James Packer may need to go back to the drawing board, after members from the City of Sydney called on the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) to reject a series of proposed changes to the magnate's $1.5 billion tower project at Barangaroo. A submission before the PAC would see the height of the Crown hotel, apartment and casino complex increased by an additional 100 metres, and occupy a part of the foreshore currently intended for use as a public park. But the City of Sydney's chief planner has slammed the new proposal, arguing that the tower would "dominate and overwhelm" the Barangaroo site. "There is clear failure in the assessment to consider site suitability and the broader public interest," City of Sydney's Graham Jahn told the PAC on Thursday. "North-eastern views of the Opera House for 66 apartments and VIP guests, at the expense of permanent foreshore parkland for Sydneysiders, cannot be a defendable trade-off." While the proposal did have its supporters, including Liberal councillor Christine Forster and Sydney Business Chamber executive director Patricia Forsythe, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a majority of speakers before the PAC opposed the new plan. Among them was Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich and former government architect Peter Mould. "The only possible explanation for this change is increased profits without any accrued public benefit," said Mould. "In fact, there is considerable public disbenefit." The final decision on the Crown complex lies with the PAC. Chairwoman Lynelle Briggs said the commission would make its decision "as soon as practicable." Via SMH. Image: Lend Lease/Crown.
Suitcases at the ready, eager travellers: your dream Japanese getaway is back on. After two-and-a-half years of border restrictions due to COVID-19, the nation will fully reopen to individual international tourists from Tuesday, October 11 — and you won't need to book a package through a travel agency, or abide by the country's pandemic-era visa restrictions, to enjoy your holiday. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the news on Thursday, September 22 US time during a trip to New York, The Japan Times and Nikkei Asia reported. "We are a nation that has flourished through the free flow of people, goods and capital," the Japanese Prime Minister advised at a press conference at the New York Stock Exchange, as per Reuters. "COVID-19, of course, interrupted all of these benefits, but from October 11 Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the US, as well as resume visa-free travel and individual travel," he said. That means that visitors to Japan will be able to make their own travel arrangements — a huge change to the current rules, even though requirements were only altered recently. Until May, the country was closed to international tourists. Then, the Japanese government started trialling in letting strictly controlled package tours, including with Australian tourists. Next, in early June, it broadened those entry requirements to allow in visitors from a heap of nations under the same rules. And, since early September, it has permitted travellers, including from Down Under, to make the journey even when they aren't on guided tours, as long as they have organised their flights and accommodation through a travel agency. From October 11, dropping the visa requirement applies to visitors from nations that weren't required to obtain tourist visas before the pandemic — including from Australia and New Zealand. So, in several ways, heading to Japan will return to the pre-COVID-19 status quo. Japan is also ditching its daily cap on international arrivals, which is currently set at 50,000, on the same date. The timing is fantastic for Studio Ghibli fans eager to make a date with the animation house's upcoming theme park — which opens on Tuesday, November 1. Desperate to hit up a Super Nintendo theme park, too? Always wanted to walk across Shibuya's famous scramble crossing? Keen to sing karaoke in a ferris wheel — or simply eat and drink your way around all the ramen joints and izakayas possible? This is supremely welcome news for you as well. Japan's new border rules will come into effect on Tuesday, October 11. For further details about visiting Japan and its border restrictions, head to the Government of Japan website. Via The Japan Times / Nikkei Asia / Reuters.
Here's a great way to get people to pay attention to almost anything: add Paul Rudd. Movie fans have known that truth since the 90s, when he first grabbed everyone's attention in Clueless. Sure, some of his early big-screen roles — such as Romeo + Juliet as well — tried to convince us that Rudd was the lesser romantic alternative, but we all knew better. Sorry, mid-90s films, you were wrong. At the beginning of the pandemic, New York City even enlisted Rudd to spread the word about COVID-19 safety — that's how deep the "add Paul Rudd to anything" rule goes. So getting the Ant-Man and Ghostbusters: Afterlife star to run around NYC to plug Billy Eichner's new queer rom-com Bros just makes sense, obviously. Eichner is doing the running with him, bringing back his beloved comedy game show Billy on the Street for a brand-new episode to promote his new flick. Rudd has already been on the series before, in a season-three episode called 'Would You Have Sex with Paul Rudd?'. You don't have to pay many people $1 to say yes to that. This time, Eichner and Rudd jog around, stick a microphone in people's faces and ask if folks will see Bros — and tell them that Rudd wants them to. "Paul Rudd demands that you see Bros," Eichner says to one New Yorker. "I'm in" is the response, naturally. Rudd also carries that aforementioned man, upon request. Not everyone is as obliging, however. "I'm sorry I'm not Florence Pugh!" Eichner screams in response to one rejection, as only Eichner can. If this is your first Billy on the Street experience, the show sees comedian Eichner take to the New York City pavement to ask ordinary folks about movies, music and TV shows, often with a celebrity in tow. During its main run from 2011–17, episodes also involved Eichner yelling at his unsuspecting contestants about their questionable pop culture taste or utter lack of entertainment knowledge — yep, right there on NYC's streets, with a camera pointing their way — and the end result was a hilarious dream to watch for audiences, too. As for Bros, it releases in cinemas Down Under on October 27 — and sees the Parks and Recreation and Difficult People treasure becomes the first openly gay man to co-write and star in his own major studio film. He plays a podcaster who has been asked to write exactly this kind of flick, and falls in love himself (with Killjoys' Luke Macfarlane) along the way. Eichner co-wrote the Bros script with director Nicholas Stoller (Bad Neighbours and its sequel), while Judd Apatow (The King of Staten Island, Trainwreck) produces. On-screen, the cast includes Ts Madison (Zola), Monica Raymund (Chicago Fire), Guillermo Díaz (Scandal), Guy Branum (Hacks), Bowen Yang (Fire Island) and Amanda Bearse (Married with Children). Check out the trailer for Bros below: Bros opens in cinemas Down Under on October 27.
If you're a vegetarian, worshipper of eggplant or just a keen home cook — which, let's face it, many of us are becoming — chances are Yotam Ottolenghi has had some impact on your life. In fact, we bet you've got at least one of his bestselling cookbooks in your cupboard. And, this week, you can get some tips and tricks from the cult Israeli chef when the Sydney Opera House streams its 2019 chat with him. Streaming at 3pm AEST on Sunday, April 26, the recording is from the Opera House's Talks and Ideas program. Ottolenghi's Aussie visit followed the publication of his book Simple, which celebrates the joys of fuss-free dishes, featuring 130 easy-to-make yet super-tasty dishes. The renowned chef will be in conversation with Malaysian Australian cook Adam Liaw and they'll be discussing everything from what makes a recipe simple to the humble cauliflower, bold flavours and cooking for kids. So, even if you're a bit of a novice in the kitchen, this talk is sure to get you cooking up a storm soon enough. But, Ottolenghi will be talking about much more than that, too. Firstly, there are all his other books, like the Middle Eastern-inspired Jerusalem, the vegetarian-friendly Plenty and the dessert bible Sweet, a collaboration with Melbourne pastry chef Helen Goh. Then, there are his documentaries and his regular writing gigs: a weekly column in Feast magazine and a monthly column in The New York Times. [caption id="attachment_768174" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr/Stijn Nieuwendijk[/caption] The talk is part of the Sydney Opera House's three-month digital program From Our House to Yours, with free content streamed nightly from Wednesday–Sunday. While you wait for the full talk to stream on Sunday, you can also check out the Opera House staff's favourite five Ottolenghi recipes here, as well as five fun facts about the famed chef. Image: Ken Leanfore
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With Australians knocking back an average of 50,000 takeaway coffees every 30 minutes, and one billion paper cups winding up in landfill each year, it's pretty clear that our on-the-go coffee habits need to undergo a drastic change. But no matter how many reusable cups hit the market, that throwaway culture is a hard one to shake. We've been taking tiny steps to address the problem, though; last year the City of Sydney trialled standalone bins for one-use coffee cups and, just recently, a Sydney cafe banned all disposable cups. But the latest product to help make our caffeine addictions somewhat better for the environment is the RecycleMe cup — a new 'more recyclable' takeaway coffee cup, which is being trialled in Sydney and Melbourne this week. This little guy is the brainchild of Australian-owned paper and packaging specialists Detpak and California-based Smart Planet Technologies, who were looking to create a disposable cup that could be easily recycled through the usual paper and cardboard recycling stream. At present, regular coffee cups cannot be recycled like other cardboard items due to their waterproof polyethylene lining, and there is currently no facility in Australia that is able to recycle them. The RecycleMe cups differ because they have a mineral-based lining that's easier to be removed, and means up to 96 percent of the cup can be recycled. The RecycleMe cups can't go straight into your regular recycling bin, though. As part of the trial, patrons who order takeaway coffees will have to turf their empty cups and lids into the special blue bins in-store. From there, the lining will be removed before the cups head to a regular paper recycling facility to be processed and made into new paper and cardboard products. While having to dispose of your takeaway cup at the cafe you bought it from sort of defeats the purpose of getting a disposable one in the first place, it is a step in the right direction — particularly if the cups can enter the regular recycling stream rather than simply going to landfill. You can test the final product at Toby's Estate in Sydney and Melbourne Museum, where the RecycleMe cups will be in use until Sunday, August 20. Detpak aims to have the RecycleMe cups on the commercial market within six months.
UPDATE, April 1, 2021: The Personal History of David Copperfield is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Google Play and YouTube Movies. He's skewered British, American and Russian politics in The Thick of It, In the Loop, Veep and The Death of Stalin. This year, in the eerily prescient Avenue 5, he pondered what would happen if a group of people were confined on a cruise of sorts — a luxury space voyage — for an extended stretch of time. But, made in period comedy mode, The Personal History of David Copperfield might just be Armando Iannucci's most delightful affair yet. Indeed, playfully trifling with a Charles Dickens classic suits the writer/director. It should; he's a huge fan of the 19th-century author, and a staunch believer that Dickens' body of work "isn't just quality entertainment for a long-dead audience" (as he told viewers in his 2012 BBC special Armando's Tale of Charles Dickens). And so, taking on the acclaimed scribe's semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story, Iannucci tinkers, massages and re-envisages David Copperfield with ample love for the literary source material. In the process, he also crafts a still Victorian era-set yet unmistakably modern — and fresh, very funny and sharp-witted — big-screen adaptation. The eponymous character's tale begins in the film as it does on the page: with Copperfield determined to discover whether he shall turn out to be the hero of his own life "or whether that station will be held by anybody else". On-screen, the hopeful aspiring writer (Dev Patel) delivers that statement from a stage while speaking to a crowd. Then, in one of the many inventive visual flourishes that mark Iannucci's lively retelling, Copperfield strolls through the background to revisit his experiences from the moment of his birth. Though he enters the world to a doting mother, Clara (Morfydd Clark), his isn't a childhood filled with unfettered happiness. The joy he feels in his earliest days (as played by Ranveer Jaiswal and Jairaj Varsani) — and when his beloved nanny Peggoty (Daisy May Cooper) takes him to visit her family, who live in an upturned boat that doubles as a beach house — subsides quickly when Clara remarries. Not only is his new stepfather (Darren Boyd) stern, cruel, violent and accompanied by an equally unpleasant sister (Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie), but he sends the boy off to London to work in his factory. As episodic on the screen as it is in the book, Copperfield's life then navigates a rollercoaster of ups and downs — starting with the drudgery of child labour, as well as time spent lodging with the poverty-stricken, law-skirting but always kindly Mr Micawber (Peter Capaldi) and his family. After tragedy strikes, Copperfield moves in with his donkey-hating great-aunt Betsey Trotwood (Tilda Swinton) and her equally eccentric houseguest Mr Dick (Hugh Laurie); however, though his situation appears to improve, the cycle from wealth to poverty and back again just keeps turning. As Dickens was, Iannucci and his frequent co-scribe Simon Blackwell (Peep Show, Breeders) are well aware of class chasms, the tough plights endured by the masses to benefit the better-off, the dog-eat-dog nature of capitalism in general and humanity's selfish, self-serving nature. The Personal History of David Copperfield may be largely upbeat in tone, visibly bright and dynamic, and take a few shrewd liberties with the story, but the darker elements of the narrative never escape view. Nor, as is to be expected given Iannucci's political satire prowess, do The Personal History of David Copperfield's contemporary parallels and relevance evade attention. Watching the twists and turns of Copperfield's life, it's easy to see how little some things have changed (attitudes towards everyone who isn't rich, white, powerful and male, especially, particularly in Brexit-era Britain) even 170 years after David Copperfield was first published. Heightening this perception is the movie's colour-blind casting, which not only extends to Patel's leading role, but to Doctor Strange's Benedict Wong, Harlots' Rosalind Eleazar and Avenue 5's Nikki Amuka-Bird in key parts (among other on-screen performers). No one mentions race; however, as also seen in the other recent and exceptional example of purposefully inclusive casting — musical sensation Hamilton — reframing this story to include and champion diverse backgrounds leaves a firm imprint. That makes The Personal History of David Copperfield as perceptive as it is jovial, jaunty, hilarious and spirited. In other words, it makes it a classic addition to Iannucci's resume. He's never shown as much visual creativity as he does here — deploying split-screen imagery, rear-projecting memories on giant tarpaulins, brandishing colourful costumes, favouring theatrical wide-angle lensing and even harking back to 1920s silent cinema — but he's astute as he's always been across his career. As always, that extends to his choice of actors in general, with the perfectly cast Patel as charming and thoughtful as he's ever been; Swinton, Capaldi and Laurie all put to stellar comic use; and Ben Whishaw suitably shady as the conniving Uriah Heep. With this gem of a sharp, savvy and supremely entertaining film, Iannucci doesn't just update Dickens for a modern audience or show that the author's work is still pertinent, but creates one of the great page-to-screen adaptations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqO25i-XNEU
Unlike a certain lab coat-wearing grandfather and his nervous grandson, we can't all exclaim "wubba lubba dub dub" and zap our way to a different part of the multiverse when things aren't going our way. But, we can get schwifty, kick back and watch a couple of animated interdimensional adventurers unleash their specific style of chaos, with Rick and Morty set to return in 2021 for its fifth season. Once again, Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith (both voiced by show co-creator Justin Roiland) will do what they do best: not just aping a concept straight out of Back to the Future, but wreaking havoc in as many universes as they can stumble across. Also back are Morty's mother Beth (Sarah Chalke, Firefly Lane), father Jerry (Chris Parnell, Archer) and sister Summer (Spencer Grammer, Tell Me a Story) — and, as both the initial trailer for season five and the just-released second sneak peek both show, they're playing a big part in Rick and Morty's dimension-hopping antics this time around. Glimpses at Rick and Morty's upcoming episodes are more about the mood, look and feel than the storylines. The show's trailers tease a heap of the out-there situations, battles and general sci-fi chaos that its characters will find themselves dealing with, and leave the specifics for the new season itself. That's been the case with season five so far, naturally — with nods to and parodies of everything from Voltron to Blade bundled into the two trailers to-date, because that's the way the news goes. As for when you'll be able to watch the next batch of Rick and Morty anarchy — and rejoin the smartest Rick and Morty-est Morty in the universe, of course — the fifth season will start airing week-to-week in the US from mid-June. Hopefully Netflix Down Under will follow suit shortly afterwards. That's what happened with season four, which released its long-awaited episodes in two batches in 2019 and 2020. Watch the latest trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tks_1uCO5kA Rick and Morty's fifth season will start airing weekly from June 20 in the US. Down Under, the show airs on Netflix — and we'll update you with a release date for the new season when one is announced.
Take every horror movie staple, every expected line and all the usual eerie settings, then throw in a beloved childhood character that's stopped being friendly and turned savage instead. That's a recipe for one of the most intriguing movies of the year, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey. Yes, it's a slasher film starring Winnie-the-Pooh. Yes, really. And yes, it looks set to forever change the way you see the childhood favourite. The flick itself isn't new news, but it now has a trailer — and it's as creepy as the whole concept sounds. "Oh bother!" is definitely the mood, after Christopher Robin returns to the Hundred Acre Wood as an adult, years after leaving his pals Winnie, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga and Roo behind. All that time alone hasn't turned out well, and there's about to be a body count to prove it. No, the idea that Pooh might turn murderous hasn't ever crossed anyone's minds before. Gracing pages for almost a century — plus screens big and small for decades — Winnie-the-Pooh has done many things in his time, but getting grisly hasn't been one of them. Ever since AA Milne first conjured up the honey-loving, walking-and-talking teddy bear back in the 1920s, Pooh has enjoyed plenty of adventures involving his human and animal friends, and tried to eat as much of his favourite foodstuff as possible. We've all seen the cartoons and toys, and also watched films such Goodbye Christopher Robin and Christopher Robin in recent years. To director Rhys Waterfield, however, Pooh is no longer cute and cuddly, even if he's a honey-fiending teddy bear who normally doesn't wear pants (although he appears to here). And if you're wondering about the tone of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, other than horror, the filmmaker's other upcoming titles include Firenado, Sky Monster and Rise of the Loch Ness. Clearly, Pooh breaking bad all falls into B-movie territory, which the premise makes plain as well. The setup: after seeing their food supplies dwindle as Christopher grew up, Pooh and Piglet have spent years feeling hungry. They've turned feral, in fact, even eating Eeyore to survive. So when Christopher returns, it sets the pair on a rampage, which leads to them a rural cabin where a group of university students are holidaying. From that summary, it's obvious what'll happen from there. The trailer cements that fact, and throws in more horror tropes than you could fit in a pot of honey in the process. Exactly when Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey will reach screens Down Under, and where, also hasn't yet been announced — and the film's release date in the US and UK is also yet to be set at this point — but it's heading to DVD and VOD rather than cinemas. Wondering why something that's usually so sweet and innocent is being given the creepy, bloody, eerie horror treatment — turning Winnie-the-Pooh into a killer, no less? It's because the character has just entered the public domain in America. Disney no longer holds the copyright, and no one can now hold the exclusive intellectual property rights over the character, opening the door for wild interpretations like this slasher flick. Check out the Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey trailer below: Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when further details are released. Images: Jagged Edge Productions.
If you've only ever spotted one thing about former wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson, we're betting you've noticed that he already looks like he has superpowers. And if you've been watching The Rock's on-screen career as he's amassed a hefty movie resume over the past couple of decades, you've probably also observed a second key point: he overwhelmingly loves joining franchises. Cases in point: The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King, his multiple Fast and Furious flicks (and spinoff Hobbs & Shaw), Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, GI Joe: Retaliation, and both Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level. New to that list is Black Adam — and, fittingly, here he plays someone with superpowers. The latest entry in the DC Extended Universe — aka the movies that revolve around Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and the whole Justice League gang, because Marvel isn't the only comic book company with a film and TV universe — Black Adam is also a spinoff from past DCEU flick Shazam!. Johnson plays an ancient prisoner turned god who was given powers almost 5000 years back, then captured in a tomb. Now, he's free and on the loose in the modern world. Is Black Adam a hero or villain? On the page, he's one of Shazam's archenemies — but as the just-dropped trailer for Black Adam shows, grappling with that question is a big part of this new movie. Given that he's played by the always-likeable Johnson, you can probably expect him to fall further on the side of good than evil. Black Adam hits cinemas Down Under on October 20, with Johnson's Jungle Cruise director Jaume Collet-Serra helming. Also featuring on-screen: Aldis Hodge (One Night in Miami) as Hawkman, Noah Centineo (the To All the Boys I've Loved Before franchise ) as Atom Smasher and ex-Bond star Pierce Brosnan as Dr Fate, plus Sarah Shahi (Sex/Life), Marwan Kenzari (Aladdin), Quintessa Swindell (Voyagers) and Bodhi Sabongui (A Million Little Things). And if Black Adam has you thinking about Shazam!, it is getting a sequel this year, too, with Shazam! Fury of the Gods due in cinemas in December. Check out the trailer for Black Adam below: Black Adam opens in cinemas Down Under on October 20.
They set expectation levels fairly high by announcing Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs as first on the bill, but Fuzzy Entertainment have managed to provide plenty more reasons not to get too plastered on New Years Eve with their release of Field Day’s full line-up. Joining Orlando Higginbottom on January 1st will be fellow purveyors of the electro-dance Hot Chip, SBTRKT, Erol Elkan, Mark Ronson and Icona Pop, and if you require something you can sit down to there will be more hangover-friendly tunes from the likes of Django Django and our own Van She. 2013's lineup also shares many acts with Falls Festival and Southbound, with many acts playing all three festivals. You know what this means, right? Field Day's Facebook fans are really really good at deciphering blurry letters. Field Day 2013 lineup: TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUBHOT CHIPSBTRKT (LIVE)MARK RONSON (DJ SET)THE VACCINESDISCLOSURE (LIVE)TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURSDJANGO DJANGOBOOKA SHADE (LIVE)MAYA JANE COLESICONA POP (LIVE)ADRIAN LUXFAKE BLOODEROL ALKANVAN SHEDANNY DAZEAC SLATERBREAKBOT (LIVE)KRAFTY KUTS & A SKILLZDJ NU-MARKARAABMUZIKJAGUAR SKILLSJESSE ROSEHUDSON MOHAWKSCUBACOOLIOTRIPLE J UNEARTHED WINNERAND MANY MANY MORE Field Day takes place on 1st January 2013 in The Domain. General release tickets go on sale Thursday October 25 at Midday on Field Day's website.
The year Falls Festival is really teasing us. After announcing that they would expand to Western Australia this year back in June, and then confirming that none other than Childish bloody Gambino would be headlining earlier this month, this morning they've let slip another headliner before the full lineup is released this afternoon. And, much to our delight, it's London Grammar. Yep, the British trio will return to Australia for Falls Music & Arts Festival over the New Years period. It's a quick return to the country — after all, they only toured last year — and they'll join musical (and acting and writing) wunderkind Donald Glover to play all four shows. As always, Falls will be heading to Lorne in Victoria for four nights, and Marion Bay in Tassie and Byron Bay on the NSW coast for three nights over New Year's Eve. They'll also be setting up shop in Fremantle for the first time with Falls Downtown, a two-day city festival slated to take place over the weekend of January 7-8. The main stage will be set up in Freo's town square, while an old-world ballroom and a stone-walled church will house the smaller ones. They'll also be taking over the abandoned Myer building, turning it into a creepy crib for art installations, "unexpected performance areas", markets and "bunkered basement danceterias". There'll even be a small number of glamping tents on the roof. It sounds similar to some of Melbourne Music Week's activations of abandoned spaces, and it sounds insane. This new iteration of the festival and the announcement of Childish Gambino as headliner is another win for Falls, who sell out their Lorne event basically every year. Since its inception in Lorne back in 1993, the festival has grown to span three cities, which include the original site on the Great Ocean Road, Marion Bay in Tassie and, since 2013, Byron Bay. But here's the dates. The full festival lineup will be announced this afternoon. Stay tuned. Lorne, Victoria: December 28-31 Marion Bay, Tasmania: December 29-31 Byron Bay, NSW: December 31 - January 2 Fremantle, WA: January 7-8 Tickets for Falls Festival 2016/17 will go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, August 30 via their website.
It has been less than a year since the sale of medicinal marijuana became legal in Australia, but the Federal Government isn't stopping there. They've now approved the export of the country's cannabis-based medicines. Yes, domestic manufacturers can now sell their wares overseas. The move applies to medicinal cannabis products, rather than cannabis itself. In a statement, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt dubbed the move "an important step for the development of the medicinal cannabis sector and to secure long-term supplies for Australian patients," and said it "will help both the domestic supply and Australian producers by strengthening the opportunities for domestic manufacturers." Hunt expanded upon the rationale further to the ABC, noting "we would like to be, potentially, the world's number one medicinal cannabis supplier." It is believed that by helping Aussie manufacturers expand, it'll assist in warding off competition from imports by allowing local outfits to grow their market. As part of any licence authorising export, medicinal cannabis products will be required to be made available to Australian patients first. Since February 2017, local companies have been allowed to distribute the drug as a medicine, with people with chronic illness and pain — like epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and cancer — able to access the drug after getting a prescription from their doctor. "We want a robust Australian medicinal cannabis industry so that doctors have safe, quality domestic products that they can confidently prescribe to their patients," said Hunt. Just to be clear, though, recreational use of marijuana is still very much illegal and laws vary state-to-state. By Lauren Vadnjal and Sarah Ward.
If catching a real-life talk by Barack Obama is on your intellectual bucket list, then you're about to get your chance to tick it off — the former United States president is coming Down Under for a speaking event next month. The New Zealand United States Council yesterday revealed that it'll host Mr Obama for two exclusive talks next month, with the first to be held at Auckland's Viaduct Events Centre on March 22. He will then fly into Sydney for a second talk at the on March 23 which, according to News Corp, will be held at the Art Gallery of NSW. "President Obama's presidency had an extraordinary impact on the world and during his service, New Zealand's deep friendship with the United States was strengthened politically, culturally, in trade and investment, innovation and security," said NZUS Council Chairman Leon Grice in a Facebook post. Mr Obama visited Australia twice during his eight-year presidency. This will be his first post-presidency trip to the country. The finer details are yet to be announced and it's not yet known if the event will be open to the general public. We'll let you know when more details are confirmed.
At long last SPECTRE — the 24th film in the iconic James Bond franchise — has made its way to screens around the country, and to mark the occasion, Heineken is giving fans a bunch of prizes to make them sharper than Bond himself. To help celebrate its long-standing partnership with Bond, Heineken has teamed up with the boutique experience cultivators over at Mr Aristotle for a brand new project, The Catch. Throughout November and December, Heineken will be hosting exclusive SPECTRE 007 events that are so mysterious participants won’t know what’s in store until they’re suddenly whisked away and thrown right into the middle of the action right as it happens — like this one, where you and your mates head off on an exclusive personal tailoring adventure through some of Sydney's premier male fashion outlets and stores. Winners secure the expert advice of a top-tier fashion consultant to accompany you around town for a full three hours. You'll have what every indecisive shopper dreams of: your very own personal stylist advising on your needs, style and personality. They won't tell you how to dress — they'll tell you how to dress perfectly for you. No time-wasting, no queues and, most importantly, no buyer's remorse. It doesn't matter if you're keen for a complete overhaul or the simple addition of a few key pieces, your consultant will be there to offer their years of experience and VIP access to some of Sydney's fashion meccas. You'll finish up at accessory establishment Belancé. Folks, if Jay-Z could marry a store, it'd be this one — and not just because of the name. To be in the running for prizes like this, sign up via the Heineken's The Catch website and have your mates locked, loaded and ready to move at a moment’s notice. Then dive into your wardrobe and get cracking on that long overdue stocktake review — because if you win, you'll need to make some space.
Nothing says weekend quite like a market, so why wait till Saturday morning? Get in on the game early — in other words, Friday lunchtime — at The Rocks Friday Foodie Market. Take your time wandering through Jack Mundey Place and the adjacent laneways, where you can sample handmade, dried, baked, whipped and roasted products from all over the city and further afield. You name it, you'll get your hands on it – from BBQ skewers to some of the best gozleme in Sydney, okonomiyaki, roast pork roll, plus cupcakes and handmade chocolates for dessert.
Got some extra coin you're keen to throw in the direction of the Australian art scene? Firstly, good on you. Secondly, you may as well get something (other than warm fuzzies) in return. As part of Art Month Sydney, the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) is organising The Sandpit, a big ticket ceramics workshop/fundraiser hosted by celebrated young artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran. Recognised for his unsettling sculptures that explore themes of gender, sexuality, politics and religion, the Sri-Lankan born, Sydney-based artist — who won the 2015 Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Award — will lead a small hands-on class in the Ceramics Lab at UNSW Art + Design. There are just 15 spots available, so when we say small, we mean small. Tickets are on a first come, first serve basis, so make sure you get in quick. Of course at $560 a head, entry to The Sandpit isn't cheap. But you can at least rest assured that the money will be put to good use, with $450 of every ticket going to support NAVA's advocacy for the visual arts. Plus you get a free lunch... and who doesn't like a free lunch? The Sandpit takes place on March 18 at UNSW Art + Design. Visit the event website for tickets and further information.
The way people talk about food has changed. With a lot of the focus shifting to the 'paddock-to-plate' movement, people are putting more onus on where their food is coming from and are being encouraged more and more to support local and sustainable farming operations. Transparency on sustainability, provenance and 'food miles' is becoming increasingly meaningful to consumers. And this movement hasn't just stopped at food. It's trickled into the world of drinks, particularly in brewing, with beer drinkers and makers raising their glasses to a 'paddock-to-pint' movement. Tracking a beer's creation every step of the way is a rich and rewarding way to ensure its quality, as well as gain a greater understanding of its flavour. So, it's this experience that's captured the hearts and tastebuds of many brewers in Australia and around the world — and it's the story of these beers that's captured the hearts of consumers. Everyone loves a good tale. So, getting to know the narrative of a product, be it the eye fillet on your plate or pint in your hand, has allowed for another layer of appreciation. Family-owned and with a reputation for winning over beer drinkers with its high-quality brews, Coopers has released its 2018 seasonal Vintage Ale, which this year, channels this paddock-to-pint movement. We chat with Dr Tim Cooper, chief brewer, to find out more about the brewery's approach to the movement and how it plays into this year's seasonal release. THE FIRST STEP The first step of the brewing process is the sourcing and preparation of malts typically sourced from barley, though wheat and rye are also used for certain styles. High-quality malt is a vital base for creating good beer, and being certain of where your malt comes from is a great place to start. Recently, the independent, family-owned Coopers reopened a maltings facility next to its Regency Park brewery, placing it in a "relatively small group of brewers worldwide with their own maltings". Having carefully sourced Westminster barley from nearby Kangaroo Island, Dr Cooper remarks on the brewery's "enviable advantage" of not only being able to source its malt locally but also being able to then manage the full process from the paddock to the maltings facility, from the brewery and into your glass. Another vital ingredient in the beer making process is the hops. The variety used for this year's Vintage Ale, though not local, is the high-quality Aramis hops, originating from eastern France and known for its herbal, citrus and spicy notes. The specialist hop is a blend of Strisselpalt and Whitebread Golding, which typically offers medium spice and a stable, refreshing bitterness. Just a small quantity was imported for this year's vintage release to provide "an elegant hop flavour". This was achieved by adding the hops during fermentation, as well as late in the brewing stage to give the beer notes of dried fruit, spice and a hint of vanilla, complete with a herbal, aromatic bitterness to round everything out. THE RELEASE Speaking of the seasonal vintage brew, this year marks the 20th anniversary of Coopers' iconic annual release. The recipe and base ale yeast have both grown and developed over time depending on what ingredients were best available at the time of brewing each year — not on what's trending. As Dr Cooper explains, "creating Coopers Vintage is not a matter of following trends, but about the Coopers brewing team experimenting with what they think is good". The beer style that best befits Coopers Vintage is that of an English strong ale, expect malt-driven flavours of honey, toffee and caramel, contrasted by moderate spiciness and a refreshingly earthy bitterness from the presence of the Aramis hops. Pouring a deep amber colour with a creamy white head and weighing in at a hefty 7.5% ABV, this is a rich, but well-balanced beer that has plenty of character from the first sip to the last. THE AFTER PARTY Like fine wines, beers with a higher ABV (like 7.5%) can be aged, so over time, they develop idiosyncratic qualities resulting in truly unique beers whose flavour profiles shift and become more complex with age. With carefully monitored and selected ingredients, each vintage of Coopers Vintage Ale offers a different experience when aged correctly, from day one to year one to year five. Dr Cooper advises that the journey of flavour, much like the paddock-to-pint process, is a rewarding step-by-step adventure for the more discerning drinker. "I recommend buying a carton and savouring the Vintage Ale over a period of time, to enjoy the flavour journey and to see how the flavour evolves...Depending on the storage conditions, I think five years is enough time to enjoy a carton this way." Keen to know more about cellaring beer? Grab a carton of this year's Vintage Ale and read up on why and how you should be cellaring more beer.
What started with one of the best sci-fi films ever made, delivered two underwhelming sequels, also includes an excellent animated anthology and rightly claims that Keanu Reeves is the one? For the past two decades, we've all known the answer: The Matrix franchise. The science-fiction epic smartly recognises that it's Keanu's world and we're all just living in it — but what if that isn't the case in The Matrix Resurrections? Come Boxing Day Down Under, the series' long-awaited fourth live-action flick — and fifth film overall — will reach screens. Yes, Keanu is back, as is Carrie-Anne Moss (Jessica Jones) as Trinity. But as the new movie's first trailer showed, and the latest sneak peek keeps teasing, things aren't the same for his on-screen alter-ego Neo. After working with sibling Lilly on the first three live-action films, filmmaker Lana Wachowski was never likely to bring back The Matrix without throwing in more than a few trippy twists, of course. "Maybe this isn't the story we think it is," the new trailer tells viewers — all while reminding us both verbally and visually about the deja vu glitch in the matrix theory. Things get trippy, and quickly. And as well as changes for Neo, it looks as if Trinity has a new role. From the clips so far, audiences can also expect Keanu's John Wick-era look; a version of Neo who can't remember anything about blue and red pills, bending spoons, bullet time and living in a simulated reality in a dystopian future where artificially intelligent machines harvest human bodies for power; an advice-spouting character (played by Mindhunter's Jonathan Groff) who just might be the new Agent Smith; some martial arts moves in a recognisable dojo; and a familiar figure in a new guise. Arriving 18 years after The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions hit cinemas in 2003, this follow-up obviously dives back down the rabbit hole as Neo once again grapples with the Matrix and everything it means for humanity — and also sees Jada Pinkett Smith (Girls Trip) return alongside Reeves and Moss. They're joined by Matrix newcomers Neil Patrick Harris (It's a Sin), Jessica Henwick (On the Rocks), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (The White Tiger), Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Candyman). Forget Christmas — Boxing Day can't come soon enough. Check out the latest trailer for The Matrix Resurrections below: The Matrix Resurrections opens in cinemas Down Under on December 26, 2021.
A pop-up wine bar is about to hit the tail end of George Street to host a series of Cellar Door in the City tasting events throughout the month of October. An initiative of the Sydney International Food Festival, a program of weekend events will unite tipplers from all walks to experiment with Australian, New Zealand and Italian drops. To kick things off, the New Generation Hunter Valley crew, are hosting a party. And we all love a party. The (ex) Ken Done Gallery will transform into a humming pop-up wine bar and tasting fortress where guests will mingle with David Hook (David Hook Wines), Andrew Thomas (Thomas Wines), Rhys Eather (Meerea Park), Nick Paterson (Mistletoe Wines), Mike De Luliis (De Luliis Wines) and Andrew Margan (Margan Wines). 5 October, 6-9pm, 123 George Street, The Rocks. $30. And if your preferred tipple lies beyond Australian borders? Sip Your Modo is for wine drinkers inspired by Italian notes. Here's where you'll meet six Australian winemakers, including Pizzini, Brown Brothers, Olivers Taranga, Jacobs Creek, Dal Zotto and De Bortoli, creating Italian inspired vino. A tasting extravaganza. 7 October, 2-5pm, 123 George, The Rocks. $30. Now, to the connoisseurs, it's time to listen up. 50 Shades of Gris is the ticket to a tasting sensation comprising more than 50 international pinot gris and pinot grigio wines. Petaluma, Tyrrell's, Tempus Two and Grant Burge are just a few who will deliver their goods. 13 October, 6-9pm, 123 George Street, The Rocks. $30. Comparatively, for pinot noir drinkers, Sip Your Noir offers an opportunity to taste a considered selection of the said variety. Brokenwood, Brown Brothers and Holm Oak are a few on offer. 19 October, 6-9pm, 123 George Street, The Rocks. $30. In celebration of fine wine and the glory of warmer weather, join us by getting your drink on. Tickets to each event are available here.
First, the British Film Festival's 2022 lineup wowed movie lovers with Bond and big-name festival hits. Now, the Australia-wide event has revealed its full program for the year — and it too is filled with highlights. Get ready to catch Paul Mescal's latest post-Normal People role, then check out a rom-com starring Lily James (Pam & Tommy) and Shazad Latif (Toast of Tinseltown), before seeing the Australian premiere of Olivia Colman's (Mothering Sunday) newest movie. As always, it's a star-studded affair, and it'll tour the country in October and November. 2022's ode to British will run from Tuesday, October 18–Wednesday, November 16, hitting picture palaces in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Byron Bay. Opening the fest: the already-announced Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, set in the world of French fashion, with Oscar-nominated Phantom Thread actor Lesley Manville in the titular role. At the other end, that aforementioned rom-com What's Love Got to Do With It? will wrap things up, with James and Latif joined on-screen by Emma Thompson (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande). Mescal's addition to the program comes courtesy of Aftersun, which charts a father-daughter bond during a holiday — while Colman's arrives via Joyride, about a 12-year-old who flees a difficult home situation in a stolen taxi, only to find a woman passed out in the backseat with a baby. Among the flicks with big names at this year's fest, they join the previously announced The Banshees of Inisherin, which reunites In Bruges writer/director Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and his stars Colin Farrell (After Yang) and Brendan Gleeson (The Tragedy of Macbeth); plus the Bill Nighy (The Man Who Fell to Earth)-starring Living, about a terminally ill man in the 1950s. There's The Lost King, too, which takes inspiration from the IRL discovery of King Richard III's remains beneath a Leicester car park, and features Sally Hawkins (The Phantom of the Open) and Steve Coogan (The Time with Alan Partridge). Also on the complete bill, and a huge inclusion: Empire of Light, the new film from 1917, Skyfall and Spectre's Sam Mendes. Skyfall will also play as part of the Bond retrospective, but the director's latest has been called a love letter to cinema — because charting a romance in an old picture palace in the 1980s was always going to earn that description. An Emily Brontë biopic, aptly named Emily, and directed by Australia actor-turned-filmmaker Frances O'Connor (The End), also sits on the lineup — as do more sea shanties in song-filled sequel Fisherman's Friends 2: One and All. Or, there's Rogue Agent, which dramatises conman (and fake undercover MI5 agent) Robert Freegard's IRL story; In From the Side, about an affair between two members of a fictional South London gay rugby club; and Aisha, focusing on a young Nigerian woman seeking asylum in Ireland. As for that shaken-not-stirred contingent, it celebrates six decades since Dr No, the first movie in the 007 franchise, initially graced cinemas — and includes 14 films, with tickets $13 for each. The title that started it all is well and truly on the lineup, as are the fellow Connery-led You Only Live Twice, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball; Roger Moore-era titles Live and Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun; On Your Majesty's Secret Service with Australia's Bond George Lazenby; Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill; Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough with Pierce Brosnan; and Daniel Craig's Casino Royale and Skyfall. BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL 2022 DATES: Tuesday, October 18–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Norton, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema, Sydney Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Electric, Canberra Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor, Melbourne Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace James Street and Palace Centro, Brisbane Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16— Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Windsor Cinema, Perth Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Byron Bay, Byron Bay The 2022 British Film Festival tours Australia between Tuesday, October 18–Wednesday, November 16. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
The last time that Timothée Chalamet and Luca Guadagnino joined forces, the best film of 2017 was the end result — and what a swooning, moving delight Call Me By Your Name proved to be. The 1980s-set romance nabbed Chalamet a Best Actor Oscar nomination, and Guadagnino a Best Picture nod, too. So, arriving five years later, it's safe to say that pair's second collaboration is among 2022's most eagerly anticipated movies. That film is called Bones and All, and it'll premiere at this year's Venice Film Festival at the end of August/early September — and it boasts another key factor that'll pique viewers interests. Once again, Chalamet and Guadagnino collaborate on a love story, although this one comes with an extra bite. Forget peaches; here, Chalamet plays one half of a cannibal couple. "You don't think I'm a bad person?" he says as Lee, speaking to Taylor Russell's (Waves) Maren, in Bones and All's just-dropped first teaser trailer — which the Dune, The French Dispatch and Don't Look Up actor himself unveiled via Twitter. The response is exactly what you'd expect: "all I think is that I love you," she replies. While Bones and All will follow its cannibal lovers as they road trip across America, at 28 seconds, this first sneak peek is big on mood rather than plot — and the vibe is yearning, swooning again, but also unsettling. When Mark Rylance (The Phantom of the Open) pops up, he has his finger to his lips in a gesture of warning. Bones and All marks Guadagnino's first feature since 2018's Suspiria remake — after a detour to television with HBO series We Are Who We Are — and sees the director bring Camille DeAngelis' novel of the same name to the screen. Also set to feature in the film: Chalamet's Call Me By Your Name co-star Michael Stuhlbarg, We Are Who We Are alums Chloë Sevigny and Francesca Scorsese (yes, the daughter of filmmaker Martin Scorsese), plus André Holland (Passing), Jake Horowitz (The Vast of Night), filmmaker David Gordon Green (Halloween Kills), and Jessica Harper from both the original Suspiria and Guadagnino's version. Bones and All will release in the US on November 23, but doesn't currently have a release date Down Under — fingers crossed that that changes sooner rather than later. Check out the trailer for Bones and All below: Bones and All hits US cinemas on November 23, but doesn't currently have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is confirmed.
In the early 20th century, the now seemingly harmless triangle of land between Broadway, City Road and Cleveland Street was a “no-go zone” for “respectable Sydneysiders" — an inner-city den thick with thieves, gamblers and criminals of both the petty and not-so-petty varieties. The descent into the underworld began in 1817, when farmer William Chippendale shot dead a convict to stop him from stealing potatoes. Surprisingly enough, that didn’t stop old Chippo having a suburb named after him. But it did unleash a criminal culture that persisted well into the following century. Today, of course, you can wander Buckland and Balfour Streets without fearing for your pocket (or your life). And what is appealing about Chippendale is that, where other once-working class Sydney neighbourhoods have been gentrified beyond recognition, it has retained a down-to-earth, artsy vibe, which the founding of the Chippendale Creative Precinct has only magnified. And so, the concept behind soon-to-open new laneway bar, The Chip Off the Old Block, makes sense. Young arts-food-wine aficionado Katya Ginsberg is transforming a gothic-revival church into what she describes as “a drinking institution" where "working-class Chippendale meets modern day” and “everyday folk” can get their hands on “good grub and booze”. “As a lover of boutique bars and an active bar-goer ... this has always been a dream of mine,” she tells us. “For years, I have been storing ideas in my head that I hoped one day could be realised.” At just 23 years of age and mentored by her mother (restaurateur, gallerist and CCP founding director Nicky Ginsberg), Ginsberg is set to become one of Sydney’s youngest bar owners. The menu she's prepping promises “humble and hearty” Oliver Twist-inspired creations with a dash of contemporary influence. Think fish and chips wrapped in newspaper, bacon butty, prawn cocktails and bubble and squeak pie. And how about parching that hard-earned working-class/cultural elite thirst? There’ll be craft beers, including a local brew served in a paper bag; a handpicked selection of boutique wines; and a signature cocktail by the name of Gin and Bear It. And if you’re feeling the pinch, you’ll be able to drown your sorrows without ravaging your bank account between 5pm and 7pm Wednesday through to Sunday with $5 house wine and $5 beer. “I have poached some young, exciting and fresh faces from the world-renowned European Bar School that is operational around the corner in Chippendale, as well as some experienced Merivale bartenders,” Katya says. She herself spent three years working at a fine wine club before managing the Mission Restaurant Bar. The Chip Off the Old Block, to be found at 3 Little Queen Street, Chippendale, will launch on Wednesday May 28. Thereafter, you’ll find it open Wednesday to Sunday from 4pm.
Jumping on a bike and pumping the pedals is one of the best ways to explore a new city; however, usually it's something that only happens on land. Not in Paris if their new navigating gym comes to fruition. Here you won't just ride your way along the city's River Seine — you'll ride on it. To be specific, you'll sit on a stationary bike on a glass-enclosed 20-metre platform that floats down the famous French waterway. And, you'll actually be helping make the vessel move, with the workout-centric boat powered by exercise (plus solar panels for added energy, in case the 45 people on board prefer to cycle at a leisurely pace). Opening its windows to the elements during the summer, and keeping everything closed and warm during colder months, the Paris Navigating Gym will also feature cross-trainers for those keen on a different kind of fitness routine, plus augmented reality screens. That's how you'll keep track of just how much pedal power you're contributing to the vessel's trip, as well as data about the Seine's environmental conditions. The concept is a collaboration between Italian architects Carlo Ratti Associati, fitness equipment manufacturer Technogym, non-profit architecture group Terreform ONE and urban regeneration institute URBEM. At this stage, it's just that — a concept — but fingers crossed that this certain tourist drawcard becomes a reality. Via Inhabitat.
Hold onto your various HP merchandise, kids, because there are two new books comin' atcha. To celebrate 20 glorious years of making a generation of pessimistic adults low-key believe in magic, Bloomsbury publishing house has announced two new Harry Potter books. They'll be released as part of a long-ass exhibition titled "A History of Magic" that will run from October 2017 to February 2018 hosted by the British Library in London. The books are named Harry Potter: A History of Magic – The Book of the Exhibition and Harry Potter – A Journey Through A History of Magic. So, not exactly canon but still jolly good. The former is about the curriculum offered at Hogwarts and an exploration of its glorious subjects, from herbology and transfiguration, all the way through to the OHS nightmare that is Care of Magical Creatures. The latter is a more general history of magic and ancient creatures. Both include sprinklings of previously unseen bitties from J.K. Rowling and illustrations by Jim Kay (the illustrator behind the book covers). Look, it's not as exciting as a real new Harry Potter story (we're still not sure if the Cursed Child even counts) and now we'll have to sell our organs for a trip to see this exhibition, but we're cool with that. We'll just quietly continue to hold out hope that the Harry Potter empire never crumbles and/or turns out to be real all along. Via Reuters.
If you've ever needed proof that some stories never get old, the ongoing obsession with Britain's royal history provides plenty. On screens and stages, a slice of regal intrigue is regularly awaiting our viewing, interpreting and remixing the past in the process. The Crown might take ample artistic license with reality, but it's got nothing on the empowering pop-scored twist on the 16th century that's been wowing audiences in Six the Musical. Taking a few cues from well-known history, adding toe-tapping tunes and making theatre magic: that's this hit's approach. If you think you know the stories of Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr, then you probably do — even those with little interest in Britain's past kings and queens are likely aware that Henry VIII had six wives — but Six the Musical's version isn't about telling the same old tale. That's what Australian audiences discovered in 2021, 2022 and 2023 — and can again in 2024 and 2025. Every year is a royally excellent year for this production, which has just announced returns to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Exact season dates haven't been locked in as yet, but Victoria's next dance with the show arrives from August 2024 at Comedy Theatre. Sydney's will start from October 2024 at Theatre Royal Sydney and Brisbane's from January 2025 at QPAC Playhouse. First premiering back at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, then jumping to London's West End — and winning Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Costume Design, plus a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theatre Album, along the way — Six the Musical gleans inspiration from one of the most famous sextets there's ever been. It also finds its own angle despite how popular the Tudor monarch's love life has been in pop culture. So, move over 00s TV series The Tudors and 2008 movie The Other Boleyn Girl — and this one takes the pop part rather seriously. Six the Musical is presented as a pop concert, in fact, with the Catherines, Annes and Jane all taking to the microphone to tell their stories. Each woman's aim: to stake their claim as the wife who suffered the most at the king's hands, and to become the group's lead singer as a result. Cast details for the new season haven't yet been revealed, but expect Six the Musical's comeback tour to be popular. In Sydney, it played a whopping 15-week Sydney Opera House from December 2021, then returned to the Harbour City from August 2021 due to demand. SIX THE MUSICAL AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2024–25: From August 2024 — Comedy Theatre, Melbourne From October 2024 — Theatre Royal Sydney, Sydney From January 2025 — QPAC Playhouse, Brisbane Six the Musical will tour Australia again in 2024 and 2025. For more information and to join the ticket waitlist, head to the musical's website. Images: James D Morgan, Getty Images.
Enjoying a glass of wine might come with plenty of medical benefits, but having a tipple isn't typically an exercise-heavy pastime. You sit. You drink. You get up, top up your beverage and repeat. You usually don't walk particularly far, let alone run. Then came the Grapest 5K run, a new series of wine-tasting fun runs that kicked off around Australia earlier this year. Asking participants to put in the hard yards before getting some boozy rewards, it was such a hit that it's coming back for another round in 2018. How does it work? Grapest consists of two sections. First, you sprint, jog or set forth at whatever pace suits you best, making your way through scenic vineyard surroundings. Then, you walk another kilometre — yes, in addition to the first five, or ten if you're feeling extra energetic — while stopping at tasting stations along the way and sampling the good stuff. The latter part, they're calling a "wine waddle". Don't worry, if you're not up to the active stuff and you're simply keen on wandering and sipping, that's an option (although it does defeat the idea of combining fitness with throwing back drinks). 2018's events are scheduled for March 10 at Bendigo's Balgownie Estate, May 5 at Domaine de Binet in the Hunter Valley, May 19 at Ocean View Estates near Brisbane, September 8 at Pipers Brook in Tasmania and October 6 at Leura Park Estate in Geelong. For more information, visit the Grapest 5k run website.
It's not often you get to see bears casually drinking next to cheetahs. New York-based artist Cai Guo-Qiang's first solo exhibition in Australia is something of a cross between The Lion King and Noah's Ark that way. The exhibition, titled Falling Back to Earth, consists of three large-scale, nature-inspired installations, two of which are commissions inspired by the artist's own experiences in Australia. Heritage (2013) features 99 lifelike animals from all around the world drinking from a blue lake surrounded by white sand. The other new work is Eucalyptus (2013), a long gum tree extending the length of the gallery, and the third piece on display is the artist's famous and fabulous Head On (2006), where 99 artificial wolves are shown in various stages of colliding with a glass wall. The exhibition will be at Queensland's Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) until May 11, 2014. The exhibition also includes an interactive element for children, an illustrated book, videos and regular Chinese tea ceremonies. Images from Cai Guo-Qiang Studio Blog and QAGOMA.
A new outdoor music club is popping up in Zetland for the summer — thanks to the folks behind 107 Projects and the Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA). Head to the gorgeous Joynton Avenue Creative Centre for these fortnightly Friday gigs. Ruby's Summer Socials will kick off on Friday, January 29 with The Sonic Drops, a local reggae-jazz trio that pumps out feel-good tunes. The band will perform jazz arrangements of reggae and Jamaican classics by the likes of Jackie Mittoo, The Skatalites, Sly & Robbie and, of course, the one-and-only Bob Marley. Apart from the tunes, a full bar will serve drinks and nibbles. The program will continue for two months through until Friday, March 26. Upcoming acts span New Orleans funk, French swing, rockabilly and, of course, old school jazz. For the full program and to book, head to the SIMA website. All tickets cost just $15, or a tenner for SIMA members and concession card holders. Top image: Joynton Avenue Creative Centre by Rhiannon Hopley Photography
Maybe you're keen to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of the warmer weather. Perhaps 2022 has just been a chaotic year for you, as it has for most of us, and you're desperate to get away. You could always be yearning for a holiday, as almost everyone is. And, you might have the perfect vacation partner that you haven't been able to spend enough time flying to scenic spots with during the pandemic. If a few, most or all of the above applies, Jetstar comes bearing great news: a fly a friend for free' flight sale. Until 11.59pm AEST on Sunday, August 28 — or sold out — the Aussie airline is doing package deals for paired travellers, with one person's airfares included for nothing. Your wallet, your calendar, all that stress you're carrying around in your shoulders — they all love this for you. So will whichever mate or date you're now hitting up for a discounted holiday adventure. The packages cover flights, hotels and, usually, breakfast as well — with deals from Sydney including $484 for two nights at the Holiday Inn Express Little Collins Street in Melbourne, $1122 for five nights at Meridian Port Douglas, and $604 for a three-night getaway at voco Gold Coast. There's also a $732 three-night package at Pacific Hotel Cairns, a $1316 option for three nights at Daydream Island Resort and a $1151 stay for three nights at Hobart's Mövenpick Hotel. Offers and prices vary per city, as do dates for travel, but most destinations remain the same. Melburnians can also stay at the Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central for two nights for $434, for instance — and get cheaper prices to Hobart and slightly more expensive costs to Queensland. Whichever you pick — including options leaving from Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and more — you'll need to book online. When you do so, to get the deal, you'll also need to add an extra passenger. Also, checked baggage isn't included, so factor that into your budget — or pack light. Jetstar's 'fly a friend for free' sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Sunday, August 28 — or until sold out. Images: Jetstar.
Aussie duo Chloe Kaul and Simon Lam of Kllo are stopping by Sydney for a one-off show for this year's Vivid. The two will perform a catalogue of songs from their lauded debut album Backwater as well as, we're told, a few sneaky new songs. The meat of this coming-of-age album, which dropped in October 2017, was written on the road, in hotel rooms, while the band experimented with their style and grappled with their constantly changing inner and outer landscapes during their extensive 2016 tour. The result is a raw, yet polished production that blends elements of UK garage, 90s R&B and electro-pop and is laced with the smoky, soulful serenading that Kllo is known for. After emerging on the scene with their 2014 EP, Cusp, Kllo's music has continued to gain recognition, momentum and maturity, with Backwater delivering deeper, more emotive lyrics from Kaul and synth-heavy, experimental beats from Lam.
It's been 12 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005. Heading back to their collection of unconventional venues for another year, Laneway Festival has announced its 2017 lineup. Returning to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle, Auckland and Singapore next January and February, Laneway will raise a plastic cup to the middle of summer with one heck of a killer lineup. Following the already announced appearance of AB Original and Chet Faker (or is it Nick Murphy now?), Laneway will see one heck of a crew on their stages, including Aussies Tame Impala — who will be only doing Laneway this time, no sideshows. Oxford band Glass Animals will be coming out for the festival, along wiht other international acts Tourist, Tycho, Nao and riot grrl Kathleen Hanna. There's plenty of local love on the lineup too, with Gang of Youths, Jagwar Ma, Sampa the Great and Camp Cope all making appearances. In short, you'll want to be getting a tickie — they go on sale at 9am AEST on Wednesday, September 21. But, enough chat, here's the full lineup. LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2017 LINEUP A.B.Original AURORA Baro* Bob Moses Camp Cope Car Seat Headrest Clams Casino Ecca Vandal* Fascinator Floating Points (live) Flyying Colours* Gang of Youths GL Glass Animals Jagwar Ma Jess Kent Julia Jacklin Koi Child Luca Brasi Mick Jenkins Mr. Carmack NAO Nicholas Allbrook Nick Murphy (fka Chet Faker)** Roland Tings Sampa The Great Tame Impala** Tash Sultana The Julie Ruin Tourist Tycho White Lung Whitney *Melbourne only **Exclusive to Laneway, no sideshows LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2017 DATES Brisbane — Thursday, January 26 Melbourne — Saturday, January 28 Auckland — Monday, January 30 Adelaide — Friday, February 3 Sydney — Saturday, February 4 Fremantle — Sunday, February 5 Tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 21 at 9am AEST from Laneway Festival. Image: Andy Fraser.
Get your fill of the best vegan food in town at the fifth annual Vegan Day Out. Come September 2 and 3, The Cruelty Free Shop is putting together a walking tour of vegan cafes, restaurants and retailers, many of which will be offering discounts, deals and free samples to anyone who stops by. For one weekend only, socially conscious eaters can stop by The Cruelty Free Shop on Glebe Point Road, and grab a map outlining their route. From there, it's all about making your way to to plant-based delights aplenty — and making a day (or two) of it. Whether you're a dyed in the wool vegan or just giving it a go, you'll find a whole world of retailers catering to animal-free eating, offering meal deals, two-for-ones, complimentary coffee, wine tastings and savings on vegan groceries. The Cruelty Free Shop will also be running its own tastings throughout the day, as well as offering discounts on more than 300 different products.
I’ve spent my life operating under the premise that pollution is ugly. No doubt you have too. But oh, how wrong we were. Ohio environmental engineer Dr Guy Riefler and artist John Sabraw have told us all by engineering a paint that recycles toxic runoff and keeps it out of waterways — eventually producing colourful and wondrous abstract works of art. The waste is collected from streams in Ohio, where heavy metals leak from abandoned coal mines, coat the habitat in a thick sludge and render water acidic. “When this water hits streams, it lowers the pH and kills fish,” Riefler, whose career has focused on acid mine drainage, told the Smithsonian magazine. While the professor deliberated how to restore the ecosystem, it was realised that the runoff and commercial red and yellow paints oddly have something in common — they both contain ferric oxyhydroxides. Excessive chemistry jargon ensues. The transformation begins with collecting water from the damaged site and, using sodium hydroxide, raising its pH levels while exposing it to oxygen at a specific rate (don’t try this at home, kids) to oxidise the iron. The metal components, invisible until this point, blossom into rich colours. The iron sludge is then dried, milled and mixed with alkali refined linseed oil — a traditional binder — until finally we have (voila!) an oil paint that’s safe to both use and produce. In an ugly-ducking-to-swan-type scenario, Riefler and Sabraw transform the toxic sludge into artworks inspired by trees, streams and landscapes — the very thing they might be saving. Their invention, six years in the making, is now being refined for a commercially viable paint, the proceeds of which would be put towards cleaning up polluted streams. Via Inhabitat and Smithsonian.
While a new Sydney venue is always an exciting occurrence, it doesn't get much better than a pastel-hued beachside bar swinging open its doors in the heat of summer, just as the rain lets up. That's exactly the case with Rancho Seltzo, a new pop-up bar that's taken over the former digs of the Pacific Club in Bondi for (at least) the next six months. Now open on Campbell Parade, this Palm Springs-inspired spot comes from House Made Hospitality, the team behind Hinchcliff House and Bar Mammoni, in collaboration with Bondi Brewing Co. The 100-capacity venue boasts both indoor and al fresco seating, a refreshing drinks list big on tropical flavours and a laidback white and pastel fit-out complete with eight neo-expressionist artworks from local North Bondi artist Jakey Pedro. The drinks list is built around Bondi Brewing Co.'s beers with Rancho Seltzo acting as the new spiritual home of the local beer maker. Alongside the brewery's Summer Lager and Hazy Thicc IPA is a pair of seltzers (hence the venue's name) and a series of classic cocktails geared towards refreshing imbibers in the warmer weather. Take your pick from mojitos, daiquiris, frozen margaritas and a seltzer spider that comes frothed up with a scoop of coconut ice cream. "Seltzer bars are opening all over California and considering seltzer consumption in Australia is on the rise, it's been on our radar for a while to open a bar with a seltzer focus in Bondi," says House Made Hospitality Director Scott Brown. Rounding out the drinks menu is a robust wine list featuring plenty of natural varieties. House Made Hospitality has even curated a special section that showcases sustainable NSW wineries making truly special drops. Here, you'll find the likes of the Mercer Wines 2021 Bianco and the Gilbert Family Wines 2022 Pét-Nat Juzzy. There are also plenty of options on the Rancho Seltzo snack menu. If you're in the mood to share, you can order an array of plates designed for groups. Try the fried chicken wings with spicy tahini, charred broccolini with burnt eggplant relish, or kingfish ceviche and watermelon, tomato and ginger salad. If you're more of a solo style of eater, you can opt for one of the flatbread plates that pair grill-charred bread with beef skewers, crispy flathead or falafel — all served with the addition of kale tabbouleh, tomato, cucumber, pickled carrots, lettuce and peppers. The venue will be operational throughout summer and autumn, at which point House Made Hospitality and Bondi Brewing Co. will make a decision on whether to make Rancho a permanent fixture of Campbell Parade or head in a different direction with the space. Rancho Seltzo is located at 182 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. It's open 1pm until late seven days a week. All images by Steve Woodburn
The food and culture scenes of western Sydney tend to be overlooked and lamentably under-represented by publications similar to and including ours. But now a relative newcomer to the Parramatta area is making an effort to showcase the exciting culinary scene, documenting his local favourites on Instagram via the (extremely SEO-friendly) handle @parramattafood. Andrew Levins AKA Levins AKA Levdog has been a long-time presence in the hospitality and events scene of Sydney. As well as being a regular contributor to Good Food Magazine, he was responsible for spearheading The Dip — Goodgod Small Club's beloved and dearly-missed former eatery — and a Levins DJ billing on local festival and club night lineups is prolific to the point of inevitable. When eastern suburbs living started to get expensive and same-y a decade ago, Levins and his wife moved to Granville from Paddington — and they've been in the area ever since. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Parramatta Food (@parramattafood) Levins explained the origins of his IG project in a recent chat with Concrete Playground. "One of the most common comments I see on Sydney food articles is people complaining about the lack of western Sydney coverage. I've been writing about food out this way in Good Food for the last six years but there's no solid resource that covers all the good stuff out this way, the cafes, takeaway joints, et cetera. There's a lot of good shit and they could use the extra support right now!" "I also wanted to spotlight all the food businesses from outside of Parramatta who are delivering to our LGA," he continues. "It can be a bit disheartening to see how many of your favourite restaurants in the city are offering amazing takeaway and delivery options that you can't take advantage of because of travel restrictions, but there are a few angels delivering here." Those angels he mentions include joints like Newtown's Tokyo Lamington and Chinatown izakaya Nakano Darling. And when it comes to local picks from his surrounding neighbourhoods to recommend to any non-locals who are yet to properly explore the culinary landscape of the area, Levins provided us with a loaded itinerary: "When lockdown is over, everyone who's never been to Parramatta should spend a day out here. Have breakfast at Circa Espresso, brunch at Yum Yum Bakery, a banh mi from Xcel Roll and a bowl of pho from Pasteur for lunch. Spend the afternoon waddling from one end of Wigram Street, Harris Park to the other, eating at every Indian restaurant you go past (especially Taj and Chatkazz) as the sun goes down and the fairy lights turn on. Finally, make your way to Lilymu for dinner, dessert and cocktails." He's not campaigning for Bob Dwyer's job but Levins is enthusiastically pitching himself to somehow contribute to shaping the Parramatta food scene as it continues to evolve. "There's a lot of new retail spaces opening here and I'd love to be a consultant for the food and restaurant offerings ... I have no idea how to get my foot into that door so I started this account instead, to celebrate what we have got here and encourage others to seek out." Top image: Lilymu, Chatkazz
In the wake of the dubious election of Donald Trump to the office of President of the United States of America, the world took a shocked breath, flabbergasted that an openly misogynistic and accused perpetrator of numerous sexual assaults could be elected to such an important position. For some, however, that shocked breath was immediately followed by plans to take action against an open enemy to women's rights and gender equality. As a result, the Women's March on Washington was born. The march aims to provide a show of power on the first day of Trump's term with the goal of demonstrating that "women's rights are human rights", according to the official website of the organisation. As a show of solidarity to the women, men, and children who will march on the U.S. Capitol, over 170 sister marches are planned to take place on the January 21 all over the world, including the Women's March on Sydney, which will start at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park at 11am on Saturday. The marches are not only to protest the systemic repression of women, but the unfair treatment of marginalised populations in general. According the official website for the Women's March On Sydney, the march is "for fair and civil treatment of women, minorities and immigrants". It is a researched fact that furthering the cause of women's rights leads to greater social growth for all demographics, and these marches are examples of the fact that policy decisions need to tackle the gender inequality that still so blatantly exists in our societies. Aside from the fact that gender inequality is a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — or just, y'know, repressing more than half the population — ignoring women's rights is detrimental to the rest of society as well, as spending time and money on women's health and rights has a multiplier effect than benefits society as a whole. The March on Washington is due to draw crowds that will rival that at Trump's inauguration, and more than 2000 people are expected to attend the march in Sydney. Image: Kimberley Low.
There's no spy quite as recognisable as Bond, James Bond. After the novels by Ian Fleming shook and stirred readers worldwide, 26 feature films have captured that same feeling for moviegoers over 60 years on screen. Nowadays, it's hard to find someone who doesn't recognise that iconic introductory line, drink order or pistol-packing pose. If you are a devotee of all things Bond, you'll want to spend the first weekend of February with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and its first show of 2024: An Evening with James Bond. Music is among the most striking qualities of the Bond films and the spy's on-screen appearances, and finally you have the chance to hear all your favourite moments from the score performed live when, after selling out shows in Europe, An Evening with James Bond comes to Sydney. The performances will take place at the Chatswood Concourse on Saturday, February 3 and Sunday, February 4. Expect orchestral covers of some of Bond's most memorable tunes — from the powerful vocals of Shirley Bassey in the late 60s and early 70s for Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker to the chart-topping Skyfall by Adele and the melancholic sounds of Billie Eilish in 2021's No Time to Die. Don't hesitate as tickets are likely to sell out. M is telling you to take the bloody shot! An Evening with James Bond is taking place in the Concert Hall at Chatswood Concourse on Saturday, February 3 and Sunday, February 4, 2024. For more information or to get your tickets, visit the website.
However you spend the 9-to-5 grind, including singing Dolly Parton songs in your head, everyone's working hours are always better with a pet. Had an average meeting? Rover will always be there for you. Stressed about a deadline? Patch's purring will help soothe whatever ails you. Need to look at something other than a screen for a bit? Whatever kind of animal companion you have, they're perfect for exactly that. Most of the above situations lend themselves to working from home, as we've all enjoyed over the past few years — but if you're back in the office, or at least out of your house and away from Zoom calls, you mightn't have a furry, feathered or scaly friend on hand to help brighten up your day. Well, usually. Today, Friday, June 24, just happens to be National Take Your Dog To Work Day. Yes, there's a day for everything. Yes, you still have time to bring Fido with you today. And, to help — because wrangling an animal on public transport isn't necessarily easy — Uber is doing discounted rides for everyone taking their pets into the office. The half-price fare comes courtesy of Uber Pet, which launched in Australia back in 2020. To grab the deal, you'll need to travel between 7am–7pm today — and, if you do so with your pet for company, you'll nab 50-percent off your trip up to a total of $30 off. The discount is valid everywhere that Uber Pet is available in Australia, which covers Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Canberra, Newcastle, Hobart, Cairns, Sunshine Coast, Geelong, Wollongong and Darwin. There is a $6–7 'pet fee' on top of the standard ride fare, though. To get the discount, just go to the Uber app, click on your account in the bottom right corner, select 'wallet' and then scroll down till you hit 'add promo code'. That code: FURBABY. (What else would it be?) Each person can only use the code twice, but that'll get you and Max to work and back. And yes, your day just got better, obviously — for you and your fluffball. Uber Pet is doing half-price rides from 7am–7pm today, Friday, June 24. For more information, head to the Uber website.
While rain continues to batter Sydney, a rainbow has emerged in one part of the city. A huge multi-coloured installation has popped up in Circular Quay in the lead-up to the Mardi Gras parade at the SCG this Saturday, March 5. The public artwork takes inspiration from Australia's love of big things, appearing as part of a new project from Tinder. The Big Rainbow Project is a new initiative from the dating app that promises to erect the rainbow installation in a regional Australian town while also pledging $100,000 to regional LGBTQIA+ community organisations. You can come to visit and get photos of the rainbow at its temporary home in Circular Quay next to the Overseas Passenger Terminal until Monday, March 7. If you head by between 4.30pm–6.30pm, you'll be treated to music and entertainment from party troupe Poof Doof who is hosting Rainbow Hour each afternoon. During this daily party DJs will be on-site spinning Mardi Gras-ready tunes alongside local queens Coco Jumbo, Jimi The Kween and Danni Issues. You'll also be in with a chance to win merch and tickets to upcoming Poof Doof parties. Following its stint in Sydney, the Big Rainbow Project will be transporting the installation to a regional town decided by the public. You can suggest a regional town that you think deserves this colourful landmark via the Tinder website. Once the new home has been decided, Tinder will be announcing the town alongside the list of LGBTQIA+ community organisations it will donate to. Mardi Gras 2022 kicked off mid-last month and will culminate in the annual parade as well as citywide parties this weekend. If you're looking for the perfect party, check out our round-up of the best last-minute events. The Big Rainbow Project's installation can be found next to the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal from Thursday, March 3 until Monday, March 7.
“They are built on the idea of leisure, dreams, escape and entertainment,” says artist Anna Carey, reflecting on the connections between the three cities that occupy her exhibition Blue Angel. “The spaces were created to be reinvented — built for a good time not a long time. For some, these cities were a place of temporary escape, but many have made the escape permanent.” Anna Carey takes photographs of her home town, the Gold Coast, as well as the architecturally similar Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where she recently spent time travelling. The catch? She also builds the environments in the photographs, making finicky cardboard dioramas of buildings pulled from memory and her imagination. All three cities, having featured in countless films, hold various associations according to our collective memories and interpretations. We feel as though we know them well, and yet, how many of us can claim an intimate knowledge? Carey explains, “The art making becomes a process of overlapping multiple memories to create hybrid spaces drawn from and common to all three cities ... Even though the cities are very similar, each has a unique culture, expressed through its urban landscape. "The Gold Coast lifestyle is occupied with the outdoors because of its subtropical, natural landscape ... Los Angeles is similar because of the hills and the ocean; however, it is a much larger city and has a massive entertainment industry. Las Vegas is a place to indulge, with a variety of shows, spas, restaurants and gambling.” Influenced by an array of artists, “past and present”, Carey identifies a select few that she comes back to continually, finding “something new in the work every time”. These include Ed Ruscha, who photographs Los Angeles obsessively, using his camera as a means of documentation; Francys Alys, who “creates urban fictions”, attempting to “reflect the rhythm and narrative” of Mexico City; and Rachel Whiteread, because “her work House is genius”. Carey’s Blue Angel exhibition is on display at Sydney's Artereal (747 Darling Street, Rozelle; (02) 9818 7473) from May 7-31, 2014.
When Disney+ made its way into the world back in 2019, it gave viewers — including folks in Australia and New Zealand — access to a huge range of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic movies and shows. What it didn't do is bring Hulu, which the Mouse House owns the majority stake in, to audiences Down Under. And, with Disney+ focused on family-friendly fare, it didn't deliver the kinds of series and films that Hulu screens, either. Hulu still isn't heading our way. But, come early 2021, Disney+ is expanding to include a new section that's basically an international equivalent of Hulu. It's called Star, it'll launch on Tuesday, February 23, and it'll screen "an additional 1000 unique titles under the new Star brand in the first year", according to the announcement at Disney's big 2020 Investor Day on Friday, December 11. It's also set to premiere 35 brand new series in 2021, too. Disney hasn't listed exactly what Australia and New Zealand audiences will be able to watch via Star — but it did reveal that Star will feature "a robust collection of general entertainment movies, television, documentaries, and more, along with Star-branded new exclusive originals and local productions being created for the service". It'll be drawing upon Disney's studios, such as Disney Television Studios, FX, 20th Century Studios, 20th Television and Touchstone, and will also feature local programming specific to each region. https://twitter.com/Disney/status/1337155471422189569 Star won't feature everything that Hulu does, because plenty of Hulu's series and films pop up elsewhere Down Under — like The Handmaid's Tale, for instance. That said, it's safe to presume that some of the rights deals that deliver Hulu content to other networks and streaming platforms in Australia and New Zealand might change when Star hits, moving where you can catch certain flicks and programs in the process. When Star launches, it'll also become available in Europe and Canada, both of which already have access to Disney+. The Mouse House will also launch Disney+ including Star in Singapore on the same date, then look to roll out in Eastern Europe, South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong across the rest of 2021. And, as you might've already guessed, Disney+'s expansion to include Star will come with a price increase. Australian subscriptions will go up to AU$11.99 per month or AU$119.99 per year, while New Zealand's will cost NZ$12.99 per month or AU$129.99 per year. Star will join Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday, February 23, with Disney+ subscriptions costing AU$11.99 per month or AU$119.99 per year in Australia, and NZ$12.99 per month or AU$129.99 per year in New Zealand, from that date.
Port Macquarie's Festival of the Sun has been running for 16 years, and the boutique summer music festival is still bringing the goods. The lineup for this December has just been released and it looks like it'll be another doozy. Methyl Ethel and Briggs will headline the three-day fest, with Julia Jacklin, Trophy Eyes, Lime Cordiale and Baker Boy lending their voices too. Amyl and the Sniffers, Tired Lion, I Know Leopard, Nathan Ball and Good Doogs — among others — round out what looks like it'll be a big couple of days of music, with more acts still to be announced. The camping festival is also — excitingly — BYO, so you don't need to spend your hard-earned cash on overpriced UDLs. Alongside the lineup of live music, there will also be a heap of food trucks (serving everything from burgers to vegan fare), silent discos and silent comedy. The festival is themed each year, and this year it's the "ghouls and unicorns" edition — looks like it's time to whip out your Halloween costumes and anything you own that's rainbow-coloured. Festival of the Sun runs from Friday, December 13 to Sunday, December 15. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday, August 8. FESTIVAL OF THE SUN 2018 LINEUP Methyl Ethel Briggs Julia Jacklin Trophy Eyes Lime Cordiale Baker Boy Amyl and the Sniffers Tired Lion I Know Leopard Nathan Ball (UK) Good Doogs Genesis Owusu Milan Ring Arno Faraji JEFFE Tasman Keith Stevie Jean FRITZ Bakers Eddy VOIID Surf Trash Georgia June Johnny Hunter The Buoys Garage Sale
Some actors have all the luck — or, in the case of Matthew Fox, they seem to navigate all of the on-screen quests for survival. After riding Lost's many, many ups and downs between 2004–10, the actor is returning to the small screen for the first time in 12 years in new five-part miniseries Last Light. And although he isn't stranded on a mysterious island here, and no one seems to be spouting a set pattern of numbers in the show's just-dropped first trailer, things look mighty tense and chaotic anyway. The OG Party of Five star plays Andy Yeats, a petro-chemist who gets stuck in the fallout from a problem with the world's oil supply. Actually, to be exact, the entire planet faces the same struggle, with transport stopping, deliveries ceasing as well, and law and order disintegrating fast. If the tale sounds familiar, and not just in a general apocalyptic way, that's because Last Light is based on Andy Scarrow's 2007 book of the same name. The page-to-streaming adaptation is due to hit Stan from Thursday, September 8, and shot everywhere from Prague and Abu Dhabi to Paris. Alongside Fox, the series stars Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey: A New Era) as Andy's wife Elena — plus Alyth Ross (Traces) as his teenage daughter Laura and TV first-timer Taylor Foy as his son Sam. Last Light focuses on the entire family's story, as Andy tries to return home from the Middle East just as his worst fears are coming true, Elena and Sam are in Paris, and Laura is home alone in London. The cast also spans Amber Rose Revah (The Punisher), Victor Alli (Belfast) and Hakeem Jomah (Rashash), as well as Tom Wlaschiha — aka Dmitri in the fourth season of Stranger Things, and Jaqen H'ghar in Game of Thrones. Behind the camera, director Dennie Gordon (Hunters, Jack Ryan) does the honours across all five episodes. And if it feels like it's been quite some time since you've seen Fox on-screen, you're right. He only has five films to his name since Lost wrapped up — the last in 2015. Check out the trailer for Last Light below: Last Light will be available to stream via Stan from Thursday, September 8.
Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo. Welcome back to the warm half of the year, folks, and boy, has it started strong. With some real scorcher days already under our belts and many more to come, people all over Sydney are busting out the breezy linens and sunscreen in earnest. Let's not forget that spring is a time of celebration, so we've teamed up with Stockland to tell you about the busy few weeks ahead in Sydney and beyond. SHADES OF SUMMER AT STOCKLAND Spring and summer overlap in certain areas, but especially when it comes to fashion and style. Anyone in need of a wardrobe refresh should make a booking at Stockland Green Hills, Merrylands, Shellharbour or Wetherill Park for one of the three Shades of Summer workshops. These expert-led sessions cover many style basics and will help you shop for a new fit with equal amounts of intention and inspiration. Shades of Summer will spread across a variety of workshops. Makeup artist and stylist Amy Chan will go through common skin issues and how to choose your ideal remedial products. Styling and colour workshops hosted by professional stylist Caitlin Stewart will equip you with an understanding of what colours suit you scientifically. You can then utilise that knowledge at DIY lip gloss workshops to blend a base with a custom colour suited to your skin tone and take the product home. All workshops require a booking, and you can find the centre-specific dates here. This is only the tip of the iceberg for what's on at Stockland, you'll also find pre-loved clothes drop-offs, free summer fashion guides that tell you where to find the hottest products, seasonal makeup guides, a giveaway for a $1000 gift card and much more. Visit your local Stockland website to find out the details. PARRAMATTA LANES The weekend of October 14–15 will be packed with events across Sydney and beyond, so we've got something for you to attend no matter where you find yourself on the coast. Parramatta Lanes is a top choice for anyone in the mood for celebrations. This annual event runs from Wednesday, October 11 to Saturday, October 14 and brings free festivities across the realms of food, drink, music and art to the Western Sydney hub of Parramatta. Foodies will find a stall for every cuisine and flavour they so desire, including Sydney crowd favourites Koi Dessert Bar and FirePop and festival debuts from Kampung Laksa, Japanese Pizza Okonomiyaki and Sri Daskin Food. Once you've had your fill, follow the sound of music to performances from Fazerdaze, Carla Wehbe, Tokyo Vendetta, Mali Jose, a dedicated K-Pop stage and more. Keep an eye out for the free public artworks and a dedicated Pup Culture zone for your four-legged companions to join the fun. [caption id="attachment_790427" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Natasha Webb via Department of Planning, Industry and Environment[/caption] GO CAMPING AND BUSHWALKING The months of spring (when we're between the occasional day of extreme heat) are arguably the best parts of the year to get out and explore Australia's landscapes. From the beach-adjacent hillsides of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in Sydney's north to the dense wilderness of the Royal National Park to the south, camping and walking opportunities are everywhere you look. Consider a trip south to Budawang National Park to escape the big smoke. This secluded bush kingdom stretches from steep mountains to rushing rivers northwest of Batemans Bay. Trails cater from day walks to overnight adventures, with the standout being a famously steep ascent of The Castle. A classic choice further north is Munmorah State Conservation Area, wedged on the coast just southeast of Lake Macquarie. The setting makes it ideal for walking, camping, picnics, fishing or all of the above, and the park is easily accessible to the public year-round. [caption id="attachment_920859" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Beau Pilgrim[/caption] RAW CHALLENGE DOYALSON If camping or bushwalking is on the right track for what you need but doesn't hit the nail on the head, consider levelling up to the Raw Challenge Doyalson. It's the same basic idea of walking outdoors, except there's more encouraged running, some natural obstacles like water and mud, then many manufactured obstacles. Raw Challenge is the place for chaotic physical fitness this October, with 60+ obstacles over seven kilometres on Saturday, October 14. From precarious wooden balance beams and three-storey angled rock climbing walls to 35-kilometre-per-hour slides and 50-metre pits of thick mud, this is no ordinary walk in the park. Thankfully, the pressure is only as high as you choose it to be. General racers can pick and choose their pace and skip as many obstacles as they'd like, while elite ticket-holders face a punishment of 15 burpees for every obstacle they miss. However you conquer it, Raw Challenge is just about having fun. Post-challenge, you can enjoy a shower, hot food, cool drinks and live tunes with your fellow participants. [caption id="attachment_837425" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Georgia Moloney[/caption] YOURS AND OWLS FESTIVAL 2023 After taking a year off due to 2022's La Niña weather cycles, Yours and Owls (known by some as Gong Christmas) is back in force for a 2023 edition. Instead of being at the mercy of the elements in Stuart Park, the event is kicking off a new multi-year venue partnership with University of Wollongong. The expansive uni campus offers a range of opportunities for the festival organisers, who have sworn to use every available oval, ground and laneway throughout UOW. It's the beginning of a new era for Yours and Owls, and if the lineup is anything to go by, the 2023 festival will be unmissable. Spread across Saturday, October 14, and Sunday, October 15, will be performances from Flight Facilities, Chet Faker, Ocean Alley, Hilltop Hoods, Oliver Tree, Pendulum and over 60 other groups. Of course, the festival's dance hall, Das Smelthaus, is back for 2023 in a new UOW home with shows from Club Angel, DJ PGZ, Sam Alfred, Lauren Hansom, and more planned. [caption id="attachment_920860" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Terrigal Ocean Tours[/caption] GO WHALE WATCHING Twice a year, the beautiful creature that is the humpback whale passes close to coastal NSW. The spring season is one of the busiest for whale migration, where family pods migrate south to the chilly waters of Antarctica, with young calves primarily born in the Pacific Islands swimming close to mum. The spring season comes to a close by November, but one of the most ideal locations to spot the whales is up close and on the water. One stretch of the route where whales venture closer to the coast is off of Terrigal on the Central Coast, where you can get a closer look thanks to Terrigal Ocean Tours. This family-owned and operated business has been showing the extraordinary ocean diversity of Terrigal Haven and Broken Bay, scouting for whale pods in season and exploring the local seal colonies and beautiful hidden beaches in the area out of season. For more information on Stockland Shades of Summer, visit your local Stockland website. For more spring events and activities, keep it right here on Concrete Playground.
The nominations for Hollywood’s most dubious honours have officially been announced. For more than three decades, the Golden Raspberry Awards, better known as the Razzies, have named and shamed the year’s worst motion pictures, with previous winners including The Love Guru, Showgirls and Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2. Dropping one day ahead of the Oscar nominees, this most recent batch of contenders includes several box office favourites and a multitude of A-list names. It just goes to prove the age-old expression: everyone’s a critic. Leading the shortlist with seven nominations is Transformers: Age of Extinction. In addition to a Worst Picture nomination, the robo-rumpus earned nods for Worst Sequel, Worst Screenplay, Worst Supporting Actor (Kelsey Grammer), Worst Supporting Actress (Nicola Peltz) and Worst Screen Combo (Any Two Robots and/or Actors). Director Michael Bay has also picked up his fifth Worst Director nomination, which must surely be some kind of record. Hopefully the film’s $1bn gross helped to soften the blow. Close behind Transformers with six nominations each is the Kellan Lutz action vehicle The Legend of Hercules and Kirk Cameron’s ‘faith-based’ holiday comedy Saving Christmas. The latter film enjoys a rare 0% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and appears to have skipped Australia altogether. Rounding out the Worst Picture category is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot as well as the Nicolas Cage supernatural thriller Left Behind. Cameron Diaz leads the acting ‘honours’ with three nominations: Worst Actress in The Other Woman and Sex Tape, and Worst Supporting Actress in Annie. Charlize Theron, meanwhile, is up for Worst Actress for her role in A Million Ways to Die in the West, along with a Worst Screen Combo nod she shares with her co-star Seth MacFarlane. MacFarlane is also nominated for Worst Director and Worst Actor, competing in the latter category against Cameron, Lutz and Cage as well as Blended star Adam Sandler. Here’s hoping at least one of them has the good humour to accept their award in person, ala Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock. Of course, there are some who might accuse of The Razzies of simply shooting fish in a barrel. Presumably, that’s why they’ve included a new category designed to celebrate actors who’ve managed to pull themselves out of the muck. Contenders for this year’s ‘Redeemer’ Award include Ben Affleck for going ‘from Gigli to Argo and Gone Girl’ and six-time Razzie nominee Keanu Reeves for his role in the critically acclaimed action movie John Wick. The winners of the Golden Raspberries will be announced on the eve of the Academy Awards in February. We’ve included the full list of nominees below. THE 35TH ANNUAL RAZZIE NOMINEES: Worst Picture Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Left Behind The Legend of Hercules Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Transformers: Age of Extinction Worst Director Michael Bay, Transformers: Age Of Extinction Darren Doane, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Renny Harlin, The Legend of Hercules Jonathan Liebesman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Seth MacFarlane, A Million Ways to Die in the West Worst Actor Kirk Cameron, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Nicolas Cage, Left Behind Kellan Lutz, The Legend of Hercules Seth MacFarlane, A Million Ways to Die in the West Adam Sandler, Blended Worst Actress Drew Barrymore, Blended Cameron Diaz, The Other Woman and Sex Tape Melissa McCarthy, Tammy Charlize Theron, A Million Ways to Die in the West Gaia Weiss, The Legend of Hercules Worst Supporting Actor Mel Gibson, Expendables 3 Kelsey Grammer, Expendables 3, Legends of Oz, Think Like A Man Too and Transformers: Age of Extinction Shaquille O’Neal, Blended Arnold Schwarzenegger, Expendables 3 Kiefer Sutherland, Pompeii Worst Supporting Actress Cameron Diaz, Annie Megan Fox, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nicola Peltz, Transformers: Age of Extinction Susan Sarandon, Tammy Brigitte Ridenour, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel Annie Atlas Shrugged 3: Who Is John Galt? The Legend of Hercules Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Transformers: Age Of Extinction Worst Screen Combo Any Two Robots, Actors (or Robotic Actors), Transformers: Age of Extinction Kirk Cameron & His Ego, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Cameron Diaz & Jason Segel, Sex Tape Kellan Lutz & Either His Abs, His Pecs or His Glutes, The Legend of Hercules Seth McFarlane & Charlize Theron, A Million Ways to Die in the West Worst Screenplay Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas, Left Behind Sex Tape Transformers: Age of Extinction Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Razzie Redeemer Award Ben Affleck, From Razzie ‘Winner’ for Gigli to Oscar darling for Argo and Gone Girl Jennifer Aniston, From 4-time Razzie nominee to SAG award nominee for Cake Mike Myers, From Razzie ‘Winner’ for Love Guru to Docu Director of Supermensch Keanu Reeves, From 6-time Razzie nominee to John Wick Kristen Stewart, From Razzie ‘Winner’ for Twilight to the art house hit Camp X-Ray
If you're looking to take your Valentine's celebrations to a whole other level, French fine diner Métisse has you covered. The Potts Point restaurant wants to help you pamper your loved one to the max this year. We're talking a shower of rose petals on arrival and a dining room lit solely by candles — hundreds of them. Your candlelit table can also be adorned with a pre-ordered bouquet of multi-coloured roses and a handwritten note for your partner. More petals will be strewn across the floor and the entire fit-out will be V-Day themed to boot. Then there's the L'Amour menu, which spans five-courses, as well as an amuse bouche to start and petits fours to finish. Expect a trio of yellowfin tuna, kingfish and trout in a brown butter sauce; king prawns in lobster veloute and the restaurant's signature duck à l'orange, presented in mille-feuille style. Of course this type of luxe treatment doesn't come cheap, with the L'Amour treatment starting at $175 for the meal (per person), with an additional $125 for a French wine pairing. But you and your SO will definitely get bang for your buck at this extravagant V-Day dinner.
Fresh off his US headline tour, Kilter has returned to Australia's sandy shores with a studio album in tow. Over the last few years, the artist has outgrown his position on the outskirts of Australia's electronic music scene to become an established EDM up-and-comer. With his new album, Through The Distortion, Kilter delivers seven previously unheard tracks alongside critically acclaimed singles 'They Don't Know Us', 'Count On Me' and 'I Hear You'. Its sound is typically versatile, showcasing Kilter's ability to blend elements of dancehall, garage, breakbeat, hip-hop, big beat, R'n'B, electro and chill. What's more, the album features collaborations with a selection of his favourite Australian musicians, including LANKS, Yaw Faso and Woodes. Along with his new album, Kilter has gifted fans with a massive antipodean tour taking him across Australia and New Zealand in September. And it just so happens that you can go in the running to win a double pass to either his Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane show. We're offering you the chance to win a heap of Kilter-related prizes, including double passes to his Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane shows, a meet and greet and a tonne of merch. TOUR DATES Brisbane — Friday, June 23rd, 2017 at The Triffid Melbourne — Friday, July 7th, 2017 at Prince Sydney — Saturday, July 8th, 2017 at Max Watts Whether you've been a Kilter fan from the beginning, or you've recently joined the bandwagon, enter your details below to go into the draw to win big. [competition]624378[/competition] Image: Maclay Heriot
For most of Australia, 2018 has been hot. Last weekend, Melbourne endured its hottest day for two years, while Sydney experienced its second hottest day ever. Temperatures have been toasty around the rest of the country too, with Brisbane expecting a top of 38 today. And although Tasmania hasn't been immune to the extreme heat — reaching 35 degrees earlier this week — the state also just dipped firmly in the opposite direction. Yesterday, while it was a rather warm 34 degrees in Sydney, 36 in Brisbane and 37 in Perth, eastern Tassie enjoyed storms, hail and even ice. In Hobart, yesterday's maximum only made it to 15.8 degrees, while the minimum was 13.5 degrees. That's rugging-up weather, not swimming temperatures. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd4Ob8oBD5b/?taken-by=tasmaniawhyweloveit https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd4CcbTHV-7/?taken-by=what_kat_did_next "I don't think we've seen that very often," the Bureau Of Meteorology Debbie Tabor told the ABC, explaining that the icy conditions were caused by the thunderstorms. "We had a series of thunderstorms move through the eastern half of Tasmania… and did produce some hail at various locations and that's what was seen at Orford." On Twitter, BOM also clarified that the visible whiteness wasn't snow, even if it might've looked like it. https://twitter.com/BOM_Tas/status/952077590453514240 That said, snow did reach the state's lofty peaks — at 1300 to 1400 metres, not on the ground. Today, a top of 21 is expected in Hobart, ahead of a week in the mid twenties. Via ABC. Top image: Katrina Ashton via Instagram.
Written and directed by Oscar-winner Martin McDonagh (In Bruges), Seven Psychopaths maps the hilariously violent and bizarre journey of a struggling screenwriter, Marty (Colin Farrell), in search of focus and inspiration. Marty need not look far, as his best friend Billy (Sam Rockwell) is an unemployed part-time dog-thief and intends to give Marty all the inspiration he needs. Christopher Walken plays Hans, Billy's dog-snatching side-kick. After the accidental kidnapping of a psychopathic gangster's beloved Shih Tsu, Marty is inadvertently tossed into a Los Angeles underworld full of thieves and killers. Charlie, a psychopathic gangster played by Woody Harrelson, is an impulsively violent criminal that will pull the trigger on anyone or anything associated with the theft of his dog. Seven Psychopaths will be released in cinemas on November 8. Concrete Playground has teamed up with Hopscotch Films to present a free screening of Seven Psychopaths on Thursday, November 1 at the newly renovated Dendy Newtown. To go in the running to win tickets, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then follow this link to RSVP. Be quick, it's first in best dressed. All tickets have now been allocated.
