It’s time to fire up your barbecues and perfect your spice rub recipe, because Melbourne is about to host their second Barbecue Festival. The one-day event — which made its debut at the Queen Vic Market last year — will feature free classes and demonstrations, more barbecued meat than you can poke a skewer at, live entertainment and, of course, the great barbecue cook-off. The cook-off is sanctioned by the too-legit-to-quit Kansas City Barbeque Society, and the winner will go on to compete at the world championships in the U.S., as well receive as a sweet cash prize and — most importantly — unrivalled barbecue glory. We spoke to festival director Matt Vitale about the festival, the different styles of American barbecue, and got all the pro tips on how to barbecue like a boss. MEET THE EXPERT: MATT VITALE Matt had always been an avid backyard barbecue cook, and a few years ago he decided to try his luck at the big time by entering a barbecue competition for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Matt teamed up with his wife and they won — sending them to the World Championships of barbecuing, held at the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. "It was an amazing experience, and unexpected," he says. "I met a bunch of great people from the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), which is the largest organisation of barbecue enthusiasts in the world, and the organising body for this sport — it is a sport in the States.” The KCBS wanted to sanction a contest to Australia, and with Matt's assistance the first Yaks Barbecue Festival was brought to Melbourne. Now, it's back for a second year, with the festival also being held in Sydney for the first time. THE FOUR TYPES OF AMERICAN BARBECUE According to Matt, there are four different regional styles of barbecue in the U.S. Texas barbecue is mostly beef-focussed; the rubs are a lot simpler, mostly salt and pepper, with not much sauce that is usually served on the side. In Memphis, they generally favour a dry rub on their ribs, and again sauce is usually on the side. North and South Carolina have more of a focus on pork where the sauce is more vinegary with a bit of chili thrown in for good measure. But it's Kansas City, Matt says, that takes the best elements from all of the regions. "They're really well known for their beef brisket and burnt ends, which are these cubes of meat taken from the point end of the brisket. They’re also known for their ribs with rich, tomato, sticky sauce, which I think a lot of people really associate American barbecue with. That’s what Kansas City barbecue is really famous for.” [caption id="attachment_555155" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] HOW TO COOK THE PERFECT BBQ CHOOK Kansas-style barbecue may be well known for their trademark tomato-based sauce, but sometimes it's worth knowing how to perfect the basics before you go slathering on a sticky sauce left, right and centre. One never-fail barbecue recipe that Matt is happy to divulge is his cherrywood-smoked chicken. "Smoked chicken is an achievable dish to do," he says. "A lot of these things you need to cook for a long period of time, but chicken you can get done in a couple of hours." So how do we recreate this magic for ourselves? First, grab a split chicken from a good butcher or poultry and game supplier, as getting it split makes it easier to cook. You're going to need a smoker for this recipe — a very worthy investment if you're serious about your meat. Fire it up to a bit over 100 degrees celsius, and put some wood chunks in there. Matt recommends cherrywood because it's easily available in Australia. Cook the chook for about an hour and a half breast-side down, then turn it over, baste it with olive oil, and leave it for another 30 minutes. Unlike beef brisket, which can take 10-12 hours, this takes a little over two hours and you're ready to eat. Matt recommends pairing this with fresh vegetables cooked over charcoal, such as charred corn, sliced eggplant and asparagus, as they get nice and caramelised. Drink of choice? Beer, of course — either a Fat Yak or a Lazy Yak goes perfectly with any barbecue. PRO TIPS FOR BBQ NOOBS While a lot of Australians love to consume barbecued goods, not all of us are as talented at making it as we are eating it. Matt recommends starting with a solid fuel BBQ to get the most out of your meat. "Gas BBQs are great, but there's so much more that you can do on a solid fuel BBQ. Cooking with wood and charcoal, you'll always get a better result.” Another piece of advice Matt leaves us with is to not be afraid to just give it a go: “sometimes you’ll get it right, other times you’ll get it wrong, but the more you practice, the more you'll get it right." The Yaks Melbourne Barbecue Festival is happening on Saturday, February 6 at Flemington Racecourse. For more information, check out the event. Top image: Dollar Photo Club
A 3D printed house? Ten years ago, we would have thought this a mere pipe dream. But since we're printing everything from office blocks to bikes tailored to your body these days, this shouldn't come as a shock. Chicago-based architecture firm WATG has unveiled solid plans to turn this lofty idea into reality, proposing the world's first freeform, 3D printed house. Winning first prize in the Freeform Home Design Challenge, a competition sponsored by Branch Technology, the WATG design, entitled 'Curve Appeal', consists of two structural components: an interior core and an exterior skin. The living spaces are all open and include a kitchen, bath, living area and one bedroom. Stunning 360-degree glass walls are meant to give the sense of being directly connected to the natural surroundings of the house — so you might want to keep some distance between you and your neighbours. The whole futuristic, spaceship-like envelope is connected with carefully calculated archways that are said to "establish an organic presence" — whatever that means. The design, while clearly pushing the envelope of possibility, also uses economical methods for building — as well as sustainable, with solar panels hidden within the design. This world-first house is not only unconventional, but has previously been wholly inconceivable. This type of work from WATG is no surprise — the firm is internationally renowned for their innovation, with previous designs including a few Four Seasons, a Saudi Arabian city called 'King Abdullah Economic City' and a SkyPark in the Gulf. All of their designs look like structures from an incredibly well-funded sci-fi film, not buildings that will, and do, actually exist. Construction on 'Curve Appeal' is expected to start as soon as 2017 and Bonnaroo Festival-goers will be happy to hear the first site is in Chattanooga, Tennessee. While the public has been given no indication of how much the house will cost to build, we can only imagine how epic this would be if future iterations are made affordable to the masses. With 3D printing becoming more accessible by the day, this future may not be too far from reality. Via Design Boom. Images: Daniel Caven, WATG.
Forget stale chips and overpriced packets of lollies. Two Australian companies are looking to change the way you think about vending machines, with new, healthy options coming to Melbourne and Brisbane (Sydney, fingers crossed). First up, Melbourne's FüD vending machine, is officially up and running. Built out of recycled timber, the new automatic outlets dispense a variety of gourmet meals made using healthy, organic produce, including salads, falafel and even freshly-chopped celery and carrots. Best of all, unsold salads are donated to Homeless of Melbourne, ensuring that nothing goes to waste. Total legends. Jars of salad will cost you $10 a pop, and come in a number of different varieties including the ‘Pump It Up’ (pumpkin, roast shallots, beetroot chips and white bean mousse), the ‘Super Soba’ (green tea soba noodles, zucchini and carrot) and ‘Overnight Oats’ (organic oats soaked in coconut milk, with banana, hazelnut and rice malt syrup). Got dietary requirements? The FüD vending machine is stocked with a number of choices for people on paleo, vegan, sugar-free or gluten-free diets. All meals are made fresh and delivered daily, and the machine is refrigerated to ensure nothing spoils. Brisbane's taking the healthy vending machine thing one step further — to a 'self-service cafe'. That's not just marketing jargon, that's what health food merchants All Real Food are calling their automated eateries, and it's a name that fits. With no junk food in sight, what you'll find instead are delicious, healthy snacks and meals, all freshly packaged and stocked each and every day. Think ready-to-go breakfasts and sweets, and soups down the track. Their touchscreen machines also feature a vertical herb garden to bring you back in touch with nature, and a gratitude board filled with health tips and inspiring messages that change daily. Just where and when they'll start popping up all over Brisbane is yet to be determined, but one thing is certain: eating on the run has never been so appetising (or so good for you). For more information, visit The Fud Revolution or All Real Food's websites. Via Good Food. Words by Sarah Ward and Tom Clift.
The Sydney-born social enterprise Welcome Merchant has been supporting small businesses run by refugees and asylum seekers in Australia for over four years now. The wonderful organisation has provided people in need with a platform and space to sell their goods while also teaching them a heap of business skills. And in the leadup to Christmas this year, the team is taking over Melbourne CBD's Section 8 on Saturday, December 14, with a heap of market stalls. Aheda's Kitchen and Sebastian Pasinetti from OKO Cafe will both be pumping out a range of dishes in the beer garden throughout the afternoon, while Rick Fean plays a mix of hip hop, Afro-pop and electronica tunes. When it comes to shopping, you'll find sustainably made, African-inspired clothing and accessories from RJ Dradi the Label; kids' toys and books from Small Fires Play; and plenty of clothing from Juan Du. This pop-up market brings together entrepreneurs from a diverse range of cultures, who'll be selling all kinds of unique goods. Who knows, you might just find your next go-to beauty brand or local artist on Tattersalls Lane. Get down from 12–5pm to support these local businesses, grab some drinks from Section 8's bar and groove to some live tunes. A good time for a good cause.
Hold our calls, feed our fish, tell our mums we love 'em. There's a brand new, purpose-built pop-up hotel travelling around Australia called 'The Spontaneity Suite', and it's just landed in Victoria's Yarra Valley. Hotel booking app HotelTonight (which just launched in Australia in June) and Ovolo Hotels (Sydney's 1888 and Blue Hotel and Melbourne's Laneways Hotel) are behind this, teaming up for one jaw-dropper of an activation. This stunning little moveable hotel room, valued at $32,000, is built from — what else — two shipping containers, and will be travelling around Australia. It's a fully-stocked suite with all the trimmings, with interiors designed by Coco Republic. We're talking rooftop hot tub, cocktail station, rain shower, stone bathtub, Egyptian cotton robes, lambskin recliners, terrace and straight-up insane panoramas of the nearby vineyards, framed by a floor-to-ceiling glass window wall. Sick of that horrible, horrible view? The suite's equipped with Apple TV. Available to book exclusively through the HotelTonight app, lucky adventurers can book a stay in The Spontaneity Suite for a one-night stay for just $99, with limousine transfers from Melbourne, a personal concierge, a TarraWarra Estate wine-tasting tour, all your meals and everything from the minibar included. Yep, what the actual. The catch? It's only available between August 27 and 31. There's another night you could aim for on September 1, but the price starts at $32,000, dropping by $1000 every ten minutes until someone snaps it up. All dosh raised from this night and all other nights booked will go straight to OzHarvest, top marks. Sydneysiders, if you can't make it to the Yarra Valley, keep your hat on. The Spontaneity Suite will pack up and move to a secret location somewhere in Sydney next, then head on to other pretty Australian sites. Want to try your luck at booking a night? Download the HotelTonight app via Google Play or iTunes. Via Traveller.
When it comes to must-watch movies, Australian cinema has gifted audiences with plenty in recent times. The outback noir of Mystery Road and Goldstone, the chills of The Babadook, the high-octane glory that was Mad Max: Fury Road, the mountainous terror captured in Sherpa, the race riots comedy of Down Under: they're just some of the great local fare our talented filmmakers have been serving up. That was then, this is now — and don't worry, this year looks set to deliver too. So which homegrown flicks should you put on your 2017 viewing list? A hint: a heart-wrenching true tale, serial killer thrills and a long-awaited reunion are just the beginning. LION The 2017 slate of Australian-made films really couldn't kick off with a bigger title. At the time of writing, Lion has already been nominated for four Golden Globes, five BAFTAs, two Screen Actors Guild awards and two Directors Guild of America gongs — and expect that list to keep growing. Recounting the real-life story of the Indian-born, Tasmanian-raised Saroo Brierley (played by charming newcomer Sunny Pawar as a child, and Dev Patel with a spot-on Aussie accent as an adult), the first feature directed by Top of the Lake's Garth Davis will earn your tears and then some. Rounding out the cast for this rousing take on a tale 60 Minutes viewers will be familiar with is Nicole Kidman, David Wenham and Rooney Mara. JASPER JONES One of the nation's favourite novels makes its way to the big screen with Jasper Jones, and it's in great hands. Bran Nue Dae's Rachel Perkins directs the adaptation of Craig Silvey's best-selling book, with local treasures Hugo Weaving and Toni Collette, and young up-and-comers Angourie Rice (The Nice Guys), Levi Miller (Red Dog: True Blue) and Aaron L. McGrath (TV's Glitch) among the onscreen talent. For those that haven't read the source material, it tells the '60s-set, racially charged tale of the titular teen, the 14-year-old who becomes his new friend and the mystery that brings them together. HOUNDS OF LOVE Prepare to be unnerved — and to be surprised and a little shocked by Stephen Curry of The Castle fame. He was once best known for playing hole-digging Dale Kerrigan, however the actor's performance in Hounds of Love will make you see him in a completely new light. That isn't just an indication of the different realm he's in, with the first film from director Ben Young taking inspiration from real-life true-crime cases dating back to Perth in the '80s, but also a sign of just how effective Curry is. The unsettling effort has been compared to Snowtown and Animal Kingdom for a very good reason. JUNGLE How far will Daniel Radcliffe go to escape a certain boy wizard? Playing a farting corpse in last year's polarising Swiss Army Man helped, and heading to the Bolivian rainforest in Jungle might too. Directed by Wolf Creek's Greg McLean, the Queensland-shot feature charts four backpackers in the thick of the Amazon wilderness. Yes, that means that it is a survivalist tale — but given that it's from the filmmaker that made outback Australia oh-so menacing, expect plenty of thrills. SWEET COUNTRY Did you think that David Wenham and Hugo Weaving were only going to pop up on this list once? Not a chance. Two of Australia's hardest-working actors feature in Sweet Country, as do Bryan Brown, Sam Neill and Last Cab to Darwin's Ningali Lawford-Wolf, however it's the director behind the movie that should grab your attention. Making a drama about the killing of a station owner by an Aboriginal stockman, and the corresponding fallout in 1920s Australia, the film marks the long-awaited next effort from Samson & Delilah's Warwick Thornton (pictured). CARGO He's already played Tim from The Office, Bilbo Baggins and John Watson — and now, Martin Freeman will take on the guise of a father trying to save his baby during the apocalypse. Based on Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke's Tropfest short of the same name, the South Australian-made film plunges into dystopian sci-fi territory, and takes a host of local talent along for the ride, including Susie Porter, Anthony Hayes and David Gulpilil. Oh, and for added fun, there's zombies as well. BERLIN SYNDROME It has been five years since Cate Shortland's Lore became Australia's best German-language film, and 13 since her debut Somersault won an astounding 13 Australian Film Institute awards (the gongs they gave out before the AACTAs). For her third effort, she opts for psychological thrills — and for the titular European city. Here, Hacksaw Ridge's Teresa Palmer plays an Aussie photographer who has a fling with a local teacher, only to find herself unable to escape from his apartment. Expect to hear a whole lot more about Berlin Syndrome very soon, given that the movie premieres at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in mid-to-late January. FLAMMABLE CHILDREN If we had to summarise Flammable Children in just a few words, it'd be this: Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce's post-Neighbours reunion. You're already sold, right? The former Charlene and Mike turned internationally successful pop star and actor, respectively, will once again share the screen — and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert's Stephan Elliott is the person responsible. His latest flick ventures back to the '70s, when Aussie teens flocked to the beach, and their parents got up to some swinging fun, with Radha Mitchell and Julian McMahon also starring. [caption id="attachment_606189" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Lion.[/caption] HOTEL MUMBAI In 2008, Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace Hotel was attacked by terrorists, with at least 167 people killed. Australian writer/director Anthony Maras recreates the horrific incident, which proved harrowing for locals and tourists alike. Because 2017 seems to be all about familiar faces gracing local flicks more than once, Dev Patel (pictured, from Lion) helps lead an international cast that also includes Red Dog: True Blue's Jason Isaacs, 52 Tuesdays' Tilda Cobham-Hervey and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s Armie Hammer. ALI'S WEDDING Australia doesn't make all that many romantic comedies. Australia doesn't make many films focusing on the country's Muslim community either. Combine the two, and Ali's Wedding is the end result. Starring Iraqi-born Aussie actor and comedian Osamah Sami as the eponymous character, there's no prizes for guessing that marriage sits at the centre of the film as the son of a Muslim cleric tries to remain true to both his family and his heart. Top image: Lion.
The legendary, controversial, performance artist who does 'nothing' is finally returning to Australia after a 17-year absence. The subject of two major projects at Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), and an already semi-announced residency at Pier 2/3 with Kaldor Public Art Projects, Marina Abramovic is heading our way this June. Beloved and equally criticised, 67-year-old Abramovic has been invited by both MONA's David Walsh and John Kaldor to create a two experiences for the public — a retrospective solo exhibition at MONA called Private Archaeology, beginning June 13 and running to October 5, followed on June 24 (through July 5) by Kaldor Projects’ Marina Abramovic: In Residence, with a series of exercises from the Abramovic Method happening over twelve days at Pier 2/3 from June 24 to July 5. On the one hand, the MONA show Private Archaeology will be a major exhibition showing her early foundational work with German artist and Abramovic's former lover and collaborative partner Ulay, as well as more recent work. The exhibition intends to anchor the artist's current work in a historic context, featuring those pivotal solo works that brashly explored the artist's physical and mental limits. With Abramovic the main curator of the show, the works are 98 percent confirmed according to Walsh — who apparently wants to be as surprised as the audience when the exhibition opens. "Christ died on the Cross for our sins. So the New Testament tells us. Hopefully, I’ll do something worthy of his sacrifice one day. I’ve got real potential when it comes to sin," says Walsh. "Marina Abramovic seems to operate for all us. Her sins, her excesses, her minimalist, egocentric actions define the boundaries of what it is to be human. I would do the stuff she does if I had the balls. And the brains. And the desperation to understand. I’d rather be represented by a sinner than a saint." On the other, Kaldor Projects’ Marina Abramovic: In Residence, will see the artist present for twelve days of classic Abramovic 'performances' (although she doesn't like to call them that). Leading on from the Serpentine Galleries exhibition 512 Hours, the artist's Sydney project will focus on audience participation with intense works like Counting the rice and her famous 'gaze' work — a play on her work The Artist is Present performed in New York's Museum of Modern Art, where you're asked to sit face-to-face with a stranger for a certain period (apparently Kaldor's still in contact with the stranger he sat opposite at the Serpentine). Abramovic will work with collaborator Lynsey Peisinger to create a series of spaces for exhibition visitors that invoke certain physical and psychological states. "In Sydney, for Marina Abramovic: In Residence, I will be like a conductor in the exhibition space, but it will be the public who take the physical and emotional journey," says Ambramovic. "We constantly like to be entertained, to get things from outside. We never take time to get in touch with ourselves... our inner self. My function in this new kind of performance situation is to show you, through the Abramovic Method, what you can do for yourself." There will also be artist residencies offered to 12 lucky Australian artists for the twelve day exhibition, all of whom will have mentoring from Abramovic herself. Best bit for the public? It's all free. This is a big time pull for Australia, with two of the country's leading private arts patrons, Walsh and Kaldor, both separately approaching Abramovic, and both landing a 'yes'. Kaldor approached Abramovic following her successful involvement in Kaldor Project's applauded group exhibition 13 Rooms at Pier 2/3 — the work, Luminosity, which saw a naked artist wall-mounted on a bicycle seat for long periods of time (and didn't star Abramovic herself). Walsh approached the artist after meeting her over five years ago in Amsterdam. But this isn't the first time Abramovic has been to Australia; before presenting Gold found by the artists with Ulay at the 1979 Biennale of Sydney, the artist spent a cheeky five months with an Aboriginal community in central Australia in the '80s (and raised a baby kangaroo and cuddled this sheep). Private Archaeology opens at MONA on June 13 and runs through October 5. Kaldor Public Art Projects’ Marina Abramovi?: In Residence at Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay opens June 24 and runs through July 5.
Merry Christmas, music lovers! Radiohead have gone and dropped a brand new track in time for the holidays, and we don't mind saying that it's pretty damn spectacular. Turns out that Thom Yorke and his bandmates were commissioned to write the theme song for the recently released James Bond movie, although for some baffling reason the producers didn't end up using it. But the group finished the song anyway, and released it via SoundCloud overnight. So, without further adieu... First impressions? This is definitely how we'd expect a James Bond tune by Radiohead to sound. Which is to say that it won't be for everybody, although personally we like it a hell of a lot more than Sam Smith's eventual effort. The existence of this track, which shares a name with the movie, isn't entirely surprising. Rumours that Radiohead would be composing the Spectre tune circulated on the internet for months prior to the film's release, before it was eventually revealed that Smith had been tapped instead. As it happens, Radiohead were approached, but according to York "it didn't work out." Last year we were asked to write a tune for Bond movie Spectre. Yes we were ........... — Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) December 25, 2015 ... It didn't work out ... but became something of our own which we love very much .... — Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) December 25, 2015 .. As the year closes we thought you might like to hear it. Merry Christmas. May the force be with you ... https://t.co/BXN8MQKJyQ — Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) December 25, 2015 Bit weird that he finished that tweet with a Star Wars reference, isn't it? Unless...wait a minute...could Radiohead be working on a track for Episode VIII? You heard it here first people. Let the rampant speculation begin.
Common wisdom tells us that, if you really want to innovate, you need to think outside the box. But it turns out thinking inside the box can sometimes be just as effective. Case in point: Freight Farms, a shipping container farm company aiming to revolutionise urban agriculture. It's the brainchild of owners Jon Friedman and Brad McNamara, and the result of some out-of-the-figurative-box, inside-the-literal-box thinking. As the name suggests, the American company specialises in sustainable farm systems built inside portable shipping containers. The so-called Leafy Green Machines (LGMs) are outfitted with LED lighting that replicates sunlight, a drip irrigation system that uses just ten gallons of water a day, and sensors that balance temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels. Crops such as lettuce and kale are grown in vertical towers to avoid wasted space and ensure the maximum possible yield. "Freight Farms is just a much more efficient use of land," Friedman told The Huffington Post. "You're talking about growing vertically in a very condensed footprint." Apparently, the farms can yield the equivalent of two acres of conventional farmland. "The cost to get a farm right now is right around $80,000" says McNamara. "But the operating cost is going to be under $20,000 a year. We have farmers who are clearing revenue anywhere from $60,000 a year growing certain crop, all the way to $90,000 and above." And according to the pair, the farms don't require a great deal of expertise or in-depth training to run. "We focused a lot on creating a platform that people can use with only motivation — not requiring advanced degrees or advanced schooling or long training." Anyone up for growing their own kale? Freight Farms Allow You To Grow Food AnywhereThis portable vegetable garden's growing inside a 320-square-foot shipping container that can yield as much as two acres of farmland. Posted by The Huffington Post on Friday, January 8, 2016 Via The Huffington Post.
Bake sales truly are the best. Top-quality, baked, sweet and savoury treats that don’t have to cost you the earth is certainly something we can get down with, and the Flour Market brings all of Melbourne’s best bakers together. For those who have attended before, there will be more than a few familiar faces returning, with the likes of 5 & Dime, Agathe, All Day Donuts, Bakewell & Co, Beatrix, Butterbing, Candied, Citizen Cacao, Cobb Lane, Everyday Coffee, Jo Barrett, Linh Dang, Pierogi Pierogi, Pure Pie and The Moonbeam Kitchen all set to make an appearance. There will also be a few newcomers this time around, including Aunty Peg’s, Chez Dre, and LuxBite. Early Riser tickets have once again sold out in a heartbeat for this round of the Flour Market, but we still recommend jumping out of bed early to make sure you get the pastries of your dreams. The queue has been known to be notoriously long, so if you don’t want to spend half your life huddling outside of Collingwood Town Hall, get organised, get caffeinated, bring a $2 coin for entry, and try not to eat all of your bounty before you get home.
Every year in May, the biggest names in cinema descend upon the French Riviera for the Festival de Cannes. The glitziest and most prestigious film festival on the face of the planet, the 12-day event is a maddening mix of art, commerce and fantasy, where auteurs rub shoulders with A-list celebrities and masterworks light up the screen. This year's Cannes Film Festival featured a number of notable titles, including new efforts by some of the most fascinating filmmakers working in the medium today. Below, we've assembled a list of five exciting features we hope to see in Australian cinemas before too long. It's an eclectic mix, ranging from social realist dramas to violent thrillers set in the world of high fashion. And no, there's not a single superhero in sight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLEPQ9FYU0U I, DANIEL BLAKE When making a list of must see movies out of Cannes, the winner of the Palm d'Or seems like a pretty good place to start. The award for the best film in competition this year went to I, Daniel Blake, an unaffected drama about working class people caught in the dysfunctional British welfare system that reportedly reduced much of Cannes to tears. Of course, even if it hadn't won, the fact that was directed by master filmmaker Ken Loach would be enough to earn it a spot on this list. The 79-year-old's movies are notoriously depressing, so consider yourself forewarned. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH-srjX2H1c THE NEON DEMON Nobody shoots violence with quite the same lurid style as Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn. The man behind Drive and Only God Forgives, his latest film is being sold as a similarly bloody thriller about an aspiring model caught up in the cutthroat world of LA fashion. The cast is absolutely stupendous, with Elle Fanning supported by Jena Malone, Christina Hendricks, Bella Heathcote and Keanu Reeves. The trailers and promotional images, meanwhile, make the whole thing look utterly insane. Basically we're expecting either a work of genius or a hot mess. Either way, we can pretty much guarantee it won't be dull. IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD Anyone who saw Mommy knows that a new movie from Xavier Dolan is definitely worth getting excited about. It's Only the End of the World follows a terminally ill young writer as attempts to reconnect his family before he dies. The reviews out of Cannes have not been particularly strong. Actually, they've been kind savage. Still, after a run of great films that also includes Laurence Anyways and Tom at the Farm, we're willing to give the 27-year-old director the benefit of the doubt. Plus with a cast that includes Vincent Cassel, Lea Seydoux and Marion Cotillard, how bad could it possibly be? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Rxj9-RfRs THE HANDMAIDEN The Handmaiden is the new film from South Korea's Park Chan-wook, the genre-bending genius behind Oldboy, Joint Security Area and Thirst. After making his English-language debut with Stoker, Park returns to his native tongue with this stylish sapphic thriller set in 1930s Korea, about a pickpocket posing as an heiress' maid in order to steal her fortune. As with Neon Demon, the film's trailer is both gorgeous and nuts, which of course just makes us want to see it more. Here's hoping we'll get the chance before too long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-o5I5UWBh0 THE SALESMAN The final film on our list shapes up as rather more subdued, but that doesn't mean we're looking forward to it any less. The Salesman is the latest effort from Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, who won an Oscar for A Separation before travelling to Paris to shoot the similarly exquisite The Past. His new film sees him return to Tehran, and follows a couple whose lives are thrown into chaos after a seemingly random assault. Capable of weaving unbearable suspense from the simplest and most relatable of domestic situations – while at the same time shining a critical eye on issues of social inequality in modern day Iran – Farhadi is for our money one of the most gifted directors alive. Keep your eyes peeled for an Australian release date.
Whether you missed out on a Splendour ticket or are gearing up to see your fave acts twice, you'd better be quick if you want to get your mitts on some sideshow tix. Splendour's official sideshows have almost sold out, but there's a bunch with a skerrick of tickets remaining. Jump on them. Jump on them now. All up, eleven official shows are planned, mainly in Sydney and Melbourne (but there are a few locked in for Adelaide and Perth too). You'll be able to catch James Blake, who exploded onto global stages at the wee age of 22 with his debut EP CMYK and is now working on his third album, Radio Silence. You might well want to spend some time at the arenas (Sydney Olympic Park and Hisense Arena) finding out why The 1975 is one of the world's most sought after acts. There's Jake Bugg, who became the youngest ever bloke to enter the UK charts at number one back in 2012 when he was just 18. And you'll want your whistling skills handy for this next one. Peter, Bjorn and John (they're a Swedish trio, if you hadn't guessed), are responsible for one of 2006's catchiest tunes, 'Young Folks'. Without further ado, here are the Splendour sideshows you should be slinging your dollars towards. NOTE: This is all very 'at the time of writing' so if something sells out in the meantime, we're sorry for getting any hopes up. By Jasmine Crittenden with Matt Abotomey.
One of the few elevators in Melbourne with its own security team, the entrance for Naked in the Sky is hot property no matter what the season. Over the summer months gaining entry is a crowning achievement, so get there early to maximise sunset time with minimal disappointment. The joy of being so high is such a natural pleasure. From the balcony of Naked in the Sky, fill your lungs with the clean air Fitzroy never thought it had and take in the lay of the land. It's a refreshing escape from all the sirens and exhaust fumes of Johnston Street, while still maintaining prime position to watch a night of Brunswick Street fun unfold. The top-floor bar is cleverly divided into an indoor dining space and an outdoor drinking area. The partly-sheltered balcony loops the rooftop, making it a revolving conveyor belt of Fitzroy's hip crowd, primed for people watching. The panoramic terrace ensures a visually pleasing view from any perch, whether it is the tower-studded skyline to the south, down to Clifton Hill to the north or east up to the Kew hills. The exposed brick facade, with lanterns strung up high between the gables, gives the air of a Spanish fiesta — perfect for both a troop of 20 or an intimate affair with a backdrop of city lights. A selection of Spanish and Australian boutique beers sit along the 15-metre bar, as well as those brewed exclusively for Naked consumption. True to its origins there is also an extensive selection of house-infused vodkas such as Naked Bitch Chilli & Cherry, the Opium & Rose or the Alpine Chocolate & Sugarcane. To compliment your drinks is a sumptuous menu that puts ground level bar food to shame. Try the crumbed eggplant with honey and blue cheese ($9) or the meatballs in a cherry and thyme sauce ($14). The dining area offers a selection of Basque-inspired peasant comfort food, although there is nothing peasant about dishes such as the pan seared quail with pancetta and mushrooms ($16). Much like distilling batches of clandestine vodka, it can get pretty hot up there in the sky, although — despite the name — getting naked is not encouraged. Best save that for later on in the night.
Only a few years ago, virtual reality seemed like a foggy, far distant dream that would probably, like most new technology, take a few decades to become readily accessible and genuinely user-friendly. We've come a long way since the halcyon days of computers the size of a room and, in no time at all, we have the first generation of virtual reality headsets at our fingertips, all vying for our attention. Today, Oculus has officially announced that Rift, arguably the VR headset with the most recognisable name, is available for purchase to anyone with a spare suitcase of cash schmackos lying around — it's retailing for AUD$792.88 plus shipping. It's not cheap as chips, but it's not tens of thousands either. The eager beavers who pre-purchased their headset from the Oculus kickstarter will receive their headsets soon, and the rest are back ordered until July. It's slightly more expensive than the Playstation VR which retails at AUD$549.95 (available in October) but much cheaper than the HTC Vive which will set you back AUD$1226.98 (available in April). As a few savvy bloggers have pointed out, the cost of the Rift itself is a little deceptive as the real VR magic happens in the power PC you'll have to have hooked up to the device to render the graphics. If you already have a high-powered gaming computer with a hefty, dedicated graphics card and a fair whack of RAM, great! You're good to go. If not, a basic make PC is going to set you back another $1000. But we wouldn't be too quick to jump in straight away. Buying first generation technology can be a gamble, as we learned from the great iPhone 6 Plus Bendgate of 2014 and they're definitely still working out the kinks of VR technology (nausea caused by motion sickness is still a biggie). We're still a while away from full immersion but at least it's progressing quickly. Images: Oculus.
Three and a half hours south of Perth, Margaret River can feel approximately a million miles from the grime and bustle of the city. It’s a famous wine region, with sandy, loamy soil and climactic conditions which have allowed it to rise from a completely unknown wine area to world renown in just a few decades. There are standouts to suit every mood and taste, though Cabernet Sauvignon is a particular specialty. Beyond the vineyards, it’s got plenty more to offer. You like sweeping coastlines and rugged natural beauty? There’s quite a bit of that. Cool cafes and relaxed yet modern outdoor dining? Not a problem. A sense that you’re somewhere quite special? Oh yeah, they’ve got that too. Can't wait to pack your bags? Enter WineMarket's West Coast Wine Adventure giveaway for the chance to win an indulgent trip for two to Perth and the WA wine country. FRIDAY 8am Breakfast at the Providore An organic hilltop cafe that grows much of its own ingredients and does a nice line in fresh, contemporary, seasonal fare, this is the ideal place to start your day. Pick up a couple of things (perhaps some olives from their own grove) for a picnic as well. 12pm Go vineyard hopping around Cowaramup You can barely throw a rock without hitting an outstanding vineyard here. Good options include Xanadu, which has some great reds and offers cellar door exclusives. McHenry Hohnen has won rave reviews for its cabernet blends and Voyager Estate is one of the region’s big names – you can’t go wrong with either a tour of their beautifully manicured site or an in-depth tasting featuring their Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot amongst others. 5pm Return to your accommodation for dinner Many of the best vineyards and restaurants in the region double as boutique accommodation, so you may as well make the most of it if you’ve snagged a spot at such a place. Leading lights include Windmills Break, a boutique B & B with on-site fine-dining, while the award-winning Forest Rise Eco Retreat offers not just airy chalets with sky ceilings in a stunning setting but a top-notch chef and gourmet hampers. If you want to save money for wining and dining, however, Margaret River YHA has everything you need and is centrally located. 8pm Wind down at the Muster Bar and Grill From the team behind popular Perth wine bar Must, the inspiration here is celebrating the region’s produce and championing local winemakers. It’s as good as that sounds, and you’ll find offerings from Margaret River vineyards like Lenton Brae and Fermoy Estate by the glass as well as everything from bar snacks to hearty dinner fare. SATURDAY 8am Margaret River Bakery Start your day at this small but buzzing cafe and bakery which boosts quirky decor. Grab something like a granola with fresh fruit or a pancake stack to fuel up for a trip to the spectacular south edge of the region. 10am Visit The Berry Farm In an area known for its beautiful produce, the Berry farm offers you the opportunity to taste some of the best. Enjoy brunch in a beautiful garden setting and stock up on the likes of boysenberry jam and whisky marmalade. 12pm Marvel at Caves Road This stretch of the Margaret River region is home to some of the most stunning limestone caves in the world. You can do self-guided tours at the aptly named Mammoth Cave and Lake Cave and then continue south to Jewel Cave. 3pm Climb the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse This is an absolute must. Climb the winding stairs and let the howling coastal winds ruffle your hair at the summit. It’s an interesting historical site and Australia’s most Westerly point, but above all else it’s just flat-out spectacular. 7pm Dinner at Leeuwin Estate After making your way back to the main strip, you can get dinner at this classy cellar door. Feast on tiger prawns, scallops, oysters and abalone, all locally sourced and delicious, and a perfect match for a bottle of their world-class Chardonnay. SUNDAY 8am Wander through the Margaret River Heritage Trail Get up close and personal with the area’s abundant natural beauty on a morning wander through this series of trails. You don’t need to be a seasoned hiker to tackle one of the paths. The River Walk, for instance, is a leisurely and scenic 2km stroll, while the slightly longer Bridge Walk offers the opportunity of a refreshing morning dip. 10am Brunch at Millers Ice Cream Farm Cafe Billing itself as a ‘cow to cone’ operation, this much-loved local offers sodas from Margaret River beverages, coffee from locals Yahava, breakfast toasties and two dozen flavours of ice cream that are literally produced from dairy down the road. An ideal, relaxed start to the day. 12.30pm Explore art and wine at Vasse Felix Head north to this award-winning Cowaramup hotspot. This was the region’s first commercial vineyard and it’s still going strong. There’s not only a cellar door and an art gallery here but an acclaimed fine diner (head chef Aaron Carr is the reigning chef of the year in the West Australian’s Good Food Guide) and a stunning location. Expect inventive and refined Modern Australian. 2pm Take in the vineyards of Yallingup and surrounds There’s another great cluster of vineyards in the pretty northwest corner of the region, many of which offer great Shirazes and cracking Semillon blends. Try Howling Wolves, red wine champions Windows Estate or the feted boutique Juniper Estate, where you can sample some of your purchases by the creek. For a change of pace, check out some of the area’s many small art galleries. 7pm Trust the chef at Knee Deep You’ve made enough gruelling decisions for one weekend with choosing wines to take home and whatnot, so why not put yourself in the hands of a two-hatted chef who takes the reign with a five-course tasting menu. The selections are constantly evolving to utilise the freshest produce but could include lamb breast or cured ocean trout. They're also a five star rated winery, so have one for the road. Then round out your weekend by making the quick trip down to the ocean, where you can watch the waves roll in and plot your return visit.
Go dotty about the world, and it'll go dotty about you: that's the Yayoi Kusama story. For seven decades, the Japanese artist has thrust polka dots to the centre of her paintings, collages and installations, making her a contemporary art favourite — and all of those years of circular creativity are now coming to Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. From 4 November 2017 to 11 February 2018, GOMA will host Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow, a major showcase of her lengthy and prolific career since the 1950s. Co-curated with the National Gallery Singapore, where the exhibition is currently on display until September, it will boast than 70 of her pieces — featuring 24 works from her recent My Eternal Soul series, which has been ongoing since 2009, and currently comprises 500 canvases in total. Kusama's early painterly experiments, a multi-decade presentation of her 'net' paintings, soft-sculpture and assemblage will also grace the gallery's spaces, as will performance documents and large-scale installations. With the celebrated artist no stranger to the Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA, a number of her iconic pieces will be making a return. Two artworks commissioned for the gallery's 2002 Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art will feature, including Narcissus garden in the QAG Watermall. Of course, the beloved interactive experience that is The Obliteration Room will also be brightening up GOMA's Children's Art Centre for the first time since summer 2014-2015. Fans of plastering a white room full of coloured dot-shaped stickers, rejoice. Fans of Kusama's bright riot of dots and hues, rejoice as well. Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow exhibits at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art from 4 November 2017 to 11 February 2018. For more information, head to the gallery website. Image: Yayoi Kusama in front of Life is the Heart of a Rainbow (2017) ©YAYOI KUSAMA, Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore, Victoria Miro, London, David Zwirner, New York
Melbourne's newest outdoor cinema isn't on a rooftop, next to a beach or in a park. No, this one is popping up somewhere a little different: Melbourne Zoo. Running from January 1–14, the inaugural Up Late program sees the Zoo screening 14 docos about marine conservation, sustainability and the environment on its lawns. On the lineup, you'll find A Plastic Ocean (about the world's current marine pollution), National Geographic's Sea of Shadows and an Australian doco about the fight to save the Great Barrier Reef called Beauty and the Reef. And, as it wouldn't really be a film festival about animals and the environment without him, our favourite nature narrator David Attenborough will also make an on-screen appearance, with his doco Light on Earth, about bioluminescent organisms, screening on Saturday, January 12. Before the main screenings start at 6.10pm, you'll be able to listen to a talk by a leading conservationist — on topics such as Antarctica, octopuses and plastic-free living — at 5.30pm, then catch a short film at 6.05pm. Entry to the film is included with a general zoo ticket (which'll set you back $38) and you can also buy snacks on-site. BYO blanket. Talks start at 5.30pm, followed by a short film at 6.05pm and feature film at 6.10pm.
The Australian Bar of the Year isn't in Sydney or Melbourne this year. Culinary heavyweights Victoria and New South Wales clean up year after year at the Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards, announced last night at Sydney's Carriageworks, but the coveted Bar of the Year gong was instead nabbed by Queensland, hitherto known as the little engine that could. Perhaps not best known for fine dining, Queenslanders do love a good bevvy so shouldn't come as a surprise Brisbane’s crowd favourite The Gresham won bar of the year. Sydney's gained points for friendliness and food this week, as Neil Perry's Sydney restaurant Rockpool has taken out the Restaurant of the Year title, along with many other impressive wins for the Sydney food scene. Rockpool won out in the end with judges citing reasons such as the luxurious fit-out, inventive food and genuine old-school service from the star sommelier (who is, no doubt, about to get quite a raise). Other Sydney award winners include the just-opened Bennelong, which took out the award for best new restaurant of the year; Billy Kwong took out best wine list (we wonder how they’ll be celebrating the win); Raffaele Mastrovincenzo of Kappo won sommelier of the year and Lennox Hastie of Surry Hills' Firedoor was awarded best new talent. Melbourne was Sydney’s main rival in food and wine stakes and won maître d’ of the year (Vanessa Crichton of Rosetta) and Melbourne legend Joost Bakker (owner of zero waste cafe brothl) was recognised for his service and awarded the outstanding contribution to hospitality. Regional New South Wales and Victoria also got in on the action, with Dan Hunter of Brae in Birregurra winning chef of the year and Byron Bay's new chapter of Three Blue Ducks taking out regional restaurant of the year. And the list of three-star winners (the equally mortgage-your-house-to-eat-here contest of culinary fanciness) was crawling with Sydney royalty, including Sepia, Vue de Monde, Quay, Momofuku Seiobo and The Bridge Room alongside Melbourne’s eternal flame, Ben Shewry’s Attica. Image: Gourmet Traveller.
It has been more than three years since Bruce Munro's spectacular Field of Light started illuminating Uluru, with more than 450,000 people flocking to the Red Centre to see its ocean of colour over that time. In fantastic news for anyone who hasn't made the trek yet, or anyone keen to view its beautiful, multi-hued splendour again, the eye-catching installation's stay has been extended — and, while that's happened before, this time the gorgeous piece will keep shining indefinitely. This is actually the third time that Field of Light's run has been lengthened. Initially set to remain in place until March 2017, it was first expanded until March this 2018, then until December 2020. Now, the artwork's 50,000 glass lights will twinkle across an area of 62,500 square metres — the size of nine football fields — without an end date. To keep the installation beaming as brightly as possible, Field of Light has just undergone a $1 million refurbishment, overseen by Munro. As part of the process, each individual stem of light was replaced, as was the entire fibre optic cabling that connects the sea of frosted glass spheres. [caption id="attachment_619578" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Field of Light: Bruce Munro. Photo by Mark Pickthall.[/caption] As well as casting Australia's sacred rock in a whole new light, the Uluru display is the largest incarnation of Munro's project, which previously illuminated the grounds at the likes of London's Victoria & Albert Museum and the Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. Run on solar power, and named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku — which translates to 'looking at lots of beautiful lights' in local Pitjantjatjara — for its Northern Territory stint, the installation took 40 people six weeks to set up. Between late 2018 and early 2019, the artist also created an ANZAC-inspired version in Western Australia, called Field of Light: Avenue of Honour. The British-born Munro, who first came up with the idea for Field of Light while visiting Uluru back in 1992, said in a statement that he is "truly honoured that the Field of Light will remain at Uluru". He continued, "the ancient landscape of the Red Centre continues to inspire my thoughts, feelings and ideas that shape my life and work." Keen on making the trip? Check out out Weekender's Guide to the Red Centre During Field of Light. Images: Field of Light: Bruce Munro. Photos by Mark Pickthall.
To help ease that transition into another Melbourne winter, the team at Welcome to Thornbury is bringing back one of its snuggliest, most tummy-pleasing weekend food events — a festival dedicated to the glorious combo of mulled wine and hot cheese. The ever-popular party descends on the Northside food truck park from noon, Saturday, May 28, pulling together a selection of hot, gooey creations from some of the city's favourite cheese-slinging vendors, with warming sips to match. This is where all your cheesiest dreams come true, with the likes of Sparrows Philly Cheese Steaks, Frencheese, Italy & Co, Bear Grilled and Mr Burger serving up signature delights of the melty variety. Of course, you won't find a better pairing to all that dairy than some hot, spiced booze; especially since the bar will be rounding out its usual offerings with no less than six different mulled wine varieties. Flavours range from the traditional, to a chilli-spiked version, to a sticky date pudding number and a mulled rosé. And if you can't decide, there's even a multi-pass that'll get you tasters of all six for $30.
It's a sad day for Soulfest ticketholders, this year's festival has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Due to kick off for Australia/New Zealand dates with the likes of Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige and Miguel on Saturday, October 24, Soulfest 2015 will no longer be hitting Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne, or bringing sideshows to Brisbane, Mebourne and Sydney. Soulfest International posted this statement on their website and Facebook page this morning: "It is with a heavy heart and great regret that Soulfest International advises that it has become necessary to cancel Soulfest and the subsequent sideshows, due to poor ticket sales. Soulfest was scheduled to take place in Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney, with sideshows in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and was due to commence on October 20th. "Soulfest was launched with the intention of promoting genres of music that are often overlooked commercially in this country, specifically Neo-Soul, RnB and Hip-Hop, and Soulfest 2014 successfully delivered some of the most exciting talent within these genres. Despite a stellar line-up of artists and the best promotional endeavours on Soulfest’s behalf, the event has simply not received the support via ticket sales, and the financial loss that would be incurred by the event if it were to go ahead as planned would be devastating. "There have been many people working behind the scenes, including media partners, artists, sponsors, sub-contracted promoters, communication managers, agents and suppliers who live, breathe and support this incredible genre of music and have worked tirelessly to try and make this event a success. The promoter sincerely apologises to all involved who have dedicated 7 months of their lives to work on this festival, and to the supporters of the event who purchased tickets." Soulfest has confirmed tickets will be refunded. For tickets booked online or by phone, credit cards used to book will automatically be refunded. Soulfest have said refunds could take up to 14 days. Bookings made at outlets will also be refunded, with ticketholders told to return to the box office where they bought the tickets with the credit card they used and photo ID. Soulfest's sideshows, sadly, are also cancelled. Via Music Feeds. Image: Soulfest.
Whether you're heading to the cinema with friends or curling up on the couch with your significant other, a night watching movies remains a fantastic source of entertainment, enjoyment and escapism. Sitting in the dark, switching your mind away from your regular worries and slipping into another world — if you're catching the right flick, few things can top it. Cinema-wise, 2020 has thrown up plenty of films that tick all of the above boxes. Even with theatres closing for a significant portion of the year so far, that still proves the case. And now that 2020 is just approaching its halfway mark, it's time to look back. Maybe you missed one of this year's great flicks when it was in cinemas. Perhaps it's showing again now that picture palaces are reopening, and you haven't quite made it along yet. Indeed, it could be on your must-see list when you next sit in a darkened theatre. Or, of course, there might be a few gems that have just slipped your attention. Plus, there are always the ace movies you saw, loved and want to see again. Whichever category fits, here are 12 films from 2020 that you you need to catch up on. Head to the cinema and grab a choc top or organise your streaming queue and cook up some popcorn, as we've sorted out your viewing for the near future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE7YVZA5YVc TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG What our critic said: Made for a world where 'such is life' tattoos commit Ned Kelly's purported last words to slabs of Aussie flesh, this gritty, galvanising film sets fire to Australia's national identity and stares at the ashes of the country's troubled history — all by re-interrogating a man inescapably engrained in our iconography over the past century and a half... A visually, emotionally, thematically searing movie that strides across the screen like an outlaw, aptly. True History of the Kelly Gang is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CELbK9q_ZeA A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD What our critic said: A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood remembers a man who considered himself ordinary while having an extraordinary effect on others. You could say the same about Tom Hanks, which is what makes his casting as Mr Rogers so sublime. His is a superb, deservedly Oscar-nominated performance that's never an act of simple mimicry, but that he's as revered — and has been a reliable screen presence for decades, too — is never forgotten. A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJXmdY4lVR0 A HIDDEN LIFE What our critic said: As a renowned lover of rolling hills, scenic greenery, constantly roving camerawork and breathy voiceover that borders on whispering, Terrence Malick recreates the Second World War with splendour. Although its conflict remains spiritual, philosophical and existential rather than physical, A Hidden Life is as weighty as any blood-soaked account of combat — and as affecting. A Hidden Life is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gOs6gKtrb4 THE LIGHTHOUSE What our critic said: After watching Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson fart, fight, guzzle too much rum, growl at seagulls, masturbate and go steadily mad in one of the titular buildings, you might never look at these oceanside staples in the same way again... The more this powerhouse duo snipe and snarl back and forth, the more they lure viewers into The Lighthouse's fever dream like a glowing beam — or like the tentacles that help make this already out-there movie even more eccentric, outlandish and utterly mesmerising. The Lighthouse is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLmvs9Wrem0 COLOR OUT OF SPACE What our critic said: Whenever Nicolas Cage keeps things quiet and normal, he evokes the unnerving sensation that perhaps everything is too quiet and normal. When he's letting loose, there's really no telling what could happen next. A film about a glowing meteor that crashes on an alpaca farm and not only forever changes a family's existence, but their entire grasp on reality, Lovecraftian horror adaptation Color Out of Space needs both Cage's unsettlingly calm and brain-bogglingly over-the-top sides. More than that, it thrives on them. Color Out of Space is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLAJyugYEiY THE INVISIBLE MAN What our critic said: Great horror movies have always reflected and responded to the times they're made in and, in the same vein as Jordan Peele's Get Out and Us, Leigh Whannell's The Invisible Man helps lead the charge as the 21st century reaches its third decade. This is a socially conscious, savagely creepy, supremely clever reinterpretation of a classic scarefest that takes every part of that equation seriously. The Invisible Man is available to stream via Google Play and YouTube — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srPas4PqCkw BEATS What our critic said: Based on the play of the same name, this black-and-white gem is set in the Scottish electronic music scene in the early 90s — just as the UK government was passing legislation to effectively ban raves. Following two teenagers desperate to attend what might be their first and last dance music festival, and featuring a thumping soundtrack of old-school tunes, the result is an insightful exuberant coming-of-age film, as well as a as a thoughtful and reflective social-realist drama. Beats is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hroo3-sKc0w HONEY BOY What our critic said: A Vietnam veteran and ex-rodeo clown who treats his pre-teen son more like a buddy than a child, James Lort is the role that Shia LaBeouf was born to play... Basing Honey Boy on the latter's years as a child actor, and on his father's involvement, the result is an astonishingly personal and revelatory film that continues the American Honey and The Peanut Butter Falcon star's recent stellar streak. Honey Boy is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dii0FMXXVvA&feature=emb_logo HONEYLAND What our critic said: In Honeyland's opening moments, Hatidže Muratova performs feats that wouldn't be out of place in an action blockbuster... In this intimate observational doco, she's worlds away from cinema's big-budget spectacles — but she's still a daring superhero. Dedicated to traditional apiary methods, Hatidže is the last female wild beekeeper in Europe. That mightn't mean much when audiences start watching Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov's debut feature-length film, but it will when the credits roll. Honeyland is available to stream via Movie Night, At Home and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBGi3SzxkKk&feature=share DARK WATERS What our critic said: Dark Waters doesn't shy away from or try to reinvent its genre. Any move in that direction wouldn't do its real-life details justice. But this is definitely a Todd Haynes movie in the way that matters most: its emotional impact... Haynes hasn't just brought an essential story to the screen (and inspired his audience to start questioning all the chemicals in their lives), but crafted the ideal movie for a world where the entire planet is increasingly at the mercy of corporate giants. Dark Waters is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRMPdhQBlWs QUEEN & SLIM What our critic said: The debut feature by music video director Melina Matsoukas — a Grammy-winner for her work on Rihanna's 'We Found Love' and Beyonce's 'Formation' — Queen & Slim wears its nods on its sleeves, and its topicality as well. Combining an all-too-frequent real-life situation with cinema's "lovers on the run" genre, it's a statement piece that not only conveys an attention-grabbing story, but explores the constantly relevant issue of race relations in America. Queen & Slim is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biHUTtV4K40 IN FABRIC What our critic said:Peter Strickland is one of cinema's inimitable auteurs, not only conjuring up narratives that no other filmmaker ever would or could, but bringing them to the screen with a distinctive sense of style and mood. That remains accurate with In Fabric — the lauded writer/director's haunted dress movie. In a London clothing store, bank teller Sheila (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) finds the perfect red frock for her first blind date; however, she soon discovers that the fabulous outfit has quite the dark side. Also starring Games of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie, this fashion-focused horror-comedy is lurid and intoxicating. In Fabric is currently screening in some Australian cinemas. Read our full review.
As a treat to us for being such good eggs (or so we like to think), the National Gallery of Victoria are hosting a huge exhibition next year featuring the works of French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces. The exhibition will run from June 24 to September 18 at the NGV International and is comprised of over 200 works by Degas, from collections the world over. For those of you who don’t know, Degas is a pretty big deal in the art world and practiced during the late 1800s-early 1900s. At a time when many artists where still painting posed works, Degas and a sect of bohemian Parisian artists (including Honoré Daumier and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec), were cultivating the first big art movement that focused on candid impressions of subjects en plein air (meaning in ‘open air’ style, as opposed to in the studio or from memory). A lot of his pieces feature ballerinas and inevitably, this did lead to a lot of lurking around backstage at the ballet and, in Lautrec’s case, in a tonne of brothels (for the artistic potential, surely). Degas’ work also focused on an infrequently explored subject: the everyman. Blue collar workers in their natural habit where a recurring and novel theme in his work; French Impressionism tapped into that vein of human curiosity that makes reality TV so popular (“They’re just like us!”). Degas actually rejected the Impressionist mantle and referred to his style as realism, so intent was he on representing the world around him. In fact, according to art historian Carol Armstrong, Degas said “No art was ever less spontaneous than mine. What I do is the result of reflection and of the study of the great masters; of inspiration, spontaneity, temperament, I know nothing". Well damn. We can’t wait to check it out. Degas: A New Vision will be displayed at the National Gallery of Victoria International from June 24 to September 18, 2016. Image: Edgar Degas, In a café (The Absinthe drinker) 1875–76, oil on canvas, Musée d'Orsay, Paris, Lemoisne 393, © RMN-Grand Palais (musée d'Orsay) / Martine Beck-Coppola.
It's going to be a battle of bird and Budapest this year at the Academy Awards; the nominations for 2015 have been unveiled this morning. However, the nominations have been met with fierce criticism for a lack of diversity. The big guns at the front of the game: Richard Linklater's Boyhood nabbed six noms as did Clint Eastwood's American Sniper, but right out in front Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman each clocked up nine nominations each. Everyone's talking about the snub to Selma; the Martin Luther King Jr.-focused film missed out on nominations for lead actor David Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay. Bradley Cooper's nomination for Best Actor in Clint Eastwood's American Sniper was another surprise, a nomination omitted from the Golden Globes. There's a few more Easter eggs in there; Jennifer Anniston missed out on a Best Actress nomination for Cake, the spot instead going to Two Days, One Night's Marion Cotillard. Guardians of the Galaxy is nominated for Best Makeup Design (#iamgroot). Christopher Nolan's Interstellar (one of 2014's most talked-about films that was tipped to possibly miss out) nabbed five nominations including Best Original Score. And Studio Ghibli's The Tale of Princess Kaguya nabbed a Best Animation nom, despite terrible box office figures and the closure of Ghibli's feature film department. And The Lonely Island's Andy Samberg was nominated for Best Original Song for The Lego Movie's Everything is Awesome'. So there's that. There's significant debate over the diversity of the Oscar nominations this year, observations that the Academy have been taking great pains to change over the years. It's been brought up by social media that all 20 of the nominated actors are white, leading to the trending Twitter hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. The Selma snubs have been constantly referenced. The dominance of white Academy voters was also pinpointed by this infographic; 94 percent of voters are white and 77 percent of these are male — black and latino voters made up just 2 percent each. Needless to say, debates are swirling webwide. All will be analysed, prodded, celebrated and scorned on February 22. AND THE NOMINEES ARE: Best Picture American Sniper Birdman Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Selma The Theory of Everything Whiplash Best Actor Steve Carell, Foxcatcher Bradley Cooper, American Sniper Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game Michael Keaton, Birdman Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything Best Actress Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything Julianne Moore, Still Alice Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl Reese Witherspoon, Wild Best Supporting Actor Robert Duvall, The Judge Ethan Hawke, Boyhood Edward Norton, Birdman Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher J. K. Simmons, Whiplash Best Supporting Actress Patricia Arquette, Boyhood Laura Dern, Wild Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game Emma Stone, Birdman Meryl Streep, Into the Woods Best Cinematography Birdman The Grand Budapest Hotel Ida Mr. Turner Unbroken Best Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Birdman Richard Linklater, Boyhood Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game Best Original Screenplay Boyhood Birdman Foxcatcher The Grand Budapest Hotel Nightcrawler Best Adapted Screenplay American Sniper The Imitation Game Inherent Vice The Theory of Everything Whiplash Best Foreign Language Film Ida, Poland Leviathan, Russia Tangerines, Estonia Timbuktu, Mauritania Wild Tales, Argentina Best Makeup and Hairstyling Foxcatcher The Grand Budapest Hotel Guardians of the Galaxy Best Original Score The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar Mr. Turner The Theory of Everything Best Costume Design The Grand Budapest Hotel Inherent Vice Into the Woods Maleficent Mr. Turner Best Documentary Feature Citizenfour Finding Vivian Maier Last Days in Vietnam Salt of the Earth Virunga Best Documentary Short Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 Joanna Our Curse The Reaper White Earth Best Film Editing American Sniper Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Whiplash Best Animated Feature Big Hero 6 The Boxtrolls How to Train Your Dragon 2 Song of the Sea The Tale of Princess Kaguya Best Original Song “Lost Stars,” Begin Again “Grateful,” Beyond the Lights “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me “Everything is Awesome,” The Lego Movie “Glory,” Selma Best Production Design The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar Into the Woods Mr. Turner Best Animated Short Film The Bigger Picture The Dam Keeper Feast Me and My Moulton A Single Life Best Live-Action Short Film Aya Boogaloo and Graham Butter Lamp Paraveneh The Phone Call Best Sound Editing American Sniper Birdman The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Interstellar Unbroken Best Sound Mixing American Sniper Birdman Interstellar Unbroken Whiplash Best Visual Effects Captain America: The Winter Soldier Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Guardians of the Galaxy Interstellar X-Men: Days of Future Past
The cities of the future won't be built. They'll be printed. Or at least that seems to be the idea, after Dubai unveiled its first office building created using a 3D printer. Located near the Emirates Tower complex, the 250 square metre building, dubbed The Office of the Future, was printed in just 17 days at a cost of around US$140,000. Now they just need to convince people it won't collapse around their ears. The building was constructed out of special cement mixture, using a custom-made printer measuring 6m by 36m by 12m in size. Only a single supervisor was required to oversee the actual printing process, although seven installers and ten electricians were needed to fit-out the structure once it had been assembled. Even so, the process represents an enormous saving in terms of labour cost, with the Dubai government saying it cut the total bill in half. "We implement what we plan, and we pursue actions not theories," said UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the building's official opening. "The rapidly changing world requires us to accelerate our pace of development, for history does not recognize our plans but our achievements." Via PSFK.
The team at Doughnut Time have been absolutely killing it. In the year since cutting the ribbon on their first permanent store in Brisbane, the hand-dipped artisan doughnut chain has become one of our favourite spots to indulge our overdeveloped sweet tooth. They've opened a dozen additional locations across Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne, and in the past week alone have launched both a vegan variety and collaborated on a glazed doughnut burger (no, really) with Brisbane burger joint Ze Pickle. But that's nothing compared to their latest announcement. Brace yourself. Doughnut Time now offer home delivery. If you're anything like us, you probably just fell out of your chair, spent the next few minutes twitching and drooling on the ground, before finally regaining enough motor function to type the words "want doughnut time now" into Google. Assuming that's the case, you'll now know that, at the time of this writing, the Doughnut Time online delivery page is currently down due to an excess in demand. Which, let's be honest, isn't really all that surprising. Sorry to get your hopes up. This has been a real roller coaster of doughnut-related emotion, hasn't it? Once they've replenished their stocks, Doughnut Time will offer delivery in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and The Gold Coast via Sherpa Couriers. For more information and to order a batch of your own, head to this link and just keep hitting refresh.
Debauched banquets from Bompas and Parr, immersive art sleepovers at Cradle Mountain and all the demon purging and ceremonial death dances you could want in a festival. Now in its third year, Dark Mofo continues to evolve to be darker, weirder and wilder than before. Aligned with the winter solstice and running June 12-22, MONA's annual June festival celebrates the Neolithic tradition over ten hedonistic days of eclectic and unpredictable art, performance, music and happenings around Hobart, concluding with the annual nude solstice swim at dawn after the longest night in Australia. Last year's festival attracted more than 130,000 Mofos over ten days, with about a third coming from interstate. Ever the supporter of bizarre extravaganzas, Hendrick’s Gin, an official partner of MONA, will bring its weird and wonderful flavour to Dark Mofo this year with the installation of its legendary Parlour of Curiosities in Dark Park. Here, festivalgoers will discover a treasury of tipples, daring and intimate performances, as well as an eccentric revelry of otherworldly wonders and delightfully dark surprises (we're not giving much away). Picture an abandoned circus situated in the depths of a forbidden forest, full of dark and mysterious wonders. Then find yourself a crispy beverage and lose yourself, off you go. Thanks to Hendrick's Gin, we are giving one CP subscriber the chance to attend Dark Mofo with a friend as VIP guests of Hendrick's. The prize includes: 2x tickets to Dark Mofo 2x return flights (departing Saturday, June 20, and returning Sunday, June 21) 1 night's accommodation at the 4 star Best Western in Hobart. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and phone number. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au The giveaway will be drawn at 10am on June 19, 2015, and the winner will be notified by phone.
As if Melbourne's laneways weren't ace enough already, they're going green — well, four of them are anyway. Meyers Place, Katherine Place, Guildford Lane and Coromandel Place will be transformed into little sustainable metropolitan Gardens of Eden with new designs released by the City of Melbourne as part of their Green Your Laneway initiative last week. The City of Melbourne announced their plans to transform four laneway spots in the CBD back in October of last year, and opened up the nominations to Melburnians to help them choose which ones they would give the green treatment. With more than 200 laneways in the city centre, picking the spots was no easy feat. But after collating over 800 public nominations as well as advice from engineers, landscape architects and sustainability professionals, and taking environmental factors — such as the amount of sunlight the laneways receive and their exposure to wind — into account, the council has settled on the four laneways as the ones that would most benefit from the added greenery. The draft designs show the laneways filled with planter boxes, vertical gardens, climbing plants and trees. Among the proposed additions, there are plans to give Katherine Place a mini tree-lined boulevard and an ivy-covered archway, and Guilford Lane (which is largely residential) could score a community garden. All up, the City of Melbourne is investing $1.3 million in the project. "Melbourne's laneways are internationally renowned for their quirky and eclectic culture and feel," Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said. "We can add another layer to their attraction by enhancing the sustainability of our laneways and making them 'green' and therefore more efficient at cooling the city, intercepting and cleaning stormwater and improving air quality and ambience." If you'd like to check out the designs in more detail, they'll be on display in Meyers Place from November 3-14. There's also some pretty detailed info on their website. Plus, to further warm you to the idea, Meyers Place will also host gardening workshops and live music on Saturday, November 12 from 2pm. Green Your Laneway is on trial as one arm of the City's Love Your Laneway program. Meanwhile, the Urban Forest Strategy is striving to address climate change and reduce Melbourne's summer temperatures by four degrees Celsius. Green days ahead. By Lauren Vadnjal and Jasmine Crittenden.
Music festivals aren’t usually the most pet-friendly of places. Or at least they haven't been until now. Bounding into Burnley Park in Richmond this Sunday, the excellently-named Dogapalooza is Melbourne's first ever music festival designed to be 100 percent pooch-inclusive. Presented by Oscar's Law, One Little Indian and Artemis Pet Food, Dogapalooza is a festival for both dogs and the people who love them. There'll be ethical food options, including vegan barbecue, as well as stalls selling boutique dog products and Dogapalooza merchandise. The event is BYO beer, wine and pre-mixed spirits — sorry, no hard stuff. The music lineup will feature local acts such as Tash Sultana, Monique Brumby, Harrison Storm, Amistat and DJ double act Cocoa Noire. In a perfect world, they'd also have managed to get Bow Wow Wow on board... but we guess you can't have everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMICD3aMZpw Great song. Whatever happened to those guys, anyway? Meanwhile, the best thing about Dogapalooza is that all proceeds from ticket sales are getting donated to local animal rescue groups, including Stafford Rescue Victoria, Paws Of Love, Melbourne Animal Rescue, German Shepherd Rescue Victoria, Puppy Tales Rescue, and Kayas Mission. Frankly, if that doesn't get your tail wagging, then we don't know what will. Now the bad news: tickets to Dogapalooza are already completely sold-out. Sorry guys. Turns out people really, really like puppies.
Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, but Taylor Swift just took a massive step up in our book after coming to the rescue of a Sydney theatre production, who were told they wouldn't be allowed to use one of the pop star's songs just days before their opening night. Opening today, Belvoir Theatre Company's Seventeen stars veteran Australian actors Peter Carroll, Maggie Dence, John Godden, Genevieve Lemon, Barry Otto and Anna Volska as a group of seventeen year olds on their last day of school. The play was meant to include a scene where the cast dance to Swift's 2014 hit 'Shake It Off,' but those plans were apparently scuppered on Friday after they were denied the right to use the song. In a last-ditch effort, director Anna-Louise Sarks took to twitter and petitioned Swift directly. Hey @taylorswift13 I'm a big fan and I'm facing an artistic emergency I hope you can help with 1/7 #greygrey4taytay — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 .@taylorswift13 I'm a theatre director from Sydney, and we have a big show opening tomorrow night @belvoirst 2/7 #greygrey4taytay — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 .@taylorswift13 It's about the last day of school - only the 17yrolds are all played by 70yrolds 3/7 #greygrey4taytay pic.twitter.com/t3i1JPdZn2 — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 . @taylorswift13 (including Barry Otto from Strictly Ballroom which maybe you've seen) http://t.co/cBOHzj4vdp #greygrey4taytay — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 .@taylorswift13 there's this great moment where they Shake It Off, and they know all the words and have amazing moves 5/7 #greygrey4taytay — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 .@taylorswift13 But we've just at the last minute been told we can't have the rights to the song! 6/7 #greygrey4taytay — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 .@taylorswift13 Is there anything at all you can do?!! Thanks for reading! 7/7 #greygrey4taytay pic.twitter.com/pdL1TW1Bv9 — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 She also sent tweets to Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and former federal arts minister Tony Burke in the hopes that they could help her get in touch. A number of celebrities, including Tim Minchin and Orange Is the New Black star Yael Stone also got on board, and before long the hashtag #greygrey4taytay was trending around Australia. Then, yesterday afternoon, the pop star with over 61 million followers responded. Permission granted, @BelvoirSt. Good luck with your opening night :) — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) August 4, 2015 Yes! The reaction from the cast and crew was understandably ecstatic. BuzzFeed Australia was on hand when the news came through, and later tweeted the following Vine. "WE LOVE YOU TAYLOR!" We were on hand as @taylorswift13 granted @BelvoirSt its wish http://t.co/L0szMLegFV https://t.co/QuD1aS1Kiy — BuzzFeed Australia (@BuzzFeedOz) August 4, 2015 Anyone who has ever said a bad word about Taylor Swift and/or twitter should be eating a massive slice of humble pie right now. Now let the players play. Seventeen is at Belvoir Street Theatre from August 5 – September 13. For more information, visit their website. Via BuzzFeed Australia.
It's a problem anyone with a Netflix, Stan or Presto subscription can relate to: scrolling through a lengthy list of titles but still having trouble finding something to watch. It's a problem that gets worse if you're looking for homegrown content; however a new Aussie-focused streaming option is trying to fix that. Meet Ozflix, the first video-on-demand service dedicated to Australian films. It wants to become a one-stop-shop when it comes to local movies, with everything available to audiences on a pay-per-view basis. Packages grouped by themes and directors will also feature. The service is aiming to get things started with a catalogue spanning 250–400 titles, but that's just the beginning of Ozflix's plans. Eventually, it wants to house every Australian movie ever made, including the first works crafted in the 1900s, the newest releases, and everything from Newsfront to Strictly Ballroom, The Castle, Ten Canoes, Wolf Creek and The Dressmaker. Given that cinemagoers have been flocking to Aussie films en masse in 2015, giving the industry its most successful year at the local box office ever thanks to the likes of Mad Max: Fury Road, The Water Diviner and Paper Planes, the timing is right. The high-profile roster of talent who has voiced their support already — actresses Deborah Mailman and Claudia Karvan, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert director Stephan Elliott, and Animal Kingdom producer Liz Watts among them — certainly agree. Now all Australian movie fans need to do is wait until Ozflix launches in 2016. For more information on Ozflix, visit their website.
That’s right, you heard us correctly. Thanks to the FreeWines app, you can now get a top-quality bottle of red or white wine when you dine at certain restaurants. FreeWines is connected with more than 200 venues in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, so wherever you are, download this app stat for some tasty vino. To get the ball rolling, here are just some out the outstanding eateries you can enjoy free wine. NEW SOUTH WALES YORK LANE Tucked away in an inner-city laneway lies York Lane — cafe/espresso bar by day, restaurant/bar by night. Drop on in where the vinyl is spinning and the tapas is rolling out on a regular basis. The key word here is cosy, as it can only fit up to 30 people at a time. Get amongst the repurposed decor and polish off a bottle of award-winning wine with a small group of friends. 56 Clarence Street, Sydney. THE CROW BAR Small, elegant, and stylish all come to mind when it comes to this delightful venue with serious cocktails and a thoughtful wine list. European-influenced share plates are the go here, and their ambient fireplace and black leather sofas make it ideal for a cool-weather hideaway spot, but in truth this venue is a gem all year round. The Crow Bar in Crows Nest is certainly worth ‘raven’ about. 6 Burlington Street, Crows Nest THE HILL EATERY What list of Sydney foodie spots would be complete without a Bondi representative? The Hill Eatery is our destination of choice. With ethically sourced produce, these guys are big on farm-to-table practice and make an effort to venture outside of the city limits to bring only the best to your plate. They’re also expanding over summer with their Florida Keys Garden Bar, so stay tuned for more excellent work from this crew. Shop 5, 39-53 Campbell Parade, North Bondi. RED LANTERN ON RILEY Vietnamese cuisine is at its best at Red Lantern on Riley, with its excellence continuing across the way at Red Lily Cocktail Bar. Fresh ingredients, sustainable practice and authenticity is at the heart of Luke Nguyen’s venture, with a French Colonial Vietnamese influence on the decor. Red Lantern on Riley is ideal for catching up with friends and family, as their menu is full of shared dishes. You know what else is excellent when shared? A bottle of free wine. 60 Riley Street, Darlinghurst. VICTORIA CRU WINE BAR We love CRU at anytime of day, as they’re open from early-bird brekkie to last drinks most nights of the week. Settle in to their quaint front bar or courtyard when the weather warms up and have a chat with their resident ‘wine guy’ about what is the right drop for you. Their wine list here is plentiful, so after your free wine don’t hesitate to grab another bottle of something equally as delicious. 916 Glenferrie Road, Kew. CHOW CITY Serving up a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai and Malaysian fare, Chow City provides a playful approach to pan-Asian dining. Whether you’re looking for authentic traditional dishes or some street food on the run, your tastebuds will be satisfied here. A nice white wine would go a treat with their spicy seafood, such as the battered king prawns with egg white and chilli sauce. 287 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. EBENEZER COFFEE AND WINE BAR If specialty coffee and boutique wine is your bag, head down to Black Rock and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind. The focus here is on taking pride in their produce, so you’re sure to get a great serve for breakfast, lunch of dinner. A glass of wine by the seaside sounds like heaven to us. 615 Balcombe Road, Black Rock. QUEENSLAND CLARET HOUSE This wine bar has a menu designed for sharing, and we would certainly recommend splitting a charcuterie plate or some slow-cooked lamb ribs with chimichurri among friends. Their wine list is extensive and their staff knowledgeable, so if it’s a fine wine you’re after, look no further. Shop 5 London Woolstores, 36 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe. DEER DUCK BISTRO Modern European dining experiences often call for the perfect red wine to match. Rest assured you’ll find one at Deer Duck Bistro. There is a focus on ethical eating at this establishment, where only the freshest in local, sustainable, organic and macrobiotic produce is used where possible. Embrace the old world charm and carefully crafted dishes on your next night out. 396 Milton Road, Auchenflower COVE BAR AND DINING In among South Bank’s River Quay fine dining precinct, you’re sure to stumble across Cove Bar, and when you do, do yourself a favour and stay a while. This casual yet elegant atmosphere is ideal for your next date night, as the riverside views and flawless feasting is sure to impress. Try one of their seasonal oyster creations with Hugh Hamilton 'The Trickster' Pinot Grigio and thank us later. 4 Sidon Street, South Brisbane.
Get ready for a whole buttload of hard-hitting news blasted directly into your eyeholes. Satirical news organisation The Onion is about to launch EDGE, a brand new web series lampooning the sensationalist style of VICE Media — and if the early teasers are anything to go by, it looks like they've absolutely nailed it. Naturally we're a little hesitant to report on any so-called news stories coming out of The Onion, given that their entire business model is based on elaborate lies. Still, from what we can tell, this time it's actually legit. The series is set to premiere online on Monday, August 3 and will, according to The Hollywood Reporter, consist of short, documentary style videos less than four minutes in length. A twitter account has been set up for the series, promising to "throw acid in the face of ignorance" and asking anyone who has witnessed or participated in global horror worth reporting on to call "the EDGE Atrocity Tip Line." A couple of their correspondents, aka "news warriors", are also on the platform, as you can see below. Let's get fucked on truth. — Nic Moss (@NicMossEDGE) July 28, 2015 Nobody points a camera at dark-skinned people like @EDGEtv. Nobody. — Chase Vaughn (@ChaseVaughnEDGE) July 28, 2015 This teaser video, meanwhile, does a pretty perfect job of capturing the guerrilla aesthetic that has made VICE so popular with the young people, what with their short attention spans and virtual reality headsets and so forth. "VICE is wrought with a distinct self-confidence, which of course gets our writers salivating," Onion VP of Production George Zwierzynski Jr. told THR. "The Onion team is highly competitive when it comes to other companies and publishers, so it's only natural we would take a stab at VICE as a whole." EDGE arrives a little more than a year after The Onion launched ClickHole, an online spoof of BuzzFeed where you can find such thought-provoking articles as 6 Heads You Never Realized Are Also On Mount Rushmore and How Many Of These Creatures From Greek Mythology Do You Believe In? The Onion has also previously produced content for television, albeit with limited success. Onion News Network, a parody of cable new shows, ran on IFC for two seasons, while Onion SportsDome on Comedy Central was cancelled after six months. Hopefully EDGE fares a little better on the web. Via THR. Top image via Dollar Photo Club.
Leaving the safety net of university life can be daunting. Taxes, health insurance, budgeting and eating greens are all tricky requirements of adulting, not to mention trying to get a job ("Graduate position, minimum two years of experience required..." what is this madness?). But fear not, there is hope. We've profiled five young go-getters who hit the ground running after uni and achieved their success through unconventional means. They did it and you can too (stop that, yes you can). [caption id="attachment_562120" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: @sedgebeswick.[/caption] SEDGE BESWICK, 26, GLOBAL SENIOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY MANAGER AT ASOS For most of us, using social media is just that a social activity. For others it’s a way of life and a strategic marketing tool; when wielded properly can elevate a start-up and polish a personal brand no matter how small. Sedge Beswick is one such social media maven and part of a young generation of digital natives that are coming up through volunteer positions and internships to absolutely kill it at the media game for big companies. That playful tone you adore on ASOS social media? That’s Beswick. And while managing the global social media for ASOS, she’s also racked up a neat little 11k on her personal Instagram, written a book about using Twitter strategically and designed a line of t-shirts emblazoned with social media slogans. She’s literally #killingit. BECKY SUI ZHEN, 31, MUSICIAN Sui Zhen is one of the many monikers of Melbourne-based musician Becky Sui Zhen who has risen through the ranks of the music scene to be hailed as a 'social media musician' due to her pristine and eye catching artistic vision. She’s put in the hard yards over the years, studying graphic design and Japanese, winning grants, releasing EPs in Japan and doing overseas residencies and all while playing prolifically around Australia. She also produces and edits the iconic film clips for Sui Zhen and has collaborated with artist and photographer Phebe Schmidt. She’s poised to take over the world in 2016 following the late-2015 release her first Australian LP ‘Secretly Susan’. The LP caught the attention of FADER who clocked her as one of 25 international artists to watch and she’s supported Toro Y Moi in Melbourne on his 2016 Aussie tour. We imagine 2016 is only going to get better for this kawaii gem. GERMAINE STATIA, JAMAL OULEL + AYOUB AOURAGH, 23, 25 + 24, FOUNDERS AND DEVELOPERS AT REFUGEE HERO When the Syrian refugee crisis peaked in 2015, Dutch trio Germaine Statia, Jamal Oulel, and Ayoub Aouragh, responded with a contemporary and altruistic solution. Refugee Hero, hailed as the Airbnb for refugees, is a platform that allows people to offer their spare room up to refugees who have just arrived in their country. “We want to give back humanity to mankind,” says Statia. The service is 100 percent free and mobile-friendly. It allows individuals or institutions to offer help and shelter whether or not their government is pro-refugee. The team hopes the service can one day expand to cover all elements of resettling, from applying for passports to finding a new school for children and is a shining example of how modern technology can be used for good in the face of adversity. EMMA MULHOLLAND, 27, DESIGNER There’s something about Emma Mulholland that Australia is crazy for. The young designer hit the ground running after graduating from TAFE in 2010 and hasn’t stopped since. Her latest project, a collaboration with iconic Aussie label Mambo, proves that in a few short years, she’s explored, honed in on and defined exactly what makes her work so popular. The garish '80s and '90s themed prints and icons of our childhood combined with a(h)ctivewear references hit the nostalgia nail right on the head and the collection has resonated with Aussie kidults who grew up wearing bike shorts and climbing trees. Far away from the catwalks of Paris and Milan, Australia often struggles to define itself outside of a European reference and it’s no easy feat to export a uniquely Australian line, but Mulholland has done so with aplomb, straight outta TAFE. [caption id="attachment_562121" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: @louislazarus.[/caption] LUKE HAMPSHIRE AND ALEXANDER ROBINSON, 28 AND 32, AVIATION ENTERPRENEURS AT AIRLY In January, the Australian aviation scene had a sorely need shake up. Two young guns, 28-year-old Luke Hampshire and 32-year-old Alexander Robinson announced their airline company Airly which completely turns air travel on its head. Airly members pay a fee of $2550 (minimum) per month to fly as much as they like on the company’s private jets which operate between Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. For frequent fliers, the minimum waiting time and luxury service is a tasty drawcard. Hampshire, a former Air Force pilot, recognised a gap in the marketplace and despite the pair’s youth, turned an insight into an industry shake-up and paved the way for more options and versatility in air travel. Top image: Sedge Beswick.
The National Gallery of Victoria's Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei double bill is the exhibition to lock in this summer. A show dedicated to just one of these artists would be a blockbuster in its own right, but the two of them together side by side, will undoubtedly see this international exhibition reach epic proportions. Max Delany, senior curator of contemporary art at the NGV, sees the exhibition as a great opportunity to explore the work of two artists from two very different times. “It is an opportunity to present one of the most significant artists of the twentieth century — the century of modernity and what is often referred to as 'The American Century' — alongside one of the most significant artists living today, an artist from what is often said to be the 'Chinese Century' to come," Delany says. "It's actually a very interesting opportunity to consider the role of both artists and art of their time." The exhibition will draw out some of the untapped connections between these two artists. For instance, both artists have transformed the concept of the artist's studio, building highly interdisciplinary spaces. Both have radically reconsidered notions of artistic value, turning against the prevailing aesthetic trends of their time. And both are highly attuned to new modes of communication; Weiwei uses virtual networking and the internet to produce his work, while Warhol might be thought of as a social media artist working before his time. In the midst of a busy installation period, Delany took some time to speak about his five favourite works featured in the exhibition — five you should make no mistake to miss when the exhibition opens this Friday, December 11 in Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_551750" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ai WeiweiChinese 1957–Forever Bicycles, 2011, installation view at Taipei Fine Arts MuseumImage courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio© Ai Weiwei[/caption] 1. AI WEIWEI — FOREVER BICYCLES (2011) "We are going to be installing a new version of Ai Weiwei's Forever Bicycles. This will be a major installation – it's made from almost 1500 bicycles. On the one hand, the bicycle wheel engages with Marcel Duchamp and the whole idea of the readymade. On the other hand, it's quite Warholian and is engaged with repetition. There is an intensely spectacular effect from the repetition of these objects. It also has an important biographical relevance to Ai Weiwei because Forever was the brand of a very popular mass-produced bicycle in China. It's something Weiwei would have desired as a child. The nice thing about these bicycles, which are all linked together, is that the bicycle is related to the individual, but there's also a connection to the multitude. It's very much about collective energy and social progress." [caption id="attachment_551761" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Steve SchapiroAndy Warhol Blowing Up Silver Cloud Pillow, Los Angeles 1966© Steve Schapiro[/caption] 2. ANDY WARHOL — SILVER CLOUDS AND COW WALLPAPER (1966) "Upon arrival to the exhibition, you will encounter Andy Warhol's Silver Clouds from 1966, which will be presented alongside his Cow Wallpaper. This is a fascinating work, which was first shown in 1966 at Leo Castelli Gallery in New York. Basically, these silver floating pillow forms float through space and are propelled by the bodies of viewers and air currents. It's an immersive experience, very much coinciding with the idea of 'the happening' during the '60s. It also introduced participation into artistic practice. Cow Wallpaper is significant because it is the very first or several designs Warhol did in wallpaper." [caption id="attachment_551740" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ai WeiweiChinese 1957–Coloured Vases, 2006 Neolithic vases (5000-3000 BC) and industrial paintdimensions variable Image courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio© Ai Weiwei[/caption] 3. AI WEIWEI — COLOURED VASES (2006) "I'm excited to be showing Ai Weiwei's Coloured Vases, which is a newer work. These are painted Neolithic pots which really do enact an uneasy confrontation between cultural heritage and tradition on the one hand, and modernity on the other. One is mapped onto the other in quite a violent or iconoclastic way, kind of obliterating history. On the other hand, it also signals new beginnings and possibilities." [caption id="attachment_551739" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Andy WarholElectric Chair, 1967 synthetic polymer paint screenprinted onto canvas137.2 x 185.1 cm National Gallery of Australia, CanberraPurchased 1977© 2015 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./ARS, New York. Licensed by Viscopy, Sydney.[/caption] 4. ANDY WARHOL — ELECTRIC CHAIR (1963) "Quite often people think of Warhol as quite superficial. However, if you look at some of his depictions of violence and tragedy in American society, he's really quite an epic history painter. One of the most profound and striking works in the exhibition is Warhol's Electric Chair from 1963. It's an example of his innovations in silkscreen painting from that time., but it's also a very stark and austere image. It puts the relationship between the state and the individual into sharp relief. This is also an important subject for Ai Weiwei, whose work really does address some of the critical issues of our time, such as human rights and freedom of expression." 5. AI WEIWEI — STUDIES IN PERSPECTIVE (1994) "This is a very cheeky body of work, but it is also very considered. You're probably familiar with Studies in Perspective where he raises his middle finger to various buildings representing state authority, from the White House to Tiananmen Square. On the one hand, this is a playful work about measuring the distance between the artist and his subject. On the other hand, it sets up an interesting relationship between the individual and the state. These works were made from 1994 onward and they remind me very clearly of that extraordinary image from Tiananmen Square in 1989 — that lone demonstrator standing in front of a Tank and the asymmetrical relationship between the individual and an authoritative figure." Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei will run at the National Gallery of Victoria from December 11 until April 24. For more information, visit the NGV's website.
Grab your diary. Call your mates. Reserve your horse. Secret Garden has just announced its 2017 dates. And we're happy to tell you that Australia's beloved, grassroots, made-for-mates-by-mates festival will be taking place over 48 hours, across Friday 24 and Saturday 25 February. You have less time, however, to scrape your cash together. Ticket sales kick off at 9am on Thursday, September 29. If you're a regular gardener, you'll know that they sell out pretty damn quickly, so don't dilly dally. Good news is, though, that, were you at the festival in 2014, 2015 or 2016, you're in for a sweet surprise in the form of pre-sales. To find out exactly what that involves and when it'll be occurring, keep a close eye on your inbox. As usual, we won't know anything about the lineup or festival program until tickets are sold out. But, we can tell you that, as always, Secret Garden will bring you an immersive experience, a long way out of the city, within a magical natural setting transformed into a wonderland. You'll find yourself wandering through a forest maze, getting lost in massive installations, discovering unexpected pop-up performances and coming across tucked-away parties in custom-made rave caves. Maybe. All we know for sure? As always, you're invited to wear your craziest, most dressed up fancy dress. Start planning. Secret Garden will run over Friday 24 and Saturday 25 February. Tickets on sale 9am Thursday, September 29. More details on the festival's (insanely awesome) website. Images: Tim Da Rin, Zakarij Kaczmarek.
Board rooms are so done. Stockholm-based artist duo Bigert and Bergström have built a modal, stainless golden steel, reflective, egg-shaped sauna with a heart-shaped wood burning stove, named the 'Solar Egg'. Why? Commissioned by Swedish economic and real estate association Riksbyggen, the egg is a "social sculpture" according to the artists, providing a communal space for the residents of Kiruna to discuss their town's problems. Kiruna is the northernmost town in Sweden with a population of just under 20,000. In 2003, they realised that due to adjacent iron ore mining activity (activity which provides thousands of jobs for locals), the ground beneath the town was becoming unstable. The solution? Move the whole town three kilometres away. The relocation has been underway ever since and will continue to trudge along, piece by piece, for many more decades supported by the government and the mining company responsible. So, the residents of Kiruna have a lot to talk about while enjoying a sauna together. And, like the town itself, the golden egg can be disassembled and relocated. As far as interactive art installations go, it's both acutely beautiful and functional, with stainless golden mirror sheeting reflecting the fragmented, changing scenery of the surround mountains and tundra. Inside, the sauna's interior is made of pine wood panelling and decks, and aspen benches, with an iron and stone stove in the centre. Temperature varies between 75 and 85 degrees Celsius in the egg. Images: Riksbyggen and Futurniture.
This year's Melbourne International Film Festival might still be months away, but that doesn't mean you can't start getting excited now. The August event won't reveal its full lineup until early July, but it has unveiled a 32-title sneak peek of flicks that you should start pencilling into your diary — including a direct-from-Sundance and Cannes selection for opening night. The 2018 fest will get underway with the Australian premiere of Wildlife. The directorial debut of actor Paul Dano, the 60s-set film features Carey Mulligan, Jake Gyllenhaal and Aussie up-and-comer Ed Oxenbould. And it's just one of MIFF's high-profile inclusions, with the program also featuring Sundance top prize-winner The Miseducation of Cameron Post, with Chloë Grace Moretz; exceptional crime thriller You Were Never Really Here, complete with a knockout performance by Joaquin Phoenix; and the Ethan Hawke-starring First Reformed, where he plays a priest struggling with his faith. Hawke also directs biopic Blaze, which won his star Benjamin Dickey Sundance's best actor award. Other highlights include documentary The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man, which delves into the many tales surrounding everyone's favourite celebrity, and fellow doco United Skates, a Tribeca audience award-winner that explores the African-American roller rink scene. Or, there's also the rightfully acclaimed Angels Wear White, about corruption and abuse in China, plus a wordless 55-minute virtual reality film from slow-cinema auteur Tsai Ming-liang, called The Deserted. Drama Tigers Are Not Afraid turns the Mexican drug war into a horror fairytale, and British crime effort Beast combines a love story with psychosexual thrills, while Bodied dives into the world of battle rap — in a fictional collaboration between director Joseph Kahn and producer Eminem. Films about designer Steve McQueen, musician M.I.A. and boy band fandom also feature, as do all six episodes of new Aussie TV series Mr Inbetween, which follows on from local 2005 mockumentary The Magician. Throw in new movies by excellent international directors — Berlinale hit Transit, from Phoenix's Christian Petzold; historical fiction Zama, the long-awaited next feature from Argentinian filmmaker Lucrecia Martel; and Let the Corpses Tan, by French genre standouts Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani (Amer, The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears) — and you probably already have too many titles to choose from. MIFF's complete 2018 program is set to include a couple of hundred films across more than 500 screenings. The Melbourne International Film Festival runs from August 2 to 19. For more information, visit the MIFF website — and check back on July 10, when the full program is announced.
When we first meet Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor), it's over a doughnut in a dingy shop on the corner of Santa Monica and Highland, a notorious Los Angeles intersection known for its high numbers of transgender sex workers. Sin-Dee is back on the block after a month-long stint in prison, although she won't be getting back to the hustle right away. First, she's got to track down her pimp and boyfriend Chester (James Ransone), who according to Alexandra has been stepping out behind her back — and with a biological woman, no less. At first description, Sundance hit Tangerine sounds like it could be a bit of a slog to sit through — a micro-budget indie film about people on the fringe of society with no good options and no way out. Thankfully, that could not be further from the truth. What on paper has the makings of a despondent 'issues' movie is instead a loud, stylish, ultra high-energy romp — a film that is both uproariously funny and unexpectedly poignant without ever resorting to cheap tricks, condescension or cliche. Of course the first thing that makes Tangerine stand out is not its subject matter but its style. Director Sean Baker shot the entire film using tricked-out iPhone 5s, a cost-saving measure that proved to be a blessing in disguise. The jerky, unvarnished camerawork suits the film's characters to perfection, while filters added in post-production ramp up the colours to unnaturally vivid level; rarely has LA's ugly side looked so electric on screen. On a technical level alone, this is a truly exciting piece of art, one that raises the bar for low- and no-budget productions while at the same time demonstrating how technology is democratising moviemaking like never before. Still, even more so than its incredible aesthetic, the true success of Tangerine lies in the collaboration between Baker and his two leads. Despite a combined zero hours of screen acting experience between them, Taylor and Rodriguez, who Baker recruited from a local LGBT centre, give two of the best performances of the year. It's hard to imagine 'professional' actors bringing the same levels of authenticity – or attitude – to the film's immensely quotable dialogue, much of which was improvised on set. Indeed, the unvarnished, no-fucks-given edge that both stars bring to the film speaks volumes about the hardships faced by poor transwomen of colour. Tangerine, to its eternal credit, never shies away from these hardships. But it also refuses to paint its characters as helpless victims. These women don't want or need your sympathy, although they certainly deserve your respect. So too does this film. As transgender issues continue to get more of the spotlight, narratives such as this – unflinching and, perhaps more importantly, entertaining – have the power to alter public perception. Frankly, it's hard not to root for characters like these. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALSwWTb88ZU
If you're a fan of Game of Thrones, The Handmaid's Tale or Big Little Lies, you've probably spent plenty of time in front of your TV screen over the past six months. If you're head-over-heels for Stranger Things, you likely have more couch time planned, too. But 2019's television and streaming viewing isn't just about the shows you already love. If you're eager to add some fresh favourites to your pile, the year so far has well and truly delivered. From existential comedies and anarchic sketch shows to gripping accounts of real-life tragedies and excellent anthology revivals, 2019's batch of new shows has proven a varied bunch — and an excellent one as well. It's enough to make you hole up in your living room and never want to leave. Or, to spend the year's colder months catching up. With the year at its halfway point, here's our picks of 2019's best TV and streaming series that you owe it to yourself to seek out now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHcKoAMGGvY RUSSIAN DOLL Netflix and smart existential laughs continued to go hand-in-hand with Russian Doll, with the streaming platform once again taking one its protagonists with wondering what this whole life business is all about. Here, however, New Yorker Nadia (Natasha Lyonne — who you'll most likely recognise from Orange Is the New Black) is forced to relive her 36th birthday shindig over and over again. And wWhile getting stuck at a celebration in your own honour will sound like a literal party to most folks, that's not Nadia's path. Co-created and co-written by Lyonne, Amy Poehler and filmmaker Leslye Headland (Bachelorette, Sleeping with Other People), this eight-episode show takes its acerbic, misanthropic lead character through all kinds of twists and turns, examining fate, logic, life's loops and wading through limbo in a clever and compelling way. This is a dark, heartfelt, hilarious and inventive series all at once, and, although the do-over premise has become a well-established trope on both the big and small screens, Russian Doll never feels like it's relying on a gimmick. Unsurprisingly, Netflix has renewed it for a second season. The entire first season of Russian Doll is available to stream on Netflix. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9APLXM9Ei8 CHERNOBYL When it comes to sheer horror of the bone-chilling kind, not to mention the kind of soul-crushing dismay that can only stem from the bleakest of tales, nothing compares to Chernobyl. The five-part show explores the aftermath of the 1986 nuclear disaster, which saw the reactor inside the Ukrainian facility explode. The fallout, unsurprisingly, was catastrophic, with the incident considered the worst nuclear power plant accident in history as well one of the worst man-made events ever. While the dramatisation begins with the fiery explosion, it's what happens next that earns the show's focus — the initial salvage attempts by workers condemned to suffer and die just for doing their jobs; the arrogant cover-ups, including by stubborn plant supervisors who refuse to believe what's happened; the clean-up and rescue missions, sacrificing more lives to the incident; and the inevitable investigation. Every aspect of the series is detailed, thorough, and even more relentless and unnerving than you'd expect given the real-life situation, with creator and writer Craig Mazin drawing upon meticulous research, interviews with nuclear scientists, chats with former Soviet residents and first-person accounts from those who were there. All five episodes of Chernobyl are available to stream on Foxtel Now. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLkEpO3k514 PEN15 Remember those years when you were too cool for childhood, but just finding your feet as a teenager? You've probably blocked it out of your memory. Most of us do — except comedians Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, who've based the entirety of their series PEN15 on the time that most of us would rather forget. Across the show's ten-episode first season, the pair play themselves as 13-year-olds starting middle school, reliving the highlights, the horrors, the first sips of beer and the agony of trying to work out what life is all about at any moment. In a series executive produced by Andy Samberg and his fellow Lonely Island pals Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, Erskine and Konkle's on-screen alter-egos are surrounded by real 13-year-olds — and the results are poignant, scarily accurate and all-round hilarious. If you love it, it's been renewed for a second season, so there's more to come. The entire first season of PEN15 is available to stream now on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29_gA_GDGvE THE TWILIGHT ZONE The Twilight Zone is back, and it's in the best possible hands. After wowing horror movie lovers with Get Out and Us, Jordan Peele takes on the task of presenting, narrating and redeveloping the legendary sci-fi anthology show for the 21st century, and it's one he does well. Picking up where Rod Serling's original five-season 50s and 60s show left off (and short-lived revivals in 1985 and 2002, too), the eight-episode first series blends the old with the new — both remaking previous episodes and coming up with fresh, thrilling stories. It's as entertaining as you'd rightfully expect, with more set to come next year. This initial season also comes with a huge cast, including Adam Scott, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracy Morgan, Steven Yeun, Zazie Beetz, Taissa Farmiga, Greg Kinnear, John Cho, Rhea Seehorn, Jessica Williams, Jacob Tremblay, Allison Tolman, Betty Gabriel, Ginnifer Goodwin, Chris O'Dowd and Seth Rogan. Put simply, it's must-see viewing. The entire first season of The Twilight Zone is available to stream on 10 All Access — in both colour and retro black-and-white. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfBbSwX6kEk WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS A bunch of vampires. One share house. Ample undead hijinks. It worked swimmingly in 2005 short film What We Do In the Shadows. Next, it worked hilariously in 2014 mockumentary movie What We Do In the Shadows. And it works mighty fine in TV spinoff that's also called What We Do In the Shadows, too. Adapted for television by original creators and stars Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi (with the first episode written by the former and directed by the latter), this Staten Island-set version focuses on a new set of vamps and new supernatural problems, and the laughs keep coming. Unsurprisingly, Matt Berry's English bloodsucker Laszlo is a highlight, but this is a great ensemble effort, complete with ace turns from Kayvan Novak as Ottoman Empire-era soldier Nandor the Relentless, Natasia Demetriou as Romani vamp Nadja, Mark Proksch as 'energy vampire' Colin Robinson and Lady Bird's Beanie Feldstein as a live-action role-play fan who falls in with the undead crowd. Also keep an eye out for some absolutely killer high-profile cameos — and for more episodes next year. The entire first season of What We Do In the Shadows is available to stream on Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQaTa5eTxnk THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED It has been five years since much of the world first heard the name Adnan Syed, delving into his case in the first season of Serial. And just like the hugely popular true crime podcast, Syed's is a tale that just keeps fascinating audiences. Murder and the possible miscarriage of justice will do that, as will the grim circumstances surrounding the death of Baltimore high school student Hae Min Lee in 1999. Enter The Case Against Adnan Syed, the four-part documentary TV series that has been in production since 2015 and promises to answer — and pose — more questions. Yes, it delivers. As well as boasting a compelling subject, the series also has an impressive pedigree, with filmmaker Amy Berg adding another top effort to her resume after Oscar-nominated 2006 doco Deliver Us from Evil, 2012's West of Memphis and 2014's An Open Secret. The Case Against Adnan Syed is available to purchase on iTunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v75RmNuZgTs HANNA Joining the long list of films-turned-TV shows is Hanna — and the long list of spy, assassin and conspiracy -focused series as well. This small-screen adaptation follows the storyline established in the 2011 movie, just with a change of cast (sorry Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett fans). Here, the titular child (Esmé Creed-Miles) has spent her entire life learning survivalist skills under the tutelage of her mercenary father (Joel Kinnaman). Of course, the day comes when she has to put her talents to the test. The original flick plunged viewers into a complex, murky world that it'd be easy to spend more time within, and now this series delivers on that notion. The entire first season Hanna is available to stream on Amazon Prime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrZkGgoVSFk I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE WITH TIM ROBINSON You don't even need two hours to get through all six episodes of this new sketch comedy show but, once you're done, you'll wish that it went for at least twice as long. Social awkwardness is satirised with absurd precision in I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, and the results are as offbeat and hilarious as a house completely filled with Garfield items and furniture (trust us). If he seems familiar, Robinson was the star of Detroiters and also spent a couple of seasons on Saturday Night Live. He has plenty of recognisable co-stars on his new show, which he also wrote and produced — talents such as Will Forte, Steven Yeun, Tim Heidecker and Vanessa Bayer. And, like fellow ace new 2019 comedy PEN15, the show boasts some big names off-screen too, with The Lonely Island (aka Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone) its executive producers. It's also another of this year's big debutants that's coming back for a second season. The entire first season I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCSyXUqPaZM FOSSE/VERDON The director and choreographer behind Cabaret and All That Jazz, Bob Fosse's achievements are many, including winning an Oscar, Emmy and Tony all in the same year. A prolific Broadway performer who earned just as much acclaim — and four Tony awards of her own — Gwen Verdon was his collaborator, muse and wife, although theirs was a tumultuous story. That's the showbiz drama unfurled in Fosse/Verdon, which boasts Sam Rockwell as Fosse, Michelle Williams as Verdon, and even Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda as Roy Scheider. Unsurprisingly, the performance-driven eight-episode series is full of razzle, dazzle, interpersonal drama and excellent portrayals. Also unsurprisingly, it'll add plenty of 70s musicals to your watch list afterwards. The first four episodes of Fosse/Verdon are available to stream on Foxtel Now, with new episodes added weekly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytB8xNQ18_c MIRACLE WORKERS Yes, existential comedy is having a moment — and add Miracle Workers to the already great pile that includes The Good Place and Russian Doll. Based on the novel What in God's Name and adapted for TV by the book's author Simon Rich, the series asks a very important question: what if God was a slacker played by Steve Buscemi? The amusing questions keep coming. What if heaven was a huge company charged with making Earth run smoothly? What if two employees were responsible for all of the world's miracles? What if said miracle workers made a bet with God, and he's planning to blow up the planet if they lose? It all makes for ace viewing, complete with a stellar cast, including Daniel Radcliffe and Australian actress Geraldine Viswanathan (Emo the Musical, Blockers) as the duo trying to save humanity by performing one heavenly feat: making a shy couple fall in love. The entire first season of Miracle Workers is available to stream now on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwYBw1raC2o DEAD TO ME When the trailer for Dead to Me first released, we noted that this blend of drama and comedy gave off A Simple Favour vibes — and we stand by it. The Netflix series isn't as quirky or laugh-out-loud funny as that great flick; however, it similarly nails the complications of female friendship. The incredibly watchable show also delves into the many shades of grief smartly and satisfyingly as well. Story-wise, Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini play new pals who meet at a bereavement support group, bonding over their shared mourning for their respective spouses. But there's more to their tale, with the show adhering to one of the streaming platform's favourite techniques and throwing up cliffhangers at the end of every episode. Given the way that the first season comes to a close, you'll definitely be left waiting for the just-announced second series. The entire first season of Dead to Me is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho1YcutJLb8 NOW APOCALYPSE He made his famous Teen Apocalypse Trilogy back in the 90s, courted controversy with the Joseph Gordon-Levitt-starring Mysterious Skin, gave the world a female-fronted stoner comedy with Happy Face and won the first ever Cannes Film Festival Queer Palm with Kaboom. Alas, it's been five years since filmmaker Gregg Araki last made a movie — and while Now Apocalypse is definitely a television show, it's 100 percent driven by the distinctive writer/director. Transferring his talents to the small screen (and his usual themes, standout visual style and love of taking viewers on a head trip), Araki's series is set in Los Angeles, and follows Ulysses (Avan Jogia) and his fellow twenty-something pals. They're are all just trying to chase their dreams, but in Uly's case, that could be a literal quest given that his monstrous nightmares seem to be coming true. The entire first season of Now Apocalypse is available to stream on Stan. Looking for more viewing highlights? Check out our list of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.
Every last trilby-wearing tween celebrity, President’s daughter and your smug, smug US-based friends will be rubbing their paws together after this morning’s Coachella festival lineup. Running over three weekends from April 10 - 19, the Californian festival has delivered their usual jaw-dropper of a lineup. Big gun headliners AC/DC, Jack White and Drake mark the top of the weekend bills, with a bonafide metric fucktonne of squealworthy buds filling out the rest — Interpol, Belle and Sebastian, Florence and the Machine, alt-J, St. Vincent, Ratatat, Jenny Lewis, FKA Twigs, Drive Like Jehu and Ol’Davey Guett-Guett to name a few. Homegrown legends are heading on over and representing with gusto, with Tame Impala, Chet Faker, Angus and Julia Stone, Vance Joy, What So Not and Alison Wonderland on the bill. Anyway, let’s be honest, you haven’t truly read any of those words — you’ll be wanting this:
Ah, film and television awards season. For those that like watching screen-based entertainment — aka everyone, admit it — it's the medium's sporting moment. Contenders grace our cinemas and TVs, various organisations nominate various flicks and shows for awards, and audiences watch. And, oh boy do we watch. We watch when Meryl Streep gives a kickass speech calling out fear and intolerance as she's being honoured, and when Kristen Wiig steals the best comic moment, as this year's Golden Globes proved. We watch when Ryan Gosling gives a heartfelt thanks, Jimmy Fallon struggles without the teleprompter, and when Isabelle Huppert leaps to her feet to clap for herself, too. And, whether your top film of the year won all of the shiny ornaments (hello La La Land) or one of your fave new television programs missed out a gong (sorry Stranger Things), we can still watch all of the best and the rest once the ceremonies are over. Indeed, this year's Globes winners have gifted us all with quite the must-watch list of both quality efforts to catch up on, and others coming to screens near us soon. Here's our pick of their picks. Get viewing. BIG SCREEN MUST-SEES MOONLIGHT Where do we start with the second feature from writer/director Barry Jenkins, and the other film that awards groups have been showering with love for months before it took out the Best Picture, Drama category at the Golden Globes? The way that Jenkins layers three chapters of a young man's life — and of his attempts to forge his identity and come to terms with his sexuality as a child, teen and man — is nothing short of remarkable, both in terms of his complex themes and his poetic images. And then there's the disarming performances. Prepare to add Mahershala Ali (who missed out on a Best Supporting Actor award) and Andre Holland, who viewers of House of Cards and The Knick might recognise, to your favourite actors list. GLOBES: Won: Best Picture — Drama Nominated: Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Mahershala Ali), Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Naomie Harris), Best Director of a Motion Picture (Barry Jenkins), Best Original Score (Nicholas Britell), Best Original Screenplay (Barry Jenkins). LA LA LAND If you haven't seen Damian Chazelle's modern-day musical yet, you really should hop — or dance, more appropriately — to it. The visually vibrant, emotionally layered ode to the way life and love don't always go as planned just nabbed all seven Golden Globes it was nominated for, cleaning out the Musical or Comedy movie category (Best Picture, Actress and Actor), and taking home Best Director, Screenplay and Score. It's also likely to do something similar at the Oscars next month, so prepare to keep hearing about this Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling-starring swooning, crooning charmer. GLOBES: Won: Best Picture — Musical or Comedy, Best Actress — Musical or Comedy (Emma Stone), Best Actor — Musical or Comedy (Ryan Gosling), Best Director (Damien Chazelle), Best Original Score (Justin Hurwitz), Best Screenplay (Damien Chazelle) Read our review. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA Speaking of actors given a worthy showcase, Casey Affleck, younger brother of Ben, gets his moment to shine in Manchester by the Sea. He plays a Boston janitor who seeks isolation to cope with a past tragedy, but is forced to return to his home town — and leave his lonely comfort zone — to take care of his teenage nephew. With Michelle Williams and Moonrise Kingdom's Lucas Hedges also in stellar form, and You Can Count On Me and Margaret writer/director Kenneth Lonergan in charge, be prepared for one of the affecting, astute and insightful ruminations on grief and pain (and, also intermittently amusing, too), that you're likely to see. GLOBES: Won: Best Actor — Drama (Casey Affleck) Nominated: Best Picture — Drama, Best Supporting Actress — Drama (Michelle Williams), Best Director — Drama (Kenneth Lonergan), Best Screenplay — Drama (Kenneth Lonergan) ELLE One of the most legitimately divisive awards contenders this year boasts two things that make it worth your time: Isabelle Huppert and an intriguing examination of its rape/revenge-focused central premise. To be honest, the exceptional performance by newly minted Best Actress in a Drama winner Huppert is reason enough, and whether you love, hate or fall somewhere in the middle on the film itself, you'll always be intrigued. Movies directed by Total Recall, Showgirls and Starship Troopers' Paul Verhoeven have a knack for doing that — in fact, Elle also won the Globes' Best Foreign Lanuage Film category. GLOBES: Won: Best Actress — Drama (Isabelle Huppert), Best Foreign Language Film Read our review. ZOOTOPIA The importance of embracing difference wasn't just something Meryl Streep talked about. It was also the central message of one of 2016's best animated flicks. From the sci-fi contemplations of Your Name to the origami-oriented efforts of Kubo and the Two Strings, last year was a great year for animated fare — and Zootopia easily belongs in their company. A bunny tries to become a cox, a fox attempts to be seen as something other than sly, and adults and children alike both learn lessons and are entertained. GLOBES: Won: Best Animated Feature Film. Read our review. FUTURE SMALL SCREEN BINGES ATLANTA You've loved him on Community and as Childish Gambino, but you haven't seen fresh Golden Globes winner Donald Glover like this before. Atlanta might've earned him a gleaming statue in the comedy section — and for Best Music or Comedy Series, too — but it's a dramedy filled with thoughtful and comedic moments. And really, when you're taking on the rap scene of titular city, complete with the struggles of class, a balance of harrowing moments and levity is exactly what you'd expect. GLOBES: Won: Best Musical or Comedy TV Series, Best Actor — Musical or Comedy (Donald Glover) THE NIGHT MANAGER Turning The Night Manager into a success wasn't difficult — but just because something is easy, doesn't mean that it isn't excellent. All of the winning elements are there: a top notch cast that includes Golden Globe winners Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman (plus Aussie actress Elizabeth Debicki), great source material from noted spy-centric author John le Carré;, and an ace director in the form of Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier (In A Better World, A Second Chance). Oh, and the kind of thrills that come when an everyman gets thrust into the world of espionage, and forced to cosy up with a philanthropist that's also an arms dealer. GLOBES: Won: Best Actor in a Mini-Series (Tom Hiddleston), Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series (Hugh Laurie), Best Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series (Olivia Colman) Nominated: Best Mini-Series or TV Film THE CROWN Think tabloid magazines love the British royal family? Sure, they do, but not half as much as writer and playwright Peter Morgan. The Crown is his second effort to focus on Queen Elizabeth II, with the 2006 Helen Mirren-starring drama film The Queen proving the first, and now his Netflix series jumping back to the monarch's early years. John Lithgow stars as Winston Churchill, former Doctor Who Matt Smith steps into the young Prince Phillip's shoes, and Golden Globe Best Actress in a TV Drama winner Claire Foy plays Her Royal Highness. GLOBES: Won: Best Drama TV Series, Best Actress in a Drama TV Series (Claire Foy) Nominated: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama TV Series (John Lithgow) THE PEOPLE V O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY Speaking of art recreating life, there's no prizes for guessing what the latest season of American Crime Story focused on. However, if you think you know all there is to know about this tale, think again. And, prepare to be surprised not only by how involving this true crime dramatisation is, but at the acting talent on display. Sarah Paulson is everything in this, but expect to be unable to tear your eyes away from Cuba Gooding Jr, John Travolta and David Schwimmer as well. GLOBES: Won: Best Mini-Series or TV Film, Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Film (Sarah Paulson) Nominated: Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Film (Courtney B. Vance), Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Film (John Travolta), Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Film (Sterling K. Brown) GOLIATH Remember how great it was to watch Billy Bob Thornton in weekly doses in the first season of the Fargo television series? Remember how, even when he's in a terrible film (we're talking about you, Bad Santa 2), he's usually the best thing in it. All of that should get you excited about Amazon's legal drama Goliath, which just won Thornton Best Actor in a Drama from the Globes TV nods. He plays a washed up lawyer who likes a drink and doesn't love his job, only to find his world turned upside down when he takes on a wrongful death lawsuit. GLOBES: Won: Best Actor in a TV Series — Drama (Billy Bob Thornton)
One big ol’ picnic party is coming to the Mornington Peninsula, with a day-long luncheon filled with great food, wine and music this Sunday, March 29. The Peninsula Picnic will see tasting plates and dishes from some of Melbourne’s best chefs roaming Mornington Racecourse, including The European’s Ian Curley, Terminus at Flinders Hotel’s Pierre Khodja, and Pope Joan’s Matt Wilkinson. But the local culinary wizards are fronting up too — so you can match autumnal nosh with peninsula wines from vineyards such as Terre, Montalto, Circe and Crittenden Estate. But perhaps you're keen to get picnicking early, or want to learn the secrets behind those peninsula nosh offerings? We've coerced the kitchens of Montalto and Terre into handing over their specially created recipes for Peninsula Picnic, so you can make your own delectable picnic food at home. Some of them might seem a bit tricky, but you'll get there. Consider it a culinary challenge. They've even paired a playlist for each cook-up. And if it doesn't all go to plan, at least there'll be plenty of wine. MONTALTO ENTREE Tomato tart with main ridge goat cheese Serves 4 200g of homemade or good quality store-bought butter puff pastry 1kg pulp heirloom tomatoes 250g main ridge goat chevre 80g sugar 80ml red wine vinegar 4 cloves of garlic 10 sprigs of thyme 2 bay leaves olive oil salt and pepper Preheat oven to 130 degrees. Cut tomatoes into halves and remove seeds. Place tomatoes in a bowl and toss with salt, pepper, chopped thyme and sliced garlic, then cover and place in fridge. Heat sugar in a pan over a medium flame until sugar is dissolved and starts to turn golden caramel, then take the pan off the heat and pour in the vinegar. Return back to the heat and stir until all combined. Add your caramel to tomatoes then place on baking tray place in oven for 1.5 to 2 hours. When tomatoes are cooked, grab a baking dish and olive oil the bottom. Place tomatoes on the bottom, arranging them close together. Discard any thyme stalks or big pieces of garlic. Set aside until cool. This can be done up to a day ahead and left in the fridge. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Cut puff pastry to cover tomatoes and then bake in oven till pastry has risen and turned golden brown and 15 to 20 min, let cool for about 5 min then turn out onto a plate crumb over goats cheese and garnish with fresh garden roquette. MAIN Cocotte of free range chicken with cider tarragon jus and autumn vegetables Serves 4 2 x 1kg free range chickens or 1 1.6kg chicken Cider and tarragon jus: 200g unsalted butter 1 bunch French tarragon — picked and chopped 750ml good quality apple cider 30 ml sherry vinegar 500ml veal glaze 200ml chicken stock 1 tsp tarragon mustard 1 carrot 1 celery 1 onion 1 head garlic 1/2 bunch thyme Autumn vegetables: 100g green beans 12 baby carrots 12 baby turnips 6 baby leeks (cut in half lengthways) 12 baby squash 12 baby zucchini Salt To prep the chicken: Remove the breasts from the bone. Remove leg and thigh, remove knuckle from leg then separate leg and thigh at the joint. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Season pieces with salt, then in a hot cocotte, brown off leg and thigh. Once golden, add breast, brown skin side down. Place in oven with 2 crushed garlic cloves and half a bunch of thyme for 8-10 minutes (or until just cooked). Remove, add nob of butter and cover set aside. Important note: chicken is to be cooked after the jus is made. To prep jus: Chop remaining bones into small pieces. Place into hot pan with small amount of oil. Cook until browned and remove excess fat. Place 50g butter into pan and brown until nutty. Add chopped onion, carrot, celery and 2 crushed cloves of garlic, and lightly brown. Deglaze with apple cider, reduce by half. Add tarragon stalks and quarter bunch of thyme, add veal glaze and chicken stock, reduce by half. When reduced, strain through fine sieve and set aside. Before serving bring sauce to boil and add tarragon mustard, sherry vinegar and freshly chopped tarragon. To prep vegetables: Cook each vegetable separately in salted boiling water and warm through with a nob of butter and a splash of jus before serving. To serve: Serve chicken in cocotte, garnish with vegetables and pour over jus. Serve with a side of baby chat potatoes with fresh parsley. DESSERT Lemon and blackcurrant gratin chiboust with green apple sorbet Italienne meringue: 12g sugar 25g glucose 50g water 185g egg whites Cream powder mixture: 60g Flour 30g Corn flour 10g Rice flour 190g lemon juice 125g double cream 7 egg yolks 5 gelatin leaves Blackcurrant jam: 500g blackcurrants 100g sugar 50g water Apple sorbet: 500g Granny Smith apples 90g glucose powder 250g sugar 400ml water 10g sorbet stabiliser mix To prep jam: Put all ingredients in a pot. Cook till you've got a jam consistency. To make cream mixture: Bring cream and lemon juice to the boil. Whisk eggs, sugar and cream powder together. Pour hot cream and lemon juice into egg mix, make into paste, return to pot and cook out until thick. Soak gelatin and add to cream pat mixture, then place mix into large bowl, cover with clear wrap and let cool. To prep Italian meringue: Mix water, glucose and sugar together and bring to 121 degrees. Whisk egg whites in mixer till soft peak and slowly add the hot sugar. Whisk till cool. Fold egg whites into cream, pat mix and fill moulds halfway. Add blackcurrant jam and then fill the rest of the moulds. To make apple sorbet: Mix and boil glucose, water, sugar and stabiliser. Let cool. Blend apples together, then pass through strain and churn. Wine suggestion: late harvest Riesling. MONTALTO'S PLAYLIST Montalto from PeninsularPicnic on 8tracks Radio. TERRE ENTREE Barbecued whole garfish with heirloom tomato, white anchovy and parsley salad To prep garfish: Ensure cleaned well — wipe out belly cavity with paper towel. Drizzle with olive oil and sea salt, especially in the belly cavity. Barbecue over high heat until just cooked through. To prep tomato salad: Chop tomatoes roughly. Tear flat leaf parsley. Cut anchovy fillets in half. Toss together in large bowl with sherry vinegar, sea salt and olive oil. MAIN Slow roasted lamb shoulder with minted yoghurt To prep lamb shoulder: If there's a bone, you'll get better flavour, but if the bone's out that's ok — it's just a shorter cooking time. Trim any large pieces of sinew. Cut a shallow cris-cross pattern into lamb to allow marinade to better infuse. To prep marinade: 3 tbsp pomegranate molasses 2 tbsp ground cumin 2 sprigs finely chopped rosemary 2 cloves garlic, grated 80ml canola oil Sea salt Combine marinade ingredients with a whisk and massage into lamb. Marinate overnight, or at least three hours prior to cooking. Preheat oven to 240 degrees. Place on roasting rack and place in oven for 20 mins. Turn oven down to 120 degrees and continue to roast till meat is falling off the bone (roughly three hours). The outside should be dark and caramelised, but the flesh should still be moist and tender. Cover loosely with foil and allow to rest at least 20 minutes before serving. To prep carrots: If the carrots are very young and fresh — don’t peel them — just give them a good wash to remove any dirt (especially around the tops) To prep dressing: 150g honey 150 whole almonds – roughly chopped 100ml cider vinegar 40ml orange blossom water 150ml extra virgin olive oil 1/2 green chilli — deseeded and finely sliced Combine almonds and honey in heavy based pan over a gentle heat. Cook until the honey is lightly caramelised and the almonds are toasted (roughly 5 minutes stirring constantly). Add the cider vinegar, the orange blossom and the chilli and stir to combine. Allow to cool before seasoning with salt and pepper and then add the olive oil. To prep freekeh: Soak 150g freekeh in 400ml cold water for an hour before cooking. Bring to boil and then gently simmer adding more water as needed. Season towards the end of the cooking process. Cook until al dente and then drain and place on a tray to cool in the fridge. Place the carrots in generously salted cold water and slowly bring to the boil. When the carrots are al dente, remove from water and while warm, toss in the honey dressing. Mix the freekeh with the remaining honey dressing. Place carrots on top and garnish with torn coriander to serve. To prep minted yoghurt: 200ml natural yoghurt 1 lebanese cucumber, diced Mint leaves — chopped Combine ingredients with a good pinch of salt. Allow flavours to mellow at least 1 hour before serving. DESSERT Apple, rhubarb and blackberry pie To make sweet pastry: 250g unsalted butter, softened 250g pure icing sugar, sifted Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 1 egg 60ml milk 500g plain flour, sifted Beat butter, zest and icing sugar until pale. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition until well amalgamated. Add milk and finally flour, beating until combined, do not overwork the pastry. Wrap in cling film and chill for 1-2 hours, or overnight. Roll pastry to 3mm thickness, cut in circles and place in pie tins or on baking tray lined with parchment. Fill as desired, cover with pastry or lattice strips, or alternatively pull the edges of the pastry roughly to centre for a more rustic pie. Sprinkle pastry generously with demerara sugar and bake in a preheated oven at 200° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Dust with icing sugar if desired when cold. Left over dough can be refrigerated for one week or frozen for two months — tart filling can be frozen for two months. To make tart filling, roast rhubarb and apple: 1 bunch rhubarb 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled 200g brown sugar Juice and rind of 1 orange 200g blackberries Slice rhubarb and apples into batons and toss with juice, rind and brown sugar until sugar dissolved. Spread onto parchment paper and bake 160° until just tender, approximately 20-25 minutes. When cool mix with blackberries. If fruit mixture is too wet strain off excess liquid. Serve with clotted cream, mascarpone or good quality vanilla bean ice cream. TERRE'S PLAYLIST: Terre from PeninsularPicnic on 8tracks Radio. Peninsula Picnic is happening this Sunday, March 29 at Mornington Racecourse. More info over here. Words by Hannah Valmadre and Shannon Connellan. Recipes by Montalto and Terre.
American communications company ViaSat has teamed up with aerospace manufacturer Boeing on a project that will bring high-speed internet to some of the remotest places on earth. The two companies announced plans this week to build a trio of satellites whose capacity will dwarf those of the existing satellite network, and have the potential to help billions of new users get online. The three ViaSat-3 satellites are each expected to have network capacities of 1 terabyte (1,000 gigabytes) per second, more than double that of the world's current 400-strong satellite network combined. The satellites will be capable of delivering service of more than 100 megabits per second to parts of the world too isolated for hardwired internet service, and will also allow for better internet services on airplanes, ships and offshore oil and gas platforms. "The innovations in the ViaSat-3 system do what until now has been impossible in the telecommunications industry – combining enormous network capacity with global coverage, and dynamic flexibility to allocate resources according to geographic demand," read a statement from ViaSat chairman and CEO Mark Dankberg. The first two ViaSat-3 satellites are expected to go into orbit in 2019 and will provide service to the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Africa, respectively. The launch date for the third satellite, which will service Asia, has yet to be announced. Via Fast Company. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
Are you a new music fiend? The type who hunts for a good dose of freshly minted music on a regular basis? Sorting through a month of music is epic business. Sure, you could hit up a few Spotify playlists, but we reckon you're after a few true gems, handpicked from four weeks of new releases. We've done the dirty work for you, filled our ears with everything we could get our mitts on and picked ten tracks that really stood out this month. Whack in your headphones and load up on these newbies. CHRISTOPHER PORT — 'HEAVENS' One of the finest advocates for UK garage Australia currently possesses, Christopher Port recently launched his solo project after providing support for a number of this country's most loved acts — including Big Scary and Ngaiire. The producer's upbeat soundscapes and sampling have come as a bit of a surprise for those not privy to his extracurricular talents, and have marked his solo work as a hugely interesting aside to his usual engagements. 'Heavens' is the second single to come from his debut EP Vetement, out July 15 via Pieater. BADBADNOTGOOD FEAT. MICK JENKINS — 'HYSSOP OF LOVE' One of my favourite hip-hop collectives, BADBADNOTGOOD, are back this year with a new album which will be available in a matter of weeks. The latest cut from the Canadian's record IV features up-and-coming Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins (in the Ghostface Killah role), who has been on my watch list since his impressive debut record Water. BBNG provide a relaxed, blaxploitation-inspired backdrop to Jenkins' sharp delivery, and once again highlights this crew as one of the tightest acts in the world. THE GOODS FEAT. BRUCE HATHCOCK — 'NIGHTLIFE' Sydney-based duo The Goods are a recent find, having recently turned their attention to their own music having after cutting their teeth as session musicians and producers. Their sound sits somewhere between a throwback funk/soul outfit and an Australian version of Kaytranada, with this catchy recipe recently taking the form of single 'Nightlife'. Featuring the Marvin Gaye-esque tones of Californian vocalist Bruce Hathcock, it's the latest the track from The Goods' upcoming double EP out July 1. THE OCEAN PARTY — 'BACK BAR' One of the most loveable bands in Australia, you always know what you're going to get when the Ocean Party release a new track. Their latest offering, 'Back Bar', again hits the mark with an upbeat, catchy number that comes in at just over 2:30. I challenge you to listen without smiling, especially when you pair it with the track's comical video clip which features nudity, air guitar and something that resembles wrestling jello. 'Back Bar' is the first single from the band's upcoming 6th (!) full length record, which I'm already predicting will be on high rotation in my household. MADELINE KENNEY — 'SIGNALS' Perhaps the most beautiful song I've heard this year, Madeline Kenney's 'Signals' has been a revelation since I came across it earlier this month. The latest signing to Chaz Bundwick's (Toro Y Moi) label Company Records, Oakland-based Kenney's debut EP (also titled Signals) is a stunner, full of standout vocals and dreamy soundscapes. It's a must-have for fans of Beach House and Grizzly Bear, and I'd love to share this record with as many people while she still remains small so I can say 'I told you so' when she blows up. WHAT SO NOT x GEORGE MAPLE FEAT. ROME FORTUNE — 'BURIED' The combination of these two Australian acts with fascinating Atlanta rapper Rome Fortune was enough to grab my attention, and I was surprised by my appreciation for this one when I gave it a little time. The gorgeous opening of 'Buried' takes me back to my obsession with Meshell Ndegeocello's incredible Comfort Woman record, before the nicely balanced production takes off, giving Fortune the perfect platform to let his powerful verses fly. This is a track that could have been incredibly confusing given the combination of distinctive artists, but the result is the opposite, with the track perfectly balancing each strong element. UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA — 'FIRST WORLD PROBLEM' Technically released in the shadows of May, there's no way I'm not including Unknown Mortal Orchestra's latest single 'First World Problem' in my list this month. The first new music since last year's breakout record Multi-Love, the track's slightly repetitive vocals are well and truly tempered by the its rich production and variation, with a brass section adding plenty of sass to this epically danceable number. As an aside, if you've overdone your UMO listening over the past few years, make sure to check out recent Laneway Festival casualty Silicon's (Reuben Neilson's brother Cody's project) debut album 2015 record Personal Computer. WALLACE — 'IS IT YOU?' There seems to have been a bit of a soul revival in Australia over the past few years, with acts like Hiatus Kaiyote, Jordan Rakei and Sasquatch leading the charge. One of this new breed of talent is Sydney-based Newzealander Wallace, who has been on the radar as one to watch since she released her debut single 'Vinyl Skip' early last year. Continuing to build on her early success, she released perhaps her most solid work to date earlier this month, teaming up with Dutch production duo Kraak & Smaak for the gorgeous 'Is It You?', a track that pairs Wallace's sultry vocals perfectly with smooth, tempered production that transports the listener to a smoky, backroom jazz bar. CASS MCCCOMBS — 'OPPOSITE HOUSE' Alt-country aficionado Cass McCombs recently announced a new addition to his impressive discography, with new album Mangy Love set for release in August. The first taste of said record is 'Opposite House', a dreamy track which features backing vocals from the radiant Angel Olsen (who'll be releasing her own new album later this year), and again solidifies the Californian as your favourite Sunday soundtrack artist. CITIES AVIV — 'MELANIN DROP' This track has so much going on, it's hard to believe it's only three minutes long. Experimental hip hop artist Cities Aviv jumps through numerous guises throughout, from aggressive MC, to laidback producer, to spoken word poet, all the while drawing the listener further into his web of brilliance. 'Melanin Drop' is one of the most interesting listens I've had in a long time, and is a worthy addition to this humble list. Top image: George Maple.
Gird your livers, beer lovers, for Melbourne's annual celebration of all things hoppy and gold is back for 2016. The program for this year's Good Beer Week features more than 270 free and ticketed events across Melbourne and Victoria, from workshops to tastings to food and brew degustations, and even an honest to God fashion show. In fact, there's so much happening that they've tacked on three extra days, bringing the grand total to ten. Hardly a traditional week — not that we're complaining. Running from Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 22, the sixth annual Good Beer Week is split into various different streams. For those who like a drink with their dinner, the Foodie section features a number of enticing events, including a Vietnamese degustation at Uncle and a four-course Louisiana beer dinner at Ding Dong Lounge. The party-packed Good Times section, meanwhile, includes the opening and closing night shindigs, both of which will be held at Beer Deluxe. Other standout events include a showcase of female brewing talent at The Fox Hotel and an afternoon of beer, Reuben sandwiches and 90s hip-hop at 5 Points Deli. The remaining sections are divided based on your level of beer expertise. Beer 101 features various workshops and presentations, including a hands-on cider making class at Arbory and an 'Australian tour' held at Pilgrim in Fed Square, featuring six different beers from six different states. The Beer Geek and Beer Lover sections, on the other hand, are best suited to beer-swilling veterans. Learn the ins and outs of nano-brewing courtesy of the folk at Henry Street Brewhouse in Kensington, or throw yourself into the annual Pint of Origin showdown at bars and pubs all over the state.
