On small screens all around the world, The Last of Us is currently showing everyone how video game-to-TV adaptations can and should be done. Can the new Dungeons & Dragons movie do the same for tabletop role-playing games? Cinemagoers are about to find out, when Honour Among Thieves rolls out its campaign on the silver screen with Chris Pine, Regé-Jean Page, Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant among the cast. As seen in both Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves initial sneak peek back in 2022 and its new just-dropped full trailer, the film focuses on a motley crew of characters rolling the dice. "We're thieves," Pine (Don't Worry Darling) explains in both, if the title wasn't already obvious enough. This crew, which spans Page (The Gray Man), Rodriguez (Fast & Furious 9), Justice Smith (Jurassic World Dominion) and Sophie Lillis (IT and IT: Chapter Two), too, "helped the wrong person steal the wrong thing". Cue the greatest evil the world has ever known, unleashed unwittingly, which this band of pilferers now endeavours to stop. In the two sneak peeks so far, dragons pop up, of course. So do dungeons, to the astonishment of no one. Other fantastical animals, fights, flaming swords, fireballs, an army of the undead and quips: they're all included as well, as are Grant (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre), fellow cast members Chloe Coleman (Avatar: The Way of Water) and Daisy Head (Wrong Turn), and Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love'. Behind the camera, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Game Night) are in the directors' chairs, and co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Gilio. The mood they're going for: lighthearted, comic, but also an action-adventure epic. And, like all movies these days, they're seemingly trying to start a new franchise as well. Another Dungeons & Dragons movie has long sat on the list of things that were bound to happen after the success of Stranger Things. The role-playing game has already sparked three movies, with the first dating back to 2000 — but none of them starred this bunch (or were well-received, whether they hit theatres or went straight to home entertainment). Actually, another D&D film has been in the works in some shape or form since before the world saw a bunch of kids in Hawkins, Indiana play the game. Thanks to the success of Game of Thrones, fantasy epics have become a huge Hollywood cash cow (see also: the return of The Lord of the Rings as a streaming series). And yes, films based on Hasbro properties don't have the best record — the Transformers series, the GI Joe flicks, Battleship, Power Rangers — but if you're a D&D devotee, you'll be hoping this one changes that. Check out the new Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves trailer below: Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves opens in cinemas Down Under on March 30.
It takes just over 50 seconds for the Cat Person trailer to get Margot (Emilia Jones, CODA) uttering nine glaringly accurate words: "this is the worst life decision I've ever made". She's talking about dating Robert (Nicholas Braun, Succession), a regular at the cinema where the 20-year-old college student works — and she's speaking a line that everyone read in 2017, in the viral short story to end all viral short stories from the past decade. Six years back, when the December issue of The New Yorker arrived, Kristen Roupenian's tale of a nightmare relationship instantly went viral. That's where the world first met Margot and Robert, and stepped into this wild story. Cat Person was then printed as a book, and of course Hollywood came calling as well. The movie that's resulted debuted at the Sundance Film Festival earlier in 2023, has locked in an October 26 release in Australia and also just dropped its trailer. There are bad dates, and then there's this bad date, as Jones and Braun bring to the screen in the film's first sneak peek. "Listen, concession stand girl, why don't you give me your number?" Robert asks while Margot is slinging popcorn. From there, a flurry of texts springs, then terrible kissing, then massive discrepancies that become evident the more time that the pair spend together IRL. And, when Margot decides to break things off, in comes a change in his behaviour. As Cat Person sinks its claws into modern dating, the role that technology now plays and the gender divide, Susanna Fogel (the director of The Spy Who Dumped Me and one of Booksmart's writers) helms, Michelle Ashford (Operation Mincemeat) and adapts Roupenian's text. Featuring on-screen alongside Jones and Braun: Geraldine Viswanathan (Miracle Workers), Isabella Rossellini (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), Hope Davis (Asteroid City), Fred Melamed (Barry), Liza Koshy (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) and Michael Gandolfini (Beau Is Afraid). "Like the short story that stirred so much controversy, Cat Person will call upon you to reflect on romantic encounters you've had in the past, and to question the role (or multiple roles) you may have played," said Fogel about the film. "We've all been the victim in some narratives and the villain in others, and I hope you'll walk out of this film with a strong opinion, ready to debate." Check out the trailer for Cat Person below: Cat Person will release on October 26, 2023 Down Under.
There are many ways to spend Halloween, from dressing up and eating too many lollies to partying and hitting up spooky events. But watching John Carpenter's Halloween on October 31 remains one of the greatest ways to spend the occasion for one simple reason: 43 years on, it's still an absolute masterpiece, as well as one of the best horror movies ever made. This year, you can also pair Jamie Lee Curtis-starring 70s classic with the latest entry in the franchise that it's spawned over the past four-plus decades. Obviously, you can match up the OG Halloween with any of the flicks in the saga each and every year — but in 2021, Halloween Kills is finally hitting cinemas. Since that first movie back in 1978, the Halloween series has been through quite a few ups and downs. Clocking up ten follow-ups and 11 movies in total until now, the slasher franchise has delivered excellent and terrible sequels, veered into remake territory, both killed off and brought back its heroine, and completely erased parts of its own past several times. And, like its mask-wearing villain Michael Myers, it always finds a way to go on. Since 2018's Halloween, that's been especially great news, with the Jason Blum-produced 11th flick in the franchise proving a smart, thrilling horror delight, and ranking second only to the movie that started it all. Indeed, the film was such a success that two more sequels are headed our way from the same team (aka Blum, writer/director David Gordon Green and co-scribe Danny McBride): Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends. Originally, Halloween Kills was due to hit screens last year, in October — when else? — but, as announced in 2020 by franchise creator John Carpenter, it moved back its release to October this year. That's now fast approaching, with fans soon able to make a return trip to Haddonfield. Yes, that means that Curtis' spirited Laurie Strode will have another altercation with her lifelong nemesis, too — because, when it's at its best, that's what this franchise is all about. Picking up where its immediate predecessor left off, Halloween Kills will also take a few cues from another movie in the series, as its initial trailer and just-dropped latest sneak peek shows. Not one but two teasers last year set the scene for the saga's 12th entry, but the latest clips dive deep into the storyline. Following the events of the most recent film, Laurie ends up in hospital with life-threatening injuries just as Michael starts stalking through Haddonfield again — which is the same storyline that Halloween II followed exactly 40 years ago. Thankfully, if the last flick is any guide, Halloween Kills shouldn't prove a needless remake. Green and McBride did a stellar job of nodding to the past while finding a new way forward with 2018's Halloween, after all — and leaving horror fans definitely wanting more. This time, too, Laurie and her daughter Karen (Judy Greer, Valley Girl) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak, Son) team up with other survivors of Michael's rampages and decide to hunt down their attacker. Check out the latest Halloween Kills trailer below: Halloween Kills will release in Australian cinemas on October 28, 2021. Top image: Ryan Green/Universal Pictures.
Over the past few years, the air travel industry has been flitting back and forth between two extremes. The desire for longer flights — especially non-stop from Australia to London and New York — keeps getting stronger. At the same time, the push to reduce the environmental toll of soaring through the sky has also been growing. Where the latter is concerned, Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly set itself a goal of becoming the world's first plastic-free carrier. Closer to home, Qantas pledged to phase out single-use plastics and boarding passes — and has been using mustard seed biofuel to power its planes. For Canadian seaplane outfit Harbour Air, however, the solution is electric. And, this month, it launched the first fully electric commercial aircraft. So far, the ePlane — a six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver magnified by a 750-horsepower (or 560 kilowatt) magni500 propulsion system — has only just completed its first test flight, which took place in Vancouver on December 10. Still, with Harbour Air aiming to build world's first completely electric commercial seaplane fleet for its 30,000 commercial annual flights across 12 routes around Vancouver and Seattle, it's the first step. The ePlane's magni500 propulsion system is the key to turning Harbour Air fully electric dream — and its desire to focus on clean, efficient, environmentally friendly power — into a reality. It's created by a company called magniX, which has its headquarters in the US but actually started in Australia — on the Gold Coast, where it still has an engineering centre. Before Harbour Air can bring its fleet to fruition, the two outfits will first need to get the magni500 propulsion system certified and approved — and then retrofit the airline's aircraft. For further information about Harbour Air, visit the company's website. Images: Harbour Air
Insta-worthy eats and drinks are one thing, but a world-class food scene isn't built on the edible stuff alone. There's also a stack of gorgeous design work behind the most memorable hospitality venues and it's this very aspect that's celebrated at the annual Eat Drink Design Awards. As Australia and New Zealand's only hospitality design awards program, the Eat Drink Design Awards recognise hospo design gems across both countries, from restaurants, bars, and cafes, through to temporary spaces. While the 2017 award winners won't be chosen by the jury until November, the shortlist was revealed today and, as expected, it's packed full of all those cafes, bars, and restaurants your inner style nerd has been drooling over this past year or so. Local nominees for Best Bar Design include Hecker Guthrie's revamp of The George on Collins, Studio Y.'s work on Stomping Ground Brewery and Biasol for Mordialloc's Bang Bang. Mim Design for Au79, Six Degrees Architects for Cromwell STREAT and FOolscap Studio's compact design for Sensory Lab are among the projects shortlisted for Best Cafe Design, while the likes of Uncle Collins Street, Anchovy, the new Wilson & Market and Architects EAT's all-day venue Abacus are being considered for the Best Restaurant Design gong. Other categories being selected include Best Installation Design, Best Identity Design, and Best Retail Design. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 14 in Melbourne. For the full list of nominees, visit their website.
What can a bunny police officer and fox con artist teach humans about equality, diversity, fairness and keeping an open mind? In Zootopia, quite a lot. Yes, audiences are supposed to get a few giggles out of a cute, fluffy rabbit trying to enforce law and order, and nod knowingly when they see a sly predator pulling street-wise scams. But they're supposed to interrogate their initial reactions to these animal stereotypes as well. Breaking down preconceptions and teaching viewers not to form opinions based on appearances is the animated effort's main intention — quite complex material for young viewers to process. Thankfully, the feature's main message comes wrapped in a cop and crime caper that's as smart and weighty as it is colourful and amusing. When a movie combines anthropomorphic critters, bright imagery, references to Chinatown and The Godfather, and a first-rate Breaking Bad gag, the phrase "fun for all ages" really does apply. Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) are the respective big-eared and quick-witted creatures riding Zootopia's wave of thoughtful, frenetic entertainment, with the two crossing paths on Judy's first day on the force. When Nick pulls the wool over the newbie cop's eyes, it just adds to her woes (instead of catching bad guys, she's writing parking tickets). Of course, you can't keep an eager bunny down, particularly when the city is overrun with missing person cases. Quicker than you can say "odd couple", Judy and Nick have reluctantly teamed up to locate an absent otter, prove Judy's police prowess, and help Nick find his true calling. From there we go zipping around Zootopia's imaginative setting, segueing between observational jokes and sight gags, and listening to a stellar voice cast that includes Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, JK Simmons and Octavia Spencer. Directors Byron Howard, Rich Moore and co-director Jared Bush handle the balance of laughs and drama with the energy and emotion needed — but given that the trio boasts the likes of Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph and Big Hero 6 on their resumes, that's hardly a surprise. Indeed, when Zootopia is firing on all cylinders, it hits the majority of the targets it aims for. In the same way that animated films about people can get to the core of common issues and emotions in a way that live-action efforts can't always manage, there's something both perceptive and powerful about seeing common prejudices and problems played out by animals. The movie may tread a fine line between calling out stereotypes and reinforcing them in some parts — such as a scene set in a sloth-filled car registration department — but it mostly falls on the right side of the equation. And crucially, while Zootopia doesn't shy away from its important underlying statement, the upbeat, insightful offering doesn't overplay its hand or overstay its welcome, either.
As long as current release dates hold, 2023 is a year of threes for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Viewers will see three MCU flicks. They'll also watch three new streaming series. And, among those movies is The Marvels, which teams up a trio of female superheroes. Those characters: Captain Marvel (Brie Larson, Fast X), Ms Marvel's Kamala Khan (debutant Iman Vellani) and WandaVision's Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris, Candyman). As seen in a debut sneak peek earlier this this year and now the just-dropped full trailer, they're joining forces and trading places. The film acts as a sequel to both Ms Marvel and Captain Marvel, also marks third entry in the MCU's Phase Five, and features Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton, The Handmaid's Tale) on a mission to destroy worlds. Apart from the whole universe-in-peril situation, this is clearly a dream come true for massive MCU superfan Khan, who has always been thrilled and surprised at everything happening to her. Loving the MCU, going to MCU fan conventions, obsessing over Captain Marvel, then learning that you have superpowers just like your heroes: that's enough to leave you perpetually astonished and overjoyed in tandem, an emotional state that's still in play in The Marvels. Ms Marvel was always leading up to this big-screen release, which is also the 33rd movie in the MCU, following fellow 2023 cinema releases Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It's due in cinemas in November, and is clearly making the most of having three caped crusaders in its frames in the trailers. If you're wondering, Carol has her identity back from the Kree and she's taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence; however, that has consequences, and the universe has become destabilised. So, The Marvels need to team up to do the usual MCU thing: save everyone and everything. Also returning: Secret Invasion's Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey) and a whole heap of Flerkens, including Goose. As well as Larson, Parris, Vellani, Jackson and Ashton, The Marvels features Park Seo-joon (Parasite). Behind the lens, Candyman's Nia DaCosta directs, and co-wrote the screenplay with Megan McDonnell (WandaVision), Elissa Karasik (Loki) and Zeb Wells (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law). And those three MCU shows this year? Secret Invasion, the return of Loki and newcomer Echo. Check out the full trailer for The Marvels below: The Marvels releases in cinemas Down Under on November 9, 2023. Images: Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.
Residents of Melbourne, here's some good news to buoy you in these dark times. Barkly Square in Brunswick has announced they'll be running a pop-up cinema throughout December and January. It'll go down in the laneway of the shopping centre and unlike other outdoor cinemas that have recently been announced — like Moonlight and Sunset — this one has a difference: it's silent. Kind of like when you go to the drive-in and attach the speaker to your car, they'll be transmitting the film's audio through dedicated headphones. The best part is that all proceeds from the event will be donated to the Victorian Deaf Society. And even better, tickets are only a tenner. Take that Hoyts. There's only 60 seats per screening though, so be sure to book early — especially for the spesh Christmas screenings. On the whole, the lineup is pretty decent and eclectic, with everything from Donnie Darko to Home Alone to Whiplash. BARKLY SQUARE OPENAIR CINEMA PROGRAM 2016-17 16 December — Home Alone 23 December — Elf 6 January – Whiplash 7 January – Amy 13 January – The Big Lebowski 14 January – Amelie 20 January – Guardians of the Galaxy 21 January – Dogtown and Z-Boys 27 January – Hunt for the Wilderpeople 28 January – Donnie Darko The Barkly Square Openair Cinema will take place at Barkly Square, 106 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Films start at 8.30pm and are preceded by live entertainment. Find out more and book tickets here.
We know the last few years have been pretty grim, what with the world imploding, hell freezing over and all that. But we need to remember good things happen as well, and here are two local examples we'd like to draw your attention to. Firstly, there's a pied currawong that's been delighting visitors to Sydney's Royal Botanical Garden. She's super cute and nearly complete white but she's not actually an albino. The lil gal has leucism, a rare condition that causes white patches to cover most of her body but causes no other adverse side effects. Because it's breeding season for currawongs, she's raising two hatchlings and has been seen around the park a lot recently. Which leads us to the second, and even cuter, piece of news… The park invited its Facebook fans to name the currawong. Now, you may have just shrieked "No! Remember Dub the Dew? Remember Boaty McBoatface?" But fear not, this isn't another "Hitler Did Nothing Wrong" situation. The internet has actually come through. Fans of the Royal Botanic Garden's Facebook page put forward some of the sweetest suggestions to name the currawong mama, including Flora (because she likes hanging around flowers, obviously), Elsa, Snowy, Graculina, Oreo, "Kelvin...Kelvinator...White goods...", Falcor, Apples, Louey, Flannel, Paloma, Stormy, Cookie, Bianca, Crow White and Casper. So pure. So innocent. Someone suggested "Carol from marketing" which is also an ace suggestion. Snaps for Carol from marketing. Read the thread here if you want your heart to be filled with gladness (keep it pure, people) and, if this story has made you uncharacteristically invested in a bird, check out the RBG's blog for information about the ghostly currawong. We assume the Royal Botanic Garden will pick a name soon.
Here is a story to both perturb and titillate the sensitive art-lovers among us. Unbeknownst to the general populace, Fujifilm has been stealthily developing something major for seven years: a 3D printing technology that can reproduce artworks, such that they are virtually undetectable as being anything other than the real thing. Coined 'Reliefography', the process has so far flawlessly cloned five works by Vincent Van Gogh, mimicking everything from the distinctive brushstrokes of the troubled ear-severing genius, right down to the faded and torn handwritten labels on the back of the frame. While a true expert would most likely be able to spot the fake, it's still kind of chilling, right? What will be the final refuge of authenticity in this madly self-replicating 3D-printed world? The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which worked with Fujifilm to create the process, appears to have absolutely no issues with it. Intending to use the profits to fund renovations and collection upkeep, it has already released limited-edition runs of 260 (up to three replicas can be produced per day), and many more are in the works. The current 'Relievos' that can be purchased are Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom (1890), Sunflowers (1889), The Harvest (1888), Wheatfield Under Thunderclouds (1890) and Boulevard de Clichy (1887). So how much will it set you back to own your own dazzling forgery? A mere $34K, a trifling amount compared to the price of a real Van Gogh. The technology could surely mean the world to galleries that can't afford to purchase an original masterpiece, and in particular to the blind — unlike an original, a forgery can be experienced through touch. The innovation could perhaps mean even more to anyone hoping to make a quick buck from selling illegal forgeries to suckers. Cue art heist shenanigans and Catherine Zeta-Jones undulating beneath security laser beams. Via Gizmodo.
In 1994, when Daniel Johns was just 15 years old, he became one of the biggest music stars in the country. Silverchair's 'Tomorrow' hasn't just a hit — it was a song that turned a group of Aussie teenagers into instant legends, soundtracked the mid-90s and helped define growing up in Australia at the time. Saying it was huge really isn't quite saying enough. But what if things hadn't turned out that way? That feels almost unthinkable, but Daniel Johns himself has been thinking it. And, he's made it the premise of a new featurette — not a full-length movie, not exactly a short either, and not really a music video — called What If The Future Never Happened?. In the film, it's 1994 again. Daniel isn't a teenage rockstar yet, but that's only months off. Then, on a normal day in regional Australia — whether or not it'll actually be Newcastle, that's what we'll all be thinking — Daniel's future changes while he's trying to escape three local bullies, all thanks to a mysterious figure. You wait till tomorrow indeed. What If The Future Never Happened? has just dropped a trailer, and it looks as moody, as stepped in all things 90s, and as eager to play around with sci-fi and fantasy as as you'd expect — and the casting of surfer, actor and musician Rasmus King (Barons, Bosch & Rockit) as Johns is downright uncanny. He could've stepped right out of the 'Tomorrow' music video and into the featurette. Perhaps that'll be the concept behind a future movie? Hailed as "from the mind of Daniel Johns" — and clearly based on his life — What If The Future Never Happened? is written and directed by James Medlam (who boasts helming Dune Rats' 'No Plans' music video on his resume). It's also co-penned by producer Heath George and based on a story by Heath Johns, aka Daniel's brother. While exactly when and where it'll drop hasn't been revealed, Daniel Johns' latest solo studio album FutureNever released back in April — and yes, he has a theme at the moment. Check out the trailer for What If The Future Never Happened? below: What If The Future Never Happened? doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when it does.
Do the truffle shuffle down to Estelle by Scott Pickett in Northcote, where for two nights only you can wolf down fabulous fungi like it's going out of style. On Wednesday, August 17 and Thursday, August 18, chef Scott Pickett will prepare a five-course truffle dinner, complete with snacks and matching wine. Excuse us for a second — we're just wiping the drool off our keyboard. At $185 per person, this particular dinner ain't cheap – but you only have to look at the menu to appreciate why that is. From sea urchin and black truffle brioche to white rocks veal with truffle and almond, and parmesan and black truffle risoni to Great Ocean Road duck with blood orange and truffle jus, this decadent degustation smells like a truffle hog's delight. The vino, meanwhile, will come courtesy of a trio of ACT vineyards, in Helm Wines, Collector Wines and Ravensworth.
We've passed the winter solstice and the temptation to hibernate is growing ever stronger — so, you probably need a little something extra to tempt you off the couch. Handily, online reservation platform The Fork has a winning idea up its sleeve: it's offering a huge six weeks of dining specials nationwide. Kicking off on Monday, July 1, The Fork Festival will see over 250 top restaurants across the country offering sit-down meals for half the usual price. Yep, 50 percent off your total food bill, folks — think of it as the proverbial carrot luring you out of the house. To snag a half-price meal, you just need to make a reservation through The Fork website or app at one of the participating eateries for any service (breakfast, lunch or dinner) during the six weeks. [caption id="attachment_574140" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Comuna Cantina[/caption] There are some great venues coming to the party, too. In Sydney, you'll find discounted eats at the likes of Pilu at Freshwater, Queen Chow Manly, Potts Point wine bar Monopole, Din Tai Fung (Chatswood, Central Park, Miranda), waterside spot Berowra Waters Inn, Fratelli Fresh (Alexandria and Crows Nest) and Surry Hills' Caffe Bartolo. Melbourne spots include Prahran's Casa NOM, Burma Lane in the CBD, South Yarra's Abacus and Pretty Boy Italian Steakhouse. Brisbane folk can score discounts at the likes of Comuna Cantina, River Quay Fish and The French Bistrot, and Perth diners should put Angove Kitchen & Espresso Bar, Prince Lane and Street Eats Eatery on their radar. You might want to revisit an old favourite or you could get a little adventurous and road-test somewhere new. Either way, there's ample time to squeeze in a fair few discount feasts before the festival wraps up on August 11. The Fork Festival runs from July 1–August 11. The full list of participating restaurants will be released on the website on June 30. Top image: Caffe Bartolo by Kitti Gould; Casa Nom by Griffin Simm.
Anytime's a good time for oysters, but there's only one occasion where it's perfectly acceptable to gorge on them to the point of no return: the Oyster Frenzy. It's not the Oyster Frenzy — the all-you-can-eat oyster festival that was held at Circa, The Prince until it closed last year — but The Botanical's similarly serious annual seafood celebration. Like the former fest, the Frenzy includes bottomless oysters and bottomless booze — and that's all that matters, really. This year's event is going down in two parts: on Tuesday, July 23 and Tuesday, August 20. Over 4000 oysters will be brought in for the occasion, and they'll be shucked throughout the night as you work your way through them. As mentioned, it's all-you-can-eat — and, to break it up, there will also be other snacks of varying textures going around. Tickets are pricy at $110, but that does give you access to two hours of unlimited wine and Stone & Wood ales (and a glass of Champagne on arrival). Maybe, try and swing a late start on Wednesday.
Encouraging humanity to live reduce our impact on the planet, stylish and inventive architectural designs, the ability to make almost any place your backyard: yes, the tiny house movement has it all. And if you've been dreaming about leaving regular old bricks-and-mortar living behind for the freedom of a small, cute, mobile cottage, the latest model to hit the market isn't going to change that. Meet the Escape One and its upsized version, the Escape One XL — aka a two-storey wood cabin on wheels. You'll forget any caravan comparisons when you're walking through timber-clad interiors, gazing out multiple levels of large windows, making between 25 and 36 square metres of space your own. Throw in a multi-purpose first floor that can be used as a dining area, office, bedroom and living room, plus a second floor that's similarly flexible in function, and you'll be in pint-sized abode heaven. Like all the best miniature houses, living a compact life doesn't mean skimping on the essentials. Both models boast a tub and shower, designer sink and bathroom storage, plus optional flatscreen TVs and blu-ray players, while the XL comes with a maple cabinet-filled kitchen with appliances and an under-counter fridge/freezer. Alas, for those culling their belongings and packing their bags, these currently these tiny mobile homes are only available in the US, and they don't come cheap — starting at US$49,800. Via Dezeen. Image: Escape.
Melbourne Fashion Week returns to inject the city with even more style from Friday, August 31 through to Friday, September 7. This year, over 150 events and 300 designers will send their designs down ten catwalks across the city. So, start planning for a wardrobe overhaul just in time for spring with garments from iconic Australian labels like Camilla and Marc, Michael La Sordo, Incu and Gorman. Town Hall will again act as the MFW hub, hosting pop-up fashion showcases, brand events and talks throughout the week — there'll be short film screenings and live music gigs, too. Beyond the hub, the program extends far past City Square this year, connecting Melbourne's retail precincts with the latest in ready-to-wear looks. There'll be plenty of free events all over town, from pop-up runways to a six-part series of 'fashion capsule' showcases by local designers, jewellers, artisans and filmmakers. The fashion party is even making its way into the subways, with Flinders Street Station's Campbell Arcade hosting two underground runways showcasing emerging designers. And, of course, Vogue American Express Fashion's Night Out will kick the week off from midday on Friday, August 31, extending through to Saturday and giving you the chance to shop like a VIP without breaking the bank (too much). Melbourne Fashion Week 2018 will run from Friday, August 31 to Friday, September 7. Check out the full program, on the MFW website here.
The beautiful Domain House in the Botanic Gardens often plays home to contemporary art exhibitions you'd happily contend with Punt Road traffic to get to — and its new exhibition Border Lines is no different. With Linden New Art calling the house home while their Acland Street space gets a reno, the exhibition brings together a collection of celebrated painters from the Papulankutja and Warakurna art communities, as well as the fibre artists of the Tjanpi Desert Weavers. The exhibition focuses on the artistic foundations of the tri-state border of WA, SA and the NT and explore themes of country, community and culture — it's a reminder of the gravity and importance of indigenous art within Australian (and international) contemporary art. A meet the curator event will also be held with Juliette Hanson on August 24, where she will give a guided tour and talk in detail about the art centres of the tri-state area. Images: Courtesy of Linden New Art, shot by David Marks Photographer.
The twin film phenomenon means that movies often come in pairs, with two flicks with the same premise arriving at the same time. Now, meet Australia's two current twin flight sales. After Virgin launched a Valentine's Day sale for flights to and from Queensland, Qantas has unveiled a 72-hour sale on fares across the country. Whether you're a Sydneysider thinking about a Byron Bay getaway, a Melburnian keen on jaunt to Tasmania or a Brisbanite eager to hit The Whitsundays, you have options. There's more than 500,000 fares covered, featuring everywhere from Queensland's tropics to the Apple Isle's cities, and from Perth to Sydney, too, as well as all the other state capitals, the Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour, Broken Hill and more. And, on 25-plus routes, flights will cost you under $150. The cheapest, as tends to be the case on all flight sales, is the Sydney–Ballina route, which'll get you from the Harbour City to Byron Bay from $109. Then, the Melbourne–Launceston fare comes in at $119, Gold Coast–Sydney at $125, Gold Coast–Melbourne at $129 and Brisbane–Hervey Bay at $139. The sale runs until 11.59pm on Saturday, February 17, so you'll want to get in quickly to get a bargain. And, as always, if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. Inclusions-wise, the sale covers fares with checked baggage, complimentary food and beverages, wifi and seat selection. If you're keen on heading further afield, but just across the ditch, Qantas also has a sale on flights to New Zealand on right now. This one runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, February 19, or until sold out again. The sale covers Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington, for dates between March–December 2024, with starting prices from $499 return. Go on, pack your bags. Qantas' 72-hour surprise sale runs for 72 hours until 11.59pm on Saturday, February 17, or until sold out. It's also doing a New Zealand sale until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, February 19, or until sold out again. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Since True Blood came to an end, Anna Paquin has kept busy; however, if you're only going to watch one of her recent projects, make it the acerbically amusing Flack. She plays Robyn, an American publicist now living and working in London. There's much to laugh about in the field of public relations, and ample drama, too — so Flack mines the industry for both as Robyn tries to navigate a seemingly never-ending array of professional chaos, and makes the most of her ever-hectic personal life as well. A couple of episodes from the show's second season are directed by her True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer, and the series' big names don't end there. Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo pops up as Robyn's boss and the always-beloved Sam Neill features, with the latter reuniting with fellow New Zealander Paquin after they both starred in The Piano back in 1993.
Need a break from tired Hollywood blockbusters? In that case, try a visit to the Melbourne Cinematheque. For more than six decades now this close-knit film collective has been devoted to the presentation of rare and important films in the form that their makers intended. Simply put — if you like movies, then these are your sort of people. Cinematheque screenings take place every Wednesday night at ACMI in Federation Square. Standouts on this year's program include retrospectives on the films of New Hollywood legend Robert Altman, celebrated Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien, and beloved actress Barbara Stanwyck. They'll co-present a double bill of Rainer Werner Fassbinder films with the Melbourne Queer Film Festival in April, and partner with the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival on a showcase of influential African films in May. Screenings are open to members only. Annual memberships cost $155, while a $29 mini membership is good for three consecutive sessions. For the complete Melbourne Cinematheque program, visit melbournecinematheque.org.
Although working from home has some solid benefits (such as track pants and sleep-ins), it can also be a real drainer. With no co-workers lurking in the communal kitchen ready to spill the tea or provide an ear for a good post-meeting vent, the days can drag on and the afternoon slump can impact us hard. However, there are plenty of ways to kick that plunge in the butt and take on the arvo grind with gusto. It's why we've teamed up with Oporto to bring you five ways to avoid the afternoon lull in activity when you're confined to your own home. Just be sure to stick within your five-kilometre radius, of course. [caption id="attachment_784751" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yarra Valley trail via Visit Victoria[/caption] MONDAY: PUMP YOUR CALVES ON A CYCLING TRAIL Ride away any afternoon Monday blues by saddling up and going for a bike ride on your lunch break. If you live close by, take advantage of the Main Yarra Trail, which runs along the Yarra River from the eastern suburbs through to Southbank. Or perhaps you live close to the Merri Creek Trail, running through the north and filled with daisies and local jasmine. Alternatively, spin around Albert Park Lake and enjoy the sites of Melbourne's inner city or pump those calves around St Kilda Beach and take in the salty ocean air. When you can venture farther, take inspiration from these ten best bike rides in and around Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_781550" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] TUESDAY: CHECK OUT SOME LOCAL MURALS TO SPARK YOUR OWN CREATIVITY Take a break from your computer and hit your local streets to check out some street art. It might inspire you to approach the afternoon grind differently. Melbourne has plenty of street art on show with the Keith Haring mural and the Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquit mural in Collingwood, the Everfresh mural on the side of The Night Cat in Fitzroy and the 1968 Mexico Olympics Human Rights Salute mural in Cremorne. Alternatively, if the CBD is more your neck of the woods, take a peruse of the Djirri Djirri Dancers mural on the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Caledonian Lane, Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane. [caption id="attachment_784752" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] WEDNESDAY: GO FOR A WALK AND DEBRIEF WITH A MATE Sometimes you just need to let off some steam. Pick up your phone and give your mate or loved one a call and vent away. Or, be a listening ear to your friend's irritations. Go one better and arrange to take a walk around the block together (provided you live in the same area). As you get in your daily steps and move those muscles, try to find out something new about each other. If you have the time, combine your walk with a visit to your local cafe to grab a coffee first. Whether you talk politics, the weather or Selling Sunset, you'll be refreshed enough to take on the afternoon slog when you return to your desk. [caption id="attachment_784754" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] THURSDAY: EAT LUNCH IN THE PARK Feeling snowed under with emails? Frustrated at the excel spreadsheet that just won't do what you want it to do? Put the screen to sleep and head to the park for a proper lunch that will boost your afternoon productivity. If you're within walking distance of an Oporto, try the new Pulled Chicken Rappa, with hand-pulled chicken cooked in lemon and herb sauce, crunchy slaw, spicy rice and your choice of sauce, all wrapped in warm pita bread. Bored of your closest park? Here are the best picnic spots in Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_784843" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] FRIDAY: TAKE A WALK AROUND THE RIVER TO SPOT LOCAL BIRDLIFE If working from home has got you feeling angsty or stressed, then getting out into nature might be the antidote you need. First, turn off those work notifications. Then, take a stroll around a Melbourne lake to clear your mind, which, depending on your area, could be the likes of the Yarra Bend, Merri Creek, Capital City Trail, Darebin Creek or Albert Park Lake. Plus, you might even spot some local birds while you're there, including woodland species like the tawny frogmouths or wetland natives such as grey teals — plus, everyone's favourite, the white ibis (AKA the bin chicken). Check out Oporto's full Rappa Range here, then make tracks to your closest store — or order online. Top image: Carlton Gardens courtesy Visit Victoria
Grab your pencils, you big nerds! The National Gallery of Victoria, in partnership with writing school The Good Copy, is hosting a free three-day crossword festival as part of the fourth annual Melbourne Art Book Fair. Running from March 16-18, the event will feature workshops, contests and even a spelling bee (where the winner gets…a dictionary). Word geeks can participate in a live crossword solve before stepping "behind the grid" into the world of clue-writing with the The Age's own Liam "LR" Runnalls. The lexicological luminary will also be manning the clue booth, where he, along with Chris Black and Siobhan Linde from The Big Issue, will turn your name into a cryptic crossword clue. There'll even be a crossword tournament, complete with live commentary, that will culminate in a final showdown on Sunday.
The back-to-work blues have hit us all pretty hard this year — especially as summer took its time to shine. If you're like us, you're already yearning to escape the office or your current work-from-home situation. And this loved-up time of year (yup, Valentine's Day is coming) offers up a great excuse to book a trip away with your partner. With this in mind, Virgin Australia has launched the Bring on More in Adelaide sale, offering up to 30% off flights to the City of Churches — with prices as low as $89 one way from Melbourne. You may not know it, but Adelaide is a mighty romantic city. It's home to spectacular wine, chocolate and fresh oysters — all aphrodisiacs — alongside a huge variety of activities made for loved-up couples. So, this year, swap the usual Valentine's Day staycation for an unforgettably romantic (and discounted) trip to Adelaide. Here's some inspiration to get you love birds started. [caption id="attachment_886121" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tommaso Cantelli[/caption] JOIN AN OYSTER TOUR There are stacks of reason why oyster tours are great for dates. First off, there is the aphrodisiac element (if you believe all that), but it's also a unique way to feel swanky while enjoying the outdoors. Few places compare to the famed Coffin Bay, located on South Australia's picturesque Eyre Peninsula. Here, you and your partner can don some arguably unsexy waterproof waders to frolic in the clear blue waters and learn a little about oyster farming. You'll then head back to the beachside Salt Water Pavilion where you can dine on freshly caught oysters while sipping on local wines. EXPLORE VAST WINE REGIONS Speaking of wine, Adelaide is surrounded by several world-famous wine regions. And you really don't have to go far to visit them. You've got the Adelaide Hills located just a 30-minute drive from the CBD, McLaren Vale at 45 minutes, and the Barossa (where Two Hands Wines, pictured above, is located) and Clare valleys around 1.5 and two hours away, respectively. Pick one, book a driver (so one of you doesn't have to miss out) and explore as many cellar doors as you can — possibly opting for private tours and tastings to make it all the more romantic. STAY IN A LUSH HOTEL A romantic getaway is incomplete without a luxurious place to rest your heads — or get Ade(laid)e. One of our favourite CBD stays is the undeniably cool Hotel Indigo (pictured above), which boasts large luxurious rooms and an outdoor pool overlooking the city. If you can't make it to Paris but you're looking for a chic French-style getaway, book a stay at Sofitel Adelaide. This glamorous five-star hotel has a huge array of rooms and suites as well as its own wine bar and French fine dining restaurant. It's also hard to overlook the old-school glamour of The Playford. Unwind in the spa and sauna after a long day of exploring Adelaide before returning to your opulent art nouveau suite to order room service to your bed. [caption id="attachment_777850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sia Duff[/caption] PARTAKE IN EXCEPTIONAL DINING Heading to Adelaide means heading to a deliciously diverse range of restaurants and bars — most championing local produce with incredibly tasty and creative dishes. As a strong start, there's the much-adored Africola (pictured above), where North African dishes are backdropped by art-covered walls and an energetic buzz. Over on Peel Street, Southeast Asian street food meets natural wine at Gondola Gondola, the upstairs Bread and Bone plates up woodfired burgers, steaks and ribs, and the appropriately named Peel St features a menu of refined yet simple fare made from quality local ingredients. Alternatively, you can amp up the romance with one of the best meals you'll likely ever have — book a table at Restaurant Botanic, the winner of Australia's Restaurant of the Year award for 2023, to experience modern Australian dining at its absolute finest. [caption id="attachment_785247" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Bruzzone via South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] DISCOVER UNIQUE DATE DESTINATIONS The City of Churches is far more than its places of worship — there are countless things for loved-up couples to do here. First off, as we are talking romance, we highly recommend a trip to the Haigh's Chocolate factory — for Adelaide is the birthplace of this beloved chocolate maker. Here, you can taste all its best creations and go on a special behind-the-scenes tour to see how this all-too romantic treat is created. But if you want to get out in nature, you can try a dolphin sanctuary kayak tour, paddling about with your partner in tow. Moreover, a day spent wandering around the Art Gallery of South Australia is aways a win, while a sunset cruise along the coast is what Valentine's Day is made for. You're clearly spoilt for choice. Take advantage of Virgin Australia's latest travel deal, booking discounted flights to Adelaide here. But hurry, the sale ends on Monday, February 6. Top image: Skillogalee courtesy of South Australia Tourism.
Lately, the works of the Dutch masters are receiving some fabulously intense, borderline-OCD flattery from a man who takes the art of imitation to the next level. Creative genius and 17th-century portrait subject stalker Michael Mapes gathers very specific objects and uses them to form intriguing, almost sculptural 21st-century replicas of famous portraits. Look closely at one of Mapes' pixelated images of a face originally painted by Rembrandt or Nicolaes Eliasz Pickenoy, and you'll be rewarded with unexpected findings. The larger picture is composed of all manner of objects, from fragments of human hair to makeup samples, glass vials, gelatin capsules, costume jewellery, contemporary photographs and more. The variety of materials and attention to detail is quite astounding. But this is no random assemblage. Building on a 'pseudo-scientific method' developed for earlier works, after choosing a high-resolution scan of a painting from the archives of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, Mapes researches the life of his subject to get a sense of their character. This will inform the eclectica that will make up the physical recreation, and the end result is akin to an entomological display of insect specimens, with many tiny items pinned to a plain backdrop for inspection. It's much like viewing a collection of preserved butterflies, raising an implicit question about how we scrutinise historical artwork, people and visual culture in general. Broader meanings are also embedded in the compositional material of the image — for example, we might ask, how is a gelatin capsule relevant to this character? — making these portraits into extreme meta-portraits. Three artworks from the series will be shown in Montana at Yellowstone Art Museum starting this March, in an exhibition of innovative forms of portraiture entitled Face to Face. See more of the artist's works at
One of world cinema's great comic geniuses will be the subject of a career retrospective at the iconic Astor Theatre this week. Beginning on Saturday, June 14 and continuing over the follow two weekends, a trio of double features will showcase the complete works of Jacques Tati. After beginning his career as a mime, Tati turned to directing during the mid-1940s. While he only ever made six feature films in his lifetime, the Frenchman is widely held as one of the all-time greats, beloved for combining the irrepressible visual humour of the bygone silent era with a sly social commentary on the fast-paced modern age. Synonymous with his films is the beloved character of Monsieur Hulot, a pipe-smoking, umbrella-wielding forbearer to Mr Bean, who appeared in many of Tati's works including Mon Oncle and his masterpiece, Playtime. It'll be a treat to see such cultural history played out on the medium it was intended — the big screen at one of our most iconic theatres. For the complete Astor Calendar visit their website.
If you commute to work by train, you're looking at having a frustrating winter. Well, at least a frustrating July. The Victorian Government has announced that sections of eight Melbourne train lines will be closed from July 5–28 to complete more work on the Metro Tunnel — most significantly, building its entrance — and remove some dangerous level crossings on other lines. What does that mean? Replacement buses. If you travel on any of the lines that service the southeast suburbs, you'll most likely have to switch from the train to a bus at some point on your commute. Plus, in the north, part of the Mernda line will be closed at the same time for a level crossing removal. If you were impacted by the train closures back in January and April, it's likely that'll you'll probably have your commute stuffed around again this autumn. https://twitter.com/ptv_official/status/1136120715286126593 The lines that'll be impacted across the month — and the winter school holidays — are Frankston, Stony Point, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Sandringham and Mernda, as well as the Gippsland and Ballarat V/Lines. Here's what we know so far about what's happening on each of the affected lines. Frankston: Buses will replace trains between Flinders Street and Caulfield stations between July 6–12, between Flinders Street and Moorabbin stations from July 13–14, and between Mordialloc and Frankston stations from July 19–28. Carrum Station will also be closed from July 5 until early 2020. Stony Point: Buses will replace trains between Frankston and Stony Point stations from July 6–14 and between Mordialloc and Stony Point stations from July 19–28. Cranbourne and Pakenham: Buses will replace trains between Flinders Street and Caulfield stations from July 6–12, and between Flinders Street and Westall stations from July 13–14. Sandringham: Buses will replace trains between Flinders Street and Sandringham stations from July 6–7 and July 13–14 Mernda: Buses will replace trains between Thornbury and Epping stations from July 19–25, July 29–30 and August 2–4, and between Thornbury and Mernda stations from July 26–28. Reservoir Station will also be closed from July 19–August 4. Plus, V/Line services will be affected as well. Coaches will replace trains on the Ballarat line until July 7. Something to keep in mind if you're travelling home or heading out to the Ballarat Winter Festival this weekend. The Gippsland line is also expected to be affected until July 14, but passengers will, once again, receive free travel. You can find the full details on line closures here. The State Government is advising commuters to leave an extra travel time in the case of delays, so it's advisable that you plan your trip carefully. For up-to-date info, your best bet is to check the disruptions map on the government's Big Build website.
For most of us, bringing the outdoors inside is interior decorating speak for putting a few plants around your apartment. For artist Doug Wheeler, it has been a life-long ambition. Growing up in Arizona and spending time standing in the US state's vast desert landscape, he conceived of an idea for a group of installations that would mimic that experience — and, almost five decades after he put his plans down on paper, one has finally become a reality. Inside New York's Guggenheim Museum, Wheeler has transformed the gallery into an abstract synthetic dessert. Don't just take our word for it — PSAD Synthetic Desert III is the name of the piece. After moving through a number of chambers that can only be unlocked by staff, visitors walk into a room filled with sound-absorbing foam pyramids as far as the eye can see. A platform sits in the middle, ensuring everyone who enters is surrounded by the eye-catching structure, with lighting and sound design also crafted to make the space as immersive as possible. Indeed, because Synthetic Desert "is best experienced with as few extraneous sounds and distractions as possible," according to the Guggenheim website, only five people can enter the free exhibition at any one time. Visits are limited to either ten or twenty minutes of gazing into the sea of white shapes and ponder space, landscape and whatever else pops into your mind when you're sitting in silence in a room filled with foam spikes. After first turning his vision into sketches back in 1968, and spending much of his career contemplating light and space, Wheeler piece aims to "produce a hermetic environment based on a radical reduction of optical and acoustical sensation" in order to "heighten our understanding of perceptual experience." Anyone that happens to be in New York between now and August 2 is advised to book in advance, with entry free with museum admission, because this unique and beautiful installation is certain to be popular. Via Artnet. Image: David Heald
Twenty-four year-old interaction designer Joanna Montgomery, from the UK, has come up with a futuristic invention that is getting long-distance lovers very excited. 'Pillow Talk', which is being launched by Montgomery's company Little Riot, is an invention that lets you hear the real time heartbeat of your lover when you’re apart. Taken from Montgomery’s blog, the promotion video shows how each partner can wear a ring which transmits the soothing sounds of your lover’s heartbeat to your pillow, all through the wonders of wireless technology. The pillow lights up to show that your loved one is also lying down in bed. From the company’s Facebook page, it’s certainly piqued the interest of those in military jobs, and couples who regularly work overseas. For the skeptics out there, yes, we did say real time - so we assume time zones may be a problem, as well as (dare we say it) any unexpected raised pulses.
Everyone loves to have a secret. Especially foodies. They live for the discovery of a restaurant before anyone else, and protect the name of their favourite dumpling joint with extreme rigour lest it become one that attracts a crowd. These people need a safe place where they can enjoy fine food and conversation without the worry of disclosing their deepest. That's where Secret Foodies comes in. Secret Foodies throw surprise dinners for people who like to share great food over good conversation with likeminded food lovers. They've been holding events in Sydney for a while now, and since their expansion to Melbourne last year, their events have gained somewhat of a cult following. You won't know where you're going or who you'll be sitting next to at the dinner table, but you can just anticipate some delicious things to happen inside your mouth. Their next event — held this Friday, 24 October — will be crazy. Jamaican Me Crazy. The theme is Caribbean, with drinks that match the flavours of the region (i.e. rum) and, we hear, Jamaican jerk pork done three ways. The night costs $85 for food and three drinks, and the location will be sent to you via a last minute text message at about 5pm that day. So if you consider yourself a bit of a foodie, head along to eat, drink and swap secrets. You never know, you might uncover a few big ones. Concrete Playground readers can receive $10 off their Secret Foodies ticket by entering the code concretejamaica at checkout.
Dave Graney has described The Murlocs as "a bunch of teens who got that 'Nuggets' sound that so many strive so hard for, so absolutely perfectly". Fans use words like 'tasty', 'maddogs', 'digganittt' and 'nifty' to express their admiration. However you articulate it, these boys, who hail from Victoria's surf coast, have come a long way since making their debut public appearance at the Piping Hot Chicken Ship in Ocean Grove. The Hoodoo Gurus invited them to performance at the inaugural Dig It Up! Festival in 2012, and with two EPs behind them, they're now about to tour with new single 'Rattle the Chain'. "Shot guns raise towards my window sill, I've been told they shoot to kill," wails lead singer and harmonic player Ambrose Kenny-Smith, who says he grew up "brainwashing" himself with his father's blues collection. It seems to have done the trick - his vocal delivers an authenticity that one doesn't hear too often.
It's that time of year when your phone buzzes incessantly with calls from your parents asking when you'll be back for the holidays. If you're anything like everyone, you've put off booking these flights because, while you theoretically like the idea of seeing your family, the thought of sleeping on the floor, drunk and full to bursting with Christmas ham, sandwiched between two distant cousins is enough to put you off dropping money on Christmas-time flights just yet. Google know this and they sympathise…sort of. Along with a whole swag of products (including their new Google Pixel phone and their own VR headset, the Daydream) and the recently launched Google Trips, they've also announced that their flight search engine is getting a cool new feature. Google Flights is the tech company's online airfare search tool (not unlike Skyscanner et al.). Up until now it's been effective at finding the most convenient and cheapest flights for the dates you want to travel, but its latest update will also tell you when the price of said flights is predicted to go up or down. Using their magical algorithm, Google will be able to predict when flight prices will increase — so they'll let you know if you need to book that baby before it doubles in price, or if you can afford to sit on it for a few days. It'll also make recommendations on the cheapest dates and times to book and even give you tips on which airports and routes will be cheaper for you. And if you're still not ready to fully commit to the idea of heading home, you can track flights and the progression of prices and get email updates when prices fluctuate or expire. They're also integrating a decent hotel search feature into the whole shebang if you're going somewhere more exciting than your family home for Christmas. The new Google Flights feature will roll out over the next few weeks. You can use the tool at google.com/flights. Image: Ross Parmly.
The splish-splash of water isn't something you'd usually expect to find much of inside the walls of a gallery, but that's all set to change as NGV Australia pays homage to one of our great Australian icons: the swimming pool. Opening on August 18, The Pool: Architecture, Culture and Identity will explore this cultural symbol in all its glory, with the help of a multi-sensory, 11-metre pool installation, set up within the gallery's Design Studio. The free interactive exhibition will play with water, sound, light and scent to highlight the connection between culture, landscape and architecture. It'll look the real deal, too, complete with wooden decking and sun lounges — and visitors will even be allowed to dip their feet in for a refreshing paddle. This is the first time the installation has come to Australia after showing at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale. Further emphasising the swimming pool's link to our national identity, eight pool 'lanes' will each feature an audio excerpt from a high-profile Aussie figure, sharing their own nostalgia-tinged, pool-inspired stories. This will include The Slap and Barracuda (good pre-exhibition pool-related reading, by the way) author Christos Tsiolkas and Aussie rock god Paul Kelly, through to Olympic gold medalists Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe.
If you have seen the new single, 'Ballad of the War Machine', from Midnight Juggernauts, you might not know what to think. The throw-back, surrealist video clip had tongues wagging and mouths salivating a few weeks back for the return of the Melbourne trio, yet no one expected their return to be this covert. Like Cold War-era secrets, information on the new Midnight Juggernauts material was kept secret, as different versions of the video were distributed through blogs and discussion boards. The responses to this method of viral promotion were varied, yet the end result is a memorable experience that has only made anticipation grow in the bellies of fans. Since releasing their previous albums, Dystopia and The Crystal Axis, Midnight Juggernauts have been touring the globe before taking time off to gather inspiration for their next effort. If this lead single is anything to go by, Midnight Juggernauts will still be pushing boundaries and matching expectations. Their national tour takes in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne before the trio play at Groovin' the Moo. https://youtube.com/watch?v=VMeuC_aGuoo
If there's a surefire way to brighten any average day, it's this: looking at YouTube videos of charming animals. We were all doing it before the pandemic. Thanks to plenty of live feeds, we kept doing it when we were all staying home, too. And now Guide Dogs Australia wants you to keep watching — and to start going "awwwwwwwwwwww" while checking out its new eight-episode behind-the-scenes series. Born to Lead is the insider look at adorable guide dogs you did actually always know that you needed. Dropping new ten-minute instalments weekly, it follows super-cute guide dogs from birth through to retirement. In the process, it also tells the tales of the people who help the pups' development, plus those who benefit afterwards — spanning volunteers and trainers, as well as Australians with low vision or who are blind who welcome a guide dog into their homes. Launching at 4pm AEST today, Monday, June 27 via the Bondi Vet YouTube channel, and filmed this year at Guide Dogs campuses and cities in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, Born to Lead also aims to give an insight into what it takes to raise a guide dog — from being a tiny little newborn pooch through to making an enormous difference in someone's life. "It takes up to two years and $50,000 to breed, raise and train just one guide dog, so we are beyond excited to have this incredible journey and many amazing stories from within the Guide Dogs community captured on film," said Charlie Spendlove, Head of Marketing and Communications at Guide Dogs Australia. If you're the kind of person who considers looking after a pup every time that Guide Dogs Australia puts out a callout, this is obviously the show for you. If you'll watch anything about humanity's barking besties — Tony Armstrong's ABC series from earlier this year, Netflix's two seasons of the docuseries Dogs and big-screen release Stray all included — then this is clearly as exciting as throwing a ball or heading to a dog park is to a pooch. Born to Lead hits screens courtesy of producers WTFN, who are also behind Bondi Vet and Mega Zoo. And, although it's only airing online for now, that might just be the beginning. "While Born to Lead will get a run on our Bondi Vet digital channels, which have over 2.5 million subscribers itself, we envisage it becoming a broadcast project in the future," said Daryl Talbot, WTFN's CEO. Check out the first episode of Born to Lead below from 4pm AEST Monday, June 27: Born to Lead will start streaming via the Bondi Vet YouTube channel from 4pm AEST on Monday, June 27, with new episodes dropping weekly.
Thanks to the trans-Tasman travel bubble, Australians can finally visit New Zealand for a holiday again. The Federal Government has also floated the possibility of opening a similar arrangement with Singapore, perhaps by July, although nothing has been announced as yet. But if you were hoping to fly out of the country whenever you like and travel to wherever you like, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan have bad news for you — because Australia's international border isn't likely to open this year, or until well into next year. The Trade Minister discussed international borders on Friday, May 7, and noted that, regarding opening back up, "the best guess would be in the middle to the second half of next year." He continued: "but as we've seen throughout this pandemic, things can change. So, the hope would be that we might be able to see a few more bubbles set up and would be able to see more travel being undertaken. But we're in a pandemic so, this is a best guess at this stage." Then, on Sunday, May 9, the Prime Minister also offered his thoughts on the subject — first in an interview with News Corp, and then in a follow-up post on his Facebook page. "I don't see an appetite for that at the moment," he said in the interview, also noting that "we have to be careful not to exchange that way of life for what everyone else has." On his social media post, he advised that "international borders will only open when it is safe to do so." The Prime Minister continued: "We still have a long way to go, and there are still many uncertainties ahead. Australians are living like in few countries around the world today. We will continue to do everything we can to work together prevent a third wave and roll out our vaccination programme. And, as always, we will continue to listen to the medical advice and make decisions in the best health and economic interests of all Australians." Also on Sunday, the Treasurer spoke with the ABC in the lead up to the budget, and echoed the sentiments of his colleagues. He said that the budget, which will be announced on Tuesday, May 11, has been crafted with a 2022 date for opening international borders in mind. "This is showing you how fluid the economic situation is with respect to the virus. But we have an assumption based on the borders opening. It's in 2022." Statements like these have been common over the past 14 months since the Australian Government implemented an indefinite ban on international travel, only allowing Aussies to leave the country in very limited circumstances. Last year's prediction that opening up to the rest of the world wouldn't happen in 2020 proved accurate — and, earlier this year, Australia's ex-Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy (now the Secretary of the Department of Health) said that we might not be going anywhere until 2022. Back in March, the Federal Government also extended the human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015, so that it now spans until June 17, 2021 — which'll mark 15 months since it was first put in place. It's the piece of legislation that keeps the international borders closed, and it has been extended several times. Based on the recent statements made by the Prime Minster, Trade Minister and Treasurer, it's likely to be extended again as well. With Australia's vaccination campaign underway, Qantas and Jetstar have begun selling tickets for overseas flights for trips scheduled from October, demonstrating hope that the country's international travel rules could ease by then. Of course, the fact that you can book a trip doesn't mean that you'll actually be able to take it — and, again, it's looking highly probably that anyone with tickets for an overseas trip before mid-2022 will be doing a bit of rebooking and rescheduling. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Whiplash is a film about a drummer, and it might just be the scariest thing you see all year. It's not Annabelle scary, as in paranormal pant-soiling scary, nor is it Silence of the Lambs scary, aka psychological pant-peeing. It's more disturbing, a sort of 'do whatever it takes', Talented Mr Ripley kind of film, chronicling the terrifying lengths people will go to in pursuit of a goal. It's a 'jazz thriller', really, and it's an exceptional, engrossing movie. Narrow in its focus, Whiplash concerns an ambitious young drummer named Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller), a first-year student at a prestigious New York music academy. When the school's premier conductor, Terence Fletcher (JK Simmons), invites him to join the marquee jazz ensemble, Neyman quickly finds himself embroiled in a gripping, exhausting, unsettling and even violent clash of egos driven by Fletcher's unyielding pursuit of excellence and Neyman's own determination to be the next musical great. Chairs are thrown, punches are thrown, and in any given practice session the trinity of 'blood, sweat and tears' becomes almost mandatory. The one small mercy for panic-stricken viewers who found The Exorcist to be an exercise in endurance rather than enjoyment was that the terror occurred predominantly within the confines of the bedroom. You knew when to be afraid, and in Whiplash that room is Fletcher's rehearsal space. What ought to be the epitome of cool is instead the Roman colosseum, with Fletcher its sitting Emperor. One of the bad ones. More Caligula than Caesar. He rules through fear and exploits his students' aspirations as a means of ensuring his own reputation remains one of excellence and achievement. A few minor roles notwithstanding (Paul Reiser has a nice turn as Neyman's softly spoken father), this is a movie focussed on the performances by Teller and Simmons, and they're both first rate. Teller spent hours on the kit every single day rehearsing for the role, and his percussive skills are as impressive as his acting ones. Both arrogance and insecurity bubble just beneath his character's surface, and his descent into physical and mental ruin is painfully believable. Opposite him, Simmons is a powerhouse of brute force and bravura; a fedora-wearing, baton-wielding drill-sergeant right out of Full Metal Jacket. He bullies, he abuses and he hurls bigoted slanders so often it's almost as though that's how he breathes. The explanation he offers is as unapologetic as it is simple: greatness only comes from being pushed beyond the comfort zone and penetrating the unknown. For a jazz movie there's surprisingly little of it, and while the final performance is nothing short of extraordinary, the lack of jam sessions and gigs feels at odds with Neyman's professed love of the art and his dogged pursuit of pre-eminence. The film's conclusion, too, is troubling, for while it delights on the musical front, conceptually it appears to reinforce what is plainly a flawed and dangerous approach to nurturing talent. Still, this a showcase of two outstanding performances and a clear standout in what has otherwise been a largely mediocre run of films in 2014. Must see. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8J6JH-R-TN0
Multicultural Arts Victoria's annual Asian-Australian arts and music festival, Mapping Melbourne, is wrapping up with a big closing night party under the stars at the crisp, white lines of this year's MPavilion structure. Dubbed Medium Spicy, the free party will celebrate the creativity and diversity of Melbourne's Asian-Australian community with an all-femme lineup. Party curator and creative collective Big Bao has cued up Melbourne artists Aarti Jadu and ZK king for live sets, with experimental pop artist PRINCI (pictured) coming down from Sydney to headline the night. As the sun sets on the lush Queen Victoria Gardens, Felicity Yang and Big Bao DJs will be spinning tracks into the night. Medium Spicy is just part of a huge and diverse MPavilion program of talks, performances, workshops and installations, which continues until March 22. An on-site kiosk is open from 9am daily, serving up Three Thousand Thieves coffee, Four Pillars Gin, wines by ShadowFax and Sample Brew beers. Sounds like a perfect excuse for a picnic in the gardens before the party kicks off at 5.30pm. Image: PRINCI by Kristina Yenko.
When Jurassic Park first trampled across the big screen back in 1993, with director Steven Spielberg adapting Michael Crichton's novel of the same name to box office glory, it tasked Jeff Goldblum with uttering four now-iconic words. As mathematician Dr Ian Malcolm, Goldblum announced to the world that "life... finds a way" — which has proven true of the crafty dinosaurs within this huge blockbuster franchise, and also of the ongoing series itself. That initial mega-hit flick spawned sequels in 1997 and 2001, which then led to the Jurassic World trilogy — aka 2015's Jurassic World, 2018's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and now 2022's Jurassic World Dominion. So yes, films about dinosaurs revived through genetic engineering just keep finding their way to the screen, although the just-dropped first trailer for Dominion poises this sixth flick as wrapping up the story (for now, at least). Directed by Colin Trevorrow, who also helmed the first Jurassic World film, Dominion jumps back into this dino-filled vision of earth four years after the last flick — which saw Isla Nublar destroyed. The franchise's pivotal ancient predators now live alongside humans, which is obviously a tenuous, tense and terrifying situation. Understandably, co-existing with dinosaurs threatens life as everyone knows it, not to mention humanity's future. Chris Pratt (The Tomorrow War) and Bryce Dallas Howard (Rocketman) return for Dominion, after starring in the past two Jurassic World movies, but nostalgia also finds a way here — with not only Goldblum oozing his usual charisma again, as he did in Fallen Kingdom, too, but fellow OG cast members Laura Dern and Sam Neill also returning. Those three familiar faces earn a hefty amount of attention in Dominion's first sneak peek, but the trailer doesn't skimp on its rampaging critters, either. In fact, the film even promises never-before-seen dinosaurs this time around. Also featuring: DeWanda Wise (The Harder They Fall), Emmy nominee Mamoudou Athie (Archive 81), Dichen Lachman (Animal Kingdom), Scott Haze (Minari) and Campbell Scott (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), plus returning cast members BD Wong (another original Jurassic Park star, and part of all three Jurassic World films), Justice Smith (Pokemon: Detective Pikachu), Daniella Pineda (Cowboy Bebop) and Omar Sy (Lupin). Movie-goers will be able to see how this whole humans-and-dinosaurs mayhem all pans out in full when Dominion hits cinemas Down Under on June 9. Check out the trailer for Jurassic World Dominion below: Jurassic World Dominion releases in cinemas Down Under on June 9, 2022.
As social distancing has become our new way of life, Aussies are preparing to spend a solid chunk of the coming weeks at home, which means you're probably already busy scouting out bulk entertainment options to see you through. Well now, you can add a few audiobooks to that hit-list, thanks to the good folk at Audible. The online retailer is offering a bunch of its recorded books to download for free. And that's without locking you into its usual free trial period. The newly launched free collection of stories is primarily aimed at kids stuck at home during the outbreak (and of course, their parents), though it's also got a few literary classics tucked away in there as well. Among the books translated into six different languages, you'll find gems like Jane Eyre — narrated by UK actress Thandie Newton — Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World. You might fancy diving into The Call of The Wild by Jack London, or even settling in with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Whatever your style, there's plenty of hours of entertainment amongst this lot. The stories are free to stream on your phone, tablet, desktop or laptop, and with no sign-up required, you can jump on and start listening straight away. The free Audible Stories are available now via the website.
A staple of Melbourne's cultural calendar for more than nine decades and counting, the Sidney Myer Free Concerts are back for another year. Held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the latest shows in this long-standing favourite series will, as always, feature a trio of performances from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Whether you're a classical music buff or just want to stretch out with a picnic on the grass, there's a reason that these concerts have become a beloved summertime tradition. The 2024 series kicks off on Wednesday, February 21 by going all in on Puccini. Giving tunes from Tosca, La Bohème and Madama Butterfly a whirl, the MSO will be joined by conductor Xu Zhong, soprano Hui He and tenor Paul O'Neill. Then, on Saturday, February 24, it's time to showcase Australia's up-and-coming talents. The Melbourne Youth Orchestras will get things started, then the MSO led by Carlo Antonioli will premiere Cerulean Dances and River. The first hails from Naomi Dodd, MSO's 2024 Cybec Young Composer in Residence. The second marks Alex Turley's latest work. Also on offer: Sibelius' Fifth Symphony, and Eliza Shephard performing Matthew Hindson's Flute Concerto House Music. [caption id="attachment_875579" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laura Manariti[/caption] Finally, on Wednesday, February 28, Rossini's Overture to L'Italiana in Algeri, Tchaikovsky's Serenade, and Beethoven's Coriolan Overture and First Symphony will echo. All three performances begin at 7.30pm; however, gates open at 5.30pm. With no tickets required, this is a first-in kind of affair, so arriving early to nab your best spot is highly recommended. Can't make it in person? The MSO will also livestream the trio of gigs on each evening. [caption id="attachment_875578" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Gambino[/caption]
Federation Square will be busting out the pierogi at its annual Polish Festival, helping you to celebrate Polish culture and forget about all your mates and their mid-year jaunts through Europe — at least momentarily. As well as being the 14th iteration of the festival, Poland is also celebrating the 100th anniversary of Polish independence after 123 years of partition, so this year's festivities look set to be particularly big. Expect hearty food like bigos (hunter's stew), and kielbasa (sausage), as well as heaps of traditional cakes and pastries. While the traditional dishes won't extend to the vodka variety, you can always move onto a bar later in the day once you've downed a couple of plates of pierogi. Live music and dance will also feature, as will folk-inspired art and piano music accompaniment, raking in the points for old-world charm. Kids will find interactive music shows, wianki (wreath) making, as well as DIY crafting masks of Smok Wawelski (a famous dragon in Polish folklore). Come for the pierogi, stay for learning about the history and legends of Poland. Image: Anna Torun.
Indecisive eaters of Australia, rejoice: you no longer have to pick between two go-to snack foods. Feel like a doughnut, but also feel like a muffin as well? Not quite hungry enough to tuck into both? Spending too long deciding which to eat? Behold your new culinary saviour — the duffin. The concept is right there in the name, with this mashup combining a doughnut and a muffin. And, none other than Krispy Kreme is making them — so if you already covet the chain's treats, here's something else to try. Do these kinds of food hybrids actually make picking something to eat easier — or do they make it harder because you've now got a third option to choose from? Good question. Either way, they rely upon the novelty factor, and the idea that combining two tasty dishes has to result in something special. If you're eager to give Krispy Kreme's duffins a whirl across your tastebuds, they've hit shelves from Tuesday, July 5 in three flavours. So, you do actually have a few more choices after all — picking between apple and cinnamon, blueberry and white chocolate, and double choc. The first option features toasted oats and a spiced apple filling, while the second includes real blueberries on top and a blueberry filling inside. As for the third, it gets its chocolate fix via choc chip pieces and a chocolate custard filling. To get snacking, you'll find the duffin trio at Krispy Kreme and 7-Eleven stores across Australia for $4 each. Krispy Kreme's duffins are available from Tuesday, July 5 at Krispy Kreme and 7-Eleven stores across Australia.
In 2018's Skate Kitchen, filmmaker Crystal Moselle let audiences air and ollie through New York, with the entrancing and often dreamlike teenage drama stepping inside an all-female skateboarding crew. Even better: it was based on a real-life group of the same name, and starred its members. Now, because this story just keeps getting better, the director has brought all of the above back for TV spinoff Betty. You don't need to have seen the film to enjoy this slice-of-life look at these girl skaters' lives, however. All you need is a couple of hours to watch these young women hit their boards, navigate the normal adolescent experiences, and cope with all the ups and downs of trying to literally glide through a male-heavy realm. And, to simply enjoy spending time with these friends — because Moselle is particularly skilled at making her viewers feel like they're part of the gang.
The world's most famous plumber siblings wearing colour-coded matching outfits? Tick. Earworm tunes? Tick again. Mushrooms aplenty, castles, tunnels, blocks that need bumping and flowers that let you shoot fireballs? Just keep ticking. All of the above are accounted for in the second and full trailer for The Super Mario Bros Movie, aka the animated flick that's bringing Mario, Luigi and all of the Nintendo-created gang back to cinemas. Also on that hefty list of inclusions: a rainbow road, and racing along it Mario Kart-style. This just-dropped sneak peek at The Super Mario Bros Movie arrives after an initial teaser back in early October, and gives Nintendo fans a bigger look at the world of the film and its characters — all of which look very faithful to their gaming counterparts. And yes, basically everyone's a fan of Mario. We've all played Nintendo's Mario games, including on Google Maps and mobile phones. We've tried our hands at Mario Kart in reality, too. And, we've made plans to hit up the Super Nintendo theme park in Japan, or perhaps the upcoming second site in Hollywood. (Also, if everyone hasn't watched 1993's live-action Super Mario Bros, which starred Bob Hoskins as the titular figure, John Leguizamo as Luigi and Dennis Hopper as King Koopa, then they need to at least once.) Come March 2023, however, cinemas will be pressing start on the new The Super Mario Bros Movie, which has enlisted Chris Pratt (The Terminal List) to voice the Italian plumber. Clearly, the former Parks and Recreation star doesn't have enough big franchises on his resume already; see: Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World and The Lego Movie. So far, there's only one new Super Mario Bros, but predicting there'll be more if it does well at the box office is as easy as collecting mushrooms in the games. This new full trailer includes a heap of other nods to Mario and the crew's time behind all of our controllers, sees Bowser (Jack Black, Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood) proclaim his desire to rule the world and casts Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as the Mushroom Kingdom's comedic sidekick. Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy, The Menu) is determined to take on the challenge, and dispense words of advice in general, while battling Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy) also features. The Super Mario Bros Movie's voice cast also includes Keegan- Michael Key (Wendell & Wild) as Toad, plus Fred Armisen (Wednesday) as Cranky Kong. And, it hails from directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies), is penned by Matthew Fogel (Minions: The Rise of Gru) and is produced by Illumination Entertainment (aka the studio behind the Despicable Me and Minions flicks, and the Sing films). Check out the full trailer below: The Super Mario Bros Movie releases in cinemas Down Under on March 30, 2023.
He's the creative mind behind Uluru's spectacular Field of Light installation, which pulled more than 200,000 visitors in its first eighteen months and has been extended twice to keep up with demand. And now, renowned British artist Bruce Munro has lent his talents to yet another landmark Aussie exhibition. This time, he is illuminating the tree-lined Avenue of Honour in Albany, Western Australia. Field of Light: Avenue of Honour kicks off today and will run until April 25, 2019, in honour of the ANZACs who departed for the Great War from this southernmost point of the state 100 years ago. It's an immersive work, aglow each night with 16,000 flower-like glass spheres, 'planted' by local volunteers to form a glowing carpet through the avenue's memorial trees. Arriving at peak wildflower season, the glowing orbs also nod to this corner of the country's unique plant life, referencing the whites, yellows and greens of the wattle and New Zealand's kowhai. Munro's Field of Light: Avenue of Honour installation will be free to wander during its stint Down Under, which coincides with the ANZAC Centenary commemorations. If you'd like to visit, you'll have to plan a bit of a trip. Albany is located a five-hour drive (or one-hour flight) from Perth. Field of Light: Avenue of Honour runs from October 4, 2018 until April 25, 2019. Images: Mark Pickthall, courtesy of the Bruce Munro Studio
It's the Swedish structure that's reimagining social spaces, and its about to take its unconventional meeting place abroad. Earlier this year, Stockholm-based artist duo Bigert and Bergström revealed the 'Solar Egg', a modal, stainless golden steel, reflective, egg-shaped sauna with a heart-shaped wood burning stove, as based in the town of Kiruna. Now, they're bringing it to Paris. The Solar Egg will bring the Kiruna-style sauna experience to the French city's Swedish Institute across November 25 and 26, and December 2, 3, 9 and 10. Visitors are encouraged to don their swimmers, stand next to the fire and pretend they're somewhere snowier — and wear designer dressing gowns while they're touring the installation. As far as interactive art pieces go, it's both acutely beautiful and functional, with stainless golden mirror sheeting reflecting the surrounding scenery. Inside, the sauna's interior is made of pine wood panelling and decks, and aspen benches, with an iron and stone stove in the centre. Temperature varies between 75 and 85 degrees Celsius in the egg. The striking structure was originally commissioned by Swedish economic and real estate association Riksbyggen as a "social sculpture", according to the artists, providing a communal space for the residents of Kiruna to discuss their town's problems. And, they have a lot to talk about while enjoying a sauna together. Kiruna is Sweden's northernmost village, with a population of just under 20,000. In 2003, they realised that due to adjacent iron ore mining activity (activity which provides thousands of jobs for locals), the ground beneath the town was becoming unstable. The solution? Move the whole town three kilometres away. The relocation has been underway ever since and will continue to trudge along, piece by piece, for many more decades supported by the government and the mining company responsible. Like town, like golden egg — which can also obviously be disassembled and relocated. Alas, anyone hoping to see the Solar Egg pop up elsewhere will find themselves disappointed, with the installation due to return to Kiruna after its Paris stint. By Imogen Baker and Sarah Ward. Images: Riksbyggen and Futurniture.
While Australia can sometimes feel a little disconnected from the rest of the world, much of the globe can relate to our ongoing refugee situation. It's these widespread geopolitical and migration crises that world-renowned artist and activist Ai Weiwei is shining a spotlight on with his New York public art exhibition, Good Fences Make Good Neighbors. After running a crowdfunding campaign to fund the project back in August and September, the Chinese creative's latest installation is up and running from today until February 2018. The powerful showcase features a series of large-scale works throughout the entire city, as Ai Weiwei highlights the role of the security fence in dividing people, the immigration and border control practices and policies that go along with these physical barriers, and the current global rise in nationalism. https://www.instagram.com/p/BaHLa7Rn9hh/?taken-by=publicartfund Spanning more than 300 sites across five boroughs, the artist's huge fence-inspired works can be found at places like Central Park and Greenwich Village's Washington Square Arch, as well as on top of and between private buildings. He has also created a collection of flagpole-mounted works, sculptures around bus shelters and two-dimensional lamppost banners. Meanwhile, traditional advertising spaces at bus shelters, LinkNYC kiosks and newsstands will display images taken during Ai Weiwei's time researching at refugee camps across the world. Good Fences Make Good Neighbors stems from his own experiences with displacement and detention, combined with his recent research surrounding the global refugee crisis. If you can't make it to New York to see the installation in person, Instagram has you covered. For more of Ai Weiwei's exploration of the topic, Human Flow, his latest documentary, is due in Australian cinemas in March 2018. Images: Ai Weiwei studio via Kickstarter.
In the just-dropped full season-three Only Murders in the Building trailer, Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die) asks Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated) a key question: "who are we without a homicide?". When you're characters in a murder-mystery comedy who make a podcast about murders in your building, death comes with the territory. So does chatting about it — and both are covered in this latest and lengthiest sneak peek at the show's new batch of episodes. This time, it's actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) who has shuffled off this mortal coil — and at opening night of theatre producer Putnam's latest Broadway show. Of course Mora, Putnam and Savage are going to get sleuthing again, as they did with past murders in season one (aka one of the best new shows of 2021) and season two (one of the best returning shows of 2022). And of course scrambling to save Putnam's career is also part of the storyline. Season three stars not only Gomez, Martin, Short and the ageless Rudd, but also the one and only Meryl Streep (Don't Look Up) as it add another bit of murder, a new mystery to solve and plenty of laughs to the winter streaming lineup. The show returns on Tuesday, August 8 with its main trio spending plenty of time on Broadway trying to work out who is responsible for Gilroy's death, and why, with help from Streep as his co-star Loretta Durkin. "Is this really happening again?" asked Putnam in the first teaser trailer for the new batch of episodes. Yes, yes it is. So is the series fondness for big-name guest stars, as viewers will know from both season one and two. Tina Fey (Girls5eva) has been a significant presence, Sting and Amy Schumer have played themselves, and Cara Delevingne (Carnival Row) has also popped up. If you're yet to experience Only Murders in the Building's charms, it follows its central odd trio after they bond over two things: listening to a Serial-style podcast hosted by the show's own version of Sarah Koenig, aka Cinda Canning (Fey); and a death in their luxe abode. Of course, they did what everyone that's jumped on the true-crime bandwagon knows they would if they were ever in the same situation, starting their own audio series that's also called Only Murders in the Building. That's how season one kicked off — and continued, proving a warm, funny, smart and savvy series at every step along the way. In the show's second go-around, another death needed investigating. That time, it was someone the main trio were all known not to be that fond of, so suspicions kept pointing in their direction. Check out the full trailer for Only Murders in the Building season three below: Only Murders in the Building's third season will start streaming Down Under via Star on Disney+ from Tuesday, August 8. Season one and two are currently streaming. Read our full review of season two — and of the show's first season, too.
Fixation Brewing Co, the Byron Bay brewery that is a joint venture between Tom Delmont and the Stone & Wood Group, is responsible for some pretty tasty brews. Well, one type of brew specifically: India Pale Ales. Brewing hoppy IPAs is the company's calling card — and its fixation, if you may — and now it's about to open a hoppy tasting room right here in Collingwood. Smith Street will soon be home to The Incubator, a tasting room for the IPA-dedicated brewery, which is opening this week. A bar and brewery all rolled into one, it will be creating and serving up a slew of IPAs — including some of its signature brews, and some Melbourne exclusives. Two new ones you'll be able to taste are The 86 IPA and Easey Street IPA, which will be poured straight from the tanks. The brewery bar isn't just good turf for those who want to drink, though, it's also the right place to be to learn about the brewing process, and IPAs in general. With the tanks right up close to where you'll be sitting having a tipple, be assured that any questions you might have – what is an IPA? What are hops? How does beer get made? What's in the vat? – are going to be answered by those IPA-obsessed folk in the know. No kitchen, but bringing in your own food or UberEats-ing is a go, so your stomach won't be going unlined. The Incubator is now open at 414 Smith Street, Collingwood from 4–9pm Wedneday to Friday and 12–10pm Saturday and Sunday. Images: DHyde Foto.
Come From Away has already proven an enormous success on Broadway and in London's West End. It has a heap of Tony and Olivier awards to its name as well. And, it has graced the stage in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney over the past few years, so Australian audiences have been able to experience its charms. Haven't yet been able to see the acclaimed musical? Already attended, but keen to give it a rewatch? Whichever fits, you'll soon be able to watch it from your couch, because the popular production is bringing its remarkable true tale based on real post-September 11 events to streaming from Friday, September 10. Apple TV+ has announced that it'll be adding a filmed version of the hit musical to its online catalogue. Yes, there's a difference between a filmed version and a film. Come From Away joins Hamilton in falling into the first category, because this streaming release features a recorded version of the play as shot at New York City's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. So, you'll be watching footage of a live version of the musical, featuring the Broadway cast (including original and current ensemble members) and directed by Tony-winner Christopher Ashley. If you aren't familiar with the musical's plot or the actual events that inspired it, it's quite the exceptional story. In the week after the September 11 attacks in 2001, 38 planes were unexpectedly ordered to land in the small Canadian town of Gander, in the province of Newfoundland. Part of Operation Yellow Ribbon — which diverted civilian air traffic to Canada en masse following the attacks — the move saw around 7000 air travellers grounded in the tiny spot, almost doubling its population. Usually, the town is home to just under 12,000 residents. To create Come From Away, writers and composers Irene Sankoff and David Hein spent hundreds of hours interviewing thousands of locals and passengers, using their experiences to drive the narrative — and, in many cases, using their real names in the show as well. The result is a musical not just about people coming from away (the term that Newfoundlanders use to refer to folks not born on the island), but coming together, all at a time when tensions were running high worldwide. Since being workshopped in 2012, having a run in Ontario in 2013, then officially premiering in San Diego in 2015, Come From Away has become a global smash. After opening on Broadway in 2017, it was still running before the theatre district closed due to COVID-19. The musical wowed crowds in the West End, too — and, when it first opened in Melbourne in July 2019, it became the Comedy Theatre's most successful musical in the venue's 91-year history. Along the way, the show has picked up a Tony Award for best direction of a musical, six other nominations, and four Olivier Awards out of nine nominations. Apple TV+ hasn't released a trailer for its filmed version of the musical, but you can check out a clip from the Melbourne production below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zmvy1p2FOE&feature=emb_title The filmed version of Come From Away will be available to stream via Apple TV+ from Friday, September 10. Images: Jeff Busby.
