UPDATE, May 28, 2021: Free Solo is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play and YouTube Movies. Soaring 900 metres tall, its craggy edges and sheer surfaces jutting into the sky, El Capitan is one of earth's monsters. A granite cliff in Yosemite National Park, it's a formidable sight, striking fear into the heart of anyone averse to heights, making even the steadiest on their feet feel shaky, and casting a long shadow over the world below. To stand at the bottom of the mammoth monolith is to stand at the base of a giant. To scale its heights is to ascend into the heavens. But you don't need to have experienced El Cap's eye-catching expanse in person to feel its inescapable power. Even on the big screen, the glorious rock formation is staggering — and it gets plenty of screen time in Free Solo. In a film that can't stop looking at El Cap, Alex Honnold does more than stare at the cliff's lofty size and gaze at its vertical terrain. A professional climber with 20 years experience and the centre of this stellar documentary, he's determined to scamper up the intimidating structure. He's not the first to scale the sheet of rock, but he is the first to do so without any ropes or support — and, just to make the deed even more difficult, he does it alone. That's free soloing. While the outcome of his attempt is now common knowledge, Free Solo steps through the process from start to finish, chronicling his setbacks and successes in a methodical manner. From contending that the climb is just too scary, to training through an injury that'd make anyone else quit, to facing his girlfriend Sanni's fretful feelings about his death-defying dream, the movie delves deep into Honnold's quest. The latest high-altitude, high-stakes picture from Meru filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin — and a newly minuted Oscar nominee for this year's best doco prize — Free Solo is the tale of a cliff, a climber, and the latter's desire to conquer the former. But it's the story of humanity's yearning to explore, interrogate and brush up against our environment as well. Charting Honnold's unwavering commitment to his task, it's also an account of his preference for hanging precariously above the world instead of planting his feet firmly on the ground. The film shows how the possibility of dying can't deter someone so dedicated from pursuing their passion, and that the thrill of a seemingly impossible challenge is as intoxicating as any drug. This nerve-wracking movie also details the intense preparation and planning required not just to make such a climb, but to capture it on camera. And, it examines the toll of documenting Honnold's feat, pondering whether the picture immortalises history or jeopardises his life. In short, Free Solo has as many angles as El Cap's ledges and crevices, however Honnold is the film's own towering presence. Vasarhelyi and Chin can't claim to lay bare their subject's psyche — he's a man of action more than talk — but they can and do reveal plenty about the wiry thirty-something. The documentary acts as a coming-of-age narrative of sorts, tracking Honnold's transformation from living in a van, eating slapped-together dinners out of a frying pan and dedicating every waking minute to climbing, to buying a house, finding room for someone else in his life, and experiencing the ups and downs of being in a serious relationship. And yet, it's never more revelatory than when it's simply staring at his face while he's gripping a slab of granite, his precariously placed fingertips the only things keeping him from plummeting down a nearly one-kilometre drop. Of course, that's not to say that Free Solo doesn't boast plenty of other spectacular sights. Seeing Honnold suspended against his surroundings will stick with audiences long after watching, as will the stunning Yosemite scenery. Indeed, the exceptional footage compiled by Vasarhelyi, Chin and their dedicated team (all mostly climbers themselves) proves nothing short of a technical and visual marvel, as edited to precision by veteran Bob Eisenhardt. But the calm, focused, assured gleam in Honnold's eye still says more than any other image can — and more than words as well. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, every second that the film spends on his zen-like expression paints a picture of pure intensity and exhilaration. What's more astonishing, dazzling and ultimately life-affirming than witnessing someone so relaxed and confident in the face of such extreme danger? What's more tense and thrilling, too? Butterflies in the stomach, fidgeting fingers and a near-unshakeable case of the jitters all spring from Free Solo as well, with the movie hitting several nerves. It's never easy to accept one's mortality. In fact, it's the hardest thing we're ever tasked with doing during our time alive, even when we're just sitting in a cinema watching someone else put their existence on the line. That's the crux of this equally insightful and scary documentary, which serves up more suspense than most horror flicks. As well as chronicling an awe-inspiring story, every frame of Free Solo offers a palpable, visceral reminder of life's enormous risks and immense rewards — and to the filmmakers' credit, you're all but certain to feel the impact in your constantly sweaty palms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XhsuT0xctI
Sitting in the Andaman Sea between the west coast of mainland Thailand and the island tourist mecca of Phuket, Ko Phi Phi Don is an idyllic island measuring little more than 8km in length. Ever since Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony) turned Alex Garland's famous 1996 novel, The Beach, into an even more famous film of the same name, this palm-fringed paradise has been on the to-do list of twenty-somethings around the world, with the neighbouring isle of Ko Phi Phi Leh providing the setting for much of the film's action. Hundreds of limestone karsts jut out from the turquoise waters as you near Phi Phi, with the islands' respective silhouettes providing a stunning vista. As the ferry drops anchor, those travellers seeking out the island's famous whiskey bucket-fuelled beach parties hop off at Ton Sai Bay, destined to dance the coming days and nights away in any number of open-air bars full of Scandinavian, European and Antipodean backpackers. This time though, we're heading for a calmer locale, another 45 minutes by longtail boat around the coast to the island's northernmost point. As the longtail pulls up to Laem Tong beach, Zeavola's exact location is not immediately evident. Set back in lush green vegetation that fringes a perfect white sand beach, this boutique eco-resort's scattering of hand-hewn teakwood huts have been cleverly disguised by an extensive network of palm-laden gardens, linked by meandering sand paths. The hotel's staff greets you on the sand to take your bags, insisting you carry your luggage no further. As you make your way up the beach, the rustic but luxurious architecture of Zeavola becomes apparent. Guests are encouraged to ‘step back to simplicity’ here. Zeavola is one half design hotel, one half beach shack. Each of the resort's 52 freestanding villas is carefully disguised by the surrounding gardens, so you feel like you have your own private beach house but can still enjoy the comforts that come with being part of a bigger, managed property. Open air showers give you access to the outdoors when you want it, and remote controlled shutters around the bungalows do the opposite when you need to sleep off your lunchtime Singhas. Zeavola's menus offer contemporary interpretations of traditional Thai cuisine alongside smatterings of western options at Baxil, the resort's main restaurant (where breakfast is served each day), and Tacada, a breezy restaurant and bar right on the sand. Closer to the water sits a line of bright yellow beach umbrellas with oversized pillows and triangle cushions, the perfect place to spend extended periods of time reading, sleeping, drinking and just being. Further down the beach at Jasmine, a simple restaurant owned by a charming young family from Phuket, you'll be served authentic Thai food for a smaller price in a jovial atmosphere created by some of the island's sea gypsies next door. Phi Phi's beaches, reefs and surrounding islands are the most popular attractions to see, and the best way to see them is to head down to the nearest cluster of longtails and bargain for the best hourly, half day or full day rental rates. The service is as basic as it gets, but the local boatmen will happily take you anywhere on the island at anytime of the day and night, including around to Ton Sai Bay and back in the wee hours if you want to join the heaving masses. If a trip to The Beach (Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh) or Monkey Bay is on your list, head there early before the tour boats arrive. But for something a little slower, hightail your longtail to Mosquito Island or Bamboo Island. If you're lucky, you'll even find your own private slice of paradise for a few hours. Double rooms from 8000 baht (AUD$240), +66 7562 7000, www.zeavola.com. The writer stayed courtesy of Zeavola.
If you've never been to an oyster room, here's your chance. A welcome addition to the lower end of George Street and a proper alternative to the vicinity's 'pubish' priorities, Morrison's Oyster Bar & Grill is a class act. Enter, and you're greeted by an industrial chic interior complete with exposed brick and concrete pillars. Bursts of colour complement the many pot plants and mosaic tables, while the mood lighting, dark wood, and fresh produce on display recall a sultry British Indian oasis. The space is suited to the after-work business crowd and also caters to smaller groups or couples. The food is also quite impressive at The Morrison but the oysters that you're here for. Perch yourself at the bar where you can watch the magic unfold as the Morrison's oyster maestros shuck your Pacific, Angassi and Rock oysters to order. The St Helens oysters are crisp on the palate and firm in texture. The Laurent-Perrier champagne compliments these well, but if you want to get experimental with your wine/oyster pairing just ask one of the helpful waiters. Morrison's Oyster Bar & Grill has injected lower George Street with that little bit of glamour we've all been waiting for. We'd recommend you'd get down there quick, because word's out. Interior images: Steven Woodburn. Food images: Mia Forest.
Over the past few years, the south coast's Shoalhaven region has gone through a bit of culinary revolution. Long the source of some of Australia's best oysters, it's now also home to a bunch of top-notch cafes, restaurants and eateries. And many of them come with views — from sweeping oceanscapes to rolling farmlands. In summer 2019/2020, however, the region was hit by devastating bushfires — with many local businesses taking a hit. So, grab some mates and head on a road trip this summer with hungry stomachs, an empty boot and money to spend. From coastal getaways to outback adventures, Australia is home to a wealth of places to explore. Every trip away offers the chance to not only reconnect and recharge, but also to support the communities that have been affected by bushfires. Your visit plays an important role in Australia's recovery, which is why we've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your next Holiday Here This Year. Some of the places mentioned below may still be closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check websites before making any plans.
"What do you say, Rick — we fly through space, come upon something, maybe I have a moral objection?" That's the second half of Rick and Morty's central pair in the just-dropped trailer for the show's seventh season, and he couldn't sum up the animated sci-fi comedy's premise better. As this sneak peek shows, that's exactly what's set to happen when the series returns in October. Get ready for more interdimensional chaos — and plenty of it. Also part of the trailer: Rick as a leg, Rick finding the version of himself that killed his wife, snowy climes, holograms, shooting the undead, trying to find someone that's sober, robot ghosts, collapsed societies, Rick's famous spaghetti and quiet apologies. Jerry (Chris Parnell, Archer) needs help with "a bit of a rake situation", too — and portals feature heavily. So, Rick and Morty looks set to get schwifty as it always has when it returns on Sunday, October 15 in America, which is Monday, October 16 Down Under — where it streams via Netflix. There is one big change, however, as fans can hear in the first footage from the new season: new voices. If you've been wondering how the show's titular chaotic scientist and his grandson will sound in the new episodes, here's the answer: much the same as before. But different talents are doing the speaking, after Adult Swim dropped Justin Roiland due to domestic violence charges earlier in 2023. While you can hear Rick and Morty's new stars in this, exactly who they are won't be revealed until the series' first season seven episode drops. Of course, anything can happen in Rick and Morty, with a change of vocal tones for Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith one of the least out-there developments within the show's narrative. As the trailer makes plain, audiences can still expect the show's eponymous pair to keep wreaking havoc, and the series to keep zipping between as many universes as it can. And, for Rick and Morty's hijinks to still draw in Morty's father Jerry, mother Beth (Sarah Chalke, Firefly Lane) and sister Summer (Spencer Grammer, Tell Me a Story) across season seven's ten-episode run. Check out the trailer for Rick and Morty's seventh season yet below: Rick and Morty's seventh season will premiere globally on Monday, October 16 Down Under — streaming via Netflix in Australia and New Zealand.
Red Eye Records is indisputably a landmark destination for any music fan. This legendary music store oepend in 1981 and is now Sydney's largest independent music retailer. The York Street location is a haven for lovers of vinyl. You'll be able to find new tunes as well as older ones here, on a variety of modern and outmoded mediums. Red Eye revels in being able to track down rare records and other items for its customers, and the staff are music experts and are stoked to share their knowledge with you. Regardless of what you're after, you'll be sure to find a world of musical and memorabilia gold. Images: Arvin Prem Kumar
When you work at a zoo, no two days would ever be the same, all thanks to its animal inhabitants. No shift on the job would ever be boring, either — but surely Taronga Zoo's staff haven't had a day like today, Wednesday, November 2, when five of the site's lions escaped their enclosure. In a social media post, Taronga confirmed that "an emergency situation occurred this morning at Taronga Zoo Sydney when five lions were located outside their enclosure". "The zoo has strict safety protocols in place for such an incident. All persons onsite were moved to safe zones and there are no injuries to guests or staff," the statement continues. "All animals are now in their exhibit where they are being closely monitored." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taronga Zoo (@tarongazoo) As aired on the ABC, Taronga Zoo Executive Director Simon Duffy said that one adult and four cubs were found outside of their main exhibit at around 6.30am, and "were observed in a small area adjacent to the main lion exhibit, where a six-foot fence separated them from the rest of the zoo". "The lions calmly made their way back into their main exhibit and den, and one lion cub was safely tranquillised," Duffy advised. "All zoo staff responded and acted swiftly, and procedures and processes were followed as they should have been. As a result, the situation was under control within minutes. We have received video footage, and we confirmed that it was less than ten minutes between the lions exiting their main exhibit and the full emergency response being enacted." If a trip to the zoo is part of your plans today, Taronga has also confirmed that it's operating as normal after the morning's excitement. Taronga welcomed five lion cubs — females Ayanna, Malika and Zuri, and males Khari and Luzuko — in August 2021, during lockdown. It's also streamed them last year, letting everyone enjoy a keepers'-eye view from home. Find Taronga Zoo at Bradleys Head Road, Mosman — open from 9.30am–5pm daily. Head to the zoo's website for further information. Images: Taronga's lion cubs, Rick Stevens.
Since 2011, DJ Tom Loud's travelling dance party Hot Dub Time Machine has ripped up stages the world over, offering a rolling crossfade of the last six decades of pop-music. Now, ready to sink his teeth into a new chapter of music-infused revelry, Loud's announced his latest project, Hot Dub Wine Machine — a series of al fresco get-togethers that'll take over four of the country's best-loved wine regions. This Australia-wide tour follows the raging success of Hot Dub Wine Machine's inaugural event, which saw over 6000 wine and music lovers flock to McLaren Vale's Serafino Winery in December last year. This time around, the scenic vistas and rolling hills of wineries Australia-wide will play host to the festivities, including the Hunter Valley's Hope Estate on Saturday, March 18. The boutique event will run from early afternoon through to after dark, and feature a hand-picked smorgasbord of Australian musical talent. This will all lead into one of Hot Dub's signature sets, which will see audiences dancing their way from 1954 to today, as the DJ mixes an iconic song from each year. Backing up the tunes, expect a careful curation of locally-sourced gourmet eats, craft beer, cocktails, and of course, some sensational vino from these iconic Australian wine regions. Safe to say, it's probably the rowdiest event these wineries will host all year. Images: Pat Stevenson.
Grab your bowling ball and swap your bathrobe for your best purple outfit — The Jesus Rolls, the two-decades-later sequel to the Coen Brothers' 1998 cult comedy The Big Lebowski, is due to hit the big screen in 2020. Instead of abiding by The Dude (Jeff Bridges), this follow-up spends time with John Turturro's Jesus Quintana, whose love of flinging gleaming balls down lanes means that he obviously isn't a golfer. Of course, if you still want to pour a white russian to celebrate this return excursion to the Lebowski universe, that's both understandable and warranted. Turturro not only stars, but writes and directs The Jesus Rolls, which was actually filmed back in 2016. Cast-wise, he's joined by a heap of familiar faces, including Bobby Cannavale, Audrey Tautou, Jon Hamm, Susan Sarandon and Pete Davidson. The movie will be released in the US early next year just in time for The Big Lebowski's 22nd anniversary — and while plans Down Under haven't yet been revealed, start crossing your fingers. As well as following Quintana's exploits post-Big Lebowski, The Jesus Rolls will also act as a remake of 1974 French film Going Places. As per the official synopsis reported by IndieWire, the picture will chart: "a trio of misfits [Turturro, Cannavale and Tautou] whose irreverent, sexually charged dynamic evolves into a surprising love story as their spontaneous and flippant attitude towards the past or future backfires time and again, even as they inadvertently perform good deeds. When they make enemies with a gun-toting hairdresser, their journey becomes one of constant escape from the law, from society and from the hairdresser, all while the bonds of their outsider family strengthen." The Jesus Rolls doesn't have a teaser just yet, but there's never a bad time to revisit its predecessor's trailer, should you need a reminder of Quintana's initial big-screen antics. If you're keen to watch the The Big Lebowski in its entirety, it's currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd-go0oBF4Y The Jesus Rolls hits US cinemas at a yet-to-be-revealed date in early 2020. We'll update you with local release details when they come to hand. Via Deadline / IndieWire.
Need a reason to make a date with Bluesfest in 2025, in what might be the event's last year? There's plenty. Ten-time Grammy-winner Chaka Khan and rains-blessing rock group Toto are two, and also showcase the Byron Bay festival's commitment to variety. There aren't many events in Australia where audiences will find the Queen of Funk and the yacht-rock favourites behind 'Africa' on the same bill. Khan is playing an Australian-exclusive set to celebrate 50 years in music, and returns to Australia two years after headlining the 2023 Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Among the Chicago-born singer's hits: 'I'm Every Woman', which was later covered by Whitney Houston; the Prince-penned 'I Feel for You'; and 'Ain't Nobody' with her funk band Rufus. As well as hearing the drums echoing tonight in 'Africa', Toto's discography includes fellow anthems 'Hold the Line' and 'Rosanna' — and its members are known for playing on a wealth of albums from other artists in the 70s and 80s, including 'Thriller'. [caption id="attachment_986631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michelle Brody[/caption] Across the Easter long weekend, so from Thursday, April 17–Sunday, April 20, 2025, Bluesfest will also welcome Crowded House, Ocean Alley and Vance Joy, plus Hilltop Hoods, Budjerah, Kasey Chambers and The Cat Empire — and Xavier Rudd, John Butler, Tones and I, Missy Higgins, George Thorogood & The Destroyers and many more. 'Sailing' and 'Ride Like the Wind' singer Christopher Cross is another yacht-rock inclusion. Before it started announcing its roster of talent in August 2024, the festival advised that it would bid farewell with its 2025 event, marking the end of an era — and coming at a time when Australian fests have been struggling and cancelling (see: Groovin the Moo, Splendour in the Grass and Spilt Milk, for just three high-profile examples). Bluesfest saying goodbye may no longer be happening, however, with reports that discussions are underway about the festival's future and also that artists are already being booked for 2026. Bluesfest 2025 Lineup: First announcement: Crowded House Vance Joy Ocean Alley Tones and I Gary Clark Jr Rag'n'Bone Man RY X Allison Russell Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram Brad Cox Here Come the Mummies The California Honeydrops Marc Broussard Pierce Brothers Taj Farrant Fanny Lumsden 19-Twenty WILSN Cimafunk Neal Francis Second announcement: Hilltop Hoods Xavier Rudd John Butler The Cat Empire Kasey Chambers Melbourne Ska Orchestra CW Stoneking Budjerah Lachy Doley Group Ash Grunwald Kim Churchill Miss Kaninna The Beards Velvet Trip FOOLS ROSHANI Sweet Talk The Memphis Three featuring Fiona Boyes, Jimi Hocking and Frank Sultana Third announcement: Missy Higgins George Thorogood & The Destroyers Rodrigo y Gabriela Nahko BJ The Chicago Kid Melody Angel Don West Fourth announcement: Chaka Khan Toto Christopher Cross Maoli Clarence Bekker Band Hussy Hicks Eric Stang The Steele Syndicate The Royals Bluesfest images: Joseph Mayers, LD Somefx and Roger Cotgreave.
Halloween's just around the corner and if you're anything like us you're busy collecting classic horror films to scare your weak-willed friends and family. For those not inclined to dress up as zombies from The Walking Dead and make trouble all over the city, the scary movie marathon is naturally the go-to plan. But it wasn't always that way. Every good horror fan got their start somewhere a little more tame. And, if you were young or shameless enough in the early 1990s, that start was through the work of R.L. Stine. The legendary Goosebumps writer responsible for a ridiculous number of YA hits, R.L. Stine was a God in every primary school. In the popularity pecking order, your coolness was inevitably judged by how many of his books you had read and everyone would have a copy handy to retreat into during reading time. It was the closest thing we could get to the blood and gore our parents wouldn't let us watch on screen. But, what if all that hysteria and literary mystery never had to end? Some bona fide genius on Tumblr has solved all the problems we never knew we had — they've re-imagined our favourite horror flicks as Goosebumps books for adults (or very inappropriate reads for children). Covering classics like Friday the 13th, The Shining, Carrie and Psycho, If It Were Stine looks at all the hardcore stories through the gloriously pulpy lens of Stine. Of course, if these were available in our childhood we would have grown up with serious problems. Paranoia, sleep problems and anxiety to say the least. When I was eight, my dad let me watch The Candyman with him because I thought it was about Willy Wonka. Who knows how I would have turned out had that been avoided. But, on the plus side, these books would make bestsellers for adults. Let's bring it back; make it cool again. Copyright, be damned. Someone should launch a Kickstarter campaign to make this a reality ASAP. Via AV Club. All images via If It Were Stine.
Brisbanites, prepare for your next hotel getaway — but don't expect to travel very far. Come March 2018, the CBD will welcome its first new luxury hotel in decades, W Brisbane. A five-star establishment on the northern side of the river, it's the type of place that screams 'staycation'. Views beyond South Bank and Mt Coot-tha from each of its rooms, three dining and drinking venues, a lounge-style lobby that boasts a DJ booth by night: they're all part of the W Brisbane experience. In-room cocktail bars, free Netflix, a barbecue-lined poolside area and 1,100 square meters of function space are as well. Taking over the spot at 300 George Street that previously housed the city's supreme courts, and forming part of the new Brisbane Quarter development, the hotel won't be lacking in lush facilities, amenities or reasons to drop by. Those staying the night can pick from 280 standard rooms, 28 suites, two extra-luxe spaces they've dubbed "wow" suites and one "extreme wow" offering — all decked out with custom-designed furniture inspired by the state's history. If that's not blissful enough, guests can also head downstairs to the spa, which features a hair and nail salon, vitality pools, relaxation pods and rejuvenating salt inhalation chambers. W Hotels is owned by Marriott International. New hotels are also planned for Sydney in 2019 and Melbourne in 2020. As for the rest of Brisbane Quarter, it's slated to include an office tower, apartments and two levels of retail too. Find W Brisbane at 300 George Street, Brisbane from March 2018. For more information, or to make a reservation from November 2017, visit the hotel website.
Ditch the generic candle and comfy socks this year and give your loved ones a gift they'll remember next Christmas. Show your partner that you've been paying attention to their love language with a surprise picnic, road-trip adventure or cosy date night. Take the little ones on a rural family escapade, or liven up your next group hang with a murder mystery game. For all the do-ers out there, AmazingCo has you covered with a broad range of unforgettable experiences that you can enjoy at home or across your city. We've pulled together five one-of-a-kind adventures for everyone on your nice list, so you can enjoy a hassle-free giving season. MYSTERY PICNIC Turn up the romance with a picture-perfect picnic for your partner. Or, you can choose to treat your friends and family with a group picnic instead. Explore a new pocket of your city with a morning of activities that ends with a picnic in a surprise location. Choose an area — either close by or even a day-trip drive away — and you'll receive a full itinerary of places to explore at your own pace. Follow a series of clues to pick up gourmet snacks from local producers and eateries, all pre-paid for as part of the package, while bonding with your partner over conversation starters and games. Then, you can enjoy your nibbles and drinks with a picnic at a chosen location. The Mystery Picnic starts at $150, but you can upgrade to a premium package or add extra goodies, such as dessert or a bottle of wine. It can also be adapted to suit most dietary requirements. MYSTERY REGION ADVENTURE Discover even more local gems in a half-day voyage with the Mystery Region Adventure. Enjoy an easy cruise to destinations such as the Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley or Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Once you've arrived, solve puzzles to uncover each stop along the way, where you'll be treated to wine, produce and chocolate tastings, as well as exclusive discounts and offers. This charming experience will only set you back $80–100, depending on which regional location you choose. AT-HOME DATE NIGHT If your partner prefers quality time at home, spice up your next night in with an At-Home Date Night experience. For only $30, you'll get two hours of puzzles, challenges and games designed to bring you closer together. The activity pack is delivered digitally, so you can enjoy it wherever you are. Take your pick of themes, from the tasty Foodie Date Night or action-packed Activity Date Night to the indulgent Chocolate and Games Hamper and limited-edition New Year's Eve Date Night. Who knows? After this, your relationship might even be strong enough to tackle building that IKEA dresser together. FARM TO TABLE Suited to couples, families and friends, the Farm to Table experience will take you on a food-fuelled day through regions such as the Hawkesbury, Mornington Peninsula or Scenic Rim. Work through clues and riddles to source produce from regional farms and businesses, where you'll learn about sustainable farming techniques, meet some of the animals and connect with the community over snacks and sips. Your efforts will be rewarded with a barbecue back at home, using the ingredients collected throughout the day and the digital recipe book included in the package. Level up your experience with a tasting paddle (or non-alcoholic cider for kids). Most dietary modifications can be accomodated. MURDER MYSTERY PARTY Live out your Knives Out dream and trade the usual dinner and drinks catch-up for a themed Murder Mystery Party. Take your pick from the spooky mayor's mansion, 80s high school reunion or doomed wedding. The experience includes everything you need to host the event, from character bios and invitations to decor tips and printable evidence, so all your friends have to do is show up with outrageous hairstyles in unflattering fluro. Pricing ranges from $40–55 based on the event format (virtual or in-person). It's designed for groups of 8-12, so the more the merrier! If you want more memorable gift ideas, check out the full guide or purchase a gift card on the AmazingCo website.
First, St Jerome's Laneway Festival announced its 2024 dates and venues. Now, it's time for the news that every fest fan is always waiting for: the lineup. Fancy some grime? A Euphoria star? A mix of international must-sees and homegrown up-and-comers? A swag of folks making their first trips our way? Then consider yourself sorted — starting with headliners Stormzy, Steve Lacy, Dominic Fike and Raye. Stormzy tops the roster after he was meant to head Down Under in 2022, but pulled out of Spilt Milk and his Australian and Zealand tour. At the Aussie fest, he was replaced by Lacy, in fact, but now the UK sensation and the 'Bad Habit' talent will share the same Laneway bill. Fike heads from the screen to Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Auckland's stages — and Raye comes our way with 'Escapism' still stuck in everyone's heads. From there, the lineup also spans AJ Tracey, d4vd, Dope Lemon, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and more. All of the above acts will play all cities, with some fellow talents only popping up in either Australia or Aotearoa. Stormzy and Fike are doing exclusive Laneway tours — so, of you want to see either (or both), you'll only catch them at the fest while they're in both countries. In Australia, Lacy is exclusive in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. There's a bit of stability to 2024's list of venues, after 2023 took Laneway to a heap of new spots. The festival started by Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio in the mid-00s will kick off at Brisbane Showgrounds on Saturday, February 3, then head to Sydney Showground on Sunday, February 4 — so, exactly where it took place this year. [caption id="attachment_916473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Callum Walker Hutchinson[/caption] Still in Australia, Laneway also has a Friday, February 9 date with Bonython Park in Adelaide on the agenda, then a Saturday, February 10 run at The Park, Flemington in Melbourne and a Sunday, February 11 wrap-up show in Wellington Square in Perth. Again, these are all the same locations that 2023's fests hit up. Over in New Zealand, the event will take over Western Springs in Auckland on Tuesday, February 6. That date means that it's moving to Waitangi Day. And 2024's venue comes after 2023's Auckland Laneway stop was cancelled due to the Auckland floods. [caption id="attachment_915848" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2024 LINEUP: Stormzy Steve Lacy Dominic Fike Raye AJ Tracey d4vd Dope Lemon Eyedress Faye Webster horsegiirL Nia Archives Paris Texas Skin On Skin Suki Waterhouse Unknown Mortal Orchestra Blondshell DOMi & JD BECK Hemlocke Springs Pretty Girl AUSTRALIA ONLY: Angie McMahon Confidence Man Teenage Dads JK-47 Miss Kaninna Vacations NEW ZEALAND ONLY: Atarangi Church Daily J Erny Belle Hanbee Molly Payton LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2024 DATES: Saturday, February 3 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane / Turrbal Targun Sunday, February 4 — Sydney Showground, Sydney / Burramattagal and Wangal Land Tuesday, February 6 — Western Springs, Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau Friday, February 9 — Bonython Park, Adelaide / Kaurna Yerta Saturday, February 10 — The Park, Flemington, Melbourne / Wurundjeri Biik Sunday, February 11 — Wellington Square, Perth / Whadjuk Boodjar St Jerome's Laneway Festival will tour Australia and New Zealand in February 2024. Head to the festival's website for further details, and to register for ticket pre sales — which kick off at 11am local time on Tuesday, September 12. General sales start at 11am local time on Thursday, September 14. Top image: Bethany Vargas. Laneway imges: Daniel Boud / Maclay Heriot / Cedric Tang.
To be released December 24, 2012, The Kombi Trail is a tale of nine students fresh out of university who embark on the journey of a lifetime with the Cold War as a backdrop and a VW Kombi as means of transportation. This book tells of who they met, where they went and what they experienced. Among bizarre and sometimes frightening circumstances the young men encountered. Written by Robert Cox, Roger Sherwin, and Tony Thompson, this is tale straight out of 1961 and over three different continents. It's an entertaining tale of the relationships between these men and those they meet. Sharing a home and life-changing experiences, these men and their VW Kombi conquer treacherous mountain passes, severely unstable roadways, and river crossings. The young men travel to Anatolia, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Here are some pictures (via Retronaut) of their travels, the people they met and of course, the VW Kombi. take a look at these photos and keep your eyes peeled for the release of the book.
Fancy a dip with a difference? Boutique hotel connoisseurs Mr & Mrs Smith have a bunch of seductive watery wonders. From awe-inspiring views and cater-to-every-whim butler service, these shimmering stretches will have you flapping your water wings in excitement (Speedos optional). Hotel Crillon le Brave, Provence Where: Rue Église, 84410, Crillon-le-Brave, Vaucluse, France What: Stone-built hilltop hideaway Perched high on a peachy-hued Provencal hilltop, Hotel Crillon le Brave is made up of seven houses clustered around a 16th-century church. After a quick bonjour to the hotel’s namesake — a mustachioed statue of the real Crillon le Brave — follow the discreet grey signs on pale stacked-stone exteriors to this hip hostellerie. A maze of footpaths leads down stone steps and over cobbled terraces to the separate maisons: charming sleeping quarters that look out over pale terracotta roof tiles, neatly coiffed vineyards and limestone-topped hills. The Cezanne-worthy panorama continues poolside; swimmers can catch glimpses between strokes as they work off a lion's share of croissants, pastries and crisp local rosé. Perivolas, Santorini Where: Oia Santorini, 847 02, Cyclades Islands, Greece What: Dream lava Plucked straight from the pages of a glossy spread, Perivolas is a supermodel in hotel form. Poised high on the hills of Santorini above the Aegean sea, this is the sort of hideaway that inspires spontaneous marriage proposals. A soundtrack of distant lapping waves fills whitewashed-walled rooms that peer out over the caldera (the proper name for the volcanic crater-cum-bay, if you please), while sunlounger-graced terraces provide the postcard-perfect spot to stare out into the brilliant blue. A resplendent infinity pool is the jewel atop Perivolas’ crown: seamlessly merging with the endless azure horizon and offering a spectacular setting to sup sundowners and watch the sun melt into the sea. Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia Where : C.da Coccaro, 70015, Savelletri di Fasano Brindisi, Italy What: Spacious and gracious A 16th-century coastal estate set in olive groves with ocean views, Masseria Torre Maizza is sister to Masseria Torre Coccaro — good looks clearly run in the family. There’s no cause to fret about countryside isolation: days here are spent ambling between the spa, cookery school and golf course. Water babies should head straight for the outdoor pool, surrounded by vine-dressed columns, hammocks and more sunbeds than you can poke a crostino at. When a growling stomach interrupts, make for Ristorante delle Palme, where black-lacquered chairs and white-linen-topped tables spill onto the poolside terrace. Rayavadee, Krabi Where :214 Moo 2, Tambon Ao-Nang, Amphoe Maung, Thailand What: Sand-circle garden pavilions Flanked by dramatic limestone cliffs and glittering beaches, Rayavadee is accessible only by boat from Krabi. Picturesque pavilions are tucked between towering tropical palm trees; it's a look befitting a tribal jungle village with a penchant for Jacuzzis, spa treatments and homemade cookies. The sapphire-coloured waters of the sprawling lagoon-style infinity pool offer uninterrupted views of the Andaman Sea and respite for those weary from jungle treks. If you can be coaxed from your plumped sunbed, adventure-junkies can pursue rock-climbing, kayaking and scuba-diving; land-lubbers should seek out the spa for an hour (or more) of towel-cocooned pampering. Raas, Jodphur Where :Tunwar ji ka Jhalra, Makrana Mohalla, Gulab Sagar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India What: Achingly hip haveli Set in the shadow of the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, Raas is a modern-day Maharaja’s mansion. A cluster of four heritage rose-red sandstone buildings make up this refashioned family manor, decorated with sprawling terraced gardens, boutiques, spas and restaurants. Beyond the hotel walls, the city is a frenetic blend of colour and chaos. Inside, your only disruptions are birds trilling and water tinkling. An at-your-service butler-attended infinity pool brings a splash of Ibiza to the Indian desert; expect white-canopied sunloungers, chilled tunes and poolside yoga. Ace Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs Where :701 East Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California, United States What: Hipster’s canyon commune Seducing the young and young at heart, Ace Hotel & Swim Club marries sleek architecture and low-key luxury with a smattering of vintage design accents. Sun-seekers can brave the heat by renting a candy-coloured Vespa or booking a horseback riding lesson, leaving those attached to air-conditioned comfort to languidly laze in a hammock and work through the hotel bar’s cocktail menu. An eclectic soundtrack of indie rock, '70s and '80s hits, top-40 numbers and spinning DJs provide the poolside playlist. The King’s Highway restaurant (once a roadside Denny’s) dishes up classic American fare with splashes of the unexpected — try the harissa lamb and pan-seared tilapia. Eagles Nest, Bay of Islands Where: 60 Tapeka Road, Russell, New Zealand What: Modern, minimal, magical Prepare to be hypnotised at Eagles Nest, a hotel where pampering means private chefs, peaceful pools and a Porsche at your disposal. From its perch atop a private peninsula, this North Island retreat has sweeping views over the Bay of Islands and 75-acre grounds that are ripe for exploration. Villas are cool and contemporary, tucked away in the middle of lush native bush; all are self-contained with a gourmet kitchen and private deck. Each villa has its own heated infinity-edge lap pool (except the First Light, which has a Jacuzzi), fringed by sleek white day-beds and romantic lanterns for moodily lit evenings. Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali Where: Jl. Belimbing Sari, Banjar Tambiyak, Desa Pecatu, Bali, Indonesia What: Minimalist eco-glam From the lobby at Alila Villas Uluwatu you’ll catch your first glimpse of the hotel’s 50m infinity pool and the Indian Ocean beyond, and we challenge any paddling professional not to be impressed. With each villa replete with its own pool and butler, it’s quite possible that you’ll be the only guests at the hotel’s main watering hole. With a cliff-edge perch and cantilevered cabana, a few languid strokes is enough to have you feeling like you’re floating above the world. When hands and feet become sufficiently wrinkled, retire to Spa Alila, a holistic heaven where local therapists use traditional Asian healing techniques and age-old beauty recipes. Shoreditch Rooms, London Where: 1 Ebor Street, Shoreditch, London, United Kingdom What: Cool crash-pad club Dust off your hipster specs and dig out your coolest ‘resting designer’ attire: it’s time to mention Shoreditch Rooms. An outpost of the media-savvy SoHo House members’ club, glamourpusses and hip creative types have long flocked to this converted warehouse to let off some steam. With breathtaking views across the city, the heated rooftop pool is where it’s at. The bar’s close by, as are gardens complete with open fires, double day-beds and a herb plot. Closer to earth, the ground-floor Cowshed spa has famous facials and massages tailored to your mood. Hotel Habita, Mexico City Where: 201 Avenida Presidente Masaryk, Colonia Polanco, Mexico City, Mexico What: Modern minimalist classic Bang in the middle of posh Polanco, Hotel Habita is a favourite with Mexico City’s fashion-forward and in-the-know elite. Follow in their well-heeled steps by ascending to the rooftop. A glistening pool is overlooked by the hotel’s mezzanine bar, flanked by curvy white loungers, dark wooden decking and complete with a wet bar. Upstairs, the full lounge boasts tables, chairs and a crackling fireplace for cosily cool evenings; films are projected on to the walls of nearby buildings on clear nights. If you prefer dinner a deux to designer-clad crowds, the lobby restaurant offers Mexican bistro cuisine and huge windows prime for people-watching. Feeling hot under the collar? Cool off by taking a dip at other Mr & Mrs Smith pool hotels or browse more hotel collections .
Now, you can cycle all the way from Green Square to Central Station without having to shake off a dirty look from a single road raging driver. The City of Sydney has created a 2.4 kilometre long bike path, keeping two-wheelers entirely separated from four-wheelers; linking Zetland, Waterloo, Alexandria and Redfern. "It’s a really important route," says City of Sydney Cycling Strategy Manager Fiona Campbell. "Green Square’s going to see 40,000 new residents in coming years and those people are only fifteen minutes’ ride from the city... It’s going to be such an attractive option that I think lots of people are going to use it." In addition to functioning as a commuter route, the path will also serve as an arts-leisure adventure. "There’s the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence [at 166-180 George St]," Campbell explains. "There’s also Prince Alfred Pool at one end, a skate park in Waterloo and the City’s Library and facilities at Joynton Park, which it connects to." On Saturday, June 14, between 11am and 2pm, Prince Alfred Park will host a massive launch party, dubbed Roll Through Redfern. Australian Balkan Gypsy trio Lolo Lovina will provide the live soundtrack, the Veggie Patch Van will be selling gourmet delights and there’ll be pedal-powered smoothies, as well as free coffee (yes, you read that right, FREE COFFEE). You’ll also be able to score bike help without spending a cent — whether you need safety tips, route advice or assistance of the mechanical variety. Meanwhile, Green Square’s regular markets will be happening at Joynton Park between 9am and 2pm. Everyone who gets themselves a stamp either there or at Prince Alfred Park will enter a draw to win a $1,000 bike package, a Magellan bike computer or a bunch of Prince Alfred Park Pool multi-visit passes. The Green Square-Central cycle way brings the Council one step closer to the realisation of its masterplan — to ensure that Sydney cyclists can enjoy at least 200 kilometres of bike paths by 2030. "We’ve already got about 110, 120 kilometres of network, though much of it’s not separated," Campbell says. "We’ve got twelve kilometres so far of separated cycleways. The 200 is going to be made up of mixed traffic streets and shared cycle paths as well. A lot of it just needs upgrading." The statistics indicate that pro-cycling campaigns and infrastructural changes, particularly segregated paths, are making a big impact at road level. "Each facility that we open sees a massive increase in cycling," Campbell confirms. "Accounts of the Bourke Street cycleway, for example, show that there are five times as many riders on Bourke Street, near the Phelps intersection, as there were four years ago. Whenever we put it in a new cycle way, it just booms. People really, really want to ride. Give them the option to do that in a comfortable, beautiful, pleasant way, and they’ll be in there." If you’re curious about cycling in the city but still feeling reluctant to take the plunge, check out the free bike maintenance classes and cycling in the city courses happening every single week at both Sydney Park and Joynton Park.
First, the obvious news: in 2021, Falls Festival won't be unleashing a huge end-of-year music lineup. This'll mark the second year in a row that the event hasn't gone ahead, after skipping its usual December/January slot in the summer of 2020–21 due to the pandemic, too. But, come this time next year, Falls will be gearing up for its big comeback. Festival organisers have announced that Falls will return for the summer of 2022–23, so get circling in your diary now. That said, there'll be a few changes — including skipping its usual Tasmanian leg in Marion Bay, and also moving from Lorne in Victoria as well. Tassie is no longer on the agenda for Falls' next fests, while the Victorian event will move to Pennyroyal Plains in Murroon. The latter is only 30 minutes away from Lorne and less than two hours from Melbourne, handily. "It has been a privilege to operate Falls Festival in such beautiful locations and we're so thankful to the Surf Coast Shire, Sorell Council and supporting stakeholders of Lorne and Marion Bay who have shown Falls Festival such incredible support over the years. We hope that our Lorne and Tassie Falls fam will join us at Pennyroyal Plains," said festival promoters Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco in a statement. "Lorne is where Falls Festival started so we want to give a particularly special shout out to the locals there. You have been instrumental in making the festival all that it is today, and we'll always be grateful to the community for their long-time support," the pair continued. Falls spent 27 years in Lorne and 17 in Tasmania. The 2022–23 event will still head to North Byron Parklands in Yelgun and Fremantle Oval in Fremantle — and if you're wondering who'll be on the bill, it's clearly far too early for that kind of news. When Falls was planning to proceed last summer, it was going to champion an all-Australian lineup; however, with the international border situation changing, overseas headliners could be back on the cards. In addition to sitting out the 2020–21 and 2021–22 summers, Falls has had a chaotic few years all round. When it was held in 2019–20, the music festival was impacted by the bushfires, with the Lorne leg cancelled one day in because of extreme and hazardous weather. Falls Festival will return across December 2022–January 2023, taking place at Pennyroyal Plains in Murroon, North Byron Parklands in Yelgun and Fremantle Oval in Fremantle. Further details won't be announced until sometime in 2022 — we'll update you when more information comes to hand.
When it opened 88 years ago at Milsons Point, Luna Park Sydney wasn't the world's first Luna Park, or even Australia's. But Harbour City residents and tourists alike have enjoyed its presence around multiple closures, reopenings and revamps ever since. Come December, the amusement park will unveil its latest reason to stop by and enjoy its attractions: Dream Circus, an immersive experience that's revamping the site's big top. If you've ever wanted to feel like you've walked into a movie, this is the Luna Park Sydney feature for you. Dream Circus will be filled with 360-degree projections, holograms, motion-activated LED screens, surround sound and lighting to immerse you in a Hollywood-style experience. It'll become Sydney's first permanent immersive-experience attraction, the venue advises — and a world-first type of attraction as well. Attendees can expect to enter a narrative journey, where characters and a spectacle that engages the senses will combine. The experience will take over the 3000-square-metre big top, with its sights filling a surface area of over 3500 square metres — and with Artists in Motion, TDC and Auditoria, who have ABBA Voyage, King Kong on Broadway, works at Vivid and Walking with Dinosaurs to their names, behind it. Luna Park Sydney expects people to flock to see the results when Dream Circus opens on Friday, December 22, just in time for the Christmas holidays, anticipating that 50,000 people will check it out over summer. The new attraction will help the site embrace the future, while still loving its status as an art-deco amusement park that dates back almost a century. "We are proud to build for Sydney one of the most technically advanced environments in the country. The result will be a venue without equal — capable of featuring the best immersive experiences, never-before-seen immersive live music and special events" said Luna Park Sydney CEO John Hughes. "As a world-class amusement park, we need to be more than rides, and expanding our depth of offering through world-class immersive experiences will mean that Sydneysiders won't have to travel the globe to experience these incredible environments. We want to be a reliable, magical, and affordable destination for all generations of Sydneysiders and visitors to our city". Dream Circus launches at Luna Park Sydney, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point, on Friday, December 22 — visit the park's website for more information and tickets.
A new small bar has arrived in Crows Nest and it's specialising in something a little different for the lower north shore: cognac. Hendriks has more than 30 cognacs from around the globe, as well as cognac-based cocktails and a 100 bottle-strong wine list. Hendricks is run by Crows Nest locals Jakob Overduin and James Knight (who own a creative agency in the same building as the bar) and named after Overduin's father — a big lover of the bar's namesake booze. The duo has signed on Edward Wright as the venue's bar manager, who previously worked as a personal butler at The Goring in London serving some seriously high-profile customers. [caption id="attachment_780597" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] For those who are already into cognac, the small bar offers some extra special drops, such as Frapin VIP XO Grande Champagne, Hennessy XO and a 20-year-old Frapin Millésime Premier Cru Grande Champagne. These nips will cost you a pretty penny, though, ranging from $32–42 a piece. Those new to the French brandy can test the waters with one of the 24 cocktails, including three made with Hennessy: Hendriks (Cointreau, Fireball, fresh orange and pineapple), the Between The Sheets (rum, orange curaçao and lemon juice) and The Major (grapefruit and lemon juice, house-spiced honey syrup, basil and chipotle powder). Apart from the cognac-based sips, you'll find riffs on classics like an old fashioned and a gingerbread espresso martini. [caption id="attachment_780606" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] The extensive wine menu also offers a whopping 23 by the glass — and even more on Sundays, when early-birds can choose to open any bottle to enjoy by the pour. To pair with the wine, there's a six-cheese board for two, along with charcuterie and small plates like mac 'n' cheese croquettes, cheeseburger spring rolls, chilli con carne empanadas and duck pâté with shiraz butter. While the snacks are all good and well, the highlight is the giant jaffles, which are made using loaves from Crows Nest local St Malo Bakery. Choose from the cognac-marinated mushroom; cognac-caramelised shallots and cheese; beef patty with aged cheddar; and a chicken, porcini and speck jaffle with cognac comté for between $18–23. All of these are then drizzled with brandy for good measure. Banoffee and Nutella dessert jaffles bring a sweet touch to the menu, too. Images: Steven Woodburn
If you're the type of movie buff who likes watching new release films on the big screen, popcorn in one hand and choc top in the other, then your viewing habits have undergone some drastic changes in recent weeks. First, upcoming blockbuster flicks started postponing their release dates due to COVID-19. Then, cinemas across Australia began closing — initially by choice, and then by government decree. As a result, no one is gathering in a darkened room to soak in some movie magic from the silver screen any time soon. In the US, a number of studios have been making the leap to online releases, as a way of still letting audiences access and watch their latest films while everyone is staying home. Australian distributors have been slower to take the same jump, but now Roadshow Films has announced that it's fast-tracking a heap of its recent flicks to digital — so you can catch Margot Robbie's chaotic antics in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), check out the Michael B. Jordan-starring legal drama Just Mercy or get a dose of Guy Ritchie's latest British crime caper The Gentlemen all from your couch. In total, 12 recent big-screen releases have been earmarked for digital rental, although some — Joker, Hustlers and The Good Liar — were already available via home entertainment formats anyway. Other titles include entertaining Karate Kid-style Aussie go-karting flick Go!, which stars Richard Roxburgh as an ex-champ reluctantly mentoring an eager teen; Clint Eastwood-directed true crime drama Richard Jewell, about the bombing at the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta; and Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, the partially crowdfunded big-screen spin-off from the beloved Australian mystery TV series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbHkNiIyl3I Most of these movies were still in theatres when cinemas started closing in Australia. Some, such as Ben Affleck vehicle The Way Back — where he plays an alcoholic former basketball star who starts coaching his old high school's team — had actually only started screening at the beginning of March. Either way, being made available to watch at home so quickly marks a big change for the local film industry, with films usually only jumping to DVD and streaming 90 days after they first hit cinemas — although Netflix movies such as Roma, The Irishman and Marriage Story, plus Amazon titles like Brittany Runs a Marathon and The Report, have all been challenging that fixed window in recent years. For Roadshow, it'll be dropping different films online from different dates, with rentals via GooglePlay and iTunes. Check out the full list of titles and dates below: Joker: available now Hustlers: available now The Good Liar: available now Go!: available now Midway: available now Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn): available Saturday, March 28 Just Mercy: available Saturday, March 28 Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears: available Monday, March 30 The Gentlemen: available Tuesday, March 31 Richard Jewell: available Wednesday, April 1 Motherless Brooklyn: available Wednesday, April 1 The Way Back: available Wednesday, April 15 Roadshow's fast-tracked films are available to rent via GooglePlay and iTunes. To find out further details, visit the distributor's website. Top image: Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
When spring hits in the northern hemisphere, so does one of Japan's most famous annual periods: cherry blossom season. Trees start blooming with pastel pink flowers, and tourists start flocking to the Asian country. While there's no shortage of things to do in Japan, or bright and colourful attractions for that matter, there's nothing more disappointing than popping something on your holiday itinerary, looking forward to it for weeks or months, and then not being able to cross it off. And that's often a very real issue for folks hoping to immerse themselves in cherry blossom season. Nature, like the rest of life, doesn't always stick to a schedule. The Japan Meteorological Corporation has been doing its part with regular forecasts, which are updated frequently. Covering more than a thousand locations across the country — spanning from Hokkaido to Kagoshima — it tracks when the blossoms are expected to start to flowering, as well as when they should reach full bloom. But for those eager to take their planning to the next level, JMC has also released the Sakura Navi app, which updates flowering dates, sends notifications to users about their chosen spots, and helps you find the best viewing places in your vicinity. Running since 2016, the app costs 360 yen, or approximately AU$4.60. And while travelling overseas can spark a new app free-for-all, if you're visiting Japan during between March–May and you have your heart set on stepping into a pink floral wonderland, it'll help ensure you don't miss out on a blooming good time. Based on current forecasts — the sixth for this year — cherry blossoms are expected in Tokyo between March 21–29 and Osaka between March 25 and April 1, then move further north until May. And if you're wondering about the service's accuracy, it also highlights a deviation period for each location. At present, it notes that flowers might start blooming up to seven days before their predicated date, or a maximum of two days afterwards. For further cherry blossom forecasts, and more information about Sakura Navi, visit the JMC website.
Kosta's Takeaway is a self-proclaimed no-bullshit café. The local hole-in-the-wall spot is located right next to a smash-repairs workshop in the heart of Sydney's Rockdale, serving up some of the best sandwiches in the city with low fuss. The ethos is "classic, not basic". Don't expect an artfully curated space or deconstructed meals with theatrics — instead, get around an ever-revolving menu of big and tasty sandwiches accompanied by great coffee, shakes and pastries. Freshly baked bread comes from Thoroughbread bakery in Kirrawee and most of the deli meats get carted over by Whole Beast Butchery in Marrickville. Depending on what's good and available from these guys will determine what's made that day. Meat-heavy options include the likes of the rubenesque beast that comes with heaps of pastrami slices, pickled eschalots, red onions, mustard and dill on rye bread. Then there's the Mediterranean sanga that's stuffed with prosciutto, fresh ricotta, radicchio, figs and truffle honey. Heaven. The cult favourite, however, is the fish sandwich. It's a must-try Sydney treat loaded with oh so much tartar sauce. But sandwiches aren't the only lunch option at Kosta's Takeaway. Several Greek bites like spanakopita and rizogalo (dessert-style rice pudding), are also available to diners looking for fewer carbs. Kosta's hasn't caved to Sydney's health-food craze. Instead, it's all about big meals that are big on flavour. That's what helps make this one of the best cafes in Sydney. Whatever you eat will fill you up and make your mouth water. You can even buy some of the pickles, ferments and cold cuts to take away, so you can try to recreate this magic at home. It won't be the same, but it'll tide you over until you can get over to Kosta's Takeaway again. And, if you're closer to the city, you can get your sambo fix at Kosta's second outpost at Circular Quay's dining precinct Sydney Place. Appears in: The Best Cafes in Sydney
Monet. Degas. Renoir. If those names sound familiar, it's because they're some of the most renowned and revolutionary artists of the impressionist movement. Now, their masterworks will make a grand entrance in Melbourne, and it'll be sure to draw the crowds. The NGV's Winter Masterpieces® series is known for bringing blockbuster exhibitions to Melbourne, and this year is no exception. The French Impressionism collection opens Friday, June 6, and brings over 100 works from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to the National Gallery of Victoria for a rare glimpse into one of art's most influential movements. Expect hazy sunrises, countryside hills, dancers in motion and gardens drenched in light by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Édouard Manet and more. But while the paintings are the headline act, the city more than lives up to the hype. From cosy dinners and cinematic nights out, to garden trails lit up after dark, this is the perfect opportunity to see Melbourne really come alive. Planning a visit to see the NGV's Winter Masterpieces®? Don't stop at the exhibition. Here's how to turn a few hours of Impressionism into a totally unforgettable weekend. [caption id="attachment_1004664" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Pham[/caption] NGV Friday Nights Every Friday during the exhibition, the NGV stays open late for NGV Friday Nights. Your ticket includes after-dark access to French Impressionism between 6pm and 10pm, as well as live music, food and drinks in the Great Hall. Catch performances from artists like Mindy Meng Wang王萌 and Tim Shiel, whose collaborative project blends electronica, pop and classical Chinese traditions into something entirely new. Wander the exhibition with a glass of bubbles in hand, sample a wine flight from Yering Station, or grab some French-inspired dinner. It's everything Melbourne does best: art, music, food and a good excuse to stay up after the sun has gone down. Dame Exploring the gallery during the day? It's worth breaking things up with a long lunch at Dame Melbourne, just a few blocks away from the NGV. Set in what's colloquially known as the 'Paris-end' of Collins Street, this elegant venue features high ceilings, beautiful brunch plates, and the perfect opportunity for people watching as the afternoon drifts by. [caption id="attachment_1003425" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex Drewniak[/caption] Maison Bâtard Within walking distance from the NGV, Maison Bâtard puts a modern spin on the classic French bistro. From restaurateur Chris Lucas, it's the kind of place that doesn't take itself too seriously but still delivers when it comes to top notch food and wine, with multiple levels of sophisticated dining rooms. On Thursday to Saturday, descend downstairs into 'Le Club', for (very) late-night supper, cocktails and shows. [caption id="attachment_1003195" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Jana Langhorst[/caption] Elio's Place If you're looking for something more low-key, Elio's Place on Flinders Lane is a European-inspired bistro that delivers comforting, crowd-pleasing favourites from 8am until late every day. The menu changes regularly and you'll always get a warm welcome as you walk in. It's the sort of spot where you can show up spontaneously, skip the fuss and focus on good food and good company. Lightscape After dinner, swap the gallery walls for open skies. This year, award-winning immersive light experience Lightscape is once again transforming the Royal Botanic Gardens into a glowing, dreamlike trail of illuminated tunnels, giant floral sculptures and projections. It's immersive, surreal, and very Melbourne. Running from Friday, June 20 to Sunday, August 10, this is a must for anyone who believes art doesn't have to stay inside galleries. Open House Melbourne If you're in Melbourne at the end of July, Open House Melbourne is worth lining up. Across one weekend (Saturday, July 26 - Sunday, July 27), dozens of the city's most fascinating buildings are opening their doors for public tours. From historic theatres and hidden rooftop gardens to incredible private homes, it's a rare chance to step inside some of Melbourne's most interesting spaces and see the city from the inside out. Melbourne International Film Festival Looking ahead, August brings the Melbourne International Film Festival, a citywide celebration of independent cinema from Australia and around the world. If your idea of a perfect winter night is catching a world premiere with a glass of red in hand, MIFF is your festival. It turns the entire CBD into a buzzing hub of late-night screenings, director talks and film club energy. In their day, the French Impressionists changed the way the world saw beauty. In Melbourne this winter, you can follow their lead: wandering through galleries by day, neon gardens by night, and cosy dining rooms in between. Head to visitmelbourne.com.au to discover more of what makes Melbourne every bit different. Images courtesy of Visit Melbourne By Jacque Kennedy
Ever wondered what happened to the Yogurtberrys and froyo joints of the world? So did we. Fortunately for those who partake, frozen yoghurt has once again entered the chat and is now cooler than ever with the arrival of this newly opened frozen yoghurt store (and its competitive counterpart, Yo-Chi). It's called Freo and it's bringing to an array of entirely gluten-free froyo and gelato to CBD-goers with top hospo talent at the forefront of its process. LuMi Dining and Lode Pies & Pastries' chef Federico Zanellato has partnered with Andy Siauwidjaja, Daniel Lubarda and Munas van Boonsta (three industry-leading innovators) to launch the new spot. Located on Bathurst Street, the slick venue is open from 11am to 10pm daily, following the familiar pay-by-weight standard of this particular category of dessert. Take your pick from more than ten Asian-inspired flavours of natural pot-set yoghurt — including Japanese strawberry, mango and taro — and 35-plus toppings from an array of mochi and in-house baked goods to fresh fruit and a sauce selection curated by chef Frederico himself, all of which guarantee the use of 100% natural ingredients and are completely gluten-free. There are also plant-based gelato flavours for the vegans wanting to get in on the action, from organic coconut and matcha to 70% Belgian dark chocolate. You'll find Freo open from 10am to 11pm daily at 115 Bathurst Street in Sydney.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your text trip. In this instalment, we take you to Hanging Gardens of Bali where guests stay in luxury villas overlooking some of Indonesia's untamed jungle. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This Balinese resort sits far away from the crowds, up in the lush rainforest surrounded by local wildlife and charming rice terraces. Hanging Gardens of Bali has also won so many international accommodation awards thanks to the breathtaking views, super luxurious villas and gracious service. THE ROOMS This high-end resort is made up of 44 private villas, each perched high atop wooden pillars overlooking the valley below. Wake up and enjoy this view from your extra-large canopy bed before rolling out into your own private plunge pool — it's paradise on stilts. And each villa is full of character. The villas combine contemporary and Balinese décor with signature hand-crafted furniture, exotic fabrics, open-air dining areas and epic master bathrooms. We see no reason why you'd ever need to leave your villa. FOOD AND DRINK Keeping with the 'never leave your villa' life, these guys will make and deliver an enormous breakfast to your room, made to be eaten in your private pool. It's all served in a bespoke wooden boat that sits out in the water with you. A dining experience that, due to your location, is quite literally next-level. But, if you do want to get out of your villa for dining, they have stacks of other options available. Either head to the main pool area for cocktails and snacks or dine in their Three Elements Restaurant. The restaurant has won separate awards for their cuisine and dining experience so shouldn't be missed. And that's just the start. Hanging Gardens of Bali also offers a wide range of other dining experiences. Spread throughout the valley are a series of cosy private dining spaces. Have a gourmet picnic on their riverside Bale, be served a romantic dinner within an ancient temple and eat some traditional afternoon tea around the rice fields. [caption id="attachment_872752" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Niklas Weiss (Unsplash)[/caption] THE LOCAL AREA This luxury resort is located near Payangan, a small village north of Ubud. Zip around the winding roads of the area on a quad bike (or just get a taxi if you dare not undertake this feat) to explore the nearby temples, holistic centres, yoga studios, rice fields and stacks of local markets. Explore this area to see why Bali is still on the top of so many people's travel bucket list destinations. You can also visit Canggu and Uluwatu to find the best surf or temporarily leave the serenity and hit Kuta and Seminyak for those famous Bali party vibes. Choose your own Bali adventure — it's all pretty easy to do from this location. THE EXTRAS Now we've already mentioned all of the extra dining options available at Hanging Gardens of Bali, but these guys don't stop there. The team here has created an impressive smorgasbord of additional pampering activities. First off, there is the spa — yes, this has won a handful of awards too. It's truly luxurious treatments combine natural, local ingredients and ancient techniques, to create beauty therapies and treatments that soothe the mind, rejuvenate the body and energise that poor old soul of yours. Of course, these treatments also come with a view of the Balinese jungle so you'll feel surrounded by nature even when you're technically inside. We are also big fans of their guided morning walks. Take off on a journey through the local villages, led by their resort guide before reaching one of the local rice fields. Here, the guide will serve a few refreshing drinks while talking a little bit about rural life in this part of Indonesia. It's a really delightful way to start the day. Get 30% off your stay at The Hanging Gardens of Bali here (with daily breakfast, sunset yoga and a couple's massage included). 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.
When Joaquin Phoenix first played the Joker, he became the second actor in just over a decade to win an Oscar for donning the Gotham City villain's exaggerated clown makeup and killer smile. Returning to the role in the sequel to 2019's Joker, he'll now be taking on the character in a film that's also a musical. That movie: Joker: Folie à Deux, which hits cinemas in October 2024 and also just dropped its first trailer. Phoenix (Napoleon) has big-name company this time around from someone similarly taking on a famed comic-book character: Lady Gaga (House of Gucci). Just as Phoenix follows in the footsteps of Cesar Romero (in the 60s Batman TV series), Jack Nicholson (in the 1989 Batman movie), Heath Ledger (in The Dark Knight) and Jared Leto (in Suicide Squad), the pop star and actor treads where Margot Robbie (in Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) and The Suicide Squad) has most recently as Dr Harleen Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn. In this followup, the Joker and Harley Quinn meet at Arkham Asylum — and yes, romance blossoms. So, Arthur Fleck will no longer be alone. But everyone with even just a passing knowledge of the character knows that that still doesn't bode well for Gotham. Behind the lens, Todd Phillips (War Dogs) is back from the first film as both director and a co-writer, the latter with fellow returnee Scott Silver (The Finest Hours). On-screen, Phoenix and Lady Gaga are joined by Zazie Beetz (Full Circle), who was also in the initial flick — plus Joker newcomers Catherine Keener (The Adam Project), Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Steve Coogan (The Reckoning). Wondering how much of a musical Joker: Folie à Deux will be? Variety reports that it includes at least 15 songs, all covers, and may also feature original tunes. Based on the first teaser trailer, 'What the World Needs Now Is Love' is among the familiar tracks. The first Joker wasn't just a hit — standing apart from the now-defunct DC Extended Universe, where Leto played the Clown Prince of Crime, it took over a billion dollars at the global box office. And, as well as Phoenix nabbing an Oscar, the film took home the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival. Check out the first trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux below: Joker: Folie à Deux releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, October 3, 2024.
"We're not done with golf": in the just-dropped official teaser trailer for Happy Gilmore 2, they're Virginia Venit's (Julie Bowen, Hysteria!) words to the movie's main character; however, they clearly apply to Adam Sandler, too. Almost three decades after first getting tap, tap, tapping as a hockey player with an anger problem who makes the jump to golf — and after Happy Gilmore became one of the best-known comedies of the 90s, as well as one of Sandler's best-known films — he's back on the green on-screen. In the first film, Happy won the Tour Championship in 1996. As the just-dropped new sneak peek at Happy Gilmore 2 shows, he's repeated the feat several times over, and now has a bust of his head to honour five-time winners to show for. It's been years since he has picked up a club, though, and he's a little intimidated by today's golfers — but soon he's back in the swing again. Alongside Sandler (Spaceman) and Bowen, Ben Stiller (Nutcrackers) and Christopher McDonald (Hacks) return from the original Happy Gilmore. Joining them among the cast: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (Cassandro) aka Bad Bunny; Sander's daughters Sadie (You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah) and Sunny (Kinda Pregnant); Travis Kelce; and Blake Clark (a regular Sandler collaborator, as seen in The Waterboy, Little Nicky, Mr Deeds, 50 First Dates, Click, Grown Ups and more). Then there's the lineup of IRL professional golfers, such as John Daly, Rory McIlroy, Paige Spiranac, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Will Zalatoris and Bryson DeChambeau. A new happy place, unexpected reunions, broken clubs, more than a few rounds of advice encouraging Gilmore to get back to the sport: they're all part of the new trailer, too, which follows a past teaser to start 2025. Just like with the original, Sandler co-wrote Happy Gilmore 2 with Tim Herlihy (who has also penned or co-penned Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy and eight other Sandler flicks through to Hubie Halloween), but Kyle Newacheck (Murder Mystery) steps into the director's chair instead of the initial film's Dennis Dugan (Grown Ups 2). Check out the official teaser for Happy Gilmore 2 below: Happy Gilmore 2 will stream via Netflix from Friday, July 25, 2025. Top image: Cr. Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2024.
Over the past 12 months, Qantas has responded to the pandemic and Australia's international border closure in a number of ways. The airline has sold off its fully stocked bar carts, done the same with its pyjamas and launched an athleisure wear range. It announced new routes for domestic getaways, signalled that it hopes to be flying overseas again by October this year and floated the idea of only allowing vaccinated passengers to travel. And, now, it has just run its first trial of a digital health passport with customers — in the hopes that it'll be able to use an app to facilitate safe travel when the global tourism market does reopen. The airline trialled the CommonPass digital health app, which it used on an international repatriation flight between Frankfurt and Darwin. Connecting users to testing labs, the app verifies COVID-19 test results and vaccination information — so border and health officials, as well as Qantas staff, can confirm that passengers have tested negative before their flight. CommonPass is one of two apps that Qantas is planning to trial, alongside the digital Travel Pass app developed by International Air Transport Association (IATA). The latter is also being assessed by Air New Zealand, which will test it on its Auckland to Sydney route in April. Qantas hopes that, whichever app it ends up implementing, users will be able to elect to connect its chosen digital health passport to the Australian Government's vaccination certificates, which'll be available via the Medicare and MyGov apps. Integrating the digital health passport technology into Qantas' own app, too, is the company's ultimate aim. Announcing the customer trial, Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said that "we want to get our international flights back in the air and our people back to work, and a digital health pass will be a key part of that. COVID-19 test results and proof of vaccine will be required in many countries for quarantine-free travel, just as it has been for polio and yellow fever vaccinations in the past". Last November, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce first advised that the airline was "looking at changing our terms and conditions to say, for international travellers, that we will ask people to have a vaccination before they can get on the aircraft". He continued: "certainly for international visitors coming out and people leaving the country, we think that's a necessity". So, when you are next able to head overseas, you'll likely to add one more thing to your pre-travel checklist. Australia's vaccine campaign is currently underway, with the Federal Government pledging to give every Aussie the inoculation for free. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
Get your napkins pressed and your hand sanitiser primed because the mother of all finger food chains is at long last arriving in Australia. Wingstop has been running a US-based operation since the early 1990s, so it's been a long time coming to our neck of the woods, but this news will no doubt get mouths watering at the prospect of trying its titular wings on home turf. From little things, big things grow, so Wingstop is starting small with a single Sydney outpost. However, they won't stay small for long, with over 100 stores planned to open Australia-wide. If you can't wait to get your hands on it in your hometown, the inaugural opening is coming to Sydney's Kings Cross, with a special opening event pencilled in for Saturday, May 17. What's on the cards? Doors swing open at 11am and the first 500 diners to visit will get five free wings. Should you miss out on the initial offer, there will also be DJs keeping the energy high throughout the day, along with interactive experiences, games and giveaways. If you were lusting after the viral Maccas, ALDI or KFC merchandise drops that took over social media in 2023 and 2024, not to worry — Wingstop will be running its own merch giveaways on the day, the first of its kind in the country, so you can shove it into the faces of those who were lucky enough to get those aforementioned bucket hats and sweaters. At the end of the day, though, we're all here for the wings, so what's actually going to be on the menu? It's poultry aplenty, with classic and boneless wings and tenders available in packs ranging from three to 50. They're tossed with one of twelve sauces: Lemon Pepper, Hickory Smoked BBQ, Hawaiian, Garlic Parmesan, Louisiana Rub, Spicy Korean Q, Mild, Hot Honey Rub, Cajun, OG, Mango Habanero and Atomic. Get them with a side of signature seasoned fries (with seven choices of seasoning), house-made cheese or ranch dips, or cajun-spiced corn. Add on a cold drink or even a chocolate brownie to help the wings go down. If you don't make it on the day, keep your eyes peeled for future in-store events or for where the next location will open. Wingstop's first Australian store will open on Saturday, May 17 at 1/111 Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point. Visit the website for more information or to make an order.
Australia's border rules are changing, allowing Aussies to embark upon international travel again. So, you've probably stopped dreaming about all the overseas destinations you'd like to visit — because you've already started planning your next global getaway. But there's one destination closer to home you still might want to consider, with the Scenic Rim region in southeast Queensland just named one of the best places to visit in 2022 by travel publication Lonely Planet. The only Aussie spot to make the list — which is broken down into the countries, regions and cities — the Scenic Rim placed eighth among the top ten areas to head to in the Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2022 guide. Back in 2020, Lord Howe Island ranked fifth on the same list, but this time it's an Australian destination without beaches that caught the publication's eye. The Scenic Rim was named for its "diversity of attractions" — with the guide pointing out its rainforest adventures, "the misty slopes of Mount Tamborine town packed with cafes, cellar doors and galleries" and "hatted restaurant Homage, which specialises in creative paddock-to-plate fare". It also called attention to Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm, Summer Land Camels, and the area's "epic landscapes and charming country towns offering a tasty slice of rural life, with cracking Queensland hospitality in plentiful supply too". [caption id="attachment_830275" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] On the top regions list, the southeast Queensland spot is in impressive company. Westfjords in Iceland took out first place, West Virginia in the US came second and China's Xishuangbanna placed third. Next came Kent's Heritage Coast in the UK, Puerto Rico, Shikoku in Japan and Chile's Atacama Desert — while Canada's Vancouver Island and Burgundy in France closed out the rundown. While the Scenic Rim is the only Australian location to make the 2022 guide, Auckland in New Zealand topped the list of the ten best cities for 2022 — with Lonely Planet noting that [NZ's] "biggest and most diverse city has always been beautiful, but one unpredicted consequence of COVID-19 has been the blossoming of Auckland's cultural scene, putting a fresh spotlight on exciting local creativity". Other cities named include Taipei in Taiwan, Freiburg in Germany, Atlanta in the US and Lagos in Nigeria — as well as Nicosia/Lefkosia in Cyprus, Dublin in Ireland, Merida in Mexico, Florence in Italy and Gyeongju in South Korea. On the list of best countries, Cook Islands took out the number one spot, followed by Norway, Mauritius, Belize, Slovenia, Anguilla, Oman, Nepal, Malawi and Egypt. So, there's 30 places all up to add to your must-visit list. For more information about Lonely Planet's full Best in Travel 2022 lists, visit its website.
Danny Boyle directs. Alex Garland penned the screenplay. Oppenheimer Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy isn't listed among the cast, but is credited as an executive producer. In the latter's place on-screen, Jodie Comer (The Bikeriders), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nosferatu), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Jack O'Connell (Sinners) and Alfie Williams (His Dark Materials) are all tasked with navigating the remnants of a virus-ravaged world. That's the recipe behind 28 Years Later, and it looks set to unsettle — at least if the initial trailer from late 2024 and the just-dropped new sneak peek are anything to go on. Here, the zombie apocalypse has evolved. When just 28 days had passed, survivors faced a nightmare. Little had improved when 28 weeks had gone by. Now, following 28 years of chaos, life has been forced to find a new normality after dealing with the aftermath of a society decimated by a horrific infection for a hefty period. The setup this time around: almost three decades after the rage virus initially seeped through humanity after escaping from a biological weapons laboratory, some survivors have etched out an existence on a small island. Elsewhere, quarantine remains a key way of tackling the infection. With that starting point — and with unease dripping through both trailers so far, complete with stunning imagery — expect Boyle (Yesterday) and Garland (Warfare) to dig into the terrors that linger when two of the island's residents venture over to the mainland. Although 2030 will mark 28 years since viewers were treated to one of the best zombie movies ever, aka the Boyle-helmed, Garland-written 28 Days Later, the third flick in the same franchise — and second with Boyle behind the lens and Garland on scripting duties — arrives after 23 years. 28 Years Later was first confirmed at the beginning of 2024, and will hit cinemas Down Under on Thursday, June 19, 2025. The series' initial film has already spawned one follow-up thanks to 2007's 28 Weeks Later, but Boyle didn't direct it. Garland, who also penned Sunshine for Boyle, then hopped behind the camera himself with Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men, Civil War, Warfare and TV series Devs, wasn't involved with 28 Weeks Later, either. Their return restarts the saga, kicking off a new trilogy. The franchise's fourth feature 28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple has already been shot, in fact, with Candyman and The Marvels' Nia DaCosta directing. Boyle and Garland's first proper collaboration after Boyle adapted Garland's best-selling novel The Beach for the big screen two years prior, 28 Days Later still ranks among the best work on either's resume. It's the same on Murphy's as well, even if it didn't win him any of Hollywood's top shiny trophies for playing a bicycle courier who wakes up from a coma in a deserted hospital 28 days after an outbreak changed the world forever. And yes, the series is missing a 28 Months Later instalment. It was talked about for years, but the time has now passed unless the new trilogy includes a flick set between 28 Weeks Later and 28 Years Later. Check out the latest trailer for 28 Years Later below: 28 Years Later releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
Plenty can happen in six years. Since the last time that Hans Zimmer performed in Australia, his score for Dune won him his second Academy Award and his work on Dune: Part Two earned him his fifth Grammy, for instance. Over that period, the iconic composer has also given everything from No Time to Die, Wonder Woman 1984, Top Gun: Maverick and The Creator to Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III their tunes. One of the biggest names in big-screen music, he's clearly been busy — but he's not too busy to add a three-city Aussie tour to his 2025 calendar. Zimmer will head Down Under for the first time since 2019, again taking to the stage in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. If you've seen him live before, you'll know that this is quite the sonic experience, especially for movie lovers. And if you haven't caught him yet, you'll want to fix that at his April gigs at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena. [caption id="attachment_990222" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lee Kirby[/caption] For more than four decades now, Zimmer has given screens big and small a distinctive sound. The German composer helped put the bounce in The Lion King's score and the droning in Inception's memorable tunes, and has loaned his talents to everything from Thelma & Louise to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy to Blade Runner 2049. It's an impressive list that just keeps going and growing — see: above — and it sounds even more impressive when played live and accompanied by an orchestra. The latest trip Down Under for the man who has worked his music magic on a wealth of titles — Hidden Figures, The Boss Baby, Dunkirk, Widows, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, The Lion King remake and The Crown are just a few more of his recent-ish credits — comes not only after his 2019 visit, but after he toured his Hans Zimmer Revealed concert series in 2017, including to Australia. His 2025 shows see the return of his Hans Zimmer Live gigs, complete with a 19-piece live band and full orchestra, as well as a huge stage production that features a luminous light show and other eye-catching visuals. [caption id="attachment_990219" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suzanne Teresa[/caption] While the Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy and Tony-winner obviously isn't going to perform every single one of his iconic film scores, expect to hear plenty of your favourites from a newly arranged lineup of tunes that includes Dune, Gladiator, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, The Lion King, The Last Samurai and Pirates of the Caribbean. Onstage, Zimmer will have Australian singer Lisa Gerrard for company, with some of the songs that she co-penned with him featuring in the set — so, tracks from Mission: Impossible, King Arthur, Black Hawk Down, Tears of the Sun and more. "I'm thrilled to return to Australia with my wonderful band and excited to share this phenomenal show. I love this feeling of uniting my family of extraordinary musicians with you, the audience. Just an unbelievable family of talents that — to me — makes them the best supergroup of musicians in the world," said Zimmer, announcing his new Aussie tour. "But nothing would have meaning without the good grace and support of you, the other part of the family — the audience. Ultimately, the music connects us all, and I promise you this: we will always play our best, straight from the heart." [caption id="attachment_990220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Suzanne Teresa[/caption] Hans Zimmer Live Australian 2025 Dates Thursday, April 24 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre Saturday, April 26 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Tuesday, April 29 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne [caption id="attachment_724856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frank Embacher Photography[/caption] Hans Zimmer Live is touring Australia's east coast in April 2025. For more information, and for tickets — with presales from 11am local time on Tuesday, February 11 and general sales from 12pm local time on Wednesday, February 12 — head to the event's website. Top image: Suzanne Teresa.
If you're after an epicurean escape without the hassle of long flights or using up precious days of leave, look no further than the Orange region. Less than four hours by car from Sydney and two hours by air from Brisbane, the area boasts 40-plus cellar doors and wineries that produce everything from chardonnay to vermentino and pinot noir to tempranillo. While wine is obviously the star of the show, you should do more than just sip your way through the region on your next visit. That's why we've teamed up with Orange360 to spotlight six wineries that pair your tipples with tasty bites — whether it's fresh oysters, a long lunch with breathtaking views, or a decadent multi-course meal. Printhie Wines As a Halliday five-starred winery, you can expect the exceptional at Printhie Wines. Beyond its range of renowned wines, Printhie offers several bespoke experiences to take your tasting to the next level, including its hatted restaurant, Printhie Dining. Open for lunch from Friday–Sunday and dinner from Thursday–Saturday, Printhie Dining serves a four-course degustation featuring seasonal produce sourced from the estate and its surrounds. Expect delicate dishes like kingfish with sweet alyssum, celeriac and lemongrass tea; lamb with vadouvan and smoked bone marrow; and pepperberry tea custard with chocolate ganache, bottlebrush and fermented cherries — all served with paired wines. More modest offerings at Printhie Wine Bar include a curated cheese board, charcuterie and oysters shucked to order from a state-of-the-art oyster tank developed by a marine biologist and oyster farmer. If that's not enough, take it outside with a picnic on the grounds accompanied by a bottle of vino, or elevate your four-course meal with a sparkling masterclass, fly-fishing session or helicopter tour. Rowlee Wines Pull up a seat for elegant dining paired with single-vineyard wines and idyllic views at Rowlee. With floor-to-ceiling windows and al fresco tables, you'll feel like you're lounging on a farm in Tuscany as you drink in unobstructed views across the vineyard. If you have time to indulge in a leisurely lunch or dinner — you are on holiday after all — settle in at Rowlee Bar and Dining for communal-style, farm-to-table dishes. The seasonal menu focuses on innovation and sustainability, and includes plates like hay-fried chicken with pumpkin sauce and garden curry; coal-roasted fish with preserved lemon; roast pork collar with fermented rhubarb and honey; and sustainably sourced butter-poached lobster with shellfish sauce. Finish it off with an apple and strawberry gum ice cream sandwich or gelato topped with fennel and olive oil. You can also keep it casual at the Garden Bar, which offers snacks alongside more substantial fare, such as a pork and pecorino pancake, chilli of Black Angus beef with lettuce cups, and a lobster roll with bottarga mayo. Borrodell Estate With a restaurant, cellar door-slash-wine bar, and suites and cottages all on the property, you could easily while away a whole day at the expansive Borrodell Estate. Perched at the top of one of Australia's highest vineyards, Sister's Rock restaurant looks out onto rows of pinot noir vines and Towac Valley beyond. Accessible yet elevated, the set menu highlights local produce from Borrodell Estate and around Orange, and is available for lunch from Thursday–Monday and dinner on Friday–Saturday. Start with roast carrots and feta, grilled artichoke, and steamed mussels in tomato sauce, before choosing a main from the scotch fillet with Moroccan eggplant salad, pan-fried barramundi with green peas and zucchini sofrito, or vegetarian lasagne. Needless to say, you should enhance your meal with one of the recommended wine pairings alongside each dish. Ross Hill Wines Need to work up an appetite? At Ross Hill Wines, you can step into the kitchen and pick up some well-tried tips to whip up your own culinary creations at home. The carbon-neutral winery — proudly the first in Australia — boasts its own wine and food school, Barrel and Larder. Hosted by chef Michael Manners and other guest chefs from the region, the classes range from Spanish cooking to Swiss dishes and pie-making. Of course, the winery also caters to those who'd rather have their food prepared for them, with tasting plates of snacks and dip available at the cellar door. For something more special, book in advance for their Pinnacle long lunch series, where renowned local guest chefs prepare a three-course spread on select Saturdays of each month. Swinging Bridge Let's face it — all that wine tasting might not leave much room for a multi-course feast. Swinging Bridge has you covered with two dining experiences at its cellar door near Mount Canobolas. For something lighter during the day, the winery offers a tasting of seven wines complemented by a selection of canapés. These are designed by the chef and sommeliers to enhance the flavour and notes of the wine, without the risk of sending you into an afternoon slump. If you decide you are hungry after all, book in for an in-depth tasting and long lunch. The three-hour experience starts with a guided tour of the family-run estate, followed by a five-course lunch and accompanying wines. Indulge with Swinging Bridge is only available at 11am or 1pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Heifer Station Heifer Station might not have a restaurant, but it makes up for it with a range of picturesque grazing experiences. The setting varies seasonally — you'll either be sprawled out on the vineyard lawns with your own private picnic in summer or snuggled by the indoor fireplace in winter. Both packages include a glass of sparkling and a tasting flight of Heifer Station's esteemed, single-vineyard wines, along with a gourmet cheese and charcuterie platter. There's also an option that includes an interactive tasting tour before you settle in with your nibbles. Otherwise, you can go big before you go home by adding on a helicopter tour of the estate and Mount Canobolas, followed by a guided wine tasting and a picnic or fireside spread. Plan your trip now to the Orange Region at the Orange360 website. Images: courtesy of Destination NSW and Orange360.
While social distancing and public gathering rules are still in place across the country, some companies are starting to look to the less-restricted future. Qantas yesterday said interstate travel could be back on the cards by July, Restaurant and Catering Australia wants hospitality venues reopened in June and, now, Falls Festival has announced it's powering ahead with plans for its New Year's festival — with some big changes. In a statement released this morning, Falls Co-Producers Jessica Ducro and Paul Piticco said they'd decided to push ahead with the end-of-year festival. "As Australia heads towards the recovery phase of COVID-19 we have decided to move forward with optimism, and work towards presenting our Dec 2020/Jan 2021 event in a way that will best bolster Australia's live music industry," the statement said. Details of the summer festival, which usually takes places at Tassie's Marion Bay, Lorne in Victoria, North Byron and Fremantle, are scarce for now, but the duo has announced one big change: an all-Aussie lineup. With Australia's borders currently closed and even travel between just Australia and New Zealand "still some time away", keeping the lineup local does seem the smart choice — and it has the added bonus of helping Aussie musicians, many of which have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown. According to website I Lost My Gig, Australian music industry workers have lost approximately $340 million worth of income since the crisis began. Falls Festival hopes it'll be able to help support some of those impacted with its locally focused festival. "We have some of the most exciting acts in the world and this special 'home grown' edition of Falls will ensure that money stays in our local economy, providing maximum financial benefit for the Australian music community – artists, management, crew, agents, roadies, production etc — as well as the thousands of contractors and suppliers who rely on our events for their income," Ducro and Piticco said in the statement. The festival will also help raise funds for Support Act, a charity delivery crisis relief services to those in the music industry. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_04sZGhybw/ It's positive news for those in the industry and music fans alike, but the the festival is not yet set in stone. Two-person public gathering rules are still currently in place in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, and Australia's ban on non-essential mass gatherings of over 500 people was one of the first restrictions implemented — way back on March 13, 2020 — so could, if we're to work backwards, be one of the last lifted. The Australian Government has also said some level of social distancing measures will need to remain in place until a vaccine is found, which Federal Science Minister Karen Andrews told the ABC earlier this week was still 10–15 months away. So, if the festival is to go ahead, it could look a little different — and a have a lot less punters in tow. Falls Byron usually has around 25,000 attendees, while Falls Lorne has 9000. Last year, the music festival was impacted by the bushfires, with the Lorne leg cancelled one day in because of extreme and hazardous weather. Falls Festival is hoping to go ahead in December 2020/January 2021. We'll let you know if and when more details are announced.
You know how in sit-coms people will walk into coffee shops and the barista will go: "Hey Tommy — the usual?" And you know how you always sort of hope that will happen to you? Well, going to Double Cross Espresso Bar is exactly like that — the staff welcome every customer who pops in, and know several by name. The Crows Nest cafe specialises in quality coffee and a unique Japanese spin on Australian cafe food. The shop opened in 2016 after co-owners Quinton Ng and Samuel Lee — who had had both been working in the hospitality industry for years — decided that it was time to run their own place. The cafe's name is representative of the owner's identities; Ng's family hails from both Hong Kong and Australia, while Lee is Korean–New Zealander. Designed with minimalism in mind, customers can order at the white marbled counter where there are maybe 100 stamped loyalty cards — a testament to the quality of the coffee on offer, and the number of return customers. Seating is available both inside and out, which is a perfect perch from which to people-watch during the lunch hours, which are less hectic than the mornings. At the very back of the cafe, two chefs work in a tiny kitchen. Some popular dishes include, the mentaiko pasta laden with fish roe and a 63-degree egg ($17), and the tonkatsu tamago sando: two small pork katsu rectangles wedged on a stick with kewpie mayo and katsu sauce ($13). Lastly, for a sweet treat, the creme brûlée french toast, a brioche bun topped with mascarpone custard, a mixed berry compote, and fresh fruit piled on top ($15). So if you're on the lower north shore and looking for a new place to try, Double Cross will not let you down. Images: Natalie Carroll.
Zach Braff is doing it, Amanda Palmer turned it into an art form, and now crowdfunding has landed on the Sydney hospitality scene with Stanley Street's IconPark. It's a simple enough genesis story: Spreets co-founder and former CEO Dean McEvoy bought a property, asked Paul Schell (formerly of Ruby Rabbit) to open a business, and got a potentially revolutionary concept instead. Happy accidents, hey? "People get great ideas in hospitality, but they don't have access to the capital, infrastructure and knowledge to make it a reality," explains McEvoy. "And we saw that dynamic from other industries where crowdfunding was working and by early indicators we are on the right track." And, with noise already coming from New York, California and London to launch the platform overseas, it sounds like he is underplaying his hand. "Our aim is to actually go big on this one ... it's going to be a global brand." Come Tuesday, March 25, the winner of the inaugural three-month residency will be announced, and a new tri-level hospitality concept will be born at 78 Stanley Street — albeit for a brief tenure before season two. One hundred and seventeen hands answered IconPark's premier cattle call. McEvoy, Schell and their team then shrunk that number to 24 before they teamed up with mentors Darren Robertson (Three Blue Ducks), Sudeep Gohil (Droga 5), Chris Morrison (Head Sommelier at the Guillaume group), Joel Meares (Time Out) and Claire Bradley (Inside Out Magazine) to pick the final six. The ball is now in our court. "The consumer decides and lets the IconPark platform know what is the product they want to experience," says Schell. "The main reasons why hospitality businesses fail is that they are not really hitting on something the market wants — you can go and spend millions on a lease and fitout and then open the doors and find out no one really wants what you've got," elaborates McEvoy. "So this mechanism lets the customer have early input into what will and won't work." Given the explosion of the small bar scene — and how Sydney's ever-growing appetite for new culinary destinations seems only surpassed by its appetite for opening them — it is astounding to think this platform has not surfaced earlier. Okay, let's meet your season one finalists (in order of most pledgers at the time of writing) and find out what a $50 pledge will get you: https://youtube.com/watch?v=htsQ34VJKlU Stanley St. Merchants An all-hours sustainable funhouse from the mind of West Wind Gin's Jeremy Spencer with rock 'n' roll chef Matt Stone, and coffee shop of the year St Ali (from Victoria). These boys will feed and caffeinate you; settle in for amaro and dominos or head upstairs to cocktail guru Bobby Carey (formerly of Shady Pines) for a mess hall-themed tipple. $50 pledge: $50 voucher redeemable throughout the building. Ruby's BBQ Husband-and-wife team and Bondi-ites Ruby and Eli Challenger promise a man-cave to bring the fabled flavours of US BBQ to Stanley Street; smoked meats, trivial pursuit, potential for a mini-golf set-up and cocktails courtesy of Fat Rupert's bar manager Sean Duncan. Condiments, competitions and meat by the gram. $50 pledge: A share platter and booze for two. Sedgwick Ave Street art. Hip Hop. Katz-style sandwiches. NYC cocktails and coffee. All that and internationally renowned chef Alejandra Saravia. Sedgwick Ave wants to bring a bit more Brooklyn to Stanley Street than it can handle. Oh, and check out the Mr Brainwash walk-through they pulled off to prove their networking skillz. $40 pledge: Sit yourself down for a cocktail class with Paul Flynn. https://youtube.com/watch?v=tVvrQaGKd2Q Min Joo Social K-Pop karaoke, cocktails, photo booths and Korean BBQ are looking for a home on Stanley Street under the guidance of Jamie Woolcott, David Wright and Phil Bracey. $50 pledge: $50 to spend in the building. British India Trading Co. A celebration of cultural cross-pollination centred around British India and heaped with chef Matt Taylor's Michelin star experience to bring you an exploration of flavours that keep vegos, meatheads and booze hounds satiated equally. $55 pledge: A Royal British India platter for two. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2bkahk4_WcU Blackcats Jazz, gin and wagyu beef. Jay Gray (formerly of Lobo Plantation), Pia Andersen (vintage songstress) and chef Phil Tsompansis have partnered with Victor Churchill Meats (that gallery-like Woollahra butcher that's been tempting vegetarians since 1876) to promise coffee, late-night tunes and choice cuts within a 19th-century gin palace decor. $50 pledge: Dinner and a show. https://youtube.com/watch?v=g4IQRENio20 All six finalists will be vying for your attention at Taste of Sydney (March 13-16) to ensure their spot in the top four. Applying next time? Ruby's BBQ got over the line by tempting the panelists back for seconds during the tasting session and Sedgwick Ave set the bar for branding. McEvoy recalls, "We walked down to work one morning down here and the whole front of our building had been tagged with the words Sedgwick Ave; it was a really nice piece … and they only revealed who they were on the last day of applications." Mind you, if Stanley St Merchants stays in top spot, you may not get the chance. "I intend to make the profit book strong enough that they don't want us to go," says Spencer when asked about a future past IconPark. But McEvoy has his own plans: "Our goal is to really create a hospitality icon for the future that people will look to in a couple of years and say, they really set a trend for the city."
When Dirty John and The Case Against Adnan Syed leapt from audio to television, it was a floodgates moment. The true-crime genre definitely isn't new, but more shows based on grim real-life stories — and inspired by the podcasts that cover them, to be specific — were always going to follow. Dr Death is the latest, sporting a moniker that speaks volumes from the outset. Even if you know nothing about Christopher Duntsch going in, and you've also never heard the Wondery podcast that shares the series' name, that title really doesn't bode well for the surgeon's patients. Working in Dallas during the past decade, Duntsch was originally a rising neurosurgery star. Then, as the series charts, his patients started leaving the operating theatre either permanently maimed or dead. If you've ever faced going under the knife, this is pure, unfettered and deeply disturbing nightmare fuel — and it all really happened. Joshua Jackson plays Duntsch, and is bound to shed any lingering Dawson's Creek-era affection audiences might have for him in the process (and fondness from The Mighty Ducks and Fringe, too). He's joined by Alec Baldwin (Pixie) and Christian Slater (Dirty John) as fellow surgeons who raise the alarm, and also by AnnaSophia Robb (Words on Bathroom Walls) as the Dallas prosecutor who takes the case. As the just-dropped first trailer for the series show, this is quite the bleak story. Whether you already know how it all turns out or you'll be discovering the details fresh, you'll be able to watch Dr Death on Stan sometime this year — although exactly when it'll start streaming hasn't yet been announced. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYWEAWFONSw Dr Death will be available to stream via Stan sometime in 2021 — we'll update you with a release date when further details are announced.
"Careful, you've got about seven cameras on you," Josh Niland quips to one of his chefs on a quiet Monday evening. The Saint Peter cook in question offers a nervous smile, but isn't distracted from his meticulous work: chargrilling twenty identical King George whiting over coal. The butterflied fish are served with a nostalgic play on hundreds-and-thousands — a rich butter sauce with bright chives, finger lime and popping orange tapioca pearls. "Make sure you start at the tail end, so the fish continues to cook evenly," Niland recommends to the group, who have been invited to preview his pop-up collaboration with whisky-maker Talisker. By all accounts, things are going swimmingly for Niland: he was the only Australian chef to be awarded a spot in this year's Best Chef Awards, also nabbing the Best Chef Innovation Award for his nose-to-tail approach to the ocean's finest. Back in 2020, he also won the James Beard Book of the Year Award for his magnum opus, The Whole Fish Cookbook. But the peerless seafood chef rarely dabbles in branded collaborations. So, we took the time to chat about the art of collaboration in the kitchen, teamwork and the best advice he's ever received. [caption id="attachment_873425" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Talisker and Saint Peter pop-up.[/caption] How do you go about choosing the right partners for your venues? "The initial engagement with Talisker was fascinating to me — there are very few metrics around for what you can do with fish and whisky. It's a very robust alcohol to weave into a fish dish. But, I like being pushed into the corner and told 'this is all you're allowed to do'. It's also about quality [when it comes to partnerships]. We're making a decision based on quality and the underlying ethics of the business — ensuring that they're working responsibly in terms of the procurement of their ingredients and how they work within the company. We have to do our due diligence and make sure that both parties are aligned." Speaking of quality products, I assume there were a few whisky tastings involved in the process? "There were definitely some... should we say 'quality checks' — not just from me, but also from my chef Ben, who gave it a good taste." [caption id="attachment_855330" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Rob Palmer, Charcoal Fish[/caption] How do you approach collaborating with Julie, your wife and co-owner, particularly if you disagree? "I feel like Julie and I are obviously very aligned. We've been married nearly 13 years so we've had meals together and experiences together, and that polishes the edges of what we feel we want to be doing as professionals. But that continually changes all the time — the way we were pre-COVID is very different to the way we are now. And I think what you'll see from Saint Peter in the coming years will be starkly different to what you see now — that's just signs of a good, evolving business. Although there are moments of friction, above all it just comes down to trust — knowing that, if it doesn't seem 100% right because it's not the same as what we did at one time, then the trust is there that we're making the best decision. We trust that we're not going to steer the ship astray, and we rely a lot on the team around us to help us make those decisions — especially significant ones. We're very fortunate to be surrounded by some really extraordinary people in our management team and also the young chefs and front of house professionals." [caption id="attachment_870811" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Talisker and Saint Peter pop-up.[/caption] How do you collaborate with your chefs at Saint Peter? "It's been a learning experience the last two years, how to be a better coach as opposed to captain. We're now starting to see the benefits of mentorship and looking after the guys really well, and they're starting to feel more confident with what they can offer to the team. It's been a nice 12 months, even though it's been challenging — it's been super rewarding. You can go home at 6pm and put the kids to bed, and know that everyone is 100% behind you and they all believe in the one thing and they're all driving towards the same product. There are moments where you're like 'I wish I could've had my hands on that', but I've changed significantly in the last six years. I've gone from standing on the stove and going 'nobody touch anything, I'm doing it' to now going 'can somebody else do this cause I want to show you how to do it' and then people are thriving and they're showing the next people. It's all a maturity thing and a learning thing — I was 26 when we opened Saint Peter. I'm getting pulled in every direction personally and professionally so I'm just making sure that at its heart everyone understands what we're doing and why we're doing it." [caption id="attachment_739656" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Fish Butchery by Cody Duncan[/caption] Obviously finding consistent and reliable producers plays a huge role in what you do. How do you approach managing those relationships? "Consistent and reliable — that's actually the biggest challenge. You can never rely on anybody and you can never rely on the weather. When what we plan at the beginning of the week doesn't arrive, then we need to change. That's why when people always ask, 'why can't you leave dishes on the menu, why can't you just stop changing the menu?' It's not for not trying! It's because we always have to work like that. When you're a fish business you have to keep changing and evolving. We now have four teams all working on fish that is not always consistent and that is not reliable, so we rely on [the team] to remain flexible and adaptable and courageous enough to keep turning up. Finding the fishers that we've found — particularly Walkers Seafood in Mooloolaba in Queensland and Bruce Collis at Corner Inlet in Victoria — I would put that down to me having a relationship with Steve Hodges at Fish Face. So you've got Steve Hodges, Neil Perry, John Susman, Greg Doyle and Peter Doyle from the generation that's just gone through and they have carved out a pathway for our next generation and given us the ability to go direct to fisherman. But you have to be ready to pick up the phone and talk for an hour — about fish. The extension of that conversation is really powerful for the customer to hear about, because then there's a registering and appreciation for the price point, because they see the value of someone going out and intentionally catching something for their dinner." [caption id="attachment_870810" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Talisker and Saint Peter pop-up.[/caption] What's the best advice you've ever been given? "'Treat everyday as a sprint, but life is a marathon.' Simon Marnie from ABC Radio told me that, he's a friend from a long, long time ago. I had just got back from overseas and he could see all the layers of places I wanted to go and people I wanted to meet in my eyes, but he kind of slapped me over the head and said 'listen'. Even Luke Magen said to me as a second-year apprentice that 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. That came at a really poignant time in my cooking, I had been there for about eight months and I was really frustrated that I hadn't been 'seen' yet, because you were part of a 35-chef system. It really bothered me. So I went and I did a trial at Balzac with Matthew Kemp and he offered me a job. And then I got back to work the next day, not to have the conversation, but to continue to think about if I wanted the job. Luke came up to me and said 'I heard you had a conversation with Matt Kemp.' And I realised that the kid from Maitland didn't realise how small Sydney was. Luke said, 'Rome wasn't built in a day, you need to be patient.' You gotta — not necessarily earn your stripes — but understand that you can't have everything you want right now, but with a bit of application and intentionality and telling us that that's what you want, then let's get on with it. And then from there I got to really be exposed to a lot more." Josh Niland's Taste of Talisker will pop up in Sydney's North Head between Friday, October 21–Saturday, October 22. You can purchase tickets to either the three-course menu or the Made by the Sea whisky experience via Moshtix. Top image: Rob Palmer, from Josh Niland's The Whole Fish Cookbook
Sydney has a thing with its regions. We tend to limit ourselves to local pockets — from the Northern Beaches to Eastern Suburbs, or the Inner West to the Greater West. But at CP, we're all about pushing people outside these imaginary walls to discover everything this incredible city has to see. Today we turn to the Inner West, where charming tree-lined streets and unassuming apartment blocks hide some of the most exciting experiences in town. You might be thinking: I know the Inner West. I've eaten at the hot Newtown spots, gone on brewery crawls in Marrickville and slurped stand-out spaghetti in Leichhardt. But we're here to tell you that there's definitely more to see. Right now we're loving Dulwich Hill. It's one of Sydney's few suburbs in which big business is yet to claim every second shopfront, leaving independent and family-owned businesses to run things their way (in some cases for the last few decades). There's more to see than we can write about, and it deserves an in-person visit, but here are some appetisers for the feast on offer. GIFTS GALORE Whether it's for yourself or someone else, there's plenty to shop on New Canterbury Road. Make your first stop Connie Dimas Jewellery, which is less than ten minutes's stroll from the light rail stop. This charming store has been part of Dulwich Hill village for over five years, and continues to delight customers with its wide variety of artisan jewellery. Thanks to her ever-growing collection of silver, gold and pearl jewellery, as well as custom designs, Connie has become a local legend, adorning necks, fingers and wrists all over the Inner West. Hailing from a family of creators and craftsmen, she eventually found her niche in the jewellery world, travelling and learning the craft worldwide. Now, she brings everything she's learned into Dulwich Hill, crafting a range of gorgeous pieces that take inspiration from our world and the people that live in it. Over the hill and to the left is Marrickville Road, where bookworms should plot a course because only a short distance down is Gleebooks. From its first store in Glebe since 1975, Gleebooks has spent over 40 years growing into one of Sydney's biggest and most loved independent bookstores, with multiple branches around town. Gleebooks is the heart of the Dulwich Hill reader community and keeps its shelves stocked with both classics and new arrivals. Gleebooks has also become just as well-known for its regular events, hosting hundreds every year across all its sites — names like Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Colm Toibin, David Malouf and Annie Proulx have graced the doors of its various stores across Sydney. The Dulwich Hill store has recently seen the likes of Bertie Blackman, daughter of famed Australian painter Charles Blackman and Cornersmith duo, Alex Elliott-Howery and Jaimee Edwards. HOME AFFAIRS Interior design is a big business in Dulwich Hill, but one spot in particular stands out. Medina Interior offers authentic handmade furniture and interior decorations direct from Morocco — so expect vivid colours, hypnotising forms and top-quality materials that will bring a fascinating design into any home, from Fes mosaics, safi ceramics and arabesque silver, brass and copper tea sets, lanterns, leather, painted furniture, wicker wares and more. Established in 2000, Medina imports all of its products from Morocco, so you know you're getting the real deal. Owner Krisi has made a family within the Dulwich Hill community, and locals always pop in to say hi and see how she's doing. [caption id="attachment_879103" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Julian Hochgesang - Unsplash[/caption] Across and down the road is Brady's Used Furniture (also known as Sydney Used Furniture). This local legend of the Dulwich Hill furniture game has been at it for over 30 years, and recently became an online hub for all of Sydney. It's immediately visible on approach, with its gorgeous selection of wooden, fabric, leather and metal furniture spilling out beyond its doors — head inside to discover an always intriguing range of antique glassware, books and other bric-a-brac. As well as buying, Brady's is a top choice for selling your used furniture, and dishes out cash for your old couches, bedside tables and household relics. Brady's specialises in deceased estates, ensuring that treasured belongings are in the right hands for the right price. It also offers evaluations on the valid price of your possessions, so you know you're not getting ripped off. WINE DOWN You may smell Larder Wine and Cheese Bar before you see it. This hangout on Marrickville Road brings a top-shelf attitude paired with top-quality provisions from around Australia and the world. The menu is in the name, but patrons can also partake in beer, cider, charcuterie boards, cheese toasties, grazing platters and the tasty bits and bobs to fill them. You buy some to take home or order from the online shop that offers click-and-collect on its extensive range of products, but our tip is to enjoy it in store — it's an excellent excuse to put on nice clothes and indulge in wine and cheese, guided by co-owners Monique Emmi and Raymond Carbonaro. If you prefer a bit more kick than wine and cheese can offer, Butchers Brew Bar is a vibe you'll want to get involved in. It's a gem of a live music venue, putting on regular jazz, funk, blues, reggae, soul, indie pop, folk, Brazilian gigs and more. Drinks are free-flowing, with over 20 wines available by the glass, plus craft beer, cider, spirits, cocktails and alcohol-free options. There's no food menu, but there is a very welcoming BYO policy here — patrons are invited to bring any food from any local eatery. So you can chow down on Thai, Mexican, Japanese, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, Turkish, burgers or pizzas as you take in a gig. WHEN HUNGER STRIKES Given its incredibly diverse demographic, it should comes as no surprise that Dulwich Hill is home to an incredibly diverse range of eats. If Mexican is on your mind, locals look no further than Tamaleria & Mexican Deli. Owner Rosa Cienfuegos emigrated to Australia from Mexico City in 2009, working with her father at the El Cuervo Cantina in Enmore, then breaking out on her own to run monthly pop-ups in Marrickville before finally opening a permanent spot in Dulwich Hill in 2018. Her hole-in-the-wall spot on Marrickville Road offers a broad menu of tasty, homes-style Mexican delights. As the name would suggest, the tamales here are a stand-out, having earned fame far beyond Inner West. For snacks or sweet treats, Honey and Walnut Patisserie is a must. A post-lockdown addition to Dulwich Hill village, this charming bakehouse is owned and operated by a team of four trained pastry chefs. Peter and Nelly Kalamvokis, joined by Angela and Peter Bozikis, bring decades of shared experience, and the couples' Greek heritage is visible in both the decor and menu items like spanakopita, pastitsio and tiropita, which sit alongside picture-perfect sweet treats like baked cheesecakes, velvet cakes, eclairs and everything in between. Dulwich Hill is located in Sydney's Inner West, and borders Lewisham, Marrickville, Hurlstone Park and Summer Hill. It's accessible via the L1 light rail or on T3 train line. There's also plenty of street and council parking. For more amazing ways to experience Dulwich Hill and the Inner West, head to the website.
Less than two weeks after their animated tribute to The Simpsons went viral on YouTube, a pair of Melbourne animators have confirmed their video will be featured on the show. Creator Al Jean even high-fived the pair on Twitter. Created by roommates Ivan Dixon and Paul Robertson, the two minute pixel art animation (below) recreates the program's iconic opening sequence in the style of classic video and arcade games. Full of clever references to both old games and classic Simpsons moments (Mr. Sparkle makes a late appearance), the video has amassed more than two million views since it hit the internet on February 1. After catching wind of the video, The Simpsons team emailed Dixon and Robertson, asking them to call as soon as they could. While the pair initially assumed the message was a hoax, they got in contact. Now the video is set to open the show's next episode, which airs in the United States this Sunday at 8pm. Both Dixon and Robertson work in animation. Dixon is one half of independent animation studio Rubberhouse, while Robertson has worked on episodes of Disney's Gravity Falls. The announcement sees the pair join an exclusive group of people who have been invited to retool the show's famous titles. Cult animator Bill Plympton had Homer fall in love with the couch... ... while Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro provided this creepy take for Halloween. British graffiti artist Banksy raised the eyebrows of Fox executives with his scathing take-down in 2010... while last year's effort by Oscar nominee Don Hertzfeldt is amongst the weirdest things the show has ever put to air. Via The Age.
From moving road trip dramas and joyous concert documentaries to passionate anthologies and wondrous animation, plenty of excellent films reached screens large and small throughout 2020. Indeed, the past 12 months have been filled with cinematic delights — even when we've been watching them at home while movie theatres were closed — but, sadly, they can't all be great. Each year delivers its fair share of exceptional and awful movies, of course. And, both the best and the worst of the bunch can all score awards. The Oscars and the Golden Globes rank among the accolades that recognise the former, while the Golden Raspberries devotes its attention to the other end of the spectrum — and it has just revealed its latest contenders. Leading the pack among the 41st Razzie Award nominations are Polish erotic drama 365 Days, which nabbed six nods and became the awards' first-ever contender in a language other than English; and Dolittle, the Robert Downey Jr-starring remake that hit cinemas before the pandemic, and was also recognised in six categories. Also scoring more nominations than any movie would like: the horror version of Fantasy Island, which picked up five; the terrible Sia-directed Music, which notched up four; Netflix drama Hillbilly Elegy, with three; and Netflix comedies Hubie Halloween and The Wrong Missy, also with three each. None of these nominees are surprising in the least, although some films deserve their nods in a different way. Take Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, for instance — which is smart, funny and savage, and definitely not terrible, but scored two nominations for Rudy Giuliani (for worst supporting actor, and for worst screen combo with Maria Bakalova). Other movies vying for the Razzies include Wonder Woman 1984 (for worst supporting actress, and worst prequel, remake, rip-off or sequel), The Very Excellent Mr Dundee (for worst supporting actor), Call of the Wild (for worst screen combo, between Harrison Ford and that totally fake-looking CGI dog) and The Witches (for worst actress). Reflecting the past year's general chaos, the Razzies are also handing out a special trophy to the 2020 overall, naming it 'the worst calendar year ever'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFgnHhMLNJE The 2020 Razzie Award winners will be announced on Sunday, April 25, Australian and New Zealand time. Check out the full list of nominees below: GOLDEN RASPBERRY NOMINEES 2020: WORST PICTURE 365 Days Absolute Proof Dolittle Fantasy Island Music WORST ACTOR Robert Downey Jr, Dolittle Mike Lindell, Absolute Proof Michele Morrone, 365 Days Adam Sandler, Hubie Halloween David Spade, The Wrong Missy WORST ACTRESS Anne Hathaway, The Last Thing He Wanted and The Witches Katie Holmes, Brahms: The Boy II and The Secret: Dare to Dream Kate Hudson, Music Lauren Lapkus, The Wrong Missy Anna-Maria Sieklucka, 365 Days WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR Chevy Chase, The Very Excellent Mr Dundee Rudy Giuliani (as himself), Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Shia LeBeouf, The Tax Collector Arnold Schwarzenegger, Iron Mask Bruce Willis, Breach, Hard Kill and Survive the Night WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy Lucy Hale, Fantasy Island Maggie Q, Fantasy Island Kristen Wiig, Wonder Woman 1984 Maddie Ziegler, Music WORST SCREEN COMBO Maria Bakalova and Rudy Giuliani, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Robert Downey Jr and his utterly unconvincing Welsh accent, Dolittle Harrison Ford and that totally fake-looking CGI dog, Call of the Wild Lauren Lapkus and David Spade, The Wrong Missy Adam Sandler and his grating simpleton voice, Hubie Halloween WORST DIRECTOR Charles Band, All three Barbie and Kendra movies Barbara Bialowas and Tomasz Mandes, 365 Days Stephen Gaghan, Dolittle Ron Howard, Hillbilly Elegy Sia, Music WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL 365 Days Dolittle Fantasy Island Hubie Halloween Wonder Woman 1984 WORST SCREENPLAY 365 Days All three Barbie and Kendra movies Dolittle Fantasy Island Hillbilly Elegy
Playa Takeria prides itself on being Sydney's authentic Mexican taqueria. So where better to spend Cinco de Mayo this year than under the gaze of their mural of saluting Frida Kahlo, where you can find cactus in your salad or corn smut (the delicacy/corn fungus also known as Mexican truffle) in your taco? Cinco de Mayo may originally have been a holiday celebrating Mexico whipping France back in the 1800s in the city of Pueblo, but it has become a day across the globe to celebrate all things Mexican and to ingest as much guacamole as you humanly can. For the festivities, Playa will be hosting a Cinco de Mayo Dinner Fiesta, with special edition tacos – including the Senioritas Taco, the Barbacoa and the My Hot Mexican — as well as $5 Coronas and $20 buckets of Corona. Head along between 11am and 3pm or stick around from 6pm until late and spend your Cinco de Mayo sharing an ice bucket of beers filled with limes and stuffing your face with some of the best Mexican fare in the city.
It's official: spring has sprung. While this year may not be the same carefree release from winter's gloom that we're used to, there are still a few things we can look forward to — especially now that picnics (for double-vaxxed residents of NSW, at least) are back. We know we're spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful outdoor spots in Sydney, but while you're confined to your LGA and five-kilometre bubble, we thought we'd help out by letting you in on our favourite spots for a picnic on the lower north shore. Make the most of sunny days ahead by grabbing a four-pack of Rosie Spritz and kicking back in one of these beautiful BYO-friendly spots. CREMORNE RESERVE, CREMORNE POINT Winding paths, impressive harbour views, expansive green spaces and even a lighthouse — as far as picnic spots go, it's difficult to beat Cremorne's harbourside headland. Cremorne Reserve is a popular spot for picnics, scenic walks and a great place to bring your dog (on a lead, though). With two ferry wharves linking to Circular Quay and other locations on the north shore, this ideally situated spot is perfect for lazy days with a picnic spread and spritz or two. We recommend getting here early to snag some prime real estate on the sprawling lawns that wrap around the bay. [caption id="attachment_825770" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lane Cove National Park, John Spencer/DPIE[/caption] LANE COVE NATIONAL PARK, LANE COVE It's almost odd to think this tranquil spot is located so close to the village-like suburbs of the lower north shore. Lane Cove National Park is an expansive protected park that hugs the peaceful Lane Cove River, and is easily accessible from most parts of the city. Here, you'll find mangroves, towering gum trees, heathlands, wildflowers and tidal flats, plus numerous bird species if you're a bit of an ornithologist. You can also cruise down the river in a canoe or explore historic sites along the Heritage Walk. But, you're here to picnic — and this park is home to a number of perfect picnic backdrops, offering waterside, secluded, shady and open areas depending on your al fresco inclinations. BLUES POINT RESERVE, NORTH SYDNEY If you're after great views of Sydney's iconic harbour, then pack your picnic rug, chuck some Rosie Spritz in the cooler and park yourself at Blues Point Reserve to see our town turning it on. Located on the southern tip of McMahons Point, this bayside park is one of the city's most popular, and for good reason. As well as boasting plenty of shaded and sunlit grassy expanses, Blues Point Reserve has majestic fig trees and some of the best views around — think uninterrupted, point-blank vistas of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Its location is a winner too, situated just a short walk away from Blues Point and North Sydney train station. [caption id="attachment_826562" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] ROSHERVILLE RESERVE, MOSMAN Firing up the barbecue or suntanning and snorkelling? Thankfully, you can choose your own adventure at Mosman's Rosherville Reserve. Tucked behind Chinaman's Beach in Middle Harbour, the reserve is a sprawling, shady green space dotted with impressive native trees, which makes it perfect for your picnic set-up. Rosherville Reserve has easy access to the beach, too, so you can go for a splash before tucking into your lavish spread. WENDY'S SECRET GARDEN, LAVENDER BAY Wendy Whiteley, widow of renowned Australian artist Brett Whiteley, began to cultivate this lush harbourside gem back in 1992 — and since then, its beauty and significance as a cultural landmark has only continued to flourish. This beautiful, secluded garden offers harbour views and a thick canopy of beautifully leafy trees. It's also just a short stroll from North Sydney's main promenade. Dotted throughout the native and exotic foliage are sculptures and murals that add to the ethereal beauty of this spot. There are a few tables and chairs scattered around, too, making it the perfect picnic spot to forget about the woes of the world, if only for a while. [caption id="attachment_826151" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] BALLS HEAD RESERVE, WAVERTON One of the north shore's most significant areas of bushland, Balls Head Reserve has a number of walking tracks, including one wheelchair accessible one, as well as culturally significant art sites, rock engravings and a waterhole. An easy ten-minute stroll from Waverton train station, the site also boasts stellar harbour views and plenty of secluded spaces for a picnic. The peaceful reserve is also next to the historic Coal Loader, a former industrial coal bunkering site that now houses a sustainability centre (and the on-site The Sydney Library of Things), several community gardens and impressive vantage points of the city. You can also explore two of the original coal loading tunnels, if you're feeling adventurous. Rosie Spritz is an ideal springtime sip and is available at BWS, Dan Murphy's and First Choice Liquor stores across Sydney. For more picnic inspiration, check out our guides to idyllic picnic spots where you can BYO booze in Sydney's inner west, inner city, northern beaches and eastern suburbs. Top image: Wendy's Secret Garden, Vic161015 via Wikimedia Commons Remember to Drinkwise.
Floor-to-ceiling views of one of the world's most infamous barriers, sleeping in sight of an Israeli watchtower and bunking down on abandoned army supplies aren't usually listed among a hotel's features. Nor is a rooftop that no one can set foot upon without prior permission from the Israeli military, everything getting locked down at 11pm each night or buying graffiti supplies to make your mark on an adjacent structure — but, of course, The Walled Off Hotel (not to be confused with the Waldorf Hotel) isn't any ordinary accommodation establishment. Set up in secret over the last 14 months and set to open on March 11, the Bethlehem guesthouse is the latest project from Banksy. "Enough said," you might be thinking — and yes, in keeping with the artist's usual modus operandi, the hotel is designed to attract attention. You don't just unveil a new place to stay not only in the West Bank, but with a clear vantage of the barrier that separates Palestine and Israel, without making a statement. The site follows in the footsteps of his Gaza tourism ad and theme park Dismaland in giving a dark, topical twist to the holiday trappings most of us take for granted. https://www.instagram.com/p/BRMFoDzDbGl/?taken-by=thewalledoffhotelbethlehem Once inside The Walled Off Hotel, visitors can expect to be greeted by "the worst view of any hotel in the world", as Banksy explained in a statement reported by The Guardian. "Walls are hot right now, but I was into them long before [Donald] Trump made it cool," he continued. Converted from a pottery workshop, the venue's ten rooms will definitely feel the impact of their close proximity to so many vertical slabs of concrete, with none receiving more than 25 minutes of direct sunlight each day. Anyone keen to book a stay — and given Banksy's involvement, expect there to be plenty — can choose between four levels of accommodation. Perhaps you'd like to kip in one of the rooms customised by different artists, including Banksy, Sami Musa and Dominique Petrin, or scenic lodgings with those not-quite-million-dollar views? Money conscious travellers can opt for budget digs that come with a locker, personal safe, shared bathroom and complimentary earplugs, while the palatial presidential suite will suit those with plenty of spare cash. It boasts a four-person plunge bath, home cinema, Dead Sea bath minerals and water feature made from a bullet-riddled water tank (or, "everything a corrupt head of state would need"). https://www.instagram.com/p/BRMHvSvBo5_/?tagged=walledoffhotel Throughout the building, Banksy-vandalised oil paintings and statues choking on tear gas fumes line the walls, setting a distinctive tone, but tea and scones are still served daily. Both a gallery and a museum will be open to the public, the former curated by historian and critic Ismal Duddera to showcase many of the most notable Palestinian artists from the past 20 years, and the latter providing a biography of the wall. In case you're wondering, no, this isn't a joke. As made clear on Banksy's website — which has been revamped to showcase the new venture — The Walled Off Hotel is a genuine establishment. The site is expected to run for a year to mark one hundred years since the British became involved in Palestine. Via The Guardian. Images: www.banksy.co.uk.
When The Haunting of Hill House hit Netflix back in 2018, it left a strong impression. The horror show clearly had that effect not just on audiences, but on the streaming platform, even though it stepped through a once-off storyline. So, anthology series-style, the service is bringing viewers a follow-up — in the form of The Haunting of Bly Manor. As the name makes plain, an eerie abode definitely plays a very prominent part once again. Created and co-directed by filmmaker Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep), just like its predecessor, The Haunting of Bly Manor adapts Henry James' 1898 horror novella The Turn of the Screw. That means that it heads into gothic chiller and even romance territory; however, given that it's set in 1980s England, you can expect a few tweaks to that story. As both the initial teaser and the just-dropped full trailer demonstrate, the show's narrative kicks off when Henry Wingrave (Henry Thomas, Stargirl) hires an American nanny (Victoria Pedretti, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) to look after his orphaned niece Flora (Amelie Bea Smith) and nephew Miles (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth). Her employment follows the death of an au pair, and her arrival at Bly Manor exposes the estate's centuries of secrets. If you're a fan of The Haunting of Hill House, you will have spotted that both Thomas and Pedretti return from that series, as do The Invisible Man's Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Gerald's Game's Kate Siegel — all playing different characters this time around. And, if you'd been wondering what you'll be watching to celebrate the spookiest month of the year — October, obviously — The Haunting of Bly Manor has you covered, as it'll drop on Friday, October 9. A word of warning: if you're not too fond of creepy dolls (are there any other kind in horror movies and TV shows?), expect to feel extra unsettled. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tykS7QfTWMQ The Haunting of Bly Manor will hit Netflix on Friday, October 9.
Cutting-edge Sydney fashion retail space Chinatown Country Club (aka CCC) is hosting an archive event in its multi-functional CBD space. For just three days, you'll be able to browse vintage and archival pieces from fashion houses around the world, handpicked by CCC's expert buying team. This time, CCC is showcasing pieces from a range of Japanese studios and designers including the always colourful COMME des GARÇONS, Yohji Yamamoto, known for his over-sized, avant-garde style, and the late Issey Miyake, who took inspiration from art and technology. You'll also find items from the archives of current 'it' label Miu Miu and avant-garde French brand Maison Margiela. You can also browse styles from Melbourne brands Aphidmarket, Garb and Midnight Mart. In between sorting through the racks, take a break in the in-store cafe. In addition to a weekly rotating selection of single-origin espresso and filter brews showcasing beans from local roasters, CCC has partnered with indie, small-batch St Peters roaster Grace & Taylor Coffee Company for its house blend — you can try this in signature drinks like the Moon River, an orange blossom-infused cold brew topped with a maple cream float.
Now streaming on Disney+, Moon Knight arrives as the latest chapter in a seemingly non-stop franchise that's near monopolised popular culture over the past decade and a half. The newest episodic series to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it adds yet another tale to the saga's ever-expanding web of superhero stories — this time focusing on a character first seen on the page back in the 70s; hardly as well-known as the likes of Iron Man, the Hulk, Captain America, Thor and Captain Marvel; and otherwise wholly unseen in the MCU so far. Moon Knight also starts unfurling as the latest instalment in another trend. For the second time in less than a year, Oscar Isaac stars in a must-see streaming series. In cinemas in-between, he's also added Dune and The Card Counter to his resume, too, because the compulsively watchable actor pinballs between projects vast and intimate — and between blockbusters and character-driven pieces. His two most recent small-screen projects couldn't demonstrate that chasm better, although Moon Knight has more in common with 2021's Scenes From a Marriage than it might initially seem. Or, to be accurate, it boasts one very specific and important shared trait: it wouldn't be what it is without Isaac's magnetic performance. Make that performances. The setup: in this six-episode miniseries, Isaac plays Steven Grant and Marc Spector. They're one and the same due to a case of dissociative identity disorder, although this is news to mild-mannered British gift-shop employee Steven. Usually, he wishes that he could lead tours at work, obsesses over studying Egyptian history and, thanks to a sleeping disorder, chains himself to his bed at night. But as gaps in his days lead him to learn, he is also American mercenary Marc Spector — or, to be exact, vice versa. Complicating matters further, he's the on-earth conduit for the Egyptian moon god Khonshu (voiced by Mythic Quest's F Murray Abraham) as well. Already struggling with being able to tell the difference between being awake and asleep, Steven's role as the moon god's offsider is a source of stress, unsurprisingly — especially with shadowy cult-like figure Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird) hanging around. Character-wise, the Steven/Marc combo swiftly proves as complex as the MCU has delivered so far in Moon Knight's first four episodes, as deepened even further during a continent-hopping mystery-adventure that has him doing Khonshu's bidding. That's where Harrow comes in, complete with unfinished business with the moon god and big plans of his own. Archaeologist Layla El-Faouly (May Calamawy, Ramy) also adds another layer, sporting ties to Marc's past that Steven is initially unaware of, and sparking a patch of romantic rivalry. Even within franchise confines, Isaac is mesmerising playing duelling dual personalities in Moon Knight, turning in the kind of portrayal that the MCU has been lacking. It isn't known as an actor's showcase, which is why even this far in — 27 movies and now six Disney+ series — the sprawling saga's standout performances make a splash bigger than throwing mjölnir into an ocean. It's what made Tom Hiddleston a hit in his big-screen outings, and also in fellow streaming show Loki. Also on the small screen, the greater texture served up by Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, and the scene-stealing perfection of Kathryn Hahn as well, ensured that WandaVision left an imprint, too. Isaac bests them all; while Marvel's knack for casting has long been one of its superpowers — even with simply entertaining rather than necessarily meaty performances resulting — it flexes those talents magnificently in Moon Knight. Indeed, it's as shrewd a casting move as has been made to-date in this pop-culture behemoth. The fact that Moon Knight also tasks Isaac with playing someone that film and TV fans aren't already acquainted with is also pivotal. Welcomely, the Marvel formula feels fresher here. The series still spins an origin story, and will undoubtedly tie into the broader narrative to come. It also often falls back on a template between daring to be stranger and weirder. And yet, by branching off with a previously unseen protagonist, this is the first MCU Disney+ series that doesn't feel like homework. That isn't a slight upon WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and Hawkeye, but recognition that reaching in new directions reaps considerable rewards. Moon Knight doesn't lack in star power, of course — there's a reason that Isaac is rarely seen suited up with his face covered, Hawke is also fantastic, and they bounce off of each other compellingly — but it hasn't enlisted its big-name MCU newcomers to merely go through the by-the-numbers motions. Similarly leaving an impression: having Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Diab (Clash) direct four episodes, and getting American sci-fi/horror wunderkinds Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Synchronic, The Endless, Archive 81) to helm the other two. Both help ensure that Moon Knight's biggest thrills come from its best asset, especially given that he's doing double duty in a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde-style premise — and the scenes where Steven and Marc bicker with each other about who gets to control their shared body (which happens via reflective surfaces such as mirrors and puddles, and are shot with not just flair but boldness), are the show's clear highlights. The Indiana Jones nods, and the swings in The Mummy's direction, are clunkier, but the end product is still easily the most intriguing small-screen Marvel effort so far. Actually, when Moon Knight does ultimately end up overtly linking into the MCU in its final two episodes — and if it smoothes itself down in the process — that'll feel like a let down. Check out the trailer for Moon Knight below: The first episode of Moon Knight is available to stream via Disney+, with new instalments dropping weekly. Images: courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Taco Bell, Wahlburgers, Five Guys and Wendy's all did it. Now, Chuck E Cheese is as well. Big-name American food chains keep making the leap to Australia, with this US restaurant-slash-entertainment centre brand first announcing its Down Under plans in 2024, and now backing it up by confirming that it'll launch in 2025. Yes, Charles Entertainment Cheese is heading this way, ready to delight kids, families and Australian adults who've always wanted the Chuck E Cheese experience. The children's birthday-party go-to is set to open its first Aussie venue in the coming months, in Perth. Exactly where in the Western Australian capital will be revealed in April. Chuck E Cheese's jump Down Under is a result of the WA-based Royale Hospitality Group signing a master franchise partnership for the country, adding to a stable that also includes Outback Jack's and Milky Lane. It's helping extend the chain as it closes in on five decades of existence — launching in 1977 — and as Asia and Europe also become a global focus. On offer: the place to eat slices, play games and watch animatronics that's been parodied in the likes of Five Nights at Freddy's and Willy's Wonderland, but obviously without the horror. And yes, that spans the company's characters. Yes, Charles Entertainment Cheese is Chuck E Cheese's mouse mascot's full name. Patrons can look forward to pizza, arcade games, climbing walls, an interactive dance floor and other play areas, plus VIP birthday party rooms and a space for parents to kick back sans kids. On the menu, smoothies and milkshakes will also be a feature, as will healthy options. "Perth has a strong culture for family entertainment, so bringing Chuck E Cheese to Australia is incredibly exciting — we can't wait for families to experience the fun, games and great food that have made it famous around the world," said Royale Hospitality Group General Manager Christian Beaden, announcing that Perth will play host to the chain's first Aussie store. If you live elsewhere around the nation, you'll need to keep waiting to find out when you'll be able to take your nieces and nephews to Chuck E Cheese in other Australian cities. Chuck E Cheese will start opening in Australia in 2025, starting in Perth, but exactly when and where hasn't yet been revealed — keep an eye on the chain's website, and we'll update you with more details when they're announced.
