Year: 2017

Film Review: Lucky (USA, 2017) is an affecting swan song for the late Harry Dean Stanton

Very few actors have been afforded a send-off as fitting as Harry Dean Stanton has in Lucky.  Throughout his 6 decades of working across both film and television, Lucky, next to his most substantial screen-time turn in 1984’s road movie Paris, Texas, stands as a true showcase for the actor; regardless of the film arriving…

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Review: A building’s complicated history defines Pullman Riga Old Town in Latvia

Transforming an historic building in one of Europe’s most underrated (and romantic) old towns, Pullman Riga Old Town is a five-star property that is surely one of the upscale hotel brand’s most eclectic in Europe. This interesting and endearing character is largely in part to the fusion, and at times clash, of new and old,…

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Claire Foxton talks blending fine art and graffiti ahead of Wollongong Wonderwalls Festival

No longer confined to the back streets of grungy inner-city suburbs, street art has really started to make it’s mark on Australia’s urban landscape. Among the artists who create these modern monoliths is Kiama-local Claire Foxton. Her realistic portraits, rendered in tremendous detail, pay homage to local heroes from across the country. Claire is one of…

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Here are the winners of the 5th annual Gault&Millau Australia Awards

Gault&Millau, the publisher of the only internationally recognised restaurant guide in Australia, have announced the winners of the fifth annual Australian awards. The winners, announced at a ceremony held in Sydney earlier this week, indicate a progressive dining scene and celebrate top achievers from all over the country. The awards night also marked the debut…

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Allen’s are running a pop-up lolly store in Sydney and Melbourne until Christmas

Much like their super popular pop-up lolly shop last year, Allen’s Lollysmiths is a temporary store that has appeared in Sydney and Melbourne, offering one giant pick ‘n’ mix experience where sugar-enthusiasts can create custom lolly jars from just about every iteration of the brand’s famous product that has ever existed. Opening last week in…

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Park House: Mona Vale’s multi-million dollar precinct is starting to take shape (Sydney)

The Mona Vale Hotel is no more. One of Sydney’s biggest renovations of recent years is finally starting to take shape, bringing the sun-soaked suburb Park House Food & Liquor. The new, multipurpose dining and social space has been given a huge modern makeover with plans to roll out a further five-stage $12 million redevelopment…

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Matt Moran and Solotel to open Little Big House in Southbank this December (Brisbane)

One of the country’s biggest hospitality groups, Solotel, are putting the finishing touches on their newest venture. Coming to Brisbane’s Southbank in December will be Little Big House, a dedicated house party destination slash gastropub, shaped into a heritage listed house that dates back to 1889. The house, which has gone from being a private…

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Pablo, Japan’s famous baked cheese tart shop, has opened in Chinatown (Sydney)

Anyone who has been to Japan probably knows just how ridiculously popular Pablo is. The Osaka-born business founded by Masamitsu Sakimoto has grown over the years to include 44 stores across the country as well as 13 internationally, success which has been based on superior, consistent and addictive cheese tarts. Sydney has been picking up…

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Lavico is South-Western Sydney’s charming new Italian restaurant

It’s not all about the great wave of gastropub makeovers in Sydney when it comes to refocused quality dining in local institutions. Many of the city’s outer suburbs are looking to their local clubs to introduce stronger food and drink offerings, a demand slowly but surely being met across the board. Take Canterbury League Club…

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B&O Play launch the Beoplay M3 in Australia; include future support for AirPlay 2

Known for premium audio products, B&O Play – a sub-brand of luxury tech company Bang & Olufsen – have been scoring all kinds of goals with their bluetooth speaker range. That looks to continue with the recent introduction of their most compact speaker to date, the Beoplay M3, a device carefully designed by award-winning Cecilie…

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New Music Mondays (November 13th)

A brand new week is upon us and as we hurtle towards the end of 2017, the new music is keeping on coming to tide us over. Check out new tunes from some great Aussie talent including Grenadiers, Stella Donnelly and Eves Karydas, not to mention the return of N*E*R*D and Angel Olsen‘s “Sans”. ———- This content has recently been ported…

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Briggs & Missy Higgins amongst winners of 2017 Screen Music Awards!

From Australian movies Jasper Jones and Don’t Tell, to international productions Alien: Covenant and The Get Down, some of the small and large screens’ most compelling stories of the past year have been set to a musical backdrop created by some of Australia’s finest screen composers. Overnight, these screen composers were honoured as the winners…

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Music Industry Charity Soccer Tournament ‘Music Copa’ Returns for 2017

Musica Copa, the Aussie music industry’s charity 5-a-side football tournament returns on December 1st, celebrating their fifth anniversary at the KIKOFF soccer Centre in Marrickville. An all-star line-up of artists drop their pics to put on the spikes and play football. Spectators are welcome at this community event, and will have the opportunity to share…

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Interview: Mister Savona describes the importance of the Havana Meets Kingston project

As one of Australia’s leading reggae and dancehall producers, Mista Savona definitely has a wealth of knowledge to draw on when it comes to not only creating new pieces of music, but also bringing together the timeless influences of the artists who forged the genres he’s loved for so many years. With the new Havana Meets Kingston…

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Music Video of the Day: Polish Club “Gimme Money” (2017)

Polish Club‘s next jaunt around Australia is soon upon us, with the Sydney group set to kick start their tour in Canberra next Friday. To get us further hyped, we’re sharin’ their latest music video, this time for “Gimme Money”. The tune, taken from their Okie Dokie EP, is a rollicking good time – catchy, rapid and…

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Interview: Rachael Leahcar (Adelaide) on shedding the ‘little girl’ image & her upcoming tour

It’s been five years since Rachael Leahcar made the Top 3 on The Voice, alongside her mentor Delta Goodrem. The Adelaide born singer and songwriter, released her latest album Shadows earlier this year, showcasing a more mature sound with heavier lyrics, and is about to hit the road on the tour of the same name.

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Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce to attend Sydney premiere of Swinging Safari

The Becker Film Group has recently announced that the all-star cast of the Australian production Swinging Safari will be attending the film’s world premiere to be held at Sydney’s Hoyts Entertainment Quarter on 12 December, 2017. Actors Guy Pearce (Memento), Kylie Minogue (Moulin Rogue), Radha Mitchell (Man on Fire), Julian McMahon (Fantastic Four), Asher Keddie (Offspring) and Jeremy Sims (Dangerous Remedy) will all be…

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Games Review: Need for Speed Payback (Xbox One X, 2017): Grind before fun

If I can communicate anything to you about Need for Speed Payback, it’s this: when the game first asks you to pick a car, choose wisely. Choose wisely, because you’re going to have that car for a really, really long time.

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TV Review: The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 4 “Some Guy”

Building King Ezekiel’s regal facade has been given little screen time on The Walking Dead. The “king” with a knack for role-playing to build a sense of escapism and confidence for his “Kingdom” only took on a pivotal role deep into last season, and with the way the show is structured the writers have had…

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Games Review: Sonic Forces (Xbox One X, 2017): Fan service meets bad design

Hello there, fellow Sonic fan. Remember that period of unalloyed joy during the launch of Sonic Mania this year? The feeling of burgeoning hope that, after 20 years of Sega openly ignoring what made their mascot great, the ol’ blue blur might finally be back on track? Well, forget all that because Sonic Forces is here to make…

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Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley just got itself a spectacular skyline pool

Mantra Group have opened a spectacular new property in the heart of inner-city Brisbane, presenting the city with FV by Peppers as part of a landmark $600 million development on Fortitude Valley’s Alfred Street, which also features a luxury long-term letting offering rubbed FV Peppers Residences. Peppers, a brand known for their mix private self-contained…

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Contiki are bringing a multisensory Southern Indian experience to Sydney this week

Popping up in the Sydney suburb of Chippendale for one week only will be a digital presentation by youth tour company Contiki, promising guests 45 minutes of absolute bliss as they escape into an immersive multisensory experience of Southern India spanning sight, sound and taste. Fashioned as an “escape room”, anyone who enters will be…

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Book Review: Living The 1960s is an exuberant collection of facts & personal memories from a wonderful chapter in history

The National Library of Australia’s publishers have managed to turn back time with their latest book, Living The 1960s. In the book, Australian actress and comedian, Noeline Brown takes us all for a stroll down memory lane through an important decade in her life, and in the lives of her contemporaries. Living the 1960s is a fun slice…

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Book Review: Craigh Wilson’s Intuitive is an empowering volume for those seeking change

The world is becoming increasingly complex and fast-paced. Many people are feeling out of touch with their spiritual sides and this can manifest itself in a series of mental and physical ailments. Intuitive is a book written by Craigh Wilson, an experienced medical and business intuitive who has spent decades working in an area that…

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Book Review: The world’s greatest detective heads down under in Sherlock Holmes: The Australian Casebook

Find out what happens when the legendary Sherlock Holmes comes up against a distinctly Australian series of crimes, in Sherlock Holmes: The Australian Casebook. Commissioned by Holmes super fan Christopher Sequiera, The Australian Casebook sees the world’s greatest detective and his stalwart friend and chronicler head down under. Writers range from historical crime fiction mavens…

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Doughnut Time hook up with Kelloggs for limited edition Coco Pop doughnuts

Wake Me Up Before You Coco is the latest in a long-line of limited edition specials to pop-up at ubiquitous doughnut-slinging company Doughtnut Time. The hole-in-the-wall doughnut shops, which can be found all over Australia, have hooked up with iconic cereal brand Kelloggs to make it all happen for lovers of the chocolaty breakfast treat….

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Jessica Mauboy nabs the ‘Best Australian Act’ at MTV EMA’s

Following in the footsteps of 5 Seconds of Summer and Troye Sivan, Jessica Mauboy is now the latest Aussie to be crowned the ‘Best Australian Act’ in the eyes of the MTV European Music Awards. Nominated alongside Meg Mac, Vera Blue, Illy and PNAU, Mauboy won the award after receiving the most votes lodged by fans online….

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RACKETT wins inaugural Rockin’ the Puburbs competition

Sydney experimental-punk band Rackett have snapped up the $15,000 Rockin’ the Puburbs prize. The all-female band was handpicked by a panel of judges over 300 other entrants and will tour pubs around New South Wales as a part of the massive prize. Australian Hotels Association NSW CEO John Whelan said the aim of the competition,…

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Chevron Gardens concert series returns to Perth Festival

The Perth International Arts Festival has announced the return of massive concert series Chevron Gardens at Elizabeth Quay, with dozens of local and international acts bringing the bangers to the west. The massive lineup includes UK Grime king Dizzee Rascal, Aussie rappers A.B Original and Seattle innovator Perfume Genius. The three week long party will…

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