A lot can happen in seven years — and, since sketch-comedy series Key and Peele aired its last episode back in 2015, plenty has. Forget all the chaos that's occurred in the world in general; just for Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, life has been hectic. Key has filled his resume with everything from Archer, Veep and Schmiggadoon! to The Predator, The Lion King and The Prom, while Jordan Peele just went and made three instant horror classics called Get Out, Us and Nope (oh, and won an Oscar). The next thing on the pair's agenda: a reunion, with the two voicing scheming demons in new Netflix movie Wendell & Wild. And if that wasn't enough exciting news for just one film, the stop-motion animated flick is directed by Henry Selick, who'll always have a place in every cinephile's heart thanks to The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. In fact, this marks his first feature since the latter, which arrived back in 2009. Unsurprisingly, gorgeously creepy sights fill Wendell & Wild's just-dropped first teaser trailer, because that's exactly what Selick usually serves up. In a picture that he not only directs, but co-wrote with Peele — who also co-produces — the filmmaker focuses on two demon brothers, the titular pair, who want to be summoned into the Land of the Living. To achieve that feat, Wendell (Key) and Wilde (Peele) need the help of teenager Kat Elliot (voiced by Lyric Ross, This Is Us). But, as the movie's first sneak peek shows, that bargain comes with consequences — because Kat isn't just willing to assist without asking for something in return. Wendell & Wild's voice cast also includes other well-known names, such as Angela Bassett (Gunpowder Milkshake), James Hong (Everything Everywhere All At Once) and Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible — Fallout). And, because it's almost that time of year, of course the film is dropping in time for Halloween — hitting streaming on October 28, in fact. Check out the trailer for Wendell & Wild below: Wendell & Wild will be available to stream via Netflix on October 28. Images: Netflix © 2022.
From family classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to hard-hitting documentaries in the league of Camp 14 – Total Control Zone to black comedies such as Invasion, this year's Audi Festival of German Film promises the bravest, brashest and most bizarre in German film. There'll be panel discussions, Q&As, special cultural programs and parties. The selection for opening night, Georg Maas' Two Lives, makes it clear the festival is seeking the cutting edge, new generation of German filmmaking. It's a 2012 post-Berlin wall spy thriller about the exercise of state control over individual identities. Another highlight is This Ain't California, a Cannes winner that explores the development of skateboard culture in East Germany during the 1970s and 1980s. With over 20,000 people expected to attend, representing a 37 percent growth in popularity over the past six years, this year's festival is set to be the biggest on record. The festival is on in May around the country: Sydney: April 30 to May 14, Chauvel Cinema and Palace Verona Melbourne: May 1-15, Palace Cinema Como and Kino Cinemas Brisbane: May 3-9, Palace Centro Thanks to the Audi Festival of German Film, we have 15 double passes, valid for any screening throughout the festival, to give away in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8noDewE16iM
Now is your chance to learn from the best of the best in the photography world with a seminar from three Canon Masters. Featured speakers are husband-and-wife team Jackie Ranken and Mike Langford and Australian photographer Darren Jew. Listen to them share their experiences capturing some of their best photos and soak up their tips and techniques. The seminar will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Native New Zealanders Ranken and Langford have been photographers for over 30 years, with their focus being fine art and landscape photography, and Canon masters for 10 years. They founded the Queenstown Centre for Creative Photography, where they teach others the knowledge they've collectively gained throughout their careers. Darren Jew's photographic focus is nature and wildlife, with a specialty in underwater photography. He has shot for Australian Geographic and conservation organisations around the world, receiving numerous accolades for his work. All participants in the seminar will come away with knowledge of many kinds of photography, from portraits to landscapes. Image by Mike Langford.
Last month, NSW government announced plans to retire the monorail. Hooray! But what next? Landscape architect David Vago thinks he may have the (most sustainable) answer: reuse the infrastructure. Many of us had already dreamed of how much better the CBD pathways would look and feel without the intrusive, ugly track towering above everyone, but perhaps that was a little too hasty. Vago's vision is not to pull it all down, but to recycle and to create an elevated walkway for commuters and tourists alike. The plans, unveiled in the Sydney Morning Herald, have had a mixed response so far. The architect's cheaper (Vago suggests it will cost $5 million, half the price of removing the monorail) and relatively simple idea could end up a bit like New York's High Line, pictured below, with vertical gardens and the existing stations turned into cafes, parks and gallery spaces. Clover Moore has said it isn't likely to happen. But, what do you think? Could you warm to the idea?
Sydney Festival is nearly upon us, but this year's massive program isn't just about arts and culture — the 2020 instalment will do its part toward bushfire relief, too. The festival has just announced that it a Bushfire Appeal fundraising concert will take over the Metro Theatre on Saturday, January 11, and it has one helluva lineup of live acts. Headlining the night are two 90s cult favourites: Brisbane-based rock band Regurgitator (which is in town for its kids show Pogogo Show) and indie group Custard. Also on the bill is alt-rock artist Dan Sultan and local Sydney favourites The Neptune Power Federation, Polish Club and Art vs. Science. [caption id="attachment_756703" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Custard[/caption] Tickets will cost $50 a pop, with all proceeds going toward Red Cross Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal and WIRES. All of the artists, crew and suppliers have also volunteered their services for the night — which is set to be one of the best collab rock performances of the year. Apart from the one-off concert, Sydney Festival will continue to focus its program-wide fundraising efforts toward bushfire relief. This will include collections at several of the festival's largest events, including at Symphony Under the Stars in Parramatta and Architects of Air's inflatable labyrinth. Heaps of other major venues — most notably the Sydney Opera House — will run charity collections post-performance too, so keep an eye out as you explore the festival this January.
Coming off the back of a massive eight-week US tour, Melbourne pop janglers Twerps are back on home turf with a show at Sydney's very own Goodgod Small Club. Formed a few years back in late 2008, the lovable lo-fi rogues have risen quickly, earning support slots with the likes of The Bats, Black Lips, Deerhunter and Yo La Tengo, and becoming one of Melbourne's favourite bands in the process. Released in the fading light of 2011, their debut self-titled album has encapsulated perfectly their brand of warm and deliciously infectious pop, fused with eighties sounds and crystalline guitar playing. Since arriving back in Australia Twerps have been locked away in the studio, working on some new tracks for the fans. At Goodgod they will be joined by Songs and Jonny Telafone. https://youtube.com/watch?v=UZJgKpc8z2I
Already one of the country's go-to spots for sand, surf and sun, the Gold Coast now boasts another reason to plan a visit this summer: Sandtunes, a massive two-day beachside music festival. Debuting this year across Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1, the new event will take over the Coolangatta Beach with a jam-packed lineup of live tunes, with Travis Scott, Logic, Chvrches and Carly Rae Jepsen leading the bill. The festival will mark Scott's only Australian performance this year, so if you're keen to see the Texas-born rapper play tracks from his 2018 album Astroworld, this is the place to be. If you're a fan of fellow US hip hop star Logic, you'll also be treated to his first-ever Aussie show. While Scottish trio Chvrches are no strangers to our shores — they're on this year's Spilt Milk lineup as well — Sandtunes will also welcome Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen for her debut performance in Australia. When you're not singing along to 'Call Me Maybe' live, you can also check out the rest of the just-announced first lineup, which spans Juice WRLD, Dean Lewis, Sampa the Great, Tkay Maidza, Cub Sport, Kait, Kwame, WAAX, Kian, Alice Ivy,Genesis Owusu and Saint Lane. A word of warning: while you'll be partying on the sand right by the ocean, the festival dates do overlap with part of Schoolies — although, thankfully Coolangatta is never as hectic with revelling school leavers as Surfers Paradise. Sandtunes Music Festival takes place on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 on the Coolangatta Beach at the Gold Coast. Tickets go on sale at 12pm on Wednesday, July 31, with a Telstra pre-sale from 10am on Friday, July 26 — visit the festival website for further details.
Last year, Scotland's BrewDog created the world's first craft beer hotel and launched the world's first craft beer airline, letting beer lovers drink more of its cold ones in more places. Basically, the boozy flight is an ideal way to get to the brand's Ohio holiday spot, however it's not a regular service. But after the first return trip took to the skies earlier in 2019, two more flights have been announced. Aptly named BrewDog Airlines by the beer fiends— and yes, it's all about downing craft brews at 30,000 feet — the repeat trip will take eager drinkers from London to the company's Columbus facility and back. Want to mosey the other way? A second flight will also soar through the heavens while serving its passengers plenty of brews, leaving the US to head to Scotland for some beer- and whisky-sipping. If you're keen to make either journey, the London-to-Ohio leg departs Britain on Thursday, October 31, making the return leg on Tuesday, November 5, while the Ohio-to-Edinburgh trip leaves Columbus on the same departure date and heads back on the same return date as well. As was the case with the airline's maiden voyage, you'll also need to be one of BrewDog's Equity Punks, which is what it calls its shareholders — and pay between £1350–1450 per person (or £2550–2750 for two people sharing a room). Starting to pack now? Happy to make your own way to either start point? Then here's what else is in store. Boarding a Boeing 767, passengers will enjoy a spot of beer tasting, tuck into a BrewDog-inspired menu that's paired with matching beers, watch the brewery's BrewDog Network — its own streaming platform — and receive a branded eye mask and blanket. More brews will be served during the flight, obviously. And, once the plane lands, you're in for a tour of either BrewDog's Columbus or Ellon facilities, as well as relevant boozy trips in Ohio and Scotland. To ensure the flight goes smoothly — or boozily, really — BrewDog has also created its own beer that tastes better at a flying altitude. If you hop on board its airline, you'll get to enjoy more than a few sips. Cathay Pacific also did something similar back in 2017, launching a bottled beer that was made to taste as great in the air as it does on the ground. With BrewDog also opening an Australian base in Brisbane in 2019 — albeit without a hotel — here's hoping it brings this idea with it. Image: BrewDog.
As advocates across the country continue to campaign for the introduction of pill testing, the staunchly opposed NSW Government has stuck firm and is about to introduce an alternative: tough new licensing regulations for local music festivals. The new music festival liquor licence, which comes into effect from Friday March 1, follows advice from the government's expert panel on music festival safety, which was assembled in September after two young people died of suspected drug overdoses at Defqon 1. Among a stack of recommendations outlined in their Keeping People Safe At Music Festivals report, the panelists advised changing the way the state's music festival liquor licence applications are assessed, and NSW's lawmakers have jumped on board. It means that soon, organisers of music festivals will need to apply for a special standalone liquor licence for every event they hold. Each licence is subject to careful consideration based on the festival's perceived 'risk profile' and will need to get the thumbs up from a team of experts representing the likes of NSW Health, Liquor and Gaming NSW and the NSW Police Force. Risk factors to be scrutinised include things like the event's target age group, anticipated weather conditions, duration and finish time, proximity to a health facility, and any major issues flagged with the event's organisers or landholder in the three years prior. While details of the new system are being finalised, the government has offered a set of guidelines to be used by organisers in the interim. These include things like the inclusion of dedicated 'chill out zones' on site, with low noise, low light and access to free water and basic health supplies. "Festival organisers need to ensure their events have safety management plans in place," a spokesperson for NSW's Minister for Racing Paul Toole told Concrete Playground. "Most operators have been cooperative with the new interim arrangements and have done a great job working with each Government agency to meet each condition. Already we are seeing more chill-out-zones, more paramedics and police in attendance, and more water stations being readily available." While NSW's Liberal Government is opposed to pill testing, Opposition Leader Michael Daley has said he will explore the option, and pledges to hold a "drug summit", if elected in March. Many medical groups, including the Australian Medical Association and NSW Nurses & Midwives, and politicians have recently come out in support of pill testing. The Greens have a plan for pill testing across Australia - and when Bill Shorten is PM, we'll push his Labor Government to implement this common sense, evidence based approach to saving lives. There's no time to waste.https://t.co/tbqLkPie70 — Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) December 18, 2018 Standalone music festival licences will be manditory for all NSW music festivals from March 1. For more information about the licence and guidelines for the interim, head to the Liquor & Gaming NSW website. Images: Bec Taylor.
Tasmania is an evocative place. The tiny island state is easily one of Australia's most diverse landscapes, featuring everything from white, sandy beaches and the inspiring peaks of Cradle Mountain to hidden wonders like Little Blue Lake. But it's not just the terrain that offers up surprises; Tasmania is also a haven for the unconventional. With Hobart's globally renowned Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), the large botanical mazes and rural towns turned into openair galleries, Tasmania knows its way around the weird and wonderful and isn't afraid to revel in it come rain, shine or snow. With that in mind, we've created a jam-packed winter guide to Tassie's most eclectic cultural and artistic experiences. So strap yourselves in (and put on your warmest winter woollies), it's going to be a strange ride. [caption id="attachment_498713" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).[/caption] THE MUSEUM OF OLD AND NEW ART — HOBART Affectionately referred to as the 'museum of sex and death', MONA isn't your stock-standard cultural institution. Instead, it's more like a sprawling underground playground that could easily double as a Bond villain's home (just look at its imposing void-like entrance and spiral staircases). Each exhibition has been specially curated to provoke — from James Turrell's permanent, mind-bending light installations in the newly minted Pharos wing to the bold, ever-changing seasonal shows like Greg Taylor's famous vaginal sculptures. As MONA is the host of Australia's most sinister festival, Dark Mofo, winter is the ideal time to visit, with numerous artists and works freshly displayed within the museum's walls as well as sprawled across Hobart. And once you've finished expanding your mind, you can also expand your stomach at one of MONA's many eateries. The combination of Faro's Spanish and Greek tapas (try the martini garnished with pig eyes if you're brave), waterfront views and stark architecture is fantastic. [caption id="attachment_719412" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania and Jonathan Wherrett.[/caption] CASCADES FEMALE FACTORY — HOBART History often dwells on the lives of men rather than women, but that's not the case at the Cascades Female Factory, located at the foothills of Mount Wellington. Built in 1828, the factory was once a women's only convict facility and workhouse, so it seems fitting that it's now one of the only sites in Australia that is fully dedicated to highlighting the trials and tribulations of female convicts. Daily tours offer a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of the thousands of women and children that once lived and worked on the factory grounds. Or, if you love a little drama, make sure you're bundled up for the outdoors and catch the spooky two-person theatrical tour Her Story that takes place across the factory's grounds every day at noon. [caption id="attachment_719424" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania and Diane and Lindsay Stockbridge.[/caption] SHEFFIELD MURALS — SHEFFIELD If there's one thing that you can always rely on in Tasmania, it's that the small island knows how to exceed expectations, particularly when it comes to art. So it's no surprise that the town of Sheffield is a totally normal rural Tasmanian town, except for the fact that it also doubles as the most impressive openair gallery. Covered in murals from head to toe — or from sheds to churches, to be more accurate — the 'Town of Murals' is a colourful wonderland that is well worth the one-hour drive from Launceston. Plus, each winter there are new murals to see, with the annual mural fest occurring at the end of April. [caption id="attachment_719427" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania and Rob Burnett.[/caption] THE SHIP THAT NEVER WAS — STRAHAN Whoever said history had to be boring? Certainly not the people behind Australia's longest-running play, which turned 25 earlier in 2019. Filled with cheeky convicts and comedic tragedy, The Ship That Never Was immerses you in the true story of the great escape from Sarah Island. Intrigue, twists and laughter abound in this hilariously dramatic tale that manages to impart some interesting historical facts about the convict settlement of Macquarie Harbour while keeping the audience endlessly entertained. So get snug with one of the blankets and heat packs provided (you'll need it) and settle in for some educational entertainment. [caption id="attachment_719429" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania and Rob Burnett.[/caption] QUEEN VICTORIA MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY — LAUNCESTON If you've come to Tasmania, then chances are you're at least a little bit intrigued by the state's interesting past. If that's the case, then the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery should be your first stop during a trip to Launceston — or stops, rather. Split into two locations — the QVMAG Museum at Inveresk and QVMAG Art Gallery at Royal Park — this arty institution is a great way to get up close and personal with Tasmania's heritage and culture. Plus, both spots are great indoor options if the weather is just a bit too chilly. An exhibition by local artist Angela Casey that's full of dark sentiments and sinister depictions, The Enquiring Light will be showing throughout winter alongside the permanent archaeological exhibition, which includes life-size dinosaur replicas. Get ready to live out all of your Jurassic Park fantasies. [caption id="attachment_719414" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania and Rob Burnett.[/caption] TASMAZIA AND THE VILLAGE OF LOWER CRACKPOT — PROMISED LAND Get lost. No really, do it — but not just anywhere. Do it at the self-proclaimed 'largest maze complex in the world'. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Mount Roland, the strange tourist site that is Tasmazia is actually pretty fantastic. There are eight mazes to lose yourself (and your mind) in, plus the Village of Lower Crackpot. The miniature town's charming exterior hides a darkly subversive humour that is slowly revealed through hilarious nods to the absurd — like its monument to whistleblowers and its School of Lateral Thinking. Our favourite is the Lower Crackpot's Correctional Centre, which is filled with plush guillotines and fake punishments. [caption id="attachment_719954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Derwent Valley.[/caption] THE WALL IN THE WILDERNESS — HOBART Staring at walls isn't generally considered a stimulating activity, but the Wall in the Wilderness isn't your average roof-holder. Using a series of timber panels, artist Greg Duncan has hand-carved a 100-metre-long depiction of the history of Tasmania's central highlands, creating a wall like no other. From the area's Indigenous people to the early pastoralists and hydro workers, the astounding artwork commemorates the people that lived in the harsh region. It has been critically compared to Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel — so you know it's worth the trip. Top image: Faro at MONA by Jarrad Seng.
In what's unsurprisingly being deemed the first of its kind, an abandoned slate mine in the Llechwedd caverns of Wales has recently been converted into an amazing trampoline playground. Featuring neon lights, huge bouncy netting, and awe-inspiring natural surrounds, this is one fantastical deathtrap that will be well worth all the hours of therapy it will inevitably necessitate. Though it officially opens next week (July 3) Bounce Below is the stuff dreams are made out of. Particularly those dreams where you wake up falling inexorably to your death. Of course, we kid. This underground wonderland has been well fitted out with safety precautions — we're just lashing out because we're bitter about being on the wrong side of the world to experience it. And, with three levels of incredible trampolines and a spiral slide measuring 20 metres in height, there's an awful lot to be jealous about. Far from your average cave tour, thrillseekers and historians visiting the seemingly unpronounceable small town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales can spend one hour bouncing around these unconventional caverns for a mere £15. Equipped with hard hat and matching overalls, both kids and adults alike can explore the many levels of bouncy bliss while enjoying the creepy serenity of being trapped underground. With the recent announcement of a a giant boobie bouncy castle at the Museum of Sex in New York, it seems like bouncing is the new hip activity around the world this week. If you need us, we'll be practicing our double-bouncing techniques at home while waiting for this giant novelty trend to hit Australia and New Zealand. Via Huffington Post.
Of course the Scandinavian Film Festival takes place in winter. When it's frosty across Australia, watching films set in snowy Nordic climes just feels appropriate. As many a cultural film fest offers, it's the next best thing to jumping on a plane and heading to the top of the world (it's also much, much cheaper). Now enjoying its fourth outing, the 2017 festival gets the Scandi celebrations started with international festival hit The Other Side of Hope, then works through the best flicks that Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden currently have to offer. Odes to real-life figures, heart-stirring dramas, explorations of indigenous plights, brooding murder mysteries and the politics of war are all included — and all make our top five picks of this year's program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxPRRzZkpus TOM OF FINLAND How does someone become known simply by their first name and homeland? Tom of Finland has the answer. The biographical film delves into the story of, yes, Tom of Finland, aka Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen. A pseudonym became another became a legend for the man who survived World War II, struggled to be himself in a country where homosexuality was illegal, and then became an emblem for sexual freedom. Director Dome Karukoski relays his tale with passion, as does Pekka Strang, as well as shining a bigger spotlight on Tom of Finland's provocative output. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O15-xYqBDZU A CONSPIRACY OF FAITH Nordic noir is the genre that keeps on giving, be it on the page, on TV or in cinemas. Jumping from books to films, Denmark's Department Q series continues to sit at the centre of the Scandinavian-set crime wave — and, the great thing about adapting a multi-tome effort is the multiple movies that follow. Fans of previous Scandinavian Film Festival titles The Keeper of Lost Causes and The Absent One will be ready and waiting to chart detectives Carl Mørck (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and Assad's (Fares Fares) latest exploits, while newcomers can still jump right into the procedural action. As the title gives away, this time faith plays a big part in their new mystery, and how they approach the case. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIolgEvMAJ8 HEARTSTONE When Heartstone premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year, it was a debut effort exploring the connection between two childhood pals against a stunning Icelandic backdrop. Now making its way to Australia, it's an international film fest smash. Of course, the former still rings true, as told with intimacy, precision and overwhelming sincerity. Here, best friends Thor and Christian work through the conflicts of growing up, going after love and not always getting what they want — or understanding their bond with each other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o2FkppwDoU SAMI BLOOD In the 1930s, teenage reindeer herder Elle Marja (Lene Cecilia Sparrok) is removed from her family. The reason? She's Sámi, a member of the area's indigenous people. Taking children from their culture in an attempt to assimilate them into Swedish life was common practice at the time — and yes, that kind of oppression should sound familiar to Australian audiences. Sámi director Amanda Kernell steps through a stirring tale that proves revelatory in more ways than one, while also making a star out of Sparrok, a reindeer herder herself. Sami Blood screens in Sydney and Brisbane only. Melbourne movie buffs — watch this space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNtu-bCGi18 THE KING'S CHOICE Shortlisted in this year's foreign-language category at the Academy Awards, and based on real events, World War II effort The King's Choice finds a personal way to tell an epic story. Two nations face off, with Germany invading Norway, but one man has to find a way forward. Sure, he's the democratically elected monarch, but that doesn't make his complicated decision any less involving. Taking its time to piece its parts together, his experiences make for the kind of drama that builds towards a stirring resolution. The Scandinavian Film Festival tours the country between July 11 and August 6, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton Street and Palace Verona from July 11 to August 2, Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay and Palace Westgarth from July 13 to August 2, and Brisbane's Palace Barracks from July 20 to August 6. For the full program, visit the festival website.
Why serve sushi on a train when you can serve it on a plane? Okay, it's not exactly a plane, but it's pretty close. London's YO! Sushi, renowned for being the first sushi chain in the UK to provide its goodies via a conveyor belt, is now the first to deliver them with wings. Currently on trial at YO! Sushi's Soho restaurant, with a view to national roll out in 2014, the 'iTray' has been developed using sophisticated RC Drone quadicopter technology. Dependent on four propellers, and made of super-light carbon fibre, the 'flying waiter' is remote controlled with an inbuilt Wifi system, connected to an iPad. Two HD cameras enable the restaurant's kitchen staff to ensure that their creations experience a smooth and accurate arrival at their destination. Given that the iTray can travel at speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour, and can make journeys as long as 50 metres, a crash landing could get kind of messy. In other air borne-cuisine related developments, attendees at South Africa's Oppikoppi Music Festival, happening August 8-10, will be able to use their mobile phones to order drone-delivered beer. [via Springwise]
Bored of ordering the same old beer or grabbing whichever wine has the prettiest label? This upcoming pop-up bar, or rather an entire house dedicated to quality drinks, will have you out of that rut, opting for spirits and mixing martinis like a pro in no time. Between March 8–10, Dan Murphy's is hosting an interactive pop-up that will help you spot, and serve, a quality tipple. The House of Discovery, as it's been dubbed, will set up in a vacant heritage house in Chippendale on Kensington Street. With a drinks list curated by Dan Murphy's Spirit Ambassador Charlie Ainsbury (ex-This Must Be The Place), each room of the house will focus on a different alcoholic aspect — from a space celebrating all things tequila to cocktail-making presentations in a tiki room to a spread that forgoes tradition and, heroing the tipples over the nosh, matches food to drinks. Think of the whole experience as an intensive course — but with liquor and the promise of being way more fun than school ever was. If this sounds right up your small bar-dotted alley, then we have some great news. We're giving away five double passes to opening night on Thursday, March 8. You and a mate will be granted early access to the house from 7.45pm where you'll meet with Charlie for an intimate cocktail-making session. Through an up-close demo, you'll learn the art of making your ideal cocktail by balancing the spirits you love with mixers and garnishes of your choice. By the time the crowds arrive at 8.30pm, you'll be pouring, muddling, swizzling and shaking like a pro. To enter, see details below. [competition]656921[/competition]
While wearable tech is impressive, it's not necessarily subtle or very stylish. You can always tell when someone's wearing a Fitbit and we all know how Google Glass went down. But Google's new piece of wearable tech is integrated into one of society's more practical pieces of clothing: a Levi's denim jacket. Google's Advanced Technology and Projects arm (ATAP) has teamed up with the iconic denim brand to redesign their Commuter Trucker Jacket with Google's Project Jacquard technology. It is the first garment to be made with the tech, which works by weaving a conducive yarn into the fabric. On the jacket, the tech is installed in the left sleeve, which acts as a touchpad and allows for touch and gesture interactivity with your phone. That means that when riding your bike (which is what this technology has been primarily designed for) you will be able to swipe up to get directions, tap to change the song you're listening to or swipe down to answer a call. It's all powered by a clip-on tag, which acts as a battery and, as far as we can tell, is the only real noticeable difference to the jacket. The technology has been in the works for some time now, but further details were announced on-stage by Levi's global product innovation head Paul Dillinger and ATAP's Project Jacquard lead Ivan Poupyrev at SXSW in Austin this weekend. The jacket — which will be made in both women's and men's sizes — will be released in spring this year and retail for about $350 USD. That's not saying the jacket will be officially released in Australia or New Zealand, but it will be available for consumers to purchase. Until then, you'll just have to be content with listening to a shitty song that snuck into your Spotify shuffle until you pull up at a traffic light. Via Mashable. Images: Levi's/YouTube.
When Angélique (Isabelle Carré) is hired as a chocolatier at Jean-René's (Benoît Poelvoorde) small chocolate shop, neither one has more than cocoa and sugar on their minds. Their passion for chocolate making, however, soon inspires a fledgling romance. The only thing standing in their way is sheer shyness. Despite developing affections, both Angélique and Jean-René maintain their distance from one another; each suffers from crippling bashfulness, preventing the confession of their feelings. As the future of the chocolate shop becomes compromised by its owner's dismal business skills, he must re-examine his cautious and awkward ways. Working behind him all the way is Angélique, who recognises the dire need to overstep her personal boundaries if she is to save the business and any chance of a future with Jean-René. Directed by Jean-Pierre Améris, this French romantic comedy will remind you that the sweetest things in life are worth taking the risk for. To win the grand prize - a double pass to see the film, a Madman DVD pack, and a $50 voucher at Danks St. Depot - just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=upKDjLBtU_A
Okay, so it's actually a statue of King Joffrey. But still! Think of the satisfaction! Everyone wants to see that smarmy little ferret face smashed into the ground and now you finally have the means with which to make it happen. Do it for Ned Stark! Do it for Sansa! Do it for that little kid in Batman Begins who had no idea of his evil destiny. The marketing geniuses over at Sky (New Zealand's equivalent of Foxtel) have set up a statue of King Joffrey in the middle of Auckland's CBD and, using the power of social media (for realsies) you can help topple the unlawful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Each tweet including the hashtag #bringdowntheking will contribute to a rope around the statue's neck tightening — a slow but inevitable means with which to bring the statue down. The public execution, which is estimated to take around five days, is available to watch via livestream here. Although, it may be a little dull until the final moments. The more entertaining things to keep an eye on at the moment are people's emotive tweets. The North remembers. Filthy Joffrey. #bringdowntheking #GOT — a little bit of ???? (@_magiciscoming) April 3, 2014 You bastard Joffrey!!! #bringdowntheking — Sam Pascoe (@PascoeSam) April 3, 2014 Something tells me these kind of fans really didn't need a marketing stunt to remind them to tune in to the season premiere on April 6.
Poor Things is still screening in cinemas Down Under, and its swag of Oscars — including for Emma Stone for Best Actress — is mere weeks old, but you can already start getting excited about Yorgos Lanthimos' next film. The Greek director is reteaming with Stone (The Curse) for their third feature, after The Favourite as well, on Kinds of Kindness. Movie lovers will see the end result soon, with the feature due to start hitting cinemas around the world from midyear. For now, it has just dropped its first teaser trailer. This time, Lanthimos and Stone have made a triptych featuring three fable-like tales. One is about a man who doesn't have choice as he attempts to seize control of his existence. Another follows a policeman whose wife goes missing at sea, then returns but doesn't seem like herself. And the last charts a woman trying to find a person with a unique ability that's meant to become a spiritual leader. That's all the narrative detail that's been revealed about Kinds of Kindness so far. The initial glimpse at the movie spans speeding cars, dragged bodies, slaps, dancing, dogs, licking and Stone talking about the moment of truth, all soundtracked by the Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams'. If you're thinking "isn't it wonderful" about this combination of elements, the movie understands — they're Stone's last words in the footage. On-screen, Stone — who also worked with Lanthimos on short film Bleat — has her Poor Things co-stars Willem Dafoe (Asteroid City) and Margaret Qualley (Drive-Away Dolls) for company. Joining them: Jesse Plemons (Killers of the Flower Moon), Hong Chau (The Menu), Joe Alwyn (Stars at Noon), Mamoudou Athie (The Burial) and Hunter Schafer (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes). Lanthimos helms, co-writing the script with Efthimis Filippou (who penned the filmmaker's Dogtooth, Alps, The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, too), on a flick that'll release in the US in June (likely after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival the month earlier, given the timing) and Down Under on Thursday, July 11. Check out the first trailer for Kinds of Kindness below: Kinds of Kindness will release in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
There's only one thing in life that's almost as ace as a holiday: looking forward to a holiday. The planning, counting down the days, just having something to get excited about — they all help liven up the daily grind. So when a flight sale drops, like Virgin's latest round of discounted fares, it's an instant way to brighten up your mood. Start looking forward to trips around Australia and overseas, and for cheap. This new sale spans over 500,000 fares for both domestic and international legs. Prices start low, at the usual $49, which once again gets you from Sydney to Byron Bay — the normal cheapest fare in any flight sale — and vice versa. From there, the domestic side of the sale covers everywhere from Hamilton Island and Hobart to Darwin and Mt Isa. Virgin's Flight Frenzy sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Friday, August 25 — unless sold out earlier, with fares to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide also covered. That means paying $69 one-way from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast, $79 from Melbourne to Hobart, and $99 for a trip from Brisbane to Cairns or Canberra to the Gold Coast. Or, still on local deals, the specials also cover $59 from Melbourne to Launceston, $119 from Adelaide to Sydney, $179 from Brisbane to Darwin and $209 from Melbourne to Perth. Internationally, Tokyo visits are included, from Cairns only from $699 return. Among the other global return options: Bali (from $469 from Adelaide, $489 from the Gold Coast, $599 from Brisbane, and $629 from Melbourne or Sydney), Fiji ($499 from Brisbane or Sydney, and $539 from Melbourne), Vanuatu ($469 from Brisbane) and Samoa ($569 from Sydney and $579 from Brisbane). And, Queenstown is also on the agenda, with both one-way and return legs. One-way from Melbourne and Sydney starts at $265, and return from $425. From Brisbane, those prices are $309 and $539. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, the fares cover select periods between Wednesday, October 11, 2023–Thursday, June 20, 2024, with all dates varying per route. Inclusions also differ depending on your ticket and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick if you're keen to stack the rest of 2023 and the first half of 2024 with a getaway (or several). Virgin's Flight Frenzy sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Friday, August 25 — unless sold out earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Bangarra Dance Theatre — Australia's leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts company — is marking the end of its 30th year with an immersive new installation at Carriageworks. Curated by artistic director Stephen Page and head of design Jacob Nash, Knowledge Ground: 30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand invites visitors to explore three decades of groundbreaking work what has seen the company preserve ancient Indigenous traditions and sharing contemporary songlines. The installation is made up of a series of themed spaces that explore Bangarra's core principles of Country, Language, kinship, social and history. As you move through, you'll be immersed in projections of video from past productions, bathed in Bangarra's soundscapes and get acquainted (or reacquainted) with custom-made set pieces and costumes. Along with the exhibition, a digital archive of the same name has also launched. The Knowledge Ground website lets you look through all of Bangarra's shows, stories and information, to make sure the theatre's culture and creative practice is recorded, learned and shared. The exhibition will be open daily from 10am–6pm until Saturday, December 14 — except for this Saturday, December 7, when it will be closed. Images: Daniel Boud.
Rice paper rolls, pho and bánh mì on the run? Misschu is about to go drive-through. According to Good Food, the next chapter for the Vietnamese Sydney favourite — following the recently opened Bettychu in Elizabeth Bay — the proposed drive-through eatery will apparently launch in November at the $100 million Double Bay Kiaora Lands development carpark. ''I'm going to call it Misschu Drive Through," owner Nahji Chu told GF. "The service window is on the street where there is a driveway and it's easy for cars to pull over and grab and go." Further details are yet to surface on the date and set-up of the project within the Kiaora Lands development, so watch this space for more Chu drive-through deets, Sadly, GF has reported that a few eateries have already pulled out of the development; Bondi Road's The Char Rotisserie, Bondi Pizza and L'il Darlin' teams won't be carpark neighbours. With the drive-through awaiting an opening date, Misschu's gradual expansion is still set to continue across Australia and internationally. The team are hoping to open on Beattie St, Balmain in late 2014 if council delays let up, and Facebook comments have also hinted at a possible Brisbane opening. Joining the Darlinghurst, Bondi, Martin Place, Sydney CBD and Elizabeth Bay tuckshops in Sydney, Exhibition Street and South Yarra joints in Melbourne and the infamous Sydney Harbour boat delivery service, the Australian expansion follows Misschu's first international opening in London last year. Chu has spoken of potential future openings in New York City, Los Angeles, Dubai, Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and back in Vietnam. Epic. Via Good Food.
Whims can get a wee bit specific. Want a big street art show? Free? On an Island? Done. Big, free and on Cockatoo Island, the five week Outpost festival offers a changing roster of street art, artists and entertainment to keep you ferrying out for a fresh look. Though some arms of government use graffiti sites to arm their arrest warrants, this one using its internet savy to fill the island with a flow of interstate and overseas talent. The lineup would be dominated by Aussie luminaries like Meggs, May's Lane and Reka, if it wasn't already overshadowed by work from international stencil superstar Banksy. The Banksy stuff is mainly from a private collection, but the equally big Belgian muralist Roa will show up in person (Qantas shenanigans allowing) to paint a gargantuan animal over an island wall the weekend of November 4-5. Will Coles' work will be on show, his concrete graffiti a staple of Newtown streets, as well as fellow Newtown star Mox, the Kirbyesque Zap and Melbournian maestras Vextra and Deb. Saturdays during the festival, Secret Wars will host art battles, while Shadow Wars hosts a one off battle of dance and Skateboard Australia presents a grand final. You can also check out Brazilian import Ethos blowing up his sketches up from the tiny to the huge, after Buff Diss taking his turn to spend a week to do interesting things with masking tape. Image of Roa's Rodent by visualpun.ch
The global juggernaut revolutionising music festivals around the world, Optus RockCorps, has hit Australia with the promise of free tickets to a kick-arse festival — in exchange for just four hours of your time. This groundbreaking program offers festival-lovers a fairly irresistible exchange: simply spend four hours volunteering for the local community and in return you will get yourself a ticket to the Optus RockCorps on April 11 at the Hordern Pavilion. They're the world's only festival tickets that money literally cannot buy. The event is produced through a partnership between Optus and the RockCorps organisation, which has rocked its way across the globe, with over 130,000 volunteers from France to Venezuela to the US giving up a combined 500,000 hours in order to put on over 40 live concerts. This innovative strategy has not only allowed RockCorps to promote and pump out some pretty awesome live music but also allowed volunteers to make a difference in poor and struggling communities all over the world. Confirmed for the line-up of the first Optus RockCorps in Sydney are The Script, Labrinth and Guy Sebastian. If you fancy registering or just want to find out more about the project, visit the Optus RockCorps website or give them a call on 1800 ROCK 1800. 8 March 2013: The organisers of Optus RockCorps have announced that British MC Tinie Tempah will replace Labrinth, who is unable to perform due to scheduling difficulties.
Jarno Smeets has always believed he could fly. Now he knows he can. On March 18, Smeets successfully flew using his pair of custom-built wings, controlled by video game controllers and an Android phone. The project, which took eight months of research and testing, was inspired by sketches by Smeets' grandfather depicting a futuristic flying bicycle. Smeets' grandfather spent much of his life working on the design, yet never completed the project; Smeets says that it has always been his dream to complete his grandfather's goal. While Smeets was studying engineering at Coventry University in England, he altered his grandfather's design and began working on a Leonardo Da Vinci-inspired set of flying wings. The idea was based on the mechanics involved with robotic prosthetics. Smeets' aim was to supplement his arm strength to enable his arms to carry his entire body while in flight. With the help of neuro-mechanic Bert Otten, the design eventually became a reality. The flight lasted 60 seconds, a "magical moment", according to Smeets. Of course, a video like this brings the skeptics out of the woodwork, and with the creator's CV not checking out, their case has been gaining momentum. Update: yep, it's a fake. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GYW5G2kbrKk [via Wired]
Before Barbenheimer became the biggest thing in cinema in 2023, moviegoers flocked to a film that featured a blonde wearing plenty of pink, and also clouds and mushrooms, all in the one flick. That feature: The Super Mario Bros Movie. It was a hit. It was a smash, in fact. At the global box office, the first-ever animated movie based on the Nintendo favourite came in right in the middle of both Barbie and Oppenheimer for the year — notching up more than $1.3 billion in takings. That an animated Mario movie would get audiences saying "let's go" to cinemas is hardly a surprise. Neither is the next piece of news: that a sequel to The Super Mario Bros Movie is on the way. The folks at Nintendo and animation studio Illumination are back doing the filmmaking equivalent of hitting blocks to unveil power-ups — aka crafting a second picture that's due to hit cinemas in 2026. The exact date in the US: April 3, 2026. Expect audiences in Australia and New Zealand to see the film at around the same time. Nintendo and Illumination announced the sequel as part of the annual MAR10 celebrations on March 10 — which would also make a great movie release date, but features don't usually hit the big screen on Tuesdays, which is when the occasion will fall in 2026. "By getting deeply involved in the movie production with the aim to put smiles on everyone's faces through entertainment, Nintendo will continue its efforts to produce unique entertainment and deliver it to as many people as possible," said the company in a statement. In a video, Shigeru Miyamoto from Nintendo and Chris Meledandri from Illumination also chatted about the news — but without going into much detail regarding what'll be in store in the film, other than the return trip to the Mushroom Kingdom. "This time, we're thinking about broadening Mario's world further, and it'll have a bright and fun story," said Miyamoto. The 2023 The Super Mario Bros Movie enlisted Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) to voice the Italian plumber, plus Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as Luigi, Jack Black (Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood) as Bowser, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Menu) as Princess Peach, Seth Rogen (Dumb Money) as Donkey Kong, Keegan- Michael Key (Wonka) as Toad and Fred Armisen (Wednesday) as Cranky Kong. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies) will return from the first film, as will screenwriter Matthew Fogel (Minions: The Rise of Gru). Check out the trailer forThe Super Mario Bros Movie below: The sequel to The Super Mario Bros Movie is set to release in cinemas in the US on April 3, 2026 — we'll update you with Down Under release dates when they're announced. Read our review of the first film.
Battery power: we all want it for those devices that are always in our hands, pockets or bags — and, we rarely have as much as we need. Carrying a charger or power pack around with you is just one of the joys of being a modern smartphone user. And then there's the cable side of things, whether you're carting them from place to place, or seeing them sprawling through your bedroom or living room. Wireless technology seemed to offer the solution to at least some of these #firstworldproblems; however, it's not quite the always-available, always-charging saviour we all want — yet. Enter Disney, their research team and a new room that'll juice up your phone, tablet and more, no strings attached. Given the name quasistatic cavity resonance, the entertainment company has created spaces that keep things buzzing while still remaining safe for people to enter. Aaah yes, that minor matter of not being adversely affected just so that you can keep posting on social media. The areas in question consist of aluminium panels lining the walls, floors and ceiling, plus a floor-to-ceiling electric pipe running through the centre — with a current surging through it and an electromagnetic field radiating from it. Unsurprisingly, the current design isn't much to look at, but who needs something pleasing to the eye when your phone is always charged? It makes sense, really — if Disney can resurrect Star Wars and actually make it great, shower our screens with superheroes for a decade and counting, and bring just about every fairy tale to the live-action realm, they can probably whip up a dose of non-movie magic to solve this annoying issue. Just what happens next is a watch-this-space kind of deal, but we're guessing that charging your phone at Disneyland might just be a whole lot easier in the future. Via: Mashable. Image: Disney Research.
Break out the waffles: Amy Poehler is coming to Australia. If you're a Parks and Recreation fan, nothing less than eating breakfast foods non-stop between now and the end of May will do to celebrate. The actor behind Leslie Knope — and Saturday Night Live legend, and voice of Joy in both Inside Out and Inside Out 2 — has a date with Vivid Sydney, heading to the Harbour City for a just-announced in-conversation event that'll see her chat through her career. Inside Out 2 releases in cinemas in mid-June, so it'll receive plenty of focus when Poehler gets talking — so much so that the Sydney Opera House evening that'll be moderated by Zan Rowe will include a 30-minute first-look at the film. But her work spans far and wide beyond the animated Pixar franchise, including to films such as Baby Mama and Sisters, writing the hilarious Yes Please and unforgettable Golden Globe hosting gigs with Tina Fey. [caption id="attachment_793108" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC[/caption] "I'm really looking forward to taking part in Vivid Sydney this year, a place that welcomes Joy in every way," said Poehler about her impending session in the Harbour City. "I can't wait to share a little of Inside Out 2: a movie that lets Joy and Sadness, Anxiety and Envy all try to work together in hilarious and touching ways." [caption id="attachment_925839" align="alignnone" width="1920"] © 2023 Disney/Pixar.[/caption] Poehler's session will take place on Monday, May 27, making it one of the early highlights of the festival. It comes after 2023's Vivid Sydney also featured a massive screen-focused in-conversation session, welcoming The White Lotus' Jennifer Coolidge and Mike White. "Amy Poehler is comedy royalty and the perfect person to join us as part of Vivid Ideas for this year's Vivid Sydney. We're so proud to add her to the growing list of guests set to captivate visitors throughout 23 nights of the festival," said Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini. "Amy's new film Inside Out 2 ties in perfectly with the theme of this year's festival, humanity, with an accessible take on how the human mind makes decisions and processes emotions. Allowing audiences to have an insight to how one of the world's great writers and performers operates is sure to be a great thrill." Check out the trailer for Inside Out 2 below: In Conversation with Amy Poehler takes place on Monday, May 27, 2024 at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, with tickets on sale now. Vivid Sydney runs from Friday, May 24–Saturday, June 15 at various locations around Sydney. Head to the festival website for further details and tickets.
When you're brainstorming places around the world to visit on a budget, the UK is probably not the first place that springs to mind. What it may lack in affordability department, it makes up for in pretty much every other aspect of an epic holiday — from poking around charming country villages and discovering the diverse cultures of the major cities to stumbling across a historical landmark at pretty much every turn of a corner. Oh, and it has a killer music scene. You can experience all of these UK wonders on a Contiki Sounds trip. With seven- or ten-day options, these whistlestop tours will take you to some of England's top spots, culminating with an unforgettable weekend of dancing, camping and partying at Reading Festival — one of the country's biggest annual music festivals. To get you ready for traipsing around the UK's south, we've put together a guide of some of the best things to do and see while you're there. And, to prove that you can still have a good time without blowing big bucks, we've also thrown in a few penny-pinching tips. Who said you couldn't have your bangers and mash and eat them too? [caption id="attachment_719139" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Hudson via Flickr.[/caption] BIKE BETWEEN LONDON'S MARKETS Hire a set of wheels from the city's bike sharing service (nicknamed 'Boris bikes') for the weekend and visit some of London's best markets. Spend Friday near London Bridge at Borough Market, one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, and turn all of the free cheese and fudge tastings into a makeshift meal. Next up, on Saturday, is a stroll through Broadway Market, which runs from London Fields to the Regent's Canal in old Hackney. Then, on Sunday, cycle over to Columbia Road Flower Market. The street air is intense with the scent of flowers and the barrow boys will be hawking "everthin' for a fiiiver". [caption id="attachment_719140" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Towning via Flickr.[/caption] JUMP AROUND THE JURASSIC COAST Supposedly, the lady who 'sold seashells by the seashore' came from the Jurassic Coast. Too early for her time to be recognised as a palaeontologist by her peers, she was forced to sell her excess dino bones to tourists. The picturesque coast isn't just home to prehistoric beasts and tongue-twisting characters — it also boasts Durdle Door, an iconic limestone arch near Dorset. For the adventurous, try coasteering — a physically challenging activity which involves scaling cave networks, dodging tidal surges and completing ocean jumps. Broadchurch fans may recognise the Jurassic Coast's cliff faces from the hit British crime drama. [caption id="attachment_719154" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ed Webster via Flickr.[/caption] STROLL BRISTOL'S STOKES CROFT STREET ART AND ART GALLERIES Wander around the city and feast your eyes upon some of street artist Banksy's earliest works, then head over to Stokes Croft to ogle the local, ever-changing licks, sprays and splatters of paint. Then, counter your street-traipsing with some gallery time. Spike Island lies south of the river and features contemporary art, design and audio installations. An enormous old tea warehouse has been converted into three floors of contemporary art in all forms to make Arnolfini, Bristol's Centre for Contemporary Arts. Meanwhile, the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery has a huge collection, including Alfred — a stuffed silverback gorilla who was kidnapped in the 1950s by a jovial bunch and returned a whopping 54 years later. VISIT A HAUNTED PUB IN SALISBURY A pleasant 15-kilometre drive from Stonehenge will take you to Salisbury. The city is known for having some of England's finest historic houses, the Russian spy poisoning incident and, most recently, being named the best place to live in the UK. Satiate your inner historian (and thirst) with a visit to The Haunch of Venison. The haunted pub features oak beams that predate the building by several hundred years and are thought to come from early sailing vessels. Under the pub's fireplace, inside a former bread oven, lies a smoke-preserved mummified hand believed to be from an 18th-century demented whist player who lost it in a card game. The cheat's hand has been stolen a few times but is now securely locked away. [caption id="attachment_719156" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alison Day via Flickr.[/caption] JUMP THE FENCE INTO CORFE CASTLE Things are impressive when they are mighty old and still standing. One such thing is Corfe Castle, a 1000-year-old royal abode that was built as an attempt to defend the area from marauding armies. This ruined castle dates back to the 11th century and rests within a heathland landscape that is undeniably picturesque. The area also inspired a number of Thomas Hardy's poems, novels and short stories. Skip the city for a beat, give yourself a history lesson and create your own tale of treachery and treason as you jump the fence into Corfe Castle. CATCH A PORTAL TO ANOTHER DIMENSION AT STONEHENGE Baffling burial mounds and rock formations surely must point to some kind of portal into parallel universes, right? Historians may very well be appalled by our lack of appreciation for their hard work that informs us the Badbury Rings are defences of a hillfort and Avebury Stone Circle is Europe's largest Neolithic stone circle. And let's not forget Stonehenge — arguably the world's most famous prehistoric monument. But alas, the mystery of their power still remains. We're told by locals that entering clockwise affords the best luck. Cut a lap around Stonehenge's circle that was built 5000 years ago — or take a peep through the fence, which works just as well for those on a budget or fearful of transporting too far. [caption id="attachment_719158" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gerrit Burrow via Flickr.[/caption] WALK THE SOUTHWEST FOOTPATHS The southwest of England is home to a variety of stunning trails. Venture to any beach along the area, turn left or right and you'll be on the 1000-kilometre South West Coast Path and on the edge of an eye-stretching experience. The paths were originally created by coastguards patrolling the southwest peninsula looking for smugglers. They legitimately had to check in every inlet, so the cliff top walks are well-worn. The sheer variety of scenery along the gorge-sliced cliff peaks and beach walks along with the unique history of the area make this an unforgettable experience. Remember to fill your playlist with all of your favourite bands from Reading and hit the tracks. Travel around the best spots in the UK with Contiki at Reading Festival. Unearth the UK's musical heritage, then experience an unforgettable party at one of the world's best and biggest music festivals. Contiki wants to take you there — all you have to do is choose from the 7- or 10-day trip. Plus, if you bring a mate, it'll give you both $200 off. Find out more here.
Few individuals cut to the heart of American society with the same degree of wit or insight as author Gore Vidal. And for a man who once said, "there is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise," he didn't have much humility about it either. Highly outspoken on all the issues you're never meant to talk about — sex, politics, religion — and capable of savaging conservatives with either his pen or acid tongue, Vidal was one of America's foremost public intellectuals, until his passing in 2012 at the age of 86. A friend of Vidal's nephew, Burr Steers, Australian-born filmmaker Nicholas Wrathall first sat down to interview Vidal in 2005, laying the foundations for what would eventually become the documentary Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia. In anticipation of the film's release at Melbourne's Cinema Nova, we spoke with Wrathall about the making of the film and his impressions of the man himself. MEETING VIDAL "I really started to taking notice of Gore again after 9/11," says Wrathall. "I was living in New York, during that horrible chaos, and Gore was one of the only people in the media landscape who seemed to be speaking sensibly to how the US should be reacting, and speaking out against the drumbeats to war and the media propaganda and the Bush administration's rush into the Middle East." "Then a few years after that, in 2004, I had the opportunity to meet him in LA in a casual way with Burr and the family," Wrathall continues. "One of the first conversations I had with him was actually about Australian politics. He was very interested in an update in what was going on in Australia, and was asking me for an update on Bob Carr … I didn't realise at the time that he was actually friends with Bob, and also knew Gough Whitlam quite well. That was probably one of the bonding conversations where I gained his trust a little bit, in that it was something that I could actually speak intelligently to." Certainly, one wouldn't want to look stupid in front Vidal. "You can be quite out of your depth with Gore in a serious conversation," says Wrathall. "It can be very intimidating. He certainly doesn't suffer fools. But he's also very generous, and loves to inform, and share his knowledge and experience. So he's very kind, in my experience, especially to younger people... you wouldn't want to get into an argument with him though." MASTER OF THE MEDIA Famous for saying he never missed a chance "to have sex or appear on television," part of Gore's rise to prominence, Wrathall asserts, came from his ability to play to the camera. "He really knew how to work the media," says Wrathall. "He was always being interviewed and being invited on talk shows, and because of his humour and his wit, I think he was a great guest for someone like Johnny Carson or Dick Cavett to have on dick their show. "He loved to push the envelope, and say the things that other people might think, but wouldn't dare to say. He was very outspoken. I think you can see in a lot of the clips [in the film] from the 50s and 60s that many of the things that he said were ahead of their time … he was a great guest in the media landscape at the time, which was maybe less afraid, and less conservative than it is today, and was willing to have these sorts of public debates and issue-based conversations more openly." POLITICS AND POWER Vidal was never shy about his opinions, particularly when it came to politics. "I think he was very pragmatic," says Wrathall. "He was brought up a lot by his grandfather, who was a senator, and a great orator himself. He had people like [Senator] Huey Long coming to his house for dinner, and he'd see their conversations. And then he'd take his grandfather to the senate the next day, and he'd see the same speech that Huey had rehearsed at the dinner table on the senate floor. So he realised that there was a lot of showmanship, and a lot of strategy … He was very clued into that even as a teenager. He came to politics, and to writing about politics, in a very informed way. And that's really his power." Of the current administration, Wrathall believed Vidal had "great hope," but that he also "measured that hope," because "in reality, there are so many compromises that had to made to get to that position". Perhaps Vidal put it best himself when he said that "any American who is prepared to run for President should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so." Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia opens at Cinema Nova on March 6.
After the mild let down of last year's supermoon, you could be forgiven for not engaging in the hype of major celestial movements. But last night's total solar eclipse didn't disappoint astronomers, token stargazers and brazen US presidents alike. The eclipse wasn't visible from our part of the world, instead passing over the the US — starting over Oregon in the west and finishing over South Carolina on the east coast. As the name suggests, a total eclipse is when the sun is completely obscured by the moon. This is a pretty rare event — Time and Date says that, on average, it takes about 375 years for a total solar eclipse to happen again in the same place — so, naturally, everyone turned out to catch a glimpse. NASA live streamed the event, The Weather Channel live tweeted the lead-up to totality, and even Donald Trump stepped out of the White House to look directly at the sun. Yes, he did that. Someone: don't look into the ec- Donald trump: pic.twitter.com/71wpDiwPr1 — sarah (@sarahburhans_) August 21, 2017 So while we wait for a solar eclipse to pass over Australia — the ABC reports that the next one will take place in 2028 and will pass directly over Sydney — here's some of the most epic images from last night's total solar eclipse. Only 11 years to go. A post shared by Getty Images (@gettyimages) on Aug 21, 2017 at 11:51am PDT A post shared by Reuters (@reuters) on Aug 21, 2017 at 1:44pm PDT A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on Aug 21, 2017 at 2:03pm PDT Amazing composite images capture the moon during a previous total solar eclipse, shot by Czech photographer Miloslav Druckmüller #Eclipse pic.twitter.com/LAHenYm2Qi — sobore (@sobore) August 21, 2017 PHOTO: TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 2017 from Green River Lake, WY. I truly think I had the most beautiful spot in the whole path. More photos soon. pic.twitter.com/jLDBMHJJU4 — Ben Cooper (@LaunchPhoto) August 21, 2017 Timelapse: Total solar eclipse brings darkness to Oregon. https://t.co/q3jBRYgob2 pic.twitter.com/MgESS6odoW — ABC News (@ABC) August 21, 2017 A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on Aug 21, 2017 at 3:57pm PDT Top image: Wikimedia Commons.
Drinking sessions at home just got a whole lot more stylish thanks to the arrival of Pord — a new company combining art and wine in a rather gorgeous way. Pord has pooled the talents of three female Australian artists and Victorian winemakers Mitchelton to create its first series of mini wine barrel masterpieces, designed to bring more art and beauty into your everyday life. Each artist has contributed a limited-edition and eye-catching work to grace one of Pord's three-litre barrels, which each hold a neat four bottles' worth of wine. Illustrator Filippa Edghill's monochromatic artwork, titled Ancient Lines, is inspired by nature's curves; Melbourne artist Hannah Nowlan has contributed The Last Resort II from her most recent exhibition; and designer Evi O.'s work Sorbet is a vibrant painting with bold colours and pastels. Customers can select their favourite design and have it filled with one of three Mitchelton wines from the 2017 and 2018 vintages: pinot grigio, shiraz or rosé. Unlike regular bottles of wine, your beautiful barrel will keep wine fresh for four to six weeks after opening — and it can be repurposed. Hand-signed and numbered by the artist, and teamed with a certificate of authenticity, it's the kind of statement piece destined to be the talk of your dinner parties for years to come. And there are plenty more exciting artist collaborations in the works for future Pords. A pre-sale for Pord's covetable launch series kicks off at midnight on Saturday, July 14, with the goods to be delivered in October. The limited-edition barrels will set you back $160 each. Images: Josie Mackerras
The last time I saw so many polygons so ingeniously fitted together was when I handed in my year six major geometry project. Except that they only amalgamated in my imagination, rather than according to the laws of mathematics. Lord (and advanced engineering) only knows how Frank Gehry got this thing to stand up and stay standing, but done it he has. Behold, ye faithful readers, BioMuseo. Its 4,000 square metres of exhibition space tells the story of the Isthmus of Panama — the curvy wisp of land that separates the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic and binds the mighty Americas as one (to the consternation of both North and South, more frequently than not). It’s also home to the tiny nation of Panama and the legendary Panama Canal. After a construction process that’s involved ten years and US$60 million plus, BioMuseo is soon expected to open its doors. The official ceremony date hasn’t yet been announced, but test visits are happening this month. Gehry’s mission was to design an icon that Panamanians could identify as their very own — in the way that Sydneysiders see the Opera House, Coffs Harbourians view the Big Banana and Goulburnians admire the Big Merino. The architect’s signature geometrical style blends with local aesthetics. Exhibition coordinator Darien Montanes describes BioMuseo as a “very loud and visible building, appropriate for Panama’s loud and visible culture”. Bright colours and the application of plaster to a concrete substrate reference native construction methods. Inside, an expansive central open-air atrium serves as the building’s heart. Eight Bruce Mau-designed galleries house permanent exhibitions, each worked out in conjunction with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The interior design pursues an ongoing dialogue with each exhibition and the overarching story: how a 50km-wide strip of land that emerged 4.5 million years ago changed the world. Via designboom.
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from the smallest inventions. A little over two weeks ago three Sydney-based butter enthusiasts launched a Kickstarter campaign for a butter knife with one slight design modification. Since then, they've raised over $220,000 in funding, attracted a steady flow of global media attention, and made hundreds of thousands of readers drool and slap their keyboards in excitable butter-loving anticipation. So, what's the deal? Humble though it may seem, this little piece of cutlery claims to solves one of humanity's age-old problems — how to evenly spread cold butter onto bread. "Say goodbye to hard clumps of butter ripping apart your morning toast," reads the product's Kickstarter page. The Stupendous Splendiferous ButterUp — yep, that's it's real name — "turns cold, hard butter into sumptuous easy to spread ribbons of dairy goodness." With a grater function incorporated into the knife's blade, the ButterUp slices up your unholy fridge butter and weirdly makes you feel like you're decorating your toast with cheese stringers. In case you can't fathom the enormity of this genius, here's a handy gif: Of course, this is a nice little invention. Anything that aids the consumption of butter generally gets a big fat thumbs up from us. But the response to the product has been truly staggering. Articles about the invention have been published by The Daily Mail, Wired, LostatEMinor, CBS, and Mashable. The project has ten days to go, and they've already surpassed their funding goal by over $180,000. "I have seldom previously had such a visceral reaction to something so simple," reads a comment on their Kickstarter page. "Too-hard butter has been a lifelong irritation and source of idle family chat as long as I can remember," said another supporter of the project. In fact, most responses from their nearly 9,000 backers have sounded a little like the actors from infomercials that seem to struggle with every daily tasks. Nevertheless, if you'd like to be part of the impending butter revolution, you can pledge money to ButterUp's Kickstarter campaign up until Wednesday, September 3. You can snag one for yourself for as little as $12 (or $15 if you want it delivered by Christmas). Either that or you can make like all of Europe and just leave your butter on the kitchen counter. For more information head to ButterUp's Kickstarter page.
International wallet-friendly chain H&M is set to open its first Sydney store this October, just in time for everyone to dodge the annual Cotton On identical sundress stock-up. Finding a snuggly spot in North Ryde's remodelled Macquarie Centre, the highly-awaited Sydney instalment will cut the red ribbon on October 16. After opening Australia's first ever H&M store in Melbourne's Bourke Street mall this April (with a casual set from Haim), the fashion heavyweights are heading north for a second Australian helping. Apparently the team took three years to find the right spots for H&M's Australian endeavour, choosing Sydney's Eastern Creek for the distribution warehouse. H&M are riding a wave of global domination; the budget-happy chain has approximately 3182 stores in 53 countries — and they're opening a cheeky extra 375 this year. The announcement is the latest in a string of global brand openings in Sydney, from big guns like Uniqlo's Pitt Street mall pop-up to smaller international lines like Denham's Rock's pop-up. With Macquarie Business Park set to be Australia's fourth-largest business centre by 2031, seems Maquarie Centre is looking to become the Pitt Street Mall of the north-western suburbs, allegedly negotiating leases with Victoria's Secret, Zara and Uniqlo. These big name retailer openings usually come with some light eye-gouging and hair-pulling, so if you're that keen to head along, take some advice: wear a mouthguard. H&M's Sydney store will open at Macquarie Centre, North Ryde on October 16. Via PO.
If anyone is heading over to Europe in June — or is looking for an excuse to — check out this new arrival on the festival circuit: FOR, presented by Australian music label Modular. FOR 2013 will take up residence on the Croatian party island of Hvar, from which it takes its name, on June 21 for a three-day, three-venue intimate showcase of some of the world's premier acts to a mere 2000 attendees. Things just got boutique. Perth psychedelic-rock darlings Tame Impala will continue their career far from Aussie shores as they take on headlining, and trunk shaking, duties. Baby-Beyoncé Solange, LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy and the near-veteran electro duo Bag Raiders, along with a host of others, will also be making their way to the Adriatic for a swim and a sing. Not necessarily in that order. FOR has done well to lock down some of Hvar's more notorious party spots for the event, including (Prince Harry’s favourite swimming spot) Veneranda, and the best-named beach in the world, Carpe Diem. Apparently, its pretty pretty to boot. Tickets will go on sale next Tuesday, but the super-keen can pre-register on the website and reduced accommodation rates for festival-goers will be available.
At festivals all over the UK this summer, Vodafone has been trialling the new 'Power Pocket'. Built into either a 'Recharge' sleeping bag or a pair of 'Power' denim shorts, the device draws on body heat to charge mobile phones. Vodafone developed the Power Pocket in conjunction with the University of Southampton's Department of Electronics and Computer Science. 'We've been working on printed smart material since the late 1980s,' Professor Stephen Beeby explains on the company's blog. 'But that was high-temperature stuff designed to be used on ceramics. We got into the topic of energy harvesting in the late 1990s, and we brought the two together to make smart materials for harvesting energy. We started on thermoelectric materials in 2003, but our printed thermoelectric material work has only been the last few years.' The smart material is made up of 'thermocouples', a whole bunch of which form a 'thermoelectric module'. One side of this is cold and the other is hot. The introduction of heat creates both a voltage and a current, which, in unison, give rise to electric power. In other words, the warmth generated by sleeping or dancing contrasts with the external cold air. Technically, this reaction is known as the 'Seebeck Effect'. At the moment, eight hours' time in the sleeping bag produces enough energy for 24 minutes of talking and 11 hours on stand-by, while a day's worth of activity in the shorts provides four hours of smartphone charge. [via Inhabitat]
Catharsis is crucial in filmmaking, as Jon Favreau (Iron Man) clearly knows. The writer, director and star emerges from big-budget cinema to return to the smaller side of Hollywood, seemingly purging his demons and addressing his disappointments in the process. In Chef, Carl Casper (Favreau) has toiled from humble beginnings to become Los Angeles' premier culinary artist, but a decade working for a profit-focused restaurateur (Dustin Hoffman) sees his menus branded safe, not daring. A scathing review by a prominent food blogger (Oliver Platt) calls out his creative malaise, swirling into a storm of negative press and social media that ushers him out of a job. At first, Carl resists the encouragement of his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara) to start his own food van. Soon, he's rediscovering his passion for cooking and reconnecting with his ten-year-old son, Percy (Emjay Anthony), in a road trip across the continent. https://youtube.com/watch?v=PZ6e51-ie7w Favreau's offering proves appetising in the undemanding manner of the food trucks it covets — and repeatedly invites the comparison. Fine ingredients abound, including finessed visuals of enticing meals on par with the best food-centric efforts; however, poise and polish are swapped for a handmade feel and celebratory outcome. Chef (Film © Sous Chef, LLC. All Rights Reserved) is out on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital with Ultraviolet on September 4, and thanks to Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and the release of Chef, you could win one of two Bodum EILEEN coffee press pack to deck out your kitchen. Included are: 1x Bodum 8 Cup Coffee Press 2x Bodum Pavina Glasses 1x Bodum Travel Press 1x Bodum Battery Operated Milk Frother 1x Bodum Vacum Travel Press 1x copy of Chef on DVD In addition, ten runners up will get copies of the Chef DVD. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our full review of the movie here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
We've all been living through the sweats and the naps, the lying in front of the fan and the UberEats-ing ice cream. Summer isn't kind sometimes, and even the most motivated among us find it easy to come up with excuses to not exercise during the hottest months (e.g., it's a million degrees outside and you'll die = valid). What we've decided is that finding fairly active pursuits to spend your time on counts just as much; as long as your blood is pumping and you're schvitzing a bit, you've ticked the box and can sit down to a nice cold beer(s). Have a go at some of these this summer — your morning jogs are a thing of the past. ROWBOATING Rowboating is A+ for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, upper arm strength, teamwork, enjoying the water and re-enacting scenes from The Notebook or Bridget Jones Diary. It's also very accessible, with boats available to hire all over Melbourne and Sydney, and a nice alternative to land-based activities this summer. Take a picnic in with you and when your arms tire, hang up your oars and drift around eating cheese and sinking a few cold ones. Up north in Brisbane, the waters are more friendly for kayaking, which is also a perfect shenanigan for two — and everyone looks great in a yellow life jacket. Where? Lane Cove Boatshed in North Ryde, Sydney; Fairfield Park Boathouse in Melbourne; and Kayak Hire Brisbane, in Scarborough. DANCE CLASS The broadness of this one means you'll be able to tickle your fancy no matter what floats your dancing boat. Dancing is one of the most effective forms of fitness out there, mostly because you're often having so much fun you don't even realise that you're exercising your coordination, strength and flexibility, as well as hiking up your energy levels and mood. Take a salsa class with your significant other, a contemporary class to flail around to Sia like you've always wanted or get yourself into a street dance situation if it's Step Up feels you're after. There are studios around Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane which offer all these choices and more. They say "dance like nobody's watching" and even if there are people watching, it's chill — you're doing a noble thing by being active in the first place. Where? Sydney Dance Company in Walsh Bay, Sydney; The Space in Prahran, Melbourne; and Mad Dance House in Brisbane. CIRCUS FIT Circus Fit has been marketed as the new gym class for people who hate gym classes, and as such it's something a little bit different: it's a combo of both strength and flexibility training, with a healthy dose of aerial work thrown in there, too. Just head along and jump on your trapeze (low-hanging, luckily) and after a warm-up, you'll work through a variety of exercises that target core strength and stability — and, you'll have a whole bunch of fun doing it too. Try it at Fitness Playground in Sydney, but in Melbourne and Brisbane, you can head along to a short course in aerials at NICA or Flipside Circus, respectively. If you've ever had that urge in you to run away and join the circus, well, you probably can't because of life responsibilities and the fact that it's hard to touch your toes and all that, but you can feel like it isn't such a distant possibility for 60 minutes during class. Where? Fitness Playground in Marrickville, Newtown and Surry Hills, Sydney; NICA in Prahran, Melbourne; and Flipside Circus in Alderley, Brisbane. ROCK CLIMBING Rock climbing may not seem like the ideal hot weather sport at first — but you can easily avoid the elements by just heading to an (air-conditioned) indoor climbing centre where you can climb to your heart's content and not get overheated or intense sunburn. It's a win/win. Go on a date because rock climbing is the perfect duo activity: one person climbs while the other belays (holds the rope beneath them) so it's all romantic because your date's life is in your hands — nothing says 'second date' more than not letting someone fall off a really high rock wall, right? If you're flying solo or don't quite trust your entire life with that special someone, bouldering is an excellent alternative — no ropes necessary and no extreme heights either. Notoriously good for upper-body and arm strength, a climb up one of the numerous rock climbing centres around the country is definitely a valid option for those wanting to remain active this summer but who turn their noses up at high energy circuit training. Where? 9 Degrees in Alexandria, Sydney; Cliffhanger Climbing Gym in Altona North, Melbourne; and Urban Climb in West End, Milton and Newstead in Brisbane. ULTIMATE FRISBEE The thing about throwing a Frisbee around is that it's actually very difficult to catch (and often, throw smoothly). A game of Ultimate Frisbee could easily lull you into a false sense of security before you realise your calves are burning and you're sweating up a storm; miles have been run trotting around after that thing as it catches the wrong wind and ends up in someone else's picnic. Before you even notice, you've had a medium to hectic workout and it's time for a bit of a sit-down and a cold brew. Game-wise, the rules of Ultimate Frisbee are simply that you have to pass the Frisbee to a teammate at the opposite end zone of play and that — similarly to netball — you can't step while holding the disc. Pick a nice quiet beach and you can cool off in the water once you're done too (plus running on sand makes for an extra workout). Where? Collins Flat Beach in Manly, Sydney; Elwood Beach in Elwood, Melbourne; and Flinders Beach on North Stradbroke Island. Forgo the trip to the gym and get your exercise in a new way, then reward your workout success with a ice cold Hahn, because you deserve it.
It's becoming a trend these days for music festivals to make a big song and dance (pun, hoy!) about their food lineup — and, frankly, we couldn’t we couldn't be happier about it. Melbourne's Sugar Mountain Festival is stepping it up with an immersive 'sensory' restaurant, and St Jerome's Laneway Festival has announced a tight little food sched for their upcoming spots along the east coast. And it looks like it's going to be as good and as varied as the music. Here's what's going to be in your gob while you get down to Grimes in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. SYDNEY It's a real meaty affair in Sydney with LP’s Quality Meats on the smoker, Mary's doing their signature burgers, Porteno firing up the Argentinian barbecue, and Mexican snacks from Playa Takeria. Stuff from the sea will be provided by Oysters Unplugged and Zetland's Salmon and Bear. It's not all animals through; vegos and vegans can chow down on Yulli's cuisine. Of course, Gelato Messina will be there, alongside Knafeh, who'll be serving up their sweet and cheesy (and totally delish) Jerusalem street desserts. Plus, there'll be ice-cold Young Henrys and Stone & Wood on-hand to wash it all down with. MELBOURNE Melbourne Laneway is going to be a bonanza of classic Melbourne eats. Japanese food wizards Mr Miyagi (who are the feature restaurant partner of 2016) will be doing their nori tacos, Beatbox Kitchen will be pumping out those burgers, and beef short ribs will come by way of Burn City Smokers. You may have trouble choosing though, as they'll be joined by an army of food options, including Taco Truck, Slice Girls West, Gelato Messina, Gyoza Records, Juanita Peaches, Nuoc Mama's, Rice and Dice (for vegan dumplings!) and more. Beer-wise, it's going to be a choice between Byron's Stone & Wood, Sydney's Young Henrys, and local breweries, Footcray's West City and Brunswick East's Temple. Wear loose clothing. BRISBANE Punters at Brisbane Laneway will enjoy incredibly diverse food options from some classic Brissie establishments. Good luck trying to choose between homemade Greek food by Greek Street Grill, pizza by Pizzantica, and German sausages by Brat Haus. Or weigh up between vego fare by the legendary Govinda's, nachos by Sweethearts and Venezuelan by Fiery Deli. Throw Phatboys Food Truck, Puerto Taco and Mangia! Mangia! into the mix and it's going to be a tough choice. One decision is easy though: don't go past a local brew from Newstead Brewing Co. To check out the full Laneway food lineup (or the real lineup), go to their website.
Concrete Playground has teamed up with the Sydney Film Festival to give one lucky reader a prize pack that includes a double pass to a selection of five anticipated films — Wuthering Heights, Tabu, Lore, Marley and The Angels' Share — all screening at the majestic State Theatre. To be in for a chance to win the ten tickets, first make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground, then email your name and address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au Tabu - 7.15pm on June 10 Miguel Gomes' black and white modern classic Tabu seamlessly shifts from Portugal to colonial Africa, to tell the unexpected life story of an elderly woman in Lisbon, including a tale of obsessive love and a melancholic crocodile. Lore - 11.30pm on June 10 Australian director Cate Shortland's long-awaited follow-up to Somersault is an adaptation of the novel The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert. Lore is a complex coming-of-age story of fending for yourself in the aftermath of World War II. Marley - 9.30pm on June 11 Marley is the definitive documentary from Kevin Macdonald about the story of reggae's most iconic singer-songwriter. The film includes interviews with friends, family and fellow musicians of Bob Marley, as well as archive footage and the ultimate Marley soundtrack: 'Exodus', 'No Woman No Cry', 'Get Up Stand Up' and more. Wuthering Heights - 9.15pm on June 15 Andrea Arnold has created a radical adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel. Wuthering Heights is a harsh, gritty portrayal of the Yorkshire moors, violence, discrimination and dangerously obsessive love. The Angels' Share - 8.40pm on June 16 Ken Loach directs a story of new father Robbie who is determined to give his child a better life. Set in Scotland, The Angels' Share plays on the bittersweet irony of hatching a business plan out of alcoholism and crime.
When you're sitting at a bar, sipping a cocktail and enjoying its delicious flavours, you're usually just thinking about how great it tastes. Something you're probably not pondering is what happens to the fruit that makes your beverage so zesty. Once you're done drinking, what's next for those slices of lemon, wedges of orange and other edible cocktail ingredients and garnishes? Wonder no more, cocktail lovers — New Zealand-based vodka company 42BELOW can not only answer that question, but they're helping make your favourite concoctions more sustainable. Rounding up many a lemon, piece of fruit and even a few olives, they're turning yesterday's cocktail waste into today's hand washing liquid. Prepare to lather up with 42BELOW Recycled Cocktail Lemons Eco Soap, aka the world's first hand soap made from recycled cocktail fruit. The initiative first launched in December last year, with 13 venues in Sydney, two places in Melbourne and a further two on the Gold Coast jumping on board. Fast forward two months and drinkers at the likes of Darlinghurst's This Must be The Place, Melbourne CBD's The Carlton, Surfer's Paradise's elsewhere and Auckland's Mea Culpa, your cocktail habit is now environmentally friendly. To date, they've already collected 400 kilograms of fruit waste, then transformed those discarded morsels then into soap. In just a few weeks, 20,000 sachets and 400 bottles of liquid soap have been created — or 3200 cocktails, because that's everyone's preferred method of measurement. 42BELOW is in the process of signing up more bars around Australia and New Zealand, with those that join the fold then receiving their soapy goodness for free. Yes, pubs, watering holes and boozy hangouts can recycle their fruit wastage and keep patrons' hands lemony-fresh for zilch, while everyone downing cocktails can feel extra great about ordering their next fruity beverage.
After crushing the hopes of literally tens of thousands of people when they slammed the brakes on multiple planned games of store-wide hide and seek, the fun police at IKEA have come up with a strange new promotion to try and win back community support. Starting today, the blue and yellow furniture leviathan is offering people in Sydney (Melbourne, you're probably next) the chance to help get its new Marsden Park location ready for opening, creating what they're calling the world's first Customer Built IKEA. Sounds fun right? After all, who doesn't want to work at IKEA? Roles up for grabs include IKEA Ball Pit Tester and IKEA Meatball Taster, both of which will presumably require rigorous, hardcore on-the-job training. We're sure it'll look just terrific on your resume though. You can also apply to be an Ultimate IKEA Assembler, as outlined in this kind of funny but also kind of cringeworthy promotional video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zhSa22FLu8&feature=youtu.be Look, it may not sound as fun as playing hidey with 30,000 friends, but you've got to give the Australian IKEA team credit for trying. They've also pledged their support to a number of volunteer programs in the local area, in order "to give back to the community." Besides, who are you to turn down a year's supply of free meatballs? They've even got a vegetarian option, with the launch of their new Gronsaksbullar veggie ball. Almost forgiven, but not yet forgotten, IKEA. For the chance to participate in IKEA's indentured servitude program fun new activity, find the Customer Built Store tab on their Facebook page.
If you've been to Rainford Street Social before, you'll know three things: that the place is brought to us from the team behind Toko Surry Hills, that the menu is big on contemporary takes of classic bistro dishes and that the place packs out fast. You'll also know that is saddened many to discover that soon after opening, their breakfast menu was axed. Until now, that is. The Crown Street establishment is re-introducing breakfast from Saturday onwards, and Rainford's head chef Ben Orpwood is expecting hot demand. "I think that in Sydney, breakfast and brunch in some ways tend to be of greater importance than dinner for a lot of people," says Orpwood. "I really have no idea where the obsession came from … I imagine it's just a lifestyle thing. Sydney is at its spectacular best first thing in the morning – why waste it?" So what are we actually getting this time round? Think smoked salmon and truffled scrambled eggs, a pastrami and Emmental croissant melt, a knickerbocker muesli, as well as bread and butter French toast dished up with a banana and maple extravaganza. But Orpwood's pick is the 'Matty Chorizo Roll'. "For most people, there is nothing better than a sausage wrapped in a bit of puff pastry. Named after one of our regulars who must have gone through his own body weight of these beauties when we did them first time round." We say, good on you Matt! "On the drinks front, The Bloody Bull is quite an interesting drink made with beef jerky-infused Jameson, beef consomme, and fresh tomato juice. Unusual, but fantastic!" says Orpwood. Rainford Street Social's breakfast menu relaunches on Saturday, 2 March, and will be served until 2pm each weekend. 500 Crown Street, Surry Hills; 02 9357 2573; www.rainfordstreetsocial.com.au
If you're a seasoned traveller (or at least you were pre-COVID-19) you've almost certainly run into an e-scooter. The speedy transportation option has overtaken streets in the US, Europe and, closer to home, in Melbourne and Brisbane. Here in Sydney, however, the electric scooter is few and far between. Under current NSW road rules, electric scooters are prohibited from being ridden on the road. While this hasn't stopped e-scooter retailers like WalkSmart opening stores in Sydney, riders could be issued fines and the legislation has prohibited street rental organisations like Lime, Beam and Neuron bringing their scooters to Sydney. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, in 2019, eight Sydney councils were in discussions with the NSW Government about hosting e-scooter trials that would see the ban temporarily lifted. These trials never came to be, despite multiple subsequent reports in support of e-scooters. One report conducted by the Electric Scooter Advisory Working Group (ESA) for Transport for NSW in March 2020 recommended a six-month trial of e-scooters in bike lanes and on shared paths. Similarly, an August 2020 report by the National Transport Commission recommended e-scooters be permitted on most pedestrian infrastructure with a ten kilometre per hour speed limit. Following months of silence from the NSW Government on the proposed trials, or any planned legalisation of e-scooters, the NSW Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance was pressed on the issue during the 2020/21 Budget Estimate inquiry on Thursday, February 25. When asked if the electric scooter trial had been abandoned, Constance replied that it had been put "on hold" and that he was "not in the mood" to run an e-scooter trial in NSW at this time. [caption id="attachment_802481" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NSW Minster for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance by John Cowper[/caption] One reason cited for the minister's hesitation towards running the trial was issues faced by other cities that had legalised electric scooters. When pressed further on what these issues are, Mr Constance said: "people getting killed, e-scooters being left up trees, e-scooters littering parks and footpaths, people falling over them. I can send you a bunch of pictures if you want." While NSW continues to wait for regulated e-scooters to arrive in the state, leading e-scooter company Lime's e-bike sharing services have been operational in the Sydney since 2018, with bike sharing services a part of the city since back in 2017. E-scooters are currently illegal in NSW.
The year 2015 has come and gone, and the kind of microwave-rehydrating instant pizzas featured in Back to the Future Part II haven't yet come to fruition. Neither has a holographic 19th Jaws film. However, something just as great is on its way to becoming a reality thanks to a Danish brewery — and it'd go mighty well with Marty McFly Jr's favourite food. Copenhagen-based outfit To Øl has invented something many a yeasty beverage fan has dreamed of: instant craft beer. It comes in powdered form, ready to be mixed with some of the original alcohol and sparkling water. Add the three together, and voila, you've got some fresh booze ready for drinking. Basically, the gypsy brewers — aka two beer-loving pals who don't have their own facilities, but work out of others with spare capacity — figured out how to freeze-dry their tipples, and also how to then transform it back into the drinkable form (thanks, science!). According to Tobias Emil Jensen & Tore Gynther's post on online food culture platform Aorta, they were motivated by "wanting to provide quality beers in situations which normally doesn't encourages it due to the natural physics of beer," such as climbing a mountain or transporting beverages by plane. Four of their brews have undergone the freeze-drying treatment so far: "a heavy deep beer brewed with coffee, a fruity IPA brewed with different tropical fruits, a Wild Yeast hop forward IPAs and a fairly dry pilsner". No word yet as if or when To Øl will ever release their new concoctions to the public, so we'll all just dream of these futuristic bevs until more news come to hand.
There are two things that every Sydneysider knows to be true: climbing the Harbour Bridge is a rite of passage that must be experienced at least once (or multiple times) and the city is at its prettiest during Vivid Sydney. The vibrant festival of art, music and ideas is now in its tenth year, and its lineup is as epic and unmissable as ever. If you want to get amongst the action, but mingling with the masses is not really your jam we have the perfect solution. BridgeClimb is again running its Vivid Climb experience. Ascending the iconic landmark, you will get access to one of the best vantage points from which to take in the harbour light show. This year, installations will extend from Circular Quay to Barangaroo, Darling Harbour and even Luna Park. But the altitude doesn't equal a lack of atmosphere, with BridgeClimb installing a multi-coloured dance floor at the summit. As the harbour puts on a show below, you and your mates will don flashing vests and throw a dance party on the 70s-style illuminated platform. Not only will you be ticking two Sydney must-dos off your list, you will get to do it while busting some sweet moves. The Vivid Climb experience is taking place on all night climbs between Friday, May 25 and Saturday, June 16, and we have a double pass to give away. To enter, see details below. [competition]664529[/competition]
What has happened to that once glorious Hollywood staple, the romantic comedy? Even at its most saccharine, it was a dependable genre, the type that left you in a kind of terrible movie heaven of enjoyably unlikely plot premises, clueslessly fated lovers, and fairytale endings. Trashy, sure, but reliably trashy — carefree and frothy and silly. Beautiful people, overcoming mindlessly familiar cinematic hurdles and falling in love — it's comforting stuff for hopeless romantics. But a genre that focuses more on seduction and courtship and the happily-ever-after, bridal magazine moments eventually leaves viewers craving something a little more substantial. After all, anyone who lives in the real world knows that the real work in relationships begins at the point where rom coms usually end: the kiss, the wedding, the honeymoon period, the beginning. I Give It a Year goes some way towards reclaiming the rom com genre in favour of the reality and ridiculousness and complexity of relationships and sex and romance. British director Dan Mazer has styled it as a renovated, thinking-person's rom com, one that starts at the wedding and explores the difficulty of staying in love. Rose Byrnes' highly strung Nat and Rafe Spall's man-boy Josh are not meant to be — they marry too quickly and are obviously more suited to the two supporting characters, played by Simon Baker and Anna Faris. Concrete Playground has 10 double passes to give away to see I Give It a Year. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Read our full review here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3UgPWKPDlvA
Each year we anticipate the arrival of December 25. Because of the day off, the promise of an afternoon spent dozing in a hammock — and the arrival of Messina's annual Christmas cake. And while the gelato chain last year went for a festive response to Sydney's lockout laws in the form of Santa trying to fit down a chimney, it's decided to take on a quintessential Australian dessert for 2017: the trifle. Enter The Christmas Coma. This epic ice cream creation will feature layer upon layer of everything that is good about Christmas — but instead of being soggy and slightly regrettable, this one will have you licking the glass bowl. So what's in it? The trifle will be layered with — here we go — vanilla custard gelato, whipped cream, peach jellies, raspberry marsala jelly, raspberry meringue, sherry-soaked jam rolls and bloody peach sorbet. Plus, it'll be garnished with white chocolate and cherry truffles and come with Messina brandy custard and chocolate-coated nuts to douse all over the mess. The trifle, which serves 18–20 (or less if you really commit), costs $120 and can be ordered for pickup between December 22 and Christmas Eve. In Sydney you can pick one up from Rosebery, Darlinghurst, Bondi, Miranda, Penrith, Tramsheds and Parramatta. If you're in Melbourne, you can get one from the Fitzroy or Windsor outposts — and the South Brisbane store will be making them too. Hopefully nan won't take it personally. The Christmas Coma is available to order at gelatomessina.com from 9am on Tuesday, December 5.
