What’s hip this February

No, not the replacement surgery type of ‘hip’. It’s a selection of on-trend snippets that could include places to dine, travel destinations, where to shop, what to see and visit, as well as what to watch, read and listen to, so you can stay up to date with family, friends and neighbours of all ages.

What to  listen to

CAN you believe it’s  been 25 years since  The Secret Life of Us first aired? Acclaimed actor and producer Spencer McLaren is helping us reacquaint ourselves with one of Australia’s most culture-defining TV series in a special season of his podcast McLaren Versus. Set in St Kilda in Victoria and premiering in 2001, The Secret Life of Us captured the raw, messy, hilarious truth of being in your 20s — an authentic look at friendship, love, ambition and heartbreak. Now, McLaren, who starred as Richie Blake, brings together the cast and creative alumni for a candid, warm, deeply nostalgic celebration of the series and its legacy. The new podcast season is now available, with video episodes on YouTube.

Save the date (and book)

THE Noosa Food and Wine Festival from June 12-14 has announced a refreshed program, including new collaborations and pioneering talents. The action-packed, four-day event of mouthwatering delights and wildly diverse flavours is one ambitious celebration of Noosa’s top chefs and culinary leaders from across Australia. Expect menus as extraordinary as their beachside settings, as powerhouse chefs take your tastebuds on a journey you won’t forget. At the time of going to print, some tickets to the American Express Festival Village – the hub of festivities with pop-up restaurants, new lounge spaces, a culinary stage and live entertainment – plus some Signature Events (such as Sunset Sessions: Beachside Dinner on June 13 and The Festival Sundowner on June 14) were still available. Visit noosafoodandwine.com.au

What to watch

IT’S a new series that seems to nod to the movies PS I Love You (starring Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank) and 2 Hearts (starring Brisbane boy and Hollywood heartthrob Jacob Elordi), balancing drama with tasteful comedy and Aussie wit. The Stan original series Dear Life has acclaimed Aussie actress Brooke Satchwell in the lead as Lillian. The part-time worker at Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill historical attraction is still grieving the sudden death of her doctor fiancé Ash. To help claw her way out of the depths of darkness, she illegally starts to track down and make connections with the recipients of his organs. While lighter than the storyline suggests, Dear Life covers a lot of ground and highlights many grey areas of concern for organ donors, their families, recipients and their loved ones. Satchwell is sensational in the lead, ably supported by Eleanor Matsuura, Ryan Johnson and Ben Lawson. Highly recommended and (spoiler alert) a second series may be on the cards, given how the first one ends.

What to read (and book)

IF YOU’RE like me, you’re busily reading/re-reading Emile Bronte’s literary classic Wuthering Heights. The latest sizzling screen adaptation of the gothic novel, first published in 1847, hits Australian cinemas on February 12, featuring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in the lead roles. For the uninitiated, this is not your usual passionate love story. Rather, it tells of the tumultuous and destructive relationship between Catherine (Cathy) Earnshaw and Heathcliff, set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. It’s one of the most anticipated films of 2026, so let’s see if the hype matches the performances.

Back in the day …

The Jackson 5 (later known as The Jacksons) made their TV debut on American Bandstand on February 21, 1970 – a time when ‘Jacksonmania’ was taking over America and the world. The five Jackson brothers – Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and very young Michael – originally formed their pop group in Gary, Indiana, in 1964, managed by their father Joe Jackson. The Jackson 5 made the world sit up and take notice of their unique sound, with hits including ABC, I Want You Back and I’ll Be There and became one of the biggest groups on the planet. It was the springboard for Michael’s solo career. The making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour is told in MJ The Musical, coming to QPAC’s Lyric Theatre from March. Get tickets via mjthemusical.com.au/tickets/brisbane/