Two years after closing to the public back in early 2019 — and three years after first announcing it was undergoing a big makeover — Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image is set to reopen its doors on Thursday, February 11. And, when film and television lovers step back inside its Federation Square building, they'll notice plenty of changes. If you're going to shut down to undertake extensive $40 million renovations, you want people to see it, after all. Details have been announced over the past couple of years; however, that doesn't make the revamp any less impressive. So, visitors can expect revamped exhibition spaces, new immersive experiences and added interactive activations, including a permanent ode to Mad Max. And, the venue definitely looks different, all thanks to Melbourne architects BKK and experience design firm Publicis Sapient/Second Story. Also part of the makeover: the Lens, a handheld device made out of compressed cardboard that you use while physically moseying through ACMI's galleries, and tap at around 200 different touchpoints to collect objects of interest as you wander. You then take it home with you, and whip it out again to check out all the items you've collected — even after you've left the museum. One of the things you'll want to use the Lens on is ACMI's huge — and free, and permanent — The Story of the Moving Image exhibition, which has an online component and also physically sprawls across 1600 square metres. It's all about the past, present and future of screen culture in all of its forms, including optical illusions, the first projected images, and the ways in which cinema, TV and games have evolved over the past century. ACMI has also spent big on commissioning new work — to the tune of $880,000, which has gone towards 15 projects. Seventy percent are by First Nations artists, and 60 percent feature women in a lead creative role. Visitors will be able to see one, from Gabriella Hirst, during the venue's first solo exhibition after reopening. Called Darling Darling, the video work finds commonalities between the efforts to preserve colonial paintings of the Australian landscape and the real-world preservation of the Murray Darling Basin. The site's two cinemas are also restarting their screening program, beginning with Love & Neon: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wai, a season dedicated to the acclaimed director. And, its curated streaming service, which launched in 2020, is still up and running as well. Other big new ACMI highlights include the Blackmagic Design Media Preservation Lab, which is dedicated to preserving Australia's analogue past and also ensuring that the country's digital present remains accessible — and the high-tech Gandel Digital Future Labs, which are aimed at fostering young creatives. There's also a retail space that boasts decor as vivid as the film and TV-focused items on sale, plus a new dining space called Hero. The latter is a collaboration with Melbourne chef Karen Martini and new venture HospitalityM, takes inspiration from Jacques Tati's 1967 film PlayTime, and serves bites to eat and casual drinks all day. HospitalityM will also run a coffee cart on Flinders Street, and sell cinema snacks. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image reopens its doors on Thursday, February 11, at Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne. Images: Shannon McGrath.
Whenever a movie milestone rolls around, it sparks two things: a reminder about how much time has passed since the flick in the spotlight first hit screens, and a yearning to watch whichever classic is worthy of such celebrations right now. When a Studio Ghibli film hits a big anniversary, it also sparks a sense of urgency — although we all just feel like watching the beloved Japanese animation house's flicks right this minute all the time, don't we? 2022 marks a huge 25 years since one of Studio Ghibli's absolute best movies first graced picture palaces, which means that it's time to revel in all things Princess Mononoke. And if you're now desperate to revisit the Hayao Miyazaki-directed masterpiece, Australia and New Zealand's cinemas have great news for you: they're playing the historical fantasy gem again from Thursday, July 14. Two versions of the movie will hit a selection of Aussie and NZ venues as part of a 25th-anniversary season: the original Japanese version, which is the one that every Ghibli fan should be flocking to, and the English-dubbed version as well. And, whichever you choose, participating cinemas will also be offering a free commemorative pin featuring San's mask. It's available when you buy a ticket — although, given it's a collector's item, it's only on offer while stocks last. If you're a newcomer to this delight by the one and only Miyazaki — a film that only ranks behind Spirited Away and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind among the director's greats — get ready for a picture that makes a clear ecological statement. The iconic filmmaker has never shied away from doing just that; however, Princess Mononoke might just send his most forceful message about humanity's impact upon the earth. As set in Japan's Muromachi period (from the 14th to 16th centuries), the involving fantasy takes place among humans, animals and gods, all of which have been living in harmony until the movie starts. From there, the film charts the paths of a young prince with a curse and a young woman raised by wolves, as well as the conflict between a modernising town and the forest it's destroying. Every Studio Ghibli film is worth seeing — the animation house hasn't ever made a bad one, even if a few sit below the rest — but Princess Mononoke is a stone-cold classic. The highest-grossing Japanese feature of 1997, it's also the picture that helped bring the company's wonderful flicks to western audiences. Check out the trailer for Princess Mononoke below: Princess Mononoke returns to Australian and New Zealand cinemas from Thursday, July 14. For more information, and to find cinema locations, head to the Madman Films website.
Far outdoing their traditional duty as reminder memos, these 30,000 Post-its serve to shock and impress as components of Yo Shimada's 'Post-it Structures'. Shimada, of Tato Architects, collaborated with students at the Kyoto University of Art and Design to create this massive, neon-bright structure now on display in Kyoto City, Japan. Each Post-it is adhered to another to create a building-like structure which has walls running through the entirety of the gallery. Delicate and precarious-looking, the wall is reminiscent of a house of cards, a gentle balancing act. Gallery visitors are invited to respond to the work. Comments may be written via (what else?) Post-its and stuck to the facing wall of the gallery space. We want to know what happens if someone accidentally sneezes. [via Designboom]
Melbourne has been a real pageant queen lately, having now been crowned Miss Most Liveable City for seven years in a row. We've all seen the glossy shots of laneway cafes and Federation Square that we're known for, and it's true that Melbourne looks great under the sun. But locals know that after dark is when Melbourne truly shines. The city's nightlife is the best on offer in Australia at the moment, and with public transport running all night on weekends, you can enjoy it even more. Instead of waiting out surges, jostling for cabs or sharking innocent pedestrians in an attempt to nab a park, jump on a late-night tram, train or bus and own the night. There's so much on offer at all hours of the eve, and we've got some tips to help you get to know the darker side of Melbourne. SUNSET AT THE BEACH Start your night by jumping on the 96 tram and heading to St Kilda beach. Grab an ice cream or pastry along Acland Street (don't worry about eating dessert before dinner — there are no rules tonight) and head to the sand to sit back and watch as the sun goes down and Luna Park lights up. People-watching is the name of the game here, and dusk is the time of day when all the kookiest subjects come out to play. COCKTAILS AND JAPANESE WITH A TWIST When you've brushed all the sand out of your crevices, it's time to eat. Jump on the 5 tram to Chapel Street, get off at stop 32, and wander down Chapel Street as it comes alive for the dinner rush. Head to Mr Miyagi for dinner, a southside favourite. They don't take bookings for groups of five or less, which is excellent news for cocktail lovers. Wait for your table in their adjacent bar, Yukie's, and sample from their experimental cocktail menu — try the salted watermelon martini garnished with Midori-infused faux olives. Once you're installed at Mr Miyagi's, try their signature snack: the salmon nori taco with grilled salmon belly, sushi rice and spicy mayo, all wrapped up in a seaweed case. Excellent fuel for the long night ahead. POST-DINNER ROOFTOP FEATURE Once you're sufficiently stuffed, prepare your bod for a digestive respite. Head to Windsor Station to get the train to Flinders Street Station. From there, jump on a tram heading up Swanston Street (heck yeah, free tram zone), get off at Bourke Street Mall and head to Rooftop Cinema. For the next few months, they'll be running a cinema program on the roof of the Curtin House building. It features a good mix of cult classics, new releases, deckchairs and a killer view of the city — it's the perfect intermission for your late-night antics. POOL, CRAZY MILKSHAKES OR AFTER-HOURS BOWLS Once you've fully digested both film and food, it's time to kick it up a notch. You have a few options. Take the 86 or 96 trams out to Fitzroy and stop in at the Red Triangle Pool Hall on Argyle Street. Play a few games of pool, and to keep it interesting, make it so the loser buys the winner one of Red Triangle's disgustingly indulgent milkshakes. But if you like your balls close to the ground, stay on the tram a little longer and head up to Fitzroy Bowls Club — it stays open until 10pm and is fully licensed. We recommend booking ahead to guarantee your spot. MIDNIGHT CBD BAR HOPPING Once you're deep in the night, jump on the 86 or 96, and head back into the city. From here, you can choose your own adventure depending on how you feel. We recommend Boilermaker House on Lonsdale for excellent craft beer; Heartbreaker on Russell for pizza, dancing and more pool; Siglo on Spring Street for pure class; Gin Palace down Russell Place for quiet, sexy ambience; or New Guernica to get heavy. Or better yet, take advantage of that free tram zone and stop in at them all. LATE NIGHT KARAOKE No late night is complete without a spot of karaoke. If you need privacy to belt out your heartfelt rendition of When Doves Cry (no judgement — we respect your craft), head to KBOX on La Trobe and book yourself a booth. If you know no shame and want the world to hear your siren song, head to Jankara Karaoke. This tiny, weird karaoke bar on Russell Street is always packed full of people who have no business doing karaoke, but who do it anyway and with unbridled enthusiasm. [caption id="attachment_639262" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Anwyn Howarth.[/caption] EVENING'S END EATS When the night is wrapping up, the sun is peeping over the horizon and you're in serious need of a snack, late night food options are abundant in the city. Shujinko on Russell is 24-hours and Stalactites, everyone's favourite late-night souvas slinger, is also open 'round the clock. And if you need a pick me up, Little Bean Blue on Little Collins opens at 6am, ready to caffeinate you so you don't fall asleep on the tram home — that's definitely not a good look. Whatever you're planning for the weekend, whether it's staying out after midnight or up until dawn, the Night Network will take you wherever you need to go — and then get you home again. Lead image: Brook James.
Fret no more about a frigid office or a sweltering apartment building. CrowdComfort, a new Boston-based startup, has come up with a web-based application that lets users input how they feel about the temperature of the area they are located, working out the hopefully happy medium. CrowdComfort bills itself as the first crowd-sourced thermostat. The app is installed on users' smartphones, where they can choose from five options (very hot, hot, just right, cold, freezing) about the temperature level in the particular space they are occupying. The responses are culled together and analysed, and a temperature recommended for each floor. The app's purpose is not solely to make building occupants more comfortable, though. The developers' larger goal is to reduce energy wastefulness through user feedback. Building maintenance can reduce costs and wastefulness while also providing more comfort to those in the building. CrowdComfort follows in the trend of recent cleanweb applications. Cleanweb refers to web applications and technology startups with the goal of improving productivity and efficiency while reducing energy consumption and waste. "Think of it as a gateway drug used to hook people on energy consumption awareness," said project leader Galen Nelson in a pitch meeting at VERGE Boston. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bk7QafAg7HM Story via Fast Company. Image via garrettc via photopin cc.
As you may well know by now, museums aren't just for 19th century historical artefacts and giant dinosaur models anymore. They're also for food. Last year New York got a permanent Museum of Food and Drink, which joins a whole slew of weird and wonderful food museums, like Japan's instant ramen museum and the Kimchi Field Museum in Seoul. So it's surprising that, considering our total obsession with food, Australia does not have its own. But that's all set to change, with plans for a brand new institution dedicated to our food culture to be set up in Adelaide. The proposal comes from Adelaide City Council, who believe a culinary cultural centre could help both locals and international visitors learn about and experience Australia's multicultural food culture. Considering the city's proximity to world-class wineries and its own burgeoning food and bar scene, Adelaide — while nowhere near as big as Sydney or Melbourne — makes a good case for being the new centre's home. The project has the support of the State Government and other local cultural institutions, but discussions on what the centre would actually include and who would establish it are still taking place. We'll keep an eye on this one to see where it goes. Via ABC News.
Anyone with a curious impulse in their heart and a phone in their hand can eat well on holiday. But to eat great? For that, you'll need to do a bit of prep and make some bookings at these pilgrimage-worthy restaurants on NZ's South Island. They've made their name on farm-to-table feasting, seafood that's travelled basically a negative number of food miles and foraging in fields home to hobbits and elves. People want in. The South Island is full of mountains to climb, artsy small cities to explore, glassy lakes to gawp at — all perfect ways to work up and appetite for these culinary experiences and then the perfect diversions while you digest the meal of the year. [caption id="attachment_687223" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rodney F.[/caption] FLEUR'S PLACE Fleur's Place is a beautiful fishing shed turned cosy restaurant tucked away in the seaside village of Moeraki, right on the waterfront at the old jetty. This little gem is not to be missed if you're a fan of the freshest catches out of the sea. Fleur's showcases the best of New Zealand produce with signature dishes such as green-lipped mussel pots, hearty seafood soup, fish (literally caught and delivered straight off the boat to the back kitchen of Fleur's) and, if you're lucky, some rare finds such as abalone. Fleur's gets incredibly busy, so it's best to book a table before you go. Really there's nothing that beats eating fresh seafood while watching the waves hitting the shores of Moeraki. It's also around a ten-minute drive from the world-famous Moeraki Boulders, so why not kill two fish with one stone. 169 Haven Street, Moeraki. RIVERSTONE KITCHEN While Oamaru might be known for its blue penguins and steampunk, it also serves amazing food that attracts connoisseurs from all around the world via Riverstone Kitchen. After rising through the ranks of illustrious London kitchens and serving as head chef at Brisbane's E'cco Bistro, Bevan Smith came here and opened up shop on his family's farm with wife Monique in a remote patch of NZ countryside. Now, it's a pilgrimage site, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As is right, given the set-up, the ingredients that start in these fields end up in the restaurant's dishes (which in turn end up in the kitchen's renowned recipe books). Meat comes courtesy of the neighbours. Try the dreamy cheese soufflé ($22) paired with apple and hazelnut salad or a venison massaman curry with roast cauliflower, peanuts and crispy shallots ($36). 1431 State Highway 1, Oamaru. GATHERINGS After working on an organic vegetable farm in North Canterbury, chef Alex Davies launched the Gatherings pop-up concept where the food he cooked represented a taste of the region, the time and place. The concept has since evolved into a permanent restaurant and living wine bar focusing on sustainable, local and seasonal cuisine. The overarching theme is to highlight the connection of what we eat and the planet that we live on. From its original plant-based tasting menu, Gatherings has pivoted towards family-style eating — and introduced sustainably-caught fish in the process. The takeaway 'Fish Supper' was introduced post-COVID-19 lockdown as a way to keep the wheels in motion. The concept has now become the restaurant's main offering, as a more affordable option for the community in trying times and to allow diners to feast as a family or friend unit. Southland's Gravity Fishing supplies the catch to order (and nothing more), which means that repeat diners will likely have an entirely different experience every visit. Diners have the option to order a whole fish for the table and buy smaller Canterbury-centric dishes around it. 5/2 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch. AMISFIELD Located in Central Otago, Amisfield is a specialist producer of pinot noir and aromatic white wines, with a two-hatted bistro on-site. Basically, it's your one-stop portal to a world of amazing wine and food. Your meal unfurls by way of a 'trust the chef' degustation menu of three to seven courses ($140, $60 for matching wines), stopping off at the likes of titi (muttonbird) with seaweed and konini berries and hidden truffles in edible soil. The hyper-seasonal menu is the work of executive chef Vaughan Mabee, who earned his stripes working at Danish restaurant Noma. Another factor giving Amisfield its edge? Mabee works with a dedicated forager, who helps keep his stores packed with little-known local ingredients that invigorate the cooking each night. Amisfield provides the ultimate gastronomic experience against probably one of the most beautiful backdrops in New Zealand. Bookings are essential. 10 Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Road, Frankton, Queenstown. ARBOUR The philosophy of Arbour is "eat, sip, gather". It's a modern and elegant restaurant that champions local produce in its carefully crafted three-, four- or seven-course offering ($79–99). Diners can get an authentic taste of the region through fresh and simple ingredients that are married together in creative ways. So you'll see beef sirloin cooked with parsnip and smoked potato dumpling; john dory smoked and paired with leek, black truffle and 63-degree egg; and corn 'porridge' with various alliums, hazelnut and bacon. Here in the colder months? Head indoors, where Arbour has a 'prep bench' experience ($139 per person) that offers you the seven-course tasting menu, along with the dinner theatre of watching the kitchen in full flight. You'll want to catch owner-operators Bradley Hornby and Liz Buttimore in action — the latter is 2017 Cuisine Good Food Awards Restaurant Personality of the Year, after all. 36 Godfrey Road, Fairhall, Blenheim. Start planning your trip to New Zealand's south with our guide to the South Island journeys to take here.
Each year we anticipate the arrival of December 25. Because of the day off, the promise of an afternoon spent dozing in a hammock — and the arrival of Messina's annual Christmas cake. And while the gelato gods last year went for a huge edible Christmas bauble-shaped creation, they've decided to make 2016's cake slightly more political. Enter The Lockout Claus. This epic ice cream cake — shaped like a round Santa Clause trying to fit down a chimney, if you didn't completely see it the first time — is Messina's delicious festive response to Sydney's lockout laws. The Sydney-founded gelato chain have been vocal supporters of the Keep Sydney Open campaign this year, and even though slight changes to the laws were announced last week, they evidently still think Santa's at risk of getting locked out on Christmas Eve. So what's in the cake? Well, cutting open Santa's jolly belly will reveal layers of salted caramel gelato with cherry sorbet, chewy caramel, chocolate mousse and chocolate sponge. Plus, it comes with a jug of vanilla brandy custard to pour over the hefty slice of cake you'll serve yourself up. The cake, which serves 12-14 (or less if you really commit), costs $90 and can be ordered for pickup between December 21 and Christmas Eve. In Sydney you can pick one up from their Rosebery, Darlinghurst, Bondi, Miranda and Parramatta stores. If you're in Melbourne you can get one from their Fitzroy or Windsor outposts — and, sweeter still, you can eat it knowing you can still go out and party all night too. The Lockout Claus is available to order at gelatomessina.com.
It's been three years since beloved Brunswick East cafe Pope Joan was forced to shut up shop and move, in order to make way for a new apartment building development. Now, former sibling and next-door neighbour The Pie Shop is also bidding farewell to its Nicholson Street address, with the team announcing that the venue is set to close later this month. Owner–chef Matt Wilkinson broke the news via Instagram earlier this week: "Due to unforeseen circumstances we've been ushered on from what has been our home for the last 5 years as the Pie Shop!!!" The post went on to thank regulars and the pie-loving community for its support over the years and announced a rather fitting end date for the venue's current iteration. "It's with sadness that we will be closing up @thepieshopmelb on Grand Final Day at 2pm September 25th," the social media post said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Pie Shop (@thepieshopmelb) "It has been a great innings and a great time to bow out just after the finals," Wilkinson told Concrete Playground separately, confirming the closure had come down to an issue related to lease negotiations. "It was all pretty sudden," he explained. But in good news, it's not goodbye forever. The chef hinted at plans to revisit The Pie Shop at some stage in the future. In the meantime, Wilkinson assures us he'll be kept busy with his many other projects, including his role as Culinary Director at the Mornington Peninsula's Montalto and as Creative Director of Made From Gin — the chef's product line done in collaboration with Four Pillars. Pie-lovers have just under two more weeks to get their Pie Shop fix, with the store fully stocked up on crowd favourites like The Allen (slow-cooked beef, tomato and veg), The Shazza (cauliflower, leek and cheddar) and The Brian (mushroom and gruyere). The kitchen's well known for its excellent homemade riffs on the classic Aussie pie, featuring flaky pastry loaded with top-notch fillings. It's currently cooking up a storm every Friday and Saturday, and you can pre-order here for pick up. Find The Pie Shop at 75 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East, until September 25. We'll share news of any future plans as and when it's revealed. The Pie Shop recently made it into our top picks for Melbourne's best pies — you can check out the full list here. Top Images: Annika Kafcaloudis
Even in 2020, the most unpredictable of years, the end of November marks two things: the shift to warm summer weather and an influx of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. While we may not celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia that doesn't mean we can't enjoy some outrageous deals in the lead-up to the holiday season. To help you sort through all the emails and Facebook ads you're being served up right now, we've collected a few of this year's biggest sales in one place for you — so you can pick up between 20 and 70 percent off a new gym outfit, mattress or reusable cup.
No plans for Valentine's Day and no interest in making any? You're in luck. Go about your usual business next Thursday — that is, as far as humanly possible away from red roses, schmultzy songs and pashing pairs — and you could still be in for a nice little surprise. That's because Penguin Random House is planning on helping you to escape — by setting you up with a book, instead of a person. After all, books can't talk back and, if they end up being not what you thought they were, you can always put them back on the shelf. Said books will be dropped in bundles on trains and street libraries all over Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Darwin and Launceston this Valentine's Day. The books will be wrapped in nondescript orange paper so there's no way of knowing if you've picked up a new release or a modern classic. The idea is to do away with pre-conceived ideas, promoted by particular genres, authors and cover art. The publishing house is scattering the books in partnership with Street Libraries Australia, Sydney, and Books on the Rail, which launched in Melbourne in early 2016 and regularly circulates books on Melbourne's public transport. If you find one, take it home and read it — just remember to pop it back on the train when you're done.
Call it Red Light, Green Light. Call it Statues. Call it Grandmother's Footsteps. Whichever name you prefer, how good are you at playing the game that gets folks a-sneaking, ideally without being caught? Now, how would you fare trying to creep forward while avoiding being spotted when Young-hee is lurking? Squid Game fans, if you visit Luna Park Sydney, you'll be able to find out. Opening timed to Squid Game season two's arrival on Netflix on Boxing Day 2025, Squid Game: The Experience will get everyone playing Red Light, Green Light with Young-hee in Luna Park's big top — and also busting out their marbles skills, then walking over the glass bridge. Get your green tracksuit ready. Front Man is there to dare you to take the Squid Game challenges IRL, which obviously doesn't involve notching up a body count like in the series — and isn't televised like reality competition show Squid Game: The Challenge. Some games are inspired by the Netflix program. Others are brand new. Players can take part individually, or in groups of up to 25. As you work through the challenges, which get harder as you go along, you'll earn points. Another difference from the series: if you get eliminated from a game, you'll still be able to take part in the challenges that follow. And yes, Young-hee has popped up Down Under before, with a 4.5-metre, three-tonne recreation of Squid Game's eerie animatronic figure with laser eyes making its presence known also in Sydney back in 2021. [caption id="attachment_975032" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Netflix[/caption] Updated Friday, May 23, 2025.
Rescued from demolition in 2014, the Terminus Hotel was reimagined, revamped and replenished from its former days as a local dive — all while holding onto its trademark laidback charm. And it has received a few more new layers of paint since then. Consequently, the team has created a polished space that still manages to be accessible and unthreatening to families, foodies, and 1am party-harders alike. Grab a seat in the jungle-like beer garden (that's also dog-friendly) to watch the footy on a weekend or grab a booth inside the old boozer to escape the tele. Food-wise, the spot has elevated its offerings in recent years as well. If you're feeling a little fancy, try the chicken liver parfait, burrata, mussels or slow roasted eggplant served with confit garlic and salsa verde. But fear not, the pub classics haven't been kicked off the menu. You can still get your beloved parma, fish and chips, burgers and nachos every day of the week. You don't have to be boojie at this classic Abbotsford haunt. That's especially true for those who've had a big Friday night and decide to hit up Terminus Hotel the morning after, ordering the mega full English brekkie. Grab a few rounds of Bloody Marys and nurse that hangover with a feast of fried eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, hashbrowns and baked beans. Fried food heals all wounds. Appears in: The Best Pubs in Melbourne for 2023
Don't be fooled by the unchanged name — The Carlton Wine Room's had quite the shake-up, reopening today, Monday, February 26, with new owners, a new look and a revamped offering. At the helm is sommelier Travis Howe (Coda, Tonka) and McConnell group alum Andrew Joy, who's had his eye on the space since his days working across the road at the former Three, One, Two (which used to be in the space where The Town Mouse is now vacating). Now, the pair's stripped things back to create the kind of wine-focused haunt that begs to put on high rotation, with fresh, simple styling, an ever-evolving menu and the easygoing feel of a tried-and-true local. In the kitchen, John Paul Twomey (former head chef at Cutler & Co. and Gilson) is also keeping things simple with a pared-back menu of produce-driven modern Australian fare. It's a regularly changing lineup designed to work a treat alongside a glass or two of vino, from after-work snacking sessions to lazy weekend lunches. Fresh ingredients are the focus here, with a revolving pasta special showing off the best of each week's market haul. As for that wine list, it's a cracker, with a 100-bottle rotation Howe's sourced from all over the world. Throw in the option of BYO each Monday night and you've got yourself the makings of an instant neighbourhood favourite. The latest edition of The Carlton Wine Room opens today — Monday, February 26 — at 172–174 Faraday Street, Carlton. It's open midday till 11pm Thursday to Monday and 4–11pm Wednesday. For more info, visit thecarltonwineroom.com.au. Image: Google Street View.
At the moment, you and I can't go visit an Australian aquarium or zoo, as they're temporarily closed in a bid to contain COVID-19. But, the animals still need to be fed, the tanks cleaned and the littl'uns cared for. So, staff at Sea Life Sydney have made the most of the lack of visitors and taken some very special furry guests along for a day. And, yes, we've got the adorable photos to prove it. Earlier this week, Sea Life's animal care team brought in their pet pooches to help them around the aquarium. Some of the tasks performed by the four-legged workers included feeding the resident sharks, dugong, penguins and fish; auditing the aquarium website; modelling merch; and attempting to send emails. As well as just general observation. Very important. Ned, a golden labrador, did a lot of the latter. And looked very happy while he did. Typical golden lab, really. Georgie the spaniel, slightly more serious, got stuck into emails. But maybe less successfully, by the look of that blank screen. Dukdik, definitely the most productive of the canine staff, not only fed Pig the Dugong lettuce, but also worked hard on the website and modelled some Sea Life merch. Hopefully these photos have given you some Friday warm fuzzies. Temporarily, at least. This is not the first time Sea Life has taken us behind the scenes during COVID-19, either. The Sydney aquarium — and its outposts in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast — are regularly live streaming playtime with their marine residents. Already, we've seen baby penguins fed, explored a jellyfish exhibition and hung out with tiny seahorses. To see what live-streams are coming up, head over to the Sea Life Facebook page.
For an art gallery that has garnered recognition by showing the remnants of a suicide bomber made from dark chocolate and X-rays of people having sex, it seems unsurprising that the first art and music festival from Hobart's Museum of New and Old Art would be entirely unconventional and a bit of an enigma. Dark MOFO is an 11-day celebration of art in its many splendid forms. You could describe it as a world-class music festival featuring such local and international superstars as The Presets, Martha Wainwright, You Am I and The Drones. But Dark MOFO is much, much more than your garden-variety music festival; MONA is offering a full-on assault of the senses with a smorgasbord of concerts and performances, interactive artworks and giant installations popping-up all over Hobart. There is Canyons and visual artist Daniel Boyd's audiovisual extravaganza 100 Million Nights, a curated film festival at the State Cinema, the new MONA exhibition Red Queen and even a massed nude swim on the night of the Winter Solstice. According to creative director Leigh Carmichael, these performances and artworks will celebrate the very thing Hobart is most reviled for: the cold and dark. Oh and did we mention that MONA is offering $100,000 worth of free flights? In order to attract interstate visitors, MONA have promised to pay for roughly 600 return flights to Hobart, ensuring that this groundbreaking new festival can be enjoyed by art enthusiasts across the country. Dark MOFO will run from June 13-23, with new exhibitions, performances, locations and general mayhem being announced almost weekly from the Dark MOFO website. Check it out to find out more about the festival and apply for your own free return flight to Hobart.
As the sun starts to dip over the Melbourne skyline, the bar scene starts buzzing. In a city with such a cracking bar scene that only keeps getting better, finding the perfect venue to rendezvous with friends can be a challenging task. But we've got you. Together with Basil Hayden Bourbon, we've selected seven stylish Melbourne bars for when you want to really dial up your next post-work golden hour outing with your closest crew and some classic cocktails to boot. Take your pick then align your diaries and make some plans.
Getting your mind around the carbon statistics involved in keeping London warm is like trying to make sense of the figures that astronomers toss about when they’re talking about the size of the universe — pretty much impossible to do. According to a 2006 climate change report, the average Briton uses 1.49 tonnes of carbon every year in preventing death-by-freezing. Multiplying that by London’s population — 8.3 million — gives the staggering figure of 12.3 million. The good news is that Mayor Boris Johnson wants to do something about it. He's planning to reduce London's annual carbon usage by 3.5 million tonnes by 2025, through the increased use of secondary heat sources and decentralisation. So, in the search for solutions, renewable energy experts are getting creative. In May 2013, construction began on a 'fat plant', which will see the transformation of the fat balls, grease and oils found in London's sewers into heat. And as of late last year, the Underground is getting ready to do its bit. Johnson, the Islington Council, UK Power Networks and Transport for London have hatched a plan to transfer the heat generated by the tube and a local substation into at least 500 homes. The project, the first of its kind in Europe, will not only decrease the city's carbon footprint, it'll also reduce power bills for the households involved. At the same time, New York's Department of Sanitation is set to expand a pilot program that has seen 5,000 homes heated with the energy generated from food waste. The organic matter is collected from homes and schools and taken to the Newtown Wastewater Treatment Plant, where it is mixed with waste water and transformed into biogas. Via Springwise. Image by smaedli via photopin cc.
Renowned chef Shane Delia has transformed his OG Biggie Smalls kebab store on Smith Street into an elegant meze and cocktail bar. Named Maha North (formerly Maha Bar), this spot has swapped out its playful diner-style decor, fried chicken and hip hop for warm timber panelling, clever cocktails and Middle Eastern plates. Where Delia's long-running CBD fine diner Maha is pushing the creative envelope, Maha North is the more classic-leaning, smart-yet-casual counterpart. It has similar vibrant flavours, but with a menu that beckons you to sit down and settle in for some good old-fashioned feasting. The menu starts with drinking snacks and works its way up to heartier dishes, offering plenty of vegan goodness along the way. Grab a drink and tuck into bites like crispy buns stuffed with spiced beef or eggplant and creamy hummus paired and a medley of maple-roasted carrots. Grilled market fish comes matched with capers, green olives and a burnt butter sauce, while a dish of Macedon Ranges duck breast features pomegranate and a crispy bastilla. And if decisions aren't your thing, you'll find soufra or 'feed me' menus for both vegans and carnivores. Behind the bar, a range of house-infused raki and arak takes centre stage alongside a strong collection of cocktails. You'll find drinks like a raki sazerac, a turkish delight martini and four negroni styles including a chocolate and orange riff made with whisky and amaro. A smart curation of wine and boutique brews is also on offer, while on Mondays and Tuesdays, punters are allowed to BYO wine. Images: Julia Sansone
James Bond might have no time to die in the espionage franchise's upcoming 25th instalment, but audiences now have plenty time to wait until they see the film. Originally slated to hit cinemas worldwide in early April, No Time to Die's release has been pushed back seven months, with 007's latest action-packed antics — and Daniel Craig's last stint as the suave spy — now reaching the big screen in November. In a Tweet, studios MGM and Universal, as well as Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, announced that the movie has been delayed "after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace". The film will now drop seven months after its original release date, releasing in the UK and Australia on November 12, and the US on November 25. https://twitter.com/007/status/1235248760260874241 The brief statement doesn't mention the specifics behind the decision, but the move comes amid growing concerns about the impact of the coronavirus, COVID-19, on the film industry. With the virus continuing to spread around the world, cinemas in some countries have been temporarily shuttered in an attempt to stop mass gatherings and help contain the infection. While that's currently only the case in China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Italy and France, it's a tactic that could be rolled out elsewhere. Just this week, two Bond fan sites wrote an open letter calling for No Time to Die's postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic — in the name of public safety. Of course, there's clearly a financial motive behind MGM and Universal's decision to follow suit. Cinema closures, especially in huge markets such as China, obviously affect a movie's box office earnings. Although nothing else has been announced as yet, don't be surprised if other big movies take No Time to Die's lead and shift their release dates for the same reason. Plenty of other huge titles, such as Black Widow, Fast and Furious 9, Wonder Woman 1984 and Top Gun: Maverick are all currently scheduled to release in the upcoming months — and therefore face the same public health and financial concerns. Revisit the No Time to Die trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rohdh1I3efY&t=13s No Time to Die was originally due to release in cinemas on April 8, but will now release in Australia on November 12. Top image: Nicola Dove © 2019 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
A long time go, we all used to be friends with Veronica Mars. But if you haven't thought of the teenage private eye drama lately at all (or had its Dandy Warhols-sung theme tune stuck in your head), prepare for that to change. The show initially lasted three seasons across 2004–2007, then set a crowdfunding record to get a movie off the ground in 2014, and even spawned two novels and a web series spin-off after that. Now, it looks set to make a small-screen comeback. While everything from Daria to Buffy the Vampire Slayer seems to be getting a reboot lately, Veronica Mars follows in the footsteps of Twin Peaks — as Variety reports, it'll be a revival featuring original cast members, rather than a new effort that remakes the same concept with different folks and starts all over again with its narrative. And yes, crucially, Ms Mars herself will return, with Kristen Bell poised to resume the role that brought her to fame. Hulu, the streaming platform that turned The Handmaid's Tale into the phenomenon that it is, is behind the eight-episode new season. The deal hasn't yet been finalised for Neptune's favourite blonde-haired, pint-sized sleuth to start solving mysteries again; however it looks like it's a matter of when rather than if. Veronica Mars creator and writer Rob Thomas (no, not that one) is also set to return, and Deadline notes that conversations have been had with cast members other than Bell. Just what the storyline will be, which of Veronica's ex-boyfriends will re-emerge and what cases will need solving haven't been revealed — but, given that the original show featured appearances from Amanda Seyfried, Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat and Michael Cera, Buffy's Alyson Hannigan and Charisma Carpenter, New Girl's Max Greenfield, Thor: Ragnarok's Tessa Thompson and more, you can probably expect a few familiar faces to pop up. One thing that the new series will definitely have to do is work around Bell's schedule on sitcom The Good Place, although that just means she'll be on your TV screen twice as often. Via Variety.
Do you like Italian food? Then let us introduce you to the happiest place on earth. Your stomach has probably been craving pasta, pizza and gelato since news of Eataly World first started circulating — and those rumbles are only going to get louder now that the world's first Italian food theme park has announced its opening date. Due to open in Bologna, Italy on November 15, and calling itself an agro-food park, the site will take patrons on a trip from the field to the fork. That'll involve with six interactive experiences, more than 40 places to eat, over 100 stalls and shops, and a dedicated parmesan cheese bar. In fact, over nearly 20 acres, Eataly World will feature restaurants, kitchens, grocery stores, classrooms, farms, laboratories and more, showcasing everything from livestock, dairy products and the cereals that become pasta, to preserves, Italian desserts and the best in both boozy and non-alcoholic beverages. As well as boasting free entry — aka making a good thing even better — Eataly World will make daily classes part of its schedule, ensuring visitors don't just wander through this Italian food-focused realm, but can pick up a few new skills as well. To get around the massive area, bikes will also be available. Eating, drinking and cycling in Italy: it sounds like a culinary holiday dream. The park is the latest venture from Oscar Farinetti, the founder of Italian food and grocery chain Eataly, which has locations in New York, Boston and Dubai. And while it has taken some time to come to fruition — it was first announced a few years back, and then set for a 2015 opening that didn't happen — it looks like it has been worth the wait. Speaking to Eater last year, Eataly vice-president and Eataly World CEO Tiziana Primori said the park would mix entertainment with education. "We call it from the farm to the fork because you can see all the steps of the chain, from the animals to the raw materials and workshops and restaurants." The hope is that the park will attract as many as 10 million visitors each year, providing a boost to Bologna tourism in the process. The city already boasts a number of gastronomic attractions, including a medieval marketplace and the world's only gelato university. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou5uPuVBub4 Via Eater. Header image via Dollar Photo Club By Tom Clift and Sarah Ward.
Last year, Fitzroy's Rose St Artists' Market teamed up with the Heide Museum of Modern Art to launch the monthly Heide Makers' Market. And for May's instalment, they're taking another road trip to Bulleen for a special Mother's Day edition. Taking over the lush surrounds of the gallery's sculpture park on May 13, the market will celebrate talented local makers. It'll showcase a broad range of handmade goodness, across art and design, jewellery and homewares, so you'll be able to find a perfect last-minute prezzie for Mum. Among the stalls, you'll find chocolate treats from Brazen Brownies, hand-blended scents from Legato Perfume, and Gracie Keal's cuddly handmade dolls, alongside a whole bunch of other locally-made delights. Even if you're not searching for a gift, the gallery's grounds are a damn fine place to grab a coffee and enjoy a Saturday morning saunter around more than 100 stalls. While you're there, you should also check out Charles Blackman: Schoolgirls exhibition.
Keen to try more wines but don't have time to hit the vineyards? Le Méridien Melbourne hears you — it's launched a monthly wine club in its bar, Intermission. Once a month, on a Saturday evening, head along to meet a winemaker and sample several drops you've probably never tried before. Your $45 ticket covers four glasses of wine, plus matching small plates, like cheese and charcuterie boards, and fried calamari with smoked whipped ricotta. In June, you'll be in the company of Scorpo Vineyard & Wines — a family-run winery on the Mornington Peninsula that's been producing small-batch wines since 2002. At Intermission, your tasting menu includes the 2024 Aubaine Chardonnay, the 2024 pinot gris, and two pinot noirs: the 2023 Norien and the 2021 Eocene. In between sips, Scorpo will share the stories behind the wines with you, and you'll have plenty of time to ask questions. Tickets are available online.
As cinephiles of Melbourne well and truly know, August always marks the arrival of the Melbourne International Film Festival. That even remained the case in 2020, when the event was forced to go digital due to the pandemic. And, although the 2021 fest has had to go through a few changes itself and will now only play online, too, it is still showering film buffs with movies from Thursday, August 5–Sunday, August 22 this year. Initially, in-person sessions were set to span the festival's first week or so, before the event closed up online; however, just days before this year's MIFF kicked off on Thursday, August 5, the fest flipped that order and expanded its virtual component. It was due to then add in-person sessions from Thursday, August 12, but that'll no longer be happening. So, via its digital platform MIFF Play, the festival is screening more than 90 features for film lovers to watch from the comfort of their couches. The lineup has been growing, too, with exisiting highlights including college-set rom-com Freshman Year, Spanish influencer satire La Verónica, New Zealand thriller Coming Home in the Dark and Norwegian comedy Ninjababy. The Mads Mikkelsen-starring Riders of Justice and psycho-thriller music mockumentary The Nowhere Inn — featuring Carrie Brownstein and St Vincent — sit among the recent newcomers. More films are set to become available on Saturday, August 14 as well, such as documentary Hopper/Welles, which sees Dennis Hopper and Orson Welles meet and chat back in 1970; Night of the Kings, a prison thriller set on the outskirts of Abidjan; and Stray, a doco about the 100,000-plus stray dogs that rove freely around Istanbul. And, other titles will drop later in the fest, like Australian drama Little Tornadoes, which is co-written by The Slap's Christos Tsiolkas; Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror, a documentary exploring the folk horror genre; and closing night's Language Lessons, which takes place via video calls. MIFF's digital platform is available Australia-wide, ensuring that cinephiles around the country — including those in lockdown elsewhere, like in Greater Sydney — can enjoy its lineup, too. That facet of the online program proved popular last year, unsurprisingly, with 2020's virtual festival resulting in MIFF's biggest fest yet, audience-wise. Updated August 11.
Yass, a small NSW town near Canberra received the signature Queer Eye makeover when the Fab Five descended on the town this week. Well, the whole town didn't, but George — a cattle farmer and former rodeo cowboy — did. As did the local pub. A rundown of the show, for the uninitiated, the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy show hit screens a whopping 15 years ago — running from 2003 to 2007 — and the reboot Queer Eye returned to Netflix this year. The general premise is that the Fab Five give less-fashion-savvy men (and it seems, establishments) much-needed makeovers. In Yass, while three of the Fab Five, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France and Karamo Brown, were looking after George the cattle farmer, the remaining two — Antoni Porowsi and Bobby Berk — renovated the local pub's bistro and introduced a new signature dish to the menu. Fittingly, the five were also crowned — by Yass Mayor Rowena Abbey — Yass Queens. Yas, queen. If this reference is lost on you, it's a term said to have originated in the 80s ballroom community, but recently surged to popularity thanks to this YouTube video. The Australian mini-episode of Queer Eye will hit social channels on June 22, a week after Season Two premieres on Netflix on June 15.
If you like your Italian food done the way they do it down south, you're in for a treat — and a big, warm welcome — at Fitzroy's latest addition, Mr Ottorino. Having opened two weeks ago in the 100-year-old Johnston Street building that formerly housed The Commoner, the restaurant is the creation of good mates-turned-business partners Matt Tine and Matty Miceli. Between them, the two have racked up some impressive Italian hospitality points. Tine spent 11 years working at Bourke Street's Grossi Florentino, while Miceli used to own Carlton's Lucky Pizzeria. So they know a thing or two about tasty Italian cooking. At Mr Ottorino, the duo has come up with dishes that combine old-school family traditions with contemporary touches, such as cavatelli with ragu de carne peas, fregola piled with ocean trout smoked with coffee grounds and cannoli stuffed with ricotta, pistachios and candied fruit. You'll find a match in the brief yet mark-hitting drinks list, which includes beer from Sardinia and Prosecco from Veneto (the northeastern Italian region of which Venice is capital). When it came to renovating, Tine and Miceli opted for creativity and upcycling over spending the big bucks. Step past the peach-framed window into high-ceilinged, white-walled rooms, furnished with dark wooden Thonet chairs and matching tables. Second-hand doors have been turned into shelves, encyclopaedias into points of interest and a fridge into a smoker. Mr Ottorino is located at 122 Johnston Street, Fitzroy. Opening hours are 6-10.30pm, Tuesday and Wednesday, and noon - 10.30pm, Thursday to Sunday. For more info, visit mrottorino.com. Via Good Food.
Society has drilled it into our heads that it's unethical to capitalise on the youthful vitality of small, underprivileged children, but Soccket might make you see things differently. A small company called Unchartered Play has developed a soccer ball that doubles as a portable generator, providing both fun and power to those who play with it. The Soccket uses Unchartered Play's patent-pending technology to capture the kinetic energy generated by a game of soccer, storing it in the ball for later use as an off-grid power source. Powering an LED lamp requires 30 minutes of play. The immediate advantages are threefold: Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, one in five people around the globe are without power, and most kids think soccer is fun — particularly kids who have never heard of Angry Birds and who are often denied the opportunity to be kids due to more pressing issues such as survival. It is hoped to bring particular relief to developing countries reliant on kerosene lamps, which can lead to severe health problems and are responsible for huge amounts of carbon dioxide emissions. The ball is currently produced very labour intensively in North America, but Unchartered Play have launched a Kickstarter campaign to take things to the next level. $75,000 will help Unchartered Play (a team of just eight people) bring on board more employees, purchase more tools and equipment, automate parts of the assembly process, and up their output of Soccket Balls from a few hundred to thousands per week. They've almost reached half of their goal with 24 days to go. $1 is the minimum, but pledging $89 or more will get you one standard Soccket Ball and lamp if the campaign is successful. You've then got the option of keeping it for a sweet-as camping gadget or, you know, giving it up to a child in need. Via Inhabitat.com.
If you haven't done it before, flying solo can be a little daunting — especially to something like the opera. But, hey, you shouldn't have to miss out on indulging your operatic passions just because your mates aren't huge Puccini fans. That's presumably why Opera Australia has come up with a nifty solution for its solo guests. The new initiative, named Opera for One, offers a a special package for those going it alone at select Sydney and Melbourne shows. No more standing awkwardly in the foyer before the performance or during interval, wishing you had someone to dissect the show with. Under the new scheme, solo punters will get access to a discounted B Reserve ticket (at a tidy 10 percent off), then kick off their evening at a complimentary pre-show drinks and nibbles session. An expert from Opera Australia's creative team will give a casual talk about the show and you'll have the chance to mingle with other solo opera fans, before heading in to take your seats together. To help take some of the edge off, guests will also score a handy guide before the show, packed with conversation starters, information about your chosen opera and insights into what you can expect on the night. If you're keen to give it a whirl, Opera for One is currently taking bookings for a handful of Sydney and Melbourne shows. NSW fans can see the likes of the compelling Salome or Puccini's Turandot, while Melburnians can access Il Viaggio a Reims, Mozart's Così fan tutte, and beloved classic Rigoletto.
Your flirtation with the humble crumpet might not have graduated much beyond the odd Golden-branded supermarket packet, but that's all set to change with the arrival of one new, very dedicated cafe. Holy Crumpets has landed in Melbourne's CBD and it's a full-blown celebration of the old-school brekkie favourite. The brainchild of local crumpet aficionado Joshua Clements, the cafe's premise is simple, yet genius: cracking house-made crumpets paired with top-quality Melbourne coffee. Locally sourced ingredients star throughout the menu of crumpets, which are all baked in-house daily and all $5 (apart from a couple of 'Fancy Bois' for $7). They're not your standard crumpets either — they're made using naturally fermented sourdough with freshly milled wholewheat flour, for a snack that's a little more nutritious than its supermarket cousin. As well as six-packs of untoasted crumpets to stock your pantry, you'll find a rotation of single-serve, ready-to-scoff options, featuring crafty toppings alongside more traditional options. Think Vegemite, jam and cinnamon, passionfruit curd with ricotta, and even a seasonal concoction of truffle butter, blackberry honey and finely grated pecorino. A trio of peanut butter varieties runs from a rich, dark roast to one with macadamia and wattle, and there's currently over half a dozen honey options you can have slathered on your crumpet. The perfect match? Top-notch coffee from Melbourne's own Wood & Co. Espressos and batch brews star alongside a slew of Assembly teas and Chai Boi chai to round out your oh-so-cosy crumpet feast. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
One minute we were basking in what felt like an endless summer, the next, winter whipped in, bringing icy winds, downpours and frosty mornings. But that's no excuse to hibernate. In fact, the best way to cope with the cold is by donning your mitts, embracing it and heading outside. After all, getting out and about in winter has its advantages. Instead of sunburn, sweat and crowds, you get cool days made for bushwalking, crackling fires perfect for drinking by and moody seas for whale watching. Plus, you avoid turning into a stir-crazy, caged-up creature. All you need is your favourite winter jacket and a reason more enticing than Netflix to cross the threshold into the chilly outdoors. So, we've teamed up with Hahn to come up with a few ideas for some winter enjoyment. Do them all without leaving the city limits. WARM BEER GARDENS Going outside doesn't have to involve strenuous physical activity — or any physical activity, for that matter. Got the strength to drag yourself off your couch and to your nearest pub? Job done. You might normally associate beer gardens with long summer nights, but when winter rolls around, loads of pubs turn theirs into cosy spaces. After all, it doesn't take much — toasty gas heaters or a log fire and a few fairy lights will do the trick quite nicely. Then, of course, there's the warming impact of beer. As author Dave Barry once observed, "When I heated my home with oil, I used an average of 800 gallons a year. I have found that I can keep comfortably warm for an entire winter with slightly over half that quantity of beer." Check out Sydney's best city oasis bars and beer gardens. Check out Melbourne's best city oasis bars and beer gardens. Check out Brisbane's best city oasis bars and beer gardens. BUSHWALKS If you are keen to be active — maybe before hitting the pub — then go for a bushwalk, or three. In fact, cold days are often ideal for tackling trails, especially tough, hilly ones that send your heart rate skyrocketing, and aren't so attractive on 40-degree summer days. In winter, there's no need to worry so much about sunburn, bushfires or snakes, either. What's more, walking, like beer, warm the body and spirit. Why not take advantage of the vivifying effects of both, and pack a brew to drink at a pretty spot along the way? Did someone say winter? What winter? Discover the top walks in Sydney. Discover the top walks in Melbourne. Discover the top walks in Brisbane. NIGHT MARKETS Over the past few years, Aussie cities have developed many impressive and creative takes on the classic night market, which have helped lure the not-so winterly inclined out of their homes. It also helps that these markets celebrate our multicultural make-up, meaning they play host to a slew of chefs devoted to all kinds of deliciousness — from Asian stir fries straight out of sizzling woks, to melting French fondues, to piping-hot Greek doughnuts. At most markets, live music or performance art is on the agenda, too. So, put a pause on your hibernation, call a mate or two, and go a-wassailing around the markets for an evening. Visit the Carriageworks Night Market in Sydney. Visit the Queen Victoria Night Market in Melbourne. Visit Eat Street Markets in Brisbane. WHALE WATCHING One of the best things about being on the east coast during winter is that it's whale watching season. Fun fact: nearly 60% of the planet's whale population is found in Australian waters, and our humpback numbers are increasing by 11% per year. Also, in autumn, they head north to breed and calve in warm waters and, in spring, they return south, often with babies in tow. So, rug up in your warmies, pack a picnic (don't forget the beer) and head to the easternmost headland you can find. For an even bigger adventure, jump aboard a whale watching cruise. Find the best whale watching spots on the east coast. FOOTY GAME If you're not so interested in getting physical yourself, but find it quite warming to watch someone else red-faced and working up a sweat, then grab your mates and book some tickets to a footy game. After all, winter is footy season. Invest in your team's jersey and scarf — or choose based on your favourite colours if you're undecided — and make tracks to an official match in a major arena, surrounded by thousands of fellow fans. Alternatively, you can keep things close, and cheer on your local team at the club down the road. You never know, you might work up enough enthusiasm to sign yourself up for the next training session. Post-match drinks — be they victorious or consolatory — are a must (see Warm Beer Gardens). Watch the footy at these sports bars in Sydney. Watch the footy at these sports bars in Melbourne. Watch the footy at these sports bars in Brisbane. Grab your mates, grab some Hahn and get out there this winter.
There's nothing unusual about ordering cocktail at London's One Aldwych hotel. Knocking back one of their beverages, however, is completely different. Before you sip on a blend of Dalmore 12-year-old whisky, Merlet cherry liqueur, grapefruit juice, chocolate bitters and Lallier Champagne, you'll get whisked away to the Scottish Highlands — without leaving your seat. The boozy concoction is called The Origin, and it might just provide a glimpse of drinking in the future. Strapping on a VR headset, taking a jaunt through barley fields and the Dalmore distillery, and then following the ingredients on their trek to theCovent Garden bar is all part of the fun. Yes, the tasting, sipping and just generally enjoying the drink part is real — it's the preamble that toys with virtual reality. "We take our guests behind the scenes to show them how the drink is made," One Aldwych head bartender Pedro Paulo explained to MUNCHIES. "Two minutes before the drink is ready, we say, 'We'd like to take you to the origin of the drink.' Then, we give them VR goggles and headphones to take them on the journey." If you find yourself in London anytime soon, The Origin will set you back £18; however, that's a cheap price to pay for a top tipple and a detour to Scotland. And it you're worried that the combination of virtual reality and alcohol mightn't go down smoothly, don't worry. "It's really quite more of a swooping, gentle experience," says Paulo. Via MUNCHIES. Image: One Aldwych.
However many pieces of Lego exist in the world, they're generally associated with younger fans, although everything from adults-only Lego nights to bars built out of connecting bricks have been testing that idea recently. Now, the Danish brand itself is not only embracing its adult Lego aficionados, but has created a set specifically designed to reduce stress. Think of the company's new Lego Forma line as its version of adult colouring books. Crowdfunded via Indiegogo but definitely a legitimate Lego endeavour, Forma is all about encouraging adults to get creative. The fish-themed set consists of a base koi model, which customers build from 294 pieces, including a gear system that lets the finished model move in a life-like way. While each set comes with a basic snap-on koi skin, Lego fans can also add one of three others: a shark skin, a colourful 'splash' koi skin and a black-and-white 'ink' koi skin. The foil skins are also customisable (so you can break out your colouring pencils and markers if you like), and the whole thing takes a couple hours to put together. At the moment, Lego Forma is in the pilot stage, which is one of the reasons that Lego has opted to release its first model via Indiegogo — and in the US and UK only. The limited short-run batch "is primarily designed to learn whether there is an appetite and market for the product, more so than driving revenue", explains the company. After feedback on the first run, a more global approach to releasing sets like Lego Forma is planned. Lego Forma follows in the footsteps of Lego's new sustainable, plant-based pieces, with the brand clearly keeping an eye on environmental concerns — and on the fact that everyone plays with Lego as a kid, and still retains a soft spot for its hard brick pieces as an adult. Fingers crossed that Lego Forma expands its range and makes its way Down Under in the future. For more information, visit the Lego Forma Indiegogo site. Images: Lego.
Dance, drink, pizza, repeat. Pizza and late-night partying remains one of history's most iconic duos and they're coming together in full force from next month, when 24-hour Hawthorn club Untz Untz launches its adjoining pizza joint and sports bar, Holy Moly. The new venue will take over the ground floor of the newly refurbished Glenferrie Road space and enjoy the same 24-hour liquor license, In addition, coffee and doughnut spot Cop Shop will launch next door shortly after. With a crack team of hospo pros behind it, Holy Moly is promising some intriguing features, not least of which is the $5 pizza menu, designed by Henry Chan (Lucky Coq and Bimbo Deluxe) and available until 3am, every single night. Jenna Hemsworth (former Black Pearl bartender and runner up for Bartender of the Year 2015) has taken the reins of the drinks offering, which will feature a mix of classics and new-school creations, as well as three varieties of Bloody Mary. The space comes courtesy of interior designer Michael Delaney (Honkytonks, Sorry Grandma), along with venue director Nick Foley, with the pair describing it as "a shrine to pizza and good times". Expect artwork by local artist Billie Justice Thompson, a memorabilia-packed sports bar screening classic sporting moments on an 80" plasma, and Melbourne's first VOID sound system. Find Holy Moly and Untz Untz at 660A Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn.
Travelling overseas ranks right up there on everyone's bucket list, but the actual travelling part is far from fun. No one loves spending more than a couple of hours on a plane, and no one loves taking multiple flights to get to their destination either. But if you could choose between hopping over to your destination in one leg, or getting a break from being cramped and uncomfortable in the air, which would you opt for? Thanks to advances in aircraft development, ensuring that today's planes are more fuel-efficient over hefty distances, airlines are increasingly making non-stop long-range flights a reality. After Qantas introduced its 17-hour-plus Perth-to-London route earlier this year, Singapore Airlines will be unleashing the world's longest non-stop commercial flight later in 2018: from Singapore to New York over 19 hours. First announced by the airline in 2015, the route will be made possible thanks to the new Ultra Long Range version of the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, which completed its first successful test flight in April. The planes can travel up to 16,000 kilometres (or 8,700 nautical miles) without refuelling — or, for over 20 hours non-stop — which makes the 15,322-kilometre trip between Singapore and New York possible. It's not the first time that the airline has flown direct to the US, with Singapore-to-Newark, New Jersey flights in operation until 2013. The world's current longest route without stopovers runs from Doha to Auckland in around 18 hours, travelling 14,529 kilometres on a Boeing 777-200LR, followed by the Perth-to-London leg. Qantas is keen to beat both the current and the impending record-holders, though, announcing plans last year to fly direct from Australia's east coast to both London and New York by 2022 — once either Airbus and Boeing make a plane that can handle the 20-hour and 20-minute, 16,983-kilometre stint between Sydney and London.
Long before we were all forced to indulge our international wanderlust through a screen — and only though a screen — the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival was projecting France's wonders into Australian cinemas. For the past 31 years, the annual event has let Aussie movie buffs see the European nation's newest, best and brightest flicks. And when you're watching French features, you're often watching films set against Paris' busy streets, the country's greenery-filled countryside or along its scenic coastline. As it always does, the 2021 festival traverses plenty of France through its big-screen lineup. City-set dramas, suburban comedies, beachside romances: they're all on this year's bill. In total, 37 films are hitting cinemas Down Under throughout March and April, in a touring program that's making its way around the nation. Wondering what to check out? We've planned your movie-watching itinerary for you, all thanks to our ten must-see picks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYCyYJofeEE SUMMER OF 85 Nothing is ever simple in a film by François Ozon, as the likes of 8 Women, Swimming Pool, In the House and By the Grace of God has already made plain across his 19-feature resume. So, when Summer of 85 makes viewers swoon over its blossoming seaside love story — and makes teenager Alexis (Félix Lefebvre, School's Out) fall for the slightly older David (Benjamin Voisin, Moving On) when the latter rescues the former after capsizing in a sailboat — no one should get comfortable or cosy, or think that a complication-free romance will float easily and effortlessly across the screen. Alexis falls hard for his new friend, who is one of the only people he has connected with since moving to Normandy. But, unfolding across two timelines as the 16-year-old looks back on his time with David, this becomes a knotty tale of love, heartbreak and forging one's identity out of defining moments. Writing as well as directing, Ozon adapts Aidan Chambers' 1982 novel Dance on My Grave with his usual swelling mood and command of detail — and from the pitch-perfect period fashions to the coastal setting, Summer of 85 catches the eye as much as it demands the audience's emotional investment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7GvHwRzjz0 SKIES OF LEBANON Heartfelt and hauntingly evocative, Skies of Lebanon starts its story in the 50s, when Alice (Alba Rohrwacher, Happy as Lazzaro) departs Switzerland for Beirut. Never feeling as if she belongs in her homeland, she jumps at the chance to work abroad, where she quickly meets, falls for and starts a family with astrophysicist Joseph (Wajdi Mouawad, Still Burning). That part of the tale happens quickly, because this isn't the kind of romance where a couple simply lives happily ever after. Indeed, once the Lebanese Civil War begins, the ebbs and flows of Alice and Joseph's existence are wholly dictated by the combat, which instantly changes the mood of the entire city. Making a stunningly affecting feature debut, writer/director Chloé Mazlo plunges into the reality of having everything you hold dear touched by conflict, with her narrative drawn from her grandmother's recollections from the time. The always-exceptional Rohrwacher conveys Alice's internal struggle in a quietly expressive performance, while Mazlo's jumps into playful animation and striking use of stylised sets gives the film the air of a memory, helping an already moving feature to keep landing stirring blows. THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN Back in 2017, when The Square clawed through the commercialisation and commodification of the art world, it won the Cannes Film Festival's coveted Palme d'Or for its efforts. Fellow satire The Man Who Sold His Skin doesn't have the same accolade to its name, but it's just as savagely entertaining as it rips into the same topic. The man of the movie's title is Sam Ali (Yahya Mahayni, Opium). A Syrian refugee in Lebanon, he accepts a strange offer from an acclaimed, controversy-provoking artist (Koen De Bouw, Torpedo) to have Europe's Schengen visa tattooed on his back. He'll also receive assistance to obtain the real thing, as long as he agrees to sit in art galleries as a living exhibition whenever he's asked. If that last part sounds familiar, Wim Delvoye's Tim, which is live-streaming at Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art, provided writer/director Kaouther Ben Hania (Beauty And The Dogs) with inspiration for The Man Who Sold His Skin. That said, this whip-smart and wild movie takes its own ride. The great Monica Bellucci (Twin Peaks) also pops up, but a film this vivid, clever and ferocious about art, money, freedom, borders and the way the world treats asylum seekers doesn't need a star to stand out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM3J6INVpcw THE GODMOTHER With the inimitable Isabelle Huppert at its centre, and a premise that owes a debt to Weeds and Breaking Bad, The Godmother strikes a crafty balance between comedy, drama and thrills. The Greta and Happy End star (and Elle Oscar-nominee) plays Patience Portefeux, a translator who works with the Paris police on narcotics cases. During a routine job listening to wiretapped phones, she decides to prevent the big bust that'd make her boyfriend Philippe's (Hippolyte Girardot, Marseille) career, steal the enormous stash of hash after redirecting the cops' attention and take up a side hustle as a wholesaler to street-level dealers. Her motivation: money, with the long-widowed mother of two attempting to secure her financial future in a world that's hardly accommodating to single, middle-aged women. Adapted from Hannelore Cayre's book of the same name by the author with director Jean-Paul Salomé (Playing Dead, Female Agents), The Godmother is unsurprisingly lifted by Huppert, as everything she stars in is. Still, this lively and engaging crime caper is helmed with a light touch, as well as a keen awareness of the material's deeper moments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puzzh3wowd8 DELETE HISTORY Following three French suburbanites who are each intensely unimpressed with today's always-online times, Delete History is a satire for anyone that's ever felt tired of social media's hold on their lives; of the likes, favourites and ratings that now dictate much of human interaction; and of the fact that every word, text, video and action can last forever in the digital world. All residents of the same masterplanned community, the recently separated Marie (Blanche Gardin, #Iamhere) is being blackmailed over a sex tape she can't remember starring in, widower Bertrand (Denis Podalydes, La Belle Époque) keeps writing letters to Facebook over his teenage daughter's cyberbullying, and ride share driver Christine (Corinne Masiero, Invisibles) can't seem to amass more than a single star from her customers. Banding together in a film that's always purposefully odd and absurd, and yet also clearly grounded in relatable situations and emotions as well, this trio decide to take matters into their own hands in increasingly offbeat ways. Writer/director duo Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kervern (I Feel Good) don't deliver an earth-shattering insights about modern-day life, but in a quickly memorable movie, they do serve up a wealth of wry laughs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqEjJW059TA IBRAHIM An on-screen presence in everything from TV's Spiral and The Returned to films such as In the Name of the Land and The Transporter Refuelled, actor Samir Guesmi makes his feature directing and screenwriting debut with the sensitive and moving Ibrahim. He also co-stars, playing waiter and single father Ahmed Bougaoui; however, the movie's real point of focus is the titular teenager (Abdel Bendaher, How to Make Out), his character's son. After sliding into shoplifting with his friend Achille (Rabah Nait Oufella, Nocturama), getting caught and leaving his dad with a sizeable debt, Ibrahim is torn in two directions. He's determined to make things right for his already-struggling father, even if that means further flirting with crime. With Ahmed sternly condemning of Ibrahim's new direction, the latter is also a ball of pain, uncertainty and unhappiness. Both Guesmi and Bendaher turn in exquisitely layered performances as a father and son weighed down by life's disappointments but, despite their hurt and heated feelings, always tied together. And, as a filmmaker, Guesmi tackles the coming-of-age genre with naturalistic flair — visually, and in exploring his intricate characters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuSlIPZZFRc CALAMITY, A CHILDHOOD OF MARTHA JANE CANNARY If you've ever watched Deadwood, as everyone should've, then you've already seen one version of Martha Jane Cannary on-screen. The American frontierswoman better known as Calamity Jane has been immortalised on television and in film many times, including in the 1950s Doris Day-starring musical that shares her nickname — but Calamity, A Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary steps back to the real-life figure's formative years. While telling her tale through gorgeous minimalistic animation filled with deep and vibrant blues, greens and purples (and with breathtaking renderings of America's sprawling landscape, too), this all-ages gem does't pretend to stick to the facts. Instead, it spins Cannary's youth into an 1860s-era adventure set on and around the Oregon Trail. Director and co-writer Rémi Chayé already has 2015's Long Way North to his name, and also worked on 2009's The Secret Life Of Kells, so he's no stranger to eye-catching animation. Here, he teams spectacular imagery with a spirited narrative, and the delightful end result won him the Best Feature Film award at the 2020 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z56cG1ULGi0 NIGHT SHIFT In Lupin, playing the titular master thief, Omar Sy continually skirts the law. In Night Shift, he stands on the other side, as one of three cops assigned to escort asylum-seeker Tohirov (Payman Maadi, The Night Of) to the airport — to be deported back to Tajikistan, where further torture and worse likely await. A tense drama that delves into topical subject matter, Night Shift splits its attention between Sy's Aristide and his fellow officers Virginie (Virginie Efira, Bye Bye Morons) and Erik (Grégory Gadebois, An Officer and a Spy). Each has their own story, took their own path to their present situation and deals with the demands of the job in their own fashion. With their current task, and the fate their prisoner is expected to face, each copes in their own way as well. Adapting Hugo Boris' novel Police, it's a testament to director and co-writer Anne Fontaine (The Innocents) that little here feels as straightforward as it sounds, even if it primarily remains in familiar territory. The top-notch cast assist considerably, with Efira pushed to the fore in a rare cop movie that noticeably values a female perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij-SxVU5P3g MISS When Misbehaviour thrust beauty pageants into the cinematic spotlight in 2020, it recreated real-life events from 1970 to call attention to the fight for equality — a battle that became worldwide news half a century ago, as covered in the film, but still hasn't been won in the 21st century. Because movies on similar themes often arrive in pairs, Miss also explores the industry, this time pondering gender identity and the norms that society has long ascribed to femininity. Since childhood, Alex (Alexandre Wetter, Emily in Paris) has dreamed of becoming Miss France. Uttering that goal as a boy earned laughs, and pursuing it as a twentysomething requires navigating a wealth of expectations, preconceptions and judgement. Playing a character that's confident in their heart but still learning to show the same assurance externally, Wetter brings grace, poise, texture and complexity to the central part, while filmmaker Ruben Alves (The Gilded Cage) ensures that Miss is rousing, charming and never as by-the-numbers as its feel-good premise signals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRGs--e32Sc MANDIBLES In Mandibles, friends Manu (Grégoire Ludig, Bye Bye Morons) and Jean-Gab (David Marsais, The Nobodies) stumble across a giant fly. Freeing it from a car boot, they decide that they can train it, then profit. Yes, that's what this OTT film is about. Yes, it comes straight from the mind of Quentin Dupieux, because it really couldn't spring from anywhere else. The French filmmaker has already made movies about psychotic tyres and alluring jackets — in 2010's Rubber and 2019's Deerskin, respectively — so adding a big insect flick to his resume hardly comes as a surprise. His sense of humour is that absurd and distinctive and, if the film-viewing world is lucky, he'll keep reminding us of that fact with every new movie he makes. Dupieux's work isn't to everyone's taste, as you've either gathered by watching or just by reading the above right now; however, if you're on his out-there, surreal and often incredibly silly yet also disarmingly astute wavelength, it's a delight. And sure, multiple versions of The Fly already exist, but they're bound to look positively sensible compared to this. The Alliance Française French Film Festival tours Australia from March 2–April 22, screening at Sydney's Palace Central, Palace Verona, Palace Norton Street, Chauvel Cinema and Hayden Orpheum Cremorne from March 2–April 5; Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, Astor Theatre, The Kino and Pentridge Cinema from March 3–April 5; Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Windsor Cinema, Luna on SX and Camelot Outdoor Cinema from March 10–April 11; Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from March 17–April 15; and Adelaide's Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas from March 23–April 22. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the AFFFF website.
From Monday, February 21, Australia will say goodbye to its remaining international border ban on double-vaccinated travellers and hello to plenty of overseas tourists. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that the country will allow all visa holders to head our way — including folks simply coming out for holidays, and business travellers — as long as they've had two COVID-19 vaccine jabs. When the border fully reopens to all double-vaxxed visitors in two weeks, it'll do so just a month shy of the two-year anniversary of Australia's indefinite international border closure back in March 2020. Plenty has changed since then, and the nation — and the world — has seen various lockdowns and other restrictions come and go, and faced multiple new variants. Since November 2021, Australia has been slowly reopening its borders, too, but this new change will allow back anyone that's double-vaccinated, including tourists and business travellers, from all countries. Announcing the news, the Prime Minister said that "the condition is: you must be double-vaccinated to come to Australia. That's the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it. And it's very important that people understand that requirement if they're seeking to come to Australia." He continued: "but if you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia — and I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that. And over the next two weeks they'll get the opportunity both for visitors to be coming and for them to be gearing up to welcome international visitors back to Australia." Exactly how many tourists and business travellers will be able to fly into Australia will still depend upon state-based caps — and on state-specific rules as well. Western Australia's border is still set to remain closed to not just international travellers but the rest of the country and, after delaying its last plan to reopen this past weekend, it hasn't yet set its new reopening date. Unjabbed travellers — which includes anyone who has only had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination — will still need to apply for permission to enter Australia, unless they can "provide proof that there is a medical reason that they cannot be vaccinated", said Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews. They'll also need to go into hotel quarantine if they are permitted to enter. If you have pals or colleagues eager to make the trip Down Under, this'll be fantastic news. Whether airlines will increase their flights to Australia as a result hasn't yet been revealed, but it wouldn't come as a surprise. Australia will reopen its international borders to all double-vaccinated travellers from Monday, February 21. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
The heritage shops of Camberwell and its surrounding areas might make it seem like you're stepping into the past, but hidden among the businesses that have stood the test of time are a selection of shops that showcase the emerging modern side of things. While there are still plenty of places to pick up some venerable antiques, nowadays you'll also come across a wealth of small businesses that offer the latest in fashion, cycling goods and homewares that'll add some modern flair to your home. With a wonderful array of independent stores making up the hotspots of Maling and Burke roads, we've come together with American Express to bring you a selection of local traders that makes it abundantly clear why you should always strive to shop small. These 10 businesses — which will all accept your American Express Card — demonstrate exactly why Camberwell remains such an alluring part of town.
Located along Johnston Street in Abbotsford, Kelso's Sandwich Shoppe is a favourite of many locals and for good reason — as the name might suggest, they know how to make a good sanga. The folks here make a ripper bacon sandwich. Dive straight into this protein-filled snack, packed with bacon, two fried eggs, cheese and ketchup, sandwiched between two slices of sourdough. Take a seat at the old-school, loosely American-style diner and order a cup of Coffee Supreme house blend filter. Then consider your next order: the $6 chip butty? The $9 tuckshop sandwich? A round of milkshakes? If you're looking for hair of the dog, they serve up spritzes, bloody marys and G&Ts, too. Images: Tofu Studio Appears in: Where to Find the Best Sandwiches in Melbourne for 2023
Back from a visit to 'Brucefest' in Kyogle, upper NSW — named, fittingly, after my Uncle Bruce — I have seen the glory of the backyard music festival and have returned to spread the word. Brucefest emerged one year ago, simply enough, from my uncle's need to burn off some extra lumber cluttering the paddock. Why not have a bonfire, he thought? On that note, why not have some mates round to watch the bonfire? In fact, why not have some tunes? For that matter, why not build my own stage? Thus, with a little ingenuity, Brucefest was born. While the constructed stage was certainly a testament to the carpentry skills of the Newton clan, the main thing I take away from Brucefest — as I watched my uncle and a ragtag collection of local Kyogle musos spend the night hopping on and off stage, switching easily between drum solos, stoking the bonfire and mingling with the crowd — is that anyone with a few talented mates can do this. Combine a jam session with a few microphones, a crowd of your mates and some open space, and the possibilities are endless. Whether it be a garage-punk do crammed in an inner west back lane or a blues and roots jam in Bruce's back paddock, the home-grown vibe just can't be beat. Without further ado, here's a few dos and don'ts for getting your own 'insert-name-here-Fest' off the ground. DO CONSIDER GOING RURAL If you know someone with a rural property I would infinitely recommend this over your typical suburban lane fest. Yes, it’s oh-so-Melbourne to be crammed into tiny lanes, chilling in the gutter with your longneck in a paper bag, but come on, look at this place. The chance to watch the sun go down behind your very own stage and have room to dance despite the crowds just can’t be beat. DON'T MAKE IT BIGGER THAN YOU CAN HANDLE The whole idea of a backyard music festival is that it's small enough that you and your mates can run it. Make sure you've got a setting that can actually fit the amount of people you're wanting and won't have the cops shutting you down in a half hour. You'll probably find that you and your mates and the bands and their mates are pretty much all you need. Remember, when the music stops, the clean-up begins. Note: Public Facebook pages are your enemy. DON'T FORGET TO PLAN THE STAGE We can’t all be carpenters like my moustachioed Uncle Bruce, (although sometimes we really want to be). So if you’re wanting to construct a stage that isn’t going to collapse underneath your best act and electrocute the bassist, then you had best put a little thought into the technical side of things. Have a think about how you're planning on hooking up your bands to power, whether you’re going to be needing some lighting and (if you’re playing on a grassy knoll) how you’re going to keep your bands out of the mud. DON'T STRESS TOO MUCH ABOUT MAKING A LINEUP THAT FLOWS The beauty of a backyard fest is that there are no rules. Recruit anyone you know who you want to hear and enjoy the freedom to put together bands that would otherwise never be on the same stage. I guarantee you that you know more good musicians than you think you do and that you'll have more fun watching your mates merge reggae with punk than you would listening to a tight lineup intended to please the crowd. From experience, the best part of your night is going to be when every single guitarist present jumps the stage to play the 'Johnny Be Good' solo simultaneously. DO/DON'T HAVE A BONFIRE This one’s a little less than clean cut. On the one hand: it's cold at night and bonfires are magical things. Burning off your extra lumber pile will provide a surprising amount of heat for your frost-bitten crowd and keep you going through the night. On the other hand: Do not have a bonfire. If you are not on a rural property and you have never managed a bonfire before, then bonfires are not your jam. It’s all fun and games until a stray spark lands on an inner west terrace and you’ve gone and burnt the whole neighbourhood down. DON'T ORGANISE THE FOOD YOURSELF What, are you crazy? You’ll spend the whole day in the kitchen and checking supplies and you will miss the whole thing, regardless of whether or not you think you have catering skills of my Aunt Judy. You don't. Either get people to bring their own or sort out a food truck that wants in on the day. DO REMEMBER TO TELL THE NEIGHBOURS Might seem like a hassle, but if you don’t get the neighbours on board with what you’re planning in advance, then you’re just going to get shut down by the cops before you get to the good stuff. If you’re living rural and your neighbours are a 10 minute drive down the road, then the only thing you have to remember is not to freak out the livestock. Which brings us, finally, to... DO REMEMBER TO TURN THE ELECTRIC FENCES OFF Though remember that if you turn the electric fences off, the livestock may come for a listen. Holding a rural fest might mean making a choice between zapping your mates and sharing a dance with a few friendly cows. Livestock and crowds are never the best mix, but I can promise you that when you see two little girls dancing around that bright white wire, you'll be more than happy to know that the fence is turned off. If your four-legged friends pay you a visit, just treat them with respect and let them bask in the tunes. I know from experience they are big fans of a good Tracy Chapman cover, the big softies. Top image: Dollar Photo Club. Other images and videos by Elise Newton.
It seems unsurprising that African Americans vote en masse for Obama and it has been well-established that women vote en masse for Obama. Much more surprising however is that 30 Rock and Game of Thrones fans also vote en masse for Obama. If this infographic is anything to go by it seems that our TV habits can be a useful barometer for understanding our voting patterns. Compiled by Engage, this fascinating graphic was created through an analysis of what TV shows and political pages voters 'like' on Facebook. Apparently, this data not only demonstrates the correlation between political preference and TV habits but also which TV fans are the most politically active and aware. While the overt (and dare I say tiresome) idealism of Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom and The West Wing (often dubbed "The Left Wing") seemed likely to produce hordes of Democrat devotees, interestingly it is Star Trek fans who are next in line as the most likely to turn up to vote come the Presidential election later this month. For the Republican camp, unfortunately Romney's frequent declarations of love for Modern Family aren't likely to swing many voters as the show's pro-gay marriage stance and ethnically diverse families appear to resonate much more strongly with more left-leaning voters. If this infographic whetted your appetite for bizarre political statistics then check out the graph below to see what your internet usage says about your politics.
Right now, automobile design faces two significantly big restrictions: one, the need for a driver; second, it's got to be safe. Pretty straight forward. However, if tech projections are on the money, we're heading into a future in which neither will be a factor. Driverless vehicles, currently limited to Google experimentation and public transportation, will become ubiquitous. On fully-automated thoroughfares, collisions will be a thing of the past, and design will respond by moving further and further away from functionality and closer and closer to art. London designer Dominic Wilcox is pre-riding the wave. At this year’s London Design Festival, finishing up tomorrow, he's revealed a life-size concept car. Or, more accurately, a mobile sleeping pod. "In the future it will be safer to drive in a driverless car than it will in a manual car," he says. "Therefore we don't need the protection systems that are built into contemporary cars. We can just have a shell of any design." One thing's for certain, you’ll be certain to see it coming. The Stained-Glass Driverless Sleeper Car is a bed on wheels, protected by an egg-shaped dome made of multi-coloured glass panels. They're soldered together and attached to an arched wooden frame. The controls are remote; Wilcox imagines that, like that of Google, his creation will be operated via a distant computer. That, of course, leaves loads of room for sleeping, reading, relaxing and sundry work and leisure activities. To illustrate the potential, Wilcox has simultaneously launched a concept website named taxirobot.co.uk. This allows visitors to select from a variety of driverless vehicles that double as mobile facilities, including a bedroom, an office, a gym, a dining room and even a sun bed that could be programmed to avoid cloudy routes. Via Dezeen.
Ever wondered what words taste like as they roll off the tongue? From the delectable to the putrid, James Wannerton has compiled a smorgasbord of the London Underground. For him, winding through the Tube is a visceral, gastronomic experience. For example, Bond Street is the acidic bite of hair spray, Euston Square is the meaty sweetness of caramelised lamb and Willesden Junction is the translucent texture of evaporated milk. The specificity is astounding. However, it's not just when Wannerton is rocketing through the underground that he is plagued by different tastes, but in daily life as well. For example, he reveals on his website, "If you are called Virginia, Denise, Donna, Helen or Christine, my brain unfortunately places you at a disadvantage. Sorry. I can't help it." Wannerton has lexical-gustatory synaesthesia, a condition characterised by the involuntary taste testing of words; it is the conflation of senses that are normally experienced separately. Though his map may come across as fun and eclectic, Wannerton's process of creating it was a meticulous operation that took 38 years. According to him, some stations required revisiting as tastes and textures change with the general ambience of the station. Further, the flavour map can actually have a pragmatic purpose. Researchers can use resources like this to study links between taste synaesthesia and word formation. You have to admire Wannerton’s commitment to accuracy. However, apparently the London underground is just an appetiser; he has now turned his taste buds towards creating similar diagrams of the New York subway and Toronto network. Via Fast Co.Design.
Here's a scenario that, until now, you've probably never even imagined could happen. You go to press play on your favourite Spotify playlist, but accidentally click on a different batch of tunes — songs especially chosen by the service for the adorable animal that shares your life. Not content with limiting its lister base to people, Spotify is now creating curated playlists for dogs, cats, birds, hamsters and iguanas. The selection of tracks is personalised too, because the kinds of songs that your furry, feathered or scaly critter likes aren't necessarily the same as what some other barking, meowing or tweeting creature prefers. Here's how Spotify's Pet Playlists work: you visit the Swedish music streaming company's site, choose your type pet, pick from a list of traits that describes them best, then add a name and photo. Based on all of that information, plus your own Spotify listening habits, the service's algorithm will go to work, coming up with a lineup of tunes that'll apparently rock your animal's world. There are limitations to the new feature, though. Only the aforementioned five types of pets are catered for, so if your animal companion is a rabbit or other type of critter with ears, it'll miss out. And, as for the traits that you can pick from, you're presented a number of pairs on a sliding scale — so select between relaxed and energetic, shy and friendly, and apathetic and curious. Still, if you and your pooch, kitty, canary, rodent or lizard like listening to music together — or you've ever noticed them react to a particular song — you can now treat them to their own playlist. Spotify's online research, surveying 5000 music-streaming pet owners in the US, UK, Australia, Spain and Italy, indicates that 71 percent of people play tunes for their pets, with classical and soft rock the genre all those critters seem to like best. Fancy letting your woofer listen to a book instead? Audible also does audiobooks for dogs, too. To create a Spotify Pet Playlist for your dog, cat, bird, hamster or iguana, visit the Spotify pets website.
If you're looking for a city break with a difference, head to a place where urban creativity meets Indigenous bush-tucker gardens meets a riverside retreat. That place is Parramatta, Sydney's city outside of the city, just 25 kilometres west of the CBD. In winter, a weekend in these parts means wandering along the Parramatta riverfront, feasting on authentic international food, strolling the Aboriginal Landscape Trail and drinking creative cocktails. Skip the traffic by catching a train or ferry — or better yet, book yourself into one of the AccorHotels nearby, and get stuck into the soul-nourishing activities below. EAT AND DRINK For one of the best brekkies in town, claim a table on Circa Espresso's sunny terrace — or the lamp-lit, book-filled back room. Among the Middle Eastern-inspired offerings are Ottoman eggs with crumbed eggplant, garlic labneh, burnt chilli, sage butter and seeded sourdough. The coffee is roasted in small batches: choose from Three Ropes — a buttery, chocolatey blend of Colombian, Guatemalan and Peruvian beans — or a single origin. Other spots for a good morning brew and bite are White Henry Espresso, tucked away in Fire Horse Lane, and country farmhouse-esque Paper Plane, which serves up Little Marionette coffee. Come lunch or dinner time, head to hybrid eatery-retail space Butter. Yep, this is the sibling of the Surry Hills original, but it's twice the size. Stay downstairs for fried chicken, Champagne and hip-hop; head upstairs for sneakers, hoodies, caps, socks and bags. Another couple of inner-city favourites to have set up digs in Parramatta are BL Burgers and Neil Perry's Burger Project. For a more local experience, try dining at Temasek. Prepare to queue for a table: foodies pack out this friendly, no-frills eatery for excellent Malaysian and Singaporean dishes, from laksa to nasi goreng. Meanwhile, just one train station — or five minutes' drive — away is Harris Park's cornucopia of Indian restaurants, where Chatkazz does tasty, affordable, vegetarian street food and Not Just Curries an array of regional dishes from all over India. Or, for something fancier, head to 350 Restaurant and Bar, the refined offering within the Novotel Parramatta Sydney, for a three-parter of blue swimmer crab with sweet corn veloute, Cape Grim beef cheeks and Frangelico panna cotta. It's recently nabbed a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, which goes to the spots with the top user reviewers. A couple of sweet spots for pre-dinner bevvies are ALEX&Co., whose cocktail bar overlooks Parramatta River, and the Riverside Brewing Company, which offers an ideal winter beer in the chocolatey Eighty-Eight Robust Porter. Note that the cellar door is only open Friday and Saturday, 2pm—6pm. After dinner, swing by Uncle Kurt's, a street-art-plastered small bar hidden away in a car park that feels as though it's straight out of Brooklyn and where head bartender Alex Colman makes every cocktail from scratch. Among his winter-friendly signature creations is the Westside, a heartening concoction of kaffir lime leaf-infused gin, yellow chartreuse, citrus, sugar snap peas, honey and ginger. DO Parramatta knows how to throw a festival just as well as the Sydney CBD. Coming up from October 9–12 is Parramatta Lanes, which takes over the area's laneways, plazas and hidden nooks. Roam the night and you might stumble across bands, street eats, pop-up bars, projections, glowing sculptures and interactive art installations. Before or after, book a ticket to a show at Riverside Theatres — the diverse program features everything from political satire to orchestral performances. During the day, Parramatta's surprisingly bushy outdoors offer stacks of escapades. To immerse yourself in Indigenous culture, head to Parramatta Park, where the Burramatta Aboriginal Landscape Trail travels through terrain that's been regenerated to reflect its state before European arrival. Meanwhile, among Parramatta Lake's 73 hectares of bushland, you'll find the Arrunga Bardo Bush Food Garden, crowded with edible and medicinal plants. Need to get warm? Jump on your bike and conquer one of Parramatta's many and varied cycle paths. The Heritage Ride takes in 27 historical spots; the Parramatta Park Ride is an easy, 3.5-kilometre loop through greenery; and the riverside route travels (mostly) along the waterfront to Sydney Olympic Park. If you have more of a lazy winter weekender in mind, then head to the Wentworth Atelier, a revamped Victorian terrace, for a blow dry or hot towel shave — with a top-shelf whiskey — at Dapper & Doll or to get measured up for a shirt or suit at the old-school Tailor & Co. SLEEP When you're on a wintry break, sleeping over in a snug spot is half the fun. For a stay right on the river — and just a minute's walk from the CBD — check into the Novotel Sydney Parramatta. The 4.5-star digs vary from Standard Rooms with queen or twin beds to Spa Suites with jacuzzis, but all come with massive windows that let in buckets of winter sunshine and splashes of earthy colours. There's an on-site gym, steam room, outdoor pool, restaurant and bar. For a more affordable option, book a room at the Mercure Sydney Parramatta, right near Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. You can count on a spacious, peaceful room, plus there's a tennis court, outdoor pool and the M Restaurant and Bar, serving contemporary Australian cuisine from head chef Roshni Bista. The new winter menu includes macadamia-encrusted barramundi with New York cheesecake for dessert. It's located near the M4, meaning getting back to Sydney or journeying on to the Blue Mountains is easy as pie. Go to the AccorHotels website to book your stay in Parramatta, and to discover more of NSW, swing by Visit NSW.
In March 2010, a decade-long ban on beekeeping was overturned in New York causing a boom in the instances of bee hives on rooftops across NYC. This popularity was highlighted in August this year when beekeeping communities fought over a beehive in Fort Green Park, Brooklyn, after Hurricane Irene destroyed its host tree. Now, as part of the Microbial Home Probe Project, Philips has tapped into the growing trend and designed a sleek looking urban beehive that makes the most of the impressive way in which honey bees work, housing the hive inside an attractive glass shell. According to the manufacturer, the concept beehive 'is designed to allow us a glimpse into the fascinating world of these industrious creatures and to harvest the honey that they produce', and was designed to 'respect the natural behaviour of bees.' [via PSFK]
Come Monday, February 25, Australian and New Zealand time, Hollywood will crown this year's Academy Award winners; however they're not the only gongs being handed out at this time of year. On the weekend before the Oscars, it's always time for cinema's worst and dullest to earn some recognition, all thanks to the Golden Raspberry Awards. Now in their 39th year, the Razzies have unveiled their latest slate of recipients — aka the films from 2018 that you've hopefully avoided. On the list: a comic take on a couple of literary greats, an actor who's also in contention for the best actress Oscar and the current US President. Taking out worst picture is Holmes & Watson, the Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly-starring supposed comedy based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous sleuthing pair. Reilly also nabbed the awards' worst supporting actor prize for his troubles, while the movie earned Etan Cohen the worst director trophy, too. And, it was further recognised as the worst remake, rip-off or sequel of 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLuFxzUC5UI In the worst actor field, Ferrell lost out to Donald Trump, who was recognised for his work, as himself, in documentaries Death of a Nation and Fahrenheit 11/9. The American leader also took out the worst screen combo category for the same two flicks, with the award noting his pairing with "his self-perpetuating pettiness". While Melissa McCarthy won worst actress for her two low points of 2018, aka The Happytime Murders and Life of the Party, she also received the Razzies' redeemer award for going "from a multi-Razzie darling to a critically acclaimed Oscar Nominee for her out-of-caricature role in Can You Ever Forgive Me?". And, bringing the franchise's Razzie total to eight trophies across three movies, Fifty Shades Freed was anointed the worst screenplay of the last 12 months. GOLDEN RASPBERRY NOMINEES AND WINNERS 2019 WORST PICTURE Holmes & Watson Gotti The Happytime Murders Robin Hood Winchester WORST ACTOR Donald J. Trump (as himself) in Death of a Nation and Fahrenheit 11/9 Johnny Depp (voice only) in Sherlock Gnomes Will Ferrell in Holmes & Watson John Travolta in Gotti Bruce Willis in Death Wish WORST ACTRESS Melissa McCarthy in The Happytime Murders and Life of the Party Jennifer Garner in Peppermint Amber Heard in London Fields Helen Mirren in Winchester Amanda Seyfried in The Clapper WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR John C. Reilly in Holmes & Watson Jamie Foxx in Robin Hood Ludacris (voice only) in Show Dogs Joel McHale in The Happytime Murders Justice Smith in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Kellyanne Conway (as herself) in Fahrenheit 11/9 Marcia Gay Harden in Fifty Shades Freed Kelly Preston in Gotti Jaz Sinclair in Slender Man Melania Trump (as herself) in Fahrenheit 11/9 WORST SCREEN COMBO Donald J. Trump and his self-perpetuating pettiness in Death of a Nation and Fahrenheit 11/9 Any two actors or puppets (especially in those creepy sex scenes) in The Happytime Murders Johnny Depp and his fast-fading film career (he's doing voices for cartoons, fer kripesakes!) in Sherlock Gnomes Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly (trashing two of literature's most beloved characters) in Holmes & Watson Kelly Preston and John Travolta (getting Battlefield Earth-type reviews) in Gotti WORST DIRECTOR Etan Cohen for Holmes & Watson Kevin Connolly for Gotti James Foley for Fifty Shades Freed Brian Henson for The Happytime Murders The Spierig Brothers (Michael and Peter) for Winchester WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL Holmes & Watson Death of a Nation (remake of Hillary's America...) Death Wish The Meg (rip-off of Jaws) Robin Hood WORST SCREENPLAY Fifty Shades Freed, screenplay by Niall Leonard, from the novel by E.L. James Death of a Nation, written by Dinesh D'Souza and Bruce Schooley Gotti, screenplay by Leo Rossi and Lem Dobbs The Happytime Murders, screenplay by Todd Berger, story by Berger and Dee Austin Robinson Winchester, written by Tom Vaughan and The Spierig Brothers RAZZIE REDEEMER AWARD Actress: Melissa McCarthy, who went from a multi-Razzie darling to a critically acclaimed Oscar Nominee for her out-of-caricature role in Can You Ever Forgive Me?. Actor: Tyler Perry, from a multi-Razzie nominee and winner for his self-imposed Madea trap to his role as Colin Powell in the Oscar and Golden Globe favourite Vice. Director: Peter Farrelly from Razzie Winner for Movie 43 and more shallow choices like Dumb and Dumber 2 etc… to director/co-writer of the deeply heartfelt Green Book. Franchise: From the Razzie-targeted heap of metal Transformers to the more innocent and endearing three-dimensional approach taken with Bumblebee. Sony Animation Studio from crass multi-Razzie winner Emoji Movie to the highly acclaimed Spider Man Into The Spider-Verse, which was loved by critics and audiences alike.
Imagine if you could see a full lifetime's ageing process happen before your very eyes, sped up just enough that its imperceptible changes became perceptible. But not in an Indiana Jones Nazi uber ageing kind of way; rather, in a tasteful, filmmaker Anthony Cerniello kind of way. In the video below, Danielle, a tiny girl looks at us with a bored-yet-slightly-curious gaze, blinking occasionally. A few seconds later she's changed, only we can't quite tell how — a little broader in the forehead, a little more space between her eyes and eyebrows, maybe? You'll find yourself looking for those minute changes throughout the video. Don't skip through, though — the illusion will be totally ruined. This is because what looks like a lifelong timelapse of one woman's face is actually a very clever and meticulous blending of a whole collection of different portraits, all taken from a single family. Cerniello used faces from the family of his friend Danielle and employed high-tech methods throughout the process: after having photographer Keith Sirchio take shots of all the young cousins and relatives of different generations who looked alike, Cerniello scanned them using a drum scanner and selected those whose bone structure was most similar. Next he enlisted the talents of animators Nathan Meier, Edmund Earle and George Cuddy to meld the shots together, complete with realistic blinking and a convincing suggestion of breathing. Mark Reveley created the musical score, which adds a feeling of depth to the visuals; what we're witnessing, after all, is a whole life passing by. As the signs of ageing appear in faint traces of strain and wrinkles, we can't help but imagine the ups and downs of this virtual person's existence, and sympathise. It's a beautiful short film and a very cool use of technology to assist in making art. Via Colossal
Pizza lovers of Melbourne, this is all the news you need to justify tucking into a slice today. Fans of the Italian staple elsewhere around Australia, here's a reminder to add a delicious destination to your next Victorian trip. For the third year in a row, 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar has been recognised as one of the Asia Pacific region's best pizzerias — and Australia's number-one standout — as decided by the experts at the 2023 50 Top Pizza awards. The Melbourne pizzeria with outposts in South Yarra, Elsternwick and Spotswood is no stranger to international praise, having claimed the title of Best Pizzeria in Oceania in 2021's 50 Top Pizza awards, then coming out on top in the entire Asia Pacific in 2022. It was also crowned #1 Pizza in Australia at the Pizza World Championships in 2019. For the 2023 50 Top Pizza accolades, it placed fourth in the Asia Pacific, which also means that it also came first in Australia for the third year in a row. This year's best pizzerias were named at a ceremony at the Italian Institute of Culture in Tokyo, ahead of worldwide rankings being unveiled in September. Last year, 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar came in 13th globally, a placing that it's hoping to beat in 2023. Running for the last six years, the 50 Top Pizza awards are chosen by around 1000 experts across the globe, who visit the pizzerias anonymously to judge and rank their offerings. The annual international pizzeria guide names its top 50 Asia Pacific picks based not just on the merit of their slices, but on each pizzeria as a whole, rating the food, drinks, service and overall ambiance. In top spot in the Asia Pacific this year: The Pizza Bar on 38th in Tokyo. In second came Bottega in Beijing, then another Tokyo eatery, Pizzeria Peppe – Napoli sta' ca", ranked third. And, Hong Kong's Fiata by Salvatore Fiata rounded out the top five. A handful of other Aussie venues were also named in this year's Asia Pacific top 50 best pizzerias, including Sydney's Al Taglio (11), Pizza Madre (24), Lil Franki Pizzeria (28), Queen Margherita of Savoy (32) and Gigi's Pizza in Balmain (33); fellow Melburnians +39 Pizzeria (34), Shop225 (37) and Il Caminetto (41); and Maestro Sourdough Pizza in Perth (46). Find 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar at 373 Malvern Road, South Yarra; 15 Gordon Street, Elsternwick; and Grazeland, Spotswood. For the full 50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific awards list, jump over to the website. Craving a slice, Melburnians? Check out our top picks for pizza in Melbourne. Top image: Hi Sylvia.
