If you haven't yet had a chance to sit on a bean bed under the night sky while feasting your eyes on the big screen and filling your stomach with a picnic, aka the annual Moonlight Cinema experience and an Australian summer staple, here's your next round of motivation: the outdoor picture palace's January lineup, plus a few other highlights for the next few months. This cinephile heaven drops its program in parts, so its December bill arrived in November, and now it's time to see what'll be kicking off 2024. On the way: a heap of upcoming releases getting sneak peeks at Moonlight Cinema before they hit general release, plus old-school throwbacks aplenty. So, whether you're in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth, you have much to look forward to in scenic surroundings. The preview list includes Adam Driver (65) stepping into Enzo Ferrari's shoes in Ferrari, which is also filmmaker Michael Mann's first feature 2015's Blackhat; the new musical silver-screen version of Mean Girls, as based on the stage show adapted from the OG flick; and Mare of Easttown, Devs, On the Basis of Sex, Bad Times at the El Royale and Pacific Rim: Uprising actor Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley, plus Australian Euphoria and Saltburn star Jacob Elordi as Elvis, in Sofia Coppola's Priscilla. Moonlight audiences around the country can also grapple with wrestling biopic The Iron Claw, which features Zac Efron (Gold) and Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) as part of the Von Erich family — and then check out spy action-comedy Argylle. In Sydney and Melbourne only, the haunting and swoonworthy All of Us Strangers with the internet's boyfriends Paul Mescal (Foe) and Andrew Scott (Fleabag) will also get a spin. Films that are or will already be in cinemas everywhere will also grace Moonlight's screens, such as Wonka, Saltburn and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. For blasts from the past, The Mighty Ducks, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, She's The Man, The Parent Trap and Clueless will welcome in audiences nationwide, as will Hocus Pocus, The Devil Wears Prada, A Cinderella Story and The Princess Diaries. Sydney scores a date with Mamma Mia!, while the Harbour City as well as Melbourne and Perth will watch The Goonies and The Princess Bride, too. The lineup always varies per city, and the films and the setting are just two parts of the Moonlight Cinema setup. Also on offer: an official Aperol spritz bar, which is new for 2023–24. Nosh-wise, the event lets you BYO movie snacks and drinks (no alcohol in Brisbane, though), but the unorganised can enjoy a plethora of bites to eat onsite while reclining on bean beds. There's also a VIP section for an extra-luxe openair movie experience, plus a platinum section that levels up a night at the movies even further in Sydney and Melbourne. A beauty cart is handing out samples, too. And, dogs are welcome at all sites except Perth — there's even special doggo bean beds, and a snack menu for pooches. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2023–24 DATES: Brisbane: until Sunday, February 18, 2024 in Roma Street Parklands Sydney: until Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Centennial Parklands Perth: until Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Kings Park and Botanic Garden Adelaide: until Wednesday, February 14, 2024 in Botanic Park Melbourne: until Saturday, March 30, 2024 in Royal Botanic Gardens Moonlight Cinema runs through until March 2024, with dates varying per city. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website — and we'll update you with further program details when they're announced.
After collaborating with The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne, nabbing a Coachella spot and spinning her way to international success over the past year, Sydney's Alison Wonderland is embarking on her second tour of industrial warehouse parties. Wonderland Warehouse Project 2.0 is set to hit the road nationwide from late May, the highly anticipated sequel to her wildly successful 2014 tour of the same name. Armed with a fresh set of tracks from debut album RUN, Wonderland will be popping up in secret locations across the country for what's pinned to be some seriously huge shows. Bringing electronica out of the clubs and into a string of mystery warehouses, this powerhouse Sydney DJ is going to run some rather unconventional, mega-scale dancefloors. Set to make her first appearance at Coachella in the States in April, off the back of casually working with Wayne Coyne for her latest record, Wonderland appears to have quite the 2015 in store. After last year's sell-out tour, get in quick to secure your spot at these epic warehouse shindigs. Tickets are only $40-45, so they sell quicker than you can fall down a rabbit hole. WONDERLAND WAREHOUSE PROJECT 2.0 DATES Brisbane — Friday May 22 Melbourne — Saturday May 30 Sydney — Saturday June 6 For tickets and more info, head to wonderlandwarehouseproject.com.
Printhie Wines, run by brothers Ed and Dave Swift, has also taken its cellar door experience into the online realm, cracking the top off a new weekly virtual wine tasting series. The Molong-based winemakers are hitting screens from 4pm AEST every Friday, to help you wind down and kick-start the weekend in style. Or at least, in some good, wine-loving company. Via Facebook, the guys will guide viewers through a double tasting each week, showcasing a range of drops from their own label and answering plenty of audience questions along the way. To get you in the zone, Printhie is currently slinging a virtual tasting pack via its online store, starring six of the wines featured across the next few weeks' live streams. Get one delivered to your door so you can taste along with the guys and discuss your favourites as the camera rolls.
Want to drink wine and support a great cause while you do it? The team at Vinomofo has you covered. The online wine cellar has just launched its limited edition Homeless Grapes Project Yarra Valley chardonnay, and it's donating 100 percent of proceeds to Australians who are sleeping rough. The mineral-rich drop comes courtesy of De Bortoli Wines, Rochford Wines and TarraWarra Estate, who all donated grapes to the project. It goes on sale on Monday, February 4 at $25 per bottle, sold in a case of six, with only few hundred cases available. All proceeds from the sales will go to St Mary's House of Welcome, which provides food, shelter, showers and emergency assistance to Melburnians doing it tough. Last year, the sale of 200 cases of Homeless Grapes Project shiraz raised more than $50,000 and was able to provide housing for 570 clients, over 40,000 meals and 3000 appointments with nurses. The Homeless Grapes initiative has been running since 2015 and has already raised more than $150,000 for charity. "Homelessness is a community issue that can be solved by the community and initiatives like Homeless Grapes," said Vinomofo co-founder Andre Eikmeier. "We can raise money for the front line to help make a real difference. And importantly, we change our attitudes." The Homeless Grapes Project Yarra Valley chardonnay is available from Monday, February 4. To find out more about the Homeless Grapes initiative and to buy a couple of bottles, head to vinomofo.com.
In case there was still anyone out there who thought donning a Native American style headdress was a totally appropriate, acceptable, fun-loving thing to do, one of the world's biggest music festivals has just laid down the law. Glastonbury has officially banned the sale of these offensive accessories from their 2015 festival. The decision announced today comes after a well-researched Change.org petition was submitted to the festival's organisers. Though it only gained a humble 65 signatures, the petition made some salient arguments that have been echoed by most of the world for the last few years. "[Wearing these headdresses] is an offensive and disrespectful form of cultural appropriation," the petition read. "It homogenises diverse indigenous peoples, and perpetuates damaging, archaic and racist stereotypes." Amen. Though cultural appropriation is still a contentious topic with no hard and fast answers (see: bindis/everything to do with Miley Cyrus), most people are on the same page in regards to headdresses — well, everyone except Harry Styles. And, if the thought of being on the same side of this debate as One Direction didn't irk you out enough, trust us, there are a lot of other reasons to stand against it. Though a couple of other festivals around the world (including Australia's own "no dickheads" darling Meredith) have banned these headdresses from being worn at all, the new ban at Glastonbury will only relate to their sale. Though we'd obviously rather they get rid of them completely, it's a great step in the right direction. Last month, Glastonbury was declared "the most influential festival on the planet" after a survey conducted by Spotify. Here's hoping this policy proves as popular as their headline acts. Via Music Feeds. Photo credit: Shell Daruwala via photopin cc and Hipsters in Headresses.
Love hanging in your local park and patting all the good boys that run past? Do you find the cool demeanour of cats cute? And don't get you started about rabbits doing zoomies, right? If you've answered yes to all of the above, we're guessing you're a big animal lover. Or, even if you wouldn't say you love animals, we're guessing you don't want to cause them harm. That's why factoring critters, both great and small, into your daily decisions is important, from the clothes on your back to what you eat. To help you out, we've teamed up with the animal-loving folks at nutritious plant-based meal delivery service Soulara to bring you five simple swaps to introduce to your daily life. Because you shouldn't have to choose between yourself and adorable animals. SIGN UP TO A PLANT-BASED MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE As they say, you are what you eat — and a plant-based diet is just one way you can live your best animal-loving life. It also has a bunch of health benefits and is one of the biggest ways you can lower your environmental impact. So, really, it's a win-win-win. But, whether you're all in or trying it out a few days a week, making the switch to plant-based can be tricky. One way to cut out the guesswork is by signing up to an animal product-free meal delivery service like Soulara. Every meal is designed by nutritionists and prepared by chefs, packed with vital nutrients and delivered fresh, not frozen, so you can simply pop it in the microwave when you're ready to eat. You'll enjoy the likes of choc hazelnut and chia seed pudding for brekkie, tofu laksa for lunch, and shiitake mushroom carbonara for dinner. It's got bliss balls, kombucha and cold-pressed juice packs that you can tack onto your order, too. There are plenty of dietary requirement-friendly options, too, as well as for the calorie conscious. If you're worried about not getting enough protein, don't be; Soulara's high protein range offers veg-based meals with 25-plus grams of protein in each serve. To top it off, it's a pretty affordable option, with meals starting from $8.50 and, right now, you can also nab $60 off your first order, too — just sign up here. GO CRUELTY-FREE WITH YOUR BEAUTY REGIME Breaking into labs and freeing rabbits isn't something Hollywood made up. Yep, the world of beauty has an ugly side. So, if you want to go cruelty-free with your daily beauty regime, it's important to know what brands to opt for. One thing to remember is that vegan and cruelty-free products are not one and the same. Vegan means no animal products or animal-derived ingredients, such as beeswax, are used in the product, whereas cruelty-free means no animal testing was carried out in the making of your face mask, perfume, moisturiser or body scrub. If you're a hardcore animal fan, you want to be buying beauty brands that do both. The good news is more and more companies are shifting to creating more ethical products. Natural skincare brand Sukin is a great go-to as it's good for your skin, animals, the environment and, for the most part, your wallet. Otherwise, Aussie beauty retail giant Mecca stocks a bunch of vegan and/or cruelty-free products, from brands such as Frank Body, Josie Maran, Korres, Stila and its own Mecca Max — just be sure to check the label. Animal welfare organisation PETA Australia has a handy guide, too, which you can check out here. ADOPT OR FOSTER AN ADORABLE ANIMAL While more of us are working from home — or, at least, spending more time at home — it makes sense that we're increasingly wanting a furry, four-legged friend by our sides. So, if you've been thinking about adding a pet to your fam (and have considered it thoroughly), now might just be the time. Rescue organisations such as the RSPCA and Petbarn adoption centres work to find permanent and foster homes for pups, cats, bunnies and guinea pigs surrendered into their care. In 2019, the RSPCA found new homes for 2654 pets Australia-wide, and we can only assume this year the numbers will be even more impressive. If you can't commit to taking a pet in permanently (but still think you'd make a great fur parent), fostering is also a great way to help out animals in need. Rest assured that the usual procedures and standards still apply, so every furry and feathered friend ends up in a happy home — whether it's forever or just for a little while. GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY We're not suggesting you follow Fido into a mud puddle, but there are ways you can directly help out animals that aren't fostering or adopting. For one, you can get to work on your green thumb. If you haven't already heard, bees play a pretty big part in how the world goes round; however, due to things like land development and pesticides used in farming, the global bee population is in danger. Just by getting a little garden growing in your backyard, you can help bees to do their work transferring pollen, which aids the growth of certain fruits, plants and, in turn, provides sources of food for much wildlife. Or, you could skip the dirt and get yourself this nifty Bee Pollination Grow Kit. Another way you can help is through animal conservation work. After last summer's devastating fires, there are a lot of native critters that need your help, which can involve everything from volunteering in national parks and joining WIRES to simply putting water out for distressed animals. [caption id="attachment_779786" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] LEVEL UP YOUR WARDROBE WITH ETHICAL LABELS No one ever said fashion had to be all fur, leather and feathers, but according to PETA, more than one billion animals are killed each year for their fur and leather alone. It's 2020 and we're a far cry from medieval times. On top of that, now it's easier than ever to pick up ethical threads — so why wouldn't you? While ethical is a broad-stroke term, when talking about animal-friendly fashion specifically, you don't have to look too far. Global retailers such as Zara, Uniqlo, Dr Martens and Topshop sell a bunch of 'vegan' leather goods, as well as alternative animal-free materials. You'll find some Aussie labels doing that, too, including Nico, Kowtow and Tasi Travels. For a one-stop ethical clothing shop, head to Well Made Clothes, which has a wide range of vegan clothing and accessories. And leading the charge of animal welfare in the high-end industry is Stella McCartney, which uses alternatives for everything from leather to fur, silk, feathers and wool. One of the biggest ways you can care for animals is to switch to a plant-based diet. To help make that part easy and fuss-free, Soulara delivers nutrition-packed meals straight to your door. And, if you need to, you can also pause or skip a week of your subscription at no extra cost. Better yet, Soulara is currently offering $60 off your first four deliveries — just sign up here.
Street art already has a magical quality about it. It pops up in laneways, on buildings, and on forgotten street corners every night; in a single sleep your city can be transformed. But now, one artist has taken things a step further. Spanish photographer and motion designer A.L. Crego enriches these creations with even more intrigue — he brings them to life. Utilising the almighty power of the GIF, Crego expertly animates the street art he finds on his daily travels. In an attempt to boost the meaning of each work, he spends between a couple of hours and two days creating each animation. "Some of them are easier than others because the painting was made with a few elements, but other ones were made with a lot of techniques and elements," he told Pixable. Though GIFs are usually there to be laughed at or shared in addictive listicles, over the past few years they've really taken off as a legitimate art form. There are a number of artists using the medium in incredible and unexpected ways. Far from their most common use as vehicles for Lena Dunham quotes, GIFs (or cinemagraphs, if we're being fancy) can actually be quite beautiful. Take a stroll through A.L. Crego's collection below. Your imagination will thank you for it. Via My Modern Met and Pixable.. All images: A.L. Crego.
Considering the whole "avocado on toast vs saving for a home" millennial conundrum we're currently living in, the thought of affording any property seems pretty far off for our generation at this point. But it doesn't hurt to dream, and if you're going to dream, you might as well go big. These three dream houses are up for sale in Sydney right now, and we have our imaginary sights firmly set on 'em. Think heritage buildings converted into award-winning designer homes with Tuscan marble finishes, Japanese-style gardens and endless bedrooms and balconies. Go on, put yourself in someone else's (extremely expensive) shoes for a minute. 177A ALBION STREET, SURRY HILLS This property is the equivalent of a modern-day castle, and it has somehow been wedged between the standard-sized terraces along Albion Street. Walk through the domed gated entrance and you'll be humbled by all that 1890s Victorian grandeur. Dubbed the 'Italianate House' by designers Renato D'Ettorre Architects, the residence is one of Surry Hills' oldest dwellings, with the land grant dating back to 1794. The design has, not surprisingly, won several awards, including the Sustainability Awards 2018. The restored home combines historic period detailing and natural materials with a contemporary interior. Three ensuite bedrooms feature fully Tuscan marble bathrooms (winner of the Architect Bathroom of the Year 2018), with the master also including a walk-in-robe, large balcony and access to a rooftop terrace with a wrap-around courtyard. Downstairs, there's an award-winning kitchen, multiple marble fireplaces, a mix of exposed brick and glass walls, vaulted ceilings and, last but not least, an salt water pool. If that's not enough, there's also a two-level converted guest house at the rear with a home office, bedroom and sun-filled conservatory to boot. Overall, you're looking at a 520-square metre, four bedroom, four bathroom, four carpark house. It'll cost just $13.5 million–$14.8 million and, if we could, we would. 44 GOODHOPE STREET, PADDINGTON Once owned by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, this extravagantly tranquil 528-square-metre home (10-metres wide and 55-metres deep) is kitted out with all the extras. The four-level terrace includes five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a two-car garage — and that's just the basics. Take a glance around and you'll find a built-in cinema room and wine cellar on the lower level. Another look reveals an outdoor, 25-metre lap pool that can be viewed from the indoor lounge room — yes, like a fish tank for humans. The entire terrace is set to focus on the expansive, two-storey Japanese gardens out back, which include a meditation pond, outdoor dining terrace with built in barbecue and several al fresco seating areas. The garden is woven into the house with a revolving glass door on the ground floor and massive bay windows in the bedrooms. All this gives an fluid indoor-outdoor feel that results in the ultimate inner-city oasis. And it'll only cost you $15 million. For a virtual tour, check out this video, close your eyes and dream on. 632-634 BOURKE STREET, SURRY HILLS These two-in-one restored heritage buildings have been the home and office of architect William Smart and his firm Smart Design Studio since the early 2000s. Smart bought the property for a mere $1.46 million in 2003, fully gutted and renovated the place into its multi-award-winning status, and is now selling for a cool $8 million. The rustic sandstone exterior at the base meets a modern metal scaffolding design at the upper levels. The main building contains a fully functioning, two-storey office that makes it ideal for another live-in architect or design firm — though it can easily be used by a developer for a mixed-use commercial and residential building, or by one really rich person who wants a seriously massive home. The penthouse above is an open plan, two-bedroom rooftop apartment with double-height ceilings, two bathrooms and a study. Bi-fold glass doors throughout fully retract onto sunlit balconies that overlook the leafy Bourke and Ridge Streets. Plus there's underfloor heating, an integrated Bose entertainment system, travertine floors and terracotta tiling in the bathrooms. A ground floor courtyard connects the main building to a two-level former stables — which has been renovated into a self-contained home with separate entrance, exposed sandstone walls, original ceilings, stone concrete tiling, more underfloor heating and an integrated stainless steel kitchen. All up, it's a three bedroom, four-bathroom masterpiece that spans 640-metres with a land size of 266-metres. If you want to take a glimpse inside, this property will go to auction on November 17 at noon.
Fancy reliving your childhood film favourites on the stage? That seems to be the current trend. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is doing big business in Melbourne, the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical has been taking its golden tickets around the country, and now Shrek the Musical is bringing its all-singing, all-dancing version of the animated movie franchise to Sydney's Lyric Theatre from January 1, 2020. Expect plenty of green when this Tony and Grammy award-nominated stage show finally makes its way to our shores, after first premiering on Broadway back in 2008. Since then, everyone's favourite ogre — originally voiced by Mike Myers — has sung his way through theatres in the UK, Asia Europe, Canada, Latin and South America, Israel and Scandinavia. You know the story, of course — unless you somehow managed to miss the original 2001 Oscar-winning film, its sequels in 2004, 2007 and 2010, and the heap of spin-offs, shorts, TV specials and series that all followed. Based on the 1990 picture book Shrek!, the tale follows the reclusive but kindly titular figure who endeavours to rescue the feisty Princess Fiona from the the fairy tale-hating Lord Farquaad, all while trekking along with a talking Donkey sidekick. Shrek lovers can expect a whopping 19 songs, an obvious colour scheme and plenty of other fairy tale references. After its Sydney run, it will head to Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne and the Lyric Theatre, Brisbane. Check out the trailer for the production's UK run below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESm1JoEIXAY Image: Helen Maybanks.
Late last year, Taco Bell quietly opened a test store in Annerley, Brisbane. And today — fittingly, International Taco Day — the US Tex-Mex chain has announced plans to open 50 new stores across Australia in the next three years. While its expansion will begin in Queensland — with stores already confirmed for Robina, Cleveland and North Lakes — the chain has confirmed that it will also be expanding interstate. Taco Bell, whose parent company is Collins Foods — which also operates 28 Aussie KFC restaurants and the 13 remaining Sizzler venues — announced today that after receiving positive feedback from its test store, it would be rolling out 50 new Taco Bell outposts over the next three years. Managing Director Taco Bell Asia Pacific Ankush Tuli suggested locals have embraced the brand. "We have had an overwhelming response to the launch of Taco Bell in Brisbane," Tuli 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. It was speculated earlier this year that as part of the brand's expansion, Collins Foods would be rebranding its Sizzler restaurants as Taco Bells; however, this has not yet been confirmed. You can currently find Taco Bell at 594 Ipswich Road, Annerley, with the Robina store slated to open this year.
Taronga Zoo has taken the plunge into Sydney's competitive luxury accommodation market with its epic 62-room Wildlife Retreat, opened in 2019. And we've already listed it as one of the best hotels in Sydney. This complex of modern, timber-clad lodges encircling a private bushland garden full of native fauna combines sustainable design with high end amenities. Thanks to these guys, you don't have to go far to see nature in all its glory. Carved into the natural landscape of the zoo, each room allows you to overlook both the bushland and sweeping views over Sydney Harbour. The location is unrivalled. Jut open your door to see koalas in nearby trees, wombats wandering by and platypuses swimming in their thoughtfully designed habitats within the Taronga Zoo. It's uniquely Australian. The Wildlife Retreat at Taronga includes a range of experiences and inclusions from a two-day entry into the Zoo, complimentary car parking, meals at their award-winning Me-Gal restaurant (you might want to go vegetarian after living alongside all these friendly Aussie critters) and a guided tour of The Sanctuary.
Fact is more powerful than fiction, as the Antenna Documentary Film Festival knows. Where most film festivals simply include a selection of documentaries amongst their programs, Antenna is solely devoted to truthful tales, highlighting the best of the factual medium. Since 2011, the festival has showcased documentary filmmaking in all its guises, and the fourth annual event proves no different. Continuing Antenna's trend of fantastic programming, 35 feature-length documentaries from over 20 countries comprise the lineup, including five Australian efforts. Shorts, guest speakers and one-of-a-kind experiences round out a program that is both diverse and interesting. So, what should you see at the 2014 Antenna Documentary Film Festival when it takes over Sydney's Chauvel and Verona cinemas from Tuesday, October 14, to Sunday, October 19? We've sampled the full program to provide our picks. https://youtube.com/watch?v=5FmHuio4C-s The 50 Year Argument Taking the page to the screen has become a frequent part of Martin Scorsese's filmmaking career; indeed, his last three features — an eclectic lineup of Shutter Island, Hugo and The Wolf of Wall Street — all started out in print. That goes some way to explaining why the iconic auteur has turned his focus to the literary world's premier publication, the New York Review of Books, for his latest documentary, as co-helmed with his three-time factual editor David Tedeschi. The 50 Year Argument combines archival and interview footage to chronicle the history and influence of the legendary periodical. Noam Chomsky, Susan Sontag and Gore Vidal are among the lauded figures canvassed in an insightful look at a magazine that became an unparalleled cultural institution. October 18 at the Chauvel. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nPNeh4d9guk Gimme Shelter Thanks to recent Oscar winners Searching for Sugar Man and 20 Feet from Stardom, the music documentary is back and doing big business. Yet, every new effort endeavouring to tell the tales of the industry owes a debt to Gimme Shelter, a landmark example of showing the reality of rock and roll on film if ever there was one. In 1969, filmmakers Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin tracked the last weeks of the Rolling Stones' US tour, which ended in anarchy when 300,000 members of the Love Generation clashed with a few dozen Hells Angels at San Francisco's Altamont Speedway. If getting a rare chance to see the documentary on the big screen isn't enough of an incentive, Sam Cutler, former tour manager of the Rolling Stones, will also be in attendance. October 16 at Palace Verona. https://youtube.com/watch?v=NKFrZTuKQo8 Choose Your Own Documentary Remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books? Of course you do! Flipping back and forth through dog-eared pages to chart every possible outcome has provided many a childhood with literary fun, and Nathan Penlington and his team of filmmakers — Nick Watson, Sam Smail and Fernando Guttierez De Jesus — want to recreate the experience. It all starts when a forgotten diary falls out of an old book, sparking a raft of decisions. The twist is that you, the audience, determines what happens next. In a unique live experience performed in the cinema, attendees choose their own documentary via remote controls as they guide Penlington through over 1,500 paths and towards multiple endings. October 15 and 18 at Giant Dwarf. https://youtube.com/watch?v=i5H7GJymQns Regarding Susan Sontag Writer, filmmaker, teacher, critic, activist: for multiple generations, Susan Sontag was a force for change, the voice of reason, and much more. Never shying away from controversy in her output and actions, she became a cultural, political, feminist and gay icon. Though Sontag passed away ten years ago, her inimitable imprint remains. Her diaries, letters, essays and novels linger as her legacy, as Regarding Susan Sontag makes plain. Actress Patricia Clarkson enlivens Sontag's story, reading excerpts from her work to furnish the film's account of her life and times. Hearing Sontag's views come to life once more on topics such as photography, war, illness, and terrorism is a treat; however, it is the intimate investigation of a figure unafraid of the public scrutiny of her personal stance that promises to resonate. October 17 at the Chauvel. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sNh30pRugKM Point and Shoot A soul-searching overseas jaunt can change lives in more ways than one, as Matthew VanDyke discovered. When the 28-year-old Baltimore resident set out on a solo 35,000km trip through North Africa and the Middle East, inspired by Australia's own Alby Mangels and aiming to learn a few lessons along the way, filming his adventure through a vast and largely unseen continent was his only thought — but his journey thrust him into the thick of conflict. Working as a journalist in Iraq, VanDyke befriended a Libyan hippie who convinced him not only to visit his country in the midst of civil war but to join the rebels in the fight against Gaddafi. His camera kept on rolling, informing Marshall Curry's account of VanDyke's experience, and winning best documentary at the 2014 TriBeCa Film Festival. October 15 at the Chauvel. The Antenna Documentary Film Festival is on from October 14-19. For the full program, see the festival website.
We’re not talking lion hunting while munching caviar and canapés, nor are we dreaming of zebra reductions or tiger tartare: this gourmet safari, courtesy of travel experts Mr & Mrs Smith, features hotels whose restaurants alone are worth a bumpy ride in a 4X4, whose chefs are the big game of the food industry, and whose dining rooms draw food critics like thirsty wildebeest to a watering hole. 1. SANGOMA RETREAT Where: 70 Grandview Lane, Bowen Mountain, NSW What: Game reserve-inspired glam City grind got you ground down? Sydneysiders in need of respite should write their own prescription for a stay at African-inspired Sangoma Retreat in the Blue Mountains, just a 70-minute drive away, where five light, airy and very spacious suites loll across 10-hectare grounds. Rooms are blessed with huge freestanding Philippe Starck tubs and wraparound balconies for soaking up bush scenes, but chances are you’ll be hard-pressed to tear yourself away from the restaurant. Owner/chef Zenga Butler cooks up globe-trotting cuisine with Ottolenghi influences (healthy, seasonal, locally sourced and largely organic). It’s a relaxed affair: heaped platters of fish and salad, which you can help yourself to. 2. METROPOLITAN BY COMO Where: 27 South Sathorn Road, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok, Thailand What: Manicured minimalism Australian chef David Thompson’s rice-white and mango-yellow Nahm restaurant in the Metropolitan by Como, Bangkok hotel may survey the pool, but you’ll only have eyes for your food, however many starlets or stallions strut past. Expect elegant Thai cuisine featuring tingling flavours and succulent seafood: kingfish salad with chilli, lime and mint, deep-fried crab with pomelo, and coconut-cream-slathered desserts. Lesser known, but equally wonderful, is the hotel’s guilt-free Glow restaurant, where Amanda Gale’s zingy salads keep you feeling great. The low prices (around AU$21 for a fresh juice and two-course lunch) are equally revitalising. 3. ROYAL MAIL HOTEL Where: 98 Parker Street (Glenelg Highway), The Grampians, VIC What: Gourgeous gourmet pub Need a dose of vitamin C? Head to Royal Mail Hotel in the Grampians, where fat pumpkins, albino eggplants and juicy tomatoes flourish ripely in the green, green garden. Dan Hunter (formerly head chef at Spain’s two-Michelin-starred Mugaritz) flirts with vegetarians and omnivores alike via two 10-course tasting menus: one leafy; one meaty. This chef melts rules like butter: lamb comes with liquorice; pigeon is paired with white chocolate. Such creativity has garnered a fistful of awards, so book your table when you book your bedroom. There’s also a casual bistro with a sunny courtyard and a tapas menu, and – for less calorific moments – mountain views, hills for hiking and a peaceful outdoor pool. 4. QT SYDNEY Where: 49 Market Street, Sydney, NSW What: Theatrical temptress Scantily clad door-sirens with flame-red wigs, rooms with DIY martini kits, a buzzing bar and a spa with hammam, ice-room and hipster barber: at sexy QT Sydney hotel, you could easily forget to eat. That would be tragic, though, given the excellent restaurant housed in the hotel’s historic State Theatre and Gowings department store buildings. Helmed by executive chef Paul Easson, under the creative direction of Sydney restaurateur Robert Marchetti, Gowings Bar & Grill is a funked-up Euro-flash brasserie which relies of the most artisan producers for the freshest Australian ingredients, and cooks them to perfection in wood-fired rotisseries. Repair to the Gilt Lounge afterwards for vintage cocktails. 5. EICHARDT’S PRIVATE HOTEL Where: Marine Parade, Queenstown, New Zealand What: Historic haven with watery vistas If you fancy drinking in both Lake Wakatipu views and silky seafood chowder, book a bedroom at Eichardt’s Private Hotel in Queenstown. This glam grand dame has mountain- and lake-spying rooms, a famous bar and a very good restaurant. Choose between dining at the award-winning bar or at Eichardt's Parlour, a private lounge and dining area on the first floor, styled with Georgian grace. Chef Will Eaglesfield is the talent in charge, plating up delicious dishes such as wild-game terrine with house pickles and mustard, and salted-cod-and-potato croquettes with herb aioli. Comfy sofas, friendly service and a toasty fireplace keep things cosy. 6. LAKE HOUSE Where: 4 King Street, Daylesford, VIC What: Restrained rural retreat Delicious little Lake House hotel in Daylesford began life in 1984 as a 40-seat, weekend-only restaurant, owned by acclaimed chef Alla Wolf-Tasker. Fast forward more than a few years, and lake-scoping rooms and a Scandinavia-inspired spa with treetop hot tubs and a blissful 75-minute signature treatment have been added to the equation. The emphasis is still firmly foodie, though: what’s dished up varies according to the season, but you can expect house-made charcuterie, heritage vegetables and fruits, local trout, eel and cheeses, free-range pork and wagyu beef. Be sure to book your table when you bag your stay, and call by Alla’s more casual café, Wombat Hill House, in the nearby Botanic Gardens. 7. ESTABLISHMENT HOTEL Where: 5 Bridge Lane, Sydney, NSW What: Everything-under-one-roof design destination Devotees of dim sum will think they’ve died and gone to har gow heaven when they clap eyes upon Establishment Hotel’s impressive Cantonese restaurant, Mr. Wong, a sprawling 240-cover space. When pork buns pale, there are plenty of other in-house options: Est., for Australian fine dining with French and Asian flair; Sushi-e, for succulent sashimi; Palings, which has a 'kitchen' menu designed for sharing, and the stunning Gin Garden bar, with lush plants, sexy pendant lamps, raw brick walls and a choice of Thai and Australian dishes. This multi-tasking pleasure palace can organise access to the Fitness First gym next door, if you start to feel fatty. 8. HUKA LODGE Where: 271 Huka Falls Road, Taupo, New Zealand What: Trad Twenties hunting lodge Fan of fishing, food and fast-paced adventures? Huka Lodge has all three covered. Set in Taupo, home to New Zealand’s largest lake in the heart of the volcanic North Island, this heritage 1920s hotel was founded as a frill-free fishing lodge, but don’t expect simple dinners of fisherman’s pie. Instead, the Michelin-starred executive chef brings European influences to contemporary New Zealand cuisine, harnessing the finest fresh, flavoursome local ingredients, including fruit from the orchard. Menus change daily according to the produce available, but previous crowd-pleasers include: freshwater lobster butter-poached with lemon-infused gnocchi and watercress, and chocolate fondant with espresso ice-cream. Cosy up in the main dining room or dine alfresco in the riverside grounds. 9. SPICERS VINEYARDS ESTATE Where: 555 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, NSW What: Modern manor house Lovers of vine things have long flocked to the green-gold hills of the Hunter Valley, where some of the country’s sweetest, punchiest grapes flourish. Spicers Vineyards Estate makes the most of its regional charms: the 350-strong wine list (manager Belinda Stapleton's pride and joy) includes local gems from Margan, Tyrrell's and the like, or old-world classics from Burgundy and Bordeaux, and the restaurant has a veggie patch, chickens and pigs, and clever chef Mark Stapleton. Botanica's contemporary menu is loaded with lip-smacking dishes, such as house-made charcuterie, slow-cooked duck with caramelised fennel, and hand-cut pappardelle with lobster cream. Rattan chairs, earthy tones and floor-to-ceiling windows offering serene vineyard views make for a relaxed setting. 10. THE PRINCE Where: 2 Acland Street, St Kilda, Melbourne, VIC What: High-drama design, art deco grace Melbourne knows that the way to a visitor’s heart is through their stomach: this is the city where pop-up eateries sprout like mushrooms in the little laneways, after all. The Prince boutique hotel, a colourful art deco distraction in bayside St Kilda, lives up to its location, with not one but two ravishing restaurants. At Circa, rising star Paul Wilson and seasoned chef Jake Nicolson rustle up sharing plates with Asian zing: kingfish sashimi with yuzu and basil jelly, or bonito with green tea, for example. There’s a Mexican in the basement, too, but don’t be scared: Acland St Cantina spans a casual canteen and a cute, characterful restaurant. Save room for the salted-caramel ice-cream churros taco (we kid you not).
Wherever your suitcases are currently stashed, dig them out: spring is almost here, Jetstar has dropped an end-of-winter flight sale, and a range of Australian and international destinations await. There's no better motivation for a getaway than cheap fares, whether you're keen to soak up the sunshine away from home, book your next big overseas trip, lock in a pre-Christmas vacation or plan your first holiday of 2025. All of the above scenarios are covered by the Australian carrier's latest batch of discounted flights, which start at $34. As always, that price spans trips from Sydney to Byron Bay. From there, the Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Uluru, Bali, Tokyo, Hawaii, Bangkok, Seoul and Vanuatu are among the options, and the list goes on from there. Some specific highlights include Sydney to Hamilton Island from $79 and Melbourne to Hamilton Island from $109, Brisbane to Cairns from $69 and Brisbane to Tokyo from $335 — plus Honolulu flights from $280 out of Sydney, $285 from Melbourne and $359 departing from Brisbane. Domestically, other destinations span Newcastle, Darwin, Mackay, Busselton, Sunshine Coast, Whitsunday Coast, Hobart, Launceston and Hervey Bay. And from the overseas bargains, you also have Osaka, Queenstown, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Fiji, Singapore, Manila, Phuket, Krabi and Ho Chi Minh City to pick from. Travel periods vary, starting as early as September 2024 and ranging as late as July 2025, if that helps you to decide where — and when — to go. You've got until 11.59pm AEST on Monday, August 26, 2024 to nab your flights, or until sold out if they're snapped up by other travellers before then. There are a few rules, as is always the case. All sale fares are one-way, and they don't include checked baggage — so you'll need to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase. Jetstar's Just Plane Good Sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Monday, August 26, 2024 — or until sold out, if snapped up earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Comprising two shows across three spaces, Mirror Mirror Then & Now looks at mirror as material in art from both historical-international and contemporary-Australian perspectives. Curated by Ann Stephen, the exhibitions are a joint project with Brisbane's Institute of Modern Art, and Sydney Uni's University Art Gallery, and in association with Adelaide's Samstag Museum of Art. All of which means the project has backing enough to bring out some big guns. Drawing from some major Australian collections, Mirror Mirror Then boasts works by art stars from key movements of the 1960s and early 1970s (pop, minimal and conceptual art), including Robert Smithson, Robert Rauschenberg, Richard Hamilton and Yoko Ono. Out of their historical context some of the works may seem old hat, both conceptually and in terms of the techniques employed, but, of course, in their 'moment' they were anything but. Hamilton's lenticular photograph Palindrone (1974), Rauschenberg's transfer collage Diptych: Re-entry (1974), the two Smithson works and Shusaku Arakawa's Critical Mistake (1971) and Test Mirror (1975), are certainly worth taking in. The way the show is hung in the Sydney University Art Gallery (an unassuming space tucked away in a corner of the Great Hall), gives it a curious museumy feel. Mirror Mirror Now presents contemporary Australian responses to the modernist mirror movement. It will feature works by Robyn Backen, Christian Capurro, Peter Cripps, Alex Gawronski, Callum Morton, Eugenia Raskopoulos, Jacky Redgate, Robert Pulie and Mikala Dwyer. The amazing Penelope Seidler will open it on March 25 at Sydney University's Tin Sheds and Verge Galleries. A series of talks accompanies the exhibitions, see the Sydney University website for details.
The Upstairs Beresford is certainly a world apart from the main bar downstairs, which on a Friday night you'll find jammed up with after-workers and glammed up 'somebodys' kicking off their weekend: a gaping maze of bars, plants, and food. Instead, pitch yourself down the alley to a discrete door. Winding dark stairs and neon orange arrows lead you up to a glowing amber pocket of glitz, the decadence of a bygone era. To the left, a sizeable stage meets the first of two bars, where sticky passionfruit cocktails are being taken up with earnest. A small dancefloor area gives way to an island of seats and tables that dominates the room. Groups huddle in close, shouting to be heard over the din. The scene is reminiscent of the Babylon Club in Scarface. Indeed, the walls are plastered with grainy black-and-whites of Mr John and the original Merivale, old '70s characters who eyeball from the photos: a homage to Hemmes' heritage. Further down the back is a cushy lounge area for wheelings, dealings and naughty nocturnal dalliances. The soulful tones of Mahalia Barnes give the sound system its first workout and it seems up to the task, the bass throbbing loud and strong throughout the room. However, most people barely even look up. Whether it's a symptom of the launch or the setup of the room, this will be Upstairs Beresford's biggest hurdle. While as a bar it looks set to be a success, its distinct glam cocktail hour atmosphere seems at odds with rough-and-tumble rock gigs and dirty dance nights. It'll be interesting to see how the Upstairs Beresford translates into a legitimate live music venue.
There's no meal that can't be improved by dessert — yes, even breakfast — and no special occasion, either. That's all in Gelato Messina's wheelhouse, and it's mighty fond of releasing specials to make holidays even tastier. The latest example: the chain's Easter offering, which brings back its popular 2021 snack pack. Even better: if you've always wanted to smash open a Messina Easter egg, that's on the menu as well. Your tastebuds might already remember Messina's hot cross bun version of the brand's sticky snails — and they can savour it again this year. Basically, it's the brand's interpretation of a Cinnabon-style scroll, then combined with an Easter favourite. It's another of Messina's limited releases, and it'll be available at all of its stores for a very short period. Wondering what exactly Messina's hot cross bun sticky snail entails? Well, that spiced sticky hot cross bun dough is filled with choc chips and vanilla custard. Crucially, raisins aren't included — but it is topped with a cinnamon malt caramel. The sweet bake-at-home bite to eat can only be ordered online on Monday, April 4. It will set you back $65, which includes a one-litre tub of the brand's triple choc gelato hot tub, too — which features milk chocolate gelato, toasted white chocolate mousse and Ecuadorian dark chocolate crack. Or, also available at the same time — and for the same price — is the Messina Easter egg. Made from 44-percent single-origin cocoa couverture chocolate, the 420-gram egg comes filled with even more sweet treats. Crack it open and you'll find white and milk chocolate chickens, white chocolate and passionfruit gel fried eggs, caramelised white chocolate and waffle cone mini eggs, and milk chocolate hot cross bun bites. Messina now opens its orders at different times for different places, so you'll want to hop online at 9am for Queensland and Australian Capital Territory stores, 9.30am for Victorian shops, and at either 10am, 10.30am or 11am depending on where you are in New South Wales. Once you've placed your preorder, pick up will be available between Thursday, April 14–Sunday, April 17 from your chosen Messina location. And, after you've got the hot cross bun sticky snail safely home, you just need to whack it in the oven for 20–25 minutes at 160 degrees and voila. Gelato Messina's Easter snack packs and Easter eggs are available to order from Monday, April 4, for pick up between Thursday, April 14–Sunday, April 17 — head to the Messina website for further details.
Writing a prescient tale is the science-fiction holy grail, and a feat that Philip K Dick firmly achieved. Making a movie that becomes the prevailing vision of what the future might look like in the entire world's minds? That's a stunning filmmaking feat, and one that Ridley Scott notched up as well. The reason for both? On the page, 1968's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. In cinemas, 1982's Blade Runner. And if you need reminding of how stunning a story that the iconic sci-fi author penned, or how spectacular a film that the legendary director then turned it into, look no further than Blade Runner's return to the big screen — with a live score. When Dick pondered the difference between humans and artificial intelligence more than half a century back, he peered forward with revelatory foresight. When Scott followed fresh from Alien, he did the same. Now, in 2023, with the clash between the organic and the digital a daily part of our lives in this ChatGPT-heavy reality, of course it's time for Blade Runner to flicker again. Film lovers, get ready for another dream movie-and-music pairing. Get ready for synths, too. Vangelis' stunning score will echo as Scott's feature screens at Melbourne's Hamer Hall, in the only Australian stop announced so far for Blade Runner Live — an event that premiered in London in 2019, made its way around the UK, then hit Japan earlier in 2023. The Victorian capital will host two sessions, on Saturday, November 4–Sunday, November 5, and show the Final Cut version of the movie. Wondering how it differs from the OG release, and also the House of Gucci, The Last Duel and Napoleon filmmaker's Director's Cut? First unveiled in 2007 for the feature's 25th anniversary, it's the only version that Scott truly had full artistic control over. Blade Runner's narrative, if you're new to the franchise — which also includes exceptional 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049 and recent animated series Blade Runner: Black Lotus, with a new Blade Runner TV series also on the way — focuses on the one and only Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as cop Rick Deckard. His task: finding replicants, aka androids, which turns into quite the existential journey. It's almost impossible to name a movie or TV series in sci-fi that's popped up over the four decades since Blade Runner first arrived that hasn't owed Scott's film a massive debt — and any synthesiser-fuelled score that hasn't done the same with Vangelis. And yes, add Blade Runner to the list of favourites getting another silver-screen run that celebrates their tunes heartily, alongside everything from Star Wars: Into the Spider-Verse to The Lion King to Star Wars and Harry Potter, plus The Princess Bride, Home Alone and Toy Story. Check out the trailer for Blade Runner below: Blade Runner Live will play Melbourne's Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, on Saturday, November 4–Sunday, November 5. Head to the event website for further details, and tickets from 10am AEST on Friday, August 11.
Snow season is nearly here and, as usual, Thredbo is planning an avalanche of live music to keep you moving between runs. Hitting the slopes this year are Hot Dub Time Machine, First Base (Flight Facilities' Hugo Gruzman and Client Liaison's Tom Tilley), Violent Soho, Rudimental, The Smith Street Band, CC Disco, Tigerlily, Joy Ride, 19-Twenty and loads more. Here's the lowdown on who's playing where. The major event is, of course, Snow Tunes, the Southern Hemisphere's biggest snow music festival, happening at Lake Jindabyne Friday, August 31 to Saturday, September 1. Violent Soho is in headline spot, followed by Rudimental (UK), 4B (US), Ducky (US), The Smith Street Band and stacks of others. If you're heading to Thredbo to celebrate season launch, then you're in for a massive June long weekend party, complete with Heineken Saturday, a free concert in Thredbo Village starring Hot Dub Time Machine, Young Franco and Souseme DJs. And plan for a return on Saturday, August 25 when Tigerlily will be powering another free show, supported by Kinder Music and Michelle Owen. You'll have three chances to catch First Base, who'll be hosting a trio of Vintage Apres Soirees presented by Canadian Club. CC Disco will join them on June 30, Touch Sensitive on August 4 and Joy Ride on September 8. Meanwhile, at Thredbo Alpine Hotel, Corona Sunsets will get behind a series of (heated) poolside sessions, featuring 19-Twenty (July 14), North East Party House (July 21) and Running Touch (August 18). Don't forget your swimmers. If you're into soul-funk, then step into The Schuss Bar on select Sundays to catch Canberra's H-Cee Family, who'll be appearing on July 1 and 29, August 19 and September 16, while monthly Fireball Full Moon Parties are slated for June 28, July 27, August 26 and September 24. There's also a bunch of one-off events and festivals, including General Pants Sn'O' Week (June 25–29), Thredbo x Tinder Uni Week (July 22–27), RedBull Music Festival (July 28) and Rainbow Mountain Heaps Gay Snow Week (August 29–September 2). THREDBO SNOW SEASON 2018 FULL MUSIC LINE-UP Hot Dub Time Machine Hugo Gruzman (Flight Facilities) Tom Tilley (triple j/Client Liaison) Violent Soho Rudimental (UK) 4B (US) Ducky (US) The Smith Street Band CC Disco 19 Twenty North East Party House Touch Sensitive Running Touch Tigerlily Joy Ride Young Franco Souseme DJs Kinder Music Michelle Owen Magnifik Slippery Trout DJs Yeah Sure DJs Siwa DJ Butcher Lex Deluxe Wolfwolf Nes No Talk Dan De Caires Charlie O'Brien Rich Penny Oh Glam DJ Dick Dollar General Pants DJs Barney Cools DJs Dom Dolla Indian Summer Torren Foot Sweat It Out DJs 4B Amastro Aviva Bec Sandridge Confidence Man Crooked Colours DJ Sabio Hockey Dad Kayex Losty Luude Mallrat Meg Mac Midas Gold Miss Blanks Nyxen One Day Apart Pacific Avenue Set Mo Slumberjack Thandi Phoenix Thundamentals Tired Lion Yahtzel Live H-Cee Family
When the first John Wick film burst into cinemas with a finessed flurry of fantastic action scenes and all-round Keanu Reeves awesomeness, it let its star utter a particularly memorable and telling line. "Yeah, I'm thinking I'm back," the inimitable actor announced — but while the highly enjoyable movie helped remind audiences of his excellence, Reeves himself hadn't really gone anywhere. A staple on screens for decades, Keanu boasts quite the resume, spanning cult comedies, poignant takes on Shakespeare, ace sci-fi franchises and sappy romances. There's also the time that he tried to save a bus that couldn't slow down, and his stellar stint as a surfing FBI agent. All of the above are on the lineup at the Ritz Cinemas event that every Reeves fan will want to head to: a seven-week Keanu Reeves-A-Thon. Every Friday night at 9pm between November 1 and December 13, the theatre will work through a selection of the star's hit flicks in chronological order. Start with Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, take a trip through My Own Private Idaho, hit the waves with Point Break, and get fast and furious with Speed — before entering The Matrix, visiting The Lake House and saying hello to John Wick.
Soon the Opera House and its surrounds will erupt with Indigenous music, theatre and visual arts, when the 14th Message Sticks Festival launches. As festival director Rhoda Roberts points out, Bennelong Point is charged with its own ancient power as a historical gathering-place for Aboriginal corroboree and storytelling, and this year carries particular significance: it marks the 200th anniversary of the passing of the site's namesake, Woollarawarre Bennelong. The expanded program showcases the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists across many disciplines. Tammy Anderson's chosen medium of expression is theatre, and her one-woman show I Don't Wanna Play House is said to mingle laughter and tears in just the right measure. Music-wise, there's plenty to get you grooving to Indigenous sounds. Dancestry melds traditional song cycles in a modern corroboree, while Late Nights at Bar Badu brings the song cycle under the stars with folk duo Microwave Jenny, Troy Bray, Hui-A, and hip hop outfit Street Warriors. ARIA winner David Bridie directs Wantok: Sing Sing, which combines the force of 20 musicians and dancers as they follow the Songlines to evoke diverse landscapes stretching from West Papua to the deserts of Australia. There are also opportunities for getting educated about the rich heritage of the land and its people. The Yolngu Experience explores the history of north-east Arnhem Land, the region which gave us the legendary Gurrumul and Yothu Yindi. For more hands-on learning, Billinudgel Weavers will teach traditional weaving techniques that hearken back thousands of years. There's also a program of talks with celebrity speakers addressing issues facing the Indigenous community. A complete list of events can be found on the Sydney Opera House website.
They're taking to hobbits to Isengard at the Hayden Orpheum this November, with one movie marathon to rule them all. Round up the Fellowship, stock up on lembas bread for sustenance and hide your finest pipe-weed from the Southfarthing for one sitting of all three of Peter Jackson's beloved OG Tolkien film adaptations — in their extended forms. Kicking off with The Fellowship of the Ring and ending with The Return of the King, this cave troll of a marathon clocks in at 686 minutes plus intermissions, starting the journey at 10.30am and including two 20-minute meal breaks (breakfast and second breakfast, if you will). If you make it to the final handful of endings, you can pat yourself on the back and smash a ringwraith screech at the nearest Cremorne resident on your way home (note: do not actually screech at the residents). Tickets are the precious and come in at $25 for the whole ordeal.
First, Australian supermarkets introduced restrictions on the amount of toilet paper that customers could purchase. Next, as COVID-19-related panic-buying ramped up, Aussie chains also announced dedicated shopping times for the elderly and people with disability and implemented limits on a wide range of everyday items. Now, in their latest attempt to help combat the spread of the coronavirus, local stores are putting a cap on the number of customers allowed in store at any one time. Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have each announced plans to restrict the number people who can shop for groceries at once, marking the supermarket chains' next tactic to enforce social-distancing measures. The move comes after stores have already implemented a range of other initiatives in recent weeks, including rolling out plexiglass screens to separate checkout clerks from customers, placing stickers on the floor 1.5 metres apart at checkouts and encouraging shoppers to use the length of their trolleys as a distancing guide. Coming into force from this Monday, April 6, the restrictions will vary store by store, depending on each shop's size. Overall, though, each chain is taking a similar approach — enlisting staff and security to enforce limits, decide how many customers are allowed in every store at any one time, and make sure that queues outside each shop also adhere to the 1.5-metre social distancing requirements. Outside Woolies stores, for example, there'll be signage and a coned area, showing customers where to queue. The chain will also employ a one in, one out policy in terms of letting customers inside its stores. Coles advises that shoppers will be assisted at the entrance to each store, and may be asked to queue to get in where necessary. And it's worth remembering that Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA have all also released a collective plea for consideration, stressing the need to stick to new restrictions — and reminding shoppers something that should just be a given, aka that hardworking supermarket staff should be treated with courtesy and respect. For more details on Australian supermarket customer limits, keep an eye on Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA's websites. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image might be all about celebrating screen art — peering at films and TV shows, stepping into virtual reality and showcasing the talents that've made such a huge impact, for instance — but that doesn't mean that the Melbourne-based venue doesn't appreciate nature. The world around us can look stunning projected as large as a cinema can allow. David Attenborough has turned his documentaries about the planet into their own spectacular genre, too. And the natural realm can provide experimental artists with quite the playground to ponder, as Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature is exploring. This world-premiere exhibition sees art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast unveil a showcase of works that muse on trees, black holes, cells, breathing, space, science and more. Hitting ACMI from Thursday November 23, 2023–Sunday, April 14, 2024, Works of Nature spans five major pieces that aim to deeply contemplate and appreciate humanity's role in nature, and just nature overall. And, these aren't tiny pieces — these large digital works aim to inspire awe in both their size and content. This is the London-based MLF's first major showcase in Australia, adding a stint Down Under to appearances at the Sundance and Tribeca film festivals, the Istanbul Design Biennial, Lisbon Triennial and the V&A and Design Museum in their hometown. [caption id="attachment_917014" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marshmallow Laser Feast, 'Distortions in Spacetime', 2018, courtesy of the artists[/caption] That impressive history is matched by a significant lineup of names involved with MLF's immersive Works of Nature pieces. Cate Blanchett (The New Boy) lends her narration, director Terrence Malick (A Hidden Life) executive produces, while Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood (Licorice Pizza) and fellow acclaimed composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (Last and First Men) are among the talents providing music — the latter's work continuing to entrance after his passing in 2018. Daisy Lafarge provides poetry, while Jon Hopkins, Meredith Monk and Howard Skempton also contribute tunes. Whether you're a Melburnian or have a trip to the Victoria capital in your future, you'll be able to see the meditative Evolver, which uses Blanchett's voice to journey through the human body, breath, the origins of cells and the cosmos — and Distortions in Spacetime, which heads to a black hole's edge. Or, there's the large-scale Sanctuary of the Unseen Forest, a video installation about the Amazon's kapok trees. Thanks to The Tides Within Us, oxygen is in focus again via six static pictures. And with We Live in an Ocean of Air, MLF examine how that last word in the piece's moniker connects life on earth. [caption id="attachment_917018" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marshmallow Laser Feast, 'We Live in an Ocean of Air', courtesy of the artists.[/caption] Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature is running at the Australian Centre of the Moving Image until Sunday, April 14. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website. Top image: Marshmallow Laser Feast, 'Distortions in Spacetime', 2018, courtesy of the artists.
While Australian winters can get pretty damn nippy (hello slanket, our old friend), unfortunately we're not often blessed with really fun cold weather. We don't get snow, sleet or iced-over lakes which means we don't get snow days, slush fights, skating, tobogganing or a plucky bobsledding team to represent us in the Olympics (okay, we do have that last one). The Winterlight wonderland in Parramatta's Prince Alfred Square ‚ back for a second year — is aiming to right this grievous wrong. From June 30, you can delve into the kind of winters that the Starks seem to fear so much: a snowy, fun winter. The installation boasts all the icy activities you could ever want. If gliding around a treacherous ice pond with knives attached to your boots is your bag (known as 'ice skating'), you'll be delighted to know there's a large ice rink planned. But if you're more of a demure ice frolicker, the ice toboggan may be more your thing. Or perhaps a trip down a slick ice slide? It's just $10 for three slides. The world is your cold, wet oyster. A turn about the rink will set adults (14 years and older) back $22, but after you ease your tired feet back into normal shoes and try to remember how to walk, the real fun begins. Winterlight is decked out with a delicious, delicious village serving up Turkish gozleme, hot chocolates, bratwurst and burgers. And really, aren't bratwurst and mugs of hot chocolate the real spirit of winter? Winterlight will be open Monday to Thursday from 11am till 10pm and Friday to Sunday 10am till 11pm. Images: Ali Mousawi.
Secret Sounds, the organisation behind some of the country's most beloved festivals and memorable tours including Splendour in the Grass, has announced a huge tour of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales to raise money for flood-affected communities. The tour promoter hopes to raise $1 million over a one-month period, with those funds donated to organisations such as Lifeline, GIVIT, Koori Mail Bundjalung Community Flood Relief and Northern Rivers Community Foundation. The Flood Aid tour will take place over three separate gigs, kicking off with a dance-heavy lineup at the Kingscliff Hotel on Saturday, March 19. Heading up the bill is a DJ set from arguably Australia's biggest dance music export, Flume, alongside Sweden's DJ Seinfeld, Pure Space's Andy Gavey, Jono Ma, Rona and Dameeeela — who's fresh off becoming the first Indigenous Australian to perform a Boiler Room set. The other two shows will take place on the next Saturday, on March 26, at Fortitude Valley Music Hall and Byron Beach Hotel. Brisbane will be treated to sets from Bernard Fanning, The Rubens, Cub Sport (doing a DJ set), Last Dinosaurs, Stevan and Hanni, while Byron Bay will play host to Wolfmother, Dune Rats, Tex Perkins, Jez Mead, Waax, Kobie Dee and Mylee Grace. In addition to these gigs, Flight Facilities have also allocated 100 of the tickets to their huge Airfields show at Sydney's Victoria Park this Saturday, March 19 for the flood relief appeal. The hometown show will feature sets from the headlining duo, Grammy-nominated Canadian DJ Jayda G, as well as Cosmo's Midnight, CC:DISCO!, Sycco, Merci, Mercy and Mel Blue. Another way you can get involved is by buying merch from Secret Sounds. A special line of tongue-in-cheek 'Where the Muddy Hell Are You?' t-shirts and hats has been created, and a flood aid auction is also in the works. [caption id="attachment_846570" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick Green[/caption] SECRET SOUNDS FLOOD AID 2022: Saturday, March 19 at Kingscliff Hotel, Kingscliff — Andy Garvey, Dameeeela, DJ Seinfeld, Flume (DJ set), Jono Ma and Rona Saturday, March 26 at Fortitude Valley Music Hall, Brisbane — Bernard Fanning, The Rubens, Cub Sport (DJ set), Last Dinosaurs, Stevan and Hanni Saturday, March 26 at Byron Bay Hotel, Byron Bay — Wolfmother, Dune Rats, Tex Perkins and Jez Mead, Waax, Kobie Dee and Mylee Grace Tickets for Secret Sounds Flood Aid gigs are on sale from midday Thursday, March 17. Head to the Secret Sounds website for all the information
On March 9, (in)famous American filmmaker John Waters will make the Opera House his stage and allow Sydney audiences a glimpse into his witty, sometimes seedy, frequently outrageous take on popular culture. This Filthy World Vol.2 is a one-man show covering a smorgasbord of topics including childhood memories, fashion lunacy, sexual deviancy, exploitation film and Catholicism. The Sydney date comes on top of his already announced Adelaide Festival appearance on March 6 and his Melbourne stop on March 10. Once christened 'The Pope of Trash' by William S. Burroughs, the Baltimore-native proves quite the raconteur. Reviewing his live show, the LA Times noted he "never seems to tire of wallowing in the dregs of pop culture, but his love of campy sex and tabloid mayhem is married with an intense appreciation for literature, history and high art". Unfamiliar with Waters and his trademark pencil moustache? He became a cult figure in US indie cinema for his notoriously subversive, filth-embracing 1972 film Pink Flamingos. By the late '80s he entered slightly more commercial territory with Hairspray, later remade into the 2007 film starring the somewhat less subversive, filth-embracing Zac Efron (although, you never know). Waters himself says, "It’s hard to offend three generations, but it looks like I’ve succeeded.” Want to join the offended hordes? Tickets go on sale on Monday, November 18, at 9am.
ANZAC Day commemorations are set to take shape a little differently this year, thanks to those now very familiar restrictions in place to help curb the spread of COVID-19. With group gatherings off-limits, tradition is taking a bit of a backseat, and the usual parades and dawn services honouring our soldiers have had to be cancelled. But there are still plenty of ways you can show your support for the ANZACs, while sticking to social-distancing directives. From driveway memorials, to ANZAC bickie baking sessions, here are some top ideas for getting involved with ANZAC Day 2020, virtually. [caption id="attachment_665411" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance via Flickr[/caption] PAY YOUR RESPECTS WITH A LIVE-STREAMED DAWN SERVICE While ANZAC Day services across the country usually involve hundreds of punters gathered at dawn to pay their respects, social-distancing measures mean things will be drastically downsized this year. But even without the crowds, you'll still be able to tap into that sense of solidarity, as many of Australia's landmark sites take their regular ANZAC commemorative services online. Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance is set to live-stream its Dawn Service for all to watch on Facebook, kicking off at 6am on Saturday, April 25. Meanwhile, the ABC will have all the proceedings from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra streamed live from 5am, across its radio, TV and online channels. Expect to hear The Last Post played at around 6am. If you can't make it to a screen for one of these dawn sessions, RSL NSW is also streaming a closed service at 10am, hosted in Sydney and available to watch live via its Facebook page. And RSL Queensland has created a short ANZAC service of its own — download the audio from the website and tune in whenever suits. The organisers of the annual Coloured Diggers March, Babana Aboriginal Mens Group will also be hosting Zoom gathering at 11am to remember the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who served. 'LIGHT UP THE DAWN' FROM YOUR DRIVEWAY Social gatherings are currently a no-go, but on April 25, Aussies across the country will be bringing the ANZAC spirit to the end of their driveways — or balconies, front porches or living rooms — instead. RSL clubs nationwide are encouraging locals to mark the occasion with an at-home show of respect, inviting us all to 'light up the dawn' from 6am on ANZAC Day. You can pledge your support to the initiative online, then honour the ANZACs from wherever you call home, taking a moment to remember those who've served our country, perhaps while streaming a live service on your device. Many folks will light candles, others will have shrines and wreaths on display, and there's sure to be plenty of red poppies around, all in tribute to our armed services personnel. Share your personal ANZAC service with the tags #StandTo #ANZACspirit and #lightupthedawn [caption id="attachment_768400" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Australian War Memorial via Travis/Flickr[/caption] CREATE YOUR OWN ONLINE TRIBUTE The Australian War Memorial is drumming up some virtual support for our ANZACs by inviting Aussies to create their own online tribute, as part of its new #ForTheFallen initiative. To get involved, simply record a video of yourself reciting the 'Ode if Remembrance', or document your own ANZAC project, then pop it on social media tagged with #ForTheFallen. If you need a little memory boost, the lines to the section of Laurence Binyon's classic poem For the Fallen go like this: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them." DONATE TO THE ANZAC APPEAL The RSL's long-running ANZAC Appeal will still go ahead this year, though it's had to face a few logistical changes given the current pandemic situation. There won't be any of the usual streetside collections — instead, most of the fundraising efforts will take place online, inviting financial donations to be used to support veterans and their families. You can help provide servicemen past and present with much-needed things like crisis accommodation, emergency financial help, and physical and mental health support, by donating via the website. This year's appeal is running right through the month, up until April 30. GET INVOLVED IN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST MEAT TRAY RAFFLE This ANZAC Day, you can give back to Aussie veterans, support a bunch of local businesses and be in with a shot at winning the ultimate meat tray prize — all at the same time. Kicking off this week across Australia, the inaugural World's Biggest Meat Raffle is out to beat the Guinness World Record for the greatest amount of meat-trays ever won in a single competition. This meaty movement's being headlined, of course, by legendary 'lambassador' Sam Kekovich, and will raise much-needed funds for Swiss 8: a veteran-founded non-profit focused on mental health support. The charity's work is especially important during these uncertain times we're all facing. Organiser The Village Co has joined forces with local butchers all over the country to create the mega prize haul of 10,000 meat trays, which equates to a whopping 2000 kilograms of snags, steaks, burgers and more. The major winner will score a whole year's worth of weekly meat trays, both for themselves and eight lucky mates. Grab your tickets here. JOIN AN ONLINE ANZAC BISCUIT BAKING SESSION There's no doubt the tastiest part of any ANZAC Day commemoration is the bickies. And those oat biscuits are set to get just as big a workout this year as ever before, thanks to all the new-found kitchen skills that have been honed in isolation. If you're keen to spread the ANZAC message via a few homemade baked goods, you can even join others from across Australia and New Zealand for a huge online ANZAC biscuit bake-off. Hitting Zoom at 2pm AEST on April 23, you'll find the Bake Together: ANZAC Biscuits Live baking session hosted by culinary historian and cookbook author Allison Reynolds. You can follow along with Reynolds as she guides you through her method, or simply tune in while using your own go-to recipe. And you'd better have the kettle on standby as there'll be plenty of time for questions and conversation. [caption id="attachment_683489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cybele Malinowski[/caption] TUNE INTO AN ANZAC DAY CONCERT WITH SOME AUSSIE MUSIC LEGENDS Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Delta Goodrem and The Wiggles are just some of the artists coming together (virtually) for this year's ANZAC Day concert Music from the Home Front. Screening on channel Nine from 7.30pm, the concert will see 16 music legends from Australia and New Zealand come together to celebrate the two countries, pay respects to those who've served and also thank front-line workers during COVID-19. Also on the lineup: Courtney Barnett, Marlon Williams, Kevin Parker from Tame Impala, Missy Higgins, The Rubens and Vance Joy. Top image: Dee Why RSL
Is Japan on your destination bucket list now that its borders are finally reopened? Well, if you're waiting until restrictions further ease or you're still saving up for that big overseas trip, a slice of Japan is coming to Sydney with the return of this Japanese festival. Japanaroo ran as a predominantly online festival celebrating Japanese food and culture in 2021, but this year it's back with an IRL lineup of more than 20 Japan-themed events. Running between Saturday, September 3–Sunday, September 11, highlights of the festival include the free Matsuri Japan Festival at Chatswood Mall on Saturday, September 10, Japan Expo 2022 at Sydney University on Saturday, September 3 and a traditional Hokkaido barbecue dinner at Artarmon's Robata Jones Japanese on Monday, September 5. Elsewhere there will be origami and ikebana workshops, live music from Japanese artists, pop-up art exhibitions and intro aikido martial arts classes. "NSW and Japan are long-standing partners with substantial cooperation in many areas and I can think of no better way to celebrate our partnership than with Japanaroo. This terrific festival brings Japan and its rich culture right to our doorstep," NSW Premer Dominic Perrottet said. Tickets range from free to $75. You can check out all the different workshops and events here.
Located along a quiet street in Chippendale, Esstudio Galleria is a hair salon with a difference. The boutique fit-out better resembles an antique shop than a hairdresser, with eclectic furniture and bric-a-brac aplenty — all of which is inspired by French renaissance vibes. Think plush barber chairs set in front of ornate, golden mirrors, old trunks housing hair care accessories and a massive chandelier. Haircuts are tailored to the client and start from $95 for women and $55 for men. Apart from cuts, the salon also offers manicures, makeup application, facials, lash extensions and skin treatments. And it's a Sustainable Salons partner, with 95 percent of its salon waste recycled through the program.
The salon is back. Not the hair salon (although that is very much back too, thank god), I'm talking Paris in the 18th century. Social gatherings where artists, writers and other enlightened folk could discuss big ideas without needing to stick within the guardrails of polite society. Admittedly, this could describe your last afternoon hit out at the pub. But a couple of Sydney-based curators and culture aficionados are bringing back the concept of the artist salon as it was originally intended — and to be a fly on the wall would be a pretty killer ticket. Susan Armstrong and Michelle Grey are the duo behind Arts-Matter. They curate events that bring together artists from various mediums — from painters to product designers to hip hop artists — and host them in intimate settings to spark conversations around society, creativity and cultural values. It all started in the first of Australia's lengthy lockdowns when restrictions were preventing people from accessing art in the usual means via tangible exhibitions, galleries and shows. So Armstrong and Grey took the unprecedented circumstances as an opportunity to try something a little different. "While there's always been incredible programming offered at our favourite museums, galleries and institutions, their events can sometimes be genre-specific — an artist talk at a gallery, or a music performance at a concert hall," explains Armstrong. "We wanted to provide people with a broader cross-section of the cultural arts." "Creativity thrives when silos collide, and many of us are interested in hearing interdisciplinary discussions with thought-leaders across the cultural gamut, from fine art to music, theatre, fashion, architecture, literature and film. We've also found that by hosting small salon-style events in private homes, guests open up and connect in a way that's not always possible in a public venue. Plus, you were allowed to drink while standing up, which was a big bonus!" Excellent point. In the year since Arts-Matter was conceived, Michelle and Susan have brought together an impressive lineup of Australia's most fascinating creative talent to speak and perform, including Genesis Owusu, Ben Quilty, Ngaiire, Tony Albert, Dinosaur Designs founder Louise Olsen, Ramesh Mario Nithyendran, and Rafael Bonachela. The pandemic has in many ways changed the way we experience art, from the emergence of virtual galleries that can get you a front row look at the great masterpieces to the increasing popularity of NFTs. But is digital the future for artist and art lovers alike? In a word: nah. Says Armstrong and Grey: "We've seen an explosion of promotion on social media — which gives viewers an intimate peek into both the professional and personal lives of the artists we love — and a whole host of digital and virtual shows and art fairs, but nothing beats human connection so we know everyone is excited to get back in touch with the physical world!" "In these troubled times art has the power to heal and unite, and at the same time it's also an important marker of history. Humans need art to express their individual and shared stories. Art and creativity can provide great catharsis for communities, and after almost two years of a global pandemic, we're all in need of a bit of emotional release." You can follow the future projects of Arts-Matter here.
Making a winter date with Dark Mofo always feels like crawling into another world — and, based on the Tasmanian festival's programs over the years, that's the active aim. The Apple Isle's moody and brooding music and arts event takes its cues from its host and organisers, the Museum of Old and New Art, of course, which results in a lineup filled with the surreal, strange, sublime and surprising. In a 2022 bill that includes everything from rainbows to the Chernobyl score played live in an immersive industrial setting, that trend is naturally set to continue. After announcing the first highlights for this year's fest back in March — and revealing that it'll run over two weeks as well — Dark Mofo has dropped its full 2022 program. If a trip south between Wednesday, June 8–Wednesday, June 22 wasn't already on your agenda, it should be now. All up, Dark Mofo 2022 will feature more than 100 artists from 30 countries, and span everything from acclaimed local names hitting the stage to a life-sized doll house that attendees can wander through, all to celebrate the theme 'resurrection'. [caption id="attachment_849626" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lingua Ignota video still, courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] First, the tunes. The Kid LAROI, Japanese cult-favourites Boris and English indie muso Baxter Dury will be doing their thing on the fest's first weekend — with the latter intriguingly described as "comedown disco". Then, the following week, Chelsea Wolfe and Emma Ruth Rundle join the bill, as do the return of Hymns to the Dead, Swiss metal band Triptykon doing an Aussie exclusive show, Perfume Genius, and four-day experimental and electronic music microfestival Borderlands. Yes, there's truly something here for everyone. Two big music highlights spring from the realm of film and television: live performances of the scores to 2021's excellent new Candyman and 2019's haunting HBO miniseries Chernobyl. With the first, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe will be playing the sounds that helped make the movie so unnerving. At the second, Emmy-winner Hildur Guðnadóttir (also an Oscar-winner for her Joker score) will team up with Chris Watson and Sam Slater, and all proceeds from the show will be donated to Voices of Children to help Ukrainian children and families. All of the above joins the previously announced Kim Gordon, who'll bust out songs from her 2019 solo release No Home Record, plus Berlin-based composer and producer Nils Frahm playing Music For Hobart. And, Spiritualized, Deafheaven and American multi-instrumentalist Lingua Ignota are already on the lineup, too. [caption id="attachment_849627" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sabio / Dark Mofo. Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] That's your ears well and truly taken care of — but Dark Mofo's visual lineup is just as impressive. Lovers of engaging art will want to check out Japanese Australian artist Hiromi Tango's Rainbow Dream: Moon Rainbow, which will feature a healing colour palette to put viewers in a joyous mood. Also a must-see is Hobart-based Sabio's Holy Mother of God: Emergency Doll House, which'll use projection mapping, sculpture and animation to turn a three-storey building into a carnival-style trip through the subconscious. Jónsi from Sigur Rós is on the bill as well, thanks to a multi-channel immersive experience inspired by the recent eruption of Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano. And, so is Anger, a performance dedicated to Kenneth Anger's life and work in occult cinema. And, as revealed last month, there'll be pieces by new video media artist Bill Viola and multi-channel video artist Doug Aitken — plus exhibitions focusing on Jeremy Shaw, Fiona Hall and AJ King, and Robert Andrew, which'll all launch at a music, fire and art-filled Mona Up Late shindig. [caption id="attachment_849628" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Blue Rose Ball. Photo Credit: Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford, 2018. Image of Société Anonyme Costume Ball Hadley's Orient Hotel. Image courtesy: Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] Throw in a heap of Dark Mofo's signature festivities — such as the return of The Blue Rose Ball and its costumed debauchery, the Nude Solstice Swim (because it wouldn't be Dark Mofo without it), the City of Hobart Winter Feast on the waterfront, Night Mass: Transcendence in the In The Hanging Garden precinct and the Reclamation Walk — and yes, this is a huge program. Also popping up again is Memorial, too, which sees people provide the ashes of their loved ones to be placed inside a handcrafted firework that then explodes for everyone to watch. Dark Mofo will run from Wednesday, June 8–Wednesday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. For more information or to buy tickets — with subscriber tix on-sale at 10am on Monday, April 11 and general tix at 12pm on Monday, April 11 — head to the festival website. Top images: Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2021. Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford, 2021. // 3.2, 404.zero, Dark Downtown, Dark Mofo 2021. Dark Mofo/Remi Chauvin, 2021 // Courtesy: Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Sydney-based artist Khadim Ali is having his first solo showing at the Art Gallery of NSW. Entitled The Haunted Lotus, the free exhibition opening in March explores themes of heritage, family, morality and the consequences of fanaticism. Combining traditional with contemporary processes, he serves up everything from video to handmade rugs to delicate gouache and ink paintings inspired by the writings of Persian poet Ferdowsi. An Afghan Hazara born in Pakistan (his grandparents fled Afghanistan to Pakistan in the 1920s after a massacre of Hazaras), Ali now lives in Sydney. His work is personal in that he explores his own demons, but it also sounds pretty epic in that he looks at displacement in general and the dehumanisation — or what he calls “cultural vandalism” — that results from the persecution of a people. "My demons are the story of my historical self and a people who are displaced and shelterless around the world," Ali says. Image: Khadim Ali, Untitled 1 (2013)
Maybe your local park is your exercise zone, maybe it’s part of your dog-walking routine, maybe it’s your favourite spot for a beery picnic... or maybe you walk past it every night after work without giving it a second thought. Whatever the case, this week is Parks Week, a national celebration of all the fun our green spaces bring us. It's the perfect time to commune with nature a li'l bit and get involved in some of the free activities on offer. For the fitness freaks there's free personal training sessions, swim assessments and a biathlon. Those who more inclined to gentler exercise can take a guided tour of Hyde Park or Glebe foreshore, with City Parks staff at hand to point out some cool stuff. To check out the full list of activities head to the official site. For most things you can just rock up on the day, but a few require you to register in advance.
In his first major public appearance since the Abbott government's abolition of the Climate Commission, scientist, writer and environmentalist Tim Flannery will be chewing the fat with journalist and publisher Anne Summers in the second chapter of her popular conversation series. Summers will be talking to Flannery, whose 2005 book The Weather Makers profoundly impacted the public conversation around climate change, about a range of environmental issues including the recent heatwaves in Southern Australia. The professor will also be taking unscripted questions from the audience for 30 minutes following the conversation. This should be an interesting night for anyone interested in the future of the newly formed, publicly funded Climate Council, or for those who enjoyed last year's conversations between Summers and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Last year, in bitter news for the Sydney restaurant scene, three-hat fine diner Sepia (recipient of a crazy amount of awards) announced it would be closing down at some point in the next two years. Now, co-founders Martin Benn and Vicki Wild (the head chef and front of house, respectively) have given the restaurant closure a date: December 31, 2017. Yep, at the end of the year, the restaurant — which has been open for eight years and is widely acknowledged as one of the best restaurants in Sydney, and the country — will take its leave. But that doesn't mean its owners will. While giving punters a closing date, Benn and Wild have also announced their post-Sepia project: they'll make the move to Melbourne to open a new venue in collaboration with restaurateur Chris Lucasin 2018. Yowsa. The partnership is great news for Melbourne, who is already anticipating a new Chris Lucas opening later this year. Lucas is the Lucas from hospitality group The Lucas Group, the brain behind Chin Chin, Baby, Kong, et al. The trio haven't given any hints as to what the restaurant will be like, but — considering they have decades of experience between them — it's gonna be a guaranteed good time for all our taste buds. The restaurant's Sydney departure also sadly signals the retirement of George Costi, a founding partner of Sepia and renowned seafood wholesaler, who will not renew the Sussex Street lease. But all good things must come to an end — and we give props to Sepia for pulling the plug in its prime and leaving behind a beautiful corpse. The team have promised finale of epic proportions though, so start saving your pocket money if you want to make a reservation before the year is out. We can't wait to see what comes next. Image: Lucas Allen.
As a food writer and critic based in Western Australia, Max Brearley lives a life of truffle hunting, native-food foraging and long, wine-led lunches across Margaret River's rolling estates. The southwest lifestyle is what lured him over from the UK, and his work is now regularly published in The Australian, delicious., The Guardian and Halliday. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Margaret River, we've called in Max, whose favourite spots range from the region's best winery restaurant to a burger truck run by a street-food doyen he's followed around the world. A stay at Pullman Bunker Bay in the Margaret River region will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you rest and digest in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Max's top food hot spots in his own words, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. CULLEN WINES A founding winery of the region, Cullen has an international reputation for their wines and the manner in which they're produced. Chief winemaker Vanya Cullen has a commitment to the land, seeing herself and her team as custodians. It shows in the wine, which is certified both organic and biodynamic, and it's always a stop when I'm introducing people to the region. A taste of the Kevin John (Chardonnay) and the Diana Madeline (predominantly Cabernet) — both named after Vanya's parents, the winery's founders — is non-negotiable at cellar door. Also high on the must-taste list is the Amber, a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc that is an expression of low-intervention technique. The grapes are fermented in different vessels, including amphora and open fermenters, with extended skin contact. Some describe it as a white, made like a red. MIKI'S OPEN KITCHEN Mikihito Nagai's handle on tempura is masterful. While it may not seem like an obvious dining destination to showcase the region, Miki's Open Kitchen is the essence of what makes the Margaret River region so dynamic; it is a place where winemakers, chefs, artists, photographers, writers and other creative souls are drawn by the ocean, the land, the wine, food and lifestyle. Miki is no exception, and in a matter of years has built a fervent local following for his skill, use of the region's best produce and, well, just being Miki. A seat at the counter for the second sitting ensures plenty of time to watch the master at work. It's fully licensed, though you can also BYO wine, and they serve two sittings an evening. BURGER BONES I first met cook come raconteur Cooper in a south London pub. Then, he was at the forefront of the street food movement and known for making the city's best loaded dogs, with an eye on raising the quality of his ingredients. I didn't think that conversation would lead to a friendship on the other side of the world. Returning home to the southwest after twenty years, he flipped to burgers but is no less fastidious about the meat, the grind, the bread and his technique. Made to order in his customised food truck, Burger Bones isn't fast food, so expect a short wait as he shapes the patty and steams each bun. I favour the Filthy Dirty Burger — a double patty with black cherry barbecue sauce, onions and cheese — but I'm always open to off-menu suggestions. EAGLE BAY BREWING CO The beer community is strong between the capes, and for those with an interest in grain as well as grape, Eagle Bay Brewing Co is a must-try. It's available at bars and bottle shops throughout the region, but there's no better place to drink it than at the source. The d'Espeissis family have been on their Eagle Bay property since 1950, and while the previous generations were more concerned with farming than brewing, it was the younger d'Espeissises who built the brewery and restaurant back in 2010. I'm a fan of their robust Pale Ale, but look out for the Brewer's or Single Series drops. A solid food offering makes it a popular lunch spot, with an atmosphere that is pure southwest; you could be sat next to a mining magnate, a pro-surfer or a jobbing food writer. VASSE FELIX It's a difficult call to name just one winery restaurant, but Vasse Felix never disappoints. It's the perfect spot to enjoy the wares of chief winemaker Virginia Willcock and her team, with an elevated view over some of the estate's original vines. Chef Brendan Pratt took the reins in September 2017 from local legend Aaron Carr (to be found at Yarri, in Dunsborough from early 2018) and he's immediately proven his talent. Asian and European techniques meet, with Pratt celebrating the best of each season. If you've time in the region, Will's Domain in Yallingup) and Knee Deep in Wilyabrup are also home to two of the regions youngest, and most accomplished chefs. YALLINGUP WOODFIRED BREAD Gotthard Bauer, the German baker behind the region's best bread, is modest in a world of hyperbole. He takes an all together slower approach to his craft, using certified biodynamic flour, proper fermentation and resting, and woodfired ovens — a process that is the antithesis of the factory-scale bakeries many have become used to. As well as baking your daily bread, the Bauers also have the Gugelhupf, a candy-striped shack at 18 Yallingup Beach Road, selling the sweet and savoury cake of the same name. I've bought many of these savarin baked treats as intended presents over the years, but strangely they never quite make it to their intended recipient. There is now a Woodfired Bread outpost in Margaret River (Unit 2/2 Boodjidup Road) and at the weekly Margaret River Farmers Market. WHITE ELEPHANT CAFE This is the place to come to understand what Margaret River life is all about, with an Indian Ocean view over Gnarabup Beach. Take a coffee from the kiosk and have a walk on the boardwalk or down on the sand, or sit up on the deck and take breakfast or lunch. White Elephant is a year-round haunt for locals. Beyond just a standard beach cafe, it has great hospitality pedigree, alongside sister venues Morries (Margaret River) and The Common (minutes away, at Gnarabup). While it seems blasé to ignore the view, I'm partial to a spot by the fire in cooler months with a newspaper and the pick of the menu. I've been known to file copy from here. THE COLOURPATCH CAFE At the southern end of the capes, Augusta has no shortage of spectacular views and places to find fish and chips (at least five at last count). The Colourpatch Cafe has in recent years been slowly refurbished, retaining its coastal town charm, with river views from the cafe and terrace. Local fish is chalked up, with Augusta whiting from the Blackwood River a sustainable favourite. While eating in is always an option, my ritual is finding a spot down towards Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse with a view over the Southern Ocean and the possibility, in season, of a whale sighting. SETTLERS TAVERN A Margaret River institution, Settlers Tavern has one of the best wine cellars in Australia. While on the surface it is a traditional pub, owners Karen and Rob Gough have a passion for wine built through years in the industry; Rob was a one-time San Francisco sommelier and Karen worked to import Australian wines to the States. With many labels not having a cellar door presence, this is the perfect place to discover the region's smaller and often most interesting producers. Added to this, the Goughs aren't parochial in their outlook, and you'll find a good representation of premium Aussie wine from across the country. That's why this is a hub for winemakers, both resident and visiting. RIVERSMITH One-time winemaker Lachlan MacDonald is a familiar face at Riversmith, his cafe and retail space. The whitewashed walls, art deco frontage and sleek design give little hint to its former life as a garage and petrol station. At one time I'd fill the tank here, but I'm much happier filling up on coffee and diving into their menu, which has a focus on good local produce. Licensed, they've got a small selection of local wine and beer available. Homewares, books and design items are available in the rear retail area — a lifesaver on a number of occasions for forgotten birthdays and the odd Christmas present. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Wollongong will be rocking its smaller-than-Sydney vibes in a big way when the Yours & Owls music festival takes over Stuart Park for another year on October 5 and 6. This intimate two-day festival is known for its impressive lineup combining local Aussie talent and handpicked international bands in a weekend that rivals any capital city shindig. Though the festival is still in its infancy, Yours & Owls continues to pull some big names — the 2019 festival will be headlined by Amy Shark, Golden Features and Courtney Barnett. The rest of the lineup reads like a roll-call of Triple J up-and-comers, with Meg Mac, Skeggs, Angie McMahon and Baker Boy all on there. Tickets have already gone on sale, so get in quick to snag your ticket — camping is available too if you're wanting to get the best out of the beach and the festival, three-day passes are available on the Yours and Owls website. YOURS AND OWLS 2019 LINEUP Amy Shark Courtney Barnett Golden Features Hot Dub Time Machine Angie McMahon Love Fame Tragedy Meg Mac Odette Ruel Skegss Slumberjack Sneaky Sound System Thudamentals Vera Blue Bad//Dreams Baker Boy Bass Drums Of Death Eves Karydas Frenzal Rhomb Fucked Up Kira Puru Kwame No Mono Waax Yumi Zouma The Beths Blank Realm Ceres The Delta Riggs DIE! DIE! DIE! Genesis Owusu Gooch Palms Hatchie Ocean Grove Totally Unicorn West Thebarton A. Swayze & The Ghosts Bugs Crocodylus Eliza And The Delusionals Georgia June The Lazy Susans Low Life Murmurmur The Nights Pacific Avenue San Mei Burn In Hell Dribs Ducey Muncs Fait Accompli Fika Friday Park Hope Town Husband Wants A Wife Ivori Legal Aliens Lemon Row Orange Passiona Rukus Sam Allen Tapestry Tex The Bungalows The Fangin' Felines The Hints Tuff Mustard Underlay 99 Scapegoats
It's been one year since Loulou opened in Milsons Point, bringing a three-in-one all-day French restaurant, cafe and deli to the North Shore. To celebrate the first 12 months of coffee, champagne, crab souffle, steak tartare and caviar service at the restaurant, the Loulou team is slashing the prices on its croissants down to $1 on Thursday, December 22. Each croissant at Loulou is a three-day process, beginning with Head Baker Brendon Woodward's personal starter dough. Once it's been removed from the oven it's then finished with the restaurant's creamy French butter. There are only 500 of these buttery pastries available on the day so you better get down early if you want to start your Thursday with one. Loulou's boulangerie is open from 7am, but the croissants will be on offer from 7.30am until they are sold out. If you do miss out, you can always head in later to celebrate with the Loulou team over a French lunch or dinner. [caption id="attachment_841014" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steve Woodburn[/caption]
If you've been battling with the idea of deactivating your Facebook account but decided against it because it would 'disconnect' you from a considerable amount of social happenings, then news of Facebook Messenger, a standalone SMS app that was launched yesterday, might just clench this reality. Competing against Google+ and its accompanying mobile app, Facebook Messenger allows you to communicate with other Facebook users (not necessarily your Facebook friends) via SMS. According to Wired, the app "wrangles all private communication" between Facebook users into one thread. The app also features group chats, picture distribution and location services so you can continue to keep in touch even if you aren't logged onto Facebook - all communication is delivered by either notifications or texts. The app is available through iTunes and the Android Store for free, and if this is Facebook's attempt to do away with SMS by providing the same service at no cost, then deactivating your account might be just a tad bit harder to do. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wcRipEHsA64 Image: cydiaiphoneblog.com
Some events are worth locking into your diary regardless of who's playing and what's brightening up the place, and Parrtjima — A Festival In Light is one of them. An annual favourite in Alice Springs, the Indigenous arts, culture and storytelling festival just might be Australia's most luminous event, as attendees will learn when it returns from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 16. Parrtjima announced its 2023 dates last year, and also outlined its theme — 'Listening with Heart' — plus some of the light-heavy artworks that folks can look forward to. Now, it has dropped two further details: the list of musicians taking to its stages, as well as a sneak peek at what this year's installations will look like. The music bill overflows with First Nations talent, including Docker River Band, Eastern Reggae Band, Emily Wurramara, JK-47, KAIIT, Karnage and Paul Ah Chee. They'll be joined by Radical Son, Richard J Frankland, Discovering Leerpeen Mara, Rowdy Birds, The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band and The Merindas across the ten days — and with a range of dazzling backdrops. "Parrtjima is a unique experience of large-scale light installations combined with a fascinating program of not just music but also talks, workshops and film," said Northern Territory Major Events Company CEO Suzana Bishop, with the organisation delivering the event on behalf of the Northern Territory Government. "As well as being visually stunning, Parrtjima offers so many other experiences, and the chance to see some of Australia's leading Indigenous artists perform. Combined with the unique tourism offerings available in the Red Centre, Parrtjima is not to be missed." Parrtjima's 2023 theme is inspired by the artwork surrounding the Statement from the Heart. That piece depicts Uluru-Ku Tjukurrpa, the Uluru story of connection, and was created by a group of artists from Multijulu as led by Maruku artist Rene Kulitja. So, Kulitja will work with other of artists for Parrtjima to turn the Statement from the Heart artwork into a large-scale immersive light and sound installation. That means that Parrtjima attendees will find themselves plunged in the world of the Aṉangu people of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands surrounding Uluru. The idea is to feature ancient songlines, plus Indigenous viewpoints on Country, as well as connecting to First Peoples' strong links with the land, water and sky. Two things that'll also be on the bill: two of the festival's regular annual attraction, aka a huge artwork that transforms a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic, 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges, showering it with light each night of the festival; and Grounded, the installation projected over the red dirt at tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park. Free to attend, Parrtjima is just one of Northern Territory's two glowing attractions in 2023, with Australia's Red Centre lighting up in multiple ways. The festival is a nice supplement to Bruce Munro's Field of Light installation, which — after multiple extensions — is now on display indefinitely. PARRTJIMA — A FESTIVAL IN LIGHT 2023 MUSIC LINEUP: Docker River Band Eastern Reggae Band, Emily Wurramara JK-47 KAIIT Karnage (DJ) Karnage n Darknis Paul Ah Chee Radical Son Richard J Frankland Discovering Leerpeen Mara Rowdy Birds (DJ) The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band The Merindas Parrtjima – A Festival in Light will run from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 16, 2023 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. 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.
With a swag of popular ACT cafes under its belt, and a long, award-filled history to boot, Canberra's largest specialty coffee roaster has taken on Sydney, with Ona Coffee's Marrickville store opening late last month. The acclaimed coffee brand's baristas and brews are often recognised as some of the best at the annual Melbourne International Coffee Expo. It also has a passion for top-quality, sustainably sourced coffee and it's eager to share the love. Step inside the new Sydney cafe and you'll notice a huge central coffee bar, where you can engage with the baristas and letting you watch your cuppa being made. The bright, minimalist cafe space is a coffee-lover's heaven, offering espresso, filter and milk-based options, with a rotation of blends and single origins to choose from. As with all One Coffee venues, milk-based coffees here are served only as a traditional cappuccino (without chocolate), the consistency allowing the beans to play the starring role. But true coffee nerds will be all about the Marrickville store's special reserve coffee menu, offering dosed coffee beans that have been frozen and vacuum sealed at their optimum freshness, effectively hitting pause on the ageing process. Those in the mood for food will find a simple, approachable lineup of cafe-style fare, including creations like the tomato stracciatella with grapes, olive, basil oil and rye, and a kingfish smørrebrød topped with lemon aioli, capers and pickles. Find Ona Coffee at 140 Marrickville Road, Marrickville
All star bands may evoke images of bad-eighties-hair Bono, MJ and Sting getting together to heal the world and feed people at Christmas and all that, but sometimes it just ends up being a spectacular mix of talented musicians, all coming together to make beautiful music.You can soon hear the beautiful music of the Menahan Street band, comprising members of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, El Michels Affair, Antibalos and the Budos Band, who were brought together by musician/ producer Thomas Brennick to record in his Menahan Street apartment in Brooklyn.Joined by Charles Bradley and the Dojo-Cuts, these guys produce outrageously groovy soul tunes. You might not be putting your best dancing feet forward but you will certainly have your head bopping and your body slowly rocking to the mellow sounds from the streets of Brooklyn.
Whether you're a Melburnian or an upcoming visitor to the city, if your early winter plans involve heading out for a meal, the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne want to give you an extra incentive. As initially announced at the beginning of May, the two government bodies have teamed up on a new dining scheme that'll offer 20-percent rebates for eating out in the CBD, Chinatown, Lygon Street, Docklands, North Melbourne, Kensington and Southbank. Originally called the CBD Dining Experiences Scheme, and now dubbed 'Melbourne Money', the initiative will kick off on Friday, June 11. It'll cover food and drink purchases in-store at restaurants, cafes and pubs, as well as bars, clubs, breweries and distilleries. The rebate applies to transactions between $50–500 (including GST), meaning that you'll get as little as $10 and as much as $100 back. The big caveat: you do have to purchase something to eat, with your drinks only covered if you're buying food. Another important thing to take into consideration: it works on a first in, first served basis. So, heading out as soon as the scheme starts — which happens to be on the Queen's Birthday long weekend — and submitting your claim for a rebate immediately afterwards is recommended. Both residents of and visitors to the City of Melbourne can get their cash back after they've been to a hospitality venue, received an itemised receipt at the time of payment, then taken a photo of it and uploaded it to the Melbourne Money website. Within five working days, you'll then score 20 percent of the bill's total via a transfer to your bank account. Melbourne Money forms part of the Victorian Government's next $107.4 million million in spending to revitalise the city, which is included in the 2021–22 Victorian Budget. The Victorian Government is providing $7.4 million towards the scheme, with the City of Melbourne kicking in another $1 million. The dining initiative is the latest scheme to help the state recover from the pandemic, following vouchers for travel to both regional areas and the CBD — and it adapts an idea that's already been rolled out in New South Wales (and, before that, in the UK as well). The Melbourne Money scheme kicks off on Friday, June 11. For more information, head to the City of Melbourne website. Top image: Josie Withers, Visit Victoria.
While children all across the Western world are developing adult anxieties and sex drives, it is becoming more the case that grown-ups are turning to their inner kid. Office suits are being given crayons and play-doh and asked to recreate Gumby rather than focus on KPIs and maybe, at least to me, that's one of the best things for society. Michael Gow, author of Away, has crafted a tale about Roland Henning, a playwright who finds his creativity blocked, perhaps permanently. Thanks to Nina, a psychologist (handiest dramatic device in the history of Western theatre), Roland unlocks his past and the personal catastrophe that snapped the neck of his inner child. Toy Symphony promises to be both playful and serious in its approach to a great tragedy — that we inevitably lose the creative spark of youth long before we realise its importance. Fight the good fight and reignite your inner ankle-biter before the end of this week.
Filmmaker John Waters has described Renny Kodgers as "the bastard child of Willie Nelson and Carlotta". Need we say more? The MCA is one brave institution. On July 31, it'll be handing its insides over to the glamorous Renny Kodgers, for the next incarnation of ARTBAR. Kodgers is a hero of Sydney's underground cabaret scene, and you may have heard him not so long ago testing your brain power on FBi's Renny Kodgers Quiz Hour. He's lately been busy winning over hearts at Club 34b, Oxford Art Factory, The Red Rattler, Carriageworks, Parklife and Field Day. The honky-tonkin', rock-n-rollin' legend is promising to take participants on a night of part-country, part-sweaty-summery-city shenanigans. There'll be line dancing with Janene Lawson (aka Ms Bossy Boots), who runs one of Sydney's best line dancing clubs. There'll be crooning and swooning with Elvis Presley. There'll be fortune-tellin' via Mr Kodgers crystal ball. There'll be unpredictable DJ sets. If all the action works up an appetite or the predictions prove overwhelming, you'll be well taken care of with themed snacks and beverages. Image credit: Oxford Art Factory.
Constantly thinking about your next getaway, especially now that travel has been returning to normal? We all are. Always trying to plan your next trip, but keen to make the most of your budget — or make your holiday dollars stretch across as many vacations as possible? Yep, we're all doing that, too, and that's what flight sales are for. With that in mind, Jetstar and Qantas have dropped yet another batch of cheap fares, in Qantas Group's biggest combined domestic flights sale of 2022. Over a million seats are on offer, and routes with discounted fares are within Australia — so get ready to explore your own backyard. If you're keen on a cheap Jetstar flight, with one-way prices starting at $35, you need to get in quickly — come 8pm AEDT today, Thursday, October 13 (or earlier if sold out), it'll all be over. With Qantas, the sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, October 20 (but, again, earlier if sold out), with one-way fares starting at $99. Actually, 70 percent of Jetstar's sale fares are under $100, too — while more than a quarter of Qantas' deals are under $200. Expect to be spoiled for choice destination-wise; between Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar, the sale spans 67 destinations around Australia, capital cities and regional towns both included. On the list via Jetstar: Sydney to Melbourne (Avalon) for $35, Adelaide to Melbourne (Tullamarine) for $45, Canberra to Brisbane for $75, Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Cairns for $90 and Sydney to Uluru for $90 as well. Qantas' cheap flights include Sydney to Byron Bay for $99, Melbourne to Launceston for the same price and Brisbane to Cairns for $149. Jetstar's sale runs until 8pm AEDT on Thursday, October 13, while Qantas' sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, October 20 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
UPDATE: DECEMBER 24, 2019 — Turns out muggles are quite keen on leaving their muggle lives behind for a few hours, because The Wizard's Cauldron sessions have been very popular. As such, the event will now continue into next year, until Sunday, January 12. After that, the bar will move onto Melbourne. In recent times, this fine country has seen Harry Potter brunches, dinners, movie marathons and trivia nights. And that's not to mention the Cursed Child mania that's happening down in Melbourne. But are you sick of it? No chance. If there's one thing we know, it's that the demand for Harry Potter will never die — and this latest pop-up, along with the fact that there is a seemingly endless stream of Harry Potter events to come, proves that. The next piece of mainstream Harry Potter fandom to hit Sydney this August will be the Wizard's Cauldron. Inspired by the experiences that the gang had in potions class — and hopefully avoiding the botched polyjuice potion episode — the pop-up bar will mix magic and mixology. That's to say, there will be cocktails. Probably with some dry ice and bubbling substances. It'll be sort of like a science class, except you'll wear robes and mix your drinks with a wand. And drink what you mix, of course. The 'experience' will take 90 minutes and will cost you $49. For that, you'll get a hot mug o' mead and help from a (probably) greasy-haired Potions Master to mix a potion or two for yourself. You may or may not have to take your O.W.L exam after. Either way, there'll be a cash bar so you can celebrate or commiserate your results for further drinks and snacks. The Wizard's Cauldron will run sessions on random days between August 28 and December 8. Session times vary from afternoon right through to 9pm.
Ahead of World Whisky Day this Saturday, May 20, The Bottle-O is here to ensure you have all the fun facts needed to bluff your way to being a whisky connoisseur — even if you've yet to take a sip. Whisky can be intimidating for some, but it's a versatile spirit with a style that's guaranteed to suit anyone and everyone. You could enjoy a bourbon on the rocks or a scotch neat, a ready-to drink flavour-laden can or a shot topping up a citrusy highball (which we have a standout recipe for). Or, maybe you'll like it sweet and cinnamon-spicy. Guaranteed: there's a dram for you. Now, where should your explorations start? What's with the barrels? Why are ice cubes called 'rocks'? And why, oh why, is it somehow correctly spelled both whiskey and whisky at the same time? Let's dive in. WHISKY 101 Let's start with the basics. Whisky is a spirit made with grain, water and yeast that's distilled in massive copper stills (essentially kettles) and then aged in barrels. But you can't just use any grain. You'd be hard-pressed to find a tipple made with oats, for instance. In Scotland, whisky is made from malted barley, whereas in the United States, they use a combination of corn, rye, wheat and barley. WOOD GIVES WHISKY ITS COLOUR AND FLAVOUR Did you know that when whisky comes out of the still it's totally clear and colourless? The colour of whisky comes from the oak barrels it's aged in. Oak barrels contain vanillin, which (as its name suggests) gives a vanilla flavour, but when toasted (literally charred on the inside with fire) the wood gives more caramel notes. As the temperature in the storeroom fluctuates — warmer in summer and cooler in winter — the spirit seeps into the wooden grain taking on the colours and flavours. American bourbon distillers use virgin barrels (read: never been used before), while Irish whiskey and other producers use secondhand bourbon or wine barrels to age their spirit. The longer a whisky spends in a barrel the more flavour it gains. This is why you might get cherry notes on an Irish whiskey, after being aged in a barrel that used to have sherry in it, and more honeycomb flavours from a bourbon like Jim Beam. The year on a whisky label tells you the number of years it's spent in a barrel. So, Glenfiddich 12 Year has spent, yep, 12 years in a barrel before being bottled and sent to the shelves of your local The Bottle-O. IT IS SPELLED BOTH WHISKY AND WHISKEY It's fairly common knowledge that whisk(e)y originated in Ireland and Scotland. The original Gaelic term — uisce beatha, pronounced ish-kah va-ha — was anglicised when the Brits took over, which resulted in the two different spellings. Simplified, Irish whiskey is spelled with the 'e' and Scottish without. This little trivia tip will help you work out where a whisky's distilling method or style originated from. For example, we've got our exceptional drops Down Under usually missing the 'e', indicating we learned our trade from the Scots. The Yanks, however, were trading with the Irish — so whiskey it is (as is seen on classic bourbons from Kentucky). 'ON THE ROCKS' MEANS EXACTLY THAT Fun fact: freezers weren't always around, making it easy for you to grab a few ice cubes to both keep your sip cool and take the bite out of the booze. So, what did the highlanders do to make their scotch more palatable? Simple, they would take cold rocks (like stones from a clear stream or spring) and put them in their cup before adding their whisky and diving in. Nowadays, we've moved on from actual rocks — although you can find fancy fake ice cubes made from rock if you want to be clever about it — but the phrase has lived on. WHISKY LIQUEURS AREN'T FLAVOURED WHISKIES Essentially, a whisky liqueur is a combination of a base whisky and other ingredients like herbs or spices. And flavoured whisky? It's made by adding ingredients to whisky during the ageing process. If you're in the mood for a sweet and spicy twist on whisky, one liqueur that fits the bill is Fireball. This Canadian spirit blends cinnamon and whisky for a fiery and flavourful drink that's perfect for sipping or mixing into cocktails. Whether you're a whisky fanatic searching for your next favourite dram, or you've only admired from afar up until now, now you've got five fun facts in your pocket to bluff your way through celebrating on World Whisky Day, Saturday, May 20. Now's the time to pick a bottle from your local The Bottle-O and discover its deliciousness. The Bottle-O is the independent store slinging your favourite boozy sips all over Australia — and a standout spot to nab your whisk(e)y of choice. Ready to dive in? Head to the website. Top image: Choochart Choochaikupt (first)
Among the English language's best phrases, 'all you can eat' ranks up there with the best of them. It'd sound great in any language, of course, and you might hear it in German over the weekend of Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31 — aka 'so viel du essen kannst'. Specifically, you might hear either version at Munich Brauhaus, The Bavarian and the Bavarian Beerhaus, which are all offering an appropriate stuff-your-face deal. For a two-hour sitting, you can tuck into as many schnitzels as you can stomach. Served on a platter, there are three varieties on offer: the uber schnitzel, which is decked out with rocket, semi-dried tomato and parmesan; the jager schnitzel, topped with wild mushroom ragu; and the good ol' parmigiana, which obviously comes with melted mozzarella, tomato sauce and ham. Talk about good schnit. The special costs $35 per person, also includes unlimited mashed potato and potato salad — yep, both hot and cold spuds — and is available for bookings of at least two people. You do need to book, however, so gather the gang, get planning, and make a date with the Munich Brauhaus in The Rocks, Beerhaus on York Street or one of NSW's 13 Bavarians.
