It is said that the Lord Krishna opened his mouth and revealed the entire universe inside. Want to wear the entire solar system on your wrist, orbiting in real time? Try the Midnight Planetarium, which may well be the most beautiful watch ever made. Leading watchmakers went head to head at a private trade fair in Geneva, showing off their latest designs and being incredibly punctual. All manner of elegant and unusual timepieces debut at this convention, putting your plastic Swatches and iPhone clocks to shame. At the 2014 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, Van Cleff & Arpels unveiled a watch like no other, a watch so original, finely crafted and whimsical that its US$245,000 price tag almost seems reasonable: the exquisitely named Complication Poetique Midnight Planetarium. So what's the deal with this thing? How do you even read the time? The watchface contains tiny globes representing the planets visible from earth, from Mr. Sun to Saturn. Made of precious and semi-precious gemstones like red jasper, blue agate, turquoise, serpentine and more, our celestial neighbours are encased on their orbit inside an 18 carat rose gold mount, with a black alligator strap to hold your personal planetarium in place. They rotate on a glittering starscape, accurately mimicking the movement of the planets IRL — yes, that means the Mercury gem will rotate fully in three months, and Saturn? Twenty-nine and a half years. Such a meticulous and gradual rate of motion is truly a feat of fine engineering. The process of painstakingly assembling the 396 components must have required nothing less than a Pacific Ocean of Red Bull. As for clocking regular Earth hours, a tiny shooting star along the outer rim of the watchface indicates the hour. There's also a cute bonus in the form of a whimsical 'Lucky Star' which you can set to appear over the Earth on an appointed day, casting luck on all your doings. The Midnight Planetarium is one of a series of Complication Poetique watches which explore time in its poetic as well as literal dimensions. They're all worth checking out here. As for our little stargazer, watch the video below for more angles on this artistic marvel.
There's getting away. And then there's disappearing to your own private, tiny house in the wilderness — miles from any sign of human interference. Meet Unyoked, a new, Australian independent accommodation option that lets you do just that. Importantly, this is not a hotel. Founded and run by twins Cam and Chris Grant, the off-the-grid experience brings you the convenience and comforts of four solid walls, alongside the adventure, spontaneity and closeness-to-nature of camping. Here's how. With the help of designer/builder Alice Nivison and builder/eco-consultant Richie Northcott from Sydney design studio Fresh Prince, the brothers have designed and built two tiny houses — both sustainable and solar-powered. They've been placed in secret patches of wilderness on private properties, in the middle of nowhere. Anytime you want to flee the city, disconnect and recharge, all you have to do is book one and jump in your car. Both houses are no more than two hours' drive from Sydney. "We grew up camping and hiking," the Grants say. "But once we started to work full-time, we noticed we weren't doing that as much. We were spending too much time in the grind. Unyoked came about because we wanted to get back to nature." The idea is that, rather than having to wait for your annual vacation, you can add a nature escape to your regular routine. "We wanted to give people more of a balance ... to give them the chance to get off the grid, but without necessarily having to go to Nepal," the Grants say. The houses aim to "make you feel like you're part of the environment". Think timber, oversized windows, solar power, composting toilets and a blissful lack of wi-fi. At the same time, though, simple comforts are taken care of, so you get a cosy bed, kitchen appliances, firewood, coffee, milk, herbs and the like. Plus, the locations have been carefully selected. "We went through a detailed process of finding the right properties," the Grants say. "There's a set criteria. Each property must be secluded, away from the sight or sound of any human-made elements and have wildlife." For example, the first-built tiny house, which is named Miguel, sits on a 300-acre property, surrounded by 400-year-old rainforest, waterfalls, walking trails and kangaroos. Unyoked aims to make sure your stay is a bit of an adventure, by keeping the exact address of your chosen house secret until two days before you're due to set off. You'll be given a vague idea of the location, but nothing more. "We want people to feel like they were walking in the wilderness and suddenly came across a cabin." More Unyoked tiny houses are on their way — Melbourne's next. https://vimeo.com/202315726 Images and video: Samantha Hawker.
There's plenty to see and do in and around Daylesford, whether you're up for adventure or just want to spend your whole weekend blissing out. Located in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria's northwest, this cute country township is close enough for you to make an afternoon, a day or a whole afternoon of it. Take your time exploring this lush spot and be sure to pick up some local produce to ferry back home to Melbourne — a tasty reminder of a delightful weekend away. Together with our Victorian road trip partner RACV, we've put together a guide to a perfect weekend in Daylesford. And don't forget — if you're planning on having a drink, make sure there's a designated driver to keep you safe on your travels. [caption id="attachment_581973" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Lake House[/caption] STAY There is truly a plethora of bed and breakfasts here — Daylesford is that sort of place. But if you want something charming in the centre of town you can't go past the Central Springs Inn. Basic but cosy, be sure to request a room with a fireplace to maximise those winter feels. It can't be beaten on location either, with this central spot only a five-minute walk to The Convent Gallery and many other local sights. If you want to treat yourself, then head directly to the Lake House. Check in and take a turn about your tastefully decorated room before heading out to the luxurious spa for a private treetop treatment before dinner. Later, sink into your it's-so-fluffy-I'm-gonna-die bed before drifting off to sleep tucked into what feels like one million thread-count sheets. [caption id="attachment_581981" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens, s13n1 via Flickr[/caption] SEE AND DO Kick things off with a walk through the Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens. In this Victorian Heritage-registered oasis of calm, you can wander verdant paths lined with towering trees and lush greenery. Once you've had a good ramble, maybe grab a coffee at Wombat Hill House. Afterwards, you can get your art on with a visit to The Convent and its adjoining gardens. Tread the old floorboards and enjoy local and international art displayed in what is arguably one of the prettiest galleries around. Once you've soaked up the culture, head out for a wander around the grounds and admire the range of bronze sculptures seamlessly interspersed with the stunning gardens and native plants. Insert obligatory TLC joke about chasing waterfalls, and then head out to see this one. Right near Daylesford is Trentham Falls, one of the longest single-drop falls in Victoria. Plunging a respectable 32 metres over basalt columns, these falls were forged by volcanoes five million years ago and are now a great spot for a walk and a few pics. [caption id="attachment_581987" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Hepburn Bathhouse[/caption] Haven't had enough nature? Good! Head to Lavandula, a special spot just north of Daylesford. Wander the stunning European-style gardens and perhaps take a tour of the original 1850s stone farmhouse. Afterwards, nibble on a lavender scone and enjoy a glass of lavender lemonade for a fragrant sweet treat. After all that exploring you need to take some time for yourself. This is pretty much expected in a region that is perhaps best known for the revitalising mineral waters of the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. Slip into a fluffy robe at the Hepburn Bathhouse and settle in for a day of utter bliss. A popular spot since 1895, it's safe to say that this spa has got the whole relaxation thing down pat. Choose from a range of spa therapies including facials, wraps and scrubs, or simply recline on an underwater spa couch and enjoy a hydro massage like it's something you do every day (we wish). And if you just don't want to leave, you don't have to. The spa offers some luxe accommodation too. [caption id="attachment_581994" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Cliffy's Emporium[/caption] EAT Hungry? You're in the right place. Start the day with a relaxed breakfast at former general store, Cliffy's Emporium, where you can tuck into an excellent brunch menu that showcases celebrates producers and is dotted with a clever selection of international influences — laksa or Turkish eggs, anybody? Larder is also a great option for breakfast, brunch or lunch, and a feast for the eyes, too — the cafe features an proud selection of art by local creatives. After breakfast take a wander through town and stock up on treats for a picnic lunch later on. Choose smallgoods from local salami legends Istra and load up on dips and cheeses while you're at it. And if you're the kind of person who plans your next meal while you're eating your current one, you might also want to start thinking about dinner. For fantastic food and wonderful wine, wedding-venue-favourites Lake House or Sault are your go-to options. [caption id="attachment_581992" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Lake House[/caption] This region boasts some truly magnificent produce, and you'll find it heavily and beautifully on show at Lake House. This celebrated spot under the direction of culinary legend Alla Wolf Tasker AM has been on the radar of Melbourne foodies for years — and it's not hard to see why. Enjoy the elegance of the venue perched on the shores of Lake Daylesford as you settle at your table, perhaps taking a seat at one of the spots against the expansive windows. If you have any restraint then you can try not to fill up on out-of-this-world, crusty fresh-baked sourdough before your main meal arrives. Good luck. Impressive is one word that might spring to mind as you approach Sault, a 100-acre property which comes complete with lake, manicured gardens and lavender fields. The restaurant offers a stunning array of seasonally changing Modern Australian plates that celebrates local produce — the venue is a member of the Daylesford Macedon Produce group — so you can be assured that the food miles are minimal here. [caption id="attachment_581997" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sault[/caption] If you're into classic French farmhouse cooking with a real honest vibe (and who isn't?) then Annie Smithers is your go-to. She's doing amazing things at du Fermier with her ethos of fresh, locally-sourced food. There's no set menu, it's simply Annie crafting an offering each week, which showcases the spoils of her garden and the finest meats and poultry from the region. You have to call to book and lunch runs Friday to Monday each week. But if you're just after a good old pub meal then head for the red-brick charm of The Farmers Arms. Grab a seat at the long wooden bar or one of the tables, order a drink and choose a meal from the selection of well-executed pub classics. Plump for crispy roast pork belly with a house-made apple and cranberry relish, or a juicy porterhouse, or perhaps a warming miso-glazed pumpkin with lemon tahini. [caption id="attachment_581999" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Belvedere Social[/caption] DRINK Passing Clouds is the winery to visit if you want to sample the drops that have turned the heads of sommeliers and wine lovers everywhere. Graeme Leith and Sue Mackinnon, friends and partners in wine, started the winery in 1983 with a humble goal: to create the best wine in the world. And after winning gold at the Melbourne Wine Show with their 1982 shiraz, they didn't look back. Passing Clouds wines are on the lists at Attica and Rockpool, and remain a firm quaffing and cellaring favourite among their loyal fanbase. Enjoy fragrant, cherry-red pinot noir and fine, crisp, citrusy chardonnay at the cellar door before enjoying a relaxed family-style lunch, a three-course feast cooked entirely over a charcoal fire pit. For a nice drink in town, head for a cocktail at The Convent's snazzy Altar Bar, or pair your drink with live entertainment at Palais in Hepburn. [caption id="attachment_582006" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Convent Gallery[/caption] ALRIGHT, LET'S DO THIS Daylesford is 70-minute drive from Melbourne CBD travelling by car and just under an hour from Tullamarine Airport. The Hume, Calder and Western highways, and the Tullamarine Freeway, all lead to the region. V/Line operates several services daily to Daylesford, via train to Woodend, Ballarat or Castlemaine, with a connecting coach service to Daylesford. Road tripping this summer? Make sure you're covered with RACV. Top image: Lake House
When Shannon Bennett, the internationally celebrated Melbourne-born chef, returned to the kitchen, it was intended to be a temporary stint. However, it seems that old habits die hard, with news just in that Bennett's residency at Fitzroy's design-forward hotel, the StandardX, has been extended indefinitely. Even after eight years away from the kitchen, Bennett's signature technical nous and creativity, paired with his distinctly laidback bistro style, proved to be as successful as ever. BistroX was intended to be a three-month pop-up, with Bennett reunited with an all-star team of hospo talent, many of whom worked with him at Vue de Monde. Among them were Cory Campbell, Cuisine magazine's Chef of the Year for 2024; Ryan Henley, who steered Christchurch dining room Pescatore to two chef's hats; and Carlos Simeos Santos, one of only 260 Master Sommeliers in the world. They were joined by front-of-house veteran Steven Kirkpatrick, who worked with the StandardX crew to deliver relaxed yet intuitive service. However, it appears that three months was not long enough for Bennett fans. Alongside his superstar team, Bennett is set to maintain his residency in the StandardX for the foreseeable future. BistroX will continue with dinner service, seven days a week, and lunch service from Friday to Sunday. BistroX is a far more casual affair than the team's credentials suggest. The approachable menu puts a modern, hyper-seasonal spin on classic bistro dishes, and will evolve regularly, shaped by both what's in season and guest feedback. "We're here to create something that feels part of the neighbourhood — a place people want to return to," says Bennett. Comfort and simplicity are the through-line of the menu, with all elements, including hand-cut pasta and house-baked breads, made from scratch. Dishes like herb-crusted tuna loin with celeriac remoulade; crayfish and black pudding flatbread; Gundagai lamb hot pot with braised shank and salted tongue baked in puff pastry; and a weekly rotating steak sourced from Victorian producers exhibit pared-back sophistication without ever straying too far from the comforts of a great local. Drinks are also in more than capable hands. Simeos Santos oversees a rotating by-the-glass wine list that's just as accessible — and thoughtfully curated — as the food it's designed to pair with. The extension of its residency proves that BistroX has been a welcome new addition to Fitzroy — and certainly a welcome return to the kitchen for one of Melbourne's most celebrated culinary figures. Images: Supplied. BistroX is now open at The StandardX Melbourne, 62 Rose Street, Fitzroy. For more information and reservations, head to the hotel's website.
With a name like Holy Grail, a nautical aesthetic might not be what you expect at this venue, but there's no Camelots, killer rabbits or incompetent knights here. With ropes, wheels and an antique interior that feels like the bowels of a ship itself, Holy Grail is Chapel Street's own vessel for a night out. When visiting a ship, you can't be blamed for wanting to drink like a sailor, and Holy Grail emphasises the beverages. For starters, there are two separate happy hour offerings. Between the hours of 3–7pm, house beer and wines by the pot, pint, jug and glass get the discount, while from 7–9pm, you'll be able to sip on $14 Tommy's margaritas, spiced rum espresso martinis and hard slushies. Outside of the happy hours, there are cocktails aplenty. Signatures range from the punchy Breakfast Slipper (Patron Silver tequila, Midori, orgeat, lime, orange marmalade and jalapeño tabasco) to the more delicate Shy Girl (Grainshaker vodka, Fraise des Bois, Licor 43 Horchata, strawberry puree and egg white). Dessert-focused drinks are on offer if you're docked here to end the night, and if you prefer your beverages a bit more single-minded, you've got more than enough to browse through in the beer, wine and spirits lists. Hungry? Food comes in the form of pizza, thanks to Freddy's across the street. Images: Arianna Leggiero
You can see Oprah, and you can see Oprah, and you can see Oprah: Oprah Winfrey has announced a December 2025 trip Down Under, including bringing her latest in-conversation events to Melbourne. At Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday, December 11, you'll be able to see the famed talk-show host get chatting — in an intimate session rather than on TV, where The Oprah Winfrey Show ran for 25 years. This is Winfrey's first jaunt this way in a decade — and that tour sold out, so expect this one to be popular as well. Authenticity and resilience will be among the topics of conversation, in what's designed to be an inspirational natter. [caption id="attachment_1015691" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Disney/Eric McCandless[/caption] "One of the things I have always enjoyed is sitting down for real, honest, enlightening conversations, and this experience is all about that," said Winfrey, announcing the tour. "The energy, warmth and spirit I feel in Australia and New Zealand have stayed with me, and returning will be an opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and be reinspired — together. I look forward to sharing stories, ideas, and meaningful connection about what's possible in our lives moving forward."
The Esplanade Hotel Queenscliff has officially reopened with a fresh feel, a reimagined look, and a new name, following a major renovation. The venue embodies the true character of a coastal pub with warm timber decor and an inviting atmosphere for locals, visitors, families and kids. The pub, previously called the Queenscliff Brewhouse, was established in 1879, and has been an integral part of the Queenscliff community ever since. As part of this community engagement, the team spent time with locals to understand what they considered important about the venue. Turns out that locals felt strongly about the original name being reinstated, so what was going to be dubbed The Bellarine Hotel, became The Esplanade Hotel Queenscliff, once again. This is just a small example of how the pub pays respect to the community and its history. ''We are so excited to have reopened the doors of this beautiful pub," says venue manager Mitch Kovacic, "Our local legend has gotten a new lease on life, and we know our locals will love it — the buzz in the area has been awesome in the lead up to today." The extensive transformation included a revamp of the beer garden — with native landscaping, picnic-style tables and umbrellas — and of the kids' play area, making the pub even more family-friendly than it was before. Of course, the sports bar with TV screen-lined walls, a pool table and a fireplace is the ultimate spot to catch all the rowdy game-day action. The seasonal menu showcases fresh produce and pub classics. There's a chicken (or eggplant) parma, classic cheeseburger (or a plant-based version), schnitzels, fish and chips, steak with Diane sauce and seafood pasta. There are also harissa lamb skewers, crab and corn croquettes, spring gnocchi and tomato salad with peach and pickled onions. Check out the considerate kids' and seniors' menus too. To celebrate the reopening of the beloved pub, The Esplanade Hotel Queenscliff will play host to Locals Weekend, from Friday, tenth, to Sunday, October 12. The huge weekend kicks off with a free first drink, followed by live music, charity raffles, giveaways and kids' entertainment. Images: Supplied.
If you grew up in Melbourne over the last few decades, there's a near-certain chance you spent at least a few scorching hot days at Funfields Themepark. Opened in 1985 as the Alpine Toboggan Park, this family-owned business is now ready to celebrate its 40th birthday, having just reopened with a host of exciting new rides and activities. Foremost among these is the Lava Lagoon Lazy River, a relaxing experience made for seeing out the hottest of hot days. Taking about 18 months to complete, more than 5000 tonnes of earth and two million litres of water were shifted to make way for this massive project. Now up and running, this summer retreat is primed for both relaxation and adventure. Floating along a scenic, heated lazy river, wave generators shipped in from Scotland transform the final stretch of peaceful waters into undulating rapids, punctuated with overhead bridges and dormant volcanoes. Plus, the surrounding beach area — lined with 3500 plants and 12 towering palm trees — features VIP cabanas and sun loungers designed for soaking up the sun. "Our Lava Lagoon Lazy River has been something families have been asking about for years," says Funfields General Manager of Operations Flynn Simsek "It's designed for everyone, parents can unwind, kids can play, and friends can float together. It's relaxing, heated and makes you feel like you've been transported to a tropical resort." Also forming part of this expansive $10 million upgrade, visitors will encounter another brand-new activity — Cyber Drift Bumper Cars. Bringing a supercharged twist to the action, smash and crash your way around the rink before slinging yourself down all 137 metres of the Typhoon Water Slide or tackling Victoria's first outdoor heated wave pool. "This year is about celebrating 40 years of memories," says Simsek. "So many Victorians grew up coming to Funfields, and we're proud that it's become a place where families continue to make memories together." Funfields Themepark is open Saturday–Sunday from 10am–5pm at 2365 Plenty Rd, Whittlesea. Head to the website for more information.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you to Epvalis Hotel in Greece, a picturesque, openair delight overlooking the water on the sunny island of Santorini. If you're dreaming of a sun-soaked Mediterranean adventure this summer, think about spending a few nights here. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? Epvalis is a four-star hotel that overlooks the village of Kamari on the famous Greek island of Santorini. The area is known for its volcanic black beaches — and you'll feel be able to finally find that sense of inner calm while gazing out at the azure waters of the Aegean sea. THE ROOMS The 45 rooms available at Epvalis are designed in the Cycladian style that Santorini is famous for. Think neutral whitewashed walls, rounded external corners, flat roofs and stone-paved floors. Each room has all the amenities you'll need, as well as private balconies overlooking either the gorgeous Santorini architecture or the sapphire bay below. Sound like a bit of you? Not only are the rooms gorgeous, but we've got an epic deal to make your Santorini snoozing even sweeter. Book the Epvalis through CP Trips and you'll knock a huge chunk off the price for a five-night stay — and nab perks like free cancellation and parking. [caption id="attachment_888518" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Karl Solano - Pexels[/caption] FOOD AND DRINK If you're headed for Santorini, you're probably prepared for a hearty Greek feed or three. You could choose to stay in and dine at the deli, or order a meal to your room to enjoy with sunset views. Every guest also will get to enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast, which is open for three hours daily. In terms of onsite drinks, there are two bars: one an indoor lounge and the other a poolside bar. Epvalis is tucked away in the far south corner of Kamari, which keeps you away from the noise, but it does mean a night out is a roughly 15-minute beach walk away. Hey, all the more reason to stop and take in the waves. THE LOCAL AREA Kamari is a bustling seaside village on the southeast coast of Santorini, which is famous for its volcanic black sand beach. Along said beach are all the bars and cafes you could ever need to fuel your Mediterranean getaway, as well as thousands of beach chairs and umbrellas for hire. Looking for an activity? No worries — you can choose from watersports, art studios and even an openair cinema. [caption id="attachment_888517" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Dimitris Mourousiadis - Pexels[/caption] THE EXTRAS One of the most popular destinations in Kamari is Mesa Vouno, the second-largest mountain on Santorini. Epvalis lies on the foothills of the peak, which puts you within driving or walking distance of the ruins of Ancient Thera, a large Greek city that dates back as far as the 8th century. The ruins stretch across the top of the mountain and as far down to the beach, where a small shrine to Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, keeps watch over swimmers. On the summit, you'll find ancient excavated theatres, markets, temples, bathhouses and more. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
Champagne flutes and caviar bumps. Gold-trimmed mirrors and tinkling diamond chandeliers. The crescendo of a saxophone on record and the kick of a burlesque dancer's heel into the air. It's not an evening at Mr Gatsby's estate or the teenage memories of your great-grandparents — it's a bar, hidden in Beaumaris of all places. Tucked away in the unassuming suburbs of Beaumaris, Le Bar Supper Club is an ode to the rip-roaring 20s. With a healthy dose of French flavours and a prohibition-era attitude, it's all about elegance and indulgence. The menu is packed with French flair. Besides the aforementioned caviar, there's oyster, lobster, octopus and a toasted baguette with honey and brie, just on the first page. Turn a page to find caramelised French onion soup, oak-cured smoked salmon, and chicken liver pate. The mains don't drop the crystal ball, with an eggplant and basil lasagne, twice-cooked duck leg à l'orange, a 220-gram aged Angus eye fillet and more on offer. Drinks are crafted by in-house sommelier and mixologist Jai Singh, who took notes from menus gone by. The signature cocktails are the kinds of beverages that are best discovered by your tastebuds, not your eyes, but each is inspired by popular drinks of the 19th and 20th centuries — star ingredients include Prohibition gin, caviar-washed Haku vodka, wattle-seed bourbon, maple whisky and Chartreuse. Then there's the events program. What good is a supper club without entertainment? Le Bar boasts a regular program of live jazz, swing and French music every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday night, broken up by burlesque shows every Friday and Saturday night.
Collingwood needs no introduction as a destination for bar hopping, with those of the dive, wine and public persuasion filled with patrons night after night. But the inner-north neighbourhood is increasingly becoming a hotspot for bigger, later and louder nights out. In 2018, The Lame Duck popped up on the corner of Smith and Gertrude Street, offering late-night disco fever, while iconic nightclub New Guernica moved to Smith Street in 2021 following 12 years in the CBD on Little Collins. Now, tucked beneath this latter venue, a new kind of after-dark clubbing venue has arrived, with the launch of The Collingwood Basement. Owned and operated by the same crew behind New Guernica — Steve Costa, Dominic Lococo, Jaff Tzaferis and Kyle Bush — revellers can expect an intimate experience compared to happenings upstairs in the sprawling main club. With only capacity for 100 guests, each event that takes over the subterranean space is intended to feel "like its own community." "We invite different subcultures to curate the program, which gives space to niche music and left-field culture that rarely gets a spotlight in bigger venues," says Tzaferis, keeping details about the space ambiguous for now. "For us, it's not just about running a business — it feels more like a social service, creating a platform where people can connect, create and keep these scenes alive." [caption id="attachment_834491" align="alignnone" width="1920"] New Guernica[/caption] Entering via a separate side entrance on Langridge Street, The Collingwood Basement is designed to celebrate the city's underground sounds, especially those emanating from the north. Think queer-centred techno nights, boutique record label takeovers and boundary-pushing promoters bringing cutting-edge tunes to the dance floor. And with a 4am license and a Funktion-One sound system, feeling connected to Melbourne's most eclectic scenes comes even easier. "The sound has been designed with the same care, powerful on the floor but balanced so the seated social areas aren't intruded on, because we value human connection just as much as the connection our patrons have with music," says Tzaferis. While rooted to Smith Street, The Collingwood Basement is envisaged for all of Melbourne's north, from Brunswick to Coburg. More than just a spot for wide-eyed movement, it offers the city's varied communities a chance to thrive alongside a fit-for-purpose space. "Our larger venue upstairs works on a very different scale, and while it's great for headline acts and big nights, it's harder to give consistent space to niche music and culture on a weekly basis there," says Tzaferis. "The Basement changes that. It's intimate, community-driven, and designed to highlight the sounds and ideas coming out of the northside." [caption id="attachment_833678" align="alignnone" width="1920"] New Guernica[/caption] The Collingwood Basement is now open Friday–Saturday from 10pm–4am at 0 Langridge St, Collingwood. Head to Instagram for more information.
Hands Down is Fitzroy's new hotspot drinking hole, courtesy of a group of hospitality veterans. And coming from those behind Melbourne institutions such as Above Board and Bar Liberty, you know you're in safe hands. Occupying the former Bad Frankie space on Greeves Street, Hands Down has been a long-imagined venture, which pays homage to the drinking cultures of Southern France and Northern Spain. There's a golden trifecta of stiff drinks, salty snacks, and sweet tunes. Sip on the likes of Pastis Swizzles, 50-50 Martinis and Kalimotxos, paired with a gilda, or Éspelette crisps with guindillas. Leading the charge are Dominic Xavier (Bar Liberty), Hayden Lambert (Above Board), and Manu Potoi (Bar Liberty, Above Board, Capitano), who set out to create a high-spirited and energetic hub for groups to gather for a pre-dinner snack and drink, or a later-in-the-evening nightcap or two. Xavier says, "We've always wanted to create a social bar. Somewhere fun, loud and a little bit loose — but still delivering the quality we're known for." The warm and welcoming space, with a loosely seventies-inspired fit-out, was designed by Studio Edwards and built by Orio Randi of Arteveneta. The venue is centred around a vintage Tannoy sound system. Relics of the former space were retained for both charm and purpose, such as the original timber-panelled bar, which was kept for its sound-resonating qualities. Images: Dominic Xavier.
There's something about a speakeasy bar with a hidden entrance that gets people excited. Enter via a trick bookcase at Loch and Key. Find a secret key that unlocks the door to another bar at Trinket. Or step through a 19th-century floor-length mirror to find a themed bar with cocktails and light bites. The latter is CBD speakeasy, Mill Place Merchants. Just off Flinders Lane, guests will have to seek out a monogrammed red door that leads them into an old dressing room filled with mannequins, rolls of fabric and a vintage sewing machine. Yes, it is a little creepy. It's also a nod to the garment workers who once called this part of the city home. Within this room lies a 19th-century dressing room mirror. Check yourself out, and then push past to find the hidden bar lined with original bluestone walls that's been decorated with vintage rugs, chaise lounges, antiques and leather Chesterfields couches. It's all very old-world opulence, but still with plenty of grit. Thankfully, it's not too polished. But the drinks certainly are. Award-winning Italian bartender Giancarlo Mancino has designed a cocktail menu that oozes with old-school charm, paying homage to legendary cocktail masters of the past. Try their version of a Millionaire, made with bourbon, dry curacao, absinthe, lemon and aquafaba, or opt for the Opera that comes with gin, dubonnet, mandarin liqueur and orange bitters. These cocktails are made for slow sipping in basements hidden away from the rest of the world. You won't find spritzes, spicy margs or super fruity numbers. It's all moody and hush-hush. Those not wanting a cocktail can always get some Victorian wines or craft beers. But you really go to Mill Place Merchants for the signature cocktails. Drinks are the highlight here, but Chef Deepak Mishra has designed a set of light bites that pair with the vintage theme. He's got devilled eggs, steak and ale pies, jamon croquettes, and charcuterie and cheese boards. Snack through these before heading up to some of the best restaurants in Melbourne's CBD for more substantial eats. If you're feeling mysterious, dark and moody this winter, Mill Place Merchants might be the perfect place to brood. That's if you can find it. Images: Bonnie Savage
We're off the see The Wizard again: in not one but two movies, the first arriving in cinemas in November 2024 and the second in 2025, the wonderful world of Oz is returning to screens. It took a mere two years for L Frank Baum's 1900-published book to reach the theatre, with the debut film version following almost four decades later. Now, 85 years have passed since The Wizard of Oz initially entranced cinemas. Its latest big-screen comeback owes debts to both the page and the stage, but beyond the novel that started it all. Wicked first enchanted in print in 1995, when author Gregory Maguire conjured up an alternative Oz-set tale. Since 2003, it has worked its magic as a Tony-winning Broadway musical, before it too makes the eagerly anticipated leap to picture palaces. The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the novel's subtitle, explains Wicked's focus. Whether reading the book, seeing the play or watching the upcoming two features, audiences are whisked into origin-story territory — not only for the green-skinned Elphaba but for Glinda. At the Land of Oz's Shiz University, the pair meet and, despite their differences, cement a friendship. Even before they cross paths with The Wizard, everyone who has ever seen Judy Garland follow the yellow brick road with the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Tin Man knows Elphaba and Glinda's destinies. Giving Wicked the movie treatment: a wide-ranging cast and crew led by director Jon M Chu, with the Crazy Rich Asians filmmaker making his second and third stage-to-screen musicals in succession following In the Heights. On-screen, he's enlisted Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony-winner Cynthia Erivo (Pinocchio) as the misunderstood Elphaba, Ariana Grande (Don't Look Up) as Glinda and none other than Jeff Goldblum (Kaos) as The Wizard, plus Michelle Yeoh (A Haunting in Venice), Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and more. Off-screen, a six-time Oscar-nominee — five of them for Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer) films — also couldn't be more pivotal. When Academy Award recognition comes your way for art direction on The Prestige and The Dark Knight, then for production design on Interstellar, Dunkirk and Tenet — and for Damien Chazelle's First Man as well — jumping to Oz on Wicked's two parts might seem like a massive change. But English production designer Nathan Crowley is interested in world-building first and foremost, and has been ever since his first screen credit on as a junior set designer on 1991's Hook. Also on his resume recently: The Greatest Showman and Wonka. And, he's a veteran of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Braveheart, Mission: Impossible II, Escape From LA, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises, John Carter and the Westworld TV series as well. When you're taking a well-trodden path thanks to multiple books, the Wizard of Oz movie that's been beloved for generations, blockbuster stage musicals, and everything from The Wiz to Oz: The Great and Powerful, you're embarking on an enormous task. That isn't lost on Crowley, he tells Concrete Playground, although the full scope dawned on him slowly. Not only does he need to bring Oz to life beyond the painted backdrops of the Garland-starring film, but he has the job of creating Shiz University — not to mention a field filled with nine-million tulips as part of Munchkinland and a throne room featuring a mechanical version of Goldblum's head, plus various forms of transport, such as by rail, river and air. Ahead of the first Wicked film's release in cinemas — including premiering at Sydney's State Theatre on Sunday, November 3, with Erivo, Grande, Goldblum, Bailey, fellow stars Marissa Bode (a screen debutant) and Ethan Slater (The Marvellous Mrs Maisel), plus director Chu, all in attendance — we also chatted with Crowley about those nine-million flowers, the joy of practical effects, aiming to get audiences to fall into a fantastical world, what he makes of his career so far and more. On How Planting a Field of Nine-Million Tulips in Norfolk Is Symbolic of the Scale of the Task of Bringing Wicked to the Screen "It was the first major challenge for me. My thing is, I love doing things practically because there's a colossal joy to it. So one of the first challenges was: what do all the munchkins do? I need something for them to do in their village. Okay, they're flower farmers and they use the dyes to make colours, because they're colourful people. And so each house, that allowed me lots of scope with the colours of the buildings. So then it was like — and I think it must have been Jon — 'well, what if it's the colours of the rainbow?'. Which is a massive thing. So then what goes in strips of colour? Tulips? You grow tulips in strips of colour. So that's kind of where 'oh we need tulips'. And then it was like 'well, let's grow them'. It was myself and the location manager Adam [Richards, Wonka], who I've worked with many times before. It like 'where can we grow tulips? We can go up to Norfolk'. He found a tulip farmer and was like 'let's go up there and see if we can grow'. I'm going quickly, but there's lots of between. I planted 500 acres of corn in Interstellar in Canada. So I've been a farmer before and I knew if could find the right farmer — and with Adam's help, because ultimately it was crown property; I needed it to be without trees, because in Oz trees are circular. I needed it to be a perfectly large sky, a tulip sky. So we found Mark the farmer, who's just simply brilliant, and he got us our bulbs. Then I had to go back to the production and explain: 'we have a field, we have permission from crown properties to plant, you need to write a check for tulips. You've got to get them from Holland. And we've got to get them in the ground quickly before it freezes'. When you're a flower farmer, you've got to get the bulbs in the ground. And so there's a lot of umming and aahing, and it was difficult, but I think it set the pace of what we were trying to achieve. And Jon, and Donna Langley from Universal, was very into it. She was like 'I love it. Let's do it'. We planted them and we got to know the farmer. He was into it, and we got the colours — and it was just a great life experience. You need to step out of your department occasionally and get into the real world. So, practical filmmaking. So that started it off, and then of course, it snowballs. But they all grew, they all worked. It was brilliant." On Valuing Practical Effects in Age Where CGI Is Everywhere in Visual Effects — and Combining the Two "That [CGI] is very powerful tool now. But you have many tools. We have 120 years of filmmaking experience. My thing is if we can make it enough for real, and light it and get real photography, we can tell visual effects what it should look like and their job becomes symbiotic with ours — and we become one rather than working as a line. So I always feel the balance is essential and we can do it. I guess it's so obvious to me that you build as much as you can until you can't foe whatever reasons: landscape, weather, money, time. So you have to balance it — and then if you balance it, and this really goes back to the audience in the cinema, can you not make them not notice how you did it? Can you do a film, especially a fancy film, where they don't pay attention, they're into the film, they're not paying attention, nothing bounces them out, so you fall into the film? Ever since I was little, when I go to the cinema, I want to fall into the telling of the story. And so I believe that we almost have to go quietly — and to do that, I strongly believe you have to do it practically, because if you suddenly cut to visual effects, I think audiences know that. The emotion is taken away from the audience. It flattens it. So if you can make it seamless, I don't want the audience to notice. Because then you're just in it and you're into the emotion of it." On the Massive the Scope in Not Just Bringing One of the 21st Century's Biggest Stage Musicals to the Screen, But Reimagining Much That's Crucial to The Wizard of Oz "I guess I was a little naive about how big Wicked, the stage show, was. I had three daughters who had grown up and they were like 'what, oh my god!'. And The Wizard of Oz, to me, they sit side by side. What was brilliant is that Wicked is the alternative story to The Wizard of Oz — so together, what a piece of cinema. The realisation I had to recreate Oz kind of slowly dawned on me. And that was like 'oh'. It was like 'Jesus, we've got to remake, we've got to figure out Emerald City'. And Emerald City was just a painting on a backdrop, and everyone's childhood, everyone's reimagined what that is — it's very clever. Everyone's filled in all the blanks of what they didn't show you. So we're going to tread on people's nostalgia for Emerald City — and how do we do that? And then you've got the Wicked fans, there's little things that they want in the film, Shiz details, and it's very important. But luckily we had Marc Platt [the film's producer, and also the stage musical's], who's all things Wicked. So he was my constant guide to Wicked. And then Wizard of Oz was just making sure I didn't hurt and I enlarged people's opinion of what Oz is, rather than shrunk it. So, it was a massive challenge. The biggest challenges, the two films in my career that sit as giant design challenges: Wicked and Interstellar. And they both hurt your head. It's not a physical thing, it's like they hurt your design brain. On How the Wicked Set Became the Most Complex of Crowley's Career So Far "First of all, it was the design, because Shiz, there's so many versions of Shiz — the school, Hogwarts, Cambridge, there's all these perceived ideas. So, one, you have to find a design. And secondly, I realised that the first day of school when everyone comes in, we've got no horse and carriages because the animals aren't enslaved. We've got no trains because they belong to The Wizard, and we have to introduce them later. We can't come by airship, because the balloon belongs to The Wizard. There's no cars. So how do you get anywhere in Oz? And then it was like 'oh, we go by a river' — which is a tradition. Of course we go by river. But what that means is the set, we have to build a giant water tank for the set so we can row the boat into the Shiz courtyard. And of course I like everything practically, so it's like 'we've got to build a giant water tank that takes seven days to fill'. And that was a challenge because, if you know about practical filmmaking, there's never been a tank that didn't leak. So you have a servicing problem with it. Every tank always leaks. Then Shiz for me was about finding architecture. The Wizard of Oz is an American fairy tale, so I need Americana, so White City of Chicago, 1893 World's Exposition, those giant Burnham and Root arches. I need to put some Americana in it. I need to put the scale of America in it. But then I need the nostalgia of every great ancient educational facility. So I need you to, when you walk into to Shiz, you feel this sort of ancient learning vibe. I need to take architecture from all over the world and change the materials of it, and try to blend it — from onion domes to Venice staircases. So I was really trying to make it fantastical, but familiar. So when you watch it, you'll see something that's kind of familiar to you. And if you've been a tourist in in Italy, you'll feel it a bit — or if you've been to Spain, to the Alhambra, you'll feel it a bit. Or maybe a little bit of Melbourne. Not much Georgian architecture, I'm afraid. On the Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity of Building a Throne Room Around a Mechanical Version of Jeff Goldblum's Head "It was so exciting. Every film has influenced the last one. So back on The Prestige — and really Bram Stoker's Dracula, we did automatons and mechanics, and we had to puppeteer the head and get expressions. So the joy of realising we had, one, a phenomenal special effects scene. Who could do that? And puppeteer it? And then secondly, okay, we've got the head, and if we could come through the curtain and say 'I am Oz' and put an eye through it, that's exciting. But then you think, 'well, what about the curtain?'. And so we came up with all these string curtains, it's almost like an art installation. We sat there for a very long time with drapers and mechanical people. We'd sit there at the end of the day and try all different things. And we had Joss [Carter, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom], the puppeteer, who was just brilliant. It comes down to just trying something, developing it and and being with the right people. And it's people — you're with all these people, and they're all creative, and the fun out of it is remarkable." On What Crowley Makes of His Career Three-Decade-Plus Career in Cinema So Far — and What Gets Him Excited About a New Project "I think when I look back, I just think 'wow, I got a bit lucky with the people I met'. There's a huge part of luck in if you happen to bump into the right people when you're younger. It's just like if you turn left at a certain time. So I look back at it and wonder 'how did all that happen?'. And I just like to get excited. So what does that mean now? Still to this day, I remember walking on to the old MGM lot for my first day at Hook and there was a ship on stage 27. They built a water tank. There was a ship in it, the Hook ship. It was giant, and it was just like 'this is incredible'. [caption id="attachment_614251" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Interstellar[/caption] So I'm really just looking to world-build. Films like Wonka and Wicked opened those doors — things I've not done before. I wouldn't have said, I couldn't have said to you that I would end up making lots of musicals. To me, that wasn't even in my mind when we were doing Interstellar. 'I do lots of musicals? You're going to do four musicals?' I couldn't imagine that, but they've been some of the most-interesting design jobs I've ever had. So definitely new experiences, new journeys. You've got to keep yourself interested, you especially as you get older." Wicked releases in Australian cinemas on Thursday, November 21, 2024, with limited previews on Wednesday, November 20 — and tickets for the latter on sale now.
Soup team, assemble. The weather of your people is making an appearance once again. The heatwaves are over, the cooler temperatures are trickling in and the cravings for big ol' bowls of hot, steamy ramen in Melbourne are back. The classic Japanese dish has become a cosy, warming dish of choice here in Melbourne, with restaurants across the city serving up quality renditions ranging from the traditional to the inventive. With slurp-worthy noodles swimming in a rich, nuanced, silky broth, this soup is a surefire tastebud pleaser that'll warm those cockles in an instant. So, here's a handy list of what we reckon are the best ramen joints around town — from buzzy CBD spots, to suburban restaurants well worth the trek. Recommended reads: The Best Japanese Restaurants in Melbourne Where to Find the Best Fried Chicken in Melbourne The Best Hot Pot Spots in Melbourne The Best Cheap Eats in Melbourne The Best Bubble Tea Shops in Melbourne
Ambitious newcomer The Commons at Ormond Collective has taken over the St Kilda Road site once home to the Belgian Beer Cafe Bluestone. This multi-faceted, mostly outdoor venue is the latest from The Big Group, which operates a suite of event spaces including The Glasshouse in Olympic Park and the Myer Mural Hall. Aiming for broad appeal, The Commons features an array of different elements set across its various al fresco spaces, including The Conservatory, The Kitchen Garden, The Garden Cafe and The Beer Garden. Throughout, expect a heady mix of gingham and floral prints, bold stripes, fresh flowers and wicker, with lots of Euro-style cafe chairs and park benches setting the scene. In keeping with the times, you'll also find quirky lily pad seating positioned 1.5 metres apart and multiple hand sanitiser stations. [caption id="attachment_787853" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marcel Aucar[/caption] There'll be slightly different food offerings available at each of the different spaces, though as a whole the menu's built around classic flavours, local produce and lots of ingredients picked fresh from the onsite kitchen garden. Think, crisp flatbread crowned with an assembly of confit artichoke, greens, mozzarella and edible flowers ($22); a spring salad featuring seared salmon ($24); and a classic chicken sandwich with lemon mayo and shredded broccoli ($15). You might settle in with some craft brews and a burger, or while away an afternoon over snacks and rosé. Coffee comes courtesy of North Melbourne's Small Batch, while house-made sweet treats run to the likes of salted pretzel brownies and an Italian strawberry love cake. Like any outdoor venue worth its salt, this one's also optimised for guests of the four-legged variety. We're talking doggy day beds, puppy parking and a dedicated food menu for pooches. Images: Marcel Aucar
Forget only celebrating Christmas for one day, or even just 12. Don't limit yourself to a mere 25 days of getting festive, either. At Lune for the entire month of December — including on Christmas Day at some stores — the specials menu is enjoying a merry makeover. Whether you're after croissants, cruffins or a savoury pastry, there's something to suit the occasion right through until Tuesday, December 31, 2024. Each month, Lune Croissanterie whips up a fresh batch of limited-time offerings, giving you something tasty to look forward to when you flip over your calendar. If you've tucked into hot cross cruffins, lasagne pastries and Tim Tam pains au chocolat this year, you'll have tasted the results. Now, with festive season upon us, the Kate Reid co-founded bakery brand is dishing up appropriate treats. Start with stuffed turkey pastries, then move onto gingerbread croissants. First, the sweet stuff. Lune's gingerbread special is a twice-baked croissant made with pecan frangipane, baked gingerbread and molasses caramel, then topped with frangipane, gingerbread, white icing and gold dusted chocolate pearls. From 2023's specials, the choc peppermint twice-baked pain au chocolat is back for 2024, featuring chocolate frangipane and a peppermint patty, then dark chocolate crumb, melted chocolate and crushed candy cane on top. It wouldn't be Christmas without eggnog and pudding, with Lune whipping up its own versions. You can eat your eggnog, rather than simply drink it, courtesy of Lune's latest cruffin. It's stuffed with rum syrup and eggnog custard, then dusted with icing sugar, and also finished with sweetened meringue cream, nutmeg and a spiced chocolate quill. The bakery's Christmas pudding comes filled with brandy caramel and muscovado brandy soaked fruit cake, and is then brushed with a caramel glaze, before being topped with brandy crème pâtissière, candied orange peel and grated nutmeg. For a savoury option, enter The Stuffed Turkey. This pastry is filled with a turkey and croissant pastry stuffing, with sage powder, cranberry sauce, crispy chicken skin and fried sage leaves added on top. Back on sweet dishes, Lune is giving Brisbane a bonus special. Befitting the River City's sultry weather, the chain's ice cream sandwich will be on offer — only at the South Brisbane store, and only between Monday, December 2–Tuesday, December 31. It takes a pain au chocolat, slices it open, then pops in two scoops of croissant infused ice-cream that's been folded with caramelised croissant pieces. After starting off as an off-menu staff snack, it's now being shared with customers. Lune currently operates in Melbourne and Brisbane, so you'll find its December specials available at its Melbourne CBD, Fitzroy and Armadale stores in the former, plus South Brisbane and Burnett Lane in the latter — but the range varies per venue. Online pre-orders are also available at some shops, for some products. Over the Christmas break, stores will be operating as normal until Christmas Eve, then just Fitzroy and South Brisbane will open from 8–11am on Christmas itself. All venues will be up and running from 8am–3pm from Boxing Day until New Year's Day, then standard operating hours return from Thursday, January 2, 2025. Lune's December specials menu runs from Sunday, December 1–Tuesday, December 31, 2024, with different specials on offer at Armadale, Fitzroy and the CBD in Melbourne, and South Brisbane and Burnett Lane in Brisbane. From some stores, you can also order them online. Images: Peter Dillon.
No one spent a winter weekend dancing in a North Byron Bay Parklands field at Splendour in the Grass in 2024. No one will do that in 2025, either. After 2024's festival was cancelled just weeks after unveiling its Kylie Minogue-, Future- and Arcade Fire-led lineup, the Splendour crew has advised that there'll also be no fest this year. "Hey gang, sorry it's been so quiet, but we had a little holiday ... finally. The rest of the festival team have still been busy cooking up some awesome new things for music lovers in Australia, but Splendour needs a little more time to recharge and we won't be back this year," said organisers in a statement on social media. "Think of it as a breather so we can come back even bigger and better when the time is right. Lots of other huge events on the horizon so keep an ear to the ground in the coming months — we can't wait to share what we've been working on!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) Notably, the statement about 2025's event doesn't confirm that the festival will return in 2026, but rather says that it'll be back "when the time is right". For now, put those glittery gumboots away for at least this year, in what proves another heartbreaking piece of news for Australia's live music industry. When Splendour scrapped its 2024 plans, it did so after revealing its roster of acts, and also followed on from a heap of other cancellations across the Aussie festival scene. Groovin the Moo ditched its 2024 events just a fortnight after announcing its lineup. Also, Falls Festival took summer 2023–24 off, Summergrounds Music Festival at Sydney Festival was cancelled and This That hasn't gone ahead for a couple of years. Since Splendour cancelled, Yours and Owls ditched its 2024 fest, as did Spilt Milk and Adelaide's Harvest Rock. Dark Mofo took a breather, too, while Mona Foma called time forever after its 2024 event. Bluesfest also revealed that it would say farewell after its 2025 fest, but it has been reported that that might no longer be the case. "With a heavy heart, we're announcing the cancellation of Splendour in the Grass 2024," said the Splendour team in a statement last year. "We know there were many fans excited for this year's lineup and all the great artists planning to join us, but due to unexpected events we'll be taking the year off. Ticketholders will be refunded automatically by Moshtix. We thank you for your understanding and will be working hard to be back in future years." "We're heartbroken to be missing a year, especially after more than two decades in operation. This festival has always been a huge community effort, and we'd like to thank everyone for their support and overall faith. We hope to be back in the future," added Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco, co-CEOs of Secret Sounds. 2024's event would've marked the festival's 22nd birthday — and its third COVID-19-era fest, following the supremely muddy 2022 iteration (which was delayed for the two years due to the pandemic's early days) and 2023's go-around. Splendour in the Grass won't take place in 2025. For more information, head to the festival website. Images: Charlie Hardy, Bianca Holderness and Claudia Ciapocha.
Taco Bell, Wahlburgers, Five Guys and Wendy's all did it. Now, Chuck E Cheese is as well. Big-name American food chains keep making the leap to Australia, with this US restaurant-slash-entertainment centre brand first announcing its Down Under plans in 2024, and now backing it up by confirming that it'll launch in 2025. Yes, Charles Entertainment Cheese is heading this way, ready to delight kids, families and Australian adults who've always wanted the Chuck E Cheese experience. The children's birthday-party go-to is set to open its first Aussie venue in the coming months, in Perth. Exactly where in the Western Australian capital will be revealed in April. Chuck E Cheese's jump Down Under is a result of the WA-based Royale Hospitality Group signing a master franchise partnership for the country, adding to a stable that also includes Outback Jack's and Milky Lane. It's helping extend the chain as it closes in on five decades of existence — launching in 1977 — and as Asia and Europe also become a global focus. On offer: the place to eat slices, play games and watch animatronics that's been parodied in the likes of Five Nights at Freddy's and Willy's Wonderland, but obviously without the horror. And yes, that spans the company's characters. Yes, Charles Entertainment Cheese is Chuck E Cheese's mouse mascot's full name. Patrons can look forward to pizza, arcade games, climbing walls, an interactive dance floor and other play areas, plus VIP birthday party rooms and a space for parents to kick back sans kids. On the menu, smoothies and milkshakes will also be a feature, as will healthy options. "Perth has a strong culture for family entertainment, so bringing Chuck E Cheese to Australia is incredibly exciting — we can't wait for families to experience the fun, games and great food that have made it famous around the world," said Royale Hospitality Group General Manager Christian Beaden, announcing that Perth will play host to the chain's first Aussie store. If you live elsewhere around the nation, you'll need to keep waiting to find out when you'll be able to take your nieces and nephews to Chuck E Cheese in other Australian cities. Chuck E Cheese will start opening in Australia in 2025, starting in Perth, but exactly when and where hasn't yet been revealed — keep an eye on the chain's website, and we'll update you with more details when they're announced.
Not even Australia's balmy December temperatures can keep us from embracing the ironic ugly Christmas sweater trend. Christmas in July is here again, my friends, and so too is the Colonel's line of OTT Yuletide-themed pullovers for another year. Yep, KFC has just dropped its 2023 Christmas jumper range — and, like in 2022, there's a matching outfit for the furry mate in your life, too. Available to snap up now, the limited-edition designs are primed for cheesy family photos, rocking a cheery red-and-white pattern and emblazoned with a cheeky nod to fried chicken: "Tis The Seasonings". Both the human sweaters ($60) and the pet versions ($40) come in a range of sizes, so you're sure to find a good fit no matter how hard you — or Murphy— have gone on the winter comfort food this year. What's more, there's zero shame to be felt in this daggy knitwear purchase, since all profits from the jumpers are going to support KFC's charity partners such as The Black Dog Institute, ReachOut Australia and Whitelion. 2023's range also includes socks ($25) — if you're all about business on top and a party on your feet — and a black long-sleeved jumper ($60) that's a bit more subtle in its seasonal cheer (although KFC buckets and drumsticks still feature). And if the matchy-matchy outfits have left you and your pooch really wanting to cash in on that Christmas in July spirit, KFC is also doing festive food specials until Tuesday, July 11. KFC's 2023 Christmas in July sweaters are available to buy online, costing $60 for the human jumpers and $40 for pets.
While so many small restaurants and bars are doing it tough these days, plenty of the big restaurant groups are only getting bigger. Lucas Restaurants (Chin Chin, Hawker Hall, Kisumé, Grill Americano, Society, Yakimono, Baby Pizza) is one of these beasts — and it's just announced plans to launch two new venues in the CBD. Set to open at 435 Bourke Street within a new $1 billion commercial office tower by developer Cbus Property, Chris Lucas and his team will not only run the sites but also heavily influence the space's design, which, as a restaurateur, is surely one of the perks of joining a venture while the venue is still under construction. About his new venture, Lucas said: "Melbourne is my home and city that I have dedicated my working life to and is also one of the world's great food cities. "Developments such as 435 Bourke Street give me a rare creative licence and a blank canvas to see how our restaurants can help transform our city and position it as a city of the future for both hospitality and work." At the time of publishing, the only details we have received about these two venues are that one will be a "new-style Chinese" restaurant, and the other a "sophisticated Mediterranean" diner. There's also no clear opening date, but the development in which they sit is slated to open sometime in 2026. [caption id="attachment_921103" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yakimono[/caption] The two new Lucas Restaurants venues will be found at 435 Bourke Street, Melbourne, and are slated to open in 2026 . We'll be sure to keep you updated with more details as we find out more.
In contrast to its unassuming grey concrete facade, Amann Patisserie in Carlton North delights with its French flair, flaky pastries and seasonal fresh ingredients. With a passionate and dedicated team committed to technical excellence and quality, this pint-sized patisserie has earned its reputation as one of the best in town. Yohann and Alizée, the couple behind Amann Patisserie, first met while working at a patisserie in Brisbane. However, Yohann's journey begins in the home of pastry, France, where he trained and worked in patisseries in Brittany and Paris, which explains his devotion to the skill and craft of baking. Yohann's pastries are deeply rooted in French tradition, relying on recipes and techniques that have been developed over decades by renowned French chefs. His impeccable French technique is showcased in Amann's range of staples that are served each day — plain, almond, chocolate and ham and cheese croissants, kouign amann, pain suisse, and a signature maple bacon danish. When Alizée and Yohann opened up their tiny storefront, they had no idea just how quickly their business would grow. What started as just the two of them trading three days a week has now grown into a daily operation with a whole team, regular opening hours and outdoor seating. Amann's seasonal specials feature innovative Australian produce and influences. For example, summer specials may include kiwi berry flans, cherry pastries or mango and pandan numbers. They make an effort to listen to their customers — if they love a special, it may earn a spot on the permanent menu, if they don't, it won't make it to next week. By adhering to its ethos of keeping it simple yet doing it well, Amann Patisserie has garnered a loyal following of devoted customers. Looking forward, Alizée and Yohann are focused on continuing to grow their business by streamlining operations, expanding their offering, and building the brand beyond their little pastry window. Images: Supplied.
Melbourne has oodles of noodle joints and is bursting with dumpling dining establishments from suburb to suburb. It can be tough to come up with a list of the best Chinese restaurants in Melbourne, but not impossible. In a city that cherishes culinary excellence and celebrates cultural diversity, the options for indulging in the best Chinese fare are as vast as they are delightful. From the bustling streets of Chinatown to hidden gems scattered across Melbourne, these handpicked restaurants showcase the rich diversity of Chinese cuisine. Immerse yourself in a symphony of tastes, from the fiery spices of Sichuan to the delicate artistry of Cantonese delicacies, and the bold flavours of Northern China. Steaming dim sum, mouthwatering Peking duck and fragrant stir-fries await you. So, grab your chopsticks and join us on a gastronomic adventure, exploring Melbourne's best Chinese restaurants. Recommended reads: The Best Hot Pots in Melbourne The Best Dumplings in Melbourne The Best Yum Cha in Melbourne The Best Restaurants in Melbourne
Australians are eating out less often as cost-of-living pressures bite, but younger diners are helping to keep the country's hospitality industry buzzing. New research released by the Foodservice Association of Australia (FSAA) and consumer insights platform Vypr shows that while three in ten people are cutting back on restaurant visits — and one in ten have stopped altogether — Millennials and older Gen Zs continue to dine out several times a week, or even daily. The 25–34 age group is one-and-a-half times more likely to head to a cafe or restaurant compared to the population average (79 percent versus 57 percent), with many weaving breakfasts, coffee breaks and light lunches into their daily routines. "Our data shows that while Australians are being more careful with their spending, they continue to see dining out as essential to their social lives," said Vypr's International Chief Revenue Officer, Sam Gilding. He noted that socialising with family and friends (60 percent) and celebrating occasions (44 percent) remain the top reasons to head out. [caption id="attachment_1023279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Diners line up for viral burgers at Brunswick East's Charrd[/caption] Still, diners are more cost-conscious than ever. Nearly four in five spend under $60 per week on eating out, with value for money their biggest priority. More than half (52 percent) want better portion sizes, and almost two-thirds (63 percent) prefer discounts over loyalty schemes. Consistency across venues also matters, with 45 percent of respondents ranking it as a key improvement restaurants could make. Quick-service restaurants are the most frequented (62 percent), followed by casual dining venues (47 percent) and cafes (33 percent). Delivery apps are also especially popular among younger Australians, with 25–34-year-olds twice as likely as average to order via an app. Health and sustainability are increasingly influencing decisions, too — 71 percent of respondents said they seek healthier options, while 42 percent consider sustainability when choosing meals and venues. [caption id="attachment_1018380" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney's popular new Enmore bar, Deadwax.[/caption] FSAA CEO Minnie Constan said the report highlights important shifts. "We're thrilled to partner on this independent report at a time of real change in our industry. We pride ourselves on delivering accurate information that helps our members understand shifting consumer expectations and adapt to ensure foodservice remains strong into the future." Read the full Consumer Preferences & Dining Habits 2025 report here. Images: Supplied | Top image: Johnny's Green Room
Soaring 55 storeys above Melbourne's CBD in the Rialto building, Vue de Monde does what it says on the tin — and that's offer world-class views. But you'd be wrong to think the vistas are the drawcard. Headed up by celebrated Australian chef Shannon Bennett, Vue de Monde is one of the top restaurants in the country and known for its theatrical approach to fine dining. First up, the interiors, designed by local architecture firm Elenberg Fraser, are inspired by the Australian landscape — think black basalt bars, bespoke kangaroo fur chairs and corrugated iron walls. The Australiana theme carries through to the food, with its Chef's Tasting Menu championing native Australian ingredients thanks to Executive Chef Hugh Allen. The menu changes regularly but, to give you an idea, you could be sitting down to dishes like oysters with native citrus, Western Australian marron curry, and cantaloupe and green ants. It's one of the finest degustations in town — and one that'll set you back $310 per person. If you're keen to hit up the famed fine diner but without the commitment to the pricey degustation, head to Lui Bar. The Lui Bar menu takes the concept of drinking snacks to new heights, showcasing clever technique as it reimagines classic Aussie flavours. Think, seafood rolls, handmade beef sausage rolls with a spicy ketchup and the chocolate lamington filled with raspberry gel. Alongside some exceptional cocktails, a standout wine list and incredible views, no less.
Do call it a comeback: in 2023, beloved TV shows dropped new seasons everywhere. Whether you're a fan of thoughtful dramedies about Indigenous American teenagers, savage family feuds or culinary chaos, this year delivered another serving — and of vampire sharehouse antics, British spies, and angels and demons palling around as well. Some of the above series not only waved hello again, but also goodbye forever after releasing their latest episodes. Others among the year's absolute best returning series have at least one more round in their future. Either way, 2023 hasn't been short of tried-and-tested gems that've kept proving why that's the case again. When the year reached its halfway point, we named and celebrated the top already-obsessed-over TV shows of the year so far. Now that 2023 is saying farewell itself, we've surveyed the entire past 12 months of small-screen efforts. Here's the results: the best 15 returning television shows of the year, and one helluva list of recommendations for finally seeing what everyone's been talking about or spending time with an old favourite. RESERVATION DOGS There's only one thing wrong with the third season of Reservation Dogs: now that it's over, the show has come to an end. There's a skill in knowing when something's time has come, but this teen-centric comedy about restless Indigenous North American adolescents is so rich in stories, perspectives and minutiae — and so resonant as well — that it feels like more and more could (and should) just keep following. Ending Reservation Dogs with this ten-episode run is also an example of the series taking its own message to heart, however. As co-created, executive produced and written by Sterlin Harjo (Mekko) and Taika Waititi (Thor: Love and Thunder) — the former as its guiding force — Reservation Dogs knows that little lasts. It hangs out with its characters as they learn about life's transience at every moment, whether they're chasing their dreams of leaving the reservation that they've always called home or they're grappling with loss. So, of course the series is moving on. In the process, its farewell season proved even more moving and thoughtful than ever, even after its debut year delivered one of the best new TV shows of 2021 and its second spin served up one of the best returning shows of 2022. The last time that viewers saw the Rez Dogs — the OG quartet of Bear (D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Beans), Elora (Devery Jacobs, Rutherford Falls), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) and Cheese (Lane Factor, The Fabelmans), plus Jackie (Elva Guerra, Dark Winds), the somewhat-reluctant newcomer to the group — they had finally made the trip to California that they'd been working towards their entire lives. Season three picks up with the crew still far away from home, and still journeying even when they do return. Elora considers both her past and her future. Bear goes wandering on his own, including through several revelatory encounters. Harjo still isn't afraid to veer away from his leads along the way, whether sliding into history to explore myths, traditions or horrors inflicted upon Indigenous children. Reservation Dogs finds a story, be it big or small, for everyone within its frames. Bear, Elora, Willie Jack and Cheese especially will be deeply missed, but Woon-A-Tai, Jacobs, Alexis and Factor shouldn't ever be far from screens after this exceptional breakthrough. Reservation Dogs streams via Binge. Read our full review. SUCCESSION Endings have always been a part of Succession. Since it premiered in 2018, the bulk of the HBO drama's feuding figures have been waiting for a big farewell. The reason is right there in the title, because for any of the Roy clan's adult children to scale the family company's greatest heights and remain there — be it initial heir apparent Kendall (Jeremy Strong, Armageddon Time), his inappropriate photo-sending brother Roman (Kieran Culkin, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off), their political-fixer sister Siobhan (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman), or eldest sibling and presidential candidate Connor (Alan Ruck, The Dropout) — their father Logan's (Brian Cox, Remember Me) tenure needed to wrap up. The latter was always stubborn. Proud, too, of what he'd achieved and the power it's brought. And whenever Logan seemed nearly ready to leave the business behind, he held on. If he's challenged or threatened, as happened again and again in the Emmy-winning series, he fixed his grasp even tighter. Succession was always been waiting for Logan's last stint at global media outfit Waystar RoyCo, but it had never been about finales quite the way it was in its stunning fourth season. This time, there was ticking clock not just for the show's characters, but for the stellar series itself, given that this is its last go-around — and didn't it make the most of it. Nothing can last forever, not even widely acclaimed hit shows that are a rarity in today's TV climate: genuine appointment-viewing. So, this went out at the height of its greatness, complete with unhappy birthday parties, big business deals, plenty of scheming and backstabbing, and both Shiv's husband Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen, Operation Mincemeat) and family cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun, Cat Person) in vintage form — plus an early shock, at least two of the best episodes of any show that've ever aired on television, one of the worst drinks, a phenomenal acting masterclass, a The Sopranos-level final shot and the reality that money really can't buy happiness. Succession streams via Binge. Read our full review. BARRY Since HBO first introduced the world to Barry Berkman, the contract killer played and co-created by Saturday Night Live great Bill Hader wanted to be something other than a gun for hire. An ex-military sniper, he was always skilled at his highly illicit post-service line of work; however, moving on from that past was a bubbling dream even before he found his way to a Los Angeles acting class while on a job. Barry laid bare its namesake's biggest wish in its 2018 premiere episode. Then, it kept unpacking his pursuit of a life less lethal across the show's Emmy-winning first and second seasons, plus its even-more-astounding third season in 2022. Season four, the series' final outing, was no anomaly, but it also realised that wanting to be someone different and genuinely overcoming your worst impulses aren't the same. Barry grappled with this fact since the beginning, of course, with the grim truth beating at the show's heart whether it's at its most darkly comedic, action-packed or dramatic — and, given that its namesake was surrounded by people who similarly yearn for an alternative to their current lot in life, yet also can't shake their most damaging behaviour, it did so beyond its antihero protagonist. Are Barry, his girlfriend Sally Reid (Sarah Goldberg, The Night House), acting teacher Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, Black Adam), handler Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root, Succession) and Chechen gangster NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan, Bill & Ted Face the Music) all that different from who they were when Barry started? Have they processed their troubles? Have they stopped taking out their struggles not just on themselves, but on those around them? Hader and his fellow Barry co-creator Alec Berg (Silicon Valley, Curb Your Enthusiasm) kept asking those questions in season four to marvellous results, including after making a massive jump, and right up to the jaw-dropping yet pitch-perfect finale. Barry being Barry, posing such queries and seeing its central figures for who they are was an ambitious, thrilling and risk-taking ride. When season three ended, it was with Barry behind bars, which is where he was when the show's new go-around kicked off. He wasn't coping, unsurprisingly, hallucinating Sally running lines in the prison yard and rejecting a guard's attempt to tell him that he's not a bad person. With the latter, there's a moment of clarity about what he's done and who he is, but Barry's key players have rarely been that honest with themselves for long. Barry streams via Binge. Read our full review. THE BEAR The more time that anyone spends in the kitchen, the easier that whipping up their chosen dish gets. The Bear season two is that concept in TV form, even if the team at The Original Beef of Chicagoland don't always live it as they leap from running a beloved neighbourhood sandwich joint to opening a fine-diner, and fast. The hospitality crew that was first introduced in the best new show of 2022 isn't lacking in culinary skills or passion. But when bedlam surrounds you constantly, as bubbled and boiled through The Bear's Golden Globe-winning, Emmy-nominated season-one frames, not everything always goes to plan. That was only accurate on-screen for Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White, Fingernails) and his colleagues — aka sous chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri, Bottoms), baker-turned-pastry chef Marcus (Lionel Boyce, Hap and Leonard), veteran line cooks Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas, In Treatment) and Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson, Fargo), resident Mr Fixit Neil Fak (IRL chef Matty Matheson), and family pal Richie aka Cousin (Ebon Moss-Bachrach, No Hard Feelings). For viewers, the series' debut run was as perfect a piece of television as anyone can hope for. Excellent news: season two is better. The Bear serves up another sublime course of comedy, drama and "yes chef!"-exclaiming antics across its sizzling second season. Actually make that ten more courses, one per episode, with each new instalment its own more-ish meal. A menu, a loan, desperately needed additional help, oh-so-much restaurant mayhem: that's how this second visit begins, as Carmy and Sydney endeavour to make their dreams for their own patch of Chicago's food scene come true. So far, so familiar, but The Bear isn't just plating up the same dishes this time around. At every moment, this new feast feels richer, deeper and more seasoned, including when it's as intense as ever, when it's filling the screen with tastebud-tempting food shots that relish culinary artistry, and also when it gets meditative. Episodes that send Marcus to a Noma-esque venue in Copenhagen under the tutelage of Luca (Will Poulter, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), get Richie spending a week learning the upscale ropes at one of Chicago's best restaurants and jump back to the past, demonstrating how chaos would've been in Carmy's blood regardless of if he became a chef, are particularly stunning. The Bear season two streams via Disney+. Read our full review. THE OTHER TWO Swapping Saturday Night Live for an entertainment-parodying sitcom worked swimmingly for Tina Fey. Since 2019, it also went hilariously for Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider. Not just former SNL writers but the veteran sketch comedy's ex-head writers, Kelly and Schneider gave the world their own 30 Rock with the sharp, smart and sidesplitting The Other Two. Their angle: focusing on the adult siblings of a Justin Bieber-style teen popstar who've always had their own showbiz aspirations — he's an actor, she was a ballerina — who then find themselves the overlooked children of a momager-turned-daytime television host as well. Cary (Drew Tarver, History of the World: Part II) and Brooke (Heléne York, Katy Keene) Dubek were happy for Chase (Case Walker, Monster High: The Movie). And when their mother Pat (Molly Shannon, I Love That for You) gets her own time in the spotlight, becoming Oprah-level famous, they were equally thrilled for her. But ChaseDreams, their little brother's stage name, was always a constant reminder that their own ambitions keep being outshone. In a first season that proved one of the best new shows of 2019, a second season in 2021 that was just as much of a delight and now a stellar third go-around, Cary and Brooke were never above getting petty and messy about being the titular pair. In season three, however, they didn't just hang around with stars in their eyes and resentment in their hearts. How did they cope? They spent the past few years constantly comparing themselves to Chase, then to Pat, but then they were successful on their own — and still in a shambles, and completely unable to change their engrained thinking. Forget the whole "the grass is always greener" adage. No matter if they were faking it or making it, nothing was ever perfectly verdant for this pair or anyone in their orbit. Still, as Brooke wondered whether her dream manager gig is trivial after living through a pandemic, she started contemplating if she should be doing more meaningful work like her fashion designer-turned-nurse boyfriend Lance (Josh Segarra, The Big Door Prize). And with Cary's big breaks never quite panning out as planned, he got envious of his fellow-actor BFF Curtis (Brandon Scott Jones, Ghosts). The Other Two streams via Binge. Read our full review. PARTY DOWN Sometimes, dreams do come true. More often than not, they don't. The bulk of life is what dwells in-between, as we all cope with the inescapable truth that we won't get everything that we've ever fantasised about, and we mightn't even score more than just a few things we want. This is the space that Party Down has always made its own, asking "are we having fun yet?" about life's disappointments while focusing on Los Angeles-based hopefuls played by Adam Scott (Severance), Ken Marino (The Other Two), Ryan Hansen (A Million Little Things), Martin Starr (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) and more. They'd all rather be doing something other than being cater waiters at an array of California functions, and most have stars in their eyes. In the cult comedy's first two seasons back in 2009–10, the majority of its characters had their sights set on show business, slinging hors d'oeuvres while trying to make acting, screenwriting or comedy happen. Bringing most of the original gang back together — including Jane Lynch (Only Murders in the Building) and Megan Mullally (Dicks: The Musical) — Party Down keeps its shindig-by-shindig setup in its 13-years-later third season. Across its first 20 instalments as well as its new six, each episode sends the titular crew to a different soirée. This time, setting the scene for what's still one of the all-time comedy greats in its latest go-around, the opening get-together is thrown by one of their own. Kyle Bradway (Hansen) has just scored the lead part in a massive superhero franchise, and he's celebrating. Ex-actor Henry Pollard (Scott) is among the attendees, as are now-heiress Constance Carmell (Lynch) and perennial stage mum Lydia Dunfree (Mullally). Hard sci-fi obsessive Roman DeBeers (Starr) and the eager-to-please Ron Donald (Marino) are present as well, in a catering capacity. By the time episode two hits, then the rest of the season, more of the above will be donning pastel pink bow ties, the series keeps unpacking what it means to dream but never succeed, and the cast — especially Scott and the ever-committed Marino — are in their element. Party Down streams via Stan. Read our full review of season three. YELLOWJACKETS For Shauna (Melanie Lynskey, The Last of Us), Natalie (Juliette Lewis, Welcome to Chippendales), Taissa (Tawny Cypress, Billions), Misty (Christina Ricci, Wednesday), Lottie (Simone Kessell, Muru) and Van (Lauren Ambrose, Servant), 1996 will always be the year that their plane plunged into the Canadian wilderness, stranding them for 19 tough months — as season one of 2021–2022 standout Yellowjackets grippingly established. As teenagers (as played by The Kid Detective's Sophie Nélisse, The Boogeyman's Sophie Thatcher, Scream VI's Jasmin Savoy, Shameless' Samantha Hanratty, Mad Max: Fury Road's Courtney Eaton and Santa Clarita Diet's Liv Hewson), they were members of the show's titular high-school soccer squad, travelling from their New Jersey home town to Seattle for a national tournament, when the worst eventuated. Cue Lost-meets-Lord of the Flies with an Alive twist, as that first season was understandably pegged. All isn't always what it seems as Shauna and company endeavour to endure in the elements. Also, tearing into each other occurs more than just metaphorically. Plus, literally sinking one's teeth in was teased and flirted with since episode one, too. But Yellowjackets will always be about what it means to face something so difficult that it forever colours and changes who you are — and constantly leaves a reminder of who you might've been. So, when Yellowjackets ended its first season, it was with as many questions as answers. Naturally, it tore into season two in the same way. In the present, mere days have elapsed — and Shauna and her husband Jeff (Warren Kole, Shades of Blue) are trying to avoid drawing any attention over the disappearance of Shauna's artist lover Adam (Peter Gadiot, Queen of the South). Tai has been elected as a state senator, but her nocturnal activities have seen her wife Simone (Rukiya Bernard, Van Helsing) move out with their son Sammy (Aiden Stoxx, Supergirl). Thanks to purple-wearing kidnappers, Nat has been spirited off, leaving Misty desperate to find her — even enlisting fellow citizen detective Walter (Elijah Wood, Come to Daddy) to help. And, in the past, winter is setting in, making searching for food and staying warm an immense feat. Yellowjackets streams via Paramount+. Read our full review, and our interview with Melanie Lynskey. I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE WITH TIM ROBINSON Eat-the-rich stories are delicious, and also everywhere; however, Succession, Triangle of Sadness and the like aren't the only on-screen sources of terrible but terribly entertaining people. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson has been filling streaming queues with assholes since 2019, as usually played by the eponymous Detroiters star, and long may it continue. In season three, the show takes its premise literally in the most ridiculous and unexpected way, so much so that no one could ever dream of predicting what happens. That's still the sketch comedy's not-so-secret power. Each of its skits is about someone being the worst in some manner, doubling down on being the worst and refusing to admit that they're the worst (or that they're wrong) — and while everyone around them might wish that they'd leave, they're never going to, and nothing ever ends smoothly. In a show that's previously worked in hot dog costumes and reality TV series about bodies dropping out of coffins to hilarious effect, anything can genuinely happen to its gallery of the insufferable. In fact, the more absurd and anarchic that I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson gets, the better. No description can do I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson's sketches justice, and almost every one is a comedic marvel, as again delivered in six 15-minute episodes in the series' third run. The usual complaint applies: for a show about people overstaying their welcome, the program itself flies by too quickly, always leaving viewers wanting more. Everything from dog doors and designated drivers to HR training and street parking is in Robinson's sights this time, and people who won't stop talking about their kids, wedding photos and group-think party behaviour as well. Game shows get parodied again and again, an I Think You Should Leave staple, and gloriously. More often than in past seasons, Robinson lets his guest stars play the asshole, too, including the returning Will Forte (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story), regular Sam Richardson (The Afterparty), and perennial pop-ups Fred Armisen (Barry) and Tim Meadows (Poker Face). And when Jason Schwartzman (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) drop in, they're also on the pitch-perfect wavelength. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson streams via Netflix. Read our full review. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Following in Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's footsteps isn't easy, but someone had to do it when What We Do in the Shadows made the leap from the big screen to the small. New format, new location, new vampires, same setup: that's the formula behind this film-to-TV series, which has notched up five seasons so far. Thankfully for audiences, Matt Berry (Toast of London and Toast of Tinseltown), Natasia Demetriou (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) and Kayvan Novak (Cruella) were enlisted as the show's three key bloodsuckers in this US spinoff from the New Zealand mockumentary, all in roles that they each seem born for. The trio play three-century-old British aristocrat Laszlo, his 500-year-old creator and partner Nadja and early Ottoman Empire warrior Nandor, respectively, who share an abode and the afterlife in Staten Island. In cinemas, the film already proved that the concept works to sidesplitting effect. Vampire housemates, they're just like us — except when they're busting out their fangs, flying, avoiding daylight, sleeping in coffins, feuding with other supernatural creatures and leaving a body count, that is. On TV, What We Do in the Shadows illustrates that there's not only ample life left in palling around with the undead, but that there's no limit to the gloriously ridiculous hijinks that these no-longer-living creatures can get up to. It was true as a movie and it's still true as a television show: What We Do in the Shadows sparkles not just due to its premise, but when its characters and cast are both as right as a luminous full moon on a cloudless night. This lineup of actors couldn't be more perfect or comedically gifted, as season five constantly demonstrates via everything from mall trips, political campaigns, pride parades and speed dating to trying to discover why Nandor's long-suffering and ever-dutiful familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillén, Werewolves Within) hasn't quite started chomping on necks despite being bitten himself. Berry's over-enunciation alone is the best in the business, as is his ability to play confident and cocky. His line readings are exquisite, and also piercingly funny. While that was all a given thanks to his Toast franchise, Year of the Rabbit, The IT Crowd, Snuff Box, The Mighty Boosh and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace history, What We Do in the Shadows is a group effort. Demetriou and Novak keep finding new ways to twist Nadja and Nandor's eccentricities in fresh directions; their characters have felt lived-in since season one, but they're still capable of growth and change. What We Do in the Shadows streams via Binge. Read our full review. SLOW HORSES In gleaming news for streaming viewers, Mick Herron's Slough House novel series boasts 12 entries so far. In an also ace development, several more of the British author's books have links to the world of veteran espionage agent Jackson Lamb. That thankfully means that Slow Horses, the small-screen spy thriller based on Herron's work, has plenty more stories to draw upon in its future. It's now up to its third season as a TV series, and long may its forward path continue. Apple TV+ has clearly felt the same way since the program debuted in April 2022. In June the same year, the platform renewed Slow Horses for a third and fourth season before its second had even aired. That next chapter arrived that December and didn't disappoint. Neither does the latest batch of six episodes, this time taking its cues from Herron's Real Tigers — after season one used the novel Slow Horses as its basis, and season two did the same with Dead Lions — in charting the ins and outs of MI5's least-favourite department. Slough House is where the service rejects who can't be fired but aren't trusted to be proper operatives are sent, with Lamb (Gary Oldman, Oppenheimer) its happily cantankerous, slovenly, seedy and shambolic head honcho. Each season, Lamb and his team of losers, misfits and boozers — Mick Jagger's slinky ear worm of a theme tune's words — find themselves immersed in another messy case that everyone above them wishes they weren't. That said, Slow Horses isn't a formulaic procedural. Sharply written, directed and acted, and also immensely wryly funny, it's instead one of the best spy series to grace television, including in a new go-around that starts with two intelligence officers (Babylon's Katherine Waterston and Gangs of London's Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) in Istanbul. When the fallout from this season's opening events touches Lamb and his spooks, they're soon thrust into a game of cat-and-mouse that revolves around secret documents and sees one of their own, the forever-loyal Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves, Creation Stories), get abducted. The talented River Cartwright (Jack Lowden, The Gold) again endeavours to show why being banished to Slough House for a training mistake was MI5's error, while his boss' boss Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas, Rebecca) reliably has her own agenda. Slow Horses streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. I HATE SUZIE TOO Watching I Hate Suzie Too isn't easy. Watching I Hate Suzie, the show's first season, wasn't either back in 2020. A warts-and-all dance through the chaotic life, emotions and mind of a celebrity, both instalments of this compelling British series have spun as far away from the glitz and glamour of being famous as possible. Capturing carefully constructed social-media content to sell the fiction of stardom's perfection is part of the story, as it has to be three decades into the 21st century; however, consider this show from Succession writer Lucy Prebble and actor/singer/co-creator Billie Piper, and its blood pressure-raising tension and stress, the anti-Instagram. The unfiltered focus: teen pop sensation-turned-actor Suzie Pickles, as played with a canny sense of knowing by Piper given that the 'Honey to the Bee' and Penny Dreadful talent has charted the same course. That said, the show's IRL star hasn't been the subject of a traumatic phone hack that exposed sensitive photos from an extramarital affair to the public, turning her existence and career upside down, as Suzie was in season one. Forget The Idol — this is the best show about being a famous singer that you can watch right now. In I Hate Suzie Too, plenty has changed for the series' namesake over a six-month period. She's no longer with her professor husband Cob (Daniel Ings, Sex Education), and is battling for custody of their young son Frank (debutant Matthew Jordan-Caws), who is deaf — and her manager and lifelong friend Naomi (Leila Farzad, Avenue 5) is off the books, replaced by the no-nonsense Sian (Anastasia Hille, A Spy Among Friends). Also, in a new chance to win back fans, Suzie has returned to reality TV after it helped thrust her into the spotlight as a child star to begin with. Dance Crazee Xmas is exactly what it sounds like, and sees her compete against soccer heroes (Blake Harrison, The Inbetweeners), musicians (Douglas Hodge, The Great) and more. But when I Hate Suzie Too kicks off with a ferocious, clearly cathartic solo dance in sad-clown getup, the viewers aren't charmed. Well, Dance Crazee Xmas' audience, that is — because anyone watching I Hate Suzie Too is in for another stunner that's fearless, audacious, honest, dripping with anxiety, staggering in its intensity, absolutely heart-wrenching and always unflinching. I Hate Suzie Too streams via Stan. Read our full review. JUSTIFIED: CITY PRIMEVAL The man knows how to rock a hat: Timothy Olyphant (Full Circle), that is. He knows how to play a determined lawman with a piercing stare and an unassailable sense of honour, too, and television has been all the better for it for nearing two decades. Pop culture's revival culture has benefited as well — first with HBO's 2004–06 western masterpiece Deadwood returning as 2019's Deadwood: The Movie, and now with 2010–15's US Marshal drama Justified making a comeback as miniseries Justified: City Primeval. Olyphant was perfect in both the first time around, and proves the same the second. Indeed, Deadwood: The Movie's only problem was that it was just a made-for-TV film, not a another season; Justified: City Primeval's sole issue is that it spans only eight episodes, and that a next date with the Stetson-wearing Raylan Givens hasn't yet been locked in. This continuation of Justified's initial six seasons arrives eight years after the show ended for viewers, but also finds Raylan with a 15-year-old daughter. And it's with Willa (Vivian Olyphant, Timothy Olyphant's real-life offspring) that he's hitting the road when a couple of criminals reroute their plans. Now based in Miami, Florida rather than Justified's Harlan, Kentucky, Raylan is meant to be taking Willa to camp, only to be forced to detour to Detroit, Michigan to testify. It isn't a brief stop, after the Deputy US Marshal makes the wrong impression on Judge Alvin Guy (Keith David, Nope), then is personally requested to investigate an assassination attempt against the same jurist — teaming up with local detectives who are adamant about Detroit's particular ways, including Maureen Downey (Marin Ireland, The Boogeyman), Norbert Beryl (Norbert Leo Butz, The Girl From Plainville) and Wendell Robinson (Victor Williams, The Righteous Gemstones). You can take Raylan out of rural America and into the Motor City, as Justified: City Primeval does, but even with silver hair atop his calm glare he's still Raylan. So, he'll always stride around like a lone gunslinger who has seen it all, will confront anything, and is perennially valiant and resolute — and silently exasperated about humanity's worst impulses, too — as Justified: City Primeval welcomes. New location, passing years, the responsibilities of fatherhood, more and more lowlife crooks (including Boyd Holbrook, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny): they haven't changed this character, and audiences wouldn't have wanted that to happen. Justified: City Primeval streams via Disney+. Read our full review. GOOD OMENS Since 2019, witnessing David Tennant utter the word "angel" has been one of the small screen's great delights. Playing the roguish demon Crowley in Good Omens, the Scottish Doctor Who and Broadchurch star sometimes says it as an insult, occasionally with weary apathy and even with exasperation. Usually simmering no matter his mood, however, is affection for the person that he's always talking about: book-loving and bookshop-owning heavenly messenger Aziraphale (Michael Sheen, Quiz). With just one term and two syllables, Tennant tells a story about the show's central odd-couple duo, who've each been assigned to oversee earth by their bosses — Crowley's from below, Aziraphale's from above — and also conveys their complicated camaraderie. So, also since 2019, watching Tennant and Sheen pair up on-screen has been supremely divine. Good Omens, which hails from Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's award- and fan-winning 1990 novel Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, was always going to be about Aziraphale and Crowley. And yet, including in its second season, it's always been a better series because it's specifically about Sheen as the former and Tennant as the latter. In this long-awaited return, neither Aziraphale nor Crowley are beloved by their higher-ups or lower-downs thanks to their thwarting-the-apocalypse actions. Season one saw them face their biggest test yet after they started observing humans since biblical times — the always-foretold birth of the antichrist and, 11 years later, cosmic forces rolling towards snuffing out the planet's people to start again — and saving the world wasn't what their leaders wanted. One fussing over his store and remaining reluctant to sell any of its tomes, the other continuing to swagger around like Bill Nighy as a rule-breaking rockstar, Aziraphale nor Crowley have each carved out a comfortable new status quo, though, until a naked man walking through London with nothing but a cardboard box comes trundling along. He can't recall it, but that birthday suit-wearing interloper is the archangel Gabriel (Jon Hamm, Fargo). He knows he's there for a reason and that it isn't good, but possesses zero memory otherwise. And, in the worst news for Aziraphale and Crowley, he has both heaven and hell desperate to find him — which is just the beginning of season two's delightful journey. Good Omens streams via Prime Video. Read our full review. ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Corpses and killings don't normally herald joy on-screen, even in pop culture's current murder-mystery comedy wave, but Only Murders in the Building isn't just another amusing whodunnit. There's a particular warmth to this series. In each of its three seasons to-date, the New York-set show has unleashed amateur gumshoes upon a shock death, with its key trio sifting through clues and podcasting the details. Along the way, it has also kept telling a winning story about second chances and finding the folks who understand you. Only Murders in the Building's ten-episode third season relays that tale again, expanding its portraits of artist Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die), theatre director Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and veteran actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated) — and of their friendship. Once more, it embraces the power of chemistry, both within its narrative and for audiences. That isn't new; when the show debuted in 2021, it felt like the murder-mystery comedy genre's version of a cosy embrace because its three leads were so perfectly cast and their odd-throuple characters so full of sparks. While Mabel, Oliver and Charles wouldn't be a trio if it wasn't for a building evacuation, a murder and a love of true-crime podcasts, their connection isn't merely fuelled by chatting about the murders in their building, with crossing each other's paths changing their respective lives. There's a death in season three's initial episode — it first occurred in season two's dying moments, to be precise — and, of course, ample sleuthing and talking about it follows. The victim: Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), a silver-screen star best-known for playing a zoologist who fights crime by turning into a snake in the blockbuster CoBro franchise. (Yes, if those movies weren't just Only Murders in the Building's Ant-Man gag, existed IRL and starred Rudd, they'd be a hit.) But Only Murders in the Building's latest run also opens with Mabel, Oliver and Charles in places that they wouldn't be if they were solo. Largely, that applies emotionally: Mabel is more grounded and open, and now thinking about the future more than the past; Oliver has faced his career fears, resurrecting his showbiz bug with a new show; and Charles is less misanthropic and more willing to take new chances. They're also frequently in a different location physically thanks to Oliver's comeback production Death Rattle (which is where Meryl Streep fits in). No, the series isn't now called Only Murders in the Building and on Broadway. Only Murders in the Building streams via Star on Disney+. Read our full review. FARGO This is a true story: in 2014, Hollywood decided to take on a task that was destined to either go as smoothly as sliding on ice or prove as misguided as having a woodchipper sitting around. Revisiting Fargo was a bold move even in pop culture's remake-, reboot- and reimagining-worshipping times, because why say "you betcha" to trying to make crime-comedy perfection twice? The Coen brothers' 1996 film isn't just any movie. It's a two-time Oscar-winner, BAFTA and Cannes' Best Director pick of its year, and one of the most beloved and original examples of its genre in the last three decades. But in-between credits on Bones, The Unusuals and My Generation, then creating the comic book-inspired Legion, writer, director and producer Noah Hawley started a project he's now synonymous with, and that's still going strong five seasons in. What keeps springing is always a twisty tale set in America's midwest, as filled with everyday folks in knotty binds, complicated family ties, crooks both bumbling and determined trying to cash in, and intrepid cops investigating leads that others wouldn't. Hawley's stroke of genius: driving back into Fargo terrain by making an anthology series built upon similar pieces, but always finding new tales about greed, power, murder and snowy landscapes to tell. Hawley's Fargo adores the Coenverse overall, enthusiastically scouring it for riches like it's the TV-making embodiment of Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter's namesake. That film hailed from Damsel's David Zellner instead, and took cues from the urban legend surrounding the purported Fargo ties to the IRL death of Japanese office worker Takako Konishi; however, wanting the contents of the Coen brothers' brains to become your reality is clearly a common thread. Of course, for most of the fictional figures who've walked through the small-screen Fargo's frames, they'd like anything but caper chaos. Scandia, Minnesota housewife Dot Lyon (Juno Temple, Ted Lasso) is one of them in season five. North Dakota sheriff, preacher and rancher Roy Tillman (Jon Hamm, Good Omens) isn't as averse to a commotion if he's the one causing it. Minnesota deputy Indira Olmstead (Richa Moorjani, Never Have I Ever) and North Dakota state trooper Witt Farr (Lamorne Morris, Woke) just want to get to the bottom of the series' new stint of sometimes-madcap and sometimes-violent mayhem. Fargo streams via SBS On Demand. Read our full review. Looking for more viewing highlights? We also rounded up the 15 best new TV series of 2023, as well as 15 excellent new TV shows of 2023 that you might've missed — plus the 15 top films, another 15 exceptional flicks that hardly anyone saw in cinemas this year and the 15 best straight-to-streaming movies of the year as well. And, we've kept a running list of must-stream TV from across the year, complete with full reviews. Also, you can check out our regular rundown of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.
They like jumpsuits, one name and living in the same suburb. That's The Kates' quick description of themselves, and of their fame as The Kates, as they've been known ever since The Katering Show proved the funniest thing on the small screen in 2015. Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney didn't start their careers together, but they've become Australia's comedy queens by proving a razor-sharp, whip-smart duo — first while satirising cooking shows in a webseries that was picked up by the ABC for its second season; then by taking on morning television with fellow pitch-perfect two-season parody Get Krack!n; and now with Prime Video's Deadloch, which started streaming its Tasmania-set comedic murder-mystery on Friday, June 2. "There were so many Kates in the show," McCartney notes of their latest project, which The Kates originally gave the working title Funny Broadchurch. One such Kate: Wentworth and Rake's Kate Box, who plays one half of reluctant detective duo in Deadloch's titular small town opposite The Breaker Upperers' Madeleine Sami. "Kate Anderson was our special makeup effects artist. Katie Robertson, Katie Milwright — Katie Robertson is on the show, Kate Milwright was one of the cinematographers — and we had another Kate, Kate Fox, doing locations," McCartney continues. "It was basically if your name was Kate…" adds McLennan, "then you got a job," finishes McCartney. Sami "is in the process of getting her name changed to Kate," McCartney keeps joking. "She hasn't started the paperwork yet," pipes in McLennan. No matter how many other Kates had a hand in Deadloch, the series is instantly recognisable as the work of The Kates. Within seconds of a man being found dead on a beach in the first episode's opening moments, the corpse's penis is on fire. When Box's small-town sergeant Dulcie Collins informs the next of kin, he bellows that he loved him like a brother — but has to be reminded that, yes, the deceased was his actual brother. And when Sami's Eddie Redcliffe blows in like a whirlwind of swearing and Hawaiian shirts, she's the stereotypical arrogant outsider cop, but satirically so. Indeed, with their male victim and female investigators, The Kates gleefully riff on the cop-genre status quo, flip the script to focus on the characters usually robbed of a voice and, although it wasn't originally their aim, balance sidesplitting laughs with making an excellent crime procedural. Deadloch is also an inescapably Australian murder-mystery series in its Tasmanian gothic look, its excavation of the nation's treatment of its First Peoples and, as frequently dropping from Sami's mouth, its love of cursing. The latter gave rise to The Cunt Essay, The Kates explain, to justify why its use of language couldn't be more ordinary on an Aussie-set show. From responding to the standard treatment of women in dead-girl crime thrillers to getting that homegrown vernacular over the line — and scrapping their own filmed cameo in the series, too — we chatted with McLennan and McCartney about all things Deadloch. ON THE NUMBER OF DEAD-WOMAN CRIME SHOWS SOMEONE NEEDS TO WATCH BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO RESPOND McCartney: "Roughly 800, I reckon. I just don't know if there is a single crime show that — if it's not in the first two minutes of a murder show, then you will still eventually see a dead woman." McLennan: "And once you're aware of it as well, you'd watch them and, sure, they're showing you the body of a dead woman, but they would always show a gratuitous shot of her boob. You would always see a nipple. You've got these very serious detectives standing over a body, and you just don't need to see a blue nipple. You don't need to see it." McCartney: "There's always that one at the crime scene. But then you go to the morgue and they have another conversation with the forensic pathologist, and rather than putting a sheet up, they're always completely nude on the slab as well." McLennan: "So we just thought what would be really interesting is if you actually gave those victims a voice. To us, we wanted to know about the backstories of these people that would normally be portrayed as victims in these types of shows. Also, we're just terrible at writing men, so it was easier just to have a dead one instead of writing dialogue for him." ON DEADLOCH'S STARTING POINT AS "FUNNY BROADCHURCH" McCartney: "We thought of the idea in about 2015, when we had just had kids, and the kids were newborns. So we were at home at 3am, in that witching hour of not quite knowing if you exist — and sort of knowing, 'well, I think I do exist because I have a Twitter profile, but I think that's the only thing that tethers me to this realm now because it's so late and I have spent so much time by myself as a tit machine with the baby'. During that time, we both, for whatever reason — and I don't really know what this says about our mental health at the time — but we just gravitated towards crime shows. There was a lot at that point as well, there was a bit of an explosion of Scandi noir. You know, like.. I can't think of a single one. What's that one with jumpers? What's the jumpers? You know, jumpers?" McLennan: "The jumpers?" McCartney: "Jumpers. The Scandi jumpers one." McLennan: "Do you mean The Bridge?" McCartney: "No, The Killing." McLennan: "The Killing." McCartney: "And then The Bridge, and then there was…" In unison: "The Return." McCartney: "And then there was…" In unison: "The Fall." McCartney: "The Fall. Yeah, silk shirts. Gillian Anderson. Silk shirts." McLennan: "And you told me to watch Broadchurch, and I thought it was a comedy because Olivia Colman was in it and I knew her from comedy. So I'm like 'oh, it's a comedy'. So I strapped myself in to watch this funny comedy show. And I'm like 'yeah, this is not a comedy'. But we thought 'what if we did take a show that had that small town, lots of secrets, lots of characters, and you just nudge the comedy". You just nudge the needle up a little bit. We had the idea just after we made The Katering Show. We were pitching Get Krack!n overseas, and we would do the spiel about Get Krack!n and then people would sometimes say 'do you have any other ideas?'. We'd just throw in the Deadloch idea as this last-minute 'we've also got this other show with the working title Funny Broadchurch'. And people just really grabbed onto it. McCartney: "Like, they got it." McLennan: "So we knew that it had legs. We made Get Krack!n and then we thought we'd pitch this other show, and luckily Amazon Prime were ready to jump on board with this." ON MAKING A COMEDIC MURDER-MYSTERY THAT ALSO WORKS AS A MURDER-MYSTERY McCartney: "It wasn't actually [the initial plan]. When we first conceived of it, this was at The Katering Show, that's where we were at in terms of what we were working on. And we did originally conceive of it as being a 30-minute show. And then, we just grew in confidence and ambition as we got into Get Krack!n — and then by the final season of Get Krack!n, we started to really experiment with using that interplay of something dark, then something funny. I think that informed us and bolstered us — that may not be a word — in our confidence and our ability to to be able to pull off something like this. And also having that experience. We'd done a few series. And the things we're trying to emulate, they are a lot longer because of the moodiness and the cinematic quality of it — and you just need more time. And because we're not in it — personally, I'm a terrible actor, so there's only so much I can do — but if you get someone like Kate Box or Madeleine Sami or Alicia Gardner, or anyone like that in your show, you can ask them to do a lot more with the characters. You can actually have proper characters." McLennan: "We wanted the space to tell the story and to do it justice, and to do in a way that felt like it was a rich, rewarding experience for the audience. I think around the time that we going through this creative process with it, Killing Eve had just come out — and I don't know if it did necessarily break the mould, but it made it pretty clear to us that you could tell a story that was longer than half an hour and there was an appetite for that from the streaming services as well." McCartney: "It was the appetite, really. Because we'd already thought about it, we'd already gone 'oh, I think I think this is how it needs to be, this is the kind of show we're looking at, I think we want it to be a proper show'. But the fact that people were watching it and responding to it, there was a precedent that we could go 'people will hang in there'." McLennan: "It certainly made us — when we knew that we had the hour up our sleeve, it's like 'well, we'd better made this crime story really good'." McCartney: "It's a lot. It has to be interesting. Because people aren't going to watch something for an hour if they don't care about the characters, if there aren't actual stakes. You can't just do cop jokes. You can't sit above it and laugh, going 'aren't we clever'." McLennan: "You've got to be invested in it. And play the stakes of the crime." ON DECIDING NOT TO APPEAR ON-SCREEN McCartney: "With Get Krack!n, by the end it was a challenge to have the kind of control over what we were doing that that we like to have, and to make sure that our voice is all-encompassing, and also be on screen. It's a very different brain, and you necessarily have to kind of let things go by the wayside if you're in that role — if you're trying to do those two roles together." McLennan: "I remember being on the couch when we were filming Get Krack!n, and I had my phone and I was answering emails, and then we'd have to go for a take and I'd shove the phone under…" McCartney: "Always shoving it under our legs." McLennan: "And it just felt like the acting was getting in the way of the other job." McCartney: "And we wanted to do the other other job more, because we were pretty done with being on camera as it was." McLennan: "I think audiences were pretty…" McCartney: "They were probably pretty done with us as well." McLennan: "But we did cast ourselves in a cameo in the show. And we filmed that cameo." McCartney: "Probably about half a day, I'd say. So not only did we spend half a day on it, like the production spent half a day filming our cameo, but we also took time out of our personal, very busy showrunner schedule, to do it. So it was like a loss in two ways." McLennan: "Because we were watching rushes, and assembly edits were happening as we're going, we got to see that scene pretty quickly in the edit — and we were so bad that we cut ourselves and recast." McCartney: "So it does exist, but it's in the vault. It's in the Amazon vault. It's in one of those seed things that are in Antartica." ON CASTING KATE BOX AND MADELEINE SAMI McCartney: "Mads was actually a writer on the show. We knew her from quite a way back. We knew she's an extremely funny physical comedian and we've been fans of hers for ages, and obviously we've been massive fans of Kate Box as well." McLennan: "The whole casting process was done over Zoom. I mean, interestingly, we were working with Mads writing scripts with her when the audition process was happening, but we pretended that we didn't know that we were getting her into this." McCartney: "We were secretly in love with her and really hoped that she would play this part." McLennan: "We wanted to keep things very separate, because obviously if we didn't cast her, then that would maybe be a little bit awkward. So we're like 'let's just keep this as two separate streams'. She's like 'guys, did you know I've got an audition?', 'And we're like 'great!'. And the more we worked with Mads, the more that we could see that she was a pretty good fit." McCartney: "In fairness, she was a perfect fit. Setting down a self tape at the best of times is the pits, and really one of the key reasons why I stopped being a performer — but, but, doing it via Zoom, auditioning over zoom…" McLennan: "So Mads and Boxy had both done their separate reads of their characters, and then we got them to do a chemistry test — which again, you can imagine how we that is over Zoom." McCartney: " Zoom chemistry, just you can feel it pinging off the screen, can't you?" McLennan: "But you kind of could with those two." McCartney: "You could, yeah." McLennan: "I remember that day of getting them to do the callback, and to do these scenes together. It was like this immediate calm came over us, like 'this is going to be okay'." McCartney: "Yeah, this is going to be really good." McLennan: "Yeah, they're really good." McCartney: "Boxy is so fucking smart — not the Mads isn't — but Boxy is so smart, and so good at her job. On the page, you don't necessarily see that Dulcie is as funny as she is. And she just got it. So it was the moment she started saying those words, we were like 'not only is this what we hoped the character would be, but it's so much more'. She can do anything, so it seems a bit cheeky to be like 'hey, in this comedy, can you be the straight woman?'. But we needed someone that good at comedy and drama to play that part because everyone else can be a bit silly, but we needed someone to have the stakes all the time, because the audience needs that person." ON KEEPING DEADLOCH'S DIALOGUE UNIQUELY AUSTRALIAN McLennan: "To be honest, we wrote all of the scripts and we did not receive a note on the language in the scripts. And then, just as we're going through the process of getting the show happening — you go through this process where people look over everything, just to make sure that everything's okay — there was just a question on the the volume of swearing. And there is a lot. It opened up a conversation, so we responded to that with what's now known as The Cunt Essay. Our setup director Ben Chessell wrote a thesis essentially on Australians' relationship to the word cunt and other swearing." McCartney: "The local usage of it, and how that differs from overseas usage of it. And how, within this context, it's actually not really even a swear word — in fact, it can be a very nice term. And it's used in advertising campaigns! So we just talked about it in its context in the Australian vernacular, and its cultural context. And also, I think he talked about how it speaks to Australianness as well, that we've taken this word — there's no hierarchy, there aren't bad words, we're not as puritanical because we don't have that secretly underpinning our constitution and our heads of government. He also then tied it into something else, he was talking about reclaiming it — which was a bit more of a stretch, I would say, if we're honest about it, and I think he knew it was a bit of a stretch. But it was very wordy. It was about seven or eight pages." ON MAKING MORE SEASONS OF DEADLOCH McCartney: "You always think about things being more than one series, but we'd always thought of it as being an anthology series. So, retaining some of the characters and moving them to a different location, probably — it was always going to be set around Australia. So, that's the hope. That's the plan. That's the secret mutterings between us." Deadloch streams via Prime Video. Read our full review of season one.
When Ron Swanson discovered digital music, the tech-phobic Parks and Recreation favourite was uncharacteristically full of praise. Played by Nick Offerman (The Last of Us) at his most giddily exuberant, he badged the iPod filled with his favourite records an "excellent rectangle". In Black Mirror, the same shape is everywhere. The Netflix series' moniker even stems from the screens and gadgets that we all now filter life through daily and unthinkingly. In Charlie Brooker's (Cunk on Earth) eyes since 2011, however, those ever-present boxes and the technology behind them are far from ace. Instead, befitting a dystopian anthology show that has dripped with existential dread from episode one, and continues to do so in its long-awaited sixth season — which arrived on Thursday, July 15 — those rectangles keep reflecting humanity at its bleakest. Black Mirror as a title has always been devastatingly astute: when we stare at a TV, smartphone, computer or tablet, we access the world yet also reveal ourselves. It might've taken four years to return after 2019's season five, but Brooker's hit still smartly and sharply focuses on the same concern. Indeed, this new must-binge batch of nightmares begins with exactly the satirical hellscape that today's times were bound to inspire. Joan Is Awful, with its AI- and deepfake-fuelled mining of everyday existence for content, almost feels too prescient — a charge a show that's dived into digital resurrections, social scoring systems, killer VR and constant surveillance knows well. Brooker isn't afraid to think bigger and probe deeper in season six, though; to eschew obvious targets like ChatGPT and the pandemic; and to see clearly and unflinchingly that our worst impulses aren't tied to the latest widgets. Taking ripped-from-reality tales to an uncanny extreme, tearing into the obsession to adapt everything into content, exploring the catharsis found and carnage wrought by slipping into avatars: that's all in Black Mirror season six's five instalments. So is the ravenous nature of celebrity culture, plus the apocalyptic path that insular attitudes give rise to. Throw in explosive diarrhoea, Salma Hayek Pinault (Magic Mike's Last Dance) playing herself, the true-crime boom, the savagery of fame, alternate pasts, astronauts and devilish bargains as well, and Brooker has given himself and viewers much to play with. Each chapter, whether focusing on a woman's existence being broadcast to the world or swapping sci-fi for horror in the first-ever Red Mirror instalment, pinballs between chilling and thrilling. Each chapter also knows that no matter whether streaming queues, VHS tapes, human replicas, 00s-era cameras or runic talismen feature, humanity's biggest enemy is itself. Starring Annie Murphy (Kevin Can F**k Himself) as its namesake, Joan Is Awful is the only futuristic story in season six, examining where our current times might lead as Black Mirror long has. After firing a friend, complaining to her therapist about her boyfriend (Avi Nash, Silo) and meeting up with her ex (Rob Delaney, The Power), tech-company CEO Joan gets comfortable on the couch to watch Streamberry's latest wares, only to find that she's the platform's fresh subject (and that Hayek Pinault has stepped into her shoes). The series-within-the-series dramatises her past 24 hours, in fact, and doesn't paint Joan in a positive light. Swiftly, everyone she knows is watching, all taking the on-screen version as gospel. Savvily, the episode interrogates the platforms that Black Mirror and almost every other TV show exist on right now, television's relationship with reality, the incessant quest to thrust ordinary lives into the spotlight and the undervaluing of everyone in the creative industries — which bites hard given the present writers' strike — and it's a cutting and amusing delight. Next comes Loch Henry, which also has the medium of streaming in its sights. Black Mirror has been part of Netflix's stable since 2016, moving to the service after commencing on the UK's Channel 4, but Brooker doesn't let that stop him from digging the show's claws into its funder and home. Initially, the episode's film students Davis (Samuel Blenkin, The Witcher: Blood Origin) and Pia (Myha'la Herrold, Bodies Bodies Bodies) visit the former's sleepy Scottish hometown to make a nature documentary. Then Pia learns about the serial killer who terrorised the scenic locale decades back. Loch Henry doesn't just riff on the prominence of both David Attenborough-style series and headline-driven crime shows, or the fact that the latter can put sensationalist entertainment ahead of the very real victims; it also contemplates how easy it is to conceal one's true self from the world and how empty getting exactly what you've dreamed of can be. In Beyond the Sea, Aaron Paul returns to Black Mirror after first being involved in 2017. Here, it's an alternative 1969, and Cliff (Paul, Westworld) and David (Josh Hartnett, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre) are on a deep-space mission, retaining ties with their families on earth — including Cliff's wife Lana (Kate Mara, Call Jane) — via mechanical doppelgängers that they can port their consciousness into from the heavens above. Brooklyn's John Crowley directs this episode, which proves apt when its retrofuturistic concept plunges into yearning after pivoting on a tragedy and following in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's footsteps. Black Mirror is rarely light; however, this thoughtfully paced, supremely well-acted chapter takes a particularly grim view of humanity's proclivity for jealousy and spite, and our penchant to use technology to indulge both. With Mazey Day, which shares its title with a starlet (Clara Rugaard, I Am Mother), the series also jumps backwards. This time, it's the mid-00s, Suri Cruise's birth is big news, and Bo (Zazie Beetz, Atlanta) is a paparazzo barely getting by, then quitting after her snaps lead to an actor's demise, then tempted back for a $30,000 payday. Her task: nabbing photos of Mazey, who has disappeared after a hit-and-run incident. Again, this season of Black Mirror carves into the commodification of people as content. Again, it shows that 2023-era devices and anything they evolve into aren't behind this trend. And again, it's both perceptive and surprising — and, although it tells viewers what they already know, that's also Black Mirror's usual remit. While horror bubbles through most Black Mirror episodes, including season six's, Red Mirror debut Demon 79 gives the genre its heartiest embrace yet. It's also the series' 2023 standout, and not just because Anjana Vasan (Killing Eve) and Paapa Essiedu (Men) are each a treat as a shopgirl forced to get murderous and a Boney M-inspired demon, respectively. The year is 1979, Needa (Vasan) sells footwear in a Northern England department store and racism stalks her every move, as does the fomenting political fearmongering sweeping the community. Soon, a Knock at the Cabin-esque scenario arises, with Gaap (Essiedu) giving Needa three days to kill three people or the world will come to a fiery end. As penned by Brooker with Bisha K Ali (Ms Marvel), Demon 79 looks like a video nasty from decades back, and hones on spreading ideas rather than the technology that enables them. But as someone's status quo forever changes in no small part thanks humanity's most atrocious traits, it's still Black Mirror 101. Check out the full trailer for Black Mirror's sixth season below: Black Mirror season six streams via Netflix from Thursday, June 15. Images: Netflix.
As support acts go, Amyl and The Sniffers are a perfect pairing with AC/DC, a union made real with the Power Up tour that's kicking off in Melbourne tonight at the MCG. If you wanna rock n' roll, but missed out on tickets to the big gig, Amyl and The Sniffers have just announced the show for you. It's free, it's Fed Square, and it's this Friday. Best get to clearing your calendar. Your average Friday plans can wait when you can instead bask in the breakneck riffs and unfiltered rock energy that's made these local legends soar to stardom in recent years. And you don't have to drop as much as a dime. The band originally formed back in 2016, with frontwoman Amy Taylor providing vocals (and no small amount of stage presence), Bryce Wilson on the drums, Dec Mehrtens on the guitar and bassist Gus Romer joining in 2017. Their first EP, Giddy Up, was released twelve hours after they started writing it, and now the band has sold out headline tours, played the world's biggest festival stages and won big at awards throughout the music industry. It's a story of all-time Aussie rock greatness that's still unfolding. Like any good concert headliner though, they won't be alone — the supporting opener comes from another Melbourne local band, Public Figures. The passion project of Evie Vlah and Gigi Argiro, they'll open up the night with a set mixing AC/DC hits with their original works. The whole evening is titled High Voltage, and it's presented by Fed Square, City of Melbourne and Double J, in celebration of Australian rock legends old and new. Katrina Sedgwick OAM, Director & CEO of MAP Co said the event and its lineup continue Fed Square's mission to bring great live music to Melbourne for free. "Amyl and The Sniffers are one of Australia's most explosive live acts. Fearless, magnetic, and completely unmissable. High Voltage continues Fed Square's commitment to bringing iconic artists to the heart of Melbourne, celebrating the city's proud music heritage with events that are free, open and welcoming to all." High Voltage Presented by Amyl and The Sniffers will take over Federation Square's main stage from 7.30 to 9.30pm on Friday, November 14. Entry is free.
Humans spend roughly a third of their life sleeping. Aside from the occasional drunken night or camping trip, most of this sleeping is done in a bed. So why, then, are such important objects in our lives often so commonplace and dull? Beds can be used to express our inner self, to represent our deepest loves or simply help us wake up and get going in the morning. Here are 20 of the most creative and eccentric designs that are sure to put a smile on your face. 1. The Stand Up Bed Thanks to this novel bed, which resembles a large vertical bean bag, sleeping while standing is apparently very possible. 2. The Floating Bed This magnetically charged floating bed by Janjaap Ruijssenaars not only looks incredibly chic and contemporary, but also would make it very hard for any monsters to hide underneath it. 3. The Rocking Bed The 'Private Cloud' is a a patented rocking frame designed by Manuel Kloker, which will be sure to lull you into a serene sleep every night. 4. The Sonic Bed Kaffe Matthew's Sonic bed probably isn't exactly designed to provide a good night's sleep, created with 12-channel surround sound speakers encased around the edges to cover every cell of your body with musical beats. 5. The Forest Bed For those who want to have a sense of being out in the wild whilst remaining in the comfort of their own bed, this exotic wooden bed would be the one for you. 6. The Safe Bed This 'Quantum Sleeper' is the ultimate in protection for those paranoid about the threat of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, kidnappers or any variation therein. 7. The Starfish Bed Known as the 'Hold Me Bed', this structure will ensure that you overcome those restless nights of tossing and turning because, well, you won't be able to move a muscle. 8. The Hay Bed Some people have such an affinity for hay they simply want to be surrounded by it when awake and asleep. 9. The Yin and Yang Bed If you believe you've found your absolute soulmate but can't handle sleeping next to them for whatever reason, perhaps this next bed will provide the solution to your problems. 10. The Sandwich Bed You are what you eat, right? 11. The Hammock Bed Everybody loves the tranquil and relaxing sensation induced by the gentle swinging and folding of a hammock. 12. The Pull-Down Bed If you are crammed for space due to a small apartment or want another handy spare bed that doesn't waste the space of a whole room, then this innovative and nifty pull-down bed is the way to go. 13. The Molecular Bed Scientists, sportspeople or ball-lovers will be sure to enjoy this bed made of 120 soft and pleasant balls. 14. The Cinderella Bed Perfectly suited to little princesses with large imaginations and a love for fairytales. 15. The Foetal Position Bed This bed doesn't leave much margin for movement - that is unless you want to end up snuggling up with the floorboards. 16. The Bird Nest Bed This large pit of soft pillows encased in a brown, nest-like structure is a novel way to help kids nod off to sleep. 17. The Geometric Bed If you want to keep the brain cells flowing even when getting some shut-eye, perhaps this bed with a modern geometric structure attached to it is the perfect way to achieve just that. 18. The Brush Bed This bed looks like it would be jabbing uncomfortable protrusions from every angle. 19. The Book Bed Let imaginations soar with this creative life-sized book that also doubles as a bed. 20. The Napping Pod Cure that threethirtyitis by grabbing a quick nap in one of these high-tech napping pods.
If comedy is all about timing, then Aunty Donna have it — not just onstage. In 2020, Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun was the hysterical sketch-comedy series that the world needed, with the six-episode show satirising sharehouse living dropping at the ideal moment. While the Australian jokesters' Netflix hit wasn't just hilarious because it arrived when everyone had been spending more time than anyone dreamed at home thanks to the early days of the pandemic, the ridiculousness it found in domesticity was as inspired as it was sidesplittingly absurd. Three years later, heading out is well and truly back, as are Aunty Donna on-screen. Their target in Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe, which streams in full on ABC iView from Wednesday, April 12 and airs weekly on ABC TV: cafe culture. When we were all staring at our own four walls for months, Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane helped us to laugh about it — talking dishwashers, tea parties with the Queen of England, silly wi-fi names, Weird Al Yankovic and 'Morning Brown' sing-alongs included. Now, with stay-at-home orders relegated to the past, they've returned to make fun of one of the simplest reasons to go out that there is. During lockdowns and restrictions, how folks were allowed to patronise their local cafe, or not, was a frequent topic of conversation. It was also a bellwether for how strict the rules were at any given junction. Grabbing a cuppa is such an ordinary and everyday task, so much so that it was taken for granted until it was no longer an easy part of our routines. Unsurprisingly, now that caffeine fixes are back and brewing, Aunty Donna finds much to parody. With fellow group members Sam Lingham (a co-writer here), Max Miller (the show's director) and Tom Zahariou (its composer), Aunty Donna's well-known trio of faces set their new six-parter in the most obvious place they can: a Melbourne cafe called Morning Brown. The track itself doesn't get a spin, however, and neither does fellow fan favourite 'Everything's a Drum'. Indeed, the show's central piece of naming is its most expected move. As demonstrated in episodes that turn the cafe into a courtroom, ponder whether Broden might still be a child and riff on Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt's 1967 disappearance, nothing else about Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe earns that description. Pinballing in any and every direction possible has always been one of the Aussie comedy troupe's biggest talents, with their latest series deeply steeped — riotously, eclectically and entertainingly, too — in that approach. Anything can happen in this Mark-, Broden- and Zach-owned coffee house, and does, just as everything could and did when they were sharing a home on-screen. Of course, anything can occur when Aunty Donna are involved anyway — they recently played corpses revived from the dead in Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, and also released Aunty Donna's $30 bottle of wine and the Always Room for Christmas Pud picture book, after all. So, although Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe embraces its its sitcom packaging more heartily than Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun did, its main setting remains a backdrop and a launchpad for as many random skits as they can dish up. When that court takes over, for instance, Richard Roxburgh (Elvis) plays Rake, even though that's not his Rake character's name. In another episode, stanning Gardening Australia and skewering unreliable streaming services get ample attention, complete with jokes at ABC iView's expense. Elsewhere, bucks parties earn their own lampoon. So does the Is It Cake? trend, working in hospitality, shoddy landlords — a particularly timely topic during a cost-of-living crisis — and the nightmare that is dealing with real estate agents when you're a tenant. Gaming bars, kidulting, food reviews, restaurant theming: they're all thrown in as well. If it stems from the culinary and hospo world, Aunty Donna have likely touched upon it. In fact, Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe's debut episode begins with a pitch-perfect summary of cafe trends of late. The show's overall setup sees Mark, Broden and Zach desperate to make their laneway haunt a success, and determined not to let their lack of skills and experience get in the way. So, they survey all the current gimmicks, including axe-throwing, hurling abuse, selling vinyl and only serving cereal. They learn of spaces that devote their menus to popcorn and show a movie while it's consumed, and of spots to nab free books as you sip (and yes, the fact that these are just cinemas and libraries is the point). Playing fictionalised and heightened versions of themselves, Mark, Broden and Zach have a teenage employee, Stephanie (Gaby Seow, Young Rock), who is interviewed in the first instalment — which gives Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe's plenty of material about outlandish bosses. Sally-Anne (Sally-Anne Upton, Neighbours) is the resident chaotic landlord, while Michelle (Michelle Brasier, Why Are You Like This) is the kind of devoted customer that Morning Brown wants more of. With its key cast established, this is a workplace comedy, like everything from The Office, Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock to Party Down, Scrubs and Cheers before it. Swapping slinging beer and spirits for lattes and blueberry muffins, and keeping things on the lighter side of anarchic — although a recess skit gets dark, fast — Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe resembles an Australian spin on long-running absurdist great It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, too. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has aired 15 seasons now, becoming the longest-running American TV comedy, and also has at least three more to come. That's a feat achieved in no small part thanks to its ability to keep pouring out the most out-there, OTT, nonsense situations it can, and boasting the gamest of casts. Across their television slate, Aunty Donna share the same traits. They might be notching up their screentime across different shows, but they're having just as wild, uproarious, farcical and astute a time. So is the company that Mark, Broden and Zach keep here, spanning not only a committed Roxburgh, but also Miranda Tapsell (Christmas Ransom), Looking for Alibrandi's Pia Miranda making tomato day jokes, and everyone from Shaun Micallef and Tony Martin to Melanie Bracewell, Nazeem Hussain, Steven Oliver and Sam Pang. When Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun became one of 2020's best new shows, no one watched it a mere once. Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe demands the same response, with its gags flying so thick and fast that laughing at one joke or bit of banter usually means drowning out the next with your own chuckles. In any skit-heavy series, it's impossible to ensure that every single moment lands, but Aunty Donna's shows come I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson-level close. Maybe don't watch it on your phone in your local cafe, though — no matter how trendy it is, if it's in a laneway, whether it's open till 5pm, if there's a criminal trial going on inside or ghosts are haunting the place. Check out the trailer for Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe below: Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe streams via ABC iView, and also screens weekly on the ABC at 9pm from Wednesday, April 12. Images: Richard Lowe / Jackson Flinter / ABC.
Now, before you get us all wrong, this is a guide to hotels where you can swing back and forth on actual swings and hammocks. It's not for the other kind of swingers. These hotels have swings on the beach, by the pool, at the bar and in the rooms — on which you can gleefully rock back and forth and take in spectacular views in total comfort. Read on to find our favouriting swinging spots. Recommended reads: The Best Hotels in Sydney The Best Hotels in Melbourne The Best Hotels in Brisbane The Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Australia SHINTA MANI, CAMBODIA You'll rethink your kitchen chairs after a stay at Shinta Mani, where the streetside Kroya restaurant boasts dreamy swings on a breezy terrace. The idea of swings and food might sound messy, but you'll soon get the hang of things in no time. Plus, these swings are huge — you really shouldn't be falling off them. The excellent Cambodian dining options available will also make practice a pleasure rather than a chore (perhaps only the steady-handed should order crab bouillabaisse). American architect and interiors whizz Bill Bensley styled the hotel and added in all the swinging details. NALADHU PRIVATE ISLAND RESORT, MALDIVES Why doesn't every hotel have beach hammocks and in-room swing chairs? Naladhu Private Island Resort, set between a lagoon and the sea, boasts both. That's not all it has, either: each of the 19 intimate beach houses comes with its own private pool and romantic semi-outdoor glass-sided bath and shower. With all this in your villa, don't be surprised if you never reach the main pool, flanked by inviting sun loungers and overlooking the lagoon. When you want to have both feet planted firmly on the ground, head to the Living Room, a thatched-roof restaurant with an openair hardwood deck, to feast on local seafood as the sun sets over the water. COQUI COQUI COBA, MEXICO This luxury Mexican resort is a swinger's paradise. Within the Coqui Coqui Coba suites and villas, you'll find hammocks hanging in the centre of rooms, wooden swings in the bathrooms and hammocks simply used as decorations on the walls. You can even head down to the pool located by the lagoon and surrounded by Mayan-inspired towers to swing about on one of the outdoor hammocks all day long. Order some food and cocktails from its restaurant and swing here while watching the sun set over the mountains. THE GRAY, ITALY The swinging scene at Milan's The Gray revolves around the lobby, where a giant fuchsia-upholstered swing with lipstick-red cords drops from the ceiling: a memorable first impression, regardless of whether you're bold enough to go and sit on it. If you take the swing as a promise of the unexpected, you won't be let down. The rooms have ivory-silk curtains that whoosh open at the touch of a button; there are Jacuzzis in bathrooms; the restaurant has black-velvet chairs, grass-topped tables and spoons and forks suspended from light fittings. It's all over the top and we love it. SAL SALIS, AUSTRALIA A little closer to home, this swingers accommodation is set right on the Ningaloo Reef, where the desert meets the sea — an extraordinary and unique part of Australia that should be on all travel bucket lists. The 16 off-grid wilderness tents are located right on the beach, surrounded by little else but untamed nature. Swing in your hammock all day long, gazing into your stupid-beautiful views with an ice-cold beer at hand, or get out on a sea kayak to explore the nearby reefs full of colourful sea life. Not only is this one of the best accommodations for swingers, it's also one of the best glamping spots in Australia. COMO COCOA ISLAND, MALDIVES COMO Cocoa Island is your quintessential luxury Maldives resort that's home to villas hovering on stilts above clear blue waters. It's the kind of place you see in honeymoon brochures and would expect to be the next location of The White Lotus. It is pure luxury. It's also where swingers can hop from beachside hammock to beachside hammock throughout a long sunny day. When you grow tired of your own private pool and the waters full of turtles and dolphins, you can hit up some of the swings dotted about the island. Bring a good book and a few beers with you and spend your holiday swinging by the sea. RUSCHMEYER'S, UNITED STATES This grown-up, summer camp-style boutique hotel in the Hamptons is home to 19 detached rooms surrounding a large swath of grass that provides a back-to-basics luxury — with swings, a tepee and lawn chairs aplenty. Swingers will even find hammocks in some of the Ruchmeyer's bedrooms. And come night-time, the lawns host summer parties and outdoor cinemas. This means you can swing here all day and all night long. GAYANA MARINE RESORT, MALAYSIA At Gayana Eco Resort, you can take swinging to whole new heights: this eco-luxe hideaway has jungle paths with a canopy walk and zip line, so you can whoosh through the trees like an over-caffeinated monkey. For calmer moments, there's also an excellent spa with horizon-view rooms and a selection of massages, scrubs, facials and beauty treatments. There's even an on-site marine research centre: a hub devoted to giant-clam breeding and coral restoration programmes, where guests can feed man-sized groupers in floating pens, plant coral, or scoop up starfish and squishy sea cucumbers in the touch tanks. WALDORF ASTORIA LOS CABOS This Los Cabos resort is huge and opulent. The 115 individually decorated guestrooms feature fireplaces, private plunge pools and balconies overlooking the private beach. Swingers won't find any swings in their rooms, but there are plenty dotted about the resort. On the beach, stacks of hammocks line the shores, while the beach bar has swapped out the stools, preferring guess to sip cocktails while sitting on wooden swings. These may get a little dangerous once you've had a few bevs, so you best head to the beachside hammocks or one of the four Waldorf Astoria restaurants soon after. THE KOROWAI, INDONESIA Each of Korowai's wood-framed rooms are carved into the limestone cliff overlooking Bali's famous Impossible Beach (known for surfing, not partying). Marvel at the ridiculous uninterrupted 180-degree views across the ocean from the privacy of your own little balcony adorned with traditional Balinese décor — including many hammocks and crochet nets. It's one of the most romantic places to stay in Bali. The glitz and glam of other Uluwatu resorts doesn't exist here. Instead, you and your partner will feel as if you've found your own hidden oasis. But, when or if you do want to get into town, the hospitable resort staff will rent you a scooter or organise a taxi ride. Plus, there are a few walkable restaurants nearby if you somehow get tired of dining at their restaurant overlooking the beach. Top images: Naladhu Private Island Resort Feeling inspired to book a swinging getaway? Book your next dream holiday with Concrete Playground Trips — with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations around the world.
Holidays are only half the fun when you have to leave your best friend behind. But that problem is now a thing of the past: there's a whole new world of pet-friendly accommodation throughout Victoria where you and your pooch can both feel welcome. Whatever holiday you have planned, there are boutique city stays, swish little eco-cabins, historic country cottages and seaside luxury escapes to fulfil your travel yearning - with the pup in tow. And these pet-friendly accommodations in Victoria offer more than just a kennel out back. Expect a range of Fido-loving special features, like in-room pet menus, goodie bags, private gardens and even dedicated pup-sitting staff. Whether you're exploring East Gippsland, the Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula, the Macedon Ranges, the Dandenongs or striking out along the Murray River, you can find warm, pet-friendly hospitality waiting. Recommended reads: The Best Hotels in Melbourne The Best Glamping Sites in Victoria The Best Dog-Friendly Cafes and Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Dog Parks in Melbourne Laneways by Ovolo, Melbourne Mention the Ovolo and watch your pooch prick up their ears - it's all about the perks, baby. You've heard of the renowned Ovolo service, but you might not know they offer a V.I.Pooch package to ensure your doggo has the same special treatment. Enjoy prime city-centre accommodation in one of Melbourne's trendiest hotels with free snacks, social hour drinks and gym access (the perfect balance). Your pup will have their own bag o' swag with special doggie treats and a dog bed, mat, food bowl and dog-sitting staff on hand for backup tummy rubs. There's no outdoor space, but the city is your playground: explore the CBD, run around Melbourne's dog-friendly parks or take a scenic wander along the Yarra River. Ocean Blue Coastal Retreats, Mornington Peninsula Got a group and some cash to burn? This five-paw accommodation is just the place for you and your pals (including the four-legged one) to get away from it all and experience the best that Mornington Peninsula has to offer. Ocean Blue Coastal Retreats has pet-friendly accommodations that include Blue Haven in McCrae and Shoreline Hideaway in Tootgarook (offering a seaside cottage dream right near the water), and the resort-style Glen Mor beach house in Rye, perfect for larger groups. All have a fenced outdoor area for puppy playtime. There's a brochure of local dog-friendly spots and off-leash areas - as well as complimentary biodegradable poop-scooping baggies - and a free sample of handmade doggy treats. You won't have to miss the Peninsula wine scene either, with a list of dog-friendly wineries and cellar doors to check out. Holly Lodge, Kalorama Reset, rewind and reinvigorate yourselves at Holly Lodge — one of the best pet-friendly accommodations in Victoria. The garden suite has a private outdoor area for the pup, as well as a bright, modern kitchenette and living space. Wake up in nature - but also with the luxury of your comfy queen-sized bed with gourmet breakfast bits. If you're travelling as a couple, you could book an extra special package with sparkling wine, massages, cheese platter, local spa treatments and dinner at a local restaurant. Or, if you came here to get into the green yonder, head to William Ricketts Sanctuary for the famous sculpture gardens, enjoy the seasonal blooms of the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens, tackle the 1000 steps walk or drive up Mount Dandenong for the sweeping views. Blue Moon Cottages, Rye These rustic-chic cottages in Rye offer idyllic stays right by the sea. The two-bed Shell Croft and one-bed Sandpiper are the perfect weekend base camp to take advantage of the local wineries and picture-perfect seaside towns. Both cottages are decked out in natural timber and neutral tones, with kitchen amenities, a private fenced courtyard and entertaining area as well as a log fire for the all-important hygge. Shell Croft cottage also has a spa bath, for that extra touch of luxe. Bowls, towels and a kennel are provided, and the hosts will guide you towards the leash-free areas and dog-friendly venues nearby. QT, Melbourne At all QT Hotels & Resorts across Australia and New Zealand, your dog can come for a luxurious sleepover with you. The chain's Pup Yeah! fur-friendly stays include a night's accommodation for you and your doggo, an in-room menu specifically made for woofers and a pooch-friendly mini bar offering and designer canine bedding. The doggy food range is overseen by the brand's head of treats, Nic Wood, and might include steak tartare with raw beef, mushrooms and egg yolk; bone marrow risotto with bone broth and crispy pigs ears; and chicken livers and pork necks on wholemeal toast with chicken gravy. Fancy a pupper dessert? There's also a bacon ice cream sandwich, made from bacon ice cream, dried liver and oat biscuits. The team will also help guide you to all the best pet-friendly cafes and bars in the local area. Daysy Hill Country Cottages, Port Campbell Because every pup should have the chance to marvel at the Twelve Apostles. Daysy Hill's pet-friendly cottages and cabins are set amidst delightful gardens and acreage your pooch will adore. The glorious valley and sunset views from the private deck will have you itching to get into nature with your four-legged walking buddy. Set out along the Great Ocean Road or into the hills armed with the helpful Daysy Hill guide to the dog-appropriate areas of the parks and reserves. Fall in love with the simple life in your serene, tucked-away cabin retreat. If you feel like dining instead, Port Campbell is conveniently close by. Must Love Dogs B&B, Rutherglen The dog-friendly hospitality of this restored 1840 hotel goes above and beyond the luxury suite and fenced garden. After all, it's in the name, and they've got the official 5-paw rating to back it up. The Must Love Dogs B&B team help curate your perfect dog-friendly travel experience of the Rutherglen wine region, from doggo-babysitting services right down to pup-loving cellar doors and a 'history and wine tour' you both can enjoy. Start the day with a hearty, home-cooked breakfast in the heritage-listed dining room, then hit Albury for a slice of real country Victoria. If you're going off-the-beaten track, ask your hosts to pack a gourmet picnic and make your bushwalks a little more extra. Goat & Goose B&B, Lakes Entrance This charming guesthouse has offered old-school B&B hospitality to travellers for over 16 years. Expect all the warmth and comfort of a country welcome - scones with jam and cream, anyone? - as well as enviable views over the Bass Strait and Ninety Mile Beach. All rooms at the Goat & Goose are pet-friendly, just keep them on a lead in communal spaces. You can pick a room with a four-poster bed or vintage freestanding bathtub to sink into, or choose the Cosy Cubboodle with a private balcony, or Goose Nest with a skylight window so you can fall asleep stargazing. Awaken to the sound of native birds and a country breakfast before you get out to the nearby towns, beaches and parks. And, if you're heading up this way without your four-legged friend, then check out our list of the best waterfront stays to book in East Gippsland too. The Langham, Melbourne If your critter's within earshot and you're reading this aloud, you'd better whisper — if they hear it, you won't get any peace till you agree to a staycation at The Langham. Four-legged loves staying here get a dedicated Pet Room Service Menu as well as plush beds, signature Langham bowls, gourmet goodies and a pet gift bag on arrival. Reckon you might need a break from your utterly indulged friend? No problem. Pet sitting and walking services are on-hand. It also offers breakfast in bed for both you and your cat or dog (their private dining pet menu is damn impressive). They won't get pampered like this anywhere else, making this a clear front runner for the very best dog-friendly accommodations in Victoria. Sunraysia Resort, Mildura A rural getaway with a difference. Choose from one of Sunraysia Resort's self-contained two-bed or four-bed apartments, rent out the full house or, if your pup is up for it, you can sleep on the Murray River in a houseboat of your very own. Take your accommodation with you as you explore 100km of the Murray. This is no leaky tinnie: you'll be kicking back in a modern three-bed with a kitchen, living area, TV and even a spa. Dine on the top deck or weigh anchor and sail to Mildura for dinner. If you'd rather stay close by, you can hit the resort's poolside bar or bistro for some local wines and sample the best growing produce of the region. There's also tennis courts and mini golf on site – it is a resort, after all. Zagame's House, Melbourne Zagame's is more than just a stylish CBD base. They're a pup-pampering retreat for you and your fur-babies. That's right - Zagames permits not just one, but two doggos per room. You can bring your furry family along for the Melbourne getaway or city staycation you all deserve. You'll pick up a 'Treat yo fur-baby' goodie bag upon arrival - and they treat yo fur-baby OH-so right, with an in-room pet dining menu worthy of any trendy laneway cafe. Then you can hit the buzzing city streets together - or stay in and chill with the 'Furry movie of the month'. Glenview Retreat, Emerald Secluded country elegance awaits you at Glenview Retreat, a mere hour's drive from Melbourne. Unwind and indulge in the privacy of a self-contained cottage amidst serene bushland and wildlife. Relax beside a crackling fireplace or in a private, candlelit spa while the pup plays safely in your private garden. Complimentary wine and chocolates await, plus a self-catered gourmet breakfast. Plant-based? No problemo. They cater for you, too. Let them know you're bringing a four-legged guest and they'll make sure they don't miss out on the treats. It's a 10-minute walk from your cottage to Emerald Lake Park (pup will be thrilled), a 5-minute drive to restaurants and 30 minutes to the Dandenong Ranges. Plus, the nearby Puffing Billy Railway now runs the Puffing Billy Dog Express for pooches and their parents to enjoy this scenic route together. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Top images: Zagame's House
"Do you guys ever think about dying?" When life in plastic is fantastic, that's not a line anyone that would expect to come out of Barbie's (Margot Robbie, Babylon) mouth. And, amid giant blowout parties with planned choreography with all her pals, and the constant devotion of her beau Ken (Ryan Gosling, The Gray Man), such existential musings do come as a shock. When she can no longer float off of her rooftop and her usually arched feet become flat, the Barbie movie's main namesake heads to the real world for answers. That's the plot for Greta Gerwig's film, which marks the actor-turned-director's third solo stint behind the camera after Lady Bird and Little Women, and has been teasing its extremely pink on-screen worlds in not one but two trailers prior to the just-dropped full sneak peek. Even dolls living in a dreamland struggle with life's big questions, it seems — and, when the film's key Barbie and Ken drive through Barbie Land's gates to discover what's on the other side, they struggle with Los Angeles as well. With mugshots to prove it, they even get arrested. Splashing as much humour as pastel hues throughout its frames, Barbie is scripted by Gerwig and fellow filmmaker Noah Baumbach — her helmer on Greenberg, Frances Ha, Mistress America and White Noise, and real-life partner — and boasts a cast that's a gleaming toy chest of talent. Indeed, it might just be the most anticipated toy-to-film release ever. There's that pedigree, of course. There's also the picture's patently playful vibe, which started with parodying the one and only 2001: A Space Odyssey and has kept beaming brightly from there. All those on-screen stars help fill the feature with Barbies, including Issa Rae (Insecure) as president Barbie, Dua Lipa (making her movie debut) as a mermaid Barbie, Emma Mackey (Emily) as a Nobel Prize-winning physicist Barbie, Alexandra Schipp (tick, tick... BOOM!) as an author Barbie and Ana Cruz Kayne (Jerry and Marge Go Large) as a supreme court justice Barbie — plus Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) as diplomat Barbie, Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live) as a Barbie who is always doing the splits, Hari Nef (Meet Cute) as doctor Barbie, Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy) as a Pulitzer-winning Barbie and Sharon Rooney (Jerk) as lawyer Barbie. There's also a whole heap of Kens, including Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami), Ncuti Gatwa (the incoming Doctor Who) and Scott Evans (Grace and Frankie). And, Michael Cera (Arrested Development) plays Alan, Emerald Fennell (The Crown) plays Midge, Helen Mirren (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) is the narrator, America Ferrera (Superstore) and Ariana Greenblatt (65) are humans, Jamie Demetriou (Catherine Called Birdy) is a suit, Will Ferrell (Spirited) wears a suit as Mattel's CEO and Connor Swindells (also Sex Education) is an intern. Will this be the best figurine-to-film adaptation yet in a mixed field that also includes the Transformers series, Trolls, The Lego Movie and its sequel, Battleship and the GI Joe films? The answer will be pulled out of the toy box in cinemas on July 20 Down Under. And yes, Aqua's 'Barbie Girl' finally (finally!) gets a spin in this trailer, although you likely already had it stuck in your head just thinking about this movie anyway. Check out the full trailer for Barbie below: Barbie releases in cinemas Down Under on July 20, 2023.
Christmas can often be a crazy time, and we can't think of anything worse than running around a shopping centre trying to sort out gifts. We all know the drill, and it's carnage, to say the least. Amazon is our go-to for simple gift ideas that you can pre-order from the comfort of your home, which means avoiding the carnage and taking your time to choose the right gifts. To get you started, we have ten gift ideas you can buy from Amazon right now. Whether you're buying for your impossible-to-buy-for teenage cousin, skin-care-obsessed auntie or for the kids in your life, we've got you covered. 1. Ottolenghi SIMPLE Perfect for any aspiring chef or summer entertainer — it's nearly guaranteed that everyone will love Ottolenghi SIMPLE, a cookbook and a great gift idea for someone you don't know too well or someone hard to buy for. The book features 130 of chef Yotam Ottolenghi's award-winning recipes that are easy enough to cook at home but turn out restaurant-quality (if cooked correctly). Better, if you're invited to a dinner party by whoever you gift the book to, you know you'll be in for a treat. 2. Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker Another easy gift idea that most people would be stoked to receive, the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a great summer gift item, since it's completely waterproof that also floats. Who knows? Maybe you'll get to reap the benefits of this gift at some stage. It also comes in seven different colours, so you can find a good match for whoever you're buying for. You can thank us later. 3. Cocktail Set The silly season is the perfect time to drink cocktails at home or to host parties (obviously with a cocktail bar), hands down. And gifting this sleek, stainless steel cocktail set for Christmas may be the perfect timing. The set includes pourers, a strainer, a muddling stick, two Boston shakers and two bartender spoons. A great gift idea for any aspiring mixologists out there, whether they're a beginner or pro. 4. Crocs Jibbitz Shoe Charms If you haven't heard of Jibbitz, you've clearly managed to steer clear of the front page of social media. A trend that no one saw coming, having a few extra charms on your Crocs is now actually, well, elite. Great for kids or adults who love rocking their Crocs, Jibbitz is an easy way to personalise the classic shoes, with a variety of charms that pop into your shoes' holes, instantly making Crocs even cooler. 5. The Ordinary Skincare It seems that everyone is in their self-care era at the moment, which means skincare is a top priority. Gifting a friend or loved one with The Ordinary The Daily Set is bound to be a practical gift that actually gets used. The set includes three gentle and hydrating formulas suitable for all skin types across all seasons for daily use, including The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid with B5 and The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. 6. LEGO® One of Amazon's top picks when it comes to gift ideas, the LEGO® Creator flatbed truck with a helicopter, fuel vehicle, hot rod SUV and car toys is one of the best simple gift ideas for kids, as well as big kids. LEGO® Creator 3 in 1 sets give the giftee a choice as well, since the pieces can be used to assemble three different sets. Timeless, ageless, genderless and always entertaining, you really can't go wrong with LEGO® as a gift. 7. Noise Cancelling Earbuds If you ask us, noise-cancelling earbuds are no longer a luxury but an essential. If you're trying to find a Christmas gift for your friend who is always travelling or listening to tunes, or you noticed a mate with ancient corded headphones, then the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds may be the way to go. They feature technology that analyses each ear and adapts sound so that the active noise-cancelling earbuds are custom-tailored, plus they come with nine soft ear tips and stability bands for ultimate comfort. 8. Mortar and Pestle Sometimes, the best gift is a simple one. Enter the granite Mortar and Pestle. There's no kitchen tool simpler than this. Made from solid granite, this kitchen staple is great for crushing herbs, spices, garlic, basil and whatever else you so desire. It's a great gift for those in your life who love cooking. And, if it turns out they don't like cooking, then it also makes for an aesthetic piece of decor on the kitchen bench, So it's a win-win. 9. Minecraft Board Game If we could place a bet on whether the kids in your life play Minecraft, we would confidently put money on it being a yes. They can't get enough, and gifting them with anything Minecraft-related is sure to be a hit. This Minecraft Board Game from Ravensburger is an easy-to-learn strategy board game where players explore the Overworld, mine resources, build structures, collect weapons and fight mobs. Perfect for Minecraft lovers, it's also fun even if you have never played Minecraft. 10. Fitness Tracker Do you have any fitness freaks in your friendship circle? Or maybe your old man is looking to get back in shape? Look no further than the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Health & Fitness Tracker. This sleek little thing helps you track workouts and health metrics with over 150 sports modes, continuous heart rate monitoring, SpO2 measurement, and sleep analysis. It also looks cool and comes in a range of different colours. Images: Supplied by Amazon. 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These days, Christmas promises a whole lot more than just generic mince pies and plain panettones. Bakeries, chocolate brands, gelaterias and dessert shops across the city are getting more inventive with each passing year, whipping up all sorts of creative treats worthy of hunting down across Melbourne. Here, we've rounded up some of the coolest grown-up goodies to seek out, from gelato-filled Christmas puddings to themed festive high tea experiences. Dig in. Recommended reads: The Best Alternative Things to Do in Melbourne on Christmas Day The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This Weekend The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This December Pidapipo's Pandoro Christmas Cake Pidapipo has reimagined the pandoro — a Christmas tree-shaped sweet bread cake — for their holiday season offering this year, paying tribute to the team's Italian roots. The Pandoro Christmas Cake features a base of Pandoro, and then layers of Pidapipo's favourite festive gelato flavours — including, bacio, hazelnut, Pandoro, coconut, chocolate, sour cherry swirl and chocolate fudge — all encased with a dark chocolate semifreddo and a thin crisp milk chocolate shell. This is a next-level treat — worthy of any Christmas day dessert table. Baker Bleu's Dark Chocolate and Sour Cherry Panettone Baker Bleu is easily one of the very best bakeries in Melbourne, so it is no surprise to see the team create one of the top panettones in town — which is a huge feat seeing as this is the first year they've made these for the public. You can get a classic panettone made with raisins and candied orange or go for the sour cherry and dark chocolate version — depending on how traditional you're feeling. They've absolutely nailed this Christmas treat, and we highly recommend nabbing one for yourself. Le Yeahllow's Christmas Cakes and Cookies Le Yeahllow's sweet treats have got to be some of the most beautiful — without compromising on taste — and its Christmas offerings are no exception. That's especially the case for its two limited-editon cakes which will be served up until January 5. First off, there's the Merry Berry cake, which is inspired by festive fruit baskets. It brings together a fluffy chocolate sponge, vanilla white chocolate cream and a tangy mixed berry compote, all topped off with Valrhona 62% dark chocolate, whipped ganache and seasonal fruits. The team has also created a more summery treat — the lemon pound cake. Baked with Pepe Saya butter, along with the juice and zest of fresh lemons, this cake strikes the perfect balance of buttery richness and vibrant citrus. Piccolina's Gelato-Filled Christmas Pudding Piccolina always goes hard on its holiday specials — especially during Easter and Christmas. And this year is no different, as the team has created a gelato-filled, multi-layered Christmas pudding that comes in a stoneware bowl. Named the Golden Bauble, this creation features peanut butter stracciatella gelato layered with caramelised white chocolate aero and caramelised peanut, dulce de leche gelato layered with chocolate fudge brownie, peanut torrone centre, crispy chocolate base, topped with dark chocolate sauce and a golden peanut popping candy bauble. It's decadent and guaranteed to be an absolute showstopper at Christmas this year. Morning Market's Mince Tarts Mince pies are incredibly divisive Christmas treats. Some poeple love them, many hate them. It's a funny one. But if you are into these traditional British festive bites, you best check out those made by the team over at Andrew McConnell's Morning Market. The buttery pastry shells are packed with a filling made from organic apples, currants, brandy, pastis and warm spices that have been macerated together for months. The result is a rich and fragrant tart that's damn hard to beat. Lune's Gingerbread Croissants, Eggnog Cruffins and Stuffed Turkey Pastries Every year, you can guarantee that Lune will dream up some of Melbourne's best Christmas treats. And this year's efforts are no joke. First, the sweet stuff. Lune's gingerbread special is a twice-baked croissant made with pecan frangipane, baked gingerbread and molasses caramel, then topped with frangipane, gingerbread, white icing and gold-dusted chocolate pearls. It's also got an eggnog cruffin, choc peppermint twice-baked pain au chocolat, and rich Christmas pudding. For a savoury option, enter The Stuffed Turkey. This pastry is filled with a turkey and croissant pastry stuffing, with sage powder, cranberry sauce, crispy chicken skin and fried sage leaves added on top. You best drop by the Melbourne stores a few times this December, sampling each and every one of these creations. Penny for Pound's Christmas Trifle, Choux Pastry Wreath and Cookies Those in the know should be jumping for joy this festive season, knowing that Penny for Pound's incredible trifle has returned. This year, it features layers of cherry jelly, pistachio custard, raspberry cream, vanilla sponge and berry compote, all topped with fresh cherries, pistachio meringue kisses, berries and white chocolate stars. It's a total showstopper. But that's not all the pastry chefs have whipped up this year. There's also a special chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel choux pastry wreath, an extensive holiday cookie collection, and a playful Santa's Belly buche de noel — a red-glazed Christmas cake featuring vanilla sponge, raspberry compote, lemon curd, and vanilla mascarpone mousse. Brunetti Classico's Gingerbread House Build and Sip Workshops Carlton's Brunetti Classico is home to a huge range of festive treats throughout this time of year — including stacks of panettones and biscotti — but we are most pumped about its gingerbread-building experiences. Drop by on Friday and Saturday nights from 7–9pm and spend the two hours building and decorating your own gingerbread house while sipping on booze. These adult workshops cost $70 per person, while the kids' classes — which see the little ones decorate their own gingerbread people — only cost $13.90. Stokehouse's Tropical Christmas Pudding Stokehouse Group Pastry Chef Ash Smith has brought back his much-loved tropical take on the traditional Christmas Pudding for Christmas this year — made to be taken home. The pudding is ready-made and comes complete with at-home instructions to finish the dessert at home, as well as Smith's special brandy custard recipe. Either order the pudding online to pick up by itself, or add it to your booking when dining in — taking it home right after sampling food from one of Melbourne's best restaurants. Mary Eats Cake's Festive High Teas Mary Eats Cake has gone all out for Christmas — slinging a heap of limited-edition festive treats throughout December. There's a special Christmas gateaux and cookies, plus a new a la carte menu featuring gingerbread french toast, turkey toasties and pumpkin spiced lattes. These are fab, but we are most excited about the festive high tea experience. This includes a mulled wine spritzer on arrival, plus three tiers of treats — think festive scones, Christmas cookies and mini pavlovas. Drop by on a weekday to get this for $75 per person or on a weekend for an additional $4.
Hate to see food going to waste? Saving your favourite treats from the bin and scoring a great deal in the process is now easier than ever, as Too Good to Go launches in Queensland. Following successful launches in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, the world's largest marketplace for surplus food connects local businesses with customers, allowing for excess stock to go where it belongs — in someone's mouth. With the app having helped over 600,000 users save more than 400,000 meals, food-conscious consumers in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Goldy and beyond are invited to explore what cheap goodies await in their area. While the app only launched in Australia in August 2024, it has already grown to include over 1,300 partners, with more than a few names you know and love using the app daily to offer 'Surprise Bags' filled with assorted goods. "Expanding our footprint to include Queensland is an important step in our goal to help halve Australia's food waste by 2030," says Joost Rietveld, Too Good to Go Australia Country Director. "Queenslanders are known for appreciating fresh food, and we are eager to empower Brisbane and greater Queensland locals to take meaningful action and contribute to a more sustainable future." Eateries like Bakers Delight, Muffin Break, Jamaica Blue, Sushi Sushi and Roll'd are all active on the platform, with delicious food available at a significantly reduced price. While most people are aware that food waste is an issue, the scale of the problem might spark surprise. Each year, 7.6 million tonnes of food is discarded, with over two-thirds still edible. As food loss and waste account for around 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the issue is a seismic one. Forming a neat part of the solution, Too Good to Go's model is win-win-win. Food businesses can recover costs on food that would otherwise be wasted, app users snag great food for an even better price, and the process has a tangible impact on greenhouse gas emissions. With more than 100 million users across 19 countries, the app's expansion in Australia highlights how locals are keen to do their bit. "We have seen an incredible response from Australians so far, with more than half a million people joining our community to save food from going to waste," says Rietveld. "There has never been a better time for food businesses to start saving food with Too Good To Go instead of seeing the food they have created with pride and joy ending up in the bin." Too Good to Go is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. Head to the website for more information.
Yarra Valley winemaker Innocent Bystander has thrown open the doors to its new Healesville digs, taking over the lofty space once home to White Rabbit's brewing operations. The cellar door and winery looks set to hold its own amongst the region's many culinary hot-spots, with plans to showcase the label's own award-winning drops alongside a smorgasbord of other Yarra Valley delights. It's a relaxed space, with lots of natural timber and a plethora of seating options, lending itself to wine-tasting fly-bys and long, lazy lunches alike. A whopping, 15-metre stone bar boasts copper wine taps and a KeyKeg system, which means you can sample most varietals by the glass, by the share-friendly carafe or as part of a tasting paddle. There's plenty of local love on display, too, with liquid treats from the likes of Hargreaves Hill Brewery, Four Pillars Gin and Allpress Coffee balancing out all that wine. Meanwhile, an all-day menu is geared for sharing, running from grazing boards and a trio of paella dishes, to classically styled pizzas, fresh from the shiny Marana Forni pizza oven. Large plates might include the likes of a slow-braised brisket, served with roasted mushrooms and a Syrah jus. Innocent Bystander is open from 12pm to 9pm, seven days a week. Find them at 334 Maroondah Highway, Healesville.
With the Year of the Snake officially kicking off soon, Melbourne's Lunar New Year festivities are popping up right across the city. You can join huge street parties in Chinatown, indulge in special banquets with lion dances and prizes, and buy some extra-special treats made just for the occasion. However hard you want to go this year when celebrating Lunar New Year — whether you decide to stay in or go all out with a luxe night out on the town — this guide will have you sorted with heaps of the best bits. Check it all out here. Recommended reads: The Best Things to Do This Weekend in Melbourne The Best Chinese Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Thai Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Japanese Restaurants in Melbourne Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival Chinatown is going big this Lunar New Year, closing off Little Bourke Street (between Swanston Street and Exhibition Street) on Sunday, February 2 for a massive street party. During the day, you can expect to find plenty of food stalls, restaurant dining deals, a dragon parade, live music and a pop-up beer garden. The official party lasts from 10am–8pm, but the street will be closed to cars until 2am. You can easily keep the party going by hitting up these late-night dining spots, dumpling houses, ramen joints, and Melbourne CBD diners. Yum Sing House Banquet and Yee Sang Special Celebrate LNY with karaoke and a big-ass banquet that includes the traditional Yee Sang (prosperity seafood salad)? Yes, please. That's exactly what's on offer over at Yum Sing House for Lunar New Year. Those just after the salad, can drop by and try it from Tuesday, January 28–Friday, January 31, while the special banquet is only available on Friday, January 31. Priced at $108 per person, it features dishes like yee sang with Ora king salmon and Hokkaido scallops, braised oxtail money bag and steamed grouper with aged soy. And when can you karaoke? Any damn time you like, as this spot is always hosting parties in its special booths — helping make it one of the best Melbourne restaurants for group bookings no matter what time of year you visit. Lagoon Dining Set Menu Lygon Street's Lagoon Dining is one of the very best restaurants in Melbourne, championing contemporary Chinese cuisine with plenty of other Asian influences. And for this Lunar New Year, the team has put together a special Reunion Feast, which is running on Chinese New Year's Eve — viewed by many as one of the most important meals of the year. Book a table on the evening of Tuesday, January 28, and you'll be treated to a huge eight-dish feast that'll only set you back $88 per person. Get around scallop crudo with shellfish vinaigrette, salted cucumber and poppy seeds; pork wontons with chilli oil and chilli sesame dressing; chow meain with nduja gravy and prawns; humpty doo barramundi with white soy and sesame; and a soy milk pudding with goji berry syrup and longan. This is a must-try for anyone looking for a feed the night before LNY. QV Snakes and Ladders QV is adding a little fun to Chinese New Year shopping this year by setting up a huge interactive snakes and ladders experience in QV Square. From Tuesday, January 28–Sunday, February 9, you can play for free — simply using a dice on your phone (found via a QR code). Then over the Lunar New Year festival weekend from 1-2 February, QV Melbourne visitors who spend $50 at a participating store or restaurant can present their receipt at the snakes and ladders gameboard for a chance to win a share of $10,000 worth of lucky red packet giveaways. Lion dances, dragon dances and martial arts performances will also be popping up across these two days. Le Yeahllow's Limited-Edition Sweet Treats Le Yeahllow always takes Lunar New Year very seriously, creating a stack of limited-edition cakes just for the occasion. And this year is no different, as the crew has dreamy up two new cakes as well as a cookie set. First off, there's the ornately decorated Blooming Blossom cake, which blends delicate oolong tea with the refreshing sweetness of white peach and a smooth vanilla and creamy mascarpone. The Genamicha Tea Cake is also a winner, while the cookies are made for gifting — including golden mandarin cookies, pinenut shortbread, coconut cookies and caramelized pecan Florentines. Le Yeahllow is one of the top cake stores in Melbourne, and you can never go wrong when purchasing one of its absolutely beautiful creations. Quang Minh Tet Festival Quang Minh Temple is an important spiritual centre in Melbourne's West. And it's annual Tet Festival provides a really brilliant opportunity for the local community, Vietnamese, Chinese Buddhists and non-Buddhists to come together and explore and experience the beauty and richness of Lunar and Buddhist traditional celebrations. This year's Quang Minh Tet Festival includes cultural performances and firecrackers, displays, rides, chanting, vegetarian food and midnight fireworks which mark the beginning of the new lunar year. It's running from 6pm–1am on Tuesday, January 28, and is a truly special Melbourne Lunar New Year event Dorsett Melbourne's Lunar New Year High Tea Plenty of folks prefer to skip the Melborune yum cha lunches on Lunar New Year, preferring to treat themselves to a high tea experience instead. And Dorsett Melbourne has leaned right into this tradition by creating a Year of the Snake high tea experience in collaboration with T6 Patisserie. Highlights include the mandarin and jasmine mousse, Cantonese-style mango pudding, yuzu milk chocolate tart, raspberry macaron, pork char siu on milk bun, roasted Peking duck wrap, sesame garlic chive prawn toast, and freshly baked scones — including oolong and mandarin scones. They've gone all out with this one, which is available on Saturday, February 1, Sunday, February 2, Saturday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9. They cost $80 per person, coming with pots of tea and cold drinks. Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival You don't have to run into the CBD for Lunar New Year celebrations this year, with plenty of local councils running their own festivities. And one that always goes off, is that found over in Sunshine. It's running from 12–10 pm on Sunday, January 26, This year's festival is similar to previous years, featuring live entertainment, red pocket giveaways, street performers, face-painting, lion and dragon dancing, fireworks, indoor and outdoor dining options, kids' rides and plenty of market stalls. They're going out all year, closing off Hampshire Road for the whole day. Get Lucky in Warabi Warabi — home to one of Melbourne's best omakase experiences — isn't going all out this LNY with special menus and drinks, but the crew has put together a little deal for guests who drop by from Tuesday, January 28–Saturday, February 1. Each guest that visits during this period will receive a red envelope with a lucky prize. Inside each envelope will be a special surprise, ranging from a free hand-crafted cocktail to a complimentary omakase experience. To get the special Lunar New Year offering, you'll need to book in for a Sushi Omakase experience from Tuesday–Thursday or head over to sample the Natsu no Yoi summer menu on Friday or Saturday. Vietnamese TET Lunar New Year Festival The Vietnamese Community in Australia (Victoria Chapter)'s TET festival returns to Footscray Park this February with a free two-day program packed with performances, exhibits, food, fireworks and activities for all ages. You'll find most of the fun over at Footscray Park on Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16, running from 11am–9pm each day. Top image: Yum Sing House.
UPDATE: JANUARY 28, 2020 — Cheesy and peppery, cacio e pepe is one of our all-time favourite pastas. And at Melbourne CBD's Marameo, for all of January and February, you can pair it with a Marameo spritz for just $20. Available at lunch and dinner, the $20 cacio e pepe spritz deal is perfect for those balmy summer days (and when you can't quite face another soggy desk sandwich). Fun, vibrant Italian is the name of the game at Russell Place diner Marameo. From the same minds that brought us Il Bacaro, Bar Carolina and Tetto di Carolina, this one's a playful, yet considered offering, that'll transport you straight to aperitivo hour on some sunny Italian holiday. The space once home to Sarti has been reimagined with a mix of pale timber, green accents, burnt orange leather and an impressive white marble bar taking pride of place inside. While the warm 80-seat restaurant space itself is stunning, it's the terrace that's destined to be covetable turf during the balmy afternoons and evenings to come. On the menu, you'll spy a strong selection of cheese, salumi and antipasti, as well as creative snacks like the wagyu tartare cannoli ($7) and carrot with bug tail, salmon roe and corn ($9). Pasta made fresh in-house daily might include the likes of cavatelli with pork sausage and broccoli ($25) or squid ink spaghetti with blue swimmer crab and chilli ($29), while the grill is turning out classic flavours like a pork chop cotoletta matched with fennel and cabbage ($36). There's even a $15 spaghetti cacio e pepe, on offer for quick weekday lunches between 12–3pm. As for what you'll be sipping on that terrace, the bar's pouring a hefty selection of spritzes, a 300-strong lineup of wine and a tight list of revamped classic cocktails, including a four-month barrel-aged negroni. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Most Melbourne rooftop bars aim to conquer the summer, rolling back the awnings to serve spritzes and pét-nats in the blistering sunshine. Sadly, these bars tend to empty out once winter trickles in and the days get shorter. But Santana, the rooftop bar from Abjar Kasho (Bouvardia), really comes into its own once the sun goes down. Yes, it will be booming on hot days, but the Latin-influenced bar seems best suited to Melbourne's cooler and darker months. At night, the Santana neon signs illuminate the whole bar in hazy red light, while plumes of smoke from fine cigars float out into the cityscape. There's a sultry mood here that we are all for. There's also no need to BYO cigars. Kasho has entrusted Operations Manager Jack Tennant with the all-too-important task of curating a smoking menu, featuring everything from Cohiba Shorts ($18) to Partagas Serie D No. 4 ($94). And as there is no food menu, folks can smoke anywhere on the rooftop without fear of being ushered into a tiny smoker's space away from the fun. But there's no need to fret if you aren't a smoker. This place isn't just frequented by cigar lads. The team is pulling in a diverse crowd thanks to its collection of South American wines, Aussie beers, Latin-inspired cocktails and brown spirits. There's a 24-strong whisky list and a smattering of tequila, rum, brandy and cognac. It's the kind of stuff you swill around in a glass while musing on art and politics. At least that's the energy we're picking up. The moody, winter-friendly rooftop is a stark contrast to the previous occupant of the site, Pomelo, which had a bright Miami art deco fit-out. Santana's for those wanting to embrace the spirit of the colder seasons, huddling up by heaters while sipping dark spirits. Images: Long Boy Media
Drop everything, it's time to book a holiday for next year. At this time of year, every dollar counts, and when else can you book a return flight (domestic and international) and only pay for half the fee? Jetstar — ever the patron saint of affordable getaways — has just announced its latest special offer: three days of deals that offer essentially two flights for the price of one. From midnight tonight (or midday today if you're a Club Jetstar member), customers who purchase an outbound starter fare on select flights will get their return flight completely free, until 11.59pm on Sunday, November 30, or until the 90,000 available fares sell out. As mentioned, the offer is available across both domestic and international trips. Sydneysiders could skip the eight-hour drive to Byron and instead book a flight to Ballina from $42, or to Cairns from $102. Brisbane travellers can book a Whitsundays flight from $63, and Perth locals looking to go cross-country can fly to Melbourne from $199. If you're going out of the country, you're spoilt for choice. Sydneysiders looking for a quick and easy trip to Bali can do so from $249, Melbournians can immersive themselves in the cultural melting pot that is Singapore from $209, and if you're part of the Aussies that have yet to visit the 'it' destination of 2025: you can fly from Brisbane to Tokyo from $373 and Sydney to Osaka for the same price. Just next door is South Korea, which has gone underappreciated for too long — but Brisbanites can fly to Seoul from $309 in 2026. In terms of dates, the availability varies per route, but the offer is open for domestic flights between early February and late October 2026, and for international flights between early February and mid-September 2026. The Jetstar Return for FREE Black Friday sale runs from 12pm AEDT on Thursday, November 27 for Club Jetstar members, and from 12am AEDT for the general public. The sale will run until 11.59pm AEDT on Sunday, November 30, or until fares sell out. Visit the Jetstar website for more information.
Visiting Commis' website grants you a window into the Collingwood wine bar's ethos — cheeky, playful, exceedingly fun. There's a little ditty about drinks, the reassurance that it's as suitable for a date as it is for dinner with in-laws. It's spot on. Started by the same people behind Melbourne institution Gerald's, Commis has class — even if it doesn't take itself too seriously. As with all the best eateries, Commis' menu is ever changing. It's a loose iteration of modern Australian, with ingredients procured from local producers like Day's Walk Farm and Two Hands Fish. You can expect baked scallops, fried brussel sprouts, panisse chips topped with leek salt, venison ossobuco garnished with parsley root and gremolata. Or you can try the staff meal – leftovers from the day's trade that are then fashioned into staff meals that customers can order too. The wine list can be sorted by mood rather than type, depending on which side of the menu you flip over. Feel like a Wednesday night wine, easy on the palate and the pocket? You may opt for a Jumping Juice chenin blanc from Margaret River or a grillo from Sicily. Feel like Tom Hanks i.e. wines that everybody likes? You may have a nebbiolo from Italy's Piedmont region or a vermentino from South Australia's Clare Valley.
When JK Rowling dropped those last terrible three words on us at the close of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, all was not well. It would never be well without Harry, Ron, Hermione and co. in our lives. But great things are bubbling in the wizarding world, with Supreme Mugwump Rowling announcing the release of an eighth Harry Potter book. If we look Petrified, it's because HOLY SHIT. According to Pottermore, Rowling's own kickass content website, 2016 will see a special rehearsal edition of the script book of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II — Rowling's first play on London's West End that picks up 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and that abominably cheery epilogue on Platform 9 3/4. Print and digital editions of the book will publish right after the play's world premiere in winter 2016. You'll be able to read the version of the script from the Cursed Child's preview performances (a Definitive Collector's Edition will come later). JUST. LOOK. AT. IT. What's in store for Harry and the gang? The Cursed Child is set 19 years after the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry is now a Ministry of Magic employee, and the play focuses on his youngest son Albus Severus Potter — the heart pangs. The official synopsis of the play (and now official eighth book) was released by co-writers J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany on October 23, 2015: "It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places." It's been 20 years since the UK publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Twenty. Re-read it, go see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them when the film comes out and sit on your sorting hats until the EIGHTH HARRY POTTER BOOK arrives. Oh god, I need a butterbeer. Via Pottermore.
A string of popular restaurants on La Trobe Street have finally been given the all clear to reopen following sudden closures in October. The venues were forced to close, with less than 12 hours' notice, following a legal dispute between their landlord and sub-landlord. Among them was viral ramen spot Kikanbo, which brought in endless queues, rave reviews and eye-watering amounts of views on social media. Kikanbo has confirmed that it will reopen on Thursday, December 4, at 5pm. And what better way to celebrate than with free ramen? The first 200 dine-in customers will receive a complimentary bowl of karashibi ramen (simply like and share Kikanbo's Instagram post to support its reopening to be eligible). When the restaurants were forced to close, a post on Kikanbo's Instagram page detailed that they were "Closed until further notice. Unfortunately, there is an ongoing dispute between the landlord and the sub-landlord. Sadly, this is out of our control and has affected all the businesses on this block. Keep an eye on our social media for further updates." R Harn, another La Trobe street venue, from the team behind ever-popular Soi 38, that serves home-style Southern Thai and Chinese cuisine, suffered a similar fate. Taking to Instagram back in October, the team explained that "This situation is completely beyond our control and does not involve R Harn directly. We are working with all parties to resolve the matter as quickly as possible and to reopen our doors soon." Finally, only at the end of November, R Harn were able to reopen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by R.HARN อาหาร (@r.harn) The owner of R Harn told news.com.au at that time, that "At 7.15am I got an alert on my camera that there was movement. I saw them changing the locks. It was shocking. We're pretty screwed. Like watching a movie. We just don't understand why it's happening. We can't afford to close, I can't just accept this." Machi Machi, Kata Kita and soon-to-open Luke's Banh Mi were also been forced to close their doors. As reported by news.com.au, these sudden closures caused hundreds of kilos of food to be wasted, with the restaurants reportedly losing eye-watering amounts of money. As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald at the time of the closures, Sazz Nasimi, lawyer at Moray & Agnew, the firm representing the sub-landlord, said "It is a great shame that the landlord has chosen to take the steps that it has…This is one of the more bizarre steps taken by a landlord in my close to 20 years of experience in retail leasing disputes." Images: Supplied. While the venues remain closed, why not support other CBD restaurants with our round up of the best in town.
