Following up on its sold-out 2021 debut, Naturellement is ready for a comeback, taking over Galleria Ettalong Beach for two incredible days of top-notch drinking and dining. Guided by renowned drinks guru and P&V Merchants' owner Mike Bennie and Kristy Austin, the founder of creative experience agency We Are Neighbourgood, expect 120 artisan beverages alongside inventive cuisine and chef-led masterclasses. Running from Saturday, May 17–Sunday, May 18, Naturellement's lineup brings together some of the most exciting artisan, natural, organic and small-batch drinks producers from every corner of NSW. Plus, there's a huge range of local food purveyors getting involved too, with 30 operators hand-picked from the Central Coast and beyond. Think SABI-WABI, Majama Wines, Harkham, Ten Minutes by Tractor, Jilly Wine Co, Meredith by Mem and many more. As for the culinary program, it's just as epicurean. Acclaimed chefs and sustainability advocates like Alanna Sapwell-Stone (The Eltham Hotel) and Matt Stone (Ciao Mate, You Beauty) will showcase their cooking skills and impart their seemingly endless knowledge to the crowd. Meanwhile, Jake Kellie (Arkhe, Singapore's Burnt Ends) has made the trip up from Adelaide to show why he's considered the master of the flame. Ettalong Beach's historic Galleria makes for the perfect event space with its labyrinth of piazzas, laneways and eateries, decked out with decorative arches and marble statues. As you wine, dine and listen alongside some of the best in the business, DJs and live music will amp up the atmosphere and ensure the community vibes soar off the charts.
Fancy prancing through fields laced with the charm of provincial France? It's just casual summer weekendery when So Frenchy So Chic is in town. The ever-popular one-day French festival is waltzing back to Sydney's Bicentennial Park and Melbourne's Werribee Park Mansion in February 2022, and celebrating its tenth anniversary in the process. If you haven't been before, expect an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties, including (but not limited to) gourmet picnic hampers, tartlets and terrines, and offensively good wine — all to a chill French soundtrack. So Frenchy hinges around a solid lineup of eclectic artists, with taking cues from France as much of a focus this year as showcasing French talents. Heading the 2022 bill is the YÉ-YÉ 2.0 project, which features Australian female artists performing new interpretations iconic 60s French pop music, and will see Ali Barter and Nadeah take to the stage. In another big highlight, Mick Harvey and the Intoxicated Men — which includes JP Shilo, Dan Luscombe, Glenn Lewis, Hugo Cran and Xanthe Waite — will play the songs of Serge Gainsbourg. Also on the lineup is up French Nigerian singer-rapper Féfé, who'll be supported by Melbourne's Cookin' on 3 Burners; French Australian singer, songwriter and producer Lili Alaska; and DJ sets by Mike Guerreri, DJ Frank Rodi and So Frenchy festival founder Jean-François Ponthieux. If you're not the most organised of picnickers, So Frenchy is putting on the works again with fancy picnic hampers, cheese plates and other French food fare; think: oysters, lobster rolls, croque monsieur, crème brûlée and crêpes. In Sydney, Rosebery French eatery Frenchies is packaging up charcuterie hampers, and you can also tuck into bites from Bellevue Cottage. In Melbourne, Frederic Bistro, Milk The Cow, L'Hôtel Gitan and chef Romu are doing the honours. And of course, there'll be plenty of Champagne Lanson, French beer, cocktails, and rosé, red and whites wines as well. Early bird tickets are now on sale for $82 a pop. If you've got kids, you'll be happy to know that the whole thing is very family-friendly, and children under 12 can get in for $22. SO FRENCH SO CHIC 2022 AUSTRALIAN DATES: Sunday, February 13 — Werribee Park Mansion, Melbourne Saturday, February 19 — Bicentennial Park, Glebe So French So Chic hits Sydney and Melbourne in February 2022. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website. Images: Liz Sunshine.
Getting out of bed on a chilly morning is no mean feat (and getting to work is a whole other challenge), so Mary's VX wants to give you a helping hand. For one week only — from Monday, June 16–Sunday, June 22 — they're hosting an all-day breakfast pop-up. You'll be feasting on a bunch of OTT, winter-friendly eats, made in collaboration with Coffee Supreme and Grumpy's Donuts. Start with a loaded brekkie sanga or burger. Or, if you need a sweet hit to get you going, go for a hotcake stack packed with bacon, fried chicken and honeycomb butter. Then, grab a coffee and doughnut (both for just $5) to take with you. If you're one of the first 50 visitors each day, yours will be free. The coffee is Supreme's signature blend, and they're also doing a Coffee Supreme Crunch with coffee icing and mocha crumbs. On Saturday and Sunday, when commuters can take their time, there'll be weekend-only specials. These include cinnamon doughnut french toast with soft serve ice cream, alongside cereal-inspired milkshakes (think Coco Pops, Fruit Loops and Milo) or bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. Images: Tom Wilkinson
The merits of her ethics and her music are subjective, but the amount of power Amanda Palmer wields in the music industry is conclusive. Even those who found it most difficult to stomach her Kickstarter campaign would probably have little trouble swallowing her claims about the current state of the music business and the appropriateness of asking fans for financial aid, which she recently compiled into one persuasive TED talk titled 'The Art of Asking'. But Amanda Palmer isn't the only industry luminary with a penchant for both lyrics and discourse. Here are nine other thought-provoking, though slightly less controversial, TED talks by famous musicians. 1. AMANDA PALMER: THE ART OF ASKING Start googling 'Amanda Palmer Kickstarter' and it's not long before you're prompted to search 'Amanda Palmer Kickstarter shitstorm'. When the musician took to crowdsourcing last year to raise money for her solo album, people wasted no time in branding her as selfish. 'The Art of Asking' is Palmer's side of the story and raises some interesting points about the difference between 'asking' and 'making' fans pay for music. Palmer is master of the anecdote, and one of the most memorable here is the guy who gave her $10 after a show because he had burned her CD off a friend. 2. DAVID BYRNE: HOW ARCHITECTURE HELPED MUSIC EVOLVE Artists have always had a grand old time of blaming sound systems for poor performance, but the irrepressible David Byrne puts forth quite a different argument for the venue shaping the music. For examples he turns to everything from bird calls and African drumming to Mozart and iconic New York punk venue CBGB — even tying in voting — and by the end of it you're convinced that we make nearly everything with a specific venue or context in mind. 3. BENJAMIN ZANDER: THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CLASSICAL MUSIC In a TED talk that could equally be called 'The Transformative Power of Benjamin Zander', the magnetic conductor attempts to make every listener realise his or her untapped love for classical music. And after 20 minutes of interesting facts interspersed with heart-melting anecdotes and piano playing that you just don't want to stop, you're pretty sure he's succeeded. 4. ITAY TALGAM: LEAD LIKE THE GREAT CONDUCTORS Conductor of both music and business Itay Talgam leads a talk on how to create harmony without saying a word. He explores the unique styles of six 20th-century conductors and shows what we can learn from each, and in doing so makes some compelling points about control: how to retain it, when to loosen it and how not to lose it. 5. TOD MACHOVER AND DAN ELLSEY PLAY NEW MUSIC Tod Machover of MIT's Media Lab often incorporates new technologies into his works as part of his commitment to bringing musical expression to everyone. Here he presents a talk with Dan Ellsey, a composer with cerebral palsy, to demonstrate how a piece of software called Hyperscore allows people to write music by humming or wielding a mouse. It's a beautiful testimony to music's powers of healing and communication and also features some epic Guitar Hero battles. 6. ANNIE LENNOX: WHY I AM AN HIV/AIDS ACTIVIST Annie Lennox is the founder of SING, a voice for women and children living with AIDS/HIV that raises money to prevent the spread of the disease and support those currently living with it. In this TED talk she shares some of the experiences that inspired her to raise awareness of the AIDs/HIV crisis and explains the meaning behind the 'HIV Positive' T-shirt that sent the rumour mill spinning when she wore it on American Idol three years ago. 7. EMMANUEL JAL: THE MUSIC OF A WAR CHILD "When the rest of the children were learning how to read and write / I was learning how fight". Here Emmanuel Jal reveals the incredible story about his journey from child soldier in the Sudan to world recognised hip hop star and humanitarian. He bounces between speech and lyrics in broadcasting his message about the power, both spiritual and intellectual, of music. 8. ROBERT GUPTA: MUSIC IS MEDICINE, MUSIC IS SANITY Robert Gupta had just completed his undergrate and was studying Parkinson's disease at Harvard when he came to a crossroads at his life, caught between choosing to continue studying neuroscience or to pursue his other love — the violin. He chose the violin, but when a violinist friends suffering from schizophrenia ended up living on the street, he found musical therapy can be a powerful medical instrument itself. 9. EVELYN GLENNIE: HOW TO TRULY LISTEN In this illustration of how listening to music involves more than letting sound waves hit your eardrums, award-winning deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie makes the argument that listening to music is about being aware of how your whole body takes in and reacts to sound. A decade after this talk was filmed, in the light of Spotify, Rdio, SoundCloud and iTunes, her points about the difference between hearing and listening are more relevant than ever. 10. ADAM SADOWSKY ENGINEERS A VIRAL MUSIC VIDEO The reason Adam Sadowsky doesn't look like a member of an alternative rock band is because he isn't, but he is the guy behind the amazing video for OK Go's 2010 single 'This Too Shall Pass', which has been watched almost 40 million times on YouTube. The video is 3 minutes and 54 seconds of Rube Goldberg machine action, painstakingly constructed by smashing two pianos and four televisions and making over 100 trips to Home Depot. There are no magic tricks involved, but the physics will blow your mind.
Museums of History NSW has announced this year's annual art installation: Murmurations. Murmurations brings together the perspectives of First Nations peoples from Australia and the Pacific to explore the history of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks. The digital art installation was created by acclaimed First Nations artist Tony Albert and Sāmoan–Australian artist Angela Tiatia with Lille Madden, Alina Olivares-Panucci and Corin Ileto. It offers viewers an opportunity to engage with the history and culture of Australia and the wider Pacific region. Rich cultural narratives are woven into the work, delving into the complex history of Hyde Park Barracks and its significance in shaping our understanding of migration and identity. Experience this thought-provoking installation on view daily in the Hyde Park Barracks courtyard from 10am–5pm until Sunday, June 4, completely free of charge. In addition to the artwork, there is a specially curated program of talks, workshops and performances that deepen understanding of the artwork and site including the Community Cultural Festival on Sunday, 28 May — the full program can be found on the Museums of History NSW website. Throughout May until June 4, visitors can create their own love token — handmade coins crafted by convicts which they gave to their loved ones before they were transported to begin their sentence — and engage in First Nations weaving traditions at the Weaving a Connection to Culture drop-in weaving workshop. The Murmurations art installation is on view daily at the Hyde Park Barracks courtyard from 10am–5pm until Sunday, June 4. Entry is free. Image credit: 1. Murmurations (still) by Tony Albert and Angela Tiatia, with Lille Madden, Alina Olivares-Panucci and Corin Ileto, 2023. Commissioned by MHNSW. 2. Photo Joshua Morris for MHNSW.
If you're a Sydneysider with a serious love for all things Harry Potter, then you've probably made the trip down to Canberra's Quizzic Alley. The Fyshwick store stocks a huge range of official merchandise, whether you're after a new wand, a Gryffindor robe or a pair of Hogwarts Express mule slippers. Come December, however, New South Wales-based wannabe witches and wizards won't have to visit the ACT to browse the shop's jam-packed shelves. While an exact opening date hasn't been announced, Quizzic Alley is launching a Sydney store before Christmas hits — likely in the first week of December. To accio up some wizarding items and objects, you'll be heading to the old Bank of New South Wales building on Victoria Road in Drummoyne, where you'll feel as excited as a new arrival at Hogwarts. Or, maybe you'll feel as thrilled as a first-time quidditch player. Backpacks, pens and puzzles dedicated to the sport all feature among Quizzic Alley's range — and you can take home a golden snitch, too. Also on the shelves, you'll find everything from chocolate frogs and Slytherin socks to alohomora charm pins and baby niffler toys. Quizzic Alley's Canberra store includes a Ford Anglia that you can sit in, serves butterscotch flavoured non-alcoholic beers called QBrew and lets patrons try out the sorting hat. Just what the Sydney shop will feature hasn't been revealed yet either — it won't have a car, though — but the fact that it'll call a former bank home will obviously inspire thoughts of Gringotts. "The two stores are completely different from the outside and, although the merch we sell will be the same, the experience in Drummoyne will be new," says owner Michael Milton. "It's reminiscent of a certain magical bank and we're having so much fun fitting it out." Milton, a Paralympic skiier with six gold medals to his name, opened the first Quizzic Alley two years ago — and says that it is frequently filled with fans travelling down to peruse its wares. "Every weekend, every school holidays, during the ski season… we get a lot of Potterheads from Sydney dropping in to Quizzic Alley. Some even make the trip especially," he notes. Quizzic Alley will open on Victoria Road in Drummoyne sometime in early December — keep an eye on the store's website and Facebook page for further details.
After its Australian debut saw 1000 Sydneysiders board a cruise ship for last year's immersive Titanic Experience, Beyond Cinema has decided to go all in with their fantastical cinematic extravaganzas — having already announced three new events for 2018. Just earlier this month, the immersive cinema company announced it'll transform a Melbourne CBD building into a jail for The Shawshank Redemption experience on June 30, and takeover Sydney's sandstone castle at Curzon Hall, Mansfield for The Great Gatsby version on August 19. Tickets for both events are currently on sale, with tickets including the film screening and additional options ranging from canapés or 'prison food' to bottomless drinks and a full sit-down dinner. Now, the cinematic journey will take a leap down the rabbit hole for a Sydney Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Transcending the boundary between film and imagination, the three-hour Alice in Wonderland-themed immersive experience will of course centre around English afternoon tea, which, like the film, will go insanely awry with bottomless 'potions' and punches. As with other events, fancy dress is required, which in this case will be your most colourful and bizarre outfit. Each attendee will also be assigned a character to gear their dress-up toward. It is unclear what film will be screened with this one, though, of course, there's bound to be some form of wild cinematic entertainment for guests. The location will remain secret for now and the date has not yet been announced, but you can sign up for pre-release tickets and get the latest updates here. Just don't be late. The Mad Hatter's Tea Party will happen in Sydney sometime in 2018. For updates on tickets, register here.
If you've ever dreamed of being a muse or walking artwork, the 19th Biennale of Sydney might just be your chance. Artist Deborah Kelly is on the hunt for 19 life-sized nude portraits to come from the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane public. As part of an exhibition series entitled In All Our Glory, the portraits will be fashioned through a series of collage workshops through mid-October. The Aussie artist is known for politically motivated works that explore notions of power, and In All Our Glory should be no different. So, thankfully, you needn't be Miranda Kerr to fit the bill; Kelly is scouting portrait subjects of varying ages (18+), colours, sizes, genders and abilities. But there's still room for the camera shy to contribute: Kelly's also seeking donations of unwanted picture and reference books in any condition, in colour or black-and-white. So let the wind through your pubes and make the world take you in all your glory for the 19th Biennale of Sydney, themed You Imagine What You Desire for 2014. You'll be scoring the chance to catch yourself — an artwork — in the series from March 21 until June 9. To be the next Mona Lisa all you need to do is volunteer yourself as a portrait subject by shooting a pic of your face (just face) over to kellyproject@biennaleofsydney.com.au by Friday, 11 October 2013. Drop a line to the same email if you’d like to donate books, or join in on the collage workshops by contacting frances@biennaleofsydney.com.au.
Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck trying to save the world from an asteroid? That's so 1998. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence attempting to stop a comet from wiping out life as we know it? That's the premise of Netflix's new disaster comedy Don't Look Up, which thankfully isn't a sequel to the aforementioned Armageddon. Instead, it's the latest film from The Big Short and Vice director Adam McKay — and it's set to hit the streaming platform in December. If it sounds familiar, that's because Don't Look Up was one of the big-name movies on Netflix's lengthy list of new flicks heading its way in 2021, as it start teasing back in January. And yes, while plenty of the films named back then have already hit the platform given the year is now nine months in — movies such as Malcolm & Marie, The White Tiger, The Dig, The Woman in the Window, Army of the Dead and Moxie — the streamer really is making us all wait for its starriest picture of 2021. DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Lawrence (X-Men: Dark Phoenix) play astronomy professor Dr Randall Mindy and his grad student Kate Dibiasky, who discover that a Mount Everest-sized comet is orbiting our solar system — and that it's on a direct collision course with earth. So, with just six months left until impact, they endeavour to tell everyone they can about the planet's impending demise, all by embarking upon a media tour. But the President (Meryl Streep, The Prom) and her son and Chief of Staff (Jonah Hill, The Beach Bum) barely seem to care, and neither does the public. Also featuring on-screen as the former "king of the world" and Katniss Everdeen try to save the world: Timothée Chalamet (Little Women), Cate Blanchett (Where'd You Go, Bernadette), Mark Rylance (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Tyler Perry (Those Who Wish Me Dead), Ron Perlman (Monster Hunter), Himesh Patel (Tenet), Melanie Lynskey (Mrs America), Kid Cudi (Bill & Ted Face the Music) and Ariana Grande. Yes, as seen in the just-dropped teaser trailer, this film does have quite the cast. Don't Look Up will hit Netflix just in time for your Christmas break, dropping on Friday, December 24. It'll also screen in some cinemas before that, if you'd like to see it on the big screen. And if you're wondering how the film will fare tonally, McKay looks like he's in The Big Short and Succession mode, rather than harking back to his Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Step Brothers days. That said, Blanchett does play a TV host, so maybe the filmmaker will have audiences thinking about Anchorman as well. Check out the teaser trailer for Don't Look Up below: Don't Look Up will be available to stream via Netflix on Friday, December 24, and in selected cinemas earlier in December. Image: Nico Tavernise/Netflix.
Back in March 2020, when the Sydney Opera House shut its doors due to the pandemic, the venue quickly went digital. Last year was the year of experiencing gigs, talks and shows online, after all — but the Opera House isn't stepping away from its online slate now that life is returning to normal. With the venue's 2020 digital season From Our House to Yours proving a hit, the Opera House is taking the next step in 2021 and launching its own streaming platform. Simply called Stream, the new service is online now and serving up a lineup of concerts, chats and performances. At present, Stream features over 30 hours of programming, which spans more than 45 different events. Plenty of it is free, including a compilation of past Opera House gigs that features The Cure, Bon Iver, H.E.R. and Solange; a live set by Ziggy Ramo; Badu Gili's projection of Indigenous art onto the building's sails; First Nations dance competition Dance Rites; and the From Our House to Yours program. There's also a paid component, including highlights from the Opera House's recent Antidote and About All Women festivals — if you missed out on either and are keen to dive in. Performances by Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Sydney Chamber Opera and Omega Ensemble are also on offer, as is free content for kids and families — and Stream's slate will keep growing, too. When the venue hosts four concerts at its Forecourt from Friday, April 9–Sunday, April 11, for instance, they'll be livestreamed free on the streaming platform. A new series of online commissions, called Shortwave, will explore the intersection between performance and digital. Online exhibition Returning, which will highlight works by Australian and Japanese artists that examine the post-pandemic world, is also set to join Stream in the near future. [caption id="attachment_806347" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Badu Gili[/caption] Announcing the platform, the Opera House's Head of Digital Programming Stuart Buchanan said that Stream will augment "livestreams and performance recordings with digital-first work that celebrates the ways in which technology is being embraced and disrupted in the performing arts." Stream is also great news for folks who don't live in Sydney, or do but can't make it to a gig, show, festival or talk. While the Opera House won't be placing everything that graces its stages on the platform, the new service will still let you sample the venue's lineup without physically stopping by. To check out the Sydney Opera House's new Stream service, head to the platform's website. Images: Daniel Boud.
Live every week like it's scam week: on streaming platforms throughout 2022 so far, that's basically been the motto. Indeed, a line from one of the year's big swindle hits so far, Netflix's Inventing Anna, sums up this current spate of con artist-obsessed viewing perfectly: scam culture is here to stay. Dramatising the Theranos scandal, eight-part miniseries The Dropout is the third high-profile release in a month to relive a wild true-crime tale — following not only the Anna Delvey-focused Inventing Anna, about the fake German heiress who conned her way through New York City's elite, but also documentary The Tinder Swindler, which steps through defrauding via dating app at the hands of Israeli imposter Simon Leviev. Made by Hulu in the US and streaming on Disney+ via its Star expansion Down Under, as fellow reality-to-screen 2022 release Pam & Tommy did as well, it also dives into the horror-inducing Dr Death-esque realm. When a grift doesn't just mess with money and hearts, but with health and lives, it's pure nightmare fuel. To tell the story of Theranos, The Dropout has to tell the story of Elizabeth Holmes, the Silicon Valley biotech outfit's founder and CEO from the age of 19. Played by a captivating, career-best Amanda Seyfried — on par with her Oscar-nominated work in Mank, but clearly in a vastly dissimilar role — the Steve Jobs-worshipping Holmes is seen explaining her company's name early in its first episode. It's derived from the words "therapy" and "diagnosis", she stresses, although history already dictates that it offered little of either. Spawned from Holmes' idea to make taking blood simpler and easier, using just one drop from a small finger prick, it failed to deliver, lied about it copiously and still launched to everyday consumers, putting important medical test results in jeopardy. That's the quick version of Theranos' gambit for the uninitiated, but The Dropout takes its time unfurling the full roster of ups and downs (including the fact that it was valued at $10 billion in 2013 and 2014). Created by showrunner and co-writer Elizabeth Merriwether — who was also behind TV sitcom New Girl — it draws its details from the American ABC News podcast of the same name, and doesn't skimp on the infuriating and complicated minutiae. In the beginning, Holmes is the kind of teen who listens to pop tunes to pump herself up and convince herself that she can do anything. She's studious and serious, and also desperate to be known for something. Then, as the series jumps between key years in Theranos' lifespan, she adopts an all-black, turtleneck-heavy wardrobe and deepens her vocal tones to get backers to invest their cash in an idea that doesn't work. A veil of secrecy surrounds the company, including for employees — and to say that questions aren't aren't welcomed is an understatement. Female fraudsters are doing it for themselves, screwing over everyone else and speaking in distinctive voices: that's another theme pumping through both Inventing Anna and The Dropout. But where the former is gleefully glossy and never overly interested in the why of it all, the latter knows that, for the people who relied upon Theranos for crucial health results, it's in potential life-or-death territory. It plays this tale straight and grim, and is also well-aware that it needn't be subtle about getting its point across. Of course, there's an inherent statement lurking in the reality of Holmes' life and lies, and the fact that they so easily tick all of the expected boxes. Hailing from a wealthy family, getting into Stanford, convincing her parents to invest her tuition money into Theranos when she dropped out (hence the title), boasting the connections to stump up other funders: it all follows a familiar path, which is a glaring indictment upon a society that gives rise to these types of scams over and over. When Seyfried's version of Holmes is seen talking to the camera, another recent account of a woman and a swindle springs to mind: The Eyes of Tammy Faye, for which Jessica Chastain is nominated for Best Actress at this year's Academy Awards. That film and the first four episodes of The Dropout share a director in Michael Showalter, who has a thematic niche at present, and also keeps working with talented actors putting in phenomenal lead performances. The skill on Seyfried's part to convey all of Holmes' personality quirks without coming across as cartoonish or a caricature can't be underestimated; it's impossible to stop watching her Holmes, even as every move she makes is exasperating. She's surrounded by an impressive lineup of fellow cast members — Lost's Naveen Andrews as Holmes' boyfriend and Theranos' Chief Operating Officer Sunny Balwani chief among them, plus everyone from Stephen Fry and Succession's Alan Ruck to Law & Order mainstay Sam Waterston and Inventing Anna's Kate Burton — but Seyfried is mesmerisingly exceptional, without ever really earning sympathy for Holmes in the process. We may just be living in peak scandal-to-screen times, with new examples dropping faster than almost anyone can reasonably watch them. Joe vs Carole, featuring original The Dropout star Kate McKinnon, is just new to streaming queues, too; WeCrashed, the Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway-starring WeWork drama, also arrives in March; and Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the company's former CEO Travis Kalanick, has premiered in the US ahead of arriving Down Under. Still, while The Dropout has plenty of company, it's easily one of the genre's standouts. The complex tale it relays, the performance it brings with it, the message it screams and the fact that, at every turn, it fleshes out the who, what and why: they're all pivotal and potent. Scam culture might be here to stay, but it isn't enough to just gawk its way — and The Dropout and its powerful take truly understands this. Check out the trailer for The Dropout below: The first four episodes episodes of The Dropout are available to stream via Disney+, with new episodes dropping weekly. Images: Beth Dubber/Hulu.
The future. What will it look, feel, sound, smell and taste like? What's the logical progression of everything that's happening today, in our rapidly changing technological and social landscape? Will the future be like now, only more so? Auteur film director Spike Jonze answers this question via the plaintive eyes and breaking voice of Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) as he wanders the Los Angeles of the near-future in Her. This future is a warm and technologically intuitive space, where highly evolved, Siri-like operating systems are capable of falling in love with humans. Watching the film, we found that despite its themes of loneliness and emotional surrogacy, there's a few predictions we hope do come true. Computers are basically therapists In the future, while artificial intelligence-based computers programs like Samantha (dreamily voiced by Scarlett Johansson) definitely listen to what you say, what really matters to them is how you say it. In classic psychoanalyst form, they listen for signs of hesitation, anxiety or affection. When his OS quizzes him about his feelings for his mother, Theodore's ambivalent tone tells the computer all it needs to know. Video games are just as savvy: Theodore spends a lot of time chatting with a funny little virtual creature with a bad case of Tourette's, whose needless rudeness greatly amuses him. So, what happens when an OS can sense and respond to your emotions? You end up getting entertainment, companionship, sympathy and advice from an entity that also has the power to sort through infinite data and provide all kinds of practical services. It becomes the 100 percent efficient bosom friend you never had. The pedestrian is king Today, Nobody Walks in LA, because everyone has a car. It's a proverbial truth well documented by SNL's The Californians. But Spike Jonze's' LA of tomorrow is one big, car-less New York Highline (he even consulted with the Highline's creators to get the feel right). Broad and tranquil sky walkways connect Theodore from work to home, and a metro system takes him from the city to the beach. What's the advantage of travelling through life on foot? Safer, more populated public spaces; a healthier body; and the end of road rage. Despite Her's overarching theme of loneliness, from developments here in Sydney we know that pedestrian spaces tend to attract food trucks, live music and events, making everyone feel happier and more connected to their local community. Something we didn't see in the film that we hope to see in the cities of the future, is a skyline of buildings carpeted with vertical gardens. Clothes, technology and interiors are kind of friendly-looking Do we see any robo-babes or steampunks in future LA? No. We see an affluent middle-class clad in garb that references the 1930s, with high-waisted pants and clean colour-blocking. No one's trying to look cutting-edge; just well-presented. The style is actually shoppable — check out Opening Ceremony's Her capsule collection. As for interior design and gadgets, there's none of the usual super-slick chrome interiors, overly stark minimalism and cold blue lighting that films usually use to represent the world of the future. Nor are there paleo-future aesthetics or dystopian ruins. Instead, we experience lights that gently illuminate when Theodore enters his apartment; a smart pocketbook that looks like an old-timey picture frame; an elevator whose walls display a moving silhouette of trees. It's a wholesome, comfortable environment accessorised with objects and furniture in shades of blush and ochre. In fact, the colour blue is largely filtered out of the movie, to create a feeling of warmth and comfort deliberately at odds with Theodore's personal isolation. While we can't exactly filter out blue IRL, we Spike Jonze's vision of a cosy, inviting built environment that isn't trying too hard to be cool. Communication is hands free and softly spoken In future LA, almost every appliance is a voice-activated Siri. From printers to video games to letter-writing computer programs, machines respond to softly murmured voice commands much like Google Glass today. Riding the metro home, Theodore discreetly instructs his smart pocketbook to show him nudie pictures of a pregnant celebrity. What's the upshot of this subtle way of communicating needs? People become more softly spoken in general. The trend carries into advertising: Theodore first hears about the new artificially intelligent OS from a slo-mo advertisement in which a soothing voice heralds a new era in technology. Machines themselves also speak enticingly, as epitomised by the husky Samantha . Her is in cinemas now. Read our review of the movie here.
New financial year, new excuse to book a holiday? It's as good a reason as any. It isn't just airlines that want us to be making getaway plans all of the time — we all want to be in that camp, too, because who doesn't constantly want to be thinking about, preparing for and locking in vacations? Via Virgin Australia, here comes your latest chance to give your suitcases a workout. The Aussie carrier is beginning July 2024 with a week-long sale that's starting prices cheap — at $49 — and slinging over one million fares. This round of specials covers both domestic and international trips, so you're covered whether you want to hit up Tokyo, Bali, Fiji, Vanuatu or Queenstown, or also Hamilton Island, Byron Bay, Cairns, Hobart, Darwin, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and more. By now, everyone knows that the Sydney–Byron Bay route always has the lowest cost, which is $49 one-way this time around. From there, other discounts include Melbourne–Launceston from $59, Sydney to either the Sunshine or Gold coasts from $69, Melbourne–Hobart from $75, Brisbane–Proserpine (aka The Whitsundays) from $75, Melbourne–Adelaide from $79, Sydney–Hamilton Island from $115, either Melbourne or Brisbane to Uluru from $119, and Sydney–Perth from $215. For those eager to travel further afield, cheap international flights span a heap of return legs, such as Melbourne–Queenstown from $405, Gold Coast–Denpasar from $449, Sydney–Nadi from $499, Brisbane–Port Vila from $565, Brisbane–Apia from $609 and Cairns–Haneda from $679. This sale kicks off on Monday, July 1, running until midnight AEST on Monday, July 8 unless sold out earlier. And the cheap fares, which cover both directions between each point in the discounted route, start with Virgin's Economy Lite option. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, these deals cover periods between Tuesday, July 30, 2024–Tuesday, June 3, 2025, with all dates varying per route. Inclusions also differ depending on your ticket and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick if you're keen to spend some, part or even most of the next year anywhere but home. Virgin's 'I can't go without a holiday this year' sale runs until midnight AEST on Monday, July 8, 2024 — unless sold out earlier. 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.
You're hitting the road on tour and you're only playing the greatest hits. That's one fine way to do the South Island of New Zealand, a destination known for its jaw-on-the-floor scenery, geological wonders, and oh so many gateways to adventure. Our tip? Start in the northwest corner of the island and drive clockwise. You'll hit every region — each with some miracle of landscape and gastronomy to call its own — see seven sublime sights, and emerge satisfied at the end. TASMAN: SPLIT APPLE ROCK Best accessed by way of the ocean, Abel Tasman National Park's Split Apple Rock is a vision emerging from the deep. The natural enigma is the gateway to one of the country's most stunning national parks, surrounded by 237 kilometres of blue waters and golden sands. The granite rock sits 50 metres out into the bay, and as local legend has it, the spherical form was cut by two gods arguing over it. Geologists, meanwhile, believe that the rock was split like an apple during one of the country's ice ages. These days, it's a popular spot for sea kayaking and swimming. You can float right up to the rock and marvel in the nature and wildlife surrounding it. The awe-inspiring beauty is just a taste of the Abel Tasman, which can be walked, kayaked or sailed in however many days your wanderlust desires. Other notable Tasman mentions: Wharariki Beach, Te Waikoropupu Springs. NELSON: LAKE ROTOITI A short drive inland from the abundance of beaches in Nelson, lies Lake Rotoiti, a gem in the region's second national park. The iconic view of the boat ramp, adored by local families and eels alike, stretches to the furthest reaches of the lake, and into the mountains in the distance. In winter, the snowy peaks reflect off the glassy surface. In summer, lush native bushland is a backdrop for children jumping into the water. Native birds can be spied in nearby bushes, with tracks circling the water's edge, and friendly Kiwis are never hard to find if you're looking to dabble in watersports. The money-maker? Watching the sun go down, and the sudden realisation that there's nothing but you and nature. It's captivating. Other notable Nelson mentions: Brook Waimarama Sanctuary, Blue Lake. MARLBOROUGH: QUEEN CHARLOTTE SOUND Chances are you have breezed through this beauty on a trip from the capital to head further south but have never taken advantage of the natural wonder at your fingertips. The Marlborough Sounds are an extensive network of sea-drowned valleys, mountains plummeting into the blue waters below. The calm waters are inhabited by dolphins, whales and friendly fish often caught by locals for food, and the sandy beaches are inhabited by laidback Kiwis and their baches that have passed through the generations. Queen Charlotte Sound is one of the largest channels in the network of bays and mountains and, like much of the country, can be enjoyed by boat or foot. The walking track is an easy route, showcasing some of the best sights all the way through to the capital, and can be done in three to five days. Pick of the bunch? Standing on the corner of the South Island, watching the sun rise over the North. Other notable Marlborough mentions: French Pass, Winery Tour. CANTERBURY: AORAKI/MOUNT COOK Aoraki/Mount Cook has a commanding presence, with a sharp peak and plummeting crevasses. The sheer sight is enough to keep you on edge, but the company of the mountain is oddly comforting. This is the tallest mountain in the country, standing 3,724 metres, and has an ability to render anyone speechless. Ngai Tahu, the main iwi of the region, consider Aoraki as the most sacred of the ancestors that they had descended from. The name is believed to mean cloud piercer. Ascending the steep peak is no easy feat and should be reserved for the most experienced climbers, or those safely tucked inside a helicopter. From Hooker Lake, south of the mountain, the modern explorer can indulge in the ever-inspiring lake and mountain duo. As you drive into the region, past the electric blue Lake Pukaki, and catch the first glimpse of the mountain in the background, you know you're in for a vision of a lifetime. Other notable Canterbury mentions: Lake Tekapo, seal spotting at Kaikoura. OTAGO: ROY'S PEAK Prepare to put in the hard yards to make this Instagram a reality. The five-hour round trek to Roy's Peak has been known to test the fittest climbers, but the view from the top is comparable only to being on Pride Rock. It's overwhelming when you stand on the edge of something so big, with the furthest corners of the country in sight. Gazing over Lake Wanaka, you can spot that Wanaka Tree, and see to the peak of Mount Aspiring in the distance. Bonus: The steep ascent will help you condition your glutes. In a region rich with adventure tourism, from skiing to jetboating, skydiving to bungee jumping, the breath of fresh air at the summit of Roy's Peak is a moment of solace. Take it all in, pinch yourself, it's real. Other notable Otago mentions: Moeraki Boulders, Tunnel Beach. SOUTHLAND: MILFORD SOUND There's no sight more sobering than standing at the foot of some of the world's most remote peaks. Watching lonesome waterfalls fall into endless ocean. It's a sight that's so iconically New Zealand, so undeniably unmissable, and it's all waiting at Milford Sound. This south corner of the country can be explored by foot, discovered by air or taken in by boat venturing through the never-ending turns of the fiord. Buses to Queenstown are abundant, and water tours of Milford Sound depart frequently. Guides will direct you to graceful waterfalls and sharp peaks that can be snapped from afar and savoured forever. Other notable Southland mentions: The Catlins, Stewart Island. WEST COAST: FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER A sight slowly slipping from our grasps, nothing is more striking than the geological wonder that is Franz Josef Glacier. Standing at the base of the icy slopes gives you a real feeling of how vast this country is. There are rare rock formations, frozen rivers from centuries past, mountainous peaks to one side and a blue ocean to the other. It can be dumbfounding if you think too much. A one-hour hike will get you to the base of the glacier, but the best seat in the house is slightly further uphill. Almer Hut is one of the humblest abodes on the planet, though it sits atop dramatic snowy peaks and stark cliff faces. Visitors can enjoy a view down Franz Josef Glacier to the rugged West Coast beaches below. The hike is for experienced climbers, but many local companies offer heli-tours to the picture perfect palace. Other notable West Coast mentions: Punakaiki, Oparara Arches. Start planning your trip to New Zealand's south with our guide to the South Island journeys to take here.
Back in 2019, the Great Barrier Reef gained a new addition, as well as a new way to enjoy its natural underwater delights. Long before Avatar: The Way of Water and The Little Mermaid were plunging viewers into the deep from the comfort of their cinema seats, the Museum of Underwater Art turned sculptures beneath the ocean's surface into a spectacular reason to go for a dip. It's the southern hemisphere's first attraction of its type, in fact, and it added more artworks in 2020. Since then, divers and snorkellers have been able to enjoy two installations. The first, Ocean Siren, is located 30 metres offshore from The Strand jetty at Townsville and actually towers above the water; however, it interacts with live water temperature data from the Davies Reef weather station, then changes colour in response to variations as they happen. Coral Greenhouse, the second, definitely lurks below the sea. Sitting 18 metres below the waterline on the John Brewer Reef off Townsville, it measures 12 metres in height, weighs around 58 tonnes, and is made out of stainless steel, neutral marine grade cement and zinc anodes. And, yes it does indeed look like a greenhouse. As filled with more than 20 sculptures, it's an underwater building. Now, the Museum of Underwater Art boasts a just-opened third attraction: snorkel trail Ocean Sentinels. Also located on the John Brewer Reef, it features eight sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor, all modelled after leading marine scientists and conservationists — and mainly Australians, too. Made from high-grade, low-carbon and earth-friendly concrete, then reinforced with marine stainless steel, each piece measures 2.2 metres in height and weighs anywhere from 0.94–2.8 tonnes. Ocean Sentinels was installed in May 2023, and sits adjacent to Coral Greenhouse, making hitting the water to look at art a two-for-one experience. Because they need to be fixed to the seabed, they've been placed on barren stretches of sand. If you're keen to take a look, tourism operators will start taking travellers for a viewing from this month. "These eight pieces will be the third installation in a series of ocean-based artworks installed throughout the Townsville region. All eight models are renowned for their expertise in the field of marine science and marine conservation and their hybrid forms make reference to their contribution to their specific field of study," explains deCaires Taylor. One of the artist's muses: Dr Katharina Fabricius, a coral ecologist, who describes the Museum of Underwater Art "a living piece of art that communicates to the people how important research is, how important coral reefs are, and how all these aspects — art, science, humanity — can come together to protect the reef." Find the Museum of Underwater Art, including Ocean Sentinels, off the shore of Townsville, Queensland. For more information and to book a tour, visit the museum's website. Images: Jason deCaires Taylor.
The holiday blues are probably coming in strong right about now. Summer has come and gone and dreams of a lazy mid-year escape feel like a lifetime away. Throw in the fact that you're probably out of annual leave and have even less cash than usual to splash on a luxe resort (#costofliving, amirite?), and any ideas about sipping a margarita on a sunny island are slipping away. So, would you believe us if we told you we've found a single solution that will solve every one of your 'I need to find a way to make money without eating into my holiday allowance while also enjoying a fresh cocktail' dilemmas at once? Unofficial title: Operation Working Holiday in Thailand. Start by doing the hard yards and figure out how that digital nomad thing works (note: we're using the term 'hard' loosely here, because it's actually pretty easy). Then, the only thing you need to decide on is where you want to base yourself for that first bowl of Pad Thai. Whether you dream of urban style or beachy chic, we chatted to Tourism Authority of Thailand and got their suggestions for the best accommodation options for those considering a remote working holiday. BANGKOK According to the classic 80s banger, "One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster". So imagine if you had a couple of months up your sleeve! Basing yourself in Bangkok is a brilliant option for those digital nomads who just aren't quite ready to quit their big-city creature comforts. With both bustling bars and traditional temples in touchable proximity, the two hotels below offer excellent remote work accommodation options in the city known by locals as Krung Thep (or the City of Angels). Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River This standout hotel is Four Seasons by name and four seasons by nature. The Bangkok branch of this iconic international five-star hotel chain gives digital nomads plenty of reasons to visit, all year round. The amenities are extensive and include fast wifi, fitness studios, two riverfront infinity pools, 24-hour room service and a dry cleaning service for all those times you need to Zoom in your best suit and tie. We also love the location. It's right next to the Chao Phraya River, just over a 30-minute drive from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and even closer (5.8 kilometres, to be exact) to Siam Paragon Mall — extremely useful for those times when you need an emergency laptop charger replacement! 137 Pillars Suites & Residences, Bangkok These serviced apartments in Bangkok's Prom Phong/Thonglor area are committed to the digital nomad cause, offering a range of packages specifically designed to cater to long-term stays. Think complimentary high-speed wifi, a daily maid service, a Thai SIM card available for purchase and weekly yoga, meditation and Muay Thai classes. You also get access to the Daily Baan Borneo Club for all-day breakfast, afternoon tea, coffee, snacks and sundowner drinks, plus level-27 infinity pool access and regular aromatherapy massages at Nitra Serenity Centre — for those times when deadlines are kicking your butt. CHIANG MAI Charming Chiang Mai is proof that there's no shame in second place. Capital of the north and the second largest city in the country, Chiang Mai offers a unique brand of laidback luxe. The landscapes are lush (all rugged mountains and green farmlands), the food scene is fabulous and the culture game is strong — with traditional Thai arts and crafts workshops among the mix. If your work from home style is cool, calm and collected — with a preference for having excellent coffee close by — then these two Chiang Mai hotels are our recs. Akyra Chiang Mai Fun fact: Chiang Mai is rated as the cheapest place in Thailand to live and work on a digital nomad budget, making it the ideal option for those bent on a working holiday but bound by a tight budget. And at the heart of it is the Akyra Chiang Mai hotel — a luxurious home away from home that has been transformed into a hub for aspiring entrepreneurs from all types of online businesses. The impressive downtown location, amazing rooftop infinity pool (perfect for a couple of quick laps between Skype calls), excellent wifi and abundant upskilling opportunities (including a number of in-house classes) draw many digital nomads in. But it is the chance to connect and network with other like-minded humans that generally keeps them at Akyra a little longer than anticipated. Kantari Hills Chiang Mai A quick squiz of Kantari Hills' online reviews reveals a ton of satisfied guests who have used the hotel for long-term stays. It could have something to do with the brilliant work facilities — like a business centre with secretarial service, fax, email, computer and photocopying — and an executive lounge with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks and ice. There's also round-the-clock security and concierge services, and of course, free wifi. Call it a hunch, but a fancy whirlpool, sauna and steam rooms probably don't hurt either. KO PHA-NGAN If Ko Pha-Ngan's white sands, turquoise waters and lush coconut trees aren't enough to entice you to swap your desk for the digital nomad life in Thailand, then perhaps the idea of a Full Moon Party celebrated every single month will do the trick? That's right, instead of end-of-quarter drinks, every 30-ish days (it's based on the lunar calendar, so it varies) Ko Pha-Ngan celebrates the new full moon with a big bash on the beach. Expect booze, music blasting out of the bungalows and neon-painted backpackers lighting up lanterns at dusk, just as the moon starts to show up and illuminate the shores. Want in? These hotels are our recommendations when it comes to setting yourself up with a remote work situation in Ko Pha-Ngan. Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas Team bonding but make it tropical. Yes, it's pretty fun watching your boss make a fool of himself in a group laser tag session, but for the ultimate team building exercise, consider a stay at Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas. Kick things off with meetings in a boardroom by the beach, lock in an evening of sunset canapés and cocktails aboard a luxury yacht, and challenge every staff member to find their strengths and weaknesses with a host of recreational activities on land and sea. With 64 pool suites and villas, every single one of them set among towering palms and crystal sea waters, this is the ideal accommodation option for those who want to do the digital nomadic life a little decadently. Panviman Resort Koh Phangan We're going to be up front and flag our concerns with the Panviman immediately. Just so you know what you're dealing with before you book your stay. Our main issues relate to its location (in the mesmerising Gulf of Thailand), stunning landscapes (it's surrounded by cerulean seas that gently lap golden beaches fringed with coconut palm trees), onsite restaurants (that focus on organic produce and fresh seafood direct from local fishermen) and VIP lounge (the one with a breathtaking sea-view infinity pool replete with Jacuzzis and sun loungers). So it's going to take a fair bit of dedication and discipline not to spend your nine-to-five completely distracted by all of the above. However, if you're confident in your ability to stay on target, then the Panviman Resort Koh Phangan offers one of the best digital nomad accomodation options in all of Thailand. PHUKET If we had to entrust Thailand's status as the Land of Smiles to a single region, we'd pick Phuket. After all, it's almost impossible not to settle in to the island on the country's western shore and grin once you realise you are in the company of some of Southeast Asia's best resorts, restaurants and shops. The two hotels below are our picks for the best place to base yourself if you're leaning towards Phuket for your remote-work vibe. Twinpalms Phuket The first thing you need to do, to convince your boss that you're taking your digital nomad job seriously, is check out Twinpalms Phuket's library. Here, you can explore literature, magazines and movies while using its free high-speed internet and computers. Then, when the coast is clear (or better yet, after hours, to minimise the risk of being fired!), book in a spa treatment, arrange a snorkelling excursion or step directly into the hotel's large lagoon pool, and log it in your time sheet as office admin. Cape Panwa Hotel If you're a C-Suite exec — or just dream of CEO status — then Cape Panwa is the place for you. Its former guests include kings, queens and big-screen stars, so it's definitely a great base for those who want to manifest a promotion or pay rise. A dedicated business centre will help you keep the process professional; however, we also strongly suggest taking advantage of the hotel's fun facilities too. Think the beachside bamboo bar, access to the state-of-the-art Panwa Princess yacht and two onsite palm-fringed pools. After all, if you've got your sights set on CFO (but you're working with an intern budget), you'll need to work hard, but nobody said you can't work hard from paradise with a tropical drink in hand, right? Tourism Authority Thailand has plenty more suggestions for the top places to work remotely in the Land of Smiles, so for more options, head to the website. Images: Tourism Authority of Thailand
For over two decades, The Malaya has kept customers happy with abundant Malaysian, Nonya and Indonesian cuisine on Darling Harbour. However, the time has come to explore the restaurant's next chapter, with a relaunch at Grosvenor Place in the CBD on the cards for April. Though long-time fans will undoubtedly be sad, there's still plenty of time to say goodbye to the King Street Wharf dining room, with the final service being held on Saturday, March 29. While the decision to move was not made lightly, The Malaya's new residence offers the chance to expand its service. Featuring two levels with space for 180 guests, third-generation stewards Duan and Isabella Wong assure guests the same bold flavours and welcoming experience await in the new setting. Yet there are some new additions, with tasty live seafood options and an elevated wine and beverage program complementing the kitchen's renowned food. Meanwhile, the larger restaurant also allows for two semi-private dining spaces, seating up to 30 and 50 guests. Whether you're hosting an intimate birthday celebration or need a delicious spot for a corporate event, an inviting design produced in collaboration with boutique firm Anouk & Co carefully balances modern elegance with a familiar warmth that the restaurant's most loyal diners will instantly recognise. The Malaya's history stretches much further back than its Darling Harbour location. Founded by Wong Tai See in 1963, the merchant seaman originally opened the restaurant on George Street in the CBD, bringing spicy cuisine to a largely unfamiliar crowd at the time. Over the years, the joint has become a go-to destination for Southeast Asian dining in Sydney, with over eight million customers wandering through its doors. "We've loved our time at King Street Wharf," says Duan Wong. "But moving to the heart of the CBD allows us to better serve our guests and reconnect with a more dynamic dining neighbourhood. We might be leaving the water views behind, but we're gaining something just as special – two levels of dining and an outdoor terrace with a rooftop feel that brings a whole new energy to the venue." Just the latest move in the venue's long and winding history, The Malaya is bound for a bright future in Grosvenor Place, back on the same street where the restaurant's story began. Reflecting the family's fascinating place in Sydney's culinary history, cherished favourites like laksa, beef rendang, Szechuan eggplant and otak-otak aren't going anywhere. Plus, some of the design details are set to remain too, with the same Finnish doors making the trip to the new restaurant. The Malaya will reopen at Grosvenor Place, 225 George Street, Sydney in April. Head to the website for more information. Images: Jacs Powell / Jason Loucas.
A Royal Tenenbaums rollercoaster? A Life Aquatic submarine ride? A Grand Budapest Hotel cable car? Your wildest, most whimsical dreams are about to come to fruition; Wes Anderson has announced his plans to team up with Devo-co-founder and longtime Anderson collaborative composer Mark Mothersbaugh on their very own theme park. If you've watched a few Wes Anderson films, you would have heard Mothersbaugh's iconic scores — the man's worked on Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou to name a few. But the Devo legend is also an applauded artist who's releasing his own visual art book: Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia. When Anderson's book foreword was revealed, so were the pair's theme park plans. "I hope to soon secure the means to commission the construction of an important and sizeable theme park to be conceived and designed entirely by Mark Mothersbaugh," Anderson wrote in the foreword . "For 40 years he has set about creating a body of work which amounts to his own Magic Kingdom, where the visitor is amused and frightened, often simultaneously." We're waiting for the finer details with baited breath, perhaps a ride on the Darjeeling Limited or a wild ride through the tunnels of the Fantastic Mr Fox? If Mothersbaugh's art is anything to go by, things are going to be a little weirder than we're used to with twee king Anderson. Here's one of Mothersbaugh's best Anderson score moments, just to get you squealing a little higher. https://youtube.com/watch?v=214w5Bh9mp4 Via Flavorwire.
Easily taking out the title for the cutest and fluffiest fundraising initiative of the year, Pawgust is doing the real good work — raising money for Guide Dogs, while letting you spend some quality time with your best four-legged pal. It costs more than $50,000 to raise and train a Guide or Assistance Dog, and these pups are dearly needed by those they assist. There are over 450,000 Australians who are blind or have low vision, and to them, Guide Dogs are often a constant companion providing a vital service. Pawgust is a simple premise, but a sweet one: just walk your dog. Spend 30 minutes every day walking your doggo, for 30 days, or the whole month of August. Registering for Pawgust means you'll get sent a pedometer to use to measure your steps and how far you travel with your furry mate all up – half an hour is approximately 2km, so seems likely you'll make some decent tracks. The other side of the challenge is a little less dog-friendly: raising funds. Reach out to the people in your life who like dogs (or just like you) and get them digging into their pockets – if you're stuck for ideas, the pack you receive upon registering has some ideas and plans for how to reach out. If you're reading this dogless, that's okay too: you can just walk alone, or enlist a human two-legged friend to do it with you. There are even prizes up for grabs for those who raise the most funds or walk the greatest distance, but let's face it — achieving something pretty cool with the help of your dog is probably its own reward. To register you and your pup for Pawgust, head to pawgust.com.au.
Selling records, winning Grammys, putting on huge tours, making concert films, sparking free public transport: Taylor Swift can do it all. In excellent news for Swifties heading to the first two shows on the singer's Australian leg of her Eras tour at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, getting there by tram just got cheaper, with the Victorian Government temporarily including the venue in the city's free tram zone. Swift plays the MCG from Friday, February 16–Sunday, February 18, in gigs that might become her largest ever, with 86,000 people expected to attend each night. That's a whole lot of people heading to the stadium — and not just locals, given that the pop superstar is only doing shows in Melbourne and Sydney when she visits Down Under. So, making using public transport easier is a no brainer. [caption id="attachment_939191" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paolo Villanueva via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] Across the three days, the Victorian Government has announced that the free tram zone extend to the MCG via routes 48,70 and 75. Obviously, expect them all to be busy as they travel to the Melbourne Park precinct along Flinders and Collins Streets. To cater to demand, approximately 150 extra services are running over the three nights, too. And, regional lines as well V/Line train services have added as extra capacity also, including on the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Traralgon and Seymour lines. [caption id="attachment_939194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] "We've added hundreds of extra train and free tram services across the three days to get Swifties to the shows as easily and safely as possible," said Victorian Minister for Active and Public Transport Gabrielle Williams, announcing the public transport changes. "Taylor Swift's biggest ever Australian shows will have the same impact on the transport network as three AFL grand finals back to back — that's why we're encouraging everyone attending to plan ahead and take public transport to get to the 'G." This is the state that declared the 'Fearless', 'Enchanted', We Are Never Getting Back Together' and 'Blank Space' talent's shows a major event under its Major Events Act 2009 act, to ensure that Swift fans don't get ripped off by ticket scalpers. And, it's the home of Australia's only official offsite merchandise pop-up before Swift's gigs. Is Victoria aiming for "The Swiftie State" to be its new nickname? This is Swift's first tour Down Under since 2018, when she brought her Reputation shows to not only Melbourne and Sydney, but Brisbane and Perth, too. On the Eras tour, she's following up her three nights in Victoria with four in New South Wales. Melbourne's free tram zone will be extended to the Melbourne Cricket Ground from Friday, February 16–Sunday, February 18, 2024. For more information, head to the Public Transport Victoria website. Taylor Swift is bringing The Eras Tour to the MCG from Friday, February 16–Sunday, February 18, 2024. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Paolo Villanueva via Wikimedia Commons.
Love theatre? Desperate to see all the latest and greatest shows that London's West End has to offer, or the British theatre scene in general? Live in Australia, rather than the UK? If you answered yes to all of these questions, and you can't afford to zip over to Britain and back to indulge your stage fix — because who can? — then you're probably a huge fan of National Theatre Live. Since well before the pandemic, this theatre-to-cinema program has beamed live versions of hit London stage productions into Australian picture palaces. If you watched Danny Boyle's phenomenal version of Frankenstein starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, as everyone should've, then this is how you saw it. If you caught Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy in the also-phenomenal Skylight, it was thanks to NT Live, too. (And if you found yourself streaming other British theatre shows during lockdowns, that's because National Theatre set up its own online platform when we were all at home as well.) NT Live's Aussie cinema program has been back up and running as the venues themselves have been doing the same, and it has something massive in store in July: Prima Facie. The one-woman play marks the West End debut of Killing Eve star Jodie Comer, who plays a brilliant young barrister. And it'll be showing in movie theatres Down Under from Saturday, July 23. Penned by Australian British playwright Suzie Miller — and an AWGIE winner in 2020 at home for its Griffin Theatre premiere season — Prima Facie also sees Miller herself make her West End debut. Her play follows legal eagle lead Tessa (Comer, The Last Duel, Free Guy), who has succeeded in her field after working her way up from working-class origins. Then, thanks to an unexpected event, she's forced to examine power dynamics, the patriarchal force of the law, morality and burdens of proof. NT Live's recording of Prima Facie was captured live at the Harold Pinter Theatre — and, as all such stage shows that make the leap to cinemas as filmed versions of the original plays, the visual presentation is designed to make you feel like you're really there. Prima Facie will play in select cinemas around the country — including the Hayden Orpheum, Dendy Newtown, Palace Chauvel and Ritz Cinemas in Sydney; Cinema Nova, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Como, Palace Balwyn, Lido Cinemas, Classic Cinemas, Cameo Cinemas and Yarraville's Sun Theatre in Melbourne; and Palace James Street, Dendy Portside and Dendy Coorparoo in Brisbane. It'll also show in Palace Nova Eastend in Adelaide, as well as Luna Leederville and Luna on SX in Perth. And if you're wondering what else is on NT Live's schedule, it's doing Shakespeare — Henry V starring Game of Thrones and Eternals' Kit Harington, in fact — from Saturday, June 25. Check out the Prima Facie trailer below: Prima Facie will screen in Australian cinemas from Saturday, July 23. Images: Empire Street Productions, Helen Murray.
Summer may have come to an end, but that doesn't mean the good times have to stop as well. In autumn, everything is balanced. Night and day are equally long, the weather isn't too hot or cold. Plus all activities and events for the winter start to kick off. But before that, there's a festival for all things autumn that deserves a visit. Equinox – Autumn Celebration of the Senses will take place in the Blue Mountains throughout four weekends from Friday, March 10 to Sunday, April 2. Every weekend will involve different events, each themed on a particular sense — taste, hear, feel and see. First up (for taste) is the weekend of Feast (Friday, March 10 to Sunday, March 12), where seven restaurants across the region have curated autumn-themed menus for you to enjoy. There'll also be Equinox Under the Stars, an evening of stargazing, live music and food on Saturday, March 11. The following weekend (Friday, March 17 to Sunday, March 19) is the Blue Mountains Music Festival, where you can catch over 100 folk and blues performances across seven venues. Following that is the weekend of Feel (Friday, March 24 to Sunday, March 26), where you can catch magic shows, masquerade balls, ghost tours and more across the region. Finally, there's the weekend of See (Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2). For the festival's final weekend, you can catch live music, revamped local nature tours, a local film festival, an antique fair and more. For more information on the Equinox festival, its events and venues, or to get tickets, visit the website.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to watching anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this month's latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest to old favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from February's haul of newbies. BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH IN FULL RIGHT NOW KIMI For the second year in a row, Steven Soderbergh has made one of the year's standout movies — even if 2022 is still a mere two months in — and it has completely bypassed Australian cinemas. Unlike last year's No Sudden Move, however, Kimi was always destined for streaming. The latest in his series of paranoid thrillers that also includes Contagion, and once again female-fronted as Haywire, Side Effects and Unsane were too, this Zoë Kravitz-starring standout takes its cues from smart devices, humanity's increasing dependence upon technology, and the kinds of events that a virtual assistant like Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant might eavesdrop on. As a result, Soderbergh has crafted another movie that riffs on a growing area of real-life interest, then turns it into a tense, potent and devilishly smart feature. A bonus: focusing on a protagonist who doesn't feel safe leaving her house, Kimi couldn't better capture how the pandemic has felt without overtly needing to be a COVID-19 film. Kravitz (Big Little Lies) plays Angela Childs, who works for Seattle-based tech corporation Amygdala from the comfort of her own sprawling loft — and from her own audiophile's dream of a computer setup — listening to snippets of conversation captured by smart speaker Kimi for quality assurance. In one clip, she hears what she believes to be a horrible crime and is compelled to follow up; however, her bosses aren't thrilled about her probing. Complicating matters: after being the victim of an assault a couple of years earlier, Angela suffers from anxiety and agoraphobia, making leaving the house to investigate a fraught task. As he did to particularly stellar effect in Unsane as well, Soderbergh styles his latest psychological thriller after its protagonist's mindset, making unease and suspense drop from every aesthetic choice — camera angles and placement, jittery frames and a voyeuristic perspective all included. Kimi is available to stream via Binge. STARSTRUCK It's official: after a dream of a first season, Rose Matafeo's rom-com sitcom Starstruck is back to make you fall head over heels for its 21st-century take on dating a famous actor all over again. It's also official for Matafeo's (Baby Done) Jessie, who is now dating Tom (Nikesh Patel, Four Weddings and a Funeral), the celebrity she had a one-night stand with on New Year's Eve, then navigated an awkward will-they-won't-they dance around every time they ran into each other in London. But this next batch of six episodes poses a key question: once you've enjoyed the wild meet-cute, ridden the courtship rollercoaster and been bowled over by a grand romantic gesture (see: Starstruck's The Graduate-style season-one finale), what comes next? It's the stuff that rom-com movie sequels might cover, except that for all of Hollywood's eagerness to rinse and repeat its most popular fare, this genre is sparse in the follow-up department. Season two picks up exactly where its predecessor left off, with Jessie and Tom's bus ride segueing into a WTF realisation — as in "WTF do we do now?". That's a query that Jessie isn't ready to answer, even though she's made the big leap and missed her flight home. So, she avoids even tackling the situation at first, and then eschews fully committing even when she's meant to be in the throes of romantic bliss. Basically, it's messy, and the kind of chaos that rom-coms don't show when they end with a happily-ever-after moment. Like everyone, Jessie and Tom endure plenty. In the process, this gem of a show's second season is light but also deep, a screwball delight while also sharp and relatable, and still filled with fellow romantic-comedy references. And, as well as continuing to showcase Matafeo at her best, it remains a rom-com that's as aware of what relationships in 2022 are really alike as it is about how romance is typically portrayed in its genre. Starstruck's second season is available to stream via ABC iView. Read our full review. HELLBENDER Meet the Adams family — no, not the creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky characters that've featured on pages and screens for decades (including in two terrible recent animated flicks), but the filmmaking collective comprised of couple Toby Poser and John Adams, plus their daughters Zelda and Lulu Adams. The quartet might be missing a letter from their well-known counterparts' names, but they're just as fond of all things horror. Case in point: their second feature Hellbender, a self-financed gem that's both a spellbinding tale of witchcraft and a clever coming-of-age story. It starts in a house in the woods, and also spends most of its time there. It includes the arrival of an unexpected stranger, shattering the status quo. But formulaic and by-the-numbers, this must-see isn't. In making exceptional use of its setting, and of a cast that's primarily comprised of Adams family members, it's also a masterclass in lockdown filmmaking. In the most expected aspect of Hellbender, the film's name does indeed refer to a punk-metal band, with 16-year-old Izzy (Zelda Adams, The Deeper You Dig) and her mother (Toby Poser) its sole members. No one else has ever heard them play, either, given that Izzy is both homeschooled and confined to the family's sprawling mountainside property, as she has been since she was five. Her mum tells her that she can't venture into town or around other people due to a contagious autoimmune disease; however, when a lost man (John Adams) wanders their way and mentions that his teenage niece Amber (Lulu Adams) lives nearby, Izzy gets the confidence to go exploring. As both written and directed by three out of four Adams family members — all except Lulu — Hellbender proves an impressive supernatural affair from its opening occult-heavy prologue through to its astute take on teen rebellion. Here's hoping this Adams family spirits up more DIY horror delights soon, too. Hellbender is available to stream via Shudder. EUPHORIA From the very first frames of its debut episode back in June 2019, when just-out-of-rehab 17-year-old Rue Bennett (Zendaya, Spider-Man: No Way Home) gave viewers the lowdown on her life, mindset, baggage, friends, family and everyday chaos, Euphoria has courted attention — or, mirroring the tumultuous teens at the centre of its dramas, the Emmy-winning HBO series just knew that eyeballs would come its way no matter what it did. The brainchild of filmmaker Sam Levinson (Malcolm & Marie), adapted from an Israeli series by the same name, and featuring phenomenal work by its entire cast, it's flashy, gritty, tense, raw, stark and wild, and manages to be both hyper-stylised to visually striking degree and deeply empathetic. In other words, if teen dramas reflect the times they're made — and from Degrassi, Press Gang and Beverly Hills 90210 through to The OC, Friday Night Lights and Skins, they repeatedly have — Euphoria has always been a glittery eyeshadow-strewn sign of today's times. That hasn't changed in the show's second season. Almost two and a half years might've elapsed between Euphoria's first and second batch of episodes — a pair of out-of-season instalments in late 2020 and early 2021 aside — but it's still as potent, intense and addictive as ever. And, as dark, as Rue's life and those of her pals (with the cast including Hunter Schafer, The King of Staten Island's Maude Apatow, The Kissing Booth franchise's Jacob Elordi, The White Lotus' Sydney Sweeney, The Afterparty's Barbie Ferreira, North Hollywood's Angus Cloud and Waves' Alexa Demie) bobs and weaves through everything from suicidal despair, Russian Roulette, bloody genitals, unforgettable school plays, raucous parties and just garden-variety 2022-era teen angst. The list always goes on; in fact, as once again relayed in Levinson's non-stop, hyper-pop style, the relentlessness that is being a teenager today, trying to work out who you are and navigating all that the world throws at you is Euphoria's point. Euphoria is available to stream via Binge. ALL OF US ARE DEAD The zombie apocalypse has arrived in South Korea — again. Fans of the Train to Busan, Seoul Station and Peninsula film franchise, and of 2020 movie #Alive, will be well-accustomed to seeing the ravenous undead wreak havoc on the Asian nation, of course, which puts Netflix series All of Us Are Dead in particularly great company. The premise here: after a school science experiment gone wrong, Hyosan High School swiftly becomes the site of a zombie outbreak, as students and staff alike start munching on flesh and tearing their classmates and colleagues to shreds. Pick whichever high school-set teen movie or TV show you like, add brain-chewing, face-gnawing fiends, and that's the basic idea. Naturally, all that adolescent angst, teen bullying and unrequited love — and all those class clashes and schoolmate secrets, too — take on extra urgency and intensity when the stakes are literally life and death. It might sound like The Walking Dead-meets-Squid Game but with teens, but All of Us Are Dead is never that formulaic — even though picking where the narrative is going, especially in its first few episodes, proves rather easy. Indeed, as the kids in Class 2-5 and their teachers deal with the zombie chaos, the 12-part series is as interested in what it means to fight and survive as it is in the blood-splattered action. That doesn't mean that it skimps on the latter, though. Hyperkinetic displays of thrashed limbs, gnashing teeth and strewn-about gore pop up often, and put plenty of the zombie genre's big-screen equivalents to shame. That said, exploring the complicated relationship between childhood pals Man On-jo and Lee Cheong-san (House of Hummingbird's Park Ji-hu and Nobody Knows' Yoon Chan-young), and also unpacking rich girl Lee Na-yeon's privilege (Squid Game's Lee Yoo-mi) — to pick just a few of the equally gruesome, entertaining and thoughtful show's lengthy list of characters — couldn't be more crucial. All of Us Are Dead is available to stream via Netflix. I WANT YOU BACK If a rom-com isn't well cast, it might as well not even exist. If viewers can't buy the chemistry between whichever couple has just stumbled into each other's orbit, developed feelings for one another and started wading through all the messy matters of the heart that always follow in the on-screen path to true love, then nothing in the movie will ever make sense. Thankfully, that isn't a problem that the supremely likeable I Want You Back has, all thanks to its ace central duo: the always-welcome Jenny Slate (Parks and Recreation) and Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). The pair play Emma and Peter, who work in the same building and first run into each other hiding out in the stairwell. They've both just been dumped, Emma by gym trainer Noah (Scott Eastwood, Wrath of Man) and Peter by school teacher Anne (Gina Rodriguez, Kajillionaire), and they're each distraught. As they become friends, stalk their exes via social media, and stumble further into sorrow when they see that Noah and Anne have moved on, they hatch a plan — and yes, getting their past loves back is the number-one aim, as the movie's moniker makes plain. A romantic comedy needn't be surprising to be enjoyable, and I Want You Back was always going to nudge Emma and Peter together. When a rom-com does indeed manage to have two great stars at its centre, that's simply what the genre does best (and should do often). Falling in love while trying to woo back your ex? That's screenwriters Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger's (also co-scribes on Love, Simon) setup, and one that's both goofily and sweetly handled by director Jason Orley — who also showed his skill at tinkering with a seemingly standard formula with 2019's Big Time Adolescence, too. Of course, even with The Good Place's Manny Jacinto also among the cast, I Want You Back wouldn't be a fraction of the warmly enjoyable film it is without Slate and Day anchoring its leisurely stroll through heartbreak and new beginnings. I Want You Back is available to stream via Prime Video. THE TINDER SWINDLER It must be scam month over at Netflix. Example one: The Tinder Swindler. The true-crime documentary tells the tale of Simon Leviev, an Israeli con man who posed as the jet-setting heir to a diamond fortune — among other gambits — on the titular dating app, romanced a series of women and fleeced them of sizeable sums of money. If that all sounds familiar, that's because his fraudulent scheme was exposed in a 2019 article by Norwegian publication Verdens Gang, but stepping through the details on-screen still makes for harrowing, yell-at-the-TV viewing. If your path to love has involved swiping right, the doco-thriller just might be nightmare fuel, too. It treats its interviews, all women who fell for Leviev's scam, with respect and without judgement, but the film also relays a compelling cautionary tale about our always-online lives and the internet as a tool for seduction. When Cecilie Fjellhøy first saw Leviev's Tinder profile, she happily moved her finger in the appropriate direction. That very same day, she was meeting him in a hotel bar, then accompanying him overseas on a private jet. Their whirlwind courtship continued, including talk about starting a family and moving in together — largely via WhatsApp as he was frequently overseas — and then, after his bodyguard was supposedly attacked by one of his enemies, the requests for cash started rolling in. Pernilla Sjöholm has a similar story, although she only ever kept things platonic with Simon. Her time in his inner circle overlaps with Cecille's, in fact. Simon's list of victims doesn't end there, but the trio of Scandinavian women who share the details with first-time director Felicity Morris are candid, earnest and understandably angry as they lay out the facts. A dramatised version of this tale will undoubtedly follow, because of course it will. The Tinder Swindler is available to stream via Netflix. INVENTING ANNA Inventing Anna, aka Netflix scam-month offering number two, doesn't just detail the kind of story that's so chaotic that it can only be true. And, as The Tinder Swindler also achieves (see above), it doesn't simply chronicle another wild case of scheming, conning, pretending, lying and gleefully splashing around fat stacks of cash, either. It's also home to an accent, courtesy of Ozark and The Assistant's Julia Garner as the eponymous Anna Delvey, that's a force of nature all by itself — one that speaks volumes, not just literally, about the woman at its centre as well. When fictionalised writer Vivian Kent (Anna Chlumsky, Veep) starts interviewing the imprisoned socialite's pals for a story, they all provide different descriptions. Little in their thoughts and observations about her gels from person to person, which Kent obviously notices. Evading being easily pinned down — whether in her personality traits, attitudes, clothes, friends, backstory and tastes, or in her voice — is a crucial part to her whole charade. Fiercely spitting out those distinctive tones, which sound more than a touch like The Room's Tommy Wiseau, Garner is nothing less than riveting as Delvey — who, when Inventing Anna begins, has just been arrested for deceiving financial institutions, banks, hotels and acquaintances, charges she vehemently denies. Instead, Delvey claims she's a rich heiress who wouldn't need to do the things she's accused of, but also sports a ferocious lust for fame or even infamy. Kent has to fight to even look into the story thanks to her own complicated history, and the more time that she spends both with Delvey herself and furiously interrogating every aspect of her life, the more fascinated that she becomes. Viewers are swept along the same path in this slick, savvy, super-polished miniseries, which hails from Grey's Anatomy and Scandal's Shonda Rhimes, shares those two shows' loves of glossily packaged twists, and is compulsively watchable. Inventing Anna is available to stream via Netflix. NEW SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK SEVERANCE It's the ultimate in work-life balance, an antidote to non-stop after-hours emails and Slack messages, and a guaranteed way to ensure what happens at work stays at work. In mind-bending thriller series Severance — which plays like Black Mirror meets the Charlie Kaufman-penned Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, with Wes Anderson's aesthetic if he designed soulless office complexes, plus sprinklings of everything from George Orwell to also-excellent 2020 TV effort Devs — switching off when clocking off at Lumon Industries is easy. There's a brain implant for exactly that, and it's a condition of employment on "severed" floors. Accordingly, when quittin' time comes for Macrodata Refinement division employee Mark (Adam Scott, Big Little Lies), he physically steps into a tiny, shiny elevator to descend back into his after-hours life; however, the version of him that works for Lumon won't recall anything beyond the company's walls. The instant that the lift plummets, it goes back up for Mark's "innie", as his office-bound consciousness is dubbed. Voila, it's clocking-on time once more. Severance's attention-grabbing premise springs from creator Dan Erickson, a TV first-timer, and understands how most folks feel about office life. The show is knowing in its lead casting, too, given that Scott is best recognised for two workplace comedies: the joyous hug that is Parks and Recreation, as well as the acerbic, astute and soon-to-return Party Down. But as savvily and evocatively directed by Ben Stiller in its first three season-one episodes (and again in its last three, with Kissing Candice filmmaker Aoife McArdle helming three in the middle), Scott's new series dwells in 'be careful what you wish for' territory. For the part of Mark's brain that blanks out work, Severance initially seems like heaven. For the half that only knows the office, it's hell. For everyone watching, soaking in its twisty mysteries — and enjoying Patricia Arquette (The Act), Christopher Walken (Percy vs Goliath) and John Turturro (The Plot Against America) as fellow Lumon employees, it's a surreal and gripping must-see. The first three episodes of Severance's first season are available to stream via Apple TV+, with new episodes dropping weekly. Read our full review. PAM & TOMMY When the first images of Lily James playing Pamela Anderson in Pam & Tommy dropped, they captured an astonishing transformation. The Pursuit of Love star didn't just look like herself dressed up as the famed Baywatch actor; thanks to the miniseries' hair, makeup and costuming teams, she appeared as if she'd leapt into Anderson's body Being John Malkovich-style. That feeling only grew as several trailers arrived and, in the finished product, her performance borders on uncanny. It needs to, and not merely to ensure that James never just seems like she's simply slipping into a red swimsuit for an easy impersonation. To genuinely lay bare the fact that Anderson's well-known tale with her now ex-husband Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan, The 355) isn't quite the narrative it's been immortalised as for the past quarter-century, the series keeps returning to the fallout for Anderson — and, in the process, it peers well beyond the way she's historically been seen by the world. Focusing on Anderson's marriage to the Mötley Crüe drummer in the 90s, Pam & Tommy is all about the pair's sex tape, because that intimate recording was the pop-culture scandal of that decade. Also, it's impossible to step into Anderson and Lee's romance without it. Indeed, the show knows that it's spinning an out-there story, even by celebrity terms, and that everyone watching will has their own ideas already formed about the incident. Pam & Tommy leans into that exact certainty to begin with — talking penis and all — but, as James' performance demonstrates, it never sees the tale it's telling as a joke. Co-starring Seth Rogen (An American Pickle) as the carpenter who stole the footage after being treated unfairly by Lee, this rollicking ride of a show is also a thoughtful retelling and interrogation of a tabloid-fodder incident that changed multiple lives and wrongly cemented Anderson's reputation. The first six episodes of Pam & Tommy are available to stream via Star on Disney+, with new episodes dropping weekly. Read our full review. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2021, and January 2022 — and our top new TV shows of 2021, best new television series from this year that you might've missed and top straight-to-streaming films and specials as well.
Maybe Frank opened its second Sydney outpost in Randwick last November, bringing a little piece of Surry Hills to the east. Run by owner and manager Stefano Catino, the restaurant is a slick intermingling of Italian cuisine, specialty cocktails and a crew brimming with Mediterranean warmth and joviality. The Perouse Road pizza bar has adopted award-winning cocktail whip Andrea Gualdi (who won Australian World Class Bartender of the Year in 2017) as bar manager. Check out the drinks list — it's a collection of the restaurant's most popular requests, traversing sweet and savoury. Begin with the drinkable, perfectly tart Papi Chulo ($21) which combines rum, yuzu and Pedro Ximénez over hand-cut ice. They've also jumped on the skin-contact horse, offering a flavourful 2012 Trebbiano Tuscan natural orange wine ($15) with an apricot finish. There's a proud antipasti list, with highlights such as the calamari ($16) — lightly battered, firm-but-tender tubes with thinly-sliced veggies on the side — and the polpo ($19) octopus marinated for eight hours in oregano, bay leaves and pepper, and plated with potatoes and celery. While it doesn't have fresh-outta-the-water flavour, you'll like it if you prefer your octopus tender and slow-cooked. Other eye-catching antipasti include the eggplant and mozzarella arancini ($14) and the buffalo burrata with Sicilian caponata($18). The pizza menu is split into bianche and rossi (cheese-based and tomato sauce-based). It's for good reason: the toppings are carefully selected by pizzaiolo Lucio Cobino to match their foundation. The crown jewel of the bianche is the Alba ($26) with fior di latte, Italian sausage, truffle pecorino, rosemary and cherry tomatoes. If you're after a tomato base, the gamberi e menta ($27) with prawns, zucchini, cherry tomatoes and mint is a hit — the mint adds another layer of flavour to the sweet and slightly salty slices. If you prefer your pizza folded, look to one of the four calzone (all dripping with melty mozzarella). There's pasta too: the gnocchi ($28) with hazelnut and stracciatella and fettucine ($31) with pistachio pesto and prawn tartare both come recommended. Maybe Frank is versatile. You can relax in the quiet courtyard surrounded by herbs used in-house, sit at the bar until late drinking natural wine or head in on Tuesdays for all-you-can-eat pizza. And with its award-winning cocktail list, it's more than a run-of-the-mill suburban Italian restaurant.
Now that Sydney has reopened and Christmas almost here, you're probably keen to make a splash. Yes, watching fish, turtles and plenty of other marine creatures literally splash about definitely counts. And that's exactly what's on offer at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, all thanks to its luxe underwater festive dining experience. Available up until Wednesday, December 22, Sea Life's private dining packages will serve you up a three-course meal — and two hours of drinks — while you escape into an underwater world. You can choose from one of two locations, too, so prepare to pick between the Heart of the Reef, the venue's 360° glass tunnel that's filled with hundreds of fish, sharks and turtles; or Turtle Beach, which comes with a floor-to-ceiling viewing window into the Oceanarium. You'll tuck into grazing platters stacked with smoked salmon, marinated olives, bread and dips to start with, then move onto mains that include marmalade and nut-crusted glazed double-smoked ham, plus turkey breast with pancetta and sage stuffing — as served with steamed green beans, roast potatoes, and pumpkin. Desserts span steamed Christmas pudding with brandy custard and Christmas pavlova with mango, strawberries, passionfruit and shaved chocolate. And, beverage wise, there's sparkling, red and white wines, and beer. You'll also get after-hours access to the aquarium but, unsurprisingly, the whole experience doesn't come cheap. You'll be paying $225 per person, with a minimum of ten people required — so this is a treat yo'self kind of Christmas under the sea experience.
The time has come. Nintendo's highly anticipated new mobile Mario Kart game has raced onto smartphones everywhere, giving fans what they've always wanted: the ability to play the iconic title anywhere and everywhere, and zoom around tracks inspired by real-life locations. Yep, Mario Kart Tour ticks both boxes. Released yesterday — Wednesday, September 25 — on both iOS and Android, the game is a big deal for Nintendo, marking Mario Kart's first foray into the mobile realm. For the past 27 years, if you wanted to hop in a red-coloured kart, pretend you're the company's famous character and hurl shells at your competitors (all virtually, of course), you had to have a Nintendo console or handheld device — such as a Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Game Cube, DS, Wii, 3DS, Wii U or Switch. While Luigi, Bowser, Peach and the gang reappear in the game as they've always done, the fresh courses are also a huge achievement. Say goodbye Rainbow Road — Mario Kart Tour features tracks in Paris, Tokyo, New York and more. You can drive past Tokyo Tower, rush beside the Arc de Triomphe and zoom along Broadway, among other spots. The global tours will change every fortnight, too, so you can look forward to more locations. And, on select courses, some beloved Mario Kart characters can navigate their own special variations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgJO3000GXU Free to play (with in-app purchases), you use your finger to steer, drift and sling items. Otherwise, it's basically business as usual. Cycle through different karts and drivers, hit the accelerator and get ready to collect coins and unleash oh-so-many banana peels. Mario Kart Tour is now available for free on iOS and Android via the Mario Kart Tour website.
Like beer and sunshine, cheese and crackers and Peter Kavinsky and Lara Jean Covey, wine and cycling are made for one another. And if there's one undoubtedly dreamy way to spend an afternoon, it's meandering through idyllic vineyards on two wheels. Fortunately, Australia's expansive, uncrowded wine regions are made for such adventures. So, we've scoured every vineyard in the country to find cycling trails filled with cellar doors and ocean vistas — just for you, our dedicated wine lovers. Here are nine of the prettiest and tastiest. While these trails are made for cycling between wineries, don't forget it's still a crime to ride a bike while intoxicated in all states. So drink and ride responsibly, and be safe on the road. If you plan on drinking at every winery, consider booking a mini bus instead. [caption id="attachment_685954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] BAROSSA TRAIL, SOUTH AUSTRALIA This 40-kilometre sealed rail trail, shared by cyclists and walkers, travels through the heart of the Barossa Valley, a world-famous wine region located 80 minutes' drive northeast of Adelaide. Your journey begins in the north in Angaston, one of South Australia's oldest settlements, before passing through the villages of Nuriootpa, Tanunda and Lyndoch, to reach Gawler's heritage-listed buildings. Look out for Mengler Hill Sculpture Park, the Barossa Museum, epic views of the Barossa Range and kangaroos, among countless cellar doors and eateries. [caption id="attachment_680367" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Bruzzone[/caption] CLARE VALLEY RIESLING TRAIL, SOUTH AUSTRALIA If too much riesling is never enough, this car-free cycling trail is made for you. Find it in idyllic Clare Valley, around two hours' drive north of Adelaide. Your adventure starts on the Valley's southern edge in the gateway town of Auburn, before rolling 35 kilometres north to Barinia. Among the cellar doors you shouldn't miss are O'Leary Walker Wines, surrounded by rural panoramas; Skillogalee, whose rieslings are renowned; and Sevenhill, the Valley's oldest winery, founded in 1851 by a bunch of Jesuits who fled Poland due to persecution. [caption id="attachment_685953" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacqui Way[/caption] SHIRAZ TRAIL, MCLAREN VALE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Forty-five minutes' drive beyond Adelaide's southern border lies McLaren Vale, known for its Mediterranean climate, excellent reds and proximity to the Fleurieu Peninsula's spectacular coastline. On the Shiraz Trail, you'll cycle 14 kilometres, kicking off in the McLaren Vale township and heading south to the cute village of Willunga. Make slight diversions to visit experimental winemakers Alpha Box & Dice, who are currently working on an entire alphabet of wines, and Hamilton Winery, home to Australia's longest-serving wine making family, who's been stomping on grapes for over 180 years. The Shiraz Trail is one section of the 37-kilometre Coast to Vines Trail. [caption id="attachment_685960" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Swan Valley[/caption] SWAN VALLEY CYCLE TRAIL, WESTERN AUSTRALIA This picturesque trail in Swan Valley — around 90 minutes' drive northwest of Perth — gives you not one, but four routes to choose from. For maximum reward for your efforts, conquer the three-kilometre loop starting at Baskerville Oval, which takes in five wineries. Or, if you're keen to spend more time in the saddle, opt for the 18-kilometre loop beginning at Maali Footbridge, Swan River. You'll pass several cellar doors, as well as artists' studios, local produce and a sculpture park. You'll find maps and more info here. [caption id="attachment_685785" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] RUTHERGLEN TO WAHGUNYAH RIDE, VICTORIA Here, your boozy escapades occur in the majestic company of the Murray River. Climb aboard at Rutherglen, a town three hours' drive northeast of Melbourne that's home to more than 20 wineries, and pedal nine kilometres north to riverside Wahgunyah. Along the way, you'll come across Jones Winery, where you can taste shiraz made from 113-year-old vines; Rutherglen Estates, whose home dates to 1886; and Valhalla Wines, which specialises in Rhone Valley varietals. The Rutherglen to Wahgunyah Ride is one section of the mighty 100-kilometre Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. MILAWA GOURMET RIDE, VICTORIA For easy-peasy pedalling along super-flat terrain, make tracks to Milawa, a foodie's mecca found three hours' drive northeast of Melbourne. The Milawa Gourmet Ride stretches for five kilometres, from Brown Brothers Cellar Door, where you can borrow a bike for free, to Sam Miranda Winery. In between swirling and sipping, tuck into an array of gourmet deliciousness, including handmade dairy at Milawa Cheese, condiments at Milawa Mustards and fresh fruit at Blue Ox Berries farm gate. Like the Rutherglen to Wahgunyah Ride, this journey is part of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. If you want to continue exploring the Victorian High Country by bike, you'll find more great rides here. [caption id="attachment_686034" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] STANTHORPE TO BALLANDEAN BIKE TRAIL, GRANITE BELT, QUEENSLAND Three-and-a-half hours' drive inland from Byron Bay is Queensland's Granite Belt. Elevated 1000 metres above sea level, this dramatic landscape is a wonderland of rugged granite formations and dense woodlands. See it all from two wheels on the Stanthorpe to Ballandean bike trail. For 30 kilometres, you'll wind along tranquil country roads, pausing at wineries, picnic spots and maybe a brewery or two. The way is dotted with signposts, to keep you on track. The Granite Belt's claim to fame is producing varietals seldom grown in Australia. Among the whites, you'll find roussane, alvarinho and petit manseng, and, among the reds, sagrantino and montepulciano. HUNTER VALLEY CYCLEWAY, NEW SOUTH WALES Opened in 2017, this 10.6-kilometre cycleway runs alongside Hermitage Road – through one of the most winery-dense spots in the Hunter Valley, which lies around 90 kilometres' drive northwest of Sydney. Be sure to visit De Iuliis' stunning cellar door for a cheese and wine flight, as well as Peter Drayton Wines, and its onsite brewery Iron Bark Hill Brewhouse, for excellent wines and craft beers. Meanwhile, at Mistletoe Wines, you'll be sipping sparkling rosé in a sculpture garden, and at Tintilla, sangiovese in an olive grove. You'll find more great wine-filled Hunter Valley bike rides here, too. [caption id="attachment_685963" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lowe Wines, Destination NSW[/caption] MUDGEE WINERY RIDE, NEW SOUTH WALES Three hours' drive northwest of Sydney, the friendly country town of Mudgee has been cultivating grapes since the mid-1800s. There are now more than 35 cellar doors and you can visit 22 of them along a ten-kilometre loop that starts in town, at the Clock Tower. At Lowe Wines, you'll be sampling organic drops and taking a self-guided tour of the vineyards, while at Vinifera, Di Lusso and Mansfield, you'll be working your way through Mediterranean varietals, from Spanish tempranillo to Italian barbera. The map's over here.
Ever wondered what the world would look like if it was run by hipsters? My guess is that tapered mustard chinos would be a mandatory addition to all wardrobes, while fixie bikes would become the sole method of transportation. One blog has put a creative twist on this idea by offering up hipster reworkings of corporate logos. Hipster Branding, a Tumblr that is 'holding up a mirror to the artsy community', presents viewers with a multitude of logos that would look right at home in the upmarket inner-west of Sydney. Colonel Sanders becomes a member of the cultured demographic with Buddy Holly glasses and ironic facial hair, while Mercedes-Benz gets a throwback makeover that's oh-so-retro. Like it or not, hipsters are here in force and inevitably going to take over the world. Soon enough, the logos featured on this blog will become reality as we're overrun by our cigarette-rolling, scarf-wearing, chin-stroking companions. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HR4n6OVoyYQ [Via PSFK]
Every year, when spring hits Toowoomba, the regional city becomes the brightest place in southeast Queensland. Blooms blossom, greenery sprouts and flora reaches towards the sun — that's right, it's Carnival of Flowers time. Running from Friday, September 20 to Sunday, September 29, the annual event showcases all of the gorgeous florets, growths and gardens around town — usually including everything from park tours to ikebana displays to specific shows for orchids, bonsai, clivia and bromelaids each year. Outdoor dwellers can also expect daily live music in bloom-filled parks, while pub and dinner walks are also on the agenda. In total, more than 1100 hectares of public parks and private gardens will be on display in 2019. And, they'll boast more than 180,000 blossoming bulbs and seedlings. The event also kicks off with a three-day food and wine festival across September 20–22, and features an illuminated night garden between September 26–28, so there's no bad time to visit — and you might want to make the trek more than once. Indeed, when it comes to scenic spring sights, there's no prettier place to be. And, given it takes less than two hours to head up the mountain from Brisbane, it's perfect for a weekend day trip. Make a playlist, take a picnic and there's your Saturday or Sunday sorted. Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Travelling to a galaxy far, far away sounds rather nice at this point in 2020. If you're a Star Wars fan, that's actually quite easy, too. While this year won't deliver a new movie in the franchise for the first time since 2014, the second season of TV spinoff The Mandalorian's is heading to Disney+ from Friday, October 30. For those that missed it or need a refresher — the Star Wars universe certainly does sprawl far and wide, both within its tales and in its many different movies, shows, books and games — the Emmy-nominated show follows the titular bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal). In the series' first season, which was set five years after Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi and aired last year, that meant tracking his latest gigs. And, it also involved charting his encounter with a fuzzy little creature officially known as The Child, but affectionately named Baby Yoda by everyone watching. Also on offer the first time around: Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito playing villain Moff Gideon, aka the ex-Galactic Empire security officer determined to capture The Child; everyone from Carl Weathers and Taika Waititi to Werner Herzog playing ex-magistrates, droids and enigmatic strangers; and plenty of planet-hopping. Yes, it was firmly a Star Wars TV series, and yes, it plans to continue in the same manner. As both the previously released first trailer and the just-dropped new glimpse of The Mandalorian's second season shows, it also intends to once again focus on one of television's best pairings. Not only is Mando back, but so is the oh-so-adorable Baby Yoda. The duo's quest to return to The Child's home planet continues, and they aren't parting ways on the journey — "wherever I go, he goes," Mando advises. In addition to showering viewers in Baby Yoda's cuteness, the eight-episode new season will see Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) pop up — it is a show about a bounty hunter, after all — plus Timothy Olyphant and Rosario Dawson join the cast. Behind the lens, directors include showrunner Jon Favreau, Jurassic World star Bryce Dallas Howard, Dope's Rick Famuyiwa, Ant-Man's Peyton Reed and Alita: Battle Angel's Robert Rodriguez, as well as Weathers doing double duty on-screen and off. If you're missing Star Wars on the big screen, don't spend too long stressing. Like any good rebel, this franchise is destined to keep returning. After introducing the world to new lightsaber-wielding characters, farewelling old favourites and delving into stellar side stories for five years straight between 2015–19, more Star Wars movies are planned, because of course they are — but wannabe Jedis won't be watching them just yet. Check out the latest trailer for The Mandalorian below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICuqzhViWAI The Mandalorian's second season hits Disney+ on Friday, October 30. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Top image: Disney+
It's not exactly news that a beer and a barbecue represent one of the holiest unions known to man. But having a cold one in-hand while rotating the snags in the other isn't the extent of the pairing. It goes a whole lot further than that, my friend. We've already explored the beautiful possibilities of battering, stewing and baking with beer and made one killer beer, bacon and cheddar dip — and now, we're spiking our marinades. Yep, this summer we'll be making beer marinades for our barbecued meats. After all, the ultimate way to make your food more beery is to soak it in beer (come on, we know you've thought about it before). Not only does beer add a depth of flavour to your cooking, it also contains enzymes that break down the fibres in your meat, giving it that sweet, sweet melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Willing to give it a go? We've collected four of the best beer-based marinades for you to try at the next barbecue you're hosting, collated by the crew at James Squire. [caption id="attachment_555155" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] CHICKEN: GARLIC BEER MARINADE This little beauty from The Slow Roasted Italian is relatively quick and easy to whip up — but its true value comes from how long you leave it to marinate. While even half an hour will get you a decent flavour, if you can manage to wait a whole day like the recipe recommends, your tastebuds will reap the rewards when it comes to dinner time. Try pairing this one with a James Squire Swindler Ale; the light fruity aroma pairs well with lean meats like this, as the delicate flavours of each don’t overpower each other. [caption id="attachment_555157" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] BEEF: BEER AND BROWN SUGAR MARINADE This recipe from Yummly is 100% guaranteed to get your mouth a little watery. With a mixture of sugar, teriyaki, salt and pepper, the marinade is sweet and salty with the added caramel of a dark beer. It's easy as anything to whip up, and will take your average barbecue steak to the next level. [caption id="attachment_555156" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] SALMON: BEER AND LIME MARINADE If you really want to impress your mates, you can’t go past this beer and lime salmon from Food.com. Using the usual salmon marinade suspects — lime, soy sauce, ginger and garlic —this one steps it up a notch with the addition of your favourite beer. Chuck it on the barbie like it's a shrimp, cook for ten minutes and reap the rewards when you tuck in. These recipes were originally published by James Squire. Head to the James Squire website for more recipes.
Warhol, Chagall, de Kooning, Gauguin, Matisse, Rembrandt, Renoir — what a bunch of big fat fakes. You'll need to look a little closer at the latest exhibition in New York City's Center Gallery, because every last work is 100% sham. Until this August, the FBI had these frauds locked away, never to see the light of day again. In a rare moment of public awesomeness from the Feds, Fordham University's Center Gallery plays host to a collection of seized forgeries from the evidence stores of the FBI Art Crimes department. From a Warhol Brillo Box to De Kooning's seminal work Woman, I, each work in the aptly named Caveat Emptor (let the buyer beware) exhibition has been certified by the FBI as a genuine forgery. Many have been classified and reclassified over the years, with the FBI fine-tuning their art crime detection techniques and nailing some big-time fraudsters. Art forgery has been around for thousands of years, from ancient Roman copies of Greek marbles to Michelangelo allegedly “borrowing” master works, copying them and returning the imitations to their owners (so Vasari says). Forgeries still plague the FBI today; this exhibition is running at a rather testy time for New York's art world, with the recent accusations against an NYC art dealer who allegedly scammed two big-time Manhattan galleries out of up to US$33 million with counterfeit Rothkos, Pollocks and De Koonings. So how do you tell a genuine fake? Luckily for this forgery noob, an NYC conservator casually inhabiting the gallery noted the tell-tale subtleties in the works, tiny details you really have to be looking for to notice. Warhol's 1972 Mao for instance, can be dethroned by the painted staples (Warhol mass-produced his works, stapling the dried canvases afterward). Boom! Fake. The forged Matisse work sports an identical style to the French master; however, the lifeless colour palette may have pricked the suspicion of the buyers. Voila! Faux. So, not dissimilar to RSVPing to a tacky nightclub launch, why would you knowingly head along to a room full of fakes? Caveat Emptor inevitably makes you question the value of a 'real' work of art, as the works on the walls are technically not works at all; they're all evidence in art crime, as damning as a fingerprint-mottled pistol or balaclava left at the bank. It's a staggering thought that an unknown artist could have the gumption to recreate Rembrandt or photocopy Gauguin. With a few minuscule muck-ups, the works are almost carbon copies of the original masterpieces. It's hard to tell whether the exhibition is a celebration of the brilliance of the FBI, the works sitting like mounted trophies, or the genuine skill of the 'artists' themselves. The works are even faux-signed by the forgers, with as much attention paid to a spot-on signature as the work itself. For legal reasons, we can't meet all the makers of these bonafide recreations. Unfortunately, that's often classified. One of the greatest art forger's in history, Ken Perenyi, wrote his own salacious story in a book not so coincidentally called Caveat Emptor: The Secret Life of an American Art Forger. Luckily enough, one of Perenyi's favourite masters to copy was English maritime painter James E. Buttersworth, a fraudulent copy of whose is included in the exhibition. Though the novelty of sort-of-seeing Warhol's Mao next to a tiny Renoir study is undeniably fun, there's something about the hand of the master artist that's missing. That being said, these phonies sure can paint. Images by Shannon Connellan.
Take heed, Deliveroo and Foodora — there's a new player in the food delivery game. And it can fly. Kicking off this week in Royalla, NSW, Google parent company Alphabet has launched a trial of its drone delivery technology Project Wing, with Guzman Y Gomez one of two local retailers testing out the goods. Over the next few trial months, the Mexican food chain will use the Project Wing drone to deliver food orders to paying customers in the area, which sits on the border of NSW and the ACT. Residents will use Wing's app to order their Guzman Y Gomez food (like burritos, mini burrito bowls and handy serves of guac and chips), which will be cooked at a custom test kitchen, picked up by the drone and delivered to the final destination in a matter of minutes, soaring through the sky at about 120 kilometres per hour. A specially engineered carry package will keep the food hot and (hopefully) intact. The Project Wing crew has been working alongside the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and both local and state governments to ensure the drones won't be causing any mid-air mishaps or dropping off any unregulated deliveries. Pharmacy chain Chemist Warehouse is the other retailer involved in this testing phase, offering drone delivery of around 100 of its products to residents in the Royalla area. If all goes to plan, the drones could be used to deliver items to Australians living on rural properties. Or just deliver lunch to your courtyard.
Follow is a new design concept store huddled in the warmth of a heritage-listed former pharmacy at 380 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills that has just opened its doors to the world. The store is the work of the same duo who produced the Finders Keepers Market, who we are very much a fan of, through which they have been supporting emerging design since they began back in 2007. At the moment, shop doors will be open Wednesday to Saturday from 11am – 6pm, and Sundays from 11am-4pm. Follow showcases a carefully curated selection of over 40 independent designers from all over Australia, featuring products from art prints, contemporary jewellery, clothing, textiles and homewares. The designs and limited edition products will be continually rotated, so you're sure to always find something new and exciting, particularly if their amazing work with Finders Keepers in anything to go by. ‘But,’ you are saying, ‘this place is all the way over in Surry Hills and that’s an entire bus ride away and not only is it raining outside but I have had three colds in two months and every time I get on a bus I get sneezed on by someone who clearly hasn’t learnt sneezing etiquette.’ (This may or may not be a projection of my state of mind on to you). However, allay your concerns - they are also working on an online store. And you know how I feel when I hear things like that? Unconditional love and a fierce impulse to accept the bank's offer of an increase on my credit card limit. Check them out below.
Australia, you will feel it coming after all: in what's been a chaotic time for fans keen to see Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye Down Under, the musician is finally bringing his After Hours Til Dawn tour this way. Come October 2024, the Canadian singer-songwriter and The Idol star will hit the country for four gigs, playing two in Melbourne, then another two in Sydney. The details for your diary: The Weeknd will take to the stage at Marvel Stadium in the Victorian capital across Saturday, October 5–Sunday, October 6, then do the same at Accor Stadium in the New South Wales capital on Tuesday, October 22–Wednesday, October 23. Missing from the rescheduled tour dates is a Brisbane stop, which is no longer happening "due to schedule and logistical constraints", tour promoter Live Nation has advised. [caption id="attachment_970220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hyghly Allene[/caption] It was this time last year that The Weeknd announced that his latest massive stadium tour was on its way to both Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2023 — even adding extra shows before general tickets went on sale — only for it to be postponed just two weeks out "due to unforeseen circumstances" without new dates being set. Then, in April 2024, the tour was cancelled for the time being, with ticketholders receiving refunds. "The Weeknd After Hours Til Dawn Tour for Australia and New Zealand is still in process of being rescheduled," said a statement on the Ticketek website earlier in the year, leaving hope then that the tour might be announced again in the future. "Whilst we continue to work through the rescheduling process with the artist, tickets for the existing 2023 tour will be cancelled. All purchased tickets will receive a full refund," the message continued. Revealing the new Aussie shows now, The Weekend said that he feels "a strong pull to perform in Australia before moving on to the next chapter" and that he wanted "to make sure you all know I hadn't forgotten about you". "When I return now, it will be the right time, and I promise it will be such a special experience. I can't wait to see you all!" his announcement about the new dates continued. Mike Dean, Chxrry22 and Anna Lunoe will join The Weeknd Down Under. And if you've spotted that there's no New Zealand gigs this time around as well, his stop in Aotearoa is no longer on the schedule, just like Brisbane. An arena spectacular, The Weeknd's global tour began in 2022, notching up soldout shows far and wide. In the UK, The Weekend saw 160,000 folks head to London Stadium across two nights, smashing the venue's attendance record. And in Milan, he became the first artist to sell out the Ippodromo La Maura for two nights. Those feats are just the beginning. In Paris, the 'Starboy', 'I Feel It Coming', 'Can't Feel My Face', 'The Hills' and 'Blinding Lights' artist scored Stade de France's biggest sales this year — and in Nice, the 70,000 tickets sold across his two shows are the most in the city's history. The reason for the whole tour, other than just because, is celebrate The Weeknd's 2020 record After Hours and its 2022 followup Dawn FM. Obviously, he has been playing tracks from 2013's Kiss Land, 2015's Beauty Behind the Madness and 2016's Starboy as well. The Weeknd's 'After Hours Til Dawn' Tour 2024 Dates: Saturday, October 5–Sunday, October 6 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Tuesday, October 22–Wednesday, October 23 — Accor Stadium, Sydney The Weeknd is touring Australia in October 2024 — and if you had tickets to his cancelled 2023 dates, you can nab new tickets via the past purchaser presale from 12pm in Melbourne and 1pm in Sydney on Wednesday, August 21. Other presales start from Thursday, August 22, with general sales from Monday, August 26. Head to the tour website for more information. Top image: Rafael Deprost.
If ever there was a time to treat yourself to a vacation, it's now, and you'll still find scores of memorable holiday destinations located in New Zealand. No long-haul flight required. What's more, if you're after a true break from reality, New Zealand is brimming with unique stays that'll transport you blissfully far from your everyday. Indulge in a few nights in a leafy treehouse, a beautifully restored truck perched right on the bay, or even a mountaintop cabin with views for days. Here, we've taken care of the hard bit and pulled together 15 of the most unique stays you can book in New Zealand. Pick your favourite, pack those bags and embark on a holiday that's worth writing home about. Recommended reads: The Best Places to Go Glamping in New Zealand The Best Places to Go Glamping in Australia Ten of the Most Luxurious Waterfront Stays You Can Book in Auckland The Most Unique Stays with Breathtaking Views of New Zealand's South Island Glamcamping, Whananaki A secluded waterfront cabin and campsite set among untouched wilderness, with hiking trails, clear blue ocean and private sandy beaches right on its doorstep. From $148 a night, sleeps six. The Grove Farm Stay, Thornton With features like a hot tub and king size bed, this comfy yurt makes for an idyllic farm stay. All just metres from the beach. From $276 a night, sleeps four. Mud Hut at Welcome Rock Trails, Garston Dose up on serenity at this rustic high-country hikers' hut, kitted out with a cosy fireplace, outdoor tub and some of the best views going around. From $125 a night, sleeps four. Fairytale Treehouse, Whangarei Your own magical treehouse escape, complete with cosy interiors, leafy wraparound deck and 28 lush acres to explore at your leisure. From $290 a night, sleeps two. The Amazing House Truck, Wainui Bay This former truck has been transformed into a comfy bayside getaway, complete with a woodfire and outdoor bath. Spend your days swimming, hiking or soaking up those views. From $237 a night, sleeps four. The Mudcastle, Nelson Fancy holidaying like royalty? Try this picturesque castle retreat, complete with fairytale features, a private pool and sweeping countryside views. From $1336 a night, sleeps 16. Alpine Cube, Ben Ohau Check out of reality and into this architecturally designed nature cabin, featuring zero wi-fi, a luxe open air spa and all the tranquility you could dream of. From $498 a night, sleeps two. Blackpool House, Auckland This contemporary couples' retreat boasts a lush, leafy setting, with stunning architecture, a cosy mezzanine library nook and a sun-drenched deck that's primed for relaxing. From $390 a night, sleeps two. Warm Cosy Yurt, Motueka Valley Al fresco drinks among the treetops and stargazing through the rooftop skylight — enjoy it all at this kitted-out yurt overlooking the Motueka River. From $122 a night, sleeps three. Rocky Point Hut, Pepin Island A tranquil hideaway for two with an outdoor tub offering epic panoramas, this clifftop hut is the stuff of holiday dreams. From $219 a night, sleeps two. The Treehouse, Waiheke Island Hidden among the treetops, this contemporary cabin will charm you with its romantic loft bedroom, leafy gardens and blissful outdoor spa. From $292 a night, sleeps four. Woodpecker Bay Bach, Punakaiki Wake to the sound of crashing waves at this quaint beachfront stay. It's rocking a charmingly kitsch style and a bathtub with views to swoon over. From $226 a night, sleeps two. Away Treehouse, Auckland Blissful treehouse vibes abound at this secluded forest retreat. Unplug and recharge, while enjoying the cosy wood fire, outdoor spa and peaceful treetop setting. From $438 a night, sleeps two. Kauri Forest Chalet, Auckland In the heart of the bush, this secluded chalet makes for a tranquil couples' escape. Hiking trails abound and the beach is just a short drive away. From $180 a night, sleeps two. Te Kouma Heights Glamping, Manaia Find luxury off the grid in this tent for two with endless ocean and farmland views. Enjoy fully equipped solar power, a king bed and two claw-foot outdoor tubs facing the glittering Coromandel Harbour. From $332 a night, sleeps two. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Images: courtesy of Airbnb.
Forty years after first forming, Cirque du Soleil still knows how to notch up firsts among its lineup of dazzling circus shows, especially for Australian audiences. In 2023, the Montreal-based company headed Down Under with CRYSTAL, its first-ever ice production on ice. In 2024, it's following that up with LUZIA, which takes inspiration from Mexico, and also marks Cirque du Soleil's first touring performance that features rain in its acrobatic and artistic scenes. LUZIA's name is a combination of the words 'lux' and 'lluvia' in Spanish, with the first translating as light and the second as rain. What that means in the production will be unveiled to Aussie audiences throughout the year, starting in Melbourne in March. Seasons in Adelaide from June, Perth from July, Brisbane from September and Sydney from November will all follow. While it has been four decades since Cirque du Soleil was created back in 1984, 2024 is the 25th anniversary of the troupe's performances in Australia, making LUZIA the tenth big-top show to hit our shores. So, although it's already an ode to Mexican culture, the production has even more to celebrate as it spends the bulk of 2024 and into 2025 making its way around the nation. Packing their bags to help: a team of 120 people, which includes 47 artists from 26 countries. First staged in 2016 and becoming Cirque du Soleil's 38th original production at the time, LUZIA has already been seen by 4.5-million people, a number that'll grow in Australia. Audiences are in for a trip to an imaginary version of Mexico, where the performance gets playful and surreal amid the light and rain. Some of the settings include an old movie set, the desert, the ocean and a dance hall, all backdropping the company's acrobatics, trapeze displays, contortionist feats, juggling and more. In the Cyr wheel, artists will roll and spin through the rain. And that trapeze work? That happens through showers. LUZIA also spans hoop diving on giant treadmills, a natural sinkhole, seven pins being flung in the air by jugglers and street dancing that includes footballs. Daniele Finzi Pasca wrote and directs the production, which begins with a parachutist falling into a field of cempasuchil flowers, turning a huge metallic key, then taking a magical journey. From there, the clown antics give LUZIA a beach clown and clown scuba diving, the acrobatics even take to a bike, a luchador mask makes an appearance in the swing segment — 1000-plus costumes are seen across the show in total — and a hair-suspension act features. Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA — Australian Tour 2024–25: From Sunday, March 24, 2024 — Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne From Sunday, June 9, 2024 — Adelaide Showground, Adelaide From Thursday, July 25, 2024 — Claremont Showgrounds, Perth From Wednesday, September 25, 2024 — Next to Royal Queensland Golf Club, off Curtin Ave East, Brisbane From Sunday, November 24, 2024 — Entertainment Quarter, Sydney Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA tours Australia from March 2024. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the show's website. Images: Anne Colliard.
Lebanese-style charcoal chook in Sydney has long been synonymous with El Jannah. Yes, there's northern Sydney chain Chargrill Charlie's, but its sauces — Greek Island, Portuguese Piri Piri and Thai Fresh Herbs — are notably missing toum. Frango has firm Portuguese roots and Red Rooster is, well, Red Rooster. Today, though, another player has flown into the proverbial coop. Henrietta is the new restaurant by Nour's Ibby Moubadder and Jorge Farah specialising in Middle Eastern charcoal chook — and it's not too dissimilar to its Crown Street sibling. Both restaurants celebrate traditional Lebanese cooking techniques, but aren't afraid to stray from the straight and narrow. Nour's falafel comes in crumpet form and its halva is served alongside pumpkin cheesecake. Henrietta's baba ghanoush gets an umami hit from miso, its beef brisket is served atop tacos with zhug (a Yemeni hot sauce) and its chicken tawouk comes, not as a kebab, but inside spring rolls. But the newcomer's focus is not the rule-breaking sides, it's the charcoal chook. Henrietta's take comes with a glistening layer of smoky, spicy sauce, the requisite char and juicy flesh. It comes with the requisite garlic toum, too, as well as zingy pickles and Lebanese bread. It's suggested sumac chicken salt-covered chips are ordered, too, and rolled using that bread — together with the chicken, toum, chilli sauce and pickles — to create a DIY chicken sandwich. Just how you do this is illustrated in easy-to-follow steps on the menu. Sound like too much work? You can order one, pre-rolled, for $14. Alongside the charcoal chook, you'll find three Lebanese-ish desserts — chocolate mouse with rose, baklava sundaes and rice pudding with halva — as well as seven fun cocktails. A slushie machine is pumping out frozen takes on a Pornstar Martini, while a bartender shakes the likes of spicy passionfruit margaritas and hibiscus sours. Walking a fine line between casual-night-out-with-the-crew and date-night, the 65-seater restaurant has been designed by creative agency DS17 and is filled with neon signs of 'Henrietta', concrete walls and terrazzo bars. While dining out is allowed in NSW — and has been since mid-May — some Sydneysiders are still dining in. Henrietta is catering for both with its takeaway window selling its charcoal chooks for $18 a pop. Henrietta is now open at Shop 1, 500 Crown Street, Surry Hills. It's open from 11.30am–late daily.
The Back to the Future franchise has pinned this decade all too well. In the next development of unbelievably futuristic sounding technology, Google-backed company Kitty Hawk released the first video footage of its flying car prototype yesterday, April 24. Yeah, Doc Brown's Delorean just got real. The company is financially backed by Google co-founder Larry Page and its chief executive Sebastian Thrun, is the founder of Google's 'semi-secret' X lab and a pioneer of the self-driving car. The 'Kitty Hawk Flyer' is described as an "all-electric aircraft" designed to operate over water. The open-seated, 220-pound single seater is powered by eight battery-powered propellers — it essentially resembles a mix between a jetski and a hoverboard, seemingly powered by what looks like a bunch of mini-drones. It will not require a pilot's license to fly, as it is considered an "ultralight aircraft" by FAA regulations, and Kitty Hawk claims drivers will be able to learn how to operate the vehicle "in minutes". Here's the just-dropped intro video, with requisite cheesy inspirational music and somewhat shitty acting: The company is trying to attract enthusiasts to test-drive the vehicle by offering a $100 three-year membership that includes waiting list priority, company-branded gear, flight simulator access and invites to company events and demonstrations. Members will also get a $2000 discount once the car does go to retail. Kitty Hawk is not the first company to attempt the flying car feat, with the Slovakian company AeroMobil making their flying vehicle available for pre-order by the end of 2017 and the aerospace firm Airbus releasing plans for its ground-air hybrid car at the Geneva International Motor Show last month. The government of Dubai, in partnership with a Chinese firm, EHang has also released plans to begin operating flying taxis by July 2017 and Uber is holding a conference in Texas on Tuesday to discuss details of their own "urban-air transportation" vehicle. Though the car is said to be in consumer production by the end of the year, no retail price has been given yet. As of now, the vehicle will only be shipped within the US, so Australians will have to wait a bit longer for a ride. Via The New York Times.
You know those friends who are so madly into each other, it's obvious to everyone they should be a couple? And they just shrug it off and continue on their merry way, probably share-housing together and watching late-night movies together and working on a creative project together, too, just for good measure? That's Jake (Travis Kesek) and Elise (Nicole Dimitriadis) in Body Language, and since we've all had friends like them (or been them), it's easy for audiences to get hooked on this new play from writer Luke Holmes. Jake and Elise seem to be at the centre of a web of people trying to negotiate relationships with a member of the opposite sex — relationships whose true natures cannot be read from the surface. Elise's friend Sarah (Charlie Hanson) is an awkward, garrulous type flattered to be invited to sit for a painting by artist Karl (David Ross). Nick (William Koutsoukis), a bit of an oaf, is mandated to see psychologist Sam (Brendan Layton) after an incident with an ex, whom he's still obsessing over. Small world, though; both shrink and patient are currently seeing the same sex worker (Morgan Powell), and she'll be an asset to the nicer guy of the pair. Body Language is the first work to be produced by new independent theatre company Brave New Word, who stand out for having a clear mission statement and methodology from the get-go. The group, all graduates from the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art, take a new script they like and put it through three weeks of workshopping with the cast and creatives, during which anything can change. With the script finalised, the last weeks are spent rehearsing under the guidance of the director (for this show, Sepy Baghaei). It's an approach that borrows from existing script development programs, allowing some newer, greener theatre makers to benefit from taking part in a collaborative process with their peers. Body Language has a unique charm which could well be a result of this. The scenes between Jake and Elise, in particular, are so natural, so warm and funny, they seem like the kind of thing that can only result from the actors bringing a lot of themselves to the roles. It's a little reminiscent of the Before Sunrise movies that way. Dancers Lillian Jean Shaddick and Paul Musumeci add some physical-theatre palate cleanser in between scenes, and although it's not as integrated with the rest of the play as it could be, it's great to see non-naturalism getting some love. The fledgling company could afford to take even more risks next time — some moments, especially as the characters' paths reached resolution, were a bit predictable, possibly the result of writing by committee. But overall, this is a sparky, entertaining show. It will be a lucky writer whose work is zeroed in on by Brave New Word next.
Every Martin Scorsese movie is worth waiting for, but Killers of the Flower Moon has been decades in the making. The nonfiction book that the acclaimed director's latest film adapts details events in the 1920s, in Osage County in Oklahoma, where members of the Osage Nation became wealthy through oil, then targets for white interlopers. And the feature that's bringing this true tale to the screen? It finally unites Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in one of Scorsese's full-length flicks, after the filmmaker has spent decades working with both separately. Marty. De Niro. Leo. Yes, enough said. That's the basic maths behind Scorsese's first film since 2019's The Irishman, which premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in May, will hit cinemas Down Under in October and then heads to Apple TV+ after that. De Niro and DiCaprio have been in so many of the legendary director's movies that it's rare for any of his titles to not include one or the other. The former's run gave viewers gangster masterpieces such as Mean Streets, Goodfellas and Casino; also spans the iconic Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The King of Comedy; and covers musical New York, New York and thriller remake Cape Fear, too — and, of course The Irishman. The latter began leading Scorsese's films in the early 2000s, kicking off with Gangs of New York, then starring in The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island and The Wolf of Wall Street. That's a helluva resume for both actors, and for their favourite helmer. Enter Killers of the Flower Moon — which is actually the second time that De Niro and DiCaprio have joined forces for Scorsese, after they played themselves in the director's 2015 comedy short The Audition. The actors have a past on-screen beyond that thanks to the non-Marty helmed This Boy's Life in 1993, back when DiCaprio was still a teen. That's the Scorsese–De Niro–DiCaprio history. Its main talents aside, Killers of the Flower Moon has looking backwards on its mind as well. As seen in the initial teaser in May and just-dropped full trailer now, the film jumps into a series of real-life of murders. DiCaprio (Don't Look Up) and Certain Women standout Lily Gladstone play Ernest Burkhart and Mollie Kyle, a couple that gets caught up in the investigations surrounding the mounting killings. The deaths start when oil turns the Osage Nation into some of the richest folks on the planet, and quickly, which attracts the wrong kind of notice — attention fuelled by greed and envy, and resulting in manipulation, extortion and homicide. Killers of the Flower Moon surveys that story through Burkhart, Kyle and their romance. Scorsese also co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth (Dune, and an Oscar-winner for Forest Gump), adapting David Gann's 2017 non-fiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. And, as well as De Niro (Amsterdam), the movie co-stars Jesse Plemons (Love & Death), John Lithgow (Sharper) and newly minted Best Actor Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser (The Whale). Check out the full trailer for Killers of the Flower Moon below: Killers of the Flower Moon releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, October 19, and will then stream via Apple TV+ at a later date — we'll update you with streaming details when they're announced.
They start off in text, drawing in readers with their mysteries, twists and psychological thrills. They focus on women in murky situations, and make that fact known in their titles. Then, after literary success, they jump to the screen. That's the path that Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train both took — for better in one case, for worse in the other — and now it's The Woman in the Window's turn. Based on the 2018 novel by AJ Finn, The Woman in the Window follows Dr Anna Fox (Amy Adams, Hillbilly Elegy), a psychologist who also suffers from extreme agoraphobia. After befriending Jane Russell (Julianne Moore, After the Wedding), the woman who lives across the street, she cries foul when her new pal disappears — but neither Jane's husband Alistair (Gary Oldman, Crisis) nor the cops (including Godzilla vs Kong's Brian Tyree Henry) are willing to listen. As well as firmly falling into clear genre — aka mystery-thrillers that reference women in their monikers — The Woman in the Window is obviously taking some cues from Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. And, in both the initial theatrical trailer and the just-released Netflix trailer, director Joe Wright (Atonement, Hanna, Darkest Hour) doesn't shy away from that comparison. Whether it's worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as one of Hitchcock's best films or suffers a fate closer to The Girl on the Train won't be discovered until the movie hits Netflix on Friday, May 14 — a year to the day it was originally scheduled to release in cinemas, but then the pandemic hit. Now, The Woman in the Window is going straight to streaming, as the likes of Hamilton, Mulan and Soul all have over the past year. However it turns out, The Woman in the Window has amassed a wide-ranging cast, with Possessor's Jennifer Jason Leigh and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier pair Anthony Mackie and Wyatt Russell all popping up. Lady Bird and Little Women alum Tracy Letts pops up too, and wrote the film's screenplay. Check out the latest trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_0GJg_Jnlo The Woman in the Window will be available to stream via Netflix from Friday, May 14. Top image: Melinda Sue Gordon.
Over the course of seven episodes, during one of the most-watched Netflix series of 2020, Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) did many things. As a child (as played by Isla Johnston), she discovered an affinity for chess. As a teenager, she savvily turned that talent into a career, hopped around America and the world showing off her skills in fierce tournaments, exceeded everyone's expectations in a male-dominated arena, and battled with her personal struggles along the way. As Beth moved pawns, studied strategies and enjoyed more than a few drinks, she didn't sing about her feelings, though. Soon, in theatres, that'll change. Yes, following in the footsteps of everything from Heathers and Moulin Rouge! to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Shrek, The Queen's Gambit is set to make the leap from the screen to the stage. Just announced by US production company Level Forward, The Queen's Gambit musical is slated to become a reality, with the organisation obtaining the rights to turn the novel behind the show — as penned by Walter Tevis and first printed in 1983 — into a theatre performance. It'll join the Alanis Morissette-inspired Jagged Little Pill and the 2019 Broadway revival of Oklahoma! on Level Forward's resume; however, specific details about what the chess-fuelled song-and-dance show will entail remain scarce at this early stage. https://twitter.com/queensgambitbwy/status/1369014644560588806 So, just who'll star in the musical, which creatives will be behind it, how closely it'll resemble the Golden Globe-winning streaming series, which songs will feature, and when and where it'll premiere are all yet to be revealed. So is any news on whether it'll make the trip Down Under — although folks in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide can look forward to the 2021 season of completely unrelated Chess the Musical in the interim. In a statement, Level Forward CEO Adrienne Becker and producer Julia Dunetz said "it is a privilege for Level Forward to lead the charge of bringing The Queen's Gambit to the stage through the beloved and enduring craft of musical theatre," reports Variety. "Told through a brave and fresh point of view, audiences are already sharing in the friendship and fortitude of the story's inspiring women who energise and sustain Beth Harmon's journey and ultimate triumph. The story is a siren call amidst our contemporary struggles for gender and racial equity, and we're looking forward to moving the project forward." Obviously, a musical version of The Queen's Gambit will need to include singing and dancing chess pieces moving around on the ceiling. That just goes with the territory. If you need a reminder why — or, if you haven't seen the series, a few clues about why the program has become such a hit — check out the Netflix miniseries trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDrieqwSdgI The Queen's Gambit musical doesn't yet have a premiere date — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. Via Variety. Top image: Netflix.
2012 seems too future a year to still be talking about radio. Invented so many moons ago, how is it possible that radio has dodged the inevitable demise of all other pre-internet devices for information dissemination? And yet, radio is an almost unchanged, non-visual, intangible medium that has managed to engage an audience for over one hundred years. Perhaps it is the pared back simplicity of the sound of the human voice which has enabled the wireless to endure. Or perhaps it's the ability of radio to act as a constant companion – from beside buddy waking us from sleep to background fodder in morning traffic to emergency weather warnings in far corners of the state. Radio possesses a remarkably static history but it is also a diverse, easily accessible technology and one too which has developed through the advent of podcasts and on-demand radio apps. A friend recently introduced to me the This American Life app, and here I quickly spiralled into the world of radio apps. There is beauty in the voice of someone’s story and it makes excellent feed for light-on small talk (although beware the compulsion that can ensue). Other people’s stories are addictive and here, a second warning; radio streaming is a data killer — either get yourself an unlimited data plan or make good use of your workplace wireless. In a world so rammed with visual stimulation, it is incredible to think that the simplicity of the sound of a voice is still an engaging notion. We love stories and with the world just a touch pad away it is all primed and waiting to be streamed (data limit pending). Here are some of Concrete Playground's favourite radio apps to get you started. This American Life For those not yet savvy to the sounds of host, Ira Glass, This American Life is a long-running, weekly one-hour program on America’s public radio station NPR. Each week TAL takes a theme and presents a number of stories on that theme. For example, a 2011 program on gossip looked at the relationship between gossip and the AIDS epidemic in Malawi. The Held Hostage program of 2012 told of a Colombian late night radio program where families of victims of kidnapping call in to send messages to their loved ones, hoping that they are still alive and might just be listening in. The beauty of TAL lies in the lateral consideration of each theme and, most importantly, in the classic tools used to create the stories for radio. TAL is one of the few radio programs to provide a program-only app (Radio National, are you listening?). It is not free but $2.99 is a small price to pay for access to the entire TAL archive, including viewing of the two seasons of the TAL television series. All programs can be streamed, saved for offline listening or alternatively downloaded for a small fee. It is a simple app to use with a clear layout, search bar, full descriptions of each program and labels to mark shows as read or favourited. Price: $2.99 Planet Money Planet Money is an economics-for-dummies radio program, also on NPR. I first heard about Planet Money through my obsession with TAL as the team from Planet Money frequently guest programmes TAL. Primarily though, it is a twice-weekly show and the app is an excellent entry into the program with accompanying articles and their additional appearances on TAL, All Things Considered and Morning Edition. Don’t think you need to know about economics? Think again. Understand economics and you start to understand how most of how our world operates. Highly recommended for dazzling cocktail party swagger when it comes to impressing all. Your education starts here. Price: Free BBC Listener More interested in British radio? BBC Listener is the app for you. With a great old-school wireless interface this app can immediately transport you to the cool tombs of the BBC studios of the 1950s. BBC Listener is especially curated for an international audience with a weekly delivery of 20 of the best BBC programs for that week. Programs are divided into genres and are accompanied by visuals – still and video. Price: One month free trial and then $3.99/month. The app is free to download. TuneIn Radio With the American and British equivalents of the ABC (BBC and NPR) branching out into the world of apps, I guess it is only a matter of time before the ABC gets more serious about their digital platforms. Whilst we wait we are stuck with TuneIn. TuneIn is a radio streaming app which gives you free access to thousands of radio programs across the globe, including Australia. It is a clunky app with no program descriptions and a search function which is a tad redundant unless you actually know what you are looking for. The upside is that when you don’t know what you want to listen to you can stumble upon some goodies. And with thousands of programs to choose from you have access to a diverse mix of radio from around the world. Price: Free Stitcher Much like TuneIn, Stitcher is a radio streaming app although with the addition of a personalisation scheme. As you listen and build up a stable of favourite programs, Stitcher will recommend other shows based on your listening habits ie. the app will ‘stitch’ together your own personal radio station. Prefer not to have a computer claiming, ‘You might also like…’? Not to worry. Stitcher also lets you build this process yourself. Price: Free Podcasts Now, all that I have said above is pretty much negated by the recent addition to the Apple stable, Podcasts. Although technically we have always been able to subscribe to podcasts and have them automatically appear in our iTunes – Podcasts make this process less complicated. Podcasts is simple to use and holds all your subscriptions in one place on your phone. It connects to the iTunes store with just a swing of the window and includes full descriptions of all programs. Of course, it is reliant on your favourite radio programs providing podcasts, but most do. Radio National programs can all be subscribed to, as can BBC Radio programs and NPR. The beauty here is the ability to somewhat branch out of radio and discover some of the cross-platform spoken word interviews and stories which are only available as podcasts. Price: Free
When it comes to imbibing gin at home, your go-to may be the classic G&T, or perhaps you shake up a crisp martini from time-to-time. You may also be ready to mix things up with a whole new botanical bev. Whatever your status with gin, Greenall's has given us a few trusty recipes to help you perfect your favourite gin drink at home — whether that be by mastering the perfect proportions for the classics or learning to make an entirely new cocktail. These guys have been at the gin game since 1761, so you can rest assured you're in good hands with their literal centuries of experience, heritage and passion for what they do — whether that's creating new and innovative recipes, or handing over their favourite gin cocktail recipes to make at your gaff. LIME TWIST MARTINI It's the drink that makes you feel like all the laundry has been done, folded neatly away and that Nina Simone is serenading you from an old record. Sit down and have a rest — you've earned it. — 50ml Greenall's Original London Dry Gin — 10ml dry vermouth — Lime twist Place a solid handful of ice into a metal cocktail shaker, add gin and vermouth and set your dominant hand to stir moderately for at least ten blinks. Next, strain into a chilled martini glass. If you're lacking said shapely vessel, Greenall's recommends any other fancy — but equally as chilled — glass. Twist and squeeze the oil from the lime peel into the glass, and leave the curly little citrus in there for garnish. WILD BERRY AND LEMONADE If Bernard Black of Black Books had to choose a summer drink for his summer girl, this would be it. — 50ml Greenall's Wild Berry Gin — 100ml lemonade (or quality tonic water) — Berries to garnish Find your tallest glass, fill it with ice and pour in gin. Top up with — no, not wine Bernard, it's for your girl remember, so opt for the lemonade. Yes, tonic will work, too. Garnish with one berry, two berry, three berry or more. BASIL SMASH Conversation running dry? Then it's time to Natalie Imbruglia the heck out of those basil leaves you've been growing all summer. — 50ml Greenall's London Dry Gin — 25ml fresh lemon juice — 12.5ml sugar syrup — 8 freshly torn basil leaves Add basil to the base of the cocktail shaker and muddle gently. Next, pour in gin, your heart, soul and the remaining ingredients. Shake over ice and strain over an ice-filled tumbler glass, and start (re)memorising the rest of the lyrics to Torn. Head out for a night of 90s karaoke hits. WILD BERRY FLORA DORA When the 'yes' vote came through and all Australian lovebirds got the right to get hitched, this is the drink everyone should have had in hand to celebrate. With a marrying together of gin, ginger beer, lime and raspberry, it's the refreshing drink we all deserve. — 40ml Greenall's Wild Berry Gin — 20ml fresh lime juice — 10ml raspberry syrup — Ginger beer Your Tetris skills will be invaluable here. Your job: build all ingredients in a highball glass over ice. Stir, stir, stir. Serve and play again. GIN AND TONIC Free pouring is for fools. What we're after is a taste sensation that rides the palate of perfection. And Greenall's has given us its easy-peasy, limey-squeezy take on the classic G&T. — 50ml Greenall's London Dry Gin — 100ml tonic water (again, go for quality) — 2 lime wedges Fill a tall glass with ice — that's right, enough to sink a duck. Squeeze in one of the lime wedges. Pour in gin. Top with tonic. Yes, all in that order. Garnish with your second lime wedge. Hold glass high for several seconds in appreciation, and then wink as you hand-deliver to your mate. Make 'em all and find (or re-confirm) a favourite drink to pour your Greenall's into at home.
Rumours swirled in August and now it has been confirmed: Veronica Mars is making a small-screen comeback. The show initially lasted three seasons across 2004–2007, then set a crowdfunding record to get a movie off the ground in 2014, and even spawned two novels and a web series spin-off after that. Now, an eight-episode revival is slated to hit television screens in 2019. The teenage private eye drama will get a similar treatment to Twin Peaks — it'll be a revival featuring original cast members, rather than a new effort that remakes the same concept with different folks and starts all over again with its narrative. And yes, crucially, Ms Mars herself will return, with Kristen Bell confirmed to resume the role that brought her to fame. Bell herself announced the revival via a video on Instagram in which she says, "Veronica has always been a super hero without a Cape [sic]. And I think shes [sic] exactly what the world needs right now." Hulu, the streaming platform that turned The Handmaid's Tale into the phenomenon that it is, is behind the eight-episode new season. According to Variety, Veronica Mars creator and writer Rob Thomas (no, not that one) is also set to return — and is confirmed to be executive producing and writing the first episode. Bell will also executive produce alongside Diane Ruggiero-Wright and Dan Etheridge, who were both involved in the original seasons and film. The new season will see Neptune's favourite blonde-haired, pint-sized sleuth again solving mysteries in the seaside town. This time, however, she has been hired by the parents of a dead spring breaker to investigate a string of murders and is drawn into a power struggle between the town's wealthy elite and its working class. There's no word yet on what other big names have been signed on for the show — or which of Veronica's ex-boyfriends will re-emerge — but, given that the original show featured appearances from Amanda Seyfried, Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat and Michael Cera, Buffy's Alyson Hannigan and Charisma Carpenter, New Girl's Max Greenfield, Thor: Ragnarok's Tessa Thompson and more, you can probably expect a few familiar faces to pop up. With Hulu picking up the revival, we're not sure when Veronica Mars 2.0 will be hitting Aussie and NZ TV screens. As it's slated to debut in 2019, we're hoping it won't take long to head down under. We'll update as soon as we know more. Via Variety.
It's meant to be a relaxing getaway go-to — gathering the gang, hightailing it to an impressive spot, getting into party mode and ignoring all your troubles, that is. But what happens if there's a hurricane, then a power outage, then a series of murders? As new Pete Davidson (The Suicide Squad) and Amandla Stenberg (Dear Evan Hansen)-starring horror-comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies shows, you can instantly forget that all bliss. That's the setup behind this slasher satire, which sees a group of twentysomething friends — and one of the gang's 40-year-old boyfriend — celebrating a big storm. They've got the company, drugs, glow sticks and massive mansion for the occasion, and the party game that gives the movie its title, too. Here's how Bodies Bodies Bodies, the game, is meant to work: everyone picks a piece of paper, one of which marks the person who has it as the murderer. The lights then go out, the victim gets tapped on the shoulder, and everyone starts guessing who's behind it. It's supposed to be fun — but it depends on who the crew's finger is pointing at. Making this on-screen stint of Bodies Bodies Bodies more chaotic is those actual bodies, bodies, bodies, and plenty of blood. As the just-dropped new trailer shows, no one handles the situation well — with the cast also including Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Oscar-nominee Maria Bakalova, Shiva Baby's Rachel Sennott, Generation's Chase Sui Wonders and Industry's Myha'la Herrold. And, playing that two-decades older interloper is Pushing Daisies and Halt and Catch Fire favourite Lee Pace. Dutch filmmaker Halina Reijn (Instinct) directs, and the result looks brutal, wild and hilarious all at once. Something that makes everyone's efforts to survive a murderer a struggle: bickering among themselves, digging up old baggage and not being able to get past their simmering resentments. If you're keen to sleuth (and laugh) along with it, the film will hit Australian cinemas on September 15. And yes, Bodies Bodies Bodies joins a hefty list of recent movies and TV shows that don't find getaways all that enjoyable, including The Resort, Sundown, Old, Palm Springs, The White Lotus and Nine Perfect Strangers. None of the above are also slasher flicks, though. Check out the latest Bodies Bodies Bodies trailer below: Bodies Bodies Bodies opens in Australian cinemas on September 15. Images: Erik Chakeen / Gwen Capistran.
What does it take to build the world’s tallest skyscraper? 19,000 workers, seven months, 92 elevators, and, in all likelihood, a competitive streak. This month, yet another challenge to rule supreme over the global skyline will begin when the Broad Group starts building the world’s tallest skyscraper in Changsha, China. Apart from demonstrating the latest in engineering miracles, the project aims to improve our chances of environmental sustainability, as it will serve as a ‘Sky City’. It’s a fully self-contained settlement, in which residents will have access to all the facilities expected in an urban area, only they’ll come with a view. 56 courtyards, each with ceilings at 30 foot, will provide scope for sporting activities, and 930,000 square feet will be committed to the cultivation of organic farms. Access to all 170 floors will be achievable via elevators, or a six-mile long ramp, which will run the vertical length of the building. According to the Broad Group, any resident of the world’s tallest skyscraper will use only 1% of the land occupied by a run-of-the-mill, ground bound city slicker. Moreover, energy efficiency will be maximised through triple glazing, serious insulation, shading and the use of a co-generation plant, which runs on waste heat, to achieve climate control. Could this be the face of cities of the future? [via PSFK]
Australia's most prestigious portrait award is around the corner, and its finalists have just been announced. Every year, speculation about who will be awarded the coveted prize and, more often than not, the Archibald winner itself, causes much-heated debate. From 2018's five-time Archibald finalist Yvette Coppersmith's first win to Tony Costa's win with his painting of fellow artist Lindy Lee — the first portrait of an Asian Australian to pick up the prize — it's hard a win to pick. All that's really assured is that it'll be a portrait of a person by an Australian. Held at the Art Gallery of NSW every year, the Archibald runs in conjunction with the Wynne and Sulman Prizes — recognising the best landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture and the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project, respectively. This year, because of a certain pandemic, the Archibald was postponed and is running from September 2020 to January 2021. As usual, it's sure to be popular, but instead of pushing through crowds to see the prized portraits, you'll have a bit of space thanks to reduced capacities and timed tickets. And you'll have some exceptional artworks to feast your eyes upon, too. Famed Sydney street artist Scott Marsh's portrait of musician Adam Briggs has made the cut, as have a haunting painting of comedian Magda Szubanski and a Star Trek-esque oil work of NSW Minister for Environment and Energy Matt Kean. Wongutha-Yamatji artist Meyne Wyatt has also taken out the coveted 2020 Archibald Packing Room Prize, chosen by the packing room team, becoming the first Indigenous Australian to win any Archibald award in the competition's 99-year history. As there are so many outstanding portraits this year (as there are every year), it's impossible to know which of the 55 is going to take home the $100,000 prize. Regardless, here are some of our favourites — and some we think may have a good chance of winning. [caption id="attachment_783644" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Meyne Wyatt, 'Meyne', copyright the artist. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling[/caption] MEYNE WYATT — MEYNE Actor and artist Meyne Wyatt became the first Indigenous Australian in Archibald history to win any of the competition's awards when he won the 2020 Archibald Packing Room Prize. The history-making self-portrait is a realistic acrylic painting and, in fact, Wyatt's first painting in over ten years. The Wongutha-Yamatji man and first-time Archibald entrant has no formal art training, but gets some handy tips from his mum Sue Wyatt who was herself an Archibald finalist in 2003. If the portrait above, and Wyatt's signature raised eyebrow, look familiar, it's likely you've seen him in the likes of The Sapphires, Redfern Now and Neighbours. [caption id="attachment_783639" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Scott Marsh, 'Salute of gentle frustration'. Copyright the artist. Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins[/caption] SCOTT MARSH — SALUTE OF GENTLE FRUSTRATION Artist Scott Marsh's portraits aren't a rare site on the streets of Sydney (see: Egg Boy, Mike Baird and Kanye Loves Kanye) but they are a rare site on the walls of the AGNSW. The first-time finalist has joined the ranks of the country's art elite with his seventh submission to the Archibald Prize: a portrait of Indigenous Australian rapper Adam Briggs. The portrait is entitled Salute of gentle frustration, which Marsh says references "the deep fatigue of generations of Aboriginal people demanding equality against a backdrop of political rhetoric and inaction". [caption id="attachment_783691" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kaylene Whiskey, 'Dolly visits Indulkana'. Copyright the artist. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.[/caption] KAYLENE WHISKEY — DOLLY VISITS INDULKANA Self-taught artist Kaylene Whiskey listens to the music of famed American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton while she paints. It's an effective technique, it seems, with Whiskey already cleaned up the Sulman Prize in 2018 and the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award for general painting in 2019. Now, Whiskey is one of 55 finalists selected for the Archibald Prize with a self-portrait in which Dolly visits her home in the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. In the painting, Dolly holds a bejewelled guitar and the pair is surrounded by clocks, cameras, superwomen, galahs and a flying nun. [caption id="attachment_783632" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Angus McDonald, 'Behrouz Boochani'. Copyright the artist. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.[/caption] ANGUS MCDONALD — BEHROUZ BOOCHANI This year, after more than six years in an Australian offshore detention centre, celebrated Kurdish Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani was granted asylum in New Zealand. Sydney artist Angus McDonald first made contact with Boochani when he was making a documentary, called Manus, about the Manus Island detention centre, but was not allowed onto the island to meet him. So, when Boochani landed in NZ, McDonald decided to fly there and paint him instead. The oil portrait sees Boochani looking directly at the viewer, which McDonald says portrays Boochani as a "a strong, confident and peaceful man who survived a brutal ordeal and is now free". [caption id="attachment_783692" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yuri Shimmyo, 'Carnation, lily, Yuri, rose'. Copyright the artist. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.[/caption] YURI SHIMMYO — CARNATION, LILY, YURI, ROSE Japan-born, Sydney-based artist Yuri Shimmyo's inspiration for her self-portrait came from a 19th-century painting by John Singer Sargent called Carnation, lily, lily, rose. While Sargent's painting features two girls playing in a garden, Shimmyo's features herself — Yuri means 'lily' in Japanese — covered in lilies, surrounded by a wallpaper of roses. As for the carnations, if you look to the left of the oil portrait, you'll red-and-blue tins of Carnation milk. The winning portraits and finalists will be on display at Sydney's Art Gallery of NSW from Saturday, September 26 to Sunday, January 10. If you do't agree with the judges, you can cast your own vote for People's Choice before Sunday, December 13. ARCHIBALD PRIZE 2020 DATES Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney — September 26–January 10 Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, NSW — January 22–March 7 Cairns Art Gallery, Qld — March 19–May 2 Griffith Regional Art Galley, NSW — May 14–June 27 Broken Hill Regional Art Galley, NSW — July 9–August 22 Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, NSW — September 3–October 17 Penrith Regional Gallery, NSW — October 29–December 5 If you can't make it to any of the above dates, you can check out the award winners and finalists of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes on the Art Gallery of NSW website.
