Inner city Melburnians won't be the only Victorian residents diving into a massive all-night arts bash next year. White Night is expanding in 2017, with the regional town of Ballarat joining the likes of Melbourne, Paris, Toronto and São Paulo as hosts for the one-night festival of dazzling light projections, interactive art, live music, performance and film. Set to happen two weeks after the Melbourne instalment in February, White Night Ballarat will see artists taking over the town's city centre, public spaces, laneways, building facades, live music venues and parks for March 4, 2017. Of course, the event's globally famous use of light art will be the main focus, with large-scale projections set to give Vivid Sydney a run for its money. It's the trademark of the world-renowned Nuit Blanche project (of which White Night is a part), which turns cities around the world into glittering galleries for one night only. The huge news was announced by tourism and major events minister John Eren on Friday, along with the reveal of White Night Melbourne and Ballarat's new artistic director — Australian dancer, choreographer, director and producer David Atkins. He produced the opening and closing ceremonies for the Sydney Olympic Games, so you could say it's not his first time at the large-scale, high-production event rodeo. Watch this space for White Night Ballarat's nitty gritty program details. White Night Ballarat is happening on March 4 2017. White Night Melbourne is locked in for February 18, 2017. Via The Age.
One of the biggest films of 2015 sees a team of valiant superheroes do battle with a malevolent android named Ultron. A hulking hunk of metal bent on human annihilation, he’s the latest in a long line of movie robots run amuck, one that stretches back all the way to Fritz Lang’s silent Metropolis and encompasses many of the all-time great science-fiction films, including 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Terminator and the criminally underrated masterpiece that is Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey. But while Ultron is busy making life difficult for Iron Man and pals, a smaller film is offering a more nuanced take on the dilemmas of artificial intelligence. The directorial debut of writer Alex Garland, Ex Machina is a (relatively) low-budget techno thriller that poses some big, frightening questions about where humankind may be headed. Carried on the shoulders of its three central performances, it’s an intriguing piece of understated science fiction that’ll leave you pondering its content long after it comes to an end. The film follows Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer for a massive internet search engine, who wins a mysterious company-wide lottery. His prize: spend a week with the company’s eccentric founder Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac) in his remote mountainside home and research lab. There, Caleb finds himself introduced to Bateman’s most incredible invention yet: a humanoid robot named Ava (Swedish actress Alicia Vikander). The purpose of Caleb’s visit, Bateman explains, is to spend time speaking with Ava, to determine whether she has truly achieved artificial intelligence. As the week stretches on, however, Caleb begins to sense that something is terribly amiss. Although it’s his first film in the director’s chair, Garland is certainly no stranger to science fiction, having previously written the screenplays for Sunshine, 28 Days Later and Dredd. Still, Ex Machina is certainly his most cerebral work — slow moving, but never dull. As Ava and Caleb grow closer and Caleb begins to question Bateman’s ultimate goals, the film forces us to consider a number of difficult ideas, from what exactly it means to be human to what responsibilities come with playing God. A big part of what keeps the film engaging are the performances of Garland’s three leads. Gleeson’s awkward, good natured Caleb strikes a stark contrast with Isaac’s macho take on Bateman, whose heavy drinking and aggressive alpha male personality adds an uneasy tension to many of their exchanges. So too is it difficult to pin down the dynamic between Caleb and Vikander’s seemingly innocent robot, especially when she begins to show hints of romantic interest in her new companion — feelings that he soon begins to reciprocate. The film is at its best when it's exploring these kinds of emotional, social and technological grey areas. Hidden character motivations leave viewers in the same spot as Caleb, feeling increasingly uneasy, and unsure of exactly where they stand. If you just want explosions, go and see Age of Ultron. But if you’re looking for something a little more intellectually rewarding, Ex Machina is the ticket for you.
Looking for a decent lunch in Williamstown? Pier Farm have just launched a midweek 'Pasta & Pinot' winter warmer deal that fits the bill nicely. If you haven't checked out Pier Farm yet, it's one of the best restaurants in the west, with incredible seafood and show-stopping views out over the bay. It opened back in 2017 and locals have been quietly digging it ever since. Now, onto the special. $39 gets you a choice of three handmade pastas, plus a matching wine. You can pick from slow-cooked Bolognese and house-made tagliatelle (paired with a Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet), creamy rigatoni carbonara (matched with Vigna Stefani Chardonnay) or Gnocchi ala Sorrentina (washed down with a fruity Pasque Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie). Views and great service are included in the price. Pretty good value all round, really. Pier Farm's Pasta & Pinot special runs Tuesday to Friday for lunch seatings only throughout winter. You can take advantage of this delicious deal between 12pm and 2:30pm. Bookings are encouraged for this one: they tend to pack out at lunchtime. Images: Supplied
Movie lovers, prepare to lose your shit. Roadshow Films have confirmed that acclaimed writer-director Quentin Tarantino will visit Australia in January to promote his latest film, the star-studded, blood-soaked western The Hateful Eight. Details on the visit are still pretty scarce, with more information expected to drop in the coming months. What we do know is that Tarantino will attend a premiere in Sydney along with a "fan event" in Melbourne ahead of the movie's staggered theatrical release. The film is currently slated to debut in select cinemas in 70mm on January 14, followed by a wide release on January 21. Set on the western frontier shortly after the end of the American Civil War, The Hateful Eight revolves around eight strangers, played by Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, Demián Bachir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern, who become snowed in at a stagecoach stopover during a fearsome blizzard. This being a film from the guy behind Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, we're guessing things don't exactly go smoothly from there. Aside from the cast, one of the most noteworthy things about The Hateful Eight is Tarantino's decision to shoot and release the movie on 70mm film. The rarely utilised format allows filmmakers to capture images in greater detail, but is much more expensive than shooting a movie digitally or using standard 35mm film. "If we do our jobs right by making this film a 70mm event, we will remind people why this is something you can't see on television and how this is an experience you can't have when you watch movies in your apartment, your man cave or your iPhone or iPad," said Tarantino at the American Film Market earlier this year. "You'll see 24 frames per second play out, all these wonderfully painted pictures create the illusion of movement. I'm hoping it's going to stop the momentum of the digital stuff, and that people will hopefully go, 'man, that is going to the movies, and that is worth saving, and we need to see more of that.'" The issue is somewhat complicated by the fact that very few cinemas still have the equipment to project 70mm film prints — hence The Hateful Eight's two part release strategy. The Astor in Melbourne is one of the only theatres in the country that still regularly screens movies in the 70mm format, and shapes up as one likely venue for Tarantino's Australian visit.
After attracting hordes of art lovers to its Sydney editions for two years in a row, The Other Art Fair is making its way to Melbourne. The four-day fair, which started in London in 2011 as an alternative to commercial art market giants like the London Art Fair, will land in Melbourne on Thursday, May 4. As it has done in London and Sydney, The Other Art Fair will present works by more than 100 emerging and unrepresented artists, which have been handpicked by a dedicated bunch of experts. Those on the panel include artists Patricia Piccinini and Kathy Temin, plastic surgeon and art patron Dr Terry Wu, Mossgreen Gallery director Lisa Fehily and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art curator Annika Kristensen. "The Other Art Fair is unique in its approach to supporting artists, providing a platform to make original art accessible by directly connecting emerging artists with galleries, companies and individual collectors," said The Other Art Fair's director Zoe Paulsen. On top of the exhibition — from which you can purchase works directly from the artists — Melburnians can expect four days' worth of workshops, talks, and food and drinks. The full program, including the venue, will be announced in April. Since launching almost six years ago, the Other Art Fair has been incarnated 16 times — in Sydney, London and Bristol. Last year's Sydney fair saw 15 artists sell out their entire shows, five artists each sell over $20,000 worth of works and eight artists each sell over $10,000 worth. The Other Art Fair will take place in Melbourne on May 4–7. For more information, including the program and venue when announced, visit melbourne.theotherartfair.com. Image: Julian de Lorenzo.
When your last festival screened 48 films to 168,000 people around Australia, what comes next? It's a problem many events wish they had, however, in their 28th year, the Alliance Française French Film Festival is on the case. With the massive celebration of Gallic cinema continuing to draw huge crowds, the beloved annual festival is offering up more of the same — and we're giving away tickets. Kicking off on March 7 in Sydney before touring to Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Parramatta and Casula until April 9, the 2017 program begins and ends with a bang — or, with two very different journeys. In pole position at the start of the fest sits The Odyssey, an adventure-filled biopic focused on famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, and co-starring Audrey Tautou as Cousteau's wife Simone. Then, after running through the bulk of its 45-film selection, the fest comes to a close with maternal comedy A Bun in the Oven, featuring The Bélier Family's Karin Viard as an unexpectedly expectant 49-year old. In between, the AFFFF delivers on two fronts: stars and a vibrant array of big screen stories. There's plenty of both. The former includes 2017 Oscar-nominees Isabelle Huppert and Natalie Portman, with Huppert showing up twice — playing a woman with a secret past in the rom-com Souvenir, and a philosophy professor in Things to Come — and Portman joining forces with Lily-Rose Depp (yes, Johnny's daughter) in Planetarium. Depp also stars with French singer-actress Soko in The Dancer, while Marion Cotillard does double duty too in romance From the Land of the Moon and the Xavier Dolan-directed family drama It's Only the End of the World. Inglourious Basterds actress Mélanie Laurent co-directs environmental doco Tomorrow, the great Gérard Depardieu takes a road trip in Saint Amour, and one of the last roles played by Amour's Emmanuelle Riva, as an elderly aunt in Lost in Paris, also features. Elsewhere, the 2017 fest tells the tale of the first popular Afro-Cuban artist of the French stage in Monsieur Chocolate starring The Intouchables' Omar Sy opposite James Thierrée (aka Charlie Chaplin's grandson), examines the real-life circumstances surrounding a pregnant nun in The Innocents, dives into coming-of-age affections with Being 17 and gets ghostly with the haunting Daguerrotype. Or, viewers can catch Juliette Binoche at her most slapstick in farcical detective effort Slack Bay, and enjoy the kind of moral dilemmas the Dardenne brothers explore so well in The Unknown Girl. Looking back as well as forwards, a two-movie retrospective steps into the court of Versailles courtesy of the Marie Antoinette-centric Farewell, My Queen and music drama Mozart's Sister. Plus, if all of the above isn't enough for the most eager film buffs, dedicated cinephiles can take A Journey Through French Cinema for 191 minutes of movie history. [competition]611799[/competition]
Christmas shopping needn't be a chore. It's your chance to think about a person you care about, think about what element you and only you bring to their lives, mix it all up, and then pop a bow on that beautiful creation. Or, at the very least, make sure it's a good scented candle. Need some inspiration to start you off? Here's a leg up from the Concrete Playground team. It's only the products we've been eyeing off all year. These are the gifts we'd want under our tree, and to leave under others'. For the style savants A maximally minimal watch from The Horse No one does a wrist-dwarfing yet understated watch quite like The Horse. Japanese quartz movement meets gently grainy Italian leather at their Sydney studio, resulting in 12 highly Instagrammable timepieces. $129 from www.thehorse.com.au. Karen Walker's bold gold sunnies To mark ten unconventional years in the eyewear game, NZ designer Karen Walker has released the 'Celebrate' collection, entirely done in gold. This is for loved ones comfortable taking risks on their faces. NZ$399 at www.karenwalkereyewear.com. A reworked vintage Eames chair It's the kind of chair you get and then keep for life, and few do them better than Cast + Crew, who keep the classic shell and upholstery and add new custom legs in neon colours. From $395 at castandcrew.bigcartel.com/products (only some products ship to Australia). This completely perfect water bottle Ignore the gushy high-fashion crap all over the BKR website; these are just the best water bottles, period. They feel good to hold, they feel good to drink from, they're dishwashable and (since they're made of glass with a silicon sleeve) BPA free. US$30 at www.mybkr.com. The Lucy Folk 'Aphrodisiac' necklace It's a pearl. In its natural home. Much harmony, so wow. $750-$850 at lucyfolk.com/shop/. A custom wood keyboard by Oree For the design nerd who has it all: wooden tech. This portable wireless keyboard is made from single piece of wood (maple, walnut or wild cherry), and is customisable down to the key font. £150 from oreeartisans.com. For the food fiends The tiny woodfired pizza oven Yes, this is a legitimate option available to you. Tiny oven, full-size woodfired pizza. Just imagine the camping trip. The Uuni 2 oven is $399 from au.uuni.net. The Thug Kitchen cookbook If only all health food advocates were this sweary. We might be well detoxed by now. The Thug Kitchen cookbook is the perfect gift for friends, lovers, relatives, anyone in the MA15+ bracket. $23.95 at booktopia.com.au. Eau de Vie's small batch cocktails The only acceptable premix to put under someone's tree, from the cocktail masters at Sydney and Melbourne's Eau de Vie. $15 each from www.experimentalspiritsco.com.au. Cornersmith Hamper Hampers can be old hat, but not when they're full of goodies from Sydney's home of pickling, baking and cheese making. If you get the Workshop Wonder hamper, which comes with a class voucher, your giftee can learn to make the whole lot themselves. $40-195 at www.cornersmith.com.au. For the culture munchers The beautiful hardcover Wes Anderson Collection Film critic Matt Zoller Seitz dissects Anderson's aesthetic and idiosyncratic characters over 335 whimsical pages. If you think your giftee already has this one, there are 54 pages of lovingly made Wes Anderson tchotchkes on Etsy. $38.25 at www.booktopia.com.au. A dancing baby Groot Marvel is finally officially licensing these babies — the possible best thing from their possible best movie, Guardians of the Galaxy. The dancing baby Groot boogies in its pot while Jackson 5's 'I Want You Back' plays from the speaker. Stockists are as yet unknown, but Mashable says they'll be on shelves by Christmas. Tickets to one wild outdoor concert The new bookers at Taronga and Melbourne Zoos are magicians; they've got the likes of Bright Eyes' soul-searching dreamboat Conor Oberst, twee monarchs Belle and Sebastian and the one and only Rufus Wainwright playing their summer Twilight series. Tickets from $69 at twilightattaronga.org.au and www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/twilights. This portable speaker that looks like a big iPhone Portable speakers are almost as ubiquitous as soy candles this time of year, but the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A2 speaker stands out for its omnidirectional sound, 24-hour battery life and crazy-good looks. For the fidelity geek $479 at www.beoplay.com. Sydney Festival tickets If your giftee is in Sydney, give them the gift of a dazzlingly cultured January. We've rounded up some of our favourite and most giftable shows over here. From $29 at www.sydneyfestival.org.au. For the sun junkies This meta picnic blanket The seagulls are dive-bombing for your chips forever on this genius 'Mine Mine' picnic blanket. Trust Gorman. $99 at www.gormanshop.com.au A very clever beach bag Beach bags full of stray sand are just a summer reality, right? Wrong. The Shake Tote has a little flap that opens out to ditch those little grains, easy. US$29.99 from www.quirky.com. This semi-sensible rash vest Safety up top, party down the bottom with this cute rashie from new swimwear brand Neon Cactus. Octopus print and maroon are a sincerely underrated combo. $145 from www.neoncactus.com.au. These thongs with built-in bottle opener Look, this isn't the handsomest shoe, even among that dubious category know as 'mandals'. But that moment when your giftee takes off their thong and uses it to open a beer? That will make it all worth it. $69.99 at www.reef.com/au The Phantom 2 camera drone Twenty years ago, a camcorder was a cool thing to take on holiday. Now it's this: a rugged little quadcopter designed for videography whose flight path you can precisely program from your iPad. US$959 at store.dji.com For the stocking Underwater Puppies: The Book Is your giftee the Grinch? Because only the Grinch would fail to enjoy 128 pages of underwater puppy photos. Everyone else: loves them, loves you, loves everything forevermore. $23.95 from www.booktopia.com.au. The Sunscreen Flask Suddenly that extended family gathering is looking a lot more survivable, thanks to this innocuous-looking flask. US$16.99 at www.thisiswhyimbroke.com. The World's Largest Gummi Bear 24cm and 2kg of pure gummi, this is the perfect gift for that friend in your life (rightly) bemoaning the new reduced size of Killer Pythons. US$29.95 from giantgummybears.com. A mould to turn hard-boiled eggs into tiny skulls Who doesn't need this in their life? There's also one for giftees who prefer their eggs sunny side up. US$9.99 at www.amazon.com. Super Soakers Give someone in your life the gift of a very Leo DiCaprio summer by sticking a Nerf Super Soaker in their stocking. Hint to self: make sure you have one of your own to fire back at them. From $7.99 at www.toysrus.com.au.
The office cubicle. Its powers have been known to reduce any nine-to-fiver to a groaning, listless puddle by the end of the day. Thankfully, its tenure as a mainstay in our working lives might soon be over, with a revolutionary office pitched by interior designers Sean Cassidy and Joe Wilson, whose entry won top gong in the Workplace of the Future 2.0 Competition. Cassidy and Wilson's vision of the future workplace is one where the employees' needs always come first. In their aptly named plan, Organic Grid+, workers can seek respite from long hours staring at computer screens in the form of a high-rise sky garden, right in the office. The space itself is designed to be flexible, with customisable walls, desks and meetings rooms to whatever suits the employees' best. The balance of sustainability and ergonomics is ultimately a move to encourage higher productivity and morale at work. And if you're feeling peckish, you can say goodbye to trips down to the local cafe; instead you'll be able to harvest and grow your own food right in the heart of the office. However, on a more freaky note, the duo have dreamed up the idea of 'health-conscious plug-ins', that is, wearable technology that will monitor your well-being and be the voice of reason when you're hankering for that afternoon pick-me-up. And there's indoor abseiling, why not. We spend on average one-third of our lives at work, so it's all the better Cassidy and Wilson are leading the charge to turn our working space into an environment that repackages the comforts of nature and the home. There's already been similar constructions incorporating greenery into the corporate world: New York's office garden terrace, and in London, a three-storey indoor public park. The only downside? After this, we'll probably never leave our offices ever again. Via Fast Company. Images: Organic Grid+.
Good (or just pretty good) news for the Australian arts community today. The federal government has once again redesigned its controversial arts funding scheme, following months of heavy campaigning by artists around the country. Communications and arts minister Mitch Fifield announced today that the widely maligned National Program for Excellence in the Arts (NPEA), which was introduced by his predecessor George Brandis with next to no consultation with the artistic community, will have its funding reduced by $32 million over four years, with the money instead being reallocated to the independent Australia Council — from whose budget it was originally cribbed. Top stuff. The change comes after the government received significant pushback from artists and political opponents, who were outraged by the decision made under the Abbott government to redirect $104 million from the Australia Council to the newly created NPEA — a move many believed would prove fatal for small, independent arts groups. Calls were made for Turnbull to take over the troubled portfolio, and here we are. Under this latest round of changes (and let's be honest here, there'll probably be more down the line), the NPEA budget will drop from $20 million a year to $12 million, with the savings being returned to the Australia Council. Brandis' brainchild will also be getting a brand spanking new name, going from the National Program for Excellence in the Arts to Catalyst - Australian Arts and Cultural Fund. Yeah, it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue either, does it? Now, while this definitely seems like a step in the right direction, don't start planning your celebratory interpretive dance show just yet. I'm no mathematician, but $32 million still seems like a lot less than $104 million. Let me just quickly check the numbers on that... yep, it's definitely less. Moreover, despite the budget cut and the name change, it appears that Catalyst will still function in much the same way as the NPEA would have. Like they say, a rose by any other name. Although in this case, a rose probably isn't the best analogy. Fifield is expected to announce further details regarding these changes later today. In the meantime, the National Association for the Visual Arts has issued a statement suggesting the fight is far from over. "We are relieved that the Minister is prepared to go some way towards alleviating the havoc being caused by the original decision of his predecessor," said NAVA Executive Director Tamara Winikoff. "However, the renamed Catalyst program is still being created at the expense of ensuring the survival of organisations that are the engine room for developing and presenting new Australian work." Via SMH. Image: Chunky Move.
Can you feel a tingling in your toes as your feet start to defrost? That's the feeling of winter slipping away (or maybe you've been sitting cross-legged for too long) and with its demise comes the return of Australia's beloved Moonlight Cinema. Ahhh balmy nights on the grass, we have missed you. Heralding the coming of the warmer months, Moonlight Cinema is a summertime tradition and it always nails the balance between new releases and cult classics. The film program is yet to be announced, but we'll keep you updated as soon as it is. Nosh-wise, Moonlight Cinema will again let you BYO movie snacks and drinks, but the unorganised can also chow down on a plethora of US style food trucks — the perfect, messy treat made for reclining on bean beds. Bean beds and snack trucks, is there anything better? This season includes screens in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, running from November through to March. Get your pens out and jot down these dates. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2018 DATES: Sydney: Nov 29–Mar 31 (Belvedere Amphitheatre in Centennial Park) Melbourne: Nov 29–Mar 31 (Central Lawn at the Royal Botanic Gardens) Brisbane: Nov 29–Mar 31 (Roma Street Parkland) Perth: Dec 1–Mar 31 (May Drive Parkland, Kings Park & Botanic Garden) Adelaide: Dec 8–Feb 17 (Botanic Park) The Moonlight Cinema kicks off on November 29. For more information and bookings here.
One of Broadway's hottest and most prohibitively priced tickets of the last five years, The Book of Mormon, is finally getting an Australian staging, making its Australian premiere at Melbourne's Princess Theatre this year. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints, African missions, AIDS, bum jokes and super ironic racism. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards and a Grammy since it debuted in 2011, and has been called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". Directed by Parker with choreographer Casey Nicholaw, the show has a new local cast. If you've been among the throngs to see the musical in New York, Chicago or London, then you'll be plenty excited that your Melbourne friends will now get the chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. If you're still deciding whether or buy tickets or simply waiting patiently for the day to come, get in the mood by watching this clip of Girls star and original Mormon cast member Andrew Rannells singing the ballad of religious faith 'I Believe' at the Tony Awards. UPDATE, JANUARY 6, 2017: The Book of Mormon has announced an additional preview show on Tuesday, January 17, a day before performances officially start. The best part? Tickets are only $20. But to get your hands on them, you'll have to physically get yourself to the Princess Theatre box office from 10am on Monday, January 9. We're betting you'll have to get there real early. All the details are here.
Mazes are often associated with the feeling of being lost, but, in the case of the National Galley of Victoria, you might see this as a good thing. As part of the 2017 NGV Architecture Commission, Garden Wall features a maze-like series of open-air passageways, corridors and rooms which are designed to help visitors rediscover the NGV's Grollo Equiset Garden. Designed by Retallack Thompson and Other Architects, the structure's 260 walls shift from translucent to opaque, aiming to hide and reveal aspects of the garden, including sculptures and other visitors simultaneously. Each room will focus on a particular feature of the garden — such as Henry Moore's bronze sculpture Draped Seated Woman — to heighten visitors' encounter with various pieces. "In order to make the NGV garden more visible, we first have to render it invisible," says architect David Neustein. "Garden Wall hides the garden and then gradually reveals it via a series of corridors, apertures and rooms. Our installation is less the walls themselves than the spaces in between." Led by the Department of Contemporary Design and Architecture, the project was selected out of 79 entries from across Australia, with those shortlisted assessed on quality, originality and viability. The NGV Architecture Commission has previously been designed by John Wardle Architects (2015) and M@ STUDIO Architects (2016), who last year designed this dreamy pink carwash inspired playground that recently won the Melbourne Prize at the 2017 Victorian Architecture Awards. And this year we're in for another excuse to unleash our inner kidult. The 2017 NGV Architecture Commission is now on display at NGV International from December 2017 as part of the inaugural NGV Triennial, a free, gallery-wide exhibition of international contemporary art and design. Images: NGV/John Gollings.
Pinchy's is best known as a top seafood spot in Melbourne's CBD, but the crew has recently branched out by adding a stack of meat dishes to its menu. To celebrate this change, it's hosting massive bottomless barbecue lunches on its balcony every Sunday arvo for four weeks — from December 1–22. For a very reasonable $80 per person, you'll get a table on the sun-soaked terrace and feast on unlimited food and drinks (with a Spanish twist). Live entertainment is also on the cards for the Sunday sessions, bringing those fiesta vibes to the CBD haunt. If the sun is shining on a Sunday, this is the spot to be.
Twenty years ago the Australian wine landscape was shaped by French viticulture. The grapes we grew and the wines we drank were dominantly French in origin — Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. But over the last decade, an influx of Italian, Spanish, and Greek varietals have begun to make their mark across Australia, and they're now commonplace on wine lists and retail shelves all over the country. The winemakers who saw the potential for these varieties, long before they were considered cool, deserve endless credit. Before Aussie Wine Month kicks off in May, we've partnered with Wine Australia to round up five bottles of Australia's most delicious, innovative wine — keep this list in mind for your next dinner party. ASSYRTIKO Because the temperature in Australia's wine regions is continually rising, the search for varieties that thrive in warmer environments has moved to the top of every winemakers to-do list. It's taken ten years and a long wait at Australian customs to get Santorini's indigenous white grape Assyrtiko into Australia (specifically, South Australia's Clare Valley). Producing a fresh, crisp, acidic style of white wine, it's the perfect accompaniment to contemporary Australian food, and a natural partner to Australia's climate and cuisine. Think grilled octopus, fresh seafood, slow cooked lamb shoulder and cured ocean trout. In a couple of sentences: Assyrtiko is native Greek white wine that we've recently started producing here in Aus, that thrives in a warmer climate and which will quench any thirst on a hot day. Try it if you like Sauvignon Blanc, if you're bored with the status quo, or have a seafood platter to devour. One to try: 2016 Jim Barry Assyrtiko, Clare Valley SA MENCIA A wonderful little region called Galicia is tucked up high in the North-West corner of Spain. Here, among some of the steepest wine-growing mountain ranges, a delicious red grape called Mencia was found, picked and brought over to our shores. What's exciting about this grape is that it can express so many different characteristics when it's made into wine. From light and fresh, with a powerful mid-palate concentration of fruit and an elegant finish, to a rich and opulent, dark and brooding beast with structure and density. No matter which direction the flavours go, the wine is always perfumed, with a persistent juiciness that lingers in your mouth for hours. In a couple of sentences: Tastes like Pinot Noir on steroids — loads of fruit, but a nice grip on your palate. Try it if you're eating pulled pork, and you need something to match it with. One to try: 2016 Oliver's Taranga '2 Chicas' Mencia Rosé, McLaren Vale SA ZINFANDEL Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is a black-skinned grape variety that produces a robust red wine. Expect to experience jammy flavours of blueberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, and cranberry alongside characters of black pepper, clove and liquorice. When you taste Zinfandel, it often bursts on the palate with juicy fruitiness, followed by spice and often a tobacco-like finish. A pro-tip when searching for the right Zinfandel is to keep an eye on the back label and check the Alcohol by Volume (ABV). If you like a lighter, more red-fruited style, look for a lower ABV. If big dark fruits and savoury spices are more your speed, look for a Zinfandel with an ABV above 15%. In a couple of sentences: Originating in Italy, made famous in the USA and now found in our backyard, Zinfandel is your Friday night pizza wine. If Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot had a love child, Zinfandel would be the product. One to try: 2013 Lowe Wines Zinfandel, Mudgee NSW SKIN CONTACT/ORANGE WINE To make an orange wine you take white grapes and crush them slightly (usually under foot), and then put them in a vessel (often ceramic, or made of large cement) to ferment. The fermenting wine is left alone from anywhere between four days to over a year. The longer the time spent on skins, the darker the orange/amber colour and the more tannin (or structure) the wine receives. Orange wines are usually robust and bold, with honeyed aromas of sweet melon, hazelnut, brazil nut, bruised apple, wood varnish, lanolin, juniper, sourdough and dried orange rind. On the palate, they're big, dry, and tend to be overly acidic — not for the faint hearted. In a couple of sentences: The colour and tannin structure of orange wine comes from extended juice contact with the skin of the grape — it's white wine for lovers of red wine. Try it if you like sour ale, cider, bold flavours, tannic wines, or if you've got a lemon stuffed baked chicken in the oven. One to try: 2016 #003 by Tom Ward, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Orange NSW PÉTILLANT-NATUREL Pétillant-Naturel is a delicious, lightly-sparkling wine, unfiltered and often bottled with a crown cap (like a beer bottle) rather than a cork. Colloquially shortened to Pét Nat, it's lightly cloudy like a cider and holds the distinct vinous characters, aromas and flavours of the grape variety it's made from — meaning each bottle, or vintage will have its own unique flavour. A rustic style of sparkling wine, Pét Nat is made using mostly traditional production methods. Unlike classic sparkling wines and Champagne however, wine producers don't add sugar to kick off secondary fermentation in the bottle (the element that gives most varieties of sparkling a firmer, more pronounced bubble). In fact, most, if not all Pét Nats do not see any additions in their fermentation process. The literal translation of the name is 'natural sparkling' — meaning it's the truest essence of grape in a bottle that a winemaker can get. In a couple of sentences: Bursting with flavour, Pét-Nat is a lightly-sparkling wine with a stylistically softer bubble compared to more traditionally-made sparkling wine. Try it if you like cider. One to try: 2016 Delinquente 'Tuff Nut' Bianco di Alessandria Pét Nat Riverland, SA Celebrate all types of Australian wine by getting involved with Aussie Wine Month over May — there will be events and tasting opportunities all over the country. Images: Kimberley Low.
The wheels are in motion at Melbourne’s latest Mexican food joint. Inspired by early skateboarding culture and the enterprising skaters who would practice their moves in empty swimming pools, Beach Burrito Fitzroy will feature its very own carved-out indoor pool, where visiting pro skaters will have the chance to show off their skills. Taking up a good deal of the restaurant’s floor space, the Pistonhead x Burrito Bowl was the idea of Beach Burrito Company founder Blake Read, who used to be something of a skate rat himself. "I wanted to recreate the feeling I had in the '80s: engrossed, in love," he told Good Food. "I think when people walk in and see the pool, it will trigger the same excitement." Food-wise, Beach Burrito Fitzroy will serve all your typical Mexican and Tex-Mex staples, including nachos, quesadillas, burritos and chimichangas. The drinks menu will be equally well-stocked, with a selection of beers and Mexican cocktails — frozen or otherwise. The restaurant will seat around 70 people, most of them seated on a mezzanine overlooking the pool. Read launched the first Beach Burrito restaurant in Bondi in 2006, and has since opened ten other locations around New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT. The Fitzroy location will be his first foray into Victoria, and is set to open at 230 Gertrude Street in the next couple of weeks. Via Good Food.
It's finally happened. London's latest and greatest pop-up bar lets you literally inhale alcohol, a project that could only be the work of wildly ambitious, gastronomic artists Bompas and Parr. Built on the site of an ancient monastery in Borough and opened on July 30, the wonderfully-named Alcohol Architecture bar lets you walk into an actual cloud of cocktail. Sam Bompas and Harry Parr have used big ol' humidifiers to saturate the air with a cocktail of spirits and mixer, so you can simply breathe in the drink and let that sweet, sweet alcohol make its way to your bloodstream via lungs and eyes. Of course, visitors to the pop-up are advised to "breathe responsibly" — and the hour session of inhalation isn't quite enough to get you drunk, apparently. You're given a robe to protect your clothes from reeking of cocktail afterwards, and you'll be surrounded by atmospheric sounds to intensify the inhaling experience. #breatheresponsibly at @alcoholicarchitecture regram from @soniashahx A photo posted by Bompas & Parr (@bompasandparr) on Aug 6, 2015 at 8:59am PDT "Inside, the sound is modulated, so that it is like you are right inside the glass," Parr told Bloomberg. "It's a dense atmosphere that builds into a thunderstorm with lightning. It's a new way of experiencing drink, and it's social because it's an immersive shared environment. You all have the same flavor sensation. "It's like going to the seaside and finding that fish and chips taste better. Part of that is that in a human environment, your ability to perceive taste is heightened. It's the opposite of being in an aeroplane. Alcohol tastes better, with more nuances: You can detect more subtle flavors when it is humidified." We're on! Launch night of the bar tonight! A photo posted by Alcoholic Architecture (@alcoholicarchitecture) on Jul 29, 2015 at 12:37pm PDT This isn't the first jaw-dropping foodie installation Bompas and Parr have dazzled us with in recent memory. After opening a pop-up which tailored cocktails to your DNA, hosting anatomical whisky tastings allowing you to taste different aged whiskies from their same-aged human body, and creating lava-powered barbecues, the pair brought one hell of a banquet to this year's Dark Mofo festival in Tasmania — which involved much nudity and the eating of an actually beating pig's heart. If you're headed for London anytime soon, Alcoholic Architecture will be open until early 2016 at One Cathedral Street, Borough Market, London. Tickets and more info over here. We chatted to Sam Bompas recently, head over here to delve into pagan feasts, Vegemite chocolate and Australian food trends. Via Bloomberg.
Power chords may soon be going the way of floppy discs and VHS, with Intel unveiling a new wireless phone charger that can be built right into your wooden desk. The concept, which was revealed by the company at the Computex conference in Taipei, could mark a big step in wireless charging, with Intel hoping to have the tech ready for consumers within the next 12 months. Looks like IKEA has a wireless charging competitor. Intel's new concept charges your devices through magnetic resonance, according to Gizmodo. This is opposed to previous examples of wireless charging technology which pass a current directly through a surface, creating the unwanted side effect of heating up other objects that happen to be placed near the charging plate. Although the technology currently only generates enough power to charge a phone, Intel is working on advancements that would allow you to charge other devices such as tablets and laptop computers all at the same time. Wireless phone charging has been around on certain devices for some time now (and IKEA's new range of wireless charging furniture caused quite the buzz), but has previously been hindered by rival companies being unwilling to agree on a universal standard — meaning that you need different chargers for each of your devices. Once this problem is solved the technology could easily become ubiquitous, with the potential for public charging stations in airports, hotels, and cafes, as well as basically anywhere else where you’re likely to find a horizontal surface. Via Gizmodo. Images: Dollar Photo Club and AFR.
With Melbourne weather being what it is, comfort food is an absolute necessity. When it comes to keeping warm, our hearty meal of choice would have to be a good old fashioned roast, hands down. The only problem is that cooking one for yourself is no small feat – and if something goes wrong in the process it can lead to lots and lots of tears. So let's leave it to the experts, shall we? Here are ten of our favourite warming roasts in Melbourne. NEIGHBOURHOOD WINE, FITZROY NORTH Any trip to this Fitzroy North gem is nothing but an absolute pleasure, but Sunday lunches are without a doubt our favourite. For $35 you will receive a roast lunch, as well as an entrée and dessert. The roast changes every week, but as an example, think Warialda beef, potatoes sarladaise, green beans and a red wine jus. The roast lunch is available every Sunday until 5pm or sold out. Stick around for a game of pool on their massive billiards table, or kick back and listen to whatever vinyl is spinning. When? Sundays from 5pm. How much? $35. MARQUIS OF LORNE, FITZROY As much as we are drawn to roast dinners, we also crave a pub with a fireplace. Thankfully, the Marquis of Lorne in Fitzroy ticks both of those boxes. For $20 you can have a roast meal for either lunch or dinner all weekend-long. Their beer list is both local and impressive, so grab a pint and settle in for an exceptionally cosy afternoon. When? Saturday and Sunday from midday. How much? $20. ESTELLE BISTRO, NORTHCOTE With the opening of Estelle by Scott Pickett next door, Estelle Bistro has become more casual, more laidback and more affordable. But you'll get the most bang for your buck on their Sunday roast. Served every Sunday for lunch, you'll get an entree, main, dessert and a glass of wine for just $50. The meat rotates every week, and it's quite the refined roast spread. For example, an upcoming Sunday session will feature likes of ham hock terrine, roast pork loin and apple and oat crumble for dessert. Not a bad way to experience Estelle at all. When? Sundays from midday. How much? $50. MIDDLE PARK HOTEL, MIDDLE PARK Rare breed roasts for an exceptional price is what you'll find at Middle Park. Hunks of meat served up by the venue in the past include slow roasted Gippsland lamb leg, pork loin, roasted venison and corn-fed Victorian duck. For $30 you get the roast of the day, as well as a glass of Shiraz or Chardonnay. With a deal like that, you're best off booking in advance. Well in advance. When? Saturdays and Sundays from midday. How much? $30. EPOCHA, CARLTON If you can find a more elegant Sunday lunch than the specialty roast at Epocha, we'll eat our hat. This monster of a feast includes snacks, small shares, the roast with all of the trimmings and dessert, all for just $45. And they really utilise the meat they obtain for each feast — for example, when they teamed up with Greenvale farm they served crispy pig's ear, pork shoulder and pork prune and hazelnut terrine with violet mustard, plus a lemon meringue pie to bring it all home. If you have allergies or dietary requirements you're welcome to call ahead — and bookings are highly advised. When? Sundays from midday till 3pm. How much? $45. THE WOLF AND I, WINDSOR If a Sunday Scandinavian roast sounds like something you could get down with, head straight to Windsor's The Wolf and I. For a mere $20 you can indulge on some delicious roast beef, crispy roast potatoes, broccolini, carrots and pumpkin puree. Live music usually kicks off sometime around 4pm, so once you've wrapped up dinner, grab a drink and find yourself a cosy corner and watch the band play. When? Sundays from midday. How much? $20. LEZZET, ELWOOD Contemporary Turkish cuisine doesn't get much better than Lezzet. Every Sunday for lunch and dinner, visitors are treated to wood-fired lamb and chicken roasts served with bulgur and Turkish salad. Before the meat arrives you'll also enjoy freshly-made dips with warm bread. If this isn't comfort food for your Sunday, we're not sure what is. When? Sundays from 3pm. How much $38. THE GRACE DARLING HOTEL, COLLINGWOOD Sunday roasts at the Grace Darling are the perfect cure for whatever damage you may have done to your liver the night before — and for only 25 bones. Their roast changes weekly, but their last serve included slow-roasted pork belly with winter roast veggies. The roasts here are served in individual cast iron pots to keep all the heat and juicy goodness in the meat. When? Sundays from midday. How much? $25. LA LUNA BISTRO, CARLTON NORTH Feel like some modern Australian cuisine with a Mediterranean influence that's meat-centric and dedicated to sourcing local produce? Firstly, you're oddly specific, and secondly, we've found exactly what you're after. Carlton North's La Luna serves a cracking roast pork with, um, crackling, and roast parsnip, apple, leeks and sage. For those who like to share, there's also a slow cooked lamb shoulder available. The best bit? It's available every day and night of the week bar Mondays. As if you needed another reason to hate Mondays. When? Every day except Monday. How much? $42.50. THE ROAST KITCHEN, KEW Whoever told you roasts were reserved for Sundays had clearly never come across the joy that is The Roast Kitchen. These guys know the true sentimental value of a good roast — and they also understand that, as much as we would like, we can't cook one every night of the week ourselves. That's where they come in. Whether you're craving beef, lamb, pork or chicken, The Roast Kitchen have you covered, whether you want to eat-in or take away. Oh, and their signature red wine-infused gravy is a must. When? Every day of the week. How much? $23.50 regular, $32 large. Top image: Neighbourhood Wine.
One of the most underrated Japanese joints in the Melbourne CBD is trading its teppanyaki grill for a collection of cast-iron French cookware. From the beginning of next month, the owners of nearby Coda are taking over Yu-U, with plans to reopen the much loved Flinders Lane eatery as a contemporary French bistro early in 2016. According to Good Food, the team behind Coda will transform the underground space into a 30-40 seat restaurant, complete with bar and open kitchen manned by Frenchman Florent 'Flo' Gerardin. A veteran of such establishments as Pei Modern and Vue de Monde in Melbourne, 59 Poincare in Paris and L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas, Gerardin told Good Food that the menu at the currently unnamed bistro would be comprised of "soul food" made using the skills he learnt from famed chefs Joel Robuchon and Alain Ducasse. In practical terms, that translates into simple French dishes such as beef cheek with onion and classic steak tartare, along with bar snacks and share dishes served hot and cold. No word on whether they'll be cleaning the graffiti off the location's hidden entrance – frankly that might take away some of the charm. Yu-U is located at 137 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Via Good Food. Image: Coda
Will a beloved icon ride off into the sunset, or will a last-minute reprieve save the day? It's a dramatic storyline worthy of enlivening The Astor's glorious single cinema screen; however for the past few years, such suspenseful questions have surrounded the Melbourne landmark's very existence. In August, the art-deco cinema’s fate was seemingly sealed, for worse rather than for better. Operator George Florence announced that the forthcoming calendar of screenings – running until March 2015, and including the usual array of cult and classic films alongside newer releases – would be his last, his reign ending when his lease expires. The sad developments provided the latest chapter in an ongoing dispute between Florence and the building’s owner, Ralph Taranto, with the two unable to agree on terms to continue the cinema’s operation in its current state. Florence has run The Astor since 1982. Taranto bought the site from St Michael's Grammar School in 2012, during the venue’s last closure scare. Now, news has surfaced that Palace Cinemas could be the knight in shining celluloid cinephiles have hoped for. The Melbourne-based national chain is reportedly in discussions about leasing the cinema, and continuing The Astor’s operations largely untouched. Their plan includes the involvement of Florence. Palace’s custodianship would see The Astor to continue operating as a single-screen, 1,150 seat auditoria, with programming of both new release and classic films to continue and showing on 35 and 70 millimetre prints as well as 2K and 4K digital projectors. Palace Cinema's CEO, Benjamin Zeccola, is determined to keep the identity of the Palace intact for nostalgic reasons. "I am in love with the ambience and unique sense of cinema at the Astor, it reminds me of the Metro Malvern Cinema where I grew up and the loss of which still saddens me. So it is with a great deal of affection and nostalgia that we approach an arrangement between Palace Cinemas and the Astor," he said. "Palace Cinemas are keenly aware of the importance in preserving The Astor experience and, to that end, we see the business operating very much as it does today: one cinema, the continuation of the brilliant programming and maintaining the building in the art deco style in direct consultation with Heritage Victoria." Such a prospect is welcomed by everyone that has enjoyed the magic of movie-going at The Astor over the past 32 years. Whether catching a double feature of films missed upon their first release; dressing up and singing along to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Grease or The Blues Brothers; or watching one of the many retrospective seasons focused on great directors or undersung masterpieces — all while devouring one of the venue’s famous choctops — The Astor has offered audiences a cinema experience unparalleled not just in Melbourne, but in Australia. The Astor's twitter account has advised that, "No formal agreement has been entered into, [but] we are hopeful for the future." Their hope is shared by their many fans and patrons. Watch this space. The Astor cinema’s current calendar runs from December 20 through to April 5, 2015. More program and development announcements will be made in early 2015. Via The Age.
The Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance has been working hard to queer up the Australian Open ever since it ran its first Glam Slam tournament in 2019. The team works in partnership with Tennis Australia to bring in LGBTQIA+ tennis players from around the world — providing a safe space for them to compete in their own tournament while also throwing a three-day party. And this year is just as big as ever — with 260 players from around 30 countries participating in the 2025 Glam Slam, which runs from Friday, January 24–Sunday, January 26. Players of all gender identities are welcome to join and play against others with similar skill levels. Moreover, to increase women's participation, the Glam Slam also has a women's division that's open to anyone who identifies as a woman. The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tournament to run an event like this, which actively gives LGBTQIA+ tennis players a space to compete. To watch the Glam Slam games, punters simply need to purchase Australian Open ground passes and then find the matches on the outside courts. But it's not just about the competition. There's also a heap of special entertainment running across the three days, which lines up with the AO Pride Day on Friday, January 24. You'll find drag queens and kings, face painting and glam stations, DJ sets, and plenty of rainbow flags around the grounds. From 2pm on Sunday, January 26, you can even drop by the Grey Goose Courtside Bar at Court 6 to watch the Glam Slam finals as well as a celebrity match featuring Luke and Sassy Scott and a bunch of professional players. This is usually a time of the Australian Open when the outside courts are empty — as most games in the final few days are played in the arenas. Letting the Glam Slam team take over these outer courts and the surrounding spaces is a damn great way to use the space and keep the festivities going.
It's no secret that Melbournians love their craft beer, so when it comes time to visit the bottle-o we've always got our eyes out for something special. While craft beer selections are certainly expanding in most bottle shops, not all have as much variety as we would hope for. Well, fear not discerning beer fans: we've got your hit list sorted. MCCOPPINS Much loved by Fitzroy and Abbotsford locals, McCoppins has hundreds of different craft beers and a constantly rotating selection. Both international brands and homegrown heroes likes James Squire and Stone and Wood and are well represented here, so there's plenty to choose from. Another brilliant aspect of McCoppins is that they're open until midnight — the perfect saviour to every poorly-planned summer house party. 165 Johnston Street, Fitzroy (plus locations in Abbotsford and Hawthorn East — although HE's more food and wine-focused, not beer-focused), (03) 9417 5089, www.mccoppins.com.au BLACKHEARTS AND SPARROWS Although Blackhearts and Sparrows is best known for their excellent selection of wines, their beer fridges are also well stocked. The staff are incredibly helpful, even when you charge on in with no particular idea of what you want, they'll offer an expert opinion. We're yet to be disappointed with a single recommendation. They also have pretty solid relationships going with local breweries, so keep your eyes peeled for limited edition brews on their shelves. 113 – 115 Scotchmer Street, North Fitzroy (Plus locations in Windsor, East Brunswick, East St Kilda and Kensington), (03) 9486 8046, www.blackheartsandsparrows.com.au SLOWBEER The folks at Slowbeer are total pros — they run Australia's first bottle shop to be 100 percent dedicated to only selling craft beer. Slowbeer first opened in 2009 in Hawthorn and later moved to Richmond in 2012 to get closer to the action. Over 1000 different beer varieties have been sold at the shop over the years and, while they focus on local microbreweries, they also stock more obscure imports from breweries with cult-like followings from all over the world. They also do takeaway growlers full of fresh draught beer. Or, if you can't wait, you can even have a beer on premises at the Beer Cafe. 468 Bridge Rd Richmond, (03) 9421 3838, www.slowbeer.com.au VALLEY CELLAR DOOR Yes, another bottle shop that was once predominantly known for its wine selection. However, the popularity of craft beer has inspired Valley Cellar Door to dramatically expand their drinks range, and we're sure glad they did. We love this Moonee Ponds gem not only because of their excellent selection, but because you're welcome to stay and have a pint. They have five taps that rotate monthly and are usually determined by the climate. Right now, they have JP's Red Ale, 4 Pines Hefeweizen, Holgate 'Big Stein' Marzen and Red Hill Brewery Kolsch, but this lineup is likely changed by the time you've read this. Cheers! 18 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds, (03) 9370 2000, www.valleycellardoor.com.au. CARWYN CELLARS Specialising in small boutique producers, Carwyn Cellars is an excellent choice if you want something a little bit different. From Kooinda to Red Duck, they like to support local talent — we love Murray's Whale Ale for something seriously drinkable. They stock approximately 200 craft beers and, in case you were wondering, their beer of the month is Sideshow Brewers Ticket Booth Pale Ale right now. The good people of Carwyn Cellars are also very aware that summer festival season is right around the corner; they stock craft beer cans so you can enjoy the festivities in style. 877 High St, Thornbury, (03) 9484 1820, www.carwyncellars.com. HARVEST WINE AND LIQUOR Tucked away in Northcote, this little treasure is dedicated to finding and supplying delicious and interesting beer, wine, cider, and spirits. The staff are super friendly and keen to help you find the perfect brew to match your mood, your food, or the temperature outside. They stock Victorian brewers such as 3 Ravens, Temple and Red Hill, as well as Feral Brewing from Western Australia, Murray’s from New South Wales and Burleigh Brewing Company from Queensland. 207 High St, Northcote, (03) 9482 5868, www.harvestwine.com.au. TRU BRU If you like your beer super fresh and you're all about recycling, Tru Bru may be the one for you. Tru Bru only serve their stock in reusable, take-away growlers (two litres) or half-sized one litre 'squealers'. They stock a range of beer, cider and soda, and usually have 20 drinks on tap for you to choose from. They often favour local brews like those from Mornington Peninsula Brewery, and have even recently tapped limited releases from Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company and Brookes Beer. Bonus: they've also been known to give gluten-free beer a trial. 3/9 Yarra St, South Yarra, (03) 9826 6878, www.trubru.com.au. Want to brush up on a few craft beer basics before buying? Check out our Bluffer's Guide to Craft Beer.
You can spend this summer immersed in legendary Japanese artworks at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Its upcoming blockbuster exhibition, dubbed Japan Supernatural, is set to open on November 2 as part of the tenth Sydney International Art Series. Made up of more than 200 works from all over the planet, it's an exploration of the spirit world in Japanese art. Expect an immersive experience involving paintings, sculpture, prints, film, animation, comics and games. Leading the show is a monumental piece by Tokyo-born Takashi Murakami. He's a bit of an international rockstar, renowned for bringing together high and low art — much like Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol. Chances are, you first heard of him in the 1990s, when he launched the inaugural Superflat exhibition. Since then, he's been a prolific creator of paintings, drawings, sculptures and animations, and collaborated extensively with Louis Vuitton. Representing a much earlier era will be Katsushika Hokusai, born in Edo in 1760. His best-known piece is Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, a series of wood block prints that includes the now iconic Great Wave off Kanagawa. While can't reveal, yet, which of his pieces will be travelling to Sydney, we're hoping we get some of the works that were at Melbourne's NGV in 2017. Look out, too, for works by historical artists Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi and Kawanabe Kyosai, as well as contemporary pop artist Chiho Aoshima and photographer Miwa Yanagi. The artworks are expected to be announced in early 2019, but, in the meantime, you can check out the ninth Sydney International Art Series, which includes paintings by Monet, Matisse and Picasso and a retrospective of South African photographer David Goldblatt's work. An installation view of the exhibition Japan Supernatural at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, November 2, 2019 until March 8, 2020. Photo: AGNSW/Jenni Carter
Sydney-based singer-songwriter Elizabeth Rose is taking a stand on marriage equality, with a brand new single out today. Titled ‘Division,’ the pulsating electronic pop track tackles the issue of same-sex unions head on, with lyrics like ‘I got friends who need the satisfaction of equality,’ leaving little doubt on where the singer stands. Even better, the musician is putting her money where her mouth is, with sale proceeds being used to help fight discrimination. “Australia is tipped as the ‘lucky’ country, but reflecting upon what we stand for, I'm not sure that we are all that we’re cracked up to be,” says Rose. “Our peers fall victim to acts of discrimination and are denied the right to equality.” ‘Division’ is currently available to download from the singer’s website on a pay-what-you-want basis. The proceeds will be donated to Australian Marriage Equality. The single comes at a significant point in the national marriage debate. After Ireland passed marriage reform via popular referendum last month, Australia remains one of the few holdouts in the developed world. Polling suggests the Australian public is overwhelmingly in favour of marriage equality, but politicians continue to lag behind. Opposition leader Bill Shorten introduced a private members bill to a depressingly empty Parliament on Monday, with only five Liberal MPs bothering to attend. “We are moving towards this significant moment in Australian history,” affirmed Rose. “I urge people to accept and embrace this need for equality in our country.” To download ‘Division,’ visit Elizabeth Rose’s website. To learn more about the goals of Australian Marriage Equality, go here.
There can literally never be too many Spanish restaurants. In fact, it's Concrete Playground's dream to see every street lined with them and for life to become a neverending string of eating tapas and drinking Spanish wine. For these and other ham-related reasons, we’re incredibly excited that Chato, a bright and authentic Spanish eatery, has just opened in Thornbury. Chato has moved into their new digs on High Street and is warming up the suburb with an authentic Spanish winter menu — mixed in with some Australian staples. Chato translates to ‘a small glass of wine’, but the dishes on offer are in no way small or stingy. The breakfast menu is a balance of basics (eggs any way with sourdough, $9.50 and toasted museli with poached fruit, $12.50) and a few Spanish inspired dishes, including torrijas (brioche dipped in vanilla and lemon milk and lightly fried, $12.50) and Flamenca (eggs cooked in a chorizo and tomato ragout and topped with serrano ham, $16.50). While traditional Spanish food is very much ham-based, Chato offers many vegetarian dishes as well as gluten-free option, so it sounds like there’s a dish here to suit everyone. The lunch menu includes a menu de dia (set menu of the day, $19.90) and anyone who’s visited Spain will understand how authentic this is — most restaurants offer a set menu to delight tourists and regulars alike. Alongside traditional paellas and empanadas, the menu also boasts a solid selection of bocadillos, which is basically a Spanish-style sandwich. We're keen to try the lomo, which consists of grilled marinated loin of pork with shallow fried bell peppers ($9.90). Bueno. Best of all, Chato is run by Darebin locals Maria and Jenny Echevarria-Lang, who source their produce from local, free-range — so you can eat with a clear conscience. But better get in quick, because we expect this place to pack out faster than you can say “Bring me all of your ham!” Chato is located at 921 High Street, Thornbury. Open Sunday to Wednesday 8am-3pm; Thursday to Sunday 8am-11pm. Call 9484 9554 for bookings. Images: Eugene Hyland.
Vivid Ideas is bringing innovative humans from all over the world to Sydney stages. Championing change-making creative voices, you can hear Troye Sivan explore beauty and fluidity, delve into the experiences of those who were raised in cults with filmmaker Sarah Steel or listen as experts discuss the ethics and potential ramifications of a future reliant on artificial intelligence and QR codes. Joining a lineup that's not lacking a lick in talent is Gretchen Carlson in conversation with Lisa Wilkinson. The prolific journalists and media personalities will dissect power (specifically the fallout when it's out of balance), toxic workplace culture and finding the courage to expose wrongdoing. As well, the pair discuss the intricacies of what's needed to make it easier for people to come forward after experiencing sexual assault. In 2016, Carlson — the highly respected and acclaimed US journalist and ex-Fox News anchor — successfully sued Fox founder and CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. This win, which inspired 2019's Bombshell, saw Carlson receive an unprecedented apology and settlement. The landmark case laid the foundation for the #MeToo movement's catapult to the global consciousness, as well as take down a predator who was in a position of immense power. [caption id="attachment_813274" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivid Sydney 2019, Destination NSW[/caption] Bound by an NDA, Carlson has tirelessly fought to break the culture of silence and remove protections from perpetrators — working to ban NDAs, enact legislative change and encourage survivors to share their experiences of harassment (which has resulted in the most significant changes to labour laws — passed by Joe Biden in March, 2022 — in over 100 years). The trailblazer was also named in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World (2017). With a social climate that's been immersed in the courage of those sharing their stories of trauma in the quest for justice and a safer existence — the Grace Tames, the Brittany Higgins, the Saxon Mullins — the pair will discuss the shifting media and legal landscapes both here and in the US. They will look at what still needs to change so survivors are encouraged to draw upon reserves of bravery and resilience to keep pushing forward — for the good of others, for safer communities and to upend the status quo. Sydney's Town Hall will host Gretchen Carlson and Lisa Wilkinson on Speaking Out on Sunday, May 29 at 1pm. Head to the website for details. Top image: Destination NSW
Have you ever wanted to be the very best, like no one ever was, a Pokémon master in real life? Stop lying, because the answer is obviously GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY. Well now you can, thanks to Pokémon Go, a new augmented reality mobile game that lets you capture and train virtual Pokémon right here in the real world. Out now in Australia on Android and iOS devices, the game uses your smartphone's camera and sensors to 'detect' when wild Pokémon are near. You'll find different Pokémon depending on where you are — for example, you're more likely to encounter a water-type Pokémon near a body of water. You can join teams, trade Pokémon with other players, and battle for control of gyms. You can also visit notable locations around your city, such as public monuments, where you can stock up on PokéBalls and other necessary items. In addition to the app, Nintendo have also developed the Pokémon Go Plus, a small device that can be worn on your wrist and lets you play the game without having to look at your phone. Which is probably a good idea, since the last thing you want to do when battling a wild Charizard is accidentally walk in front of a bus. Pokémon Go is free to play, although there are in-app purchases available. Of course the most important piece of information is that the game only includes the original 150 Pokémon, making this the perfect time to bust out the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMk8wuw7nek
A London architecture outfit has devised a smart, affordable housing option to help aid the city's homeless population. Occupying a previously vacant lot in the south London suburb of Mitcham, George William Court consists of 36 brightly coloured, prefabricated units stacked one on top of the other via crane. Throw down some wooden decking and hey presto: instant apartment block. The 26-square-meter, single-person residences were designed by Richard Rogers' award-winning architecture firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, who were commissioned by the YMCA. Construction took place in a factory in Derbyshire at a cost of between £30,000 and £35,000 per unit. Each apartment features a combined living and kitchen area, a bedroom and an en suite bathroom, and can be relocated to another site should the need arise. Hopefully that won't be necessary, however, since the tenants – mostly young people from YMCA hostels and the local authority housing list – have already begun moving in. According to Dezeen Magazine, Rogers believes there is space for as many as half a million prefabricated houses in unused spaces around London. " We've been failing to build enough housing," he said at the opening of George William Court. "The supply lags behind demand and buying becomes ever more unaffordable... We need to unleash similar building innovation across the capital or the same old business model will cause us to stay in the same old housing crisis." Rent will be set at 65 per cent of the local market value, which comes out to around £150 per week. It's still not what you'd call cheap, but by London standards it could be a lot worse. Speaking with Dezeen, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' Ivan Harbour said that "the principle here is to minimise people's outlay for their rent so that they can afford to save and eventually get on the more conventional housing ladder." Images: Grant Smith via Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Via Dezeen.
Want to sample some of Australia's most unique cocktails, rub shoulders with the bar teams that made them and feast on delicious canapes in one of Sydney's glitziest inner city bars? Australia's obsession with bar teams and their unique concoctions has been realised in a nationwide competition run by Auchentoshan, dubbed Distilled Different. Twelve of Australia's best bar teams have created a cocktail incorporating Auchentoshan American Oak — the only triple distilled Scottish single malt whisky in the world. They're going head-to-head to win bragging rights and a huge team trip to Glasgow. Before the winner is crowned, all 12 bar teams will appear in the national Dare to be Distilled Different photography exhibition. Their talented faces and creative cocktails have been captured by three up-and-coming photographers, all chosen by Art Pharmacy. It's a photography exhibition centred around bartenders and cocktails — of course there's going to be a big party. Auchentoshan are throwing a big launch for the exhibition on Tuesday, October 18 at Sydney's swish Gilt Lounge at the QT, and we're giving away 20 VIP double passes. You'll get to sample unique Auchentoshan cocktails, enjoy delicious food, experience the photographic exhibition, as well as the chance to rub shoulders with the crew associated with the project — including some of Sydney's best bartenders. Enter below. [competition]591029[/competition]
As its name suggests, North Melbourne's newest wellness space, Estuary Yoga, is all about flow — both the kind that finds you cruising through poses on the mat, and the sweet-spot you discover when your inner and outer worlds align (yogis know). It means that classes at the soon-to-open Queensberry Street studio are largely dynamic, focused on cultivating balance and finding your best pace, no matter how crazy life is for you right now. Guided by founder Lucy Lawes and her small team of instructors, there are classic vinyasa flow sessions, to strengthen that breath-body connection, a 'harmony' class, combining vinyasa practice with long-held yin postures, and even a back-to-basics class for fine-tuning the fundamentals. It all kicks off this week, as Estuary Yoga marks its arrival in the neighbourhood with an opening weekend filled with free classes, as well as nourishing treats from the likes of Pana Chocolate, Angea Organic, Heal'r, and nearby cafe Elceed. Head along on Saturday, August 19, and Sunday, August 20, to get bendy in a mixed vinyasa and yin session, to meet the teachers, and to have some fun getting to know the new kid on the wellness block. You'll find Estuary Yoga at 640 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne, with full class timetable and bookings available from Thursday, August 10. Hooked on the flow? Single class passes are $25, a ten-class pass will cost you $180, and there are a couple of weekly and monthly options, if you're feeling super committed. Images: Emily French.
It's not like you ever need much of an excuse to flee the city for a couple of days filled with wine, regional eats and entertainment. But hey, that's exactly what's calling you to jump in the car and head a few hours northwest of the city in May. Long-running flavour fest Grampians Grape Escape returns to Halls Gap Recreation Reserve from Friday, May 2–Sunday, May 4, dishing up yet another jam-packed program to mark its 32nd instalment. Sample hundreds of local craft beers, ciders and wines, and give your appetite a proper workout with food stalls slinging everything from woodfired pizza to paella. You can pick up some new skills at one of the weekend's many masterclasses, and learn culinary secrets at cooking demos led by the likes of Justine Schofield and Dani Venn. Visitors on Saturday can also join the Grampians Winemakers Barrique Auction, where one of the region's top shiraz blends is auctioned off in lots. If this is on your agenda, be sure to keep heaps of spare space in the boot of your car before heading up to the Grampians. Admission costs vary depending on which day(s) you'd like to visit, starting from $40 online. Bus transfers and local glamping options are also available.
Spotify had best watch its back, because there's a brand new music streaming service in town. Launching this week, BitTorrent Now is an Android and soon to be iOS and Apple TV app that lets users stream ad-supported music and video, with a special focus on curated content that might otherwise fly under the radar. While BitTorrent is probably best known as a way of sneakily pirating TV shows, the company has actually been helping artists distribute their work for years. Since launching their BitTorrent Bundle service in 2013, they've worked with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, comedian David Cross and countless other lesser-known filmmakers, musicians and miscellaneous creatives. Artists who make their work available via BitTorrent Now can choose whether or not they wish to participate in the ad program. If they opt not to, they can instead make their work available for purchase, or upload it for free without any ads whatsoever. According to the company, artists will receive 70 percent of revenue generated by ads on their videos, and 90 percent of revenue if they chose to place their content behind a paywall. BitTorrent will also make a concerted effort to curate content on the app, in order to help artists find an audience and vice versa. The app includes trending and new release sections, and allows users to build a list of favourites. Nothing too revolutionary — perhaps the most interesting thing about it is the focus on smaller artists, who'll hopefully be able to use the platform to make a name for themselves. No word yet on if/when BitTorrent Now will be available in Australia. Via Engadget.
A word so nice they named it thrice. Melbourne's CBD is getting a brand new pizza joint that's trying to kick it NY-style with 18-inch pies and pizza by the slice. Pizza Pizza Pizza is opening their doors today, Thursday, June 16, and they're doing so with a free pizza giveaway from 1pm. Now, the free pizza comes with a catch, but a pretty simple one. You need to first follow their Instagram and show and tell at the shop in order to make off with one of the 100 free slices. When you're not grabbing a free slice, they're priced at $4 a pop, with pies at 28 buckaroos. While these certainly don't compare to the $1 kind of New York City, they're pretty fair prices for the Aussie market and much bigger slices than we're generally used to. Pizza toppings range from classics like margherita and pepperoni to a decadent mushroom and truffle oil that you certainly wouldn't find at your corner NY pizza shop. You'll also find a triple cheese (that's parmesan, mozzarella and boccocini for ya) and Aussie favourite Hawaiian on the menu. The concept is a brilliant scheme, and there isn't much we wouldn't do for free pizza. That being said, we must admit we're a bit sceptical. Doing it NY style is always tricky - if you've ever been to The Big Apple, you know that no other pizza quite lives up and claiming that yours can is a dangerous game. We will say that they do have the lingo down at least, and for once the 18-inch pie size, though they're calling it "supersized", is just right for NY standards. The pics are looking relatively legit as well. Either way, we're not about to turn down a free slice. We'll see how many converts the joint has by the end of the day. Pizza Pizza Pizza will open on Thursday, June 16 from 1pm at 16 Meyers Place, Melbourne. Regular opening hours will be Tues to Thurs from noon to 11pm, Friday from noon to 3am and Saturday from 6pm to 3am.
Summer is officially over. We know that not just because it's March, but because, as has become custom at this time of year, Vivid Sydney has this morning announced its program for 2018. Get ready to be ensconced in projections once again — the festival of light, music and ideas is returning for 23 days from May 25 to June 16. The first tidbit from this year's program was handed to us a few weeks ago, with the announcement that Solange will do four shows at the Sydney Opera House from June 1–4 — her only Australian shows this time round. Tickets have already been allocated via ballot, so we hope you jumped on that already. The most overt (and unavoidable) aspect of the program is the lights, and this year their glow will extend across the bridge to light up Luna Park for the first time. A new precinct for 2017, it will extend the reach of the CBD's Light Walk from Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo with a collection of large-scale projections and a new light fit-out for the Ferris wheel. Should make good viewing from the ferry. The Sydney Opera House's sails will this year be lit up with hyperreal images of Australian flora, fauna and natural elements from artist (and former Flume collaborator) Jonathan Zawada, and Customs House will be home to an adorable projection of May Gibbs' Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Fans of Sir David Attenborough will be able to head down to the Maritime Museum to watch scenes from Blue Planet II projected onto the building's roof, and interactive light installation Aqueous will head to the Royal Botanic Garden via Burning Man. Vivid light hotspots, Circular Quay, the MCA, Chatswood, Taronga Zoo and Martin Place will all be lit up as well. Vivid Music is once again in fine form. Joining Solange for the Vivid Live component of the program at the Opera House will be hip hop legend Ice Cube, 90s favourite Cat Power and Mazzy Star, who will come to Australia for the very first time since forming in 1989 (if you don't know the band by name, you probably know the song 'Fade Into You'). Dreams — a new project from Silverchair's Daniel Johns and Empire of the Sun's Luke Steele — and performances from Iron and Wine, Neil Finn and Middle Kids around also on the Opera House's 20-night Vivid lineup. Another big one is a one-off performance from St Vincent at Carriageworks, and the City Recital Hall has a solid program this year, including a musical comedy show from Orange Is the New Black's Lea Delaria. Vivid Ideas is, of course, back for those keen to delve into creativity, science and technology — and this year it's scored James Cameron as its big-ticket speaker. Cameron will be in town to open his new exhibition at the Maritime Museum and do an in conversation with comedian Adam Spencer. There's plenty more where that came from, check the Vivid Sydney website for more details.
The Wheeler Centre is renowned for their innovative programming, but the project they're cooking up now is a doozy. Named after that most endearing punctuation mark, The Interrobang: A Festival of Questions is a festival that is calling on you to decide the topics of conversation. The idea behind the festival is a democratic one: using crowdsourcing techniques, the program is being written around questions submitted by the public and presented to a Brains Trust of writers and thinkers over the two-day festival in Melbourne on November 27-28. Emily Sexton, the head of programming at The Wheeler Centre, says that as well as creating a festival made from publicly sourced questions, she also wants us to question the question. What makes a good question? Can the right question change the landscape of discussion for the better? As well as submitting questions, the public are invited to vote for the best questions. “The way we imagine it is a combination of very potent, political, urgent questions of our time, like 'what is the future of European democracy and what will happen to organisations like the UN or the EU that were founded on a collective idea? Is that still relevant for contemporary life?' But also really inconsequential, playful questions like 'where are all the baby pigeons? Why don’t we ever see them?' I hope there’s a really great mix of personal or political questions,” she says. “There’s no question too big or too small.” There’ll be no shortage of answers either. The Interrobang has assembled a Brains Trust of 25 artists, thinkers, writers and doers from around the world to tackle the questions posed. Included is Wild writer and 'Dear Sugar' advice columnist Cheryl Strayed, cult sci-fi author and tech activist Cory Doctorow, Australia’s sweetheart Benjamin Law, the former Greek Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis, playwright and Twitter hero Nakkiah Lui, journalist Geraldine Brooks, broadcaster Mark Colvin and chef and presenter Adam Liaw. The prerequisite for all the panellists was the need for pluralism and enthusiasm about a range of topics. Don’t expect any sales pitches or pre-made answers here; with such a diverse panel, the aim is to explore the topics from every angle. Emily promises that every question, big or small, will be used in some way in the program. “It’s a significant democratic exercise in a way of handing over control and exploring what people really want to know,” she says. We, for one, are intrigued and would very much like to know where the baby pigeons are. We’ll have to wait until November to find out. Submit your question to The Interrobang via the event website. Tickets for the festival go on sale October 12.
In 1978 Robert Redford helped oversee the first Sundance Film Festival, an event originally designed to attract the cinema world to Utah. Four decades later, and that aim has well and truly been achieved. Come the end of January each year, the who's who of filmmaking rush to Park City for a feast of film surrounded by wintry snow. And, with good reason. Over the decades, Sundance has helped launch everything from Reservoir Dogs, The Blair Witch Project and Donnie Darko to Boyhood, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Manchester by the Sea. In 2017, two movies that we were excited about after their Park City debuts — Call Me By Your Name and The Big Sick — ended up on Concrete Playground's best movies of the year list. So did Get Out, which premiered at Sundance as a secret screening, wowed viewers around the globe afterwards and recently picked up four Oscar nominations. In short, the fest's lineup usually offers a reliable roster of the flicks to look out for in the months afterwards. With 110 feature-length films on Sundance's 2018 program, as selected from 29 countries, including 47 first-time filmmakers and culled from 3901 full-length submissions, there's plenty to tempt cinephiles on this year's bill. One of them, the amusing National Lampoon insider effort A Stupid and Futile Gesture, is already screening on Netflix if you're keen to jump right in. Another, Australia's own stellar Indigenous western Sweet Country, just opened in local cinemas. As for the rest, here's our picks of the flicks we're hoping to see on our shores soon. SORRY TO BOTHER YOU Earning more than a few comparisons to Get Out thanks to its smart social satire, Sorry to Bother You marks the directorial debut of The Coup frontman Boots Riley. A workplace comedy set in the world of telemarketing, it's the tale of a black salesman (Lakeith Stanfield) who suddenly discovers magical selling abilities. As his career takes a turn for the better, his artist girlfriend (Tessa Thompson) has some concerns. Acclaimed for its distinctive voice, its no-holds-barred humour and its provocative absurdity, it's one of the most talked-about flicks of the fest, and also features Call Me By Your Name's Armie Hammer in a memorable supporting role. Also watch out for: Blindspotting, the hip hop-style comedy co-written by and starring Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, who play two Oakland pals trying to get their lives on the straight and narrow. DAMSEL Two of cinema's best current trends combine in Damsel — everybody's making westerns, and Robert Pattinson is making, well, everything. Trust the folks behind Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter to bring them both together; if brothers David and Nathan Zellner can turn a Fargo-inspired urban legend into a thoughtful and intriguing film, then they can remake the Old West in their own comedic way, and take Pattinson along for the ride. The former Twilight star-turned-indie darling features opposite Aussie actress Mia Wasikowska, veteran Robert Forster, and the writing, directing and producing Zellners themselves. Also watch out for: The latest effort from Aussie filmmaker Claire McCarthy, Ophelia takes on Hamlet in a fresh, female-focused way, with Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, George MacKay and Tom Felton among the cast. THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST You have to admire Desiree Akhavan's Sundance record. The writer/director's second feature marked her second stint at the festival, and it picked up the US Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic for its troubles. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, American Honey's Sasha Lane and The Revenant's Forrest Goodluck, and adapted from the novel of the same name, The Miseducation of Cameron Post follows a high schooler sent to a gay conversion centre. She might be stuck in a place of oppression and repression, but a sense of community springs among her fellow attendees. Four years ago, Akhavan's Appropriate Behavior proved astute, insightful and amusing, so expect good things. Also watch out for: Bisbee '17, the latest documentary from Kate Plays Christine's Robert Greene, this time exploring a different historical chapter: the Bisbee Deportation of 1917, where 1200 striking miners were taken from their home, banished from the town and left to die. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiakAVaXgU TULLY After completely hitting it out of the park on their first collaboration, Young Adult director Jason Reitman, writer Diablo Cody and star Charlize Theron join forces again with Tully. Where their last effort was steeped in arrested development — the state of not quite growing up, not the TV comedy Theron once appeared on — this time around they're wading into the womb of motherhood. When Theron's stressed mother-of-three Marlo welcomes the titular night nanny (Mackenzie Davis) into her life, a bond blooms, as does an empathetic dark comedy anchored by two of today's best actresses. Your usual mum-focused movie, this is not Also watch out for: Laura Dern stars in The Tale, writer/director Jennifer Fox's handling of the tough topic of sexual abuse, following a journalist and professor forced to delve back into her childhood relationship with two adult coaches. KUSAMA - INFINITY Yayoi Kusama is everywhere. The Japanese artist's work is splashed across the walls of Australian galleries, she now has her own Tokyo museum, and she also features in a documentary at Sundance. Kusama - Infinity seems an apt title for many reasons, not only due to Kusama's famed mirrored 'infinity rooms', but also because the singular creative's adaptability, innovation and influence seems like it will go on forever. Understandably, writer, director and producer Heather Lenz spent years charting the course of Kusama's seven-decade career beyond the dots and pumpkins. Whether you're a fan or a newcomer, you're in for an informative ode to an artist like no other. Also watch out for: U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking winner Mind the Gap, the personal documentary not only made by Bing Liu, but interweaving his return to Rockford, Illinois to reconnect with his childhood skateboarding buddies with archival footage of their younger heyday. LEAVE NO TRACE It's been eight years since filmmaker Debra Granik made one of the first great films of this decade, won Sundance's Grand Jury Prize and unearthed a star in the process. In Winter's Bone, the movie-watching world was gifted a tense family drama, as well as a career-making performance from Jennifer Lawrence — and Granik might've just done it again with Leave No Trace. Ben Foster features opposite acclaimed newcomer Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, playing a father and daughter living off the grid until their cover is blown. If you're thinking that it has been too long between fictional films for the exceptional writer/director, then you're right. Also watch out for: In Shirkers, Sandi Tan hunts down her own film — one she penned in the '90s, was shot on 16mm, but disappeared along with her mentor, friend and director Georges Cardona. THE GUILTY Winner of the audience award in Sundance's World Cinema Dramatic section, The Guilty is the latest Nordic noir effort exciting cinema-goers. And, following in the footsteps of Alfred Hitchcock, recent films such as Buried, Locke and more, it's the latest single-setting flick as well. From first-time Swedish helmer Gustav Möller, the movie finds its story in the police emergency dispatch department, as a cop takes a call from a kidnapped women. Starring Jakob Cedergren (The Killing, Those Who Kill), it's a claustrophobic ticking-clock thriller that has already started buzz about an inevitable English-language remake. Also watch out for: Idris Elba steps behind the camera with Yardie, a gangster effort that's also a tense coming-of-age film, as split between Kingston and London in the '80s. SEARCH Another favourite with the Sundance crowd, this time winning the audience award in the festival's Next section, Search gives viewers what we've always wanted: a decent online-focused thriller, and a showcase starring role for John Cho. Sure, other films have unfurled their content via on-screen computer screens, but this debut effort from 25-year-old writer/director Aneesh Chaganty has been pegged as a potentially huge hit — and it's likely a case of when, rather than if, it'll make it to Aussie cinemas. Cho plays a father worried about his teenage daughter when she doesn't come home one night, and doing what everyone would do in that situation these days, aka taking to his computer and phone to look for answers. With that in mind, Search also won Sundance's Alfred P. Sloan Prize, which is awarded each year to a film focusing on science or technology. Also watch out for: Pity, directed by Greek filmmaker Babis Makridis, and co-written with Dogtooth and The Lobster's Efthimis Filippou, about a man who proves happy when his wife falls into a coma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6wWKNij_1M HEREDITARY If it already sounds like this year's Sundance lineup has been doing what the festival always does best — that is, uncovering ace new talent — then Hereditary isn't going to change that perception. The first film from writer/director Ari Aster has been earning rave reviews for its take on haunting, grief-fuelled, despair-ridden horror, particularly in regards to its emotional depth and fleshed-out performances. Given the feature boasts an applauded turn by Australia's own Toni Collette, the latter is understandable. As for the story itself, it centres on a family's reaction after the death of their grandmother. Also watch out for: Nicolas Cage is back in the vengeance-driven Mandy, which sees Beyond the Black Rainbow director Panos Cosmatos dive head first into the pulpy genre realm. LIZZIE The story of Lizzie Borden has fascinated the masses for more than a century. Being accused and tried for the murder of your father and stepmother, but ultimately acquitted in a case that was never solved — well, that'll do it. Ballets, songs, operas, plays, novels, musicals, TV shows and films have all examined her story, with Lizzie the latest. Set in 1892 and starring Chloë Sevigny, it focuses on Borden's bond with her live-in maid, played by Kristen Stewart, while working towards the scandal that's now a matter of history. And if that doesn't intrigue you enough, it's billed as a psychological thriller, as well as a film that champions feminism and sexuality. Also watch out for: Four-time Independent Spirit Award-nominee The Rider, about a rodeo star yearning for the ring after suffering a head injury, from Chinese writer, director and producer Chloé Zhao. Images: courtesy Sundance Film Festival.
Summer is usually the time when we let go of our culinary pretension. Dirty fish and chips on the beach? Why not. Eat nothing but overripe mangoes all day? Sounds good. But this year, you won't have to sacrifice any of that trademark Melburnian foodie love. The guys behind Huxtable and Huxtaburger have teamed up for a mouth-watering new venture on Smith Street, and they'll be serving up cheap lobster rolls all summer long. That's right — not flake, not prawns, but lobster. Running next to the group's ever-popular Collingwood burger joint, Mr Claws will be slingin' rolls stuffed with pieces of lobster meat and dripping with your choice of three sauces: miso and wasabi, Sriracha spiced mayonnaise or buttermilk ranch. A single roll will set you back just $12, or $15 if you feel like adding straw potato chips and pickles. While the organisers say it's an idea they got while in London, we've seen a bunch of places take an interest in these small kinds of luxuries. It's no longer unusual for lobster to pop up on your local pub menu occasionally and restaurants in Sydney are all over it. It's definitely a trend we can get behind. Just like Huxtaburger there will be limited seating available in store, but if you do find the space they'll be serving a bunch of tasty drinks to wash down all that decadent goodness. We're talking craft beers, Pimms and Gordon's Elderflower Spritz. Proper lush stuff. Mr Claws was first tested out at Taste of Melbourne earlier this month and punters predictably loved it. In a press release this week they've stated the Smith Street store will be open "indefinitely", but "updates on the duration of the pop up can be found on the Mr Claws Facebook page". They're also scouting out permanent sites for 2015. But all that's besides the point — the sun is out and the smell of cheap lobster and Sriracha is in the air. Get down to Smith Street ASAP. Mr Claws is located at 104 Smith Street. It's currently open Monday-Friday 12pm-3pm and 5pm-9pm.
With the world still reeling after losing one of its most iconic voices, two of Australia's best repertory cinemas are paying tribute to his legacy. In the wake of Prince's sudden passing, both The Astor in Melbourne and the Hayden Orpheum in Sydney have announced upcoming screenings of 1984's Purple Rain, giving fans the chance to see the artist weave his magic on the big screen once more. The Astor will hold two screenings — one on the afternoon of Saturday, April 30 and a second (added due to the first selling out in record time) a week later on Saturday, May 7. What's more, $1 from each ticket sold going to Edgar's Mission, a non-profit sanctuary that provides assistance to rescued farm animals. More than 2,000 people have already expressed their interest on Facebook, so anyone hoping to attend had better snap up tickets fast. The screening at Hayden Orpheum will take place a few weeks later, on the evening of Friday, May 13. The cinema previously payed tribute to rock legend David Bowie and recently departed actor Alan Rickman with a special screenings of Labyrinth and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 earlier in the year. Prince's death has sent shock waves through popular culture and inspired countless tributes, from Spike Lee's massive Brooklyn block party to landmarks lighting up purple in cities around the world. US President Barack Obama described him as a "creative icon." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuXK8ZbTmLk Find out more about Purple Rain at The Astor here and The Hayden Orpheum here. Updated: April 26, 2016.
Dumpling Empire prides itself on giving guests a culinary tour of China. From Shanghai, you can enjoy handmade xiao long baos. From Sichuan, there are spiced noodles. And from Guandong, you can sample bamboo steamed rice dishes. It is the kind of joint with a team of chefs from all over, so you know whatever you order is going to be authentic and traditional. There interior here is simple yet elegant, with your typical unassuming furniture dressed up with lanterns and splashes of red. The service is welcoming and kind but the focus is definitely on the food before anything else. The menu kicks off with light snacks to get the mouth watering, including pork xiao long baos and spring onion pancakes. The dumpling menu includes classics such as prawn and chicken dumplings and pan-fried steam buns, while vegetarians can order the vegetarian option. If you're after noodles, there are steamed pork and fish meatball soups, along with pork tripe or stewed lamb noodle soups. Rice dishes include deep fried chicken with special sauce or the classic bamboo steamed black bean and fish with chilli rice. The mains are where Dumpling Empire really shines, with perfectly balanced flavours and very generous servings. The pick of the bunch is the stir-fried grab which is lightly flavoured with ginger and spring onions. Pair this with a serve of Chinese broccoli and you are well on your way to one of the best Chinese meals you've had in your life.
Good news for those into theatre of the irreverent and independent persuasions. Just announced, the program for the third annual instalment of the NEON Festival of Independent Theatre is here— and it's the kind of staged indie gold we’ve come to expect at this time of year from the normally more mainstream-bent Melbourne Theatre Company. NEON 2015 runs from May 14 to July 25. Like its previous iterations, five independent theatre artists/collaboratives are invited to commandeer the Lawler at Southbank Theatre with a work of their own, for ten days apiece. Aussie theatre mavericks and champions of new, alternate voices in theatre MKA are first up with Double Feature, a two-for-the-price-of-one, booze-soaked tirade. Tobias Manderson-Galvin's post-punk prison fantasy Lucky is double billed with Morgan Rose’s Lord Willing and The Creek Don't Rise — a "broken kitchen-sink drama of carnivals and cannibals". Next up, The Zoey Louise Moonbeam Dawson Shakespeare Company presents Calamity. This part musical, part western, part biography tells the story of Calamity Jane in a way that's a lot less Doris Day circa 1953 and a whole lot more gun-slinging, foul-mouthed, alcoholic cowgirl — apparently a much more accurate depiction. Long-time collaborators Susie Dee and Patricia Cornelius like female characters you don’t often see on stage. Their play SHIT is about Billy, Bobby and Sam — girls who spit, swear, scream, shout, flash, fight with fists and moon pedestrians from cars. SHIT's creators say they wanted to empower their female characters, to give them "the chance to come back at a world which despises them". If recreations of classics are your thing, check out Dirty Pretty Theatre’s The Lonely Wolf, an anarchic, dance-theatre version of Steppenwolf; or Elbow Room’s We Get It, a retrospective of history's great heroines of the stage. NEON is all part of MTC's aim to strengthen its ties with the independent theatre landscape and the artists that make it tick. "The previous two NEON Festivals have brought audiences works of great integrity and variety, and the discussion that ensued has been inspiring, saysBrett Sheehy, MTC’s artistic director. "I have no doubt NEON 2015 is going to do the same." In addition to the five new works comes NEON EXTRA (think masterclasses, workshops and open rehearsals), NEON READINGS (readings of brand new plays) and the special closing night event Pimp My Play, presented by The Last Tuesday Society. It promises to put a pretty raucous end to the festivities, using a simple formula: take boring old play, give collaborators scene each, put pieces back together, and present resulting miscreation to horrified/delighted audience. Sounds like a suitably Frankensteinian way to end a jam-packed, raucous couple of months. NEON 2015 runs from May 14 to July 25 at Southbank Theatre. For more info or to book tickets, head over here.
Operator 25's stunning dishes first started flooding Instagram feeds and inspiring weekend CBD brunch trips back in 2013. Now, almost three years later, owners Randy Dhamanhuri and Valerie Fong are again wowing Melbourne café crowds with beautiful eats, opening the doors to their latest venture in Prahran, last Thursday. Located on High Street, Middletown packs a serious visual punch, from the chic, blue-and-white interiors, through to the artfully plated fare landing on the tables. The team have created a downright beautiful space in which to enjoy luxe food — all royal blue wall panelling, charming curves and Art Deco fixtures. This is brunching at its most sophisticated, Fong's menu marrying classic flavours and seasonal produce with her signature flair for technique. Each dish here is dressed to impress, and about as close as food can get to being too darn pretty to eat. The likes of a pork pastrami eggs Benedict, drizzled with aerated blood orange hollandaise, or coffee-laced waffles, scattered with strawberries and truffle honey, are as much a treat for the eyes as they are for the tastebuds. Of course, there's caffeine aplenty. A dedicated Brew Bar is serving up beautifully executed Code Black coffee and picture-perfect matcha lattes. Find Middletown at 229 High Street, Prahran. Open Mon to Fri 7am–4pm and Sat and Sun 8am–4pm. Images: Peter Clarke.
It might be based on a book by New Zealand author Barry Crump; however Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a film only Taika Waititi could've made. If you enjoyed the writer/director's quirky brand of humour in Boy and What We Do in the Shadows, you'll know exactly what you're in for. Here, hiding out in the wild, dreaming about being a gangster and arguing about which Terminator you'd rather be go hand in hand. Indeed, that's Ricky Baker's (Julian Dennison) story — or, it is after the 13-year-old is taken in by the kindly Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and the cranky Hec (Sam Neill). When tragedy strikes, he absconds to the surrounding wilderness to avoid the controlling plans of an over-eager social worker (Rachel House). A national manhunt ensues, as does plenty of mayhem; think nods to '80s classics, over-the-top car chases, plus Rhys Darby popping up as an eccentric conspiracy theorist. Part coming-of-age adventure, part comedic trek through the New Zealand bush, if the end result sounds both hilarious and heartwarming, that's because it is. And, it's also Waititi's last indie effort before he takes on a rather mammoth task: directing Thor: Ragnarok, and bringing his distinctive sensibilities to the superhero realm. [competition]572050[/competition]
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Melbourne is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing a little adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the Melbourne landmarks and institutions we all love. This week, discover and rediscover the things that make Melbourne so great, with seven different detours through our city's classic spots. From Monday to Sunday, channel that Melburnian spirit, and enrich your everyday with one completely achievable, time-honoured activity that helps bypass any mundane roadblocks in your routine. This week, rediscover the classics of Melbourne we know and love, from a double feature at The Astor Theatre, to a long lunch at Grossi Florentino, to a rummage through the Queen Victoria Market. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
Melbourne Music Week will take over the city from Friday, November 15, to Saturday, November 23 — and, this year's retrospective program is paying tribute to some of the highlights of its first decade. The festival is known for transforming unlikely spaces across the city into rollicking live music venues and, in the ultimate throwback move, MMW will bring back its immersive pop-up venue Kubik as the festival hub. After first appearing at the 2011 festival, it will this time make its home at Alexandra Gardens, delivering a nightly program of local and international sounds. Designed by Germany's Balestra Berlin, the outdoor structure offers up a feast for the senses, featuring technology that allows it to light up in time with the music. Headline acts including Melbourne dance legend CC:Disco!, German electronic act Monolake, and French natives Kittin and Raphaël Top-Secret promise to give Kubik a serious workout this year. Image: Kubik 2011.
Throw us a bit of sunshine and we'll take just about any inside activity to the great outdoors. Open-air moviegoing, however, is a clear favourite. Each year we inevitably see our favourite outdoor cinemas return for the summer and a couple of newbies always pop up too. From films overlooking the CBD to nestled among the sands at St Kilda Beach, these cinemas showcase the best new releases and cult favourites under the stars. So pack a snack basket of wine and cheese (this is mandatory), some Aeroguard and get your butt on a picnic rug for the evening. It's a perfect date idea or a great way to spend an evening with mates.
Sydneysiders have been pretty damn stoked with their lofty tourist attraction, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, since it opened on March 19, 1932. Then, in 1998, Bridgeclimb Sydney let keen beans walk all over it — bringing even more sweet, sweet tourist dollar to the city. Even we walked over it. Now, Melbourne wants a piece of the high-flying action, with a brand new attraction planned for the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Confirmed by Sports Minister John Eren on 3AW Breakfast and reported by The Vine, the Victorian and Federal Government are planning to spend $3 million on a 'tourist walk' at the MCG, built high above the hallowed turf. Apparently you'll be able to survey your crickety kingdom from 70 metres up — the ultimate spot for one heck of a Classic Catch. The best bit? There are reports of a flying fox or zipline to send you whizzing across the MCG. A ZIPLINE FLYING FOX. Official plans and dates haven't been revealed as yet, but we can dream. Via 3AW and The Vine. Image: Sascha Wenninger.
This July sees the return of another packed program from Open House Melbourne. If you're not familiar with the annual two-day event, it opens up some of the cities most iconic buildings, new structures and urban environments for the public to explore and appreciate. And with 200 buildings included in this year's program — and 73 of these appearing on the program on the first time — you're set to be busy on the weekend of July 27–28. A highlight of the weekend will be the chance to check out the long-awaited refurbishment of RMIT's Capitol Theatre. After closing in 2014 for much needed renovations, the much-loved building now showcases its recently renovated Lounge, Salon, Foyer and Theatre. Throughout the weekend, it will be open for both guided and self-guided tours between 10am and 4pm. After that, you can hop over to the new Ian Potter Southbank Centre, which is the new home of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music — don't miss seeing the six-metre-wide oculus designed by John Wardel Architects. Or you can take a tour of Melbourne's only CBD gin distillery Little Lon, take a proper look at the revamped Espy or walk through Fitzroy's Cairo Flats. If you're invested in infrastructure, step behind the construction fence with tours of the West Gate Tunnel Project or the new Parkville Station that's being built as part of the Melbourne Metro Tunnel. Plus, with the City of Hobsons Bay joining in this year, the program will take design enthusiasts over to Williamstown, Spotswood, Newport and Altona. A new keynote program on Urban Tactility will include a public installation in the Immigration Museum courtyard, challenging participants to experience how we create more accommodating cities for the blind and visually impaired. While most of the buildings will be open for free self-guided tours, some of the more popular spots will require you to buy a tickets for five bucks in advance. These will go on sale at 8.30am on Friday, July 12. Image: Tatjana Pitt.
