Westfield have just unveiled a huge program of free live music, taking over stores across Victoria throughout spring and summer. Partnering with entertainment leaders Live Nation, the exclusive event series will be feature over 20 performances across Westfield stores in Australia and New Zealand. Artists and performers teased across the program include Australian favourites Amy Shark, Jessica Mauboy, Thelma Plum and Stan Walker. The event series will kick off in Westfield Doncaster on Sunday, September 17 with soul and jazz singer Kate Ceberano. Come along for a free live performance, along with a dedicated fan meet and greet. "We're excited to partner with Westfield to provide customers with a new opportunity to access some of their favourite local artists, for free. The program also provides artists with rare opportunities to play in unique venues, making this partnership even more special," Live Nation ANZ President Brand & Marketing Partnerships, Greg Segal says. Westfield members will also be in the running for tickets, including VIP experiences, for a range of upcoming Live Nation concerts including P!nk, Blink182 and Post Malone. The full event lineup will drop in the coming weeks on the Westfield website. Run, don't walk. Images: Amy Shark, supplied.
One of Australia's most redeeming qualities is its ability to give good afternoon sun. There's something about its familiar glow that almost demands casual drinks – whether it's cracking open a cold beer after a day out, heading to the pub after a long day of work, or deciding on a whim that your backyard is perfect for having friends over. We love summer afternoons, so we've spoken to a few of our favourite chefs, musicians and artists, to get their insights on creating the perfect balmy afternoon. And what's better than a barbecue? For advice, we asked the boys from Three Blue Ducks. Mark LaBrooy specifically — he's one of the co-founders of the restaurant-cafe hybrid that was born in Bronte but ended up being so popular it expanded to Byron Bay and, most recently, Rosebery. He and the team at Three Blue Ducks have made working with barbecue flames and smoke a priority at their venues. At their Rosebery location, there's a barbecue, a wood-fired oven and an outdoor charcoal pit. They're experts in barbecue. And more than that, they're experts in taking the standard barbecue fare you usually whip up to the next level, and LaBrooy has shared some tips so you can do the same. He's also given us some recipes, for a burrata salad, a seafood prawns main, and a charred pineapple dessert. "They're all about spring and summer flavours," he says. "Inspired by warm weather and catching up with friends." The burrata salad is a green (but hearty) vegetarian option for your barbecue friends who don't eat meat, while the prawn dish is "light, and great for entertaining because it's not rocket science to prepare". The pineapple recipe is LaBrooy wanting you to try something a little different by charring your fruit. "People should experiment more with fruit on the barbecue, vegetables too," he says. He says the first thing to think about when you're cooking is that produce is key to a good barbecue. He suggests going elsewhere than the supermarket to grab your ingredients. "Go to a real butcher, not a supermarket. Go to the fish markets to get your prawns, and a local organic growers market for your fruits and vegetables." Let the ingredients lead you — if the produce is good, just put it on the barbie and see what happens. "Like a whole bunch of Dutch carrots or something, just give them a wash, put on some good quality olive oil, salt and pepper and char it up. Don't be shy — the hotter the better." "Barbecuing is the cooking technique that fits in best with us," he says. "It's connected to the environment and there's something really intimate about using the fire — it's inconsistent, there's a real element of maintenance and care in the cooking process." When finished, all three dishes will look incredible, but don't get too caught up with perfection when you're hosting a barbecue. Part of the fun is that barbecue-ing isn't always pretty. "It's a bit ugly and charred," he says. "You can get those really aggressive, black tones in the appearance and colouration of your cooking." Follow these three recipes and transform your afternoon barbecue into one that's worthy of being on the menu at Three Blue Ducks. BURRATA WITH CHARRED ZUCCHINI AND SPRING ONIONS Ingredients: 4 pieces of burrata (about 100 grams each) ¼ bunch parsley ¼ bunch basil 1 clove garlic 100ml virgin olive oil 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 lemon zest and juice salt and pepper 1 bunch spring onion 3 zucchini cut in ¼ 100g toasted hazelnuts roughly chopped Method: Make a nice coal fire on the grill side of your barbecue. Char off the zucchini and the spring onions after giving them a good season and a splash of olive oil. When the zucchini and spring onions get some good colour, take them off the heat and start plating up. Take a food processor and place the herbs, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, zest and Dijon inside. Give it a good whizz until a bright green paste forms. Season well and set aside. Take a plate or bowl and arrange the zucchini and spring onions around the outside, making a well for your burrata to sit in. Flick in a few teaspoons of the herb puree, place the burrata in the centre and sprinkle over some hazelnuts. Season the burrata and drizzle a bit of olive oil if you feel you need it. Squeeze a bit of extra lemon juice over everything to finish off. CONFIT GARLIC AND CHILLI BBQ PRAWNS WITH BUTTERMILK AVOCADO AND RADICCHIO Ingredients: 1 bulb garlic peeled 3 long red chillies deseeded 1 cup olive oil 16 large king prawns cleaned and butterflied 3 avocados 1 lemon juice and zest 2 tablespoons olive oil 100ml buttermilk 1 large radicchio with the outer leaves pulled off and cut in ¼ Salt and pepper Method: Take the chillies and garlic and place in a small saucepan. Add the cup of olive oil and cover with foil. Bake at 160-degrees for 1-30 mins, then place in a food processor and give it a whizz. Using a pastry brush baste the prawns just before grilling on the barbecue. Take your food processor and add the avocado, olive oil, lemon juice and zest and the buttermilk, give it a whizz and set aside for when your plating up. Grill your prawns and radicchio on super high heat, season well and brush with olive oil. This should only take a few minutes. Give a good whack of buttermilk avo purée. CHARRED PINEAPPLE WITH CASHEWS, THAI BASIL AND LEMONGRASS GRANITA Ingredients: 1 pineapple skinned and cut into quarters 1 tablespoon brown sugar For the granita: 350ml water 180g sugar 3 stalks lemongrass, roughly chopped 2 chillies roughly chopped 80g ginger roughly chopped 100ml lemon juice 100g yogurt 1 vanilla bean scraped and deseeded ¼ bunch Thai basil 80g toasted and salted cashews Method: The granita needs to be made the day before and set in the freezer over night. To serve all you have to do is scrape it with a fork or give it a quick whizz in a food processor. Make sure you put the bowl in the freezer first so you don't melt the granita too much. Take a medium sized pot and add the sugar, lemongrass, chilli, and water. Bring to the boil and then set aside and let it cool down on the bench, then strain and add the lemon juice, and put in the freezer to set overnight. Sprinkle the pineapple with brown sugar and place on the grill on high heat. You're looking to get some good colour and charring on the pineapple, cooking it at the same time. Cut into chunks and set aside. Take a small bowl and add the yogurt and the vanilla give it a good mix. To plate up, arrange the pineapple on the base of the plate and a few dollops of the vanilla yogurt. Take a large spoon of granita and place in the centre, then sprinkle with cashews and Thai basil. Images: Kimberley Low.
Brunswick mainstay The Cornish Arms Hotel has expanded its offering into the sky with a new rooftop bar and garden. Known for its vegan eats and any day-of-the-week vibes, the pub's prime real estate along Sydney Road makes it an ideal spot for the new open-air oasis. The third-floor rooftop will be open from midday each day and boasts city views, classic cocktails and eight dedicated craft beer taps pouring local brews like Two Birds, Temple Brewing and Furphy Beer. The extensive wine list also includes chilled summer reds, a vegan tempranillo from Tumbarumba and a vegan pinot gris from the Mornington Peninsula. A separate Asian-inspired snack menu will be offered up top, which of course includes vegan fare — from smoked tofu yakitori and braised mushroom bao buns to potato pakoras and Korean fried cauliflower. For those loyal to the vegan parmas and souvas, the full pub menu is still available downstairs. A solid rooftop space is rare in Brunswick. Now, locals can enjoy some fresh air while looking out over the city, all with drink in hand. It doesn't get better than that. The Cornish Arms rooftop is open from midday daily at 163A Sydney Road, Brunswick. For more info, visit cornisharms.com.au.
Peel yourself away from Netflix and go digging for some cult classics at Fitzroy's first quarterly Film Fair. Frolic amongst Melbourne’s finest film buffs and collectors, where you can either buy, sell, swap or barter films and their associated paraphernalia. Discounted Blu-ray and DVDs will be available to purchase, alongside film posters, collectables, clothing, 16mm projections and plenty more. Plus, there'll be a VHS swap meet (yes, VCRs still exist, people). The fair will be held at Fitzroy’s super fun tiki bar, The LuWow, so you can be assured there’ll be live music brought to you by Mick Dog’s Boneyard and mai tais for everyone. Even if you have nothing to swap or sell, there are also door prizes on the day that dish out prizes every hour, so you’re likely to come home with something. Whether you’re a B-grade bandit or an arthouse fanatic, you’re sure to stumble across some gold that your media streaming provider of choice couldn’t offer you in a million years. Happy trading. Want more old school films? Check out our feature on Melbourne's best retro film programs over here. Image: Ludo.
Charge the flux capacitor folks. Less than a month before The Astor is scheduled to shut up shop, its programmers are taking audiences Back to the Future. This Sunday March 14, Melbourne’s favourite repertory cinema is screening all three parts of Robert Zemeckis's iconic time travel trilogy, for the bargain basement ticket price of just $25. The afternoon begins, as you'd expect, with the original Back to the Future, one of the greatest movies to come out of the 1980s, and one of the most entertaining time travel movies ever made. After that, get a glimpse of the far distant future in Part Two: the year 2015! (Seriously, aren’t we all meant to be riding around on hoverboards right now?) Poor predictions aside, Part Two is a seriously underrated flick — it’s the rare sort of sequel that actually enhances your enjoyment of the first film. The same can’t quite be said of Part Three, unfortunately, although if you can make it past the whole Wild West shtick, it’s still pretty entertaining.
St Kilda's George Hotel is getting a much-needed facelift, with the old Fitzroy Street finding new life as an American-style deli and craft beer haven. Opening this week, the newly christened Freddie Wimpoles takes its moniker from the very same man who purchased the George back in 1873. Frederick Wimpole would eventually go on to become Mayor of St Kilda – so hopefully his new namesake is destined for big things too. The venue's new setup features 13 taps pouring a rotating lineup of local and international craft brews, as well as additional beers by the bottle and can. They also have a number of wines, plus more than 180 premium spirits and a selection of classic cocktails. The food, meanwhile, is inspired by corner delis in NYC – think hot dogs, beef jerky, pickled vegetables and slow-cooked meat subs. Drawing inspiration from Sydney's Shady Pines Saloon, the interior at Freddie Wimpoles is fitted with salvaged material, and is capable of seating up to 150 people. The bar is made from reclaimed doors and posts, and one wall is tiled with old beer cans. Our beer can feature wall... #thegeorgehotel #fitzroyst #stkilda #whothefuckisfreddie #renovations #tinnies A photo posted by Freddie Wimpoles (@freddie_wimpoles) on Feb 7, 2016 at 4:36pm PST Freddie Wimpoles is located at 125 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. For more information visit www.freddiewimpoles.com.
The crowd has spoken, and Maha has listened. Their signature Beer & Burger Special is back by popular demand. The Maha team have been rolling this out once or twice a year since 2018, and we've seen a few different variations. This time it's a juicy, decadent cheeseburger with grilled beef, cheese, tomato sauce and pickles on a brioche bun. Throw in a tinny of Brick Lane draught beer for $30 flat. And if you've ever dined at Maha before, you'll know this isn't an ordinary cheeseburger. Maha's Beer & Burger special is running Monday to Friday throughout winter. You can get it between 12pm and 3pm. No bookings required for this one. Just turn up and enjoy. [caption id="attachment_907765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Maha, Brook James.[/caption] Images: Supplied
The arts precinct just keeps getting better when it comes to dining out. Sake Restaurant & Bar has set up shop downstairs at Hamer Hall. Starting in Sydney and Brisbane, Sake has brought its sharing philosophy, extensive cocktail list and beautiful interior south. Found along the riverside, Sake made a smart move installing floor-to-ceiling windows on one side. Interior design house Luchetti Krelle has utilised the whole space beautifully. Inside, there are small booths perfect for intimate dinners, a string of bar seating perfect for watching the action and outdoor seats that are just asking for summer to hurry up. The menu is deigned to share, a direction many a new restaurant is taking. Start with hiramasa kingfish with lime and jelapeno kosho and coriander infused ponzu or teriyaki lamb chops with basil miso, sesame seeds and teriyaki sauce. For mains, the icon wagyu striploin with ponzu and yakinku sauce is cooked rare and packs a real flavour, while the steamed Murray cod with tomato shiso dashi and salmon roe is ridiculously moreish. Sushi and sashimi are given their own menu here. The kingfish belly is a hit while you can also head over to sushi maki territory and try the shiro maki roll with snapper, cucumber, chives, plum paste and dancing bonito. The cocktail list takes inspiration from Japanese ingredients while the wine list has a strong focus on local producers. This is the perfect place for a plate of sashimi, a sip of sake and a killer view. As the sun goes down and the lights turn on, the city looks pretty good from Sake.
This winter, Falls Creek welcomes a slick, well-panelled new(ish) resident, as the just-renovated Astra Lodge opens its doors to the public. Having taken out the title of Australia's Best Boutique Ski Lodge at the 2016 World Ski Awards in Austria, the ski-in ski-out lodge is now ready to impress the locals with a new fitout, kicking off the season on June 10. Sporting downright dapper interiors by Grant Amon Architects, the Astra Lodge's aesthetic resembles a 1970s European alpine hideaway. Owned by locals Rosy and Seumas Seaton and run by general managers Tom and Sally Simpson, the lodge contains every last wintry comfort — starting with its own integrated day spa, where guests can unwind with a whisky and a moustache grooming session after a long day on the slopes. There's a heated magnesium mineral pool for soothing those muscles, a state-of-the-art ski drying room, a panoramic library, a Chesterfield-filled lounge bar, a generous wine cellar and a seasonally-focused Italian fine diner, headed up by hatted chef, Emma Handley (Villa Gusto). After dinner, roasting of marshmallows in the common fireplace is highly encouraged. Perhaps the biggest drawcard for serious ski bunnies is that Astra Lodge will host Skimetrics founder Adalbert Leibetseder, who'll be offering his tailored ski program and boot fittings, helping to ensure you've got all the right gear for a top-notch ski trip experience. Rooms come in five styles, from deluxe to two-bedroom apartment. Suffice to say, rates aren't cheap, with the lowest off-peak nightly rate at the deluxe room at $346 per night (sleeps two, minimum two-night stay) — the highest being the apartment at $1630 per night (sleeps four, minimum two-night stay). Astra Lodge is currently taking bookings for the 2017 ski season and is set to open on June 10. Find it at 5 Sitzmark Street, Falls Creek.
And now for something completely impractical. Artist Victor Solomon has created our dream basketball hoop, one we're encouraged to miss and be too short to slam dunk. For his newest series Literally Balling (heh), Solomon has crafted three beautiful backboards of stained, Tiffany-style glass. The whole thing's kind of Meret Oppenheim for basketball. Solomon has made unusable the tools of million-dollar paycheck earners — the Le Brons and Durants of the globe's top basketball stars. Fascinated by the obvious link between the players and their affluent lifestyles, Solomon has cheekily rendered their main moneymaker useless — but pretty as hell. The artist spend hundreds of hours cutting and shaping the stained glass backboards, and used gold chains and crystals to replace the net. Pretty sure no one should try a Jordan on one of these. Via Vice.
It's time to dig the gumboots out of the back of your closet — Splendour in the Grass is finally returning to North Byron Parklands for another year after a two-year hiatus that felt like an eternity. In 2022, Splendour celebrates its 20th year with what's set to be a memorable comeback after a string of postponements. The festival was originally announced with a mammoth lineup back in February 2020; however, that didn't come to fruition for obvious reasons. The rescheduled event will now land in across the weekend of Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24 . At the top of the bill sits Damon Albarn's animated supergroup Gorillaz, chart-topping rapper Tyler, the Creator and New York indie legends The Strokes. And, they have plenty of company. The Avalanches and Liam Gallagher help lead the complete roster of acts for 2022, alongside Glass Animals, Kacey Musgraves, Violent Soho, DMA's, Tim Minchin and The Jungle Giants. As usual, it's a stacked and eclectic list. If you'd already purchased a ticket for SITG 2020 or 2021, you'll be happy to know that they're still valid for the 2022 edition. And if you don't have a ticket yet, you can head to the festival's website to nab a pre-loved ticket now. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2022 LINEUP Gorillaz The Strokes Tyler, The Creator The Avalanches Glass Animals Liam Gallagher Kacey Musgraves Duke Dumont Live Violent Soho DMA's Yungblud Jack Harlow Dillon Francis Tim Minchin The Jungle Giants Mura Masa Amyl & The Sniffers Aitch G Flip Ruel Oliver Tree Jungle Tom Misch Grinspoon Orville Peck Parquet Courts Tierra Whack Cub Sport Jpegmafia Ruby Fields Sofi Tukker Methyl Ethel Julia Stone Baker Boy Stella Donnelly Genesis Owusu Hooligan Hefs The Chats Confidence Man Biig Piig Holly Humberstone Chillinit Alex The Astronaut Maxo Kream Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Triple One Still Woozy Bad//Dreems Myd Northeast Party House Joy Crookes Wet Leg Mo'ju Pup Miiesha Mildlife Jarreau Vandal Brame & Hamo Shannon & The Clams Babe Rainbow Tai Verdes The Snuts Sycco Tom Cardy Sly Withers Hinds Dayglow Starcrawler Alice Ivy Budjerah JK-47 Jeff The Brotherhood Fazerdaze King Stingray Renforshort May-A The Lazy Eyes Banoffee Flowerkid The Buoys Moktar Stevan The Soul Movers George Alice 1300 Mickey Kojak Dro Carey & DJ Scorpion Pricie Mylee Grace Andy Golledge Charlie Collins Pink Matter Memphis Lk (DJ) Triple J Unearthed winners Mix-Up DJ's Dena Amy Jordan Brando Shantan Wantan Ichiban Luen Honey Point AK Sports Aywy Carolina Gasolina Munasib Pond Tasman Keith Top image: Dave Kan. Updated July 18, 2022.
The world is a very strange place. While you might think your love of fried chicken reigns supreme or that you can scoff M&Ms like no one else, there are people out there who take this food obsession to the next level and erect shrines to honour the One True Foodstuff. Recently, New York opened the sensory-focused Museum of Food and Drink, where you can taste the exhibits. But there are more specific foodie shrines for you to sample. Whether you worship at the altar of the noodle or at the temple of ice cream, there is a motherland somewhere for you to pilgrimage. Come with us now on a bizarre journey to the best and strangest food museums from around the world. IDAHO POTATO MUSEUM The potato may be the subject of much internet derision and meme-ification, but it is a staple in some of the tastiest foods of all time, including — but certainly not limited to — fries, potato chips, mash, rosti, wedges, potato skins, potato gratin, poutine and baked spuds. All hail the mighty potato. And where better to celebrate the potato than the potato state? Idaho is home to a very Napoleon Dynamite-esque potato museum, which features a potato hall of fame and a giant potato statue that would even leave Australia, the land of big things, suitably impressed. The gift shop sells potato sack dresses among some of the dorkiest merchandise we've ever seen, which actually seems befitting of the potato aesthetic. Idaho Potato Museum, 130 Northwest Main Street, Blackfoot, Idaho, USA. RAMEN MUSEUM Ramen is a universal divider, no matter where you're from. In Japan, people pledge allegiance to their regional ramen the way we pledge allegiance to our sports teams. While history thinks that ramen may have originated in China, Japan has adopted the dish so completely, it doesn't even know it's adopted. So it makes sense that Tokyo hosts the Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum, which they describe as the world's first food-themed amusement park. The park is made to look like a '50s Japanese street straight out of a Studio Ghibli film, and goes into the extensive history of ramen — that is, the breakdown of ingredients, toppings and broths, and the regional variations. And you'll be pleased to know that once you've nailed the theory of ramen, you can try steamy taster bowls from eight different regional stalls. Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum, 2-14-21 Shinyokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-City, Japan. INSTANT RAMEN MUSEUM And of course, because Japan has a ramen museum, it must also have an instant ramen museum. Instant ramen is, after all, the lifeblood behind historically important struggling artists and students. Momofuku Ando is the genius behind our favourite just-add-water lunch option, which he invented in 1958 after spending a solitary year spent working on just four hours sleep a night. While the ramen museum is traditional in every way, the instant ramen museum is contemporary and clean. It features a CUPNOODLES park for children, a chicken ramen factory where you can invent and make your own instant noodles by hand, and an Instant Noodles History Cube (we could not say exactly what a history cube is, but that's all part of the fun). Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, 2-3-4 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan. ICE CREAM CITY After you've checked out all the ramen museums, head to Ice Cream City, also in Japan. Ice Cream City and its Cup Ice Museum can be found in 'Namja Town', a theme park housed inside the Sunshine City shopping complex in Tokyo's Toshima area. Yes, it's all very confusing, but a 500 yen ticket will grant you access to all the bizarre food areas of Namja Town. Ice Cream Town has a smorgasbord of bizarre ice cream flavours to sample — some you would never have imagined in your wildest dreams. Think corn, chicken wing, powered pearl, squid, cheese risotto, sake, silk, charcoal, salt and soybean. You know it's worth a visit. Namja Town, Sunshine City World Import Mart, Toshima, Ikebukuro, Japan. Image: istolethetv via Flickr. CURRYWURST MUSEUM It should shock no-one that Germany has a currywurst museum in Berlin — or that the mascot is a terrifying, anthropomorphic sausage man with a maniacal smile. This kind of lunacy is completely expected of the sausage-lovin' European country, along with sausage-shaped couches and currywurst-themed dress up competitions. The currywurst is a delicious fast food treat that's not easy to get your hands on outside of Germany, unless you head to speciality restaurant. Simply, it's a fried pork sausage served with curry ketchup and topped with curry powder. And obviously, it's delicious. Plus, it pairs well with German beer and is totally worthy of having an entire museum (with merchandising) dedicated to it. Currywurst Museum, Schützenstraße 70, 10117, Berlin, Germany. MCDONALD'S #1 STORE MUSEUM Unfortunately, the first McDonald's restaurant was demolished because short-sighted Americans didn't appreciate the longevity of the Big Mac. But if your love for the golden arches goes beyond McLovin' a greasy wad of 'food' after a bender, there are many famous installations in America for worshipping Ronald the terrifying clown. There's the oldest operating McDonald's in Downey, California (it's been running since 1953), the rock and roll McDonald's in Chicago, or the McDonald's #1 Store Museum in Des Plaines, Illinois. The latter chronicles the history of Mickey Dee's through its early days — and yes, don't worry, there is a fully operational McDonald's across the road to complete the experience. McDonald's #1 Store Museum, 400 N. Lee Street, Des Plaines, Illinois, USA. JELL-O MUSEUM Jell-O is so much more than the worst dessert served on an airplane, or an erotic lubricant for wrestling. You might not know or care, but Jello-O has a long history as America's most famous dessert. The Jell-O Gallery in New York (the state, not the city) has chronicled this rich history in their museum. They also share some questionable Jell-O based wartime recipes such as olive relish: a lime Jell-O, olives, pickles, celery and vinegar concoction to fortify gallant American infantrymen against the Axis Powers. The Jell-O Gallery is quaint and also offers some of the most legitimately post-ironic cool Jell-O themed merchandise we've ever seen. Jell-O Gallery, 23 E Main St, Le Roy, New York, USA. KIMCHI FIELD MUSEUM The Kimchi Field Museum first opened in Seoul 1986 as South Korea's only food museum at the time — a testament to the nation's love of the fermented vegetable dish. The museum offers up valuable insight into not only the history of kimchi, but also its significance to South Korean culture. There's also kimchi-making courses that vary in complexity and cost (between $18-$65), and you get to take the kimchi home. Score. Kimchi Field Museum, 35-4 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Image: ecodallaluna via Flickr. FRIETMUSEUM Frites is the OG name for the most universally successful of all the deep fried delights: the french fry (or, as we say in the Antipodes, hot chips). But did you know that frites are the national food of Belgium? Or that they originated in Peru ten thousand years ago? These facts, life-sized serves of chippies and many fry-related puns (including the 'eye on the fries' gift shop) await you at the Frietmuseum in Bruges, as well as actual, edible fries. So, until you head to Bruges and try the originals, you can't claim that Maccas make the best chips. At least, not with a clear conscience. Frietmuseum, Vlamingstraat 33, 8000, Bruges, Belgium. Top image: Guilhem Vellut via Flickr.
While the rest of the world goes crazy for all things green, Allen's Lollies is cutting two of their famous green jellies from production: the classic green frog and the spearmint leaf. This isn't as bad as the barbaric downsizing of the Killer Python, but still. Sad. Margaret Stuart, a Nestle spokesperson, passed the blame directly to YOU for letting your childhood fear of vegetables prevent you from ever buying green lollies. "The situation is that our lollies are actually going gangbusters, but we have deleted a couple — we have deleted Spearmint Leaves and also the Green Frogs basically because they weren't selling so well." We kind of understand the "deletion" (honestly, weird word choice) of the spearmint leaves. As much as we remember them fondly, they do kind of taste like toothpaste but are terrible for your teeth. The spearmint leaf is definitely the Jerry Gergich of the lolly bag. But green frogs? Green frogs are OK, they’re an almost savoury partner frog to the classic Allen's red frog. But what of the humble Sherbie? The still-not-renamed Redskin? To put your quiet freak-out to rest, here's what's safe, according to Allen's: "The Red Frogs are going gangbusters ... they outsell the green by ten to one," Stuart says. Cuts like this are going to homogenise grab bags into only the popular flavours like 'red' and orange but that’s the brutal world of candy business. The only upside we can imagine is the hopefully inevitable TV series about a couple of desperate dudes cooking up counterfeit spearmint leaves and green frogs in a camper van in Arizona. It'll happen. Via ABC.
Every time you enter a darkened cinema to spend a few hours gazing at the silver screen, you pay tribute to French movies. More than a century ago, the European nation was at the forefront of the medium — its filmmakers are not only responsible for the oldest surviving film in existence, but also the 46-second piece considered the first true film ever made, as well as many influential early efforts. They're still helping shower audiences in movie delights today, of course, with Australia's Alliance Francaise French Film Festival providing an annual snapshot of just how busy and bustling the French film industry remains. When you're selling more than 212 million cinema tickets to eager audiences in a single a year, as the country did in 2016, you need plenty of great flicks to show them. As far as our slice of Gallic cinema in Australia is concerned, the numbers keep coming: reaching its 28th year, the 2017 festival will screen 45 films in nine different cities and towns, and will try to exceed its 168,000 admissions from its last outing. That all adds up to a great problem for a cinema lover to have: being spoiled for choice. Should you opt for watching many a French movie star? Exploring many an intriguing tale? Or try to combine both? Let us help steer you in the right direction with our ten must-see picks of the fest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ-y_3mquoc THE ODYSSEY When The Odyssey starts relating the tale of Jacques Cousteau, you can be forgiven for expecting to see Billy Murray's face, hear Brazilian versions of Bowie tracks and laugh at Wes Anderson's sense of humour. We all love The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, which comically paid homage to Cousteau — but, taking to the seas for a biopic of the famous French oceanographer, director Jérôme Salle favours a much more traditional approach. With Lambert Wilson playing the man in question and Audrey Tautou co-starring as his wife, expect more than a few waves to result as the film examines Cousteau's professional and personal lives. The Odyssey opens this year's Alliance Francaise French Film Festival with a splash, which is exactly how you want things to kick off. View sessions here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu3OdZ8RJd4 BEING 17 It's okay if Being 17 sounds familiar — it has been doing the rounds of Australia's major film festivals over the past year. However, one of the great things about the AFFFF is the opportunity to catch up with movies you might've missed elsewhere. And, if you haven't put this vibrant coming-of-age flick in front of your eyeballs just yet, make sure you rectify the situation. The story itself makes a certain impact as it charts two teenage boys exploring their feelings for each other, then grappling with the uncertainty that follows, as told with sensitivity and insight by Girlhood director-turned-Being 17 screenwriter Céline Sciamma. View sessions here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAOVBV670XM DAGUERROTYPE Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa is well known for dwelling in horror territory — in fact, his last movie screened at the Japanese Film Festival late last year. Here, he makes the jump to France to tell a Gothic ghost tale, enlisting the help of actors Tahar Rahim and Mathieu Amalric. At the centre of the film sits the titular form of photography, which involves capturing images on a silver surface, and requires those getting snapped to sit still for hours on end. The film moves similarly slowly; however, it doesn't take long for its Gothic charms to work their magic. View sessions here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnp0f9xoAfM IN BED WITH VICTORIA When it premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival, In Bed With Victoria earned comparisons to Trainwreck. So if that's your kind of film, get excited. Yes, that means you should expect an account of a woman's quest for romantic success, relayed in both a frank and funny fashion. It also means you'll be falling for an engaging lead performance, with Up for Love's Virginie Efira more than handling the task of playing a Parisian lawyer and single mother trying to navigate the ups and downs of life, dating and finding happiness. View sessions here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5dh7UWbSZI IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD Prepare to question your life choices. In the last nine years, French-Canadian writer/director Xavier Dolan has made six films, five of which have screened at Cannes. He'll turn 28 this month, and he's currently working on his seventh effort, his English-language debut starring Kit Harington, Jessica Chastain, Natalie Portman, Thandie Newton, Kathy Bates, Susan Sarandon and Room's Jacob Tremblay. That's quite the accomplishment — and while his most recent movie, It's Only the End of the World, has received mixed reviews, there's still plenty of emotion-dripping French family drama and eye-catching visuals to enjoy. Gaspard Ulliel, Nathalie Baye, Léa Seydoux, Vincent Cassel and Marion Cotillard star, with the film taking out Cannes' 2016 Grand Jury Prize. View sessions here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H96Qxp-3ssc A JOURNEY THROUGH FRENCH CINEMA We've already told you that France and cinema go hand-in-hand, but there's no need to simply take our word for it. Trust the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival to screen just the movie that'll teach you everything you ever needed to know about French filmmaking, with veteran writer/director Bertrand Tavernier's A Journey Through French Cinema an informative and engaging guide. Be warned: because there's plenty to cover, you can expect to get comfy for more than three hours. And remember to clear your schedule for months afterwards, because you're going to want to spend every waking moment delving into as much French movie history as possible. View sessions here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmPTQdW79Tg PLANETARIUM With a title like Planetarium, writer/director Rebecca Zlotowski will have you thinking about stars — and seeing them as well. Expect to be dazzled not by the shining lights above or a place dedicated to them, but by the talents of Natalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp (yes, Johnny's daughter). The two combine to bring a pair of American sisters to life on a stylish journey through pre-war Europe, complete with seances and other paranormal phenomena, as well as the process of bringing supernatural magic to the movies. View sessions here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elM9HxIlDnQ THINGS TO COME Come on, admit it: we were all hoping that Isabelle Huppert's name would be read out at the Oscars this year. Alas, there was no envelope mix-up in the best actress category. Elle wasn't the only astonishing performance that the French actress gave in 2016 though, with her work in Things to Come just as moving and revelatory. Under the affectionate direction of Eden's Mia Hansen-Løve, Huppert is once again at her best as a philosophy professor forced to reassess her life. And, if you can't get enough of all things Isabelle, she also pops up in fellow festival effort Souvenir. Double feature, anyone? View sessions here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRgjsnadqOA THE INNOCENTS Cinema has made a habit of following those in habits, pondering faith and exploring the space where religious beliefs and the realities of life meet. Add The Innocents to the contemplative pile, as a young French doctor visits a Benedictine convent to tackle the one scenario that's not supposed to happen: several pregnancies. Set at the end of the Second World War, Anne Fontaine's film proves all the more compelling by taking its tale from a true story. No wonder it got audiences talking when it screened at last year's Sundance, and no doubt it'll do the same again at the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival. View sessions here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=FWaf830692s TOMORROW After wowing audiences as one of film's most memorable cinema owners in Inglourious Basterds, Mélanie Laurent hasn't just continued to pop up on-screen — she has stepped behind the lens as well. In fact, the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival gifted Australian audiences with the chance to see her last fictional feature, Breathe, and they're coming through again. This time, Laurent turns documentarian with co-director Cyril Dion to dive into today's environmental issues, and just what they might mean for tomorrow. If that sounds powerful, it should. It also won the duo the Cesar award for best documentary at France's top film awards. View sessions here. The Alliance Française French Film Festival will visit Sydney from March 7 to 30; Melbourne from March 8 to 30, and Brisbane from March 16 to April 9.
Seasonal change is finally settling into Melbourne and with it comes one of the NGV's best annual exhibitions: the Winter Masterpieces series. This year, it's no secret they've snagged a true master, Vincent Van Gogh, the poster boy for post-impressionism and dramatic self-mutilation. Set to open on April 28 and running until July 19, blockbuster exhibition Van Gogh and the Seasons has been years in the making, and is expected by NGV to draw one of the gallery's biggest audiences yet. Curator Sjraar Van Heugten has fine-tuned a thematic exhibition after Van Gogh's own heart, an exploration of the seasons in over 60 works. "In the seasons, he [Van Gogh] has perceived infinity, something larger than humanity. The seasons represent ongoing life," he says. Inside the exhibition, you'll find a fascinating investigation into Van Gogh's life, alongside some of his best naturalist pieces. The artist's character, and his fluctuating mental health, often receive as much attention as his best works. The story of his life — and his death — are expounded wonderfully (and sensitively, snaps for not stigmatising mental health) through quotes, correspondence and essays. Although the collection itself doesn't feature his most famous works, you'll leave with a window into the artist's true persona and an understanding of the sheer breadth of his talent. Structurally, Van Gogh and the Seasons is broken into (you guessed it) the four seasons, that masterfully weave a narrative through the artist's life. The NGV has produced a short accompanying film, narrated by David Stratton and David Wenham, that's worth a watch before you proceed through the exhibition, as it explains the structure of the exhibition and sets the mood. Feeling overwhelmed? We've put together five works to see at the exhibition. Images: Tom Ross.
Deck the halls and unpack the plastic tree — the festive season is well and truly upon us. And while that whole Christmas tradition stuff is nice, we're not going to deny what we're most excited about: a whole stocking-load of new films. Along with the cricket and stampeding through shopping centres, going to the movies is one of our favourite Boxing Day traditions. After all, what better place to recover from your post-Christmas food coma than in a nice, dark, air-conditioned cinema? Of course, not all of the end-of-year titles measure up. That's why we're reporting in with our annual Boxing Day Battle Royale, to ensure that you get maximum bang for your Kris Kringle gift voucher buck. From critically claimed indie flicks to an epic blockbuster about a man who can talk to fish, you're guaranteed to find something to enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvPkDdFeTk8 COLD WAR We give it: 5 stars With Cold War, writer-director Pawel Pawlikowski achieves a plethora of astonishing feats. Constrained within 4:3 frames, his sumptuous black-and-white imagery immerses audiences in an intimate and complicated tale, with the filmmaker painting every possible emotion across the screen. The talent behind Oscar-winner Ida also turns his parents' own story into a heart-wrenching romance, and crafts a snapshot of Polish life as the Second World War gave way to the Cold War. Last by no means least, he gifts audiences with astoundingly intricate performances from actors Tomasz Kot and Joanna Kulig. The duo plays a couple who are desperate to be together, but live in a world that cares little about their desires — or about them at all. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYb-wkehT1g THE FAVOURITE We give it: 4.5 stars One queen, two women vying for her attention, and nearly two hours of acerbic and perceptive black comedy. That's The Favourite, a historical drama that looks like a lavish period picture, but boasts a savage wit — and savage insights into human behaviour — that's far from standard for the genre. The key is The Lobster filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos. Not only does he again showcase his winning ways with stilted conversations and his fondness for skewering social expectations; he also exhibits a knack for political comedy and even slapstick. Lanthimos is aided by his fantastic cast, including top awards contender Olivia Colman as Queen Anne, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone as her bickering offsiders, and Nicholas Hoult as the wannabe leader with his own conniving plans. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaiR3zdv5cU THE WILD PEAR TREE We give it: 4 stars After Once Upon a Time in Anatolia and Winter Sleep, Nuri Bilge Ceylan crafts another slow-burning affair that combines probing insights into human behaviour with sublime imagery. A tale of dreams and disappointments both mundane and life changing, The Wild Pear Tree sprawls and spreads in its everyday drama and perceptive dialogue. The movie's protagonist is Sunan (Dogu Demirkol), a new graduate returning home with qualifications but no job, and with a manuscript but no means to publish it. Across the movie's 188 minutes, the aspiring writer walks the town's dusty farmland and quiet streets seeking financial help, while his father's (Murat Cemcir) gambling debts continue to mount. The result is a picture that fits firmly into the acclaimed Turkish filmmaker's exceptional oeuvre. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDkg3h8PCVU AQUAMAN We give it: 3 stars The latest film in the DC Cinematic Universe is far from perfect. Its plot is a mess and its leading man, a roguish surfer-dude turned superhero (Jason Mamoa), is criminally underused. Despite these issues, it's also, for the most part, wildly entertaining. With dazzling visuals that, at their best, feel like Blade Runner (and, at their worst, The Phantom Menace), Aussie director James Wan never lets things slow down for too long, aided by a thumping electro soundtrack reminiscent of Daft Punk's work on Tron: Legacy. Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson and Nicole Kidman help round out a stellar cast, albeit one that commands far too much time away from the true star, Mamoa. Nevertheless, it's safe to say that DC is slowly, painfully but ever so positively clawing its way back to credibility with each new film not directed by Zack Snyder. In the wake of the enormously successful Wonder Woman, Aquaman represents another small foot forward for the franchise. – Tom Glasson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSGFt6w0wok VICE We give it: 3 stars Sporting a hunch and a paunch, speaking in gravelly grunts and side-eyeing everyone around him, Christian Bale turns in another committed, transformative performance in Vice. His vision of former US Vice President Dick Cheney is a sight to behold, and with Amy Adams suitably steely as Lynne Cheney, Sam Rockwell in laidback mode as President George W. Bush and Steve Carell obnoxiously slippery as Donald Rumsfeld, he's in good company. But, as written and directed by Adam McKay in the same slick, jam-packed fashion as his previous film The Big Short, Vice never completely lives up to its performances. It's impassioned, amusing, designed to get audiences angry and stuffed with stylistic tricks to an almost overwhelming extent. However it also merely states the obvious rather than offers any new or deep insights. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8mdIB1WxHI KUSAMA: INFINITY We give it: 3 stars How do you capture the enigma that is Yayoi Kusama in a single 85-minute film? The short answer: it's impossible, but Kusama: Infinity gives the task an affectionate try. Unsurprisingly filled with dots and pumpkins, this documentary celebrates the Japanese artist and showcases her work, however it doesn't break the mould the way that Kusama always has across her seven-decade career. What the movie does do well is explore the battles that the nearly 90-year-old artist has faced again and again, both as a woman in Japan and as a foreigner abroad. For those new to Kusama's story — people who've marvelled at her infinity rooms but haven't delved any further — writer-director Heather Lenz also provides a Kusama 101 lesson. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BcYBFC6zfY WRECK-IT RALPH 2: RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET We give it: 2 stars A shadow looms over this Disney sequel — and, despite his hefty size, it doesn't stem from Wreck-It Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) himself. Rather, in taking the loveable video game character and his racer best friend Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) out of the arcade and into the online world, the film brings one of 2017's worst movies to mind. Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet fares better than The Emoji Movie, but its efforts to both literalise and satirise cyberspace just keep falling flat. Worse: its straightforward vision of the internet instantly feels dated. With product placement and a pixel-thin emotional journey the flick's other main components, this pop culture-heavy affair proves visually lively but lacklustre overall. – SW
It has been nearly two years since Bruce Munro's spectacular Field of Light started illuminating Uluru, with more than 200,000 people flocking to the Red Centre to see its ocean of colour. In fantastic news for anyone who hasn't made the trek yet, or anyone keen to view its beautiful, multi-hued splendour again, the eye-catching installation's season has been extended. The gorgeous piece will now keep shining all the way through until December 31, 2020. This is the second time that Field of Light's run has been lengthened. Initially set to remain in place until March 2017, it was first expanded until March this year. In total, the artwork's 50,000 glass lights will twinkle across an area of 49,000 square metres — the size of nine football fields — for just shy of five years. As well as casting Australia's sacred rock in a whole new light, the Uluru display marks the latest (and largest) incarnation of artist Bruce Munro's project, which previously illuminated the grounds at the likes of London's Victoria & Albert Museum and the Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. Run on solar power, and named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku — which translates to 'looking at lots of beautiful lights' in local Pitjantjatjara — for its Northern Territory stint, the installation took 40 people six weeks to set up. The British-born Munro, who first came up with the idea for Field of Light while visiting Uluru back in 1992, said he is "greatly moved and humbled by the enormous response to the artwork." He continued, "it's obvious the combination of the exhibition and a canvas as visceral as this — flourishing from red dirt and tufts of spinifex, in the shadows of nature's biggest shape-shifter, Uluru — is immensely powerful to people." Keen on making the trip? Check out out Weekender's Guide to the Red Centre During Field of Light. By Tom Clift and Sarah Ward. Image: Field of Light: Bruce Munro. Photo by Mark Pickthall.
Imagine that you could spend an entire week or so at an overseas film festival. If time and money wasn't a concern, and you could put your everyday life on hold, which movie bonanza would you go to? Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto: they're all good choices. If you're after new indie flicks, you're probably already thinking about packing your bags for Sundance. Of course, Robert Redford's annual Utah event isn't the only early-in-the-year American film festival worth dreaming about. Come March in Texas, there's another fest making movie buffs envious. Since 1987, South by Southwest has proven a launching pad for music and technology — and, from 1994, for indie flicks, too. On the film front, SXSW's 2016 program keeps the good stuff coming with 137 features, including 89 world premieres and 52 efforts by first-time filmmakers. Alas, here at Concrete Playground we're watching from afar between March 11 to 20, rather than hopping on a plane to Austin. To soothe our jealousy, we've put together a list of the ten films from SXSW we're hoping will come to Australia. If we can't go to them, fingers crossed that they can come to us. DON'T THINK TWICE If you saw Sleepwalk With Me back in 2012, you're probably a fan of Mike Birbiglia. The comedian's first directorial effort, based on his one-man off-Broadway show and accompanying book of the same name, offered a breezy but insightful look at the problems of relationships, careers and planning for the future. His next film effort sounds just as subtly charming, with an improv troupe at its centre. Birbiglia stars again, joined by Keegan-Michael Key and Gillian Jacobs, should you need any more reasons to get excited. COLLECTIVE:UNCONSCIOUS Five filmmakers. Five dreams. Five attempts by the former to make movies out of the latter. Cinema is often called dreamlike, but collective:unconscious takes that description to another level. In stories involving the Grim Reaper hosting a television show and a sports class taking place inside of a volcano, among others, the group of indie directors doesn't just bring their own nocturnal imaginings to their screen. Instead, Lily Baldwin, Frances Bodomo, Daniel Patrick Carbone, Josephine Decker and Lauren Wolkstein attempt to make movies out of each other's unconscious musings. BEWARE THE SLENDERMAN You might've heard of the Slenderman. The very thin, very tall creature started popping up online in 2009, and was rumoured to stalk, abduct and generally terrorise and terrify people, particularly children. Slenderman was actually the creation of an online forum user, who created the figure as part of a Photoshop contest. That didn't stop two 12-year-old girls from killing their best friend in the hopes of meeting the faceless man, with documentarian Irene Taylor Brodsky dissecting their story, the impact of the darker side of cyber space, and how an internet meme inspired a murder. UNDER THE SHADOW We might've left Under the Shadow off of our Sundance list, but we won't make the same mistake twice. There's a reason that the Farsi-language film from Jordan, Qatar and the United Kingdom is playing a US festival again so soon after its world premiere in January, after all. Compared to The Babadook, Babak Anvari’s feature debut tells of a mother and daughter who begin to suspect that they’ve been targeted by evil spirits. Netflix has the rights to the frightening flick, but this sounds like something that really needs to be seen on the big screen. MY BLIND BROTHER Admit it: even the most serious film fans out there can't resist the lure of an impressive cast. Getting a group of great actors together doesn't always pay off, but when it does, it's magic. Here's hoping that's the end result for My Blind Brother, which stars Adam Scott, Nick Kroll and Jenny Slate. Yes, the fact that they've all either starred or popped up on TV sitcom Parks and Recreation is part of their appeal, but they're not the movie's only drawcards. Director Sophie Goodhart might be a first-time feature filmmaker; however she's adapting her own short film of the same name, which screened in competition at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. TOWER Sadly, mass shootings in US schools are a much-too-common occurrence — but it wasn't always this way. In 1966, when an ex-Marine sniper turned University of Texas engineering student started gunning down people from a tower looming over the tertiary institution's campus, no one had ever contemplated the possibility of such horrors occurring at a place dedicated to learning and education. Keith Maitland's documentary explores this bleak chapter in American history, albeit in an unusual fashion. Telling the previously untold stories of the witnesses, heroes and survivors, he not only delves into archival footage, but combines it with surreal, animated recreations. THE TRUST Two words: Nicolas Cage. We have more words to share about The Trust than that, of course — but we'd be lying if we didn't confess that the man who can be either the world's best or worst actor, depending on the film, wasn't the main attraction. With Elijah Wood, he plays a cop who stumbles upon a mysterious bank vault. If the combination of Cage and the storyline doesn't pique your curiosity, this might: writer/directors Alex and Ben Brewer are better known for their music video work, including winning an MTV Video Music Award for working with Justin Bieber. Yes, really. KARAOKE CRAZIES Karaoke and cinema go hand in hand. Plenty of movies feature everyone's favourite form of amateur singing; however surprisingly few make it their main focus (and yes, we're ignoring Gwyneth Paltrow vehicle Duets for a reason). In Karaoke Crazies, Korean filmmaker Kim Sang-Chan sets his feature in a karaoke bar, lets a serial killer loose, and makes the latter obsessed with the former. If that's not an ingenious idea for a movie, well, we don't know what is. IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE Ti West has played with satanic panic in The House of the Devil, and toyed with found footage and religious fanaticism in The Sacrament. He also charmed Aussie audiences in person when he visited the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2011 to present his haunted hotel effort, The Innkeepers. In his next film, In A Valley of Violence, West swaps scares for revenge and horror for the western genre. Ethan Hawke and John Travolta tag along for the ride, stalking through a small town in the 1890s, and playing a drifter and marshal, respectively. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME Okay, okay, so Richard Linklater's latest film — and his first after the awarded and applauded Boyhood — is one of the titles we know for certain will grace Australian cinema screens. That doesn't make us any less enthused about Everybody Wants Some, which has the honour of opening SXSW's film lineup, and has been called a spiritual sequel to his 1996 effort Dazed and Confused. Don't expect a sleazy Matthew McConaughey trying to hit on high school girls, this time around. Do expect another wild series of events, this time set over a weekend in college in the '80s.
It started with terrible jokes, poor attempts to shock and the usual cynical attitude from Ricky Gervais. Thankfully, this year's Golden Globes got better from there. Forget the host — in the 2020 ceremony's first hour, Ramy Youssef advised the celebrity crowd that he knows they haven't seen his TV series, Kate McKinnon got tearful and personal talking about queer representation in the industry, and Bong Joon-ho rightfully told the world that "once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films". Also, as read by Jennifer Aniston in Russell Crowe's absence, ol' Rusty used his acceptance speech to not only call attention to Australia's current bushfire crisis, but to address climate change denial. As always proves the case when it comes to these kind of events, the on-stage antics were just the window dressing. There were more highlights, such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge stealing yet another awards show, Charlize Theron's ode to Tom Hanks, Michelle Williams once again crusading for women's rights, Amy Poehler's disdain for animated movies and the repeated references to Australia's current plight — but there were also a whole heap of winners. On the TV side, Chernobyl scored big, while Emmy-winners The Act and Fosse/Verdon picked up awards as well. In the cinema realm, everything from Rocketman and Joker to Marriage Story and Judy nabbed gongs. Plus, the below ten movies and shows also took home something shiny — and if you haven't seen them already, you should add them to your 2020 must-watch list. MOVIE MUST-SEES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELeMaP8EPAA ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD If Once Upon a Time in Hollywood really does end up being Quentin Tarantino's penultimate film — the writer/director has always said he'll only make ten movies, and he counts Kill Bill as one feature — then he's beginning to wrap up his career in style. Helming a more mature and laidback affair than he's best known for, the great filmmaker steps back half a century in time to ponder what happened in Los Angeles in the summer of 69, wonder what might've been if things had turned out differently, and then combine the two into one glorious package. Leisurely but thrilling, the result is a sun-dappled showbiz tale that's exceptional when it's watching its talented cast shoot the breeze, but proves just as engaging and immersive when it's in quiet, observational mode. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt hadn't made a movie together before this, and their collaboration was worth the wait, but this is an outstanding film filled with many, many highlights — including Margot Robbie's textured turn as actor Sharon Tate. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy; Best Screenplay — Motion Picture (Quentin Tarantino); Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Brad Pitt). Nominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (Leonardo DiCaprio); Best Director — Motion Picture (Quentin Tarantino). Available to stream on Google Play, iTunes and YouTube — read our review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0yh_ZIqq0c THE FAREWELL She came to fame via YouTube, then stole the show in Crazy Rich Asians — and now Awkwafina is a Golden Globe-winner. She's actually the first woman of Asian descent to pick up the ceremony's award for Best Actress — Musical or Comedy, all thanks to her nuanced and sensitive work in The Farewell. In a film partly based on writer/director Lulu Wang's own experiences, Awkwafina plays a Chinese American writer who heads back to Changchun with her family when she learns that her beloved grandmother (the also wonderful Zhao Shuzhen) is terminally ill. The catch: her beloved Nai Nai hasn't been told that she's dying. It's an especially thoughtful performance in a movie that earns the same description. In every frame, and in every note of Awkwafina's fine-tuned portrayal, The Farewell truly understands the experience of dealing with such a heart-wrenching situation — and obviously that's no easy or straightforward feat. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (Awkwafina). Nominated: Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language. Available to stream on Google Play, iTunes and YouTube — read our review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEUXfv87Wpk PARASITE The Golden Globes might be run by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — aka a select group of entertainment journalists who report on the industry for media in countries other than the US — but the awards stick to a rather antiquated rule. If a film isn't in English, it isn't eligible for the Best Picture categories. So, if you're wondering why Parasite didn't score a nomination for the top category, now you know. Bong Joon-ho's exceptional thriller has been picking up every other award there is over the past year and, even if it couldn't nab the Globes' most prestigious prize, this twisty tale of two families from opposite sides of South Korean society didn't go home empty-handed. Of course it didn't — it's 2019's best film. The idea that movies in other languages can't compete for the same prizes as Hollywood's big hits remains blatantly ridiculous, but Parasite is still a very worthy winner in the Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language category. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language Nominated: Best Director - Motion Picture (Bong Joon-Ho), Best Screenplay — Motion Picture (Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won) In cinemas now — read our review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcmZN0Mbl04 1917 War, what is is good for? Inspiring a whole heap of movies, so it seems. On paper, it's easy to dismiss 1917 as yet another combat-focused flick, but Sam Mendes clearly knows that he's wading into heavily occupied territory. Crafting the film to look like it has been shot in two long takes, the Spectre and Skyfall director uses his chosen technical gimmick to stunning effect, immersing viewers in the on-the-ground reality of being a soldier in World War I. He has first-class help, too, with Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049) and lead actor — and certain future star — George MacKay (True History of the Kelly Gang) both drawing the audience into this grim, gripping story of two Lance Corporals sent on a dangerous mission in an an urgent and immediate fashion. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Drama; Best Director — Motion Picture (Sam Mendes). Nominated: Best Original Score — Motion Picture (Thomas Newman). In cinemas January 9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzvCbck3s6c MISSING LINK Across just five features, animation studio Laika has achieved what few have managed (but many have tried). Like Studio Ghibli and Pixar, you instantly know when you're watching one of the company's movies, with its stop-motion imagery always proving both delicately detailed and immediately eye-catching. That was the case with its previous hits Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings — and, when the animation outfit turned its attention to an unhappy sasquatch called Mr. Susan Link and a monster hunter eager to earn fame and acclaim, it still rang true. Also evident in the all-ages delight that is Missing Link: the studio's trademark love of all things weird and wonderful, as well as great voice work by Zach Galifianakis, Hugh Jackman, Timothy Olyphant and Emma Thompson. GLOBES Won: Best Motion — Animated. Available to stream on Google Play, iTunes and YouTube. SMALL SCREEN BINGES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HAE8Pr0GsE RAMY Spinning Ramy Youssef's standup routine into a television dramedy, Ramy shouldn't feel as revolutionary as it does. It really shouldn't be so rare to watch a thoughtful, funny, intimate and intricate series about an American Muslim millennial grappling with love, life, his family and his faith in the US today — but it is. That's not the only reason that rich and perceptive show made a splash, though. Like Atlanta, one of the programs Ramy has been compared to again and again since its first season dropped in 2019, this series stands out because it feels so authentic and personal, it takes creative risks and it constantly subverts expectations. In a performance teeming with nuance, Youssef is fantastic as the titular character; however one of Ramy's most impressive elements is its ability to both focus on its eponymous figure and flesh out the important people around him. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy (Ramy Youssef). Now streaming on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9TKHvvaMfE SUCCESSION For more than a decade, screenwriter Jesse Armstrong helped give the world one of the best British sitcoms of the 21st century, aka Peep Show. As fans will know, there's a sharp, dark edge to the hit comedy about two flatmates — and while a US drama about a wealthy family of media moguls mightn't necessarily seem like the obvious next step, Succession definitely possesses the same bite. The premise: with patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox) suffering from health issues, his children Siobhan (Aussie actor Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin), Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Connor (Alan Ruck) all fight to step into his shoes. Brought to the screen with stellar writing, the resulting series is as compelling as it is entertaining. Across its two seasons to date (with a third set for 2020), it's also filled with ferocious performances from its top-notch cast. GLOBES Won: Best Television Series — Drama; Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series — Drama (Brian Cox). Nominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Kieran Culkin). Now streaming on Foxtel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX2ViKQFL_k FLEABAG Another fancy ceremony, another haul of glittering trophies for Fleabag. Yes, it's a trend. If something like this kept happening in the British dramedy itself or in the one-woman stage show it's based on, its eponymous character would turn to the audience, make a savagely hilarious self-deprecating joke and have everyone in stitches — which is what the woman behind the Brit sitcom, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, keeps doing at these awards galas every time she wins. A delight both on-screen and off, Waller-Bridge has never been better than in Fleabag's second season. As great as the show's first season was, it has never been better than in its second season either. Once again following its titular figure around — this time as she falls for a witty, charming priest (Andrew Scott) — Fleabag's long-awaited second batch of six episodes ride the rollercoaster from devastatingly funny to achingly astute. You can also binge-watch it in one three-hour sitting, too. GLOBES Won: Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy; Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). Nominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Andrew Scott). Now streaming on Amazon Prime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fKhFZA7yUE THE LOUDEST VOICE It happened with Armageddon and Deep Impact, The Prestige and The Illusionist, and last year's two Fyre Festival documentaries. And, it's happening again with The Loudest Voice and Bombshell. Sometimes Hollywood loves an idea so much, different parties turn it into different projects at the same time — which is exactly the case with these two on-screen explorations of Fox News, its two-decade CEO Roger Ailes, and the sexual harassment scandals that ended his reign. Adapted from the book of the same name, seven-episode TV mini-series The Loudest Voice is the better of the pair. By virtue of its format, it has more time to delve deeper into its subject; however it also benefits from a powerhouse performance by Russell Crowe. The show is rarely subtle, resembling a supremely timely and topical horror story for most of its running time — accurately so — but its star is never less than riveting. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television (Russell Crowe). Nominated: Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. Now streaming on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLXYfgpqb8A THE CROWN Back in 2017, Claire Foy took to the Golden Globes stage to collect a shiny statuette for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama, with the award recognising her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in the first season of The Crown. Now, three years later, Olivia Colman is following in her footsteps, picking up the same award for playing an older version of the British monarch in the Netflix series' third season. Colman is no stranger to that specific spotlight, collecting two Golden Globes in the past. She even won last year for playing a different sovereign in The Favourite. Clearly, pretending to be royalty suits her — and she's particularly impressive donning a tiara, drinking tea and navigating Lizzie's struggles throughout the 60s and 70s. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series — Drama (Olivia Colman). Nominated: Best Television Series — Drama; Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series — Drama (Tobias Menzies); Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Helena Bonham Carter). Now streaming on Netflix.
Although Wabi Sabi Salon is located in Collingwood, this is one for both northsiders and southsiders alike. Wabi Sabi also have an outpost in St Kilda called Wabi Sabi Garden, meaning that no one has to cross the river. These guys love authentic food with a fusion twist. And they also dig local produce sourced daily from the markets. The menu is varied, featuring anything from tempura oysters, to sweet potato chips with yuzu sour cream, to wagyu beef sashimi and twice-cooked pork belly. There is also a range of sashimi and sushi on offer as well — platters are a good way to go. Highlights from the sharing menu include the pan fried teriyaki broccolini with chickpeas and toasted seaweed, while the octopus carpaccio is light and delicate and comes with red onion, ponzu, sesame oil and dill. Other highlights include the pumpkin stuffed mushroom tempura with teriyaki balsamic and pumpkin seeds while the spiced lamb meatball with cheese and red miso is a curious dish packed with flavour. If you're a traditional style stew with opt for a vegan or mixed oven and a warm sake to back it up. The ramens include a tan tan ramen in chicken bone, sesame broth and spicy chicken meat, while the vegan option is a mushroom and seaweed base with spicy soy meat. For an after dinner treat opt for a blue cheese and a cool sake or the seasonal homemade ice cream.
Multisensory cooking, auto suggestion and a robotic desserts trolley: these are just a few of the things diners can expect when famed chef Heston Blumenthal restarts service at his three-Michelin Star restaurant The Fat Duck later in the year. After undergoing extensive renovations — during which time Blumenthal popped up in Melbourne's Crown Casino — the original Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, England is set to reopen this October. Interviewed by The Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner, Blumenthal dropped a number of tasty tidbits as to what has changed. "The move to Australia was a great opportunity to question what the Fat Duck is," Blumenthal told Rayner. "In the sense that we cook food and it’s served to people, we’re a restaurant. But that’s not much, is it? The fact is the Fat Duck is about storytelling. I wanted to think about the whole approach of what we do in those terms." In addition to consulting with Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall on the idea of turning the menu into a story — complete with introduction and chapter headings — one of the most intriguing/terrifying things Blumenthal mentioned in the interview was that he had spoken with mentalist Derren Brown, star of Derren Brown: Mind Control, about ways of extracting information about his customers "without them being too aware", and using auto suggestive techniques in order to convince diners they're getting what they most desire. Yeah, that doesn’t sound sinister at all. The Fat Duck (along with other destination restaurants) has apparently long been in the habit of Googling guests in advance, but such prosaic sleuthing is no longer enough to sate Blumenthal. Other features of the "maturing" Fat Duck include a £150,000 robotic sweetshop shaped like a dollhouse and a new online booking system to help sort through the more than 30,000 table requests per day. You can, naturally, expect the prices to go up too — although considering the tasting menu was £220 a head before the renovations, that might keep you, and your suggestive mind, out of Blumenthal's orbit. Via The Observer..
Fire up the cornballer and bust out your best chicken dance, because it would appear Arrested Development is on the verge of making a return. Almost two years after our last excursion into the lives of the dysfunctional Bluth family, executive producer Bill Glazer has confirmed 17 new episodes of the cult comedy, although he neglected to mention where and when they’ll be released. But they're coming. Glazer made the casual announcement while speaking to Grantland founder Bill Simmons on an episode of the B.S. Report Podcast. “I love Arrested Development, but it was never a huge thing,” said Grazer, referring to the show's less than stellar ratings during its initial three season run between 2003 and 2006. “But people are loyal to it. We're going to do another 17 episodes, so stay tuned.” Rumours of additional episodes are nothing new to Arrested Development fans, who suffered seven years in the wilderness before the show was resurrected by Netflix for 15 episodes in 2013. The streaming service has always maintained that a fifth season was likely, but Glazer’s comments seem to be the most concrete confirmation so far. That said, he did leave out a few important details, most notably an air date. Clearly, he never learnt to always leave a note. Netflix declined to comment on Glazer's announcement, but given the busy schedules of the show’s ensemble cast, it’s safe to assume that a trip back to the Bluth model homestead is still a ways away yet. Until then, take 15 minutes for this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWcsIMKAvUw Via A.V. Club
Renowned Melbourne street artist Rone is no stranger to the intersection of beauty and decay, and you'll find this theme tying together much of what he puts his hands to. But his latest work really slaps you in the face with it — part exhibition, part installation, the artist's newest large-scale works are located inside an abandoned weatherboard house in the Melbourne suburb of Alphington. Dubbed The Omega Project, Rone has transformed each room in the house — including the kitchen, dining room and bedroom — into haunting mini installations. He spent weeks working his magic within an actual demolition zone, given free reign by developers to transform the last remaining house on the former Amcor paper mill site from an early-1900s weatherboard cottage into what he describes as 'a fantasy film set'. In striking contrast with the surrounding destruction, the space features the artist's signature Jane Doe portraits adorning the walls, while interior stylist Carly Spooner has gone all out with the chenille bedspreads and wood-grain telly sets to recreate the look of a classic, mid-century suburban Aussie pad. This isn't Rone's first time at the demolition zone rodeo, either — last year he held a solo exhibition Empty in Fitzroy's about-to-be-demolished Star Lyric Theatre. And, adopting the transience of the street art you spy splashed across the urban landscape, this exhibition isn't sticking around for long at all — catch it from Saturday, July 22 until Sunday, July 30 before it, too, meets the demo crew.
For everyone who can't make a trip to IKEA to buy furniture and homewares without eating meatballs, but also doesn't eat meat, the Swedish retailer has added both vegetarian and plant-based versions to its range in recent years, including Down Under. But what if you feel the same about the chain's hot dogs? Enter IKEA's plant dogs, which have just hit Australian stores. Let's be honest — getting through a visit to the brand's warehouse-sized outlets doesn't just involve shopping, and also deciding that everything in your house could use a facelift, but also working up an appetite while browsing and buying. Accordingly, it usually entails tucking into one of IKEA's famed bites, whether you're sitting down for those meatballs mid-shop or nabbing a hot dog on the way to the car. Obviously, the original meaty hot dogs that've been on offer for more than four decades aren't going anywhere; however, these new plant dogs expand the range. They're made from rice protein, plus carrot, onion and apple — and they'll set you back $2 a dog. IKEA is working to make 50 percent of the meals in its restaurant meals plant-based by 2025, with offering plant dogs the next step in that direction. In Sydney only, on four individual dates, the brand is also busting out a plant dog truck to hand out freebies. You'll find it at IKEA Marsden Park from 2–6pm on Tuesday, May 28 and at IKEA Tempe from 11am–3pm on Wednesday, May 29. After that, it's popping up at Centenary Square in Parramatta from 12–4pm on Thursday, May 30 and at Dolphin Court at Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach, from 11am–3pm on Saturday, June 1. To nab a free taste — your choice of a plant dog or plant balls — from the yellow-hued truck at its Sydney stops, you will need to show your IKEA Family membership (and if you're not already a member, you can sign up for free online). IKEA's plant dogs are now available at its Australian stores — head to the chain's website for further details. The IKEA plant dog truck is popping up across Sydney from Tuesday, May 28–Thursday, May 30 and on Saturday, June 1.
Fair is foul and foul is fair, and both words can be applied to the harrowing new film adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Foul in that Australian director Justin Kurzel evokes the pervasive bleakness and epic tragedy of the source material in a manner that few other screen adaptations have ever managed. And fair in that the film's hypnotic aesthetic, along with the incredible work of its cast, ensures that it will be remembered as one of the most awe-inspiring movies of the year. Fans of local cinema may remember Kurzel's name from his debut feature, Snowtown, which hit cinemas back in 2011. Based on a notorious South Australian murder case, the film's immaculate craftsmanship is matched only by its repellent content — it's the kind of movie critics appreciate and admire but find almost impossible to recommend. Either way, it could hardly have been a better audition piece for a director looking to tackle what is arguably one of Shakespeare's grimmest plays. Plenty of talented filmmakers — including Orson Welles, Roman Polanski and Akira Kurosawa — have made adaptations of the Scottish play, but rarely has the dialogue sounded darker or more enthralling. It helps that Kurzel has recruited two of the greatest actors alive in his quest to bring literature's ultimate power couple to life. Michael Fassbender is magnetic as the eponymous Scottish thane, a good man brought low by his own overleaping ambition. His whispered delivery in the film's early scenes brings the audience in on his character's moral misgivings. Yet it is his work in the second half, as Macbeth descends rapidly into cruel, paranoid madness, that will stick with viewers for days. Marion Cotillard, meanwhile, is steely-eyed and silver-tongued as Macbeth's conniving lady wife — and like Fassbender, she saves her best work for the back end. Kurzel shoots Lady Macbeth's famous "Out, damned spot!" scene in a single unbroken close-up, and it proves to be a very smart choice. Think Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables. Minus the singing. But while Macbeth contains no shortage of great acting moments in which the cast get to bear their soul for the camera, there is nothing remotely stagey about Kurzel's adaptation. From the opening frame to the close, his stylistic fingerprints are all over this film, and the results are absolutely magnificent. The selective employment of slow motion and evocative use of colour — along with the imposing images of the Scottish landscape captured by cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, and the haunting score of droning strings by Kurzel's brother Jed — make this unquestionably one of the most cinematic Shakespeare adaptations ever put to screen. It's as compelling in its moments without dialogue as it is when the characters are speaking. So heavy is the atmosphere that the film feels almost like a nightmare; one in which you're slowly being smothered and from which you cannot seem to wake. Now you may not think all this sounds like a particularly pleasant viewing experience, and to be honest you'd be right. Kurzel, to his credit as an artist, never attempts to make the film more palatable for a mainstream audience. Despite the period setting, the grizzly violence and the power plays, this is not Game of Thrones. It's a hard watch. A gruelling watch. But it's also an intensely rewarding one. All hail Macbeth.
Located in a small but charming storefront in West Melbourne, adorned with a tiled floor, wooden stools and a simple wooden bar showcasing pastries and coffee blends, The Flour is a calm, inviting cafe that entices people with excellent French pastries and unique coffee brews unlike any they've had before. Started up by April Yoonhee Bae, a wonderfully talented pastry chef, and her husband Harry Hyun-suk Go, as an online bakery business back in 2017, today it is a vibrant and relaxing bricks-and-mortar cafe where cake and coffee lovers can really treat themselves. The cakes and pastries are all baked on-site and change regularly — depending on seasonal ingredients and what the pastry chefs were inspired to dream up that day. You'll often find madeleines, canelés, financiers, plum jam cookies, galettes, green tea dacquioses and Basque cheesecakes. And while these are damn good, it's not just the French-inspired pastries that shine at The Flour. The coffee selection is Melbourne-worthy, too. Expect a revolving selection of its own roasted coffee that has won a stack of awards — brewed however you like it. But if you're after something a bit different, we strongly recommend trying its coffee sour. For this one, baristas slowly pour the house filter blend and then chuck it into a soda stream to add some fizz. It's then served on ice with a dash of fresh lemon juice and some blackcurrant juice. This is one of our very favourite coffees in Melbourne. And while the pastries, cakes and coffees are beautifully prepared and presented, The Flour is completely free of the pretentiousness you might find at other cafes that offer up such refined and classy fare. If you're up by the Queen Vic Market sometime soon, be sure to cross the road and stop by for a cheeky cake and coffee at The Flour. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Coffee in Melbourne
Smith Street is collecting good things at the moment. Jimmy Grants, Gelato Messina, Smith Street Alimentari — the list goes on. But there have been some keepers there for a while, quietly luring food lovers to the grungy Collingwood street. One of these keepers is Panama Dining Room. High above the street — some serious stairs are involved, short dresses and heels make for an awkward entrance — you'll find this loft-style dining room and bar. With huge windows there are views worth the hike alone. The bar section can get rather rowdy but the dining room remains separate allowing seclusion for optimal enjoyment of both the drinkables and eatables. The dining room menu is laid out for a three course affair. Starters like anchoiade dip with crudites ($13) and salmon rillettes with herb salad and toast ($10) stand in to whet the appetite. When it comes to the entree you can start big with the divine and gooey Australian burrata — a soft-centred mozzarella — served with salsa rossa, grilled focaccia, olive oil and rocket ($15). Seriously, do it. Or if you're feeling a little more reserved you can go for a delicate warm prawn and smoked octopus salad with kipfler potatoes, green olives and espelette pepper ($16). Mains come in the form of pillow-soft citrus infused potato gnocchi served with fresh peas, tomatoes, leek and almond puree and parmesan crisps ($26.50), or hearty chargrilled grain-fed porterhouse steak (medium rare) with a porcini, truffle and confit garlic butter, duck fat chips and watercress salad ($33). Now, to the sweeter side of things. A flourless chocolate cake served with cherry compote and milk chocolate ganache ($14.50) is a decadent choice, while a bite-sized option comes in the form of a salted caramel praline macaron ($4.50 each). You can also go for a cheese platter of two, three or four cheeses. The Beeler Hoch Ybrig from Switzerland is strong with a sweetness to it, while the Woodside Figaro from SA is a crumbly soft goats cheese with a rich texture and flavour. The wine list is lengthy. Starting with a selection of Italian Prosecco and finishing on 25 year old Pedro Ximenez, you'll find something to match perfectly with your meal. Go for the food, stay for the view.
Japan’s beloved illustrator, director and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki is once again helping us believe in the good of humanity with his latest passion project. Miyazaki is building a park on Kume Island, in the Okinawa Prefecture, a park intended to preserve and celebrate nature and remind children that, to quote Miyazaki himself, “It’s good to be alive.” Pass the tissues please ;_;. The park, which is scheduled for completion in 2018, will inhabit 10,000 square metres of pristine forest and Miyazaki has donated $2.5 million towards the project. Although he is often touted as the Walt Disney of Japan, their parks couldn’t be more dissimilar. Miyazaki’s park will have room for just 30 guests, which leaves a whole lot of space for running through the woods and recreating iconic scenes from Princess Mononoke. And construction and development will be centred around using only local building techniques, resources and labour so you know, it’s the exact opposite of a soulless Disney theme park (and far removed from the beautifully depressing Banksy kind). Here's the plan for Miyazaki's pristine nature park: Perhaps you'll find a few little trolls in the woods: Or little kodama doing their thing: Or a casual forest spirit, hangin': Miyazaki has always been an unwavering social critic, picking apart the wrongs of society in both his films and his public commentary. The countless allegories for environmentalism in his films are not lost on the audience but unlike many celebrity crusaders, he can often be found quietly doing the hard yards as well. Earlier this year he ran a mass public clean-up of the Fuchi no Mori forest, which he saved from development 20 years earlier with a $2.56 million dollar donation, and which is believed to have inspired the setting of My Neighbour Totoro. In the 2013 documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness he told documentarian Mami Sunada of walking to work every day with a rubbish bag in hand to clean up the streets and spending his weekend in gumboots, cleaning up the local river. He might actually be the river spirit from Spirited Away. So, now we all have a few new items to add to the bucket list, including ‘clean rivers’, ‘visit Kume’ and ‘become modern day version of Princess Mononoke’. All are now possible. Via Good Magazine.
Planning on heading away over the Easter break? You better get your skates on, because the best places are filling up fast. Luckily Airbnb have got plenty of cool and quirky listings for people in need of a holiday. Whether you're organising a group getaway or want something a little more intimate, here are ten awesome spots we reckon are worth a look. DRIVABLE FROM SYDNEY BYRON'S BRAE, POSSUM CREEK Located roughly twenty minutes inland from Byron Bay, this massive property boasts spectacular views, a pool and pool house, five bedrooms, two kitchens and a firepit. It's not cheap, but damn is it pretty. RIVER SHACK, BAR POINT A great spot for an adventurous couple, this luxurious cabin on the Hawkesbury River can only be accessed by boat! Once you're on solid ground you'll find comfortable accommodation including a bedroom, kitchen and indoor/outdoor living space, complete with outdoor fire and two-person hammock. BUSH PARADISE, MT TOMAH Gaze through enormous floor to ceiling windows at the breathtaking beauty of the Blue Mountains. This stylish cabin on the edge of the national park includes a spacious living area, fully equipped kitchen, and even has its own resident peacock, named George. DRIVEABLE FROM MELBOURNE W-CLASS TRAM, LAURISTON An hour drive from Melbourne, this rustic cottage backs onto Lauriston forest and comes complete with its own tiki bar, undercover BBQ area and W-Class tram. That's right, a tram, one that has been carefully converted into its own separate two-bedroom unit. Between that, the main house and a vintage caravan, there's room here for up to nine people. BINAH GUESTHOUSE, GLENBURN This charming two bedroom guesthouse in Glenburn, Victoria sells itself as the perfect bush retreat. The private deck provides you with uninhibited views of the natural landscape, before you venture out to explore the neighbouring Yarra Valley. YARINGA, KENNETT RIVER Why choose between visiting the beach and the bush when you can do both? This three bedroom holiday house on the Great Ocean Road sits on stilts on the edge of a eucalyptus forest, with views overlooking the ocean. DRIVEABLE FROM BRISBANE ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY, FERNVALE With 360 degree views of the secluded Brisbane Valley, this five bedroom property in Fernvale seems like the ultimate place to relax. Laze about in either one of the two sun lounges, or go for a paddle in the heated outdoor pool. If you're in a more recreational mood, you can also go fishing in the nearby Brisbane River. COUNTRY CREEK RETREAT, COOROY This one bedroom house surrounded by rainforest and rolling hills looks absolutely gorgeous. Enjoy a cookout under the stars, or go hang with platypus and turtles at the nearby billabong. BRIGHTON KITE SHED, BRIGHTON Spacious and modern, this studio apartment in Brighton is located right by the seaside, and just twenty minutes from the centre of Brisbane. It's also only a quick walk to Sandgate village, replete with shops, restaurants and cafes. NEEDS A FLIGHT PRIVATE RIVER VALLEY SUITE, UBUD For those of you with a bit more disposable income, why not try jetting off to Bali. Located around thirty minutes out of Denpasar, this luxury retreat is 200m from the beach and includes a plunge pool, private outdoor bathtub, four post queen bed and an in-house chef. Don't act like you're not tempted. NZ ARCHITECT'S HOLIDAY HOME, WAIHEKE ISLAND This ultra-modern lodging on Waiheke Island near Auckland was recently shortlisted for the NZ Home of the Year Award. After snooping around the Airbnb listing, it's certainly not hard to see why. If it weren't for all the surrounding foliage, you'd think you were holidaying in the not too distant future. THE BOOT, TASMAN, NEW ZEALAND Why bother visiting the Lord of the Rings set when you can spend your entire holiday living in a fairy tale? Describing this one bedroom lodging seems a little bit redundant. You're not blind. It's a boot. You shouldn't need us to tell you why that's awesome.
Australia's love affair with the meat pie has reached extravagantly unfathomable new heights, with today's unveiling of a pie worth a whopping $12,000. Billed as the world's most expensive pie, the gold-encrusted pastry is the result of a partnership between the Lord Dudley Hotel in Paddington and Groupon Australia; celebrating the sale of the website's two-millionth food and drink voucher. Baked by Lord Dudley's executive chef Paul Medcalf, the so-called posh pie is made with David Blackmore's Wagyu beef eye fillet, rock lobster from Western Australia, Italian porcini mushrooms, 500g of black truffles and a selection of organically-grown vegetables, as well as two bottles of Penfolds Grange Reserve. The top of the pie consists of puff pastry covered in shaved truffles and — wait for it — 23 carat gold leaf from Germany. Yes, it sounds delicious and opulent and outrageous. But $12,000? To put that price into perspective, this pie costs roughly the same amount as 2500 Four 'N' Twenty Pies from 7-Eleven, or fifty-two thousand frozen party pies from Coles. But their gravy ain't made of the Grange. Groupon have released a video of the baking process, complete with inspiring MasterChef-style music, viewable below. Drooling is permitted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnjpc_9auDA Anyone with a casual 12K lying around can make a purchase offer here. The rest of us plebs can also win a free taste, through a competition on the Groupon website.
Two professional Aussie cricketers sporting an insatiable love of coffee start their own coffee pod company. Boom. It's true, meet Tripod Coffee. Cricketers Steve Cazzulino and Ed Cowan were perpetually on the road playing state cricket, and brought along a Nespresso machine with them for much-needed cups of coffee in the morning before matches. Seeking a local, sustainable alternative to the George Clooney-fronted pod giant proved difficult, so the pair saw a glimmering niche in the coffee-obsessed Aussie market. Steve and Ed decided to create their own small company making pods filled with high-quality coffee that fit perfectly in the Nespresso machine. "On a rainy day we thought, why don't we have a crack and take on the big boys?" says Ed. "We could fill the capsules with coffee that we really enjoy drinking". With Steve and Ed touting a pretty gutsy attitude to take on the pod monopoly, they cooked up a bit of clever naming ('tri' for their three foundation coffee blends and 'pod') and Tripod Coffee was born. You'll find a lot of Central and South American and African (namely Ethiopian and Kenyan) coffees in their store because "the coffees from those areas really suit the [capsule] extraction process." After their coffee has been ethically sourced, it's given the special treatment by a local award-winning roaster, packed and shipped. During the process, all oxygen is vacuumed from the pod so when you pop it in your machine, it'll be like it was freshly ground. The best bit? The capsules are recyclable. Sustainable, local coffee — yep, that's music to our ears. Ed and Steve started the business in order to provide a green alternative to the aluminium pods of Nespresso. Ed and Steve's sense of humour comes through the product names, using of different hats for different blends and strengths — Grey Gaucho, Red Fedora, Blue Beret, Black Panama, Gold Sombrero. The reason is pretty damn simple. "When you turn the capsule upside down, they look a little bit like hats." Aside from their mainstays, like the Red Fedora which works as a great citrus-y espresso, they're keen to run special edition capsules and expand their single origin series. Yes, with Tripod Coffee, single origin Panamanian might be coming to your Nespresso machine soon. So where can you find Tripod? As well as being stocked in every single QT Hotel across Australia, Tripod Coffee is available online or Harris Farm, IGA, and independent grocers across NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Learn more about Tripod Coffee on their website.
In 2013, a factory collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing approximately 1130 workers. The building, named Rana Plaza, housed five garment factories and more than 3000 workers, all working under inhumane and unsafe conditions. Ever since, ethical clothing has been a big question mark hanging over the fashion industry. Living wage, fair labour conditions, sustainability, tracing raw materials back to their source, corporate transparency and accountability all blend to make one complicated and bleak tapestry. But each year since the accident, more and more is done to help consumers make more sophisticated and informed ethical choices. There's even an app to steer you in the right direction. It can be devastating when your favourite brands don't pass the ethics muster — but don't worry, you won't have to start sewing all your own clothes just yet. There are still some fashion companies, both large and small, that are trying to be ethical — and they're doing a damn good job at it. Here are our top five local picks. ETIKO Etiko is the poster child of ethical fashion. The Melbourne-based brand has been trading since 2005 and are certified fair-trade and halal. They consistently blitz the competition whenever ethical ratings are assessed, but their products remain quite reasonably priced (a basic tee will set you back $30 and a pair of Converse-esque canvas sneakers cost around $90). Although the pervading stereotype is that ethical/fair-trade/handmade products are expensive, it's not surprising that Etiko can deliver good quality, ethical garments. International aid and development org Baptist World Aid Australia's 2016 fashion report estimates that to achieve a living wage (that is, an income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs) in Bangladesh, the base cost of a t-shirt would go from 66 cents to around a dollar. We can definitely afford that. [caption id="attachment_572501" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Audrey Blue[/caption] AUDREY BLUE Audrey Blue is up there with Etiko as a shining example of sustainable, ethical fashion. The company exclusively uses Global Organic Textile Standard certified cotton from India. Like Etiko, they're all over every stage of production, from manufacturing all the way down to raw inputs, and can prove a living wage is paid to workers at both stages. They also spruik a more sustainable approach to consuming fashion, encouraging their customers to buy classic, flattering, low-maintenance pieces designed to last for many seasons instead of throwing them away for more current styles (a fab piece of style advice, as far as we're concerned). STUDIO MÜCKE Studio MüCKE is the project of RMIT student Ellie Mücke that aims to solve the problems she observed while coming up in the fashion world. What she saw was wasteful attitudes towards materials, and seasonal fashion trends creating a cycle where perfectly good garments get replaced every few months. Studio MüCKE aims to address the implicit engineered redundancy in fashion by using upcycled and recycled materials and running their studio on 100 percent renewable energy. Every piece is made in-house, meaning it's produced both ethically and locally. They've also adopted a practice of customising and designing for the user to avoid wastage (because we all know the feeling of turfing something because it looked great in-store but terrifying in the harsh light of our bathroom). KITSU One of the factors to consider when trying to buy ethical is where the products are being made. The closer to home an item is produced, the fewer kilometres it has to travel to make you look fab. So the fact that Kitsu jewellery is not just insanely cute but also handcrafted in Melbourne is music to our squiggly, pastel-styled ears. The label produces a range of sweet jewellery, including loopy earrings and marbled rings, bracelets and necklaces. Cute, weird, ethical and supporting local artisans? Yes puh-lease. VEGE THREADS Vege Threads is living, breathing, thriving proof that there's a big, hungry market for ethical fashion in Melbourne. They employ 100 percent Australian production, use locally-sourced and environmentally sound dyes and fabrics, have accreditation from Ethical Clothing Australia, donate a portion of all proceeds to a Balinese charity, and pack their products in recycled materials too. And if that isn't enough for you, their collections are unbearably chic (but still classic), trans-seasonal and perfect for layering so you won't have to pack anything away for winter. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes — thank you Vege Threads for proving that it can be done without compromises. HONOURABLE MENTIONS There are a few big retailers that, despite how time-consuming and complicated it may be, still manage to stay ethical. It may surprise and delight you that a mammoth company like Zara (owned by parent company Inditex) is one of these retailers — and, in fact, since the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster and implementation of the Bangladeshi fire and building safety Accord agreement, they've been making strides to improve their ethics rating. They score well on labour conditions, guaranteeing living wage, and have signed up to the ACT agreement and the Better Cotton Initiative (both aimed at improving conditions for workers at various stages of production). However, according to the Good On You ethical fashion app, they don't do so well on environmental policies. If you're looking to shop Australian brands, Cue is certified by Ethical Clothing Australia for their Australian-made range of clothes, and Cotton On do alright as well. They were signatories of the previously mentioned Accord agreement, Good On You rate their labour policies as "robust" and, and 2016 fashion report commends them for the traceability of their materials and awarded an overall grade of B+ in 2015. It's a solid start and hopefully, with consumers demanding more transparency, these brands will continue to improve. Top image: Vege Threads. Want to shop more sustainably as well? Find out where to buy more Australian sustainable fashion here.
In the heart of Chinatown, China Red is one of those spots that is deceptively small at first glance. But you should always try your luck, even if it looks too busy, as there's a downstairs dining room that always has space for hungry dumpling seekers. Inside is a classic dumpling house specialising in xiao long bao, veggie dumplings and salt and pepper squid, as well as bigger more traditional dishes like pipis in a spicy XO sauce. The gimmick of China Red is ordering everything through a touch screen menu at each table. Great for getting carried away and over-ordering — or adding extra dishes when you're halfway through and realise how delicious everything is. China Red allows BYO beer and wine. Start by ordering some dim sums, with the prawn and chive perfectly flavoured and the peking pork dumplings a real hit. The scallop and prawn dumplings don't miss a beat while the vegetarians options is there to cover all bases. Follow it up with a seafood and bean curd soup and some chicken san choi bao before moving onto a main. We'd suggest the fish fillet with pickled cabbage and the sliced beef in satay sauce. Images: Tracey Ah-kee
Food enthusiasts in Fitzroy are in for a good time at Bontempo Pizzeria. In fact, that's literally what the name of the restaurant means, 'good time'. The second venture from the team behind Fratellino in South Yarra, this newly opened Brunswick Street eatery is serving woodfired pizza alongside an array Italian staples, and is generally doing everything it can to deliver what it promises. "With the space we have we can cater to everyone, from couples to families and larger groups," says co-owner Joe Kavanagh. "We know that if we keep it simple by teaming good quality pizza and pasta with affordable drinks in a casual atmosphere, the rest will take care of itself." Kavanagh points to The Bont, the restaurant's signature pizza made with whiskey-infused Western Plains pulled pork, fresh basil, garlic, sage, tomato and mozzarella, as a menu highlight. Other standout options include the Salsicce e Funghi with pork and fennel sausage, mushrooms, garlic, parsley and mozzarella; and the Zucca, a vegetarian number with roast pumpkin, feta, basil, pine nuts, spinach, rosemary, garlic and tomato. All Bontempo's pizzas are made in a Valoriani clay wood-fire oven imported from Italy and custom-built on site. If you're not in the mood for pizza (although we can't fathom why that would be), you might want to try the Fettuccine Gamberoni made with king prawns, white wine, garlic, cream and a dash of napoli. Alternatively, you can sink your teeth into a chargrilled swordfish steak. For dessert, choose from classic Italian sweets such as affogato and chocolate calzone. As for beverages, Bontempo offers a wide range of local and Italian wines, as well as beers from Fitzroy Cellars and Thunder Road Brewing, and cocktails from The Everleigh Bottling Co. Find Bontempo Pizzeria at 416–418 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. For more info, visit their website. Images: Tom Ross.
If there's one thing Michael Madrusan and his team have a knack for, it's creating strong characters. The founders of hospitality group Made In The Shade nailed a distinctly elegant vibe with award-winning cocktail bar The Everleigh, and followed up with the wild child party animal that is Russell Street's Heartbreaker. And in 2019, Michael, alongside wife Zara and the rest of the crew, turned his hand to yet another personality-fuelled venue, taking cues from the french brasseries of The Big Apple for the effortlessly sophisticated Bar Margaux. It's a long-discussed concept for which the team finally found the perfect home in a CBD basement — complete with very handy 24-hour licence. Rocking a sprawling underground space on Lonsdale Street, Margaux is one of Melbourne's finest places to go to for wining, dining and late-night good times. The vibe was pitched somewhere in between her two siblings. "She's a wild horse, she's got that wild late-night feel," says Zara. "It's going to be fun, it's going to be casual. A bar before a restaurant, but also a bit glamorous and sophisticated." Here, the fun kicks on till midnight weekdays and 3am Fridays and Saturdays (a rarity with venues of this sort in the CBD), with a substantial supper menu of classic French fare on offer right through to close. It's also the Madrusans' biggest dive into the culinary game yet. Sophisticated, comforting French fare is the schtick — the lineup of escargot, seafood gratin, duck frites and bavette steak are very similar to what you'd find in one of New York's well-loved brasseries. But, while Bar Margaux's key culinary focus might be on those classic French flavours, it's also out to deliver Melburnians a top-notch late-night offering. Shift workers and hospitality night-walkers can now tuck into the likes of steak frites, poached salmon with caviar or a decadent cote de boeuf, right through until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. The rest of the week is also a win for late-night appetites, with the kitchen plating up until midnight. [caption id="attachment_743072" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] Then, there's the specials. Bar Margaux's 'Golden Hour', which runs daily from 10pm until close, promising eats and drinks at wallet-friendly prices. You might pop in for a burger matched with a glass of Burgundy, or perhaps a serve of oysters, steak tartare and Champagne when you decide to feed your late-night munchies in the most luxurious way possible. Of course, with this team at the helm, the drinks list was always going to be gold as well. Madrusan's biggest cocktail list yet features a choose-your-own-adventure 'This & That' section, a solid spread of lower ABV creations and some longtime owner favourites, like the stout-infused Black Velvet, and a classic Irish coffee. Throw in a strong list of European beers, French wines and an impressive selection of Champagne and you'll be very glad this place kicks on late. Venue images: Parker Blain. Food images: Gareth Sobey. Appears in: The Best Bars in Melbourne for 2023 The Best French Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023
This article is sponsored by our partners, Mr & Mrs Smith. Explore your sensual side with a coral reef backdrop, sip a cocktail flanked by elephants or get pampered in style at the boutique boltholes, luxury lodgings and relaxing resorts crowned the best in the world in this year’s Smith Hotel Awards. Shining a light on notable newcomers, stunning stalwarts and all-round amazing accommodation, the team at Mr & Mrs Smith pitted more than 950 hotels in the collection head to head, emerging with 12 luminaries of luxury. Best-Dressed Hotel: El Fenn, Marrakech, Morocco The bold and beautiful interiors of El Fenn in Marrakech captured the imagination of the judges and public alike, enticing them with its colossal custom-built baths, six-foot-wide beds and creature comforts. The hotel’s impressive art collection boasts sculpture, paintings and photography by David Shrigley, Bridget Riley, Antony Gormley and Batoul Shimi, but they’re not the only standouts in this once-derelict riad. Perfectly polished tadelakt in arsenic-blue and rose-pink and carved cedarwood provide the backdrop to the artworks; camel-leather flooring, Berber rugs and traditional Moroccan tiling treat your feet. Rainbow-hued fabrics woven by loom cover the communal furniture on the rooftop terrace, continuing the jewel-coloured mishmash of patterns and textures. Sexiest Bedroom: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Nha Trang, Vietnam There are no doors in the five ravishingly romantic water villas at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay; instead a private seaside staircase yawns down to the hillside. All the villas are set right on the ocean but Number Five is the best of the bunch, with an infinity-edge pool set amid the coastal rocks, a private ladder leading into the ocean and a coral reef as its backdrop. Guests can wake up to the gentle sound of waves and the view to match, or enjoy a bath for two in complete serenity as the sun sets. The deck comes complete with sunbeds and privacy courtesy of the surrounding rocks, meaning a steamy outdoor session isn’t out of the question. A dedicated butler, available 24/7, will look after your every whim, so leaving your wood-and-white villa is optional. Hottest Hotel Bar: The NoMad Hotel, New York The magnificent master-in-residence, decadent decor and cosmopolitan crowds made the Elephant Bar at The NoMad Hotel the judges’ favourite. The mahogany pachyderms (after which the bar takes its name) guard the brilliant bartenders, who will whip up something from the fascinating cocktail menu curated by master mixologist Leo Robitschek. His passion for under-the-radar spirits, sought-after wines and craft-beer collaborations results in an intoxicatingly good selection. The Satan’s Circus cocktail, made with rye whiskey, chilli-infused aperol, cherry heering and lemon juice, makes a cheeky nod to the area’s mischievous past – it was once drenched in debauchery, with a number of dance halls and gambling haunts. Lashings of leather and dark-wood furnishings contribute to the sultry surroundings; the only thing sexier is the two-person-deep claw-foot bath tub, set beside the windows, in the Atelier rooms upstairs. Best Hotel Restaurant: Hartnett, Holder & Co at Lime Wood, Hampshire, UK Hartnett, Holder & Co, the signature restaurant at Hampshire’s Lime Wood proves that sometimes two chefs are better than one. Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder are a delicious duo, presenting a clever blend of comfort cuisine and seasonal sourcing and merging Italian culinary ideologies with classic British dishes. The menu changes regularly; expect a choice of starters, pasta, meat, fish and sharing dishes. Hartnett and Holder aim to produce home-cooked food, grounded in a respect for local produce and served in a relaxed eating atmosphere. Their team also forages for fungi in neighbouring woods and hand-rear their meat and cure it in the onsite smokehouse, resulting in organic offerings that are guaranteed to tempt your tastebuds. Best Spa Hotel: Dormy House, Cotswolds, UK The recently opened Dormy House has become a hit with Cotswolds spa-goers, boasting not just one but five drawcards. This 17th-century farmhouse has been given a 21st-century twist, retaining its honey-hued exterior but with pepped-up interiors that emanate a clean-lined, Scandi-chic feel. The 16m candlelit infinity pool may be the centrepiece of the spa, but the rhassoul-mud room, fragrant thermal suite, Veuve Clicquot nail bar and host of Temple Spa treatments are equally attractive to pamper aficionados. An outdoor hydrotherapy pool and tropical rain shower complete the package. Fitness fans can work out at one of two gyms — one for a leisurely session and the Studio for pre-booked personal training sessions and a range of classes. Soothe sore muscles with a treatment in one of the six rooms; couples can share the experience in the double room. The Eco Award: Sal Salis, Ningaloo Reef Situated in the remote Cape Range National Park, Sal Salis is a prime example of how to protect a fragile eco-system. The hotel’s luxury seaside tents rely solely on solar power, use composting toilets and have a tightly controlled water system, reducing their environmental footprint. Besides other campmates, the only visitors at this secluded spot will be kangaroos, so guests can enjoy the splendour of nearby Ningaloo Reef in peace. Days can be spent underwater, mingling with the manta rays, dolphins, turtles and sparkling shoals of fish that also call this part of the world home. Each time someone stays here, the camp makes a donation to the Australian Wildlife Conservatory — guests contribute to the protection of the area as they enjoy it. Best for Families: Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Blue Mountains Zoos are one thing; 4,000 jaw-dropping acres of pristine natural wilderness (with a world-class spa and restaurant) are quite another. Families are in for an-eco adventure of a lifetime at Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, the luxury lodging just out of Sydney. Kids and adults alike will love looking for the local wildlife — including wallabies, wombats, kangaroos and cockatoos — in jeeps, by bike, on foot or even horseback. Knowledgeable guides can lead the whole clan on a wildlife, Aboriginal history, colonial heritage or guided mountain bike tour, all included in the room rates. The Federation-style bungalows are sumptuously styled — with stained-glass door panels, natural stone, timber and fabrics — they’re also perfectly positioned to take in the stunning surrounding scenery. Best budget hotel: 1888 Hotel, Sydney The only thing old-fashioned about 1888 Hotel is its price tag — its gorgeous young staff and vibrant interiors make it seem far more expensive than it is. Smack bang in the middle of Sydney, the hotel’s rooms feature reclaimed Ironbark beams and period windows combined with the most mod of cons, including an in-room iPad and a designated ‘selfie spot’ in the lobby. The bedrooms are stylish and cosy, with natural light, exposed brick walls and punchy Australian artworks. Those who want to take full advantage of the hotel’s location should stay in the Attic, which boasts the best views of the harbour city; a sociable lounge area; and a sun-kissed patio, perfect for soaking up those afternoon rays. A smart bar menu and delicious food courtesy of 1888 Eatery and Bar cap off the thoroughly enjoyable experience at this harbour-side haven. Best Hotel Pool: Monastero Santa Rosa, Amalfi Coast, Italy Monastero Santa Rosa’s high-rise heated infinity pool has set a new standard for man-made bodies of water. Carved into the terraced clifftop with jaw-dropping views of the Amalfi Coast, its beach-like edge offers the perfect perch to enjoy an unbroken panorama of the Bay of Salerno. The clever lighting and perfectly placed sunbeds make it the ideal spot to spend an afternoon, before watching the sun set over the coast. With a perimeter that blends seamlessly into the horizon, you’ll struggle to figure out where the pool ends and the sea begins. When you tire of the view, turn back towards the 17th-century monastery for a treatment at the Santa Maria Novella-stocked spa or a meal at the Santa Rosa Ristorante, where chef Christoph Bob plucks produce from the surrounding gardens to produce extraordinary interpretations of traditional Campanian dishes. Above and Beyond: Southern Ocean Lodge, South Australia Luxe Kangaroo Island resort Southern Ocean Lodge offers cool and contemporary suites and all-inclusive rates in one of the world’s most secluded and serene locations. Sitting at the bottom of South Australia, this designer haven is the last stop before Antarctica, making it a superb spot for some solitude. The calming suites take full advantage of the outdoors, with jaw-dropping views from the freestanding tub, fireplace and spacious private terrace, complete with a dreamy day bed. Luxury lovers should opt for the opulent Osprey Suite: the separate lounge, freestanding handmade stone bath and terrace spa are incredibly indulgent. The multifaceted lobby features a bar and restaurant, walk-in wine cellar, a shop selling local produce and a sunken lounge with a French fireplace suspended from the ceiling and enough books and magazines for even the most literary of lovers. All food, drinks and activities are included in your fare, so once you arrive, there’s no need for arithmetic. Best Newcomer: Ham Yard Hotel, London, UK Perched by Piccadilly Circus, Ham Yard Hotel’s vintage-inspired bowling alley, rooftop terrace with Soho views and restaurant-supplying garden are just the tip of the iceberg at this designer den. Featuring designer Kit Kemp’s signature multipatterned, multi-oloured style, the spacious bedrooms are individually designed with their own mix of art, textures and bright bursts of colour. The headboards are particularly impressive; so is the compact kitchen stocked with Sipsmith spirits in the larger rooms. If the hustle and bustle of London gets a tad tiring, guests can retire to the Ham Yard theatre—– continuing the crazy colour scheme with tangerine seats, electric-blue walls and fuchsia silk curtains — for a film screening, or head to the retro bowling alley for entertainment of a different kind. The honesty bar in the guests-only library will keep everyone’s thirst quenched when the competition heats up, and the bustling restaurant will keep every guest well-fed. Best Smith Hotel 2014: Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa, Bahia, Brazil The Best Smith Hotel is a competitive class: with over 950 hotels to choose from, the winner has to be doing some spectacular things to take out the top gong. This year, breathtaking Brazilian beauty Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa won the judges over with its stunning beachside location, dedication to sustainable tourism and interiors you’d expect to see in a design magazine. Tucked between clifftop Trancoso and postcard-perfect Bahian beaches, the hotel boasts ten restored fishermen’s casas and treehouses bestowed with island-chic styling. The traditional touch comes courtesy of mini stained-glass windows and small oratorios in these rustic-chic villas, whose other features include outdoor showers, private plunge pools and repurposed pipes made from eucalyptus. The beach bar (complete with a restored fishing boat as its counter) and restaurant look over the glittering, aventurine-quartz lined pool, offering a shady spot to escape the Brazilian heat. No stay is complete without a visit to Almescar Spa, home to Bahia’s first Vichy treatment suite. Warm water pours down from carved eucalyptus trunks in the tree-flanked pavilions and therapies use indigenous ingredients such as cacao and almiscar. Find out more about the Smith Hotel Awards 2014, browse the full collection of hotels or contact Smith’s expert Travel Team on 1300 896 627.
Meatstock Festival is setting up its smoky self in the Melbourne Showgrounds on the weekend of April 22 and 23, and if you're the sort of person who likes to eat meat until you start shaking with the meat sweats and can (m)eat no more, then we have an opportunity very relevant to your interests. Enter your details into the box below and you'll not only go into the draw to win two VIP passes to the festival, you'll also win the chance to become a fully-certified barbecue judge. Over the Meatstock weekend, you'll participate in a barbecue-tasting training course and sit at a judging table to taste test 30 courses of the finest barbecue Melbourne has to offer. If you're going to go to one barbecue festival this year, make it Meatstock. Not just your regular food festival, Meatstock has a music lineup that includes The Delta Riggs, The Davidson Brothers, The Tomahawks and Bullhorn. Sure, there'll be less music than there is at Woodstock, but there will be 200% more tasty meat-related foods. The food stars of the show are Jack The Ribber (smoky, slow-cooked goodness), and The Real Jerk (Caribbean street food). Try both, or all of the 13 food stalls and then fall into a sweaty, cholesterol-heavy heap — don't say we didn't warn you. There's more to see once you walk that off, like a live demonstration from The Sausage Queen or representatives from your favourite chilli sauces (Melbourne Hot Sauce) and knife brands. Finally, for a little old-fashioned rivalry, the festival will be running both Barber Wars and Butcher Wars, which will basically be a bunch of hopefully unbloodied people running around competing and wielding various knives. What a weekend. To win the barbecue-tasting prize, you must be available from 8am to 4pm on Sunday April 23 — there are 30 courses of barbecue to taste, it's going to take a while. If you don't win, tickets are $35 per day or $55 for the whole weekend. [competition]617370[/competition]
Music, as with any art form, can serve as a means to escape; therapeutic and magical, infectious and addictive. For Adit Gauchan of Horrorshow, making music is a labour of love — actually, it's his every waking moment. "I love and breathe music so heavily that it's all I can do," he says. Horrorshow is an Australian hip hop duo from Sydney's inner west. The band is made up of producer, Adit Gauchan, and Nick Bryant-Smith (or MC Solo) on vocals. The two met at high school and released their first album in 2008 through Sydney label, Elefant Traks. Adit explains, "we started out making music in our dad's houses. We'd write and record in our bedrooms and I guess that way of working has never really stopped for us". In partnership with Sonos, we've been delving into some of our favourite artist's home studios – here is where the Horrorshow magic happens. THE MAGIC HAPPENS IN A CONVERTED BEDROOM Three years ago, Adit moved in with Sarah Corry, his partner in life, love and music (she's one half of Sydney electronica duo, Left). They soon converted the second bedroom of their Newtown house into a studio space. "One of the best things about having a home studio is the creative people that come through regularly", he says. "Every couple of months we'll have a party, and what happens when you get a bunch of musicians in the same room, dancing and drinking? They want to record some demos in the studio". His second-bedroom home studio serves as a safe, creative space for many of the other musicians the pair work with (Left and the One Day project, to name just two). "This is where we write a lot of the music". 'Sleep', a song by Hau (the solo project of Hau Latukefu, formerly of Koolism) was worked out at one of Adit's parties. "Capturing that kind of energy, it's a real positive for me". Of course, music is played at parties and music gets heard at parties. If you create the right environment, music can be created at parties. He continues, "Luckily we have some very lovely neighbours who support us and don't mind the noise". THEIR HOUSE IS NEVER, EVER SILENT I ask him what's it's like living with another creative - after all, Sarah is a successful vocalist and musician herself. "It brings an interesting dynamic. Creatively, there's an understanding", he says. Music pulsates through their house almost constantly, through his Sonos speakers. Good sound is important to him. Especially, Adit says, when the pair (or anyone that happens to visit their house) are recording. Our conversation continues and he voices a well-humoured frustration with Bluetooth. "Like most people, I don't have the best relationship with Bluetooth. It's just so unreliable, which is why I'm so pumped that Sonos speakers connect with Wi-Fi". FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU AND RUN WITH IT After almost a decade, Horrorshow's method of writing and recording hasn't really changed. Adit's home studio functions as a writing space where he crafts and layers beats, usually on his own. Once he feels he's onto something good, Solo will come over and the two will jam out the direction the song will take. "We'll work on songs together, but Solo might go and chill in the back yard and work on raps and melodies for beats I've already laid down". Like many musicians, Horrorshow started out with home recording and stresses how important it is to figure out what works for you. "I would love to have a studio at my place of residence, but not necessarily inside the house. If one day, I had a bigger back yard and there was a bit more space, I'd love to house a recording space in a different building", he says. Everyone works differently and there are certainly challenges to working from home - concentration, motivation, loneliness. WORK EVERY DAY, UNTIL YOU LOSE YOUR FLOW. THEN GO TO THE BEACH There are few things more frustrating than a creative block, when the pace slows and your fingers are giving you nothing. For Adit, his creativity suffers when he loses momentum. "When I've been writing a lot, the ideas will flow. Shooting videos, going on tour - these things get in the way. I really find routine is the most important thing when it comes to creativity", he says. "Create a space that you want to spend time in and work on something everyday. That's how you'll make great stuff and get better". What about when the dreaded creative block hits? "Just stop. Go outside, have a meal, go to the beach, enjoy the sunshine". Yes, sir. SWITCH OFF, AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO When it comes to switching off, Adit doesn't struggle too much. "Being in the studio is never work to me. Sure, there is work relating to what I do — meetings, tour rehearsals, that sort of stuff — but when I'm in the studio, that's a whole different thing. It's important to have a space that encourages your creativity, that you're happy to use regularly". Naturally, when you spend every waking minute practicing your art, it can be difficult to switch off. "Even when I'm doing my tax, it's related to music in some way. Switching off can definitely be a problem, but it's not insurmountable. It doesn't make me want to change the way I do things, it's something I'm happy to put up with", Adit continues. "With music, it's fun and all that, but if you want to make a living out of it, you have to live and breathe it. But, if you love what you do, it's worth it right?" Get studio-level sound in your home with Sonos. Walk from one room to another and hear the same song in perfect quality – speakers are powered by wifi and tune automatically. Horrowshow are pumped for their thirteen date national tour. It's their first time on the road in nearly a year, and they're promising new tracks alongside old favourites.
Gather a gaggle of your best mates and get ready to hit the town. White Night, Melbourne's massive all-night arts bash, is back for another year, with a jam-packed program of music, film, performance, light shows and interactive art. Perhaps you'll see a school of jellyfish floating down Flinders Lane, or pay a visit to the NGV's Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei exhibition. Alternatively, you could spend the whole night skateboarding or dancing up a storm. The only thing that's for certain is, with so much on offer, you'd better know ahead of time what you really want to see and do. That's where we come in. We've pored over the program, combed through hundreds of events and artists, and narrowed it down to the ten events you simply can't afford to miss. Circus acts, grumpy cats and a giant golden monkey are just a few of the things you'll find on our list, which we've conveniently ordered by location (starting north and heading south). Dive in! FOR PROJECTIONS: PITCHA MAKIN FELLAS Anyone who was out and about at White Light last year would tell you the projection at the Royal Exhibition Building was one of the absolute highlights. Luckily for us, Portuguese creative studio OCUBO are returning to the historic building, and this time they're collaborating with Indigenous arts collective Pitcha Makin Fellas. The resulting work will see traditional Aboriginal stories reinterpreted and brought to life via a mesmerising light show. Sounds like the perfect way to kick off (or close out) your evening, depending on which direction you're heading. FOR ACROBATICS: CIRCUS CIRCUS Run away and join the circus at the Melbourne Museum Plaza, where some of Australia's most talented acrobats will be putting on a show. Artists from Circus Oz and the Women's Circus will join students from NICA and various other community circuses for a non-stop, 12-hour display of aerials, acrobatics and death-defying stunts. You'll also get the chance to see behind the scenes and even learn a few simple tricks yourself. Think juggling and hula hooping — tightrope walking might be a little too advanced! FOR AQUATIC VISUALS: INCUBATOR Something strange is bubbling just beneath the surface at the iconic Melbourne City Baths. Using a combination of projections and 3D animation, celebrated artist Craig Walsh will turn a 30m lap pool into an oversized glowing petri dish positively writhing with strange and sensational life forms. You'll likely never want to go swimming again, but we'll be damned if it doesn’t sound fascinating. Or maybe we're confusing 'fascinating' with 'horrifying'. It's such a fine line. FOR SPARKLY SKIPPING: JUMP ROPE It's back to the playground at the RMIT Alumni Courtyard, where illuminated skipping ropes will weave rainbows through the darkness. Designed by public artist Ainslie Macaulay, a team of rope twirlers will be on hand all night to keep the glowing ropes moving and provide participants with a few helpful pointers. Anyone is welcome to throw themselves in, regardless of age or ability. Although, come to think of it — if you've been pre-drinking, you might be better off watching from the sidelines. FOR LIBRARY LIGHTS: IDEATION Step into what the White Night program describes as "a multi-sensory ecosystem of imagination", when a group of artists invade the State Library of Victoria. Ideation will give visitors the chance to explore the magnificent building, and see the iconic dome lit up as part of a spectacular light and sound show. Basically, it's the perfect event for any bookworms out there who've dreamed of spending the night locked in the library. FOR A SURPRISE: GOLDEN MONKEY There's an air of mystery around this particular artwork, with the White Night website promising that "all will be revealed on the night". What we do know is that this major installation, from acclaimed Melbourne artist Lisa Roet, involves a 10-metre high golden monkey and the facade of the Melbourne Town Hall. If you just had a vision of the end of King Kong, then rest assured, you're not alone. Sounds like a whole lot of monkey business to us — but we have to admit, we're intrigued. FOR SMALL-SPACE PERFORMANCE: NEON LANEWAY Graffiti and contemporary dance may not seem like a natural pairing, yet they're being smashed together on Rutledge Lane as part of this collaborative piece of after-dark promenade theatre. With eight performances throughout the night (at 8.30pm, 9pm, 10pm, 11pm, midnight, 2am, 4am and 6am), expect a vibrant mix of street art, mime, clowning, dance, contact improvisation and physical theatre — all accompanied by a beat-driven soundtrack from sound artist Sam McAuliffe. FOR KITTIES: INTERNET CAT VIDEO FESTIVAL Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. This White Night, ACMI are hosting a film festival dedicated entirely to internet cat videos. Screening every half hour, this compilation of the web's most amusing felines should provide a welcome reprieve from the more serious, thought-provoking stuff on the program. While you're at ACMI, you can also check out the Next Level Games Lounge, their collection of virtual reality shorts, or pay a visit to Julian Rosefeldt's ongoing Manifesto exhibition. FOR INTERACTIVITY: CMD. CTRL. DECIPHER Seize control of one of Melbourne's most recognisable landmarks, as part of a large-scale interactive light show at the Arts Centre. White Night revellers will be asked to work as a team, using touch sensitive floor tiles in the Arts Centre forecourt to change the colour of the building's 162-metre spire. Meanwhile, sensors in front of the NGV North Wall can be used to unlock a hidden puzzle, triggering waves of light and sound. FOR ALL-NIGHT BOOGIES: MUSIC PRECINCTS This one's cheating a little, since it's actually several dozen events in one. In fact, this year's music lineup is so massive that organisers have had to spread it over four separate stages. At Live on Lonsdale you'll find a whole heap of Melbourne-based acts, including Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Briggs and The Harpoons, while the Bourke Street Mall stage will be partying NOLO style with the likes of Donut, Kylie Auldist and Horns of Leroy. Trip the Light Fantastic will turn Birrarung Marr into one gigantic dance floor, with beats by Sol Nation, Funk Buddies and Quarter Street. And lastly, Alexandra Gardens will welcome musicians from Melbourne's thriving blues scene, including Miss Whiskey, TK Reeve and The Screamin' Honkies. Phew. White Night kicks off at 7pm on Saturday, February 20 and runs until 7am on Sunday, February 21. For more information, including the complete program, visit whitenightmelbourne.com.au.
If you love cookies, you've no doubt tried one of Butterbing's cookie sandwiches. The delicious morsels can be found in cafe cabinets across the city, but this weekend, Butterbing is bringing back its super-popular Flavour Frenzy pop-up to Brunswick's Code Black Coffeee. The crew has been busy whipping up a whole range of brand new flavours, which'll be showcased alongside the classics at the Flavour Frenzy pop-up this Saturday, October 6. There'll be a total of 50 tasty varieties up for grabs during the two-hour event, including a few wild and wacky concoctions born of recent fan requests. What's more, they'll be slinging each of them for more than 35 percent off the standard retail price. Also on the program is the one-off Code Black Coffee collaboration, featuring a scoop of Piccolina gelato and a Butterbing doused in coffee. What's more, these beauties are freezer-friendly — so bring a bag, stock up now and have sweet treats on hand for whenever you get a rampant cookie craving.
Move over, Sydney Harbour. Lake Macquarie, just 90 minutes drive north, is two times bigger than you. In fact, it's the largest full-time saltwater lake this side of the equator. There are 167 kilometres of shoreline for strolling, swimming and paddling, and 90 villages for coffee-ing and feasting, just a short cruise up the Legendary Pacific Coast. Meanwhile, a short scurry overland to the coast leads to a string of pretty, pretty beaches, including Caves Beach (where there are real, actual caves on the beach), to quaint Catherine Hill Bay, dotted with 1890s miners' cottages. And, just to the west, lie the mountains, waterfalls and rainforest gullies of the Watagans National Park. Here's your guide to a dreamy lake weekender. [caption id="attachment_575383" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Lake Mac Kayak.[/caption] DO To get your bearings — and stretch your legs after the drive — start with a walk. You can take your pick, in terms of length, difficulty level and scenery. One of the easiest and most popular is the 8.9 kilometre, water-hugging Warners Bay Foreshore. It's a shared path, so you can saunter or cycle, and there's a handy, 24-7 bike hire station onsite. A mightier adventure is the 25-kilometre Yuelarbah Track, which forms part of the Great Northern Walk and takes in coastal rainforest, plus two waterfalls, before finishing at Glenrock Beach. For epic views, pop inland to conquer Mount Sugarloaf. When you're done with those, you'll find stacks more walk ideas over here. After seeing Lake Macquarie from the dry safety of land, the next step is to launch yourself onto the water. Pick up a kayak or paddleboard from Lake Mac Kayak and get shaping up those biceps. If you're the intrepid type, choose your own adventure. Otherwise, book a guided tour with School of Yak, whose itineraries include uninhabited Pulbah Island and secretive Dora Creek. Both two-hour and half-day trips are available. [caption id="attachment_554861" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Robert Montgomery.[/caption] More interested in lazy beach days? Make tracks to the coast to visit Caves Beach at low tide and you'll be playing The Goonies in a network of sea caves. For safe, patrolled swimming, head to Blacksmiths, which is at the southern end of a 14-kilometre strip of sand, ending in the rocky formations of Redhead Beach. And, at Catherine Hill Bay, you'll feel like you've stumbled into the 19th century. Once a mining village, it's heritage listed, so developers have kept away for the past 100 years. While you're there, drop by the Catho Pub for a beer in a refreshingly un-renovated, un-themed, old-school, Aussie watering hole. If you're looking for a beach inside the lake, swing by Murrays. [caption id="attachment_575386" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sephardim.[/caption] EAT AND DRINK After completing the Warners Bay Foreshore track, tuck into a Mediterranean feast at Sephardim, where the motto is, "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die." Amen. When we say Mediterranean, we really mean it. The menu is a kind of circumnavigation of the Sea, with tapas-style dishes covering Spanish, Turkish and Persian influences. Be sure to try something from the Ottoman grill, which is fired up every single day, powered by Aussie charcoal. Seasoned with herbs, standouts include the swordfish, the gypsy steak and the Zhoug chicken. Vegetarians, don't panic, there are loads of dips, salads and fancy veggies. To dine surrounded by trees with water views, grab a table at The Lakehouse Cafe, at Murrays Beach. Their hearty breakfasts, like the monster bacon and egg roll or the mega signature breakfast, will sort you out for a day of action, and lunch and high tea are on the menu, too. Special events, like tapas nights, are held every now and again — keep an eye on the website for details. [caption id="attachment_574793" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Olde Bakehouse.[/caption] Get your Italian fix on the western shore at The Olde Bakehouse, Morisset. But you can forget your usual country town spag bol or chicken parmi. Head chef Dan Way is a master of his craft and unafraid to experiment, working with the best produce that the seasons bring to his door. That's why the restaurant made the finals of the 2015 NSW Regional Restaurant Awards. So, gear up for house-made pastas, exotic inventions like wasabi-infused flying fish roe, and perfect panna cotta. Of course, the Hunter Valley's not too far away, so expect plenty of wines from the region on most wine lists in the area. If you have the time, then work your way through a degustation. On cold evenings, you won't want to rush, anyway — the fire's always a-crackling away. Another waterfront option is the Swill 'n' Grill Bistro at the Gunyah Hotel, at Belmont. Unfortunately, it was closed by a basement fire in early April, but the owners are promising to reopen soon. When that day comes, claim a spot on the verandah if you can (locals love this place). Freshly-shucked local oysters are dished up natural, Kilpatrick or mornay, while the generous Atlantic salmon steak is glazed with maple. There's also a bunch of premium quality meatiness, like the surf 'n' turf, which comes in the form of a 400 gram King Island rump with chilli garlic prawns. [caption id="attachment_575381" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Airbnb.[/caption] STAY For an old-fashioned stay on the lake's eastern edge, check into Selby Cottage at Mark's Point. You'll be cosying up among antiques and black-and-white photos, soaking in a claw-foot tub, pottering around in a private garden and catching sunsets from a waterfront verandah. Or, to be encircled by Wallarah National Park, opt for Bluebell Retreat at Murrays Beach. Designed by Queensland architect Gabriel Poole, this cottage won a UDIA for Sustainability and a HIA Greensmart Design Award. It features two large, sunny bedrooms and loads of luxe touches, from Sheridan linen to a Bose entertainment centre to decks overlooking landscaped lawns. There's also a selection of beauties on Airbnb. At The Boathouse, Wangi Wangi, on the lake's western shore, you and up to six friends can kick back in a spacious, open plan living-kitchen-dining room on waterfront reserve. Doing the romantic thing? Book peaceful Cedar Cottage, with its bamboo floors and fancy-pants bathroom and kitchen. Top image: Bill Collison.
In the week leading up to Splendour in the Grass 2016, we dared to dream of blue skies and mild weather. The Bureau of Meteorology warned us the weather in coastal regions can be changeable but in the end we proved that if people want it enough, we can influence the weather with our thoughts alone. In the middle of winter (and after last year's Splendour in the Mud disaster) the last thing we planned for was balmy, 26 degree days and pleasantly crisp nights, but that's what we got (cue frantically buying up sunscreen, bucket hats and water vessels from highway petrol stations). Australia's biggest winter festival (and one of the country's biggest festivals in general) has become a well-oiled machine in recent years (for the most part, but we'll get to that). This year's lineup, from legends The Cure, Sigur Ros and The Avalanches to newcomers Kllo, Sampa the Great and Jess Kent, was more varied than ever — with a strong local flavour and something for every age group. This seemed to solve a lot of the timetabling problems as well as they produced one of the least clashy schedules we've had yet (praise be). But the weekend wasn't without incident. On Friday night, and to a much lesser degree on Saturday and Sunday night, long bus delays and general anarchy at the bus rally points saw off-site punters waiting for hours in the cold to get home and they were not happy about it. After social media erupted on Friday night and Saturday morning, Splendour released a statement the next day saying, "We had a significant change in the number of people getting dropped off and collected ... which threw our traffic plan into disarray." And they did fix it, eventually. Monday morning wasn't much better, thanks to a few bungles on the freeway. Camping punters waited in car lines for up to seven hours trying to get out of the campsite when they would really rather have been in bed. We only hope they sort it out for next year. Luckily, everyone was pretty well-behaved — and the po-po were pleased with our collective behaviour, citing only 323 drug related arrests (less than one percent of attendees) across the entire festival. Snaps all round, everyone. So what of the nosh and mosh scene for this year? We chomped and stomped our way through Splendour 2016, here's a little snippet of the best bits. EATS Like many festivals, the food lineup at Splendour is getting better each year and truly deserves a heading of its very own. Gone are the days spent subsisting on stale chips and soggy hot-dog buns, the SITG food offering is gourmet AF. Sydneysiders were suprised to see a recreation of The Unicorn pub right in the middle of the festival, from the brains behind Mary's, Porteno and Young Henrys. This pop-up pub would mark the entrance to The Very Small Suburb, with fellow locals Gelato Messina, Doughnut Time and Bourke Street Bakery peddling their wares to hungry punters. Single O, coffee roasters from Surry Hills, enjoyed lines around the (makeshift) block because if there's one thing hungover folk need, it's real coffee and lots of it. They were joined by Noosa's ever popular Nimo's Schnitzels, Sydney's Tsuru food truck serving up their fluffy pork belly bao buns, Govindas famous vegetarian fare (kofta balls will bring you back to life after a big one), best-in-show winners Brazza BBQ from the Gold Coast with their Brazillian chow and French fry cones, and everyone's favourite Hungarian festival treat, langos. And for dessert? Australia's insanely popular Doughnut Time even got their holey mitts on a Splendour stand — and it was bloody popular. Or you could have stood in line at the giant pink inflatable poo emoji (hilariously titled Mr Poopie by Cool Shit artists Hungry Castle) and grab a toilet ice cream. You heard me. But the real MVPs? Get Toasted, Byron Bay's OG toasted sandwich food truck, cranking out their insane mac and cheese toasties. The GT team served up their crispy, buttery life-saving sandies with more chirpiness and kind words than anyone has a right to expect at midnight on the third day of a festival. Hot tip for next Splendour, don't waste time with supermarket snacks — save up and ready yourself for a culinary tour of the festival grounds. [caption id="attachment_582301" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Dro Carey[/caption] BEATS THE CURE What can be said about the Cure apart from lines of love-heart eye emojis? They're a band almost beyond critique and their tenure as the most relevant, long-serving players in rock is still deserved. Their physical vessels may have aged, but Robert Smith's voice has not and they're still as tight as a drum. They casually slayed a 2.5-hour set, breaking only occasionally and briefly to suck down essence of youth (and water, maybe). Tears flowed freely and 'Friday I'm in Love' was screamed to the stars. THE STROKES The Strokes played their only Australian show at Splendour and rounded out the first day of the festival with the veteran ease you'd expect, mixing fan service with some of their newer cuts and of course, encoring with 'Last Night'. If there is a better way to fall asleep than with Julian Casablancas' voice reverberating around your head, we haven't yet found it. THE AVALANCHES The Avalanches were the legendary wildcard of the lineup — and one of the most anticipated sets of the whole event. They haven't played a festival in over a decade and while the group has rocketed back into prominence recently thanks to their huge comeback album, Wildflower, they're as yet untested in the modern context. The result was little bit thrown together — including, y'know, lyrics read from an iPhone for 'Frankie Sinatra' — and there's something a wee bit unsatisfying about a sample-based show amongst a sea of live music. But we still loved it. Depending on how close you stood to the sound desk could have affected your experience, and we hope more intimate shows are ahead for this iconic crew. SIGUR ROS Icelandic angels Sigur Ros may have been the quiet hero of the whole festival. They didn't perform at the amphitheatre (which is a slight, in our opinion), but the Mix Up tent was more intimate and, thanks to a well-timed clash with Flume, the crowd was slightly older (imagine a lot of actual lighters in the air, coffees clutched to sensible skivvies and wet eyes). They brought their technical prowess to bear alongside their dramatic showmanship (there was a spine tingly-dingly moment when main man Jonsi held a sweet note for an inhumanly long time) and it was spectacular. They played a medley of their well-knowns and not-so-well-knowns to a backdrop of captivating, trippy visuals — quite possibly some of the best visuals of the festival, or were we just exhausted and emotional? We'll never know. JAMES BLAKE James Blake's music was made for festivals, not necessarily for the headbangers or kids who just want to see Flume, but for everyone who was after some texture in the lineup. Blake packed out the amphitheatre and from behind a synth, delivered his brand of crisp, complex, emotional music. His live show was impeccably timed, building in rhythm and intensity before unloading goosebumps on the crowd with feels-heavy hits 'Limit to Your Love' and 'Retrograde'. [caption id="attachment_582304" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Kllo at the Tiny Dancer Stage[/caption] UP AND COMERS The SITG lineup always delivers some quality (and we mean quality) local talent. In fact, the pointy end of the lineup, usually housed at the Tiny Dancer stage, proved some of the most enjoyable surprises of the weekend. Melbourne cherubim Kllo destroyed the Tiny Dancer stage with their tight beats and clear vocals (their catchy AF single 'Bollide' sent shivers up collective spines). Brisbane boy and electronic muso Feki delivered a banging, dancey set, very different from his usual chill, and had the TD crowd frenetic at dusk on Sunday (check out his souped-up remix of James Blake's 'Retrograde' here). Melbourne producer Paces was joined by Guy Sebastian (can people stop robbing Shannon Noll of his due already?) to perform their Like A Version cover of LDRU's 'Keeping Score' (check out this vid of LDRU getting into it side of stage). While it's a disappointing to see only one woman and one female guest vocalist (Santigold and Avalanches guest vocalist Eliza Wolfgramm) in the first dozen acts on the lineup, the women who did make it absolutely nailed it. Big, official props to Melbourne's Sui Zhen and Banoffee, the OG babes Tegan and Sara, Courtney Barnett, Sampa the Great, Little May, Brisbane darling Emma Louise, Ngaiire, Kacy Hill, Lucy Cliché, Montaigne, Jess Kent, Wafia and all the other women grinding to make it in the music industry — you were splendid. Images: Luke Dalton.
Touring outside of France for just the third time since it was designed in Paris circa 1500, medieval masterpiece The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry cycle comes to the Art Gallery of New South Wales this month and everyone's pretty excited. On special loan from impressively named Musèe de Cluny – Musèe National du Moyen Âge, the six exquisitely beautiful, mind-blowingly intricate wool and silk woven tapestries span over 20 metres in length and are considered to be some of the greatest surviving textiles from the European Middle Ages — the French national treasure has been dubbed the 'Mona Lisa of the Middle Ages', after all. (Can you imagine being in charge of packing these things up and getting them to — literally — the other side of the world? No pressure.) Embodying meditations on earthly pleasure and courtly love, they depict a bejewelled lady in richly adorned costume alongside a majestic unicorn set against a luscious millefleur ('thousand flowers') background. Five tapestries explore the senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight, with the sixth said to represent an internal sense — usually interpreted as the heart, desire or understanding. There's a whole host of talks, activities and workshops designed to complement the exhibition (textile fans may want to take Natalie Miller's tapestry masterclass) so you can make an entire morning or an afternoon of it. Take note: this is going to be busy. It's not every day that you get to see a 15th-century national treasure up close, not to mention one that has directly inspired everyone from George Sand to Rilke to Jean Cocteau. You'll want to book ahead. Image: Sight c1500 (detail), from 'The lady and the unicorn' series, Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge, Paris Photo © RMN-GP / M Urtado.
If you hadn't noticed, fermentation is a bit of a thing. One of the driving forces behind the movement is the fact that fermented food and drinks can help promote good bacteria in your gut. So it's not surprising that one of the more popular workshops at Cornersmith — who dish out hearty breakfasts and hold workshops in cheesemaking, pickling and fermenting among others — is the wild soda class, where you learn to make a fermented, fizzy fruit beverage that's both delicious and good for your digestion. That's the domain of Cornersmith's head fermenter Jaimee Edwards, a veteran in teaching lucky folks how to make wild soda, and then supervising as they make their own. For those who haven't attended one of her sessions — which have fittingly taken over nature-filled houses — go DIY and follow the instructions below. WHAT ACTUALLY IS WILD SODA? A wild soda is a fizzy fruit drink with a slightly sour, yeasty taste that's derived from the fermentation process involved in making it. The flavour is richer and more complex than any fizzy fruit drink you could pick up from a store because — like sour beer or wild fermentation wines — they're a product of nature. There are no artificial ingredients added. The fermentation process is unpredictable and gives each batch a unique flavour — even if you use the same ingredients and follow the same method each time. The process of making wild soda is similar to that of making wild fermentation wine. In winemaking, the yeast overpowers the lactic acid and turns the drink into alcohol, but in wild soda the lactic acid overpowers the yeast and creates carbonated water. Winemaking is best left to the professionals, but you can easily create wild soda on your own. Here's how. GET OUT THERE AND FORAGE To make wild soda, pick some of your favourite native plants, flowers and fruit. Edwards encourages you to get out there and forage. Supermarket fruit has likely gone through numerous cleaning processes, which means the natural microflora living on it (essential to the fermentation process) has likely been washed away. The more microflora, the easier the fermentation process — and the tastier the drink. "Foraging is pretty key," says Edwards. "That way you're not dealing with stuff that's gone through excessive washing." She recommends foraging for clean leaves and bark for bacteria, and wild flowers and fruit (strawberries, lemons and blueberries) for flavour. Once you've foraged, break up your flowers, leaves and bark, pulp your fruit and place it all into a plastic bottle. "Experiment with almost anything — that's part of the fun," says Edwards. "You're going to have some failures, and you're going to have successes. The ingredients you've added are obviously going to add a strong flavour, so you have to like them." GET THE FERMENTATION GOING When starting out, Edwards says it's a good idea to use plastic bottles. The natural carbonation that results from the fermentation process could cause glass jars to crack, and the last thing you want is a kitchen filled with half-finished strawberry and lemon verbena soda. Making a carbonated soda relies on the natural yeasts and bacteria that are available on the surface of plants. These microorganisms turn sugars into lactic acid and produce CO2 to make your soda bubbly. Because there is very little sugar in the foraged material in this recipe sugar is added. Mix all ingredients in a clean jar of filtered water and cover with a clean tea towel. Stir three times a day while the soda is fermenting. This will take between two and three days. Then strain the soda from the plants and bottle. Carbonation will occur as the CO2 builds up in the bottle over a few days. Refrigerate, and when it's nice and cold, take it out of the fridge and enjoy. HOW DOES ALL THIS RELATE TO WINE? Stoneleigh use a similar process of natural fermentation to make the wild fermentation wines in their Wild Valley range. Rather than adding a yeast known to produce a certain flavour, the yeasts and bacteria that naturally present on the grapes (aka microflora), are tasked with the fermentation. By letting nature do its thing (and because of the many different types of yeast getting involved), the wine ends up with a more complicated flavour profile. That means that just like wild soda, each vintage has its own unique flavour. Follow Jamiee Edwards' adventures at @fermentingprojects. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Ah, Melbourne — sunny one minute, pouring the next. If it wasn't already hard enough to get outside and go for a run, it's much more difficult when your fingers and nose are close to freezing off. Of course, it's much easier to stay wrapped in a doona beside the heater — but no more excuses. We've got ten refreshing ideas to get you up and moving with some indoor workouts that are nothing like your average treadmill slog. PEAK GYMNASTICS, WINDSOR You could have been a world-class gymnast if you'd started training early enough. Well, press pause on Stick It and get down to Peak Gymnastics to stick it IRL. Running three times a week, the adult gymnastics sessions will work your core stability and flexibility on the high bar, beam, rings and trampoline. Classes are suitable for beginners and seasoned gymnasts — for a full workout, join a gymnastics-led HIIT class and even a gymnastics take on CrossFit. There's also open gym sessions if you just want to have a go at the equipment. While you may never achieve Olympic glory or score a perfect ten, you'll build up some serious strength and flexibility. And maybe even learn how to do a handstand. CHUNKY MOVE, SOUTHBANK One of Melbourne's most respected dance studios is opening its doors for a series of unique dance classes. No matter how unco you may feel, Chunky Move's fun and supportive classes will leave you feeling energised and more connected with your body. Experienced dancers have the opportunity to experiment with improvisation classes or learn Countertechnique to take their mobility and movement up a notch. Classes are taught by professional dancers that work in the industry, so you're in fantastic hands. It's a great opportunity to explore your creativity through movement — and get fit as you do so. ROLLERFIT, FLEMINGTON If you felt inspired by Ellen Page's roller derby skills in Whip It but you're not willing to lose any teeth attempting to recreate her moves, RollerFit is for you. Let your skates guide you towards greater strength, flexibility, endurance and balance, assisted along the way by accredited coaches. Dodge, weave and glide in a series of exercises designed to push your body to the limit. Oh, and it's also a hell of a lot of fun. As you draw on the muscle memory from your 80s or 90s childhood, you'll wonder why you ever threw out your rad retro skates. NORTHSIDE BOULDERS, NORTHCOTE Bouldering is the ultimate workout for the body and brain. By the end of a session, your arms will be shaking and you'll be content in your problem solving and strategic prowess. For bouldering beginners, picture indoor rock climbing with low walls, no ropes, plenty of matting and heaps of fiendish routes to climb. Chalk up and hit the walls at Northside Northcote — the new light-filled addition to the gym family — there are options for every level from freshie to fanatic. If you're keen to take your skills to the next level, keep an eye out for the Boulder Bootcamps which run fortnightly at Northcote, or Sunday School which is hosted weekly at the Lactic Factory. HEAVY HAULERS, DONCASTER Sure, the idea of dragging a tyre around a parking lot may not inspire you to get out of bed on a chilly day, but hear us out. Heavy Haulers uses resistance training to supercharge your strength, endurance and aerobic abilities. The measurable results and sense of accomplishment which accompanies this workout is sure to motivate you and get you back on track. Don't be put off by the mental image of Guinness Book of Records-style musclemen — this high-powered workout can accommodate all genders, ages and body types. MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL DANCE, BRUNSWICK Get your leotard and pointe shoes on — adult ballet is a fantastic way to work on your flexibility and control. Melbourne Classical Dance School's classes embrace new learners in any stage of life, with teachers ready to help you perfect your plies and learn the secrets of an A-grade arabesque in a supportive and non-competitive environment. Work on the fundamental techniques in the ballet classes or, if your goal is to become a prima ballerina, drop into an align and tone class. POLE AND AERIAL DIVAS, RICHMOND Have you seen FKA Twigs' Instagram lately? Her incredible aerial and pole skills are enough to make any couch potato dream of being able to dance with similar delicacy and strength. Enter Pole and Aerial Divas, who will show you the moves on the spinning pole, static pole or the suspended lyra hoop. The team runs six studios in Melbourne — as well as two specialised Aerial Divas studios — with classes tailored to boost your confidence, core stability and control. If you're not ready to hit the pole, try a Fly Yoga class where you can test some moves suspended from a fabrics sling, or a dance conditioning session to get those plies on point. [caption id="attachment_678290" align="alignnone" width="1920"] North Walls via Facebook.[/caption] NORTH WALLS, BRUNSWICK If anything's going to warm you up this winter, it's the shot of adrenaline that comes from climbing a big wall. Newbies need not fear, the North Walls team will guide you through the basics, while more experienced climbers can conquer those harder top-rope routes. With a cafe serving coffees and energy-extending treats, you also can reward yourself for taking your fitness to new heights. ALTERNATIVE WOMEN'S FITNESS, THORNBURY First things first: Alternative Women's Fitness is not a gym. It has no competitive macho vibes, no cheesy music, no treadmills and no same-same classes. Founder Sabina Turner envisioned a diverse community of supportive women working towards their individual fitness goals — and she's created just that. The Thornbury Clubhouse is a queer/trans-friendly space that champions diversity. If your idea of a great workout includes unique themes, rocking tunes and cool company — jump straight in with the low-impact burn of a Sculptallica class or the intense full-body blitz of a boxing session. If you've always been bored by yoga, let AWF change your mind with its fierce Furiosa yoga, inspired by the heroine of Mad Max: Fury Road — you'll come out refreshed and ready to face the world. F*IT, ASCOT VALE Barre? We'd prefer a bar. Luckily, fitness studio F*it features a smoothie bar by day and boozy bar by night. You won't have any trouble letting F*it tempt you into a workout because, alcohol. And trust us, that post-sweat-sesh cocktail will be well earned. The bespoke boxing classes will get you into peak condition — try Boom or The Wall to make you feel like Million Dollar Baby, or join All Shots for an explosive full-body workout. Lovers of a cheeky gym selfie, this place was made for you — the neon lights hit you at all the right angles, no filter needed. And, the bathrooms have fancy toiletries that'll seal the deal.
It was announced in May, that acclaimed New York artist Spencer Tunick would be returning to Australia this July to stage another famed mass nude photograph as part of Chapel Street Precinct's Provocaré Festival of the Arts. It has been 17 years since Melbourne's first taste of the polarising artist's work, when 4500 naked volunteers posed for a snap near Federation Square as part of the 2001 Fringe Festival. Tunick then photographed around 5000 nude people in front of the Sydney Opera House during the 2010 Mardi Gras. Since then, he's photographed the public painted red and gold outside Munich's Bavarian State Opera, covered in veils in the Nevada desert and covered in blue in Hull in the UK. Now, the artist is returning to our shores, and his sights are set on Melbourne's Chapel Street. Tunick will assemble another contingent of naked (and pretty brave) folk between July 7–10, for a work titled Return of the Nude. The exact locations were, until recently, a secret, but this morning it was announced that the artist had intended to stage the hero shot on the Prahran Woolworth's rooftop carpark against a Melbourne skyline backdrop at 9am on Saturday, July 7. Plans have, however, come to a standstill as Woolworths has declined access to its rooftop carpark, quoting 'potential loss of trade' as its reasoning. A spokesperson for the supermarket giant told news.com.au, "we will always put the convenience of our local customers first" and "the request for the photo was for the weekend, which is the busiest time of the week for shopping in our stores". In response to Woolworth's decision, the Chapel Street Precinct Association (CSPA) — the festival's host organisation — has launched a petition in an attempt to put pressure on the supermarket chain and get it reversed. You can sign the petition here. John Lotton, CSPA's executive chairman, said in a press release: "[CSPA] undertook detailed reconnaissance before approaching Woolworths to ensure Spencer's installation would not cause a detrimental impact to trading in the store. We have photographic proof that only four cars used the carpark at this time on a Saturday." While the location of the hero shot is being debated, the rest of the shoot will still take place somewhere in the Chapel Street Precinct. And, if you'd like to participate — anyone over the age of 18 can git their kit off and get involved — there's still time to register. Participants each get a print of the photograph, and, we're sure, a big boost of body confidence. Provocaré will take place across the Chapel Street Precinct from July 5–15, with Return of the Nude being shot over two days between July 7 and 10.
A Purity Ring gig is not just a concert, but an experience. This is due to three factors. One: their unrestrained dedication to deep, deep bass. Two: their hypnotising light show, which they've created themselves. And three: Megan James's extraordinary, soaring vocals. And their sci-fi costumes are pretty damn impressive, too. Hailing from Canada, the duo — who is made up of James and producer Corin Roddick — have been mesmerising crowds at festivals and clubs all over the planet. Following their breakthrough album, Shrines, they've since collaborated with the likes of Danny Brown and Jon Hopkins. Coming our way to play St Jerome's Laneway Festival in Melbourne and Perth, Purity Ring will make two headline appearances while they're here — one at the Sydney Opera House on February 9 and at Melbourne's Forum Theatre on February 11. Then they're off to the States to play a bunch of festivals, including Coachella.
Vivid Cafe and Lounge has been up and running on Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn since March 2023, originally only serving up classic Melbourne cafe fare. But a few months after opening, Chef Nobphadon Kaewkarn (AKA Chef Bird) started slowly introducing more and more Thai eats to the menu — until the lunch offerings were dominated by curries, noodles and spicy seafood dishes. And as of February 2024, the team took the leap into becoming an all-day venue, transforming into a Thai restaurant once breakfast is over — and it's now running a booming dinner trade from Wednesday–Sunday. On the menu, you'll find classics like soft-shell crab bao, spicy coconut prawns, fish cakes, roti and chicken satay to start, as well as bigger dishes like hot and spicy tom yum soup, a stack of salads, curries, pad thai, pad kra pow, slow-cooked lamb and a crispy prawn (or crab) omelette. Come weekend lunchtime, Vivid is serving one of the most affordable all-you-can-eat meals in town. For just $29 per person, you'll get 90 minutes of unlimited red, green and massaman curry, plus endless amounts of spring rolls, pad thai, pad see ew, fried rice and roti. And you get to choose what protein goes in each. We're all about bottomless brunch deals, whether it's the luxe Conservatory buffet at Crown or the old Smorgy's offerings (RIP), so this new addition to Melbourne's all-you-can-eat scene is firmly on our radar. And to top it all off, Vivid now has an alcohol license — you've got $10 wines by the glass, plus happy-hour deals on beers and cocktails. Shit's expensive these days. But Vivid Cafe is serving up genuinely good eats for so little. Get on it.
It's an accepted truth that the best things in life are free. But when it comes to the dating game, the best things are actually kinda pricey. Now, we're all keen to impress that Tinder hottie with seafood buffets, bottles of Moët and sweeping romantic gestures, but they're not what all dates are made of. Even those on a beer drinker's budget can take a lucky someone out on a sweet date. In fact, a cheap, activity-based date could be the best way to get to know your potential new lover without the pressure of trying to elegantly eat crab without splattering some on your face. Dating doesn't have to be all low-lit wine bars and fancy restaurants. It can be outdoors, in art galleries or at the pub — and it can be, you know, actually fun. [caption id="attachment_577886" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Anita Peeples.[/caption] GO BUSH(WALKING) Now, you may not want your potential new bae to see you sweating like a pig, dragging your failing body through the scrub and panting like a baboon in heat. But hear us out: it's free. Completely free! And if you can keep a lid on the sweating and moaning (save it for later *winks*), hiking through the lush bush or along a craggy cliff and quoting Walt Whitman poems (that you memorised that morning) could be a pretty cute date. Sydney has some stunning walks through the bush, along the beach and up mountains, while Melbourne boasts some sweet city hikes that'll keep your heart rate down. [caption id="attachment_578074" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Meghan Yabsley.[/caption] GO FOR A LONG BIKE RIDE Again, the idea of exercising with a new friend might gross you out, but, again, it's very free. You'll get to show off your activewear in a legitimate setting, fooling your new love into thinking you're sporty. Plus, bike riding is pretty easy if you have a bike with many, many gears and choose a path devoid of large vehicles and hills. Take your pick from our best bike tracks in Melbourne and Sydney. If you keep the speed down in order to chat and pack a cute, protein-heavy picnic, you'll be telling your grandkids about this date one day. Or your friends at the pub later. Either way. [caption id="attachment_577854" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Adrianna Calvo[/caption] CHECK OUT SOME LOCAL GALLERY OPENINGS If your new boo is an art fanatic, puff yourself up (while keeping your wallet plump) by taking them to an art show. The best thing about local art events is that they're usually cheap (or even free) and serve up equally cheap or free booze, leaving most of your date budget for a bohemian night of shenanigans. Nothing will put your date in the mood for a bottle of red wine on a rooftop or sharing Pez while strolling along the beach than a night of rebellious art — a reminder than you're only young and foolish once. IMPRESS THEM WITH USELESS KNOWLEDGE AT TRIVIA As mid-week trivia nights are generally populated by poor students and bohemian grown-ups, the getting is good (but cheap). It's a smooth idea for the group date, to introduce your date to your friends or — if you want to create a little us-against-the-world division — go it alone in a team of two. Perhaps one of the most romantic features of a trivia night is the standard 'phones away' rule which should, frankly, be a rule at all social occasions. Make sure you've got some conversation topics up your sleeve though because you won't be able to hide behind your phone if the chat dries up. (But don't worry, you're gonna do just fine.) SET UP A CUTE PICNIC This is a classic first date idea — and even though you're being a cheapskate, you can pass it off as sweet. The trick is to put some pre-planning into the park selection (a Melbourne secret garden is always a safe bet). If you want a talking point and potential puppy pats, woo them at one of Sydney's best dog parks. A few more tips: avoid playgrounds (which are often riddled with children), plan for the weather (no one likes a soggy sandwich) and learn the scientific names of the surrounding plants so you can really impress. And as the location is free, you can drop all your funds into a lush picnic basket stuffed full of cheese, bikkies and wine.
