It might have come a little late in Melbourne's outdoor drinking season, but the city's CBD just got a luxe new rooftop bar. Fleet, sitting on top of Vibe Hotel Melbourne (within the hotel's former penthouse apartments), boasts views over Flinders Street Station and the Yarra River that can be enjoyed no matter the weather, thanks to the retractable roof and smattering of indoor seating. Interior architecture firm Paul Kelly Design (BLACK Bar & Grill and Crown Casino) has designed the light-filled space, incorporating natural amber and pink hues throughout an interior full of high tables and plush stools. In contrast to these dusty tones, the wrap-around terrace is considerably brighter, with white accents. Low tables and upholstered couches line the windows, making the space ideal for long, casual hangouts in the sunshine. The drinks lineup comes courtesy of food and beverage consultant Grant Collins, who has stocked the bar with more than 70 different rums from across the globe, including a vintage and rare bottle collection dating back to the 1930s. But rum isn't all that's on show. There are 50 different gins on the docket, alongside an extensive list of other spirits. Collins has also curated a lengthy menu of nautical-themed cocktails, plus a few different spritzes, negronis and martinis. Craft beers, Victorian wines and mocktails round out the impressive bevs list. Whatever you want to drink, Fleet is likely to have it. And while you'll spend plenty of time flipping through the drinks menu, food is kept to a very manageable single page. Either keep it simple with fresh oysters and a meat and cheese board, or opt for a bigger spread. Chef Asish Kumar has crafted a Euro-centric menu with plenty of luxury French and Italian influences — think charcoal mushroom arancini, seared scallops with butter and caviar, lobster crepes and a chocolate cremieux with coffee caviar and cocoa meringue. Even though, first and foremost, this is a bar, the food is no mere afterthought. Folks can happily sip and snack a night away up at Fleet while admiring Melbourne's lit-up skyline and river. Fleet is located at Level 22 of 1 Queen Street, Melbourne (on the corner of Queen and Flinders Streets). It operates from 3pm–late Tuesday through Saturday. For more details, visit the rooftop bar's website.
Earlier this year, Mamas Dining Group (Hochi Mama, Straight Outta Saigon, Kiss and Tell) announced it was opening two new sites on Chapel Street. We're still waiting for two-storey restaurant Suzie Q to open, but the team's Windsor Wine Room has started pumping out its Euro-inspired eats and pouring from its hefty list of wines by the glass. Chef Michael Stolley (ex-Ish Restaurant and Eazy Peazy) is running the kitchen, plating up a mix of small and large sharing plates that are loosely inspired by a range of European cuisines — mostly Italian, German and French creole. Start off with small plates like mussels escabeche paired with a fennel aioli and potato crisps, tuna crudo with fig, pickled shallots and mint and burrata served with a vodka-spiked sauce. Bigger bites include a reasonably priced $38 bavette steak, an octopus and nduja gnocchi, and a hearty cauliflower pie with French onion gravy — perfect for those seeking some winter-warming eats. As is in the name, wine is the star of the drinks list. And there's plenty to get through. An impressive 23 drops are available by the glass, while the eight pages of bottles span Australian, New Zealand and European varietals. These cover a vast range of vinos, with plenty on offer for both traditional wine lovers and fans of new-wave natty numbers. Cocktails, beers, and a pretty far-reaching collection of spirits round out the booze options. To celebrate its launch, Windsor Wine Room is currently offering a $45 set menu every night of the week, which includes two small dishes, two large dishes and a side. If you need an excuse to try this new spot out, this set menu is it. You'll find Windsor Wine Room at 60 Chapel Street, Windsor, open 5–10pm from Tuesday–Thursday, and 5–11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information and to book a table, visit the venue's website.
There's nothing like a splash of gin to make your day feel a little fancier, summer or otherwise. But if you're after something a little less boozy than a mid-arvo martini, clear some space in your fridge for this nifty line of alcohol-infused condiments. The Amsterdam-born Gin Mayo — and its recently released sibling Gin Chup — are here to help liven up your lunch. Starting life in 2017 as a house-made condiment on the menu at Amsterdam seafood restaurant Mossel & Gin, the boozy mayo quickly became a cult pantry staple, with the brand taking on a life of its own. Packaged in a squeeze-friendly tube, the gluten free sauce is crafted on creamy Zaanse mayonnaise, which is made to a recipe from the 1950s. It's then elevated with a hit of Bobby's Gin, which is distilled in the Dutch city of Schiedam and boasts a base of eight different botanicals. Clocking in at two percent alcohol per tube, the Gin Mayo supposedly is a solid match to some seafood or fried chicken, but also brings a little something extra to that sandwich or burger. Recently, the brand has added to its line of products with a zesty gin-infused ketchup, or Gin Chup, which creators say works a treat when accompanying the likes of a triple-cheese toastie. Like its mayonnaise sibling, it also boasts two percent alcohol per tube — though you can expect that to translate to a festive flavour punch, rather than any overpowering boozy aftertaste. Steadily growing in popularity here on Aussie shores, the gin condiments are now available online and at select specialty food retailers across the country. That includes Sydney's Darlo General and Sorry Thanks I Love You, and Melbourne's St Ali, Blackhearts & Sparrows and Meatsmith. To find out all the spots stocking Gin Mayo and Gin Chup locally, or to buy them online, head to the St Ali website. You can grab a 170-millilitre tube for RRP $15.
The festive season is well under way: we're hurrying off to end-of-year catch ups every weekend, (hopefully) pouring sensational vinos and merrily sipping away our days. So, if you're like us, the pressure of trying to find the perfect gift can cast a dark shadow on the season. Sure, picking out the perfect gift for a special someone can be fun, but let's face it, it's pretty tricky to nail it year after year. The trick? Ditch the generic gifts and find something straight up your giftee's alley. And it's fair to assume we probably all know someone who is passionate about wine. The fine people at Handpicked Wines certainly are. With vineyards in the Mornington Peninsula, Barossa, Yarra Valley and down in Tassie, the biz makes region-specific drops with a sustainability-focused mindset. Beyond growing, prepping, juicing and fermenting the fruit, Handpicked Wines also have two urban cellar doors — one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. Together with Handpicked Wines, we've put our noses to the ground and found some brownie-point-scoring pressies especially for wine lovers (yourself included). Whether you're shopping for an office Kris Kringle or want to impress the in-laws this silly season, we've got options aplenty. HANDPICKED WINES CURATED WINE PACK, Prices vary Serious wine connoisseurs can be picky about their bottles. But fear not, Handpicked Wines is here to help you impress any sommelier (professional or wannabe) on your Christmas list. As a start, for the eighth year in a row, the winery has received a 5-red-star rating from the Halliday Wine Companion, the bestselling and definitive guide to Australian wine. Where to start? It's hard to go past the Summer Pack ($87), featuring three wines classified as "outstanding" in the 2023 edition of the guide. If you're going all out, plump for the Top Scorer pack ($200), which features six of Handpicked Wines' highest-rated drops from the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion. Whichever you choose, you know you'll be gifting some A-grade wine. For something a little different, gift your loved one the Sam Studd Pack. Along with their vinos, they'll receive three stand-out fromages curated by curd connoisseur Sam Studd — and quince paste and lavosh crackers, too. HANDPICKED WINES CELLAR DOOR EXPERIENCE, $72 If you'd prefer a more experiential gift for your vino-obsessed, opt for a gift voucher to the Handpicked Wines Cellar Door on Collins Street. They'll be table to take a special friend (aka you, the glorious gifter) and immerse themselves in an urban cellar door experience. For $72, the pair of you can each enjoy two delicious glasses from the Handpicked Wines Regional Selections range alongside two exceptional cheeses. It's the perfect gift for city slickers who enjoy a holiday to wine country — from this sleek central location, you'll discover (or taste, more like it) premium drops from the winery's vineyards across the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Barossa and Tassie. [caption id="attachment_880772" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samantha Payne[/caption] FULL GLASSES McLAREN VALE CANDLE, $45 If you're looking to get a little more creative, think wine-adjacent. Maybe your wine-loving friend already has an extensive collection of bottles and has travelled to all the hot spots for a drop? If so, gift them the scent of that special vineyard. Sydney-based sommelier Samantha Payne, of Full Glasses, has created her own line of wine-centric candles focused on her memories and experiences in different wine regions. Her recommendation? The McLaren Vale ($45), which blends fresh figs and eucalyptus trees for a sweet take on the Aussie bush. But there's also Pinot Noir ($65), which marries the scents of grape skins, strawberries, cloves and cinnamon bark, Chardonnay ($65), for a hit of lemon, apple and oak, and more. Each candle is hand-poured and decorated — an extra special gift. CORAVIN TIMELESS THREE SL, $299.95 One for the wine lover with an extensive collection (and sure to put you firmly in the good books): the Coravin Timeless Three SL ($299.95). With this sleek, handy gadget — which is the easy-to-use preservation system working in tandem with Coravin's argon capsules — still wines will stay perfectly primed for weeks (or months or years, even). That friend of yours will be pouring their favourite drops without pulling the cork, so a glass of that extra special drop can be enjoyed without committing to the whole bottle. MAISON BALZAC WINE GLASSES, $129 This is perhaps for the wine-lover in your life that can't help but be persuaded by a beautiful label on their bottle. If they're into natural, fruity drops or can't look past a pet-nat, Maison Balzac's Pom Pom Wine Glasses ($129) are the ideal gift. This handblown pair is adorned with adorable cherry-red "earrings", but there are three other colourways to choose from. It's an extra-special gift for the new-age wine lover that doesn't take themselves too seriously. FESTIVE TABLEWARE, Prices vary Artful, style-heavy and deliciously unique tableware is a gift that will be eagerly received by the wine lovers in your life — chances are, if they like a good vino, they'll like to curate a vibe-heavy setting to sip it in. They'll kick their 2023 entertaining off with a bang with these hyperrealistic Heirloom Tomato Candles ($85) from Nonna's Grocer, sure to spruce up any and every tablescape; and a set of the brightly hued Cecilia Coasters ($29) from Sage and Clare for an aesthetically pleasing place to pop that drink. Or, stick with decor masquerading as food, and pick up this sweeter-than-sweet canelé from Corey Ashford, the candle holder ($125) sure to keep it moody. WANDERING FOLK LOVERS PICNIC BASKET, $195 For a gift that's perhaps a little more romantic, opt for a basket (with dedicated spots for wine) to bring on picnic dates. The picnic experts at Wandering Folk have you covered with the Lovers Picnic Basket ($195). Designed in Australia and woven by women in Vietnam, it's a stand-out gift that's been crafted consciously and creatively. Plus, if you're feeling generous, you can even stock up your gift with a couple of their favourite bottles and some picnic essentials. GIGI & TOM SEA SNAIL ICE BUCKET, $49.95 With a sea snail keeping a celebratory bottle of sparkling cool, this one's for the ocean-loving oenophile in your life. Unique, summery and chic, Gigi & Tom have you sorted with its Resin Sea Snail Centrepiece ($49.95). Practical? Tick. Fun? Tick. Meets the criteria for a winning gift. Watch them swoon. For the wine lover in your life, your best spot to start is with Handpicked Wines. Head to the website to get your gifting sorted.
For the past few years, Netflix has been obsessed with one very particular golden ticket: the beloved works of British author Roald Dahl. Back in 2018, the streaming platform announced that it was bringing 16 of the writer's classic novels to the service in animated form. And, it revealed that there'd be two new series from Taika Waititi based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, too. In 2021, it also advised that it had snapped up the Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC) itself. So, plenty of Dahl-penned tales are now getting the Netflix treatment, with the service's library set to expand in a big way. That spans everything from Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Matilda and The Twits, all as animated television shows, plus The BFG, Esio Trot, George's Marvellous Medicine, The Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, Henry Sugar, Billy and the Minpins, The Magic Finger, Dirty Beasts and Rhyme Stew. Yes, it's a long list. Also included: an adaptation of Matilda the Musical, turning the page-to-stage hit into a movie. That one is happening ASAP, with the resulting flick due to arrive in December — and a just-dropped first trailer showing fans of everyone's favourite book-loving schoolgirl with telekinetic abilities what they're in for. Of course, if you've seen the Tony and Olivier award-winning show in theatres since 2010 — complete with original music and lyrics by Tim Minchin — you'll know what's in store. The narrative remains the same, but with songs and tunes that are all supremely on the original 1988 book's wavelength. Once again, Matilda Wormwood (Alisha Weir, Darklands) is a curious, bright, quiet, observant and imaginative girl — and tiny — but has terrible parents (Venom: Let There Be Carnage's Stephen Graham and Possessor's Andrea Riseborough). So, she escapes into novels as they feast on TV and try to stump up cash via dodgy schemes. At school, Matilda finds a source of support and inspiration in Miss Honey (Lashana Lynch, No Time to Die), but Crunchem Hall also gives its star student another foe. That'd be the villainous Miss Trunchbull (Emma Thompson, Cruella), who is as mean as can be — and needs Matilda to teach her a lesson. Minchin's songs and lyrics make the jump to the movie version, of course, while Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus — who did the honours with Matilda the Musical on the stage — helms. And yes, this'll be the second movie based on Dahl's Matilda, after a 1996 version initially adapted the book for cinema (not as a musical, though), and featured Mara Wilson as the titular character. Check out the trailer for Matilda the Musical below: Matilda the Musical will be available to stream via Netflix sometime in December — we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. Images: Dan Smith/Netflix © 2022.
No longer just the realms of year three excursions where your mum came as chaperone, Melbourne Zoo Twilights — the after-hours live music series that boasts perhaps one of the best summer nights out, as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven it's got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs in the past few years. After all, the event has hosted headliners such as Kurt Vile, José González and Warpaint over the last few years. And this summer the event will return with a series of live sets every weekend from Friday, January 26 through Saturday, March 10. After announcing headliner Ben Folds for Friday, February 16 earlier this month, Melbourne Zoo has now dropped the entire Twilights program for 2018. Melbourne's Teskey Brothers will open the series with a set of Motown-inspired songs and a supporting set by Saskwatch. Twilights regulars Kate Miller-Heidke and The Cat Empire slot into the program, along with much loved local acts Hiatus Kaiyote, The Preatures, Cut Copy and Liam and Neil Finn. Brooklyn four-piece Grizzly Bear will be the only other international act to grace the zoo's stage. Picnic-bringing is encouraged, but there'll also be handy gourmet hampers available on-site, as well as a slew of food trucks to choose nosh from. Either way, it's one of the best dates in Melbourne. Plus, all proceeds from Zoo Twilights go back into Zoo Victoria's ongoing conservation work to help fight the extinction of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS 2018 PROGRAM Friday, January 26 – The Teskey Brothers, supported by Saskwatch Saturday, January 27 – Cut Copy, with special guests Friday, February 2 – Sunnyboys, supported by Painters and Dockers Saturday, February 3 – The Cat Empire, supported by Allysha Joy Friday, February 9 – The Preatures, supported by Ali Barter Saturday, February 10 – RocKwiz LIVE! Friday, February 16 – Ben Folds, supported by Lucy Rose Saturday, February 24 – Neil & Liam Finn, with special guests Friday, March 2 – Hiatus Kaiyote and Harvey Sutherland Saturday, March 3 – Jet, supported by Spazzys Friday, March 9 – Grizzly Bear, with special guests Saturday, March 10 – Kate Miller-Heidke with String Quartet, supported by Odette Melbourne Zoo Twilights will return to Melbourne Zoo from January 26 until March 10, 2018. Tickets go on sale at 8am on Tuesday, October 24 at zootwilights.org.au. Image: Ian Laidlaw.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Wotif.com. Adelaide is no stranger to pesky licensing laws impeding the onward march of excellent late-night bar culture, but thankfully in April last year the city’s council saw reason and introduced friendlier regulations. The result? A city that's turning on its charm year-round, not just in February and March when the Adelaide festival and WOMADelaide convert the place into a bohemian heaven. 2014 is Adelaide’s year of the small bar. Here’s a selection of the finest. THE GALLERY ON WAYMOUTH Big, bold and shiny, the Gallery replaces Fad Bar with a more upmarket, suits-friendly offering with two levels of bars to mingle and a middle level for dining. The walls feature a changing gallery of contemporary art, but if that’s not enough to soothe your Friday afternoon exhaustion, get stuck into some BBQ beef ribs and crusty bread ($11) or a heartier main of Saltbush lamb ($27). 30 Waymouth Street, Adelaide UDABERRI Adelaide’s Hindley Street may be one of Australia’s more eccentric red-light main drags, but it has no shortage of laneways like Leigh Street housing civilised bars such as Spanish wine bar supreme, Udaberri. Offering Basque-style bar snacks including an extensive list of Spanish cheeses, it’s all the civility you’ll ever need after a loiter down Hindley Street. Udaberri Pintxos y Vino, 11 Leigh Street, Adelaide PROOF Set on the suitably obscure Anster Street, Proof wine bar is a sophisticated little joint manned by bar staff in waistcoats. Proof will satisfy a hankering for an Old Fashioned or an honest cheese toasty (and by honest we mean beef ragu with Fontina). Proof, 9A Anster Street, Adelaide THE BOTANIC BAR An Adelaide institution, the Botanic on North Terrace has undergone some serious sprucing in recent times. Improvements include spicy chicken wings provided by Golden Boy Thai, who are now serving authentic Thai goodness to thankful Botanic punters as they sip on a luscious Montenegro sour or Rangoon Standard. 309 North Terrace, Adelaide ROCKET ROOFTOP Rocket Bar is Adelaide’s original home of good music. Rocket Rooftop serves serious adult wine from McLaren Vale’s Alpha Box and Dice and also has a solid cocktail list. Rocket Rooftop is the perfect place to enjoy a cool drink on a balmy summer’s night under the best palm tree in the state. 142 Hindley Street, Adelaide THE COLLINS BAR A nod to the roaring 1920s, the Collins Bar shows off some of the state’s best local wines as well as a playful list of cocktails sourced from their extensive, if alarmingly tidy bar. They’re offering the usual suspects in the bar snacks department, such as lemonade-braised pulled pork slider and slaw at a bargain $8. Oh, they also have a fantastically long tequila list. Hilton Adelaide, 233 Victoria Square, Adelaide CLEVER LITTLE TAILOR As its name suggests, the Clever Little Tailor is little and clever. It’s a bonafide small bar — intimate, classy and dedicated to quality booze. Set in an old vintage store on Peel Street, it’s been decorated with old school decor and is serving excellent beers such as Mountain Goat, Feral Hop Hog and Four Pines, along with a selection of charcuterie from Lucia’s at the Central Markets. Clever as they come. 19 Peel Street, Adelaide CANTINA SOCIALE Showing off the best of Adelaide’s boutique wine industry, Cantina Sociale serves authentic, one-off wines not available in any stores, wine lists or bars. Located on Sturt Street, this is a haven for wine lovers to really love their wine. 108 Sturt Street, Adelaide LOFT OYSTER AND WINE BAR The Loft is one of Adelaide’s newest bars located on Gouger Street in the Central Market precinct. With its sparkly new interior, it’s a perfect after-work drinks spot, serving Asian inspired mezze and oysters in every way imaginable. Level 1, 128 Gouger Street, Adelaide STREET-ADL Street-ADL is the first of a two-part venture from chef Jock Zonfrillo. Offering informal dining, cocktails and street food, Street-ADL is all-American with its cheeseburgers and sundaes, and true blue with its Goolwa pipis and lamingtons. Street ADL, 285 Rundle Street, Adelaide
Culinary hub, after-work drinks spot and retail precinct, all within one convenient CBD stretch, Collins Square truly has something for all. And, with an ever-changing, jam-packed events calendar, the latest slew of openings and array of promotions currently on offer, there's never been a better time to get acquainted. Here's a snapshot of all the happenings from your morning smoothie down to after-work drinks. Breakfast on-the-go needn't be the naughty option when you've got Crisp on your side. With a focus on balanced eating, this little spot's got easy, healthy and cheap solutions for any rushed mornings, offering its breakfast menu items for $4 and smoothies for $5 if you mention the not-so-secret password — 'Crisp winter promotion' — at the till before 10am. For a lunchtime feed that's downright delicious, yet won't keep you out of the office for too long, you'll find it hard to beat contemporary Italian haunt, Chiara. On weekdays, you can conquer two generous courses with a glass of wine for $30 or bump it up to three courses for $40. Other lunch options come straight to you via a colourful parade of nigari, sushi and sashimi at Sushi & Nori, or in the flaky, golden, hearty form of beef, chicken and vegetarian pies made from locally sourced ingredients at Pure Pie. And once it's time to knock off from work, the new food precinct has you covered with a few post-work specials to help you through the week. Enjoy a top-notch weekday happy hour situation at Bar Nacional, serving up $6 drinks from 4-9pm, and kick off Friday with a happy hour from 4–8pm including complimentary snacks at the Italian-inspired Mr Collins. Also, from the team behind hospitality favourites Welcome to Thornbury, Belles Hot Chicken and Mr Burger, Hightail is definitely one to add to the list. With room for 950, the impressive food court-like bar slings a diverse drinks menu, along with eats from Belles Hot Chicken, Mr Burger and Super Taco — all of which are ordered to your table via an app. The future is now people. Images: Grace Petrou
UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 — Taco Bell promised us one Melbourne store, but, instead, it's bringing us two. By the time the end of 2019 rolls round, you'll be able to get your taco fix in both South Yarra and Hawthorn. No exact dates or locations have been announced just yet, but we'll let you know when they are. After opening five Queensland locations in the past two years and announcing plans to launch 50 more Australian stores over the next three years, Taco Bell's first interstate store is set to swing into operation this summer — in Melbourne. While details are scarce for now, the Tex-Mex giant has revealed it's opening a store in the city's inner east sometime this summer. The US chain teased the interstate opening on its Facebook page on Monday, with lots of locals hoping for a Melbourne opening. Their prayers have been answered. https://www.facebook.com/tacobellaus/photos/a.1461510760603853/2406824289405824/?type=3&theater Menu-wise, the usual Taco Bell range will be on offer, complete with burritos, quesadillas, nachos and, of course, tacos. For those dining in, frozen margaritas and a range of craft beers will also be available. Taco Bell's Australian arm currently includes stores in Annerley, Cleveland, North Lakes, Robina and Southport, but with promises of more than 50 across the country, we can expect a few more to open in Melbourne in the upcoming months and years. Taco Bell is slated to open in South Yarra and Hawthorn this summer. We'll let you know when more info drops. Images: Hugo Nobay.
A holiday at a luxurious resort in Thailand is usually relaxing. For Walton Goggins (Fallout), Carrie Coon (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire), Jason Isaacs (The Crowded Room), Michelle Monaghan (MaXXXine), Leslie Bibb (Palm Royale), Parker Posey (Mr & Mrs Smith) and more in The White Lotus season three, however, getaway bliss might prove elusive. In 2025, TV viewers will find out what the hit anthology series has in store for its latest batch of travellers. Fancy a sneak peek now? HBO has dropped a new teaser trailer for its upcoming slate. The latest glimpse at what the US network has on the way covers a heap of series, so The White Lotus season three only features briefly. But Goggins peers at the sights, Bibb and Monaghan mosey through a crowd, and Posey and returning cast member Natasha Rothwell (How to Die Alone) also pop up, while Lisa from BLACKPINK welcomes guests. Exactly when The White Lotus returns hasn't been revealed as yet, other than sometime in 2025. Also arriving next year, and also debuting never-before-seen footage in the clip: IT prequel series Welcome to Derry, season four of Hacks, season two of The Rehearsal, a new show led by Bottoms and Saturday Night's Rachel Sennott, two-part documentary Pee-Wee as Himself, The Righteous Gemstones season four, Peacemaker season two, The Pitt with ER veteran Noah Wyle, Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things)-led FBI series Task and Tim Robinson (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) comedy The Chair Company. The second season of The Last of Us, new Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, season three of And Just Like That... and season three of The Gilded Age also feature in the trailer, albeit without any new material, with each series joining the list for 2025. You can spot scenes from Dune: Prophecy, season three of The Sex Lives of College Girls, the animated Creature Commandos and limited series Get Millie Black, too, each of which are 2024 releases. From 2025's lineup, newcomer Duster with Lost's Josh Holloway and season two of Conan O'Brien Must Go score a look as well. Where Australians will be watching all of the above is yet to be revealed, however, given that HBO has confirmed that its own streaming service Max will launch here sometime in the first half of 2025. Watch HBO's new 2024–25 roundup trailer below: The shows highlighted in HBO's new trailer will arrive across the end of 2024 and in 2025. At present, the bulk of the network's programs stream via Binge in Australia and on Neon in New Zealand. Images: HBO.
Earlier this year, we introduced you to Grant Street. A new bar, performance space and bandroom on Southbank, this VCA-affiliated venue has been trucking along through winter playing you with cheap drinks and hosting a bunch of quality local tunes. Now they're back for another season. Grant Street has just announced its second musical program for the year and not only is it great, it's nearly all free of charge. Staying true to its loyal contingent of VCA students, Grant Street is all about being easy on the pocket. Most acts on stage are local, once a week they hold a dedicated night of student-only work, and after 4.30pm on Thursdays they offer $3 beers and BBQ. It's the dream. But don't be fooled by the price, everything they offer is quality. Kicking off this new program on Friday, September 19, composer David Shea takes the stage. Specialising in dense experimental soundscapes, Shea puts on a real show by combining his layered electronic soundscapes with visual projection. A NY expat, Shea is now unleashing his sounds on Australia. At this Grant Street debut he'll be releasing his new album Rituals — a work five years in the making. The next couple of weeks bring performances from local trio Windari and Evelyn Morris (Pikelet). Their first time at Grant Street, Windari will bringing the perfect sounds for Spring with their Brazilian-inspired compositions on September 26. And, in her second performance at the new venue, Morris will be sure to captivate on October 3. A Melbourne local, Morris has played with indie royalty such as Beirut, Dirty Projectors and Ariel Pink in the last few years. Her brand of psychedelic pop is the perfect flavour for the fledgling venue, and you really can't argue with the appealing price tag of free. The last two acts to round out the program are Footy and IO. Both experimental in nature, these duos of local lads put on quite the show. Bouncing between pop, classical and jazz, Footy will be making use of Grant Street's grand piano on stage. And, delving into the full power of the synth, IO will drag you into the euphoric sounds of the future. Either way, Fridays at Grant Street are definitely the place to be. Grant Street is open from 8am - 4pm Mondays and Tuesdays, then 8am - 11pm from Wednesday - Friday. For more information, see their website.
Look, some things are definitely better fresh. Things like like produce, sashimi and hot chips. But other things get better with age, things like you and, surprisingly, beer. There's an idea floating around that beer only belongs in the former category, but in celebration of Cooper's 2017 Vintage Ale release, we're shedding some light on the beers that age gracefully. If you're intimidated by the idea of a cellar, don't be. Modern cellaring doesn't require you to own a sprawling mansion with a decked-out cellar door. All you need is a dark, cool and consistent space to cellar beer and bring out its mature flavours. A basement or garage will do the trick, as long as the temperature stays between ten to 12 degrees celsius and doesn't fluctuate. Also, keep the space between 50 and 70 percent humidity if you can, but if you can't, an air humidifier will help control any mould issues. The other very important item you'll need is self control — don't go downing your cellared beers just because they're there and you can. Good beers come to those who wait. (And so do some pretty tasty food and beer pairings.) Once you've got the set-up, which beers should you choose? Which actually age well? Well, that's where we come in. Follow our lead, and look to these brews for your home beer cellar. In a year or so, you'll be thanking us. STOUT A good rule of thumb is that heavier beers with a higher alcohol content will cellar the best. Aim for beers that are heavy on malt and have an alcohol content of eight percent for good results. Stout is an excellent beginner's brew for cellaring. The word stout is even a synonym for heavy, determined and forceful, making it an ideal candidate to develop some extra depth. The rich, dark (but never heavy) texture of a stout starts off great, but is made even better with time. The roasted malt component, which is what gives the beer its depth, becomes even more complex. The consensus on how long to cellar a stout for is mixed, but the best approach for a DIY beer-ager is through experimentation. Buy the brew of your choice in bulk (like Cooper's Best Extra Stout) and drink a few fresh, making sure to take notes as you go. Age the rest and every six months, repeat the experiment, each time taking notes. Everyone has different tastes, but when you have your perfectly aged stout, pair it with a slow-cooked pork roast or oysters. DARK ALE Dark ale is one of the lesser known dark beers, but its reputation (or lack thereof) is undeserved; this beer warrants a place in your DIY cellar, especially if you're into chocolaty, coffee flavours. Think of dark ale as a dessert beer — heavy, creamy and rich. This strong flavour profile is what makes the beer excellent for cellaring, as it gets stronger, yet subtler, after a few years in the dark. For your home cellar, look for either barrel-aged or bottle-conditioned beer, like Cooper's Dark Ale. The active yeast contained in the bottle means they were designed to cellar well. Also note, thanks to their high alcohol content, dark ales can withstand a slightly higher temperature — between 12 and 14 degrees celsius — compared to their wheaty brethren, making this one a kinder brew for the home cellar novice. VINTAGE ALE From time to time, brewers will develop and release beers that are designed to age. Cooper's Vintage Ale is the perfect example and a must have for any DIY beer cellar — trust us, you'll be glad you added it in couple years. In its infancy, it has a bitter and punchy flavour with pineapple and pear undertones (unusual flavours for such a heavy beer, but somehow it works). During the production process, the introduction of live yeast as a conditioner gives this brew its longevity. So, if you're patient, you'll notice as the beer ages that the bitterness evolves into a sweet, caramel palette. Keep an eye out for these kinds of limited releases at your local as they're often designed — bottle and all — to be cellared, and may even become collector's items in years to come. SPARKLING ALE Now, we have just said that dark and heavy beers age well, so it may surprise you to see sparkling ale on this list. As a lighter brew, it may not be a go-to for most cellars, but sparkling ales do actually age beautifully and (if you do it right) you'll end up with a rich brew a lot faster than the heavier drops. The cellaring process takes the sparking ale's fruity, floral notes and smooths them out. Any acidity, over-the-top sweetness or rough edges age into honeyed undertones. But make sure you check these beers more regularly than their darker counterparts as they'll mature a little faster. Also, make sure to keep the temperature under control; these brews won't react well to any heat. Once you've nailed your desired aged flavours, pair them with bold tastes. Spicy food will match with the bubbles, and charcoal and rotisserie barbecue flavours will sit well with fruity tones. SOUR BEER If you like your beer a little bit tart, then turn your attention to sour beer. These acidic brews famously cellar well, but be warned, they're an unpredictable beer to begin with. Sour beers have always been brewed differently from other beers. Before modern brewing, beer was intentionally soured by introducing wild yeasts into the fermentation process — a method still used today. And although the modern brewing method is a little more controlled — brewers often use a Belgium yeast called brettanomyces to sour, instead of leaving the beer out to the elements — things can still go wrong. On the plus side, if the initial brew goes well, the beer will taste even better a few years down the track, since brettanomyces take months to develop a full flavour profile. Even if you don't traditionally like sour beer, we recommend you hop on down to your local and try an aged sour — you might be pleasantly surprised. (Beer pun intended.) A limited number of the 2017 Coopers Vintage Ale cartons have been released, so get to stocking your cellar with these brews quickly. Otherwise, you can find the vintage available on tap at a few key venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and beyond. Find your closest pub serving the brew here.
When it comes to whipping up Lego masterpieces, the sky's pretty much the limit; whether you fancy building a design based on Van Gogh's The Starry Night, or an un-killable plastic orchid. And here to remind us of that vast creative scope is Bricktionary: The Interactive Lego Brick Exhibition — Melbourne Museum's playful new showcase featuring a hefty one million plastic Lego bricks. Running from Saturday, September 3–Sunday, January 29, it's a hands-on exhibition for Lego enthusiasts young and old, based on Ryan 'The Brickman' McNaught's latest book, The Bricktionary: The Ultimate A-Z of Lego. Head along to check out more than 150 impressive Lego models; some of which have starred on TV's Lego Masters Australia and others that have never been seen before. And if wandering amongst giant brick animals, miniature worlds and other fantastical sculptures leaves you feeling inspired, you'll find six different 'build zones' on which to unleash your own creativity. You can design your own robot, or take on the challenge of knocking together a model that'll survive an earthquake. Images: Eugene Hyland
If there's a speed record for greenlighting a new television series, the ABC's decision to make A Dog's World with Tony Armstrong a reality must be right up there. Saying no couldn't have even been an option, because it's just such an innately winning formula. Former AFL player turned ABC News Breakfast sports presenter Armstrong has proven an enormous hit for the national broadcaster since joining in mid-2020 — including when he's accidentally talking about bulging dicks — and everyone loves watching cute canines. Now streaming on ABC iView, as well as airing on ABC, the show that results is exactly what viewers expect — Armstrong fans and dog lovers alike. The former chats through exactly why the four-legged creatures have become humanity's best friend, and how and when, and is occasionally seen on-screen with an array of adorable puppers. Experts on all things pooch lend their commentary, research and general thoughts, too, and barking critters are rarely far from the screen. Across its three parts, the series isn't lacking in informative bite. The first episode bounds through the affinity that humans have found with dogs, and vice versa — including contemplating how dogs evolved, what separates them from wolves now, and how they react to human emotions. Then, in the second instalment, A Dog's World with Tony Armstrong focuses on how canines sense their way through the world, and what type of perspective that gives them. Finally, in part three, pooch happiness and wellbeing is in the spotlight. If you've ever wondered why your pet pupper does what it does — and how it gets you to do what it wants, too — prepare to find out. That wide-eyed look that every dog gives when it's after something, knowing that we're all defenceless against it: yes, the science behind that, including the muscles that make it happen, earn the show's attention. Providing more than just endearing canine footage was always the program's aim, as Armstrong explained when the ABC dropped the first trailer. "When I was approached about the possibility of being involved in A Dog's World, I don't even think I got to the end of the email before I was agreeing to take part," he said. "It was amazing being involved in the project, I learned a lot and I hope everyone who watches enjoys it as much as we enjoyed making it!" It's been a great couple of years for getting your dog fix via a screen, whether you're living vicariously through your viewing because you don't have a barking bestie of your own or you simply (and understandably) believe that there's no such thing as too many dogs. Netflix already gave us two seasons of the docuseries Dogs, recent big-screen release Stray spent time with puppers in Istanbul, Channing Tatum is currently in cinemas road-tripping across the US with a dog and there's even a whole streaming platform made for woofers — because as every pooch owner knows, they like to watch TV, too. Only A Dog's World enlists Armstrong to explore the world of canines, though. Check out the trailer for A Dog's World with Tony Armstrong below: A Dog's World with Tony Armstrong is now available to watch via ABC iView.
White apartment walls are so blah. Make them so yesterday with one (or all five) of these simple do-it-yourself art projects. Relatively easy, cheap, and removable, these projects are ideal for the broke, rent-paying tenants out there, and could fool anyone into thinking you're an interior designer. 1. Paint Sample Wall Designs Ever left the hardware store with a stash of these in your pockets? The paint sample wall is hard to resist, with its enticing, color-organized array of shades. If you don't want to commit to four whole walls of 'Pacific Pine' or 'Blackberry Harvest', simply trim each sample to a desired size and arrange in a design of your choice. 2. Wallpaper Transfer Bust out the old trusty Sharpie and mimic the artistically sketched wallpaper designs by the likes of Marimekko. Craft blog Curbly shows you how. 3. Coffee Stirrer Wall Art Surely Starbucks won't mind if you 'borrow' a few extra coffee stirrers. Follow Make & Do Girl's tutorial to create these fabulously tactile, wooden pieces of art. Simply paint, arrange, and glue. What could be easier (or cheaper)? 4. CD-Case Frames The advent of the iPod certainly rendered CDs obsolete. But before you designate all of those clear jewel cases to the rubbish, reconsider. With just a little effort from you, they may be transformed into the perfect picture frames for that poster you've been meaning to hang. 5. Custom Colour Wall Calendar Inject a little fun into your daily scheduling by creating your own custom colour wall calendar. Chalkboard-finish paints are available in traditional shades in stores, but if you use this Martha Stewart formula, you can concoct your own hue. [via GOOD]
As a food writer and critic based in Western Australia, Max Brearley lives a life of truffle hunting, native-food foraging and long, wine-led lunches across Margaret River's rolling estates. The southwest lifestyle is what lured him over from the UK, and his work is now regularly published in The Australian, delicious., The Guardian and Halliday. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Margaret River, we've called in Max, whose favourite spots range from the region's best winery restaurant to a burger truck run by a street-food doyen he's followed around the world. A stay at Pullman Bunker Bay in the Margaret River region will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you rest and digest in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Max's top food hot spots in his own words, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. CULLEN WINES A founding winery of the region, Cullen has an international reputation for their wines and the manner in which they're produced. Chief winemaker Vanya Cullen has a commitment to the land, seeing herself and her team as custodians. It shows in the wine, which is certified both organic and biodynamic, and it's always a stop when I'm introducing people to the region. A taste of the Kevin John (Chardonnay) and the Diana Madeline (predominantly Cabernet) — both named after Vanya's parents, the winery's founders — is non-negotiable at cellar door. Also high on the must-taste list is the Amber, a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc that is an expression of low-intervention technique. The grapes are fermented in different vessels, including amphora and open fermenters, with extended skin contact. Some describe it as a white, made like a red. MIKI'S OPEN KITCHEN Mikihito Nagai's handle on tempura is masterful. While it may not seem like an obvious dining destination to showcase the region, Miki's Open Kitchen is the essence of what makes the Margaret River region so dynamic; it is a place where winemakers, chefs, artists, photographers, writers and other creative souls are drawn by the ocean, the land, the wine, food and lifestyle. Miki is no exception, and in a matter of years has built a fervent local following for his skill, use of the region's best produce and, well, just being Miki. A seat at the counter for the second sitting ensures plenty of time to watch the master at work. It's fully licensed, though you can also BYO wine, and they serve two sittings an evening. BURGER BONES I first met cook come raconteur Cooper in a south London pub. Then, he was at the forefront of the street food movement and known for making the city's best loaded dogs, with an eye on raising the quality of his ingredients. I didn't think that conversation would lead to a friendship on the other side of the world. Returning home to the southwest after twenty years, he flipped to burgers but is no less fastidious about the meat, the grind, the bread and his technique. Made to order in his customised food truck, Burger Bones isn't fast food, so expect a short wait as he shapes the patty and steams each bun. I favour the Filthy Dirty Burger — a double patty with black cherry barbecue sauce, onions and cheese — but I'm always open to off-menu suggestions. EAGLE BAY BREWING CO The beer community is strong between the capes, and for those with an interest in grain as well as grape, Eagle Bay Brewing Co is a must-try. It's available at bars and bottle shops throughout the region, but there's no better place to drink it than at the source. The d'Espeissis family have been on their Eagle Bay property since 1950, and while the previous generations were more concerned with farming than brewing, it was the younger d'Espeissises who built the brewery and restaurant back in 2010. I'm a fan of their robust Pale Ale, but look out for the Brewer's or Single Series drops. A solid food offering makes it a popular lunch spot, with an atmosphere that is pure southwest; you could be sat next to a mining magnate, a pro-surfer or a jobbing food writer. VASSE FELIX It's a difficult call to name just one winery restaurant, but Vasse Felix never disappoints. It's the perfect spot to enjoy the wares of chief winemaker Virginia Willcock and her team, with an elevated view over some of the estate's original vines. Chef Brendan Pratt took the reins in September 2017 from local legend Aaron Carr (to be found at Yarri, in Dunsborough from early 2018) and he's immediately proven his talent. Asian and European techniques meet, with Pratt celebrating the best of each season. If you've time in the region, Will's Domain in Yallingup) and Knee Deep in Wilyabrup are also home to two of the regions youngest, and most accomplished chefs. YALLINGUP WOODFIRED BREAD Gotthard Bauer, the German baker behind the region's best bread, is modest in a world of hyperbole. He takes an all together slower approach to his craft, using certified biodynamic flour, proper fermentation and resting, and woodfired ovens — a process that is the antithesis of the factory-scale bakeries many have become used to. As well as baking your daily bread, the Bauers also have the Gugelhupf, a candy-striped shack at 18 Yallingup Beach Road, selling the sweet and savoury cake of the same name. I've bought many of these savarin baked treats as intended presents over the years, but strangely they never quite make it to their intended recipient. There is now a Woodfired Bread outpost in Margaret River (Unit 2/2 Boodjidup Road) and at the weekly Margaret River Farmers Market. WHITE ELEPHANT CAFE This is the place to come to understand what Margaret River life is all about, with an Indian Ocean view over Gnarabup Beach. Take a coffee from the kiosk and have a walk on the boardwalk or down on the sand, or sit up on the deck and take breakfast or lunch. White Elephant is a year-round haunt for locals. Beyond just a standard beach cafe, it has great hospitality pedigree, alongside sister venues Morries (Margaret River) and The Common (minutes away, at Gnarabup). While it seems blasé to ignore the view, I'm partial to a spot by the fire in cooler months with a newspaper and the pick of the menu. I've been known to file copy from here. THE COLOURPATCH CAFE At the southern end of the capes, Augusta has no shortage of spectacular views and places to find fish and chips (at least five at last count). The Colourpatch Cafe has in recent years been slowly refurbished, retaining its coastal town charm, with river views from the cafe and terrace. Local fish is chalked up, with Augusta whiting from the Blackwood River a sustainable favourite. While eating in is always an option, my ritual is finding a spot down towards Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse with a view over the Southern Ocean and the possibility, in season, of a whale sighting. SETTLERS TAVERN A Margaret River institution, Settlers Tavern has one of the best wine cellars in Australia. While on the surface it is a traditional pub, owners Karen and Rob Gough have a passion for wine built through years in the industry; Rob was a one-time San Francisco sommelier and Karen worked to import Australian wines to the States. With many labels not having a cellar door presence, this is the perfect place to discover the region's smaller and often most interesting producers. Added to this, the Goughs aren't parochial in their outlook, and you'll find a good representation of premium Aussie wine from across the country. That's why this is a hub for winemakers, both resident and visiting. RIVERSMITH One-time winemaker Lachlan MacDonald is a familiar face at Riversmith, his cafe and retail space. The whitewashed walls, art deco frontage and sleek design give little hint to its former life as a garage and petrol station. At one time I'd fill the tank here, but I'm much happier filling up on coffee and diving into their menu, which has a focus on good local produce. Licensed, they've got a small selection of local wine and beer available. Homewares, books and design items are available in the rear retail area — a lifesaver on a number of occasions for forgotten birthdays and the odd Christmas present. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
When it was announced that Fiji was planning to open its borders to Australian tourists back in November, you could almost hear the collective woosh of laptop lids opening as everyone went straight to travel booking websites. After a long two years without island escapes, it seems like everyone is suddenly posting pics of boarding passes and palm tree-lined pools —and we simply love to see it, as our close island neighbours need our tourism and support more than ever. Airlines have ramped up their offerings in response — when the border opening was announced, Virgin Australia was quick to restart its twice-daily return flights to Nadi from Sydney, daily return flights from Melbourne and thrice-weekly return flights from Brisbane. These days, Jetstar, Fiji Airways, Virgin and Qantas are offering direct return services. So yes, get ready for some beach pics to fill your feed. But it's fair to say we're a little out of practice with international travel, and things have changed a lot since the last time we whisked away. Whether you're heading off for some sunshine or you're considering booking in a much-needed holiday, we chatted to the crew at Tourism Fiji to find out everything you need to know about testing requirements, currency conversion, and what happens if you test positive for COVID while you're away. What are the testing requirements for travelling to and from Fiji? For fully-vaccinated travellers, there is no need to complete a pre-departure test. Instead, Fiji requires all tourists aged 12 and over to confirm they have a pre-booked RAT test to be taken anytime within 72 hours of arrival in Fiji. This can be done at a hotel or nearby testing facility — you can find more information about that here. You'll need to provide proof of your vaccine status when checking in at the airport – digital or paper certification will cover you — and for holidaymakers, medical travel insurance with international coverage that includes COVID-19 cover is required. Before returning home to Australia, you'll need to complete a Digital Passenger Declaration, which can be found here. What happens if I test positive for COVID-19 when I'm in Fiji? So, the nightmare has happened. But don't stress — there are worse places to recover from COVID than a Fijian resort. You'll be placed in isolation, where possible remaining in the room you are already in. Tourism Fiji says that occasionally resorts will put people up in a room with a private pool to wait out their isolation in their own space, while still being able to swim and relax. If travel companions are testing negative, they can choose to join the positive person in isolation or stay in their original accommodation separately — that's a fight waiting to happen if we've ever heard one. If you're still testing positive after the seven-day isolation, a medical certificate will be provided by health officers in Fiji confirming that you are no longer infectious so you can travel home freely. What are the mask-wearing protocols in Fiji? Wearing a mask is optional in Fiji but it's recommended to protect yourself and the locals – especially when in indoor spaces, on public transport, or in taxis. You'll also need to wear your mask in the airports and on the plane, except when eating or drinking. How long is the flight and do I need to prepare for jet lag? Flying from Brisbane is the quickest way to get to Fiji — the flight time is only around two-and-a-half hours. The flight time from Sydney to Nadi is approximately four hours, while Melbourne to Nadi is closer to five — have a snooze on the flight and you'll be sipping a cocktail poolside in no time. Fiji is two hours ahead of Australia (AEST), so there shouldn't be major jetlag issues. Besides, you're on island time now, so turn off those alarms. Where can I stay in Fiji? Across Fiji's 333 islands there is a range of accommodation offerings from bougie to budget. Whether you're choosing a five-star resort on a private island or a family-friendly apartment, the island nation is famous for its hospitality, so you're bound to have a great time. If you're keen to splash out, check out Concrete Playground's guide to luxe Fijian stays to splash out on. For stays a little more off-grid, check out this guide to a "less obvious" Fijian holiday. Do I need cash in local currency? What's the exchange rate? Most retailers and tourism providers take card payments and have paywave, so if you're travelling on a package tour with transfers included it's unlikely you'll need cash. But Tourism Fiji says that if you are planning on travelling by taxi you're best to keep some Fijian cash on you as most don't take a card. ATMs at Nadi airport are the best place to get cash out on arrival — you will be charged a transaction fee, so be aware it's best to get all the cash you'll need at once. And the most important question for any traveller… Do I need to bring an adapter for my wall plugs? Nope! In Fiji, the plugs and sockets are type I – the same as here in Australia. One less thing to think about when heading away. Top images: Sofitel Fiji, Six Senses Fiji
If you live Down Under, winter is still coming for 2022 — but your next excuse to indulge your Game of Thrones love is already here. You will need to pack your suitcases and head to Northern Ireland, however, and also be mighty pleased that visiting the new GoT studio tour doesn't involve sailing by ship, walking for months or using other forms of transport from the fictional Seven Kingdoms. First announced in 2018, the Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios started welcoming in eager GoT fans at the beginning of February 2022 — and it boasts plenty to get excited about. And yes, while you're waiting for prequel series House of the Dragon to arrive later this year, and still biding your time wondering when author George RR Martin's The Winds of Winter will finally hit shelves, this'll help tide you over. Get ready to add Winterfell, The Wall, King's Landing and Dragonstone to your next holiday itinerary, and to peer at the Iron Throne as well, because that's all part of the new tour. Visitors are able to step inside the Great Hall, which is where Jon Snow was proclaimed the King in the North; see Daenerys Targaryen's Dragonstone throne; and also check out an array of props, weaponry, armoury, costumes, make-up and prosthetics from the show. Much of the series was filmed in Northern Ireland, hence the tour — which marks the first time that HBO has opened up the sets and sites to the public. Now rebadged as a tourist site, the GoT sets span across a hefty 110,000-square-feet location in in Banbridge. Basically, if you've ever dreamed about walking around Westeros, this is your chance. The tour has been dubbed an 'interactive experience', which covers wandering through fully dressed sets, reliving moments from the series and standing exactly where many of the show's standout scenes took place. Also part of the immersive attraction: learning more about the skills and craft behind the program that helped make it such a hit. And, there are also art files, models and other production materials in display, plus accompanying digital content and interactive materials highlighting GoT's digital effects. If it sounds huge, that's because it is. The whole setup comprises the largest authentic public display of Game of Thrones artifacts in the world — and is bound to make fans happier than Arya Stark crossing a name off of her infamous list. The Game of Thrones Studio Tour is now open at Linen Mill Studios, The Boulevard, Banbridge, Northern Ireland. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the tour's website.
When December hits, 'tis the season to be jolly. 'Tis the season to be celebrating over cocktails and sipping plenty of drinks in general, too. But even just a few days into the merriest time of year, or summer, you might feel like you've already tried every beverage there is. Enter Cocktail Porter's DIY Messina espresso martini kits, which come in dulce de leche and chocolate-hazelnut versions. You might've sipped these boozy treats before, actually, because this isn't the first time they've been available. Still, Cocktail Porter has brought them back for the appropriate time of the year, letting you make your own boozy end-of-year beverages — or start-of-year, once 2023 hits — using Messina products. Unsurprisingly, these make-at-home packages have proven popular, especially after we've all been spent more time than usual at home over the past few years. Now that there's no restrictions on heading out of the house, though, they're back to being an easy favourite for parties, casual after-work sips and occasions like Christmas — or just because. First, the dulce de leche espresso martini kit. Basically, it's the answer to a familiar dilemma. No one likes choosing between tucking into dessert or having another boozy beverage, so these kits combine the two. To enable you to whip up dulce de leche espresso martinis at home, you'll get a box filled with vodka, coffee liqueur, cold-drip coffee and Messina's dulce de leche topping, plus Messina's chocolate hazelnut spread and shaved coconut to go on top. Prefer a Nutella-esque spin to your espresso martinis? The Messina choc-hazelnut espresso martini kit comes with the gelato chain's choc-hazelnut spread, as well as vodka, espresso and Baileys. For a garnish, the pack also includes Ferrero Rochers for you to crush. Once your kits arrive, you just need to follow the instructions, then get drinking. Whichever variety you choose, you can pick between two different-sized packs. A small dulce de leche kit costs $85 and serves up six drinks — or you can opt for the large for $149, which makes 18 dessert cocktails. With the choc-hazelnut, you'll pay $80 for the six-drink pack and $145 for a 16-cocktail offering. Cocktail Porter delivers Australia-wide, if that's your summer drinking plans sorted. You can also sign up for a subscription, which'll see a different kit sent to your door each and every month. To order Cocktail Porter's Gelato Messina cocktail kits, head to the Cocktail Porter website.
Film fans — pack your picnics, pillows and insect repellent, and prepare to spend your summer evenings watching the big screen under the stars. From December 1, Moonlight Cinema returns to Melbourne for another season of great viewing, great weather (hopefully) and great food. Yep — here, all three go hand-in-hand. The first part of this year's program — covering December and January — features advanced screenings of movies yet to hit cinemas, new releases and a heap of old favourites. The February and March lineup will be revealed early next year, but rest assured, there's something for all tastes on the current bill. If you're after an early glimpse at an exciting upcoming flick, then Guillermo del Toro's gorgeous monster romance The Shape of Water, the Greta Gerwig-directed Lady Bird and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, the latest movie by In Bruges filmmaker Martin McDonagh, should all do nicely. Those who'd like to catch an openair session of efforts already screening in cinemas can pick from the likes of Justice League, Murder on the Orient Express, Detroit, Thor: Ragnarok, The Mountain Between Us and Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (once it's released on December 14). And, if you've got the urge for something retro, make a date with Love Actually, Dirty Dancing, The Breakfast Club or Back to the Future. Also featured are sneak peeks of everything from Pitch Perfect 3, to new Pixar animation Coco, to Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg's The Post. Or, if you're a fan of Australian cinema, check out Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce reuniting post-Neighbours for Swinging Safari; the absolutely stunning new outback western Sweet Country; and what sounds like an Aussie-as comedy, The BBQ. Pairing your movie choice with something to eat and drink is all part of the fun, so BYO supplies or grab something tasty on-site.
We all lived through the lockdown sourdough frenzy when everyone and their dog became bread-making masters seemingly overnight. We get the appeal, we do — it's a fun challenge, it's an effective way to eat up any pesky hours stuck in lockdown, and it yields something versatile and delicious. But there are scores of other options for you to have fun and experiment in the kitchen if you've suddenly found yourself cooped up at home for an iso stint with plenty of extra time on your hands (and especially if you feel like you've done your dash with the takeaway and food delivery apps). Staying at home doesn't mean you have to settle for cooking repetitive meals or boring recipes — we've scouted out a stack of fun cooking projects that'll help break up your iso slog, and none of them require any fancy sous chef-level skills. So step away from the sourdough starter, arrange delivery of whatever ingredients you'll need and check out these weekend cooking ideas. [caption id="attachment_819800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matthieu Joannon via Unsplash[/caption] DUMPLINGS, PLEASE Making dumplings in your own kitchen will teach you why they always say 'practice makes perfect'. We can't promise the first few will look amazing; in fact, you'll probably end up with a bunch of slightly sad, deformed dumplings at the start. But with a little bit of patience and practice, you'll soon be achieving the symmetrical folds and adorable little parcels of your dumpling dreams. Stock up on wrappers from your local Asian grocer (yes, there are plenty of iso-friendly delivery options, too) and make a bunch of whichever filling you're feeling. Follow Atlas chef-owner Charlie Carrington's advice to help get the process down, or have a go at these ones from Alice Zaslavsky. You can cook a few to have immediately, and freeze the rest for future meals or late-night cravings. So why not make a day of it and whip up as many dumplings as you can fit in your freezer? You'll have fun, master a new craft and have an amazing dinner option ready to go. GET PICKLIN' We know on paper that pickling does not scream sexy. But these mini flavour bombs are the perfect accompaniment to almost anything, with the ability to take a sandwich from mundane to extra special. Plus, the technique works as the base of some pretty nifty homemade condiments, like a classic kimchi. Pickling is a simple and versatile kitchen skill to master, since time does most of the work — and we all know you've got plenty of that if you're currently waiting out isolation. Just add your favourite veggies to spiced vinegar and see them bloom into a new, different ingredient that can brighten up any dish. Thinking of making a leftover steak sandwich? Add this easy-to-make giardiniera (an Italian-style veggie pickle) and it'll seem like a brand new meal. You can even pickle eggs and have them as a lively snack next time you enjoy an ice-cold iso beer. STOCK UP ON STOCK Since you can't just pop out for your standard supermarket shop while in iso, you can make things easier on yourself by having some kitchen essentials on hand. Enter: homemade stock. There aren't that many rules to it, so you can really add whatever you fancy for a rich, cosy winter broth. It's also easy to freeze and enjoy later, plus it's a great way of using up those veggie scraps and meat leftovers. In order to really get all the collagen from the meat you choose for your stock base, you'll want to cook it for as long as possible, which of course is no drama when you're under stay-at-home orders. For inspiration, check out this chicken stock. You could opt for pork, seafood or any other base that will make you happy. And for a great vegetable broth, simply start saving your vegetable scraps in the freezer. Once you become a stock maestro and have loads of stock on hand, you can put it to good use in some other tasty dishes, like this chicken and leek pie from Nat's What I Reckon. [caption id="attachment_814516" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hyosun Rosy Ko via Unsplash[/caption] BAGELS FOR DAYS Why settle for sourdough when you can make your very own New York bagel brunch at home? Plan it in advance, so you'll have time to make the dough and let it rest — then you can bake and boil these bad boys come Saturday, Sunday (or Monday) morning. You can use any seeds you have at home for toppings, but poppy seeds, sesame and caraway seeds all work particularly well. If you're feeling creative, make a mix of seeds with some garlic and onion flakes for a homemade 'everything' bagel. If you're an overachiever, have a crack at making gravlax by curing your own salmon with dill, and a good amount of salt and sugar. The star at any bagel brunch, gravlax can be stored for a week, and this Spring Street Grocer recipe only needs to cure in your fridge for 24 hours. Have some cream cheese on hand, and bring your bagels to the next level with capers, red onion and a squeeze of lemon. SOME VERY SPECIAL NOODS With all this excess time spent in lockdown over the last couple of years, we've all had more than our share of packet pasta and instant noodles. Instead, level-up and have a crack at making your own fresh noodles, using just a few basic ingredients: flour, water, salt, and (sometimes) eggs. You don't need a fancy pasta machine to make delicious pasta at home — you just need a rolling pin, some pantry staples and lots of patience. You could also try Guy Grossi's approach. We also recommend having a go at these hand-smashed noodles, pimped out with your choice of sauce or toppings. They're called biang biang noodles because of the sound they make when you bang the dough against the kitchen counter to stretch it out, so be ready to get your hands — and probably your kitchen — a little messy in the process. These are always good to keep frozen for whenever you're ready to boil and enjoy them, plus they're incredibly fun to make. [caption id="attachment_814510" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mahyar Motebassem via Unsplash[/caption] THE PERFECT PUFF What's flaky, golden and delicious, and works an absolute treat atop a rich pie? If you guessed puff pastry, you'd be spot on. Sure, this particular cooking project can prove a little fiddly and time-consuming — but that makes it the ideal thing to tackle during a draggy stretch of isolation. To make it, you'll need butter, salt, flour and a decent sprinkling of patience, as you master the art of lamination — the key technique on which puff pastry is made. It involves loads of folding and rolling, as you incorporate a brick of butter into your dough, with the whole thing allowed to rest properly between each step. You'll find an in-depth step-by-step guide to creating puff pastry online, courtesy of the Tivoli Road Bakery crew. And if it all seems daunting, just think how good those crispy-topped homemade pies and tarte tatins are going to taste. [caption id="attachment_729638" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] REPURPOSE YOUR SOURDOUGH STARTER If you are one of the many homebound amateur chefs who joined the trend and made sourdough already, that's OK. Even after you're long bored of bread, you can use your sourdough starter to make something different and fresh. Have a go at unleashing your inner Neapolitan and whip up some pizza dough, adding whatever toppings make your heart sing. It might take a little effort and a fair bit of time, but you'll end up with crisp, chewy pizza bases that are sure to win you plenty of praise. Our hot tip? To really embrace your pizzaiolo adventures, make up a bunch of tomato sauce you can use for topping pizzas or stirring through pasta — it can be kept frozen, ready to heat whenever the craving strikes.
If a great getaway to a beach, island or faraway city can be life-changing, what does a journey to space do? So ponders Constellation, among other questions. This new Apple TV+ series, which started its eight-part first season on Wednesday, February 21, is another of the platform's beloved mysteries — see also: Criminal Record, The Changeling, The Crowded Room, Hijack and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters since mid-2023 alone, and that list isn't exhaustive — with no shortage of queries floating through its tense frames. Inquiries are sparked instantly, from the moment that a mother in a cabin in northern Sweden, where there's snow as far as the eye can see but a frost infecting more than just the temperature, leaves her pre-teen daughter to follow a voice. The screams that she seeks out are yelling "mama!" — and what they mean, and why she's abandoning one girl to find another, is just one of the matters that Constellation interrogates. The woman is Jo Ericsson, as played by Noomi Rapace with the maternal devotion that also marked her turn in Lamb, plus the protective instincts that were key in Prometheus and Alien: Covenant as well — alongside the scrutiny and adaptability that was evident in her work in You Won't Be Alone, and the fierceness that helped bring her to fame as Lisbeth Salander in the original Swedish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo films. Jo is an astronaut, and Europe's representative on the International Space Station when Constellation jumps backwards from its opening icy horror to a different kind of terror. Not long out from returning back to earth, she FaceTimes with her nine-year-old daughter Alice (Rosie and Davina Coleman, The Larkins) and husband Magnus (James D'Arcy, Oppenheimer). Then, something goes bump in the sky. Trauma leaves people changed, too; what if this incident, during which setting foot on our pale blue dot again is anything but assured, isn't the only distressing facet of travelling to the heavens? On the at-risk ISS, on a spacewalk to locate the source of the collision, Jo finds the mummified body of what looks like a 60s-era Russian cosmonaut. There'll soon be another astronaut dead inside the station, destroyed infrastructure, the first escape pod shuttling her three remaining colleagues back to terra firma and Jo left alone trying to repair the second so that she herself can alight home. Where both Gravity and Moon spring to mind in Constellation's initial space-set scenes, plus Proxima in the show's focus on mother-daughter connections (Interstellar, Ad Astra and First Man have dads covered), it's the earthbound Dark that feels like a touchstone once Jo is back among her loved ones. There's a similar moodiness to this series, a feeling that characters can't always trust what they think is plainly apparent and a certainty that nothing is simply linear about what's occurring. Her stint above the planet has made its imprint on Jo, but it's her everyday life that seems altered. Whether or not Alice can speak Swedish, the colour of the family car, if Jo can play the piano, why Magnus is chilly towards her: with each, what confronts Jo post-ISS conflicts with what she can recall prior to ascending to the station. Roscosmos' Irena Lysenko (Barbara Sukowa, Air) is also wary of her claims about spying a decades-old USSR cadaver. And the NASA equivalent, Nobel Prize-winning former Apollo astronaut Henry Caldera (Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul), is concerned only with a quantum-physics experiment that was taking place on the orbiting base, gathering data about a possible new state of matter, which Jo has no recollection of. It might appear convenient that the psychological effects of long-term space travel fuel Jo's research mission on the station, but Constellation creator and writer Peter Harness — who boasts Doctor Who, Wallander, McMafia and The War of the Worlds on his resume — could never be accused of valuing neatness over depth. Unravelling the show's debut season with patience and deliberation, and with Joseph Cedar (Our Boys), Oliver Hirschbiegel (Unwanted) and Michelle MacLaren (an Emmy-winner for Breaking Bad) directing, he's dedicated to ensuring that the series intensely ruminates on the liminal. Constellation is about disorientation and transition, about the space where being too much of something and not enough of another smash and clash, and about coping with realising that life is always what happens in-between — as well as the fact that sometimes that truth applies more literally than others. As a thriller and a mystery, Constellation names Jo's daughter cannily; tumbling down the rabbit hole is a solid parallel. Viewers won't spy cakes and bottles labelled "eat me" and "drink me", but there are pills and supplements. No one goes chasing a walking, talking white bunny; however, a rabbit toy does feature, and clinging onto what Jo knows is real is just as elusive. While there's no Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Bud Caldera (also Banks) mirrors much about Henry, except that he's now working the sci-fi convention circuit. And although cries of "off with her head" are absent, the dismissals from those around Jo about what's happening with her perception is its own equivalent. Alice in Wonderland comparisons were always going to fit a story about curiouser and curiouser minds pursuing wild adventures, then endeavouring to reclaim their footing. At times, especially in remote lodgings in freezing woodland, the dark fairy-tale vibe beats stronger. But again, even when Constellation dances with fantasy like it's clutching onto a waltz partner — and does the same with eeriness as well — the series never stops being grounded in human bonds, emotions, yearnings and existential concerns. As the reality of both being alive and facing mortality, the urge to understand our place in the cosmos and the sheer enormity of the universe thrum throughout the show regardless of whether it's in space or on land, each is always brought back to people, rather than remaining mere concepts. Rapace, Banks, both Coleman sisters and Sukowa are especially instrumental in anchoring Constellation's twists, turns and big-thinking ideas in the show's characters — and making it so compelling. It isn't just as slickly made as Apple TV+'s fellow excellent recent sci-fi series Severance and Silo, then, and as gripping in its mysteries, but as rivetingly acted. Banks, doing double duty after over a decade as Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul's Mike Ehrmantraut, is particularly emblematic: that there's a chasm between what we want to comprehend and what's around us gleams in his eyes as both Henry and Bud, while his twin parts equally demonstrate how differently it glints from person to person. Check out the trailer for Constellation below: Constellation streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, February 21. Read our interview with Jonathan Banks.
Road tripping is a great Australian pastime — there's nothing more freeing than setting out on an adventure of your own making, after all. In a sprawling land of diversity, a drive will take you to some pretty unique places. But, you don't have to take a few weeks off to make a proper go of it. This weekend, escape and explore something unfamiliar. Why stick around at home when you could hit the road and reach somewhere wonderful? Scenic oceanside tours, delightful countryside towns, hard-to-reach hikes or somewhere you can feel the sand between your toes and gaze off into the sea on a quiet shore. Or, if you can get some extra time off, it might even be worth taking a flight first and starting your drive on a more distant western coast… Wherever you head, don't forget The Bottle-O, the independent local slinging your favourite boozy sips all over Australia, will be close by for bevs. So you can eat, drink and be merry wherever you park yourself along the way. [caption id="attachment_891794" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Liens[/caption] TO BE OCEANSIDE: ROAD TRIP TO PHILLIP ISLAND, CAMP IN THE HOLIDAY PARK Melburnians, you've got an island escape practically on your doorstep. Phillip Island is only about two hours' drive from Melbourne, but it feels a world away. Sure, it's famous for the penguin parade, but there's more here to keep you occupied for a weekender. With the NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park as your base camp, you can spend your days swimming, fishing, birdwatching, hill walking and generally just getting in touch with nature — and the serenity. (Just remember to stop at The Bottle-O for a fresh slab as you make your way to camp.) Get up early to surf at Cape Woolamai Beach; then take a trip out to The Nobbies, where you'll follow the boardwalks along the coast and climb the hill for a view of the largest fur seal colony in Australia. If you want to leave the planning to others, there are curated trips available too: circumnavigate the isle on a quest to spot some humpbacks, or ensure you catch the famed little penguins as they waddle ashore. Camping with a side of indulgence? Hit the day spa and chocolate factory. Take it easy with a cafe breakfast, pack a lunch for your beach adventures, and return to camp via the shops for a beachy barbecue dinner. Provisions acquired, sit back with a drink in hand as you watch the sun go down over your island paradise. Take your time on the drive back to Melbourne, explore a little of the villages — and epic scenery — of the Bass Coast. [caption id="attachment_891791" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] InSydeMedia[/caption] TO GET INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE: ROAD TRIP TO BALLARAT, CAMP AT CRESWICK Head inland and find out why Ballarat and its idyllic surrounds have become a primo destination for Melbourne weekenders. The township's got new restaurants and fresh artisan bakeries alongside the grand theatre, Australia's oldest regional gallery and that frontier Western fun at Sovereign Hill. A wander around Lake Wendouree is an afternoon in itself, with wildlife, wetlands, formal gardens and ample picnic spots along the shore. It's still a country city, but with plenty of small town charm. And, this is goldfields country specifically. Staying at Creswick Holiday Park will give you easy access to old mining trails and state reserves, as well as other local walks and mountain bike tracks nearby. Creswick is a charming little town of markets, historic buildings, and the renowned Farmers Arms pub. Explore all day, then sink into the peace and quiet of a country night. Gaze up at all those stars far from city lights, a drop of spicy shiraz in hand, and soak up the serenity of rural living. [caption id="attachment_891795" align="aligncenter" width="1939"] tommyg83[/caption] FOR EPIC HIKES: ROAD TRIP TO WILSONS PROMONTORY, CAMP AT TIDAL RIVER CAMPGROUND Need to burn a little pent up energy on your weekender? Hit the Prom. A three-hour drive from Melbourne, Wilsons Promontory is home to a network of both short and multi-day walking tracks that'll keep even the most restless wanderer entertained. Traverse the beaches and bays, including the aptly named Squeaky Beach; explore the stringybark, eucalypt and fern-filled forest of Lilly Pilly Gully nearby; or go all in and set off on an overnight hike. From Tidal River Campground, you can hike to Mount Oberon for sweeping views across the river and the coastline. You'll be gazing across the water and little bays, flats and boulders, back over the inland hills and forests. That famous 360° view is the perfect place to catch a sunset. This camp spot has full amenities, free barbecues and even a little general store with basic supplies. But, you'll want to stop off in the cosy little town of Grantville as you make your way out of Melbourne, keeping your eyes peeled for The Bottle-O beneath the retro VB sign on the Bass Highway. Make sure to stock up on all the necessary extras — think fizzy seltzers, pre-mixed G&Ts or ciders. You'll be ready to kick off your boots and crack open a cold one as soon as you're in your camp chair. [caption id="attachment_892143" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tsvibrav[/caption] FOR CLOSE PROXIMITY TO CREATURE COMFORTS: ROAD TRIP TO THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA, CAMP AT WHITECLIFFS FORESHORE RESERVE The Mornington Peninsula is a southern hub of standout food and drinks, luxurious spas, bustling towns and scenic drives. A long weekend is a good stretch of time for a whirlwind tour of the whole locale, while still leaving room to linger at a few top spots. Relax at the famed Peninsula Hot Springs in Fingal — via a curated trip, if you like —experience the seaside playground of the upper crust at Sorrento and Portsea, take a cable car at Arthur's Seat for an unbeatable view, and set up camp at Whitecliffs Foreshore Reserve, just one kilometre outside of the gorgeous coastal town of Rye. You'll want easy dinners after all that driving: stop in at The Bottle-O Dromana on your way through for a few bottles of the local best, then pick up some fancy tins, charcuterie and cheese from Montino Deli. You'll be sorted for the perfect picnic of snacky bits and vino to end your day. Rye is the perfect base for a relaxed weekend, where you can rise, shine, swim and surf, then head home to the city refreshed. [caption id="attachment_891793" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] S Porter[/caption] IF YOU'RE GOING FOR LONGER THAN THE WEEKEND: FLY TO PERTH, HEAD TO MARGARET RIVER, CAMP AT PREVELLY CARAVAN PARK Not technically a road trip per se, but if you have managed to score a few extra days off, why not take a flight to Perth and see what the west has to offer? The routes of the Margaret River are a road-tripper's dream. A region of truly diverse (and delicious) diversions. Snorkel, swim, bask and explore the shoreline, surf where the pros compete and take in spectacular views all the way along. History buffs and art aficionados can do a tour of museums, galleries and cultural sites as they cruise the roads that wind between coast, hill and forest. Nature chasers can seek out a watering hole along the Blackwood River, hike through the towering Boranup Karri Forest, or just take in the changing scenery along your travels. Get aquatic and paddle down the river with a group of other adventurers, or explore Lake Cave with an expert guide. But of course, it's the food and flavours of Margaret River that really give it a place on the map. There's hip cafes and high teas, surfside coffee houses and gourmet delis dotted all over the locale. Buy fresh produce and local goods from family-run makers and provedores, and take it back to Prevelly Caravan Park for the ultimate locavore feast. But what's an epic meal without your bev of choice? Swing by the The Bottle-O Brunswick Liquor on your way — looking for something local, it's wine country after all — to make sure you're deliciously prepared. Wherever the road leads you this weekend, find your nearest The Bottle-O and stock up on some standout bevs. Ready to start planning? Head to the website. Top Image: Maythee Voran; Tommy G; S Porter.
Delicate jewellery and nostalgia-tinged womenswear is the department of designer Naomi Murrell, who works out of her studio in Adelaide. While her clothes are sold nationwide and have been featured in the pages of Frankie, Yen and Marie Claire, Naomi is a champion for her hometown and its vibrant, growing design and maker scene. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Adelaide, we've called in Naomi, whose favourite spots range from an artist-driven tattoo studio to a new retail and event space run by an indie rock power couple. A stay at Pullman Adelaide will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you contemplate all you've seen in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Naomi's top Adelaide art and design hot spots in her own words, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. NAOMI MURRELL Of course I'm biased, but our store is definitely the go if you're looking for a fun outfit or gift. We design minimal, on point yet irrepressibly playful womenswear and fine jewellery. Situated on a relaxed laneway in Adelaide's East End, we stock Naomi Murrell alongside a curated selection of awesome designer pieces including Kowtow, Vege Threads, Kester Black, Spring Court, Bonne Maison, W Pico and Julie White. ENSEMBLE Located on Gilles Street in the city, Ensemble is a collective of like-minded creatives on a mission to bring you beautiful, timeless, style-driven pieces and experiences. These gals have got you covered for hip sustainable threads by Good Studios (Anny Duff), organic bedding and loungewear by Weft Textiles (Samia Fisher), artisan footwear by BB Shoemaker (Beccy Bromilow), E-S-T (Emma Sadie Thomson) greenery and other bits and pieces of handmade designer awesomeness. Look out for pop-up art shows, creative workshops and yoga classes in their gallery space as well. AGOSTINO & BROWN Hidden down an undiscovered city laneway, this spacious warehouse furniture showroom housing the work of Sam Agostino (designer) and Gareth Brown (stellar furniture craftsman) is a very inviting place. Stunning modern, playful pieces with pops of colour and loads of timber await — all finished with impeccable quality. Pieces are made locally in their workshop and many styles are customisable for your own interior space, whether it is residential or commercial. These guys are at the top of many an Adelaide designer and architect wishlist. Agostino & Brown pieces feature in the interiors of both our shop and studio. CULT AND HARPER A new venture by an indie rockstar couple — visual artist Lisa King and musician Jarrad Jackson — Cult and Harper is many things: a retail store, a gallery, a cyclorama photo studio, a bar and event space, and a home to art and DJ types. It is 450 square metres of art, fashion and culture coming at you with a New York-inspired street art vibe. Giant fashion-influenced murals by Lisa collide with posters of Basquiat and Warhol, Keith Haring-esque murals, loads of neon, crimson velvet shell couches and a rad collection of vintage brass furniture. PUSH PIN BOUTIQUE Push Pin Boutique is a darling vintage store housed in the prettiest rustic old building right near the Adelaide Central Markets. It specialises in 1950s-era frocks but also stocks froth-worthy garments, footwear and accessories from the 1940s to 1980s in a great selection of sizes for contemporary women. Owner Clare Matthews has wonderful taste, and the pieces she curates are always perfect for pairing with current trends, whether it's a '70s denim button-through skirt, a white mohair sweater or a camel-coloured French trench. You can always find that special something to add to your collection here. JAMFACTORY A unique not-for-profit organisation housing ceramics, glass, furniture and metal design studios, plus a gallery and design store, JamFactory is dedicated to providing the skills and business training in craft and design to emerging practitioners through a rigorous two-year program. The gallery and store showcases quality contemporary Australian design wares, including works by respected local designers such as Daniel To and Emma Aiston of Daniel Emma, Alice Potter, Sarah Rothe and Peta Kruger. Well worth a look-see! AFRICOLA Strictly speaking, Africola is a restaurant. A very good one. But with an interior fit out designed by James Brown and the gang at Mash, it's more like an intimate gathering at the home of an idiosyncratic art dealer. A dizzying confection of colour, canvases, tiling, lighting and kitsch furniture is all squished together in one amazing experience that will get your tastebuds — and, in fact, all your senses — buzzing. The words emblazoned above the bar, 'Don't Worry It's Only a Dream', serve as reassurance that you are (probably) not tripping and as encouragement to relax and enjoy this culinary wonderland. HUGO MICHELL GALLERY Hugo Michell in Beulah Park is hands down the most refreshing contemporary gallery in town. These guys show a fantastic selection of art by the likes of Miso, Ghostpatrol, Amy Joy Watson, Trente Parke and Lucas Grogan, to name just a few of my personal favourite exhibitions. Hugo has an eye for curating engaging, visually arresting and often very beautiful art shows with an exciting roster of local and interstate professional artists, all at the top of their game. TREADLY BIKE SHOP Treadly is the place to go if you want to build a bike, service a bike, or buy a bike or accessory, if you ride a bike or just wanna talk bike. Sam Neeft and his team of cycling aficionados and mechanics are down to earth, helpful and very enthusiastic about helping anyone with pretty much anything bike related. They also organise fun events such as the Boucle de Burbs and other adventures to encourage the cycling community to hang out and go riding together. And they do it in style with some very attractive bicycles. XO L'AVANT @ THE MILL XO L'Avant is an artist-driven contemporary tattoo studio, run by the loveliest crew ever at The Mill (a CBD co-working space also home to many other talented creative types). Founded by the talented Jaya Suartika (@jayaism), and featuring other resident artists such as Kyle Woodman (@yeahdope), Alex Harris (@folkandpoke) and Nadia Suartika (@__nadika__), the diverse range of illustrative styles on offer are original, amusing, delicate and always on point. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
If you can remember a time before Jetstar took to Australia's skies, you clearly have a long memory, with the discount airline marking its 17th year in 2021. Today, Tuesday, May 25, actually marks the carrier's birthday, so it's celebrating in a way that could boost your next holiday. You'll just need to head to either Flinders Street station in Melbourne or Central station in Sydney before 9pm. At both sites, Jetstar has taken over the digital screens, so you'll spot images of blue skies and a plane everywhere you look. While you're peering at the promotional setup, you're asked to try to 'catch the plane'. That just means scanning a QR code on the screen with your phone, then hopefully winning a flight voucher for your efforts. The airline is giving out $10,000 worth of vouchers across the two sites, with values ranging from $50 to $500. Up to 70 are up for grabs — and, given how busy both stations usually are, there'll be plenty of fellow wannabe travellers trying to nab them. If you're not quite sure how you'd use said vouchers, Jetstar currently flies 57 routes between 20 destinations within Australia — which should give you plenty of local holiday options while overseas travel, other than to New Zealand, is still off the cards for the foreseeable future. Jetstar's birthday giveaway is taking place today, Tuesday, May 25, until 9pm at Flinders Street station in Melbourne — or Central station in Sydney.
There ain't nothing quite like country music, is there, partner? First popping up in the American South more or less a century ago, it's a simple yet satisfying genre that has found fans worldwide. Some of the most recognisable artists in history have been country singers — with a podium including Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers and more. If you know or love any of the above artists, you'd best secure some tickets to the upcoming Country by Candlelight tour. Having sold out theatres across the UK, it's headed down south (or down under, in this case) to tour across Australia and Aotearoa throughout February and March. After a series of February shows in NZ, the Australian tour will arrive in Queensland for a Gold Coast show at The Star Theatre on Sunday, March 1. The following week, it's Sydney's turn at Darling Harbour Theatre on Sunday, March 8, before moving to Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday, March 12. Then, the tour will hop across the country to PCEC Perth on Sunday, March 15, before an additional Queensland show at QPAC Brisbane on Thursday, March 19. Finally, the tour will conclude in South Australia at Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, on Sunday, March 22. Each show starts at 7.30pm and should wrap up (encores notwithstanding) by 10pm. Country by Candlelight will tour across cities in Australia and New Zealand from Sunday, February 15 to Sunday, March 22. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website.
No matter where you live, everyone knows that downtown is where the action happens. For the next few weeks you can score a Calvin Klein Downtown Prize Pack, including a delightful deluge of the new fragrance Downtown, simply by showing off your own creativity. In the competition, running from 22 September to 19 October (that means we're in the thick of it, so get cracking), five winners will be selected each week via Instagram. All you have to do? Post a photo of what you consider to be your 'Downtown' moment with the name of the city where it was taken (select the 'Add to Photo Map' setting and 'Name This Location' before sharing) and hashtag #CKdowntownau. You can enter as many times as you like. We think it's a pretty cool and refreshingly personal competition. Cue Petula Clark's insanely catchy hit — or better yet, scope out the hauntingly beautiful black-and-white campaign for the Downtown fragrance, starring Rooney Mara and directed by David Fincher. You can experience it here. I'm finding that my finger is awfully trigger-happy on the replay button. Prize Packs Include: 2x CK Downtown 90ml 2x CK Downtown 50ml 2x CK Downtown 30ml 1c CK Downtown Rollerball 10ml 2x CK Body Lotion 200ml 2x CK Shower Gel 200ml
It has finally happened, Melburnians. After two prolonged periods spent empty this year, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Melbourne picture palaces are back in business. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made over the past three months, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer from this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ekw85OqJck THE WITCHES What's the one thing that every movie remake has in common? No matter how it turns out, the original film still exists. So, if the latest version doesn't cast a spell, you can return to the old one — revisiting it, appreciating it anew and steeping yourself in nostalgia in the process. That's worth remembering regarding the latest screen adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Witches, even with writer/director Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Polar Express) and co-writers Kenya Barris (Black-ish, Girls Trip) and Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water's) involved. Its main achievement: reminding everyone just how great the previous screen adaptation of Roald Dahl's book from back in 1990 still is. It might be unfair to think that some remakes only eventuate because a studio executive thought it was time to wring some more cash out of a beloved story, but that's how this movie feels. It's simultaneously broader and tamer — including Anne Hathaway's (Dark Waters) over-the-top performance as the Grand High Witch, although she does appear to be enjoying herself immensely — and it radiates big pantomime energy. Indeed, there's a lack of overall magic in The Witches, either of the twisted or charming type (unless sending viewers clamouring to find wherever the original is currently streaming counts). A few things have changed in this fresh iteration. It's 1968, and the the film's unnamed young protagonist (Jahzir Bruno, The Christmas Chronicles 2) moves to Alabama to live with his grandmother (Octavia Spencer, Onward) after his parents are killed in a car accident. He's grief-stricken, but they bond over her shocking revelation: that witches exist, they're everywhere, they despise children and she has experience with them. Also, once a witch sets their sights on a kid, it never lets up. That's why, after one crosses the boy's path, grandma whisks him off to "the swankiest resort in Alabama", where she's certain they'll be safe among rich white folks. Of course, she couldn't have predicted that the group of women that have taken over the Grand Orleans Imperial Island Hotel's ballroom — the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, apparently — are all witches. Or, that the Grand High Witch is in attendance, unveiling a plan to turn every kid in the world into a rodent via a potion called 'Formula 86 Delayed Action Mouse-Maker'. Much that has endeared The Witches to readers and viewers over the years remains in the latest film, but tinkering with the details and tone makes an unfortunate impact. Brimming as it is with bright colours and overdone CGI, the new version of The Witches favours gloss and shine over chills and potential nightmares. Everything here is overt to an in-your-face extreme, and also far less intricate and much more bland. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8DT_zVzxhk THE FURNACE At this point in Australia's cinema history, audiences can be forgiven for wondering if homegrown movies have unearthed and told every tale there is to be found among the vast outback. The answer: an overwhelming no, especially when Aussie filmmakers traverse the country's sunburnt and sprawling expanse to explore stories steeped in our problematic past. The Furnace is one such movie that proves the point. The first feature from writer/director Roderick MacKay, the gold rush-era western serves up a powerful interrogation of Australia as a multicultural nation — harking back to 1897, to Western Australia, and to a time when transporting freight around the country relied upon a network of cameleers trekking across the desert. The men covering great distances to move goods from one place to another hailed from India, Afghanistan and Persia, were largely of Muslim and Sikh faith, and were badged together under the label 'Ghan' by white Aussies. They were treated poorly, except by Indigenous Australians. And, they're a real but oft-forgotten part of the nation's story, so much so that The Furnace will introduce their existence to many viewers for the first time. That's just one of this vividly shot, exceptionally acted film's achievements, though. Another: posing the kinds of questions about our national identity that we should always be asking. Afghan cameleer Hanif (Ahmed Malek, Clash) didn't choose to come to Australia, or to take up this line of work. So, when he witnesses the death of his mentor at the hands of a white man, he's eager to find a way to get the cash he needs to return home. The Indigenous Yamatji Badimia people he often spends time with on his travels, including leader Coobering (Trevor Jamieson, Storm Boy) and Hanif's friend Woorak (Baykali Ganambarr, The Nightingale), suggest that he stays and joins them instead. But, after stumbling across injured thief Mal (David Wenham, Dirt Music), he's determined to use half of his new acquaintance's stolen Crown-marked gold bars to finance his escape and leave the life he hates behind. Troopers led by the fervent Sergeant Shaw (Jay Ryan, IT: Chapter Two) are swiftly on the unlikely pair's trail; however, Hanif and Mal keep traipsing towards the eponymous smelter, where Mal promises they'll be able to melt down the precious metal and remove any trace of the government's ownership. Following Hanif's journey — physically, and emotionally and spiritually as well — The Furnace is a patient film. It's a meat pie western through and through, applying the western genre's trademarks to an Australian context, and it joins The Proposition, Sweet Country and the aforementioned The Nightingale as one of the best 21st-century examples. MacKay spies the beauty and the imperfections in Australia's arid, dusty landscape, as many filmmakers have before, but he also never lets the flaws in our national character that are made plain by this chapter of history ever fall out of view. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb8ZbP6qAzE&feature=youtu.be THE MIDNIGHT SKY The Midnight Sky is George Clooney's first film role in four years (since 2016's Hail, Caesar! and Money Monster), so it's fitting that he's at his most bearded and reclusive within its frames. This sci-fi drama also joins the small but significant list of features that combine the star and space, following Solaris and Gravity — and there's something particularly alluring and absorbing about seeing Clooney get existential, as all movies that reach beyond earth's surface tend to. He clearly agrees, because he not only leads The Midnight Sky but also directs it as well. This is a big-thinking and big-feeling film, with its characters grappling with life, love and loss. It boasts aptly pensive and probing cinematography, too; however, both on-and off-screen, Clooney is the key. When the movie spends time with astronauts onboard the spaceship Aether, including the pregnant Sully (Felicity Jones, On the Basis of Sex), ship commander Adewole (David Oyelowo, Gringo), veteran pilot Mitchell (Kyle Chandler, Godzilla: King of the Monsters), and other crew members Sanchez (Demián Bichir, The Grudge) and Maya (Tiffany Boone, Hunters), it's at its most generic. Indeed, when it ventures to space, The Midnight Sky almost screams for either Clooney to head there as well, or for the feature to plummet back down to earth to join him once more. The actor/filmmaker plays workaholic research scientist Dr Augustine Lofthouse and, although The Midnight Sky rockets beyond the earth, it doesn't send its protagonist there. Instead, in 2049, after an environmental disaster has made the planet uninhabitable, he chooses to remain in the Arctic as his colleagues evacuate. He's dying anyway, and frequently hooks himself up to machines for treatment — in between downing whiskey, watching old movies, eating cereal and talking to himself. Then, interrupting his lonely decline, two things change his status quo. Firstly, a young girl (debutant Caoilinn Springall) mysteriously pops up out of nowhere, refusing to speak but obviously needing an adult's care. Secondly, Augustine realises that he'll have to trek across the oppressively icy terrain outside to connect via radio to Aether's crew, who've been on a two-year mission to ascertain whether newly discovered Jupiter moon K-23 can support life, and are now making their return unaware of what's been happening at home. The space movie genre is as busy as the sky above is vast, and The Midnight Sky proves familiar as a result, delivering plenty of elements that viewers have seen before — but this isn't merely an exercise in flinging together derivative parts. While this isn't Clooney's greatest achievement as a director in general or as an actor in a space flick, it's still an involving, engaging and poignant addition to his resume on both counts. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij8m_XQ_J2E WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS When it comes to portraying illness of either the physical or mental kind, Hollywood doesn't have the greatest track record. Case in point: this year's awful All My Life, a cancer-fuelled weepie that decided it'd rather focus on the girlfriend of its sickness-stricken character — who is based on a real-life person — than on the man fighting to survive. Accordingly, by actually directing its attention towards Adam (Charlie Plummer, Lean on Pete), a high schooler who is diagnosed with schizophrenia in his senior year, Words on Bathroom Walls immediately demonstrates a willingness to actually engage with its protagonist's predicament. The film is based on a YA novel by Julia Walton, rather than on reality, but it sees Adam as a person rather than a reason that someone else's existence increases in drama. That's a pivotal move by filmmaker Thor Freudenthal (Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters) and first-time screenwriter Nick Naveda, and one that improves their movie immensely. But Words on Bathroom Walls doesn't completely avoid cliches and tropes. Instead, it saves them for the usual teenage experiences, serving up everything from bullying classmates to first kisses, prom night antics and graduation chaos as Adam doesn't just try to cope with his condition, but with testing every treatment option there is, and also navigating the disappointments and the side effects. Adam's struggles begin in science class, where he has traumatic hallucinations, injures a friend and gets expelled. Seeing people who aren't there isn't new to him but, with the incident badged a psychotic break, his mother Beth (Molly Parker, Deadwood) devotes every waking hour to finding him the best care — when she isn't spending time with the new boyfriend, Paul (Walton Goggins, Fatman), that Adam doesn't like. For the teen himself, he's most concerned about chasing his dreams. He wants to be a chef, but he needs to get his diploma to get into his chosen culinary course. The local private school agrees to let him attend, as long as he undertakes a specific treatment plan and doesn't trouble his peers with his illness. Consequently, when he meets the studious and resourceful Maya (Taylor Russell, Waves), he keeps his condition to himself, even as a friendship and something more springs. At its core, Words on Bathroom Walls endeavours to address and break down the stigma that surrounds schizophrenia and mental illness, a feat that it perkily but thoughtfully achieves. Still, there's no missing the fact that it squeezes its empathetic intentions — and its narrative in general, and Adam's plight within it — into a well-worn teen formula. While Words on Bathroom Walls still succeeds where many other movies about health struggles fail, thanks in no small part to excellent performances all-round from Plummer, Russell, Parker and Goggins, its need to fit a template threatens to undercut its sensitive approach to its subject. If you're wondering what else is currently screening around Melbourne, we've also picked the 12 best flicks that started gracing the city's silver screens when indoor cinemas were given the green light to reopen. When outdoor cinemas relaunched before that, we outlined the films showing under the stars, too. And, we've run through all the pictures that opened in the city on November 12, November 19 and November 26; and December 3, as well. You can also read our full reviews of The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves, The King of Staten Island, Babyteeth, Deerskin, Peninsula, Les Misérables, Bill & Ted Face the Music, An American Pickle, On the Rocks, Antebellum, Kajillionaire, The Craft: Legacy, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Radioactive, Brazen Hussies, Freaky, Mank, Monsoon and Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt), American Utopia, Possessor, Misbehaviour, Happiest Season, The Prom and Sound of Metal all of which have been showing in Melbourne since cinemas reopened. And, you can check out our rundowns of the new films that released in other cities over the past few months — on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30; August 6, August 13, August 20 and August 27; September 3, September 10, September 17 and September 24; October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22 and October 29; and November 5 — as a number of those movies are now showing in Melbourne as well. Images: The Midnight Sky, Philippe Antonello/Netflix.
It doesn't matter what the weather holds for Suzie Sakamoto: with her husband and son missing when Apple TV+'s Sunny begins, the series' titular term can't apply to her days. An American in Kyoto (Rashida Jones, Silo), she's filled with grief over the potential loss of her Japanese family, anxiously awaiting any news that her spouse Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima, Drive My Car) and their boy Zen (debutant Fares Belkheir) might've survived a plane crash. She'd prefer to do nothing except sit at home in case word comes; however, that's not considered to be mourning in the right way according to custom and also isn't appeasing her mother-in-law (Judy Ongg, Kaseifu no Mitazono). When Suzie soon has a robot for company, an unexpected gift from Masa, dwelling in her sorrow doesn't appear to be what he'd want in his absence, either. In this ten-part series, which adapts Colin O'Sullivan's 2018 novel The Dark Manual for the small screen and starts streaming from Wednesday, July 10, 2024, the technology that's quickly immersed in Suzie's existence is a homebot. The artificial-intelligence domestic helpers are everywhere in this near-future vision of Japan, aiding their humans with chores, organising tasks and plenty more — everywhere other than the Sakamoto house with its firmly anti-robot perspective, that is. Amid asking why her husband has not only sent the eponymous Sunny her way, but also why it's customised specifically to her, questions unsurprisingly spring about his true line of work. Has Suzie been married to a secret roboticist, rather than someone who designs refrigerators? What link does his job have with his disappearance? How does someone cope in such an already-traumatic situation when the person that they're possibly grieving mightn't be who they've said they are? Often with a science fiction twist, Apple TV+ can't get enough of mysteries. Approaching five years since the platform launched in late 2019, that truth is as engrained as the service's fondness for big-name talent, including across Severance, The Big Door Prize, Hello Tomorrow!, Silo, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Constellation, Sugar and Dark Matter. Thankfully, there's no content-factory feel to this lineup of shows, or to the streamer's catalogue in general, which is one of the best on offer in the online fight for eyeballs. Sunny's closest equivalent hails from beyond the brand, bringing Charlie Brooker's Channel 4-started, now Netflix-made Black Mirror to mind, but even then it's far more interested in its characters than their relationship to technology. That said, that people and how they use tech remain the real enemy, not gadgets and advancements themselves, hums at the core of both series. Indeed, Sunny proposes a radical path forward for Suzie, especially at a time IRL when generative AI has been making its presence known, and rarely for the better. Creator, showrunner and executive producer Katie Robbins (The Affair) takes her human protagonist down a route where the program's namesake, which matches a WALL-E vibe and emoji-leaning face with the cheerful voice of Barry, I Love That for You, Quarantine and Emma Approved's Joanna Sotomura, is perhaps the only thing that can be trusted. There's no shortage of other flesh-and-blood characters around Suzie, with some kindly and others patently nefarious. Bartender Mixxy (singer/songwriter Annie the Clumsy, Miss Osaka) falls into the first category. The platinum-blonde Hime (You, 9 Border), who seems to have a history with Masa, sits in the second camp. But with her world constantly being turned upside down and her usual confidante in Masa gone, technophobe Suzie might only be able to put her faith in the machine that's now ceaselessly by her side. A show such as Sunny, which is a comedy, drama, thriller and slice of dystopia all in one — alongside an odd-couple buddy pairing, plus a series with multiple puzzles, a stack of technology-driven and existential questions, and a probing of the human condition — needs two things beyond its compelling narrative. If viewers couldn't feel the confidence infused in this delicate mix of components, the show would crumble like circuitry haphazardly jammed together. If audiences couldn't sense the ambition to do far more than join dots as well, Sunny would similarly fail to compute. Not just thanks to its penchant for cliffhangers, this is a mystery with more always on the way, and one that adores teasing out its intricacies in a lived-in world that no other series can call home. That's assurance. That's initiative. Diving in is like strolling through Tokyo: there's always a new lane to mosey down, whether in the pursuit of solving the storyline or unpacking Suzie. The Dark Manual of O'Sullivan's moniker pops up as a hacker guide to customising homebots. Here, the plot also thickens. Still, as the yakuza feature, flashbacks tease out Suzie and Masa's meet-cute, the latter's time as a hikikomori — the portion of the Japanese population who choose to actively withdraw from society — is weaved in and surveillance is ever-present, Sunny never lets the avalanche of developments and threads that keep fuelling its tale become its sole or even main attraction. As penned by a seven-strong writing team led by Robbins with backgrounds on Bunheads, The Staircase, Apples Never Fall, Hit-Monkey, Tiny Beautiful Things and more, this is gripping and addictive viewing. It's a show to sleuth along with. Its retrofuturistic look and Saul Bass-esque opening credits are worth returning for again and again. Nonetheless, Sunny wouldn't connect if didn't value the personal and the human angle of being cast adrift from everything that you relied upon with no certainty about where to turn. Aided by being played by Jones, who so expertly married optimism and cynicism as Parks and Recreation's Ann Perkins — as she had to as the midpoint between Leslie Knope and Chris Traeger versus Ron Swanson and April Ludgate — Suzie is a character of unflagging determination crashing against mourning and anguish. She yearns with hope, as everyone does, for a lost loved one to re-emerge. She couches everything, including that longing, in sarcasm. That she journeyed to Japan to escape past woes, her lack of friends beyond her family and her alienation by refusing to learn the language all help construct a complex portrait. Also assisting: even simple moments, like swigging wine on the toilet. It isn't a secret that bounding through chaos is more relatable when the external tangle that greets a character reflects their inner jumble, as Jones anchors at the heart of her performance. The Boston Public, The Office, Celeste & Jesse Forever, Angie Tribeca and On the Rocks star in never-better territory, in fact, as she must've spotted the potential for; she's also among Sunny's executive producers. New TV arrivals of mid-2024 are now two for two when robot companions are involved. Fantasmas is the other. They're also two for two in world-building and production design that plunges viewers into screen spaces that resemble nothing else, which is no small feat for Sunny with Japan as its setting. Another commonality: not merely making audiences grateful that the non-stop flow of new streaming series can keep delivering programs this unique, but sparking a hunger for more to come. That's the sunny side of more TV begetting more TV and then more still, because a heaving crowd is always made up of individuals. Few new streaming arrivals of late are as distinctive as Fantasmas and Sunny, though. Check out the trailer for Sunny below: Sunny streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
Gone are the days when celebrating Easter just meant eating all the chocolate eggs you can handle and treating yourself to all of the hot cross buns while they're in stores. Keep doing both, naturally, because this time of year wouldn't be the same otherwise. But choc-flavoured cocktails have quickly become an Easter staple, too — and award-winning distillery Archie Rose Distilling Co's new lamington tipple has arrived at exactly the right time. Lamingtons are the dessert that just keeps giving: giving us vodkas, cruffins, croissants, gelato bars and sneakers all inspired by them before now, in fact. So, of course Archie Rose has joined the trend with its new Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Lamington Bottled Cocktail, which is indeed exactly what it says on the label. A limited-edition tipple — so, it's here for a delicious time, not a long time — it comes ready to pour either over ice or paired with soda. Archie Rose also recommends a garnish in the form of a berry skewer. That berry flavour is a big part of the cocktail anyway, which goes heavy on raspberry, chocolate, honeycomb and coconut. It's made on Archie Rose's signature dry gin, and also includes notes of citrus — for balance, the company says. You'll only find it via the brand's website, in its latest creative tipple in a range that's previous included riffing on ice cream, dropping a coffee whisky and taking inspiration from Vegemite. Archie Rose Distilling Co's Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Lamington Bottled Cocktail is available now via the brand's website, costing $59 per bottle.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. THE FORGIVEN Patience is somewhat of a virtue with The Forgiven. It would be in it, too, if any of its wealthy white characters hedonistically holidaying in Morocco were willing to display the trait for even a second. Another addition to the getaways-gone-wrong genre, this thorny satirical drama gleefully savages the well-to-do, proving as eager to eat the rich as can be, and also lays bare the despicable coveting of exoticism that the moneyed think is an acceptable way to splash plentiful wads of cash. There's patently plenty going on in this latest release from writer/director John Michael McDonagh, as there typically is in features by the filmmaker behind The Guard, Calvary and War on Everyone. Here, he adapts Lawrence Osborne's 2012 novel, but the movie that results takes time to build and cohere, and even then seems only partially interested in both. Still, that patience is rewarded by The Forgiven's stellar lead performance by Ralph Fiennes, playing one of his most entitled and repugnant characters yet. Sympathies aren't meant to flow David Henninger's (Fiennes, The King's Man) way, or towards his wife Jo (Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye). Together, the spiky Londoners abroad bicker like it's a sport — and the only thing fuelling their marriage. Cruelty taints their words: "why am I thinking harpy?", "why am I thinking shrill?" are among his, while she counters "why am I thinking high-functioning alcoholic?". He's a drunken surgeon, she's a bored children's author, and they're venturing past the Atlas Mountains to frolic in debauchery at the village their decadent pal Richard (Matt Smith, Morbius) and his own barbed American spouse Dally (Caleb Landry Jones, Nitram) have turned into a holiday home. Sympathy isn't designed to head that pair's way, either; "we couldn't have done it without our little Moroccan friends," Richard announces to kick off their weekend-long housewarming party. But when the Hennigers arrive late after tragically hitting a local boy, Driss (Omar Ghazaoui, American Odyssey), en route, the mood shifts — but also doesn't. The wicked turns of phrase that David slings at Jo have nothing on his disdain for the place and people around him, and he doesn't care who hears it. His assessment of the desert vista: "it's very picturesque, I suppose, in a banal sort of way". He drips with the prejudice of privilege, whether offensively spouting Islamophobic remarks or making homophobic comments about his hosts — and he doesn't, nay won't, rein himself in when Richard calls the police, reports the boy's death, pays the appropriate bribes and proclaims that their bacchanal won't otherwise be disturbed. The arrival of Driss' father Abdellah (Ismael Kanater, Queen of the Desert), and his request that David accompanies him home to bury his son, complicates matters, however. While David begrudgingly agrees, insultingly contending that it's a shakedown, Jo helps keep the party going, enjoying time alone to flirt with hedge fund manager Tom (Christopher Abbott, Possessor). John Michael McDonagh hasn't ever co-helmed a feature with his filmmaker brother Martin, but actors have jumped between the duo's respective works, with Fiennes — who starred in Martin's memorable In Bruges — among the latest. The siblings share something else, too, and not just a knack for assembling impressive casts; they're equally ace at fleshing out the characters inhabited by their dazzling on-screen cohorts via witty and telling dialogue. The Forgiven plays like it's in autopilot, though, but having Fiennes, Chastain, Smith and Jones (who appeared in Martin's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) utter its lines is a gift. Indeed, here it's the attitudes captured while they're speaking, and the behaviours and mannerisms made plain in how they're speaking, that add layer upon layer to this murky affair. That'd ring true even if Driss, Abdellah and the tense journey with the latter to inter the former weren't even in the narrative. Read our full review. FULL TIME Perhaps the greatest trick the devil ever pulled — the devil that is time, the fact that we all have to get out of bed each and every morning, and the sleep-killing noise signalling that a new day is here — was to create alarm clocks in a variety of sounds. Some are quiet, soft, calming and even welcoming, rather than emitting a juddering screech, but the effect always remains the same. Whatever echoes from which device, if your daily routine is a treadmill of relentless havoc, that din isn't going to herald smiles or spark a spring in anyone's step. The alarm that kickstarts each morning in Full Time isn't unusual or soothing. It isn't overly obnoxious or horrifying either. But the look on Laure Calamy's face each time that it goes off, in the split second when her character is remembering everything that her day will bring, is one of pure exhaustion and exasperation — and it'd love to murder that unwanted wake-up siren. That expression couldn't be more relatable, as much in Full Time is, even if you've never been a single mother living on the outskirts of Paris, navigating a train strike, endeavouring to trade up one job for another for a better future, and juggling kids, bills, and just getting to and from work. At the 2021 Venice International Film Festival, Antoinette in the Cévennes and Call My Agent! star Calamy won the Best Actress award in the event's Horizons strand for her efforts here — and while the accolade didn't come her way for a single gaze, albeit repeated throughout the movie, it easily could've. Mere minutes into Full Time, it's plain to see why she earned herself such a prize beyond that withering gape, however. Calamy is that phenomenal in this portrait of a weary market researcher-turned-hotel chambermaid's hectic life, playing the part like she's living it. In our own ways, most of us are. The first time the alarm sounds, Julie Roy (Calamy) is already lethargic and frustrated; indeed, writer/director Eric Gravel (Crash Test Aglaé), who won the Venice Horizons Best Director gong himself, charts the ups and downs of his protagonist's professional and personal situation like he's making an unflagging thriller. In fact, he is. Julie is stretched to breaking point from the get-go, and every moment of every day seems to bring a new source of stress. For starters, her job overseeing the cleaning at a five-star hotel in the city is both chaotic and constantly throwing up challenges, and the hints dropped by her boss (Anne Suarez, Black Spot) about the punishment for not living up to her demands — aka being fired — don't help. Julie has put all her hopes on returning to market research anyway, but getting time off for the interview is easier said than done, especially when the French capital is in the middle of a transport strike that makes commuting in and out from the countryside close to impossible. Also adding to Julie's troubles is well, everything. The childcare arrangement she has in place with a neighbour (Geneviève Mnich, Change of Heart) is also precarious, thanks to threats of quitting and calling social services. Having any energy to spend meaningful time with her children at the end of her busy days is nothing but a fantasy, too. Trying to get financial support out of her absent ex is a constant battle, especially given he won't answer the phone — and the bank won't stop calling about her overdue mortgage payments. It's also her son Nolan's (J'ai tué mon mari) birthday, so there are gifts to buy, plus a party to organise and throw. Julie is so frazzled that having a drink with her best friend is a luxury she doesn't have time for, because some other task always beckons. And when a father from her village, the kindly Vincent (Cyril Gueï, The Perfect Mother), helps her out not once but twice, she's so starved of affection that she instantly misreads his intentions. Read our full review. MURDER PARTY With apologies to William Shakespeare, all the world isn't just a stage in French farce Murder Party. Instead, it's a game, then another one, then yet another after that. This candy-coloured murder-mystery takes perhaps the ultimate high-concept setup and hones in on a crucial fact: that audiences love whodunnits, whether they're watching them on the screen or reading them on the page, because charting the unravelling details entails sleuthing along. In other words, when we're wondering who killed who in which room and why (and with what weapon), we're playing. The board game Cluedo also nailed this truth, as have murder-mystery parties, plus the increasing array of other interactive shows and events that thrust paying participants into the middle of such puzzle-laden predicaments. And while Murder Party acknowledges this idea in a variety of manners, here's the first and simplest: it's set among a family famed for making best-selling board games themselves. First-time feature writer/director Nicolas Pleskof and his co-scribe Elsa Marpeau (Prof T) kickstart the film with a killer setup: that eccentric crew of relatives, their brightly hued home on a sprawling country estate, an usual task given to a newcomer and, naturally, a sudden passing. Architect Jeanne Chardon-Spitzer (Alice Pol, Labor Day) is asked to pitch a big renovation project to the Daguerre family, transforming their impressive abode so that living there always feels like playing a game (or several). Patriarch César (Eddy Mitchell, The Middleman) already encourages his brood to enjoy their daily existence with that in mind anyway, including dedicating entire days to letting loose and walking, talking and breathing gameplay. But he's looking for a particularly bold next step. He's unimpressed by Jeanne's routine proposal, in fact. Then he drops dead, the property's doors slam shut and a voice over the intercom tells the architect, plus everyone else onsite, to undertake a series of challenges to ascertain the culprit among them — or be murdered themselves. Also thrust into the high-stakes game, which'll dispense with anyone who refuses to take part or guesses incorrectly: César's son Théo (Pablo Pauly, The French Dispatch), daughter Léna (Sarah Stern, Into the World) and nudgingly named youngest boy Hercule (Adrien Guionnet, Le Bazar de la Charité). Yes, sibling rivalry complicates the hypothesising, as well as the attempts to stay alive. Théo is particularly friendly towards workaholic Jeanne, adding another complexity to the already-chaotic situation. Similarly at hand is the dead man's younger wife Salomé (Pascale Arbillot, Haute Couture) — a mystery writer herself — and his no-nonsense offsider sister Joséphine (Miou-Miou, The Last Mercenary). And, because a home this immense was always going to have some help hovering around, butler Armand (Gustave Kervern, Love Song for Tough Guys) gets drawn in, too. If Amelie and Knives Out combined, the end result would look like Murder Party. If Wes Anderson and Agatha Christie joined forces, the outcome would be the same. It's highly unlikely that Pleskof was ever going to call his feature Murder in the Game-Filled Mansion or Death While Rolling the Dice, but that's the overwhelming vibe. There's an escape room element, too — thankfully, though, nodding towards the Escape Room franchise isn't on the agenda. Murder Party's characters get stuck in intricately designed locked spaces and forced to piece together clues to secure their freedom, and are only permitted to remain breathing by keeping their wits about them, but no one's in a horror movie here. Read our full review. THE REEF: STALKED In the crowded waters of cinema's shark-attack genre, which first took a hefty bite out of the box office with mega hit Jaws and then spawned plenty of imitators since, a low-budget Australian effort held its own back in 2010. The second movie from writer/director Andrew Traucki after his crocodile-attack flick Black Water, The Reef wasn't ever going to rake in enough takings to threaten the larger fish, but the stripped-back survival-thriller was grippingly effective. As Black Water did with 2020's Black Water: Abyss, the creature-feature helmer's shark film has now be given a sequel — and like Traucki's other franchise, this followup is a routine splash. The filmmaker keeps most of the basics the same, casting out a remakequel, aka a movie about basically the same scenario but with different faces. No, Traucki isn't seeking a bigger boat, or even to rock the one he has. The Reef: Stalked does make one curious new choice, however, stemming from its nine-months-earlier prologue. The film's opening sequences set up quite the harrowing source of trauma for protagonist Nic (Teressa Liane, The Vampire Diaries), and also clumsily equate domestic violence with the ocean's predators in the process. The aim is to show how Nic and her youngest sister Annie (debutant Saskia Archer) refuse to become victims after their other sibling Cathy (Bridget Burt, Camp-Off) is stalked and savaged in a different way, devastatingly and fatally so, at the hands of her partner Greg (Tim Ross, Dive Club). Drawing attention to assaults against women and femicide is a worthy mission, but it lacks bite here. Traucki's metaphor is as clear as the sky on a cloud-free day, and yet the domestic abuse plot point primarily plays as a way to complicate Nic as a character — PTSD flashes and all — rather than make a meaningful statement about violence within intimate relationships. After finding Cathy herself, Nic is so understandably distressed that she heads as far away as she can, but returns from overseas for a big diving and kayaking trip that was important to her sister. With friends Jodie (Ann Truong, Cowboy Bebop) and Lisa (Kate Lister, Clickbait), as well as Annie — who isn't known for enjoying the water, let alone for handling herself on it — they embark on a multi-day paddle. It isn't long until a different sinister force terrorises their getaway, though; even if you don't already know what "the man in the grey suit" refers to in surfer slang, this is a shark-attack sequel, after all. Aside from the haunting shots taking Nic back to Cathy's last moments, everything about The Reef: Stalked plays out as expected from the moment the quartet set off from north Queensland. Cue the obligatory waves of jump scares, many efficiently staged but their impact lessening as they just keep coming in increasingly predictable ways (when shark flicks are happy to swim by the numbers, if you've seen one movie like The Reef, 47 Metres Down, The Shallows, Bait, The Meg and the like, it feels like you've seen them all). Cue the tension that springs from the film's characters rarely being close enough to the shore to escape — but, when it's convenient, being close enough for kids playing on the beach to become potential fodder. Cue a score by Mark Smythe (Love You Like That) that tells viewers exactly how to react at every moment, too, and dampens the thrills and frights as a result. Still, Traucki has cast The Reef: Stalked well, enough that buying Nic and company's life-or-death stress comes easily. Trusting them, rather than clunkily overcomplicating the setup — no matter how well-intentioned — might've resulted in a better return to The Reef. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on April 7, April 14, April 21 and April 28; and May 5, May 12, May 19 and May 26; June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14 and July 21. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbledore, Ambulance, Memoria, The Lost City, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Happening, The Good Boss, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, The Northman, Ithaka, After Yang, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara, This Much I Know to Be True, The Innocents, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bob's Burgers Movie, Ablaze, Hatching, Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing and Official Competition.
Whether you like it or not, summer's balmy weather is set to last a little bit longer this year, with most of Australia forecast to score a hotter-than-average autumn. Off the back of a record-breaking summer — with January the hottest month ever recorded in Australia — the good folk at the Bureau of Meteorology have released their climate outlook for the March to May period, revealing that most of the country is in for warmer days and stickier nights than we usually see at this time of year. Yep, the soupy weather is set to continue. In fact, if you call mainland Australia home, there's an 80 percent chance you'll experience autumn temperatures that are a whole lot warmer than the median. To give an idea of exactly what that all means, the average daily maximum temperature for March sits at around 24.2 degrees in Melbourne, 24.8 in Sydney and 29.1 in Brisbane. In May, it's around 16.7 degrees for Melbourne, with 19.5 for Sydney and 24.5 for Brisbane. The BOM is forecasting that we'll see warmer than that across the three months. Unfortunately for farmers, large parts of the north are looking to struggle through drier-than-average autumns, too. The southern part of the country, however, is expected to cop the usual rainfall. Looking further into the year — and getting a touch technical — the BOM's senior hydrologist, Dr Robert Pipunic, says there's a 50 percent chance of El Niño forming over the next couple of months, which is double the normal risk this time of year. This means we could see warmer-than-average temperatures and low levels of rainfall continue into winter, too. If you'd like to know more about what exactly El Niño is, and how it impacts Australia, the BOM has a whole heap of fun facts over here. NSW folk survived their second-warmest autumn on record last year, with the statewide mean temperature clocking in at 1.88 degrees hotter than the average. And let's not forget that in 2018, overall, Australia copped its third-warmest year ever. With another sweaty autumn on the way, 2019 looks well set to steal that title. Image: Mark Chew for Visit Victoria.
We're not big fans of food celebration days, but we are big fans of doughnuts. Especially free ones. And this Friday, June 1 — 'International Doughnut Day', if you will — a heap of shops around the city will be giving away thousands of doughnuts to mark the occasion. Whether you like them hollowed and glazed or sugared and stuffed with Nutella, you'll find them — for free. A word of warning: you'll need to get in early. Nothing draws a crowd like free doughnuts. If you miss out, or your sweet tooth still isn't sated, check out one of our favourite Melbourne doughnut shops. OASIS BAKERY, MURRUMBEENA The legendary Oasis Bakery is getting into the spirit by giving away a hefty 10,000 free doughnuts. Fans can choose from the bakery's two most popular cult creations — the classic jam-filled version, or one stuffed with a hit of Nutella. They're up for grabs from 8am through 9pm. What? 10,000 doughnuts from 8am DANDEE DONUTS, DANDENONG MARKET The colourful Dandee Donuts truck has got around town plenty in the past five decades, though, these days, it's best recognised as a mainstay of the Dandenong Markets, slinging hot, jammy, sugared doughnuts to the masses four days a week. These guys are preparing for a huge International Doughnut Day, with two trucks on site to keep up with demand. Visit either window between 8am and 4pm this Friday, to score one free classic doughnut per person. What? Free doughnuts from 8am until sold out [caption id="attachment_670537" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Credit: Simon Shiff [/caption] PONTOON, ST KILDA If you like the sound of a free warm doughnut, matched to some spiffy bay views, put St Kilda hotspot Pontoon on your radar for this Friday. The beachside bar and eatery is celebrating this international food day by handing out hundreds of its signature sugared doughnuts, from midday until they're all gone. These little beauties have been going gangbusters since hitting the menu this autumn, so don't dally. What? Free doughnuts from midday until sold out GOLDELUCK'S, EASTLAND SHOPPING CENTRE Croydon South bakery Goldeluck's has earned itself quite the reputation for its artisanal pastry creations, from clever riffs on the classic doughnut, to the doughnut-croissant hybrid it has dubbed the 'dossant'. And a whole lot of each variety will be walking out the door of Goldeluck's new Eastland store for free this Friday. From 9am, the first 50 customers to purchase a coffee will score a free doughnut to match. Then, there's another swag of free doughnuts going to the first 100 customers from 6.30pm, with the first person in line gifted a nine-pack of doughnuts and the following five punters walking away with a four-pack. To claim yours, you'll need to RSVP to Goldeluck's Facebook event and share it to your own page. What? 50 free doughnuts (with coffee purchase) from 9am, 100 from 6.30pm KRISPY KREME, VARIOUS STORES Melbourne has no shortage of artisan doughnut makers, but if you're in the mood for something a little more mainstream, you'll be chuffed to know that the folks at Krispy Kreme are also jumping on the International Doughnut Day bandwagon. On June 1, the group is set to give away a huge 50,000 original glazed doughnuts across its dedicated stores in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria. There's a limit of one per person — best check your local store's opening hours so you can be one of the first in line. What? 50,000 doughnuts nationally, visit your local store SHORTSTOP COFFEE & DONUTS, MELBOURNE Raised, filled, cake or cruller, Shortstop explores the boundaries of doughnut experimentation, spanning the entire flavour spectrum and borrowing a few international influences along the way. And this Friday it's jumping on the doughnut-day bandwagon and is giving away 700 free doughnuts to sweet-toothed punters. One classic cinnamon cake doughnut will be given away with every transaction, from 7.30am till they sell out. What? 700 free doughnuts (with purchase) from 7.30am HONOURABLE MENTION: COP SHOP ESPRESSO, HAWTHORN Hawthorn's Cop Shop Espresso might not be giving out any free doughnuts this International Doughnut Day, though it does have a pretty tidy deal for anyone looking to mark the occasion in style. Head in from 7am on June 1, purchase any house-made doughnut and they'll swing you a small, standard coffee, on the house. Recent doughnut hits include salted caramel, peanut butter and jelly, and a passionfruit-filled, pink-glazed number. What? Free coffee with doughnut purchase from 7am–5pm
Paul Allam and David McGuinness opened Bourke St Bakery in 2004 and worked their way into the heart of inner-Sydney with their quality handmade baked goods. This month they will extend their reach to the city’s outskirts with the launch of The Bread & Butter Project, the 'Makers of Bakers', a social enterprise designed to skill-up the disenfranchised and take the tastes of Bourke St to high-end provedores, restaurants and cafes — it's an old-fashioned everybody wins scheme. The project will be starting up at their Marrickville bakery with six refugees coming on board from greater Sydney for a 12-month paid traineeship in the art of making some of this city's best bread. On graduation the trainees will not only have experience working at a high-standard bakery but be armed with TAFE-accredited credentials for the jobs marketplace. All profits from the enterprise will be reinvested back into the program, which hopes to double its intake of future bakers next year. But it's not just goodwill that will keep the bitter taste in your mouth at bay; the bread range is available on their website, and with offerings like a white chia and goji berry semi-sourdough, this initiative looks set to follow in the success of its older siblings, Bourke St Bakery and Wilbur's Place eatery. Bread & Butter will soon be available at DJs Food Halls in Bondi Junction and the CBD, along with Thomas Dux Crows Nest and from the Sydney Food Connect Organic Fruit and Vegetable Delivery Service. Bread will also be available direct to the public through local markets — The Entertainment Quarter and The Sydney Morning Herald Grower's Market in Pyrmont — and at select restaurants and cafes.
Historically, 'beautiful' is probably not the first word you'd pick to describe your local butcher shop. But then again, Victor Churchill isn't your average meat store. For Sydneysiders, the name is a familiar one, with the butcher's OG Woollahra site an eastern suburbs staple since opening in 2009. Anthony Bourdain famously once called it 'the most beautiful butcher in the world'. And now, it's Melbourne's turn, as the Victor Churchill stable expands to include a new southern flagship on Armadale's High Street. Opened this month in a former bank, the new store will more than 'meat' your expectations of a butcher, boasting a specialty charcuterie counter, wine bar, grocery corner, retail booze offering and lunch counter, along with its premium curation of meat products. It's an undeniably dapper space, too, all warm timber, green marble floors and chic copper accents, with dry-ageing meat hung theatrically as if in a gallery. [caption id="attachment_832900" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pete Dillon[/caption] The brand is a family affair, founded and run by Anthony Puharich and his fourth-generation butcher father, Victor. And together they've built some serious pedigree, with their wholesale business Vic's Premium Quality Meat a longtime supplier of top Melbourne restaurants including Attica, Flower Drum and Grossi Florentino. Here at the new Armadale outpost, Victor Churchill is continuing its legacy of serving top-quality protein sourced from leading Aussie producers. As with its sibling, the store also does away with the traditional physical butcher's counter, in an effort to make the shopping experience more inviting and personal. The aforementioned wine bar is an intimate, 12-seat space at the back of the venue, where you can settle in for a glass of vino, a cocktail and — from next year — dinner. Here, a Josper charcoal-fuelled rotisserie, charcoal oven and basque grill will guide a menu filled with top-notch meat, charcuterie and seafood. Think, steak tartare, prawn cocktail and lobster pulled fresh from the tank. [caption id="attachment_832905" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pete Dillon[/caption] Meanwhile, your future picnicking endeavours will be well serviced by the bumper charcuterie counter, which is stocked with an ever-evolving selection of house-made patés, terrines and snags, plus savoury goodies whipped up by the house pastry chefs. While you're there, you can shop a considered retail curation of seasonal produce, pantry staples and wine. And you probably shouldn't leave without grabbing one of the signature lunchtime rolls, loaded with rotisserie chicken or hot roast beef. Find Victor Churchill's new Melbourne flagship at 953 High Street, Armadale. The store is open 9am–6pm weekdays, 8am–6pm Saturdays and 9am–5pm Sundays, while the bar is open 12–6pm Mondays–Saturday and 12–5pm Sundays. Images: Pete Dillon, Paul Gosney (interiors)
"Well sir, there's no easy way to say this. Your wife isn't who she says she is." So starts the just-dropped full trailer for the fifth season of Fargo, the anthology TV show inspired by the big-screen Coen brothers masterpiece. Spinning blackly comedic crime tales just like the movie, this series charts a different caper with each go-around — and enlists a different cast, too — with the wife being spoken about here played by Ted Lasso's Juno Temple. Like season one, two and the movie, Fargo season five spends its time in Minnesota and North Dakota. The year: 2019. Dorothy 'Dot' Lyon (Temple) is the otherwise-ordinary person falling afoul of the law, or so it seems. Indeed, as her husband Wayne (David Rysdahl, Oppenheimer) learns, she not an average Midwestern housewife. And, as also seen in two prior sneak peeks, there's plenty more to this story. With Jon Hamm (Good Omens) also starring as Roy Tillman, the North Dakota Sheriff (and preacher) on Dot's trail, this tale is set to get twisty fast — and also include a heap of other familiar faces. Joining Temple, Hamm and Rysdahl: Jennifer Jason Leigh (Hunters), Joe Keery (Stranger Things), Lamorne Morris (Woke), Richa Moorjani (Never Have I Ever), Sam Spruell (The Gold) and Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall). In a case of spectacular casting, Keery will put his famous hair to good use as Tillman's son Gator, in a franchise that also loves unpacking the ties of blood that bind and cause chaos. Spruell plays a drifter who is enlisted to help on the search for Dot, while Leigh hops onboard as Wayne's mother, aka the 'Queen of Debt' thanks to being a debt collection company CEO — and Foley plays her in-house counsel. Among the cops, there's Moorjani as a deputy from Minnesota and Morris as a North Dakota counterpart. Oh you betcha there's accents, crime capers, dedicated cops, and people doing dark deeds for selfish reasons and then getting karmic comeuppance, with Fargo season five arriving in Australia via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22. 2023 marks almost a decade since writer, director and producer Noah Hawley leapt from Bones, The Unusuals and My Generation to diving back into crime in often-frosty American places with sly laughs. The first two seasons arrived back to back in 2014 and 2015, with season three then following in 2017 and season four in 2020. Now, after another three-year gap, the show returns with another new story and cast, but still set in the same world as the Fargo movie. Check out the full trailer for Fargo season five below: Fargo season five will start streaming via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22. Images: Michelle Faye/FX.
Eiffel 65's 1998 hit 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' doesn't play over the first trailer for Avatar: The Way of Water, but you're forgiven if you get it stuck in your head anyway. The 97-second clip comes with a sweeping score by composer Simon Franglen (a veteran of the first film) that's designed to set an ethereal and epic mood — but blue really is the colour of all that it wears. If you saw James Cameron's initial entry in this sci-fi franchise back in 2009 — and given that the original Avatar quickly became the highest-grossing film of all time, it's highly likely that you did, because seemingly everyone did — then all those shades of blue won't come as a surprise. They're splashed across the movie's CGI-filled waters, skies and Na'vi people, and across the first look at its long-awaited sequel as well. Yes, 13 years after the first flick became such an enormous hit, there really is evidence that the long-floated follow-up will reach cinemas this year. Avatar: The Way of Water is one of those movies that you might only truly believe exists once you're sat in a theatre watching it, though, because it has been in the works for that long. It's currently set to reach the silver screen Down Under this December, stepping back into the story of the Sully family, aka Jake (Sam Worthington, Fires), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana, The Adam Project) and their children, on the habitable moon Pandora. This time around, staying safe and alive remains a focus — and, from the just-dropped trailer, it looks like more battles are a-coming. The initial clip, which started screening in cinemas with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness but has only just made its way online, doesn't spell out much in the way of plot, however. Given that Avatar wowed viewers mainly due to its imagery and special effects (and definitely not its "Dances with Wolves but in space"-style narrative), that too is hardly astonishing. Also set to feature amid all those pixels: Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters: Afterlife), Stephen Lang (Don't Breathe 2), Cliff Curtis (Reminiscence), Joel David Moore (Bones), CCH Pounder (Godzilla: King of the Monsters), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown) and Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement. And, obviously, James Cameron is back in the director's chair. If the sneak peek has you excited about re-entering Avatar's blue-heavy world, get ready for more where that came from. A third movie is due in 2024, a fourth in 2026 and a fifth in 2028. Also, the original Avatar will return to cinemas in September, in the lead-up to Avatar: The Way of Water. (And no, there's no word yet whether a team-up with The Smurfs, Sonic the Hedgehog and the Blue Man Group might ever be in the works.) Check out the trailer below: Avatar: The Way of Water releases in cinemas Down Under on December 15. Images: Photos courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
She's already sporting a diverse lineup of eateries, a program of live tunes, art installations and even a boutique bottle shop. Now, Melbourne's new CBD food and entertainment precinct Ella has added to the family again, this time with a venue that's sure to impress the city's cocktail aficionados. Cocktail bar Byrdi is the latest venture and first Aussie project for Luke Whearty and Aki Nishikura — the bartending masterminds responsible for Singapore's multi award-winning Operation Dagger. Given the venue has claimed a spot among the World's 50 Best Bars for four years running (and currently sits at number 30), we're expecting Byrdi to bring some pretty exciting things to the party. At the bar, seasonality and locality aren't just passing flings — they're at the heart of absolutely everything Whearty and Nishikura do. Expect a constantly evolving cocktail list that showcases local ingredients sourced at their peak, with no two visits to be the same. Native botanicals are set to star throughout, while the 40-seat space itself heroes sustainable materials like bluestone and coconut husk flooring. [caption id="attachment_748355" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] Right now, you'll find sips like the In Bloome — a mix of freshly hand-picked jasmine, gin, Applewood's Red Okar, lavender tincture, mandarin vinegar and a house-made pear blossom liqueur. There's a handful of house-fermented creations, too, including a take on the much-loved Weis Bar with fermented Northern Territory mango, Gippsland cream and mango vinegar — along with highballs and a tight rotation of local craft beers and wines. The funky drops get plenty of airtime here, as do ingredients like strawberry gum and smoked davidson plum. The food lineup is concise, but clever, also built around local, seasonal goodies. Find the likes of tempura salt and vinegar green beans, grilled tiger prawns teamed with finger lime and broccolini matched with a fortified macadamia cream. Tired of decisions? Settle in with the three-course ($75) or five-course ($120) food and drink pairing menu. Byrdi joins Ella's ever-growing collection of food and drink haunts, alongside the likes of Chilli Everest, Lomah, Sam Sam and Reverie. Find Byrdi at Ella, corner Elizabeth and La Trobe streets, Melbourne. It's open from 10am–1am daily. Images: Kate Shanasy
The weather outside may be frightful, but the banter with your mates is always delightful. It's well past time to invite your favourites over for a catch-up and a tipple. Want to impress your mates with your cocktail prowess? Check out these twists on classic cocktails — an ideal way to elevate your evening in. Pick your spirit and let's get mixing. TEQUILA — TEQUILA AND CHILL Instead of the classic paloma or tequila mockingbird, surprise your guests with a sophisticated spin on both with the addition of Chambord to your tequila of choice. Ingredients - 45ml Herradura Plata Tequila - 15ml Chambord - Cranberry juice - Lemonade/lemon soda - Mint leaves - Fresh lime Method Add Herradura Plata, Chambord, mint leaves and two squeezed lime wedges to a tall or highball glass. To increase the mint flavour, clap the leaves in your hands first — you might look silly, but it works. Fill the glass with ice and top with equal parts cranberry juice and lemonade. Stir to combine and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint, rosemary and lime wheel or go the extra mile with a dehydrated lime wheel. To make the dehydrated lime wheel, either use a dehydrator (obvious) or place lime wheels in a low-temperature oven for a few hours until all the juice has evaporated and you're left with a crisp garnish. GIN — EURO SUMMER Everyone seems to be jetting off for their European summer. Bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your chilly apartment with this cocktail. The secret is using a gin that is made with botanicals that evoke tastes of the Italian coastline. Gin Mare fits the bill as it uses olives, basil and other fresh herbs for its botanicals. Pair with some bruschetta and tiramisu and rug up with your blanket and imagine you're summering in Europe with your mates. Ingredients - 60ml Gin Mare - 30ml Lemon juice - 20ml Sugar syrup - Fresh basil and rosemary Method Grab your cocktail shaker and add all the ingredients. Shake and strain using a fine mesh strainer into a chilled glass filled with ice. Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and enjoy. RUM — WINTER SWIZZLE Rum is a dark spirit that showing up more and more on drinks lists in the city. It's a sweet alternative to peaty scotch or fragrant gin and is perfect for cooler nights. You could go for a classic dark 'n stormy or Moscow Mule, but if you want to elevate your evening, try this spin on a swizzle. Ingredients - 60ml Diplomático Rum - 10ml sugar syrup - Two dashes of aromatic bitters - 15ml cloudy apple juice Method Rum Swizzle recipes vary, but most have three ingredients in common: rum, fruit juice and a sweetener. To make this wintry version, add all ingredients to a chilled rocks glass, add ice and stir to combine. Top with fresh ice and a twist of orange peel or cinnamon stick. WHISKY — SCOTCH CITRUS SODA Sometimes the answer isn't a hot toddy, although they are always a good call when the winter chill sets in. If you have a scotch in your collection that you've been looking for a nice way to enjoy, why not opt for this citrusy take on a whisky soda? Perfect for cooler arvos on your (or your mate's balcony). Ingredients - 45ml Glendronach 12 yo - Fever Tree Clementine (orange tonic water) - Two dashes of aromatic bitters Method Get your highball glass and add ice. Pour in your scotch, orange tonic water and a couple of dashes of bitters. Stir to combine and garnish with a fresh orange slice. Go a step further and pair with baked brie with marmalade and walnuts. BOURBON — CANDY CANE Bourbon is a great cocktail base. Arguably some of the best and classic cocktails came from the States and so it isn't a surprise that their spirit is perfect for the practice with its smooth vanilla notes and slightly sweet characters. Instead of going down the savoury cocktail route, ramp up the sweetness and toast to your mates with this tasty, fruity and sweet spin on a whisky sour. Ingredients - 45ml Jack Daniel's Bonded - 15ml Chambord - 30ml lemon juice - 20ml sugar syrup - 15ml egg white or aquafaba (aka the juice from a can of chickpeas) - Two dashes of chocolate bitters Method Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker without ice and shake vigorously to get the egg white or aquafaba nice and foamy. Add ice and shake again. Strain through a fine strainer into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel, or amp up the berry flavours of the Chambord with fresh raspberries. Top Image: Gin Mare.
The country's next big natural wine event is coming to the Sapphire Coast this August — and it'll be anything but ordinary. Nattie by Nature will transform a sprawling heritage estate into a blowout bash with lots of wine, live music, craft spirits, local produce and party vibes aplenty. It's run by Shady Pines' long-time manager Alen Nikolovski, who recently moved down to Merimbula, and his Sapphire Coast mates Ryde Pennefather and Di McDonald. "We all love drinking booze but hate boring tastings, so we decided to put on a tasting event with a party atmosphere," says Nikolovski. "It started out as just a small thing, but has grown to fit 300 people." This army of wine fans will be hosted in South Pambula's Historic Grange, a stunning 1850s heritage estate that extends across 13 acres. The space is owned — and was fitted out — by Jason Scott (formerly of the Swillhouse Group), so expect design elements reminiscent of both Baxter Inn and Shady Pines to accompany the country barn stylings. The Nattie by Nature team has gathered its favourite winemakers from around the country for this one. Drops on offer will include Greek-style wines from Southern Highlands' Ari's Natural Wine Co, small batch vinos from Clunes' Jilly Wines and certified biodynamic bottles from Adelaide Hills' Ngeringa. Plus, the Otway Ranges' Chevre Wines, Geelong's Livewire Wines, Whitlands' Konpira Maru and Canberra's Mallaluka will all host stalls, too. Enmore's P&V Merchants will make its way down south, too, as will boutique distributor Whole Bunch Wines. Apart from all the wines, the event will feature a tinnie bar by Yulli's Brews, a bloody marys stand by Patio Beverages and a gin bar by Sapphire Coast local North Eden Gin — who will also put on a live gin distillation. For eats, both Merimbula and Sydney producers will join the party. You'll be able to snag Pambula oysters from Broadwater, smoked seafood platters from Eden Smokehouse and baked goods from Wild Ryes Bakery, which is creating three pie and wine pairings just for the event. Local cheese gurus Tilba will also team up with LP's Quality Meats for some next-level charcuterie boards. And since it isn't a party without live music, soul and R&B band Immy & The Hookup will take the stage and a vinyl DJ will finish off the night with funky tunes. Located six hours' drive south of Sydney (or a one hour flight) and seven hours north of Melbourne, you'll likely want to make a weekend of it. We recommend Woodbine Park Eco Cabins and Coast Resort Merimbula, or these stunning homes on Airbnb. The inaugural Nattie by Nature will take place on August 3 at the Historic Grange, 15A Northview Drive, South Pambula. It'll run from noon–8pm and there will be a free shuttle bus between Merimbula and Pambula all day long. Tickets are $35.50 a pop and on sale now.
Beef starts with two strangers meeting, but there's absolutely nothing cute about it. Sparks don't fly and hearts don't flutter; instead, this pair grinds each other's gears. In a case of deep and passionate hate at first sight, Danny Cho (Steven Yeun, Nope) and Amy Lau (Ali Wong, Paper Girls) give their respective vehicles' gearboxes a workout, in fact, after he begins to pull out of a hardware store carpark, she honks behind him, and lewd hand signals and terse words are exchanged. Food is thrown, streets are angrily raced down, gardens are ruined, accidents are barely avoided, and the name of Vin Diesel's famous car franchise springs to mind, aptly describing how bitterly these two strangers feel about each other — and how quickly. Created by Lee Sung Jin, who has It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dave and Silicon Valley on his resume before this ten-part Netflix and A24 collaboration, Beef also commences with a simple, indisputable and deeply relatable fact. Danny could've just let Amy beep as much as she liked, then waved, apologised and driven away. Amy could've been more courteous about sounding her horn, and afterwards. But each feels immediately slighted by the other, isn't willing to stand for such an indignity and becomes consumed by their trivial spat. Whether you're a struggling contractor hardly making ends meet, as he is, or a store-owning entrepreneur trying to secure a big deal, as she is — or, if you're both, neither or anywhere in-between — pettiness reigning supreme is basic human nature. If you've ever gotten irrationally irate about a minor incident, this new standout understands. Episode by episode, it sees that annoyance fester and exasperation grow, too. Streaming in full from Thursday, April 6 just in time for Easter long-weekend binges, Beef spends its run with two people who can't let go of their instant rage, keep trying to get the other back, get even more incensed in response, and just add more fuel to the fire again and again until their whole existence is a blaze of revenge. If you've ever taken a small thing and blown it wildly out of proportion, Beef is also on the same wavelength. And if any of the above has ever made you question your entire life — or just the daily grind of endeavouring to get by, having everything go wrong, feeling unappreciated and constantly working — Beef might just feel like it was made for you. For Los Angeles resident Danny, Amy's rudeness is just another source of frustration on what seems like an endless list. He was only in her vicinity at all to return a heap of grills, but the shop assistant was snarky, he couldn't find his receipt and ended up taking them home again anyway. He's also exhausted from continuously needing to hustle for work, and from ill-mannered customers — all while getting attitude from his younger brother Paul (Young Mazino, Prodigal Son), who he's doing his best to look out for. Then there's his quest to make enough cash to bring his parents (first-timers Jerry Hanjoo Kim and Gina Lee) back from Korea after the motel they ran fell on hard times, plus the shady get-rich-quick shenanigans that his fresh-out-of-prison cousin Isaac (David Choe, The Mandalorian) is always plunging him into. For the Calabasas-dwelling Amy, there's always something to deal with — Danny's ute almost reversing into her SUV is just the latest. Her artist husband George (Joseph Lee, Searching) plays primary parent to their anxious daughter Junie (Remy Holt, The Afterparty), which means that she's the overworked financial provider via her designer plant company (and getting grief from his mother Fumi, played by Pretty Little Liars' Patti Yasutake, for it). That's involved years of toiling hard to establish the business, and make it a success. She's also spent the past two years attracting Jordan Forster (Maria Bello, NCIS), who owns the chain of hardware stores that leads her to Danny, to buy her out. All that she wants is to enjoy time with her family, but finalising the deal requires jumping through the eccentric billionaire's many hoops, even while getting insider tips from her sister-in-law Naomi (Ashley Park, Girls5eva). There's a chalk-and-cheese air to Danny and Amy's dynamic early, as Beef gets them duelling as seeming opposites. But as their fight escalates — and, from road rage to urine-soaked floors, catfishing, sabotaging careers and more, it escalates to dowright civilian warfare — they're united in their immature pettiness, their many flaws, and their individual despair over where life has taken them and why. Beef is smartly penned as a dual character study of an unhappy pair stuck between quarter-life and midlife crises, striving to move forward but treading water, and terrified of losing what they've worked for. It's a portrait of two people fracturing and fraying well before they set each other off, and it knows and sees how little that truly separates Danny and Amy, especially when they can't spy that themselves. Beef is also smart about the vengeance- and obsession-seasoned stew it splashes across the screen: its Los Angeles setting, its masterful tonal swerves from deep drama to dark comedy and back again, its treasure trove of hostilities, its willingness to get Lynchian, its lived-in characters from its central duo down to its supporting players, and the generosity and sympathy that it shows everyone even at their worst. Its brightest move in a show filled with bright moves is casting Minari Oscar-nominee Yeun and Always Be My Maybe's Wong, however. Each is exceptional. That's a word that keeps being directed Yeun's way, and deservedly — see Minari, Nope, Burning, Okja, his skit on I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson — but it demands screaming here as he navigates such a range of scenarios, emotions, squabbles, revelations, sources of inner turmoil, and stints of both physical and witty comedy. As an actor, Wong has never been better, also while taking the same journey. And whether they're shouting at or plotting against each other, they're dynamite together. At the end of episode one, with Danny and Amy enlivened by their feud — living for it, even — Beef plays out its debut instalment with Hoobstank's 'The Reason'. Its words are fitting; this twosome is feeding off each other, thriving in their meanest ways and only letting themselves truly be themselves in their newfound enemy's company. That's another of the show's strokes of genius. So is the 90s-heavy soundtrack, which also spans Tori Amos, Smashing Pumpkins, Bush and Offspring like it's Yellowjackets. And, equally as shrewd is the inbuilt acknowledgement that Danny and Amy are mad, sad, disappointed and frustrated about everything, not just each other, but so is everyone around them. We all have beef. "It's always fucking something," as Beef's two leads both espouse and we all feel. Recognising that makes for hilarious, grim, tense, savvy, sometimes-surreal and always-irresistible viewing. Check out the trailer for Beef below: Beef streams via Netflix from Thursday, April 6. Images: Netflix.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. FAST AND FURIOUS 9 Fast cars, furious action stars, a love of family and oh-so-many Coronas: across ten movies over 20 years, that's the Fast and Furious franchise. It might've started out as a high-octane spin on Point Break, but this long-running series has kept motoring across nine flicks in its main storyline, and also via a 2019 spinoff. The latter, Hobbs & Shaw, actually casts a shadow over the saga's latest instalment. Because Dwayne Johnson was part of that sidestep, he doesn't show up in Fast and Furious 9. He's missed, regardless of whether you're usually a diehard fan of the wrestler-turned-actor, because he's managed to perfect the F&F tone. Over his decade-long involvement to-date, Johnson always seems amused in his Fast and Furious performances. He's always sweaty, too, but that's another matter. Entering the F&F realm in Fast Five, he instantly oozed the kind of attitude the franchise needs. He knows that by taking the outlandish stunts, eye-catching setpieces and penchant for family with the utmost seriousness, these films border on comedic — and by navigating five flicks with that mood, he's been the saga's playful and entertaining barometer. Without Johnson, Fast and Furious 9 isn't as willing to admit that it's often downright silly. It's nowhere near as fun, either. Hobbs & Shaw wasn't a franchise standout, but Fast and Furious 9 mainly revs in one gear, even in a movie that features a high-speed car chase through Central American jungles, a plane with a magnet that can scoop up fast-driving vehicles and a trip to space in a rocket car. The latest F&F is as ridiculous as ever, and it's the least-eager F&F film to acknowledge that fact. It's also mostly a soap opera. It leans heavily on its favourite theme — yes, family — by not only swapping in a different wrestler-turned-actor as Dominic Toretto's (Vin Diesel, Bloodshot) long-lost sibling, but also by fleshing out the warring brothers' backstory through flashbacks to their tragic past. Fast and Furious 9 starts with an 80s-era Universal logo, because that's the time period it heads to first — to introduce a teen Dom (Vinnie Bennett, Ghost in the Shell), his never-before-mentioned younger brother Jakob (Finn Cole, Dreamland) and their dad Jack (JD Pardo, Mayans MC). It's 1989, the elder Toretto is behind the wheel on the racetrack, and his sons are part of his pit crew. Then tragedy strikes, tearing the Toretto family apart. In the present day, Dom and Jakob (John Cena, Playing with Fire) definitely don't get along. Indeed, when Roman (Tyrese Gibson, The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two), Tej (Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Show Dogs) and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel, Four Weddings and a Funeral) drive up to the rural hideout that Dom has been calling home with wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez, Crisis) and toddler son Brian (first-timers Isaac and Immanuel Holtane) since the events of 2017's The Fate of the Furious, he doesn't even want to hear about the latest mission that demands their help. The only thing that changes his mind: realising that Jakob is involved and up to no good. Read our full review. VALERIE TAYLOR: PLAYING WITH SHARKS Steven Spielberg directed Jaws, the 1975 horror film that had everyone wondering if it was safe to go back into the water — and the movie that became Hollywood's first blockbuster, too — but he didn't shoot its underwater shark sequences. That task fell to Australian spearfisher and diver-turned-oceanographer and filmmaker Valerie Taylor and her husband Ron, who did so off the coast of Port Lincoln in South Australia. If it weren't for their efforts, the film mightn't have become the popular culture behemoth it is. When one of the animals the Taylors were filming lashed out at a metal cage that had held a stuntman mere moments before, the pair captured one of the picture's most nerve-rattling scenes by accident, in fact. And, before Peter Benchley's novel of the same name was even published, the duo was sent a copy of the book and asked if it would make a good feature (the answer: yes). Helping to make Jaws the phenomenon it is ranks among Valerie's many achievements, alongside surviving polio as a child, her scuba and spearfishing prowess, breaking boundaries by excelling in male-dominated fields in 60s, and the conservation activism that has drawn much of her focus in her later years. Linked to the latter, and also a feat that many can't manage: her willingness to confront her missteps and then do better. The apprehension that many folks feel when they're about to splash in the ocean? The deep-seated fear and even hatred of sharks, too? That's what Valerie regrets. Thanks to Jaws, being afraid of sharks is as natural to most people as breathing, and Valerie has spent decades wishing otherwise. That's the tale that Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks tells as it steps through her life and career. Taking a standard birth-to-now approach, the documentary has ample time for many of the aforementioned highlights, with Valerie herself either offering her memories via narration or popping up to talk viewers through her exploits. But two things linger above all else in this entertaining, engaging and insightful doco. Firstly, filmmaker Sally Aitken (David Stratton: A Cinematic Life) fills her feature with stunning archival footage that makes for astonishing and affecting viewing (Ron Taylor is credited first among the feature's five cinematographers). Secondly, this powerful film dives into the work that Valerie has spearheaded to try to redress the world's fright-driven perception of sharks. Like last year's David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, 2017's Jane Goodall documentary Jane and underwhelming 2021 Oscar-winner My Octopus Teacher, this is a movie about being profoundly changed by the natural world and all of its splendour. Read our full review. MARTIN EDEN The last time that one of Jack London's books made the leap to cinema screens — just last year, in fact — it wasn't a pleasant viewing experience. Starring Harrison Ford and a CGI dog, The Call of the Wild forced viewers to watch its flesh-and-blood lead pal around with a needlessly anthropomorphised canine, to groan-inducingly cheesy results. Martin Eden is a much different book, so it could never get the same treatment. With his radiant imagery, masterful casting and bold alterations to the source material, writer/director Pietro Marcello (Lost and Beautiful) makes certain that no one will confuse this new London adaption for the last, however. The Italian filmmaker helms a compelling, complicated, ambitious and unforgettable film, and one that makes smart and even sensuous choices with a novel that first hit shelves 112 years ago. The titular character is still a struggling sailor who falls in love with a woman from a far more comfortable background than his. He still strives to overcome his working-class upbringing by teaching himself to become a writer. And, he still finds both success and scuffles springing from his new profession, with the joy of discovering his calling, reading everything he can and putting his fingers to the typewriter himself soon overshadowed by the trappings of fame, a festering disillusionment with the well-to-do and their snobbery, and a belief that ascribing worth by wealth is at the core of society's many problems. As a book, Martin Eden might've initially reached readers back in 1909, but Marcello sees it as a timeless piece of literature. He bakes that perception into his stylistic choices, weaving in details from various different time periods — so viewers can't help but glean that this tale just keeps proving relevant, no matter the year or the state of the world. Working with cinematographers Alessandro Abate (Born in Casal Di Principe) and Francesco Di Giacomo (Stay Still), he helms an overwhelmingly and inescapably gorgeous-looking film, too. When Martin Eden is at its most heated thematically and ideologically, it almost feels disquieting that such blistering ideas are surrounded by such aesthetic splendour, although that juxtaposition is wholly by design. And, in his best flourish, he enlists the magnetic Luca Marinelli (The Old Guard) as his central character. In a performance that won him the Best Actor award at the 2019 Venice Film Festival, Marinelli shoulders the eponymous figure's hopes, dreams and burdens like he's lived them himself. He lends them his soulful stare as well. That expression bores its way off the screen, and eventually sees right through all of the temptations, treats and treasures that come Eden's way. Any movie would blossom in its presence; Martin Eden positively dazzles, all while sinking daggers into the lifetime of tumult weathered by its titular everyman. THE MOLE AGENT At this year's Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences anointed the past year's best documentary, as it usually does — deciding that the standout factual film of the year told a tale about a man and his bond with a sea creature. My Octopus Teacher falls into a busy genre of films about being forever shaped and altered by the earth's natural splendour (see also: Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks), but it isn't the only one of 2021's nominees that demonstrates how unexpected connections can reap rewards, insights and new perspectives. Chilean doco The Mole Agent does the same, albeit in a vastly dissimilar manner. Its focus: an elderly man hired by a private investigator to go undercover in a retirement home. Rómulo Aitken's client suspects that the facility may be blighted by elder abuse, so he needs someone who'll blend in to do his sleuthing. Answering an advertisement for someone aged between 80 and 90, octogenarian and recent widower Sergio Chamy couldn't be more keen for the gig. He doesn't quite have a handle on the technology he'll need to use, despite trying to claim otherwise. Indeed, when he tries to show Rómulo that he can use a smartphone, he takes countless photos while claiming he's snapping none. Still, he's boundlessly eager to distract himself from his grief by taking on a new adventure, making new friends, and even learning a thing or two. For the mostly female residents at El Monte's San Francisco Nursing Home, for Rómulo and for filmmaker Maite Alberdi (The Grown-Ups) alike, Sergio is a dream — even though he's definitely not your usual spy or detective. He doesn't always fulfil his assigned tasks as asked, but he's a delight to spend time with as he endeavours to record what's going on at the home via his hidden camera-equipped glasses and pen. As they explain again and again in candid and lively chats to camera (presumably because they think they're being filmed for a more traditional type of doco), the women he's now sharing a facility with definitely agree that he's a charmer. In fact, Sergio is so charismatic that he fails to simply blend in, observe and report back. He's also a much-needed and -welcomed source of kindness and comfort to the home's residents, many of whom have no other company to turn to, and it's these interactions he largely documents in his dispatches to Rómulo via WhatsApp. Alberdi still charts his overall mission, but his general presence elicits just as much interest. With a crown for king of the home coming his way, and many of his peers fawning of him, there's much to chronicle. In her third film to focus on the elderly (after La Once and short I'm Not from Here) Alberdi sees the change he brings to people who haven't been paid this much attention in years, and also the change the spy gig brings in Sergio — and sharing her affectionate gaze is easy in this thoughtful film. MY ZOE Rare is the film that nods overtly to more than a few of its influences, yet still manages to inhabit its own niche and no one else's. My Zoe is one of those movies. Its first half bears much in common with 2017's exceptional French drama Custody, while its second half takes its cues from the greatest horror novel ever written. That combination works astonishing (and almost disarmingly) well, and nothing here every feels like a mere clone of better material. In the movie's opening section, Berlin-based geneticist Isabelle (Julie Delpy, Wiener-Dog) juggles the struggles of co-parenting with her ex James (Richard Armitage, The Lodge). They both dote on seven-year-old Zoe (Sophia Ally, The Current War), but they also argue incessantly — largely due to James' dour behaviour, cruel demeanour and ludicrous demands. By the time that Isabelle calls him "just an awful human being" in one of their arguments, the audience is already on her side. They settle their custody dispute, but the bickering doesn't subside when Zoe is found unconscious and requires hospitalisation. Eventually, though, Isabelle has another dilemma to navigate, involving a desperate ploy to get back what she's lost, a risk-taking doctor (Daniel Brühl, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) in Moscow and an option his own wife (Gemma Arteton, Summerland) warns against. Directing, writing and starring here — as she's done with Looking for Jimmy, 2 Days in Paris, The Countess, Skylab, 2 Days in New York and Lolo before — Delpy could've made the relationship and tragedy side of My Zoe into a feature of its own, and then done the same with the science fiction-tinged exploration of loss that follows. Blending the two together befits one of her overt sources of inspiration, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, though. For more than 200 years now, the gothic classic has examined how grief leads to drastic reactions, how science can let humans play god in increasingly bold and consequential manners, and how we're hardwired to use the latter to work through the former, as well as our fears of mortality — and My Zoe picks up those threads, interrogates them with today's medical advances in mind, and turns them into quite the haunting piece of cinema. Both sensitivity and realistic emotions linger in both of the movie's halves, and in Isabelle's actions and choices along the way. Delpy directs herself to a fantastic performance, and pairs her efforts with a poised and empathetic perspective throughout. Another savvy move, and one that epitomises how exactingly Delpy has thought through every detail: that, if you aren't paying the utmost attention during the first half, you mightn't even realise that the film takes place in the near-future. A FAMILY Just five letters are needed to turn A Family's title into the name of one of popular culture's most famous clans. The Addams crew aren't the subject of this Australian-produced, Ukraine-shot blend of comedy and drama, but it does delve into the creepy, kooky and mysterious anyway. The feature debut of director Jayden Stevens — who co-wrote the script with his cinematographer Tom Swinburn (Free of Thought) — the absurdist gem spends time with the stern-faced Emerson (first-timer Pavlo Lehenkyi). With none of his family around for unexplained reasons, he pays other Kiev locals to play their parts, staging dinners, Christmas parties and everyday occasions. They eat, chat and do normal family things, all for Emerson's camera. His actors (including Maksym Derbenyov as his brother and Larysa Hraminska as his mother) all need to stick to his script, though, or he'll offer them a surly reprimand. Olga (Liudmyla Zamidra), who has been cast as his sister, struggles the most with her role. She's also the member of this little faux family that Emerson is particularly drawn to. Her own home life with her mother Christina (Tetiana Kosianchuk) is far from rosy, with the pair suffering from her dad's absence, so eventually Olga decides that Emerson's role-play game might work there as well. A Family is a film of patient and precise frames, awkwardly amusing moments, and bitingly accurate insights into the ties that bind — whether of blood or otherwise. It's a movie that recognises the transactional and performative nature of many of life's exchanges, too, and ponders how much is real and fake in both big and seemingly inconsequential instances. To perfect all of the above, Stevens walks in Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Favourite), Aki Kaurismäki (Le Havre, The Other Side of Hope) and even the usually inimitable David Lynch's shoes. His feature is austere, deadpan and surreal all at once, and smart, amusing and savage at the same time as well. Indeed, if a bigger-name filmmaker had made this purposefully and probingly off-kilter picture, it would've likely proven a film festival darling around the globe. A Family did start its big-screen run at a fest, at the Melbourne International Film Festival back in 2019. Now reaching Australian cinemas after a year that's seen everyone either spend more time with or feel more physical distance from their nearest and dearest, it feels doubly potent. Every lingering image shot by Swinburn — and all of the pitch-perfect performances that he captures — speak loudly to the cycle of yearning and disconnection that comes with being alive, and that never stops being put under a microscope. FROM THE VINE Uprooting to Italy on a whim is bound to change your life, and no one needs a movie to tell them that. Plenty of films keep stressing the message, though; if Under the Tuscan Sun and Eat Pray Love didn't get the idea across, 2020's Made in Italy tried to, and now From the Vine does the same. The only new things that this latest sun-dapped European-set jaunt has to add to its concept: talking vines, and reminders that the corporate world cares for no one and small towns can struggle. So, this movie trades in fantasies and the obvious, and does so several times over. It also relies heavily upon rural Italy's obvious scenic sights, thanks to frequently used drone shots of Acerenza, the quaint Potenza spot where the bulk of the movie is set. Lawyer-turned-car manufacturing company CEO Marco Gentile (Joe Pantoliano, Bad Boys for Life) was born and raised locally, but left as a child; however, it's the first place he thinks of heading when he quits his job after a tussle with the board over sustainability. His wife Marina (Wendy Crewson, The Nest) refuses to go with him, and their daughter Laura (Paula Brancati, Workin' Moms) is certain he's having a midlife crisis — but, after making the trip, reacquainting himself with the locals and setting back into his late grandfather's own vineyard, he realises he's found la dolce vita. From the Vine has Marco and Marina chat about La Dolce Vita, the 1960 classic, and about the Audrey Hepburn-starring Roman Holiday, too — in case the themes and messages the film is going for really weren't clear enough. They are, of course; working with a script adapted from Kenneth Canio Cancellara's novel Finding Marco by screenwriter Willem Wennekers (Buckley's Chance), filmmaker Sean Cisterna (Full Out) loves spelling out as much as possible. Not a single character seems to have a thought they don't overtly state, every plot development is telegraphed as far ahead as the movie can manage, and stressing the apparent idyll by shoehorning in yet another scenery shot happens again and again. Then there's those talking vines, as well as scenes where the adult Marco chats with his grandfather's ghost. Apparently viewers wouldn't understand exactly what's tempting Marco to give up his old existence if greenery and the dead didn't chatter. Although in far less challenging and rewarding territory than his past roles in the likes of Memento and The Sopranos, Pantoliano is the best thing about this dully formulaic flick — a result that also fits a template. Christopher Walken was in the same situation just last week with Percy vs Goliath, in fact. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29; May 6, May 13, May 20 and May 27; and June 3 and June 10. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World, High Ground, Earwig and the Witch, The Nest, Assassins, Synchronic, Another Round, Minari, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, The Truffle Hunters, The Little Things, Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody, The Father, Willy's Wonderland, Collective, Voyagers, Gunda, Supernova, The Dissident, The United States vs Billie Holiday, First Cow, Wrath of Man, Locked Down, The Perfect Candidate, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, Ema, A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella, My Name Is Gulpilil, Lapsis and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
Among Australia's claims to fame, our love of a good shoey ranks right up there. We're not only a land girt by sea — we're a nation unrestrained by the idea that you can only drink booze from glasses. Fancy sipping alcoholic seltzer from a trophy instead? A coffee mug? A plastic hat? Whatever else you happen to own that holds a standard jug worth of alcohol? If you're in Melbourne, Moon Dog Brewing has the giveaway for you. When free drinks are on offer, no one needs to dress up the concept. Mention free booze, and we're all already sold. Still, Moon Dog has whipped up something special to celebrate not only the first day of summer, but also the arrival of the brewery's world-first post-mix machine for Fizzer, its alcoholic seltzer line. So, come Wednesday, December 1, it's pouring free Fizzers to everyone who brings their own vessel to Moon Dog OG in Abbotsford between 4–6pm and to Moon Dog World in Preston from 3–6pm. On the menu: freshly poured Fizzers in tropical crush, peach iced tea, raspberry sorbet and piney limey flavours. And yes, by vessel, Moon Dog means container — something that can hold booze naturally. There are a few caveats, unsurprisingly. Firstly, your chosen vessel needs to be clean. Secondly, it'll only be filled to the standard jug amount — so, to 1140 millilitres. Also, it needs to be watertight, and everyone only gets one vessel per person. Bring the best, most creative vessel to either venue and you'll also win a slab of Fizzer delivered to your door. That's worth scouring the cupboards for, clearly. If you're reading this from Sydney or Adelaide and you'd also like a free Fizzer, here's some good news for you, too: Moon Dog is doing giveaways in those two cities — and at other venues around Melbourne — but you'll have to stick to sipping your drink out of an ordinary schooner instead. At three Sydney spots, four Adelaide bars and three other places in Melbourne, the freebies will also be limited to the first 50 folks through the door from set times. Either way, kicking off summer by saying cheers to a free beverage obviously ticks a key box: starting the season as you mean to go on. Suddenly thirsty? Here's where you can nab your free drink on Wednesday, December 1: VICTORIA Moon Dog World, 32 Chifley Drive, Preston — 3–6pm Moon Dog OG, 17 Duke Street, Abbotsford — 4–6pm Concrete Boots Bar, 381 Burnley Street, Richmond — 4–6pm Lulie Tavern, 225 Johnston Street, Abbotsford — 4–6pm Yorkshire Stingo, 48 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford — 4–6pm NEW SOUTH WALES Sneaky Possum, 86 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale — from 12pm The Unicorn, 106 Oxford Street, Paddington — 5–7pm The Townie, 326 King Street, Newtown — all day SOUTH AUSTRALIA Stag Public House, 299 Rundle Street, Adelaide — from 12pm Lady Daly Hotel, 126 Port Road, Hindmarsh — from 12pm Uni Bar, Union House, Ground Floor of The University of Adelaide — from 12pm Cry Baby, 11 Solomon St, Adelaide — from 12pm Moon Dog Brewing's free Fizzer giveaway takes place on Wednesday, December 1 at a range of Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide venues. For further details, head to the Moon Dog website.
So, you read one of 2023's huge literary sensations. And, you engaged with one of TikTok's biggest memes. What comes next? Diving into them both at All About Women. Notching up 12 years when its 2024 edition takes place, this Sydney Opera House event enlists impressive talents to dig into gender, justice and equality, including by exploring the hits, trends and issues of the 12 months prior. Accordingly, naming Yellowface author Rebecca F Kuang and Roman Empire scholar Mary Beard for next year's one-day festival couldn't make more sense. Kuang will be heading to Sydney to chat about her satirical novel, which dives into cancel culture, cultural appropriation and diversity in the world of publishing, and has been a must-read since arriving on shelves in May. As for Beard, she's coming to the Harbour City fresh off the release of her latest book The Emperor of Rome, and will explore misogyny, power, murder and gossip in the ancient world — and its relevance to now. So, how often will All About Women think about the Roman Empire? At Beard's session, plenty. [caption id="attachment_929572" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Packman[/caption] So far, Kuang and Beard are the first headliners on the 2024 event's program, with both getting talking in Australia for the first time. But they'll have company when the full lineup drops in January. All About Women brings together international and Australian artists, thinkers and storytellers to examine a broad variety of topics relevant to its main focus — so, to gender, justice and equality — via panels, conversations, workshops and performances. After expanding to two days in 2022 and then to three in 2023, Sydney Opera House's key feminist festival is running as a one-day event again in 2024. The date to mark in your diary: Sunday, March 10. Won't be in Sydney that day, because you'll be away or you live elsewhere? All About Women will also take place online again. "It will be such an honour to host both Rebecca F Kuang and Mary Beard on their first speaking tours in Australia. We look forward to announcing our fierce and fearless co-curators and the full lineup in the new year, and can't wait to welcome audiences back to the festival for its 12th year in March," said Sydney Opera House Head of Talks and Ideas Chip Rolley. 2024 marks the third year that the fest is enlisting a team of co-curators to put the program together. 2023's cohort gave audiences everyone from riot grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill to child actor-turned-I'm Glad My Mom Died author Jennette McCurdy. [caption id="attachment_837698" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacquie Manning[/caption] [caption id="attachment_844647" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] [caption id="attachment_844646" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacquie Manning[/caption] All About Women 2024 will take place on Sunday, March 10 at the Sydney Opera House, and also stream online. The full program will release on Tuesday, January 16, 2023 — check back here then for further details. Tickets for the just-announced first sessions go on sale at 9am on Thursday, December 7, with pre sales from 9am on Tuesday, December 5. Top image: Jacquie Manning.
The beginning of a new year isn't solely about deciding how you'd like to change your life for the better. That's just one January tradition. Another: plotting out where around the world you'd like to travel to across the 12 months to come. Arriving mere days into 2024, The New York Times' annual '52 Places to Go' list is a handy guide for inspiration — including for Down Under spots earning global recognition. After 2023's list included Auckland, Kangaroo Island and Australia's Red Centre to soak in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park's wonders, 2024's counterpart features New Zealand by train, the entire state of Tasmania and Queensland capital city Brisbane. Experiencing Aotearoa's charms by rail placed fourth, while the Apple Isle came in at 29 and Brissie took 39th spot. The NYT gave a 17-day journey across NZ some love for being "a simpler and more sustainable way" to see the country, calling out stops at "transcendent sites like the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum" to begin with. Also earning a mention: getting the ferry to the South Island, then taking "a ride through world-class vineyards and along the jagged coast", plus whale- and dolphin-watching in Christchurch, before hitting the Southern Alps for "views to white-capped peaks, rushing rivers and alpine lakes". Tasmania earned its placing for enabling visitors to get out in nature via guided walks, celebrate Indigenous culture and focus on local produce. Taking a three-day trek across Bruny Island, foraging for wattle seeds and pepperberries, and chef Analiese Gregory's wild-cooking dishes all scored a specific callout. Brisbane keeps popping up on lists like this lately — see also: travel guide Frommer's, which also named the city one of 2024's best spots to visit; TIME, which put it on its world's greatest places list for 2023; and the World's Best 50 Hotels, which picked The Calile as its only Australian and Oceanic entry in its inaugural countdown in 223 — and the obvious reason was called out in the NYT's first sentence. Yes, that'd be hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Queen's Wharf precinct and its towering Sky Deck, restaurant Agnes and the Brisbane Powerhouse — including eating dinner hanging off the side of the building at vertical dining experience Vertigo, and the upcoming Melt OPEN queer arts fest — all were singled out. So was The Calile, which is clearly Brissie's most-famous hotel. [caption id="attachment_921654" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Markus Ravik[/caption] Topping the '52 Places to Go' rankings for 2024: North America's path of totality, where a total solar eclipse will be take over the skies in April, followed by Paris — the host of the 2024 Olympics — and Yamaguchi in Japan. Maui in Hawaii rounded out the top five, while Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni in Arizona (the sacred Indigenous land around the Grand Canyon), Singapore, O'Higgins in Chile, Ladakh in India and Geneva in Switzerland filled the rest of the top ten. Across the full 52 picks, Manchester in England, Negombo in Sri Lanka, Morocco, Lake Toba in Indonesia and Ireland's Waterford also featured. So did Mustang in Nepal, Vienna in Austria, the Albanian Alps and Flamingo in Florida — and plenty more spots to instantly put on your must-visit list. For The New York Times' full 52 Places to Go list for 2024, head to the publication's website. Top image: Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
With 1654 stores to its name worldwide, Five Guys' burger joints have become a common sight across America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia — and soon, they'll also be opening in Australia and New Zealand. The cult-favourite chain is making the leap Down Under as part of a master franchise agreement with Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group, aka the folks behind The Meat & Wine Co, Hunter & Barrel, 6 Head, Ribs & Burgers, Italian Street Kitchen and Butcher and the Farmer. Sydneysiders can start getting excited first, with Seagrass currently looking for suitable locations in the city's CBD. "Our aim is to identify high-visibility ground-floor sites in high-traffic areas," said the company's Chief Marketing Officer David Ovens in a statement. But burger lovers in other states, and in New Zealand, can also prepare their stomachs, with around 20 stores due to launch in Australia alone — although exactly where and when Five Guys will be popping up is yet to be revealed. What we do know is why Five Guys has amassed quite the reputation — and why, given the number of big-name US burger chains with hefty followings, such as Shake Shack and In-N-Out, it stands out. Its made-to-order burgers skew in the classic rather than oversized, jam-packed direction. They come with two hand-formed patties on toasted buns with your choice of toppings (including pickles, grilled mushrooms and jalapeños), plus bacon cheeseburgers that add two strips of bacon and two slices of Kraft American cheese as well. Five Guys also serves up hotdogs, sandwiches, hand-cut fries (with or without Cajun spices) and vanilla milkshakes. Don't go thinking the latter are boring, though — you can add bacon, bananas, peanut butter, salted caramel and even Oreo pieces to your design-your-own beverage. The chain started back in 1986 in the Washington, DC area and, as anyone with allergies should note, only cooks its fries in peanut oil. Five Guys is currently looking for sites in the Sydney CBD, with stores in other Australian states — and in New Zealand — to follow. No opening dates have been revealed as yet — we'll update you when more information comes to hand.
In 2019, the Great Barrier Reef gained a new addition, as well as a new way to enjoy its natural underwater delights. When the Museum of Underwater Art installed its first artworks in December, it became the southern hemisphere's first attraction of its type — and yet another reason for everyone to add visiting Australia's tropics to their travel bucket list. Two artworks were put in place at the time. The first, Ocean Siren, is located 30 metres offshore from The Strand jetty at Townsville and actually towers above the water; however, it interacts with live water temperature data from the Davies Reef weather station, then changes colour in response to variations as they happen. The second Coral Greenhouse, definitely lurks below the sea. And, until now, that meant that visiting it was a bit of a problem. As part of an official launch of the Museum of Underwater Art's first phase, folks can now take a tour of Coral Greenhouse — with recreational divers and snorkelers able to access the work from Saturday, August 1. The tours are being run by Adrenalin Dive Townsville and Pro Dive Magnetic Island, who'll help you see and swim through this striking sculpture. Down the track, SeaLink Queensland, Yongala Dive Burdekin and Orpheus Island Resort will be able to take you for a splash, too. [caption id="attachment_778364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Curnock[/caption] And it is striking. Coral Greenhouse sits 18 metres below the waterline on the John Brewer Reef off Townsville, measures 12 metres in height and weighs around 58 tonnes. It's made out of stainless steel, neutral marine grade cement and zinc anodes, and it does indeed look like a greenhouse. In fact, it's an underwater building. It's also filled with more than 20 sculptures, many resembling local school children — and has been made to both stand up to wave pressures and cyclones, and remain visible to divers and snorkelers. Most importantly, it isn't just a greenhouse in name, with the piece featuring coral garden beds. With that in mind, Coral Greenhouse is also designed to "offer opportunities for scientists, marine students and tourists to engage in action-based learning and to conduct globally important research on coral reef restoration and new technology," marine sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor notes. The creator of the Museum of Underwater Art, he sees this particular work as "an interface into our underwater world" and a way "to tell stories of the Great Barrier Reef, and for people to understand what a fragile, beautiful and sacred space it really is". [caption id="attachment_778365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Curnock[/caption] In total, four pieces are planned for the Museum as part of its aim to highlight reef conservation, restoration and education — with two more sculptures set for Palm Island and Magnetic Island in the future. Palm Island's forthcoming installation will connect the spot's the cultural story to the land and sea, according to the MOUA's website, and is expected to be in place by the July 2021. As for the Magnetic Island artwork, it's working towards a December 2021 unveiling. Of course, while the first tours of the underwater museum have officially kicked off, not everyone can get into Queensland. The Sunshine State has, at writing, closed its borders to all of Victoria and greater Sydney. Find the Museum of Underwater Art off the shore of Townsville, Queensland. For more information, visit the museum's website. To book a tour, head to the Adrenalin Dive or Pro Dive Magnetic websites. Images: Matt Curnock
Whether you're keen to have a small crack at playing winemaker, or simply want to sip some top-notch local vino while listening to live tunes, Noisy Ritual is the place to be this weekend. On Sunday, November 20, Brunswick East's community-powered urban winery is wrapping up a big year with a bottling party — and everyone's invited. From 3–4pm, you'll have the chance to help out on the hand-bottling line, packaging up some of the 20-plus new wines Noisy Ritual crafted throughout the year. Meanwhile, the bar will be pouring some of the winery's latest spring drops, alongside a few guest beers and booze-free options. Time your visit to coincide with happy hour (3–5pm) if you like the sound of $10 glasses of pet-nat, $12 spritz and $8 Stingrays Draught by Bodriggy. Rounding out the fun, the kitchen will be whipping up a special menu of snacks and shares — think, creamy burrata with olive XO sauce and sourdough, and croquettes paired with fermented chilli mayo — while local acts the Collingwood Cassanovas and Partner Look take care of the entertainment side of things.
Eastern Grace Group (St. Cloud Eating House and Young's Wine Rooms) is going through some big changes right now. First, owner James Klapanis brought on Matteo Tine (ex-Grossi Florentino, Bar Carolina, Tetto di Carolina and Pixie) as the restaurant group's Executive Chef and Creative Director. Tine then assembled a new team for Young's Wine Room, seeking to reinvigorate the site. And as of Friday, June 28, the group has opened a huge new venue: Orlo. Set across three floors in Collingwood's historic Dyason Cordial Factory, Orlo is home to a ground-floor dining room, enclosed courtyard with olive trees and vines, private dining mezzanine and basement bar. Each space has its own distinct feel, but the menus are all heavily influenced by Mediterranean dining. In the restaurant, Tine is leaning heavily into his Sicilian roots, plating up contemporary Italian eats influenced by a smattering of other European cuisines. Tine shared: "With my Sicilian background, I primarily and instinctively lean on Italian cuisine, but I can't help but recognise and use techniques and flavours from other countries and cuisines. "My mentor, Guy Grossi, who is basically my second father, told me that everything on the plate has to tell a story and have a reason for being on the plate. This is what creates the connection to the customer. People want a story; they want to know why the chef has put this or that on the plate. And I really want people to hear and enjoy my story." All of this equates to dishes like the southern rock lobster served with a scotch egg and optional caviar; swordfish skewers with orange, miso and olive mollica (sautéed bread crumbs); char siu-style chicken with fermented chilli and pickled rapa; and an 800-gram Black Angus dry-aged rib eye covered in a leek and porcini rub and salmoriglio. Tine is all over the food, but Eastern Grace Group has brought on a couple of hospo heavyweights to create the drinks menus. When it comes to wine, Grossi Group's Carlo Grossi has curated a list of vinos to pair with Tine's Med-inspired dishes. He's been tasked with making these fun, bright and accessible, meaning you don't have to spend the big bucks when ordering a bottle for the table. And for the cocktail menu, Klapanis has enlisted none other than Joe Jones (Purple Pit) to work his magic. We're huge fans of his Purple Pit libations, so can't wait to see what he does at Orlo. Here, he's designed a few signature sips, including seasonal cordials that'll be served in old cordial bottles as a fun nod to the building. We're sure the best place to find these bevs will be in Orlo's underground bar Cordial Club, but the main dining room also has its own marble-topped bar where you can eat and drink. The 1880s red brick factory has been revived by the team at McCluskey Studio, who've kept plenty of its original features — exposed brickwork and beams — while glamming it up a little. They've also worked with Klapanis to use his collection of reclaimed materials and vintage furniture throughout the site. You'll find Orlo at 44 Oxford Street, Collingwood, open from 12pm–late, seven days a week. For more details, head to the venue's website.
