May has the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, June boasts the Delta Aquariids and December welcomes the Geminids. In November, however, it's Leonids time. Arriving at the end of spring in Australia and New Zealand, the Leonids may not be quite as well known as some of its counterparts, but it's still a shower worth looking up for. And it's famous for one impressive reason: its spectacular meteor storms. It can feature more than 1000 meteors per hour, but it only occurs around every 33 years — and, sadly, the most recent occurred in 2001. Still, while you won't spy that kind of intense onslaught in 2020, you will still see meteors. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts there'll be around five per hour hurtling across the heavens on average. At its peak, timeanddate.com predicts 15 per hour. In good news for those Down Under, the Leonids can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere. Although it runs from Friday, November 6 until Monday, November 30, it's best detected between Saturday, November 14 and Friday, November 20 — and it's expected to be at its peak between Tuesday, November 17 and Wednesday, November 18. Like many astronomical shows, catching an eyeful after midnight is recommended (aka when the moon has set and its light will not interfere). Named for the constellation of Leo, which is where it appears to radiate from in the sky, the Leonids aren't just renowned for its huge showers approximately three times each century, but also for its place in history. During the storm of 1833, it has been estimated that more than 100,000 meteors streamed across the sky per hour — and, as a result, the Leonids helped play a part in the formulation of the first theory about the origin of meteors, NASA notes. The Leonids stem from the Comet Tempel–Tuttle, which was actually first officially recognised after the famous meteor shower of 1833 — in 1866, in fact. And, if you're wondering why the Leonids' storms only hit every 33 years or so, that's because that's how long it takes for the comet to orbit around the sun. [caption id="attachment_751114" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The peak of the 2009 Leonids meteor shower. Image: Navicore via Wikicommons.[/caption] For your best chances of getting a glimpse, the usual advice applies. Get as far away from bright lights as possible — this could be a good excuse to head out of the city to a clear-skied camping spot — and pray for no clouds. And, given that the Leonids originate from the Leo constellation, that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. To locate Leo, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). The Leonids meteor shower is best detected between Saturday, November 14 and Friday, November 20. Top image: Mike Lewinski via Flickr.
"I will find you. No matter what it takes." So promises Squid Game protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, Deliver Us From Evil) in the clip that fans of the Netflix sensation have been waiting for for years: the first proper glimpse at what's in store when the series finally returns for its second season. One of the best new TV programs of 2021, Squid Game was such a huge smash that Netflix confirmed at the beginning of 2022 that more was on the way, and also dropped a teaser trailer for it the same year — but, it didn't include any footage of what's to come. The platform then announced new cast members in 2023, which came with a video; however, again, it wasn't a real sneak peek. To help start 2024, the service has finally unveiled a scene from the show's upcoming return, which it has already confirmed will stream sometime this year. The snippet of Squid Game season two is brief, arriving in a broader trailer for Netflix's slate for the year — as it releases every 12 months. In the footage, Seong Gi-hun, aka player 456, answers a phone call while at the airport with his newly crimson locks. He's soon told "you're going to regret the choice you've made". Cue his statement of vengeance; Squid Game meets John Wick, anyone? There's no other new information on season two right now — including no exact release date — but Netflix has also dropped a few images from the forthcoming episodes, complete with neon hues, those pivotal red outfits and familiar symbols. As already revealed, Lee Byung-hun (The Magnificent Seven) is also back as the masked Front Man. With Lee Jung-jae, he's joined by Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) as detective Hwang Jun-ho, plus Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place. A show about a deadly competition that has folks battling for ridiculous riches comes with a hefty bodycount, which means that new faces were always going to be essential in Squid Game season two. Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) have all joined the series. New photos from Squid Game Season 2 -- coming this year. Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), Recruiter (Gong Yoo) and Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), and a new character played by Park Gyu-young. pic.twitter.com/8xRC1EvQPr — Netflix (@netflix) February 1, 2024 If you somehow missed all things Squid Game when it premiered, even after it became bigger than everything from Stranger Things to Bridgerton, the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning series serves up a puzzle-like storyline and unflinching savagery, which unsurprisingly makes quite the combination. It also steps into societal divides within South Korea, a topic that wasn't invented by Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's excellent Oscar-winning 2019 thriller, but has been given a boost after that stellar flick's success. Accordingly, it's easy to see thematic and narrative parallels between Parasite and Squid Game, although Netflix's highly addictive series goes with a Battle Royale and Hunger Games-style setup. Here, 456 competitors are selected to work their way through six seemingly easy children's games. They're all given numbers and green tracksuits, they're competing for 45.6 billion won, and it turns out that they've also all made their way to the contest after being singled out for having enormous debts. Netflix turned the show's whole premise into an IRL competition series as well, which debuted in 2023 — without any murders, of course. Squid Game: The Challenge has already been picked up for a second season. Check out Netflix's teaser for Squid Game season below: Introducing the very first look at SQUID GAME SEASON 2. Coming this year. pic.twitter.com/fzRzdtHRDY — Netflix (@netflix) February 1, 2024 Squid Game season two will stream via Netflix sometime in 2024. We'll update you when an exact release date is announced. Images: Netflix.
For many designers, their work is developed through experimentation with new materials, while for others their entire body of work is dedicated to exploring the potential of only one. Jan Gunneweg falls into that latter category, and his material of choice is wood. Gunneweg's workshop in the Netherlands is filled with beautifully crafted traditional wooden objects, such as benches, desks and tables. However, it is also filled with some fairly non-traditional ones, including sunglasses, which he creates by hand. His wooden bicycles, though, have garnered Gunneweg the most attention of late. Gunneweg's bikes are both technically and aesthetically beautiful, as well as practical, and are made out of solid walnut or birchwood. And while Genneweg's has plans to produce bikes which are far easier (and cheaper) to make, assemble and ship overseas, at present he is only making to order. Understandably too, as each takes between 160 and 200 man hours to create. Quite an impressive labour of love, and a rather nice way to get around town this summer - especially if you can afford the matching sunglasses.
During this summer's catastrophic bushfire season, flames encroached on Bundanon and Riversdale, the 1100-hectare properties that were gifted to the Australian public by by artist Arthur Boyd and his wife Yvonne Boyd back in 1993. Located in the Shoalhaven region on the New South Wales south coast, the heritage-listed sites were thankfully saved, as was the art collection within them — and now work is underway on their huge new bushland gallery. While the new addition to Riversdale was first announced back in 2018, this week marked the start of construction, with the gallery due for completion by the end of 2021 in time for an early 2022 opening. Well aware of its location and the climate conditions it faces, it'll welcome a purpose-built, 380-square-metre 'environmentally prepared gallery-of-the-future' — which'll be designed to ramp up the site's fire defenses, complete with a safe storage facility. With work underway — and new renders revealed, providing another glimpse of what the scenic spot will look like in two years — the Federal Government announced that it's also providing additional funding to help improve the properties' resilience. Specifically, it has earmarked $300,000 for the installation of an ember suppression system to protect the location's significant heritage-listed buildings. They include the Arthur Boyd Homestead, studio, artists-in-residence and musician cottages, and the art collection store. Costing $33 million in total, with $22 million supplied by the Australian Government and $8.6 million coming the NSW Government, the new site will house a huge art collection valued at $43 million. That hefty range spans around 4000 items, including more than 1300 works by Arthur Boyd himself. Pieces by Pablo Picasso, Francisco Goya and Brett Whiteley are also part of the collection — items that, at present, are on display in the existing Bundanon Homestead and in Arthur Boyd's studio, When the Boyds gave the rural site to the Australian public back more than a quarter-century ago, Bundanon and Riversdale became a haven for creativity, arts and education, as well as remaining a working farm. That's all remaining the same — just with the new addition built into the hillside. That said, although the new gallery is the main attraction — boasting windows that frame the artwork with glimpses of the natural splendour outside, it promises to provide quite the sight — that's not all that's being added to the property. Also under construction is a 140-metre-long by nine-metre-wide structure that'll branch out of the gallery, into a bridge spanning across the bushland and parkland, and across to 34 bedrooms, a teaching and dining space, and a public cafe. Stepped terraces, an openair arrival hall and an outdoor learning space are also planned. The Bundanon Trust's new gallery is due to open in early 2022 in Illaroo, New South Wales. For further information, visit the Bundanon Trust website. Images: Kerstin Thompson Architects.
The chance to watch a comedian do stand-up in front of a dimly lit brick wall in Brooklyn is a dream out of reach for most of us. But which American is about to make that all change? It's Rick James, bitch. No wait, It's Dave Chappelle. Most known for his television series Chapelle's Show, the comedian, screenwriter, actor and television and film producer will be hitting Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth for his very first tour outside of North America. Now 40 years old, Chappelle's been performing since he was 14 and was tossed under the spotlight for his parodies of American culture, racial stereotyping and politics. Chappelle's most recent tour sold out venues all over the U.S. and Canada. So don't leave tickets to the last minute; shows like these don't often come knocking on Australian doors. Chappelle is playing the Sydney Opera House on March 4 and the State Theatre on March 5 and 6. Tickets for all shows go on sale 9am this Tuesday, January 28, with presale options released on Friday 24 via Live Nation.
Sweet Christmas alert: when festive season gets into full swing for 2023, Wonka will bring its treats to the big screen. Here, Roald Dahl's chocolatier gets an origin story from writer/director Paul King and his co-scribe Simon Farnaby, who were also behind the wonderful Paddington films — with Timothée Chalamet making the goods and Hugh Grant getting bantering as an Ooompa-Loompa. He's had his heart broken during a lusty Italian summer, romanced Saoirse Ronan in a Greta Gerwig film not once but twice, spiced up his life in a sci-fi saga and sported a taste for human flesh. Now Chalamet is singing and dancing into a world of sugar. For everyone keen to see a new take on a childhood favourite starring one of the internet's boyfriends, Wonka will hit cinemas Down Under on Thursday, December 14 — and both the initial trailer and the just-dropped latest sneak peek are big on whimsy and pure imagination. First gracing the page almost six decades back, in 1964 when Charlie and the Chocolate Factory initially hit print, Willy Wonka has made the leap to cinemas with Gene Wilder playing the part in 1971, then Johnny Depp in 2005. The difference this time: not just Chalamet making sweet treats, but a film that swirls in the details of Wonka's life before the events that've already been laid out in books and filled two movies. The picture's main man has a dream — and, after spending the past seven years travelling the world perfect his craft, he's willing to get inventive to make it come true. Starting a chocolate business isn't easy, especially when the chocolate cartel doesn't take kindly to newcomers, selling choccies at an affordable price and sharing their wares with the masses. From there, brainwaves, optimism, determination, wild and wonderful Wonka inventions, and life-changing choices all spring, plus big vats of chocolate, chocolate that makes you fly — and Willy's dedication to making "the greatest chocolate shop the world has ever seen". Also accounted for: a mood of wonder, and not just due to the umbrella-twirling dream sequences and cane-whirling dance scenes in the first trailer, or the leaps through fairy floss and chats with Grant's (Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves) Lofty. Indeed, the magical tone doesn't just fit the tale; it's exactly what King and Farnaby spun when they were celebrating a marmalade-loving bear. King helmed and penned both Paddington movies, while Farnaby also did the latter on the second (and acted in each). The duo worked together on wonderful and underseen 2009 film Bunny and the Bull as well, and on The Mighty Boosh, of which King directed 20 episodes. On-screen, Wonka's cast is as jam-packed as a lolly bag, with Chalamet and Grant joined by Farnaby (The Phantom of the Open), as well as Olivia Colman (Heartstopper), Sally Hawkins (The Lost King), Keegan-Michael Key (The Super Mario Bros Movie), Rowan Atkinson (Man vs Bee), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey: A New Era) and Natasha Rothwell (Sonic the Hedgehog 2). Yes, you'll want a golden ticket to this. Check out the latest trailer for Wonka below: Wonka releases in cinemas Down Under on December 14, 2023.
It's no small thing moving away from home to another country. If that's you, we've no doubt that you've experienced bouts of homesickness, laggy Skype conversations, and fond daydreams of your favourite meal from home. Luckily, one of the best things about Australia is the number of different cultures that live here, and they're all pretty good at bringing bits of home with them – like food. The restaurants we frequent on takeaway nights often provide someone else with a little slice of home. If you're one of our treasured expats living in Sydney, here's our guide to finding authentic treats that taste like home. If you're born and bred, here's how you can travel to the UK, China, South East Asia, South Africa and India – through your mouth. [caption id="attachment_587735" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @susan.ng.522 via Instagram.[/caption] CHINESE South Sydney suburb Beverly Hills is generally the place to go for a good Chinese meal, but restaurant Friendship Oriental steps up the nostalgia another notch here. Think fresh seafood from their tanks, seafood congee, XO sauce times and generally delicious and authentic Hong Kong-flavoured fare. It's open until 2am for those post-midnight cravings. [caption id="attachment_587732" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @immelisa via Instagram.[/caption] SOUTH-EAST ASIAN This is not a drill – bring your own mud crab to Malacca Straits on Broadway and they'll abide and cook it for you. Their food will appease your Malaysian cravings and heat up your soul. Battambang in Cabramatta will serve you up some Khmer food, full of the noodle soups and fish common to the cuisine, with iced coffees only $2.50. Or, if you want the taste of rice paper rolls in your mouth, Hai Au Lang Nuong in Canley Vale has you sorted. Try their fish specialties, suckling pig soup, or for the brave, there are the durian and jackfruit milkshakes. [caption id="attachment_587729" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @jodiandharley via Instagram.[/caption] BRITISH Who says the Brits don't do food well? Only those who have never eaten in a British pub. The East Village Hotel in Balmain has warm fuzzy pub feels you'll ever need and huge servings of Sunday roasts. It doesn't mess with a good thing (traditional British pub food) and serves up mouthwatering, classic roast dinners on Sundays. It's all really about the Yorkshire pudding, yeah? [caption id="attachment_587719" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @yujin_chloe_park via Instagram.[/caption] SOUTH AFRICAN Lucky Tsotsi Shebeen and Bar does South African food especially for sharing and snacking. Their menu oozes old-school, meaty goodness to make you go "aaah". Head to Darlinghurst to check out their chicken livers peri peri – they're "rich, dark and hot" and apparently to be eaten in private so you can shed tears if you like. [caption id="attachment_587741" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @twee_tee via Instagram.[/caption] INDIAN Excuse us, but is there anything more nourishing for the soul (if not the arteries) than a big spicy curry? Specialising in tandoori cooking, Faheem Fast Food in Enmore has a curry menu that'll have you over ordering and pre-removing your belt – the chicken section of the menu alone is exceptional, but they also do brain. If you're an expat living in Australia, World First can help you transfer your money back home quickly, securely and at rates better than the banks. Top image: nezuki via Instagram.
Two Spiegeltents, two labyrinths and close to two hundred events are part of the program for Sydney Festival 2015. A happy 85 of the events are free this year, so it's looking like a long, wallet-friendly summer. "What’s really special about Sydney Festival is the diverse programming, with the best local and international artists from high arts — opera, theatre, and contemporary dance — to circus and family shows," says festival director Lieven Bertels. "Sydney Festival gives audiences the perfect excuse to celebrate the city in summer." Music Music at Sydney Festival has doubled this year, with Domain concerts, Spiegeltent gigs and late-night parties dominating the program. Latin and South American tunes take centre stage, from The Life Aquatic-popularised Brazilian legend Seu Jorge to Afro-Brazilian hip hop powerhouse Karol Conka and Argentinian WTF genre-spanners Frikstailers. Beats stake their claim as festival favourites this year, from Warp Records legend Nightmares on Wax to Young Turks’ Oneman, while strummers like #1 Dads and Kim Gordon’s Body/Head take things up a notch from the myriad of female folk artists on the bill — Alela Diane, Olivia Chaney, Jessica Pratt, Tiny Ruins. Anna Von Hausswolff takes to the Sydney Town Hall grand organ supported by NZ’s Aldous Harding, Moroccan trance dancers Fez Hamadcha explore Sufi sounds, co-founder of The Saints Ed Kuepper delves into a retrospective, while Ben Frost and Tim Hecker team up for a co-headline show at the Opera House. Then Tex Perkins plays Johnny Cash tunes at the historic Parramatta Gaol (check out the Parramatta program, announced yesterday over here), while Gotye realises the music of William Onyeabor with members of LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip, among others. Sydney Festival’s love for the eclectic ‘who the hell?’ wildcards shines once more, from frenetic Barcelona multi-layering duo ZA! to the unexpected J-pop-meets-noise-pop team-up of Salyu and Cornelius. International hype cards How to Dress Well, Omar Souleyman, Wye Oak and return SydFester Dan Deacon are sure to get punters' paws rubbing. Giving local artists a sophisticated SydFest high-five, one third of the program features Australian musicians. Raise a plastic cup to the likes of Client Liaison, Kirin J Callinan and Firekites among the big Tex Perkins/Gotye guns. Public Art Home to much of the festival's music, two Spiegeltents will be anchoring the expanding Festival Village, one of the real successes of last year and a true hub for hanging out in. Also within it will be a huge-scale art work from Ireland's answer to Banksy, street artist Maser. The maze-like, colour-splashed, two-storey-high installation, called Higher Ground, is said to be "a dream come true for those who always wished they could step inside a painting", and will be the focus of everyone's Instagramming this festival (which for the first time in two years, is Rubber Duck-less). Maser will be the artist-in-residence at the Village, though as he operates in anonymity, we don't expect to see too much of him. Other highlights among art installations include the must-ride Waterfall Swing at Darling Harbour, a giant swing that sends you flying towards a curtain of water that, thanks to the work of sensors, parts just before you hit it. Over at Carriageworks is another super-enticing labyrinthine experience, Inside There Falls (by UK-based Mira Calix), an immersive, tissue-paper environment you walk through, guided by haunting audio and the occasional glimpse of dancers. Also at Carriageworks, you can watch the meditative, 45-minute SpongeBob SquareTimes, an accidentally shot video of a man in a SpongeBob suit trying to make friends in Times Square. Performance Another big pillar of the festival is international theatre, dance and performance works. This year the big draws are Belgium's Kiss & Cry, a cinematic romance performed by two hands (yes, hands); India's The Kitchen, a spectacle of cooking and drumming from the creator of The Manginyar Seduction; France and the UK's The Night Dances, a celebration of the words of Sylvia Plath and music of Benjamin Britten, performed by Charlotte Rampling; and France's On the Harmful Effects of Tabacco, a Chekov one-act comedy performed by Theatre Des Bouffes du Nord (former home of Peter Brook) with costumes by Christian Lacroix. These join the already announced Tabac Rouge, a festival centre piece from another French innovator, circus performer James Thierree. On the smaller and more experimental side, there's one-woman memory mission I Guess If the Stage Exploded and, told entirely through the contents of one man's shoebox, Wot? No Fish!!. There's plenty of Australian contributions too, of the likes of Kate Mulvany's Masquerade, Force Majeure's Nothing to Lose, ambitious multimedia ethical exploration The Experiment and the return of the folks from Alvin Sputnik for Falling Through Clouds. On the circus side of things, the new Aurora Spiegeltent will be home to both last year's Limbo and new minimal circus artists A Simple Space, while the USA's Wau Wau Sisters lead the cabaret lineup. Those still holding a torch for the iconic Festival First Night will have to keep holding it; there's no sign of its return any time soon. Absent that inclusive and accessible event, hit up Sounds in the Domain, the Festival Village and the POP Parramatta Opening Party for free outdoor shenanigans. The 2015 Sydney Festival is on from January 8-26. Multipack tickets go on sale on October 24 (tomorrow!) at 9am, and will get you nice discounts. Single tickets go on sale on October 27 at 9am. To buy tickets and check out the full program, see the festival website. By Rima Sabina Aouf and Shannon Connellan.
Batman. Superman. Wonder Woman. Aquaman. Ask someone to name a DC superhero and one of these figures might be their first response. They're the characters that've also been anchoring the big screen's DC Extended Universe for the past decade. Shazam, Harley Quinn, Black Adam and The Flash each scored movies bearing their monikers over that period — some have popped up in Justice League and not one but two Suicide Squad flicks as well — but the franchise's best-recognised players still remain unchanged. Enter Blue Beetle, which brings a lesser-known caped crusader to picture palaces, but one that dates back 84 years on the page to 1939. The DCEU's 14th entry also achieves a feat that no other caped-crusader film has before it, among the company's own flicks or the rival Marvel Cinematic Universe. It shouldn't have taken a decade since this specific franchise began, and 15 years after the MCU initially arrived, for the first live-action superhero movie with a Latino lead to hit. This important achievement shouldn't be forgotten from here on in, either. Blue Beetle's significance isn't lost on filmmaker Ángel Manuel Soto, who leaps from 2015 Puerto Rican drama La Granja and 2020 Sundance Film Festival standout Charm City Kings to helming Hollywood history. It isn't the type of feature he ever saw himself making, but it's an opportunity that he's wholeheartedly embraced. As he tells Jaime Reyes' (Xolo Maridueña, Cobra Kai) tale, charting his journey from ordinary Mexican American twenty something to Spider-Man-meets-Venom-meets-Iron Man-style hero, he tells of Latinx culture, of the importance of family, and of everyday experiences and struggles. Indeed, as he explains to Concrete Playground, that's the only way he could ever envisage spinning this story. Accordingly, this is a caped-crusader flick that nods to 90s telenovela María la del Barrio, shoots a crucial scene like an immigration raid and knows how difficult keeping secrets can be in close Latinx families where the bonds of blood are everything. In dialogue around Jaime's name, it references Ángel's own experience having his moniker mispronounced daily. With a scientist played by What We Do in the Shadows' Harvey Guillén, it calls out racist tendencies to give everyone from a particular culture the same term. Again and again, Blue Beetle grounds its narrative in authentic details, all as Jaime comes into contact with an alien gadget that turns him into the titular figure. And, it does so with its protagonist's mother Rocio (Elpidia Carrillo, Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities), father Alberto (Damián Alcázar, Acapulco), sister Milagro (Belissa Escobedo, Hocus Pocus 2), Nana (Adriana Barraza, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels) and uncle Rudy (George Lopez, Lopez vs Lopez) always by his side. With Blue Beetle in cinemas Down Under, we chatted to Soto about his journey from adoring cinema to his latest film, his approach to introducing a Latino lead to the superhero genre, building in that crucial authenticity and making a family drama as much as a save-the-world feature. ON THE JOURNEY FROM GROWING UP LOVING MOVIES TO DIRECTING A SUPERHERO FILM "I never saw myself making a movie like this. It's still — I have to pinch myself all the time because after Charm City Kings, I didn't know it was going to cause the impact that it did, and I didn't know it was going to draw that much attention. Because at the end of the day, I try to do everything out of love and and passion, especially for the communities that I represent in my films. Having a movie like this happen was very humbling. Being able to also tell stories that I want to tell within the superhero genre is something that I'm going to be forever grateful for to the guys at DC, because they respected the stories that I wanted to tell. At the same time, it gave me another another stepping stone in in my career to explore this passion that I have for my craft in a genre that's so beloved by many." ON MAKING THE THE FIRST LIVE-ACTION SUPERHERO MOVIE WITH A LATINO LEAD "That that was probably the reason why I accepted to do it — because it was introducing a Latino character to the DC world. It being the first live-action Latino superhero [film], I felt a great responsibility and an opportunity at the same time to be able to tell our stories in a way that is reflected through the lens and the eyes of a Latino as well. It helped a lot to have the writer, Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, be from Querétaro in Mexico. And he bringing his own authenticity to the script, and me coming with my experiences from Puerto Rico. And working together to create something that felt authentic to our experiences growing up — and translating that into Jaime Reyes and Blue Beetle, that made it very easy for us. The whole team was onboard, and casting the right talents, and having them be from Mexico as well, was part of the plan. So we wanted to do it the right way. We cannot tell the story of of every Latino in the world, because one, we're not a monolith, and two, we're too many. But being able to tell at least one story of those, our hope is to hear and see and enjoy other stories from all over Latin America as well." [caption id="attachment_918339" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Blue Beetle[/caption] ON BUILDING AUTHENTICITY INTO EVEN THE SMALLEST OF EXCHANGES AND DETAILS "Well, the truth is that the ongoing joke with Jaime is something that I experience daily. My name is Ángel. Some people call me Angel [Ángel pronounces it like the spiritual being]. Some people call me 'on-hell'. Some people call me Angel [Ángel pronounces it 'angle']. And the whole thing of trying to explain my name and how to pronounce it phonetically, it's a daily thing, so we wanted to to have fun with that and show what we have to deal with all the time. Also, the way Victoria Kord [Blue Beetle's villainous CEO, as played by Maybe I Do's Susan Sarandon] treats Sanchez [her chief scientist, as played by Guillén] is something that as Latinos — and this happens with other communities as well — sometimes they they try to minimise us by calling us one name. You know, like "hey Jose, come here Jose", with a little bit of a racist, biased joke behind them. But we wanted to to really showcase in the case Doctor Sanchez that there is power to our name. And there's an individual power that everybody has, and our name carries that. Because our name comes from, especially in our culture — like, I go through Ángel Manuel Soto Vázquez — we have both our parents names. For us that means a lot because we honour our ancestors, and we try to go as far back as we can and wear that name with pride because we would never be where we are without them. So it was very important to to give Doctor Sanchez that arc, because when he says his name, that's when he gets empowered, and that's when he actually becomes his hero of his story." ON MAKING A FAMILY DRAMA AS MUCH AS A SUPERHERO FILM "It was definitely very important for us to to tell the story of the whole family. We wanted to do a fresh take on the superhero origin story. And the writer and I, we were very keen to treat the first act like Latin cinema, where we spend time with our characters, with their environment, where you get to know bits and pieces of everyone so that before all the action starts to happen you're already invested — not only in in our superhero, not only in our main character Jaime, you're also invested with the family. Because how they relate and everything that they're going to end up giving to the story and to the character of Blue Beetle, it's as important as the hero himself. Another thing that we wanted to flip on its head a little bit is the fact that most superheroes, what happens to them happens in secret. And they keep this secret from their family, you know to protect them — and it does make sense. But both the writer and my experience is that it's very hard to keep a secret from a Latino mother — and my parents and my family, they're very nosy. They still are. It was crazy for us to think that the family wouldn't have any involvement in the creation of the superhero. Like I mentioned before, what our parents and our ancestors have done for us make us who we are, and we wanted to honour that. So we really felt that that was something that we wanted to protect — and not just in terms of like teachings or mentorship; we also wanted them to have an active participation in the success of our hero, giving them all heroic arcs as they end up protecting and saving Jaime. Part of that comes from the fact that we feel that way about our family. They're not just passive bystanders, they're actually active components to who we are and how far we're able to go. But also in this whole family adventure, we wanted every single family member from the youngest sister to the oldest grandfather to see themselves also in a movie that treats them with respect, but also sees them as heroes — so they can see themselves as heroes, too. And to that end, we really focused it on trying to be like 'let's make this into a family adventure that does have these superhero elements'. And as an introduction to the world of Jaime and Blue Beetle, we felt like this is a beautiful first act to what his whole journey is going to be." Blue Beetle opened in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on July 27. Read our review.
More than once in Heartstopper, a question drifts from the lips of the Netflix series' British teens, asking something that every adolescent has contemplated. That query: "why are we like this?", pondering why hitting puberty always brings an utter lack of elegance with emotions, identity, relationships and expressing yourself. It can't be answered in any satisfactory way, but in this delightful streaming newcomer — with an eight-part first season that's become a must-see within a week of hitting the platform — what that question isn't referencing is also crucial. The LGBTQIA+-championing show doesn't ever have its gay, trans and bisexual characters pointlessly wonder why they love who they love or feel how they feel, welcomely, refreshingly and heartwarmingly so. That's enough to earn the series its title; for viewers, plenty about this webcomic-to-page-to-screen charmer will cause entranced tickers to miss a beat. Within the story, though, it takes mere minutes for Heartstopper to warrant its name — showing rather than telling, as all great art should. A year ten student at Truham Grammar School for Boys, Charlie Spring (first-timer Joe Locke) finds himself seated in his form class next to year 11 rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor, Little Joe) at the start of a new term. Sparks fly on the former's part, swiftly and overwhelmingly, as a crush and then a life-changing love story is born. It's not the only moment that'll make Charlie pause, his heart all a-flutter and his cheeks a-glow — or any of the show's figures for that matter — but it leaves an imprint that sets Heartstopper's astutely endearing tone. Nodding to the series' graphic-novel origins, Charlie and Nick's first meetings inspire a flurry of hand-drawn animated hearts on-screen, illustrating how we all know that such an experience feels. The cute twinkling imagery is such a small but pivotal touch, used to illuminate small yet essential moments, and couldn't be more perfect. Others that follow, all also flawless: lightning bolts, flowers, stars and rainbows, all whizzing around when the sweetest of emotions run high. Everything isn't all rainbows for Charlie and Nick, narrative-wise, though — although the colour scheme favoured by director Euros Lyn (Dream Horse) goes heavy on pink lighting, blue and yellow school walls, the green grass of sports fields, and violet-hued clothing. In Heartstopper's opening episode, Charlie has a secret boyfriend, Ben Hope (Sebastian Croft, Doom Patrol). Their clandestine rendezvous in empty classrooms aren't his choice, but Ben won't even acknowledge Charlie in public. He's also cruel, rude and demanding without ever caring about Charlie's feelings, and filled with loathing about his sexuality — and fear that he might be found out. Thankfully, Charlie realises that he deserves much, much better, including with Nick's help. Also an issue: Charlie hardly thinks of himself as sporty, even after Nick asks him to join the school rugby team because he's super-fast at running. That train of thought speaks to a lifetime of self-doubt, with Nick telling Charlie to stop apologising for, well, everything — and Charlie's high-drama best friend Tao (fellow debutant William Gao) describing him as having "a tendency to believe him just existing is annoying for other people". Accordingly, while a friendship quickly solidifies between Heartstopper's central duo, Charlie is initially unsure whether anything more can happen. And, after spending a year being bullied by homophobic classmates after coming out — often hiding in the art room at lunch with a kindly teacher (Fisayo Akinade, Atlanta) to escape — he's anxiety-riddled in general. The nervy Charlie and calm-and-collected Nick — a self-described "gay nerd" among "borderline outcasts" and Truham's rugby king — don't simply cycle through an opposites-attract scenario, thankfully. This is an upbeat, soaring and joyful tale, too; yet another take on Romeo and Juliet, it definitely isn't. Heartstopper's focus: all those things that Charlie, Nick, Tao, recently out trans pal Elle (Yasmin Finney), her lesbian school friends Tara (Corinna Brown, Daphne) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), and the quietly happy-go-lucky Isaac (Tobie Donovan) navigate as they grapple with their feelings, working out what they want, self-acceptance, and relationships both romantic and platonic. The series isn't afraid of teen tropes or rom-com cliches, such as grand gestures in the pouring rain, blissful montages and the stress of text messages, but it also isn't willing to deliver anything other than a thoughtful and tender account of high schoolers being and finding themselves, even amid unavoidable teen angst and taunting. As well as writing Heartstopper's source material, Alice Oseman pens every episode of this perceptive gem, which bubbles with warmth, care and honey-coated emotions from the outset. Its coming-of-age story and central love story alike prove wholly relatable, aptly awkward but also wonderfully sweet and sensitive; Skins, Euphoria or either version of Gossip Girl it isn't, either. In short, it's a series that plunges so convincingly and inclusively into its characters' experiences that it feels like its heart is constantly bursting with affection for everything they do, want, hope for, dream of, pine over and go through. First crushes, young love, the swirling swell of feelings that comes with both and also figuring out who you are: all of this dances through Heartstopper's frames, and marvellously. Also, when Oscar-winner Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter) pops up, she's glorious as always — although her teen colleagues are truly the stars of the show. The first season of Heartstopper is available to stream via Netflix. Images: Rob Youngson/Netflix.
How do you solve a problem like Kings Cross? Well, that answer's clearly complicated, but there's one (very Sydney) good first step against which no-one can argue: have a festival. The Potts Point Partnership, with funding from state and local government, has announced plans for the inaugural Kings Cross Festival. It’s a big community that encompasses many visitors as well as residents of several intersecting suburbs, so it deserves a big community festival, to be held over five days from November 21-25. It’s a relaxed, spread-out sort of program that encourages you to spend a whole day in the district, your way. Special offers will be available in Kings Cross notable bars and restaurants — including Gastro Park, Barrio Chino, and Chez Dee — so you won't run out of fuel. The festival will be celebrating the arts in a big way, including with an Art Walk (Thursday evening/Saturday afternoon) led by Alaska Projects' Sebastian Goldspink that takes in the area's galleries, pop-ups, and artistic landmarks. Meanwhile, the natural pairing of 'Writers & Whisky' will see local writers chatting about their work at the Dandelion Bar. Among the more unique events are Gospel Sunday, which highlights the gospel music in local churches; the Seaside Family Picnic, held at Sydney's cutest marina, Beare Park; and Monica Goes to Rehab, a tribute to divas and drug use with the surprisingly rude ex-Playschool host Monica Trapaga. Under its festival director, iconoclastic Sydney Olympic Ceremonies co-creative director Ignatius Jones, the festival has an angle on the Kings Cross 'problem': embracing the area's contradiction. It celebrates a unique part of town that has for decades welcomed the creative, the genteel, and the deviant to sit "elbow to elbow without judgment".
Cocktail lists: sometimes it's difficult to narrow your choice down to one when all you really want to do is try them all, right? Luckily, the The Roosevelt Bar & Diner's new 'yum cha' cocktail nights every Thursday aim to let patrons sample a larger selection of drinks, with mini cocktails offered for $10 each. When owner Sven Almenning attended a yum cha dinner, he thought it would transfer wonderfully to a cocktail bar. "We love the fact that you don’t have to order anything and that drinks just constantly appear at your table for you to choose from," he says. Diverting from their usual a la carte service, the Roosevelt will offer a selection of cocktails based around a unifying theme. "In cocktail bars a lot of time can be spent perusing the menu, and as cocktails can be quite strong, many will only have a couple when they are out. At $10 each, the cocktails served are smaller, thus giving our guests the chance to sample a wider selection of drinks," says Almenning. Given that the elaborate drinks on the menu at luxe Roosevelt would usually set you back $20+ each, it's quite an appealing opportunity. Plus, with the 'three-sip' cocktails offered around on a roving trolley, the drinks come to you. "[We] feel it will inspire conversation more as less time is spent deciding and debating what to drink," he says. The first round of yum cha nights are inspired by the colourful past of King's Cross — a past that the original Roosevelt heavily contributed to. Some of the glamorous nightclubs and famous patrons will serve as the models for the drinks being passed around. The Carlotta Cocktail (a combination of citrus vodka, lemon, blueberry and sage) and the Whiskey a Go-Go (a cocktail that mixes scotch, kirsch, cherry brandy bitters and Fernet Branca) are just two interesting concoctions available for tasting. "The goal is to change themes and drinks every six weeks or so pending popularity," says Almenning. "We’re planning to put a selection of themes on Facebook for our guests to vote on in the next couple of weeks." Next time you pop into the Roosevelt on a Thursday night, sit back and let the bartenders make the difficult decisions for you. Cocktail Yum Cha is on every Thursday night at the Roosevelt (32 Orwell Street, Potts Point), commencing tonight, April 17.
Do you realise there are 17 different flavours of Vodka Cruiser? Raspberry, yes, but beyond that: melon, mulberry, something called 'ice', and diet bitter lemon (still saccharine, we're presuming). It's a specialised area of knowledge that's the preserve of the high-school aged, the drinking noobs, doing it loudly, colourfully, and — as A Current Affair constantly reminds us — badly. Now you can get reacquainted with this library of alco-pop flavours, and the art of appreciating them, with The Tender Age, which ruminates on that amid a wide range of under-20s knowledge: how to flirt online without scaring someone off, what it feels like to dance past the point your body's spent, what it's like to not be able to escape school bullies in a ubiquitously wired world. They're tackling the topics that get adults most in a tizz — sex, drugs, and social media — but with docu-theatre virtuosos Version 1.0 (The Table of Knowledge) and the Australian Theatre for Young People devising in collaboration, this is a notably non-hysterical, non-didactic and altogether incisive perspective on the conversation. It's a particularly great one for school groups and cross-generational theatre outings, but it also has a lot of merit as a piece of theatre that anyone negotiating the modern world can relate to. The prompt for the show was the infamous 2009 incident where a 14-year-old girl revealed she'd been raped while on-air for a gag on the Kyle and Jackie O Show. Transposed to the stage, it's still rawly stomach-turning, though it's not necessarily much connected with or illuminated by the work that unfolds. It's an outlier. Still, the bright, rough-and-tumble young cast (with two pretty cool adults among them) weave some telling scenes. They take the tack that the arrangement of moments of truth builds an argument of itself, and they're right. Appropriately, The Tender Age also makes some great, responsive use of technology, including from video artist Sean Bacon. It engages the audience and conveys much of the mood of constant social media surveillance. It's not quite the unbridled anarchy of Ontroerend Goed — there's still the feeling that this is a case of young people responding to an adult's questions rather than necessarily annunciating what concerns them — but The Tender Age clocks up a real achievement by not treating youth like a foreign land. If anything, the message is we're the same across generations. We repeat cycles of behaviour. Adults are just old young people who've had the privilege of not having their mistakes so thoroughly laid down on the public record.
Is your bookshelf filled with borrowed library paperbacks? You really should return them, you know. Do it this Saturday, September 1 and — provided you haven't racked up too many late fees — you can pick some books for keeps for as little as $1. From 10am, Ashfield Town Hall will be filled with a tonne of pre-loved books from the Inner West Council's eight public libraries. Sift through dog-eared novels, laminated travel books and food-stained cook books. The best part? If you're a member of any of the inner west libraries — that's Ashfield, Dulwich Hill, Balmain, Haberfield, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Stanmore and Sydenham — the books will only cost you one buck. If you're not, you can join online, otherwise books will be $2 each.
Huge music festivals are back, and Australia has the ever-growing gig calendar to prove it — and it just got even bigger. Get ready to hop into the mosh pit like its the 90s and early 00s at massive alternative, metal and punk music fest Good Things, which is living up to its name with its just-dropped 2022 lineup. Headlining the tour are Bring Me The Horizon and Deftones, plus NOFX — who'll be playing 1994's iconic album Punk In Drublic in full. They'll also be joined by The Amity Affliction, Gojira and Millencolin, spanning everything from Queensland favourites to infectious Swedish punk. Oh, and just none other than Australia's own TISM playing their first live shows in 19 years. Will TISM take to the stage naked? That's now the question of the summer. 'Tis the season — and the times in general — for Ron Hitler-Barassi and company to drop their clothes but keep their masks, after all. Whatever they're decked out in, or not, expect plenty of legendary Aussie songs. Expect to have 'Greg! The Stop Sign!', 'Whatareya' and 'Ol' Man River' stuck in your head right now as well, obviously. Good Things' impressive bill also features Kisschasy playing 2005's United Paper People in full, fellow Aussie faves Regurgitator — because, just like the 90s and 00s, it wouldn't be a festival without them — and Lacuna Coil, Soulfly, ONE OK ROCK, 3OH!3, Cosmic Psychos and more. The fest is headed to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane across three massive early December days, from Friday, December 2–Sunday, December 4. And whether you're a yob or a wanker, you'll want to be there. GOOD THINGS 2022 LINEUP: Bring Me The Horizon Deftones NOFX (performing Punk In Drublic in full) TISM The Amity Affliction Gojira ONE OK ROCK 3OH!3 Blood Command Chasing Ghosts Cosmic Psychos Electric Callboy Fever 333 Jinjer JXDN Kisschasy (performing United Paper People in full) Lacuna Coil Millencolin Nova Twins Polaris RedHook Regurgitator Sabaton Sleeping With Sirens Soulfly The Story So Far Thornhill GOOD THINGS 2022 DATES: Friday, December 2 — Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Saturday, December 3 — Centennial Park, Sydney Sunday, December 4 – Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Good Things will hit the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in December 2022. Pre-sale tickets go on sale from 10am, Tuesday, June 21, and general sales from 10am on Thursday, June 23. Head to the festival website for more info and to register for pre-sales.
Ever since Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness hit Netflix in mid-March, the docuseries has become a true-crime phenomenon. Given the story it tells, that's understandable. Focusing on former Oklahoma private zookeeper Joe Exotic, the show spins a 100-percent true tale filled with eccentric characters, wild animals, assassination plots, polygamy and bad mullets. By now, you've probably not only binged your way through the series, but also watched the Joel McHale-hosted special and spent too much time checking out Exotic's music videos. If you're like everyone else with a social media account, you've likely also devoted a few hours to picking who should play Exotic, his pals and his enemies in a dramatised version of the story — because, unsurprisingly, that's in the works. Actually, more than one take on the tale is heading to the small screen, and one of them has pulled off one helluva casting feat, enlisting none other than Nicolas Cage to play the blonde-haired tiger aficionado, one-time US presidential candidate and current incarcerated felon. As reported by Variety, Cage will step into Exotic's tight pants and flamboyant shirts, all in a scripted drama series that'll chart the latter's efforts "to keep his park even at the risk of losing his sanity". Think of it as the Joe Exotic origin story, chronicling how he took on that moniker, became a larger-than-life version of himself and found himself on his present path. While Exotic has received plenty of media attention in his time, particularly recently, this series will be based on Leif Reigstad's 2019 Texas Monthly article 'Joe Exotic: A Dark Journey Into the World of a Man Gone Wild'. American Vandal showrunner Dan Lagana will hold the same role on this yet-to-be-named Joe Exotic drama, as well as writing and executive producing — but the big news is obviously Cage's involvement. After making more than 100 on-screen projects across four decades, this is the first time he'll be starring in a TV show on a regular basis. Plus, the Vampire's Kiss, Face/Off, Con Air, Mandy and Color Out of Space actor isn't known for his subtlety, which makes him a perfect fit to play Exotic. Cage also has some recent experience with jungle animals, at least of the terrible CGI kind, thanks to 2019 action-drama Primal. It casts him as a big-game hunter chasing a rare white jaguar, which then gets loose on a ship alongside a notorious murderer — and yes, it's the type of over-the-top Cage film that has to be seen to be believed. Just who'll be co-starring with Cage — who'll no doubt be at his overacting best — is yet to be announced. While Kate McKinnon is set to play Carole Baskin, the rival animal park owner that Exotic is in prison for trying to have killed, that's happening in a different series about the whole saga. And, according to Rob Lowe's Instagram, there's another project in the works that'll feature him in a mullet, as produced by Glee, American Horror Story and Pose's Ryan Murphy. If you need a reminder as to why everyone's rushing to turn Exotic's story into a drama series, check out the Tiger King trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acTdxsoa428 The Nicolas Cage-starring, yet-to-be-named Joe Exotic series doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when further details are announced. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is available to stream on Netflix. Via Variety. Top image: Netflix.
Asghar Farhadi is not yet so passe, because the latest release to come from the Iranian director, The Past (or original title Le Passé to le snobs) looks as good as his 2012 Academy Award-winning A Separation. Dubbed an engrossing psychological drama about choice and responsibility, the critically acclaimed French film features Bérénice Bejo (The Artist), awarded Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her work in this film. The Past follows Bejo's Marie and her children, who are deserted by husband Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa) when he returns to his home in Iran. But in his absence, Samir (Tahar Rahim from The Prophet) hits the screen and, despite protests by her teenage daughter, Maria requests a divorce and Ahmad finds himself with renewed love for his estranged wife. The Past is in cinemas on February 6, and thanks to Madman Films, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
With COVID-19 testing ramping up in NSW over the past few weeks and new cases numbers dropping — with zero over the 24 hours from May 29–30 — the state is relaxing some more coronavirus-related restrictions from Monday, June 1. Just in time for the upcoming long weekend. As well as allowing regional travel within NSW, the state's cultural institutions can reopen and getting your nails done is back on the cards, too. Restaurants, bars and cafes are allowed up to 50 customers — and you can go out for just a drink. But there are, of course, some rules. So, what exactly can you do? We've broken it down. The below information is correct as of Monday, June 1. We'll update as any new announcements are made. Can I see my friends and family? Yes, visiting your friends and family has been considered a valid reason to leave your home since April 28. You're currently allowed up to five visitors in your home, which won't change from June 1. Limits on outdoor gatherings of up to ten people, which include socially distant picnics and yoga sessions, also remain. Can I have a dinner party? Yes, you can. At the moment you can have no more than five guests from outside your home, and that number remains. [caption id="attachment_653449" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shady Pines by Leticia Almeida[/caption] What about going out to restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes? Yep, parmas and pints are have been back on the table since May 15, when venues were allowed to open to up to ten people. From June 1, you can dine — or just drink — at bars, restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, distilleries, breweries and cellar doors, with venues allowed to have up to 50 (!) people as long as that does not exceed the one person per four-square-metre rule. Venues are also required to take your name and details for possible contact tracing and they are not able to take bookings for groups of more than ten. Premier Gladys Berejiklian has also previously said that all customers must be seated — ie. no leaning on the bar having a pint. You can check out all the Sydney venues that are reopening for dine-in service over here. Can I go to the gym? Indoor gyms, not yet. Outdoor gyms, yes — they reopened on May 15. Outdoor gatherings of up to ten are allowed, so bootcamps and small sporting competitions in a park are OK as long as social distancing guidelines are followed. What other exercise can I do? Canoeing, kayaking, SUP, rowing, lawns bowls, golfing and surfing are all allowed. Swimming pools — including ocean pools — are open with a maximum of ten people allowed in the pool at each time. But not all pools are open, so check before pulling on your togs. What about driving to go for a hike or bike ride? Yes, you're currently allowed to travel to national parks for hiking and other recreational activities. From June 1, you're even allowed to stay the night, too. We'll get to that next. [caption id="attachment_764519" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mimosa Rocks Destination NSW[/caption] Can I go on a holiday to a coastal/regional town? Yes — and just in time for the Queen's Birthday long weekend, too. With the new eased restrictions from Monday, June 1, there is no limit on the distance you can travel within NSW and overnight stays are permitted. So, Sydneysiders can now book an Airbnb, go camping or spend a night at a caravan park, but, there can be a maximum of ten people at a holiday home and all NSW National Parks campgrounds now require bookings. Need some inspo? Here are some of our favourite glamping retreats and beachside camping spots in NSW. What about a trip to the snow? The NSW ski season is allowed to start from Monday, June 22, with Thredbo planning to open on June 22, followed by Perisher on June 24 and Charlotte Pass on June 26. Unfortunately, Selwyn Snow Resort in Kosciuszko National Park will remain closed due to severe damage caused by this year's devastating bushfires. On the topic of KNP, the park will be partially closed to visitor's on the long weekend, with no access to the southern part. From June 22, you'll only be able to access the park with a pre-purchased lift ticket or a registered trip intention from from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services. Expect things to look a little different, though, with restrictions on lessons, equipment hire and the number of people allowed on lifts and T-bars — you can find out more over here. Or a trip overseas? Not yet. At the moment Australia's borders are closed, but the Federal Government has flagged the potential of trans-Tasman travel bubble in step three of the Roadmap to a COVIDSafe Australia — which could happen as early as July. [caption id="attachment_770825" align="alignnone" width="2000"] 'And Now' at White Rabbit Gallery by Kimberley Low[/caption] Will art galleries and museums be open? Yep, galleries, museums, libraries, zoos and aquariums are allowed to reopen for one person per four square metres. Most places are now requiring you to sign up for a free (or paid) timed ticket, so check the venue's website before heading in. What about going to the cinema? Drive-in cinemas are allowed to operate and there is no limit on the number of cars they can have. Sydney's one drive-in cinema Blacktown's Skyline Drive-In is showing screenings from Thursday–Sunday each week (plus a Monday night session on the Queen's Birthday public holiday, too) — with four flicks playing each night. Indoor cinemas, however, are currently not allowed to and the NSW Government has not yet announced a date for their reopening. Can I go shopping? Yes, you can go shopping. That said, not all shops are open and some have changed their opening hours, so we suggest giving them a call before you head out. The four-square-metre rule apply to all retail spaces, with patrons advised to keep a 1.5-metre distance. Can I get my nails done? Yes, nail, beauty, waxing and tanning salons are allowed to open for up to ten customers at a time. As this stage, though, tattoo and massage parlours and spas are only allowed to sell retail goods and gift vouchers, not provide services. Can I go to church? Yes, all places of worship are now allowed to open for religious ceremonies of up to 50 people or one person per four square metres. Weddings can also have up to 20 people, in addition to the couple and the celebrant, and funerals can have up to 50 mourners. If you have more questions, the NSW Government has an extensive list of FAQs on its website. 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: Sierra Escape Mudgee
Sick of the winter weather? Then escape from the chill to a warm, dark cinema, where you can watch movies from places even colder than here. Returning to Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona and Chauvel Cinema, the Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival will once again showcase the best of Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Icelandic cinema, from award-winning dramas to esoteric comedies and the very best of Nordic Noir. One of the big highlights on this year's program is the Golden Globe-nominated The Fencer, a Finnish-German-Estonian co-production — dubbed by Finland Today as "the best Finnish film in a decade" — about a fencing instructor hiding from Soviet forces in Estonia in the years after the war. It's one of a number of critically-acclaimed titles in the program this year, alongside oddball Icelandic rom-com The Together Project which took home a screenplay prize at Cannes, and the excruciatingly tense Danish drama Land of Mine, which played in competition at the Sydney Film Festival earlier this year. For the complete Scandinavian Film Festival program, go here.
Two excellent TV comedies about show business hardly makes a trend, let alone heralds a golden age, but it's currently a fantastic time for smart, astute and extremely funny series about standing behind microphones. In 2021, Girls5eva and Hacks premiered in America within a week of each other, deservedly winning fans immediately. In 2022, they've both returned for their second seasons in the US and Down Under (via Stan and TVNZ On Demand) with the same timing. Accordingly, if you only want to watch shows about talented ladies chasing their starry dreams right now, that's firmly on the cards. If you're keen to dive deep into what makes something funny — how comedy evolves, shifts and swings; the differences between easy and well-earned laughs; the courage it takes to truly lay yourself bare during a standup set; and how comedy is received when it's coming from women rather than men, too — that's Hacks' remit. As the goofier and sillier but still wonderfully savvy Girls5eva does, it carves into the entertainment industry's treatment of women, and doesn't hold back from depicting the bleak reality. It's scathing, in fact. This Emmy- and Golden Globe-winner's specific target, though: the world of comedy. In season one, Hacks pushed Deborah Vance (Jean Smart, Mare of Easttown) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder, North Hollywood) together. The former is a veteran comic with a long-running Las Vegas residency, while the twentysomething latter reluctantly took a job as Deborah's assistant after thinking she was going to make it big in Los Angeles, then getting herself into trouble via an ill-thought-out tweet. The end result could've been cliched from start to finish. The series does indeed focus on a chalk-and-cheese pair who don't get along, slowly discover that they have more in common than either will admit, and try to navigate the unwelcoming realm that is comedy for women with each other's help. But, crucially, that whole concept is the premise, not the joke. Hacks doesn't laugh at its mismatched, wittily spiky central duo, but at everything they're stuck facing. The series' first season quickly cemented itself as one of 2021's best new TV shows — one of two knockout newbies starring Jean Smart last year, thanks to the aforementioned Mare of Easttown — and it's just as ace the second time around. It's still searingly funny, nailing that often-elusive blend of insight, intelligence and hilarity. It retains its observational, wry tone, and remains devastatingly relatable even if you've never been a woman trying to make it in comedy. And it's happy to linger where it needs to to truly understand its characters, but never simply dwells in the same place as its last batch of episodes. Season two is literally about hitting the road, so covering fresh territory is baked into the story; however, Hacks' trio of key behind-the-scenes creatives aren't content to merely repeat themselves with a different backdrop. Those guiding hands — writer Jen Statsky (The Good Place), writer/director Lucia Aniello (Rough Night) and writer/director/co-star Paul W Downs (The Other Two) — started Hacks after helping to make Broad City a hit. Clearly, they all know a thing or two about moving on from the past. That's the decision both Deborah and Ava had to make themselves in season one, with the show's second season now charting the fallout. So, Deborah has farewelled her residency and the dependable gags that kept pulling in crowds, opting to test out new and far-more-personal material on a cross-country tour instead. Ava has accepted her role by Deborah's side, and is willing to see it as a valid career move rather than an embarrassing stopgap. That said, last year's episodes also left the series with a potential wrecking ball: an email Ava wrote about Deborah while drunk, high, and upset about being slapped and insulted. Penned in anger and filled with extremely personal details about the comedian, it was sent to LA producers who wanted to hire Ava to mine Deborah's life for a new show about an insufferable woman in power. That destructive stream of text isn't season two's entire focus, but it's also inescapable, as much as Ava wants it to just disappear — as does Jimmy (Downs), Ava and Deborah's shared manager. But Hacks has always been willing to see that actions have consequences, not only for an industry that repeatedly marginalises women, but for its imperfect leading ladies. The brilliantly biting Smart continues to turn in awards-worthy work in Hacks' second season, and Einbinder still wears Ava's entitled chaos like a second skin. But there's one added bonus: now Deborah and Ava are lived-in characters, rather than newcomers to audiences. It's a pleasure to see both actors dive deep into what makes their on-screen alter egos tick, clash and occasionally get along; indeed, many of season two's best moments explore the whirlwind that ensues when Deborah and Ava fight but still clearly care about each other. Also upping the ante: being stuck on a tour bus on the road, decked out with a luxe bedroom for Deborah but condensing Ava's bunk to the tiny space above the onboard tanning bed. There, with fellow assistant Damien (Mark Indelicato, With Love) and new tour manager Weed (Laurie Metcalf, The Dropout) in tow, everyone's feelings bubble and boil in the resulting pressure cooker. Those supporting players — Deborah's daughter DJ (Katlin Olson, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), business manager Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Candyman) and personal blackjack dealer Kiki (Poppy Liu, The Afterparty) included, as well as Jimmy and his high-maintenance assistant Kayla (Megan Salter) — don't get as much time to shine this time, though. That's the one difficulty that Hacks' sophomore batch of episodes have, but it's also the best kind of problem. There's still so much depth to Deborah and Ava's stories and their dynamic, and so much to unpack about them separately, together and in the world of comedy, that pushing the spotlight elsewhere is always going to prove tricky. The only solution: renewing Hacks for a third season, and hopefully more beyond that. Check out the trailer for Hacks season two below: Hacks' second season starts streaming via Stan in Australia from Friday, May 13, beginning with two episodes, then dropping further instalments weekly — and on TVNZ On Demand in New Zealand. Read our full review of season one. Images: Karen Ballard/HBO Max.
Each February, there's an easy way to find out what's hitting cinemas in the months ahead. When American football's biggest event of the year arrives, so does a heap of big-name movie trailers. In 2025, the week leading up to the Super Bowl has seen everything from Fantastic Four: First Steps to Jurassic World Rebirth debut sneak peeks. Also capitalising on prime timing: F1. The Formula 1 racing thriller already unveiled a sneak peek in 2024, but now another look has dropped linked to the Super Bowl. In it, Brad Pitt (Wolfs) feels the need for speed as a former driver who returns to the track. Filmmaker Joseph Kosinski clearly experiences the same sensation, too, given that this is his latest flick heading to cinemas after 2022 smash Top Gun: Maverick. "Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston and now McLaren all have a speed on the straights. Our shot is battling in the turns. We need to build our car for combat," said Pitt as Hayes in 2024's teaser trailer — if you're wondering how competitive the storyline will get. Zooming onto the silver screen at the end of June 2025, F1 focuses on fictional team APXGP, with Pitt as Sonny Hayes and Damson Idris (Snowfall) as his colleague Joshua Pearce. Also featuring on-screen: Kerry Condon (Skeleton Crew) and Javier Bardem (Dune: Part Two), giving the movie a recent Oscar-nominee (for The Banshees of Inisherin), plus another winner (for No Country for Old Men) alongside Pitt — and also Tobias Menzies (Manhunt), Sarah Niles (Fallen), Kim Bodnia (Nefarious) and Samson Kayo (House of the Dragon). If Kosinski's feats with his Top Gun sequel didn't already bode well for F1's racetrack action — and they do, and Top Gun: Maverick screenwriter Ehren Kruger (Dumbo) is also onboard here as well — then the fact that the movie shot during actual Grand Prix weekends should, too. F1's racing pedigree includes seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton's involvement, courtesy of his Dawn Apollo Films production company. The feature is also being badged as a collaboration with the Formula 1 community, spanning its teams, drivers and promoters. Check out the trailers for F1 below: F1 releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
If you have your sights set on one day seeing your films on the big screen at Sydney's Film Festival, or on becoming the next big Aussie radio personality, then you need to get yourself down to AFTRS on Saturday, August 12 for the school's Open Day. During this free event you'll learn about AFTRS 2018 courses, network with industry leaders and imagine yourself in any of their premiere classes ranging from topics like screenwriting, creative producing and cinematography. You'll also get the opportunity to scope out their top-of-the-line studios that could one day help you produce some epic work. Degrees on offer at AFTRS include part-time diplomas in reality TV, animation and feature film, a full-time Bachelor of Arts Screen and postgraduate programs for screen and radio. Go for gold, make your dreams a reality, the world is your oyster — Open Day is just a sneak peek of what could be. And don't fret if you can't make it; AFTRS will be live streaming the whole day on their website and Facebook page. AFTRS is open from 10am – 3pm on August 12. Pre-register here.
After experiencing a whirlwind success with their debut EP Woodland, indie folk five-piece The Paper Kites are celebrating their shiny new offering Young North with a series of captivating shows. The new EP sees The Paper Kites retaining the qualities that brought them the love and admiration of their fans. With earthy-sounding instruments that serve as a perfect backdrop for their harmonic, strong and sensual voices, The Paper Kites maintain a romantic and whimsical vibe to their tracks and a raw energy to their live performances. In the past The Paper Kites have toured with the likes of Boy & Bear and Josh Pyke, and seen their song "Featherstone" featured on Grey's Anatomy. They'll be joined at Oxford Art Factory by The Art Of Sleeping and Battleships. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y8A_8rbakgg
"Think about how screwed up we would be if we had survived a plane crash, only to end up eating other." That's Yellowjackets in a nutshell, as Christina Ricci (Wednesday) so perfectly describes in the just-dropped full trailer for the show's third season. In store this time around is more then-and-now glimpses of exactly how a New Jersey high school's girls soccer team remained alive — well, some of them — after being stranded in the wilderness following a plane crash, and also what it took to endure and, of course, what the experience did to them. Yellowjackets wants viewers to be its bloody Valentine this year — and more cannibalism, more haunting secrets, more fights to persist and more hunting are set to fill the series' third go-around, as both the first glimpse and initial trailer in 2024, and now a bigger sneak peek, all illustrate. Again, the action is split between two periods, following its characters both in the immediate aftermath of their traumatic accident and also when the past keeps intruding upon their present after decades have gone by. As viewers discovered when it debuted in 2021 and became one of the best new shows of that year, the instantly intriguing (and excellent) series hops between the 90s and 25 years later. Across two seasons until now, life and friendship have proven complex for Yellowjackets' core quartet of Shauna (The Tattooist of Auschwitz's Melanie Lynskey as an adult, and also No Return's Sophie Nélisse as a teenager), Natalie (I'm a Virgo's Juliette Lewis, plus Heretic's Sophie Thatcher), Taissa (Law & Order's Tawny Cypress, and also Scream VI's Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Misty (Ricci, and also Atlas' Samantha Hanratty). The trailers for season three also put it this way: "once upon a time, a bunch of teenage girls got stranded in the wilderness ... and they went completely nuts." The full setup: back in 1996, en route to a big match in Seattle on a private aircraft, Shauna, Natalie, Taissa, Misty and the rest of their teammates entered Lost territory. The accident saw everyone who walked away stuck in the forest — and those who then made it through that ordeal stuck out there for 19 months, living their worst Alive-meets-Lord of the Flies lives. After swiftly getting picked up for a second season because its first was that ace, Yellowjackets was then renewed for a third season before that second group of episodes even aired. In Australia, viewers can watch via Paramount+. In New Zealand, the series streams via Neon. In season three, the returning cast — which includes Simone Kessell (Muru) as the older Lottie and Lauren Ambrose (Servant) as the older Van, characters played in their younger guises by Australian actors Courtney Eaton (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Liv Hewson (Party Down) — will be joined by Hilary Swank (Ordinary Angels) and Joel McHale (The Bear). And from season two, Elijah Wood (Bookworm) is also back. Check out the full trailer for Yellowjackets season three below: Yellowjackets season three will start streaming from Friday, February 14, 2025 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season one and review of season two, plus our interview with Melanie Lynskey.
How often of late have we seen trailers for 'comedies' without a single funny clip in them? Their only virtue is in ensuring you never actually go see the final product when it comes out. But then there are those deceptive (and infuriating) films where the trailer does elicit laughter, only for you to go along to the full feature and discover you’ve already seen all the best stuff. Our first glimpse of Ted, by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, arrived back in April and felt distinctly like that latter variety. The trailer (banned in the US) was equal parts crass and dumb, but also featured one of the funniest bits of dialogue we’d seen all year (the ‘white trash names’ exchange). Pursuant to the 'formula', then, Ted seemed set to be the unfunniest disaster of 2012. Thankfully, though, the formula isn't foolproof. Ted is not just a funny film; it's side-splittingly so and manages to maintain that level throughout. Beyond the writing (which is excellent), so much of its success owes to the remarkable CGI of its lead character 'Ted' — a stuffed teddy bear miraculously brought to life by a young boy’s Christmas wish. Had audiences not been able to completely accept Ted's existence alongside his human co-stars then this movie would've crashed from the opening scene; however, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of his animators, the foul-mouthed bear (voiced by MacFarlane) is as believable as he is hilarious and steals almost every scenes he's in. Mark Wahlberg plays Ted's owner-come-best friend John, and again proves an appealing (if also surprising) comedic actor. His familiar 'just woke up and still haven't quite figured out where I am or what's going on' expression works perfectly as the immature stoner in his 30s forced to choose between his fluffy hedonistic teddy and the love of his life, Lori (Mila Kunis). Joel McHale plays a great supporting role as Kunis's sleazy boss, while Giovanni Ribisi cameos beautifully as the 'villain' hoping to buy Ted for his own son. The main 'threat', however, is simply John's reluctance to part with all 'childish things' and finally embrace adulthood. Fans of Family Guy will recognise other familiar faces and voices in supporting roles, along with MacFarlane's signature political incorrectness and constant pop-culture references (including a recurring jab at the 1980 shocker Flash Gordon). The writing occasionally dips a little too far towards the purely offensive; however, it's easily outweighed by the constant laughter and, surprisingly, several moments of genuine tenderness.
While almost everyone loves hot chips, agreeing on which takeaway option does them best is far more contentious. Plus, everyone has their preferences when it comes to tomato sauce. However, Mutti has teamed up with acclaimed chef Nelly Robinson of Sydney's NEL Restaurant to create a single, show-stopping fry that might just settle the debate. Bringing together the humble chip and the world of fine dining, this over-the-top tribute set out to achieve the World's Fanciest Fry. Once you start delving into the ingredients and process that make it happen, it's hard to deny that this unique creation has truly taken the classic side dish to extraordinary heights. "To create a fry truly worthy of Mutti tomato ketchup, we had to go all in. We started with the fanciest Chipperbec potatoes we could get our hands on, blanched them in Wagyu beef fat, and finished them with fresh truffle and served with scampi caviar. This isn't just a chip — it's the McLaren of fries," says chef Nelly Robinson. With a creation this lavish, settling for an ordinary condiment is simply not an option. Fortunately, Mutti's range of premium table sauces made for the ideal pairing at the launch of this special dish. If you're the kind of person to slather your chips in sauce, perhaps they'll also take your humble feast up a notch. As for the World's Fanciest Fry, it's now available on NEL Restaurant's menu until the end of June. But don't expect this supremely decadent treat to come cheap. Priced at $35, this curious delicacy has seen the everyday, moreish side dish transformed into a luxurious morsel that takes centre stage. Says Robinson: "It's crispy, rich, outrageously indulgent and possibly the most culinary brainpower ever invested in a single hot chip. But with a ketchup as good as Mutti's, the fry's gotta bring its A-game!" The World's Fanciest Fry is available until the end of June at NEL Restaurant, 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. Head to the website for more information.
An unassuming Brunswick silo has become a towering new mural showing New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern embracing a Muslim woman. But the large-scale artwork has also rustled up plenty of controversy, with backlash over the depiction of a foreign leader, rather than a local. The original photo of an emotional, hijab-clad Ms Ardern was taken as she comforted members of Christchurch's Muslim community, following the March 15 terror attacks on two of the city's mosques. Captured by New Zealand-based photographer Hagen Hopkins, it's since become an iconic image, reproduced in various large-scale iterations across the world. Locally, a GoFundMe page drummed up $11,000 — in a single day — to fly renowned street artist Loretta Lizzio to Melbourne, so she could capture the image in paint, on the side of the 25-metre-tall Tinning Street silo. Any extra money has gone to supporting the attack victims' families, through the Christchurch Shooting Victims' Fund. Having lived and worked in Melbourne previously, Lizzio is a renowned artist and muralist whose work has appeared everywhere from Vancouver and New York, to London. She donated nine days of her time to creating the project, which was completed last Sunday. While the silo is privately owned and the project had full the support of its owner, it still managed to cop a bit of backlash. Some locals aren't on board with the idea of using the large-scale work to reference an attack that happened overseas, instead of something more locally focused. One Change.Org petition had 14,696 signees calling for the mural to be stopped, citing its so-called irrelevance to the Melbourne community. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxeo-irAmLN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link On her latest Instagram post for the mural, the artist shared her own views on the matter, in response to one of the critics. "Appreciate the feedback, though this has everything to do with Aus, as anywhere in the world," she writes. "Hate crimes are a global issue... This particular project is about love and acceptance of all that call Aus home no matter your background." Loretta Lizzio's mural of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is located at 20-24 Tinning Street, Brunswick.
Autumn is still beach weather on Hamilton Island. Getting cosy in Tasmania is one of the best ways to embrace an Australian winter. Celebrating spring or kicking off summer on either the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, or in Byron Bay, will get you primed for sunny days. With Qantas' latest flight sale, discounting one-million seats across routes to 60 domestic destinations — with 35-plus routes under $150 — they're all options. The airline's usual sale starting price for a one-way fare is $109 — and this time, that'll get you either from Brisbane to Proserpine on the Whitsunday Coast or from Sydney to Byron Bay/Ballina (and vice versa on both routes). Flights between the Gold Coast and Sydney kick off at $119, as do fares from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island. For $129, you can head from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast or Tamworth. Then, specials on the Sydney–Brisbane route begin at $139, as do Sydney–Hobart, Melbourne–Adelaide, Sydney–Bendigo and Adelaide–Whyalla. If you're eager to venture between Melbourne–Sydney or Albury–Sydney, that'll set you back $149. Brisbane–Hamilton Island, Burnie–Melbourne, Orange–Sydney and Melbourne–Mildura fares are all $159. Or, $169 covers Brisbane–Melbourne, Davenport–Melbourne, Adelaide–Mount Gambier and Merimbula–Sydney legs, while $179 will get you from Perth–Geraldton, Mt Isa–Townsville and Griffith–Sydney. For those feeling flush and keen to travel business class, that's also part of the airline's sale, starting at $369 from Brisbane to Proserpine. Wherever you're hoping to vacation, you'll need to be able to travel between Tuesday, April 29–Thursday, June 26, Tuesday, July 22–Thursday, September 18 or Tuesday, October 14–Wednesday, December 10, all in 2025. So, that gives you choices across autumn, winter, spring and early summer trips, although the specifics vary per destination — as always. If this is the answer to your holiday dreams, you'll need to get in before 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, March 2, 2025. And yes, the usual caveat applies: if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. [caption id="attachment_928567" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania, Luke Tscharke[/caption] Qantas' 'The 1 million seat sale' runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, March 2, 2025, or until sold out if prior.
After Sydney Contemporary's massive opening night shindig at Carriageworks, don't head home just yet. Instead, come party with us. In partnership with Sydney Contemporary, we've organised an epic opening night after-party. As soon as the arty shenanigans wind up at Carriageworks, make your way to the Royal Hotel in Darlington just down the road. There, you'll find creative duo Prue Stent and Honey Long, who'll be travelling all the way from Melbourne to mesmerise you with their spontaneous art and performance, where femininity, playfulness and distortion interact. Aside from this spectacle, the evening will be soundtracked by a steady stream of beats provided by local DJ Bobby Gray. If you're a regular at the Royal, expect to see it as you haven't before: transformed into a creative wonderland. The action will kick on till midnight. Entry to Concrete Playground's Sydney Contemporary Opening Night Nightcap is free. All you have do is RSVP over here, so we know to expect you — even if we can't tell you exactly what to expect. Image: Robert Jahnke.
It's been a long wait in Australia if you want to rock 'n' roll with AC/DC live. 2025 marks ten years since the iconic Sydney-formed band last took to the stage Down Under. It's also the year, thankfully, that they're making their Aussie concert return. After kicking off in 2024, the group's Power Up tour has finally locked in Australian dates, with Brian Johnson, Angus Young and company hitting up five cities in November and December 2025. Getting thunderstruck: Melbourne to kick off the Aussie leg on Wednesday, November 12; Sydney on Friday, November 21; Adelaide on Sunday, November 30; Perth on Thursday, December 4; and Brisbane to wrap up the Australian shows on Sunday, December 14. As one of the biggest bands that the country has ever produced, AC/DC are putting on huge gigs at every one of their homegrown dates. Let there be rock at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Accor Stadium, the bp Adelaide Grand Final, Optus Stadium and Suncorp Stadium, then. This is the first time that the legendary Australian rockers have toured Down Under since their 2015 'Rock or Bust' world tour. For this run of dates, Amyl and The Sniffers are onboard in support to make these massive Aussie concerts even more so, and to give attendees a taste of two different generations of Aussie rockstars. Playing Sydney isn't just part of a fitting homecoming for AC/DC, but comes more than half a century since the band played their first-ever show in the Harbour City. Their 2025 gig will be just over a month and a half short of 52 years since that 1973 debut. Power Up is also the name of the group's 2020 album, their most-recent record — which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, made multiple best-of lists for that year and scored Grammy nominations. For those about to rock, AC/DC's high-voltage current set list spans their entire career, however, including everything from 'If You Want Blood (You've Got It)', 'Back in Black' and 'Hells Bells' to 'Highway to Hell', 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' and 'You Shook Me All Night Long'. So far, the Power Up tour has played Europe and North America, selling more than two-million tickets across 24 shows in the former and notching up ten soldout gigs in the latter. AC/DC will be back in Europe, hitting the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Spain, Italy, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, France and Scotland, before their Aussie dates. AC/DC Power Up 2025 Australian Tour Wednesday, November 12 — Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Friday, November 21 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Sunday, November 30 — bp Adelaide Grand Final, Adelaide Thursday, December 4 — Optus Stadium, Perth Sunday, December 14 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane AC/DC are touring Australia in November and December 2025, with tickets on sale from Thursday, June 26, 2025 — at 9am AEST for Sydney, 10am ACST for Adelaide, 11am AEST for Brisbane, 1pm AEST for Melbourne and 1pm AWST for Perth. Head to the tour website for further details. Images: Christie Goodwin.
Time for a little serenity? You'll find it in abundance at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit – a new luxury glamping retreat launching over the Easter long weekend. Set between Tamworth and Gunnedah – that's a five-hour drive from Sydney – this picture-perfect accommodation is immersed by the Great Dividing Range from its scenic perch on the edge of Lake Keepit. Created by Reflections Holiday, a leading local outdoor hospitality company, this idyllic escape offers the ideal combination of adventure and indulgence. Designed with a small and responsible footprint, this intimate setting features eight Star Tents and the shared Gilay Lounge, where guests are invited to enjoy social and dining experiences. With each stay offering spectacular panoramic views, sliding into a more comfortable mindset is made easy. Inside each Star Tent, guests will discover plush interiors with all the creature comforts needed for a cosy stay. From king-size beds to a fully enclosed ensuite bathroom and a well-stocked kitchenette, year-round comfort is virtually guaranteed. Meanwhile, the design also factors in the region's remote location, with a skylight positioned above the bed so you can soak in the starry sky once the day's light has faded. Each retreat also features multiple outdoor balconies, as well as an outdoor bath with lake views, ensuring the perfect perspective to admire the beauty of Lake Keepit. Surrounded by lush foliage, expect native birdsongs to soundtrack your stay, while you're sure to catch a glimpse or two of bounding kangaroos and wallabies carving through the bushland. "Wilderluxe Lake Keepit seamlessly blends the untamed beauty of this most remarkable location with an elevated level of sophistication and comfort, catering to the discerning traveller. And with only an easy one-hour flight from Sydney, a weekend of wild luxury in the countryside has never been more accessible," says Nick Baker, CEO of Reflections Holidays. Forming an essential part of the Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experience, the first night includes the 'Big Sky Dreaming' dinner, where local Kamilaroi man, Uncle Len Waters, blends Indigenous and Western astronomy as guests indulge in a gourmet feast. Meanwhile, there's also the chance to design your own adventure for the rest of your stay, with activities like hiking treks, lakeside picnics, farmhouse cooking classes and even scenic cross-country flights on the agenda. Wilderluxe Lake Keepit launches this April at Keepit Dam Road, Keepit. Head to the website for more information.
Sydney's newest hotel is so keen on the whole 'choose-your-own-adventure' idea that, when it opens next month, it will let guests select their own rooms. Billed as the city's "first authentic custom designed hotel", Camperdown's soon-to-open Collectionist Hotel wants to push that concept of individualised guest experiences to a whole new level, letting them pick a favourite from the assortment of designer suites on offer. It's slated to open next month in a former warehouse space, where a team of seven designers and 13 artists have been kept busy creating 39 unique rooms. But instead of being allocated a random suite, guests at The Collectionist will suss out the available rooms at check-in and choose exactly where they want to spend their stay over a welcome drink — a concept Collectic Hotels co-founder Daniel Symonds likens to browsing works of art. No two two rooms are the same, apparently, as each will boast its own unique colours, textures and style. A great idea if you're in the mood to choose, but probably less than ideal when you're crashing hard after a long-haul flight. Or if all the rooms have already been taken by people who arrived earlier than you. Unsurprisingly, The Collectionist has also done away with the usual room number caper, in favour of eclectic names like the Queenie Fah Fah, Cloud Runner and La Chamber Noir. Just don't expect them all to be your cup of tea. "I would be surprised — and a little disappointed, to be honest — if there weren't some divided opinions on the rooms designs," said Symonds. "We have purposely set about creating rooms that will challenge the 'norms' on hotel room design." The Collectionist Hotel will open at 9–13 Marsden Street, Camperdown in May 2018. You can't book a room yet, but you can check the website for updates.
A wool shirt that you can wear for 100 days straight. No washing. No dry cleaning. No wrinkles. No odour. That is the promise from new male fashion manufacturers Wool&Prince, who are transforming the button-down into a woollen wardrobe staple. They have created a wool shirt that they claim is incredibly soft, comfortable, does not need an iron or dry clean and, best of all, will still not smell or need a wash until after at least 100 consecutive days of wear. They know, because that's how long this guy wore his. You can feel good whilst looking good, saving money on your wardrobe and saving water for the world. This is all made possible by their development of CottonSoft wool fabric, which is anti-wrinkle by nature and far more durable. The lightness and breathability of the material is what enables the wearer to smell fresh (but remember, just because the shirt does not need a wash, does not mean that you can get away without one, too). Wool&Prince have already soared past their initial Kickstarter goal of US$30,000, raising more than US$265,000 so far, and after extensive testing around the world, the project is almost ready to go and one can be yours for only US$98. If you buy six, it should set you up for a wash-free year. Via Esquire.
It's true every time that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras announces its annual program: whether you're keen on the parade action, browsing stalls, partying in pools, hitting the dance floor, catching drag performances or plenty more, there's no shortage of options at the Harbour City's celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and culture. For 2025, the just-revealed lineup spans the return of Fair Day, the festival's usual beloved splash-filled soirees, Honey Dijon and Romy from The xx headlining the Mardi Gras Party, plus Trixie Mattel — and that's just the beginning. In total, more than 80 LBGTQIA+ events will take over the Harbour City between Friday, February 14–Sunday, March 2, 2025. One highlight was first a Sydney WorldPride hit in 2023: the Blak & Deadly First Nations gala concert at City Recital Hall. The overarching theme in Mardi Gras' 47th year: "free to be", which nods to the fight for equality, while also championing individuality and the strength of community. "Each year, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras brings people from all corners of the globe together for a celebration of community, visibility and progress. The 2025 festival embodies this spirit, reflecting the resilience, creativity and unity of our LGBTQIA+ communities," explains the event's CEO Gil Beckwith. "We are thrilled to welcome everyone to this year's festivities and look forward to continuing to champion the values of inclusivity and equality." Fair Day's comeback follows its cancellation in 2024 due to asbestos being found in Victoria Park's mulch. In 2025, it'll be at the same site with 200-plus stalls. The pool action comes courtesy of the Kaftana Pool Party and Paradiso Pool Party, which are just two more of Mardi Gras' signature events that are on the 2025 bill. Also in the same category: the parade and the Mardi Gras Party, of course, alongside the Sissy Ball and Laneway shindig. 2024's Ultra Violet is also back, again celebrating LGBTQIA+ women — as is trans and gender-diverse celebration Hot Trans Summer, which'll take over a floating venue, as well as opening ceremony First Nations First Light: A Festival Welcome at Bondi Beach. Among the new additions for 2025, Mardi Gras is teaming up with Qtopia Sydney on a suite of shows and exhibitions, such as the drag king-focused They Will Be Kings and the millennial pop culture-loving I Want It That Gay. Over at Sydney Opera House, Samuel Barnett's one-man show Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen is another highlight. From there, The Kaye Hole, family-friendly Disco on the Green, Kate Bush tribute An Evening Without Kate Bush and a Pride in Sport Festival featuring everything from self-defence workshops to volleyball tournaments are fellow standouts. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2025 will run from Friday, February 14–Sunday, March 2, 2025. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website. Images: Jordan Munns, Joseph Mayers, Ann-Marie Calilhanna, Vic Lentaigne, Ken Leanfore, Lexi Laphor, Jess Gleeson.
Jenny Lewis, former lead singer of indie rock group Rilo Kiley, is about to release her first solo album in six years, so why not come back with a bang (and a viral video)? Her social media freakout-inducing clip for first single, the Beck-produced 'One of The Guys' has a few of Hollywood's leading ladies taking the piss out of gender roles by tracksuiting up and acting like real tough dudes. Unlikely accomplices Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart and Brie Larson casually make up Lewis's backing band, eventually winding up in drag, fly kicking, breakdancing and giving each other those perplexing man-hug-hand-shake things. Snaps to Lewis for fusing taking Taylor Swift-style famous friend collab cues. There are so many high-fivable things going on here, it's hard to know where to start. Lewis's rainbow pantsuit, Hathaway's rat-tail and keytar, and Stewart actually looking like she's having fun for once in her life — all good places to start. Despite all this nonchalant splendour, Larson takes the cake. The Short Term 12 star is completely hysterical in this clip as a boy, and is probably the most convincing lip syncher of the band next to Lewis. Despite the silliness, the single is actually quite a poignant note on being comfortable with yourself both in your womanhood and in your age. Just goes to show, dealing with heavy stuff doesn't mean taking yourself seriously all the time. 'Just One of the Guys' is the first single from Lewis' new record Voyager, which will be out by the end of the month. Watch 'Just One of the Guys' right here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Irvcf6dCk-k Via Rolling Stone.
Right now (in case you haven't been hanging on every tweet), the Consumer Technology Association is holding a huge conference in Las Vegas — CES 2017 — and while that might sound kind of abstract, it's an internationally-watched event with reams of huge new product announcements that are relevant to the everyday tech user (that's you!). The Consumer Technology Association (acronymed to CES, not CTA, for unfathomable reasons) is a trade union that promotes and standardises widely used technology, meaning high-end tech gets into your life sooner. This year has already been pretty epic. Here's a breakdown of some of the best tech reveals (so far), coming soon to a smart household near you. A SMART COLLAR FOR YOUR POOCH Now, this is a nifty little device for lucky, lucky pet owners. Whistle 3 is a new pet tracking collar that lets you monitor your puppo's or catto's daily activity levels and track them on your smartphone. It's the third iteration of the product and reports from CES indicate this time they've nailed it. Whistle 3 is compact, waterproof, clips to your pet's collar and syncs to an app on your phone. At the moment, it's only available in the US but we'll keep you updated on developments. In the meantime, remember to get your precious furbabies microchipped. AN AI-FITTED TOYOTA What business Toyota has building an AI, we don't know. But they have. Its name is Yui (pronounced you-ee) and, yes, we expect it will allow us to become best friends with our car like Shia Lebeouf and Bumblebee. No, but really. AI in a car is about risk assessment and will work in tandem with what they called 'human driving'. So it's not exactly automated but it will allow certain elements of automation when it's safe to do so. Yui warns the driver about potential hazards and can automate corrections to prevent them. But most importantly, it's super-duper cute and futuristic. A RELATIVELY FAST SCOOTER THAT CAN CHARGE YOUR DEVICES The URB-E might look a little goofy (like its Segway and Hoverboard brothers) but this compact little electric scooter could be the future of travel. Give up any dreams of your kids buying their first banged up Holden Commodore, the next generation will be driving these 30-pound scooties to school. Three years ago, the URB-E was debuted at CES. This year, they've revealed four new, updated models and a range of accessories. To fill you in, the URB-E is a foldable scooter/bicycle hybrid out of America. The cheapest, the URB-E Sport, retails for US$899 and can reach a top speed of 22 kilometres. A fully-charged URB-E Sport can travel up to 25 kilometres before needing a recharge. And you can charge your phone off it too. Damn. These iterations of the URB-E are more affordable and more powerful than ever, so you might as well embrace these tiny, goofy scooters because they ain't leaving anytime soon. A CASUALLY POWERFUL, 92-MEGAPIXEL, VR-SUPPORTING PHONE While we're not sold on the name ZenFone (imagine the roundtable on that decision), the newest phone out of the Asus camp is exciting for multiple reasons. First, it's built to support virtual and augmented reality technology (the future is here!) which means it's packing a considerable amount of processing power for such a little thing. Its three cameras (the most powerful of which takes 92-megapixel images and 4K videos) enables 3D mapping technology. Yeah. Your selfie game just jumped up a level. It's expected for release midway through this year. UH... A SMART HAIRBRUSH? Yeah, so L'Oreal has designed a smart hairbrush. Rejoice for now every part of your daily routine will be watched over by machines. The Keratase Hair Coach uses sensors, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a microphone to spy on you and determine a) how healthy your hair is b) whether your hair is wet or dry c) whether you're brushing too hard or too much and d) how many Keratase products you need in your life right now. Guive Balooch, the vice president of L'Oreal's Technology Incubator, said to Fortune the brush will also try to smooth your hair. All of this for under $200? Woah. The future really is stupid. Via IB Times, The Verge and Gizmodo.
There will be spice in 2023's sandiest movie, the eagerly anticipated sequel to 2021's Dune. With a war a-brewing on the planet Arrakis, seeing Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet, Bones and All) and the Fremen face off against the folks who destroyed his family, there will be blood as well. And, in the centrepiece to Dune: Part Two's glorious first trailer ahead of its November release in cinemas, there will be sandworms and wormriding — including the internet's boyfriend going for a cruise on one of the sci-fi franchise's mammoth creatures. When its predecessor hit the big screen, it was after a year-long delay due to the pandemic, and as a second movie adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel. Following in David Lynch's footsteps might seem a foolish move, even when it's making a new version of one of the most unfairly maligned sci-fi films ever crafted, but Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) managed what Alejandro Jodorowsky sadly couldn't (see: excellent documentary Jodorowsky's Dune), and a new science-fiction cinema classic arrived. Villeneuve's picture only told part of Dune's story, though, which is where Dune: Part Two comes in. The first film had Paul head to Arrakis because his dad Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac, Moon Knight) had just been given stewardship of the sandy celestial body and its abundance of 'the spice' — aka the most valuable substance in the universe — and then get caught up in a bitter battle with malicious forces over the substance. It also saw Paul meet the population of people known as the Fremen, including Zendaya's (Euphoria) Chani and Javier Bardem's (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) Stilgar, which is who he and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, Doctor Sleep) are with when the new flick's trailer begins. Amid that expansive desert landscape, those hulking sandworms, Villeneuve's reliable eye for a spectacle and Hans Zimmer's (The Son) latest likely Oscar-winning score, Paul, Chani, Stilgar and company have vengeance to seek — but Paul also has to choose between love and preventing a dark future. And, he has new players to face, with Austin Butler ditching his Elvis locks as Feyd Rautha Harkonnen, the nephew of Stellan Skarsgard's (Andor) Baron Harkonnen, plus Florence Pugh (The Wonder) joining the saga as Princess Irulen, daughter of Christopher Walken's (Severance) Emperor Shaddam IV. From the first film, which scored ten Oscar nominations and six wins, Josh Brolin (Outer Range), Dave Bautista (Knock at the Cabin), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Beau Is Afraid) and Charlotte Rampling (Benedetta) return, while Léa Seydoux (Crimes of the Future) also joins the cast. Off-screen, Villeneuve has brought back not just Zimmer, but Oscar-winning Australian director of photography Greig Fraser (The Batman), Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermett (Vice), Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker (The Unforgivable), Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert (First Man) and Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West (Song to Song). Check out the first Dune: Part Two trailer below: Dune will release in cinemas Down Under on November 2, 2023.
This Sydney Festival, you can explore this vast, light-filled inflated labyrinth of winding paths and soaring domes at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour. Nottingham (UK) artists Architects of Air have created (and, impressively, handmade) the blow-up maze, which features overwhelming domes inspired by natural forms, geometric solids and Islamic and Gothic architecture. The beaming colours you see is light streaming in from the outside, so it's best to visit this neon-looking artwork in the middle of the day for the full effect. This sensory wonderland is free to enjoy. It's open from 10am–6pm Monday to Wednesday, and until 5pm Thursday to Sunday. If you want to skip the queue or get access 6.30pm and 7pm sessions, you can nab a ticket for $20. There will also be special relaxed sessions for those with access needs, on January 16 and 23. Check out our video below for what to expect. Images: Reuben Gibbes and Alan Parkinson. First published: November 4, 2019. Updated: January 14, 2020.
The idea that good things come to those who wait isn't just a piece of advice everyone's mum have given them at least once; over the past couple of years, it's also been the mantra behind Australia's live gig scene. And, yes, now that music festivals, concerts and shows are back in a big way, great things are indeed coming Down Under — including Fisher's rescheduled Aussie tour. The former pro surfer-turned-DJ will be hitting up Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth in November, throwing a huge outdoor dance party in each city. He'll be on the decks, of course, but he'll also have company in the form of Booka Shade, Pnau, Loco Dice and HoneyLuv. Also on the bill: Little Fritter, Richard Penny, Tina Says and Loco Dice. International names, local talents — they're all on this lineup. And if you're wondering how excited that Fisher is to finally bring the tour to fruition, it's all there in the name. Originally his first-ever Aussie national tour was called 'Bigger Than a Beach Party', but now it's the 'Australia, It's Fk'n On' tour. [caption id="attachment_860230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Booka Shade[/caption] A few details have changed, however. Originally, the tour was headed to Wollongong, but Stuart Park can no longer play host to major gigs due to heavy rain earlier this year. So, Fisher will hit up The Domain in Sydney instead — which is obviously ace news for Sydneysiders. It's been a huge few years for the Gold Coast DJ, since the Grammy-nominated 'Losing It' brought him to international fame. He also launched his own boozy seltzer brand FIZZ during the pandemic, which your tastebuds might be aware of. Fisher heads around Australia after headlining the Under Construction festival in the US, and playing shows at Petco Park in Denver. And yes, expect dance floors at Melbourne's Catani Gardens, Brisbane's Riverstage, The Domain in Sydney and Perth's Langley Park to be busy. [caption id="attachment_860229" align="alignnone" width="1920"] HoneyLuv[/caption] FISHER'S 2022 'IT'S FK'N ON AUSTRALIA' TOUR DATES: Saturday, November 5 — Catani Gardens, Melbourne Sunday, November 6 — Riverstage, Brisbane Saturday, November 12 — The Domain, Sydney Sunday, November 13 — Langley Park, Perth Fisher's 'It's Fk'n On Australia tour heads Down Under in November 2022. The waitlist for tickets is open now, with tickets pre-sales from 8am local time on Wednesday, July 13 — and general sales from 8am local time on Thursday, July 14.
UPDATE: Thursday May 6, 2021 — New COVID-19 restrictions have been announced. We'll keep you updated on this event as the situation changes. For the latest information, visit NSW Health. More than ever, we're looking for opportunities to immerse ourselves in another universe for a few hours. Luckily, that's exactly what you can do this summer when the hit Frozen the Musical premieres in Sydney. The stage production, based on the legendary 2013 Disney animated film, opened on Broadway in 2018 and proceeded to break box office records. After a US tour in 2019, the production is expanding to international markets with Sydney as its first stop this summer. Why was our city the lucky chosen destination? Perhaps the producers took the advice of everyone's favourite snowman Olaf when he sang "the hot and the cold are both so intense. Put 'em together, it just makes sense." If the cultural phenomenon has somehow passed you by until now, Frozen was inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Snow Queen, and it tells the story of Princesses Anna and Elsa. At the latter's coronation to become Queen, she accidentally reveals her magical powers to control and create ice and snow and inflicts an eternal winter on her kingdom, Arendelle. She flees to the North Mountain and, while singing the iconic ballad 'Let it Go', builds herself an ice castle in which to hide. Anna sets out to find her sister, proving the bonds of sisterhood can overcome all obstacles. The musical adaptation brings the beloved story to life before your eyes with opulent costumes, stunning sets and awe-inspiring special effects. All of your favourite tunes from the film will be performed — including 'For the First Time in Forever' and 'Love Is an Open Door' — plus 12 new songs as the stage production expands upon the film's narrative. The Sydney production has an all-Australian cast, led by Jemma Rix (Wicked) as Elsa, Courtney Monsma (Aladdin, Six) as Anna and Matt Lee (Mary Poppins) as the lovable Olaf. As we live in uncertain times, there are flexible ticket options available, which might suit those planning to travel to Sydney especially for the show. The Capitol Theatre also has a COVID-19 safety plan in place, in accordance with NSW Health. Frozen the Musical is running from Tuesday, December 1, 2020 to Sunday, May 23, 2021. Tickets start at $49.50 and can be purchased via Ticketmaster. Images: Frozen the Musical, Original Broadway Cast, Deen van Meer, courtesy of Destination NSW.
When news dropped that Adnan Syed's murder conviction had been overturned, an obvious announcement followed: Sarah Koenig's grimly addictive podcast Serial, which spent its first season exploring the killing of Baltimore high school student Hae Min Lee and the extremely complex legal matters surrounding her ex-boyfriend Syed, was returning for a new episode. That new instalment, called 'Adnan Is Out', is available to listen to now — and Serial isn't the only recent Syed-focused hit that's making a comeback as a result. Here's another expected but also welcome development: The Case Against Adnan Syed, HBO's four-part documentary series about the case, is also making a new chapter. The US network revealed that a follow-up episode is in the works, with filmmaker Amy Berg (Phoenix Rising, Dogs, West of Memphis) returning behind the lens. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Berg (@amy_berg) "We knew the end of The Case Against Adnan Syed was not the end of this story, and we've been closely following every twist and turn in the case since the series premiered in March 2019," said Berg in a statement. "It's gratifying to see many of the questions and issues probed in the original episodes come to bear on the events of this week," the filmmaker continued. HBO revealed that the new episode will arrive sometime in 2023, but hasn't dropped any further details — including how long it'll run for or the exact release date. Where it'll stream Down Under hasn't been announced yet, either. HBO also advised that Berg has been filming the follow-up episode in Maryland since early 2021, and was in the courthouse when Baltimore City Circuit Judge Melissa Phinn vacated Syed's murder conviction. The Case Against Adnan Syed's new episode will not only chart the lead up to that decision, but will also follow Syed after his release. [caption id="attachment_668625" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Adnan Syed. Via: Syed Family / Courtesy of HBO.[/caption] If you missed the HBO series when it premiered in 2019, it examined 18-year-old Lee's death in 1999 and Syed's conviction in 2000, as well as the latter's ongoing quest to have his conviction reassessed in the years since he was found guilty. Lee and Syed's relationship, tothe original police investigation and trial, the developments up until the show hit the air — they all featured, with the documentary gaining exclusive access to Syed, his family and his lawyers. Yes, it made for gripping viewing, with Berg working on the original four episodes since 2015. It was always bound to be compelling and thorough, given her excellent doco background — helming 2006's Oscar-nominated 2006 Deliver Us from Evil, about molestation in the Catholic Church; examining the West Memphis Three's quest for freedom in 2012's aforementioned West of Memphis; and tackling the sexual abuse of teenagers in the film industry in 2014's An Open Secret. Check out the trailer for The Case Against Adnan Syed's initial run below: HBO's follow-up episode to The Case Against Adnan Syed doesn't currently have a release date, other than arriving in 2023 — we'll update you when it does. In the interim, the original series is available to stream via Fetch in Australia . Images: SBS / HBO
Candlelight dinners, walks in the park, roses and chocolate. That's the old Valentine's Day. We're in 2023, the age of doing things differently. And what date concept is more unconventionally romantic than an evening of hurling a sharp object into a wooden target? The good folks at MANIAX Axe Throwing are getting in the mood and celebrating the season of love with the offer of Valentine's Day date nights at their nationwide axe throwing venues — and you can win one for free. In addition to pelting a heavy weapon at a wall with your S.O., the prize will include the added benefits of the MANIAX date night package: a 60-minute session with a lesson from an instructor (nobody throws until they're ready), two drinks of your choice and a piping hot pizza to share. MANIAX has locations in Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. So, whether you're looking for an unconventional date, have a thing for sharp weapons, or are well-versed in the world of axe throwing and simply want to show off, MANIAX has your Valentine's sorted. To earn your place in this hall of warriors, complete the form below. [competition]886696[/competition]
Four shows at Gaffa focus on half-seen worlds and the sort blurry places that can overwhelm the eyes. Armando Chant's Phase Change is dominated by a series of etchings of Banksia, shifting in and out of focus. The plates seem to have been progressively eaten away by the acid process between printings. Some have a sculptor's eye for detail. On others, the picture has faded until only rough dots or distant hazy forms remain. Arranged as a grid, the eye moves down the rows and the images dissolve. The clear topmost row of images denature down through a middle splodgy row to a lower one where almost nothing is left but soft, lumpen forms. At photo collective the Photo Group's show Eight Andrea Klucis' Where Land Meets the Sky shows a strip of a city ridge specked with trees and houses. Just above, it's touched by low rough clouds, under the bulk of the photo dominated by an endless sky. Its series of photos, Sometimes Sweet Silence, are each dominate by the 'golden hour' of light after the dawn, or before sunset. Asim Aly-Khan's Homeworlds of the Holograms makes globes from shaky streaks of light, while Mirjana Tann plays with lens flares spiking off the sun in When Darkness Lifes. Caroline McLean Foldes' domestic moments in Clifton Gardens - Home dot tiny cameos with gentle light, Mim Stirling's El retablo de los animalitos (The Altar of Little Animals) offers intimate photo portraits of tiny animal toys and Philipa Margan's lens gives M&Ms the sort of loving treatment that makes you realise how much their strange granary shape and rough aftertaste had always deserved such treatment. Plan is a joint show divided among A.W. and Kim Connerton. A.W. has images of frames within frames, empty boxes and a hollow plinth alongside correspondence between early photographers Fox Talbot and Herschel. It's a kind of unearthed bones from the world of early photography. Lotuses are the theme of Connerton's tiny sculptures, where miniature people aim to draw you into a pre-birth world. Images by Andrea Klucis and Philipa Margan.
There’s only one place better to show off your smarts than a pub trivia night — and that’s a pub trivia night devoted to art. On that front, Art Month 2016 has you covered with The Bearded Tit and the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art holding the ultimate art quiz. So if you know more about Van Gogh’s bedroom than its current Airbnb host, can recite Tracey Emin’s top ten quotations and name Ai Weiwei’s five best works — you'd best head along. Reckon eight heads are better than one? You're probably right. Register as a team with up to seven other people. Or go it alone and register as a solo contestant — you’ll either be added to a group or given a spot to stand at the bar. The $35 ticket includes the quiz and a complimentary drink. And you can feel good about spending your cash, because it’s all going to 4A.
If you've ever wanted to enjoy your nosh with casual waterfalls cascading over your feet (haven't we all?), all you need is a cheeky airfare. Nestled right at the foot of a spring waterfall in a coconut plantation and resort in Laguna, Phillipines, Villa Escudero takes novelty dining next level. A self-contained working coconut plantation, Villa Escudero was founded in the 1880s and still sports that colonial-style so prevalent in resorts in the Philippines. Featuring long bamboo dining tables set right over the water, Villa Escudero's restaurant must have some pretty pruny-footed waiters after a long shift. Sure, you could get the hose out at home and attempt to create the same effect, but Villa Escudero might have a natural one-up on your bond-losing acts. Via Lost at E Minor.
Does anyone love biscuits as much as dads love biscuits? Probably not. But when Gelato Messina is making bikkies, everyone's tastebuds should be tempted. Each Father's Day for the past few years, the sweet-treat fiends have turned their attention from ice cream to tasty wares that don't require freezing — and 2023's haul is a trio of baked goods. Are mint slice biscuits a staple of your parents' pantry? Do they make you feel nostalgic for that exact reason? Well, now you can get your dad the Messina version again. But that isn't all that's on this year's menu, with the dessert chain also doing salted caramel and rum and raisin biscuits, combining the trio into one pack. The gelato brand does love taking other beloved desserts and giving them its own spin; see also: red velvet cake, honey joys, Bounty and Chokito bars, Iced VoVos, Viennetta and Golden Gaytimes, just to name a few. Messina's choc mint bikkies feature a chocolate base, mint centre and then 65-percent single-origin Messina dark chocolate over the top. The salted caramel goes with a salted caramel filling, of course, then, Messina caramelised white chocolate. And what's inside the rum and raisin biscuits is also obvious, with Messina milk chocolate doing the encasing. All three types are whipped up in-house by the the Messina Chocolatier team, and are being sold together in boxes of 12 — four of each — for $29. You can only purchase them up online from 9am on Monday, August 21. Then, they'll be sent to your door in advance of Father's Day on Sunday, September 3. Gelato Messina's Father's Day biscuit packs are available to order from 9am on Monday, August 21 — head to the Messina website for further details.
Both big air and big bands are on the agenda for Australia's newest festival offering. This August, the global Air + Style Big Air Competition is set to make its southern hemisphere debut, descending on The Domain for three huge days of snow sports, live music, culture and fashion. And it's being headlined by none other than Irish/Scottish alt-rockers Snow Patrol and US artist Flo Rida, each heading to town for their first Aussie shows in over five years. From August 3 to 5, the 34-hectare space on the edge of Sydney's CBD will be sporting a very different look than what locals are used to, featuring a 16-storey snow-covered ramp and multiple music stages. More than 60 of the world's best snowboarders and skiers will land here, to compete as part of the 2018 Air + Style Global Tour. Plus, the event has quite the pedigree — three-time Olympic gold medallist and all-round champion snowboarder Shaun White has been the majority shareholder since 2014. But let's not forget about the equally tempting music component. Previous incarnations of Air + Style in the likes of Beijing, Los Angeles and Austria's Innsbruck have drawn big-name artists such as Flume, Major Lazer, Portugal. The Man and Kendrick Lamar. The Sydney outing promises to follow in their footsteps, with Snow Patrol and Flo Rida just the first of many acts to be announced. Both single day tickets and multi-day passes are available, starting at $150. The Air + Style Big Air Competition comes to The Domain, Sydney from August 3-5. Head to the festival website for tickets and further information.
Before Michael Crichton conjured up an island theme park filled with cloned dinosaurs as seen in Jurassic Park, he took audiences to a different but just as eerie attraction. The year was 1973. The film was Westworld. And it was not only written by the author, but it was also directed by him as well. That's where HBO's futuristic show of the same name starring Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Wright, Liam Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson and Aaron Paul first started. Yes, life really does find a way. Series creators Jonathan Nolan (brother of Christopher Nolan) and Lisa Joy have taken the central idea and expanded it, though, as Westworld's first three gripping TV seasons have shown since 2016. When it comes to tales about a technologically advanced amusement park where people pay to experience Wild West times, and where androids play the park's roles but don't realise that they aren't human, there are oh-so-many stories to tell, after all.
I'm no kidnapper. I've never tried and, unless this film critic thing really falls through, I hopefully never will. That said, were I to give it a crack, I can't help but think the overarching guideline for a successful 'grab' must be that my victim isn't dead by the time I get him. But look, I'm getting ahead of myself here. To the movie... In 2013 the world found itself subject to a ridiculous 'White House Being Taken Over By Terrorists Only To Be Saved By One Gritty Muscled Dude' genre battle between Olympus Has Fallen and the far superior White House Down. Now, three years later, we get London Has Fallen – the sequel to the former nobody was calling for. Starring Gerard Butler as Secret Service agent Mike Banning, London Has Fallen chronicles a devastating series of attacks throughout London on the morning of a state funeral, with the goal of assassinating world leaders and kidnapping the US President (Aaron Eckhart). Ah. There we are again. Kidnapping. I guess I'm just saying I'd be reluctant to use explosives near my target because of the potential for hurting him. I probably wouldn't, for example, instruct one of my generic 'international terrorist' henchmen to spend several minutes simply lobbing rocket-propelled grenades directly at the President's car. Or his hiding spot. Or his face. Anyway, minor side point. London Has Fallen boasts arguably the most outstanding supporting cast of Academy Award winners and nominees asked to do nothing but stare at a screen. Morgan Freeman, Jackie Earle Haley, Melissa Leo and Angela Bassett all shine for the several seconds that they're given in the White House Situation Room, and... Sorry. Not to get sidetracked again, it's just – they shoot his helicopter down. The President's helicopter. While he's in it. From an aviation safety standpoint alone, statistically that's a huge risk to take when you want to capture him alive. It's like using a nuke to get the toy out of a Kinder Surprise. As for the script, the terrorists speak in advertising slogans like "Vengeance must always be profound, and absolute", while Butler's hero Banning consistently spouts racist gems like "why don't you go back to Fuckheadistan or wherever it is you came from?" In fact, London Has Fallen is so astoundingly jingoistic and overtly xenophobic, you half-expect the credits to conclude with "Paid for by Trump 4 President". Plus...they just shoot at the President all the time. Especially when he's in cars. And then they ram those cars with garbage trucks, even before they know whether or not he's wearing a seatbelt. And it's not as though seatbelts are a guarantee of survival in a major collision... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AsOdX7NcJs
Sydney cycling has come a long way. It used to be a smoggy, niche activity elbowing its way through aggressive traffic, trying to come to terms with how such a beautiful city can be so hilly. While these things are all still there, now Sydney also has long-delayed bike lanes across the CBD, regular free defensive riding lessons, a Newtown bike library holding fort until the inevitable bike share scheme arrives and even plans for a cyclist change room in Taylor Square. And just when you thought that the City of Sydney couldn't get any more Amsterdam in its love of two wheels, flowers and separated bikeways, its gone and started off its own Sydney Rides Festival. The festival is has a quadricep-straining spread across the city's geography, from its bike heavy Greenup in Darlinghurst to the borrow-a-bike sessions in North Sydney and south of the bridge. Free breakfasts for Ride to Work Day also feature under the Harbour Bridge and all over Hyde Park on Wednesday, and any number of flickering nights cohosted by the Sydney Bicycle Film Festival — not the least of which will be Sydney Rides' launch at the Bicycle Film Fest's annual street fair. You can pimp your ride in Ultimo and get the chance to introduce your bike to culture all over town. Image by plugimi.
