Sometimes really shitty weather has its upside. Pulling a solid Community Chest card, London is about to open its very first board games-centric cafe in Hackney this September. Sure, plenty of eateries, pubs and existing cafes have a smattering of Scattergoric fun times already stashed in the bookshelves, but Draughts intends to bring games to the forefront — already proven successful by Adelaide's Hungry Hippo and Oxford's Thirsty Meeples. Serving up an impressive 500+ range of old school fun inducers, Draughts will stock both your favourite table toppers like Cluedo, Monopoly and Scrabble alongside weird and wonderful niche releases like Hanabi and one apparently called Chicken Cha Cha Cha. Board game purists will be able to engage in intense bots of chess, checkers and (of course) draughts, while the cafe serves as a perfect loud group outing option (if Boggle is your style). Draughts will function as an all-day cafe, counting freshly made coffee, cakes, milkshakes and sandwiches on the menu before fuelling rambunctious rounds of Risk with ciders and lagers in the chilly London evenings. If you're into the Game of Life, you'll appreciate a few pints. Remember that family member who insisted on reading out the rules, one by one, even after everyone had given up and left them flying solo at the table? Chances are they now work at Draughts, ready to help you out with any Monopoly rule rifts, help you set up the painstaking Mouse Trap board or get you started on something you might never have tried — big fingers crossed for 13 Dead End Drive or The White Unicorn. Just trust me. Draughts know their board games so well, they decided to create a London Tube map to help you out when you're picking: Via Guardian. Photo from The Hungry Hippo.
Love might be blind, but deaf it is not. Just ask anyone who’s fallen madly for a snorer. Like Anthony Burgess wrote, “Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.” No amount of moonlit serenading, Shakespearean declarations of passion or Lindt chocolate can make up for harrowing nights next to your own personal Boeing-747. But how to deal with it? Entire national websites are dedicated to the problem. Surgery to remove parts of the snorer’s mouth and throat? Implants to harden up their palate? Sticking tape to their nose and chin? Approaching an ear plug company for sponsorship? The Crowne Plaza Hotel chain has trialled “snore absorption” rooms in Europe and “snore monitors” in the UK. The latter patrol a hotel’s “quiet zones”, knocking on the doors of snorers who are audible from the corridor. Hammacher Schlemmer, supplier of “unexpected gifts”, has now introduced a 'Snore Activated Nudging Pillow' to the market. A tiny inbuilt microphone picks up on the sonic vibrations caused by snoring. As they escalate, an internal bladder fills with air, causing the would-be marriage wrecker to shift position. It’s possible to adjust the mic according to the user’s velocity and set the inflation level at anywhere between 7 and 17 centimetres. A contoured shape and 100 percent polyurethane filling aim to make the pillow as comfy as possible and the 100 percent polyester removable cover is machine-washable. Valentine’s Day might have come and gone, but if you don’t mind spontaneously splashing out on your favourite unbearably noisy bedfellow, US$149.95 will buy a Snore Activated Nudging Pillow. Via PSFK.
First, the great news: come July, beef sandwiches will be back on the menu. Watching season two of one of the best new shows of 2022, and a Golden Globe-winner at that, will be as well. On Wednesday, July 19, The Bear is set to return Down Under with its latest episodes, taking viewers back to Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto's (Jeremy Allen White, Shameless) Chicago sandwich shop — one that, based on the teasers and trailers for this new serving, is undergoing plenty of change. Disney+ will drop all ten episodes of season two at the same time, ready for prime mid-July binge sessions. Obviously, you know what you should be eating while you watch. But, if you don't want to know what happens in advance, you might want to avoid the internet until then. This Thursday, June 22, American audiences will get the full season, saying "yes chef!" to The Bear's return a month before Australian and New Zealand viewers. Of course, more of The Bear is still more of The Bear, no matter it arrives. Also, Australia and NZ experienced a delay when season one premiered in 2022 as well. Then, however, the show was new and untested — now, it's one of the most-anticipated streaming meals of 2023. From its sneak peeks so far — and from where season one left off — season two sees Carmy take a new path with the family eatery that he returned to run after his brother's (Jon Bernthal, We Own This City) death. This new round of intense kitchen and interpersonal chaos will see its head chef keep dreaming of levelling up the humble beef-slinging business. Trying to bring a fine-diner's level of meticulous to The Original Beef of Chicagoland didn't go smoothly in season one, though, and endeavouring to completely transform the restaurant was always going to be peppered with mayhem in season two. Get ready to devour requests for cash, tight timelines, constant construction noise, cooking experiments, visits to culinary school, awkward interviews and t-shirt typos. And, of course, an array of dishes being whipped up and instantly whetting appetites off-screen. The show's full season two trailer also adds Shiva Baby and Booksmart's Molly Gordon to the cast — and, although he hasn't been seen in an early glimpses, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul great Bob Odenkirk will also be guest starring. Gordon and Odenkirk join not only the exceptional White, but the rest of The Bear's impressive roster of talent, such as Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Dropout) as Richie, aka Cousin, aka Carmy's brother's best friend; Ayo Edebiri (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) as sous chef Sydney; Abby Elliott (Indebted) as Carmy's sister Natalie, aka Sugar; and Lionel Boyce (Hap and Leonard), Liza Colón-Zayas (In Treatment) and Edwin Lee Gibson (Fargo) among the other Original Beef staff. If you missed the first season, it jumped into the mayhem after Carmy took over the diner. Before returning home, the chef's resume spanned Noma and The French Laundry, as well as awards and acclaim. That's just the beginning of the story, in a series that truly conveyed what it's like to work in the hospitality industry — including navigating a restaurant kitchen's non-stop pressures. Yes, the mood is anxious from the outset, with The Bear's creator Christopher Storer (who also has Ramy, Dickinson and Bo Burnham: Make Happy on his resume) starting the series as he definitely meant to go on, but still expertly managing to balance drama and comedy. Check out the US trailer for The Bear season two below: The Bear season two will stream via Disney+ Down Under from on Wednesday, July 19. Read our full review of season one.
Everyone has petty feuds. That's one of the truths behind Beef, which brought squabbling strangers into everyone's streaming queues in 2023 and became one of the best new shows of the year in the process. So, although the series was initially meant to be a once-off, plenty more people could disagree, argue and hold grudges on-screen — and, soon, more might. Netflix hasn't renewed Beef for season two yet, but word keeps circling that more could be on the way. And if the Golden Globe-, Emmy-, Gotham, Screen Actors Guild Award-, Independent Spirit Award and Producers Guild Award-winner does make a comeback, Jake Gyllenhaal (Guy Ritchie's The Covenant), Anne Hathaway (Armageddon Time), Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla) and Charles Melton (May December) could be taking over from Steven Yeun (Nope) and Ali Wong (Paper Girls). [caption id="attachment_849830" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ambulance[/caption] Deadline is reporting that all four actors are being circled for the Beef's second season, making the show an anthology series by switching to a completely different storyline. The plot favoured is about two feuding couples — and that's it in terms of details so far, other than that Netflix and A24, which are behind the program, are keen for the season two to start shooting before 2024 is out. Gyllenhaal and Hathaway would reunite not only after Love & Other Drugs, but also Brokeback Mountain. Spaeny and Melton are fresh off spectacular performances in the aforementioned Priscilla and May December, with both shock omissions from 2024's Oscar nominees. [caption id="attachment_936946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Priscilla[/caption] If you missed season one of the Lee Sung Jin (Dave)-created Beef, it followed Danny Cho (Yeun) and Amy Lau (Wong) after they got in a fender bender, then neither handled it well. Cue a feud that they can't shake, infiltrating their lives and relationships. If their quest for revenge each other just fizzled out, there obviously wouldn't be a series. Part of Beef's ongoing beef in season one stemmed from a comedy staple: putting opposites together and seeing what springs. Danny is struggling as a contractor and isn't happy about it, while Amy lives a seemingly idyllic life thanks to her success as an entrepreneur. They both share a need to get back at each other, though — and to see through their clash to the end. Check out the trailer for Beef season one below: Beef season two hasn't been officially announced, and doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when more details are locked in. Beef season streams via Netflix — read our review. Images: Netflix. Via Deadline.
Dying to grow your own food but failed to take the agriculture elective in high school? Been green with envy, eyeing off new apartment blocks' vertical gardens, yet don't know where to start when it comes to greening up your own home? You've come to the right place. As increasing the flower, fruit and foliage content of our urban lives becomes more and more desirable, so too does the technology enabling it. Read on to discover five systems for apartment gardening that'll have your place biodiversify-ing like the Amazon in no time — even if you've never planted a seed or picked out a weed in your life. SproutsIO If you're handier with your smartphone than you are with a trowel, SproutsIO could well be for you. Consisting of a network of pods, each home to a separate plant, it functions according to the commands of a mobile app, which works through both Android and iOS devices. There's no soil involved. Instead, oxygen and nutrients are delivered via mist, with special censors ensuring that light, humidity and temperature remain at optimum levels. According to creator Jennifer Broutin Farah, SproutsIO's productivity levels are up to six times higher than those generated by traditional soil-based methods. Currently nearing production; on-sale date TBC. Windowfarm This vertical, bioponic solution does exactly what its name suggests — transforms your window into a farm that would do Old McDonald proud. A reservoir at the base of the Windowfarm pumps nutrient-filled water upwards, feeding each plant's roots, which are protected not by soil but by a 'nest' comprised of clay pellets, coconut hair and rice hulls. US$199 for a one-column starter bundle at store.windowfarms.com Aqualibrium This isn't just an apartment garden: it's a fish tank and farm, combined. Made possible by a successful Kickstarter campaign, Aqualibrium works according to the principles of aquaponics. The fish create nutrients, which are cycled upwards to feed the plants, while the plants soak up the nutrients and send fresh, clean water downwards. If fish aren't your thing, you can replace them with pre-bottled nutrients, thereby transforming Aqualibrium into a hydroponics system. From US$300 at shop.aqualibrium.com Bitponics Want home-grown vegetables but simply don't have time to attend to them? At all? Bitponics is a fully automated hydroponics system that can run an entire season of gardening via the Cloud. Everything — including pH, light, water, temperature and humidity — is measured and regulated by wi-fi responsive sensors. $9/month per garden. Sign-ups coming soon at bitponics.com. String gardens They might not be as productive or automated as some of the fancy systems already discussed, but they have plenty of other advantages. They're cheap; they look cool and you can make them with your own two hands — from scratch.
Spending Christmas alone might be exactly what you need this year — and you should do what feels right for you. But if it gets to 5pm and you'd like to be in the company of some chill likeminded people, you have the option of popping into The Indigo Project. The Surry Hills mindfulness studio is opening its welcoming doors on Christmas Day evening for an inclusive potluck dinner. The event is an extension of the studio's fortnightly 'gatherings', which involves group conversation and story sharing. It'll give you a nice safe space to meet and connect with others, and then everyone will tuck into some food. Bringing a vegan plate of food is recommended.
BrewDog might be best known for its yeasty ales and lagers; however the Scottish beer outfit has earned plenty of attention for its other activities. It boasts the world's first craft beer hotel to its name, as well as the world's first craft beer airline — and then there's the decision to make Brisbane its base for its first Australian brewery. Now, BrewDog is doing something that was always destined to, given the company's choice of canine-friendly moniker. Its latest beer is called Subwoofer IPA — and yes, it's 100 percent made for thirsty doggos. No strangers to dog-friendly events — you can take your four-legged buddy to stay in its Ohio hotel, for example — BrewDog has whipped up some hooch for pooches that uses the same wort (aka malted barley and hot water) that goes into their regular IPA. For canines, the brew also has a meaty element to get doggo tongues wagging, as well as B vitamins and probiotics. It's described as possessing "a a malt backbone and a 'hoppy' overtone from citrus", which sounds just like many a beer for humans. Crucially, Subwoofer IPA is alcohol-free, doesn't actually contain any hops and is also non-carbonated. BrewDog is calling it the first craft beer for dogs, although other breweries have made similar tipples for humankind's best friend. Earlier this year, Brisbane's Archer Brewery did just that, while brands like Snuffle, Bark Brew and Dawg Grog have been doing the same for a while. Served in 250ml bottles — and then in your dog's chosen bowl, obviously — Subwoofer IPA is only available in the UK at present. Fingers and paws crossed that it makes the jump down under when BrewDog's Brisbane brewery opens its doors. Image: BrewDog.
In an era of technology firsts, it's hardly surprising that a computer is now capable of mirroring human intelligence. Over the weekend, a computer programme known as 'Eugene Goostman' proved itself capable of imitating the living when it was the first ever programme to pass the Turing Test. Eponymously named for its designer, British mathematician and cryptographer Alan Turing, no previous competitor had passed the test in its 65-year existence. Needless to say, passing the Turing Test is no easy feat. To prove successful, at least 30 percent of the judges must be convinced that the competitor is human. During the Turing Test 2014 Competition over the weekend, one-third of the panel deemed Eugene Goostman just that. Entered under the guise of a 13-year-old boy from the Ukraine, Eugene Goostman competed against 25 humans and other fellow programmes. The team behind Eugene Goostman comprised of one Russian and two Ukrainian programmers. Endowed with particulars that seemed just odd enough to qualify as human (a pet guinea pig, a gynecologist father), the long-awaited winning programme is actually a chatbot developed in 2001. The ingenue in this case is found in the simplicity of approach. Rendering their entry ignorant by diminishing his supposed age, the chatbot’s programmers acknowledge their surprising strategy. One of Eugene Goostman’s creators, Vladimir Veselov revealed in a statement, "Our main idea was that he can claim that he knows anything, but his age also makes it perfectly reasonable that he doesn't know everything. We spent a lot of time developing a character with a believable personality." Someone who claims to know it all but, in truth, knows little? No wonder they thought he was human. Via The Guardian and PC World.
Experienced Henrietta's Lebanese-style charcoal chook? Now it's easier to get a taste with a new outpost landing in Parramatta Square. Bringing its signature blend of Middle Eastern spice and Aussie spirit to Sydney's west, this brand-new ESCA Group venue is primed for laidback weeknight feasts and all-in group gatherings. While the chicken remains the star of the show, the new location has a few exclusive menu items that will have Henrietta diehards hanging out for a bite. Foremost of these is the sujuk arayes, featuring a crispy pita loaded with spiced sujuk, sumac onion, pickled cabbage, parsley and toum. Meanwhile, the sumac-cured salmon comes complete with tomato kisir, Aleppo pepper and a lettuce cup. As for something sweet, the Beirut Chocolate combines tantalising pistachio kataifi with a delicate chocolate crumb for maximum pastry pleasure. Of course, the headline charcoal chicken is tough to beat, flame-grilled to perfection and served with toum, pickles, Lebanese bread and your choice of sides. "Cooking over charcoal is what makes Henrietta special. It's not just about the technique – it's about the flavour, the experience, and the energy it brings to the kitchen. The intense heat caramelises, chars, and enhances every ingredient, creating deep, smoky, rich flavours you just can't get any other way," says Luca Lonati, Executive Chef at Henrietta. Complementing your next feast at Henrietta is a curated drinks menu. Spanning a bold blend of cocktails, local brews and refreshing non-alc options, expect favourites like the Sour Cherry Negroni, Spicy Passionfruit Margarita, and Lychee Cosmo, featuring vodka, lychee, pomegranate and lime. Meanwhile, there are numerous wines to explore from top-quality Australian and international estates. Moving into the former home of Italian diner Cicciabella, Henrietta Parramatta brings a cool balance of warmth and edge. Combining high ceilings with rich wood textures and sleek aluminium accents, this design brings an energetic atmosphere that pairs perfectly with the flame-kissed action happening in the kitchen. With capacity for 80 inside and another 20 in the al fresco area, it's the ideal choice for low-key takeaway or an upbeat get-together with pals. "Parramatta has been on our radar for a while – it's got a dynamic energy, a thriving food scene, and a growing appetite for bold flavours," says Ibrahim Moubadder, Co-Founder of ESCA Group. "We're all about sharing great food, great vibes, and a little bit of fire – literally. We can't wait to bring Henrietta to the west." Henrietta Parramatta is open Monday–Friday from 11.30am–3pm and 5pm–9pm, and Saturday–Sunday from 12pm–3pm and 5pm–9pm at 3 Parramatta Square, 153 Macquarie Street, Parramatta. Head to the website for more information. Images: Jiwon Kim.
As you've no doubt heard by now, there is a worldwide shortage of kale. The leafy green that until recently was just cabbage's little known and even less popular cousin is suddenly in hot demand, and we're all to blame. We love us some kale — and the innovative cafes, restaurants and bars of Sydney insist on feeding our obsession by doing interesting things with it. If we thought we'd reached peak kale before, it's nothing compared to now that the no-nonsense vegetable has jumped from health-food trend to all-food trend. Green smoothies and superfood bowls are great, to a point. But kale entered a new, embraceable era when it landed in our daiquiris and next-day bacon and egg hangover cures. Kale, for all its sensibleness, has never been so fun, and here's the delicious, delicious evidence. Crunchy chip and kale sandwich at Scout's Honour Don't ask how or why, but this sandwich of chicken, carrot, kale, alfalfa, hummus and crunchy potato chips (like this style of potato chip) is actual heaven. Slightly salty, slightly bitey, slightly gooey and mostly healthy, it's the lunch you feel like almost every day of the week. Beyond this one Holy Grail of handheld food, Scout's Honour keep kicking goals with their rotating menu of sandwiches (all $10), salads of the week and soups of the day. oKale and Ginger Daiquiri at Freda's Kale daiquiri? Seriously? We didn't come here to spend a Freda's Friday night being all healthy. Hold up there, haters; this green-hued kaletail packs more punch than a Long Island Iced Tea (without the throbbing, next-day Headache of Regret). A subtle blend of kale, Mount Gay Silver rum, King's Ginger liqueur, real ginger, lime and apple juice, Freda’s latest winter cocktail cleanses the palate and gets you pretty tipsy pretty damn quick (pace yourself on these vert-coloured babies). It’s the ginger-kale balance that rounds this refreshing bev out, proving the leafy superfood's not just for early morning power smoothies. Kale, bacon and egg roll at In the Annex Kale as the main ingredient and bacon as an extra? Surely that’s the equivalent of Hoyts showing the movie 'Robin' and making people pay extra if they want it to include Batman. Not so — the kale, rather than awkwardly hanging around outside the bacon and egg friend circle, actually fits in and gets along with everyone. It gets along so well, in fact, that this greenified B&E held its own in our Bacon and Egg Roll Road Test. That's by no means where the kale journey ends at In the Annex; consider pairing your roll with a kale, banana, coconut and chia smoothie ($8) for a taste of suburban Tropicana. Wagyu Bresaola, crumbed eggs and kale at Nook NoOk Urban Fresh Bar in the CBD is a celebration of fresh produce. The menu is divided into all-day brekkies, hearty winter salads, burgers, soups, sandwiches and a specials list so innovative we just can't go past it. Their wagyu bresaola and crumbed eggs ($20) take brunch to an entirely new place. Thinly sliced wagyu meets the sweetness of spiced poached pears, crusty sourdough, masses of fresh and crispy fried kale, goat's curd and perfectly oozy eggs coated in a crumb. It's devilishly delicious, and if you're a real kale fiend, you can wash down with a kale and pineapple juice garnished with, yes, kale. Paleo Brekkie at About Life Simply walking into About Life will make you feel healthy. Obviously this organic wholefoods space positively crawling with post-yoga brunch-ers is going to have kale. We recommend the Paleo Breakfast, which features an indulgently tempura-like sweet potato and kale hash brown. On top of that are perfectly poached eggs, fresh spinach and a hearty side of bacon. Slow roast lamb shoulder and kale at SoCal From the team that brought us Bondi Hardware and The Botanist, SoCal in Neutral Bay is inspired by the sunny sights and flavours California, and as everyone knows, Californians love them some superfoods. Apart from the perennial favourites (sliders and tacos), the menu also features a series of share plates. The standout is one of rich, slow-roasted lamb shoulder on kale and fellow superfoods faro, freekeh and quinoa. Green Brekkie Bowl at Porch and Parlour Ultimate Bondi, ultimate breakfast. With a short and sweet breakfast menu, Bondi's Porch and Parlour does serious health food that doesn't make you feel like you're missing out on culinary excitement. Though the Green Brekkie Bowl really couldn't get any greener — sauteed kale and spinach is generously served with herby quinoa, two soft-boiled eggs and half an avocado — the five-star delicousness rating of this dish will well and truly put those childhood veggie phobias to rest. Breakfast with Gwyneth at Bread and Circus With fresh fruit and veggies on display and pot plants on every table, the 'earthy-goodness' vibe of Bread and Circus Wholefoods Canteen is hard to miss. Named after the official Queen of Kale, their Breakfast with Gwyneth would no doubt make the actor-turned-Goop-guru proud. The breakfast plate features two fried biodynamic eggs atop sauteed kale with chilli and white quinoa. Missed breakfast? For lunch, they also do a bonza salad of shredded cabbage, kale and sprouts with a yuzu pomegranate dressing. By the Concrete Playground team.
For Queenslanders, Bundaberg Rum is the nectar of the gods. To its most devoted admirers, it is known as 'sugarcane champagne', a colloquial fan term that Bundy has now officially co-signed in a new 'sparkling' beverage the distillery is releasing in partnership with Uber Eats. The creation is called Maison de Bundy's Blanc de Cane, a faux-pretentious riff on champagne house nomenclature, and is an alcoholic ginger beer made with white Queensland cane spirit and Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Not to be confused with the Dark 'n' Stormy, this drop doesn't actually contain rum per se — rather, white cane spirit is the base spirit used to make rum. The resulting beverage is super sweet, extremely easy to drink (4% ABV) and is best served cold on ice with a squeeze of lime. The good news for rum fans and Bundy collectors: They're giving the stuff away for free. This Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 at Leonards and Dawn in Brisbane, The Civic Hotel in Sydney and The Sporting Globe in Melbourne (the Richmond location), you can turn up, show bar staff the Uber Eats app on your phone along with proof of ID and you'll get a free 640ml bottle. The bad news? Maison de Bundy's Blanc de Cane comes in an extremely limited run of one thousand bottles so you'll want to set your alarm. It will be available in the aforementioned venues from 5pm on Friday until they're all gone. There are people out there who will line up for these like BTS fans lining up for concert tickets. One thousand Maison de Bundy's Blanc de Cane will be available across selected Australian venues. Just show your Uber Eats app and proof of ID to claim a 640ml bottle this Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11.
Not so fun fact: aluminium coffee pods can take up to 500 years to break down. And while we love the convenience of a Nespresso as much as the next time-poor caffeine fiend, there's no denying that this is a pretty grim downside for the sake of saving a few minutes in the morning. Thankfully, though, Tripod Coffee have come up with a solution. Not only are its plant-based Nespresso pods fully compostable, but now the Sydney-based brand is making it easier for you to get rid of your used capsules in an environmentally responsible way. Enter The Dirt Club. This new service sees a Tripodder come straight to your door to collect any and all used coffee pods — be they paper, plastic or aluminium. Then, the pods get disposed of correctly and, where possible, turned into fertiliser. "We wanted to make composting coffee pods easier than ordering Deliveroo," says Tripod Coffee Co-founder, Partner and Head of Sustainability Dave Siegel. How does it work? The composting process creates two byproducts: nutrient-rich, organic fertiliser and methane. The fertiliser is used by local farmers, growers and horticulturalists, while the methane is converted into green electricity. The Dirt Club is still in its early days, but, according to Tripod, its future-friendly composting initiative has already diverted over two tonnes of pods from landfill. The best part is that it doesn't cost a cent. Well, pickup costs $15, but once that part is done, you get $15 credit to spend on Tripod Coffee products. Currently, there are seven coffee varieties to choose from, from a light roast to extra dark, single origin, decaf and a blend wholly made from organic and fair trade beans. Somewhere, surely, George Clooney is smiling.
So the blissful four-day weekend recently sparkling ahead of us has gone, and we sit at our desks with few keepsakes of the experience besides a dramatic sugar crash. My sympathies, friends. It's a particular downer of a week here at Concrete Playground, where we're saying goodbye to long-serving editor-in-chief Anna Harrison, who's been our beacon of how to live in Sydney with unshakable style. She's now off playing correspondent from the capital of cool (New York, obviously), so while you'll still be hearing from her, you'll also be hearing more from the team of editors who paddle furiously together to keep this ship afloat. This week we bring you stacks of handpicked stories and happenings. You can watch football that floats in Darling Harbour, an opera based on Kafka and not a hint of romance, the premiere of Never Not Funny indie comedy night at the Standard, art after dark at both the MCA and MLC Centre, a film where Sean Penn is an adorable ageing goth-punk, and an artist with a niquab that can fit a whole crowd beneath it. My personal gold star goes to STC's smart and solid Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Go forth and snap us those last few tickets. Trampoline The details: Sunday, April 15 @ Oxford Street Design Store This self-organising event aims to address things that are appealing across a range of disciplines, with past topics ranging from intergenerational learning to wine tasting, 3D printers and, incidentally, the 1000-year-old human. Nothing is locked in on Trampoline and nothing is given priority, with the only requirement being that each session is 20 minutes long and focuses on sharing something that the presenter finds amazing. It also takes place out the back of the Oxford Street Design Store, so if you’re stuck for ideas you can pick up something fascinating for less than $20 on your way in. Find out more Les Liaisons Dangereuses The details: Thursday, April 5 - Saturday, June 9 @ Wharf 1, Wharf Theatre Hugo Weaving and Pamela Rabe shine in a play that has the ability to grip and shock in a way Gossip Girl could only dream of. Find out more American Pie: Reunion The details: Thursday, April 5 - Wednesday, May 2 @ Various cinemas The entire original cast return in a very, very unlikely triumph. Find out more Christian Marclay: The Clock The details: Thursday, March 29 - Sunday, June 3 @ Museum of Contemporary Art We visit the MCA at 2am for an extraordinary spot of clock-watching. Find out more Lyrebird The details: Wednesday, March 28 - Saturday, April 21 @ Old Fitzroy Theatre Inspired by the Black Saturday bushfires, this play brings five displaced, haunted lives into a burned-out Old Fitz. Find out more Cabinet The details: Saturday, April 14 @ Red Rattler The lovely people from Underbelly Arts and Red Rattler bring you things to treat your eyes, ears and dancing shoes. Find out more The George Melies Project The details: Sunday, April 15 @ Riverside Theatres The 'HG Wells of the jazz world' meets the magician behind early cinema. Find out more An Evening with Richard Dawkins Monday, April 16 @ Sydney Opera House The militant atheist tries to tread lightly on his favourite topic: evolution. Find out more
For fans of distressed denim, the more unique the method of wearing them down the better. But these guys have taken things next level. A denim company in Japan has decided to outsource their distressing work to lions, tigers and bears for their latest collection. Before you get on a soapbox about any sort of animal exploitation, it’s only for a limited run of four pairs of jeans and it's all in the name of charity. Oh my! Zoo Jeans is an initiative by the Mineko Club of zoo volunteers who have partnered with Japan's Kamine Zoo in Hitachi City. The jeans will be auctioned off online and you'd better get in quick as the bidding started on Monday. Funds raised from the jeans will go towards the World Wildlife Fund and to the revitalisation of the Kamine Zoo. The favourite playthings of the bears, tigers and lions — rubber balls and tyres – were covered with sheets of denim and left in their enclosures for them to gnaw at, tear and generally muck around with. When the animal crew decided they’d had enough, the toys were retrieved and the denim — or what is left of it was removed. The denim was not altered further, except to be cut and sewn into jeans. At the time of writing this the current bid for the T1 Jeans (designed by tigers) stands at ¥121,000, which is roughly $AUD1,267. The two pairs of Lion Jeans, one women’s and one men’s, are currently sitting at ¥50,000. If fashion for you hinges around being the central topic of conversation, you’d be a hard one to beat in these threads. Via GQ and Zoo Jeans.
In news that has ironically prompted outraged profanity worldwide, Vladimir Putin has signed a bill which prohibits the use of swear words in Russian film, theatre and live music performances. This legislation is just the latest in a long line of gradual moves against freedom of expression in the country. With the much-protested bills passed against the "promotion" of "non-traditional sexual relations", the increasing moves towards internet censorship, and the ruling in April this year against profanity in the media, the whole situation seems a bit fucked. Coming into effect on July 1, this most recent bill will ban four specific words from Russia's art and performance. All hailing from the lexicon of mat: khuy (cock), pizda (cunt), ebat (to fuck), and blyad (whore) will be prohibited from appearing in any new work, while books and printed materials containing such words will be sold in sealed packaging with warning labels. If artists refuse to abide this new ruling, not only will their works be refused distribution, they will be charged up to 50,000 rubles ($1,510). To further confuse matters, though the ban will include live performance and events, it will reportedly only affect products of "popular culture" and not "art". "The law is not aggressive," said a representative from the Culture Ministry to the Moscow Times. "Its only aim is to regulate this sphere, so that swearing will have its purpose." Though the difference between the two realms of production has not yet been specified by the Ministry, artists across the world can finally feel some sense of relief — who would have thought this man would be the one to pin down the elusive definition of art? Many in the Russian art world are unsurprisingly outraged by this recent move and take particular issue with its effect on literature. Mat has in fact had a rich history in Russian poetry and prose, as seen in the seminal Romantic work of Mikhail Lermontov and Alexander Pushkin. The banning of such words, pivotal to the language of the working class, will undoubtedly limit the range of character and emotion in much of Russia's cultural work. Unfortunately, I'm not that well-versed in Russian film or literature, but just imagine a world where American Psycho is illegal; a place where this iconic scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles could never have reached its audience. In a worldwide exclusive, we've actually obtained a copy of the upcoming Russian Wolf of Wall Street re-release. It may not have the glamour or excitement of Scorsese's original, but its does 100 percent comply to the standards of the Culture Ministry. Enjoy. Via the New Yorker.
When the news dropped earlier this year that Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck was coming to Melbourne, every local foodie quite rightly lost their mind. Packing up a three-Michelin starred restaurant and transporting it to the other side of the world for six months is no small feat. And, while Melbourne is treated to a great spectrum of culinary talent, the food wizardry of this sound-cooking, bacon ice cream-making legend really is next level. But, the question remained: how to secure a seat? After the announcement came in March this year, Crown received upwards of 40,000 requests to book a table. We'll give you a minute to let that number sink in. With a proposed service of 50 diners per night, and the space in operation for a mere six months, The Fat Duck would only be able to accommodate a third of those that enquired nearly a full year in advance. That's huge. "We were totally overwhelmed with the response, it's been unbelievable ... [it shows] just the complete, utter food obsession that has happened over here," Blumenthal said in a press conference this morning. Now, to cope with the astronomical interest (and to save the receptionists at Crown a world of trouble), a booking system has been decided. To eat at The Fat Duck, you will have to enter a ballot. Open from October 8 until October 26, the ballot will be run in a similar way to Meredith Music Festival (though we really can't say it will have the same no dickheads policy). Punters can register their ravenous interest, an independent third party will randomly select the successful diners, then both confirmations and rejections will be sent out on November 10. It's not yet clear whether you can pick the date and time of your reservation. Honestly, it seems unlikely. Unsurprisingly, the seat also won't come cheap. Dinner will be served as a set menu of 12–15 courses and will set you back a cool $525 (before drinks). This may well be the only lottery where the prize is a huge bill, but when we think about that bacon ice cream we can't help but feel it's worth it. The Fat Duck opens on February 3, 2015, but more importantly the ballot opens on October 8 at 9am. Via Good Food.
Disney+'s live-action small-screen Star Wars empire started back in 2019 with The Mandalorian. Since then, everything from The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi to Ahsoka, The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew have followed, but it's Andor that's proven the best series in the space-set saga in this very galaxy. The good news: season two arrives in April 2025. The other news: you'd best savour it, because this will be the last of the prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. If you've seen that 2016 movie, you'll know why this the new 12-episode season is not just Andor's second but its final season — because you know where this tale is heading. But audiences being aware of what's coming didn't stop the show's first season from being riveting and thrilling. Based on both the first sneak peek at season two and the just-dropped new trailer, that doesn't look like it's changing from Wednesday, April 23, 2025 Down Under. "I came with you to be part of something". "It's a different kind of mission." "The Empire cannot win." These statements filter through the latest look at Andor's second season. The first trailer offered similar sentiments. "We're in a war. You wanna fight?", it noted, as the show treads the path to rebellion. If you missed the first season, Andor takes a favourite big-screen character and steps back into their story before the events that viewers have already seen — so, like Obi-Wan Kenobi. As its title makes plain, the series focuses on its namesake, Cassian Andor, with Diego Luna (La Máquina) reprising his Rogue One role. Star Wars fans have already seen him as a Rebel captain and intelligence agent, and also watched how his story wraps up, hence the show's need to jump backwards. The focus: following Andor as he discovers how he can play a part in battling the Empire. Indeed, charting the rebellion, and how people and planets joined in, is the series' whole remit. In season two, as the end we all know is coming gets closer, expect higher stakes — and also Ben Mendelsohn (The New Look) as his Rogue One character Orson Krennic, plus Alan Tudyk (Grimsburg) as K-2SO. The first season of Andor saw filmmaker Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Legacy) — who co-wrote the screenplay for Rogue One — rejoin the Star Wars franchise as the series' creator and showrunner. He's back for season two. On-screen, so are Stellan Skarsgård (Dune: Part Two), Genevieve O'Reilly (Tin Star), Denise Gough (Who Is Erin Carter?), Kyle Soller (Bodies), Adria Arjona (Blink Twice), Faye Marsay (Ten Pound Poms) and Forest Whitaker (Emperor of Ocean Park) . You'll be watching along via four chapters comprising of three episodes a piece, with a new chapter hitting your streaming queue each week. Check out the first trailer for Andor season two below: Andor season two streams via Disney+ from Wednesday, April 23, 2025 Down Under. Read our review of season one. Images:© 2025 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
If you've seen even the trailer for Hossein Amini's adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's The Two Faces of January, you've probably thrown out your mediocre wardrobe by now. Following the deep dark secrets of a highly affluent, fashion-savvy couple (Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst) and their newfound tour guide friend (Oscar Isaac) in 1962, Amini's wonderfully stylised, Hitchcockian thriller (based on Patricia Highsmith's post-The Talented Mr Ripley novel) is a bonafide feast for fashion enthusiasts and Lovers of Pretty Things alike. Vintage Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga — the old fashion houses of Paris literally line up on screen thanks to costume designer Steven Noble, the man who vintage shops with Kirsten Dunst. Finding a contemporary freshness in a '60s-set film through modern, bespoke costuming, Noble and Amini successfully create a realm where anachronistic detail actually captures the essence of a period more successfully than sticking to historic accuracy. With The Two Faces of January causing wardrobe envy in cinemas nationwide, we thought we'd get to the bottom of those disarmingly stylin' costumes with their Noble maker. Modernising the '60s Set in 1962, The Two Faces of January finds itself existing in an era brimming with elegant fashion icons; from Rita Hayworth to Audrey Hepburn. But Noble's designs don't seem like a fusty old historic costume, the characters look contemporary, feel modern and dress with a present-day fashionability. "It was something that Hoss said to me in the very beginning, that I tended to agree with. Obviously we wanted to keep an essence of the period, but we just wanted to make it look a little bit more contemporary for a younger, contemporary audience," says Noble. "So we've made something fresh to look at, but it still takes you back to Europe in 1962." Kirsten 'Well Media-Trained' Dunst ever-eloquently told Vogue that "the film looks like an old postcard that feels fresh." Back to the French Fashion Houses In his quest to find the perfect European aesthetic for the film, Noble looked to the dominant French fashion houses of the '60s — we're talking Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga, Nina Ricci; gang's all here. "I took inspiration from so many different genres and elements of the period, you know, the original holiday stuff, tourists. And then the magazines and films of the period — I watched the films of the late '50s early '60s." You can bet Roman Holiday was in the stack. Chanel forms a large part of the inspiration for Noble's bespoke creations, as well as his existing picks. Dunst's character Colette MacFarland dons some pretty ballin' pearls in a very tense dinner table scene; modern Chanel revisualisations of a late 1920s style. "With Kirsten's character, the backstory was that they'd been to Paris so Chester had bought her a new wardrobe," says Noble. "So that was all sort of, high end designers like Chanel and Nina Ricci and Dior and the designers at the time." Noble had a pretty high-stress responsibility on set: guard the treasure. "[There] was nearly half a million pounds of diamonds and pearls which we had to carry around with us," he says. "They either had to be on me personally at any time, or on Kirsten. If they weren't on Kirsten then they had to be in the safe." Vintage Shopping with Kirsten Dunst Dunst has led a long career of adorable costuming, prompting It Girl squeals press-wide over her lengthy Hollywood existence. The Two Faces of January is no exception, with the 32-year-old making every scene feel like a Vanity Fair shoot. Evoking every inch the Hitchcockian blonde Amini could ask for, Noble's costumes make an Eva Marie Saint of Dunst's character, Colette MacFarland, in a snap. "I guess I did take cues from the Tippi Hedrens of that period," says Noble. "Also with Daniel [Phillips], hair and make-up designer, they worked very closely together and obviously with Kirsten's input too, we'd come up with how she ends up in the film. It's a very organic process. "Patricia Highsmith in the book details the silhouette of Colette, wearing pencil skirts and she knows what she likes," he says. "With Kirsten we had a two-day trying on period at Elstree Studios and we just created this wonderful sort of vintage world in the dressing room. We pulled in clothes from around the world from all these different costume houses, and fabrics from all over the place and just had a really fun time trying things on." Dressing Hollywood Actors Noble tries to involve his actors as much as possible in the early planning stages of his costume development, with every piece for the three leads Dunst, Mortensen and Isaac made bespoke. "I find it a very organic process ... working closely with the actors and coming up with their character and the concept behind the scenes or characters through their clothing," says Noble. "All three of [the leads: Mortensen, Dunst and Isaac] were a dream to work with. I was allowed to lead them, and obviously if there was something they absolutely thought was completely wrong then if I felt strongly about it I would try to make them wear it in a diplomatic way. "It's very hard to say how much input they have. Because I'll have had an original idea when I first see the script — because it's my job — and then you sort of have a period of prep where you start designing, researching and sketching, fabrics and that sort of thing. You try to have a conversation [with the actors] very early on; if they're not available face-to-face then I'll try and get them on the phone as early as possible to talk about their character. Then it's just a matter of trying on." The contemporary Cary Grant Tailored and worthy of a Hitchcock hero, Mortensen's suits as the seemingly infallible Chester MacFarland are a Savile Row lover's dream. Paired against Isaac's fedora-wearing, polo shirt-preferring role as newfound acquaintance Rydal, Noble's male costumes transcend fifty shades of holiday beige. Noble doesn't separate techniques for designing male and female character costumes, seeing the art in both without consciously seeking a gendered difference. "You know, obviously there's different techniques involved, I mean, with the men's tailoring; it's quite an art," he says. "The people who made [Mortensen's] suits are incredibly talented. But I haven't really thought about it to be honest, it sort of just happens." From affluent to penny-pinching, ladylike to roguish romantic hero, The Two Faces of January fronts a unified aesthetic through basic thematic means, particularly in the opening scene of the film — the sunwashed, crumbling ruins of the Acropolis paired with Mortensen's cream three-piece suit, Isaac's beige polo get-up and Dunst in That Yellow Dress. Changing it Up, Keeping it Fresh Along with the classic, contemporary '60s pieces created for The Two Faces of January, Noble boasts an eclectic CV. Having already designed the costumes for 2010's multi-award winning sci-fi drama Never Let Me Go, the 2011 teen angst-fuelled 2011 adaptation of Wuthering Heights and Scarlett Johansson's 2013 sci-fi jaw-dropper Under the Skin, Noble's not one to pigeonhole his art. "Versatility is what keeps it exciting or fresh," he says. "You don't know what script you're going to get in next, where it's going to take you. You know, you'll do a period piece for one month and then six months later you're doing a space age thing. It's so diverse. Obviously the script's the main thing — we've all worked on some duds in our time. But the diversity and the challenges are what keep you surviving in the industry." So the final question on fashion fiend minds: does Noble get to keep the wardrobe? "The studio keeps everything," says Noble. "I will ask if I can keep certain key pieces, but in general it's the property of the studio so what happens to it I don't know — there's obviously some graveyard." Shovels at the ready. The Two Faces of January is now showing in selected cinemas.
Keep watching the skies, folks — drones are a-coming. They can ferry sushi, burgers, slurpees and pizza to your face. They can help you take killer selfies and spirit you away to places you can't get to. And, with Amazon and Australia Post among the companies trying to integrate them into their businesses, they're also shaping up to become the parcel delivery mechanism of the future. In Amazon's case, they want to take things a step further. From offering one-hour booze delivery to making the jump from their massive online operations to opening bricks-and-mortar stores — with their supermarkets rumoured to be headed to Australia — they're not known for doing things by halves, after all. After successfully completing their first fully autonomous drone delivery on December 7, 2016, they're thinking about where they're deploying their flying robotic helpers from. That's why they've filed a patent for flying warehouses that will house and dispatch drones. Known as "airborne fulfilment centres" or AFCs, and covered in an application first lodged in 2014, the vessels in question are zeppelin-like airships that will house a contingent of stock. From there, drones that can reach altitudes of 14,000 metres will glide down to deliver the goods in question to their intended destination. And to keep the AFCs' shelves filled and ready to go, shuttles will bring supplies, drones and possibly even people up from the ground below. Yep, some actual humans will probably need to work in the sky to help things run smoothly. https://twitter.com/zoe_leavitt/status/814212767041331202 Festivals and sporting events, aka activities that usually filled with people wanting to buy things but don't always boast the best access, were mentioned as potential sites for Amazon's AFC-dispatched drone deliveries. Sure, it's just an idea in a patent application for now, but keep watching this space (and the space above your head, of course). Via Tech Crunch / Dezeen.
Your bags are packed, you've caught the Airtrain and you've navigated the check-in process. All that's left is to sit and wait until your flight boards, and then your holiday will be underway. That's how most of us approach airports, admit it. But we've all been forgetting a very important piece of travel advice: your trip actually begins when you walk through the airport doors. Once you've collected your boarding pass, dropped off your bags and passed through security, you're basically on your way. So, you might as well enjoy it. Most of us are guilty of finding the nearest seat, pumping out a few last-minute emails and tapping our toes impatiently as we scroll through our newsfeeds for the 1000th time until it's time to hop on the plane. But Brisbane Airport offers a range of alternatives at its Domestic Terminal. Whether you're a local starting your trip or you're a visitor with a spare window between connecting flights, coffee, shopping, music and more await. GET YOUR CAFFEINE FIX Airports and coffee are one of life's essential pairings. Most of us can't even contemplate making our way through the building — let alone the flight — without a good caffeine hit. Of course, as every coffee fiend knows, there's a difference between an average takeaway brew and a proper coffee — and Fonzie Abbott is onsite at Brisbane Airport to deliver the latter. Open from 4.30am weekdays and 5am on weekends, the coffee roasters brew up flavoursome beans that are widely considered among the best in Brisbane. Otherwise, rich hot chocolates are on offer — if that's your preferred warm beverage. Pair your coffee or choccie with a muffin or slice of banana bread, and sit by the cafe's windows for a bit of plane-spotting. And, if you're worried about the coffee situation when you land, you can also grab a bag of beans to take with you. HIT THE SHOPS One of the best views in the Brisbane Airport isn't at any of the boarding lounges, it's in the Lorna Jane store. If you find yourself staring outside rather than rifling through the racks, that's understandable — although shoppers will find plenty to keep their attention. Those needing something comfy to wear on the flight will be in the right spot, but whatever you're after, you'll likely find it among the Domestic Terminal's mini mall. You'll find the usual shopping centre suspects including Witchery, Seed, Peter Alexander, Typo and Sunglass Hut — great for when you realise you left your sunnies on the kitchen bench. There's also a Mecca Maxima should you need some skincare to help you stay fresh on the plane. Finally, there are, of course, spots like Newslink, Watermark Books and News Travels, where you can pick up a book to really sink your teeth into on your long-haul. EAT A DECENT PRE-FLIGHT MEAL Kimchi-filled Korean-style chicken sandwiches, slider platters and a pie tasting plate might not sound like your usual airport fare, but they're all available at the Domestic Terminal's Glasshouse Bar. Named after the nearby mountains on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, the restaurant and watering hole places a particular emphasis on local produce. Expect to also find a Darling Downs rump steak and a caesar salad with soft-boiled Tamborine Mountain free-range eggs on the menu, plus a range of Queensland brews. Settling in by the mountain mural is a great, leisurely sit-down option, but if you only have time for a food court meal, you can still have something a few steps above the reheated and fried meals that can plague food courts. At the Qantas food court, you'll find Vietnamese joint Roll'd with an array of vegetable-stuffed rice paper rolls, pho and banh mi, and Sumo Salad serving an array of fresh salads, grain bowls and made-to-order wraps at the Virgin end of the terminal. RELAX OVER A PRE-DEPARTURE BEV You might not be heading from Brisbane Airport to Cairns, but you can still enjoy some of the tropical Queensland city's best brews at the onsite Great Northern Bar. Because it's always 5pm somewhere, the bar stays open from 5am until late, with the closing time depending on the flight schedule. Expect a hefty lineup of beers and other alcoholic beverages, plus pub-style food and a nice view out over the tarmac. GET YOUR TECHNOLOGY IN ORDER Arrived at the airport after a busy day at work with a phone battery that's fading fast? Want to get in a few episodes of your favourite Netflix show during your flight, but forgot to download them? Finished shopping, eating and drinking but still have a couple of emails to write? That's where Brisbane Airport's free wifi and free charging stations come in handy; let's face it, hopping on a plane staring at the red power meter on your phone is the stuff nightmares are made of. With wifi throughout the terminal, you can get your affairs in order while you browse or sit at the bar. And as for charging up, you'll find a number of outlets scattered throughout the terminal's two food courts. Next time you find yourself at Brisbane Airport, pass the time pre-flight eating, drinking and shopping your way through the terminal. Images: Atlanta Bell.
To promote season four of The Walking Dead, FOX Portugal came up with the simplest of concepts: if you want blood, folks, then you gotta give it. That's right, they opened a pop-up store in which blood serves as currency. It's the first of its kind in the world. All you have to do is walk in and bare your forearm. The attendant produces a needle, fills a vial and sends it to the Portugese National Blood Bank Institute. You walk away with brand new, uber-gory merch and someone, somewhere, gets a much-needed transfusion. The more blood you give, the more goods you score. The store attracted customers at the rate of a World War Z zombie swarm. Blood donations reportedly increased by 571 percent in comparison with last year, and 67 percent of those giving the needle the green light were first-time donors. At the same time, The Walking Dead enjoyed a 17 percent boost in ratings. Given such overwhelmingly successful statistics, additional incarnations of the store are now set to pop-up in nations all over the world, including The Netherlands, Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and the United States. The Walking Dead Blood Store was created in conjunction with creative agency Torke + CC, whose motto reads "handcrafted ideas to rule the world." https://youtube.com/watch?v=Wf6ZXq71ujw Via PSFK.
Calendars out, Marvel fans: if you've been looking forward to adding more superheroes to your small-screen viewing in 2023, Disney+ has just the solution. First, Secret Invasion is on its way this winter, focusing on Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury. Then, come spring, both the second season of Loki and the debut of newcomer Echo will follow. 2023 marks two years since the Marvel Cinematic Universe's God of Mischief first hit streaming queues, doing so with a final promise: "Loki will return in season two". When it premiered, it was just the third MCU series to hit Disney+ after WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and it's been followed by Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms Marvel and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. But a couple of years has felt like a hefty wait for more of Tom Hiddleston (The Essex Serpent) getting his superpowered trickster on. The date to lock into your diary now: Friday, October 6, with the new batch of episodes set to pick up where season one left off. So, expect more chaos from the MCU favourite, more of Owen Wilson (Marry Me) as Mobius M Mobius, more banter (naturally) and more clone trickery. "Loki is back at the TVA, he's had a very difficult confrontation with Sylvie, and Mobius and Hunter B-15 don't know who he is," Hiddleston advised back in 2022, before season two also scored a brief sneak peek as part of Disney+'s streaming highlights trailer for 2023. [caption id="attachment_862338" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] As for Hawkeye spinoff Echo, it's locked in for Wednesday, November 29 — and it'll enjoy a first for the MCU on streaming. Disney+ usually drops a few episodes at once for each show, then unfurls the rest weekly afterwards. But this one will arrive all at once on the same day. Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is the Echo's focus — and, as first seen in Hawkeye, she's the gang leader who is deaf that had Clint Barton in her sights for a stint of revenge. In a series also starring Chaske Spencer (The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Three Pines), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Run Woman Run), Graham Greene (The Last of Us) and Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds), the character now gets an origin story. There's no trailer yet for either Loki season two or Echo, but you can check out Disney+'s 2023 trailer below: Loki season two will premiere on Disney+ on Friday, October 6, while Echo will arrive on Wednesday, November 29. Top image: ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
In the world of astronomy, 2018 is ending as it began. After kicking into gear with an extremely rare supermoon, the year is coming to a close with another impressive sky show: the comet 46P/Wirtanen. Given the festive time of year and the hurtling celestial object's green colour, 46P/Wirtanen has been dubbed the 'Christmas comet'. It's expected to be the brightest comet of 2018 and, while it's already a presence in the night sky, it'll be at its most vivid and glowing between December 14 and December 18. If you want to spy it at its absolute brightest — and on its closest approach to earth — NASA recommends looking up on Sunday, December 16 (in the evening down under, continuing through until the morning of Monday, December 17). If you're wondering how close it'll be, 46P/Wirtanen will be 11.7 million kilometres away, which equates to 30 times the distance to the moon. As for how vibrant it'll be, the comet should range between 3 and 7.5 on the naked-eye magnitude. At the upper end, that's dimmer than the brightest stars but still visible without binoculars or a telescope. At the lower end, you'll need one of the aforementioned pieces of equipment to help you see it. However you're choosing to take a gander, you'll be peering at a comet that was first discovered in 1948 by American astronomer Carl A. Wirtanen. It measures approximately 1.2 kilometres in diameter, and completes its orbit every 5.4 years, but it's not expected to venture this close to earth again for another 20 years. For the best view, the ABC advises looking north-east, and using either binoculars or a DSLR camera. You might also want help from an online chart to get you looking in the right spot, with The Comet Wirtanen Observing Campaign offering a guide. Heading as far away from city lights is also recommended, as it always is when the sky is putting on a spectacle. If you're thinking of camping out, you might want to consider making a weekend of it. 46P/Wirtanen's brightest spell comes two days after the impressive Geminids meteor shower, which is expected to be visible from late evening on Friday, December 14 through to the early morning on Saturday, December 15. The Virtual Telescope Project will also be streaming live images of 46P/Wirtanen between December 12 and 17. 46P/Wirtanen will be at its brightest during the night of on Sunday, December 16. Image: Stephen Rahn.
Now entering its second year, SXSW Sydney is a lightning rod for innovators, trailblazers, trendsetters and paradigm shifters from across Australia and the world. If you're flying in for this year's fest, we've got some suggestions for where you can lay your head after filling it with boundary-breaking ideas all day. Here are the best places to stay in and around SXSW Sydney's major hubs. Recommended reads: The Must-See Conference Events at SXSW Sydney 2024 Whet Your Appetite at the Unmissable SXSW Sydney Food Festival Eight Performances You Won't Want to Miss at This Year's SXSW Music Festival
Crowbar is a family-owned live music venue in the Inner West suburb of Leichhardt. Known for often hosting loads of acts on the heavier side of the music spectrum, the venue owners are actually deeply passionate about showcasing and supporting Australian music from a variety of genres. The majority of the music is programmed on Friday and Saturday nights. Upcoming acts include Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Teenage Joans, Press Club and Dear Seattle. Keep an eye out for secret shows at the venue, too. That's where you'll get to see massive music acts in a rare and intimate setting in the Inner West.
Since Euphoria last hit screens in 2022, 2023 added Saltburn to Jacob Elordi's resume, then 2024 Down Under brought Priscilla. In 2025, viewers will be watching the Australian star in The Narrow Road to the Deep North. The Australian-made five-part miniseries was initially announced a couple of years back, then unveiled a few sneak-peak images last year. Now, Prime Video has locked in the show's streaming debut for April. Put Friday, April 18, 2025 in your diary, and consider your Easter long-weekend viewing sorted. The Narrow Road to the Deep North will premiere at this year's Berlinale first, getting a rare cinema showing, before bringing its page-to-screen tale to streaming. Before all of the above projects, and also before the three Kissing Booth films helped boost his career first, Elordi scored his initial on-screen acting credit beyond short films in Aussie movie Swinging Safari. Since then, however, the Brisbane-born talent has largely focused on working overseas. So The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a rarity of late on his filmography, with the actor returning home to make the drama. The series adapts Richard Flanagan's Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name. Also featuring among the show's starry lineup of talent: Olivia DeJonge (Elvis), her The Staircase co-star Odessa Young (My First Film), Limbo and Boy Swallows Universe's Simon Baker; Heartbreak High's Thomas Weatherall, Love Me's Heather Mitchell and Belfast's Ciarán Hinds — as well as Show Kasamatsu (Tokyo Vice), Charles An (Last King of the Cross), Essie Davis (One Day), William Lodder (Love Me), Eduard Geyl (Born to Spy) and Christian Byers (Bump) The project's impressive talent extend behind the camera, with The Narrow Road to the Deep North hailing from Snowtown, True History of the Kelly Gang and Nitram collaborators Justin Kurzel and Shaun Grant. Kurzel directs, while Grant is on adaptation duties — and both are also executive producing. [caption id="attachment_927127" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic for HBO via Getty Images, supplied by Prime Video.[/caption] Elordi shares the role of Dorrigo Evans with Hinds, playing the younger version of the character in a tale that jumps between different time periods. The Narrow Road to the Deep North's protagonist is a Lieutenant who becomes a prisoner of war on the Thailand-Burma Railway. His story encompasses becoming a surgeon and war hero, and a life-changing stint of falling in love with Amy Mulvaney (Young). DeJonge and Baker feature with Elordi and Young in the show's 40s-set segments, where World War II obviously casts a shadow. Hinds hops in when the series gets to the 80s, which is where Mitchell, Weatherall, Kasamatsu and An will pop up as well. [caption id="attachment_947836" align="alignnone" width="1920"] HBO[/caption] [caption id="attachment_919075" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saltburn[/caption] The Narrow Road to the Deep North will stream via Prime Video from Friday, April 18, 2025. Images: Prime Video.
Winter in Sydney means three things: shorter days, longer nights and the return of Butter Ramen Club. Now in its ninth year (and counting), the hotly anticipated noodle-fuelled celebration is on at Butter's Surry Hills home from now until the end of September — and this time, it'll be bringing the heat in a whole new way. Executive Chef Julian Cincotta — Butter's fried chicken mastermind and ramen whisperer — has once again brought back his signature OG Fried Chicken Ramen for winter. This dish has taken on cult-classic status among Sydney foodies, and it's not hard to see why: thick-cut noodles, a marinated soft-boiled egg, enoki mushrooms and one of Butter's signature crispy fried chicken tenders, swimming in a rich, aromatic, tonkotsu-style broth. That flavour bomb of a bowl is only the beginning, with a number of new additions on the menu this time around. You'll be able to try a limited-time ramen topped with Forged by Vow's parfait and foie gras, made with cultured Japanese quail. Then, in good news for spice lovers, Butter has teamed up with local spice peddler The Fermentalist, known for its house-made hot sauces and bold chilli blends, for an all-new ramen that's set to bring some serious heat to the table. The bowls will be dished up daily in limited numbers, and only in store, for $25 a pop. You can also add a crisp $8 Tiger beer on the side for the ultimate winter warmer. Of course, Butter is known for more than just its golden fried chicken, and the brand's streetwear fans also have something to get excited about this winter. The 2025 Butter Ramen Club apparel drop is landing soon, this time in collaboration with one of western Sydney's most hyped fashion brands. You can find it online and in-store — but as always, once it's gone, it's gone. Whether you're a ramen obsessive, fried chicken fiend or just looking for a little extra warmth in your life this winter, Butter's annual ramen run continues to be a must-try for hungry Sydneysiders. Get in early, slurp up and embrace the heat. You can find Butter's limited-run ramen range its site at 6 Hunt Street, Surry Hills, from now until the end of September. Butter is open from 11.30am–9.30pm on Tuesday–Wednesday, 11.30am–11pm on Thursday, 11.30am–11.30pm on Friday–Saturday, and 12–9pm on Sunday. For more details, head to the restaurant's website.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same few days as possible. Last year, more than 400,000 Aussies took part at this festival of pre-loved stuff, holding more than 14,000 sales. Will this year's Garage Sale Trail top those hefty numbers? It'll certainly try via a huge array of events that will open their doors to bargain hunters, selling millions of items across two big spring weekends: between Saturday, November 9–Sunday, November 10, and then again from Saturday, November 16–Sunday, November 17. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Garage Sale Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There'll be a right slew of sales happening all around Sydney, so keep your eyes on the event website — or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
The balmy season is here, and we're ready to prance about in sparkling waters with an enthusiastic doggo by our side. If you're lucky enough to have (or have mates with) a fur baby, it's that time of year to plan outdoor adventures aplenty. And, with the scorching Sydney days upon us, you'll need to seek out swimming spots for you and your best mate. Luckily, we've got you covered. Here are five dog-friendly beaches where you can swim with your pooch. Think shallow and sheltered bays, seaside reserves and gorgeous coves — all of which permit your pup to frolic about unleashed. Grab your four-legged friend, smother some sunscreen on your schnoz and head for these Sydney gems. ROWLAND RESERVE, BAYVIEW Go for a frolic at Rowland Reserve, where water access is legally permitted to your off-leash pooch at all times. There's a big sandy spit, and the water's pretty shallow, so your pup won't find itself (literally) in the deep end. But make sure you pay attention to the designated dog-friendly areas at this reserve, which surround the dog park zone — otherwise you could be up for a hefty fine. We suggest making this dip the start or finish of a walk between Rowland Reserve and Church Point, which spans about five kilometres and offers scenic views aplenty. HORDERNS BEACH, BUNDEENA Horderns Beach is a stunning little spot, nestled within a sheltered bay in the sleepy suburb of Bundeena. Sitting at the edge of the Royal National Park, we suggest taking the lovely ferry ride across from Cronulla to reach these shores — yep, the ferry is also dog-friendly. In summer, Horderns is ideal for a twilight dip with your puppo; from September to April, dogs are allowed off-leash Monday to Friday before 8.30am and after 4.30pm. If you're into winter dips, off-leash rules apply at all times May to August too. But be sure not to venture into the national park while you're here, as dogs are prohibited there. [caption id="attachment_792875" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Jones via Unsplash[/caption] SPIT RESERVE, MOSMAN Set at the start of the Spit to Manly walk, Spit Reserve is a picturesque bayside park where doggos are welcomed with open arms. Let your pup roam leash-free while you lounge in the grass, go for little coastal bushwalk or wade into the water to cool down. You and your fur baby can explore both Spit West and East Reserves — with off-leash permitted all day Monday through Friday and before 9am or after 4pm on weekends and public holidays. If you're feeling like a bigger walk is in order, make your way from the reserve over Spit Bridge and on towards Manly. Along the way, you'll hit a few more dog-friendly beaches where you and your doggie can cool off. For the full low-down of where you can take your dog in Mosman, head here. CLONTARF RESERVE, SANDY BAY If you do plan to conquer the Spit to Manly walk with your pooch, stop by Clontarf Reserve for a dip during your hike. Be sure to head straight for the designated off-leash dog beach, as you'll need to keep your pup on a lead until you get there. The beach is just 150-metres long and the bay is rather sheltered and shallow — let's call this one more of a wading opportunity than a full-blown swim — so it's perfect for dogs (and people) who aren't regular Dwayne Johnsons in the waves. When you're not swimming with your doggo, enjoy a BYO picnic under one of the reserve's many trees. [caption id="attachment_769592" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danny Butler Photography via Flickr[/caption] SIRIUS COVE, MOSMAN At this well-frequented dog beach, you'll spot battalions of boisterous pooches retrieving tennis balls from the waves. Dogs are allowed at Sirius Cove off-leash on weekdays at all times and on weekends/public holidays before 9am and after 4pm. At high tide, it's a great chance for both of you to take a dip, and you can make a whole afternoon of it here. Paddle around the yachts with your sea pup, then enjoy use of the barbecues and picnic tables in the shade. Your dog can also be exercised off-leash in the adjoining park, so you can enjoy your picnic while your puppo explores or lounges comfortably at your feet. For the full low-down of where you can take your dog in Mosman, head here. Not feeling a dip, but still want to soak up some balmy hang time with your pup? Try one of Sydney's best dog parks. Top Image: Joseph Pearson
First, murder-mysteries kept filling streaming queues. Now, while that's still happening, everyone second whodunnit is a comedy as well. It worked for Only Murders in the Building, which will drop its third season this year. It's a treat in new Australian series Deadloch. And it also went down smoothly in the first season of Apple TV+'s The Afterparty, which is also about to release new episodes. Back when The Afterparty was picked up for another run in 2022, it was announced that season two would focus on Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish, The Card Counter), given that the first season already wrapped up its self-contained stint of sleuthing. But she isn't the only character making a comeback with Aniq (Sam Richardson, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) and Zoe (Zoe Chao, Party Down) also returning. As the just-dropped trailer shows, the couple attend a wedding, the groom Edgar (Zach Woods, Avenue 5) ends up dead, and questions start being asked — including of the bride Grace (Poppy Liu, Dead Ringers), who is Zoe's sister. While season one also featured Ben Schwartz (Space Force), Zoe Chao (Love Life), Ilana Glazer (Broad City), Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project), Dave Franco (If Beale Street Could Talk), Jamie Demetriou (The Great) and John Early (Search Party), this new case will bring in Elizabeth Perkins (Barry), Paul Walter Hauser (Bupkis), Anna Konkle (PEN15), Jack Whitehall (Jungle Cruise), Vivian Wu (Irma Vep), John Cho (Cowboy Bebop) and Ken Jeong (Community) when it starts streaming from Wednesday, July 12. To get to the bottom of the case, Danner and Aniq team up to interrogate all the guests, which sees the show cycle through a range of film genres as it tells each person's tale. "Hit me with that Aniq rom-com sequel," demands Danner — and, with season two spanning ten episodes, that'll only be the beginning. Wes Anderson flicks, period romances and black-and-white gumshoe noirs all get a look-in in the sneak peek. Of course, while the settings change, and the motley crew of figures involved as well, plenty of whodunnits share the same premise. Take a ragtag group of folks, pop them all in the same spot, kill one off and then start asking questions — that's it, that's the formula. It works for board game Cluedo, it worked for Agatha Christie and her lengthy list of Hercule Poirot novels and stories, and it's also been behind everything from the Knives Out movies and The Translators to See How They Run and more in the past few years. So, letting The Afterparty have another run at it should be easy for creators Chris Miller and Phil Lord (The Lego Movie). Indeed, if season two lives up to the first season, viewers can look forward to another batch of episodes that twist in its their own directions, tell their tale with flair and approach the show's overall idea with a savvy sense of humour. Check out the trailer for season two of The Afterparty below: Season two of The Afterparty will stream via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, July 12. Read our full review of season one.
Despite having a smorgasbord of activities and events at your fingertips, it's surprisingly easy to find yourself stuck in an after-hours rut with you and your mates kicking back at the same old after-work haunts, week in and week out. Enjoyable, though it won't exactly win you huge points for a sense of adventure. Luckily, if you are looking to shake up your after-work routine, you don't have to hunt very hard at all. To get you off to a cracking start, we've teamed up with Hahn to scout out a bunch of non-boring, new ideas for your next group activities. [caption id="attachment_631811" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Katje Ford.[/caption] SELF-GUIDED STREET ART TOUR No matter how long you've called yourself a local, we bet there's a truckload of corners and laneways you're yet to discover. So, round up the squad for some intrepid exploration, and gain a fresh perspective on that concrete jungle as you set off on a self-guided street art tour. The internet's chock full of printable tour maps curated by urban experts and art-lovers alike, directing you towards all the best art-focused walks in your area. Shake off the work day as you cruise the city at your own pace, unearthing public art gems left, right and centre. And once you've had your fill of art, head to the pub for a beer and a chat about the best, worst and most unusual sights you've seen. Where? Search 'street art' on Concrete Playground and find some of the works you should be seeing in your city, and if you're in Sydney, you can book into one of Culture Scouts tours if you need a bit more guidance. PASTA-MAKING WORKSHOP This gloomy stretch of winter will feel like way more of success if you come out at the end of it with something useful — you know, some visible gym results, a decent love life or, the most impressive of all, the knowledge of how to make a killer bowl of handmade pasta. Luckily from Brisbane to Sydney to Melbourne, we've been gifted with a delicious array of classes on making the best comfort food out there. So, if you really want to set yourself up for culinary success and a whole lot of praise, book the crew in for a post-work pasta-making class where you'll learn to create pure magic with just three simple ingredients: flour, eggs and water. And once you've learned how to make pasta, you can then study up on how to pair some beers with your creations. Just think of all those future dinner parties. Where? Learn to craft some epic noodles at Pasta Emilia in Sydney, The Craft & Co. in Melbourne and at The Pasta Company in Brisbane. LAWN BOWLS For the ultimate group bonding exercise, you can't go past the joy of kicking another team's butt in some form of organised sport. But who really wants to run the risk of a bung ankle, wrist or hammy going into summer? This year, hone your teamwork skills and sharpen that competitive edge while keeping the big hits to a minimum — join the lawn bowls revolution. Outside of the summer season, a session at most bowling clubs will cost you mere pocket change, including access to all the proper gear, a guide to get you started off on the right foot and maybe a couple post-work pitchers. What's more, after a few weeks of practice, just imagine how you and your mates will dominate against all those less practiced suckers during summer's social barefoot bowls sessions. Where? Practice your bowl at one of these greens in Sydney, at the City of Melbourne Bowls Club and one of these lawns in Brisbane. YOGA WITH A TWIST A regular ol' vinyasa may not be everyone's cup of tea. So if you want to up the ante, throw in a twist to make things a bit more intriguing. Studios across the country are taking the concept of yoga to some rather wild territory, with classes that offer the ultimate mash-up of exercise and fun. Prefer your workout tunes to have some oomph? Head along to a hip hop yoga class and get bendy to a soundtrack of fresh beats. Or, if you fancy making some new feline friends, team that stretch session with a few kitty cuddles at cat yoga. There's even a variety of aerial yoga styles which'll find you nailing those poses while suspended gracefully in mid-air. Where? Stretch it out with some kitties at Catmosphere's cat yoga in Sydney, groove into your downward dog at hip hop yoga in Melbourne and defy gravity at Brissie's aerial yoga. THEMED TRIVIA Got a swag of random knowledge just waiting to be put to good use? Round up your post-work posse for some fun of the cerebral variety: showing off your pop cultural prowess with a rousing session of themed trivia. A more focused version of the classic pub quiz, these events provide the perfect opportunity to unleash your random stash of Harry Potter facts and, if we're honest, a brilliant excuse to go back and 'revise' your favourite TV shows, cult movies and long-forgotten pop music. What's more, on any given week, there's usually a plethora of themed trivia sessions to choose from. Gather your crew and bond over not-so useless facts, a few beers and a good ol' pub parma. Where? Test your music knowledge at The Toxteth's Tuesday Night Music Trivia in Glebe, dig up some old memories at Throwback Thursdays trivia at Island Somewhere in Melbourne and dive head first into Simpsons, Seinfeld or Harry Potter trivia at Man vs Bear's trivia nights held at various bars around Brisbane. Round up the troops and head out for a new after-work activity this week, topped off with a cheeky Hahn or two.
Some dishes are as straightforward as they sound, and omurice — aka omelette rice — is one of them. It's an omelette made with fried rice, then typically topped with sauce. Yes, it's an easy concept to get around; however, not all versions of this western-influenced Japanese eggs-plus-rice staple are made equal. Indeed, trying Kichi Kichi Omurice's in Kyoto might be on your travel bucket list. Chef Motokichi Yukimura's viral-famous take on the dish has made him an internet star — the term "Japan's most-famous omurice chef" has been used — and seen his eatery become a tourist destination. As of January 2024, it's no longer doing bookings in advance, in fact. Now, diners are only able to make reservations on the same day they're eating, and need a password that's placed on the restaurant's door each morning to lock in their seating. But if you'd like the Kichi Kichi Omurice experience without the airfares, that's about to become a reality in Australia for four nights only — two apiece in Sydney and Brisbane. And yes, if this sounds familiar, that's because it's the second time that Yukimura is hitting both cities this year after an earlier trip in February and March. Yukimura will again be visiting Harajuku Gyoza to show why the dish he's been making for over 45 years is such a smash. The chef is doing 'meet and eat' events in both cities, cooking everyone who attends his specialty — and putting on a show, complete with his Kichi Kichi Omurice song and dance. Folks in Sydney are headed to Harajuku Gyoza Darling Harbour across Wednesday, July 17–Thursday, July 18. For Brisbanites, your destination is Harajuku Gyoza South Brisbane from Sunday, July 21–Monday, July 22. In Sydney, tickets cost $160 per person and are sold in pairs, with sittings at 12pm, 5pm, 6.30pm and 8pm on both days. Brisbane's tickets are $140 each, again sold in pairs, with the same sitting times. That price covers tucking into Yukimura's omurice, plus Harajuku Gyoza's signature long fries, three types of gyoza, air cheesecake and a welcome drink — and meeting the chef. Motokichi Yukimura will be at Harajuku Gyoza Darling Harbour in Sydney on Wednesday, July 17–Thursday, July 18, then at Harajuku Gyoza South Brisbane in Brisbane from Sunday, July 21–Monday, July 22. Head to the eatery's website for further details and bookings.
If you're anything like us, you have an endless list of places you want to visit and things you want to do when you're there: have a whiskey in the Park Hyatt Tokyo, float along Venice's canals, get into Berghain in Berlin, eat fresh seafood on the beach in Sri Lanka (just to name a few). But, sometimes, your bank balance won't allow it. We understand, and we've teamed up with Intrepid Travel so you can tick one off your list — for free. The long-time purveyor of taking you off the beaten track, putting you outside of your comfort zone and providing A-plus travel stories, Intrepid Travel is giving you a chance to win an (almost) all-expenses-paid trip to Sri Lanka. As well as return airfares for two, you and your chosen loved one will also get to join a 15-day extensive tour of the country. Get ready to tell some cracking travel yarns in the future. The Circle Sri Lanka trip will take you from Negombo, in the east and will travel clockwise all the way round to the island nation's capital, Colombo. Throughout the two weeks, you'll have the chance to explore ruins, climb Sigiriya Lion Rock, learn to cook traditional Sri Lankan fare, explore bustling bazaars and trek through tea plantations. And all accommodation, ten brekkies (and some lunches and dinners) are included, as well as more activities than you can count on your two hands. The island is full of vibrant culture, incredible food, ancient citadels and idyllic beaches on all sides. Regardless of whether you're the lucky winner, it should be high up on your travel bucket list anyway. To enter, see details below. [competition]669353[/competition] Top image: Sigiriya Lion Rock
It's the season of must-see TV we've known was coming since way back in 2020, and it finally has a release date. That'd be The Handmaid's Tale's fifth batch of episodes, which'll return this spring. The words you're looking for: praise be. With this hit series, blessed be the dystopian dramas, which is exactly what The Handmaid's Tale has been serving up since 2017 now. Of course, on the page, this bleak look at a potential oppressive existence has been drawing in fans since the 1985, when Margaret Atwood's book first hit shelves. A film followed in 1990, and opera in 2000 — plus a sequel novel in 2019, too. Yes, there have been many ways to dive into The Handmaid's Tale over the years, but only one keeps winning small-screen awards and stars a phenomenal Elisabeth Moss (Shining Girls). Thankfully, the wait between the show's fourth and fifth seasons is shorter than the gap between its third and fourth — a year rather than two. The date to mark in your diary: September 15, given that the show will return in the US on September 14. Down Under, episodes usually air weekly on SBS in Australia, and stream via SBS On Demand — and hit Neon in New Zealand — at the same time as in America. There's no trailer just yet, but The Handmaid's Tale's fifth season will arrive with two episodes to start with, then drop new instalments weekly afterwards. And, story-wise, it'll step back into June's (Moss) life after season four's climactic events. Accordingly, that also means watching Serena (Yvonne Strahovski, Stateless) try to raise her profile in Toronto, with season five seeing Gilead's influence creeps into Canada. Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford, Tick, Tick... Boom!) and Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd, Rebecca) endeavour to reform Gilead, too. And June, Luke (O-T Fagbenle, Black Widow) and Moira (Samira Wiley, Breaking News in Yuba County) will keep fighting the totalitarian regime. Also returning among the cast: Max Minghella (Spiral: From the Book of Saw), Madeline Brewer (Hustlers), Amanda Brugel (Snowpiercer) and Sam Jaeger (The Eyes of Tammy Faye). The fifth season of The Handmaid's Tale will hit start airing in Australia and New Zealand in September — on SBS TV, and to stream via SBS On Demand and Neon, with new episodes arriving weekly.
Whether you're a wizard or a muggle, the moment most people discover that something is forbidden, they feel a need to check it out. Harry Potter certainly did when it came to the forest surrounding Hogwarts, and now enchanted fans can follow in his footsteps as part of Warner Bros' London studio tour. From March 31, the film studio will unveil a new recreation of the area deemed off limits by Professor Dumbledore, complete with the greenery and creatures that helped it gets its name. As you walk through the Forbidden Forest with lantern in hand, you'll tread beneath 19 trees that each boast a diameter of almost four metres, see one of Hagrid's costumes — and even control the forest's weather. With the attraction designed and built by many of the crew members who worked on the films, the wonder doesn't stop there. Visitors will also spy a full-sized model of Buckbeak the hippogriff, and cross paths with the giant spider that is Aragog in all his glory (his leg span ranges beyond five metres, so don't venture near if you're arachnophobic). You'll feel as though Harry, Ron and Hermione are right there beside you, really. The Forbidden Forest is just the latest way the Warner Bros' London tour is going potty for all things Potter as part of its Making of Harry Potter section. A selection of outfits from the movies are on display until September, while current attendees can also find out how Dobby came to life until the end of March. In the lead up to Valentine's Day, eager diners can enjoy a love potion and a meal in the great hall, while a showcase of the dark arts — including a walk down Diagon Alley — is coming in October, followed by the return of the festive favourite Hogwarts in the Snow in November. Yes, it's totally okay if you're now looking up flights to London. For more information about the Warner Bros London studio tour and the Making of Harry Potter, visit the studio tour website.
2017 has proven a big year for art thus far. Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has just cut the ribbon on an extensive exhibition of Van Gogh's work, Sydney has launched The National, a new biannual multi-gallery exhibition of new Australian art, and Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) has Dark Mofo coming up in June. This year also marks the tenth anniversary of Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). They've already started the celebrations with a birthday exhibition (which featured a furry wall and Carsten Höller slippery slide), and, at the end of the year, GOMA will also be getting a new permanent work: a brand new light installation by artist James Turrell. You might be familiar with the Arizona-based artist's work if you've been to Mona or the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). He's the one behind the sky-centred installations at both galleries — at Mona, the gazebo-like Armana lights up at sunrise and sunset each day, and at the NGA in Canberra, Within without acts as an outdoor viewing chamber to enhance your view of the sky. All up, Turrell has created 80 'skyspaces' like these around the world. Brisbane's Turrell piece won't be a standalone structure like these other two Australian works; instead, the work will light up GOMA's eastern and southern white façades from within the building with a pattern developed by Turrell especially for the location. The plan is to light up the gallery at dusk each evening — when lit, it will make the gallery visible from across the river and around South Bank's cultural precinct. The work has been commissioned by GOMA with contributions from the Queensland Government, leading benefactors and the 2017 QAGOMA Foundation Appeal. It's set to be installed in early December 2017.
Everyone has one: a hangover story that's burned into your brain so strongly, it has become your own personal legend. Simply thinking about it brings back all the vivid memories — including the sights, smells, sounds and tastes; just how rotten you were feeling; and the shenanigans that ensured this wasn't just a normal morning after. Hangovers are humbling experiences, but celebrating them — or willingly reliving your hangover stories — isn't done all that often. Until now, that is, with Croatia's new Museum of Hangovers showing the love for the bleary, blurry, head-pounding results of a big, boozy night out. Now open seven days a week, the site is designed to recreate a drunken stumble home after a bender. You'll walk through different rooms just as if you were walking back from a bar or pub. Along the way, you'll peruse a collection of objects from real hangover tales, all on display alongside the stories behind them. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5lFw56nt96/ Created by Rino Dubokovic and co-founder Roberta Mikelic — based on real-life experience, naturally — the Zagreb museum features everything from a big board where visitors can detail their own tales while they're there to a mini-exhibition that shows what different forms of alcohol look like under a microscope. Portraits of seedy looking folks line the walls, and bottles of 'hangover wine' are also on sale. Plus, you can win free admission if you don some 'beer goggles', play darts at score a bullseye. And, because chronicling actual hangover experiences is what the museum is all about, it wants everyone to contribute — whether you're visiting Croatia anytime soon or not. Just head to the venue's website, type out your tale (anonymously, of course) and it could end up in the museum's collection. Find The Museum of Hangovers at Preradovićeva 8, Zagreb, Croatia, or visit its website for further details.
When a solar flare hits Europe, life changes instantly. Power grids go down, much of Britain is left without electricity, supply routes are threatened, vigilantes come out in force and chaos unsurprisingly ensues. That's the setup in COBRA, the high-stakes drama series that combines a disaster scenario with political intrigue, and tasks Prime Minister Robert Sutherland (Robert Carlyle) with deciding how to cope under such intense circumstances. If you're wondering about the show's name, no, snakes aren't involved. But meeting to discuss important matters is a firm part of COBRA, which takes its moniker from the nickname for the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR) in London — and, as you might know from news during the past year, from the group of top-ranking British Government leaders who come together in times of crisis to respond to national emergencies.
Russian Resurrection Film Festival director Nicholas Maksymow has a good sense of timing. Presenting a screening of Russian Ark in 2003, he suggested that a Russian film festival mightn't be a bad thing to have in Sydney. As it happened, the then NSW Premier Bob Carr was in the audience. The next year, Sydney got a Russian film festival. Russian Resurrection is in its eighth year now, and for its 2011 season it brings you an elegant sufficiency of modern Russian cinema. Innocent Saturday drops viewers into the bureaucracy of Chernobyl during the first 24 hours after the accident, opening night film Elena explores morality in post-Soviet Russia and Milla Jovavich stars in the romantic comedy Lucky Trouble. Dark, train-heavy period piece The Edge explores a fairytale-like story in a remote village in Siberia, while Dark World is fairy-tale in the more traditional vein of Night Watch. Night Watch's director Timur Bekmambetov, meanwhile, takes a break from fantasy and sews together lives across Russia in a multi-layered anthology set during New Year's eve, Six Degrees of Celebration. 3D sessions will screen at Event Cinemas in Burwood and Bondi Junction during the festival.
You know it's Good Food Month when Hyde Park is transformed into a fairy-lit backyard, dotted with stalls featuring the best Asian food that Sydney has to offer. This year, there will be 50 stalls showcasing these goodies, including the likes of China Republic, Harajuku Gyoza and popular Melbourne eatery Wonderbao, alongside old favourites such as Mamak, Longrain and Din Tai Fung. For the first time in its 16-year operation, the Night Noodle Markets will be operating on Sunday evenings as well. If you're hankering for Asian street food but can't bear the Noodle Market crush, try China Town's Asia on Your Doorstep Festival, which will feature an authentic-as-can-be Little Eat Street on October 25. Hours: Monday – Tuesday: 5pm – 9pm Wednesday: 5pm – 10pm Thursday - Friday: 5pm – 11pm Saturday: 4pm - 10pm Sunday: 4pm – 9pm. The Night Noodle Markets is one of our top ten picks of Good Food Month. Check out the rest of our recommendations.
Fun fact: Mudgee is the third largest grape-growing region in New South Wales, housing more than 35 family-run cellars. The city also happens to house a pretty rocking food scene — culinary specialities that the good folks of Mudgee are bringing to Balmoral Beach on August 10 for the 24th annual Mudgee Food & Wine Festival. From 11am-5pm, Balmoral Beach will be covered with marquees and stalls displaying Mudgee's finest fare and wine. Admission is free, with taste packages starting from $20. For the more adventurous, there is also a VIP Marquee 'grazing' event, where guests are able to chat to the producers while enjoying a menu of local and seasonal fare and wine, courtesy of renowned Mudgee chef Rachel McCarthy. Plan on drinking? Event organisers have even organised a shuttle bus to transport you around the northern suburbs. Bookings are essential. Tickets can be purchased here.
If truth is stranger than fiction, then prepare to attend the oddest film festival around. There's nothing unusual about Hot Docs at Palace Cinemas itself; indeed, given that the brand new film fest is an Aussie offshoot of Canada's renowned documentary showcase, has been curated by former Brisbane and Melbourne International Film Festival director Richard Moore, and takes over Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney from June 14 to July 3, it's exciting for the most typical of reasons. But the real life tales the festival's features promise to tell — well, they're another matter. You just can't make this stuff up may as well be Hot Docs' catchphrase as it explores the extraordinary, uplifting, awe-inspiring and heartbreaking sides of life — and everything in between as well. In its first ever Australian edition, the festival boasts 24 films from 15 countries, which means that getting your true story fix just got a whole lot easier. If you don't know where to jump in, we've selected five must-see Hot Docs flicks as a starting point. CHUCK NORRIS VERSUS COMMUNISM We don't recommend judging a film by its title, but when it comes to Chuck Norris Versus Communism, that might be an impossible task. Years of memes and jokes about the actor and martial artist's prowess will do that. But as much as the movie's name might indicate otherwise, they're not the subject of this documentary. Instead, it explores the impact Chuck's action flicks had on Romanian viewers. When everything but propaganda was banned throughout the nation in the oppressive period that was the '80s, it was actually smuggled VHS tapes of Norris and his fellow fist-flinging heroes that helped give people hope. RAVING IRAN Whether you love it or hate it, you probably can't imagine a world without electronic dance music. Neither can aspiring Iranian DJs Anoosh and Arash — even though they're supposed to be living in one. Raving Iran charts the duo's attempts to chase their dreams and keep Tehran's underground techno scene alive in a country that punishes their chosen art form with imprisonment. Their secret raves have to stay a literal secret, but their struggle isn't just about spinning decks, scratching records and throwing all-night parties — it's about fighting for freedom. DIVING INTO THE UNKNOWN A word of warning: if you're claustrophobic, not so fond of caves or don't like spending much time in the ocean's depths, then Diving Into the Unknown mightn't be comfortable viewing. In fact, even if small underwater spaces don't usually freak you out, this account of a group of Finnish divers in a five-kilometre-long, 130-metre-deep Norwegian cave might just do the trick. It's the stuff that nightmares are made of as the team gets into life-or-death trouble under the icy surface. It's also the type of psychologically intense true tale that's bound to get made into a fictional feature — although in this case, we're betting that nothing beats the real deal. JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY In a better world, no one would know Jim Foley's name — or if they did, it wouldn't be because of his kidnapping in Syria and subsequent public execution. In the Sundance audience award-winning doco Jim: The James Foley Story, Foley's childhood friend Brian Oakes shares the American photojournalist's story beyond the heartbreaking headlines and horrific video footage. Family, friends and fellow journalists explore the man behind the tragedy, and former hostages offer accounts of his courage in captivity. And then there's the footage that Foley shot himself, which offers an insider's view into one of the most awful ordeals imaginable. T-REX Forget Rocky, Creed and every other big screen boxing underdog — there's a new contender in town. In fact, saying that Claressa 'T–Rex' Shields fought her way from the streets of Michigan to the US Olympic boxing team isn't an exaggeration. Directors Drea Cooper and Zackary Canepari chart her battle to get to the top of her chosen sport, both in and out of the ring. Sure, you've seen boxing films before, but you haven't seen one as raw, resonant and real as this. Hot Docs at Palace Cinemas screens at Sydney's Palace Verona from June 21 to July 3, Melbourne's Palace Westgarth and Cinema Como from June 14 to 29. Check out the full program by visiting the festival's website and Facebook page.
What do Melbourne, Sydney and Austin all have in common? Come August, they will have all been home to the Carnivores Ball, which will soon be having its first Sydney instalment. The Carnivores Ball is an extravagant soiree dedicated to the (over) consumption of meaty goodness. After sell-out events in Melbourne and Austin, organisers are heading to Sydney in a venture that is sure to make local meat lovers break out in happy, pre-emptive sweats. Brought to you by Melbourne food blogger and honorary Texan Jess Pryles of BurgerMary (not to be confused with beloved Newtownian burger institution Mary's), the event boasts the inclusion of meat with every course, including dessert. This smorgasbord can be washed down with some locally brewed Young Henrys craft beer. Participating chefs include Matt Fitzgerald of El Topo and the crew from Hillbilly BBQ. While you battle through the menu, BurgerMary has promised an array of meat-centric activities, including pop-up stalls, gift bags and live music, as well as a mechanical bull to really set the scene. So, if you started salivating at the thought of a four-course meat-fest, then this is certainly your scene. And considering you don't win friends with salad, the company should be pretty great too. The Carnivores Ball will be held at the Marrickville Town Hall on August 16. All this protein-infused goodness will set you back $78 per person. Tickets can be purchased via TryBooking.
Directed by Joe Carnahan (The A Team) and produced by Ridley and Tony Scott, The Grey tells the story of a group of oil-rig workers who find themselves stranded on the freezing Alaskan tundra after their plane home crashes. John Ottoway (Liam Neeson) is forced to lead a group of roughneck men in their fight for survival when the men come under attack by a pack of vicious, aggressive wolves. The wolves are on the hunt for these stranded humans as they see them as intruders in their territory who must be killed. The Grey is a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat in the fight between man versus nature. The film is based on the short story Ghost Walker by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers. To win one of five double passes to see The Grey, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
No one went to Splendour in the Grass in 2024, after the Australian music festival announced its dates and lineup, then ditched its plans. No one attended Groovin the Moo this year, either, after it went through the same cycle of reveals and cancellations. Harvest Rock hadn't gotten to the stage of unveiling its bill, but it is now the latest Aussie fest to pull the plug on its event for this year, also joining Spilt Milk, Summergrounds Music Festival and Dark Mofo. "After two years of eating, drinking and dancing in Adelaide, we've made the difficult decision to postpone Harvest Rock 2024," announced the festival team in a statement on both the event's website and its social media channels. "This decision was made to ensure that Harvest Rock continues to deliver the experience that our local, national and international fans have come to know and love into the future," the message continued. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Harvest Rock (@harvestrockfest) If you're wondering when Harvest Rock will be back, there's no confirmation of that as yet. "We look forward to delivering another amazing Harvest Rock in the future," the statement also advises. It was back in 2022 that Secret Sounds, the crew behind Splendour in the Grass, gave Australia another massive multi-day music festival. The big aim: to get everyone dancing in a park in Adelaide each spring, including interstaters heading to South Australia to enjoy the fest's travelworthy lineups. The first year welcomed Jack White, Groove Armada, The Avalanches, Crowded House and Courtney Barnett, for starters. 2023's second spin featured Jamiroquai and Beck doing Australian-exclusive shows, plus everyone from Sparks and Nile Rogers & Chic to Bright Eyes and Paul Kelly. [caption id="attachment_969733" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] A two-day blend of music, food and wine — well, it is in SA — Harvest Rock has also spanned Adelaide's top restaurants and eateries serving up dishes, a culinary-focused stage and wine tastings in the two years that it has taken place. Upon debut, it instantly proved a success, attracting 15,000 attendees per day; however, that hasn't made it immune to Australia's spate of recent music festival cancellations. While Harvest Rock hadn't revealed its 2024 lineup, it did make tickets available for this year in 2023. If you snapped some up, you'll receive an automatic refund via however you purchased them within 14 days. Harvest Rock 2024, which was set to take place at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina, Adelaide, is no longer going ahead. Head to the festival's website for further details.
The gin-making superstars at Four Pillars are at it again, this month unveiling their first new creation to hit shelves since 2016. The latest addition to the Yarra Valley distillery's much-lauded barrel-aged program is the Sherry Cask Gin, which has just spent over a year in former sherry barrels, to lend a rich, intense character to the final drop. It's rounded out with notes of crushed coriander, pine needles and star anise, and infused with a small amount of Amontillado sherry to give some length and sweetness. According to the experts who made it, this one works well neat, or with sherry and orange bitters in a classic Tuxedo cocktail. Also launching this month is the 2018 edition of Four Pillars' Chardonnay Barrel Gin, which used to go by the name of Barrel-Aged Gin. This time around, the spirit's enjoyed a full 12 months in chardonnay barrels, giving characters of ginger and spice, and an oak-driven sweetness. The Four Pillars team is recommending this one over ice, or with a sprig of rosemary and a drop of honey. Both gins are available online or at selected independent retailers.
2023 ain't nuthing ta f' wit: it's the year that Wu-Tang Clan are returning Down Under, after all. After the hip hop legends kicked off their NY State of Mind tour with Nas in 2022, they're bringing the 2023 leg to Australia and New Zealand — and it's still a joint affair. Two of the biggest names in the business since the 90s — with Wu-Tang Clan first making a splash with their 1993 debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and Nas doing the same with 1994's Illmatic — will play four shows in total on their Aussie and Aotearoa visit. They're the first gigs in the 2023 tour, too, and all in May, kicking off in Auckland before hopping across the ditch for stops in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The 2022 leg hit up more than 25 cities, and 2023's is just as epic — after its stint Down Under, it heads through Europe and then back to the US. Along the way, fans can enjoy Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck and Cappadonna taking to the stage three decades after they first came to fame — and Nas sharing the mic as well. Over that time, Wu-Tang Clan have dropped seven further albums from a fill discography that, including solo records by its members, notches up more than 85 full-length releases. Their tours pull from the whole lot, as set against that ever-present Wu-Tang 'W' — and honours the deceased Ol' Dirty Bastard as well. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wu Tang Clan (@wutangclan) WU-TANG CLAN AND NAS 'NY STATE OF MIND' TOUR 2023: Tuesday, May 9 — Spark Arena, Auckland Friday, May 12 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Saturday, May 13 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Sunday, May 14 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Wu-Tang Clan and Nas tour Australia and New Zealand in May 2023, with pre-sales from 11am local time on Friday, March 3, and general sales from 12pm local time on Monday, March 6. Head to the Live Nation website for tickets and further details.
Flailing limbs, diving bodies and general mayhem: these are just a few things you can expect to witness at the forthcoming Royal Headache show at the Imperial Hotel in Sydney. With a reputation for wild live shows at any venue, large or small, the Sydney four-piece is playing a one-off gig to launch their new 7" EP for their undying local fans. Mosh-pit insanity ensues. These past 12 months have seen Royal Headache garner a huge following, a bit of hate, but mostly praise. Touring with the likes of The Black Keys, The Black Lips and others, they’ve come a long way for a self-managed band who like to do things "on their own terms". Forming in 2008, the R.I.P. Society outfit released a self-titled album in 2012, a treasure trove of lo-fi punk gems, which received high praise from local and international media. Royal Headache now leads the pack of garage-punk outfits in this new phase of indie rock. Straight Arrows, Daylight Robbery (CHICAGO), Model Citizen and Warm Feelings will also be performing on the evening.
The National 2019 is nearly upon us, and among its massive three-gallery exhibition is one just for solo movie-goers. Lick Lick Blink is a ten-minute cinema experience created by Tasmanian artist Willoh S. Weiland — and it's limited to one person viewing at a time. The striking new work combines film, performance and breast-shaped Gelato Messina. Weiland's work is inspired by the #MeToo movement and examines how female images are consumed in film. Expect the screen to be solely occupied by women — a rarity in mainstream cinema. To take this experience to a more immersive level, Weiland has teamed up with the cult gelateria. The brand has created a range of breast-shaped, nipple-topped, milk-flavoured ice cream cones for participants to eat while figuratively devouring the female images on screen. The chocolate coating comes in a variety of shades, which is a reflection of the female diversity that is all too often absent in film. Weiland's work is in good company within the overarching exhibition, with many of this year's artists also focusing on gender issues. Lick Lick Blink will premiere on March 29 for The National 2019 opening weekend and run at various scheduled times through June 23. The screening is free, but booking is required in-person on the day at the MCA information desk (level one). For the full performance schedule, head online. Images: Daniel Boud
