Keen to get off the mainland for an immersive cultural experience that'll be sure to ignite your senses? Then make tracks to the East Coast Harvest Odyssey (ECHO Festival) happening in Tasmania this autumn. The 18+ event will be held from Friday, April 8 till Sunday, April 10 at Redbanks Farm near Swansea. Here, you and your mates can celebrate the rich cultural and culinary offerings that this region has to offer through a range of activities including grape stomping, morning mediations, inspiring talks and more. Love food? There'll be loads of tasty treats on offer from Cake & Honey Espresso, Tasmanian Oyster Company, Zen Gelato and more. Another highlight will be the Beaker Street Science Bar, a cosy yurt that's part-lab, part-cocktail lounge where you can sip on a cocktail while chatting with local scientists about Tasmania's giant (and disappearing) kelp forests, and the work being done to restore these treasured ecosystems. There'll also be a wine trail to explore, live music from the likes of Hayley Mary (The Jezabels) and Jem Cassar-Daly, kelp basket-making workshops and the immersive Womb Room — a pastel pink sensory space designed for wakening the senses of smell, sound and touch. Ready to explore a festival like no other? ECHO Festival will run from Friday, April 8 till Sunday, April 10 and tickets start from $125. To check out the full program and to grab tickets, visit the website.
Each year, Smithsonian invites photographers from around the world, professional and otherwise, to submit images that capture great beauty and evoke wonder across five specific categories — The Natural World, People, Travel, Americana and Altered Images. Of the 37,600 submissions, the 50 final images memorialise moments that are both astounding and mundane, but consistently beautiful. A shot of policemen running through the national congress in Brasilia competes with the everyday, yet equally poignant, image of a Texan snow cone stand at dusk. For sharing the best of their photo trail, contestants get the chance to secure some substantial coin, as well as the satisfaction of knowing they've captured a truly Kodak moment. Although the winning submissions are ultimately decided by the Smithsonian’s editor, in an appeal to democratic sensibilities, a Reader's Choice Award will be announced after tallying up online votes, which are open until late March. Naturally, only Concrete Playground has the authority to decide who the real winners are, as selected largely based on their ability to momentarily transport us to a parallel universe in which it is not a Monday morning in front of a humming computer. Scroll down to visually kiss the sky. The Natural World A pair of menacing bald eagles share a meal, as captured by Don Holland of Tennessee, bringing Hitchcock-inspired nightmares to mind. The Natural World David Morrow's Milky Way, as shot in a Washington national park, is even better than the chocolate variety. People Ilain Fain's portrait of three young girls inside a Greek Orthodox church in Nazareth suggests that childhood boredom is a universal phenomenon. People A young baby sleeps protected by the gaze of his watchful mother on a Congolese night in Paolo Patruno's photograph. Americana Ron Henderson's unaltered photograph of the mascot for underwear brand Fruit of the Loom captured on location in the Californian desert proves that sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. Americana Times Square gets patriotic in Doug Van de Zande's image of technicolour shadows. Travel Afraid of losing the moment, Raul Amaru Linares yielded his camera instinctively when he spotted these musicians arriving pre-performance at a bull ring in Ecuador. Travel Playing with finger paints takes on a new meaning for this little boy in Indranil Sengupta's depiction of India's "tiger dance" festival. Altered Image The wrath of mother nature humbles in Tim Wright's image depicting the aftermath of a tornado in Iowa. Altered Image Pramod Shakya captures a building as it comes to life in Xi'an Jiaotong University. Images and story via Smithsonian.
I know what you've been thinking. There's not enough poetry in your average movie. A few films (and their imitators) can quote Whitman, and Sally Potter did that whole movie in iambic pentameter thing. But while this handful's enough for some brief rhymed satisfaction, one film festival in Melbourne have taken it upon themselves to manufacture more cinema wrapped around beautiful verbs. The Poetry in Film Festival is in its second year, and having wrapped up its screenings and prize-givings down south, it's headed up to Sydney to give us a taste of the good word. This year's films were each based around a thirteen line poem submitted by Queenslander Belinda Hilton, Four Letters, Three Words. Each finalist has crafted a short film riffing off, or including, Hilton's lines meditating on the theme of secrets. While the secret of the winners may be out of the bag already, after watching all eight finalists at the Verona you can decide for yourself who takes the vocal to the visual with the smoothest art. Or who just has a sweet way with words.
If you're Melbourne's NGV International and you've spent the summer filling your walls and halls with fashion by Coco Chanel, how do you follow up come winter? By dedicating your next blockbuster exhibition to Pablo Picasso and the artists, poets and intellectuals he crossed paths with. The iconic Spanish painter, sculptor and printmaker's pieces will sit alongside works by everyone from Salvador Dalí and Henri Matisse to Marie Laurencin and Gertrude Stein at The Picasso Century, which'll take over the St Kilda Road gallery from Friday, June 10. A world-premiere showcase developed exclusively for the NGV by the Centre Pompidou and the Musée national Picasso-Paris, and displaying until Sunday, October 9, The Picasso Century won't skimp on its namesake. From Picasso alone, more than 70 works will be on display. But it'll also surround his pieces with over 100 others from more than 50 of his contemporaries, with the latter sourced from French national collections and the NGV Collection. [caption id="attachment_844954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pablo Picasso. Spanish 1881–1973. Reclining woman (Femme couchée). 19 June 1932, oil on canvas, 38.0 x 46.0 cm, 55.6 x 63.0 cm (framed). Centre Pompidou, Paris, Musée national d'art moderne - Centre de création industrielle. Donated by Louise and Michel Leiris, 1984. © Succession Picasso/Copyright Agency, 2022 Photo © Centre Pompidou, MNAM - CCI/Bertrand Prévost/Dist. RMN - GP.[/caption] That means that art lovers will be able to gaze at 170-plus works of art, and chart Picasso's career via his paintings, sculptures, drawings and ceramics in the process — and also see how it developed through his engagement with his peers. And, when it comes to other talents showcased, the hefty list also covers Guillaume Apollinaire, Georges Braque, Alberto Giacometti, Françoise Gilot, Valentine Hugo, Dora Maar, André Masson and Dorothea Tanning. By placing the artist's pieces in context with the works of others around him, The Picasso Century examines the connections that helped make him who he was, and explores how his creations rippled throughout the world. Accordingly, art by Natalia Goncharova, Julio González, Wifredo Lam, Suzanne Valadon and Maria Helena Vieira da Silva will also feature, all talents who've rarely been exhibited in Australia. And, other artists included span André Breton, Georges Bataille, Aimé Césaire and Alberto Giacometti, as well as Kay Sage, Max Ernst and Giorgio de Chirico — plus Francis Bacon and Willem de Kooning as well. [caption id="attachment_844955" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Salvador Dalí. Spanish 1904–89. Invisible sleeping woman, horse, lion (Dormeuse, cheval, lion invisibles). 1930, oil on canvas, 50.2 x 65.2 cm, 74.3 x 89.2 cm (framed). Centre Pompidou, Paris, Musée national d'art moderne – Centre de création industrielle. Gift of the Association Bourdon, 1993 © Salvador Dalí, Fundació Gala - Salvador Dali/VEGAP. Copyright Agency, 2022. Photo © Centre Pompidou, MNAM - CCI/Philippe Migeat/Dist. RMN - G.[/caption] Didier Ottinger, a scholar of 20th century painting and Deputy Director of the Musée national d'art moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris, has curated the exhibition, which obviously steps through Picasso's distinct artistic periods: his blue period, cubism and surrealism, for instance. In total, The Picasso Century will explore 15 thematic sections that chart the course of Picasso's seven-decade-plus career. If you're fond of his surrealist period, however, it'll be particularly packed with works from then. As Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV, explains, "this exhibition offers visitors an extraordinary insight into the development of modern art and the preeminent figure at its centre, Pablo Picasso. Through more than 170 works of art — including many that have never been seen in Australia — audiences will come to appreciate the many ways in which Picasso influenced — and was influenced by — the artistic community that surrounded him." If it sounds big, that's because it is. And, as French Impressionism was in 2021, The Picasso Century is part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition series. The Picasso Century will be on display from Friday, June 10–Sunday, October 9, 2022 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the NGV website. Top image: Pablo Picasso. Spanish 1881–1973. Figures by the sea (Figures au bord de la mer). 12 January 1931, oil on canvas, 130.0 x 195.0 cm. Musée national Picasso - Paris. Donated in lieu of tax, 1979. © Succession Picasso/Copyright Agency, 2022. Photo © RMN - Grand Palais (Musée national Picasso - Paris) / Mathieu Rabeau.
Those intricately drawn cityscapes seen in anime movies will be front and centre at a new exhibition presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney from next month. Running from June 2 until August 11, Anime Architecture celebrates the hand-drawn backdrops and architectural world-building of some of Japan's most iconic animated sci-fi flicks. The exhibition will explore the processes that go into bringing these dreamed-up environments to life, capturing the journey from pencil drawings through to those dramatic big screen stills. Get up close and personal with animations by legends of the scene, including Takashi Watabe, Hiromasa Ogura, Haruhiko Higami, Atsushi Takeuchi and Mamoru Oshii. Their resumes include the likes of Patlabor: the Movie, Ghost in the Shell (the original, not the live-action remake) and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, all of which feature in the showcase — as well as behind-the-scenes perspectives on other acclaimed Japanese films such as Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis. The exhibition is set to be accompanied by an event program, which will be revealed in the coming weeks. Catch Anime Architecture at The Japan Foundation, Sydney, at Level 4 Central Park, 28 Broadway, Chippendale. It'll run from June 2 - August 11, with an opening reception on Friday, June 1.
Sticking to New Year's resolutions can feel a little defeating. It's all fun and games when you make them. But then January 1 rolls around and the only thing that will cure your NYE hangover is a juicy egg and bacon roll (and who's got the energy for a multi-kilometre walk after the night that was?). That's why we've unofficially rebranded New Year's resolutions as "gratitude goals". There's something about flipping the script from what we have to do, to things we actually want to do that feels so much more achievable. Especially when it comes to goals around health and wellness. Also making it easier? Investing in fly new gear, of which you'll find plenty at Rebel Sports Warringah Mall, particularly after the expansion of the current store this month. To mark the occasion — which celebrates the opening of the OG store in 1985 — Rebel will be running their 85x85x85 promotion on Thursday, December 15. Confused? Here's what that means: The deal will see the first 85 customers receive 85 Rebel Dollars to spend in 85 minutes. Throw in a Football Experience Zone, a health and wellbeing destination with yoga and pilates sessions, an in-house DJ bringing the vibes and a coffee cart to keep you fuelled, and is it any surprise that it's where we will be visiting to stock up on all things we need to morph into the baddest (in a good way) versions of ourselves and live our best lives come 2023? Go on, we challenge you. New Year's resolution. Gratitude goals. Whatever you call it, we hope our suggested goodies will give you all the support you need to stick to it. PERFECT MY PILATES POSES "In 2023 (and forever more), the only thing I'm interested in working towards is strong and capable — in both my body and mindset. That cliched saying is true: life's too short for anything less. As a lover of efficiency — slow walkers be damned! — nabbing an at-home pilates kit is my attempt at fool-proofing my goals. No need to make an after-work class time or decide between a sleep in or hundreds on a Saturday morning. Although I'd love to invest in a reformer — the torturous contraption that delivers a delicious burn mere minutes after hopping aboard — I'll be opting for a pilates ring, flowball and bar set (which is kinder to both my bank account and the feng shui of my apartment)." Grace MacKenzie, Branded Content Manager GO TO BRUNCH MORE OFTEN (BUT LOOK SUPER SPORTS LUXE WHEN I DO) "I bet eating more avo toast was not the plot twist you expected in a New Year's resolutions feature. The truth is I'm all about picking promises that I can stick to. So, given, I have little faith in my ability to improve my fitness level to the point where I can complete a half marathon by June, I'm going to fake it till I make it and invest in some seriously cute workout gear that I can wear out come Saturday brunch, instead. Rebel Sports has heaps of them.But I love this Nike Womens Sportswear Essential Cropped Tee. Pair it with a matching legging, and you'll be able to convince almost anyone that you've just pulled up from a five-kilometre run, while you tuck into your green smoothie!" Marie-Antoinette Issa, Contributing Writer LIFTING MY SNEAKER GAME AND HITTING NEW PBs "As any gym-bro would tell you, the three basic tenets of weightlifting are summarised by the three Fs: form, function and footwear. Okay so maybe the last one isn't exactly taking up a whole chapter in Bigger, Stronger, Leaner, but in lifting as in life, the right footwear is essential. So while my trusty Vans have given me the flat, floor-grounding stability that I've needed to finally perfect my deadlift, I'm going to take things a bit more seriously in 2023 and invest in a pair of Nike Metcon 8 Mens Training Shoes (AKA the shoes many a trainer has implored me to purchase over the years). They strike the right balance between comfortable, stable and breathable, all without feeling too heavy, and the inner plate in the heel is ideal for someone like me who loves lifting but has a terrible sense of balance. New year, new me, new PBs." Nik Addams, Branded Content Manager CELEBRATE THE SUN AND TOP UP MY TAN WITH THIS TEE (AND LOTS OF SPF!) "Is it a sin to live in Sydney and almost never go to the beach? Asking for a friend. After spending a few too many summers constricted to my own household, sometimes by choice, it's time for me to change that. I used to sport a beautiful tan from spending most weekends in the waters of Sydney's Northern Beaches, having sunrise swims with my mum and bodysurfing with my dad. Next year, it's time to find that feeling again with some new surf tops by Tahwalhi Mens. I'll be making the trip at least once a week to my nearest body of water to see if I can reclaim the tan of my teenage years, and maybe grab some surf fins to find out if I can still hold my own beyond the breakers. Obviously with lots of sunscreen, of course!" Alec Jones, Junior Writer LESS WINE. MORE YOGA. (MAYBE THE FORMER. DEFINITELY THE LATTER) "Knowing what regular yoga practice does for my body, mind and soul, is something to salute. So, I'll be investing in some yoga props like a block as well as a new mat next year to motivate to get my ass on my mat and do it in style. Whether it's a full hot vinyasa or just a ten minute stretch and meditation, I'm going to make daily practice my goal for 2023 — even when the couch and a glass of wine are calling post-work." Sarah Templeton, Aotearoa New Zealand Editor SPEND MORE TIME SLEEPING "Seriously, is there anything better than a lazy lie in? Unfortunately, however, my sleeping habits are all over the place these days. Going to bed at odd hours, waking up in the middle of the night and having differing levels of energy each morning when I wake up. It's something I want to get a better handle on. That's why I'm getting myself the Fitbit Versa 3. This bad boy tracks my heart rate, time asleep, restlessness and breathing to help me find what parts of my sleep need work. Knowledge is power, folks. Coupled with my fave fluffy pillow, this is the perfect tool to make sure I keep my 2023 health and wellness resolution." Andrew Zuccala, Contributing Editor For more suggestions on ideas for New Year's resolutions that you'll actually want to keep, head to the Rebel Sports website today.
New Year's Day can be a tough one. Resolutions to vaguely commit to, missed midnight pashes to mourn, dusty bear heads to nurse. There's only one real cure for the escapades of New Year's Eve: salt water, free-flowing Veuve Cliquot and one of Sydney's most ostentatious parties. The top spot for 'who dat, who dat' people-watching and jealousy-inducing Instagramming, Bondi Icebergs has announced the 2015 lineup for their infamously exclusive Icebergs New Year's Day Party. Set atop one of Bondi's most postcardy venues, Icebergs' NYD pool party is the Field Day for punters who want things a little more high-heeled and beachside. For a cheeky four hundy (yep, that's a casual $400 per ticket), you can compare New Year's resolutions with Bondi's chia-lovin' party people and throw back as much Veuve, Ciroc Vodka and head chef Monty Kulodrovic-crafted canapes as your NYE regrets require. Hosted by Icebergs' Maurice Terzini and musically curated by Angus McDonald (one half of Sneaky Sound System), the lineup is a beats-heavy fusion of Sydney-born, California-based shindig starters Bag Raiders, LA disco kings Poolside, Spice Cellar's Murat Kilic, (of course) Sneaky Sound System, ARIA-nominated Nicky Night Time, resident Icebergs go-to Miss Annie and newcomers Slowblow, Marc Jarvin and Pink Lloyd, Valerie Yum and Sam Francisco. Recent instalments have welcomed the first glorious day of the new year with the likes of Flight Facilities, Frankie Knuckles, Aeroplane and The Cuban Brothers, and so continues yearly furious discussions surrounding the moment the bass is likely to drop. “The 2015 event promises to be our best yet, with our recently refreshed interior design, a belter of a line-up and a pumping sound system, the place is going to be rocking," says Terzini. "It’s my favourite day of the year — we strip out all of the tables and chairs and turn what is on a normal day, one of Sydney’s top restaurants, into one of the world’s most energetic beach clubs." Exclusive beach parties with four-hundy price tags obviously aren't the easiest things in the world to chuck your name on the door for. Ticket registration is rather mysterious, through this link here. VIP packages are also be available if you've got cash to drop, hit up the team at VIP2015@idrb.com.
Given the current state of the world, it's impossible to dismiss historical accounts of power, conflict, bureaucracy serving the wealthy and the masses fighting to be heard as mere chapters from the past. The same applies to medieval-style television fantasies about squabbling over a throne, too, but true tales bite harder than Game of Thrones ever has. Peterloo is the perfect example. Chronicling an infamous clash between ordinary workers and the government-backed militia near Manchester in 1819, the period piece harks back to 200 years ago yet remains scarily, unsettlingly relevant today. Of course, that's part of filmmaker Mike Leigh's point — there's a reason that the 76-year-old veteran British director has just now turned his attention to this bloody battle for voting rights. After spending a dozen years tussling with Napoleon's armies, the British people were tired, poor and hungry as the 19th century neared its third decade. Work was hardly reliable, food was scarce, industrialisation was taking its toll, distressed ex-soldiers were a common sight and even the pettiest of crimes could see someone shipped off to Australia. To make matters worse, few had a say in the country's path, with less than three percent of the population eligible to cast a ballot. It's this agitated climate that Peterloo explores, all to show how its brutal namesake event came about. The rich, the religious and the ruling classes wanted to retain the status quo. Charismatic reformers riled up everyday folks to fight for their rights. In the resulting physical skirmish — during a peaceful demonstration led by orator Henry Hunt (Rory Kinnear) — 18 people were killed and up to 700 injured among the 60,000-strong crowd. Writing as well as directing, Leigh emphasises the scale and impact of the Peterloo massacre in an effective fashion, stepping through the wants, needs, emotions and motivations of the various players before unravelling the climactic confrontation. But there's a fire in his belly from the outset, as is made clear when he opens the film with the Battle of Waterloo, and those flames don't subside. Spending time with characters of all stations and piecing together vignettes of their experiences, he crafts a patchwork of a picture, each scene stitching on another crucial square with palpable urgency. Some of the people within his view scoff and laugh, while others struggle to get by. However it's the atmosphere of chaos, inequity, opportunism, exploitation and duplicity that was part and parcel of life at the time that earns the filmmaker's sharpest rebukes. That, and the eventual human fallout on the path to changing British democracy. For a film based around such a violent event, more talk than action results; of course, as Leigh knows, words can cut just as deeply as weapons. Indeed, it's because Peterloo takes the time to survey the state of the nation at the time — including clear-eyed, unsentimental dissections of both camps in the government-versus-workers divide — that the massacre, when it comes, feels so punishing and relentless. There's a difference between a slog and an onslaught and, while the movie clocks in at 154 minutes, its speech-heavy and fight-fuelled portions still fall into the latter camp. Likewise, there's a difference between wallowing in misfortune (or, worse, romanticising it) and showing it like it was, and again Peterloo finds the right side. What the film also finds is a fitting way to tell such a detailed and complicated story — not only in its narrative approach, but in its visuals. While Leigh's last release, the applauded Mr Turner, explored the life of a great 19th-century British artist, the term 'painterly' equally applies here. With cinematographer Dick Pope lensing his 11th title for the director, Peterloo's frames are alive with minutiae yet remain carefully composed. Pitch-perfect but never glossy costuming and production design helps. So too do solid performances across the board, including from the ever-reliable Kinnear, as well as Maxine Peake as a weary mother doing what's needed for her family. But it's Peterloo's look and feel that truly hammers home Leigh's intentions. To understand why the movie's real-life basis is so important, and to see the parallels between then and now, requires peering as closely as possible — staring steadfastly at the whole picture, warts and all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlvLWaueD_o
In the 70s and 80s, it was Countdown. In the 90s and early 00s, it was Recovery. Now, the ABC is adding The Set to its roster of music-focused TV shows. Like its predecessor, the new television series will feature live music performances in front of a live studio audience — with triple j's Linda Marigliano and Dylan Alcott as the program's hosts. Kicking off on both ABC and iview at 9.30pm on Wednesday, October 31, The Set will feature a different main band each week, who'll then invite two guest acts to perform live as well. To end each show, the week's artists will all team up in a one-off musical collaboration. And with the whole thing taking place on a purpose-built share house set, which also includes a backyard, 250 folks will be there, in person, enjoying the gig. Headliners include Angus and Julia Stone, Vera Blue, Ball Park Music and The Presets, while the likes of Illy, Odette, Baker Boy, Wafia, Mallrat, Angie McMahon, Tia Gostelow, LANKS and Kult Kyss have been named among The Set's guests. The series will actually air twice each week — with a 30-minute episode running each Wednesday evening, and then an extended hour-long version screening on Saturdays at 10pm from November 3.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you to Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay which you can book right now via Concrete Playground Trips. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? An underrated gem of the Pacific, Fiji offers visitors pristine water, flavour-packed local produce and unmatched positive energy from the locals. All of this comes together at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, a five-star stay spread across a sandy peninsular just outside of the city of Nadi. The dreamy waterfront resort boasts lagoon views from every room, multiple top-notch restaurants, endless swim spots and a rejuvenating spa. THE ROOMS There are several ways you can approach a stay at Momi Bay. For an unadulterated dose of luxury, the standout accommodation option is the adults-only over-water bungalows. These truly next-level rooms sit on top of the resort's lagoon, providing direct access to the water from your balcony, as well as all of the premium amenities you could ask for — including an in-room espresso machine so that you can enjoy a morning coffee over the water. Elsewhere in the resort, you'll find 250 spacious rooms ranging from deluxe beachfront duplexes right on the sand to more classic hotel-style suites. No matter what level of luxury you opt for, each room provides views of the glistening blue water and the expected amenities like 24-hour room service, high-speed internet and climate-control air con for those humid Fiji days. FOOD AND DRINK Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay offers not one, not two, but five different drinking and dining areas. Goji Kitchen and Bar is a one-stop shop all-day diner with nightly themed dinners and a swim-up bar connected to one of the resort's pools, and the lagoon bar and lounge is the perfect spot to grab a moreish snack and a cocktail between larger meals. ' The real standout, however, is Fish Bar. Located next to the hotel's adults-only infinity pool, this lavish waterfront restaurant specialises in dishes that spotlight locally sourced Fijian seafood. You can expect catch-of-the-day fish and rock lobster alongside the cream of scallop soup, herb and nut-encrusted lamb rack and refreshing cocktails. Australia's own Matt Moran recently hosted a one-off dinner at Fish Bar, with a limited-time dish from the dinner — the kingfish ceviche — available at the restaurant until the end of August. THE LOCAL AREA Located about an hour's drive from the international airport in Nadi, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay is hidden among the lush hilly southwest coastline of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island. It's a holidaymaker's dream where you can take in views of the surrounding mountains from the white-sand beach of the resort. Momi Bay is somewhat of a singular stopover for tourists looking to stay at the resort, however, it is located just a couple hours' drive from plenty of the Viti Levu highlights including both the Koroyanitu and Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Parks. THE EXTRAS Momi Bay's biggest drawcard is the variety of swim spots you'll stumble across throughout the accommodation. There are two pools, a family-friendly main pool with a swim-up bar, and an adults-only infinity pool. Life doesn't get much better than nabbing a spot on the edge of the infinity pool as the sun sets over the ocean. And, on top of all of this, there's also the lagoon where you'll find the overwater accommodation, boasting white sand and crystal blue water. Outside of your swim time, you can visit Quan Spa, the resort's luxurious day spa that offers relaxing massages and rejuvenating beauty treatments. Plus, there's a 24-fitness centre accessible to all guests and an outdoor tennis court with equipment hire available if you ever get tired of relaxing (unlikely) and need to stretch your legs. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
Since the arrival of the First Fleet in Warrane in 1788, beer has been a staple of Australian life. However, until relatively recently, the scope of Aussie-made brews had been largely dominated by English-style ales and lagers, leaving a yawning gap in the market for craft brewers to exploit. Marrickville, an area once best known for its industrial parks and manufacturing businesses, has become the epicentre of Sydney's ascendant small brewery scene, thanks to a collective of independent brewers who have made the Inner West a surefire go-to for beer lovers. The first brewery to plant its flag in the area was Batch Brewing Co. in 2013. In the decade since then, a craft beer boom has seen Marrickville become densely populated with specialised breweries that offer as much to the first-time beer taster as they do the seasoned suds seeker. The remnants of Marrickville's industrial past — a handy smattering of empty warehouses dotted throughout a swath of abandoned commercial land — have made the area uniquely primed for breweries in search of ample space for stills and tap houses. Today, the suburb has cemented a reputation as one of the city's coolest drinking destinations. [caption id="attachment_981901" align="alignnone" width="1365"] Batch Brewing Co. founder Andrew Fineran[/caption] "We're far enough away from the city that people can afford to have industrial areas here, but we're close enough to the city that you can be at Central in five minutes" American ex-pat and Batch Brewing co-founder Andrew Fineran says. However, the industry's success here is not just courtesy of Marrickville's convenient location and easily repurposed infrastructure. "We've developed a good relationship with the council to make sure that we're able to create something sustainable," Fineran notes. "Because the council supported and there was a groundwork, [Marrickville has become] a good spot for other people to come and set up their breweries as well." Since Batch Brewing pulled its first pint in 2013, eighteen more independent breweries have opened in Sydney's Inner West, with nine alone in Marrickville itself. "I think the cherry on top was that there was a lot of precedent for breweries in the area. It had become quite a burgeoning community of like-minded businesses that we really admired." says Nathan Lennon, co-founder of Marrickville's newest attraction, The Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre. This popular tap room from Hawke's Brewing is named and themed in honour of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, who even assisted in co-founding the company. [caption id="attachment_981900" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Hawkes co-founders Nathan Lennon (left) and David Gibson (right) with former PM Bob Hawke (centre).[/caption] "We felt that we could complement that community and bring something unique, and unique to us as a brand within it, to help drive the idea that Marrickville is one of the craft beer capitals of Australia," Lennon adds. Wildflower Brewing and Blending, which opened its Marrickville HQ in 2016, takes the yeast cultures it uses to ferment its brews from NSW wildflowers (hence the name). Co-founder Topher Boehm likens his small-batch ales, which employ diverse and regenerative brewing methods, to the "sourdough" of beer. [caption id="attachment_982274" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wildflower co-founder Topher Boehm with a bale of hops at his Marrickville brewery[/caption] A longtime friend of Fineran, Boehm believes the variety every local brewery brings to the table creates an "overall vibrant community". But as he and Fineran point out, breweries aren't the only hospitality businesses revitalising the suburb. "It's not just beer that's made in Merrickville. There's such a vibrant community of industry vendors," Boehm explains. "I don't want to overlook the council's support of what we do … they've been overwhelmingly supportive of these industries and hats off to them for that. They've been supportive of business development and economic growth in their local community. And we've been the beneficiaries of that. "It's something in the Australian psyche to be a community person … I'm gonna promote community first, I'm gonna promote my neighborhood first. That's an investment in your locality." Support for the flourishing beer scene comes not just from the council and fellow brewers, but from the locals themselves. "You have a lot of people living here in the Inner West who are more 'think global, act local' kind of people who spend their money on independent businesses," adds Boehm. "That's what I love about Australia. Locals like the sole traders, they like the small business and they're actually somewhat happy to pay for that. "It's something in the Australian psyche to be a community person … I'm gonna promote community first, I'm gonna promote my neighborhood first. That's an investment in your locality." However, despite this enthusiastic local support, Marrickville's breweries have still faced challenges. Like other areas of the hospitality industry hammered by the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis, craft breweries are going under across Sydney and beyond. Malt Shovel Brewery, one of Sydney's oldest craft breweries, was closed by corporate brewer Lion in August of this year, ending decades of proud brewing heritage. [caption id="attachment_781133" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wildflower Brewing and Blending, Marrickville.[/caption] The rising price tag of making and distributing beer for independent brewers has made it increasingly difficult for independent breweries to keep up with the wide networks and expansive resources of corporate competitors. "It can't be left unsaid that it just is difficult to maintain businesses of smaller sizes because you don't have the economies of scale," says Boehm. However, it seems brewers and employees alike have hope for the industry's future. Indeed, those who pour their love and dedication into Marrickville's craft brewing industry are what truly make it noteworthy. Whether that be carefully brewing a new and somewhat strange beer in the back of a warehouse down or stumbling through the streets and raising pints with your friends in honour of another night well enjoyed. "It was just sort of like that perfect storm really of the industry had enough people within it or outside of it that wanted to build breweries, but also the pathway became a little bit easier economically because of places like Marrickville, which had the infrastructure, had the sites, had the council permit, the council quite supportive of that type of business," Lennon concludes. "And the kind of crowd within the Inner West area is one that would be willing to try new things and really fit with the growth of breweries in the area. "Did we choose Marrickville or did Marrickville choose us is the question. You can discover the best Marrickville breweries, as well as the broader craft beer scene of the surrounding suburbs, on the Inner West Ale Trail. Visit the website for details.
This month Alex Steinweiss, the inventor of the album cover, died at the age of 94. In the 1930s his simple idea revolutionised the marketing of music, and although the digital revolution hasn't killed off the music industry in the way many predicted, perhaps the marketing and consumption of music is due for another shake up. We look at three ways artists are using new tech to grab their fans' attention and beat the pirates. 1. Make it collaborative. Many a young band has called on friends and fans to help make their first film clip. British band The Vaccines have taken the idea to their entire fanbase, inviting them to provide images of their summer festival experiences via instagram to make the clip to their new song 'Wetsuit.' Other artists like Imogen Heap have gone a step further and asked fans to pitch in with creating the lyrics and music. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ur-y7oOto14 2. Make it interactive. By and large, music is now consumed digitally, either online or via a portable device that probably starts with 'i'. In the same way that Steinweiss used the medium of the record sleeve, artists are using the web and digital devices to express their creativity and involve the 'listener' on more levels. The Polyphonic Spree's latest single Bullseye is available as an interactive, video-game-like app. OK Go have released their latest song, 'All Is Not Lost', online with a dedicated website where, thanks to the magic of HTML5, viewers can generate a customised, kaleidoscopic video featuring their own message spelled out by the Pilobolus dancers. https://youtube.com/watch?v=o8AELvVUFLw 3. Make it immersive. Going one step further, Bjork has released her entire album Biophilia as a free app. Within the app you can purchase the tracks, each of which comes with its own game, video, musical score and sleeve notes. The volume and variety of material on offer demonstrates that there is a world of possibilities for artists to deliver far more than just an audio file, and change the way we consume music. [via PSFK]
Fans of huge pop-culture behemoths, we hope you have a comfortable couch, because you're going to be spending a lot of time sitting on it over the next month or so. Not one, not two, but four massive franchises are dropping new streaming series between now and mid-September — and with everyone's queues set to be so busy, one is now arriving a little later than initially planned. That show: Andor, the second Star Wars Disney+ spinoff for 2022, following Obi-Wan Kenobi. Originally set to debut at the end of August, it has just pushed its premiere date out to Wednesday, September 21, arriving after Marvel's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon and the Middle-earth-set The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — so you'll be waiting a bit longer to dive into its tale of espionage and rebellion. The rest of the series' details remain the same, though — including providing a prequel to 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and bringing some spy thrills to a galaxy far, far away. And yes, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor takes a favourite big-screen character and steps back into their story before the events that viewers have already seen. As its title makes plain, Andor focuses on its namesake — Cassian Andor, again played by Diego Luna (If Beale Street Could Talk). Star Wars fans have already seen him as a Rebel captain and intelligence agent, and also watched how his story ends, hence the show's need to jump backwards. The focus: following Andor as he discovers how he can play a part in fighting the Empire. Indeed, charting the rebellion, and how people and planets joined in, is the series' whole remit. Alongside Luna, Andor sees filmmaker Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Legacy) — who co-wrote the screenplay for Rogue One — return to the Star Wars franchise as the series' creator and showrunner. And, on-screen, Luna is joined by the Genevieve O'Reilly (The Dry) — who is also back as Mon Mothma — as well as Stellan Skarsgård (Dune), Adria Arjona (Morbius), Denise Gough (Monday) and Kyle Soller (Poldark). Oh, and a cute-looking new robot that was first scurrying around in the show's initial trailer, although how big a part it'll play is yet to be revealed. Andor also just dropped its full trailer, which teases the titular figure's quest to make a difference against the Empire — with a big push at first, and with help where he can get it afterwards. Unsurprisingly, the mood is grim and weighty. "The Empire is choking us all slowly. We're starting not to notice," Andor is told by Luthen Rael (Skarsgård). "What I'm asking is this: wouldn't you give it all to something real?" Andor is set to span two seasons, both running for 12 episodes each and adding to Disney+'s ever-expanding array of Star Wars programming. Also on its way: the third season of The Mandalorian, which'll arrive in February 2023; and the recently announced Skeleton Crew, which'll star Jude Law and hit streaming queues sometime next year as well. Check out the full trailer for Andor below: Andor will now start streaming via Disney+ from Wednesday, September 21. Images: ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Kendrick Lamar kicked off his four-city Australian DAMN. album tour on Tuesday, with a standout show in Perth. On top of the tour, which is also heading to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, the acclaimed hip hop artist is also headlining a sold-out Splendour in the Grass later this month. If that wasn't enough Lamar-goodness for Aussie punters, the Pulitzer Prize-winning artist has just announced that he's bringing his coveted DAMN. Pop-Up stores down under, too. Damn. The first pop-up is happening in Melbourne right now, running from 11am to 7pm today and tomorrow on Brunswick Street. Sydney will get its chance to nab some of Lamar's limited-edition merch later this month on July 24 and 25. While details of what exactly will be stocked at the stores are extremely vague, the rapper's pop-up has already appeared in Europe and across the US, stocking vinyls, tees, caps and hoodies. You can take a look inside his NYC pop-up here. The rapper has also made surprise appearances at many of the pop-ups, so if you're keen to grab a closer-than-row-z sighting of Lamar we suggest heading along. If you are thinking of heading along, however, take this as a warning: there will be long lines. DAMN. Pop Up is open in Melbourne at Doomsday, 195A Brunswick Street, Fitzroy on Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14 from 11am–7pm. Sydney's pop-up will be located at Above The Clouds, 205 Oxford Street, Sydney on Tuesday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 25 from 11am–7pm. Kendrick Lamar is playing in Melbourne on July 13 and 14 and in Sydney on July 24 and 25. via Triple J
Plenty can happen in six years. Since the last time that Hans Zimmer performed in Australia, his score for Dune won him his second Academy Award and his work on Dune: Part Two earned him his fifth Grammy, for instance. Over that period, the iconic composer has also given everything from No Time to Die, Wonder Woman 1984, Top Gun: Maverick and The Creator to Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III their tunes. One of the biggest names in big-screen music, he's clearly been busy — but he's not too busy to add a three-city Aussie tour to his 2025 calendar. Zimmer will head Down Under for the first time since 2019, including two dates in Sydney. If you've seen him live before, you'll know that this is quite the sonic experience, especially for movie lovers. And if you haven't caught him yet, you'll want to fix that at his Saturday, April 26–Sunday, April 27 gigs at Qudos Bank Arena. For more than four decades now, Zimmer has given screens big and small a distinctive sound. The German composer helped put the bounce in The Lion King's score and the droning in Inception's memorable tunes, and has loaned his talents to everything from Thelma & Louise to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy to Blade Runner 2049. It's an impressive list that just keeps going and growing — see: above — and it sounds even more impressive when played live and accompanied by an orchestra. [caption id="attachment_990221" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suzanne Teresa[/caption] The latest trip Down Under for the man who has worked his music magic on a wealth of titles — Hidden Figures, The Boss Baby, Dunkirk, Widows, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, The Lion King remake and The Crown are just a few more of his recent-ish credits — comes not only after his 2019 visit, but after he toured his Hans Zimmer Revealed concert series in 2017, including to Australia. His 2025 shows see the return of his Hans Zimmer Live gigs, complete with a 19-piece live band and full orchestra, as well as a huge stage production that features a luminous light show and other eye-catching visuals. While the Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy and Tony-winner obviously isn't going to perform every single one of his iconic film scores, expect to hear plenty of your favourites from a newly arranged lineup of tunes that includes Dune, Gladiator, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, The Lion King, The Last Samurai and Pirates of the Caribbean. Onstage, Zimmer will have Australian singer Lisa Gerrard for company, with some of the songs that she co-penned with him featuring in the set — so, tracks from Mission: Impossible, King Arthur, Black Hawk Down, Tears of the Sun and more. [caption id="attachment_990220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suzanne Teresa[/caption] Top images: Lee Kirby / Frank Embacher Photography / Suzanne Teresa.
After a lengthy period of living in London, Shaun Gladwell has returned home to Australia. As one of our most eminent video artists, he has a long list of accolades. Some of his career highlights include representing Australia at the 53rd Venice Biennale and serving in Afghanistan as the official war artist in 2009. Spread across two venues, this exhibition is a mid-career survey of his work to date. Curated by Dr Barbara Polla and Prof. Paul Ardenne, the collection at UNSW Galleries is selected from various public and private collections. Over at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation is The Lacrima Chair, a newly commissioned project built around the pioneering Australian aviator Nancy Bird Walton. There is no way of entering this exhibition without walking through a curtain of mist. In the centre of the gallery, an aircraft chair is doused in a constant stream of water. He conveys an anecdote about his grandfather struggling to watch an outdoor film in the rain and describes the attempt to emulate this blurred visibility. “I have a fascination with people being inside images,” says Gladwell. If you should choose to sit in the chair and be showered, the accompanying video work revolves around a fictional episode where Walton is slowly bobbing up and down in the ocean, presumably post-plane crash. If she is on the brink of drowning, she doesn't show it. Gladwell depicts her as remarkably composed — the same kind of serenity that characterises his other video work. There is also a connection to Francis Bacon’s Pope Head series. But in Gladwell’s work, the pope’s habit is replaced by a poncho and he interprets the vertical lines in the paintings as strokes of rain. “It’s a bit like screaming after a lot of long-haul air travel in economy,” he says. The use of water as a medium is also present at UNSW Galleries. And there are many different types of water — from shining puddles to foaming waves. There is a contemporary reworking of romanticism that drives his practice. He blends urban and natural environments, representing them through his affinities with flight and extreme sports. For instance, a more recent work contains echoes of Gladwell’s Storm Sequence (2000). A BMX rider loops around a concrete platform, backgrounded by an English beach and swooping seagulls. The slow motion accentuates the elegance and rhythm of his movements — it is oddly calming. Reflecting on the trajectory of Gladwell’s art, it seems he is drawn towards notions of time and flow. Some works feel a little sparse and difficult to grasp, as if the themes have been separated out. In any case, the collection is the most comprehensive solo show to be exhibited at UNSW Galleries. And with The Lacrima Chair encased in a hazy waterfall, it’s a pretty spectacular show.
Cure for cancer? Stability for Africa? How about insight into the inner workings of your brain? These are the questions the invited scholars at TED are solving before their morning coffee. Some of the greatest thinkers, innovators and performers of our time have spent their 20 minutes solving problems and entertaining us lay-folk since 1984. Now it is Sydney's chance to host some of our greatest with TEDx Sydney. Within the hallowed walls of CarriageWork's Bay 17, 20 beautiful minds will spread their ideas covering all aspects of technology, entertainment and design. Unfortunately, registration is now closed for the main event, but thankfully the organisers have asked the Chaser's Julian Morrow to produce a satellite 'forum', free for all. This forum will give us a chance to interact with the speakers directly and will also have an inspiring program all of its own. Sitting in the foyer while the approved elite are comfortably cocooned in Bay 17, you can still make do with guest interviews conducted by Craig Reucassel, Q&A sessions at which you, too, can speak, live poetry readings from the Red Room, live music and performances. It runs all day on Saturday and, as I'm sure the sage TEDx high-achievers would tell you, the early bird catches the worm.
Japanese craft beers have only recently taken off in their home country, and already they’ve made their way to an izakaya near you. From the team behind Zushi, Biru Biru is a Japanese beer bar that prides itself on its carefully sourced range of craft creations, matched expertly to an array of tasty and varied sharing plates. A crisp Koshihikari Echigo rice lager ($15) starts things off grandly, accompanied by subtle salmon tataki ($18) encrusted with sesame and lifted with bursts of orange and a tangy yuzu dressing. Soft slices of charcoal-grilled wagyu steak ($29) melt away in your mouth; help them along with a bottle-conditioned Ishikawa Tokyo pale ale or a dry and nutty sake. Comfy lounge chairs and an atmospheric background groove complete the relaxed izakaya feel of the place; you’ll barely want to get up to head next door for a scoop or three of Gelato Messina (but we’re sure you’ll find a way).
Not a whole heap of regular folk can say they love flying. The crying babies, the contortions you perform to try and get comfy, the inevitable sore neck. But, there's something that makes it all a little better: the bar cart. The flight attendant finally rolls that booze-filled trolley to your aisle and you get to pick between a tiny white wine or a tiny red wine. Ah, the life. We're all missing travel at the moment, which, apart from the obvious, we can tell by how quickly Aussies snapped up the Qantas pjs when they went on sale. And to help ease some of that yearning, Qantas is selling 1000 bar carts. Yes, its bar carts. And they come stocked full of those mini bottles of booze, too. The bar carts are from the now-retired Boeing 747 fleet, which have gone to live in the Californian desert, and come in two sizes: a full cart or half. They will set you back a pretty penny, but you do get a lot of booze. The full cart is $1474.70 — or 256,000 points, if that is something you have — and includes 80 187-millilitre bottles of white wine, 80 of red wine, two sleeves of Tim Tams, two full bottles of champagne, four amenity kits, two first-class blankets and four sets of those coveted pjs, plus some smoked almonds and savoury biscuits. The half cart is quite literally half a cart and half of the contents, but not quite half of the price ($947.70). You can also buy the mini bottles individually for $2.99 a bottle. The carts can be delivered to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth metro postcodes. Yes, you could definitely just go and buy cheap wine and pretend you're on a plane — but, would it be as fun? No. So, get your mates to chip in and plan a night of low-altitude revelry. Qantas' bar carts are on sale until Friday, October 9 or until sold out. Snag yours over here.
Live theatre, concerts and sport have been beaming their way into cinemas for some time now. Live television recreations of iconic films have been gracing TV screens for a few years as well. And yet, live movies themselves aren't something anyone has toyed with — until now. Lost in London Live is being called "an unprecedented live feature film event", and when you hear the details, you just might agree. The approximately two-hour-long effort will be shot in one take in real time as actors roam around the British capital, and it'll be broadcast directly to cinemas as it's being made. If the idea of watching a film come together before your very eyes sounds surprising — not to mention a logistical nightmare — that's understandable. If the fact that it'll also mark the directorial debut of Woody Harrelson, who'll star alongside Owen Wilson and Willie Nelson, does too, that is as well. The True Detective and Now You See Me actor will play himself as he tries to get back to his family over the course of one hectic night. "Run-ins with royalty, old friends and the law all seem to conspire to keep Harrelson from succeeding," the film's website explains. Yep, move over Birdman, Victoria and the raft of single-take (but not live) movies that have come before — there's a new ambitious film project in the works. Just how it will turn out is anyone's guess, but it's certain to be unlike anything you've ever seen before. With Lost in London Live sounding a little like performance art, perhaps Harrelson is taking a leaf out of Shia LaBeouf's book? "No one has ever shot a movie and live broadcast it into cinemas at the same time. No one's ever been that stupid," the actor offered in the film's video announcement. Whatever the end result, it'll come to fruition on January 19, 2017, and be broadcast to at least 550 locations. No word yet as to whether any Australian cinemas will jump on board, but keep an eye on the Lost in London Live site for more information.
Something delightful is happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are starting to reopen — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made over the past three months, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qn70iqo-4Q MONOS The relentlessness of modern life, the ongoing unrest in Colombia, and the ceaseless trials and tribulations that plague all teens facing adulthood — they all sit at the centre of stunning South America-set thriller Monos. Set in a camp of teen guerrillas, Alejandro Landes' third film follows gun-toting rebels that have barely said goodbye to childhood, but are still tasked with guarding an American hostage (The Outsider's Julianne Nicholson). Unsurprisingly, even with nothing around but fields, jungle, a cow to milk and occasional enemy fire, little goes according to plan. Engagingly lingering between a dark fairytale and a psychological treatise on war, combat and humanity's dog-eat-dog nature, the result is the definite standouts of the past year. From the eye-popping landscape cinematography and the needling tension of Mica Levi's score, to the commanding performance from the young cast, there's a reason that Monos proved a huge festival hit around the globe in 2019 — including winning Sundance's Special Jury Award — before finally releasing in Aussie cinemas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzqevBnUUZU&t=3s THE ASSISTANT After exploring the JonBenet Ramsey case not only with precision, but via a perceptive re-enactment technique that interrogated its impact — with excellent documentary Casting JonBenet the end result — trust Australian filmmaker Kitty Green to turn one of the biggest topics of the past few years into a compelling, unsettling, fiercely searing thriller. The subject: the culture of sexual harassment and sexually predatory behaviour in the entertainment industry. The context: #MeToo, obviously. Following a day in the professional life of an entry-level personal assistant, Jane (Ozark's Julia Garner), as she works for an unseen film production company head honcho, The Assistant unnerves by showing the routine, everyday nature of inappropriate workplace conduct, as well as the powerlessness of those both subjected and witness to it to stop it. As always in Green's films, every element is fine-tuned to evoke a strong and earned response — which, here, includes a grey colour palette, claustrophobic camerawork, a taut script, a commitment to authenticity and a devastatingly stellar performance by Garner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqO25i-XNEU THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD He's skewered British, American and Russian politics in The Thick of It, In the Loop, Veep and The Death of Stalin. This year, in the eerily prescient Avenue 5, he pondered what would happen if a group of people were confined on a cruise of sorts — a luxury space voyage — for an extended stretch of time. But, in period comedy mode, The Personal History of David Copperfield might just be Armando Iannucci's most delightful work yet. Indeed, playfully trifling with a Charles Dickens classic suits the writer/director. Boasting a charming performance by Dev Patel as the eponymous character, and also starring Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi, Ben Whishaw and Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie, this is a fresh, very funny and sharp-witted rendering of the obvious literary source material. Recreating this tale of a Victorian-era young man cycling from wealth to poverty and back again, Iannucci and his frequent co-scribe Simon Blackwell take shrewd liberties with the story, while never letting issues of class, abuse, loss, corruption and the dog-eat-dog nature of capitalism slip from view. And, Iannucci's visual inventiveness — including the use of split screen and rear projection — also leaves an imprint. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVlPl0SXFiE BAIT When a film is described as 'textured', the term typically refers to its narrative, themes and emotional impact, with nothing smooth, shallow or straightforward evident. That applies to Mark Jenkin's Bait as it hones in on feuding Cornish fisherman siblings Martin (Edward Rowe) and Steven Ward (Giles King). Indeed, examining not only family in-fighting, but culture clashes, the growing chasm between tradition and modernity, and the effect of tourism on local residents of scenic spots, this is a rich, tense, complex and mesmerising affair that muses as deeply on blood ties as it does on gentrification. Jenkin's film also boasts ample visual texture, too. It's noticeable from the feature's first moments, is intrinsically linked to its tone, and proves utterly inescapable as the sea, craggy shorelines, twisted nets and gnarled ropes all fill the screen. And, as shot on location with a 16mm Bolex camera — and on black-and-white stock that the director hand-processed — Bait's look and feel is as important to the movie as anything else within its frames. In fact, paired with a noticeable penchant for close-ups that forces the audience to stare firmly at both people and objects, this stunning British feature couldn't make a bigger or more powerful aesthetic splash. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DOiI_zYQrs BELLBIRD Bruce (Cohen Holloway) has long since reached adulthood. And, for all of the garbage dump worker's life, his mother Beth (Annie Whittle) has provided a buffer between him and his stoic father Ross (Marshall Napier). When tragedy strikes, however, they're forced to not only face a future without her — including the minutiae of running their scenic Northland dairy farm — but to truly face and talk to each other in a meaningful way for the first real time. Marking the feature directorial debut of teacher-turned-filmmaker Hamish Bennett, made in the area he grew up in and following the same characters from his 2014 short film Ross & Beth, Bellbird explores a straightforward and well-traversed concept, with mourning no stranger to screens. That said, this patient, understated and gently humorous New Zealand drama is a soulful and thoughtful gem. As well as finding a wealth of depth in two men ill-equipped to confront their complicated emotions but given no choice but to try, this gorgeously shot and weightily performed feature matches Bruce and Ross' taciturn ways with an astute script that conveys more through silence than words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewCjGqefoQ LOVE SARAH Also focusing on connection and reflection sparked by grief, Love Sarah steps into another family attempting to cope with loss. In this case, the dearly departed is the titular chef — the estranged daughter of ex-circus performer Mimi (Celia Imrie), beloved mother of dancer Clarissa (Shannon Tarbet), and best friend and business partner of Isabella (Shelley Conn). When the latter decides to forge ahead with Sarah's plans to open a bakery, she realises that she can't do it without both Mimi and Clarissa's help. Also lending a hand: Sarah and Isabella's culinary school pal Matthew (Rupert Penry-Jones), who might be Clarissa's father. Directing her first feature, filmmaker Eliza Schroeder lets everything about Love Sarah play out as expected, including its soft hues, appetising cake and pastry shots, and exploration of renewed bonds and new opportunities in the face of life-altering change. The film is suitably sweet, of course, and always palatable; however it's far too happy to stick to the easiest recipe possible — with some plot strands overstressed to add extra drama, and one of the movie's more enticing and interesting narrative elements quickly introduced and then abandoned. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tzas-d8MgM THE WRETCHED For part of this year, when US cinemas were closed but some drive-ins were still open, The Wretched topped the American box office. In no other scenario would that have occurred, so consider the attention afforded Brett and Drew T Pierce's instantly familiar but always effective horror film one of the few silver linings of pandemic-inspired lockdowns. Set in a small coastal town, the siblings' slickly crafted feature follows teenager Ben (John-Paul Howard), who's visiting his divorced father Liam (Jamison Jones). As tends to happen in this type of creepfest, his arrival coincides with strange goings-on at the house next door — namely a sinister force that's wreaking havoc on his neighbours and threatening to spread its malevolence even further. Immediately recalling 80s-era spookiness (and clearly the product of writer/directors who've spent much of their lives watching scary flicks from the period), The Wretched perfects the genre's jumps and bumps with ease, as well as the filmmaking nuts and bolts. In terms of its supernatural storyline, though — and its witchy villain — it does lean heavily on cliches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K4qawhyasA&feature=emb_logo A SON A tragic accident causes a long-kept secret to come to light — and sparks a series of difficult choices for a Tunisian struggling couple — in the tense and moving A Son. Despite that description, however, this isn't just an intimate drama about messy personal lives tested by heightened circumstances, although it definitely fits that bill. As well as chronicling the fallout when Aziz (Youssef Khemiri), the 11-year-old son of Fares (Sami Bouajila) and Meriem (Najla Ben Abdallah), is hit by a stray bullet during an on-the-road ambush by an armed group, debut filmmaker Mehdi Barsaoui examines the societal underpinnings deepening the family's troubles. Aziz is in dire need of a liver transplant in the aftermath of the attack, but the quest to find a donor is complicated due to cultural, religious and political reasons, as well as a revelation that rocks Meriem and Fares' marriage. Playing parents and partners pushed to their limits, Bouajila and Abdallah are superb. And, while some of the movie hits predicable narrative beats, Barsaoui isn't afraid to veer in confronting directions, or to peer intently at the state of Tunisia today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq2n6LJrrZY THE BOOKSELLERS Calling all bibliophiles — whether your bookshelves are bulging, you've spent far too much of your life in bookstores or you've always dreamed about turning your passion for reading into your profession. Focusing on New York's rare booksellers, as well as the ups and downs of their industry, US documentary The Booksellers touches on all of the above. It's also catnip for anyone who's never more content than when they're thumbing through a printed tome, and convincingly evokes the feeling of trawling through shelf after shelf of old, beloved volumes. Cycling through the main players in NYC's antiquarian and secondhand book scene, stepping through the history of dealing in rare texts and contemplating what the future might hold as technology threatens to change everything, this is a meticulously structured, deftly edited, and immensely fascinating ode to the printed word and the happiness it brings. Filmmaker DW Young doesn't make any surprising moves, but he doesn't need to, with his overall topic, his individual subjects and the world they inhabit proving as captivating as any must-read page-turner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VSaaTCrhlU IT MUST BE HEAVEN In It Must Be Heaven, Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman both directs and plays himself. He also doesn't say a single word on-screen. Serving up a slice of observational comedy, he instead bears witness to and satirises the world around him — starting in his hometown of Nazareth, then roaming to Paris, New York and Montreal. In each place, absurdity reigns. Suleiman isn't interested in overt farce, though, but in a comically heightened, expertly choreographed exploration of the type of strangeness and silliness that lingers in ordinary lives, everyday situations and widespread attitudes. Think: run-ins with authority, examples on the increasingly engrained nature of violence, pondering global tourism and ruminating on the way that one's homeland shapes identity. The ebbs and flows of Suleiman's filmmaking career provide the scantest narrative framework, complete with a brief appearance by Gael Garcia Bernal as himself; however It Must Be Heaven favours vignettes, sight gags, soulful reflection, expressive comedy and strikingly staged moments over neat storytelling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w5Ej4SF2LE MASTER CHENG The ability of food to overcome national, cultural and racial bounds — to erase barriers, bring people together and help forge new bonds — is an overused cinematic trope. So too is the healing, happiness-inducing power of a great dish, including in fish-out-of-water and down-on-one's-luck scenarios. That doesn't stop Finnish comedy Master Cheng from giving all of the above a workout, though. Here, the titular Chinese chef (Pak Hon Chu) heads to the European country with his son Nunjo (Lucas Hsuan) in tow, plans to connect with an old colleague, but finds himself forging ties in a remote village instead. Naturally, there's a slow-simmering romantic connection with a local in the form of diner owner Sirkka (Anna-Maija Tuokko). Just as expectedly, the community warms to the newcomer's presence. What helps lift Master Cheng, however, isn't filmmaker Mika Kaurismäki's love of a clearcut (and clearly sentimental) template, but the time and attention he invests in building characters, as evidenced best in the film's fleshed-out central duo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qF-TrY0hBg&feature=youtu.be ROMANTIC ROAD Many a screenwriter has probably tried to pen a similar tale, but the story of Rupert and Jan Grey, their retirement plans and the adventure that followed could've only stemmed from truth. Invited to attend a festival in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the couple decide to drive Rupert's father's 1936 Rolls Royce across India to get there. The journey proves revelatory and life-changing in a variety of ways; however it's the detail captured by filmmaker Oliver McGarvey and his documentary Romantic Road that couldn't be more authentic. The Greys' road trip hits obstacles, both expected and not-so. That's part of the genre, whether based on fiction or fact. Here, though, McGarvey doesn't just focus on the trek and the ensuing escapades along the way, but spends much of the film unpacking his subjects' 35-year relationship — and their motivation to add this hefty drive to their lifetime's worth of affection and memories. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhwx30NPMY4 THE TAVERNA Setting a film inside a bustling restaurant — here, the White Village Greek Tavern in Melbourne's Elsternwick — almost feels like science fiction at this very moment. With The Taverna, though, it's inspiration for modest laughs, dramas and insights, with this ensemble piece charting the action in its obvious setting across one particularly chaotic night. Owner Kostas (Vangelis Mourikis) has plenty to deal with, including a car accident involving his shady son Angelo (Christian Charisiou), trying to get his his waitress Sally (Emily O'Brien-Brown) to replace his belly dancer Jamila (Rachel Kamath), and troubles with the latter, her ex-husband Arman (Peter Paltos) and his new girlfriend Rebecca (Tottie Goldsmith). Embracing multicultural Australia to an extent that isn't always seen on local screens, the result is a warm, sometimes wavering but generally engaging film from writer/director Alkinos Tsilimidos (Silent Partner, Tom White, Em 4 Jay). From 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 1, until at least Wednesday, July 29, stay-at-home orders have been reintroduced in ten Melbourne postcodes, which means their residents can only leave for one of four reasons: work or school, care or care giving, daily exercise or food and other essentials. For more information, head to the DHHS website.
In 2020, Vincent Namatjira made history. Thanks to his portrait of champion AFL footballer Adam Goodes, he became the first Indigenous Australian artist to win the Archibald Prize in the award's 99-year run. That's an exceptional achievement, but 2021 isn't looking too average for the acclaimed Western Arrernte painter — with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia just revealing a new 15-metre-long mural by Namatjira. The MCA has long decked out the foyer of its Circular Quay entrance with eye-catching, large-scale, site-specific works, with Namatjira's new piece marking the seventh such commission. Called P.P.F. (Past-Present-Future), it shows seven Aboriginal male figures against the desert landscape of the Indulkana in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) region in South Australia, which is Namatjira's home community. Taking two weeks to hand paint directly onto the wall, the hefty artwork includes a self-portrait of Namajtira among the men — plus portraits of his great-grandfather Albert Namatjira; musician Kunmanara (Jimmy) Pompey, who was also the artist's late father-in-law; and an Aboriginal stockman who symbolises the male elders from Namatjira's region. Visitors to the MCA will also spot Adam Goodes, land-rights campaigner Eddie Koiki Mabo and boxer Lionel Rose on the artwork. Explaining the piece, Namatjira said that "I'm trying to bring my neck of the woods to the city, to the big smoke, for everyone to see. I painted this for the Indigenous people of Australia... I'm proud to be Aboriginal, and to have these Aboriginal male figures in the world makes me happy for our people." P.P.F. (Past-Present-Future) marks Namatjira's largest ever artwork to-date, and sees him respond to the mural's location — which includes its history as the site where first contact was made between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and British peoples. As well as viewing the work, MCA patrons can listen to an audio guide that features Namatjira talking through the figures and their significance to his life. Previous Circular Quay Foyer Wall Commission pieces have been crafted by Helen Eager (in 2012–2013), Guan Wei (in 2013–2014), Daniel Boyd (in 2014–2016), Stephen Bush (in 2016–17), Khadim Ali (in 2017–2018) and Gemma Smith (in 2018–2021). Vincent Namatjira's P.P.F. (Past-Present-Future), is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George Street, The Rocks. Images: Vincent Namatjira, P.P.F. (Past-Present-Future), 2021, commissioned by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2021, supported by Veolia Environmental Services, image courtesy the artist; Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney; and Iwantja Arts, South Australia © the artist. Photograph by Daniel Boud
When National Tim Tam Day hit earlier this year, biscuit brand Arnott's gave Australians something we didn't know we wanted: the opportunity to smell like Tim Tams all day long. That chocolate biscuit-scented perfume was a limited-time-only affair, however, but there's now an option for your home, too — or for your mum's, because this a Mother's Day special. To mark 2022's celebration of mums, Arnott's doesn't simply want you to simply give your mother Tim Tams — although it clearly does still want you to do exactly that. To really get everyone's tastebuds in a tizzy, the biscuit brand has also just launched gift packs filled with Tim Tam-smelling candles and diffusers. Try getting a whiff of that and not having instant bikkie cravings. Yes, if Victoria Bitter can make a fragrance inspired by beer, The Louvre can drop perfumes that take their cues from its famous artworks and Messina can release gelato-scented candles, then making the air around you smell like Tim Tams really isn't that outlandish at all. It's the aroma that'll make you hungry all day, and features not only cocoa notes, but also caramel, tonka bean and a hint of sandalwood as well. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tim Tam (@timtam) The Melbourne-made, cruelty-free and vegan packs cost $100 a pop and are only on sale until Thursday, April 28, and include a 200-millilitre Tim Tam-scented reed diffuser and a 300-gram Tim Tam-scented candle, as well as packs of original and salted caramel brownie Tim Tams. So, if you're buying this as a gift, that means you won't need to take a dessert along to Mother's Day lunch. And if you're purchasing it for yourself instead, well, you're only human. Stocks are limited, though — but delivery is free Australia-wide. The Tim Tam Mother's Day gift boxes are available to purchase until Thursday, April 28.
Not much is free in life these days, but Broadway Shopping Centre is providing 100 students with a free lunch each Tuesday throughout August, September and October. With inflation hitting a record high, the inner-city shopping complex has decided to shout a weekly meal to local students who might be finding budgeting particularly hard right now. Each week until Tuesday, October 25, there will be 100 free meals on offer from the array of different food outlets that calls Broadway home. Week one was free burritos from Guzman y Gomez and on Tuesday, August 9, students can nab free barbecue pork buns from Din Tai Fung. While the following weeks will be revealed each week on Tuesday morning, the shopping centre boasts an array of tasty lunchtime options including Eat Istanbul, Schnitz, Sushi Hon, Zeus Street Greek and Mumbai Express. In order to claim the free meal, all you need to do is head to Broadway with your tertiary student ID in hand and be among the first 100 visitors to scan the QR code in front of that week's participating restaurant. This deal adds to the money-saving news for students in the CBD after Palace Cinemas recently announced it would be offering students $9 tickets on Wednesdays at its Chippendale cinema just down the road from Broadway, as well as its Paddington and Leichhardt outposts. For weekly updates on where the deals are popping up, make sure to follow Broadway Sydney on Instagram.
UPDATE, October 18, 2020: Bombshell is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Playing two women caught in the climate of sexual harassment that engulfed Fox News under former CEO Roger Ailes, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie both turn in stellar — and now Oscar-nominated — performances in Bombshell. Aided by noticeable facial prosthetics, Theron steps into the shoes of real-life TV personality Megyn Kelly, serving up a pulsating vein of steeliness in every scene. As a fictional producer who calls herself an "influencer in the Jesus space" and an "evangelical millennial", Robbie's Kayla Pospisil possesses softer edges but still sports plenty of inner grit — especially when she summons up the guts to put her self-respect first, rather than her desire to feature on-camera on the right-wing network. But much like the unease that plagues both women until they decide to speak out, something definitely isn't right in the film that tells their tales. Bombshell is the slick, shiny version of this ripped-from-the-headlines story, which earned global attention when it broke back in 2016. Airbrushed to buffer away blemishes and avoid tricky spots, it's watered down to deliver an easy, glossy, simplified narrative. It doesn't help that 2019's Russell Crowe-starring The Loudest Voice already brought the same minutiae to the small screen — and in far greater detail, as you'd expect in a seven-part mini-series compared to a 109-minute movie. That said, Bombshell really isn't interested in diving as deep as its predecessor. Instead, wants to make a feisty flick about kick-ass women fighting back in a male-dominated realm. Fight back, Kelly did — although not at first. As the film unpacks, fellow anchor Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) leads the charge and initially suffers the consequences, going public about her inappropriate dealings with Ailes (a cartoonish John Lithgow) by suing him personally. Despite the head honcho's protests of innocence to Rupert Murdoch (Malcolm McDowell) and sons Lachlan and James (Ben and Josh Lawson), more women share their stories. Director Jay Roach (Trumbo) and screenwriter Charles Randolph (The Big Short) explore this, as well as Kelly's apprehension to join the chorus and Pospisil's experiences as a young, ambitious woman eager to score her big on-screen break. And yet, by championing these efforts but barely delving into Fox News' status as a conservative propaganda machine, Bombshell proves an empty shell of a #MeToo movie. The treatment that Kelly and Carlson (and the real-life women that Pospisil represents) received at the hands of Ailes — yes, literally — is infuriating and unacceptable, as all accounts of men exerting power over women for their own gratification are. Their ordeal doesn't just hark back to one man, though; it's inescapably intertwined with Fox News and the agenda it serves — notions that are scarcely considered here. Roach and Randolph hint at the network's public standing, illustrating the wider world's reaction to its political leanings via a woman who insults Carlson in a supermarket. The film paints Ailes as feverish about pushing the Republican party's perspective and currying favour with Donald Trump during the lead up to the 2016 election, even when the future president tweets sexist comments about Kelly. And, it lays bare the TV station's misogynistic internal culture, where women are forced to wear short skirts and sit behind clear desks. Still, it all feels like lip service in a movie that merely depicts, rather than dissects. If one was feeling generous, you could assume the film's powers-that-be just expect that everyone already knows Fox News' reputation, and the perspectives it pedals. Being realistic, however, Bombshell seems happy to brush past the network's toxic on-air views — because contemplating them in-depth means adding shades of grey that this visually bright feature is keen to avoid. Ailes is a clearcut villain, and deserves the scorn he's served, of course. But ignoring the fact that Kelly, Carlson and their fellow female Fox News employees all buy into a conservative agenda where behaviour like Ailes' continually festers, and do so because they share the same political views, means that Bombshell ignores the broader context that helped lecherous acts prosper at the network. Yes, it's an immensely complicated situation — but Bombshell rarely treats it as such, or recognises much in the way of texture. While Kate McKinnon is memorable as a Hillary Clinton-supporting lesbian who remains closeted about both preferences at Fox News, that's another case of the movie barely dipping its toes into more complex territory. Perhaps the film's skin-deep approach shouldn't come as a surprise, seeing that Roach also directed all three Austin Powers flicks and the first two Meet the Parents movies. Bombshell certainly tries to keep its tone light and sometimes even farcical, even though it deals with such heavy matters. Alas, what results is the kind of movie you'd expect given this tellingly glib piece of closing voice-over — one where its unambiguously heroic protagonists "got the Murdochs to put the rights of women above profits, however temporarily". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjOdDd4NEeg
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. DON'T WORRY DARLING Conformity rarely bodes well in cinema. Whenever everyone's dressing the same, little boxes litter the landscape or identical white-picket fences stretch as far as the eye can see, that perception of perfection tends to possess a dark underbelly. The Stepford Wives demonstrated that. Pleasantville, Blue Velvet and Vivarium all did as well. Yes, there's a touch of conformity in movies about the evils of and heralded by conformity; of course there is. That remains true when Florence Pugh (Black Widow) and Harry Styles (Eternals) navigate an ostensibly idyllic vision of retro suburbia in a desert-encased enclave — one that was always going to unravel when the movie they're in is called Don't Worry Darling. Don't go thinking that this handsome and intriguing film doesn't know all of this, though. Don't go thinking that it's worried about the similarities with other flicks, including after its secrets are spilled, either. It'd be revealing too much to mention a couple of other movies that Don't Worry Darling blatantly recalls, so here's a spoiler-free version: this is a fascinating female-focused take on a pair of highlights from two decades-plus back that are still loved, watched and discussed now. That's never all that Olivia Wilde's second feature as a filmmaker after 2019's Booksmart is, but it feels fitting that when it conforms in a new direction, it finds a way to make that space its own. That's actually what Pugh's Alice thinks she wants when Don't Worry Darling begins. The film's idealised 1950s-style setting comes with old-fashioned gender roles firmly in place, cocktails in hand as soon Styles' Jack walks in the door come quittin' time and elaborate multi-course dinners cooked up each night, with its protagonist going along with it all. But she's also far from keen on having a baby, the done thing in the company town that is Victory. It'd curtail the noisy sex that gets the neighbours talking, for starters. Immaculately clothed and coiffed women happily playing dutiful housewives in a cosy sitcom-esque dream of America generations ago: that's Wilde and screenwriter Katie Silberman's (also Booksmart) entry point; however, they waste zero time in showing how rebelling in her own child-free way isn't enough to quell Alice's nagging and growing doubts about utopia. There's much to get her querying, such as the earth-shaking sounds that rumble when Victory's men are at work, doing top-secret business on "progressive materials" out in the sandy expanse. There's the reflections in the mirror that briefly take on a life of their own, too — starting in a ballet class that's about retaining control, coveting symmetry and never upsetting the status quo far more than dancing. And, there's the pushed-aside Margaret (KiKi Layne, The Old Guard) after she disrupts a company barbecue. All the rules enforced to keep Victory's women in their places, and the cult-like wisdom that town and company founder Frank (Chris Pine, All the Old Knives) constantly spouts, are also inescapable. So is the force with which asking questions or daring to be different is publicly nixed, as Alice quickly discovers. And, it's impossible to avoid how the men band together when anything or anyone causes a bump, even their own other halves. Swiftly, Alice's days scrubbing and vacuuming her Palm Springs-inspired bungalow, then sipping cocktails poolside or while window shopping with fellow Victory spouses like Bunny (Wilde, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) and Peg (Kate Berlant, A League of Their Own), fall under a shadow — not literally in such sunnily postcard-perfect surroundings, but with shade still lingering over every part of her routine. Speaking up just gets dismissed, and Frank and his underlings (including a doctor played by Timothy Simmons, aka Veep's Jonah Ryan, who is instantly unnerving thanks to that stroke of casting) have too-precise answers to her concerns. Read our full review. THE STRANGER No emotion or sensation ripples through two or more people in the exact same way, and never will. The Stranger has much to convey, but it expresses that truth with piercing precision. The crime-thriller is the sophomore feature from actor-turned-filmmaker Thomas M Wright — following 2018's stunning Adam Cullen biopic Acute Misfortune, another movie that shook everyone who watched it and proved hard to shake — and it's as deep, disquieting and resonant a dance with intensity as its genre can deliver. To look into Joel Edgerton's (Thirteen Lives) eyes as Mark, an undercover cop with a traumatic but pivotal assignment, is to spy torment and duty colliding. To peer at Sean Harris (Spencer) as the slippery Henry Teague is to see a cold, chilling and complex brand of shiftiness. Sitting behind these two performances in screentime but not impact is Jada Alberts' (Mystery Road) efforts as dedicated, determined and drained detective Kate Rylett — and it may be the portrayal that sums up The Stranger best. Writing as well as directing, Wright has made a film that is indeed dedicated, determined and draining. At every moment, including in sweeping yet shadowy imagery and an on-edge score, those feelings radiate from the screen as they do from Alberts. Sharing the latter's emotional exhaustion comes with the territory; sharing their sense of purpose does as well. In the quest to capture a man who abducted and murdered a child, Rylett can't escape the case's horrors — and, although the specific details aren't used, there's been no evading the reality driving this feature. The Stranger doesn't depict the crime that sparked Kate Kyriacou's non-fiction book The Sting: The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe's Killer, or any violence. It doesn't use the Queensland schoolboy's name, or have actors portray him or his family. This was always going to be an inherently discomforting and distressing movie, though, but it's also an unwaveringly intelligent and impressive examination of trauma. There's no other word to describe what Mark and Rylett experience — and, especially as it delves into Mark's psychological state as he juggles his job with being a single father, The Stranger is a film about tolls. What echoes do investigating and seeking justice for an atrocious act leave? Here, the portrait is understandably bleak and anguished. What imprint do such incidences have upon society more broadly? That also falls into the movie's examination. Mark, along with a sizeable group of fellow officers, is trying to get a confession and make an arrest. Back east, Rylett is one of the police who won't and can't let the situation go. Doling out its narrative in a structurally ambitious way, The Stranger doesn't directly address the human need for resolution, or to restore a semblance of order and security after something so heinously shocking, but that's always baked into its frames anyway. Travelling across the country, Henry first meets a stranger on a bus, getting chatting to Paul (Steve Mouzakis, Clickbait) en route. It's the possibility of work that hooks the ex-con and drifter — perhaps more so knowing that his potential new gig will be highly illicit, and that evading the authorities is implicit. Soon he meets Mark, then seizes the opportunity to reinvent himself in a criminal organisation, not knowing that he's actually palling around with the cops. It's an immense sting, fictionalised but drawn from actuality, with The Stranger also playing as a procedural. The connecting the dots-style moves remain with Rylett, but Wright's decision to hone in on the police operation still means detailing how to catch a killer, astutely laying out the minutiae via action rather than chatting through the bulk of the ins and outs. Read our full review. AMSTERDAM There's only one Wes Anderson, but there's a litany of wannabes. Why can't David O Russell be among them? Take the first filmmaker's The Grand Budapest Hotel, mix in the second's American Hustle and that's as good a way as any to start describing Amsterdam, Russell's return to the big screen after a seven-year gap following 2015's Joy — and a starry period comedy, crime caper and history lesson all in one. Swap pastels for earthier hues, still with a love of detail, and there's the unmistakably Anderson-esque look of the film. Amsterdam is a murder-mystery, too, set largely in the 1930s against a backdrop of increasing fascism, and filled with more famous faces than most movies can dream of. The American Hustle of it all springs from the "a lot of this actually happened" plot, this time drawing upon a political conspiracy called the White House/Wall Street Putsch, and again unfurling a wild true tale. A Russell returnee sits at the centre, too: Christian Bale (Thor: Love and Thunder) in his third film for the writer/director. The former did help guide the latter to an Oscar for The Fighter, then a nomination for American Hustle — but while Bale is welcomely and entertainingly loose and freewheeling, and given ample opportunity to show his comic chops in his expressive face and physicality alone, Amsterdam is unlikely to complete the trifecta of Academy Awards recognition. The lively movie's cast is its strongest asset, though, including the convincing camaraderie between Bale, John David Washington (Malcolm & Marie) and Margot Robbie (The Suicide Squad). They play pals forged in friendship during World War I, then thanks to a stint in the titular Dutch city. A doctor, a lawyer and a nurse — at least at some point in the narrative — they revel in love and art during their uninhabited stay, then get caught in chaos 15 years later. Amsterdam begins in the later period, with Burt Berendsen (Bale) tending to veterans — helping those with war injuries and lingering pain, as he himself has — without a medical license. He once had a Park Avenue practice, but his military enlistment and his fall from the well-heeled set afterwards all stems from his snobbish wife Beatrice (Andrea Riseborough, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain) and her social-climbing (and prejudiced) parents. As he did in the war, however, Burt aids who he can where he can, including with fellow ex-soldier Harold Woodman (Washington). That's how he ends up lending a hand (well, a scalpel) to the well-to-do Liz Meekins (Taylor Swift, Cats) after the unexpected death of her father and their old Army general (Ed Begley Jr, Better Call Saul). The bereaved daughter suspects foul play and Burt and Harold find it, but with fingers pointing their way when there's suddenly another body. Two police detectives (The Old Guard's Matthias Schoenaerts and The Many Saints of Newark's Alessandro Nivola), both veterans themselves, come a-snooping — and Burt and Harold now have two tasks. Clearing their names and figuring out what's going on are intertwined, of course, and also just the start of a story that isn't short on developments and twists (plus early flashes back to 1918 to set up the core trio, their bond, their heady bliss and a pact that they'll keep looking out for each other). There's a shagginess to both the tale and the telling, because busy and rambling is the vibe, especially with so much stuffed into the plot. One of Amsterdam's worst traits is its overloaded and convoluted feel, seeing that there's the IRL past to explore, a message about history repeating itself to deliver along with it, and enough mayhem to fuel several romps to spill out around it. The pacing doesn't help, flitting between zipping and dragging — and usually busting out the wrong one for each scene. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28; August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25; and September 1, September 8, September 15, September 22 and September 29. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing, Official Competition, The Forgiven, Full Time, Murder Party, Bullet Train, Nope, The Princess, 6 Festivals, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Crimes of the Future, Bosch & Rockit, Fire of Love, Beast, Blaze, Hit the Road, Three Thousand Years of Longing, Orphan: First Kill, The Quiet Girl, Flux Gourmet, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Moonage Daydream, Ticket to Paradise, Clean, You Won't Be Alone, See How They Run, Smile, On the Count of Three and The Humans.
Following the successful opening of their new all-day eatery Manly Underground (which sits underneath their brewpub on East Esplanade), beloved northern beaches brewery 4 Pines has launched yet another new venue. It's called Public House and you'll find it further north, in the hilly, beachside suburb of Newport. Where Manly Underground's focus is on brunch, Public House's big drawcard is barrel-aged beers. Anytime you wander through, you'll notice at least 20 barrels hanging around, each of which is devoted to storing the good stuff — thereby making it tastier by the time it gets to your tastebuds. So far, two drops have hit the taps. The first is Vlad, a Russian (you guessed it!) Imperial Stout, which has spent six months in whisky barrels provided by Lark and Black Gate distilleries. The second is King Dong, a tart and dry, yet spicy and aromatic, wheat beer that hid away in Muscat barrels for an entire year. On top of those two, there's also one available in a bottle. Known as Jean Claude Van Lambic, it's a golden ale that was aged in Muscat barrels and comes with hints of cherry and orange leaves, topped with buttery overtones. You can't get it anywhere else in the world. For traditionalists who prefer to stick to 4 Pines's more familiar beers, there are 12 on tap. And non-beer drinkers are catered to, too, thanks to a bunch of 4 Pines- and Brookvale Union-infused cocktails, Aussie craft spirits and local wines. Whatever your beverage of choice, you'll find a match among the food menu, which offers a mix of classic dishes from the brewery's Manly Brewpub and new standouts from Underground Manly, taken care of by chefs Rob de Paulo and Adam Rust. Go for the black and white fettuccini (fresh fish, scallops, prawns, asparagus and tossed in a mint and lemon sauce) or the Tree Hugger salad, which comes with hefeweizen-soaked quinoa, chickpeas, avocado and feta. As usual, 4 Pines's design expert Sheree Mitchell has sorted out the interior, so you can expect the familiar, handcrafted-meets-industrial aesthetic. Think lighting made of re-purposed shackles, pulleys and barrel staves, complementing exposed brickwork, recycled timbers, leather and black steel. The walls are covered in a brand new artwork by Murray Fraser, commissioned by 4 Pines and featuring extraordinary photos of the northern beaches' numerous rock pools, framed in timber. As good as the beer is — you won't be forgetting that the water isn't far away. Public House is the fourth venue in the 4 Pines family, joining the Manly Brewpub, Manly Underground and their Brookvale Truck Bar. They're also gearing up to open a brand new beer and bread concept in Belrose's Glen Street Theatre. It will offer beer and freshly baked bread, including the stout bread which has been baked in the Manly BrewPub since 2010, when it opens next year. 4 Pines Public House Newport is located at 313 Barrenjoey Road, Newport. It's open 11.30am till late, seven days a week. For more information, visit their website.
When Betty's Burgers and Concrete Co started dishing up burgs, fries and shakes, it gave hungry (and grateful) Australian tastebuds a Shake Shack-style burger experience. The chain has done well with that approach, unsurprisingly, expanding from its Noosa beginnings to now boast joints in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth — and a trio of ex-staff members are aiming for the same success with new venture Slim's Quality Burger. There's plenty that's familiar about Slim's template, in fact. Swap out the Shake Shack nods, substitute in a 50s- and 60s-inspired setup that takes its cues from American diner culture, and that's the concept. Once again, the focus is on classic-style burgs rather than OTT numbers in this new spot from Michael Tripp, Nik Rollison and Betty's founder, David Hales; however, the burgers here are paired with old-school ice cream sundaes instead of Betty's frozen custard 'concretes'. Now open in the new Marrickville Metro, with other stores set to come around the country — next up is Mount Druitt — Slim's is all about a lean menu of options made with simple but quality ingredients. Burger-wise, customers can choose between original ($8.50), cheeseburger ($6.50), deluxe cheeseburger ($7.50) and 'the works' ( $9.50) burgs, all made with angus beef, plus five different chicken varieties — including with crispy fried ($8.50) or grilled chook ($8.50) — and a veggie option ($9) using a plant-based patty. Sides focus on fries either with sea salt ($3.50), loaded with cheese and grilled onion ($6), or also featuring maple-smoked bacon ($7). As for those sundaes ($5), they come in hot fudge, salted caramel and strawberry flavours. And to wash it all down, there are spiders ($5) — because plonking a scoop of ice cream in some soft drink never gets old — plus post-mix from the fountain ($3.75), and chocolate, vanilla and strawberry thickshakes ($6). And with its vibrant red bench seating — the same hue beaming up from the chequerboard-tiled floor and a curved order counter — the Marrickville decor clearly takes Slim's chosen retro aesthetic seriously. Also a feature in Sydney: outdoor dining, plus a blast from the past-meets-modern overall feel.
Michael Mu Sung has taken over lower-Bayswater Road. Not content with two beloved venues on the Potts Point thoroughfare, the Sydney restaurateur sprung forth with his third addition to the neighbourhood called Ken's Continental. This cafe and deli is located on a green leafy corner directly next to Mu Sung's Farmhouse and across the road from his second culinary child, Bones Ramen. Ken's Continental operates as a classic inner-city cafe in the morning with good coffee and a daily delivery of elite pastries from LouLou Boulangerie. If you're looking to nab a seat and get stuck into the day with something more substantial, you'll find a menu of brunch and lunch favourites centred around speciality deli meats. The short and sweet menu of all-day breakfast consists of sandwiches and highlights from the deli like the breakfast muffin which combines folded eggs, gruyere and chorizo from Whole Beast Butchery. Beyond breakfast, the signature sambo piles mortadella, rocket, pickled Turkish chillies and plum relish on a LouLou baguette. There's also yellow pea pancakes topped with soft-boiled eggs, herb salad, avocado and jamon; black pudding with fried eggs; and a charcuterie plate with the best meat, cheese, pickles and olives from the deli counter. Speaking of, this open glass counter is the first thing you'll notice as you walk into the Parisian-inspired space, accompanied by shelves of other take-home provisions on the walls. Here you can load up your home kitchen with all of the pancetta, sopressa, terrine, Pepe Saya butter and fresh baguettes you could wish for.
When you've already mined the funny side of Irish law enforcement and contemplated the impact of religion, what comes next? If you're John Michael McDonagh, director of The Guard, Calvary and now War on Everyone, you take aim at crooked cops in the United States. Specifically, you focus your third feature on a duo who enjoy their rule-breaking ways, venture into bigger, badder territory than they're used to, and subsequently — surprisingly — start to feel a little conflicted about it. Terry Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard) and Bob Bolano (Michael Pena) are the pair in question: one quick to violence and happily single, the other somewhat contemplative and married with kids. They both like each other, cracking wise, the corrupt niche they've carved out for themselves, and little else ("you can shoot people for no reason," Terry explains when asked why he joined the force). First introduced running down a cocaine-dealing mime, they're soon trying to shake off scrutiny from their boss (Paul Reiser) while attempting to steal cash from a new group of criminals. Alas, as they beat and blackmail their way around Albuquerque — and to Iceland and back as well — their plan unwittingly places them in the path of a far-from-forgiving British aristocrat turned kingpin (Theo James). Spouting dialogue that eagerly, indiscriminately insults any group you can think of, Terry and Bob's war really is on everyone — including, in an extension of their self-destructive ways, themselves. Cue a film that combines irreverent misanthropy, a raft of cop clichés, and a partial journey of self-discovery. Thanks to McDonagh's dripping satire and cynicism, plenty of laughs spring from their antics, but the end result remains hit-and-miss. Think Starsky and Hutch remade for the post-True Detective age, complete with the back-and-forth banter and philosophising the blend suggests, and a dash of awkwardness too. When War on Everyone is good, though, it's very good. It's strikingly shot, energetically paced and extraordinarily well cast as far as its leads are concerned. Indeed, while co-stars such as Caleb Landry Jones and Tessa Thompson are asked to either rely upon caricature or given too little to work with, Skarsgard and Pena enliven every scene they're in, and even make their unsympathetic-on-paper characters somehow likeable. Viewed simply as a collection of buddy cop scenes written and directed by someone who has obviously watched a sizeable serving of '70s American cinema, and starring two actors with a clear feel for the material and a rapport with each other, War on Everyone entertains more often than it doesn't. Where the film struggles, however, is in piecing together anything substantial or cohesive beyond its stylish sights, spiky lines and impressive leads. At times, it plays like the kind of wannabe Quentin Tarantino flick that might have dropped in the mid-'90s. Fun, funny, but nothing to write home about.
Next time that you grab a drink in Melbourne or Sydney, you might want to get sipping at one of the globe's top watering holes. Those must-visit spots: Melbourne's Caretaker's Cottage and Sydney's Re, which just nabbed rankings in 2022 version of The World's 50 Best Bars extended 51–100 list. Each year, The World's 50 Best Bars does exactly what its name says, picking the best 50 bars on the planet — and 2022's top 50 will be announced on Tuesday, October 4 in Barcelona. But why stop at 50? This ranking doesn't, despite its moniker. That's where the longlist comes in, throwing some love at the next 50 venues worth checking out. [caption id="attachment_871415" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Caretaker's Cottage[/caption] Little Lonsdale Street's Caretaker's Cottage came in at 60th spot, and marked its first year in the list — while Re, Matt Whiley (Scout) and Maurice Terzini's low-waste bar in South Eveleigh, took out 87th position. For the latter, it marks a slip from 46th place in 2021, after opening last year. Caretaker's Cottage and Re are the only Australian bars to make the cut so far — sorry, folks in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and the rest of the country — with the 51–100 list including tipple-serving spots from 32 different cities in 25 countries, complete with 15 new entries scoring a place. The location with the most must-visit bars in this secondary rundown? Singapore, with eight; however, spots chosen elsewhere include bars in first-timers Kraków, Bratislava, Manchester, Playa Del Carmen and Bogotá as well. [caption id="attachment_871414" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Re[/caption] When the full list drops — being announced outside of London for the first time — here's hoping that Australia is well-represented. In 2021, Sydney's Maybe Sammy took out 22nd place, with The Rocks' venue making the top 50 list for the third year in a row. Fellow Sydneysider Cantina OK! came in at number 23 last year, Melbourne's Above Board earned a spot at number 44 and the aforementioned Re placed, too. In 2021's longlist, Melbourne's Byrdi nabbed 56th spot. Watch this space — we'll run through the winners of the World's 50 Best Bars 2022 list when they're announced next week. [caption id="attachment_871416" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Re[/caption] And yes, if you choose where to drink and eat based on these kinds of rankings, you've got a few spots to visit. So far this year, Melbourne's Gimlet at Cavendish House made The World's Top 100 Restaurant longlist for 2022, while Sydney's Josh Niland placed in 78th spot at The Best Chef Awards 2022. For the full 51–100 list of the World's 50 Best Bars for 2022 (and past years' lists), see the website. The top 50 rankings will be revealed from 8.15pm GMT on Tuesday, October 4 via Facebook and YouTube.
Lower north shore residents won't have to head into the city for Sydney's latest opening. Brand new, modern Scandinavian-style, Mediterranean-menued bar and restaurant The Public has opened its doors in Cammeray. Joining the local foodie strip of Miller Street in the space where Belgian Beer Cafe sat for 15 years, The Public is a big, breezy, modern space made for long lazy brunches and intimate catch-ups alike. Think marine-grade plywood, aquas, blues, whites, and 3D installation art. The brainchild of North shore brothers James and Will Christopher, The Public is nothing short of a labour of love. Not their first time at the Sydney hospitality rodeo, this new bar marks the third venue for the Christopher brothers, following their long-loved local cafe The Laneway and their Spanish tapas joint Ms Miller (right next door). They've also launched start-ups, cheffed here and there and Will feeds the entire team at the celebrated Secret Garden Festival every year — production team meals you have to taste to believe. Seriously. Next level. Aiming to give Cammeray a foodie identity of its own and steal some limelight from burgeoning eastern suburbs like Double Bay or western hubs like Marrickville, the Christopher brothers teamed up with business manager and superyacht seller (actual thing) Damian Barrow to swing the spotlight to the lower north shore. Alright, alright, now we know who's behind the joint, what can we expect to chow down on? The Christopher brothers have brought over Ms Miller head chef James Featherstone to create pub classic-meets-Euro-style dishes for The Public. Think Greek and Mediterranean food with housemade olive butter, taramasolata and hummus, with family-style platters of lamb kleftiko and barbecued chicken. Then there are the burgers, like the double beef, double bacon, double cheese wagyu beef burger. With all this hummus and barbecued chicken afoot, we're going to need some bevs here. Drinks-wise, you can expect an Australian, New Zealand, Italian and French-focused wine list, and ten beers on tap including Young Henry's, Two Birds, Rocks Brewing, Endeavour and Mountain Goat. The Public's set to become a Cammeray staple if it plays its cards right. And with monthly markets and beer and wine events planned for the future, it looks like this by-locals-for-locals newbie holds all the aces.
Start planning your costumes: when Halloween hits in 2024, Sydney will welcome a brand-new festival celebrating the horror-themed occasion that'll be filled with spooky treats. Scary movies? Tick. A haunted house? Tick again. A murder-mystery party? Keep ticking. A zombie disco? That earns a big tick, too. Ghost in The Rocks Festival will debut on the absolute right day for it, Thursday, October 31, 2024, then run across four days until Sunday, November 3. The full program won't drop until September, but the idea is to turn The Rocks into a feast of frights and fright-inspired fun, including via tentacles taking over buildings, lights flickering around the place and creatures of the night — well, people dressed up, clearly — roaming the streets. The event is the brainchild of the team behind Mov'in Cinemas, Sydney's Bastille Festival and Canberra's Xmas in July Festival, which knows a thing or two about sprawling fests, theming around a beloved date on the calendar and adding a big-screen component. The plan: not just to put on the festival as a once-off, but to make it an annual happening. For now, until more details arrive, get excited about the fact that the House of Horror won't just be about eeriness, but will also be a party spot. Also, the Ghost Cinema will be dedicated to horror movies and thrillers, and feature an atmosphere to match; the Murder Bar will get you sleuthing; and the Zombie Disco will be where you make shapes. [caption id="attachment_937709" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mov'In Bed Cinema[/caption] There'll be a parade as well, where costumed characters and Halloween floats take to the streets. Some aspects will be free, such as the disco, parade and entry to the bar. Others will be ticketed, like the haunted house and the cinema. There's no word yet on trick-or-treating, themed food and drink options, and if venues around The Rocks will also be getting into spirit of the occasion — but cross your fingers and broomsticks that all of the above is part of Ghost in The Rocks Festival, too. Ghost in The Rocks Festival will run from Thursday, October 31–Sunday, November 3, 2024 around The Rocks, Sydney, with the full program revealed in September. Head to the event's website for further details in the interim. Top image: BBR Group.
Fifteen years ago this week, in two Los Angeles cinemas, The Room enjoyed its world premiere. Telling the tale of a banker, his adulterous fiancée, his conflicted best friend, a local teen caught up in a drug deal, a mother with cancer, a particularly awkward party, a bunch of guys playing football in tuxedos and the worst apartment decorating scheme you've ever seen, the film wasn't met with applause, acclaim or anything in the way of excitement. And yet, all this time later, it has an avid fan base, still sells out screenings around the world, and has inspired both a behind-the-scenes book and an Oscar-nominated movie. Of course, you've seen The Room, thrown spoons at it and marvelled at how Tommy Wiseau somehow managed to make a movie that's both terrible and enjoyable — but Wiseau and his co-star Greg Sestero aren't done yet. They both played a part in last year's The Disaster Artist, as based on Sestero's book of the same name, and now they're back in something completely unrelated to their big claim to fame. In Best F(r)iends, the pair return as a mortician and a drifter. Yes, you can guess which part the lank-locked Wiseau plays. Sestero's down-on-his-luck LA resident Jon is given the chance to work for Wiseau's morgue owner Harvey Lewis, but neither is being completely honest with each other. Scripted by Sestero but (thankfully) not directed by Wiseau, the black comedy is literally a film of two parts, with Best F(r)iends: Volume One currently touring the world ahead of Best F(r)iends: Volume Two later this year. With Sestero returning to Australia for Q&A screenings of the first film, we chatted to him about not only making another movie with Wiseau, but writing a part specifically for him, among other topics. These are the ten things we learned. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTu9N40E_MI HE WANTED TO MAKE A MOVIE THAT SHOWCASED TOMMY WISEAU'S ACTING TALENTS "For so long, I didn't expect to work with Tommy again after The Room for many reasons. But once I decided to take him seriously, I realised that he really hasn't been utilised properly as an actor. And this is really a chance to really do him right and put him in a part that he could succeed in — while at the same time, I was really genuinely interested in working with again. I really believe that Tommy can be interesting as an actor, but he just hadn't been given the right part." HE NEVER CONSIDERED GETTING WISEAU TO DIRECT "I really wanted to see him focus on being an actor. I'd handle the producing, and put the right team together that would just be there to make a film, and we wouldn't make The Room 2. And I thought he really shines as an actor — and I thought giving him a chance to focus on that. And he really put in the work. We rehearsed a lot. You know, he memorised most of his lines. I wrote the part with him in mind, so the dialogue definitely catered to his strengths, but he put in the work and he showed up ready to do this best." BEST F[R]IENDS IS BASED ON THE TIME WISEAU THOUGHT SESTERO WANTED TO KILL HIM "I took a road trip with Tommy up the California coast back in 2003. I thought we were just going up to have a good time, but Tommy assumed that I was plotting this thing against him, and that I was going to try to kill him. I mean it was just really far out. So when he explained to me why he thought that, and what he was feeling, all these years later when I was sitting down to write this story, I explored that. And I thought 'what if I was, and how would it go down, and what would happen?'. And so it kind of gave me a jumpstart into writing this story." THE FILM ALSO INCORPORATES A VERY REAL BLACK MARKET "The other true event was that my brother is a dentist, and so he told me this very bizarre, underground business that is happening in dentistry, with human teeth. So we use all real teeth in the film. That's all kind of stuff that actually goes on." HE DIDN'T REFERENCE THE ROOM ON PURPOSE, BUT YOU'LL SPOT A FEW NODS "Any reference to The Room, to be honest with you, was accidental or worked its way in. When I wrote the script, there were no references. There was no basketball scene. We shot at a real morgue, so there are bodies that'd come in and out that would interrupt the shoot — and we decided to play basketball as a break, and that ended up being filmed and being turned into a scene. The spiral staircase that was in that office just happened to be there, you know. There wasn't any intention to reference The Room in any way, but the things that did, I feel like if they were organic and worked their way in, it was fine." HE CREDITS THE ROOM'S SUCCESS TO WISEAU "It's just something that is completely unique — because it was made by one man who had creative control, had the money to say 'this is the way we're going to do it', and just sees the world so differently. So people see it and they can't believe that it really exists, and it's just one of those things you want to share with people because it has no business succeeding or even existing. And there's just kind of this magic to it. Because there's nothing else that exists like it, it unites people in a way — they're craving something different — and it just delivers a flavour that you know you can't recreate it. It's just to the power of being original, I think, is what I've learned. Tommy hasn't tried to change himself for acceptance. He just is himself, and I think people like that." IT REALLY ISN'T EASY TO BREAK FREE FROM THE ROOM "I never thought anybody would see The Room — it was kind of something that I was backed into. But I love a challenge, and I think there is something fun and challenging about trying to rework what you're working on I think it started with The Disaster Artist book. When a lot of people thought I was going to write a book about the experience, I think they expected fan service and a quirky making-of, like 'lets look at all these wacky things that Tommy did'. But I really approached it in a way that I thought could tell a story that could become an Oscar-calibre film. At the time I think people thought that was a little far-fetched. It's definitely a challenge for any cult film, but especially with this one — where it's considered the worst movie, and people who see it throw spoons at the screen, and actually get involved in the performance or the film that you're making. You just need to be really aware of what you're trying to say to your audience. I believe your audience will follow you if you approach things properly." HE'D LIKE TO MAKE A BABADOOK-STYLE HORROR FILM NEXT "I want to make a horror film. I definitely have been influenced by The Babadook and these kind of new horror films — and I want to play on the psychological aspect of horror rather than the blood and guts, or to try to combine the two. But definitely horror is the genre that I'd love to go for." HE'S FINE WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION — SO BRING TEETH "People have started showing up with bloody shirts and holding homeless signs, but I think throwing plastic gold teeth would be kind of cool. That could catch on — or maybe plastic lemons or serving lemonade? That could be pretty cool. The audiences that I've seen it with, there's definitely some interaction — but nothing being thrown yet. But I'm sure that people will come up with something." BEST F(R)IENDS: VOLUME TWO IS HIS FAVOURITE THING HE'S EVER DONE "It's completely different. It's insane. I like to think that if this film is Nightcrawler and Double Indemnity, then Volume Two is Psycho meets Breaking Bad. But it's totally different. I think Volume Two is my favourite, but I think it really compliments Volume One — and I can't wait for people to actually get to watch them back-to-back. I really hope they enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it." As well as touring Australia and New Zealand in Q&A screenings, 'Best F(r)iends: Volume One' will open at Melbourne's Cinema Nova on July 5.
Ever find yourself overwhelmed by Sydney's diverse array of booze haunts and wish you had your own personal bar guide? Yep, we feel you. Often we frequent the same bars out of comfort and forget to try new places for fear of missing out. With our city's current flurry of decent drinking holes, however, we think it's time you heard it from those truly in the know: the bartenders themselves. Concrete Playground's guide to where bartenders drink will set things straight. Listen to the experts. Aasha Sinha drinks at Low302 Aasha hails from Bondi originally and has been running the bar at Gazebo Wine Garden for just over one year. Prior to that Aasha was head bartender at Vinatta Project in New York City. She has also worked at local haunts Cafe Pacifico, Duke Bistro and The Winery. If I had the night off, I would go to ... "Low302 bar on Crown Street. There are so many reasons why I love this bar. The bartenders are some of Sydney's best and their banter is even better. The drinks list and back bar selection have never failed to impress me. They're open until 2am and serve amazing food all the way through. The buffalo wings are out of this world and make for a great late night grease fix. There's always a spot for you at the bar, where you're guaranteed to run into a fellow bartender (or 10) for a staffie." Luke Reddington drinks at Bulletin Place Luke was bar manager of Eau de Vie for over one year and currently bartends at Cockatoo Island. He is in the process of opening his own venue with his business partner, which should be ready by the middle of this year. One of my favourite drinking holes is ... "Bulletin Place. I like their concept of an ever-changing list of daily cocktail specials, which is based on whatever fruit is in stock that week. The Lord Nelson Pub in The Rocks is also in my top ten. It's one of the oldest and best pubs in Sydney, and always has an interesting selection of delicious locally-brewed beer on tap. I haven't been to 121BC in Surry Hills but it's next on my hit list. I love finding out about new wines and apparently that's the place to do it." Reece Griffiths drinks at Cafe Pacifico Reece has been a bartender at Low302 for one year and is the Brand Ambassador for Jose Cuervo Tequila. Reece has also been behind the stick at The Victoria Room and Emmilou Tapas Bar. When I'm not behind the bar, you can find me at ... "Cafe Pacifico. Being a Tequila and Mezcal lover, Pacifico is a no-brainer for me. One of the best collections of agave spirits going around, a great authentic cantina feel, not to mention 'Cat in the Hat' Phil Bayly to spin stories of Tequila. Low302 is also like a second home to me. It has great booze and has some of the most under-rated food in Sydney. The place is dangerous, but amazing. If I were taking my girlfriend out for a drink, Vasco would be my pick." Ben Blair drinks at Frankie's Ben is currently managing the bar at The Corner House in Bondi and has just been ranked one of Australia's top 10 bartenders. Ben has also been behind the bar at the Victoria Room and before that, various venues in London. The next bar on my go-to list is ... "Frankie's Pizza. The Swillhouse boys (Shady Pines Saloon and Baxter Inn) certainly know what it takes to open a cracking venue, and it would appear that most of my mates live at the bar so I'd never be short of company. For an excellent selection of agave based spirits, tasty popcorn and bartenders who know how to have a good time, Tio’s would be my pick. I also like the 'less is more' philosophy behind Bulletin Place. Their cocktail list is short and no-fuss, with a focus on fresh, seasonal produce." Jessica Arnott drinks at Eau de Vie Jessica's a born and bred Sydney girl, but London is where she made the transition from floor to bar. She worked at The Victoria Room for almost three years and has just left Gardel's Bar at Porteno to join the team at the Roosevelt. She's super excited about it. If there's one thing you should try, it's ... "the chicken liver parfait at Eau de Vie. I think it's made from unicorn breath, or fairy dust, or something. It's unbelievably good. Eau de Vie always has great staff manning the bar. I love that I can go and have a cider and a shot, or a top shelf whisky, or get my cocktail geek on with them anytime. Max and Luke from rock 'n' roll bar Vasco also pump out cracking cocktails. It's as loud as you'd expect from Max Greco with tasty food and great chat. Everything a bartender's bar should be. Charlie Ainsbury drinks at Tio's Charlie has been in bars since 2003. He's worked at the Bayswater Brasserie and a number of places in Canada and most notably, The Diamond. Charlie has worked at Duke Bistro, consulted on Izakaya Fujiyama and, for a bit of fun, spend a month's worth of weekends working at Shady Pines Saloon. The reason I drink at the bars I do is ... "for the people who work there. I like making my way down to Tio's, Low302 and The Baxter Inn whenever I can. Hinky Dinks in Darlinghurst is right next door to us so I find myself there more often than I care to admit! Being a bartender who works late into the night, it's also pretty difficult to avoid Frankie's Pizza. I’ve heard great things about Harlem in Manly, so that’s where I’ll be making my way to next – but not before taking my lady out on a date to Monopole (with our hours being polar opposites, I owe her quite a few of these date nights!). Robb Sloan drinks at The Corner House Robb tells us he's a payer of invoices, filler-inner of spreadsheets and wielder of mops at Bulletin Place. He also co-owns the place. Before his current post, Robb was behind the bar at The Black Pearl in Melbourne. My favourite place to drink in Sydney is ... "The Corner House upstairs bar. Guaranteed a warm welcome, a generously poured, beautifully made beverage and a cool vibe on Sundays. Plus bartender Ben Blair is such a dreamboat. The location is perfect too; perched atop Bondi Road hill so it's a gentle downhill stumble all the way home. Tio's also deserves a mention for positively contributing to people's understanding of how much tequila their body can physically process. I like their dedication. When (when!) I get a night off, I'm looking forward to checking out Bottleneck in Darlinghurst." Natalie Ng drinks at Foley Lane Natalie is venue manager and part owner of Mojo Record Bar. Previously, she was the venue manager at Hugos Pizza Bar and before that, the bar manager at Cafe Pacifico for nearly three and a half years. If you're after good drinks, great food and an awesome outdoor area, head to …. "Foley Lane. It feels more restaurant than bar with its laid-back vibe and rustic charm. Think negronis, jugs of sangria and tapas. It's understated, without being boring. Plus the staff are fantastic. I also have a soft spot for Bulletin Place. These guys show that bars don't need to compromise when it comes to ingredients or freshness. I love their 'simplicity equals quality' ethos. Another bar championing a similar idea (and which I've yet to visit) is Bar H in Surry Hills, where the focus is on seasonal local produce. Finally Low302 deserves a shout out for their quality margaritas and Manhattans, and for their eclectic taste in music. Header image courtesy of the Soda Factory.
Vivid Sydney is always a calendar highlight and, after two consecutive cancellations, we need it more than ever. The 2022 iteration is the first festival helmed by director Gill Minervini and it promises to be bigger, better and brighter. The famous Light Walk now stretches an impressive eight kilometres from the Sydney Opera House to Central Station, new venues have been added to the program and there are city-wide events that celebrate all that makes Sydney great through a lens of creativity. It's practically impossible to narrow down the recommendations to just a handful of events but here are seven highlights that represent the best of Vivid Sydney 2022 and deserve a place on your hit list.
North Sydney is welcoming the start of autumn atop its multi-award winning rooftop oasis. Waverton's Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability is offering up sky-high live music and entertainment for free on Saturday, March 30 from 4–9.30pm. The waterfront digs — Sydney's largest rooftop garden — will be taken over by acoustic acts and performances, with stages spread across the lush rooftop and its many tunnels and chambers. While the daytime hours will have family-friendly vibes with activities aplenty, there'll also be a pop-up bar where you can grab a drink to accompany the sunset (if you please). Food and drinks will be available throughout the day, but BYO picnics, keep cups and reusable water bottles (with refill stations on site) are also highly encouraged — this is the centre for sustainability, after all. On that note, expect Earth Hour celebrations to run throughout the evening, too. Picnic on the Platform will run from 4–9.30pm.
It's the time of the year when the days begin to shorten, the evenings get cooler and your stomach starts grumbling for comfort food. But, while that'll remain true for the next few months, only one particular day will bring free tacos. Tex-Mex giant Taco Bell has been steadily opening stores around the country since 2017, with a new Sydney store in Green Square launching on Tuesday, May 4 — and it's doing a big giveaway nationwide on the same day. If you're a big fan of Mexican-inspired food and you live in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, chances are you've already started to make your way through the brand's extensive menu. If you haven't tried its Crunchy Taco Supreme, though, this is your chance. Or, if you have and you just like freebies, count yourself in as well. Either way, on Tuesday, May 4 , you can pick one up at any Taco Bell location nationwide without paying a cent. There is a catch, though. This free taco day, as Taco Bell is calling it, is themed around the moon — because the chain has decided to name the half-moon the 'taco moon'. So, to get your freebie, you need to mention 'taco moon' or say 'I saw the taco moon' when you get to the counter. Yes, it's a gimmick, but if you've already spent this week obsessing over all things lunar due to the 'pink' supermoon, you'll be in the right mental space for it. Also, there's a limit of one free taco per person, so you won't be able to stuff your stomach full of them. What's a Crunchy Taco Supreme? A crunchy taco, as the name suggests, as filled with seasoned beef, sour cream, fresh lettuce, tomato and cheese — or black beans for vegetarians. If you happen to be one of the first 20 people through the door at each store, you'll also score a taco moon party kit — which includes merchandise. And if you're wondering where to head, Taco Bell has stores in Albion Park, Ballina, Blacktown and Jesmond in New South Wales — plus the about-to-launch Green Square, which'll be the closest venue to the Sydney CBD. In Victoria, the chain is located in Altona North, Hawthorn, Roxburgh Park and South Yarra. For Queenslanders, you'll be going to Annerley, Beenleigh, Cairns, Cleveland, Currajong, East Ipswich, Keperra, Logan Central, Morayfield, North Lakes, Robina and Southport. Taco Bell is offering free Crunchy Taco Supremes to every customer who mentions 'taco moon' on Tuesday, May 4. To find your nearest store, head to the chain's website.
If your idea of a Queensland holiday involves sun, surf, sand and the Gold or Sunshine coasts, we understand. That's been the norm for many a decade. But it's 2019, not 1989, meaning it's high time to expand your northern getaway horizons. If you fancy all of the above, plus exploring an inner-city playground teeming with arts, bars and eateries, then you should tee up a weekend away to Brisbane. While city-based vacations can be more expensive than simply setting up at the beach, Brisbane is a budget traveller's paradise — especially if you book a stay with Brisbane City YHA. Book in for a few nights at the hostel on Upper Roma Street and make one of its premium ensuite rooms your base — or opt for a four-to-six person multi-share suite if you're gathering the gang for a jaunt. [caption id="attachment_728173" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane City YHA rooftop bar.[/caption] The hostel's sustainable ethos will make you feel good about the environmental impact of your trip, and its rooftop pool, bar and games room will make you feel relaxed. Outside of the hostel, you'll surely want to explore, so we've fleshed out the rest of your agenda below. From strolling leisurely by the river to hunting down the best bites around, you'll be set for a highly affordable but jam-packed mini-break. SNACK ON SAVOURY CHURROS — $9 Travellers in the know venture beyond the obvious tourist hotspots. And in Brisbane, you won't have to venture far. A trip down the winding roadway that turns from Caxton Street into Given Terrace into Latrobe Terrace offers up everything from concrete couches with a view, to huge antique centres to peruse and bars and eateries to duck into whenever the urge arises. At the Petrie Terrace end of Paddington, Nota is one of the latter, with a $5–10 snack range that spans beyond the usual. Think savoury churros with honey, tempura fish sandwiches and blinis, to name a few options. And yes, they'll all go down rather well with the venue's cocktail and wine-heavy drinks list. [caption id="attachment_701809" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Greca by Nikki To.[/caption] RIDE THE RIVER TO BRISBANE'S NEWEST PRECINCT — VARIES When any city gains a new culinary precinct, it's a kind of a big deal. And Brisbane's latest spot is by the river in the middle of the CBD, so it's even more cause for excitement. Howard Smith Wharves holds Brissie's only riverside brewery, its only overwater bar, a Greek taverna, a joint serving Shake Shack-style burgers and grassy areas for hangs by the water, plus the precinct will continue to welcome even more restaurants and bars — including a Japanese izakaya and multi-level Cantonese eatery. Adding a visit to your itinerary is also an excuse to use the city's favourite form of public transport: the CityCats. You'll be in for a walk at either end of the journey (from Brisbane City YHA to South Bank Ferry Terminal, and then from Riverside Ferry Terminal to Howard Smith Wharves), but it's all part of the experience. [caption id="attachment_649663" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Atlanta Bell.[/caption] SING KARAOKE AND EAT CHICKEN PARMIGIANA SPRING ROLLS — $16 Many a day has been lazed away at Little Big House, the multi-level pub set in a heritage-listed Queenslander. This party spot has just kept adding reasons to stop by since it opened a few years back. Sometimes, it's boozy bingo; others, it's trivia. No matter when you drop in, you'll find breezy verandahs to sit on and chicken parmigiana spring rolls on the menu. Yes, you read that correctly. Another highlight is the free karaoke room, which is especially ace if you've got the gang in tow. Make sure to book in advance because it's a first-in, best-dressed type of scenario. [caption id="attachment_628008" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Green Jam sessions, QPAC.[/caption] LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC OUTDOORS — FREE Not so eager to belt out a song yourself, but love watching other people do it? South Bank, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Roma Street Parklands regularly host free live music across the weekend, so you're never too far from a tune. It's a case of picking your preferred picturesque setting — do you prefer grooving by the river, relaxing in sprawling parklands or sipping and eating on a nice little green patch? Time your wanders around town just right during your Brisbane stay, and you can probably even fit in all of the above. [caption id="attachment_711839" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Paul Giggle.[/caption] ENJOY A LEISURELY RIVERSIDE BIKE RIDE — FREE Your first stop starts at Brisbane City YHA's doorstep, where just a few you paces away you can hire one of CityCycle bikes (free for the first 30 minutes) and hit the pavement. You couldn't be in a better place to explore Brisbane on two wheels, with the river and its bike paths just a few pedal pushes away. Everyone's favourite destination is South Bank, understandably, where you can bike gently along the shoreline with the water on one side and parklands on the other. But don't be afraid to go slightly further afield, including through West End's hilly expanse, or through Paddington, Red Hill and Milton in Brisbane's inner west. Hot tip: at the latter, you can even see Brisbane's mini Eiffel Tower, should you be keen to spy replica landmarks out of context. TAKE IN THE CITY FROM A ROOFTOP POOL AND BAR — FREE WITH YOUR STAY Sometimes as a visitor to a city, you get the unique advantage of enjoying places that even lifelong locals don't know about if you stay at the right spot. The rooftop pool and bar at Brisbane City YHA is one of them. If you haven't dropped by for a night, you wouldn't even know that it was there. As well as a scenic view over the CBD and beyond, and a great place for a refreshing splash, it's also where you can wind down with a beverage and a bite to eat. Feeling inspired to whip up your own feast and really stick to a budget? There's a supermarket just up the road at Barracks, where you can grab some snags to whack on the poolside barbie. There are kitchen facilities by the pool for your use, too. That's the real Brisbane experience. EAT YOUR WAY THROUGH THE MARKETS — VARIES When the weekend hits, South Brisbane and West End come alive with markets. In good news for anyone staying at Brisbane City YHA, they're all just a short stroll away. From Friday to Sunday, mosey over to Stanley Street Plaza to browse the trinkets, fashions and accessories (every holiday needs a unique souvenir, after all). If eating your way through an array of cuisines is more your style, then Boundary Street is your destination with treats from around the globe including Brazil, France, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. Plus, for the vegans among us, the Boundary Street Markets go vegan every second and fourth Sunday of the month with sweet and savoury offerings, as well as a selection of vegan beers and wines. [caption id="attachment_646498" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Anwyn Howarth.[/caption] FEAST YOUR EYES ON A CAVALCADE OF ART — FREE For most of the year, Brisbane is blessed with sunny weather; however, if you've caught a few too many rays or if rain is on the horizon, then the Queensland Art Gallery and its sibling spot at the Gallery of Modern Art are your central go-tos. No matter what's gracing the walls of either building on any given day, you'll find a heap of paintings, sculptures and more, as well as an airy, dry space to escape the weather — plus general admission is completely free. At GOMA, you can also head to the gallery's Australian Cinematheque, where free and cheap films hit the big screen every weekend. And don't avoid the Children's Art Centre either; if you like your art with more than a dash of interactivity, you'll find fun for all ages. TAKE A WALKING TOUR OF BRISBANE'S HISTORY — FREE The best way to get to know a city is to delve into its history and Brisbane has plenty to teach you. Strap on your comfiest shoes, then throw a stone in whichever direction you feel like. Wherever that pebble lands, there'll be a heritage trail waiting to be walked. If you're eager to find out more about Brisbane's convict history and big 19th-century fire, then the CBD is your destination. Always wondered what lurks in Fortitude Valley's history? Make a beeline to the Fortitude Valley Post Office to start your tour through the notorious past. If you're keen for a dip, venture through Spring Hill and make sure to stop by the heritage-listed Spring Hill Baths. And the old faithful, of course, is any track by the river. Take a tour through Brisbane's close history with its river or walk along the other side of the river to learn the secrets of South Brisbane. Plus, the hostel offers free walking tours through Brisbane City every Wednesday and Sunday if your keen for more guidance through the city. Let YHA Australia help you explore more of Australia without breaking the bank. Plan a trip to Brisbane (or Sydney or Melbourne) and book a stay right in the middle of the city with YHA Australia. Top image: Greca at Howard Smith Wharves by Nikki To.
Another day, another way to treat your mum to a next-level Mother's Day this year – be it champagne and photo booths, lunch in one of these stunning restaurants, or an armful of unique creations from an artisans' market. The latest venue to get on board is Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre — and it's hosting Mum Cha. Book on Sunday, May 11, and you and your mum will be feasting on an array of delights. [caption id="attachment_848327" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The James Adams[/caption] Start with prawn crackers and cucumber salad, before moving onto dumplings – be they prawn, pork or veg – then fried bites such as salt and pepper tofu, crispy prawn wontons and prawn toast. Also on the menu is a bunch of specials, from the crab omelette to spicy dragon wings, and dessert in the form of mango pudding, ice cream or deep-fried Viennetta. To make your mum feel even more special, pre-order bubbles, flowers and Hawke's merch, which will be placed on the table before you get there. Three sittings are available, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. [caption id="attachment_848331" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption]
On the north shore, this easy going date spot is an excellent place to step up your date nights. On Sundays, it has live music, which will add the perfect soundtrack to your evening out. Its extensive menu makes it a crowd-pleasing dining option, too. Opt to share tapas-style plates of chorizo, zucchini frites, chicken wings, oven-baked haloumi and wild mushroom risotto balls. Or if you're not quite in sharing territory yet, go for the pie of the day or a beef burger. [caption id="attachment_779825" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Under current COVID-19 restrictions, you can't go on a holiday (locally or overseas). But, the government has hinted travel between Australia and New Zealand may be allowed in the near future, so it's time to start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. New Zealand's South Island has more nature than you can throw a stick at. Just over 17 percent of the island is dedicated national park, within which there are countless hikes for both multi-day trekkers and half-hour stroll-takers. While the South Island is consistently amazing and pretty much any walk you go on will exceed expectations, we've handpicked these five as our particular favourites. When you need to quiet your mind, they'll be there for you. [caption id="attachment_687371" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Miles Holden.[/caption] ROUTEBURN TRACK With waterfalls, snowy mountains and views in spades, Routeburn is an absolute show-off in the nature department. Open to the public since the 1880s, the 32-kilometre track winds along the glacial Route Burn river and up past both the Routeburn and Earland Falls. It's an easy South Island favourite and has truly earned its place as one of New Zealand's Great Walks. The Fiordland National Parks-based track takes about two to four days to finish depending on your fitness level and how long you want to spend taking in the various majestic views. The track is only open from October through to April, and it pays to reserve a spot at one of the Department of Conservation huts or campsites early, as the department has a monopoly on park accommodation and spots are guaranteed to fill up fast. HEAPHY TRACK Based in the Kahurangi National Park, the Heaphy Track spans across the Nelson-Tasman and West Coast regions, taking hikers through dense Nikau palms and forest and out towards the beautiful, choppy Tasman Sea. The track also has quite a few cute little side trips, including a small expedition through an "enchanted forest" filled with beech trees and the remains of old caves. Take a torch and go exploring inside the caves a little, especially the one that has a small waterfall pouring out of it. The Heaphy Track totals 78.4 kilometres, so should take you between four and six days. The track's open all year but use your common sense and check the Department of Conservation site for up-to-date alerts before embarking on your trip. [caption id="attachment_687373" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Will Patino.[/caption] MILFORD TRACK The Milford Track was historically used as a practical route for Maori to traverse the Fiordland area, but British immigrants quickly cottoned onto the four-day track's potential as a recreational walk when they stumbled upon it. By the early 1900s the news had even spread to London about this beauty-saturated route, the poet Blanche Baughan describing it as "the finest walk in the world" in the London Spectator in 1908. The 53.5-kilometre track is still the most famous of all New Zealand hikes due to its iconic and varied Kiwiana landscape and views. But with fame comes the necessary bureaucracy; to walk the track, hikers need to book months in advance. [caption id="attachment_687375" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Corey Parsons.[/caption] MUELLER HUT TRACK According to Reddit rumours, Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant wrote 'Stairway to Heaven' after going up to the Mueller Hut. The ten-kilometre return hike starts with a gentle incline to the Sealy Tarns, where on a sufficiently bluebird day you'll be blessed with a view of Aoraki/Mount Cook. This is about your halfway point. After that, the two-hour alpine track through the tussock to get to the hut begins. The view from the Mueller Hut itself is a combination of glaciers and New Zealand's highest peaks in all directions. A stairway to heaven indeed. [caption id="attachment_687374" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Julian Apse.[/caption] ALEX KNOB TRACK Alex Knob is a track that will give your quads a baptism of fire, with about a four-hour steady climb. The Rata Lookout over what is just an absolutely glorious view of the Franz Josef Glacier will make it worth though. The track is for experienced and well-equipped trampers only, so stay below the snow line if you don't have alpine hiking experience or crampons. Don't be that guy in the news for getting seriously injured or lost in one of our national parks. Start planning your trip to New Zealand's south with our guide to the South Island journeys to take here.
It's official — Curtis Stone is bringing a slice of L.A. to Sydney with a sweet one-day pop-up of The Pie Room by Gwen. The acclaimed celebrity chef has teamed up with Cadbury Australia on a new vanilla key lime pie block, and will be hosting a day-long dessert-centred event to celebrate. Setting up in Alexandria's MECCA Cafe, the pop-up will offer free samples of the decadent new creation on Friday, May 24. Head in from 1pm to snap up your freebie, as well as a chance not only to try The Pie Room's much-celebrated key lime pie that inspired the block, but you also might even run into the Michelin-acclaimed chef himself. "I was introduced to key limes in the United States. I love their sweet and tangy taste," said Stone. "When I started making and selling my key lime pie recipe at my bakery, The Pie Room by Gwen in L.A., it quickly became a customer favourite." And it's this beloved recipe that's inspired this zesty new collaboration, which sees a smooth vanilla and lime-flavoured creme coating a chocolate biscuit piece and covered in Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate. If you can't swing by or are unable to secure yourself a bar — or slice — you won't have to wait too long before you can enjoy the new creation. The chocolate blocks will be available for purchase at Coles stores nationwide from Wednesday, May 29, priced from $6 a pop. You'll find The Pie Room by Gwen's one-day pop-up open from 1pm at MECCA Coffee, 26 Bourke Road, Alexandria, and you can secure your spot to ensure you don't miss out at the event's reservation link.
This summer, you'll have another excuse to enjoy a G&T as a heap of gin and tonic gardens pop up across the country. Taking over outdoor spaces, they'll be setting up shop not only in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, but in Canberra, on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, and in Cairns too — so whether you're eager for a drink close to home or you'll be holidaying in a sunny spot, cocktails laden with juniper spirits await. Settling into the outside areas at pubs and bars in each locale, the gardens will feature plenty of gin and tonic (obviously), as well as DIY garnish stations. The idea is that you can learn more about different botanicals, then mix, match and experiment to find your ideal G&T combination. That sounds like a task that we'd all gladly accept; however there'll be tonic pairing menus on hand should you need some pointers. At the time of writing, Sydneysiders can scratch their G&T itch at the Woolhara Hotel and the Shelbourne Hotel in the CBD, plus Newtown's Union Hotel — while Melburnians can make a date with Ciao Cucina in Port Melbourne, as well as Richmond Social, the Notting Hill Hotel and the Lower Plenty Hotel in their respective suburbs. Brisbanites can head to Covent Garden in West End, Blind Tiger in The Gap and Sandstone Point Hotel on Bribie Island; mosey down to the Goldie to the Surfers Paradise Beer Garden, the Burleigh Heads Hotel, Baskk in Coolangatta; or venture north to Circa Rooftop Bar in Maroochydore. More locations will pop up across the country over the summer, with a handy interactive map tracking new venues. The gardens are the work of Fever-Tree, so the company's tonics will be splashing in your glass. It's the outfit's latest G&T-focused venture after putting on a gin and tonic festival in Sydney back in September. Fever-Tree's Gin and Tonic Gardens are popping up around the country between now and March. To find your closest spot, visit the brand's website.
Sure, the animal heads adorning the walls of Shady Pines are pretty cool. And I like the faux Andy Warhol studio decor of the Oxford Art Factory as much as the next person. But when it comes to mind-boggling designs, wacky themes and unique going-out experiences then these ten bars are a cut above the rest. For many bar-owners, the humble "pub" is not simply a local watering hole or after work hideaway but a sanctuary for unreal creative expression and a place where your most bizarre and bewildering fantasies can become a reality. Here we present ten of the weirdest and most wonderful bars from across the globe with themes ranging from a mental asylum to under the sea and unbelievable locations such as inside a 6,000 year-old tree to a giant coffin. Check out the photos below to see what a little bit of imagination, an incredible locality and a whole lot of money can do to transform your average bar into something straight out of a Stanley-Kubrick-on-LSD dream. HR Giger Bar Where: Chur, Switzerland Designed by the manic genius that is Swiss artist H.R. Giger, Switzerland's two Giger bars are modeled on the artist's most famous creation: the nightmarish, intergalactic creatures in Ridley Scott's sci-fi masterpiece Alien. With its giant skeletal arches and torture device chairs, a trip to the Giger bars is an eerie and unnerving experience and provides customers with the distinct feeling that they have been transported into the belly of one of Giger's grotesque alien creatures. Alux Lounge Where: Playa del Carmen, Mexico If descending into the belly of the beast is not your idea of a good time then perhaps descending into a bar carved into an underground cave is more tempting. The bar is not one but a whole system of interlocking caves, with each cave playing host to a different form of nocturnal entertainment, and every room filled with an arresting array of stalactites and stalagmites that surround you on all sides. The Clinic Bar Where: Singapore As the name suggests, the Clinic Bar is a hospital-themed pub that pushes the boundaries of the imagination almost as much as it pushes the boundaries of taste. Some of the medical-themed highlights of this strange establishment include gilded wheelchair seats, hospital bed booths, operating room light fixtures and most peculiarly, drinks served in IV bags and test tubes. Red Sea Star Bar Where: Eliat, Israel While oceanic themed bars and restaurants can be found in just about every seaside town, the Red Sea Star Bar not only resembles an underwater palace but it is in fact located six metres under the Red Sea. Although it may sound camp and kitsch, the combined effect of the sand and sea urchin decor along with the panoramic views of the Red Sea's beautiful coral and sealife provides for an enchanting and fantastical experience unlike any other bar in the world. The Sunland Pub Where: Limpopo Province, South Africa The pub itself is really not much to look at. Consisting of a dusty old dart board, a collection of rusted knick-knacks and the tiniest of bar tables, the Sunland Pub resembles nothing more than a derelict family bar. Yet travelers and locals alike have been known to line up for hours at a time to get a peak of The Sunland Pub thanks to the fact that this remarkable pub is located in a giant Baobab tree. The tree is estimated at being more than 6,000 years old making it one of the world's oldest living trees. Sky Bar Where: Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok has become globally renowned for its beautiful collection of rooftop bars scattered across its sprawling metropolis. None of these bars however bare any comparison to the most famous of them all: the super-ritzy and unbelievably spectacular Sky Bar. Suspended above the city at a staggering 63 floors, the Sky Bar provides visitors with 360 degree views of the city and the majestic Chao Phraya River. Alcatraz ER Where: Tokyo, Japan The weird and wacky tastes of Japanese party-goers has meant that Tokyo has become a hotbed for some truly bizarre themed bars. One of the city's oldest and undoubtedly one of its most deranged is Alcatraz ER, which provides visitors with an experience somewhere between a One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest style mental asylum and a medieval dungeon (no, actually). Customers are locked and chained up in prison cells, while waitresses dressed as nurses serve cocktails with names like "Acute Mental Stabilizer" and men with giant syringes terrorise the unsuspecting visitors. A class act through and through. Eternity, The Coffin Bar Where: Truskavets, Ukraine On the theme of politically incorrect bars is the Ukraine's disturbing and aptly named "Eternity", which was designed to resemble a giant coffin. If the thought of drinking away your sorrows in the world's largest coffin doesn't scare you off then perhaps its equally chilling interior might, with the bar decked out with a highly tasteful collection of small coffin tables, novelty sized wreaths and cathedral-like lighting. Ice Bar Where: Stockholm, Sweden The thought of an ice cold drink in an ice cold bar has taken the world by storm with ice bars popping up in major cities all over the world (including Sydney's very own Ice Bar and Minus5). The original, however, was Stockholm's Ice Bar, in which everything from the bar stools to the glasses you drink from are made from ice harvested from Sweden's Torne River. With the bar set at a frosty -5 degrees celsius and surrounded in Stockholm's stunning winter wonderland, this bar is the perfect place to chill out and grab a couple of cold ones. NASA Pub Where: Bangalore, India With waiters and bartenders that wear spacesuits, spectacular laser shows and all exits and entries shaped like space shuttle doors it is hard not to love Bangalore's most famous novelty pub. While most of us will unfortunately never get to experience what it is like to live aboard a NASA spaceship, this remarkable bar will take you on a celestial and otherworldly experience faster than you can say "open the pod bay doors, HAL".
Fine dining institution Nel restaurant is bringing a whole lot of nostalgia back to its set menu with the relaunch of the Once Upon a Time degustation. The Disney-themed feast was first created by Executive Chef Nelly Robinson last year — and the second iteration is even more fanciful than before. Available to order from Tuesday, August 4 to Saturday, November 7, the 11-course menu features the Melted Snowman (black garlic bread with a carrot nose, black iced eyes, yoghurt and 'snow') and Roses Are Red, Beasts Are Blue (a cake served with smashed roses). There's also a Cinderella-themed pumpkin bread with dukkah oil — aka the You Shall Go To The Ball — and a Finding Nemo-themed pan-fried dory, aptly dubbed Just Keeping Swimming. Plus Eat Me cookies, served in a storybook, and the Imagination custard tarts, served on an antique clock. And if all that isn't enough, you can also opt for a drinks package, which includes paired cocktails and wines for $105 (or $50 for non-alcoholic drinks). Though the menu is inspired by your childhood, you'll need that adult salary to enjoy it, with the food menu setting you back $135. [caption id="attachment_778663" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cole Bennetts[/caption] The Once Upon a Time menu is available for dinner Tuesday–Saturday and for lunch on Saturday. Images: Cole Bennetts
Following a COVID-impacted 2020 ski season, some normalcy is beginning to return to the Snowy Mountains, with Thredbo announcing dates and extensive plans for its winter season. Last year's ski season saw ski resorts across Australia implement strict social distancing rules and limit the usual array of programs and activities usually provided to mountain-goers. Throughout the season, Thredbo opened at 50 percent capacity — with its website crashing as folks tried to get their hands on lift passes — while other resorts such as Hotham were forced to close. For 2021, Thredbo is planning to slide closer towards its usual winter routine, announcing a jam-packed season schedule full of new mountain experiences. The resort's ski season will kick off from Saturday, June 12, subject to snow conditions, and run through until October. On the slopes, a full slate of skiing and snowboarding lessons and programs will return in 2021, and a range of luxurious mountain activities have also been revealed. Those experiences start with sunrise sessions, which will grant you early morning access to watch the sunrise from Australia's highest lifted point, also include breakfast on the mountain and then let you have first ski of the day. Elsewhere, a series of dinners will see you transported to the Kareela Hutte restaurant to enjoy a four-course dinner with wine, complete with GH Mumm champagne. If you're looking for an extravagant Saturday night on the mountain, you can also take a star-lit ride in Australia's only alpine gondola, then tuck into a Bavarian-style feast in Merritts Mountain House. Thredbo's village, which is often the life of the party at the ski resort, will return with a full calendar of events after COVID-19 dampened the atmosphere in 2020. You can expect live entertainment, festivals for kids, and skiing and snowboarding events. Qantas is also starting new flight routes to the Snowy Mountains, to make travelling to the area easier. Flights directly to Cooma, about an hour out of Thredbo, will run from July 1 out of Sydney and Brisbane. The winter season opens for sale on Wednesday, March 31 — for season passes, with day pass, lesson and rental sales staggered from Tuesday, April 6 onwards — and spots are expected to be limited with the resort still responding to the current times. "We anticipate we will be operating under certain COVID-19 restrictions and expect demand to be high," said Thredbo General Manger Stuart Diver. "We encourage guests to plan their visits early, book in advance and be flexible with travel dates to avoid disappointment." Thredbo's winter ski season will return from Saturday, June 12. Find all the information on dates, pricing, experiences and accommodation via the Thredbo website.
This winter, the seaside town of Queenscliff will be anything but sleepy. Playing host to the inaugural Low Light Festival, the Victorian spot will be brought to life across a month-long feast for all of the senses. A celebration of music, food, art and culture delivered by a huge lineup of homegrown and international talent, the event takes place over four weekends, running from June 22 to July 14. And if anything's going to pull you out of hibernation and down to the beach in the heart of a frosty Melbourne winter, it's this. Teaming up with the Icelandic Dance Company, along with local groups the Lighthouse Arts Collective and Bellarine Lighthouse Films, Low Light is set to screen exclusive Aussie premieres of three exciting new films. Catch the hypnotic ÖRÆVI or Life in the Undergrowth, with music by the legendary Sigur Ros, as it's screened under the stars, or immerse yourself in Gabríela Friðriksdóttir's compelling film Des Irae. Or, enjoy the goddess tale Union of the North, a collaboration between Matthew Barney, Valdimar Jóhannsson and Erna Ómarsdóttir, Music lovers will find their festival happy place within the Queenscliff Town Hall, as it hosts a series of one-night performances from the likes of acclaimed singer-songwriter Dan Sultan, folk-pop four-piece All Our Exes Live In Texas, and American alt-country star Justin Townes Earle. A tasty program of one-off food events will also feature throughout the festival, with highlights including a Bastille Day dinner with a French musical twist, and a four-course progressive feast showcasing the region's best produce and chefs. And you'll get even more of a taste for this charming corner of the world with a series of local art exhibitions, creative workshops, gin and whisky tastings, and heritage walks. Queenscliff is located about a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, or you can catch the ferry across from Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula. Low Light events feature Friday through Sunday across each week of the festival — perfect for a day trip or that winter weekend getaway.
