Month: May 2017

Interview: The Last Kingdom‘s Alexander Dreymon talks Sydney, binge watching, sex scenes and plays “What Would Uhtred Do?”

With the wonderfully violent and gritty BBC & Netflix Drama Series The Last Kingdom Season 2 heading to Blu-Ray and DVD this month, we caught up with the clever and humble Alexander Dreymon who plays the mildly enigmatic lead role and hero Uhtred in the critically acclaimed series. Alexander Dreymon has worked alongside greats Jessica Lange, Emma…

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Film Review: The Zookeeper’s Wife (USA, 2017) is a beautifully told true story

The Zookeeper’s Wife follows the real events of the owners’ of the Warsaw Zoo in Poland from 1939 until 1946. It centres on their moral struggle of not being a mere bystander of the ghettos and executions during the Holocaust. It’s a film that has the rare potential to educate  its audience with a fascinating story, without…

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Video Games Review: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch, 2017) is the most comprehensive title the series has ever produced

I’d be lying if i said that I don’t approach a Mario Kart review with a certain amount of trepidation. You know what you’re getting into with a Mario Kart title — vehicular barbarism and savagery on parade, draped in the charming trappings of a cartoon. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe does not go out of its way to assuage…

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Melbourne Tea Festival promises rarities and workshops when it returns this month

An interactive one-day event celebrating everything tea is coming back after a successful debut last year at Melbourne Exhibition Centre, attracting more than 4,200 tea lovers. The aromatic Melbourne Tea Festival will aim at connecting guests to specialty teas from all over the world, highlighting exciting tea purveyors who will be on hand to showcase…

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Hogget is regional Victoria’s newest winery, restaurant and cellar door

As of earlier this year, the the site of Wild Dog restaurant and five kilometres south of beautiful Warragul has been reborn, now refurbished as Hogget by chef Trevor Perkins and winemakers William Downie and Patrick Sullivan. A true gift for locals and a tempting stop on a road trip out of Melbourne, the winery-restaurant-cellar…

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Sydney’s espresso martini festival has added an extra day to meet demand

The Mr Black Festival of the Espresso Martini, kicking off in just a few weeks, has proven so popular that organisers have been forced to add an extra day, making that a total of three days dedicated to one of the most beloved cocktails in the country. With the first two days selling out almost…

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Review: Zeus Street Greek justifies their recent growth with high quality casual eats

A few years ago Zeus Street Greek didn’t seem like it’d reach the level of growth it enjoys today. Their first store was out in Drummoyne, quietly building an empire as a fresh take on Greek street food, that offered more than just souvlakis and gyros, rightfully earned the business a loyal following. Fast forward…

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Single of the Day: Fang Night “Steady Cruising” (2017)

Ben Walker and Ewa Lefmann, the duo out of London known as Fang Night, have dropped a strong new single in “Steady Cruising” – if this is the first you’re hearing of the band, it’s a strong intro point. It’s the first single from the duo since they released their EP Artificial and sees them veer into the darker, richer…

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Netflix Review: Season 2 of the Wachowski’s Sense8 stays true to itself

Though far from perfect, there was always something special about the first season of Sense8. In line with the Wachowski’s previous efforts, there was nothing quite like it and even when it rambled, it did so in a way that earned your attention (coincidentally, writing about the first season of Sense8 was one of the…

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The Dark Tower finally gets its first trailer three months out from release

Since the project was officially announced in 2015, fans have been clamouring for the trailer for Sony’s adaptation of the incredibly successful Stephen King novel The Dark Tower. With release being set back multiple times over the past year, Sony has settled with an August 17 release date and now the wait for the trailer is finally over. Watch…

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Interview: Split star Betty Buckley talks about the film’s controversy, Carrie and her new album Story Songs

With Split bringing 23 personalities to its Australian DVD and Blu-Ray home release this Wednesday (May 10th), we caught up with one of the film’s stars, Betty Buckley, who played Kevin’s (James McAvoy) psychiatrist Dr Karen Fletcher. A veteran of the arts, Betty Buckley has been an icon of TV, film and music for almost five decades now. I…

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Video Game Review: Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 (PS4, 2017) is far from a kill shot, but leaves a leaves a mark

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 is a mixed bag. There are many things about this title that work, but for every positive there’s a glaring negative that drags the experience down on too many fronts. It uses conventional mechanics and a narrative structure seen in countless other games without really doing anything fresh or new. Sniper…

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Video Games Review: What Remains of Edith Finch (PS4, 2017) Is A Haunting and Poignant Tale

What Remains of Edith Finch is the beautifully told story of titular protagonist Edith Finch as she explores her family’s mysterious history, and her connection to the family’s curse. While many might be quick to dismiss the game as ‘just another walking simulator’, what Edith Finch brings to the table is an entirely new and…

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Hotel Review: Eventhouse Cronulla (NSW) anchors itself with “beach-chic” accomodation

Marking a new boutique hotel brand for the same group behind Australian (and recently New Zealand) favourite QT Hotels, Eventhouse Cronulla has successfully tapped into the refreshing leisurely lifestyle of the famed beachside suburb, gutting the former Rydges and replacing it with an expansive coastal atmosphere. Your stereotypical “Aussie lifestyle” has long been defined, to…

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Opera Australia’s Operetta Two Weddings, One Bride is light-hearted and full of charm

If you’ve never seen an opera before and if you’re unsure you want to dedicate a few hours out of your night to what could potentially be something not for you, then an operetta may be the perfect choice! An “Opera Starter Pack” as it were. Opera Australia’s latest production of Two Weddings, One Bride…

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Win a double pass to see David Strassman in Brisbane.

International comedy star, David Strassman’s brand new show, iTED E uproariously parodies our technology-laden lives. The sharp-tongued Chuck Wood and loveable Ted E. Bare are constantly on their devices. With everyone connected to social media and the internet 24/7, will Strassman get them back under control? And, in a world-first, Strassman simultaneously operates 5 characters…

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Flour Market’s massive donut festival is returning to the streets of Melbourne this month

Get your gluttonous self down to Melbourne Central on Wednesday 17th May because the fine folk behind local institution Flour Market are putting on a one-night-only festival dedicated exclusively to one of the greatest culinary creations of all time: the donut. The world’s most livable city boasts some of the finest donut connoisseurs in the…

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Anna Polyviou’s epic chocolate firecracker gets a dessert pop-up at Shangri-La Hotel (Sydney)

One of the country’s most renowned pastry chefs Anna Polyviou stirred up a recent episode of MasterChef Australia with one of the most curious desserts the reality show has seen, sparking contestants with a challenge to recreate her playful Firecracker dessert. The intricate, cartoon-themed chocolate dessert was an instant hit with viewers, playing on Polyviou’s…

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Wine 1160 is Armadale’s new neighbourhood wine bar (Melbourne)

Opening up earlier this year, Wine 1160 is a big refresh to the local dining and drinking scene of Armadale. The small neighbourhood bar – pronounced eleven-sixty – boasts a 160-deep wine list, to which it is entirely dedicated, with the kitchen pumping out food that has been curated to complement the many drops on…

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Vivid Sydney and Carriageworks announce chef line up for “Sydney Table”

After a string of sold out nights last year Carriageworks and the forthcoming Vivid Sydney are once again planning to host their series of bespoke dining experiences. Taking place at The Clothing Store across the nights of 14-17 June, Sydney Table will be bringing in some of the state’s leading chefs and pairing their specially…

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Cadbury Dairy Milk have just released a range of ice-cream spider chocolate blocks

In the past few years, Cadbury’s slightly more playful Marvellous Creations range has already moved the stalwart dairy milk chocolate brand in the right direction. It’s introduction has allowed for a fresh take on the collection, set to take an even bigger step with this latest release: “Cadbury Dairy Milk Marvellous Creations Spider”. It’s an…

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Noosa’s four day food and wine festival returns this month (QLD)

Food and wine lovers are being well catered for this month as Noosa Food & Wine Festival returns to the sunshine coast, bringing with it a stacked program of events spread across two festival villages, one at Noosa Main Beach and the other in “The Woods”. Top local restaurants will be getting involved in the…

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Review: Brick Lane brings the lighter side of Indian dining to Darlinghurst (Sydney)

“Experimental Indian” isn’t something you’d hear often around Sydney’s dining scene a few years ago. Now, it’s picking up, and a few inventive restaurants across the city are really highlighting a side of Indian cuisine that moves far away from excessively creamy butter chicken and puffy, indulgent cheese naan. Brick Lane is but the latest…

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Film Review: Becoming Bond (USA, 2017) is hilarious, original documentary filmmaking

Getting a release on Hulu today in the US is the hilarious documentary Becoming Bond, which screened at SXSW earlier this year. It takes a look at the life and times of Australia’s only Bond, George Lazenby, in his own words. The film takes the spirit of Drunk History to deliver an original and entertaining…

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Tash Sultana, Middle Kids, Alison Wonderland to join Jay Z & The Killers at Austin City Limits 2017

Only hours ago, Jay Z was squeezed onto the Austin City Limits festival line up ahead of the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chance the Rapper, The Killers and sis-in-law Solange – an exciting return from the New York King who is currently popping up on a few huge stages throughout the year. Of course, ACL is a huge drawcard for…

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Review: Tamil Rogeon and the Australian Youth Orchestra take The Nightcat to Rio

Walking into the dimly lit and smoky Nightcat in Fitzroy, I was greeted by a literal orchestra of chairs, sheet music and anticipation of what was to be unlike any other night I’ve spent at one of Melbourne’s most eclectic venues. After seven long years of writing and recording in Brazil, LA, Paris, London and…

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Single of the Day: Emma Russack “Everybody Cares” (2017)

Put your hands up is Emma Russack‘s In a New State went down incredibly well with you last year? It did with us and so today, we’re stoked to have found a new slice of music from the Melbourne artist sitting, waiting to be delved into. In “Everybody Cares”, the singer-songwriter has doled out the first taste…

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Nik & Ryan of Local Natives (USA) on the growth of Coachella & their live shows

While at Coachella last month, we were able to catch up with Ryan Hahn and Nik Ewing, who had been impressing crowds with their new album Sunlit Youth, as well as a stomper live show. Taking some time out backstage, Larry chatted with the guys about their experiences on the growing festival stage and how their own live…

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Review: Hans Zimmer and his orchestra reach celestial highs with emotional live show in Sydney

Since the 80s, many blockbuster films have owed much to the work of Hans Zimmer. It’s likely none of them would have been the same without tapping into the intricacies that have come to define the renowned composer’s treasured work, resulting in scores that have gone far beyond the screen and stood on their own…

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Harrison Craig on his Kings of Vegas album, the influence of the city & his Aussie tour

Harrison Craig has been wowing audiences with his voice since 2013. With the release of his third studio album Kings Of Vegas (featuring new interpretations of classics such as “Almost Like Being In Love”, “She’s A Lady” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”) displaying a mature sound with swing-inspired direction, this platinum-selling artist (and…

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