Just like planning overseas getaways for certain parts of the year — now that they're allowed again, that is — Australian cinema lovers can base their annual calendar around which parts of the globe they'd like to peer at. As autumn hits, the French Film Festival kicks into gear around the country. Midyear, when things are frosty, the Scandinavian Film Festival usually arrives. When spring is in full swing, it's Italian Film Festival time. And, from February 2022, summer will now end with a movie-going trip to Europe. Kicking off on Friday, February 4 and running through until Sunday, February 27, Europa! Europa is the new Aussie film fest that'll bring Europe's latest flicks to our screens. Debuting in Sydney and Melbourne, it'll focus on fresh new flicks from the entire continent — and pair them with live music and special events across its three-week run. While it's too early for the festival's program just yet, Europa! Europa will launch its 2022 lineup with a keenly anticipated title that gives a firm idea of how the event means to go on. That'd be the acclaimed, Cannes-premiering French feature Benedetta, which tells the tale of real-life 17th-century Tuscan nun Benedetta Carlini. The reason there's a film about her? She believed she saw visions of Christ, and also had in a sexual relationship with a fellow sister at her abbey. Benedetta also hails from Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven, who has quite the attention-grabbing resume — including directing the original RoboCop and Total Recall movies, sticking with sci-fi for Starship Troopers, and spearheading 90s erotic thrillers courtesy of Basic Instinct and Showgirls. He also helmed the Isabelle Huppert-starring revenge thriller Elle in 2016, too. Consider it a vision of things to come at Sydney and Melbourne's newest film fest, which hasn't announced its venues yet, either, but'll host its launch screenings on Sunday, January 16 at Elsternwick's Classic Cinemas in Melbourne and Randwick's Ritz Cinema in Sydney. Check out the trailer for Benedetta below: Europa! Europa will screen in Sydney and Melbourne between Friday, February 4–Sunday, February 27, 2022, following program launch screenings on Sunday, January 16 at Elsternwick's Classic Cinemas in Melbourne and Randwick's Ritz Cinema in Sydney. We'll update you with the full lineup when it is announced.
With free trams, great coffee, even better bearded men and now a potential smoking ban, Melbourne's really upping the stakes in its claim to become Australia's most progressive city. Melbourne City Council have today announced plans to make the CBD completely smoke-free by 2016. This would make Melbourne the first city in the world to implement such comprehensive measures. Of course, it would also make us home to the most disgruntled business types — sitting forlornly on a milk crate on Degraves just won't look the same if you don't have a durry in hand. This news comes after a successful bid to make The Causeway — one of the cheeky laneways between Bourke and Little Collins — smoke-free, alongside six similar bans."I think there's overwhelming support to progress smoke-free areas given the great success we had with The Causeway," city councillor Richard Foster told Fairfax Radio this morning. "I think we're going to actually attract people to Melbourne by being one of the first in the world to go smoke-free." Though Cr Foster maintains he has majority support on the idea, not all politicians are on board. Premier Denis Napthine strongly opposes the proposition, deeming it "totally unworkable" and "totally unreasonable". Similar disdain can also be heard from the city's street traders. After all, smokers still flock to outdoor seating in our city's cafes for the iconic coffee and cigarette combo. In its current imagining the plan would ban smoking for both pedestrians and footpath diners in the areas between Flinders Street, Spencer Street, Spring Street and Queen Victoria Market; though there would be designated smoking areas most likely in the form of shelters. Smokers seen breaking the ban would be met with on-the-spot fines, though the prohibition would be understandably difficult to police. The plan is similar to that which has recently been implemented in our inner-city universities. Both RMIT and the University of Melbourne are currently smoke-free and offer rather meagre designated areas for insistent smokers. The issue was debated widely by students as both a move towards a safer and healthier environment and an infringement on smokers' civil liberties. Of course, should the issue be taken city-wide the debate would only intensify. So far, public reaction on social media has been fairly positive. Even Lord Mayor Robert Doyle is on board so long as the changes are "incremental". If there's ever been a time to quit, this is probably it. Life as a smoker is getting more and more outlawed by the day. Via The Australian. Photo credit: Orin Zebest.
Is this the real life? Yes, Queen — the legendary rock band behind hits Bohemian Rhapsody, Don't Stop Me Now and We Will Rock You — is coming to Australia. And, they are hoping to rock you. Two of the original band members Brian May (lead guitar) and Roger Taylor (drums) will be heading Down Under, along with long-time collaborator and frontman Adam Lambert — a Grammy nominated American singer who has been touring with the group since 2011 — keyboardist Spike Edney (who's been performing with the band since the 80s), Neil Fairclough on bass and Tyler Warren on percussion. Lambert will be performing Queen hits — made famous by iconic moustached frontman Freddie Mercury, who passed away in the early 90s — from across the band's 15 albums. John Deacon, the band's original bass player, retired in the late 90s will also not be part of the Australian tour. [caption id="attachment_696706" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody[/caption] Queen rose to prominence in the 70s and 80s, with their famed Live Aid performance — oft referred to as one of the greatest concerts in rock history — happening at Wembley Stadium in 1985. But, the band has once again been in the spotlight with the release of the Rami Malek-starring film Bohemian Rhapsody. After the biopic was released, the song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' reentered the US top 100 — for the third time. While the Aussie Rhapsody Tour — hitting Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast in February 2020 — won't star Mercury (or Deacon), it's set to be one rockin' show. With tickets most likely to sell out, put the below dates in your calendar ASAP. QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT 'THE RHAPSODY TOUR' 2020 DATES Brisbane — Suncorp Stadium, Thursday, February 13 Sydney — ANZ Stadium, Saturday, February 15 Melbourne — AAMI Park, Wednesday, February 19 Perth — Optus Stadium, Sunday, February 23 Adelaide — Adelaide Oval, Wednesday, February 26 Gold Coast — Metricon Stadium, Saturday, February 29 Queen + Adam Lambert The Rhapsody Tour pre-sales start on Wednesday, April 10 with general sale from Monday, April 15. For all sale times, head to the Ticketek website. Image: Queen + Adam Lambert, 2014. Photo: Diana Kat, Wiki Commons.
With the Newtown Festival, the question isn't where to start but where to stop. Divided into stages, stalls, lawns and avenues, events in the festival trip over each other to entertain, edify or feed you. Three live music stages will feature local Newtown acts, groups from Sydney, and further afield — including the serially strange Richard in Your Mind, duet Stiff Ginns and some local beat poetry. Dog lovers can parade their pets in one of eight categories at the morning Dog Show, while at midday the Planet Ark Clothes Swap will offer an hour of unrestrained cashless fashioning-up. The Watershed bike library will be there to intrigue cyclists and non-cyclists alike, and younger cyclists can compete to win the Bling Your Bike competitive parade. Poets, crime writers, travel writers and social researchers will populate the Writers Tent, culminating in a political debate between Gillard biographer Jacqueline Kent and ABC political chronicler Annabel Crabb. And at the Local Village, Roomie Artspace and the Wrap With Love Knitting Group can give you some idea where festival proceeds go. Or you can just sit comfortably on the grass, watch the passing show and suck up the essence of Newtown, concentrated.
Sydney Olympic Park is set to become the stomping ground of some of the world's best tennis players, with Sydney International serving up thrilling summertime action this January. Previous years in the tournament's rich history have featured many of the sports most admired characters including Roger Federer, Martina Hingis, Juan Martin Del Potro and Lleyton Hewitt. And this year's tournament will be no different, with Australia's top-ranked tennis stars, eight Gram Slam champions, eight of the world's top ten female players and a whole host of next-generation players taking to the court from Sunday, January 6 to Saturday, January 12. Defending women's champion — and current world number four — Angelique Kerber will return to battle it out for 2019 honours, while men's defending champ Daniil Medvedev will be fighting to take home the trophy again. Current women's US Open champion Naomi Osaka will also be in attendance, and Ash Barty and Alex de Minaur are set to be the hometown favourites. There'll be plenty of action off-court, too. Between matches, you can catch your favourite players, including Stefanos Tsitsipas and Simona Halep at the autograph counter. Meanwhile, the ANZ Tennis Hot Shots program will also be hosting free tennis lessons for the young ones and racquet giveaways. Plus, getting to the tournament is easy — 2019 ticket holders are granted free train access to and from the Sydney International Tennis Centre. Tickets are available as single sessions, three-day flexi passes or multi-session packages. Kids under 15 years go free to all sessions except finals. For more information and to purchase tickets, head this way.
Sydney is known for being a haven for unique thinkers. From music to food to philanthropy, the nation's largest city is filled with creatives who see the world — and how to navigate it — a little differently. 15 of these people, retailers with blossoming local businesses, recently participated in the City of Sydney's Retail Innovation Program. The program helped them grow their innovative concepts and, overall, nurture the city's locally owned shops, restaurants, cafes, charities and more. Out of this crew of local entrepreneurs, we spoke to four of them about changing the game and approaching business a little differently. These businesses have all managed to nail the core objective of fulfilling a purpose — and they've done so by figuring out what their defining feature is that sets them ahead of the pack and combats a problem in a unique way. Read on to learn how being part of the City of Sydney program aided them on their quest to challenge the status quo. KOA RECOVERY: PERSONALISED, HOLISTIC CARE FOR EVERYONE "We view recovery through the lens of personal experience which translates to a personalised approach which is not driven by commission." After experiencing a back injury a few years ago, founder Shaun Button struggled with his recovery, physically and mentally. After heading to the US and experiencing recovery centres there that specialised in helping people with chronic pain and trauma, Button realised that Australia didn't have anything like it. So, he took matters into his own hands and started his own centre. Combining years of research with Shaun's personal experience, Koa Recovery was created. The wellness centre is a breath of fresh air not only for those who want to treat their pain holistically but also those looking to maximise their athletic abilities. "We exist to enable every body without limits," says Button. Treatments use the latest scientific research and are personalised to each individual via therapies like cryotherapy, float therapy, electrical muscle stimulation and compression therapy. The centre is more than a physio or chiro, taking a full body and mind approach to recovery and performance. [caption id="attachment_734178" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] CULTURE SCOUTS: TOURS OF THE REAL SYDNEY "Seeing a gap in the market for neighbourhood tourism [is what inspired me]. There is so much to see beyond the tourist centre around our harbour." Culture Scouts offers guided tours that hit the real and raw Sydney that's often left by the wayside in favour of the classic tourist traps. Started by Emilya Colliver, Culture Scouts began as a way to show tourists, residents and local companies alike the more authentic side of Sydney neighbourhoods that often goes unnoticed — from local art to heritage sites all with some bizarre historical anecdotes. Colliver, who says her company functions by "appreciating creativity in new ways", has made her business successful by trying different things to see what actually works. "Being innovative means consistently being curious with the world and not being afraid to try and try again." MODSIE: AUTHENTIC, VERIFIED SECOND-HAND LUXURY "Enabling our members to give a second life to the products they don't use anymore is our contribution to a more sustainable fashion consumption in Australia." Ever bought a second-hand designer item, only to get it and realise it's, err… not quite real? Modsie has you covered. The second-hand fashion marketplace makes it easy to find authentic designer pieces by employing one-of-a-kind quality control. Joséphine de Parisot, who started the business after moving over from Paris, has her Masters in Intellectual Property Law and has worked with luxury brands to identify knockoffs — so she knows her stuff about counterfeit goods. "I wanted to pursue my passion for buying and selling pre-owned fashion products, but realised that there was no specialised, secured marketplace in Australia," she says. Thus, Modsie was born. On top of providing a safe shopping environment for luxury goods, Modsie is also pushing to create a more sustainable mindset within the fashion industry. "We really want brands to adapt and see the huge opportunity in the second-hand market for their own products, instead of [seeing] the second-hand economy [as] a parallel market," explains de Parisot. In the future, Modsie is looking to partner with brands to encourage their customers to sell items they no longer use via the platform. [caption id="attachment_734183" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] THE FREEDOM HUB: DEDICATED TO STOPPING SLAVERY AND SUPPORTING VICTIMS "We are creating an opportunity for every Australian to do something about ending modern slavery in Australia and overseas." A non-profit focusing on eradicating human trafficking and slavery, The Freedom Hub runs two cafes (in Waterloo and on the Gold Coast) and a store in order to raise money for and educate survivors. It also provides training to help businesses be more ethical and comply with the Modern Slavery Act. Founder Sally Irwin created the organisation after working in Berlin supporting trafficked women and realising that thousands of trafficking survivors needed assistance in Australia, too. The cafe offers loads of ethically sourced classic breakfast dishes, teas and coffee and the shop sells a wholly ethical, slavery-free retail range — "our supply chain is audited for slavery," explains Irwin. 100 percent of profits go directly to helping survivors in Australia — in particular, running an education program for them. So, your morning coffee isn't just giving you a boost — it's serving a much greater purpose. Irwin says a truly innovative thing about The Freedom Hub is that they "put people before profit", and the Survivor School is the epitome of that attitude. Not only an education program which helps survivors learn life, personal and workforce skills, it also works to support them and provide a community they can depend on as they rebuild their lives. Learn more about the City of Sydney Retail Innovation Program here. Top Image: Culture Scouts by Trent van der Jagt.
If there's one thing Australians do well, it's drinking beer. And if there's something that Australia does well, it would have to be pubs. Arguably, Sydney has a few of the very finest anywhere in the world, and there's really no better time than spring to crawl and trawl your way through them. We have whittled it down to the best of the best, handpicking our favourites for you. So, without further ado, here is Concrete Playground's top pubs in town. 1. The Lord Nelson Where: 19 Kent Street, The Rocks Once sandstone house, now historic pub, the Lord Nelson has to be one of Sydney's best places to enjoy a beer. This is a proper, old English-style pub, set in the right spot to have exceptional views straight across the harbour. Naval prints on the walls, no poker machines and plenty of locals: this is exactly how pubs should be. The beer on offer isn't half bad either. On tap are the six beers brewed on-site, ranging from a summer ale to a porter. The most popular is the Three Sheets, a pale ale, though we'd also recommend the Victory Bitter, a classic English ale with a touch of caramel. If you decide to venture upstairs and make the most of the view, perhaps complete the picture with the brewery's summer ale, the Quayle Ale. All are completely natural, with no preservatives, extra sugar or other additives. For review and details, click here 2. The Old Fitzroy Where: 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo The Old Fitz has been in operation for over a century, and remains one of the few pubs left in inner Sydney with a bit of character to it. It prides itself as being a place with history and substance, as well as a meeting place for artists, writers and musicians. It also stands as one of the last bastions of old-fashioned Australian drinking culture in the heart of one of Sydney's most gentrified areas. The Old Fitz has thirteen different beers on tap including varieties of Coopers and James Squire, as well as Little Creatures and Guinness. They also have Bulmer's Cider at the ready, which is always good for those of us who don't actually enjoy beer very much but, for fear of derision from one's friends, like to look like we're drinking one. Wines on offer are mostly Australian or Kiwi, the cheapest glass costing a mere $6.80 and most bottles averaging at about $30, and the most expensive bottle of French 'sparkling wine' will set you back $97. For review and details, click here 3. The Cricketers Arms Where: 106 Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills The Cricketers Arms, known more intimately as the Crix, is the kind of local that will make you want to move into the area. It's a beautiful old pub, boasting wooden floors and wall tiles, a laid back atmosphere, and plenty of character behind the bar. The walls are decorated with intimate paraphernalia, strung together with fairy lights, while graffiti runs amok in the toilets. The local theme stems into the drinks too, with a sturdy wine list and an excellent selection of local beers on tap. Be warned, this place is busy - and not only on nights that there's a game up the road. Friday and Saturday nights are particularly insane. We think, however, that the wild and varied crowd is all part of the fun. For review and details, click here 4. The Norfolk Where: 305 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint and some mismatched furniture can do for a courtyard. Just take the Norfolk's beer garden, for example. Since it's decidedly hip transformation, the leafy backyard has become a haven for Surry Hills locals to kick back and have a drink, and you'll be hard pressed to find a seat during the packed lunch and post-work hours. It's the jewel in this redone pub's crown. There's a lot of great reasons to visit the Norfolk, and the trendy interior is just the start of it. Cocktail lovers will like the ingenuity behind drinks like the Bloody Mary, served in a Campbell's tomato soup tin, or the Ciderlicious, combining apple cider with pear vodka and smashed mixed berries. And while they still need to work out the kinks on the sharp-tasting Sangrias, the jugs are good value for groups. For review and details, click here 5. The East Sydney Where: 113 Cathedral St, Woolloomooloo If you want to get yourself a pink pepper martini and some gluten-free tapas you've come to the wrong place, my lad. Get thee up the road and into the bosom of Surry Hills, for the East Sydney Hotel is a proper pub: no nonsense beer, a decent steak and plenty of merriment. And not a cocktail umbrella in sight. The East Sydney Hotel speaks to what a Sydney pub might have been fifty years or ago, or a hundred years ago for that matter. You can imagine proper men, from the age when men still wore hats and non-ironic moustaches, populating the amiable darkness of the pub and nursing their beers after a hard day. The East Sydney prides itself on being the last proper country-style pub left in Sydney, which has got to be a hard task when you're located between the borders of Surry Hills and Woolloomooloo. For review and details, click here 6. The Courthouse Where: 202 Australia Street, Newtown Popular with students, artists and the battered men who've been frequenting it for the past forty years, The Courthouse is a beloved staple of Newtown's drinking spots. Grungy, relaxed and unpretentious with one of Sydney's finest beer gardens, I have an unabashed devotion to this place. Inside you'll find pool tables, a collection of pinball machines and a couple of vinyl couches with the stuffing falling out of them. The interior of the pub is exactly what you'd expect: dark wood on scruffy walls, well-trodden carpet and a gallery of old Sydney Swans posters. A pair of arty student types with silly beards sit at the bar alongside a bloke in a Bonds singlet, nursing a schooner, sporting an entirely un-silly beard. During AFL season expect not to be able to hold a conversation anywhere near the football-scarfed fans surrounding the televisions. For review and details, click here 7. The Hollywood Where: 2 Foster Street, Surry Hills It's difficult to speak about the Hollywood without mentioning its owner, Doris Goddard. This is partly because her paraphernalia is plastered onto one of the walls, an intimate shrine to her history. (Goddard emerged from slums of Glebe to become a successful film star, performing alongside big names like Katherine Hepburn and Bob Hope.) Another reason might be that she is often in the pub herself, occasionally for one of her renowned midnight performances. The hotel itself is perfectly suited to an ex-Hollywood starlet. Nestled amongst the deco era buildings of Surry Hill's long vanished film industry (including the heritage listed Paramount Building), all the right details are in place: from a curved wooden bar to antique toilets. That said, there's nothing fussy or intimidating about the joint. Bar staff are friendly and relaxed. The menu consists of chips in wooden bowls and cheese platters, which are more nostalgic than fancy. And the best beer on tap is the Hollywood's own lager. For review and details, click here 8. The Hero of Waterloo Where: 81 Lower Fort Street, The Rocks One of Sydney's oldest pubs, the Hero lets you time travel and sip a cold beer at the same time. Within these sandstone walls, listening to the lilting tones of the Irish bar staff, it doesn't feel difficult to reach out to your own, or someone else's, colonial ancestor. That said, there's more than that to stimulate the imagination. Ask around about the ghost of Anne Kirkman, join in a Saturday night sing-a-long held around the old piano or sneak a look at the tunnel that runs from the hotel's maze of cellars to the harbour, safe as you are from any shanghaiing techniques. If you'd rather live in the present, perhaps you should pay a visit to the restaurant. The lamb shanks are hard to beat, with sautéed onion potato mash, green beans, and port wine, garlic and rosemary jus. Otherwise opt for the bangers and mash, with roasted onion, sautéed cabbage and red wine jus. Prices are reasonable, considering your proximity to the harbour, and the food is well worth it. For review and details, click here 9. The Flinders Where: 63 Flinders Street, Surry Hills There is something a little bit saucy about Flinders. Could it be the way that the interior flirts with Americana whilst remaining resolutely local? The audacious opening hours? Perhaps that its namesake drink is a twist on a Bloody Mary? Whatever that secret sauce is, we want more of it. The words 'dive bar' have been floating around this place since it opened, and that can only be a good thing. The drinks menu, however, may not be what you'd expect. Don't get me wrong: there are certainly tough elements. Tequila, rye whisky and absinthe all put in an appearance. But the way these elements are put together suggests something a little more considered. The Pickletini reworks this classic gin base with pickle juice, while Penicillin (with scotch, more scotch, lemon, honey and ginger) promises to cure what's ailing you. For a fundamentalist, the Aussie Boilermaker might be the go: a schooner of XXX, shot of Bundaberg rum and a home made sausage roll should do the trick. That said, the flashing neon in the window that spells out 'COLD BEER' isn't lying either. There's plenty of good options on tap, with Kirin and James Squire - both Amber and Pilsner. For review and details, click here 10. The Annandale Where: 17 Parramatta Rd, Annandale This pub rock institution is the lifeblood of the Sydney music scene. A '30s Aussie pub, converted in the early '80s into a live music venue, the Annandale has long been the quintessential Australian rock venue. There's the distinct stench of blood, sweat and tears in the air to prove it. With a substantial stage and lighting rig, and a sound system perfectly worn in to the room, any Australian band worth their salt aspires to play here (or already has). A rite of passage for up and coming bands, a night at the Annandale is memorable for musicians and punters alike. And to help the memory factor, the paved courtyard behind the hotel hosts 'pub cha' every Saturday and Sunday, offering regular favourites as well as weekly specials. For review and details, click here
Soon, Sydneysiders in search of the perfect wave won't have to sit in summer traffic to get to the coast. URBNSURF, a developer of man-made surf parks, has just announced that the development of Sydney's first-ever proper wave pool has gained approval from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment today, December 20. It's to be built in Sydney Olympic Park, across a 3.2 hectare area known as Pod 5B. The idea is to give the Australian surfing team, who are preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, a place to train. But that won't be the surf park's only mission. The park is just as much for amateur surfers and families — you can expect a variety of events throughout the year, including both amateur and pro surfing comps, as well as festivals dedicated to music, art, film, food, drink, culture and more. The complex will host a beach club, restaurant, bar, cafe, pop-ups and a concept retail space, in addition to the wave pool, which will take up two hectares. "URBNSURF Sydney will be capable of generating up to 1000 surfing waves, of up to two metres in height every hour, and will provide customised surfing experiences to suit all ability levels and board types," said Andrew Ross, founder and chairman of URBNSURF. The company expects to start construction in late 2018 and see surfers in action by late 2019. Two other surf parks are in development in Australia — one in Melbourne and the other in Perth. URBNSURF has plans to complete ten altogether by 2027.
The first two rules of fight club have long been respected by the Secret Wars community. An underground movement growing stronger every year, it has fostered some of the worlds greatest street artists and draws battle lines between rival artists competing for bragging rights. You won't hear about it on the TV or in the newspaper, but peer down the sidewalk at the fading paint stains and you'll see remnants of a recent war. As it has already done in Europe, the Secret War is gaining momentum here in Sydney. Now the rounds are over and the final four are ready to make their mark. Yes, it's finals time, so lets brush up on the rules: Two artists are placed side by side, whether in hotel foyer or abandoned meat factory. They battle with black acrylics on a fresh white canvas. Their time is 90 minutes — no pencils, no preparation. The winner is crowned through the votes of two guest judges and an important crowd-vote. The first semifinal is taking place at Name This Bar between good friends Jon Doe and Creon. Get ready by watching the paint fly at last year's final on the streets of London.
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, we often say to ourselves, and our friends, "I can't imagine living without coffee." Well, what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 8, you can help out simply by purchasing a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its fourth year running, aiming to build on the $83,950 raised last year. From every coffee purchased at a participating cafe, $1 will be donated towards local projects, so if your cafe is not participating, head to one that is, just for one day. You can also donate at the counter, so if you prefer a hot chocolate, then you can still help out. It's one day when the little things can definitely make a big difference.
Beloved cocktail and whisky bar Eau de Vie has added a new midweek event to their roster. On Wednesday nights, you'll set out on a flight of fancy over a selection of cheeses matched with drams pulled from the bar's 400-strong whisky collection. The evenings kick off from 6pm. For $40, you'll get tot sample five whiskies during the evening, chosen to match closely with the week's selection of cheeses from the Eau de Vie deli. The staff of whisky experts will be on hand to talk whisky fans through the pairings and you'll want to book in advance to ensure you nab a seat.
UPDATE, April 4, 2020: Brittany Runs a Marathon is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. Everyone has a friend who goes on a fitness kick, then won't stop talking about it. Suddenly your brunch dates are scheduled around training sessions and optimal heart rates come up in every conversation. That isn't Brittany Forgler (Jillian Bell). The New Yorker barely has the energy to start exercising, and she certainly doesn't want to keep nattering on about it. And while Brittany Runs a Marathon focuses on the avid partygoer's highly out-of-character wellness campaign, the feel-good comedy actually sports a similar attitude — because as enormous a feat as attempting to run a marathon is, it's only one part of Brittany's life. Basing his debut feature on his best friend, playwright-turned-filmmaker Paul Downs Colaizzo spends plenty of time cheering Brittany's efforts. Flags are waved and encouragement is yelled — by her new running pals Catherine (Michaela Watkins) and Seth (Micah Stock) and, metaphorically, by the movie itself. But while the story plays out largely as every underdog sports flick has trained audiences to expect, there's a deeper, darker core to this upbeat and amusing affair. Come for a wry spin on all the usual training montages, keep watching as Brittany progresses from groaning through a slow jog around the block to willingly skipping boozing for exercise, then stay for a perceptive exploration of the tough marathon that is finding self-acceptance. Indeed, late in this likeable movie, there's a scene that sums up the film's true focus — and it makes for purposefully uneasy viewing. Seething with pain and devastation, it has nothing to do with running through the streets. At a birthday party for her sister's (Kate Arrington) husband (Lil Rel Howery), Brittany starts talking to a couple. They appear mismatched, she's had a few drinks, and so she asks an awkward, inappropriate question. It doesn't go down well, but it's clear that Brittany isn't trying to judge or be cruel to those around her. Rather, by pondering aloud how a man she deems attractive could love a woman with a fuller figure, she's voicing the harsh mindset that she has always directed internally. Charting Brittany's attempts to improve her health on medical orders, and then to put one foot after the other during New York's 42-kilometre endurance test, Brittany Runs a Marathon dives into its protagonist's damaging opinion of herself. The film is filled with humour — and many, many running scenes — but, primarily, it's the cinematic manifestation of the idea that to help yourself, you actually have to like yourself . For too long, Brittany has been the funny sidekick. She constantly cracks jokes at her own expense, whether at work, on dates, or with the doctor she's trying to convince to prescribe her Adderall. She's also fantastic at self-sabotage, as her fledgling romance with fellow underachieving twenty-something Jern (Utkarsh Ambudkar) shows. Those habits are hard to break, so Brittany Runs a Marathon confronts Brittany's flagging self-esteem one sweaty step at a time. It's a beauty and wellness industry cliché — the type trotted out to sell soap, as Brittany skewers — but loving the skin you're in is hard. It's also tricky to convey on-screen in an authentic fashion (and no, instant makeovers where someone removes their glasses to reveal they're really a bombshell don't count). Brittany Runs a Marathon turns the task into a physical slog, with viewers witnessing every grimace and struggle, then feeling the exhilaration when its reluctant protagonist gets comfortable pounding the pavement — and, of course, when she does what the title tells us she's going to do. There's a reason that writer/director Colaizzo is happy to spoil the outcome in the movie's moniker, after all: running the New York marathon isn't the film's only point. As astute as it proves in exploring Brittany's battle with her inner demons and millennial malaise in general, Brittany Runs a Marathon has its star to thank for striking such an affecting chord. A scene-stealer in 22 Jump Street, Rough Night and Workaholics, Bell puts her heart, soul and gift for witty quips into this thoughtful and funny movie — and ensures that every step that Brittany takes, both in the right and wrong directions, feels genuine. That sensation sets this crowd-pleaser apart from other recent comedies about women trying to gain confidence in their own shoes, such as Amy Schumer-starring misfire I Feel Pretty. Nothing here is calculated, cynical, exaggerated or muddled; rather, it's relatable, realistic and even inspirational. Forget running — sure, you might leave the cinema eager to jog a marathon yourself, but being kinder to yourself is the bigger achievement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsHlvgTG1iI
The Supernatural Amphitheatre may have banned Native American headdresses, but they'll soon have to make an unexpected exception — Golden Plains 2015 will feature the Village People. That's right, it's been nearly 40 years since the height of their fame, but the Village People are still coercing you to stay at the YMCA. Get ready to raise your cowboy boot. The full lineup which has just been released is nothing if not diverse. The Village People are proving disco isn't dead, your emotional teenage heartthrob Conor Oberst will be there bringing the indie rock, classic local tunes will be had with Something For Kate, even seminal Australian punk legends Radio Birdman will be in attendance. As always, the local lineup is strong. Off the back of her first national headline tour, Courtney Barnett will be the perfect soundtrack to your afternoon chill session. You can expect some unsavoury antics while watching The Bennies, and local favourites like Twerps, Banoffee, and Milwaukee Banks will also be hitting the stage. Aside from your Bright Eyed boyfriend and the Village People, other international acts include Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit and Pavement follow-up project Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks. As always, you'll have to enter the ballot if you want in on this glorious gathering. The festival will run from March 7-9 and tickets will be $328.80+bf. It's the same festival you know and love — no dickheads, no need to hide your goon sacks, no problems. The second-draw ballot closes on 9pm on Tuesday, October 21. Welcome to the sounds of your summer. Full lineup: Aldous Harding Banoffee Black Vanilla Bombino Conor Oberst Courtney Barnett Dj Shadow & Cut Chemist Felice Brothers First Aid Kit Graveyard Hits La Pocock Milwaukee Banks Neneh Cherry With Rocketnumbernine+ Nick Waterhouse Oblivions Parquet Courts Radio Birdman (featuring Rob Younger, Deniz Tek, Pip Hoyle, Jim Dickson, Dave Kettley, Nik Rieth) Sharon Van Etten Sleep D Soil & “Pimp” Sessions Something For Kate Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks The Bennies The Meanies Theo Parrish Total Giovanni Twerps Village People
Some great and iconic films have been made about cyclists. But if you want to see films made for cyclists, then get to The Bicycle Film Festival's Sydney run. The Festival has been running worldwide since 2001, showing films on cyclists and by cyclists. Unassuming founder Brendt Barbur put it together after a run-in with a New York City bus, and the Festival has gone on to screen annually in more than 30 cities world-wide. Sydney's chapter of the Festival kicks off with an opening night party this Wednesday at the Beresford Hotel. Its films are kinetic. Spike Jonze-produced The Birth of Big Air tells the story of much-bruised BMX superstar Mat Hoffman, while Line of Sight is full of urban cycling not too far from two-wheeled, kerb-side parkour. The slower-paced Where Are You Go shows a dry, dusty African travelogue covering 12000 kilometres of the continent, from north to south. The main program runs Friday and Saturday at the Dendy in Newtown, moving to the Beach Road Hotel on Sunday for the final screening and wrap party. As if that's not enough, there's also a street fair from midday Saturday by the Beresford and the Ride exhibtion of wood-framed bike-art at District 01 launching Thursday night. https://youtube.com/watch?v=m28nJEevCZw
Inspiration to Ghandi, and art scholar, John Ruskin was famously said to have been shocked on his wedding night by how his different his wife's real body was from those of the marble statues he studied. While this story may exaggerate its detail, it's true that the divide between artistic ideal and real bodies is often a big one. For critic Kenneth Clarke, the idealisation of nudity was what made it art. But in the words of Greg Wise: "Real life is wrinkles and smells." If you get to Sydney University early for A Night in the Quad, you'll be able to make up your own mind. Down one side of the picturesque main quadrangle is the Nicholson Museum, which for the duration of the Sydney Festival is running Exposed: Photography & the Classical Nude. Exposed fuses together one hundred images of ancient and modern views of nudes, statues and classical methods of filthy art — exploring the connections and differences of images of the body in classical sculpture, to the work of less ancient photographers like Max Dupain and Henry Fox Talbot. And while the exhibition is neither puritan nor prurient, there should be enough in it to give you ideas of your own. Note: pages linked to in this piece contain artistic nudity and may be slightly NSFW. Image of Marc Quinn's Alison Lapper statue by dorothya.
It seems a pretty hard task to follow Hannah Gadsby's international smash-hit show, Nanette. After all, the one-woman stand-up performance copped serious praise on its 18-month travels across Australia and the UK, even scooping the top honours at both the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It also spawned its very own Netflix special. And when Gadsby used the show to announce she was quitting comedy for good, we thought that was it. In the end, the beloved Aussie comedian managed to back it up with her follow-up Douglas. While Nanette pulled apart the concept of comedy itself, dishing up an insight into Gadsby's past, Douglas took comedy fans on a "tour from the dog park to the renaissance and back". It hit stages across Australia and New Zealand in late 2019 and early 2020, and then made its way to Netflix a year ago. Now, Gadsby is returning the the stage for a four-night, six-show run of her latest set Body of Work. The new live show is a reflection of the last two years, from the devastating bushfires to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gadsby looks back over these events, which've have dictated every aspect of life, and also looks towards the future. Getting things started across the six shows will be the equally funny Zoë Coombs Marr. Plus, if you're the type that doesn't like to miss their bedtime, there are early sessions popping up on the weekend, kicking off at 5pm on Saturday, December 11 and 4pm on Sunday, December 12. [caption id="attachment_797497" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hamilton Lund[/caption] First image: Jim Lee.
To celebrate Halloween and mark the Newtown Hotel’s birthday in style, The Preatures and Tokyo Denmark Sweden are performing live in what sounds like an awesome October 31st (for those of you not in possession of nose-bleed seats to Beyoncé, that is). You may have heard Sydney rock ‘n' rollers The Preatures on triple j. Their singles 'Take a Card' and 'Is This How You Feel' are pretty damn catchy. And they are the master of the memorably kooky music video (see the video tab). They'll be performing songs from their second LP due out later this year and supporting them are up-and-coming dance act Tokyo Denmark Sweden, who have made waves with their singles 'Lights Off' and 'When It Breaks'. Guaranteed sweaty dancing. Plus, in what sounds like too-good-to-be-true news, the Newtown Hotel has generously deigned to make the event free as a thank you to their loyal locals (with a little help from Carlton and Bulmer’s) will be shouting everyone beer and cider from 6.30-8.30pm. It’s going to get full fast, so arrive early.
With Campari as your host, this year's Negroni Week launch party is set to be a big one. In 2022, the yearly event — which sees the best bars and restaurants around the world put an imaginative twist on the iconic drink while giving back to charity — is holding a glass to 10 big, aperitivo-loving years. On Sunday, September 11, Campari — that essential ingredient of a classic negroni — is inviting fans to explore the bitter orange cocktail and its history. A bespoke negroni menu will be accompanied by free canapés and giveaways at swishy King Street cocktail bar Earl's Juke Joint. And that's just the beginning. After you've found your way into the bar (cleverly concealed behind the Betta Meats shopfront for the uninitiated), you'll be able to sip your way around four imaginative iterations of negroni. And $1 from each sale of the $15 serves is going to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. DJ Levins will be spinning tunes and dishing out good vibes, setting the tone for the week of nationwide festivities that will follow. Accompanying the delicious bevs? Canapés by the masters at Continental Deli and pizza by the slice from Bella Brutta circulating the room from 5–9pm. What's more, Campari will be giving punters the chance to win merch and more during the evening. The party will be running on a first come, first serve basis, so mark your diary now. Campari's Negroni Week launch party will hit Earl's Juke Joint on Sunday, September 11. Head to the website for more details and to register your attendance. Images: Daniele Massacci
Verge arts festival just hosted a disco without sound and this Tuesday, Curiousworks will host a dance without lights. No Lights, No Lycra have finally made it to Sydney. Started in Melbourne, they’ve popped up in San Francisco, Berlin and Brooklyn. No Lights, No Lycra creates a weekly space to dance where you don't have to worry about how you do it, what you're wearing or who you're with. Instead, you can concentrate on the pure joy of sound and movement. Free, strange, funky, dorky, slow, wild or understated. Whatever you like to do when you're dancing, No Lights, No Lycra wants you to do it and enjoy. With a strict no drugs, no alcohol policy, any Dutch courage you need will have to come from the silky tunes and the embracing darkness. They're on every week from this Tuesday and are sending money raised to some of Curiousworks' community endeavours. So if this anonymous dance bacchanal seems like your thing, get down to Surry Hills, put your five dollars in the box and get dancing.
This March, French street artist and TED Prize winner JR exclaimed to the conference audience that he wished to "turn the world inside out." Well, he wasn't kidding. JR launched "Inside Out" immediately, a project aimed to inspire change in the world by teaching others to first embrace personal identity. He encourages anyone and everyone across the globe to send in pictures of themselves, which he will then put up in various places of significance. First stop: Tunisia, whose oppressive totalitarian leader Ben Ali was recently overthrown. Although the end of Ali's rule was a victory for the country's citizens, many are still left hopeless and the government is certainly still a mess. So, JR brought the photos of friendly faces to the troubled Tunisia, and pasted them over posters of Ali's face and all throughout the country to spark hope for the future in the hearts of the suffering community. This is just the beginning of JR's journey to inspire a worldwide whirlwind of change. We tip our hats to you, JR, because not only have you reminded thousands of people of the power of art, but you've certainly began to turn the world inside out in the most wonderful and inspiring way.
Come November, if you're keen on travelling to a galaxy far, far away, you won't need to visit your local cinema. Disney is getting into the streaming game and, when it launches its new Disney+ platform, it'll do so with the first-ever live-action Star Wars spinoff television series, The Mandalorian. One of the most anticipated shows of the year on this (or any other) planet, The Mandalorian follows a lone gunfighter who hails from the planet Mandalore and roams the outer reaches of the universe. His bullet-firing antics happen far from the prying eyes of the New Republic, with the series set after the fall of the Empire — that is, after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi but before Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. If the basic premise isn't enough cause for excitement, then the stacked cast will help — it includes Game of Thrones' Pedro Pascal and Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito, plus Nick Nolte, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Ming-Na Wen and none other than legendary director and occasional actor Werner Herzog. Behind the scenes, The Mandalorian also boasts plenty of big names, with The Lion King's Jon Favreau calling the shots (as the program's creator, writer, showrunner and executive producer), and Taika Waititi among its series' directors. Waititi will also voice a new droid, called IG-11. After announcing the show last year, then keeping the details as secret as possible, Disney has slowly been revealing bits and pieces about the series in recent months. If you've been keener than Han Solo in any cantina in the galaxy to get a glimpse, the Mouse House dropped its first trailer for the series back in August, and has just followed up with a brand new second sneak peek. Given all of the above details — the cast, the concept, the place in the Star Wars timeline — plus the fact that the show hits in a matter of mere weeks, Disney isn't being quite as shy this time around. Expect space beasts, spaceship battles, bounty hunter dramas and folks getting frozen in carbonite in the new clip, as well as more of The Mandalorian's number one asset. Yes, that'd be Herzog and his inimitable voice, which once again get a workout in the latest trailer. Check out the new preview below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmI7WKrAtqs The Mandalorian will hit Disney+ when it launches Down Under on November 19.
If the words sex, violence, blood, and gore don't get your attention, then nothing will. How about a scene between an ex-prime minister and Annabel Chong, star of what was described as the World's Biggest Gang Bang? Has your heartbeat risen? Palms turned sweaty? Written by multi-award-winning Singaporean playwright Alfian bin Sa'at, sex.violence.blood.gore began its life as a secret squirrel underground affair in Singapore. Still avoiding the mainstream, it re-emerged in a pop-up theatre space in Melbourne, and now it's come to say hi to us in Sydney. If the idea of Japanese soldiers on their last night with their shared sex-slave or a nymphomaniac geography teacher at the height of her sexual awakening floats your boat, then off to the Old Fitz with you. Directed by Stephen Nicolazzo and performed by a cast of seven, these vignettes focusing on carnal urges are sure to excite. The bondage-style costumes will alone.
Let's face it, when life gives you lemons, you don't always feel like lemonade. For some of us, a bad day at work, an unexpected bill or the total wet blanket that is lockdown can see you reaching for something a little more heavy duty than citrus juice. If the standard Netflix and takeout self-soothing strategy has worn thin, we get it. And that's why we've put together a few strategies to try next time life tosses you a curveball. PRIORITISE YOUR SLEEP How many days of the week do you wake up and feel like you've actually had enough sleep? For us, it's minus three. So when everything hits the fan, one thing we like to focus on is getting a good night's sleep. If you have a hard time falling asleep, there are a few habits you can incorporate into your nightly routine to wind down more easily. NSW Health recommends doing an activity that you find relaxing for an hour or so before bed like reading or taking a bath. Or, you could try incorporating a sleep supplement into your routine to assist in de-stressing from the day and to help you hit the hay at a reasonable hour. TAKE A SOCIAL MEDIA BREAK When things have gone awry it can be easy to distract yourself with mindless activities to escape. One way you might do that is by spending hours doomscrolling on social media platforms. And while social media definitely has its positives, it's not like you can control what other people post. Typically, people use social media to make public declarations of wins they've had, and that's great. We love celebrating our friends. But, if you've just had a loss, no matter how big or small, seeing someone nailing life can send you into a tailspin. That's not to say you can't be happy for people in those moments — you absolutely can. But before you login after a tough day, consider checking in with yourself and figure out whether or not you're emotionally prepared to deal with the feelings that may arise while being online. TAKE YOUR VITAMINS When you're not feeling 100 percent, taking active steps to look after your physical health is a great way to lift yourself out of your slump. Getting on top of the basics like good sleep, a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water is key. And, if you want to go even further, we recommend stocking up on vitamins from JSHealth, too. Whether you need something to help with skin health, hormone balance, sleep or stress, JSHealth has an extensive selection of supplements to choose from to help you take care of yourself. Plus, you'll get access to the JSHealth app for free with any order of vitamins — just use your order ID to access recipes, workouts, meditations and more, so you can get yourself back on track. TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES When you've had a doozy of a day, it can be useful to shift your focus to things that you actually have control over. One of those things is your cash. And while at times it may feel like your money controls you more than you control it, taking time to sort out your finances (and actually following through with your plan) is possible. It can be useful to think of your money like other parts of your wellbeing. For example, if you want to start running, signing up for a marathon may not be the best place to start. The same applies to your dollarydoos. If you need to pay off some debt, want to bolster your savings or have a desire to start investing, you've gotta make time for it. And like running, if you stick to your plan, you'll get closer to your goal every day. Check out the Australian Government's moneysmart website for free tips on how to make your cash make sense (and cents). GET TRIPLE CLEAN We're all fans of freshly washed sheets, right? Crisp, warm and straight of the line on a sunny day are the top-tier kind. But to boost your mood on a less-than-average day, you've got to step things up a notch and get yourself triple clean. Let us talk you through what we mean. Step one is to strip your bed sheets and give your mattress a makeover with a fresh set of threads. Step two is to strip yourself and get squeaky clean in the shower. Then, it's time for step three — fresh PJs. Yep, time to swap out last night's pizza-stained pants for a fresh pair and soon after you'll be feeling like a million-dollar triple-clean queen. DIY PAMPER NIGHT We've never had a bath that we later regretted — ever. So next time things feel like they're spiraling out of control, consider taking a moment to slow yourself down with an at-home pamper session. One of the great things about a DIY pamper sesh is you get to decide how extra you want it to be. If you feel like going all out, pick up a new face mask, bath salts, a candle and a cheeky bottle of something to take to the tub. Or, if you're more the spontaneous type, dig out that gift pack your Secret Santa gave you last year and actually use it. Whether you want to go all out with a foot scrub and at-home microdermabrasion or are stoked by the idea of a classic bubble bath, the whole point is for it to be relaxing — so don't stress over the set up. You can do a lot with dim lighting, a calming soundtrack and warm water. GET SOME FRESH AIR If you spend a lot of time working indoors, a quick whip around the block can do wonders to your mood after a wonky day. There's no need to rush your walk or worry about getting hardcore exercise in while you enjoy the outdoors, either. It's all about getting a change of scenery and a lil fresh air to take you far away from your desk for a moment. To heighten the experience, you can add your favourite podcast to soundtrack the stroll. Or, if you want to get really in touch with nature, go sans headphones and soak up the natural sounds of your surroundings. MAKE A CONNECTION When we're feeling down in the dumps, it can be hard to reach out to loved ones. It's easy to feel like you'll be terrible company and no-one wants to feel like the party pooper in the pack. But think about how many times you've gladly sat with a friend after a breakup. They weren't exactly the life of the party on those occasions but you still happily made yourself available in their time of need. And guess what? Your friends will absolutely want to do that in return. But, if being around people is a no-go for you in those moments of distress, consider making a connection with yourself, instead. You could do this by by journalling, meditating or engaging mindfully in one of your hobbies. CROSS SOMETHING OFF YOUR LIFE ADMIN LIST We all have a list of tasks we've been meaning to get to but for one reason or another it keeps getting put on the backburner. And even more unfortunately, as time goes on, the list keeps getting longer, too. Whether it's returning an online shopping purchase, consolidating your superannuation funds or finally booking your car in for a service — we've all got a thing or two we could cross off our lists. So next time you're feeling like you're in a funk, consult your mental to-do list and tackle one of its tasks for a lil pick me up. SET A BOUNDARY With work from home now a reality for a lot of us, the boundary between work and play has become increasingly blurry — which makes sense considering a lot of dining tables now double as work desks. With physical spaces melding together like this, it's more important than ever to create a healthy set of boundaries, and stick to them. One way to do that is to set times for when you'll respond to work questions (hot tip: try and stick to your regular work hours). Another boundary you may need to implement is knowing when to say no to social occasions so that you can schedule in essential alone time to recharge. Just remember, if your boundaries impact others (and they often do) it's a good idea to communicate what they are so that others can understand your limitations and respect them without trying to read your mind. CP readers can take advantage of a 15% discount on all JSHealth products by using the code: CPLAYGROUND. Learn more about JSHealth by visiting the website here. Images: Unsplash.
90 years ago, an artist by the name of Jimmy Bancks came up with a character by the name of Ginger Meggs. And, like that, an Aussie legend was born. But unlike other icons we've lost along the way, Ginger lives on, in the forever-land of cartoons. These days, he's parented by young, Perth-based artist Jason Chatfield. To celebrate Ginger reaching such a distinguished age, the Museum of Sydney is hosting a dedicated exhibition. Through original strips by Bancks, Chatfield and Ginger's three other dads, Ron Vivian, Lloyd Piper and James Kemsley, the show tracks the character's evolution through nine decades, beginning with the billy carts, wireless radios and cricket matches that shaped his '30s world to his 'real-life' appearances at major events like the opening of the Harbour Bridge and the launch of the Space Age. There's also a bunch of vintage memorabilia on display, including Little Golden Books, dolls, clothing and Ginger-themed paintings by Martin Sharp. “With his vivid red hair, larrikin boy charms and never-ending ability to get himself into and out of trouble, Ginger Meggs is a mischievous character whose everyday escapades echo the experiences of millions of Australian children," says Anna Cossu, Sydney Living Museums curator. "[He is] still published in over 120 newspapers across Australia and around the world."
Little Red have changed my life. No longer can I enjoy a Coca-Cola like I used to now that I have Little Red's infectious ditty on how to do it right. Little Red remind us of a sweeter era — girls in poodle skirts bopping to doo-wop, and taking your gal to the milk bar, filling your cola with ice and kissing like it's 1965. Their pop, like the soda, is sparkling, sweet and utterly addictive — just try to stop yourself smiling. The little band from Melbourne are: Adrian Beltrame (guitar/vocals), Dominic Byrne (vocals/guitar), Quang Dinh (bass/vocals), Taka Honda (drums) and Tom Hartney (vocals, percussion). Together, the all singing troup will have you all dancing the night away at the Oxford Arts Factory with their catchy hooks and old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. Having teamed up with producer Scott Horscroft (The Temper Trap, The Presets, Silverchair) for the release of their upcoming album, Little Red are touring their way through a string of single launches before taking their pop tunes to foreign shores. So make sure you make the most of the local lads while they are still here and travel back to a sweeter time.
Anthony Lister's figures are amalgamations of superheroes, shimmering colours and body parts. Lister describes the appeal of four-colour comic characters as almost godlike — heroes in a kind of mythology. And if mythology is really about family at heart, then Lister's family is odd, powerful and roughly formed. His figures put on a spare head or a fresh pair of arms as casually as a new coat. They stand powerful and heavy; comfortably composed with a revelatory style not too far from comic legend Bill Sienkiewicz. Lister has been collected by Taschen and curated by the National Gallery, and now he comes to the Chalk Horse Gallery in the form of solo show Memories Not Included. His hero figures will be on display along with darker, less defined pieces flush with shadowy palettes and neon stains. There'll also be some in situ work unique to the gallery space. Lister's figures demand attention, but they're not interested in yours. They look ready to walk off the walls to go out in search of whatever takes their mood. Don't let them get away before you've had the chance to get a look.
Roll that rusty penny farthing out of your garage, don your leather goggles, brave the elements, and peddle your way down to Taylor Square and Forbes Street for ye olde Sydney Rides Festival, opening on Saturday, October 13, with a street fair. Not only is there a chance to spin alongside fashion stalls, snack stops, riding games, and live entertainment, but there is a little somethin' for everybody: for the novices, riding demos; the cheapskates, free tune-ups; the ladies, an exclusive course in inner-city cycling confidence; the kids, a school fete with farm animals (on bikes?!); and the lazy, bike valet parking. The two-week festival will be all over the city, so you can spend your weekends and lunch breaks cycling around on yer Mongoose, BMX, Giant, Norco, Bianci, the kiddie wheels you stole from your neighbour's yard, or what have you. Come on, join the joyride.
Warm weather, beach holidays and kicking back with a few cocktails all go hand in hand. But thanks to ever-changing border restrictions over the past few months — plus life during a pandemic in general — you mightn't have been able to enjoy this summertime routine recently. If you're the kind of person who can enjoy a few beverages and instantly feel like you're vacation, though, then you'll instantly want to add Four Pillars' latest tipple to your must-drink list. In collaboration with Melbourne venue Arbory Afloat, the highly awarded gin distillery is launching a new Beach House Gin. It comes in a cheery pink hue, and heroes citrus and fruit flavours — think lemon myrtle, grapefruit, orange, lemon peel, sweet strawberry gum, pineapple sage and davidson plums. The idea, as the name makes plain, is to make you feel like you're on holiday by the shore every time you take a sip. Melburnians will know that this isn't Four Pillars and Arbory Afloat's first joint venture, with the two pairing up in 2019 on a different – but still pink — limited-edition gin. This time around, however, the tipple won't just be available onboard at Arbory Afloat. It still will be, of course, including on tap in spritzes and mixed into G&Ts — but folks around the country can also order a bottle. If your gin shrine is screaming for a splash of colour, Beach House Gin goes on sale at 8am on Tuesday, February 9 for $90 a bottle — or you can get it with a four-pack of tonic for $100. While Melburnians can try the new gin at Arbory Afloat, bottles are only available to purchase from the venue's website. To complete the summery feel, Beach House Gin features a label from Melbourne design studio 21-19 and Finnish artist and illustrator Antti Kalevi, which uses shapes and textures to create an abstract beachy landscape. And, gin fans in Melbourne can also head to a launch party for the new drop on Thursday, February 4, with tickets costing $145, and gin cocktails, beer, wine, sparkling, oysters and canapes on the menu on Arbory Afloat's pool deck. Four Pillars x Arbory Afloat Beach House Gin is available on tap and in cocktails at Arbory Afloat, and to buy by the bottle via the venue's website from 8am on Tuesday, February 9.
Welcome to the new breed of combat movies. In Eye in the Sky, soldiers fight terrorists from the comfort of their desks, while the bulk of the people debating which course of action to take, and even those actually carrying out the strike, aren't on the front lines, but watching on from other continents. Their task is seemingly simple: apprehend two extremist ringleaders in Kenya. In the UK, Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren) oversees operations, with her mission changing from a capture to a kill when she discovers a suicide attack may be imminent. On the ground in Nairobi, undercover agent Jama Farah (Barkhad Abdi) spies on the culprits, manoeuvring an insect-sized camera into their safe house. His aren't the only images of the scene, with two Las Vegas-based drone pilots (Aaron Paul and Phoebe Fox) looking on with their fingers on the trigger. But when a nine-year-old girl (Aisha Takow) wanders into the target zone, Powell is forced to seek advice from her superiors, including the supportive Lieutenant General Frank Benson (Alan Rickman) and a raft of indecisive politicians worried about the potential ramifications. The mechanics and morality of war are the movie's main concerns — and while many a cinematic dissection of conflict has probed the same topic, director Gavin Hood (Ender's Game) has crafted a film that's purely a product of its time. Technology is key, both in the way the story unfolds for the characters, and the way it is presented to the audience. Powell and the majority of her colleagues observe matters from the safety of their own countries, yet can take lives at the press of a button. Viewers share the same position, and see the same intercut spy cam, drone and satellite footage — though they can only watch on with a combination of horror, anxiety and flabbergasted amusement, unable to intervene or do more. Indeed, Eye in the Sky is designed to inspire many a question, and leave everyone pondering the various troubling answers. That it succeeds isn't simply a result of the film's intelligent approach to its subject, but of its tone: part military thriller, part bureaucratic farce. Viewers will find themselves inching towards the edge of their seats, even as they chuckle grimly as yet another person in power tries to avoid making a hard decision. There's no ducking the films more heavy-handed elements, including an intrusive score, conveniently increasing stakes, and the blatant attempt to evoke an emotional reaction by placing a child in peril. But there's also no avoiding its effectiveness, both in contemplating a difficult subject and constructing an exercise in tension. The considered mood Mirren brings to her pivotal role proves the perfect weathervane for the film's fortunes, and of the way in which it achieves its aims. She's the movie's robust centre, brimming with as much texture as toughness. Among the rest of the cast, Paul plays his part with the right amount of worry and uncertainty, while the late Rickman's trademark wry charm gets a fitting final outing. Given the intensity of the situation that surrounds them, that they provide the complex feature with convincing portrayals is no small feat.
Just as it turns three year old, Newtown's Flour Drum will expand its hours and start serving up dinner as well as its much loved breakfast, lunch and baked goods. Since opening at the south end of King Street in 2015, the cafe has served solid indulgent fare like banoffee pancakes and lamb ragu pappardelle. And Flour Drum hopes to keep patrons on into the evening as it launches dinner service for the first time in August. Chef and co-owner John Ageletos will drawn on culinary inspiration from across the world for the new menu of comforting classics. So what can you expect? Squid stuffed with fragrant rice and herbs —a modern twist on the traditional Greek squid dish that his gran would make for him — and a crispy duck 'wonton ravioli' that will see Italian and Hong Kong cuisines collide. The pappardelle will make another appearance here with pork, along with a massive shepherd's pie with the whole lamb shank on the bone inside. Expect to pay around $14–29 per dish. If you thought the current cakes and cookies at Flour Drum were delicious, then you'll think this after-dinner dessert is on fire — literally. The flaming bombe alaska features house-made vanilla bean creme brûlée ice cream surrounded by toasted hazelnut sponge cake and meringue, which is then flambeed while being served. The new menu will also have one or two weekly vegan specials and a drinks offering to match. You'll be able to pair your meal with biodynamic wines from Brackenwood Vineyard, beers and cocktails. Flour Drum is located at 531 King Street, Newtown. It will open for dinner from Thursday to Saturday from early August.
Taste of Sydney isn't just a case of 18 of the city's best restaurants setting up persnickety stalls in Centennial Park (though that's a pretty good start for any festival). It's 18 of the city's best restaurants setting up stalls and serving their latest and greatest culinary experimentations. Think chipotle tuna carpaccio, duck and burnt cinnamon burek and whatever happens when you combine "carrot, yoghurt and liquorice" (this last one's from Cafe Paci, so the scary-sounding result is almost certainly great). They're tasting-sized portions, so design-it-yourself degustations are the name of the game as you wander through the park. This year, the lineup features Bentley Restaurant and Bay, the aforementioned Cafe Paci, Monopole, Pei Modern, Porteno, Sake Restaurant and Bar, MoVida, 4fourteen, Ananas, Biota Dining, Bloodwood, Cafe Paci, Efendy, Jonah's, Otto Ristorante, Popolo, The Cut and Yellow. Each participating venue will serve up some classics, but there'll also be festival exclusives and one particularly innovative "icon dish" per station. The latter is available on a first come first served basis, so get scarfing. To build up your appetite, it's all interspersed with pop-up bars, cooking demonstrations, a La Maison Maille mustard shop and (randomly) a butterfly house sponsored by Dimmi. Here are 15 of the most impressive dishes we're making room for already.
UPDATE: July 13, 2020: 2040 is available to stream via DocPlay, Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. When An Inconvenient Truth ostensibly turned a PowerPoint presentation into an Oscar-winning film, the world took notice. An impassioned overview about the biggest threat to the earth that humanity is ever likely to face — that is, climate change — will do that. But it also set a precedent for eco-conscious documentaries, stressing the undeniable, existence-shattering doom and gloom of the situation. The reasoning is simple, not to mention completely justified: what else but the worst possible scenario could convince everyone to drastically alter their ways? (As history has shown to the planet's detriment, not even that is proving enough.) Arriving 13 years later, after a sequel to Al Gore's movie and countless other environmental docos too, 2040 adopts a different approach. This time, it's both personal and positive. Of course, the fate of this giant rock we all live on has always been personal, however director Damon Gameau frames his plea for change as a letter to his now-four-year-old daughter, hypothesising how the state of the environment could potentially improve in the next 21 years for her benefit. It's a smart, savvy move, asking viewers to similarly think about the world they want to leave for loved ones, kids and future generations in general — while offering solutions that, as based on technology available today, could genuinely make an impact. Gameau previously put himself front and centre when he made That Sugar Film, acting as the doco's own Super Size Me-style sucrose-guzzling guinea pig. That movie was not only a record-breaking box-office smash, becoming the highest grossing non-IMAX Australian documentary in history at the time, but also sparked a widespread dietary movement. Once again venturing around the world to speak to the brightest minds on his chosen subjects in episodic segments, the actor-turned-filmmaker certainly makes a compelling case in 2040. Choosing his examples wisely, each technology he champions basically sells itself. From community-level solar electricity grids in Bangladesh and self-driving cars in Singapore, to marine permaculture off the US coast and innovative agriculture practices in Australia, it's impossible not to see how Gameau's proposed solutions would enact considerable, much-needed change. To make his points crystal clear — and to firmly demonstrate how they could make a difference — he intermittently cuts to an idealised version of the future, complete with actor Eva Lazzaro playing his daughter, to literally show how life in the year 2040 could look. While these crystal ball moments sometimes overplay their earnestness and attempted humour to the point of becoming clunky, they tie into another of Gameau's key skills as a documentarian: presentation. Global warming is a daily topic of conversation for many, as it should be, and yet a constant stream of news headlines and cries from scientists can be all too easy for both the masses and their elected representatives to ignore. In addition to its unfettered optimism, 2040 packages its segments in engaging ways, whether discussing alternative energy solutions by placing its talking heads atop a towering wind turbine, or using animated dioramas. It's another technique brought over from the similarly bright, breezy, accessible yet informative That Sugar Film, and once again, it works. Also effective is 2040's overall aim, with the film staring climate change in the face, slapping on a smile and striving to get people motivated about such a crucial matter. The doco provides an upbeat top-level view, as well as an easy-to-glean list of talking points — favouring the bigger picture, plus a few case studies, over the bleak current-day political, social and economic reality. And yet, that's also what leaves a strange sensation. 2040's vision of the future is so welcome, but it's also just that: a vision. Even if you're not innately cynical about the world, there's a difference between knowing what's possible and thinking that it'll actually happen. 2040 trades in hope, which will never fail to be important, however there's still no escaping reality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-rTQ443akE
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, gelato for dogs, and ginger beer, Weet-Bix. fairy bread, hot cross bun, cinnamon scroll and chocolate fudge gelato. Most recently, it made a bubble tea variety, and a gelato featuring Belgium's Lotus Biscoff cookie butter spread, too. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is taking inspiration from other well-known sweet treats hailing from overseas — in case you've always wanted some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Hershey's Kisses in your ice cream. Yes, those very combinations are now on the menu, all as part of Gelatissimo's new American-inspired Flavours of the USA gelato range. Just launching this week, the lineup includes three new flavours — so if you needed an excuse to treat yourself to multiple scoops, you just might've found one. First up, it's pretty easy to guess how Gelatissimo's Peanut Butter Cup Made With Reese's flavour will taste. It uses peanut butter gelato, plus some Hershey's cocoa powder, then adds a ripple of chocolate that features roasted peanuts and big chunks of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Not feeling quite so nutty? Chocolate Kisses Made With Hershey's is basically an excuse to eat chocolate, some more chocolate, and then even more chocolate. It's made with chocolate gelato — and the gelato itself is made with Hershey's kisses and Hersey's cocoa powder — which is then drizzled with more melted Hersey's Kisses. Lastly, Gelatissimo is pairing crushed candied pecans with bourbon caramel swirls in a flavour called, unsurprisingly, Bourbon Caramel and Pecans. While this is a US-inspired range, the boozy flavour comes via a collaboration with West Australian distillery Whipper Snapper, infusing its Upshot Whiskey into the gelato. Gelatissimo's new range just hit stores on Friday, October 9, with the three new flavours currently available nationwide. That said, they're only on offer for a limited time, although the chain hasn't specified an exact period — but you can nab them either by going into a shop or via delivery. Gelatissimo's Flavours of the USA range is available from all stores nationwide for a limited time.
Charisma forgives many sins. In film, especially, it can gloss over just about everything, from a dull storyline to glaring plot holes. Even terrible dialogue can be salvaged if the person delivering it has enough personality. And right now in Hollywood, there is no greater force of personality than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The man is a strategic reserve of charm, sweating out more charisma in a 20 minute gym session than most people possess in a lifetime. Alas, not even he can save Rampage. Based on the 1986 arcade game of the same name, Rampage is another entry into the Big Dumb Fun genre – except for the fact that it's critically lacking in Fun. Like the source material, the movie's story centres upon several animals being exposed to a genetic editing vapour that rapidly transforms them into giant, city-destroying monsters. Chief amongst these creatures is George, an albino gorilla rescued from poachers and raised by his protector, Davis Okoye (Johnson). It is during this duo's few quiet, tender moments that Rampage is at its strongest, giving the story heart and Johnson his only decent lines ("The poachers shot at us, and missed. I shot back…and didn't"). Mostly, though, Rampage is a movie about people shooting at massive monsters and those monsters fighting back. To be clear, blockbusters like this have their place. Kong: Skull Island, the original Pacific Rim and the most recent Godzilla film are three fine examples of the genre done right. They each embraced their absurd premise and treated it with the same care and consideration you'd see in a period drama, offering their audiences fleshed-out characters, coherent stories and dialogue that does more than simply tell us what's happening (or what's about to). In Rampage, on the other hand, nearly every piece of key character information is literally read off a tablet in a single scene, while the scientific and technical jargon is crammed into a few ludicrous sentences that no human would ever actually say. It's the laziest form of writing and embraces every cliché in the book, from TV news reports conveniently filling in plot gaps, to the absurd corporate villains spending most of their time simply explaining to each other what they're doing as if all of their years of prior planning somehow came together without an actual discussion. In the lead role, Johnson does his level best to keep things grounded, but finds himself consistently hampered by braindead dialogue that rarely rises above "dude this" or "bro that" (at one point he actually gets shot in the gut only to reappear moments later and pass it off by suggesting it "probably missed all of his vital organs". He then comfortably pilots a helicopter, flirts with the girl and sprints through collapsing skyscrapers). Naomie Harris, for her part, has one sincere bit of backstory that briefly elevates the plot into something compelling, while Jeffrey Dean Morgan (another charismatic powerhouse) can't be accused of holding back in his wildly over-the-top performance as the Texan cowboy turned secret government agent. Their combined scenes at least give Rampage some degree of credibility – although whatever good work they do is fast undone by Malin Åkerman and Jake Lacy as the inexplicably villainous villains high up in their penthouse office. Rampage is a movie about big things tearing down buildings, and that's fine. But unless you're made to actually care about the people inside those buildings, then the stakes are about the same as watching toddlers stomp on sand-castles: pretty soon you just want the tide to come in and wash it all away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coOKvrsmQiI
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this month's latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest through to old and recent favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from August's haul. BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH IN FULL NOW HEARTSTOPPER Whether they attend Truham Grammar School or the neighbouring Higgs Girls School, most of Heartstopper's teenagers have much to say, often via text. But perhaps the most apt line of the entire Netflix series so far is uttered by Isaac Henderson (first-timer Tobie Donovan), the quiet bibliophile among the show's main friendship group. "I read all these books where people fall in love and I still have absolutely no idea," Isaac advises in the web-to-page-to-screen hit's second season. As a webcomic, a graphic novel and also a TV series that proved an instant smash when it debuted in 2022, Alice Oseman's creation couldn't better embody this reflection. Heartstopper is Isaac's yearning and confusion turned into art, even as the series remains sweet and joyous in every episode. Isaac gets his own storyline in season two, exploring what that lament means to him as he unpacks his own identity, and it's among the show's weighty narrative threads. But everyone in Heartstopper, from central couple Charlie Spring (fellow debutant Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor, Little Joe) to their maybe-more-than-friends pals Tao Xu (newcomer William Gao) and Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney), plus classmates Tara Jones (Corinna Brown, Daphne) and Darcy Olsson (Kizzy Edgell), live his telling statement in their own ways. Tales about getting swept away by first love adore conveying the rush, buzz and head-over-heels effervescence evoked by the pivotal experience. Awkwardness often factors in, but rarely the reality that no one ever truly knows what they're doing when it comes to romance. A chronicle of coming of age and also coming out, Heartstopper makes the truth that every teen is just doing their best and following their heart one of the show's core guiding concepts. And mostly, usually with each other's help as they traverse the full onslaught of adolescent emotions, this supremely likeable, relatable crew of high schoolers knows that they don't, can't and won't ever have all the answers. Brought to the screen by Oseman as the series' creator and writer, plus director Euros Lyn (Dream Horse) behind the lens — together, they've respectively penned and helmed all 16 episodes, eight in season one and that amount again in season two — Heartstopper spent its debut offering watching Charlie and Nick gravitate into each other's orbits. When the pair were sat next to each other in form class at the beginning of a new term, a friendship and then more swelled. Season two finds them officially and happily boyfriends, and with Nick's mother Sarah (Olivia Colman, Secret Invasion) supportive about Nick's bisexuality. Telling the rest of the world when he chooses to is part of his latest journey, always with the protective Charlie by his side. Heartstopper streams via Netflix. Read our full review. TELEMARKETERS No one likes it when their phone rings from an unknown number, whether "no caller ID" or digits that you don't recognise flash up on your mobile's screen. Telemarketers isn't going to change that response. It won't dampen the collective ire that the world holds towards the pushy people on the other end of the line, either. HBO's thrilling three-part docuseries doesn't just reinforce what viewers already feel about the nuisance industry that thinks it can interrupt your day and life with a spiel that no one wants, and impact your bank balance in the process. In addition, it spins a true tale that demonstrates why a deep-seated dislike of telemarketing is so well-founded, and also why cold-calling operations can be so insidious. This true-crime story about the New Jersey-based Civic Development Group surpasses even the most call centre-despising audience member's low expectations of the field — and it's gripping, can't-look-away, has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed stuff. In fact, it's also an account of a tenacious duo revealing a billion-dollar fraud, and bringing this stunning whistleblower documentary to the masses. "Every other telemarketer who drives you crazy in the whole world is because of CDG," advises one of the series' interviewees. That might seem like a big claim, but co-directors Sam Lipman-Stern (Live From the Streets) and Adam Bhala Lough (The New Radical) step through its truth. The former knows the outfit's approach from experience, working there for seven years from the age of 14 after dropping out of high school, while the latter is the filmmaker cousin he wasn't aware of. Lipman-Stern is Telemarketers' on-screen guiding hand, too, but his ex-colleague Patrick J Pespas is its heart and soul. As seen early, Pespas is called a "telemarketing legend". Although he's happy snorting heroin on-camera in 2000s-era footage, he's switched on to CDG's shonkiness; more than that, he's determined to expose it even if it takes two decades. Everywhere that Lipman-Stern and Pespas look from there, this tale gets worse. It's no wonder that Uncut Gems and Good Time filmmakers Benny and Josh Safdie are among Telemarketers' executive producers, plus Eastbound & Down's Danny McBride, Jody Hill and David Gordon Green. Telemarketers streams via Binge. Read our full review. JUSTIFIED: CITY PRIMEVAL The man knows how to rock a hat: Timothy Olyphant (Full Circle), that is. He knows how to play a determined lawman with a piercing stare and an unassailable sense of honour, too, and television has been all the better for it for nearing two decades. Pop culture's revival culture has benefited as well — first with HBO's 2004–06 western masterpiece Deadwood returning as 2019's Deadwood: The Movie, and now with 2010–15's US Marshal drama Justified making a comeback as miniseries Justified: City Primeval. Olyphant was perfect in both the first time around, and proves the same the second. Indeed, Deadwood: The Movie's only problem was that it was just a made-for-TV film, not a another season; Justified: City Primeval's sole issue is that it spans only eight episodes, and that a next date with the Stetson-wearing Raylan Givens hasn't yet been locked in. This continuation of Justified's initial six seasons arrives eight years after the show ended for viewers, but also finds Raylan with a 15-year-old daughter. And it's with Willa (Vivian Olyphant, Timothy Olyphant's real-life offspring) that he's hitting the road when a couple of criminals reroute their plans. Now based in Miami, Florida rather than Justified's Harlan, Kentucky, Raylan is meant to be taking Willa to camp, only to be forced to detour to Detroit, Michigan to testify. It isn't a brief stop, after the Deputy US Marshal makes the wrong impression on Judge Alvin Guy (Keith David, Nope), then is personally requested to investigate an assassination attempt against the same jurist — teaming up with local detectives who are adamant about Detroit's particular ways, including Maureen Downey (Marin Ireland, The Boogeyman), Norbert Beryl (Norbert Leo Butz, The Girl From Plainville) and Wendell Robinson (Victor Williams, The Righteous Gemstones). You can take Raylan out of rural America and into the Motor City, as Justified: City Primeval does, but even with silver hair atop his calm glare he's still Raylan. So, he'll always stride around like a lone gunslinger who has seen it all, will confront anything, and is perennially valiant and resolute — and silently exasperated about humanity's worst impulses, too — as Justified: City Primeval welcomes. New location, passing years, the responsibilities of fatherhood, more and more lowlife crooks (including Boyd Holbrook, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny): they haven't changed this character, and audiences wouldn't have wanted that to happen. Justified: City Primeval streams via Disney+. Read our full review. KILLING IT Craig Robinson slays snakes. If Killing It was initially pitched with those four words and those four words alone, it still would've been easy to greenlight. When the latest comedy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-creator Dan Goor and executive producer Luke Del Tredici first arrived in 2022, it leaned in, too, with terminating serpents the whole point of the contest at the centre of the comedy's debut season. The place: Florida, home to the python-teeming Everglades. The year: 2016, in the lead up to the US election. The reason for vanquishing vipers: a $20,000 payday, which Craig — also the name of Robinson's character — needed to enact his vision of becoming a saw palmetto farmer. Killing It served up far more than just Robinson, a B99 guest and The Office star, polishing off reptiles, however, and not simply because Claudia O'Doherty (Our Flag Means Death) joined in as the hammer-swinging Jillian. As a satire of the type of society that has people resorting to seeking a better future by offing animals competitively, and a nation that celebrates the American dream as the pinnacle of existence without recognising how unachievable that notion is, this series has always sunk its fangs in. Getting Killing It's characters bludgeoning wildlife was a savvy signifier of a horribly broken system in season one. In season two, slaughtering serpents is old news, but venomous foes definitely aren't. They're the uncaring bureaucracy, the shameless corporations, the shaking-down gangs, the car thieves, the cruel insurance bodies, the nation's entire health scheme, the manipulative bosses, the rude customers and the cash-splashing rich. They're absolutely everyone with a solely in-it-for-themselves perspective, which is almost everyone. When Killing It's latest eight-episode go-around kicks off, its central pair have followed through on the saw palmetto plan — albeit at a cost, with Craig's low-level criminal brother Isaiah (Rell Battle, Superior Donuts) now on the lam and posing as a doctor in Phoenix. Their farm is up and running, and perennial-optimist Jillian isn't is the only one who's hopeful. The two business partners even have a buyer for their berries — and, while their margins are thin, they're getting by. Alas, whether they're dealing with a possible giant snail problem, being blackmailed into taking on new colleagues or becoming the subject of a hostile takeover, Craig and Jillian swiftly realise that snakes still lurk everywhere. Killing It streams via Stan. Read our full review. IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA No one should start watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's 16th season with its eighth and last episode (last for this season, that is; the already record-breaking TV comedy, which became the longest-running live-action American sitcom ever with its 15th season, has been renewed for a 17th and 18th go-around). Still, the final instalment from this current batch, called 'Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day', is one the show's best-ever chapters. As a character study of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's most arrogant and abrasive member of its main quintet, aka Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton, Blackberry) — and yes, given his company, that's some feat — it's phenomenal in stepping through how his twisted mind works. A whopping 170 episodes in, it's also a prime example of the series' constant eagerness to push and stretch itself. Season 16 also features It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia instalments that are so classic that they could've aired years ago, not that the program ever repeats itself, but this run also keeps challenging how It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia tells its tale, unpacks Dennis and company, and satirises Pennsylvania's worst Irish bar owners. Howerton remains mesmerising as one of the show's Reynolds twins throughout season 16; however, so does Kaitlin Olson (Hacks) as his sister Dee. This far in, Charlie Day (Bupkis), Rob McElhenney (Mythic Quest) and Danny DeVito (Haunted Mansion) could all play Charlie Kelly, Mac and Frank Reynolds in their sleep, too — but there's no coasting here, only going deeper into what makes the Paddy's Pub crew who they are. Their responses to any given outlandish situation, aka It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's bread and butter, might seem predictable on the surface. Even what proves true, though, nothing is ever straightforward. Amid the scheming, plotting, conning, fighting, revenge plans and more, this bunch constantly unpack and parody America at its most problematic, and western attitudes overall as well. They're as sharp and ridiculous and hilarious now as they were in 2005. In their sights this time: inflation, gun violence, reality TV, chess, celebrity endorsements (complete with a spectacular couple of guest stars), child-friendly food and amusement joints, bowling and, of course, mental health. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia streams via Disney+. VESPER Some films make their audience feel like they could reach out and touch their on-screen worlds, and French-Lithuanian-Belgian movie Vesper is one such picture. Here, that sensation springs from a key element: first-rate world-building efforts on writer/director duo Kristina Buožytė and Bruno Samper's (ABCs of Death 2) parts. This isn't a sci-fi blockbuster with a massive budget and seemingly thousands upon thousands of companies working on special effects. Rather, Vesper is far more modest in scale, as was its big-screen run, including film-festival berths and no general release Down Under. But without megabucks behind it, Vesper spins a dystopian tale that seems tangible — that, as you watch, feels like you could walk straight into, too — as it focuses on its titular teenager (Raffiella Chapman, His Dark Materials). Her quest: surviving after an ecological crisis while looking after her bedridden father Darius (Richard Brake, Barbarian). In this vision of what might come, the planet's plants and animals have become the victims of viruses that ravaged the globe, leaving insects and bacteria as humanity's main diet. Buožytė and Samper, scripting with Brian Clark (Compulsion), work in English with Vesper. That said, on their latest sci-fi feature after Vanishing Waves, they also frequently work in the space between what's uttered aloud. The narrative sticks with Vesper as she keeps attempting to scrounge up food and electricity, usually with Darius' consciousness floating in a drone by her side — a machine that looks like an old-school TV, but with a face drawn on. The film also charts its namesake's determination to avoid her nefarious uncle Jonas (Eddie Marsan, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre), who trades in the blood of children to obtain seeds, which are used as currency and highly protected by towering bases called citadels. And, as it muses on what it truly means to endure and persist, and why, doing so amid grey-toned imagery, a fierce lead performance, meticulous attention to visual detail and expressive silences, it observes what occurs when Vesper finds Camellia (Rosy McEwen, The Alienist) after a crash, then has her perception of an already-tough life challenged. Vesper streams via Paramount+ and Prime Video. NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Corpses and killings don't normally herald joy on-screen, even in pop culture's current murder-mystery comedy wave, but Only Murders in the Building isn't just another amusing whodunnit. There's a particular warmth to this series. In each of its three seasons to-date, the New York-set show has unleashed amateur gumshoes upon a shock death, with its key trio sifting through clues and podcasting the details. Along the way, it has also kept telling a winning story about second chances and finding the folks who understand you. Only Murders in the Building's ten-episode third season relays that tale again, expanding its portraits of artist Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die), theatre director Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and veteran actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated) — and of their friendship. Once more, it embraces the power of chemistry, both within its narrative and for audiences. That isn't new; when the show debuted in 2021, it felt like the murder-mystery comedy genre's version of a cosy embrace because its three leads were so perfectly cast and their odd-throuple characters so full of sparks. While Mabel, Oliver and Charles wouldn't be a trio if it wasn't for a building evacuation, a murder and a love of true-crime podcasts, their connection isn't merely fuelled by chatting about the murders in their building, with crossing each other's paths changing their respective lives. There's a death in season three's initial episode — it first occurred in season two's dying moments, to be precise — and, of course, ample sleuthing and talking about it follows. The victim: Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), a silver-screen star best-known for playing a zoologist who fights crime by turning into a snake in the blockbuster CoBro franchise. (Yes, if those movies weren't just Only Murders in the Building's Ant-Man gag, existed IRL and starred Rudd, they'd be a hit.) But Only Murders in the Building's latest run also opens with Mabel, Oliver and Charles in places that they wouldn't be if they were solo. Largely, that applies emotionally: Mabel is more grounded and open, and now thinking about the future more than the past; Oliver has faced his career fears, resurrecting his showbiz bug with a new show; and Charles is less misanthropic and more willing to take new chances. They're also frequently in a different location physically thanks to Oliver's comeback production Death Rattle (which is where Meryl Streep fits in). No, the series isn't now called Only Murders in the Building and on Broadway. Only Murders in the Building streams via Star on Disney+. Read our full review. THE LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART In The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, blooms are rarely out of sight and petals never evade attention. Adapted from Holly Ringland's 2018 novel, the seven-part Australian miniseries is set on a farm that cultivates native flora. It dubs the women who tend to them, an ensemble from various backgrounds largely seeking refuge from abusive pasts, "flowers" as well. Whether stem by stem or in bunches, its characters use florets as their own secret language. And yet, as much as bouquets linger, getting all things floral on the mind, star Sigourney Weaver burns rather than blossoms. Fire is another of the show's strong recurring motifs, so it's still fitting that its biggest name is as all-consuming as a blaze. She needs to be that scorching: this is a story about endeavouring to survive while weathering woes that ignite everything in their path. Weaver also draws upon almost five decades of thriving before the camera, often playing steely, smart and sometimes-raging women. Her on-screen career began sparking with Alien, the film that made her an instant icon. Since then, everyone has heard her performances scream — and, in The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, she's again dazzling. Flowers frequently surround Weaver's June Hart far and wide. With a carefully selected cutting, the shotgun-toting matriarch of Thornfield Flower Farm can say all she needs to. That's what the eponymous Alice (Ayla Browne, Nine Perfect Strangers) quickly learns about her grandmother when she arrives at the property following a tragedy, becoming one of the farm's flowers after losing her pregnant mother Agnes (Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Hotel Mumbai) and violent father Clem (Charlie Vickers, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power). The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a tale about traumas, secrets and lies that lurk as deeply as the earth — about the choices and cycles that take root in such fraught soil, too. When nine-year-old Alice relocates fresh from hospital, the determined June, her doting partner Twig (Leah Purcell, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson) and their adopted daughter Candy Blue (Frankie Adams, The Expanse) aim to shower the girl with sunlight to blaze away her horrors. You can't just bury problems, however, then hope that something vivid and colourful will grow over the top. Dedicating its first half to Alice's childhood and its second to 14 years later, when she's in her early twenties (Alycia Debnam-Carey, Fear the Walking Dead), The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart understands this immutable fact in its core. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart streams via Prime Video. Read our full review. RESERVATION DOGS There's only one thing wrong with the third season of Reservation Dogs: this batch of episodes is the show's last. There's a skill in knowing when something's time has come, but this teen-centric comedy about restless Indigenous North American adolescents is so rich in stories, perspectives and minutiae — and so resonant as well — that it feels like more and more could (and should) just keep following. Ending Reservation Dogs when this ten-episode run wraps up is also an example of the show taking its own message to heart, however. As co-created, executive produced and written by Sterlin Harjo (Mekko) and Taika Waititi (Thor: Love and Thunder) — the former its guiding force — Reservation Dogs knows that little lasts. It hangs out with its characters as they learn about life's transience at every moment, whether they're chasing their dreams of leaving the reservation that they've always called home or they're grappling with loss. So, of course the series is moving on. In the process, its farewell season is proving even more moving and thoughtful than ever, even after its debut year delivered one of the best new TV shows of 2021 and its second spin served up one of the best returning shows of 2022. The last time that viewers saw the Rez Dogs — the OG quartet of Bear (D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Beans), Elora (Devery Jacobs, Rutherford Falls), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) and Cheese (Lane Factor, The Fabelmans), plus Jackie (Elva Guerra, Dark Winds), the somewhat-reluctant newcomer to the group — they had finally made the trip to California that they'd been working towards their entire lives. Season three picks up with the group still far away from home, and still journeying even when they do return. Elora considers both her past and her future. Bear goes wandering on his own, including through several revelatory encounters. Harjo still isn't afraid to veer away from his leads along the way, whether sliding into history to explore myths, traditions or horrors inflicted upon Indigenous children. Reservation Dogs finds a story, be it big or small, for everyone within its frames. Bear, Elora, Willie Jack and Cheese especially will be deeply missed, but Woon-A-Tai, Jacobs, Alexis and Factor shouldn't ever be far from screens after this exceptional breakthrough. Reservation Dogs streams via Binge. PHYSICAL Rose Byrne made her acting debut in the 90s, with Echo Point, Wildside, the OG Heartbreak High and Two Hands among her earliest credits. Physical sends the Australian star a decade further back, and the results have kept proving insightful and astute across three seasons. Created by Annie Weisman after the writer and producer previously pondered domesticity in Desperate Housewives and Suburgatory, the series bends and stretches with Byrne (Insidious: The Red Door) as Sheila Rubin, a San Diego housewife when the first episode dropped in 2021 — and an aerobics star not long afterwards. Slipping into a leotard, then getting the blood pumping, isn't just exercise for Physical's protagonist. The late, great Olivia Newton-John mightn't have sung "let's work through our troubles while working up a sweat" (unsurprisingly; it isn't catchy), but that's the thrust here. Among those struggles: Sheila's opinion of herself, including of her body; her relationship with food as a result; the self-critical voice in her head; and her marriage to Danny (Rory Scovel, Babylon) and its impact on her self-esteem. Physical takes the darkly comedic approach to Sheila's ups and downs, including the self-loathing, the lack of fulfilment, the catharsis that aerobics brings and the professional path that it sets her on. In the show's ten-episode third and final season — three being the magic number, just like with Reservation Dogs — its central figure is doing well but wants more, including national exposure and fame. Sheila has also learned to be kinder to herself, at least as herself. When Hollywood actor Kelly Kilmartin (Zooey Deschanel, Dreamin' Wild) encroaches into her territory, she's the new scolding tone in Sheila's brain. Physical has always boasted a stellar cast that can flip between laughs and drama as swiftly as the show does, which is often, and Deschanel is no exception as a newcomer in this swansong run. That said, Byrne's comic chops keep proving a dream (see also: this year's Platonic), while Dierdre Friel (Second Act) is a constant scene-stealer as Sheila's friend and business partner Greta. Physical packs an emotional punch, too, as it embraces Sheila's imperfect journey and her imperfections in general. Physical streams via Apple TV+. AHSOKA In this or any other galaxy, whether here, near or far, far away and a long time ago, Star Wars streaming shows can't all be Andor. In cinemas, the franchise's movies can't all be Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, either. So, in both formats, they aren't always the weightiest and most grounded instalments that the series has ever delivered, all while demonstrating about as much interest in nostalgia as Jar Jar Binks has in not being annoying. The latest TV effort in the George Lucas-started space-opera saga, Ahsoka doesn't want to follow exactly in the last new Star Wars small-screen entry's footsteps, however, even if it's another sidestep tale about battling evil that champions folks who are rarely at the fore. Instead, it has intertwined aims: serving up a female-led chapter and drawing upon the franchise's animated realm. So, as it tells of eponymous ex-Jedi padawan Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson, Clerks III), it links to streaming's three seasons of The Mandalorian and 2021–22's The Book of Boba Fett, and also springs from animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the TV series it spawned, plus fellow animated shows Star Wars Rebels and Tales of the Jedi. Ahsoka's inter-franchise Star Wars links are strong, then, but it isn't just for fans who've watched every frame that the saga has ever sent hurtling across screens. Cue diving deeper beyond the obvious Star Wars fodder while still engaging more-casual franchise viewers. Cue another tale of mentors and students, too, with Ahsoka once a pupil to Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi) before he went to the dark side. Then, she passed on knowledge herself to rebellious, flame-haired Mandalorian Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Guns Akimbo). Thanks to the man who became Darth Vader, Ahsoka is wary about the Jedi order and cautious in general. Via her prior time with Sabine, she knows the difficulties of being a guide to a headstrong protégée. While the series gives its central figure nefarious foes to battle, it also has her grappling with her past traumas, mistakes and regrets. She's guarded there, too; when rebel crew member and now-New Republic general Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)) suggests that the way forward might involve enlisting Sabine's help, Ahsoka is uncertain. But only the youngest of the main trio can unlock a pivotal orb that holds a map that could lead to exiled Imperial officer Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen, The Kingdom) and Ahsoka's fellow one-time padawan Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi, The Inspection). Ahsoka streams via Disney+. Read our full review. A STONE-COLD CLASSIC FILM TO WATCH (OR REWATCH) IMMEDIATELY OLDBOY Spike Lee (Da 5 Bloods) remaking your movie is a massive compliment, but Park Chan-wook's magnificent Oldboy didn't ever need that tick of approval. The former's US-set and English-language version of the latter's stone-cold Korean classic is great as its own film — albeit maligned when it released ten years ago, so much so that it skipped a cinema date Down Under as a result — but the latter's original is a work of brutal, powerful and astonishing art for the ages. That's Park's wheelhouse, of course. When it arrived in 2003, his Oldboy was the middle chapter in the acclaimed auteur's Vengeance Trilogy, after all, following 2002's Sympathy for Mr Vengeance and preceded by 2005's Lady Vengeance. Joint Security Area, Thirst, Stoker, The Handmaiden, TV's The Little Drummer Girl, 2022's very-best film Decision to Leave: Park's resume is filled with remarkable efforts; however, that he'll always be synonymous with Oldboy, as well as its hammer and live octopus, isn't because nothing else on his filmography beats it. Every Park movie is its own gem in its own way — again, Decision to Leave was the finest film of 2022 — but this one is 100-percent designed to hit hard. The story: it's 1988, Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik, Big Bet) gets drunk and misses his daughter's fourth birthday, then needs a pal to collect him from the police station. But the sloshed businessman doesn't make it home. Instead, he's forced to spend 15 long years in a hotel room that he can't leave, all while being imprisoned by kidnappers that are committed to keeping him alive, too. Of course a quest for revenge springs from there. Adapted loosely from a Japanese manga of the same name, Oldboy's narrative throws up surprise after surprise before, during and after its protagonist's captivity, though. Every element of the plot makes a statement. Every decision that Park makes as a filmmaker does, too. This is a raw, dark exploration at human nature, as helmed with incisiveness, anchored by a stunner of a lead performance and featuring a corridor-set action scene to end all action scenes — and it's always worth watching, be it on a screen big or small, for the first time or as a revisit. Right now, a date with Oldboy also means celebrating its 20th anniversary. Oldboy streams via Shudder and AMC+. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January, February, March, April, May, June and July this year. You can also check out our running list of standout must-stream shows from this year as well — and our best 15 new shows of 2023's first six months, top 15 returning shows over the same period and best 15 straight-to-streaming movies from January–June 2023, too.
Everything written about the film Catfish tells you that the less you know about it the better. From what we can make out it's a documentary about a charming New York photographer-type, Nev Schulman, who meets a pretty girl on Facebook after her sister does a painting of one of his photos. We follow him as his friends start documenting the relationship and travel with him interstate to meet her. And then there is a twist. While Catfish touts itself as one of a wave of films trying to keep up with the kids by focusing on Facebook and the way it has changed how we conduct relationships, everyone still enjoys a good old fashioned twist, and it's this more than anything else that makes you really want to see it. Just try your hardest to stay away from Google. As it happens, we have 30 double passes to sneak preview screenings of Catfish this weekend to give away. The film will be officially released here on Australia Day, so if you can't stand the curiosity, taking us up on this might ease the tension a little. To win one of 30 double passes, simply subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. Entries close Thursday, January 20 at 5pm. https://youtube.com/watch?v=BuE98oeL-e0
Take a number of similar events, link them together, then get everyone turning hitting them all up into an event itself. To paraphrase the late, great Carl Weathers in Arrested Development: baby, you've then got a crawl or tour going. Pub and bar crawls do it, as do wine walks. Now, so is Australia's first Art Grand Tour, which is popping up to celebrate a heap of exhibitions and art events taking place in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide across the first half of 2024. This is the first time that the Biennale of Sydney, Adelaide Biennale of Australian Art and PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography in Melbourne, all three of which are free to attend, have teamed up in such a way. The idea is encourage not only folks in each event's own city to attend, but to spark multi-stop getaways based on seeing the trio. [caption id="attachment_927824" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Felicity Jenkins[/caption] A range of fellow exhibitions and events have also joined in, so the full tour includes Melbourne Art Fair, NGV Triennial and MPavilion 10 by Tadao Ando in Melbourne; Adelaide Festival in South Australia; and the Louise Bourgeois exhibition at Art Gallery New South Wales, plus projections on the Sydney Opera House. Think of it as your go-to itinerary for exploring the best art that's on show across Australia's southeast, whether you want to check out famous towering spider sculptures, architectural installations or a room-sized ode to plants. The three key events are reason enough to head to Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide anyway — or to play tourist in your own town if you live there. The Biennale of Sydney is celebrating its 50th-anniversary year, embracing the theme "ten thousand suns" and featuring pieces by 88 artists and collectives from 47 countries. And, it's opening White Bay Power Station to the public for the first time in over a century as part of the event, which runs from Saturday, March 9–Monday, June 10. In SA, the 18th Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art is focusing on the human condition, complete with 24 artists and poets featured. You can head along from Friday, March 1–Sunday, June 2. PHOTO 2024 marks its third edition from Friday, March 1–Sunday, March 24, with "the future is shaped by those who can see it" the theme tying together 100 free installations and exhibitions, including work by 150-plus artists. [caption id="attachment_940260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view: Troy-Anthony Baylis: Nomenclatures by Troy-Anthony Baylis, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed.[/caption] Announcing the Grand Art Tour, Biennale of Sydney Chief Executive Officer Barbara Moore dubbed it "an exciting celebration of the power of art to connect, share and bring joy". Art Gallery of South Australia's Director Rhana Devenport described it as "an extraordinary art adventure" and "a rare opportunity to experience these exemplary gatherings of art that push boundaries, and alter your perceptions, and create new memories". [caption id="attachment_940262" align="alignnone" width="1920"] J Forsyth[/caption] For PHOTO Australia Founder/Artistic Director Elias Redstone, it's set to "inspire audiences with immersive art experiences that celebrate human connection as society faces uncertain futures". While the Art Grand Tour has tour right there in its name, there's nothing formal about it — so there's no ticketing packages and the like. Instead, it's a self-guided affair, so make your own schedule and travel plans accordingly. [caption id="attachment_938006" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marie-Luise Skibbe[/caption] Art Grand Tour 2024 Events: Sydney Until Sunday, April 28 — Louise Bourgeois: Has the Day Invaded the Night or Has the Night Invaded the Day?, Art Gallery of New South Wales Saturday, March 9–Monday, June 10 — Biennale of Sydney, various venues Ongoing — Badu Gili: Celestial, Sydney Opera House Bennelong Sails Adelaide Friday, March 1–Sunday, June 2 — Adelaide Biennale of Australian Art, Art Gallery of South Australia Friday, March 1–Sunday, March 17 — Adelaide Festival, various venues Melbourne Until Tuesday, April 7 — NGV Triennial, NGV International Until Monday, March 29 — MPavilion 10 by Tadao Ando, Queen Victoria Gardens Thursday, February 22–Sunday, February 25 — Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Friday, March 1–Sunday, March 24 — PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography, various venues [caption id="attachment_936840" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lillie Thompson[/caption] Australia's first Art Grand Tour encompasses events in Sydney and Adelaide until June, Melbourne until March. Head to the tour's website for more information. Top image: PHOTO 2022, Will Hamilton-Coates.
Warning people not to wear mascara in anticipation of the tears you're going to provoke is a gutsy move. You risk putting undemonstrative types on their guard and liberal criers in front of an insuperable mountain of anticipation. Still, some situations are so inescapably, heavily tragic as to warrant the disclaimer. And No More Shall We Part is one of them. It's about love, and death, what it takes to close the curtain on the days ahead you've dreamed of and what it means to let someone go. Don (Russell Kiefel) and Pam (Linda Cropper — that's Geraldine Proudman, for the Offspring lovers) have built their whole lives together, filled a home with family, rediscovered their private lives when their kids have left and now, in their late 50s and early 60s, find themselves facing new inevitabilities as Pam's cancer worsens. There's not much more to say of their path through assisted suicide; this is a journey best undertaken blindly, with only the people on stage to guide you over the rocks ahead. The actors each shine in moments — she wrapping up her frailty with strength, he looking at her with such intensity it could start a fire — and what they give each night must drain them entirely. It's beautifully staged in the intimate theatre, which takes you past pastel walls and under doorways into the couple's home and fixes you to Pam's bedside. Stories as emotive as And No More Shall We Part are highly personal, so whether you think it succeeds will be personal, too. The extent to which this particular scenario, with this particular writing and these particular actors affects you is nearly unpredictable. On this night, some people were in floods of tears from the start, some people choked up in a moment that floored them, and some people appeared either unmoved or very stoic. For me, the everyman and woman characters and interjection-heavy dialogue that sometimes veered into the distractingly stilted were obstacles to fully realising the latent power of the subject. However, it still stands as an accessible and amazing vehicle for this fraught topic to be brought out into the light of public discourse, which may have been what really earned this play its 2010 AWGIE Award. And No More Shall We Part picks up that great prerogative of art to open up audiences to different perspectives on big issues through small, simple acts of empathy. You'll leave the theatre thinking and talking about it, whether your mascara's run or not.
Market City's newly minted 1909 Dining Precinct has a fiery new addition: an upscale Korean BBQ offering named Kogi. Joining a fast-growing contingent of eateries in the new third floor food court — that already houses the noodle house from Mr Meng of If You Are The One and Japan's famed Yayoi — the 80-seat restaurant is plating up a contemporary Korean nosh punctuated by top quality local produce from today, Monday, April 16. Seoul-trained chef Hang Jun Chung has designed a menu of raw, fresh and marinated proteins and vegetables, headlined by 15 primo cuts of pork and wagyu beef. This one's a hands-on food experience, with diners invited to cook directly over charcoal — right there at the table. Expect to find yourself salivating over the likes of marinated beef spare ribs (galbi) while it cooks on the grill alongside authentic side dishes. Bibimbap will be on the menu too. With General Manager David Bae's father credited with opening Australia's first Korean barbecue restaurant in 1992, it's safe to say Kogi's got sturdy roots in the cuisine. It's the third venue to open in the food hub, with more to follow in the coming months. These include the first Aussie outpost of Macau's acclaimed hot pot chain Dolar Shop, modern sushi train Fugetsu, and Chinese restaurant Beijing Impression. Kogi is now open at the 1909 Dining Precinct at level 3, Market City, 9-13 Hay Street, Haymarket. For more info, visit marketcity.com.au.
There is something truly mesmerising about watching dance live. The way the performers twist and turn and push their bodies to the limits while making every move look effortless, the choreographers remarkable ability to convey emotion and story, and the way that costumes, lighting and music all come together to heighten a performance is nothing short of awe-inspiring. So then, why don't we go out and see more of it? According to the Live Performance Australia Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2014, dance and ballet experienced a significant decrease in both gross revenue (16%) and attendance (21.3%) from 2013 to 2014. While there are certainly many issues at play here, those stats aren't great — and not at all reflective of the immense dance talent we have both locally and touring from overseas. Thankfully, major arts festivals such as Sydney Festival continue to celebrate the dynamic art form. This coming festival is once again upping the ante with world-class art spanning countless genres and forms. It will bring over 700 exceptional artists and performers to Sydney — and with over 100 events in this year's program, so there's no shortage of something spectacular to see. And coming all the way from Belgium is the contemporary dance company, Rosas. A magnificent highlight of this year's dance program, the company — led by choreographer and performer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker — will be performing two works at the festival: Fase, Four Movements to the Music of Steve Reich and Vortex Temporum. Fase was first choreographed and performed in 1982 by De Keersmaeker, and will be performed by her again at 2016's Sydney Festival. The second performance, Vortex Temporum, is a collaboration between Rosas and music ensemble, Ictus. But before we give too much away, here's a few things you need to know about De Keersmaeker and Rosas — and what you can expect them to bring to January's Sydney Festival. DE KEERSMAEKER'S ROSAS After deciding to focus on dance, music and theatre in her last year of high school, De Keersmaeker went on to study performing arts at the Mudra School in Brussels and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She then went on to create two works, Asch and Fase — which have since been performed by the company— before founding Rosas in 1983 during the creation of Rosas Danst Rosas. One of the greatest things about Rosas' dance performances is that they manage to be both innovative and experimental without being intimidating or exclusive. De Keersmaeker does this through her selection in music, using contemporary musical sources rather than just sticking with the classics. For example, this year's debut performance of the dance company's Golden Hours (As you like it) incorporated both Shakespeare's comedy and Brian Eno's Another Green World. The relationship between dance and music is one that is most frequently explored in Rosas choreography, as is her keen focus on naturally occurring repetition and patterns found in geometry, numerical patterns, and the natural world. This is a feature of Rosas Danst Rosas, one of her earliest works that has gone on to be highly influential. So influential in fact that De Keersmaeker accused Beyoncé of plagiarism in 2011 for the choreography of her video Countdown due to its similarities to Rosas Danst Rosas and other work Achterland. Well, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery — and it's Queen Bey who's stealing your moves — you're clearly doing something very right. FASE, FOUR MOVEMENTS TO THE MUSIC OF STEVE REICH Considered a seminal piece in the evolution of contemporary dance, Fase has been engrossing audiences for over 30 years. As the name suggests, the performance is broken down into four sections: three duets and one solo. Each section — Piano Phase, Come Out, Violin Phase and Clapping Music — is set to a different minimalist piece by American composer, Steve Reich, and is matched so perfectly to the choreography that movement and sound combine with mechanical precision. Fase's strength lies in its embodiment of contrasts — from delicacy to chaos and back again. To this day, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker still performs this piece all over the world. Imagine creating something so profound so early in your career, and still performing it decades later? It's no wonder that this is perhaps De Keersmaeker's most performed piece. Fase will be performed at the Sydney Opera House with Rosas dancer Tale Dolven over three nights from January 9-11. You can buy tickets here. VORTEX TEMPORUM Created in 2013, Vortex Temporum explores Gérard Grisey's musical masterpiece in a way that combines dance and instrumentation on a whole new level. Seven dancers and six musicians take the stage, and proceed to entwine, as a designated dancer and their movements represent each instrument's sound. Both dancers and musicians move through the space as a vortex — even the piano is on wheels. The contemporary music ensemble Ictus have collaborated with Rosas in previous works Drumming (1998) and Rain (2001). The performance unfolds slowly as dancer and musician become more tangled. It really is quite a sight to behold. Vortex Temporum will be performed at Carriageworks over four nights from January 15-18. You can buy tickets here. For more information on performances and to view the full program, visit the Sydney Festival website.
UPDATE, November 26, 2020: Diego Maradona is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Football god? Addict, scoundrel and swindler? Diego Armando Maradona has been called all of the above. From champion to crook and superstar to scum, he's been labelled better and worse, with his status as a walking contradiction rarely lost on anyone in his orbit. The famed Argentinian soccer player himself recognises it. During his playing heyday in the 80s and 90s, he was known to tell people that he was Maradona on the field but Diego away from the spotlight. In Asif Kapadia's probing documentary about the sportsman, Maradona's career is further summarised by another juxtaposition: "a bit of cheating and a lot of genius". While that sentiment applies broadly, the line refers specifically to his "hand of god" moment in the 1986 World Cup. During a quarter-final against England, he scored a pivotal goal by illegally using said appendage. Argentina won the game and went on to claim the entire tournament, all with Maradona as team captain. He knew what he'd done, as he admitted years later and again explains in Diego Maradona. Anyone under the misapprehension that sports players always stick to the rules — and never do whatever they can, testing the limits to see what they're able to get away with — might well be shocked. But that's Maradona, especially when he was the world's most acclaimed and expensive player, an international headline staple, and a hero not only on home soil, but in Naples where he ruled the turf for seven seasons. He describes his chosen sport as "a game of deceit", after all. In setting his sights on the polarising footballer, Oscar-winner Kapadia does what he's always done so expertly in his other celebrity-centric documentaries. In Senna and Amy, the British filmmaker trawled through a treasure trove of archival material to tell his subject's stories, knowing that their own words — and their own actions at the height of their respective success — will say more than anything else can. The same overall approach applies to Diego Maradona, but three crucial differences distinguish the director's latest picture. Maradona is still alive, firstly. His voice, not just from then but now, features prominently in the film as a result. Lastly and most importantly, his isn't a gone-too-soon tale of tragedy. If they were still here today, Ayrton Senna and Amy Winehouse's own contrasts might've become more evident, however their deaths gave their lives a recognisable narrative. Still kicking, even if he's long, long past his prime goal-scoring days, Maradona can't follow the same distinct trajectory. Faced with this predicament, Diego Maradona leans into the inescapable truth. It doesn't seek to celebrate, condemn, lionise or lament, but to present Maradona as he's been perceived by the world — both as one of the greatest soccer players of all time (if not the greatest player of all time), and as a womaniser, drug abuser and crony of the Italian mafia. Although the film focuses primarily on the decade surrounding his SSC Napoli stint, he's also seen as a stocky kid who grew up in absolute poverty, then a multi-millionaire living the life of luxury. He's the breadwinner from his teenage years onwards, and a man quick to squander a fortune. Colleagues, coaches, trainers and other industry folk lavish praise on Maradona's immense speed, skill and football smarts, then call out his arrogance, selfishness and swagger. He adores his family, but happily turns his back when scandal wafts through the air. In both his personal and professional lives, the list goes on; in fact, the doco can't cover it all. If his story was fiction, the endless incongruities would seem like overkill. If it was a soccer match, a commentator would dub it a game of two halves. As Senna and Amy have so grippingly demonstrated, there's something equally fascinating and relatable about famous figures whose plights have ended sorrowfully — stars who've soared and then crashed in the most final way, all while chasing their dreams. The same applies to someone as contradictory as Maradona, who embodies humanity's competing, fighting urges in one incredibly well-known package. Whether you're a diehard soccer fan, you flinch at the thought of calling the world game 'football' or you couldn't care less about sport at all, it's this truth that holds viewers' attention in Diego Maradona. As the movie delves into the eponymous Argentinian's life for two hours, it lays bare Maradona's labyrinthian nature. And, while his highs and lows have reached far beyond the levels that most will ever experience, who doesn't feel like they're multiple things all at once? Mirroring the grainy footage at his disposal, Kapadia doesn't smooth out Maradona's edges. The footballer is never a sympathetic hero in this entertaining and insightful film, nor a clear-cut villain. If maintaining that balance sounds like a significant feat given all that's known about Maradona and all there is to his tale, it's one that the director handles with his usual storytelling and technical prowess. Corralling the same crew that worked on his past two docos (particularly editor Chris King and composer Antonio Pinto), he weaves his audio and visuals together with silkiness reminiscent of Maradona's own on-field best. With revealing interview snippets heard rather than seen, and the picture steadfastly maintaining its gaze on its main man through both media clips and home videos, Kapadia crafts a jam-packed yet nuanced and thoughtful portrait. Yes, that's a juxtaposition again. Even decades after his career triumphs and subsequent fall from god-like standing, Maradona will never shake them, as Diego Maradona unpacks with aplomb. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjfeSdHP2ZQ
For years, you've probably sat at pubs or parties, listened to your pals tell boozy stories and found yourself laughing heartily. In fact, you've likely spun a few tales in a liquored-up state yourself — because we've all been there. And, since 2008, you've might've chuckled along to the US TV show based on that very idea, too. Indeed, it's easy to understand exactly how Drunk History came about, because the entire concept is just so relatable. While, in America, the show's run has just come to an end, Australian television is now hopping on the Drunk History bandwagon. It shouldn't escape anyone's attention that, at a time when we're all spending less time hanging out in bars talking with our mates for hours and hours over several rounds of drinks, Aussie TV has decided to deliver the next best thing. Called Drunk History Australia, the local version spans a six-episode first season, with each instalment tackling a couple of chapters of Aussie history. If you've ever wanted to watch James Mathison and Osher Günsberg reenact Burke and Wills' expedition, listen to Matt Okine explore the history of 'Waltzing Matilda', or hear Becky Lucas tell the tale of the country's first female detective — all with beverages involved — well, here's your chance. Also getting the Drunk History Australia treatment are Don Bradman, Dame Nellie Melba, Dawn Fraser and Gough Whitlam, in case you want to relive your primary school history lessons in a far boozier manner. And, the show also touches upon cannibal convicts, a war with emus and the first female bushranger, among other topics. The cast is similarly lengthy, featuring everyone from Anne Edmonds, Nikki Osborne, Em Rusciano and Tex Perkins to Stephen Curry, Joel Creasey, Steph Tisdell and Brendan Fevola. Drunk History Australia will start screening on Network 10 at 9.30pm on Monday, September 14; however, if you're keen to stream the whole thing right now, it's also already available via 10Play. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4iMnOEGI7c Drunk History Australia is now available to stream via 10Play, and will start airing on Network 10 at 9.30pm on Monday, September 14.
When Kendrick Lamar was announced as Spilt Milk's 2025 headliner, festivalgoers had all the right words to say courtesy of the man himself. "DAMN" and "LOVE" also apply to his other Australian gigs this summer. Not content with taking to the stage Down Under in Ballarat, Perth, Canberra and on the Gold Coast, the acclaimed hip hop artist has also locked in solo stadium shows on his next Australian trip, as part of his Grand National tour. After making its way around North America and Europe, Lamar's latest string of live dates is heading to Melbourne and Sydney. In the latter, he's playing Allianz Stadium on Wednesday, December 10–Thursday, December 11, 2025. [caption id="attachment_1008775" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gregory Shamus/Getty Images[/caption] December clearly suits Lamar for a jaunt Down Under — that's when the Pulitzer Music Prize-winning musician also made the trip in 2022. Lamar is one of the most-critically acclaimed and successful hip hop artists of our generation. He currently has 22 Grammys to his name, plus an Academy Award nomination for one of his contributions to the Black Panther soundtrack. He won the 2017 Triple J Hottest 100 and, when he nabbed his Pulitzer in 2018, he also became the first ever artist to take out the prestigious award for contemporary music. GNX, his most-recent studio album, dropped in November 2024 — with his extensive catalogue also spanning 2011's Section.80, 2012's good kid, m.A.A.d city, 2015's To Pimp A Butterfly, 2017's DAMN and 2022's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Updated Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
This article is part of our series on the 17 most unique things to have come out of Japan. Check out the other 16. If you’re a committed singer-in-the-shower, here's one way to relax your inhibitions during a karaoke session. At Tokyo's Lovenet, there’s a karaoke room that comes with a hot tub, known as the ‘Aqua Suite’. For ¥25,000 per hour (around AU$261) up to six people can jump in the water at any one time and find out how what a little heat does for their vocal abilities. There’s space in the room for an extra eight singers. And if you forget your swimmers, you can buy some on the spot for ¥1,000 (that’s about AU$10). The Aqua Suite is but one of 33 themed rooms in the Lovenet. For Stanley Kubrick fans, there’s the Heaven room, where the white-as-white interior and underground crystals bring to mind A Clockwork Orange’s Milk Bar. For something more intimate, reserve the cosy Morocco Suite, which accommodates only two people. Then there’s the brightly coloured Candy Room. Karaoke in a hot tub hit the UK in 2013, when the Hot Tub Cinema folks, who have been up and running since 2012, decided to extend their warm, watery formula beyond movies. However, rather than setting up a room, they run their hot tub events as one-off, ticketed shindigs. Find the Aqua Suite at Lovenet, 3F-4F Hotel Ibis, 7-14-4 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Open Monday to Saturday 6pm-5am, closed Sunday and holidays. To book phone +813 5771 5511.
Wander into the National Art School between November 3 – 12 and you'll be treated to an exhibition showcasing a diverse range of works from this year's Masters of Fine Art graduates. Featuring a range of mediums including sculpture, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, photomedia and painting, the postgraduate show is always a great opportunity to get familiar with new artists and catch emerging talent while they're still just that. Budding investors take note: artworks will be available for sale so have your chequebooks at the ready. Artists on show include figurative painter and 2016 Archibald Prize finalist India Mark, Turkish-born postmodern portraitist Murat Urlali, visceral sculptor Samantha Stephenson, and Aly Indermühle, whose large scale and intimate light works were featured in this year's VIVID Sydney. The school is also holding a special evening on Thursday November 2 to mark the opening, with music from FBi DJS, food, pop-up bars and an open invitation to have a nose around the artist studios. Image: Samantha Stephenson Communion of Space 2016 painted steel, 2017
Get the jab, get a free beer, flight, holiday or pair of jeans: thanks to plenty of companies around Australia, that's been a reality over the past few months. Breweries, airlines, hotel chains, denim brands and more have been offering Aussies a little something extra for rolling up their sleeves, all as part of an effort to encourage getting-19 vaccinated against COVID-19. Now, one group of philanthropists and corporations is handing out a cool $1 million for having the jabs. The newly launched Million Dollar Vax promotion knows what it's about: giving away a big stack of cash to someone who has been vaxxed. And, it's open to folks who've just had one jab, too, as long as you've had it when you enter — and as long as you'll be fully vaccinated by Monday, December 13. If that's you — and you're over the age of 18 — you can enter whenever you like in October, all by filling out the online form on the contest's website. It runs through basic information such as your name, email address, date of birth, mobile phone number, suburb, state and postcode, and does require you to tick boxes to confirm that you meet the jab requirements. (If you have a medical exemption, you're not eligible to enter.) After you've filled out the form, you'll go in the running to win that $1 million prize, which'll be drawn on Friday, November 5. And, the competition is also giving out daily prizes, too. Over the month, 100 $1000 gift cards will be given away each and every day, from a total prize pool — including that top $1 million prize — of $4.1 million. You can only enter the overall contest once, however, and you're only eligible for the daily prizes on the day you enter. If you do win one of the $1000 gift cards, you'll be contacted via email within five business days of entering. You'll then get your gift card emailed to you once you verify your ID and that you've been vaxxed. All prizes are being handed out randomly, so you don't need to come up with a reason to win, enter an answer in 25 words or less or anything else along those lines. And if you're wondering who is behind the promotion, it's being run by "a group of generous philanthropists and corporations" called the Million Dollar Vax Alliance, who are aiming "to accelerate Australia's COVID-19 vaccination program" according to the contest's FAQs. "The faster we reach vaccination rates nationally, the sooner we all can safely resume our full range of community and business activity," the FAQs continue. For more information about the Million Dollar Vax promotion, or to enter, head to the competition website.
Only one Australian festival this summer can whip it, whip it good. When Good Things returns for 2023, it'll hit Sydney with new-wave icons Devo on the bill. The 'Girl U Want' band will be celebrating 50 years since first forming in 1973, and also saying goodbye on a farewell tour that'll mark their last-ever Australian shows. Devo's famous energy dome hats will be on display at Centennial Park on Saturday, December 2 on a jam-packed Good Things lineup that is brimming with nostalgia-inducing acts — including Fall Out Boy. The group behind 'Sugar, We're Goin Down' and 'Uma Thurman' are festival headliners, playing both tunes dating back to their 2000s heyday and recent tracks. From there, Good Things keeps rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin' with Limp Bizkit; will see Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor hit the stage solo; and is guaranteed to burst with punk energy thanks to Pennywise. Bullet for My Valentine, Taking Back Sunday and I Prevail are also on the bill, plus Enter Shikari, Pvris, Behemoth and Sepultura. [caption id="attachment_913268" align="alignnone" width="1920"] swimfinfan via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] Fresh from featuring a reunited TISM in 2022, Good Things boasts a packed roster of local names in 2023, too, celebrating Australian alternative rock with Spiderbait, Frenzal Rhomb, Jebediah and Eskimo Joe. On both the international and homegrown front, the list goes on, including Hanabie, While She Sleeps, Magnolia Park, Short Stack, Boom Crash Opera, Luca Brasi and more. And yes, this is a fest where you can likely hear 'Whip It', 'Dance, Dance', 'Society' and 'Buy Me a Pony' live on the same day, plus 'The Last Fight', 'Leaving Home', 'Punch in the Face' and a very non-George Michael cover of 'Faith' as well. GOOD THINGS 2023 LINEUP: Fall Out Boy Limp Bizkit Devo (The Farewell Tour celebrating 50 years) I Prevail Bullet For My Valentine Corey Taylor Pennywise Spiderbait Slowly Slowly Enter Shikari Behemoth Sepultura Taking Back Sunday PVRIS Bloom Boom Crash Opera Eskimo Joe Frenzal Rhomb Hanabie Jebediah Luca Brasi Magnolia Park Make Them Suffer Ocean Sleeper Royal & The Serpent Short Stack Slaughter To Prevail Stand Atlantic Tapestry The Plot In You While She Sleeps Top image: Drew de F Fawkes via Wikimedia Commons.
The world's most unpredictable duo is back. This time around, the girls are armed with their new "Objekt Instruments" — handmade technology that traverses the territory between the functional and the aesthetic — and some new tunes from their soon-to-be-released electroclash album, Scream. During the past year, they've played at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary's tenth anniversary; hosted their first pop-up shop in Osaka, Japan; and "lectured" at the Milan Art Fair. They're currently completing a two-month residency at Artspace, Sydney, and one half of the team, Melissa Logan, has started researching for a PhD in Biological Arts at UTS. If you've never witnessed Chicks on Speed before, prepare yourself for an outrageous, irreverent hybrid of art, video, fashion, technology and music. In the words of Logan, they're all about "getting to the blatant points and not pussy-footing around." https://youtube.com/watch?v=g_1kziD6Lec
When Wollongong's Yours and Owls last took place back in April 2021, it ticked a couple of huge pandemic-era boxes. Due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, it was the first major music festival that New South Wales had seen in over a year — and it was the first to allow dancing as well. Plenty has happened in NSW over the past seven months, including more lockdowns and restrictions; however, the fact that Yours and Owls is announcing its 2022 plans today, Wednesday, November 10, really couldn't be more fitting. Just two days ago, NSW's rules for double-vaccinated folks eased again, and now permit dancing once more — so this two-day fest has revealed who you'll be making shapes to in Stuart Park from Saturday, April 2–Sunday, April 3. Topping the bill: Hilltop Hoods, Benee, Bliss & Eso, Flight Facilities, The Jungle Giants, Peking Duk and Violent Soho, giving festival-goers quite the array of big-name acts to look forward to. And yes, you should've spotted that Benee will be making the trip from New Zealand, thanks to international border restrictions easing. The hefty lineup goes on, including Faker, Ruby Fields, San Cisco, The Meanies, Sycco and more. Yours and Owls' 2022 fest is moving to a bigger site, too — well, back to a familiar site — both in terms of space, and being able to accommodate more people. Yes, that's your early April plans sorted — and because you're here for the full lineup, you can check out the details below. YOURS AND OWLS 2022 LINEUP: Hilltop Hoods Benee Bliss & Eso Flight Facilities The Jungle Giants Peking Duk Violent Soho (The Return Of) Faker Harvey Sutherland Jack River Lastlings Late Nite Tuff Guy LDRU Luca Brasi Hiatus Kaiyote Ruby Fields San Cisco Arno Faraji Barkaa Big Twisty & The Funknasty Budjerah The Bouys Fergus James Floodlights Hope D Jen Cloher Karate Boogaloo King Stingray The Meanies Miiesha Ninajirachi Nyxen Private Function Surprise Chef Sycco The Terrys Vlossom 1300 Alter Boy Babitha Bakers Eddy Boom Child Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys Clamm Clypso C.O.F.F.I.N Death By Denim Good Lekker Nooky Rest For The Wicked The Rions Shady Nasty Sophiya To Octavia Amends Bored Shorts Charbel Chimers Chloe Dadd Classic Club Camel Drift Hellcat Speedracer Imaginary People Kitten Heel Lizzie Jack & The Beanstalks Miners The Morning Mood Nosedive Nothing Rhymes With David Placement Private Wives Proposal Radicals Satin Cali Sesame Girl Solo Career Stephen Bourke Topnovil L N T G Jennifer Loveless Toni Yotzi Ayebatonye DJ Plead Barney In The Tunnel Foura Body Promise Randy Knuckles Cover Sound System Beachcombers Wilder & Pryor Yours and Owls will take place on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 at Stuart Park, Wollongong. Ticket pre-sales will kick off at 8.30am AEDT on Tuesday, November 16, with general tickets on sale at 8.30am on Thursday, November 18. For more information about the event, head to the festival's website.
It's impossible to think about Christmas without also thinking about ornament-adorned trees; however, the traditional towering variety isn't always practical. Perhaps you don't have space in your apartment. Maybe you're keen on the real thing, but just can't make it to market, farm or nursery to get one. Or, you could have a four-legged friend (or several) that's fond of scaling anything that reaches up into the sky. Even if you've found a place for the same old plastic tree that you trot out every year, you're probably still wishing that you could gaze up at the real thing — which is where Floraly comes in. The Australian plant delivery service focuses on sustainable blooms and even offers monthly subscriptions, and it introduced a Christmas offering in 2019. Because it's that time already, it's getting festive again in 2020, too. The big drawcard: living trees. If you're happy with a pint-sized version, then this tiny plant is about to make your festive dreams come true. 'Tis the season to order a 60-centimetre-tall tiny tree that comes with decorations and a pop-up pot, wait for it to be delivered, then feel mighty jolly. Sourced from farms in Victoria and New South Wales, and able to be sent Australia-wide, Floraly's trees also arrive with soil, fairy lights, baubles and a tree-topper — so they really do look like miniature versions of your ideal Christmas centrepiece. There are two versions available, so you can opt for red baubles and a gold star for the top, or go with white decorations and a silver star In line with Floraly's eco-conscious mindset, its trees still have their root system intact. That means that once Christmas is over, you can replant them, keep them for some year-round merriment and then enjoy their splendour next year. The trees also come in fully recyclable packaging, further reducing their environmental impact. If you're keen, you can order a small bundle of greenery from the Floraly website for $79. Fancy sending a tiny tree as a gift? You can do that too, including as part of packs with T2 tea, Gelato Messina spreads, Endota body care products, and champagne and chocolate. Floraly's tiny Christmas trees are available to order now by visiting the service's website. Images: Floraly
