeback follows its cancellation in 2024 due to asbestos being found in Victoria Park's mulch. In 2025, it'll be at the same site with 200-plus stalls. The pool action comes courtesy of the Kaftana Pool Party and Paradiso Pool Party, which are just two more of Mardi Gras' signature events that are on the 2025 bill. Also in the same category: the parade and the Mardi Gras Party, of course, alongside the Sissy Ball and Laneway shindig. 2024's Ultra Violet is also back, again celebrating LGBTQIA+ women — as is trans and gender-diverse celebration Hot Trans Summer, which'll take over a floating venue, as well as opening ceremony First Nations First Light: A Festival Welcome at Bondi Beach. Among the new additions for 2025, Mardi Gras is teaming up with Qtopia Sydney on a suite of shows and exhibitions, such as the drag king-focused They Will Be Kings and the millennial pop culture-loving I Want It That Gay. Over at Sydney Opera House, Samuel Barnett's one-man show Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen is another highlight. From there, The Kaye Hole, family-friendly Disco on the Green, Kate Bush tribute An Evening Without Kate Bush and a Pride in Sport Festival featuring everything from self-defence workshops to volleyball tournaments are fellow standouts. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2025 will run from Friday, February 14–Sunday, March 2, 2025. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website. Images: Jordan Munns, Joseph Mayers, Ann-Marie Calilhanna, Vic Lentaigne, Ken Leanfore, Lexi Laphor, Jess Gleeson.
Jenny Lewis, former lead singer of indie rock group Rilo Kiley, is about to release her first solo album in six years, so why not come back with a bang (and a viral video)? Her social media freakout-inducing clip for first single, the Beck-produced 'One of The Guys' has a few of Hollywood's leading ladies taking the piss out of gender roles by tracksuiting up and acting like real tough dudes. Unlikely accomplices Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart and Brie Larson casually make up Lewis's backing band, eventually winding up in drag, fly kicking, breakdancing and giving each other those perplexing man-hug-hand-shake things. Snaps to Lewis for fusing taking Taylor Swift-style famous friend collab cues. There are so many high-fivable things going on here, it's hard to know where to start. Lewis's rainbow pantsuit, Hathaway's rat-tail and keytar, and Stewart actually looking like she's having fun for once in her life — all good places to start. Despite all this nonchalant splendour, Larson takes the cake. The Short Term 12 star is completely hysterical in this clip as a boy, and is probably the most convincing lip syncher of the band next to Lewis. Despite the silliness, the single is actually quite a poignant note on being comfortable with yourself both in your womanhood and in your age. Just goes to show, dealing with heavy stuff doesn't mean taking yourself seriously all the time. 'Just One of the Guys' is the first single from Lewis' new record Voyager, which will be out by the end of the month. Watch 'Just One of the Guys' right here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Irvcf6dCk-k Via Rolling Stone.
Right now (in case you haven't been hanging on every tweet), the Consumer Technology Association is holding a huge conference in Las Vegas — CES 2017 — and while that might sound kind of abstract, it's an internationally-watched event with reams of huge new product announcements that are relevant to the everyday tech user (that's you!). The Consumer Technology Association (acronymed to CES, not CTA, for unfathomable reasons) is a trade union that promotes and standardises widely used technology, meaning high-end tech gets into your life sooner. This year has already been pretty epic. Here's a breakdown of some of the best tech reveals (so far), coming soon to a smart household near you. A SMART COLLAR FOR YOUR POOCH Now, this is a nifty little device for lucky, lucky pet owners. Whistle 3 is a new pet tracking collar that lets you monitor your puppo's or catto's daily activity levels and track them on your smartphone. It's the third iteration of the product and reports from CES indicate this time they've nailed it. Whistle 3 is compact, waterproof, clips to your pet's collar and syncs to an app on your phone. At the moment, it's only available in the US but we'll keep you updated on developments. In the meantime, remember to get your precious furbabies microchipped. AN AI-FITTED TOYOTA What business Toyota has building an AI, we don't know. But they have. Its name is Yui (pronounced you-ee) and, yes, we expect it will allow us to become best friends with our car like Shia Lebeouf and Bumblebee. No, but really. AI in a car is about risk assessment and will work in tandem with what they called 'human driving'. So it's not exactly automated but it will allow certain elements of automation when it's safe to do so. Yui warns the driver about potential hazards and can automate corrections to prevent them. But most importantly, it's super-duper cute and futuristic. A RELATIVELY FAST SCOOTER THAT CAN CHARGE YOUR DEVICES The URB-E might look a little goofy (like its Segway and Hoverboard brothers) but this compact little electric scooter could be the future of travel. Give up any dreams of your kids buying their first banged up Holden Commodore, the next generation will be driving these 30-pound scooties to school. Three years ago, the URB-E was debuted at CES. This year, they've revealed four new, updated models and a range of accessories. To fill you in, the URB-E is a foldable scooter/bicycle hybrid out of America. The cheapest, the URB-E Sport, retails for US$899 and can reach a top speed of 22 kilometres. A fully-charged URB-E Sport can travel up to 25 kilometres before needing a recharge. And you can charge your phone off it too. Damn. These iterations of the URB-E are more affordable and more powerful than ever, so you might as well embrace these tiny, goofy scooters because they ain't leaving anytime soon. A CASUALLY POWERFUL, 92-MEGAPIXEL, VR-SUPPORTING PHONE While we're not sold on the name ZenFone (imagine the roundtable on that decision), the newest phone out of the Asus camp is exciting for multiple reasons. First, it's built to support virtual and augmented reality technology (the future is here!) which means it's packing a considerable amount of processing power for such a little thing. Its three cameras (the most powerful of which takes 92-megapixel images and 4K videos) enables 3D mapping technology. Yeah. Your selfie game just jumped up a level. It's expected for release midway through this year. UH... A SMART HAIRBRUSH? Yeah, so L'Oreal has designed a smart hairbrush. Rejoice for now every part of your daily routine will be watched over by machines. The Keratase Hair Coach uses sensors, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a microphone to spy on you and determine a) how healthy your hair is b) whether your hair is wet or dry c) whether you're brushing too hard or too much and d) how many Keratase products you need in your life right now. Guive Balooch, the vice president of L'Oreal's Technology Incubator, said to Fortune the brush will also try to smooth your hair. All of this for under $200? Woah. The future really is stupid. Via IB Times, The Verge and Gizmodo.
There will be spice in 2023's sandiest movie, the eagerly anticipated sequel to 2021's Dune. With a war a-brewing on the planet Arrakis, seeing Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet, Bones and All) and the Fremen face off against the folks who destroyed his family, there will be blood as well. And, in the centrepiece to Dune: Part Two's glorious first trailer ahead of its November release in cinemas, there will be sandworms and wormriding — including the internet's boyfriend going for a cruise on one of the sci-fi franchise's mammoth creatures. When its predecessor hit the big screen, it was after a year-long delay due to the pandemic, and as a second movie adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel. Following in David Lynch's footsteps might seem a foolish move, even when it's making a new version of one of the most unfairly maligned sci-fi films ever crafted, but Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) managed what Alejandro Jodorowsky sadly couldn't (see: excellent documentary Jodorowsky's Dune), and a new science-fiction cinema classic arrived. Villeneuve's picture only told part of Dune's story, though, which is where Dune: Part Two comes in. The first film had Paul head to Arrakis because his dad Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac, Moon Knight) had just been given stewardship of the sandy celestial body and its abundance of 'the spice' — aka the most valuable substance in the universe — and then get caught up in a bitter battle with malicious forces over the substance. It also saw Paul meet the population of people known as the Fremen, including Zendaya's (Euphoria) Chani and Javier Bardem's (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) Stilgar, which is who he and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, Doctor Sleep) are with when the new flick's trailer begins. Amid that expansive desert landscape, those hulking sandworms, Villeneuve's reliable eye for a spectacle and Hans Zimmer's (The Son) latest likely Oscar-winning score, Paul, Chani, Stilgar and company have vengeance to seek — but Paul also has to choose between love and preventing a dark future. And, he has new players to face, with Austin Butler ditching his Elvis locks as Feyd Rautha Harkonnen, the nephew of Stellan Skarsgard's (Andor) Baron Harkonnen, plus Florence Pugh (The Wonder) joining the saga as Princess Irulen, daughter of Christopher Walken's (Severance) Emperor Shaddam IV. From the first film, which scored ten Oscar nominations and six wins, Josh Brolin (Outer Range), Dave Bautista (Knock at the Cabin), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Beau Is Afraid) and Charlotte Rampling (Benedetta) return, while Léa Seydoux (Crimes of the Future) also joins the cast. Off-screen, Villeneuve has brought back not just Zimmer, but Oscar-winning Australian director of photography Greig Fraser (The Batman), Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermett (Vice), Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker (The Unforgivable), Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert (First Man) and Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West (Song to Song). Check out the first Dune: Part Two trailer below: Dune will release in cinemas Down Under on November 2, 2023.
The idea that good things come to those who wait isn't just a piece of advice everyone's mum have given them at least once; over the past couple of years, it's also been the mantra behind Australia's live gig scene. And, yes, now that music festivals, concerts and shows are back in a big way, great things are indeed coming Down Under — including Fisher's rescheduled Aussie tour. The former pro surfer-turned-DJ will be hitting up Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth in November, throwing a huge outdoor dance party in each city. He'll be on the decks, of course, but he'll also have company in the form of Booka Shade, Pnau, Loco Dice and HoneyLuv. Also on the bill: Little Fritter, Richard Penny, Tina Says and Loco Dice. International names, local talents — they're all on this lineup. And if you're wondering how excited that Fisher is to finally bring the tour to fruition, it's all there in the name. Originally his first-ever Aussie national tour was called 'Bigger Than a Beach Party', but now it's the 'Australia, It's Fk'n On' tour. [caption id="attachment_860230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Booka Shade[/caption] A few details have changed, however. Originally, the tour was headed to Wollongong, but Stuart Park can no longer play host to major gigs due to heavy rain earlier this year. So, Fisher will hit up The Domain in Sydney instead — which is obviously ace news for Sydneysiders. It's been a huge few years for the Gold Coast DJ, since the Grammy-nominated 'Losing It' brought him to international fame. He also launched his own boozy seltzer brand FIZZ during the pandemic, which your tastebuds might be aware of. Fisher heads around Australia after headlining the Under Construction festival in the US, and playing shows at Petco Park in Denver. And yes, expect dance floors at Melbourne's Catani Gardens, Brisbane's Riverstage, The Domain in Sydney and Perth's Langley Park to be busy. [caption id="attachment_860229" align="alignnone" width="1920"] HoneyLuv[/caption] FISHER'S 2022 'IT'S FK'N ON AUSTRALIA' TOUR DATES: Saturday, November 5 — Catani Gardens, Melbourne Sunday, November 6 — Riverstage, Brisbane Saturday, November 12 — The Domain, Sydney Sunday, November 13 — Langley Park, Perth Fisher's 'It's Fk'n On Australia tour heads Down Under in November 2022. The waitlist for tickets is open now, with tickets pre-sales from 8am local time on Wednesday, July 13 — and general sales from 8am local time on Thursday, July 14.
When news dropped that Adnan Syed's murder conviction had been overturned, an obvious announcement followed: Sarah Koenig's grimly addictive podcast Serial, which spent its first season exploring the killing of Baltimore high school student Hae Min Lee and the extremely complex legal matters surrounding her ex-boyfriend Syed, was returning for a new episode. That new instalment, called 'Adnan Is Out', is available to listen to now — and Serial isn't the only recent Syed-focused hit that's making a comeback as a result. Here's another expected but also welcome development: The Case Against Adnan Syed, HBO's four-part documentary series about the case, is also making a new chapter. The US network revealed that a follow-up episode is in the works, with filmmaker Amy Berg (Phoenix Rising, Dogs, West of Memphis) returning behind the lens. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Berg (@amy_berg) "We knew the end of The Case Against Adnan Syed was not the end of this story, and we've been closely following every twist and turn in the case since the series premiered in March 2019," said Berg in a statement. "It's gratifying to see many of the questions and issues probed in the original episodes come to bear on the events of this week," the filmmaker continued. HBO revealed that the new episode will arrive sometime in 2023, but hasn't dropped any further details — including how long it'll run for or the exact release date. Where it'll stream Down Under hasn't been announced yet, either. HBO also advised that Berg has been filming the follow-up episode in Maryland since early 2021, and was in the courthouse when Baltimore City Circuit Judge Melissa Phinn vacated Syed's murder conviction. The Case Against Adnan Syed's new episode will not only chart the lead up to that decision, but will also follow Syed after his release. [caption id="attachment_668625" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Adnan Syed. Via: Syed Family / Courtesy of HBO.[/caption] If you missed the HBO series when it premiered in 2019, it examined 18-year-old Lee's death in 1999 and Syed's conviction in 2000, as well as the latter's ongoing quest to have his conviction reassessed in the years since he was found guilty. Lee and Syed's relationship, tothe original police investigation and trial, the developments up until the show hit the air — they all featured, with the documentary gaining exclusive access to Syed, his family and his lawyers. Yes, it made for gripping viewing, with Berg working on the original four episodes since 2015. It was always bound to be compelling and thorough, given her excellent doco background — helming 2006's Oscar-nominated 2006 Deliver Us from Evil, about molestation in the Catholic Church; examining the West Memphis Three's quest for freedom in 2012's aforementioned West of Memphis; and tackling the sexual abuse of teenagers in the film industry in 2014's An Open Secret. Check out the trailer for The Case Against Adnan Syed's initial run below: HBO's follow-up episode to The Case Against Adnan Syed doesn't currently have a release date, other than arriving in 2023 — we'll update you when it does. In the interim, the original series is available to stream via Fetch in Australia . Images: SBS / HBO
These days, Christmas promises a whole lot more than just generic mince pies and plain panettones. Bakeries, chocolate brands, gelaterias and dessert shops across the city are getting more inventive with each passing year, whipping up all sorts of creative treats worthy of hunting down across Melbourne. Here, we've rounded up some of the coolest grown-up goodies to seek out, from gelato-filled Christmas puddings to themed festive high tea experiences. Dig in. Recommended reads: The Best Alternative Things to Do in Melbourne on Christmas Day The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This Weekend The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This December Pidapipo's Pandoro Christmas Cake Pidapipo has reimagined the pandoro — a Christmas tree-shaped sweet bread cake — for their holiday season offering this year, paying tribute to the team's Italian roots. The Pandoro Christmas Cake features a base of Pandoro, and then layers of Pidapipo's favourite festive gelato flavours — including, bacio, hazelnut, Pandoro, coconut, chocolate, sour cherry swirl and chocolate fudge — all encased with a dark chocolate semifreddo and a thin crisp milk chocolate shell. This is a next-level treat — worthy of any Christmas day dessert table. Baker Bleu's Dark Chocolate and Sour Cherry Panettone Baker Bleu is easily one of the very best bakeries in Melbourne, so it is no surprise to see the team create one of the top panettones in town — which is a huge feat seeing as this is the first year they've made these for the public. You can get a classic panettone made with raisins and candied orange or go for the sour cherry and dark chocolate version — depending on how traditional you're feeling. They've absolutely nailed this Christmas treat, and we highly recommend nabbing one for yourself. Le Yeahllow's Christmas Cakes and Cookies Le Yeahllow's sweet treats have got to be some of the most beautiful — without compromising on taste — and its Christmas offerings are no exception. That's especially the case for its two limited-editon cakes which will be served up until January 5. First off, there's the Merry Berry cake, which is inspired by festive fruit baskets. It brings together a fluffy chocolate sponge, vanilla white chocolate cream and a tangy mixed berry compote, all topped off with Valrhona 62% dark chocolate, whipped ganache and seasonal fruits. The team has also created a more summery treat — the lemon pound cake. Baked with Pepe Saya butter, along with the juice and zest of fresh lemons, this cake strikes the perfect balance of buttery richness and vibrant citrus. Piccolina's Gelato-Filled Christmas Pudding Piccolina always goes hard on its holiday specials — especially during Easter and Christmas. And this year is no different, as the team has created a gelato-filled, multi-layered Christmas pudding that comes in a stoneware bowl. Named the Golden Bauble, this creation features peanut butter stracciatella gelato layered with caramelised white chocolate aero and caramelised peanut, dulce de leche gelato layered with chocolate fudge brownie, peanut torrone centre, crispy chocolate base, topped with dark chocolate sauce and a golden peanut popping candy bauble. It's decadent and guaranteed to be an absolute showstopper at Christmas this year. Morning Market's Mince Tarts Mince pies are incredibly divisive Christmas treats. Some poeple love them, many hate them. It's a funny one. But if you are into these traditional British festive bites, you best check out those made by the team over at Andrew McConnell's Morning Market. The buttery pastry shells are packed with a filling made from organic apples, currants, brandy, pastis and warm spices that have been macerated together for months. The result is a rich and fragrant tart that's damn hard to beat. Lune's Gingerbread Croissants, Eggnog Cruffins and Stuffed Turkey Pastries Every year, you can guarantee that Lune will dream up some of Melbourne's best Christmas treats. And this year's efforts are no joke. First, the sweet stuff. Lune's gingerbread special is a twice-baked croissant made with pecan frangipane, baked gingerbread and molasses caramel, then topped with frangipane, gingerbread, white icing and gold-dusted chocolate pearls. It's also got an eggnog cruffin, choc peppermint twice-baked pain au chocolat, and rich Christmas pudding. For a savoury option, enter The Stuffed Turkey. This pastry is filled with a turkey and croissant pastry stuffing, with sage powder, cranberry sauce, crispy chicken skin and fried sage leaves added on top. You best drop by the Melbourne stores a few times this December, sampling each and every one of these creations. Penny for Pound's Christmas Trifle, Choux Pastry Wreath and Cookies Those in the know should be jumping for joy this festive season, knowing that Penny for Pound's incredible trifle has returned. This year, it features layers of cherry jelly, pistachio custard, raspberry cream, vanilla sponge and berry compote, all topped with fresh cherries, pistachio meringue kisses, berries and white chocolate stars. It's a total showstopper. But that's not all the pastry chefs have whipped up this year. There's also a special chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel choux pastry wreath, an extensive holiday cookie collection, and a playful Santa's Belly buche de noel — a red-glazed Christmas cake featuring vanilla sponge, raspberry compote, lemon curd, and vanilla mascarpone mousse. Brunetti Classico's Gingerbread House Build and Sip Workshops Carlton's Brunetti Classico is home to a huge range of festive treats throughout this time of year — including stacks of panettones and biscotti — but we are most pumped about its gingerbread-building experiences. Drop by on Friday and Saturday nights from 7–9pm and spend the two hours building and decorating your own gingerbread house while sipping on booze. These adult workshops cost $70 per person, while the kids' classes — which see the little ones decorate their own gingerbread people — only cost $13.90. Stokehouse's Tropical Christmas Pudding Stokehouse Group Pastry Chef Ash Smith has brought back his much-loved tropical take on the traditional Christmas Pudding for Christmas this year — made to be taken home. The pudding is ready-made and comes complete with at-home instructions to finish the dessert at home, as well as Smith's special brandy custard recipe. Either order the pudding online to pick up by itself, or add it to your booking when dining in — taking it home right after sampling food from one of Melbourne's best restaurants. Mary Eats Cake's Festive High Teas Mary Eats Cake has gone all out for Christmas — slinging a heap of limited-edition festive treats throughout December. There's a special Christmas gateaux and cookies, plus a new a la carte menu featuring gingerbread french toast, turkey toasties and pumpkin spiced lattes. These are fab, but we are most excited about the festive high tea experience. This includes a mulled wine spritzer on arrival, plus three tiers of treats — think festive scones, Christmas cookies and mini pavlovas. Drop by on a weekday to get this for $75 per person or on a weekend for an additional $4.
Candlelight dinners, walks in the park, roses and chocolate. That's the old Valentine's Day. We're in 2023, the age of doing things differently. And what date concept is more unconventionally romantic than an evening of hurling a sharp object into a wooden target? The good folks at MANIAX Axe Throwing are getting in the mood and celebrating the season of love with the offer of Valentine's Day date nights at their nationwide axe throwing venues — and you can win one for free. In addition to pelting a heavy weapon at a wall with your S.O., the prize will include the added benefits of the MANIAX date night package: a 60-minute session with a lesson from an instructor (nobody throws until they're ready), two drinks of your choice and a piping hot pizza to share. MANIAX has locations in Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. So, whether you're looking for an unconventional date, have a thing for sharp weapons, or are well-versed in the world of axe throwing and simply want to show off, MANIAX has your Valentine's sorted. To earn your place in this hall of warriors, complete the form below. [competition]886696[/competition]
If you've ever wanted to enjoy your nosh with casual waterfalls cascading over your feet (haven't we all?), all you need is a cheeky airfare. Nestled right at the foot of a spring waterfall in a coconut plantation and resort in Laguna, Phillipines, Villa Escudero takes novelty dining next level. A self-contained working coconut plantation, Villa Escudero was founded in the 1880s and still sports that colonial-style so prevalent in resorts in the Philippines. Featuring long bamboo dining tables set right over the water, Villa Escudero's restaurant must have some pretty pruny-footed waiters after a long shift. Sure, you could get the hose out at home and attempt to create the same effect, but Villa Escudero might have a natural one-up on your bond-losing acts. Via Lost at E Minor.
For the past two years, Prahran's Toko has ranked among Melbourne's best Japanese restaurants. And with good reason — the Melbourne offshoot of the top Sydney and Dubai fine dining establishment, it served up everything from fairy floss cocktails to sashimi matched with pork crackling. Alas, the Greville Street favourite has now closed its doors, but for a quick rest rather than a certain goodbye, with a new venture in the works. Come September, Toko will be reborn as tokosan. The new iteration of the venue will favour a more casual food menu and a focus on beverages in a space that will boast neon lighting, art installations and DJs spinning tunes. A highlight of the move will be a new karaoke room, which will also be bookable for functions — so prepare to give your lungs a workout (as well as your stomach). Scheduled to open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday, as well as hosting weekly Sunday sessions from 11am, tokosan will keep things cosy with its 100-person inside capacity. Outside, what was once a courtyard will be converted into a lounge garden, catering for up to 60 people — with heating in winter, of course. And fans of the OG Toko need not despair as it will relocate to the CBD in the near future. The exact details have yet to be confirmed, but we'll keep you updated on this one. tokosan will open 142 Greville Street, Prahran in September. For more information, keep an eye on their website.
Does anyone love biscuits as much as dads love biscuits? Probably not. But when Gelato Messina is making bikkies, everyone's tastebuds should be tempted. Each Father's Day for the past few years, the sweet-treat fiends have turned their attention from ice cream to tasty wares that don't require freezing — and 2023's haul is a trio of baked goods. Are mint slice biscuits a staple of your parents' pantry? Do they make you feel nostalgic for that exact reason? Well, now you can get your dad the Messina version again. But that isn't all that's on this year's menu, with the dessert chain also doing salted caramel and rum and raisin biscuits, combining the trio into one pack. The gelato brand does love taking other beloved desserts and giving them its own spin; see also: red velvet cake, honey joys, Bounty and Chokito bars, Iced VoVos, Viennetta and Golden Gaytimes, just to name a few. Messina's choc mint bikkies feature a chocolate base, mint centre and then 65-percent single-origin Messina dark chocolate over the top. The salted caramel goes with a salted caramel filling, of course, then, Messina caramelised white chocolate. And what's inside the rum and raisin biscuits is also obvious, with Messina milk chocolate doing the encasing. All three types are whipped up in-house by the the Messina Chocolatier team, and are being sold together in boxes of 12 — four of each — for $29. You can only purchase them up online from 9am on Monday, August 21. Then, they'll be sent to your door in advance of Father's Day on Sunday, September 3. Gelato Messina's Father's Day biscuit packs are available to order from 9am on Monday, August 21 — head to the Messina website for further details.
Both big air and big bands are on the agenda for Australia's newest festival offering. This August, the global Air + Style Big Air Competition is set to make its southern hemisphere debut, descending on The Domain for three huge days of snow sports, live music, culture and fashion. And it's being headlined by none other than Irish/Scottish alt-rockers Snow Patrol and US artist Flo Rida, each heading to town for their first Aussie shows in over five years. From August 3 to 5, the 34-hectare space on the edge of Sydney's CBD will be sporting a very different look than what locals are used to, featuring a 16-storey snow-covered ramp and multiple music stages. More than 60 of the world's best snowboarders and skiers will land here, to compete as part of the 2018 Air + Style Global Tour. Plus, the event has quite the pedigree — three-time Olympic gold medallist and all-round champion snowboarder Shaun White has been the majority shareholder since 2014. But let's not forget about the equally tempting music component. Previous incarnations of Air + Style in the likes of Beijing, Los Angeles and Austria's Innsbruck have drawn big-name artists such as Flume, Major Lazer, Portugal. The Man and Kendrick Lamar. The Sydney outing promises to follow in their footsteps, with Snow Patrol and Flo Rida just the first of many acts to be announced. Both single day tickets and multi-day passes are available, starting at $150. The Air + Style Big Air Competition comes to The Domain, Sydney from August 3-5. Head to the festival website for tickets and further information.
Melbourne is about to swap coffee for controllers as Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) returns for its tenth year. From Thursday, October 3–Sunday, October 13, Melbourne will play host to the largest celebration of digital gaming in the Asia Pacific, where pixels, play and passion converge into one stunning week-long offering of events. This isn't just for the hardcore gamers — MIGW is for everyone. The returning PAX Aus convention is one of the program highlights, offering Melburnians an opportunity to see the latest in hardware and game releases before they hit the mainstream. At PAX you can hear from industry insiders via a smorgasbord of panels and generally have a great time with people who are passionate about an industry that is now bigger than Hollywood and the music industry combined. For the more hardcore, Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP), running from October 7–October 9, is a behind-the-scenes look into the gaming industry where developers and industry insiders converge. Music and audio enthusiasts will love the High Score conference, which offers a unique nexus where gaming meets sound. Meanwhile, Freeplay: Parallels will spotlight some of the most experimental and culturally significant work being made right now. And for those with a competitive streak, the Mario King of Kart Tournament is back on the big screen in Melbourne's Fed Square. Along with old favourites, there are a slew of new additions gracing the program. ACMI's Games for Change, slated for October 4, is gearing up to offer a heap of experiences that explore the transformative power of games — how they can make the world a better place in education, health and social sectors. This is a space that's not just about 'gaming' in the traditional sense — it's leading the way in development and driving change in education, health and social sectors. On October 10, Fed Square is the place to be. The Big Games Night Out promises a sensory overload with an array of activities including free gaming competitions (with prizes), and a Cosplay Runway. If you're into games, or just into a good time, mark MIGW 2024 in your cal. It's gonna be a big one. Images: Matto Lucas.
With the weather starting to turn frosty, it's time to move those weekend activities out of the beer garden and into somewhere a little more cosy. So, on April 23, Raw Materials is opening up its Footscray warehouse space to the public, for an autumn-friendly Sunday session that promises a little something for everyone. Kicking off at 11am, it's set to be a jam-packed day, with an impressive lineup of live music from the likes of blues star John McNamara, Melbourne's high-energy Safari Motel, funk artist Andrea Marr, and Mike Elrington. Tastebuds are also in for a treat, as chef Robert Monteau takes over the on-site cooking demo kitchen to whip up a paella feast before your very eyes. Rounding out the fun, a menu of small bites will feature the likes of cheese boards and sliders, while local booze stars like Hop Nation and Two Birds Brewing will be on hand to quench your thirst. It's all happening from 11am till 6pm at the Cowper Street space.
Checking surf conditions is a thing of the past for Sunshine Coasters, there's a multi-million dollar wave pool on its way. Best part is, you choose the size of the waves and customise how long they roll for. Really. The hugely-anticipated Webber Wave Pool has found a spot to make its own, snapping up a 24 hectare piece of land in Glenview — a colossal corner of fun right near Australia Zoo and the Big Kart Track. Developer Waterplay Pty Ltd is behind it all, the water-happy brains behind Malaysia's Sunway Lagoon and Wadi Adventure Park in the United Arab Emirates. Surrounded by waterslides, a 120-room hotel, canoeing rapids and a holiday village, the epic wave pool is the premier focus of the park. Pumping out consistently perfect and regulated waves, grommets and old hats alike will be able to choose their level of difficulty surfing the waves. Purists might be severely facepalming right now, but honestly, this is some pretty badass technology. Webber's drive system, according to their website, allows control over the hull speed, draft and trim angle of the wave. "These additional controls will transform our ability to change the wave shape during the ride," they say. "As a result, we will be able to make the wave angle and wave size shape change in a similar way as happens in nature." If you're bored of a particular set-up (yeah, if you're bored of your predictable ol' wave), just tweak a few details and you're riding a totally different beast. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZA4PoRBVY-M Webber's shiny new systems also allow the team to create waves of different sizes in the same pool at the same time. The coolest part? Your settings are saved on your wrist. "When linked to the profile of each patron by their RFID wristband, the software driving the new drive system will immediately adjust the ratio of the wave sizes to match with the changes in demand during the day." Rad. The Waterplay team hope to have you carving things up within a few short years, with the wave pool first on the to-do list. "All things going well, our team hopes to begin work next year and have the first Sunshine Park guests splashing, surfing and sliding on what will be Australia's latest waterpark during 2016," Waterplay spokesperson David Baird, told the Courier Mail. Fine, I guess we'll just have to surf in the real beach until then, whatever. Stupid, unruly, natural waves. Via Queensland Blog.
The worst movie ever made. The best worst movie. A film so inexplicably inept that it's somehow enjoyable. From painfully hilarious to laughably excruciating, The Room has earned every reaction imaginable since it first premiered 15 years ago — groans, cheers, spoons thrown at screens and a pitch-perfect behind-the-scenes dramatisation in The Disaster Artist all included. That leaves Best F(r)iends: Volume One with considerable shoes to fill, although what constitutes success for Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau's second big-screen collaboration isn't quite the same as other movies. Should the duo's new project serve up another so-bad-it's-good cult flick? A genuine attempt to demonstrate its stars' real talents? Something with enough references to The Room to keep fans interested? Or just a picture that's simply watchable? Prepare to say "oh hi" to a film that won't make you want to hurl cutlery (either ironically or out of annoyance), but won't stick in your mind for much more than the obvious reasons. A dark comedy that garners laughs on purpose this time, Best F(r)iends is a moody and odd exploration of a moody and odd friendship between a drifter and a mortician. Signs about ninjas, a black market in human teeth, a corpse dressed as a clown and a decades-old murder case all feature. So does a fiendish plan to steal an ATM filled with cash, and Wiseau finally telling people where he's from (if you're wondering, the answer is "planet earth"). Dishevelled, down on his luck and wearing a white t-shirt covered in blood, Jon (Sestero) is struggling to get by on the Los Angeles streets. Writing pithy lines on pieces of cardboard to beg for money isn't going well, with only black-clad, lank-locked, platform shoes-wearing undertaker Harvey Lewis (Wiseau) giving him the time of day. More than that, Harvey gives Jon a job at his backstreet morgue, and soon they become business partners. Between moving coffins, preparing bodies and hearing Harvey's strange odes to his dead clientele, Jon discovers that his new pal has a stash of gold dental scrap extracted from the dead — and that it's worth a lot of money. Writing the script as well as starring, Sestero drew upon two real-life elements for Best F(r)iends: Volume One. Firstly, trading in dental gold really happens. Secondly, on a road trip back in 2003, Wiseau thought Sestero was trying to kill him. Both shape the film's plot, although the needlessly convoluted story could use a little more shaping. Originally conceived as one picture but split into two after shooting, Best F(r)iends: Volume One drags out its narrative to set things up for the forthcoming Volume Two. But while it ends on an obvious (yet still intriguing) cliffhanger, much of what comes before spends too long catering to Wiseau's unusual mannerisms and cultivating a bizarre atmosphere. To be fair, making this film without playing up the absurdity of its premise and its star would be unthinkable. Indeed, most of its modest highlights spring from knowing and loving both The Room and The Disaster Artist, rather than from Best F(r)iends itself. That said, throwing in a scene where Jon and Harvey chat while passing a basketball around (sound familiar?) threatens to take things a little too far. If this is your first introduction to Wiseau and Sestero, it'll seem especially weird. But let's be honest, the only people seeing Best F(r)iends are folks who can recite most of The Room's iconic lines in their sleep. Also, let's be clear: Best F(r)iends: Volume One isn't The Room. It nods to the cult hit, leans on it, but knows that it can't recreate its predecessor. That kind of lightning doesn't strike twice and can't be forced — and whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up to the individual viewer. With near-newcomer Justin McGregor directing, Best F(r)iends: Volume One is softly shot, montage-heavy and a little too eager to be seen as a mix of Nightcrawler and Mullholland Drive, yet still proves competently made. And if you find yourself actually engaged by Wiseau's stilted performance and his completely unique presence, then the movie definitely achieves something. It won't tear you apart with laughter or leave you wondering how in the hell it got made, but very few films can manage that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTu9N40E_MI
Holy Ghost are back with some ridiculously catchy music, The National have us swimming in a sea of love, and Sam Smith goes acoustic to show us the beauty of strings. Put down the iPod; these five tracks are your playlist for the weekend. 1. 'DUMB DISCO IDEAS' - HOLY GHOST Holy Ghost are back with their impending album Dynamics, and this week they treated us to the first delicious slice of audio pie from the record in 'Dumb Disco Ideas'. It is eight minutes of subtle hooks, groove and simplicity and the accompanying video is equally as fantastic, with a time lapse of the Manhattan skyline punctuated by cleverly synchronised disco lights. 2. 'SEA OF LOVE' - THE NATIONAL The National are experts at making music for all occasions. 'Sea of Love' is another one of those gems that you can listen to whilst jogging, brooding over a break-up or taking a road trip to the greatest festival of your life (at which they are probably playing). The track coasts along nicely until its final third when everything lets loose and the band just take it up a few thousand notches. The National are back to their very best. Also, the kid at the front of the video is incredible. 3. 'LATCH' - SAM SMITH Sam Smith provided the vocals for Disclosure's electro smash 'Latch'. This week he decided to strip that track back, take out all of the technologically created sounds and head in an acoustic direction and we should all be glad he has. Whilst the original is enjoyable in its own right, Sam's haunting voice and strong string accompaniment take it in a direction you never imagined the song could go. This is music as it was meant to be made. 4. 'FALL FOR YOU' - YOUNG GALAXY Canadian indie band Young Galaxy know how to have fun and thankfully they are kind enough to share what their fun creates. 'Fall For You' is from their new album Ultramarine and it creates all kinds of good feelings when you hear it. If you watch the video whilst listening you will never be sad again. 5. 'RUN AWAY' - SUNSTROKE PROJECT It's Eurovision weekend, which means its time to reflect on one of the greatest moments in recent competition history — epic sax man. When Moldova took to the stage in 2010 nobody expected much; how wrong we all were. Not only did we get a spinning violinist but we were also treated to the most epic saxophonist ever. Many have tried to replicate his hips, but none have succeeded and it is doubtful that anybody ever will.
When Meredith celebrates its 31st festival in 2023, it'll do so with a live set more than half a century in the making. Doing the headlining honours: none other than German electro pioneers Kraftwerk, who have not only announced a solo tour of Australia this December, but also locked in a key slot in Meredith's Supernatural Amphitheatre. Aunty Meredith comes bearing two big pieces of news, with Kraftwerk leading the bill — aka the only artist that's been revealed for 2023's fest so far — and the ticket ballot opening. Book that long weekend now, pop your name in the running and cross your fingers that you'll be spending Friday, December 8–Sunday, December 10 at The Sup. "Kraftwerk, quite simply, are the reason music sounds like it does today. Progenitors of pop. Of music as we know it," the Meredith team advised, announcing the Düsseldorf-formed group as the event's first big name for 2023. They're not wrong. "Specks of Kraftwerk DNA hurtle through the space-time continuum, embedding themselves into Bowie, Spacemen 3, Afrika Bambaataa, Prince, Daft Punk, New Order, Radiohead, Missy Elliott and every Meredith Music Festival for the last three decades." [caption id="attachment_847588" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ben Fletcher[/caption] As for who else will join Kraftwerk, watch this space. In 2022, Meredith's first festival since 2019 due to the pandemic, the Caribou-, Yothu Yindi- and Courtney Barnett-led lineup dropped in mid-August. To nab tickets to the beloved three-day BYO camping festival, you've got until 10.31pm AEST on Monday, August 14 to enter the ballot. [caption id="attachment_865642" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chelsea King[/caption] MEREDITH 2023 LINEUP: Kraftwerk and more to come Meredith Music Festival will return to Meredith on Friday, December 8–Sunday, December 10, 2023. To put your name in the ballot to get your hands on tickets, head to the festival's website before 10.31pm AEST on Monday, August 14. Top image: Steve Benn.
If you're feeling in the need for a refreshing, summer-friendly art experience, head along to the Monash Art Gallery for a squiz at their new exhibition, Life Aquatic. Taking the fact that a whole lot of a) the earth, and b) our bodies are made up of water as a starting point, the exhibition will explore the omnipotence of water through photography as a meeting of science and art. Showcasing a number of underwater landscapes from three different photographers — Narelle Autio, Ruth Maddison and Catherine Nelson — Life Aquatic will remind you that there is life below sea level — and lots of it. Check out the photos, then go for a wander in the Underwater Garden installation at the gallery by Poppies For Grace. Image: Red Nails, Narelle Autio (2006).
Since dropping a trailer back in September 2022, the instantly stunning-looking Suzume has sat high on animation fans' must-see lists. Given that the Japanese movie is the new release from Your Name and Weathering with You director Makoto Shinkai, it was always going to. The filmmaker's resume speaks for itself, also spanning The Place Promised in Our Early Days, 5 Centimetres per Second, Children Who Chase Lost Voices and The Garden of Words — and his features deserve to be as eagerly anticipated as Studio Ghibli's. Whether you've been excited about Suzume for months or this is the first you're hearing about it, you'd best mark your diary — because Shinkai's latest now has a release date Down Under. The film opened in Japan back in November, and will make its way to cinemas in Australia and New Zealand from Thursday, April 13. As seen in lively trailer, Suzume puts Shinkai into familiar territory visually, with the animation and art direction alone spectacularly and breathtakingly gorgeous. Every detail-filled frame of his films could easily sit on a wall — and, from the sneak peek, Suzume easily continues the trend. Story-wise, the movie follows its titular high school girl as she teams up with a mysterious young man to travel through otherworldly gates. The pair cross paths in a quiet Kyushu town, with the stranger telling the with 17-year-old Suzume that he's looking for a door. From there, they get hopping as disasters start to strike around Japan. As more doors open, more destruction follows — and it's up to Suzume to close the portals to stop the cycle. The coming-of-age tale doesn't just include doors that keep opening up in Japan's "lonely areas people have forgotten" — doors in places that'll make you want to travel far and wide through Japan, as Weathering with You did with Tokyo — but also talking cats, swirling red clouds and scampering chairs. "At its core, Suzume is based on the massive disaster that occurred in Japan twelve years ago. I'm eager to see how this film translates to international audiences: what makes sense, what doesn't, and what common ground we have across cultures," said Shinkai. "The film's imminent international release will hopefully give me the answer to those questions. And, I cannot thank our team members enough for their unprecedented talent and perseverance throughout the film's production. On behalf of the entire team, I would also like to give thanks to all the fans who have cheered us on, making Suzume possible." As they did with Your Name and Weathering with You, Radwimps provide Suzume's soundtrack. The film heads Down Under after playing the Berlin International Film Festival in February, in the prestigious event's official competition — becoming the first Japanese animated film to do so since Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away, which won the coveted Golden Bear in 2002. Check out the trailer for Suzume below: Suzume opens in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, April 13.
Each year we vow to be better gift-givers, but when the office secret santa rolls around, and Christmas parties start to ramp up, we're left with limited time to find a truly good present, one that says we genuinely care. Well, not this year; this time we're prepared. In partnership with Square, we've searched through Australia's independent shops to bring you a gift guide to match all the colleagues you might be assigned this present-giving season. If you are a small business owner, Square has the tools you need to take payments and maximise your sales, including an ebook with tips to help you get started this holiday season. FOR THE WORK PARENT Plant and self-watering planter from The Plant Society, $30 Melbourne plant hunters Jason Chongue and Nathan Smith set up The Plant Society in 2016 and now the small business ships its green shoots, ceramics, homewares and planter kits to people across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. When you're looking for a gift that says thank you to the office parent — the one that mops up the spills, has painkillers when you need them and a shoulder to cry on — we suggest giving a little love back. Buy them an indoor plant already potted in a self-watering planter. You can choose the pot colour and plants, which range from tropical philodendron super atoms to the popular monstera deliciosa. FOR THE BIG CHEESE Gift card from Mould Cheese Collective, $25–85 No matter how much you love your boss, when you've drawn the big cheese of your workplace for this year's gift exchange there's a lot of pressure to get it right. Choose a dud: everyone feels awkward. Pick something special: early marks all round. We say, send them a box of cheesy delights from The Mould Cheese Collective, a Victoria-based club for cheese lovers. You can shop for gooey goodness on its website, but for the safest bet, there's a trusty gift voucher of either $25, $50 or $85. The bonus: it's an instant gift, so no need to wait for shipping. The downside: not suitable for lactose intolerant leaders. FOR THE WANNABE DJ Dolly Parton's Blue Smoke from Cottonmouth Records, $55 Sydney's Cottonmouth Records has a loyal local following for its record store and bar in Enmore, but you don't need to live nearby to take advantage of owner Zachery Williams' eclectic vinyl collection. Its online store has black gold in all shades of nostalgia, from Beastie Boys and Mariah Carey to Pearl Jam and The Prodigy. It's not all about the throwbacks — there are plenty of recent releases available on vinyl here — but, when shopping for the coworker who controls the playlist, we think there's a lot of joy in Dolly Parton's back catalogue. We've picked Blue Smoke, but you can also order Jolene for $39, which is an absolute steal. Shipping is $15, or free for orders over $100. FOR THE ETHICAL ONE Face mask from Second Stitch, $18 Melbourne-based not-for-profit Second Stitch is a social enterprise that employs refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum. It beat lockdown in Victoria by making cute reusable cloth masks in uplifting patterns and colours. When your kris kringle recipient is that work mate who likes to support charities and ethical businesses, this practical gift will go a long way. Not only are the two-layer cotton masks an environmental solution to an ongoing pandemic, but also your purchase directly provides meaningful employment for some of the most disadvantaged members in the community. Now that's what the spirit of Christmas is all about. FOR THE SALAD-FOR-LUNCH ONE Citrus Trio from Mount Zero Olives, $25 If the only thing you know about Nic from HR is that they like to bring their own meals to work every day, be the teammate who celebrates their forward planning and discipline by getting them something that'll bring them a little joy every lunchtime. This trio of extra virgin olive oils from Mount Zero Olives is better than your supermarket drizzles, as they're pressed with citrus fruits rather than infused with synthetic flavours. The family-owned Victorian company says the lime, mandarin and lemon oils pair well with seafood, egg brekkies and roast veggies, so they're versatile too. Shipping is $12, or free for orders over $100. FOR THE CAFFEINE GEEK How to Buy It, Brew It from Market Lane, $25 If you've got a work buddy who places coffee high on their daily to-do lists, look to Melbourne roaster Market Lane for a gift to match their beverage of choice. Market Lane ships beans, coffee making equipment and literature across Australia. And, for a present that'll last longer than a bag of freshly ground coffee, you should pick the in-depth guide to a good brew How to Buy It, Brew It, written by Market Lane's co-founder Jason Scheltus. You can ask for it to be wrapped in paper designed by artist Julia Stewart for no extra cost and shipping is just $8. FOR THE IT'S-5PM-SOMEWHERE ONE Four-pack of Peach Sauce from Sauce Brewing Co, $20 We've all got a coworker who's a bit of a craft beer nerd. The one who plans their weekends around brewery crawls, goes out of their way to order the most obscure ales on tap, and loves to share their knowledge of local drops. Lean into the passions of this person and get them a four-pack of tart, tangy, crowd-pleasing Peach Sauce. The berliner weisse is one of many creative brews from Sydney microbrewery Sauce. There's also hazy pale ale Caribbean Fog, New England-style IPA Bubble & Squeak and a tropical Frisson Raspberry, ready for the summer of seltzers. FOR THE SNACK QUEEN Bubble O Bill cookies from Dough Re Mi, $18 Wagga-based bakery Dough Re Mi specialises in custom-made cookies designed to brighten someone's day. And we couldn't think of anyone more deserving of a treat than the snack kings and queens of your office. They're always ready with a bag of chippies or choccies when deadlines are tight and everyone needs a mood booster. You could go all out and order ones with a motivational message, but for us the winning choice is Bubble O Bill's face on a butter biscuit, complete with a bubble gum nose. You can order a single cookie for $5.50, or a gift box for $18. And Dough Re Mi ships Australia-wide. FOR THE NEW PERSON Notebook from Studio A, $15 Thrown right in the deep end, just before the festive season, the workplace newbie has to be one of the toughest people to buy for when it comes to secret santa time. However, it couldn't be worse than actually being the newest person to join the team. Think of all the catching up they've got to do — and that's just on the office goss. Pick them something they'll be proud to use every day, like a notebook designed by one of Studio A's talented artists. The Sydney-based studio supports artists with disability, providing a workspace and materials for artists to realise their aspirations. We like these ones by Lisa Scott, left, and Thom Roberts, right. Shipping is an additional $10, so order one for yourself while you're at it. FOR THE FASHION ICON Sturt's Desert Pea Socks from Julie White, $30 Adelaide-based designer Julie White creates bold and colourful designs inspired by Australian flora and fauna. She draws all the designs by hand, including ones of lorikeets, midnight orchids and Sturt's desert peas. Her head and neck scarves are 100-percent silk, and the silky-feel knee-high socks are nylon. If your secret santa budget is $30, order a set of statement socks for the most fashionable person in your workplace. They'll feel seen. And, as a treat for you, shipping is free within Australia for orders over $30. Find out how Square is supporting small businesses with the tools they need to grow, here. If you are a small business owner, Square has guidance on how best to maximise sales in the run up to the Christmas holiday period in its ebook, found here.
If you've ever picked up a loved one at the airport, sometimes you might get caught up in the sheer beauty of the moment and simply not know what to say. Those in Amsterdam don't have to worry about becoming a stuttering emotional wreck anymore, as the Schiphol Airport Bannerxpress now allows people to print welcome home signs from a vending machine at the airport. The machine has been under development for the past three years, and recently made its debut at Schiphol Airport. Vending machines now house much more than your standard soft drink, as you can customise these signs with different sizes, fonts, artwork and themes. Depending on how fancy you banner is, this will set you back between 4 and 15 Euros. Depending on the popularity of the machine, Bannerxpress co-founder Thibaud Bruna says that there are plans to place the machines at sporting events and concerts. [via Trendhunter]
Ah, gin, how we love thee. Pretty bottles, lesser hangovers and the smell of botanicals in every sip. Bombay Sapphire are giving you the opportunity to embrace gin at its fullest by matching it to food at their annual pop-up event, Project Botanicals, happening September 8-18. There are ten different botanicals in Bombay Sapphire gin, much more than just juniper. The dishes to be served at Project Botanicals have been tailored to bring out each of the botanicals – whether it's lemon peel, coriander, orris root or almond. Because Melburnians love their gin, tickets sold out quicker than you could say G&T. But, don't worry — you can still head along to the pop-up bar for your gin fix (no ticket needed) or try making a simplified version of it at home. This here is a simple version of the Orris Spice Trader – a blend of turmeric, lime and ginger beer with gin in a cocktail best paired with a coconut curry. ORRIS SPICE TRADER Botanical: Orris root INGREDIENTS 60ml x Bombay Sapphire gin 1 tsp x caster sugar 20ml x lime juice 120ml x ginger beer ¼ pinch x grated turmeric METHOD 1. Take a highball glass and add 20ml lime juice and 1 teaspoon of caster sugar. 2. Add ¼ pinch of grated turmeric. 3. Pour in 60ml Bombay and 120ml ginger beer and 4. Stir with ice. 5. Step up the botany further with the garnish – fresh mint. Images: Steven Woodburn. Project Botanicals will take place at Taxi Riverside from September 8-18. Unfortunately all tickets have sold out, but you can still drop by the pop-up bar from Thursday to Sunday. Get all the details here.
With hard-hitting dramas, imaginative comedies and a retrospective tribute to one of the all-time greats, the latest edition of the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival doesn't disappoint. Lighting up the screen from March 2-24 in Melbourne, the 2016 program features a diverse mix of titles showcasing the very best the French film industry has to offer. Cannes winners are set to be a highlight, with Rust and Bone director Jacques Audiard tackling the issue of asylum seekers in his new offering Dheepan, and Philippe Garrel's masterful romantic drama In the Shadow of Women. Legendary French filmmaker Michel Gondry's new film Microbe & Gasoline will also feature in the festival — which will be closed by Jean Luc-Godard's 1963 film Contempt.
Everyone loves heading overseas for a holiday, but no one likes spending more time actually getting from point A to point B than they absolutely have to. So, before the pandemic grounded international getaways from Australia for the better part of two years, Qantas had been working to make stopovers a thing of the past — introducing direct flights from Perth to London, and exploring the possibility of doing the same from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. While those non-stop east coast legs are currently on hold, the Aussie airline has just announced a new direct trip — and the only flight that'll connect Australia to continental Europe. Between June and October 2022, the carrier will fly return from Perth to Rome three times a week. And yes, that timing is 100-percent aimed at letting Australians take full advantage of European summer holidays. The new flights will technically end and begin in Sydney, with a stopover in Perth — and they'll be more than three hours faster than the current quickest travel time from Australia to Rome. That means fewer hours spent in transit, and more to actually soak in Italy. It also means spending a big unbroken block of time in the air, which still sounds a bit like science fiction after so long without international travel. If that's your 2022 plans sorted — why just have an Australian summer when you can enjoy Europe's warmest season as well? — tickets for the new route have gone on sale, starting from $1785 return. The Sydney–Perth–Rome flights will debut on Wednesday, June 22, and are currently scheduled to run until Thursday, October 6. And, if you're keen to head elsewhere on the continent, you'll be able to use Rome as a connection point to fly to 16 other European destinations, including Athens, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Nice, Madrid and Paris — and 15 spots in Italy, Milan and Venice among them. Also, if you fancy flying into Rome but coming home from London, or vice versa, Qantas will let you combine the two direct routes on the one return ticket. Qantas' new Australia–Rome direct flights will fly from Wednesday, June 22–Thursday, October 6. For more information, or to book tickets, head to the airline's website.
Paul Allam and David McGuinness opened Bourke St Bakery in 2004 and worked their way into the heart of inner-Sydney with their quality handmade baked goods. This month they will extend their reach to the city’s outskirts with the launch of The Bread & Butter Project, the 'Makers of Bakers', a social enterprise designed to skill-up the disenfranchised and take the tastes of Bourke St to high-end provedores, restaurants and cafes — it's an old-fashioned everybody wins scheme. The project will be starting up at their Marrickville bakery with six refugees coming on board from greater Sydney for a 12-month paid traineeship in the art of making some of this city's best bread. On graduation the trainees will not only have experience working at a high-standard bakery but be armed with TAFE-accredited credentials for the jobs marketplace. All profits from the enterprise will be reinvested back into the program, which hopes to double its intake of future bakers next year. But it's not just goodwill that will keep the bitter taste in your mouth at bay; the bread range is available on their website, and with offerings like a white chia and goji berry semi-sourdough, this initiative looks set to follow in the success of its older siblings, Bourke St Bakery and Wilbur's Place eatery. Bread & Butter will soon be available at DJs Food Halls in Bondi Junction and the CBD, along with Thomas Dux Crows Nest and from the Sydney Food Connect Organic Fruit and Vegetable Delivery Service. Bread will also be available direct to the public through local markets — The Entertainment Quarter and The Sydney Morning Herald Grower's Market in Pyrmont — and at select restaurants and cafes.
While there are lots of words you might use to describe Northcote, 'magical' wouldn’t normally be one of them. But that all changes for two weeks in July, with the arrival of the largest magic showcase the Southern Hemisphere has to offer. With more than 50 different acts hosted at the Northcote Town Hall, the seventh annual Melbourne Magic Festival looks to have plenty of tricks illusions up its sleeve. The MMF Galas highlight top acts from the festival, although you'll need to act fast to grab tickets before they sell out. Of the individual shows, some of the more intriguing titles include Sarah Jones' Talking to Yourself: A History of Ventriloquism and Dane Certificate's Vanishing Elephant. High profile international performers, meanwhile, include America's Got Talent finalist Dan Sperry, and Singapore's enchanting Yong Tian. There's also a variety of family options, including the irresistibly titled Make Your Parents Disappear. Lastly, for any burgeoning wizards out there, the festival offers a heap of different workshops and classes. Just try not to set yourself on fire. For more information about the Melbourne Magic Festival, check out the website.
Harvest is back for its second year and the official lineup has now been announced. International favourites on the lineup include Beck, Sigur Ros, Grizzly Bear and Santigold. At Harvest's debut last year, festivalgoers witnessed performances from Portishead, The Flaming Lips, The National and TV On The Radio at what most hoped would be the first of many festivals to come. With rumours about the 2012 installation circulating for weeks, it was hard not to be excited when the full lineup for the November events came through at last. Tickets go on sale to the public on Thursday, June 28 at 9am from Harvest Festival, Oztix & Ticketek. Harvest Festival 2012 lineup: Beck Sigur Ros Grizzly Bear Mike Patton's Mondo Cane Santigold Beirut Cake The Dandy Warhols The Black Angels Chromatics Ozomatli Liars Ben Folds Five F**K Buttons The War on Drugs Dark Dark Dark Plus many more to be announced... Harvest 2012 dates: Sunday, November 11 at Melbourne's Werribee Park Saturday, November 17 at Sydney's Paramatta Park Sunday, November 18 at Brisbane's Botanic Gardens
Premium dining is not just for the inner city, and this is proven by the former Nobu and Saké chefs in the kitchen at Katóri in Box Hill. The Japanese yakiniku restaurant combines traditional methods, seasonal Australian ingredients and the creativity and skill of the chefs to sophisticated success. High quality wagyu beef, seafood from local fishmongers, and seasonal veggies are cooked on a charcoal barbecue grill — in the kitchen or by you at your own personal grill, built into the tables — and served alongside a selection of signature dishes, sushi, sashimi and salads. Desserts are creative and delicate, fusing Eastern and Western flavours, to be enjoyed with cocktails championing Japanese whisky, as well as wine, sake and tea. The dining room itself is dark, luxurious and welcoming, a pretty great example of casual fine dining.
We've heard of public bookshelves and we see piles of terrible self-help books left outside people's terrace houses all the time (just one time, we'd like to pick up a classic), but this New York artist has found a different way to pass on his unwanted paperbacks. Shaheryar Malik, an art director originally from London but working in NYC, left piles of books in high traffic spots around the city for people to pick up and read — and has created a pretty bloody beautiful work of art in the process. Dubbed The Reading Project, the art experiment was both a way for Malik to pass on books from his personal collection and express himself in NYC in a way that wasn't just taking another selfie. So he placed books in some of the busiest spots in one of the busiest cities in the world — Times Square Subway Station, Central Park, The High Line, Brooklyn Bridge — and had photographer Daniel Yim take a single photo of them. Then, the books were left for passersby to pick up, take home and read. Malik left a note with his contact details in each of the books, and according to The Guardian, he's recieved over 60 responses so far. The result is some seriously great photos of books in some of the world's most iconic locations. And literary nerds will be pleased to know that Malik has a diverse range of books in his collection, with titles ranging from Portuguese literature to the history of Nazi Germany — so if you ever bump into one of his book piles, you'll find much more than just the same self-help schtick. Via The Guardian. Images: Daniel Yim.
In front of the camera, Thomas M Wright's first credit came courtesy of Round the Twist. Two decades later, he has roles on everything from The Secret Life of Us, Top of the Lake and The Bridge through to Van Diemen's Land, Balibo, Everest and Sweet Country to his name. But since hopping behind the lens in 2018, the Australian actor-turned-filmmaker has proven one of the country's most fascinating new directors — first with Acute Misfortune and now with the upcoming The Stranger. That initial helming stint saw Wright take on the story of artist Adam Cullen and journalist Erik Jensen, after the latter was invited to stay with the former in 2008 to turn his life story into a biography. One of the most stunning recent Aussie filmmaking debuts, Acute Misfortune not only explored its subject in a riveting warts-and-all fashion, but also interrogated the nation's fascination with festering masculinity — and yes, it truly was something special. Premiering at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, then set to arrive in Australian cinemas on October 6 before hitting Netflix around the globe on October 19, The Stranger also draws from reality — from the effort to apprehend the person responsible for Daniel Morcombe's abduction and murder. That said, this isn't a recreation or a dramatisation. If you didn't know about the ties to reality going in, or even before pressing play on the just-dropped new trailer, you probably wouldn't pick it — even with lines like "this is the largest missing person's case in the history of our state and is one of the largest in the history of our country". Crucially, The Stranger isn't about the crime, but focuses on the undercover operation to bring the perpetrator to justice. Joel Edgerton (Thirteen Lives) stars as Mark, who goes undercover to befriend drifter Henry (Sean Harris, Spencer) — first striking up a conversation while travelling, with Henry unaware of Mark's true identity and motives. While fictionalised, The Stranger joins Australia's growing list of unsurprisingly tense films unpacking dark chapters in the nation's past, such as Chopper, Snowtown and Nitram. Check out the trailer for The Stranger below: The Stranger will release in Australian cinemas on October 6, and stream Down Under via Netflix from October 19.
Getting stuck in the Upside Down mustn't be fun. Fighting demogorgons really wouldn't be either. And, neither would being imprisoned in a Russian jail, fighting secret government agents and seeing your home town rocked by a satanic panic-style witch-hunt. They're all among the grim things that Stranger Things has thrown its characters' ways over the years, including in the just-dropped first half of its long-awaited fourth season — and now waiting for the final two episodes in the season isn't that much fun as well. Obviously, spending the entire month of June listening to Kate Bush is on most Netflix viewers' agendas. But if you're after a bit more than that, the streaming platform has just released its first teaser trailer for the second volume of Stranger Things season four. Due to arrive on Friday, July 1, it'll dive back into the current tussle with Vecna — although, as this clip shows, he's decided that no one can stop his chaos now. The new sneak peek is brief, and it won't make any sense if you haven't already seen what the residents of Hawkins, Indiana have been up to lately. It still keeps the hefty slasher and horror vibes going, though, and teases another showdown between Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, Godzilla vs Kong) and the series' new big bad. Need a refresher on where things are up to? Season four is set six months after the season three's battle of Starcourt, and sees Eleven living in Lenora Hills, California, with Will Byers (Noah Schnapp, Waiting for Anya), his brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton, The Souvenir Part II) and their mother Joyce (Winona Ryder, The Plot Against America). But, despite her claims that things are sunny — in letters to her boyfriend Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard, Ghostbusters: Afterlife), of course — they really aren't. The same proves true back in Hawkins, too. There, teens are turning up dead, and metal-loving outcast Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn, Small Axe) — who also runs the high school Dungeons & Dragons club — is the prime suspect. Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo, The Angry Birds Movie 2), Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink, Fear Street) and Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin, Concrete Cowboy) all know better, though, and enlist help from Steve Harrington (Joe Keery, Free Guy), Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke, Fear Street) and Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer, Things Seen & Heard) to work out what's going on. That's the basic overview — with season four so far also spanning nods to 80s flicks aplenty, a wonderful horror cameo, explorations of Eleven's past and powers, road trips, and Jim Hopper's (David Harbour, Black Widow) whole situation in a Soviet gulag. As for what'll happen next, things look as eerie, tense and chilling as ever. And no, the new trailer isn't set to 'Running Up That Hill'. Check out the first sneak peek at Stranger Things season four volume two below: The first seven episodes of Stranger Things season four are available to stream now via Netflix, with the remaining two set to follow on Friday, July 1. Read our full review of Stranger Things season four volume one.
Any film that critics compare to being "stabbed in the head" would normally be something that people would want to avoid. But when it comes to The Room, the harsher the reviews the better. The 2003 melodrama, about a love triangle between a banker, his best friend and his treacherous fiance, has spawned a massive cult following, with audiences all around the world coming together at late-night screenings to celebrate its cringe-worthy performances, horrendous dialogue and baffling, incomprehensible plot. The mad genius behind The Room is its writer-director-producer-star, the mysterious Tommy Wiseau. Blessed with a confidence that far exceeds his ability, it's Wiseau's virtuosic incompetence that plays a huge part in the movie's appeal. Interviews with Wiseau tend to raise more questions than they answer. A more forthcoming subject is actor Greg Sestero, who co-stars as the best friend, Mark. Sestero recently co-penned a book, titled The Disaster Artist, full of behind-the-scenes stories about the movies' turbulent production. In the lead-up to a promotional visit to Australia, Sestero spoke to Concrete Playground about the book, Wiseau and his dubious double-edged fame. https://youtube.com/watch?v=mQ4KzClb1C4 When you meet Tommy Wiseau "He was the ultimate character," remembers Sestero of his and Wiseau's first meeting, in a Los Angeles acting class back in 1998. "He didn't take no for an answer. As a nineteen-year-old aspiring actor who was doubting myself, he was the perfect person for me to meet at that point in my life." Slowly, the two became friend. Even so, when Wiseau first approached Sestero about making the movie, the actor was reluctant. "I agreed to help him make the film behind the scenes, [but] he really wanted me to be in it," says Sestero. "The night before filming he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I was an unemployed actor working retail, and I didn't think anybody would see it. Fortunately I was wrong." Production proved a disaster, with cast and crew members regularly quitting or being fired over the course of the six month shoot. "You were dealing with somebody who had never made a film," says Sestero. "He wanted to honour his vision, and anybody who got in the way was shown the door. It was a very trying experience for a lot of people … but he had a very unique way of making art, and more power to him. Unique stands out, and here we are eleven years later, still talking about The Room." When you want fame but get notoriety "I always thought the movie was very funny and very campy, but I was shocked when it found an audience," says Sestero. "It developed a small LA fanbase around 2005, 2006, and then there was an article written in Entertainment Weekly that really blew it up. It wasn't until 2010 that I did an appearance at a theatre in New York at which twelve hundred people showed up. I think at that point I realised The Room had arrived." Of his own performance, and the questionable celebrity the film brought him, the actor remains upbeat. "For something that I just phoned in and didn't expect anything from, I can't really complain," says Sestero. "When you put yourself out there and you read bad things about yourself, it stings. But with this project I was kind of in on the joke from the beginning." And frankly, no one would argue that the cast didn't have their work cut out for them. "With the dialogue, even if you did try to act well, you would have been doomed," reflects the actor. "Even Daniel Day-Lewis probably would have had some trouble getting those lines out." When James Franco and Seth Rogen want to act out your memoirs "I think the book has kind of redeemed the whole experience," says Sestero. "Ever since I made this movie, there were so many crazy stories. I thought that if I took them to a publisher, they wouldn't even believe it as fiction. Then as time went on and the cult began to grow, I felt like the story behind it became even more compelling." Now, in a fittingly strange turn of events, James Franco and Seth Rogen have announced that they'll be adapting the memoir into a film. Franco will direct, while his younger brother Dave will play Sestero. "It's still in the early stages, but I think James Franco and Seth Rogen have made so many great films," says Sestero. "They're a great fit for the project." Despite all The Room has done for him, Sestero is looking forward to moving on. "At the end of the day, it's really Tommy's movie," says Sestero. "It's what really defines him. I think we were all just passengers on this ship. The book was a start to doing things that I'm really excited about, and to kind of show that there's more to me than just this bad movie."
Things are starting to get pretty frosty in Melbourne, so the team at Welcome To Thornbury are heating up a plan to help warm your weekend — a mini festival dedicated to mulled wine and hot cheese. The party's set to take over the Northcote food truck park from noon, this Saturday, May 27, pulling together a selection of hot, gooey creations from some of the city's favourite cheese-slinging vendors. This is where all your cheesiest dreams come true, chowing down on lush cheese fondue from Frencheese, The Cheese Rebels' decadent haloumi sausages, a raclette burger from the folks at Mr Burger, and other treats from the likes of That Arancini Guy, Crepes For Change, and Sparrow's Philly Cheesesteaks. Of course, you won't find a better drink match to all that rich, melty dairy than some hot, spiced booze, so the bar will be rounding out its usual offerings with a special mulled wine, available all day long. The first Mulled Wine and Hot Cheese Festival happens from midday to 11pm, Saturday, May 27, at Welcome to Thornbury, 520 High Street, Northcote.
Remember March 2020, when lockdowns first hit, panic-buying toilet paper became a thing and everyone watched the same true-crime docoseries? It now seems like an eternity ago, but our memories do still stretch back that far. We'll all always equate the beginning of the pandemic with Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, after all, and do the same when it comes to last year in general and Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin-related news. Netflix isn't done with all you cool cats and kittens just just yet, however. When Tiger King became a huge hit, another season of the docuseries itself was floated — and now the streamer has confirmed that Tiger King 2 will surface before 2021 is over. Exactly what it'll focus on hasn't yet been revealed, but an incarcerated Exotic pops up in the brief snippets seen in the platform's new trailer for its upcoming true-crime slate. Also featured: Baskin, obviously. Last year, when news of more Tiger King first did the rounds, it was expected that the filmmakers behind the popular doco would actually turn their attention to a different big cat-related tale: the 2003 mauling attack at a Siegfried and Roy show. That might still come to fruition; however, for now, all you cool cats and kittens are heading back to familiar territory. And yes, other projects leapt on the Joe Exotic bandwagon over the past 18 months, endeavouring to capitalise upon the worldwide obsession with him, Baskin and the duo's strange intertwined story. So, in the near future, you'll also be watching a dramatised series with Kate McKinnon as Baskin that's been shooting in Australia this year. Sadly, another drama with Nicolas Cage as Exotic that was announced last year has since been scrapped. Back to Netflix, the platform also has four other big true-crime titles in the works. In January 2022, three-part series The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman will hit the service, with the filmmakers behind The Imposter telling a tale that dates back to 2005 but still has new developments today. Then, in February 2022, get ready for The Tinder Swindler, a film that's clearly about another conman — one who posed as a billionaire playboy on Tinder — and the women who decided to bring him down. Also arriving next year sometime is movie Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King, about investors trying to get to the truth behind cryptocurrency multimillionaire Gerry Cotten's suspicious death, and also attempting to find the missing $250 million they think he stole. And then there's Bad Vegan, a series that sees celebrity restaurateur Sarma Melngailis get scammed out of millions after a man convinces her that he can grow her food empire and make her beloved pit bull immortal. Yes, really. Check out the teaser trailer for Netflix's true-crime slate below: Tiger King 2 will hit Netflix sometime before 2021 ends — we'll update you when an exact date is announced. For further information about the streaming platform's upcoming true-crime slate, head to the Netflix website.
She's worked in hatted restaurants and, in recent years, chef Jerry Mai has hit Melbourne to open Pho Nom, a Vietnamese restaurant with two Melbourne CBD locations bragging the freshest rice paper rolls this side of the Mekong Delta. Now she's set to return to her hatted roots with a new (and slightly more upmarket) venture, Annam. Mai has teamed up with Rani Doyle, of The National Hotel in Richmond, whom she's known for many years — and together they're aiming to revolutionise your understanding of Vietnamese cuisine. Annam will be all about traditional Vietnamese dishes, and slightly more high-end than the hawker style fare of Pho Nom. In fact, the name Annam is what Vietnam was known as prior to 1945. But don't confuse traditional Vietnamese food with homogenous Vietnamese food. Vietnam has a long history of subjugation. They've been occupied by the Chinese, French and Japanese, with their traditional cuisine picking up influences from every historic episode, as well as from their neighbours Laos and Cambodia. Mai's menu will draw on Vietnam's culinary fusion as well as her own background in curries and stir fries. The addition of a chargrill will mean you can expect lots of smoky, experimental protein too. But by far, one of Mai's most intriguing ideas borrows directly from Japanese cuisine. It's based on the Japanese idea of counter-served omasake (chef's selection) but with freshly made rice paper rolls. Mai is working closely with locals to guarantee the freshest rotating produce daily. "You'll get all the beautiful produce in the window: wonderful Hiramasa kingfish, spanner crab, tuna toro. Imagine the [freshest seafood] torched or slathered in miso, in a rice paper roll, made to order." "We're sourcing the produce like a [Japanese] chef does when they do nigiri, with that same love and respect but in a rice paper roll. I'm a strong believer in paddock to plate. We deal directly with farmers." For the drinks menu, they're looking at complementary but not strictly Vietnamese drops. "We're looking at wines that will suit the food, cocktails made with tropical fruits, and also at local and imported beers," Mai says. The architectural concept has been developed by Emlyn Olaver, with the venue currently in the demolition stage and construction due to start soon. Transporting patrons to sensual Vietnam is the aim of the fit out — and indeed the whole restaurant. "Relive sitting in the street, on a little stool somewhere in Vietnam," Mai says. "The heat and the smoke coming from the grill, and the noise coming from the kitchen and hopefully we can transport you back to a holiday in south-east Asia somewhere." Annam, 56 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD, is set to open in mid-August. Image: James Morgan.
The future is officially here, and the subject of many-a sci-fi novel and the dream of every comic book geek is set to become a mass-produceable reality. Google have been the brains and big bucks behind this astounding innovation, with the company's founder Sergey Brin stating that "you can count on one hand the number of years until ordinary people can experience this." This story has been doing the rounds on social media in the recent weeks following California governor Jerry Brown's signing of SB1298, a law which makes driverless cars legal in the state of California. While the project is still in the prototype stage, Google's driverless cars have now done more than 300,000 miles of travel without incident, which at this stage makes them statistically safer than normal automobiles. According to Brin, driverless cars will revolutionise the way we travel and commute. Anyone, and they mean anyone, can "drive" Google's driverless cars, with the elderly, the young, the blind and perhaps most significantly the intoxicated all capable of operating the self-driving car. Similarly, traffic could become a thing of the past if we are to believe Brin's analysis. "Why does the congestion happen to begin with? The fact is that on a normally operating highway, cars take up a very small fraction of the space. Mostly it's just air between you the the car in front of you, to the sides of you, and so forth. Self-driving cars can actually 'chain together' and use the highways more efficiently, potentially eradicating congestion" he said. While the image of thousands of cars roaring down the highway "chained together" does really like sound something out of a Ridley Scott film, Google are confident this image could become a reality in the coming years. The big question for most people in the advent of self-driving cars has been one of safety. Can we trust these things or are we looking at some sort of Matrix-style revolution where artificial intelligence takes over the world? In terms of accidents, so far so good. The only significant accident involving a self-driving car occurred when a driver was operating the car in manual mode. Google as well has stated that self-driving cars will never run a red light and so we are close to reaching a point where driverless cars may not only be the most ultra-modern driving experience but also the safest. While there are a long list of "what ifs" Google are still trying to iron out and overcome, if you are hoping to turn your Prius into something worthy of a James Bond film, have a look at this video to see what the ever-closer future will look like.
Take the rocky road down to the Yarra Valley and get ready to stuff your face. Yes, the fiends behind the annual month-long sugar extravaganza are taking your tastebuds on a trip all over again, with sweet, nutty, marshmallowy rocky road in the spotlight. By the way, to any dentists who are reading, go ahead and put down a deposit on that beach house you were looking at. We have a feeling your financial situation is going to be juuuuuuuuust fine. The Rocky Road Festival of Flavours will run through the entire month of May. That's 31 days, which means 31 different flavours. And it doesn't just stop at blocks and bars, either. There'll also be rocky road hot chocolate, rocky road ice cream, rocky road waffles and rocky road croissants too. The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery will also be hosting Rock Around the Block tasting sessions three times a day, which can be booked via their website.
If you've ever played along with McDonald's regular Monopoly promotion, then you'll want to watch McMillion$. The marketing campaign itself is rather simple — handing out Monopoly tokens with burger purchases, which corresponds to the game's squares and lets customers win big. But in the 90s in America, someone worked out how to rig it and handpick the lucky folks taking home $1 million cheques, as well as other prizes. Smartly, McMillion$ plays this 100-percent true tale as a whodunnit. If you don't already know the details, we'd advise you to keep it that way until you watch the docuseries' six very compelling and very bingeable episodes. You might not think that a show that spends so much time talking to FBI agents in nondescript offices would prove quite so gripping, but the case they uncovered is both complex and jaw-dropping. The interviews with the promotion's controversial winners, and with other figures involved with the scam, also have to be seen to be believed.
Riparide is a new online venture which aims to provide surfers from around the globe with an easier means of coordinating holidays and trips. The brainchild of Australians Marion Law and Dane O’Shanassy, Riparide allows surfers to seek accomodation and equipment from locals at their destination. Conversely, surfers who would rather catch waves than go to work can offer their own services in return for cash. O’Shanassy stated that “we’ve gone to places where we know the people with boards and places to stay, but not everyone’s lucky enough to know people in, say, Hawaii.” This is a great service which will only tighten the global surfing community. Staying with other locals will also give you a greater insight into the area and a more authentic experience. Who knows, you might find yourself staying on the couch of the next Kelly Slater. [via PSFK]
Snapping a few selfies over Christmas, and then sharing them with the world? Aren't we all. In this selfie-taking, uploading, sharing and Instagram-filling age, the days of only being able to spy your own image in a mirror or reflective surface are long gone. But, what if you could see it on a cookie, cupcake or even on top of your iced coffee? That's what New York's Selfee promises — and they can place your likeness on cold beverages and other baked goods as well. They've been holding pop-up events for the past six months, and are currently running a crowdfunding campaign to open their own store. At the time of writing, they've raised $23,516 towards their $30,000 goal with six days remaining. https://www.instagram.com/p/BOQBxEVAIgu/?taken-by=selff.ee How does it work, you're probably wondering? Flavourless, FDA-certified edible inks hold the key to feasting on food boasting your own picture — or another snap of your choosing. So does a quick printing method that happens as you watch, which gives it an advantage over existing methods of decorating food with your own image (such as cake transfers that have topped bakery fare for years — or online photo-printed marshmallow ordering service Boomf, which is co-owned by James Middleton, the brother of the Duchess of Cambridge). The New York shop will produce selfie-adorned cold-brew iced coffee, iced green tea, cupcakes, cookies, marshmallows and milkshakes, while an online store will ship cookies across America. Add it to your must-try list if you're heading to the US any time soon, or keep your fingers crossed that something similar pops up in Australia. (If you're heading to Asia, Selfie Coffee has proven popular in Singapore)> For more information about Selfee, visit their website.
