With Asian juggernaut Chin Chin as your older sibling (and with Society, Grill Americano and Kisume a part of the same family), sometimes it's easy for Chris Lucas' other venture, Baby Pizza, to shrink into the shadows. The Italian brainchild of one of Melbourne's most talked about restaurateurs took over the space on Church Street, Richmond in 2013 and has been a steady addition to the growing empire. A blend of rustic furniture, intimate booths and a familiar touch of neon, Baby Pizza's fit out and fare are designed to share. And while there once was a no bookings policy, you can now plan ahead and skip any walk-in queues. Serving over 13 variations of pizzas, we recommend going for one with the housemade mozzarella. In other words: all of them. The Polpette is one of the standouts, made with creamy fior di latte (mozzarella), meatballs, juicy San Marzano tomatoes, pecorino, fresh basil and chilli. As for the San Daniele Prosciutto with fior di latte, Reggiano, rocket and San Marzano tomatoes – Mamma Mia! The bases are thin and light, made with special flour from Naples to recreate traditional Italian pizza. Baby's best rests on the element of simplicity and the spaghetti al pomodoro with tomato, chilli and Reggiano shines, despite the deceivingly basic ingredients. Of course, no hearty European meal should be had without a glass of wine and luckily, there's no shortage of the good stuff here. The quality of the food and bevs is undeniable; the Lucas legacy is in full flight. Nobody puts Baby in the corner.
Few documentarians have the same taste for hot button issues as Academy Award winner Alex Gibney. From Julian Assange (We Steal Secrets) to Lance Armstrong (The Armstrong Lie), enhanced interrogation (Taxi to the Darkside) and sexual abuse in the Catholic Church (Mea Maxima Culpa), the New York filmmaker certainly isn’t afraid of controversy, as his latest film once again proves. Going Clear is a revealing and often disturbing look at the history, tenets and purportedly shady practices of one of the most divisive religious organisations in the world. If even half of what is alleged in it is true, then it’s not just an incredible doco, but a first-rate horror movie as well. Early sections of the film concern the early days of Scientology, and in particular the life of its creator, L. Ron Hubbard. Throughout the ‘30s and ‘40s Hubbard worked as a struggling science-fiction and fantasy writer, during which time his then wife claims he often remarked that “the only way to make any real money was to have a religion”. It was in the early '50s that Hubbard released Dianetics, a self-help book that would form the basis for Scientology. Yet as the movement grew, so too did its founder’s neurosis. The latter half of the film concerns Scientology under David Miscavige, who became head of the church after Hubbard’s death. This section leans heavily on a number of interviews with ex-Scientologists, including Oscar-winning Hollywood director Paul Haggis, as well as the head of the shadowy Office of Special Affairs — a kind of church secret service charged with running smear campaigns against members who dared to speak out. “People will judge me as really stupid,” says Haggis ruefully. “But then, I was really stupid.” With these chilling testimonials, Gibney dismisses the idea that the church is simply a group of harmless eccentrics. Stories of intimidation, brainwashing and emotional and physical abuse are but the tip of the iceberg — and the agony doesn’t always end once you leave. Many members who abandoned the church have found themselves cut off from their friends and family, while others have been targeted for ongoing public harassment. But perhaps the most telling thing about the film has been the way the church has reacted to it. Almost every person involved in the production of the documentary has had their character viciously attacked; the organisation has even gone after film critics who published positive reviews. So, at the risk of opening ourselves up to unwanted confrontation: go and see this movie as soon as you possibly can.
Mere days after Keep Sydney Open launched their commemorative plaques for live music venues campaign, Sydney's loudest anti-lockout lobby group have an even bigger surprise for Sydney, with fresh news that Flume has called in from the old US of A to release a brand new jam especially for KSO's new video today. Have a peep, below. Plaques organiser and KSO activist Jonno Seidler says: "This is such incredible news to receive at the 11th hour. Harley is currently on tour in North America, playing sold out theatres across the country. But he is proud of where he's from and really backs the Sydney scene, and this just shows how dedicated he really is to the future of local music." The track, called 'Heater' will presumably form part of Flume's next release, which is anyone's guess but could be an EP, coming off the international success of Skin, which dropped earlier this year. "The plaque for Harley was the easiest one to make, because I was there!" says Seidler. "It was a double header with him and Chet Faker [now Nick Murphy] at Goodgod Small Club, my favourite venue for years. Ask anyone who was in the audience, you could tell something was cooking even way back then. I've seen Flume play to tiny rooms in New York city and huge stages at Byron, and he's been world class the whole way." The video, prepared by Keep Sydney Open, features interviews with Gang of Youths Dave Leaupepe in Kings Cross and Jim Finn and Dan McNamee of Art Vs Science, who showed up at Oxford Street to play a trio of songs dedicated to NSW premier Mike Baird, including 'I Love The Nightlife', 'All Night Long' and 'Blame It On The Boogie.' "I met Jim and Dan seven years ago, and it was pretty much a mutual love fest from then on in," says Seidler. "I think they're largely seen as a festival band, but they have amazing musical chops. I've been lucky enough to jam with them a few times and they are the real deal. You have no idea how fast they learned all of those songs." The response to the plaques has been immediate, picked up by media across the country. Seidler says he that while he, Tyson Koh and the rest of Keep Sydney Open are beyond thrilled, they're not surprised at how quickly it took off. "The reason we went with this method is that everyone relates to music. We have so much incredible talent that started right here in small to medium venues that are now literally world-class talent, from Anna Lunoe and Alison Wonderland to The Preatures. When you see those names and you put the two things together, the lockouts starts to become a much bigger problem than just where you can have a drink late at night." More on Keep Sydney Open's plaque campaign over here.
A supermarket in Denmark has committed to fighting food wastage by only selling produce past its use-by date. Located in Copenhagen, the recently opened Wefood has been set up by not-for-profit organisation Folkekirkens Nødhjælp, selling expired food at a discounted rate with the hope of reducing the 700,000 tonnes of food that goes to waste in Denmark each year. "Wefood is the first supermarket of its kind in Denmark and perhaps the world as it is not just aimed at low-income shoppers but anyone who is concerned about the amount of food waste produced in this country," spokesperson Per Bjerre told The Independent. The supermarket came into being on the back of a successful crowdfunding campaign, which raised one million Danish kroner, or just over $200,000. The supermarket is staffed by volunteers, with profits being used to help fund Folkekirkens Nødhjælp's work in some of the poorest countries in the world. The supermarket also has the support of local government officials. "It's ridiculous that food is just thrown out or goes to waste," said Eva Kjer Hansen, Danish Minister for Food and the Environment. "A supermarket like Wefood makes so much sense and is an important step in the battle to combat food waste." According to the United Nations, human beings throw away around 1.3 billion tonnes of food each year. Given that one in nine people around the world don't have enough to eat, that's a fairly depressing statistic. In Australia alone we waste more than four million tonnes a year, although organisations like Second Bite and OzHarvest are doing their best to reduce that number. Perhaps we could use a Wefood of our own? Via The Independent.
Listen to some of Australia's best emerging and early-career writers in a new podcast series produced by SBS. A tie in with the station's new crime-drama The Principal, which is set to premiere in the first week of October, True Stories consists of seven short stories written and performed by up-and-coming writers from all walks of life. Each story presents a different take on the Australian high school experience – and the six they've dropped so far have been really, really good. The young writers worked in collaboration with Sweatshop, a literary initiative by the University of Western Sydney founded by doctoral candidate and writer Michael Mohammed Ahmad. Ahmad also wrote one episode of the podcast, as did his fellow recipients of the SMH's Best Young Novelist award Luke Carman, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Omar Musa and Ellen Van Neervan. "I think the particular writers that SBS has engaged with are probably the best suited in the country to conform and adapt to the oral storytelling that these podcasts require," says Ahmad. "We're talking about the best up-and-coming writers in the country, and it just so happens that a vast majority of those writers represent traditions who come from rich oral storytelling practice. Omar Musa from a Malaysian background, Maxine Beneba Clarke an Afro-Caribbean background, Ellen van Neerven an Aboriginal background and myself an Arab background...if you look at our novels there is a strong oral technique that is being used most of the time, which is drawing from traditions that come from all over the world." You can certainly feel the influence of these different cultural backgrounds in the content of True Stories. Ahmad's episode, for example, was inspired by his time as a student at Punchbowl Boys High School during the late nineties and early two thousands, a time when the "Arab Australian Muslim community was one of the most stigmatised groups in the country." Loaded with profane language and instances of violence, his story reflects a troubled period in the school's history, yet refuses to indulge stereotypes about the students or their community. "I think if you listen to my story, there is undoubtedly an exploration of violence, sexism, misogyny, homophobia and classic cases of aggression and hostility that exist within certain underclass communities," Ahmad says. "But they're resilient spaces. They're not spaces that are miserable. The people in those spaces are intelligent, critical. They're aware of their circumstances, and most of the time they're responding, or even performing their underclass-ness, because that can be empowering." "It's very hard, I think, for the white imagination to see those places as joyful, resilient, critically conscious places," he continues. "I think there is an assumption that under every poor young man of colour is a middle class white boy yearning to break free." You can currently find the first six episodes of True Stories on the SBS website and on iTunes. The Principal premieres on Wednesday October 7 at 8:30pm.
Fitzroy is getting a new multipurpose exhibition space and cafe. Opening next week at 51 Victoria Street, the Grey Gardens Projects will function as a gallery and performance venue complete with its own coffee bar and larder. It’ll also provide a permanent home for Speakeasy Cinema, the once-wandering boutique film club committed to the most esoteric movies around. Speakeasy will launch their new season in Grey Gardens' 100-seat screening room on Sunday, July 5, with a daytime session of animated shorts from lauded Czech filmmakers Lubomír Beneš and Vladimír Jiránek. Other films in the initial program include the Australian premiere of the low-fi science fiction film For the Plasma, the Marina Abramovic documentary The Artist is Present, and a special screening of the existential Thai drama Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives with a live improvised score by hip hop jazz group 30/70. The gallery’s first exhibition will be devoted to the works of local audio-video artist Xanthe Dobbie, whose influences range from art and film history to third wave feminism as well as queer and pop culture. Deadpan comedian Magic Stevens will perform his show No Notes No Glory on the evening of Wednesday, July 22, which has been described as something akin to longform beat poetry or a one-sided conversation. Grey Gardens are currently seeking further expressions of interests for the latter half of the year, across the mediums of performance, fashion, design, photography, music, video and beyond. Worked up an appetite with all that culture? The Grey Gardens Coffee Bar and Larder will be open for breakfast and lunch from Tuesday to Sunday, with a short menu focused on healthy, organic produce. Menu highlights include buckwheat granola, homemade broth and a selection of open sandwiches and smorgasbords, as well as pressed juices from the Greene Street Juice Co. They’ll also have dinner options during Speakeasy Cinema sessions and other evening events, plus a selection of snacks for in-cinema nibbling. The Grey Gardens Projects are located at 51 Victoria Street, Fitzroy. For more details, including information on how to apply to exhibit work in the space, visit www.greygardensprojects.com. Image: For The Plasma.
With every year that passes Melbourne gains more history — and with every renovation, new stories. But it's not often you dig up the kind of gold that was discovered when putting together the CBD's new bar, House of Correction. At 264 Swanston Street, lie allusions to a colourful past — as a medical supply store in the early 1900s, a manufacturer of death masks for the Old Melbourne Gaol and, most recently, the home of Australia's longest-running porn cinema, Shaft Cinemas. The renovators even found pornographic silhouettes beneath the layers of paint downstairs. But while the raciest finds have been re-hidden for future tenants to discover, interior architects ZWEI have used others — like the heritage ceiling and concrete slab floor — as the highlights of a very unique space. Headed up by bartender David Smillie (ex-Eau de Vie Sydney), the 52-seater will be throwing down a monthly rotating cocktail selection, which is built around simplicity, top-notch ingredients and classic styling. Expect plenty of clever extras, too, with house-made shrubs, vinegars, and fermentations popping up throughout. Rounding out the offering is a hefty back bar, solid craft beer lineup. And though the building's history might be a bit sketchy, its future is looking anything but. House of Correction will be a sister bar to rooftop venue Goldilocks and Mr Kwok downstairs, which has just opened in replacement of Noodle Kingdom. Sad news for fans of the old venue, but this new noodle house is helmed by the old chef's daughter — and food can be ordered up until last drinks at 3am each night of the week. House of Correction is open daily from 4pm till 3am at Level 4, 264 Swanston Street, Melbourne. For more information, visit their Facebook page. Images: Georgia Verrells.
With beloved cult series Broad City now entering its fourth season, co-creator Abbi Jacobson is taking on a new podcast project that could push My Dad Wrote a Porno off our daily hitlist. A Piece of Work delves into the enigma that is modern art and answers questions you may have been too afraid to ask — like what significance a bicycle wheel atop a stool could possibly have, or why Andy Warhol was so obsessed with soup cans. A collaboration with WNYC Studios and MoMA, the ten-episode series will premiere on July 10 and air twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays. Each episode focuses on a different theme, from everyday objects and pop art to abstraction, performance and text-based art. Jacobson will specifically discuss individual works by big name (and at times, especially confusing) artists including the above mentioned Warhol, along with Jackson Pollock, Yves Klein and Marcel Duchamp, whose noted Bicycle Wheel will be topic of discussion in the first episode. Jacobson also welcomes a legendary roster of guests each episode, including musician Questlove, comedian Hannibal Buress, actress Tavi Gevinson and television personality RuPaul — who features in the not-to-be-missed episode six, in which they'll discuss Yoko Ono's provoking 1964 Cut Piece performance. If you're wondering how Jacobson became an authority on modern art, she actually holds a degree from Maryland Institute College of Art and has also published a colouring book series, Color This Book, and a book of illustrations, Carry This Book — in which Jacobson imagines items found in the pockets and bags of celebrities like Oprah, historical figures like Amelia Earhart and artists like Frida Kahlo and Banksy. A Piece of Work will be available on Apple Podcasts and WNYC, with a teaser and full list of themes, guests and artworks available on Entertainment Weekly. Via Entertainment Weekly. Image: MoMA.
Fancy old world cocktail spot The Everleigh has expanded the family, finding a spot for a late night sister bar named Heartbreaker — a more free-spirited sibling inspired by sexy, seedy LA drinking dens. Now open on Russell Street, Heartbreaker taps into that one universal reason why people drink late into the night — tragic love woes. But with a full kitchen, pool table and retro jukebox, we’re sure you’ll soon forget about it all (and inevitably dance emotionally to 'Bad Romance'). Just don’t expect the classy leather couches and glassware that defines The Everleigh. Heartbreaker is touted as the loveless little sister; opening up when The Everleigh calls last drinks and sweeping all the dregs into her maw to let the good times keep rolling. And drunk or sober, loveless or loved up, Melburnians appreciate a good late night kitchen and Heartbreaker knows it. In terms of the vibe, it’s very specific. It’s old school glamour meets old school grunge; it’s a True Detective double exposure with a foreground of Marilyn Monroe shooting Steve McQueen in the foot; it’s Lana Del Rey drinking in a wedding gown but she’s been living alone in the desert for three days, y'know what we’re saying? No? You’ll get it when meet this lass. The front bar serves a variety of Australian and American beers, while the back bar is all about hard liquor — tequila, mezcal and whiskey. And if you want to stay classy on the inside but look hard on the outside, you can try one of The Everleigh’s classic bottled cocktails via The Everleigh Bottling Co. Choose from a Martini, Old Fashioned, Negroni or Manhattan ($18 each) and never risk someone bumping into you and spilling your entire drink again. Oh Heartbreaker, you really get us. Find Heartbreaker at 234 Russell Street, Melbourne. Images: The Everleigh and Heartbreaker.
One of New York's initially best and eventually worst kept secrets is coming to Melbourne for one of the most squealworthy pop-ups we've seen in an age. East Village's Please Don't Tell (or PDT) is locked in to take over Fitzroy's Black Pearl this August, with legendary PDT bar team Jim Meehan and Jeff Bell at the helm. Ever found your way to PDT? Hidden behind a secret wall in a vintage phone booth, inside Crif Dogs hotdog joint on St Marks Place in the East Village, PDT is one of NYC's most beloved speakeasies — and the cocktails are seriously next level. Bell, who was crowned 2013 Diageo World Class US Bartender of the Year, is one of the best in the game, with marvels like the Bulleit Bourbon Sweet Tea Smash. But you won't just be sampling Bell's world-famous cocktails, Bell and Meehan will join forces with Bluebonnet Barbecue chef Chris Terlikar for an Australian version of PDT's menu — featuring two hot-dog variations: 'The Spicy Redneck' (house dog, bacon wrapped, with chilli, coleslaw and jalapenos) and a yet to be announced local adaptation. Locked in for August 6 to 9 in The Attic at Black Pearl, PDT's trailblazing cocktail aficionados will have three sittings available at Black Pearl: 6-8pm, 8-10pm and the last at 10pm-12am — and it goes without saying, you're strongly advised to make reservations to avoid disappointment. PDT pops up at Black Pearl (304 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy) Thursday 6 – Sunday August 9. Sittings are 6-8pm, 8-10pm or 10pm-12am, Reservations through Eventbrite. Image: PDT.
A genius design studio has made it so you'll never have to worry about being that weirdo jumping around in a bouncing castle full of children ever again. At the behest of the Federation of Swiss Architects, the Geneva and Lisbon-based Bureau A have created an inflatable nightclub, complete with dance floor, bar and inflatable furniture and DJ booth. The blow-up nightclub was commissioned by the Federation to host their annual summer party. Known as Shelter, the entire venue is made from lightweight PVC membrane, making it easy to deflate and transport from place to place. "For one night, the black hole of a neat and well-organised society is revealed as a potential for distortion," reads a description of the nightclub on the Bureau A website. "The mysterious black vessel lands in the modern space of a highly engendered concrete vault; a great spatial condition to explore the corners of what is hidden." As far as we can tell, that's just a very fancy way of saying it's a place where you can drink a bit too much and it doesn't really matter since you'll just bounce safely off the walls. In any case, it sure beats rocking up to your nephew's birthday party with a sack of goon. Via Dezeen. Image: Dylan Perrenoud.
That’s right, you heard us correctly. Thanks to the FreeWines app, you can now get a top-quality bottle of red or white wine when you dine at certain restaurants. FreeWines is connected with more than 200 venues in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, so wherever you are, download this app stat for some tasty vino. To get the ball rolling, here are just some out the outstanding eateries you can enjoy free wine. NEW SOUTH WALES YORK LANE Tucked away in an inner-city laneway lies York Lane — cafe/espresso bar by day, restaurant/bar by night. Drop on in where the vinyl is spinning and the tapas is rolling out on a regular basis. The key word here is cosy, as it can only fit up to 30 people at a time. Get amongst the repurposed decor and polish off a bottle of award-winning wine with a small group of friends. 56 Clarence Street, Sydney. THE CROW BAR Small, elegant, and stylish all come to mind when it comes to this delightful venue with serious cocktails and a thoughtful wine list. European-influenced share plates are the go here, and their ambient fireplace and black leather sofas make it ideal for a cool-weather hideaway spot, but in truth this venue is a gem all year round. The Crow Bar in Crows Nest is certainly worth ‘raven’ about. 6 Burlington Street, Crows Nest THE HILL EATERY What list of Sydney foodie spots would be complete without a Bondi representative? The Hill Eatery is our destination of choice. With ethically sourced produce, these guys are big on farm-to-table practice and make an effort to venture outside of the city limits to bring only the best to your plate. They’re also expanding over summer with their Florida Keys Garden Bar, so stay tuned for more excellent work from this crew. Shop 5, 39-53 Campbell Parade, North Bondi. RED LANTERN ON RILEY Vietnamese cuisine is at its best at Red Lantern on Riley, with its excellence continuing across the way at Red Lily Cocktail Bar. Fresh ingredients, sustainable practice and authenticity is at the heart of Luke Nguyen’s venture, with a French Colonial Vietnamese influence on the decor. Red Lantern on Riley is ideal for catching up with friends and family, as their menu is full of shared dishes. You know what else is excellent when shared? A bottle of free wine. 60 Riley Street, Darlinghurst. VICTORIA CRU WINE BAR We love CRU at anytime of day, as they’re open from early-bird brekkie to last drinks most nights of the week. Settle in to their quaint front bar or courtyard when the weather warms up and have a chat with their resident ‘wine guy’ about what is the right drop for you. Their wine list here is plentiful, so after your free wine don’t hesitate to grab another bottle of something equally as delicious. 916 Glenferrie Road, Kew. CHOW CITY Serving up a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai and Malaysian fare, Chow City provides a playful approach to pan-Asian dining. Whether you’re looking for authentic traditional dishes or some street food on the run, your tastebuds will be satisfied here. A nice white wine would go a treat with their spicy seafood, such as the battered king prawns with egg white and chilli sauce. 287 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. EBENEZER COFFEE AND WINE BAR If specialty coffee and boutique wine is your bag, head down to Black Rock and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind. The focus here is on taking pride in their produce, so you’re sure to get a great serve for breakfast, lunch of dinner. A glass of wine by the seaside sounds like heaven to us. 615 Balcombe Road, Black Rock. QUEENSLAND CLARET HOUSE This wine bar has a menu designed for sharing, and we would certainly recommend splitting a charcuterie plate or some slow-cooked lamb ribs with chimichurri among friends. Their wine list is extensive and their staff knowledgeable, so if it’s a fine wine you’re after, look no further. Shop 5 London Woolstores, 36 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe. DEER DUCK BISTRO Modern European dining experiences often call for the perfect red wine to match. Rest assured you’ll find one at Deer Duck Bistro. There is a focus on ethical eating at this establishment, where only the freshest in local, sustainable, organic and macrobiotic produce is used where possible. Embrace the old world charm and carefully crafted dishes on your next night out. 396 Milton Road, Auchenflower COVE BAR AND DINING In among South Bank’s River Quay fine dining precinct, you’re sure to stumble across Cove Bar, and when you do, do yourself a favour and stay a while. This casual yet elegant atmosphere is ideal for your next date night, as the riverside views and flawless feasting is sure to impress. Try one of their seasonal oyster creations with Hugh Hamilton 'The Trickster' Pinot Grigio and thank us later. 4 Sidon Street, South Brisbane.
We've all heard tales of scaling Mount Everest – of the resilience and fortitude it takes to reach the highest point on Earth. But like so many other epic stories of man versus nature, it turns out the truth is a little bit more complicated. For every climber to make it to the summit, a team of Sherpa guides haul gear, food and oxygen up and down the treacherous terrain, risking their lives to help foreign visitors tick an item off their bucket list. Australian documentarian Jennifer Peedom is no stranger to the mountain or the Sherpa community, having worked as a camera operator on numerous Everest documentaries including the Discovery Channel's critically acclaimed Everest: Beyond the Limit. But in 2014 she returned to make a different kind of Everest movie, one that explored the growing tensions between the Sherpas, their employers and their wealthy Western patrons. Of course, Peedom couldn't have foreseen was what took place that year on April 14. An avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall claimed the lives of 16 guides in a single day — and suddenly all that resentment boiled over. The footage Peedom captured makes for some of the most incredible and uncomfortable viewing you'll experience in cinemas this year: a tense, troubling doco about industrial action at more than 17,000 feet. After considerable attention on the international festival circuit, including a win for Best Documentary at the BFI London Film Festival, Sherpa is now screening in select cinemas around Australia. In the lead up to the release, we spoke to Peedom about her intentions in making the film, delved into the uncomfortable whitewashing of Everest narratives, and discussed what needs to change on the mountain going forward. SHERPA ISN'T A FILM ABOUT CLIMBING EVEREST "I had access to the Sherpa community, and when you're a filmmaker, access is everything," explains Peedom. "When you're looking at what stories you want to tell, you often look in your own backyard, and I was looking right under my nose at a story that I knew pretty well, and felt needed to be told. It wasn't about going back to Everest — that was the last thing I felt like doing. But I felt really motivated to tell this story." "Ultimately it's an industrial dispute film. I never set out to make a climbing film. It was always a film about a people, and a culture, and an inherent conflict within a relationship. Everest was the backdrop. The ascent of Everest formed the spine of the story through which we could explore those tensions. And then when the avalanche happened, that became a different vehicle to explore those tensions." DISRUPTING THE HERO NARRATIVE For all the movies made about Everest, it's rare to see the Sherpa depicted as anything other than bit players. "It doesn't suit our ego," says Peedom. "It doesn't suit that hero narrative to say that someone carried all my stuff through the icefall, my oxygen was carried all the way to camp three, and I only had to carry the one bottle I was using, and blah blah blah. So much of the work, and so many of the risks, are taken by somebody else." "I spoke to this American guy who said that on average, five or six people are employed to get one person to the summit. That's kind of embarrassing to admit. People don't want other people to know that. And maybe it's a female perspective, but I just got sick of all these men taking credit for what other people had done." WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE? "David Michôd — the guy who directed Animal Kingdom, who is a really good friend of mine — said that what he loved about the film is how morally complex it is, and that was something that we worked really hard to achieve," says Peedom. "It would have been much easier to make goodies and baddies, but it just didn't feel honest. It would be wrong for me to say that everyone who goes to climb Everest is an idiot, because it's not the truth. Not only that, but it would be irresponsible, because the Sherpa community rely on that income." "One of the Sherpas says at the beginning of the film that everyone used to do the work together, the foreigners and the Sherpas. But now the Sherpas do all the work, and I guess that's what needs to change. Foreigners need to go with their eyes open. Don't bury your head in the sand about the fact that you're asking other people to take risks on your behalf. Be cognisant of that, and put pressure on your expedition leader to make sure they have proper insurance, and to make sure they're not carrying triple loads. And if the worst does happen and a Sherpa is killed, you probably do have a responsibility for his children's future and his family." https://vimeo.com/139654857 Sherpa is in cinemas now. Read our full review here.
Summer is officially over. We know that not just because Sydney has gone all dark stormy, but because Vivid Sydney has this morning announced their full 2017 program. Get ready to be ensconced in sparkly lights once again — the festival of light, music and ideas will be back for 23 days from May 26 to June 17. The first tidbit from this year's program was handed to us a few weeks ago, with the announcement that indie folk-rock US band Fleet Foxes will bring their bright dance-around-the-forest songs to the Sydney Opera House for four exclusive shows on May 26–29 this year. These will be the band's only shows in Australia — and their first here in five years — so tickets will be allocated via a ballot system. Anyone who sat online to get (or miss out on) tickets to the Opera House's Bon Iver show last year will appreciate this method of allocation. The most overt aspect of the program is the lights, and this year their kaleidoscope is set to extend over to Barangaroo for the first time. A new precinct for 2017, it will extend the reach of the CBD's lights and further light up Darling Harbour with a trail of installations that will wind through the Streets of Barangaroo and along the waterfront. One of the works, A Day in the Light, will be an outdoor theatre of light and sound — getting a seat at one of the area's new restaurants (like 12-Micron or Banksii) will likely be hard to nab. The Sydney Opera House's sails will this year be lit up with imaginary creatures by cinematographer, editor, and graphic designer Ash Bolland. Vivid light hotspots, the Royal Botanic Garden, the MCA, Chatswood, Taronga Zoo and Martin place will all be lit up as well. Vivid Music just seems to get bigger with every passing year — in 2017, there will be over 250 gigs. Joining Fleet Foxes for the Vivid LIVE component of the program at the Opera House will be legendary French electronic duo AIR (for their second Australian shows ever), the ethereal Laura Marling and our own Nick Murphy (Chet Faker's new moniker, ICYMI). The Avalanches will also make an appearance on the Opera House's Northern Broadwalk to perform their seminal album Since I Left You in its entirety for the first time since 2001. The band will be joined by Briggs, Sampa The Great and DJ Shadow. The City Recital Hall has a solid program sorted as well, with Dappled Cities, Dianne Reeves and a party by Paul Mac slated. But not all the gigs will be held at formal venues. The Vivid Music program will this year extend to Carriageworks for an exclusive gig from Goldfrapp and the return of Fuzzy Music's huge party Curve Ball, over to Cake Wines for a rooftop party and Oxford Art Factory for the Women in Electronic Music showcase. Vivid Ideas is, of course, back for the brainiacs among you — and this year it's scored iconic artist Shepard Fairey as its big-ticket speaker. Don't know the name? He's the artist behind Obama's HOPE campaign. As well as an exclusive talk, he'll also create a large-scale public mural somewhere in Sydney's CBD (!!) and exhibit some of his works in an exhibition at Darling Quarter. There's plenty more where that came from, check the Vivid Sydney website for more details.
Shanghai Street has been around since 2010, and is Melbourne's foremost specialist in Shanghai cuisine, especially Shanghai xiaolongbao and juicy dumplings. The restaurant itself is elegant and charming, with attentive and friendly waitstaff which a few similar venues could learn from. The focus here is on food however, and with a regular queue out the front, it's hard to miss. The menu kicks off with a focus on homemade traditional xiaolongbao and fried mini buns, with the highlight being the steamed crab and pork option — vegetarians can tuck into the steamed vegetable version. These are as traditional as you'll find in Melbourne, and they are perfectly soft and succulent. There is a strong focus on dumplings, too, with the option to have them boiled or pan-fried. We'd recommend the chicken and prawn boiled, while the pan-fried beef dumplings are also a big hit. If you like them in a broth then the pork, mushroom and prawn wanton soup is for you. For some heartier meals try the Sichuan spicy chicken with peanut serve and a side of boiled rice, or the marinated duck with light sea salt for something more delicate. One of the house specialties here is the signature crispy chicken, that's deep fried and marinated with salt and pepper. Alternatively, the sweet and sour chicken with pineapple is a fun, flavoursome dish that you won't soon forget. There is also a strong seafood focus here, with the salt and pepper soft shell crab tossed in greens a must, while no order is complete without the stir-fried clams in XO sauce.
Are you a new music fiend? The type who hunts for a good dose of freshly minted music on a regular basis? Sorting through a month of music is epic business. Sure, you could hit up a few Spotify playlists, but we reckon you're after a few true gems, handpicked from four weeks of new releases. We've done the dirty work for you, filled our ears with everything we could get our mitts on and picked ten tracks that really stood out this month. Whack in your headphones and load up on these newbies. CHRISTOPHER PORT — 'HEAVENS' One of the finest advocates for UK garage Australia currently possesses, Christopher Port recently launched his solo project after providing support for a number of this country's most loved acts — including Big Scary and Ngaiire. The producer's upbeat soundscapes and sampling have come as a bit of a surprise for those not privy to his extracurricular talents, and have marked his solo work as a hugely interesting aside to his usual engagements. 'Heavens' is the second single to come from his debut EP Vetement, out July 15 via Pieater. BADBADNOTGOOD FEAT. MICK JENKINS — 'HYSSOP OF LOVE' One of my favourite hip-hop collectives, BADBADNOTGOOD, are back this year with a new album which will be available in a matter of weeks. The latest cut from the Canadian's record IV features up-and-coming Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins (in the Ghostface Killah role), who has been on my watch list since his impressive debut record Water. BBNG provide a relaxed, blaxploitation-inspired backdrop to Jenkins' sharp delivery, and once again highlights this crew as one of the tightest acts in the world. THE GOODS FEAT. BRUCE HATHCOCK — 'NIGHTLIFE' Sydney-based duo The Goods are a recent find, having recently turned their attention to their own music having after cutting their teeth as session musicians and producers. Their sound sits somewhere between a throwback funk/soul outfit and an Australian version of Kaytranada, with this catchy recipe recently taking the form of single 'Nightlife'. Featuring the Marvin Gaye-esque tones of Californian vocalist Bruce Hathcock, it's the latest the track from The Goods' upcoming double EP out July 1. THE OCEAN PARTY — 'BACK BAR' One of the most loveable bands in Australia, you always know what you're going to get when the Ocean Party release a new track. Their latest offering, 'Back Bar', again hits the mark with an upbeat, catchy number that comes in at just over 2:30. I challenge you to listen without smiling, especially when you pair it with the track's comical video clip which features nudity, air guitar and something that resembles wrestling jello. 'Back Bar' is the first single from the band's upcoming 6th (!) full length record, which I'm already predicting will be on high rotation in my household. MADELINE KENNEY — 'SIGNALS' Perhaps the most beautiful song I've heard this year, Madeline Kenney's 'Signals' has been a revelation since I came across it earlier this month. The latest signing to Chaz Bundwick's (Toro Y Moi) label Company Records, Oakland-based Kenney's debut EP (also titled Signals) is a stunner, full of standout vocals and dreamy soundscapes. It's a must-have for fans of Beach House and Grizzly Bear, and I'd love to share this record with as many people while she still remains small so I can say 'I told you so' when she blows up. WHAT SO NOT x GEORGE MAPLE FEAT. ROME FORTUNE — 'BURIED' The combination of these two Australian acts with fascinating Atlanta rapper Rome Fortune was enough to grab my attention, and I was surprised by my appreciation for this one when I gave it a little time. The gorgeous opening of 'Buried' takes me back to my obsession with Meshell Ndegeocello's incredible Comfort Woman record, before the nicely balanced production takes off, giving Fortune the perfect platform to let his powerful verses fly. This is a track that could have been incredibly confusing given the combination of distinctive artists, but the result is the opposite, with the track perfectly balancing each strong element. UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA — 'FIRST WORLD PROBLEM' Technically released in the shadows of May, there's no way I'm not including Unknown Mortal Orchestra's latest single 'First World Problem' in my list this month. The first new music since last year's breakout record Multi-Love, the track's slightly repetitive vocals are well and truly tempered by the its rich production and variation, with a brass section adding plenty of sass to this epically danceable number. As an aside, if you've overdone your UMO listening over the past few years, make sure to check out recent Laneway Festival casualty Silicon's (Reuben Neilson's brother Cody's project) debut album 2015 record Personal Computer. WALLACE — 'IS IT YOU?' There seems to have been a bit of a soul revival in Australia over the past few years, with acts like Hiatus Kaiyote, Jordan Rakei and Sasquatch leading the charge. One of this new breed of talent is Sydney-based Newzealander Wallace, who has been on the radar as one to watch since she released her debut single 'Vinyl Skip' early last year. Continuing to build on her early success, she released perhaps her most solid work to date earlier this month, teaming up with Dutch production duo Kraak & Smaak for the gorgeous 'Is It You?', a track that pairs Wallace's sultry vocals perfectly with smooth, tempered production that transports the listener to a smoky, backroom jazz bar. CASS MCCCOMBS — 'OPPOSITE HOUSE' Alt-country aficionado Cass McCombs recently announced a new addition to his impressive discography, with new album Mangy Love set for release in August. The first taste of said record is 'Opposite House', a dreamy track which features backing vocals from the radiant Angel Olsen (who'll be releasing her own new album later this year), and again solidifies the Californian as your favourite Sunday soundtrack artist. CITIES AVIV — 'MELANIN DROP' This track has so much going on, it's hard to believe it's only three minutes long. Experimental hip hop artist Cities Aviv jumps through numerous guises throughout, from aggressive MC, to laidback producer, to spoken word poet, all the while drawing the listener further into his web of brilliance. 'Melanin Drop' is one of the most interesting listens I've had in a long time, and is a worthy addition to this humble list. Top image: George Maple.
While Shannon Bennett's best known for his work helming fine dining institutions like Vue de Monde, the acclaimed chef reminded us he can also make a pretty mean burger, launching Benny Burger within Sydney Airport's international terminal last April. Now it's Melbourne's turn for a slice of the action, with Bennett set to unveil the first of three Victorian Benny Burger venues in Richmond this weekend. Officially opening its doors on Saturday, June 17, the Swan Street store's built on the same philosophy as the original, championing real ingredients, organic local produce and ethical practices. The name pays homage to Bennett's father Benny, and the food menu is peppered with childhood memories of the homemade burgers he'd throw on the barbie each weekend. Speaking of, the menu is an impressive lineup of 11 burger varieties, a couple of all-day brekkie options, fries and daily salads. Get your hands around a classic beef-filled Mr Burns, or go meat-free with the beetroot and chickpea Yoga Burger. There's even a cheeky reference to American Momofuku chef David Chang, who famously claimed "Australia has no idea what a burger is". He's invited to eat his words with The Chang, a hefty combo teaming beetroot relish, wagyu beef and a fried egg, with lots of other locally-sourced goodies. Plus, to kick things off, the store will be slinging free burgers for the first 100 customers through the doors from 11am this Saturday, June 17. There'll be lots of burgers beyond that, as well as a live set from Kingswood at 7pm. Benny Burger will open at 11am at 95 Swan Street, Richmond. For more info, visit bennyburger.com.au.
Back in 2021, famed plant-based restaurant Smith & Daughters and its sibling spot — all-vegan delicatessen Smith & Deli — moved in together, into their huge Collingwood home. The combined offering now spans across a 500-square-metre ground floor site on Cambridge Street, encompassing a deli-cafeteria, restaurant and food store. It's become one of the largest vegan dining hubs in the world. The refreshed iteration of Smith & Deli takes cues from the delicatessens of Europe, with a homely yet stylish aesthetic and — for the first time — a dine-in offering. There's a menu of grab-and-go eats, alongside a tight selection of top-quality pantry essentials, ready-made meals, and other goodies like cheese and pastries. [caption id="attachment_824522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ashley Ludkin[/caption] An adjoining cafeteria-style eatery showcases a rotation of hot and cold dishes, complete with a vegan carvery. Patrons are able to slide trays along the canteen with fresh fruit and mueslis on offer at breakfast, or an array of hot dishes and salads at lunchtime and dinner. A daily-changing deli plate comes loaded with a main, two sides, a dessert and a beverage from the curated drinks list, which celebrates a rotating pick of wine and beer. Smith & Daughters' 80-seat restaurant is a little more high-end, with a seasonal menu steeped in Mediterranean flavours and an aesthetic inspired by Vivienne Westwood. An open kitchen also features ringside seats, where you can sit at and enjoy a Chef's Table experience on Fridays and Saturdays — you'll be spoilt with a surprise lineup of dishes made using the day's fresh ingredients. But don't worry if you can't get one of these prized spots, Smith & Daughters also offers a three- and four-course set menu for diners in all other parts of the main dining room. Images: Ashley Ludkin Appears in: The Best Vegan Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023
Prepare to say ciao to Italian cinema throughout September and October — and we mean hello, not farewell. Yes, the annual showcase of films from or about the European nation is back for another round. In fact, it's the Lavazza Italian Film Festival's 17th year, and if the program is anything to go by, it's going to be another good one. Not only does the 2016 fest kick off with Italian box office hit Perfect Strangers and close with the digital restoration of the Audrey Hepburn-starring classic Roman Holiday, but it also boasts a world premiere. Local audiences will be the first on the planet to see the first-ever Australian-Italian feature co-production, The Space Between. Charting the intersection of an Italian ex-chef and a spirited Aussie in the scenic Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, it has been described as " a celebration of the Italian spirit of la dolce vita." Elsewhere, the 30-film program keeps highlighting the best Italian filmmaking has to offer, such as Where Am I Going?, the highest-grossing film in Italian cinema history. Strands dedicated to relationships and leading ladies serve up plenty of both, including straight-from Cannes prison drama Fiore and straight-from-Venice romance The Worldly Girl (and yes, we mean straight from this year's Venice Film Festival in September). Plus, with coming-of-age tale Arianna, Gran Turismo racing thriller Italian Race and gritty character study Napoli Jungle also on the bill, IFF does what all good fests should by offering something for everyone. Don't say you don't have something to watch for the next couple of months as the festival tours the country. The Lavazza Italian Film Festival tours the country between September 13 and October 19, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton St, Palace Verona and Chauvel Cinema from September 13 to October 9, Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, Kino Cinemas and The Astor from September 15 to October 9, and Brisbane's Palace Barracks from September 28 to October 19. For the full program, visit the festival website.
This year's Melbourne International Film Festival might still be months away, but that doesn't mean you can't start getting excited now. The August event won't reveal its full lineup until early July, but it has unveiled a 32-title sneak peek of flicks that you should start pencilling into your diary — including a direct-from-Sundance and Cannes selection for opening night. The 2018 fest will get underway with the Australian premiere of Wildlife. The directorial debut of actor Paul Dano, the 60s-set film features Carey Mulligan, Jake Gyllenhaal and Aussie up-and-comer Ed Oxenbould. And it's just one of MIFF's high-profile inclusions, with the program also featuring Sundance top prize-winner The Miseducation of Cameron Post, with Chloë Grace Moretz; exceptional crime thriller You Were Never Really Here, complete with a knockout performance by Joaquin Phoenix; and the Ethan Hawke-starring First Reformed, where he plays a priest struggling with his faith. Hawke also directs biopic Blaze, which won his star Benjamin Dickey Sundance's best actor award. Other highlights include documentary The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man, which delves into the many tales surrounding everyone's favourite celebrity, and fellow doco United Skates, a Tribeca audience award-winner that explores the African-American roller rink scene. Or, there's also the rightfully acclaimed Angels Wear White, about corruption and abuse in China, plus a wordless 55-minute virtual reality film from slow-cinema auteur Tsai Ming-liang, called The Deserted. Drama Tigers Are Not Afraid turns the Mexican drug war into a horror fairytale, and British crime effort Beast combines a love story with psychosexual thrills, while Bodied dives into the world of battle rap — in a fictional collaboration between director Joseph Kahn and producer Eminem. Films about designer Steve McQueen, musician M.I.A. and boy band fandom also feature, as do all six episodes of new Aussie TV series Mr Inbetween, which follows on from local 2005 mockumentary The Magician. Throw in new movies by excellent international directors — Berlinale hit Transit, from Phoenix's Christian Petzold; historical fiction Zama, the long-awaited next feature from Argentinian filmmaker Lucrecia Martel; and Let the Corpses Tan, by French genre standouts Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani (Amer, The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears) — and you probably already have too many titles to choose from. MIFF's complete 2018 program is set to include a couple of hundred films across more than 500 screenings. The Melbourne International Film Festival runs from August 2 to 19. For more information, visit the MIFF website — and check back on July 10, when the full program is announced.
Gird your livers, beer lovers, for Melbourne's annual celebration of all things hoppy and gold is back for 2016. The program for this year's Good Beer Week features more than 270 free and ticketed events across Melbourne and Victoria, from workshops to tastings to food and brew degustations, and even an honest to God fashion show. In fact, there's so much happening that they've tacked on three extra days, bringing the grand total to ten. Hardly a traditional week — not that we're complaining. Running from Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 22, the sixth annual Good Beer Week is split into various different streams. For those who like a drink with their dinner, the Foodie section features a number of enticing events, including a Vietnamese degustation at Uncle and a four-course Louisiana beer dinner at Ding Dong Lounge. The party-packed Good Times section, meanwhile, includes the opening and closing night shindigs, both of which will be held at Beer Deluxe. Other standout events include a showcase of female brewing talent at The Fox Hotel and an afternoon of beer, Reuben sandwiches and 90s hip-hop at 5 Points Deli. The remaining sections are divided based on your level of beer expertise. Beer 101 features various workshops and presentations, including a hands-on cider making class at Arbory and an 'Australian tour' held at Pilgrim in Fed Square, featuring six different beers from six different states. The Beer Geek and Beer Lover sections, on the other hand, are best suited to beer-swilling veterans. Learn the ins and outs of nano-brewing courtesy of the folk at Henry Street Brewhouse in Kensington, or throw yourself into the annual Pint of Origin showdown at bars and pubs all over the state.
If you're keen to score good deals on flights and accommodation, then it's never too early to start planning next year's international adventure. Chances are, though, that between Christmas shopping and hitting the beach, you don't have a lot of spare time on your hands. So, we've done some research for you. Here are ten spots around the world that are definitely worth a visit in 2018. For spectacular scenery, head to the Azores Islands off Portugal; for incredible colonial architecture and watery sunsets, try Cartagena in Colombia or Valletta in Malta; for world-class cocktails and Gordon Ramsay-defeating laksa, make tracks to Singapore; and for a live music marathon, there's New Orleans, which is gearing up to celebrate its 300th anniversary. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA New Orleans turns 300 this year, so prepare for the shindig of all shindigs. Official tricentennial events include gigs, art exhibitions, parties, film screenings and more. There's a block party dedicated to Martin Luther King, a burlesque opera celebrating Tabasco sauce and a concert telling the story of jazz history, among loads of other happenings. 2018 will also mark 13 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, but rebuilding has been extensive and tourist numbers have recovered to pre-2005 numbers (about 10 million visitors annually). In between anniversary parties, head to Bourbon Street for a 24/7 music festival, St Claude Avenue for jazz bars and Royal Street for art galleries. MEXICO CITY, MEXICO With a population of more than 21 million, Mexico City is one of the biggest cities in the world. Once considered a place to avoid, on account of its high crime rate and even higher pollution levels, the metropolis has transformed over the past few years. Public spaces have opened up to emphasise majestic architecture; restaurants and cantinas are flourishing; art exhibitions, live gigs and museum are countless. Be sure to visit the Palacio Nacional, famous for the Diego Rivera murals which convey Mexico's history from the moment the Quetzalcóatl (a serpent god of the Aztecs) arrived to the 1910 Mexican Revolution. CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA Like Mexico City, Colombia was once struck off many travellers' lists for fear of kidnappings, guns and cocaine deals. However, it too, has gone through a bit of a renaissance. The country's most beautiful city is Cartagena, which you'll find on the northern coast, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Expect dreamy sunsets, stunning 16th century architecture, brightly-coloured flowers and old-fashioned horse and cart. A short boat ride away are the Rosario Islands, part of a national park that offers exceptional snorkelling and diving. Other spots for underwater aficionados include the Providencia and Santa Catalina islands: the gateway to the world's biggest coral reef system. [caption id="attachment_650530" align="alignnone" width="1920"] SDSU[/caption] AZORES ISLANDS, PORTUGAL The extraordinarily beautiful Azores Islands lie in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,360 kilometres west of Portugal. They form one of the nation's two autonomous regions, the other being Madeira. If you're looking for a nature-centric holiday, this is the place to go to. You'll be wandering along calderas covered in greenery and filled with sparkling lakes, lazing about on subtropical beaches watching out for whales and dolphins (year-round), diving among loggerhead turtles and blue sharks, and walking through intricate cave systems. Even though the Azores are becoming more popular with visitors, the natural environment continues to be well protected by the locals — only 5% has been developed. VALLETTA, MALTA Valletta is the capital of Malta, an island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, about 80 kilometres south of Italy and 284 kilometres east of Tunisia. Described by locals as "the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen", it was created in just 15 years from 1566 — entirely by hand. Not only the complex architecture — dotted with forts, churches, palaces, fountains, sculptures, hidden gardens and narrow alleyways — is spectacular, but the location, too. Valletta covers the rugged Mount Sceberras peninsula, which is flanked by two deep, steep harbours. [caption id="attachment_651184" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Robinson[/caption] SHEFFIELD, UK Sheffield? You're probably thinking gloomy weather, industrial cityscapes and, of course, steel. While all these things are or have been true of this Northern English city, there's a lot more to it. Firstly, Sheffield is the happiest city in the UK, according to a 2013 survey. Secondly, there's a happening arts scene, which has given rise to several big bands, including Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Def Leppard. The theatre complex is also the largest outside of London. Thirdly, extensive redevelopment during past few years has added loads of greenery and, if you're keen to get deeper into nature, the Peak District National Park is just next door. [caption id="attachment_651175" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Göran Höglund[/caption] LAYA, BHUTAN While we're on the topic of happiness, let's talk about Bhutan. This tiny Himalayan nation, which lies just east of Nepal, is famous for measuring progress in terms of Gross National Happiness (GNH), instead of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). On top of meeting lots of friendly people, you'll find yourself surrounded by dramatic mountain scapes, ancient monasteries and prayer flags. If you can, venture to Laya, Bhutan's highest settlement — and one of the highest in the world — at 3,800 metres. It's home to just 3,000 indigenous Layap people and every October hosts the Royal Highlander Festival, a celebration of their unique culture. [caption id="attachment_651085" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jasmine Crittenden[/caption] SINGAPORE Have you always struck Singapore off your list because it's "boring" and "sterile"? Such things are often said of this island city found just south of Malaysia, but, get beneath the surface, and you'll discover some diverse, dynamic neighbourhoods — as well as the best laksa on the planet. A good way to start is with a ramble around Little India, which should include curry at Banana Leaf Apollo and chilli crab at Wing Seong Fatty's. After that, head to Katong, home to Singapore's Peranakan population, whose culture combines Chinese, Malay, Indian, Arabic and European influences. Finally, be sure to end a hot day with a stop at one of Singapore's many new cocktail bars, such as the Tippling Club, which came 31st in the 2017 World's Best Bars Awards. More tips are in our Less Obvious Guide To Singapore. [caption id="attachment_651178" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arian Zwegers[/caption] GEORGIA Georgia is smack bang in the middle of the Caucasus, with the Black Sea to the west, Russia to the north and Turkey to the south. So, on one side, there's beautiful coastline, and the other, rugged mountains. In between, you'll pass flower-dotted meadows, rushing rivers and enchanting villages, with tavernas full of welcoming, carousing locals. Yes, they'll probably expect you to sing. Although tourism is growing, Georgia still has a wild, undiscovered feeling to it. The best way to travel is with an openness to adventure and surprises, rather than a strict itinerary. [caption id="attachment_651191" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vahid Yarmohammadi[/caption] IRAN Speaking of adventure and surprises — if you're a fan of them, then book a ticket to Tehran, the buzzing, colourful capital of Iran. For a shopping experience you're unlikely to forget, spend a morning getting lost among the mazes of The Grand Bazaar, poring over spices, gold jewellery and handwoven carpets. At the Golestan Palace, you'll get an insight into Iran's royal history; it was here that the Qajars, the country's second to last dynasty, had their seat of power. Think marble fountains, blinding mirror halls and magnificent furniture. The city also has a strong contemporary art scene. Check out Aaran Gallery for work by young artists and A.J for photography.
It's a truth universally acknowledged that the perfect counterpoint to modern life (standard stressful job, social media obsession and crippling credit card/HECS debt) is a few days spent reclining on a white, sandy beach. But it's sometimes easy to forget that while fancy resorts may help us get our mojo back, they can also have some devastating environmental impacts. Enter Six Senses wellness resort chain and their soon-to-open Malolo Island destination in Fiji. Within striking distance of some of the best surf breaks in the world (Cloudbreak included), the new Six Senses Fiji stretches over 650 metres of pristine beach and intends to keep it that way. The resort is designed to be sustainable and eco-conscious as well as super pretty; it's 100 percent solar powered and the first microgrid in Fiji to use Tesla batteries. They use a worm-based septic system and water reservoirs for onsite waste management and have developed a reforestation program to offset the wood used in the construction of the resort, so you can relax and know your wellness pilgrimage isn't destroying the earth. Now before you wrinkle your nose at the phrase 'wellness pilgrimage' hear us out. Six Senses isn't a wellness resort in the traditional sense. Wellness here doesn't mean chanting at dawn, it means medically sanctioned wellbeing — and they want to help you bring that holiday zen home. As well as the standard resort activities like beach relaxing and poolside drinking, during your stay at Six Senses Fiji you can undertake an integrated wellness program. A team of professionals (a sleep doctor, a nutritionist and a general physician — hair psychic not included) develop a personalised program to address your needs which could include spa treatments, exercise, yoga, meditation and sleep guidance to help you become the most rested, relaxed you as scientifically possible. Six Senses features 24 villas, 66 residential villas and 650 metres of private beach, so you can recline with fresh views every day. The resort also includes a gym (for looking at, not going in), club house and kids club as well as facilities for boating, sailing, diving, snorkelling and tennis. Gawdd damn. It's time to cash in those flexitime hours and better yourself while drinking a daytime pina colada. Six Senses Fiji is set to open in late 2017. In the meantime, Six Senses Con Dao is open, so we simply had to check it out.
If you’re getting a little sick of braving rowdy German bier halls only to vomit up your pretzels and beer on a passing beer wench, the Arbory has a classy alternative to Oktoberfest. It’s called Notøberfest and it’s a slightly more meaningful and mature version of the German bier festival with an emphasis on supporting the arts community instead of inhaling various sausages in bread (although there's always a place for that). The Arbory is that cute little bar down near Flinders Street Station that overlooks the Yarra and they’re really pushing the boat out (pun intended) for this festival. Beloved Australian artist Reko Rennie, an Indigenous installation specialist of the Kamilaroi tribe, has created a series of neon sculptures to represent the gumtrees growing along the river. Other featured artists bring work to the Arbory include Uptown Brown, Jordy Doust and Projectionists and roving artists, as well as music by Citizien Sex, Tommy Showtime X DJ Maars, Vince Peach, Sikander, Chico G and Whiskey Houston. But really the best part of the Notøberfest is the chance to get to Arbory and suck down a nitro espresso martini (which they’ve got on tap because priorities) and catch the wandering Euro Yum Cha trolley (what? What is that? Reveal your secrets to us, Euro Yum Cha trolley). And if you can’t fully let go of the whole Oktoberfest thing, you can take the edge off at the Wurst Yoder Smoker cook-off on the final weekend of the festival. But don’t worry, it’s still fancy — hello nitro-charged beer. Notøberfest runs from October 16 – 25 at Arbory Bar and Eatery, Flinders Street Station, 1 Flinders Walk, Melbourne. Open from 7am until late, free entry.
Gather the troops — and your stretchiest clothing — for a solid ten days of sipping and sampling. It's March, and that means the dinner plates are out for the city's biggest excuse for eating and drinking itself silly: the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Running from March 4-13, there are over 290 events on offer over the ten-day festival, so whether you’re a seasoned foodie or just looking for something new to learn, do or taste, there’s a smorgasbord of events to try. This year's festival hub is all about dairy products (read: the best products) and the events cover everything from bacon to cheese to mussels to locally-brewed beer. We’ve chosen two hands-worth that are not only exceptionally hunger-inducing, but that you can actually still get tickets to.
Prancing through fields laced with the charm of provincial France? Casual summer weekendery. The ever-popular So Frenchy So Chic in the Park is waltzing back to Melbourne's Werribee Park Mansion for its sixth year running. If you haven't been before, expect an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties — think gourmet picnic hampers, tortes and terrines, offensively good wine, furious outdoor chess, casual gypsy beats. So Frenchy hinges around a solid lineup of eclectic artists you may be yet to meet. There's '60s French pop-American art rock hybrid outfit The Limiñanas (think Serge Gainsbourg meets The Velvet Underground), Parisian funk-folk poet and musician Bertrand Berlin, and Nouvelle Vague, who are no strangers to the So Frenchy setup. Last, but in no way, shape or form least, there's six-piece ex-busker band Deluxe — they will be belting out their unique blend of pop, hip-hop, funk, soul and big band elements to get everyone up off their picnic rugs and dancing the blazes out of that lawn. If you're not the most organised of picnickers, So Frenchy is putting on the works again with their beloved picnic boxes and cheese plates from Ed Dixon. Filled with buttery pastry quiches, salad jardinière and goose egg meringue, the picnic boxes are one to preorder if you don't want to miss out. But So Frenchy won't let you go hungry; there'll be a huge banquet of seafood, crepes, macarons and ice cream available on the day. And of course, there'll be plenty of Laurent Perrier Champagne, French beer, Provence rosé, Bordeaux reds and whites, and special cocktails at the SFSC vintage caravan. Don your best floral-headband-and-sundress-combo and gear up for un merveilleux après-midi.
As the nights become longer and summer makes its stifling presence known, it's becoming more and more clear the type of diet Melbournians will be having over the next few months. While Brisbane and Sydney may be taking to the beach more often to share a bowl of acai, goji berries, and organic yoghurt, we're concerning ourselves with big American BBQ, endless gelato, and greasy potato cakes. It's finally getting fashionable to overindulge. With that in mind, please say hello to Grand Trailer Park Taverna — Melbourne's newest novelty American eatery located right in the (soon to be clogged) heart of the CBD. Opening earlier this week on the corner of Bourke and Exhibitions Streets, the Grand Trailer Park is brought to us by Pawn & Co's Josh Lefers and Dani Zieni from the Dandenong Pavilion. Fitted out with renovated caravans, this space is home to a range of burgers, desserts, cocktails and — wait for it — spiked milkshakes. Hold back your gags, please — these treats will be way different from that time you tried to make a Beer Spider (trademark pending). Here, you'll be able to choose from four stellar selections: Makers Mark Bourbon, salted caramel and maple bacon; Kinder Surprise, Frangelico and Baileys; marshmallow, blue heaven and vanilla vodka; or peanut butter and jelly and Captain Morgan's Rum. But it doesn't stop there. The food is just as crazy impressive with burgers boasting killer names like The Chunk - Double Double, The Ivan Drago and Cynthia Benson. Our favourite is the Francis Underwood. Though it doesn't have the much-loved ribs the infamous House of Cards character is known for, it does have a bit of that distinctive Southern charm. Get this: alongside the fresh Australian beef, American cheddar and mustard, it has a potato, mac and cheese croquette. In case, after all that, you're not feeling like a ball of saturated fat and shame, they also offer a range of desserts that are well worth the trip. They even offer three — count 'em — types of waffle stacks. One stuffed with Nutella parfait, whipped cream, strawberries and Nutella sauce, another filled with peanut butter parfait, cream, strawberries and salted caramel sauce, and the last a giant Nutella-based offering that serves four and comes with your very own jar of Nutella on the side. If that's not enough they also serve mini waffle cones of ice cream coated in Wizz Fizz because YOLO. Some say overeating doesn't lend itself well to the warmer months, but we can see ourselves spending a lot of time here very soon. Photos via Grand Trailer Park Taverna and Jimmy's Burgers.
Pinchy's lobster-loaded linguine normally sets diners back a cool $48. But if you visit this CBD restaurant on a Thursday night, you'll score over 50% off, getting the dish for just $20. It's a proper bargain. In May this year, the Bourke Street lobster and champagne bar received a big makeover, getting a new look, new chef and new menu. This pasta dish, packed with lobster and lifted by miso butter, tomatoes and basil, is a recent addition to the Pinchy's menu, but has already become a fan favourite. This change — and the pasta deal — was inspired by all of Melbourne's recent restaurant closures. Director Jeremy Schnick notes that: "With the constant cost-of-living pressures, nearby closures, the ongoing difficulties of CBD operation (particularly during winter), and a huge increase in wage costs post-Covid, the decision was clear for me." "I found an amazing new Executive Chef [Barret Jones] and together we decided we needed to give guests something larger and distinctive in our delicious menu offering — something they can feel more value in, and slow down to spend time eating with friends or a loved one, appreciating what's in front of them." And what better way to take in all the changes than with a generous bowl of lobster pasta for just $20? Images: Jana Langhorst.
Johnston Street continues to be one of Melbourne's coolest strips — packed with some of the city's top bars, cafes, restaurants and boutique stores. But the sheer amount of places to drop by can be really overwhelming. You'd need days to properly explore all of its best bits. Knowing this, three neighbouring businesses — JUDE, Shop Gal and Addict — have joined forces to create a mini-shopping trail that includes free styling sessions and a ramen workshop — an unlikely but still brilliant pairing (that's also very Johnston Street). [caption id="attachment_982871" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Addict[/caption] Starting at 6pm on Thursday, December 5, you'll first drop by JUDE — an independent fashion label championing Melbourne-made and gender-neutral clothing — to get free styling advice and do a spot of Christmas shopping. You'll then take a few steps down the strip to Shop Gal — Melbourne-based designer Tara Whalley's boutique fashion store that's home to her own colourful creations as well as a heap of other local designers' wares — for more styling tips and shopping opportunities. This is a must-stop spot for those looking to add a bit of colour and pattern to their summer wardrobe. [caption id="attachment_982877" align="alignnone" width="1920"] JUDE[/caption] The final stop is Addict — a cafe and ramen haunt — where punters can join a hands-on ramen workshop ($20) that comes with a complimentary cocktail. Either spend the rest of the night drinking and eating here or head back to JUNE and Shop Gal for more shopping. As a special treat, the teams have also created a limited-edition JUDE x TARA designer tote bag filled with goodies from all three stores. These will be available for purchase exclusively on the night, which is running up until 9.30pm. The event is free to attend, but booking is essential. [caption id="attachment_982870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shop Gal by Tara Whalley[/caption]
The sun's a-shining and our love affair with the G&T is about to fire up for another year. But this season, that gin in your glass could be more local than ever before. Patient Wolf, Melbourne's newest small-batch gin producer, is about to launch its first creation. It's been a long time coming, as Matt Argus and Dave Irwin, the duo behind the Brunswick boutique distillery, will tell you. The pair has spent the past three years travelling the world, learning from some of the best in the gin biz and perfecting this first batch, which has been made with the help of their custom-built Müller copper still. What they've crafted is a smooth and beautifully-balanced premium dry gin. It's a new-school riff on the classic London dry style, with botanicals like elderflower and ruby grapefruit mingling with more adventurous additions, such as Central American tonka beans. These guys are nodding to tradition while embracing innovation, and keeping things small — each run will be capped at just 220 bottles. A recipe for success, it seems, given that half of Patient Wolf's first batch had been snapped up, just two days after launching a Pozible online pre-order campaign. But even if you miss out this time, fear not – sky-high demand has seen Argus and Irwin jump straight onto batch number two, with pre-orders for this also open.
How's this for a way to blow off steam at the end of a working week? Abbotsford will next month become Melbourne's official home of casual and competitive axe throwing, which is exactly what it sounds like. Maniax is the brainchild of Stephen Thomas, who first came across the sport while living in Canada. "My wife and I used to go every week to watch the league," he told Concrete Playground back in June 2017. "Down this back alley in Toronto there's this small warehouse with a bunch of targets set up, and a fire burning out the front. Everyone was right into it, and it was a really cool atmosphere." Upon returning to Australia, Thomas opened Maniax Sydney, and it soon proved to be a bit of a hit. "Think of it as an alternative to bowling or lawn bowls," he says. "We get birthday parties, hens parties, bucks parties, even family groups. Then midweek, we do corporate team building sessions. Google, Spotify, Australian Navy, Commonwealth Bank, IKEA, Qantas, you name it, they've been in." For Maniax Melbourne, Thomas has secured a warehouse just east of Hoddle Street, around 100 metres from Collingwood Station. "We've got six dedicated throwing areas, so we can take six separate groups at a time," he says. "It's going to have a very rustic, very industrial feel with lots of iron and wood." Thomas also plans to partner up with local bars and restaurants. "In Sydney we've got a guy called the Pig Baron who comes and sets up a pig on a spit," he explains. "Then afterwards we send them round to the local craft brewery for a few refreshing ales after the axe throwing." When we remark that axes and alcohol should probably be kept separate, he laughs. "It's a good combination in the right order," he agrees. "Axe throwing first, then the beer afterwards. Always in that order." Admittedly, not everyone has been as keen on the idea of axe throwing. Maniax had already been approved by the City of Yarra, but was then forced to go through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after a member of the public lodged an appeal. Now, more than eight months after we first spoke to Thomas, the venue has the go-ahead and will open in the week commencing March 19. So how does it work? You'll need a group of at least eight people to book an axe throwing area (at $50 a head). Then you'll have two hours to practice your aim and battle it out against your mates in an elimination comp. Once it's up and running, Thomas has big plans, including league nights like the ones they've set up in Sydney. "We hope to eventually have a Melbourne champ and a Sydney champ and be able to fly the Melbourne champ up to Sydney or vice versa and have an Australian champion," he says enthusiastically. "And because we're actually part of the National Axe Throwing Federation in Canada, our league members qualify for the National Championships in Canada. I'd love more than anything to see us find an Aussie champ and then fly them over to Canada to compete." Maniax is set to open at 21 Russell Street, Abbotsford on March 21. Bookings are now open at maniax.com.au/melbourne.
The minds behind Northcote's Tinker, Collingwood's Terror Twilight and Smith Street sandwich spot Hi Fi made a foray into the inner-northwest when Convoy — a bright daytime diner overlooking Queens Park. Convoy boasts a retro-leaning, timber-filled fit-out by female-led practices Studio Esteta and My Friend Tom, with a spacious streetside deck and garden and plenty of natural materials used throughout. The cafe is plating up both familiar favourites and new imaginings. It's expectedly creative and considered — you might find smashed avo on toast with pickled carrot and black olive caramel; cinnamon scroll pancakes with cream cheese icing and orange zest; or a steak frites roll with herb butter and mustard mayo. The kitchen's take on eggs benedict is also a fave of ours. It features a toasted Turkish roll topped with ham off the bone and apple and fennel slaw. You've also got the Turkish eggs that have been elevated with sujuk and a bright lemon yoghurt. Along with your usual coffee options, you'll find a range of shakes and smoothies including the enlivening green smoothie with spinach, banana, mango, passionfruit and honey. Or you can amp up your day with something from the cocktail list, where classics like mimosas and bloody marias sit alongside a rose martini and a 'Wake Me Up Before You Coco' with tequila, Aperol, triple sec, coconut milk and lime. Images: My Friend Tom. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Melbourne for 2023
There's a good reason that nearly every tour of Europe stops in Dubrovnik — the city is bloody beautiful. Inside the medieval walls of the Old Town, you almost feel as though you're wandering through a movie set (albeit a sweaty one with a lot of stairs). You can (and should) do the main attractions anyone who's been on a eight-day sailing tour of Croatia can tell you to do — walk around the city walls, have a drink on the cliffs outside the city walls at Buza bar I or II, do a Game of Thrones tour — but there's plenty of ways to do Dubrovnik your own way. We've compiled a list of the best ways to spend your time in the seaside Croatian city to make sure your visit is an unforgettable one. If you've been thinking about booking that European holiday, do it now. Swapping your Australian winter for a European summer is a great way to make your 2017 something to look forward to. In partnership with Topdeck, here is the first instalment of our Less Obvious city guides. Episode two: Dubrovnik. DRINK DINGAC AT D'VINO Unlike France or Italy, you never really hear anyone going on about Croatia's wine — but you should. This little country produces some killer drops, most notably on the Pelješac Peninsula, which just about an hour and a half north of Dubrovnik. Ask anyone who knows even the tiniest bit about wine, and they'll tell you to try some Dingač. Repeatedly. Dingač is the wine region, but generally they're talking about the much-lauded red wine variety Plavac Mali. Best place to try some of the stuff is at D'Vino in the Old Town. You can sit on the stairs, order a cheese platter and try the wine with a Dingač tasting paddle. SWIM IN A HUGE CLEAR BLUE LAKE For this one you'll have to take the ferry over to the island of Mjlet, which takes about an hour and a half. We promise it will take to you the most godly, most serene of waters. A huge chunk of Mljet is taken up by a national park, which includes two lakes. Veliko and Malo Jezero (literally meaning Large and Small Lake) both have incredibly clear blue water which you will definitely want to float around in until infinity. To get there, get the ferry to Polače (not Sobra — it's a big island), buy a ticket to enter the national park, grab a map and hike over to the lake. Once you've made it, you'll probably want to jump into the ridiculously blue water ASAP. Then you can wander around the lake, stopping at suitable nooks to rest under shade and take a dip wherever you please. This one is a day trip, as there's only one ferry (the Nona Ana) in the morning, and one in the afternoon. The timetable is here, but you can only buy tickets at the dock, so best to get there at least half an hour before the ferry departs to do so. SHOOT HOOPS WITH A VIEW OF THE OLD CITY Why pay to walk the city walls when you can shoot hoops from practically the same vantage point? Anyone can wander into this rooftop court — although it's oddly shaped and not at all a regulation-sized basketball court, so you won't be able to hold official competitions. There is, however, a sorta hidden entrance to the Gornji Ugao Tower, a restored medieval fort inside the city walls from the 15th century. EAT CROATIAN BARBECUE ON A ROOFTOP TERRACE If this place existed in Australia, it would get mad hype. It's not trendy by any means, but it's got all the makings of an inner city success: a rooftop, a barbecue and wine by the carafe. They cook basically everything on the charcoal grill here, which (happily for your nose) is located on the open air rooftop terrace overlooking the city you will be dining in. You can't go wrong with seafood, but it's worth trying their ćevapi, which is a minced meat morsel not unlike kofta. There's some epic queues at dinnertime, so it's best to get there really early or really late. Also, the best bit: it's called Lady Pi-Pi because there's a sculpture of a boss lady peeing out the front. See above. [caption id="attachment_590356" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: Peter Northall.[/caption] LEARN SOME VITAL LOCAL HISTORY AT THE WAR PHOTO MUSUEM Your lack of knowledge about Yugoslav history will probably never be more apparent than when you visit Dubrovnik. The city still lives with a vivid memory of the Yugoslav People's Army's two-month siege on the city — it only happened in 1991. The best place to get a sense of what happened is to visit War Photo Limited. Their permanent collection includes images of Dubrovnik under siege as well as iconic work from photojournalists covering the breakdown of Yugoslavia and the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. EAT A BREAKFAST BUREK ON THE ROCKS Look, not all burek were created equal — but pretty much all were created insanely delicious and that's all we need to know. Basically every second person is walking around Dubrovnik eating a burek out of a paper bag, and you should definitely be one of them. Best is the breakfast burek (which is only differentiated from lunch and dinner burek by time of day, not contents) because you get to eat cheese encased in pastry and it's a legitimate breakfast. Buy one (or two) from literally anywhere and walk it out of Ploče Gate and down some stone stairs to eat it on the rocks as the sun comes up. TAKE A DIP AT DANCE While our idea of a beach is one with sand, Croatians apply the definition to basically any bit of coastline you can hop into the water from. Dubrovnik's 'beaches' therefore aren't necessarily known as being amazing, but when the temperature rises and the Old Town becomes a hot, sweaty mess, you'll definitely want to find one. Avoid Banje Beach (it's overcrowded and run by a beach club meaning you have to pay for a chair), and head out of Pile gate to fine Danče beach. It's quiet, traversed mostly by locals and has rocks and slabs of concrete so you can lie down and soak up the Croatian sun. Visit Europe (including Dubrovnik) with a Topdeck trip and make 2017 a year to remember. Book early (that means now) and save up to $999. Top Image: Juan Carlos De Martin via Flickr.
Life on the streets of Melbourne is tough for bright-eyed, bushy-tailed restaurants. New eateries appear just as quickly as they disappear — a reflection of Melbourne's high expectations for quality food, organic atmosphere and something uniquely special. We're a difficult crowd to impress. So if a restaurant can stay busy and bustling for over 30 years, they're clearing doing something right. Whether it's a distinct atmosphere or authentic, rich cuisine, these are the restaurants Melburnians have been visiting (and revisiting) for decades. Image: France-Soir by Brook James.
Over the past twelve months, Concrete Playground's film critics have watched a truly obscene number of movies. Blockbusters, indie titles and arthouse flicks from around the globe, if it's been projected onto a screen anywhere in this country we've gobbled it up – along with approximately ten truckloads full of popcorn. And while there are certain films we'd much rather forget (looking at you Fantastic Four), there have also been plenty of great ones. Presented in alphabetical order, here are our ten favourite movies of the year. AMY Amy, by director Asif Kapadia, is an overwhelmingly tragic and absorbing portrait of the life (and death) of famed jazz singer Amy Winehouse; a documentary steeped in disquiet because, just as it was with Kapadia's previous film Senna, you know it ends in a crash. With its remarkable catalogue of personal videos, voicemails and recording sessions, Kapadia has crafted an extraordinarily moving tribute to a prodigious talent whose life seemed somehow unavoidably foredoomed. - Tom Glasson Read our full review. BIRDMAN Filmed like a play but choreographed like a dance, Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Birdman is a cinematic ballet, one where the way the story is presented is just as critical as the story itself. Narratively, its chronicle of redemption is a simple one, but like all good tales the simplicity of plot is offset by characters possessed of deep complexity. This is a film that almost commands repeat viewings, if only to marvel at its mechanics – and yet Birdman offers so much more than form. Darkly comedic, intellectually challenging and emotionally confronting, it’s a tantalisingly original piece of cinema that rightfully garnered multiple Oscars, including the top gong, at this year's Academy Awards. - TG Read our full review. EDEN If you're thinking about French electronic music, then you're probably thinking about Daft Punk. Writer-director Mia Hansen-Løve understands this, and doesn't shy away from their success in her portrait of the scene during the early 1990s. In fact, they're the counterpoint to the struggles endured by Eden's main character, Paul (Félix de Givry), as he chases the same dream over the course of two decades. Suffice it to say, he doesn't quite enjoy the same trajectory as his helmet-wearing friends. The film does, however, offer an astute account of trying and not quite succeeding that's equally hopeful and realistic. - Sarah Ward Read our full review. EX MACHINA Before Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson found themselves on opposite sides of the good-versus-evil divide in Star Wars: Episode VII, they battled over something else in the sci-fi realm. In Ex Machina, artificial intelligence and a humanoid robot named Ava (Alicia Vikander) spark a clash between Isaac's tech company CEO and Gleeson's computer programmer, after the former invites the latter to help test his newest creation. One of the best modern appropriations of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein ever made, Alex Garland's directorial debut is precise and probing in its themes, visuals and mood. - SW Read our full review. INSIDE OUT Pixar gets back to the top of their game with this wonderfully inventive tale set inside the human mind. Like all the studio's best movies, Inside Out can be enjoyed by just about anyone, with plenty of cerebral grown-up gags mixed in with the animated slapstick. It also features some of the most gorgeous visuals they've ever put up on the screen. But it's the film's emotional intelligence that earns it a spot in the Pixar pantheon alongside Up and Toy Story 3. Not content simply to make us cry, director Pete Docter instead examines why we cry, delivering a poignant life lesson that applies no matter how old you may be. - Tom Clift Read our full review. LOVE It's two and a half hours long, full of graphic sex and the whole thing is shot in 3D. In case you couldn't guess, Gaspar Noe's Love won't appeal to every taste. But even those who hate it would be hard pressed to deny that it's one of the most daring movies released in quite some time. Say what you will about his apparent predilections, but Noe is clearly a master of his craft. And if nothing else, Love is worth seeing just so you can argue about it. Is it a scathing critique of misogyny and male insecurity, or is it guilty of those very issues itself? Ultimately, you need to see it to decide. - TC Read our full review. MACBETH Few filmmakers can take something as distinctive as Shakespeare and turn it into a creation that feels wholly like their own. Justin Kurzel might follow in the footsteps of fellow Australian Baz Luhrmann in achieving this feat, although his Macbeth has little else in common with everyone's favourite version of Romeo + Juliet. In the Snowtown helmer's hands, the tale of an ambitious soldier willing to do whatever it takes to become king is stripped down to its most bleak and brutal elements. Yes, it rages with sound and fury. Yes, it's moody and brooding, both in emotion and in its aesthetic. Yes, Michael Fassbender steals the show in the title role, though Marion Cotillard threatens to do the same in every scene she's in. - SW Read our full review. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD In an era when most blockbusters follow the same predictable path, Mad Max: Fury Road charts a course in a very different direction. A barebones narrative forms the basis for the film, essentially a two-hour car chase through a bizarre desert wasteland, where warlords rule with an iron fist and flamethrowers double as guitars. Director George Miller makes fantastic use of practical effects, crafting action that is both bombastic and possesses a genuine sense of danger – something that films loaded with CGI often struggle to achieve. And that's to say nothing of the movies' unexpected feminist streak, with Charlize Theron's Imperator Furiosa stealing the whole film right out from under Max's feet. - TC Read our full review. SICARIO Since the beginning of the Mexican Drug War in 2006, it’s estimated more than 100,000 people have been killed in cartel-related violence. Sicario (Spanish for ‘hitman’) is a gritty, confronting and appropriately brutal examination of the US’s complicated and often deleterious engagement with this conflict. While its doleful theme of ‘this is just how things are’ doesn't deliver anything particularly new on the topic, Sicario showcases two powerhouse performances from its leads — Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro — and delivers a relentlessly tense, immaculately constructed piece of cinema from start to finish. - TG Read our full review. THE LOBSTER If you were going to get turned into an animal, which one would you choose? This line of thought pops up in The Lobster, although it's actually one of the least interesting things about the English-language debut of Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos. The writer-director behind Dogtooth and Alps, Lanthimos uses a light sci-fi premise and a high-profile cast to ponder society's obsession with pairing people off, maintaining monogamous relationships and adhering to an amorous status quo. The result is a savagely funny yet heartbreakingly tender film that also features what might be the most memorable use of Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue's 'Where the Wild Roses Grow' we've ever seen. - SW Read our full review. Honourable Mentions: A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Magic Mike XXL, Mommy, Tehran Taxi.
It's not your imagination — there really has been a heap of stunning new hotels open in Australia this year. Australia's hotel scene is already stacked with some remarkable stays, both in the major cities and in the regional corners of the country. And as our tourism economy has continued to boom, the last six months has seen more boutique and luxury chain hotels open on our shores. From boutique hotels with lush gardens to a wine lovers' dream stays or vibrant 'choose-your-own-adventure' lodgings, there are some seriously impressive (and incredibly designed) new hotels awaiting your arrival — whether on an interstate trip or a sneaky staycation. Read on to find out which 2018 hotel openings to pencil into your travel calendar as soon as possible. [caption id="attachment_671141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] W Brisbane[/caption] W BRISBANE, BRISBANE Brisbanites should be well aware of the CBD's riverside stretch that's synonymous with bland buildings and a hurried expressway. But with the arrival of W Brisbane — marking W Hotels' first foray back into Australia before it opens hotels in Sydney and Melbourne — the northern bank has received a much needed spruce. Offering views across the water to Queensland Museum, the State Library of Queensland and GOMA, the five-star hotel boasts 312 designer rooms equipped with ten-gallon drum baths and in-suite cocktail stations. On the fourth-level, you'll find a pool with some funky geometric décor. There's also a 150-seat restaurant from celebrated restaurateurs Three Blue Ducks. Looking out over Brisbane River, guests can enjoy signature dishes like spanner crab scramble, congee with pulled pork and hay smoked salmon kedgeree. W Brisbane is location at 81 North Quay, Brisbane. Make a reservation here. [caption id="attachment_660519" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sharon Cairns[/caption] PARAMOUNT HOUSE HOTEL, SYDNEY When Paramount House Hotel was first announced back in August of 2017, the hotel promised it wouldn't be your standard luxury hotel, but rather an immersive experience that would embed patrons into the culture of Sydney's inner city suburb of Surry Hills. All we can say is that it's delivered on that guarantee. Set in a 1940s warehouse above Paramount Coffee Project, the 29-room hotel features soaring ceilings with exposed brickwork and rafting and even has a rooftop gym and cafe. And while there's luxury copper finishes, Jardan sofas and premium kilim rugs from Pakistan, the appeal of the place is less tangible in its nature. It's both the vibe and history of the surrounding community that make Paramount House Hotel special. Paramount House Hotel is located at 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills. Make a reservation here. UNITED PLACES, MELBOURNE Positioned opposite the Royal Botanical Gardens, United Places' remit was to create a home away from home. And its success is immediately apparent, with the outside greenery extending into the 12 luxury suites, creating a space that you'll never want to leave. Each offers hardwood floors and polished kitchens, while terraces with sweeping city and parkland views round out the cosy living spaces. While you're there, you'll get to have a taste of Melbourne chef Scott Pickett's latest restaurant, Matilda. Pickett's contemporary Australian cuisine is produced entirely over open flames and hot coals — and you won't have to leave your room to enjoy it, with the high-end meals delivered directly to your suite. Dining at the restaurant is an experience in itself though, so we'd recommend heading in one night, too. United Places is located at 157-159 Domain Road, South Yarra. Make a reservation here. THE COLLECTIONIST, SYDNEY From rooms inspired by wine vintages to rooms that a spy might book for the night, Camperdown's The Collectionist is set on offering patrons something different. The place has a rather unique approach, in that it lets you pick which one of its 39 rooms you want to spend the night in when you check in. Billed as a 'choose-your-own-adventure' hotel, it's meant to be a highly individualised experience, with patrons touring the rooms and getting their access code via SMS. The hotel has collaborated with seven designers and 13 artists to create the innovative experience and each space features its own distinctive colours, textures and mood. While there's no restaurant on-site, the lobby hosts daily social drinks from 4–8pm. The Collectionist Hotel is located at 9–13 Marsden Street, Camperdown. Make a reservation here. OVOLO INCHCOLM, BRISBANE If you're the type who appreciates a bit of old-world glamour, then Brisbane's new Ovolo Inchcolm is the hotel for you. A former residence and medical centre, the 1930s building has been returned to its roots — albeit with a distinctly modern twist — presenting a charming art deco fit-out. But the hotel doesn't get lost in the past in every aspect. The addition of Salon de Co, a sprawling bar and restaurant, serves up modern rhubarb martinis or goji berry and vodka combos. Meanwhile, chef Anthony Hales' menu adds a bit of mystique with a sparse list of ingredients to keep diners guessing. The rooms, suites and a split-level loft dial back the theme a touch, but with a free minibar, and bookshelves loaded with timeless novels, you might find yourself dreaming of a simpler time. Ovolo Inchcolm is located at 73 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill. Make a reservation here. WILLIAM INGLIS HOTEL, SYDNEY Named after Australia's renowned thoroughbred company, William Inglis and Sons, Western Sydney's latest hotel is a sure thing if you're after a mini Sydney staycation. As part of the Sofitel's MGallery collection of boutique hotels, the William Inglis Hotel's centrepiece is its fresh rooftop bar boasting a pool and stunning panoramic views of the surrounding Warwick Farm. Once you've built up an appetite, head downstairs to the Newmarket Room, a paddock-to-plate restaurant led by chef Sercan Kesici. Whisky fans will be at home here, too — the mezzanine's 1867 Lounge serves high-end cocktails and boutique wines. William Inglis Hotel is located at 155 Governor Macquarie Drive, Warwick Farm. Make a reservation here. MITCHELTON HOTEL, NAGAMBIE Set in the scenic Goulburn Valley wine region in Victoria, this recently opened accommodation is as good as the on-site winery. Featuring a palette of moody, rural tones designed by acclaimed architectural practice Hecker Guthrie, the Mitchelton is a wine lover's dream escape. Chef Daniel Hawkins (POW Kitchen, Newmarket Hotel, Stokehouse) helms restaurant The Muse, which serves ethically farmed produce found throughout the Nagambie Lakes district. Boutique chocolate producers The Ministry of Chocolate run the decadent café, while Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art displays works from 15 Indigenous communities from across Australia. If you're lucky enough to stay here, you'll get a full selection of Mitchelton Wines as soon as you step inside the door. Mitchelton Hotel is located at 470 Mitchellstown Road, Nagambie. Make a reservation here. FELIX HOTEL, SYDNEY Airport accommodations are normally pretty drab, but the lively Felix Hotel is bucking this trend with a truly first class stay. Inspired by the 1960s Golden Age of air travel — that is, before budget airlines made you pay for water — the seamless experience starts from the get-go with guests heading straight to the top-level penthouse to check-in. From here, overlooking the runway, guests can enjoy the rooftop cinema, a 24-hour general store and a colourful cocktail bar that'll undoubtedly be a departure from the monotonous airport hotels that you've grown accustomed to. Felix Hotel is located at 121 Baxter Road, Mascot. Make a reservation at here. THE BYRON AT BYRON, BYRON BAY While The Byron at Byron may not exactly be new, this year's massive revamp makes it worthy of a place on this list. Having shut up shop for six weeks to undergo the renovations, renowned interior designer practice Luchetti Krelle — and executive chef Matthew Kemp — led the extensive face-lift of the restaurant, bar and accommodations. Working closely with a range of local artists, the enhancements manifest themselves quickly. There's a fancy copper island bar and a verandah that blends into the lush surrounding forest. Kemp's restaurant serves seasonal cuisine with Asian, modern Australian and European flourishes, while the rooms and suites are warmly furnished making for a homey resort stay. The Byron is located at Byron at 77-97 Broken Head Road, Byron Bay. Make a reservation here. WEST HOTEL, SYDNEY It's hard to ignore the West Hotel's 'Chanel handbag' façade, which according to designers Fitzpatrick + partner, was the visual representation of the hotel's entire space and vibe. Set on the Darling Harbour waterfront, the 182 designer rooms feature bold furnishings aimed at judicious travellers who seek out luxury. With botanical motifs abound, there's also an openair atrium serving as an oasis from the busy city streets below. The restaurant, Solander Dining, embraces sustainable seasonal produce from across New South Wales, while the accompanying bar is the perfect spot to enjoy some boutique drops while seated at a mesmerising emerald-green terrazzo marble counter. West Hotel is located at 65 Sussex Street, Sydney. Make a reservation here. And there are more where those came from, too. Melbourne is set to score a new luxury Jackalope Hotel on Flinders Lane, a new Art Series hotel will open at Brisbane's new Howard Smith Wharves precinct, and W Hotels will be opening hotels in both Sydney and Melbourne in 2020.
The team at Doughnut Time have been absolutely killing it. In the year since cutting the ribbon on their first permanent store in Brisbane, the hand-dipped artisan doughnut chain has become one of our favourite spots to indulge our overdeveloped sweet tooth. They've opened a dozen additional locations across Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne, and in the past week alone have launched both a vegan variety and collaborated on a glazed doughnut burger (no, really) with Brisbane burger joint Ze Pickle. But that's nothing compared to their latest announcement. Brace yourself. Doughnut Time now offer home delivery. If you're anything like us, you probably just fell out of your chair, spent the next few minutes twitching and drooling on the ground, before finally regaining enough motor function to type the words "want doughnut time now" into Google. Assuming that's the case, you'll now know that, at the time of this writing, the Doughnut Time online delivery page is currently down due to an excess in demand. Which, let's be honest, isn't really all that surprising. Sorry to get your hopes up. This has been a real roller coaster of doughnut-related emotion, hasn't it? Once they've replenished their stocks, Doughnut Time will offer delivery in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and The Gold Coast via Sherpa Couriers. For more information and to order a batch of your own, head to this link and just keep hitting refresh.
Whether you missed out on a Splendour ticket or are gearing up to see your fave acts twice, you'd better be quick if you want to get your mitts on some sideshow tix. Splendour's official sideshows have almost sold out, but there's a bunch with a skerrick of tickets remaining. Jump on them. Jump on them now. All up, eleven official shows are planned, mainly in Sydney and Melbourne (but there are a few locked in for Adelaide and Perth too). You'll be able to catch James Blake, who exploded onto global stages at the wee age of 22 with his debut EP CMYK and is now working on his third album, Radio Silence. You might well want to spend some time at the arenas (Sydney Olympic Park and Hisense Arena) finding out why The 1975 is one of the world's most sought after acts. There's Jake Bugg, who became the youngest ever bloke to enter the UK charts at number one back in 2012 when he was just 18. And you'll want your whistling skills handy for this next one. Peter, Bjorn and John (they're a Swedish trio, if you hadn't guessed), are responsible for one of 2006's catchiest tunes, 'Young Folks'. Without further ado, here are the Splendour sideshows you should be slinging your dollars towards. NOTE: This is all very 'at the time of writing' so if something sells out in the meantime, we're sorry for getting any hopes up. By Jasmine Crittenden with Matt Abotomey.
Three and a half hours south of Perth, Margaret River can feel approximately a million miles from the grime and bustle of the city. It’s a famous wine region, with sandy, loamy soil and climactic conditions which have allowed it to rise from a completely unknown wine area to world renown in just a few decades. There are standouts to suit every mood and taste, though Cabernet Sauvignon is a particular specialty. Beyond the vineyards, it’s got plenty more to offer. You like sweeping coastlines and rugged natural beauty? There’s quite a bit of that. Cool cafes and relaxed yet modern outdoor dining? Not a problem. A sense that you’re somewhere quite special? Oh yeah, they’ve got that too. Can't wait to pack your bags? Enter WineMarket's West Coast Wine Adventure giveaway for the chance to win an indulgent trip for two to Perth and the WA wine country. FRIDAY 8am Breakfast at the Providore An organic hilltop cafe that grows much of its own ingredients and does a nice line in fresh, contemporary, seasonal fare, this is the ideal place to start your day. Pick up a couple of things (perhaps some olives from their own grove) for a picnic as well. 12pm Go vineyard hopping around Cowaramup You can barely throw a rock without hitting an outstanding vineyard here. Good options include Xanadu, which has some great reds and offers cellar door exclusives. McHenry Hohnen has won rave reviews for its cabernet blends and Voyager Estate is one of the region’s big names – you can’t go wrong with either a tour of their beautifully manicured site or an in-depth tasting featuring their Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot amongst others. 5pm Return to your accommodation for dinner Many of the best vineyards and restaurants in the region double as boutique accommodation, so you may as well make the most of it if you’ve snagged a spot at such a place. Leading lights include Windmills Break, a boutique B & B with on-site fine-dining, while the award-winning Forest Rise Eco Retreat offers not just airy chalets with sky ceilings in a stunning setting but a top-notch chef and gourmet hampers. If you want to save money for wining and dining, however, Margaret River YHA has everything you need and is centrally located. 8pm Wind down at the Muster Bar and Grill From the team behind popular Perth wine bar Must, the inspiration here is celebrating the region’s produce and championing local winemakers. It’s as good as that sounds, and you’ll find offerings from Margaret River vineyards like Lenton Brae and Fermoy Estate by the glass as well as everything from bar snacks to hearty dinner fare. SATURDAY 8am Margaret River Bakery Start your day at this small but buzzing cafe and bakery which boosts quirky decor. Grab something like a granola with fresh fruit or a pancake stack to fuel up for a trip to the spectacular south edge of the region. 10am Visit The Berry Farm In an area known for its beautiful produce, the Berry farm offers you the opportunity to taste some of the best. Enjoy brunch in a beautiful garden setting and stock up on the likes of boysenberry jam and whisky marmalade. 12pm Marvel at Caves Road This stretch of the Margaret River region is home to some of the most stunning limestone caves in the world. You can do self-guided tours at the aptly named Mammoth Cave and Lake Cave and then continue south to Jewel Cave. 3pm Climb the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse This is an absolute must. Climb the winding stairs and let the howling coastal winds ruffle your hair at the summit. It’s an interesting historical site and Australia’s most Westerly point, but above all else it’s just flat-out spectacular. 7pm Dinner at Leeuwin Estate After making your way back to the main strip, you can get dinner at this classy cellar door. Feast on tiger prawns, scallops, oysters and abalone, all locally sourced and delicious, and a perfect match for a bottle of their world-class Chardonnay. SUNDAY 8am Wander through the Margaret River Heritage Trail Get up close and personal with the area’s abundant natural beauty on a morning wander through this series of trails. You don’t need to be a seasoned hiker to tackle one of the paths. The River Walk, for instance, is a leisurely and scenic 2km stroll, while the slightly longer Bridge Walk offers the opportunity of a refreshing morning dip. 10am Brunch at Millers Ice Cream Farm Cafe Billing itself as a ‘cow to cone’ operation, this much-loved local offers sodas from Margaret River beverages, coffee from locals Yahava, breakfast toasties and two dozen flavours of ice cream that are literally produced from dairy down the road. An ideal, relaxed start to the day. 12.30pm Explore art and wine at Vasse Felix Head north to this award-winning Cowaramup hotspot. This was the region’s first commercial vineyard and it’s still going strong. There’s not only a cellar door and an art gallery here but an acclaimed fine diner (head chef Aaron Carr is the reigning chef of the year in the West Australian’s Good Food Guide) and a stunning location. Expect inventive and refined Modern Australian. 2pm Take in the vineyards of Yallingup and surrounds There’s another great cluster of vineyards in the pretty northwest corner of the region, many of which offer great Shirazes and cracking Semillon blends. Try Howling Wolves, red wine champions Windows Estate or the feted boutique Juniper Estate, where you can sample some of your purchases by the creek. For a change of pace, check out some of the area’s many small art galleries. 7pm Trust the chef at Knee Deep You’ve made enough gruelling decisions for one weekend with choosing wines to take home and whatnot, so why not put yourself in the hands of a two-hatted chef who takes the reign with a five-course tasting menu. The selections are constantly evolving to utilise the freshest produce but could include lamb breast or cured ocean trout. They're also a five star rated winery, so have one for the road. Then round out your weekend by making the quick trip down to the ocean, where you can watch the waves roll in and plot your return visit.
Back in 1982, Melbourne played host to one of China's most important ancient artworks: a collection of statues known as The Terracotta Army. Crafted between 221–206 BCE and first discovered in the Shaanxi province in 1974, it made its international debut at the National Gallery of Victoria — and now, 37 years later, it's returning for the NGV's 2019 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series. Dubbed Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality, the five-month exhibition will feature eight warrior figures and two life-size horses from The Terracotta Army, alongside two half-size replica bronze chariots that are each drawn by four horses. They were created during the reign of China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang and were buried near his tomb more than 2200 years ago. The pieces coming to Melbourne only represent a fraction of the entire work, which numbers more than 8000 figures in total. If you're wondering how big of a deal the statues are, the answer is very. The Terracotta Army is considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century and has also been described as the 'Eighth' Wonder of the World. Displaying at the NGV from May 24 to October 13, 2019, the selected pieces will be accompanied by more than 150 other ancient Chinese treasures sourced from museums and Shaanxi archaeological sites. Expect to rove your eyes over priceless gold, jade and bronze artefacts that date back more than 3000 years, charting China's artistry across the country's formative period. Looking to the present as well as the past, the NGV's winter season will also celebrate acclaimed Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang. His work is no stranger to Australia — in 2014, Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art hosted its own showcase — however, his Melbourne exhibition will feature all new pieces. With Cai known for his large-scale installations, The Transient Landscapewill include 10,000 porcelain birds suspended in a spiral formation, in an artwork that links to The Terracotta Army. Specifically, it'll create a 3D version of a calligraphic drawing that depicts Mount Li, which is where Qin Shi Huang and his terracotta warriors were buried. Another of Cai's new works will feature a porcelain sculpture of peonies placed in the middle of a 360-degree gunpowder, with his entire show taking inspiration from Chinese culture and philosophy. The world-renowned talent will also help design Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality, making the two concurrent exhibitions as immersive as possible. 'Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality' and 'Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape' will exhibit as part of the NGV International's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces presentation, running from May 24 to October 13, 2019. For further details or to buy tickets, visit the NGV website. Exhibition images: Sean Fennessy and Tobias Titz photography. Images: The terracotta army, Qin dynasty (221-206 BCE), Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum, Xi'an.
Continuing the theme of this year being the absolute worst, the world lost a music legend today when it was announced that Prince had passed away in his home in Minnesota. He was 57 years old. "It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning," read a statement from his publicist this morning. Tributes have been flowing in on social media for hours. US President Barack Obama described the singer-songwriter as a "creative icon", while Snapchat has unveiled a Purple Rain filter that lets users add purple raindrops to their photos. Here at home, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews tweeted his condolences, and mentioned that the spire at the Melbourne Arts Centre will be lit purple in Prince's honour. Doves are crying in Victoria. RIP Prince. Tonight the Arts Centre's spire will be lit in honour of the purple one. pic.twitter.com/Vd9N1SiAu1 — Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) April 21, 2016 The Arts Centre previously took on a purple hue when Prince performed at the venue in February, as did the sails of the Sydney Opera House during a show there that same month. Many landmarks in the United States have also been lit purple, including Target Field, home to Prince's hometown baseball team the Minnesota Twins. Fitting that it's raining in Minneapolis today. pic.twitter.com/s5KFurDhHi — Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 21, 2016 Via Junkee. Image: Kate Ballis and Tom Blachford for Arts Centre Melbourne.
The Sydney-born social enterprise Welcome Merchant has been supporting small businesses run by refugees and asylum seekers in Australia for over four years now. The wonderful organisation has provided people in need with a platform and space to sell their goods while also teaching them a heap of business skills. And in the leadup to Christmas this year, the team is taking over Melbourne CBD's Section 8 on Saturday, December 14, with a heap of market stalls. Aheda's Kitchen and Sebastian Pasinetti from OKO Cafe will both be pumping out a range of dishes in the beer garden throughout the afternoon, while Rick Fean plays a mix of hip hop, Afro-pop and electronica tunes. When it comes to shopping, you'll find sustainably made, African-inspired clothing and accessories from RJ Dradi the Label; kids' toys and books from Small Fires Play; and plenty of clothing from Juan Du. This pop-up market brings together entrepreneurs from a diverse range of cultures, who'll be selling all kinds of unique goods. Who knows, you might just find your next go-to beauty brand or local artist on Tattersalls Lane. Get down from 12–5pm to support these local businesses, grab some drinks from Section 8's bar and groove to some live tunes. A good time for a good cause.
How does a three-course Japanese BBQ showdown with an Americana twist sound? Local barbecue food truck legends, SmokeyBoiz, are teaming up with The B.East in Brunswick East for 'Banzai BBQ' on July 8. It's a no-holds-barred afternoon of delicious meat, drinks specials, live music and good times. If you've ever tried a Smokeyboiz' pork belly bite, braised in Dr. Pepper, smoked, then slathered in candied jalapeno barbecue sauce, you'll know these boys don't mess around. And that's before you throw in The B.East's New Orleans-inspired cocktail menu. Tickets start at $70, and that gets you three courses: Tonkatsu pork croquettes, a succulent smoked beef brisket and a cheeky flambé dessert. It's a mash-up of Japanese and American-style southern BBQ, with a double scoop of kitsch thrown in. There'll be cocktail specials running throughout the day, too. Doors open at 12pm. Book your tickets and form an orderly queue. Images: supplied.
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'. But these days it's Melbourne's turn, after the Victor Churchill stable expanded to include a southern flagship on Armadale's High Street. Opened in 2021 in a former bank, the Armadale store more than ' meats' 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, clad in warm timber, green marble floors and chic copper accents, with dry-ageing meat hung theatrically as if in a gallery. 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 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 dinner. Here, a Josper charcoal-fuelled rotisserie, charcoal oven and basque grill guides a menu filled with top-notch meat, charcuterie and seafood. Think, steak tartare, prawn cocktail and lobster pulled fresh from the tank. Meanwhile, your picnicking endeavours are serviced by the bumper charcuterie counter, that 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. Images by Pete Dillon.
Sometimes it seems like all the vegan food is north of the river, but that's not strictly so. Sister of Soul has St Kilda and the bayside area covered with its all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner vegetarian and vegan menu. With dishes like polenta jenga, tofu tikka masala and a black bean burrito, this is a surefire way to get your vegan fill after a session at the beach. Just make sure you save room for its version of a jaffa cake with chocolate and orange marmalade. If you're swinging by Sister of Soul for breakfast, the halloumi burger with halloumi and mushrooms, roquette, onion jam and tomato relish is an inspired choice. For something lighter, try the blueberry and açai bowl with fresh fruit and chia seeds, nut clusters and flaked coconut. [caption id="attachment_710001" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] Appears in: The Best Vegan Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023
From naturally-occurring wonders to marvels of architecture and design, this great nation of ours has no shortage of photo-friendly locations. Year after year, tourists and locals alike flock to Australia's most famous destinations, looking to capture that picture-perfect shot. Now, with just a few weeks left in the year, Traveller have revealed a list of the most snapped places in Australia. And while none of the locations are particularly surprising, they do serve as a reminder of just how goddamn crazy beautiful this country is. 5. MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND (MCG) A photo posted by artinayar (@artinayar) on Aug 16, 2015 at 1:03am PDT The most iconic sporting ground in Australia, when you consider how many people are regularly packed into the MCG throughout the year, its inclusion on the list makes a lot of sense. That said, we can't help but wonder if it would have appeared even higher if Instagram had waited until after the Boxing Day Test to release their rankings. 4. BONDI BEACH A photo posted by Adam Bull (@bulladam) on Dec 3, 2015 at 3:12pm PST Synonymous with Australian beach culture, Bondi offers Instagrammers the perfect opportunity to casually show off their tans against a backdrop of crystal waters and sandy shores. With an oceanside cinema, food pop-ups and a brand new dining precinct on the way, we don't expect to see Bondi drop off this list anytime soon. 3. SURFERS PARADISE BEACH A photo posted by Sharon Lewin | Australia (@thenomadictraveller) on Dec 1, 2015 at 12:52pm PST Pipping their NSW rivals to the proverbial post, Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast beat out Bondi as Australia's most Instagrammed beach. And with photos like these, it's rather hard to argue. Paradise indeed. 2. DARLING HARBOUR, SYDNEY A photo posted by Nimesh Yadav (@nimeshnimze) on Dec 3, 2015 at 5:37pm PST A bustling harbourside hub smack bang in the centre of Sydney, Darling Harbour has long been one of the city's biggest tourist destinations – and that was before they opened up their giant new urban playground. Just make sure you don't get your eye taken out by an errant selfie-stick. 1. SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE A photo posted by Tom Rex Jessett | Australia (@trex.photography) on Dec 1, 2015 at 1:01pm PST What a shocker! To the surprise of absolutely no one, the top spot on the most Instagrammed list goes to the most famous landmark in the country. From the dazzling displays seen during Vivid Sydney to the sobering site of the sails lit up in the colours of the French flag, the Sydney Opera House remains the number one place in Australia that inspires visitors to whip out their camera phones. And frankly, it's hard to imagine that changing any time soon. Via Traveller. Top image: Alan Lam via Flickr
Anyone familiar with Neil Perry, the pony-tailed chef at the helm of Rockpool Dining Group, will know of his affection for Asian cuisine. It is a passion that has been successfully translated into his Spice Temple ventures first in Sydney and then Melbourne. With more than 50 dishes on the epic menu, Perry — together with executive chef Andy Evans — has pushed the fusion aspect of Chinese food without losing traditional flavours. The focus shifts away from Cantonese-style food and instead explores regional Chinese provinces including Sichuan, Yunnan and Jianxi. The extra spicy dishes are highlighted in red either as a warning to those intolerant of fiery mouthfuls of food or a beacon to those who love burning sensations. The dishes, to be shared, are monumentally large, even for two people. Divided between salads and cold cuts, hot entrees, noodles, dumplings, seafood (live from the tank and pre-prepared), poultry, pork, lamb, beef and veggies, Spice Temple's variety is impressive. "Tingling" and "hot and numbing" pop up frequently on the menu, an indication of the tongue-burning content within. Fish drowning in heaven facing chillies and Sichuan peppercorns sounds (and looks) like a dish made only for the brave. Tea smoked duck breast with pickled cabbage and Chinese mustard is a formidable fusion, old school yet unusual. For the next hit, the fried pork cutlet with pickled red onion is to die for, however it is only available on Fridays and Saturdays. The highlight is a beef fillet in fire water, a fancy way of saying wagyu beef strips in a chilli broth with peppercorn, which is volcanic in taste and appearance. To cool the fire, and a recommended necessity, steamed Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce and fried garlic are a great juxtaposition to the spice. For dessert, the mango mousse with condensed milk chantilly will soothe those scorched taste buds. If you're keen, there are two comprehensive banquet options or, if you're visiting during the day, an extensive yum cha lunch menu. Images: David Griffen
Maya Newell has joined the Tropfest judging panel on the eve of the 2016 festival. The director of the critically acclaimed documentary Gayby Baby will join actors Mel Gibson, Simon Baker and Rebecca Gibney, The Dressmaker director Jocelyn Moorhouse and Moulin Rouge! cinematographer Don McAlpine. Together, they will help decide the winner of the world's largest short film festival, which will take place this Sunday in Sydney's Centennial Parklands. Newell is the second last minute inclusion to the judging panel, following the surprise addition of Gibson – who is of course best known for his career as an actor and director as well as this long list of horrible public statements. Newell and her film were in the spotlight last year when the NSW government banned schools from screening the movie during class time. Jerks. Gibson, meanwhile, said he was "thrilled" to be joining Tropfest. "I know what it’s like to be starting out in this industry, in Australia, and what a big difference a break can make to a career," he said. "Tropfest has been doing an incredible job over the last 23 years as a platform for young filmmakers, and I’m absolutely delighted to support the great work Tropfest is doing." The panel of local actors and filmmakers will decide which of 16 short filmmakers takes home the festival's top prize, which includes $10,000 cash, a trip to Hollywood to meet with industry executives, a Nikon D800 digital camera along with $2000 worth of accessories, and a Hyundai Tuscon for a year. The festival also revealed its live music slate, featuring rock duo Winterbourne, DJ and singer KLP and The Preatures' vocalist Gideon Bensen. The announcement comes following a period of uncertainty for the iconic festival, which had a brush with death late last year after founder and festival John Polson discovered what he called "a terrible and irresponsible mismanagement of Tropfest funds" by a third party agency. The festival was briefly cancelled before receiving a financial lifeline from CGU insurance, although there are still some questions over the event's long term future. Polson recently announced that he had started a Pozible campaign to help ensure the festival remains free, although it has so far only raised a fraction of its intended $100,000 target. Maybe Mel can help. Tropfest will take place on February 14 in Centennial Parklands, with gates opening from 3pm. It will be broadcast around the country from 9pm AEDT. For more information go here. Updated: Saturday February 13.
