With both the Indie Beer Showcase and Good Beer Week sadly axed from our calendars this year, organisers have headed online to host a series of virtual beer events instead. And these ones you can enjoy anywhere, any time — heck, even pants-free, if you fancy. Streamed via the Independent Brewers Association YouTube channel, each of these online tasting parties celebrates a different Aussie craft brewery, led by a brewer or key member of the team. They'll chat about a few signature beers, discuss what goes into making them, give an insight into the world of brewing and maybe even offer a sneak-peek at some future releases. The Good Beer Week Facebook page gives a heads-up as to who'll be hitting screens next, so you can stock up in advance at the bottle shop or get that beer delivery sorted. The live stream schedule is fairly loose, though videos are mostly run during prime drinking times like after work on Fridays and Saturday afternoons. That said, the sessions are all kept up on YouTube so you can revisit later at your leisure — tune in any time you're in the mood for a tipple and some beer talk. Image: Simon Shiff
If you've ever whiled away your evening hours watching MasterChef while enviously eating a two-ingredient pesto pasta for dinner, we have some good news for you: Jacob's Creek is setting up its pop-up kitchen again, and it's aimed precisely at those who want to refine their chef skills a little — i.e., you. Plus, this time, Kitchen Collective will take place at Bennelong Lawn in the Royal Botanic Garden, meaning sweeping harbour and city views. For the Kitchen Collective, Huxtaburger chef Daniel Wilson (a past judge on MasterChef Australia) and Rocker's Stuart Toon (a former MasterChef UK contestant) will guide attendees through a two-course cooking demonstration. Diners will learn from Wilson and Toon and then take part in a little friendly competition as they recreate one entree and one dessert in teams. While there will be prizes up for grabs, there won't be any eliminations (and hopefully no tears, either). To take a little of the pressure away, Wilson and Toon will take care of your main course and Jacob's Creek Barossa Signature wines will be matched to each course. Wine experts Kristy Farrel and Katherine Candy will be present to chat through each free-flowing drop and share the secrets to food and wine pairing. As well as helping you hone your top chef skills, the pop-up will also contribute to an even greater good: 100 percent of profits are being donated to SecondBite, a charity that provides food and support for the needy. Jacob's Creek Kitchen Collective will take place between Tuesday, July 16 and Sunday, August 4. Daytime sessions will run from 12pm–4pm every Thursday to Sunday, and the nighttime experience will run from 6pm–10pm every Tuesday to Sunday. Only 16 seats are available for each session, so move quickly and nab your spot here. Image: Kai Leishman.
What do one of 2022's huge box-office behemoths and one of 2023's most-anticipated movies have in common? In Avatar: The Way of Water and the new live-action The Little Mermaid alike, darling it's better down where it's wetter. Come May, the Mouse House's latest remake of its beloved animated hits (see also: Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, Lady and the Tramp, Mulan, Pinocchio) will get Halle Bailey (Grown-ish) slipping into Ariel's scales and tail, and take a dip into the story of a mermaid pining for a different life. While it was busy dropping Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny trailers during the Super Bowl, Disney has just unveiled the latest sneak peek at the new The Little Mermaid — and, like the first glimpse in 2022, it's going big on look and feel. Given that viewers already know and adore the first flick, the trailers for the latest movie don't need to dive too far into the narrative, although the just-released second glance does bring a pivotal figure into the mix. [caption id="attachment_868655" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] Fans of the original 1989 movie, aka everyone given how popular The Little Mermaid-themed events have proven over the years — such as screenings with live orchestral scores and cocktail experiences at aquariums — are well aware that Ariel dreams of being human, and is willing to make a deal with a sea witch to see her wishes come true. That involves a trade, though: giving up her voice to get legs in return, which'll allow her to live above the water. Accordingly, as well as Bailey as Ariel, this new version of The Little Mermaid features Jonah Hauer-King (The Flatshare) as Eric, the human prince that Ariel falls for; Javier Bardem (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) as King Triton, Ariel's protective father; and Melissa McCarthy (Nine Perfect Strangers) as Ursula, said sea witch — who pops up at the end of the new glimpse. Also among the cast, on voice duties: Daveed Diggs (Snowpiercer) as Sebastian the crab, Jacob Tremblay (Doctor Sleep) as Flounder and Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) as Scuttle. Based on the two trailers so far, this take on The Little Mermaid from filmmaker Rob Marshall (Chicago, Nine, Into the Woods and Mary Poppins Returns) and not Sofia Coppola promises vivid underwater realms, glowing light shining down from above, mermaid dances, bright coral, friendly fish and floating jellyfish — and the flick's star singing 'Part of Your World'. As for the tunes, they come courtesy of Alan Menken — returning from the original movie, as do all those old songs — and upcoming Australia visitor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Check out the new teaser trailer for The Little Mermaid below: The Little Mermaid will release in cinemas Down Under on May 25, 2023.
Have you heard? Legendary pop and dance icons Charli XCX, Duke Dumont, Cosmo's Midnight and Sonny Fodera are taking to the stage with other stellar artists across four stunning waterside locations for the 2023 run of For The Love. On Sunday, February 26, stars from here and abroad will be taking over Wollongong's Thomas Dalton Park for one massive day and night of good-time vibes — with The Gong's glistening stretch of coastline as your backdrop, you'll be dancing to hits and sending out your summer on a high. The 2023 lineup is stacked. The team at Untitled Group — the same minds behind Beyond the Valley and Pitch Music & Arts — have gathered an incredibly strong list of acts to keep the energy high while FTL delivers its signature elevated experience (complete with stand-out fashion and lifestyle elements). Expect Snakehips, Budjerah and KYE, as well as Sumner and Jade Zoe, to make appearances. And while you can experience all of this as a regular punter, For The Love's VIP tickets make it that much better. Enjoy a private bar (avoiding longer lines elsewhere — huge win), upgraded amenities and access to the coveted VIP deck (for uninterrupted views of the stage) and the double-storey VIP fashion lounge (where you'll mingle with FTL's fun-loving ambassadors and social personalities). Is is, by far, the best way to experience this red-hot lineup, which is why Concrete Playground Trips has teamed up with For The Love to create an epic VIP travel package. First off, we're putting guests up in the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach for two nights — just a short drive from the For The Love venue. In each room? Grey Goose Vodka Essences (to start your pre-drinking the right way) and Tend-2 Hangover Relief (the 100% organic pills that will save you a bit of pain the next day). The much-anticipated event is an exceptional way to send off summer — set your reminders now, legends. The VIP For The Love Wollongong package is exclusive to Concrete Playground Trips. To book your curated experience, head to the website.
To the joy of folks who love ice cream but don't consume animal products, tucking into a creamy frozen dessert that's 100-percent vegan is much easier than it used to be. You'll find vegan Magnums, Cornettos and Weiss Bars in your supermarket freezer, vegan choc tops at Event Cinemas in Sydney and Brisbane, vegan ice cream sandwiches at Lord of the Fries around the country, and a selection of vegan sorbets at Gelato Messina — and now you'll find a new vegan lineup at gelato chain Gelatissimo as well. Gelatissimo already has its own vegan sorbet range, spanning flavours such as green apple, lemon, mango, passionfruit, raspberry, strawberry and coconut. Now, it's also scooping up dairy-free gelato. As part of the new selection, two varieties are on offer at present, with a third still to come — and they're the first in the chain's ongoing commitment to providing flavours for all dietary preferences. If you like your frosty desserts with a dash of decadence, you're in luck, with caramel mudcake and triple chocolate flavours on the menu. When you're licking your way through a cup or cone of caramel mudcake vegan gelato, you'll be enjoying vegan caramel gelato combined with caramelised sugar, as well as chunks of vegan caramel mudcake. As for the vegan triple chocolate gelato, it blends West African cocoa, vegan dark chocolate morsels and vegan chocolate sauce, then dusts the whole thing with cocoa powder. Available until Thursday, April 2 — or until stocks last — in all Australian stores, both dairy-free flavours use coconut and soy milk. Just what the third vegan gelato flavour will be, or when it'll be available, hasn't been revealed as yet. Gelatissimo's new vegan range is available from all stores nationwide until Thursday, April 2 — or until stocks last. If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
Australia has scored some pretty high-quality ice creams this summer. First, Peters and Messina teamed up for a limited-edition run of gourmet drumsticks. Now, Streets is getting onboard. It has just dropped a whole heap of vegan ice creams — and all its most-popular brands are involved. Vegan Magnums, Cornettos and Weis Bars, as well as four new dairy-free Ben & Jerry's tubs, have hit the freezer-aisle shelves in supermarkets and convenience stores nationally. The Magnums, available in either dairy-free Classic or Almond, are made using pea protein, which sounds kind of strange, but we're certainly willing to give them a crack. They're $4 each or $7 for a three. The Cornetto can be found exclusively at Woolworths and is made using soy ice cream, hazelnuts and vegan chocolate. They're $9 for a four-pack, but are currently on sale for $6 — so now's the time to try. Dairy-free Weis Bars comes in raspberry and coconut and will set you back $3.20 a pop (or $6.80 for four) while Ben & Jerry's new almond-milk based flavours ($12 for a pint — that's about 475ml) feature fudge brownie, cinnamon buns, peanut butter and cookies and something called the Coconut Seven Layer Bar, which is filled with fudge chunks, walnuts and swirls of graham cracker and caramel. Check out the vegan Almond Magnum and Cornetto in all their dairy-free glory: If you're a Halo Top fan, you'll be happy to know that Ben & Jerry's has also dropped a line of low-cal tubs — chocolate cookies, caramel cookie and peanut butter cookie dough — which clock in at 150–160 cals a pop for 115ml. They're also $12 each and can be found at Coles, petrol stations and convenience stores nationally. There's no word on how long these dairy-free delights are going to hang around for (we're hoping they're in for the long haul) but just in case — run, don't walk. Vegan Magnums, Weis Bars and new Ben & Jerry's tubs can now be found at supermarkets and convenience stores around the country. The Vegan Cornetto is available at Woolworths only.
House of Pocket — the group behind Stitch, Kasippu and Pocket Bar – is making a return to the classics, and you're invited along for the ride. You can now take your pick of one of 30 golden age cocktails for just $18 a pop. On the list you'll find the Hemingway Daquiri (rum, maraschino, grapefruit, lime), the Mint Julep (bourbon, mint, syrup), the Bees Knees (gin, honey, lemon) and another 27 concoctions that all cocktail drinkers should know. If you haven't tried them all yet, this is an excellent opportunity to give some a go. On top of celebrating the great mixology tradition, the House of Pocket folks are keen to make going out more affordable – any night of the week. "It would be great if pollies could level the playing field and give cocktail drinkers the same tax relief they gave beer drinkers," said owner Karl Schlothauer. You'll find Stitch, which takes inspiration from the back streets of New York City, behind a tailor's shop front on York Street, while Kasippu brings a warm atmosphere and delicious Sri Lankan curries to Kent Street. Pocket Bar is by the waves in Terrigal on the Central Coast. All 30 cocktails are available at all three venues.
Calling all Baby Yoda fans: the cutest little Jedi in a galaxy far, far away will be back on your screens come autumn. After streaming its second season back in 2020, The Mandalorian has been absent for a couple of years — and its adorable Grogu with it — but that'll finally change come Wednesday, March 1. As part of a spate of big announcements at Brazil Comic Con, including dropping trailers for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Disney has revealed the pivotal news that Star Wars devotees have been waiting for. With Andor wrapping up its first season, Disney+ viewers currently have a gap in their streaming schedules, but only for a couple of months. If you've somehow missed it before now, the Emmy-nominated show follows the titular bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent); however, it's his encounter with a fuzzy little creature first known as The Child, affectionately named Baby Yoda by everyone watching, and officially called Grogu, that's always had everyone talking. So, it comes as zero surprise that one of the Star Wars universe's best-ever double acts keeps being pushed into the spotlight — including when The Mandalorian dropped its first season-three trailer a few months back. That sneak peek confirmed Din Djarin and Grogu's big reunion, picking up where The Book of Boba Fett left off. But the events of the pair's past streaming adventures have consequences, including seeing The Mandalorian disowned by his fellow Mandalorians. It wouldn't be a Star Wars series if everyone got along — the 'wars' part is right there in the franchise name, after all. Accordingly, the first teaser nods to the obligatory battles, as well as the fallout when its namesake doesn't actually have that title any more. Oh, and plenty of Grogu, naturally. The Mandalorian and Grogu return March 1 only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/h0NrVMIT4V — The Mandalorian (@themandalorian) December 1, 2022 Yes, the Star Wars universe certainly does sprawl far and wide these days, both within its tales and in its many different movies, shows, books and games. When this one first arrived in 2019, it started its story five years after Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi. Also on offer across its run so far: a cast that's included everyone from Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), Carl Weathers (Toy Story 4), Taika Waititi and iconic filmmaker Werner Herzog through to Timothy Olyphant (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), Rosario Dawson (DMZ), Katee Sackhoff (Another Life) and Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett. Check out the first trailer for The Mandalorian season three below: The Mandalorian's third season will hit Disney+ on Wednesday, March 1. Images: ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Hosting a series of events and workshops throughout the month of September, The Wardrobe pop-up at Castle Towers will see industry leaders showing you tips and tricks on how to up your style game. Kicking off on Wednesday, August 23, events cover off a wide range of skills and interests, from fashion photography and illustration to cosmetic design to how to add some statement pieces to your wardrobe. While stylists will offer insight into the latest trends, professional makeup artists will hold 20-minute consultations on the benefits of natural cosmetics, properly matching your foundation to your skin tone and how to care for your skin during the warmer months. Instagram influencers will host sessions on flat-lay photography, The Lip Lab will teach you how to blend your very own shade of lipstick and Birdsall Leather will be on hand every day to monogram and personalise your leather pieces. With all these workshops on, we've happened to secure a double pass to Cult of Scent's DIY fragrance workshop to giveaway. At the workshop, you'll be able to craft and bottle your very own scent, tailored to you. What's more, we also have a $100 gift card to Castle Towers to give you as well, which you can redeem at any shop in the centre, including Aesop, David Jones, T2 and General Pants Co. Sound like your cup o' tea? Enter your details below for a chance to win. [competition]633489[/competition]
That feeling you get when a decades-old band either reforms its classic lineup and hits the road, or tours your way with a huge history behind them, kickstarting all those nostalgic old memories? If you're blink-182 fan, you'll know the right words for that: well I guess this is growing up. Actually, if you're a blink-182 fan, you'll be feeling all of the above right now. The group's best-known lineup is indeed back together, with Tom DeLonge rejoining Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker to play together for the first time in nearly a decade. They're heading around the world on a massive tour, and yes, as part of that, they're coming to Australia and New Zealand. 'Coming' is the theme of the announcement video the band put together to reveal the news — so if you're already wondering "what's my age again?", there's another reason for that train of thought. In much of the world everybody will like seeing blink-182 live again in 2023; however, Down Under, that'll happen in February 2024. DeLonge, Hoppus and Barker — with Rise Against in support — will start their Australian run in Perth, then head to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. In NZ, they're playing two shows: Auckland and Christchurch. For three decades, blink-182 have been the voice inside punk and rock fans' heads, especially in the late 90s and early 00s thanks to albums Enema of the State and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. Now that they're back together after DeLonge left the band in 2015, blink-182 are also recording new music together, with single 'Edging' releasing on Friday, October 14. Expect to hear everything from 'Dammit', 'Josie' and 'What's My Age Again?' to 'All the Small Things' and 'I Miss You' live, though — and yes, the latter feels oh-so-apt right now. BLINK-182 2024 AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR: Friday, February 9 — RAC Arena, Perth Sunday, February 11 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Tuesday, February 13 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Friday, February 16 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Monday, February 19 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, February 23 — Spark Arena, Auckland Monday, February 26 — Christchurch Arena, Christchurch Blink-182 will tour Australia and New Zealand in February 2024. Blink-182 fan club pre-sales start at 12pm on Thursday, October 13, with Live Nation and Spotify pre-sales from 1pm on Wednesday, October 19 — and general sales from 1pm on Thursday, October 20 (all local time). For more information, head to the Live Nation website. Top image: Jack Bridgland.
Considering the Soda Factory's famed Tuesday Dollar Dawgs, you might already be engaged in your own personal weekly hot dog eating competition. But now everybody's favourite secret bar is taking the ritual public, and they're taking it professional. Their inaugural Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 23 will pit the mightiest scoffers and speediest peristalsis practitioners head to head in a tournament as old as time (or at least 1916). Five limited edition gourmet hot dogs will be available for eaters competitive and recreational, as well as the usual Wednesday deals of $10 buckets of fried chicken and $1 hot wings. The comp will be hosted by Colonel Mustard, and if you're the last glutton standing, you'll bag a $250 dinner and drinks tab. Second and third place-getters will also get a little something. To enter or spectate, register at competitions@sodafactory.com.au with your full name or chosen fighting alias (or just sign up at the venue on the night). There'll be separate heats for men and woman, and entry is free. Potentially, it will be the largest free meal you've ever had. The inaugural Soda Factory contest coincides with the USA's 'National Hot Dog Day', though that seems entirely unnecessary. Who needs more reason to stuff their face with snags?
As part of Sydney Design, the Powerhouse Museum is keeping its doors open late for one night only in August. In line with this year's festival theme of 'design futures', there’s a range of technologically enticing activities guaranteed to shake up your usual Thursday night routine. You can check out the Interface: People, Machines, Design exhibition, interact with light installation Orkhestra and experience museum objects in augmented reality using your Android phone. There’s live performance art by and 3D printing demos. If you feel like it, you can even get your head 3D scanned and printed (that’s this year’s Christmas card sorted!). Should you need a break from all the fancy futuristic tech stuff on offer, Eat Art Truck and a cash bar will be providing on-site sustenance. Plus, you can munch on Black Star Pastry’s special festival-themed cake while listening to Future Classic DJs churn out some tunes.
Sydney will play host to the best bartenders in the world next year, when the 11th annual Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final heads Down Under. If you haven't heard of it, the competition pits the best bartenders from over 60 countries against each other. Apart from the main tournament, the competition includes a week-long festival of pop-ups, collaborations and tastings. So, while nothing has been announced just yet, expect Sydney to be buzzing with exciting one-off events come next spring. Launched in 2009, the competition boasts some notable local winners, including Bulletin Place's Tim Philips-Johansson (2012) and, most recently, Lûmé's Orlando Marzo (2018). This year's World Class, held in Glasgow, featured another Aussie finalist: Alex Boon — the lauded bar manager at the Melbourne instalment of The Speakeasy Group's famed Viking-inspired restaurant Mjolner. Bannie Kang of Singapore bar Antidote took out the top gong for 2019. [caption id="attachment_721694" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bulletin Place by Cesar Echeverri[/caption] The competition comes to Sydney at an exciting time, too, with Sydney's lockout laws set to be scrapped in the CBD early next year and the City of Sydney planning to introduce 24-hour trading in the area. The CBD is also home to an exciting lineup of new bars — including Maybe Sammy, Employees Only, Prince of York, Cantina OK! and Double Deuce Lounge — which have all opened in the last twelve months, and join world-class stalwarts like Bulletin Place, The Baxter Inn, The Lobo Plantation and PS40. The 11th annual Diego World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final will take place in Sydney in 2020. For more information and to stay up to date, head to the website. Top image: World Class 2018 winners, Orlando Marzo and Alex Boon.
Just when you thought IKEA had ruined enough relationships with its 'easy-to-follow' 'three-step' 'anyone-can-do-it' DIY furniture, they're now giving punters the opportunity to do it all again over dinner. The Swedish company will next week launch The Dining Club, a pop-up 'DIY' restaurant on London's Shoreditch High Street. If you're thinking a 'DIY restaurant' sounds a little suss — it is. It's like a restaurant in that there will be tables, chairs and food, but less like one in that you have to cook the meal yourself. There will be a sous chef and maître de on-hand to help out though. The whole thing is meant to allow punters to have "an intimate foodie experience in a homely kitchen environment", according to a statement on IKEA's website. Sittings will run for brunch, lunch and dinner, and will feature "a range of modern sharing dishes, including some Scandinavian classics" — which we'll take to mean meatballs will totally be on the menu. The whole experience — including the food, drinks and service — is free of charge but there's only 38 up for grabs in a ballot-like system. Hopeful hosts can register their interest (which includes dreaming up a creative answer to 'who would you invite?') and, if selected by the IKEA gods, can bring along 7-19 friends. Earlier this year IKEA announced it will finally launch an online store for Australian customers — so who knows, maybe a pop-up kitchen will be coming our way too? The Dining Club will run from September 10-25 at 3-10 Shoreditch High Street, London. If you're in London, you can register your interest for a booking at ikeathediningclub.com. Image: Jay Wennington.
Need some encouragement to do something other than destroy brain cells this weekend? Take a look at this handy infographic, which suggests that Facebook's Ultimate IQ Test might have been lying to us all along. Unbelievable, I know! Apparently only 2.5% of the people really do fall into the "very superior intelligence" bracket, possessing an IQ of 130 or more, while only 0.5% of the population are sitting comfortably within the "genius" category with IQs of 140 or over. There's still plenty of room for the argument that it's accomplishments rather than IQ that make one smart. Take for instance theoretical physicist and decoder of the universe Steven Hawking who, as it turns out, has an IQ of only 160. Ha! That puts him 20 whole smart points behind James Woods, who dropped out of college to appear in Family Guy and voice Mike Toreno in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (though granted he also won three Emmy Awards and gained two Academy Award nominations). One of the even more genius geniuses is television writer Rick Rosner, who changed his name to stay in high school into his 20s. Rosner has an IQ of 192. Some dudes you may or may not have heard of have IQs well over the 200 mark, though I will leave the job of revealing details up to the chart because it's actually scary to talk about. Tthough not as scary as this list of 10 Supersmart Musicians put together by Time Entertainment, which reveals that Dexter Holland from The Offspring used to be a molecular biologist who went by the name of Brian Keith Holland. via Buzzpatrol
With so many fantastic places to visit around the world, it's often hard to decide where to possibly go. A covetable experience wherever you go, is to see something so breathtakingly beautiful, it almost feels surreal. As hard as you may try, no description is quite adequate and you lock this memory away for times when you desire a happy moment and can revel in the images in your mind. With so many websites and travel books available today, it's hard to know where to start looking or whose opinion to take as gospel. We listen to total strangers on TripAdvisor, Thorn Tree and Expedia, look at friend's photos on Facebook (with smart phones we can see it at almost the same time they do), use the good old Lonely Planet, or go for guides that are catered to the stylish individual, like Wallpaper. There is one authority that doesn't follow the fashion or try to sell you heavy tomes. The very first authority on beauty and travel I ever heard about, when I was still a litte'un at school, and the ultimate title to wear - the Miss World of destinations if you will - is the Seven Wonders of the World, or the New7Wonders as it's called on the web. The process of creating the most recent list has been going on since 2007, during which time anyone could suggest sites they thought were natural wonders. Then the choices were voted on, and more than a million were tallied to cut the list of more than 440 contenders in over 220 countries to a shortlist of 77. It was then cut to 28 by a panel of experts. The provisional list of the final seven is below. Check them out and dream of holidays until the final results are announced early in 2012. Halong Bay, Vietnam Iguazu Falls, Argentina Jeju Island, South Korea Komodo, Indonesia Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines The Amazon rainforest Table Mountain, South Africa
Featuring fantastical set designs by Andrew Grenfell, Wonderland presents a realistic deterioration of a relationship set against the backdrop of a fantasy world. After its debut in Canberra, Wonderland comes to Sydney at the Seymour Centre to tell the story of a young lovers Lucy and Max as they direct blame at each other over the failings of their relationship. Presented by Lexx Productions, Wonderland is an intersection of theatre and art that creates a vivid setting akin to the Wonderland of Alice's story. The set represents the monster within the characters as they discover that there are no fairytales in the real world — particularly when it comes to relationships. Wonderland is written by Alexandra Howard, who also plays Lucy opposite Samuel Doyle as Max.
Now a decade and a half in — and 28 films, too, plus seven new TV series that've hit queues in the last 18 months — the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an ever-expanding pop-culture behemoth. Sometimes it can be spectacular, as with Black Panther and Thor: Ragnarok. Sometimes it's dispiritingly routine, as seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The MCU keeps shining bright popularity-wise, though, so much so that it's now telling its own tales about how it's so popular. In Ms Marvel, it even focuses on a Marvel superfan, heads to a Marvel fan convention and revels in worshipping at its own altar. Yes, we've reached the point in the biggest current franchise there is where the MCU is overtly and openly celebrating itself within its own on-screen stories — and celebrating the people who celebrate the MCU. Here, Marvel also shows its characters frothing over the very saga they're appearing in, homemade costumes whipped up for cosplay contests and all. That sounds like something out of the supremely non-Marvel superhero satire The Boys, but it's now an IRL status quo. And yet, with new streaming series Ms Marvel — which started its six-episode run on Disney+ on Wednesday, June 8 — all this Marvel self-fandom thankfully doesn't just feel like a massive corporation patting itself on the back in an expensive splash of self-congratulations. One of the reasons that Ms Marvel works: it's a series about a Marvel devotee because it's a coming-of-age series. Today's teens have grown up with the MCU, so a show about a 16-year-old finding her place in the world — with and without powers — can easily acknowledge that fact. The comic-book company isn't being meta or reflective. Rather, as non-Marvel fellow Disney+ release Turning Red was, Ms Marvel is about a teenage girl working out who she is and what she wants to be, and also how that process is shaped by what she loves. Pakistani American Kamala Khan (debutant Iman Vellani) happens to be obsessed with Marvel, and with Captain Marvel (Brie Larson, Just Mercy). Ms Marvel's first two episodes largely set the scene, establishing the MCU's second new-to-screens character in as many Disney+ programs after Moon Knight. Kamala lives in Jersey City with her parents Yusuf (Mohan Kapur, Bullets) and Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff, The Affair) — one friendly, the other strict — plus her elder brother Aamir (Saagar Shaikh, Unfair & Ugly). As well as palling around with her mates Bruno (Matt Lintz, The Walking Dead) and Nakia (Yasmeen Fletcher, Let Us In), often while talking about the Avengers, Kamala makes stop-motion videos fuelled by her Marvel mania. She also wants to do more than her mother allows, such as attending an Avengers convention dressed up as her hero, which Muneeba deems inappropriate. Deepening this tale about a teen desperate to follow her heart — a story that's hardly unique — is how wonderfully culturally specific Ms Marvel proves. The titular character is Marvel's first Muslim superhero, and this TV series embraces Kamala's heritage, as well as the stresses that come with being the American-born child of immigrant parents who want her to take advantage of their adopted home while remaining steadfastly true to their culture. Yes, Bend It Like Beckham did something similar first, just with soccer in Britain rather than superhero devotion in the US. That doesn't make Ms Marvel any less astute and affecting, however, including when it examines Kamala's layered relationship with her family and their expectations, and balancing caped-crusader fandom with tradition, religion and Pakistani pop culture. Of course, if Kamala's on-screen debut was only about a Marvel-loving high schooler with recognisable adolescent woes — even welcomely culturally apt ones — it wouldn't exist. Amid the yearning and rebellion, and just being a Pakistani American teen, arrives superpowers that are a literal dream come true for such a MCU stan. But Kamala doesn't know why she can suddenly create floating energy fields, shooting them a bit like Spider-Man slings webs, or where her abilities stem from. While that setup isn't unique either, creator and head writer Bisha K Ali (Loki, Four Weddings and a Funeral) ties Kamala's tussle with her new skills to everything that makes her who she is. The broader embrace and exploration of her culture doesn't subside; indeed, thanks to family whisperings about the perils of indulging in fantasies, her heritage might be linked to her future path. The MCU has spun coming-of-age tales before, with not one, not two, but three Tom Holland-starring Spider-Man movies within the franchise. There's a touch of the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to Ms Marvel, though, in its infectiously joyous vibe. If the series wasn't as sincere as it is — and as charming, warm and fun as well — it could've easily felt too calculating. Marvel does like to try other genres on for size, often moulding them to fit the house style, and Ms Marvel might've done the same with teen dreams and high-school hijinks. Indeed, it still may have played out that way if its lead casting wasn't so spot-on. Surprisingly given how much of a natural she is in front of the camera, and in the role, Vellani is an on-screen newcomer — and an utter delight. Just as the unrelated Conversations with Friends benefited from casting a new talent without any past credits, Ms Marvel is all the better for having its lead come to the part without any film and TV baggage. But being a fresh face navigating such a sprawling realm isn't why Vellani is so engaging. She's at home selling the show's comedy and drama alike, and its diehard Marvel devotion and adolescent angst as well, and making it all feel as lived in and genuine as the MCU has ever managed. That this miniseries is a lead up to 2023 big-screen release The Marvels, where Vellani will return as Kamala, is gloriously great news as a result. It'll team her up with Larson as Carol Danvers, plus WandaVision's Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau — and, if Ms Marvel is any indication, it's hopefully poised to be much better than the lacklustre Captain Marvel. Check out the trailer for Ms Marvel below: Ms Marvel streams via Disney+ from Wednesday, June 8, with episodes dropping weekly. Images: ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
First, the bad news for Marvel Cinematic Universe fans: the reports about the big- and small-screen franchise starting to space out its output are coming to fruition with its next big streaming series Echo. Now, the good news: the five-part miniseries just released its first trailer, and promises rage, darkness, focusing on a superhero who is deaf, bringing back Kingpin and also dropping its entire season at once come January. Echo was previously locked in for a November release, as one of two MCU shows due to stream this spring. While the first series on that list, the second season of Loki, did indeed arrive as planned, Echo has now been pushed to 2024. Hopefully good things will come to those who wait, with this Hawkeye spinoff slated for Wednesday, January 10. While Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is at Echo's centre — as first seen in Hawkeye, she's the gang leader who is deaf that had Clint Barton in her sights for a stint of revenge — the show's debut trailer gives narrating duties to Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio, Dumb Money) to set a brooding tone. "You have so much pain in you, so much rage, that you can't contain it," says the character also seen in Hawkeye, and before that in Daredevil as well. "You and I are the same," Kingpin continues amid sound design that lives up to the show's moniker. When all five instalments of Echo hit at once, the series will enjoy a first for the MCU on streaming. As viewers who've been watching along since WandaVision's small-screen arrival know, Disney+ usually drops a few episodes at once for each MCU entry, then unfurls the rest weekly afterwards ‚ but this one will arrive all at once on the same day. Story-wise, Echo follows Maya as Kingpin's criminal empire chases her down — and as the initial sneak peek illustrates, that ties in with her past. So, yes, this is an origin story. Also featuring alongside Cox and D'Onofrio: Chaske Spencer (The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Run Woman Run), Graham Greene (The Last of Us) and Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds). Check out the trailer for Echo below: Echo will stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Images: Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.
Sit down for a drink at Amsterdam's Vesper, and your cocktail just might contain more than just alcohol, garnish, ice and mixers. As part of a waste-reducing initiative called Trash the Place!, the Dutch bar is recycling all food-related items that it can, finding imaginative ways to use them, and throwing it all in their beverages. "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is the fitting line of thinking behind it, which sees Vesper's bartenders recovering and re-using food offcuts that were otherwise destined for the garbage pile, particularly where fruit is involved. As the bar's Julian Bayuni told MUNCHIES, "for example, we use strawberries to make our own strawberry Campari.. [then] we filter the fruit out of the Campari and mix it with some mango, fresh tomato, cilantro, and onion to make a fermented salsa, which we serve with our tortilla chips." While operating in a more sustainable fashion is an ongoing focus, Vesper are specifically showcasing their creative, environmentally conscious concoctions until the end of September, with not only their staff getting in on the task, but guest bartenders from other Amsterdam establishments as well. In an industry that creates as much waste as hospitality, it's an inventive and inspiring step — and joins the likes of fellow Dutch venue De Fruithaven, who run on power generated by food waste, plus New Zealand-based vodka company 42BELOW, who've been turning leftover bar garnishes into hand soap. Via MUNCHIES. Image: Vesper.
Two months ago, Australia and New Zealand finally introduced the trans-Tasman bubble, which allows folks from either country to travel across the ditch without needing to go into quarantine upon arrival. During that time, the arrangement has been suspended on several occasions on a state-by-state basis — including during Victoria's recent lockdown, and in response to New South Wales' current outbreak — and now, with COVID-19 cases growing across Australia, NZ has put a pause on the bubble nationwide. Announced on Saturday, June 26 and in effect until at least 11.59pm NZ time (9.59pm AEST) on Tuesday, June 29, the suspension applies to quarantine-free travel from all Aussie states and territories. The initial timeframe will span 72 hours, which is NZ's usual first step. Whether it extends that period or not will obviously depend on coronavirus case numbers. "There are now multiple cases and outbreaks in Australia in differing stages of containment and the health risk for New Zealand in response to these cases is increasing," said NZ COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins in a statement. "As a result, the Government has taken the precautionary step of temporarily widening the current pause with New South Wales to include all of Australia." https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1408712957630902282 When NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the two-way bubble between Australia and New Zealand back in April, she noted that it could and would be paused if and when outbreaks occur — so none of the suspensions so far, including this one, are surprising. The NZ Government advised that this current pause will not only give it "time to get a better understanding of the developing situation," but will also enable it "to consider the potential implementation of a range of measures to make the bubble safer, such as the introduction of pre-departure testing for all flights from Australia to New Zealand." At the moment, Sydney's Bondi cluster keeps growing, with 112 locally acquired cases reported as at 8pm on Saturday, June 26. The Greater Sydney area is currently in a two-week lockdown, while positive cases — some linked, some not — have also been reported in Queensland, Victoria, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Whether you're an Australian on holiday in NZ or a New Zealander who has recently returned from across the ditch, anyone now in NZ who has been in Australia since Friday, June 21 is asked to monitor their health, and keep an eye on the exposure sites lists in various Australian states — such as NSW, Victoria, Queensland, the NT and WA. You're also requested to contact NZ's Healthline if you experience any symptoms. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
Enjoy the energetic rhythms of Latin American's cumbia dance tradition at Hyde Park with a 15-piece orchestra of musicians hailing from Colombia and Australia. Cumbia is like salsa but from Colombia, and Colombian singers Angela Rosero and Alfonso Mosquera will bring their soulful voices to the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, mixing Central American reggae with dancehall elements of pure Latino cumbia. The band's horn section and percussionists will raise the roof with their infectious rhythms, transporting the audience to Latin America for one-night during Sydney Festival. Bring on the Shakira-style hip shaking.
If your state was just weeks away from legalising marijuana for recreational use, what plans would you be hatching? Well, one Californian winery has gone and created the world's first commercially available marijuana-infused sauvignon blanc. The winemakers at Rebel Coast Winery — who produce Californian blends and Sonoma chardonnay — have invented a wine that's infused with THC, the psychoactive element of cannabis. It's all ready to start shipping within California on January 1, 2018, which is when recreational marijuana becomes legal across the state. Infusing wine with cannabis is no new thing, but this is the first time is will be sold by official means. There is a difference though: THC and alcohol can't legally be mixed, so the winemakers have switched out the wine's booze content for 16 milligrams of THC per bottle. Apparently it "smells like weed, tastes like wine" and won't haunt you with a hangover the next day. And the high? As Rebel Coast explains on its website, "after one glass you won't be thinking your couch is a hippo with short legs or anything. Our goal is not to kill you after you've had a few glasses. The goal is to get giggly and naked with someone." Obviously recreational use of cannabis is not legal in Australia or New Zealand, so this sav blanc isn't either. However, both countries have recently legalised the consumption and sale of low-THC hemp food products.
Look up at night and you'll see them: tiny, shimmering, human constellations, creeping their way up, over and down the Harbour Bridge like caterpillars of light. This is The Vivid Climb, and for the next few weeks, you're invited to be a part of it. Operating since 1998, BridgeClimb Sydney has seen over 3 million people traverse the bridge's southern half. Standing 134m tall and running 1,149m in total, the bridge has a silhouette that perhaps only Uluru and the Opera House can rival as the internationally recognised symbol for Australia. It can be driven on, walked across, flown over and sailed beneath; however, the truly memorable experience is reserved for the climbers. Under normal conditions, a Bridge Climb is already an extraordinary and rewarding activity, even for lifetime residents of Sydney. Short of flying in over the harbour, there's no other opportunity to see the city in all 360 degrees from such a centrally elevated point. By day, it is – predictably – a sparkling showcase of the Emerald City's crowning glory, but by night, as the blue waters blacken beneath the autumn sky, the harbour's foreshore comes alive with the lights of the annual Vivid Festival, and the view from up top is, quite simply, unsurpassed. There's also something special thrown in this year: a sensory cherry on top of the steel cake that pays special tribute to the Bridge's most charming sobriquet. Since its opening in 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge has gone by many names — the Coathanger, the Iron Lung, the House of Flying Traffic Jams — yet its importance as a roadway and its iconic value have earned it one other enduring and beloved moniker: 'The Heart of the City'. Now, as part of VIVID, you can perch yourself at its peak, afix a heart-rate monitor to your pinky and project your heart beat to the city with an aural and visual experience directed entirely by your bloodflow. Who's the audience? Everyone. Truly. The Bridge Climb is an experience open to a far wider demographic than you might expect. Neither age nor disabilities are considered meaningful hindrances for anyone wishing to partake, and its combination of pre-climb training, extensive safety measures, reassuring guides and imperceptibly small inclines makes it more than palatable for even those uncomfortable with heights. In truth, probably the most pressing concern for many would simply be passing the breathalyser exam at the start of the tour. As the saying goes: if you drink and climb, you're a bloody idiot. Or a backpacker.
People worldwide seem to fear Australian wildlife. And we get it — most of what the internet sees is venomous snakes slithering into boots and dinner plate-sized huntsmans. In reality, Australia is home to a beautiful and varied range of wildlife, and you can see it all like never before at Creatures of Australia. This interactive cinematic experience will take over the Fever Pavilion in Sydney Showground from Friday, July 5 to Friday, August 23. Split across six distinct digital 'environments', it's not only a celebration of native wildlife but the people who've dedicated their lives to protecting them and their homes. The Creatures Gallery contains ten massive screens, each playing close-up, slow-motion footage of koalas, echidnas, sulphur cockatoos and saltwater crocodiles. You'll watch and listen to stories from the handlers and researchers who work tirelessly to protect our wildlife. You'll also find a series of interactive environments, like the Wild Walk, a space with a reactive habitat underfoot, and Spotlight on Conservation, where you can admire endangered species up close while hearing real-world conservation stories. Finally, you can end with a restful immersion in audio from the Australian wild. If you have any junior zoologists in your life, or if you want to ditch the next episode of Planet Earth for something more immersive, this is the perfect event for you. Creatures of Australia runs from Friday, July 5, to Friday, August 23, at Fever Pavilion. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website.
For the Sydney Festival 2022 lineup, this race-conscious Australian retelling of Edward Albee's classic play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is adding a fascinating chapter to the storied history of one of the most acclaimed theatrical works of the 20th century. Based on the play that originally starred Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the story takes place over the course of a single evening in the apartment of academic couple George and Martha who invite their new colleagues, Nick and Honey, over for a drink following a faculty party. What follows is essentially a booze-fuelled cage fight between the hosts. For the Sydney Festival run, acclaimed First Nations director and actor Margaret Harvey takes the reins for a thoroughly contemporary reimagining of Virginia Woolf. The result is a uniquely Australian perspective that explores themes of identity, illusion and desire. Key to this new voice is Harvey's considered stable of players. The production stars Wagadagam man Jimi Bani (Mabo) as George, Susan Prior (The Rover, Puberty Blues) as the powerhouse Martha, with Juanita Navas-Nguyen (Bluey's Big Play, A Doll's House) and Congolese-born Melbourne actor Rashidi Edward (Rabbit) rounding out the cast. Image: Caitlyn Miles (CommonState)
The shock of unkempt hair, the Irish brogue, the misanthropic attitude: there's no mistaking Dylan Moran for anyone else. It was true in beloved British sitcom Black Books, when his on-screen alter ego abhorred mornings, ate coasters and claimed that his oven could cook anything (even belts). And it's definitely true of the comedian's acerbically hilarious live shows. Moran is no stranger to Australia and New Zealand, but if you haven't guffawed at his bleak wit live, he's coming back in 2023 to give you another chance. As always, expect the kind of deadpan gags, wine-soaked insights and blisteringly sharp one-liners that've kept him in the spotlight since 1996, when he became the youngest-ever winner of the Edinburgh Fringe's Perrier Award. [caption id="attachment_729089" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andy Hollingworth[/caption] From mid-April to late May, Moran will tour Down Under with his latest show We Got This, bringing his grumpily lyrical musings on love, politics, misery and the everyday absurdities of life to 11 Aussie cities and four spots in NZ. Kicking off in Hobart and ending up in Auckland, this marks his first full standup show since 2019's Dr Cosmos, which also came our way — and was available to stream earlier in the pandemic, too. Given this tour's title, it's hardly surprising that Moran will be reflecting upon these chaotic times. That might sound like a standard comedy gig these days, but nothing about Moran's comedy is ever standard. "We are bruised. We are fucked up. We are all sore," he said, announcing the tour. "It's not just the pandemic. It's the times and how we've got through it." As well as his stint as the world's worst bookshop owner in Black Books, Moran has popped up in films such as Notting Hill and Shaun of the Dead, should you been keen to get watching (or rewatching) before his new gigs. Nabbing tickets early is recommended — his shows usually sell out quickly. DYLAN MORAN 'WE GOT THIS' 2023 DATES Wednesday, April 19 — Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart Thursday, April 20 — Princess Theatre, Launceston Friday, April 21 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne Tuesday, April 25 — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Thursday, April 27–Friday, April 28 — Canberra Theatre, Canberra Saturday, April 29 — Civic Theatre, Newcastle Tuesday, May 2 — HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast Thursday, May 4–Friday, May 5 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Monday, May 8 — Perth Concert Hall, Perth Thursday, May 11 + Monday, May 15 — State Theatre, Sydney Saturday, May 13 — Town Hall, Wollongong Saturday, May 20 — Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch Monday, May 22 — Regent Theatre, Dunedin Tuesday, May 23 — St James Theatre, Wellington Thursday, May 25 — Auckland Town Hall, Auckland Dylan Moran's 'We Got This' tour will head around Australia and New Zealand in April and May 2023. Ticket pre-sales start at 11am on Thursday, October 13, with general sales from 9am on Tuesday, October 18. For more information, head to the tour website. Updated November 25.
With Australia's COVID-19 curve flattening, exactly how and when restrictions will be relaxed has dominated conversation of late. Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed that some social distancing and public gathering rules could be loosened in mid-May. Today, Thursday, April 23, Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy shed some light on when international travel could restart. But don't go packing your suitcase just yet. At a senate inquiry meeting into Australia's response to COVID-19, Murphy said that opening borders would be one of the last stages of easing restrictions. "At the moment, any relaxation of border measures would be very risky," Murphy said. "I wouldn't be envisaging any material changes [to border measures] in that three to four months." One exception to that, Murphy hinted to, could be allowing travel between Australia and New Zealand. The Prime Minister echoed this sentiment in a press conference in the middle of the senate inquiry meeting (yes, a busy day), saying that he'd already been in discussions with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about potentially reopening borders. "If there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first," Morrison said. "Undoubtedly that's New Zealand." [caption id="attachment_596427" align="alignnone" width="1280"] A PurePod in New Zealand[/caption] Some of the restrictions that could be eased before then, and possibly as soon as in three weeks, are those in small groups. In NSW, Victoria and Queensland at present, public gatherings are restricted to a maximum of two people or the members of your household. While Murphy said they "would not be contemplating large-scale gatherings" just yet, "some relaxation of the size of small groups is possible". Other restrictions Murphy says the government is currently looking into loosening include "things like community sport and some retail measures". But, as has been the message repeated in the past week, "we have to weigh up the public health risk versus the benefit to society and the economy". If you're wondering why we're hearing a lot from Murphy during COVID-19, and why his opinions hold weight, Murphy is not only the principal medical adviser to the Federal Health Minister, but also he's the chair of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), which makes big decisions in health emergencies — such as global pandemics. There's no exact date on when we'll be able to travel just yet — locally or internationally — but if you want to start dreaming, here are some of our favourite spots to visit in New Zealand. Top image: Mueller Hut Track in New Zealand by Corey Parsons.
While it may not entirely feel like it yet, spring has sprung in Sydney. And as the days get longer and the weather warmer, you'll start to feel that heady, buzzy feeling these sun-soaked days bring with them. Whether you're in a long-seasoned couple, recently matched up or single and looking for a way to impress a potential someone, one thing is certain among the lovebirds: there's a fresh, romantic feeling in the air. Luckily, Sydney is full of brilliant date ideas that aren't simply dinner and a movie — and that won't completely blow out your savings. To help you out, we've pulled together five date ideas under $50 that'll help spark your inner romantic, while our friends at CommBank have rounded up some top tips for living 'money smart' while you're dating or coupled up. Now you can treat that special someone and stay well and truly in the green. Split the bill easily on your next date in under a minute using a PayID (which uses the Osko payment service). Find out more here. TRIVIA AT GOLDEN AGE CINEMA AND BAR Housed in a subterranean art deco cinema in the backstreets of Surry Hills, Golden Age is a brilliant date destination in itself, recreating the whimsy and glamour of the long-lost golden age of Hollywood. Our pick for a chilled out early weeknight date is the Tuesday trivia night. Join the charming Alex Toliopoulos, of Mike Check podcast fame, for a night of film-themed trivia in its adjoining cocktail lounge. Walk-ins and bookings are welcome to the free event in the slick 1920s style bar, saving you enough to grab some cinema snacks and settle in for a night of challenging each other's film knowledge before cosying in for whatever film's (oft a little art house, independent number) on show that night. [caption id="attachment_692567" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW.[/caption] KAYAK AROUND THE HARBOUR You know it, your date knows it, we all know it — we're blessed in Sydney with an immense array of water views, all beautiful, most very accessible. While taking in a waterside sunset is always romantic, might we recommend a kayak expedition for the adventure inclined? Head over to Manly Kayak Centre where you can rent a double kayak for $45 and spend an hour exploring the glittering water and beaches of the northern harbour. And if you're after even more water time and coming from the city, grab the ferry to and from Manly on a Sunday to eat up the rest of that $50 (plus $0.40) when Opal fares are $2.70 all day. [caption id="attachment_649376" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Letícia Almeida.[/caption] RETRO THRILLS AT ARCHIE BROTHERS CIRQUE ELECTRIQ Dating these days can feel worlds away from what it was made to look like in films like, say, The Notebook. And while we're not suggesting you set yourself up for failure — because really, who can beat Ryan Gosling's move of climbing that ferris wheel — we have tracked down a spot where you and your date can get some nostalgic cheap thrills. Enter Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq in Alexandria. Here you can challenge each other to retro arcade games, dodgem cars, bowling and laser tag, plus you can go on XD theatre and VR rides. It's truly a grown up's wonderland, and what's more, it's cheap as chips. Arcade games cost between $2–$5 each, dodgem cars are $4 a ride, bowling ranges from $14-$32, laser tag clocks in at $12 a game and the XD and VR rides are $8 and $7 respectively. And on top of all that, there's also a bar and eatery slinging $15 pizzas for when you need to refuel. [caption id="attachment_692566" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW.[/caption] EXPLORE COCKATOO ISLAND The views around Circular Quay and The Rocks are hard to beat, but the crowds can quickly strip away any feeling of romance. A visit to Cockatoo Island might be just the trick for a sweet date spot that'll feel like a mini trip away. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is located just a short ferry ride from Circular Quay and often hosts art exhibitions and cultural events. Formerly a penal site for Australian convicts, the site also functioned as a major shipbuilding centre as well as housing a reformatory school for wayward children. Tours of these sites can be booked, but an audio guide is only $5 and leaves you free to explore the island on your own. If you really want to make a holiday of it, plan to BYO tent and stay the night at one of the camping sites. Sites are $45 a night Monday to Thursday and $50 a night Friday to Sunday. They also can fit four people, so you could even make it a double date and use the rest of your budget on nosh for the onsite barbecues. FRESH BREWS AND LIVE TUNES AT STAVES BREWERY Generally speaking, music, laughter and excellent drinks are key indicators of a good time, so why not combine the three? Staves Brewery in Glebe is a charming microbrewery churning out high-quality beers and live entertainment every night from Thursday to Sunday. Unlike most breweries, Staves is licensed until midnight and, as well as featuring a cute little beer garden out the back, has a sixty-seater performance space upstairs. Thursday night is open mic night, Friday brings $10 comedy, there's live music throughout the weekend and food trucks often set up at the brewery. Add this one to the list under easy, unpretentious good vibes. What's even better than paying $50 or less on a date? Getting us to pick up the bill. Enter our comp for a chance to win $250 so you can try every idea on the list.
This is the top ten for 2011. Click here to see our top picks of 2013. When it comes to that annual event of indulgence, the Melbourne Cup, there are more important things to decide on than which horse to back. Alcohol will be flowing, atmosphere is key and the choices are endless. With this in mind, Concrete Playground has assembled the ten best destinations for your Melbourne Cup lunch (or day). Book now, thank us later. 1. The Abercrombie The new incarnation of the Abercrombie is cheap and cheerful, and Melbourne Cup day is no exception. For $70 per head, dig into a four course feast including snacks, tacos, mains and dessert. Beer, wine and champagne is all part of the deal. Aside from the fun food, they're open to bookings of all sizes and guarantee TV from each and every table. For full details, click here. 2. El Loco Arriba along to El Loco's early start Cup fiesta; things kick off around here at 11am. You'd better get your act together. There will be fashions on the 'field', piñatas, taco eating comps, DJs and mystery trifecta giveaways. This is actually a great last minute option, with no bookings required, just be sure to get in quick on the day. For full details, click here. 3. East Sydney Hotel While the East Sydney usually holds firm to a no television, no pokies rule, the one and only annual exception is the Melbourne Cup. The mix of old-world and local charm makes this country-style pub one of the best spots in Sydney to enjoy a no frills Cup experience. For full details, click here. 4. The Carrington For a new take on the Cup lunch, book into the insanely popular Carrington and see what makes it such a hit. It's a pricier option at $125 per head, though this includes a five course Spanish feast and all champagne, wine and beer between 1 and 3pm. (A lighter canapé and drinks option is also available for $80 per person.) Loads of screens and sweepstakes on the day make this one of the most intriguing high roller options. For full details, click here. 5. Ms. G's This Potts Point place-to-be is another option in the achingly cool category. A touch more affordable at $60 per head, this includes a banquet menu with your choice of a slushy or a flute of Chandon. Giant plasmas and sweeps are also part of the deal. For full details, click here. 6. The Argyle The heritage-listed Argyle must be one of the classic spots to spend the Cup, so make sure you don your racing best. Pick from either the Stables ($70 per person), which includes a glass of Chandon along with a canapé lunch, or the classier Grandstand package ($110 per person), with a three hour drinks and canapé service in your reserved area, plus a Möet butler service. Both include full TAB and race coverage, and fashions on the field. Stick around for the after party, starting at 4pm. For full details, click here. 7. Alexandria Hotel For those who want the fun without all the fuss and fancy, the Alexandria Hotel is the place to be. A mere $30 will get you a gourmet buffet and, while no drinks are included, there's plenty of other action (and well priced beers on tap). There's sweeps, raffles, giveaways and DJs. There's fashions in the field, with prizes for the best dressed men and women, and for the best hat. More prizes are on offer for the best dance, either with a partner or going solo. And we're also promised a post-race party. For full details, click here. 8. The Norfolk While the sports bar at the Norfolk is generally a good (if busy) place to head to for matches, their Cup arrangements sound even more promising. A four course lunch, including snacks, tacos, mains and dessert, plus all the beer, wine and champagne you can get your hands on between 1 and 3pm for $80 per head. They promise that screens will be viewable from every table, and bookings in the famous beer garden are also available. For full details, click here. 9. Sushi e + Hemmesphere This closely bound restaurant and bar have teamed up to offer a very tempting Melbourne Cup lunch. Begin with a flute of Möet and Chandon, followed by a six course menu of Sushi e's exceptional Japanese, for $130. Four plasmas will broadcast the race live. One of the best spots for refined watching. For full details, click here. 10. The Passage If you do manage to miss the festivities or if you're looking to continue on into the evening, take note of the winner and duck straight into the Passage's after party. They'll be offering complimentary champagne from the finish line until 5pm, while cheap house spirits extend until 6pm. Or hold out for the Bacardi Cup Punch ($30), on offer all night long. For full details, click here.
It only takes one perfect record to make a musician a legend. For Ms Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was that album. The American singer and rapper fronted The Fugees before dropping her only solo release. She starred in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit as well. But come 1998, when the record that bears her name hit, it ensured that she'd always be an icon. 2023 marks 25 years since The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill first arrived — and to celebrate, Hill is touring. Down Under, she has locked in three stops: a headlining gig at Promiseland Festival on the Gold Coast, plus stadium shows in Melbourne and Sydney. Home to singles 'Doo Wop (That Thing)', 'Ex-Factor', 'Everything Is Everything', 'Lost Ones' and 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You', The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was a smash on the charts, with critics and at the Grammys. It peaked at number two in Australia; has been named in oh-so-many lists of 90s, hip hop and rap records, as well as albums of all time and releases by women; and earned five Grammys from ten nominations. During her tour, Hill will play tracks from her time with The Fugees, too — killing audiences softly with the iconic cover that the band is best known for, plus 'Ready or Not', 'Fu-Gee-La' and more. On the Gold Coast, she's part of a two-day lineup that also includes Six60, L.A.B., Davido, Tems, Fiji, House of Shem, Koffee and Fireboy DML, all playing Doug Jennings Park across Saturday, September 30–Sunday, October 1. On her solo shows in New South Wales and Victoria, Koffee will be in support. "The Miseducation album has been a consistently special artwork that has allowed me to tour for 25 years, sharing the message and energy with its loyal appreciators. I'm not even sure if it feels like 25 years have gone by to me," said Hill, announcing the tour. "I'm excited to celebrate this landmark anniversary with the fans in Australia, and I look forward to this time capsule experience. The music itself was born to be anachronistic, at the same time reclaiming precious jewels from the past, and infusing them with the potency and energy of the present, in order to enrich it and the future. Revisiting the album live has renewed my love and appreciation for the music and the period in which it was born, when hip hop was ripe with potential and uncomplicated enthusiasm." MS LAURYN HILL'S THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL TOUR: Sunday, October 1 — Promiseland Festival, Gold Coast Tuesday, October 3 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Thursday, October 5 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Ms Lauryn Hill will play three shows in Australia in October 2023, with tickets on-sale now — head to the Promiseland website and tour website for further details: Top image: Città di Parma via Wikimedia Commons.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you inside the Trixie Motel. Here, the world-famous drag queen, Trixie Mattel, has transformed an old Palm Springs motel into a queer paradise full of colour and character. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This newly renovated Californian motel is the brainchild of a world famous US drag queen, and is just as bright and fun as you can imagine. THE ROOMS You will overdose on sensory inputs, no matter what room you stay in. 'Calming', is not a word used to describe the design of these rooms. Every Trixie Motel room is bursting with candy colours and loud patterns (more is most definitely more). What else would you expect from a drag queen motel in sunny Palm Springs? Like Trixie Mattel, the owner and famous Drag Race queen, the entire facility is 60s and 70s flower power themed. You'll feel like Malibu Barbie, as you spend the days roaming from your room to the outdoor pool. This place is extra extra — and why should it be anything else? FOOD AND DRINK The Trixie Motel has a little on-site cafe and bar which serves up creative snacks and small bites alongside plenty of speciality cocktails and beverages. It's mostly stuff you can enjoy while sitting around the pink and white tiled pool area – but they do provide private dinners too. They just need to be pre-booked and can be served in most places on the property. Alternatively, head to the fabulous selection of local restaurants throughout Palm Springs. THE LOCAL AREA Palm Springs is a classic Californian destination, located about 100 miles east of Los Angeles in the Coachella Valley (yes, Coachella is hosted nearby). This desert city is known for its hot springs, golf courses, palm tree-lined streets and perpetually good weather — It's also been a favourite destination for Hollywood stars since the 1930s. Most come here to experience the resort spa lifestyle. But this area has also developed into a real culture hub. Check out the Palm Springs Art Museum, McCallum Theatre and Palm Springs Design Centre in between taking hikes around the local national parks and shopping at the countless boutique stores. Or do none of this, just spending the whole day sitting by the pool, sipping on cocktails. The choice is all yours. [caption id="attachment_869215" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ian M Jones (Unsplash)[/caption] THE EXTRAS While staying here, you can even go online and watch the reality tv show, Trixie Motel, which takes you through the property's renovation process. See how the famous drag queen, Trixie Mattel, and partner, David Silver, created the Trixie Motel – you'll appreciate your stay here even more. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Do you understand the Poincaré recurrence theorem? You do? Yeah well whatever, I totally know things about art, so there! And alright yes I am being defensive about my lack of understanding of mathematics or science that isn't explained by David Attenborough or Thomas Pynchon, but also I am alluding to an element of Robyn Stuart's work: binaries, paradox, memory, and feeling small. By observing and documenting Lake Eyre, a body of water that contains water that was rainfall two million years ago(!), Stuart explores landscape as memory and the phenomenon that "certain volume-preserving physical systems will, after a sufficient length of time, return to a state very close to the initial state." So there is space, time, history, existence in the world, chaos theory and video installation work. That is totally what always happens at university galleries, right?
The future is coming and Jason Silva is excited. Very excited. Silva is an American filmaker and self-proclaimed "wonder junkie, ideas DJ, performance philosopher", and he's coming to an Opera House near you this weekend for the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Concrete Playground spoke with him about his provocatively titled festival lecture 'We Are the Gods Now'. We are the Gods is quite the title for a talk. What can we expect to hear from you at the Opera House? In his book about the exponential growth curve of technology, Raymond Kurzweil says, "There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen." In 40 years we've seen computers contract in size from half a building to something 1000 times more powerful that fits in your pocket: the smartphone. If we continue along this exponential trajectory, we can expect computing power to enhance while the physical unit shrinks from pocket-size to the size of a blood cell. Speaking of blood cells, the thing I'm really excited about is the way that biology [the field of study] is fast becoming information technology. If you think growth in computing power is impressive, the rate that we are sequencing genomes is outpacing Moore's Law. Freeman Dyson, the physicist, says we are going to compose genomes the way we compose verse. I know, I know, it sounds like we're tripping, but history tells us this is what we should expect! Artistry is going to spill off the canvas and into the biology lab, and I think we should be excited — and not fearful — of what we're going to create in there. What it means to be human is to transcend our limits, to rebel, to be "cosmic revolutionaries", in Aaron Harrington's words. So, yeah, that's the crux of what I'll be talking about. Really, you think we're fearful of new technology? Apple has people frothing at the mouth about the launch of the iPhone 5 this week. I think the success of the iPhone attests to our love of these tools — we are living in a techno-utopian society — and yet the alarmist media bang on about the demise of interpersonal connections because people are supposedly texting more than they're talking, so on and so forth. I like to remind people that around the advent of the telegraph there was a moral panic that it would hurt our brains, that it wasn't natural. In fact, even Socrates railed against writing! He claimed that the act of transcribing something would atrophy our brains. But there is some truth to what Socrates said, at least in sentiment. I read Nicholas Carr's piece for the Atlantic Is Google Making Us Stupid?, wherein he discusses the netizen's diminishing capacity to "deep read", which he claims is a direct consequence of the way we engage with screen texts, constantly drifting and never really focusing. I totally agree with the concept of bandwidth anxiety — I personally experience it! But you have to think of bandwidth anxiety as analogous to downloading an HD film via a 56k modem connection rather than a fibre-optic cable. In our case, the human biological brain is fixed, but our technology is infinitely upgradeable. We're like a drooling dog looking at a lineup of 50 dogs on heat and we can't possibly mate them all! We have so many options to connect with the world around us, but we have to be disciplined and disconnect. I mean, I turn off my cell phone when I go see a movie or when I read a book. I think Carr's case is that the damage is done, that our brains are capable of rewiring to optimise our experience of digital culture. The damage isn't beyond repair; the brain is plastic, but I can say from personal experience that I now struggle to engage with longer novels where I used to devour them, and I think it's because I'm increasingly feasting on the easy-to-digest, pretty, shiny things — things like your short videos, the so-called "shots of philosophical espresso". Fair enough. I started producing short videos because I felt there was a gap in the market for them. There's no end of intelligent, philosophical discourse in the blogosphere, but there's a real paucity of engaging, short-format video content on the web. I wanted to capture that feeling of two in the morning, in your college dorm with a beautiful girl, discussing the meaning of life — and amplify it to the scale of a cinematic experience. Sure, these short-form bursts of inspiration trigger the release of dopamine and that's an addictive chemical so we have to self-monitor how much we take in. So when you talk about losing the capacity to "deep read" or appreciate silence, I think it's just a matter of growing pains, because we aren't yet equipped physiologically to handle the kind of content we're creating. Once we upgrade our own brains using biotechnology and genetic engineering, we'll be like a computer you can add RAM to — this issue of not being able to multitask will be a thing of the past! This is the Singularity! I can see how these videos might inspire organisations to foster creative culture or even spark cross-industry collaboration, but how to you hope these videos will affect people's day-to-day lives? Art and media are mediums for preparing us for the future. I'm trying to present intelligent content in a cool and sexy format — which, in turn, means the act of engaging with it is cool and sexy. I want there to be an alternative to the overwhelming share of media space given to the likes of Jersey Shore, something that has pop culture cred but doesn't insult the viewer's intelligence. At the end of the day, if you want someone to really care about your product, you need to make them feel something; you need to induce a feeling of wonder, of awe. Once you achieve this, you've set in motion a lust for learning. At a consumer level we have access to an incredible array of tools [high-speed internet, mobile devices, etc.] for engaging with the world of ideas, but most people don't know or don't care for what's out there. What's lacking is a viral outbreak of wonder. The phenomenon of trolling is on the rise and just recently a local TV personality who came under a torrent of online abuse was admitted to a psych ward. And last weekend here in Sydney there was a protest that turned into a riot sparked by the indie film released on YouTube, The Innocence of Muslims. I just wonder how culpable social media is in this sequence of events, given that it's so easy to be offensive when speaking from a disembodied perspective. Dude! The right to offend is a hallmark of a free society! I mean, I don't want to say that riot was an act of cultural or religious immaturity, but violence, no, violence is never justified because someone offended you. Okay, but I'm quoting you from earlier this year when I say, "As we increasingly become sophisticated, cosmopolitan people, the religious impulse is less relevant." Well, look, I sort of abide by the opinions of Ernest Becker, who wrote the book The Denial of Death. He says that the 'religious impulse' is one solution to the problem we face when we contemplate our own mortality. The second, alternative, way we deal with death is the 'romantic impulse', where we turn our lovers into our gods, and the third, and this one I think is the healthiest, is the 'creative impulse', which is to create great work. I think religion had a time and place and was effective at teaching people to be kind to each other as part of a moral system, but time and again we see it corrupted. So you see yourself as your own god? [laughs] Let's just say I think there will come a day when it will be possible with the aid of technology to transcend our biological limitations and manifest a Being that is extraordinarily smart, ultra-powerful, and immortal. But if there comes a day when saying "you only live once" has no motivational power because we've engineered eternal existence, I wonder if we'll just be crippled by chronic procrastination? Ha! You know, man, that's very possible. But if the universe is infinite, with creative possibilities, then so should we be. Sure, some people will just play Grand Theft Auto for all of eternity if that's what they want to do with their existence, but others will amass a phenomenal bank of knowledge and break new frontiers in science. You know, I hate the way we ennoble death. It's a brute biological horror that kills everyone we care about, and yet we say things like 'death gives life meaning'. I say, you know what gives meaning to life? Life! Death was necessary for the evolutionary process, but now that we're switching from genes to memes, death has become obsolete. We don't need to keep dying in order to create new things. But the creation of most new things only comes about because there's a viable commercial application for it, and if technology is replacing itself at an ever-increasing rate, perhaps the threat of rapid supersedence in the marketplace will slow the generation of new technologies? Hmm. I guess I'd have to agree that, yeah, that's very possible. I mean, already we're seeing college graduates emerge into the workforce only to find that their skillset is already obsolete. Interesting. Thanks so much for chatting with me today. Absolutely, man! It's been a mind-meld! Catch Jason Silva at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Sunday, September 30, at 3pm.
Dreaming of cooler pastures? Swap your ice skates for a snorkel and kick back because the only ice you'll find here is in your frozen margarita. For the ultimate Aussie getaway, we head north to Port Douglas, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. There's so much to do, see and eat — not to mention the promise of pristine beaches that stretch for years. Sitting on the picturesque Four Mile Beach, it's only a hop, skip and a jump to the Daintree Rainforest. They're bucket list places to visit, so why not tick them off this summer? Do To get the most out of the Daintree, make your first stop the Daintree Discovery Centre (Corner Baileys Creek & Tulip Oak Road, Cow Bay; open daily 8.30am-5pm). Grab an audio tour as you meander about the forest on the aerial walkway. Climb a few short flights of stairs to get to the top of the tower and gaze out, high above the treetops. It will be one of the best things you'll do all year. The Discovery Centre is a world-class facility and has won a bunch of awards. They're ecotourism masters, and every possible precaution is taken to protect the delicate rainforest. A trip to the Discovery Centre will set you back $32/adult, $16/child. Family passes are $78. Prices include audio tour. It's worth every dollar. If you heard the words 'an hour-long discussion about fruit', you'd be forgiven for hesitating. But the Cape Tribulation Exotic Fruit Farm (Lot 5 Nicole Drive, Cape Tribulation; open Nov - June, Sun, Tue, Thu, 2pm-4pm and every day Jun - Oct) is a seriously good time. You taste ten kinds of fruit, and we don't mean your standard Coles fare. We're talking incredibly rare, tropical fruit from the Amazon, South-East Asia and the Caribbean. Dark, pudding-like fruit that tastes like chocolate. Giant weird fruits that taste like bubble gum. Tiny magic seeds that make everything you eat for the next few hours taste super sweet. Tastings are followed by a tour of the beautiful farm.The groups are reasonably small (depending on what time of year you go) and it will give you an experience unlike anything you've ever had before. Who knew fruit could be so exciting? Bookings must be made in advance. The tasting costs $23/adult, $10.50/child or $62 for a family. Your kids will love it and so will you. See The Great Barrier Reef sells itself. It's easily one of the most beautiful places in the world and you're only a few hours away from it. Grab your flippers and snorkel, hop in, and prepare to be amazed. Fish in every conceivable colour, reef sharks, stingrays, gloriously coloured coral and all manner of delights lie under the ocean's surface. The guys at Ocean Safari are the best tour guides in the area. They're acutely aware of the peril currently facing the reef and take every precaution to preserve the delicate environment. Eco tourism at its best. Prices vary depending on the tour you select but a morning tour will set you back $123/adult, $79/child or $366 for a family pass. Sleep The recently renovated Ferntree Rainforest Lodge (36 Camelot Close, Cape Tribulation) is an environmentally friendly resort set in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest and a short walk from Cape Tribulation's Myall Beach. They have a wide variety of affordable rooms and accommodation options so you'll be able to arrange a wonderful tropical getaway without it costing you the earth. You're looking at $28/night for a budget dorm, $140/night for a private cabin and $200/night for the Pool Room Suite. The lodge is designed to fit in with the surrounding rainforest and its spectacular gardens are specially designed to attract native animals. Take our advice and book a Pool Room Suite. These private rooms each have a balcony that backs onto the lodge's second swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by a lush tropical oasis and is a few steps away from the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge's restaurant. All this at a reasonable price? Yes, please. If you fancy yourself a bit of a luxury bunny then Ultra Port Douglas is the place for you. It offers five-star, highly personalised, VIP holiday house rentals, and you can count on a first-class experience. Limousine transfers, private chefs and butler services are part of some of the packages and pretty much anything you could possibly dream of can be arranged. Now, luxury doesn't come cheap — Ultra Port Douglas is a holiday letting service that operates out of some of the most seriously grown-up real estate in the country. However, if you're cashed up and want to be treated like a celebrity, world leader or member of the European royalty, then Ultra Port Douglas is most definitely the place to be. Pass us the Dom Perignon. Thala Beach Lodge (Oak Beach, Port Douglas) is the only deluxe resort in Port Douglas set on a private headland. What does this mean? The most spectacularly mind-blowing views you could possibly imagine. The panoramic vista encompasses the far north Queensland coast from Double Island to Cape Tribulation and overlooks the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage forests. It's considered to be one of the best eco-tourism resorts in the world. The Lodge sits on 145 acres of gorgeous rainforest and backs onto its own private beach overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. All individual bungalows have views to either the beachfront or the rainforest. Accommodation ranges from around $219 to $1030/night. There's a lot to do at Thala Beach Lodge: star-gazing, nature walks, turtle spotting, sea kayaking, yoga and swimming. Ospreys Restaurant, located within the complex, offers a delicious modern Australian cuisine. You can't go wrong here. Drink The Court House Hotel (Wharf and Macrossan Streets, Port Douglas) is Port Douglas's oldest and most famous hotel. They've been in business for over a century, serving up food and drinks for locals and tourists alike. The hotel is located in the town centre and offers gorgeous views of Anzac Park and the coast. Boasting three bars, two gaming rooms and a restaurant, the 'Courty' (as it's known to locals) is definitely the place to go after a long day's sightseeing. If you're feeling peckish, head to the hotel's restaurant, the Wharf St. Bistro. They're well-known for their great steaks. If you're in the mood to drink, then the hotel offers heaps of outdoor seating and reasonably priced drinks. It's the perfect place for a holiday sundowner. Eat 2 Fish (56 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas) is one of Port Douglas's most awarded restaurants. Specialising in seafood, only the freshest produce is used in the wide range of dishes on offer. The staff know their fish, so it's a good idea to ask for their recommendations. If you're a fan of oysters, start with the mixed dozen, a selection of variously seasoned oysters including Kilpatrick, lime and gin ($34), Bloody Mary, Vietnamese and crispy shallots, Tabasco and lemon and natural oysters. The dishes on the tasting plate menu can be ordered individually as entrees or combined to make a more substantial meal. Order a few, but make sure you don't miss out on the Malaysian butter prawns ($12) or the Atlantic salmon gravlax ($10). The star of the show is the market catch (prices vary). Ask the waiter what the catch of the day is and then choose your garnishes accordingly. A word to the wise: make a booking well in advance. They're seriously popular.
If you had a birthday sometime during the last few months, it probably didn't quite live up to expectations. Because of COVID-19, we've had (very necessary) restrictions on gatherings, which means that birthday shindig was most likely a little smaller than you'd hoped. To help ease the pain every so slightly, Krispy Kreme has announced it's giving away an extremely excessive number of doughnuts. How many? 350,000, to be exact. On Monday, July 13, Krispy Kreme is giving away a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts to Aussies who celebrated a birthday between March 13 and July 13. To snag yourself 12 signature glazed freebies, head to your closest store in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth. Sydneysiders have ten stores — stretching from Penrith to the CBD — to choose from, while Queenslanders can pick from five different doughnut shops, with the most central in the CBD Myer Centre, and Perthians can head to one of three Krispy Kreme stores. The free doughnuts are not available at BPs, Jesters or 7-Elevens. Because of stay-at-home restrictions in Victoria, the deal is only valid at one of three drive-thru stores: Fawkner, Fountain Gate and Bulleen. You can find out more about those restrictions over here. The 350,000 doughnuts will be spread across all Aussies stores. So, you'll want to get in relatively early if you want to kick off your Monday with a free sweet and doughy treat – and don't forget to bring your ID. If you do miss out, however, Krispy Kreme will be offering buy one dozen, get a dozen free from Wednesday, July 15 till Sunday, July 19. Krispy Kreme's free doughnut giveaway is happening nationwide on Monday, July 13 for those born between March 13 and July 13. To find your closest store and check its opening hours, head to the Krispy Kreme website.
Is there anything more popular in the world at the moment than Game of Thrones? The fantasy juggernaut transcends boundaries, enabling readers and viewers of all preferences to immerse themselves in arguably the most dense fantasy offering in literary history and be enthralled by its scope, unable to stop reading and watching. It's wonderfully rewarding but also immensely frustrating, as your favourite character(s) can suddenly be taken out of the game without a word of notice. Well, thankfully you now have the chance to ask why, oh why the Red Wedding happened and gain a unique insight into the wonderful world of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond, as writer George R.R. Martin makes his way to Sydney. He'll be joined by Peter Dinklage, the actor who brilliantly portrays Tyrion Lannister, Martin's favourite character. The man who has sold more than 20 million books worldwide will be providing a window into his incredibly innovative imagination and aspirations for the future of the series, as well as entertaining your questions at the Sydney Opera House on November 11, 2013. Dinklage, meanwhile, has mastered the witty love-him-or-hate-him nature of Tyrion, deservedly winning Emmys and Golden Globes along the way, and is ready to share the intricacies behind translating the page to the screen as well as plenty of on-set secrets. Game of Thrones: In Conversation with George R.R. Martin and Peter Dinklage has been made possible by Supanova Pop Culture Expo and the Opera House's ongoing Ideas at the House program and is a must-see for any fans of the epic saga — finally, the chance to ask Martin your most pertinent questions. Just don't ask him when the next book will be released. Also, don't worry, it will all be in English, despite what the impressive teaser video suggests, and you can register your interest here.
Head over to the Standard for a raunchy night of 'burtonesque'. Yup, that's right: Tim Burton + burlesque = 'burtonesque'. A collection of film director, writer and producer Tim Burton's most famous characters are set to dance for audiences in Gallery Burlesque's production of The Land of Timania. The stage is bound to get racy with the likes of Miss Nic parading as Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Venus Vamp as Corpse Bride, SluTaris as Nightmare Before Christmas's Oogie Boogie, and many more. Shadow puppeteers and balloon sculptures round out this twisted tribute to the king of the creepy-crawly.
Red Bull's artist development program Sound Select is about uncovering and supporting the very best of local talent by pairing them up with established acts. The result is a monthly gig that's both emblematic of the sonic culture of our cities, and pushes the boundaries of the music we know and love. This month's incarnation of the sonic celebration is curated by Sydney's own FBi Radio — because if anyone's qualified to comment on the music culture in this town, it's them. Taking over the Chippendale Hotel on Friday, February 24, the gig will bring two of Melbourne's best new duos, Habits and Kllo, up to Sydney to feature alongside the frenetic rhymes laid over jagged beats from local pop culture critic and poet-rapper Kimchi Princi. While this one has been curated by outgoing FBi music director Stephen Goodhew, the rest of 2017's Sound Select events will be put together his successor Amelia Jenner alongside local music flag-fliers I OH YOU's Johann Ponniah and Travis Banko of Laneway Festival. Since launching in the States in 2012, Red Bull Sound Select spread to Canada and New Zealand before launching in Sydney in April last year. They hold monthly live gigs in Sydney to support upcoming artists and allow us to discover them. Image: Jam on Your Collar, Alexandra Anderson.
"Your little cinematic universe is about to change forever." That's how Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds, Ghosted) describes being asked to enter the Marvel realm in the first trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine. After that, he calls himself "Marvel Jesus". How true the Merc with a Mouth's words will prove won't be known until July 2024, when the full film hits cinemas — but the trailer itself has already made history. Disney premiered the debut sneak peek at the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the only one arriving this year, during the 2024 Super Bowl — so, on Monday, February 12 Down Under. Within 24 hours, it had become the most-watched movie trailer of all time, notching up a whopping 365-million views. The game itself also became the most-watched Super Bowl ever, attracting 123.7-million viewers in America alone to see the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers to win back-to-back titles. (And, yes, to also see Taylor Swift watching along before she brings her Eras tour to Australia.) But on top of the folks who caught the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer during the game, another 240-million-plus people sought it out online. Announced in 2022, Deadpool & Wolverine gives the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe something that fans have been waiting for for years. Deadpool will officially become a part of the MCU. So will X-Men hero Wolverine. So, they're about to become the franchise's favourite big-screen odd couple. Reynolds has been playing Deadpool since 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, so this isn't the first time that him and Hugh Jackman (Faraway Downs) are teaming up as their famous characters — but, again, it is the first time in the MCU. Before now, Jackman has already busted out the adamantium claws in nine movies, starting with 2000's X-Men and running through to 2017's Logan, which was poised as his swansong in the role. But when you've been playing a part for that long, in that many flicks, what's one more go-around? After a non-Wolverine gap spent starring in The Greatest Showman, The Front Runner, Bad Education, Reminiscence and The Son, Jackman is clearly ready to get hairy again. That Deadpool & Wolverine is part of the MCU, the comic-to-screen realm that's been going since the first Iron Man flick and will likely never ever end, isn't a minor detail. The two characters have always been Marvel characters, but because of rights issues behind the scenes, they've stayed in their own on-screen sagas. But when Disney (which owns Marvel) bought 20th Century Fox (which brought the X-Men and Deadpool movies to cinemas so far), those business issues disappeared. Deadpool & Wolverine arrives six years after 2018's Deadpool 2. It also marks a reunion in another way. Behind the lens: director Shawn Levy, reteaming with Reynolds after Free Guy and The Adam Project. Also starring: Emma Corrin (A Murder at the End of the World), Morena Baccarin (The Endgame), Rob Delaney (Argylle) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), as well as Leslie Uggams (American Fiction) and Karan Soni (Miracle Workers). Check out the first Deadpool & Wolverine trailer below — if you haven't already or you're keen to again: Deadpool & Wolverine will release in cinemas Down Under on July 25, 2024. Images: courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
The Swiss are renowed for their time-keeping abilities and reliable public transport systems, but they do not exactly have a reputation for unmitigated creativity and artistic pursuits. Ironically, Ursus Wehrli's work may encourage us to rethink our perceptions of Swiss creativity whilst doing little to challenge the stereotype that the Swiss are all a bunch of neat freaks. Artist and comedian Ursus Wehrli first came to attention with his book Tidying Up Art, a collection of his work where he cleverly reinterpreted classics by Van Gogh, Chagall and Seurat by, well, tidying them up. He is back again and up to his old ordering tricks, except this time he's stopped tidying up the art, and has started tidying up everything else. In his latest book, The Art of Clean Up, Wehril reassembles the chaos of everyday life — children's beach toys are lined up into categories in a sand pit, cars are lined up according to their colours in a parking lot and the stars are lined up in the sky. These images are also accompanied by a series of short films that document the painstaking organisation that took place in order for Wehrli's images to be created, providing clever examples of the asethetic appeal of order (and also a reminder of how lovely a little bit of choas is as well). https://youtube.com/watch?v=l200LN39dv4 [Via PSFK]
Calling all nomads and avid campers: a Japanese company called DCW has designed a mobile pod home that will fit in a mini van and can be assembled on any terrain. The pod allows you to choose your own style of living while still being at one with nature, and can be placed on flat ground, steep hills or even turned into a kit houseboat if you feel like taking to the sea. The manufacturer has said it can be easily built "by two women" in half a day but may take a little longer to pull it down, possibly a whole day. Don't let its size fool you; this mobile house may look extremely tiny but it can sleep up to 3 people when you manoeuvre the sofa bed in the right way. The Mobile House Kit has yet to be given a price tag, but surely if you love the outdoors and want to experience nature in style then it will be worth breaking the budget for.
Fine dining institution Nel is known for its next-level set menus, with its always-popular Disney degustations taking beloved animated films and turning them into mind-blowing dishes. As the year comes to an end, the CBD venue is bringing some festive delight to its menu, this time, with an 11-course Christmas degustation. Available from Tuesday, November 16–Thursday, December 23, the cheery Christmas menu features dishes like Buddy the Elf's candy spaghetti, made with spinach linguini and Murray cod instead of marshmallows and chocolate syrup; plus Christmas crab; a turkey stuffing brioche; a coconut, black sesame and puffed rice dessert (inspired by the coal naughty children get); and Chrissy pudding. And if all that isn't enough, you can also opt for a drinks package, which includes paired cocktails and wines for $105. Though the menu is inspired by the childhood whimsy of this time of year, you'll need that adult salary to enjoy it, with the food menu setting you back $145 per person. The Christmas degustation menu is available for dinner Tuesday–Saturday, plus lunch on Saturdays in November and both Fridays and Saturdays in December.
MONA's summer festival Mona Foma is returning to Launceston this summer — and so is its airline, Air Mofo. After its debut last year, the 'private airline' will once again be on standby to usher guests from the mainland to Tasmania for the 2020 event in serious style — for free. The catch? You don't just get a seat on the purple and yellow Boeing 737 — you get the whole plane. So you'll have 149 seats to fill with your nearest and dearest, and basically anyone else who's free on the main festival weekend of January 17–19. The plane will leave from either Melbourne or Sydney, and everyone on board will be get free return airfares and a three-day festival pass. It goes without saying, you can expect more than just your average in-flight entertainment on-board. Your flight down south will be filled with all sorts of performances and is promising to be 'suitably lit'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmcAp570GRs&feature=youtu.be To enter, you'll have to do some detective work and pinpoint the Air Mofo plane on this map of Tassie. While clues will start going up on the Mona Foma website from today, you'll have to wait until next Thursday, October 10 to enter. First person to find it wins the trip. Then, they'll have just a month to organise their 149 guests. Air Mofo is once again a collaboration between Mona Foma and Tourism Tasmania, and the prize is valued at a whopping $99,000. The summer arts and music fest will take over Launceston from January 11–19. At the moment, the lineup has DJ and producer Flying Lotus coming in to Launnie from LA and a performance from classical musician Ludovico Einaudi — but the full thing will be announced on Friday, October 18. Three-day festival passes are also on sale now — this year priced at $129 for the weekend. And, if you're looking for other ways to enjoy the festival's new surrounds, check out our weekender's guide to Launceston during Mona Foma. Mona Foma 2020 will take over Launceston, Tasmania from January 11–19. Enter the competition over here.
Vivid Ideas festival director Jess Scully knows how to get psyched about winter (it ain't all wet feet and friendless Call of Duty marathons). From pickling workshops to no-holds-barred pampering sessions, DIY crafternoons to steamy hot chocolate-Robert Pattinson combos, Scully knows how to embrace winter with a big ol' hug. So throw on your favourite chunky knits and welcome the chilly season with Jess's tried and tested gear-ups. To take advantage of these and even more great Sydney winter experiences, go to lastminute.com.au and line up your fun-filled days and even cooler nights. Get pickled That used to mean something different in my twenties... how times have changed. This year my friends and I are taking a winter pickling workshop at Cornersmith in Marrickville; we're going to learn to do it ourselves, in the hopes of constructing the perfect Ploughman's Lunch down the line. Get pampered I tend to take better care of my skin and hair in winter; in summer I let the sun and sea take over, and I feel healthier just by virtue of being outdoors. But in winter, I go to the experts. My go-to place is Brad Ngata at The Ivy, where I will get a pro-keratin treatment to hydrate my hair (winter actually dries it out) and a gloss to cheat a little and get some all-over shine. Get cosy At the end of Vivid there is nothing I like better than getting a big hot chocolate, getting cosy in a cinema chair and soaking up beautiful images at Sydney Film Festival. This year I'm particularly excited about seeing The Rover — not least because I'll also be able to sit in on a chat with director David Michod and actors Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson, on Sunday June 8... Get hearty For breakfast I'll be trying out every one of the Top Five Porridges in Sydney (as selected by Concrete Playground: expect my rankings shortly!) and then I'll be hunting down the best pub roasts for lunch and dinner. I've also been dreaming of a giant schnitzel and beer from the amazing Concordia Club in Tempe; 'tis the season for mash and gravy! Get crafty After a few months of exhausting mental work, crafting and presenting the Vivid Ideas program, I always feel like doing something with my hands. So I love the workshops at Koskela, giving me a chance to get messy and tactile and hands-on. I took Gemma Patford's rope basket workshop last year, and this year I've got my eyes on a Shibori indigo dyeing workshop. Vivid Ideas runs until June 9. Check out the events still to come over here.
Dramatising the events at Chernobyl in 1986, where a power plant accident caused the worst nuclear disaster in human history, was never going to make for cheery viewing. But the Chernobyl miniseries drips with so much dread and dismay that it oozes from the screen, infecting everyone watching and burrowing deep into viewers' souls. That's by design, and also 100-percent necessary. There's no way to revisit this chapter of history without being horrified. And that reaction applies not just to the intricacies of Saturday, April 26 in that fateful year, but to everything that lead up to the disaster, as well as the bureaucratic and government response that followed. Writer/creator Craig Mazin and director Johan Renck bring all of the above to the screen in devastating, meticulously researched detail, with exceptional help from stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson and Paul Ritter. The end result may only span five episodes, but it represents some of the best TV made in the 21st century.
While face masks were first mandated in Melbourne back in mid-July, the NSW Government has only ever 'strongly recommended' its citizens to cover up. From midnight tonight, Saturday, January 2, however, that's all changing. In a bid to contain the current COVID-19 outbreak, which now encompasses clusters on the northern beaches, in Croydon and in western Sydney's Berala, the NSW Government is mandating the wearing of masks for some indoor settings across Greater Sydney. Sydneysiders, including those who live in Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains, must don a mask when they are shopping (at supermarkets, shopping centres and other retail stores); on public and shared transport; at indoor entertainment, such as cinemas and theatres; at places of worship; at hair and beauty salons; and using gaming services. They'll also be mandatory for all staff in hospitality venues and casinos. Children under 12 are exempt, but are encouraged to wear one where they can. If you refuse to do so, you'll risk being slapped with a $200 on-the-spot fine. While the public health order commences today, police won't start issuing fines until Monday, January 4. NSW recorded seven locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, with an additional 12 cases in... Posted by NSW Health on Friday, January 1, 2021 Compulsory mask wearing is not the only new restriction announced today for Greater Sydney, either. Gym classes will be reduced to 30 people; places of worship, weddings and funerals will be limited to 100 people, with one person per four square metres; outdoor performances and protests capped at 500; seated, ticketed and enclosed outdoor gatherings reduced to 2000; and nightclubs will not be permitted. These restrictions will come into effect at midnight tonight for all of Greater Sydney, including the southern half of the northern beaches, which has been under stay-at-home orders since Saturday, December 19. While the stay-at-home orders are ending tonight for the southern zone — south of Narrabeen Bridge and the Baha'i Temple — which will then have the same restrictions as the rest of Sydney, they will remain for the northern zone until Saturday, January 9. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
For many of us, the festival season's been plagued by cancellations and hot chips that are actually cold. Thankfully, the clever Simon Beckingham and Wade Cawood are lifting the game with their new boutique festival. Appropriately named Lost Picnic, the Centennial Park event will begin a new festival tradition of gourmet eating this Sunday, March 23. While you graze on the hampers on offer, local musos — including singer-songwriter Megan Washington, alt-rockers The Rubens, Emma Louise, Dustin Tebbutt and Sons of the East — will make for a more bohemian alternative to the festival season. Big Day Out it ain't. The gourmet hampers are put together by renowned chefs Martin Boetz from The Keystone Group and Maurice Terzini from Icebergs and the Cherry Kitchen. Boetz's hamper includes goodies from Rushcutters and his Cooks Co-Op, including smoked meats with remulade and dill pickles, sweet onion tart with smoked speck and paprika, potato salad, pretzel loaf and chocolate torte. Terzini's hamper is based around Icebergs' catering arm, on which they collaborate with Cherry Kitchen. It's Italian to the max, packing Buffalo mozzarella with two Sicilian salads, bresola involtini with goats cheese and caramelised onions, porchetta paninis with Italian coleslaw and tiramisu. The hampers serve up to three people (gather a group of six and you could order one of each) and cost $69 in addition to your ticket, which is $89 at first release. Tickets are on sale now through the festival website.
Update Wednesday, 9 February: More Splendour sideshows have been announce from Parquet Courts, Dayglow, Starcrawler, Surfaces & Tai Verdes. You can find all the details on how to purchase tickets to these shows via the Mistletone and Frontier Touring websites. Splendour in the Grass 2022 is a festival that has been three years in the making. After two years of cancellations and postponements, the festival is set to finally grace the fields of North Byron Parklands in July this year, with a lineup that closely resembles the set of acts it originally announced for its 20th anniversary edition back in 2020. If you couldn't score tickets to the three-day festival or haven't been able to get time off work to venture up to Byron Bay in the middle of the year, you're in luck: a heap of the international acts from the lineup have announced sideshows. Heading up the huge announcement is Oasis's Liam Gallagher who will be performing in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth; New York indie legends Yeah Yeah Yeahs popping up in Sydney and Melbourne; and rap sensation Jack Harlow who will be making appearances in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Joining these superstars on the list of sideshows: Duke Dumont, Yungblood, Jungle, Mura Masa, Aitch, Tom Misch, Oliver Tree, Orville Peck, Dillon Francis, Tierra Whack, Jpegamafia, Sofi Tucker, Still Woozy, Holly Humberstone, Biig Piig, Joy Crookes, Hinds and Renforshort, as well as UK viral sensation Wet Leg who will be supporting Yeah Yeah Yeahs on their run of shows. [caption id="attachment_748423" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Orville Peck[/caption] Headliners Tyler the Creator, The Strokes and Gorillaz will also be setting out on their own previously announced sideshows, however tickets to these have already been snatched up, so if you don't have them already you may be out of luck. Sydney and Melbourne have predictably scored shows from all the acts on the roster of sideshows, Auckland and Perth will have the chance to catch a good chunk of the artists, while Brisbane and Adelaide have received one show each — Yungblood in Brisbane and Sofi Tukker in Adelaide. Brisbane is often hard done by when it comes to Splendour's touring gigs, presumably due to its proximity to Byron Bay. As for Adelaide, it's receiving its own Spin Off festival on Friday, July 22 featuring Glass Animals, Jack Harlow, Sapcey Jane, Ball Park Music and Oliver Tree. You can find all the details and the full roster of sideshows at Secret Sounds website. [caption id="attachment_842129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joy Crookes[/caption] Splendour in the Grass will take place at North Byron Parklands Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24. The festival's sideshows are popping up across Australia and New Zealand in July. Tickets go on sale from 9am Monday, February 14.
