When Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker's 'No Return' starts playing over Yellowjackets' opening credits, it couldn't be more perfect for a variety of reasons. With its 90s-style sound, the tune fits the show's mood exactly. Its title sums up one of its biggest themes, too. And, those two words also ring true for viewers — because when you watch this immediately intriguing, excellent and addictive series, which follows the fallout from plane crash, there's no turning back to a time when you weren't obsessed with it. Hungry for more? After proving one of 2021's best new series and quickly getting picked up for a second season, Yellowjackets has locked in a return date. Bust out your best 90s-appropriate threads and start learning survival skills again, because the series will start unfurling its next batch of episodes from Friday, March 24, 2023 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. In just-as-exciting news, that season-two date was accompanied by very brief sneak that's filled with snow, the show's creepy symbol, knives and blood. It doesn't drop any narrative details or provide any glimpses at the show's stacked – and growing — cast, but it's filled with classic Yellowjackets eeriness, as a series about a New Jersey high school's girls soccer team after they crash in the forest and possibly turn to cannibalism should be. If you're new to the series, it jumps between that 90s tragedy and the survivors 25 years later. In their high-school prime, Shauna (Don't Look Up's Melanie Lynskey as an adult, and also The Kid Detective's Sophie Nélisse as a teenager), Natalie (Welcome to Chippendales' Juliette Lewis, plus The Book of Boba Fett's Sophie Thatcher) and Taissa (Billions' Tawny Cypress, and also Scream's Jasmin Savoy Brown) were key players on the titular high-achieving squad, while Misty (Wednesday's Christina Ricci, as well as Shameless' Samantha Hanratty) was the squad's frequently bullied student manager. Then, en route to a big match in Seattle on a private plane in 1996, they entered Lost territory. That accident saw everyone who walked away from the accident stranded in the wilderness — and those who then made it through that ordeal stuck out there for 19 months, living their worst Alive-meets-Lord of the Flies lives. Season two will pick up after plenty of chaos in both timeframes, and with new faces among the cast. Introducing more of the team in their adult guise is very much on the agenda, including Simone Kessell (Muru) playing the older Lottie and Lauren Ambrose (Servant) as the older Van. In their younger years, both characters are played by Australian actors, with Courtney Eaton (Mad Max: Fury Road) as Lottie and and Liv Hewson (Santa Clarita Diet) as Van. Also joining the show: Elijah Wood, who is no stranger to leafy surroundings thanks to his time in the Lord of the Rings franchise. He'll play Walter, a citizen detective who is set to challenge Misty — the adult version, presumably. Check out Yellowjackets' first teaser for season two below: Season two of Yellowjackets will start streaming from Friday, March 24, 2023 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season one.
After an epic May bake sale, Melbourne's Flour Market is returning to Sydney, declaring Saturday, July 30 as a celebration for all things doughy with a market dedicated to doughnuts. Day of the Donut, which will honour Sydney's best baked, holey treats, will surely draw crowds from Sydney's furthest reaches to their temporary Surry Hills doughnut shrine. Vendors will include Brewtown Newtown, Sydney newcomers Short Stop, Aussie mega-chain Doughnut Time and — our personal favourite — Sydney locals Grumpy Donuts, whose wacky doughnut flavours include pink lemonade, sour patch jam and buttered toast. The brown butter frosting and sweet crumbed brioche really does taste like the most decadent slice of toast. Entry is two bucks on the door, with kids under twelve will be admitted for free. For the very serious doughnut lovers out there, a limited number of Early Riser tickets are on sale for ten bucks, allowing ticket holders entry 30 minutes before general admission.
What will open with the Australian premiere of one of this year's Sundance hits — an Aussie movie that won one of the prestigious fest's audience awards, no less — and also feature a huge music celebration right at its centre? The 2023 Melbourne International Film Festival. Just under three months out from the Victorian capital's annual cinema showcase, MIFF has revealed its first two titles for this year, both with strong local connections. Launching the festival for 2023 is Noora Niasari's Shayda, which is set and shot in Melbourne, marks the Tehran-born, Australian-raised writer/director's feature debut and tells an autobiographical tale. Seeing Niasari leap from participating in the MIFF Accelerator Lab for short film helmers to opening the fest, the movie follows an Iranian woman and her daughter who seek refuge at a suburban Melbourne women's shelter. Cate Blanchett's Dirty Films executive produces, while 2022 Cannes Best Actress-winner Zar Amir-Ebrahimi (Holy Spider) and Australian great Leah Purcell (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson) star. Since returning to in-person fests after two pandemic-affected virtual-only years in 2020 and 2021, this is MIFF's second homegrown opener in succession. In 2022, Goran Stolevski's coming-of-age feature Of an Age did the honours. Of course, Shayda will have ample company when it comes to local titles in 2023, including the also just-announced Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story. The documentary will enjoy its world premiere at MIFF, as the festival's first-ever gala screening from its regular Music on Film program. Celebrating the late Australian record executive and promoter, who passed away in 2021, Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story steps through its namesake's life and career. Unsurprisingly, it has plenty of well-known names joining in to pay tribute, with featured interviewees spanning Kylie Minogue, Dave Grohl, Sting, Ed Sheeran, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Jimmy Barnes. And, when the Paul Goldman (Suburban Mayhem)-directed doco plays MIFF mid-fest, it will score red-carpet events across multiple Melbourne venues. As for what else will screen in the festival's 71st year, the rest of the program will start being revealed in early June, ahead of the full 2023 MIFF lineup drop in July. Whatever ends up on the bill after Shayda and Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story, they'll join a fest that'll continue its 2022 format of playing in cinemas in Melbourne (from Thursday, August 3–Sunday, August 20) and at regional Victorian locations (from Friday, August 11–Sunday, August 13 and Friday, August 18–Sunday, August 20), and also once again expand its audience by bringing back online platform MIFF Play (from Friday, August 18–Sunday, August 27). Shayda's opening-night session will screen on Thursday, August 3, with tickets for MIFF members available from 8am on Tuesday, May 23 and general public sales from 10am on Thursday, May 25. If you're keen to see Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story, it'll premiere on Thursday, August 10, with tickets available at the same times as Shayda. The 2023 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 3–Sunday, August 20 at a variety of venues around Melbourne; from Friday, August 11–Sunday, August 13 and Friday, August 18–Sunday, August 20 in regional Victoria; and online nationwide with MIFF Play from Friday, August 18–Sunday, August 27. For further details, including the full program from Tuesday, July 11, visit the MIFF website.
If you're the kind of restaurant-goer who picks their places to eat based on accolades, acclaim and applause, then you'll be familiar with France's Mirazur. The three Michelin-starred eatery sits in the French Riviera near the Italian border, calls an old 1930s villa home, and is the work of Argentinian-born chef and owner Mauro Colagreco, who takes culinary inspiration from his Italian grandparents. It's also a former winner of the World's Best 50 Restaurants' top spot, and it should be high on everyone's food bucket list. For three weeks in autumn, from Friday, March 10–Friday, March 31, Mirazur is also visiting Australia. Its destination: the hatted The Gantry at Pier One Sydney Harbour, where the coveted restaurant will put on its first-ever Harbour City residency. That'll make ticking off a visit a whole lot easier — no overseas plane ticket required. [caption id="attachment_728308" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mirazur, Nicolas Lobbestael[/caption] Swapping one waterfront locale for another, Colagreco is making the trip Down Under from Menton near Nice on the Cote D'Azur, accompanied by a sizeable portion of his team. That includes Mirazur's Chief Operating Officer Maria Tancredi and Executive Chef Luca Mattioli, as well as front-of-house and kitchen staff, plus sommeliers. Silvina Dayer, its agronome — aka garden scientist — will also head our way with the crew. Heroing Australian ingredients, the Mirazur cohort will serve up a multi-course tasting menu, plus snacks, which won't come cheap — $685 per person, in fact, with wine pairings starting from an extra $210. [caption id="attachment_888022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matteo Carassale[/caption] The specific focus: using the best Aussie wares they can source, working with producers who are respectful and passionate about the land and sea, to whip up an original menu that showcases the restaurant's commitment to sustainability, nature and biodiversity. Taking inspiration from different cultures and cooking environments, and highlighting their ingredients and suppliers, is what the Mirazur Beyond Borders project is all about — which this residency slots into. "Mirazur Beyond Borders is the opportunity for us to enrich our knowledge, philosophy and commitment. I have visited Australia a few times and what excites me is that it is a country where there is a huge diversity of nature, landscapes, and species," said Colagreco, announcing the Sydney jaunt. "It's very important for me and my team to learn from and experiment with the ingredients we find in the country we visit, and to learn from all the people and products we encounter on the way. Although we are coming to Australia for a few weeks, I already know we will leave with something that lasts forever," he continued. "I am thrilled to cook in Sydney, as it's such a diverse Australian city, where many cultures and foods coexist. What I love about Australian gastronomy, and particularly Sydney's, is that it has been influenced by many different cultures, from Asian to European, and a large range of produce to create its own gastronomy, and reinvents itself constantly." [caption id="attachment_650654" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Gantry, Alana Dimou[/caption] Mirazur will temporarily take up residence in Sydney just a few months before three Michelin-starred English restaurant L'Enclume, from British chef Simon Rogan, does the same in July and August. Mirazur Beyond Borders at The Gantry, Pier One Sydney Harbour, will run from Friday, March 10–Friday, March 31 — operating for lunch and dinner Wednesday–Sunday. Head to the residency's website for bookings from 12pm AEST on Tuesday, February 13, and to register for the priority list in advance.
The omnipresence of satellite imaging, thanks particularly to our friends at Google, has meant we have become increasingly desensitised by the awesomeness that is mankind's ability to take detailed photographs of our neighbour's backyard from thousands of kilometres up into space. However, every so often we stumble upon images that reignite our wonder in our seemingly endless technological capacity and the epic majesty that is the natural world. These satellite photographs from John Nelson, a mapping manager at data visualisation company IDV Solutions, capture hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires across the globe using colour coding and cutting edge data visualisation technology to beautifully and innovatively map some of the most devastating storms throughout history. 11 Years of Major US Fires After devastating fires blazed across Utah and Colorado earlier this year, Nelson gathered satellite imagery from NASA to visually map the spread and intensity of wildfire across the US over the last 11 years. The differing colours represent the intensity of the fire as compared to the average output of a nuclear power plant during Summer. The bright yellow spots, spread primarily across the West Coast, represent fires burning at a heat and intensity of roughly three or more nuclear power plants, with the hottest recorded at approximately 14 nuclear power plants in June, 2005. Every Hurricane and Tropical Storm Over the Last 150 Years With the help of a plethora of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration including wind speeds, dates and names, Nelson was able to map every hurricane and tropical storm over the last 150 years. Using this data along with some educated predictions about the movements of 19th Century storms, Nelson "slapped it on a polar projection" and added some colour coding depicting storm intensity to create these incredible images. The maps however serve much more than an artistic purpose, with Nelson creating them in the wake of Hurricane Isaac in order to assist meteorologists in analysing storm trends and even allowing us to detect storms before they have occurred. The World's Earthquakes Since 1898 This map provides an awe-inspiring view of the tectonic boundaries of the Earth's surface. The yellow and green glow represents every earthquake over the last century that measured 4.0 or over on the richter scale, with the more luminous the glow the higher the magnitude of the earthquake.
Love a good dinner party? Well, this March, you can put on a feast that does a whole lot more than just impress your mates and sate your need to play host with the most. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre's (ASRC) annual Feast for Freedom is back for its 2022 edition, giving Aussies the chance to put on a sumptuous banquet for an excellent cause. Now in its fourth year, the fundraising event invites locals to host their own dinner parties across one dedicated weekend, cooking to home-style recipes supplied by folks seeking asylum. By hosting a Feast for Freedom, you'll not only be celebrating Australia's cultural diversity but also helping to raise important funds for the not-for-profit ASRC, to assist with its work supporting and empowering refugees. The ASRC is Australia's largest human rights organisation providing support to people seeking asylum. You'll also get some cracking new recipes to add to your repertoire, each with a story behind it. And this year's lineup is a very tasty one, featuring dishes like Persian jewelled rice, parvardeh (olive dip), green chilli chicken, gheymeh bademjan (a lamb and eggplant stew) and sago pudding. Cooks who've shared their cuisines and recipes for this year's Feast include Iranian culinary instructor Mahshid and Malaysian-Indian chef Manel. A couple of familiar names will be joining the ASRC's efforts, too, with Darren Purchese (Burch and Purchese) and 2021 Masterchef alumni Kishwar Choudry in the role of ambassadors. Anyone who's keen to get involved can register to host a Feast for Freedom by signing up online. Participants will be sent a hosting kit complete with recipes and all the nitty-gritty fundraising details, before the official Feast for Freedom weekend sees dinner parties happening across the country from Friday, March 25 to Sunday, March 27. Feast for Freedom's 2022 fundraising will go towards supporting the ASRC's Foodbank and its many other services which assist people in the community seeking asylum. The ASRC's Feast for Freedom 2022 is open now for registrations — sign up at the website. The official dinner party weekend will then run from March 25–27, with donations open until April 30.
Finding a cafe that does brunch is easy. So is finding a restaurant for dinner. But finding a place for all those awkward in-between times — you know, when you have to walk into a cafe and ask: 'are you still open?' — can be surprisingly difficult. Sometimes you need a 5.30pm coffee, or you need somewhere low-key to do some work over dinner. Luckily, not everywhere is closed between the hours of 4 and 6pm. These diners are open all day, from breakfast and lunch right through until dinner (and, in some cases, maybe even later) — so you don't have to worry about rocking up just after the coffee machine's been cleaned.
Just when you thought your smartphone might have reached it's multitasking limit, it’s about to take on a job usually left to the law enforcers: breathalysing. That’s right, soon it will be easier than ever for designated drivers to eliminate the risky guesswork involved in decided whether to knock back a sneaky last drink. The initial batch of the world’s first smartphone breathalyser, ‘Alcohoot’, has sold out, and will be ready for shipping in September this year. Keen socialisers can reserve one of the second lot for $75 and expect to have it in their hands by October. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and Android, Alcohoot is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which means that the device can handle at least 150 tests. Not only can you use it on yourself, you can also pass it around among friends. The accuracy of the testing system, which is reliant on platinum grade fuel cell sensors, is similar to that of a breathalyser used by police. If you’re interested in developing a detailed understanding of how your body responds to alcohol consumption, you can track your blood alcohol level throughout the course of any given night. If it turns out that you’re over the limit, you can use the app to contact local cabbies, or to find details of nearby restaurants and cafes. [Via Lost at E Minor]
Two years ago, Pappa Rich gave tastebuds across Australia the culinary hybrid they didn't know they were craving: a nasi lemak burger. They were originally sneakily trialled in Sydney stores in 2018, then rolled out for a limited time in 2019. Now, they're back. The burger takes the typical accompaniments in this Malaysian rice dish and sandwiches them all between two toasted burger buns. There are layers of crispy Malay fried chicken, spicy sambal, peanuts and anchovies, all topped with cucumber, lettuce and a fried egg. As a side? Expect Pappa Rich's deep-fried chicken skin, of course. You can also opt for chips if you prefer. The Malaysian hawker chain is returning the nasi lemak burger to its menu — at all of its 31 stores countrywide, but only for two months. If you're instantly hungry, you'll want to pop into one of Pappa Rich's outlets between Monday, March 29–Sunday, May 30. Or, if you just can't wait to sink your teeth into a burg, you can score one between Friday, March 26–Sunday, March 28, but only via Door Dash. The delivery service is selling 1000 nasi lemak burgers for just $1 across the three days, so you'll want to get in quickly. You'll also need to enter the code 'MALAYSIANBURGER' while you're ordering. Otherwise, if you're happy to grab a burger from next week onwards, you'll still have a couple of months to enjoy as many as your stomach demands. If you're in Sydney, you can nab one in Bankstown, North Ryde, Chatswood or on your lunch break at the express outlet in Ultimo; in Melbourne, pop by Chadstone, Southern Cross or QV; and Pappa Rich in Wintergarden, Garden City, Indooroopilly and Coorparoo Square will be selling them in Brisbane. Perth residents can head to Cockburn and Joondalup, while folks in Adelaide will want to make a trip to Gouger Street in the CBD. There are a heap more locations though, so check the website if you're looking for one closer to you. The nasi lemak burger will be available Monday, March 29–Sunday, May 30 at Pappa Rich locations across the country. There are also 1000 up for grabs for $1 via Door Dash between Friday, March 26–Sunday, March 28 by entering the code 'MALAYSIANBURGER' while you're ordering.
If there's one way to forget that you're still in your own city, staycationing within a short drive from home rather than heading further afield, it's splashing around up high while peering down on familiar sights from a completely different angle. Sydneysiders, another place to do just that is in your future, with TFE Hotels set to launch its first Collection property in the Harbour City in early 2024 — complete with a rooftop infinity pool. The new Collection by TFE Hotels property will be a big feature of the in-development Surry Hills Village, sitting on Baptist Street as part of a precinct that'll also include shops, apartments, event spaces, work spaces and dining. The Sydney spot joins the brand's Savoy Hotel on Little Collins in Melbourne, Hotel Kurrajong in Canberra, Calile Hotel in Brisbane and Hotel Britomart in Auckland. That's impressive company, and the new boutique hotel will continue the same design-led, individual-focused approach. When it comes to slumbering, there'll be 102 rooms. While exactly what they'll feature, and what other amenities guests can expect, hasn't yet been revealed, the hotel will boast curved brickwork and stone pathways as part of its design — and greenery aplenty. Also set to be a highlight: the Cloister, the hotel's restaurant and bar space. And, yes, that sky-high pool with scenic views, of course. "Surry Hills is home to one of the city's premier restaurant, dining, and boutique precincts," said TFE Hotels CEO Antony Ritch, announcing the new hotel. "This Collection property will become a destination in its own right." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Surry Hills Village By TOGA (@surryhillsvillage) Within the 1.2-hectare mixed-use development that is Surry Hills Village itself, Sydneysiders can also look forward to a new 517-square-metre public park, plus up to 12,000 square metres of retail and commercial tenants. There'll also be a new public pedestrian thoroughfare linking Marriott Street and Baptist Street — and, as part of the hospitality offering, a new restaurant from Fink Group, the team behind Quay, Bennelong, Otto and newly anointed third-best steak restaurant in the world Firedoor. And yes, new hotels are sprouting up thick and fast around Sydney, with the new Collection by TFE Hotels site joining the soon-to-launch Porter House Hotel; the just-launched Ace Hotel, Australia's first outpost from the chain; and none other than the Waldorf Astoria, which'll also opening its first-ever Australian hotel in Sydney in 2025. That's obviously excellent news not just for staycationers, but for folks visiting the city from interstate as well. TFE Hotels' new Collection property at Surry Hills Village, on Baptist Street in Surry Hills, is due to open in 2024. Head to the Collection by TFE Hotels and Surry Hills Village websites to keep an eye out for further information.
The idea behind theme parks is simple. If someone loves something enough — superhero movies, TV shows, video games, animation studios, a huge entertainment brand or Italian food, for example — they'll be willing to pay money to indulge that affection. And, they'll be particularly keen to roam around an entire site dedicated to their favourite thing, celebrating it all day long. With that in mind, if you're someone who simply can't get enough bubble tea, you'll want to head to Japan's latest theme park. There are no prizes for guessing what patrons will be drinking at Tokyo Tapioca Land; however, that's not all they'll be doing. Attendees will also be able to work their way around various tapioca-themed photo booths, and try different tapioca foods and beverages, including from some of the country's big brands. Based on sketches on the theme park site, as well as a report by Sora News 24, they may also be climb onto tapioca-themed rides. Just what most of above will entail is being kept rather vague — and yes, it sounds a more than a little like the incredibly Instagram-friendly food-focused sites that've been popping up around the place, such as Australia's Sugar Republic. Tellingly, Tokyo Tapioca Land is a temporary attraction, setting up shop outside of the station in Harajuku train station from August 13 to September 16. [caption id="attachment_707444" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Gotcha Tea[/caption] If you're going to be in Tokyo at the time, pre-sales have already sold out, but there will be tickets available on the day for 1200 yen (around AU$16) — if you're willing to brave what'll likely be some significant queues. For those who don't have a trip to Japan on the cards, perhaps trying to drink away your envy by indulging in a bubble tea or several will help. Tokyo Tapioca Land will be open at jing, outside the Harajuku train station at 6-7 Jingumae Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, from August 13 to September 16. For further details, visit the website. Via PR Times / Sora News 24.
Looking for a way to beat the post-Vivid winter blues? Concrete Playground is giving you the chance to experience the best of Sydney's cultural life for an entire month! One lucky person will win more than $850 worth of fun, including: Dinner for two at Paper PlanesTwo bottles of wine at Cake Wine's Pop-Up BarDouble Hopscotch Films movie passes to You Instead and HysteriaA double pass to ARTBAR at the Museum of Contemporary ArtIce skating and drinks for two at the Sydney Winter FestivalTwo tickets to see The Smashing Pumpkins' and Electric Guest's Splendour SideshowsDouble passes to The Histrionic and Face To Face at the Sydney Theatre Company For your chance to win, just subscribe (if you haven't already) to Concrete Playground then email your name to hello@concreteplayground.com.au by Wednesday, June 27 at 5pm.
In the centuries since William Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, plenty of other projects have attempted to take his lead, spinning perhaps the most famous love story there is into both straightforward and creative new adaptations. Some have simply brought the exact same story to the stage or screen. Others have kept all the details, but filtered them through a filmmaker's own style, as Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet did. And, back in 1957 on Broadway and 1961 in cinemas, West Side Story revamped the narrative and transferred it to the Big Apple. Created more than six decades ago by famed musical figures Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents, West Side Story is the adaptation that's taken on a life of its own. It's rarely far from stages worldwide, and that now 60-year-old film is a classic. It's also set to dance its way across the big screen again — and sing, too — with its New York neighbourhood rivalry returning to cinemas Down Under via a new remake this Boxing Day. Yes, the Jets and the Sharks are facing off once more. As both the new movie's initial teaser and its just-dropped full trailer show, Tony (Ansel Elgort, The Goldfinch) and María (film debutant Rachel Zegler) will fall head over heels again as well, because that's how the story goes. This time around, Steven Spielberg is in the director's chair, but West Side Story's storyline will obviously remain the same. So, in NYC in 1957, the aforementioned pair will feel sparks fly despite their backgrounds — because Tony's best friend Riff (Mike Faist, Panic) leads the Jets, and María is the younger sister of Sharks head honcho Bernardo (David Alvarez). Also popping up among the cast: Ariana DeBose (The Prom), Josh Andrés Rivera, Ana Isabelle (Imprisoned), Corey Stoll (Ratched) and Brian d'Arcy James (Devs), plus the great Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time) — who also played the role of Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend, in the original movie. The film's long list of talent continues off-screen, too, with West Side Story circa 2021's screenplay penned by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Tony Kushner (Lincoln), and the choreography coming courtesy of fellow Tony-recipient Justin Peck. Spielberg and company are taking the original Broadway musical rather than its first movie adaptation as their basis, and the results look vibrant and lively, but still with a classic old-school musical sheen. Thankfully — and unsurprisingly — it also looks worlds away from the filmmaker's last feature, Ready Player One. Check out the trailer below: West Side Story is set to open in Australian cinemas on December 26. Top image: Niko Tavernise, 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
War-holy crap. The Art Gallery of New South Wales has just announced one of its most ambitious and extensive projects. Ever. On November 1, 2014, they'll open the doors on Pop to popism — the largest pop art exhibition in Australian history. More than 200 works by 70 artists, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Martin Sharp and Brett Whiteley will have an entire floor to themselves. In the biggest pop art escapade the AGNSW has ever undertaken, 35 collectors from all corners of the earth will be lending their works. The selection covers both classic pop art as well as the '70s and '80s new wave. Squealworthy inclusions count Andy Warhol’s Triple Elvis (1963) among the ranks, as well as David Hockney’s Portrait of an artist (1972), Robert Indiana’s Love cross (1968), Lichtenstein’s In the car (1963) and Howard Arkley’s Triple fronted (1987). "This will be the most comprehensive survey of pop art to be seen in Australia and reflects the decisive role played by pop in the development of contemporary art," said AGNSW director Dr Michael Brand. "The exhibition will present Australian pop artists alongside their international peers from the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe, and extends beyond the period of classic pop art into the eighties, giving audiences an insight into pop’s enduring legacy both here and abroad." Pop to popism, which will be on display until March 1, 2015, makes up one half of the sixth incarnation of the annual Sydney International Art Series, managed by Destination NSW. The exhibition will run in conjunction with Chuck Close prints: Process and collaboration, which will show at the Museum of Contemporary Art between November 19, 2014 and March 9, 2015. Pop to popism runs 1 Nov 2014 — 1 Mar 2015 at the AGNSW.
If you've been perplexed, provoked or just plain pissed off by Shia LaBeouf's antics, you can now gain some insights. In an exclusive interview with Dazed, artists Luke Turner and Nastja Rönkkö open up about collaborating with the Nymphomaniac star on #IAMSORRY. "At its core, the most fascinating part of the performance was whether people would see Shia as a person, flesh and bones and soul, or as an object, a celebrity," says Nastja. "I also find it quite revealing that whereas in the past everyone wanted to become celebrities, today everyone wants to be an artist. For me, this opens up questions of whether our value systems are moving towards something more meaningful." Shia copped quite a bit of flak last year when Daniel Clowes fans made plagiarism accusations. As far they were concerned, LaBoeuf's new film Howard Cantour.com (2012) was far too close to Clowes' comic Justin M. Damiano (2007) for comfort. Previously, in an inflamed letter to Alec Baldwin, he'd passed off several paragraphs written by Tom Chiarella as his own. As if that wasn't attention enough — or perhaps because he sought to shift the focal point of the public eye — he turned up to the Berlin Film Festival wearing a paper bag bearing the statement, 'I am not famous anymore', quoted Eric Cantona at the Nymphomaniac press conference, and vanished. Some people were sympathetic; others expressed outrage. Either way, the stunt swamped arts headlines all over the globe. Then, like any good Matthew Arnold scholar, he sought refuge in art. For six days, a Los Angeles gallery hosted Shia's performance #IAMSORRY, which involved the either beleaguered or exceptionally publicity-hungry actor donning a tuxedo and paper bag and crying in public. Visitors reacted by losing their temper, taking selfies or offering congratulations. It was a multiplatform project that also played out on Shia's Twitter, in skywriting and a university seminar in which he read Guy Debord to students. In Nastja's view, Shia "made a genuine mistake during the process of trying to find his directorial feet" and has "undoubtedly regretted it deeply ever since". The actor approached the pair while the plagiarism controversy was going on. "Right from our very first meeting, I had been convinced of his commitment to his art and the trueness of his aim," Luke says. The artists both indicate that they intend to keep working with Shia, so expect to feel that vague annoyance towards him for some time yet. Read more about the history of Shia's new art form in our feature on ten crazy things done in the name of performance art.
If a cruisy Byron Bay getaway is your dream kind of getaway, you'll soon have a new place to stay at your favourite vacation spot. After welcoming Hotel Marvell in 2023, the beachside New South Wales town will next see the boutique Basq House join its accommodation options, complete with 32 rooms, communal spaces that encourage guests to hang out and a focus on wellness. Set to open in autumn 2024, with an exact date yet to be revealed, Basq House is pitching itself as an oasis for relaxing, rather than a base for being seen among the always-popular tourist spot's social scene. Accordingly, as well as a place to slumber, the hotel will feature plenty of inclusions for making the most of your accommodation — by the pool, at the bar and on the roof. If you're keen for a splash, the pool will sit in the centre of the property, flanked by sun loungers, cabanas and ample greenery. Some hotel rooms will look out over the glistening water, with others getting a Marvel Street or Fletcher Lane view. Eager for an onsite beverage? The hotel's reception will double as a bar, while there'll also be a lounge room that takes its cues from speakeasies. Prefer to while away your holiday with a book in your hand? That's where the library with its floor-to-ceiling shelves, sofas and fireplace for the winter months will come in. Head up to the rooftop and yoga, meditation sessions and sunset drinks will await, plus stargazing stints. Personal training classes with a view will also grace the hotel's top level, giving guests prime motivation to enjoy a workout while they're vacationing. For de-stressing elsewhere, a wellness centre will reside over multiple levels, featuring massages and floatation tanks as well as ice plunges and infrared saunas. Among the design features and decor, the staircase leading to the rooms will boast a skylight. In the suites themselves, expect high ceilings, natural textures and calming colours. "Our remit was to deliver an authentic hotel with soul and one that stays true to its location. With Basq House, we will place a significant emphasis on strong placemaking; hotel interiors; sensory inputs such as light, sound and smell; out-of-guest-room experiences' and the delivery of pre-emptive service," said David Jones, Director of Jeremy and Jones, which is operating the hotel. Find Basq House at Fletcher Lane, Byron Bay, in autumn 2024 — head to the hotel's website for further details.
Anyone who knows the Vivid Festival is well aware of the fact that the ethos behind the smorgasbord of cultural events revolves around bringing the best that the world has to offer to our city by the sea. Obviously, this also includes the creme de la creme of the home town, and this year is definitely no different. As part of the Modulations event at Carriageworks, enlisted to feed the masses are Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz, the rock and roll chefs behind one of Sydney's favourite restaurants, Porteno. However, according to the boys themselves, this isn't a chance to show off their cooking. Instead, they're bringing Wild Porteno to town. Porteno Food for the Street The food factor at Wild Porteno is an exciting drawcard for the festival, and Abrahanowicz tells us that "it'll be like Porteno, except outdoors and live." So expect the same strong, simple-done-well style that Porteno have been busting out for years, but with a twist that Abrahanowicz calls "an eat with your hands affair". There'll be the meat off the grill, brisket, and barbecue chicken wings, all served up like festival food. Over four days, as part of Modulations, they'll be dishing up their take on the food they serve at the restaurant, while DJs with the Porteno stamp of approval provide the mood music. They'll be there while the Pet Shop Boys do their thing, as well as the other acts that form the Modulations line up. While it's exciting to have all that music and art on show whilst eating some topnotch food, the truth is, according to Milgate, a little bit more complex. "We're doing the food and everything, but it's just a sideline to the main event." In the case of Wild Porteno, the main event is the showcase of bands from LA-based Wild Records. A bunch of rockabilly all stars, Milgate and Abrahanowicz assure that they're the real reason to get to Carriageworks on Monday, June 9 (the public holiday). https://youtube.com/watch?v=6ISz7JFYlLo The home of modern rockabilly Wild Records is the home of some of the best unsung heroes in the modern rockabilly scene, and the Porteno boys are stoked to be bringing them out to Australia. "There's really nothing like it," says Abrahanowicz, "it's a unique sound, it's the Wild sound." Milgate adds that Wild Porteno is "really just showcasing these guys to everyone." They're not lying, either. The bands on Wild Records were recently the subject of an award-winning documentary, Los Wild Ones, which may or may not be shown before their appearance on stage at the festival. Milgate says that "Luis and the Wildfires are our favourite band. He's such a fucking legend, so we said that he has to come. Gizzelle has such an amazing voice, and the Delta Bombers are really amazing on stage." After seeing the modern take on good old rock and roll, it's not hard to see why Milgate and Abrahanowicz have orchestrated this festival just to show them off to Sydney's discerning musical public. "We're just happy that they get to come out and we get to see them," says Abrahanowicz. BORN TO BE WILD It's no secret that Sydney will turn up for Porteno food, festival style. With Milgate and Abrahanowicz behind their customary grills, masses will flock to Carriageworks to gorge on the barbecued goodness. Coupled with Young Henrys, who are looking after the brew, the festival of music, art and food is guaranteed to please. But, to the guys who are cooking up this delightful storm, it's just an excuse to get a gig for some of their favourite bands, which isn't a bad thing at all. Wild Porteno goes down on Monday, June 9, and brings together some outstanding bands, delectable drinks and tasty food that is sure to be a highlight of the Vivid festival. So, Sydney, let's get Wild. Tickets for Wild Porteno are $49.80 from Ticketmaster.
When Interface asked Francois Chambard what kind of art he could devise from carpet tiles, these critters were his response. He and 29 other designers and architects put their carpeted creations up for auction, raising $16,000 for Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). Interface organised the auction to mark the official opening of its new showroom in New York City, an 8,000 square foot space that looks over the Empire State Building. Other designers invited to contribute included David Ling, Harry Allen, Russell Groves, Joey Shimoda and D.B. Kim, and over 400 prominent industry members comprised the crowd. Peter Greene, the Vice President of marketing of Interface’s American arm, expressed the company’s enthusiasm. “The galvanizing impact that DIFFA brings to our design community is overwhelming, and Interface is excited it could join with the organization as we put out the welcome mat to our new Big Apple showroom . . . We’re delighted the proceeds of this event could help swell DIFFA’s coffers a bit more and at the same time let us welcome architects and designers into our new space with a fun occasion that also gives back in a meaningful way.” Interface is not only the world’s largest supplier of carpet tiles, but also one of the most socially conscious corporations on the stock exchange. Anyone who’s seen Canadian documentary The Corporation may remember the role played by then CEO Ray Anderson in representing the potential for an ethical approach to business. When Anderson passed away in August 2011, headlines proclaimed him ‘the greenest CEO in America’. Images: gBlog [Via boing boing]
You know when you're trying to read on a train but you just can't tune out that other passenger's borezo conversation? Or when you're at a festival and you want to turn up the base? It's these times that you wish you could just flick a switch in your ear and change the levels, but laugh the thought away because we're humans, not robots, and we don't have switches anyway. Well that may be true, but a Silicon Valley start-up have developed wireless earbuds which, when placed in your ear, can give you control over what you hear — and what you don't. It's called the Here Active Listening system, and it's basically a fancy add-on to your actual, working ear. The earbuds are controlled by a smartphone app and, once in your ear, can be used to modify the sounds around you. What does this mean? Well it would allow you to eliminate sounds (say, a crying baby), increase the bass and amplify sounds, such the voice of the person you're talking to — which would be great in loud environments, like gigs and festivals. This last point is probably why creators Doppler Labs have decided to release the product at Coachella this year. Here will be fully integrated into the festival, and will give punters the opportunity to access exclusive 'listening experiences' and audio filters. There will even be presets optimised for each stage. It will be the first opportunity for people to purchase the earbuds since the project raised over $600,000 on Kickstarter last year. There's no set date on when the rest of the us not attending Coachella can try them out, but the price point is set to be around $200-300. Via Mashable.
You could celebrate International Tea Day (Sunday, May 21) the obvious way, by downing a nice hot cuppa. Or, you could sate your sweet tooth instead and mark the occasion with a tea-inspired treat. Or hey, why not double down and do both at once? This year, the innovative dessert masters at Tokyo Lamington are teaming up with iconic tea brand Lipton to deliver a limited-edition collaboration that's sweet as can be. From Friday, May 19–Friday, May 26, it's serving up a specialty (or special-TEA) lamington creation inspired by the go-to hot drink that is Lipton's Quality Black Tea. The new dessert features a base of black tea sponge, with boba-spiked tea custard and a biscuit crumb to finish. If that sounds like something you'd like to get your mitts on, simply head into Tokyo Lamington's Newtown store and nab a limited-edition pack for $15. Each one contains one of the Lipton-inspired treats, as well as an OG signature lamington and 15 Lipton tea bags — so you can really make a great afternoon of it. If you're quick, you can also nab a complimentary pack — head to the Lipton X Tokyo Lamington pop-up in Broadway Shopping Centre from Friday, May 19–Sunday, May 21, where they'll be giving them away on the house to 20 customers per day along with free cups of tea.
Suitcases at the ready: your latest excuse to not just dream of a getaway, but actively start looking forward to your next one, is here. Virgin is putting on another flight sale, and this one expands its usual Happy Hour promotions. For one day only, and for the first time ever, the airline is extending its weekly window for specials to a full day. That means that today, Thursday, February 23, you have until midnight AEDT to score a bargain fare to destinations around Australia. Included on the sale list is everywhere from the nation's capital cities to Sunshine State hotspots such as Hamilton Island, Cairns and the Gold Coast. So, whether you're keen to explore a different concrete playground than your own or to soak in some beach time on an endless summer, you've got options. A huge 250,000 discounted one-way flights are on offer, starting at at $55. As always, that price will get you from Sydney to Byron Bay, which is consistently the cheapest route during sales like this. Other cheap fares include Sydney to the Gold Coast from $89, Adelaide to Melbourne from $99, Brisbane to Hamilton Island from $119, Sydney to Hobart from $95 and Melbourne to Launceston from $69. And, the discounts apply both ways, and for economy seats. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, the dates cover between Thursday, March 9–Friday, September 15, all varying per route. Get ready for autumn and winter getaways, or to start off spring with a break. As usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick — quicker than usual, in fact, given the midnight deadline. Virgin's day-long Happy Hour sale runs until midnight AEDT on Thursday, February 23 — unless sold out earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
He has filled the National Gallery of Victoria with silver bikes, thrown paint over his pals, had quite the public fight with Lego and set up a studio in Lesbos to draw attention to the refugee crisis. And, before he heads to Australia again for the 2018 Sydney Biennale, Ai Weiwei is continuing to contemplate and challenge the way that immigration and security are handled in his latest New York installation. It'll be his largest and most ambitious public exhibition to date, and he's asking for help to make it happen. Due to be unveiled in October, Ai Weiwei's next project is called Good Fences Make Good Neighbors, as presented by the city's Public Art Fund. To assist in the massive effort — which will feature site-specific pieces, plus 2D and 3D artwork, spanning more than 300 outdoor sites in all five boroughs — the Chinese artist has launched a Kickstarter campaign. At the time of writing, it has passed the halfway mark towards his US$80,000 goal. Given the exhibition's title, as well as Ai Weiwei's ongoing political activism, it's far from surprising that Good Fences Make Good Neighbors addresses the plight of migrants and refugees, immigration and border control policies, and the current global rise in nationalism. Drawing upon his own experience in detention, as well as his visits to refugee camps around the world, the project will adapt security fencing in a number of different ways, and in unexpected places, in order to make a statement about division and separation. New Yorkers can expect pieces at street level, on rooftops, between buildings, on lampposts, attached to frame bus shelters and elsewhere in the urban landscape, as well as site-specific installations in the likes of Central Park and Washington Square Park. With the project running through until February 2018, the artworks are designed to act "as powerful metaphors in a city that has long served as a gateway to the United States for millions of immigrants," according to the Public Art Fund website. For those unable to see the end result in person, it's not the only thing the always-busy Ai Weiwei has been cooking up of late. Human Flow, his new documentary about the global refugee crisis, has just premiered at the Venice Film Festival. It'll have its Aussie debut at the Adelaide Film Festival in October, before reaching cinemas around the country on December 7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP5F7-RwVgM Images: Ai Weiwei studio via Kickstarter.
Being The Drums means being one of the most hardworking bands around at the moment – since they skyrocketed in hype in 2009, The Drums haven't slowed down, incessantly touring and releasing two LPs in that time. They've visited antipodean shores before, working the festival circuit and are about to do it for the third time – this time around for St. Jerome's Laneway Festival in Australia. Singer Jonny Pierce took some time out to talk to Kirstie Sequitin about the rise and rise of the band, recording Portamento in their kitchen and getting lost in translation in Poland. Hi Jonny, how are you? Hey there, how you doin'? I'm good thank you, how's your day going? It's going pretty good, I'm down in Puerto Rico right now, just wrapping up my first real holiday since we started the band and heading back to wintery New York City tomorrow morning. It's a little fast to be leaving but I'm also ready for it – I'm having a really hard time actually relaxing. My mind is constantly reeling so I think it'll actually feel better to sort of, do something creative again. This is the first time, actually, that we've had time for a break… we've had just under a month off. That's the longest time that we've had off since we started three years ago. Because we've just been going going going, even a month feels like a very long time. I feel like we all feel somewhat refreshed and excited to come to Australia, which is a change from sort of the, the, how we were feeling a few months ago when we were wrapping up a very long three-year tour. So Australia will kind of be the first stop after your holidays then? It will, absolutely, yeah. It'll be nice to continue this warm weather, actually. I really didn't like warm weather as a child - I was always drawn towards the cold winters but uh, getting older, so, things change I suppose. You've been coming to Australia every year basically since you started – doing the festival circuit and your sideshows and tours and whatever – how do you feel about coming here so often? Do you like it here? Well, we've always had a really warm reception in Australia so it is a place that we look forward to going… and you know there are some places that we've gone a few times and every time it feels the same but there's always this… it feels like every time we've been to Australia there's been this mounting electricity in the air. It's that sort of thing that keeps you on the road. It seems that the fans there are a bit more rowdy than most of the places which really gets us through the show and makes us excited and makes us sort of play the best show possible. And it's nice to go somewhere where people speak English, to be quite honest (laughs). We spend a lot of time sort of, pointing at venues, and… a lot of sign language. So it's sort of nice to just be able to talk to people. Yeah. "We… like… being… here…" Yeah, exactly. Or like, memorising the words Thank You in every language. It seems that I think I know it and I walk up on stage confidently and it completely slips my mind. I end up asking my guitar player how to say thank you in Polish and he tells me – he gives me an answer that's almost right but just wrong enough to make me look foolish and for the entire set I'm saying thank you wrong… (laughs) Oh, that's awesome. Literally happens non-stop. You were saying before that you being in Puerto Rico is the first holiday that you've had since you guys have started – so how does it feel to be on the road for three years? Do you feel like you've enjoyed those three years or do you feel like it's a bit of a burden? Well, when we first started writing songs for this band and recording, we were living in the middle of nowhere in Florida and it was just Jacob and I – we wrote the Summertime EP and then we recorded most of the first album and that whole time we thought we'd be the only two people who would ever hear it. And out of nowhere, we were asked to play a show in New York City – you know, we had a MySpace page and that was it – so we went off to New York and played the show and the next day we were getting calls from record labels and managers and booking agents. Right from the very first show that we played it was a non-stop whirlwind up until a month ago. At the beginning everything is exotic and exciting and surreal and there's nowhere to really feel like you can put your feet down because the whole time it just felt like we were floating and being hyped up as we were. You don't even really feel anything: we didn't have time to feel excited, we didn't have time to feel angry, we didn't have time to feel anything which is just so, so wild. And then about a year into it, the dust starts to settle a little bit and our feet started touching the ground and you sort of have a clearer vision of what you are as a band and we realised where we had landed. It was really exciting, we felt really grateful for everything – and we still do – but, you know, the reality was… none of us were home, ever, and we were always all together and you don't think about those things when you start a band. You think, 'Oh, we'll play a couple of shows here and there, and I'll keep my bartending job and you'll keep your retail job and that will be enough…' you just jump into it because it's exciting. It's very simple - we just spent too much time together and things started to get a little bit ugly. To me, when things get dramatic and ugly, to me it's a really exciting time to be creative, because I think the best art comes through hardship, and that sort of anger and bitterness really gave Portamento a darker texture that I think we were hoping for. So I think, without really saying it, we were all welcoming the drama. Since then, when we finished Portamento and released it, I think we all felt something break… it was just a unifying experience and I think what we all really learned from the whole thing was to give each other space and to respect each other's opinions. Jacob, Connor and I are all really stubborn, bull-headed people and I don't think this band would exist or be able to survive if we weren't that way. I think it's those three dynamic, clashing heads all the time that… that's where the ideas come from. I'm grateful for all of that and I wouldn't want this to be easy and comfortable because I think that's the number one way to lose your creative spark. Yeah, definitely. (And then the line gets cut and Kirstie's heart breaks a little bit. But he calls her back!) Hello! I don't know what happened there. Alright, so I always read the fact that you guys produced Portamento in your kitchen – is that true? Mmhmm. Do you think that for your next efforts you'll go into the studio? Or do you think you'll continue this kind of, very DIY sensibility. Um, I don't know. We didn't do things DIY because we thought we should – we did things DIY because it was the only option when we started. We were completely broke – we didn't have cars, we didn't really have friends, we were living in this small apartment complex in Kissimmee, Florida, riding my bike to work, a 36-mile round trip every day, that sort of thing. We were really broke. So we just downloaded recording software illegally (laughs) and borrowed our friend's guitar and used an old synthesizer that Jacob's mum gave him and bought a $25 microphone from RadioShack and just recorded things that way. With Portamento we just decided that we were really happy with how the first album turned out. We were trying to record things as professionally as we possibly could but because we didn't have the right gear and the right know-how to do it, we sort of landed on a certain sound by accident but we really learned to love it and call it our own. For Portamento we didn't want to stray from that. We kept it the same way and didn't buy any new equipment or any new recording gear, we just decided to make another record how we made the first. And The Drums, I think so far our heart has been into doing it on our own, but that's just because that's sort of how it happened and I think however we go about the next album – whether we get a producer or we do it ourselves again, or we co-produce, I'm not really sure – whatever it is, you can bet that it's because that's what we want to do. That's the number one thing for us, to never look back and feel like we've made a long list of compromises. So if we work with a producer it's because we feel like we should for the next album and not because someone tells us we should. It's about feeling really natural about everything. Alright, I think that's all I've got for today – thank you so much for your time Jonny and thanks for calling me back after I dropped out there. No problem at all, thank you. Have a great time in Australia, et cetera et cetera. Oh, and have fun in Puerto Rico! Oh, thank you, I will - we have had a really nice time. I lied to this man and told him I had a boating license so I've been taking his boat out every day. So, so far you know that I've been downloading illegal software and lying to people in Puerto Rico – it's not all bad, I swear. The Drums will be playing at St. Jerome's Laneway Festival in Australia. This interview was originally conducted for Scene Magazine.
Since 1999, Longrain has been serving up interesting, modern takes on Thai fare. But now, the Commonwealth Street digs is about to close its doors, with owner Sam Christie announcing this morning that the team will not renew the lease on the site when it ends on Sunday, June 30. When the restaurant first opened, the food it was serving, under then-chef Martin Boetz, was trailblazing for the area — an area better known for its bustling Oxford Street nightclubs than fine-diners. That has since changed, with Surry Hills now a hub of wine bars and restaurants, offering everything from modern Burmese to lively Indian and Sri Lankan hoppers. Commonwealth Street alone is now filled with places to eat, too, with Chin Chin — another modern Thai restaurant — and Poly, by the Ester crew, both opening in the past two years. Christie has not yet commented on whether this had any weight on his decision to close Longrain. [caption id="attachment_625427" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To.[/caption] Longrain has outposts in both Melbourne and Tokyo, and the Surry Hills closure doesn't mean the end for Sydney, either. Christie has revealed that he's currently looking at other locations around the city to reopen the restaurant. "Leaving Surry Hills gives us an opportunity to explore other sites for Longrain Sydney," said Christie in a statement. If you haven't visited the restaurant yet, or want to go back once more — for one more betel leaf — you still have time. Christie has announced that it'll be service as usual until the restaurant closes on June 30. "We really look forward to welcoming everyone back into the warehouse to dine and enjoy this beautiful space for the last time," said Christie. Find Longrain at 85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills until June 30. It will be service as usual until then, with dinner running every night of the week as well as lunch on Fridays. Top image: Nikki To.
From director Amin Palangi, Love Marriage in Kabul is a documentary that looks at the complexities of courtship, in the backdrop of a severely patriarchal society. He depicts a world where marriage does not get to be an equal choice between two people, but a decision completely out of their control. At the centre of the documentary is Mahboba Rawi, a former refugee from Afghanistan who now lives in Australia. She has created a charity to raise funds that provides support and education for more than two thousand widows and orphans in Afghanistan. Mahboba is determined to help one of her charges, Abdul who is in love with the girl next door, Fatemeh. They face strong opposition and unreasonable demands from her father, obstructing any chance that they could get married. The filmmaker, Amin Palangi, feels a responsibility to delve into the intricate cultural structures that determines the everyday life of inhabitants. He sees it as his mission to foster identification, rather than otherness for western viewers. The documentary won the Audience Award in the 2014 Sydney Film Festival. Screenings around Australia will start on November 5 in Sydney at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington. Tickets can be pre-purchased online. Proceeds from ticket purchases will help support Mahboba's charity.
What can Disney say except... yes, "you're welcome", Moana fans? A sequel to the 2016 animated hit is on its way to cinemas before 2024 is out, as announced earlier in the year. Now, the movie's first teaser trailer is here to make a splash, and to confirm that Auli'i Cravalho (Mean Girls) is back voicing Moana and Dwayne Johnson (Fast X) is also returning as demigod Maui. When Walt Disney Animation Studios had Johnson sing a ridiculously catchy tune that was penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda in the first Moana, it clearly gave itself the perfect response to all the love thrown the film's way. Adore the movie? You're welcome. Can't stop crooning its songs? You're also welcome. Excited about the sequel that'll hit cinemas on Thursday, November 28 Down Under? You're welcome for that as well. Story-wise, Moana 2 will see its namesake take to the seas of Oceania to answer the call from her ancestors, which is where new characters will come in. While eight years have passed for viewers, only three have elapsed within the film when Moana and Maui set off on their new — and dangerous — adventure. In the director's chair: Dave Derrick Jr, who was a storyboard artist on the original Moana. And on music duties this time are singer-songwriter Abigail Barlow, composer Emily Bear (Dog Gone), Opetaia Foa'i (returning from the first film) and Mark Mancina (also back from the initial movie). "This was originally developed as a series, but we were impressed with what we saw and we knew it deserved a theatrical release," said Disney CEO Bob Iger when he announced the sequel in the company's first-quarter earnings call for 2024. "The original Moana film from 2016 recently crossed one-billion hours streamed on Disney+ and was the most streamed movie of 2023 on any platform in the U.S." Moana 2 is one of two new Moana movies in the works, with a live-action adaptation of the first Moana also on the way — and with Johnson starring. "Along with the live-action version of the original film that's currently in development, Moana remains an incredibly popular franchise," continued Iger. Check out the first teaser trailer for Moana 2 below: Moana 2 will release in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on Thursday, November 28, 2024. Read our interview with Jemaine Clement about Moana. Images: © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Summer is nearly upon us. To celebrate, the good folks at the Watson's Bay Boutique Hotel are throwing a festival dedicated to our favourite crisp fruit beverage — cider. Perched on the Watsons Bay foreshore, this establishment knows a thing or two about hosting chilled summer events, even in spring. Their Cider Festival will feature a variety of local and imported ciders. Making good use of the fact that cider rhymes with slider, snacks in slider form will be available all day (as will non-rhyming paella and pulled pork). Live music will be plentiful, and for the go-getters among us, there's an apple bobbing competition. But things get real when you're invited to go on a 'cider trail' along Military Road. This is the kind of walking trail we can all firmly get behind. All you need is a Cider Trail Tasting ticket, available from the venue on the day (or from here). The cider trail will culminate at the hotel's breezy chic Beach Club, come over all pop-up cider bar. The ticket allows a tasting from each of the 11 stalls there, as well as a whole bottle of whichever's your favourite.
If you drink much coffee (or have ever been to a cafe, worked in an office or looked through other people's rubbish), you've probably realised that Australia's cafe culture produces a huge number of wasted takeaway cups. But what you may not know is that these cups are not recyclable. Though coffee cups feature paper on the outside, the liquid-proof inside lining is made of plastic, which means the cups cannot be recycled like other cardboard items. It also means they take on average 50 years to decompose in landfill. There is currently no facility in Australia that is able to recycle takeaway coffee cups, but Closed Loop hopes to change that. The Australian company — which offers waste management and environmental solutions to a range of companies, including Noma when it was in Sydney — just completed a trial to help make the case for their proposal. The trial, which received a $17,500 grant from the City of Sydney, introduced standalone bins for takeaway coffee cups into three office buildings across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. 12,000 cups were collected over four weeks, successfully demonstrating that people would be willing to use such bins. And after they've been collected? Closed Loop has worked with researchers from the UK, where they already run a similar cup collection and recycling program, to develop technology that combines the materials in the cups with a polymer to produce a plastic-fibre compound. It can be used to make placemats, coasters and outdoor furniture. Based on the success of the pilot (that is, people using the bins correctly), Closed Loop is proposing to set up a dedicated facility to recycle them. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore estimates that if the program were to go ahead, more than 25 million coffee cups could avoid ending up in landfill per year from the City of Sydney area alone. Given that around one million disposable coffee cups end up in landfill per minute worldwide, it's good to know there are people trying to tackle the issue. We'll keep an eye on this one to see where it goes. Image: Tim Wright.
The Icelandic Government ushered in the new year with a legal first when, on January 1, it became the first nation in the world to outlaw unequal pay for women. Any company or government agency that employs 25 people or more must prove their equal pay policies through government certification or face hefty fines. "[They] evaluate every job that's being done, and then they get a certification after they confirm the process if they are paying men and women equally," Dagny Osk Aradottir Pind, a board member of the Icelandic Women's Rights Association, told Aljazeera. Even before the passing of the law, which was announced on International Women's Day 2017, Iceland was ranked number one in the world for gender equality according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2017. (In case you're wondering, Australia came in at 35, while New Zealand took out 9th spot). Iceland's current leader, Katrin Jakobsdóttir, who was elected in November 2017, is the nation's second female Prime Minister — and since 2016, women have held 48% of parliamentary positions. "I think that now people are starting to realise that this is a systematic problem that we have to tackle with new methods," said Aradottir Pind. "Women have been talking about this for decades and I really feel that we have managed to raise awareness, and we have managed to get to the point that people realise that the legislation we have had in place is not working, and we need to do something more." The Icelandic Government is hopeful that the gender pay gap won't exist beyond 2020. Here's hoping other countries around the world start to follow their lead.
When 2025 hits, 20 years will have passed since Oasis last toured Australia, but that's where the lengthy gap between the band's Down Under shows is ending. There's comeback tours and then there's Britain's most-famous feuding siblings reuniting to bring one of the country's iconic groups back together for a massive world tour — and when Liam and Noel Gallagher start taking to the stage together again, they'll do so at gigs in Sydney and Melbourne. Oasis' reunion tour has been huge news for months, ever since Liam and Noel announced in August that they would reform Oasis — and bury the hatchet — for a run of shows in the UK and Ireland. Since then, they've been expanding their tour dates, also locking in visits to Canada and the US. From London, Manchester and Dublin to Toronto, Los Angeles and Mexico City, the entire tour so far is sold out. [caption id="attachment_975205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oasis Knebworth 1996, Photo by Roberta Parkin/Redferns[/caption] That's the story, morning glory — and expect Australian tickets to get snapped up swiftly for Oasis' two announced concerts, one apiece in Sydney and Melbourne. The Manchester-born band is kicking off their Aussie visit on Halloween 2025 at Marvel Stadium in the Victorian capital, then heading to Accor Stadium in the Harbour City a week later. "People of the land down under. 'You better run — you better take cover ...'. We are coming. You are most welcome," said the group in a statement. [caption id="attachment_975206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oasis Knebworth 1996, Jill Furmanovsky[/caption] Oasis broke up in 2009, four years after their last Australian tour, and following seven albums from 1994's Definitely Maybe through to 2008's Dig Your Soul — and after drawing massive crowds to their live gigs along the way (see: documentary Oasis Knebworth 1996). If you're feeling supersonic about the group's reunion, you can likely expect to hear that track, plus everything from 'Live Forever', 'Cigarettes & Alcohol', 'Morning Glory' and 'Some Might Say' through to 'Wonderwall', 'Don't Look Back in Anger' and 'Champagne Supernova' when they hit Australia. Oasis Live '25 Australian Dates Friday, October 31 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Friday, November 7 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Oasis are touring Australia in October and November 2025. Presale ticket registration runs until 8am AEDT on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, with Melbourne tickets on sale from 10am AEDT and Sydney tickets from 12pm AEDT on Tuesday, October 15. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Simon Emmett.
Vivid is back for its tenth birthday, and there's more to see and do this year than ever. With so much to fit in, it's often hard to know where to start and how to get off the well-beaten track. As always, there are the big lights dotting the harbour, but there are also heaps of hidden gems worth seeking out — down alleyways, against the water and even up in the air. With the help of our mates at Samsung, we've pulled together a list of some of the best works tucked away in and around The Rocks and Circular Quay. And once you find them, it'd be remiss not to snap a shot or two so you can take them home with you — especially if you have Samsung's new Galaxy S9 and S9+ phone, which allows you to take beautiful photos in the dark with its Super Low Light camera. Check out our Galaxy S9+ snaps taken by photographer Cole Bennetts, take note of his tips and make tracks to these hidden Vivid gems. CHRYSALIS — REIBY PLACE Just as a caterpillar in a cocoon needs the right conditions to emerge, so too does the butterfly within each of the illuminated shells in Chrysalis. The sound of the audience approaching causes the butterflies to stir, and as people get closer and their collective noise grows louder, the butterflies awaken. Finally, they spread their wings within their five neon homes and flit and flutter with the crowd's presence. Cole's tip: Avoid contributing to a newsfeed clogged with identical Vivid snaps by changing your perspective. Get down low or shoot from up high to make the picture more interesting. OASIS — ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN Oasis is a shimmering, bioluminescent-inspired sea of light. Set in a corner of the Botanic Garden devoted to "lonely, frightened, lost and abused children who never knew the joy of a loving family", the work is dedicated to Australia's forgotten children — those raised in orphanages, children's homes and institutions. Playing on the relationship between light and water, courage and vulnerability, the seemingly floating lights move with nature but are always steadied by their underlying strength, returning them to their upright position. PARROT PARTY — ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN Is it a flock of birds in the gardens? Or a clandestine party among the flora? Well, it's a bit of both, actually. The festive Parrot Party in the Botanic Garden bursts with colour and sound, that grows brighter and more jovial as people join in. Perched in a pavilion, the birds' song is modulated by the crowds who come and go. Made up of Kiwi kea parrots and Australian rainbow lorikeets — a nod to the close relationship between our two countries — the flock's song grows louder as the crowd draws in, bursting with a display of sweet calls and chatter. Cole's tip: Vivid has excitement at every turn. You don't want to miss the money shot, so keep your S9 at the ready. When you stumble across a hidden gem worth snapping, double-tap the power button to bring up the camera quickly. 555 NANOMETERS — KENDALL LANE Hanging above a historic laneway in The Rocks, 555 Nanometers' sheets of green light and integrated soundscape also draw people in with the sound and sights of Australian flora and fauna. Follow the noise of cicadas calling into the night, pulling you toward this canopy of light. The name of the installation is a reference to its yellow-green hue that specifically sits at colour spectrum 555 nanometers. The human eye is most sensitive to the colour and feels most at ease when looking at it. As you look up at the illuminated perforated sheets, you'll find yourself reminded of looking at light streaming through leaves on a bright summer's day. FUGU — THE ROCKS If watching David Attenborough's Blue Planet has taught us anything, it is that the goings-on in our oceans are both compelling and crucially important. Artists Amigo and Amigo depict this in their installation Fugu. It's a kinetic light sculpture in the form of a pufferfish, a peculiar critter that changes form for protection against predators. As audiences surround the spiky creature it comes to life, expanding, contracting and pulsating in glowing multi-colour. The piece represents the fragility of life under the surface and highlights the importance of conservation. As you explore and uncover the hidden gems of Vivid, get the best snap on the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, designed especially for low light. Images: Cole Bennetts.
We are reaching the final stages of The Dip's greatly appreciated mission of warming the hearts (okay, stomachs) of the hungry and the drunk (two states that often go hand in hand). The beloved Goodgod eatery shocked Sydneysiders by announcing its impending closure a couple of weeks ago, and we've been reminiscing about great dawgs past ever since. The good folks at The Dip are making the transition a little easier for us with a last hurrah, the Greatest Hits Banquet. It will feature menu favourites from their three-year operation, with dishes ranging from a mini version of the Young Cheezy burger to chilli fries and pulled pork nachos. There's no better to properly pay your respects than by gorging yourself silly. Vegetarians, don't despair. You too can get in on the action by specifying your preferences in the email booking. Bookings can be made by emailing do@thedip.com.au. The banquet is $40 per head and comes complete with a Fluffernutter for dessert and one of Goodgod's club drinks. So cancel your plans and come show your support for your favourite housemate of Goodgod Small Club.
When the original UK version of The Office turned workplace awkwardness, cringeworthy bosses and frustrating coworkers into a huge comedic success two decades ago, it found humour in parts of the 9-to-5 grind that we all recognise. When the hit show inspired the hugely popular American series, the mere fact that it sparked a spinoff also spoke to another employment truth: that office chaos, overbearing managers and unpleasant colleagues aren't a mere product of one place, company or country. It's no wonder that more iterations have kept following, with everywhere from Canada, France and Germany to Israel, India and Poland serving up their takes. Next, marking the franchise's 13th adaptation, comes Australia's own The Office — and it now has a trailer. It's time to clock on: come Friday, October 18, The Office is reopening, this time Down Under. Back in 2023, Prime Video announced that it was making an Aussie version of the sitcom, featuring actor and comedian Felicity Ward (Time Bandits) as Flinley Craddick Managing Director Hannah Howard. This is also the first take worldwide with a female boss. Move over David Brent, and also Michael Scott — it's now Howard's turn to become the manager that no one wants but everyone has worked for. She oversees a packaging company. When she receives news that head office is shutting down her branch, with everyone working from home instead, she's determined to keep her team together. Obviously, that won't go smoothly, or there'd be no sitcom antics to be had in The Office's Aussie stint. Joining Ward is a hefty cast spanning Edith Poor (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Steen Raskopoulos (The Duchess), Shari Sebbens (Preppers), Josh Thomson (Young Rock), Jonny Brugh (What We Do in the Shadows), Pallavi Sharda (The Twelve), Susan Ling Young (Barons), Raj Labade (Back of the Net), Lucy Schmit (The Pledge), Zoe Terakes (Talk to Me) and Claude Jabbour (Last King of the Cross). Also featuring: Susie Youssef (Deadloch), Justin Rosniak (Colin From Accounts), Carlo Ritchie (A Beginner's Guide to Grief), Rick Donald (Population: 11), and Chris Bunton (Wolf Like Me). Viewers will be able to binge Ward and company's antics, with the entire eight-episode first season of the The Office dropping at once — so get your staplers in jelly ready. Check out the trailer for the Australian version of The Office below: The Australian version of The Office streams via Prime Video from Friday, October 18, 2024. Images: John Platt and Prime Video, © BBCS and Bunya Entertainment.
Flick through the pages of any issue of National Geographic and the planet comes to life in all of its natural glory, particularly the colour, movement and all-round splendour of the animal world. Indeed, the magazine has been taking eye-catching wildlife photographs since 1888, and first featured one such image — a snap of a reindeer — on its cover back in 1903. From that huge 130-year history, the publication has picked out the absolute best photos in its archive for a brand new exhibition, which will make its world premiere at the Melbourne Zoo from September 8 to November 30. 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs will showcase exactly what it sounds like — 50 breathtaking snaps of the earth's animal inhabitants, as curated by famous nature picture editor Kathy Moran, and featuring the work of iconic National Geographic photographers such as Michael 'Nick' Nichols, Steve Winter, Paul Nicklen, Beverly Joubert and David Doubilet. If last year's Photo Ark exhibition has you staring in wonder, then this promises that and more as patrons not only view the stunning sights captured, but the way that photography has evolved over the course of more than a century. Displaying as an outdoor gallery in Melbourne Zoo's Carousel Park, 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs will be accompanied by augmented reality experience Air, Land & Sea. The interactive installation transports viewers to a watering hole where animals — hailing from Africa, the Arctic and more — graze, drink and interact with the environment around them. As well as giving patrons a glimpse at wildlife photography at its finest, Melbourne Zoo hopes the exhibition will bring attention to the plight of animals around the world. "Our hope is that, after viewing these stunning images and connecting with the wildlife at Melbourne Zoo, visitors will be compelled to remember that all animals deserve our greatest respect, awe and preservation," says Melbourne Zoo director Kevin Tanner. National Geographic's 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs will be on display at Melbourne Zoo from September 8 to November 30. Entry to the exhibition is included in the zoo admission price. For more information, visit the website. Image: Gray Whale Hands by Thomas P. Peschak, San Ignacio Lagoon, Mexico, April 2015.
By this point in 2020, the year has served up all manner of challenges and surprises. But in one area at least, it's rolling on as planned. Because the world can't last too long without delivering multiple new film and/or television adaptations of Stephen King's work, viewers are about to score another one — a new miniseries version of the author's 1978 novel The Stand. Hitting Amazon Prime Video in Australia and New Zealand from Friday, January15 — after debuting in America in December — The Stand joins HBO's The Outsider as the two new TV shows bringing King's work to our eyeballs over the past 12 months. Of course, as avid fans will know, this isn't the first time this particular book has made the leap to the screen. Back in 1994, it aired as a big-budget, star-studded, four-part miniseries featuring the likes of Gary Sinise, Miguel Ferrer, Rob Lowe, Ruby Dee, Laura San Giacomo, Molly Ringwald and Ed Harris. Plenty of well-known names are onboard this time around, too, because there's quite the sprawling story to tell. And, quite the timely one, although that's obviously pure coincidence. The Stand is set in a world devastated by a plague. Here, the devasation is caused by a bioengineered super flu strain, which has wiped out 99 percent of the global population. Among those that survive, a battle between good and evil plays out — with the character of Randall Flagg, a common figure in King's work (see: The Eyes of the Dragon and The Dark Tower series), featuring prominently. Alexander Skarsgård plays Flagg, while the rest of the cast includes James Marsden, Whoopi Goldberg, Amber Heard and Heather Graham, as well as Watchmen's Jovan Adepo, Paper Towns' Nat Wolff, IT: Chapter Two's Owen Teague, Arrow's Katherine McNamara, and Australian Shirley and The Daughter actor Odessa Young. Behind the lens, The Stand is the latest project from filmmaker Josh Boone — whose latest movie, The New Mutants, hit cinemas in mid-2020 after years of delays. Check out the trailer for The Stand below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytkZJSzeg7A The Stand will start streaming in Australia and New Zealand on Friday, January 15 via Amazon Prime Video, airing new episodes weekly.
Everyone deserves a hefty dose of Steve Buscemi in their lives and, across five seasons and 56 episodes, Boardwalk Empire delivers just that. The beloved actor plays Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson, a corrupt politician who is also a gangster kingpin in Atlantic City during America's prohibition era. The character is fictional, but it's based on non-fiction book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City, which focuses on comparable real-life figure Enoch L. Johnson. Created by The Sopranos alum and The Wolf of Wall Street screenwriter Terrence Winter — and executive produced by Martin Scorsese, with the iconic filmmaker also directing its pilot — Boardwalk Empire charts Nucky's ups and downs, including the government investigation into his activities. While Buscemi is the obvious star of the show, both Michael Shannon and Kelly Macdonald are top-notch, as is this weighty drama all-round.
For the second time in as many movies, Lady Gaga is caught in a bad romance in House of Gucci. Yes, she's already sung the song to match. The pop diva doesn't belt out ballads or croon upbeat tunes in this true-crime drama, unlike in her Oscar-nominated role in A Star Is Born, but she does shimmy into a tale about love and revenge, horror and design, and wanting someone's everything as long as it's free. Eschewing the earthy naturalism of her last film performance and tapping into her famed on-stage theatricality instead, she's perfect for the part of Patrizia Reggiani, aka Lady Gucci, aka the daughter of a trucking entrepreneur who wed into one of the world's most prestigious fashion families, helped unstitch its hold on its couture empire, then went to prison for murder. She's exceptional because she goes big and lavish, and because she knows that's the type of feature she's meant to be in: a soapy spectacle about money and power that uses its depiction of excess as an interrogation technique. Complimenting Gaga for nailing the brief — for acing it so dazzlingly that she's sauntering down her own catwalk as most of her co-stars virtually watch from the floor — gives House of Gucci a tad too much credit, though. Ridley Scott's second film in mere months following The Last Duel, and his third in a row to examine wealth and influence after 2017's All the Money in the World, this fashion-world saga skews large, lush and luxe with each choice, too, but doesn't land every sashay with quite the outsized lustre of its crown jewel. If House of Gucci's veteran director was picking an outfit instead, he would've chosen a killer gown, then wavered on the accessories. Some of his other decisions gleam, as seen in the movie's knowingly maximalist and melodramatic air. Others prove fine, like its jukebox-style soundtrack of 70s and 80s bangers. A few moves are so cartoonish — Jared Leto's ridiculousness, and the Super Mario-style accents sported by almost everyone on-screen — that they play like cheap knockoffs. The story itself is a standout, however, as adapted from Sara Gay Forden's 2001 book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed. When Patrizia meets law student Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver, Annette) at a 70s-era party, mistakes him for a bartender, then realises who he is, it sparks a rollercoaster of a relationship — starting with Maurizio being disinherited by his father Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons, Love, Weddings and Other Disasters) for their marriage. Still, the newest Gucci knows what she wants: a place in the family's dynasty. She isn't the lone cause of the Guccis' unfolding, thanks to Rodolfo's brother Aldo (Al Pacino, Hunters), his penchant for watering down the brand and tax evasion, and his wannabe-designer son Paolo (Leto, The Little Things), but she's the Lady Macbeth pushing Maurizio to seize the company by any means. And, because the reason that House of Gucci even exists was written in news headlines over a quarter-century ago, she's behind Maurizio's killing in 1995. "I don't consider myself a particularly ethical person, but I'm fair," Patrizia offers partway into the movie, a moral code that still sees her order his hit after their divorce — helped by a TV psychic-turned-pal (Salma Hayek, Eternals), because that's the kind of tale this is. Interviewed in 2016, Patrizia called herself "the most Gucci of them all", an idea that Scott and his screenwriters Becky Johnston (Arthur Newman) and Roberto Bentivegna (short El otro lado) don't ever give Italian-lilted voice to, but still use as their basic pattern. In the sartorial realm, Gucci might stand for high-end indulgence, but House of Gucci sees both the allure and the cost of the brand reflected in Patrizia's status-hungry actions. Lust — for power, popularity, money, standing and sex all included — might be the soapiest vice of them all. Blunt, pulsating and pumping through the hot-blooded Patrizia's veins, it's House of Gucci's signature emotion, although the other deadly sins also get a whirl. No exaggerated account of life, love and the one percent's lavishness lacks in greed, pride, wrath, envy, gluttony and sloth as well, including this one, but there's nothing like unfettered desire to keep a narrative bubbling. Scott's film is positively ravenous for more, as its protagonist is at every turn. Nothing is too much for Patrizia in her quest to inhabit a life she once only fantasised about, and there's little that House of Gucci won't do to convey and embody that appetite. But all that glitters isn't always gold, or diamond-sharp, or even entertainingly gaudy, including for the picture itself. With Scott's regular cinematographer Dariusz Wolski on lensing duties, House of Gucci looks like a glitzy dream that slowly loses its glamour, and by design. Its largely Milan-set staging and obviously Gucci-heavy costuming expresses the same feeling — whether or not Paolo is urinating on silk scarves and Aldo is peddling fakes. But those pasta-sauce ad accents just play cheap and easy from the outset, and everything about Leto's prosthetic-laden, safari suit-wearing, hammed-up performance does the same. Both quickly overstay their welcomes, not that either is ever welcomed at all. Calling them knowing gags, purposefully camp flourishes or pointed parodies would be far too generous, even given the feature's gleeful soap-opera tone, overt eat-the-rich sentiments and clear awareness that it's a piece of true-crime pageantry. Thank the pop-culture gods for Gaga, then, as legions of her Little Monsters have for more than a decade. Another movie from the past year, the unshakeably misguided Joe Bell, had a character liberally sing her praises — but, surpassing even A Star Is Born, House of Gucci is her silver-screen powerhouse. Donning wiggle dresses, voluminous hair and a slinkily savage attitude, she's both lively and alive to everything happening in Patrizia's story and Scott's film alike. Whether posed opposite Driver's restrained turn as Maurizio or Pacino's also-big effort as Aldo, her presence improves her co-stars' work in every scene they share, too. Hers is an investment performance, with Scott entrusting almost everything that hits the mark in House of Gucci to his leading lady's go-for-it glow — and treating audiences to a bona fide movie-star show that Gaga couldn't wear better if it was sewn on.
They're the pieces of plastic no one can leave home without — if you want to catch a bus, train, tram or ferry. Sydney has Opal, Melbourne has Myki and Brisbane has the Go Card, aka the main way to pay for public transport in today's increasingly cash-less society. For now, that is. News Corp's Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane papers are all reporting the looming end of the current ticketing cards, in favour of smartphone, smartwatch and tap-and-go bank card payments. It's one of those obvious leaps in technology that was always going to happen at some point soon. If there's a more convenient, contactless way to pay that don't rely upon everyone remembering to stuff yet another card into their wallet, then it's hardly surprising that the New South Wales, Victorian and Queensland governments are looking into it. In Sydney, a trial began on the Manly ferry last year, with patrons tapping their Mastercards instead. It's expected to expand to other forms of transport according to The Daily Telegraph, although it's worth noting that Opal multi-trip benefits don't apply to other payment systems. Melburnians can expect to scan on with a credit or debit card in trials due to start this year, focusing on Routes 11, 86 or 96, The Sunday Herald Sun notes. And in Brisbane, The Sunday Mail reports that a trial will commence either later in 2018 or sometime in early 2019, starting with the Airtrain. Moving away from dedicated transport cards — or adding other payment options — will make things easier for tourists and travellers, who shouldn't have to buy a new piece of plastic just to catch a bus or train (or pay extra for a paper ticket if they don't) when they're visiting. Ensuring the new system remains accessible for anyone that doesn't have a smartphone, smartwatch or bank card remains a concern, however. And, there'll always need to be a backup option in case someone forgets their phone, watch or wallet. Via The Sunday Mail / The Sunday Herald Sun / The Daily Telegraph. Images: Beau Giles / Binayak Dasgupta / Andrew Thomas.
Four Australian female composers. Four singers. Four dramatic operatic works inspired by mythology, literature and rare Australian birds. World premiering on one night. Streaming on the Carriageworks Facebook page at 7.30pm AEST on Saturday, April 25, the four-part Breaking Glass was meant to be performed inside the physical arts precinct from March 8–April 4, but its temporarily closure forced the show's premiere online. Presented by Sydney Chamber Opera and Carriageworks together with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music's Composing Women Program, Breaking Glass is broken into four one-act operas by female composers. There's Commute by Peggy Polias, which combines Homer's Iliad with a modern women's uneasy walk home at night; Josephine Macken's terrifying The Tent inspired by Margaret Atwood's writing; The Invisible Bird by Bree van Reyk, telling the true tale of a rare Australian parrot; and Georgia Scott's Her Dark Marauder, which uses Sylvia Plath's poetry to explore a women's battle for identity. If you can't already tell, these aren't your typical operas. Expect electronic music, "abstract aural soundscapes", smoke surrounding performers, kaleidoscopic digital projections and stories firmly planted in the 21st century. Breaking Glass world premieres on Carriageworks' Facebook page at 7.30pm. Images: Daniel Boud
Australians throw away up to 20% of the food they buy. That's one out of five of your grocery bags, into the bin. This means Australians are throwing out $8 billion worth of edible food every year, the same weight as three average size fridges. Each. Yeah, WHAT. Anyone who's worked as a function waiter, bakery barista or silver service maitre d knows that the end of the night's waste can be colossal. I've watched an entire trough of fresh king prawns and glistening oysters poured into the trash at a certain five-star Sydney hotel in front of a hungry, underpaid staff. I've seen trayloads of party pies tipped into dumpsters post album launch. I've stared bitterly as bucket after bucket of organic dinner rolls were shuffled into black plastic rubbish bags and carted away for fear of staff food poisoning lawsuits. Luckily, some young New York-based upstart app developers are using their digital talents to combat the globe's atrocious waste problem. Meet PareUp — an app that allows users to purchase restaurant leftovers at the end of the day. Retailers store inventories of their products, set prices and update listings and herald the 'offerings for the day'. The app is similar to Leftover Swap, a development which allows you to snap your food, upload it to the app and let users know where the food is, how cold it is and whether it can be delivered. The app is due to launch in NYC soon, hopefully Australian restaurants will be able to pair up with the app sometime in the near future. Until the app gets here, restaurants should take a look at their hungry, student loan-ridden staff and think twice about chucking those creme fraiche-topped tarts. Via Food Beast and Lost At E Minor.
Nevada's epic desert-based arts festival, Burning Man, is currently postponed due to nasty, nasty desert rain. The festival organisers, who have been keeping festivalgoers updated on Twitter, have officially shut down the main entrance after severe rain. With 70,000 'burners' expected to attend this year, holding up traffic much longer could prove a problem for the BM team. Rain continuing. Please do not come to Burning Man until you hear otherwise from official channels. — Burning Man Traffic (@bmantraffic) August 25, 2014 If you're not across it, Black Rock Desert's awaited annual festival hinges around the establishment of a temporary, trade-based community in the desert, sees the building of countless, epic art installations and outdoor live sets over the course of a week — not the ideal itinerary for bucketing rain. A long way from its humble San Francisco beginnings in 1986, founder Larry Harvey's desert bacchanal now has over 50 permanent staff, an army of volunteers and a seriously million-dollar budget, so the team won't be taking any willy nilly chances on this unexpected storm. The standing water has created a muddy mess, Bureau of Land Management dispatcher Mike Wilke told the Reno Gazette-Journal, so countless vehicles are being turned around on State Highway 447. Burning Man's tweets suggest the doors won't open until Tuesday midday at this point: BRC is closed until midday Tuesday due to rain and standing water. At the request of organizers, law enforcement is turning cars back. — Burning Man Traffic (@bmantraffic) August 25, 2014 With a fair bit of backlash this year surrounding the attendance of too many cashed-up techies (read: Sillicon valley billionaires), Burning Man punters are hoping the posers get disheartened by wet feet and Actually Camping. Via San Francisco Chronicle. Image: Reuters/Jim Urquhart.
It has been a colossal year for Australia's food businesses. It hasn't just been a rollercoaster, it's been the whole damn amusement park. Lockdowns, pivots, re-openings, new openings, saddening closures, a staffing shortage, and the collective social life that we are now reclaiming en masse (just try getting a booking at Hubert this side of February 2022). But nature is healing. As the industry has returned to (relative) normalcy, it has experienced its share of remarkable success stories, challenges and a good hit of pathos. So when we brought together a few of Sydneys hospitality mainstays in one room (or more specifically, the bar at Tio's) for the latest instalment of our live panel show, Hot Takes & Takeaways presented by our partner Uber Eats, we knew there'd be a lot to talk about. The episode streamed live on our Facebook page earlier this month, with Sydney comedy gem Gen Fricker hosting a panel made up of Jeremy Blackmore (Tio's and Cantina Ok!) and Issac Martin (@issac_eatsalot) and Kobi Morris (Paramount Coffee Project and Reuben Hills). It was entertaining, honest and thought-provoking (a particularly interesting line of conversation involved contemplating the impact that living in bubbles has had on young people in particular — will they ever make it to a club?!). From the pressures of reopening to the joys of welcoming customers through the doors, scroll to watch the highlights and hot takes from this excellent group of people who represent thousands from the industry who add so much to our lives and leisure time. WARM AND FUZZY FEELINGS AROUND RETURN TO SERVICE "The second break was a bit more stressful, I would say," says Blackmore of the lengthy June-starting lockdown that everyone had hoped would be avoided. "You knew what was coming," he explains, "and didn't feel as fun and weird as the first. There was something kind of strange about the first one but this second one it was just a bit of a ball-drainer." Ball-drainers aside, all three guests waxed passionate about the reopening of the city and getting their businesses back on track and having actual humans dining and drinking in. "It's been nice to get people back in," says Blackmore. "And it's just nice to go out! And have dinner and not eat your own food and not drink beers out of your fridge" — a sentiment shared by so many of us, burnt out by home cooking and fridge beers for so many months. The connection to customers was a joy that Kobi Morris almost forgot about due to the pressures of reopening. "I remember being really stressed about coming back into service for about a week leading up to this most recent reopening. Especially because we were supposed to be checking vaccines... I haven't had anyone yell at me yet, and that's great!" Morris continues, "Everyone's been really happy to be out. I was expecting it to be really stressful — and it has been stressful — but it's also been enjoyable. I forgot how nice it was to have customers in the cafe." In this clip, Kobi Morris talks about the most difficult part of lockdown for her and many others in the industry, which was the need to stand down staff. We've all lived through a shared experience that's been varying degrees of traumatising, and the result of this in the broader community as well as in the hospitality scene specifically has been an outpouring of mutual support and connectedness. "The community's been really strong," Blackmore said. "And you can see it at places that had a really good team and fostered a really good family connection between everybody, that's kind of expanded to take in other places around it as well." The flip side of the more intense connection to local communities that formed during life in 5-kilometre bubbles is a greater sense of segregation between parts of Sydney, as Issac Martin — who lives in western Sydney — points out. Watch him elaborate below. LOCKDOWN CAUSED GREATER DIVISION BETWEEN SYDNEY'S WEST AND EAST There was a rumbling of tension throughout lockdown that pulled into focus the social and geographic division between west and east Sydney. While Bronte Beach and others continued to be crowded with mask-free faces (something this editor observed on numerous occasions), western Sydney was subject to harsher restrictions and more intensive policing. But, naturally, there are more complexities, as well as positives to come out of this. As Martin explains in the clip above, "the west and the east was very divided on more than just one front. And I think, on a micro level, it probably reinstated [existing perceptions of division]." It is something that expands beyond west versus east; lockdown also resulted in a hyperlocal culture that drills down to a single-suburb level. "All of a sudden now, for four months you've been in this 'support local' mindset that, no longer, are you like: I might go across the bridge and I don't have to go to Bondi to go out", Martin says. "And there's still reasons to go other places, but it's almost [as though] every community now is self-sufficient." So the question is: is that a good thing? "Not in terms of that segregation because now it's almost a further divide [between the two sides of Sydney] than what was already there," Martin suggests. "I think it will break down in time... But, short-term, if you're freshly 18, [you've missed out on] that rite of passage is to go out in the city or to a well-known night club. Now you might have spent that first six months [as an 18 year old] at your local pub! And that becomes habit, and habit becomes behaviour." "EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLDS ARE NICE AND WE ARE THE DICKHEADS" The conversation turned to those members of society who reached legal drinking age during lockdown and can now be released into the wild. In a panel populated with millennials, the question was whether the new generation of young people will be better behaved. Jeremy Blackmore postulates that they're just a nicer generation. And if wholesome TikTok groundswells, the mass movement away from the toxic empathy-graveyard that is Twitter, Greta Thunberg and benevolent BTS fandom are anything to go by, the answer is: probably?!? Or it could simply be that everyone's got a camera-phone and social media, ready to propel you into viral memedom or the shame files of Brown Cardigan's pages at any moment. As Martin points out, back in the day "you could be a dickhead and it wasn't going to be on the internet in ten seconds." WHAT COMES NEXT The industry is back, baby! So, where to next? Issac Martin, a true burger aficionado, is ready to sample the goods at Sydney's first Wahlburgers (yes, that's the fast food chain masterminded by showbiz bros Mark and Donnie Wahlberg who potentially created the business solely based off the strength of the wordplay). It's bound to open its first Australian residence in Circular Quay any day now. And, at the time of recording the live stream, Jeremy Blackmore was excited about imminent dining experiences at newly minted restaurants Paski and Ursula's. Now really is the best time of year in Sydney to go out, eat, drink and party. So make reservations, be spontaneous and get exploring — both in your local area and beyond. You can watch the full episode of Hot Takes & Takeaways here or catch the first episode captured in the midst of lockdown (and starring Julian Cincotta of Butter and Cuong Nguyen of Hello Auntie) here. If you'd like to learn more about what restaurants are doing to survive — and thrive — in the next phase of this unprecedented moment in time, check out Uber Eats' Enterprise Hub.
Writer/director Paolo Sorrentino itched to create a character based on The Cure's Robert Smith. After seeing that Smith doesn't shed his '80s goth punk gear when he leaves the stage, Sorrentino became fascinated with the idea of "a 50-year-old who still completely identified with a look which, by definition, is that of an adolescent," and all the contradictions in character it implies. That's how we get Cheyenne (given life by Sean Penn), a former rock star who once fronted Cheyenne and the Fellows and now lives a quiet life on an Irish estate with his countervailing, down-to-earth wife (Frances McDormand). There's a little bit of Ozzy in him, too; after years taking drugs (though never booze), he moves slowly, dragging his grocery trolley behind him. He's prematurely old, but also stuck in youth. He's sweet, but petulant. He insists on living in the world the way he wants to live in it. And, yes, he still paints a red oblong over his lips and tucks his black jeans into Docs. This Must Be the Place is a unique comedy where you laugh with someone who's slow-paced, not quick-witted, and you laugh with him. Cheyenne's sentences are a meandering journey whose end you can't envision when you're at the beginning. Or in the middle, usually. It's uniquely funny, and in a gorgeously big-hearted way. There's a couple of lines in here so hilarious and inimitable they alone are worth watching the film for. Concrete Playground has four DVD copies of This Must Be The Place to giveaway. To go in the running, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email your name and address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=MuvFmg_Ge9k
So, you've found that special forever someone – someone who deals with your drama, puts up with your quirks and shares your passion for all the important stuff, like, say, fried chicken. Well clearly, there's just one thing left to do, and that's to seal the deal at your very own official KFC wedding. Yep – the international fried chicken brand has cooked up yet another idea we never knew we needed and has launched its own wedding service, exclusive to Australia. For real. Fried chook obsessives across the country now have the opportunity to get hitched in finger lickin' matrimony, with KFC already taking applications for its unique service. All couples, regardless of gender, sexual preference or religion, are invited to apply, by summing up their need for a KFC wedding in 200 words. There's no time to waste, though – only six lucky Aussie duos will get a call-up, with the weddings taking place from October 2019 to May 2020. So what's involved in the ultimate KFC nuptials, you ask? Well, you can bank on a KFC-themed wedding celebrant (we assume Colonel Sanders), a KFC photo booth for those all-important happy snaps, music, decorations and customised KFC buckets. And of course, the lucky newlyweds will get to dive into some freshly cooked KFC chicken hot from the KFC food truck. We can only hope the bride will be throwing buckets instead of bouquets and there'll be plenty of wet wipes to go around. It was this time last year that KFC launched a cheeky meditation website featuring the soothing sounds of chicken frying. If you're keen to kick off married life with some secret herbs and spices, you can apply for your own KFC wedding here.
Prepare to exclaim "yeah, science!" like Jesse Pinkman — and to see a whole lot more of Aaron Paul's Breaking Bad character. The acclaimed series is making a comeback, cooking up a movie that serves as a sequel to the show's finale. In the spotlight: Walter White's former student and protege, who happens to be in a spot of trouble (again). When we last saw Pinkman in Breaking Bad's final episode six years ago, he had just escaped captivity, all thanks to Walt (Bryan Cranston). The latter was injured in the process, but when he asked his former meth cooking partner to kill him, Pinkman couldn't bring himself to do it. So, Pinkman ran, and Walt lost consciousness just a cop arrived. And, that's how the series ended — until now. As happens when every great show comes to a conclusion, we've all wondered what happened next. Come October, fans can find out. First revealed last year, and initially given the working title of Greenbriar, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie will continue Pinkman's tale in a thriller written and directed by Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. While details are being kept scarce, the film is set "in the wake of his dramatic escape from captivity", with Jesse being forced to "come to terms with his past in order to forge some kind of future", according to the official synopsis. Although this follow-up will span a single package rather than run across multiple episodes, it is still coming to a small screen near you thanks to Netflix. Dropping the debut teaser over the weekend, the streaming platform also revealed that El Camino will arrive soon — on October 11, so mark your calendars. As Better Call Saul diehards are well aware, Breaking Bad has never completely gone away since the OG show wrapped up in 2013; however fans eager to look forward in the show's chronology, not backwards at the early life of Bob Odenkirk's shady lawyer Saul Goodman, have something to add to their must-watch list. Whether Cranston will show up in El Camino is still the subject of rumour, but the date announcement clip does reveal another familiar face, with Skinny Pete (Charles Barker) being questioned by the cops about Pinkman's whereabouts. Check out the El Camino teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZKqMVPlDg8 El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie hits Netflix on October 11. Image: Courtesy of Netflix.
The flashy girl from Flushing is headed to Broadway, with beloved sitcom The Nanny making the leap from the small screen to the New York theatre scene. Of course, the protagonist of the 90s series is no stranger to the latter circles. For six seasons between 1993–98, the show charted the chaos that followed when Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) knocked on the door of British-born Broadway producer Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy) and nabbed a job looking after his three children. Thanks to the theme song that you likely now have stuck in your head, you should remember The Nanny's overall premise: working in a bridal shop in Queens, Fran was dumped by her boyfriend, started selling cosmetics, then scored her new gig — because she had style, flair and she was there. Across 146 episodes, the series followed the aftermath as kids Maggie (Nicholle Tom), Brighton (Benjamin Salisbury) and Grace (Madeline Zima) all adjusted to her presence. Mr Sheffield fell for Ms Fine's charms, his business partner CC Babcock (Lauren Lane) was unimpressed and butler Niles (Daniel Davis) welcomed the change. Sitcom co-creators Drescher and Peter Marc Jacobson are behind the new stage version of the show, alongside Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Rachel Bloom and executive music producer Adam Schlesinger. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical's Marc Bruni is set to direct — but the musical's cast, as well as when it'll actually hit the stage, is yet to be revealed. We do know that Drescher won't be reprising her famous role. In a statement, she said "of course I would do it myself, but we'd have to change the title to 'The Granny'", Variety reports. As well as its existing narrative links to Broadway, The Nanny also featured plenty of gags about musicals Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady — and that catchy theme song — so there's plenty of material to work with. If you need a refresher, all six seasons are currently streaming in Australia on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL6tbu1Blzs The Nanny is the latest screen favourite to earn a stage adaptation, following in the footsteps of Bring It On, Mean Girls, The Bodyguard, Amelie, Waitress, Muriel's Wedding, Moulin Rouge!,Mrs Doubtfire andMagic Mike. A stage version of The Devil Wears Prada is also in the works, as are theatre adaptations of Empire Records, The Notebook, The Princess Bride and Aussie classic Starstruck. Via Variety.
It's been 13 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005. Thankfully, Laneway Festival has just confirmed it will be heading back to its collection of unconventional venues for another year, revealing it's 2018 dates and first two headliners. 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 what looks to be one heck of a lineup. Following on from the announcement of two of 2018's headliners — California's inimitable Anderson .Paak with his live band The Free Nationals, and Canada's Mac DeMarco — the festival has dropped the full lineup. On it is a slew of exclusive sets, which will see you get down to BABADNOTGOOD, Odesza, The Internet, and sway along to The War on Drugs and Father John Misty. The full lineup was initially slated to be announced tomorrow, but has been brought forward after it was leaked online this morning. Visa pre-sale tickets go on-sale this Thursday, September 14 and the rest of the tickets going on sale at 9am on September 18. But, enough chit-chat — here's the full 2018 lineup. LANEWAY 2018 LINEUP Aldous Harding Alex Cameron Amy Shark Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals BABADNOTGOOD (exclusive to Laneway) Billie Eilish Bonobo (exclusive to Laneway) Cable Ties City Calm Down Dream Wife Father John Misty KLLO** Loyle Carner Mac DeMarco Miss Blanks Moses Sumney ODESZA (exclusive to Laneway) Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (Sandy) Alex G Shame Slowdive Sylvan Esso The Babe Rainbow** The Internet (exclusive to Laneway) The War On Drugs TOKiMONSTA Wolf Alice (exclusive to Laneway) **not playing Fremantle LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2018 DATES Singapore — Saturday, January 27 Auckland — Monday, January 29 Adelaide — Friday, February 2 Melbourne — Saturday, February 3 Sydney — Sunday, February 4 Brisbane — Saturday, February 10 Fremantle — Sunday, February 11 Tickets go on sale Monday, September 18 at 9am AEST from Laneway Festival. Image: Andy Fraser.
The Australian and Queensland governments have put the call out for some good old-fashioned brain power, in an effort to help save the world's largest living organism. The Great Barrier Reef has copped it pretty hard of late, suffering coral bleaching events in both 2016 and 2017, and more recently sporting a nasty outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish. And experts warn things will only get worse for the reef if climate change issues are ignored and rising ocean temperatures cause irreversible damage of their own. As SBS reports, the problems have inspired the two governments to launch a $2 million challenge, which will tap into local minds to find ways to protect and restore the country's great natural wonder. Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg described the initiative as "an open invitation to our greatest scientific minds, industry and business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions which will protect corals and encourage the recovery of damaged reefs." Applications can focus on any aspect of the Great Barrier Reef's restoration, including boosting coral regeneration rates and protecting coral from its main physical stressors. Applications are open now through the Advance Queensland Small Business Innovation Research initiative. Check out all the info on their website. Via sbs.com.au
