Burger loving Sydneysiders can get ready to add another place to their to-try list, because one of Melbourne's best burger joints is venturing up north to open a permanent store. You might have heard of Huxtaburger. Since it opened in Melbourne in 2011 it's garnered a slew of loyal fans, and heap of American-style burger joints have opened in its wake. But it's only now, six years and six stores later, that the shop has finally decided to expand to Sydney. It will open in Redfern by the end of July. So what can you expect? The team like to keep things simple: sweet brioche buns wrapped around a wagyu beef patty with tomato, cheese, lettuce and pickles, or southern fried chicken with jalapeño mayo and slaw. Meals are best rounded out with crinkle cut chips and an ice cold can of beer. The expansion is part of the business's decision to enter into a franchise model. The first franchise has already opened in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray, and it sounds like there are plenty more in the pipeline. "The introduction of franchisees marks just the beginning of our expansion plans as we look to grow our national footprint in Australia, and grow our business," said Huxtaburger CEO Matt Fickling. Rapid expansion may be a good thing for burger lovers, but let us not forget the story of Doughnut Time. Huxtaburger will open at 66 Regent Street, Redfern at the end of July. We'll keep you updated on an opening date.
With the fifth and final season of the much loved cult series Broad City on its way, Melburnians are getting a very special surprise when co-creator and yas queen Ilana Glazer heads to Melbourne's Hamer Hall for a one-hour stand-up gig on Saturday, June 9 — and tickets are on sale right now. If you've already left this page to book, we understand. Glazer's hilarious portrayal of Ilana Wexler on Broad City has launched her into comedic fame since the show first aired back in 2014. Since then, you may have also have seen her alongside Scarlett Johansson and Demi Moore in Rough Night, as well as recognised her voice in the Netflix animated series BoJac Horseman. Most recently, Glazer has been busy on an 11-city comedy tour with comedian Phoebe Robinson, who hosts the podcast Sooo Many White Guys (also produced by Glazer). This means her stand-up act will be well primed for her one-off Australian gig. Presented by the Arts Centre Melbourne and Penny Drop, Glazer is the headline act of MEL&NYC, a new winter program of multi-disciplinary events that showcase the influence that New York City has on the Melbourne arts and culture scene. The program will take over the city's best cultural venues from June through August and see leading New Yorkers and Australians share their everyday experiences in a series of conversations, music, performances, educational talks and community outreach events. Other gigs include shows by Regina Spektor and Exo-Tech featuring Kimbra and Sophia Brousa, plus a live-to-film performance of West Side Story and a John Cameron Mitchell musical performance. Broad City's Ilana Glazer is performing stand-up at Melbourne's Hamer Hall for one night only on Saturday, June 9 at 8pm. For tickets, or to check out more events in the MEL&NYC program, head over here.
After months of speculation, it seems Amazon's much-hyped Australian launch finally has a start date. And that date is tomorrow. As business information researchers IBISWorld confirmed, emails were sent out to a bunch of Amazon Marketplace sellers on Tuesday, suggesting that the online retail giant would be kicking off an 'internal testing phase' here in Australia at 2pm Thursday, November 23 — just in time for that hectic, pre-Christmas retail rush. There's not a whole lot of info to go on, though sellers are being told to ensure their pricing and stock is up-to-date, and that their accounts are ready for purchases from the start of this soft launch. They're also being given the opportunity to opt out of the testing phase, by temporarily deactivating their account. It looks like the rest of us will have to wait until tomorrow to see which, and how many products are available during the launch period — though if we know anything about Amazon, it's that they don't do things by halves. According to Senior Industry Analyst for IBISWorld Kim Do, Amazon's arrival in Australia is set to give the local retail industry a solid shake-up. "The company intends to challenge domestic retail prices by offering items for 30 percent less than domestic retailers," she explained, adding that technology products are expected to be Amazon's highest selling category. Let the retail therapy begin!
Everyone has at least one piece of IKEA furniture in their house, and likely more than that. Maybe you also own some of the Swedish retailer's Lego storage boxes, too, or a bucket hat made out of the same material as its iconic blue bags. You could've whipped up outfits for your dog using said shopping carriers, and even cooked up its famed meatballs during lockdown. Something that even the brand's biggest Australian devotees won't own, however, is an IKEA t-shirt, tote or key ring — yet, that is. In 2020, IKEA launched its first-ever merchandise line, kicking off in Japan before releasing in Singapore, Thailand and Korea as well. Now, come Thursday, May 13, it's Australia's turn to get decked out in the brand's clothing and accessories — so get ready to don its hoodies, sip from its water bottles and wipe yourself down with its towels, too. The range is called Efterträda, and it nods to the company's popular products in a variety of ways. You'll find its recognisable blue and yellow logo on everything, for instance, as well as a minimalistic look in general. Oversized barcodes feature as a key design element, mimicking the type seen on its products — and, because they line oh-so-many walls, the Billy bookcase barcode has been given pride of place. Plus, the towels and water bottles come in either yellow or white, while the key rings have a blue option. Prices range from $4 for a key ring up to $49 for a hoodie, with water bottles costing $6, totes coming in at $10, t-shirts priced at $19 and towels costing $22.50. And, to answer the two questions that have probably just popped into your head: no, you don't have to assemble them yourself, or use an Allen key. IKEA's Efterträda collection will be available in Australian stores from Thursday, May 13. For further details, head to the Swedish retailer's website.
The days are shorter, the cold winds stronger and we can be sure of one thing: winter is here. While in Australia that may not have the dramatic effect it does in Game of Thrones, we can be sure that a plethora of dark and delicious beers are coming into their own now that the colder months are upon us. Here follows, in no particular order, a guide to the top ten brews to help you through the wintry season. MODUS OPERANDI BREWING, FORMER TENANT RED IPA Mona Vale's finest, Modus Operandi Brewing, is known for its big, bold, hop-driven beers and this glorious red IPA is no exception. Expect big fruity notes of passionfruit and mango, owing to the liberal dry hopping with Galaxy and Mosaic hop varieties, giving way to a burst of bittersweet red grapefruit flavour. Underpinning this maelstrom of hops is an incredibly well-balanced malt base with notes of earthy caramel and biscuit. The finish is piney and botanical, giving just a hint of the beer's namesake — the 'former tenant' of the brewery's site was a marijuana grower — which makes this beer a complex and rewarding brew from the first to last sip. $14.50 for a 500ml can or $48.99 for a four-pack at Beer Cartel. PHILTER, CARIBBEAN STOUT Philter has something of a knack for busting out surprisingly different beers with each new release. Having already nailed an XPA, a session red ale and a lager, it's no surprise that its latest offering is something to get excited about. Though the name might indicate some sort of coconut-infused-rum-barrel-aged craft beer experiment, the flavour is far more approachable, drawing inspiration from the tradition of fruitier stouts common in the Caribbean and surrounding areas. Weighing in at an impressive 7% ABV this beer pours midnight black with rich notes of cocoa, dried fruits and a hint of nuttiness. $10 for a 375ml can or $33.99 for a four-pack at Beer Cartel. BATCH BREWING CO, ELSIE THE MILK STOUT Milk stouts continue to grow in popularity among Australian beer drinkers, and once you've had a glass of Elsie, it's not hard to see why. Combining a complex malt bill, flaked barley, rolled oats and lactose, this beer offers a balance of sweet and roasty notes such as chocolate and coffee with a beautiful creaminess. Coming in at an approachable 4.3% ABV this is a great beer for those looking to cross over to the dark side this winter. $12.50 for a 640ml bottle at Beer Cartel. YOUNG HENRYS, MOTORCYCLE OIL HOPPY PORTER Brewing powerhouse Young Henrys continues to impress with the latest addition to its taps and tinnies. In keeping with the tattooed-up, beard sporting-style it's known for, the charmingly titled Motorcycle Oil is at once in your face, yet reserved, well balanced and approachable. The initial flavour is roasty with delicate hints of chocolate, coffee and a touch of caramel, giving way to a big hop character featuring citrus and medium pine notes. Sitting at 5.8% ABV it offers big flavours but in a balanced and welcoming beer — sure to please lovers of hops and malt alike. $8.99 for a 500ml can or $29.99 for a four-pack at Dan Murphy's. FRENCHIES, ASTROLABE RED BIÈRE DE GARDE Based on a style that originated in Northern France, bière de gardes are bound by a common malt-accented flavour, but, beyond that, each brew offers a wealth of idiosyncrasies. Frenchies Astrolabe pours a beautiful ruby colour with plenty of caramel malt up front followed by notes of cherry and berries with hint of pear. Finishing with a moderate bitterness, this beer is dangerously sessionable, masking its 7.4% ABV with ease and charm. $12 for a 440ml can or $40.99 for a four-pack at Beer Cartel. WAYWARD BREWING CO, FURIOUS GNOME ESB The name alone should be enough to win people over. But coupled with Wayward's reputation as one of Sydney's finest breweries, it's a must-try this season. Furious Gnome pays homage to classic British ESBs like Fuller's and Old Speckled Hen through its caramel and toffee dominated palate, with a biscuity dryness and rounded out by an earthy and ever so lightly spicy hop bitterness at the end. A great malt-accented interpretation of the style — sure to please thirsty expats and newcomers to the style alike. $11.50 for a 640ml bottle at Bucket Boys. MORNINGTON PENINSULA BREWERY, MORNINGTON BROWN ALE A classic English-style brown ale, this moreish brew from Mornington Peninsula Brewery offers an enticing aroma of toffee and dried fruits (think sultanas, raisins and dates) owing to the imported English malts that make up its base. On the palate, expect toffee and chocolate notes with a balanced sweetness and a slightly nutty finish. At 5% ABV, it's perhaps a little stronger than the beers which inspired it, yet is still supremely sessionable and well matched with nutty cheeses like gouda, as well as roasted meats. $3.99 for a 330ml bottle, $23.94 for a six-pack at Dan Murphy's. BRIDGE ROAD BREWERS, CELTIC RED IRISH RED ALE A longtime staple from the old hands at Bridge Road Brewers down in Beechworth, the Celtic red ale is a wonderfully delicate balance of caramel malts with a light roastiness and a dryer finish that you'd expect for the style. Pouring a deep amber, this beer is initially sweet with toffee and burnt sugar notes, followed by a subtle kick of noble hops to bring you back for another sip. At 5.3% ABV, it's a wonderful Aussie interpretation of a true Irish-style red, malty and sweet but wonderfully well balanced. $4.19 for a 330ml bottle or $15.49 for a four-pack at Dan Murphy's. STAVES BREWERY, ARDENNES TABLE BEER BELGIAN PALE ALE Named after a yeast strain sourced from the Ardennes region of Belgium, this delicate and well-balanced beer from the Glebe's charming Staves Brewery is not to be missed. Opening with lightly sour fruity notes, coupled with a gentle spiciness from the yeast, this Belgian-style beer is the perfect brew for when the sun is out, but the wind has an edge to it. The Glebe brewpub also features live music and comedy, whilst owner Steve Drissell is often found manning the taps, ready to share a laugh and his impressive beer knowledge with the punters. Ardennes Table Beer can be purchased in store at Staves Brewery, 4-8 Grose Street, Glebe. BADLANDS BREWERY, DRAUGHTY KILT SCOTCH ALE Scotch ale is a style not often replicated on Aussie shores, yet a handful of flattering imitators of the malt-driven Scottish style exist. And Orange's Badlands Brewery has long been at the forefront. Copper red in colour with toffee and caramel notes and a hint of vanilla giving way to a light burst of candied orange and date, this beer features a restrained bitterness that really allows its rich malty flavours to shine. At 5% ABV it's relatively light for a Scotch ale, but that just means you can enjoy more of it. $11 for a 500ml bottle at Beer Cartel. For alternative stockists in your city, check the breweries' websites. Top image: Frenchies
Heading on holiday, looking for a place to stay, but aren't keen on the usual hotel experience? Thanks to Airbnb and a growing array of similar platforms, finding somewhere different to bunk down is now easier than ever. Whether it's an apartment, a campervan or an architecturally significant home, there's a service for it — and now there's a site that specialises in letting you kip in the luxe digs owned by your friends, or friends of friends. If you've ever visited a pal's place and thought that you'd like to holiday there, or heard stories about a mate of a mate's gorgeous pad in a far-flung spot, Stay One Degree is here to help. It operates like other house-sharing platforms, but puts trust, recommendations from those you know and good ol' fashioned vouching for others at the centre of its transactions. As such, users can only rent from people they already know — such as family, friends or work colleagues — or people who know someone they know. The idea came to founders and friends Thomas Bennett and Jorge Munoz during their own frequent travels. The duo realised something that everyone does at some point during a trip — that, even though there's no place like home, actually staying somewhere that feels like home comes close. After testing out the concept themselves and discovering that only renting from people they were already connected to still took a lot of planning, they decided to start a service that simplified the process, and that anyone could use. After launching at the beginning of 2018, Stay One Degree now boasts hundreds of properties all around the world — including two in Australia and 19 in New Zealand at the time of writing, should you be looking to stay close to home. And, as well as offering travellers the chance to hang out in a friend's ace digs, it obviously also works the other way around — helping folks fill their empty house with someone they know (or someone that someone they know knows) while they're away. For more information, visit Stay One Degree. Image: Stay One Degree.
Last last year, US Tex-Mex chain Taco Bell quietly opened a test store in Annerley, Brisbane. Now, it's planning to rapidly expand across Australia with a slew of new stores. Taco Bell's parent company Collins Foods, which also operates 28 Aussie KFC restaurants and the 13 remaining Sizzler venues, announced last week that after receiving positive feedback from its test store, it would be opening more Taco Bell outposts before the end of the year. Managing Director and CEO Graham Maxwell suggested locals have embraced the brand wholeheartedly. "We are pleased with the acceptance of the Taco Bell brand by Australian consumers," he explained. This is, however, Taco Bell's third attempted foray into the Australian market. The chain tried to launch here in 1981 (and was then taken to court by Sydney store Taco Bell's Casa) and again in 1997 — but both attempts were unsuccessful and the brand withdrew. As part of Collins Foods' expansion, Real Commercial reported that the company would be rebranding its Sizzler restaurants as Taco Bells, as the US fast food giant makes its most-recent attempt at taking on the Aussie market. In the company's end-of-financial-year summary, it reported that its Sizzler restaurants were underperforming and one more had closed. Currently, you'll find 13 Sizzler restaurants across Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales, though it's unclear how many of these could soon be swapping the salad bar and cheese toast, for burritos and quesadillas.
We all know Britain's iconic red phone booths — they're as British as Queen Lizzie or a chicken tikka curry. So what happens when the service they offer becomes redundant? You turn them into smart phone repair workshops. British phone repair company Lovefone is in the process of renovating 35 phone booths across Britain, transforming them into stations where people can get their smartphones and tablets fixed. The results of their efforts are going to come in very handy after you've drunk a pint too many and dropped your electronic goods into the loo. The revamped booths will also offer free charging stations and wifi, as well as an underfloor safe that protects electronic goods while they await pick-up. A similar but definitely not as cool idea has been in place in Australia for a while, with Telstra equipping their pay phones with routers to give their customers wifi access when they're nearby. Unfortunately, this service is only available to certain Telstra users — but it does pave the way for other networks to run with the idea in the future. Other countries around the globe have come up with their own novel ideas for repurposing phone booths. One phone booth in New York has been revitalised with the addition of shelves, converting it into a library. Citizens donate unwanted texts, with the book exchange working on a honesty-based policy. We're thinking that there has to be a market for this in Australia. Back in the UK, the Red Kiosk Company allows you to rent and run your own business from a phone booth. A number of cafes now lease phone booths as their cafe shopfronts — and one guy even opened up his own phone booth salad store. So take note entrepreneurs: your dreams of opening up your own quirky cafe might be just around the corner, literally.
Whether you're the type of news junkie that's always abreast of current affairs, or you're more familiar with big international events in passing, Italian-made financial thriller Devils should feel familiar. It's set in 2011, in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, and it plunges inside the toxic investment trading and banking world — bringing Guido Maria Brera's 2014 novel I Diavoli to the small screen. Here, Massimo Ruggero (Alessandro Borghi) heads the trading team at a hugely influential investment bank. But when his mentor Dominic Morgan (Patrick Dempsey) promotes one of his colleagues, Massimo is far from happy. That's just the beginning of this slick series' wheeling, dealing, dramas and thrills, with real-life details weaved into its many subplots. And yes, Devils is also the latest series to star the always-watchable Dempsey, if you've been missing his face from your screen.
From architecture to interiors to objects and craft, do you love all things design? Well, we've secured two tickets to the fourth annual DESIGN Canberra so you can indulge your aesthetic desires. Oh, and you'll get use of a BMW for the weekend, so you'll be able to drive out there and around the city in style. Plus, you'll be put up for two nights at Canberra's VIBE hotel, and have a full weekend itinerary scheduled. We'll have you meeting artists, discovering local craft and experiencing some of the best spots in Canberra, including dinner on us. Interested? We thought so. Running November 6–26, DESIGN Canberra is a celebration of our capital as a global city of design. Inspired by the spirit of modernism, the festival brings together Walter Burley and Marion Griffin's visionary design from a century ago, the iconic experimental modernist architecture of the 1950s and '60s and the contemporary and sustainable design developments of today — all coming together in a demonstration of Canberra as a living, breathing design hub. With over 100 (mostly free) events, exhibitions, talks, tours, activations, markets, collaborations, artist studios and open homes in the calendar — phew — DESIGN Canberra is sure to satiate your aesthetic desires this November. The festival offers exciting insight into the talent pool of makers who are working, living and creating in the nation's capital. One of the most intriguing events is Living Rooms, which allows visitors to explore the living rooms of acclaimed Canberra houses. Pop-up design exhibitions with works on sale will be incorporated into the living rooms, so even if you can't buy the house, you can buy the furniture (homewares and jewellery too). Other events include architecture bus tours, design talks, open studios and that's just the tip of this design iceberg. Not only will you win a full VIP itinerary for the weekend, have a Rolfe Classic BMW to drive and two nights accommodation at VIBE Hotel with breakfast included, but you'll also score dinner and wine for two at Canberra's stylish, ethical and eco-friendly Mocan & Green Grout. Mark your calendars and enter your details below for a chance to win. [competition]635856[/competition]
If you're already panicking at the prospect of winter, don't. Make plans to warm up instead — here's one to get you started. On Saturday, May 18, a stack of ace musicians, who've been charting mega hits and touring around the planet in the last year or so, will be converging on Darwin for BASSINTHEGRASS 2019 festival. Now in its 17th year, the one-day shindig is about to hit the northern coast for the first time. More specifically, you'll find it at Mindil Beach, a dreamy stretch of sand just a 20-minute walk from downtown Darwin. In between catching your favourite artists, you can gaze out at the Timor Sea and forget that winter is waiting for you back home, as you soak up bucketloads of Top End sunshine. Before (or afterwards), there are plenty of Darwinian adventures to add to your musical ones — from cuddling crocodiles at Crocosaurus Cove to checking out local Indigenous art at The MAGNT. Check out the full lineup below. BASSINTHEGRASS 2019 All Day Amy Shark Ball Park Music Broods Caiti Baker DZ Deathrays Hermitude Hilltop Hoods Hot Dub Time Machine Karnivool Mallrat Meg Mac Nick Murphy (formerly known as Chet Faker) PNAU Ruel Six60 Tasman Keith The Lunar Society BASSINTHEGRASS 2019 will take place from 11am–11pm on Saturday, May 18. For the full lineup and to purchase tickets, visit the website.
There's an astonishing story at the heart of I, Daniel Blake, the latest film from veteran director Ken Loach, and the winner of the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival. After suffering a heart attack while standing on scaffolding on a building site, the titular character (Dave Johns) seeks government assistance. Alas, despite his doctor's advice that he needs rest to recover, a series of bureaucrats deem him fit to work, and refuse to listen to his pleas about his health. His situation isn't unique; at the local benefits office, he meets a single mother, Katie (Hayley Squires), similarly battling an uncaring system. Exposing the punitive barriers those in need are forced to face when they're looking for help, the movie has been garnering a strong reaction as it travels around the world. However, there's another incredible tale driving I, Daniel Blake. Lead actor Johns is a stand-up comedian who has appeared on British panel TV shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 Out of Ten Cats, and now makes the leap to film to star in his first feature at the age of 59. His is a devastatingly naturalistic performance in a heartbreaking piece of social realist cinema, and one that lingers long after viewing. With I, Daniel Blake releasing in Australian cinemas after playing at the British Film Festival, we chatted with Johns about making his first movie, receiving the script page-by-page as shooting progressed, and the responsibility of making a film that hits so close to home for so many people. ON MAKING THE JUMP FROM STAND-UP TO STARRING IN A KEN LOACH FILM "I was aware of Ken's work — and just to meet Ken, I said to people, friends of mine, 'If I could just get in and do the improv with him, that'd just be a great experience'. So I never dreamt that I would be offered the part. We shot it for ten weeks up in the northeast of England, around the area where I was brought up as a kid. And I remember the first day, I mean, I'd done plays and stuff like that, but I hadn't walked on set and seen the enormity of what I'd taken on. 'Oh my god, I'm the lead of this film,' I remember thinking. 'Oh, have I bitten off too much?' And now people say to me, 'You know, what's it like, your first film?' — and I go 'Well, if it's my first film and it's won the Palme d'Or, I think I've set my bar a little too high'. Now I'm up for best actor at the European Film Awards this year in Poland. I'm up for best actor and best newcomer and the British Independent Film Awards. Variety magazine in America have tipped me as number 20 to win an Oscar behind Jake Gyllenhaal and Colin Farrell, so it is pretty surreal. I think your career should be a bit of an adventure. And if you do one thing in your life that you can be proud of, to be in a Ken Loach film that has made such an impact and won the Palme d'Or, I'm very proud and very honoured to be in this position." ON DISCOVERING THE STORYLINE AS HE WENT "The thing with the way Ken works is he doesn't tell you much about the film. You don't get the full script, you only get a couple of pages each day — and he shoots chronologically, so basically you are thrown into this life where you're just living this life everyday. And you don't really know what's coming until you get the two or three pages of script in the evening that you go away and learn and bring in the next day. I think that's so you don't have that sort of [situation] where you and the other person you're doing the scene with, you can't look at page 26 of the script, and go, 'Oh look, this is our big scene'. Ken doesn't want you to pre-empt what's going to happen. He wants it all to be in the moment. A lot of people think there's a lot of improvisation in Ken's films — I mean all that script is all scripted, it's just that Paul Laverty [Loach's long-time screenwriter] and Ken, they give you the chance to own the words. That's how it comes across. And because he shoots chronologically, and because he has no closed sets — he puts you in real situations — it has that gritty, real feel about it." ON REACTING TRUTHFULLY RATHER THAN ACTING "I think you rely on truth. You rely on your true emotions, and you actually respond truthfully. You don't have any chance to pre-empt how you're going to feel. The first day, Ken said to me on set, 'When you're in scenes with Hayley, when you're in the scene together, if you just listen to each other and you find the truth, it will look like that on the screen'. So that's the notes I got, so I just took that on board. Just basically, like, he would say to me, 'You're getting a phone call today on set'. And I'd go, 'All right, who's it from?' And he'd go, 'You'll find out when you get the phone call'. It's a very fascinating process. It makes you rely more on your gut reaction rather than any technique you might have as an actor, I would imagine. In any of the scenes I had with the kids or the neighbours or with Hayley, I think I was reacting to and responding to how she was playing it to me, you know. I think it was just being honest if something touched you, and then you brought the honest emotion to it. I think that's the only way you can do it when it's like that." ON FORGETTING THAT HE'S MAKING A MOVIE "The way Ken shoots, he doesn't have loads of people on set. There's no makeup touching you up before the scene, there's no checking your costume before every take, it's basically, you leave the unit and that's it. And basically, if we were in my flat, it'd just be the camera in the corner of the room — he never tells you what lens he's got on the camera, so you don't know how close the shot is. And there were times when in scenes I forgot I was in a film, really. I was just reacting to what Katie, the character, was telling us. And that was a pretty amazing feeling, when there were times when you forgot you were making a film and you were just talking with this person." ON THE REALITY BEHIND THE FILM "The first thing Ken said to me when we did preparations — I had to learn how to carve the wooden fish, did a little woodwork course, just a couple of days — and then he said to me, 'Fill that 52 page assessment form in.' And I was like, 'What?' And I came back and went, 'I can't do this, this is insane'. And then it got me thinking, imagine if you were sick, and you had to fill that in, and if you filled it in wrong. And so it was revealed to me how unjust the system is. And I think it is because it is a system that is spread by this austerity which has been played around the world. I mean, every film festival — I took the summer off to go to film festivals with this — and at every film festival I went, at Locarno in Switzerland, in Spain, in Italy, in Slovakia, everywhere we went with this film, people came up afterwards and said 'This is happening in our country as well'. Because of the big banking crash and because of the finances, the way globalisation is going, you see the poorest and the less able are taking the biggest burden. And that's what's happening with the welfare system. I think they've lost sight of the person and they are just trying to save money, and it is bureaucracy, and it is outsourced to a company, and these questions are insane." ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PLAYING A PART THAT HITS SO CLOSE TO HOME FOR SO MANY PEOPLE "You can't just do this film and go, 'Well, that's it, I'm done.' You go on and you do other work, but you still come back to it because you do feel a responsibility to it. I mean, I spoke at the Labor party conference this year — I've never done that in my life before, you know. So I do feel a bit that we have to see this film through, you know, and I don't think it is the sort of film that is going to go away. I think it's going to change things, because people here are angry, and people in America. People have said it will speak to the working poor who're in America. And it has already been mentioned in the House of Commons here by the opposition to Theresa May, so it is having an effect. I'm very pleased for Ken and for Paul, who, you know, thank the heavens that we have people like Paul Laverty and Ken Loach who are still making films that give a voice to people who don't have one." I, Daniel Blake is now screening in Australian cinemas. You can read our review here.
Applejack Hospitality, the restaurant group behind beloved venues like The Butler and Forrester's is opening an expansive new venue on Mount Street in North Sydney this Thursday, September 29. Boasting a capacity of 300 people, RAFI is set to deliver a new after-work and weekend go-to for the North Sydney business district with multiple weather-proof indoor and al fresco areas. Some of the many different spaces across RAFI will include a semi-al fresco glasshouse coined The Arbor which will be connected to the large indoor dining room with a geometric island bar, stocked up and ready to make a variety of bright cocktails or a cup of coffee. There's also a chef's kitchen which will host a variety of intimate dining experiences led by Head Chef Matias Cilloniz, plus a greenery-filled outdoor terrace placed in the centre of the North Sydney highrises. Highlights of RAFIs fit-out include floor-to-ceiling windows and marble mosaics within the floors. The bar stools are adorned with fabric designed by Walmajarri Aboriginal artist Jimmy Pike who has drawn from outback Australian flora and fauna in their design. "We set out to create a space that was youthful and playful. Drawing inspiration from exuberant colours and patterns, our design reflects Applejack's energy and warmth," lead designer and longtime Applejack collaborator Luchetti Krelle said. Outside, cosy pastel tones are replaced with bright summery designs. The Arbour's terrace features a European-inspired design based around striped fabric banquettes, coloured umbrellas, private outdoor gazebos and plenty of greenery. Food-wise the menu will be driven by local seafood and fresh veggies cooked over the kitchen's charcoal grill. Tuna paired with tahini and chilli oil, grilled lobster, crispy lamb ribs, honey- and chilli-infused eggplant, and scallops accompanied by pickled turnip, wasabi and ponzu are just a few of the inventive dishes slated for the menu. "Our food is meant to surprise and nourish with simple dishes creatively combined to be as tasty, nutritious, and sustainable as possible," said Cilloniz, who has arrived in Sydney from Peru to head up RAFI's kitchen. "Our team is focused on delivering an amazing experience starting at sourcing our produce with care to pouring a glass of wine, honouring the produce, the producers, and our team, while our guests enjoy themselves." Bookings for the multi-faceted venue are now open. Whether you're looking for a North Shore catch-up on the terrace, a chef's table banquet or a private function area, there's a spot for you at RAFI. "With RAFI we want to put North Sydney back on the centre stage, with a world-class restaurant in a setting to match," co-owner Ben Carroll says. "We want to make this venue a place where visitors, corporates and the local community can come together and feel that connection in a warm and welcoming space." RAFI is located at 99 Mount Street, North Sydney. From Thursday, September 29, it'll be open from midday to midnight, Monday–Saturday. Images: Steven Woodburn
Australia is certainly not wanting for exceptional food and drink regions — and epic festivals that show them off. But one area that has flown under the radar for much too long is the Sunshine Coast. And it's high time we celebrated all of the culinary goodness that's being served up north. That's exactly what's on the docket when The Curated Plate launches its inaugural season on Thursday, August 8. Across four days, the brand new food and drink festival will see the region's best chefs and producers joined by Australian and international industry legends in a series of long lunches, degustations, food markets, tours and much more. The region's multifaceted ecosystem and rich volcanic soil makes its produce some of the best in the country — and that produce will be on display like never before. Here are our picks for the five happenings that you just cannot miss. [caption id="attachment_712502" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Stone, Oakridge Wines[/caption] AUGUST 9: WILD FORAGE DINING The Sunshine Coast's bountiful native produce is centre stage for Wild Forage Dining — an intimate beachside dinner that will bring together three chefs for an evening of sustainable eating. The four-course feast includes wine pairings and a one-of-a-kind experience to boot. The lavish four-hour dinner is hosted by some seriously heavy-hitting chefs starting with special guest Zaiyu Hasegawa, who runs Toyko's two Michelin-starred restaurant Den (which was awarded the number two spot on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2018). Cooking alongside Hasegawa is Sydney's hatted Chase Kojima (Sokyo) and Matt Stone, who is currently the executive chef of Yarra Valley's hatted Oakridge Wines. Tapping into a big culinary trend, and showcasing some the region's best wild ingredients, the trio will go foraging, then let the local produce that they gather dictate the menu on the night. Wild Forage Dining will take place at Mooloolaba Beach from 5.30–9.30pm on Friday, August 9. Tickets cost $350 per person and can be purchased here. [caption id="attachment_712503" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dan Jarrett, Spicers Den[/caption] AUGUST 10: SPICERS DEN If you miss out on the Wild Forage dinner — or just can't get enough of Michelin-star chef Zaiyu Hasegawa's cooking — you have another chance to taste his famed kaiseki-style (multi-course haute cuisine) at Spicers Tamarind Retreat in Maleny. For this dinner, Hasegawa is teaming up with executive chef Daniel Jarrett at the exquisite hinterland restaurant within Spicers Tamarind Retreat. The duo will be joined by Gelato Messina's Donato Toce, and together they'll whip up a five-course degustation. Each dish will be based around 'hyper-local' seasonal fruits and vegetables and paired with a locally produced wine. Spicers Den will take place from 6.30pm–9pm on Saturday, August 10. Tickets cost $290 and can be purchased here. And, if you just can't bear to leave your luxurious surrounds, Spicers is also offering special villa accommodation packages during the festival. [caption id="attachment_712505" align="alignnone" width="4932"] Troy Rhoades-Brown, Muse Dining[/caption] AUGUST 8: SEASONAL STARS Seasonal fare will be on full display at Mooloolaba Beach when one of the world's finest chefs comes to town for Seasonal Stars. Lauded chef Raymond Blanc OBE runs the highly acclaimed Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxford, UK, which has retained its two-Michelin stars for a whopping 34 years. As a result, Blanc is one of the most respected chefs in the UK, having also been appointed an honorary Order of the British Empire (OBE), which recognises his services to the British food industry. Joining this show-stopping chef in the kitchen is some serious Australian talent — namely Sunshine Coast's own Alejandro Cancino (Lola's Pantry, ex-Urbane) and Hunter Valley's Troy Rhoades-Brown (Muse Dining). All three chefs are known for their commitment to regional and seasonal produce, hence the event's name. Together, they will dish up a decadent four-course dinner with an oyster amuse-bouche and matched wines, too. Seasonal Stars will take place on Mooloolaba Beach at 5.30pm on Thursday, August 8. Tickets cost $350 per person and can be purchased here. AUGUST 9–11: THE FOOD FAIR AT BLACK SWAN PARK Maroochydore's Black Swan Park will be taken over by an abundance of culinary delights for three days straight during The Curated Plate festival. The Food Fair will offer up the best local produce in the region, with the Sunshine Coast's makers and producers in tow for a chat, too. Eat your way through pop-up restaurants, tastings and food workshops. There'll also be roving entertainers aplenty expected across the weekend. For more information, keep an eye on this space, as the full lineup will be announced in early May. The Food Fair will run from 4pm–late on Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10, and from 12.30–9.30pm on Sunday, August 11. Entry is free as long as you pre-register. Pre-registration will open in May. AUGUST 8–11: THE BEACH CINEMA Moffat Beach's Eleanor Shipley Park will get its own Curated Plate treatment as a beach cinema pops up nightly across the festival period. This al fresco cinema will, of course, be food-themed, with specialty burgers, brews and even Gelato Messina on offer — the gelateria is collaborating with local producers on exclusive sweets for the candy bar. Plus, you'll have the added benefit of enjoying the breathtaking sunset views across the ocean. The film lineup and food menu are due to be announced in May — keep an eye out to be the first to snag seats. The Curated Plate will take place on the Sunshine Coast from Thursday, August 8 to Sunday, August 11. Tickets are on sale now. For the full program and to register, head here. Top Image: Troy Rhoades-Brown, Muse Dining
While he's never been a traditional leading man, actor Crispin Glover is one of Hollywood's most recognisable faces. With a host of famous roles behind him, including the Thin Man in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and George McFly in Back to the Future, he's earned himself quite the cult following. On Friday July 20 and Sunday July 21, Glover will join with Chauvel cinema for a two-part performance of his Big Slide Show — one-hour narrations of eight copiously illustrated books, the images from which will be projected behind him during these dramatic readings. They'll be followed by screenings of films he's produced. Whether you're a fan of this grossly underappreciated treasure or a lover of all things wacky, this is not to be missed.
Homebrewers and beer lovers in Perth have a new local playground for their craft. Brew U: Brew University is taking the existing brew-on-premises model and gearing it toward craft beer enthusiasts, giving locals the ability to brew beer that is actually tasty while digging deeper into the science behind the process. If you're not familiar with the model, a brew-on-premises facility allows novices to bulk brew their own beer on the cheap. It saves money (when you compare it to buying retail) and avoids the bloody mess of doing it at home in the garage. Brew U is just taking this concept to the next level. The whole thing has been started by six Perth locals and aspiring brewers: Jon Stockey, Jenna Lippert, Eliza Stockey, John Lewis, Richard Allen and Lisa Allen. Together, they're offering much more than your typical extract brewing facility — which is most likely the method your mate used to make that nasty home brew, which you then vowed to never drink again. Instead, Brew U provides patrons with the added opportunity to try out grain brewing (just like professional brewers) and use rare yeast strains in their beer, all from a customised menu. The brewing menu uses fresh, local and high quality ingredients and includes specialty brews like a sour cherry Berliner Weisse, an India pale lager (IPL) and a New England-style IPA. As well as beer, the facility also allows for the production of cider and ginger beers. The space is inspired by US microbreweries, with the refurbished venue taking on an American varsity theme using chain-link fencing, ivy vines, school lockers, park benches and AstroTurf, along with a 30-metre custom mural by artists Steve Browne and Jerome Davenport. Apart from the brewing bit, the space will host beer education classes and seminars with local brewers, kegerator sales, keg hire and custom installations. The team also has its own microbrewery in the works with a full-on site production facility, bar with indoor beer garden and packaged products planned for the near future. Brew U is now open at 3–176 Bannister Road, Canningvale, Perth. It's open 3.30–7.30pm Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm Saturday 10am–5pm Sunday. For more info, visit the Facebook page.
First, the 80s-set tale of Vivian meeting Edward fuelled a big-screen box-office smash. Next, Pretty Woman took the screen-to-stage leap, premiering on Broadway in 2018. Australia has been waiting to see the theatre production ever since — a delay that'll finally be over in 2025. Even better: after initially announcing its Aussie-debut season in Brisbane from October, Pretty Woman: The Musical is now extending its run, heading to Theatre Royal Sydney from November. Yes, that means getting a specific song stuck in your head. Whenever 90s rom-com Pretty Woman comes to mind, Roy Orbison's song likely does as well. That said, when the musical based on the hit flick arrives in the Harbour City for the first time, you'll be getting Bryan Adams tunes lodged in your brain, too. The Canadian singer-songwriter helped bring the Julia Roberts (Leave the World Behind)- and Richard Gere (The Agency)-starring film to the stage, penning the music and lyrics for the show. If you've seen the film, you'll know the story, as an escort and a corporate raider fall in love — and you'll also know that it made Roberts a star, complete with a Golden Globe win, plus her first Best Actress Oscar nomination. Alongside America's most-famous theatre district, where it broke records at the Nederlander Theatre, Pretty Woman: The Musical has graced the stage in London's West End, plus Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany. Also just announced: that Samantha Jade, who stepped into Kylie Minogue's shoes in 2024 TV miniseries Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS — opposite Scrublands' Luke Arnold as Michael Hutchence — will be playing Vivian in Brisbane and Sydney. "We knew from the first time Samantha auditioned that not offering her the role of Vivian would be a big mistake. Big. Huge! Her voice perfectly suits Bryan Adams' iconic score and I know Australian audiences will fall in love with her when she makes her debut at QPAC in October," said Suzanne Jones of JONES Theatrical Group. "This is a dream role for me. Such a beloved film that is a favourite of so many worldwide and I'm delighted to be able to originate the role for Australian audiences," added Samantha Jade. There's no word yet who else will be among the local cast, so who'll be following in Gere's footsteps, too — and Laura San Giacomo (NCIS) and Hector Elizondo's (Mr Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie) as well. Whether Pretty Woman: The Musical will head to other Australian stops beyond the Queensland and New South Wales capitals also hasn't yet been revealed. Behind the curtain, Adams worked with his songwriting partner Jim Vallance, who he wrote 'Summer of '69', 'Run to You', 'Cuts Like a Knife' and 'Heaven' with, on the music and lyrics. Late filmmaker Garry Marshall (Mother's Day), who directed the Pretty Woman movie — plus Roberts and Gere's on-screen reunion in 1999 in Runaway Bride — penned the book with the OG flick's screenwriter JF Lawnton (Yellow River Christmas). Pretty Woman: The Musical Australian Dates From Sunday, October 5, 2025 — Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane From November 2025 (exact dates still to be announced) — Theatre Royal Sydney, Sydney Pretty Woman: The Musical will play the Theatre Royal Sydney, 108 King Street, Sydney, from November 2025 — head to the production's website for more details and to sign up for the ticket waitlist. Images: UK tour, Marc Brenner.
It was the early 1950s when the world got its first glimpse of Andrew Geller's holiday home designs. On the beach and full of light, Geller's unique homes were created to serve one purpose: an escape. Nicknamed 'the architect of happiness', Geller left behind a legacy of beautiful beach-dwelling designs. Holiday houses hold a special place in the heart of peace-seekers and sun-worshippers. Andrew Geller dedicated most of his career to making that place of relaxation and sunshine just right. His homes are considered modest but distinctive. Popping out of dune grass in interesting wooden shapes, Geller's work reflects his creativity and desire to create useful designs. Many of his designs have fallen victim to reconstruction and the test of time. And though he passed recently, Geller's iconic designs live on through memories and photographs of homes once filled with laugher and sandy feet.
Air out that mouldy tent, start rounding up the GoPros, Falls Festival have announced their 2014 lineup. With Byron now extended to a four-day program, Falls Festival is returning to its three sites (Lorne, Marion Bay and North Byron Parklands) for its annual New Year's Eve hootenanny. So who's on the bill? Returning with a Mercury Prize and a million debut album copies sold under their belt, Leeds foursome Alt-J are sure to be one of the packed sets this year. Scandinavian super besties Röyksopp and Robyn are locked in for an epic two hour set of combined releases. There'll be ass everywhere with the presence of the unmissable Big Freedia. The sublimely talented SBTRKT is set to play a huge live set (one of Laneway Festival's best sets to memory), while the formidable Jamie XX will keep the basslines well up in grill. Fresh from Glastonbury, George Ezra is set to be one of the festival highlights, with the debut set from the legendary Todd Terje, house monarchs Tensnake, Sydney trio Movement and San Francisco's Tycho sure to send everyone on a synthy, beats-fuelled odyssey. Altanta's favourite 'flower punk' band The Black Lips are in. Confirmed after a leak in Cleo, UK's Glass Animals are confirmed to get sultry. Festival favourites Cold War Kids return with their latest album's material (and a few oldies), while Australia's own ARIA-winners The Temper Trap return to the live circuit with material from their upcoming third record. Rap fans have some gleeful squealing to get to, with Brooklyn's Pro Era whiz Joey Bada$$, Killer Mike and El-P's Fool's Gold super-collab Run the Jewels, Melbourne's own Remi locked in. 'Stolen Dance' fans will have plenty to jig about with the first Australian tour of Milky Chance, Sydney's Bluejuice are playing their last round, London's Wolf Alice are sure to generate some buzz, and Canberran trio SAFIA are also buzzworthy inclusions. There's a few Splendour returns: Britpop-loving Sydney dudes DMAs, newbie hip hop firecracker Tkay Maidza, Sydney dance legends The Presets, electronic whiz kid The Kite String Tangle, returning rock heavyweights Spiderbait, singalong starters Sticky Fingers and Riptider Vance Joy. Falls will also see a kickass 'Boogie Nights' program featuring none other than the ever-kickass hip hop legends Salt n Pepa, Melbourne's best-dressed duo Client Liaison, Sydney partystarter Alison Wonderland and Canada's Badbadnotgood. THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2014 LINEUP (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER): ALT-J BIG FREEDIA THE BLACK LIPS BLUEJUICE COLD WAR KIDS DMAs GLASS ANIMALS GEORGE EZRA JAGWAR MA JAMIE XX JOEY BADA$$ JOHN BUTLER TRIO KIM CHURCHILL THE KITE STRING TANGLE MILKY CHANCE MOVEMENT THE PRESETS REMI RÖYKSOPP & ROBYN RUN THE JEWELS SAFIA SBTRKT (LIVE) >SPIDERBAIT STICKY FINGERS THE TEMPER TRAP TENSNAKE TKAY MAIDZA TODD TERJE (LIVE) TYCHO VANCE JOY WOLF ALICE + MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED. BOOGIE NIGHTS LINEUP (DEC 28 LORNE, DEC 29 MARION BAY, DEC 31 BYRON): ALISON WONDERLAND BADBADNOTGOOD CLIENT LIAISON SALT N PEPA + MORE. EVENTS: Dec 28, 2014 to Jan 1, 2015 in Lorne, VIC (est. 1993) 18+ event Dec 29, 2014 to Jan 1, 2015 in Marion Bay, TAS (est. 2003) All ages Dec 30, 2014 to Jan 3, 2015 in Byron Bay, NSW (est. 2013) 18+ event The ticket ballot is now open via the festival’s website and will be closing on Monday August 25. Enter the ballot here. Most of the event tickets are allocated to sales through the ballot process, starting at 9am on Thursday August 28; however, for those who miss out, there will also be a small allocation of tickets set aside for general public sales starting at 9am on Wednesday September 03. Image: Paul Smith
If Victoria has its way, it'll become home to a 900-kilometre hot springs trail, attracting travellers from near and far to hit up its bathing spots. But the state isn't the only place for a soak around Australia, including if you're keen to get off the beaten path. Indeed, come winter 2023, outback Queensland's Cunnamulla is set to join everyone's must-visit list if you're keen to take a dip in its new artesian hot springs. Set to open in June, and in the works since 2018, this new spot for a blissful bathing session will feature seven pools on the banks of the Warrego River. Each will sport different temperatures, so you can get steamy, opt for a stint in the chilled plunge pool or both. As part of a state-of-the-art complex, there'll also be therapeutic activities on offer — and river views and ample natural surroundings. [caption id="attachment_892757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image is an artist render only.[/caption] Cunnamulla Hot Springs' pools will be filled with mineral and vitamin-rich artesian water, which means that the hot spots for a dip will feature H20 naturally warmed from the Artesian Basin. Learning about the latter around your soak is also set to be part of the experience — relaxing your body and feeding your mind at the same time. When it starts welcoming in patrons — with an exact date yet to be announced — Cunnamulla Hot Springs will be a highlight on the just-unveiled Outback Queensland Traveller's Guide, which is filled with things to do inland in the Sunshine State. Queensland isn't just about beaches, rainforests and the tropics, even if that's what it's best known for. So, Cunnamulla Hot Springs joins everything from starlight river cruises in Longreach and Winton's Australia Age of Dinosaurs Museum through to the Southwest Queensland Indigenous Cultural Trail and a heap of national parks. [caption id="attachment_844043" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Gillow (Flickr)[/caption] The Outback Queensland Traveller's Guide also features other outback spas and baths, including in Julia Creek, Bedourie, Quilpie, Mitchell and Yowah. If you're now planning a trip to Cunnamulla, it's around a nine-hour drive west from Brisbane, with flights via Rex, and also boasts an outback river lights festival; the Artesian Time Tunnel, which explores the Artesian Basin's history; and safari-style glamping — among other attractions. [caption id="attachment_841311" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cunnamulla Cultural Walk, Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Cunnamulla Hot Springs will open in Cunnamulla in June 2023. For further information about outback Queensland getaways and attractions, head to the Outback Queensland website. Top image: image is an artist render only. 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.
Hell hath no fury like a Netflix user with a dodgy internet connection trying to watch the end of Stranger Things. Presumably Netflix has felt the wrath of this fury, and has today introduced a new feature that will allow Netflix subscribers to download selected TV shows and movies to their mobile devices to watch offline. Just like Spotify's download button, Netflix's new feature will let users download shows to their mobile device through their iOS or Android app. It won't cost anything extra — you just need to update your Netflix app. The new feature will certainly help make long-haul flights and train trips a little less painful, and be super useful for people who live in countries where mobile internet is limited or expensive. If you already use the Netflix mobile app, it'll probably save you some dollars too as you can subtly download entire seasons on your work's Wi-Fi. However not every show will be able to be downloaded straight away — to start, it'll just be Orange is The New Black, Narcos and The Crown.
By the end of the year, George Street won’t be quite so far from the wild as it currently seems to be (the natural wild, that is; not the post-10pm on a Saturday night kind). Top-notch chef Mark Best (of Marque, Surry Hills) is bringing Sydney dining back to nature with the opening of a second incarnation of his lauded Melbourne bistro Pei Modern. Set to occupy the ground of the Four Seasons Hotel from October 15, the restaurant will specialise in what Best, in his customary whimsical fashion, has dubbed 'primal modern'. In other words, committed to locally-sourced, high quality seasonal produce and wines that ooze regionality. "I'm incredibly excited to open Pei Modern in an iconic location of my beautiful home town," Best says. "Pei Modern Sydney will respond to the local environment, location, customer and produce. I'm excited to get into this amazing kitchen and cook from the wood fired grill and oven." The concept’s inspiration lies in the principles of French bistronomie — a combination of bistro and gastronomy, which is all the rage in Paris right now. Celebrated chefs (on top of running their Michelin-starred restaurants) transplant some of their best dishes to a smaller, simpler location, where the vibe and the price tag are much humbler but the food is no less exorbitantly tasty. Since opening in Melbourne in 2012, the original Pei Modern has been attracting excellent reviews; in 2013 the eatery won The Age Best New Restaurant Award. Best is bringing his prize-winning team with him to Sydney, including chef Matt Germanchis, who’ll be permanently relocating, and maître d’ Ainslie Lubbock, who’ll get the service wheels turning before heading home. A few signature dishes will make the trip, too, beginning with that sauternes custard and Jerusalem artichoke with duck egg and truffle. Before their arrival, architect Helen Rice will be taking care of the interior transformation. In 2012, the space became home to The Woods, the brainchild of Hamish Ingham (of Bar H, Surry Hills), but his partnership with Four Seasons lasted only twelve months. Pei Modern Sydney will open for lunch, Monday to Friday, with both sit-down and 'Eat.Pei.Quick' (that’s two courses plus coffee, served express for $35) options on offer. Dinner will be served Monday to Saturday.
Checking into holiday accommodation, scouring every inch of your new home away from home and savouring your temporary scenic sights is part of everyone's vacation ritual — and most of us have the photos to prove it. And, while the jaw-dropping sensation that stems from peering over a beachside balcony is all well and great, it's certain to pale in comparison to the feeling you get when you stay in a volcano. At Wilderness Safari's Bisate Lodge in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, visitors can check into one of six thatched forest villas that are located within a volcano, and near even more towering peaks. Lava won't be flowing in the accommodation, of course, with the cosy dens built within the amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone. For those after some fiery action, the Bisoke volcano lurks close by, with the site featuring views towards the active land rupture, as well as of the inactive Karisimbi and dormant Mikeno mountains. With the individual lodges fitted out with luxurious furnishings, huge fireplaces and private decks, the 42-hectare site doesn't just offer volcanic thrills, but forms part of an eco-minded trip. Bisate acts as a base for tourists keen to enjoy a gorilla conservation experience, which includes morning treks to view the creatures, tree planting in the massive reforestation nursery, nature walks and more. Unsurprisingly, holing up here for a night or several doesn't come cheap, starting at around AU$1400 per night. Images: Wilderness Safaris.
Whether you're staycationing, vacationing or travelling for work, there are many reasons to pick a particular hotel over others — and how your temporary home away from home looks is right up there. Do you covet open, airy and minimalistic spaces? Sleek lines aplenty? The kind of modern elegance that catches your eye, but still looks functional? That's the remit of design-driven Marriott brand AC Hotels, which has just made its way to Australia. Despite launching in 1999 — first in Spain under hotelier Antonio Catalan, then teaming up with Marriott in 2011 — the chain hadn't yet set up shop Down Under. Now, its sleek-looking first Aussie site is open for business at Southbank in Melbourne. Featuring 205 rooms within a sculptural tower that's marked by its geometric glass façade (and, by night, its shining LED lights), the new spot joins the brand's 195-plus hotels in more than 27 countries and territories worldwide. Popping up against the Fishermans Bend skyline, the towering exterior hails from DKO Architecture in collaboration with Capital Alliance — and views, both over the Melbourne CBD and the Yarra, are a big drawcard for guests. As for where patrons will be slumbering, accommodation options span both rooms and suites, all decked out in neutral tones and boasting streamlined (but not restrained) design. Think: greys, whites and natural hues, stone tiling, textured timber floors, metal detailing, open closets and integrated bathrooms. The inspiration: the brand's Spanish heritage, and also South Melbourne's industrial warehousing. Also, some rooms are pet-friendly — as long as your pooch is under 20 kilograms. Part of the just-launched spot as well: co-working space AC Lounge, which'll also serve tapas at night; restaurant Sorolla, with an open kitchen for chef-watching while you eat; and Triana Bar, which goes heavy on soaking in the scenery. Drinks-wise, there's also a gin and tonic experience — a speciality cocktail that is served in a custom glass by sculptural glass artist Adam Walmon, and has "been scientifically developed to heighten the taste, aroma and palate experience for the drinker" — which is available in all of the hotel's dining and bar spaces. For sips by the infinity pool — which runs the width of the building — head to Bar de Buceo. As well as drinks, it does al fresco dining. And, the usual range of hotel amenities are covered, too, including a 24-hour fitness centre, plus a meeting and event space. Find AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank at 201 Normanby Road, Southbank. For more information, or to make a booking, head to the hotel's website.
Bored, retired American goth rock star Cheyenne (Sean Penn) is living in an enormous mansion in Dublin with his carefree wife of 35 years, Jane (Frances McDormand). When he learns of the death of his estranged father, Cheyenne returns to America, at which time he begins to find out information about himself and his family that he never knew. When asked about his father things begin to unravel. Cheyenne is told a story of an SS Officer who humiliated his father in Auschwitz, and who may still be living in America. This is where Cheyenne embarks on a journey across his homeland, now foreign to him, on an expedition of reconciliation where encounters with people and situations allow him to find himself. With a nod to The Cure's Robert Smith, Penn plays the complex character of Cheyenne as softly spoken and kind in a convincing and unique performance. The film draws charm and originality to the forefront with a stunning cast and compelling storyline, not to mention a remarkable soundtrack with music and lyrics by David Byrne and Will Oldham. This Must Be The Place is in cinemas April 5. You can read our full review here. To win one of ten double passes to see This Must Be The Place, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Three months have passed in 2023, but Marvel fans have only enjoyed one chance to get their caped-crusader fix so far. The ever-sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe is reportedly set to keep spreading at a slower rate from now on, in fact; however, both Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Secret Invasion are on their way — and soon. The latter joins the MCU's small-screen slate, alongside WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms Marvel and She-Hulk. The focus: Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury. The Director of SHIELD and creator of the Avengers Initiative acted as the connective tissue between most of the big-screen franchise's early instalments — if Jackson didn't show up in a Marvel movie back then, was it really a Marvel movie? — but it's taken 15 years since first appearing in the post-credits scene of the original Iron Man for him to gain the spotlight in his own adventure. Secret Invasion itself has been in the works for some time, after first being announced back in 2020, and also dropping a debut trailer in 2022. Now, it finally has a release date: Wednesday, June 21. Mark your diaries, then get excited by checking out the show's latest trailer, which goes heavy on the looming war. The six-episode show will reteam with Fury as a battle is imminent with the shapeshifting Skrulls, Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders, How I Met Your Mother) keeps asking help and his popularity within the MCU is waning. Plenty of other familiar faces pop up, too: Australia's own Ben Mendelsohn (Cyrano) returning as Talos after Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home, Don Cheadle (The Wonder Years) as War Machine and Martin Freeman (Breeders) as the CIA's Everett Ross. Will their characters really show up? Or will we really be seeing Skrull impersonators? Obviously, that'll only be answered when Secret Invasion arrives. Because every actor ever has to fit into the MCU at some point, the above cast is joined by a few other huge names as well: Olivia Colman (Empire of Light), Emilia Clarke (Last Christmas) and Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami). The story clearly ties into Captain Marvel, which is proving a launching pad for more than a few recent and upcoming MCU chapters, such as streaming's Ms Marvel and big-screen release The Marvels — which teams up Captain Marvel (Brie Larson, Just Mercy), Ms Marvel (Iman Vellani) and WandaVision's Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris, Candyman), and also arrives this year, in November. Fury, and therefore Jackson, did appear in two episodes of the Agents of SHIELD TV show in 2013 and 2014, so this isn't the character's first small-screen outing. Behind the scenes, Kyle Bradstreet (Mr Robot) created Secret Invasion, and writes and executive produces. Check out the latest trailer for Secret Invasion below: Secret Invasion will stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, June 21. Images: Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
When politicians start talking about public transport again, it's safe to say a state election is in the works. And, while the usual spiel is about the benefits of Myki (lol) and the inherent evilness of fare evaders, this morning's announcement is actually something to get excited about. Premier Denis Napthine today announced that if re-elected in November, his government will make trams in the CBD free of charge, and all zone 2 tickets will be capped at zone 1 prices. Better yet, Opposition leader Daniel Andrews backed the move, stating that if Labor takes office, the proposed changes will go ahead as planned. In conclusion, no matter who you vote for, this is actually happening. The changes are especially welcome news for commuters in the outer suburbs whose ticket prices will be dropping by $4.96 a day, equating to savings of around $1,200 per year. This will undoubtedly make a big difference to those struggling to keep up with Melbourne's rising cost of living — we are now ranked as the sixth most expensive city in the world. The news of free trams is even more explosive. No longer do you need to watch your back while hitching a ride from the State Library to Fed Square (seriously, I once got a $212 fine for this three-block trip); trams in both the CBD grid and Docklands will be unpoliced and free to ride from January 1. The free area will include everything between Flinders Street, La Trobe Street, and Spring Street with the added inclusion of Queen Victoria Markets. However, once you pass these zones you will have to touch on (and I'm sure the likeable folks of Public Transport Victoria will be waiting with open arms). Though the move will cost the state government upwards of $100 million, it's a win for a number of reasons. Firstly, it will ease congestion and speed up CBD travel with no one incessantly tapping their Mykis on and off, and the tourism industry will also flourish as visitors will no longer need to purchase non-refundable Myki tickets or forlornly wait for the slow and ineffective City Circle tram. However, concerns have been raised about the repercussions of such changes. Tony Morton, President of the Public Transport Users Association told The Age, ‘‘We absolutely believe that what this will do is increase fares overall." "When zone 3 tickets were abolished, any saving that there was from that was more than clawed back with increases to zone 1 and 2 fares,’’ he said. For the moment, we're remaining cautiously optimistic. Any changes that endorse and strengthen our public transport system are obviously a step in the right direction towards long-term sustainability. But at the same time, we've been burnt in the past. Via The Age. Image credit: Michael Aulia.
It's that time again, film fans. Cannes time. The red carpet has been rolled out on the French Riviera, everyone from famed Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar to famed fresh prince Will Smith are sitting on the jury, and one of the biggest film festivals of the world is officially underway. That means one of two things between May 17 and 28: if you're actually there, lines, more lines, even more lines, star-spotting and seeing a heap of eagerly anticipated movies. If you're not, you're crossing your fingers and toes, and praying to whichever filmmaker you consider your own personal cinema deity, hoping that all of the flicks showing will make it to Australian screens sooner rather than later. Some are already headed our way — thank the Sydney Film Festival for bringing us Happy End, Sofia Coppola's anticipated remake of The Beguiled, Okja, Wind River, Napalm, In the Fade and Sea Sorrow in June, for example. One, in the form of documentary David Stratton: A Cinematic Life, has already released in cinemas here. As for the rest, here's our wishlist of the movies we can't wait to see on our screens as soon as possible. THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER Whether you loved The Lobster or didn't, one thing is certain: the absurdist, dystopian look at romance and coupling isn't the kind of movie that the likes of Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz and John C. Reilly star in every day. Actually, scratch that for Farrell, as he's in director Yorgos Lanthimos' next effort too, and this time he has Nicole Kidman and Alicia Silverstone for company. The Killing of a Sacred Deer tells of a charismatic surgeon, a teenage boy and sacrifices — and if that sounds mysterious, that's because most of Lanthimos' films do. Come for the cast. Come for the concept. Come for a director riding the Greek New Wave to make movies (and soon, TV shows) like no one else. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYzSXWukOWA WONDERSTRUCK The last time Todd Haynes made a film, he directed a love story for the ages in the form of Carol. The last time one of Brian Selznick's books was adapted to the screen, the cinematic love letter that was Hugo was the end result. Combine the two, and you get Wonderstruck, a tale of two children longing for different lives that sounds like a match made in movie heaven. Pete's Dragon's Oakes Fegley and first-timer Millicent Simmonds play the kids, while the adult cast includes Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams. YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE Did We Need to Talk About Kevin unnerve you? It has been six years since director Lynne Ramsay made everyone think twice about procreating, and now the Scottish filmmaker is back with something completely different, subject-wise, in You Were Never Really Here. Joining forces with acting powerhouse Joaquin Phoenix, the film dives into the weighty subject of sex trafficking. It's Ramsay's fourth feature, and also her fourth film to premiere at Cannes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVyGCxHZ_Ko GOOD TIME He has played a quidditch captain, a sparkly vampire, Salvador Dali, a snapper of James Dean and someone who might've played a hand in the fictionalised rise of fascism. Next up, Robert Pattinson turns bank robber in Good Time, and is forced to flee dangerous criminals on the streets of New York. RPatz isn't the only attraction though, with the film also starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Captain Phillips' Barkhad Abdi, and marking the latest effort from brothers Benny and Josh Safdie. The latter were responsible for festival hit Heaven Knows What back in 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04U_qUJkZG0 THE DAY AFTER AND CLAIRE'S CAMERA It's safe to say that no filmmaker today works harder than Hong Sang-soo. In the past year, the South Korean director has premiered four — yep, four — new features, with Cannes boasting two. With that in mind, we're not cheating by including both in our list. We just can't separate them. Competing for the Palme d'Or, The Day After follows a woman starting work for a publishing company, while the Isabelle Huppert-starring Claire's Camera is set at Cannes itself. Expect amusing slices of life filled with plenty of booze, as is Hong's custom. And as for the other two flicks we mentioned, Yourself and Yours popped up at the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival last year, and On the Beach at Night Alone screened at the Berlinale. Image: Honourable mention — The Beguiled.
Money might not grow on trees, but furniture and artworks sure do. Visit Full Grown's field in Derbyshire, UK, and you'll see what we mean. The trees there are "grown into" chairs, pendant lamps and sculptures straight from the ground, albeit with slight human intervention. Think of it as a natural factory where unique objects are created with sunlight, water and soil, rather than on production lines. Full Grown's founder, Gavin Munro, has been working on the concept for a decade. "We started out ten years ago in a plant pot in my mum's garden," he says in his Kickstarter video. "But we quickly moved on to trying it out in a field." The process takes between four and eight years. It begins with training and pruning young trees to grow over "formers". Along the way, they're grafted together, ensuring they grow into a solid object. Then, it's a matter of nurturing the tree, so it becomes strong as it matures. The harvest takes place in winter, followed by drying out, planing and finishing, to expose the wood's textures and grain. Munro says it's important to "let the trees take the lead", yet be present "at the right times, to make subtle changes to the shapes and patterns that we want". He describes it as a "kind of zen, 3D printing". The practice has roots in ancient Greece and Egypt, where people "grew" stools. And, now that the Full Grown team has perfected the art, they're ready to take on the world. They're looking for your help to expand operations through a crowdfunding campaign. With 25 days to go, a £10,000 goal has already been smashed. Donations of £5 plus are welcome. Throw 850 quid or more their way to score a raw pendant lamp. The Full Grown Kickstarter campaign finishes on January 30, 2017. For info and to donate, visit their Kickstarter page.
Ever dreamed about ditching your stressful life for a three-day stay in a remote glass cabin in the Swedish wilderness? Well, that adventure has just become a reality for five international guests, who participated in a Swedish case study called The 72-Hour Cabin, a project designed to highlight and measure the positive effects of the Swedes' nature-loving lifestyle. Developed by a pair of researchers from Stockholm's Karolinska Institute, the study saw a diverse group getting up close and personal with Sweden's nature, leaving behind typically stressful jobs for a 72-hour stint in a glass cabin and an itinerary of activities like fishing, swimming and cooking. The lucky participants included a Parisian taxi driver, a New York events coordinator, a police officer from Munich and a broadcaster and a travel journalist, both from London. Each guest had their wellbeing monitored as they kicked back in their gorgeous, secluded digs on Henriksholm Island in the country's west, getting a taste for what the study explains is a "special bond Swedes have with their natural environment". The project's results will be published next month and, if it's thought to be a success, those cabins could soon be available to any visitor keen for a Swedish-style de-stress session. Until then, try and get a booking at one of NSW's own tiny off-grid wilderness cabins.
A Danish designer by the name of Mads Johansen has cooked up a Hobbit-sized campervan. Officially named the 'Wide Path Camper', it's roomy enough to sleep 2.5 adults and folds up so that you can hook it to your bicycle and take it with you — everywhere you go. Well, maybe not exactly everywhere. Just how far you'll be able to tug this uber-cute creation will depend on your thigh power. Weighing in at 40 kilograms, it's lightweight considering how much space is included, but dragging it up hills might be challenging. That said, it's certainly quite the kit-up for flat terrain cycling adventures. Ride across the Nullarbor, anyone? Altogether there's more than 300 litres of storage space, as well as two beds that can be converted into seating areas. The windows are fitted with curtains for privacy. A couple of optional add-ons are possible, including a solar cell, which can be used for recharging your smartphone; an outdoors kitchen area; and an awning. At this stage, the Wide Path Camper is still in prototype mode. But, if all goes to plan, it'll be up for sale by 2015, with a price tag of about US$2500 (around AU$2880). Via Gizmag.
Sometimes really shitty weather has its upside. Pulling a solid Community Chest card, London is about to open its very first board games-centric cafe in Hackney this September. Sure, plenty of eateries, pubs and existing cafes have a smattering of Scattergoric fun times already stashed in the bookshelves, but Draughts intends to bring games to the forefront — already proven successful by Adelaide's Hungry Hippo and Oxford's Thirsty Meeples. Serving up an impressive 500+ range of old school fun inducers, Draughts will stock both your favourite table toppers like Cluedo, Monopoly and Scrabble alongside weird and wonderful niche releases like Hanabi and one apparently called Chicken Cha Cha Cha. Board game purists will be able to engage in intense bots of chess, checkers and (of course) draughts, while the cafe serves as a perfect loud group outing option (if Boggle is your style). Draughts will function as an all-day cafe, counting freshly made coffee, cakes, milkshakes and sandwiches on the menu before fuelling rambunctious rounds of Risk with ciders and lagers in the chilly London evenings. If you're into the Game of Life, you'll appreciate a few pints. Remember that family member who insisted on reading out the rules, one by one, even after everyone had given up and left them flying solo at the table? Chances are they now work at Draughts, ready to help you out with any Monopoly rule rifts, help you set up the painstaking Mouse Trap board or get you started on something you might never have tried — big fingers crossed for 13 Dead End Drive or The White Unicorn. Just trust me. Draughts know their board games so well, they decided to create a London Tube map to help you out when you're picking: Via Guardian. Photo from The Hungry Hippo.
Love might be blind, but deaf it is not. Just ask anyone who’s fallen madly for a snorer. Like Anthony Burgess wrote, “Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.” No amount of moonlit serenading, Shakespearean declarations of passion or Lindt chocolate can make up for harrowing nights next to your own personal Boeing-747. But how to deal with it? Entire national websites are dedicated to the problem. Surgery to remove parts of the snorer’s mouth and throat? Implants to harden up their palate? Sticking tape to their nose and chin? Approaching an ear plug company for sponsorship? The Crowne Plaza Hotel chain has trialled “snore absorption” rooms in Europe and “snore monitors” in the UK. The latter patrol a hotel’s “quiet zones”, knocking on the doors of snorers who are audible from the corridor. Hammacher Schlemmer, supplier of “unexpected gifts”, has now introduced a 'Snore Activated Nudging Pillow' to the market. A tiny inbuilt microphone picks up on the sonic vibrations caused by snoring. As they escalate, an internal bladder fills with air, causing the would-be marriage wrecker to shift position. It’s possible to adjust the mic according to the user’s velocity and set the inflation level at anywhere between 7 and 17 centimetres. A contoured shape and 100 percent polyurethane filling aim to make the pillow as comfy as possible and the 100 percent polyester removable cover is machine-washable. Valentine’s Day might have come and gone, but if you don’t mind spontaneously splashing out on your favourite unbearably noisy bedfellow, US$149.95 will buy a Snore Activated Nudging Pillow. Via PSFK.
First, the great news: come July, beef sandwiches will be back on the menu. Watching season two of one of the best new shows of 2022, and a Golden Globe-winner at that, will be as well. On Wednesday, July 19, The Bear is set to return Down Under with its latest episodes, taking viewers back to Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto's (Jeremy Allen White, Shameless) Chicago sandwich shop — one that, based on the teasers and trailers for this new serving, is undergoing plenty of change. Disney+ will drop all ten episodes of season two at the same time, ready for prime mid-July binge sessions. Obviously, you know what you should be eating while you watch. But, if you don't want to know what happens in advance, you might want to avoid the internet until then. This Thursday, June 22, American audiences will get the full season, saying "yes chef!" to The Bear's return a month before Australian and New Zealand viewers. Of course, more of The Bear is still more of The Bear, no matter it arrives. Also, Australia and NZ experienced a delay when season one premiered in 2022 as well. Then, however, the show was new and untested — now, it's one of the most-anticipated streaming meals of 2023. From its sneak peeks so far — and from where season one left off — season two sees Carmy take a new path with the family eatery that he returned to run after his brother's (Jon Bernthal, We Own This City) death. This new round of intense kitchen and interpersonal chaos will see its head chef keep dreaming of levelling up the humble beef-slinging business. Trying to bring a fine-diner's level of meticulous to The Original Beef of Chicagoland didn't go smoothly in season one, though, and endeavouring to completely transform the restaurant was always going to be peppered with mayhem in season two. Get ready to devour requests for cash, tight timelines, constant construction noise, cooking experiments, visits to culinary school, awkward interviews and t-shirt typos. And, of course, an array of dishes being whipped up and instantly whetting appetites off-screen. The show's full season two trailer also adds Shiva Baby and Booksmart's Molly Gordon to the cast — and, although he hasn't been seen in an early glimpses, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul great Bob Odenkirk will also be guest starring. Gordon and Odenkirk join not only the exceptional White, but the rest of The Bear's impressive roster of talent, such as Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Dropout) as Richie, aka Cousin, aka Carmy's brother's best friend; Ayo Edebiri (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) as sous chef Sydney; Abby Elliott (Indebted) as Carmy's sister Natalie, aka Sugar; and Lionel Boyce (Hap and Leonard), Liza Colón-Zayas (In Treatment) and Edwin Lee Gibson (Fargo) among the other Original Beef staff. If you missed the first season, it jumped into the mayhem after Carmy took over the diner. Before returning home, the chef's resume spanned Noma and The French Laundry, as well as awards and acclaim. That's just the beginning of the story, in a series that truly conveyed what it's like to work in the hospitality industry — including navigating a restaurant kitchen's non-stop pressures. Yes, the mood is anxious from the outset, with The Bear's creator Christopher Storer (who also has Ramy, Dickinson and Bo Burnham: Make Happy on his resume) starting the series as he definitely meant to go on, but still expertly managing to balance drama and comedy. Check out the US trailer for The Bear season two below: The Bear season two will stream via Disney+ Down Under from on Wednesday, July 19. Read our full review of season one.
Everyone has petty feuds. That's one of the truths behind Beef, which brought squabbling strangers into everyone's streaming queues in 2023 and became one of the best new shows of the year in the process. So, although the series was initially meant to be a once-off, plenty more people could disagree, argue and hold grudges on-screen — and, soon, more might. Netflix hasn't renewed Beef for season two yet, but word keeps circling that more could be on the way. And if the Golden Globe-, Emmy-, Gotham, Screen Actors Guild Award-, Independent Spirit Award and Producers Guild Award-winner does make a comeback, Jake Gyllenhaal (Guy Ritchie's The Covenant), Anne Hathaway (Armageddon Time), Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla) and Charles Melton (May December) could be taking over from Steven Yeun (Nope) and Ali Wong (Paper Girls). [caption id="attachment_849830" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ambulance[/caption] Deadline is reporting that all four actors are being circled for the Beef's second season, making the show an anthology series by switching to a completely different storyline. The plot favoured is about two feuding couples — and that's it in terms of details so far, other than that Netflix and A24, which are behind the program, are keen for the season two to start shooting before 2024 is out. Gyllenhaal and Hathaway would reunite not only after Love & Other Drugs, but also Brokeback Mountain. Spaeny and Melton are fresh off spectacular performances in the aforementioned Priscilla and May December, with both shock omissions from 2024's Oscar nominees. [caption id="attachment_936946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Priscilla[/caption] If you missed season one of the Lee Sung Jin (Dave)-created Beef, it followed Danny Cho (Yeun) and Amy Lau (Wong) after they got in a fender bender, then neither handled it well. Cue a feud that they can't shake, infiltrating their lives and relationships. If their quest for revenge each other just fizzled out, there obviously wouldn't be a series. Part of Beef's ongoing beef in season one stemmed from a comedy staple: putting opposites together and seeing what springs. Danny is struggling as a contractor and isn't happy about it, while Amy lives a seemingly idyllic life thanks to her success as an entrepreneur. They both share a need to get back at each other, though — and to see through their clash to the end. Check out the trailer for Beef season one below: Beef season two hasn't been officially announced, and doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when more details are locked in. Beef season streams via Netflix — read our review. Images: Netflix. Via Deadline.
Dying to grow your own food but failed to take the agriculture elective in high school? Been green with envy, eyeing off new apartment blocks' vertical gardens, yet don't know where to start when it comes to greening up your own home? You've come to the right place. As increasing the flower, fruit and foliage content of our urban lives becomes more and more desirable, so too does the technology enabling it. Read on to discover five systems for apartment gardening that'll have your place biodiversify-ing like the Amazon in no time — even if you've never planted a seed or picked out a weed in your life. SproutsIO If you're handier with your smartphone than you are with a trowel, SproutsIO could well be for you. Consisting of a network of pods, each home to a separate plant, it functions according to the commands of a mobile app, which works through both Android and iOS devices. There's no soil involved. Instead, oxygen and nutrients are delivered via mist, with special censors ensuring that light, humidity and temperature remain at optimum levels. According to creator Jennifer Broutin Farah, SproutsIO's productivity levels are up to six times higher than those generated by traditional soil-based methods. Currently nearing production; on-sale date TBC. Windowfarm This vertical, bioponic solution does exactly what its name suggests — transforms your window into a farm that would do Old McDonald proud. A reservoir at the base of the Windowfarm pumps nutrient-filled water upwards, feeding each plant's roots, which are protected not by soil but by a 'nest' comprised of clay pellets, coconut hair and rice hulls. US$199 for a one-column starter bundle at store.windowfarms.com Aqualibrium This isn't just an apartment garden: it's a fish tank and farm, combined. Made possible by a successful Kickstarter campaign, Aqualibrium works according to the principles of aquaponics. The fish create nutrients, which are cycled upwards to feed the plants, while the plants soak up the nutrients and send fresh, clean water downwards. If fish aren't your thing, you can replace them with pre-bottled nutrients, thereby transforming Aqualibrium into a hydroponics system. From US$300 at shop.aqualibrium.com Bitponics Want home-grown vegetables but simply don't have time to attend to them? At all? Bitponics is a fully automated hydroponics system that can run an entire season of gardening via the Cloud. Everything — including pH, light, water, temperature and humidity — is measured and regulated by wi-fi responsive sensors. $9/month per garden. Sign-ups coming soon at bitponics.com. String gardens They might not be as productive or automated as some of the fancy systems already discussed, but they have plenty of other advantages. They're cheap; they look cool and you can make them with your own two hands — from scratch.
Spending Christmas alone might be exactly what you need this year — and you should do what feels right for you. But if it gets to 5pm and you'd like to be in the company of some chill likeminded people, you have the option of popping into The Indigo Project. The Surry Hills mindfulness studio is opening its welcoming doors on Christmas Day evening for an inclusive potluck dinner. The event is an extension of the studio's fortnightly 'gatherings', which involves group conversation and story sharing. It'll give you a nice safe space to meet and connect with others, and then everyone will tuck into some food. Bringing a vegan plate of food is recommended.
BrewDog might be best known for its yeasty ales and lagers; however the Scottish beer outfit has earned plenty of attention for its other activities. It boasts the world's first craft beer hotel to its name, as well as the world's first craft beer airline — and then there's the decision to make Brisbane its base for its first Australian brewery. Now, BrewDog is doing something that was always destined to, given the company's choice of canine-friendly moniker. Its latest beer is called Subwoofer IPA — and yes, it's 100 percent made for thirsty doggos. No strangers to dog-friendly events — you can take your four-legged buddy to stay in its Ohio hotel, for example — BrewDog has whipped up some hooch for pooches that uses the same wort (aka malted barley and hot water) that goes into their regular IPA. For canines, the brew also has a meaty element to get doggo tongues wagging, as well as B vitamins and probiotics. It's described as possessing "a a malt backbone and a 'hoppy' overtone from citrus", which sounds just like many a beer for humans. Crucially, Subwoofer IPA is alcohol-free, doesn't actually contain any hops and is also non-carbonated. BrewDog is calling it the first craft beer for dogs, although other breweries have made similar tipples for humankind's best friend. Earlier this year, Brisbane's Archer Brewery did just that, while brands like Snuffle, Bark Brew and Dawg Grog have been doing the same for a while. Served in 250ml bottles — and then in your dog's chosen bowl, obviously — Subwoofer IPA is only available in the UK at present. Fingers and paws crossed that it makes the jump down under when BrewDog's Brisbane brewery opens its doors. Image: BrewDog.
In an era of technology firsts, it's hardly surprising that a computer is now capable of mirroring human intelligence. Over the weekend, a computer programme known as 'Eugene Goostman' proved itself capable of imitating the living when it was the first ever programme to pass the Turing Test. Eponymously named for its designer, British mathematician and cryptographer Alan Turing, no previous competitor had passed the test in its 65-year existence. Needless to say, passing the Turing Test is no easy feat. To prove successful, at least 30 percent of the judges must be convinced that the competitor is human. During the Turing Test 2014 Competition over the weekend, one-third of the panel deemed Eugene Goostman just that. Entered under the guise of a 13-year-old boy from the Ukraine, Eugene Goostman competed against 25 humans and other fellow programmes. The team behind Eugene Goostman comprised of one Russian and two Ukrainian programmers. Endowed with particulars that seemed just odd enough to qualify as human (a pet guinea pig, a gynecologist father), the long-awaited winning programme is actually a chatbot developed in 2001. The ingenue in this case is found in the simplicity of approach. Rendering their entry ignorant by diminishing his supposed age, the chatbot’s programmers acknowledge their surprising strategy. One of Eugene Goostman’s creators, Vladimir Veselov revealed in a statement, "Our main idea was that he can claim that he knows anything, but his age also makes it perfectly reasonable that he doesn't know everything. We spent a lot of time developing a character with a believable personality." Someone who claims to know it all but, in truth, knows little? No wonder they thought he was human. Via The Guardian and PC World.
Experienced Henrietta's Lebanese-style charcoal chook? Now it's easier to get a taste with a new outpost landing in Parramatta Square. Bringing its signature blend of Middle Eastern spice and Aussie spirit to Sydney's west, this brand-new ESCA Group venue is primed for laidback weeknight feasts and all-in group gatherings. While the chicken remains the star of the show, the new location has a few exclusive menu items that will have Henrietta diehards hanging out for a bite. Foremost of these is the sujuk arayes, featuring a crispy pita loaded with spiced sujuk, sumac onion, pickled cabbage, parsley and toum. Meanwhile, the sumac-cured salmon comes complete with tomato kisir, Aleppo pepper and a lettuce cup. As for something sweet, the Beirut Chocolate combines tantalising pistachio kataifi with a delicate chocolate crumb for maximum pastry pleasure. Of course, the headline charcoal chicken is tough to beat, flame-grilled to perfection and served with toum, pickles, Lebanese bread and your choice of sides. "Cooking over charcoal is what makes Henrietta special. It's not just about the technique – it's about the flavour, the experience, and the energy it brings to the kitchen. The intense heat caramelises, chars, and enhances every ingredient, creating deep, smoky, rich flavours you just can't get any other way," says Luca Lonati, Executive Chef at Henrietta. Complementing your next feast at Henrietta is a curated drinks menu. Spanning a bold blend of cocktails, local brews and refreshing non-alc options, expect favourites like the Sour Cherry Negroni, Spicy Passionfruit Margarita, and Lychee Cosmo, featuring vodka, lychee, pomegranate and lime. Meanwhile, there are numerous wines to explore from top-quality Australian and international estates. Moving into the former home of Italian diner Cicciabella, Henrietta Parramatta brings a cool balance of warmth and edge. Combining high ceilings with rich wood textures and sleek aluminium accents, this design brings an energetic atmosphere that pairs perfectly with the flame-kissed action happening in the kitchen. With capacity for 80 inside and another 20 in the al fresco area, it's the ideal choice for low-key takeaway or an upbeat get-together with pals. "Parramatta has been on our radar for a while – it's got a dynamic energy, a thriving food scene, and a growing appetite for bold flavours," says Ibrahim Moubadder, Co-Founder of ESCA Group. "We're all about sharing great food, great vibes, and a little bit of fire – literally. We can't wait to bring Henrietta to the west." Henrietta Parramatta is open Monday–Friday from 11.30am–3pm and 5pm–9pm, and Saturday–Sunday from 12pm–3pm and 5pm–9pm at 3 Parramatta Square, 153 Macquarie Street, Parramatta. Head to the website for more information. Images: Jiwon Kim.
As you've no doubt heard by now, there is a worldwide shortage of kale. The leafy green that until recently was just cabbage's little known and even less popular cousin is suddenly in hot demand, and we're all to blame. We love us some kale — and the innovative cafes, restaurants and bars of Sydney insist on feeding our obsession by doing interesting things with it. If we thought we'd reached peak kale before, it's nothing compared to now that the no-nonsense vegetable has jumped from health-food trend to all-food trend. Green smoothies and superfood bowls are great, to a point. But kale entered a new, embraceable era when it landed in our daiquiris and next-day bacon and egg hangover cures. Kale, for all its sensibleness, has never been so fun, and here's the delicious, delicious evidence. Crunchy chip and kale sandwich at Scout's Honour Don't ask how or why, but this sandwich of chicken, carrot, kale, alfalfa, hummus and crunchy potato chips (like this style of potato chip) is actual heaven. Slightly salty, slightly bitey, slightly gooey and mostly healthy, it's the lunch you feel like almost every day of the week. Beyond this one Holy Grail of handheld food, Scout's Honour keep kicking goals with their rotating menu of sandwiches (all $10), salads of the week and soups of the day. oKale and Ginger Daiquiri at Freda's Kale daiquiri? Seriously? We didn't come here to spend a Freda's Friday night being all healthy. Hold up there, haters; this green-hued kaletail packs more punch than a Long Island Iced Tea (without the throbbing, next-day Headache of Regret). A subtle blend of kale, Mount Gay Silver rum, King's Ginger liqueur, real ginger, lime and apple juice, Freda’s latest winter cocktail cleanses the palate and gets you pretty tipsy pretty damn quick (pace yourself on these vert-coloured babies). It’s the ginger-kale balance that rounds this refreshing bev out, proving the leafy superfood's not just for early morning power smoothies. Kale, bacon and egg roll at In the Annex Kale as the main ingredient and bacon as an extra? Surely that’s the equivalent of Hoyts showing the movie 'Robin' and making people pay extra if they want it to include Batman. Not so — the kale, rather than awkwardly hanging around outside the bacon and egg friend circle, actually fits in and gets along with everyone. It gets along so well, in fact, that this greenified B&E held its own in our Bacon and Egg Roll Road Test. That's by no means where the kale journey ends at In the Annex; consider pairing your roll with a kale, banana, coconut and chia smoothie ($8) for a taste of suburban Tropicana. Wagyu Bresaola, crumbed eggs and kale at Nook NoOk Urban Fresh Bar in the CBD is a celebration of fresh produce. The menu is divided into all-day brekkies, hearty winter salads, burgers, soups, sandwiches and a specials list so innovative we just can't go past it. Their wagyu bresaola and crumbed eggs ($20) take brunch to an entirely new place. Thinly sliced wagyu meets the sweetness of spiced poached pears, crusty sourdough, masses of fresh and crispy fried kale, goat's curd and perfectly oozy eggs coated in a crumb. It's devilishly delicious, and if you're a real kale fiend, you can wash down with a kale and pineapple juice garnished with, yes, kale. Paleo Brekkie at About Life Simply walking into About Life will make you feel healthy. Obviously this organic wholefoods space positively crawling with post-yoga brunch-ers is going to have kale. We recommend the Paleo Breakfast, which features an indulgently tempura-like sweet potato and kale hash brown. On top of that are perfectly poached eggs, fresh spinach and a hearty side of bacon. Slow roast lamb shoulder and kale at SoCal From the team that brought us Bondi Hardware and The Botanist, SoCal in Neutral Bay is inspired by the sunny sights and flavours California, and as everyone knows, Californians love them some superfoods. Apart from the perennial favourites (sliders and tacos), the menu also features a series of share plates. The standout is one of rich, slow-roasted lamb shoulder on kale and fellow superfoods faro, freekeh and quinoa. Green Brekkie Bowl at Porch and Parlour Ultimate Bondi, ultimate breakfast. With a short and sweet breakfast menu, Bondi's Porch and Parlour does serious health food that doesn't make you feel like you're missing out on culinary excitement. Though the Green Brekkie Bowl really couldn't get any greener — sauteed kale and spinach is generously served with herby quinoa, two soft-boiled eggs and half an avocado — the five-star delicousness rating of this dish will well and truly put those childhood veggie phobias to rest. Breakfast with Gwyneth at Bread and Circus With fresh fruit and veggies on display and pot plants on every table, the 'earthy-goodness' vibe of Bread and Circus Wholefoods Canteen is hard to miss. Named after the official Queen of Kale, their Breakfast with Gwyneth would no doubt make the actor-turned-Goop-guru proud. The breakfast plate features two fried biodynamic eggs atop sauteed kale with chilli and white quinoa. Missed breakfast? For lunch, they also do a bonza salad of shredded cabbage, kale and sprouts with a yuzu pomegranate dressing. By the Concrete Playground team.
For Queenslanders, Bundaberg Rum is the nectar of the gods. To its most devoted admirers, it is known as 'sugarcane champagne', a colloquial fan term that Bundy has now officially co-signed in a new 'sparkling' beverage the distillery is releasing in partnership with Uber Eats. The creation is called Maison de Bundy's Blanc de Cane, a faux-pretentious riff on champagne house nomenclature, and is an alcoholic ginger beer made with white Queensland cane spirit and Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Not to be confused with the Dark 'n' Stormy, this drop doesn't actually contain rum per se — rather, white cane spirit is the base spirit used to make rum. The resulting beverage is super sweet, extremely easy to drink (4% ABV) and is best served cold on ice with a squeeze of lime. The good news for rum fans and Bundy collectors: They're giving the stuff away for free. This Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 at Leonards and Dawn in Brisbane, The Civic Hotel in Sydney and The Sporting Globe in Melbourne (the Richmond location), you can turn up, show bar staff the Uber Eats app on your phone along with proof of ID and you'll get a free 640ml bottle. The bad news? Maison de Bundy's Blanc de Cane comes in an extremely limited run of one thousand bottles so you'll want to set your alarm. It will be available in the aforementioned venues from 5pm on Friday until they're all gone. There are people out there who will line up for these like BTS fans lining up for concert tickets. One thousand Maison de Bundy's Blanc de Cane will be available across selected Australian venues. Just show your Uber Eats app and proof of ID to claim a 640ml bottle this Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11.
Not so fun fact: aluminium coffee pods can take up to 500 years to break down. And while we love the convenience of a Nespresso as much as the next time-poor caffeine fiend, there's no denying that this is a pretty grim downside for the sake of saving a few minutes in the morning. Thankfully, though, Tripod Coffee have come up with a solution. Not only are its plant-based Nespresso pods fully compostable, but now the Sydney-based brand is making it easier for you to get rid of your used capsules in an environmentally responsible way. Enter The Dirt Club. This new service sees a Tripodder come straight to your door to collect any and all used coffee pods — be they paper, plastic or aluminium. Then, the pods get disposed of correctly and, where possible, turned into fertiliser. "We wanted to make composting coffee pods easier than ordering Deliveroo," says Tripod Coffee Co-founder, Partner and Head of Sustainability Dave Siegel. How does it work? The composting process creates two byproducts: nutrient-rich, organic fertiliser and methane. The fertiliser is used by local farmers, growers and horticulturalists, while the methane is converted into green electricity. The Dirt Club is still in its early days, but, according to Tripod, its future-friendly composting initiative has already diverted over two tonnes of pods from landfill. The best part is that it doesn't cost a cent. Well, pickup costs $15, but once that part is done, you get $15 credit to spend on Tripod Coffee products. Currently, there are seven coffee varieties to choose from, from a light roast to extra dark, single origin, decaf and a blend wholly made from organic and fair trade beans. Somewhere, surely, George Clooney is smiling.
So the blissful four-day weekend recently sparkling ahead of us has gone, and we sit at our desks with few keepsakes of the experience besides a dramatic sugar crash. My sympathies, friends. It's a particular downer of a week here at Concrete Playground, where we're saying goodbye to long-serving editor-in-chief Anna Harrison, who's been our beacon of how to live in Sydney with unshakable style. She's now off playing correspondent from the capital of cool (New York, obviously), so while you'll still be hearing from her, you'll also be hearing more from the team of editors who paddle furiously together to keep this ship afloat. This week we bring you stacks of handpicked stories and happenings. You can watch football that floats in Darling Harbour, an opera based on Kafka and not a hint of romance, the premiere of Never Not Funny indie comedy night at the Standard, art after dark at both the MCA and MLC Centre, a film where Sean Penn is an adorable ageing goth-punk, and an artist with a niquab that can fit a whole crowd beneath it. My personal gold star goes to STC's smart and solid Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Go forth and snap us those last few tickets. Trampoline The details: Sunday, April 15 @ Oxford Street Design Store This self-organising event aims to address things that are appealing across a range of disciplines, with past topics ranging from intergenerational learning to wine tasting, 3D printers and, incidentally, the 1000-year-old human. Nothing is locked in on Trampoline and nothing is given priority, with the only requirement being that each session is 20 minutes long and focuses on sharing something that the presenter finds amazing. It also takes place out the back of the Oxford Street Design Store, so if you’re stuck for ideas you can pick up something fascinating for less than $20 on your way in. Find out more Les Liaisons Dangereuses The details: Thursday, April 5 - Saturday, June 9 @ Wharf 1, Wharf Theatre Hugo Weaving and Pamela Rabe shine in a play that has the ability to grip and shock in a way Gossip Girl could only dream of. Find out more American Pie: Reunion The details: Thursday, April 5 - Wednesday, May 2 @ Various cinemas The entire original cast return in a very, very unlikely triumph. Find out more Christian Marclay: The Clock The details: Thursday, March 29 - Sunday, June 3 @ Museum of Contemporary Art We visit the MCA at 2am for an extraordinary spot of clock-watching. Find out more Lyrebird The details: Wednesday, March 28 - Saturday, April 21 @ Old Fitzroy Theatre Inspired by the Black Saturday bushfires, this play brings five displaced, haunted lives into a burned-out Old Fitz. Find out more Cabinet The details: Saturday, April 14 @ Red Rattler The lovely people from Underbelly Arts and Red Rattler bring you things to treat your eyes, ears and dancing shoes. Find out more The George Melies Project The details: Sunday, April 15 @ Riverside Theatres The 'HG Wells of the jazz world' meets the magician behind early cinema. Find out more An Evening with Richard Dawkins Monday, April 16 @ Sydney Opera House The militant atheist tries to tread lightly on his favourite topic: evolution. Find out more
For fans of distressed denim, the more unique the method of wearing them down the better. But these guys have taken things next level. A denim company in Japan has decided to outsource their distressing work to lions, tigers and bears for their latest collection. Before you get on a soapbox about any sort of animal exploitation, it’s only for a limited run of four pairs of jeans and it's all in the name of charity. Oh my! Zoo Jeans is an initiative by the Mineko Club of zoo volunteers who have partnered with Japan's Kamine Zoo in Hitachi City. The jeans will be auctioned off online and you'd better get in quick as the bidding started on Monday. Funds raised from the jeans will go towards the World Wildlife Fund and to the revitalisation of the Kamine Zoo. The favourite playthings of the bears, tigers and lions — rubber balls and tyres – were covered with sheets of denim and left in their enclosures for them to gnaw at, tear and generally muck around with. When the animal crew decided they’d had enough, the toys were retrieved and the denim — or what is left of it was removed. The denim was not altered further, except to be cut and sewn into jeans. At the time of writing this the current bid for the T1 Jeans (designed by tigers) stands at ¥121,000, which is roughly $AUD1,267. The two pairs of Lion Jeans, one women’s and one men’s, are currently sitting at ¥50,000. If fashion for you hinges around being the central topic of conversation, you’d be a hard one to beat in these threads. Via GQ and Zoo Jeans.
In news that has ironically prompted outraged profanity worldwide, Vladimir Putin has signed a bill which prohibits the use of swear words in Russian film, theatre and live music performances. This legislation is just the latest in a long line of gradual moves against freedom of expression in the country. With the much-protested bills passed against the "promotion" of "non-traditional sexual relations", the increasing moves towards internet censorship, and the ruling in April this year against profanity in the media, the whole situation seems a bit fucked. Coming into effect on July 1, this most recent bill will ban four specific words from Russia's art and performance. All hailing from the lexicon of mat: khuy (cock), pizda (cunt), ebat (to fuck), and blyad (whore) will be prohibited from appearing in any new work, while books and printed materials containing such words will be sold in sealed packaging with warning labels. If artists refuse to abide this new ruling, not only will their works be refused distribution, they will be charged up to 50,000 rubles ($1,510). To further confuse matters, though the ban will include live performance and events, it will reportedly only affect products of "popular culture" and not "art". "The law is not aggressive," said a representative from the Culture Ministry to the Moscow Times. "Its only aim is to regulate this sphere, so that swearing will have its purpose." Though the difference between the two realms of production has not yet been specified by the Ministry, artists across the world can finally feel some sense of relief — who would have thought this man would be the one to pin down the elusive definition of art? Many in the Russian art world are unsurprisingly outraged by this recent move and take particular issue with its effect on literature. Mat has in fact had a rich history in Russian poetry and prose, as seen in the seminal Romantic work of Mikhail Lermontov and Alexander Pushkin. The banning of such words, pivotal to the language of the working class, will undoubtedly limit the range of character and emotion in much of Russia's cultural work. Unfortunately, I'm not that well-versed in Russian film or literature, but just imagine a world where American Psycho is illegal; a place where this iconic scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles could never have reached its audience. In a worldwide exclusive, we've actually obtained a copy of the upcoming Russian Wolf of Wall Street re-release. It may not have the glamour or excitement of Scorsese's original, but its does 100 percent comply to the standards of the Culture Ministry. Enjoy. Via the New Yorker.
When the news dropped earlier this year that Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck was coming to Melbourne, every local foodie quite rightly lost their mind. Packing up a three-Michelin starred restaurant and transporting it to the other side of the world for six months is no small feat. And, while Melbourne is treated to a great spectrum of culinary talent, the food wizardry of this sound-cooking, bacon ice cream-making legend really is next level. But, the question remained: how to secure a seat? After the announcement came in March this year, Crown received upwards of 40,000 requests to book a table. We'll give you a minute to let that number sink in. With a proposed service of 50 diners per night, and the space in operation for a mere six months, The Fat Duck would only be able to accommodate a third of those that enquired nearly a full year in advance. That's huge. "We were totally overwhelmed with the response, it's been unbelievable ... [it shows] just the complete, utter food obsession that has happened over here," Blumenthal said in a press conference this morning. Now, to cope with the astronomical interest (and to save the receptionists at Crown a world of trouble), a booking system has been decided. To eat at The Fat Duck, you will have to enter a ballot. Open from October 8 until October 26, the ballot will be run in a similar way to Meredith Music Festival (though we really can't say it will have the same no dickheads policy). Punters can register their ravenous interest, an independent third party will randomly select the successful diners, then both confirmations and rejections will be sent out on November 10. It's not yet clear whether you can pick the date and time of your reservation. Honestly, it seems unlikely. Unsurprisingly, the seat also won't come cheap. Dinner will be served as a set menu of 12–15 courses and will set you back a cool $525 (before drinks). This may well be the only lottery where the prize is a huge bill, but when we think about that bacon ice cream we can't help but feel it's worth it. The Fat Duck opens on February 3, 2015, but more importantly the ballot opens on October 8 at 9am. Via Good Food.
Disney+'s live-action small-screen Star Wars empire started back in 2019 with The Mandalorian. Since then, everything from The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi to Ahsoka, The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew have followed, but it's Andor that's proven the best series in the space-set saga in this very galaxy. The good news: season two arrives in April 2025. The other news: you'd best savour it, because this will be the last of the prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. If you've seen that 2016 movie, you'll know why this the new 12-episode season is not just Andor's second but its final season — because you know where this tale is heading. But audiences being aware of what's coming didn't stop the show's first season from being riveting and thrilling. Based on both the first sneak peek at season two and the just-dropped new trailer, that doesn't look like it's changing from Wednesday, April 23, 2025 Down Under. "I came with you to be part of something". "It's a different kind of mission." "The Empire cannot win." These statements filter through the latest look at Andor's second season. The first trailer offered similar sentiments. "We're in a war. You wanna fight?", it noted, as the show treads the path to rebellion. If you missed the first season, Andor takes a favourite big-screen character and steps back into their story before the events that viewers have already seen — so, like Obi-Wan Kenobi. As its title makes plain, the series focuses on its namesake, Cassian Andor, with Diego Luna (La Máquina) reprising his Rogue One role. Star Wars fans have already seen him as a Rebel captain and intelligence agent, and also watched how his story wraps up, hence the show's need to jump backwards. The focus: following Andor as he discovers how he can play a part in battling the Empire. Indeed, charting the rebellion, and how people and planets joined in, is the series' whole remit. In season two, as the end we all know is coming gets closer, expect higher stakes — and also Ben Mendelsohn (The New Look) as his Rogue One character Orson Krennic, plus Alan Tudyk (Grimsburg) as K-2SO. The first season of Andor saw filmmaker Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Legacy) — who co-wrote the screenplay for Rogue One — rejoin the Star Wars franchise as the series' creator and showrunner. He's back for season two. On-screen, so are Stellan Skarsgård (Dune: Part Two), Genevieve O'Reilly (Tin Star), Denise Gough (Who Is Erin Carter?), Kyle Soller (Bodies), Adria Arjona (Blink Twice), Faye Marsay (Ten Pound Poms) and Forest Whitaker (Emperor of Ocean Park) . You'll be watching along via four chapters comprising of three episodes a piece, with a new chapter hitting your streaming queue each week. Check out the first trailer for Andor season two below: Andor season two streams via Disney+ from Wednesday, April 23, 2025 Down Under. Read our review of season one. Images:© 2025 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
If you've seen even the trailer for Hossein Amini's adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's The Two Faces of January, you've probably thrown out your mediocre wardrobe by now. Following the deep dark secrets of a highly affluent, fashion-savvy couple (Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst) and their newfound tour guide friend (Oscar Isaac) in 1962, Amini's wonderfully stylised, Hitchcockian thriller (based on Patricia Highsmith's post-The Talented Mr Ripley novel) is a bonafide feast for fashion enthusiasts and Lovers of Pretty Things alike. Vintage Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga — the old fashion houses of Paris literally line up on screen thanks to costume designer Steven Noble, the man who vintage shops with Kirsten Dunst. Finding a contemporary freshness in a '60s-set film through modern, bespoke costuming, Noble and Amini successfully create a realm where anachronistic detail actually captures the essence of a period more successfully than sticking to historic accuracy. With The Two Faces of January causing wardrobe envy in cinemas nationwide, we thought we'd get to the bottom of those disarmingly stylin' costumes with their Noble maker. Modernising the '60s Set in 1962, The Two Faces of January finds itself existing in an era brimming with elegant fashion icons; from Rita Hayworth to Audrey Hepburn. But Noble's designs don't seem like a fusty old historic costume, the characters look contemporary, feel modern and dress with a present-day fashionability. "It was something that Hoss said to me in the very beginning, that I tended to agree with. Obviously we wanted to keep an essence of the period, but we just wanted to make it look a little bit more contemporary for a younger, contemporary audience," says Noble. "So we've made something fresh to look at, but it still takes you back to Europe in 1962." Kirsten 'Well Media-Trained' Dunst ever-eloquently told Vogue that "the film looks like an old postcard that feels fresh." Back to the French Fashion Houses In his quest to find the perfect European aesthetic for the film, Noble looked to the dominant French fashion houses of the '60s — we're talking Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga, Nina Ricci; gang's all here. "I took inspiration from so many different genres and elements of the period, you know, the original holiday stuff, tourists. And then the magazines and films of the period — I watched the films of the late '50s early '60s." You can bet Roman Holiday was in the stack. Chanel forms a large part of the inspiration for Noble's bespoke creations, as well as his existing picks. Dunst's character Colette MacFarland dons some pretty ballin' pearls in a very tense dinner table scene; modern Chanel revisualisations of a late 1920s style. "With Kirsten's character, the backstory was that they'd been to Paris so Chester had bought her a new wardrobe," says Noble. "So that was all sort of, high end designers like Chanel and Nina Ricci and Dior and the designers at the time." Noble had a pretty high-stress responsibility on set: guard the treasure. "[There] was nearly half a million pounds of diamonds and pearls which we had to carry around with us," he says. "They either had to be on me personally at any time, or on Kirsten. If they weren't on Kirsten then they had to be in the safe." Vintage Shopping with Kirsten Dunst Dunst has led a long career of adorable costuming, prompting It Girl squeals press-wide over her lengthy Hollywood existence. The Two Faces of January is no exception, with the 32-year-old making every scene feel like a Vanity Fair shoot. Evoking every inch the Hitchcockian blonde Amini could ask for, Noble's costumes make an Eva Marie Saint of Dunst's character, Colette MacFarland, in a snap. "I guess I did take cues from the Tippi Hedrens of that period," says Noble. "Also with Daniel [Phillips], hair and make-up designer, they worked very closely together and obviously with Kirsten's input too, we'd come up with how she ends up in the film. It's a very organic process. "Patricia Highsmith in the book details the silhouette of Colette, wearing pencil skirts and she knows what she likes," he says. "With Kirsten we had a two-day trying on period at Elstree Studios and we just created this wonderful sort of vintage world in the dressing room. We pulled in clothes from around the world from all these different costume houses, and fabrics from all over the place and just had a really fun time trying things on." Dressing Hollywood Actors Noble tries to involve his actors as much as possible in the early planning stages of his costume development, with every piece for the three leads Dunst, Mortensen and Isaac made bespoke. "I find it a very organic process ... working closely with the actors and coming up with their character and the concept behind the scenes or characters through their clothing," says Noble. "All three of [the leads: Mortensen, Dunst and Isaac] were a dream to work with. I was allowed to lead them, and obviously if there was something they absolutely thought was completely wrong then if I felt strongly about it I would try to make them wear it in a diplomatic way. "It's very hard to say how much input they have. Because I'll have had an original idea when I first see the script — because it's my job — and then you sort of have a period of prep where you start designing, researching and sketching, fabrics and that sort of thing. You try to have a conversation [with the actors] very early on; if they're not available face-to-face then I'll try and get them on the phone as early as possible to talk about their character. Then it's just a matter of trying on." The contemporary Cary Grant Tailored and worthy of a Hitchcock hero, Mortensen's suits as the seemingly infallible Chester MacFarland are a Savile Row lover's dream. Paired against Isaac's fedora-wearing, polo shirt-preferring role as newfound acquaintance Rydal, Noble's male costumes transcend fifty shades of holiday beige. Noble doesn't separate techniques for designing male and female character costumes, seeing the art in both without consciously seeking a gendered difference. "You know, obviously there's different techniques involved, I mean, with the men's tailoring; it's quite an art," he says. "The people who made [Mortensen's] suits are incredibly talented. But I haven't really thought about it to be honest, it sort of just happens." From affluent to penny-pinching, ladylike to roguish romantic hero, The Two Faces of January fronts a unified aesthetic through basic thematic means, particularly in the opening scene of the film — the sunwashed, crumbling ruins of the Acropolis paired with Mortensen's cream three-piece suit, Isaac's beige polo get-up and Dunst in That Yellow Dress. Changing it Up, Keeping it Fresh Along with the classic, contemporary '60s pieces created for The Two Faces of January, Noble boasts an eclectic CV. Having already designed the costumes for 2010's multi-award winning sci-fi drama Never Let Me Go, the 2011 teen angst-fuelled 2011 adaptation of Wuthering Heights and Scarlett Johansson's 2013 sci-fi jaw-dropper Under the Skin, Noble's not one to pigeonhole his art. "Versatility is what keeps it exciting or fresh," he says. "You don't know what script you're going to get in next, where it's going to take you. You know, you'll do a period piece for one month and then six months later you're doing a space age thing. It's so diverse. Obviously the script's the main thing — we've all worked on some duds in our time. But the diversity and the challenges are what keep you surviving in the industry." So the final question on fashion fiend minds: does Noble get to keep the wardrobe? "The studio keeps everything," says Noble. "I will ask if I can keep certain key pieces, but in general it's the property of the studio so what happens to it I don't know — there's obviously some graveyard." Shovels at the ready. The Two Faces of January is now showing in selected cinemas.
