The acquisition of good vintage clothing can be a difficult feat. Much like the metaphoric fog, sometimes you have to sort through a whole bunch of crap until you find something good. Fortunately for us, the guys behind Foe, Like The Enemy have trawled through Asia and the Americas to source the best vintage clothing they could get their hands on. After a wildly successful first pop-up instalment, Foe are holding their second pop-up store in Regent Street, Redfern from September 24 - October 8. For a limited time you can walk into a real-live shop and try on vintage clothes in an actual changeroom — we're talking Jurassic Park denim details, well-worn flannos, as many retro sunglasses as you can predict to lose at a music festival. Every killer pop-up needs a killer launch party — and the first Foe shindig was an epic hootenanny in Fouveaux Street with Catcall and Phondupe spinning tunes aplenty. This time around, there'll be plenty of free drinks courtesy of Havana Club. But to fuel your shopping spree vibes, there'll some very special sets from some of Sydney's best including Embassy, Brudo and Hux, Collarbones' Marcus Whale and FBi Radio's Adi Toohey. That's some serious Sydney talent behind the decks for a launch. To gear you up for tonight, FBi Sunset DJ Adi Toohey has created a brand new beats-laden minimix — just the thing to make your Wednesday that little bit more top notch. Last time around we brought you a mix from Phondupe, which you can find here after you've cranked this crispy morsel: Launch night runs from 6.30pm, Wednesday, September 24. The pop-up shop is open until October 8. Check out the Phondupe minimix for the first pop-up here. Words by Natalie Freeland and Shannon Connellan.
A hit in the 90s, and a high school-set favourite ever since — as well as a key title on Sarah Michelle Gellar (Do Revenge), Ryan Phillippe (I Love That for You), Reese Witherspoon (Your Place or Mine), Selma Blair (After We Collided) and Joshua Jackson's (Dr Death) respective resumes — Cruel Intentions isn't done with its dangerous liaisons yet. The teen-centric adaptation of 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses has already spawned two direct-to-video sequels in 2001 and 2004, one of which starred a very young Amy Adams (The Woman in the Window) taking over Gellar's role. As theatre fans know, Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical has also been singing and dancing its way across Australian stages of late. Now, in the works next: a Cruel Intentions TV show. TV Line reports Amazon is behind this latest revival of a 90s favourite — a trend that's also seen A League of Their Own and Interview with the Vampire get the same treatment in the last year alone. This isn't the first time that Cruel Intentions has been slated to make the leap to the small screen, though, with a sequel series floated in the mid-2010s but never coming to fruition, and the aforementioned Cruel Intentions 2 actually fashioned out of a prequel series called Manchester Prep that didn't make it to air. This time around, it looks like there's an eight-episode reboot on the way, once again about scheming step-siblings. They'll be in Washington, and at an elite college — getting immersed in fraternity and sorority life, and even seducing the US Vice President's daughter. If you're now humming Placebo's 'Every You Every Me', The Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony' or Fatboy Slim's 'Praise You' to yourself, that's understandable. There's no word yet if the next spin on Cruel Intentions will feature any of the 1999 classic's tracks — or cast, or indeed who might star it in. There's also nothing on when the show might drop, or where Down Under, with it reportedly set for Amazon's FreeVee streaming service in the US. Filming is apparently set to start in Toronto before April is out, however, which means that this series isn't all that far away from hitting streaming queues. If you've seen the OG movie, then you'll know the initial story, with the 90s-era Cruel Intentions following step-siblings Sebastian Valmont (Phillippe) and Kathryn Merteuil (Gellar). Manipulating each other's love lives is their main hobby, a pastime that levels up a few notches when Kathryn places a bet on whether Sebastian can sleep with Annette Hargrove (Witherspoon), the headmaster's daughter at their exclusive prep school. There's obviously no sneak peek at Amazon's Cruel Intentions series yet, but here's the orignal's trailer: Amazon's Cruel Intentions TV series doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you with one when further details are announced. Via TV Line.
Wearable technologies seem to be at a bit of an impasse. We vaguely recognise that they're the way forward but haven't quite got the design down. Do we want to draw pictures in the air with a ring a la Minority Report, or are we actually going to embrace the clunky computer-faced chic of Google Glass? Presumably neither. New technologies always start in the dorkiest way possible. But with Google's latest release of Android Wear — and, more specifically, a smartwatch that isn't at all ugly — the future of wearable technologies is looking a little more bright. Android Wear is basically a wrist-sized version of Google's already released Now software. The service, which is surely putting actual personal assistants out of business, is a nifty little program that self-organises information from your email, calendar, maps and apps to create appropriately timed reminders and messages on your smartphone. Yes, it's got that familiar brand of Skynet creepiness, but it sure is helpful all the same. As a smartwatch, this service appears a lot less intrusive. There won't be a million windows popping up on your phone and the miniaturised, clean aesthetic allows for brevity and concision. Also, as the video shows, you now have the opportunity to say "OK Google" into your wrist like a freakin' special agent. The watches are set to be released by Motorola and LG sometime in the next few months so keep an ear out for the no-doubt exorbitant prices and stockists. A bit further down the track, the plan is to team up with fashion labels, starting with Fossil, to produce watches fitted with the operating system. Via The Verge.
For some, friendly banter with whoever happens to be behind a car's wheel is a regular part of booking a ride. For others, the obligatory bout of awkward conversation with the driver is the most dreaded part of the trip. Or, maybe you're just having a bad day and don't feel like chatting. Perhaps you're usually happy to talk away, but you're stressed, have too much on your mind, and have emails to check while you're getting from point A to point B. Whether you like a good chinwag with your driver or prefer riding in silence, Uber has introduced a new feature that lets customers choose their level of conversation. It's called quiet mode, and it gives riders three options — 'quiet preferred', 'happy to chat' and 'no preference' — when booking a trip. The catch: it's only available for Uber Black customers, and it has currently only launched in the US. According to the Uber website, the ridesharing service's premium offering has also added a suite of other 'enhanced features', including asking for help with your luggage, requesting a specific temperature within the car, giving passengers a bit of extra time to make their way to the vehicle, and offering a consistent kind of ride in terms of car models, makes, interiors and exteriors. While there's no word on if or when the features will be rolled out beyond America — or if any will be adopted by regular Uber — there is obviously already option for folks who'd like to get across town without natter. It's certainly a sign of the times that ordering a conversation (or lack thereof) can now be done at the touch of a button, rather than in person. That said, pre-selecting quiet mode will stop the dreaded, always uncomfortable "I don't feel like chatting" convo before the uncomfortable silence, as well as awkward small talk.
Childhood snaps aplenty are filled with Australia's big things, including pictures with The Big Pineapple as a backdrop if you've ever visited the Sunshine Coast. As an adult, there's another way to make memories at the famous Woombye site: hitting up The Big Pineapple Festival, which is finally returning in 2024 after a three-year absence and has just dropped its jam-packed lineup. The Queensland fest announced its comeback earlier this year, and also its 2024 date: Saturday, October 19. Now comes who'll be taking to the stage while you dance in the shadow of a giant piece of tropical fruit. The Amity Affliction, Bliss n Eso and Peking Duk lead the bill, alongside Tones and I, Golden Features, Vera Blue, Thornhill and Dune Rats doing a DJ set. There's a heap more acts where they came from, too, on what's set to be a massive spring day in the Sunshine State. [caption id="attachment_964826" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Tom Barnes[/caption] 2024's event will also add a World Eats and Beats precinct, which is where you can grab a bite and listen to global tunes; the Lantern Parade lighting up the site, aka pineapple fields; the Skate Jam, where top Aussie skaters will on their decks; and Burlesque L'amour doing a festival stint. Or, you can enter the Best Dressed at the Fest contest, with prizes for both solo and team attire — and likely a range of pineapple-inspired outfits getting a workout — or try your stuff at The Great Australian Pineapple Toss competition. On the nation's list of big things, The Big Pineapple is among the most famous. It's big. It's a pineapple. It's heritage-listed Queensland icon. It's surrounded by those pineapple fields. It now has a new cafe and viewing platform. Basically, what's not to love? Since 2013, however, it's no longer merely a reason to go to Nambour to gawk at over-sized fruit — because that's when it also became home to a music festival, which ran annually until its current three-year break. As well as live music, the fest includes two days of camping. Accordingly, if you hadn't already, start looking forward to an event that'll take over its iconic location's natural amphitheatres, get folks pitching a tent at the 4000-person campground, and also span workshops and art installations in a relaxed setting, too. The Big Pineapple Festival's return is welcome news at a time when the Australian music scene has been seeing cancellations, rather than comebacks. Tasmania's Mona Foma said farewell forever after its 2024 event, both Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo scrapped their 2024 festivals mere weeks after announcing their lineups, Falls Festival took summer 2023–24 off, Summergrounds Music Festival at Sydney Festival was cancelled and This That hasn't gone ahead for a couple of years now. The Big Pineapple Festival 2024 Lineup: The Amity Affliction Tones and I Bliss n Eso Golden Features Peking Duk Vera Blue Thornhill Dune Rats (DJ set) The Dreggs Drax Project SLUMBERJACK Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers Ocean Grove Kinder South Summit No Money Enterprise Day We Ran Betty Taylor Toby Hobart Hellcat Speedracer Raw Ordio Ishan Larynx Karlou Rhino Tess Fapani Earth Sign Unearthed winner [caption id="attachment_964825" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Billy Zammit[/caption] [caption id="attachment_944026" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Big Pineapple, Alpha via Flickr[/caption] The Big Pineapple Festival will return on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Ticket presale signups start from 8am on Monday, July 8, with presales beginning at 8am on Wednesday, July 10 and general sales from 8am on Thursday, July 11 — head to the fest's website for more information. Images: Claudia Ciapocha / Charlie Hardy.
Already one of the most scenic areas in Australia, the Whitsundays are about to give visitors something else to look at — an installation of underwater and inter-tidal art. As part of the Whitsundays Reef Recovery and Public Art Project, six artists will create six artworks that'll sit beneath the sea, with tourists and locals able to snorkel and dive around them from the end of 2019. Selected from 73 expressions of interest, Brian Robinson, Adriaan Vanderlugt and Col Henry will create their pieces individually, while Caitlin Reilly, Jessa Lloyd and Kate Ford, from the Arts Based Collective, will work together. And although everyone will have to wait a year to enjoy the underwater creations at Langford Reef, some of the artworks will be designed with a dual purpose. As Lloyd explains, Arts Based Collective's contribution — called Anthozoa — "not only performs aesthetically in its sculptural form, but importantly doubles as a site for reef restoration. As the underwater form matures, visitors snorkelling and diving the site will see a sculpture festooned with a myriad of coral species, tentacles encrusted with soft and hard corals, marine animals sheltering in and peeking from small holes." Other pieces include a turtle, manta rays, Maori wrasse, coral polyp and an indigenous sculpture, 'Bwya', that contains 12 local species of fish and sharks. Made out of concrete, stainless steel and aluminium, they'll be placed in spots accessible to snorkelers and scuba divers. Although they'll vary in size, the largest sculpture will span six metres in length. The announcement follows a trial that began at the beginning of August, marking the first sculptures to ever be placed in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Local artist Vanderlugt earned those honours, with four of his sculptures placed near Langford Reef — including a fish, a nudibranch (aka a type of mollusc) and a crab that ranged up to 1.8 metres long, and weighed around 300 kilograms. Other than celebrating creativity, the Whitsundays Reef Recovery and Public Art Project aims give the region a new attraction, unsurprisingly. "This artwork will provide a new experience for people travelling to the Whitsundays and will help the marine tourism industry recover after Cyclone Debbie," said Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones in a statement earlier this year. "Around the world — from the Caribbean, to the Maldives, Spain, Bali and Australia's west coast — underwater art has been used to lure visitors." Images: Tourism Whitsundays / Lauren Vadnjal.
This week has really shown we need to chill out about our phones. Demand for the iPhone 6 has created endurance-testing queues outside every Apple store in the country. People are bartering, arguing and crying; one woman nearly got arrested. This obsession is even starting to find its way into legit infrastructure — China introduced a footpath exclusively for people on their phones. We clearly have a problem. Now, a group of friends from New York have come up with the perfect solution. Currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, the NoPhone is a "technology-free alternative" to the new iPhone. Putting an end to our obsession with rudely 'gramming our meal at dinner or Facebooking mid-conversation with someone, the NoPhone doesn't have internet capabilities. In fact, it doesn't work as a phone either. It's just a block of plastic. "With a thin, light and completely wireless design, the NoPhone acts as a surrogate to any smart mobile device," the KickStarter reads. "[Now you can] always have a rectangle of smooth, cold plastic to clutch without forgoing any potential engagement with your direct environment. Never again experience the unsettling feeling of flesh on flesh when closing your hand." Despite launching as a satirical statement about our relationship with technology, in the past week the NoPhone has amassed some serious backers. So far, the project has received nearly US$6,000 in proposed funding and there are still 21 more days to go. One supporter of the project has even made a request for a NoPad. Really, it makes sense. The NoPhone is the first phone to be both completely waterproof and free to run. No hiked up data charges, no extra cost for international calls — it's the dream. It even offers an optional selfie upgrade. "Enjoy sending yourself selfies in real-time. Share selfies with your friends if they’re standing behind you. Add a verbal hashtag by syncing your brain and vocal cords." Despite the surprising popularity (and our absolute love) of the idea, it might be some time before NoPhones actually hit the stands. The proposed funding goal is set at a whopping US$30,000. If you'd like to get in on the ground floor of this stunning investment, pledge some funds over here. The handset will set you back US$12 plus shipping. Alternatively, you could just stop being a douche and put down your iPhone every once in a while.
If you want to catch a bus, train, tram or ferry in Sydney, the Opal card has been the main way to pay for your trip for a while now. But that's about to change — for some commuters, at least. After News Corp reported the impending demise of Australia's transport ticketing cards back in January, Transport for NSW has announced that, from today, contactless card payments — and devices that have the service enabled — will be available on ferries and light rail services. Yep, you can leave your Opal in your wallet/on your desk/down the side of the couch — with this new technology, you can just tap your card or device (Visa, Mastercard and American Express are all accepted) right onto the regular Opal scanners. Doing this will charge you for an Adult Opal single trip ticket — so if you have a concession, you might want to stick with a regular Opal card for now. Plus, using your card won't cap your fare when you travel multiple times in a day or week. Nonetheless, it's a welcome leap in technology — and one that was always going to happen at some point soon. Moving away from dedicated transport cards — or adding other payment options — will make things easier for tourists and travellers (and people who, god forbid, leave their Opal at home), who shouldn't have to buy a new piece of plastic just to catch a bus or train (or pay extra for a paper ticket if they don't) when they're visiting. However, if we're moving towards a contactless future, ensuring the new system remains accessible for anyone that doesn't have a smartphone, smartwatch or bank card remains a concern. So what about the other cities? Melburnians can expect to scan on with a credit or debit card in trials due to start this year, focusing on Routes 11, 86 or 96, according to The Sunday Herald Sun. And in Brisbane, The Sunday Mail reports that a trial will commence either later in 2018 or sometime in early 2019, starting with the Airtrain.
With the 89th Academy Awards here again, we're at once proud and legally hesitant to again bring you Concrete Playground's Annual Oscars Drinking Game. Play by the rules, and by the time the Best Visual Editing in a Foreign Animated Short Documentary category comes around*, you'll be dancing on tables better than Gosling and Stone could ever dream of. As always, Concrete Playground encourages both the responsible consumption of alcohol, and the soonest-possible-end to all reboots of movies that were fine the first time round. Read up on our predictions and settle in for a big Monday afternoon. ONE SIP (EVERGREEN OSCAR STAPLES) Anyone makes a President Trump joke. Jack Nicholson wears sunglasses. Diane Keaton wears gloves. Harrison Ford wears an earring. Jennifer Lawrence does something adorably "real" (three sips if it's a fashion mishap). Leo brings his mother as his date. Winner thanks God or Jesus. Winner's speech is played off by the orchestra. Winner pays tribute to his/her extraordinary fellow nominees. Winner describes his/her film as "important". Winner describes his/her film's director as "a genius" and/or "visionary". TWO SIPS (THE OSCARS ARE PREDICTABLE) Anyone makes an almost-President Hilary joke. Kimmel jokes that one day, thanks to advances in technology, translators like Amy Adams' character in Arrival might be able to decipher some sort of intelligence from President Trump's tweets. Whenever you catch yourself humming 'City of Stars' after it's performed during the ceremony. When the cast and crew of La La Land are invited to look under their seats to find a complimentary Oscar already taped to the bottom. Whenever Ben Affleck smiles, but remains dead behind those cold, joyless eyes. Nicole Kidman rocks up with her hair in the killer '80s 'do from Lion. The Manchester By The Sea video package depresses everyone so profoundly they all just pack up and go home. Nobody can figure out how to remove the default nominee settings of 'Steven Spielberg' or 'John Williams' from the teleprompter, so both men are named as contenders for Best Supporting Actress (three sips if one of them wins). Whilst presenting an award, DiCaprio plays it all cool as if Oscars don't really matter anyway. Alicia Vikander offers words of inspiration to all nominees from the Best Actress category by proving you can win for drama and finally graduate to playing Lara Croft like you always dreamed of. THREE SIPS (IF MOVIE STARS WERE INTERESTING PEOPLE) Anyone makes a President Nixon joke. Trump actually does tweet about the Oscars while they're happening. Meryl Streep turns up with a band of sherpas carrying all her previous Academy Awards. Dev Patel wins Best Supporting Actor and immediately does a flawless impersonation of whoever presents him with the award. A congratulatory kiss or embrace from the presenter "gets awkward". You've actually seen one of the nominees for Documentary Short Subject. Lady Gaga abseils onto stage for no apparent reason and hangs suspended for the remainder of the evening. Suicide Squad wins for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, resulting in a world-ending vortex as soon as the first person utters the words: "Academy Award-Winning Film Suicide Squad". FINISH YOUR DRINK (WOULD BE TREMENDOUS) Anyone makes a President Martin Van Buren joke. I Am Not Your Negro wins Best Documentary (Feature), but never receives the award after the progressive white presenter doesn't know if it's okay to say the title aloud. After winning the Best Actress award for Jackie, Natalie Portman jokes about 'a more preferable Presidential assassination' and is promptly taken down by the Secret Service. Someone forgets to thank Harvey Weinstein, so he summons a 50-foot demon and begins stealing the souls of everyone present. To prove he's no longer an anti-Semite, Mel Gibson instead goes on a tirade about Sentinelese tribesmen. * If at any stage you believe this is actually a legitimate category, put the drinks down — you've played hard enough. Tom Glasson is one of Concrete Playground's senior film writers and a regular Oscars Drinking Game participant. You can read his reviews here, here and here.
The corner of Swanston and Lonsdale Street seems to have been a permanent construction zone for the past few years. Any attempt to shortcut through the cosmetics section of Myer or run to catch a train from Melbourne Central was always met with a hoard of men in high-vis vests yelling at us; directing us through makeshift walkways like some kind of metropolitan cattle. Now we know why. Emporium Melbourne is the CBD's newest shopping destination. With 225 stores (175 of which are currently open) spread over seven levels, this mall is a goliath. Though open less than a week, it's already making a name for itself in the realms of architecture and design, high fashion, and gourmet food courts. And, while other retailers shut up shop for a lazy Easter weekend, this dark horse utilised the break as its opening weekend. For those that wisely chose not to brave the crowds, here's the lowdown on the mysterious giant: eight things we now know about Emporium Melbourne. It's come from outer space to enslave us all The future is usually a thing that creeps up on you. For instance, no one remembers the exact moment Sony Walkmans became obsolete. One day it just became normal to own a tiny futuristic magic pod, wear fedoras, and pull stupid poses. Upon stepping inside the holy archways of Emporium Melbourne there will be no mistake you have just been transported to the future. In fact, with its clean minimalist sheen and intricate near op-art fittings, we're inclined to go one step further. This super mall of tomorrow has been sent down from the cosmic ether by retail-loving extraterrestrials to hold us all hostage. Within its confines you will feel inexplicably compelled to throw your money at Australian designers and serenely glide towards the sky on a blissful wave of metal (what you Earthlings once called escalators). It's the anti-Chadstone With no K-Mart, McDonalds or KFC, Emporium Melbourne is a mall that even anti-mall people can get behind. Centre manager Steve Edgerton told Broadsheet the retail space was developed as something uniquely "Melbourne", and on that they do not disappoint. With raw timber complementing a clear and sparse aesthetic, the space has been expertly designed by renowned architects The Buchan Group. The stores, which have a large focus on quality independent designers, ensure there is no Supre or Big W in sight. And the food court is a carefully curated selection of local favourites including I Love Pho and South Melbourne Market Dim Sims. If Chadstone is for the embarrassing bogans of the outer suburbs, Emporium Melbourne is Fitzroy latte sippers HQ. There are clothing stores with baristas frothing Bonsoy next to terrariums, for God's sake. There's no way out and no one can hear you scream However, there is one very crucial way in which it is similar to Chadstone — there is basically no way out. By entering its doors you unconsciously surrender to its whims and, if you ever want to get out, it's best to commit an hour or two to your escape. Of course this is somewhat due to the sheer size of this beast. Not only does Emporium Melbourne cover seven levels, it spans the length of six football fields and travels all the way from Bourke Street to LaTrobe. But it also corners you in with pedestrian footbridges seamlessly connecting you to both Myer and David Jones. During my visit on opening weekend, I gave up on conventional means, joined the queue to enter Uniqlo (yep, there was a queue) went up a level in store, then made good my escape via a manned fire exit. Good luck. You can't fault the fashion The recent opening of Swedish retailer H&M at the GPO has kicked the Melbourne fashion stakes into hyperdrive, but Emporium Melbourne has hit back hard. Most notable of their many fashionable findings is the Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo. Over two packed levels, this neatly ordered world of quality budget pieces (think decent wool knits for $29) will no doubt change the way many of us shop this season. Other stores open ahead of the full launch in August include Gorman, Zimmerman, Manning Cartell, Karen Millen, Calvin Klein and Sass & Bide. You can't go wrong with any of the offerings, but we recommend you listen to this while strutting around the endless shopfronts. It's really really really ridiculously good looking With its constantly reiterated branding, 'Emporium Melbourne: Reimagined' it's clear to see this retail giant is trying to reignite the often tired space of the mall. This is done not only by the futuristic and well-executed architectural design, but also the shops themselves. There will be no heaps of discount clothing or messy, unattended counters in these stores — everything is so tightly curated it feels like a pop-up. In what must be a painstaking process for shop attendants, there are two of each magazine on display in MagNation; each separated by perfectly even spaces on the timber shelves. The new Aesop store, though always beautiful in both its Fitzroy and CBD locations, offers free samples of its luxurious body balm to Emporium shoppers walking by. Your trip to the mall will quickly turn into a mission to become as beautiful as your surroundings. Even the food court is pretty Food courts are usually a terrible insight into humanity. Sweating middle-aged men are hunched over super-sized meals in neon packaging. There's usually an exhausted single mother screaming at her caffeinated child to calm down. You watch all of this while shamefully demolishing some oil-drenched faux-Asian cuisine or ironically named Happy Meal while trying to avoid eye contact from your fellow man. Emporium Melbourne is different. In what they're trying to coin a 'cafe court', the top floor of the structure houses the likes of Pho Nom, EARL, Ramen Ya and The Tea Salon. Asian street food plays a big role in the re-imagined food court, and its moves towards health and quality have been praised by none other than Masterchef's own George Colombaris. It's a little cocky Of course, this all comes with a certain amount of ego. It takes a lot of gusto to open a super mall in an economy where consumers are turning more and more towards online shopping. And its takes even more gall to announce yourself 'A Melbourne Icon' after being open only a matter of days. It's like when someone tries to give themselves a nickname — just let it happen naturally, bro. Confidence, of course, isn't a bad thing and we give credit where credit's due. But if it truly wants to be a 'Melbourne' destination, it could at least muster a humblebrag. We're going to give it all our money anyway It's just that winter's coming, you know? It's hard to say no to beautiful retail shrines that are willing to give us quality Japanese jumpers, locally designed leather boots and South Melbourne Market dim sims for $2 a pop. You know it's true. Emporium Melbourne is located at 286 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. It is open 10am-9pm on Thursday and Friday, and 10am-7pm all other days. Images: Meg Watson
Taking design cues from Everything Adorable Ever works a treat for Edwina Sinclair. The 22-year-old Brisbane designer behind Australian label Soot counts Emojis, kiddie terrycloth beach ponchos and post-swim towel huddling as the triggers for her SS14/15 collection 'Splash'. A beachworthy assortment of flowing, wide-leg pants, summery tunics and her signature knitted bubble print, Soot's spring/summer collection is a pastel-lover's paradise. An unfathomably recent graduate from Queensland University of Technology (we're talking a couple of years), industry favourite Sinclair took us through her pretty-as-blazes looks for next season. On Fusing the '30s with Emojis Soot's impossibly summery SS14/15 collection 'Splash' found its beginnings in Sinclair's enthusiasm for both structured '30s beachwear and her own Australian beach-bound childhood. "I wanted to incorporate humour, luxury and texture which are values that I aim to include in all Soot collections," she says. "Inspirations came from looking at 1930's beach loungewear and vintage pyjamas. I am all about comfort so this is subconsciously incorporated into the garments shapes." In an adorable move that reflects Sinclair's age, she found further inspiration right under her thumbs. "I further looked at Emoji's for the prints to incorporate another playful element and develop my 3D textures." On Getting Back to Aussie Roots Full of flat, flowy tunics, wide-leg pants, 'Splash' gives a firm nod to Sinclair's Australian heritage. Remember those 'ball gowns' you and your tiny crew used to make out of towels on the beach, perfect for a parental parade? Sinclair's taken those makeshift moments of Roxy towel-made haute couteur and made them into Actual Garments. "I love the beach, I am there almost every weekend!" she says. "The homage to my Aussie roots comes from the colour, the water references and some literal references too! Such as the linen towel dress — the shape came from wrapping a towel around you after a swim and the droplet jersey dress silhouette came from the terry toweling ponchos children wear at the beach!" On Her Signature Knitted Bubble Design Sinclair's signature knitted bubble bags and dresses popped up at every turn at this year's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, with many a front rower swanning by with SOOT's most recognizable items in tow. Trending at MBFWA is a dream for most up-and-coming designers, and while Sinclair is flattered by the design's success she can see the pressure such hoo-ha can create. "It is great to have other people respond so positively to an idea that has come from a concept to a physical object," she says. "When something does have a good response it does put the pressure on to create something that will be as well received the following season." On Teaming Up With the Fam Edwina isn't the only talented sibling in the Sinclair family. 'Splash' is the first SOOT collection to feature her sister Tilly's jewellery designs. Fusing the strengths of the Sinclair sisters in one gorgeous collaboration, 'Splash' is a beautifully-executed family affair. "It is fun! Also it is very easy to talk openly about our ideas and if we disagree on something it is easy to resolve and compromise," says Sinclair. "It is really great that Tilly wanted to come on board to collaborate this season. I think the jewellery has added a nice touch to the collection." On Hanging at Home in Brisbane So where does one of Brisbane's best exports hang out when she's at home? "I like Shady Palms, Tipplers Tap and Lefty's for a drink with friends. I usually go to Jamie's Espresso Bar or Reverends to get my coffee (both in Fortitude Valley just near my studio). I shop at my favourite store which also happens to be Soot's Brisbane stockist, Blonde Venus in Fortitude Valley." Now for more pretty pictures, here's Soot's SS14/15 'Splash' collection. Check soot.com.au for stockists.
When the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras arrives each year, it fills the Harbour City with LGBTQIA+ celebrations, including in the New South Wales capital's cinemas. Queer Screen's Mardi Gras Film Festival doesn't just confine its movie love to the big screen, however. And, when it hits streaming as well, it isn't solely about Sydney audiences. That's the case again in 2024, with 161 titles showing both in picture palaces and via nationwide small-screen sessions. In its 31st year, MGFF is running in two parts: as a physical fest from Thursday, February 15–Thursday, February 29 at venues around Sydney, then online across the country from Friday, March 1–Monday, March 11. The IRL component has a date with Event Cinemas George Street and Hurstville, Ritz Cinemas Randwick, Dendy Newtown, the Bearded Tit, Hayden Orpheum Cremorne, the Sydney Opera House, the State Library of NSW and Westpac OpenAir Cinema. The at-home section is headed to your couch, of course. Attendees venturing out of the house can kick off MGFF with opening night's Femme, which stars Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Culprits) and George MacKay (1917) in a British neo-noir thriller about a drag performer seeking revenge after an attack. Then, after launching in 2023 with Australian director Goran Stolevski's coming-of-age film Of an Age, the fest will close in 2024 with the filmmaker's Housekeeping for Beginners. Other in-person highlights include All of Us Strangers, as led by the internet's boyfriends Paul Mescal (Foe) and Andrew Scott (Fleabag), which screens at Westpac OpenAir Cinema; a night at the Sydney Opera House dedicated to music from queer flicks, spanning tunes from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Moonlight and Portrait of a Lady on Fire; and the Billy Porter- (Big Mouth) and Luke Evans (Good Grief)-starring Our Son, about a long-term marriage disintegrating. Documentary A Portrait of Love, focusing on Archibald award-winning artist Craig Ruddy and directed by My Name Is Gulpilil's Molly Reynolds, will enjoy its world premiere at the fest. So will Australian feature In the Room Where He Waits and Argentina's Blue Lights, the first about a theatre actor in hotel isolation for seven days upon returning Down Under for his dad's funeral, and the second exploring friends and family members who get together for a 70th birthday party. From the retro titles, John Waters' 1974 classic Female Trouble gets a 50th-anniversary spin, 1984's Another Country with Rupert Everett (Napoleon) and Colin Firth (Empire of Light) will mark its 40th birthday, and 1995's When Night Is Falling scores a 4K restoration. The Ritz will be alive with The Sound of Music, too, via a sing-along session with the Order of Perpetual Indulgence and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. Elsewhere at the fest, other standouts range from the Australian premiere of Filipino animation The Missing and Gena Marvin-focused doco Queendom to France's Along Came Love and Noёl Coward exploration Mad About the Boy: The Noёl Coward Story. Or, there's Melbourne-set Aussie coming-of-age film Sunflower, Hacks star Meg Stalter in Cora Bora, Japan's I Am What I Am about the expectations placed upon an asexual woman, Hilma af Klint biopic Hilma from director Lasse Hallström (The Nutcracker and the Four Realms), another Sydney stint after SXSW for The People's Joker and Sundance-winning documentary Kokomo City. "The theme focuses on films that start conversations. People will be keen to discuss and dissect them as soon as the credits start to roll," said Festival Director Lisa Rose about the 2024 lineup. "There's so much to sink your teeth into, including several that will inspire lively debate." For cinephiles watching on from home, choices include All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White, the Berlinale Teddy Award-winning love story about two men dealing with Nigeria's anti-gay laws; Mexico's All the Silence, centring on a CODA (child of deaf adults) and her girlfriend who is deaf; F.L.Y., which sees two exes living under the same roof during the pandemic; and Mutt, which won Lio Mehiel a Special Jury Award-winner at Sundance for their performance. Or, opt for drama Old Narcissus about getting older in Japan, with a 74-year-old children's author finding connection with a sex worker. You'll also be able to stream several shorts packages online, including sessions dedicated to Asia Pacific, comedy, gay, non-binary and gender diverse, queer horror, queer documentaries, transgender and sapphic films. The My Queer Career short film fest will hop online as well, featuring seven films competing for $16,000-plus in prizes. Queer Screen's 31st Mardi Gras Film Festival 2024 runs from Thursday, February 15–Thursday, February 29 at venues around Sydney — and online nationally from Friday, March 1–Monday, March 11. For more information, visit the festival's website.
It was true when Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope hit cinema screens more than four decades ago, and it's still true now. If there's one thing everyone knows about the sci-fi world created by George Lucas, it's that it doesn't unveil its secrets quickly. All of these years later, viewers are still watching the space opera saga's twists and turns in episodic big-screen instalments (and will soon be doing so on the small screen, too). If you've been keeping an eye out for news about Disney's new dedicated Star Wars theme park zones, it's been a somewhat similar process. Of course, the force is strong with this overall idea. Yes, we've definitely got a good feeling about it as well. Soon, Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World in Florida will both boast dedicated Star Wars-themed zones, called Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. With the two set to open between the middle and the end of 2019, Disney has slowly been sharing a few more details about what fans can expect. Last year, boozy watering hole Oga's Cantina was announced. It'll be part of both spaces, bringing alcohol to the California park for the first time. Then, Star Wars aficionados learned about both Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The former will put you in the driver's seat of Han Solo's beloved ship, while the latter will see you caught in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order. Now, the company has started spilling the details on the outpost of Batuu, which is where Galaxy's Edge is set. It's a hive for smugglers and rogues (naturally), and it's where you'll be wandering around when you're not exclaiming "punch it" a whole heap, trying to become best buddies with a loveable wookiee and hopping onto a star destroyer. Specifically, visitors will be getting cosy in the Batuu village of Black Spire Outpost — and there's plenty to keep everyone occupied. If you're a hands-on type, you can construct your own R2-D2 or BB-8-style droids, which you can then take home with you. You'll also be able to build your own unique lightsaber, and take a few Jedi lessons so you know how to use it. Or, pick up Resistance or First Order supplies, or look for rare goods from a galaxy far, far away (if you haven't noticed, most of these attractions involve purchasing some merchandise or a keepsake, because of course they do). When you're not giving your Star Wars skills and your wallet a workout, you'll also be able to enjoy the finest spread that Black Spire Outpost has to offer. Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo takes the form of a multi-purpose transport shuttle docked in a hangar, and is basically an intergalactic food truck, with 'Smoked Kaadu Ribs' (aka pork ribs) and 'Ithorian Garden Loaf' (aka a plant-based meatloaf alternative) on the menu. At Ronto Roasters, spit meats will be on cooked up on a recycled podracing engine, while Kat Saka's Kettle will sell street food snacks. And then there's the Milk Stand, the go-to place for both blue and green milk. Galaxy's Edge was first made public back in 2015, will span 14 acres at each site and will prove the biggest single-themed expansion the respective parks have ever seen. The guiding concept behind both spots is to "transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port and one of the last stops before wild space where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life." And, to give this interactive experience the requisite soundtrack, it'll also feature new Star Wars music by the man behind its iconic score, aka Oscar-winning composer John Williams. More details are certain to come to light before Galaxy's Edge opens, but expect both location to tie into all ten Star Wars movies to date and to feature an array of beloved characters roaming around. Eventually, visitors to Disney World will also be able to spend a night or several in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel as well, although construction hasn't started yet and an opening date hasn't been announced either. That said, Disney recently revealed that a visit to the hotel will involve boarding a launch pod and taking part in "a fully-immersive, multi-day Star Wars adventure aboard a luxury starship", with high-end dining and cabins that apparently have a space view all part of your stay. Via Disney Theme Parks Blog. Images: Disney Theme Parks Blog.
Eucalyptusdom examines Australia's changing attitudes to our native gum trees — from early 19th century foresting to how we're thinking about environmental issues today. The immersive exhibition includes objects from artists, scientists, architects, designers, filmmakers, writers and performers, all exploring our relationship with eucalypts. Its title comes from a 1930s text by one of our early conservationists, Edward F Swain. And conservation underpins the exhibition's supporting events program, too, which features stories from collaborating artists such as Dean Cross and Luna Mrozik Gawler, writer Julie Gough and film director Vera Hong. Image: NSW timber court, Technological Museum, Sydney, c1910, Powerhouse Collection
Mini festival Self Est. brings together artists who put their artistic careers together themselves, be it by street art or through other more commercial avenues. Curated by Joseph Allen Shea, of the late Monster Children Gallery, and Marty Routledge, part of calm, alt-art championing Lo Fi Collective, the festival turns its eye on four days of pavement focused, out-of-towner talent. Star imports favour a deliberate eye for the painted letter, or a knack for blending typography into art. They include the precise abstractions of Britisher Roid, American Jeff Canham's ordered lettering and the wild words of compatriot Dmote. Rounding out the lineup are the organic constructions of French star Horfé. Two shows during the season will highlight the visiting artists, along with Western Australian Ben Baretto. Baretto will be on display with Jeff Canham at Gallery A.S. from Friday, while the festival's other artists will help kick off opening night at Kind Of Gallery Thursday night from 6. On Saturday, Roid, Horfé and Canaham will be doing live work at the corner of Kippax and Little Riley streets, with Gallery A.S. hosting a discussion on the kind of fine art that comes out of left field the same day. The show at Gallery A.S. runs until December 2, the show at Kind of Gallery until November 20. Kind of Gallery is at 72 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. Birdhouses pictured are by Jeff Canham.
Confirming one of our predicted food trends for 2015, it seems chefs and restaurateurs worldwide want to get out of their own kitchens and test their wares in another. Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck flew over to Melbourne last year, the Rook and Black Pearl exchanged places last year, and now Denmark's Noma has popped up in Tokyo. Open for five weeks at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Tokyo, the pop-up Noma restaurant will be run off its feet until February 14. Heralded the world's number one restaurant for four years running, Rene Redzepi's Noma obviously isn't the cheapest pop-up you've ever heard of — $420 per person for lunch or dinner. But as Good Food pointed out, 6500 tickets were sold out within hours of release and there are no less than 60,000 people on the waiting list. Yep, 60,000 individual people. Taking over the space usually housing the Mandarin Oriental's 37th-floor Signature Restaurant, Noma has gutted and refitted the space with elegant, natural (and considerably more permanent-looking than your usual pop-up) designs by Danish firm Carl Hansen & Son. We're talking super exxy oak tables and serving crockery embellished by local Japanese artisans. But it's not just Noma bells and whistles in the space — the whole Noma team has been flown in, a whole 77 people including Coffs Harbour-raised souf chef Beau Clugston, Adelaide restaurant manager James Spreadbury and Sydney team leader Katherine Bont, and Noma's long-suffering and mysterious dishwasher. So, the living-vicariously details you've been waiting for — what's on the menu? Redzepi told GF he'd be straying from the usual Noma menu. Having visited Japan multiple times on reconnaissance over the last year, Redzepi and research and development chefs Lars Williams and Thomas Frebel have devised 16 dishes to be served over three hours. Not for the faint-hearted (or squeamish vegetarian), the degustation even features a whole roasted wild duck dissected at the table and served with a matsubusa berry sauce. Here's a menu sampler: Assorted Japanese citrus and long pepper Shaved monkfish liver Just-steamed tofu with wild walnuts Sea urchin, maitake mushroom and cabbage Scallop dried for two days, beech nuts and kelp Hyokkori pumpkin, cherrywood oil, salted cherry blossom Garlic flower origami Sweet potato simmered in raw sugar all day Fermented shiitake mushroom in dark chocolate Noma pops up in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Tokyo until February 14. Tickets are unbelievably, undeniably, don't-even-think-about-it sold out. But we can dream. Via Good Food. Images: cyclonebill cc.
The roof at New York's world famous Metropolitan Museum of Art is playing host to a most unusual dinner party. Created by prolific Argentinean artist Adrián Villar Rojas, The Theater of Disappearance consists of more than 100 characters and objects from the Met's incredible collection that have been digitally scanned and cast as sculptures, before being spread around the Iris and B Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. Made with 3D printers or through a computer-controlled milling process, the outdoor display mixes and matches artwork from all around the globe. Some figures sit around long white banquet tables, while others look out across the Manhattan skyline. Egypt's King Horemheb gives a piggyback ride to a woman in sneakers, who in turn holds Tutankhamun's head in her left hand. Plates and coins and goblets and even medieval armour lay strewn across the table. "I wanted to play with the doodles of culture," Rojas told The New York Times. Unhappy with what he sees as the sterile, constructed world of contemporary museums, he decided to imagine his own museum "without divisions, without geopolitics, totally horizontal." The Theater of Disappearance will be on display at The Met until October 29, weather permitting. Images via The Met on Twitter.
In 2024, there was plenty of crying over Spilt Milk, when the touring music festival took itself off of Australia's cultural calendar for the year. It still popped up in a few cities to throw events it dubbed house parties, with Troye Sivan, Glass Animals and G Flip leading the lineup, but the full Spilt Milk experience was put on hold until 2025. Here's the excellent news for this year: Spilt Milk is indeed returning, and has just announced its summer 2025 dates. Not every fest that sat 2024 out has made a comeback — both Groovin the Moo and Splendour in the Grass have scrapped their events in both years — but this one has stops in Ballarat, Perth, Canberra and on the Gold Coast locked in for December. 2025's run of Spilt Milk fests will take place across two weekends, hitting two locations on each. It all starts on Saturday, December 6 at Victoria Park in Ballarat, before heading across the country to Claremont Showground in Perth on Sunday, December 7. Then, it's Canberra's turn at Exhibition Park on Saturday, December 13, followed by a trip to the Gold Coast Sports Precinct on Sunday, December 14. As for the lineup, it's on the way — and soon. For now, expect the return of sing-alongs at Guilty Pleasures, plus country bar Howdy Howdy and the Bus Da Move party bus. The art component will feature artists from Studio A. When it cancelled in 2024, the festival advised via social media that it was pulling the plug because it "couldn't get you the Spilt Milk you deserve this year". In 2023, Post Malone, Dom Dolla, Latto, Tkay Maidza and Aitch led the lineup. Flume, Stormzy and The Wombats were named as headliners in 2022 — the first Spilt Milk since the pandemic began — although Stormzy subsequently dropped out and cancelled his Australian tour. Khalid and Chvrches topped the bill in 2019, and Childish Gambino did the honours in 2018. Originally only popping up in Canberra, then expanding to Ballarat, then the Gold Coast and finally also to Perth, multi-city one-dayer Spilt Milk had cemented its spot as a must-attend event on the annual Aussie calendar before it took a year off, including for its lineups — and for its food offering as well, which spanned bites to eat from Chebbo's Burgers, 400 Gradi, Chicken Treat, and the BBQ and Beer Roadshow in 2023. Spilt Milk 2025 Dates and Venues Saturday, December 6 — Victoria Park, Ballarat Sunday, December 7 — Claremont Showground, Perth Saturday, December 13 — Exhibition Park, Canberra Sunday, December 14 — Gold Coast Sports Precinct, Gold Coast Spilt Milk is returning in December 2025, heading to Ballarat, Perth, Canberra and the Gold Coast. Head to the festival website for more information Images: Jordan K Munns, Mackenzie Sweetnam, Jess Gleeson and Billy Zammit.
After nearly a decade of Westerosi power struggles, obsessed fans and soaring ratings, HBO found itself with a Game of Thrones-sized gap to fill last year. The network isn't completely saying goodbye to the world created by George RR Martin, with at least one spinoff in the works — but it's also eager for something else to help pick up where GoT left off, fantasy-wise. First debuting late in 2019, and due to return for a second season in the next few months. His Dark Materials is one of the US network's prime candidates. It's based on Philip Pullman's award-winning young adult trilogy of books of the same name: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. And if it sounds familiar — and not just because you watched the initial batch of episodes — that's because one of the tomes, The Golden Compass, was already turned into a movie back in 2007. HBO is keeping things simple with their adaptation by sticking with the franchise name, other than individual book monikers — hence the His Dark Materials title. They've also bet big on star power, with the series boasting a hefty cast. James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda, Da 5 Bloods' Clarke Peters and Logan's Dafne Keen all star, while Fleabag's Andrew Scott and Phoebe Waller-Bridge will also pop up in the second season. Yes, it'll be a reunion for the two series newcomers, although you'll be seeing Scott on-screen as Colonel John Parry and hearing Waller-Bridge's voice as Parry's daemon. What's a daemon? It's one of the key parts of His Dark Materials. Here, Keen plays an orphan by the name of Lyra Belacqua — who seems just like everyone else, but hails from an alternate universe where a person's soul manifests as a shape-shifting animal called a daemon. In the show's first season, as Lyra looks for a kidnapped friend in the Arctic, she discovers a church-run stolen children ring, learns about mysterious particles known as Dust and ventures through different worlds, including the one we all know. McAvoy pops up as a powerful aristocrat, Wilson is his ex, and Miranda plays a balloonist and adventurer. If you're eager for the next season, HBO has just dropped the first sneak peek, releasing a trailer as part of this year's Comic-Con at Home. An exact release date for the season hasn't been revealed yet, but it'll hit the US in the country's autumn — so spring Down Under, where it airs in Australia on Foxtel. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnFsU7SY0Gk His Dark Materials' second season will arrive sometime later in 2020 — we'll update you with an exact date when it is announced. Images: Simon Ridgway/HBO.
Despite Australian supermarkets' current two-item limits, trying to get your hands on — and covered in — sanitiser is much harder than it should be at present. The liquid disinfectant is on everyone's must-buy list, leaving empty supermarket shelves seemingly everywhere. Luckily, a bunch of Australian distilleries are using their booze to make the now-essential product. It makes sense, because alcohol is a crucial ingredient in sanitiser — especially ones that are effective against COVID-19. The latest booze-maker to pivot to hand sanitiser is Sydney's favourite all-vegan brewery, Yulli's Brews. The Alexandria spot's finger cleaner not only has a cheeky name — Doomsday Sanitiser — but it's cheap: $9.50 for a 125-millilitre bottle. Orders are limited to four bottles are person and will be shipped from Tuesday, April 14. If you want to snag a bottle we recommend you move real fast — these bad boys fly off virtual shelves as quickly as they do physical ones. [caption id="attachment_569311" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Yulli's Brews[/caption] While you're hanging out in the brewery's virtual shop, you can also pick up a 16-packs of Dolly Aldrin (a pineapple and basil berliner weisse), Dad's Army (a barrel-aged spiced pumpkin ale) and Fat Nerd (a vanilla porter), among other anthropomorphised ales and sakes. On the food side of things, Surry Hills sister restaurant Yulli's is delivering $28 three-course vegan dinners from Thursday–Saturday. To check out the latest menu and order, head to the website. Yulli's Brews' Doomsday Sanitiser is now on sale for $9.50 a bottle. You can also order Yulli's Brews beers and Yulli's $28 three-course dinners.
Just because you haven't got an actual kid, that doesn't mean you have to miss out on that time-honoured tradition of taking some festive shopping centre snaps with the jolly man himself. As has been the case for a few years now, Westfield centres across Australia and New Zealand are teaming up with a crew of expert pup-arazzi to once again offer Christmas-themed pet photography shoots in 2023. Yes, your fur baby can get a family paw-trait with Santa Claus. A heap of Westfield's shopping centres are offering an extended festive photography series this year, with the details varying per site. If your local is doing pics, sensitive, Auslan and pet-friendly options available. Unfortunately, not quite all creatures great and small are allowed — dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs can book in at most centres, but you'll need to double check before bringing in something like an alpaca, snake, frog or goat. Westfield has two sites in the Australian Capital Territory, three spots in South Australia, four in Western Australia, six in Queensland, seven spots in Victoria and a whopping 15 in New South Wales. Over in New Zealand, there are four in Auckland and one in Christchurch. The Santa photography sessions have opened for reservations now — and you'll be getting snapped between Sunday, November 12–Sunday, December 24. Those bookings are a must and can be made via your local Westfield's website, where you'll also find some guidelines for you and your four-legged mate. Most centres will have a dedicated pet zone where you'll be met and escorted to the set, and your animal companion needs to be brought in on a lead or in a cage. There's a range of photo packages to choose from, including The Vixen ($30.95) for one 6x8 photo, one 4x6 photo and four wallet snaps. Fancy sending everyone Christmas cards featuring your pet and Santa? You can get 12 for $40.95. At the higher end, you can also splash out on Santa's Gift Pack ($49.95), which includes a hefty array of photos, gift tags, digital files, bookmarks and even a calendar. Santa photography is available at various Westfield centres across Australia and New Zealand, with from bookings open now for Sunday, November 12–Sunday, December 24. Check your local's website for details.
A tense, make-your-stomach-drop drama from director Benedict Andrews, Una is not an easy watch. You'll find your skin crawling, and your legs and arms crossed, physically recoiling from the modern-day version of Lolita too realistic for comfort unfolding on screen. You might even forget all about the big crush you have on your fave Aussie dad figure Ben Mendelsohn. The effect of Una is just that jarring. The film tells the story of Una (Rooney Mara), a woman whose sudden reappearance threatens to destroy the life of Ray (Mendelsohn), a man who at first glance it seems she was once intimately involved with. But we soon pick up on the fact that "involved with" here means "sexually abused by". Una was 13 when Ray began a sexual relationship with her. Years later, she arrives at his workplace, come to confront him about the past. In brief, disjointed moments of flashback we meet Una as a child, and Ray as a younger man who becomes obsessed with his neighbour's daughter, sexually abusing her through the guise of them "being in love". Back then, it all ended in a plan to run away to Europe, a single motel bed, abandonment, and a jail sentence. Years later, Ray (now "Peter") has rebuilt his life with a new job, a new wife, a new house, and a whole new identity. Una? Not so. Still dealing with what was done to her as a child, she lives in the same house where it all happened, with a mother she's still failing to communicate with. The last time we see Una as a child, she's pleading with Ray via live video feed in a courtroom, asking him to come back, to make contact, and to tell her why he left her. The first time we meet her as an adult, she's having sex with a faceless man at a club and wandering home in the early morning, stuck in her anger and her past. The film was adapted from Blackbird, a play by David Harrower, and its origins on the stage are clear to see. Una's musings to Ray, mostly within the confines of the lunchroom at his workplace, are delivered like monologues. Mara chews up and spits out the dialogue the way her character must have practised hundreds of times in the years since her abuse. The film succeeds in what it sets out to do in part through its handling of the aspects of Una and Ray's past that, obviously, it can't actually show. A chill runs down your spine with each horrible moment left unseen; a close-up of two hands holding each other, or a long shot of a huge tree that obscures our view. Our imaginations run cold along with our blood. Mendelsohn is convincingly charismatic while bringing the requisite darkness to his role. Mara struggles a little in her attempts to pull off a British accent, but aside from that her performance is exceptional. The chemistry between the two is patently present, enough to make you shudder. Una is one of those films that you can't stop watching, no matter how much you might want to; a tense, confined study of a paedophile that dares you to look away. Is Ray rehabilitated, trying to move on from the unforgivable actions of his past? Or is he still as sick and manipulative as ever? The film, and Mendelsohn, will leave you guessing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSpZBmnamhg
Sitting in the Andaman Sea between the west coast of mainland Thailand and the island tourist mecca of Phuket, Ko Phi Phi Don is an idyllic island measuring little more than 8km in length. Ever since Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony) turned Alex Garland's famous 1996 novel, The Beach, into an even more famous film of the same name, this palm-fringed paradise has been on the to-do list of twenty-somethings around the world, with the neighbouring isle of Ko Phi Phi Leh providing the setting for much of the film's action. Hundreds of limestone karsts jut out from the turquoise waters as you near Phi Phi, with the islands' respective silhouettes providing a stunning vista. As the ferry drops anchor, those travellers seeking out the island's famous whiskey bucket-fuelled beach parties hop off at Ton Sai Bay, destined to dance the coming days and nights away in any number of open-air bars full of Scandinavian, European and Antipodean backpackers. This time though, we're heading for a calmer locale, another 45 minutes by longtail boat around the coast to the island's northernmost point. As the longtail pulls up to Laem Tong beach, Zeavola's exact location is not immediately evident. Set back in lush green vegetation that fringes a perfect white sand beach, this boutique eco-resort's scattering of hand-hewn teakwood huts have been cleverly disguised by an extensive network of palm-laden gardens, linked by meandering sand paths. The hotel's staff greets you on the sand to take your bags, insisting you carry your luggage no further. As you make your way up the beach, the rustic but luxurious architecture of Zeavola becomes apparent. Guests are encouraged to ‘step back to simplicity’ here. Zeavola is one half design hotel, one half beach shack. Each of the resort's 52 freestanding villas is carefully disguised by the surrounding gardens, so you feel like you have your own private beach house but can still enjoy the comforts that come with being part of a bigger, managed property. Open air showers give you access to the outdoors when you want it, and remote controlled shutters around the bungalows do the opposite when you need to sleep off your lunchtime Singhas. Zeavola's menus offer contemporary interpretations of traditional Thai cuisine alongside smatterings of western options at Baxil, the resort's main restaurant (where breakfast is served each day), and Tacada, a breezy restaurant and bar right on the sand. Closer to the water sits a line of bright yellow beach umbrellas with oversized pillows and triangle cushions, the perfect place to spend extended periods of time reading, sleeping, drinking and just being. Further down the beach at Jasmine, a simple restaurant owned by a charming young family from Phuket, you'll be served authentic Thai food for a smaller price in a jovial atmosphere created by some of the island's sea gypsies next door. Phi Phi's beaches, reefs and surrounding islands are the most popular attractions to see, and the best way to see them is to head down to the nearest cluster of longtails and bargain for the best hourly, half day or full day rental rates. The service is as basic as it gets, but the local boatmen will happily take you anywhere on the island at anytime of the day and night, including around to Ton Sai Bay and back in the wee hours if you want to join the heaving masses. If a trip to The Beach (Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh) or Monkey Bay is on your list, head there early before the tour boats arrive. But for something a little slower, hightail your longtail to Mosquito Island or Bamboo Island. If you're lucky, you'll even find your own private slice of paradise for a few hours. Double rooms from 8000 baht (AUD$240), +66 7562 7000, www.zeavola.com. The writer stayed courtesy of Zeavola.
Recently departed Apple CEO Steve Jobs steered Apple from close to bankruptcy to being a titan of modern computing. His work has more fans than detractors these days — fans like Stephen Fry and Mike Daisey. Daisey is a storyteller, writer and a radio contributor. Daisey loves stuff made by Apple and Jobs. But he also has a lot of trouble with the way factory workers get treated in China by one of Apple's main manufacturers, Foxconn. When he read an article about suicides at the Foxconn plant, he made it the theme of his next show, The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, which bring these loves and troubles to the stage. The people who make our gadgets work incredibly hard and were sometimes found to be awfully young. Daisey doesn't want you to stop using the shiny toys that Apple makes (or, indeed, those from Dell or Nokia or any other of the many companies making things with Foxconn); he wants you to care about the people who make them. After his stage show, it'll be hard not to. And you might also find that you, too, have something to say.
From Tokyo book stores to the catacombs in Paris to Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain's LA apartment, there are some pretty ridiculous places up for rent thanks to the Internet — but this Airbnb listing has to be one of the coolest yet. Well, if you're into post-impressionist painting, that is. As part of their current exhibition Van Gogh's Bedrooms, the Art Institute of Chicago has created an IRL replica of Gogh's famous work — one that you can visit, touch and book to spend the night in. Because just looking at epic, classic pieces of art is way too basic these days, the museum has recreated Gogh's The Bedroom in 3D life-sized form, complete with all the details painted in the original. They've used digital technology to replicate the painting of his 'Yellow House' in Arles, France, making the real-life version even more vivid, distorted and emphasised. It looks incredible — and, unlike other installations, you can actually get all handsy with it. The room — which is located off-site in Chicago’s River North — is listed on Airbnb by Vincent himself for just $14 a night. The reason for the price? Well, according to the host: "I'm charging $10 [USD] for no other reason than that I need to buy paint." It's the ultimate experience for art nerds; Vince will even chuck in some tickets to his Art Institute of Chicago exhibition with the price of the room. The exhibition features all three versions of his bedroom paintings that he created from 1888 to 1889. It's the first time the pieces will be shown within the same space in North America. Via Colossal.
Illuminated by pyramids and backdropped by an enormous chameleonic moon, the Opera House Concert Hall stage was transformed into some enigmatic extraterrestrial woodland last week. James Vincent McMorrow emerged from the shadows like a creature born of such a setting — bearded like a werewolf yet singing at a pitch to touch the lower rungs of heaven. The Irishman's stories of "harrow winds", "desolate love" and hearts like "unending tombs" are those of a man who’s spent long periods in cold, lonely places. Over the course of sixteen or so songs, McMorrow mixes up tunes from his folksy breakthough album Early in the Morning (2010) with those from recent release Post Tropical (2014). One minute he’s yearning his way though 'Glacier', filled out by mellifluous harmonies; the next McMorrow’s dropped an octave or two (as you do) and picked up the drum sticks to power through a rousing version of 'We Don’t Eat'. Although the sophomore album represented a significant departure from the first, the structural soundness of the songwriting on both makes for a seamless live show. McMorrow's band creates an even more intense dynamic than that captured on his albums, delivering mournful clarinet solos, drum beats that range from tribal to all-out rock and ethereal counter melodies. McMorrow doesn’t speak until he’s at least five songs in. Not because he’s deliberately reserved — but because he’s overwhelmed and nervous. "This is crazy, just crazy," he mutters, referring to the fact that he’s playing to a packed-out Opera House. Towards the end of the set, McMorrow introduces a song by explaining his last New Year’s Eve; when excited messages flooded his inbox informing him that he was sound-tracking Sydney’s midnight fireworks. What the organisers might not have known at the time is that they were inadvertently facilitating two of McMorrow’s teenage ambitions. "If I hadn’t become a musician," he confesses, "I would have loved to have worked with explosives." He then launches into his famously fragile, solo version of 'Higher Love'. Support came in the form of Airling, moniker of Brisbane-based artist Hannah Shepherd. Her gorgeous vocals glided over some ultra-smooth grooves and lush electronic arrangements. Images by Prudence Upton.
If you feel like Melbourne's getting busier and busier, well, you're not just becoming a grumpy ol' adult. New numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics have revealed that the city's had the largest and fastest population growth in the whole country. Having welcomed more than 125,000 extra people between June 2016 and July 2017, Melbourne's now looking at hitting the five million resident mark before the end of 2018. By comparison, Sydney grew by 100,000 people, which has brought its population up to 5.1 million. The ABS found that the increase in population is largely due to migration, with 80,000 foreigners making up 64 percent of the Melbourne's recent growth in 2016–17, and seven percent attributed to people moving interstate. It you average it all out, there's around 350 people moving to the city each day, with Cranbourne East booming larger than any other Aussie suburb. Interestingly, Sydney lost more people to other parts of Australia than it gained. Population growth is mainly concentrated in the three major east coast cities — Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane — though, as Perth, Darwin and Adelaide all saw no more than one percent growth. The revelations have prompted calls for improved infrastructure and public transport across the city — some of which is already underway, but really can't come soon enough.
The technological advancement of the moment continues to creep closer and closer to reality. Perth followed the self-driving path of the US last year with its trial of Australia's first driverless bus and Adelaide began trials of its own electric airport shuttles earlier this year. Not to mention ride share companies Lyft and Uber duelling it out to be the first to launch self-driving cabs on the road. Now, Sydney is getting on board, with the NSW Government green lighting legislation for a two-year trial of driverless shuttles at Sydney Olympic Park — and it's happening imminently, with the trial expected to begin later this month. As in Perth and Adelaide, the vehicle will look like a small shuttle. During the trial period, it will only travel 10km/hour, though the shuttle is capable of hitting a (still cruisy) 50km/hour. The first phase will take place on a closed-off road, so it won't be until later phases that you'll actually get to take it for a spin. Once the shuttle is moved to a public section of the park, it will carry workers along the main streets, taking them to and from the carpark. A product of HMI technologies, the vehicle has an external GPS system which assists with coordination and accuracy. The track will be pre-programmed, but, in the case of something going wrong, the shuttle also has an emergency break. This trial will also allow for the development of infrastructure systems, including the shuttle's connection to traffic lights and even to customers' personal devices. If this all sounds a bit like the start to every movie where the machines take over, we hear you. So many sci-fi movies are closer to truth than we ever imagined possible. A simultaneous cool and creepy thought. On a brighter note, according to ABC, it is estimated that up to 94 percent of crashes on roads are caused by human error. Since humans suck at driving so much, there's a good chance driverless cars will actually improve road safety in Australia — until the artificial intelligence decides otherwise, of course. Via ABC.
Popping up might be all the rage at the moment, but Londoners are on their way to developing an appetite for Popping Down. Soon, their city will see a new underground public space, with a disused tunnel being transformed into a subterranean walkway, lined with urban mushroom patches. Last year, the Landscape Institute, in conjunction with the Green Museum and the Mayor of London, ran the High Line for London Competition, an open call for ideas for green infrastructure. According to the contest guidelines, submissions did not need to "be constrained by any restrictions such as current planning law, land ownership, budgets or health and safety issues". Of the 170 entrants, Fletcher Priest Architects came out on top. The tunnel central to their plan is known as the 'mail rail' and runs under Oxford Street. Posties once used it to enable speedy delivery of letters and parcels between Paddington and Whitechapel, avoiding London's over-crowded streets. Pedestrians will enter and exit 'Pop Down' at street level. Above ground, a sequence of glass-fibre mushroom sculptures will delineate the passageway, simultaneously letting in controlled amounts of light, to be supplemented by interior fibre optics. What's more, there'll be a chance to sample some subterranean goodness, with pop-up 'fungi' cafes at the tunnel's entrances sourcing their produce from below. The competition was inspired by New York City's 'High Line', a public park constructed on an abandoned freight train railway elevated above Manhattan's West Side. In winning, Fletcher Priest beat a 20-strong shortlist of impressively creative rivals. The runner-up was Y/N Studio, with its 'Lido Line' plan, which would have seen the construction of a clean basin in the Regent's Canal, enabling water babies to swim to and from work.
Calling all artists with a passion for science (or just in need of a basic understanding). One of our favourite community hubs, Work-Shop, is offering Life Drawing through Anatomy taught by Dr. Jo Elms. The class aims to educate the artistically inclined about basic human anatomy and function so they better draw the human figure. Basically, after this, you should wipe the floor with the aesthetes at your next regular art class. Elms is the founder of Artistic Proportions, which she started with the aim to bring scientific understanding to the art world. She holds a Bachelor of Advanced Science and a Bachelor of Medical Studies and infuses her love of science and art with her passion for teaching. Make sure to bring your own charcoal, pencils, paper and erasers.
It's happening a month later than last planned, but holidays in Western Australia are finally back on the agenda effective Thursday, March 3. And if you live in WA, getaways somewhere other than your home state will become an easy possibility again as well, with Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan locking in a new border reopening date. There's more than a little deja vu to this announcement, given that Western Australian Government set a February 5 date back in December 2021, then suspended those plans indefinitely due to the Omicron wave elsewhere in the country. But now there's a new firm date, with the Premier revealing the news on Friday, February 18. Consider it a late new year's gift, a chance to see friends and family, or — for folks now keen to head west ASAP — an excuse to visit WA's newly minted best Australian beach for 2022. When the borders reopen, the state will adopt its updated safe transition plan that'll allow travellers from other states and overseas destinations to visit again. And yes, the reopening will apply to both WA's domestic and international borders. Today we announced the new date for WA's full border opening – and it's worth talking through how we got here. Four weeks ago, on January 20, we took the difficult decision to delay Western Australia's full border opening. pic.twitter.com/zEpV2tQRoR — Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) February 18, 2022 There'll be different rules in place depending on where you're entering from; however, you'll need to be triple-vaccinated to enter from interstate, also undertake a rapid antigen test upon arrival, and have one of WA's G2G passes registered. For those making the journey from an international location, there'll be no quarantine for vaccinated arrivals — and the same testing requirements will be in place for both domestic and overseas travellers. If you're unvaxxed, you'll still need to go into hotel quarantine for seven days. The border news comes as WA's COVID-19 case numbers have been rising — 194 local cases were reported on the same day as the announcement — with the Premier advising that "we held back Omicron as much as we could". "There comes a point where the border is redundant, because we'll already have the growth of cases here, having the border is no longer effective," McGowan also noted. Effective Monday, February 21, WA also brought in a range of new public health and social measures for the Perth, Peel, South West, Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Pilbara regions, limiting at-home gatherings and venue capacities, and requiring COVID-19 safety checklists or plans for events with more than 500 people. The mask mandate for indoor settings was also extended to apply statewide. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Western Australia, and the state's corresponding restrictions, visit its online COVID-19 hub. Top image: Tourism Western Australia.
At this time of year, it's mighty tempting to rid your after-work agenda of anything that involves leaving your blanket fort. We can't blame you — the days are shorter and it's colder than us coastal-dwellers would typically like. But rather than disappearing when the sun does, we want you to make the most of these bonus nighttime hours. So we've teamed up with Samsung to celebrate the Galaxy S9 and S9+ (with a Super Low Light camera to capture all your nighttime antics) to bring you a guide to the best things to do around Sydney after dark. You can see a gig, learn a new skill, eat delicious comfort food and visit art galleries after-hours. To celebrate the Galaxy S9 and S9+ and our after dark guide, we're throwing an epic rooftop party and we want you to come along. From 6.30pm on Thursday, June 21, we'll be taking over Sweethearts Rooftop for an intimate after-dark soiree. Nathan Zammit, one-half of Recess DJs, will provide the soundtrack to the evening, as you indulge in a decadent (and picture-perfect) grazing table from The Platter Project and flaming cocktails from the Sweetheart's bar team. Your winter blues will well and truly be banished. There will be Samsung Galaxy S9's positioned around the venue for you to play around with on the night, so get snap-happy and you'll go in the running to win your very own Samsung Galaxy S9, plus a voucher to one of our featured restaurants (because you'll want to take photos of every future meal with your flashy new tech). Also, photographer Cole Bennetts will be on-hand to provide tips and tricks to capturing those winning low light moments. Regardless of whether you nab the new phone, our rooftop party will leave you with the tools to up your Insta-game and with a newfound appreciation for getting out and about in winter. To enter, see details below. [competition]672462[/competition]
Whether you first heard about it on Wondery's Dr Death podcast, from the recent streaming drama of the same name or by reading the news, the tale of Christopher Duntsch conjures up all the terrors of a horror movie. As it should, given that the neurosurgeon is currently imprisoned for life after maiming and harming some patients, and killing others. In total, 33 people who went under his knife for spinal surgeries in the Dallas, Texas area during the early 2010s found their lives forever changed — or, in some cases, lost. Thanks to the aforementioned dramatisation, which stars Joshua Jackson (Little Fires Everywhere) as Duntsch, these chilling events have been getting plenty of attention recently. You've probably spent some time this month binge-watching it, and been creeped out — again, rightly so — the whole way. And if you're now eager to find out more about this horrific case (not that 'eager' is really the right word when it comes to this kind of nightmare fuel), you can check out new docuseries Dr Death: The Undoctored Story. Stan, which is also streaming Dr Death, will drop the four-part true-crime documentary on Friday, July 30. Obviously, if you've already watched the former, you'll already know some of the details covered by the latter; however, you'll also get to see some of the real-life figures involved chat about the story. On the interviewee list: the real-life Dr Robert Henderson, Dr Randall Kirby and Michelle Shughart. In the scripted series, the trio were played by Alec Baldwin (Pixie), Christian Slater (Dirty John) and AnnaSophia Robb (Words on Bathroom Walls), respectively. Dr Death: The Undoctored Story also features chats with Jerry Summers, the best friend that Duntsch's paralysed in surgery, and Wendy Young, his ex-girlfriend and mother of his two sons — as well as with other former colleagues, patients and lawyers from the trial. Obviously given the details, this won't make for feel-good viewing, but it will let you dive deeper into this shocking tale. Check out the trailer below: Dr Death: The Undoctored Story will be available to stream via Stan from Friday, July 30.
The Persian New Year is a 3000 year old holiday, happening in March, and the Iranian Art and Craft Exhibition will be celebrating in an Australian-first. This huge exhibition has been organised with the support of the Iranian Women Visual Artists Collective-Australia (IWVAC-Australia), who are in residence at Cre8tiv Studios. A diverse range of works will be on display, covering both traditional and contemporary art practice. Whether you're an expert in Iranian art or utterly new to the subject, this is an excellent chance to acquaint yourself with major approaches, developments and themes — historically and in the now.
Ever wished you were a fly on the wall at a rock star after-party? How about being part of the action? As part of The Rocks Village Bizarre, fallen star Uta Uber Kool Ja (aka Melbourne actor Georgina Symes) is inviting you to one of her raucous hotel room soirees. At 7pm and 9.30pm every Friday night until December 21, the "almost-was" Uta and her assistant George will be hosting an intimate, decadent and revealing party in her glamorous Holiday Inn penthouse suite (that's right, with harbour views). As the champagne flows, so too do Uta's stories, party games and meltdowns. There may also be some nudity, dancing and a little dress up... and Uta feels better if everyone gets involved. Uta Uber Kool Ja is immersive theatre at its most up-front and personal: expect to get down and get loose, party people. With rave reviews from the Melbourne and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, it'd be wise to book in advance. Each show is $23-$25, 90 minutes long and strictly over 18s only. Tickets can be bought online or at Holiday Inn, 55 George St, The Rocks. Feeling lucky? Concrete Playground has a double pass to give away for Uta Uber Kool Ja's show at 7pm on Friday, November 30. To be in for a chance to win, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground (if you're not already), then email your name to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Whenever a new Ghostbusters movie reaches screens — which has been happening pretty frequently of late — we all want a few key things. We want ghosts to be busted, obviously. We want a goofily comedic vibe that suits the premise, of course. And, getting into the spirit of the franchise's theme song, we want this stint of bustin' to make us feel good. These days, with the series almost reaching 40 years old, we must want nostalgia, too. That's what Ghostbusters: Afterlife promises to serve up, at least. In this threequel — which seems to ignore the fact that a great recent Ghostbusters film already exists, thanks to Paul Feig's wrongly maligned all-female version from 2016 — there's something strange in the town of Summerville. So, a group of kids are calling upon themselves to bust it, in a movie that swaps New York for Oklahoma and grown men (and women) for children, and jumps firmly on the Stranger Things-led 80s nostalgia bandwagon in the process. Whether siblings Phoebe (Annabelle Comes Home's McKenna Grace) and Trevor (Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard) are seeing things runnin' through their heads or they'll catch an invisible man sleepin' in their beds is yet to be gleaned, but both the film's first trailer and its just-dropped new sneak peek lay out the basics of Ghostbusters: Afterlife's plot. The central duo has moved to the isolated locale with their mother (The Nest's Carrie Coon), and into a rundown old house they've inherited from their grandfather. It's filled with ghost traps, containers of spores, mould and fungus, beige jumpsuits emblazoned with the name 'Spengler' and a recognisable car — which is going to come in handy when the ground starts shaking for no reason, a mysterious green light begins to glow, ghosts suddenly walk the earth and tiny marshmallow men scamper around supermarket shelves. Yes, even just from the trailer, there's plenty that's familiar about this latest addition to the Ghostbusters saga — including a few faces making a return from the original flick. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts are all set to reprise their roles; however, Harold Ramis, aka Spengler, passed away in 2014. The new Afterlife trailer is filled with other nods to the first two films, with writer/director Jason Reitman (Tully, The Front Runner) making both obvious and subtle references to the movies originally directed by his dad Ivan Reitman. This time around, Paul Rudd also stars as teacher Mr Grooberson, who schools the kids in Ghostbusters lore — because this is a direct sequel to the original 1984 Ghostbusters and its 1989 follow-up Ghostbusters II. Check out the trailer below: Ghostbusters: Afterlife will open in Australian cinemas on December 2, 2021.
The great American poet Walt Whitman has a poem called 'Splendour in the Grass'. It's about the fleeting nature of youth, and the pain and suffering of old age, and the acknowledgement that all good things must pass. What though the radiance which was once so bright Be now for ever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower, We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind; In the primal sympathy Which having been must ever be; In the soothing thoughts that spring Out of human suffering; In the faith that looks through death, In years that bring the philosophic mind. Unlike old Walt, though, our hour of Splendour in the Grass is only just beginning. And there's sure to be a little somethin-somethin for everyone, with Frank Ocean headlining, festival favourites like Of Monsters and Men, Mumford & Sons, a topnotch Aussie contingent (including You Am I performing their classic albums, Hi-Fi Way and Sound As Ever in full!), exciting newcomers like Haim and Fidlar. And when you add to that Polyphonic Spree performing The Rocky Horror Picture Show, you just know this is going to sell out faster than you can say 'It's just a jump to the left'. Here's the lineup in full: Mumford & Sons (Only Aus show) Frank Ocean The National (Only Aus show) Of Monsters & Men Empire of the Sun Bernard Fanning The Presets TV on the Radio (Only Aus show) Klaxons Flume Babyshambles Passion Pit Birds of Tokyo James Blake Architecture in Helsinki Laura Marling Matt Corby Drapht Mystery Band Flight Facilities Polyphonic Spree (Performing Rocky Horror Picture Show) Boy & Bear Fat Freddy's Drop Cold War Kids The Rubens Sarah Blasko Darwin Deez You Am I (Performing Sound As Ever & Hi-Fi Way) Hermitude Haim Airbourne The Drones Ms Mr Gurrumul Everything Everything Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes Cloud Control Portugal. The Man Daughter Something For Kate Wavves Chet Faker Snakadaktal Robert Delong Unknown Mortal Orchestra Whitley Fidlar Jake Bugg The Bamboos Surfer Blood Deap Vally Palma Violets Alpine Little Green Cars Vance Joy Jagwar Ma Villagers Violent Soho Dune Rats PVT The Jungle Giants Cub Scouts Art of Sleeping The Growl Twinsy The Chemist Songs Mitzi Splendour takes place from July 26-28, 2013, at North Byron Parklands, Byron Bay (its permanent home), and get ready to pounce on www.moshtix.com.au when tickets go on sale at 9am on Thursday, May 2. With this calibre of acts, there's no reason for misplaced excitement, a la these fans (of nonexistent bands) caught out at Coachella. https://youtube.com/watch?v=W_IzYUJANfk
Melbourne's seen its fair share of dockless bike share systems rolled out (and often axed) over the years. But things are shifting up a gear this year when the city's first ever long-term dockless share scheme for electric bikes launches this week. The City of Melbourne, the City of Yarra and the City of Port Phillip have announced they're starting a one-year trial with Uber's much-hyped e-bike service, Jump. Jump has already been embraced by cities across the US and Europe, and is en route to our neighbours in Auckland, but this will be its Australian launch. When they lands in Melbourne tomorrow at 6am, Wednesday, 4, the bright red pedal-assisted bikes will be available to hire through your regular Uber app. You'll just need to switch to bike mode, where you'll be able to see available bikes and use the app to unlock one and ride away. For now, 400 bikes will located in the CBD, with more bikes set to roll out across the City of Yarra and City of Port Phillip over the coming months. They'll be available to use in the three council areas, only, which cover the CBD and Docklands, West Melbourne (and over to Flemington), the inner north (Carlton, North Melbourne, Fitzroy and Richmond) and down to the bay (Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, Albert Park, St Kilda and Elwood). If you ride a Jump bike outside of these areas, you may receive a penalty charge to your Uber account. In another effort to avoid the woes of past bike share networks, the councils have signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the rules and regulations Jump will need to stick to in order to keep operating in Melbourne past the 12-month trial. The company using geo-fencing technologies and remote monitoring to keep track of its fleet. Hopefully that'll help curb the number of bikes ditched in trees, creeks and other questionable spots around the city, as was mostly the downfall of previous players like oBike. As well as laying down requirements for parking and maintenance, it stipulates firm resolution timeframes for damaged or discarded e-bikes. Taking care of service and maintenance will be the crew from Good Cycles, a Melbourne-based social enterprise that trains and employees disadvantaged youth. Riders will, of course, have to don a helmet and play by the usual road rules when cruising around on a Jump bike, with the bikes costing $1 to unlock and 30 cents a minute to ride. When you've finished using the bike, you'll also need to park and lock the bike in one of the e-bike zones shown on the app's map. Uber hasn't announced any plans to launch Jump in any other Australian cities yet, but if the trial goes well, we'd expect that it will in the near future. The Jump bike option will be available in your Uber app from Wednesday, March 4. You can find more info on the Jump bikes here.
Stanley Kubrick has influenced filmmakers the world over for his meticulous attention to detail and unique vision. But what you may not know about the man who made 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange is that before he was a filmmaker, he was a photojournalist for Look Magazine, for whom he captured the street life and subjects of New York City in the second half of the 1940s. Glimpses of Kubrick's iconic style are apparent in these photos, capturing a sense of Kubrick's fascination and bewilderment of the strange quirks of human nature. [Via The Inspiration Grid]
Proud owners of what may very well be the greatest band name in existence, five-piece Snakadaktal are back on stage once again, fresh from supporting The Jezabels on their Australian tour. Winners of the Triple J Unearthed High competition in 2011, Snakadaktal released their stellar self-titled debut EP that same year and reached 26 in the digital ARIA chart. Wowing critics in the process, they went on to sell out shows across Australia. Earlier this year the band headed into the studio with producer Malcolm Besley and came out with 'Dance Bear', a track that sees them showcase the delicate sounds of their twin vocalists and their outstanding musicianship, a quality well beyond their years that lifts them far above their peers. Snakadatal will be joined at the Metro Theatre next Saturday by Sydney pop quartet Sures, who have recently signed a deal with Ivy League records and played shows with Wavves, Real Estate and Bleeding Knees Club. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0BOMlK_0rIM
The service industry has really been through some things lately. 'Shake up' doesn't even come close. Crowd-sourcing, app-ification, and hyper-localisation mean that the service industry we enjoy looks nothing like what our parents knew. And the latest offering from the team behind Paramount Coffee Project, Reuben Hills and Melbourne's Seven Seeds is a testament to this brave new world. The Paramount House Hotel won't be a hotel in the traditional sense of the word. It's gone local instead of global. It won't be a glitzy chain where everything looks and feels the same no matter which country you're visiting. It aims to be an immersive local experience and give visitors a genuine slice of life in Surry Hills. "We hope to encapsulate the spirit of Surry Hills and offer the guest an immersive local community experience," said co-owner Ping Jin Ng. "We are considered but not staged, generous but not lavish and we will offer a memorable and inspiring stay — not just comfortable and slick." The hotel will be part of Paramount House, which currently houses Paramount Coffee, a co-working space and Golden Age Cinema. The hotel's lobby will blend into the downstairs cafe, and a two-storey extension will provide 29 rooms. Room service will be provided by acclaimed local restaurant Ester. Finally you'll be able to eat their sourdough ice cream in bed. Ng sees the hotel's patronage being similar to the crowd that comes into Paramount Coffee — those that appreciate "good food and coffee, but also beautifully designed spaces and interesting events". The vision for the hotel has been realised by Melbourne architecture firm, Breathe. You may know them for their work on Seven Seeds, Brother Baba Budan, Host, the Collingwood Arts Precinct, The Commons and Transformer. They'll retain the heritage details and deck it out with little luxuries like private terraces, generous greenery and Aesop products in all the bathrooms — of course. We'll keep you updated on an opening date. Paramount House Hotel is expected to open in early 2018 at 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills. They're currently hiring staff too. For more info, visit paramounthousehotel.com.
Since setting up at 10 Neild Avenue late last year, "total food hub" Rushcutters has established itself as a genuine champion of fresh, seasonal produce and community spirit. Head honcho Martin Boetz (ex-Longrain) has been keeping inner city diners connected with the country through immersive techniques: an all-day menu, workshops, produce markets and cooking classes. Most of the ingredients involved come direct from Boetz’s Sackville-based Cooks Co-Op Farm, just 50 km from the big smoke. And now? Farmer’s Feast Dinners at just $25 a head. On the last Tuesday of every month, Rushcutters will put a handpicked selection of its favourite local producers and artisans on display. Diners will have the chance to meet the faces behind their dinner plates while enjoying a tasty, seasonally-designed meal. Prepared with seasonal, local produce, the Farmer's Feast menu features braised venison with beetroot and horseradish, brought to the table with a butter mash from Pepe Saya and Valhalla organic wine. The reasonable $25 cover includes a glass of vino, matched by the Keystone Group’s sommelier Sarah Limacher. First cab off the rank is Tim Hansen of Mandagery Creek Venison, who’ll be in house this Tuesday, May 27. Since 2002, he’s been rearing free range deer out in Orange without the use of nasties — antibiotics, stimulants and growth hormones don't have any part in the process. Hansen's sister, Penny Hanan, takes the by-products and transforms them into suede goods and hand crafted knives. She’ll be coming along for the ride to Rushcutters, showcasing her wares from 1803 Artisan Deer Design. Farmer's Feasts start Tuesday May 27. For bookings, call Rushcutters on 02 8070 2424.
A Cautionary Tail looks set to be one of the success stories of Flickerfest this year. The short film centres on a little girl born with a tail that expresses her emotions. It's a source of fun while she's a child, but as she grows into an adult, it becomes a problem, stopping her from fitting in the way she wants to. The animation has been embraced every step of the way so far, ensnaring the talents of Cate Blanchett, David Wenham, and Barry Otto and earning massive support through Kickstarter. Now it's making its worldwide premiere at Flickerfest on January 14, screening in the Best of Australian competition program. We sat down with director and animator Simon Rippingale to talk about loss, growing up, and why he had to grow a trayful of grass in his studio. Where did the story of A Cautionary Tail come from? I was writing a script with Erica [Harrison, writer of A Cautionary Tail], and she was hit by a car one night. She was on a little scooter, and it really cleaned her up, put her in hospital. And she was pretty close to losing her leg … which freaked her out because she's a crazy runner, runs everyday, kilometres. She wrote this poem as a way of sort of dealing with this concept of loss. She's really inspired by Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, that sort of dark, rhyming verse thing. So it was kind of like a puzzle for her to work on. The way she writes, they're like puzzles. Like, each stanza's got exactly this number of beats, and how do you tell the story. And it's like other people do sudokus or whatever. That's a beautiful thing from quite a horrible beginning. And then she came to you with the project? She was very keen for it to be a kid's book, and I was keen for it to be a short film. And we fought about that for a little while. And I won. But now it's going to be a book, too. The story also deals with that conflict between conforming to society and just being yourself, something it seems both adults and kids could relate to. It's for both, I think, It's aimed at kids, that sort of pre-teen age bracket … But it's also aimed at adults because the biggest theme of the story is dealing with loss and growing up, the transition from childhood to adulthood. Everybody relates to that. Everybody's chopped their tail off, in a way. We all had to get jobs and pay bills and most of us have to, you know, be normal. The animation is incredible. Tell us about your techniques. Everything you see in the film is made of miniatures. There were 21 miniature sets built, at my art studio out in Summer Hill … I built all the miniature sets with a team of set builders, some of them are professional props makers from the film industry, a couple of them are graduate students from Enmore Design School, who are doing miniatures there. We shot the miniatures without characters in them and edited the film without the characters on the screen, which is a bit tricky … Then we went into the character design process. All the characters are generated in 3D and animated in Maya. And then a compositing team put it all together. It looks like a lot of detail went into the miniatures — a lot of hands, a lot of hours. It was a massive job, about three months of intensive work. But it was really fun, I loved it … All the organic things you see in the film like grass and leaves and trees are all real. They're real bark, and the grass I grew in a big tray. The sets were plopped on the grass and filmed like that. What are some of your animation inspirations? Well I love Pixar, for story. They really have raised the bar with storytelling, and the art of storytelling, and the importance of story – prioritising story over other things. And I think other studios have jumped to that tune and now everyone else is catching up to that idea. Also Miyazaki. I love Miyazaki, the Studio Ghibli films. How they've stuck to their style, that 2D, the sort of strangeness of that Japanese style of storytelling, which doesn't quite make sense to us and is a bit different, the narratives are a bit odd. And that's really nice for us, growing up in the West. It's a bit of a window into another way of thinking. And also Tim Burton, that stop-motion, and others. There's an undercurrent of handmadiness that's almost making a resurgence, in your work and elsewhere. Yeah, absolutely, there's been a real resurgence of handmade, stop-motion films, because 3D is so prevalent. It's like vinyl; it's not going to go away. You seem to have had a lot of success with Kickstarter. How was that experience? Kickstarter is an amazing medium and we had a great Kickstarter campaign. It was quite unexpected. We were really surprised at the support from all around the world … The cool thing about it is that you sort of develop your fan base and distribution and marketing when you're at the fundraising stage. So producers love it — you're developing the market while you're raising funds. And that's why you see some big names using Kickstarter? Yeah, there are some big names using Kickstarter, like Charlie Kaufman and Phil Tippett, who are both doing big things, raising money by going outside the studio system, saving them having to sort of justify their ideas on market potential. With crowdsourced funding you don't have to justify to somebody else; you just put it out there and gauge interest yourself. You also held an exhibition at the same time. How did that go? Yeah, we did an exhibition at the Paramount building in Surry Hills, where Heckler Studios have their offices now. Heckler did all the post on A Cautionary Tale and they worked with us and also headspace to do an exhibition and fundraiser. We exhibited some of the miniature sets and prints from the film, we projected some of the work-in-progress animation, and we all got drunk. So real life and the internet came together. Did you see a corresponding bump in the Kickstarter campaign? Yeah, definitely at that time. And we had laptops set up on the night. For the drunk people to contribute. Yeah, so drunk people could get their credit cards out… You certainly got some major celebs involved in this project. Cate Blanchett, David Wenham, and Barry Otto voice the film. How did you get them on board? That was simple — we just sent the project to their agents. We didn't really have an 'in', or know anyone. I think they just responded to the writing. The story is really strong. The poem is beautiful. It's going to come out on iTunes next year at some point and as an e-book. So yeah, the poem itself is sort of what started this whole project off. Everyone responds really strongly to it. The actors who came on board were obviously right at the top of our list. We weren't expecting them to say yes, but they said yes. We were very lucky. And now you're about to have our official premiere at Flickerfest. What's it like to be in the festival? It's great. They've been really lovely and supportive of the film. And it's just very exciting to be showing the film, after so much work. It's a local festival, a great festival. Do you personally find you get something out of the festival experience, versus, say, just finding and watching stuff on the internet? I like checking things out on YouTube, but I also like the cinema experience. I like a big roomful of people and the lights go down, the curtains. It's a bit of a ritual. And it's an experience you share with people. I don't think that's going to go away. And film is still a very relevant medium, even if TV has taken a bit of the wind out of its sails. Those HBO series are just spectacular. But still, the film format is very strong, it's not going away any time soon. And your category is Academy® Accredited, which means if you win, you could be up for an Oscar. That must be exciting? Yes. I'm writing the speech… Who would you thank? My mum.
The edges of things can be the best bits. Dark corners, musty and long-forgotten places or cutting-edge ideas on the cusp of success. Fringe Festivals hang out at these edges, bridging the gap between acts and audiences that have been searching for each other. While overseas and interstate fringe festivals have a long history, Sydney's Fringe is only a year old, but with its first return engagement this year, hopefully it's here to stay. After some suggestions last year that the show needed a centre, this year's Fringe will be focused at the Addison Road Centre in Marrickville, tying together a staggering list of events. In Newtown, Newtown Live! launches the show outside the Hub. Three roving evenings will feature a Pop-Up Festival, a mini art-market at the Artcore Guerilla Art Fair and Reclaim the Lanes. The Festival bar will be at 5 Eliza St, featuring visits from the Campfire Collective of storytellers. Fridays to Sundays throughout the festival, buskers will be fighting for the $1000 prize in the shadow of the Martin Luther King mural. At the other end of King Street, a night garden will grow at Tortuga Studios. In Erskineville, Las Dos Fridas brings paintings of Frida Khalo to life, while the Mystery Bus again parties guests in Sydney's lesser-known art spaces. In Enmore, Hardware Gallery brings you its annual Google Exhibition and a night of experimental sound. In Leichhardt, you can check out Filipino Australia and its many names at Aussies of the Magic Mic and Adobo Kind, a bloody Macbeth, 101 L’Afrique's Afro-Latin nightclub rhythms and a festival-long art show at the newly done-up Italian Forum. In Parramatta, the Riverside Theatre hosts a new version of the classic Pillow Book and art from all around Western Sydney. Comedy will be Showcased at Marrickville's Factory Theatre and pushed Beyond the Fringe in Surry Hills. Nearby, Shakespeare's Will gets to know the life of Shakespeare's wife at the old 505, while Cameron Croker and Faran Martin take Eliot's Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock onto the stage of Marrickville's Greek Theatre. Across the lawn, the 39 Steps joins farce to classic Hitchcock.
Prepare to say ciao to Italian cinema throughout September and October — and we mean hello, not farewell. Yes, the annual showcase of films from or about the European nation is back for another round. In fact, it's the Lavazza Italian Film Festival's 17th year — and if the program is anything to go by, it's going to be another good one. Not only will the 2016 fest kick off with Italian box office hit Perfect Strangers and close with the digital restoration of the Audrey Hepburn-starring classic Roman Holiday, but it also boasts a world premiere. Local audiences will be the first on the planet to see the first-ever Australian-Italian feature co-production, The Space Between. Charting the intersection of an Italian ex-chef and a spirited Aussie in the scenic Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, it has been described as "a celebration of the Italian spirit of la dolce vita". Elsewhere, the 30-film program keeps highlighting the best Italian filmmaking has to offer, such as Where Am I Going?, the highest-grossing film in Italian cinema history. Strands dedicated to relationships and leading ladies serve up plenty of both, including straight-from Cannes prison drama Fiore and straight-from-Venice romance The Worldly Girl (and yes, we mean straight from this year's Venice Film Festival in September). Plus, with coming-of-age tale Arianna, Gran Turismo racing thriller Italian Race and gritty character study Napoli Junglealso on the bill, IFF does what all good fests should by offering something for everyone. Don't say you don't have something to watch for the next couple of months as the festival tours the country.
Heading off on holidays should feel like an adventure, right down to the place you choose to rest your head after a fun-filled day. With this in mind, London's Miller Kendrick Architects have come up with what might be one of the most imaginative and impressive hotels possible. Created for Visit Wales's 'Year of Legends 2017' design contest, not only does it celebrate the Welsh landscape, but it is inspired by the legend of King Arthur — and the cave him and his knights allegedly stayed in. As far as unique accommodation goes, the aptly named Arthur's Cave proves a two-for-one affair: soak in the natural surroundings in a cabin that really has been crafted to emulate a cave, and soak in a slice of British legend. It's also a case of blending the old with the new, namely all of the above with building materials and techniques. Inside the timber and glass structure — which uses locally sourced sheep's wool insulation for thermal insulation against the elements — you'll find a cosy sleeping space with a bed, chair and fireplace, aka everything you need for snuggling up and staring out over the landscape around you. Don't spend all of your time looking outside, though; with the cabin made from plywood rib-like shapes that expand and contract, the undulating and sinuous interior is a sight to behold too. Sadly, Arthur's Cave hasn't been built yet; however it is slated for construction early this year. Until then, add this one-of-a-kind pop-up glamping hotel to your must-stay travel bucket list. Via AWOL.
The Melbourne Cup is nearly upon us again, and with it, all the outrageous fascinators, sartorial fun and guaranteed afternoons off work. For those who can't make the Flemington Racecourse this year, we've narrowed down some of the best alternatives at which to spend your first Tuesday of November. These ten are a safe bet for a good — neigh, amazing! (so lame, we're sorry) — time. All include big screens and most have TAB facilities, sweepstakes and fashion on the field prizes. East Sydney Hotel The East Sydney is the kind of old friend you've known for decades. Its menu is refreshingly unpretentious (the most complicated item on there is a steak), and it's been proudly calling itself a no-TV and no-pokies pub since day 1. On Melbourne Cup day, the East Sydney loosens its tie a little and calls an exception to the no-TV rule — the only one day of the year this happens. Join the crowd and you'll see why the East Sydney is such a local favourite. 113 Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo The Norfolk Hotel The Norfolk has been always been a favourite go-to place for celebrating the Melbourne Cup. This year is no different. The Surry Hills hangout is offering a bunch of snacks, mains and dessert plus your choice of beer, wine and sparkling from 1-3pm. Don't worry about missing out on the race action; the Norfolk has promised there will be more than enough screens to go around. Be sure to book if you're a group of four or more — email functions@thenorfolk.co or call 0410 551 717 (Bridget) for reservations. 305 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills El Loco The frustration of leaving Melbourne Cup plans to the last minute can only be surpassed by the anger felt upon realising all your favourite venues have been booked out. Thankfully, Sydney's favourite Mexican cantina holds a firm no bookings required policy, allowing you to just rock up freely on the day. Along with the usual prizes, TV screens and sweeps, El Loco is brewing up a special concoction for the occasion: a Melbourne Cup Day margarita. 64 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills The Grounds of Alexandria Sydney's favourite cafe courtyard will once again be the Melbourne Cup destination for 2014. This year they're throwing a bash in their newly renovated garden, with live entertainment, interactive games, sensory installations, an array of canapes, buffet tables, mini desserts and an ice-cream cart with doughnut ice-cream sandwiches(!). For those wanting to stick around after the celebrations, there'll be an afterparty in The Atrium until late. Tickets are $140 including food, alcohol and a goodie bag. Building 7A, 2 Huntley Street, Alexandria The Fish Shop If fish and chips and a flute of sparkling sounds like the perfect accompaniment for the Melbourne Cup race entertainment, you might want to put Potts Point's The Fish Shop on your list. For $45, it's your bargain option. You bag a two-course meal and a complimentary glass of Chandon NV. For bookings, call 9240 3000. 22 Challis Avenue, Potts Point Ms G's Ms G's, the funky Asian-inspired restaurant with those cute-as-heck bubble tea cocktails are preparing a banquet extravaganza come Melbourne Cup day. Eight courses of Dan Hong's delicious food will be on offer, including his signature miniature banh mi and crunchy vegetable salad. Don't forget the complimentary Moet on arrival either, all for $85. For bookings, call 9240 3000. 155 Victoria Street, Potts Point The Glenmore Provided you don't get distracted by the rooftop harbour views, The Glenmore might be one of the best places to call in the Melbourne Cup. There'll be a lavish luncheon spread, prizes for best dressed and best hat and live entertainment to boot, all for the sum of $149. Oh, and remember to stick around for the free afterparty too, featuring Scotty Sax Trio and DJs until late. For bookings, call (02) 9247 4794 or email info@theglenmore.com.au. 96 Cumberland Street, The Rocks The Bristol Arms A rooftop party is always guaranteed fun. It's great to know then, that The Bristol Arms is throwing a huge bash in their kitchen and rooftop bar with canapes, a four-hour drink package (wine, champagne, beers), photo booth, and a DJ from noon till late. For bookings, email jess@thebristolarms.com.au or call on (02) 9262 5491. 81 Sussex Street, Sydney Chiswick at the Gallery Opened just this October, Chiswick at the Gallery is a city take on the original namesake restaurant nestled in the leafy streets of Woollahra. For this year's Melbourne Cup, co-founders Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan (of Aria fame) have devised a three-course lunch with a glass of Taittinger on arrival, for $115pp. For bookings, call (02) 9225 1819 or email martina@chiswickrestaurant.com.au. Art Gallery Road, Sydney The Argyle The heritage-listed Argyle must be one of the classic spots to spend the Cup, so make sure you don your racing best. For $99pp, you receive a standing lunch and two hours of beverages. Alternatively, you can sign up for a Member's Pavilion three-hour lunch and beverage package, which will set you back $135pp. Tickets are selling fast, so get in quick by emailing reservations@theargylerocks.com or calling (02) 9247 5500.
Birds chirp, rainbows form and the sun shines a little brighter over Moore Park — the award-winning Sydney Dog Lovers Show is returning to the Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion for a fourth year of pats, licks and parades. And yes, the dedicated puppy cuddle zone is returning. Bounding into Moore Park's two biggest venues on the weekend of August 5 and 6 (from 9.30am till 5pm each day), the Sydney Dog Lovers Show will see thousands of dedicated pooch fans celebrating the noble four-legged monarch of human companionship. There'll be dozens of furry friends available for adoption from 30 rescue groups across NSW in the Rescue Dog Zone, where you can learn up on what's actually involved with adoption. Plus, DockDogs is back, featuring a competitive long jump and high jump for talented dogs into a pool of water. Dogs, amiright? But hold up, you came here to cuddle pooches. We're getting there. Punters can make their way to the Pat-A-Pooch zone, where you can cuddle up to a wide range of Australia's most loveable and popular breeds from puppy to adult dogs — we're talking uppity dachshunds to fluffball samoyeds, all up in your grill. This has undeniably been the main attraction of previous year's events, and gives kitten cafes a run for their money. There's plenty more happening over the two days of furry friended fun. Not sure which type of schnoochie is perfect for you? Sign up for a Perfect Match session where you'll be paired with your ultimate dog breed. Already found your tail-waggin' soulmate? Get some expert tips on training, behaviour, first-aid and nutrition in seminars by some of Australia's big name vets. Plus, there's going to be a doggie kissing booth. Yep, pucker up. Tickets are $25 online or $30 on-site (adult, ages 16 and over). Everything is free (including cuddles) once you have purchased your ticket, obviously excepting food and drink.
With La Nina working her unholy magic, you may need to take shelter in your nearest cinema on more than a few summer eves. See how many of the fine flicks on Concrete Playground's Summer 2011/12 hit-list you tick off your list. Best use of twee Restless (now showing) Can a misfit with a Kamikaze pilot ghost friend find love with Mia Wasikowska? Gus Van Sant says yes. Best action flick Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (in cinemas December 15) With Pixar's Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille) in the director's chair, the fourth instalment of the Tom Cruise spy franchise may get a whole lot cooler. Best movie to enjoy with your mum Iron Lady (in cinemas December 26) Meryl Streep is Margaret Thatcher. This can't go wrong. Best revival The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (in cinemas December 26) Some purists will disagree, and motion-capture animation is nobody's favourite, but Steven Spielberg and the UK's hippest moviemaking talent have done well bringing the intrepid boy adventurer/journalist/detective back into our lives. Best mind-fuck The Skin I Live In (in cinemas December 26) Pedro Almodovar's sensational new film is not a Boxing Day flick to which to take the whole family. Best crowd-pleaser Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (in cinemas January 5) He's now a wit, a cad and a brawny crime-fighter. Few can resist. Most unabashed nostalgia The Muppets (in cinemas January 12) We've been following the parody trailers for months, so there's no question we'll pack the theatres for the full-length journey. Best animation Arrietty (in cinemas January 12) Studio Ghibli continues to restore the magic, whimsy and watercolour-rich palette to a form that can get distracted by technology. Best nail-biter The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (in cinemas January 12) Sure, a perfectly competent Swedish adaptation already exists, but this intense, David Fincher-directed take on the Stieg Larsson novel is something else. Most intimidating cast list Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (in cinemas January 19) Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy. Eep. Best use of 3D The Darkest Hour (in cinemas January 19) Invisible aliens invade Moscow. It might turn out half-baked, but both the locations and effects are stunning. Best date movie Young Adult (in cinemas January 19) Because saccharine romance makes most people vomit into their mouths a little, this gem from the Juno team is a safer bet to keep you both giggling while it hits home life's little lessons. Best love story Weekend (in cinemas January 26) A hook-up at a house party becomes something deeper. Oh, and this couple's gay. A good omen for 2012? Best indie Martha Marcy May Marlene (in cinemas February 2) If you were fleeing an abusive cult in the Catskills, you might be paranoid, too. Most justifiably bleak Shame (in cinemas February 9) Carey Mulligan breaks out of her nice-girl box by starring in this powerful story of sex addiction with Michael Fassbender. Most unlikely blockbuster Coriolanus (in cinemas February 23) Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler recover the rarely heard-of Shakespeare tragedy. But in modern, war-scarred Europe. Epic. Most dreaded by bibliophiles Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (in cinemas February 23) Jonathan Safran Foer's great American po-mo novel comes to the screen, with Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock and a swag of sentimentality. Most street cred The Rum Diary (in cinemas March 13, but previewing at St George Open Air Cinema) Johnny Depp retrieved this himself from the depths of Hunter S. Thompson's drawers. Enough said.
