For the past five years, Josh Niland has been showcasing his seafood prowess to Sydneysiders, with the acclaimed chef first opening restaurant Saint Peter in 2016, then launching fishmonger Fish Butchery in 2018. Last year, he shared his recipes in The Whole Fish Cookbook, letting seafood fiends everywhere follow in his footsteps at home. And now that ocean-focused text has just picked up the prestigious James Beard Book of the Year Award. On Wednesday, May 27 in the US, Niland nabbed the coveted prize — which is considered the top culinary book award in America and worldwide. Handed out by the culinary-focused non-profit James Beard Foundation each year, the James Beard Awards recognise food-centric media across a number of categories, including chefs and restaurants, books, journalism and broadcast media. They also bestow prizes in fields such as restaurant design, leadership, humanitarian work and lifetime achievement. In receiving the Book of the Year Award, Niland became the first Australian to ever take out the prize. And, he scored a second honour as well, with The Whole Fish Cookbook also winning in the Restaurant and Professional field. Niland's debut cookbook, The Whole Fish Cookbook champions his culinary philosophy, with an ethical and sustainable approach to seafood paramount to his cooking. The book's recipes include cod liver pate on toast, fish cassoulet, roast fish bone marrow, and the chef's 'perfect' version of fish and chips. [caption id="attachment_771910" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rob Palmer[/caption] The Whole Fish Cookbook has been picking up praise and accolades since it was first published last September, with the James Beard Book of the Year Award joining a long list of gongs. It also received the Food Book Award at the 2019 André Simon Awards, was named illustrated book of the year at the 2020 Australian Book Industry Awards, earned photographer Rob Palmer the National Portrait Gallery's National Photographic Portrait Prize 2020 for one of his photos of Niland, and has been longlisted for the Australian Booksellers Association Booksellers' Choice Awards 2020. To peruse the full list of 2020 James Beard Award winners, visit the awards' website. For more information about The Whole Fish Cookbook, head to publisher Hardie Grant's website. Top images: Rob Palmer.
Hong Kong is almost close enough (an eight-hour plane trip) to justify a long weekend away. Doing it cheap isn't easy, and what would particularly be the point? As one of the world's most expensive cities, especially for hotels, it's all about bling. Eating out can be more affordable than the top end of Australian restaurants, with obviously superior Cantonese dining options, but drinking in the hipper bars will set you back $10 a beer. If you want cheap, go to Thailand. If you want style, go to Hong Kong. The main socialising districts are Hong Kong Island, traditionally where it's all happening, and Kowloon across the harbour, its less glamorous cousin, although that's changing. Italian and French dining is in vogue at the moment, with Caprice and Pierre the top-dollar and high-rise favourites. Further down the cheap food chain are the Canto picks. The Chairman and Fook Lam Moon offer traditional Chinese cooking with a modern flair, rejecting the MSG of the local diners. The owner of The Chairman, Danny Yip, owns three Chairman restaurants in Canberra and prides himself on an organic approach to crab and dumpling feasts. Spring Moon is an upmarket 1920s-style teahouse bang in the middle of a five-star hotel, with ornate surroundings. If you want more exclusive surroundings, Yard Bird does take bookings and is the hot new place to be seen by local celebrities. Drinking is synonymous with views of the harbour, with most bars perched on top of swish hotels. Among the most popular are Hutong, which is a faux traditional restaurant with an indoor mezzanine bar above the private dining rooms and red lanterns overlooking the skyscapers of Hong Kong Island. For outdoor boozing, head to Eyebar (level 30, 63 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon) for a vertigo-inducing vista, Ozone, apparently the highest bar in the world, or Sugar in the East hotel. More down-to-earth reveling can be found at the Kee Club, a members-only den with private rooms decorated like libraries and it hosts open club nights on the weekend. It's near Lan Kwai Fong, the main drinking area for visiting drunkards, which is open to the early hours and home to all-night clubs. It's not particularly cheap, but Hong Kong does offer expensive memories.
It might seem like a lifetime ago, but it was only early 2020 that saw parts of regional Victoria devastated by record-breaking bushfires. As the local communities began to rebuild, we were encouraged to hit the road and support the small businesses that had been hit the hardest. But then, COVID-19 hit and any plans of a rural escape were immediately quashed. Which means it's been far too long since we've had the luxury of enjoying the incredible produce available in the Gippsland region. Travelling along the Great Alpine Road, you'll have the opportunity to indulge in old-fashioned country pies, hearty pub meals, freshly caught seafood and locally made beer and wine. After a long year mostly spent stuck inside, nothing has ever sounded so darn appealing. Here are eight spots you shouldn't miss. Some places mentioned may be operating differently due to restrictions related to COVID-19, so check websites before making any plans. [caption id="attachment_777962" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rob Blackburn, Visit Victoria[/caption] NORTHERN GROUND, BAIRNSDALE It might be a relative newcomer to the Bairnsdale food scene but, since opening in 2018, Northern Ground has garnered plenty of attention. Chef and owner Rob Turner has done a stellar job of highlighting the lush local produce, and recognition has followed. While primarily a daytime cafe, Northern Ground also hosts the occasional dinner event, and also acts as a function space. The menu features local stars such as monPortarlington mussels, Maffra cheddar and Lindenow broccolini. The drinks list is similarly sourced, studded with wine and beer from nearby makers. For dessert, the bakery has your favourite country classics, like lemonade scones and carrot cake. [caption id="attachment_777956" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rob Blackburn[/caption] LIGHTFOOT AND SONS WINES, CALULU As second-generation winemakers, the Lightfoot family has been active in the Gippsland Lakes District since 1995. This pristine wine region is known for producing excellent pinot noir and chardonnay varietals, and the Lightfoot cellar door is an unmissable opportunity to try the region's best. The winery has held five-star status in the Halliday Wine Companion for several years, so you're guaranteed a decent drop. The 45-minute wine tasting is just $9, and is available from Friday to Sunday, 11am–5pm. Alternatively, you can settle in for the Taste of Gippsland experience ($65 per person) to sample the Single Block wines alongside food from across the region. [caption id="attachment_795345" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicky Cawood[/caption] BULLANT BREWERY, BRUTHEN Just a 15-minute drive from Bairnsdale, you'll find the beloved Bullant Brewery tucked away in Bruthen. Resident beer lovers Neil and Lois Triggs established the brewery in 2011, using local hardwood timber to create a warm, welcoming venue. Keeping with the rustic theme, the Bullant is accented with corrugated iron walls and features a fully functional copper brewhouse. More than a dozen beers are brewed on-site, with seasonal beers rotated through regularly. This extensive beer range is paired alongside a regional-focused food menu, offering lunch from Wednesday to Sunday, and an additional dinner service on Friday and Saturday. For any non-beer drinkers in your group, there is a neat wine list of Gippsland's best varietals, plus some local ciders. [caption id="attachment_777954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] ENSAY WINERY, ENSAY Sustainable agriculture might be a buzz term in 2020, but the team at Ensay Winery has been eco-conscious since 1992. The yearly 20-tonne crops of shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, chardonnay and merlot are all picked, processed and produced onsite at the East Gippsland winery. Careful mulching and soil management have meant that Ensay Winery is classified as a dry land vineyard, meaning it is self-sustaining — it hasn't been watered since 1998. Grab a bottle of wine at the cellar door, then relax at the provided picnic tables, overlooking the rolling hills of the Tambo River Valley. [caption id="attachment_795346" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination Gippsland[/caption] ALBION HOTEL, SWIFTS CREEK Located directly on the Great Alpine Road, in Swifts Creek, this quintessential country pub is utterly charming. The sweet, unassuming brick building, complete with wine barrel flower planters and red tin roof, is filled with local sporting trophies and quirky embellishments. The kitchen turns out excellent pub classics such as steaks, parmas, calamari and fish 'n' chips, with the gourmet pies coming highly recommended by the regulars. This is the perfect pub for a long lunch, with a pool table, separate dining room and a beer garden to keep everyone entertained. [caption id="attachment_794939" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination Gippsland[/caption] NULLAMUNJIE OLIVE OIL, TONGIO High-quality olive oil is the cornerstone of any well-stocked kitchen, but it's easy to get in the habit of buying whatever's on special at the supermarket. The extra virgin olive oil from Nullamunjie will have you quickly converted; the flavour is smooth and fruity, with a slightly peppery and herbaceous element. The olive groves are found along the banks of the Tambo River, surrounded by the slopes of Mount Stawell. This year's harvest is sold out, but you can still try the goods at the on-site eatery, The Pressing Shed Cafe & Restaurant, which will be open from January 2, 2021 till April 4, 2021. The seasonal, swiftly rotating menu is overseen by owner Annie Paterson, who makes sure to include the award-winning olive oil in every dish. [caption id="attachment_794940" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anne Morley[/caption] GOLDEN AGE HOTEL, OMEO After being rebuilt five times (and burning down twice) the current Golden Age Hotel has been serving locals since 1940. Omeo resident Hannah Richards proudly bought the pub in 2018, after previously working behind the bar as an employee for several years. Open daily for lunch and dinner, the Golden Age Hotel menu highlights wholesome country favourites like beef schnitzel and pumpkin soup. The upstairs accommodation features vintage styling such as painted iron bed frames and gathered curtains. After a peaceful night's sleep, wander across the road to the Crazy Cow Cafe & Bakery, where you will find handmade pies, cakes, sausage rolls and tarts. If you feel like you need to move after all that eating, mountain biking enthusiasts will have their pick of cycling tracks and bush trails to explore in and around Omeo. There's also a brand new pump and skills track to try out. [caption id="attachment_794941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anne Morley[/caption] THE BLUE DUCK INN, ANGLERS REST This sweet country pub is perched on the banks of a mountain stream, with six self-contained cabins available for longer visits. Guests can enjoy nearby bush walks, horse riding trails, four-wheel driving tracks and white water rafting adventures. From Wednesday to Sunday, The Blue Duck Inn restaurant opens for lunch and dinner, with the scotch fillet steak and meatballs both being marked as local favourites. After such a hectic year, The Blue Duck Inn is the perfect place to get off the grid and reconnect with nature. Find more spots to visit in Gippsland and start planning your trip here. Top image: Lightfoot and Sons Winery, Rob Blackburn
Did Hollywood have a disagreement with its past, get a fortune cookie predicting the future, feel an earthquake shudder, then wake up back in the 80s and 00s? Based on two new flicks heading to cinemas, yes, it must've. Because everything old is always new again in Tinseltown — a trend that's bringing Cruel Intentions, Twilight and Harry Potter back, too — both Freaky Friday and Beetlejuice are scoring sequels. Unlike those big-screen sagas and their upcoming TV versions, this pair of films is getting movie follow-ups — and they're set to feature members of their original casts as well. For Freaky Friday 2: Freak Harder (which won't be its actual name), that means reuniting Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis with Lindsay Lohan (Falling for Christmas) two decades later. With Beetlejuice 2: Electric Boogaloo (again, not its actual name), Michael Keaton (Morbius) and Winona Ryder (Stranger Things) are back with the poltergeists. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the Freaky Friday news, noting that Elyse Hollander will pen the script. Story details haven't been revealed, but body-swapping is bound to feature given that's what Freaky Friday has always been about. Drinking, dancing, getting angry that your mum won't let you go to your band's big audition, eating those enchanted cookies — perhaps that'll all get worked in as well. For this franchise, it all started with 1972 book by Mary Rodgers, then the 1976 Jodie Foster (The Mauritanian)-starring first movie adaptation, and also a 1995 remake with Gaby Hoffman (C'mon C'mon). After 2003's beloved Curtis- and Lohan-led take, horror flick Freaky gave the idea a spin in 2020. Freaky Friday 2 doesn't have a release date yet, but Beetlejuice 2 does: September 6, 2024 in the US. It'll continue the story started in Tim Burton's 1988 hit Beetlejuice, with Wednesday favourite Jenna Ortega playing the daughter of Ryder's Lydia Deetz. As Variety reports, Justin Theroux (White House Plumbers) is also among the cast. You don't need a Handbook for the Recently Deceased in your ghostly hands to get excited, but you might spend time with folks with one, which is what happened with the original flick's Barbara and Adam Maitland (GLOW's Geena Davis and Dr Death's Alec Baldwin). In the first film, viewers also saw what happened when that pair started to suspect that they're no longer alive, a new family moved into their house (including Schitt's Creek's Catherine O'Hara) and they decided they needed a 'bio-exorcist'. The Freaky Friday sequel doesn't yet have a release date, while Beetlejuice 2 will release in September 2024 — we'll keep you updated as more details are announced. Via The Hollywood Reporter / Variety.
Come 2022, Studio Ghibli's very own theme park will become the most adorable place on earth — but until then, a new Bangkok restaurant is competing for the ultra-cute crown. Called May's Garden House Restaurant, the eatery is not only named after My Neighbour Totoro's protagonist Mei, but also takes its cues from Studio Ghibli's bewitching movie. In fact, it's the first officially licensed restaurant dedicated to the beloved Japanese animation house and its enchanting films. The only other space that comes close is the onsite cafe at the existing Studio Ghibli museum outside of Tokyo; however, the only way to eat at the Japanese site is to nab a ticket to the museum itself, which has to be booked months in advance. [caption id="attachment_677216" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] May's Garden House Restaurant[/caption] In Sukhumvit in Bangkok, Ghibli lovers can enjoy a meal surrounded by Totoros, including a giant, huggable version by the entrance; and tuck into dishes, such as susuwatari-shaped balls in a matcha bath, lattes dusted by Totoro chocolate, mini Totoro steamed buns and a general array of other themed bites. May's Garden House Restaurant also serves up a selection of Thai cuisine, such as crispy chicken wings, soups, curries and fried rice with seafood, should you need something to go with your Catbus cake. Of course, even if you opt for a meal that doesn't immediately reference Ghibli, you'll find an appropriate trinket on your table. [caption id="attachment_677217" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] May's Garden House Restaurant[/caption] While at the Thai spot, you can also wander through the figurine-filled garden, sit beneath gorgeous stained-glass windows, look over the boat pool, peruse the library, walk through two halls and just get spirited away by the restaurant's assorted memorabilia. Or, you can spy two new, exclusive Ghibli-style characters — birds called Colko and Peeko, they were designed by Ghibli producer and co-founder Toshio Suzuki. He helped support the restaurant's creation after reportedly becoming fond of owner May Kanyada's chicken wings. Unsurprisingly, visitors are advised to reserve a table at least two weeks prior to their visit, with tucking into Totoro treats proving rather popular. For more information about May's Garden House Restaurant, visit the eatery's Facebook page or Instagram feed. Via SoraNews24. Images: May's Garden House Restaurant.
Bombay Sapphire's annual sit down dinner, Project Botanicals, is returning to Melbourne for another year, celebrating the obsessive and continual love affair that we all have with pairing food and gin. Held at Taxi Riverside in Federation Square, a $49 (plus booking fee) ticket will include a two hour dining session where you'll be served two dishes and two gin cocktails to match. The option to purchase more delicious gin cocktails outside the ticket price is there as well. Head chef of Taxi Riverside, Tony Twitchett, has specifically designed a menu that enhances and complements the ten botanicals in Bombay Sapphire gin. Expect creative combinations like tempura mussels with salt and vinegar sesame paired with a gin, ginger and cucumber cocktail, and fresh cocktails like the Lemon Collins, with lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda water. In its third year, Project Botanicals will feature a 'True Artistry' collaboration to engage all five of your senses in a gin tasting. International DJ duo Yolanda Be Cool have created a 'Songs to Drink Gin To' Spotify playlist, featuring a compilation of tracks sampling local sounds from the exotic locations where Bombay Sapphire source their ten botanicals. Along with that, Samantha Taylor, fragrance expert from The Powder Room, has created a gin-inspired perfume. The unisex fragrance is a blend of all ten botanicals in Bombay Sapphire gin – including orris from Italy and lemon peel from Spain. Project Botanicals runs for two weeks, from September 8 to 18. Tickets are available via Bombay Sapphire.
The dockless bike sharing phenomenon hasn't exactly proved a roaring success here in Australia, with rogue bikes clogging up footpaths, or winding up broken and abandoned in dangerous locations, and oBike withdrawing from Melbourne entirely. And still, yet another company is keen to give the concept a whirl locally — this time, featuring electric scooters. Aussie start-up Scootie has announced it'll launch a trial program of its ride share service in November this year, giving locals in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth the chance to be the first to road-test its fleet of electric scooters. Punters keen to get involved are invited to sign up now to Scootie's mailing list. Riffing on the scooter systems that have been going gang-busters over in the USA, the local company is still nailing down its technology, with plans to launch the pilot program in St Kilda, before rolling out across CBD areas. At this stage, riders will simply locate a scooter, scan and pay via the Scootie smartphone app, before jetting off on their two-wheeled adventure. According to Scootie spokesman Troy Taylor, details about specific scooter deposit zones and charging stations are yet to be confirmed, though there will be a bond taken to help deter people from damaging or abandoning the scooters. Trip costs are also in the process of being finalised, with Taylor suggesting they'll start at around 20-40 cents per minute. So, for example, a 40-minute journey would cost between $8 and $16. Scootie's trial program is slated to launch in November and run for several weeks. You can sign up to be a part of it here.
Hong Kong's T'ang Court restaurant has earned itself an impressive reputation, becoming a must-eat mainstay in the city's culinary scene, and also boasting three Michelin stars for seven consecutive years since 2016. For Australians keen to give its Cantonese menu a try, there's now another option — and it's easier than hopping on an international flight. Adding to T'ang Court's outposts overseas, The Langham hotel chain has opened an Aussie venue in its luxe new Gold Coast site. The Langham Gold Coast hotel itself launched back in June, after first revealing that it was in the works in May — and T'ang Court making the jump to southeast Queensland was announced then as well. But the restaurant was always set to launch later, in spring. It clearly took that opening date seriously, welcoming in patrons from Thursday, September 1. The fine-dining chain's name comes from the Tang Dynasty, with the restaurant taking a luxe approach to both its surroundings and its culinary spread. The decor pairs bold pops of colour with neutrals, including bespoke abstract art pieces by Australian Chinese artist Lindi Li. As for the food range, it spans perennial favourites and seasonal delicacies, including across both a la carte dishes and three set menus. A big drawcard at T'ang Court's first Australian location: a three-part tribute to Cantonese duck, which features duck pancakes with hoi sin sauce, duck buns with lychee and raspberry sauce (and caviar), and sliced duck breast and leg paired with with plum sauce. Or, the menu also includes sauteed pearl meat with ginger, shallots and Asian greens, plus spicy black tiger prawns with roasted garlic. "Our first Australian T'ang Court restaurant marks a significant leap forward for the local dining landscape. Authentic, traditional Cantonese fine dining is comparatively rare in Australia, so we're thrilled to bring this unique experience to life for locals and travellers, from other states and even internationally," said Howard Lam, Director of Chinese Cuisine for Langham Hospitality Group. "Diners at T'ang Court on the Gold Coast will be able to indulge in the same golden age Cantonese flavours that have earned T'ang Court at The Langham Hong Kong three Michelin stars and seen its many other award-winning sister restaurants across the world become highly-sought-after dining destinations." Located indoors on level three at The Langham, and seating 80, T'ang Court is serving lunch from 12–3pm and dinner from 5.30–11pm five days a week — operating from Wednesday–Sunday. If you're a keen to book in a visit from out of town, then stay the night afterwards, The Langham also boasts 339 rooms and suites, direct beachfront access, a pool bar you can swim up to while still staring at that ocean view, a number of other eateries and a wellness centre. Find T'ang Court at The Langham Gold Coast on level three, 38 Old Burleigh Road, Surfers Paradise — serving lunch from 12–3pm and dinner from 5.30–11pm from Wednesday–Sunday.
With Game of Thrones finishing its run a few months back, there's currently a huge fantasy-shaped hole in the TV and streaming landscape. Of course, the beloved show is set to go on thanks to its own prequel; however plenty of networks and platforms are trying their hands at the genre in the interim — and giving television buffs plenty to watch. Amazon is hoping to fill the gap with its forthcoming Lord of the Rings series, although it isn't due until 2021. HBO's next contender has just arrived this month, courtesy of its adaptation of His Dark Materials. And, while Netflix already has its Dark Crystal prequel, which launched back in August, it'll soon drop new series The Witcher as well. In fact, the Henry Cavill-starring show will arrive on Friday, December 20, just in time for some Christmas break binge-viewing. Even better — if you're super-keen for the new series, you now have two seasons to look forward to. As reported by Variety, Netflix seems confident that plenty of folks are eager to see Cavill sporting long blonde locks and fighting monsters, because it has already renewed the show for a second season before the first even drops. You will have to wait for the follow-up batch of eight episodes, though, as it's not slated to shoot until 2020 or hit the streamer until 2021. Perhaps it's the concept that has everyone excited. As seen in both the initial trailer and the recent second sneak peek, the witcher of the title is Geralt of Rivia (Cavill), a monster hunter who prefers to work — aka slay beasts — alone in a realm called The Continent. But life has other plans for the lone wolf, forcing him to cross paths with powerful sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra, Netflix's Wanderlust) and young princess Ciri (newcomer Freya Allan). The latter harbours a secret, because of course she does, with the series blending plenty of fantasy staples such as magic, royalty, fighting factions, battling hordes, fearsome creatures, a heap of sword-swinging and many a scenic location. After stepping into Superman's shoes and facing off against Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible — Fallout, The Witcher marks Cavill's return to TV a decade after starring in regal period drama The Tudors. As well as Chalotra and Allan, it also features Jodhi May (Game of Thrones), MyAnna Buring (Kill List), Lars Mikkelsen (House of Cards) and Australian actor Eamon Farren (Twin Peaks). Behind-the-scenes, the show's eight-part first season is created, executive produced and co-scripted by Lauren Schmidt, who has everything from The West Wing, Parenthood and Power to Daredevil, The Defenders and The Umbrella Academy to her name. If the series' name sounds familiar, that's because The Witcher is based on the short stories and novels of writer Andrzej Sapkowski — and, as well as being turned into comics, it was adapted the video game series of the same name. A Polish film and TV show also reached screens back in the early 2000s, although they were poorly received. Check out the latest trailer for Netflix's The Witcher below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndl1W4ltcmg The Witcher will hit Netflix on Friday, December 20. Image: Katalin Vermes. Via Variety.
Five years after shutting up shop — and 95 years after originally opening — The Capitol Theatre is back in business. As initially announced in 2018, the historic spot has been turned into a multi-purpose space by owners RMIT, welcoming Melburnians through the doors once again from Monday, June 3. Visitors to the revamped theatre can expect a mix of old and new. Originally designed by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin (who also designed the city of Canberra), the same Chicago Gothic-style architecture remains, including eye-catching lighting design, the venue's standout foyers and detailed ceilings that'll make you look up. But the site's facilities have had an upgrade, with the 580-seat theatre now boasting surround sound, digital projection and a retractable cinema screen. A new 150-person salon space is also available for events and exhibitions and the lounge and foyer areas have enjoyed a makeover. And, yes, there's both a level-one coffee and candy bar and a second-floor wine bar. [caption id="attachment_724595" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tatjiana Plitt[/caption] RMIT intends to use the landmark venue for more than just a cinema, too. There are plans for it to host everything from virtual reality to gaming and video art through to live theatre, talks, conferences and lectures. It will also play host to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image's programme, while the museum's Federation Square home undergoes its own transformation. You can read more about ACMI's multimillion-dollar renovation over here. Come Thursday, June 20, The Capitol will start up its projectors and kick off its film screenings with a series of ACMI films. Christening the space is Carlos Reygadas' new movie Our Time on June 20 and a Viva Varda retrospective — a celebration of trailblazing filmmaker Agnès Varda, who passed away earlier this year — running from June 21–30. With ACMI not expected to reopen until 2020, the screen museum will settle in to The Capitol for at least nine months. Find The Capitol at 113 Swanston Street, Melbourne. It will begin screenings from Thursday, June 20. To checkout the full lineup and buy tickets, head to the website. Images: Tatjiana Plitt.
It's been home to David Lynch's eerie filmscapes, Yayoi Kusama's infinity and obliteration rooms, Gary Carsley's projected jacarandas and Patricia Piccinini's forest of flowers that aren't quite flowers. Soon, it'll welcome a riverbed, a snowman and a suspended installation that visitors can climb through, too. Yes, Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art loves an immersive installation — and it has more in store for 2020. Fancy wandering through a labyrinth of red and black wool? That's on next year's agenda. As part of its just-announced 2020 lineup, GOMA revealed it'll host Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles, a showcase focusing on the Berlin-based Japanese artist and her work over the past quarter-century. In an Australian exclusive, the exhibition comes to Brisbane after recently premiering in Tokyo — and while it won't sit 53 storeys up or come with panoramic views of the city, like it did in Japan, Shiota's string-heavy installations are certain to garner more than a little attention. Fashioned from millions of strands, they resemble weaved, maze-like webs and take up entire rooms. The Soul Trembles is the largest-ever solo exhibition by the artist — and although GOMA hasn't revealed just how much of the Tokyo lineup is coming to Brisbane, art lovers can expect an array of sprawling installations, sculptures and video footage of Shiota's performances, as well as photographs and drawings. Highlighting her fascination with intangible concepts, such as memory, anxiety, dreams and silence, the ticketed display will run from June 27–October 5, 2020. [caption id="attachment_750700" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Chiharu Shiota. b.1972, Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Uncertain Journey (2016/2019). Courtesy: Blain | Southern, London/Berlin/New York. Installation view: Shiota Chiharu: The Soul Trembles, Mori. Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019. Image courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. Photograph: Sunhi Mang.[/caption] After the already-announced Water, which launches this December, The Soul Trembles is the second huge exhibition set to deck GOMA's walls next year — but, as always, there's more to come. In tandem with the Shiota showcase, the gallery will also pay tribute to pioneering Queensland artist Gordon Bennett, hosting the first large-scale display of his work since 2007. And, just a stone's throw away, sibling venue Queensland Art Gallery has two big exhibitions slated for 2020. First, it'll feature a four-month showcase of Mavis Ngallametta's work, highlighting large-scale paintings by the Putch clan Elder. Then, spanning from late 2020 to early 2021, QAG will exhibit an almost five-month survey of documentary photography by acclaimed Queensland-born, Sydney-based photographer William Yang. QAGOMA 2020 PROGRAM: Water at GOMA — December 7, 2019–April 26, 2020. Mavis Ngallametta: Show Me the Way to Go Home at QAG — March 21–August 2, 2020. Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles at GOMA — June 27–October 5, 2020. Unfinished Business: The Art of Gordon Bennett at GOMA — June 27–October 5, 2020. William Yang at QAG — September 19, 2020—February 7, 2021. Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles displays at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane from June 27–October 5, 2020. For further details — or to find out more about the gallery's full 2020 slate — visit its website. Top image: Chiharu Shiota b.1972, Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. In Silence (2002/2019). Production support: Alcantara S.p.A. Installation view: Shiota Chiharu: The Soul Trembles, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2019. Courtesy: Kenji Taki Gallery, Nagoya/Tokyo. Image courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. Photograph: Sunhi Mang.
Hot on the heels of its Brisbane opening earlier this month, global hotel chain W Hotel has just announced that it'll be landing in Sydney's Darling Harbour in 2020. Set to become part of The Ribbon – a sleek new $730 million development designed by HASSEL architects and sitting on the former IMAX theatre site, which was demolished in late 2016 – W Sydney is promising, not just a hotel, but a luxury hideaway. As with every W Hotel, you can expect impeccably-designed futuristic spaces, eateries overseen by expert chefs, cocktails created by top-notch bartenders and collaborations with local artists, musicians and designers. One of W Sydney's drawcards — apart from its 593 rooms and suites spread across 25 storeys — will be a stunning pool deck, overlooking the water. Also in the plans are a signature spa, a ballroom and two bars, including a W Living Room with expansive glass walls and an extraordinary sound system. We don't know, quite yet, who'll be running the restaurant, but chances are it'll be some local legend, given that the Three Blue Ducks are in-house at W Brisbane. Sydney was previously home to a W Hotel on Woolloomooloo Wharf, but it was sold to the Taj Hotel Group in 2007, then again the Hind Group (the owners of Ovolo) in 2014. The new W Hotel is only one part of new The Ribbon development, which will also be home to serviced apartments, retail spaces and — potentially, most excitingly — a huge new IMAX theatre. W Sydney is slated to open in 2020 and will be Australia's third W Hotel, following Brisbane and Melbourne, which is also due to open in 2020. The brand is aiming to be 75-strong hotel worldwide within the next two years. W Hotel is a branch of Marriott International, the world's largest hotel group, which now owns 18 hotels across our nation.
First, Black Mirror's Twitter account broke a four-year silence back in April. Next, Charlie Brooker's dystopian sci-fi hit dropped a sneak peek at its next batch of technological nightmares — aka the first trailer for the show's long-awaited sixth season — and confirmed that the show would return sometime in June. Now, the Netflix series has unveiled more details about what's in store, including which new technological nightmares it'll be spinning. It might be a streaming smash, but that doesn't mean that satirising streaming is off the agenda. Indeed, one of season six's five episodes, Joan Is Awful, will focus on an average woman who discovers that a global streaming platform has adapted her life into a prestige TV drama. Playing her on-screen? Salma Hayek Pinault (Magic Mike's Last Dance). This instalment will be packed with familiar faces, too, including Annie Murphy (Kevin Can F**k Himself), Michael Cera (Life & Beth), Himesh Patel (Station Eleven), Rob Delaney (The Power) and Ben Barnes (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities). Also on its way: Netflix seeing the darker side of nature documentaries — which, like biographical dramas, it's mighty fond of making itself. In upcoming Black Mirror instalment Loch Henry, a sleepy Scottish town welcomes in a young couple, who are keen to follow in David Attenborough's footsteps. Then they learn of a shocking local story, in an episode with Samuel Blenkin (The Witcher: Blood Origin), Myha'la Herrold (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Daniel Portman (Game of Thrones), John Hannah (The Last of Us) and Monica Dolan (Empire of Light) in its cast. Viewers looking forward to Aaron Paul's (Westworld) return to Black Mirror after first being involved in 2017 will been keen on Beyond the Sea, where it's an alternative 1969, two men are on a high-tech mission and dealing with a tragedy's big consequences, and Josh Hartnett (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre), Kate Mara (Call Jane), Auden Thornton (This Is Us) and Rory Culkin (Swarm) co-star. In Mazey Day, the paparazzi hounds a troubled starlet who is coping with the aftermath of a hit-and-run, with Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Clara Rugaard (I Am Mother) and Danny Ramirez (Stars at Noon) featuring. And in Demon 79, it's 1979 and a sales assistant in Northern England is informed that she has to commit terrible acts or a disaster will occur — with Anjana Vasan (Killing Eve), Paapa Essiedu (Men), Katherine Rose Morley (The Syndicate) and David Shields (Benediction) starring. Brooker has penned all five new chapters, co-writing Demon 79 with Bisha K Ali (Ms Marvel). This season is being teased as "the most unpredictable, unclassifiable and unexpected season yet", which is saying something given everything that Black Mirror has thrown at the screen in past seasons (and in choose-your-own-adventure-style movie Black Mirror: Bandersnatch). And yes, Brooker does have quite the challenge this time around: making something that manages to be even more dispiriting than reality over the past few years. That's increasingly been one of the show's dilemmas — and noting that something IRL feels just like Black Mirror has become one of the cliches of our times — but this'll be the mind-bending effort's first round of episodes following the pandemic. Check out the first trailer and latest teaser for Black Mirror's sixth season below: Black Mirror season six will stream via Netflix some time in June. We'll update you when an exact release date is announced. Images: Nick Wall/Daniel Escale, Netflix.
Next time you pour yourself a gin and tonic or start sipping a martini, you can say cheers to one of Australia's best-known architectural wonders in the process. With its latest release, Archie Rose Distilling Co is paying tribute to a building that's become an international symbol not only for its city, but for the whole country: the Sydney Opera House. There's plenty to celebrate when it comes to the Jørn Utzon-designed structure, so Archie Rose has whipped up two gins — or, in terms that suit its inspiration, two acts. Outside Gin nods to the Sydney Opera House's design, coastal location and the contrast of its man-made elements with nature, while Inside Gin is an ode to the acts and all-round creativity that've graced the venue's stages since 1973. Launching this month to mark the building's 46th birthday, the two tipples hero distinctive flavours. If you're keen on a heavy juniper taste with a mix of salty, sweet and citrus notes (aided by lemon-scented gum, South Australian yuzu, finger limes, white grapefruit, seablite and native seaweed), then you'll find it in the Outside Gin. For those who like their drinks fruity and summery — and with botanicals such as native thyme, Australian apricot, raspberry and strawberry gum — Inside Gin has you covered. Both are on sale now, individually for $99 each or as a gift-boxed pair for $179. And while their names don't mention the Sydney Opera House, their labels certainly do, with a stylised representation of the structure featuring on each 700ml bottle — against a sea-toned background for the Outside Gin, and contrasting against a dark mix of purple, red and black with the Inside Gin. Naturally, you'll also be able to sip the two spirits at the Sydney Opera House, with the venue's Opera Kitchen, Portside Sydney and theatre bars all slinging curated seasonal cocktails using both gins. Bennelong Restaurant is also stocking the duo, as are a selection of other bars and restaurants around Circular Quay. Archie Rose x Sydney Opera House Outside and Inside Gins are currently on sale.
What is it about treehouses that fire up even the most uninspired of imaginations? The promise of adventure, escape or retreat? Nobody ever really grows out of wanting a treehouse. The team at American based O2 Sustainabilty certainly haven't. They have dedicated their lives to designing and building some of the world's most innovative, beautiful and liveable treehouses — turning childhood dreams into adult spaces for work, rest and play. Based on geodesic design principles, these treehouses are both aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound, not to mention environmentally sensitive. Not only does the design of each treehouse take into account the growth and health of the 'host' tree, but they also insist on using only sustainable materials. And 5 percent of O2's profits from commercial builds are donated to local community and environmental groups. As part of their dedication to sustainable design, the 02 team have also built a series of luxury treehouse in eco-minded resorts around the world. So even if having your treehouse is out of the realm of possibility at the moment, you may want to think staying in one on your next holiday.
Chic, sleek and stylish alert: Australia's most stunning places to drink, eat, grab a coffee and spend a night away from home have just been named for 2023. Each year, the Eat Drink Design Awards shower some love — aka its annual hospitality design accolades — on Australia's most stunning bars, eateries and hotels. On this year's list are a heap of Sydney venues, plus spots in Melbourne and Adelaide as well. If soaking in gorgeous surroundings while you sip, snack and slumber is your ideal way of heading out of the house, then consider the awards' yearly picks a must-visit guide. At these spots — all of which were completed between July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023 — chefs, signature dishes, creative cocktails, stellar coffee and comfortable beds aren't the only attractions. [caption id="attachment_929397" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beau and Dough, Romello Pereira[/caption] For restaurants, cafes and hotels, Sydney emerged victorious. In fact, the Harbour City is so stacked with beautiful and innovative places for a meal that two shared the restaurant category: Beau and Dough in Surry Hills and Kiln at Ace Hotel Sydney. The first was praised for "designing for two separate yet interconnected venues", while the second earned compliments because its "design plugs into current conversations about sustainability, collaboration and community". In the cafe field, S'wich Bondi in Bondi Beach got the nod. "This little gem is a brave circuit breaker; it's not your average pitstop cafe-sandwich bar. A beautifully crafted bespoke space that aesthetically delivers in spades, it manages to weave together urban chic and Bondi's laid-back, fashionable culture," said the 2023 Eat Drink Design Awards jury, which consisted of Good Food journalist Emma Breheny, Akin Atelier director Kevin Ho, Hassell associate Di Ritter, The Bentley Restaurant Group chef and owner Brent Savage, and Artichoke acting editor Amy Woodroffe. [caption id="attachment_929398" align="alignnone" width="1920"] S'wich Bondi, Claudia Smith[/caption] Over in the hotel category, Capella Sydney was singled out. "The jury members were all impressed by this example of adaptive reuse. What used to be a government building has been painstakingly restored such that the original property, once inaccessible to most people, has been given new life and opened up to the public," the statement about this pick noted. For the best bar design, lock in drinks in the South Australian capital, with Adelaide's Dolly in Unley winning the gong. This is a "tactile wine bar" and "boasts a distinctive and timeless ambiance", said the jury, which also called out the fact that "the project's creative vision revolved around transforming the existing space into an experiential haven for locals". Victorian venues took out the retail deign and identity design fields, with the former going to LeTAO in Melbourne and the latter to Kōri Ice Cream in Hawthorn. [caption id="attachment_929400" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kōri Ice Cream, Architects EAT, Saville Coble[/caption] For the 2023 Hall of Fame Award, Sydney French restaurant Bistro Moncur in Woolhara, as designed by Tzannes, received recognition. As it does every year, this year's Eat Drink Design Awards also named commendations in various categories. Among the venues also getting some praise: Babylon Brisbane, the now-shuttered Butler in South Brisbane, Glory Days Bondi, Convoy in Moonee Ponds, Sydney's Hotel Morris and Bar Morris, Fitzroy's Pidapipó Laboratorio and Glenside's Kin Seafood. [caption id="attachment_929401" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bistro Moncur[/caption] "There was a diverse aesthetic in this year's winners expressing a lot of individuality, suggesting clients have allowed their design teams to lean into strong concepts and narratives. Plenty of examples of ambitious interiors offer complete sensory experiences, drama and bespoke craftsmanship," said the jury. "The very high level of design execution and attention to detail deserves extra praise this year, given the social and economic climate these works have occurred within. The judges applauded those designs that took risks and tried something innovative; yet at the same time, they praised designs that spoke softly and will likely retain relevance for decades in an industry with a proclivity for impermanence." [caption id="attachment_929402" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Capella Sydney, Timothy Kaye[/caption] [caption id="attachment_924664" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kiln, Anson Smart[/caption] [caption id="attachment_929403" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dolly, Jonathan VDK[/caption] 2024 EAT DRINK DESIGN AWARDS WINNERS: Best Restaurant Design: Beau and Dough by Smart Design Studio (Surry Hills, NSW) and Kiln, Ace Hotel Sydney by Fiona Lynch Interior Design (Sydney, NSW) Best Cafe Design: S'wich Bondi by Studio Shand (Bondi Beach, NSW) Best Bar Design: Dolly by Genesin Studio (Unley, SA) Best Hotel Design: Capella Sydney by Bar Studio (Sydney, NSW) Best Retail Design: LeTAO by K Holland Architectural Interiors (Melbourne, VIC) Best Identity Design: Kōri Ice Cream by Principle Design (Hawthorn, VIC) For the full list of winners and commendations, head to the Eat Drink Design website. Top image: Kiln, Anson Smart.
It wasn't so long ago that most Australians only knew Wendy's for its insanely viral social media posts. However, since 2022, the American chain has begun to establish a significant presence on our shores. First launching in Surfers Paradise (unless you're counting a series of stores closed in the 1980s), the brand aims to open over 200 locations around Australia by 2034. Well, they've ticked another off the list, with a flagship Wendy's Brisbane restaurant touching down in the heart of the CBD. Serving as a major milestone in the company's national rollout, delivered in partnership with Flynn Group, this two-level themed location provides an extra special nod to the restaurant's bold design, nicknamed Haus of Wendy. Featuring more than enough space for 130 diners, an openair ground floor leads into an expansive lower level, with both decked out in contrasting bright red and blue decor that resonates with fun-loving energy and personality. Going beyond just a splash of paint, red celebrates Wendy's sass and spice, with the in-store experience seeing hand-painted murals set against bespoke wall panelling inspired by Wendy's famed braids. Meanwhile, blue speaks to Wendy's iconic Frosty, with this level featuring a bow wall crafted by local artist Rachel Burke and made from upcycled materials. Here, you'll also encounter a Frosty-inspired lounge area, complete with a photo booth. "This flagship represents everything the Wendy's brand stands for — fresh food and bold personality," said Corina Black, Chief Marketing Officer, Wendy's ANZ. "Brisbane's vibrant energy is a natural fit for Wendy, and we're proud to contribute to the city's reputation as a destination for food, culture and creativity." With the spread of Wendy's across the country just getting underway, this brand-new location remains one of the few spots in Australia where you can dine on the brand's signature dishes. Think classic doubles, Baconmators and spicy chicken sandwiches alongside Wendy's Frosty in chocolate or vanilla. Plus, super crunchy double hand-breaded chicken tenders and sea-salted fries with loaded options hit the mark for an on-the-go snack. "Wendy's has built its reputation on doing things differently, and this flagship takes that spirit to a new level," said Lauren Leahy, Chief Transformation Officer, Flynn Group. "We've taken Wendy's much-loved global brand and reimagined it for Australia. The new store brings that to life in a way that's both unmistakably Wendy's and uniquely Australian." Wendy's Brisbane launches on Wednesday, October 29, at 245 Albert Street, Brisbane, open daily from 9am–10pm. Head to the website for more information.
If comedy is all about timing, then Aunty Donna have it — not just onstage. In 2020, Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun was the hysterical sketch-comedy series that the world needed, with the six-episode show satirising sharehouse living dropping at the ideal moment. While the Australian jokesters' Netflix hit wasn't just hilarious because it arrived when everyone had been spending more time than anyone dreamed at home thanks to the early days of the pandemic, the ridiculousness it found in domesticity was as inspired as it was sidesplittingly absurd. Three years later, heading out is well and truly back, as are Aunty Donna on-screen. Their target in Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe, which streams in full on ABC iView from Wednesday, April 12 and airs weekly on ABC TV: cafe culture. When we were all staring at our own four walls for months, Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane helped us to laugh about it — talking dishwashers, tea parties with the Queen of England, silly wi-fi names, Weird Al Yankovic and 'Morning Brown' sing-alongs included. Now, with stay-at-home orders relegated to the past, they've returned to make fun of one of the simplest reasons to go out that there is. During lockdowns and restrictions, how folks were allowed to patronise their local cafe, or not, was a frequent topic of conversation. It was also a bellwether for how strict the rules were at any given junction. Grabbing a cuppa is such an ordinary and everyday task, so much so that it was taken for granted until it was no longer an easy part of our routines. Unsurprisingly, now that caffeine fixes are back and brewing, Aunty Donna finds much to parody. With fellow group members Sam Lingham (a co-writer here), Max Miller (the show's director) and Tom Zahariou (its composer), Aunty Donna's well-known trio of faces set their new six-parter in the most obvious place they can: a Melbourne cafe called Morning Brown. The track itself doesn't get a spin, however, and neither does fellow fan favourite 'Everything's a Drum'. Indeed, the show's central piece of naming is its most expected move. As demonstrated in episodes that turn the cafe into a courtroom, ponder whether Broden might still be a child and riff on Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt's 1967 disappearance, nothing else about Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe earns that description. Pinballing in any and every direction possible has always been one of the Aussie comedy troupe's biggest talents, with their latest series deeply steeped — riotously, eclectically and entertainingly, too — in that approach. Anything can happen in this Mark-, Broden- and Zach-owned coffee house, and does, just as everything could and did when they were sharing a home on-screen. Of course, anything can occur when Aunty Donna are involved anyway — they recently played corpses revived from the dead in Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, and also released Aunty Donna's $30 bottle of wine and the Always Room for Christmas Pud picture book, after all. So, although Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe embraces its its sitcom packaging more heartily than Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun did, its main setting remains a backdrop and a launchpad for as many random skits as they can dish up. When that court takes over, for instance, Richard Roxburgh (Elvis) plays Rake, even though that's not his Rake character's name. In another episode, stanning Gardening Australia and skewering unreliable streaming services get ample attention, complete with jokes at ABC iView's expense. Elsewhere, bucks parties earn their own lampoon. So does the Is It Cake? trend, working in hospitality, shoddy landlords — a particularly timely topic during a cost-of-living crisis — and the nightmare that is dealing with real estate agents when you're a tenant. Gaming bars, kidulting, food reviews, restaurant theming: they're all thrown in as well. If it stems from the culinary and hospo world, Aunty Donna have likely touched upon it. In fact, Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe's debut episode begins with a pitch-perfect summary of cafe trends of late. The show's overall setup sees Mark, Broden and Zach desperate to make their laneway haunt a success, and determined not to let their lack of skills and experience get in the way. So, they survey all the current gimmicks, including axe-throwing, hurling abuse, selling vinyl and only serving cereal. They learn of spaces that devote their menus to popcorn and show a movie while it's consumed, and of spots to nab free books as you sip (and yes, the fact that these are just cinemas and libraries is the point). Playing fictionalised and heightened versions of themselves, Mark, Broden and Zach have a teenage employee, Stephanie (Gaby Seow, Young Rock), who is interviewed in the first instalment — which gives Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe's plenty of material about outlandish bosses. Sally-Anne (Sally-Anne Upton, Neighbours) is the resident chaotic landlord, while Michelle (Michelle Brasier, Why Are You Like This) is the kind of devoted customer that Morning Brown wants more of. With its key cast established, this is a workplace comedy, like everything from The Office, Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock to Party Down, Scrubs and Cheers before it. Swapping slinging beer and spirits for lattes and blueberry muffins, and keeping things on the lighter side of anarchic — although a recess skit gets dark, fast — Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe resembles an Australian spin on long-running absurdist great It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, too. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has aired 15 seasons now, becoming the longest-running American TV comedy, and also has at least three more to come. That's a feat achieved in no small part thanks to its ability to keep pouring out the most out-there, OTT, nonsense situations it can, and boasting the gamest of casts. Across their television slate, Aunty Donna share the same traits. They might be notching up their screentime across different shows, but they're having just as wild, uproarious, farcical and astute a time. So is the company that Mark, Broden and Zach keep here, spanning not only a committed Roxburgh, but also Miranda Tapsell (Christmas Ransom), Looking for Alibrandi's Pia Miranda making tomato day jokes, and everyone from Shaun Micallef and Tony Martin to Melanie Bracewell, Nazeem Hussain, Steven Oliver and Sam Pang. When Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun became one of 2020's best new shows, no one watched it a mere once. Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe demands the same response, with its gags flying so thick and fast that laughing at one joke or bit of banter usually means drowning out the next with your own chuckles. In any skit-heavy series, it's impossible to ensure that every single moment lands, but Aunty Donna's shows come I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson-level close. Maybe don't watch it on your phone in your local cafe, though — no matter how trendy it is, if it's in a laneway, whether it's open till 5pm, if there's a criminal trial going on inside or ghosts are haunting the place. Check out the trailer for Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe below: Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe streams via ABC iView, and also screens weekly on the ABC at 9pm from Wednesday, April 12. Images: Richard Lowe / Jackson Flinter / ABC.
Winter is here, meaning it's time to embrace all the stodgy carbs. And what better way to do that than with Eat Pierogi Make Love's bottomless pierogi deal? Every Monday night from now until the end of August, you can score two hours of unlimited Polish dumplings for a mere $39. There's no chance you'll be leaving hungry — trust us, you can get through a whole lot of pierogis in two hours. You'll be rotating through five different flavour combos throughout the night. On the menu, you'll find dumplings stuffed with potato and twaróg cheese, pan-fried mushroom and sauerkraut, beef and vegetables, smoked Polish sausage and cheese, and jalapeño, potato and vegan cheese. These bad boys will come out hot and fast, and are paired with sour cream and dill. And they're best paired with a cold beer, bottle of wine or cheeky shot of vodka. We can think of few better ways to spend a cold Monday night than at Eat Pierogi Make Love. Although, unlike the name suggests, we doubt you'll be up for making love after feasting on platefuls of dumplings. We expect dinner will be followed by a long TV bingeing session on the couch with lots of deep, slow breathing.
If you've got a hard earned thirst for some spiffy beer merch, the folks at Victoria Bitter have you covered — and that's been the case for a couple of years. Hankering not just for any old branded VB gear for your wardrobe, but for a retro knitted Christmas sweater? Then you'll be pleased to discover that the famed Carlton & United Breweries beer has just added a new woolly piece to its range. Called the Very Best Christmas Sweater, VB's new jumper looks exactly like you'd want a festive VB piece of apparel to look — and yes, it comes covered with stubbies and snowflakes. Naturally, it makes great use of the brand's red, green and white colour scheme, too. Indeed, the beer's logo has really just been screaming for the Christmas treatment. If you're eager to celebrate Christmas in July by sinking a few brews, you now have the perfect outfit for it. That said, only 500 will be available to purchase. The first 100 have already sold out after going on sale this week, but 400 more will be up for grabs — for $80 each — sometime in the week commencing July 13. Keep an eye on VB's 'Big Cold gear' website for further details. [caption id="attachment_775621" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Victoria Bitter[/caption] Also on offer: the rest of the brand's retro-styled collection, which nods firmly to the brew's lengthy history quenching the thirst of hardworking Aussies. There are crewneck jumpers, t-shirts, hoodies, beanies and caps, all emblazoned with that instantly recognisable logo. Alongside all the clothes, you'll also find VB jigsaw puzzles — plus glasses, water bottles, coolers, speakers, bar mats and even fridges. Victoria Bitter's 'Big Cold Gear' line is available for purchase online, including its Very Best Christmas Sweater. Top image: Victoria Bitter
Eye-catching and thought-provoking art has once again descended upon Sydney's coastline, with the 23rd Sculpture by the Sea exhibition kicking off today. Stretching along two kilometres from Bondi to Tamarama Beach, you'll find 111 sculptures from 19 countries. The exhibition is free, and you can catch it from October 24 through November 10. This year, you'll find sculptures by ten Czech and Slovak artists marking the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, a series of protests that led to the fall of communism in what was then Czechoslovakia, and the collaborative Succah by the Sea, which sets out to re-imagine the Jewish Festival of Succot. You'll also be able to hear directly from the artists every Saturday and Sunday. Among the 100-plus incredible installations, and the 450,000 people expected to visit the spectacle over the 18-day exhibition, it can be tricky to know where to look. And, considering this might be the last year Sculpture by the Sea is held in Bondi, it would be tragic if you missed any of the best pieces. Here are our pick for this year's highlights. [caption id="attachment_747672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] WANG KAIFANG: THE STATUE OF MAD LIBERTY Made of 24-karat gold (and copper and stainless steel, but that's not quite as fancy), Chinese artist Wang Kaifang's The Statue of Mad Liberty reflects the chaotic nature of the modern world. The distorted figure represents the way freedom fills us with joy, before the panic sets in. It is meant to encompass all that goes into society, humanity, science and art. The swirling gold piece sits well among the artist's numerous previous works — Kaifang is considered one of China's most influential cross-disciplinary artists, and while his portfolio covers everything from architecture and fashion, through to painting and photography, shimmering metallics and abstract shapes are recurring motifs. [caption id="attachment_747796" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] ANGELA FEMIA, CAROLYN HUNTER, PAULINE PLUMB AND CRISTINA HARRIS: OUT OF REACH This is an artwork you could easily miss or dismiss as part of the scenery on a particularly bright day, but we think it's one you should keep an eye out for. A team of four local artists — all graduates of the Sydney College of the Arts and regular collaborators — is responsible for these quaint ceramic houses, nestled among the rocks alongside the trail. The tiny white homes of all different shapes and sizes were inspired by the current nationwide angst about the unattainability of the Australian Dream — something a lot of millennials can certainly relate to. Artists Angela Femia, Carolyn Hunter, Pauline Plumb and Cristina Harris created Out of Reach as a playful take on the pursuit of that white picket fence. [caption id="attachment_747676" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] JOEL ADLER: VIEWFINDER Emerging Sydney designer Joel Adler wants you to look a little closer at the undercurrents and the impacts of constantly demanding more. From its spot on a cliff by Marks Park, Viewfinder reflects the whirling waves below using a toughened double-sided glass mirror, like a periscope. The weighted sculpture is made from weathered steel, creating a rather aesthetically pleasing contrast between the rust orange of the structure and the ocean blue beyond. The sculpture allows you to see parts of the waves below that you can't usually see from the path, which the artist hopes will make you consider the possibilities created by new perspectives and how we view our relationship with the land. [caption id="attachment_747679" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] JIAO XINGTAO: YELLOW AND GREEN Another installation that hits close to home is Jiao Xingtao's two-piece Yellow (2015) and Green (2012). While these sculptures are made from painted fibreglass, its easy to see why his work is known for being hyperrealistic — the tears, scrunches and ripples of discarded packaging are carefully replicated. Even for art novices, the screwed up packets of Wrigley's Doublemint and Juicy Fruit gum are a clear commentary on waste and consumerism. If you want to check out more of his work, Xingtao is currently exhibiting as part of White Rabbit Gallery's tenth birthday retrospective Then — here are our picks for that one, too. [caption id="attachment_747680" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] LUKÁŠ RITTSTEIN AND BARBORA SLAPETOVA: BIRD OF PARADISE A large steel bird, bright and vibrant, emerges from a car in a symbol of purity and an optimistic outlook for the future, from Czech artists Lukáš Rittstein and Barbora Slapetova. A melding of the technological and the natural world, Bird of Paradise and its brights colours are meant to make you want to dance, love and search for something new. This striking piece is part of a showcase of ten Czech and Slovak artists exhibiting at this year's event, in honour of the 30 years that have passed since the Velvet Revolution (known as the Gentle Revolution to the Slovaks), which saw the end of more than four decades of totalitarian communist oppression of Czechoslovakia. [caption id="attachment_747764" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clyde Yee[/caption] MORGAN JONES: THE SUN ALSO RISES New Zealand sculptor Morgan Jones is the recipient of the $70,000 Aqualand Sculpture Award for his piece The Sun Also Rises — so it's kind of a big deal. Made from weathering steel, the work is representative of the circular inevitability of our existence, designed to restate its rhythms. In that vein, Jones has referenced a quote from the book of Ecclesiastes, one of the books of the Old Testament, for the sculpture's title: "The sun also rises, and the sun goes down. And hastens to the place where it arose." It seems fitting to take it all in as the sun rises over the sea. Sculpture by the Sea runs until November 10. For more info, visit sculpturebythesea.com. Top images: Trent van der Jagt.
The average person spends eight hours a day looking at a screen. That's not just your laptop or television set but also the time you spend on your phone. Observe the number of people thumbing their smart phones on the evening bus, and it's easy to believe that a lot of people exceed that average eight hours on a regular basis. Now, instead of waxing poetical about how grim this is, and imploring you to run into the streets, pick wildflowers, and dance barefoot (all thoroughly recommended pursuits), it might be better to think about how to get the most out of your time spent with a screen. Because a lot of the time we read, and look, at crap: think of the number of times you’ve heard about Kate Middleton's boobs in the past couple of weeks, or watched a Gangnam Style parody (you know you have). Last year, Eli Pariser gave a TED talk in which he pointed out that web companies like Facebook and Twitter, in trying to tailor their services to you and your tastes, end up blocking out the information they think you don't want to know about. That means you get trapped inside what he calls a 'filter bubble'. If Facebook knows you're passionately involved in campaigning for gay marriage, for instance, you won't get information that's going to expose you to other arguments in your news feed. By the same token, if Facebook thinks you only want to hear about pop culture, you're not going to end up hearing much about asylum seekers. This means that, ultimately, because we never get information that challenges our worldviews, we end up in a bubble in which we hear the same messages and information over and over again. Unless we go looking elsewhere. These are the tips we discovered while trying to get out of our media ghetto and into the bright lights of the big media city. Tidy up your RSS feed and bookmarks If you use Google Reader, go through and see how many of those subscriptions add value to your life. Balance out what you get from The Sartorialist by subscribing to The Huffington Post, Jezebel, or McSweeney's. Thinking about spreading out your information — so it's not all stories from America — is also a good way to go: you want to know what’s happening around the corner as much as you want to know what’s happening in New York this weekend. (As people who keep an eye on what's happening locally, we unabashedly recommend subscribing to us.) Buy a newspaper or a magazine One of the best things about these old-fashioned things is that, while you can skim and skip pieces, what's inside them is curated by an editor. They also offer work that people have been paid to write, and that often produces more interesting and well-researched content. Aside from your average copy of the Sydney Morning Herald or the Age, and high-brow magazines like the Monthly and the New Yorker, magazines like Fantastic Man or The Gentlewoman offer quality journalism mixed in with the pretty pictures. Mag Nation is a good place to browse. Explore Filtering Services Filtering services like Prismatic and Bottlenose collate information from your social media activity and provide you with a unique and personal newsfeed. These things are great because they expand your horizons beyond just giving you what you want to hear. The top stories in my Prismatic feed, for instance, cover the US presidential election, architecture inspired by mathematics, and (I don't know what this says about me) a guide to the top 10 hipster neighbourhoods in the US. None of which I would have stumbled across all on my lonesome. Monitor Yourself Setting limits about how long you spend on networks is really important. You can leave Facebook or Twitter open all day, but that doesn't mean life will get any more interesting. Set rules for yourself about how long you're prepared to sit monitoring a feed. Wired has a pretty awesome graphic showing how you might spread out your screen time, but I would also recommend going for a walk or baking a cake to give your square-eyes a rest. Broaden Your Horizons We’re long past the days when social media meant Facebook alone. It's not uncommon now to meet somebody who would never dream of having a Facebook account but will actively encourage you to follow them on Tumblr, Twitter, and Instagram at once. Different mediums offer different things. Checking out sites like Pinterest and Reddit might broaden your horizons in ways you've never thought of before. Explore Overlaps Sometimes the lowbrow and the highbrow blend together in a beautiful dance. Superficial stories can blend in with serious issues. The most recent example of this is Chris Brown's new tattoo. While everyone can marvel over its similarity to that beaten-to-a-pulp image of Rhianna, it provokes more serious discussions about domestic violence and might elevate your thinking about the subject beyond the initial "oh no he didn't!". Upworthy Eli Pariser, the same guy who gave the aforementioned TED Talk, has since started a site designed to make important and compelling things as viral as videos of people planking. Designed to give you the tools and knowledge to make yourself a better and more aware human being, Upworthy is still in it's early stages but definitely worth checking out.
As both The Dry and Force of Nature: The Dry 2 demonstrated, Jane Harper's mysteries feel right at home on-screen. After the Australian author's first two Aaron Falk books made the leap to cinemas starring Eric Bana (Memoir of a Snail), and proved hits, of course more adaptations of her work were set to follow. The Survivors is next — first announced between The Dry and Force of Nature reaching picture palaces, heading to Netflix as a six-part limited series, and now officially joining your streaming queue at the beginning of June. The Survivors isn't linked to either Falk tale, so he isn't part of the narrative. Instead, the Tasmanian-set story follows families still coping with the loss caused by a massive storm in their seaside town 15 years earlier. Filmed in Tassie, too, it follows the aftermath of two people drowning and a girl going missing in Evelyn Bay, as the just-dropped trailer teases — and as viewers can watch in full from Friday, June 6, 2025. Tragedy isn't just in this coastal town's past, however. An incident like that is never forgotten. So, when a young woman's body is found on the beach, old wounds are unsurprisingly reopened. The series is pitched as both a murder-mystery and a family drama, and the sneak peek features elements of both. Cast-wise, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power's Charlie Vickers and Bridgerton season four's Yerin Ha play couple Kieran Elliott and Mia Chang, who return to their hometown. Also featuring: Damien Garvey (Nugget Is Dead?: A Christmas Story), Catherine McClements (Apple Cider Vinegar), Martin Sacks (Darby and Joan) and Robyn Malcolm (After the Party), plus Jessica De Gouw (The Union), Thom Green (Exposure), George Mason (Black Snow) and Shannon Berry (Fake). Filmmaker Tony Ayres is behind The Survivors' streaming adaptation, adding to fellow TV series Nowhere Boys, Glitch, Stateless, Clickbait and Fires on his resume — and Cherie Nowlan (The Irrational) both directs and executive produces, Ben C Lucas (Nautilus) also does the former and Harper the latter. The Survivors joins Netflix's slowly growing slate of Australian shows, which it has been growing since Tidelands became the first local production three years after the streaming service officially launched Down Under. Among the others: Heartbreak High, Wellmania, Boy Swallows Universe, Territory and Apple Cider Vinegar. Check out the trailer for The Survivors below: The Survivors streams via Netflix from Friday, June 6.
The Abbotsford Anglers are a lousy, Saturday morning, suburban cricket team, led by Ted (Stephen Curry), a sweet but kinda hopeless guy who lives in a mate's garage and works at a sports store. When his best mate, Rick (Brendan Cowell), announces his plans to marry and have children (which, to the boyish Ted, amounts to no less than treason), Ted can see his beloved cricket team will be overtaken by nappies, wives and all the other dreadful trappings of manhood. Oblivious to the inevitable fact that the times and the nature of his friendships are a-changing, Ted leads his D-grade team into the depths of India for a tour of glorified park cricket. It's here that tensions arise, friendships are frayed, life lessons are learned and Ted must finally man up, grow up and fondly leave his teenage dreams behind. Underlying all the beer and bravado, Save Your Legs! is about mateship and coming of age, with an affectionate portrait of everyday Aussie battlers that puts it in the same cinematic bracket as The Castle and Kenny. Cowell and Curry give endearing performances as man-boys who are forcefully and finally shoved out of adolescence and into adulthood at the ripe old age of thirty-five. As a lighthearted, nostalgia-drenched film, Save Your Legs! hits a six. Courtesy of Madman Entertainment, we have 15 complimentary in-season passes to give away to Save Your Legs, in cinemas February 28. To be in the running, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven't already) and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. You can read our full review here.
Brothers-in-law Frank Bressi and Peter Mastro took out a place in the 2012 Melbourne Salami Festa — and the rest was history. They opened their first Saluministi salumi bar in North Melbourne in 2015, and a bit of expansion and many signature porchetta panino later, the pair now has two stores, in Docklands and the CBD. Paying homage to the duo's shared heritage, Saluministi is all about celebrating proper Italian flavours, renowned for its stand-out offering of made-to-order panino and tramezzino (an Italian white bread sandwich). Come breakfast, the fillings might run to pork and fennel sausage with scrambled egg and peperonata ($11), or tomato with a fried egg, asiago and Sicilian oregano ($9). That legendary porchetta number is a clear favourite for lunch breakers, loaded with free-range slow-roasted pork, artichoke paste, rocket and Pecorino Romano DOP ($14). Though there are plenty more tempting options among the rest of the panini crew — like one teaming mortadella with stracciatella and green olives ($11.50); another starring baked eggplant lasagne ($14); and the fried calamari with lemon tartare and salsa verde ($13.50). Stay on theme and match your pick with an espresso, an Italian soda or the 'caffe freddo' ice coffee ($5.50). Appears in: Where to Find the Best Sandwiches in Melbourne for 2023
Post-pandemic, the remote work dream was simple: ditch the commute, work in pyjamas, maybe squeeze in a midday run or load of washing. But after a few years, it turns out working completely from home isn't all it's cracked up to be. It can be lonely, hard to switch off and, let's be honest, not always that productive. In fact, while 77% of employees say hybrid work improves their work-life balance, many also report the downsides: lack of social collaboration and feeling of disconnection between colleagues. It's no wonder coworking spaces are becoming more popular, and why small business owners and freelancers are trading in the dining table for a more functional, flexible setup. Enter: Servcorp. With 22 coworking spaces across Australia and Aotearoa, Servcorp blends the best of both worlds. The flexibility of working remotely, with the structure, community and premium amenities of a traditional office. The difference? You're not locked into a lease, stuck in a cubicle, or battling your cat for desk space. The Downside of Remote Work Remote work has its perks, but without structure, it's easy to spiral. One minute you're answering emails in bed, the next you haven't spoken to another human in three days. Add in the unreliable internet, lack of proper meeting rooms and the temptation of TikTok breaks, and suddenly "flexibility" starts feeling more like chaos. Coworking spaces fix that. You still get control over your schedule and the option to work from home when it makes sense for you, but you also gain a work environment that's purpose-built for productivity, collaboration and getting the job done. Work Life Balance That's Actually Balanced The biggest coworking myth? That it's just a room full of people on laptops not talking to each other. At Servcorp, it's designed to be the opposite. The spaces are intentionally built to support collaboration and real work-life balance, where you have a clean, quiet space to work and catch up with colleagues, and then can leave it all behind when you walk out the door. Servcorp's coworking packages include access to high-end meeting rooms, breakout spaces, premium espresso machines, and helpful reception teams to make the work day feel fun and restore home as a place you can actually relax in. More Just Than a Desk One thing that sets Servcorp apart is its top-tier infrastructure. You'll get fast, secure internet (the kind that doesn't crash mid-meeting), an in-house IT team that knows what they're doing, and a dedicated support crew to ensure everything runs smoothly. In other words, it's a workspace you can trust to back you up, whether presenting to a new client, launching your brand, or just trying to make it through Monday. A Community You'll Want to Be a Part Of Freelancers, solo founders and remote teams often say the same thing: it's hard to network when you're isolated at home. At a coworking space, you're automatically plugged into a community of like-minded people. There are regular networking events, shared lounges to casually chat with new people, and a built-in support system that doesn't feel forced or awkward. Collaboration is best when it happens organically: over coffee, in the lift, or while trying to work out how the printer works (some things never change). No Long-Term Lock Ins Whether you need a desk once a week, a few times a month, or Monday to Friday, Servcorp's flexible coworking and virtual office packages have you covered. It's ideal for growing businesses, startups and hybrid teams who want access to a professional space without the hassle and overheads of a traditional lease — plus, enjoy your first month free with no deposit. You can even choose your location — from a city-view suite in Melbourne's Collins Street to a harbourside spot in Circular Quay, or central locations in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and more. So if you are looking to level up your work life this new financial year, it might be time to retire the dining table. Servcorp gives you the facilities, community and freedom to take your work setup to the next level, without sacrificing the flexibility you've come to love. Servcorp has 22 premium coworking spaces across Australia and Aotearoa. Explore flexible packages and find your closest location on the Servcorp website. By Elise Cullen Images supplied by Servcorp
Punt Road Wines has established a new outpost in the Yarra Valley, opening a cellar door adjacent to the region's popular Meletos restaurant. The purpose-built venue, set between the vines and orchards, boasts sweeping views of the surrounds and gives day-trippers another reason to head to the Yarra Valley. The new cellar door, centred around a winery barrel hall, will showcase the quality of the vineyards through different immersive experiences. There will be behind-the-scenes winery visits, curated wine flights, and intimate tastings of limited-release and museum wines. The new cellar door will cement the estate, which includes the Meletos restaurant, The Farmhouse accommodation and the Il Massaggio Day Spa, as a must-visit destination in the Yarra Valley, as visitors can experience many of the region's highlights in one convenient location. And with Meletos about to welcome a new head chef, Maxwell Parlas (who knows a thing or two about the area, having spent time in the hatted Tarrawarra Estate kitchen nearby), guests will be welcomed with a fresh approach to dining. This venture honours the legacy of the site, which was once home to pioneering Yarra Valley vineyard, St Hubert's Winery, in its original iteration in the late 1800s. It now returns to its roots, as the Punt Road Wine owners, the Napoleone family, have been growing fruit in the area since 1948. Images: Supplied.
If you like your spirits dark and your booze collection could use a top-up, then we know an excellent Aussie choice to add to that shopping list. Melbourne distiller The Gospel just cleaned up in the 2023 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) earlier this week. The Brunswick-based producer took out a gold medal in the prestigious awards, earning a score of 96 points from the judges for its signature Straight Rye Whiskey. That impressive effort resulted in the sip being the highest-awarded Aussie whiskey in the entire competition. But wait, there's more. The Gospel's score also saw it become the equal second highest ranked rye whisky in the world. Not too shabby for a small distillery located in the backstreets of Melbourne's inner north. Judges described the drop as being "decadent and complex", noting: "the palate is harmonious and well-balanced, leading to a memorable finish." And it wasn't the only Gospel creation that impressed, with the team's Solera Rye Whiskey nabbing its own silver medal at the awards. This year's IWSC pulled more than 4100 entries from across the world, with more than 250 expert judges tasked with sipping, critiquing and awarding them. Thought to be Australia's only dedicated rye whiskey distillery, The Gospel crafts its booze using unmalted rye from just one farmer, who's located in South Australia's Murray Mallee region. It's helmed by Ian Thorn, the first maker in Australia to score Master Distiller accreditation. If you're keen to sample more of the distillery's work, The Gospel's also just dropped a new limited-edition cacao husk liqueur for Easter, made in collaboration with the chocolate masters at Mork. The Gospel Straight Rye Whiskey is available to buy from the website, as well as at select bottle shops across Australia.
From high speed car chases across the post-apocalyptic outback to heartbreaking tales of love and loss, 2015 was a pretty great year for Australian cinema. Films like Mad Max and The Dressmaker hit it big at the box-office, while Holding the Man and Last Cab to Darwin had people reaching for their handkerchiefs. Throw in a couple of strong documentaries in the form of Gayby Baby and That Sugar Film, along with crowd-pleasing family fare like Oddball and Paper Planes, and it seems like local audiences are finally coming around to the idea that movies made in Australia can be every bit as good as those made overseas. Of course, in order to keep up that positive perception, the local film industry needs to keep making great films. Luckily, it looks like they're up to the challenge. We've already given you our list of our most anticipated international efforts, but now, here are the ten Australian films you need to see in 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSse2RIapEA THE DAUGHTER The debut film from theatre director Simon Stone (adapted from his own critically acclaimed stage play), The Daughter arrives in cinemas following great reviews at a number of local and international film festivals last year. A reworking of Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck, this nuanced family drama concerns a man, played by Paul Schneider, who returns to the small logging town where he grew up, only to uncover a secret that could tear the lives of his friends and family apart. With Geoffrey Rush, Ewen Leslie, Miranda Otto and Sam Neill, it might have the best cast of any Australian film this year. The Daughter is due in cinemas on March 17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn2vfS6bbK0 SHERPA Anyone who saw Everest might think they have an idea of what it's like to climb the world's tallest mountain. But as this eye-opening documentary from filmmaker Jennifer Peedom reveals, you only know a fraction of the story. Sherpa shows the efforts of the native mountain guides, who risk life and limb in order to get foreign visitors to the summit. Over the course of a season, tension begins to brew between the locals, the tourists and the companies that facilitate the climbs, before finally boiling over in the wake of a deadly avalanche. A powerful, troubling film — it's of the best things we caught at last year's Sydney Film Festival, and an absolute must see in 2016. Sherpa is due in cinemas on March 24. DOWN UNDER A comedy about the Cronulla race riots? It's safe to say Down Under could either be brilliant or a total disaster. Director Abe Forsythe appears to be deliberately courting controversy — not that there's anything wrong with that, per se. With racism and Islamophobia still major issues in this country, a dark comedy that tears into good old Aussie jingoism could be exactly what the doctor ordered. Of course, satire is a tricky thing — and easy to muck up. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Down Under is due in cinemas on August 4. 2:22 Between Predestination, The Infinite Man and the recent remake of Patrick, it's been a good few years for homegrown science fiction. Continuing this trend (we hope) is Paul Currie's 2:22, an American-Australian co-production in which a man is forced to relive the same day over and over, always ending when the clock hits — you guessed it — 2.22pm. Game of Thrones actor Michiel Huisman stars alongside Australia's own Teresa Palmer. Imagine Groundhog Day remade as a psychological thriller, and you'd be roughly on the right track. 2:22 is due in cinemas in 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-98kUEnkxHM DOWNRIVER Writer-director Grant Scicluna's feature film debut was one of the most buzzed about local films at last year's Melbourne Film Festival. Reef Ireland (Puberty Blues) plays James, a young man recently released from prison after serving time for his involvement in the drowning of a small boy. Looking for redemption, James sets out to recover the boy's body, only to find himself in danger when it becomes clear that his accomplices would rather the past remain buried. Downriver looks grim and compelling in equal measure, and could well mark the emergence of a promising new Australian film talent. Downriver is due in cinemas in 2016. THE FAMILY This upcoming documentary, from director Rosie Jones, promises to pull back the curtain on Australia's most notorious cult. For three decades between the 1960s and 1990s, Anne Hamilton-Byrne led a group of devoted followers as the head of a sect known as The Family. Controlling her disciples, including a host of "adopted" children, through a mix of physical abuse and mind-altering drugs, Hamilton-Byrne convinced cult members she was the reincarnation of Jesus, before their compound was eventually raided by police. It's a story made all the more troubling for having taken place in our own backyard. The Family is due in cinemas in 2016. GOLDSTONE Actor Aaron Pedersen and filmmaker Ivan Sen are reuniting for a sequel/spin-off to their masterful outback thriller Mystery Road. Pederson returns as Indigenous detective Jay Swan, who finds himself in the eponymous town of Goldstone while investigating a missing persons case, only to find himself caught up in a web of crime and corruption. He'll be joined in front of the camera by two-time Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver, veteran Indigenous actors David Gulpilil and Tom E. Lewis, and Hong Kong martial arts star Cheng Pei-pei. If it's half as good as Mystery Road it'll be a contender for best film of the year. Goldstone is due in cinemas in 2016. JASPER JONES The new film from Bran Nue Dae director Rachel Perkins, Jasper Jones is an adaptation of Craig Silvey's award winning novel, described by at least one reviewer as Australia's To Kill a Mockingbird. Set in the fictional WA town of Corrigan in the mid 1960s, the film tells the story of 13-year-old Charlie Bucktin who befriends the eponymous Jasper Jones, a half-white, half-indigenous boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Toni Collette, Hugo Weaving and Dan Wyllie are set to co-star, although it's the younger cast members who will ultimately make or break the film. Jasper Jones is due in cinemas in 2016. LION Adapted from Hobart man Saroo Brierley's best-selling memoir, Lion stars Dev Patel as a young man who was adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham) as a child, who travels to India to try and track down his biological family. Rooney Mara co-stars, along with a number of high-profile Indian actors, giving this cross-cultural drama a real shot at international success. The film marks director Garth Davis' first feature film, following on from strong work on Top of the Lake. Lion is due in cinemas in 2016. NEST We've got two words for anyone who thinks Australian films are serious and boring: giant bloody spiders. Okay, so that's technically three words, but you get what we're trying to say. A Chinese-Australian co-production directed by Kimble Rendall — the same guy behind the wonderfully schlocky sharks in a supermarket movie Bait — this 3D creature feature stars Kellan Lutz, Kelsey Grammar, Shane Jacobson and Li Bingbing as a group of scientists who become lost in a labyrinth full of enormous, man-eating funnel web spiders. Leave your scaredy-cat friends at home. Nest is due in cinemas in 2016.
The Northcote Social Club is a veteran of the Melbourne music scene, and like many classic venues of yore, it's had a few little facelifts over the years. Gone is the faded glory of an ageing Aussie pub — though the interior has retained its old-school warmth with polished floorboards and wooden accents, elegant lighting and young, heart-leafed philodendrons curling up sparse metal grates. There's still ample seating for eating, drinking and people-watching available in the front bar and deck, while the gig room is still as large and magnificent as always. Some things may never change, but the menu is not one of them. Northcote Social Club has done what we wish all venues would do, which is ensure the face-stuffing-before-the-cab-ride portion of the evening can happen right after the band finishes without the fuss of leaving the building. Share a bunch of mezzes with your mates — olives, housemade dips and croquettes — before jumping on the extensive burger and sandwich train. Alternatively, get around pub classics like steak and chips, parmas, sausages and mash and a heap of vegetarian and vegan friendly options. Deals also abound at Northcote Social Club —as they should at any good Melbourne pub. Monday nights are cosmo and parma nights. Wednesdays are for pies and pots. Thursdays are all about steaks. And the Sunday roasts are some of the top in town — best paired with a few rounds of Bloody Marys. This haunt still focuses on hosting great live gigs, but it's no longer the only reason to visit. You can easily visit Northcote Social Club for food and booze only, and be a very happy camper. Appears in: The Best Pubs in Melbourne for 2023
Move over, every cooking show ever made — and every hotel-based reality TV series as well. If there's ever been an ideal setting for any culinary feat or holiday highlights, it's Castello di Ugento in the southern tip of Puglia in Italy. It's not every day that you get to stay in a 1000-year-old castle that was once a Norman fortress and a lavish 17th century palace, let alone cook up a storm in one, but that's just what the site now offers. After its latest revamp, Castello di Ugento now boasts welcoming a luxe place to stay thanks to a nine-suite boutique hotel, a 1000-square-metre museum wing with restored frescoes, and an extensive culinary centre as well. It's the latter that should entice foodies from around the world, playing permanent host to an Italian cookery school in the castle's old storehouse. State-of-the-art equipment sits inside ancient, lovingly restored walls, with classes offered year-round — on an educational basis for students from the Culinary Institute of America as part of a semester abroad, and for hotel guests. House chef Odette Fada, other well-known chefs and local nonnas all impart their wisdom, spanning cutting-edge techniques and traditional, generations-old family recipes alike. Proving the type of place dreams are made of — because we all fantasise about spending warm Italian summers cooking, lazing about in luxury and roaming through scenic greenery, don't we? — the castle also features a working 17th-century kitchen garden, complete with over 100 kinds of herbs, fruit trees and vegetables, as well as event facilities. In the near future, visitors will also be able to enjoy wine tastings in a 500-year-old cisterna, or spend the night at a nearby restored farmhouse, which has its own pool, tennis court and fruit garden on site. For more information, visit the Castello di Ugento website. Images: Castello di Ugento.
For its latest celebration of both movies and music, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is going back ... to one of the best films of the 80s and one of the best time travel films in general. Hop on your skateboard or in your DeLorean, then head to Hamer Hall (at less than 88 miles per hour, of course). For three days in October, the venue is hosting another classic flick brought back to the big screen while the feature's score gets MSO's live orchestral treatment: Back to the Future. It's enough to make you exclaim "great Scott!", which is actually something you'll probably be doing once you're there — especially given that the 1985 film's original score by Alan Silvestri (Pinocchio) is gaining some extra music. Around 20 minutes of new tunes by Silvestri himself have been added to the lineup only for these shows. So, no matter how many puffy vest and self-lacing shoes you own (or wish you did), you'll be experience something that you haven't while previously watching the Michael J Fox (The Good Fight)-starring hit. MSO is busting out the flux capacitor for three gigs across Wednesday, October 23–Friday, October 25, 2024, each starting at 7.30pm, with Benjamin Northey conducting. The Back to the Future in Concert screenings join the orchestra's lineup alongside already-announced sessions of The Man From Snowy River in August, Home Alone in December and Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens in May 2025. If you've been living in 1955 or 1855 and are somehow new to all things Back to the Future, the Oscar-winning film — for Best Sound Effects Editing — follows high-schooler Marty McFly (Fox) when he hops back 30 years from the mid-80s to the mid-50s. His journey into the past comes courtesy of a time-travelling version of the most-famous gull-winged vehicle that now exists in pop culture, which is the creation of scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd, Hacks). But returning home to his own time, and doing so without causing chaos with the space-time continuum — including with younger versions of his parents — isn't straightforward. Fox was already a star when the OG Back to the Future initially hit cinemas thanks to Family Ties but, as 2023 documentary Still: A Michael J Fox Movie stepped through, the Robert Zemeckis (The Witches)-directed movie took his fame up a level. Then 1989's Back to the Future Part II and 1990's Back to the Future Part III swiftly followed. Silvestri mightn't have nabbed an Academy Award nomination or win for his Back to the Future score; however, he picked up two for a couple of other Zemeckis-helmed features: Forrest Gump and The Polar Express. Check out the trailer for Back to the Future below: Back to the Future in Concert will take place between Wednesday, October 23–Friday, October 25, 2024 at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Southbank. Tickets are on sale from 10am on Thursday, July 4 — head to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra website for more details.
Melbourne's skyline is now a little bit greener, following the launch of a new rooftop garden set atop East Melbourne's Treasure Theatre building. The design is a case study for the Green Our Rooftop project, which aims to drastically increase the green infrastructure in our city by 2050. A $2.5 million partnership between the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Government and Melbourne Water, the Treasury Place proof-of-concept hopes to inspire developers, businesses and private owners alike to adopt green spaces citywide. The rooftop garden was designed with low-maintenance, hard-to-kill and climate-resilient plants in mind; think succulents, herbs and native grasses. The space also provides a haven for bees, birds and other urban fauna, as well as reduces energy costs by cooling the building and minimising stormwater runoff. The Green Our Rooftop project highlights the potential of Melbourne's unused rooftops to transform the cityscape by showcasing a retrofit design on an existing building. The program also plans to attract more green spaces on private properties, with owners encouraged to apply for City of Melbourne's matched-funding grants via the Urban Forest Fund. Following the announcement of the project in May 2019, the rooftop underwent several years of planning, research and design before launching in February 2025. As part of the planning, the government worked with industry practitioners and researchers to undergo a thorough assessment of planting mixes, green roof systems, planting installation methods and maintenance inputs. The Treasury Place namesake will be monitored by University of Melbourne researchers, in order to form a better understanding of the most effective methods for designing and building cost-effective, impactful green rooftops going forward. "With massive greening and cooling potential, we hope the Green Our Rooftop project will lay the groundwork for retrofitting existing buildings and integrating green roofs into new developments – following the success seen in cities like New York, Singapore and Munich," says Lord Mayor Nick Reece. The Green Our Rooftop garden is now open at 1 Treasury Place, East Melbourne. For more information, visit the City of Melbourne website. Images: City of Melbourne.
Just when you thought drowsy Sunday afternoon grill-ups couldn’t possibly get any more deliciously lazy, Lynx comes up with a voice-activated barbecue, aka Smart Grill. That’s right, all you have to do now is kick back on your banana lounge and tell the barbie how you want your steak done. Well, that’s a slight exaggeration. But the MyChef interface promises to take a whole chunk of guesswork out of the process. No more black-on-the-outside-scary-pink-on-the-inside culinary disasters. Instead, the system links you to an online database providing all the information necessary for grilling perfection. Simply answer a couple of questions and MyChef advises you on the big decisions — when to turn, when to season and when to call it. At this stage, you'll have to stop resting on your laurels and do some flipping, salting and peppering, but the voice-controlled system does have the power to take care of other major jobs, such as getting the burners to optimum temperature. Plus, MyChef can keep you informed of developments via text messages and audiovisual cues through the companion app, so you can hang out by the pool, mix some cocktails and see to your guests without having to worry about messing up the steaks. And, just in case you indulge in one too many mojitos, misplace your phone and forget all about your feast, there’s an automatic safety shutdown mechanism. Having previewed at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Smart Grill is currently in prototype stage. Lynx is hoping to have it on the market next year. ViaGizmag.
When the first motion pictures flickered across the big screen 120-plus years ago, audiences were reportedly scared. The line between truth, embellishment and fiction has become muddled over time, but the idea viewers were astonished and startled when they watched the Lumière brothers' famous The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station makes one hell of an urban legend. That was back in 1896. As we know all these years later, cinema hasn't stopped causing bumps and jumps since. The world's first horror film is thought to have released the same year — Georges Méliès' three-minute short called The House of the Devil — and plenty of folks have taken his lead afterwards. Today, that means horror's on-screen cup truly runneth over. Thanks to streaming, a wealth of unnerving flicks linger at everyone's fingertips. If you prefer celebrating Halloween by dimming the lights, popping some corn and getting cosy on the couch for a marathon of unsettling movies, we've put together ten classic recommendations — from creepy vampire films that are almost a century old to more modern must-sees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hQ40cI5C0E NEAR DARK Before she took Keanu Reeves surfing in Point Break, tasked Jeremy Renner with defusing bombs in The Hurt Locker and dramatised the international manhunt for Osama bin Laden in Zero Dark Thirty — and before she became the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar, too — Kathryn Bigelow sunk her teeth into the vampire genre. Near Dark, her 1987 sophomore film, takes elements of the western genre, throws in a clan of roving bloodsuckers and lets atmospheric horror thrills ensue. Bigelow's work has always been lean but weighty, and her dance with the fanged undead is no different. In fact, it's a flat-out vamp classic. Near Dark is available to stream on SBS On Demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5SG_2n4sM TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME As 2017's Twin Peaks revival proved, no one conjures up unsettling imagery quite like David Lynch. He's been thrusting eerie visuals out into the world since 1977's Eraserhead — but if you like your Lynchian unease with some damn fine coffee and a slice of cherry pie, there's nothing better than 1992's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Set in the lead-up to Laura Palmer's (Sheryl Lee) death, the prequel flick burrows deep into the sinister forces at play. It's a movie of sheer dread, even though viewers know what's going to happen. As only he can, Lynch steeps every frame in the pain, terror and suffering of his doomed protagonist, all while baking in his usual surrealist touches. No wonder it lingers long after watching, like the two seasons of Twin Peaks before it and the belated third season that followed 25 years later. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is available to stream on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyW5YXDcIGs THE EXORCIST Back in 1973, the horror genre was possessed — and it has never truly recovered. That's not a criticism; The Exorcist is a landmark piece of spine-tingling cinema, with William Friedkin's film leaving a heavy imprint on everything that's followed. It even became the first horror flick to score an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, a feat that's still much more rare than it should be. When a movie spends the bulk of its time with a 12-year-old girl (Linda Blair) whose body has been overtaken by a demon, as well as with the two priests (Max von Sydow and Jason Miller) trying to cast the devil out and save her soul, it's going to make an impact. The fact that the film was based on a William Peter Blatty novel inspired by real-life exorcisms also helped, as did Friedkin's handling of Blatty's script, which gives the supernatural details a raw, visceral feel. The Exorcist is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-daIHTY4NQ BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER How funky is your chicken? How loose is your goose? And, to keep the questions going, how well do you remember the original Buffy? Before Sarah Michelle Gellar stepped into her shoes in the cult TV show, everyone's favourite vampire slayer shouted the above cheers, took guidance from Donald Sutherland, battled Rutger Hauer and romanced Luke Perry in the 1992 big-screen comedy. The Joss Whedon-scripted flick still takes its premise seriously, but there's a looser vibe to the movie than the television series. And a thoroughly early 90s vibe, as well. While you're enjoying the undead-killing antics, keep an eye out for everyone from Hilary Swank to Thomas Jane and Ben Affleck among the cast, too. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream on Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmvQ_ii42mc HALLOWEEN This time last year, the latest Halloween film hit cinemas. In 2020 and 2021, sequels Halloween Kills and then Halloween Ends will reach the big-screen in late October. But, when it comes to the absolutely best franchise for this time of year, 2019 is unfortunately an anomaly. While Michael Myers isn't terrorising a theatre near you at this very moment, John Carpenter's original 1979 flick is always worth revisiting — in the slasher-thriller realm, it's an utter masterclass. From Jamie Lee Curtis' pitch-perfect performance as formidable babysitter Laurie Strode, to the pervasive air of unease looming over suburbia and Carpenter's own exceptionally unnerving score, the original Halloween is both supremely scary and sublime. Halloween is available to stream from the Apple Store. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJew_11l6n8 HOUSEBOUND Scaring cinemagoers while simultaneously making them laugh isn't as easy as it might sound. Plenty of films call themselves horror-comedies, but they're usually just comedies with horror theming — and they're about as sinister as clown without makeup. While 2014 New Zealand picture Housebound falls into the tried-and-tested sub-genre that is haunted house flicks, writer/director Gerard Johnstone finds the ideal balance between spooks and giggles, all by following a small-time criminal placed on house arrest. Kylie (Morgana O'Reilly) would rather be anywhere but stuck at home for eight months with her mother (Rima Te Wiata); however she soon discovers that they have company in a movie that serves up jumps and chuckles in tandem. Housebound is available to stream on SBS On Demand and Tubi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NOipA99GxY NOSFERATU It's the best Dracula film that doesn't actually mention the word "Dracula". In fact, when FW Murnau adapted Bram Stoker's gothic classic in 1922 without getting permission to do so, a court ordered that the movie be destroyed. Thankfully, a few prints survived, which is how we can still soak in the wonders of Nosferatu. Even with a few changes (the famed bloodsucker is now called Count Orlock, for example) the story lures viewers in, but it's not just the plot that's captivating. As proves the case with all German Expressionist cinema from the 1920s, it's how the tale is told in a visual sense that makes an enormous impact. Also significant today, almost a century later, is how free Nosferatu is from everything that's since become a vampire cliche — with the film cutting to the heart of Stoker's disquieting narrative instead. Nosferatu is available to stream on Tubi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyWuHv2-Abk TRAIN TO BUSAN Forget Snakes on a Plane — if you want to see what happens when something scary is let loose in a confined space, but you don't want to cringe the whole time, opt for zombies on a train instead. Yeon Sang-ho's instant classic doesn't use the obvious moniker; however this frenetic thrill ride definitely fits the description. It's far, far better than that simplistic outline might seem to suggest, though. As well as forcing a father (Gong Yoo) and daughter (Kim Su-an) to fend off the shuffling hordes while they're in mid-transit, and fleshing its protagonists out more than most zombie flicks manage, Train to Busan also paints a probing picture of modern-day South Korean society. It's part of a franchise, too, with animated prequel Seoul Station exploring another aspect of the outbreak, and a sequel is also in the works. Train to Busan is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWin2LZkvrA THE CRAFT Is a horror classic really a horror classic if it hasn't spawned a remake? In The Craft's case, no one will need to ponder this question for much longer. A new version is currently in the works, but that doesn't mean that the 90s original is going anywhere — and if you like your retro horror fun packaged with teen goth witches, then you'll always want to go back to where it all began. Starring Neve Campbell, Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk and Rachel True, the 1996 hit charts the fallout when a group of high-schoolers start messing around with the occult and using it to rule the school. It owes a significant debt to Heathers, just with added witches, but The Craft still casts its own enjoyable spell. The Craft is available to stream on on Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7hLdktC_jY THE STUFF If you ever come across a gooey substance on the ground, don't eat it. Things don't turn out well when this exact scenario happens in 1985 satirical horror/sci-fi The Stuff — especially after the titular substance is sold in supermarkets, marketed as being calorie-free and starts a huge food craze. Where it goes from there is best discovered by watching, but don't expect anything in the way of subtlety or realism. Larry Cohen sits in the director's chair, and this is the kind of playful horror fun that the prolific B-movie filmmaker was known for. Everyone needs their spooks with a dose of silliness now and then, after all. The Stuff is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
As a generation, we've watched the internet emerge from its fledgling beginnings to its modern state, where nearly a third of Earth's population is logged on. In mere decades, the internet has gone from nonexistent to a necessity. We are a population obsessed. And then came Facebook. The ever-expanding social network debuted in 2004, turning us all into Facebook-stalkers and using up any free time we had left. It's hard to remember the internet before Facebook, let alone any of the computer technology of yesteryear. Squirrel Monkey's video tutorial, which imagines Facebook if it had been designed in the 1990s, will bring you right back to the horrendous colour graphics and primitive Windows versions of the technology's start. The video, a humourous how-to, takes a new user through the nuances of "the Facebook". The concept of Facebook, set against the simplistic '90s graphics, suddenly seems very ridiculous. And perhaps that is just the point. The subsequent videos, which imagine Twitter in the '80s and Draw Something as an old PC game, similarly put social media into perspective, reminding us not to take our status updates and tweets all too seriously. https://youtube.com/watch?v=xrYRH3PYYT0 [via Flavorwire]
When the Victorian Government last year announced a huge new citywide arts festival was set to launch in winter 2020, they didn't expect it to fall in the middle of a global pandemic. As that is what happened, though, the new annual festival — merging Melbourne International Arts Festival and arts all-nighter White Night — will not go ahead this year, with the inaugural festival now set to take over Melbourne in 2021. Called Rising, it'll kick off on the May 26 full moon and run until June 6, 2021, encouraging the audience to "celebrate the night with a surge of art, music and ceremony in the heart of the city". Pulling the strings are co-Artistic Directors Gideon Obarzanek and Hannah Fox, who are both practising artists and former Artistic Associates of Melbourne Festival. Fox was also the Creative Director at Tasmania's winter festival Dark Mofo, while Obarzanek founded dance company Chunky Move and was a resident artist at the Sydney Theatre Company. [caption id="attachment_770990" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chinatown at night courtesy of the City of Melbourne[/caption] As this year's festival cannot go ahead, Fox and Obarzanek have instead announced a $2 million fund for local artists to create shows, exhibitions and events for 2021's program. And the duo are encouraging ideas that are as boundary-pushing as possible. "Rather than prescribing specific outcomes, we are seeking ideas that are ambitious, unusual and that could only happen in a festival context," explained Obarzanek in a statement. "Whether these respond to the times or reach beyond them, we invite ideas that are radical and critical; ideas that are absurd and bombastic; ideas that are contemplative and philosophical; and ideas that are celebratory and unifying." Victorian artists have until Monday, June 8 to submit their idea and bid for a piece of the $2 million pie, via a 300-word or two-minute video proposal. While details about this year's festival — and next year's program — are fairly under wraps for now, The Age reported leaks suggesting the 2020 lineup would've included transforming Chinatown "into a 'sensory wonderland' of lighting, video art and music, open late into the night" and a 400-metre light installation on the Yarra River. Rising is set to support Victoria's tourism and hospitality industries in the quieter months and, no doubt, provide a Melbourne equivalent to Sydney's popular Vivid festival, Rising will take place in Melbourne from May 26–June 6 2021. Top image: 'A Purple Poem for Miami' by Judy Chicago.
More than three decades since it was first published, the Watchmen series of comics is still considered one of the all-time greats of the medium. Brought to the page by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons, the premise says plenty: in an alternative version of the world we all live in, superheroes definitely exist — but their presence has drastically altered history. Here, the Cold War turned out differently, caped crusaders largely work for the government and anyone else enforcing law and order while wearing a costume has been outlawed. Now, imagine that tale told with a satirical edge that deconstructs the superhero phenomenon, and you can see why it has hordes of devotees. Back in 2009 when comic book flicks were just starting to pick up steam — and when 22-film franchises were a mere dream — Watchmen was turned into a movie by Zack Snyder (who was fresh from 300, but hadn't made the jump to Batman v Superman or Justice League yet). Sequels clearly didn't follow; however, HBO is now hoping that the story will flourish on the small screen, enlisting Lost and The Leftovers co-creator Damon Lindelof to make it happen. Obviously, with Game of Thrones finishing, the network is in the market for a new pop culture phenomenon. This isn't just a straight adaptation. Apparently the series "embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own," according to HBO. An exact release date hasn't yet been revealed, other than fall in the US (aka spring in Australia and New Zealand) — but if you can't wait until then, HBO has dropped the first teaser for the new series. It's your first chance to catch a glimpse of the show's stacked cast, which includes Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, this year's Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner Regina King, Hong Chau, Louis Gossett Jr and Aussie actress Adelaide Clemens. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zymgtV99Rko Watchmen will air on HBO in the second half of the year, with an exact release date yet to be announced. We'll keep you updated — including about air dates Down Under.
It seems a pretty hard task to follow Hannah Gadsby's international smash-hit show, Nanette. After all, the one-woman stand-up performance copped serious praise on its 18-month travels across Australia and the UK, even scooping the top honours at both the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It also spawned its very own Netflix special. And when Gadsby used the show to announce she was quitting comedy for good, we thought that was it. But indeed, the beloved Aussie comedian gave the follow-up a red hot crack when she returned to the stand-up stage with her latest work, Douglas, named after her own pet pooch. While Nanette pulled apart the concept of comedy itself, dishing up an insight into Gadsby's past, Douglas takes you on a "tour from the dog park to the renaissance and back". Gadsby took Douglas to stages across Australia and New Zealand in late 2019 and early 2020, and now, to the delight of house-bound people across the world, is bringing it to Netflix next month. Available to stream globally from Tuesday, May 26, the show will bring us all some much-needed comic relief. As Gadsby says: "mark it in your socially-distant calendars...then wash your hands". https://twitter.com/Hannahgadsby/status/1249668347693654019 Hannah Gadsby's 'Douglas' will be available to stream globally on Netflix from Tuesday, May 26.
It's the best way to feel like you're at one of the world's top music festivals without physically being there, and it's back for 2025: the Coachella livestream. When the world's eyes turn to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California for six days each April, it isn't just folks on the ground that are paying attention. Courtesy of the fest's partnership with YouTube, everyone can stream along. Wondering when to watch? Enter this year's set times. For 2025, Coachella has made a change — or, another one, after revealing its lineup earlier than usual when it dropped in late 2024. With who'll be taking to the stage when, the festival is letting you plan ahead, unveiling both weekends' rosters at once rather than week by week. [caption id="attachment_980914" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Flickr[/caption] Accordingly, you can now plot out how to work in Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone's headlining sets into your diary across Saturday, April 12–Monday, April 14 and Saturday, April 19–Monday, April 21 Down Under — and when you can catch Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Scott, The Prodigy, Kraftwerk, Kneecap, Benson Boone, Basement Jaxx, The Go-Go's, Djo, Miike Snow, T-Pain, Jimmy Eat World, Beth Gibbons, Amyl and the Sniffers, and plenty more as well. The fest's set times have come with a few lineup amendments, however, with FKA twigs no longer playing the event on either weekend. Instead, Weezer has joined the bill for the first three-day run for 2025, while Ed Sheeran is doing the same the following week. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) Coachella was livestreaming its sets long before the pandemic — and while beaming festivals to the world is no longer such a novelty, the calibre of the event's lineup means that it's still a mighty fine way to spend a weekend or two. The festival also has a new Coachella livestream app for this year, which lets you see the full livestream schedule, set reminders for your favourites, then watch the highlights afterwards. [caption id="attachment_912640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hunter Kahn via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] [caption id="attachment_975321" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Harley Weir[/caption] [caption id="attachment_994173" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Flickr[/caption] Coachella 2025 runs from Friday, April 11–Sunday, April 13 and Friday, April April 18–Sunday, April 20 — which is Saturday, April 12–Monday, April 14 and Saturday, April 19–Monday, April 21 Down Under — at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, and livestreams via YouTube across the same dates. Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
On-screen, Ali Wong doesn't let go of grudges easily, at least in Beef. In rom-com Always Be My Maybe, she's also been romanced by Keanu Reeves. Tuca & Bertie had her voice an anthropomorphic song thrush, while Big Mouth sent her back to middle school. The American actor and comedian's next project: her current stand-up comedy tour, which has just locked in Down Under dates. Wong is presently working her way across the US and Canada, has also hit up London and Paris, and will head to Australia and New Zealand in July 2024. She's announced four dates, kicking off in Auckland, then jumping over to Melbourne. From there, she'll work her way up the east coast, next hitting up Sydney before wrapping up in Brisbane. Bringing her Ali Wong: Live tour this way comes after a massive 12 months for Wong. It was back in early April 2023 that Beef arrived, getting audiences obsessed and sparking plenty of accolades coming Wong's way. She won Best Actress Emmy, Golden Globe, Film Independent Spirt and Screen Actors Guild awards for playing Amy Lau, who has a carpark altercation with Danny Cho (Steven Yeun, Nope) that neither can let go of — and that changes both of their lives. The series itself, on which Wong was also an executive producer, has earned just as much love — including the Emmy for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television; Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series under 40 minutes; Film Independent Spirt Award for Best New Scripted Series; and PGA for Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television. [caption id="attachment_893741" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023[/caption] Behind the microphone, Wong's comedy career dates back almost two decades, including three Netflix stand-up specials: 2016's Baby Cobra, 2018's Hard Knock Wife and 2022's Don Wong. And, as an author, Wong also has 2019's Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life to her name. [caption id="attachment_946689" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Always Be My Maybe[/caption] Ali Wong: Live Tour Dates — Australia and New Zealand 2024: Monday, July 8 — The Civic, Auckland Thursday, July 11 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne Friday, July 19 — ICC Theatre, Sydney Monday, July 22 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Ali Wong is touring Down Under in July 2024, with presale tickets available from 9am on Wednesday, March 20 and general sales from 9am local time on Friday, March 22 — head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023.
Elisabeth Moss has been on our screens for more than three decades, dating back to when she was just eight years old — and she's amassed an enviable resume that spans everything from The West Wing and Mad Men through to Girl, Interrupted and The French Dispatch over that time. But of late, from Jane Campion's Top of the Lake onwards, the two-time Emmy-winner has been loving thrillers. So, it should come as no surprise that her latest series falls firmly within the genre. Joining Moss' resume after The Handmaid's Tale, Queen of Earth, High-Rise, Us, Shirley and The Invisible Man, Shining Girls sees the acclaimed actor play the victim of a violent attack — a traumatic assault that saw her character, Kirby Mazrachi, put her plans to be a journalist on hold. Now, she's a newspaper archivist in Chicago, but her old terrors and dreams both get pushed to the fore when she hears about a new murder with similarities to her own incident. Soon, she's teaming up with experienced reporter Dan Velazquez (Wagner Moura, Narcos) to hunt down the culprit. That's just part of the new Apple TV+ show's setup, however. Also a key aspect of the story, as the just-dropped trailer shows: a blurring of reality, which unsurprisingly gets in the way of Kirby's quest. In the first sneak peek, she thinks she has a cat, then suddenly she has a pet dog instead — and that's just the beginning of the tale's mind-bending chaos. Where the show goes from there will start to be revealed from Friday, April 29, with the first three episodes dropping all at once, then future instalments arriving weekly. And if it all sounds familiar, that's probably because you've read Lauren Beukes' best-selling novel of the same name. Moss executive produces as well, and is also joined on-screen by Phillipa Soo (Hamilton), Amy Brenneman (Goliath) and Jamie Bell (Rocketman). Of course, the latter has been part of the film and TV landscape since he was a kid, too. Here, though, in a trailer that's both twisty and eerie — and instantly gripping — he looks worlds removed from Billy Elliott. Been obsessing over Apple TV+'s exceptional Severance lately? This might help fill the gap when its first season wraps up. And, obviously, it'll help tide you over until Moss' The Handmaid's Tale comes back as well. Check out the trailer for Shining Girls below: Shining Girls will start streaming Down Under via Apple TV+ on Friday, April 29.
If you're craving snacks in Melbourne's CBD at 2am, you no longer have to do the walk of shame to the Swanston Street Macca's or eat dirty dumplings on Little Bourke Street (again). That's because the Grossi family — the very same Grossis who have a slew of award-winning restaurants on Bourke Street — has opened Arlechin, a new bar that is shaking up Melbourne's bar scene by offering cocktails and fancy finger food from 5pm until 3am. You'll find this new late-night dining venture just behind Bourke Street down Mornane Place, an alleyway that has been tarted up with fairy lights and a large mural, the bins and outdoor toilet removed. The bar is halfway up the alley, the door marked by a lone candle in a jar. Push open the black steel doors and walk into a small 40-seater space that looks like it picked up design tips from an Italian confessional or a castle wine cellar on its way to Melbourne. The statement vaulted ceiling is covered in cork tiles, which are lit by spotlights and dramatic hanging lights, and black steel walls outline the space, with the occasional gap revealing the seemingly endless bottles of wine hidden behind them. It looks like somewhere you'd share midnight secrets — hidden in a booth off to the side — so it's kind of disappointing when a black-clad staff member directs you to one of the bar tables and stools cluttered around the open space. But it's probably best to save your secrets for another venue, as the loud music, which occasionally delves into club house vibes, doesn't really facilitate whispering. What the venue does facilitate is drinking — and eating — well. The guns from Romeo Lane consulted on the cocktail list, and it shows. Although the cocktails are often on the sweeter side, they always hit the spot, like the Bee's Fix ($19), which tastes like a fancier version of eggnog. The cocktails are all reasonably priced, too, between $16–$20, which is unexpected when the short list of wines by the glass also hovers around the same price. There's an extensive list of wines by the bottle, for those looking to confess their sins long into the night. The menu is just what you'd expect from a Grossi bar, traditional meets fun on snack-sized plates – although, unlike the cocktails, the food doesn't always hit the sweet spot. The saffron risoni with bone marrow ($12) is subtly moreish; the jaffle bolognese ($10) tasty, but not the rich bite of comfort we were expecting; and the sloppy joe ($6) is an underwhelming twist on the classic with cod. At only a few months old, Arlechin feels comfortably Melbourne, settled into the town in a way that bodes well for its longevity. Although there are a few kinks to iron out, we have no doubt that generations of Melburnians will wash up in the bar in the early hours of Sunday morning in years to come, ready to confess their Saturday night sins over cocktails and a sneaky plate of midnight pasta.
A lot can happen in seven years — and, since sketch-comedy series Key and Peele aired its last episode back in 2015, plenty has. Forget all the chaos that's occurred in the world in general; just for Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, life has been hectic. Key has filled his resume with everything from Archer, Veep and Schmiggadoon! to The Predator, The Lion King and The Prom, while Jordan Peele just went and made three instant horror classics called Get Out, Us and Nope (oh, and won an Oscar). The next thing on the pair's agenda: a reunion, with the two voicing scheming demons in new Netflix movie Wendell & Wild. And if that wasn't enough exciting news for just one film, the stop-motion animated flick is directed by Henry Selick, who'll always have a place in every cinephile's heart thanks to The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. In fact, this marks his first feature since the latter, which arrived back in 2009. Unsurprisingly, gorgeously creepy sights fill Wendell & Wild's just-dropped first teaser trailer, because that's exactly what Selick usually serves up. In a picture that he not only directs, but co-wrote with Peele — who also co-produces — the filmmaker focuses on two demon brothers, the titular pair, who want to be summoned into the Land of the Living. To achieve that feat, Wendell (Key) and Wilde (Peele) need the help of teenager Kat Elliot (voiced by Lyric Ross, This Is Us). But, as the movie's first sneak peek shows, that bargain comes with consequences — because Kat isn't just willing to assist without asking for something in return. Wendell & Wild's voice cast also includes other well-known names, such as Angela Bassett (Gunpowder Milkshake), James Hong (Everything Everywhere All At Once) and Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible — Fallout). And, because it's almost that time of year, of course the film is dropping in time for Halloween — hitting streaming on October 28, in fact. Check out the trailer for Wendell & Wild below: Wendell & Wild will be available to stream via Netflix on October 28. Images: Netflix © 2022.
Returning to the Great Ocean Road for another bout of end-of-year scullduggery, Falls is back with the likes of Foals and Disclosure at the top of the bill (both with shiny new albums to boot). Expect those beloved Brits Bloc Party on the bill as well, alongside a killer collection of international gems — we're talking Gary Clark Jr, Mac DeMarco, Kurt Vile and The Violaters, Toro Y Moi, Django Django, Young Fathers and The Maccabees to start with. Even Weird Al' Yankovic will headline the opening Boogie Nights party. Random. Australia's contingent deserves two thumbs way up, from international goakicker Courtney Barnett to dancefloor dominators RUFUS and the likes of the legendary Paul Kelly (with his Merri Soul Sessions), Hilltop Hoods, Meg Mac, Gang of Youths, Hiatus Kaiyote, Little May, Alpine, Birds of Tokyo, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Seth Sentry, Halsey, BØRNS and more. Enough chatskies, here's that lineup you're after: FALLS FESTIVAL 2015 LINEUP: Alpine The Avener Birds of Tokyo Bloc Party BØRNS Courtney Barnett Disclosure Django Django Foals Gang of Youths Gary Clark Jr Halsey Hiatus Kaiyote Hilltop Hoods King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Kurt Vile & The Violators Little May The Maccabees Mac DeMarco Meg Mac Oh Wonder Paul Kelly & Merri Soul Sessions feat. Clairy Browne, Dan Sultan, Kira Puru, Vika & Linda Bull RÜFÜS Seth Sentry Toro Y Moi Young Fathers and more BOOGIE NIGHTS LINEUP Art vs Science El Vez Fleetmac Wood 'Weird Al' Yankovic and more UPDATE: Falls Festival Lorne has been relocated due to bushfires in the area. The festival will now be held at Mount Duneed Estate, just outside of Geelong. They've also just announced a one-day NYE ticket, with proceeds going to the Surf Coast Shire communities directly affected by the fires. You can find more information here. Image: Falls Festival.
The sun might be setting a tad early at this time of year, but that's no excuse for packing up and going home yourself. Hell, the best times you'll have in Melbourne tend to take place after dark. From late-night gigs to late-night mini golf, this city is home to all manner of awesome activities that stretch deep into the moonlit hours. To bring them to your attention, we've partnered with Samsung, whose new Galaxy S9 and S9+ has a camera with real low-light abilities, so your late-night-moments photograph as good as they look. Here are five of our favourite places to visit for a little after-dinner fun. Grab your mates and get ready for an epic night — and an epic Instagram story to go with it. HOLEY MOLEY Okay, we get it. Axe throwing is a little bit intimidating. Why don't you try Holey Moley instead? You'll still have the chance to get bragging rights over your buddies, without the risk of chopping off a toe. This multistorey mini golf bar smack bang in the middle of the CBD boasts 27 different holes, with themes ranging from The Wizard of Oz to "Barbie's Scream House". Throw in karaoke, great grub and a selection of mini-golf-themed cocktails (our personal favourite is the Happy Gilmoreo with vodka, Chambord raspberry liquor, Baileys, crushed Oreos and whipped cream), and suddenly your night looks like a hole in one. Hole in one? Get it? I'll see myself out. LOOP BAR When it comes to bars, galleries and music venues, Melburnians have plenty to choose from. But at how many venues can you catch a DJ set, watch a movie, take in some visual art and participate in a forum on human sexuality all in the same week? Tucked away in Meyers Place between Bourke Street and Little Collins, Loop Bar is a watering hole, screening room and exhibition space all rolled into one. And that's to say nothing of Loop Roof, their rooftop cocktail bar and beer garden. Replete with outdoor heaters, hanging plants and views of the city you'll want to save to your phone, it's one of our very favourite spots for a late-night tipple. BARTRONICA Stepping through the doors at Bartronica is like stepping back in time — and we mean that in the best possible way. From Daytona to Mortal Combat to the original Donkey Kong, this subterranean venue in the CBD is home to iconic arcade and old-school console games preserved from the 80s and 90s. They even run video game tournaments, in case you want to test your Smash Brothers skills against the very best. Combine all that with a well-stocked bar serving craft beer and on-theme cocktails (try the Mario Mai Tai!) and it's safe to say that you and your inner child will never want to leave. MANIAX Get set for a wild night of axe throwing. That's right, we said axe throwing. Maniax in Abbotsford is Melbourne's official home of this little-known pastime, an activity everyone needs to try at least once. Over the course of a two-hour session, an instructor will take you and your friends through the basics (safety is paramount, obviously!), and before you know it, you'll be hurling hatchets like a pro. Maniax is open until 10pm (9pm on Sundays) and offers group sessions, monthly 'date nights' and even an axe-throwing league to satisfy your competitive streak. If nothing else, you'll be able to snap some truly spectacular action shots. RED TRIANGLE Not into golf either? How do pool, snooker and billiards take your fancy? Located just off Brunswick Street in the heart of Fitzroy, Red Triangle is a local institution, and with damn good reason. Open till 2am every day of the year, there's never a bad time to climb the stairs and pick up a cue. The staff are friendly and welcoming no matter your level of ability — as long as you don't pester them for their secret milkshake recipes. Seriously, these guys make some of the best shakes in Melbourne. They're so good you won't even care that the place doesn't serve booze. Instead of spending your winter nights on the couch, discover all the after-dark happenings in your city here — and don't forget to document it all on the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, designed especially for low light so you can capture your best moments no matter what. Images: Cole Bennetts.
Pizza Hut. The noble and long-serving ‘za provider who filled our tummies at last-day-of-school pizza lunch and, in our uni student years, staved off hunger and calcium deficiency with cheap Tuesday deals. That is until in 1983 when the Dominos chain hit our shores. Dominos grew in reach and popularity and brought the Hut to its knees (or at least, to mainly smaller takeaway-only venues, less all-you-can-eat restaurants). Sure, there's still a few floating around (lookin' at you Goulburn), but they're harder and harder to come by nowadays. Once a dignified, family-friendly palace of soft serve on-tap, mini marshmallows and slice after slice after slice, Pizza Hut is now reduced to stunt-like takeaway grotesquery such as the Four 'N Twenty Meat Pie crust and its ilk, cramming more and more fast food, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, cheeseburgers into the crust until it’s just a misshapen farce oozing with disappointment. There's not much scope for an in-house sit-down pig-out any more. Apparently someone else has also noticed the decline. Sydney-based photographer Ho Hai Tran has taken up the quest of documenting the last surviving original Pizza Hut buildings before they pass into irrelevance. Tran has travelled 14,000kms across Australia, New Zealand and the USA to try and capture the photos of the buildings, most of which have been converted for other uses. “Pizza Hut buildings might not seem like the most aesthetically compelling structures, but they do ooze a certain charm”, says Tran. His purpose in all of this is historical record-keeping and maybe making Gen Y-ers shed a little tear because our world is crumbling to pieces. He’s even launched a Kickstarter to help him on his way. The archive of photographs will eventually be compiled into a book which has, in our humble opinion, the greatest title ever: Pizza Hunt. And the special edition even comes in a pizza box. Ouch, right in the childhood. Help Ho Hai Tran on his quest to immortalise the ‘Hut through by chipping into the Kickstarter.
HBO's Cordyceps infection isn't going anywhere soon — not for the seven more weeks that The Last of Us' first video game-to-TV season has left to air, and not for a further season after that either. In excellent news for fans of the PlayStation title, the Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent)- and Bella Ramsey (Catherine Called Birdy)-starring show it has inspired, and both, the US network behind it has officially announced that its first massive hit of 2023 will return for a second season. This development is hardly surprising, but still obviously hugely welcome. When it comes to mashing buttons, the 2013 game also inspired a 2014 expansion pack and 2020 sequel. Also, even just two episodes in so far, HBO's version has been attracting viewers faster than any sudden movement attracts zombies. When the series' debut episode aired on Sunday, January 15 in the US and Monday, January 16 Down Under — where it screens and streams via Foxtel and Binge in Australia, and on Neon in New Zealand — it became HBO's second largest debut ever. The first? A little show called House of the Dragon in 2022. In America alone, The Last of Us' movie-length first instalment has notched up more than 22 million viewers, while its second episode earned 5.7 million viewers just on one night — more than a million than that premiere chapter, and giving HBO its largest-ever growth from week one to week two of any series it has ever made. In other words, even after leaping to television with a huge gaming fanbase behind it, The Last of Us' popularity is spreading. Given how impressive the HBO series' first season is — how thoughtful, character-based, well-cast, and committed to exploring not just what's happening in its contagion-ravaged dystopian world but why life is worth fighting for — that too is unsurprising. For newcomers to the franchise on consoles and as a TV series, it's set 20 years after modern civilisation as we know it has been toppled by a parasitic fungal infection that turns the afflicted into shuffling hordes. Pascal plays Joel, who gets saddled with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie (his Game of Thrones co-star Ramsey) out of a strict quarantine zone to help possibly save humanity's last remnants. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version, if that was an easy task, of course — and if the pair didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey. As a television series, The Last of Us hails from co-creator, executive producer, writer and director Craig Mazin, who already brought a hellscape to HBO (and to everyone's must-watch list) thanks to the haunting and horrifying Chernobyl. He teams up here with Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog, who also penned and directed The Last of Us games. Alongside Pascal and Ramsey, the series also boasts Gabriel Luna (Terminator: Dark Fate) as Joel's younger brother and former soldier Tommy, Merle Dandridge (The Flight Attendant) as resistance leader Marlene and Aussie actor Anna Torv (Mindhunter) as smuggler Tess. And, Nico Parker (The Third Day) plays Joel's 14-year old daughter Sarah, Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) and Nick Offerman (The Resort) feature as isolated survivalists Frank and Bill, Storm Reid (Euphoria) pops up as Boston orphan Riley, Jeffrey Pierce (Castle Rock) plays quarantine-zone rebel Perry and Yellowjackets' Melanie Lynskey also guest stars. HBO hasn't announced when season two will arrive, but cross your fingers that it drops early in 2024. Check out the full trailer for The Last of Us below: The Last of Us screens and streams via Foxtel and Binge in Australia, and on Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of the first season. Images: Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Don't let anyone ever tell you that audiences aren't fond of kick-ass women doing spectacular things. And, if someone ever dares to try, refer them to the two biggest phenomenons in Australia right now: Barbie and the Matildas. In cinemas, the former has been busting records both locally and worldwide. On TV, the national women's soccer team has been making history, too. The latter has also being doing the same on the field, as everyone knows — because we've all been watching the Sam Kerr-led team, helping their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup matches kill it in the ratings. When Australia played France on Saturday, August 12, Australia's eyeballs followed every move from the first whistle through to the 7–6 penalty shootout in the Matildas' favour. How many eyeballs? Every single one belonging to more than 7.2-million people according to the Seven Network's ratings data. The Matildas' Women's World Cup games are available to watch via the Seven Network and 7plus, and also Optus Sport, so exact figures get a bit tricky — and also OzTAM, which captures broadcast audience numbers, doesn't factor in folks watching in pubs, clubs, sports venues, at AFL grounds before Aussie rules matches and at other out-of-home venues. Plus, at the time of writing, OzTAM hasn't yet covered the game's 30 minutes of extra time or penalty kicks, thanks to the nil-all draw when regulation time was up. Still, Seven has made an educated estimation, starting with the fact that an average of 4.17-million people watched the match either via its free-to-air station or its streaming service. Thanks to the latter, the network also advises that the game was the country's biggest streaming event ever. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CommBank Matildas (@matildas) To put the Matildas' TV feat in context, 2022's AFL and NRL grand finals didn't hit the 4.17-million figure — or come close. Last years' AFL numbers? 3.06-million viewers nationally. Unsurprisingly, as the ABC reports, Australia's quarter-final defeat of France enjoyed the biggest TV audience of the year. The Guardian notes that it was likely the biggest audience since Cathy Freeman's iconic 400-metre race at the 2000 Olympics. All up, Seven advises that its coverage of the Women's World Cup so far has reached 11.9-million broadcast viewers, then another 2.3-million folks via 7plus — all while the bulk of the tournament's games, especially those that don't feature the Matildas, are only on Optus Sports. How many people will watch the Australia v England game at 8pm on Wednesday, August 16? We're a competitive nation — surely we want to not only beat the Lionesses, but smash the France match's ratings as well. The Matildas' 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup games are available to watch via the Seven Network and 7plus, and also Optus Sport — with select other games also on Seven, and the entire tournament streaming via Optus Sport. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 runs from Thursday, July 20–Sunday, August 20 across Australia and New Zealand, with tickets available from the FIFA website. Top image: Liondartois via Wikimedia Commons.
