One of those people who doesn’t care what your food looks like, as long as it tastes good and there’s plenty of it? Turns out you might be psychologically abnormal. If you’ve been wondering what all the fuss is about when it comes to 'plating' (i.e. how chefs in fancy pants restaurants arrange the food on your plate), new research has some answers for you. Chef and scientist Charles Michel has led a brand new study at the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, which shows that we react best to food when it's shaped in a triangle. Not just any old triangle, mind you, but one that points away from us (just like the image above). When this optimised arrangement turns up on our table, we’re willing to pay for more for it and we feel safer. Safer? Well, apparently a triangle that points towards us is perceived as threatening. Conducted in conjunction with The Science Museum, London, and published in Food Quality and Preference, the study drew its conclusions from the responses of 16,667 participants. "(Plating is) such a small detail of the dining experience — something people rarely think about — but it does matter," Michel told Vice. "It seems that many principles of visual aesthetics and art perception apply when it comes to food. "I guess my aim is to make people have more thought when it comes to placing the food on their plate, heightening awareness. At the same time, using modern tech and the internet to give tools to chefs and people serving a lot of food a way to enhance the enjoyment." Via Vice.
First there was camping, but nature is icky and the hard ground is no Posturepedic. Then there was glamping, which is certainly a step up but still requires you to be outside with only a thin velour track pant and tasteful white canopy between you and the bugs. But now, thankfully, there's a way to get the best parts of camping (good company and fire-cooked food) without having to leave the city or wear ugly hiking shoes and unflattering shorts. Hunter and Barrel is the new dining concept hitting Sydney and Melbourne. With a menu focused on coal-roasted meats and seasonal vegetables, big barbecued skewers, sharing boards, stews, soups, pies, and generally hearty fare, H&B delivers the sensory experience of camping without the inconvenience of actually, y'know, camping. Think warm, hearty dishes such as slow-roasted beef rib, seafood and pork belly cooked over the restaurant's coal grill (hot tip: order The Hunter's Feast), washed down with your classic craft beer or barrel-aged wine. Although contemporary horror films have taught us to fear the foreboding idea of a remote cabin (thanks Evil Dead and Cabin in the Woods), the primal part of our psyche still longs to get back to nature. Bradley Michael, the CEO of Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group who own Hunter and Barrel, told Good Food the venue had a “sexy camping, hunter’s cabin feel.” The décor at Hunter and Barrel, designed by ODO, features big rocks and rustic pipes — and your drink comes delivered by a suspended wall covered with barrels. Hunter and Barrel is now open at Eastland Town Square, Shop R04, 171-175 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood. Via Good Food.
Do you have Champagne taste on a VB budget? We empathise. When you live in a city like Melbourne, the temptation to drink, dine, and spend is all around you. The amount of great restaurants make it hard to say no to an invite to check out a new spot, or to have a night out at an old favourite. While it's probably imprudent to be out Monday to Sunday living large, it's nice to sometimes splash out and treat yourself without going into debt. Here's nine fancy spots that you can get to on a budget — so you can enjoy the best of the best and still pay your share of the power bill. [caption id="attachment_586143" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pork neck, the first broccoli, pickled tomatoes and meat jus.[/caption] LUNCH AT VUE DE MONDE We know Vue as that impressive and hard to get into venue at the top of the Rialto. It's renowned for both its sky-high views and sky-high prices. If you've ever thought that this spot was out of your reach, it's time to think again. No, you don't need to schmooze anyone - because Vue do a lunch special. Available every Thursday – Sunday from 12pm, you can enjoy a four-course selection from $150 per person. While this is by no means a cheap lunch, it's certainly less expensive than the $250 per person menu from dinner and brings this squarely into the affordable range. [caption id="attachment_586145" align="alignnone" width="1280"] West Footscray radishes.[/caption] DINNER AT IDES The crew at Ides have been making a few ripples – ok, a splash and a half – from their digs on Smith Street in Collingwood. With an all-star team in the kitchen (ex Attica, among others) you can be assured of an inventive and enchanting experience when you sit down for dinner. With six courses ($110) on offer, you'll dine on dishes like crumbed avocado with poached prawn tails, finger lime and fried bread; and braised beef check with toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds, black lentils and pomegranate. This would be great for a very special date night as you soak up the relaxed bustle from your seat in the tasteful dining space. BREAKFAST AT CUMULUS INC. Dinner at this Flinders Lane classic can be a bit expensive. Good thing that you can get the same Cumulus vibes for a fraction of the cost when you head here for breakfast! Squeeze in at the bar, or a seat at one of the tables around the edge for some serious people watching. Their shakshouka is endlessly good ($17), as are their marinated mushrooms, served with a humble combo of black barley and a 65/65 egg ($17). Sip a spicy tomato juice ($6 or $12 with a shot of Ketel One) or get your probiotics for the day with a fig and ginger kefir ($7). [caption id="attachment_586148" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Fermented lady finger banana, packet cheese, flattened unripe rice, coconut, hazelnut.[/caption] DINNER AT NORA A little bit of quirky paired with a lot of finesse; Nora is doing some exciting things on Elgin Street in Carlton. Thai-Aussie couple and owners Sarin Rojanametin and Jean Thamthanakorn have stated that, "We want our diners to be excited, for there to be a sense of discovery and also find warm familiarity in our food." With a current dinner offering of a progressive tasting (ponying up 12+ dishes for a very reasonable $115) you will enjoy an intimate, relaxed and exciting night out. From your cosy seat in the wee dining space, strap in and while away a pleasant couple of hours as you are taken on a journey to the roots of the best of Thai cuisine. If dinner ain't your thing, stop by for an equally exciting breakfast. [caption id="attachment_586114" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Coffin Bay oysters with cider emulsion.[/caption] OYSTERS AT PANAMA DINING ROOM Mother shucker. If you're a fan of bivalves (and are nowhere near South Melbourne Market), head to the Panama Dining Room for $1 oysters every damn day between 6 and 7 pm. Order your oysters and a drink, and plop down near the arched window or gaze down on bustling Smith Street below you. Perhaps shoot some pool while you wait for your plate of perfectly plump oysters to arrive, and for drinks you could do worse than to support a local company by drinking a cocktail. Try The Lost Mermaid – made with Melbourne Gin Company Gin, Grapefruit and Rosemary Shrub, Mint, Lime and Soda ($20). Look at it this way; with the money you save on oysters you can afford to spend more on drinks. [caption id="attachment_586115" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Marron brioche rolls.[/caption] LUNCH AT LUI BAR If you want to step things up a notch the next time you lunch, head on up to the Lui Bar for a counter meal. The bar for Vue de Monde, they're no slouch in service, ambience or style. For the very reasonable sum of $39 you will enjoy a main course, seasonal side and a glass of wine or a beer plus a coffee and a sweet. Yep. From 12pm – 2pm Thursday to Sunday just head on up in the lifts to the 55th floor, to soak up some of the best views in Melbourne and some fabulous food too. If you don't have to head back to work in a rush then you can settle in on one of the comfy couches, and enjoy the sweeping views from your opulent surrounds. [caption id="attachment_586117" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The world's best margherita pizza.[/caption] PIZZA AT 400 GRADI If you've wanted to try the world's best margherita pizza but can't afford the airfare to Italy then you're in luck. Get yourself to 400 Gradi for a crispy slice straight from the wood fired oven of chef Johnny Di Francesco. In 2014 Di Franceso swooped in and beat out 600 competitors to scoop top prize at the World Pizza Championships in Italy, making this the official home of some world-class pizza. If the crowds at this Lygon Street spot are anything to go by, we continue to agree with the decision whole-heartedly. Tuck into the oh-so-crispy base topped with perfectly melted San Marzano tomato, buffalo mazarella, and basil ($22). You might not ever want to eat another pizza again, but when it's this good it's s a risk we're willing to take. [caption id="attachment_586118" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Young lettuce served fresh with baby sun rose, garden spices and chicken sauce.[/caption] DEGUSTATION AT O.MY If you're out in east Melbourne and simply dying for a degustation made from fresh seasonal produce then you're in luck. Located in an old butcher shop in Beaconsfield, O.My is the passion project from three Bertoncello brothers with a love of great food. Blayne, Tyson, and Chayse hit all the right notes as they run the venue as chef, front of house and sommelier. Ingredients are prepared thoughtfully, and artfully paired with the freshest of herbs and shoots from their kitchen garden. Whether you opt for the four-course ($65), six-course ($85) or eight-course ($110) degustation, you'll be delighted with the result. Enjoy dishes like dry aged beef paired with fermented potato and the crisp sweetness of baby leek; or delight in the piquant, herbal sweetness of kaffir lime, chilli brownie and chocolate. One thing is for sure, it's time to head to Beaconsfield. [caption id="attachment_585975" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pearl on the ocean floor.[/caption] LUNCH AT LUMÉ South Melbourne venue Lumé is doing some pretty wonderful things from their airy, light and inviting dining room on Coventry Street. While dinner at $170 per person might not be an option for you every week, you can always stop by for a very long and lazy Saturday lunch. Priced at a very reasonable $80 per person, you'll enjoy dishes like seacorn taco with grilled camel hump, dry aged duck smoked over bottlebrush finished with elderflower honey, and caramelised artichoke with La Sirene Praline and chamomile. Available Saturdays only from 11.30am – 1.30pm, it's the perfect way to indulge without breaking the bank.
Wocka wocka! After almost two full decades away, The Muppets are heading back to television. A new Muppets series was confirmed by the US ABC network last week, and has been described as a behind-the-scenes-style program for a grown-up audience. To give you an idea of what that might entail, they’ve just dropped their first trailer via Twitter. Give it a watch. While we’ll reserve final judgement until the show is actually on their air, there’s definitely a lot to like about this initial tease. All of Jim Henson’s iconic characters are back, as is their signature fourth wall-shattering humour. We’re also digging the Cersei/Margaery vibe between Miss Piggy and her young, brunette replacement. And is it just us, or did Kermit make a weed joke? According to ABC’s official announcement, "The Muppets return to primetime with a contemporary, documentary-style show. For the first time ever, a series will explore the Muppets' personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, break-ups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires. This is a more adult Muppet show, for 'kids' of all ages." The mockumentary format marks a bit of a departure from the variety-style setup of the '70s era Muppet Show, but seems like a smart choice given the popularity of The Office and Parks and Recreation. Sure Gonzo, maybe it is just a "totally overused device to make easy jokes." But if it ain't broke, why try and fix it? The Muppets is currently set to air in the United States at 8pm on Tuesdays starting in autumn. No word on an Australian airdate/Netflix addition as of yet. Via Empire.
Australia's most interestingly named beer festival is back for another year. Blobfish makes its much-anticipated return to North Melbourne's Meat Market on July 22, once again pulling together a lineup that celebrates the sour, the funky and the delightfully different. Founded and helmed by the team at Footscray's own Hop Nation Brewing, the tasting party will run two sessions this year – day and night – offering punters the chance to sample a whole swag of rare and unusual beers from 44 Aussie and New Zealand labels. Some known, and some not so known. Whichever session you pick, you'll spend 4.5 hours sipping your way through a diverse range of sours, saisons, barrel-aged brews, fruity concoctions and rare small-batch runs, from the likes of NZ's Garage Project, Sydney's Wildflower and Van Dieman out of Tasmania. Locals among the line-up include La Sirène, Collingwood's Molly Rose and regional favourite Bridge Road Brewers, as well as Hop Nation's own funky, barrel-aged spin-off label, Site Fermentation Project. The options don't end there, either, with a 'lager lounge' where you can cleanse the palate between tastings, DJs running tunes all day, and whacky food like Kanga Asada Tacos by Dingo Ate My Taco, wild boar pies from Pie Thief, and Bluebonnet Barbecue's crazy-good smoked goat rolls with chimichurri and mushrooms. A ticket will cost you $80 (plus booking fee), and that includes entry, 60mL tastings of 44 festival brews, a Blobfish branded festival glass and a festival tasting guide. Images: Supplied
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.
Health nuts have long been singing the praises of kombucha, a fermented Chinese tea with a litany of supposed health benefits. But the rest of us may soon be jumping on the bandwagon as well, now that an ambitious home-brewer has gone and made it alcoholic. The founder of Santa Fe’s Honeymoon Brewery, Ayla Bystrom-Williams has apparently found a way to increase the minute amount of alcohol in current kombucha brews (currently around 1 percent) to levels comparable to beer (around 5-6 percent). With patents currently pending, she’s been keeping mum on the exact details of her fermentation process, although she has revealed it was inspired by the openair process used to create Belgian lambics. Really though, what do you care how it’s made? The bottom line is that in the not too distant future you’ll be able to get drunk in a way that’s actually doing you good. Although we should point out that the benefits of drinking kombucha are still very much up in the air, as outlined in this recent article in the Washington Post. Bystrom-Williams is currently engaged in research that she hopes will bring an end to the ongoing debate and vindicate kombucha drinkers once and for all. Still, whether or not the beverage is actually good for you, there’s no denying that it’s been a massive hit. Analysts in the United States recently estimated that the industry could bring in more than half a billion US dollars in 2015, and that was before we heard about the alcoholic variety. Australian producers have tapped into the craze as well, with a number of different outfits competing in the market — one label even opened up their own dedicated Sydney bar. A notice on Honeymoon Brewery’s website currently alludes to an imminent Kickstarter campaign, with an eye to getting the Kombucha beer on shelves towards the end of the year. The bad news is that it looks like it’ll only be available in the United States. Fingers crossed it’s a hit, and that they think about expanding. Via The Guardian. Images: Mgarten Wikimedia Commons, Iris Photos via Flickr, Wild Kombucha.
UPDATE: DECEMBER 5, 2018 — Due to popular demand, the NGV and Lululemon have added a heap of new (free!) wellness classes to their Breathe. Sweat. Stretch Free program. With the first round of tickets selling out in 24 hours, we're expecting these will get snapped up quickly, too. To nab yours, head to the NGV website and enter the code LULUNGV. As well as being part of many an art-gazing adventure when it opens its blockbuster Escher x Nendo exhibition this summer, the National Gallery of Victoria will also become a temporary workout destination when it hosts a slew of free wellness classes. The classes come courtesy of Lululemon — the brand is celebrating its 20th anniversary and will take over the gallery's serene Grollo Equiset Garden for a 20-week series of yoga, circuit and meditation classes. And they won't cost you a cent. Kicking off Wednesday, November 14, there are three sessions to choose from, running both in the mornings and after-hours. Punters can reconnect with their flow at a grounding yoga class, build mindfulness with a meditation session, or bump up the heart rate at the all-body 'sweat' class. They'll be led by a team of Lululemon's local ambassadors and fitness experts and will cater to all fitness levels. They're designed to get you bending, stretching, de-stressing and working those muscles, right through the summer months. Classes are free to join, with mats provided, though you'll need to book here (and quick!) to secure your spot.
21st Century Fox have taken their sweet time with this one. After 26 years of The Simpsons, the supreme rights owners of the show are teaming up with an a brewery to create an actual, officially-licensed Duff Beer. This news comes as particularly bittersweet to Ausralians, who enjoyed blissful years of novelty drinking with Woolworths' unofficial version of Duff — until it was tragically banned in 2014 for being too appealing to children. We're not the only ones to tried to live the dream, Colombia, Mexico and Germany are just two other starry-eyed Simpsons-loving countries who also created bootlegged Duff. According to the Wall Street Journal, it was this heaving market of fake Duffs and their inevitable lawsuits which pushed Fox to start brewing their own. Basically, if Fox had an official Duff on the market, they'd have a stronger legal foot to stand on and there'd be less of this: But don't get your hopes up too quickly. Outside Universal Orlando's Springfield theme park, the official Duff Beer will only be available in Chile for now (where Fox has been fighting a huge rise of unauthorised versions of the beer). But apparently a worldwide release is being considered, so you could be smashin' Duffs in the near future. Now, let's finally address the elephant in the room — what's Duff going to taste like? Let's be honest, Duff isn't exactly celebrated for being a top quality brew; it's the VB of Springfield. So Fox has been working with British brewmaster Paul Farnsworth to create a recipe to make fans and beer drinkers happy. “It’s a premium lager,” he told WSJ. “It’s got a very good balance of flavor and refreshment to it. It’s fairly deep golden in color. It’s got a hint of fruit to it. It’s got a caramel aromatic to it.” Caramel? We're not sure Moe would stock anything with "a caramel aromatic" but we'll go with for now. Via WSJ.
Remember last year, when everyone was freaking out over the announcement that Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki wasn't going to be making any more films? Well, it looks like that may have been a little premature. It turns out that the legendary director behind My Neighbour Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle and The Wind Rises, among numerous other animated masterworks, is currently putting the final touches on his first ever computer-animated short, with plans to unveil the film at Toyko's Ghibli Museum. Information about the film is currently in short supply, although Variety is reporting it stars a hairy caterpillar, runs ten minutes long and took approximately three years to make. But perhaps the most intriguing piece of information for fans is the fact that the film has been animated in the 3D CG format, as opposed to the more traditional 2D format for which Miyazaki is best known. No word yet on when or if the film will play outside of the Ghibli Museum. We'll just leave this link to the Japan Airlines homepage riiiiiight here. In retrospect, Miyazaki's retirement announcement should always have been taken with a grain of salt. The 74-year-old first threatened to give up the game back in the late nineties after completing Princess Mononoke, only to bounce back a few years later with a little film called Spirited Away — perhaps you've heard of it? He told Variety late last year that although he had retired from features, he was not retiring from animation, and intended to keep working "until the day I die." The future of Studio Ghibli, meanwhile, has been the subject of speculation for some time now, with Miyazaki's retirement and rumours of a restructuring leading some to fear that the company, like its founder, was out of the filmmaking business for good. Either way, it's comforting to know that there's going to be at least one more film from Miyazaki out there before too long. Via Variety.
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.
Animal lovers take note: New York’s JFK Airport is getting a new state-of-the-art animal terminal named the ARK. But unlike Noah’s lame prototype which could only take two of every animal, JFK’s ARK can handle more than 70,000 animals per year – and handle them in style. Fully decked out with a lap pool, veterinary services, salon and spa services and flat screen TVs, your pet’s accommodation will likely be far superior to your own. Current import and export services available to pets aren’t particularly streamlined – and the resulting stress can increase the chance of injury or illness for our high-flying furry friends. The ARK has been designed to reduce animal stress during their mandatory quarantine period (that it makes us awwwww is simply an added bonus.) The US$40 million, 16,500 square metre facility includes stalls for cattle and horses, pens for goats, sheep and pigs, an aviary for birds and even a special space for penguins – complete with private mating area. Its the dogs and cats that get the best of the deal though. They’ll be housed in a hotel-like facility run by Paradise 4 Paws, a national pet boarding service that provides insane levels of pet care including hot oil or mud baths, pawdicure (with colour pawlish), peanut butter kongs, treadmill sessions, outdoor hikes, massages and personal snuggle times. For a cool US$100 a night, your pet can stay in a room with a full-sized human bed, chandelier lighting and doggie furnishings, flat screen and a nightly tuck-in service. And while your pet is crapping all over the $100-a-night suite, you can watch them resentfully over webcam. But in all seriousness, good work America. Air travel is traumatic enough for humans; imagine the stress a pet must go through. It’s fantastic to see an investment that will benefit our animal pals. Australia, please follow their example – and if possible, provide a viewing platform so we can watch the animals frolic and gambol. via The Guardian. Image via Paradise 4 Paws.
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.
The sun is staying out longer, and it's time to start utilising all our glorious parkland again — Moonlight Cinema is back for another year. From December until March, this local favourite is the place to be for the most explosive action-packed blockbusters, the latest comedy releases and even the odd sing-a-long. Going on sale today, the December–January portion of the program is basically a hit list of the summer's biggest flicks. Guardians of the Galaxy and Interstellar will make for perfect viewing under the vast night sky. Ladies will be taking a leading role for a fair portion of the action with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt 1, Lucy, and the controversial Gone Girl. Then the latest comedy will be lightening the mood with Dumb and Dumber To, Horrible Bosses 2, and The Interview which sees Seth Rogen and James Franco basically going to war with North Korea. There are a few lesser known titles to watch out for too. The yet-to-be-released Birdman will see Michael Keaton poking fun at his days as the caped crusader alongside a stellar supporting cast, the heartbreaking Still Alice has Julienne Moore tipped for a Best Actress nomination, and The Gambler sees Mark Wahlberg front an adaptation of a '70s classic. Like every year, the gates open at 7pm and screenings kick off at 8.30pm when the sun goes down. Make sure to bring your own picnic blanket — and a full picnic while you're at it. While the cinema is totally BYO, there will also be an LA-style food truck on site boasting burgers with pulled pork brisket or Southern fried chicken. You can even go all out and get a New York-style chilli cheesedog. If that sounds too good to be true, check it out for yourself — in celebration of the launch, Moonlight Cinema are hosting a free pop-up picnic in Sydney's Martin Place right now. Run! Check out the full program at the Moonlight Cinema website. Tickets are $15-35 depending on whether you opt for the 'Gold Grass' option (where you are given the best spots and beanbags in the house).
Introducing the latest must-do for dog owners who can’t bear to be parted from their poochies: the Doggy Drive-In. The Village Cinemas in Coburg are partnering with the RSPCA to welcome all doggos for a chill night out at the movies on Sunday, March 13. Alright, so we can almost guarantee it won’t be relaxing; no doubt the pups will run everywhere, sniff, snuffle, make friends, leave presents — you won’t have much time to sit and watch the movie. But dammit, there’ll be so many pats to deliver. So for those of you who love dogs and movies and solid date ideas, this could be your perfect outing. They’ll be showing an advance screening of Disney’s new flick Zootopia for extra cute points and the RSPCA have set up photobooth and info counter for pet adoption, so it’s not just for dog owners, but potential dog owners as well. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
The team at The Wheeler Centre have revealed their latest lineup of public talks, and damn is it impressive. Ira Glass, Jonathan Franzen, Paul Kelly and Leigh Sales are just a few of the names on the kickass program, packed with writers, broadcasters, podcasters, journalists, artists, musicians and more. Strap on a helmet, because your brain won't know what hit it. Headlining a pool of considerable literary talent is acclaimed American novelist Jonathan Franzen, author of The Corrections and Freedom, who'll be in town to discuss his latest book, Purity. Other standouts include Jeanette Winterson, author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and the recent The Gap of Time; and Palestinian writer Suad Amiry, who'll talk about both her career and her hopes for the future of the West Bank. Podcast addicts clean up more than most, with This American Life host and podcasting pioneer Ira Glass scheduled to visit Melbourne in July, for an event that combines live radio with... contemporary dance? You'll hear from two of the medium's biggest new stars, when PJ Vogt and Starlee Kine, hosts of Reply All and the utterly addictive Mystery Show, respectively, appear together at Deakin Edge, in an event christened Invasion of the Pod People. They'll also take part in a panel with the Wheeler Centre's digital manager Jon Tjhia, in which they'll workshop new podcast ideas submitted by the public. Blurring the lines between mediums even further is widely celebrated young English rapper, poet, playwright and novelist Kate Tempest, appearing in conversation with local writer Maxine Beneba Clarke. Also on tap is playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Hare, who'll speak with Julian Burnside about everything from writing to politics. Alongside the plethora of international talent are a number of speakers grown right here at home. Musician Paul Kelly will discuss his affinity for Shakespeare and perform songs from his upcoming album Seven Sonnets & A Song, while a number of prominent local writers including Kate Holden, Chloe Hooper and David Marr will reimagine their work as stories for children. How do you rewrite In My Skin for kiddies? Guess you'll have to find out yourself. For the full Wheeler Centre Season Two program, visit www.wheelercentre.com/events.
2015 has afforded the publication of some uncommonly lovely books. In fact, some of the most interesting and inventive novels to be published in recent memory were published in the last twelve months. Here's a selection of ten of the best, to be read deeply and ardently in the longer light of hot summer days and nights. THE ARGONAUTS BY MAGGIE NELSON Everything Maggie Nelson writes is strange and smart and beautiful. She writes poetry that doesn't read like poetry and intellectual investigations on the murder of her aunt, and entire books meditating on the colour 'blue'. The Argonauts is probably the best thing she has produced. It's a bendy-backed genre-defying memoir about Nelson's experience of mothering and of getting married. Although it's much more than that. The story tying the book together is that of Nelson and meeting and falling in love with her partner, Harry Dodge. They meet, marry, and then Nelson begins having IVF treatments while Harry, a trans man, begins the transition process. This book is difficult to categorise, and difficult to even explain. It's a journey into ambiguity and dependence — and a beautiful one at that. BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME BY TA-NEHISI COATES This was the most important book to be published in the last year. It appeared at a crucial moment, with Black Lives Matter, the murders of countless unarmed black men, and the racial tensions simmering across America and across the globe. Addressed as a letter to his teenage son, Between The World And Me takes a step back and situates the difficulties of the present within the calamities of the patterns of the past. It's a blend of memoir, history, journalism and political theory that has, at its heart, a very complicated message which never once tries to simplify the complexities of the black body in the tradition of America. BEAUTY IS A WOUND BY EKA KURNIAWAN Kurniawan comes at Indonesia's bleak and bloody history from the edges. Creating the kinds of fantastical worlds that owe a debt to Gabriel Garcia Marquez and William Faulkner, Kurniawan takes you through Dutch colonialism, the Japanese occupation of World War Two and the bloody Suharto coup in the 1960s, the resonances of which Indonesia is still grappling with. Beauty is a Wound deals with all of this from the perspective of Dewi Ayu, a prostitute who rises from the grave after being dead 21 years and returns home to Beauty, her astonishingly ugly daughter. STORY OF THE LOST CHILD BY ELENA FERRANTE If you have not read the Neapolitan novels, you're missing out. There are four books in the series, with it being completed with the publication of the Story of the Lost Child in September of this year. You should read all four in order, but I urge you not to look at that as a chore — these books are incredible, and you will be grateful to have read them. Starting in 1950s Italy, they trace the lives of two women, friends since childhood. They touch on politics, Italian nationalism, female friendship, and the destructiveness of desire and jealousy — the chaos which underlies all things. It is rare to encounter literature that is both compulsively readable and highly intelligent, but the Neapolitan books resonate. They stick to you. Please read them. GOLD FAME CITRUS BY CLAIRE VAYE WATKINS Set in a just-around-the-corner dystopia, the California of Gold Fame Citrus is what's been left behind after the drought has wrecked its terrible damage. After most of the state has been evacuated, a few people still remain, dodging the law and frolicking in the abandoned playgrounds of the wealthy. Ray and Luz, the book's central characters, end up saddled with a child amidst all of this, a child they maybe kidnapped or maybe rescued. They set out into the desert, encountering religious fanatics, apocalyptic prophets, the terrible things that survive when everything good has dissolved. Watkins writing is knife-sharp and beautiful, and with recent reports that California’s Central Valley is literally sinking due to lack of groundwater, this novel feels horrifyingly prophetic. GENOA BY PAUL METCALF If your great-grandfather had written Moby Dick and you had also decided to become a writer, you would probably need to reckon with that legacy as well. In Genoa, Metcalf uses a dazzling collage schematic to write, and creates a clubfooted, non-practicing doctor to serve as his doppelganger. In doing so, Genoa reckons with the legacy of Herman Melville, Christopher Columbus, and the very idea of America — all from the confines of one man's attic. And while technically Genoa was not published in 2015, but it was nearly entirely unavailable before this year until it was re-issued by Coffee House Press, so I feel justified in listing it. GRIEF IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS BY MAX PORTER Short and lovely, this novel is told from three perspectives: two boys who've just lost their mother, their grief-stricken father trying to deal with his loss by focusing on his study of the poet Ted Hughes, and a crow, who flies out of Hughes' poetry and into their lives to compel everybody to get on with things. The book at times reads like poetry, a complex blend of images and ideas, and is almost like a children’s story in its invitation to inhabit a world. THE FOLDED CLOCK BY HEIDI JULAVITS This book is two years of Heidi Julavits' life. A diary, yes, but a diary in an old-fashioned sense. If your idea of a diary is like mine — your 14-year-old self, circling back around in a narcissistic loop devoid of any wit, humour or personality — this isn’t it. First of all, Julavits does away with chronology. The events of the years are all spliced up, connecting more by theme and tone than time. Second of all, this is a diary more involved with the world than the agonising peregrinations of a person's mind. The Folded Clock does the best version of 'writing about yourself'; the book uses Julavits, her life and what she sees to open you up to the world and draw your attention to small details — the meditative, and the unexamined. STORY OF MY TEETH BY VALERIA LUISELLI On the surface, this is a novel about a man in Mexico City who auctions off his old teeth, claiming that they originated from other, more famous, mouths. Then he uses the profits to buy a set of teeth supposedly owned by Marilyn Monroe and has them implanted in his own mouth. Hijinks ensue. But beneath the surface, the story is also spliced up with photographs, philosophical quotations, a chronology and an explanation of how the book came to be. Luiselli originally began writing the work for employees of Jumex, a Mexican juice company. The novel was written for the factory's workers, who read and discussed the story with Luiselli, who in turn incorporated their discussions into her work. So you get the idea. This book is playful and inventive and interesting without ever getting pretentious or insufferable. BOOK OF NUMBERS BY JOSHUA COHEN A struggling writer named Joshua Cohen is employed by Tetration, the largest tech company in the world, to ghostwrite the autobiography of its founder, a vastly wealthy man known as Principal. Tetration is a mash-up of Google and Apple, heading down an increasingly ominous path that pre-figures Snowden and the dangers of so much information concentrated in the hands of a few all-seeing, all-powerful companies. The novel is fragmented and inventive and aggressive, and invites the very structures of the Internet into the making of the work. But it remains a novel, wedded to the idea of the inherent worth of books as objects. In fact, the opening line is: "If you’re reading this on a screen, fuck off." Buy the hard copy. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
A new website and app lets LGBTIQ people test the waters with their friends and family when deciding whether or not to come out. Launching in April this year, You're Accepted lets users anonymously message their friends and family, in order to gauge their reaction. The hope, according to its creators, is that the service will help young people feel supported, allowing them to more confidently take that difficult first step. The project is a joint initiative between queer youth group Minus18 and creative agency GPY&R. The website allows anonymous users to message people – via Facebook, SMS or email – and ask whether those people would support them if that user decided to come out. "Their friends and family members are then given a notification, can read the message and choose to reply with a message of support, which is then moderated by our team," Minus18 CEO Micah Scott told SBS. "The LGBTI person can then read that message, and either choose to come out to them, or simply find comfort in the fact that they will have someone supportive for when they do come out." According to Scott, one of the most common questions young LGBTIQ people struggle with whether or not their friends and family will accept them for who they are. "Coming out can be an amazing experience too, but it's often hard to take that first step when you're not sure how people will react," he said. "It's been really exciting to see the impact the platform has made already." To find out more about You're Accepted, visit www.youreaccepted.com.au. Via SBS.
Catch the latest releases under the starry skies on Melbourne's newest outdoor screen. With a few months of successful service under their best, the team at Lido Cinemas, the eight-screen theatre which opened in Hawthorn earlier this year, have put the finishing touches on what is quite literally their crowning feature: a 100-seat rooftop cinema complete with beanbags and a bar. And now that the summer sun is peeking out from behind the clouds, we've finally gotten a glimpse at their lineup. Spoiler alert: it's pretty bloody great. Lido on the Roof will launch on Thursday, November 12 and will screen films until Easter. Opening night will feature the new James Bond movie Spectre, highlighting the cinema's focus on new releases — something which should help differentiate them from Melbourne's numerous other outdoor screens, where the programs tends to be a little more on the retro side. Other films on the program include holiday blockbusters such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, family fare like Goosebumps and Pixar's The Good Dinosaur, and anticipated comedies including Sisters and Zoolander 2. They'll also screen a number of this year's likely Oscar contenders, including same-sex romance Carol starring Cate Blanchet and Rooney Mara, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's new Western The Revenant featuring a grizzled Leonardo DiCaprio, and the Aaron Sorkin-scripted biopic Steve Jobs starring Michael Fassbender as the tech icon. Rounding out the lineup are a handful of nostalgic gems, including The Lion King, The Princess Bride and perennial Yuletide favourite Elf. That said, we're probably most excited for a late January screening of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, which should pair quite nicely with his new film The Hateful Eight which hits cinemas around the same time. The Lido is located at 675 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn. The full rooftop program will be made available online on November 12.
Kath and Kim's Kel Knight might be the ultimate sausage creator to many, but there are plenty of local butchers who give the purveyor of fine meats a run for his money. And the Builders Arms Hotel brings a few of them together every year when it hosts its epic Sausage Festival. For its 11th iteration, the pub's Andrew McConnell-run kitchen will be pumping out five specialty sausage dishes from Friday, June 21–Sunday, June 30 — made by butchers local to the Gertrude Street watering hole, with many produced by Troy Wheeler and his team at Meatsmith. Get around a classic merguez sausage served with three fresh oysters and mignonette sauce ($22), a layered mortadella sandwich in a milk bun and finished with salted butter ($14), spicy Thai sausages with green nam jim ($23), a blood sausage loaf topped with a fried egg and relish ($24) and an epic choucroute garnie that includes a heap of sauerkraut topped with smoked frankfurters, lyonnaise sausages and pork belly ($36). Each of the dishes also comes with a suggested wine, beer or cocktail pairing for those looking to take it all to the next level. Plus, if you rock up on Wednesday, June 26, you can join the Builders Arms' special sausage-themed trivia. Snag the win by showing off some of the most obscure sausage facts you know, all while chowing down on some less-than-classic bangers.
Often stereotyped as the beverage of choice of sleazy drunken pirates and pina colada-sculling schoolies (in its coconut-flavoured form), rum is enjoying a bit of a renaissance at the moment. Even Scottish post-rockers Mogwai have jumped on board, crafting their own limited edition single cask Demerara variety. Frankly, for a beverage literally made from distilled sugar, we’re surprised it’s taken this long to catch on. Now, a clever team of bartenders from Australia’s largest rum bar Substation No. 41 have announced the launch of their own craft blend. Named for its electricity substation origins, Substation No. 41 is an expansive paradise for aficionados of the golden spirit. Housed within the Breakfast Creek Hotel in Queensland, it carries over 400 varieties of the stuff. In a matter-of-fact, very Queensland fashion, its new golden dark masterpiece takes the name Substation No. 41 Rum, and is made from local sugarcane molasses. “We wanted to use natural Queensland ingredients to create a high-quality Australian rum with an exceptional taste,” says Stuart Griffith, one of the creators and senior bartenders. No one’s disputing the sunshine state’s rep as the rum capital of the country, so it all seems like a logical step for these subject matter experts. Aged for a minimum of two years in oak barrels, the Substation blend reportedly carries floral aromas, with a butterscotch-slash-oaky flavour and hints of spice, vanilla and caramel. You can pick up a bottle from your local Dan Murphy’s now. As far as consumption goes, you’ve got three options: shake it up in a cocktail, mix it with ginger beer, or make like Jack Sparrow and chug it from the bottle sip it neat.
Western Australia is famous for its exports: gold, iron-ore, wheat and, of course, ‘I heart WA’ fridge magnets. Basically, what they've got we’ve gotta get it, and there’s no better example of that than West Australian wine. Because, let’s be honest: Australians love a good drop. Quite a few, actually, given the average consumer enjoys around 30 litres of wine each year. In all, that's 530 million litres the nation over, and while it’s an impressive number, it’s nothing compared to the 750 million litres we send off to the rest of the world. In fact, Australia is now the fourth largest exporter of wine globally, and while just 5% of that comes from West Australia, what those vineyards lack in volume they more than account for in quality, boasting 20% of the ultra-premium market. So how much do you know about WA wine? Here are all the facts you need to start 'researching' your new passion. WHERE IS WESTERN AUSTRALIA? West of the rest of Australia. This is called ‘easing you in’. HOW MANY WINERIES? WA is home to more than 150 wineries broken up into nine separate regions, almost all of which sit on the south-western tip due to its cooler climate and favourable growing conditions. The best known of these regions comprise: The Margaret River Perth Hills Swan Valley Coastal Pemberton and The Great Southern HOW OLD? One-hundred-and-eighty-six years. The oldest established winery in West Australia, the Olive Farm Winery, was established back in 1829 by Thomas Waters, an English botanist who kicked things off with an olive grove (hence the name) and then quickly moved to vines, because seriously, who drinks olive juice? WA’s PRETTY WARM, RIGHT? Damn you’re good. West Australia is indeed a ‘warm wine-growing region’, which in the simplest terms means the grapes are able to ripen more fully, allowing for a higher build up of sugars. The result is threefold: Lower acidity — the wines are sweeter, meaning less tongue tingling or the pulling of that ’sucked in / duckface selfie’ expression Heavier body — the sweeter the wine, the more viscous it’s likely to be Higher alcohol - you’re probably across this one, but just in case, the higher the alcohol, the warmer that feeling it enkindles all over the palate. ALL THIS KNOWLEDGE IS MAKING ME THIRSTY Okay okay, we’ll get into it now. We just didn’t want to jump right to the wine chat in case your emergence as a wine buff occurred a little too early, not unlike some early budding varieties of grape such as Chardonnay that can break bud prematurely during WA's warm winters on account of temperatures exceeding 10°C. SEE WHAT WE DID THERE? Your bluffing game just got stronger. But now, to the wines. MARGARET RIVER (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon) Where else but ‘Margarets’ to begin any discussion of West Australian wines? Located about three hours drive south of Perth, the first of these now 100 or so vineyards were established in 1967, although it’s really only in the last 20 years that the region has come into its own and forged a reputation as home to some of the finest wines in the world. The Margaret River’s climate places it in a vinicultural bracket not unlike Bordeaux, only more attractive courtesy of a drier ripening period and low risk of frost. No surprise, then, that it’s best known for its prize winning cabernets, and you won’t do much better than the 2012 Cape Mentelle Trinders Cab Merlot. As you sip away, why not show off some of your newly acquired knowledge with: “Mmm, well obviously because of the warmer climate this cab merlot is well rounded and richly textured, and given its ability to ripen more fully, it’s punctuated with... I want to say... blackcurrant, cherry and hints of sweet vanilla". Fun Wine Fact: knowing about good wine is impressive, but knowing about good wine when other people haven’t even heard of it is even better. To that end, why not get a little more adventurous and try the 2013 Miles from Nowhere Margaret River Shiraz, a solidly built, handsome wine distinguished by red berries and spicy highlights that — unlike the Cape Mentelle Trinders — is designed to be consumed in its youth rather than cellaring. But there’s more to Margarets than just reds. This region offers some of the best conditions in the world for Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends, and right now it’s hard to go past the dry, crisp and fruity 2013 Evans & Tate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, or — if you’re again keen to sample one of the newcomers, the almost-tropical 2014 Catching Thieves Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. Another icon of this region is Leeuwin Estate with its famous 'Art Series Chardonnay'. Regarded by some as the best chardonnay in Australia, each Leeuwin Estate vintage comes complete with new paintings on the label from an Australian artist. The winery boasts a fantastic gallery to enjoy alongside the wine tastings, but if you can’t get there in person, then picking up a bottle and admiring the small-scale version is the next best thing. THE SWAN VALLEY (Fortified Wines, Verdelho and Chardonnay) The Swan Valley is a favourite of the locals, given its proximity to Perth (just a 25 minute drive, or 10 from the airport if you’re really in a rush). It's also the hottest and driest of all the Australian wine growing regions, making it an ideal location for fortified wines, Verdelho and Chardonnay. Last year the Swan Valley celebrated 180 years of winemaking, with many of the vineyards still owned by the same families that arrived as early European settlers (including the Olive Farm Winery from above). GREAT SOUTHERN REGION The Great Southern Wine region is the largest in Australia, and accordingly boasts the widest range of varietals from its 48 wineries, although the Rieslings are its most celebrated. This is also the coolest of WA’s wine regions, making it ideal for Chardonnays like the 2012 Byron & Harold Tandem WA Chardonnay. James Halliday just named Bryon & Harold one of his top ten wineries for 2015, and given the deliciously crisp lemon and peach flavours that burst from this particular drop, it’s not hard to see why. SO WHERE TO FROM HERE? Dive in, buy some WA wine and see what tickles your fancy. If you already have an inkling as to your preferred varietals, then keep an eye out for the regions from where they’re produced. Fancy a Merlot? Look for something from Perth Hills. Prefer a Pinot Noir? Hard to beat the ones coming out of Pemberton. You’ll also often see ‘best of’ bundles like this one around the traps, which can give you an excellent sampling across the board before you start to commit to the pricier individual bottles. If you’re lucky, they may even throw in an ‘I heart WA’ fridge magnet.
You guys, the future is here. The future that has been rendered so many times in Tom Cruise sci-fi movies and '90s music videos is finally here. Although Marty McFly is not the prophet we once believed him to be and the hoverboard is still only a prototype, a new UK-based project will let us have electric cars that charge via the road as they go. Although electric cars in the UK are currently becoming more common, they can be tricky to charge if you live in a densely populated city and are bereft of a private parking garage. Electric cars can only be charged from home/special charging stations, so if you're an electric car owner with only on-street parking facilities, you might have to hang around for hours at designated charging spots. Annoying. Enter charging lanes, to save the day. Highways England have announced an 18-month plan to trial the feasibility of charging lanes before bringing them to public roads. Charging lanes are exactly what they sound like — lanes that charge your electric car as you drive along it. How? With black magic, of course (or electric cables installed under the road surface which generate electromagnetic fields, funnelled into a coil in the car and converted into useable electricity). And a nice little bonus for eco-warriors driving electric cars is the ability to zip up a dedicated lane, charge your car and skip traffic all at once — no regular cars are allowed in this lane. Charging lanes have already been implemented to great effect in South Korea, to charge electric buses in the public transport system, and — if the popularity of 'Gangnam Style' is anything to go by — it’s only a matter of time before electric charging lanes become standard across the world. We haven't been this excited about roads since this solar-powered genius. Via Mashable.
When last year's Dark MOFO program dropped, House of Mirrors immediately rocketed to the top of everyone's must-do list. Created by Australian installation artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney, it's exactly what it sounds like: a walkthrough space filled with reflective surfaces that will not only strands you in a maze of your own image, but turns your likeness into a kaleidoscope. Since then, the installation has made its way to Brisbane and Sydney for a stint at January's Sydney Festival. And now, eager Melburnians will soon get the chance to wander through the disorienting, perception-altering, panic-inducing, optical illusion-based labyrinth for themselves. From April 7–30, the mirror maze will take over Rosalind Park adjacent to Bendigo Art Gallery for three weeks of reflective roaming, with the modern, minimalist twist on the fairground classic featuring 40 tonnes of steel and 15 tonnes of mirrors — and no added gimmicks, no special effects, no special lighting, no soundtrack or soundscape. It'll be the first time House of Mirrors has come to Victoria — and with Bendigo less than a two-hour drive (or train ride) away, it's an easy one to do on a day trip. The installation will be open each day from 2–9pm and tickets are $10 on the door.
The word 'piquancy' means a sharp, spicy, appetising flavour. So, really, it seems like quite a good name for Hawthorn's newest Indian eatery. Opening tonight — Wednesday, April 5 — on Auburn Road, the new restaurant from the team behind St Kilda's Babu Ji will feature a mix of traditional dishes and lesser-known street foods, and will be open for brunch, lunch and dinner. "It's a name that's not obviously Indian, so people won't have a preconceived opinion of the food," said co-owner Mani Waraich. "We hope our venue will help shift the usual perception of Indian food, which is the typical curry and rice menu." Of course, you will find curry and rice on the menu, along with classic dishes like chari pork chops and Babu Ji's tandoori chicken. But you'll also find a variety of other options, including pani puri, beetroot-cured paneer and even gluten-free naan. "We have a diverse menu and want people to experience all the elements of a contemporary Indian meal," said Waraich. The Piquancy wine list, meanwhile, has been carefully curated by sommelier Jeff Sault. You'll also be able to choose from some 40 crafts beers. Assuming you like the food, the restaurant will also be offering a number of ticketed cooking classes, the details of which should be made available soon. Piquancy is now open at 123 Auburn Road, Hawthorn. For more information, visit thepiquancy.com.au. Images: Eugene Hyland.
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.
If you've ever tucked gratefully into a hefty serve of Fancy Hank's BBQ at The Mercat, prepare to have your day made. The crew behind all that succulent, meaty goodness is expanding their empire and have announced plans to open a dedicated, two-storey barbecue joint on Bourke Street. The new venue will be (fingers crossed) open for trade in September — but don't expect a repeat of the Mercat offering. Fancy Hank's is upping the fancy for this one. Downstairs will feature seating for 100 patrons with table service and an updated (and expanded) menu. A snack deli with a range of old American-style cold cuts, preserves and pickles will serve you well while you wait for your meat to cook on the smoker. Co-owner Michael Patrick says the new menu will also feature a rotating vegetarian main, such as a smoked eggplant or sweet potato, as well as a few more surprises. "The sides will be a bit more considered as well — a bit more seasonal, a bit more made to order, a bit more interesting," he says. "And mains will be served up on platters, family-style — that's the way to go. We'll be adding a dessert cabinet too." While downstairs will resemble a bigger, better version of the Fancy Hanks you know and love, but upstairs will be a whole new entity altogether with a rooftop bar, fresh eats and local DJs soundtracking your summer nights. "The bar is going to have a separate identity, a different name and a new bar food offering," Patrick says. "We haven't locked down the concept for the rooftop yet; it'll have its own feel, but it'll be barbecue related, for sure". Meanwhile, The Mercat will still serve your beloved Fancy Hanks, but it'll be a more casual, sandwich-based menu as the big smoker is moving over to the new Bourke Street kitchen. Fancy Hanks is slated to open on September 1, 2016 at 1/79 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates.
“You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge.” So begins both the film and the song ‘Straight Outta Compton’, and it’s equal parts preview and warning. The ‘street knowledge’ of NWA’s leading trio — Dr Dre (played by Corey Hawkins), Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson Jr, playing his real-life father) and Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell) — was an affront to the establishment, a threat, even, but also helped facilitate the group's rapid rise from neighbourhood group to musical ascendancy. Acquired over two decades of daily exposure to gang violence, racial vilification and police persecution, it instilled in them a bravado, passion and unyielding determination that permitted neither retreat nor weakness. It also came at a price, however, because not all streets are the same, and when Crenshaw Boulevard became Rodeo Drive, the blinders and shortcomings of that knowledge became all too apparent. Straight Outta Compton, then, is not just an NWA biopic but a cautionary tale about loyalty, friendship and the corrosive effects of celebrity. Directed by F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job), Straight Outta Compton doesn’t push the genre in any new directions but does a superb job of keeping the focus on the chemistry and appeal of its leading men. Its earliest scenes are easily its strongest, chronicling the group’s formation and revealing how the constant police harassment contributed to not just NWA’s message and appeal but also its most iconic song ('Fuck the Police'). In light of the shocking number of black deaths at the hands of police this year alone, it’s a tragically timeless sentiment that continues to resonate with an especial significance. Hawkins, Mitchell and Jackson Jr put in excellent performances, with the latter's resemblance to his father so remarkable as to make his scenes feel more documentary than recreation. Paul Giamatti, too, is once again utterly engaging as their manager Jerry Heller, never quite allowing you the confidence to say whether he’s hero or villain. Regrettably, most of the female performances are relegated to bare breasts and bouncing buttocks, with key figures like Michel’le and Tomica Woods-Wright given little to no attention, while Dre’s history of violence towards women is completely ignored. Still, a film can only cover so many bases, and Straight Outta Compton shouldn’t be faulted too heavily for electing to keep its focus on the band and its significance rather than the individual stories within. Ice Cube once described NWA as journalists, reporting on a world that the mainstream media refused to. But in the end it was less what they said and more their preparedness to keep saying it as loudly and publicly as possible that made them such an important and ongoing musical force. Straight Outta Compton is a slick, provocative and timely film that absolutely warrants your viewing.
Thought Friday Nights at the NGV ended with summer? Nup. They're back. Complementing the new Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Degas: A New Vision, the gallery is inviting visitors to enjoy a jam-packed late-night program complete with food, booze, talks and live performances. The 13-week program will run the length of the exhibition, kicking off on opening night this Friday, June 24 with headliner Clare Bowditch. Other musical guests on the program include The Grates, Augie March, Mick Harvey, The Goon Sax and Kid Congo, amongst others. In addition to the music lineup, other Friday night activities include talks on the Degas exhibition, performances by a jazz quartet and drinks and snacks in the Great Hall. All in all, it should make for many top-notch Fridays at the gallery.
Whether you're on a date, catching up with your friends, or just looking for a way to kill a few hours on a Tuesday night, there are few modern indulgences that beat settling into a dark cinema and letting your worries escape you as you slip into another world. Spies, superheroes, lovers, musicians, presidents, dictators, robbers and cops: you'll encounter them all as the lights go down and the projector begins to whir. There's plenty afoot a the pictures this month, so we're here to give you a little bit of help with choosing tonight's movie. See you at the candy bar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8 AVENGERS: ENDGAME What our critic said: Where Infinity War wrought intergalactic devastation and destruction, Endgame delivers intimacy and an examination of grief, loss and very private regret. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ5X75F1YJw LONG SHOT What our critic said: Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen make a relatable pair in this heartfelt and hilarious political rom-com. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k38zjD2QVSg GLORIA BELL What our critic said: While the plot is straightforward — a woman and a man meet, connect and try to work out if their messy lives fit together — every character, scene and moment is gloriously layered, ensuring that nothing about the picture is simplistic. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI9UYcEwUYA BURNING What our critic said: This South Korean drama is a ruminative mystery, a fine-tuned character study and an intricately observed examination of human relationships all in one. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw5LfaKTKoI 1985 What our critic said: 1985's black-and-white visuals overflow not only with visible texture, but with meaning and emotion — as seen in its loaded shadows, inky contrasts and jittery flecks. Read the full review.
Arts festivals courting controversy isn't anything new. Arts festivals weathering a backlash when their shows stir up a range of responses isn't, either. However, Edinburgh Festival's reaction to its planned staging of Così fan tutte might just be a first: they're offering patrons refunds before it even opens. The strange situation, reported by The Guardian, is a result of the fest's organisers programming Christophe Honoré's take on Mozart's and da Ponte's famous opera sight unseen and then checking out its world premiere at France's Aix-en-Provence festival. With the director setting his updated version in east African Eritrea during the 1930s — which was still colonised by Italy at the time — a layer of racial tension was always going to be evident. That it would be labelled a "brutal, shaming experience" with "a volatile, violent racism" by New York Times critic Zachary Woolfe obviously wasn't as expected. Woolfe's comments partially stem from Honoré's decision to use actors wearing blackface makeup to dress up as African mercenaries to try to test their lovers' faithfulness, as well the inclusion of a rape in its opening scene, plus other graphic depictions of violence and abuse. He certainly isn't alone in highlighting the tough nature of the performance — though his and other reviews have found positives as well. Opera Today's critic called it a "witty comedy" while noting that he overheard "offense expressed at the in-your-face exposition of racism". Opera News described it as "a dense exploration of desire and violence" that alerted the audience "to its own uncomfortable prejudices". In fact, Edinburgh's programmers used terms like "provocative", "sexually explicit", "stark" and "challenging" in their own synopsis, but obviously feel that wasn't warning enough. And the tale of Così fan tutte has always been considered a little problematic given its sexual politics. It is about a couple of guys donning disguises and trying to trick their fiancées into cheating on them to win a bet about the nature of women, after all — and its title does translate as "women are like that" as well. Pre-emptively giving customers their money back before they even get a chance to see what all the fuss is about seems a little extreme — then again, so does putting a clearly tricky piece in the festival without really knowing how it is going to turn out. Of course, arts festivals are designed to champion material that tests the limits — but whether Honoré's Così fan tutte is as boundary-pushing as suggested, Edinburgh is certainly charting new territory when it comes to apologising before the curtain has even been raised. Via The Guardian. Image: Aix-en-Provence.
Catch the latest releases under the starry skies on Melbourne's newest outdoor screen. With a few months of successful service under their best, the team at Lido Cinemas, the eight-screen theatre which opened in Hawthorn earlier this year, have put the finishing touches on what is quite literally their crowning feature: a 100-seat rooftop cinema complete with beanbags and a bar. And now that the summer sun is peeking out from behind the clouds, we've finally gotten a glimpse at their lineup. Spoiler alert: it's pretty bloody great. Lido on the Roof will launch on Thursday, November 12 and will screen films until Easter. Opening night will feature the new James Bond movie Spectre, highlighting the cinema's focus on new releases — something which should help differentiate them from Melbourne's numerous other outdoor screens, where the programs tends to be a little more on the retro side. Other films on the program include holiday blockbusters such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, family fare like Goosebumps and Pixar's The Good Dinosaur, and anticipated comedies including Sisters and Zoolander 2. They'll also screen a number of this year's likely Oscar contenders, including same-sex romance Carol starring Cate Blanchet and Rooney Mara, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's new Western The Revenant featuring a grizzled Leonardo DiCaprio, and the Aaron Sorkin-scripted biopic Steve Jobs starring Michael Fassbender as the tech icon. Rounding out the lineup are a handful of nostalgic gems, including The Lion King, The Princess Bride and perennial Yuletide favourite Elf. That said, we're probably most excited for a late January screening of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, which should pair quite nicely with his new film The Hateful Eight which hits cinemas around the same time. The Lido is located at 675 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn. The full rooftop program will be made available online on November 12.
Hey there, lovers of ballet and regular folks who like to feel gloriously inflexible — it's World Ballet Day, a whole day of dedicated to some of the most iconic ballet troupes in history, and it's being streamed live for you to enjoy. Sure, watching the fittest people on earth prance about in achtivewear with the elegance of swans while you're sitting on the couch inhaling Doritos may make you feel slightly inadequate. But where else will you be able to see behind the scenes footage and rehearsals of the Bolshoi Ballet, Australian Ballet, The Royal Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada and the San Francisco ballet streamed over 20 hours? Not every day, that's when. It's a rare treat, take full advantage. Go on. Log on and watch the beautiful people twirl. Image: Kate Longley.
The process of getting takeout is about to become even easier, thanks to a brand new online service that lets you order using emojis. New York-based startup company Fooji works in partnership with local restaurants on a weekly rotating menu, and lets hungry customers place their order via twitter. Yes friends, the future has arrived...and it's really, really lazy. The way the service works almost literally couldn't be simpler, which is probably a big part of the appeal. When you sign up for an account, you list your address and billing information. Then, whenever you're feeling peckish, you just head on over to the Fooji homepage for that week's menu, which corresponds different dishes to different emojis – emojis you then tweet to @gofooji. Typical options include pizza, chicken wings, noodles, curries, sandwiches, pasta and sushi. Or if you're feeling adventurous, just tweet a knife and fork and the Fooji team will order for you. The service costs users a flat US$15 per meal, which includes delivery and tip. They're currently only operating in NYC and San Francisco, although their website mentions the possibility of expanding further down the line. There's also no way to customise your order or stray from the menu – tweeting a burger emoji plus an ice-cream emoji won't get you a dessert burger, no matter how delicious that may sound. It's also a bit rough for people with dietary requirements or food allergies, although don't forget you can still just pick up the phone and call the restaurant yourself. Fooji are currently pursuing a patent for their idea, although they may get some competition from Dominos, who actually rolled out a similar service back in May. That being said, Fooji probably has the edge in that the end result doesn't involve you having to actually consume a Dominos pizza. Yeah, that's definitely a plus. Via PSFK.
For all of us down here in the southern hemisphere, Christmas has never really aligned with the classic ‘snowy tree, Christmas jumpers, roast dinner and egg nog’ style of celebration enjoyed by the north. Frankly, the thought of eating a hot, greasy wad of ham on a 35-degree day is kind of gross — give us a tinnie and a prawn skewer anytime. But that doesn’t mean we don’t like to pretend, and the Hotham Street Ladies have just the thing. These cheeky Melbourne artists have created a sweet, sweet installation for the iconic Hotel Windsor that features a massive, traditional Christmas spread. There's a fat roast chicken, glazed ham, juicy lobster, baked whole fish (man, we sure eat a lot of meat at Christmas, Gaviscon must rake it in) and not to mention the succulent desserts and sides. This piece of art looks better than any Christmas meal you’ve ever made (hell it looks better than most things) and the kicker? It’s made entirely from icing sugar. The Christmas at The Windsor exhibit (which is on display from December 1 to January 5) took over a month to create and the gals used an incredible range of modelling and piping techniques to work in so much detail. Aren't across these bold, culinary artists? The Hotham Street Ladies are an artist collective of five women — Cassandra Chilton, Molly O’Shaughnessy, Sarah Parkes, Caroline Price and Lyndal Walker — who derive their name from the days when they lived together in a share house in Collingwood. Their mutal passion for cakes, baking, feminism and craft has since informed their work and it’s pretty damned cute (with a big streak of feminist badassery). Check out some of their other work, including a puppy cake covered in iced flowers, candy beards, a table setting designed around leftovers and this gloriously graphic iced period stain installation in the men’s toilets at the Victorian College of the Arts. Christmas at The Windsor is on display at the Hotel Windsor, 111 Spring Street from December 1 to the January 5.
After attracting 286,631 visitors to its inaugural event in 2017, The National: New Australian Art — an epic contemporary Australian art exhibition held across three major Sydney galleries — is back. Due to open on March 29, the program will feature works from 65 emerging, mid-career and established artists at the Art Gallery of NSW, the MCA and Carriageworks. Taking care of the AGNSW's offering is Isobel Parker Philip, Curator of Photographs. "States of suspense and anticipation characterise the exhibition at AGNSW, as 24 artists navigate the boundary between chaos and control in work that is by turns political, poetic and personal," Philip said of the exhibition. Look out for Victorian artist Mira Gojak's sculpture Stops, which brings together steel rods and sky blue acrylic yarn, as well as Rushdi Anwar's Irhal (expel), hope and the sorrow of displacement, 2013–ongoing, which combines burnt wooden chairs, black pigment, charcoal and ash. At the MCA, you'll find works by 21 artists from cities, regional areas and remote communities, co-curated by Clothilde Bullen, MCA Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections and Exhibitions, and Anna Davis, MCA Curator. "We have selected a diverse group of artists whose practices reflect urgent contemporary concerns," they said in a combined statement. "Many pose questions around hierarchies of power and the ways in which different groups are represented, while other artists create new rituals and experiment with improvisational processes." Among these are The Australian Ugliness (2018) by Melbourne's Eugenia Lim — which exhibited in Melbourne earlier this year as part of Open House — a multi-channel video installation exploring our national aesthetic; and Mumu Mike Williams' Kulilaya munuya nitiriwa (Listen and learn from us) (2017), a painting on canvas mail bag, with wood, kangaroo tendon and resin. Meanwhile Daniel Mudie Cunningham, Senior Curator of Visual Arts, has determined the 19-strong program at Carriageworks. "The National 2019 at Carriageworks presents newly commissioned works that map memory and place-making, where the work of art is a form of emotional tourism," he said. "Exploring the boundaries of truth and fiction, the selected artists reflect on the individual's place in an uncertain and ever-shifting world." Tasmanian duo Mish Meijers and Tricky Walsh will be bringing The Crocker Land Expedition, an installation made up of timber, found objects, parachute, plastic and light, while Troy-Anthony Baylis, an Aboriginal artist of the Jawoyn nation, will be continuing (re)presentations of "notions of drag (cultural and gender), landscape and home". The exhibition will run at AGNSW from 29 March–21 July 2019, and at Carriageworks and the MCA from 29 March–23 June 2019. Image: Eugenia Lim, The Australian Ugliness (2018), photo by Tom Ross.
It’s time to embrace your inner pirate as we celebrate on August 16 with a yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum. International Rum Day is an event Melbourne’s best bartenders are taking very seriously this year, with some of our top establishments creating cocktails just for the glorious occasion. When it comes to go-to rum cocktail bases, Bacardi is undoubtedly the weapon of choice, and as you will discover from our list it is as versatile as it is delicious. We’re excited to raise a glass to the rum concoctions that will be lovingly crafted this weekend, here’s where to find them. THE TOFF IN TOWN: THE CUBAN REMEDY Siddle into a cosy booth at the Toff and enjoy their Cuban Remedy, Jonathon Minihan’s twist on a Trinidad Sour. Bacardi 8 is the base of the cocktail, providing a depth of flavour and a sherry finish, while Angostura Bitters brings a zing to the table and ginger adds a little spice. Lime juice ties it all together, and the creation is garnished with a lime twist. The perfect post-dinner cocktail for those not quite ready to call it a night. 1806: THE COLD RUM FLIP 1806 is all about the classic cocktails, and what better way to celebrate International Rum Day than by creating a drink that nods to both an excellent bartender and Facundo Bacardi. Jerry Thomas is responsible for creating the Cold Rum Flip, and 1806 venue manager Kevin Griffin pays homage to Bacardi by using the Carta Blanca and Oloroso sherry to pay homage to his connection to Spain. Griffin has also added charred spiced pineapple syrup that provides a rich sweetnes, as well as a barspoon of honey, a free range egg for some froth, and garnished with grated cinnamon. BOILERMAKER HOUSE: FROM THE SOLERA While Boilermaker house may be most well known for their whisky and craft beer selection, let it be known they have more cards up their sleeve. Their unique in-house solera system has been utilised in creating a cocktail that only gets better with time as it ages in their Tasmanian and American oak. Aberfeldy meets Bacardi 8, with Martini Rosso, chocolate malt orgate and two dashes of Jerry Thomas Decanter bitters thrown in for good measure. Not only is this drink divine, it’s also versatile, as it can be served “hot as a blazer or cold as an old-fashioned.” PIXEL ALLEY: DONKEY KONG Coming up with an arcade game-themed rum cocktail is surprisingly not as difficult as you might first imagine, considering old mate Donkey Kong spent most of his time hurling barrels left, right and centre. Bacardi Carta Oro is aged for two years and is smooth to drink with a hint of spice. To continue with the Donkey Kong theme, De Kuyper Banana Liqueur is combined with honey syrup, frozen banana and oat milk. Think of it like a boozy banana milkshake, only less heavy. Much like DK’s barrels, this beverage will explode with flavour. COOKIE: THE BOATMAN'S CUT When a cocktail can tell a story, it goes beyond your average sipping experience — it’s an event. The Boatman’s Cut is inspired by the struggle endured by the Bacardi family when forced to leave Cuba in 1960. Bacardi Superior meets Monin cinnamon syrup and blue curacao, with fruity flavours of pear puree, pineapple and lime juice adding an extra tropical element. Cookie’s bar manager Ariel explains that she would have liked to have served this to the fleeing family members during their journey across the sea to make their voyage more enjoyable. We’re happy to raise a glass to their legacy that lives on. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Ring in the Year of the Monkey sipping on whisky cocktails at a custom-built pop-up bar. Presented, appropriately, by Monkey Shoulder whisky in partnership with the City of Sydney, the bar will be open for the entire run of Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival, from February 6-21. To celebrate, we're giving away a sweet Sydney trip, so you can get up to a little monkey business of your own. Valued at $1000, this killer giveaway includes two return flights to Sydney from anywhere in Australia, two nights free accommodation, transport, and entry into the Monkey Shoulder Whisky Bar. Not too shabby, if we do say so ourselves. While in Sydney you can check out the Chinese New Year festivities, including talks, tours, exhibitions, installations, performances and one-off events. Assuming you can drag yourself away from the bar, that is. The Monkey Shoulder Whisky Bar will pop-up in Martin Place from February 6-14, before hightailing it over to World Square from February 15-21. Beverages on offer will include the Monkey's Mojito, the Monkey old-fashioned and a spin on the Pina Colada named Jungle Juice. Visitors to the bar will also receive a fortune cookie, which will hopefully predict good tidings for the year ahead. Thanks to Monkey Shoulder, we have one sweet, sweet trip for two to Sydney from anywhere in Australia up for grabs. The prize includes two return flights to Sydney from anywhere in Australia, two nights free accommodation, transport, and entry into the Monkey Shoulder Whisky Bar (value $1000). To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address. Good luck, whiskey fiends. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
Barbecuing in Australia no longer dabbles in the carefree realms of cheap snags and piddly steaks. It's 2015 and American-style barbecue reigns in this tender, tender age of pulled pork, slow-cooked brisket and ribs, ribs, ribs. Barbecuing is now serious business, so serious that entire dedicated festivals are popping up, like the wonderfully-named Meatstock. But there is one that comes approved from the folks of Kansas, given the tick of approval by the beating heart of American barbecue itself: The Yaks is coming. Following the success of The Yaks Melbourne Barbecue Festival at the Queen Victoria Market last year, the crew are bringing the festival back for another round — and this time they're doing a Sydney instalment. The Yaks Barbecue Festival will descend upon The Domain in Sydney on January 30 and Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on February 6. Barbecue lovers will find themselves panicked for choice at this juicy festival, with food stalls from some of Australia’s finest pitmasters, barbecue cooking demonstrations by local and international barbecue experts, equipment exhibitors, live entertainment and DJs. Plus, venues around Sydney and Melbourne will host barbecue dinners and classes. But while you're ploughing into a pork rib, there's serious competition afoot. Competitive barbecuing isn't for rookies, this is serious shit. Watch amateur barbecue teams from around Australia battle it out in in the Southern Hemisphere’s first American-style cook-off sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society — the real deal. The best performing Australian team at each of The Yaks Barbecue Festival cook-offs will be invited to represent Australia at internationally renowned barbecue contests in the United States. We're talking the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational. Plus, they'll be in the draw for the prestigious KCBS-run Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational Barbecue. That's no average lamb chop. If you reckon you're a pretty damn good barbecuer, check out the website (Sydney or Melbourne) and think about entering a team. Otherwise, bib up and get your tickets here. THE YAKS BARBECUE FESTIVALS 2016 SYDNEY — Saturday, January 30 (The Domain) MELBOURNE — Saturday, February 6 (Flemington Racecourse)
"Joey, there's no living with...with a killing" explains Alan Ladd's character in the 1953 cowboy epic Shane. "There's no going back from it. Right or wrong, it's a brand, a brand that sticks. There's no going back. Now you run on home to your mother and tell her...tell her everything's alright, and there aren't any more guns in the valley". Twice in Logan we hear this same passage, and it sets the theme for the entire film. Hugh Jackman's Logan, aka Wolverine, is one of modern cinema's greatest tortured souls: a near-invincible soldier of fortune forever seeking memories of better days lost to amnesia, whilst drinking to forget the ones even amnesia refuses to ensnare. Time has been no friend to the man unburdened by it, with lovers long since dead and buried, friends gone the same way, and no new mutants, we learn, born for the past twenty five years. Even his own body is at last breaking down, like an old turbine with grinding parts and blunt, malfunctioning blades. The immortal man is somehow dying, and he can't welcome it quickly enough. If it's not already obvious, Logan represents something of a seismic shift for the X-Men franchise – a billion dollar film series that has, until now, consisted largely of family-friendly crowd-pleasers. Ultra-violent and with Scorsese level foul language, Logan at long last unleashes the true, brutal fury of the eponymous beast whose gruesome deeds have, for the past seventeen years, only ever been teased out or implied. Limbs are severed and skulls are skewered with bloody repetition, yet neither the frequency nor the intensity of the violence ever feels gratuitous. This is a dark, gritty and yet soulful production that finally honours the character behind so much of the X-Men saga's enduring popularity. In the lead roll, Jackman imbues Logan with all the rage, self-loathing and pain befitting a man who's literally seen it all. With greying hair and a weathered face hidden beneath a wild, bushy beard, the actor limps and heaves his way through every scene with palpable discomfort. Alongside him, Patrick Stewart returns as the wheelchair-bound Professor Charles Xavier, now a prisoner to his own failing (yet terrifyingly powerful) mind, the implications of which are brilliantly woven into the script. Stephen Merchant, too, joins the franchise in a wonderfully soulful turn, whilst the film's villains are this time embodied by Narcos' Boyd Holbrook and the ever-reliable Richard E Grant. Then, finally, there's newcomer Dafne Keen as a young mutant named Laura, and if you've seen the film's trailer you'll likely have already guessed her connection to both this story and its key characters. In the interest of preserving what surprises we can, the less said about Keen the better, except to note that her performance is outstanding and her scenes with Jackman ground the film in a deeply personal way. This is a bold offering from director James Mangold and an extraordinary conclusion to an otherwise ho-hum trilogy of Wolverine-centric spinoffs (see also: X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Wolverine). In an age of unending sequels and computer-generated chaos, Logan is a timely reminder that for all of their spectacle, the best superhero films can begin and end with human-driven stories. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH3OxVFvTeg
Having conquered hearts in both Sydney and Melbourne, Longrain's gutsy Thai flavours will now take on Japan, with the restaurant group's owner Sam Christie set to open the doors to a sister venue in Tokyo this August. As the first international outpost, it sounds like a ripper — a classically-styled, 160-seat stunner on the 39th floor of the Yebisu Garden Place Tower, as imagined by Sydney-based designers Luchetti-Krelle. The space is a warm and welcoming one, nodding to aspects of Sydney and Melbourne's iconic Longrain eateries, and featuring artwork by Sydney's own Christopher Hodges. Making his much-anticipated return to Longrain Sydney and set to also head up the kitchen at the Tokyo digs, executive chef Griff Pamment will be tweaking Longrain's signature offering to win over a new audience of foodies. He's promising a punchy celebration of Thai and South East Asian flavours, built around local produce — the menu featuring plenty of old favourites alongside a host of new rice and noodle dishes. Backing up the eats, expect a selection of crafty cocktails and aromatic wines, with varietals from across Australia and beyond. Longrain Ebisu will open daily from August 26, 2017. Find it at Floor 39, Yebisu Garden Place Tower, 4-20, Ebisu, hibuya-ku, Tokyo, next time you're in town. Images: Nikki To.
Sport in Melbourne is definitely one of those culturally ingrained things that is AVBD (a very big deal), and chances are you have a team you find yourself getting invested in particularly over a few beers at the pub. Whether you're a casual follower or a professional who weeps regularly and loudly over your chosen ones' performance, sometimes your lounge room just doesn't make the cut – and neither does that tray of frozen chips you popped in the oven. Help yourself and your team out by picking a good venue to watch the game. We've teamed up with the Hahn Brewers and created a list with some of our picks – settle back with some good pub grub, a pint of something heartening, and the ability to yell at the screen without worrying about your neighbours. THE EMPRESS The Empress in the north of Fitzroy rocks a quieter vibe than its counterparts on Brunswick Street, so head here for a pint and a game of AFL. Food-wise it's upmarket pub food and a lot of choice for veggie or vegan fare, so you can settle in for the night in their cozy beer garden with the footy and a very very tasty chicken parma. THE LOMOND The Lomond is one of those pubs that isn't the swishest kid on the block, but will give you a solid case of the warm and fuzzies thanks to beers-a-plenty on tap and an open fire inside. If you're lucky it'll be live Irish music night (classic). There's always a game or two on at The Lomond – and a punter or five betting on it. Top it all off with glass of Hahn and a pulled pork burger and you'll be tottering off home to bed once the fourth quarter is over. THE GREAT NORTHERN The Great Northern holds fairly true its name, in that it's both in Melbourne's north and pretty great. A huge beer garden out the back and ten HD screens littered throughout the venue means you'll probably end up watching sport whether you're planning on it or not. The Northern is the "unofficial home of Freo", so be prepared to be defending yourself if you don't go for the Dockers. Also, the pub also shows most of the other sports you may follow so don't feel like you have to limit yourself to AFL. THE IMPERIAL A big space in the CBD can be hard to find, but kickin' it at the very top of Bourke Street is The Imperial, the third oldest pub in Melbourne. An accommodating hotspot for Premier League followers, you can also head here for the rugby or the cricket or the tennis or even the golf – basically, pick a sport, any sport and head to the Imperial. It's the home of the Liverpool FC supporters in Melbourne, so expect a sea of loud red fans. Other pluses? A huge rooftop bar with great city views, and a new menu with plenty of good food to line your belly. LONDON TAVERN If you're looking for a bar situated near the G, have a gander at the London Tavern; it's been there since 1921 and is somewhat of a footy icon in the area. Watch the match there of a weekend night, and/or enter the hefty meat raffle every Thursday. If you don't make too much of a ruckus yourself perhaps you'll be able to hear the live MCG action from your seat. THE COLLEGE LAWN HOTEL Head southside to the back streets of Prahran for a pub that sticks to what it knows, and does it well – friendly vibes and lazy Sunday afternoons in the sun. At College Lawn, rabid rugby fans are in the house on the weekend, but don't feel left out if that isn't sport of choice; the College Lawn has scores of screens, so we've no doubt you'll find something you dig on at least one. There's also a bottle shop on-site, and $6 pints from 5pm-7pm on Fridays. THE CORNER HOTEL While The Corner is through and through one hell of a music venue, it boasts other non-gig-related attractions. There's a good trivia on every Wednesday, for a start, and despite their ample rooftop beer garden being closed for reno's at the moment there's an American food-truck operating downstairs. More importantly though, it has big screens, a great atmosphere and is right in the heart of the action. Pick this as a place to set up shop on grand final day CHARLES DICKENS The Charles Dickens is one of those old-fashioned British pubs which is actually endlessly charming and makes you feel like you've stepped back in time a few decades. You should probably listen to Brit logic and have a pie (you always deserve a pie) here to go along with a game. There are four screens showing rugby, Premier League or AFL. If your team wins and you want late kick-ons, the Dickens does takeaway beer too. TURF BAR If it's American footy or baseball you're after, Turf Bar might be the pick for you. Their schedule packs in a bit of everything and the facilities are good: big screens with volume loud enough to hear the match, and private screening booths if you so desire. Friday nights offer $6 pints and bar snacks early on in the night. THE LEVESON It's chicken parmatastic over here at The Leveson, one of North Melbourne's nicer pubs, and the menu is as good as the happy hours are generous. The Leveson is a popular place to be on Grand Final day (or Superbowl morning), and as well as sport on the telly there's live music on Fridays. A good steak menu and an open fire will warm the cockles of your heart, and a solid Grand Final day party (featuring an espresso martini bar) should put this high up on your list this year. Sign up to Hahn Brewers and settle down with a drink this weekend.
A selection of local Melbourne businesses with family ties to Lebanon are coming together on Sunday, December 8 (from 10am–1pm) to raise money for Beit el Baraka — which supports people who are currently suffering in Lebanon. On the day, you can drop by the legendary Lebanese restaurant Abla's to shop for handmade jewellery by Linden Cook, and grab some food from Alimentari (Med-inspired vegetarian salads), Larderfresh (artisanal jars of pickles) and A1 Bakery (bread and savoury pastries). You can either take these bites away with you or head to the back of Abla's for an intimate picnic. [caption id="attachment_981219" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Linden Cook[/caption] Managing Director of Linden Cook Georgie Amad shared, "We have been deeply saddened by the devastating events unfolding in Lebanon. "My grandmother migrated from Lebanon to Australia in 1954 and started Abla's Restaurant. Since then, her nieces have launched Alimentari and Larder Fresh, and my Mum and I founded Linden Cook. "This is about more than just fundraising — it's about coming together as a community to share stories, food, and solidarity. Our hearts are with Lebanon, and we are committed to doing all that we can to help from afar." [caption id="attachment_981221" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alimentari[/caption] Top image: A1 Bakery
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.
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.
How'd you like to work alongside some of the most creative minds in Melbourne? Well, you may soon get the chance, thanks to a brand new initiative from the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. The publicly funded exhibition space and cinema today announced the launch of ACMI X, a collaborative work space in the Southbank Arts Precinct. The 60 seat, 2000sqm office space will be the new home of ACMI's team of curators, programmers, producers and administrators, and will also house the Melbourne offices of the National Film and Sound Archive. The remainder of the space will be available for long and short term hire by members of the creative industries, such as tech start-ups, filmmakers, artists, writers, web developers and graphic designers. "ACMI X is an exciting new model that rethinks the role our major cultural institutions play in our creative ecosystem," said Martin Foley, State Minister for Creative Industries. "It addresses one of the most critical needs of our creative industries sector – access to affordable accommodation – breaks down existing barriers, and creates new opportunities for cross-pollination and collaboration." "ACMI X will not only leverage our resources back into the creative sector – and bring the energy and ideas of practitioners directly into our daily practice – but will actively foster collaboration between the creative industries," added ACMI director and CEO Katrina Sedgwick. ACMI X was designed by award-winning architects Six Degrees, with amenities including high speed internet, meeting rooms, a multipurpose events space, a cafe and kitchen hub, bicycle parking and discounted car parking and – perhaps most importantly – access to games consoles and retro arcade machines. The space will be open for business in April, but you can lodge membership applications now. For more information, visit acmi.net.au/acmi-x.
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.
Melbourne's summer festival calendar scored a wild and wonderful new addition: Can't Do Tomorrow is taking over the warehouses of Kensington's famed underground space The Facility with a ten-day festival of music, discussion and art. The new festival promises to be immersive, eclectic and entirely thought-provoking. The lineup includes more than 100 artists, galleries, crews and collectives who will transform the former wool stores into a large-scale smorgasbord of urban art for you to look at, interact with and even buy. One of the highlights of the event will be a giant hand-painted boat floating in a shipping container by Archibald Prize finalist and Melbourne artist Michael Peck. Elsewhere on the program, new media artist Nick Azidis will take over the exterior walls and tunnel of The Facility with mind-bending projections, UK artist Mysterios Al will transform an area into a multi-dimensional work with "hidden secrets" and street artist Kaffeine's Infinite Thanks will celebrate LGBTQI+ icons with paintings and stories inside a shrine, which you'll also be able to add to with your own offerings, too. Callum Preston — who's behind Melbourne's famed milk bar installation — will create a new work inspired by 80s gangster movies that'll make you feel like you've stepped into Scarface. Street artists Ruskidd, Jason Parker, Unwell Bunny, LucyLucy, David Hooke, Steve Leadbeater and Heesco are some of the other big names on the bill, too. As well as looking at (and contributing to) the artists' works, you'll be able to chat to them, thanks to a series of talks and workshops. Rone, who recently transformed a deserted 30s mansion into a haunting installation earlier this year, is one of the artists who'll be sharing their tips. To round out the festivities, there'll also be live music, pop-up food stalls and bars and warehouse parties at Tallows Club, which will be open until 1am throughout the festival.
