Month: July 2017

Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club and Virgin Australia Velocity announce frequent flyer program cooperation

It has now become easier to accrue points for both members of Hainan Airlines‘ Fortune Wings Club and Virgin Australia‘s Velocity program. The recent announcement that Hainan Airlines has begun a frequent flyer cooperation with Velocity comes as a very welcome one for frequent travelers between Australia, New Zealand, and Greater China, kick starting a…

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The 2018 Keir Choreographic Award Announces Call for Entries

Submissions are now open for the third edition of the 2018 Keir Choreographic Award. Eight finalists will be given the opportunity to present their work at Melbourne’s Dancehouse in March 2018, where four will then be chosen to do a season at Carriegworks in Sydney. The winner will receive a $30,000 reward, with a $10,000…

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Interview: Actress Emily Goddard talks about her role in the hilarious Noises Off, ahead of its Melbourne premiere

If ever there was a time to escape reality and just have a good old belly laugh, then you may just want to head to the theatre and see what has been described as the best farce EVER written. Noises Off cast member Emily Goddard graciously took some time out of busy schedule to chat about this…

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We get an inside look at the Melbourne Zoo’s National Geographic Photo Ark Exhibition

The National Geographic Photo Ark Exhibition has made its way to Australia and can I just say, what an absolute privilege it is to have it nestled at our own Melbourne Zoo. The Nat Geo family has always been a huge inspiration to a lot of people in not only educating them about our wondrous…

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The Kraken Karnival launches a festival of darkness this weekend at The Vic (Sydney)

Guests should not expect a vibrant, colourful scene this weekend for the launch of the Kraken Karnival in Marrickville; instead, The Kraken Black Spiced Rum will bring their greyscale palette to their two-day festival of darkness. From Friday the 14th of July, a four-metre helter skelter lighthouse wrapped in an attacking tentacle of the Kraken…

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Ben & Jerry’s to give away 20,000 free tubs this weekend

This Sunday 16th July is free ice cream day. Ben & Jerry’s just kicked off a new partnership with food delivery service foodora. Put two and two together and somehow that equals 20,000 free tubs of ice cream, which will be given out across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this weekend in person. To celebrate making…

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Arts Centre Melbourne’s newest riverside bar and cafe showcases the best of local produce

Part cafe and part bar, Bombini Buzz is Arts Centre Melbourne’s newest eatery, encompassing what it means to live in Melbourne. With its prime river edge location on the Southbank front, this new venue puts the focus on local Melbourne makers – everything from coffee, pastries and locally brewed beer. In a seamless transition from…

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Single of the Day: Baker Boy ft. Kian “Cloud 9” (2017)

Taking out the NT Song of the Year Award in the ‘Urban/Hip Hop’ category, triple j Unearthed favourite Baker Boy is shining with his tune “Cloud 9”. Encompassing a vibrant blend of hip hop and fun lyricism, “Cloud 9” is a perfect example of the fresh young talent thriving up North. Stepping up to the plate…

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Caiti Baker’s “Make Your Own Mistakes” crowned NT Song of the Year for 2017 in Darwin

She’s being hailed as the Queen of the NT music scene by some at the moment and given the amount of national territory Caiti Baker has been traversing through 2017 already, the title is rather fitting. Over the weekend, the talented vocalist and musician took out the top award at the 2017 NT Song of the Year…

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Live Review: Furnace and The Fundamentals – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (08.07.17)

Who doesn’t love a cover song? I have a theory that in any festival set, if a band (irrespective of their size or street cred) covers a classic song, the crowd will froth on it and that will be the biggest moment of the set. Playing their own headlining show at the Enmore Theatre, Furnace…

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Win a double pass to see Little Mix in Melbourne, Brisbane, or Adelaide

Little Mix are back for their second Australian tour, following their massive first Get Weird east cost tour last year. After their stellar performance at this years BRIT Awards, and taking home the BRIT award for Best British Single have been flying high since forming in 2011. Their third album Get Weird, is their most…

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Music Video of the Day: Macklemore feat: Skylar Grey “Glorious” (2017)

Sometimes you just need a feel good story to warm the depths of your cold cold heart and Macklemore, has delivered the goods. The video for his latest track, “Glorious,” which features Skylar Grey, is honestly everything you ever needed. The video follows Macklemore’s trip to Modesto California, to surprise his Grandmother on her 100th birthday….

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New Music You Have to Listen to This Week (July 10th 2017)

Get ready to wrap your ears around another spicy playlist of our writers’ and editors’ favourite picks of new music. Last week saw Oh Boy and Mallrat team up for a groovin’ electro-pop release, the Gold Coast’s San Mei drop the title track for her forthcoming record and O Little Sister share a sweet new…

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Live Review: Slow Dancer – The Milk Factory, Brisbane (07.07.17)

I think it was Mac DeMarco who breached the final barrier of bringing smooth yacht rock back to the realm of the hipsters, but I’m glad he did. He proved that just like every genre which gets a blanket opinion, there were reasons it got popular in the first place which are lost in the…

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Ten things we learned from our evening with John Cena

This week, the The Iris had the pleasure of spending a night listening to the brilliantly told stories of WWE superstar, rising actor and rapper, John Cena. From his humble start in life, to the determination of his youth and eventually, his success within the professional wrestling world, Cena recounted tales about his struggle towards…

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Danny DeVito directed a short film about two grumpy old men in love, and you can watch it here

Current the star of FX’s hilarious Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and boasting decades of incredible film, TV and stage roles, actor Danny Devito recently returned to the Director’s chair for the short film Curmudgeons. The 17 minute short, which did the festival rounds last year, stars DeVito alongside his lifelong friend David Marguiles, in what…

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Aloft Hotels call on budding Australian musicians for fourth annual Project Aloft Star competition

The After drawing 600,000 public votes last year, Aloft Hotels have brought back their successful “Project Aloft Star” program for the fourth year in a row. At it’s core, the program is a far-reaching band competition, amplified by partners MTV to give budding musicians and bands the chance to really kick start their career, shooting…

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POPSART: Architect Brendan Gaffney talks about the Good Design Award winning ferry terminals that offer both beauty and brawn

The design of seven new Brisbane River ferry terminals by Aurecon and Cox Architecture, has won the Australian Good Design of the Year Award.  I met with Brendan Gaffney architect from Cox Architecture at the Holman St Ferry Terminal Brisbane to talk about his award winning design. The ferry terminal is a combination of world first…

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Great Britain is getting a culinary showcase at Surry Hills’ nel. restaurant this month (Sydney)

Constant award-winner and one of Surry Hills’ finest, nel. restaurant, is currently running a limited edition menu for all those who want an edible homage to Great Britain to eat your way through. Chef Nelly Robinson is sprinkling his characteristic creativity to pull on some childhood memories and give them little modern twists, offering guests…

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Recipe: Apple Tart Tatin

Twisting the top on one of Grant Burge’s award-winning dessert wines is exciting enough, but it’s always ideal to have some food to match it with as well. As we learned at their recent event at Sydney’s Acre Eatery, thrown in collaboration with Secret Foodies, wine and food matching is no longer a niche interest….

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Eau-de-Vie to host a whisky degustation dinner so rare that tickets are over $1000 (Melbourne)

Single malt fanatics in Melbourne have a very unique event to look forward to come September. It’s an exclusive whisky degustation dinner, said to be the only one of its kind in the world, hosted by constant award-winner Eau-de-Vie Melbourne. It won’t be cheap either; tickets to the dinner at priced at $1,500 per head,…

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District Brasserie opens in Chifley with an in-house bakery, bar and restaurant (Sydney)

Chifley continues to grow as one of Sydney’s most exciting new food hubs with District Brasserie, a new opening helmed by Head Chef Mark Knox with a commitment to “refined yet casual” dining. The multifacted 200-seater restaurant, bar and bakery, designed by the stalwart Paul Kelly, has also recruited Jason Hillier-Leggatt, a former pastry chef…

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Sydney’s Palace Hotel continuing to keep punters warm with series of live music this July

The Palace Hotel has long been one of Sydney’s mainstay pub and entertainment venues, its history stretching all the way back to 1877. Situated in the Haymarket district on George Street, The Palace has been a popular haunt for many locals and visitors and continues to pride itself on authenticity and great quality food, drink…

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Interview: DJ Qualls on typecasting, working on The Man In The High Castle, Fargo and Supernatural

DJ Qualls is that guy, a character actor whose face is recognisable, but as he puts it for being the “weird cousin Joe” type and not your typical attractive Hollywood type. But with his IMDB page boasting 50+ roles and some of those including cult movies like Road Trip and The New Guy and more…

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Director Patrick Buchanan talks The Orb and Lunar Orbit ahead of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival

We caught up with director Patrick Buchanan talks Lunar Orbit ahead of the screening of his film about iconic group The Orb at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival this week. As a filmmaker, can you tell me a little bit about your process behind making this film: Did you find the story in the edit…

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Flight Review: Jetstar’s late night service from Hobart to Sydney (JQ724)

On this week’s flight review we travel from Hobart to Sydney with Jetstar, on the final flight of the night to depart the Tasmanian airport. Airline: Jetstar Route: Hobart to Sydney (JQ724) Type: Airbus A320 Class: Economy Seat: 11A (Window 3-3) Flight Time: 1 hour 50 minutes On Time? Departed and arrived about 45 minutes…

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Theatre Review: STC’s Cloud Nine does much to draw you in to this most powerful play (Performances to August 12th)

In a bleak midwinter comes forth STC’s Cloud Nine– surprising, hilarious, shocking and magnificent. The staging bespokes a Kip Williams production in its minimal design, allowing focus to solely rest upon its carefully selected cast. A layer of dirt covers the ground, upon it a glass box to which the actors retire occasionally to be…

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The best Bastille Day events in Melbourne and Sydney 2017

Friday 14th July is Bastille Day, France’s national day which always brings an excuse to indulge in the rich culture and cuisine of the famous country. Being that some of the country’s best French restaurants are located up and down the East Coast – particularly Melbourne and Sydney – Bastille Day across the country’s two…

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Burger Watch: Mister Gee’s exceptional Buttersoft makes its way back onto the menu (Sydney)

Welcome to Burger Watch, where we acknowledge the constant creativity bursting from all sides of the epic burger wave that regularly sweeps Australia. The highest-of-high demand is reserved for this timeless food staple and just about every interpretation of it, whether it to be an over-the-top glutton-fest or a focus on simple burgers done well….

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A new Head Chef has brought an Ibero-American twist to The Butler (Sydney)

Flipping up the food menu at Potts Point favourite The Butler is newly appointed Head Chef Amber Doig, who has made some significant changes by bringing in an Ibero-American influence while retaining the venue’s share-style approach to dining. In making use of traditional Central and South American cooking techniques, recipes and methods, the New Zealand-born…

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