Since airing a year ago, The Handmaid's Tale has become the most watched series in the history of SBS On Demand, with over 26-million chapter views. It has also nabbed eight Emmy and two Golden Globe awards, including one for Best Television Series and Best Actress in a Television Series Drama. Now, the wildly popular and horribly disturbing series is back for season two. The 13-episode season will premiere on Thursday, April 26 at 8.30pm with a special double episode airing on both SBS and SBS On Demand. Thankfully, this is only hours after season two hits Hulu in the US. For those who somehow managed to avoid binge watching season one, here's a bit of background — but beware, there are spoilers ahead. Created by Bruce Miller (Eureka, The 100), the series is based on the award-winning novel by Margaret Atwood. It follows a dystopian near-future New England where a totalitarian Christian theonomy has overthrown the US government, now called the Gilead. The series centres around the life of Offred (Elisabeth Moss), who, along with the country's few remaining fertile women, is forced into sexual servitude as a 'handmaid' to the ruling elite. The end of season two sees Offred falling pregnant and being dragged off to the back of a van — quite the nail-biting cliffhanger. This season will focus on Offred's pregnancy and her ongoing fight against the Gilead. The provoking and disturbingly relevant series explores themes of women's rights and governmental control, which are all too timely and downright believable for comfort right now. If you haven't managed to watch season one yet, it's currently available to binge on SBS On Demand. Get watching.
783 million people in the world still lack access to clean water. Nearly 2.5 billion live without adequate sanitation. And it’s only going to get worse with continued climate change. So an Italian designer by the name of Arturo Vittori has come up with part of a solution: the WarkaWater tower. By harvesting water from the air, the 9 metre-high construction can collect more than 94 litres per day. Like many ingenious devices, it works incredibly simply. Stalks of bamboo or juncus are bound together to create a semi-rigid shell. Inside, a nylon and polypropylene mesh traps moisture. These form dewdrops and travel downwards, settling in a basin at the tower’s base. The design is inspired by the Warka tree, an Ethiopian native that bears figs and serves as a site for local meetings. Vittori invented the WarkaWater tower after a visit to north-eastern Ethiopia. “There, people live in a beautiful natural environment but often without running water, electricity, a toilet or a shower,” he tells Wired. Women and children walk for hours to collect water from ponds contaminated with human waste and full of worms. Not only does this mean serious exposure to disease and hard labour, it also means that children are kept from school. “WarkaWater is designed to provide clean water as well as ensure long-term environmental, financial and social sustainability,” Vittori explains. “Once locals have the necessary know-how, they will be able to teach other villages and communities to build the WarkaWater towers.” Four people can build one in a few days at a cost of US$550. All necessary materials are available locally. Vittori is intending on having two towers built in Ethiopia by 2015. In the meantime, he’s seeking out financial support for their expansion. Another water-harvesting invention was launched in Lima last year. Via Inhabitat.
Show me a plant that you can use to make medicine, soap, a mean green curry, alcohol (and a requisite hangover cure), and bikinis from, and i'll show you a coconut. Now, the water from the 'tree of a thousand uses', long the drink of choice for sunburned tourists the world over, is making a name for itself in more temperate climes as it becomes increasingly popular as a health drink. Coconut water is said to be more isotonic, thus hydrating, than water, as it contains naturally occurring electrolytes similar to high energy sports drinks. There's also no fat or cholesterol in it, and there's more potassium in it than a banana. Not a bad CV. A new local brand, C Coconut Water, launched just in time for summer, and is Australia's first pure organic coconut water, bringing the natural liquid from the centre of young coconuts. The folks at C are giving one lucky Concrete Playgrounder the chance to win an entire summer's worth of coconut water. For a chance to win yourself five cases of 12 cartons, just make sure you're a Concrete Playground subscriber then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
It's that time of year again. Temperatures are rising and we're planning our summer getaways, but when you don't want to follow the crowds to the beach — and the idea of lounging around isn't your kind of holiday — perhaps it's time to rethink mountain adventures. Once the snow melts away, New South Wales' Snowy Mountains transform into an adventurer's haven. There are peaks for conquering, trails for cycling, rivers for kayaking, long plains for horse riding and swimming holes for cooling off after all that adrenaline-boosting action. Plus, you'll be surrounded by incredible views, fields of wildflowers and incredible wildlife. In partnership with Destination NSW, here are five reasons to make your great escape to the Snowy Mountains in the summer months. Please stay up to date with the latest NSW Government health advice regarding COVID-19. [caption id="attachment_742018" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thredbo[/caption] GO MOUNTAIN BIKING Whether you're a newbie or veteran on two wheels, there are tracks and trails to suit your skills in the Snowies. A good place to start is Thredbo Mountain Bike Park, where there are 50 kilometres to explore — from skill parks to cross country routes. For a longer adventure, cycle to Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa along the Thredbo Valley Track — the 35-kilometre trail follows Thredbo River, taking in a few suspension bridges and plenty of pretty scenery. Note that it's closed until December 19 for track maintenance. Perisher's easier-going trails, which come with epic views, are also worth a spin. And, if you're looking for some local company, book a guided mountain biking tour. [caption id="attachment_745605" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Snowy Mountains[/caption] TREK INTO THE WILD Explore the legend that Banjo Paterson made famous on a pony of your own. At Thredbo Valley Horse Riding, you can choose from a range of trail rides, be it a one-hour taster, a 1.5-hour saunter or a two-hour adventure. All of them pass through magical, sub-alpine wilderness, and begin with a 15-minute lesson, so you learn the basics before jumping into the saddle. Ride at a level that suits you, whether you prefer a slow walk or a fast-paced gallop. Ready for something more epic? Plunge into a multi-day saga, with either Cochran Horse Treks or Reynella Rides. [caption id="attachment_742071" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Snowy Mountains[/caption] TAKE A HIKE You could spend months hiking in the Snowy Mountains without running out of terrain. The Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk is the best-known trail in the area, but there are loads of other routes to try. If you're into waterfalls, take a stroll along the Waterfall Walking Track, which passes through six kilometres of wildflowers, forests and granite boulders. For panoramic views, go for Dead Horse Gap Walking Track, a five-kilometre hike that passes beneath the Ramshead Range, 600 metres above Thredbo Valley. Or, to combine a walk with a swim, add Illawong Walk to your itinerary. It's an easy, five-kilometre return trail that follows Thredbo River from Guthega Village. [caption id="attachment_745602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] SWIM IN SCENIC POOLS AND ALPINE LAKES The water isn't exactly tropical in the Snowy Mountains, but it's definitely an adventure. At Thredbo, you'll find a couple of swimming holes that are popular with locals, including Merritts Pond and Friday Flat Pond. Another super-peaceful spot is Lake Jindabyne, where there are various bays suitable for dipping, one of the prettiest being Rushes Bay. Then there's Thredbo River, home to a bunch of swimming holes. But, if you really can't hack the chill, make tracks to Yarrangobilly Caves Pool, a thermal, spring-fed pool, right near Yarrangobilly Caves, which is 27 degrees all year round. [caption id="attachment_742081" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thredbo[/caption] SCALE THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS Need to clear your head? There are stacks of places in the Snowies where you can climb your way to greater heights — whether you're a novice who's never left the ground before or a hard-corer who's summited Mount Everest. K7 Adventures offers a variety of tours, from half-day escapades in Charlotte Pass suitable for beginners to full-day experiences at Blue Lake designed for advanced climbers. Another popular operator is Snowy Mountains Climbing School, which runs trips among Thredbo's granite tours for climbers of all skill levels, including newbies. Once you've scaled great heights it's time to put your trust in the ropes and abseil back down again. To find more things to do in the Snowy Mountains or to start planning your trip, go to Visit NSW. Top image: Tourism Snowy Mountains
French dining is experiencing a renaissance in Sydney with a spate of new bistros — like Hubert, Bistro Rex, LoLuk and the soon-to-open Eté and Frenchies — slowly but surely taking over. The latest is District Brasserie, a new fine dining venue committed to bringing affordable luxury to the masses. All we can say is, let the revolution begin. Located on the lower ground floor of the Chifley Tower, the new 200-seater venue consists of an all-day bakery serving tartines, croissants and Single O coffees as well as a restaurant designed for long business lunches and romantic wining and dining. The venue is luxurious, and was designed by Paul Kelly (the hospitality designer, not musician). Expensive details extend all the way from the mid-century leather furniture, striking green marble bar and aged brass furnishings, to the Riedel glassware and fine linen napkins. If it weren't for the shopping centre escalator outside you could be in one of Paris' finest. However, perhaps what's most surprising is that when you open your schmancy leather-bound menu, the prices seem quite reasonable (gasp!) not at all the eye-watering costs you had planned to pass on to your finance department or significant other. And perhaps even more surprisingly, the portion sizes are quite generous — not the petite, miniscule, itsy-bitsy, quail egg on a crouton-sized dish that we have come to expect from the French. Take for instance the charcuterie ($32) which is served as a platter of house-cured salami, peppered duck prosciutto, burrata, pickled vegetables and charred bread — it could easily satisfy a ménage à trois. While we're similarly impressed with the diameter of the steak tartare ($25), for us, the flavour fails to live up to its esteemed reputation. The avant-garde, modern take, is spicy — like Mexican spicy — and the top layer of black smoked onion crumble renders the classic zesty dish completely unrecognisable. If you do give it a go, skip the tapioca crackers provided (which only serve to confuse us further) and load it up on the naturally-fermented organic sourdough, which comes complimentary from District's on-site bakery. It's some seriously good bread. For us, the pièce de résistance is the steak frites ($37), which promises to bring a tear of pride to a carnivorous French person's eye. The lean Jack Creek's sirloin is flamed in a Josper charcoal oven, ours cooked just how we asked, and served with a whipped béarnaise sauce and a side of seasoned fries and watercress. The 120-strong wine list is also a highlight. Compiled by sommelier Benjamin Moechtar, the selection includes plenty of interesting drops from Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, with gorgeous boutique Greek wines scattered here and there as a treat. While individual dishes are reasonably priced, after you end up over-ordering — and then polishing off several bottles of fine French Burgundy — it probably won't feel like a cheap night for long. We just hope you reach that level of contentment (and mild drunkenness) in which you don't mind.
UPDATE, February 18, 2022: Le Diner en Blanc will now take place on Saturday, March 19, moving from its original date of Saturday, February 26. This article has been updated to reflect that change. "Your nose like a delicious slope of cream / And your ears like cream flaps / And your teeth like hard shiny pegs of cream." Le Diner en Blanc — like Howard Moon's poem — will have you in all white. But sorry, Booshers: this Sydney event is just for the sophisticated. Now popping up all around the world, the Diner en Blanc began in Paris three decades ago thanks to François Pasquier and friends. In 2022, Sydney's creme de la creme will once again dress in all-white on Saturday, March 19 and flock along, with the event held at a predictably stunning location that remains secret until the very last moment. Following an evening of elegance, fine dining and live music, the foodies then pack up their crystal, dinnerware, tables, chairs and litter. Like ghosts (white 'n' all), they leave behind no sign of their rendezvous. That said, don't get any ideas — a white sheet thrown over your figure will not do for an outfit. Le Diner en Blanc guests must either be invited by a member from the previous event, or get on the waiting list for a ticket — with the latter open for registrations now. And, if you're wondering what the event entails — other than eating, drinking and wearing white and white only — you'll need to bring a table and two white chairs with you, as well as your own picnic basket, glassware, white tablecloth and white dinnerware. You can order a catered picnic, though, if you don't want to bring your own. Booze-wise, you'll either need to opt for wine or champagne via the event's e-store, or be happy bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages.
So if you're lonely, Franz Ferdinand will be here waiting for you across Australia before 2025 is out. Fresh from releasing their sixth album in January, the Scottish band have announced a visit Down Under in November and December, with five gigs on the itinerary. Their stops: Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Thirroul and Sydney. It's been more than two decades since the Alex Kapranos-led group made a helluva splash with the catchy second single from their self-titled debuted album. Even just reading the name 'Take Me Out' is enough to get the number-one tune in Triple J's 2004 Hottest 100 stuck in your head. The song was also nominated for two Grammys, while the record that it springs from won the Mercury Prize. Franz Ferdinand's latest trip to Australia kicks off in Perth at Red Hill Auditorium on Wednesday, November 26, before heading across the country to Brisbane's Riverstage on Saturday, November 29. Next destination: Melbourne, playing Live at the Gardens at the Royal Botanic Gardens on Friday, November 28. Then comes a Tuesday, December 2 date with Anita's Theatre in Thirroul in New South Wales, before wrapping up on Wednesday, December 3 at On the Steps at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. On every stop, Melbourne's Delivery will be in support — and everywhere except Thirroul, so will the Mornington Peninsula-born Teenage Dads. Since the huge success of 'Take Me Out' and their 2004 Franz Ferdinand album, the band have dropped records in 2005 (You Could Have It So Much Better), 2009 (Tonight: Franz Ferdinand), 2013 (Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action), 2018 (Always Ascending) and this year (The Human Fear). Touring-wise, their past Aussie trips have included sets at Big Day Out, Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival. Franz Ferdinand's 2025 Aussie visit comes just a few months after Bloc Party, who benefited from Kapranos' approval when they were starting out, do the same in August. Franz Ferdinand Australian Tour 2025 Wednesday, November 26 — Red Hill Auditorium, Perth Saturday, November 29 — Riverstage, Brisbane Friday, November 28 — Live at the Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Tuesday, December 2 — Anita's Theatre, Thirroul Wednesday, December 3 — On the Steps, Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney Franz Ferdinand are touring Australia in November and December 2025, with ticket presales from 10am local time on Monday, May 12 and general sales from the same time on Wednesday, May 14. Head to the tour website for more details. Select images: Raph PH via Flickr.
It's been 14 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005. Thankfully, Laneway Festival has just confirmed it will be heading back to its collection of unconventional venues for another year, revealing its jam-packed 2019 lineup. Returning to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle, Auckland and Singapore next January and February, Laneway will raise a plastic cup to the middle of summer with one heck of a lineup. This year's eclectic program is headlined by two huge Aussie names: indie rock group Gang of Youths and acclaimed singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett — while New Zealand audiences will also be treated to UK indie rock band Florence + The Machine and teen sensation Billie Eilish. A few big artists are heading Down Under for the first time, too, including English R&B superstar Jorja Smith, neo-soul singer Rex Orange County and American rapper Denzel Curry. You'll also be able to get down to Camp Cope, Middle Kids and Mitski and sway along to Mansionair, What So Not and Skeggs. If you want to catch Jorja Smith and NYC rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, you'll have to head along to Laneway — they'll both be playing exclusively at the festival, with no sideshows. This year, the Melbourne leg of the festival will be heading to its new location for the first time: Footscray Park. Its a bigger space, but, supposedly, won't have an increased capacity — so, hopefully that'll mean less lines and more room for dancing. But, enough chit-chat — here's the full 2019 lineup. LANEWAY 2019 LINEUP Gang of Youths Courtney Barnett Florence + The Machine** A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (exclusive) Baker Boy Bene** Billie Eilish** Camp Cope Charlie Collins* Clairo Cosmo's Midnight Crooked Colours* Denzel Curry* DJDS G Flip High Beams** Imugi** Jon Hopkins Jorja Smith (exclusive) KIAN Lontalius** Mansionair Masego Methyl Ethel Middle Kids Miss June** Mitski* Parquet Courts Ravyn Lenae Rex Orange County Ruby Fields Skeggs Smino The Dead C** What So Not Yellow Days *East Coast only ** New Zealand only LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2019 DATES Auckland — Monday, January 28 Brisbane — Saturday, February 2 Sydney — Sunday, February 3 Adelaide — Friday, February 8 Melbourne — Saturday, February 9 Fremantle — Sunday, February 10 Singapore — Dates TBC Visa pre-sale tickets go on sale at 9am this Thursday, September 20 — you can register here — and the rest of the tickets going on sale at 9am on Tuesday, September 25 from Laneway Festival. Laneway Image: Anthony Smith; Courtney Barnett: Pooneh Ghan.
If Sydney CBD's 1821 wasn't already opulent enough, the Greek restaurant is adding a basement bar that sounds equally as decadent. Opening this Saturday, March 25, Bar Odessa will act as the restaurant's new cocktail and spirit bar — fitted out in gold and velvet, of course. The downstairs bunker-style bar will have its own discrete speakeasy-style side alley entrance. The cocktail and wine list has been curated to match the the food menu upstairs, acting as a seamless transition from dinner to drinks, or vice versa — think signature Moscow Mules, 'super premium' Russian Beluga vodka and bottle service. For regular patrons, they'll even offer an exclusive 'lock-and-key' service, which allows guests to purchase a bottle and have it displayed in a glass cabinet between visits, with a personalised name plaque, no less. As mentioned, the fit-out is tremendously luxe, with gold and bright red velvet furnishings and a lavish staircase connecting it to the restaurant above. This kind of decadence is no surprise from the 1821 team, who had their entire restaurant designed and built in Greece before shipping it to Australia, a choice that reportedly cost more than $3 million. With this much grandiosity behind the venue, it's hard to imagine a place like this turning into anyone's local or regular after-work drinks spot. That said, in these hard times for Sydney's nightlife, we'll always welcome a new bar opening in the CBD. Bar Odessa will open this Saturday, March 25 downstairs at 1821, 122 Pitt Street, Sydney. For more info, visit their website.
Whether you're a big nature nerd or err on the indifferent side to the science of it all, chances are you've seen at least some of Sir David Attenborough's Blue Planet. The BBC nature documentary series — narrated by the man himself and accompanied by an epic score from Hans Zimmer — first aired back in 2001, and its follow-up second season, Blue Planet II, was released just last year. But the bits you've seen on TV or YouTube are sure to be belittled when the BBC brings the live show to Australia this April. Like the performances of Harry Potter and Star Wars we've seen in recent months, Blue Planet II Live in Concert will see the documentary screened in all its glory accompanied by a live orchestra. And it's a big score. The music for Blue Earth II was composed by none other than Hans Zimmer (responsible for epics like The Lion King, Gladiator, The Dark Knight Rises and Inception) alongside Jacob Shea and David Fleming. In Australia, the score will be performed by three of the country's leading orchestras and, in lieu of Attenborough, Ab Fab's Joanna Lumley will be narrating in real time. The show will travel around Australia in March 2019, visiting Sydney on Friday, March 8. In the meantime, you can watch ehe first season of Blue Planet on Netflix. Image: Hugh Miller, copyright BBC NHU (2016).
Nothin' says NOPE like the idea of a wine milkshake. Flipping the bird to the haters, US burger chain Red Robin has made the bold, unstoppable move toward the unchartered territories of wineshakes. Yup. We'll give you a minute while you see that lunch of yours again. Abominably but probably fittingly titled 'Divalicious Red Wine Shake' has been created by Red Robin in a furiously horrible attempt to bring all the boys to the yard. Ingredients? Little Black Dress "red wine", Pinnacle whipped vodka, raspberry puree and vanilla soft serve ice cream — the stuff underage backyard party and Poor Life Decision dreams are made of. The best bit? Your red wine shake comes with a free dangly wine charm thingy because you're fancy like that. According to Red Robin's website, the shakes are designed "for 21-and-over guests in need of some 'me' time." If you're kicking it around the States, the wine shakes are available as part of Red Robin's holiday collection — along with a more logical and less vom-inducing menu item, the gingerbread milkshake. But this isn't the first time Red Robin have released the ungodly blend of wine and dairy products — the crew revealed a 'Mango Moscato Shake' earlier this year. Yeah alright, that one doesn't sound or look so bad. "The sky's the limit at Red Robin," says the campaign. Just... fly over there and away from my glass. Via Grub Street. Images: Red Robin and CamEvans via photopin cc.
Come on, admit it. You’ve always fancied yourself as a bottle-juggling stud of a cocktail maker, à la Tom Cruise in Cocktail, haven’t you? Well if you really want to impress at your next dinner party, or home rave, read on for a complete cocktail-making masterclass from The Roosevelt’s award-winning bartender Philip Gandevia. As part of Concrete Playground’s series of DIY cocktail recipes, suggested by mixologist and Perrier brand innovator Tomas Vikario, Phil shows us how to recreate an ever-so-slightly simpler version of the bartender’s own creation, ‘The Roosevelt Fizz’. Thanks to the long-lasting bubbles in Perrier sparkling mineral water, the popular drink is a perfect light and refreshing cocktail for summer. Once the location of infamous club the Roosevelt in the ‘40s, run by Abe Saffron – aka “the boss of the Cross” or “Mr Sin” – the Potts Point speakeasy is renowned for its theatrical cocktail-making. “It’s one of my favourite bars,” Tomas tells us, “It’s one of the only places in this part of the world with a Liquid Nitrogen trolley. It’s where I’d come if I want to showcase the cocktail culture and Sydney’s vibrant bar scene.” Formerly a bartender at Eau de Vie, Phil has over 10 years experience of playing around with the art and science behind the world’s best drinks. And earlier this year, Phil won Best Gentleman’s Cocktail in the World Class Bartender of the Year 2012 semi-finals. Our expert is used to showcasing fancy tricks and finesse, but he assures us the Roosevelt Fizz (also available on the bar menu) is pretty simple to make at home. But don’t worry, there’s still enough pizzazz to make you look as good as Cruise. Scratch that - better than Cruise. TO MAKE THE ROOSEVELT FIZZ, YOU’LL NEED: 50ml of gin15ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice15ml of freshly squeezed lime juice25ml of sugar syrup mix (one part sugar, one part water)1 eggA spoon of pastisChunky ice330ml bottle of Perrier sparkling mineral water1 marshmallowA sprig of rosemary STEP 1 Pour 50ml of good quality gin into a cocktail shaker. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker at home, Phil suggests using a sealable jar – like a jam jar with a sturdy lid (you’ll see why in a moment). STEP 2 Add the freshly squeezed lemon juice, then the lime juice and sugar syrup mixture. “Sugar syrup is very easy to make at home,” says Phil, “just equal proportions of sugar and water, stirred. The important thing, for bar use, is one part sugar to one part water. Measuring everything is key, as is using fresh ingredients.” STEP 3 Crack an egg into a glass or cup. Pour just half of the egg white into the shaker. Though it’s a bit tricky to pour, the egg white is an essential ingredient. “It’s a common ingredient in cocktails as it serves as an emulsifier. This drink is a fizz, so what we’re trying to create is a really soft, fluffy ‘cloud’ – light and refreshing.” STEP 4 “The next stage is important, it’s the dry shake [without ice].” Hold or fasten the lid of the shaker (remember, without ice). Give it a little shake. Look: fluffy! STEP 5 Now it’s time for ice. Add big chunks of ice and shake vigorously. “I’m using big chunks of ice because it will allow me to whip this cocktail up better than small cubes of ice,” explains Phil. “If I use small cubes they’re going to break up and melt into my drink.” The bigger the ice, the longer you can shake – aerating without diluting it. STEP 6 Prepare a drinking glass by spraying the inside of the glass with pastis (like Pernod). Phil uses an atomiser bottle, but the cocktail will be just as tasty if you add a teaspoon of pastis into the glass, swirl it around and discard the excess liquid. STEP 7 Pour the mixture into the glass; a beautiful foam should start to rise. Then add ice and top with Perrier sparkling mineral water, until the foam rises a little above the top of the glass. “Perrier is used as opposed to soda water because of the much finer bead,” says Phil, “a bit like choosing champagne over a sparkling wine.” STEP 8 Top with a marshmallow, skewered on a cocktail stick, and a sprig of rosemary. Now the really fun part: toast with a blowtorch. “People at home can use a match,” suggests Phil. “Chargrilling the marshmallow evokes a lot of innocent, childhood camping memories – people smell it and everybody wants a taste.” Phil’s caveat: “This drink should never be drunk with a straw. You want to get that egg white fluff on your lips when you taste it. It’s all part of the experience... And that creamy, smoke-infused marshmallow just cleanses the palate before you taste.” Delicious!
Head On Photo Festival is back for its 11th year — but, this time, it's digital. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the (normally) citywide photography festival will be a predominately online event for 2020. The internationally acclaimed festival is running from May 1–17 as planned but with the entire program launching as a digital platform on the Heads On website, including all photography and other interactive events. Overall, there are 110 exhibitions, plus over 80 artists talks, panel discussions and webinars which you can check out for free. As usual, the exhibition features contemporary photography, portraiture and photojournalism. This year, artists from more than 12 countries are exhibiting, including France, Guatemala, Japan, Greece, Germany, South Korea, The Netherlands, the USA, the UK, China, Canada and (of course) Australia. On Friday, May 1, The Head On Photo Awards were announced, with Australian photographer Marcia Macmillan's 'Whimsical Warrior' taking home the landscape award and 'The Gift' by Fiona Wolf-Symeonides awarded the 2020 Portrait Prize. Australian photographers Jon Frank and Nick Moir and international artists Jouk Oosterhof and Paul Carruthers also took home prizes. [caption id="attachment_769244" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marcia Macmillan, 'Whimsical warrior'[/caption] Other highlights include Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Renée C Byer, who travelled across four continents and captured the faces of people living on $1USD per day; mythological imaginings by Guatemalan economist and artist Astrid Blazsek-Ayala; a documentation of Melbourne's violent race rallies between 2014–2018 by photojournalist Jake Nowakowski; images of the Athens's drag queen scene by Greek photographer Nikolaos Menoudarakos; and snaps of Bondi's underwater marine life by Australian photographer Matt Smith. Work by heaps of other award-winning artists will be on display, too, including British photographer Professor Richard Sawdon Smith, German documentarian Robert Harding Pittman and two-time Walkley Award-winner Dave Tacon. As far as catching the festival in person, Head On also plans to launch a scaled-back version across venues in November, so keep an eye on this space. Images: Dave Tacon, 'Cirque le Soir'; Nick Moir, 'Run'; Nikolaos Menoudarakos; Matt Smith, 'The Martian'; ; Janie Barrett; Renée C Byer; and Fiona Wolf-Symeonides, 'The Gift'. All images courtesy of Head On Photo Festival. Updated May 4, 2020.
Surf, sun, sand and ice skating? It's not as far-fetched as it might seem. While most holidaymakers headed for hot climes plan to cool off with a dip in the ocean — and not with a roll around the ice — one Maldives resort is offering a little from column A and a little from column B. Now open at the Jumeirah Vittaveli, it's the Maldives' first ice rink, which is hardly surprising given the South Asian country's year-round 25 to 31-degree weather. When it is warm and sunny every single day, the only glistening white surface you'd expect to see by the sea is made of sand; however even folks in the tropics need a dose of winter fun. Due to launch just before Christmas — aka, in the coming days — the rink is comprised of special artificial ice plates that stay cool regardless of the temperature. Made by a company by the name of Glice, the synthetic surface also functions without water and doesn't use any energy. While Sydney has its own beachside ice-skating rink in Bondi Beach each winter, no one would ever have contemplated going for a dip, strolling across the shore and hitting the ice in the middle of a blazing Australian summer. Of course, that's not the only bright idea the Maldives boasts when it comes to novelty beachside activities; think floating golf courses and a waterslide straight into the ocean.
Every time that the opening riff from 'Seven Nation Army' echoes from speakers — or around football stadiums, where it's frequently chanted by crowds at soccer tournaments — the world partly has Australia to thank. In 2002, The White Stripes were touring the country when Jack White penned the iconic beginning to the anthemic track. Its birthplace: The Corner Hotel in Richmond, giving Melbourne another reason to brag about its status as a haven for live music. Once you know this fact, hitting the Swan Street pub means having 'Seven Nation Army' stuck in your head. See White bust out the tune at the venue that helped spawn it at Always Live 2024, however, and you'll never forget this pop-culture tidbit. On a lineup that's brimming with highlights, this is up there with the must-attend standouts. White is not only doing an intimate gig at The Corner Hotel, but will also be playing Ballarat's Civic Hall, with both shows part of the festival's new effort to celebrate the state's live music venues. Victoria's Always Live debuted in 2022 with an aim that's still relevant now: supporting gigs in what continues to be a tough time for the industry. With government backing, the program has courted huge names over its past two years, including launching with Foo Fighters; welcoming Dua Lipa, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Yothu Yindi and Sampa the Great for its first event; and returning for a second year with Christina Aguilera, Eric Prydz, Jai Paul and Jessie Ware. For its third stint across Friday, November 22–Sunday, December 8, it's keeping the high-profile acts coming, with Aussie-exclusive shows by The Offspring and St Vincent also on the bill. Ready to come out and play, punk icons The Offspring will hit The Forum Theatre for one night only. St Vincent is doing three gigs, also heading to Ballarat — at Her Majesty's Theatre — alongside playing The Palais Theatre in St Kilda and The Aviary at Crown. Equally massive, and literally: Anyma, making his Australian debut fresh from a six-show residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, complete with the largest screen in the southern hemisphere being built just for the Flemington Racecourse show. In total, 289 artists will take to the stage at 65-plus events around the state. Baker Boy leading the First Nations-focused BLAKTIVISM; a 30th-anniversary Tina Arena gig celebrating her Don't Ask album with help from Richard Marx, Daryl Braithwaite and Kate Ceberano; Missy Higgins also in anniversary mode for 20 years since The Sound of White first hit at Sidney Myer Music Bowl: they're on the lineup as well. The new Live at the Gardens series at Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens will see Chet Faker and Tash Sultana join Always Live, too, while the Jamaican Music and Food Festival is back, as is Luliepalooza at Lulie Street Tavern and End of the Line Belgrave. From there, the hefty roster features everyone from Sarah Blasko, Andy Shauf, Bôa and INKABEE x FLEWNT through to Rico Nasty, Bimini and Jaguar — plus Keiynan Lonsdale, Birds of Tokyo, Didirri, Anees and Emma Donovan. "This year's Always Live program not only reinforces our status as the music capital of Australia but brings an extraordinary array of unique and exclusive experiences to audiences across the state," said the event's Chair Matt Gudinski, announcing the bill. "I am incredibly proud to be part of delivering this year's program, and continuing to build the legacy of Always Live. It's a privilege to contribute to Victoria's rich music history and to support our live music sector." [caption id="attachment_969967" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Drummond[/caption] Always Live 2024 runs from Friday, November 22–Sunday, December 8. For more information, and to get tickets, head to the festival website. Top image: David James Swanson.
Kicking off at high noon, triple j's rebranded digital offshoot Double J will start broadcasting today. Heralded by central presenter Myf Warhurst, the rebooted ABC Dig will hit play today on the first track to air — excepting a certain NWA track that's been playing nonstop since Monday. Double J has been on repeat for the last few days, playing the same 'Express Yourself' track in various versions. The stunt, which hit play on Monday, is a throwback to triple j presenters who went on strike in 1989. After a complaint in federal parliament forced LA rap legends NWA's 'F--- Tha Police' off the triple j playlist, disgruntled presenters hit repeat on the 1988 track 'Express Yourself' for 24 hours straight on air. The new station will give 'Express Yourself' a rest at midday when Double J officially begins programming. So what tunes can we expect to wrap our ears around? Myf Warhurst told triple j's Matt and Alex this morning that the first song on Double J has been chosen very carefully. "There'll be a few tears, I think we've nailed it," she said. Triple j station director Meagan Loader told FasterLouder, “Our research showed that people wanted a station that played great new music as well as all the classic triple j tunes they’ve grown up with. We’re not just playing old music, it’s something like 70 percent new music.” "We have wanted to build a station like this for a number of years and now, with your help, we are really proud to deliver Double J," says Triple J manager Chris Scaddan. "While it won’t be a throwback to the music of the original Double J, it will be a station that takes the best elements of triple j’s past - a name, a presenter and the incredible archives, thrown headlong into the future with the best new sounds around." Double J will be available via the ABC Radio App, online at www.doublej.net.au, or on digital radio/TV from midday.
Going into 2024, no one knew that Baby Reindeer was about to become one of the most talked-about new shows of 2024. When Richard Gadd's next series arrives, however, it won't be taking audiences by surprise. In news worth sending to your mates from your iPhone, the Scottish writer, actor and comedian has locked in another drama series, this time with HBO and the BBC behind it. Lions doesn't yet have a release date, but it'll span six episodes and also dive into a complicated relationship. Gadd will be telling the tale of two men in Scotland who reunite at one of the pair's wedding. Niall is getting married. Ruben shows up unexpectedly. Cue violence, and also dive into a connection with ups and downs, plus highs and lows, from the 80s until today. The duo have been called 'brothers' by the official synopsis, but with those quote marks in place — so expect why that's the case to factor into the series as well. Meeting as teens, dropping out of each other's life as adults, how the world is changing around them: they're all set to be covered as well. So is a specific question: what does it mean to be a man? While Gadd is creating Lions, as well as writing and executive producing it, he hasn't been announced as one of its stars. Who'll play Niall and Ruben hasn't yet been revealed, and neither has when viewers can expect to see the show — or, Down Under, where, although plenty of HBO content usually heads to Binge and Neon. But, the series' directors have been unveiled: Alexandra Brodski (Somewhere Boy) and Eshref Reybrouck (Ferry: The Series). "Ordering a HBO boxset of The Sopranos, The Wire or Oz and watching it from start to finish were some of the happiest moments of my childhood. Since then, it has always been a dream of mine to work with HBO and be part of their iconic roster of shows," said Gadd about Lions. "I am so grateful to Francesca Orsi [HBO's Head of HBO Drama Series and Films], Kara Buckley [Senior Vice President HBO Drama Programming] and Clint LaVigne [Vice President, Drama Programming at HBO] for taking this chance on the show and on Ruben and Niall too, who — despite growing up in a dead-end Scottish town — would be absolutely pinching themselves at this! I cannot wait to get started." There's obviously no trailer for Lions yet, but check out the trailer for Baby Reindeer below: Lions doesn't yet have a release date on HBO — or Down Under, where plenty of HBO content usually heads to Binge and Neon — but we'll update you when more details are announced. Read our review of Baby Reindeer. Baby Reindeer images: Ed Miller / Netflix.
SXSW (occasionally still known as South by South West) is an annual celebration of independent music, film and technology, held in Austin, Texas. Unlikely, challenging projects are born there and all the brightest of the creative world (plus Selena Gomez) attend. Midway through the festival, we take stock of what we've missed. A NASA Space Social Happens Basically nerd porn come to life, NASA's Space Social brought real-life astronauts Ron Garan, Nicholas Skytland, John Yembrick and others face to face with fans of Princess Leia and Neil Armstrong for socialising and space-related chats. We can only imagine that the hors d'oeuvres were served floating through the air by waitresses wrapped in aluminum foil. Interactive Vending Machine Stage Lets You Tweet at It Annoying party iPod DJs are set to rejoice this week at the Doritos vending machine stage, where onlookers are invited to tweet in their (hip hop- and rap-specific) song requests using the hashtag #BoldStage. Taking the choose-your-own adventure shtick one step further, the six-storey machine's LCD screen interface flashes simulated confetti, smoke machines and lasers in accordance with more Twitter directions. Control freaks need to let their hair down too, right? Grumpy Cat Upstages Everyone Kendrick Lamar, Justin Timberlake, Dave Grohl and James Franco were also in town for the festival, but really who are they to compete with Grumpy Cat? After queuing in earnest, fans got what they wanted — the inimitable feline looking characteristically unimpressed before curling into a ball and retreating. This kitty is more diva than Kimmy K and Lindsay Lohan combined. Meow! Hater App Launches to Bring Balance to the Social Media Force Despite its obvious benefits (stalking and empowering minority groups) social media unfailingly makes you hate society and your loved ones. Somewhere between #instabrag and your part-time model friend's profile picture number 300, it became difficulty to feel genuinely happy for the success of others. The world might need the new Hater app, a tool that allows users to dislike status updates, rant enthusiastically and band together over shared misery and disdain. If you don't have anything bad to say, don't say anything at all. https://youtube.com/watch?v=v01h6BsUgTY Shaq Attack is Well Tall Shaquille O'Neal looked down on everyone while still being really humble as he walked the trade show. A towering god amongst men. Google Village Is Like Willy Wonka's Factory for Tech Intent on achieving world domination, Google has morphed out of the computer screen and into the real world with the grown-up's answer to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Apparently the future will be a utopia filled with food trucks, free forums that teach people how to read HTML, Google pinball machines aplenty and even an Adidas talking shoe that can be programmed to give the wearer constant positive chatter. Sounds annoying. Images via SXSW and Grumpy Cats. Google Village image by Leimdorfer.
Having them take care of our more mundane tasks is one thing, but teaching them to make art? That's quite another. e-David, developed by computer scientists at the University of Konstanz (Baden-Wurttemburg), can create scarily detailed drawings and paintings from both photographs and real life. As extraordinary as his powers might seem, e-David is actually an every day kind of robot, of the 'welding' variety. They're the type that are used in automobile manufacturing. A combination of sensors, a camera and a control computer (which gives the drawing commands) enables him to roll it out like Rembrandt. In fact, e-David's 'style' is very much like that of the Dutch legend. He creates detail through the gradual build up of translucent layers, with each painting taking about ten hours to complete. Unsurprisingly, though, the end effect still tends towards the digitally-manipulated-photo-look, rather than that of the work of a genius. Art students, breathe a sigh of relief. Oh, and in case you're wondering (or concerned), e-David, as far as we know, isn't named after Michelangelo's masterpiece. It's an acronym for 'Drawing Apparatus for Vivid Image Display). e-David Robot Painting from eDavid on Vimeo. [via the creators project]
Australia's first urban surf park is one step closer to reality, with the team behind URBNSURF this morning confirming they've scored $28.3 million in funding for their much-anticipated Melbourne facility. Billed as the world's first full-size Wavegarden Cove surfing lagoon, URBNSURF Melbourne is set to transform a 2.1-hectare space near Melbourne Airport into a surfer's wet dream, churning out as many as 1000 two-metre waves each hour. The lagoon itself will boast six different state-of-the-art surf zones, catering to newbies, professionals and everyone in between, with enough room for around 84 surfers every hour. What's more, it'll be open year-round, which means you won't be forced to battle the freezing waters of Port Phillip Bay to get your surf fix come winter. Backing up the beach-style breaks, there'll be a concept retail space, a fully-equipped surf hire shop, a beach club and a plethora of food and drink options for those post-surf appetites. URBNSURF Melbourne will also play host to a surfing academy, fitness classes and high performance coaching and training options. Construction on the lagoon is set to kick off next month, with the hope Melburnians will be riding waves there by April 2019. URBNSURF's Sydney surf park, which was given the go ahead last year, is slated to be up and running by late 2019. URBNSURF Melbourne is slated to open in April 2019 at 394 Melrose Drive, Tullamarine. We'll keep you updated on its progress and you can visit urbnsurf.co for more info.
Local fashion, handmade wares and community vibes aplenty. It's a formula that sounds familiar, though for Enmore's new quarterly pop-up New Form, it's served up a little differently. Billed as "not just another arts and crafts market," New Form aims to be an inclusive hangout space for Sydney's style-savvy culture-lovers, delivering a tightly curated mix of design, fashion, music, art and food, all with a local focus. Uniquely, each edition will be helmed by a different creative mind, who'll lend their own expertise and style to the concept. They'll choose the live tunes and art installations, select an exciting lineup of designers to show off their wares and handpick all the other vendors. New Form has also teamed up with folks at The Design Residency, who'll showcase two of their exciting mentee designers at each edition. For its debut outing on Sunday, October 8, the pop-up is heading to a space on Gladstone Road, pulling together labels like Zuku Jewellery, Tuesday Vintage, Carly Rose, Serpent and the Swan, and Studio Coy, along with plenty of other fresh local talent. Food offerings will include Turkish Gozleme and Miss Mabel's. Catch the first edition of New Form on Sunday, October 8, at 3 Gladstone St, Enmore. For more information, check out their website.
Mike Baird just gave you the afternoon off, UberX is having a field day and Bondi's skatepark is a desert, after one of the heaviest storms Sydney's seen raged on today. And it looks things aren't getting any lighter anytime soon. It's been an apocalyptic day for New South Wales weather, with 'cyclonic' conditions sweeping through the state including heavy, unrelenting rain and wind gusts in excess of 135 kilometres per hour, according to the ABC. Three people have been killed and four houses have been washed away in Dungog, according to The Dungog Chronicle. And UberX had a field day this morning (and likely this afternoon too), as Tuesday morning's public transport delays and cancellations saw the app's pricing surge before 9am — up to 50 percent more than the usual rates, according to the SMH. Getting home won't be any easier, as Transport NSW has warned of more delays and limited services this afternoon. Check over here for updates, and expect Uber prices to surge again. Circular Quay to Manly ferries are not operating, mainly because the water looks like this: And if the footage taken from the Carnival Spirit cruise ship in Sydney Harbour is anything to go by, we're pretty happy to stay on dry(ish) land. A limited replacement bus service is running along with regular Northern Beaches bus services from Wynyard. Buses are delayed and diverted in many suburbs including Frenchs Forest, Seaforth, Hornsby Heights, Mount Colah, East Lindfield, West Pymble, Sydenham, Bexley, Eastlakes, Hurstville, Roselands, Rose Bay, Rouse Hill, Kings Langley, Auburn. Trains are more likely to be running, but with limited service. Check over here to see if yours is A-OK. Top image: James Dalton.
Celebrating all things LGBTQIA+ in Australia is easy this summer. In fact, it's historic. For the first time ever both Down Under and the southern hemisphere, WorldPride is heading our way, joining Sydney's already jam-packed lineup of queer events. That's the cultural landscape the returning Mardi Gras Film Festival slides into in 2023 — and it's marking the occasion with a massive lineup of movies to celebrate its own 30th-anniversary milestone. Fans of queer cinema, rejoice: this annual Sydney film fest is screening 166 films at eight venues around the city, running from Wednesday, February 15–Thursday, March 2 at locations such as Event Cinemas on George Street and in Hurstville, Dendy Cinema Newtown, the Hayden Orpheum, Ritz Cinemas, Casula Powerhouse, the Westpac Open Air Cinema and the Alumni Green at the University of Technology. Not in the Harbour City but still want to watch along? As it has done in past years, MGFF is also streaming part of its program online around the country — because catering to movie lovers Australia-wide is fast, and welcomely, becoming a pandemic-era film fest staple. For in-person attendees, the festival kicks off with coming-of-age film Of an Age, which heads to Sydney after also opening 2022 Melbourne International Film Festival, and marks the latest from Australian You Won't Be Alone director Goran Stolevski. Joining it as a MGFF bookend is closing night's The Venus Effect, with the Danish movie about two young women in love enjoying its Aussie premiere. And, just as huge is All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, 2022's Venice Film Festival Golden Lion-winning documentary about queer artist Nan Goldin, her life and career, and her battle against the billionaire Sackler family. With the full fest program including 100-plus sessions in cinema, outdoors and on-demand — as well as panel discussions, workshops, networking events and parties — other highlights include two world-premiere screenings, glimpses back to the past and free sessions. Documentary Trans Glamore and camp comedy The Winner Takes It All will make their bows at MGFF; Vegas in Space and an episode of Aussie soap Number 96 will hit the big screen; retro sessions of Pride and Raya and the Last Dragon also get a spin; and new queer comedy specials by Joel Creasy and Rhys Nicholson will nab a run, without attendees needing to pay a cent. Or, there's a special Westpac Openair session of the Cate Blanchett-starring Tár, which looks set to score the homegrown talent another Oscar; doco The Giants, about Dr Bob Brown becoming Australia's first openly gay member of parliament; Cannes Un Certain Regard Jury Prize-winner Joyland, a Pakistani effort about a romance between a trans woman and a married man; and moving Moroccan drama The Blue Caftan. Plus, other standouts include The Longest Weekend, about three siblings in Sydney's Inner West; inner-city cowboy love story Lonesome; Uýra: The Rising Forest, focusing on trans-indigenous artist Uýra; In From the Side, about an affair between two members of a fictional South London gay rugby club; and My Emptiness and I, honing in on a young trans call-centre worker. Plus, for cinephiles watching on from home, there are 21 features on offer, including Black as U R, a doco about the lack of attention paid to the black queer community; Icelandic spoof Cop Secret; Blitzed!, about the eponymous London nightclub, with Boy George, Princess Julia and Spandau Ballet sharing their memories; Youtopia, which explores the inadvertent formation of a hipster cult; and In Her Words, an ode to 20th-century lesbian fiction. Mardi Gras Film Festival 2023 runs from Wednesday, February 15–Thursday, March 2 at eight venues around Sydney — and online nationally. For more information, visit the festival's website.
The NSW Parliament overnight passed the suite of legislation targeting alcohol-related violence in Sydney. It comes a little over a week after the amendments were first proposed, making the organised opposition from the bars and music industries and other lovers of the nightlife seem too little, too late. The mandatory jail sentences for one-punch offenders who are drunk or on drugs come into effect tonight. The attendant liquor licensing changes will apply from late April, impacting bars and venues that fall within the 'CBD Precinct', a designated zone that stretches east from Darling Harbour to Kings Cross and south from The Rocks to Darlinghurst. Exempting small bars with a maximum capacity of fewer than 60 people, venues in this area will be required to impose lockouts from 1.30am and to stop serving alcohol at 3am. The Government and Opposition voted together to pass the laws last night. The Greens were against what they believe is a "knee-jerk" reaction to Sydney's violence problem, with Greens MP John Kaye telling the ABC, "We don't believe there's evidence to justify what they're doing ... We don't believe we can justify imposing on responsible late night venue goers measures that are probably going to fail.” Last week we spoke to several of our favourite small bars to hear how they would be affected under the new system. Alcohol delivery service Jimmy Brings were also protesting the proposed laws, along with the Sydney Late Night Culture Alliance — a banding together of key stakeholders in Sydney's music world, including MusicNSW, FBi radio, SLAM, Goodgod Small Club, Oxford Art Factory, TheMusic.com.au and inthemix — through their 'Keep Sydney Open' campaign. The next steps for these campaigns now the laws have been passed are unclear. Premier Barry O'Farrell has implied there may be room for change in the future. "It may be possible that from time to time this legislation needs to be tweaked," he said in parliament. "We will tweak it. We will make changes that are designed to make it more effective, that are designed to improve its operation.". Update (February 5) via SMH: New lockouts and last drinks will now come into affect on February 24, Premier O'Farrell announced today. By Rima Sabina Aouf and Lucy McNabb.
For a lot of people, the lead-up to Easter is a mammoth sweet treat eating session — hot cross buns and chocolate eggs every single day. And if treating yourself is high on the agenda this season, then Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney has two possible outlets — and they're both sugar-coated doozies. From Monday, April 1, the Lobby Lounge will be transformed into a magical Easter garden and, inside you can enjoy a bevvy of themed delights. First up, there's an Easter-themed high tea, whipped up by executive pastry chef Anna Polyviou. As always, Polyviou has designed a delightfully whimsical and dessert-focused menu. There's a cracked egg tart, decadent chocolate pots and the requisite hot cross buns, plus a club cake and some whippy ice cream to tail things off nicely. With all that sugar, you'll surely need a refreshment or two; try a vodka spritz (it's still warm enough outside) or the popcorn caramel martini — or play it traditional with a flute of bubbly. Tickets for this decadent feast starts from $75, with sessions running three times daily until Monday, April 29. To book your spot, head this way. And if savoury snacks and a relaxed vibe are more your style, the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney has you covered with Cocktails in the Garden. It's just what the label says: a tipple in the Easter 'garden', accompanied by a picnic basket filled with cured meats, cheese, olives, quiche and fresh fruit. The picnic set for two ($55) includes a spritz, flute of Chandon or popcorn caramel martini each. You can upgrade it with a flute of Veuve each instead ($85) or make the cocktails free-flowing for $115. This special cocktail package is available between Friday, March 29 and Monday, April 29 and can be booked here.
"What do we want?" "Time travel!" "When do we want it?" "It's irrelevant!” And so it is that the Terminator franchise rediscovers its sense of humour. As for everything else, well, the ground’s a little less resolute. Somewhat appropriately, Terminator: Genisys is either the fifth film in the franchise, or the third, depending on your perspective. James Cameron, who wrote and directed the first (and best) two, openly declared both Rise of the Machines and Salvation to be blips on the radar that are best ignored, meaning — at least in his view — Genisys now rounds out the unofficial trilogy (cue joke about a director from the future going back in time to terminate inferior sequels). Certainly, Genisys goes out of its way to fit solidly within the original movie's timeline, at least to begin with. In fact, it’s worth re-watching Terminator beforehand, if only to appreciate the lengths to which director Alan Taylor and his production team have gone in painstakingly recreating some of the film's signature moments (right down to casting a Bill Paxton lookalike for the then-unknown actor’s punk cameo). The reason for the cinematic fidelity quickly becomes apparent, too, when those well-known moments from the original are hugely turned on their head. It’s difficult to explain without revealing giant spoilers, but suffice it to say Sarah Connor (played with remarkable likeness to Linda Hamilton by Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke) no longer needs rescuing back in 1984 by Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney), and Arnie isn’t the first Terminator to be sent back there. Everything’s changed, and therein lies both the film’s strength and weakness. As a positive, switching everything up was a sensible and necessary move to breathe new life into a franchise already guilty of retelling the same story with merely cosmetic differences. John Connor (Jason Clarke) undergoes a dramatic amendment in Genisys, and Schwarzenegger’s T-800 (easily the film’s shining light) has noticeably aged, explaining “I’m old, not obsolete”. Going back to 1984, too, is a clever device because — at least for fans of the original — as soon as the first difference becomes apparent, it raises a lot of questions that help drive the story forward. The downside, however, is that making those changes requires some serious amendments to one of the more established and analysed lores in film history, and unless you’ve got rock solid explanations to back them up, gaping potholes quickly reveal themselves. In Genisys, some are answered via hastily mumbled lines about 'nexus points’ and parallel timelines, but the more critical ones — like how terminators ended up in the timeline long before 1984, who sent them there and why — remain unanswered. It’s a clear setup for a sequel, but mostly just lazy film-making, failing to tell the story it promises. When the credits roll on Genisys, you soon realise you’ve no idea what it was actually about. 2015 is proving itself the king of the reboot, with Jurassic World already destroying box office records, and new entries for Mission Impossible, James Bond and Star Wars all to follow. Terminator: Genisys will likely find itself somewhere towards the bottom of that list, mostly because — while it’s a lot of fun — it fails to ‘wow’ us like its predecessors. The terminators’ technology is largely the same, the action sequences are again mostly variations on a theme, and somehow the phenomenal special effects of 1991’s Judgment Day still remain more jaw-dropping than most things that have come since.
Snapchat is hardly the most discerning of mediums. If you had to break down the subject of all content sent on the service, the vast majority of snaps would surely consist of people's faces perched atop cartoon animal bodies, drunken selfies with indecipherable words slapped across the screen, and an obscene number of dick pics, sexts and various videos somehow including the presence of a penis. You can't expect that much more from a service founded by the king of all dudebros. Anyway. Snapchat is about to get all grown up. According to the Wall Street Journal, the much-loved startup is introducing some news and advertising to your drunken, sext-loving feed. Set to launch this November, these new inclusions are being planned under the moniker of Snapchat Discovery; a service to complement the already released Snapchat Stories. And it's already generating a lot of interest. Lots of brands eager to get into the snap-loving teen market have already started accounts and are now looking for ways to maximise their presence with users. Branded messages with 'Snapchat celebrities' are already a standard practice and straight-up advertising seems like the next logical step. There are reportedly a dozen companies already in line for the service including MailOnline, the online component of The Daily Mail. Allowing users to read news content and watch small portions of TV and movies, Snapchat's self-destruction of messages outwardly seems like a tidy way to deal with copyrighted content. Other than that, it's unsure as yet how any of it will really work. This is the startup's first move to monetise content and everyone understandably has a whole lot of questions. For instance, how many ads for Guardians of the Galaxy am I going to have to wade through before I can see my friend's daily work selfie? At what point can I get my dinner snaps sponsored by Dominoes or Pizza Hut and live off the wonderful oily spoils? Is Snapchat the future of journalism as we know it? The answers: at least one, soon hopefully, and for the sake of all humanity let's hope not. Via Mashable and Wall Street Journal. Images: jeffgoldblum236.tumblr.com and superwholock4lyfe.tumblr.com via Buzzfeed.
Finally having international travel back on the radar is one thing, but actually deciding where in the world to jet off to on these first long-awaited post-pandemic adventures? Well, that's been the tough bit. You want somewhere that scratches all those travel itches at once — from kicking back poolside with cocktails and devouring all the foods to exploring natural landscapes and wandering unknown cities. Luckily, we've found the perfect itinerary for all that and more: a road trip through the heart of Southern California, soaking up the best of Los Angeles, Greater Palm Springs and San Diego along the way. The ideal place to dip your toe back into travelling, this destination promises to tick off all those long-held holiday cravings in one neatly wrapped vacay. What's more, with carriers like United Airlines having dramatically increased their regular routes between Australia's east coast and the States, it's now easier than ever to get your travel-starved self over to the USA. Put in your leave request and start dreaming because this one's the full package. LOS ANGELES As a city, LA has big all-rounder energy, with just as much to tempt culture vultures as it does gourmands — and everyone in between, too. So you might as well do it all, right? To kick off your stay with fresh eyes and an illuminating history lesson, take a guided spin through the city with Architecture Tours LA. You'll hit a bunch of iconic architectural spots as you zip around Hollywood, taking a fascinating deep-dive into both its aesthetic and its history. Trust us when we say it'll colour everything else you see on your travels. If your attention's further piqued by the city's movie-making past, there are countless ways to get your kicks, but a trip through the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is a must. Here, you're in for an immersive exploration of LA film culture, guided by a collection of outstanding installations and exhibitions. A culture fix of a different kind lies high up at the famed Getty Center, where you could easily lose a whole weekend meandering through art-filled galleries, roaming the grounds and soaking up unmatched vistas across LA and beyond. Acquaint yourself with more primo views kicking back atop one of LA's countless rooftop bars. A newer addition to the scene is Grandmaster Recorders, brainchild of Icebergs alums Monty and Jaci Kulodrovic. They've transformed a historic recording studio into a wining, dining and partying playground; complete with a contemporary Italo-Aussie restaurant that's making waves, and a rooftop bar pairing standout cocktails with views of the Hollywood sign. Fancy a closer look? You can work off your gastronomic indulgences with a hike up to the famed letters with tour crew Bikes & Hikes LA. It runs both a 90-minute and three-hour experience, promising breathtaking views, top-notch photo opps and the chance to scope out some iconic filming locations. As for resting your head after your jam-packed LA days, you'll find a winner in the Thompson Hollywood. A downright dreamy aesthetic flush with foliage and gold-hued accents graces the lounge and lobby downstairs, while onsite cocktail haunt Bar Lis is a Hollywood party destination in its own right. [caption id="attachment_901177" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Greater Palm Springs[/caption] GREATER PALM SPRINGS Once you've had your fill of bright lights and urban energy, it's time to hit the road and venture a couple hours east to soak up the majestic, windmill-dotted landscape of Greater Palm Springs. To kick things off with a healthy dose of relaxation and a nature fix, get yourself to Desert Hot Springs, where the idyllic Two Bunch Palms resort will help de-stress body and mind — against a serene, leafy backdrop, no less. The property's scattered with mineral pools fed by waters from a 600-year-old natural spring, while the onsite spa serves a menu of healing treatments ranging from chakra-balancing massages to detoxifying adaptogen wraps. Book a night or two in one of the modern cabins to really lean into the experience. More breathtaking nature awaits you on the cruise up San Jacinto Peak, aboard the world's largest rotating aerial tramway. Offering eye-popping panoramas as you climb, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is your go-to for lofty thrills and a truly unique perspective. [caption id="attachment_901178" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Kimpton, Visit Greater Palm Springs[/caption] The buzz and colour of downtown Palm Springs proves equally infectious as you explore the sophisticated homewares stores and lively streetside dining spaces. For vibrant Southern Cali fare and guaranteed pup cuddles, make a date with Boozehounds — a sprawling indoor-outdoor venue that's filled with foliage, does a mean margarita and is about as dog-friendly as they come. Time your visit right and you can feast all your senses simultaneously at one of PS Underground's riotous themed dining experiences, which dish up live tunes, considered eats and a whole lotta fun. You might find yourself singing along through an Elvis-inspired dinner party, or perhaps feeling the love at a time-tripping Woodstock-themed gala. For a luxe sleepover — or simply just a few poolside cocktails matched with views from the highest point in town — head to the Kimpton Rowan Hotel. It's a plush, modern stay right in the heart of the action, boasting a collection of top-notch wining and dining offerings, including a stellar rooftop pool deck and bar. [caption id="attachment_901187" align="alignnone" width="1920"] San Diego Tourism Authority[/caption] SAN DIEGO Another two-hour road-trip south delivers you right into the beer-loving urban heart and soul of San Diego. The buzzing bayside city is a multifaceted one that's generous in a vast array of offerings — from the culinary to the cultural and plenty in between. Catch the city's coastal charms on full display with a session on the water with the San Diego Sailing Tours crew. With the wind whipping your hair, sun on your face and a bay full of gliding boats as your backdrop, you'll score an unmatched perspective of your holiday base. Then, you'll want to set aside at least a day to immerse yourself in the abundant offerings of famed cultural precinct Balboa Park. From the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Us, to the San Diego Natural History Museum and Fleet Science Center, the 1200-acre site is a treasure trove of cultural goodness. [caption id="attachment_901184" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joanne DiBona for San Diego Tourism Authority[/caption] If you don't mind a queue, one spot to put on your breakfast radar is Morning Glory — a bold, high-energy eatery in the Little Italy district that takes no bookings but totally excels at creatively-charged brunch fare. Pancakes are a specialty here, including a supremely fluffy souffle version, while savoury fiends can look forward to the likes of a lobster omelette and the calzone-like khachapuri. Another culinary highlight sits 12 storeys up at Mr A's Restaurant — a fine-dining institution set atop the Manchester Building, where modern European flavours are heroed against sweeping views of the glittering city skyline. It's quite the show-stopper. [caption id="attachment_901188" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberly Motos for San Diego Tourism Authority[/caption] If you're a sucker for absolute ocean frontage, well-crafted drinks and food with some serious flair, make the trip up to La Jolla to be swept up in the elegant charms of The Marine Room. Perched right on the water, this iconic venue's restaurant is a must for special occasions — though watching the waves crash in from a front-row seat in the Lounge, enjoying small plates and memorable cocktails, makes for a pretty magical evening, too. And of course, if you've got a penchant for craft beer, consider this city your paradise, with a beer bar or brewery located on just about every corner of Downtown. From international names like Stone and Ballast, to smaller homegrown champions such as Pizza Port and Societe, there's enough here to keep even the fussiest beer fiend supremely satisfied. To base yourself in the heart of the action, try the chic home-away-from-home that is The Pendry San Diego — a Downtown gem with an aesthetic that deftly fuses modern luxury and old-world elegance. It also boasts a whole sparkling collection of hospitality venues located right onsite. Top image: Visit Greater Palm Springs Concrete Playground traveled as a guest of United Airlines, LA Tourism and Convention Board, Visit Greater Palm Springs and San Diego Tourism Authority.
It's been just over a year since Amazon finally launched in Australia, promising an array of goods delivered quickly and affordably, as shipped from Melbourne and Sydney, and about five months since the company blocked Aussies from purchasing off its cheaper, larger international sites. Thankfully, it has just backflipped on the later. To rewind a bit, on July 1, Amazon announced that purchases from its international platforms would no longer be shipped to Australian addresses because of a change to Australian GST laws, which applied the standard goods and services tax of 10 percent to all online overseas purchases. Previously, GST had only applied to transactions over $1000. Aussies could instead shop on the Amazon Australia store, which had only around one percent of the range available in the US, or use a shipping forwarding service But this morning, Thursday, November 22 — less than five weeks out from Christmas (if you're counting) — Amazon backflipped on its decision, announcing it had reopened its US and other international sites to Aussies. In a statement published on news.com.au, Amazon said it had listened to "customer feedback" and made the necessary changes to its website to allow the company to comply with the new GST laws. The great news is the international sites are accessible right now, just in time for the Black Friday Sales. The not-so-good news is that at the moment only items that Amazon stocks and sells are available to us, while the company works out how to apply GST to third-party items. If you haven't yet started your Christmas shopping, here's a great excuse to start. via news.com.au
Tasmania's delightfully sinister Dark Mofo is back for a sixth year, and the lineup is bigger and bolder than ever. Taking place in the run up to winter solstice, the festival is all about embracing the shadows and flaunting the freaky. Hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), it explores ancient rituals and mythology through music, performance and art installations — all while showcasing artists, performers and ideas that are otherwise overlooked in mainstream culture. While the main event is scheduled to run between June 13 and 24, this year's festival will also feature a 'prelude weekend' from June 7 to 10. A sneak peek before the full fest, it'll include exhibition openings at Mona and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, and an orchestral quartet at the Port Arthur Historic Site. A symposium titled Dark and Dangerous Thoughts will also run across June 8 to 10, using film, literature and talks to explore moral and ethical issues within contemporary society. Capping it all off — and setting the tone for the entire festival — is Société Anonyme, a masked costume ball where opulence and mystery are to be expected in equal measure. When the festival proper rolls around on June 13, patrons should expect Dark Mofo's "usual mix of extreme, experimental and eclectic programming", according to creative director Leigh Carmichael. Crowd favourites such as the nude solstice swim and the Dark Park playground are all due to return, with the latter hosting ogoh-ogoh purging and burning, plus Ryoji Ikeda's light installation spectra. Germany's experimental industrial band Einstürzende Neubauten are also back, performing their piece (and studio album) Lament, which focuses on the outbreak of WWI. Elsewhere, the schedule is full of phenomenal female names. Laurie Anderson will bring her series of essays titled All the Things I Lost in the Flood to life on stage through music, video and spoken word. She has also partnered with new media artist Hsin-Chien Huang to create virtual-reality experience Chalkroom, as well as creating a 'sound bath' using her late husband Lou Reed's instruments alongside guitar tech Stewart Hurwood. Inuk throat-singer Tanya Tagaq will perform her fierce album Retribution, backed by a choir, while Grammy Award-winning crooner St. Vincent is slated to perform on June 15. Other highlights include a further exploration into the occult, with the Salamanca Arts Centre hosting a grotesque photography exhibition from William Mortensen and holding a ritualistic tattooing session for members of the public. And, for those keen to catch Soda Jerk's latest, their new film work Terror Nullius will screen as part of the fest. Plus, in a huge tribute to David Lynch and Twin Peaks, Dark Mofo will create their version of the Bang Bang Bar. It'll host intimate gigs like you'd see at the series' roadhouse — including sets by Rebecca Del Rio, who featured in the show as well as Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Dark Mofo takes place in Hobart between June 13 and 24. Tickets on sale from 11am on April 10 (with a subscriber pre-sale from 6pm on April 9). For more information, visit the festival website. By Melanie Colwell and Sarah Ward.
Many road trippers heading north from Sydney aim for major hubs, such as Port Stephens, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. But, less than four hours away, there's a less-famous patch of coastline, national parks and green pastures called the Manning Valley. The area's lush beauty is down to its unusual waterway, the Manning River. It's one of the only major rivers in Australia that hasn't been dammed. Plus, it's a double delta, so it meets the sea in not one, but two places. Stick to the shore for empty beaches, impressive walks and a designer hotel dedicated to David Bowie, Nick Cave and Dave Grohl. Pop inland to sample at farmers' markets, groom alpacas and meet flying foxes in NSW's last bit of floodplain rainforest. Here's your guide to road tripping the Manning Valley. [caption id="attachment_604884" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Surfhouse Merewether[/caption] DAY ONE: INDIGENOUS HISTORY, SPARKLING LAKES AND WINE TASTING Road trips aren't for rushing. Break up yours with a couple of stops. Firstly, there's Newcastle — one-time steel capital of Australia, now creative hub by the sea — where laneways are dotted with street art, independent shops and cute cafes. Swing by The Tea Project for a just-right cuppa, Sprocket for locally-roasted coffee and The Edwards for mountainous cheese platters. Cashed up and wanting ocean views and oysters? You'll get them at Surfhouse Merewether. Find loads more Newie tips over here. Another hour on the road lands you in the Great Lakes region. If time's on your side, pretty Myall Lake and its eponymous national park are a worthy diversion. To take a journey into indigenous history, visit Dark Point, which, in 2002, was declared an Aboriginal Site of Significance. For more than 4000 years, the Worimi people met here for seafood feasts — look out for middens. You'll also be treated to spectacular views of Broughton Island, the only spot in New South Wales where you can camp the night among a sea bird colony. Continue along the Pacific Highway to Wootton to visit Great Lakes Paddocks Winery. You're welcome to sprawl out on the grounds for hours, trying the latest in verdelho and sparkling shiraz. Keep an eye out for live music events too. [caption id="attachment_604888" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Rudi's Farmers Market[/caption] DAY TWO: FARMER'S MARKETS, RAINFOREST AND A MUSIC DESIGN HOTEL Another 30 minutes north lands you in Taree, on the banks of Manning River. Start with a visit to Mentges Meats, where Rudi Mentges continues a 700-year-old family tradition, started on the Rhine, of turning local cuts into gourmet kranski, wurst and ham. Every Thursday morning, Rudi's Farmers' Markets takes over with a cornucopia of home-grown veggies, home-made jams, honey, raw cakes and fresh flowers. It's one of many farmers' and artisans' markets in the Manning Valley. Find out how tasty that produce can get when treated by a multi-awarding winning cafe. Bent on Food is in Wingham, a laidback town ten kilometres inland, which hosts the Wingham Akoostik Festival every October. Cafe owner Donna Carrier is a big fan of local farmers, as proven by the super-fresh, piled-up dishes, overseen by head chef Simon Livingston. Tuck into a spinach tortilla with chicken, feta, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted pumpkin and house-made basil pesto or local scotch fillet with house-made beetroot relish, cheese, lettuce, horseradish cream, Turkish bread and beer-battered chips. The cafe doubles up as a grocery shop, so you can take some valley goodness home with you. [caption id="attachment_604873" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bent on Food[/caption] The Wingham Brush Nature Reserve, which harbours the only floodplain rainforest left in New South Wales, is lovely for a shady afternoon stroll. There are a variety of walks, but the easiest is the 1.9-kilometre boardwalk, along which you'll meet flying foxes, brush turkeys, white cedars and a massive Moreton Bay fig tree. Tinonee Road winds south out of Wingham, passing through The Bight and Mondrook. Now that you've indulged in local produce, it's time to find out what the artists have been getting up to. Make an appointment at Artisans on the Hill, to see art works, handcrafted jewellery, wood turning and more. Workshops are held occasionally. [caption id="attachment_604904" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Boogie Woogie Beach House[/caption] Tonight's digs are The Boogie Woogie Beach House, found 20 minutes east in the beachside town of Old Bar. This extraordinary designer hotel was "born from the love of music and not wanting to go home after a great night out". There are five unique rooms, four of which are dedicated to legendary musicians, namely David Bowie, Dave Grohl, Nick Cave and Louis Armstrong. Can't decide? Go for the fifth: The Mixtape. Whether you take a spa with Ziggy Stardust or shower with Nick Cave, you can count on a luxurious therapeutic mattress, a record player (with vinyls supplied), free wifi, a mini-bar and a HD flatscreen TV. Downstairs, Flow Bar hosts live music on Fridays and Sundays, and serves up consistently excellent food. In the morning, go for The Frenchie (brioche, Rudi's smoked bacon, lemon mascarpone, toasted pecans, wild berry compote, maple syrup). [caption id="attachment_604899" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Black Head Beach[/caption] DAY THREE: BEACHSIDE RESORT, OCEAN POOL, COASTAL WALKS South of Old Bar is a series of gold sand beaches, backdropped by dunes and national park. The safest for swimming is sheltered Black Head Beach, where you can jump in patrolled surf or laze about in a stunning ocean pool. Should you work up an appetite, drop into Gobblegutz Cafe in Hallidays Point for coffee and tasty gourmet wrap. Don't let the shopping centre surrounds deter you — the food is good and hearty. Next up, it's time for some explorations on foot. There's a network of walking trails to help you do just that. For coastal rainforest, secluded beaches, caves and and rock formations, head into Black Head Reserve. You'll pass by a tranquil lagoon and, chances are, find yourself sharing the path with brush turkeys. Check out other tracks nearby over here. [caption id="attachment_604870" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ramada Resort[/caption] Tonight, you're sleeping over at Ramada Resort, right behind 5.5-kilometre-long Diamond Beach. To get as close to the water as possible, go for a one-bedroom apartment with water views, a two-bedroom apartment or a beach house. Whichever you choose, you'll score plenty of space and a spa bath. When the surf's too rough, take a windy stroll or stick to the resort, where you can dip in the pool, hit the tennis court or relax in the day spa. Jasmine Crittenden travelled to the Manning Valley as a guest of Destination NSW. Images: Peter Saw.
If there's one thing we know about the future, it's this: battery life shouldn't be an problem. No, we don't have a crystal ball, time-travelling telephone booth or DeLorean. We're just making a guess thanks to the large number of smart minds currently dedicating themselves to the issue. Just last month, the concept of wireless charging rooms arrived to keep our devices juiced (in theory, that is). Now, adjust your visions of years to come to encompass the latest idea. It's the subject of a US patent application by Sony, and it focuses on the notion of wirelessly sucking up power while you're out and about. All you'll need is a phone, a friend and their call-making, text-sending, Facebook-updating device. If you've ever hopped onto your pal's mobile data connection, you know how the concept will hopefully work. Just swap wifi for power, and you're off and running. And, it's not just limited to smartphones — other electronic devices as computers, TVs, fridges, washing machines and microwaves will ideally able to jump in on the action and jump-start each other's batteries. The devices will have to be placed within a short range from each other for phone-to-phone charging to function, with the technology relying upon Near Field Communication, aka the same method behind other wireless syncing. And, as always, don't go throwing out your cables just yet. It might soon be a reality, but it isn't at the moment. Via Gizmodo / What a Future!!
No one should need to cleanse their palates between Mad Max movies — well, maybe after Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, depending on your mileage with it — but if anyone does, George Miller shouldn't be one of them. The Australian auteur gifted the world the hit dystopian franchise, has helmed and penned each and every chapter, and made Mad Max: Fury Road an astonishing piece of cinema that's one of the very best in every filmic category that applies. Still, between that kinetic, frenetic, rightly Oscar-winning movie and upcoming prequel Furiosa, Miller has opted to swish around romantic fantasy Three Thousand Years of Longing. He does love heightened drama and also myths, including in the series he's synonymous with. He adores chronicling yearnings and hearts' desires, too, whether surveying vengeance and survival, the motivations behind farm animals gone a-wandering in Babe: Pig in the City, the dreams of dancing penguins in Happy Feet, or love, happiness and connection here. In other words, although adapted from AS Byatt's short story The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye, Three Thousand Years of Longing is unshakeably and inescapably a Miller movie — and it's as alive with his flair for the fantastical as most of his resume. It's a wonder for a range of reasons, one of which is simple: the last time that the writer/director made a movie that didn't connect to the Mad Max, Babe or Happy Feet franchises was three decades back. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that this tale about a narratologist (Tilda Swinton, Memoria) and the Djinn (Idris Elba, Beast) she uncorks from a bottle, and the chats they have about their histories as the latter tries to ensure the former makes her three wishes to truly set him free, is told with playfulness, inventiveness, flamboyance and a deep heart. Much of Miller's filmography is, but there's a sense with Three Thousand Years of Longing that he's been released, too — even if he loves his usual confines, as audiences do as well. "My story is true," Swinton's Alithea Binnie announces at the get-go. "You're more likely to believe me, however, if I tell it as a fairy tale." Cue another Miller trademark, unpacking real emotions and woes within scenarios that are anything but standard — two people talking about their lives in a hotel is hardly fanciful, though. The tales that the Djinn relays, with debts clearly owed to One Thousand and One Nights, also dwell in the everyday; some just happened millennia ago. The Djinn loved the Queen of Sheba (model Aamito Lagum), but lost her to the envious King Solomon (Nicolas Mouawad, Mako). He then languished in the the Ottoman court, after young concubine Gulten (Ece Yüksel, Family Secrets) wished for the heart of Suleiman the Magnificent's (Lachy Hulme, Preacher) son Mustafa (singer Matteo Bocelli). And, in the 19th century, the Djinn fell for Zefir (Burcu Gölgedar, Between Two Dawns), the brilliantly smart but stifled wife of a Turkish merchant. What spirits the Djinn's time-hopping memories beyond the ordinary and into the metaphysical, and Alithea's narrative as well, is the figure first seen billowing out of blue-and-white glass, then filling an entire suite, then slipping into white towelling. Something magical happens when you pop on a hotel bathrobe — that space and that cosy clothing are instantly transporting — and while Alithea resists the very idea of making wishes, she gets swept along by her new companion anyway. As a scholar of stories and the meanings they hold, she knows the warnings surrounding uttering hopes and having them granted. She also says she's content with her intellectual, independent and isolated-by-choice life, travelling the world to conferences like the one that's brought her to Turkey and then to the Istanbul bazaar where she spies the Djinn's misshapen home, even if her own backstory speaks of pain and self-protective mechanisms. And yet, "I want our solitudes to be together", she eventually declares, and with exactly the titular emotion. Adapting this swoony affair for the screen with co-screenwriter Augusta Gore, his daughter, Miller knows that Three Thousand Years of Longing is indeed a cautionary tale, too. As Alithea is well aware, simply wishing can't genuinely make dreams come true; life is much too thorny and slippery for that. And, even when she allows herself to forget it despite her early protests, and the film lets her — Elba can fight lions on-screen in one flick, then capture hearts and dissolve defences in the next — Miller never does. It doesn't go unnoticed that every narrative within Three Thousand Years of Longing is one of captivity and power imbalances, with imagery to reinforce it. Containers and chains, physical and otherwise, envelop characters in all layers of the story. Love at times is one such prison, including when Alithea asks for it. This is a romance, but perhaps the most affecting notion it ponders is how love isn't really love if it isn't freely given. Three Thousand Years of Longing is also still a fairy tale as Alithea promises, with enchantment breezing in, lives forever changed and lessons imparted. Being so passionate and fantastical while never losing sight of life's essential truths is a complicated mix, and it often makes for a beautiful one under Miller's guidance. The intimacy and feeling when Three Thousand Years of Longing remains a superb two-hander isn't just charming — it's potent and moving. With her sharp red bob, circular glasses and thick but melodious accent, and with his calming eyes and perfect mix of charisma and sorrow, Swinton and Elba could've spent the entire movie talking and it would've been a pleasure to watch. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande has already shown how enticing a hotel room, a couple of chattering souls and laying oneself emotionally bare can be, especially with magnetic performances, and this would make a wonderful double feature with it. Human existence isn't just quiet, transformative, deep-and-meaningful one-on-one moments in plush surrounds and outfits, though, just as love isn't always bliss. Three Thousand Years of Longing is a work of two distinct approaches, recognising that, and also letting Miller bust out every stylistic yearning he has whenever his film ventures past Alithea and the Djinn conversing to its blasts from the past. The visuals swoop and slide, with Mad Max: Fury Road cinematographer John Seale again conveying his director's energy with verve and panache. The swift editing by Fury Road's Margaret Sixel, and the feature's creative transitions, do the same. Colour blazes bright, as does detail — gleaming from every surface, in fact — and spinning stories and escaping into fables becomes the most vibrant and urgent thing in the world. While watching and getting lost in Three Thousand Years of Longing, it frequently feels that way.
Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are getting the band back together — Flight of the Conchords have announced plans for their first tour in two years. Sure, the plans are only American for now, but we'll take it. Confirming plans in a recent interview with Billboard, Clement said the pair "are planning on touring later on in the year in the States. It isn't very solid yet, but we've been talking about it." It'll be the first time the Hiphopopotamus and Rhymenocerous have toured as FOTC since 2013. The best bit (and the bit we can get excited about over here) is that they'll apparently be unveiling new Conchords tunes on stage. "I really don't like the studio part of music," he says. "I more enjoy playing live and letting others take care of the recording." Clement has been hangin' out at Sundance, promoting his brand new film People, Places, Things, after a year of promoting co-written, co-directed vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. McKenzie's been knee-deep in film for the past year as well, returning to his Oscar-winning role as music supervisor for 2014's Muppet follow-up Muppets Most Wanted — which Clement popped up in. Fingers crossed for a venture back home to New Zealand and across to Australia so all the ladies can check out their sugalumps For now, one of the finest Conchords moments: 'Jenny'. Via Billboard.
Australians love of big, ridiculous eyesores is well documented. We don't know whether it's something to do with our sense of humour or our love of the absurd, but somehow an oversized fibreglass banana made its way into our national iconography. People genuinely go there to stand in awe. (Disclaimer: I've been three times, but couldn't tell you why). Now, this trend is in danger of reaching tipping point. Is the humble, oily dim sim really worthy of a pedestal? Will it even be from South Melbourne Market? The suggestion to build a giant dim sim statue has been brought to Lord Mayor Robert Doyle this week by a group of RMIT students calling themselves The Dim Sim Salute. In their campaign material, they claim the dim sim is the "ultimate symbol of acceptance [because it's] developed by the Chinese, embraced by Australian's [sic] and manufactured by the Greeks." Here's the full confusing spiel (watch out for about halfway through when they infer people are unknowingly eating cats): Mr Doyle's response to the campaign has been underwhelming to say the least. "I respect the passion of these people but I really can't see this one going anywhere," he said before posting this kind of, weirdly, nearly discriminatory pro-meat pie sentiment on Twitter. I am a traditionalist: the meat pie trumps the dim sim in this town. And rightly has a monument. @RossAndJohn pic.twitter.com/qdFtfv2Q0l — Robert Doyle (@LordMayorMelb) September 2, 2014 The group are circulating a Change.org petition that currently has 99 of the necessary 2,000 supporters, but the outlook doesn't look great. Organisers are not even sure whether the commemorative dim sim should be steamed or fried. These are the tough questions, people. Do your civic duty and get involved. Via The Age. Photo credit: avlxyz via photopin cc.
After playing two balloted shows that sold out faster than you could say "Best New Music", The xx have made good on their promise that they would come back in 2013 to sate the appetites of everyone who missed out. Now that they've released their second album, Coexist, the buzz around the trio is only louder. But Jamie Smith, Romy Madley Croft, and Oliver Sim are capable of being heard above the din by turning up the volume on one of the most valuable (and most underrated) instruments of all — silence. Their strength is seen through the gaps between bone-chilling reverbs and papery vocals, and they're sexy because they don't specifically mention sex. That's not to say The xx don't get noise. They get much of their inspiration from London's dark techno dance scene, and Jamie and Romy both have thriving satellite careers as DJs. The trio's bankability is bigger than ever, so be sure your credit card is handy and your clicking finger poised when tickets go on sale at noon on January 15. More information on the Handsome Tours website. UPDATE: Thursday, April 4, at Festival Hall in Melbourne, and Sunday, April 7, at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney have sold out. New shows have been added at Festival Hall on Friday 5th and the Hordern on Saturday 6th. There are still tickets available to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Tuesday, April 9. https://youtube.com/watch?v=_nW5AF0m9Zw
Every time one of your friends has posted something incredibly sad on Facebook and you've 'liked' it? Things are about to get a little more appropriate (and inevitably negative) on the social media IV drip. Facebook is officially working on a form of 'dislike' button. Facebook co-founder and known hoodie wearer Mark Zuckerberg announced the 'dislike' button venture during a casual Q&A session on Tuesday, explaining that the team has been working on this for some time. "People have asked about the 'dislike' button for many years, and probably hundreds of people have asked about this, and today is a special day because today is the day that I actually get to say we are working on it, and are very close to shipping a test of it," he said. But before you immediately imagine Facebook as a carbon copy of Reddit's upvote/downvote system, Zuckerberg maintains there's more to the developments. "That doesn't seem like the kind of community that we want to create. You don't want to go through the process of sharing some moment that was important to you in your day and have someone 'downvote' it." It's more about "expressing empathy". There's going to be more than liking and disliking on Facebook, as Zuckerberg mentioned there'll be multiple emotional reactions you'll be able to apply to posts. Facebook will begin tests soon, before rolling out the buttons worldwide. Via CNBC.
M. Night Shyamalan is back. Of course, he never really went anywhere — he just took a detour from familiar territory. After coming to fame with his third feature — the dead people-filled, six-time Oscar nominee The Sixth Sense — the filmmaker made a name for himself with supernatural-heavy, twist-oriented efforts such as Unbreakable, Signs and The Village. When he switched to bigger budget sci-fi with The Last Airbender and Smith (as in Will and Jaden) family vehicle After Earth, it was a definite change of pace. Then came The Visit, the low-budget 2015 flick that once again toyed with Shyamalan's recognisable elements, and became a huge financial hit in the process. Consider that dipping a toe back into the water, but don't go thinking his latest film, Split, is the writer/director simply offering up more of the same. Yes, the James McAvoy-starring movie is moody and unnerving, embraces a distinctive concept, and balances psychology and philosophy — all Shyamalan trademarks. A claustrophobic kidnapping tale with a lead character boasting 23 different personalities (plus a 24th trying to burst out), as well as an engrossing story that doesn't merely hinge upon late-stage revelations, it's also among his best work. Split commences with Kevin (McAvoy) abducting three teenagers (Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson and Jessica Sula) and taking them to an underground bunker, all while trying to fend off the strict Patricia and the creepy Dennis, as well as a few others. The fact that all of Kevin's foes exist inside his head, alongside nine-year-old Hedwig and plenty more, sets the scene for a tense, largely one-setting horror thriller — and the chance for McAvoy to demonstrate the full extent of his acting chops. With Split now in cinemas, we chatted with Shyamalan about working on the story for 15 years, finding the right actor to play such a complicated part, and other film twists that proved influential. ON THE ORIGINS OF SPLIT "It's an unusual story because I wrote part of the story a long time ago — fifteen, sixteen years ago. It was part of another screenplay, and I pulled it out. I decided to make it its own movie — I hoped to make it as its own movie. And I guess, you know, I got caught up making other movies and it just always kind of sat there. And now recently felt like the perfect time to make it for me, so I started to return to it and think about it as, well, who is this character, and what would happen? So I started outlining it, and I think it really lent itself to the types of movies that I'm doing both practically and creatively. One, practically, that it is very contained, which I'm leaning towards those kind of movies right now. And then, it's kind of dark, comedic, suspense — I'm in that headspace." ON TRYING TO BALANCE BOTH HUMOUR AND THRILLS "It is a tricky balance. It is fascinating because you can have the wrong humour moment at the wrong time and you detach — and you may get the laugh but it's a bad one because the stakes aren't high. And the reverse is also true. So if the stakes are at a certain level, no one would say something or react in a way that would cause a laugh in that situation, so it would be artificial. It seems almost counter that those two could exist, but I really enjoyed in these last two movies, finding these moments that can do both." ON WRITING A LEAD ROLE WITH 24 DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES "I mean, it's funny — you kind of just think of them as different characters. And in this movie, the premise of the disorder is that this isn't someone changing moods, these are different human beings, occupying the same body. So if you really honour that disorder, it's just writing different characters. There are three abductors that keep these girls: Patricia, Kevin and Hedwig. So, it would be as if I had written that a group of three people had abducted these girls — a man, a woman and a child — and they try to manipulate the child to get out....It just so happens that one guy is going to play all of them." [caption id="attachment_607463" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] (Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)[/caption] ON CASTING JAMES MCAVOY "I met James at Comic-Con, appropriately enough. We met for the first time, and...I just felt such a connection with him. And my headspace was so much about Kevin, and I was writing Kevin, and I was like, 'this guy can play him, I can feel it'. There were two different moments. One was when I saw him at Comic-Con and I felt a real kind of good guy feeling — like, he's a good guy, coming right off him. That's always what I wanted for the person that played the part — that they could play it with sincerity and they could bring empathy to each of the characters. And then once I sent him the script — he was in London and I Skyped with him — and I remember getting off Skype and I was like, "I am 100 percent certain that this is the guy". Just the way he talked about the part, and his knowledge of the disorder. He was actually very aware of the disorder and had done some research into it prior to reading the script, and I could see that his approach to it was going to be right-on. And he was fearless, he was just very fearless about the whole thing." ON SELF-FINANCING SPLIT "When you put yourself out there, financially, you're a different version of yourself. You're all in. It's a fascinating thing, you know? If you were a professional basketball player, right, and you went and played in a street ball tournament, you went outside and you went there's no referees or anything like that — you'd probably be the best version of yourself there, when you have something to be concerned about. They could hurt you, there is nobody there to say foul or anything like that. So you're hyper-concentrated. In that same way, when you take away the safety net, you're different. And then others come to the table with that same mindset, because they can just feel it off of you literally and physically and emotionally. So you get very like-minded people on the movie, so it's this kind of hyper-commitment that comes from everyone. And then when the actors come on, they feel that too. I feel like — even if just in my own head — the feeling that I'm allowed to do anything and it is up to me, that is a very empowering feeling. It allows me to break genre, and to do something daring, and to do tonal things that maybe I would be hesitant to do otherwise, [like] make the main character ambiguously good or bad, or have a very provocative scene, or juxtapose comedy and suspense in a way that's unorthodox. There's more choices when you make it at an appropriate budget level, which makes me feel like it's okay to be different. Not only is it okay — that's your secret weapon, that you try to make it special and you try to make it as different as you can." ON TWIST-FILLED FILMS THAT INSPIRED SPLIT "I'm more inspired by the weirdest movies that you would see. For me, Robert Altman was a big inspiration for Split. And the film Cache. And Dogtooth, which was a film from Greece. Just really unusual movies were the inspiration for Split. It isn't like one-to-one like that, but of course it was those movies that have those amazing paradigm shifts." Split is in cinemas now. Read our review here.
If you've got a long-held dream of seeing the South Pole and have a bit of spare cash to burn, then you'd best get in quick to score a seat on the upcoming Antarctica flights out of Australia. Sightseeing group Antarctica Flights is taking bookings for a series of rare, sky-high charter tours, departing Sydney (November 18), Perth (January 26), Melbourne (December 31 and February 10), Brisbane (November 10, 2019) and Adelaide (November 24, 2019), to cruise above the dazzling Antarctica Treaty area for around four hours. This year, for the first time ever, it's also flying out of Hobart (which means less travelling and more sightseeing) on November 25. Each flight path is carefully chosen to maximise viewing from both sides of the plane and to ensure the best views should the weather turn nasty, while some passengers will rotate seats to allow everyone an equal shot at the spectacular scenery below. Travelling on a QANTAS 747, the whole trip clocks in at around 12.5 hours — depending on your departure city — during which you'll hear from expert Antarctic explorers, talking about the polar environment and its fascinating history. All that, while enjoying some better-than-average QANTAS plane food, full bar service and, in the lead-up to the views, a spot of in-flight entertainment — classic flick Happy Feet, or some Antarctic docos, of course. As expected, this kind of plane trip doesn't come cheap — you're looking at forking out $1199 to be seated in the very middle of the plane, a whole four seats away from any window. Other options, including the Economy Class Standard ($1999), the Economy Class Superior ($2999) and the Premium Economy Class ($3299) involve seat rotations throughout the flight, so passengers can spend time both close to the window and further away. Of course, you and your favourite travel buddy could drop $7999 each on Ice Class tickets to have a window seat and the one next to it all to yourselves for the entire flight. Also worth noting is the super indulgent New Year's Eve flight out of Melbourne, which could have you ringing in 2019 with onboard Champagne, a live jazz band and a bird's eye view of Antarctica.
Camping season is about to kick off hard but, as the folks at Simple Pleasures Camping Co. are happy to show, that needn't necessarily mean sandy sleeping bags and dusty bush treks. The luxury camping pros are set to take over Sydney Harbour's North Head, with a seven-week pop-up glampsite that'll see happy campers enjoying the great outdoors in style. Running from December 14 to January 31, the Bedouin on the Beaches pop-up will feature ten plush furnished tents overlooking Manly Beach. These luxe lodgings are about as far from roughing it as you can get, each one tricked out with Persian rugs, cloud-like Hugo Sleep mattresses and linen by IN BED. And, with some local favourites on board, the food situation is also a far cry from that of your childhood camping trips. Each booking includes a lavish breakfast at The Boathouse Shelly Beach (which is just a stroll away), and nearby Papi Chulo has created a special set menu for guests wanting lunch or dinner. There's also the option of arriving at your tent to a chilled bottle of Laurent Perrier and one of the Artisan Cheese Room's tasting boards. Bedouin on the Beaches is just one of Sydney's glamping options — Cockatoo Island has been doing glamping for a while now, and a glamping hotel is set to pop up next year on Clark Island. And if you want to rough it is, take a look at our best camping spots around Sydney and guide to camping along the east coast.
Futurama is coming out of stasis, and a pandemic, vaccines, bitcoin, streaming and cancel culture all await. How will the Planet Express crew deal with all of the above, plus a massive disruption in the flow of time, when the Matt Groening-created show about life in the 31st century returns in July? As seen in the comeback season's initial teaser and now its just-dropped full trailer, they'll cope the same way they always have in this beloved animated sitcom: by knowing that anything and everything can and will happen. If a pizza delivery guy was to accidentally wander into a cryogenic chamber back in July 2013, get stuck frozen inside for ten years, then wake up in July 2023, plenty that he knows about the world will have changed — but Futurama would remain a constant. Back then, the series was still on-screen. Now, it's finally being defrosted after a decade off the air. Good news, everyone! — it's back, baby, after US streaming platform Hulu first announced plans to go back to the future in 2022. Futurama was renewed for a 20-episode run, with the first ten new instalments arriving from Monday, July 24 Down Under via Disney+. Say hello again to the 20th-century's Philip J Fry (voiced by Billy West), distant uncle to Planet Express cargo company Professor Hubert J Farnsworth (also voiced by West), plus the rest of the outfit's crew. Yes, that means more antics with one-eyed ship captain Turanga Leela (Katey Sagal); fellow employees Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMarr), Amy Wong (Lauren Tom) and Zoidberg (also West); and everyone from self-obsessed starship captain Zapp Brannigan (West again) and his amphibious 4th Lieutenant Kif Kroker (Maurice LaMarche) through to scheming corporation owner Mom (Tress MacNeille). And, yes, it Bender Bending Rodríguez will be causing chaos, with John DiMaggio also back with the cast. When the revival was first announced, that wasn't the case — but it wouldn't be Futurama without its constantly sauced robot exclaiming "bite my shiny metal ass!". You can put a beloved show into suspended animation, but someone is going to thaw it out one day — and more than once. Initially airing from 1999–2003, the futuristic series then returned from 2008–2013, before now being given another run. Hulu is calling this comeback season 11, even though Futurama spans a past seven seasons and four direct-to-DVD movies so far. As for what this return is about, other than satirising life in the year 3000 and beyond — and parts of life today — the streaming service is promising more about Fry and Leela's love story, what's in Nibbler's litter box, evil Robot Santa's secret history, and Kif and Amy's tadpoles. Check out the full new Futurama trailer below: Futurama season 11 will stream via Disney+ Down Under from Monday, July 24.
There are a million mobile apps out there to help you take better care of your body. But what about one that helps you take better care of your planet? That's the idea behind TODAY, an app that'll let users "track and share the positive impact they have on the world". The homegrown app, which is currently being funded via a crowdfunding campaign, will provide users with information about their environmental footprint, and offer tips on how they can reduce it. It'll tell you how much clean air you create every time you walk to work. It'll tell you how much natural land you conserve every time you eat sustainable food. It'll even tell you how much pollution you save by cutting back on disposable coffee cups. "TODAY exists to inspire you and every single one of us to make the small changes, both individually and collectively, to create a better future for all," reads a description on the app's Start Some Good page. The plan is for the TODAY team to work with ethical businesses, "and engage with awesome environmental initiatives". For more information about TODAY, check out their website. If you like what you see, you can donate to their crowdfunding campaign here.
Even though malaria mortality rates have dropped 25% since 2000, the disease continues to kill one child per minute in Africa. In 2010, the World Health Organisation estimated there were 219 million malaria cases worldwide, 660,000 of which resulted in death. About half the global population inhabits malaria-prone areas. According to WHO, 'personal protection against mosquito bites represents the first line of defence for malaria prevention'. At present, the two most common methods of 'vector control' are insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying with residual insecticides. The latter is fully effective when 80% of houses in a particular area are sprayed at three to six month intervals. That's the equivalent to a frightening volume of toxins. Until now, though, nothing else has seemed to work. However, a team of 'passionate professionals devoted to combatting mosquito-borne diseases worldwide' has come up with a new solution: the Kite Patch. It provides 48 hours of protection by secreting non-toxic compounds that prevent mosquitoes from detecting carbon monoxide, the main method they use to discover and target their human prey. It's taken three years of work at Olfactor Laboratories, Inc., and three years of research at the University of California Riverside to come up with the Kite. Having received initial assistance from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the US National Institutes of Health, the team is currently running an Indiegogo campaign. Within five days, it became the crowd funding site's most popular project, reaching an initial goal of $US75,000, which will fund the provision of 20,000 Kite Patches to Pilgrim Africa, Uganda. Now, a stretch goal of $385,000 is just $60,000 short of fulfillment. [via Gizmag]
Trekking across a continent is the type of bucket-list activity plenty of people think about, but few ever manage. If you're in Canada, however, walking across the country just got a whole lot easier. Spanning 24,000 kilometres across 13 provinces and territories, the world's longest hiking track has just been completed. It has taken 25 years to come to fruition, so it's no wonder that they're calling it The Great Trail. Opening in its 100% connected form at the end of August, the path connects Canada's east and west coasts via an outdoor journey through all of the terrain the nation has to offer. Urban, rural and wilderness landscape is featured, plus greenways, waterways and roadways, with track perfect for not only hikers, cyclists and horse riders, but anyone keen for a paddle, cross-country ski or snowmobile trip as well. The trail was first conceived as part of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992, with Pierre Camu, Bill Pratt, and Paul LaBarge coming up with the idea to connect all of the country's various tracks. As well as the types of treks you'd expect — over rocky ground and through leafy forests, for example — highlights include wanders through major cities such as Toronto and Ottawa, a sea-to-sky marine trail around islands and waterfalls, and dog-sledding during snow season. Via Travel + Leisure / Image: The Great Trail.
Bacon is many things. It is a bona fide food of the gods, a saviour of all hungover mornings, and an eternal clogger of arteries, but now it can add one more title to its already stellar (if not a little oily) resume — bacon can now power vehicles. Or, more specifically, bacon grease can. To prove this fascinating tidbit of potentially environment-saving trivia, one man in the US endeavoured to ride his motorcycle from Minnesota to San Diego fuelled only by bacon-y goodness. The results are in, and they're pretty spectacular. Collaborating with Bio-Blend Fuels and the meat-l0ving legends at Hormel Foods, Eric Pierson took to the road last month on his tricked-out diesel motorcycle. The end-point of the trip was of course the San Diego Bacon Festival — yep, that exists — and the whole journey was captured for a documentary that is currently in post-production. Now, though we consider ourselves experts on the cooking and eating of bacon, we can't attest to much of the science behind the project. Supposedly bacon grease is a viable fuel source that also has the added benefit of being carbon-neutral. Pouring the oil from fast food fryers into your car is allegedly also a thing that could work somehow. If you don't believe us, feast your eyes on this incredibly technical flowchart: This could be a revolution in environmental science! In a few years, petrol stations could be replaced by bacon-frying stations. No longer would you have to spend half your paycheck on filling up your tank. Just buy a few kilos of extra-streaky bacon, fry it up, mop up the grease and eat the spoils. You'd already be craving it; everyone's exhaust fumes would smell like a Sunday morning fry-up. For the full story — and more scientifically accurate information — on the impending bacon revolution, keep an eye out for the documentary's release date. This is bound to be good news for everyone... except pigs. It's very bad news for pigs. Via PSFK.
Envision the music of Bach in dance form and what you get is probably not a nine-headed b-boy crew pulling off head spins and power moves. But that's what artistic director Christoph Hagel and choreographer/mastermind Vartan Bassil have done with Red Bull Flying Bach: an explosive streetdance driven by the music of the visionary 18th-century composer. The dancers are Berlin-based breakdance crew Flying Steps, formed by Bassil and Kadir 'Amigo' Memis almost 10 years ago. While their moves are normally driven by urban sounds, this time head spins are inspired by piano keys and b-boy freezes by Bach's fuges. Though that might be putting it too simply; what they're really doing is interpreting Bach's music rather than dancing to it. Different dancers represent different notes, and electronic beats fuse the gaps between the two disparate worlds without at all bastardising the original score. If there was any way Bach could have seen this coming 300 years ago, he'd no doubt approve. We have two double passes to give away to Red Bull Flying Bach in Sydney on March 8 and Melbourne on March 15. To be in the running, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven't already) and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
As Brisbane's annual LGBTQIA+ celebration, Melt Festival has seen Sophie Ellis-Bextor grace its stage, and Chappell Roan as well. It has also hosted Spencer Tunick's nude photography works, including shutting down the Story Bridge for one installation. They're just some of the event's highlights from recent years, but it's about to add another in 2025: a Brisbane-only show by Broadway icon Bernadette Peters. In New York's famous theatre district, she originated the role of The Witch in Into the Woods, and of Dot in Sunday in the Park with George. She has two Tonys, for Song and Dance and Annie Get Your Gun. She won a Golden Globe for Pennies From Heaven on the big screen, and featured in The Jerk and Annie as well. On TV, she boasts Smash, Mozart in the Jungle, The Good Fight, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and High Desert on her resume. Now, Peters is doing an Australian-exclusive performance in the Queensland capital — and it's her first Aussie gig in more than a decade. An Evening with Bernadette Peters has a date with the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday, October 24 — and is also the first event announced for Melt Festival, which runs from Wednesday, October 22–Sunday, November 9. The star kickstarts the lineup not just as a Broadway legend, but as an icon of the LGBTQIA+ community, including thanks to her work with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to raise funds for AIDS patients and research. How will a talent with six decades of performing to draw upon — including the current Broadway season of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends — whittle that down into one Brisbane show? You'll need to head along to find out. [caption id="attachment_998044" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Drama League via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Melt takes place in spring, and returns in 2025 after being reborn in 2024 as a fringe-style celebration of queer arts and culture that not only fills Brisbane Powerhouse, but spreads across the city. Last year, more than 120 events popped up in 70-plus venues across southeast Queensland, complete with a Wicked-themed Halloween ball, a pool party and plenty more. In her Brisbane performance, Peters boasts support by Camerata — Queensland's Chamber Orchestra. [caption id="attachment_716453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dylan Evans[/caption] An Evening with Bernadette Peters will take place on Friday, October 24, 2025 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of Melt Festival 2025. Head to the festival website for more information, and to join the waitlist for tickets. Melt Festival 2025 runs from Wednesday, October 22–Sunday, November 9. Hit up the festival website for more details. Top image: Drama League via Wikimedia Commons.
We've certainly had some fun with Mexican spirits this month and the revelry is set to continue in March at Tio's Cervecería. The whole month is dedicated to mezcal, the smoky agave spirit that — despite popular assumption — is more akin to whisky than tequila. Tio's will be serving a mezcal-themed menu all month, but Sunday, March 11, will be the official kick-off event. Festivities will commence at 3pm with the Surry Hills drinking den to host an exclusive two-hour tasting event. A selection of notable mezcals will be showcased, hand-picked by Tio's venue manager (and passionate agave advocate) Alex 'Happy' Gilmour. The tasting session is free so we recommend heading there early to secure a spot at the bar. The merriment continues from 5.30pm when the doors open for all. Chef Rosa Ciefuegos (whose Marrickville Market stall and Casa Latina pop-ups create quite the queue) will be in the kitchen dishing out authentic Mexican tacos and tamales. And a curated cocktail menu will be on-hand to wash it all down — our choice is the Guadalupe made with Montelobos Espadin mezcal, fresh lime, coconut and cane. If the afternoon of eats and drinks have left you wanting more, Tio's will also be hosting a 'Mezcal and Masa' cooking class with Gilmour and Ciefuegos on Saturday, March 17, to help you recreate the Mexican magic at home. Tickets are $90 and you can buy tickets here.
On July 4, 2010, Michiel Roodenburg and Joost Notenboom from the Netherlands embarked on a 20-month journey, and after cycling across over 15 countries the two recently finished their journey in Antarctica. Their ‘Cycle for Water’ campaign is the first attempt in history to travel from the Arctic Circle to Antartica aboard bicycles, and bamboo ones at that. Roodenburg and Nootenboom aimed to raise awareness about the global water crisis, which affects one seventh of the world’s population. Cycling across some of the most amazing places in the world, their 30,000 kilometre adventure took them through such areas as the Canadian wilderness and the rainforests of Central and South America. The pair decided to create the campaign after they saw the water shortages in Africa and the Middle East. "We believe that everyone on this planet has the right to a basic and sustainable source of drinking water. It is the first step out of poverty. Water is life, literally and figuratively," says Roodenburg and Notenboom. The National Geographic says "over 97 percent of the world's water is too salty to drink, another 2 percent is locked up in the world's ice caps and glaciers." This leaves us with less than one percent that we are able to use, so it's probably a good idea to keep it clean.
The perpetual re-creation of urbanscapes amounts to copious waste. It's true that an abundance of recycling processes aims at diminishing resource use. However, they're often heavy on the energy consumption front. Consequently, designer Omer Haciomeroglu, in conjunction with Atlas Copco, has come up with 'ERO: Concrete De-Construction Robot'. It's programmed to pull apart reinforced concrete structures, so that they can be re-used in the construction of pre-fabricated concrete buildings. 'Today, operators manually control different sized demolition machines to smash and crash the concrete structure into dusty bits within the demolition location,' Haciomeroglu explains. 'All of these machines consume a lot of energy to operate. Water has to be sprayed constantly over the pulverised surfaces with fire hoses to prevent harmful dust from spreading around. After the work is done, big machines come and scoop the rebar and concrete mixture and transfer them to the recycle stations outside the city. There, the waste needs to be separated manually.' So, Haciomeroglu designed ERO to separate materials during the de-construction process, achieved through Hydro-demolition and Centrifugal Decanter technologies. This means that new concrete blocks can be created onsite. In the 2013 International Design Excellence Award (IDEA), ERO won First Prize in the Student Designs category. Haciomeroglu has studied design at California State University, Istanbul Technical University and the Umea Institute of Design, Sweden. 'As a developing designer I always look forward to being part of design teams that develop projects, concepts and products that will grant us, the humankind, valuable and entertaining vision of a better and sustainable future,' he explains. [via PSFK]
