Right now, if Australians want to spend a day carving up the snow, there are a few prerequisites. Frosty weather is a must, and so is getting to one of the country's ski resorts — but that could change from 2025. For Sydneysiders, that snowbound routine usually involves jumping in a car for at least five hours, heading to one of New South Wales' ski spots. Jumping on a train to Penrith, where a new $400-million indoor Winter Sports World has been proposed for the city, will be much, much easier. The centre has also received Penrith Council's official endorsement and is now waiting on NSW Department of Planning and Environment approval — and the team behind it has just unveiled how it'll look. The resort's features have been highlighted before, including a 300-metre indoor ski slope, a winter wonderland play area, a competition area for snow spots, and both ice and rock climbing facilities. And yes, to answer the key question, Winter Sports World will indeed use real snow. Visitors will be able to learn to ski onsite, as part of the resort's positioning as a feeder site to outdoor snow fields. The idea: that you'll learn the ropes indoors, then later head out of town to try the real thing. A food and drink precinct featuring bars, restaurants and cafes, and a 120-room hotel have also been included in the proposal — all with snow views. The just-released designs show how Winter Sports World will appear from the outside, however, complete with touches by Sydney architecture firm Collins & Turner to resemble the venue's' alpine inspiration. The 300-metre-plus northern facade is set to glow at night, takes inspiration from snow clouds on a hill and will apparently look like a blizzard, while the centre's public area and curved lower-level facade will resemble melting ice. Ice shard details are also set to feature. Due to be built in Jamisontown on the corner of Jamison Road and Tench Avenue, Winter Sports World will include water streams, networks of paths and eight-metre-high message sticks as well, with telling First Nations' stories about living on Dyarubbin part of the design. After winning the design competition for the gig, Collins & Turner collaborated with local First Nations artist Jamie Eastwood, landscape architecture JLA Landscape Architects, environmental design consultant and engineers Atelier Ten, facade/structural engineer Eckersley O'Callaghan and lighting design Electrolight. The development, which sought public feedback in 2020 and is being put forward as a new major attraction for the area, is part of the Penrith City Council's plan to double visitors and tourism revenue in the area by 2025. Once built, the facility is hoped to provide a boost to Australia's Winter Olympians and their training, providing a venue for alpine skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The Winter Olympics haven't traditionally been one of Australia's sporting strong suits — the national team first competed in 1936 and didn't win its first medal until 1994. The proposal for Winter Sports World has been in the works since November 2018, with site owner and developer Peter Magnisalis lodging a development application with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment this month. For more information about Winter Sports World, head to the proposed venue's website. Images: artists' impressions of Winter Sports World.
They're taking the hobbits to Isengard at The Astor Theatre, with one movie marathon to rule them all. Round up the Fellowship, stock up on lembas bread for sustenance and hide your finest pipe-weed from the Southfarthing for a sitting of all three of Peter Jackson's beloved OG Tolkien film adaptations in their extended editions. Kicking off with The Fellowship of the Ring and ending with The Return of the King (with The Two Towers in the middle, of course), this cave troll of a marathon will see you making the cinema your home for 755 minutes at the screening on Saturday, June 28, 2025. There'll be a 20-minute intermission between each flick, with the first kicking off at 11am, the second at 3pm and the third at 7.30pm. If you make it through breakfast and second breakfast to the final handful of endings, you can pat yourself on the back and smash a ringwraith screech at the nearest person on your way home (note: do not actually screech at people). Tickets are the precious and come in at $40 for the whole ordeal 0r $35 for Palace Movie Club members.
If there weren't already enough reasons to visit France, the nation has just erected a ten-level superstructure dedicated entirely to life's magnum opus: wine. Located in the heart of Bordeaux wine country, La Cité du Vin (translating to The City of Wine) is more than just a museum about squashed grapes. From the outside the building is a masterpiece in its own right, the architecture charging its glass to the curvature of the infamous vineyard-bordered Garonne River, knotted vine stocks and the swirl of wine in a glass. Indoors, there are both temporary and permanent features, including a self-guided tour through 20 themed spaces showcasing wine from across the world, across the ages, across all cultures and all civilisations. The immersive experience kicks off in a wooden vault moonlighting as the hull of a wine-trading ship before taking visitors through several other multi-sensory areas. The final phase leads up to the top floor to take in 360 degree views of the city and for the most eagerly anticipated section of the tour: wine tasting. All that wine knowledge can be put to use in one of two restaurants, together sharing a wine cellar with upwards of 14,000 bottles from more than 80 wine producing countries. To top it all off the entrance hall doubles as the departure point for wine tasting excursions via boat along the Garonne or down the road to the plentiful Bordeaux vineyards.
Only watching a single scene, merely a few minutes or just a sole episode of Such Brave Girls is impossible. With its blisteringly frank and hilarious first season in 2023, and now with its equally raw, authentic and side-splitting second run in 2025 — both streaming in Australia via Stan — letting instalment after instalment roll while binge-viewing is the natural response to pressing play on this British sitcom about three adult women in a dysfunctional family. That said, there's a line in the show's second season that couldn't sum it up better, even if you were to only ever hear one piece of dialogue from the Kat Sadler-created series. "Your mouth's doing the right thing, but your eyes are trying to call the Samaritans," Josie, her on-screen alter ego, is told when she cracks a smile. Sadler also writes Such Brave Girls, with its first season winning Best Scripted Comedy and earning her the Best Emerging Talent: Fiction award at the 2024 BAFTAs. She's drawn much within its frames from her own experiences, as well as those of her sister Lizzie Davidson, who plays Josie's sibling Billie. Across its 12 episodes to date, there isn't a second of the end result that isn't deeply perceptive, including about depression, trauma, love, financial stress and the unshakeably intertwined relationship between the latter two, to name just some of its focuses. But that Samaritans line is such an astute statement about trying and pretending — however wholeheartedly or convincingly, or willingly or not — to put on a content and settled face to the world, an idea that's at the core of Such Brave Girls again and again. As she keeps exploring the lives of not just chalk-and-cheese sisters Josie and Billie, but also of their mother Deb (Louise Brealey, Lockwood & Co) — and of Dev, (Paul Bazely, Miss Scarlet and the Duke), a quiet widower with a big house, who the family matriarch is keen on marrying; Seb (Freddie Meredith, Andor), the keen-to-wed boyfriend that the queer Josie wishes that she didn't have; and Nicky (Sam Buchanan, Just Act Normal), the womaniser that Billie refuses to see anything but good in — how does Sadler find new ways to dig into the ever-relatable concept of constantly putting on brave faces? "It is capturing the MO of the show, and that's a really interesting way to look at it," Sadler tells Concrete Playground, "because I think every character is an emblem of this fine line of dancing through this desperation going on in the family home, and capturing that through keeping up appearances." "You've got Deb, who deals with it more superficially. Similarly with Billie, who's looking for someone to love her. And then it's Josie sort of constantly weaponising her mental health as a way of trying to experience love. Every character is on the quest for it. So I think when I go about writing, I often just have my characters on the wall, and I have this theme of love that I'm always trying to dig into, and then it's about finding different ways to have that come out." When season one introduced its main figures, it plunged into Josie's mental-health struggles, the mountain of debt that Deb can't escape, and the impact of her ex-husband going out for teabags ten years earlier and never returning home — as well as Josie's sexual identity, and the need for the series' three women to discover ways to try to keep fiscally afloat. Sadler's own attempts on her life and the £20,000 that Davidson owed at the same time were firm inspirations. Another motivation for the show: making the type of no-holds-barred sitcom about these situations and themes that didn't already exist but Sadler wanted to see. "That's exactly what I wanted to do," she explains. "I wanted to capture the uniqueness in the way that we talk, and the way that I talk to my friends, and show that, because I hadn't seen that before. And I wanted to lift up a rock into our world and try to capture as much of that in as much detail with as much authenticity as possible, to open people's eyes to the way that we see the world. And show that perspective, because there wasn't a lot of that that I was seeing on-screen — and it made me sad that we didn't have a lot of that. It made me lonely." "So I was trying to capture that — and help other people feel more normal by saying that the way that they talk is the maybe the way that they talk in their family." Life brightening up isn't Such Brave Girls' journey, though. That wouldn't fit its tone, or its aim to both subvert and satirise. Most sitcoms don't have the origin story that this one does, clearly — and also don't sport the commitment not to shy away from complicated characters, from daily woes, from mental illness, and from a range of topics that many dramas don't even dig into, let alone comedies. The again-exceptional season two begins with Josie chasing a crush, then swiftly being trapped in her worst nightmare: marrying Seb. Deb is endeavouring to use the nuptials to show to Dev that the family's women are worth getting hitched to, while Billie is intent on locking in a sugar-daddy relationship with the much-older — and already-wed — Graham (Daniel Ryan, The Bay). Most sitcoms also don't ensure, no matter what else Josie, Billie and Deb are navigating — be it weddings, infatuations, affairs, boat trips, potential pregnancies, rivals and so much more — that worrying about money isn't something that dissipates. That's another of Such Brave Girls' profoundly relatable touches. Interrogating the connection between love and finances is not the status quo for the bulk of television comedies, either. The feeling of catharsis for its creator, whether in processing her own experiences into something where Josie can make different choices, turning pain into laughs or seeing a show built with such a commitment to authenticity in such a range of ways resonating with audiences, stands out for Such Brave Girls, too. Alongside those themes of romance and money, as well as her own emotional journey with the show, we also spoke with Sadler about discovering the tone and feel for the series, and how season one's BAFTA success empowered her for season two. Among our topics as well: finding new scenarios to put Josie, Bille and Deb in the second time around, plus standing in Josie's shoes for 12 episodes now. On Financial Stress as a Daily Reality Always Sitting at the Heart of the Series — and How Love and Money Intersect "I love having a theme. And I think when you keep it on theme, the whole series will feel unified and keep the characters together — and that's the rubber dinghy that these characters are all stranded in and the ocean: financial stress. And if anything grows or moves or changes the way they're dealing with it, then the whole boat goes over. So it's all about keeping the characters on track and having that be the theme that we're constantly exploring. Like, when I start writing, I have love and money, that's my really strong theme of this year — and last year, too. I think that's what makes the characters feel relatable, and what is exciting to me as a writer is that it is fundamentally about love at its core. Even though the characters are horrible to each other and narcissists and all these things, their quest is fundamentally to be loved — but it's just these toxic ways they go about it. That was what was interesting to me as a writer in series two, was the kind of way that money relates to that. And Deb's quest for that, quest for money, is really about showing her love to the girls by keeping the house there, and keeping everyone safe and surviving. But we deal with it in these kind of toxic ways. So I do want to show that love and money really intersect in lots of ways that you might not be expecting." On Finding the Tone and Feel of the Show From Its Personal Origins for Both Sadler and Her Sister, and with Its Range of Topics That Not Even Dramas Always Cover "I think it went through lots of different versions. There was a while in which I suddenly thought 'oh gosh, am I writing a comedy-drama? Am I writing a drama?' in some of the stuff I dealt with. And then I think I had to stop and reassess and decide what I wanted to make — and fundamentally all I ever wanted to make is a sitcom that shows that you can deal with these issues, and not shy away from it and be hamstrung by the format of a sitcom. You can put anything in there, as long as you understand why characters are the way they are and act the way they do. So I think that was what I really decided on, and then I think once I decided that, it was all systems ago. I remember it went through lots of different drafts. That whole series went through loads of different drafts of versions, and then when I stripped all that back and showed it to my sister, it was then like 'this is what it is'. I think when it became like it was just jokes, that was then, I think, this is what makes me feel excited. Like, this is what gets me feeling a bit nervous, which is the best feeling — when you get a bit of fear." On If the Success of Season One, Including Its BAFTA Wins, Set Sadler a Challenge to Push Even Further in Season Two "Exactly. And it was an incredible vote of confidence in the show, and just gave us the feeling of 'people are behind us on this' — like they get it. Because it is a big ask, because it is challenging in different ways. So the fact that we had that mark of kudos of 'we back you' was huge, and so rewarding. And has been amazing, and totally made me feel like I can be more brave and confident, and like people give me the benefit of the doubt now. But it also comes with 'oh my god, how do you follow that up?'. We won the most-incredible prize — the list of shows on that list of BAFTA-winners for Best Scripted Comedy is unparalleled. It's incredible. So to try to compete with that or to be like 'okay, what's series two?' was terrifying. So we're working out 'how do you follow it up and not just try to be outrageous for outrageous' sake'. But it was a huge mark of confidence that has made me feel much more confident as a writer, which I struggle with." On Finding New Scenarios to Push the Characters Into in a Series About a World Where Nobody Is Right "My favourite thing is the twisted logic of the characters. That's what I love to write. I love twisted logic, like something that makes complete sense to the character, but as the viewer, you're like 'why on earth have you done that?'. So that's always my challenge. So I love to get a situation up on the board and be like 'what is the funny way that my characters would be front-footed and decide how to' — because we're all spin doctors, that comes from my family experience, like how we always just turn everything into something positive. You rewrite it. You work out how you win. And so it was about being like 'okay, how do I spin these situations so that the characters leave it feeling powerful, or leave it feeling like this is actually what they wanted?'. So that is the fun bit of the job, is working out 'what would be the most cathartic way to deal with this?' and 'how do these characters manipulate the situation?'. That's the bit which comes from just sitting and writing it, rather than reality, because a lot of reality didn't happen like that." On Whether There's a Feeling of Catharsis That Comes with Processing Sadler's Own Experiences Via the Series and Seeing Audiences Relate "Yeah, that has been an incredible experience. Having people relate or connect or say 'oh my god, I did that' or 'oh my god, that happened to me', that is actually, it's the best feeling. It's such a mark of confidence in the writing that it is truly the most rewarding bit. It truly is. Getting messages on Instagram being like 'oh my god, I can't believe you talked about that' or 'I thought only we did that' or something — those are the best messages." On How Sadler Feels About Josie After 12 Episodes of Standing in Her Shoes "I find her the hardest one to write for, because she's me. So I do find her difficult, because I haven't got that level of separation like I do with the other characters. So it's sort of about working out how to keep her — because Josie is also quite a passive character. She lets things happen to her. She's obsessed with her own trauma. She's lives in her head. And so it's hard to — thinking of plots for her to do where she is active is hard. Because I'm someone that usually just like — I think there's a line series one that's 'you're a deer in headlights, you just wait for the car to hit you' and that's me. So how on earth do you explore that in writing a series? She is the most fun, though, when she is front-footed about something. So it's just working out how to make her go for that. So that has been my challenge, just to make sure there's a degree of separation there between the two." Such Brave Girls streams via Stan. Read our review of season one.
Curating the perfect wine list is an oft-underrated skill. How do you balance pleasing the crowd while also pushing the envelope? Creating something far-reaching while still carving out an identity? Well, a group of Australian venues have been recognised at the international Star Wine List of the Year awards for 2023 for doing just that, with a Sydney bar taking out the top prize in one of the categories. The Star Wine List of the Year International Final took place in Stockholm in June, with Redfern's La Salut becoming the first-ever Australian venue to ever claim gold in one of its fields. The Cleveland Street haunt that specialises in Spanish and Catalonian wines, with an onus on minimal-intervention drops, was nominated for two different awards: Best Medium-Sized Wine List and the Special Jury Prize. While London's Michelin-starred Trivet took out the top mid-sized list gong for venues offering 200–600 wines, La Salut was crowned the champion in the Special Jury Prize. [caption id="attachment_860300" align="alignnone" width="1920"] La Salut, Dexter Kim[/caption] This award recognises "a venue that has done something extra with their wine list, such as the direction, the style or the value". La Salut beat out finalists from across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia to claim the prize, being praised for the exemplary spotlight it places on Spain's best vino and the storytelling it achieves through its curation. "It often feels like Spanish wine is largely ignored by wine-focused venues in Australia, which is a huge shame considering that Spain is currently producing some of the most exhilarating wine in the world," says La Salut co-owner Matt Swieboda. "I suppose our philosophy might be different to others in that we want to really push guests to try wine styles that they may never have had the opportunity to have tried." [caption id="attachment_658147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Embla[/caption] Elsewhere, other Australian spots received nominations but didn't claim gold. Melbourne's Embla was nominated for the Best Short List for bars with under 200 wines, Bentley Restaurant & Wine Bar was nominated in the Grand Prix for bars with over 600 wines, and Perth's Rockpool Bar & Grill received nominations for both the best wine list with Austrian wines and Best Sparkling Wine List. A couple of regional favourites also picked up nominations, with Margaret River's Setter's Tavern recognised in the sustainability-focused category and Mornington Peninsula's Ten Minutes by Tractor earning some love in the Best By the Glass List category. You can start making plans for a few wine-fuelled nights around Australia — and abroad ‚ by browsing the full list of nominees and winners. [caption id="attachment_637744" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bentley Restaurant + Bar[/caption] For more information about the Star Wine List of the Year, head to the awards' website. Top image: Nikki To.
Normal life can wait, there's movies to watch: in Sydney each June, that's the mantra. 2024's Sydney Film Festival has been unveiling its packed lineup since early April, including a Midnight Oil documentary to open this year's fest, a Bondi Icebergs doco, Hellraiser with a new live score and a retrospective that pays tribute to Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène. Now arrives the full program, from Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things follow-up Kinds of Kindness playing straight from Cannes in SFF's official competition — and yes, it stars Emma Stone (The Curse) — through to the usual latest and greatest in Australian and world cinema. "Usual" is never quite the word for a major film fest like Sydney's winter showcase, of course. As SFF will demonstrate from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16, every year's festival looks and feels different because variety is at the heart of its choices. And with a couple of hundred flicks always on the bill — 197 films is 2024's tally, hailing from 69 countries, with 92 narrative features and 54 documentaries, and also 28 world premieres and 133 Australian premieres — Sydney Film Festival's titles can boast a heap of well-known talents and still never resemble past fests. As he has every year that he's been at the helm since 2012, Festival Director Nashen Moodley has stuffed the event's 71st iteration with everything from Hunter Schafer (Euphoria)-starring thriller Cuckoo and Sundance hit I Saw the TV Glow from We're All Going to the World's Fair's Jane Schoenbrun — which is about two teens grappling with their favourite television show getting cancelled — through to Indigenous Aussie horror via The Moogai, which makes the leap from SFF-winning short to feature vying for the new $35,000 First Nations Award. Or, there's also Dahomey, which won this year's Berlinale Golden Bear; The Bikeriders, starring Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Austin Butler (Dune: Part Two), Tom Hardy (Venom: Let There Be Carnage) and Mike Faist (Challengers); and Grand Tour, as directed by 2015 Sydney Film Prize-winner Miguel Gomes (Arabian Nights). Kinds of Kindness, an anthology effort from Lanthimos, is joined in SFF's official competition by not only Grand Tour and opening night's Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line, but also by titles from India, Germany, Ireland, France, Argentina, Mexico, Italy and Vietnam. They include All We Imagine as Light, the first Indian film playing in Cannes' competition in three decades; three IRL Belfast rappers starring as themselves — and co-starring with Michael Fassbender (Next Goal Wins) — in comedy Kneecap; a tribute to Italian acting great Marcello Mastroianni; Sujo, the cartel drama that won 2024's Sundance Grand Jury Prize; and September Says, the directorial debut of actor Ariane Labed (which means that she's competing against her Alps and The Lobster director Lanthimos). The highlights keep coming across the rest of the program. Aussie boxing drama Kid Snow with Phoebe Tonkin (Boy Swallows Universe), the Kate Winslet (The Regime)- and Alexander Skarsgård (Mr & Mrs Smith)-led Lee about WWII reporter Lee Miller, Armand starring The Worst Person in the World's Renate Reinsve, Saoirse Ronan (Foe) as a recovering addict in page-to-screen adaptation The Outrun, Australian surfing culture documentary You Should Have Been Here Yesterday: they're all on the list. Or, get excited about Aubrey Plaza's (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) new comedy My Old Ass, which Margot Robbie (Barbie) produced; The Convert, which features Guy Pearce (The Clearing) and is directed by Once Were Warriors' Lee Tamahori; and Japan's My Sunshine, which follows a boy who learns to figure skate solely to get his crush's attention. Problemista, directed by and starring Los Espookys' Julio Torres opposite Tilda Swinton (The Killer), is one of the standout indies on the bill. So is Stress Positions, as led by John Early (The Afterparty) and set in New York City during lockdown. Also boasting familiar faces, The Dead Don't Hurt is a feminist western helmed by and starring Viggo Mortensen (Crimes of the Future), and also featuring Vicky Krieps (Corsage) — and A Different Man features Sebastian Stan (Dumb Money), Ghostlight has Triangle of Sadness' Dolly De Leon, and Peter Sarsgaard (The Batman) and Jessica Chastain (George & Tammy) are in Memory. Sasquatch Sunset, directed by the Zellner brothers (Damsel), also sees Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & the Six) and Jesse Eisenberg (Fleishman Is in Trouble) in front of the camera, but playing a sasquatch family. From acclaimed filmmakers, Radu Jude follows up Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn with Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World, Lav Diaz (When the Waves Are Gone) is in police-procedural mode with Essential Truths of the Lake (which clocks in at almost four hours, which is short for the Filipino director), and About Dry Grasses is the newest drama from Winter Sleep and The Wild Pear Tree's Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Fancy two films from Korean action great Choi Dong-hoon (Assassination)? There's an Alienoid and Alienoid: The Return of the Future double. For feline fans, doco The Cats of Gokogu Shrine is about Japanese street cats. Still on documentaries, Untitled Blur Documentary goes to the British band's 2023 Wembley Stadium shows, Federer: Last Twelve Days hails from Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy and Diego Maradona), Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story pays tribute to its namesake and Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger steps through the titular pair's films with Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon). The Bones digs into the fossil trade, while Occupied City marks the return of Steve McQueen's (Small Axe) work to SFF after he won the first-ever Sydney Film Prize with Hunger. Also, if you're keen for Skywalkers: A Love Story, catch it in IMAX — it's about a couple of daredevils climbing the planet's tallest structures. And in the Box Set box seat — aka the part of the fest that serves up a TV binge — is six episodes of mystery series Exposure, as led by Alice Englert (Bad Behaviour) and executive produced by Justin Kurzel (Snowtown, Nitram). Screening at The State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Newtown, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, Palace Central, Palace Norton Street, Ritz Cinemas Randwick, IMAX Sydney, the Art Gallery of NSW and the State Library of NSW, SFF's 2024 must-sees keep going — because if you've got enough holiday leave for it, dedicating the full 12 days to movies, movies and more movies is one of the ultimate cinephile experiences. "The 71st Sydney Film Festival unfurls a canvas of bold narratives and remarkable visions, mirroring the evolving dynamics of our world," said Moodley about the 2024 lineup. "This year, we are proud to present films that challenge, entertain, and provoke dialogue, from the sweeping landscapes of Australian dramas to the complex human stories from global cinema. The 2024 selection reinforces our commitment to fostering a diverse cinematic experience, spotlighting works that engage with pressing social issues, personal stories and transformative historical moments." "These films invite the audience to journey through myriad cultures and experiences, reflecting the rich complexity of the human condition." [caption id="attachment_954171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Dare Parker[/caption] Sydney Film Festival 2024 takes place from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information — and for tickets from Wednesday, May 8, 2024 — head to the festival's website.
From its opening scene, Terminator: Dark Fate succeeds in its most important mission: to go back in time and kill off every Terminator movie that came out after Terminator 2: Judgment Day. It's not that the subsequent films were awful (well, maybe Genysis), but their heart-pumping action scenes and lore-developing stories couldn't capture the complexity of the 1984 original and its 1991 sequel. They also lacked two other key components: writer/director James Cameron, as well as Linda Hamilton's version of kick-ass hero Sarah Connor. In Terminator: Dark Fate, they both return, with Cameron producing and helping come up with the story, and Hamilton raising hell as the gun-blazing terminator of terminators. We just wish that the latter had been more of a surprise. Blame the trailer — which not revealed the film's two biggest and best character reprisals, but also almost every one of its key action moments. That's Dark Fate's biggest mistake, because none of these parts of the movie needed to be teased. Terminator is one of those rare and fortunate franchises in the enviable position of owning its audience's heart and soul. Like Star Wars, Die Hard and Harry Potter, fans of the originals can't stop seeing these films, even if their love keeps waning with each increasingly disappointing sequel. As a result, what would've rated as genuine "no... fucking... way!?!" scenes in Dark Fate are rendered entirely anti-climactic, sucking the oxygen out of every prior moment as soon as you realise "oh, this is when Sarah rocks up". And yet, while Dark Fate's best moments fail to hit home as they might otherwise have done, the sixth instalment in the Terminator series still has a lot going for it. First and foremost, director Tim Miller (Deadpool) keeps the cast noticeably small, with just five main characters and only a few minor supporting roles. The first three are all franchise newbies, each holding their own against the veterans. Dani (Natalia Reyes) is a young Mexican girl who finds herself the target of a whole different kind of terminator called the Rev-9 (a terrific Gabriel Luna). Standing in its way is an augmented human named Grace (Mackenzie Davis), a soldier sent back from 2042 to protect Dani — just as Michael Biehn's character was in the first film. Indeed, much of Dark Fate plays out in familiar territory. Like the first two Terminator pictures, it's primarily a chase movie, with some scenes feeling almost too samey (the freeway pursuit sequence, for example, except this time it features a bulldozer instead of a semi-trailer). Where the film shines, though, is in its returning stars: Hamilton's Sarah Connor and Arnie's iconic T-800 'Model 101' terminator. Hamilton, in particular, reminds us how effortlessly she can be a total badass without it ever feeling forced or exaggerated — and even leaves you annoyed that more films haven't capitalised on this fact over the last 30 years. In contrast, Arnie's return is entirely different to his previous turns in the role. The trailers haven't spoiled that side of things, at least. So we'll say no more, except to note that all the CGI in the world still can't match the menacing simplicity of an exposed metallic eyeball or finger, and it's great to have him — and them — back. For those wondering how this story can even exist given the events of previous instalments, Dark Fate does a nice job of answering its own temporal conundrums. On that front, there's a genuinely unsettling edge to the idea of an inevitable apocalypse caused by human hubris and irresponsibility. Whether research companies, the military or tech startups play an influential part, the suggestion that our actions always eventually culminate in the creation of a mechanical monster seems to echo louder in the mind every time news arrives of another breakthrough in automation and artificial intelligence. "Skynet is coming" used to be an easy punchline, but these days it feels more like a warning — and Dark Fate neatly plays around in that space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdivOFoF8-g
Tenth birthdays are a big deal, especially when you're an Australian music festival that's been navigating a pandemic and the resulting difficult time for the industry for half of your run, and also grappling with the impact of La Niña. Yours and Owls has been on quite the rollercoaster ride across the past decade, clearly, so of course it's celebrating its milestone birthday with a massive lineup. Fontaines DC, Denzel Curry, The Kooks and Goo Goo Dolls lead the roster of talent taking to the stage in Wollongong across Saturday, March 1–Sunday, March 2, 2025. Orville Peck, Hockey Dad, The Jungle Giants, Peach PRC and The Veronicas are also on the bill, as are Elderbrook, Honey Dijon, JPEGMafia and Salute — and plenty more. [caption id="attachment_976058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Theo Cottle[/caption] When Yours and Owls revealed that it wasn't going ahead in 2024, joining the long list of music festivals scrapping plans for this year, it thankfully only put its fun on hold for 2025. Returning in 2025 was always the intention — and this is a lineup worth waiting for. Yours and Owls didn't completely sit 2024 out, however. Earlier in October, it held a pre-party, aka the event you put on when you can't put on the full festival experience at your usual time of the year because it doesn't work for your headliners' calendars. So, a tunes-filled shindig still took over the University of Wollongong campus — complete with Golden Features, Peking Duk, Alice Ivy, Anna Lunoe and more — to keep things warm for next year. Affectionately labelled "Gong Christmas", Yours and Owls 2025 will feature four stages across its two-day run, plus a feast of local arts — and food and drinks — beyond the tunes. The lineup arrives just a week after the fest locked in its dates for next year. Confirmation that the event will be back next year follows locked-in details for the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 for a heap of fellow festivals, such as Laneway, Golden Plains, Bluesfest (for the last time), Wildlands, Good Things, Lost Paradise, Beyond The Valley and Meredith. Yours and Owls Lineup 2025 Fontaines DC Denzel Curry The Kooks Goo Goo Dolls Elderbrook Hockey Dad Honey Dijon JPEGMafia The Jungle Giants Orville Peck Peach PRC Salute The Veronicas Allday Babe Rainbow Coterie Cyril Dice The Dreggs Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn Grentperez Isabel Larosa Magdalena Bay May A Mark Blair Pond Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners Sam Tompkins San Cisco Slowly Slowly Sycco Wunderhorse Battlesnake Bean Magazine Bodyjar The Belair Lip Bombs C.O.F.F.I.N Crocodylus Keli Holiday Kitschen Boy Le Shiv Miss Kaninna Nick Ward Ra Ra Viper Satin Cali Total Tommy Y.O.G.A [caption id="attachment_906428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jess Gleeson[/caption] [caption id="attachment_906426" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ruby Bowland[/caption] [caption id="attachment_965220" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] Yours and Owls returns to Wollongong on Saturday, March 1–Sunday, March 2, 2025. Presale tickets start at 9am AEDT on Tuesday, October 29 with general sales at 9am AEDT on Wednesday, October 30 — head to the festival website for more details. Top image: Ian Laidlaw.
Now here's some casually beautiful design for your day. Japanese design house Nendo have created a box of chocolates that wouldn't be out of place in a contemporary art museum. Having already made you insatiably hungry with chocolate pencils and ice cream cakes far too beautiful to eat, Nendo decided to celebrate their new title as Maison&Objet's Designer of the Year by creating some of the most stunning truffles you're likely to come across. Geometric little bite-sized pieces they are, Nendo's truffles were created for M&O's upcoming design show in Paris; an event for which they're also creating the visitor lounges where visitors can soothe their weary tootsies. There are nine chocolates in total, all of which will be handed out to these weary visitors — a stunning little treat we'd be likely to attempt a furious commute home to the fridge with. According to Co.DESIGN, the cubic chocolates represent different geometric forms; everything from a representation of a soundwave to a wireframe cube. Nendo's chocolate boxes will only be available to buy at the Maison&Objet design show in Paris from January 23 - 27. All we're saying, if you're desperately trying to impress someone with a romantic gesture, bringing a box of chocolates that look like modern art back from a Parisian design show is a decent idea. Via Dezeen and Co.DESIGN.
As Australia's drinks scene has boomed, so has a hardly surprising side effect, with more than a few independently owned breweries and distilleries getting snapped up by the big end of town. In fact, the latest development in this space sees not one, not two, but five indie names make the move to a beer behemoth — with Lion purchasing the Fermentum Group, which includes Stone and Wood, Two Birds, Fixation, Little Dragon and Sunly Seltzer. The sale sees the Byron Bay-based Stone and Wood, Melbourne labels Two Birds and Fixation, boozy ginger beer brand Little Dragon and hard seltzer Sunly Seltzer all join Lion's sizeable alcohol stable. Owned by Japan's Kirin Holdings, Lion also boasts beer labels such as James Squire, Little Creatures, Furphy, White Rabbit, Hahn, Tooheys, James Boag's, Malt Shovel, Eumundi and XXXX to its name — and, since 2019, 50 percent of Healesville-based gin distillery Four Pillars as well. Announcing the news on its website, Lion said that it has "huge respect for what Jamie Cook, Brad Rogers, Ross Jurisich and the team have created; great beer, wonderful brands, spiritual homes in their breweries and tap rooms, an inclusive culture and a commitment to the community. We want to grow what they've started, giving their people and beers even more reach across the country." In their own statement, the Stone and Wood trio of Cook, Rogers and Jurisich said that "earlier this year, we realised that we were approaching a major milestone in the development of Stone and Wood where we knew it was time to build a new brewery. After many months of working through how we were going to begin the next chapter in our story, the founding families decided it might be time to see if there was a custodian for the business who could grow the legacy, its people, its culture, its brands, and continue to drive the business whilst staying true to its purpose." [caption id="attachment_667510" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Two Birds, Simon Shiff[/caption] Part of the sale will see Lion support Stone and Wood, Two Birds and Fixation to go carbon neutral, and to also continue Fermentum's plans to build a new brewery in Murwillumbah. The deal comes nine months after Fermentum bought Two Birds' brewery, tap room and brands, as announced back in January. At the time of writing, the sale of Fermentum to Lion is still subject to regulatory approvals. For more information about Lion's purchase of the Fermentum Group of breweries, visit the Lion and Stone and Wood websites.
Before there was The Undoing, there was Big Little Lies — the other HBO series starring Nicole Kidman and written by David E Kelley. They have quite the company, too, both on-screen and off-. The stacked cast also features Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgård and Meryl Streep. Plus, Wild filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée directed its first season and American Honey's Andrea Arnold helmed its second. Based on Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name, Big Little Lies follows a scandalous murder at a public school in Monterey, California — where the characters played by all of the above cast members each have children or grandchildren in attendance. Its twists and turns are obviously best discovered by watching, but it'll keep you guessing across both seasons to-date. And, the show will have you marvelling at its performances and slick cinematography in the process as well.
The two-kilometre coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama is always a stunning Sydney sight no matter when you mosey along it, but it's especially impressive during Sculpture by the Sea. Once a year since 1997 — except during the pandemic's early days — the outdoor art event displays large-scale pieces with the ocean as a backdrop. Understandably, it isn't just one of the annual highlights of Sydney's cultural calendar, but of Australia's. That excuse to soak up the great outdoors in the Harbour City returns again in 2023, from Friday, October 20–Monday, November 6. On the agenda once more: 100-plus artworks by Australian and international sculptors, all along a two-kilometre walk. But this is the 25th Sculpture by the Sea, so it's celebrating notching up that milestone with pieces by artists who displayed at the event back at its beginning. Paul Bacon, Stephen King, Michael Le Grand, John Petrie, James Rogers and Margarita Sampson earn those honours, bookending a quarter-century run. Sculpture by the Sea 2023 will also feature works by Philip Spelman and Ron Gomboc, who reach double decades displaying at the event; Lucy Barker and Ayako Saito, who hit a decade; and Chinese artist Chen Wenling. Discovering exactly who'll be showing what and where is part of the fun of taking the spring stroll, but this year's event won't be short on talent. As always, the exhibition is set to draw a crowd. Each year, Sculpture by the Sea attracts approximately 450,000 visitors over 18 days, with the same number of art lovers expected this time around. The past few years have been particularly eventful for the exhibition, which had to sit out 2020 like oh-so-many festivities around the world, then tried to make a comeback in October 2021 but also had to scrap those plans due to the pandemic. It did successfully stage a CBD spinoff, Sculpture Rocks, in autumn 2021, however. Even before the current global health situation interrupted its annual plans, organisers were also at loggerheads with the Council over the construction of a new path back in mid-2019, and were scoping out alternative locations for the long-running art exhibition. In fact, it was only early in 2021 that the parties came to an agreement to remain in Bondi until 2030, with the organisers and Council agreeing to a ten-year deal. Amid all of the above, the Sculpture by the Sea team also branched in 2022, opening the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. It's a permanent 100-kilometre collection of outdoor art along the Snowy Valleys Way, passing through the towns of Adelong, Batlow and Tumbarumba, the hamlet of Tooma, plus the Tumbarumba wine region's cellar doors. Sculpture by the Sea will return to the Bondi–Tamarama coastal walk for 2023 from Friday, October 20–Monday, November 6. For more information, head to sculpturebythesea.com. Images: Charlotte Curd, Reni Indrawan, Clyde Yee, Jack Bett, Jarrad Seng, W Patino, G Carr and Samantha Burns.
You've entered the workforce. You enjoy where you work and what you do. Congrats, you've successfully adulted. But, seeing as your career will likely span upwards of 40 years of your life, you'll want to be in a position where you can actually get the most out of your job. How? We have one word for you — upskill. By taking a course or studying a single subject related to your career goals, you'll expand your realm of knowledge beyond any original training you've done, keep up to date with the latest research and methodologies in your field and show your present (and prospective) employers your ambition and drive for self-improvement. And, you don't even need to put your career (or life) on hold to do so. Senior manager of marketing Rhiannon Farrar is one of the thousands of Aussies who have studied online through Open Universities Australia (OUA). She got her degree — maintaining a healthy study-work-life balance in the process — and she's now kicking some serious career goals. This is how she did it. DON'T PACK YOUR BAGS Forget Hollywood's idea of the university experience — moving across the country, living on campus and going to frat parties. For a lot of people, pausing life to study for a period of time is just not feasible. But, luckily, you don't need to. OUA partners with universities all across Australia to bring over 290 degrees and 1500 subjects to students studying remotely. Sydney-based Farrar went straight into the workforce after high school, starting out as a casting agency talent booker before taking on a front of house role at a Sydney advertising agency. So, when it came to studying, moving wasn't really an option — she already had her foot in the door in Sydney. Instead, she undertook her preferred degree — Griffith University's Bachelor of Communication (majoring in Public Relations) — online through OUA. FIT STUDY AROUND YOUR LIFE (NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND) Life can be unpredictable, which makes locking yourself into a degree feel completely daunting. But, one of the biggest drawcards of studying through OUA is the flexibility. OUA lets you select the number of subjects you complete per study period, semester or trimester (depending on the qualification). So, if in one study period, life gets busy, you want to travel or complete an internship (like Farrar did with the Sydney Kings basketball team), you can scale back to one subject — or take off a semester altogether. You can then take on an extra load in the following block to catch up if you like. On top of the industry-specific knowledge that Farrar gained, she notes that this flexible style of studying also improved her work style — from learning how to manage her time to working independently and feeling confident asking for help when necessary. USE WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING STRAIGHT AWAY Chances are, you only remember a fraction of what you learned in high school (Pythagoras theorem, we're looking at you) and the same can happen with uni, too. If you're not thinking about it on a daily or weekly basis, some information just doesn't stick after a certain period of time. When you're working and studying simultaneously, you get to implement what you're learning in real time. Similarly, everyone likes a shortcut — and earning credit for the work experience you have under your belt already is a surefire way to fast track your degree. Just five years on from her graduation, Farrar now oversees the marketing strategy for the entire Asia Pacific region for Rakuten Marketing. She partly credits her quick rise through the ranks to being able to put what she was learning into practice immediately — and vice versa. "Working in adland and studying PR, there were a lot of overlaps between what I was learning and what was happening at work," says Farrar. "My studies helped me get a greater understanding of the industry, and my work helped me to make practical sense of what I was learning." FIND YOUR PERFECT MATCH You may not be interested in a full degree right now. Perhaps you've identified a knowledge gap or want to specialise to future-proof your job (and make yourself more attractive to potential employers). OUA also offers a heap of post-graduate single subjects that you could study in your lunch break, commute or after work. It's a minimal commitment (aside from sacrificing a few hours at the pub or watching Netflix) for maximum return. From learning how to code with RMIT to a subject on Innovative Business Practice with Swinburne University through OUA, there are plenty of subjects that will get you up-to-date in your field and supercharge your career. Take it from Farrar: "We live in a competitive world where new trends and technology are constantly coming into play. Keeping yourself upskilled is so important to ensuring career development and growth." Start looking at all the subjects on offer online from leading Australian universities through Open Universities Australia and you could have a new skill by the end of the year. Hop to it.
Australia's most prestigious portrait award is just around the corner, and its finalists have been announced today. Every year crowds speculate who will be awarded the coveted prize and, more often than not, the Archibald winner causes much-heated debate. From last year's five-time Archibald finalist Yvette Coppersmith's first win — for her vibrant, almost Cézanne-inspired Self portrait, after George Lambert — to Craig Ruddy's 2004 win with his sketch of Indigenous actor David Gulpilil, it's hard win to pick. All that's really assured is that it'll be a portrait of person by an Australian. Held at the Art Gallery of NSW every year, the Archibald runs in conjunction with the Wynne and Sulman Prizes — recognising the best landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture and the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project, respectively. This year, running from May to September, the Archibald is sure to attract a massive crowd, with some exceptional artworks to feast your eyes upon. Vietnamese-Australian artist, actor and writer Anh Do has made the cut, as have Melbourne-based stencil artist Kirpy with his portrait of Paralympic champion Dylan Alcott, Carla Fletcher's cosmic work of Del Kathryn Baron and a hyperreal self-portrait of a pregnant Katherine Edney. Tessa MacKay has also taken out the coveted 2019 Archibald Packing Room Prize, chosen by the packing room tea, for her hyperreal portrait of actor David Wenham, called Through the Looking Glass (above). As there are so many outstanding portraits this year (as there are every year), it's impossible to know which of the 51 is going to take home the $100,000 prize. Regardless, here are some of our favourites — and some we think may have a good chance of winning. [caption id="attachment_719640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luke Cornish, Cato, Callie and Comet. Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins.[/caption] LUKE CORNISH — CATO, CALLIE AND COMET Prolific Australian street artist Luke Cornish has subdued his edge a bit for his portrait of Sue Cato — a media commentator and businesswoman as well as a board member of Carriageworks and a member of Sydney Contemporary's advisory council. Cornish initially wanted to paint her two dogs, Callie and Comet, but as per the Archibald rule, Cato was included and is the subject of Cato, Callie and Comet. In 2012, Cornish was the first street artist to ever be an Archibald finalist and he's back again with this accurate, and slightly moody, depiction of a powerful woman in the intimacy of her own living room. [caption id="attachment_719642" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laura Jones, Nakkiah in her dressing room. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.[/caption] LAURA JONES — NAKKIAH IN HER DRESSING ROOM Sydney-based artist Laura Jones has made quite the name for herself in recent years, having exhibited in some of Sydney's top contemporary galleries as well as a past finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award, the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship and the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. Now, she is a finalist in Australia's biggest art award for the first time. Nakkiah in her dressing room is an intimate work of Nakkiah Lui, an Australian actress of Gamillaroi/Torres Strait Island background. The portrait depicts Lui's wit, strength and warmth and is a highly expressive piece for an Archibald first-timer. [caption id="attachment_719644" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blak Douglas, White shells, black heart. Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins.[/caption] BLAK DOUGLAS —WHITE SHELLS, BLACK HEART Blak Douglas is no stranger to the Archibald, having been a finalist in 2015 and 2018, and also a finalist in this year's Wynne Prize for a collaborative work. So, the man means business, even though his works may seem somewhat simple at first glance. His portrait is of Esme Timbery (or as he refers to her, Aunty Esme) — one of the longest-practising Aboriginal artists. The two worked together back in 2000 for Eorascapes — an exhibition in the Sydney Opera House foyer for the Olympics. The colourful multimedia work is both venerate and familial, a testament to Blak Douglas and his personal-yet-political artistic practice. [caption id="attachment_719646" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anh Do, Art and war.[/caption] ANH DO — ART AND WAR You may know Do for any number of reasons. The actor, writer, comedian and artist is an Australian household name and is no Archibald newbie. Having won the 2017 People's Choice award for his portrait of actor Jack Charles and a finalist back in 2014 for a portrait of his father, Do has now painted a fellow artist — George Gittoes. Gittoes has witnessed adversities in Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Afghanistan and is known for his raw, brusque depictions of human suffering (with glimmers of hope and resilience). Emanating Gittoes' grit, Art and War is a close-up portrait looking straight down the barrel into the eyes of someone who's seen much of the world. [caption id="attachment_719647" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shane Bowden, Self-portrait sitting in a red chair, Avalon. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.[/caption] SHANE BOWDEN — SELF-PORTRAIT SITTING IN A RED CHAIR Shane Bowden's work may not look the most technically impressive but he sure doesn't hold back. His self-portrait errs on the grotesque, with demented lines, a disproportionate use of scale and muddled colours — it has an overall first-day-of-kindergarten appeal. Upon first glance that is. Having undergone heart surgery last year, Bowden has channelled this personal catastrophe into Self-portrait sitting in a red chair, Avalon. The neo-expressionist work represents the artist as both child and adult, distilling "all the emotion and confusion of the last 40 years as I tried to find my true self," as put by Bowden himself in his official Archibald statement. A finalist in the 2010 Archibald Prize with a collaborative work as well as a finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2010 and 2011, Shane Bowden is not one to overlook. All of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize finalists will be on display at the Art Gallery of NSW from May 11–September 8. The Archibald finalists well then head to various galleries across regional NSW and Victoria. Top image: Tessa Mackay, Through the looking glass. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.
Victoria's newest luxury spa destination doesn't require a jaunt down the coast or a road trip all the way out to Daylesford. In fact, full-body bliss now awaits you just 10 kilometres from the CBD, at Ivanhoe's new urban retreat and spa Relinque. It's the brainchild of osteopaths Dr Michelle and Dr Adam Wilson, who set out to create a holistic wellness destination specialising in tailored experiences. The space itself is the kind of serene, soothing setting you'll happily escape to for a few hours of indulgence, decked out with modern interiors by Richmond's Studio Tate. Relinque's treatment offering is built on the founders' decades of osteo experience, carefully tuned to help refocus, rebalance and restore that pandemic-weary body. Guests can choose from four signature 'journeys' or treatment packages, sitting at between 80 and 170 minutes of pampering. In the mix, there are body scrubs, massages, hand and foot treatments, wraps and facial therapies, with individualised combinations also available. If you're seeking some additional rejuvenation, you can soak up the benefits of hot and cold contrast therapy here in Melbourne's only privately-owned steam and ice room. The gig involves alternating between a steamy 45-degrees and the frosty temperatures of an ice fountain, to take advantage of the practice's healing, regenerative properties. Products used at the retreat include the full line of organic, botanically-charged products from leading Aussie skincare brand LaGaia, whose experts have personally trained all Relinque staff. And if you'd like to make this your new one-stop wellness shop, there's also a calendar of regular yoga and pilates classes to come. Find Relinque Urban Retreat and Spa at 19 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe.
Buildings that feed on pollution, skyscrapers constructed from rubbish – what's next for the future of the world's trash? North American environmental solutions company Waste Management has recently made significant investments in energy companies Agnion, Enerkem and Agilyx, all of which provide solutions to turning waste into something more useful. Enerkem can produce transportation fuel from garbage, and Agilyx creates crude oil from unwanted plastics. A small-scale device created by Agnion could be used by supermarkets, hospitals and shopping centres to make the most of the waste they create. The technology can transform trash (affectionately known as "solid biomass feedstock") into gas, which in turn can be used to provide heating.
You can now bring a bit of the beach into your home while passing the time in lockdown, with a new set of jigsaw puzzles featuring some of the city's most picturesque coastal spots. Similar to the immensely popular Australian Unseen puzzles, local photographer Dharma Bendersky and his gallery Salty Gallery have turned his stunning shots of Sydney beaches into 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles. There are currently six idyllic puzzles on offer from Salty Gallery, featuring Bondi, Bronte, Coogee, Little Bay and Sydney Harbour. "I started selling puzzles last year as a way to share my photography in a new way and at a lower cost point," Bedersky says. "Last summer on a 40 degree-plus day I did a photoshoot from a helicopter, and ended up with some fantastic aerial shots of the eastern suburb beaches; so for this most recent puzzle collection I used a selection of these images." Each puzzle is $59, includes free shipping Australia-wide, can be delivered internationally, and are shipped in eco-friendly compostable bags. If you've worked your way through all six puzzles or you're a fan of concrete-covered bays, Bedersky plans to unveil more designs featuring Maroubra, Clovelly and other eastern suburb beaches later this year. You can also browse Salty Gallery photography collection online where you can purchase framed and unframed prints as well as beach towels. Salty Gallery jigsaw puzzles are available through the gallery's website.
She won an Oscar for her first feature film role, proved a formidable part of the recent Star Wars sequels as well as Black Panther, and unnerved audiences everywhere in her dual performances in Jordan Peele's Us. Now, Lupita Nyong'o is picking up a ukulele and protecting kids from zombies in Australian comedy Little Monsters. Directed by Aussie actor-turned-director Abe Forsythe, Little Monsters follows a school excursion gone wrong. Taking a class of five-year-olds on a field trip to a farm, then encountering the ravenous undead, really isn't your usual educational outing. But Nyong'o's Miss Caroline isn't taking the situation lightly, even when she's turning it into a game to try to stop the kids from freaking out. She also won't put up with anyone behaving inappropriately around her pupils, whether they're flesh-munching zombies, a bowtie-wearing children's TV presenter (Josh Gad) or a slacker musician (Alexander England). Premiering at this year's Sundance Film Festival, then wowing crowds at SXSW as well, the film has been earning rave reviews. If Forsythe can turn the Cronulla riots into a race-relations comedy that's both smart and silly, as he did in Down Under, then he can do what few horror films dare to — throw a heap of kids at plenty of zombies. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d1KP-OhBP4 Little Monsters will have its Australian premiere on Saturday, August 10 at the Melbourne International Film Festival, with further local dates yet to be announced.
Booze and brunch is a combo we can all get behind, and this weekend, it's set to be the star of the show as Welcome to Thornbury hosts Melbourne's first ever mimosa and brunch 'festival' (otherwise known simply as 'brunch', but sure). Kicking off at 11am on Sunday, July 30, this event is worth dragging your weekend butt out of bed for, featuring a tight curation of brunchtime goodness that'll put your usual smashed avo and latte to shame. In the culinary corner, expect a one-off brunch-style bun creation from Mr Burger, waffles from Let's Waffle 'n' Shake, and a punchy Indian-inspired feed from Curry Up Now, alongside morning treats from favourites like Brunetti's, Levain Doughnuts and Gorilla Grill. Of course, the booze situation will also be on-theme, for anyone keen to dabble in some classy day drinking. Liquid sustenance comes in the form of a range of different flavoured mimosas, espresso martinis, and, if you want to go hard, bourbon-infused iced tea jugs. Or, for a little extra help waking up, double down with the Morning Glory Special, an all-out $20 espresso martini and mimosa combo. Just don't make any important afternoon plans.
An escape to Aotearoa New Zealand can cater to all your holiday desires, whatever they may be. Whether your idea of a perfect getaway is to be gazing out at incredible scenery, absorbing it all on a hike, bike, paddle, swim or walk, or being pampered into a state of utter relaxation, New Zealand will take your breath away. Make where you stay part of your holiday too, rather than simply a place to rest your head after an experience-packed day. From camping out under the stars beneath one of the darkest skies on Earth to retreating into luxury residences next to vineyards and cellar doors, or even going completely off-grid, the getaways you'll find in New Zealand are uniquely extraordinary. Although New Zealand beckons for a holiday year-round, the seasons will shape your sojourn too. Revel in the charm of changing landscapes in autumn, catch your breath on alpine walks and in hot springs in winter, or experience the energy of spring as native wildlife and vegetation start afresh. No matter when you visit, you'll be welcomed with manaakitanga, a Maōri value encompassing a deep sense of connection and welcome, for a holiday you'll wish never had to end. We've partnered with 100% Pure New Zealand to curate some of our favourite stays in New Zealand, including which season they're best experienced in, to help you plan an unforgettable trip. Flick the switch for incredible getaway venues in autumn, winter and spring. Jump to switcher
Following the success of the Northcote original, All Are Welcome has expanded its baked goods empire to a second spot on High Street. If you have a craving for a carb, be it sweet or savoury, this is the place to go to fill it. The selection here is probably best described as pan-European, with the daily offer ranging from croissants and kouign-amann to khachapuri and one of the best sausage rolls in town. Seasonal treats — think hot cross buns and mince pies — are also available. In addition to its single-serve goods, All Are Welcome also offers impressive celebration cakes and excellent fresh loaves to up your daily bread game. Images: Julia Sansone
The force is strong with this idea — and we've definitely got a good feeling about it. From 2019, Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World in Florida will both boast dedicated Star Wars-themed zones, called Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Exact dates are yet to be announced, but Disney has just revealed that fans will be travelling to a galaxy far, far away by the middle of next year at Disneyland — and towards the end of the year at Disney World. Galaxy's Edge was first made public back in 2015, will span 14 acres at each site and will prove the biggest single-themed expansion the respective parks have ever seen. And, they'll be designed to "transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port and one of the last stops before wild space where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life." To be specific, fans will be able wander around the outpost of Batuu, which is a hive for smugglers and rogues (naturally); drink blue milk at a cantina; and hop onto a star destroyer. Most importantly, visitors will be able to fly the Millennium Falcon. Yep, prepare to say "punch it" a whole heap — and hopefully become best buddies with a loveable wookiee. The full details are yet to be unveiled, but expect Galaxy's Edge to tie into all ten Star Wars movies to date and feature an array of beloved characters roaming around. Expect to be able to buy plenty of merchandise at the gift shop as well. Eventually, visitors to Disney World will also be able to stay in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel too, although construction hasn't started yet and an opening date hasn't been announced either. Of course, Galaxy's Edge will be open just in time for Star Wars: Episode IX, which is due in cinemas in December 2019. Given that we now get a new Star Wars flick each year — including spin-offs such as Solo: A Star Wars Story, which is set to be followed by a Boba Fett movie — you'd think it's probably only a matter of time before Disney also opens a Star Wars stadium to match its forthcoming Marvel one. Via Disney Theme Parks Blog.
Afloat is dropping anchor in the Yarra River this month — and for its milestone tenth edition, it's all about the rhythms, flavours and flair of Rio de Janeiro. From Friday, August 29, the ever-changing floating bar and restaurant will reopen with a brand-new look, feel and menu, all inspired by the colour and energy of the Brazilian seaside city. Afloat has built its reputation on full-scale annual reinventions, with each season channelling a different international escape, from the Amalfi Coast to Palm Springs. For Afloat's 2025–6 edition, HQ Group (also behind permanent riverside hangout Arbory and multi-venue Lonsdale Street precinct HER) is drawing inspiration from Carioca spirit, with Carnival colour, a stacked events lineup and a menu brimming with bold, tropical flavours. [caption id="attachment_1015765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arianna Leggiero[/caption] The venue has undergone a complete design overhaul — interior designer Emily Jamieson has drawn from what she calls the "alluring paradox" of Rio's "old-world glamour and super-chill beach vibes". Expect expansive umbrellas in lush rainforest greens, ocean-hued awnings and bars built from natural materials like wood, rope and rattan, as well as plenty of tropical plants and palms, hand-painted murals and pops of sunset pink and orange throughout. The drinks program is similarly colourful. Curated by HQ Group's Head of Cocktails, Tom Younger, and the team at the group's RTD offer Straight Up Cocktails, the menu features fun, flirty and fruit-forward sips like a passionfruit pisco sour, coconut water and vodka highball and a reaimgined long island iced tea. There'll also be a rotating selection of three frozen cocktails that might include the likes of mango batidas, piña coladas and strawberry and açai daiquiris. The food menu takes its cues from Brazil's rich multicultural culinary traditions, showcasing Portuguese, African and Japanese influences. There'll also be classic Brazilian fare, from snacky beachside faves like arepas and pastels to larger-format proteins cooked on the grill. Of course, it wouldn't be Afloat — or a trip to Rio — without a party or two. This season, Afloat will channel the energy of Rio Carnival with samba nights and full-venue parties going into the small hours. [caption id="attachment_1015764" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Griffin Simm[/caption] Afloat opens for walk-ins on Friday, August 29, with reservations available from Friday, September 5, onwards. For more information and to book, visit the venue's website. Top image: Arianna Leggiero.
Each year, come August, there's one thing that Melburnians can't complain about. Say all you like about the frosty weather, the inevitable rain and the feeling that winter will never end, but don't even pretend that there's nothing to watch. The eighth month on the calendar and the Melbourne International Film Festival have long gone hand-in-hand, delivering a feast of flicks to entice you into warm, darkened rooms. In fact, this year's MIFF boasts a huge 375 titles on its jam-packed lineup. The just-announced full program spans many a highlight, including one of the year's most anticipated movies: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. If you fancy seeing Quentin Tarantino's latest before it reaches regular cinemas — and Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie on 35mm film, too — then MIFF has you covered. If you're eager to view much, much more between Thursday, August 1 and Sunday, August 18, the debut bill from first-year Artistic Director Al Cossar won't let you down there either. While opening night documentary The Australian Dream, centrepiece gala pick Little Monsters and family gala selection H Is For Happiness have all already been announced, MIFF will fill out its last high-profile slot with closing night's The Farewell — a hit at this year's Sundance, it stars Crazy Rich Asians' Awkwafina as a Chinese American woman visiting her family to say goodbye to her dying grandmother. Other standouts throughout the fest include a slew of movies from top directors arriving straight from Cannes, such as Xavier Dolan's Matthias & Maxime, Ken Loach's Sorry We Missed You, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne's Young Ahmed, and Diao Yi'nan's The Wild Goose Lake, with the latter marking the newest release from the acclaimed Black Coal, Thin Ice filmmaker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RofpAjqwMa8 Also worth keeping an eye out for (and then roving your eyes over) are Harmony Korine's The Beach Bum, which sees the Spring Breakers auteur keep the party going with Matthew McConaughey; Chris Morris' The Day Shall Come, his long-awaited next political satire after Four Lions; much-talked-about Chinese epic Long Days Journey Into Night, complete with its 55-minute single take in 3D; and Hong Sang-soo's regular MIFF appearance, thanks to Hotel by the River. Elsewhere, Isabelle Huppert plays a famous actress in Frankie, Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots get caught in a labyrinth in sci-fi thriller Vivarium, Son of Saul's László Nemes unravels an allegorical European mystery in Sunset, Goodnight Mommy's Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala get dark and twisted again with The Lodge, and Japanese eye-opener Violence Voyager combines children's book-style paper puppetry with an over-the-top, midnight movie onslaught. On the documentary front, Wu Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men reunites all nine living members of the band to talk about their ups and downs, Memory: The Origins of Alien ponders the basis of one of the best science-fiction films of all time, and Seahorse explores a trans man's complicated pregnancy. And from the local selection, Ryan Corr and Anthony LaPaglia team up for black comedy Below, Hugo Weaving goes Shakespearean in Measure for Measure, and No Time for Quiet heads to a Melbourne band camp for girls with Courtney Barnett and Cable Ties. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuKQfEX1Xy4 Acclaimed Aussie flicks The Nightingale, Hearts and Bones, Animals, Dark Place, Emu Runner, Judy & Punch and In My Blood It Runs, which all premiered elsewhere, will also finally make their way to Melbourne. Indeed, if you felt more than a little envy when Sydney Film Festival rolled around back in June, you'll be able to see many of that fest's top picks — including must-sees like Les Miserables, In Fabric, Scheme Birds and Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, as well as favourites such as Pain and Glory, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Ray & Liz, Bacurau, Come to Daddy, Dirty God and The Dead Don't Die. Need more? How about an all-night Jeff Goldblum movie marathon, complete with The Fly, Independence Day, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and Thor: Ragnarok. Retrospective strands focusing on filmmakers Penelope Spheeris, Agnieszka Holland and Peter Strickland help round out the lineup, as does the usual selection of fulldome shorts at the Melbourne Planetarium. Because MIFF has been dropping parts of its 2019 selection for the past few months, all of the above titles join the fest's initial batch of flicks — plus its live movie-and-music performance by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and a screening of fantastic French drama Girlhood with an all-new live score. The 2019 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 18 at a variety of venues around Melbourne. For further details, visit the MIFF website.
Long before humans could soar into space, they could only dream about it. Queensland Museum's new NASA exhibition — an Australian premiere — celebrates both the experience and the idea of space travel. While much of NASA – A Human Adventure features suits, parachutes, equipment and even empty food containers that've actually left the earth, the stellar showcase also pays tribute to the imaginative minds that've inspired every rocket scientist, engineer and astronaut. Visitors not only enter the exhibition via a dome that honours Jules Verne, HG Wells and company, but can also spy their names in the biographies of important figures that are plastered across the South Bank building's walls. It's easy to understand how one influenced the other — how mere ideas motivated eager adventurers to push boundaries, achieve the seemingly impossible and fly beyond this planet we all call home. Indeed, NASA – A Human Adventure has the same effect. Feasting your eyes on this array of more than 250 historically significant items, getting up close to replicas of famous spacecraft, and hearing Neil Armstrong's iconic "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" speech while wandering through the exhibition, plenty of wannabe astronauts — and those who thought they'd stopped dreaming of such things years ago — will leave with visions of rocketing to the moon themselves. And with 2019 marking half a century since man first set foot on the moon, the timing of this exhibition couldn't be better. It will only be hitting Brisbane, so if you're not a local, you might want to schedule in a trip to the city before October. When you get there, these five standout pieces can't be missed — from space shuttles to space vodka (yes, really). A JUPITER NOSECONE One of NASA – A Human Adventure's first's first big pieces shows signs of wear and tear, and that's to be expected. You don't fly into space, crash into the sea and escape unscathed — even if you're part of a rocket. Visibly worn on the outside, filled with gadgetry inside, this hefty item draws a crowd; however, the story behind the Jupiter program's involvement in space flight is just as fascinating. While the PGM-19 Jupiter was originally designed as a nuclear-tipped missile, the nosecones were instrumental when it came to discovering how manned spaceflights might re-enter the earth's atmosphere. In 1958 and 1959, they were also used to test biological flights in low orbits, using both mice and monkeys. LUNAR ROVERS First, the bad news: two types of lunar rover drove across the moon's surface in the 60s and 70s, and they're all still there. Now, the good news: NASA – A Human Adventure has the next best thing: life-sized replicas. Visitors will first spot Lunokhod 1, the Soviets' first moon walker (that's the literal translation). It looks a little bit like a giant Wall-E, was launched in 1970 and stopped transmitting back to earth in 1971. Then you'll mosey on over to the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle, the moon buggies used by the Americans on the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions. Yes, it's supposed to look like a dune buggy. Yes, the chairs look like deckchairs. No, you can't hop into it. SPACESUITS Reaching for the stars requires a wardrobe to match, although an astronaut's attire is functional rather than fashionable. Still, staring at real-life spacesuits never loses its intrigue — especially when some of them have actually been into space. NASA – A Human Adventure features six pieces, including a US Air Force high-altitude pressure suit, plus items from all of its missions from Mercury to Apollo. The highlight: a version of the suit, helmet and gloves that were used during the moon landing, including a cutaway piece that shows just how much protective material is needed (and hints at some of the practicalities of being suited up, as everyone has always wondered). MERCURY, GEMINI AND APOLLO CRAFTS NASA's jaunts into space all started with Project Mercury, which aimed to send a human into orbit and then return them safely. And while NASA – A Human Adventure doesn't feature a real Mercury spacecraft, taking a gander at a life-size replica does spark a definite realisation: for something that was sent into space, it's rather tiny. With Project Gemini, the second human spaceflight program, the capsule is noticeably bigger (although, as this replica makes plain, it still wouldn't suit anyone who isn't fond of small spaces). Finally, exhibition attendees can also peer at full-scale models of the Apollo Lunar Module Crew Cain and the Apollo Command Module — all while walking beneath the enormous (and space-flown) orange-and-white parachute that was used in 1972's Apollo 16 mission. THE SPACE SHUTTLE Ever wanted to climb aboard the space shuttle — that is, the world's first reusable spacecraft, which was used to transport cargo into space from the 1980 to 2011? Now that it has been retired after 135 missions, you can't; however you can ascend Queensland Museum's stairs to make a peek at this towering replica. Windows allow attendees to view the cockpit, its console its many, many buttons, although sadly you can't take a seat or press anything yourself. And in good news for anyone with accessibility requirements, there's also a lift that'll take you up to the top level (and folks on crutches or in a wheelchair will also nab a view that no one else gets to see). NASA – A Human Adventure is currently showing at Brisbane's Queensland Museum until October 8, 2019. Tickets cost $18–21 and can be booked online here.
Trying to dance like Christopher Walken, pretending you're in Cruel Intentions, being transported back to the late 90s and early 00s: that's all on the agenda when Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, returns Down Under in 2023. Touring New Zealand in January and February, then hitting Australia in April and May, the British dance music legend will take to the decks to bust out a hefty range of dance floor fillers. His 1998 album You've Come a Long Way, Baby was the club soundtrack to end the 20th century — a staple of every 90s teen's CD collection, too — and responsible for hits like 'Right Here, Right Now', 'The Rockafeller Skank' and 'Praise You'. As for 2000's Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, it gave the world 'Weapon of Choice' and its iconic Walken-starring (and Spike Jonze-directed) video. You might not be able to dance along the walls when Cook plays Christchurch, Napier, Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Taupo in Aotearoa — and then hops over the ditch a couple of months later to do the same in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth — but you'll want to thanks to his big beat sound. Indeed, alongside the Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, The Propellerheads and Crystal Method, he helped bring the style to mainstream fame. Cook has been making music since the 80s, but took on the name Fatboy Slim in the mid-90s, starting with 1996 record Better Living Through Chemistry. His discography also spans 2004 album Palookaville and 2013 single 'Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat'. [caption id="attachment_878697" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] If you've seen Cook live before, you'll know that this is news to get excited about right about now. His Australian tour marks Cook's return after his 2020 headline shows — pre-pandemic — with his Melbourne gig at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl recorded for an epic live video that's notched up more than 2.4-million views. FATBOY SLIM 2023 AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR Friday, January 27 — QE2 Park, Christchurch Saturday, January 28 — Tremain Field, Napier Sunday, January 29 — Gardens Music Festival, Victoria Park, Auckland Friday, February 3 — Anderson Park, Wellington Saturday, February 4 — Gibbston Valley, Queenstown Sunday, February 5 — Riverside Park, Taupo Friday, April 28 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Wednesday, May 3 — Riverstage, Brisbane Friday, May 5 — The Entertainment Quarter, Sydney Sunday, May 7 — Burswood Park, Perth Fatboy Slim will tour New Zealand in January and February 2023, and Australia in March and April 2023. Tickets for NZ are on sale now. Pre-sale tickets for Australia start at 2pm local time on Wednesday, November 23, with general sales from the same time on Friday, November 25. Top image: Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México via Wikimedia Commons.
It's been a tough year, Melbourne. But there is a shiny bright light that just appeared down that long, dark tunnel — we can now enjoy a picnic at the park. Nothing beats getting together with a mate for a leisurely afternoon in the sun. And while the weather doesn't always want to cooperate here in Melbourne, we've got no shortage of comfortable picnic spots for when it does. So, pick up some ice, pack your esky and fill your basket with some of Melbourne's best picnic snacks. Then head to one of these delightful spots for a lazy lunch, a bit of wine and the great outdoors. [caption id="attachment_702339" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, SOUTH YARRA Set to reopen on Saturday, September 26, the Royal Botanic Gardens is the jewel in the crown of Melbourne's park scene. It's a classic park set up: manicured lawns edged with elegant florals, long rows of lush trees and lots of botanical information. And it's absolutely huge. Now, you could spend all day here simply wandering and taking it all in, but we suggest you pick a quadrant and set up shop. Pack your essentials and settle in to enjoy the scenes for a bit. If you do want to stretch your legs, there are a few good features worth checking out. The tropical greenhouse on the south edge and the Shrine of Remembrance are both good picks, as are the ponds that run alongside Alexander Avenue. [caption id="attachment_706399" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] EDINBURGH GARDENS, FITZROY NORTH If you're a northsider, there's no doubt you've picnicked (or partied) at Edinburgh Gardens. It's the MVP (most valuable park) of the inner north. And it's little wonder why. The affectionately coined Eddy Gardens has everything you need for a luxe picnic: large shady trees, a romantic rotunda and heaps of space. With the park clocking in at a hefty 24-hectares, social distancing is always a breeze. Here, you can enjoy a picnic among the floral garden beds between 9am and 9pm every day, and food store and grocers Piedimonte's is handily located just up the road for all those supply needs. Your pup gets an invite, too — nearly half of the park is designated as off-leash areas. WOMEN'S PEACE GARDEN, KENSINGTON Tucked away in the heart of Kensington, the Women's Peace Garden is one of those picturesque suburban spots that simply begs you to unfold a picnic rug and settle in for a couple of hours of approved outdoors time. Filled with peace symbolism ranging from the rosemary and olive trees, to the universally recognised shape formed by its shelters and pathways, this charming openair space is about as serene as they come. It's not the hugest park in the hood, but it does cop plenty of sun across its grassy green lawns. Plus, furry friends are welcomed with open arms. [caption id="attachment_622479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brook James[/caption] YARRA BEND PARK, FAIRFIELD Yarra Bend Park spans over 260 hectares, making it the largest area of natural bushland in inner Melbourne. It follows the tree-lined swoops and loops of the Yarra, so there are a great many nooks and crannies perfect for laying your picnic blanket in socially distanced seclusion. Anywhere along the river on the east of Yarra Boulevard will be picturesque, as are the verdant sites near Dight Falls (a man-made dam built in the 1840s). Basically, there's no shortage of grassy patches beckoning you to settle in with a cheese board, wine bucket and some good company. [caption id="attachment_754320" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] FLAGSTAFF GARDENS, CBD One of the oldest parks in Melbourne and the largest green space in the CBD itself, Flagstaff Gardens is always a popular picnicking choice. Here, you can nab yourself a spot under a eucalyptus, Moreton Bay fig or elm tree, and enjoy some lush, leafy respite from the city's concrete hustle and bustle. There are ample sunny patches, lots of shady branches and even a few romantic rose gardens. But perhaps one of the park's biggest drawcards is the neighbouring Queen Victoria Market, where you'll find a smorgasbord of deli offerings guaranteed to elevate any picnic food situation. Alcohol is also allowed, if you fancy a vino with your lunch. ST VINCENT GARDENS, ALBERT PARK Sitting pretty in the heart of Albert Park, yet nice and removed from the suburb's more famous namesake green space, St Vincent Gardens is brimming with picnic potential. This quaint haven of flowers and greenery might be petite, but it's got everything you need for a relaxing park session — leafy trees, colourful garden beds and a healthy ratio of sun-drenched turf. Plus, it's heritage listed, so you know it's got some style. As far as picnic fare goes, consider yourself spoilt for choice with South Melbourne's main strip and the South Melbourne Market located just a few blocks north. And you can grab a bottle while you're there — alcohol is allowed in the park from 12–8pm. [caption id="attachment_754318" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] CARLTON GARDENS, CARLTON Home to the Royal Exhibition Building, IMAX Cinema and Melbourne Museum, and located just beside the city, these heritage-listed gardens have long been a popular picnic pit-stop for locals and visitors alike. The site abounds in green, open spaces and big shady trees, so you'll rarely have to battle for a spot to throw down your picnic rug, even when that sun's a-shining. The fish pond makes for a particularly picturesque picnic backdrop, while the park's northern half features basketball hoops and a sprawling playground. And with the cafes and restaurants of Fitzroy just a quick stroll away, you've got a plethora of choice when it comes to that picnic feast. [caption id="attachment_754315" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] FITZROY GARDENS, EAST MELBOURNE Envelop yourself in the leafy oasis that is Fitzroy Gardens and you'll find it hard to believe you're just metres from the outskirts of the CBD. It's rocking a typical Victorian-era park set-up, decked out with scores of grand old elms, rolling lawns cut by neat pathways and even a conservatory. The site's also home to the charmingly tiny Captain Cook's Cottage, in case you're in the mood for a little pre-picnic history fix. As with all City of Melbourne parks, you're allowed to enjoy a tipple here, so booze-matched grazing platters are always a good idea. [caption id="attachment_750875" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria/Josie Withers[/caption] CATANI GARDENS, ST KILDA For the discerning picnicker with a preference for a cool sea breeze, St Kilda's Catani Gardens strikes a happy medium between urban and ocean. Located on the foreshore, it's not as secluded as some of our other options, but the boardwalk setting provides the perfect vantage point for some idyllic water views. For your picnic, you'll have the option of setting up in the shade under one of the garden's many tall palms, or soaking in the sun on the manicured lawns. Extra points will be given to those who roller blade with a basket in hand to their picnic destination of choice. [caption id="attachment_754751" align="alignnone" width="1920"] City of Port Phillip[/caption] POINT ORMOND RESERVE, ELWOOD In this part of town, the parks come with an extra side of dreamy bay views. Point Ormond Reserve in Elwood — which falls just outside the City of Port Phillip's St Kilda Foreshore alcohol ban — is the perfect hill on which to perch yourself for a beachside picnic with a couple of bevvies (between midday and 8pm). Up here, there's plenty of open space, overlooking the water and with the city skyline in the distance. Pooches are also allowed as long as they're on a lead. In need of some last-minute picnic supplies? You'll find a healthy crop of cafes lining nearby Ormond Road, offering a wide range of eats and drinks. Top image: Royal Botanic Gardens via Visit Victoria.
Much has happened in the world of Marvel over the past year or so. Black Panther started 2018 on a high, Spider-Man returned to its animated roots, Captain Marvel is currently rampaging across the big screen (and the box office), and the man who started it all, Stan Lee, sadly passed away. Oh, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe completely changed the game with the snap of a few fingers. We know that you know what we're talking about — Avengers: Infinity War sat atop the box office Down Under for 2018. Of course, ever since the third Avengers movie hit screens, excitement for its follow-up has been feverish to say the least. Now, after a brief teaser for Avengers: Endgame was revealed last year, Marvel has finally dropped a full sneak peek at what's shaping up to be the biggest movie in MCU history (and probably of 2019 as well). Once again, it all starts with a despondent Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). He says it feels like a thousand years since he first strapped on the Iron Man suit, but it's only been 11 for viewers. From there, expect a glimpse of the remaining gang, complete with new matching outfits, and with Hawkeye, Ant-Man and Captain Marvel joining the team for one mighty big showdown with Thanos. Expect a few flashbacks to better MCU times as well, plus a reminder of just why Infinity War was so heartbreaking — and what's at stake this time around. Check out the trailer below — and if you're counting down the days counting down the days until the film hits, there are just 40 sleeps left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcMBFSGVi1c And if you can't get enough Endgame action, here's the original trailer as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8 Avengers: Endgame releases in Australian cinemas on April 24.
When Baz Luhrmann decided to bring The Great Gatsby to the screen, he enlisted 2010s Sydney to double for 1920s Long Island and New York. Now, a decade after the Australian director's Oscar-winning movie hit cinemas, Sydney Opera House is following in the filmmaker's footsteps, turning itself into a The Great Gatsby-themed pop-up club while hosting a The Great Gatsby-inspired cabaret variety show. From Saturday, December 16, 2023–Sunday, February 25, 2024, GATSBY at The Green Light will take over the Sydney Opera House's Studio with an array of excuses to pretend that it's a century ago — and that you're on the other side of the globe. The GATSBY part of the big summer event's moniker refers to the entertainment, while The Green Light is the temporarily rebadged venue where what's being dubbed a "theatrical experience" will take place. First, the show: taking its cues from F Scott Fitzgerald's text, which will also date back a century when 2025 hits, GATSBY gives the classic text the aerial, burlesque, dance and circus treatment. As performers show off their skills, live vocals will accompany their efforts, all on a glittering stage. Then, the club: The Green Light will also owe a debt to prohibition-era speakeasies, and will feature cabaret tables for attendees to sit at while watching the performances. Canapé and cocktail packages will be on offer, with themed drinks including the Green Light gimlet, the Blind Tiger martini and the Reggio manhattan. GATSBY at The Green Light hails from director Craig Ilott, who adds the event to his resume alongside Smoke & Mirrors, La Clique Royale at Edinburgh Festival's The Famous Spiegeltent, and also American Idiot, Amadeus and Velvet Rewired at Sydney Opera House. With GATSBY co-producer Stuart Couzens, he was also involved in L'Hôtel, the dinner theatre experience which turned the exact same space into a French hotel with cabaret, circus and burlesque. "Our treatment of GATSBY has been akin to that of a concept album; riffing on the essence of a familiar text through a new form to create an evocative experience," said Ilott, announcing GATSBY at The Green Light. "We've taken elements entrenched in the 1920s — the vaudeville, the fashion, the hospitality — and remixed them with a bold 2020s beat, with the aim of creating an evening that feels both contemporary and captivating." [caption id="attachment_681696" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hamilton Lund[/caption] [caption id="attachment_857577" align="alignnone" width="1920"] L'Hotel, Claudio Raschella[/caption] [caption id="attachment_857579" align="alignnone" width="1920"] L'Hotel, Claudio Raschella[/caption] GATSBY at The Green Light will take over the Sydney Opera House's Studio from Saturday, December 16, 2023–Sunday, February 25, 2024, with ticket pre sales from 8am on Wednesday, August 30 and general sales from 9am on Friday, September 1. Head to the Sydney Opera House website for more information. Top image: Tom Oldham.
Wine. It's a perfect elixir that can make any ordinary, humdrum Wednesday into an unforgettable adventure. Sommeliers, wine folk and your parents have been harping on for years about wine's natural symbiosis with food — but what about situational drinking? What wine goes best with outdoor boxing in the park? (Yep.) Or should you bring white or red to the open air cinema? Don't worry, we've got your back. Using the same fundamental principles applied to pairing wine with food — take one element in the dish and pair it to one element in the wine — we've combed through the Vinomofo cellars to find you the best drinking drops no matter the occasion, time of day or experience you might find yourself in. And what's more, if you find yourself with some extra American Express reward points kicking around after all those winter purchases, you can use those babies to purchase some vino and start stocking up your home cellar. Here are the drops you should be looking to first. CHABLIS AND A TRIP TO THE FISH MARKETS Ah, Chablis: one of the purest expressions of Chardonnay there is. From its delicate acidity to the oyster shell, saline minerality that weaves its way through the palate, plus the wine's invigorating lemon sherbet finish, it's easy to see why the French drink it by the magnum. The most natural pairing in the world would be chilled oysters with fresh lemon squeezed over them (or if you want to be really French, a drizzle of the Chablis you're drinking) or a trip to the local fish markets to pick up some fresh scallops to sear at home. Add a little bit of 2014 Le Domaine d'Henri Les Allées du Domaine Chablis in the pan with some butter, garlic, fresh thyme and the scallops, and, more importantly, a little bit poured in your mouth while you're at it. Dinner, sorted. ROSE AND AN OPEN AIR CINEMA Springtime is well and truly on our doorstep. The daytime's losing that touch of chill in the air, the evenings are starting to feel balmy, and when you inhale, a sweet floral fragrance tickles your senses thanks to new spring blooms. This warmer, sweeter weather means the return of many great outdoor activities, including the spring/summer fave: outdoor cinemas. So, while sitting on the grass at your local open air cinema watching a classic like Top Gun or Ferris Buller's Day Off, you'll need a wine that encapsulates all those springtime flavours feels, something refreshing but also all about fun. Enter rosé. Dubbed 'spring in a glass' with its jasmine floral notes, hints of wild strawberries and just a touch of sage lingering on the finish to add dimension, the 2016 Chateau Sainte-Croix Charmeur Rosé is the perfect accompaniment to your homemade cheese and charcuterie plate as the sun goes down and the movie flickers on. PINOT NOIR AND FRIDAY NIGHT POKER WITH THE CREW It's Friday, the end of the working week, and this can be cause for celebration — or a chance to sit pants-less on the couch watching TV and relax. And for some, Friday calls for the overwhelming need to rob your friends blind of their hard-earned cash with a game of poker, all while inhaling slices of pizza. But what to pair with your large margherita pizza and the tears of your friends? If you really want to bring your A-game to pizza and poker night, bring a bottle 2014 Oakridge 864 'Lusatia Park Block B' Pinot Noir. At the higher end of the price bracket, this vino is worth every poker chip. It's a rare little gem from the Yarra Valley, with its cranberry notes and plum flavours that match harmoniously with the sweet tomato sauce of the pizza and high acidity that cuts through the greasiness of the cheese and dough. SPARKLING WINE AND AN OUTDOOR FITNESS CLASS We've all got that one friend, who, as soon as the weather starts to warm, wants to shake off the shackles of winter by throwing themselves into an outdoor fitness class or boot camp. And perhaps you are that friend. Well, do yourself a favour and put down that disappointing protein shake (with those lumps of banana that never quite seem to get pulverised in the blender) and pick up a bottle of bubbles, because nothing pairs better with sweat and sunshine like sparkling wine. Think about it; you're lying on the grass, exhausted, you've doused yourself in what feels like ten litres of water and you're still not refreshed. Then, a glass of NV Bisou Bisou Blanc de Blancs is handed to you, and from the first sip of its lemon zest and granny smith apple notes, you feel instantly revived. Now, aren't you glad you did those extra ten burpees? PRIMITIVO AND THE 'CASUAL' MEET-THE-PARENTS BARBECUE There is one experience we can all agree is universally terrifying: meeting your significant other's parents for the first time. When the day arrives, you start to break into a cold sweat with a thousand questions running through your mind. What do I wear? Do I have time for a haircut between now and then? What happens if they don't like my jokes? But one question inevitably rises above all others: what should I bring? This epitomises what wine was made for; it will be your friend and ally calming your nerves, your buffer between awkward pauses and the catalyst for a great first impression. So what's the ideal drop to get the conversation started? The 2015 Bollina 'Tavros' Primitivo di Manduria. And what's Primitivo you ask? It's the grape variety that has a long, proud lineage in Italy and is a very close relative (almost genetically identical) to the Zinfandel grape variety widely planted in California. The most appealing part of this style of wine is that it's a killer accompaniment to barbecued meats, as its flavour profile is similar to a Barossa Shiraz (another conversation starter) with firm tannins, dark and opulent fruits and just the right amount of vanilla oak that screams for protein to break it down. Treat yourself this spring. More and more places welcome American Express — like Vinomofo — and you can even use your reward points to pay off your purchases, so you'll feel like you're winning at life as you use all those points you've collected over winter
Celebrating memorable sandwiches and top-quality coffee in equal measure, this little spot within the Melbourne Arts Precinct is the brainchild of Reverence Coffee Roasters' Andreas and Annie Martinu, along with Martin Mcevoy and Nicholas Tan. And with Palermo Head Chef Michael Dalton behind the menu, it's got some chops. Decked out in fresh green and white, OlMate's is embracing the beauty in simplicity with a short-but-sweet food offering matched to primo Reverence coffee. Sandwich fiends can expect well-crafted, refreshed classics like the Big Tuna — a riff on the tuna melt featuring nori aioli and provolone on Tuscan-style flatbread ($15) — plus the plant-based roast cauliflower roll with green chilli sauce ($16), and a hot egg salad brekkie muffin ($12). The roast beef sanga heroes spice-crusted meat, mint and coriander chutney, and comes paired with a rogan josh dipping sauce ($17). And a hefty salad sandwich teams beetroot, sprouts and other goodies with either lemon roast chicken or vegan-friendly crushed chickpeas ($16). Sips by Reverence showcase the roaster's Lion Tamer blend alongside a rotating single-origin batch brew, with a fun illustration of co-owner Andreas gracing the statement green takeaway cups. Otherwise, you can match your feed with an icy beer from the likes of Bodriggy, Hop Nation or Balter.
Maybe you've always had a Lego collection, because the popular plastic bricks really are for everyone. Perhaps you signed up for a subscription service back when COVID-19 lockdowns came into effect, because there are only so many puzzles one person can do. Either way, you probably need something to store your Lego in — and, in a collaboration due to hit Australia in 2021, IKEA now has a solution. Obviously, IKEA has plenty of storage on offer. Walk through one of the Swedish retailer's shops and just try to come out without a basket, box, container or other type of storage in your big blue bag — it's virtually impossible. But, when its new Bygglek range arrives in stores and online on Wednesday, February 17, it'll actually feature Lego studs. Keep your bricks in them, or use them to build with (or both). The new boxes were first revealed in 2020, as part of a team-up initially announced in 2019. The collection will encompass four different sets: one of three small boxes ($20), two different types of bigger boxes ($20–22), and one of Lego bricks ($35). All of the above will connect to existing Lego products, too, because of course it will. While the Bygglek products are part of IKEA's children's range, everyone knows by now that Lego isn't just for kids. Indeed, Lego just released a new botanical-focused collection that is firmly for adults. And creative storage boxes aren't just for children either, because everyone needs containers to keep objects and items other than Lego in. IKEA's Lego Bygglek collection will be available in stores and online on Wednesday, February 17 — head to the IKEA website for further details.
MasterChef Australia fans — we know there's a heap of you out there — are in for a real treat in May when four of the show's former contestants take over Crown Melbourne's Evergreen space overlooking the Yarra. The ALUMNI pop-up restaurant will feature Kishwar Chowdhury, Callum Hann, Khanh Ong and one mystery chef who is yet to be announced. Each will have their own three-week stint at Crown, sharing some of their signature dishes and other eats from the cuisines they are best known for. The four-course set menus will cost diners $150 per person, while kids get their own $75 feast. Kishwar Chowdhury kicks off the MasterChef festivities with a menu inspired by her Bengali background, running from Thursday, May 16–Thursday, June 2. Chowdhury has a passion for sourcing rare ingredients and growing hard-to-find produce, so we are expecting a few surprises here. She's followed by Callum Hann, who placed second in the 2010 competition after cooking Peter Gilmore's famous snow egg and will run the pass from Thursday, June 6–Sunday, June 23. Hann is a champion of sustainable cooking practices, and will use his menu to showcase local farmers and discuss issues surrounding food waste. Khanh Ong, known for sharing the flavours of his native Vietnam and for his new cookbook, A Gay Guy's Guide to Life Love Food, will then take over the kitchen from Thursday, June 27–Sunday, July 14. We're yet to know anything about the fourth chef but have been told their residency will be properly announced on Tuesday, June 25. Let the wild speculating begin.
Prepare to spend more time scrolling through streaming queues — Apple is following in Netflix's and Disney's footsteps and releasing its own streaming platform. Called Apple TV+ and set to launch in spring this year — in the southern hemisphere — the new subscription service will feature a heap of new original television shows, movies and documentaries. They'll all be available ad-free and on demand, with access via the company's existing Apple TV app. While the platform's exact release date hasn't been announced, nor has pricing or the regions that it'll be available in, the company has revealed a sizeable lineup of new series it hopes will attract your TV-loving eyeballs. Fancy watching Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell navigate the world of morning television in the appropriately titled drama series The Morning Show? Jason Momoa in a new sci-fi show called See, which is set in a world where humans are born blind? A revival of Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories anthology series? A new docu-series from Oprah — and the return of her book club? They're all on the way. So is Are You Sleeping?, which is based on a novel about true crime podcasts and featuring Octavia Spencer and Aaron Paul; crime thriller Defending Jacob, starring Chris Evans; and a TV remake of Terry Gilliam's film Time Bandits, with a pilot directed by Taika Waititi. The list goes on, and includes a comedy set in a video game development studio from the folks behind It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a yet-to-be-named CIA undercover agent series starring Brie Larson, and new shows from both M. Night Shyamalan and La La Land director Damien Chazelle (separately, not together — although a collaboration between the two would certainly be interesting). In preparation for its new streaming service, Apple also announced an update to its existing Apple TV app, which'll be available from May. The app will also become available on Samsung Smart TVs in the second half of the year, and via Amazon Fire TV, LG, Roku, Sony and VIZIO platforms sometime in the future — meaning that you won't need an Apple device to watch Apple TV+. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=15&v=Bt5k5Ix_wS8 Also on the cards: Apple Arcade, a paid gaming subscription service that'll feature more than 100 new and exclusive games on an all-you-can-play, ad-free basis — and, crucially, with no additional in-game purchases required. It's due to release in more than 150 countries around the same time as Apple TV+, and will be accessible via a new tab in the App Store. For news junkies, the company also launched Apple News+. Available now in the US and Canada, but not coming to Australia until later this year, it offers access to more than 300 magazines, newspapers and digital publishers in one spot. Titles included range from Vogue to National Geographic Magazine to The Wall Street Journal, for the US price of $9.99 per month. Apple TV+ is set to launch in spring 2019, Australian and New Zealand time. We'll keep you updated with further details when we have them.
Those currently working from home have probably seen two major changes to their routine: less shoes and more snacks. To help with the latter, Australia's much-loved biscuit maker Arnott's is opening its vault and releasing some of its coveted recipes — for the first time in history. For week one of the snack expert's Big Recipe Release it unveiled its Monte Carlo recipe. Next up is the always reliable Scotch Finger. This recipe has been adapted for home bakers by Arnott's Master Baker Vanessa Horton and has only four ingredients — much easier than the 11-ingredient Monte — so if you're looking for something relatively simple to test out your baking skills with, it might be a good one to start with. As you'd expect, one of those ingredients is, in fact, flour, but we've rounded up some of the spots selling the essential ingredient across the country, which aren't supermarkets. Australia's oldest baker will continue to release a new recipe for one of its famous biscuits every week until social distancing regulations are lifted. Next up, will it be the Tim Tam? Mint Slice? Pizza Shapes? We'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, though, here's the Scotch Finger recipe: ARNOTT'S SCOTCH FINGER 170 grams salted butter, softened 90 grams soft icing sugar 1 cup (165 grams) plain flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder Method Preheat oven to 160°C. Grease a 30 x 20 centimetre rectangular slice pan and line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper two centimetres above edge of the pan. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and icing sugar for two minutes or until pale and creamy. Sift the flour and baking powder over the butter mixture and mix on low speed or with your hands until combined. Press mixture into slice pan and smooth over with a pallet knife. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and using a small sharp knife, immediately slice five centimetres crossways and 7.5 centimetres lengthways into rectangular pieces. Then run the knife gently ½ way into the shortbread pieces, not touching the bottom, to make the finger indent. Let the biscuit cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Note: If you would like to imprint SCOTCH or your NAME into the biscuit, this should be done before the biscuit cools. Trim edges, if desired, before serving.
If there was a Morpho machine IRL rather than just in The Big Door Prize, and it dispensed cards that described the potential of television shows instead of people, this is what it might spit out about the Apple TV+ program that it's in: "comforting". This mystery-tinged existential dramedy is filled with people trying to discover who they are and truly want to be after an arcade game-esque console appears in their small town out of nowhere, and the series is both thoughtful and charming. In making the leap from the page of MO Walsh's book to the screen not once but twice now, The Big Door Prize has always also proven both cathartic and relatable viewing. Timing, dropping season one in 2023 as the pandemic-inspired great reset was well and truly in full swing, is a key factor in why the show resonates. Last year as well as now — with season two debuting on Wednesday, April 24 — this is a series that speaks to the yearning to face questions that couldn't be more familiar in a world where COVID-19 sparked a wave of similar "who am I?" musings on a global scale. Everyone now knows the scenario, then, before even watching a minute of The Big Door Prize. Everyone has been living this concept for half a decade. For viewers, of course, it was the drastic change of life as we know it due to a deadly infectious disease that got the planet's inhabitants probing how we're each meant to spend our lives — and to pine for an easy response at a time that's been anything but. Nothing IRL is doling out "royalty", "superstar" and "liar" in white lettering atop a gorgeous shade of blue, though. Actually, the Morpho in The Big Door Prize isn't anymore, either. The difference for the residents of the US midwest locale of Deerfield in the show's second spin: their path no longer simply involves pieces of cardboard that claim to know where the bearer should be expending their energy, but also spans new animated videos that transform their inner thoughts and hopes into 32-bit clips. Some snippets link to memories dating back decades. Some present alternative futures. Each ushers in a new wave of contemplation — because the focus of The Big Door Prize is how high-school teacher Dusty (Chris O'Dowd, Slumberland) and his neighbours react to the clairvoyant contraption and the information that it imparts. When the machine first made its presence known, Irishman-in-America Dusty was cynical. Initially, he held back as everyone clamoured for their business card-sized fortune. When he finally relented, he was unimpressed with the results: "teacher/whistler", the gizmo decreed about his destiny. Now, in a place where the Morpho remains the number-one talking point, he's taking the same route as everyone else in his community. As his wife Cass (Gabrielle Dennis, The Upshaws) and daughter Trina (Djouliet Amara, Fitting In) both are, Dusty has given in to letting the Morpho steer his decisions. Another question that The Big Door Prize poses: if being guided in the right direction was as straightforward as putting a quarter into a console, could you resist? Whether Dusty is making moves that'll impact his marriage, or his restaurant-owning best friend Giorgio (Josh Segarra, The Other Two) is leaping into a new relationship with Cass' best friend Nat (Mary Holland, The Afterparty), uncomplicated happiness rarely follows in this astute show. So when Dusty and Cass deem the Morpho's visions, as the townsfolk dub them, a sign that they need some space to stop being stuck in a rut, it isn't the move they think it will be. As their friends and acquaintances also hold up the Morpho up as a source of wisdom, the same keeps proving true. Trina's relationship with Jacob (first-timer Sammy Fourlas), the twin brother of her deceased boyfriend; Jacob's own efforts to grapple with loss and being without his sibling; his widowed father Beau (Aaron Roman Weiner, Power Book III: Raising Kanan) exploring echoes from his childhood; Cass' mum and Deerfield mayor Izzy (Crystal Fox, The Haves and Have Nots) working through her relationships: they all chart the same course. The Big Door Prize's tech element could fuel a Black Mirror instalment. In fact, The Big Door Prize is as concerned with what humanity does with the inventions that we create to better our existence as Charlie Brooker is. But bleakness never swirls through the mood here. Rather, this is a curious and empathetic series. While season two of the David West Read (Schitt's Creek)-developed show still treats its magical machine as a puzzle for characters and viewers to attempt to solve — and, especially through bartender Hana (Ally Maki, Shortcomings) and local priest Father Reuben (Damon Gupton, Your Honor), still ponders why the Morpho exists, how it knows what it knows and where it comes from — it firmly digs deeper into the quest for answers that we all undertake while gleaning deep down that there's no such thing as a simple meaning of life. In season two as in season one, it's no wonder that The Big Door Prize keeps feeling like staring in a mirror, then — and that it keeps constantly intriguing as well. When Dusty and company each return to the apparatus that holds such sway, they're greeted by a message: "are you ready for the next stage?". The show's audience may as well be asked the same. After 2023's episodes established The Big Door Prize's characters — and with Mr Johnson (Patrick Kerr, Search Party), who owns the store where the Morpho materialises, also among the main figures, there's no shortage of them — 2024's revisit can examine why they respond to the promise of knowing their life's purpose as they do. Not in its style of humour, but in its portrait of a town's eclectic residents, there's a Parks and Recreation, The Simpsons and, yes, Schitt's Creek vibe as the show unlocks another level of potential. It also helps that The Big Door Prize is extremely well-cast, starting with being well-led by O'Dowd. He isn't new to portraying a state of arrested development — going back to The IT Crowd, his resume is built upon it — but he turns in as sincere a performance as he ever has as someone beginning to confront the term. Everyone in Deerfield was cocooned in their routines, sometimes contentedly and sometimes not, before the Morpho appeared. Now, whether sporting oversized personalities (Segarra still steals every scene he's in) or as naturalistic as characters come (Amara, Fourlas, Maki and Gupton fall into that category), they're all fluttering towards finding light in their lives. The Big Door Prize knows that the story is in the journey, crucially — and if it continues flying, viewers will want to stay along for the ride. The Big Door Prize streams via Apple TV+. Read our review of season one, and our interview with Chris O'Dowd and Josh Segarra about season two.
Move over Google Glass. After years of development, the search engine-cum-world-enveloping-super-corporation have announced the very first public rollout of their brand new modular phone. Codenamed Project Ara, Google has confirmed that the customisable device will be made available for purchase in the second half of 2015. The only downside? You'll have to live in Puerto Rico in order to do so. The Puerto Rican pilot program is part of ongoing testing for the smartphone, which consists of a special exoskeleton into which users can slide various physical 'modules', such as a camera, external speakers or an extra battery — essentially building their own phone. According to Google, the potential for modules is limitless — and we can certainly appreciate the theoretical advantages. Not only will users be able to customise their phone's appearance, they’ll also be able to incrementally upgrade obsolete hardware, cutting out the cost and general inconvenience of purchasing a whole new phone. On an even more practical level, as someone who habitually drops their phone on the footpath, the prospect of being able to simply detach a cracked screen and replace it with a new one is pretty damn appealing. Google is remaining coy when it comes to things like pricing, although according to the Project Ara website, the cost of the components will hopefully be between US$50-100. Google have also stated that they hope to have as many as 20-30 different modules available by the time the phone is on sale. Taking a tip from the mobile food industry, Google will also roll out several 'food-truck' style stores in conjunction with the Puerto Rican release, with users able to trial the device before they commit to purchase. Presumably the reception in Puerto Rico will be used as a baseline, in order for the company to tweak the device ahead of a wider release at some point in the future. Via Time. Images: Google ATAP.
When Disney+ made its way into the world back in 2019, it gave viewers — including folks in Australia and New Zealand — access to a huge range of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic movies and shows. What it didn't do is bring Hulu, which the Mouse House owns the majority stake in, to audiences Down Under. And, with Disney+ focused on family-friendly fare, it didn't deliver the kinds of series and films that Hulu screens, either. Hulu still isn't heading our way. But, come Tuesday, February 23, Disney+ is expanding to include a new section that's basically an international equivalent of Hulu. It's called Star and, when it was first announced late in 2020, film and TV fans were advised that it'd screen "an additional 1000 unique titles... in the first year". Wondering exactly what that'll include? Well, now Disney has revealed which series and flicks will be available when Star launches. Prepare to add 159 TV series and 447 movies to your streaming options — with four of those television shows falling into the 'Star Originals' category, meaning that they'll be brand new to viewers Down Under. Three of the four newbies are Hulu shows, too, so if you've been wanting to watch Love, Victor (the spinoff from 2018 movie Love, Simon), Helstrom (which forms part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe) or Solar Opposites (an animated sitcom co-created by Rick and Morty's Justin Roiland), then you'll be able to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh-IaEaEdE0 From Star's big list of classics, plenty of titles stand out. Among the film selection, you'll find the Alien, Planet of the Apes, Die Hard and Omen franchises, plus the Predator and Taken flicks as well. And, you can also pick between older movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Fly, Never Been Kissed, Office Space, Pretty Woman and Moulin Rouge, or more recent fare such as Black Swan, Eddie the Eagle, Logan, The Favourite and Jojo Rabbit. A heap of Wes Anderson films, including Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, are also featured. On the television front, you'll be able to binge your way through every episode of Angel, Alias, 24, Felicity, Firefly and Glee — or opt for New Girl, Prison Break, Scandal and The X-Files instead. The list goes on and, like the existing Disney+ range, you'll find a hefty focus on older shows over new titles. Star draws upon Disney's studios, such as Disney Television Studios, FX, 20th Century Studios, 20th Television and Touchstone. And it doesn't everything that Hulu does, because plenty of Hulu's series and films pop up elsewhere Down Under — like The Handmaid's Tale, for instance. That said, it's safe to expect that some of the rights deals that deliver Hulu content to other networks and streaming platforms in Australia and might change after Star's hits, moving where you can catch certain flicks and programs in the process. As you might've already guessed, Disney+'s expansion to include Star comes with a price increase. Australian subscriptions will go up to AU$11.99 per month or AU$119.99 per year, while New Zealand subscriptions will go up to NZ$12.99 per month and $129.99 per year. If you're already a subscriber, the new price won't kick in for six months, though — so whenever your next renewal hits after August 22. Star joins Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday, February 23, with Disney+ subscriptions costing AU$11.99 and NZ$12.99 per month or AU$119.99 and NZ$129.99 per year from that date.
Trade your cramped office cubical for the great outdoors at Australia's new summer camp designed specifically for grownups. Located in Aireys Inlet an hour and a half outside of Melbourne, Camp Kidinyou will give adult professionals the chance to get in touch with their inner child, with a weekend's worth of activities, games and more. Set to take place over the first weekend in December, the getaway is the brainchild of Florida-born life coach Dara Simkin, who was inspired by her own summer camp experiences as a child, as well as the recent popularity of adult camps in the US. "I feel like Australians understand the concept of what summer camp is from television shows and movies, but there was never that real experience as a kid," she says. "So I'm wanting to fill that gap." At $478 per head, the camp is pitched at professionals "looking to unplug from their business and go and do something different," explains Simkin. "You can always go to a bar, you can always go out to dinner with friends. I'm trying to create something that's really different and exciting. You're outside, you're meeting new people, and creating relationships over a weekend." Campers will take part in a wide range of activities, including arts and crafts, meditation, contemporary dance and '80s aerobics, as well as team sports including kickball, volleyball and relay races. "I think that a lot of us have missed out on playing fun, competitive sports in our adult life," says Simkin. "When's the last time you did an egg and spoon race?" "There's so much research now around play," Simkin continues. "It increases brain function, it increases creativity and focus. We're built to play. We're built to connect, and we're built to have those kinds of deeper relationships... it's just that something happens when we get older where we feel like play is a waste of time, or play is immature. But I think even as a business owner or as an employee, incorporating play into your work life or your social life adds so much more peace and balance and fun." Meals will also be included in the entry price — and before you start flashing back to the terrible food you ate on school camp, rest assured that the offerings at Camp Kidinyou will be of a much higher standard. Think all-you-can-eat wood-fired pizza, bakery breakfasts, coffee by Bonappuccino, and dinner catered by Melbourne BBQ joint Fancy Hank's. "When you arrive there's nothing to worry about," says Simkin. "You pay for your registration, and everything is included. You don't have to pull out your wallet once the whole weekend." Campers will even get to hunker down bunk beds, guaranteeing that quintessential camp experience. Just please… make sure you're on your best behaviour when the lights go out for the night. "I want to build a community around the camp," says Simkin, adding that she hopes to host "camp reunions" back in Melbourne. "Just because camp is over, that doesn't mean we can't go bowling together, or play kickball games in a park. Once you're a camper, you're a camper for life." Camp Kidinyou runs from December 2-4 at Angahook Camp in Aireys Inlet. For more information and to book your place visit www.campkidinyou.com.
It has been a long, hard year and you may be looking at your screen right now daydreaming of a holiday on a secluded beach or exploring deep inside a rainforest. SurfStitch is looking to make that dream a reality by offering one of its customers a $5000 Luxury Escapes voucher to use towards a holiday. All you have to do is add a new addition to your wardrobe by making a purchase at SurfStitch. You can shop for a new swimsuit from brands like All About Eve, Calvin Klein and Peony. Maybe you've had your eyes on those low cut Doc Martins all the cool kids seem to be wearing these days or a Misfit button-up to complete your summer look. These are all available through SurfStitch — and if you pick one up you'll go into the draw. Treat yourself and you might be treated to a luxury holiday. Even better, pick up a new outfit for someone special this holiday season and then nab the holiday for yourself. Yes, Christmas is a time of selflessness ,but how good would $5000 be to make up for the lost time and cancelled holidays of 2020. The voucher can be spent on a range of accommodation options around Australia and overseas as well as some unforgettable travel packages and experiences. You could explore Australia's Top End on an eight-day tour from Darwin to Uluru, spend a week beachside at a luxury villa in the Maldives or take a ten-day tour of Japan including a stay at Mount Fuji. The gift card is valid for three years, so fingers firmly crossed international travel is back to normal by then. All you have to do is use Klarna when you check out. Klarna is an app that offers buy now, pay later and loyalty rewards programs. Find out how to sign up for Klara, browse SurfStitch's online store and learn more about the competition through SurfStitch's website. Go into the draw to win a $5000 Luxury Escapes gift card by making a purchase from SurfStitch and using Klarna at the checkout between Tuesday, December 1 and Thursday, December 31. The winner will be drawn on Tuesday, January 5. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
The end of the year isn't just about having a few days off, feasting on too much food and generally feeling merry. It's also about devouring dystopian visions of humanity's technology-saturated future. Because Black Mirror has become as much a part of Christmas as lazing about and eating too much, the Charlie Brooker-created series has dropped its latest instalment: a choose-your-own-adventure-style movie. Called Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and available on Netflix right now, the film lets viewers decide what happens next. Yes, it's really just like the Choose Your Own Adventure books that you couldn't get enough of as a kid. At various moments during the movie, two options appear on the screen, asking you to select your preferred course of events. Picking what kind of cereal computer programmer Stefan (Fionn Whitehead) should eat, and what type of music he should listen to, is just the beginning. Set in 1984, the film follows 19-year-old Stefan as he tries to turn his favourite book, Bandersnatch, into a game — including the novel's branching pathways. His dad (Craig Parkinson) seems supportive, and so does the gaming developer (Asim Chaudhry) who gives him a job, but his programming idol (Will Poulter) keeps making comments about free will. Where the interactive movie goes from there isn't simply best discovered for yourself — it's decided by you as well. Variety reports that the multiple-choice effort features five main endings, if you're keen to see if you can work your way through them all. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch can be viewed in as little as 40 minutes, although it typically takes 90 minutes to get through. Before you start literally hitting the remote over and over, here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM0xWpBYlNM Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is now streaming on Netflix.
Nickelodeon, the makers of You Can't Do That on Television, must have been onto something: slime may well hold the key to a sustainable future, if the creation of the world's first algae-powered building is any indication. Titled BIQ (Bio Intelligence Quotient) House, the zero-energy apartment block opened at Hamburg's International Business Exhibition last week and is the product of collaboration between multinational company Arup (the brains behind the Sydney Opera House and the Pompidou Centre), Austria's Splitterwerk and Germany's Strategic Scientific Consulting. Here's how it works: The southeast and southwest, sun-facing sections of the building's facade feature a 'second outer shell', which contains 129 glass bioreactors, filled with microalgae. A circuitous water supply provides the algae with carbon dioxide and liquid nutrients, which, in combination with sunshine, stimulate photosynthesis and growth. Once the algae is dense enough, it is harvested and taken to a special room in the BIQ House, where it is fermented and utilised in the production of biogas, thus becoming a renewable energy source. In comparison with other land-dwelling plants, algae can create five times as much biomass (organic material that translates as fuel) per hectare. Simultaneously, the facade functions a little like a solar thermal system. Any sunshine unneeded by the algae is transformed into heat, which can be used immediately or stored underground. Conventional needs are met, also, as the facade is a powerful source of shade and insulation, providing protection from cold, heat and noise. The BIQ House is but one of many slimy possibilities for the future. Earlier this year, Arup's Foresight + Innovation team published It's Alive, a report outlining ideas for the built environment come 2050, when the global population will most likely number 9 billion and three-quarters of people will inhabit cities. Arup's vision incorporates "intelligent buildings that can make informed and calculated decisions based on their surrounding environment" and have the capacity to "produce food, energy and resources". Via Inhabitat.
The summer of 2018–2019 wasn't just hot. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, it was Australia's warmest on record. And the rest of the year has followed a toastier-than-normal pattern, with the record-breaking summer followed by a hotter-than-standard autumn, a warmer-than-usual winter and a sweltering spring as well. To the surprise of no one, the next few months look set to continue the trend, with BOM releasing its latest climate outlook. It spans December 2019–March 2020, and includes all of the usual terms we've all become accustomed to hearing: warm, dry, temperatures above average and rainfall below usual levels. Of course the period in BOM's new outlook does cover summer and the beginning of autumn, so weather across the country was never going to be chilly. Still, if you were hoping for bearable heat — or prolonged rain on the east coast — there's little in the way of good news. As seen in spring, below average rainfall is forecast around most of the country, as well as above average temps — and the mercury is set to rocket both during the day and at night. In other words, if you call most of mainland Australia home, there's a very good chance that you'll experience summer and early autumn temperatures that are toastier than the median. The far west coast is expected to receive more rain, and the nation's southeast may experience slightly cooler nights in December, but it's anticipated that everything else will go up, figures-wise. Apart from Tasmania, the absolute lower edges of South Australia and Victoria, and parts of inland Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the whole country is tipped to endure maximums higher than usual — at least 70 percent more likely. That includes the entirety of Queensland and New South Wales. If you're wondering exactly what's in store, it's always worth keeping the usual daily temps across the period in mind — and remembering that they'll be exceeded. In Sydney, that means the mercury will soar above a 25.2-degree maximum in December, a 26 top in January, a 25.8 max in February and a 24.8 high in March, while Melbourne can expect temps above 24.2, 26, 25.8 and 23.9 in the same months. In Brisbane, the standard tops range between 29.2–30.5, and in Perth it spans 29.1–30.6. When it comes to rainfall, the news is similar — after what's already been a catastrophic bushfire season for regional areas, not to mention the ongoing drought conditions that farmers have been enduring. Indeed, BOM notes that "the outlook for drier and warmer than average conditions will maintain that heightened [bushfire] risk over the coming months", and that "the risk of heatwaves is increased" as well. Yes, the rest of the year is predicted to be drier than average, with only the western WA coastline (stretching from the Midwest to the Kimberley) rating any chance of receiving more rain than usual. BOM also notes that, "while outlooks for drier than average conditions may ease for some areas heading into 2020, several months of above average rainfall would be needed to see a recovery from current long-term rainfall deficiencies". Every time that BOM peers a couple of months into the future, the results seem to follow the same pattern. Let's not forget that in 2018, overall, Australia copped its third-warmest year ever — or, in our winter this year, that the planet may have endure its hottest month in recorded history. If it isn't part of your end-of-year routine already, we suggest planning plenty of time in the coolest places you can find — beaches, pools, rivers or anywhere with a refreshing swimming spot — this spring and summer. Graphics: Bureau of Meteorology. Top image: Rainbow Beach, Tourism and Events Queensland.
The world ignoring the threat of global extinction, an exploding volcano, the collapse of the USA, a potentially rocky romantic turn: the trailer for Futurama season 13 is here and features all of the above, as seen in the just-unveiled trailer. Also pivotal: a giant Bender doing battle with a kaiju, aka the type of moment in the longrunning animated series that we can't say you didn't know you needed because it has been probably on your wishlist for years and even decades. Rampaging robots and amorous rivals are just the beginning in the show's ten-episode latest run, which drops on Disney+ Down Under on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. As always, Futurama will continue charting the antics when a 20th-century pizza delivery guy gets cryogenically frozen for a thousand years, defrosting when 2999 is flicking over to the year 3000, then navigates chaotic days at an intergalactic courier company. Futurama has been telling that tale for more than a quarter of a century now, focusing on Philip J Fry (voiced by Billy West, Spitting Image), distant uncle to Planet Express cargo company Professor Hubert J Farnsworth (also voiced by West), plus the rest of the outfit's crew: one-eyed ship captain Turanga Leela (Katey Sagal, Dead to Me); robot Bender Bending Rodríguez (John DiMaggio, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts); fellow employees Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMarr, Craig of the Creek), Amy Wong (Lauren Tom, Dragons: The Nine Realms) and Zoidberg (also West); and everyone from self-obsessed starship captain Zapp Brannigan (West again) and his amphibious 4th Lieutenant Kif Kroker (Maurice LaMarche, Rick and Morty) through to scheming corporation owner Mom (Tress MacNeille, The Simpsons). The animated series hasn't spent the full 26 years since its 1999 debut on-screen, weathering a on-again, off-again run; however, it keeps coming back again, baby — thankfully. The Matt Groening-created show about life in the 31st century has been in vintage form across its recent 11th and 12th seasons, which both embraced the fact that anything and everything can and will happen as it always has. When Futurama's return was first announced in 2022, it was for a 20-episode run, so season 12 was always going to follow. Then in 2023, the show was also renewed for two more seasons beyond that, so not only is 2025's season 13 on the way, but also season 14 as well. Clearly, you can put a beloved show into suspended animation, but someone is going to thaw it out one day — and more than once, as fans have experienced for decades now. Initially airing from 1999–2003, the futuristic series then returned from 2008–2013, before now being given another run. Check out the trailer for Futurama season 13 below: Futurama streams Down Under via Disney+, with season 13 available on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Read our review of season 11.
First it was The Guardian. Then came The Huffington Post. And now it looks like The New York Times will be the next international publication to launch in Australia. Overnight Joe Pompeo of the U.S. edition of Politico reported that the Times plans to expand to two new markets: Canada and Australia. The @nytimes' next two global expansion targets: Canada and Australia. They're working on setting up ops in both https://t.co/GfUX5LqZFJ — Joe Pompeo (@joepompeo) August 23, 2016 The expansion to the two new markets will be a an attempt to increase their paid digital audience, and will be similar to the Mexico City-based newsroom they set up earlier this year. Politico also reports that they're in the early stages of hiring reporters. Reps have been tight-lipped so far, but The New York Times' head of communications Eileen Murphy told Crikey that the publication is "focused on Australia" as part of their global expansion. We'd be stoked to see some locally-focused (and locally-produced) stories from the Times — but we'll await official confirmation. Stay tuned. Via Politico and Crikey.
Whether focused on steak joints, restaurants in general, bars, hotels, beaches or places to travel to, there's no shortage of rankings proclaiming the standout spots to spend your time, or just to live overall. Another one seems to pop up almost daily. In fact, one more has just joined the ever-growing array, and it's a hefty addition, with the first-ever Oxford Economics Global Cities Index naming the top 1000 cities worldwide. Use it as a must-visit list, a guide if you're thinking about a big move or to add fuel to one of Australia's enduring pastimes: arguing over which Aussie city tops the rest. According to the index, Melbourne earns the honours this time, coming in ninth globally. But just as the Melbourne-versus-Sydney debate starts firing up again, the latter didn't do badly at all, sitting in 16th. Australia has six cities in the top 51, with Perth ranking 23rd, Brisbane in 27th place, Canberra taking out 44th and Adelaide just missing the top 50. The nation scored seven cities in the top 100 and also in the full 1000, thanks to the Gold Coast placing 81st. To make its selections among the planet's largest 1000 largest cities — which you'll find in 163 different countries — Oxford Economics looked at five broad factors: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. It also outlined a top ten for each category, with Down Under spots earning some more love there. While no Aussie cities placed in the top ten for economics, environment or governance, Sydney came eighth in human capital, which considers educational attainment, universities, population growth, age profiles, the diversity of the population and corporate headquarters among its indicators. The second-best place in the world for quality of life, which takes into consideration life expectancy, income per person, income equality, housing expenditure, recreation and cultural sites, and internet speed? Canberra, the only Australian city in the top ten there. The Gold Coast placed 95th, Perth 135th, Brisbane 146th, Adelaide 152nd, Melbourne 185th and Sydney 230th. Over in New Zealand, Auckland placed highest at 59th on the complete list of 1000, followed by Wellington at 69th and Christchurch at 87th. All three ranked NZ cities also earned a position in the environment top ten (which covers air quality, emissions intensity, natural disasters, and temperature and rainfall anomalies) and took out the three top spots in the governance top ten (where institutions, political stability, business environment and civil liberties are assessed). Back to the overall rundown, New York emerged victorious over the other 999 cities in the index, followed by London in second. Returning to the US, San Jose came in third. After Tokyo in fourth and Paris in fifth, the next three places were again American cities, with Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco receiving the nod. And rounding out the top ten after Melbourne is Zurich. For more information about the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index for 2024, head to the organisation's website.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to watching anything, we're here to help. From the latest and greatest to old favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue for June. NEW STUFF TO WATCH NOW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5RDTPfsLAI DA 5 BLOODS A fiery examination of both the Vietnam War and US race relations, Da 5 Bloods is a Spike Lee film through and through. It nods liberally to its influences, such as Apocalypse Now, but only the acclaimed Do the Right Thing and BlacKkKlansman filmmaker could've made a war movie this affecting, incisive, entertaining and politically astute — especially given its focus on African American men expected to fight and die for the same country that still struggles to treat them equally. Plot-wise, the part combat drama, part heist thriller, part history lesson follows four ex-soldiers (Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis and Isiah Whitlock Jr) who make the trip back to Ho Chi Minh City decades after the conflict. They're searching for buried gold, as well as for the remains of their beloved squad leader (Chadwick Boseman, as seen in flashbacks). In Lee's hands, and with Lindo taking charge as a PTSD-afflicted, MAGA hat-wearing veteran, the results are energetic, passionate, and both intellectually and emotionally stunning. Da 5 Bloods is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEiwpCJqMM0 THE VAST OF NIGHT When strange things start happening in a 50s-era New Mexico small town while most of its residents are attending a school basketball game — unusual lights in the sky, and eerie sounds interrupting both radio broadcasts and phone calls — radio DJ Everett (Jake Horowitz) and phone switchboard operator Fay (Sierra McCormick) decide to investigate. That's the premise behind The Vast of Night, and it couldn't be more simple and straightforward; however this smart and engaging sci-fi film is inventive and compelling from the moment it begins. In terms of its narrative, a few surprises pop up, even for those with a knowledge of history. But it's the movie's strong focus on character and its commanding style that's always riveting. Every shot, every camera movement and, crucially, every single sound contributes to an ambitious and gripping filmmaking debut (and a certain calling card) from first-time feature director Andrew Patterson. The Vast of Night is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWYPlhHbKtM RAMY In Ramy's first season, creator, writer, director and star Ramy Youssef explored the daily life of his on-screen surrogate: Ramy Hassan, a twenty-something New Jersey-based American Muslim of Egyptian heritage. Ramy struggles to reconcile his culture, religion and family's expectations with his own wants, needs and dreams, continually professing his desire to make the right choices while often overtly following questionable paths. In the show's just-released ten-episode second season, the same still rings true — although, this time, Ramy seeks guidance from a new Sheik (Moonlight and Green Book Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, who's excellent as always) while getting closer to the latter's daughter (MaameYaa Boafo). Youssef won a Golden Globe for his first-season performance earlier this year, and he's just as great in the next batch of episodes; however, it's the show's continual refusal to gloss over, ignore, excuse or accept Ramy's frequent array of self-sabotaging decisions that stands out. The just-released second season of Ramy is available to stream via Stan. The show's first season is also available, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGcJL6TG5cA SNOWPIERCER First, the bad news: Snowpiercer, the series, isn't directed by Bong Joon-ho. Now, the good news: while it isn't as great as Bong's film — because, honestly, how could it be? — it takes the same dystopian concept, heightens the suspense and drama, and serves up a class warfare-fuelled survivalist thriller that also spends its first five episodes unravelling a murder-mystery. Think constant twists, reveals and reversals, cliffhangers at the end of almost every scene, and a 'Murder on the Snowpiercer Express' kind of vibe. Once again, it all takes place on a 1001-car locomotive carrying the last remnants of humanity while constantly circling the frozen earth. Hamilton's Tony Award-winning Daveed Diggs plays an ex-detective who has spent seven years in the tail end of the train, only to be summoned to the upper carriages when bodies start piling up. Also excellent: Jennifer Connelly as the engine's all-seeing, ever-present head of hospitality. The first five episodes of Snowpiercer, the series, are available to stream via Netflix — with new episodes dropping weekly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaMIcuVH83M&feature=emb_logo THE BEACH Whenever Warwick Thornton makes a new project, it demands attention — and the Indigenous Australian filmmaker has never made anything quite like The Beach. The director of Samson & Delilah and Sweet Country turns the camera on himself, chronicling his quest to escape his busy life for an extended soul-searching getaway. With only chickens and wildlife for company, Thornton bunkers down in an electricity-free tin shed in Jilirr, on the Dampier Peninsula on the northwest coast of Western Australia. He fishes, cooks, chats to the chooks, wanders along the shoreline and reflects upon everything that's led him to this point, with this six-part documentary series capturing the ups, downs, sublime sights and epiphany-inspiring moments. Unfurling quietly and patiently in the slow-TV tradition, Thornton's internal journey of discovery makes for both moving and absorbing viewing. Indeed, combined with stunning cinematography (as shot by Thornton's son and Robbie Hood director Dylan River), it just might be the best piece of Australian television you see this year. The Beach is available to stream via SBS On Demand. ONES TO WATCH OUT FOR LATER IN THE MONTH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_ozcr43fP4 WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS First hitting cinemas back in 2014, What We Do in the Shadows is a perfect comedy. It's clever and creative, finds new ways to satirise and deploy familiar tropes, genres and formats, and features a spot-on cast — and, of course, the Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement co-directed, co-written and co-starring movie is also sidesplittingly funny. Thankfully, the film's US TV spinoff also fits the above description. Focusing on a group of vampires living in a Staten Island sharehouse (rather than the original movie's Wellington location), it could never be considered a mere small-screen copy. Instead, it's a lively and captivating addition to the broader What We Do in the Shadows universe, which also includes New Zealand series Wellington Paranormal. Back for a second season (and already renewed for a third, too), the What We Do in the Shadows television show has two specific aces up its sleeves, too: the combined on-screen talents of Matt Berry, Kayvan Novak and Natasia Demetriou as three of the central bloodsuckers, plus the time to delve deeper into their undead world. The second season of What We Do in the Shadows is available to stream via Foxtel Now from Thursday, June 25, with new episodes added weekly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q6Co-nd0lM EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA As music, spandex and glitter fans everywhere know, the Eurovision Song Contest didn't go ahead this year. That's left a sizeable Europop-shaped hole in plenty of hearts; however Netflix's new comedy is here to help. Called Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, the film follows two Icelandic singers who've always wanted to represent their country at the famed sing-off. Lars Erickssong (Will Ferrell) and Sigrit Ericksdottir (Rachel McAdams) aren't particularly well-liked in their homeland, but when they're named as the next Eurovision contestants, they're determined to prove that chasing their lifelong dream was worth it. Directed by Wedding Crashers, The Change-Up and The Judge filmmaker David Dobkin, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga looks set to feature plenty of Ferrell's over-the-top antics, as well as icy backdrops and a song called 'Volcano Man'. Also on offer: a fierce rivalry between Fire Saga and fellow competitor Alexander Lemtov (Legion's Dan Evans), and a cast that spans Pierce Brosnan and Demi Lovato. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga will be available to stream via Netflix from Friday, June 26. CULT CLASSICS TO REVISIT AND REDISCOVER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA87ltqFEIQ IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA This May, when It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia was renewed for a 15th season, it made history. When those episodes make it to the screen, the cult US sitcom will become the longest-running live-action comedy series that's ever aired on American television. That mightn't sound all that surprising given the general concept — a group of friends (Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito) try to run their own Irish pub and usually fail at everything they attempt — but It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's dark, nihilistic and irreverent sense of humour is all its own. This is a show that's dedicated most of its episodes to a whole range of taboo topics, after all, while also watching its characters stage a twisted rock opera and make their own version of Lethal Weapon 6. Indeed, when it comes to satirising despicable behaviour and attitudes, It's Always Sunny is on another level. Amazon Prime Video is now streaming the first 13 seasons, which means you now have 144 episodes to binge. The first 13 seasons of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia are available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skpu5HaVkOc ALMOST EVERY FAST AND FURIOUS MOVIE It's the big-budget franchise that likes driving speedily and passionately, can't get enough over-the-top car antics and loves filling its frames with a constant onslaught of hectic stunts. It's also the Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez-starring saga that adores family — and Corona-swilling friends who become family — just as much as vehicular mayhem. And, it's ridiculously entertaining. Not every Fast and Furious movie is a winner (2 Fast 2 Furious definitely isn't, for example), but this huge series boasts more than a few high points. Of course, 2020 will no longer see the saga's ninth official film hit cinemas, with F9's release postponed until 2021 due to COVID-19; however you can now marathon the first seven movies on Stan. Come for a Point Break ripoff that swaps surfing for street racing, which is where it all began. Then, stay as everyone from Tyrese Gibson, Gal Gadot, Eva Mendes and Ludacris to Dwayne Johnson, Luke Evans, Jason Statham and Kurt Russell shows up, because of course they do. The Fast and Furious collection — featuring the franchise's first seven movies — is available to stream via Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw1euaNtuXM SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL'S PAST HITS Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Sydney Film Festival didn't take place physically. Instead, it moved online, making 33 new films available for cinephiles to stream at home. And, as part of the one-off virtual move, SFF 2020 also features a whole heap of ace movies that have previously screened at the festival — 40 of them in fact, all thanks to a Sydney Film Festival Selects collection on SBS On Demand. It's a best-of lineup, so get ready to revisit Studio Ghibli co-production The Red Turtle, Taika Waititi's Boy, the Greta Gerwig-starring Frances Ha, Aussie comedy That's Not Me and New Zealand's The Breaker Upperers. You can also feast your eyes on Palme d'Or winner The Square, Scandi thriller The Guilty, Turkish drama Mustang and Xavier Dolan's Heartbeats, among other films. And, they're all available to watch for free. The Sydney Film Festival Selects Collection is available to stream via SBS On Demand until Friday, July 10. Top images: Da 5 Bloods via David Lee/Netflix; Ramy via Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu; Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga via Elizabeth Viggiano/Netflix.
There'll be no need to grab snacks before the latest screen-to-stage musical production. As fans of the '90s cult classic well and truly know, Empire Records is certain to give you a sugar high anyway. The beloved flick is heading to Broadway, which means someone is going to be following in Renée Zellweger's footsteps and belting out the Coyote Shivers track 'Sugar High' while standing on a record store rooftop. Expect someone else to sing "oh Rexy, you're so sexy" too, as the tale of a struggling music shop, its motley crew of employees and the washed-up former star making an in-store appearance makes the leap to another format. Rolling Stone is reporting that the movie's original screenwriter, Carol Heikkinen, is adapting her own script, with the show working towards a 2020 premiere date. No word yet who'll be taking on the characters first played by Zellweger, Liv Tyler, Robin Tunney, Rory Cochrane, Ethan Embry and Aussie actor Anthony LaPaglia, rocking out to what's certain to be an ace '90s soundtrack and wearing some top retro fashions. Empire Records joins a long list of films making the jump to the theatre of late, including La La Land, The Devil Wears Prada, Amelie and Moulin Rouge! And, of course, the newest production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which is heading to Australia in 2019. Via Rolling Stone.
It started back in 1956 as a singing contest between a mere seven nations. Now, more than six decades later, Eurovision is a glitter and spandex-fuelled global musical phenomenon. Forty-one countries not only in Europe but from elsewhere compete — hello Australia — and viewers tune in en masse each May to watch, sing along and add new pop tunes to their playlists. But with COVID-19 continuing to spread, the show won't go on in 2020. Due to take place in Rotterdam, this year's Eurovision Song Contest won't be delayed or rescheduled — it has completely been cancelled. In a statement, the European Broadcasting Union explained that it had explored other alternatives, such as postponing, staging it remotely and running it without an audience, but there was no other viable option. "The uncertainty created by the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe — and the restrictions put in place by the governments of the participating broadcasters and the Dutch authorities — means the EBU has taken the difficult decision to not continue with the live event as planned," it announced. With big event cancellations and postponements coming through with frequency at the moment — including SXSW, Coachella, Dark Mofo, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Vivid Sydney and Glastonbury, to name a few — scrapping Eurovision 2020 is hardly surprising. It'll still come as a disappointment to fans, however, especially given the contest would've been perfect self-isolating viewing material. And, it's obviously disappointing for the artists already selected by their countries to try to sing their way to glory, such as Aussie talent Montaigne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr-wWxu4974&feature=emb_logo While the EBU is still working through the ramifications of cancelling this year's Eurovision, it is in discussions with the City of Rotterdam about hosting the event next year. The Netherlands earned the right to stage Eurovision 2020 when Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest with the song 'Arcade' — as is Eurovision tradition, each year's winning country hosts the next year's event. Also under discussion is whether this year's selected artists can perform when the contest returns in 2021 and, if so, whether they can sing their 2020 songs. The 2020 Eurovision Song Contest will no longer be held in May 2020, or at all in 2020. 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.
With house prices constantly on the rise, the Great Australian Dream of owning your own home feels pretty distant to most of us, but a group of architects and industrial designers in Beijing have an answer: the Tricycle House, a collapsible house that fits on the back of a tricycle. The house was a collaboration between the People's Architecture Office and the People's Industrial Design Office as part of the Get It Louder exhibition in Beijing. According to the designers, "Through this design, single family homes can be affordable and sustainable, parking lots are not wasted at night and traffic jams are acceptable. The Tricycle House is man-powered allowing off-the-grid living." The house is about 30-35 square feet, depending on how far out you expand it, and can be used as a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining room and workspace, with space for storage. There is no electricity in the house, but the translucent shell allows light to pass through. It's an inspiring idea from a housing and sustainability perspective, but it also carries a message about the land ownership situation in China, where government 'land grabs' and rapidly rising real estate prices are the norm. Via LifeEdited and Treehugger.
