Month: July 2020

Cocktail recipes from the best bars in Singapore

We all know Singapore is lionised when it comes to food. Though while dining through the city-state is definitely something every gourmand needs to do at least seven times in their life, it’d be a big mistake to gloss over the incredibly diverse and creative cocktail scene coursing in between all those hawker markets and…

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Travel Gear: Eco-friendly Nike Air VaporMax 2020 Flyknit coming to Australia

Nike’s move towards sustainable solutions will see a substantial leap forward when the highly anticipated Nike Air VaporMax 2020 Flyknit makes its way to Australia next month. The new release is touted as being one of the brand’s most sustainable shoes to date, with at least 50 per cent recycled content by weight. Representing a…

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Album of the Week: Lime Cordiale teach us a thing or two on 14 Steps to a Better You (2020 LP)

I have a vivid memory of a friend messaging me one day asking if I knew who Lime Cordiale were. This was in about 2014 when we were both getting into using Twitter. I was using it on the back of a Uni assignment, and he was using it to follow the NBA. Anyway, my…

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Track of the Day: Trace Decay “Photobooth” (2020)

Earlier this year, Trace Decay’s single “Sad Dance” featured as our track of the day, and now the Melbourne-based duo return with another hit called “Photobooth”. The pair deliver an intoxicating and sombre tone whilst the lyrics display themes of loss and heartbreak. Melancholic vocals echo throughout the song, bringing forth an uplifting chord and…

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Fujifilm X-T200 Review: The Affordable Mirrorless that Does it All

It wasn’t that long ago I was declaring the Fujifilm X-A7 the best value entry-level mirrorless camera… but I need to correct that. In my defence, I wrote that before the Fujifilm X-T200 was released and usurped the X-A7 from its top spot on my list. I hereby officially declare the new great all-rounder of…

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Yours & Owls announce a massive lineup for January 2021 festival

The lineup for the rescheduled Yours & Owls Festival has been announced, and it’s an absolute belter. To ensure that the lineup stays as advertised, the festival is ‘staying local’, with the best of Australia and New Zealand showcased at this postponed edition of Y&O. The organisers have stated that they will be working with…

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18 Tiny Deaths

Book Review: Meet Frances Glessner Lee, the mother of modern forensics, in Bruce Goldfarb’s 18 Tiny Deaths

Born into a wealthy Chicago family in the 1870s, Frances Glessner Lee was supposed to marry well and raise a family. A career was never on the cards. Let alone one that would see her recognised as the mother of modern forensics. Instead a chance encounter with an old family friend, George Magrath, changed her…

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Melbourne International Film Festival launch their 2020 program – MIFF 68 ½

In a bid to maintain the state of cinema and reimagine the festival mind-frame, the Melbourne International Film Festival has launch MIFF 68½, an online curated program that’ll allow home-bound Melburnians the chance to experience the festival’s intended 2020 line-up. Running from the 6th-23rd August 2020, MIFF 68½ will showcase 113 films across its schedule –…

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Track of the Day: Benji Lewis “Peaceful” (2020)

Melbourne-based singer and song writer, Benji Lewis graces our attention and tugs at our heart strings with his latest single, “Peaceful”. Lewis’ style of music is a beautiful unison of ambient and electro-pop elements with influences taken from Jeremy Zucker, Shallou and Emmit Fenn. His current EP “Here, Then And Now” was released earlier this…

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Exclusive Album Premiere: Sowdy – Shine! (2020)

Perth emcee Sowdy is steadily building a reputation as one of the most versatile and exciting hip hop artists in the country. Just one listen to his latest single, “Love”, would tell you all you needed to know about the wildly creative rapper, drummer and vocalist, whose love for the art is endearingly obvious. His…

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Bondi’s Sculpture by the Sea 2020 announces more than 100 exhibiting artists

Following a solid response from artists around the world, this year’s Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi has confirmed that more than 100 artists have been selected for the iconic outdoor exhibition. As one of the first major public arts events in Sydney since the Covid-19 lockdown, Sculpture by the Sea is currently scheduled to…

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Film Review: Babyteeth is a human drama that isn’t afraid to be messy, frustrating and darkly comedic

Whilst it’s easy to roll your eyes at the almost insultingly familiar narrative Babyteeth works with at its core – terminal ill teenager falls in love with the wrong guy – it somehow manages to avoid most of the genre cliches, thanks to a mindset that isn’t afraid to be messy, frustrating and, at times,…

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QT Sydney and Bondi switch up the mini bar with Cocktail Porter

Fancy a little cocktail bottle hunt? Both QT Sydney and QT Bondi, two hotels cut from the same highly eccentric cloth, have teamed up with cocktail delivery service Cocktail Porter to stock their rooms with premium handcrafted bottled concoctions. But that’s not the most exciting part – although it’s pretty damn enticing enough. To celebrate…

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Qantas announces major changes to frequent flyer program

As demand for domestic flights continue to rise, Qantas has announced several important changes to its frequent flyer program to make it easier for customers to use points on domestic and, potentially, Trans-Tasman flights. For the remainder of this year, Qantas Frequent Flyer will be boosting the availability of Classic Flight Reward seats by up…

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Robotic arms serve free beer at Australia’s first contactless bar

Students from the University of Sydney and robotics engineers have created the bartenders for the city’s first ever “zero-contact bar”. Located in Darlinghurst, the Heineken Zero0.0 Contact Bar will make use of two robotic arms – named “Heidi” and “Ken” – to serve up the bar’s namesake (alcohol-free) beer, in-line with the need for physical…

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Audio Settings: Songs to prepare you for Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima marks the end of an era. It is the final first-party exclusive for the PlayStation 4, which is both bittersweet and hard to believe. Ghost of Tsushima is an open-world samurai adventure developed by Sucker Punch. It recalls the drama and majesty of Kurosawa in full flight, putting players in the shoes…

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Film Review: The King of Staten Island is a surprisingly grounded film that operates more as a showcase for Pete Davidson’s dramatic capabilities

So you should know going into The King of Staten Island that, yes, director Judd Apatow hasn’t changed his aesthetic in terms of narrative length or character ingredients.  A too-long comedic drama (emphasis on the drama here) focusing on a typical man-child who’s failed to launch himself, Staten Island hopes to be more endearing than…

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Bunnings’ sausage sizzle to return across Australia this month

Weekend snags are set to return as Bunnings stores across Australia bring back the ridiculously popular sausage sizzle tradition. Though it’s been an identity-forming food staple since the 90s, Bunnings hit the pause button on sausage sizzles nationwide mid-March due to COVID-19. Now, the hardware chain has promised that they will be resuming the spirited…

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BIGSOUND 2020 will go ahead, in a safety-first format

In what is great news for the music industry in Australia, the organisers of BIGSOUND have confirmed that the 2020 edition will proceed. This will be sixth edition of this important showcase of the best and brightest of emerging talent within the music industry. BIGSOUND will be held again in Fortitude Valley, over a condensed…

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Realme C3 Review: When good looks can’t save you

For a budget smartphone, Realme’s C3 sure looks tempting. It’s Blazing Red colourway is a reliable head-turner with its richly textured ribbed finish and ability to shrug of fingerprints like a pro. It’s also large enough to at least pretend to be a top-tier phone. But for all it’s good looks, book-cover applies here, and…

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Aria Restaurant is reopening with a new 1700-bottle wine bar

Matt Moran’s acclaimed Aria has announced the reopening of its doors on 14th July, with a massive change to part of the restaurant. Although things haven’t quite started off on the right foot for their 20th anniversary year, for obvious reasons, part of the dining institution will be transformed into a dedicated, 1700-bottle wine bar…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: Tyrone Noonan “Black Dog” (2020)

One of the founding members of the ARIA-award winning band george, Tyrone Noonan has made a powerful return to music as a solo artist, releasing debut single, “Black Dog”. Lifted from his forthcoming album, Utopia?, which will be released later this year, the single is an upbeat and uplifting track that evokes an honest picture…

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JBL brings high-end Dolby Atmos compatible Bar 9.1 to Australia

Given the recent strengthening of JBL’s Bar Series of soundbars with Bar 2.0, 2.1 and 5.1, the reliable brand is now bringing its top-line JBL Bar 9.1 to Australia. Notably, this is the first JBL soundbar compatible with Dolby Atmos, adding a substantial punch to the series complemented by streaming support for Google Chromecast and…

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Grill’d is offering free Mighty Melbourne burgers to Victorians this week

Right up until 11:59pm on Thursday 16th July, ubiquitous burger chain Grill’d is offering freebies to Victorians facing a return to lockdown. It’s tough to be in Victoria right now. With cases of COVID-19 quickly rising in Melbourne, and the always ever-threat of it spreading significantly outside of the city, those in Australia’s second largest…

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Track of the Day: Stevie Jean “Stress Me Out” (2020)

Versatile Northern Territorian Stevie Jean has just dropped another banger, this time a gritty tune called “Stress Me Out”. This follows on from her single “Bored” released earlier this year, and debut EP Blame Game which was released late 2019. Her ability to shift genres seems to have no end. Her collaboration on a remarkable…

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Deliveroo is offering 20% off at more than 5,000 Melbourne restaurants

Deliveroo has announced that, in response to Melbourne being thrown back into stage-three lockdown, the food-delivery service will be offering a 20% discount to all customers who order from a local restaurant between Monday and Thursday, for at least the next two weeks. This offer will be available across 5,000 metro Melbourne restaurants on all…

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Krispy Kreme offers free boxes of doughnuts to anyone whose birthday was in iso

Celebrated your birthday in iso? If so, head on over to your local Krispy Kreme store today, show some proof, and the doughnut lords will give you a dozen Original Glazed for free. As part of the latest giveaway, Krispy Kreme expect to give away over 350,000 of their signature doughnuts today, to anyone whose…

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Arnott’s has remixed Mint Slice with Dare Iced Coffee

The almost sickeningly rich thirst trap that is Dare Iced Coffee has been broken down, reimagined and distilled by the team at Arnott’s, the result slapped between two dark chocolate biscuits. While Australia has no shortage of master-minded blends of supermarket favourites, the undisputed snack kings have certainly surprised with their latest collaboration. Newly launched…

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Four beginner tips to help you choose the perfect wine this Bastille Day

Wine rightfully slinks into the starring role in any at-home survival kit, as has been exemplified this year with lockdown. That’s hardly a surprise. For millennia, the drink has been as much as source of comfort as it is symbol of cultures around the world. Perhaps that’s most demonstrated in France than anywhere else, with…

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Is Stan Original Relic worth watching?

Prior to watching Natalie Erika James’ Relic, I’d read constant comparisons to Hereditary and The Babadook. The former has too strong a grasp on literal malevolence to align in any way with James’ debut feature, but The Babadook certainly shares a great deal with this Australian-made indie-horror, given both are rooted in German expressionism and…

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