Saddle up, folks: Ghost Donkey, the Big Apple's beloved mezcal and Mexican bar, is set to gallop into Australia. The New York-born watering hole will open at Crown Melbourne on Friday, October 20, presenting the city with a rather lovely conundrum: how much mezcal is too much mezcal? Following expansions in Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix and even across the ditch in New Zealand, Melbourne is the latest outpost for the popular bar. When its doors swing open, expect more than 35 kinds of mezcals and tequilas, served in either handmade copitas (and in generous pours) or shot glasses. Accompanying them will be the sort of fresh seasonal fruit and salts that'll make you wonder why you ever sipped the agave spirit any other way. As for food, expect Mexican but with a Ghost Donkey twist. Think: Baja kingfish tacos with a dash of ponzu and sambal, or perhaps nachos topped with wild mushroom and poblano salsa. And let's not forget the cocktails, because what's a bar without its signature drink? Ghost Donkey will serve its namesake cocktail, aka El Burro Fantasma, in a ceramic donkey cup (yes, really), topped with a zesty mix of fresh flowers — and featuring a blend of Pelotón de la Muerte mezcal and Aperol, plus agave, lime, pink grapefruit and chilli. Ghost Donkey isn't just a catchy name. It's an homage to the actual donkeys of mezcal production. In traditional processes, they lug heavy stones over agave hearts, crushing them pre-fermentation. So the bar isn't just a novelty — it's a celebration of Mexican heritage and tradition, splashed with an unapologetically electric design sure to enthral Melburnians and tourists alike. Whether you're a mezcal fiend, a taco enthusiast or simply looking to dip your hooves into something new, Ghost Donkey promises a dash of New York flair, a generous pour of Mexican tradition and a straight-up good time — all in a Yarraside location. Lovely. Ghost Donkey will open at Riverside at Crown (near Clarendon Street), 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank, on Friday, October 20.
If it involves design and creativity — whether as graphics and illustration, via filmmaking and animation, in photography and visual data, through writing and publishing, in products and advertising, or as part of spatial and motion design — odds are that you'll find it at Semi Permanent. The southern hemisphere's biggest and longest-running festival dedicated to all of the above, it brings together the brightest minds it can find to unpack its chosen topics. And, in 2023, it'll do just that in Sydney again. This fest has spanned more than 50 events in 13 cities with 800-plus speakers and over 300,000 attendees over its past two decades, and it's back this year as part of Vivid Sydney's lineup. Don't just wander around the Harbour City soaking in the lit-up gardens, gigs and Vivid's first-ever food fest come May and June — hit up Semi Permanent to ponder what goes into making Vivid so stunning, as well as the latest trends and themes in design and creativity overall. Taking place at Sydney's Carriageworks for three days between Wednesday, May 31–Friday, June 2, Semi Permanent 2023 features a stacked lineup of speakers, including Irish writer, academic and disability activist Sinéad Burke, who'll explore accessibility — and filmmaker and architect Liam Young, who focuses on the blurring boundaries between film, fiction, design, and storytelling, especially when it comes to musing on what cities will look like in the future. Plus, journalist, writer, artist and producer Mona Chalabi will dive into how data helps us understand the world, while Iranian American designer FISK founder Bijan Berahim is known for highlighting culture, community and commerce via art and design. Also on the bill: Vogue India's Head of Editorial Content Megha Kapoor, Indigital founder Mikaela Jade, Indigenous artist and poet Jazz Money, and artist, illustrator and animator Chris Yee. Film and TV designer and director Filipe Carvalho joins the international contingent, with the Australian Centre for Moving Image's Seb Chan, Gold Coast artist and screenwriter Samuel Leighton-Dore, motion graphics artist's Mikaela Stafford and photographer and performer Wani Toaishara helping fill out the local crew alongside artist and illustrator Jordy van den Nieuwendijk, designer and artist Evi. O and Semi Permanent 2023's host Namila Benson. That packed roster of talent will examine the theme of 'reformation', a particularly topical subject given the events of the past few years. "We thought the world would seek to build itself back as it was, but it's increasingly clear that our collective future cannot—nor should not—look anything like its past," notes Semi Permanent's Global Creative Director Mitchell Oakley Smith. "We live amidst a once-in-a-generation chance to write past wrongs, reform seemingly immutable practices, and redesign the world in a shape we'd like to see." As always, Semi Permanent will span keynote talks, panels, Q&As and workshops, as well as exhibitions, demonstrations and installations. This year, expect those sessions to touch upon futurism, feminism, First Nations culture and accessibility alongside sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, all while examining Web3's borderless promises, how remote work helps employees claim back their time, and the dismantling of industrial hierarchies and traditions. "In its place, something new is beginning to emerge: new creative languages, new ways to communicate, to create, organise, disrupt, rebuild. New ways to speak, hear, interpret, understand, and connect. Less barriers to entry, and more possibility for brilliance. With all the chips seemingly thrown in the air — which of these do we catch, and which do we let go?," says Oakley Smith. Semi Permanent 2023 will run from Wednesday, May 31–Friday, June 2 at Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, Sydney. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the Semi Permanent website.
Paddo Collective — a cohort of local businesses that have joined forces to revitalise the suburb — invites you to dive into Paddington's peculiar past — a history filled with notorious crimes, eccentric architecture and unsolved mysteries. This new walking tour blends the past and present, weaving together local sights, stories and secrets with the help of Sydney historian Max Burns-McRuvie, who will guide tourgoers through the area's heritage as they visit some of Paddington's best venues. Expect to stop by local staples such as Fred's, Tequila Mockingbird and The Wine Library for a taste of their contributions to the suburb's evolving culture. You'll also reach into the past at four chilling historic sites to uncover tales of murder on terraces, sinkhole crises and Paddington's rise from rags to riches. Max Burns-McRuvie is one of Sydney's most thrilling tour guides, hosting fascinating trails through Sydney's grim past via his company Journey Walks. His specialty is crime history, so expect to discover much about the vice, murder and scandal that helped shape the Paddington we know and love today.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TG-Mxzl88Q LOCKED DOWN Sparked by the pandemic, lockdown films aren't just an exercise in adapting to stay-at-home conditions — or a way to keep actors, directors and other industry professionals busy and working at a challenging time. The genre also provides a window into how the creatives behind its flicks view everyday life and ordinary people. Arising from a global event that's placed many of the planet's inhabitants in similar circumstances, these features tell us which stories filmmakers deem worth telling, which visions of normality they choose to focus on and who they think is living an average life. With Malcolm & Marie, a hotshot young director and an ex-addict were the only options offered. In Language Lessons, which premiered at this year's virtual Berlin Film Festival, a wealthy widower and a Spanish teacher were the movie's two choices. Now Locked Down directs its attention towards a CEO and a courier, the latter of which stresses that he's only in the gig because his criminal record has robbed him of other opportunities. Yes, these films and their characters speak volumes about how Hollywood perceives its paying customers. That's not the only thing that Locked Down says. Directed by Doug Liman (Chaos Walking) and scripted by Steven Knight (Locke), this romantic comedy-meets-heist flick is verbose to a farcical degree — awkwardly rather than purposefully. The repetitive and grating misfire is primarily comprised of monologues, Zoom calls and bickering between its central couple. Well-off Londoners Linda (Anne Hathaway, The Witches) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor, The Old Guard) are weeks into 2020's first lockdown, and their ten-year relationship has become a casualty. Whether chatting to each other or virtually with others, both commit a torrent of words to the subject. Linda has decided they're done, which Paxton has trouble accepting. She's also unhappy with her high-flying job, especially after she's forced to fire an entire team online, but gets scolded by her boss (Ben Stiller, Brad's Status) for not telling her now-sacked colleagues they're still like family. Tired of driving a van, Paxton is willing to do whatever his employer (Ben Kingsley, Life) needs to climb his way up the ladder. That said, he's still tied to the road, with the ex-rebel's decision to sell his beloved motorbike — a symbol of his wilder youth, and its fun, freedom and risks — hitting hard. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GC--RZ3jOo THE PERFECT CANDIDATE With 2012's Wadjda, Haifaa al-Mansour became the first female filmmaker from Saudi Arabia to make a full-length movie. Fittingly, she achieved the feat via a powerful tale about a girl breaking boundaries — by fighting to ride a bicycle in the street, an activity that's by no means routine in the Middle Eastern country. A hopeful yet truthful film that depicts the present-day reality for Saudi women, while also remaining committed to dreaming of a different future, al-Mansour's directorial debut marked the first-ever feature shot entirely in her homeland, too. Accordingly, she smashed barriers in multiple ways, including both on- and off-screen. Nine years later, she demonstrates the same spirit again with The Perfect Candidate. After exploring another female trailblazer in 2017 biopic Mary Shelley, then pondering the beauty standards imposed upon women in 2018 rom-com Nappily Ever After, al-Mansour delivers the ideal companion piece to her applauded first picture — this time focusing on a young Saudi doctor who tackles her town's misogynistic and patronising attitudes by running for local council. No matter the day or situation, the ambitious Maryam (debutant Mila al-Zahrani) is repeatedly reminded that women aren't considered equal in her community. In one of The Perfect Candidate's early scenes, an elderly male patient writhes in agony, but is more upset about the fact that she'll be treating him — until Maryam's condescending boss proclaims that male nurses can easily step in and do the job for her. When her recently widowed musician father Abdulaziz (Khalid Abdulraheem) goes away on tour, she attempts to fly to Dubai for a medical conference and subsequent job interview that would see her move to Riyadh. Alas, she's stopped from departing because her dad hasn't updated her travel permit, and she can't leave unless he rectifies the paperwork. A male cousin (Ahmad Alsulaimy) in a role of authority within the government might be able to assist, but even the bonds of blood aren't enough to get her through the door to his office. He's interviewing and approving candidates for the municipal election, so Maryam puts her name forward just to progress past his secretary. That still doesn't help her make her flight, but it does send her in a different direction. While already struggling to convince her employers to pave the road to the town's emergency medical clinic, she decides to run to fix that specific problem — and the more backlash she receives for putting herself in contention, the more determined she is to campaign for change. The Perfect Candidate is currently screening at Sydney's Randwick Ritz cinema, and will play at ACMI in Melbourne from May 13–25. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv72JDeSaXY DE GAULLE Paris' international airport is named after him, so even if you know nothing else about Charles de Gaulle, you know that his chapter in French history turns out well enough to be immortalised in one of the country's most pivotal sites. The new biopic that also shares his name endeavours to help explain why by focusing on a specific period during the Second World War — the few weeks in June 1940 when France's powers-that-be were contemplating kowtowing to Germany rather than continuing to lose men in their battles against the Nazis. As Prime Minister Paul Reynaud (Olivier Gourmet, The Midwife) attempts to decide how to proceed, de Gaulle (Lambert Wilson, The Translators) ranks among the government's key voices. But support for capitulating to their enemy keeps growing stronger, including via Philippe Pétain (Philippe Laudenbach, Ad Vitam), who would become the Chief of State of Vichy France shortly afterwards. Trying to thwart his nation's submission to and collaboration with the Germans, the movie's eponymous figure heads to London to meet with Winston Churchill (Tim Hudson, A Very English Scandal). Swiftly, and while causing ire at home, he becomes a driving force behind the Free France movement — which would lead the resistance against occupation during the remainder of the war. De Gaulle's audience doesn't need to have an intimate awareness of France's involvement in WWII before they start watching this sombre drama, with writer/director Gabriel Le Bomin (Our Patriots) and his co-scribe Valérie Ranson-Enguiale (who also co-wrote his 2008 short film L'occupant) routinely demonstrating their fondness for using dialogue to deliver exposition. Indeed, much of the feature is dedicated to talk describing the situation — as intertwined with glimpses of de Gaulle's home life, and of the efforts of his wife Yvonne (Isabelle Carré, Moving On), elder children Elisabeth (Lucie Rouxel, Rascal) and Philippe (Félix Back, Black Tide), and younger daughter Anne (debutant Clémence Hitten), who has Down Syndrome, to flee France as the Nazis invade. The end result, while never short on intrigue, always seems more interested in explaining history than depicting it. The ceaselessly worshipping tone doesn't help flesh out the movie's subject as a person, either; again, viewers already know that he's worthy of celebration going in. And, while De Gaulle's urgent efforts to save his country and his family's quest to escape should be tense and suspenseful, much of the feature feels like a by-the-numbers mashup of Second World War film tropes. Wilson's performance is solid, and the period detail catches the eye, but De Gaulle is never more than standard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXn0ryXxfak JUNE AGAIN The third film about dementia to reach Australian cinemas in little over a month, June Again starts as The Father did: with its elderly protagonist losing time, and her sense of her place within it, as moments, days and life in general all seem to rush by. The titular June (Noni Hazlehurst, Long Story Short) barely greets her daughter Ginny (Claudia Karvan, Bump) or grandson Piers (Otis Dhanji, Aquaman) when they visit the aged care centre she has lived in for five years, rarely passes her doctor's (Wayne Blair, Rams) cognitive tests and constantly feels disoriented due to vascular dementia that's been caused by a series of strokes. But, one otherwise ordinary morning, she wakes up lucid, annoyed, and wondering where she is and why. So, as Supernova did, this Aussie feature then follows June's quest to make the most of the time she has left as herself. Here, however, that involves trying to set right the many wrong choices she thinks her adult children have made, and also attempting to snatch a last grasp at happiness. Dramas ensue, with Ginny thrilled to have her mum back as she once was, but frustrated with her meddling — and her sibling Devon (Stephen Curry, Mr Love) mainly falling into the latter category. But June's window of clarity doesn't simply allow her to be herself again; it lets her address her mistakes, follow paths not taken, and try to become the woman that life and raising a family never her let her be. For 23 years on Play School, Hazlehurst helped guide young minds and teach pre-schoolers about the world that they were only just beginning to explore. Accordingly, there's a feeling of synergy about her role in June Again. Playing a woman slipping out of a world that she's navigated for a lifetime, she tackles a condition unlikely to have been directly experienced by many of the viewers who grew up peering through square, diamond, round and arched windows with her — and looking at rocket and flower clocks, too — but might now be touching those that watched with them. And, alongside fellow familiar faces Karvan and Curry, Hazlehurst is one of the best things about June Again. First-time feature writer/director JJ Winlove keeps things comfortable and predictable in his warm-hearted narrative and warm-hued stylistic choices, but every scene, emotional moment, and insight into life, love, loss, ageing, forgetting and farewelling those dearest to us is improved by his all-star cast. That's never more accurate than when Hazlehurst is cherishing June's renewed lease on life, reminding viewers how delightful she always is on-screen, and selling the film's sentimental but heartfelt message about the importance of chasing what you love in the time you're given. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=civOp5c5GM0 FATALE Only 14 women have ever won more than one Academy Award for Best Actress, and Hilary Swank is one of them. When she earned the Oscars double for 1999's Boys Don't Cry and 2004's Million Dollar Baby, she beat both Meryl Streep and now three-time recipient Frances McDormand to the feat — but her career hasn't brought the coveted accolade her way again since. Fatale isn't going to change that recent trend. It hasn't earned Swank a Razzie either, but she could've easily been in the running. Playing a Los Angeles cop who has a one-night stand in Las Vegas with an ex-college basketball star turned high-profile player manager, then starts stalking her way through his life while also trying to intimidate her politician ex-husband into giving her back access to her young daughter, she has one mode here: stern-faced yet unbalanced. Even when her character, Detective Valerie Quinlan, is first seen flirting, Swank plays her as if something isn't quite right. That's accurate, plot-wise, but it robs Fatale of any semblance of tension it might've possessed. The film is meant to be an adultery-focused thriller in the Fatal Attraction mould — with even its title blatantly nodding that way — but it just ends up recycling tired, simplistic, overused cliches about unhinged women into a monotonous and unnecessarily convoluted package. Valerie and Derrick (Michael Ealy, Westworld) hit it off at a Vegas bar, then get physical; however, the next morning, he heads home to his wife Tracie (Damaris Lewis, BlacKkKlansman), who he actually suspects of being unfaithful herself. Before Derrick can meaningfully process either his infidelity or his fears about his crumbling marriage, his swanky home is broken into one night — and, because director Deon Taylor (Black and Blue) and screenwriter David Loughery (The Intruder) are content to hit every expected beat there is (and because they've seen every 80s and 90s erotic thriller ever made, too), Valerie is the investigating officer. Despite being woefully predictable from the outset, Fatale doesn't dare have fun with its cookie-cutter narrative. It doesn't evoke thrills, bring anything more than surface style or prove particularly sexy, and it never gets its audience invested in its obvious twists, one-note characters or rote dialogue. And, although having its badge-toting stalker use excessive force and exploit her power to target a person of colour could've been a choice that said something about America's current reckoning with law enforcement, race and police brutality, Fatale doesn't even contemplate anything other than clunky formula. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World, High Ground, Earwig and the Witch, The Nest, Assassins, Synchronic, Another Round, Minari, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, The Truffle Hunters, The Little Things, Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective, Voyagers, Gunda, Supernova, The Dissident, The United States vs Billie Holiday, First Cow and Wrath of Man.
The season of love is hurtling through the air towards us like a fully charged shot from Cupid. If you're tired of clichéd and basic date nights, celebrate Valentine's Day this year with a colourful night out thanks to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and Heaps Gay. Fittingly, Valentine's Day is also the first day of Mardi Gras, so why not get into the Mardi Gras spirit straight away? You can do just that at A Heaps Gay Valentine, taking over MCA Australia from 6–10pm on the most passionate night of the year (Friday, February 14, if you somehow forgot). [caption id="attachment_988799" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Dyan Tai. Heaps Gay, photograph: Unprotected Success[/caption] There are no rose bouquets or cheap chocolate hearts here. Instead, the evening has a packed lineup of live entertainment and your ticket will also include access to the MCA's current exhibitions if you want to take a step back from the party and quietly appreciate the works of Julie Mehretu, Isaac Julien and more. In terms of entertainment, the program is packed. On the level four rooftop, expect laughs from comedian Ruby Tey, love song dedications by Chakita and gasps of admiration at cabaret by Nini Voss. And since it's more than just a party, you could get a lesson in love letter-writing from author Dylin Hardcastle, confess (or watch others confess) a smutty secret with Imbi or perfect the art of self-love with intimacy expert Quinn Kush. Plus, it's Valentine's Day, so don't be scared to flirt with someone on the dance floor. 'Tis the season. [caption id="attachment_988800" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Quinn Kush, photograph: Nergal U-Khan[/caption] A Heaps Gay Valentine will take place at MCA Australia from 6–10pm on Friday, February 14. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website. Header image: Chakita, Artbar Romance, 2024, photograph: Lexi Laphor
Groundbreaking theatre productions, revamped movie masterpieces, acclaimed hip-hop artists and the occasional drag-queen are all ready to set the Sydney Opera House alight this summer with the announcement of another ambitious program from Australia's premiere live entertainment venue. The 2012-13 Summer At The House season is jam-packed full of local and international superstars who will showcase all of the things we love about the Sydney Opera House, from cutting edge and genre-defying entertainment to stadium spectaculars that will have the heart racing and the spine tingling. After performing in front of sell-out crowds in London, Paris, Berlin and Bangkok, the enthralling international dance spectacular, Blaze, is heading to Sydney. The show combines a host of acclaimed hip-hoppers, entertaining pop-and-lockers as well as acrobatically acute breakers with the work of extravagant set designer, Es Devlin, who has decked the halls for the likes of Kanye and Lady Gaga. Under the direction of legendary West End director and choreographer, Anthony van Laast, who has sellout's like Mamma Mia! and Sister Act under his belt, Blaze is a surefire winner for the whole family. Continuing the summer of entertainment is La Soirée, a mélange of shocking and awe-inspiring acts from a range of eccentric circus-folk that is sure to leave you giggling, gasping and even a little bit titillated. From scantily-clad contortionists to graceful aerialists and beguiling performers, La Soirée promises to be a mystical world of incredible charisma and skill. For those who prefer their entertainment a little more gender confused, check out the Opera House's adult's-only panto, Little Orphan TrAshley. Australian theatre's jack of all trades, Trevor Ashley (often described as the 'busiest man in Australian show-business') plays 10-year-old little orphan Fannie, who journeys to find her birth parents in order to receive her much-yearned-for gender reallocation to make her truly female. Complete with evil alcohol-dependent matrons, sexy multi-millionaires and an ex-sniffer dog called Bullshit, this Christmas panto promises to be as hilarious as it is outlandish. For those in search of more X-rated performances, My First Time is hitting the stage in Sydney, fittingly, for its first time. Four actors explore a whopping 40,000 stories of people's first sexual encounters taken from an online forum of the most hilarious, unbelievable, adventurous, cute and ridiculous ways Americans have lost their virginity. Don't miss out on this side-splitting 90-minute play fresh from its highly acclaimed New York run. Another must-not-miss theatrical performance this season is the ferociously feline drama performance, Meow Meow. Three time winner at the 2012 Helpmann Awards and title winner of the top ten 'Best of Cabaret' by Time Out NY, this show is evidently doing something right. With its unique blend of post-modern cabaret and exotic performance, Meow Meow has had even the fiercest of doubters swept up in its bizarre and beautiful world. Sitting somewhere between Bob Dylan and a "one-man Mumford and Sons" (The Guardian), Swedish singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson aka "The Tallest Man On Earth" is set to light the Opera House Concert Hall on fire. With his stadium-friendly vocals, lilting guitar melodies and arrestingly passionate stage presence, The Tallest Man On Earth has rapidly garnered a reputation as a consummate performer. For those in search of danceable, intelligent pop music, the Opera House Concert Hall will also play host to the New York quintet The Dirty Projectors and their irresistible combination of funky, off-kilter rhythms, operatic vocal harmonies and stomping Afro-pop beats. In what has become an Opera House staple, this summer will see a cinematic masterpiece come gloriously to life with the help of the Sydney Symphony and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. In what promises to be an astounding audio-visual spectacular, Stanley Kubrick's mind-altering, time-bending classic 2001: A Space Odyssey is being given the Opera House treatment combining a giant screen with a sumptuous live soundtrack. Critically acclaimed Australian artist, Sarah Blasko is returning to the stage after the release of her fourth album, I Awake, and she too is using the backing sounds of an eminent orchestra to support her enchanting vocals. The International Sydney Orchestra will accompany this double ARIA and Triple J Album of the Year-winning singer to create a spellbinding musical performance at her first ever headline at the House. By Sean Robertson and Greta Mayr
Double Bay has welcomed a breezy, buzzing new restaurant, Brick Lane, which pools the talents of Scott Robertson (Goodbar), chef Drew Bolton (Vine Double Bay), cocktail maestro Jason Crawley, and creative director Alex Zabotto-Bentley (Kittyhawk, Butter, Seadeck). Featuring a New York-inspired dining room and a sunny terrace from AZB Creative, a place we're envisioning as the backdrop to many a weekend Bloody Mary over summer, Brick Lane is equal parts laidback and upmarket. Bolton's menu is casual, yet considered, running from smart drinking snacks (wagyu bresaola pretzel, anyone?) to a range of grass-fed steaks, handpicked from Kyle Farm in Young. You'll spy a similar commitment to quality protein in an assortment of specialty burgers and hotdogs. The Haute Dog teams a Toulouse pork snag with dijonnaise, gruyere, and pickled jalapeno, while a wagyu burger comes loaded with talleggio, bacon, and caramelised onion. Backing up the kitchen's offering is Crawley's range of clever signature cocktails, and a snappy wine list that's sure to inspire after-work visits aplenty. Find Brick Lane at 3 Goldman Lane, Double Bay. Images: Brick Lane.
Holidays are all about getting out of town, forgetting your worries and exploring somewhere new. Well, usually. With so many luxe places to head to in our very own city, your next relaxing break needn't involve cutting into your precious annual leave or trying to get your bearings in an unfamiliar location. Instead, it's staycation time. Designer hotels have been popping up all around Australia with frequency over the past few years, and Brissie is leading the charge. Whether you fancy glorious river views, sky-high pools, vacationing like a rock star or indulging in a bit of old-school glam, there's a place for you. Your first post-lockdown escape awaits. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. While regional holidays within Queensland are now permitted, some of the places mentioned below may still be closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check websites before making any plans. [caption id="attachment_694714" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] THE CALILE, FORTITUDE VALLEY Filled with designer stores, bustling bars and restaurants, and a veteran of the city's arthouse cinema scene, James Street has always radiated a holiday vibe. And the stretch of road that borders Fortitude Valley and New Farm has an excellent place to stay: The Calile. Opening late in 2018, the 175-room spot isn't the first hotel on the street, but it is the first to call itself a resort — and it takes that term seriously. A stunning pool takes centre stage, enticing you to splash the day away. When you're not in the water, cabanas and sun lounges will call your name, and there's an outdoor deck where you can nab something to eat. You can also enjoy a Greek feast at Hellenika restaurant, or hang out in the lobby bar. Back in your room, you'll find a focus on all things natural, including oak furniture, cork floors and sisal matting in the bathrooms, day beds for afternoon naps, linen robes and a minibar stocked from local suppliers. Find The Calile Hotel at 48 James Street, Fortitude Valley. Make a reservation here. EMPORIUM, SOUTH BANK Up until a few years ago, if you were looking for the Emporium, you'd need to head to Fortitude Valley. But, after a bout of musical chairs among the city's accommodation providers, the hotel can now be found at South Bank. The brand sold off one site and built another — and if it's killer views over the river that you're after, then the new location well and truly delivers. Don't worry, it delivers plenty more, too. The 21-storey structure includes 143 rooms all decked out in the expected luxurious fashion, including marble and bronze finishings, mirrored TVs and in-suite wine fridges — and beloved French joint Belle Époque has even made the move, too, setting up shop downstairs. That said, this place is all about the rooftop. If you're feeling flush, you can stay in a poolside cabana suite, which'll place you mere footsteps away from the hotel's top-level 23-metre infinity pool. And, you'll be as close as you possibly can be to The Terrace, Emporium's sky-high all-day bar and eatery. Find Emporium Hotel South Bank at 267 Grey Street, South Brisbane. Make a reservation here. OVOLO THE VALLEY, FORTITUDE VALLEY Back at the Fortitude Valley space formerly known as the Emporium, another hotelier has settled in. In late 2018, Hong Kong-based chain Ovolo made the place its own, giving the 103-room site a huge $55 million facelift — and just casually taking inspiration from David Bowie in decking out its two ultra-luxe suites. Of course, everything is glam at Ovolo the Valley. If you spend a night or several in one of the Rockstar suites, 1970s-esque velvet lounges and a gold bar await. Elsewhere, think rich hues, an overall design that finds its cues in the Valley's streets and laneways, and the eclectic furniture choices that Ovolo regulars have come to expect. The brand's usual inclusions are also on the menu, such as a free minibar with every room (including a lolly bag full of treats), free breakfast with every stay, free wifi, free laundry and free happy hour drinks each day. When you're not enjoying all of the above, head up — that's where you'll find the rooftop swimming pool, gym and sauna. Find Ovolo The Valley at 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley. Make a reservation here. THE WESTIN, CBD Brisbanites can be excused for feeling a sigh of relief about The Westin. Now that it exists, the huge hole in the ground that blighted Mary and Margaret Streets for years and years is finally gone. And it's a case of good things coming to those who wait, with the hotel giving the city its very first swim-up bar. The kind of attraction that you'd usually find on an island, by the coast or just somewhere other than an inner city street, the Nautilus is located in the middle of Westin's 300-square-metre swimming pool — and features views over the city, too. Sounds like the only excuse we all need for a staycation in one of the hotel's 299 rooms and suites. Although cabanas, deckside yoga classes, an onsite jazz bar and a 150-person restaurant all help as well. Find The Westin Brisbane at 111 Mary Street, Brisbane. Make a reservation here. [caption id="attachment_702993" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Marriott International Hotel[/caption] W BRISBANE, CBD In 2018, the W Hotel chain made its return to Australia in a big way. Showing just how much of a designer hotel hotspot Brisbane has become, the brand opened its new digs smack bang in the middle of the city. If you're going to make a comeback, you may as well do it with a 312-room structure by the river along North Quay. It's the chain's only site in the country at present (though Sydney and Melbourne outposts are imminent). The views are a huge drawcard, obviously, but this spot has plenty of other tricks up its sleeve. When guests aren't chilling in the decadent pool, which immediately catches the eye with its geometric, black-and-white design, they can grab a beverage at the adjacent waterside bar or have a meal at Queensland's first Three Blue Ducks restaurant. Or, slipping back upstairs and into the ten-gallon drum baths in each room is also an option. And as a bonus, there's also in-suite cocktail stations, so prepare to get mixing and drinking. Find W Brisbane at 81 North Quay, Brisbane. Make a reservation here. OVOLO INCHCOLM, SPRING HILL Ovolo didn't just take over one existing Brisbane hotel and completely revamp it. Making sure its presence is felt in the city, it did just that to two. And, when it renovated and reimagined the nearly 100-year-old Inchcolm in Spring Hill, it unleashed a striking facelift that combines the old and the new. There's no doubting the site's heritage, which is clearly evident from its exterior, but the fresh interior decor goes retro in a raft of different ways. Sit on green velvet couches, sip martinis like you're in 20s-era Paris — and eat free Fantales. Order your drinks from a bar decked out with David Bowie- and Prince-themed crockery, tap your toes to 80s tracks like 'Footloose' and grab a bite from the menu. Up in your room, you'll find spacious suites filled with mod cons, including an Alexa to help you out. Plus, there's Ovolo's free minibar. Find Ovolo Inchcolm at 73 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill. Make a reservation here. THE JOHNSON, SPRING HILL It's been a couple of years since Art Series Hotels made its first foray into Brisbane, and its Spring Hill site lives up to the brand's concept. Every room in the 83-suite property nods to the space's namesake: Sydney-born abstract artist Michael Johnson, whose original paintings and prints grace The Johnson's walls. In a former life, the site was once home to the Department of Transport, although no trace of that bureaucratic past remains. This is a sleek, minimalistic abode that finds its style in the hefty array of art; however, the hotel's pared-back approach doesn't clash with its classy feel. Or with the resort-style 50-metre pool, deck bar and downstairs restaurant, or balcony views over one of the inner city's quietest, leafiest suburbs. Find The Johnson at 477 Boundary Street, Spring Hill. Make a reservation here. THE FANTAUZZO, BRISBANE If you love the idea of The Johnson, chances are this will pique your interest, too. The Fantauzzo is Brisbane's second Art Series Hotel and pays tribute to the world-renowned Australian painter and photographer Vincent Fantauzzo, who has won the Archibald People's Choice Award a whopping four times (among many other accolades). Built into the cliff bordering the CBD and Fortitude Valley, the $100 million site boasts one mighty fine view of the city and the Brisbane river, plus custom furniture, a dark-toned interior decor and six new original artworks by Fantauzzo — plus, 500 others. The pool, overlooking the river, is a definite highlight. But if you manage to tear yourself away from the water, you're super close to the excellent Howard Smith Wharves precinct, which is home to a brewery, overwater bar and slick Greek restaurant. Find The Fantauzzo at Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane. Make a reservation here. ALEX PERRY HOTEL, FORTITUDE VALLEY Alex Perry Hotel puts its designer credentials right there in its name. This Fortitude Valley space is decked out with all of the fashion designer's touches. Think rich, dark colours contrasting with gleaming white and natural tones, plus natural light aplenty. And, the rooms are all apartment-style, which always helps in making you feel at home. It might be located in a busy area for boutique accommodation, near both The Calile and Ovolo the Valley, but there's one thing that helps Alex Perry Hotel stand out: its rooftop space. There's a pool, naturally; however, sitting on the astroturf and admiring the sunset is one of the best ways to soak in this gorgeous city. Find the Alex Perry Hotel at 959 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley. Make a reservation here. FV BY PEPPERS, FORTITUDE VALLEY You can't miss this triangular-shaped structure in Fortitude Valley that purposefully takes inspiration from New York's famous Flatiron Building. Of course, you're not supposed to miss it. But marvelling at its exterior is just the start — although one of its unmistakable highlights is definitely located outside, and up high as well. Lofty pools with a view are on-trend at the moment, but we're not complaining. Here, said splash-friendly spot is U-shaped, and it looks out over the city skyline. You can also book private spa lounges should be you staycationing with a group, and then catch a flick on the outdoor deck. Or, find your bliss in the yoga studio. Find FV by Peppers at 191 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. Make a reservation here. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Top image: The Calile by Sean Fennessy.
A tribute to Los Angeles in film. Dreaming about somewhere over the rainbow and defying gravity with Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo singing the house down. 2025 ceremony host — and four-time Oscar-viewer — Conan O'Brien making a The Substance-inspired entrance, then regaling the crowd and the watching world with a genuinely funny opening monologue. A Real Pain winner Kieran Culkin telling Jeremy Strong how phenomenal he was in The Apprentice when collecting the first award of the night. Parks and Recreation favourite Nick Offerman announcing the presenters. That's how the 97th Academy Awards began. As they went on, this year's Oscars made dreams come true for the folks behind some of the best movies of the past 12 months. Flow, Wicked, Anora, Conclave, The Substance, Emilia Pérez, No Other Land, Dune: Part Two, The Brutalist, I'm Still Here: with A Real Pain, they're now all Academy Award-winners. Accordingly, 2025 is the year that an independent, dialogue-free film about animals — a movie that marked the first-ever Latvian title nominated for an Oscar, and to make good on that nod — won Best Animated Feature, and Flow couldn't be a more-worthy victor. Wicked costume designer Paul Tazewell made history as well, his award for the stage-to-screen musical making him the first Black man to ever take out the category. Best Supporting Actress Zoe Saldaña is the first American of Dominican origin to collect an Oscar statuette, too. I'm Still Here's Best International Feature prize makes it the first Brazilian flick to win that field. For Anora, Tangerine, The Florida Project and Red Rocket's Sean Baker, one of American cinema's great champions of otherwise untold tales, now has multiple Academy Awards — including for directing, writing and editing. Adrien Brody is now a two-time Best Actor winner, nabbing his second trophy 22 years after his first, again for grappling with the horrors of the Holocaust. By the numbers, this was a night of sharing the love, however. Best Picture's Anora wasn't the only film to get a shoutout more than once, even if it was the big winner with five awards. Also victorious multiple times: The Brutalist, Wicked, Dune: Part Two and Emilia Pérez. And, from the Best Picture nominees, only A Complete Unknown and Nickel Boys went home empty-handed — although both deserved better. Among the ceremony's fun, the 2025 Oscars also delivered an ode from Morgan Freeman to the late, great Gene Hackman to start the in-memorium segment, worked in a Bond song-and-dance spectacle, nodded to Kill Bill, honoured Quincy Jones and saw Mick Jagger receive a standing ovation for presenting the award for Best Original Song. When Quentin Tarantino announced Best Director, he was rewarded with thanks from Baker, noting that Anora wouldn't exist if QT hadn't first cast Mikey Madison in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The Oscars featured a pitch for a building dedicated to watching streaming movies on the big screen as well, and a Dune and Dune: Part Two sandworm playing various musical instruments. If you needed a reminder of who was hosting, O'Brien wasn't afraid to skew silly, clearly — and savage in some of his jokes, including about standing up to Russians. Wondering what and who won what, and the films and talents that were also contending, at this year's Academy Awards? Check out the full list below — and if you're curious, you can also see what we predicted would and should win, plus our full list of where most of this year's nominees are screening or streaming in Australia right now. Oscar Winners and Nominees 2025 Best Motion Picture Anora — WINNER The Brutalist A Complete Unknown Conclave Dune: Part Two Emilia Pérez I'm Still Here Nickel Boys The Substance Wicked Best Director Anora, Sean Baker — WINNER The Brutalist, Brady Corbet A Complete Unknown, James Mangold Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard The Substance, Coralie Fargeat Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Cynthia Erivo, Wicked Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez Mikey Madison, Anora — WINNER Demi Moore, The Substance Fernanda Torres, I'm Still Here Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Adrien Brody, The Brutalist — WINNER Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown Colman Domingo, Sing Sing Ralph Fiennes, Conclave Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown Ariana Grande, Wicked Felicity Jones, The Brutalist Isabella Rossellini, Conclave Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez — WINNER Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Yura Borisov, Anora Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain — WINNER Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown Guy Pearce, The Brutalist Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice Best Original Screenplay Anora, Sean Baker — WINNER The Brutalist, Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg September 5, Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum and Alex David The Substance, Coralie Fargeat Best Adapted Screenplay A Complete Unknown, James Mangold and Jay Cocks Conclave, Peter Straughan — WINNER Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi Nickel Boys, RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes Sing Sing, Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin and John 'Divine G' Whitfield Best International Feature Film I'm Still Here — WINNER The Girl with the Needle Emilia Pérez The Seed of the Sacred Fig Flow Best Animated Feature Flow — WINNER Inside Out 2 Memoir of a Snail Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl The Wild Robot Best Documentary Feature Black Box Diaries No Other Land — WINNER Porcelain War Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat Sugarcane Best Original Score The Brutalist, Daniel Blumberg — WINNER Conclave, Volker Bertelmann Emilia Pérez, Clément Ducol and Camille Wicked, John Powell and Stephen Schwartz The Wild Robot, Kris Bowers Best Original Song 'El Mal', Emilia Pérez, Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard — WINNER 'The Journey', The Six Triple Eight, Diane Warren 'Like A Bird', Sing Sing, Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada 'Mi Camino', Emilia Pérez, Camille and Clément Ducol 'Never Too Late', Elton John: Never Too Late, Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt and Bernie Taupin Best Cinematography The Brutalist, Lol Crawley — WINNER Dune: Part Two, Greig Fraser Emilia Pérez, Paul Guilhaume Maria, Ed Lachman Nosferatu, Jarin Blaschke Best Film Editing Anora, Sean Baker — WINNER The Brutalist, David Jancso Conclave, Nick Emerson Emilia Pérez, Juliette Welfling Wicked, Myron Kerstein Best Production Design The Brutalist, Judy Becker, Patricia Cuccia Conclave, Suzie Davies, Cynthia Sleiter Dune: Part Two, Patrice Vermette, Shane Vieau Nosferatu, Craig Lathrop, Beatrice Brentnerová Wicked, Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales — WINNER Best Visual Effects Alien: Romulus, Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin and Shane Mahan Better Man, Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft and Peter Stubbs Dune: Part Two, Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe and Gerd Nefzer — WINNER Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story and Rodney Burke Wicked, Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk and Paul Corbould Best Costume Design A Complete Unknown, Arianne Phillips Conclave, Lisy Christl Gladiator II, Janty Yates and Dave Crossman Nosferatu, Linda Muir Wicked, Paul Tazewell — WINNER Best Makeup and Hairstyling A Different Man, Mike Marino, David Presto and Crystal Jurado Emilia Pérez, Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier and Jean-Christophe Spadaccini Nosferatu, David White, Traci Loader and Suzanne StokesMunton The Substance, Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne Scarselli — WINNER Wicked, Frances Hannon, Laura Blount and Sarah Nuth Best Sound A Complete Unknown, Tod A Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey and David Giammarco Dune: Part Two, Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett and Doug Hemphill — WINNER Emilia Pérez, Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz and Niels Barletta Wicked, Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson and John Marquis The Wild Robot, Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A Rizzo and Leff Lefferts Best Documentary Short Subject Death by Numbers I Am Ready, Warden Incident Instruments of a Beating Heart The Only Girl in the Orchestra — WINNER Best Animated Short Film Beautiful Men In the Shadow of the Cypress — WINNER Magic Candies Wander to Wonder Yuck! Best Live-Action Short Film A Lien Anuja I'm Not a Robot — WINNER The Last Ranger The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent The 2025 Oscars were announced on Monday, March 3, Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website.
No matter how much we might want to, we can't all attend every music festival ever. And when one of those events is the huge behemoth that is Coachella, we definitely can't all nab highly sought-after, quickly selling-out tickets each and every year — or, indeed, even any year — either. But, thanks to Indio, California's huge annual drawcard, we can stay home and live our best Coachella lives by livestreaming along. The fest has been teaming up with YouTube to beam its tunes to the world for 11 years now — and it has just locked in plans to keep doing so until 2026. YouTube and Goldenvoice, the company behind Coachella, have announced the multi-year renewal of their partnership, which includes behind-the-scenes content on YouTube Shorts, playlist integrations within YouTube and YouTube Music, YouTube Shopping exclusive merchandise drops, exclusive content for YouTube Premium subscribers, live chats, and onsite activations with YouTube creators and artists — and, of course, that crucial and supremely popular livestream. Make a standing couch date each April, then, if trips to the US to head along in-person aren't in your future. "Our partnership with YouTube brings Coachella to everyone around the world," said Paul Tollett, Goldenvoice's President, in a statement announcing the news. "The 2023 lineup sees performers from Brazil, France, Iceland, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Spain, and beyond, and bringing international fans closer to their hometown artists is important to our team." 2023's fest announced its lineup earlier in January, and will be headlined by Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK and Frank Ocean. Also on the bill: everyone from Calvin Harris, Gorillaz, The Chemical Brothers, ROSALÍA and Blondie through to The Kid LAROI, Björk, Fisher, Charlie XCX, Porter Robinson and Idris Elba. Coachella will unleash that impressive collection of talent over the weekends of April 14–16 and April 21–23, which is Saturday, April 15–Monday, April 17 and Saturday, April 22–Monday, April 24 Down Under. While livestreaming is no longer a novelty in these pandemic times, given the calibre of the fest's lineup, it's still a mighty fine way to join in. Wondering who else is on the bill? Here you go: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) Coachella 2023 runs from April 14–16 and April 21–23 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It'll stream via YouTube from Saturday, April 15–Monday, April 17 and Saturday, April 22–Monday, April 24 Down Under.
If you only managed to watch a handful of 2021's best new TV shows, odds are that you still saw one knockout newbie starring Jean Smart. The veteran actor turned in two stellar performances in two exceptional television series last year, starting with murder-mystery drama Mare of Easttown, then following it up with comedian-centric comedy Hacks. Clever, hilarious and insightful, the latter earned her both an Emmy and a Golden Globe, too, and deservedly so. And, if the about-to-drop season season of Hacks proves anywhere near as great, she might just repeat both feats in the next 12 months. It's obviously impossible — and also flat-out ridiculous — to pick whether someone will nab a shiny trophy for their work based on a trailer alone. Smart was that phenomenal in Hacks' first season, though, so it's a fair prediction even without seeing any upcoming footage. In the just-released full sneak peek for season two, she's once again playing seasoned Las Vegas comic Deborah Vance, of course, who viewers saw notch up 2500 shows in last year's episodes. Now, after taking stock of her career, the character is headed out on the road. Still by the acerbic Deborah's side: Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder, North Hollywood), who started as her assistant last time around. As the first season charted, the chalk-and-cheese pair hardly got along. Deborah is a comedy legend, while Ava is a 25-year-old who made the move to Hollywood, has been living out her dream as a comedy writer, but found her career plummeting after a tweet crashed and burned. That said, the series is far, far more than just an odd-couple comedy. Season two's eight episodes will follow the duo as they workshop Deborah's new standup set around the US — and will start dropping Down Under on Friday, May 13 via Stan. They'll arrive the same day as they air in America, in fact, which means that you'll be watching two episodes per week rather than binging on all of Hacks' next season in one go. Also returning: Broad City's Paul W Downs as Deborah and Ava's mutual manager Jimmy, Megan Stalter (The Megan Stalter Show) as his clueless assistant Kayla, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Kaitlin Olson as Deborah's daughter DJ, Carl Clemons-Hopkins (The Chi) as Deborah's Chief Operating Officer Marcus and Christopher McDonald (Ballers) as casino owner Marty. They'll be joined by Hacks newcomers Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird), Martha Kelly (Euphoria), Ming-Na Wen (The Book of Boba Fett) and Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm), as well as guest stars Margaret Cho (The Flight Attendant) and Devon Sawa (Chucky). And if you're wondering why Hacks has proved so ace so far — other than Smart and her co-stars — it was created by three of the talents behind Broad City: writer Jen Statsky; writer/director Lucia Aniello; and Downs, who does double duty in front of and behind the lens. Check out the trailer for Hacks season two below: Season two of Hacks will start streaming via Stan from Friday, May 13. Season one is available to stream now. Read our full review of season one.
Ever had that feeling of rustling around in a cupboard on the hunt for a beach towel, only to uncover something that looks suspiciously like a bath mat? Or maybe you're flush with beach towels but just feel like a fancy new one this summer. Whether you're in need of a new towel, are looking to buy one as a Christmas gift or have seen lots of snazzy ones at the beach and simply want to see what's out there, our list will help you out. From geometric shapes, to luxurious linen, towel with hoods and those roundies everyone seems to have nowadays, here's our favourite Australian and New Zealand-made towels and where to get 'em. CLASSIC TOWEL, VERTTY Nope, that's not an artfully folded stack of towels. That's Vertty's reinvention of the humble beach towel into a geometric design object. Not only does their unique design show that you can think outside the box (or, er, rectangle) for even the most everyday beach object, they've incorporated other handy design features like a waterproof pocket, and quick-drying, lighter weight fabric. Plus, it comes in a range of eye-popping colours to make sure summer is just the way you like it. Check out their matching geometric swimwear, too. $79. THE AZTEC ROUNDIE, THE BEACH PEOPLE Round towels. They're a thing. According to The Beach People, they dreamt-up "the original roundie" in the lush Northern Rivers region of NSW. That was back in 2013, and their first collection sold out in weeks. Current towels on offer include this hand-drawn black and white design, as well as other spiffy prints like The Paradis. Others have jumped on the round towel bandwagon — including Basil Bangs, whose round 'Love Rugs' also feature a waterproof pocket and fold down into a carry case with built-in shoulder strap. $110. LUXE TOWEL WATEGOS, SUNNY LIFE It's no secret, we love Sunny Life's beach towels just as much as we love their umbrellas. And for tropical colours that pop on an unmissable beach towel, it's hard to go past this velour-finished number. You'll never lose sight of your spot on a packed summer beach again. Pair it with one of their beach pillows and we reckon you're onto a winning combination. Or, if you're looking for something floating to stretch out on, these guys also do some pretty mean inflatables. Luxe lie-on floating cactus, anyone? $69.95. STONE PRINT TOWEL, MÖVE Here's an unusual one for you. Möve's towels feature lifelike digital prints, like this stone design. They also have one with a print of weathered wooden boards, rippled water, and even landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Brandenburg Gate. Those ones are a bit cheesy, but the pebble print is mint. Although it might look like you're lying on stones, you'll be a lot comfier — the 100 percent cotton velour towel has a snuggly weight and is soft and absorbent. Their bath towels are worth checking out while you're there, too – they even have a line of towels inspired by architecture, namely the drawings of renaissance master builder Andrea Palladio. Möve ships their towels worldwide. EUR €39.90. LINEN LAGUNA, COAST NEW ZEALAND Step aside, Turkish towels, because we just discovered linen towels — and can't get enough of them. Well, maybe we won't do away with them entirely, but linen is pretty great. Incredibly fast drying, versatile and lightweight in your beach bag, we reckon they might be the next big thing. This towel from Coast New Zealand is available in a range of fetching stripes, and comes all the way from an 100-year-old family mill in Lithuania. There are also these guys in the US who make a plainer linen towel which comes with a compression strap, or the House of Baltic Linen closer to home. NZD $149. THE ECLIPSE LINEN THROW, KATE & KATE This is one hella pretty linen towel. Yes, we're still on about how great linen towels are — and, yep, this throw counts as a towel. Its name is a nod to this multi-functional rectangle's nature. When you're not using it on the sand, it's equally as useful as a lightweight blanket, picnic rug, shawl, tablecloth, throw for your sun-drenched daybed… you get the drift. Designed to fade, they come in a stack of designs including a couple with some pretty nice bronze and metallic details. $159. MARINE TIGER HIDE BEACH TOWEL, MASLIN & CO Well, this was the first time we've come across a beach towel that folds out into the shape of a tiger hide (don't worry, it's 100 percent cotton). Manufactured by Maslin & Co, who take their name from Australia's first nude beach, these guys say they're inspired by nature, the surreal, and beach vagabond culture. You can choose which one's your jam from their collection of different-coloured animal-shaped towels. Plus, they come with either a classic leather short or longer cross-body strap holder, so it's easy to carry your new towel with you wherever you wander. $195-250. EXTRA LARGE RAINBOW POM POM TURKISH TOWEL, I LOVE LINEN Somewhere along the line we're sure our grandmas had a towel like this, brought out for summer beach picnics or to dry off after running through the sprinklers on the lawn. Now our retro towel memories have come back to life (albeit with a little upgrade) thanks to the clever people at I Love Linen. Designed in Melbourne, their towels are hand-woven in Turkey's central region, famous for the quality of its textiles. Retro pom poms, 100 percent cotton, and that distinctive Turkish towel edging. It's comfy, super-absorbent and big enough to be a picnic rug as well as a beach towel. $89.95. SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS TOWEL FOR TWO, PENDLETON A towel wide enough for two — now that's the recipe for a comfy beach session. Whether you've got a beach buddy or just want the extra room to stretch out yourself, this luxurious 100 percent combed cotton number from Pendleton has you sorted. Based in the States' beautiful Pacific Northwest, as well as making a range of other spa and beach towels (and their iconic woollen blankets) the sixth-generation family-owned business has a focus on social responsibility — community, country and planet. USD $79.50. HOODED TOWEL, TURKISH MURKISH A towel and hooded wrap? Why didn't we think of that before? This handy number brings the best of Turkish towels and beachwear together in a classic striped print. Each batch of towels are dyed and loomed by artisans in Turkey. The end product? A modern shape you can wear as well as lie on, served up in a fast-drying blend of bamboo and Buldan cotton from the inner Aegean region of southwest Turkey. $99.95. Top image: The Beach People.
If you're fond of cats big and small — fluffy, hair-free, scampering, sleeping and the like — then you'll know one golden rule: every day is better when there's meowing mousers involved. And, maybe you've secured that sweet situation thanks to your own purring pet. Or, perhaps you're just the kind of person who makes a beeline to any kitten they see, tries to become its best friend and can't focus on anything else while it's in the vicinity. Whichever fits, adding more cats to your day is something that every feline fan wants — and it's definitely a part of the Cat Protection Society of Victoria's new dream gig. It's a volunteer job, spanning a three-month stint in Melbourne, but it'll 100-percent bring kittens your way. The role: CPSV's official 'cat cuddler'. Yes, that's really what it's called. Obviously, what it entails is rather self-explanatory — because the lucky person who scores the position will be tasked with providing love, affection and enrichment to the cats and kittens in the society's care as they wait to be adopted. The word you're looking for? "Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww". This is the organisation that offered cat cuddling gift vouchers as Christmas gifts last year, after all — but this is even cuter. The caveats: you'll need to be in Melbourne to take the gig, and you'll need to have a minimum of three hours per week — on one weekday each week, and during normal operating hours — to head to CPSV's adoption centre to give its kitties all those snuggles. If that sounds like you — or if you've got a pussy-loving pal that you know would love it — all applicants have until Friday, June 4 to apply to temporarily join the society's team of around 40 volunteers. To throw your name in the ring, you'll want to head to the CPSV website and upload a short video (up to two minutes max) that explains why you should be the official Cat Protection Society Cat Cuddler, and also complete the online application form. To apply for the Cat Protection Society of Victoria's 'cat cuddler' position before Friday, June 4, head to the organisation's website.
So, your home's in need of a sprucing up but you're dreading the thought of trawling through endless shelves or pages of products to get the bits and pieces you need. Thankfully, Top3 has your back this weekend, hosting a hefty warehouse sale in Crows Nest, from Friday, September 13, until Monday, September 16. For this sale, the team's pulled together a sprawling array of discontinued lines, floor stock and sample pieces, all going cheap at up to 80 percent off. Score one-off bargains on goodies for your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and bar, across top brands like Marimekko, In Bed, Normann Copenhagen, Mister Wolf, Missoni, Braun and more. If you can't make it into the physical sale, Top3 is making life a little easier by hosting an online sale, too. The stock is a little different, but you'll still find a heap of discounted goodies, with everything from linen to kitchenware and chairs. Top3 Warehouse Sale is opening on Friday 10am–6pm, Saturday 10am–6pm, Sunday 10am–4pm, and Monday 10am–4pm.
One-metre long wood-fired pizza should be all the explanation you need as to why you should visit Via Napoli. But then there are also the ever-friendly, enthusiastic servers (most of whom are Italian), the delicious ricotta-stuffed zucchini flowers, the flashy, gold-tiled pizza ovens and meatballs drenched in ragu. But back to that one-metre pizza — the veritable edible promenade enables you to select three different pizza types — think classic Diavola with fior di latte, hot salami and olives or the Chiara with burrata, prosciutto and truffle oil — before it's baked in the roaring hot woodfired oven. It'll land on your table with a molten centre and blackened, blistered bready edges. Of course, pizza tastes even better when you have a good wine to go with it — and, thankfully, you can BYO here with a $10 corkage fee.
Spending time on a tram isn't everybody's idea of a great time, but Penrith has a new food and drink spot that'll have you heading out to catch the next service. The Carriage, located in the carpark of the already popular O'Donoghues Irish Pub, is framed around a reinvigorated 1964 Berlin tram and is serving up American-style street food and drinks. To eat, there's a rousing selection of burgers, brisket and loaded fries, and some exciting creations like the Risk it for the Brisket — a beef patty topped with 12-hour smoked brisket, bacon jam and house-made pickles all sealed in a milk bun. Keeping you refreshed are favourites like Canadian Club and Pimm's, both on tap, and there's a host of wine and beer to choose from, too. Open Friday and Saturday nights, and all-day Sunday, The Carriage's expansive outdoor seating area has enough space to sit all your mates, and there's a bevy of local musicians coming through to keep everyone entertained all weekend long. What started out as a side project for O'Donoghues turned into a much more expansive endeavour. The Carriage — which will play host to a series of gigs over the upcoming months, including Thundamentals in May — hopes to become a key player in Penrith's growing nightlife.
No need for the neuralisers, folks. This is one you'll forget about all on your own. In what's proving a particularly rough patch for blockbuster franchises (thanks chiefly to the hugely disappointing Godzilla II and X-Men: Dark Phoenix), Men In Black: International represents the latest casualty, offering a dull, generic and largely pointless extension of the popular sci-fi series. With the departure of original stars Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, it falls to franchise newcomers Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson to keep the ball rolling. Sadly, whatever chemistry they had in Thor: Ragnarok is noticeably absent. The dialogue is stilted and the tension forced, while the acerbic sparring that defined the Jones/Smith relationship plays here like a clumsy copy-and-paste job. Hemsworth's comedic touch is well established, but it's best served in small doses, either via bit-parts as per Ghostbusters, or as flourishes in otherwise serious roles, as seen in all but the last Avengers. When comedy becomes his character's main task, the result is less satisfying. His portly, traumatised Thor in Avengers: Endgame robbed both him and audiences of everything that made his character so appealing, and here again in Men in Black the role plays to few of his strengths. Hemsworth constantly flicks back and forth between hammy clowning on the one hand, and pouting like he's in a Hugo Boss commercial on the other. Only the latter works for him. Thompson fares a little better. Her character's motivation is neatly established via a cute intro sequence that defines her as a driven, intelligent and highly capable individual. In a refreshing twist, she essentially recruits herself into MiB, having pursued the mysterious agency ever since a chance encounter with its agents and a furry little alien back when she was just a child. Once inside the agency, though, her reactions feel far too indifferent for someone only hours into life behind the proverbial curtain. Just because you believe in aliens doesn't mean you wouldn't balk, stop and stare at each and every new encounter of the weird and wonderful, but Thompson's Agent M takes it all in her stride. It's as if she's sharing in the audience's experience of yeah yeah yeah, we've seen all this before. Where Men In Black: International works best is in its secondary characters. The villains this time round are a pair of intergalactic assassins played by French brothers Laurent and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois, otherwise known as Les Twins. The shape-shifting, time-jumping killers are delightfully menacing and beautifully imagined on the special effects front. Reminscent of the Twins from the second Matrix movie, this duo pulls focus in every scene, especially when they're dancing so extraordinarily you're convinced it has to be computer-generated (it's not). Equally appealing is the arms dealer Riza, played by Rebecca Ferguson. Ferguson's recent turns in the last two Mission: Impossible films were amongst their best features, and here again she delivers a sumptuous blend of sensual and sinister. Then there's comedian Kumail Nanjiani, whose tiny chessboard alien Pawny serves up almost every good laugh in the film. If the producers are scratching their heads as to what to do with this franchise in the wake of such a poor initial reception, they could do worse than giving Pawny his own spin-off. If nothing else, at least Men In Black: International has a fitting title. It's a film that feels purposefully generic and inoffensive so as to appeal to the broadest possible market. As a result, it ends up being nothing much to anyone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV-WEb2oxLk
As any Sydney seafood aficionado should know by now, The Morrison has a constant focus on the not-so-humble oyster. But in August, when the month-long Oyster Festival takes over, that focus turns into an overwhelming obsession. From Tuesday, August 1 through to Thursday, August 31, the Sydney bar will become a shucking shrine to the freshest oysters around, which will be delivered daily. One of the major drawcards is Oyster Hour. Between 6pm and 7pm every single day, you'll be able to eat as many oysters as you can handle at just $1 a pop. Throughout the month, Head Chef Sean Connolly will be conjuring up his favourite oyster dishes, from carpetbag steak, chowder and omelettes to southern fried oyster tacos and a beer battered variety. Plus, there'll be special bevs — like oyster shooters, paired cocktails and Champagne (of course) — as well as masterclasses aplenty for those really looking to further their oyster knowledge. What's the ideal number of times to chew an oyster? Brush up on your knowledge of the mollusc with our Bluffer's Guide to Oysters.
A few years back, prior to starting Concrete Playground, I worked at a creative agency in New York. The oversized SoHo loft it was housed in was an exciting place to find yourself working each day, and things got fun when I was transferred to work on the Converse account. One of the first big projects I was a part of in 2007-08 was a campaign called '3 Artists, 1 Song', created to celebrate the brand's centenary around the world. Pharrell Williams worked with his band, N.E.R.D, as well as The Strokes' Julian Casablancas and Santogold, on a brief to make a song as a group of artists. 'My Drive Thru' was the result. More than four years on and the project is still going strong. LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy was the person whose involvement was most coveted (on our end at least) on the original project, and now he has teamed up with Gorillaz and Andre 3000 from Outkast to create 'DoYaThing'. It's a good track, and it's free. You can get the download here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yNeF30RverQ
The Ironmen of Cooking are here. Here. Reppin' Australia's '90s love for the glorious, glorious competitive Japanese cooking show, two of the original Iron Chefs have landed in Melbourne for an epic cooking battle, one the public can eat for a cheeky $380 per person. Could be a publicity stunt for Iron Chef Australia, which was cancelled at the end of its first season in 2010. Could be (is) a KIRIN thing. Could just be a hair-brained jaunt from the Japanese TV crew. Either way, Kitchen Stadium has been left behind for Melbourne's RACV City Club this week. Over two nights on February 14 and 15, the mighty Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai (reppin' all things French cuisine, winner of 70 ICs) and Iron Chef Masahiko Kobe (the Don of Italian Iron Chef cooking, but winner of only 16 ICs) will take the stage with the son of Iron Chef Kenichi Chen (the once-master of IC Chinese cooking and winner of 66 ICs), banding together to cook up one monster of an Iron Chef feast. The theme ingredient? Australian local produce. Yep, it's more vague than river eel, summer corn or Alaskan king crab, but they're keeping it geographically-themed. Held over two sittings, the Iron Chefs will be chopping, mincing and frying up seven courses. According to Good Food, the menu's main focus will be pretty seafood heavy — spanner crab, ocean trout — alongside local duck. Paired with sake and Aussie wines by executive sommelier Masahiko Iga, the seven-course dinner is already well sold out — even with that $380pp price tag. It's not clear whether the legendary commentator Yukio Hattori (or his straight-up boss Canadian dub counterpart Scott Morris) will be in attendance to point out every last heroic detail, or whether the immortal, ever-dramatic host Takeshi Kaga will be there to kick off the proceedings. If you're wondering whether your face will end up on Japanese TV, it probably will — the Iron Chefs have brought an entire Japanese media entourage with them, as the battle will be televised. While tickets for the event have indeed sold out, you can peruse this list of every last Iron Chef ingredient ever featured or watch this SEA CUCUMBER BATTLE: Via Malay Mail and Good Food.
If you've been searching for exciting upcoming events in Sydney, Shell House has got you covered. This month sees the return of OUR HOUSE, the inner-city venue's annual arts festival that brings with it a stacked program of food, drinks, music and culture. The multi-storey venue will host a tonne of electrifying events for Sydneysiders to immerse themselves in across May and June, including partnerships with local artists and hospitality giants. Talent from Melbourne through to Sydney is set to star on the bill for the next two months. "OUR HOUSE is an essential selection of our world's finest visual artists, musical performers, culinary innovators, winemakers, industry icons and product kings and queens into a two-month-long feast for the senses presented in the place we call home," said Shell House owner Brett Robinson. [caption id="attachment_955879" align="alignnone" width="2532"] Chef Toshihiko Oe (Sushi Oe) and Narito Ishii (Sydney Fish Markets) pictured for Wet, Cold & Delicious. [/caption] Leading the food and wine program is the return of the seafood-centric Wet, Cold & Delicious. This time, there'll be two separate instalments — Hand Dived will delve into the depths of top Tasmanian produce on Wednesday, June 12, with Dale Ridgers at the helm, while a tuna-dedicated deep dive with Chef Toshihiko Oe (Sushi Oe) and Narito Ishii (Sydney Fish Markets) will take place on Monday, June 24, with a live Maguro Shoten (a traditional Japanese tuna cutting show and auction) followed by a five-course tuna-centric dinner by culinary director Joel Bickford and head chef Brad Guest. Other heavy hitters on the food and beverage lineup include a dedicated beef dinner in partnership with Anthony Purharich of Victor Churchill and Vic's Meats, a one-day pop-up from Melbourne's Osteria Ilaria and Tipo 00 at Menzies Bar, and an immersive experience at the world's smallest champagne bar. [caption id="attachment_955892" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sky Bar.[/caption] As for the live music portion, Shell House's fest is jam-packed with gigs, including a heap of free ones. Local acts like Kirin J Callinan will descend upon Sky Bar as part of the selection of free shows, as will sets by the likes of Ben Fester and Wax'O Paradiso. Ticketed events include Classic Contemporary, which will see The Shell House Band, led by Jonti and Kirin J Callinan, joined by a rotating roster of some of the country's finest musicians to reimagine the greatest hits of artists like David Bowie and Grace Jones. The Shell House Dining Room will also be partaking in the festivities, with the return of its jazz-centred dinner and show headlined by Aussie jazz legend James Morrison. [caption id="attachment_955873" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kirin J Callinan[/caption] The crux of the program centres around the works of local artists. Melbourne's Regression Studio will take over the Clocktower Bar with a multi-level, multi-format, never-before-seen work, while Sydney's Daimon Downey will lead two hands-on snack-and-create sessions in the same venue. Elsewhere, Jai Winnell's stunning floral installations will be displayed throughout Shell House to celebrate the beauty of autumn, artist-in-residence Mikey Freedom will helm two decoupage workshops, and street dancing performances will add a visual element to the music program. Familiar favourites like the champagne, martini, margarita and negroni specials across Shell House venues will also be available throughout the huge two-month festival if you're searching for sanctuary during the bustling precinct's biggest festivities. Visit the OUR HOUSE website for full program details and to secure tickets.
If you didn't see The Fall Guy, Twisters, Deadpool & Wolverine, Challengers, Inside Out 2, The Wild Robot, The Substance, Kneecap, It Ends with Us or Despicable Me 4 on the big screen already in 2024, here's the perfect way to catch up with them: under the stars, while sprawled out on a picnic blanket or sat on a bean bed, at the latest season of Moonlight Cinema. And if watching Christmas films is one of your festive traditions, here's a scenic way to do that, too, with this annual opportunity to enjoy a movie outside packing its just-dropped first lineup for this year with seasonal flicks. As it does every summer, Moonlight Cinema is returning for another run of films in the open air, locking in its dates, venues and first program details for its 2024–25 stints in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. While the outdoor picture palace is synonymous with the warmest season of the year, it kicks off at the end of spring in most cities, and runs through to the end of the first month of autumn in some as well. The projector will start rolling in Brisbane first, with the River City's season taking place across Thursday, November 21–Sunday, February 16 in Roma Street Parklands. Next up is Sydney, in Centennial Parklands from Friday, November 22–Sunday, March 30. Then comes Adelaide and Melbourne a week later, the former from Thursday, November 28–Sunday, February 16, 2024 in Botanic Park and the latter across Friday, November 29–Sunday, March 30 in Royal Botanic Gardens. Perth movie lovers can get their fix in Kings Park and Botanic Garden from Thursday, December 5–Sunday, March 30. Lineup specifics always vary per location, so not all of the aforementioned titles — or the ones below — show in every city. But the program still gives patrons a mix of recent, new and classic fare wherever they're sitting on the grass while soaking in the evening, the fresh air and a movie. Among the brand-new titles, Gladiator II and Wicked are also on the bill, as are advanced screenings of the Hugh Grant (Unfrosted)-starring horror film Heretic and Robbie Williams biopic Better Man. When Paddington in Peru gets the same treatment, you'll want marmalade sandwiches in your picnic basket. The OG version of Mean Girls will grace Moonlight Cinema's screens, too, as will 2023's smash-hit Barbie. And for a merry time at the movies — a jolly one as well — the roster of Christmas fare spans the new Red One, as well as classics Elf, Love Actually, The Holiday, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. If you're wondering what else Moonlight will show across its full season, it now drops its program month by month, so watch this space for more announcements. As always, the films and the setting are just two parts of the cinema's experience. Also on offer: the returning Aperol spritz bar. Nosh-wise, the event will again let you BYO movie snacks and drinks (no alcohol in Brisbane, though), but the unorganised can enjoy a plethora of bites to eat onsite while reclining on bean beds. There'll also be two VIP sections for an extra-luxe openair movie experience, a platinum package with waiter service in Sydney and Melbourne only, and a beauty cart handing out samples. Plus, dogs are welcome at all sites except Perth — there's even special doggo bean beds. Moonlight Cinema 2024–25 Dates Brisbane: Thursday, November 21, 2024–Sunday, February 16, 2025 in Roma Street Parklands Sydney: Friday, November 22, 2024–Sunday, March 30, 2025 in Centennial Parklands Adelaide: Thursday, November 28, 2024–Sunday, February 16, 2025, 2024 in Botanic Park Melbourne: Friday, November 29, 2024–Sunday, March 30, 2025 in Royal Botanic Gardens Perth: Thursday, December 5, 2024–Sunday, March 30, 2025 in Kings Park and Botanic Garden Moonlight Cinema kicks off in November 2024, running through until March 2025. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website — and we'll update you with further program details when they're announced.
Parramatta locals have scored a brand-new Japanese joint — and it's harbouring major culinary talent. Inside the suburb's long-standing Heritage Lounge precinct you'll now find an elegant Japanese restaurant called Oribu. This sleek addition to Church Street aims to redefine perceptions of Japanese cuisine in the area by offering a lavish dining experience. It also boasts top-notch hospitality talent with Head Chef Harry Cho (ex-Nobu) leading the charge. Chef Cho brings his Korean and Japanese roots, decades of expertise and technical precision to an impressive food offering. Peruse the menu and you'll find highlights like popcorn prawns paired with creamy spicy sauce and a splash of yuzu juice; lamb cutlets with saikyo miso, custard crumbs and grilled cherry tomatoes; and a selection of premium caviar if you're ready to splurge. Each dish is plated with the thought and detail of a minor work of art. "Shaped by the precision and discipline instilled during my military years, Oribu is more than a culinary venture; it's a testament to my story of service to the delicate artistry of cuisine," said Chef Cho. "It's also an opportunity to create something truly special that the community can proudly call its own." Oribu's sophisticated fit-out features black interiors with flashes of greenery, including a humble tree situated at the centre of its dining area. Its moody ambience creates an atmosphere fit for a celebratory dinner or an intimate date night. You'll find Oribu at 215 Church St in Parramatta, open from 5pm–10pm Wednesday–Sunday. Head to the Heritage Lounge website to make a booking.
Phil Wood, an ex-Executive Chef of Rockpool for eight years and previous Culinary Director of Mornington Peninsula's much-loved Pt. Leo Estate, is set to open a new restaurant in Paddington. Housed in the former site of Attilio Marinangeli and Aldo Zuzza's renowned restaurant, Darcy's, Wood's yet-to-be-named venture will be his first independent restaurant in Sydney. "Restaurants are more than just food - they are the full expression of hospitality and I feel after a 20 year long chef's apprenticeship I am finally ready to add restaurateur to my job description," Wood said in an announcement of the restaurant on Wednesday, May 26. The striking Hargrave Street spot has housed several other chefs throughout its lifetime. The building was originally built in the late 19th century as a house and shop, and in its first half-century, it was run as a pub and a grocer. D'Arcy Glover was the first restaurateur to take up residency with a Swiss eatery in 1968. Then, Marinangeli and Zuzza took over in 1975 with the opening of Darcy's Restaurant, a beloved Italian eatery that occupied the spot for nearly 40 years. The most recent restaurant to occupy the corner building was Guillaume Brahimi's flagship Sydney restaurant Guillaume. Brahimi made the dramatic move to Paddington in 2013 after running Guillaume out of the Sydney Opera House for over a decade. While the restaurant didn't last on Hargrave Street, Brahimi went on to take over fellow Paddington venue Four in the Hand and opened a Guillaume in the CBD. Wood said he's excited to continue the building's legacy, stating: "It is an honour to be opening in a building with such a strong dining history that goes back over 50 years. These corner sites dotted throughout Paddington are so special and part of what makes the suburb a vibrant part of Sydney's story." The opening date and further details on the Paddington venture are set to be revealed in the coming months. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Phil Wood (@philacwood) Phil Wood will open his first restaurant at 92 Hargrave Street, Paddington. Images: Chloe Paul
Two months, five new Wes Anderson films: that's the maths Down Under in 2023. Asteroid City reached cinemas in August, and September will bring not one, two or three but four brand-new shorts directed by the symmetry-adoring director. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar had already been announced, and it now has fellow Roald Dahl-based company. Netflix is bringing the 39-minute The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar to streaming on Wednesday, September 27, following its recent world-premiere slot out of competition at the Venice Film Festival. So, viewers at home get to see the flick in mere weeks after its big-screen debut. The day after it arrives, The Swan will also drop on Netflix on Thursday, September 28. Next comes The Ratcatcher on Friday, September 29. And, Poison will wrap up this Anderson-meets-Dahl frenzy on Saturday, September 30. All four shorts not only stem from Dahl's pen originally, but cycle through a few core cast members — all of which play multiple roles. Stepping in front of the camera for Anderson: Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), Dev Patel (The Green Knight), Ben Kingsley (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Richard Ayoade (The Souvenir: Part II) and Rupert Friend (Asteroid City). In glorious news for The Grand Budapest Hotel fans, Ralph Fiennes (The Menu) also reteams with the director. Fingers crossed for more line readings that are so completely perfect that they're unforgettable. Now, the stories. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar comes from one of the seven tales in Dahl's 1977 book The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More, telling of a wealthy man who is so fond of wagering that he comes up with a crafty plan. After discovering a guru who can see without using his eyes, he decides to learn to the same to cheat while having a bet. Running for 17 minutes, The Swan also takes inspiration from a tale in the same book, this time about a small and smart boy being bullied. Clocking in at 17 minutes as well, The Ratcatcher adapts a lesser-known story of the same name — not from the same text this time — which is unsurprisingly about a rodent exterminator. And, running for the same duration, Poison dates back to 1950, focusing on a man finding a venomous snake. In 1958, the same tale was adapted for TV by none other than Alfred Hitchcock, in an episode of anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. All up, that's 90 minutes of new Anderson work that'll be ready to stream by the time that September is out. If you watch them all together rather than day by day, it's basically an anthology feature. There's no trailer yet for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, The Ratcatcher or Poison, but you can enjoy the Asteroid City and The Grand Budapest Hotel clips instead in the interim: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar will be available to stream via Netflix from Wednesday, September 27. The Swan arrives on Thursday, September 28, then The Ratcatcher on Friday, September 29 and Poison on Saturday, September 30. Images: courtesy of Netflix.
Shaun Gladwell reference? Okay, Shaun Gladwell reference: they are represented by the same gallery and sometimes pop up in the same place and they both make video art that deals with the human body and its navigation of the world and experience of time. That being covered, and the "Where do I recognise that name and style from?" feeling being narrowed down to "Oh, probably the Marking Time show at the MCA!" let's get to the important part: is it any good, and does it look cool? This warrants a yes and a yes, in my opinion, for both the video works covering one side of the gallery and the photomedia portraits that occupy the other and the back wall. But yeses of differing emphases. Oh and that one graphic print in the entryway is nice too, but while I don't object, per se, to its presence there and can see its relation to the show, it felt a little superfluous. First up, the portraits, taken using a process that involves a video camera mounted on a robot following a Hamiltonian path within a pre-defined frame (I paraphrase this from the admirably detailed information the gallery provides in the catalogue). There are seven in 130 x 130cm format, each given first names presumably of their subjects, and a 400 x 400cm self-portrait looms at one end of the cavernous gallery space, with its line of sight surveying at once the others and the room at large. This encompassing gaze is effected not just by size but the diffracted composition of the images, wherein the heads of the subjects are made up of excerpts from different shots the camera has taken during its 20 minute observation of each subject. The effect is of a sort of Cubism for the era of the retina scan. It's interesting because it's clever and because faces always are. But to me — and this is no doubt partially a result of my immense technological ignorance — there was also somehow the feeling that this is more something that fits in a slideshow on a tech website than an art gallery. The scale and physical presence of the works as tangible objects made the consciousness of the complexity of their creation feel more like a design experiment than an investigation into ways of seeing. Almost the opposite is true of the video works, the sheer beauty of which almost prevent appreciation of the virtuosity of the means with which they've been captured. Crooks' videos are progress with hypnotic cyclicality at micro and macro level. Each movement, whether of a body captured by the still camera or the camera moving through the world, unfolds in a way that measures the passage of time in increments of that particular movement, creating a meditative sense of inevitability that is underscored by the presentation of each work on loop. From viewpoints of a crowded station, from the back of a train, pointed at the sky, and panning across spliced-together street views, these videos are - it is kind of gross to say it but I am going to - poetic invocations of the beauty of the experience of time. So, worth a look.
It's happening again: in response to a new community case of COVID-19 in Brisbane, other states are changing their health advice and border requirements. So, if you're a Brisbanite planning to head south soon, you're located elsewhere and you'll soon be travelling to the Sunshine State, or you've recently journeyed from the latter to another state, you might have some new rules to adhere to. New South Wales has issued two pieces of health advice. The first from NSW Health says that anyone who is in the state and has been in Brisbane or the Moreton Bay area since Saturday, March 20 should abide by the requirements outlined by Queensland Health regarding venues visited. It also advises that anyone who falls into that category and went to Mamma's Italian Restaurant in Redcliffe from 12.30–3.10pm on Sunday, March 21 must get tested immediately and go into isolation for 14 days. As noted in the second alert, NSW Health now requires anyone who has been in Brisbane City Council or Moreton Bay Regional Council areas in the past fortnight and enters NSW from 12.01 am today, Saturday, March 27, to fill out a passenger declaration form — which includes confirmation of whether you've visited any venues of high concern. And if you have been in a venue of high concern as listed by Queensland Health, you should not enter NSW at all. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1375392223844429825 Victoria has mandated that anyone who has entered the state from Brisbane and Moreton Bay since Friday, March 12 needs to immediately self-isolate, get tested within 72 hours and stay isolated until they receive a negative result. It's imposing this rule strictly, with Brisbanites who'd travelled to Geelong for the Brisbane Lions versus Geelong AFL match on Friday, March 26 asked to leave the ground when the new requirement came into effect. Brisbane and Moreton Bay have also been designated an orange zone under Victoria's traffic light travel permit system. That means that if you're entering Victoria from the area, you have to apply for the appropriate permit. And you won't be given one if you have COVID-19 symptoms. Upon arrival in Victoria, you'll also have to self-isolate immediately, get a coronavirus test within 72 hours of arriving and stay in isolation until you return a negative result. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1375358820634013696 How long these new border requirements will apply hasn't been revealed. Other states have similar rules in place, with Western Australia mandating that anyone who has arrived in WA from Queensland since Saturday, March 20 and visited any of the affected locations during the relevant times must get tested immediately for COVID-19 and self-quarantine. The ACT requires 14-days of quarantine for arrivals from Greater Brisbane since Saturday, March 20 who visited any of the close contact exposure sites, and testing and self-isolating until receiving a negative result if you've arrived in the same period but haven't been to any of the places listed. Tasmania won't allow entry from folks who've been to sites in Brisbane now deemed high risk, and everyone else who has arrived from Brisbane and Moreton Bay since Monday, March 8 is asked to monitor for symptoms. The Northern Territory requires anyone who has been to a high-risk venue to get tested within 72 hours and isolate until receiving a negative result, while South Australia is yet to update its travel advice. 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.
If you deserve a little luxury (and you absolutely do), Balmain Spa & Natural Beauty on Darling Street has got you sorted from top to toe — literally. Eyelash tints, pedicures and a full-body exfoliation all have a place on the indulgent menu of treatments on offer. Try one of the luxe facials designed to your own skin specifications — the oxygen facial or the compelling anti-stress facial will have you looking and feeling super fresh. If you want to get even more hands-on, get blissed out with a Swedish-style massage or really treat yourself with the Pure Indulgence packages, finishing with a paraffin wax pedicure. Images: Arvin Prem Kumar
Our fair city is home to some cracking pubs, restaurants, cafes and stores — we'd even go as far to say they are some of the best in the country. But, as we saw much too pointedly last year, many of our faves are only as strong as our support. With many hospitality joints and retailers shut for some time last year, we saw a rise in amazing merch as an alternative way for small businesses to make ends meet. Thankfully, the trend continues, so we can hit up our favourite local spots to wine, dine and shop and go on reppin' them. Yep, we want you to wear your love of food, coffee, drinks and more on your sleeve. Not only will you look fresh as can be, but you'll be supporting local loud 'n' proud — just the way it should be. Together with American Express, we've rounded up some of the top branded wares around town, from cosy hoodies and easy breezy tees to kitchen equipment and sleek calico totes.
What is the one thing better than something excellent? Two excellent things merged into something incredible. That is the beauty of the mash-up, providing the best of both worlds inside a brand new world. We should all say a deafening thank you to all those inspired enough to say 'por qué no las dos' when confronted by the dilemma of choice, who create something ingenious for us all to enjoy. Now, inspired by Red Bull Flying Bach's (think Bach meets breakdancing) forthcoming tour of Australia, we've gathered the top ten mash-ups of anything ever for you. Some you may be pretty familiar with; others may blow your mind. BRUNCH When someone suggests brunch, I get exactly this excited. While this list is not hierarchical, brunch is the greatest mash-up ever. Combining the best elements of breakfast (the food) and the temporal qualities of lunch (that it isn't early), there is no greater meal in culinary history. Brinner deserves an honourable mention here, but given brunch's ability to cure any hangover and save your Sunday, it has to win, hands down. Whoever decided to put the likes of pancakes, bacon and a cheeky bowl of Coco Pops on the menu after a much-deserved sleep-in deserves all of the Nobel prizes. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yfG94k41MrI GIRL TALK When most people think of a mash-up, their brain takes them to the musical kind. In fact googling 'mash-up' returns page after page of remixes. Some are awful, others aren't too bad, and then there are those that excel, and they are made by artists such as Girl Talk. Having sampled songs for over a decade, Girl Talk (otherwise known as Gregg Michael Gillis) knows what he is doing, seamlessly blending around a dozen songs per track into his own musical masterpiece. While hip-hop in the 1970s brought sampling to the fore, artists such as Girl Talk really laid the foundation for the modern mash-up, allowing songs that shouldn't belong together to fuse perfectly into songs such as this. RED BULL FLYING BACH This is a serious clash of cultures, a performance where Bach meets breakdancing and produces brilliance that "turns the international classical world upside down". It is really no surprise it has been so successful; it features music from arguably the greatest composer of all time (who happens to be German) expressed physically by four-times breakdancing world champions Flying Steps (also German). No coincidence, just a collaboration that shatters the suggestion that breakdancing and Bach don't blend and thrusts the cohesion of the classic and the contemporary into the present. The best part? It's coming to Australia, visiting Sydney September 10-12, Brisbane on September 24-26 before heading south to run in Melbourne from October 1-4, so grab your tickets now. SLAMBALL In a nutshell, Slamball is basketball that includes full contact and, most importantly, TRAMAMPOLINES! That's right, while the court remains much the same dimensions as a regular basketball court and retains a hoop at either end, there are also four trampolines at either end of the court for players to gain as much air as possible to dunk spectacularly. Dunking (or 'slamming' in Slamball) is pretty crucial as it scores three points compared to your usual two for non-dunks inside the arc. (You still get three-points shooting from deep as per normal basketball.) I don't know about you but I'm asking my local council to install some trampolines at my local court. Check out some Slamball highlights here. GLAMPING For those not in the know, glamping is glamour camping. It's just like camping, only comfortable, warm and something you want to do regularly. Still trying to paint a picture in your mind? Just imagine that you are in your bed, only the roof is now a nice canvas and you can hear the soothing sounds of nature right on your doorstep. Glamping has taken off in the last few years across the nation as it's removed almost all of the reasons that people use to avoid camping. It's basically an alfresco hotel and no matter where you are there's bound to be a five-star tent pitched nearby. HIP HOP SHAKESPEARE Bach is just a baby compared to old man Will. Joining Red Bull Flying Bach in the classic-meets-contemporary mash-ups are hip hop 'ad-rap-tations' of Shakespeare's classics. It's a perfect fit. After all, Shakespeare was the original lyricist and excellent at smack-talking: "A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-liver'd, action-taking, whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue; 1090 one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a bawd in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pander, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch; one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deny the least syllable of thy addition." Building on this wit and transforming it into modern urban classics are troupes such as the Q Brothers, whose Othello: The Remix is about an artist who rises out of the ghetto and wins the respect of the music industry, only be taken down by hip hop purist Iago. SWISS ARMY KNIFE The ultimate mash-up, the Swiss Army Knife is a must-have for general life. Need a knife? Done. Need a screwdriver? Done. Need a corkscrew? Done. Need a warm hug at night? I'm sure it can find a way to do that too, because they can do just about anything. If you don't have one and are now scrambling out the door to buy one (which you can do once you've finished reading this article all the way to the end), then spend the extra cash on a good one that will last as it could end up saving your life. TURDUCKEN A turducken is a deboned chicken stuffed inside a deboned duck, which is then stuffed inside a deboned turkey, which is then stuffed in the oven, cooked and then stuffed into your mouth with absolutely no regrets. Whether you know it as a turducken or a chuckey, this is something that you must try if you enjoy these three birds. Apologies to our vegetarian friends out there, but this really is delicious. If you're really into your meats, you can also wrap bacon around your turducken, but have 000 pre-dialled into your phone just in case you pop. CHESS BOXING If you laughed at the concept of chess boxing, then I don't blame you. It may sound absurd, but once you actually watch a match, you realise the mental and physical strength needed to take part and find yourself having a lot of respect for those who can cop a barrage of punches and then sit down and play chess so well. They do this for 11 alternating rounds of chess then boxing, for a total of six chess rounds and five in the ring. Victory either comes in the form of a knockout or checkmate. (PS Okay, after watching more matches this sport is ridiculous. The players wear headphones while playing the chess rounds in order to not hear the live chess commentary. I find this sport dreadful and yet feel weirdly compelled to play.) THE MEAN GIRLS OF EUROPEAN HISTORY Finally, we have arguably the greatest (and possibly only) Tumblr mashing up the classic Lindsay Lohan film Mean Girls with European history to create The Mean Girls of European History. Words are useless here, just visit the blog and soak in all of it's uncannily appropriate use of Mean Girls quotes and accept that it may have won the internet.
There's a time for coffee and there's a time for cocktails — and, sometimes, there's a time in the day when you want both. Australia's caffeinated booze expert Mr Black ticks both boxes with the release of its new bottled beverage: a pre-batched coffee negroni. The company's first bottled cocktail, the coffee negroni is made with Mr Black coffee liqueur, Campari, sweet vermouth and Moore's dry gin, which is produced at the same distillery as Mr Black, Distillery Botanica. Each bottle is going for $49 and can be used to make five cocktails (yes, that's a very reasonably $9.80 a drink). To make said cocktail, you just need to pour 100 millilitres of the sweet stuff into a glass over ice and garnish with a citrus twist — if you want to get a little fancy. No stirring (or shaking) required. It's the second new product the Mr Black team has released during lockdown, with the company launching a hand sanitiser in late March. As well as selling thousands (and thousands) of bottles to the public, the team donated hundreds to front-line medical workers, not-for-profits, testing clinics and medical centres. It's not the only distillery to launch its own hand sanitiser during COVID-19, either, with Queensland icon Bundaberg and Sydney rum distillery Brix, among others, also jumping on the trend. To get your hands on a bottle of coffee negroni, which, knowing Mr Black's track record, will sell out fast, head over to the Mr Black website. It's currently offering free shopping on all orders over $80. Mr Black's coffee negroni is on sale now for $49.
Stuffing wall-to-wall ABBA songs into a flimsy rom-com story, 2008's Mamma Mia! always felt like it was mere seconds away from two things happening. "Have you met my friend Fernando?" Meryl Streep's overalls-clad hotel owner might say, before asking if he can hear the drums. Or Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgård's trio of long-lost exes might compare their romantic plight to history, starting with the words "my my, at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender". Neither actually occurred in the original big-screen jukebox musical, which adapted the successful stage production of the same name. But if they had, and in such a groan-inducing, eye-roll-worthy fashion, they wouldn't have felt out of place. Shameless cheesiness and trying to shoehorn in as many of the Swedish pop group's tracks as possible was the name of the game the first time around — and it's a tune that sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is still blasting. Thankfully, there's slightly more nuance, plot and comedy in this repeat spin. Slightly. Crucially, as returning and new cast members alike croon and swoon against the movie's bright, breezy Greek island setting, there's also a boost in singing talent. First things first: 'Fernando' and 'Waterloo' do get a whirl in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and in situations very close to those described above. The off-screen team is mostly new here, but it still feels like these films write themselves. In fact, while writer-director Ol Parker (Now Is Good) works with a story also credited to romantic-comedy maestro Richard Curtis (Love Actually) and Mamma Mia! playwright Catherine Johnson, he's basically rehashing the same tale. In the first movie, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) sent wedding invitations to the three men (Firth, Brosnan and Skarsgård) that her mother Donna (Streep) had flings with when she was conceived. This time around, the movie jumps between Sophie's present-day preparations to relaunch her mum's hotel and Donna's (Lily James) amorous exploits with the guys in question (Hugh Skinner, Jeremy Irvine and Josh Dylan) 25 years ago. Here we go again, indeed. The line in 'Waterloo' about history repeating itself also springs to mind — and if you start framing your thoughts in ABBA lyrics minutes into this follow-up, then the film has done its job. Collecting fans' money, money, money, taking few chances, and asking viewers to cheer and sing along when their favourite songs pop up, the Mamma Mia! franchise does what lazy pop culture celebrations tend to do. In the most superficial, crowd-pleasing, fan-service manner, it mistakes recognising something exists for actually engaging with it. Ready Player One did the same thing earlier this year, just with a different focus — throwing sci-fi and gaming references at the screen to nod to beloved characters, movies and titles, but without ever delving any deeper. Still, in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again much more than in its predecessor, the approach hits a few melodic notes. Or rather, the exuberant James does, alongside the other series newcomers that play younger versions of existing characters, and Cher as Sophie's grandmother. It helps that the story feels a little less like dead air between songs in this second outing, that the film has a pronounced rhythm rather than just smashing tracks together, and that the song-and-dance choreography is more polished. That said, having energetic talent who can hold a tune helps even more. Battling it out with Christine Baranski (playing one of Donna's life-long best friends) as the franchise's true star, you'll thank James for the music. Courtesy of her performance, you'll also be able to somewhat overlook the fact that the flick is mostly just famous faces making ABBA music videos amidst gorgeous scenery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcSMdhfKga4
Sydney's lockout laws have kept the city talking since they were first announced; however, there have been more than a few reasons for discussion in the past few days. In what has proven a tumultuous week, Keep Sydney Open announced a new rally for January 21, a last-minute Supreme Court ruling stopped their plans, and three venues received a 30-minute extension to current cutoff times. Now, KSO have pledged to stage their third anti-lockouts protest on Saturday, February 18. "We are announcing that the rally will go ahead at a later date, and it will be bigger, louder and stronger than the one originally scheduled," said KSO in a statement, which also highlights a second reason for the peaceful gathering. "This time we're not just protesting to draw attention to the lockouts, but we're fighting for our very right as citizens of NSW to gather on the streets and express ourselves politically." Further details, including a venue, have yet to be revealed, but yesterday's cancelled event was due to team up with Sydney's ARIA-winning duo Flight Facilities. As fans would know, Flight Facilities has been continually outspoken in their opposition to the lockouts. After all, the duo played some of its first gigs after 3am at now-closed Kings Cross venues, including Hugo's, Soho, Tank Room and the Piano Room. Flight Facilities were included in a group of artists commemorated recently in a KSO project, which paid tribute to closed Sydney venues and the artists who cut their teeth there. Flight Facilities have long been associated with Kings Cross's now-closed Piano Room, where Jimmy and Hugo met. Keep Sydney Open does not see the 30-minute extension as a solution. Instead, the organisation wants to work with the NSW Government to implement a seven-point plan, as follows: Developing best-practice policing strategies; Investing in 24/7 public transport; Implementing integrated urban planning reform; Encouraging diversification of after-dark activities; Establishing anti-violence education and intervention campaigns; Incentivising well-run venues; and Appointing a Night Mayor or office charged with managing Sydneyʼs night-time economy. "A 30-minute extension will not be enough to reverse the damage being done to the cultural areas and small businesses that make Sydney an exciting place to be," said Tyson Koh, director of Keep Sydney Open. "Itʼs barely enough time to line up for the bathroom or get a kebab. "For too long the debate about our city and how we live our lives has been dominated by misinformation and fear-mongering. We call on the lobby groups who support the lockout laws to enter the conversation about smart solutions, instead of clearing people off the streets." The rally will be Keep Sydney Open's third. To keep up to date with developments, follow the event page over here. By Jasmine Crittenden and Sarah Ward. Image: Kimberley Low.
Looking for something to fill your time (that's not live streaming koalas or re-watching Tiger King over and over again)? TAFE NSW has this morning, Monday, April 6, released 21 online short courses that you can home complete at home — without spending a cent. Announced by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the free courses are to help people diversify their skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fee-free accredited courses are open to people over 17 who live or work in NSW and are an Australia or NZ citizen, permanent resident or humanitarian visa holder. [caption id="attachment_766149" align="alignnone" width="1920"] If you tick those boxes, you can grow your digital skills with Engaging Customers Using Social Media or eMarketing for Small Businesses, increase your medical knowledge with a S2/S3 Pharmacy Training or up your management nous with the Team Leader Skill Set. Courses range in commitment from 3–11 hours a week for up to 26 weeks.[/caption] These new courses add to TAFE NSW's existing fee-free short courses, which are available to those impacted by this season's devastating bushfires and women looking to launch a small business. Early last year, NSW Government also announced it was subsidising up to 100,000 TAFE courses and apprenticeships under its Smart and Skilled program. TAFE NSW has paused face-to-face courses until at least Monday, April 27. To find out more about and enrol in one of TAFE NSW's fee-free online short courses, head to the TAFE NSW website.
Game, set, match, music: the 2024 Australian Open might be jam-packed with Grand Slam tennis action, but it's also serving up a few aces for fans of live tunes. In 2023, the annual Melbourne sports event launched the AO Finals Festival, which gets a heap of talents taking to the stage. Unsurprisingly proving a hit, the fest returns this year. Attendees will be treated to a program of live acts on three of the event's final four days, all in John Cain Arena. 2024's AO Finals Fest will start on Thursday, January 25, on AO Pride Day. Then, it's back for both the women's final on Saturday, January 27 and the men's equivalent on Sunday, January 28. A stellar lineup awaits, including Tash Sultana, Peach PRC and Yaeji on the Thursday; DMA's, Ruel and The Jungle Giants on the Saturday; and Groove Armada, Rudimental and Sunshine & Disco Faith Choir on the Sunday. Just like in 2023, the stacked bill doesn't come as too much of a surprise, given that it has again been curated with help from the respected music heads at Untitled Group — the brains behind Pitch Music & Arts, For The Love, Grapevine Gathering and more. Expect plenty of company, with the 2023 event selling out. Accordingly, 2024's AO Finals Festival has moved venues, shifting to John Cain Arena to take advantage of its 10,000-person capacity. Tickets can be bought individually per day, or matchgoers can upgrade their tennis tickets to head to the festival. As always, there'll be scores of food and drink pop-ups scattered throughout Melbourne Park, as well as big screens showing all the on-court action. AO FINALS FESTIVAL 2024 LINEUP: Thursday, January 25: AO Pride Day Tash Sultana Peach PRC Yaeji Anesu Djanaba DJ Luv You Saturday, January 27: Women's final DMA's Ruel The Jungle Giants Tia Gostelow Mell Hall Sunday, January 28: Men's final Groove Armada Rudimental Sunshine & Disco Faith Choir Latifa Tee Cooper Smith Images: Ash Caygill.
It's a great time to be a film fan. We live in a golden age of blockbusters, spanning multimillion-dollar creations of all shapes and sizes. 2022 saw Top Gun: Maverick break the box office and blow our minds with its mach-one machinations, Minions: The Rise of Gru become an internet phenomenon, and audiences went diving deep into the multiverse via head-spinners like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Everything Everywhere All at Once. Cinemas are the place to be, and if you thought 2022 was big, you're not ready for what awaits in the new year. The next few months contain some huge blockbuster beasts, as any partner, friend or parent of a film fan will have already started hearing about. With that in mind, we've teamed up with HOYTS Cinemas to create a gift guide for the movie buff in your life — matching the upcoming titles your loved ones are excited about with the perfect presents. AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER: HOYTS GIFT CARD If you know somebody who is excited for this film, firstly, can you blame them? It's likely going to be among the biggest titles of both 2022 and 2023. A sequel to James Cameron's 2009 blockbuster, Avatar: The Way of Water once again stars Australia's own Sam Worthington opposite Zoe Saldaña. Picking up ten years after the original, it follows the growing Sully family and the challenges they continue to face. What better gift for somebody waiting to return to Pandora than a HOYTS Gift Card, which they can use to cover the full experience, 3D screenings, snacks and all? In the case of Avatar, 3D is a must-see. Think: the big screen (Xtremescreen-level big), impressive surround sound, comfy recliners and a hefty bucket of popcorn (or luxury in-seat dining), perfect for a summer movie behemoth. HOYTS gift cards cover it all, and can be purchased online or at any HOYTS cinema. I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY: SINGING LESSONS The latest in Hollywood's lineup of major music biopics, I Wanna Dance With Somebody tells the story of 'The Voice' herself, Whitney Houston, from her rise to stardom in the mid-70s to her chart-topping hits of the 90s. Directed by Harriet's Kasi Lemmons, it stars Naomi Ackie as Houston, Stanley Tucci as record producer Clive Davis and Ashton Sanders as her husband Bobby Brown. If Houston's legendary pipes are constantly blaring in your household, it may be time for your resident superfan to work on their own singing skills. The musical maestros at Sydney Voice Studio offer a wide range of courses for every age and experience level, including a free four-week introduction course that lets participants explore the potential of their voice and latent singing skills. Give someone a new hobby and accompanying confidence with a gift voucher to use on a course of their choice. PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH: CATMOSPHERE GIFT VOUCHER Everyone knows Puss in Boots from his appearances in the Shrek franchise, plus his solo big-screen outing in 2011. You may have also heard that he's returning for another ride in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. In the latest animated trip to the Kingdom of Far Far Away, Puss — voiced by the velvet-smooth Antonio Banderas — is down to the last of his nine lives, and must battle fairy-tale bounty hunters over a star with the power to grant a single wish. If you know a kiddo (or grown-up Shrek fan, no shame in that) who has this on their watchlist, we have the perfect pressie. In Surry Hills, Puss in Boots fans (and any cat person) can find their dream day out at Catmosphere. As Sydney's original Cat Cafe, it offers multiple cat-centric cafe experiences, plus activities like cat yoga. The venue's residents span all breeds and ages, as sourced from rescue groups — and they live there permanently. There are age requirements for some activities, but most cat fans will find themselves accommodated. Gift cards are available online for all experiences and price ranges. BABYLON: ACTING CLASSES Thanks to its stacked cast, Oscar-winning director and glitzy premise, Babylon is a must-see for history buffs and film fans alike. Directed by La La Land's Damian Chazelle and starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, it spins a tale of ambition and excess in 1920s Los Angeles. The era was marked by endless growth and celebration across the United States, especially in a seaside town called Hollywood. Any fan of the cast or director is likely a fan of the film industry as a whole. The appeal of Hollywood and stardom beams brightly — and the movie is about actors and showbusiness, after all — so they might want a chance to make a name for themselves. Send them down that road with a voucher for a course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, which offers classes for all ages in ten studios across Sydney. Those classes include acting, directing, comedy, theatre and more, and can be taken face-to-face or online. LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE: SPA DAY PACKAGE Any musical or Broadway appreciator probably has Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile on their radar. The musical comedy is the first film adaptation of the beloved book series about a family who discovers a singing crocodile in the attic of their New York home, and stars Javier Bardem and Constance Wu — plus Shawn Mendes as the titular singing crocodile. Pair that with new original music from the songwriters of The Greatest Showman, and there's plenty to get excited about. One thing that Lyle likes just as much as singing: a good bath. Soaking in some bubbles can help wash off almost any burden, whether you're a crocodile or a human. Accordingly, anyone looking forward to the film will appreciate a stint at The Langham Sydney and its famous day spa services. Vouchers can be bought online, and used for the usual range of massages, spas, pedicures and manicures. MAGIC MIKE'S LAST DANCE: DANCING LESSONS It won't be hard to find somebody who's got their eyes on this six-pack movie. Channing Tatum's mesmerising moves as Mike Lane have entranced audiences for a decade now. In Magic Mike's Last Dance, he takes to the stage for one last show, with Salma Hayek Pinault co-starring as a wealthy, mysterious socialite. It could be the last time we see Tatum's hips swing, so let's make it count. Luckily, there's a gift to fill the void that Mike will leave in our hearts. Sydney Vintage Dance is an honoured local institution where anyone who wants to get moving can give it a try. The vintage in the name points to their curriculum, covering historical dances, chair and heel dancing, fitness dancing, burlesque dancing and dancing performances. So, once Mike hangs up his dancing shoes, your loved one can don their own and bring the art of dance into their lives in a whole new way. Know a film fan? Anyone who has mentioned these films? HOYTS is the place to be this summer, with all of the above movies and more hitting its screens. Find your local cinema and its showtimes on the chain's website, and shop for gift vouchers online as well.
Is Japan on your destination bucket list when Australia finally opens up international borders? Well, until you can hop on a plane and see the real deal, a slice of Japan is coming to your living room with the latest virtual Sydney event. Japanaroo is an online travel, food and arts festival celebrating all things Japanese, running until Saturday, October 2. The interactive online event offers origami workshops, lessons on kintsugi, live walking tours of numerous Japanese cities and cooking classes live-streamed from Tokyo. The festival will transition to a live, in-person event in December with a concert at Sydney Town Hall, pending Sydney's COVID restrictions in summer. The lineup will feature a mix of Aussie and Japanese talent, including singer Kamahl, didgeridoo player William Barton, the Sydney Sakura Choir and taiko drummers YuNiOn. Tickets range from free to $70. You can check out all the different workshops and events here. Ticket sales to the Town Hall concert in December have been temporarily paused, but will be available again soon. Image: Pexels, Satoshi Hirayama
A new community hub is coming to Erskineville — meet Park Sydney, a 6.9-hectare precinct that is designed to bring all you need under one roof, effectively making it unnecessary to leave your apartment block. With the slogan "everything in one place", the design comes complete with a newly-made public park with built in bike paths, along with parkside restaurants, cafes and supermarkets, all situated within the residential apartments. The development has been 20 years in the making, with decades of changes planned for the site before a project was finally confirmed, and what a project it is. An "integrated living" design, the precinct's biggest draw is its 7,400sqm of parkland, which will be built specifically for Park Sydney residents and include public BBQ facilities, amphitheatres, play areas, walkways and cycleways — the latter of which will take bikers directly into the CBD. Free visitor parking, pocket parks and a childcare centre are also part of the masterplan. The precinct is spread across nine buildings and will include a wide range of dining options, from high-end restaurants to relaxing park-side cafes. Residents can pop downstairs to the veg shop for a quick fix, or do a full on shop at the hub's onsite supermarket. Additional retail shops will make trekking into the city for late-night shopping obsolete. Exact restaurants and shops are still to be announced, but we imagine it will be competitive real estate. The residential apartments are designed by award-winning WMK Architecture and are set to be completed in 2019. The design is meant to reflect the Australian environment and has been created with sustainability in mind. It hasn't yet been announced when the entire precinct will finish, but it will be one hell of a place to live once it is.
It's happening again: Dune, the sci-fi epic with a tumultuous on-screen history, is stuck in another cinematic sandstorm. There's always a feeling of déjà vu around Dune chaos, after David Lynch's 80s version became one of the most unfairly maligned sci-fi films ever crafted, and Alejandro Jodorowsky's take sadly didn't make it to screens (see: excellent documentary Jodorowsky's Dune). For filmmaker Denis Villeneuve's (Blade Runner 2049) two-part vision of Frank Herbert's 1965 book, off-screen events keep stopping it from reaching picture palaces when planned — initially COVID-19, and the latest setback coming during the writers' and actors' strikes. Pop culture's spiciest sci-fi saga went through this before a few years back, with Dune: Part One delayed considerably in the pandemic's early days, jumping from Boxing Day 2020 to early December 2021. Now, as expected since SAG-AFTRA joined the WGA on strike in mid-July, Dune: Part Two is pushing back its release date from November 2023 to March 2024. The film's Twitter account (now X) now states "only in theatres March 15", which is the US date. Because films open on a Thursday Down Under, Dune: Part Two should now release in Australia and New Zealand on March 14. Variety reports that Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will also move release dates from mid-March to mid-April 2024 — and shifts back are also still being considered for Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom and The Colour Purple. Already, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 has been delayed, with no new date announced as yet; and so have Kraven the Hunter, the sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife, tennis flick Challengers, the Ethan Coen (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs) solo-directed Drive-Away Dolls and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, all either to 2024 or with no date confirmed so far. Villeneuve's first Dune scored ten Oscar nominations and six wins, but only told part of the novel's story. Cue Dune: Part Two to keep the tale going when it now hits the silver screen next year. As seen in not one but two trailers so far, war has arrived on the franchise's spice-laden planet, and Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet, Bones and All) and the Fremen are ready to fight. The former doesn't just want to face off against the folks who destroyed his family, but for the sandy celestial body, with Zendaya's (Euphoria) Chani at his side. 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 planet 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 Chani, plus Javier Bardem's (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) Stilgar, which is who he and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, Silo) are with in Dune: Part Two. Expansive desert landscape, golden and orange hues (again, Villeneuve helmed Blade Runner 2049), sandworms, the director's reliable eye for a spectacle and Hans Zimmer's (The Son) latest likely Oscar-winning score: they've all shown up in the new film's two glimpses so far. So have some of the franchise's new players, with Austin Butler ditching his Elvis locks as Feyd Rautha Harkonnen, the nephew of Stellan Skarsgard's (Andor) Baron Harkonnen. Christopher Walken (Severance) and Florence Pugh (The Wonder) also join the saga as Emperor Shaddam IV and his daughter Princess Irulen. From the first film, Josh Brolin (Outer Range), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Beau Is Afraid) and Charlotte Rampling (Benedetta) return, while Léa Seydoux (Crimes of the Future) is another fresh addition to 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). Hollywood's actors are on strike to fight against diminishing residual payments for performers, and to establish firm rules about the future use of artificial intelligence in the industry, among other improvements to working conditions. When they took action in mid-July, SAG-AFTRA's members joined their counterparts in the Writers Guild of America, who've been striking since May. Check out the latest Dune: Part Two trailer below: Dune: Part Two will now release in cinemas Down Under on March 14, 2024. Via Variety / The Hollywood Reporter.
Before the pandemic, when a new-release movie started playing in cinemas, audiences couldn't watch it on streaming, video on demand, DVD or blu-ray for a few months. But with the past few years forcing film industry to make quite a few changes — widespread movie theatre closures and plenty of people staying home in iso will do that — that's no longer always the case. Maybe you've been under the weather. Perhaps you haven't had time to make it to your local cinema lately. Given the hefty amount of films now releasing each week, maybe you simply missed something. Film distributors have been fast-tracking some of their new releases from cinemas to streaming recently — movies that might still be playing in theatres in some parts of the country, too. In preparation for your next couch session, here are nine that you can watch right now at home. THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN In The Banshees of Inisherin, the rolling hills and clifftop fields look like they could stretch on forever, even on a fictional small island perched off the Irish mainland. For years, conversation between Padraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell, After Yang) and Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson, The Tragedy of Macbeth) has been similarly sprawling — and leisurely, too — especially during the pair's daily sojourn to the village pub for chats over pints. But when the latter calls time on their camaraderie suddenly, his demeanour turns brusque and his explanation, only given after much pestering, is curt. Uttered beneath a stern, no-nonsense stare by Gleeson to his In Bruges co-star Farrell, both reuniting with that darkly comic gem's writer/director Martin McDonagh for another black, contemplative and cracking comedy, Colm is as blunt as can be: "I just don't like you no more." In the elder character's defence, he wanted to ghost his pal without hurtful words. Making an Irish exit from a lifelong friendship is a wee bit difficult on a tiny isle, though, as Colm quickly realises. It's even trickier when the mate he's trying to put behind him is understandably upset and confused, there's been no signs of feud or fray beforehand, and anything beyond the norm echoes through the town faster than a folk ballad. So springs McDonagh's smallest-scale and tightest feature since initially leaping from the stage to the screen, and a wonderful companion piece to that first effort. Following the hitman-focused In Bruges, he's gone broader with Seven Psychopaths, then guided Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell to Oscars with Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, but he's at his best when his lens is trained at Farrell and Gleeson as they bicker in close confines. The Banshees of Inisherin is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE FABELMANS "Movies are dreams that you never forget," says Mitzi Fabelman (Michelle Williams, Venom: Let There Be Carnage) early in Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans. Have truer words ever been spoken in any of the director's flicks? Uttered to her eight-year-old son Sammy (feature debutant Mateo Zoryon Francis-DeFord), Mitzi's statement lingers, providing the film's beating heart even when the coming-of-age tale it spins isn't always idyllic. Individual pictures can come and go, of course. Only some — only some on the Jaws, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and West Side Story filmmaker's own resume, in fact — truly stand the test of time. But as former concert pianist Mitzi understands, and imparts to her wide-eyed on-screen Spielberg boyhood surrogate, movies as an art form are a dream that keeps shining in our heads. We return to theatres again and again for more. We glue our eyes to films at home, too. We lap up the worlds they visit, stories they relay and fantasies they inspire, and we also add our own. To everyone that's ever stared at the silver screen in awe, The Fabelmans pays tribute far more than it basks in the glow of its director. Because everyone is crafting cinematic memoirs of late, Spielberg adds this tender yet clear-eyed look at his childhood to a growing list of self-reflective flicks; however, he's as fascinated with cinema as a dream-sparking and -making force as is he with fictionalising his own tale. Slot The Fabelmans in alongside James Gray's Armageddon Time, Kenneth Branagh's Belfast, Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza and Alejandro González Iñárritu's Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths from the past year or so, then, but don't merely consider it Spielberg jumping on a trend. Focusing on Sammy's film fixation, including as a teen (played by Gabriel LaBelle, The Predator) and as his fragile family hops around the US following his computer-engineer dad Burt's (Paul Dano, The Batman) work, this is a heartfelt, perceptive and potent movie about how movies act as a mirror — a vividly shot and engagingly performed one, too, complete with a pitch-perfect late cameo — whether we're watching or creating them. The Fabelmans is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON Every couple has in-jokes, a valuable currency in all relationships, but only Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp have turned a cute private gag into Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. The Parks and Recreation actor and the Fraud director are no longer together romantically, marrying and divorcing in the 13 years since they first gave the world the cutest talking shell anyone could've imagined; however, they've now reteamed professionally for an adorable film based on their 2010, 2011 and 2014 shorts. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On also gave rise to two best-selling children's picture books, unsurprisingly, following a familiar internet-stardom path from online sensation to print and now the big screen. Neither Slate and Fleischer-Camp's faded love nor their joint project's history are ignored by their footwear-sporting seashell's cinematic debut, either; in fact, acknowledging both, whether subtly or overtly, is one of the things that makes this sweet, endearing, happily silly, often hilarious and deeply insightful movie such an all-round gem. That inside jest? A voice put on by Slate, which became the one-inch-high anthropomorphic Marcel's charming vocals. In Marcel the Shell with Shoes On's three initial mockumentary clips, the tiny critter chats to an unseen filmmaker chronicling his life, with earnestness dripping from every word. ("My name is Marcel and I'm partially a shell, as you can see on my body, but I also have shoes and a face. So I like that about myself, and I like myself and I have a lot of other great qualities as well," he advises in his self-introduction.) The same approach, tone and voice sits at the heart of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On's feature-length leap, of course, but so does a touching meditation upon loss, change and valuing what's truly important. Fleischer-Camp plays the movie's documentarian, mostly off-camera, who meets Marcel and his grandmother Connie (voiced by Isabella Rossellini, Julia) after moving into an Airbnb following a relationship breakup — and, yes, their work together becomes a viral phenomenon. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. BABYLON Exclaiming "I'm already a star. You don't become a star: you either are one or you aren't. I am!" to get into the hottest party in Los Angeles, aspiring 1920s actor Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie, Amsterdam) has ambition. Gracing the same Golden Age soirée after ending his latest marriage with an overplayed joke that could've sprung from Inglourious Basterds, veteran leading man Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt, Bullet Train) wouldn't have gotten where he is without the same drive and determination. And, helping the shindig be the only place to be, including wrangling an elephant for the night's entertainment (a pachyderm that empties its bowels on everyone pushing it up a hill no less), Manny Torres (Diego Calva, Narcos: Mexico) has the eagerness to do something — anything — in show business. Meet Babylon's zeal-dripping on-screen threesome, a trio matched only in their quest to rocket sky-high as the man conjuring them up: jazz-loving, La La Land Oscar-winning, Tinseltown-adoring writer/director Damien Chazelle. As Babylon unfurls across its hefty 189-minute running time, it takes a colossal heap of ambition — perhaps as immense as the pile of cocaine that Nellie gravitates towards inside the party — to make it or even fake it in the film industry. For his fifth feature, and first since 2018's First Man, Chazelle waves around his own as enthusiastically as he possibly can. Even just considering his hefty list of conspicuous influences makes that clear, with the filmmaker unshackling his inner Baz Luhrmann, Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson and David Lynch, to name a mere few overt nods. The Great Gatsby, Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Mulholland Drive: swirl them together with Kenneth Anger's 1959 publication Hollywood Babylon, plus everything from Sunset Boulevard to Hail, Caesar!, and that's just the beginning of Chazelle's plans. The end result also makes for a relentless and ravenous movie that's always a lot, not just in length, but is dazzling (and also very funny) when it clicks. Babylon is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review. TRIANGLE OF SADNESS Ruben Östlund isn't interested in keeping his viewers comfortable, no matter how cushy their cinema chair. To watch the Swedish filmmaker's features is to feel yourself reacting — emotionally, always, and sometimes physically as well. It was true of 2014's phenomenal Force Majeure, aka as clever and cringe-inducing a portrait of marriage and masculinity as the 21st century has provided. With dropped jaws over a divisive piece of art within a divisive piece of art, it was true of 2018's The Square, the writer/director's first Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or-winner, too. And, earning him that same prestigious prize again in 2022, it's also wholly accurate of Triangle of Sadness. Make a movie with a shape in its title, score one of the biggest filmmaking awards there is: that's been a nifty formula for Östlund of late. But even if he directs a flick called something like Hexagonal Dreaming soon, or anything else with a geometrical bent, and it too nabs that Cannes gong, beating Triangle of Sadness' vomit sequence is highly unlikely. To remind audiences that responding to films and life alike is an involuntary reflex, Östlund shows plenty of his characters doing just that — to existence, and to a choppy luxury cruise. It makes for simply unforgettable cinema, but it's also just one part of Triangle of Sadness and its sublimely shot unpacking of wealth, privilege and social hierarchies. Appearing to be coasting through perfection is an ongoing quest for Carl (Harris Dickinson, See How They Run) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean, Black Lightning), well-known models-slash-influencers, and the movie's focal point. When they take to the sea among the uber rich, they're still working the requisite angles (and snapping everything for Instagram from every angle). But then, under the captain's (Woody Harrelson, Venom: Let There Be Carnage) watch, being stranded on an island becomes their fate — and the way that Östlund satirically carves into the resulting chaos is equally hilarious and and astute, even when his film is both obvious and hardly subtle. Triangle of Sadness is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. M3GAN Book in a date with 2 M3GAN 2 Furious now: even if it doesn't take that name, which it won't, a sequel to 2023's first guaranteed horror hit will come. Said follow-up also won't be called M3GAN 2: Electric Boogaloo, but that title would fit based on the first flick's TikTok-worthy dance sequence alone. Meme-starting fancy footwork is just one of the titular doll's skills. Earnestly singing 'Titanium' like this is Pitch Perfect, tickling the ivories with 80s classic 'Toy Soldiers', making these moments some of M3GAN's funniest: they're feats the robot achieves like it's designed to, too. Although unafraid to take wild tonal swings, and mining the established comedy-horror talents of New Zealand filmmaker Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) and screenwriter Akela Cooper (Malignant) as well, this killer-plaything flick does feel highly programmed itself, however. It's winking, knowing, silly, satirical, slick and highly engineered all at once, overtly pushing buttons and demanding a response — and, thankfully, mostly earning it. Those Child's Play-meets-Annabelle-meets-The Terminator-meets-HAL 9000 thoughts that M3GAN's basic concept instantly brings to mind? They all prove true. The eponymous droid — a Model 3 Generative Android, to be specific — is a four-foot-tall artificially intelligent doll that takes the task of protecting pre-teen Cady (Violet McGraw, Black Widow) from emotional and physical harm deadly seriously, creeping out and/or causing carnage against everyone who gets in its way. Those Frankenstein-esque sparks, exploring what happens when humanity (or Girls and Get Out's Allison Williams here, as Cady's roboticist aunt Gemma) plays god by creating life? They're just as evident, as relevant to the digital age Ex Machina-style. M3GAN is more formulaic than it should be, though, and also never as thoughtful as it wants to be, but prolific horror figures Jason Blum and James Wan produce a film that's almost always entertaining. M3GAN is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. MAGIC MIKE'S LAST DANCE Ted Lasso fans, rejoice — the Magic Mike franchise is taking its lead from the hit sitcom now. Swap soccer for stripping, obviously. From there, the sports-themed favourite and Magic Mike's Last Dance both transport their namesakes to London, then give them jobs under wealthy women managing publicly beloved assets after bitter marriage breakdowns, all as those ladies try to spite their exes while also finding themselves and sorting out their lives. In the third film in the Channing Tatum (Bullet Train)-starring series, there's a team to oversee featuring players from around the globe, too, plus a gruff butler doing his best not-AI Roy Kent impression. And, it all climaxes with a showcase event demanding dedicated training. That said, only this exceptionally choreographed but never earth-shattering flick fills its final quarter with wall-to-wall gyrating, including a male-revue number soundtracked by 1998 Dandy Warhols' single 'Boys Better' that has to be seen to be believed. New Magic Mike movie splashing glistening chiselled abs across the screen, same Magic Mike, though. Tatum and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Kimi) — the prolific creative force who helmed, shot and spliced the first instalment; then just lensed and cut the second with his regular assistant Gregory Jacobs (Wind Chill) directing; and now returns to his trio of OG roles (still credited as Peter Andrews for his cinematography and Mary Ann Bernard for his editing) — have Mike Lane living his own Groundhog Day in a way. The more things change, the more that plenty stays the same for the saga's hero. This series started out not just putting its star's ripped physique and knack for erotic dancing to eye-catching use, but drawing upon his own story thanks to Tatum's past onstage Florida. He isn't currently getting by stripping while striving to follow his passion, of course. Before Magic Mike was scorching the screen, he'd already made it big. But these films, all three of which are penned by Reid Carolin (Dog), understand that Tatum's reality isn't the way that this tale usually goes. Magic Mike's Last Dance is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE LOST KING When King Richard III was killed in battle in the 15th century, did anyone wonder about a public holiday? Given the era and its working conditions, likely not. There's also the hardly minor fact that the monarch was slain by the forces of Henry Tudor, who promptly became England's ruler, so downing tools for a day of mourning probably wasn't a priority. The world has a frame of reference for grieving a British sovereign, though, and recently. When Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, pomp and ceremony reigned supreme. Dramatising the discovery of Richard III's remains, The Lost King wasn't made with the queen's passing in mind. Actually, it world-premiered a day afterwards. But the Stephen Frears (Victoria & Abdul)-directed, Steve Coogan- and Jeff Pope (Philomena)-scripted drama benefits from audiences knowing what's done now when whoever wears the crown is farewelled. The Lost King isn't about chasing a parade, pageantry, and a day off work for the masses in Britain and further afield. Charting the true tale of Richard III's location and exhumation 527 years after he breathed his last breath, it follows a quest for recognition and respect. When the film opens, Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins, The Phantom of the Open) wants it for herself, as a woman over 40 overlooked for a promotion at work in favour of a younger, less-experienced colleague — and as someone with a medical condition, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, who's too easily dismissed due to her health. She's also newly separated from her husband John (Coogan, This Time with Alan Partridge), adding to her unappreciated feelings. It's no wonder that Richard III's plight catches her interest thanks to a production of Shakespeare's Richard III, aka one of the reasons that the king was long seen as a hunchbacked villain. More surprising: that the film about all of this, while engaging enough and featuring stellar work by Hawkins, doesn't seem to trust that its real-life story can hold its own. The Lost King is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. A MAN CALLED OTTO In reality, cantankerous curmudgeons don't routinely possess hearts of gold. Genuine intentions don't always gleam behind petty folks with grudges spouting insults, either. Movies like A Man Called Otto keep claiming otherwise, though, because cinema is an empathy machine — and placing viewers in the shoes of characters different to them, whether in background, behaviour, situation or temperament, remains key among its functions. Tom Hanks, the silver screen's beloved everyman of more than four decades, knows this. Veteran filmmaker Marc Forster does as well. After getting villainous in Elvis and sweet with Christopher Robin, respectively, the actor and director join forces for a feature advocating for understanding, kindness and acceptance. Behind that cranky nitpicker, local annoyance or rude aggressor might just lurk a story worth appreciating and a person worth knowing, it sentimentally posits. This Americanisation of A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman's Swedish 2012 novel that first hit the screen in its native language in 2015, did indeed come about exactly as expected. Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson saw the Oscar-nominated OG movie, contacted its producer Fredrik Wikström Nicastro (Borg vs McEnroe), then went about making a US-set, Hanks-starring iteration. Wilson is now also one of A Man Called Otto's producers. Truman Hanks, Tom's youngest son with Wilson, co-stars as the young Otto (nabbing just his second on-screen credit after popping up in his dad's News of the World). This flick's smooth path to cinemas and the easy family ties behind it speak volumes about the film that results; despite focusing on a man repeatedly trying to take his own life, attempts at which are constantly interrupted by his rule-breaking neighbours, openly and breezily warming hearts and pleasing crowds is this remake's aim. A Man Called Otto is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. Looking for more at-home viewing options? Take a look at our monthly streaming recommendations across new straight-to-digital films and TV shows — and fast-tracked highlights from January and February, too. You can also peruse our best new films, new TV shows, returning TV shows and straight-to-streaming movies, plus movies you might've missed and television standouts of 2022 you mightn't have gotten to.
Each year when winter hits Melbourne, there is an energy to the city as it comes to life with the annual festival of music, arts and performance, RISING. Running from Wednesday, June 4 to Sunday, June 15, RISING's exciting lineup fills the streets, galleries and hidden corners with 65 events featuring work from over 300 boundary-pushing artists. The exhibits and installations happen nonstop throughout each day, but once night falls, Melbourne is truly invigorated, with a whole new side of the city to uncover. Whether you're a local or just visiting, the festival is an invitation to get out, stay up late, and explore Melbourne at its most vibrant and delightfully unpredictable. Planning a trip? Here's our pick of unmissable experiences to make your Melbourne sojourn an unforgettable one. 'Intangible #form' at The Capitol If you're looking for something fun (and free) to do after dark, Shohei Fujimoto's immersive installation, Intangible #form, at The Capitol is a standout in this year's RISING lineup. Entering the space feels like stepping into a sci-fi dream, with glowing red laser beams shifting and responding to your movements, pulling you into an almost hypnotic state. Open from 4.30pm to 10.30pm daily during the festival, it's one you can't miss. Reed House A good RISING itinerary deserves meals as memorable as the art you'll see. Reed House delivers just that. This Lonsdale Street restaurant sits within a landmark heritage building in the heart of the city, and features a humble menu inspired by British brasseries, which is exactly what you want on a cool Melbourne night. It's the perfect spot to fuel up before a night of performances, or to debrief on your day's discoveries over dinner and drinks. 'Kill Me' — Marina Otero RISING consistently delivers performances that push boundaries, and this year is no exception. This year's must-see is Kill Me, a provocative new performance by Argentine choreographer Marina Otero that (literally) bares all. It's exactly the kind of thoughtful, unapologetic work RISING champions, guaranteed to keep you talking long after the show ends. Night Trade A festival favourite during past years, RISING's Night Trade transforms Melbourne's Howey Place and surrounding laneways into a nocturnal playground. Wander around to discover a mix of music, art, and food, including late-night bites and micro cocktail bars, and experience performance art from artists like Saeborg and Nyege Nyege up close and personal. There's plenty to see — all for free — and it's all set against the backdrop of Melbourne's famous laneways. Apollo Inn Tucked discreetly off Flinders Lane and by the team behind famed restaurant Gimlet, Apollo Inn captures Melbourne's late-night charm with cocktails to match. Dimly lit and always (quietly) buzzing, it's the kind of place you want to end up after an evening of exhibition-hopping, to plan tomorrow's adventures or just soak in the city's after-hours energy. [caption id="attachment_1000969" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Eugene Hyland[/caption] 'Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf' For a little extra rebelliousness, head to the Flinders Street Station Ballroom for Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf – a one-of-a-kind playable art exhibition. This nine-hole mini-golf course is no ordinary game, because each hole is an artwork created by female artists, including Miranda July, Kaylene Whiskey, and Saeborg. The concept is a nod to the rule-breaking 19th century women who invented the game after being refused access to the real course. Open from Wednesday, June 4 to Sunday, August 31, go for a late-night slot and experience the surreal, interactive installations that challenge traditional notions of mini golf. 'Frida Kahlo: In her own Image' at Bendigo Art Gallery If you're keen to keep the cultural exploration going after RISING, you can take a short road trip out of town to Bendigo for Frida Kahlo: In her own image, exclusive to the Bendigo Art Gallery, and make a day of it by exploring the township. Just two hours away from Melbourne CBD, the exhibition offers an intimate look at the iconic Mexican artist's revolutionary life and art. It's the perfect complement to Melbourne's RISING, rounding out your weekend of new experiences. So pick your favourite spots, embrace after-dark adventures, and discover why a winter in Melbourne is genuinely unforgettable. Head to visitmelbourne.com.au to discover more of what makes Melbourne every bit different. Images courtesy of Melbourne. Every bit different. By Jacque Kennedy
The World's 50 Best Bars list was just announced in Hong Kong, with two Australian hot spots taking out impressive rankings. Sydney's Maybe Sammy affirmed its position as Australia's most consistently awarded bar on the list, while Melbourne's Caretaker's Cottage improved its previous ranking. The annual list, which has been operating since 2009, is curated from the votes of The World's 50 Best Bars Academy, which includes expert bartenders, consultants, specialists and drinks writers. The list, as voted for by more than 800 experts across the world, represents an international guide to the best bars and drinking destinations globally. The inclusion on the list this year, at number 42, marks seven consecutive years for Sydney bar Maybe Sammy. The bar, co-founded by Vince Lombardo and Stefano Catino in 2019, has garnered an impressive array of national and international awards since its opening, including being named Best Bar in Australasia five times by The World's 50 Best Bars. Catino says, "For seven years, we've proudly put Sydney on the global cocktail map, and that consistency means everything to us. Australia is one of the best food and drink destinations in the world, and we're honoured to be part of it. Thank you to everyone who voted — it truly means the world." Caretaker's Cottage, tucked away in Wesley Place precinct in a historic bluestone building, is no doubt one of Melbourne's favourite and most awarded bars. It can now add another notch in its belt, being ranked number 19 on the list, and taking out the Best Bar in Australasia award for 2025. The World's 50 Best Bars List says of the petite-sized Melbourne hotspot, "Beneath the skyscrapers in the middle of the Melbourne CBD, there's a small, humble-looking place that was once the residence of the caretaker of the church next door. It's here you'll find a small team taking care of the thirsty, the tired and those in need of a good time…the real feat they've achieved in a small place is ensuring that — despite being Melbourne's busiest cocktail bar — every guest feels like they've found a place of their own." In another impressive feat that puts Aussies on the world stage, the double-concept venue Tigra (downstairs) and Disco Pantera (upstairs) were honoured with the Best Bar Design Award 2025. Feels like a drink is in order all round. Images: Mario Francisco. All this talk of drinks got you feeling like a bar crawl? Check out the best bars in Melbourne — weekend plans sorted.
When Netflix decided to give The Addams Family a new take, it was a lightbulb moment. More than two decades after the last live-action version of the beloved creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky characters hit screens, the Jenna Ortega (Scream VI)-led revamp Wednesday proved a smash. No one likely stuck a lightbulb in their mouth when they came up with the idea to revive the franchise, and we're hoping that no one did to celebrate the show's success, either; however, the streaming platform's next series linked to the horror-loving crew could feature exactly that. After dropping its first season in late 2022, then notching up more viewers, memes and mimicked dance moves than the Addams crew have pieces of black clothing, Wednesday was officially renewed for a second season at the beginning of 2023. That's still on the way, with no ETA as yet after Hollywood's strike-filled year, but Netflix is already thinking about giving the show an Uncle Fester-focused spinoff. Bloomberg reports that while production on Wednesday season two hasn't begun, the streaming service is eager to keep all things Addams Family on-screen via multiple shows. The Uncle Fester series has been put forward as the first. Presumably, that'd mean Fred Armisen (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) reprising his role — unless it's an Uncle Fester origin story. There's nothing locked in, so no casting details, no storyline and no timeline for the show to hit your streaming queue so far, but we all know how much pop culture's powers that be — aka studios and streamers — love franchises. The Addams Family realm has always been beloved by audiences — the Christina Ricci-led 90s films have been favourites for decades for good reason, plus the 1960s TV show and 1930s The New Yorker comics before that — so Netflix wanting more is far from unexpected. Indeed, if you were channelling your inner Wednesday, as we all should, you wouldn't raise an eyebrow in astonishment. Wednesday's first season broke the Netflix record for most hours viewed in a single week, then did so again — earning 341.23-million hours viewed in its first week, then 411.29-million hours viewed in its second. There's no trailer for the Uncle Fester spinoff yet, of course, but you can check out Wednesday season one's sneak peek below: Wednesday streams via Netflix, with season one available now and season two arriving at a yet-to-be-announced date. We'll update you with further details about season two and the Uncle Fester spinoff when they're revealed. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Via Bloomberg. Images: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
After coming sixth in season nine, Sarah Tiong returned to MasterChef: Back To Win in 2020. To say the Sydney chef was a season favourite would be a slight understatement. "Not to be dramatic, but I would die for Sarah Tiong," one fan wrote on Twitter, while some called for her to become a judge next season and others promised to ride into battle if she was eliminated. While Tiong was eliminated in a week nine pressure test, she left with legions of supporters across the country. Fast forward a few months and Tiong has just released her new book, Sweet, Savory, Spicy: Exciting Street Market Food from Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and More, which is currently available online. "It's a combination of all of these dishes that I've learned throughout my childhood and on my travels throughout Southeast Asia," Tiong told Concrete Playground. "If people know my food, it's all about texture, generosity, full of really smack-you-in-the-face flavour. So, that's what I really wanted to put into this book." You'll find more of these smack-you-in-the-face flavours at Tiong's favourite Sydney restaurants, too. While Aussies can't currently leave the country to eat around Southeast Asia à la Tiong, they can visit restaurants serving up everything from neon green Thai curries to Indomie mac 'n' cheese. Here, Tiong takes us through five of her favourite spots to eat around the city.
Hosting season has arrived. Gather your mates for one last hurrah that will impress with minimal effort — because who needs more to do at this time of the year? We've partnered with the legends at The Kraken Black Spiced Rum to put together some easy ideas for your next summer sesh, from simple snacks and refreshments to tips on keeping cool in the heat. Whether you're just venturing into the world of hosting or are after some fresh ideas to spruce up your skills, you'll be primed to start throwing some dates in the group chat. SIP Nothing says summer quite like sipping a cold one in the backyard. In addition to the usual sessionable favourites, you can't go wrong with some convenient canned tipple, so you're not running around topping up drinks or whipping up cocktail concoctions. The Kraken has released a new canned cocktail perfect for sipping on balmy afternoons. Featuring its signature spiced rum, the Kraken Caribbean Punch delivers a tropical hit of pineapple, mango and coconut. For a fruity, icy twist, add the premixed drink to a frozen fruit slushie of mango and coconut water or pineapple and mint. Other classic options by Kraken include the Black Spiced Rum and Cola, Black Spiced Rum and Dry Ginger Ale and Black Mojito mixes. EAT Equally important is the spread. Cater to a wide range of preferences with snacks that guests can tailor to their tastes. A taco bar, salad station or charcuterie board allow even the pickiest of eaters to put together a combination of bites they'll enjoy. Add an elevated twist by including refreshing summer salads like watermelon and haloumi or spicy marinated cucumber, or a baguette board with tinned fish, dips and pickles. All of these nibbles can be prepared well in advance. Plus, you won't face complaints when they're served at room temperature. For more substantial fare that's still low effort, you can't go wrong with a rotisserie chook from your local chicken shop, which you can pair with salads, wraps or a baguette, or even a pizza kit from Hank's Hot Box that's delivered straight to your door. If you'd prefer to flex your grilling skills, keep it simple by purchasing pre-marinated cuts from the butcher or supermarket. Skewers are always great for variety and easy munching that'll cook in a flash. And don't underestimate the importance of a strong sauce. In a previous interview, Chin Chin's Executive Chef Benjamin Cooper shared his advice for pared-back hosting: "Less is more. Focus on simply cooked proteins or veg and spend your time on a wicked sauce or dressing." Not only will this save you on prep time, but it also means that you'll be able to enjoy your event. COOL DOWN It's all well and good to prepare an impressive feed, but the last thing your guests will want to do is eat if all they're feeling is the sweltering summer heat. When in doubt, look to the freezer. Stash cut fruit in the freezer for chilled nibbles — grapes work exceptionally well — and use them instead of ice cubes to cool drinks without watering them down. Cups can also be stored in the freezer or fridge for refreshing sips. Grab a facial spray, like Mario Badescu's Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea, and keep it in the fridge or on ice for a fresh twist that serves the dual function of calming redness and making your skin glow. Don't underestimate the power of a hand fan. Leave these scattered around for guests to use at their leisure — you can even include markers and stickers so friends can decorate their own to take home. PLAY Your friends won't have any trouble keeping themselves entertained, but it's helpful to have some activities on hand for any awkward lulls in conversation, especially when you're mixing different groups of mates. Don't want the activities to be a huge focus? Go laidback with a small paint-and-sip station with watercolours and drawing pads or small canvases and easels. Otherwise, you can pick up some tapered candles and coloured tealights (like these IKEA options) for dinner candles that your guests can paint and take home. There's no shortage of zany games on TikTok, like Fear Pong. Set up a game of giant Tic Tac Toe with some strips of tape and different coloured cups, or get your hands on giant Jenga, bocce or cornhole from Sunnylife, Rebel Sport, Kmart or Big W. If you're keen to get even more active (and have ample space), go for a casual game of backyard cricket or table tennis. And when all else fails, you can't go wrong with a deck of cards or a round of UNO. GROOVE Don't overlook the power of a well-curated playlist, particularly when you've a crowd of different groups and ages. You could stick to a theme and build around it, whether it's this vibrant indie mix from Spotify, classic disco, chill hip hop or new jazz. Or, mix it up with a variety of tunes and genres. Our Editorial Director's advice for pleasing a diverse audience? "The safest bet is to have a list of certified classics, recent bangers and cheesy guilty pleasures with a few surprise or little-known tracks mixed in that could get people talking." Either way, the key is to make sure the music isn't so loud or distracting that it overwhelms conversation. Even if you love deep house, it's hard to carry a convo over those throbbing beats — remember that you can always build up to firing up a dance floor later in the night. The refreshing Caribbean Punch from The Kraken Black Spiced Rum is now available at your local bottle shop or online from Kraken's website.
You might think that there's not much exciting about a fridge magnet. I mean, who is really thrilled by a piece of plastic that announces "I Love NYC" or is shaped like your pet dog? The designers at Kudu saw artistic potential in the common fridge magnet, however. They pushed the design of the magnet one step (or, rather, a few metres) farther and created magnetic panels to cover your entire refrigerator. Kudu's fridge panels create a bold kitchen statement, an easy way to spice up an otherwise lack-luster space. And the best part? They're simple to remove or to switch out. Swap your fridge panels to fit a party theme, a holiday, or perhaps your mood. Choose from a collection of themes, spanning from animals, to a sexy shirtless man, to designer illustrations; then, simply measure your fridge and order online. Kudu is willing to help you measure your fridge, and will even custom design a panel for you or your business, upon request. [via Notcot]
It just makes so much sense: Rick Stein, the celebrity chef who made a name for himself — first in the UK and then in Australia — by making seafood his ingredient of choice opening a restaurant in Port Stephens, home to some of the best seafood on the east coast. Following the success of the first Rick Stein at Bannisters in Mollymook, this outpost opened in conjunction with Bannisters Port Stephens in 2018. Stein, alongside his wife Sarah, engaged interior design Romy Alwill to present a breezy interior, splashed with terracotta, timber and Japanese watercolours. Alongside Head Chef Mitchell Turner, Stein has designed a menu that celebrates the region — and its excellent produce. That starts with a selection of seafood straight from the sea — think oysters on ice (or served with spicy sausage) and sashimi of Nelson Bay yellowfin tuna, Eden kingfish and Tasmanian salmon — alongside a creamy black cuttlefish risotto. For mains, you can enjoy baked whole snapper, barbecued tuna steak, fish curry or, if you're happy to get your hands dirty, blue swimmer crab served Singapore-style with garlic, ginger, chilli and coriander. After dinner, pop across to the Terrace Bar. It's a design feat, all millennial pink, splashes of mint, white, grey and blond wood, and overlooks the hotel's infinity pool, out toward the tops of the surrounding gum trees and onto the water.
The fine fictional detectives of Brooklyn's 99th precinct have long held a soft spot in sitcom viewers' hearts, but that hasn't always proven the case for TV's powers that be. After airing on America's Fox network for five seasons between 2013–2018, the show was cancelled in May last year — only to be picked up for a sixth season by rival US channel NBC just 31 hours later. That 18-episode sixth season is currently on the air, screening on SBS Viceland in Australia. Yes, fans of comedic cops, Die Hard gags and 'title of your sex tape' jokes can't utter "noice" fast or often enough. But in even better news, NBC has just renewed Brooklyn Nine-Nine for a seventh season, which'll likely run across late 2019 and early 2020. That means there's no need to worry about the show's fate for a whole year. As Jake Peralta would say: cool cool cool. Breaking out a celebratory yoghurt, Terry Jeffords-style, is definitely in order. If you're more like Captain Raymond Holt, perhaps you'd like to treat yourself to a trip to a barrel museum. Or you could channel your inner Gina Linetti and dance about your happy feelings. However you choose to mark the news, it's worth it — while the series has a devoted following, its future has rarely been secure, with the possibility of cancellation usually hanging over its previous seasons. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast — including Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Andre Braugher, Dirk Blocker and Joel McKinnon Miller — were all suitably thrilled, as the video below shows. In fact, the renewal even prompted Braugher to tweet for only the second time, which sounds like a classic Captain Holt move. https://twitter.com/nbcbrooklyn99/status/1100902305858117637 And if you're particularly fond of sitcoms created by Mike Schur, who also gave the world Parks & Recreation, then prepare to go to your good place. Fellow NBC show The Good Place, which screens on Netflix in Australia, was already renewed at the end of 2018. Its fourth season is due later this year. Via Variety.
Close out the summer with a wild and wacky bang at Mona's annual festival of boundary-defying culture, music and art. The iconoclastic Hobart gallery, performance space, and purveyor of beer and wine, is known for subverting expectations so you can expect an eccentric and unforgettable few days down south at Mona Foma. Now in its 16th year, the 2024 incarnation of the festival runs from Thursday, February 15 to Sunday, February 25 in nipaluna/Hobart and from Thursday, February 29 to Saturday, March 2 in Launceston. There are morning meditations with cross-cultural musical collaborations and captivating art exhibits for those after a more reflective experience. On the flip side of fun, there are gigs galore and late-night bashes for those keen for a boogie. The program features everything from Taiwanese artist Yahon Chang painting with a human-sized brush and Emeka Ogboh's gin-centred exhibit to musical headliners Queens of the Stone Age, Courtney Barnett, Paul Kelly and cult favourites TISM in a rare live show. Check out our picks of the program below to kick-start your festival planning or get you inspired to book your Tassie getaway. Mona Sessions If you can only make it to one event, the quintessential Mona Foma experience can be found at the Mona Sessions. On the evenings of Friday, February 23 to Sunday, February 25, you can enjoy live music from international artists on the sprawling museum lawns. Suitable for all ages, Mona Sessions features performances by Scottish space-rock stalwarts Mogwai; Kutcha Edwards and The Australian Art Orchestra; Japanese punk-pop band Shonen Knife; Canadian quartet Holy Fuck; French-Korean siblings (both under the age of 15) Isaac et Nora; and Lonnie Holley with Moor Mother and Irreversible Entanglements. [caption id="attachment_939340" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Amniote Editions[/caption] Faux Mo Keep the grooves flowing after the Mona Sessions at Faux Mo. The Granada Tavern opposite Mona will become abuzz with late-night beats and boogies from 10.30pm until 2am on Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24, with a more chill afternoon sesh on Sunday, February 25. Catch sets from POOKIE, Soju Gang and m8riarchy, along with melodic beats by Mama Snake from Denmark, Afrobeats by Nigerian-born Emeka Ogboh, and mellow house by Kiwi brothers Chaos in the CBD. [caption id="attachment_939338" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Amber Haines[/caption] Wayfinder Queensland dance collective Dancenorth is known for compelling performances which weave together contemporary dance and powerful storytelling. Wayfinder is no exception. Viewers will be immersed in Dancenorth's spellbinding choreography, set to a score by Grammy award-nominated Hiatus Kaiyote with a stage and costumes designed by visual artist Hiromi Tango. The performance will only run for three nights from Thursday, February 22 to Saturday, February 24, so be sure to book in quick. [caption id="attachment_829589" align="alignnone" width="1920"] MONA and Jesse Hunniford[/caption] Boats (a gin and art experiment) Multifaceted artist Emeka Ogboh will not only be spinning a DJ set at Faux Mo, but has also developed an immersive exhibit. Boats explores themes of migration and belonging through a bespoke gin blended by the Nigerian-born creative. Festival-goers can sample the gin and snacks accompanied by a sound installation at Detached. If that's not enough, Ogboh is collaborating with Mona's executive chef to incorporate the gin and West African flavours at various Mona restaurants during the festival. [caption id="attachment_939336" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Filastine & Nova[/caption] Arka Kinari It wouldn't be Mona Foma without show-stopping, thought-provoking works — and what's a bigger statement than a 70-tonne sailing ship moored at the waterfront to spread awareness about climate change? The boat, named Arka Kinari, is musical duo and married couple Filastine and Nova's home, creative work, transport and travelling stage. The pair are inviting visitors aboard to learn about the ship's sustainable resources — which include water desalination, solar power, wind travel and waste management — and will also be performing their music against a backdrop of cinematic visuals on the deck of the ship. Don't miss it. [caption id="attachment_939339" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gabriel Comerford[/caption] Dekoor In Launceston, gym and rave bros collide at the adults-only Dekoor. Local Tasmanian artists ROOKE will put on an exciting dance, theatre and circus performance in a working gym, where audience members can wander through the space throughout the show. For some added fun, consent tokens will be available if you're open to being touched, carried or led away by performers. These tokens can of course be removed or passed on if you change your mind during the event. After the show, stick around for a party with DJs and performances across three levels of the gym until 1am. The Shruti Sessions Journey across musical borders at The Shruti Sessions, where musicians from Hindustani and Rajasthani backgrounds collaborate and experiment with Australian instrumentalists. Experience something new at each performance, whether you drop in for a Morning Meditation or catch the action at the Mona Sessions. Performers include notable tabla player Bobby Singh, percussionist Benjamin Walsh, OAM recipient and saxophonist Sandy Evans, sarangi player Asin Khan Langa and renowned slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya. [caption id="attachment_831323" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Charles Hill via Tourism Tasmania[/caption] The Gorge How about a lazy day of lounging and swims followed by an evening concert at the spectacular Cataract Gorge? And what's more, this live show — featuring the elusive TISM, Mulga Bore Hard Rock, FFLORA x Grace Chia and Cash Savage and The Last Drinks — is completely free. If you'd like to level up your experience, you can opt for the Peacock Pass which grants you access to the Peacock Bar, a private entrance and a viewing area with seating. Find out more and book your tickets at the Mona Foma website.
Pastels, lace and playsuits abound on Oxford Street; designer Alice McCall has opened her brand new Paddington boutique. Moved around the corner from her flagship Glenmore Road shop, McCall has taken over the industrial, light-filled space once occupied by Aussie designer Josh Goot. Currently on the racks sits McCall's autumn/winter '16 range — think billowing blouses, pastel palettes, floral prints, scalloped edges, lace detailing. Winter doesn't need to be all navy turtlenecks. It's been a big ol' year already for McCall, having launched her own boutique in Dalian, China on January 16 — and it's the first Australian designer boutique in the country. All hail the global playsuit takeover. Alice McCall is now open at 138 Oxford Street, Paddington. Open Mon to Wed 10am–6pm, Thu 10am–7pm, Fri & Sat 10–6pm and Sun 11am–5pm. Call (02) 9357 1126 for enquiries.
