We're almost halfway through 2022 but Brisbane is just getting warmed up. There's a jam-packed schedule still to be enjoyed, from new gallery exhibitions and boundary-pushing immersive art experiences to international sporting events and the return of pandemic-postponed festival celebrations. This year, the Queensland capital will continue to attract world-renowned creators and performers while spotlighting the best local talent, too. The biggest food festivals are still to come — serving up the best of southeast Queensland on a platter — as well as a brand new brew fest that's exclusive to Brisbane. Adrenaline junkie? Football fanatic? Culture vulture? Fervent foodie? Here are nine must-do events happening in Brisbane in 2022.
While Messina's main jam is usually crafting supremely scoffable varieties of gelato, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer. The cult gelateria has often teamed up with savoury-focused culinary heroes, throwing big ol' food parties. For the next Messina Eats at the brand's expansive new Marrickville HQ, the dessert specialist is doing things a little differently, inviting a baking crew close to its heart for the weekend pop-up. Shadow Baking is the new project of three of Messina's head chefs — Tom Mitchell, Florian Fritsch and Remi Talbot. Usually, if you want to get your hands on the team's flaky creations, you'd have to head to The Cannery's monthly markets — but, to give more Sydneysiders the chance to taste the Shadow Baking treats, it's popping up for a Messina Eats party in the HQ car park. Expect macadamia and mandarin croissants, custard tart danishes, reuben croissant sandwiches, pandan and coconut brioche, and a special one-off kouign-amann custard gelato sando in collaboration with Messina. Shadow Baking is set to open a permanent outpost in Darlinghurst soon. Once it arrives, you expect all the goodies from The Cannery Markets plus plenty of regular collaborations between the baking team and Gelato Messina. If you want to get your hands on a next-level pastry to kick off your weekend, the Messina Eats: Shadow Baking collab is popping up at 1 Rich Street, Marrickville from 8am on Saturday, September 16 until sold out.
If you've been saving your money the last couple months and are wondering where to spend it, head down to the Makers and Shakers Market on April 7. Making its return to Sydney, it'll feature 60 high-quality stalls, so you'll definitely find something you like. The market provides an open platform for local makers to sell their handmade wares, gourmet foods and lifestyle products. Start your shopping at 10am with speciality kombucha served up by Mailer McGuire, then wander to Archon Designs to purchase organic products for your home, body and pets. Finish up with a visit to Tiny Paradise to add a little plant life to your home — and that's just a taste of the goodies on offer. While you're wandering the stalls, tackle your post-shop hunger with some toasted sandwiches from Mister Toast, doughnuts from Nutie and Shortstop, bagels from Smoking Gun, plus many more delicious foods. Located at Marrickville Town Hall, tickets are $2 and kids under 12 are free. Image: Alana Dimou.
If you're in need of a drink but can't think of any excuse to celebrate, you aren't looking hard enough. How about celebrating the drinks themselves? That's right, the upcoming Fluid Festival is about praising the best beer, wine and ciders that Australia has to offer. The free inaugural event includes 15-minute sessions where guests learn the tricks of the trade. Classes include: Introduction to Craft Beer with Peter Mitcham; Brewer Sessions with Dave Padden and Andy Stewart, and; Cider Sessions with Neal Cameron and Rich Coombes. For $2 each, a handful of Australia's best fluids from a range of producers — including Tasmania's Moo Brew, Victoria's Mountain Goat Beer, South Australia's Dr Pilkington's Miracle Cider, the Hunter Valley's Mistletoe Wines and Melbourne's Cavalier — will be available for sampling. Live music, children's entertainment and a selection of paired food from the bistro is also on offer for the North Ryde event. Head to the Ranch Hotel from 11am-5pm Saturday, November 9, to sink a cold one.
Nineties kids, Disney fans and everyone who's ever cried over a lion cub that just couldn't wait to be king, it's time to climb onto a rock and yell your lungs out. The circle of life has struck again, and The Lion King is back. It's in live-action form this time around, and the first full trailer for the new movie has just dropped. Releasing in July, the film will once again tell the tale of Simba, who's set to take over the pride from his father Mufasa, only for his malicious uncle Scar to get in the way. You know where it goes from there — and you'll be hearing the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as his childhood pal Nala, and James Earl Jones as his dad. Yes, the latter is reprising his role from the original film. Other big names attached include Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, John Oliver as Zazu, and Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa. Elton John is back working on the soundtrack with Tim Rice, as they both did on the first film. They'll reportedly have some help from Beyoncé, naturally, while The Jungle Book's Jon Favreau is in the director's chair for the entire production. If you're anxious about how it might turn out, it's worth taking Timon and Pumbaa's advice at this early stage — although this initial look should help get rid of your worries for the rest of your days. Now, grab the tissues and watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TavVZMewpY The Lion King hits Australian cinemas on July 17, 2019.
Rootstock Sydney, now in its third year, is a two-day celebration of sustainability and fresh produce. Winemakers, chefs, somms and writers from all over will converge on Carriageworks for a weekend to share their philosophies with you, from November 28-29. Rootstock isn't a one-trick pony, it's a multifaceted event split into a wine festival, a food market, and a series of talks. The wine festival is held over four sessions and will allow you to try over 200 natural wines from a range of international and Australian wine artisans. You can also browse the six different pavilions that make up the food markets. Each pavilion has a different focus, ranging from aboriginal agriculture and native foods to coffee and artisan cheese. If you're keen to learn something new, listen to a talk on the art of distillation or breakfast with superchef Magnus Nilsson from Sweden's Fäviken. It's all about finding your roots, learning about roots, eating roots. Are you hungry yet? Ticket prices to sessions will vary, check them here.
Start making Easter plans now: Bluesfest has just announced the first acts on its 2023 lineup. From Thursday, April 6–Monday, April 10, the iconic annual festival will return to Byron Events Farm at Tyagarah for its 34th event — with Elvis Costello, Mavis Staples and Gang of Youths leading the bill. Also heading to northern New South Wales as part of the five-day lineup: Jackson Browne, Tash Sultana, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Jimmy Barnes with The Barnestormers, and Talib Kweli, GZA and Big Freedia as special guests of The Soul Rebels. As usual, Bluesfest's roster of talent spans a hefty array of music genres — blues and roots, obviously, but also soul, rock, hip hop, R&B and more — with Beth Hart, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle and The Dukes, The Cat Empire and Xavier Rudd also set to take to the stage. Rockwiz Live will be doing its thing, too, in the perfect setting. And, would it be a Bluesfest without Michael Franti & Spearhead? In 2023, you won't need to find out. [caption id="attachment_867502" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mavis Staples by Myriam Santos[/caption] In total, 41 acts have been announced so far — with more to come, for what organisers are calling "the first original style Bluesfest since the world's borders re-opened". While the fest went ahead in 2022 after two years of pandemic cancellations (and a thwarted temporary move to October for the same reason), it showcased a primarily Australian and New Zealand lineup. With the return of international travel, Bluesfest can welcome top-notch acts from around the globe again. Season tickets are on sale now, alongside VIP tickets, with prices remaining at 2022 levels for the 2023 fest. Day and three-day tickets will follow in the near future, at a yet-to-be-announced date, along with more lineup announcements, plus news of sideshows and two special satellite Bluesfest events in Melbourne and Perth. BLUESFEST 2023 LINEUP — FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT: 19-Twenty The Barnestormers Beth Hart The Black Sorrows Bonnie Raitt Buddy Guy The Cat Empire Chain Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram Elvis Costello & The Imposters Eric Gales Femi Kuti & The Positive Force Gang of Youths Greensky Bluegrass Jackson Brown Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Joe Bonamassa Joe Camilleri Presents: A Star-Studded Tribute to the Greats of the Blues Jon Stevens Kaleo Keb' Mo' Band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Lachy Doley and The Horns Of Conviction Larkin Poe Lp Lucinda Williams Marcus King Mavis Staple Michael Franti & Spearhead Nikki Hill Robert Glasper Rockwiz Live The Soul Rebels & Friends with Special Guests Talib Kweli, GZA and Big Freedia Southern Avenue Spinifex Gum featuring Marliya Steve Earle & The Duke Tash Sultana Xavier Rudd Bluesfest 2023 will run from Thursday, April 6–Monday, April 10 at Byron Events Farm, Tyagarah. Season passes are on sale now. For further information, head to the Bluesfest website.
Some stories just can't stay away from the screen, and Cinderella is one of them. Filmmakers have been drawn to the fairy tale since the silent era, resulting in beloved animated flicks, playful takes on the tale such as Ever After and Ella Enchanted, and Disney's 2015 live-action adaptation. Arriving next: a new musical that combines glass slippers and pining for a better life with singing, dancing and a fairy godparent named Fab G — with the latter played by Pose's Billy Porter. This version of Cinderella stars singer Camila Cabello as the titular character, while The Craft: Legacy's Nicholas Galitzine plays Prince Robert. Also popping up: Idina Menzel (Frozen II) as Cinders' stepmother, Minnie Driver (Starstruck) and Pierce Brosnan (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) as the king and queen, and Romesh Ranganathan (Staged) and James Corden (The Prom) as both footmen and mice. The latter is a producer, too, and came up with the idea for the film, while Pitch Perfect writer and Blockers helmer Kay Cannon sits in the director's chair. Clearly, if a new version of Cinderella doesn't hit the screen every few years, Hollywood must turn into a pumpkin. While musical takes on the tale aren't new — see also: the stage version that's about to hit Australia — this one is set to feature pop songs. So, you'll be seeing Cabello, Menzel and company singing tracks you know, as well as crooning their own new original tunes. Just how that'll turn out will be revealed on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, September 3, with the film originally slated for a cinema release, but then snapped up by the streaming platform instead. In the just-dropped first trailer, there's plenty of songs, colour and also humour. "Do you want to go to that ball?" asks Fab G at the end of the clip, to which Cinders replies: "yes, I was just crying and singing about it like two minutes ago". Check out the Cinderella trailer below: Cinderella will be available to stream via Amazon Prime Video from Friday, September 3. Top image: Christopher Raphael
It's considered one of the greatest whodunnits of all time. Or rather, one of the greatest whodidn'ts. Penned by Agatha Christie back in 1934, and first adapted into a film in 1974, Murder on the Orient Express takes a train full of passengers, kills one of them off, then asks "probably the greatest detective in the world" to find the person responsible. Naturally, everyone's a suspect, especially to the famous Hercule Poirot. He's soon slinging questions and making deductions, in a story full of mystery and suspense. At least, that's how it played out both in the book and the initial film. But try as it might, Kenneth Branagh's new version doesn't quite manage the same feat. The British actor and filmmaker stars, directs and fills his locomotive with high-profile performers including Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Gad and Daisy Ridley. And yet despite their efforts — and the fine work of Pfeiffer and Ridley in particular — the end result is far from an engaging or intriguing journey, or even one worth taking. We first meet Branagh's arrogant (and ludicrously moustachioed) Belgian investigator as he's fussing over eggs at the Wailing Wall, before showing off his prowess in a case that involves a priest, a rabbi and an imam. Once the job is done, Poirot is eager for a break, but duty calls even when he's mid-railway trip. After the discovery of a body with a dozen stab wounds, our hero sets to work. Among the potential culprits caught in his gaze: a princess and her servant, a count and a countess, a nun, a doctor, a governess, a professor, a car dealer, a divorcee, a butler and a secretary. Working with cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos (Denial, Cinderella), Branagh approaches the tale with aesthetic flair — shot with the same 65mm cameras used on Dunkirk, Murder on the Orient Express is a feast of roaming shots, inventive angles and visual detail, with the production and costume design teams also putting on a show. There's little sign of the same texture or care in the rest of the movie, however, with the director himself the main offender. As depicted on the screen by everyone from Orson Welles to Alfred Molina, Poirot has always been a bundle of quirks, but here he's as pompous and self-satisfied as he is eccentric — while also being presented as a genius and a source of laughs. Christie herself grew tired of the character after he appeared in more than 80 of her stories. Watching Branagh's performance, you probably will as well. Perhaps we've just seen too many brilliant masterminds of late, considering the number of Sherlock Holmes adaptations we've all sat through. Or perhaps there's simply more to portraying a famous character than wearing ridiculous facial hair, acting smug and leaning on an accent. Also hindering the film is the obvious and easy way that Poirot pieces everything together, and Branagh's failure to properly utilise his ensemble cast. If the film's protagonist can join the dots faster than he can brush his moustache, audiences aren't likely to be enthralled. And sticking a heap of well-known faces in the same frame isn't the same as giving them all something to do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFDGjNdRqTk
Time flies when you're obsessing over a big blockbuster fantasy TV series, as HBO's biggest hit of the past decade demonstrates. This April marks ten years since Game of Thrones first hit screens and became a pop culture phenomenon — broadening the world's awareness of George RR Martin's books, pointing out how often Sean Bean meets an untoward end on-screen and delivering more dragon-fuelled drama than anyone ever knew they needed. Keen to celebrate the occasion like you're in a Westerosi tavern? That's an option, all thanks to a new collaboration between Moon Dog Brewing and Warner Bros Consumer Products. The two have joined forces on a new line of GoT beers, so get ready to sip a Breaker of Chains imperial stout and a Watchers on the Wall imperial white ale. The former features chipotle chilli, vanilla and a chocolate finish, while the latter pairs white chocolate with orange and coriander. Winter might be coming, but these brews will be available this month — so, in autumn — with the Melbourne-based Moon Dog pouring them at its Abbotsford and Preston sites from Friday, April 16. The brewery is hosting a launch party in Abbotsford the day before, then dedicating the weekend of April 16–18 to all things GoT in Preston. An Iron Throne will also be onsite, because clearly Moon Dog couldn't pass up the opportunity to let folks sit on one of the most famous chairs there is. [caption id="attachment_744585" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Moon Dog World, Kate Shanasy[/caption] Lovers of both beer and G0T elsewhere in the country won't miss out on the brews, however, with the two beverages available via the brewery's online store and at craft beer retailers nationwide from Monday, April 19. If you decide to keep some in the fridge so that you can drink it when winter arrives, that's perfectly understandable. And if you're just excited about getting another chance to show your affection for the huge hit series — while you're waiting for the just-announced GOT stage production, and the many TV spinoffs and prequels in the works — that is, too. Moon Dog Brewing's Breaker of Chains and Watchers on the Wall beers will be available from its Melbourne venues from Friday, April 16, and online and in craft beer retailers nationwide from Monday, April 19.
After a somewhat traumatising 2020, there aren't many people in Sydney's hospitality scene that would dream of launching a restaurant that's only open for business once a week. For chefs Grace Chen (ex-Poly) and self-dubbed "Big" Sam Young (ex-Lotus) — the timing couldn't be better. The duo launched a private dining business last year after COVID saw the temporary closure of both venues. Business boomed, and the pair have since flown around Australia to curate luxe culinary experiences for clients, with their catering calendar booked out on Saturdays until September. Juicy Banana is their latest brainchild, a Sunday-only lunchtime restaurant out of the old Storehouse at Vibe Hotel in Rushcutters Bay. From Sunday, May 2, Juicy Banana will be inviting special guest chefs each week, with the likes of Toby Stansfield (of Fabbrica) on Sunday, May 16 and Alex Yu (of Sokyo) on Sunday, May 23. PS40 owner-bartender Michael Chiem and front-of-house manager Alessandro Ponzoni (ex-LuMi restaurant manager) complete the permanent Juicy Banana roster. Young says the pop-up restaurant gives himself, Chen and guest chefs the opportunity to collaborate and "create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for our guests". "We as chefs often have limitations on what we have to cook in the restaurant that we work at," Young explains. "This is an opportunity for chefs to come to our kitchen and cook whatever they want — no boundaries, just delicious shit." The formula behind Juicy Banana's weekly shared-style menu is simple: if Young loves the food, and it's delicious — he'll serve it. The bright venue is delightfully suited to leisurely Sunday lunches, bathed in natural afternoon sunlight along with elegant navy and white accents. Set lunch prices will range between $105–$140. For those interested in a more casual experience, Juicy Banana's bar is taking walk-ins and serving casual snacks with cocktails every Sunday. Drink options include a Basque-style old fashioned; a salted cucumber and habanero margarita; and a macerated strawberry spritz with dry sherry, Hendrick's gin, apple ribbon and dill. A curated selection of wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks will also be available. At the moment, the Juicy Banana team plan to stick to a one-day-a-week trade. "After COVID disrupted the whole hospitality industry, there is room for chefs and bartenders to be owning their own spaces," Chiem says. "But we just want to do Sundays, and do Sundays well." [caption id="attachment_811115" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A menu collaboration at Juicy Banana, by Wesley Nel.[/caption]
Many a great album has been penned during an extensive period of self-imposed isolation. Joni Mitchell famously composed Blue while travelling alone in Europe, on the heels of a tough break-up. More recently, Justin Vernon emerged from three months spent "hibernating" in the Wisconsin woods with For Emma, Forever Ago under his arm. In a move at odds with their name, Adelaide-based band City Riots spent the summer before last in a remote shack in the South Australian countryside. The seclusion inspired no fewer than 40 new songs, the best of which made their way onto the group's debut LP, Sea of Bright Lights. "It was really important ... that we set time aside to work on honing our craft," vocalist/guitarist Ricky Kradolfer told the Brag. Continuing the group's indie-pop, nostalgia-sprinkled feel, the album introduces a more sophisticated aesthetic, with thoughtfully layered guitar textures and rich dashes of reverb.
The oyster offers a unique taste and texture, and until you embrace this tender and aphrodisiacal snot of the sea, you're just not the refined cosmopolitan you might claim to be. Who could forget the first time they took a fortifying gulp of champers and then allowed the silky grey flesh to slide down their throat, fresh and lemony? And what about those ladies and gentlemen who know how to shuck oysters without severing their own fingers? This is the very height of urban sophistication. You now have the opportunity to join their shining ranks with some help from The Morrison's Vio Pramano at August's Shuck Me Silly: Oyster Shucking Classes. As part of the Oyster Festival 2013, Pramano will show you how to extract the suckers without drawing blood. The best part? You can eat the spoils of your labour directly after, enjoying a dozen oysters paired up with their ideal liquid partners: cocktail, champagne, oyster stout and wine. Tuesday 6 and 20 August, 6.30-8.30pm. 12 oysters and matched drinks for $69 per person. Thanks to The Morrison, we have a double pass to the Shuck Me Silly Oyster Shucking Classes to give away to one lucky winner. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Ever since Freddie Mercury teamed up with Brian May and company back in the 70s, Queen has never been out of fashion. And, thanks to Bohemian Rhapsody and the band's current members touring Down Under, the UK group has been grabbing plenty of attention again in recent years. You could call it a kind of magic. You could say that their songs must go on. Either way, if you're happy to let the British band keep rocking you, then you'll want to catch London's Queen by Candlelight when it debuts in Australia. While Queen tribute nights aren't rare — and neither are ones lit by flickering flames — this is the OG West End production, which features a live rock band and a cast of singers from London busting out the group's famous tracks. Been feeling a crazy little thing called love for Freddie and his bandmates? Then you'll clearly be in the right spot, with Queen by Candlelight playing the ICC Sydney at 7.30pm on Sunday, February 5. If your approach to the group's music is "I want it all!", that's what you'll hear. For one night, the event will break free so that Queen lovers can celebrate with their fellow champions. The aim: to make you feel like you're hearing the real thing, in a venue glowing with candles. In the UK, the gigs — which feature more than 20 Queen tracks — have proven sellouts.
Step aside Viennetta: there's a new luxe dinner party freezer-treat in town. Connoisseur — that purveyor of luxurious, eat-it-by-the-tub ice cream — has teamed up with artisan Australian chocolate brand Koko Black for a new range of ice cream sticks for more discerning chocolate aficionados. The duo of new flavours serve as a good reminder that, sometimes, you can't go past a classic. The vanilla version sees Connoisseur's vanilla coated in Koko Black's 54 percent dark chocolate. If you're looking for a bit more crunch, make a beeline for the honeycomb stick that stars honeycomb ice cream in Koko Black's signature Tasmanian Leatherwood Honeycomb pieces in 54 percent dark chocolate. It's the first time the Melbourne-born chocolatier has made its way into the frozen aisle, which is surprising given that its more recent collabs have included cake and beer. Connoisseur's Koko Black selections are available as four-packs ($8.40), while the classic vanilla is also available as an individual stick ($4.40). They're available right now from leading convenience and grocery stores around Australia.
Snakadaktal are one of those bands that pop their head out occasionally to remind us of how incredibly talented they are. They won Triple J Unearthed High in 2011 and debuted on the Hottest 100 for that year at number 22 with 'Air', no easy feat for a band fresh out of high school. They then went into the studio bunker for most of 2012, only releasing the dance-friendly wonder 'Dance Bear', which also snuck onto the Hottest 100 despite the band hibernating most of the year on the production front. This time, though, they are set to keep their pleasurable pop where everybody can see it, with their solo nationwide tour. It comes on the back of releasing their debut LP Sleep in the Water, which if lead teaser track 'Ghost' is anything to go by, will certainly feature many claims for entry into a third consecutive Hottest 100. The dream-inducing wizards will be playing at the Metro theatre on August 30 and they will be supported by Fishing and Moon Holiday. This should not be missed. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MNN1JWnXzyQ
Musical theatre fans just keep getting more reasons to celebrate Jonathan Larson. In the past few years, none other than Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda took one of the composer, lyricist and playwright's works and turned it into a movie. After tick, tick…BOOM! hit screens, a stage production toured Australia as well. Next, Aussie audiences can catch the show that made him an icon: Rent. In 2024, it too will do the rounds Down Under, including a New South Wales stop in Newcastle. Larson created and composed the smash-hit production. Also, his Rent journey comes with quite the heartbreaking behind-the-scenes story. In the 90s, Larson passed away at the age of 35 on the day that that now-huge show premiered its first off-Broadway preview performance. So, he didn't get to see the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning phenomenon that it would become. Plenty of other people have — when it first hit Broadway, Rent ran for 12 years, making it one of the famed theatre district's longest-running shows. And among those prizes is the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer for Drama, all for a tale about seizing the moment, facing adversity and finding one's community. [caption id="attachment_918480" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Team Dustizeff via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Loosely based on Puccini's La Boheme, and written to include real-life locations and events, the rock musical will bring tunes including 'Seasons of Love', 'Take Me or Leave Me' and 'La Vie Bohème' to Newcastle's Civic Theatre from Friday, March 15–Sunday, March 17. If you need a refresher on the story — or you're coming to Rent for the first time, having missed past performances and the 2005 film version — then prepare to step back to New York in 1991. Over the course of the year, as their neighbourhood is being gentrified and HIV/AIDS casts a shadow, a group of friends chase their dreams and strive for their place in the world. Top image: Wendell Teodoro.
With active COVID-19 cases decreasing in New South Wales over the past couple of weeks — including two new cases reported in the past 24 hours — the state has been relaxing a number of coronavirus-related restrictions. Already, NSW residents can visit friends and family in their homes in groups of two. And, in the next week, a number of other limitations will also be lifted. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed the state's next stage of eased COVID-19 restrictions today, Sunday, May 10, following a similar announcement at the federal level on Friday. While Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled the nation's three-step plan to lift lockdown limitations between now and July before the weekend, that country-wide framework needs to be implemented at the state level individually by each state — with NSW already flagging last week that it'd take a few days to explain what's to come. From Friday, May 15, NSW will ease a number of limits. A selection of normal, everyday activities that have been off the cards since March will be permissible once again, with the following allowed: Up to five visitors in your home (which includes children). Outdoor gatherings of up to ten people, including leaving the house for recreational purposes — at parks and for personal training sessions, for example. The reopening of outdoor gym equipment and playgrounds "with caution". The reopening of outdoor pools "with restrictions". Dining in at cafes and restaurants, with up to ten people allowed inside at any one time. Weddings with up to ten guests. Funerals with up to 20 mourners indoors and 30 outdoors. Church gatherings of up to ten worshippers. As the Premier noted, this is the first time that NSW residents will be allowed to gather outside for recreational purposes since COVID-19 restrictions were implemented. But, she still stressed the need to "exercise extreme caution", advising that people should "walk out the door assuming you have the virus, or someone you come into contact with does". https://twitter.com/GladysB/status/1259291456482627585 When discussing the fact that cafes and restaurants will be able to open for up to ten dine-in customers, the Premier also recognised that this number mightn't be considered viable by many eateries — so, while they are allowed to open, some owners may still choose to remain closed. Unlike Queensland's easing of restrictions, which also come into effect on Friday, May 15, folks in NSW won't be able to travel regionally for recreational purposes. "Unlike other states, NSW is not yet ready," the Premier explained. If all goes well with this first stage of reduced limits, the NSW Government will explore the next stages — but it isn't outlining what'll happen next at this point. Both at the press conference and in a statement, the Premier advised that "the NSW Government will consider steps two and three of the plan in due course". In person, she provided further detail: "if there is evidence or if there is data that shows either a huge spike, then we have to go backwards. Similarly, if the data shows us that we're doing better than expected, we can move forward a bit faster." When the eased restrictions come into effect on Friday, May 15, standard social-distancing requirements will still apply. That means sticking with physical distancing, maintaining four square metres per person indoors, hand and cough hygiene, and frequent cleaning and disinfection. For more information about NSW's eased restrictions, read the Premier's press release. 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. Top image: Kitti Gould
If you haven't yet had a chance to check out Gelato Messina's Creative Department — its Darlinghurst restaurant serving up gelato-led degustations — then this November is the perfect time to do so. The gelato fiends are adding caviar to all their dishes for a series of special, seasonal dinners. Under the guidance of head chef Remi Talbot, Messina's Creative Department is crafting a special eight-course gelato-meets-salt-cured degustation running for just three days between Friday, November 2 and Sunday, November 4. So what kind of caviar-gelato goodness have the masterminds come up with this time around? Expect Thai basil and lime granita with lime caviar, picked strawberry and red shiso sorbet with strawberry gum cream and caviar, and roasted almond gelato with potato and brown butter foam. Scampi tarts, lemon myrtle sherbet, soy-cured egg yolk and white garlic gelato are among the other ingredients. Tickets are $150 per person and, based off how quick these things sell out around the country, you'll want to grab your tickets ASAP.
Sydneysiders are serious about their bar culture, so it's no surprise that Sydney Bar Week is a thing. A glorious, glorious thing. With a program ranging from industry-oriented events like the Bartender of the Year Award to the more casual Global Whisk(e)y Expedition, you'll find something to interest to you. The festival starts off with a bang. Nine veteran bartenders (with over 200 years of combined experience) will be pouring vintage cocktails at a one-off event at The Barber Shop. And why not engage in an Indie Tasting? More than 50 boutique brands will be exhibiting their spirits and you'll also get nine short seminars about different spirits from American gin to craft rum. If none of those sound fun enough to you, we'd suggest the Pool Competition and Handball Tournament at the Oxford Tavern. Show up, and show them who's the school (or bar) yard champ.
When March 18 hits, it will have been 12 months since the Australian Government implemented an indefinite ban on international travel due to COVID-19, only allowing Aussies to leave the country in very limited circumstances. Accordingly, just when jetting overseas will be back on the agenda has been the subject of much discussion. Last year's prediction that opening up to the rest of the world wouldn't happen in 2020 proved accurate — and, earlier this year, Australia's ex-Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy (now the Secretary of the Department of Health) said that we might not be going anywhere until 2022. Whether that last forecast comes true is obviously yet to be seen but, thanks to a new extension of the human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015, Australians definitely won't be travelling overseas until at least mid-June. Yesterday, Tuesday, March 2, Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt announced that the emergency period now spans until June 17, 2021, which'll mark 15 months since it was first put in place. The extension comes on the advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, with the former advising "the Australian Government the COVID-19 situation overseas continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk to Australia, including the emergence of more highly transmissible variants". So, it means that the current rules regarding international travel will remain in place for at least another three months, restricting Aussies wanting to fly overseas and folks wanting to return home, and also cruise ships keen to enter Australian territory. It also extends current limits on trade of retail outlets at international airports, and requirements for pre-departure testing and mask-wearing for international flights. This isn't the first time that the emergency period has been lengthened, following several moves in 2020 — however, the government has noted that they "can be amended or repealed if no longer needed". With vaccinations starting to roll out around Australia, Qantas and Jetstar have begun selling tickets for overseas flights for trips scheduled from October, demonstrating hope that the country's international travel rules might ease by then. Of course, the fact that you can book a trip doesn't mean that you'll actually be able to take it — because the current border closure may get extended again — but if you're keen for an overseas getaway, you might want to cross your fingers. 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.
As much as lingering over a long, multi-course dinner is one of life's great pleasures, sometimes a fast feast is a good feast. That's especially true when you have a jam-packed Vivid program to check out – from roller skating on glowing wheels while snacking on plant-based delights to catching Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally in conversation. To that end, Mexican restaurant Esteban has put together a Pre-Vivid Fire Fast Feast. Every evening during Vivid, you'll have one hour to work your way through three delicious courses before scurrying off. Settle in with salmon tartare with salsa macha, asao nori and crispy potato, before moving onto a taco filled with pork belly, lathered in pineapple-habanero salsa and sprinkled with crispy onion. Your third and final course is a butcher's choice steak with chipotle butter and potatoes with jalapeño crema. The set menu is $65 per head, and available at 5pm and 5.15pm only. Bookings are available online. Images: Leigh Griffiths / Steve Woodburn.
Faces. Faces and fields. They don't always spring straight to mind when you're talking about great art. But they're stomped all over the history of art, obsessed as it was with the human body and the unreal rustic idyll. These are also the ingredients of the Archibald, and Wynne prizes, about to go on show with the Sulman at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The Archibald entrants compete in portrait, the Wynne in landscapes, and the Sulman in paint both big and small. This collection of collections will judged by the non-artist Trustees and the general public, already having been judged by a benign autocracy of art storeman. This year's Archibald finalists include the stunning Klimt-like family portrait of previous winner Kathryn del Barton, a Love and Rockets-styled self portrait by Kate Beynon and Ben Quilty's fine-cut Margaret Olley. The exhibition also has a flm program, featuring Basiquat and The Lady Eve by epic O Brother Where Art Thou influence Preston Sturges. The weighty Archibald is orbited by satirical Bald Archies and more elevated Salon de Refuses exhibitions, too. So there's lots of fodder for you to indulge in an epic day of art, and of judging for yourself. Image: Nicholas Harding, Hugo at Home
The (ever-evolutionary) Standard has announced its latest incarnation: Standard Bowl. That’s right, as of March 2014, you’ll be able to dazzle your friends with your knack for strikes, while treating your eyes and ears to free live music. Anyone who’s checked out the world-famous Brooklyn Bowl will be familiar with the format. DJs, rock gods and folkies do their thing in the front bar, with a ten-pin bowling alley keeping the crowd happy out the back. Rolling Stone has described it as "one of the most incredible places on Earth". In fact, it was during a recent sojourn in New York City that Standard part-owner Paddy Coughlan and ex-Annandale Hotel boss Matt Rule ventured into said venue. Several frames later, there was but one conclusion to draw: Sydney people need this. “We have an unwavering commitment to live music and unique spaces, and preferably live music in unique spaces,” Coughlan explains. “It seems only natural to create a grungy, industrial-looking bowling alley with a cool bar that offers free live music. With our current booker headed overseas for new adventures, it was also the perfect opportunity to work with Matt’s new entertainment venture Music Booze & Stuff who are doing some pretty exciting things. We’re looking forward to an exceptional 2014!” Doing away with the previous ticketed gigs, Standard Bowl represents yet another creative addition to the pub, club and dining scene from this team, following on the heels of The Vic in Enmore, Tokyo Sing Song, Johnny Wong’s, Miss Peaches and Lo-Fi.
Returning for its seventh year, Sydney Beer Week — which has this year dropped the 'craft' from its name — celebrates beer in all its golden greatness this October. Running from Friday, October 20 till Sunday, October 29, the ten-day celebration is packed full of events and activities that will grasp the interest of beer novices and connoisseurs alike. These will take place in several locations all over Sydney — and there's quite the list to choose from. One notable event is the Hair of the Dog Breakfast, where the Rocks Brewing Company will throw a mighty six-course breakfast paired with eight beers. It promises to be one of the best hangover cures we've heard of. You'll need it if you're heading to any of the other events, like the kick-off party full of brews and food trucks at the Australian Maritime Museum. Or The Grifter Brewing Co.'s dog-friendly event at their Marrickville brewery — there'll be brews from The Grifter and NZ's Parrot Dog brewery, food from LP's Quality Meats, pups and pints, canines and cans, fluffballs and frothies and so on. There's no doubt SBW will leave you better quenched, better fed and better educated in beer related matters than it found you.
The annual Improv Everywhere mp3 experiment proves we've come a long way since the Napster debacle of the early noughties. Interestingly, the New York-based prank collective started in 2001, around the same time Napster was given a court injunction to stop the distribution of copyrighted music on its network. But the eighth installment of the annual prank has made good use of mp3 downloads, casting aside any former copyright stigmas for the convergence of thousands of people in one picturesque setting. This year's prank took place along New York's Hudson River with over 3,500 participants downloading two types of mp3s, each with instructions that culminated in a mass 'silent disco' at Nelson Rockefeller Park during sundown. The participants of this year's prank began as two groups and were asked to wear two different coloured shirts, representing the theme of two tribes coming together. Once the two groups were instructed to meet at Nelson Rockefeller Park, on-the-spot jumping, indiscriminate high-fives to random passers-by, handshaking, slow dancing and linking of the arms took place. The Improv Everywhere prank collective has orchestrated over 100 pranks since 2001, and are behind the now iconic Frozen Grand Central flashmob which has been viewed by 27,513,992 people since 2008. https://youtube.com/watch?v=lrCnh9sT_mc
Since the untimely passing of legend David Bowie in January, mourning fans have been creating respectful and fitting ways to remember him. They've held tributes all across the country (and the world) in the form of concerts, karaoke, screenings and dance parties. But fans looking to get closer to the life of the prolific artist now have another avenue to consider: a stay in Bowie's former holiday house in the Caribbean. The house, which is on the luxury Caribbean island of Mustique, has just gone up for rent — albeit for a whopping $52,000 AUD (or $78,000 AUD in high season) per week. That's cool, right? I mean, what you're paying for is priceless. Bowie had the villa built himself back in 1989, and a lot of the original design and fixtures still stand. Everywhere you stand, it's likely you'll be standing in the exact same spot that Bowie once stood (we're not sure how long it will take for that game to get old, but we're guessing a substantial amount of time). Of course, the house — named the Mandalay — comes with a lot of non-priceless things too, like an infinity pool, personal waterfalls, an epic outdoor dining pavilion, views of the Atlantic Ocean and a staff of 10 (including your own personal chef). It has five bedrooms (each with their own private verandah), sits on 6.2 acres and comes with neighbours like Kate Moss, Hugh Grant and royals Will and Kate. It's important to note that the home doesn't come straight from Bowie's hands — he sold the property back in the '90s to publisher Felix Dennis. Following Dennis' death, it was bought by English entrepreneur Simon Dolan, who has now put the house up for rent for the first time. But if you've got $50k to spare on a lavish Caribbean trip, you may as well go all out and holiday like Ziggy Stardust. Via Travel + Leisure.
Last week saw the 135th and final space shuttle mission end when Atlantis touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. For the past 30 years, the shuttle has been the flagship plane for NASA's sometimes controversial, always captivating space program. The decommissioning of the shuttle will undoubtedly make space travel cheaper and safer for the American government, who will continue their program in 1960s-style manned capsules made in Russia, before taking off in American-built vehicles. Every time the shuttle took off, it cost American taxpayers $1.5 billion. Choosing to either abandon the space shuttle or avoid it entirely, the Soviets and China have progressed by using rockets and capsules for manned spaceflights. For now, the space race is back on. National Geographic has compiled a photographic retrospective to mark the occasion, showcasing the most vivid photographs from the shuttle's colourful history. Here are some of our favourites. A huge crowd—many driving recreational vehicles—gathers to watch the space shuttle Columbia land on July 4, 1982, at Edwards Air Force Base in California at the end of STS-4. Sitting on a rolling platform, the space shuttle Challenger emerges from the mist at Kennedy Space Center in Florida as it heads toward the launch pad, just visible in the distance, in November 1982. Curling like bizarre sigils in the sky, plume remnants from the June 8, 2007, launch of the space shuttle Atlantis glow with the light of the setting sun. Earth seems ready for loading into the space shuttle Endeavour's open payload bay in a picture taken in December 1998 using an onboard IMAX camera. Riding piggyback on a Boeing 747, the test shuttle Enterprise glides over the New York City skyline in June 1983. Astronaut Dale Gardner enjoys a moment of levity as he completes a spacewalk to recover two broken communications satellites from orbit on November 14, 1984. Astronaut Joseph P. Allen IV is seen reflected in Gardner's helmet visor. Star Trek cast members from the science-fiction show attend the shuttle's rollout ceremony in Palmdale, California, on September 17, 1976. Atlantis is lifted high inside the Vehicle Assembly Building on May 18, 2011, so it can be attached to the "stack"—the combination of the large external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters. A cloud of debris spreads in the sky over coastal Florida as the space shuttleChallenger breaks apart on January 28, 1986. A charred astronaut helmet lying in the grass near Norwood, Texas, was among the debris found after the space shuttle Columbia broke apart during reentry on February 1, 2003. Suspended above the planet, the space shuttle Endeavour is silhouetted against the layers of Earth's atmosphere in a picture taken by an ISS crew member on February 9, 2010. [Via National Geographic]
The super-adorable Finders Keepers Markets have been home to Sydney's most creative (and quirky) designers for almost five years. Now the independent hip-fest is all grown up and bursting forth from the confines of Carriageworks to invade their new home at Eveleigh's Australian Technology Park in 2013. The biannual, designer-centric, come-one-come-all mini-festival has managed to bridge the gap between local market and exclusive exhibition, creating a space for independent designers to engage with the wider community. You'll be able to nab some marvellous treats difficult to find anywhere else. From bespoke leather goods to bespoke stationary, upcycled journals to upcycled bicycle reflectors, every stall will be a unique shopping experience that combines innovative design with grassroots feel-goodery. As usual, there will be live music, a cafe, a bar and thousands of other Sydneysiders celebrating independent art and design. However, because of the move to the bigger venue (three times bigger, to be exact), look out for the $2 entry fee this time around. Finder Keepers is open 6-10pm on Friday, 10-5pm on Saturday.
Being an adult Disney fan in Sydney is easy right now. The Mouse House's movies can be watched and rewatched (then rewatched again) thanks to the company's very own streaming service, and there's no shortage of other events — outdoor cinemas, musicals, drinks, exhibitions in other states and more — popping up or on their way. But if you're looking for something special to celebrate a whole century of the company's wares, and you're particularly fond of all the earworm songs its flicks have gotten stuck in your head over the years, then a big 100th-anniversary Disney concert is just the ticket. Disney 100: The Concert hops on a trend that's been popular for a few years now, pairing beloved movies with a live orchestra playing the soundtrack as you watch. This time, though, you'll be seeing clips of the Mouse House's musical hits rather than watching an entire feature. There's just that much to get through, given the company's massive film catalogue. [caption id="attachment_872472" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] Making its Australian premiere at the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall over three shows between Friday, February 24–Saturday, February 25, the concert will bust out tracks from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Moana and Encanto, as well as Pocahontas, Aladdin, Tangled, Hercules and Frozen. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and maestra Jessica Gethin will be in charge of the tunes — and a yet-to-be-announced a lineup of Australian musical theatre stars will be lending their voices to the production, which focuses on Disney's animated favourites. Also featuring: performers Genevieve McCarthy (Mythic, Les Misérables) and Amy Manford (The Phantom of the Opera) from MM Creative Productions, which is behind the production. If Disney's music soundtracked your childhood — and still does your adulthood — being this show's guest is a delightfully easy decision.
Guys, we did it. We helped art happen in the face of corporate suckiness. You may remember how last month Lego refused to fulfil Chinese artist and political commentator Ai Weiwei's order for bulk bricks on the grounds that they “cannot approve the use of Legos for political works”. This bizarre and freedom of speech denying move — one that should shock nobody who’s ever stood barefoot on a tiny plastic brick — came just two months before Weiwei's huge blockbuster summer exhibition at Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria, Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei, which will kick off on December 11. When news broke of Lego's tyrannical response, it wasn’t long before the good people of the internet were offering up their own Legos for Weiwei’s use instead. So what did Weiwei do? He announced that he would be collecting donated Lego in different cities to create the exhibition anyway. A collection point was set up in in the NGV sculpture garden in Melbourne as a repository for the Lego blocks. Donors were encouraged to bring in their Lego blocks and drop them through the sunroof of a car parked in the garden. And it worked. In the wee hours of this morning, Weiwei started posting images of his new artworks to Instagram. The portraits are of activists who fight for human rights and free speech, and so far include privacy activist Edward Snowden and the Republic of The Gambia's opposition treasurer, Amadou Sanneh. A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Nov 19, 2015 at 8:11am PST A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Nov 19, 2015 at 8:26am PST A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Nov 19, 2015 at 8:11am PST We love you Weiwei. Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei comes to the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne from December 11 to April 24, in collaboration with The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh. For info and tickets, head to the NGV website. Words: Imogen Baker and Lauren Vadnjal
With its stunning waterfront views, harbour beaches, a world-class zoo and bougie cafes galore, Mosman has become one of the most desirable places to live in the city. Its prime location allows for comfortable, semi-suburban living with easy access to everything the city has to offer without compromising on the beautiful, leafy and waterside vibes. The suburb itself is not left wanting for anything, with a dazzling array of specialty shops, restaurants and public spaces, so this charming neighbourhood has something for everyone and every occasion. Together with American Express, we've put together a little list to help you out.
Following 14 months of restrictions, postponements and cancellations, Australia's arts sector is in need of support. Arts institutions have struggled with capacity caps, and with restrictions on dancing and singing — as well as snap lockdowns and continued last-minute cancellations. In response, the Federal Government has announced nearly $300 million worth of financial support for the arts sector as part of the 2021–22 Budget. As announced last night, on Tuesday, May 11, the government will direct funds to the art, music and film industries through several programs across the next two years. The Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund will receive $125.6 million over the next two years. So far, RISE has helped fund an array of the country's major COVID-era arts and entertainment events including Summer Sounds, Jurassic World by Brickman and Synthony. The fund is also helping to support upcoming cultural events like Rising Melbourne, Next Exit, Fresh Produce, Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Dark Mofo, plus some yet-to-be-announced events including a new mini festival from the team behind Laneway Festival and the return of The Tivoli's Open Season this winter. The $125 million investment is expected to help fund around 230 new projects. Mental health and crisis relief organisation Support Act, which works with artists, crew and music workers, will receive $10 million — alongside the landmark $2.3 billion investment in mental health services included in the rest of the Budget. [caption id="attachment_779827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Golden Age Cinema, Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] The film industry is set for a boost as well, with $20 million dedicated to supporting independent cinemas, $50.8 million set to go to the local film and television sector to fund productions, and $3.3 million allocated to Ausfilm in order to continue to attract international film productions to Australia. And, regional arts and tourism will be supported through an $11.4 million investment in the Festivals Australia's Regional Arts Fund and the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program, plus an additional $5 million towards performing arts touring through Playing Australia. Head to the Australian Government's website for more information about the 2021–22 Federal Budget and the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand fund.
Since 2006, Kino Sydney has been providing a platform for amateur auteurs to strut their stuff in front of a real audience of real people. Creators of short films are invited monthly to premiere their new masterpiece, and the general public are invited to get themselves along, witness this genius, have a beer and eat some pizza. Win-win. The 79th event is Monday, February 3 at the Justice and Police Museum in Circular Quay, and tickets are on sale now. The whole deal comes with the opportunity to meet the cool cats involved in the making of the film, and a Q&A session will ensue — you never know which director will end up with the prowess of Quentin Tarantino or the creative genius of Lena Dunham. Kino are devoted to showing off the new generation of filmmakers, and hooking them up with their future fans. Cutting-edge film? Pizza? Beer? See you there.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to watching anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this month's latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest to old favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from March's haul of newbies. (Yes, we're assuming that you've already jumped on A Dog's World with Tony Armstrong already.) BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH IN FULL RIGHT NOW FRESH Finally, a film about dating in the 21st century with real bite — and that's unafraid to sink its teeth into the topic. In this hit Sundance horror-comedy, Normal People's Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Noa, and once again gets entangled in a romance that'll leave a mark; here, however, the scars aren't merely emotional. Swiping right hasn't been doing it for Fresh's protagonist, as a comically terrible date with the appropriately named Chad (Brett Dier, Jane the Virgin) demonstrates early. Then sparks fly the old-fashioned way, in-person at the supermarket, with the curiously offline doctor Steve (Sebastian Stan, Pam & Tommy). Soon, he's whisking her away to a secluded spot for the weekend — a little too swiftly for Noa's protective best friend Mollie's (Jojo T Gibbs, Twenties) liking, especially given that no one can virtually stalk his socials to scope him out — and that getaway takes a savage and nightmare-fuelling twist. If Raw met Ex Machina, then crossed paths with American Psycho and Hostel, and finally made the acquaintance of any old rom-com, Fresh still wouldn't be the end result — but its tone stems from those parts, as do some plot points and performances, and even a few scenes as well. First-time feature director Mimi Cave doesn't butcher these limbs, though, and screenwriter Lauryn Kahn (Ibiza) doesn't stitch them together like Frankenstein's monster. As anchored by the excellent Edgar-Jones and Stan, there's care, savvy, smarts and style in this splatter-filled, satirical, brutal, funny, empowered and sweet film. Its twists, and its cutting take on predatory dating, are best discovered by watching, but being turned off apps, men and meat in tandem is an instant gut reaction. Fresh is available to stream via Disney+. OUR FLAG FLAG MEANS DEATH In the on-screen sea that is the never-ending list of films and television shows constantly vying for eyeballs, Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby have frequently proven gem-dappled treasure islands. When the immensely funny New Zealand talents have collided, their resumes have spanned four of the most endearing comic hits of the big and small screens in the 21st century so far, aka Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows, Wellington Paranormal and Hunt for the Wilderpeople — and now, with pirate parody Our Flag Means Death, they've given viewers another gleaming jewel. This show was always going to swashbuckle its way into streaming must-see lists — and into comedy-lovers' hearts — based on its concept alone, but it more than lives up to its winning idea and winsome casting. Come for the buccaneering banter and seafaring satire, stay for a thoughtful and sincere comic caper that's also a rom-com. The inimitable Darby stars as Stede Bonnet, a self-styled 'gentleman pirate' and a great approximation of Flight of the Conchords' Murray if he'd existed centuries earlier. Meanwhile, Waititi dons leather, dark hues aplenty, an air of bloodthirsty melancholy and an eye-catching head of greying hair as Edward Teach, the marauder better known to the world as Blackbeard. The two real-life figures eventually cross paths after Bonnet leaves his life of wealth, privilege and comfort to rove the oceans, captains a ship staffed by a motley crew to end all motley crews, and initially gets captured by Blackbeard — or Ed, as he calls him. As these two opposites bond, riding the waves from adversaries to co-captains to potentially something more, Our Flag Means Death truly and gloriously opens up its warm heart. The first season of Our Flag Means Death is available to stream via Binge. Read our full review. ASCENSION Ascension may not be an Oscar-winner, losing out to Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), but it'll always be one of 2022's nominees. More than that, this two-time Tribeca Film Festival winner will forever remain one of the most arresting documentaries of the past year as well. Helming her first feature-length doco, filmmaker Jessica Kingdon turns her gaze to the Chinese dream — and what she sees, while situated in a very specific cultural context by design, is a clear and easy sibling to its American counterpart. That's part of the statement her film makes, all just by watching on patiently but meticulously as people go about their lives. Starting with factory recruitment on the streets, then stepping into mass production, then climbing the social hierarchy up to the rich and privileged, Ascension explores employment and consumerism — and what they mean in an everyday sense in modern-day and modernised China. It's a portrait of the needs that make working on assembly lines a necessity, and of the dreams that inspire every step up the societal ladder. Some folks build sex dolls, their uncanny valley-esque forms adding an eerie mood. Others take lessons on etiquette for service jobs, including about not letting your face betray your emotions, and the tone is also unsettling. Observational to a mesmerising degree, Kingdon's exceptional film lets its slices of life and the behaviour, attitudes and patterns they capture do the talking, and they all speak volumes. Indeed, what a clever, telling, incisive and surreal story they unfurl. Ascension is available to stream via Paramount+. TURNING RED What'd happen if the Hulk was a teenage girl, and turned into a giant, fuzzy, super-cute red panda instead of going green and getting ultra-muscular? Or, finding a different riff on the ol' werewolf situation, if emotions rather than full moons inspired a case of not-quite-lycanthropy? These aren't queries that most folks have thought of, but writer/director Domee Shi certainly has — and they're at the core of Pixar's Turning Red, her debut feature after winning an Oscar for 2018 short Bao. As many of the animation studio's movies do, the film takes its title literally. But, it also spins the usual Pixar question. Turning Red does indeed wonder what'd happen if red pandas sported human-style emotions; however, the Disney-owned company has been musing on people becoming other kinds of critters of late, with particularly astute and endearing results here. The movie's focus: 13-year-old Chinese Canadian Meilin Lee (Rosalie Chiang, also making her film debut). The year is 2002, and she loves meeting her strict but doting mum Ming's (Sandra Oh, The Chair) expectations, hanging out with her pals and obsessing over boy band 4*Town. And while her mother doesn't approve of her friends or her taste in music, Mei has become accustomed to juggling everything that's important to her. But then, after a boy-related mishap, the red panda appears. Mei goes to bed feeling normal, albeit angsty and upset, only to wake up looking like a cuddly creature. Like werewolf tales about teenage boys tend to be, Turning Red is all about puberty and doesn't hide it — and whether it's tackling that head-on, pondering generational trauma or showing its rampant love for boy bands, it sports sweetness, soul and smarts. Turning Red is available to stream via Disney+. Read our full review. UPLOAD In its first season in 2020, Upload gave The Office and Parks and Recreation writer/co-creator Greg Daniels his own existential-leaning comedy. Think: The Good Place meets virtual reality, which is basically the premise. After a car accident at the age of 27, computer programmer Nathan (Robbie Amell, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City) is uploaded to a luxurious digital afterlife called Lakeview, which takes more than a little adjusting. Following his troubles with his still-breathing girlfriend Ingrid (Allegra Edwards, Briarpatch), as well as his growing bond with the IT employee, Nora (Andy Allo, Pitch Perfect 3), who works as his virtual handler or "angel", the series found plenty of ways to interrogate its concept. Indeed, while clearly a satire of capitalism, technology and their combination, it also inched towards unnerving Black Mirror territory. In season two, Upload dives deeper — and those Black Mirror comparisons only grow, too. Just like with that dystopian hit, it's plain to see how this reality could come true in a not-so-distant future, which no one watching this could ever want. Nathan now knows that all isn't well in Lakeview, or with the profit-hungry tech company behind it. Nora is well aware also, starting off the new batch of episodes by immersing herself with the anti-tech anarchists the Ludds. And Ingrid has spotted that Nathan isn't as enamoured with their relationship or his new virtual abode, so she decides to join him. Upload is still a comedy, but it knows that getting dark and being smart couldn't be more crucial given its concept. This season cleverly dives deeper, and only disappoints by being just seven half-hour episodes long. Consider your appetite whetted for season three, though. Season two of Upload is is available to stream via Prime Video. LUCY AND DESI Icons celebrating icons: when Amy Poehler directs a documentary about Lucille Ball, as she does here, that's the end result. It's fitting that Lucy and Desi includes a letter read mere days after Desi Arnaz's death, about his ex-wife and longterm professional partner, that included a touching line: "I Love Lucy wasn't just the name of the show". Poehler loves Lucy, too, understandably. Watching the compilation of clips curated here — spanning Ball's movie career in the 30s and 40s, as well as her TV shows such as the pioneering I Love Lucy, follow-up The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, and later sitcoms The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy — it's impossible not to see Ball's influence upon the Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation star, and upon the generations of female comedians that've followed Ball. Lucy and Desi loves Arnaz as well, though, and truly adores the pair's tumultuous love story — one that changed the course of comedy history. Forget Being the Ricardos, the average-at-best Aaron Sorkin film that inexplicably earned Oscar nominations — including for its one-note performances — and doesn't even dream of being funny. A deeper, meatier, far more interesting dance through Ball and Arnaz's life comes from Lucy and Desi, which benefits not just from Poehler's affection and her eagerness to ensure that her subjects' personalities shine through, but also from previously unreleased audio tapes of the pair talking about their ups and downs. Recent interviews pepper the film as well, including with daughter Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, and both Bette Midler and Carol Burnett. Still, this doco's points of focus truly do speak best for themselves, whether chatting frankly or seen in all of those wonderful sitcom snippets. Lucy and Desi is is available to stream via Prime Video. WINDFALL Films can arrive at the perfect time, but usually they're actually products of their time. With Windfall, the former feels true, but this twisty thriller couldn't have been made at any other moment. It's an account of the haves and the have nots, and the widening gap between them — and it's told now, after years of that chasm growing visibly, the privileged largely lapping it up while hardening their disdain for anyone less fortunate, and the latter increasingly refusing to accept such inequality. The setting: a sprawling vacation home owned by a CEO worth billions and his wife. The setup: a break-in interrupted by said couple. The showdown: between two sides of the income divide (struggling versus obscenely comfortable), as brought to the screen by director Charlie McDowell (The One I Love, The Discovery). In a story credited to the filmmaker, star Jason Segel, McDowell's regular screenwriter Justin Lader and Seven scribe Andrew Kevin Walker — and also earning all the above either producer or executive producer billing, and fellow on-screen talents Lilly Collins and Jesse Plemons as well as — talk is largely the name of the game. Nobody (Segel, Dispatches From Elsewhere), as the movie's burglar is dubbed, argues with the CEO (Plemons, The Power of the Dog) and his other half (Collins, Emily in Paris) after taking them hostage at gunpoint, and their conversation is constantly revealing. He's initially bought off by the small stack of cash secreted away in the well-appointed abode but, after leaving then returning when he spies security cameras, he wants more money for his mercy. What follows is a perceptively shot and compellingly performed dissection of having it all (the CEO), grasping for some of it (Nobody) and realising that riches can't buy happiness (the wife). Windfall is available to stream via Netflix. NEW SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK MOON KNIGHT Marvel's knack for casting is one of its superpowers, and it flexes those talents in Moon Knight. Enlisting Oscar Isaac fresh from the phenomenal 2021 trio that is Dune, Scenes From a Marriage and The Card Counter is as shrewd a casting move as the behemoth responsible for the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made, especially given that he plays two roles in one. The series starts with Isaac as Steven Grant, who works in the gift shop of a British museum, wishes he could lead tours instead, studies Egypt and sports a broad English accent. Oh, and chains himself to his bed every night, even though he has trouble sleeping. But as gaps in his days lead him to learn, Steven is also American mercenary Marc Spector — or, to be exact, vice versa. Complicating matters further, he's the on-earth conduit for the Egyptian moon god Khonshu as well. Even within franchise confines, Isaac is mesmerising in Moon Knight, playing a man grappling with dissociative identity disorder — as complex a character as the MCU has delivered so far — who's also drawn into a continent-hopping mystery-adventure. Also complicating matters: shadowy cult-like figure Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird), who has unfinished business with Khonshu and big plans of his own. Welcomely, the Marvel formula feels fresher here. Also pivotal: that, because it branches off with a previously unseen protagonist rather than the sprawling saga's usual heroes, this is the first MCU Disney+ series that doesn't feel like homework. Having filmmakers Mohamed Diab (Clash) and Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Synchronic) also leaves an impression, in what's easily the most intriguing small-screen Marvel effort so far. The first episode of Moon Knight is available to stream via Disney+, with new instalments dropping weekly. Read our full review. MINX When home video, the internet and mobile phones with inbuilt cameras each arrived, six words could've been uttered: get ready to look at dicks. New HBO comedy Minx is set the early 70s, so before all three, but the same phrase also applies here. It's true of the show itself, which isn't shy about displaying the male member in various shapes and sizes. It also stands tall in the world that Minx depicts. When you're making the first porn magazine for women — and, when you're making an ambitious, entertaining and impeccably cast The Deuce meets Mrs America-style series about it, but lighter, sweeter and funnier (and all purely fictional) — penises are inescapable. Also impossible to avoid in Minx: questions like "are erections consistent with our philosophy?", as asked by Vassar graduate and country club regular Joyce Prigger (Ophelia Lovibond, Trying). Idolising the magazine industry and unhappily working for the dispiritingly traditional Teen Queen, she has long dreamed of starting her own feminist publication — even penning a bundle of articles and making her own issues — but centrefolds splashed with male genitalia don't fit her ideal pitch. No one's buying what Joyce is selling, though; The Matriarchy Awakens, her dream mag, gets rejected repeatedly by the industry's gatekeepers. Only one is interested: Bottom Dollar Publications' Doug Renetti (Jake Johnson, Ride the Eagle), but he's in the pornography business. The first four episodes of Minx are available to stream via Stan, with new instalments dropping weekly. Read our full review. THE DROPOUT Dramatising the Theranos scandal, eight-part miniseries The Dropout is the third high-profile release in the past two months to relive a wild true-crime tale — following not only the Anna Delvey-focused Inventing Anna, about the fake German heiress who conned her way through New York City's elite, but also documentary The Tinder Swindler, which steps through defrauding via dating app at the hands of Israeli imposter Simon Leviev. It also dives into the horror-inducing Dr Death-esque realm, because when a grift doesn't just mess with money and hearts, but with health and lives, it's pure nightmare fuel. And, it's the most gripping of the bunch, even though we're clearly living in peak scandal-to-screen times. Scam culture might be here to stay as Inventing Anna told us in a telling line of dialogue, but it isn't enough to just gawk its way — and The Dropout and its powerful take truly understands this. To tell the story of Theranos, The Dropout has to tell the story of Elizabeth Holmes, the Silicon Valley biotech outfit's founder and CEO from the age of 19. Played by a captivating, career-best Amanda Seyfried — on par with her Oscar-nominated work in Mank, but clearly in a vastly dissimilar role — the Steve Jobs-worshipping Holmes is seen explaining her company's name early in its first episode. It's derived from the words "therapy" and "diagnosis", she stresses, although history already dictates that it offered little of either. Spawned from Holmes' idea to make taking blood simpler and easier, using just one drop from a small finger prick, it failed to deliver, lied about it copiously and still launched to everyday consumers, putting important medical test results in jeopardy. The first six episodes of The Dropout are available to stream via Disney+, with new instalments dropping weekly. Read our full review. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2021, and January and February 2022 — and our top new TV shows of 2021, best new television series from this year that you might've missed and top straight-to-streaming films and specials as well. Top image: Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.
There's never a bad time to explore the centre of Australia, but if you're keen on a trip this Easter, you've got quite the dazzling motivation. While plenty of Australian cities boast radiant arts and culture festivals that brighten up their streets and spaces, Alice Springs' Parrtjima - A Festival In Light takes the whole concept to several different levels. It celebrates Indigenous arts, culture, music and storytelling, including via an eye-catching array of light installations, and also takes place against a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic, 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges. It's the type of event to add to your travel bucket list, and it has brought its luminous presence back in 2022 — with the event currently running until Sunday, April 17. And, if you're wondering exactly what's brightening up the already-striking Red Centre and how it looks, Parrtjima has unveiled images from its first weekend that just might get you planning a last-minute Easter holiday. As always, the event has taken over the Alice Springs CBD's Alice Springs Todd Mall, plus tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park Precinct just out of town — and the festival's main annual attraction, aka a huge artwork that showers the MacDonnell Ranges with light each night of the festival, looks as glorious as ever. When it comes to staring at the stunning natural landmark, this is a 'desert of light experience, as Parrtjima has dubbed it. And yes, from the images, that description is accurate. Also on the lineup: Grounded, which turns traditional and contemporary stories into a projected animation — complete with an immersive soundscape — and consistently proves a crowd favourite. There's Water Tree, too, with the piece inspired by the artwork of Karen Napaljarri Barnes, using acrylic glass to replicate the sight of thousands of budgerigars flocking together, and strung across four archways. Or, attendees can check out Flight, which similarly goes with budgies, this time featuring artwork by Farron Jampitjinpa Furber printed on sheer fabric spears to represent the birds' journey along the Lander River. Another must-see is Eagle's Eye, which takes inspiration from irretye (the wedge-tailed eagle) constellation, and brings a tunnel to life with animation of works by Jeannie Nungarrayi Egan — as well as Wild Wind, by Raelene Ngala Williams, which uses her artwork to celebrate the stories of the whirly whirly through a series of floating and moving structures. There's also the Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists' Energy, comprised of eight static bikes and wheelchairs, which attendees jump on and spin the pedals to illuminate and revolve the artworks. And, the 15-metre-high Night Sky, as created in collaboration with artist Carmen Glynn-Braun and Common Ground, is filled with 1200 glowing orbs that are suspended to look like a blanket of stars. Although the ten-night event has been underway since Friday, April 8, Parrtjima's full lineup also includes live tunes, talks, and the films of Sweet Country, The Beach, Firebite and Samson and Delilah director Warwick Thornton. Of course, Parrtjima is just one of Northern Territory's two glowing attractions in 2022, 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 runs until Sunday, April 17 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information or to book tickets, visit the festival website. Images: Parrtjima 2022.
In 2020, Brisbane made history, becoming the only city outside of Melbourne to ever host an AFL Grand Final. This year, the Queensland capital looks poised to land another huge sporting event — although it won't happen for another 11 years. That'd be the 2032 Olympic Games, with Brisbane named the preferred host for the Games of the XXXV Olympiad back in February. Now, overnight, that quest has progressed. Following a meeting on Thursday, June 10, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board has announced that it is recommending that the Queensland capital gets the official nod. The IOC Executive Board's proposal now moves to the broader International Olympic Committee itself, which will vote on the matter at its next session on Wednesday, July 21. So, in just over a month, Brisbane will likely be named as the actual host of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games — not just the preferred host. The move follows a recommendation by the Future Host Commission for the Games of the Olympiad, as happened when Brisbane was named the preferred 2032 host earlier this year. This time, the commission has put together a detailed report, which just earned the Executive Board's unanimous support. Announcing the news and outlining why the city has won its endorsement, the Executive Board listed eight core strengths identified in Brisbane's bid. They include the fact that Australia is apparently a "sports-loving nation"; the use of either existing or temporary venues to cover 84 percent of the Games; the support of the government, the public and the private sector; a commitment to sustainability; and the social and economic benefits — US$6.1 billion in value to Queensland and US$13.4 billion to Australia, according to commission's impact study. https://twitter.com/iocmedia/status/1403007957424611328 If Brisbane is officially named next month, the 2032 Games will be the first held in Oceania since 2000 — when Sydney did the honours — and will mark just a 32-year gap between Australia's most recent hosting slots. The Games were first held on our shores back in 1956, in Melbourne. It'll also mean that southeast Queensland will host the Olympics just 14 years after hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Brisbane has staged the Commonwealth Games, too, back in 1982. Brisbane's bid includes three clusters of venues — in Brisbane itself, on the Gold Coast and on the Sunshine Coast — and proposes that the Games take place between July 23–August 8, 2032. As revealed in April, the Gabba will also undergo a huge revamp if the city hosts the Games, which'll basically involve tearing the stadium down and rebuilding it again. After Tokyo holds the postponed 2020 Games in July and August — without overseas spectators — Paris is on hosting duties in 2024. Then, in 2028, Los Angeles will take the torch. For further details about the International Olympic Committee's announcement, and about Brisbane's bid for the 2032 Olympics, head to the Games' website. Top image: Tokyo 2020 and TMG.
New year, new list of huge events to look forward to — but only one will make LGBTQIA+ history. That'd be the first-ever WorldPride held in the Southern Hemisphere, which'll hit Sydney from Friday, February 17–Sunday, March 5. And, although Sydney WorldPride announced its massive 2023 lineup late in 2022, it's still adding big-name additions. Joining the program alongside everyone from Kylie Minogue and Charli XCX to Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger: German pop star Kim Petras. Fresh from nabbing a Grammy nomination for 'Unholy' with Sam Smith, the 'If Jesus Was a Rockstar', 'Heart to Break', 'Future Starts Now', 'Coconut' and 'Malibu' singer will headline Sydney WorldPride closing gig Rainbow Republic alongside the already-announced MUNA and G Flip. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sydney Mardi Gras (@sydneymardigras) "I'm so happy to be back in Sydney supporting WorldPride! Headlining Mardi Gras was a really inspiring moment back in 2019 and it was one of my favourite Pride events ever, so I'm really excited to see my Australian fans again and take everything to a whole new level," said Petras, announcing the news. She'll take to the stage in The Domain, where WorldPride is hosting both its opening and closing events, as part of a a seven-hour show filled with live music, DJs and dancing — a queer megamix, if you like. On hosting duties: Keiynan Lonsdale (Love, Simon, The Flash, Eden), who'll also perform. Peach PRC, Alter Boy, BVT and Vetta Borne have also been named on the bill. Sydney WorldPride has been announcing parts of its lineup since June last year, including the return of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade to Oxford Street after the 2021 and 2022 events were held at the Sydney Cricket Ground due to the pandemic. Among the other highlights: pride villages set up in sections of Crown Street and Riley Street, rainbows all around Greater Sydney, a Bondi beach party that'll turn the iconic sandy stretch into a club for 12,000 people, and a Blak & Deadly First Nations gala concert. RAINBOW REPUBLIC SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE CLOSING CONCERT LINEUP: Kim Petras MUNA G Flip Keiynan Lonsdale Peach PRC Alter Boy BVT Vetta Borne Sydney WorldPride will run from Friday, February 17–Sunday, March 5, 2023, with closing concert Rainbow Republic taking place at The Domain on Sunday, March 5. Tickets for Rainbow Republic are on sale now. For more information about Sydney WorldPride, or for general ticket sales, head to the event's website.
Art & About may be all about art in public spaces, but when the festival returns in September, it will include one usually off-limits venue that's very private: your house. In an event dubbed Armchair Apocalypse, the Rock Surfers Theatre Company is letting you 'order in' a performance work, which you can then watch in your living room in a leisurely manner, not unlike your old friend television. “This year, Art & About Sydney explores the endangered — the ‘at risk’, the threatened, the exposed and the risky from all perspectives,” said Art & About creative director Gill Minervini. Three Sydney writers will work the theme into their domestically destined Armchair Apocalypses, which you can secure for your place by jumping a few hoops here (you need to be happy to have 20 or 30 people over, and you need to own the place even though there's a housing crisis so you most likely don't). It'll be a great chance to see theatre that is intimate, unconventional and quite literally close to home. Other highlights from the first festival program announcement include adorable kid-guided tours of Redfern and Kings Cross (The Walking Neighbourhood), a group of people squishing themselves into the CBD's nooks and crannies (Willi Dorner's Bodies in Urban Spaces), a dance/ballet with shopping trolleys (from Spillers Shaun Parker and Company), James Dive and The Glue Society's nostalgic photo studio (Us) and popular Hyde Park photography exhibition Australian Life (expanded this year from 'Sydney Life'). Kicking off Art & About on September 19, their Friday Night Live event will see Martin Place transformed from business corridor to Quarter Acre Block Party, marrying your precious remnants of the Australian Dream with the fleeting hope you still have of getting along with your neighbours. Expect an Aussie backyard vibe channelled through barbecues, Hills Hoists, back fences, lawn cricket, garage bands, garden furniture, vinyl records, beer and sausage sangas. Image: Art & About 2013.
Mondays tend to be a day of rest for most restaurants in the Los Angeles area. But for friends Aliza Miner, Savita Ostendorf and Marjory Garrison it's the busiest night of the week. A few months ago the three girls combined their skills as a chef, graphic designer and PR activist for non-profits, respectively, to create Closed on Mondays, a business that hosts fundraiser dinners for charity at empty restaurants on Monday nights. They offer a fixed price menu at $35, hire waitstaff from the host restaurant and serve customers on a first come, first serve basis from 5 to 9p.m. The profits go directly to local food initiatives or community projects. They don't force-feed their guests with information about the charities, they just want people to come and eat. Better yet, the dishes offered will leave your taste-buds begging for more, with choices like Yucatan pulled pork, wild Mexican shrimp with pumpkin seed sauce and stuffed poblanos, kabocha squash and chihuahua cheese in romesco (each served with homemade tortillas). Yum. The first three dinners were hosted at L.A's Canele, which raised $7000 for the Micheltorena School Garden community project in Silver Lake. Although the girls realize that they still have a long way to go to build up the non-profit, other chefs in the area have already approached them about bringing Closed on Mondays to their restaurants. Mondays are soon to be the biggest night out of the week for good food and a good cause.
Attention all wannabe heroes: something big is coming. This March, much-loved comic company Marvel will bring its world-class Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. exhibition to Melbourne. The immersive exhibition, held at Federation Square, will give would-be caped crusaders the chance to delve into the history, engineering, genetics and technology behind Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man and the rest of their superhero team. Visitors will also undergo training, as if they were learning to become agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and can explore bespoke equipment and costumes including the Hulkbuster suit, Captain America's uniform and shield, Iron Man's MK armor and Thor's hammer, Mjölnir. Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. combines complex science and technology, developed by Marvel to help bring the successful film franchise to life. Space agency NASA have also contributed to the interactive experience, helping to enhance its scientific authenticity. After successful stints in cities including New York, Seoul and Paris, the exhibition will now head down under for the very first time. Organisers hope it will be an epic fan experience as well as a way to pique visitor interest in real-world science and technology. Earlier this year Marvel broke records when it brought its Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition to Brisbane, drawing in close to 270,000 fans. Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. is expected to be even bigger. Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. will open at Federation Square in March 2018. More information on ticketing will roll out in the coming months – you can sign up for updates here.
'Do one thing and do it well' used to be a mantra of many successful businesses. Google did search. Car makers made cars. Hotels gave you a place to sleep. But now, following the diversification model others have set, Vibe Hotels are releasing music. Vibe: The Chillout Suite is the fourth in the series featuring local talents such as Angus & Julia Stone, Lior and Washington, as well as international acts like Florence + The Machine and Gomez. There's even room for a few classics like Mazzy Star's Fade Into You and Jeff Buckley's Last Goodbye. To celebrate the launch of the album, Vibe are offering one lucky Concrete Playground reader a chillout accommodation package valued at $490 including a one night stay for two people at any of their hotels in Sydney, Melbourne or the Gold Coast, including buffet breakfast, a copy of Chillout Suite, and a late check-out so you can really relax. To enter, just make sure you're a CP subscriber then email us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au by 5pm on Friday, July 8.
'The mormons are coming', posters popping up all around Sydney started promising this week. Come February, they'll officially be here. If you thought you were going to have to head down to Melbourne to catch The Book of Mormon, think again, because Trey Parker and Matt Stone's hit musical is bringing its hilariously irreverent self to the Sydney Lyric Theatre. After playing most of the year down south, with the show's Victorian run due to end in November, the multi-award-winning production will settle in for a Sydney season from February 28, 2018. Tickets go on sale on September 5 for its second Australian stint, and given that all of its 250-plus performances have sold out in Melbourne, it's certain to prove a hot ticket. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints, African missions, AIDS, bum jokes and super ironic racism. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards, a Grammy and two Helpmanns since it debuted in 2011, and has been called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". If you've been envious of the throngs seeing the musical in New York, Chicago or London, then you'll be plenty excited that you'll now get the chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. The Book of Mormon plays the Sydney Lyric Theatre from February 28, 2018. Tickets go on sale on September 5, with the waitlist now open at BookOfMormonMusical.com.au. Image: Ryan Bondy, Zahra Newman, Nyk Bielak and company in The Book of Mormon, AUS 1411. (c) Jeff Busby. By Sarah Ward and Libby Curran.
With the last film finally released, the Harry Potter juggernaut has finally ground to a halt. No more books. No more films. For many fans it marks the end of childhood and for a few people, it will thankfully mean the end of acting careers. Sure, JK Rowling has moved the empire online with Pottermore, but for many, the magic is gone. If you find life a little empty without Hogwarts perhaps you should give quidditch a try. The muggle version is a little like lacrosse or handball, but with broomsticks, and an extra person dressed in yellow playing the role of the snitch. Some Australian universities have founded teams, and there's talk of a trans-Tasman competition. All eyes will soon be on the 5th annual quidditch world cup, contested by American colleges and teams from around the world, being held in New York in November. The event has been described by Fox sports as "a cross between the superbowl and a medieval festival" and although people might dress up to go along, the competition on the field is fast-paced and hotly contested.
You probably already know about TED. Influential invitees pay to listen, question and chat to interesting speakers from science, theoretical physics, technology, the humanities ... anything. If it has a cutting edge, people talk about it at TED. The talks are engaging and addictive. In 2006, TED began to open up its conferences to outsiders. First making streamed and podcast videos available of the main California event, then acting as a bright, forward thinking umbrella for satellite TEDx conferences around the world. TEDx Sydney itself got going last year. In the small hours of the morning, TEDx Sydney is screening the second day of the main California conference live at TED live for free in the Bondi Pavillion Theatre. Speakers include Supersize Me's Morgan Spurlock, often richest person in the world Bill Gates and director of Frida and a new effects-heavy version of the Tempest, Julie Taymor. Also speaking are Sydney local and big historian David Christian and Nigerian development worker Amina Az-Zubair. And in the middle of it all we are promised a surprise guest. So if you can do your deep thinking at three in the morning — or wish you could — watching TED by the beach is the place to be. Image by Los Cardinalos.
The name might not ring a bell, but his creations would certainly be familiar. Yoram Gross is the man behind classic cartoons such as Blinky Bill and Dot and the Kangaroo. Now, rather than telling the tale of a mischievous koala, he is publishing his own memoirs. As is often the case, fact can be more interesting than fiction. As a Jewish boy in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II, Gross was forced to move between over 70 hideouts, even passing himself off as a séance host. After the war he settled in Israel, where he became an award-winning film maker, and in 1968 he was on the move again, this time heading to Australia with his family where he would eventually create some of the country’s most iconic cartoon characters. Looking back on the films — if you need a recap Blinky Bill has his peaceful bush home destroyed by invading humans and must rescue his mother from captivity, Dot is lost in the bush and must rely on her new animal friends to find her way home — it is enlightening to see the stories with adult eyes, recognising that the light-hearted adventures that entertained us as children have much more serious layers with their roots in Gross’ own experiences. As his life, and his films show, you can always make the best of a bad situation. And you should enjoy the kangaroo rides while you can! My Animated Life is published by Brandl & Schlesinger.
First it was The Guardian. Then came The Huffington Post. And now The New York Times is the latest international publication to launch in Australia. After vague affirmations that the daily newspaper was looking to expand into Australia in August last year, the Times has today — Tuesday, May 2 — officially launched a Sydney bureau and, with it, extended coverage of news and issues that affect Australians. Unlike The Guardian and HuffPost, the The New York Times' Australian coverage will not have its own edition, but will be integrated into its global site. The addition of an Australian newsroom — which is being led by Damien Cave, who was the publication's deputy national editor in the US — will serve to insert Australian issues into the global agenda. This new coverage, which kicks off today, will include news, investigations, opinion pieces and cultural coverage. The New York Times Australia coverage can be found under the world section of the site. Though the Times works on a subscription model, Australians have unlimited access the site for free until May 8.
You are about to hear one of the most beautiful combinations of three words in history: Australian Beer Festival. That's right ladies and gentlemen, The Australian Heritage Hotel's celebration of all things beer is back, taking over the pub's section of Cumberland Street in The Rocks to give you three glorious days of beer connoisseuring that only comes around once a year. Returning for its ninth rendition, the festival will kick off at 4pm on Friday, October 18, and serve until 8pm. It will then reopen from noon-8pm on Saturday and noon-6 on Sunday. Featuring 24 Australian brewers serving more than 100 well-established and lesser-known boutique brews, the festival comes with no shortage of choice. Brewers have been challenged to make beers unique to the festival, so expect to try something different. Whilst beer is the drink of the day, a host of ciders will also be on offer to taste, catering for those of us who prefer a fruitier tinge to our alcoholic beverages. There will also be live entertainment and education sessions throughout the festival, including Meet the Brewer, allowing you to learn how your favourite delicious drinks are made. Whilst entry to the Australian Beer Festival is free, drinks can only be purchased with vouchers. We strongly advise pre-purchasing tickets so that you do not have to spend any of your precious tasting time in the queue. Ten vouchers cost only $15 and are available through Stickytickets. PS If you are worried about food, The Australian will be serving their famous gourmet pizzas.
On May 20, 2011, 500 people will explore the Stephen A. Schwarzman building of the New York Public Library (NYPL) from dusk 'til dawn in a new interactive game allowing players to become an author by sunrise. Find the Future is an overnight adventure where participants have specific missions and objectives to complete through the secret underground stacks of the library, where over 40 miles of books are housed. By the end of the excursion the group will have collaboratively written an entire book that will be published and entered into the permanent collection of the NYPL. Participants will observe over 100 objects of monumental significance to mankind and learn over 100 untold stories that are aimed to inspire creativity and encourage people to realize their dreams and goals for their own lives. The entry form to become one of the first lucky few to begin the Find the Future quest asks individuals to imagine a vivid picture of their future and then create a goal to achieve by the year 2021. The most original and determined entries will be selected for the overnight stay. Following the debut on the 20th, anyone can play the game during regular library hours at the NYPL, or online from anywhere in the world, to make history by finding their future.
