There aren't a whole bunch of things that can beat a day in the sun with a drink in your hand. Recognising the need to slake that thirst, Canadian Club is bringing their Racquet Club back for the summer, dosing out refreshing Canadian Club, dry and lime by the water with a screen showing the tennis. The Racquet Club celebrates Australia's biggest annual summer sporting fixture, the Australian Open. After keeping punters hydrated in Melbourne last year, the pop-up will this year extend to Sydney and Brisbane as well. The club will set up at The Bucket List on Bondi Beach for a whole month, from December 29 to January 30, and overlooking Sydney Harbour at Cruise Bar from January 3 to January 30. The pop-up bar will carry Canadian Club on tap and a whole slew of Canadian Club cocktails (the grapefruit Summer Spritz is our favourite), and will be decked out in all the tennis memorabilia that they can find. Plus, when the Open starts on January 16, there'll be a big screen showing every game, loud and live. Sports, beach and Canadian Club? See you there.
If you managed to nab a ticket to Paul Kelly's Making Gravy tour last year, then you were one of the lucky ones. If you weren't and have been lamenting ever since, you can stop. The songwriting legend has just announced that he'll be performing the show all over again this December, in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (on Gravy Day itself, December 21). Like the song, the tour — now in its third year — is becoming a bit of an Aussie Christmas tradition. Time to start thinking about getting the tinsel and ugly jumpers out of storage. As in 2018, you can expect to hear a stack of songs from Kelly's four-decade long career. Listen out for all the hits, from 'Dumb Things', from the album Live, May 1992, to 'Love Never Runs On Time' from Wanted Man (1994). The Christmas classic 'How To Make Gravy', first released in 1996 on an eponymous EP, is on the menu, too. The tour will coincide with the release of Kelly's new greatest hits album Songs From The South (1985–2019), his collaborative avian-inspired album 13 Ways To Look At Birds and a book of poetry he's curated, called Love Is Strong As Death. Kelly won't be hitting the road alone, either — he's inviting a bunch of special guests. He'll be joined by ARIA Award-winning rocker Courtney Barnett, Aussie Eurovison finalist Kate Miller-Heidke, NZ singer Marlon Williams and Gamilaraay songstress Thelma Plum (in Sydney only). [caption id="attachment_737416" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mia Mala McDonald[/caption] MAKING GRAVY DATES 2019 Perth — Optus Stadium, Saturday, December 7 Melbourne — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Thursday, December 12 Sydney — The Domain, Saturday, December 14 Brisbane — Riverstage, Saturday, December 21 Paul Kelly Making Gravy pre-sale tickets will be available from midday on Tuesday, August 20 with general sales from midday on Friday, August 23. Perth, Sydney and Brisbane tickets will be available via Ticketmaster with Melbourne's via Ticketek. Top image: Cybele Malinowski
It just got real dark in Sydney. And in Sydney during the warmer months, that only means one thing: a storm is coming. So if you're currently reading this from somewhere dry, warm and cosy, we suggest that you keep it that way for the rest of the afternoon. And not just any old wet weather, either. The Bureau of Meteorology has reported that severe storms, strong winds, heavy rainfall and large hail is on its way, which is looking to affect the Metro, Illawarra and Hunter regions. Taking a peek at its nifty colour-coded map, below, it looks like Sydney is going to be worst hit, too. https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1103073062612844546 With storms come falling trees (and sometimes falling powerlines) and Ausgrid is telling customers to top-up their phones before the storms hit — just in case — and to stay well away from any powerlines that have been knocked over. The wild weather looks to ease later tonight. At the moment, public transport looks to be running on time and no major roads have flooded, but this could change when peak hour hits. Stay dry out there. And remember to check Live Traffic, Transport Info and BOM for warnings and updates. UPDATE: MARCH 6, 2019 — At 12.35pm, the BOM released a severe thunderstorm warning for damaging winds over the next several hours. Those in the Metropolitan, Central Tablelands, Hunter, Illawarra and surrounding areas are advised to move their cars under cover, secure loose items and stay indoors during this time. Image: Live Traffic NSW.
For loved ones that prefer their flowers edible, Gelato Messina is once again happy to oblige. It has created a new frozen floral creation, dubbed The Tart Breaker: a limited-edition gelato rose cake, which will be released exclusively for Valentine's Day this year. The red rose cake is complex inside and out — in true Messina fashion. It's a chocolate tart shell filled with layers of Basque cheesecake gelato and dulce de leche, topped with petals made from hand-piped burnt vanilla chantilly. Yes, it's as decadent as it sounds. The rose cake will cost you $69 — likely less than a big bouquet of (non-edible) V-day roses — and can be cut into 6–8 slices, which can serve 6–8 people or just you and your partner; the decision is yours, we're not here to judge. Orders are only available for pickup on the days leading up to Valentine's Day. The Tart Breaker is available to pre-order from all Messina outposts except The Star from Monday, February 1 for pick up between Friday, February 12–Sunday, February 14.
Spend a Saturday getting your hands dirty, or rather, floury. Pasta Emilia, which moved from its original home in Bronte to Surry Hills in 2012, is not just a restaurant, but a cooking school as well. With local, organic ingredients at your fingertips, you'll learn how to make pasta the traditional way. That includes creating the best flour mix, fashioning it into dough and stretching it into sheets. Alessandro Grisendi, who's been making pasta by hand for fifteen years, will teach you how to make all kinds of pasta, from ravioli and cappelletti, to linguine and strozzapreti. And when your work is done, you'll sit down to a hearty lunch, including pasta, a veggie salad and glass of organic wine.
Unless you somehow haven't looked at a screen, billboard or newspaper in the past few weeks — or listened to the radio, heard any streaming ads or had a TV on in the background, either — you'll know that Black Friday is upon us for another year. Absolutely everything is on sale, or so it seems, including bargain holidays. Whether you're keen to explore Australian destinations or fancy a getaway further afield, Virgin's addition to the 2023 shopping frenzy has you covered. A whopping 500,000 fares are currently up for grabs as part of the airline's Black Friday, Bright Holidays sale, covering a heap of Aussie and international spots. Sticking with home turf, you can head to Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Hamilton Island, Alice Springs, Hobart and more. And, if you're eager to journey overseas, you can hit up Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tokyo and Queenstown. One-way domestic fares start at $49, which'll get you from Sydney to Byron Bay. As always, that's cheapest route. Other discounted flights include Melbourne to Launceston from $59, Brisbane to either Cairns for $105 or Hamilton Island for $115, Adelaide to the Gold Coast from $125 and Perth to Hobart from $239. Internationally, the return deals start with Sydney to Queenstown from $435, Brisbane to Fiji from $509, Melbourne to Bali from $629 and Cairns to Tokyo from $679. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, there's a range of dates from Wednesday, January 10–Thursday, June 20, 2024, all varying depending on the flights and prices. As usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are now on offer until midnight on Tuesday, November 28 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Virgin's 2023 Black Friday, Bright Holidays sale runs until midnight AEST on Tuesday, November 28 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Sydney is taking a major page out of the globally progressive book with this week's announcement that the state government is creating an 'entrepreneur school' to advance the startup potential in NSW. The Sydney School of Entrepreneurship (SSE) will welcome students as early as 2017 from multiple partner universities, most notably Ultimo TAFE, where the new school is likely to be based. The school is very smartly modelled on Sweden's renowned Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship, which is run by Australian Nick Kaye. More than one in three graduates of the Stockholm school have successfully launched startups, including two 'unicorns' – a startup valued at more than one-billion USD. If this is any indication of what can be accomplished in Sydney, we're in for a large influx of Mark Zuckerbergs over the coming years. Sydney's the right city for what could become Australia's premier dedicated entrepreneur school. Industry minister Anthony Roberts reported that 46 percent of all Australian startups are based in Sydney and NSW accounts for 64 percent of the total in Australia. So who's funding this? Iconic businessman Tony Shepherd is among backers, with the state budget set at a massive $25 million. But hey, you can't put a price tag on becoming the 'epicentre of entrepreneurship' in the entire Australasia region, now can you? The government has estimated that the tech startup sector could be worth $109 billion to the national economy and create 540,000 jobs by 2033. So we're not enthused with the NSW Government's antiquated, catch-all lockout laws and general nanny state shenanigans, but we're pretty impressed with this new venture. The SSE is expecting 1000 students from partner universities and TAFE to join the school in its inaugural year. You go, Sydney. Via SMH.
The South Island is known for its breathtaking scenery. However, if you're a culture junkie, there's no end to the beautiful experiences you can have — and not just in a gallery. Whether you're into history, art, language or music, you're bound to find something (and often with a good feed to go with). We've curated a selection of experiences in the South all cultural but none that require the four walls of a gallery. THE SHERWOOD This little hotel is a gem in Queenstown's tourismscape. Perched on three acres of spectacular alpine hillside, with views over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range, The Sherwood is a true community hotel, built with the express intention of letting its guests connect with each other and with nature. Kitchen gardens service the holistic, natural dishes in its restaurant and the hotel has a community events schedule to boot. During your stay, attend a poetry slam, take a jewellery class or stretch it out at one of the regular yoga classes. With resident artists and writers and almost nightly live music, here, the culture comes to you 554 Frankton Road, Queenstown. FUSH Fush is not your ordinary fish and chippie. This family-owned eatery in Wigram aims to help diners integrate te reo Māori, one of New Zealand's official languages, into their conversations, by offering bilingual menus and using te reo phrases with customers. The fish and chips joint has even started offering free te reo Maori classes, accessible to anyone with the will to learn. What about the food? It's awesome — the fish comes pan-fried, coated or crumbed; hand cut chips are made from quality Canterbury spuds and the place is fully licensed, too. Have a sparkling with your order or a gin and tonic, and order a plate of shucked oysters or a smoked fish pie. It's all good. 104 The Runway, Wigram Skies. CHRISTCHURCH ARTS CENTRE A phenomenally beautiful space, the neo-gothic former home of the University of Canterbury is the heart of the arts in Christchurch. A community centre with events, stores and exhibitions, the Christchurch Arts Centre has something for everyone. If you're after some pieces for your home, visit Frances Nation, a beautifully considered homewares store inside the centre. Owner Tessa Peach stocks quality goods made from natural materials; they're New Zealand-made, functional pieces you will love forever. It sums up the ethos of the centre, really — full of heart and authenticity. 2 Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch. THE MUSSEL INN Golden Bay isn't really Golden Bay without The Mussel Inn. Worth the trip to the northwest Nelson region, this is a beloved watering hole for locals and visitors alike. After a day lounging on the beach, sink in for a night of live music and bevs. While there's no knowing who's going to show up on the bill, every week brings a new lineup of artists to the place. That's one of the beauteous things about the Inn. The team also brews its own beers, ciders and soft drinks. We'd recommend the feijoa cider if it's on tap. 1259 State Highway 60, Onekaka, Golden Bay. THE CHRISTCHURCH FARMERS' MARKET Luxe porridge? Fresh produce? People watching? You'll find it all at the Christchurch Farmers' Market, one of Aotearoa's first markets. The best way to experience a new place is to go where the people are — and on a Saturday, they're all in Riccarton buying wholesome seasonal goodness. Held on the doorstep of Christchurch's founding family's home, Riccarton House, and perched beside the Avon River, the market boasts over 80 stalls selling everything from veggies to coffee, cakes to organic dog biscuits. 16 Kahu Road, Riccarton, Christchurch. LARNACH CASTLE If history is your thing, head to New Zealand's only castle. Nestled in the beautiful Otago Peninsula, the castle was built in the 1870s by bank manager and cabinet minister William Larnach to house his large family. Restored to its former glory by the Barker family, the home and grounds are open every day of the year. While it may be considered a 'mock' castle, it's a magnificent site to see with Italian marble, Welsh slate, English floor tiles, Venetian and French glass, Kauri ceilings, rimu floors and honeysuckle panelling featured throughout. 145 Camp Road, Dunedin. MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS MAILBOAT Come summer, there may be no cruisier way to explore the Marlborough Sounds than aboard the Picton Mailboat. Hop aboard and join in on mail day, with commentary from your skipper on the history of the Sounds, the people who have lived there and those who call the area home today. Each journey is different, depending on where the post bags, groceries and freight need to go. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other wildlife, and make a stop at Ship Cove, where Captain James Cook stopped to replenish The Endeavour. Start planning your trip to New Zealand's south with our guide to the South Island journeys to take here.
The world contains a vivid tapestry of diverse countries and cultures, each woven with its own unique traditions and celebrations. What better way to immerse yourself in the culture of a region than joining in with the festivities? From the rhythmic beats of Carnival to the kaleidoscopic lights of Diwali, take a step beyond the typical tourist trail with Intrepid Travel. Discover the heartbeat of a place through the lens of its most enchanting festivities. It's time to pack your bags, strap on some comfy shoes and create memories that transcend borders. Diwali The festival of lights is celebrated worldwide, but experiencing it in India itself is something else entirely. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. It symbolises the victory of light over darkness, goodness over evil and knowledge over ignorance. There are variations across the region and the different local religions of the country. Some things are always included: lots and lots of candles, lights and delicious food. The festival happens in the first weeks of November to tie in with the darkest days of the year (in India). Time your adventure to this stunning country to coincide with the festival so you can see the magic of the celebrations with the locals. Dia De Los Muertos Feel the mystical vibes of the weird and wonderful Dia de los Muertos, the annual Day of the Dead festival, in Mexico City. Participate in a traditional Day of the Dead ceremony and see elaborate altars dedicated to those who have passed. Enjoy delicious tacos and other street food at the openair Mercado Jamaica, and venture outside the city to see the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan. If you are passing through the capital on your exploration of Central America, time your travel so you can be there for this iconic festival. [caption id="attachment_969162" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Heejin Yu via iStock[/caption] Kwita Inzina If you're all about nature conservation, attend the Kwita Izina ceremony in Rwanda to see the on-the-ground efforts of those fighting the good fight for Mother Earth. That's exactly what you can do with this on-the-ground tour in Rwanda. It puts you in the middle of the ceremony, an adaptation of a traditional Rwandan naming ceremony where locals name and celebrate newborn local gorillas. The festival includes a mix of formal speeches from conservationists and celebrity guests, plus music and dance performances. Prepare to go with the flow and be whisked into the celebrations, as participation is encouraged. The entire region comes together to celebrate the festival and conservation of these beautiful animals. Halloween Bram Stoker may not have intended it, but thanks to the setting of his novel, Dracula, in Transylvania, locals now celebrate his creation based on local legends with a next-level celebration on All Hallow's Eve. Head to central Europe to Bucharest, Romania and explore the haunting beauty of Sighisoara (the birthplace of the infamous creature of the night) and spooky Bran Castle (aka Count Dracula's castle) in Brasov. Break out your scariest costumes for a spooky Halloween party in Cluj-Napoca — the former capital of the historical principality of Transylvania. Christmas The Christmas season just hits different when it's in Europe. Snow falls on rooftops of buildings and market stalls on narrow cobbled streets as stallholders give out mulled wine, chimney cakes, hot cider, pretzels, hot chocolate and sweet treats to the tourists and locals meandering from stall to stall. If a trip to Central Europe is on the cards, be sure to time it so you can explore the famous Christmas markets from Munich to Budapest. And the best way to travel in Europe? By train, of course. Carnival Bright colours, headdresses and more feathers than you can count — Carnival is the world's greatest party on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, just waiting for you to rock up. Witness an elaborate parade of floats and dancers in the Sambadrome, which stretches into the wee hours. Samba your way through non-stop action, join the conga line with the locals and move to the rhythm of the drum-fuelled street fiestas. Whether you're journeying through Brazil on an epic adventure or specifically going to Rio de Janeiro for the fest, it's definitely not to miss. Naadam While the Greeks have the Olympics, the Mongols have Naadam. This festival might not be well known, but it is the best time of the year to see Mongolia. The annual colourful festival is a centuries-old tradition that dates back to the Khans and their dynasties. Expect archery, wrestling and horse racing — the primary skills a Mongol warrior requires. While in the area, explore the stunning natural landscapes of central Mongolia, such as Baga Gazriin Chuluu (granite rocks worshipped by locals), the Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs and the dunes of Khongoriin, called the 'singing sands' by locals for the whistling sound made by small avalanches of sand on a windy day. Get out, explore, dive into adventure and find your WOW with Intrepid Travel. Find out more on the website.
In an effort to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 across Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has this morning, Wednesday, March 18, announced that non-essential indoor events of more than 100 people will be banned — effective immediately. This announcement follows last week's ban on mass gatherings of over 500 people, which is still in place for outdoor events. Airports, public transport, age care, correctional facilities, law courts, parliaments, food markets, supermarkets, office buildings, factories, mining sites, hotels, motels, schools, universities and transit spots — such as Bourke Street Mall, Martin Place — are not be impacted by the ban, but the Prime Minister has said that the "advice to all Australians is do not travel abroad". State and territory leaders have the power to add to this list of essential gatherings, too. The Prime Minister also said that social distancing should be observed by all, which includes regularly sanitising your hands, using 'tap and pay', avoiding crowds and commuting at quiet times when possible, and maintaining a distance of 1.5m apart wherever it is practical to do so. You can read the Department of Health's social distancing guidelines over here. [caption id="attachment_758772" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The NGV has already temporarily closed.[/caption] While the PM hasn't stipulated what exactly a non-essential indoor event is, we can expect large art galleries — that haven't already temporarily closed — cinemas and big restaurants, bars and pubs to close in wake of this announcement. Many hospitality venues have already upped their takeaway offering in response to a downturn in customers during the COVID-19, but it's likely more will offer takeout-only options. During morning's announcement, the PM also said that the hoarding of supplies was "un-Australian" and it should be stopped, and that the above measures were likely to be in place for "six months" so they needed to be "sustainable" and "achievable" for all Australians. For now, the above bans on non-essential gatherings are in place indefinitely. The Australia-wide ban on non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people is effective immediately. The ban on non-essential outdoor events of more than 500 people is still in place.
Melbourne, it's pretty much official — you're the live music capital of the world, with a music venue-to-resident ratio that trumps every other city on the planet. And that's just one of the great findings from the Melbourne Live Music Census 2017, which were revealed this week. The survey, headed up by Music Victoria and the City of Melbourne along with Collarts, RMIT and local councils, sets out to analyse the climate of Melbourne's live music industry every five years. In its second edition, conducted on November 25 last year, it found that climate to be pretty darn healthy. In 2017 alone, greater Melbourne played host to over 73,605 advertised gigs and saw a total live music attendance of 17.5 million punters — that's up 19 percent and 12 percent respectively from 2012's census. In fact, audience numbers for live music events throughout the year were bigger than for AFL, cricket, the Spring Racing Carnival, A-League, basketball, netball, NRL and the Australian Grand Prix combined. And, while we hear plenty about Sydney live music venues shutting up shop, it seems the future's looking brighter for their southern counterparts, with 55% reporting an increased audience in the past 12 months. But the biggest news is perhaps that Melbourne now boasts one live music venue for every 9503 residents, making local music lovers the best-served in the world. Compare those figures with London's one venue per 34,350 residents, New York's one per 18,554 and LA's one per 19,607 ,and you'll have to agree Melbourne's absolutely killing it. The full Melbourne Live Music Census 2017 report is set to be presented at the Music Cities Convention - Melbourne on April 19.
News that's noice, tight and cool cool cool hasn't been the norm over the past year or so, including when US TV network NBC announced that Brooklyn Nine-Nine would end after its next (and eighth) season. That revelation sparked plenty of questions, all of varying degrees of importance. One of the most crucial: how many more times will Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) say "title of your sex tape"? Other essential queries have been running through B99 fans' minds since then, of course. So, if you've been wondering what this last batch of ten episodes will have in store for Brooklyn's fictional 99th police precinct, how the series will wrap up and if Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti) will make a final appearance — and how much more yoghurt can Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) eat, too — you're not alone. Thankfully, in just a couple of weeks, answers will start flowing. That's when Brooklyn Nine-Nine's last season will hit screens for a final farewell. Come Friday, August 13, SBS On Demand and SBS will start both streaming and airing the show's last batch of episodes, starting with a double to kick things off, then dropping further eps week by week. Back in May, US network NBC revealed that Brooklyn Nine-Nine's last season would launch following the Tokyo Olympics — and it also dropped a teaser trailer — so, given that SBS has fast-tracked recent seasons, this is both an unsurprising and overwhelmingly welcome development. How many times Die Hard will get a mention before the series says "yippee-ki-yay" for the last time? How will Peralta and Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) handle parenthood? What other tidbits will Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) drop about her past in passing? Which crazy food items will Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller) eat? They're some of the other questions you're probably now pondering, as well as exactly what else the whole gang — including Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) and Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), of course — will get up to. If you'd like to start planning your own Halloween heist now in celebration — yes, a few months early — that's perfectly understandable. Check out the teaser trailer for Brooklyn Nine-Nine's final season below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRFDHqFiYoE&t=3s The first two episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine's eighth and final season will be able to stream via SBS On Demand (and to view on SBS) on Friday, August 13, with new episodes dropping weekly afterwards.
2022 marks 23 years since Baltimore high-school student Hae Min Lee was found dead, and 22 years since her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed was convicted of her murder. It also marks eight years since the case became an international obsession thanks to the first season of Sarah Koenig's grimly addictive podcast Serial. Since the latter, the details have rarely been out of the spotlight — including the legal situation, as well as Syed's ongoing quest to have the extremely complex matter reassessed in the years after he was found guilty. And come Wednesday, September 21, the case will fuel a brand-new episode of Serial as well. Yes, everyone's favourite 2014 true-crime podcast obsession is returning to its original subject, with the Koenig-hosted audio series Serial set to drop a new episode about Syed. The reason? After more than two decades in prison, Syed's conviction has just been vacated by the Baltimore City Circuit Court, with Syed released today, Tuesday, September 20, Down Under time. Syed has been released into home detention while the state has 30 days to decide whether to pursue a new trial or dismiss the case. The New York Times reports that Judge Melissa Phinn overturned the conviction "in the interests of fairness and justice". Her ruling came after finding that prosecutors did not turn over evidence that may have assisted Syed during his trial, as well as new evidence might've influenced the outcome. Serial confirmed via social media that Koenig was at the courthouse when Syed was released, and that a new episode of the podcast will arrive tomorrow morning US time. Syed was convicted of first-degree murder in 2020, sentenced to life in prison, and has been fighting his case through the courts ever since. While he was granted a new trial in 2016, that ruling was subsequently appealed by the State of Maryland — only for the Court of Special Appeals to agree to vacate Syed's conviction and finally give him that retrial. Then in 2019, in Maryland's Court of Appeals, that retrial request was denied, but Syed's attorney committed to keep battling. Lee's murder and Syed's conviction were also the subject of HBO documentary series The Case Against Adnan Syed, which picked up where Serial's 12-episode first season left off — not only exploring 18-year-old Lee's death in 1999 and Syed's conviction the year afterwards, but the latter's ongoing legal questions. The doco featured everything from Lee and Syed's relationship to the original police investigation and trial, and also the developments up until when it released in 2018, gaining exclusive access to Syed, his family and his lawyers. Keen to re-binge Serial today? Aren't we all. If you don't have time, The Case Against Adnan Syed is available to stream via Fetch in Australia — and you can check out the trailer below: Serial's new episode about Adnan Syed will drop on Wednesday, September 21 Australia and New Zealand time. Keep an eye on Serial's website for further details. Image: The Case Against Adnan Syed, Syed Family / Courtesy of HBO.
Technology allows us to easily capture what we see and hear, and to share these sensory experiences in photos and soundbites. But so far, our sense of smell has been far less casually reproducible. Designer Amy Radcliffe, acknowledging both the disappointment and value of this, has created a scent "camera" that could make us all into amateur perfumiers. Radcliffe's Central Saint Martins MA thesis project, the Madeleine, is a quaint-looking device that makes use of chemist Roman Kaiser's "headspace capture" method from the 1970s. The Madeleine is like something out of The Jetsons, with hipster appeal provided by the tasteful, white ceramic vacuum casing and terrarium-like funnel. The user places said funnel over the source of the smell to be recorded, and then before his/her very eyes, the smell is sucked through a cute plastic hose into an absorbent resin odour trap. Check out the video to see the process. Resurrecting a sense of ceremony from the pre-digital age, you'd then nip over to the local processing lab with your vial of scent and transform it into a liquid fragrance, much like getting photos developed back in the '90s. Once the chemical signature is decoded, that fragrance is captured forever. What's the imaginative power of a pocket perfumier? Scent is, of course, the most potent memory trigger among our senses. Now there's scope to preserve the unique scent of a loved one, long after they've left your life. Imagine posting your crush the smell of jasmine outside your window (or certain, naughtier things) instead of a mixtape. One day there could even be a SoundHound for smells, as in, "Love the perfume that chick's wearing, what is it?" Whip out your smell-o-cam of the future and find out. Radcliffe is now developing the Madeleine further with fragrance labs. Will our olfactory world be cheapened by oversharing and oversaturation of scents? Or enhanced by our raised awareness of the smells around us? Just as Instagram can tend to make you see life in terms of potential freeze-frames, scentography may sharpen your nose to sniffing out shareable fragrances. Via the Guardian.
A group of 88 writers and editors, including The Slap author Christos Tsiolkas, Nobel Prize winner JM Coetzee, Miles Franklin award-winning author Anna Funder, The Family Law writer Benjamin Law and Meanjin editor Zora Sanders, have written an open letter to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Treasurer Joe Hockey and Minister for the Arts George Brandis published in The Guardian, outlining their "dismay" at "the many proposed changes to health, education and welfare support announced in the 2014 budget" and their objections to "the reduction in arts funding". On May 13, Hockey revealed a $28.2 million cut to Australia Council funding, a $38 million cut to the Screen Australia budget and a $120 million cut to the ABC and the SBS over the next four years. "This decrease in federal support will be devastating to those who make art of any kind in this country," the letter states. "Many important works, works that would inform national debate and expand the horizons of Australia and its citizens, will simply never be made. Ultimately, these cuts will impoverish Australian culture and society." However, the argument doesn’t stop at moral, emotional and intellectual wealth. The writers point out that in 2008-09, the arts were responsible for adding 7% (or $86 billion) to the national GDP, and in 2011 cultural industries kept 531,000 individuals employed, while creating another 3.7 million jobs. Meanwhile, "it is worth noting that the mining sector only provides $121bn to the GDP, and employs fewer workers (187,400 directly, 599,680 indirectly), yet receives far more government financial support at federal and state levels." Moreover, they continue, the budget not only affects major organisations such as Australian Ballet (which has actually seen a hefty $1 million top up from the government for its budget) but also the threatened international touring capacity of regional companies like Bangarra Dance Theatre. Also affected will be the ability of "decades-old publications continue to foster a love of literature, finding and supporting new writers who will become tomorrow’s great Australian authors." "The loss of funding will devastate these smaller organisations and practitioners, robbing Australia of a whole generation of artists, writers, publishers, editors, theatre makers, actors, dancers and thinkers," they conclude. "Crucially, it will deprive people, particularly in rural and regional areas and in remote communities, of the opportunity to create, educate, learn and collaborate. These proposed funding cuts endanger us intellectually, artistically and severely damage our reputation internationally. Moreover, we fear the prospect of a world of culture and art that is unaffordable to the majority of Australians." Read the full letter here. Via The Guardian.
Pizza Hut. The noble and long-serving ‘za provider who filled our tummies at last-day-of-school pizza lunch and, in our uni student years, staved off hunger and calcium deficiency with cheap Tuesday deals. That is until in 1983 when the Dominos chain hit our shores. Dominos grew in reach and popularity and brought the Hut to its knees (or at least, to mainly smaller takeaway-only venues, less all-you-can-eat restaurants). Sure, there's still a few floating around (lookin' at you Goulburn), but they're harder and harder to come by nowadays. Once a dignified, family-friendly palace of soft serve on-tap, mini marshmallows and slice after slice after slice, Pizza Hut is now reduced to stunt-like takeaway grotesquery such as the Four 'N Twenty Meat Pie crust and its ilk, cramming more and more fast food, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, cheeseburgers into the crust until it’s just a misshapen farce oozing with disappointment. There's not much scope for an in-house sit-down pig-out any more. Apparently someone else has also noticed the decline. Sydney-based photographer Ho Hai Tran has taken up the quest of documenting the last surviving original Pizza Hut buildings before they pass into irrelevance. Tran has travelled 14,000kms across Australia, New Zealand and the USA to try and capture the photos of the buildings, most of which have been converted for other uses. “Pizza Hut buildings might not seem like the most aesthetically compelling structures, but they do ooze a certain charm”, says Tran. His purpose in all of this is historical record-keeping and maybe making Gen Y-ers shed a little tear because our world is crumbling to pieces. He’s even launched a Kickstarter to help him on his way. The archive of photographs will eventually be compiled into a book which has, in our humble opinion, the greatest title ever: Pizza Hunt. And the special edition even comes in a pizza box. Ouch, right in the childhood. Help Ho Hai Tran on his quest to immortalise the ‘Hut through by chipping into the Kickstarter.
After heading our way for Laneway Festival earlier in 2023, Japanese Australian singer-songwriter Joji is finally giving his Aussie fans the chance to catch a glimpse of him at his own headline gigs when he returns for a run of arena shows. The viral hitmaker is making his way Down Under fresh from a US run of gigs, including bringing the Pandemonium tour to Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on Thursday, November 16. Joji's debut headline Australian shows have been a long time coming. After fostering a cult following on YouTube, he pivoted his talents to music in 2017, releasing three studio albums across the following six years. The entire trio of albums has spawned Top 40 hits in Australia, New Zealand and the US, and Joji is one of only a handful of artists that can claim to have multiple songs with over a billion streams on Spotify — with 'Glimpse of Us' and 'Slow Dancing in the Dark' both passing this impressive milestone. Concertgoers can expect the heartfelt emotions of Joji's ballads alongside a sprinkling of humour, with his live shows receiving online notoriety for the performer's onstage hijinx between and during songs. Scottish dance producer and singer Sam Gellaitry is on supporting duties alongside rapper SavageRealm, who also opened for Joji on his North American tour.
When you've just made two seasons of a time-loop TV show about reckoning with the past, what comes next? For Russian Doll co-creator Leslye Headland, another jump backwards beckons. The Star Wars franchise has been telling tales set not just in a galaxy far, far away but also a long time ago for almost five decades; however, across its 11 movies and five live-action Disney+ TV shows until now, it hasn't ever explored the events of as long a time ago as Headland's The Acolyte brings to the screen. As streaming from Wednesday, June 5, welcome to the High Republic era a century before Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace — and into a thrilling new angle into one of pop culture's behemoths. Although they each date back further, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones have become the 21st century's holy trilogy of fantasy and sci-fi fare. They've also all been adopting the same approach to keeping their stories going: stepping through the events before the events that they've already relayed to audiences. So went the Star Wars prequels, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Andor, plus House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. So now goes The Acolyte as well. The key aspect of the latter isn't just that this eight-instalment series gains the space to jettison familiar faces and spin its narrative anew — it's also that it's traversing more of the world that George Lucas first envisaged in the 70s, and what the force means to more than the usual faces and those tied to them. And, it isn't afraid to question the heroes-versus-villains divide that's as engrained in all things Star Wars as lightsabers, having a bad feeling and droids. Taking place in a period of peace and prosperity — well, for some — The Acolyte is still home to heroes. Villains are part of the tale, too. But the idea that the Jedi always fall into the first camp and their enemies can only sit in the second is probed. Similarly queried is the notion that anything in the Star Wars realm, let alone everything, is that binary. The premise: Jedi are being eliminated by a mysterious warrior, a setup that is pushed to the fore immediately and initially aligns its emotional response as audiences since 1977 know to expect. But as gets uttered three episodes in, "this is not about good or bad — it's about power and who gets to wield it". The Acolyte's opening showdown unfolds in the type of cantina that's hardly new to the saga, but the battle itself is. From beneath a mask, a warrior (Amandla Stenberg, Bodies Bodies Bodies) isn't afraid to throw down, throw knives and throw around her ability to use the force, with a Jedi her target. In the aftermath, the robe-adorned head honchos have ex-padawan Osha in their sights. Now working as a meknik, which entails undertaking dangerous spaceship maintenance tasks that robots are legally only supposed to do, she fits the description. Her old Jedi mentor Sol (Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game) isn't so sure, though, especially knowing her past. Get ready to delve into history: throughout episodes set in The Acolyte's present day, Osha's backstory spills its details, plus a glimpse at how the Jedi work when they're the universe's accepted peacekeepers instead of freedom-fighting underdogs. In the season's illuminating third instalment — with Bachelorette and Sleeping with Other People's Headland handing over directing duties to After Yang's Kogonada after the debut two chapters (Cowboy Bebop's Alex Garcia Lopez and SWAT's Hanelle M Culpepper also helm episodes) — the action also leaps back years prior. Diving into to Osha's childhood in a coven that's use of the force isn't approved of by its regular guardians, it sees the show digging deeper into its examination of who is permitted to possess authority and influence. The Acolyte remains a Star Wars mystery as well, with why four Jedi are being singled out by an assassin doing their own master's bidding just one question that needs an answer. Who is pulling the strings behind the campaign against Sol, Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss, The Matrix Resurrections), Torbin (Dean-Charles Chapman, Game of Thrones) and Wookiee master Kelnacca (Joonas Suotamo, who also sported Chewbacca's fur Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker) is another. As not just Sol but also fellow knight Yord (Charlie Barnett, another Russian Doll alum) and his protege Jecki (Dafne Keen, His Dark Materials) are on the case, only one of these queries receives an answer early. Five years since the franchise started rolling out Disney+ shows in 2019 with The Mandalorian, as followed by The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor and Ahsoka, the results have varied from exceptional to unnecessary. That said, in whichever TV tale has been expanding this galaxy, casting has rarely been an issue. From an impressive ensemble of actors that also features Manny Jacinto (Nine Perfect Strangers), Jodie Turner-Smith (Sex Education) and Rebecca Henderson (You Hurt My Feelings), Stenberg and Lee are The Acolyte's standouts. While they deliver particularly weighty performances when they're together — portrayals that cut to the heart of the thorny power dynamic that the series keeps laying bare — Stenberg, dealing with a twist on the saga's love of family drama and its echoing repercussions, adds an especially layered turn to her growing resume. Andor, with its complexity, grit, passion and spy-thriller vibe, remains hard to top as the best small-screen Star Wars spinoff. It was one of the best new shows of 2022 all round. Still, leaving sifting through why giving your all to attempt to stave off a dystopian nightmare is the most-pivotal quest there is to Andor, The Acolyte is a worthy addition to the realm. As it unpacks the hierarchy of light and dark, the grey areas that lurk between the two extremes and what all of those intermediary shades mean if you're not among those setting the rules, it's never afraid of the reality that life, even here, is messy. The force might be complicated in this one, but the potential for The Acolyte is strong. Check out the trailer for The Acolyte below: The Acolyte streams via Disney+ from Wednesday, June 5, 2o24. Images: ©2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Last week, horticulturalists at the Royal Botanic Gardens announced that one of its rarest plants was preparing to flower for the first time in 15 years. The appropriately named corpse flower, due to its famously rancid odour, has the largest flower of any plant in the world, but it only blooms for 24-hours once every several years. The last time this spectacle was seen in the Harbour City was back in 2010. While it's impossible to predict exactly when the plant — nicknamed Putricia — will bloom, experts at the Gardens suggested last week that the day could be imminent. However, more than seven days on, Putricia has yet to open, leaving Sydneysiders on tenterhooks. Since the window of time to behold this floral wonder is so fleeting, a live stream via YouTube has been keeping Sydneysiders in their thousands up to date with the latest developments. A dramatic backdrop featuring tropical foliage, theatrical smoke and a velvet curtain has been added to a public viewing area, where the corpse flower, also known as the Bunga Bangkai in the plant's native Indonesia, is currently on display. Other than its extraordinary size, the Corpse Flower is most famous of its repulsive stench, which it uses to attract insect pollinators. Describing the plant's extraordinary stench, the Royal Botanic Gardens Manager of Volunteer Programs, Paul Nicholson, said: "If you've got some wet teenage socks, throw that into a blender, then you get some cat food you've left out in the sun, whack that in your blender, and then get some day old vomit. Put that in the blender, blend it all up, rip the lid off. That's the kind of smell you're getting." Putricia the Corpse Flower is on display to the public at the Royal Botanic Gardens now. Head to the Royal Botanic Gardens website for more details.
Who'll win orb-topped trophies? Who'll wear what? Who'll make the best, funniest and most rambling speeches? Whenever January hits and the Golden Globes approach for another year, they're the standard questions. Here's another: where can Australians watch the red carpet action and the ceremony? In 2023, the answer to that last query is streaming — and, to be specific, Stan. The Aussie platform has nabbed the exclusive broadcasting rights to this year's Golden Globes, covering both the pre-show and the awards themselves. Both will be streamed live on Wednesday, January 11, starting at 11am AEDT / 10am AEST for the arrivals and 12pm AEDT / 11am AEST for the gongs themselves. [caption id="attachment_884053" align="alignnone" width="1920"] CleftClips via Flickr[/caption] This'll mark the first time that Stan has aired the Golden Globes, which be beamed into your streaming queue from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. On hosting duties: comedian Jerrod Carmichael. Nominated: a hefty list of the past year's best movies and TV shows, because these awards cover both. Among the big-screen contenders sits everything from Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Banshees of Inisherin to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Elvis. On the small screen, The White Lotus, Severance, Only Murders in the Building, Abbott Elementary, Wednesday and more are vying for accolades. Australians have also earned a hefty showing among the nominees, including Baz Luhrmann's Best Director nom for Elvis, and Cate Blanchett, Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman and Elizabeth Debicki all picking up acting nominations (for Tár, Bablyon, The Son and The Crown, respectively). If you're wondering who'll be presenting awards rather than trying to win them, expect to see Ana de Armas (The Gray Man), Billy Porter (Cinderella), Colman Domingo (Euphoria), Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween Ends), Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll), Nicole Byer (Nailed It!) and Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) among the folks taking to the stage. Of course, the fact that the 2023 Golden Globes take place on a Wednesday isn't the best for parties — although they will hopefully liven up the middle of your week. The 2023 Golden Globes will be announced on Wednesday, January 11 Australian time, streaming via Stan from 11am AEDT / 10am AEST for red carpet arrivals and 12pm AEDT / 11am AEST for the ceremony itself. Wondering who's nominated? Read our rundown of this year's nominees.
Every tattoo tells a story, whether it's the sole piece of ink adorning a person's skin or one of many on someone whose body is a walking art gallery. That tale can span many things, including the design's meaning and significance, and also everything around making and creating it. Get a tatt while standing 268 metres above Sydney, however, and you'll have one helluva anecdote to tell. For one morning only, Sydney Tower Eye's SKYWALK is offering something more than stunning views high above the Harbour City: tattoos. Teaming up with reality TV favourites Bondi Ink, it's hosting the world's highest tattoo studio over a quarter of a kilometre above the ground, at a pop-up announced to mark World Tattoo Day. That occasion — because there's one for everything — falls on Tuesday, March 21 in 2023. But the sky-high inking will occur from 9–10.30am on Wednesday, April 5. And, to truly commemorate a pop-up tattoo parlour setting up shop at such lofty heights, the folks getting everlasting mementos will actually receive Sydney skyline-inspired tattoos. Given that Bondi Ink is only whipping out its machines for 90 minutes, only two people will be inked — and if you're keen, you'll need to hope that you're one of the lucky winners. To enter, hit up the Sydney Tower Eye website before 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, March 27, and explain both which part of your body you'd like your new tatt to decorate and why you're so eager. [caption id="attachment_782364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sander Dalhuisen[/caption] "I've tattooed for some interesting events in my time but being invited to create a design for 'The World's Highest Tattoo Studio' on the Sydney Tower Eye is pretty unique; I'm looking forward to it," said Chris Molt, a Bondi Ink artist known for his airbrush, fine line and script skills. "We're already spoilt with our view at Bondi Ink, but the crew loved seeing the whole city from up high on the SKYWALK. No better view to feed into our Sydney skyline tattoo-designing," shared his colleague and visual artist Cristina Martinez, who has a penchant for fine line, traditional and colour tatts. Whoever Chris and Cristina end up inking, they'll get a semi-realistic design representing the Sydney vista, and then take a victory stride on the SKYWALK afterwards. Sydney locals, this might be the ultimate way to show your love for your home town. Interstate visitors, this is quite the souvenir. And new ink with a view — and of a view — isn't in your future, you can nab a ticket to head up to the Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck on the day from 9am to watch. Bondi Ink's 'World's Highest Tattoo Studio' will pop up on Sydney Tower Eye's SKYWALK from 9–10.30am on Wednesday, April 5. To enter the competition to get inked, hit up the Sydney Tower Eye website before 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, March 27. For tickets to watch, head to the same place.
Attention BLACKPINK fans around Australasia — the good news just keeps on coming. After the announcement of their new single release this month and their Born Pink album dropping in September, the world's most successful female K-Pop group have another announcement on their hands — a world tour which just happens to include us here in Australia and New Zealand. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BLΛƆKPIИK (@blackpinkofficial) The dates for the Born Pink World Tour were unveiled in a post on Instagram this week, revealing the tour kicks off in Seoul before moving through the US and Europe. Then come June 2023, BLACKPINK will spend the final leg of the tour performing over two nights in Melbourne (June 10-11), two nights in Sydney (June 16-17), and one night in Auckland (June 21). So far no ensues or ticketing information has been released, but we'll keep all those stans up to date with more news as it comes to hand. BLACKPINK's Australasian tour dates: 10 June: Melbourne, Australia 11 June: Melbourne, Australia 16 June: Sydney, Australia 17 June: Sydney, Australia 21 June: Auckland, New Zealand BLACKPINK's world tour will be headed to Australia and New Zealand in June 2023. Top image: Jiya & Arcam
If there is one thing we can learn from the social network juggernaut that was Kony2012, it is that the pervasive power of Facebook provides internet activists or hacktivists with a unique capacity to transform public consciousness on a truly global scale. As such, a number of environmental activists are not only taking to the streets but taking to Facebook in an attempt to raise awareness about the pressing environmental issues that face society today. Here are six innovative groups and apps that have taken the fight for a greener future into the world of Facebook. Tree-Nation Tree-Nation is one of numerous Facebook groups committed to fighting deforestation and desertification through replanting trees. For every ten people who join the Tree-Nation Facebook page, the organisation will plant one tree. Even more ambitiously, Facebook group iChapter has promised to plant one tree for every new member, with the aim to eventually plant a total of 100,000 trees. For the more Facebook savvy of you, the Earthkeepers have created an app that allows users to plant a virtual tree, tend to it and share it with friends, with every fully matured virtual tree resulting in Earthkeepers planting a tree in the real world. Make Me Sustainable Make Me Sustainable allows users to measure their impact on the environment by tracking energy consumption and carbon footprint, allowing you to see how an action as simple as changing a light bulb can reduce your environmental impact. While there is a great range of software available for individuals and businesses that help in reducing your environmental footprint, Make Me Sustainable is unique as it provides a forum for sharing information and strategies for sustainable living and a virtual space to network with other environmentally-minded individuals on a national and even international scale. A Climate for Change Not simply a Facebook application, A Climate for Change is in fact a whole new social network built around the goal of tackling the issue of climate change. Users create profiles where they share anything and everything they have to say about global warming from rants about the Carbon Tax to interesting articles and videos about the effects of our warming planet. The We Campaign As the name suggests, The We Campaign hopes to shift our focus from what 'I' can do to make a difference but what 'we' as a global community, connected through our shared desires and the power of Facebook, can do together to protect and preserve the environment. The We Campaign app awards points to users for taking certain environmental actions, with donors giving $1 to fight global warming for every 10 points earnt. Trees Have Rights Too In the age of social networking environmental activists no longer have to chain themselves to giant oaks in order to fight for their right to exist. Trees Have Rights Too not only functions as an awareness group, describing how every Christmas season 6 million trees are killed and then disposed of, but also as a particularly vocal advocacy group for the rights of trees everywhere. The group is currently aiming to petition the United Nations to create a Bill of Planetary Rights that places guidelines and regulations on government deforestation. (Lil) Green Patch The now defunct Facebook app, (Lil) Green Patch was once the most used application on Facebook and well-and-truly silenced the doubters who believed that social media couldn't be used to create meaningful environmental change. The app allowed users to tend to a virtual garden, adding little munchkin-like people, plants and flowers and in the process users would raise money for "Nature Conservancy" to save the rainforest. According to one count (Lil) Green Patch raised more than $200,000 for Nature Conservancy over two years, which represented the conservation of rainforests across the globe with an area of 70 million square feet of Costa Rican saved in the first six months alone. (Lil) Green Patch is now the benchmark for every new environmentally-minded Facebook app.
"Kylie Minogue in her gold hotpants in 'Spinning Around'. That just came to my mind straight away. That was pretty amazing." Ask Celeste Barber to pick her favourite Australian fashion moment and she goes straight for an icon being an icon. In one of 2023's best trends, Barber has spent the year ushering everyone through the ins and outs of wellness and fashion. First came Wellmania, the comedian and actor's Netflix dramedy series about a 39-year-old journalist who copes with a health crisis by embracing prioritising her wellbeing, aka journeying through everything the self-care industry has to offer. Now arrives The Way We Wore, with Barber hosting the new three-part ABC documentary about a subject that she's been interested in since she was a child donning costumes as a dancer, and then a teenager collecting fashion magazines. Barber is no stranger to obsessing over threads in public — or, to be more accurate, parodying whatever's in vogue in the sartorial and celebrity realms. While her career began with acting, complete with an 87-episode stint on All Saints, her #celestechallengeaccepted social-media spoofs have helped make her a household name. If the internet has become fixated on a celeb look, snap or video, Barber has likely satirised it. Most recently, Kim Kardashian's Skims nipple bra launch has been in her sights, but that's just her latest skewering stint. The tone of The Way We Wore is light, but this docuseries isn't a comedy. Instead, as screening on ABC TV from 8pm on Tuesday, November 21 and streaming in full on ABC iView from the same date, it's a sincere and appreciative step through the history and importance of Aussie fashion. Barber didn't ever dream that her career would bring her here, but given that she's hosted The LA Fashion Awards in 2019, appeared on magazine covers and worked with Tom Ford at 2018's New York Fashion Week, it makes sense to her now. "No, no, never, never," Barber tells Concrete Playground about whether fronting a series like The Way We Wore ever seemed possible when she was starting out. "I've always thought I'd have a place in the entertainment industry, but not being someone to narrate documentary on the history of fashion, and it making sense that I did it. When I approached, I was like 'it makes absolute sense that I do this', but I would never have thought that when I was younger — no way." Unsurprisingly, Barber makes an engaging guide through Australian fashion's evolution. With Nel Minchin (Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra) directing, and everyone from Collette Dinnigan, Catherine Martin and Akira Isogawa to Charlee Fraser and Nakkiah Lui sharing their thoughts and experiences on-screen, she hosts an exploration of a sector that's anything but minor yet doesn't always get the appreciation it deserves. The country's need for something to score approval overseas before it can be embraced at home is something that Barber can relate to — "absolutely, and I have experienced that first hand," she advises — as is a process that she hopes all of The Way We Wore's viewers will experience: learning more about Aussie fashion prowess. The series' first episode filters its examination through Australian fashion media, a perfect topic for Barber as a self-described magazine lover. From there, it devotes its second instalment to the local pioneers taking Aussie threads to great heights, even if Barber didn't realise it as a kid growing up without the internet and thinking that Ken Done was the height of Down Under style. Then, The Way We Wore wraps up by pondering why Australian fashion hasn't been getting its due. Ahead of the show's premiere, we chatted with Barber about getting asked to host a fashion doco, her lifelong fascination with dressing up, becoming aware of Aussie designers, her relatable approach to the industry, what she learned from The Way We Wore and more. ON BEING ASKED TO HOST THE WAY WE WORE "I was approached — it was a while ago now — by Nel. She went to my agent to see if I had any interest in presenting this documentary. I love Nel, so I was like 'yes, I would love to do that'. It kind of just made sense to me that they wanted me to do it because I have such an opinion on the fashion industry. It was actually really interesting: I genuinely have an interest in this history of the fashion industry in Australia, and I think I know everything about everything, but it turns I really don't. So it was cool to discover things during the process of filming — and as I was reading the script, to learn things as well." ON ALWAYS LOVING FASHION "I've just always been aware of it. I've always loved fashion. My mum was quite a stylish person. My friends at school used to even say that about her. She's always been really stylish and that got me interested in it. I love magazines — when I was younger, I used to collect them. So, it's just always been around. I've enjoyed the theatre of it as well, the fun side of it, the expressive part of it. Because I danced when I was young, I used to have a room full of costumes that my dad built. My mum would make costumes and store them in this special little room. I've always dressed up and had fun, and I've always had a big fun imagination, and putting on different clothes helped express that. So, as I said before, it's always been a really fun, expressive experience for me." ON THAT AFFECTION FOR FASHION EVOLVING NOT ONLY ACROSS BARBER'S CHILDHOOD, BUT NOW "When I was older, I used to always get InStyle, and I used to collect them. It was fun to see the glossy side. I'd like pretend that I could possibly wear some of that stuff on them — I remember seeing Miranda Kerr with a cute crop top on, and I was like 'yeah, I can do that'. Turns out I can't. I absolutely cannot do that. But it's evolved for me over the years as I get older, like how the 90s fashions are back now. I'm having so much more fun with 90s fashions now than I did when I was younger. When you're a teenager, you're just scared of it. You're scared of putting that acid-wash jacket on the wrong way and then your friends would never talk to you again. But now I'm like 'I don't care, let's just see how we go'." ON BARBER'S EARLY AWARENESS OF AUSTRALIAN FASHION "There was no internet when I was growing up, so you think Ken Done is the biggest thing in the world. There's no other world out there. We went to America for a family holiday once, and I was rocking Ken Done because that's the only designer in the world, right, when you're a kid and there's no internet to tell you otherwise. I didn't go 'I know Valentino was predominantly in Rome, but you'll find that Tom Ford had started off in…'. I didn't have an understanding of that. It was just mum told me to wear that, so I wore that. I think in my InStyle days, when I was buying InStyles and cutting them all up and making my own little magazines out of them — they'd do features on international designers, and I'd be like 'oh, that's bigger, that's different'. But we always held our own. The Australian fashion industry has always held its own." ON STARTING BARBER'S SOCIAL-MEDIA FASHION PARODIES "Just seeing how social media can be toxic in making women feel that if they don't look a certain way that they don't deserve love — I like pushing against this idea of perfection, so I thought I just wanted to make fun of that idea of perfection. I've always just cut through bullshit. It's always been my thing. No one ever is unsure of where they stand with me. So what I saw that with these new apps, with these devices that we're all holding in our hands, was just a new way for women to hate themselves. I thought that I wanted play around with it a bit and see what happens. Turns out it went very well." ON STRIKING A CHORD BY SATIRISING TRENDS ONLINE, AND THE IMPACT UPON BARBER'S CAREER "I kind of always knew it was funny, and I knew that it would help get eyes on me. That's part of the reason why I did it. I always just thought I'd be okay. I've never ever given up. When it comes to my career, I've just never, ever given up — and I've tried to do as much as I can to work and get in the industry. And now it's happened, I guess it's not lost on me for sure. But people have only really known about me in the past few years — I've been at this for decades, so I really worked at it. Don't get me wrong, when I get a text message from someone super fancy, I'm like 'that's awesome'. Or, you know getting invited to things is still brilliant. I'm just enjoying the wave, enjoying the ride." ON BARBER'S APPROACH TO MAKING FASHION AND WELLNESS RELATABLE "It's just my experience in it. It's just my take on it. I don't really come at it by going 'this is super-relatable, I'm excellent' — and I think that's what makes it relatable. I'm like, well, this is just my experience in it, and if I'm experiencing it and I'm just an average lady, then there's a very good chance that someone else has also experienced it like that. Social media, media as a whole, just in general society, we have a handful of the types of women that we are happy to see. And I don't fall within that handful of women, and majority of women don't fall within that handful of women that are being celebrated publicly. So when you see someone like me who is now public and it's quite unusual for someone like me to be public it makes, I think, people feel more comfortable and more seen. That's always a nice feeling." @abciview 🤩🤩🤩 #TheWayWeWore #CelesteBarber @celestebarber #Fashion #Documentary #ABCiview #AustralianHistory #FashionTikTok #AustralianFashion #FashionDesign ♬ original sound - ABC iview ON WHAT BARBER LEARNED WHILE HOSTING THE WAY WE WORE — AND WHAT SHE HOPES THAT VIEWERS WILL LEARN, TOO "The main thing that stood out for me was how big the fashion industry is in Australia. It's a multi-billion-dollar industry and it actually employs more people than mining. I had no idea of that. I've always thought it was great and awesome, and I'm a contributor to the industry, but I had no idea that on an economic level it was so impactful. I hope that the series will open people's eyes to it because, as I say, I didn't know that. Even when I started, when I was reading through that sort of stuff — we actually do a bit of a joke in the doco where I'm like 'really, are you sure we fact-checked that?'. Because the fashion industry is seen as a female-dominated industry, I don't think it's always taken as seriously, and that has something to do with it. But you can't deny those numbers. So hopefully when people watch it, they realise how big and successful it is." The Way We Wore screens on ABC TV from 8pm on Tuesday, November 21, dropping episodes weekly — and streams in full on ABC iView from the same date. The Way We Wore images: Mark Rogers. Wellmania images: Netflix.
Spring 2022 wasn't a happy time for This That, or for Newcastle and Brisbane folks planning to dance their way through the music festival. After hosting fests in both spots earlier that year, the event had to pull the plug on its October and November dates "due to a combination of issues", organisers advised. This That had always promised that it'd be back in spring 2023, however, and now it's locked in its new dates. Queenslanders, you're heading to Sandstone Point Hotel on Saturday, November 4. Music lovers of New South Wales, make a date with Wickham Park in Newcastle on Saturday, November 11. So far, there's no word on a lineup, after 2022's fests featured Hayden James, WHATSONOT, The Rubens, Spacey Jane, Dune Rats, WAAX, Client Liaison, Meg Mac and more. The cancelled events the same year were due to host Earl Sweatshirt and Flight Facilities, plus The Presets, Vera Blue, Winston Surfshirt, DMA's, Chillinit, Skeggs, Hockey Dad and Jesswar, although whether any will pop up in 2023 is yet to be revealed. For now, organisers are teasing This That's biggest festival to date, as well as its largest roster of international acts. Expect more details soon, with the event's website already taking pre-sale registrations. THIS THAT NOVEMBER 2023 DATES: Saturday, November 4 Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point, Queensland Saturday, November 11: Wickham Park, Newcastle, New South Wales This That will return in November 2023, playing Sandstone Point in Queensland and Newcastle in New South Wales. For more information and to sign up for pre-sale tickets, head to the festival's website. Images: Mitch Lowe / Jordan Munns.
Festivals have evolved. Nowadays, they're almost unrecognisable from the pits of despair we experienced in our teens — and there's a festival to suit almost everyone. If your bag is being terrified until you poop your pants, Horror Movie Campout is the festival for you. Last year they debuted in Sydney and Melbourne, and this year it's not only coming back, but spreading further. Brisbanites had their chance back in September, and Adelaide residents can embrace all things scary in late October. Basically, it's the Meredith of monstrosity, the Splendour of spookiness…kind of exactly like Stereosonic ain its current zombied state. So what goes on at a horror festival? Well, it's full of horrifying spectres and hair-raising scenes of horror (aka, your blood will literally curdle). We've had some clues from last year: yep, survivors camped out overnight in the woods (first mistake right there, seriously). They reported roaming zombies, all the classic pop-culture murderers you can shake your pathetic choice of weapon at and of course, menacing clowns. Not only do the organisers hire actors to scare the bejesus out of you, but everyone comes to event dressed in costume. So get down to your local stuff shop before they sell out of 1920s nightgowns, fake blood and Kabuki masks. You can expect a horrifying 'death chamber' maze, as well as a main stage with live music (will it be horrifying? They haven't specified but probably). Then, the main event is a series of curated horror shorts followed by two headliners, decided by you, the victims. The Melbourne campout is happening on December 3 and 4 (giving you just enough time to recover from Halloween) at the very remote and haunted Point Cook Homestead. Hint: old Point Cook has seen its fair share of murders. Melbourne Horror Movie Campout is happening on December 3 and 4; book your tomb online. Adelaide is on October 29 and 30 — and pencil it in, Sydney, because your event is happening next year on March 11 and 12. Grab your one-way ticket to poop town through the website a little closer to the date.
Something happens when fathers get to a certain age — they get really into their hobbies. We don't know whether it's because they have more time on their hands now you're all grown up, or if some magical switch flicks, but suddenly all their downtime is spent dedicated to vintage cars, golf or DIY projects. And that has one major benefit for you: it presents a goldmine of gifting opportunities. If one of your dad's passions is his home bar, we're here to point you in the right direction. We've partnered with Maker's Mark to bring you a round-up of classy gift ideas that'll make your pop's bar the best in the street, whether it's a newfound obsession or it's been there as long as you can remember (and therefore in dire need of a refresh). FANCY GLASSWARE Part of the fun of having a home bar is the ritual of fixing yourself a drink at the end of a long day. It's a form of self-care, in our opinion. But the magic kind of disappears when the vessel you're using is a leftover plastic cup from a backyard barbecue or cloudy contraband from the local pub. So we suggest getting Dad some glassware that he'll actually enjoy drinking from. Canberra-based homewares store Bisonhome sells expertly crafted ceramics and blown glassware designed by Brian Tunks, who studied ancient designs at archaeological digs in the Middle East. If your dad is partial to a whisky mixer, this six-pack of highball glasses is a great way to start his collection. Adhering to the Bisonhome aesthetic of simple, classic designs, these glasses should suit all home bar styles, while the mix of colours will add that retro edge. COOL WHISKY STONES With two stores in Sydney — Opus in Paddington and Octopus in Newtown — plus a stellar online store that ships nationally, Opus Designs has long been one of our go-to spots for gifts. And it certainly delivers on bar cart must-haves, including this cute little set of whisky chillers. If your dad is the type that likes to sit on a nip of whisky for an hour, then complain because the ice has melted and ruined the integrity (and temperature) of his drink, these will suit perfectly. All he has to do is pop these little guys in the freezer a few hours before use, and his nightcap will remain ice-cold for as long as it takes for him to finish it. And because they're made out of granite and soapstone, he'll still hear that satisfying 'chink' as he drops them in the glass. A PERSONALISED DECANTER This personalised decanter from Hard to Find will take pride of place on your dad's home bar. It's a 700ml decanter — which, FYI, will conveniently fit an entire bottle of Maker's Mark — that comes engraved with your dad's name. If you have the type of dad that's impossible to buy for because he purchases everything he wants or needs for himself, personalised gifts are great. Nobody buys themselves personalised things, right? Plus, it shows you've put a little more thought into the gift — without really putting that much extra effort in. A SUPER SWISH APRON If Dad is going to be spending so much time behind his home bar mixing, shaking and stirring, he has to look the part. And a nice, tailormade apron is the way to go — particularly if he hasn't got his mixology skills quite down pat yet and is prone to making a big mess. Sydney-based design studio Worktones specialises in high-quality workwear for the hospitality industry. We bet a lot of your favourite bars, cafes and restaurants uses Worktones for their aprons, uniforms and merchandise. The adjustable Birdy apron is made using 100-percent mercerised cotton twill, so it'll look good and last for ages. It comes in white, dark navy and olive, and costs just $35. [caption id="attachment_746194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Discrepancy Records, Tracey Ah-kee[/caption] A KILLER SOUND SYSTEM Something else that Dad needs if he's going to be hanging out in his bar so much? Music, of course. Pander to the 'old man' in him by splashing out on a record player, then hunt down some of his favourite classic albums on vinyl. In Melbourne, your best bet is Discrepancy Records, which boasts more than 15,000 LPs. Have a gander at its online store for some of the newest releases — including a re-release of The Rolling Stones' Goat's Head Soup and Bob Dylan's Rough and Rowdy Ways — plus a bunch of LP bundles (think Queen, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd), all of which you can get delivered for free. In Brisbane, we suggest visiting Rocking Horse Records on Albert Street. And, if Dad's taste is a little left-of-centre, Sydney's Repressed Records, based in Newtown, specialises in underrated and independent artists — so it has music that's hard to find anywhere else. [caption id="attachment_766131" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Maree Downs', Madi Whyte, Cream Town[/caption] SOME EXCELLENT ARTWORK We all know those home bars that are covered in sports team merch. But if you want your dad's version to look a little, well, classier, opt for a standout piece of art instead. Check out Cream Town, an online art shop that was started by photographer Isaebella Doherty to support Aussie artists that have been financially impacted by COVID-19. The range of prints, from photographs to collage and illustrations, start from just $100 each, and they all have a limited run, so Dad can brag about having a rare artwork adorning his bar wall. A BOTTLE OF HIS FAVOURITE WHISKY And, of course, no home bar is complete without your dad's favourite tipple. Whichever item from this list you choose to spoil your dad with, be sure to add on a bottle of Maker's Mark. This smooth Kentucky-style bourbon whisky has woody oak aromas with sweet caramel and vanilla notes making it an excellent all-rounder for a home bar. It can be enjoyed both on the rocks or in a cocktail. If he decides to try the latter, shoot him a link to this recipe guide, which has four super-easy bourbon-based cocktails to try out. Learn more about Maker's Mark by visiting the website here.
Broadcasting out of a tiny shopfront on New York City's First Avenue, the legendary East Village Radio has been a solid citizen of the Big Apple for the past 11 years. But heavy licensing fees will see the independent online station forced to shut down, broadcasting its last show on May 23. Covering every genre from experimental, brash Brooklyn garage rock to phonograph recordings of old-timey pre-war singalongs, EVR has had some serious talent behind the wheel over the years. With presenters such as Mark Ronson, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce (The Smiths), members of Das Racist, Elliot Wilson (Rap Radar) Hannah Rad (Diddy's Revolt TV), Bobby Friction (BBC) and many, many more, EVR has been responsible for both breaking green new artists and reminding listeners of legends they might have missed. Inviting countless big and small name guests into the tiny mirror-walled, glass-fronted studio wedged between a tattoo parlour and a local Italian eatery Frankie's (and sitting just around the corner from the former site of rock Mecca CBGB), EVR has formed an integral part of the New York music landscape over the years, with Lou Reed, Johnny Marr and Richard Hell popping in on occasion. And Drake. Popularity isn't the problem for EVR, with listenership rising daily for the online broadcaster since opening as a 10-watt FM radio station in 2003. But with each new pair of ears comes a price tag, one the station can't afford to front forever. According to the Congressional Digital Music Copyright Act of 1998, online broadcasters must pay a digital performance royalty for each listener. With EVR achieving over a million listeners a month, it seems popularity would bankrupt the beloved station. "Every time we get a new listener, it costs us more money with licensing fees and Internet costs," East Village Radio CEO Frank Prisinzano told East Village blog EV Grieve. "After doing some projections, we see that it is going to be very, very difficult for us to continue to break even." General manager and head of programming Peter Ferraro explained to the blog that the station was paying an unfair price for its own popularity. "It's almost like we are being penalized for our growth... We pay a higher rate for royalties and licensing than Pandora pays," he said. "We live in a world where these behemouth music-streaming services keep going in for more capital. It's very difficult for an independent medium music company to survive in a world where Apple is paying $3.2 billion for Beats by Dre." New Yorkers aren't the only ones who'll miss EVR. Broadcasting in an online capacity and through the EVR app, the radio station found most of its fanbase worldwide — particularly in the UK. Countless Australians have featured on the station, with drop-ins from locals The Presets, Flume, Courtney Barnett, The Preatures (pictured above), Kevin Parker, Jagwar Ma, Hiatus Kaiyote, Art vs. Science, Anna Lunoe, The Laurels, San Cisco, The Griswolds and many more. With just a few weeks of broadcast left, EVR presenters will have the chance to sign off in their own signature fashion. In a gesture of professional decency, the station will also release every last archived show to each DJ so they can hunt around for syndication elsewhere or land themselves another presenting spot. So crank up EVR while you still can and join the team for their last hurrah on May 23. Listen to EVR online here. Via EV Grieve and New York Observer.
If escaping into Australia's great outdoors, putting one foot in front of the other, and combining a leisurely walk — or an energetic hike — with soaking in the scenery is your idea of bliss, the past few weeks keep delivering welcome news. Firstly, the Snowy Mountains became home to a new nine-kilometre section of its Snowies Alpine Walk, complete with Australia's highest suspension bridge. Then, the New South Wales Government announced a massive 91-kilometre waterfront walking track from the Sydney Opera House to Parramatta. Now, still in NSW, the Gondwana Rainforests have been earmarked for a new excuse to get moseying, too. As part of NSW's 2022-23 budget, Treasurer Matt Kean has added the new Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk to the list of upcoming projects that the state's residents and travellers alike can look forward to. Scoring $56.4-million in budget funding, it'll span 46 kilometres, all through stunning rainforest surroundings on the state's mid-north coast. And, there'll be two- and four-day route options. Your starting point: a new Arc Rainforest Centre, which'll come complete with a stunning-looking hanging boardwalk that'll overlook the World Heritage spot. From there, as you roam along the trail, you'll wander over three suspension bridges. There'll also be four low-impact walkers' hut precincts, as well as new camping areas — because if you're committing to taking the full multi-day trek, you'll need somewhere to slumber along the route. That budget cash will also go towards the Arc Rainforest Centre, which is designed to be an attraction in itself thanks to its viewing platform. It'll also include a new treetop skywalk, which'll feature an upper and lower deck so you can still make the most of it when it's raining — and spiralling walkways that'll take you down into the rainforest, to the existing six-kilometre Wonga Walk as well as the new Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk. Back on the Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk itself, it'll meander through the Dorrigo and Bindarri National Parks, with about half of the 46-kilometre stretch charting existing tracks and trails. Hikers won't be short on spectacular sights; expect to see waterfalls, giant old growth trees and wild rivers along the way. If you're excited about the huts and camping sites, they'll be operated, run and booked through NSW's National Parks and Wildlife Services. And, the walk will have another big aim: becoming a place for folks to learn about and connect with the culture of the Gumbaynggirr people, the area's Traditional Custodians. Exactly when the centre and walk will welcome in visitors hasn't been revealed as yet, however — so add this one to your future must-visit list, rather than packing your bags and popping on your comfiest walking shoes now. "Through the NSW Budget, we're investing $56.4 million to offer a new way for people to enjoy the ancient World Heritage environment," said Kean. "This project will drive increased nature-based tourism in NSW, further bolstering the contribution that national parks make to the state economy. For more information about the Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk, head to the NSW Government website.
Young South Korean artist JeeYoung Lee is generating quite a buzz for herself in the art world these days, and it's not hard to see why. A recent graduate of Seoul's Hongik University, the artist's dreamy, highly imaginative work surpasses our traditional expectations of photography. Plus, it's totally spectacular to look at. It's hard to believe it, but Lee's images aren't Photoshopped. Instead, displaying admirable patience, she spends weeks and often months turning her tiny little studio (only 3 x 6 metres) into an unimaginably intricate, detailed set. Once she's captured the essence of the particular dream, desire, nightmare, hope or conflict she had in mind, she places herself within the image, never facing the camera directly — in fact, often with her back to it. The result is a strangely beautiful kind of reality. JeeYoung Lee is considered an up-and-coming artist in her native South Korea. She won last year's Sovereign Art Prize and has exhibited at Seoul's OCI Museum, the Incheon Foundation for Art and Culture, the Kyoto Photographic Museum in Japan and early next year will open her first European exhibition at France's Opiom Gallery with this ongoing series of self-portraits, entitled Stage of Mind. Broken Heart Black Birds Nightmare The Little Match Girl Maiden Voyage Last Supper Treasure Hunt Top image: Resurrection. Story via Colossal.
Where each new year will take you can be an existential question. If travel is one of your resolutions, it can also be literal. Will 2024 see you basking in Shibuya's glowing lights in Tokyo? Sipping drinks in the pool by sunset in Bali? Finally taking in the wonder that is Uluru? Enjoying an island break on Hamilton Island? They're all options if you use Virgin's latest big sale as your guide. A hefty 500,000-plus fares are up for grabs as part of the airline's Holiday After the Holidays sale sale, covering a range of Aussie and international spots — the carrier's entire network, in fact. Sticking with home turf, you can head to Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast, Cairns, Hamilton Island, Uluru, Hobart, Broome and more. And, if you're eager to journey overseas, you can hit up Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tokyo and Queenstown as well. One-way domestic fares start at $49, which'll get you from Sydney to Byron Bay. As always, that's cheapest route. Other discounted flights include Melbourne to Launceston from $59, Brisbane to either Cairns for $105 or Hamilton Island for $115, Brisbane to Uluru from $139, Adelaide to the Gold Coast from $119 and Perth to Hobart from $239. Internationally, the return deals start with Brisbane to Vanuatu from $419, then include Sydney to Queenstown from $435, Melbourne to Bali from $559 and Cairns to Tokyo from $679 among the options. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, there's a range of dates from Monday, January 29–Saturday, November 30, 2024, all varying depending on the flights and prices. As usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are now on offer until midnight on Monday, January 22 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Virgin's 2024 Holiday After the Holidays sale runs until midnight AEST on Monday, January 22 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
There is only one direction to build in Hong Kong: up. The island is so densely populated by both humans and towering structures that buildings just get taller and taller as the population swells ever larger. These monolithic buildings of commerce and habitation dwarf the masses on the streets below, and this feeling has finally been captured in a series of photographs that truly convey the dizzying depths of the tiny island. Romain Jacquet-Lagreze, a French graphic artist, captured the city from the ground looking up. Using the diverse range of vertical perspectives that Hong Kong has to offer, including shopping centres, commercial skyscrapers and residential towers, he showcases the uniqueness of a "relentlessly growing city" for his book Vertical Horizon. Hong Kong appears to be the subject to capture at the moment, with this series following earlier exhibitions concerning life in Hong Kong. In early April, Michael Wolf showcased the artistry of architecture and density of the nation's skyscrapers for a project celebrating the unseen beauty of Hong Kong's heights. His depiction of stunning symmetry conveys an urban painting that beautifies even the plainest towers. This followed the Society for Community Organisation's commissioning of vertigo-inducing photographs to highlight the claustrophobic nature of Hong Kong life, with whole families living in less than 40 feet of space. With more than 110,000 people per square kilometre in Hong Kong, these artworks highlight the unseen problem of inadequate housing. If more space is to be sourced, expect Hong Kong to get taller and taller. Via PSFK, Inhabitat and PetaPixel.
Crowdfunding is a relatively new concept, but it's also been pretty controversial, especially after big-name artists started using it to fund albums (Amanda Palmer and Eskimo Joe, anyone?). But it's also being used as a starting point for some great ideas and inventions that may not have ever become a reality otherwise. In 2012, cycling enthusiast Izhar Gafni invented a bicycle made out of recycled cardboard, rubber and plastic — the total cost of the materials coming to just $9. Now, Gafni has launched a $2 million Indiegogo campaign to take the project to the next level, which would involve mass producing the bike with the ultimate aim of making it affordable and widely available to people all over the world. Gafni describes the technology behind the bike as 'game changing' and thinks it could be the start of a 'green revolution'. On his Indiegogo page, Gafni says that the bike "means that children in under-developed countries can have access to these bikes to get to school, and their parents can get to work" and "the funds we raise will allow us to establish the first cardboard bicycle production line, thereby creating jobs, affordable transportation and a cleaner environment. For the people, by the people." https://youtube.com/watch?v=jBa0Wy50X5Y Via PSFK.
Every year, So Frenchy So Chic asks Sydneysiders and Melburnians a question: do you fancy prancing through a field laced with the charm of provincial France, but without needing to book a flight? If your answer is yes, which it should be, then you'll be pleased to know that that exact setup is just casual summer weekendery when the fest rolls in each January. The ever-popular French celebration will bring the can-can back to Melbourne's Werribee Park Mansion and, for the first time, to Sydney's Centennial Park — a new venue for 2024. The dates: Sunday, January 14 in Victoria and Saturday, January 20 in New South Wales. For newcomers, expect an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties, including (but not limited to) gourmet picnic hampers, très bon crepes and steak frites sandwiches, and supremely good wine — all set to a blissed-out French soundtrack. So Frenchy So Chic hinges on an eclectic lineup of artists, both taking cues from the classic sonic stylings of France and showcasing top-notch French talent. On the 2024 bill: La Femme, Marlon Magnée and Sacha Got's psych-punk rock group; Kill The Pain, aka Australian singer and songwriter Phoebe Killdeer with French vocalist Mélanie Pain; Laure Briard, fresh from releasing album Ne pas trop rester bleue; and the Serge Gainsbourg- and Angus and Julia Stone-loving Malo'. As always, the wine and food will flow just as easily as the tunes, headlined by an abundance of bubbly courtesy of Champagne Lanson, one of France's oldest champagne houses and a So Frenchy So Chic favourite. Eateries such as Frederic's, Hotel Gitan, Loulou and Bouillon Entrecôte will be doing the culinary honours, going big on French favourites in the process. So, expect oysters, croque monsieurs, duck liver parfait, mussels, chocolate eclairs, macarons and cheese upon cheese. [caption id="attachment_917827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christophe Crenel[/caption] Of course, there'll be plenty of French beer, cocktails, and rosé, red and white wines, too, no matter what you choose to snack on throughout the day. For groups of ten, this year's festival also includes a $199-per-person option that gets you your own prime spot with low-seated wooden tables decorated with flowers, rugs and cushions to make things comfy, two bottles of champers, a shady umbrella, and two charcuterie hampers and two cheese hampers. If you've got kids, you'll be happy to know that the whole thing is very family-friendly, with children's tickets starting from $25 (and entry free for kids under 12). [caption id="attachment_917828" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taylor Kezia, Smith Street Agency[/caption] SO FRENCHY SO CHIC 2024 AUSTRALIAN DATES: Sunday, January 14 — Werribee Park Mansion, Melbourne Saturday, January 20 — Centennial Park, Sydney SO FRENCHY SO CHIC 2024 AUSTRALIAN LINEUP: La Femme Kill The Pain Laure Briard Malo' So Frenchy So Chic hits Sydney and Melbourne in January 2024. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website. Top images: Liz Sunshine and Tekni.
The last two years might have been a little lighter on travel adventures than we're used to, but if you're keen to make up for lost time, Visit Victoria has come up with a beaut excuse to escape the city and hit the road again. It's just unveiled its latest touring off-grid accommodation experience championing the regions — a tiny home stay for two by the name of Stella the Stargazer. Similarly to Visit Victoria's Wine Down Pop-Up Hotel, which launched in mid 2019, Stella won't be tying herself down to just one location. Rather, she'll move between three idyllic regional settings for eight weeks at a time, starting with a sojourn at Maffra's Blue Gables vineyard from Friday, October 14. [caption id="attachment_869901" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blue Gables Vineyard, Maffra[/caption] After its Gippsland stint, the environmentally sensitive pop-up will relocate to a spot along the Great Ocean Road for a couple of months, before seeing out its last leg nestled against the mountainous backdrop of the Grampians in April and May, 2023. The accommodation itself is a study in simple luxury, the off-grid tiny home the work of Port Fairy-based design and manufacture crew Ample. Inviting you to switch off, unplug and recharge, without forgoing comfort, it's kitted out with a queen-sized bed, complete with threads from Weave Home Australia, Society of Wanderers and Grampians Goods Co. There's a roll-out sleeping platform that's primed for stargazing, an indulgent shower surrounded by adjustable glass louvres designed to envelop you in the natural surroundings, and a central wood fire that doubles as a hotplate for cooking. Glass sliding doors open onto the modular deck and fire pit, and you'll find plenty of local wares featured throughout; from crockery, to Dindi Naturals toiletries. Meanwhile, famed chef Alejandro Saravia (Farmer's Daughters, Victoria by Farmer's Daughters) will ensure you're dining like royalty, with guests enjoying a curated welcome hamper, a bottle of wine and breakfast provisions showcasing top local produce. A dinner experience is also available to add on to your stay. Stella the Stargazer will make her home in Maffra, Gippsland, from October 14–December 15, 2022. She'll then stop in a new location along the Great Ocean Road from February 3–April 6, 2023, before moving to the Grampians from April 17–June 18, 2023. Rates are $330 per night Monday–Thursday, and $390 per night Friday–Sunday.
After announcing that they would expand to Western Australia this year, the Falls Music & Arts Festival have this morning announced the dates for their four-city schedule and one kickass headliner: Childish Gambino. Yep, musical (and acting and writing) wunderkind Donald Glover will return to Australia to play all four shows over the New Years period. It's his first visit back since playing Listen Out Festival last year. As always, Falls will be heading to Lorne in Victoria for four nights, and Marion Bay in Tassie and Byron Bay on the NSW coast for three nights over New Year's Eve. They'll also be setting up shop in Fremantle for the first time with Falls Downtown, a two-day city festival slated to take place over the weekend of January 7-8. The main stage will be set up in Freo's town square, while an old-world ballroom and a stone-walled church will house the smaller ones. They'll also be taking over the abandoned Myer building, turning it into a creepy crib for art installations, "unexpected performance areas", markets and "bunkered basement danceterias". There'll even be a small number of glamping tents on the roof. It sounds similar to some of Melbourne Music Week's activations of abandoned spaces, and it sounds insane. This new iteration of the festival and the announcement of Childish Gambino as headliner is another win for Falls, who sell out their Lorne event basically every year. Since its inception in Lorne back in 1993, the festival has grown to span three cities, which include the original site on the Great Ocean Road, Marion Bay in Tassie and, since 2013, Byron Bay. But here's the dates. The full festival lineup will be announced on Tuesday, August 23. Start planning. Lorne, Victoria: December 28-31 Marion Bay, Tasmania: December 29-31 Byron Bay, NSW: December 31 - January 2 Fremantle, WA: January 7-8 For more announcements from Falls Festival, visit their website.
A few years ago I invented a drinking game for people wanting to give up booze. It was very simple: you only drank when Johnny Depp played an American. Almost overnight, global alcohol consumption dropped to near-prohibition levels, even when many of Depp's non-American roles were actually inclined to drive people to drink. So far down the zany Tim Burton/Jack Sparrow character hole had Depp descended that the very notion of him playing a serious role again seemed as ludicrous as his daily jewellery selections. Then, from out of nowhere, came the chilling Black Mass trailer, and it was as if all might suddenly be right in the world again. To hell with the drinking game, we wanted to see Depp actually act and it looked like that might just be what was happening. Yes, he was still in some intense makeup (complete with vampiric blue eyes and slicked back white hair), and yes, there was a thick Boston accent at play, but at its core this looked like gritty, dramatic Depp back to his legitimate best. Thankfully, the trailer wasn't lying. Black Mass is the true story of Boston’s infamous crime lord James ‘Whitey’ Bulger (Depp) and his astounding protected status as a secret tier-one informant for the FBI. The more you learn about Bulger, the more remarkable his tale becomes. For one, his brother William (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) was the longest-ever serving senator from Boston, and Bulger's childhood friend John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) became a key figure in the FBI’s anti-mafia division. The short of it was that Connolly convinced Bulger to rat on his competition (primarily the Italians) in exchange for what amounted to a free run from police and the FBI regarding his own illegal operations. That arrangement saw Connolly rise in the ranks, but also allowed Bulger to transform from small-time hood to a national player in organised crime, and for years there seemed to be nothing anyone could do to stop him. The strength of Black Mass is in its cast, which — along with its leads — boasts the likes of Kevin Bacon, Dakota Johnson, Adam Scott, Corey Stoll and Peter Sarsgaard. There’s no weak link on the acting front, and even the bit parts turn in solid performances (Juno Temple’s brief appearance as a naive hooker the standout). Instead, it’s the story where the film is found lacking. For such a remarkable tale of corruption and secret allegiances, the focus on Bulger’s crimes feels wasted and misdirected, if only because the 'Boston gangster saga' has already been done many times over, and — it should be said — better (The Departed topping that list). Arguably the most intriguing dimension to the entire Bulger story is the Bulger dimension — the brothers, one a gangster and the other a powerful politician — yet it barely rates a mention, and Cumberbatch’s screen time is among the smallest in the film. How, in the modern era, one brother's affairs did not bring down the other’s raises compelling yet frustratingly unanswered questions that would have given the story a meatier emotional narrative and greater momentum. Still, take nothing away from the performances and please, raise a glass to the long overdue return of Johnny ‘Dramatic' Depp.
Mulatu Astatke was born in Jimma, Ethiopia, and, after studying music in London, New York City and Boston, created a new music style by blending traditional Ethiopian rhythms with Latin and jazz. Soon after, he came to be known as the 'Father of Ethio-Jazz'. Stardom in Africa followed, but it wasn't until Astatke appeared on the soundtrack for Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers that he became a big name in the West. At The Basement, he'll be joining forces with nine-piece funk band The Black Jesus Experience, who he met in Addis Ababa in 2009. Their collaborative album, Cradle Of Humanity, is due out in June.
Due to the laws of nature, 16-metre-high fibreglass pineapples aren't capable of growing — but Queensland's favourite towering attraction is expanding anyway. As part of a $150 million redevelopment, the space around The Big Pineapple is about to look a whole lot different. As well as viewing the giant tropical fruit, you'll soon be able zoom down a zipline, cool off in a water park, sink a few beers at a craft brewery and even stay for the night. For those keen on climbing and soaring, TreeTop Challenge's new course will be a big drawcard. It'll feature 120 activities across eight acres, including a two-kilometre stretch of high ropes and the 120-metre zipline — all up, it'll take half a day to complete. Alongside the water park, it'll form part of an 'adventure precinct', which is bound to get busy during peak tourism periods. Across The Big Pineapple's 170-hectare site, other additions range from a major concert event space — which means more ongoing music gigs like the Big Pineapple Music Festival — to a food hub, which will feature cafes and other eateries down the line. It will also be the new home of Sunshine Coast yoghurt company Coyo, and a new craft brewery and major distillery. [caption id="attachment_698027" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Anne and David via Flickr[/caption] For those keen to not only make the trip 90 minutes north of Brisbane to Nambour, but to truly make both a day and night of it, you'll soon be able to stay onsite too. Glamping was first mooted back in 2017, when proposals to reinvigorate the huge attraction were originally floated, and it looks set to be featured alongside an RV park, an eco resort and a hotel. In total, there will be 793 different accommodation options according to the Queensland Government's funding announcement. While the high-ropes course and zipline are due to launch in March this year, exactly when the other fresh additions will open also hasn't been confirmed. The Big Pineapple's existing attractions, such as the heritage-listed train, the Wildlife HQ zoo and the lure of snapping a selfie next to the enormous piece of fruit, will all remain. For more information about The Big Pineapple's redevelopment, visit the attraction's website. Top image: The Big Pineapple.
A longtime festival favourite among foodies, the Good Food & Wine Show, is back for its 2022 run. And, like always, the event packs a flavourful punch — there's the Good Food Village, which showcases artisan producers (with tastings galore); the Riedel Drinks Lab and its roll call of vino masterclasses; and The Kitchen by Harris Scarfe and its supercharged list of hospo heavyweights sharing their tips, tricks and favourite recipes. Here at Concrete Playground, good food and wine is our religion. We're up on the latest openings and frequent the delicious mainstays, we try out the hot-ticket ingredients (be it yuzu or alc-free liqueurs) and we happily attend events celebrating the tip-top of Aussie producers, dining venues and culinary talents. So, bringing it all under the one roof — with tickets for just $28 (or $35 with a tasting glass to keep) — is a sure-fire way to have us racing to plan a tasty itinerary for the day. After successful weekenders in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, the annual extravaganza is set to hit Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from October 21–23. This year is truly not one to be missed — read on for our picks at this year's shows. NOODLE SMACKDOWN AND DINNER INSPIRATION As someone who learns best by seeing things in action, I can guarantee you I'll be spending most of my Good Food & Wine Show at The Kitchen by Harris Scarfe. There'll be a bunch of live cooking demonstrations courtesy of well-known chefs sure to equip you with new kitchen tricks and some much-needed dinner inspiration. With so many incredible options available, it's tough to decide which class to attend. So far, I've got my eyes firmly fixed on Brendan Pang's Noodle Smack Down Street Food demonstration. Courtney Ammenhauser, Branded Content Manager A CHEESY WONDERLAND The food show is always a cheese wonderland, and tasting your way up and down Cheese Lane (and then up and down again) is a delicious way to spend your day — just mentally prepare yourself for those cheese dreams afterwards. Here are three little words that should get nearly everyone excited: cheese, chocolate and sparkling. This Good Food & Wine Show masterclass — hosted by cheese expert and owner of Smelly Cheese Project Valerie Henbest — is dedicating 45 minutes to the not-so-common pairing of cheese and choccie (with a glass of bubbles on the side), and is sure to tempt a crowd. You'll want to nab a ticket, stat, if you don't want to miss it. Sarah Ward, Associate Editor CULINARY STARS AND BIG, BEAUTIFUL BAROSSA REDS Since wine always tastes better when you know a bit about whatever the heck it is you're sipping, I'll be heading to the free palate appreciation classes at the Riedel Drinks Lab. The sessions are led by resident wine guy Nick Ryan and involve some expert tutelage, as well as tastings. In the midst of winter's chill, the class dedicated to big, beautiful reds is calling out to me. Libby Curran, Staff Writer A TICKET ESPECIALLY FOR THE WINE LOVERS First things first, I will definitely be nabbing myself a Wine Lovers Ticket. If you're into your fine drops, the extra dollars are well worth it — you'll take home a Riedel magnum tasting glass and an expert-selected bottle of vino, get exclusive access to back vintages and a tote bag to haul your goodies around in. The highlight in my eyes? Is it Really Better to be Single?, the punny wine-tasting masterclass that will have Nick Ryan chatting through the ins and outs of blending (and shining a light on why it's one of the most important skills in a winemaker's toolbox). A stop by the Good Food Village for a refuel by way of tastings and my day is made. Grace MacKenzie, Branded Content Manager EVENTS WORTH CROSSING THE DITCH FOR Confession: this is a hypothetical recommendation as I'm stuck over here in New Zealand and can't head to the show. But it may surprise Aussies to know that here in Aotearoa we are fanatical about MasterChef Australia. And no contestant has had an impact on me or my mother more than Brendan Pang during his tenures in 2018 and 2020. We were women obsessed. So, seeing him in real life whipping up dumplings and street eats during the Noodle Smack Down Street Food masterclass is absolutely worth booking flights across the ditch for. While I'm at the show, I'd definitely head to the Wine and Dine Tasting Room for Perfetto! Italian Food and Varietals, which combines two of my greatest loves: pasta and wine. Learning how to effectively match bold local drops to the diversity of Italian cuisine is almost as good as heading away on my own Euro-summer vacation. Almost. Sarah Templeton, New Zealand Editor Ready to start planning your tasty day out? Head to the website to explore the full lineup and book tickets. Top images: Jessica Wyld and Joseph Byford (last image)
Promoters Live Nation have been forced to postpone tonight's Sydney instalment of Janelle Monae and Kimbra's Golden Electric tour, due to Monae coming down with a sudden illness. The Grammy-nominated singer had to step out of the first show of the tour in Melbourne on Saturday and will hang back in the Victorian capital today — Live Nation issued a statement saying Monae "has been required to remain in Melbourne under medical supervision to assess her recovery." The postponement of the Sydney Opera House show comes at an unfortunate time for moving things around, as the rescheduled show would have to land before Friday when Vivid LIVE takes control of the House for the next few weeks. After the tour-commencing Perth show was already cancelled, it seems The Golden Electric tour is in need of a few lucky rabbit feet. Live Nation are set to make an announcement tomorrow, recommending ticket holders sit tight and hang on to their stubs. https://youtube.com/watch?v=SyqltX5lRhQ Via TheMusic.com.au.
Bright lights, performances around the city and interesting chats aren't the only things on Vivid Sydney's lineup when it pops up in the middle of each year. Since 2023, Vivid Food has also been its own festival within the broader festival, putting all things culinary in the spotlight. It's heaven for your tastebuds, and it's coming back for the second time in 2024 — and, based on the just-dropped program, you'll have plenty of must-attend events to choose from. At the top of the list: visits from acclaimed international chefs, all showing the Harbour City their gastronomical prowess. Manoella Buffara of Brazil's Manu Restaurant will get cooking in Sydney from Friday, May 24–Sunday, June 2 for Vivid's annual residency, with Ploós on the Vivid Sydney Light Walk set to showcase her focus on local produce and sustainability. This'll be the first time that 2022's Best Female Chef in Latin America hops into the kitchen Down Under, working with the Ploós team to put on two fine-dining menus: a nine-course tasting dinner which'll cost $420 and a seven-course lunch option that'll set you back $320. "I'm incredibly excited to be part of Vivid Food in Sydney, an event that highlights the importance of cuisine in our culture. As the culinary capital of Australia, Sydney becomes a hub for vibrant flavour exchanges, bringing together top chefs and local producers to create memorable food experiences," said Buffara about her impending visit. "In the heart of this bustling city, I will launch a pop-up that showcases my love for high-quality ingredients and authentic flavours. Sharing my cooking and stories with Sydney is a true honour, and I look forward to being part of this amazing food event that Vivid Food offers." Michelin-starred chefs Sally Abé, Ivan Brehm and Max Coen are on their way to Sydney as well, thanks to the Vivid Chef Series. Abé from The Pem in London is teaming up with Billy Hannigan at The Charles Brasserie & Bar, serving up three lunches and dinners that mix British cuisine with European influences. From Nour in Singapore, Ivan Brehm has a date with AALIA for two dinners that'll pair Middle Eastern cuisine with global flavours, working alongside the Sydney spot's Paul Farag. And Coen from London's Dorian is joining forces with Ben Greeno from Fred's to hero wood-fired grilling, farm-to-table ingredients and being hyper-seasonal. When the bulk of the 2024 Vivid lineup dropped in March, unveiling its theme of "humanity" and outlining most of what's occurring in Harbour City for 23 nights between Friday, May 24–Saturday, June 15, the fest detailed a few Vivid Food elements. So, the fact that Vivid Fire Kitchen will go big on barbecue in its new location at The Goods Line isn't new news; however, it is exciting, and the event has also dropped its own roster of talent. Fire sculptures and flame shooters will help set the mood, as will fire drums — and Firedoor's Lennox Hastie will be among the folks putting on demonstrations. He'll be joined by chef and author Christine Manfield, the World Food Championships' Seafood Champion John McFadden, Karkalla owner Mindy Woods, the Texas-based Jess Pryles, Niklas Ekstedt from Sweden's Ekstedt at The Yard and Shalamar Lane from My Father's Barbeque in Los Angeles, for starters. Also a Vivid Food standout: the nostalgic Messina Milk Bar, where the beloved gelato chain will be giving classic desserts and chocolates its own twist. A warm Milo fudge sundae is just one of the dishes to look forward to. As announced previously, Vivid's 2024 program also spans Kyiv Social's Plates with Purpose: A Taste of Ukraine, a ten-course degustation that will make you feel like you're sat at a Ukrainian family's table; the VividPlace Food Trail, which'll turn Sydney Place and Bulletin Place's laneways into a night food market each night of Vivid; and Our Shared Humanity at Refettorio OzHarvest, with Manfield, Darren Robertson, Mitch Orr and more whipping up three-course vegetarian menus using rescued produce And, there's also Aurorae at Bennelong Bar, Bennelong's pop-up snack and cocktail bar — and A Culinary Canvas by Danielle Alvarez celebrates women in the Australian food and wine scenes in Sydney Opera House's Yallamundi Rooms. [caption id="attachment_898138" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] [caption id="attachment_898139" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Vivid Sydney runs from Friday, May 24–Saturday, June 15 at various locations around Sydney. Head to the festival website for further details and tickets. Top image: Destination NSW.
Jurassic Park still hasn't become a reality, but plenty of people are trying to build the next best thing. Brisbane played host to a virtual dinosaur zoo, Queensland could be getting a Jurassic Park-themed amusement park, an American attraction lets visitors roam through the desert with life-sized renderings and Jurassic World movies keep being made.. Now, an open-air dinosaur exhibition has popped up in Australia. Dinosaur Canyon is the latest addition to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, aka the dinosaur-focused museum you mightn't realise sits in central Queensland. Perched on a cliff, the new section boasts a 300-metre floating, treetop-style concrete walkway that takes patrons over a gorge and past five galleries filled with dinosaur replicas. Cast in bronze and built to scale, they're not just statues of any old dinos — they're versions of the types of dinosaurs that have been found in the region. Yes, if you're wondering why the country's dinosaur haven resides in the middle of the outback — it's located just outside of Winton, which is approximately 1500 kilometres from Brisbane — it's because that's where dino fossils were found back in 1999. Local grazier David Elliott came across a piece while mustering, and then turned his attention to transforming the site into a natural history museum that delves into its previous inhabitants. Dinosaur Canyon opens to the public on April 16, offering a fresh attraction for dinosaur fiends who happen to find themselves in the dusty centre of Queensland. As well as checking out the new replicas against a stunning natural backdrop, visitors to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs can view bones, touch them — yep, touch actual dinosaur bones — and participate in both dinosaur digs and fossil preparation. Via ABC. Images: Sarah Ward / Australian Age of Dinosaurs.
Catching all the brilliant sights that Vivid’s offering up this year can be thirsty work. So, to keep you refreshed, Finely Tuned (creators of SOH’s Garden Bar by the Corner House) have transformed Martin Place into an illuminated culinary maze that’s part fairyland, part sci-fi cityscape. It’s built of industrial water tanks, made pretty with the help of pixel-mapped LED lights. A previous collaboration with German architects Modulorbeat provided the inspiration. “We wanted to create a giant sprawling space, filled with lights and places to stop and enjoy the ambiance of Vivid Sydney,” said creative director Joe Crossley. “The industrial water tanks were the perfect medium to build this zone, fusing food stalls and industrial elements together to create a unique light show.." Every evening from 5.30pm, an array of Sydney’s favourite street food providers will be onsite — including Eat Art Truck, Agape Organic, Poklol, Jafe Jaffles, Woofys, Cantina Mobil, Bite Size Delights and Gelato Messina — and, for drinks of the alcoholic variety, Bondi’s Panama House. Check out our other favourite dining spots with Vivid views. Colour3 runs from May 23 to June 9 in Martin Place.
2021 marks 40 years since author Thomas Harris first introduced the world to Hannibal Lecter in his 1981 novel Red Dragon. It's the 35th anniversary of the character initially making the leap to the screen in 1986 movie Manhunter, too. But it was the Oscar-winning 1991 film adaptation of 1988 book The Silence of the Lambs that made the character a pop culture mainstay — and helped ensure that big and small screen versions of Harris' work were never far from view for long. In cinemas, 2001's Hannibal and 2007's Hannibal Rising each adapted Harris' books of the same name. 2002's Red Dragon gave audiences another movie based on that novel, too. And, on television, 2013–5 series Hannibal also focused on the psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. Across all of the above, Lecter has remained the constant — as played by Succession's Brian Cox originally, then earning Anthony Hopkins an Academy Award, then portrayed by French actor Gaspard Ulliel (It's Only the End of the World) and Danish star Mads Mikkelsen (Arctic). Next in the franchise: TV series Clarice, which starts airing in Australia from Friday, February 12 via streaming platform Stan, and just dropped its first full trailer. The new show continues the saga's fondness for titles that share their name with a character and, obviously, pushes someone other than Lecter to the fore. Clarice Starling was a student at the FBI Academy when she was sent to interview Lecter, and it changed her career — with Clarice picking up her story in 1993, a year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs, as she returns to the field. While Jodie Foster nabbed an Oscar for the role, and Julianne Moore stepped into Starling's shoes in Hannibal, this time the character is played by Australian actor Rebecca Breeds (Blue Water High, Home and Away, Pretty Little Liars, The Originals). She'll portray Starling as the FBI agent faces new cases and confronts her own past — and she'll be joined on-screen by co-stars Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead), Lucca de Oliveira (SEAL Team), Kal Penn (House), Nick Sandow (Orange Is the New Black), Devyn Tyler (The Purge), Jayne Atkinson (Criminal Minds) and newcomer Marnee Carpenter. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agjDfPTfMTY&feature=youtu.be Clarice starts streaming via Stan on Friday, February 12, dropping new episodes weekly. Top image: Brooke Palmer ©2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
While an airport's not usually the kind of place you scramble to spend time in, Singapore's Changi Airport has a knack for making the whole transit thing a little more fun. And right now, the major transport hub — which welcomes a cool 65 million visitors each year — is embracing the festive season, unveiling a new immersive Frozen-inspired winter wonderland pop-up. Running until January 5 in celebration of Disney's soon-to-be-released Frozen 2, the installation will see various parts of the airport transformed into snow-dusted fantasy worlds, evoking all those white Christmas feelings. The airport's new nature-themed retail and entertainment precinct Jewel will play host to a program of dazzling themed light and sound shows, splashed across its Rain Vortex: the world's tallest indoor waterfall. There'll also be a festive market selling a wide array of handmade goodies for last-minute Christmas present shopping, as well as an offering of workshops covering crafty endeavours like terrarium-making and ukulele-painting. Meanwhile, the T3 Departure Hall will feature an immersive enchanted forest pop-up, with four challenge zones inspired by the four elements of nature. Sure, it's a total kids' paradise, but there's also plenty to charm the young at heart, from jolly stilt-walkers to larger-than-life installations and roving carollers. The faux snow will be a-flying at regular intervals and Changi will even be graced by its biggest Christmas tree ever – a 16-metre-tall stunner, decked out head-to-toe in full festive finery and lit-up dramatically at 6.30pm each evening. Keep an eye out for it at the Jewel entrance near Terminal 1. Changi Airport sure knows how to keep a travel-weary person entertained between flights. During last year's Christmas period, it hosted an immersive Harry Potter-themed world, while earlier this year, it unveiled its new 14,000-square-metre Canopy Park, complete with mirror and hedge maze, topiary walk (which is currently filled with snow) and slide-filled sculptural playground. A Frozen Wonderland at Changi is located in Terminal 1-3 at Changi Airport until January 5, 2020.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: Nicolas Cage cures all woes. Whether you're having an average 2022 so far, or you're sad that the long weekend is over — or you're in parts of the country that don't get a long weekend mid-June and you're sad about that — watching one of the greatest actors alive make on-screen magic as only he can is always a thrill. Yes, that's true whether he's in an excellent or awful movie, too. Your latest excuse to see Nicolas Cage do his thing comes courtesy of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, aka a movie that's gotten a fair amount of attention for one huge reason: it stars Cage as Cage. It was first announced back in 2021, then hit Australian cinemas back in April. Now, as a mid-winter gift — and because fast-tracking flicks from cinemas to digital has become the pandemic-era status quo — the film has made the very quick leap to video on demand. That means that you can now spend your next at-home movie night watching Nicolas Cage play Nicolas Cage — and playing a whole lot of different styles of Cage, too. There's serious Cage, comedic Cage, out-there Cage, OTT Cage, short-haired Cage, floppy-haired Cage, slick Cage, gun-toting Cage and every-facial-expression-imaginable Cage. Whichever kind of Cage you can think of, it's accounted for. All your favourite Cage titles also get a nod or mention in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, which sure does love absolutely everything about its leading man. There is a story behind the film's Cage-obsessed premise, of course. The fictionalised Cage is in a career lull, and is thinking about giving up acting, when he accepts an offer to attend a super fan-slash-billionaire's birthday. Getting paid $1 million is just too much to pass up, and he needs the money. But when it turns out that he might now be working for and palling around with one of the most ruthless men on the planet (played by Pedro Pascal, Wonder Woman 1984) — as a couple of intelligence agents (The Afterparty co-stars Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz) eventually tell him — things get mighty hectic. Also joining Cage playing Cage — not to be confused with his work in Adaptation, where he played two characters — are Sharon Horgan (This Way Up) as his fictional wife and Neil Patrick Harris (The Matrix Resurrections) as his manager. And, Are We Officially Dating? filmmaker Tom Gormican sits in the director's chair, because if there's anything else that this movie also needs, it's the director of a Zac Efron and Michael B Jordan-starring rom-com pivoting to total Cage worship. Yes, we've seen Cage break out of Alcatraz, sing Elvis songs, run around the streets convinced that he's a vampire, let his long hair flap in the wind and swap faces. He's voiced a version of Spider-Man, driven fast cars, fought space ninjas, hunted for his kidnapped truffle pig and stolen babies as well. Staying in his own shoes definitely stands out, though — as Cage himself always does. Check out the trailer for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent below: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is available to stream via Google Play, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review.
Forget the host's monologue, when there is one. Jimmy Kimmel was on MC duties for the 2023 Academy Awards, and he did indeed start the show by making jokes about a heap of nominees — and about Batgirl being the first superhero taken down by studio accountants, and what'll happen if someone tried to follow in Will Smith's 2022 footsteps this year. But each Oscars ceremony truly begins when winners start being announced and those recipients give barnstorming speeches. With that in mind, the 2023 festivities began with a bang. If you didn't have tears in your eyes watching Guillermo del Toro, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Quan, then you weren't watching. As predicted, the latter's speech about never giving up on your dream — and how he almost did, but his wife told him his time would come — was an all-timer. He even gave a shoutout to Jeff Cohen, his co-star from The Goonies and his entertainment lawyer now. Of course, the excited words kept flowing from there. The An Irish Goodbye team singing happy birthday to star James Martin was another early highlight. So was the arrival of Jenny the donkey from The Banshees of Inisherin, and the thrilled look on Colin Farrell's face when it happened. When Everything Everywhere All At Once kept adding to its awards, you could see the joy among the film's team. And when records were made — the first Best Actress winner who identifies as Asian (Michelle Yeoh for Everything Everywhere All At Once), the first song from India to win Best Song (for 'Naatu Naatu' from explosive action-musical RRR), and the first Black woman to win two Oscars (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Ruth Carter) — it was tremendous. Among the many deserving winners, there were missed opportunities as well. Kimmel's opening joke about James Cameron not getting a Best Director nomination just as plenty of women didn't called out a glaring ongoing struggle with the Oscars. Also, the awards couldn't find a way to make Elvis' Mandy Walker the first woman to win Best Cinematographer in its 95-year run. Great work is great work — and great films are great films — no matter whether they earn shiny trophies. Some movies and talents end up with statuettes to their names, some come close and miss out, others don't even get nominated. All are worthy of attention. Here's the latest round of winners batch to join the Oscars' ranks — and who they were up against as well. You can also check out our rundown of the ten winners you should watch right now as well, plus our full lists of where most of this year's contenders are screening or streaming in both Australia and New Zealand. OSCAR WINNERS AND NOMINEES 2023: BEST MOTION PICTURE All Quiet on the Western Front Avatar: The Way of Water The Banshees of Inisherin Elvis Everything Everywhere All At Once — WINNER The Fabelmans Tár Top Gun: Maverick Triangle of Sadness Women Talking BEST DIRECTOR Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All At Once — WINNER Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans Todd Field, Tár Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Cate Blanchett, Tár Ana de Armas, Blonde Andrea Riseborough, To Leslie Michelle Williams, The Fabelmans Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All At Once — WINNER PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Austin Butler, Elvis Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin Brendan Fraser, The Whale — WINNER Paul Mescal, Aftersun Bill Nighy, Living PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Hong Chau, The Whale Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All At Once — WINNER Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All At Once PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway Judd Hirsch, The Fabelmans Barry Keoghan, The Banshees of Inisherin Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All At Once — WINNER BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY The Banshees of Inisherin, Martin McDonagh Everything Everywhere All At Once, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert — WINNER The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner Tár, Todd Field Triangle of Sadness, Ruben Östlund BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY All Quiet on the Western Front, Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson and Ian Stokell Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Rian Johnson Living, Kazuo Ishiguro Top Gun: Maverick, screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie; story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks Women Talking, Sarah Polley — WINNER BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM All Quiet on the Western Front — WINNER Argentina, 1985 Close EO The Quiet Girl BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio — WINNER Marcel the Shell With Shoes On Puss in Boots: The Last Wish The Sea Beast Turning Red BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE All That Breathes All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Fire of Love A House Made of Splinters Navalny — WINNER BEST ORIGINAL SCORE All Quiet on the Western Front, Volker Bertelmann — WINNER Babylon, Justin Hurwitz The Banshees of Inisherin, Carter Burwell Everything Everywhere All At Once, Son Lux The Fabelmans, John Williams BEST ORIGINAL SONG 'Applause', Tell It Like a Woman (Diane Warren) 'Hold My Hand', Top Gun: Maverick (Lady Gaga and BloodPop) 'Lift Me Up', Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; lyrics by Tems and Ryan Coogler) 'Naatu Naatu', RRR (music by MM Keeravaani, lyrics by Chandrabose) — WINNER 'This Is a Life', Everything Everywhere All At Once (music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski, lyrics by Ryan Lott and David Byrne) BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY All Quiet on the Western Front, James Friend — WINNER Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, Darius Khondji Elvis, Mandy Walker Empire of Light, Roger Deakins Tár, Florian Hoffmeister BEST FILM EDITING The Banshees of Inisherin, Mikkel EG Nielsen Elvis, Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond Everything Everywhere All At Once, Paul Rogers — WINNER Tár, Monika Willi Top Gun: Maverick, Eddie Hamilton BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN All Quiet on the Western Front, Christian M Goldbeck and Ernestine Hipper — WINNER Avatar: The Way of Water, Dylan Cole, Ben Procter and Vanessa Cole Babylon, Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino Elvis, Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy and Bev Dunn The Fabelmans, Rick Carter and Karen O'Hara BEST VISUAL EFFECTS All Quiet on the Western Front, Frank Petzold, Viktor Müller, Markus Frank and Kamil Jafar Avatar: The Way of Water, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett — WINNER The Batman, Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Geoffrey Baumann, Craig Hammack, R Christopher White and Dan Sudick Top Gun: Maverick, Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson and Scott R Fisher BEST COSTUME DESIGN Babylon, Mary Zophres Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ruth Carter — WINNER Elvis, Catherine Martin Everything Everywhere All At Once, Shirley Kurata Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, Jenny Beavan BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING All Quiet on the Western Front, Heike Merker and Linda Eisenhamerová The Batman, Naomi Donne, Mike Marino and Mike Fontaine Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Camille Friend and Joel Harlow Elvis, Mark Coulier, Jason Baird and Aldo Signoretti The Whale, Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Anne Marie Bradley — WINNER BEST SOUND All Quiet on the Western Front, Viktor Prásil, Frank Kruse, Markus Stemler, Lars Ginzel and Stefan Korte Avatar: The Way of Water, Julian Howarth, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Dick Bernstein, Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers and Michael Hedges The Batman, Stuart Wilson, William Files, Douglas Murray and Andy Nelson Elvis, David Lee, Wayne Pashley, Andy Nelson and Michael Keller Top Gun: Maverick, Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor — WINNER BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT The Elephant Whisperers — WINNER Haulout How Do You Measure a Year? The Martha Mitchell Effect Stranger at the Gate BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse — WINNER The Flying Sailor Ice Merchants My Year of Dicks An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM An Irish Goodbye — WINNER Ivalu Le Pupille Night Ride The Red Suitcase
