During the catastrophic bushfire season over the summer of 2019–20, flames encroached on Bundanon and Riversdale, the 1100-hectare properties that were gifted to the Australian public by by artist Arthur Boyd and his wife Yvonne Boyd back in 1993. Located in the Shoalhaven region on the New South Wales south coast, the heritage-listed sites were thankfully saved, as was the art collection within them — and now they're all part of Australia's sprawling new bushland gallery. The Bundanon Art Museum was first announced back in 2018, with construction starting in early 2020. Come Saturday, January 29, it'll finally opening its doors to the public. The purpose-built, 500-square-metre structure will showcase contemporary and First Nations art year-round, starting with opening exhibition From impulse to action, which is all about the creative energy of experimentation. And yes, works by Boyd are part of the program. The venue will host three seasons each year, drawing from its $46.5 million onsite collection of around 4000 items, plus new commissions. When they're not on display, the museum's pieces are housed in a safe storage facility, which is part of its 'environmentally prepared gallery-of-the-future' design by Kerstin Thompson Architects, and takes all of the challenges posed by its location and the changing climate into consideration. Also a highlight: The Bridge, the 160-metre-long by nine-metres-wide structure that doubles as a learning centre, and spans over the existing gully on the property's sloping hillside. As well as teaching and break-out spaces, it features accommodation for up to 64 guests, plus cafe and dining facilities. And views, too, taking in the Shoalhaven River — because seeing the scenery is as much an aim here as checking out art. That eatery, Ramox Cafe, will serve up seasonal menus that hero paddock-to-plate ingredients and source produce from the Shoalhaven region. Drinks-wise, expect sips from local wineries and breweries, continuing the local mindset. Built near the site's existing nineteenth century buildings, the new art museum and bridge also share a public plaza as part of the $34 million project. Windows that frame the artwork with glimpses of the natural splendour outside are also a big feature — and, as well as responding to its surroundings, including by making The Bridge a piece of flood infrastructure that'll still allow water to flow naturally across the property, it's all solar-powered. As for that hefty art collection, if spans around more than 1300 works by Arthur Boyd himself, as well as pieces by Pablo Picasso, Francisco Goya and Brett Whiteley. When the Boyds gave the rural site to the Australian public back more than a quarter-century ago, Bundanon and Riversdale became a haven for creativity, arts and education, and remained a working farm. That's all staying the same now that Bundanon Art Museum is opening — just with the new addition built into the hillside. Bundanon Art Museum opens on Saturday, January 29 at 170 Riversdale Road, Illaroo, New South Wales. For further information, visit the venue's website. Images: Zan Wimberley.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you inside the San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel. This luxe Sicilian stay is the real life set of The White Lotus season two, set within a 14th-century convent. Welcome to the playground of the rich and famous. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This hotel is located within the ancient town of Taormina, sitting atop cliffs overlooking the sea. Yes, it's stunning. It's also where The White Lotus season two was filmed, meaning that you'll be walking in Jennifer Coolidge's footsteps — perhaps even staying in her glam suite. (A note: it does close over the European winter, with 2022 stays ending on November 28 and 2023 stays beginning from March 14.) THE ROOMS This swanky joint has 111 rooms and suites dotted about the property, most of which boast incredible views across the Ionian Sea. And those without ocean views get to look out towards Sicily's famous active volcano Mount Etna. It's obvious, but still worth mentioning that entry into this world doesn't come cheap, with rooms starting at about AU$850 a night and suites going for upwards of AU$10,000. It's stupid, but look at the photos — this place is gorgeous. We can imagine ourselves sitting in one of the sea-view suites, dipping in and out of our private plunge pool with a cheeky negroni sbagliato in hand — and then living off nothing but packets of ramen noodles for the rest of our lives. FOOD AND DRINK This is a Four Seasons Hotel, so you can expect some incredible food onsite. It has three separate restaurants and a garden bar (with the obligatory room service, too). Principe Cerami is the fine-dining restaurant, where you can wear your most glamorous holiday gowns and suits — because, we all have those, right? The slightly (just slightly) more chill restaurant Anciovi is where you'll get those White Lotus vibes. Grab a seat looking over uninterrupted views of the ocean and sink deep into la dolce vita. Sicily has got to be one of the best places in the world to eat, thanks to all that Italian cooking — be sure to get all the best local dishes while you're here. THE LOCAL AREA San Domenico Palace is in one of the most stunning parts of Sicily. Views from any part of this town are incredible, but this area is also steeped in history, with so much being preserved. The most famous site is the Teatro Antico di Taormina, as also seen in The White Lotus. It's an ancient Greco-Roman theatre which is still used to this very day. When visiting, you can see openair live orchestras and theatre permeances, all the while looking out over the sparkling waters. And, of course, you've also got plenty of beautiful beaches and coves down below the cliffs of the town. Beach hop for a few days before heading off another iconic Sicilian town — our picks are Palermo, Modica, Catania, Syracuse, Agrigento and any of the Aeolian Islands. THE EXTRAS A place this lavish doesn't just offer stunning views, rooms and food. There's always more. Treat yourself even more with massages, facials or scrubs in the Botanica Spa, or hit up the gym to work off all the arancini and pasta you'll be eating during the stay. But you really should explore the local area while you're here, too — and the San Domenico Palace team will organise all the best exclusive travel experiences for you. Go on a stargazing safari, a food tour around Mount Etna (led by the hotel's head chef), an Aeolian Islands sailing trip or even try a unique Sicilian sushi masterclass (yes, that's a thing). If you want to take advantage of all this, best get saving now — or start buying some more lotto tickets. For more information about San Domenico Palace, head to the hotel's website. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
One of Melbourne's original laneway haunts, the multi-level Campari House has a space for every mood and occasion. Get comfy in the dining room with a feast of rustic Italian fare, unwind over cocktails and DJ tunes in the upstairs lounge, or venture to the astroturfed rooftop bar to team an Auchentoshan & Ale with sweeping city views. The Italian-inspired menu features fresh, modern dishes — from steamed local bay mussels ($18), roasted beetroot ravioli ($28), braised lamb ragu ($28), and a traditional Italian tiramisu ($14). All of which, should be aptly complemented by a glass of Campari, obviously. Images: Giulia Morlando.
There are some things that remain universal truths in the realm of television: Early episodes of The Simpsons are much better than the later, 'The Contest' and 'The Soup Nazi' are hands down the greatest things to happen on Seinfeld, and Breaking Bad is the best thing that's been on TV in recent years. Though these claims usually land you in nerdy arguments over a pint of beer, they can now be statistically proven due to the help of one glorious person with too much time on their hands. Graph TV is an easy-to-use website made by Kevin Wu, data analyst extraordinaire, that charts the rating of every episode of every TV series rated on IMDb. Let's just take a second to compute that information. You can type in the name of any show and find out which is the best and worst episode, how the series tracked as it went on, and when it officially should have called it quits. The future is here, and it's incredibly nerdy. Wu claims he thought of the concept while watching the final episodes of Breaking Bad. "I thought the last half of season five was just amazing, and wondered if people thought the same,” he said. After a quick look at the chart, it's easy to tell the majority of people agreed with him. Yeah, science! Obviously, the ratings system is still incredibly subjective. It's just a collection of opinions after all. But if democracy has taught us anything it's that there's strength in numbers, and when nearly 2000 people vote to say that racist episode of How I've Met Your Mother was the worst thing to happen in the entire show, I'm inclined to believe them. The numbers get more convincing when you move to bigger shows like The Simpsons. Showing a gradual but steady decline in viewer ratings over the show's long run, your argument at the pub can finally be put to rest. The highest rating episodes are all old classics from seasons 4-8. The lowest rating, however, is not the horrible compilation shows they tacked together for the offseason, but the cameo of Lady Gaga in season 23. Ouch, that's gotta hurt. Via Wired.
Summer is calling. That means long sunny days, drinks with your mates, good food, and, of course, Bondi Beach. Back for its second year, THE ICONIC and Rolling Stone AU/NZ are raising the heat with SUMMER SOUNDS, a one-day-only event to help Aussies kick-start the warmer weather in style. [caption id="attachment_1025329" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] THE ICONIC SUMMER SOUNDS[/caption] On Saturday, November 1st, 2025, North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club will be transformed into a celebration of music, fashion, and culture. Aussie icons, The Veronicas, are set to hook you up and headline the party. Think sun-soaked beats, statement fits, and coastal cocktails, all set against one of the most famous beaches in the world. [caption id="attachment_1025313" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Bondi Beach via Getty Images[/caption] You might be asking, how can I attend? Luckily, THE ICONIC is giving you the chance to score tickets. All you have to do is head to THE ICONIC's website and share, in 25 words or less, which summer anthem you would play first at SUMMER SOUNDS to kick-start the party. One lucky customer will be crowned the MVP by receiving 4 x return flights to Sydney (if you and your friends aren't local), 2 x nights' accommodation in Bondi Beach, and a $3000 voucher from THE ICONIC to head to the event in style*. [caption id="attachment_1025319" align="alignnone" width="1920"] THE ICONIC SUMMER SOUNDS[/caption] There'll also be 25 SUMMER SOUNDS double passes up for grabs, ensuring more fashion fans can enjoy this money-can't-buy experience. So, start planning your look, select your party anthem, and get ready for a weekend that screams summer in Sydney. Win your way into summer's most ICONIC event. *T&C's apply
On the top of our list in summer? Combining two of our favourite things into one amazing adventure: the outdoors and delicious food. Because let's face it, Melbourne has to be one of the best places in the world for dining in the summer air. Here's Concrete Playground's pick of the best outdoor restaurants in Melbourne. UNION DINING TERRACE The terrace above Union Dining in Richmond is the relaxed little brother of the provincial European restaurant below. With its own bar and menu, it’s a great escape from the streets. Classic cocktails like the Aperol Spritzer and a Gin Fizz are served up alongside a snack menu featuring a chicken sandwich on brioche and fish and potato croquettes. 270-271 Swan Street, Richmond, uniondining.com.au REPUBLICA Republica in St Kilda is situated right on the water's edge and takes full advantage of this with an outdoor area looking right over the water. The restaurant has hanging chairs dotted around, just asking to be sat in until the sun goes down. On the other side of the restaurant is a second outdoor area, which is part of the St Kilda Sea Baths, offering shade and live music on the weekends. The menu is simple. Alongside a pizza menu, mains include pan-fried barramundi with cauliflower risotto or a steak served on polenta. 1a/10-18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda, republica.net.au TACO TRUCK If you are looking for a true outdoor dining experience, hit up one of Melbourne's many food trucks. A favourite of ours in the Taco Truck, serving up soft tacos with fish, chicken or even potato. Grab a taco or two and relax with other Melburnians who have waited in line. Make sure you get in early as they sell out almost every night. Various locations, tacotruck.com.au PACO'S TACOS From the team behind Movida, Paco's Tacos is a little oasis at the bottom end of the city. Set inside a huge yellow shipping container with heaters for winter and a grated finish to let the sunshine in, it’s a fun and bright contrast to the surrounding office buildings. The menu is Mexican street food, with a focus on tacos. There are six taco varieties and extras like BBQ corn and nachos. Opt for the roasted duck taco with spicy mole or the fish taco with chipotle and radish. Level 1, 500 Bourke Street, Melbourne, pacostacos.com.au PONYFISH ISLAND Under the pedestrian bridge over the Yarra River at Southbank, Ponyfish Island takes waterfront dining to a new level. Open from breakfast, they serve relaxed and casual food. They also run a BBQ from Thursday night through the weekend serving up burgers to the masses. They’ve got a small but solid drinks oðering including jugs of Pimms cocktails. Southgate Pedestrian Bridge, Melbourne. TROCADERO Trocadero is the newest addition to the arts precinct, located in Hamer Hall at the Arts Centre. Grab a snack at the bar or stay for the long haul. There's a sleek and modern approach to design here, and a beautiful terrace overlooking the Yarra River. This one is going to be a popular stop for theatergoers. Hamer Hall, Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, trocadero.co NEWMARKET HOTEL The menu at Newmarket Hotel draws its influences from California with Latin street food served up from the grill. Start with soft shell crab or a soft taco of beef cheek. The mains are centered around a wood-fired oven and BBQ, with hanger steaks and NY strips on offer. They have a great outdoor dining area where you can enjoy the sun. 34 Inkerman Street, St Kilda, newmarketstkilda.com.au RIVERLAND BAR Riverland Bar is located on the banks of the Yarra River on the edge of Federation Square. Down the staircase right before the bridge you'll find Riverland's large outdoor area dotted with umbrellas and beautiful views. The menu is varied, offering something for any taste from soba noodle salad to pork belly. 1-9 Federation Wharf (under Princes Bridge), Melbourne, riverlandbar.com THE FITZ CAFE The Fitz on Brunswick Street, right in the heart of Fitzroy is the perfect spot for a sunny Sunday afternoon. While they do have outdoor seating downstairs, it’s upstairs in their outdoor courtyard where you can take full advantage of the sun. On the second level you'll find a different menu with tapas-style dishes, perfect for sharing. 347 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, thefitz.com.au SPEAKEASY KITCHEN BAR The name doesn't represent the true essence of Speakeasy Kitchen and Bar. There is nothing dark and underground about it at all. Instead, you'll find a beautiful dining room with a great seasonal menu. The herb and ricotta gnocchi with prawns, peas and tomatoes is a good place to start. They also make great cocktails. The outdoor terrace is an ideal space to enjoy the warmer months. With a laneway outside, many a summer night has seen the party has spill into the street. 359 Chapel Street, South Yarra, speakeasybar.com.au
Here in Melbourne, there are loads of ways to cosy up on a frosty winter weekend, but bunkering down with a classic Sunday roast at your favourite local pub has to be one of our favourites. Juicy meat (or perhaps a plant-based alternative), crispy roasted veg, lashings of gravy, a couple of pints — those winter blues don't stand a chance when faced with that enviable situation. Now that Melbourne's chilliest season is settling in, we've teamed up with the City of Port Phillip to scout out the area's best Sunday roasts. From slow-cooked lamb shoulders to beef and Yorkshire pud, these beauts will prove the highlight of your weekend — and with zero kitchen time on your part. Book a table now to try one of the following roasts with the most.
Hamilton may have wrapped up its debut Australian season after stints in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane — including a trip by Lin-Manuel Miranda himself to the latter — and its New Zealand run as well, but musical-theatre fans can stream the smash-hit show's Broadway production whenever they like. Even better: you can now croon the stage sensation's tunes with Miranda, Daveed Diggs (Snowpiercer) and the OG cast, in a way, thanks to Disney+'s just-arrived sing-along version. This is your chance to make your very own home the room where it happens, and to take a shot at the Miranda-penned lyrics that every Hamilton fan has stuck in their head on repeat. Whether you're keen to give 'The Room Where It Happens', 'My Shot', 'Burn', 'History Has Its Eyes on You' or 'Helpless' a spin, you can, all while watching the acclaimed performance. In the words of another of the show's big tunes, we expect that you'll be back, too, singing along to Hamilton more than once. Since premiering on Broadway in 2015, winning 11 Tony Awards and nabbing the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Miranda's musical has become a pop culture phenomenon. As a result, it was always going to make the leap to the screen in some shape or form, which it did in 2020 — albeit via a filmed version of the stage production rather than a traditional theatre-to-film adaptation. Now, three years later, that recording comes with lyrics, ready for everyone that's young, scrappy and hungry to give it a go. Indeed, the vibrant, whip-smart and immediately dazzling tale of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton first hit Disney+ on Friday, July 3, 2020 — and now the sing-along version has followed at around the same time, dropping back on Friday, June 30, 2023. If you haven't been lucky enough to catch the popular all-singing, all-dancing production onstage, this "live capture" version is the next best thing. Shot at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in 2016, the recording features the show's original Broadway performers, including Miranda (His Dark Materials) in the eponymous role. Also seen on-screen: Daveed Diggs (The Little Mermaid) as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, Leslie Odom Jr (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) as Aaron Burr, Christopher Jackson (And Just Like That...) as George Washington, Jonathan Groff (Knock at the Cabin) as King George III, Anthony Ramos (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton, Renee Elise Goldsberry (Girls5eva) as Angelica Schuyler and Phillipa Soo (Shining Girls) as Eliza Hamilton. The story, for those who aren't intimately acquainted with US revolutionary history, chronicles the Caribbean-born "bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman" from his arrival in New York in the early 1770s. As the musical's informative opening number explains, Alexander Hamilton will go on to become "the ten-dollar Founding Father without a father", with the production charting how he "got a lot farther by working a lot harder, by being a lot smarter and by being a self-starter". It's a tale that, unlike those of US Presidents Washington and Jefferson, you mightn't have heard before — which is one of the themes that the musical addresses. Just who is charged with recalling and immortalising the past, and who is remembered in the process, is a significant factor in shaping a nation's vision of itself. Check out a trailer for Disney+'s Hamilton sing-along below: Hamilton Sing-Along is available to stream via Disney+. Images: Hamilton filmed version courtesy of Disney+.
Speculation or humanity's certain future? Thinking about which of those two options best fits MIRRORSCAPE is part of the experience of viewing Théo Mercier's latest work. The end of the world has arrived at Mona. Where a library once sat, sand and water has been shaped into a debris-strewn post-disaster landscape. It's all in the name of art, of course — Dark Mofo is still on the calendar for 2025; after becoming the first museum in the world to receive Wu-Tang Clan's rare Once Upon a Time in Shaolin album on loan earlier in 2024, the Tasmanian gallery hasn't dropped the mic and said goodbye — but as the piece's title makes plain, MIRRORSCAPE just might be a reflection of what's to come. Making his Australian debut, French artist Mercier has moulded 80 tonnes of Tasmanian sand into a vision of life overrun by catastrophe — and as it displays for 12 months, his giant sand sculpture will keep changing. First announced in late 2024, when it was initially called DARK TOURISM, the artwork was unveiled on Saturday, February 15, 2025. It'll show Monday, February 16, 2026, and the sand within it will do what sand does over that period: erode. "The earth shuffles and trembles. It is a collection of catastrophes and its surface bears witness to the natural and political changes — and cataclysms — that pass through it," explains Mercier about the piece. "In this work, devastation finds itself petrified in the stone, as if we opened a mountain here in Tasmania and discovered the great fossil of a disaster. We don't know whether this would have happened in the past or if it's a foreshadowing of the near future." "MIRRORSCAPE is a conflict suspended in time, quarantined inside a panoramic cell that recalls the scientific laboratory or a vivarium. It is something to be studied at a distance." Featuring sandy recreations of old utes, other upturned vehicles, mattresses, cushions, clothing, bricks pipes and much more, MIRRORSCAPE undeniably looks like the aftermath of the worst occurring, and unsurprisingly makes a statement about planet's changing climate — plus humanity's role in it, and in natural disasters. "Crafted entirely from Tasmanian sand, Théo's work is a reflection of the fragile and temporary nature of the world around us, and of life itself," notes Mona Curator Sarah Wallace. "I hope visitors will be drawn in by the intricate detail in this captivating installation, while considering the questions he raises about our ecological predicament." The piece originated from a trip to the Apple Isle by the artist. "When Théo was last in Hobart he said he was 'going for a walk'. He walked to the top of kunanyi. He's back, and he'll be doing something just as mad at Mona," added Mona Owner and Founder David Walsh. Given how it'll change over the course of 12 months, you won't want to see MIRRORSCAPE just once — if you can fit in two trips to Mona between now and February 2026. MIRRORSCAPE is on display at Mona, 655 Main Road, Berriedale, Tasmania until Monday, February 16, 2026. Head to the venue's website for more information. Images: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Courtesy of the artist and the Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
When Interface asked Francois Chambard what kind of art he could devise from carpet tiles, these critters were his response. He and 29 other designers and architects put their carpeted creations up for auction, raising $16,000 for Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). Interface organised the auction to mark the official opening of its new showroom in New York City, an 8,000 square foot space that looks over the Empire State Building. Other designers invited to contribute included David Ling, Harry Allen, Russell Groves, Joey Shimoda and D.B. Kim, and over 400 prominent industry members comprised the crowd. Peter Greene, the Vice President of marketing of Interface’s American arm, expressed the company’s enthusiasm. “The galvanizing impact that DIFFA brings to our design community is overwhelming, and Interface is excited it could join with the organization as we put out the welcome mat to our new Big Apple showroom . . . We’re delighted the proceeds of this event could help swell DIFFA’s coffers a bit more and at the same time let us welcome architects and designers into our new space with a fun occasion that also gives back in a meaningful way.” Interface is not only the world’s largest supplier of carpet tiles, but also one of the most socially conscious corporations on the stock exchange. Anyone who’s seen Canadian documentary The Corporation may remember the role played by then CEO Ray Anderson in representing the potential for an ethical approach to business. When Anderson passed away in August 2011, headlines proclaimed him ‘the greenest CEO in America’. Images: gBlog [Via boing boing]
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. BULLET TRAIN Buy the ticket, take the ride, strap in for an onslaught of frenetic locomotive-bound fights: that's high-octane action-comedy Bullet Train on- and off-screen. Set on a shinkansen hurtling from Tokyo to Kyoto, in as stylised a vision of Japan that anyone not named Quentin Tarantino has ever thought of, this neon-lit adaptation of Kōtarō Isaka's 2010 page-turner Maria Beetle couldn't be more onboard with its central concept. That premise isn't snakes on a plane, but rather assassins on a train — plus one snake, one of nature's hitmen, actually. Cramming all those killers onto a single engine sparks mayhem, banter and bodies, not to mention chaotic frays in the quiet car and almost every other space. And when it works, with John Wick and Atomic Blonde's David Leitch steering the show, Tarantino and Guy Ritchie alum Brad Pitt as his main passenger, and a lifetime's worth of references to Thomas the Tank Engine slotted in, Bullet Train is as OTT and entertaining as it overtly wants to be. It doesn't always completely work, however; every journey, zipping along on a high-speed train or not, has its dips. Still, there are plenty of moving parts trying to keep the movie in motion — and plenty of plot, for better and for worse in both instances. In his second 2022 action-comedy after The Lost City, Pitt plays Ladybug, who is back riding the hired-gun rails after a zen break packed with new-age self-help platitudes. That's what he spouts to his handler (Sandra Bullock, The Unforgivable) by phone, in-between rueing his bad luck, as he tries to carry out what's supposed to be an easy job. All that Ladybug needs to do is take a briefcase, then disembark at the next station. But that piece of luggage is being transported by British assassin double-act Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, The King's Man) and Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry, Atlanta), as they escort a Russian mobster's son (Logan Lerman, Hunters) home. To up the hitman ante, the shinkansen is also carrying The Prince (Joey King, The Princess) and Kimura (Andrew Koji, Snake Eyes: GI Joe Origins), who have their own beef, as well as the revenge-seeking Wolf (Benito A Martínez Ocasio aka Bad Bunny, Fast and Furious 9). As is always the case whenever anyone asks "are we there yet?" IRL, there's more: more twists and turns to the narrative, more bickering, more familiar names facing each other down, and a mass of flashbacks to events minutes, hours, days and months earlier, most of which make the leap from the page via Zak Olkewicz's (Fear Street: Part Two — 1978) screenplay. Wondering if the scribe and Leitch have seen Kill Bill, or the Pitt-starring Snatch, or the 90s attention-grabbers that were Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as they bring Isaka's novel to the screen is thoroughly pointless. But, after The Gray Man, Bullet Train is the second big, star-studded, midyear action flick that's pieced together from familiar components, only to boast the cast and visual spectacle to carry it off more often than not. What a treat Pitt is, and has been for more than three decades — because that's how long it's been since Thelma & Louise thrust him to fame. Bullet Train draws upon his Ocean's Eleven brand of chattering, casual, happy-go-lucky charisma, even with Ladybug grappling with an existential crisis over his chosen profession. Pitt is comic, but never reaches Burn After Reading's goofiness. Amid the navel-gazing and bromides, he's still calm, collected and supremely capable at holding his own, but never to a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood extent. Although Leitch doesn't give Pitt his own John Wick or Atomic Blonde, it's as crucial a piece of casting. Neither of those two flicks would be the gems they are without their specific stars, and Bullet Train similarly wouldn't have hit the marks it does without its bucket hat-wearing biggest name and his detailed performance. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on May 5, May 12, May 19 and May 26; June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara, This Much I Know to Be True, The Innocents, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bob's Burgers Movie, Ablaze, Hatching, Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing, Official Competition, The Forgiven, Full Time and Murder Party.
It all sounded like an elaborate prank. Then it sounded just too good to be true. But it's actually been confirmed. Daft Punk are launching their new album, Random Access Memories, to 4000 insanely lucky ticket holders in the NSW country town of Wee Waa. While I have a sneaking suspicion that the helmeted Frenchmen only chose Wee Waa because they giggled at the ridiculousness of its name, those opportunistic Wee Waa-ians (Wee Wains, maybe?) are making the most of this incredible event by throwing the biggest afterparty in Wee Waa history. Weekend Vines is converting the idyllic Seplin Estate Winery, 1.5km outside of Wee Waa, into a two-night camping festival. After Daft Punk have left you feeling harder, better, faster and stronger, head straight out to the Wee Waa Camping Festival where a host of electro artists and Daft Punk disciples will be rockin' out into the wee (waa) small hours of the morning. The event is fully licensed, decked out with a festival sound system and only has 2500 available tickets, so keep an eye on the Weekend Vibes website to make sure you snap one up when they are released early next week. Featuring local and international stars Olibusta (France), Marvin Roland (UK), Mr Pyz (Melbourne), Crease (UK) and Pablo J and the Lobsterettes (Sydney) wee waa beyond excited for an unforgettable weekend of awesome music and late night parties. And that's the last Wee Waa pun we'll make you read.
When you find the coming together of good coffee and a good conscience, great things usually follow. Fest of Merit, the newest venture from youth social enterprise YGAP, proves this to be true. Found in an open space on Swan Street in Richmond, they haven't held back on the interior. It's raw, exposed and perfectly executed. Hanging lights and plants finish the look perfectly (as do the handsome wait staff, but that's a whole other story). As YGAP's newest project, Feast of Merit donates all of their profits to youth education and youth leadership in Malawi, Ghana, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Australia. On top of this they focus on seasonal produce, raw foods and locally sourced drinks. Local, ethical and sustainable food is served up with a distinct Middle Eastern flavour. The breakfast menu caters to a range of tastes with the sweeter side of things looking like Bircher muesli, coconut water, apricot, pistachios, and hung yoghurt ($11.50) and a bowl of backyard fruits, chia seeds, orange blossom, yoghurt ice and smoked almonds ($12.50). For those going down the savoury path, you can opt for the young asparagus, ricotta and avocado with harissa toast and a soft egg ($16) or the beetroot (pickled, raw and roasted) with wild rice, candied walnuts, salted ricotta and za'atar spice ($13.50). Lunch is a 'choose your own adventure' experience with three salads available with three optional proteins for a more hearty meal. You might see a roasted Dutch carrot, mint, pistachio, currant, freekeh, harissa and preserved lemon salad topped with roasted Milawa chicken. Job done. Smoothies, juices, and digestives dominate the drinks list with a raw almond milk creation calling out our name. Warning: raw treats may tempt you as you're paying the cheque. But don't worry — your money is going to a good cause.
Cornucopias of cheese, rich roast lamb dinners, creamy Chardonnays — Orange is officially the new black. Grown from a rich mining past, Orange is now known as the 'food basket' of NSW, a title not halfheartedly earned. Wine is the obvious breadwinner, but it's not where the culinary adventure stops. From local produce-focused restaurants in reclaimed police stations to slick B&Bs in former sheep shearing sheds, to cellar doors in 1890s primary schools, Orange has seized its history with two, soil-happy hands and cultivated the modern foodie Mecca it is today. Just a four-hour drive from Sydney, or eight from Melbourne, Orange is in a prime spot for a seriously food and wine-drenched weekend away. You'll roll back to Sydney with a belly full of wine, cheese and lamb, your boot brimming with new wine variety favourites and your respect for Chardonnay restored. DRINK: WINE, WINE, WINE First piece of Orange advice: forget everything you know about Chardonnay. Second? You're going to taste some Australia's best, best, best wines in one weekend, so bring some Berocca and start fighting over who's designated driver. Orange is a pretty chilly place and sits over 600 metres above sea level. This means whites, sparkling and Pinot Noir country. Orange has a great many wineries, so it can be hard to know where to start (tip: just time your visit with the Orange Wine Festival). But most wineries offer free maps of the region, so start with one and take it from there. First up, let's visit Julie and Peter Mortimer, owners of Mortimers of Orange. A former Canterbury Bankstown Bulldog and extremely cheery gent, Peter Mortimer has left his NRL career behind for a life of exceedingly good Sauvignon Blanc with his wife and their five sons — and he can spin quite the yarn during a tasting, accompanied by his golden retriever, Bonnie. After planting their first vineyard in '96, the Mortimers bought the public school next door and turned it into their cellar door. There's nothing like a morning tasting with cheese and crackers where many an assembly has met. Next, we're off to Colmar Estate, run by Bill and Jane Schrapnel, two of the most knowledgable perfectionists in the game. Moving to Orange from Beecroft in Sydney, the Schrapnels have created one stunning vineyard you can can see most of right from the cellar door. But if you miss out on hitting Phillip Shaw's Cellar Door, you're doing it wrong. Shaw knows the wine game like the back of his hand, making wine since he was 12 and winning awards left right and centre for the family's celebrated varieties. You've never had Chardonnay like this, let me tell you. One of Shaw's lovely sons, Daniel, took us through the winery, past the fermenting room and to the barrels, where he gave us a taste of young Shiraz right out of the barrel. Holy. Grapes. More local wineries to note include Heifer Station Wines, run by the incredibly lovely Michelle and Philip Stivens, and the eclectic Bloodwood (appointment only). EAT: EVERYTHING YOU CAN CONSUME THAT ISN'T WINE If you think hitting the all-you-can-eat Pizza Hut is your first port of call in Orange, hold that thought. Orange is home to some of the most genuinely kickass restaurants in the game, and one of the key players is Union Bank, the newest guardians of Orange's historic former police station, school of the arts, bank and then some, owned by Nick and Emma Bacon, chef and sommelier respectively. Pull up a pew in UB's warm-lit, homey space and feast on octopus with smoked macadamia and turnip pickle, bone marrow with salsa roja, a whole chicken with garlic sauce and sumac, and a sirloin served with a miso bagna cauda, all spruced up with produce from the kitchen garden (just 15 metres from the actual kitchen). If you're serious about your food, you must take a trip to Milthorpe, a wonderfully quaint little town with a population of 650 just 15 minutes outside Orange. For breakfast, make sure you book ahead at The Old Mill Cafe, a beautiful old-fashioned tearoom whose lemon meringue pies need to be seen to be believed (and Instagrammed). But you absolutely cannot leave without visiting Tonic. Established in 2003 by owners Tony and Nicole Worland, one-hatted wonder Tonic brings both locals and foodie pilgrims alike. Tony boasts quite the resume, having worked beside the likes of Matt Moran, Michael Manners and Gordon Ramsay, so expect ambitious food that showcases local producers. If you're looking for a hit of caffeine between tastings, Orange isn't just letting the coffee scene go unperfected. Head to Bills Beans in east Orange, a former butcher's shop converted into a buzzing cafe owned by young guns Ricky Carver and Carlie Beer. Their lively barista Eric knows everyone's name and sings along to Toploader's 'Dancin' in the Moonlight' while making one of the best coffees you'll have in an age. Feast on freshly-made nosh like juicy, cheesy mushroom toasties, melt-in-your-mouth homemade pumpkin quiches and perfect, perfect scrolls. Also recommended, Good Eddy. For all your take-home local goodies, The Agrestic Grocer in town. EXPLORE: LOLLY SHOPS TO ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM It's worth inhaling more than edible and drinkable goods on your trip to Orange, especially if you're a history buff, art fan or general lover of all things vintage. Orange has a few great local galleries, including The Corner Store Gallery in east Orange. Exhibitions change every three weeks and range from James Kearns' abstract expressionist landscapes to Isobella Grist's smart collages. If you're a bit of a history nut, let's start with the fact that you're struttin' around in Banjo Patterson's birthplace (yes, there's a poetry festival, if you're wondering). After you've wandered through Orange's city centre, with many beautiful old buildings (one particularly good example in the middle of Kinross Wolaroi School), head straight for Orange's teeny neighbour, Milthorpe. We're talking antique shops, adorable design store Tomolly, a bowling club and cellar doors aplenty, like Orange heavyweights Angullong or Slow Wine Co. STAY: SHEEP SHEDS TO COUNTRY LOFTS As far as snuggly country accomodation goes, Orange has some pretty beautiful spots to kip. If you're up for a true country stay with every last modern convenience, head for the award-winning Black Sheep Inn just 9km west of Orange on Heifer Station Lane, owned by the lovely Helen and Andrew Napier. Originally a 1900s sheep shearing shed, most of the original features have been preserved — along with a wrought iron fireplace. The Inn has five snug suites, each boasting original rolling shed doors instead of blinds (a very sweet feature). Corrugated iron runs the interior design, offset with modern steel trimmings and crisp white sheets. Helen served us brekkie in the morning, a three-course feast from poached pears with straight-up insane homemade lemon curd, to freshly-toasted sourdough with unbelievably delicious homemade apricot jam. If you're headed for the quaint country streets of Milthorpe, there's plenty of boutique accomodation to snuggle into and forget you ever had some kind of job to return to. While you can take over an entire old chemist at Hockey's Accommodation, we made a temporary home of the Millthorpe Motel, a collection of 20 modern, homey rooms, from basic studio rooms to loft apartments that feel like your very own little ski lodge. Think comfy armchairs, luxe white bedding, and an easy stroll to Tonic, to repeat yesterday's belt-busting feast. Images: Andy Fraser. CP stayed, ate and wined as a guest of Orange360. For more information about Orange, head over here.
Summer in Australia means sun, surf, sand — and, increasingly, sweltering weather of heatwave proportions. The country clocked up its third-warmest year on record in 2018, and while we don't know just yet if 2019 will match it, we do know that a spate of particularly toasty days is on its way. It is the time of the year for it, of course; however the next run of warm weather will blast temperatures up, with the mercury hitting the 30s in every capital city except Hobart. The sweaty conditions will be travelling over from the western side of the country, where Perth has been has been enduring a multi-day run of temps around the 40-degree mark this week. On Thursday, the WA spot hit 39, while Friday reached 40, and tops of 41 and 40 are forecast on Saturday and Sunday. As that heat moves east over the week, the impact will differ around the country, with inland locations expected to bear the brunt. In the capitals, Sydney is expected to hit 33 degrees on Thursday, Brisbane will max out at 38 degrees on Monday before hovering around 30 for the rest of the week, Melbourne is due to hit 36 on Thursday and 41 on Friday, Adelaide will experience four days over 40 from Tuesday–Friday, and Canberra will top out at 42 on Thursday. And again, while sultry days are part and parcel of this time of year, each of the aforementioned cities except Brisbane will experience temps above its average maximum for December. https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1205670711156789248 As the ABC reports, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts that, inland, the country may even break the heat record for the hottest day ever recorded. It currently stands at 50.7 degrees at Oodnadatta in South Australia, and dates back to January 1960. The warmest temp ever recorded in December is 49.5 degrees, which Birdsville in Queensland hit on Christmas Eve in 1972. BOM has already predicted that this summer will be warmer and drier than average, like 2019 overall — and that those conditions will continue well into 2020.
Australia is getting accustomed to life without single-use plastic bags, but Europe is going one step further, with the European Union today voting to ban ten single-use plastic items by 2021. The European Parliament first drew up the plan in May last year, which is designed to specifically combat the growing amount of plastic that's clogging up the world's oceans. The ban will target ten items that are most frequently found on beaches, including plastic cutlery, plates, cups, stirrers and straws, as well as cotton buds and balloon sticks. This comes after researchers predicted that plastic will outweigh fish in our oceans by 2050. By 2029, all EU members will also be required to collect 90 percent of single-use plastic beverage bottles for recycling, while awareness campaigns will ramp up for the reduced consumption of other single-use products and countries will need to fund the public clean-up of litter — such as tobacco filters and fishing great — from beaches and oceans. A year later, in 2030, the EU is aiming to make all of its plastic packaging reusable or recyclable. You can dive into the nitty gritty of its plan here (if you please). The European Parliament passed the ban on Wednesday, March 27, and member states will have two years years to implement the legislation into their own national law. It is the latest recognition that the war on waste is one that needs serious attention. The British parliament announced plans to go plastic-free early last year, France will ban plastic plates, cups and cutlery from 2020, while Hobart will become the first Australian city to ban single-use plastics. And that's on top of the flurry of supermarkets, big name brands, well-known food chains and furniture behemoths making their own commitments to reduce, recycle or eradicate single-use plastics from their operations. The European Union's single-use plastic ban will be introduced by 2021.
M.I.A just added another notch to her rebellious belt, calling in Julian Assange to open her gig at NYC's Terminal 5 via a live Skype feed. In what some might say is a canny publicity move (her fourth album, Matangi, has just been released today), the performer took her fans by surprise when Assange appeared on an enormous screen over the stage. After briefly lamenting he couldn't be at the show due to his ongoing confinement in London's Ecuadorian embassy, the WikiLeaks founder told the American audience "your government sucks", stressing the seriousness of the sinister relationship between government and media in the west. Assange spoke for just over ten typically glitchy Skype minutes, declaring that "we are in a battle" and stressing to his listeners that truly caring means getting personally involved, which in turn could lead to an enormous collective power. He also expressed his admiration for the politically passionate English/Sri-Lankan artist, saying “I think she is the most courageous woman working in western music.” Assange actually helped write one of the tracks on M.I.A's new album, 'aTENTion', for which he seemingly hacked the word 'tent'. They have previously collaborated in his promotion of M.I.A's free 2011 mix tape Vicki Leekx, and she later contributed music to Assange's TV program The World Tomorrow. You can watch an audience member's recording of the unexpected address below. The sound isn't great, but if you fiddle around with the volume levels you can catch most of it. Via New York Times and Spin.
Martha Marcy May Marlene is a moving psychological thriller detailing the plight of Martha (Elizabeth Olson), who has recently spent two years living with an abusive cult and its deceivingly charming leader (John Hawkes). After her escape, she reunites with her sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson) and brother-in-law (Hugh Dancy). She attempts to mould her life back to routine, yet is unwilling to divulge details of her mysterious and lengthy disappearance. Despite her family's concerns and inquiries, Martha's history is still kept hidden in darkness and the film pivots around the haunting memories of her ordeal. When such memories begin to fuel her paranoia and the fear that she may be recaptured, Martha becomes a victim of her past as her concept of reality becomes distorted with immense vigour. A dark and magnetic exploration of human consciousness, Martha Marcy May Marlene exposes the unturned side of humanity that we fear to recognise. The film is directed and written by Sean Durkin, who won the esteemed award for "Best Director" at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011, and opens in cinemas February 2. Courtesy of Fox Searchlight, Concrete Playground has twenty double passes to giveaway. To win tickets to Martha Marcy May Marlene, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au by 5pm on Friday, January 21. https://youtube.com/watch?v=KFu-zcQ7Mh4
See great movies in the great outdoors at Melbourne's newest openair cinema. A free initiative of the City of Boroondara, Summertime Cinema will be popping up in parks around the eastern suburbs on Saturday evenings in the lead up to Christmas. Gather your friends, pack up a picnic basket and find yourself a spot on the grass. The season begins this Saturday, December 5 with a screening of Labyrinth at Greythorn Park in North Balwyn, closing out a year of total Bowie obsession. The following week, Riversdale Park in Camberwell will showcase the classic Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical Shall We Dance, complete with pre-show entertainment from the Hawthorn Band. Finally, it's back to the '80s at Central Gardens in Hawthorn, where the program wraps up with Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
The Church Street space once home to the Great Britain Hotel has been given a new lease on life, and has been reborn as multi-faceted good times haunt, Harlow. Offering a little something for all occasions, the new-look pub now boasts a ground floor bar and dining space, a sprawling split-level beer garden and a neon-drenched basement bar that's heavy on the grunge. With room for 250, the dog-friendly courtyard comes decked out in festoon lighting and lively street art, with a separate entrance for those with four-legged mates in tow. The music offering is as diverse as the space itself, with weekend DJs rounding out a broad-ranging soundtrack through the week. More lively flavours come courtesy of the kitchen, where the focus is on cleverly rejigged pub classics. On the menu, openers might include small bites like mini crab doughnuts or duck and bacon sausage rolls, leading into supporting acts like a decadent steak sanga, loaded with barbecue sauce, swiss cheese and maple bacon. A hefty vegan burger and a smoked beer and cheese hot dog make an appearance, too, while larger groups might be lured by the barbecue option, tucking into a feast of charry treats hot off the grill. And downstairs, with its old-school music videos and low booths, the moodily lit basement bar proves an ideal setting for a cocktail offering that references the different tunes you'll hear throughout the pub each week. Sips like the California Girls — blending citrus vodka, peach liqueur, orange juice and pinot gris — bring the summery pop vibes, while the likes of Boyz-N-The-Hood, crafted with Jack Daniels, Apple Jack, Fireball and apple juice, feature in the menu's hip hop-inspired lineup. Find Harlow at 447 Church Street, Richmond.
When it comes to sharing movies that've recently premiered at Cannes with Australian audiences, timing is kind to Sydney Film Festival. One fest is in May, the other is in June — and SFF makes the most of it. Indeed, in 2025, its main program announcement was packed with 15 films that would hit Cannes, then Sydney. Next, Eddington joined the lineup, doing the same. The event's closing-night pick Splitsville falls into that category as well. Now comes a late drop of nine additional Australian-premiere titles that'll get the Harbour City's projectors whirring, most of which have also only recently debuted in France. Both Sentimental Value and Sîrat are heading to Sydney after collecting prizes in Cannes. The first nabbed the Cannes Grand Prix for filmmaker Joachim Trier, who reunites with his The Worst Person in the World lead Renate Reinsve (Presumed Innocent), and also has Stellan Skarsgård (Andor) and Elle Fanning (A Complete Unknown) in his cast. The Morocco-set second film picked up a Cannes Jury Prize, and boasts Pedro Almodóvar (The Room Next Door) as a producer. Both are playing SFF as special presentations. Or, audiences can look forward to the Dardenne brothers' (Tori and Lokita) Young Mothers, which collected Cannes' Screenplay Prize — and Cannes Queer Palme and Best Actress-recipient The Little Sister. Plus, joining Reinsve, Skarsgård and Fanning among the big-name stars on Sydney Film Festival's expanded program: Gael García Bernal (Holland) and Joel Edgerton (Dark Matter). In Magellan, which is directed by Filipino great Lav Diaz (Phantosmia), Bernal plays the title character. As for Edgerton, the Australian actor pops up in The Plague, where peer pressure at a summer camp drives the narrative. SFF has also added Two Prosecutors and Eagles of the Republic, each of which screened in competition at Cannes. Sergei Loznitsa (The Invasion) is behind Two Prosecutors, which takes place in 1937 under Stalin's rule. Tarik Saleh (Cairo Conspiracy) helms Eagles of the Republic, another of Sydney Film Festival's movies set in a complicated political climate — this time as part of a satirical thriller about an Egyptian film star. It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley debuted at Sundance 2025, not Cannes, but is also an eagerly anticipated newcomer on the lineup. That's what happens when documentarian Amy Berg (Janis: Little Boy Blue, West of Memphis) turns her attention to the late, great singer almost three decades after his tragic passing. "The festival starts in just two days, but we think its never too late to add the most-exciting new films to the festival, fresh from their international premieres," said SFF Festival Director Nashen Moodley. "From sweeping historical epics and urgent political dramas to intimate portraits and unforgettable performances, these films continue our commitment to showcasing the most exciting cinema from around the world." Sydney Film Festival 2025 takes place from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information and tickets, head to the festival's website.
One day, glowing plants might provide enough energy to light up entire buildings. At least, that's the hope of Antony Evans, Kyle Taylor and Omri Amirav-Drory. They have the science to justify it, and the support behind their Kickstarter campaign to attempt its realisation. Their plan has been made possible by developments in synthetic biology over the past 30 or so years. Back in 1986, scientists cultivated the very first radiant seeds but discovered that their effectiveness required the addition of luciferin (the pigment that illuminates fireflies). Three years later, the luciferase-luciferin gene was sequenced. However, it wasn't until 2010 that researchers at the State University of New York managed to add the gene to plants, giving them a dim glow. Around the same time, on the other side of the Atlantic, the University of Cambridge's iGem team was recycling luciferase to create bacteria that beamed with the ferocity of Kryptonite. Fast-forward three years, and the aforementioned trio of scientific talents is building on these developments to hatch a plan that has the dramatic reduction of CO2 at its heart. They've already raised the $65,000 necessary to achieving their initial aim — the cultivation of Arabidopsis plants. Now, they're on the cusp of reaching their first stretch goal — $400,000, which will enable the development of glowing roses. So far, 6,981 backers have committed funds, to the tune of $395,135. Supporters who pledge $40 or more are promised a batch of seeds, meaning they'll be able to grow their own glowing plants at home. $150 or more buys a bioluminescent rose. The project has received the backing of some of the highest fliers in the fields of Genetics, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, including George Church (Head of Genetics at Harvard Medical School), Andrew Hessel (Autodesk Distinguished Research Fellow) and Austen Heinz (Founder of Cambrian Genomics). [Via Inhabitat]
It might be the middle of winter, but that hasn't deterred Melbourne's newest frozen dessert destination from coming in hot. Opening in Hawthorn over the weekend, Kōri is the new boutique Japanese ice creamery from LuxBite's Bernard Chu and Young Chef of the Year 2022 finalist Joane Yeoh. It's a truly sweet meeting of minds, with Yeoh's resume spanning the likes of Tokyo's Chocolate Academy and Michelin-starred restaurant Narisawa, and her collaborator a longtime legend of the Melbourne dessert scene. [caption id="attachment_864293" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shannon McGrath[/caption] Kōri is scooping over 20 hand-crafted ice cream flavours, both dairy- and plant-based, with a penchant for the bold and innovative. Classic Japanese flavours are reimagined with locally-sourced ingredients, with seasonal creations to sit alongside year-round signatures on the menu. On the starting lineup, you'll find heroes like matcha and pistachio, hojicha (roasted green tea) and hazelnut, chestnut and rum, strawberry shortcake and a frosty take on the Japanese custard dessert 'purin'. Meanwhile, dairy-free diners can look forward to options like yuzu, fuji apple and vanilla tofu. And you can bet there'll be wild new flavours constantly hitting the menu, fresh from the brainstorming minds of Chu and Yeoh. [caption id="attachment_864291" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shannon McGrath[/caption] The Glenferrie Road space itself also pays homage to Kōri's Japanese influences, with a striking fitout by leading Melbourne studio Architects EAT. Bold orange and pink hues down one side of the room have been carefully played against the sleek metal and neutral tones of the other, giving the illusion that you're stepping into some 2D art poster. Find Kōri Ice Cream at 659 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn. It's open from 12–10.30pm Sunday to Thursday, and from 12–11pm Friday and Saturday. Top Image: Shannon McGrath
In an age in which we spend more time looking at screens than we do looking at each other, the organisers of a monthly public meet-up are trying to encourage a little old-school human connection. Held once a month in cities around the world, including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Eye Gazing is exactly what it sounds like: a group of strangers meet in a public place in order to create a silent bond. The events are run by The Human Connection Movement, a group that aims to change the way that people interact for the better. "We're here to empower people to stay open and lead with an open heart whilst maintaining authenticity, courage and awareness," reads a description on the event page for the group's upcoming Melbourne meet. It's set to take place in Fitzroy Gardens on Saturday, January 7. It's free to attend, although you will need to register online. Image: The Human Connection Movement/YouTube.
Winter might still be months away, and the final series of Game of Thrones too, but there is an event coming to Melbourne that will tide fans over — at least temporarily. Call your banners and get ready for a medieval-style banquet, all in the vein of GoT. Prepare for a meal that not only replicates the fascinating and often terrifying world of GoT that so many have come to depend on for meaning in life, but will include a share-style three-course feast, a selection of wine, bubbles and beer, and some murderous entertainment. While many details of the event are still shrouded in mystery (much like the eventual outcome of the series), two sittings will take place on Saturday, March 23: for lunch from 12–3pm, and for dinner from 7–10pm. The meal's location is yet to be revealed, but the specific theme is no secret. Taking its cues from a particularly notorious episode of HBO's hit series, this immersive banquet will be styled after the Red Wedding. Yes, you can assume there'll be some recreations of scenes from George R. R. Martin's saga — although here's hoping there's no regicide at this one. If, like Jon Snow, you know nothing, then you're in for an entertaining feast. Costumes are welcome, but no pretend (or real) weaponry. As for tickets, they'll cost you a few gold dragons — or $232.09 per person. The Red Wedding banquet will happen in Melbourne on Saturday, March 23, with tickets on sale now.
With the temperature and acidity of the oceans gradually rising comes the possibility of the extinction of the colourful, gorgeous coral reefs that are home to thousands of sea creatures. So, MUSA (Museum Subacuático de Arte) was created in 2009 in an attempt to preserve the precious coral reefs, using the ocean floor near Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Punta Nizuc, Mexico as a museum for sculptures that would also help sustain life beneath the surface. Senior TED Fellow and artist Colleen Flanigan's innovative Biorock sculptures have been chosen to become part of the project. Flanigan's metal sculptures are designed to counter the damage already done by global warming and pollution and regenerate the coral by raising the pH level of the surrounding water and help them acquire sufficient calcium carbonate for the coral's exoskeleton. The Biorock structures will also provide the living reefs with an alkaline environment that will increase resistance to environmental stressors. $15,000 is needed to fund Flanigan's underwater installations in MUSA, so she's kickstarted a Kickstarter account. $12,542 has been donated to date, but there is still a ways to go before the April 12th deadline. If you donate just a dollar, Flanigan will even say your name as she plants a polyp — every little bit helps.
Aussies are ditching the overdone, stuffy dinner parties of yesteryear and instead are opting for bougie elevated cocktail nights at home with their besties. We're socialising more than in previous years but, with the rising cost of living, we're looking for more economical ways of hanging out with our friends. One way to do it is to host luxurious cocktail parties at home. Are you part of the trend? Read on to get some tips to elevate your next cocktail party. CONCOCT THE COCKTAIL LIST You can't have a cocktail party without cocktails. To keep things easy for you (and interesting for your guests), stick with a single spirit for your shindig. Bourbon can be a foundation for many cocktails like old fashioneds, manhattans, whisky sours or highballs. Vodka is the basis for numerous cocktail recipes like a classic cosmo, martini, bloody mary or lemon drop. Equally versatile is gin with cocktails like gimlets, Tom Collins, negronis and, of course, gin and tonic on its repertoire. Aim to prebatch your ingredients and garnishes so you can spend more time socialising with your guests. One garnish can work for many cocktails. For instance, bourbon cocktails work exceptionally well with orange peel garnish. CURATE A MENU Tasty cocktails deserve equally tasty food. It doesn't need to be complicated, especially because cocktail parties are better suited to canapes and charcuterie boards. So crack out the cheese knives and small plates and set up grazing stations throughout your party space. You don't need to bust your weekly budget on ingredients. Stock up on cheese, crackers, cured meats, fresh fruits, olives and crusty bread. Don't forget dips and spreads, and you'll be golden. Keep in mind any dietaries your mates may have, and don't mix bread and crackers with the cheese and meat to ensure any coeliacs among you are happy. CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE What's a party without the right vibes? Get onto Spotify and create the playlist to perfect your cocktail party theme. Are you going with minimalist chic? Maybe you should load up on lo-fi beats. Are you thinking more of a luxe old-world vibe? Jazz is your friend. Or perhaps you're pushing a colourful midday sesh. If so, pop music should be on the tracklist. Depending on the vibe you are going for, lighting can make a major impact on the atmosphere. No one wants to chill with overhead lights showing everything. If you don't have dimmers on your lights, you can create a soothing vibe with fairy lights, lamps or candles — just be careful where you set up candles. To let your guests know the party is over, subtly blow out the candles and turn off the music. The vibes will be over, and so will the party mood. Keen to host a luxurious night of your own? We are giving our readers the chance to host a luxury cocktail party for up to 40 guests. Check out the competition here. Images: Susannah Townsend, Woodford Reserve, Getty Images
Here's a scary statistic: in Australia alone, three million coffee pods go into the bin daily. Over eight days, that's enough trash to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Wish your caffeine habit weren't such a messy strain on the planet? We'd like you to meet Tripod Coffee's brand new coffee capsule. Not only biodegradable, these coffee pods are certified compostable, too. Plus, they fit into your Nespresso machine (or the like). After making yourself a brew, simply toss the pod into your green bin, and it'll break down within 90 days at a commercial composting facility — this handy diagram shows how the pod's transformation rate compares to traditional coffee pods. "Traditional capsules are aluminium or plastic with foil lids, but ours are a compostable biopolymer, with a paper lid," says Ed Cowan, who co-founded Tripod with fellow cricket star Steve Cazzulino while in between matches. For the unacquainted, biopolymer is a macromolecule (like protein) that grows inside a living organism. It comes from the Earth, so it's happy to make its return, without leaving a trace behind. That's why Tripod's capsules are different to most others. Sure, there are plenty of other biodegradable pods around, but most of them aren't compostable. "Every compostable capsule by definition is biodegradable," says Cowan. "But not every biodegradable capsule is compostable." The first of Tripod's coffees in the new capsules is The Green Gatsby, a 100% certified organic coffee from Papua New Guinea, and over the next few months, the brand's six other signature blends will follow suit. Find these mean green waste-fighting machines online here. Learn more about Tripod Coffee on their website.
It might highlight the best in TV as well as film, but there's nothing small about the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards, or the festival that's sprung up around it. In 2024, in tandem with its move to the Gold Coast, the accolades unveiled a multi-day program of talks, events and screenings around the ceremony, all celebrating Aussie movies and shows, plus the talent behind them. In 2025, AACTA Festival is returning — for a longer run and with a bigger program. 2024's four-day, 70-plus-event lineup has been eclipsed by 2025's five-day bill with more than 100 events. HOTA, Home of the Arts is AACTA Festival's base again. The dates for your diary: Wednesday, February 5–Sunday, February 9 for the fest, and Friday, February 7 for the main awards ceremony. The bulk of the movies and TV shows nominated for this year's AACTAs won't be announced until Saturday, December 7, which means that more AACTA Festival lineup details will arrive afterwards; however, the program revealed so far is already impressive. One big highlight: getting the Working Dog team, aka Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Michael Hirsh and Rob Sitch, together for an in-conversation session that's bound to touch upon everything from The Castle, Frontline, Thank God You're Here and Utopia to The Dish, The Hollowmen and Have You Been Paying Attention?. The Dish will also be on the screening program, and the Working Dog team will receive the prestigious AACTA Longford Lyell Award. Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser, who won an Oscar for Dune and is highly tipped for another one for Dune: Part Two, is another big-name inclusion, chatting about his Hollywood work. Also in the same category: John Seale, who took home an Academy Award for The English Patient, and was nominated for Witness, Rain Man, Cold Mountain and Mad Max: Fury Road. Attendees can also look forward to authors Trent Dalton and Holly Ringland returning from 2024's lineup, chatting about Boy Swallows Universe and The Lost Flowers of Alice on the small screen, respectively; a dive into the Heartbreak High soundtrack; a panel on queer storytelling with RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under season two winner Spankie Jackzon and Deadloch's Nina Oyama; and a session with First Nations filmmakers. Australia's contribution to the horror genre, tunes from the How to Make Gravy movie performed live, Dani Im's Eurovision experience, a Taylor Swift symposium: they're part of AACTA Festival as well. And if you're keen to watch movies, Gettin' Square followup Spit will enjoy its Queensland premiere, complete with star David Wenham (Fake) chatting about the feature's journey; Looney Tunes: The Day The Earth Blew Up will make its Australian debut, at Movie World, of course; and upcoming action film Homeward with Nathan Phillips (Kid Snow) and Jake Ryan (Territory) will take viewers behind the scenes. "AACTA Festival is a one-of-a-kind event that connects and celebrates our entire screen industry. With over 100 events led by our industry's best, it is a truly transformative experience for anyone passionate about the screen industry, offering an unparalleled opportunity to explore career pathways and connect with some of the brightest minds in film and television," said AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella about 2025's lineup. "This year, we're especially excited to shine a spotlight on the resurgence of music in screen storytelling. With an incredible program of events featuring world-class composers, songwriters and music supervisors, we're not just celebrating the artistry of soundtracks and scores; we're also providing invaluable development opportunities for aspiring creatives to learn, network and advance their careers. AACTA Festival is where inspiration meets opportunity, and we can't wait to see the next generation of Australian screen talent emerge." [caption id="attachment_955328" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] [caption id="attachment_927965" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix © 2023[/caption] AACTA Festival will run from Wednesday, February 5–Sunday, February 9, 2025 at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise Gold Coast. For further details, head to the fest's website.
Escape to the South of France with a visit to this chic bistro located in the heart of Richmond. Headed up by chef Peter Roddy, Noir is a charming neighbourhood gem with a buzzing energy and seriously good French fare. Kick things off with a few oysters ($5 each) and a French 75 ($24) before tucking into entrees like chicken liver parfait ($20), beef tartare ($19) and Mooloolaba prawn tortellini with shellfish bisque ($24). For mains, expect dishes like caramelised Atlantic scallops with squid ink and cuttlefish risotto ($36), confit duck with cider potato fondant and spiced lentils ($40) and scotch fillet with frites and sauce au poivre (peppercorn sauce) for $45. Or, opt for the ever-changing tasting menu displayed on the blackboard, priced at $80 per person. While Noir is known for its contemporary (and fairly pricey) French dishes, it does have one affordable feast that's hard to pass up. The super-popular seafood lunch special will see you sitting down to two courses, plus a glass of top-quality wine, for just $45. If you've got a little time (and a few extra dollars) to spare, you can bump that up to two hours of free-flowing wine for an additional $30 per person. For drinks, there's a concise cocktail list and some local beers on offer. When it comes to wine, though, you can expect a lengthy list of Aussie and French drops, including a few amber and skin-contact vinos.
Is heading back in time as easy as entering venues across Australia when Ministry of Sound hits town? In April 2025, it will be. Another blast from the past is on its way — and another excuse to spend a couple of nights journeying back a few decades just by stepping onto the dance floor — thanks to MoS's returning (and massive) Testament parties. Whether you lived through the 90s rave scene, spent every weekend enjoying club life in the 00s or just wish you were old enough to have ticked both boxes, Ministry of Sound will take you there in 2025 — again. The Testament events toured Australia in both 2023 and 2024, and keep proving a smash. On 2025's run, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are scoring both the 90s and 00s events, while the parties are also making one-day-only stops on the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. Ministry of Sound itself was around through both eras, so you couldn't be in better hands to get retro via old-school 90s and 00s bangers. Each evening is devoted to one of two decades, so you'll need to attend both if you want to make shapes to tunes from 1990 through to 2009. It's a choose-your-own-adventure type of affair, however, so fans of late 20th-century beats can attend the session dedicated to 90s house, rave, trance and garage tracks if that's all that you're keen on — and lovers of 00s electro and breaks get their own shindig. The DJ lineup is headlined by international acts such as Paul Oakenfold, Roger Sanchez, Felix Da Housecat, Graeme Park, Krafty Kuts, Plump DJs, Smokin Jo and Utah Saints. Australia's own John Course, Sgt Slick, Minx and Mark Dynamix are also on the bill, alongside over 60 other names across the tour. Australian tour dates range from Friday, April 4–Sunday April 13, with the gigs taking over White Bay Power Station in Sydney, The Timber Yard in Melbourne, Brisbane's Superordinary, Perth's The Court, Miami Marketta on the Gold Coast and The Station on the Sunshine Coast. Ministry of Sound: Testament 2025 Dates and Venues Sydney: Friday, April 4 — 90s — White Bay Power Station Saturday, April 5 —00s — White Bay Power Station Melbourne: Saturday, April 5 — 90s — The Timber Yard Saturday, April 12 — 00s — The Timber Yard Brisbane: Friday, April 4 — 00s — Superordinary Friday, April 11 — 90s — Superordinary Gold Coast: Sunday, April 6 — 90s — Miami Marketta Sunshine Coast: Sunday, April 13 — 00s — The Station Perth: Sunday, April 6 — 00s — The Court Sunday April 13 — 90s — The Court Ministry of Sound: Testament 2025 Lineup Paul Oakenfold Roger Sanchez Felix Da Housecat Graeme Park Krafty Kut Plump DJs Smokin Jo Utah Saints John Course Sgt Slick Minx Mark Dynamix Adam O Agent 86 A-Tonez Alan Thompson Andy Murphy Andy Van Annabelle Gasper Alex Taylor Barking Boy Biz-E Beaver Brewster Bee Boogs Chantal Chris Fraser Craig Obey Chris Wilson Daniel Farley De Saint Elroy Ember Funky Col Goodwill Groove Terminator Graham Mandroules Grant Smillie Greg Sara Greg Churchill Gus Da Hoodrat Jace Disgrace Jade Jaime Doom Jason Digby Jayse Knipe Jen E Johnny Gleeson Kate Monroe Kid Kenobi Ken Cloud Lorna Clarkson Matt Kitshon Matt Nugnet B2B Jason Morley Mike Callendar Ming D Miss Doodes Nick Field Nick Law Phil Simmonds Phil Smart Randomplay Robin Knight Rousey Sam Hill Simon Caldwell Simon Digby Soren Steven Alkins Steve Lind Sudeep Sugar Ray Sunshine The Impossibles U-Go-B Young Jase Ministry of Sound: Testament 2025 will tour Australia in April. For further details, and to buy tickets from 10am AEST on Thursday, November 7, head to the event's website. Images: Rachel Rachel / Ashlea Caygill.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. BELFAST Warm, cosy, rosy, charming, feel-good: typically when a film spins its story during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, none of these words apply. But with Belfast, Kenneth Branagh has made a movie set in its eponymous city when the Protestant-versus-Catholic violence was a constant sight, and also helmed a feature that's about a childhood spent with that conflict as a backdrop. It's an approach that only works because Branagh draws from his own experiences — the film isn't a play-by-play memoir, but it's also clearly personal. Here, it's 1969, when the actor-turned-filmmaker would've been nine years old. The movie's protagonist, Buddy (first-timer Jude Hill), is that exact age, in fact. And with the beginnings of a three-decade-long sectarian fracas bubbling and boiling around him, he navigates the usual age-appropriate antics, such as school, crushes, doting grandparents with ailing health and a potential big move. The Troubles are a constant sight in the largely monochrome-hued film, too, and the reason Buddy's that parents are contemplating relocating to England, something they wouldn't have dreamed of otherwise. Pa (Jamie Dornan, The Tourist) already spends most of his time working there as a joiner, leaving Ma (Caitríona Balfe, Outlander) at home with Buddy and his elder brother Will (Lewis McAskie, Here Before) — with assistance from the boys' Granny (Judi Dench, Six Minutes to Midnight) and Pop (Ciarán Hinds, The Man in the Hat) — and he's been offered a new job that comes with a house. The violence swirling through Belfast has already made it to the family's street, to their hounded Catholic neighbours and, when Pa refuses to join the fray, put them on their fellow Protestants' hit list. Shifting to London (or perhaps further, to Sydney or Vancouver) would provide a new start and a safer future, but leaving all they've ever known isn't a simple decision. Belfast's adult characters are only known as Buddy would know them, such is Branagh's commitment to seeing this story, time and place through a child's eyes as he once did. And, while there's much debate to be had between Pa and Ma about whether to go or stay, the film is filled with its young lead's joys and worries — with the prospect of never again seeing the Catholic classmate he swoons over high among the boy's concerns. Belfast isn't short on context, however, though there's zero chance that it could be mistaken for a meaty interrogation of The Troubles. Branagh weaves in examples of how the push-and-pull of the conflict that's inescapable in his neighbourhood every day, Molotov cocktails, broken windows, blazes, riots and all, puts Buddy and his family in the middle. Still, a magical view of childhood remains, including when Buddy gets thrust into the thick of the fray — where, after he returns home with looted supermarket wares, his mother marches him back to return the stolen products amid the chaos. Branagh also indulges in an origin story, perhaps inspired by his stint in the Marvel Cinematic Universe directing the first Thor film back in 2011 (Buddy is even seen reading a Thor comic). Escaping The Troubles as much as anyone can in Belfast, the writer/director's on-screen surrogate adores seeing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and A Christmas Carol also features — scenes that come to life in colour, unlike the bulk of the picture around them. In the process, Branagh helps trace the early steps of his own desire to become a thespian and filmmaker, which has led to everything from Shakespeare adaptations such as Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet, to doing double duty in front of and behind the lens with Hercule Poirot duo Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. He's played Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' Gilderoy Lockhart, helmed Disney's live-action Cinderella, gotten villainous in Tenet, and of course, enjoyed an applauded on-stage career as well, all stemming from those first rapturous experiences watching when he was growing up. Read our full review. HERE OUT WEST Western Sydney could use a love letter right now, and that tribute arrives in Here Out West. The product of eight up-and-coming screenwriters from the area, it celebrates a place that has spent much of the past year garnering attention for a reason no one wanted: thanks to the tighter rules applied to the region during Sydney's four-month stretch of stay-at-home conditions in 2021, it was home to New South Wales' strictest lockdown of the pandemic to-date. Thankfully, COVID-19 isn't this movie's focus. Instead, as told in nine languages — Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Kurdish, Tagalog, Turkish, Vietnamese, Spanish and English — and helmed by five female filmmakers, Here Out West dwells in everyday lives. It champions by seeing and recognising, and by trumpeting voices that have always been there but are infrequently given a microphone. Opening shots of suburban houses and looping highways set the scene: viewers aren't journeying to an Aussie beach or the nation's parched outback expanse, aka two of the prevailing visions of this sunburnt, sea-girt continent on-screen. Rather, Here Out West unfurls its octet of intertwined vignettes in spaces far more ordinary — not to downplay the importance of surveying western Sydney, but to clearly note that these are its daily playgrounds. It's here that mothers have babies, neighbours look after the kids next door, grandmothers worry about their grandchildren, dads struggle to connect with their sons, and sport and food are among the ways that people come together. It's here that adults bicker among themselves over love, and with their parents about their futures. It's where lives begin and end, and where folks with dreams both big and modest also try to start anew. And yes, all of these scenarios are covered by the film's narrative. Initially, Here Out West spends time with Nancy (Geneviève Lemon, The Tourist), who takes care of her eight-year-old neighbour Amirah (debutant Mia-Lore Bayeh), but wasn't actually planning to help out today. She has a newborn granddaughter to meet — one that the authorities are planning to take away, so Nancy makes a drastic decision that'll ripple throughout the community across the movie's one-day timeframe. In the film's second segment, hospital carpark security guard Jorge (fellow first-timer Christian Ravello) is brought into the wider story, and also gets a snapshot chapter of his own. His instalment then intersects with friends Rashid (Rahel Romahn, Moon Rock for Monday), Dino (Thuso Lekwape, Book Week) and Robi (Arka Das, Babyteeth), who run through the streets arguing about Rashid's cousin. Next, their section links in with Ashmita (Leah Vandenberg, The Hunting) and her dying Bengali-speaking father back at the local hospital. Returning to specific spots comes with territory, because it comes with living anywhere; paths cross, people are drawn to the same busy and central locations, and some facilities — such as Here Out West's pivotal hospital — are always a hive of activity in any community. That truth continues to drive the film as it meets Kurdish refugees Keko (De Lovan Zandy) and Xoxe (Befrin Axtjärn Jackson), who are hoping to make a new beginning that still involves his penchant for music and her skills hand-weaving carpets, before jumping to Tuan (Khoi Trinh) and his brother Andy (Brandon Nguyen), who possess varying ideas about what it means to be Vietnamese Australian. Then comes a glimpse at nurse Roxanne's (Christine Milo, It's a Cult!) day as she works a double shift and misses her family in The Philippines. And, there's also Winnie (Gabrielle Chan, Hungry Ghosts) and Angel (Jing-Xuan Chan, Neighbours) as the mother and daughter close their Chinese restaurant for the last time. Read our full review. JACKASS FOREVER Older men, same ol' tricks and dicks: that's Jackass Forever. The fifth film in the prank-fuelled TV-to-movie franchise isn't afraid of letting it show, either, just as it's never been afraid of flashing around male genitalia. No one in Jackass' crew of comic daredevils is scared of that much — or, if they are, they're more frightened of not challenging themselves alongside their buddies — so the proud and purposeful attitude flaunted in the flick's title and usual formula is thoroughly unsurprising. Twenty-two years have passed since Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Dave Englund, Wee Man, Danger Ehren and Preston Lacy first turned outlandish stunts and practical jokes into an MTV hit, but age hasn't wearied their passion or camaraderie. It also hasn't dampened the gang's fondness for showing their junk, but there's something sweet here among all the penises: the fact that time inescapably passes but doing stupid shit with your mates sparks immortal joy. Jackass Forever is stupid, because the kinds of gags that Knoxville and company love are profoundly idiotic — including the film's opening gambit, where a green Godzilla-esque creature tramples a city but it's really Pontius' package painted like a monster. Also inherently silly: using the cast's bodies to prop up skateboarding ramps, a Knoxville-hosted game show that penalises wrong answers with a whack to the sack, exploding a port-a-potty while Steve-O is using it and a contraption made of harnesses that simultaneously gives three people wedgies. The ridiculous bits go on, including lighting farts underwater and drinking milk on a moving carousel to the point of vomiting. Another reason that Jackass is forever for this troupe: they're still as juvenile now, even though they're all over or approaching 50, as they ever were. Describing Jackass' risky skits and scenes never comes close to watching them, but how funny anyone finds this franchise depends on individual senses of humour and, sometimes, upon your mood on any given day. Regardless, there's always been an art to its follies, as captured on camera by Jeff Tremaine, the series' longstanding director, and also its co-creator with Knoxville and Her filmmaker Spike Jonze. Jackass' slapstick credentials carry on the traditions of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and The Three Stooges, but lewder and grosser, obviously. The saga's commitment to documenting not just the stunts and pranks themselves, but the setups, attitudes in advance and reactions afterwards — the key interplay between its perpetrators, victims and spectators, too — also sees it deconstruct the brand of comedy it sports as it goes. These sense-defying jesters show their working, in other words, and share the thrills it inspires. No wonder they don't ever want it to stop. Mortality does hang over Jackass Forever, however, as seen in a number of ways — starting with Knoxville's grey hair. It isn't always so strikingly silvery, and he's also shown talking about not wanting to show his bald spot, which Jonze then rushes in to cover with black spray paint. But when the crew's ringleader does let his wintry-hued tresses show, it's the best visual representation possible of how these guys will be adoring all things Jackass till they die. Well that, and the plethora of injuries suffered, including Knoxville's concussion, brain haemorrhage and bone fractures from a bull stunt. Jackass' ridiculous men can't escape the passing years and its impact upon their bodies if they wanted to, but it clearly makes them savour what they're doing. Read our full review. MOONFALL Does Roland Emmerich hate earth? Asking for not just a friend, but for the residents of an entire planet that the filmmaker just can't stop blowing up, devastating via CGI chaos and threatening with its end in his movies. Or, does he really love it, and has committed to the cinematic version of negging — tearing this pale blue dot down again and again so that his always paper-thin characters can swoop in to save the day, and also somehow seduce thankful viewers? Either way, Hollywood's go-to disaster-porn helmer is running out of moves, after a career spent blighting the globe in Independence Day, the terrible 1998 American Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012 and Independence Day: Resurgence. He does what he long has with Moonfall, of course, but with a space twist and while also noticeably ripping off elements of Alien and Prometheus. Moonfall begins in 2011, on a Space Shuttle mission, when it seems as if astronauts Brian Harper (Patrick Wilson, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) and Jo Fowler (Halle Berry, Bruised) might first find themselves in a Gravity knockoff. Something dark, fast and strange swarms them while Harper is out in the inky nothingness working on a satellite, leading to a tragedy, but no one believes his version of events — including Fowler. Ten years later, he's considered a has-been, she's still at NASA and, when conspiracy theorist KC Houseman (John Bradley, Game of Thrones) learns that the moon has been knocked off its orbit, they're the only ones who can save the day. Harper is also one of the only people willing to listen to Houseman's wild claim that the moon is actually an artificial megastructure, which is linked to its sudden descent upon earth. There's a word for folks who share Houseman's beliefs: 'megastructuralist', a term that viewers will never forget given how many times that Emmerich, Harald Kloser (also the film's composer) and Spenser Cohen (Extinction) work it into their screenplay. It's all that Bradley seems to say, and Moonfall clings to it like its filmmaker is desperately trying to one-up the hollow earth theory seen in Godzilla vs Kong, a better take on creature features than his past attempt. In general, Moonfall's script plays like a grab-bag of better elements from other space, disaster and sci-fi flicks all thrown together and spun like a gyroscope, but its nods in Ridley Scott and the Alien franchise's direction couldn't be more blatant. Indeed, thanks to its obvious pilfering, Moonfall often appears to have a better movie lurking inside — an interesting-enough space film erroneously packaged with all of Emmerich's standard world-ending mayhem — but only if you can somehow forget that one of the best pictures ever made got there first. Emmerich's latest would definitely be improved it it blew away some of the time it spends charting the fallout on earth, where "city-sized moon pieces will rain down", Harper and Fowler both have sons to save, and the thoroughly bored look on Charlie Plummer's (Words on Bathroom Walls) face as the just-imprisoned-but-good-at-heart Sonny Harper says everything. But then this film wouldn't have been made by this director, who refuses to embrace the ridiculousness of everything he's thrusting onto the screen and sticks with his stock-standard self-serious vibe. The premise, the writing, each easily foreseeable twist — it's all ludicrous, but played far too straight, although that doesn't result in anything but by-the-numbers performances by Wilson and Berry, and a gratingly one-note turn from Bradley. Perhaps Moonfall's biggest feat is making that other recent flick about a falling celestial object, Don't Look Up, look better than it is in comparison. Well that, and owning its silliness exactly once, in its moniker, because Moonfall certainly does describe exactly what happens. INDIA SWEETS AND SPICES India Sweets and Spices sports a clunky title, but a descriptive one. The saccharine and the zesty — the formulaic and spirited, too — combine in this coming-of-age comedy about an Indian American college freshman returning home from her no-holds-barred campus life for the summer, and being expected to slot back into her parents' and culture's expectations and traditions as if she'd never left. That quickly unhappy student is Alia Kapur (Sophia Ali, Grey's Anatomy), who has little on her agenda for her break except lazing by and in the pool; however, her prim-and-proper mother Sheila (Manisha Koirala, an Indian cinema mainstay) and doctor father Ranjit (Adil Hussain, Star Trek: Discovery) still demand that she do the rounds of their social circle's weekly Saturday-night party circuit. It's more her mum's doing than her significantly more laidback dad's, but it's also the done thing. What isn't usual: inviting the new proprietors of the local Indian store to these well-to-do shindigs. Writer/director Geeta Malik (Troublemaker) could've called her sophomore feature Crazy Rich Indian Americans — or Snobby Rich Indian Americans — and the moniker would've stuck, with a clear class clash the obvious outcome when Varun Dutta (Rish Shah, To All the Boys: Always and Forever), his mother Bhairavi (Deepti Gupta, High School Musical: The Musical — The Series) and dad Kamlesh (Kamran Shaikh, Evil Eye) show up to the Kapurs' home as asked. The conceited judgement over their nice but not glitzy attire is immediate, and further awkwardness springs quickly when it turns out that Sheila and Bhairavi shared a past before they both emigrated to the US. Alia is outraged over the reaction, intrigued about her mum's history and, given that's the reason she invited the Duttas in the first place, interested in Varun — and all three swiftly shape her summer. There's a sprinkle too much of the familiar to India Sweets and Spices, both in its narrative — and many of the details and cliches used to tell it — and its insights into the struggles of growing up surrounded by one country's attitudes but with another's conventions always knocking at the door. The template-esque feel makes the film pleasant rather than overly memorable, and its boilerplate TV-style gloss and sheen doesn't help it stand out, either. Thankfully, Malik's three key female talents couldn't fade into a by-the-numbers setup if they wanted to, and add much of the movie's verve as a result. Ali may play a character that could've stepped out of any similar flick, including the likes of Bend It Like Beckham and The Big Sick, but her delivery and presence are one of this feature's best traits. And whenever Koirala and Gupta are on-screen, be it together or separately, India Sweets and Spices benefits immensely. All three women are also pivotal to Malik's biggest attempt to differentiate India Sweets and Spices from other comparable fare: her foray into the quest for women's equality in India. Perched within the film's otherwise straightforward intergenerational and class conflicts sits a look at gender roles both historically in India and within Indian American communities today — the movie takes place in New Jersey — plus an examination of the sacrifices that might be made by someone willing to forgo her own fight to gift a better life to her children instead. This meaty and meaningful aspect of the feature would hit harder if so much that surrounded it wasn't content with easy tropes, though. Indeed, India Sweets and Spices is a tad too happy to act against its own advice, settling for something that's good enough rather than pushing itself further past the tried and tested. STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET On a fictional New York street that's home to a cross-section of the city's multicultural population, young and old alike, and also to boisterous muppets, sunny days have been sweeping the clouds away since November 1969. Eager to educate preschoolers, Sesame Street has taught multiple generations of children the alphabet, to count — with help from Count von Count since 1972, of course — and about life in general, and both its longevity and the beloved turf it holds within popular culture speak to its enormous success. Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street knows that it's profiling a seminal piece of television, and that virtually everyone born in the past half-century grew up watching the adored series; however, it's also keen to tell the story behind that story. Nostalgia drips through this behind-the-scenes documentary, gleefully so, but so too does a chronicle of how Sesame Street became the icon it is — and against the odds. The show's backstory starts with TV producer Joan Ganz Cooney and psychologist Lloyd Morrisett, and with a dinner-party conversation that saw them float the idea of a television series that might help American children prepare for school — particularly kids of colour. The path to Sesame Street reaching the air wasn't smooth from there, or plain sailing once it got to screens (its focus on racial integration didn't go down well in parts of Mississippi, for instance), but education-meets-entertainment history was nonetheless made. Inspired by Michael Davis' 2008 non-fiction book Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street, documentarian Marilyn Agrelo (An Invisible Sign) fashions her film as an insider's window into a miraculous program, blending informative details about how it came to be and its early years with clips of its muppet-fuelled magic. Both elements of the movie engage, as do its recent and archival interviews. On the screen, Street Gang benefits from the type of observation that helped make its subject such a delight: that showing is far better than telling. Given that there's so much ground to cover — Sesame Street could easily earn its own historical documentary series, but this film fits what it can into 107 minutes — it's patently a tricky juggling act to find the right balance between Sesame Street footage and analysis, but the clips presented are charmers. Agrelo deploys these snippets to demonstrate the show's commitment to representation, as paired with chats with actors such as Emilio Delgado (Luis) and Sonia Manzano (Maria); its educational approach, aka its number-one reason for existing; and the puppetry prowess of original Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch performer Carol Spinney, and of the great Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Discussions with and about the former, including about how both characters gave him outlet for parts of his personality, are lovely, while giggling at the latter pair's work as Bert and Ernie never gets old, and neither does appreciating why the double act is such a piece of genius. Sesame Street has always been revolutionary, too, and in a plethora of ways, all of which Street Gang celebrates. Its firm intent to ensure that it represented America's diversity sprang from its times and made a statement, while its willingness to use advertising techniques — jingles included — was savvy and smart. Its blend of humour and information, its eagerness to entertain the adults watching as well as the kids, the passion for ensuring that all children felt included and empowered: they're all pioneering. And, as much as the aired segments and hilarious outtakes prove joyous, the meaning and power of Sesame Street always beams through. Of course, being both amusing and enlightening was always the show's aim, so it's apt that this loveable documentary about it easily achieves the same feat. Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street is screening at Sydney's Golden Age Cinema and Bar, and is also available to stream via video on demand. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on October 7, October 14, October 21 and October 28; November 4, November 11, November 18 and November 25; December 2, December 9, December 16 and December 26; and January 1, January 6, January 13, January 20 and January 27. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as The Alpinist, A Fire Inside, Lamb, The Last Duel, Malignant, The Harder They Fall, Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, Halloween Kills, Passing, Eternals, The Many Saints of Newark, Julia, No Time to Die, The Power of the Dog, Tick, Tick... Boom!, Zola, Last Night in Soho, Blue Bayou, The Rescue, Titane, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, Dune, Encanto, The Card Counter, The Lost Leonardo, The French Dispatch, Don't Look Up, Dear Evan Hansen, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Lost Daughter, The Scary of Sixty-First, West Side Story, Licorice Pizza, The Matrix Resurrections, The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Worst Person in the World, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, House of Gucci, The King's Man, Red Rocket, Scream, The 355, Gold, King Richard, Limbo, Spencer, Nightmare Alley, Belle, Parallel Mothers and The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
With less than a month of summer to go, we're pretty keen to make the most of the last of the warm weather. And what better way to do so than by hosting a summer soirée for you and your mates to sip on tasty tropical cocktails? You don't need to be an experienced bartender to impress your guests with delicious drinks. With a bottle of Malibu rum and a few other key ingredients you can serve up some seriously refreshing and summer-ready bevs. Whether you're hosting a boozy brunch with friends or a tropical-themed pool party, we've put together four foolproof cocktail recipes that'll keep you in that summer mindset til season's end. TO SIP ON POOLSIDE Nothing screams summer more than a refreshing piña colada. It's sweet, it's fruity and it has just a touch of creamy coconut goodness, making it the ideal poolside companion. Ingredients 50ml Malibu Original 75ml pineapple juice 25ml coconut cream Method Pour everything into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into a tall glass before garnishing with a pineapple wedge. FOR A BOOZY BRUNCH You can kiss your mimosas goodbye in favour of this juicy cocktail — a Malibu Bay Breeze. It's a simple and surefire way to step up your brunch bev game, whether you're playing host or guest. Ingredients 50ml Malibu Original 50ml cranberry juice 50ml pineapple juice Method Load a tall glass with ice and top with Malibu Original, cranberry juice and pineapple juice. Finish with a wedge of lime for added refreshment. THE ULTIMATE PRE-PARTY DRINK If you are hosting pre-drinks, add this crowd-pleasing pour to your pre-party plans. It's light, refreshing and has a tropical twist on your classic spirit and soda combination. Ingredients 50ml Malibu Original 100ml soda water Wedge of lime Method Pour the liquids into a tall glass filled with ice. Squeeze in some lime juice and drop in the wedge. FOR YOUR NEXT GARDEN PARTY There is nothing fresher than sipping lemonade in the sun at a garden party. So, why not step it up a notch with a dash of Malibu? It's simple enough to make for multiple guests and delicious enough that it will leave everyone asking about the secret ingredient. Ingredients 50ml Malibu Original 15ml lemon juice 100ml soda water Methods Fill a tall glass with ice and top with Malibu, lemon juice and soda water. Add a wedge of pineapple or lemon to garnish and enjoy. Ready to serve tropical tipples at your next summer soirée? For more drink inspiration, head to the Malibu website.
When it comes to happy hours in Melbourne, Baby Pizza is always right up there with the best — with its autumn, winter and spring aperitivo sessions featuring discounted drinks and cheap (or free) snacks. But for summer this year, the crew has switched it up a little, swapping out aperitivo experiences for spritzes. Drop by any day from 4–6pm, and you'll be met with $9.50 cocktails, plus a $7.5o wine and $6.5o beer (Peroni Rossa). On the cocktail front, you've got the choice of three spritzes: Baby's elderflower spritz, limoncello and basil spritz, and Chandon spritz, which comes with sparkling wine and orange bitters. The food menu is the same usual — offering up some of Melbourne's best pizzas — but things do change up a little on Fridays and Saturdays. From 12–4pm on these days, guest DJ will be bringing some bigger vibes — best enjoyed out on the terrace. This deal is running all summer long, so you've got plenty of time to take advantage of Baby's spritz- and pizza-filled summer.
Huge music tours are back on Australia's agenda — and they aren't just confined to chart-topping stars, iconic names and huge festivals. In the classical world, the London Symphony Orchestra is also coming our way to play a series of shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. And, the 2023 tour will mark only its fourth-ever trip Down Under. Famous for everything from being the official orchestra of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games ceremonies through to recording the Star Wars, Superman, Indiana Jones, Thor and The Shape of Water film soundtracks, the LSO held its first-ever gig in 1904. That means it's been picking up its instruments for almost 120 years — and in that time, it has only visited Australia on three occasions before now. The April and May shows at QPAC in the Sunshine State, the Sydney Opera House in the Harbour City and Arts Centre Melbourne in Victoria will also see the orchestra make the journey Down Under for the first time since 2014. If it's drama you're after, get ready to watch music director Sir Simon Rattle's baton fly as he conducts the orchestra during his final season with the organisation. The LSO is bringing 114 musicians our way for the tour, including two Australians: Naoko Keatley and Belinda McFarlane, both on violin. And, it's the largest orchestra it has ever toured to our shores. The orchestra will play three different programs — two each in Brisbane and Melbourne, and a third in Sydney as well. All cities will be treated to a night featuring John Adams' 'Harmonielehre', Claude Debussy's 'La Mer' and Maurice Ravel' 'Daphnis and Chloé Suite No.2', plus an entire evening dedicated to Gustav Mahler's 'Symphony No.7'. As for that extra Sydney gig, it'll feature Daniel Kidane's 'Sun Poem' and Anton Bruckner's 'Symphony No.7'. Before its 2014 tour, the LSO first came to Australia in 1966 and then again in 1983. LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2023 AUSTRALIAN TOUR Friday, April 28–Saturday, April 29 —Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane Monday, May 1–Wednesday, May 3 — Sydney Opera House Friday, May 5–Saturday, May 6 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne The London Symphony Orchestra will tour Australia in April and May 2023. For further information and to buy tickets — with on-sale dates varying per city — head to the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and websites. Images: Mark Allen.
If you're not spending your Saturday morning in bed, then you might be known to start your weekend by hitting up a market or heading out for a mid-morning coffee. Melburnians, if that was you on Saturday, July 17, you could now need to spend a fortnight in self-isolation. Prahran Market has just been added to Victoria's growing list of exposure sites — a list that currently has 385 venues — with a positive COVID-19 case visiting the spot last weekend. It has been designated a Tier 1 venue, so if you were there between 9.40–11.15am last Saturday, you'll now need to get tested straight away and then self-quarantine for a fortnight. The case alert applies to the entire market during that nearly two-hour window. A separate alert has been issued for Market Lane Coffee at Prahran Market, too, between 10.30–11am that same morning. It is also a Tier 1 venue, so the same testing and self-isolation requirements apply. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1418008758295285761 Victoria was already in lockdown on Saturday, July 17, so hopefully that'll minimise the number of folks who were at the market during the identified period. Still, that exposure site list just keeps rocketing up. Back on Friday, July 16, it included 125 venues, and then jumped to 320 on Tuesday, before hitting 385 today, Thursday, July 22. The Victorian Department of Health has been updating its register as new places are identified, as it does during all outbreaks. Given that Victorians can only leave the house for a limited number of reasons during lockdown, it should come as no surprise that many of the new venues being added are markets, supermarkets, cafes and eateries, as well as public transport routes. As always, Melburnians can keep an eye on the local list of exposure sites at the Department of Health website — it will keep being updated as more sites are reported. For those looking to get tested, you can find a list of testing sites including regularly updated waiting times also on the Department of Health website. And, has remained the case throughout the pandemic, Melburnians should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste, symptoms-wise. For further details on the latest exposure sites and updated public health advice, see the Department of Health website. Top image: HappyWaldo via Wikimedia Commons.
She's a longtime icon of Melbourne's party scene and the fun-loving soul that brought us spots like the Carlton Club and the Windsor Castle Hotel. Now, Tracey Lester has unveiled her latest hospitality project, reimagining Fitzroy's Gertrude Hotel as a stylish party pub with a glam-rock edge. A destination for dining, dancing and memory-making, the corner site has taken a wild departure from its former self, rocking the same high-energy colour palette that's become something of a Lester trademark. [caption id="attachment_857810" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sharp and Lester[/caption] The hospitality veteran herself is behind every aspect of the zingy interiors, from the dramatic pendant lights, to the flocked wall panels, to the mirrored glass bouncing bold jewel tones around the rooms. If an Aussie party pub had a lovechild with Studio 54, you'd imagine it'd feel a lot like this. Expect pumping dance floors upstairs and down, weekend DJ sets bringing the groove, and disco parties in abundance. A separate tropical-themed bar sits on Level 1, along with two private party rooms that open onto the rooftop. The new Gertrude Hotel is more than just a pretty, entertaining face, though. A menu by Serradan Sharp (ex-Press Club, Maze) sits modern pub classics alongside a slew of crafty snacks and shares you can hit before the dance floor. You'll find comte and tapioca fritters with a jalapeno relish, charcoal roasted Skull Island prawns elevated with a hit of nduja, and crumpets topped with macadamia butter and shiitake. There's a whole barbecued flounder to share; pork schnitzel done with apple sauce and a fennel salad; a veg-friendly rigatoni with mushrooms and leek; and a cheeseburger loaded with your choice of American-style or blue cheese. To match, the cocktail list boasts a classic party energy — think, Tommy's margaritas, a spicy mango daiquiri and the prosecco-topped Tequila Fizzer. You'll also find a crop of mostly Aussie wines, a familiar lineup of brews on the tap list, and drink specials that include half-price negronis from 5–7pm each night. Find the newly reimagined Gertrude Hotel at 148 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. It's open 4–11pm Wednesday and Thursday, 4pm–1am Friday and Saturday, and 1–10pm Sunday. Images: Amy Whitfield and the Gertrude Hotel
Beware wells in the middle of the forest, crawling women with long black hair completely covering their faces and, naturally, any VHS tapes that depict both. Along with a healthy disdain for viral videos, that's what the Ring franchise has taught us over the past three decades — and the original Japanese series isn't done yet. The seventh film in the initial saga, Sadako follows psychology counsellor Mayu Akigawa (Elaiza Ikeda). Her younger brother is a YouTuber, and her latest patient may have a connection to the eponymous murderous spirit that's known to haunt videotapes. Yes, that likely means that someone will let the killer ghost loose on the internet, giving anyone who sees the creepy force just seven days to live. While Ring's concept was always going to play with the online world at some point, perhaps the most exciting aspect of Sadako is its filmmaker, with Hideo Nakata returning after directing the initial Japanese flick Ringu. He also helmed sequel Ring 2, as well as the sequel to the American remake, called The Ring Two. If you're a fan of J-horror, you've probably seen his other flicks, such as Dark Water and Kaidan. Ring actually started on the page back in 1991, thanks to a horror mystery novel series that spawned printed follow-ups called Spiral, Loop, Birthday, S and Tide. On-screen, the Japanese films debuted in 1998, and are split over two different timelines — with Sadako following on from 1999's Ring 2, and the other branch releasing its first follow-up in 1998, two more 3D movies in 2012 and 2013 that are confusingly also called Sadako, plus a cross-over with the Ju-on series named Sadako vs. Kayako in 2016. Of course, there's also the three American movies, starting with 2002's well-received The Ring starring Naomi Watts and ending with 2017's terrible Rings. A South Korean remake, The Ring Virus, also popped up in 1999. Check out the trailer for Sadako below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-Pftw4fd8k Sadako doesn't currently have a release date Down Under — we'll update you if and when that changes. Via IndieWire.
Student theatre doesn't have the greatest reputation. When you think back to the dingy confines of your university's theatrical department, the thought is usually haunted by memories of cheesy modern-day remakes of Shakespeare. Unwelcome glimpses of experimental theatre may also come flooding back to you — the invariably gratuitous pieces of violence and unsubtle politics that seem to go hand in hand with a degree in arts or performance. During my undergrad, I saw a play in which a man had his eyes pulled out before eating a baby. It was somehow even worse than it sounds. Well, naysayers be damned. Student work is starting to look a whole lot more appealing with this exciting, new multi-purpose performance space located right in the heart of the city. Featuring a swanky new bar, a swish new design courtesy of the folks at Six Degrees, and a revamp to the tune of $24 million, Grant Street looks to be a major player on the Southbank arts scene this year — a laid-back alternative to those who feel nervous when dressing to see the latest MTC production next door. Home to works from the Victorian College of the Arts and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Grant Street Theatre has already enjoyed a rich history with its students. But after a major funding boost from both the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Government, Grant Street is opening its doors to the public. Open from May 23, this new venue will feature a wider program of musical and theatrical events, a refurbished theatre which seats 120 people, an outdoor area for small festivals, and Lionel's — a new bar open 6pm till late on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Putting an end to dodgy baby-eating plays in small, dimly-lit theatres, Grant Street will be a platform for the best of the best. Thursday nights will feature a rotating selection of VCA and MCM performers. Fridays will feature free gigs from the likes of Total Giovanni, Evelyn Morris (aka Pikelet) and Hue Blanes, the keys player for both The Bamboos and The Melodics. Saturdays will be a mixed bag. Get along on May 24 for that variety collective you may have caught at Yah Yah's, The Last Tuesday Society; June 7 will see The Bruise's lead singer Kira Puru take the stage; and the last few weeks include works by some world-renowned performance artists such as London's Theo Adams. This is definitely not the place you're reluctantly dragged to when you're artsy friend has a new show on. Get ahead of the curve, catch an amazing act for free, and get into what makes this city great — good art, great company, and a stiff drink to warm you up during winter. Grant Street is located at the VCA on Grant Street, Southbank. It will be open to the public from May 23 and its first program will be running until July 5. For the full list of acts see the Grant Street website. Images courtesy of Black Tape Productions.
With a program packed full of great events, there's a bunch of ways to fill your days at the SXSW Sydney Gaming Festival. Of course, you could also blow off any attempt at constructing a schedule and spend the whole time playing demos of the 150+ indie games featured in the Games Showcase. With that many titles on offer you're sure to find some that speak to the unique gamer within you, but if you'd like a steer on what to see and play we've gathered ten red hot picks from developers both Australian and international. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuD8G9GzOFw[/embed] WINNIE'S HOLE Since tumbling into the public domain, the beloved Winnie the Pooh has been showing up in some odd, often horrific places (notably this childhood-ending horror movie). Winnie's Hole, developed by Melbourne studio Twice Different, is buying into this trend with a rogue-lite puzzle game that sees you controlling a virus infecting the bear. As you conquer more cells you begin to twist your huggable host's body in grotesque ways, choosing mutations that allow you to fight off enemies and spread to more inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood. It's a compelling blend of disgusting and delightful. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJbUXpfAWis[/embed] JANET DEMORNAY IS A SLUMLORD (AND A WITCH) If you're reading this and you live in Sydney, chances are you've lived in rental properties before (and maybe still do *shakes fist at real estate market*). If so, Janet DeMornay Is A Slumlord (And A Witch) will probably hit home for you. This first-person horror comedy from Sydney-based studio Fuzzy Ghost has you moving into a fairly dilapidated terrace house and joining a crew of LGBTQIA+ roommates. Problem is, the house has been transported to another dimension and your interactions with the landlord – who, as the title suggests, is a witch – are becoming increasingly threatening. Featuring real-life rental horror stories, it's set to be a funny and frightening look at what it takes to have a home these days. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m-_bNcnpQE[/embed] THE DUNGEON EXPERIENCE Jacob Janerka might just be the funniest game developer in Australia. In his new project, The Dungeon Experience, you're a visitor to a fantasy-themed experience established by a level 1 mud crab who's packed in being an enemy for a life of entrepreneurship. It's a first-person adventure game that will send you on a quest filled with memorable characters and hilarious dialogue, all the while turning the tropes of the fantasy genre firmly on their head. This is one game you won't want to miss. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp3Uy4CYNJc[/embed] ANOTHER CRAB'S TREASURE If you're into Souls-likes (that's brutally difficult third-person roleplaying games inspired by the Dark Souls series, in case you aren't familiar) but wish they weren't so uniformly dreary, Another Crab's Treasure is the game for you. Developed by the appropriately named Aggro Crab out of Seattle in the US, this underwater adventure features the fiendish combat you know and love in a bright, cartoony aquatic setting. As Kril the hermit crab you'll use a variety of trash from the ocean floor as both shell and weapons during your mission to buy back your repossessed original shell. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDjbZyvvyu0[/embed] WAY TO THE WOODS Way To The Woods is the project of Melbourne-based solo developer Anthony Tan who started working on the game while in his teens. It's been a long road – as it often is with game development – so to get a chance to see it in action at SXSW Sydney is a genuinely exciting opportunity. The game puts you in the cloven hooves of a deer who must guide its fawn through a ruined world to get back to their natural environment. With a beautiful, serene art style and a high chance of touching narrative moments, this title is shaping up to be something special. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHhqezkr5R0[/embed] WOOD & WEATHER If you're looking to recapture the raw, unbridled power you felt while playing imaginary games with toys as a child, Paper House out of Melbourne have you covered. In their new game Wood & Weather, you'll assume god-like control over a city made of wooden blocks, populated by inhabitants that have pleasingly similar aesthetics to old Playmobil sets. As a benevolent deity, you'll tinker with the weather as well as interacting with objects while taking the form of a giant blue hand, all to help the townsfolk solve problems. It's a whimsical, wonderful experience. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNJ87JU4CII[/embed] DARKWEBSTREAMER With the astronomical rise of Twitch and TikTok, streamers have become the new celebrities. But how far is too far when pursuing fame this way? That's the question darkwebSTREAMER by Adelaide's We Have Always Lived In The Forest poses, as you try your hand at being a fledgling streamer looking to rise to the top of an internet culture where the more extreme and dangerous your content, the more famous you'll become. With an eerie 1-bit art style and use of procedural generation meaning no two sessions are the same, this has the makings of a horror game masterpiece. [embed]https://youtu.be/eTfZzwydEWQ[/embed] DEAD STATIC DRIVE The open road. The wind in your hair. The purr of the engine. The eldritch screeching of the monsters chasing you. Dead Static Drive by Melbourne's Reuben Games puts you in the driver's seat on a road trip through 80s-inspired, fading small town America. A journey to visit family turns into a fight for survival as the end of the world arrives, bringing monsters with it. You'll need to scavenge, sneak and slay to reach the final destination in this top-down horror driving game. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp3Tnrl7WOA[/embed] THE DRIFTER The point-and-click adventure renaissance continues with The Drifter, developed by Powerhoof out of Melbourne. Assume the role of Mick Carter, an itinerant who's experiencing the worst day of his life. From witnessing a murder, to returning to life after his own murder, he's got to unravel deepening mystery while trying to keep his wits about him. It's a pulpy thriller that harks back to the guts and gore of 70s Ozploitation flicks, with a focus on fast-paced storytelling rather than finicky puzzles. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9RDPQv_Tyk[/embed] KNUCKLE SANDWICH Starting over in a new city can be hard, particularly when it's Bright City — the setting for Knuckle Sandwich by Melbourne's Andy Brophy. This fictional Australian metropolis has a missing persons problem, and you get tangled up in it as you take on an amusingly over-the-top gang and a cult. It's an RPG of classic lineage, with a vast array of characters to interact with, a plethora of locations to explore, and turn-based combat that utilises over 100 different mini-games. This one has been on the horizon for a while, and with a recently announced release date SXSW Sydney is a great way to try before you buy. The SXSW Sydney Games Showcase is taking place across Eddy Multi Space, Mercure Sydney and Fortress Sydney from October 18-22. To see session times, and the full list of showcase title, check the SXSW Sydney Gaming Festival website for details. For more inspiration head to our full guide to the best of SXSW Sydney.
A hard day of wizarding deserves a fresh pint of butterbeer, and London could soon have just the spot for it. An eager Harry Potter fan is launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund what might just become everyone's favourite magical watering hole: The Cauldron. You can taking the leaking out of the enchanted bar's name, but you can't take the wonder, with the pub promising to use technology to emulate all of the tricks you've read about in JK Rowling's books and watched in the subsequent film adaptations. That includes touch-sensitive magic wands that can be used to light fires, turn on the lights and even pour drinks, plus moving photographs and levitating candles. There's no mention of paying for your drinks in galleons, but that idea sounds right up this place's Diagon Alley. Speaking of beverages, in addition to their own signature brew — the Cauldron Ale, which will be served in a specialty bottom-filling pint glass — The Cauldron will provide wizarding-inspired wines, spirits and soft drinks, as well as "spectacular science-based cocktails that look and behave like potions that are described in fantasy books." There's no word on just how they'll achieve that feat, but we like their confidence. As for food, The Cauldron once again pledges to fill its menu with dishes mentioned in all of those novels you love, with fans also able to make suggestions. Their ambition doesn't stop there, with shelves filled with texts, plug-in listening stations for audiobooks, book clubs, book readings, book signings, games meet-ups and wizarding trivia all on the agenda if the venue gets the go-ahead. It's the latest in a long list of HP-themed fun (including a pasta restaurant, a sleepover wizarding school, yoga classes and a market, plus Toronto already has a bar); however if that floats your objects of choice, The Cauldron's fundraising quest kicks off on June 26. The proposed pub is aiming for a March 2018 opening — for more information, check out their website.
Do you live in a dog-friendly house? Do you have some spare time on your hands? Do you fantasise about taking a pup to the pub with you? The good folk at Guide Dogs Victoria need you. They're always home to pups that'll grow into companions as part of the Guide Dog program, and they're in need of carers to raise them. In other words, they're giving away puppies to folks in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo — with the people in the latter three locations needed urgently. If you put up your hand, you'll get a puppy for about a year — from its eight-week birthday until it turns 14–16 months. During that time, you'll be responsible for introducing the sights, sounds and smells it'll meet when it starts working as a guide dog (and giving it heaps of cuddles). Of course, it's not all just fun, games — it's a lot of commitment and hard work. You'll have to be responsible enough to take care of regular grooming, house training and exercise, and be available to attend local training days, along with vet checks and Puppy Pre-School. A car and a fenced-in property are mandatory, too. And, you can't be away from home for more than four hours at a time. In return, the organisation provides a strong support network, food, vet care, and prevention of fleas and ticks. "The work we do at Guide Dogs Victoria wouldn't be sustainable without the assistance of our Puppy Raisers," says Guide Dogs Victoria's Puppy Development Team Leader Naomi Wallace. "By volunteering as Puppy Raisers, the community can help us to train and rase our beautiful dogs who go on to ensure Australians who are blind or have low vision lead independent lives." Guide dogs are provided free to those in need, but each costs around $50,000 to raise over two years. If you can't afford to sponsor a pup or donate to the charity, but you've got a bit of flexibility and time on your hands, this could be your calling. Keen? Apply online. And send pics, please. Guide Dogs Victoria is looking for puppy carers now. For more information and to volunteer, head to the organisation's website.
Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau) may sit right next door to Australia's east coast, but it's often overlooked when planning an international escape. If you're craving a true reset—without the price tag or jet lag—it might just be the perfect place. New Zealand offers an array of hotspots to choose from, but Auckland is stepping into the limelight with chic new openings and creative, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. From intimate underground Japanese listening bars to coastal wineries where you can (literally) zipline to the cellar door, we've curated a succinct yet heady list of reasons that Auckland is a destination worth landing for. A melting pot of creativity, rich culture, and otherworldly natural splendour—just a short flight away. Island-Hop to Waiheke for Coastal Wines If you're a wine lover and unfamiliar with Waiheke Island, it's time you got acquainted. Home to over 30 boutique wineries, more than 40 kilometres of beaches, art, produce, and some of the country's most breathtaking, rugged vistas. From pristine, golden beaches—like Oneroa, Onetangi, and Palm Beach—to blissful bike rides around the island and award-winning gastronomy, Waiheke is a holiday haven brimming with natural splendour. Embark on a jam-packed day trip or stay for a few days to explore—and sip—everything the island has to offer. But it's also about the journey, not just the destination, right? Luckily, there's an array of vessels ready to level up your 40-minute voyage across the Hauraki Gulf. Seeking a pioneering thrill? Step aboard Fuller360's Kermadec, the world's first state-of-the-art electric hydrofoiling ferry. Its innovative hydrofoil technology allows you to glide above the waves while soaking up panoramic views of Auckland city's skyline and Harbour Bridge, in an experience that's equal parts sustainable and premium. If cruising or sailing atop the water—not gliding above it—sounds more your speed, jump aboard one of Explore Group's premium cruises or sailing experiences. There's an array of different vessels in the fleet, but all allow you to either kick back in comfort, or get behind the helm—you can even relish a rare opportunity to participate as crew on an actual America's Cup yacht. [caption id="attachment_783521" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] EcoZip Adventures, Waiheke Island[/caption] Soar Over Wineries Then Sip at the Cellar Door One of Waiheke Island's most unique experiences soars above its wineries and lush, ancient native rainforest. Zip through the treetops at your own pace, soaking up the serene surroundings with EcoZip Adventures or Man O' War's Forest Flight—a zipline journey spanning three 200-metre ziplines and scenic boardwalks, ending at Man O' War winery for an exceptional wine tasting and hearty seaside meal. Expect gourmet dishes like cured Akaroa salmon with burnt Zany Zeus labneh, crisp apple, gin pickled cucumber, and chardonnay dressing, and 10 Knots Smokehouse fish pâté, served with pickled red onion and pickled cucumber—washed down with a Flagship Flight of four signature Man O' War wines. Descend Into Auckland's Awesome New Underground Bars When it comes to vibey watering holes and buzzworthy openings, Auckland's list is only getting longer. From the beloved New York-style speakeasy Caretaker to the effortlessly refined Euro-inspired restaurant Bistro Sainé, the city's food and drinks scene is flaunting its confidence. But when the lights dim and the city starts to wind down, the real magic begins underground. Two basement newcomers worth descending for? Kemuri Hi-Fi and Ground Wine Bar. Tucked away in the basement at 1 Queen Street is the meticulously designed and intimate Japanese vinyl bar, Kemuri Hi-Fi. Drawing inspiration from Japan, America, and the UK, co-owners Jason Clarkand Vishal Vasan are bringing their worldly smarts to Auckland with a sophisticated yet fun approach to premium drinks. They can whip up almost any cocktail on request—plus, it's where Dua Lipa chose to ring in her birthday while in Auckland, so consider that a stamp of celebrity approval. Ground Wine Bar delivers a more subdued underground experience. The brainchild of two lifelong wine enthusiasts, Alexs Rasputin and Kaiser Wilmar, Ground is devoted to the perfect pour, serving over 50 wines by the glass from a constantly evolving list, boasting both local and international entries . It's an ideal spot for a pre-dinner tipple—or a space to wind down in after a night out on the town. Dine Among the Clouds Auckland is home to many landmarks, but none stand quite as tall as the Sky Tower. At 328 metres, it's one of the tallest structures in the southern hemisphere. But beyond its sheer height, the Sky Tower is a vibrant hub where panoramic views meet world-class dining. The standout? Orbit 360° Dining. This revolving restaurant offers an unforgettable gourmet experience, letting you take your love affair of fine dining higher than it's ever been before. Expect home-grown dishes like Hawke's Bay lamb noisette with kumara, garden peas, goat's cheese, and chimichurri, or fresh Akaroa salmon served with fenugreek cream, broccolini, mussels, and seaweed. It's all paired with punchy New Zealand wines from iconic regions like Waiheke Island and Marlborough—it's truly a memorable feasting moment to savour. If heights aren't your thing, don't worry. SkyCity boasts an inviting string of revered restaurants along Federal Street, including Samoa-inspired Metita and Huami—a contemporary Chinese restaurant that uses New Zealand's first commercial wood-fired duck oven. Immerse Yourself in World-Class Art A city's art gallery can say a lot about the community that surrounds it. If the walls of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki could talk, they'd say Auckland is a melting pot of ideas and creativity that's become Aotearoa's catalyst for cultural change and progress. Home to some of the country's largest and most inspiring visual arts experiences, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki boasts a collection of 18,000 artworks, spanning historic to contemporary, painting to sculpture—and everything in between. This winter, discover masterpieces by some of the world's most visionary artists like Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Vincent van Gogh in A Century of Modern Art. The exhibition explores how these art pioneers transformed modern art into what we know today. Tip: Always check the current exhibitions before your visit as programming evolves seasonally. Wake up in Style at a Boutique Auckland Hotel Stay Where you choose to rest your head on holiday is just as important as the itinerary—a plush bed and impeccable service can bolster a much-needed break into something more memorable. Fortunately, Auckland is a treasure trove of overnighter options. From five-star luxury to endearingly quirky, there's an abundance of boutique stays, alongside trusted global favourites like SO/ Auckland, Hotel Indigo, and QT Auckland. Carving out a new level of sophistication and sustainability is The Hotel Britomart in the heart of the CBD. Bathed in natural light with floor-to-ceiling windows and dramatic ceilings, it's New Zealand's first-ever 'five green-star' hotel—a triumph for inner-city escapism. If you're seeking a slice of local luxury and want to be close—but not too close—to the city buzz, check into Hotel Fitzroy. Nestled in the personality-packed suburb of Ponsonby, this ten-room manor-style abode radiates charm and is designed to give you the best of Auckland living, paired with five-star luxury. Prefer convenient New York-style studios? Check into the Abstract Hotel, located on Auckland's vibrant Karangahape Road ('K' Road). Designed for travellers who want to capitalise on the city's dynamic culture, this boutique stay delivers efficiency without skimping on style. Alternatively, if you're after something completely different, rest your head in an old nunnery at The Convent Hotel. Steeped in character and quirkiness, this pleasantly paradoxical 22-room Spanish Mission-style building blends history with modern decor and eclectic art. Start planning your winter escape and uncover why Auckland is stepping into the shoes of New Zealand's cultural capital. Find out more at the Tātaki Auckland website. By Elise Cullen
Brick Lane Brewing tapped its very first keg at the Queen Vic Winter Night Market in 2018, and then — almost exactly five years later — the team opened its latest bricks-and-mortar restaurant and bar across the road from that very same spot. Brick Lane already has its brewhouse in South Dandenong and Brick Lane Shed on Queen Vic Market's String Bean Alley, but Brick Lane Market is an altogether bigger and more flash venue set within the former Mercat Cross Hotel. Spread across two floors, the downstairs area is open to everyone wandering around on market days and has more of a bar vibe, while the much bigger upstairs space lends itself better to long lunches and dinners. It's also where you'll find the 16-seat private dining room and huge 150-seat wrap-around terrace overlooking the market itself. And this proximity to the market isn't just about foot traffic and views. The team is set to work collaboratively with vendors, featuring local produce throughout the site. This is notably seen in the Brick Lane Market's raw bar. Here, the team serves up fresh oysters and seafood sourced directly from QVM's newly refurbed Food Hall. Chef Ankit Padmani (ex-Indu, Mejico and Collins Quarter) is overseeing the restaurant's main menu, pushing a market-to-plate ethos, serving up dishes chock full of local and seasonal produce sourced from the market itself. Either pop by for drinks and snacks like the tuna tostadas, sashimi and charcuterie boards, or get around some of the bigger plates. The massive grilled pork belly is an absolute banger, covered in a thick chilli caramel and gochujang, but you can also keep things simple with elevated pub grub — think schnitzels, burgers and steaks. Of course, beer is the star of the show at Brick Lane Market. Thirty-six taps are scattered throughout the venue, pouring the brewery's core range, seasonal specials and one-off Pilot Batches. These more experimental brews are for those wanting to try something a little different and are set to be inspired by Queen Vic Market itself. Don't know your beers but you're up for trying something new? The front-of-house team are there to make things easy for you. Compared to most brewery pubs in Melbourne, Brick Lane Market is offering up one of the most extensive range of food and drinks within some mighty glam surrounds.
What's better than watching a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about music? Watching them do all of the above while answering questions, competing for points and just generally being funny, too. That's the concept behind ABC TV show Spicks and Specks, which took a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, pit Aussie musos and comedians against each other, and has proven a hit several times over. It was a weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011 — and it will be again from today. As fans will already know, Spicks and Specks just keeps coming back; however, that has meant different things over the years. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it did so with a new host and team captains, for instance. And when it started to make a return with its original lineup of Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough, it first did so via a one-off reunion special. That 2018 comeback proved more than a little popular. It became the ABC's most-watched show of that year, in fact. So, the broadcaster then decided to drop four new Spicks and Specks specials across 2019–20 and, for 2021, to bring back Spicks and Specks in its regular format. As first announced last year, the show is returning for a full ten-episode season — and, as the broadcaster revealed last month, it'll kick off on Sunday, April 18 at 7.40pm. You'll be able to watch it on TV when it airs, or stream it via iView afterwards. Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough are all settling back into their old chairs, obviously — and, guest-wise, they'll be joined by music stars such as The Teskey Brothers, Alice Skye, G-Flip, Vika and Linda, and Missy Higgins, as well as comedians including Anne Edmonds, Nazeem Hussain, Luke McGregor, Dave O'Neil and Denise Scott. So, add playing along with the show from your couch to your end-of-weekend plans from tonight onwards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT5t-G4iGDc Spicks and Specks returns to ABC TV for a regular full season from 7.40pm on Sunday, April 18, with episodes airing weekly afterwards. You'll also be able to stream the series via ABC iView.
When Super Mario Kart first rolled onto Super Nintendo consoles back in 1992, it came with 20 inventive courses and endless hours of fun. Nearly three decades later, the game has become a beloved phenomenon — not just speeding through desert tracks and rainbow roads, but onto Google Maps and mobile phones, and also into reality. The hugely popular game's next stop? Theme parks. Although an exact opening date hasn't yet been announced — and its launch has already been pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic — in 2021 you'll be able to enjoy a real-life Mario Kart experience as part of the first-ever Super Nintendo World. Initially announced back in 2017, the new site is joining Universal Studios in Osaka, with the park revealing this month that it'll open its latest addition early in the new year. Just what Super Nintendo World will entail has been a source of mystery over the past few years, but more and more details are slowly being unveiled. Yes, Mario Kart features as part of a new ride, with Mark Woodbury, President of Universal Creative and Vice Chairman Universal Parks & Resorts, calling the racing component "a new kind of attraction". Exactly what that means is yet to be revealed; however, it's safe to assume that fans will be able to strap into some kind of moving kart. What else could a Mario Kart ride feature? [caption id="attachment_785957" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Universal Studios Japan[/caption] Osaka's Super Nintendo World will also take over multiple levels — fitting for a gaming-themed space — and recreate the brand's popular characters and themes, complete with other rides, restaurants and shops. A certain highlight: the world's first Mario cafe, which is actually launching this week, on Friday, October 16, ahead of the rest of the site. Here, patrons will be surrounded by oversized Mario and Luigi hat sculptures, the whole space will be kitted out with a red and green colour scheme, and Mario Kart-style checkered floors will be a feature. As for what you'll be snacking on, there'll be Mario pancake sandwiches and cream sodas, plus other drinks available in 'super mushroom' souvenir bottles. Basically, in general around the venue, you can expect Mario and Mario-related characters to pop up often — with Universal Studios confirming that it'll boast a Yoshi ride, a Mushroom Kingdom, Peach's Castle and Bowser's Castle. "Think of Super Nintendo World as a life-size, living video game where you become one of the characters," explained Thierry Coup, Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Universal Creative. "You're not just playing the game; you're living the game, you're living the adventure." With that in mind, the theme park will introduce wearable wrist bands, called Power Up Bands — which'll connect to a special app and allow patrons to interact with the site using their arms, hands and bodies. That mightn't sound all that exciting, but the bands will enable you to collect coins just like Mario does in the Super Mario games. Like the red-capped plumber, you'll also be able to hit question blocks to do reveal more coins. And there'll be collectible items to gather, such as character stamps, which you'll find after achieving various goals. The stamps will also earn you even more coins — so you really will be basically playing Super Mario in real life. You will have to buy a Power Up Band separate to your entry ticket to enjoy that element of the park, though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKCqJ8llKuA While it doesn't give away a whole lot, Universal Studios previously released a new Super Nintendo World song and music video with Charli XCX and Galantis, which they say "showcases the activities based on the real and interactive experiences available at Super Nintendo World". For now, all other specifics remain sparse; however, given that Nintendo's game stable includes everything from Donkey Kong to Tetris and The Legend of Zelda, there's plenty more to play with. Our suggestions: real-life Tetris, where you move bricks around in person, or a Donkey Kong water ride that uses the game's iconic aquatic music. While no one is travelling far at present, Universal Studios is also planning Super Nintendo Worlds for its other parks in Hollywood, Orlando and in Singapore — if you need to add more places to your must-visit list when international tourism starts returning to normal. The latter was just announced last year, and is set to open by 2025. Super Nintendo World is slated to open at Universal Studios Osaka in early 2021 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced. Top image: Super Nintendo World 'We Are Born to Play' by Galantis ft. Charli XCX.
In 2019, a horrible goose wandered around a quiet village, then chaos ensued — and instigating it became one of the most-entertaining ways to mash buttons. Untitled Goose Game first released in September that year. By the time 2020 hit, more than a million copies had been sold, getting folks controlling a pesky waterfowl with a penchant for trouble. That's honking phenomenal for an indie game out of Melbourne, and it's a feat that the city's Australian Centre for the Moving Image keeps celebrating. After giving Untitled Goose Game the live orchestral treatment back in 2022, the Aussie screen museum is now hosting a world-premiere exhibition dedicated to the title. Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition features different versions of the game from its various development stages that you can play, plus sketches, concept art and design material for attendees to check out. It's going to be a lovely five months in Federation Square from Tuesday, September 17, 2024–Sunday, February 16, 2025, and you'll be an adoring Untitled Goose Game fan. Sorry Mario Kart. Move over Tetris. Forget Wii Sports, Pokémon Go, Street Fighter or whatever other title first springs to mind whenever you think about video games. They're all well and good, but they aren't taking over ACMI like this homegrown hit from House House. If you're new to Untitled Goose Game, it's a puzzle game — and, yes, it's about a goose. You play as the bird, and your aim is to move objects and other characters, and just generally cause mayhem in a small village. No description can really do it justice, though; you just need to play it. While the game has filled oh-so-many hours over the past few years, and gotten its ARIA-nominated original soundtrack by Dan Golding stuck in everyone's heads, Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition isn't just for diehard gamers. No matter if you know every inch of the game or you're only hearing about it now, you'll be plunged into its world in an interactive showcase that's designed to get you playing. How slapstick factors in, plus the form of comedy's history, is also a big feature. We don't expect that running off with keys, socks, glasses, radios and the like will be a part of it, however.
