Despite being in the grips of one very chilly winter, Melbourne is getting a new gelateria. Johnny Di Francesco, the genius behind 400 Gradi, is branching out into sweet, sweet Italian iced confection and opening a gelateria. When the man who won the 2014 World Pizza Championship sets his sights to gelato, you know it’s going to be good. Di Francesco will open a standalone gelateria dubbed Zero Gradi on Lygon Street in Brunswick East in the summer, alongside a new 400 Gradi chapter in Essendon with a dedicated gelato counter. Both venues aim to bring yet more traditional Italian classics to greedy Aussie mouths, so Gelato Messina had better watch out. According to Di Francesco, this will be gelato done the traditional way — ‘panna’ — which means it's served with whipped cream on top, just in case you need some more indulgence (what a world we live in). The aim of the game with Zero Gradi is freshness. The new gelateria intends to be known, like the rest of the Gradi family, for making its product fresh in store daily and will be whipping up your classic, staple gelato flavours as well as organic and seasonal options. Via Good Food. Find Zero Gradi at Shop 1, 93-97 Lygon Street, East Brunswick, opening this summer. 400 Gradi's Essendon chapter details TBC.
Some of the biggest names in jazz are blowing into town as part of the latest edition of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. This year’s lineup is stacked with unmissable performances, as well as film screenings, walking tours and more. Jazz pioneers Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock kick off the festival on May 28 before an encore performance on June 2. Also from the US, the Glenn Miller Orchestra will play a medley of songs made famous during WWII, while the Tord Gustavsen Quartet from Norway will explore the limits of improvisation. The Harry James Angus Band and Monash University Jazz Ensemble head a strong contingent of local musicians, before the festival is wrapped up on Sunday June 7 by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Supplemental events include free evening 'soundwalks', forums and artist workshops, as well as the Jazz on Film sessions at ACMI. For the full MIJF program, visit www.melbournejazz.com Image: Pharoah Sanders by Jamie Williams
Looks like the cat's out of the bag for this year's Listen Out festival, leaked the old fashioned way: posters. Although the national beats-heavy festival's lineup was supposed to drop at midday on triple j, Project U noticed a casual poster on a Sydney telegraph pole this morning. US rapper and general champ Childish Gambino is heading the bill, returning after a slam dunk set at last year's Splendour in the Grass. He'll be sitting pretty alongside returning UK producer SBTRKT (DJ set), Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$ and recent Coachella smashes Odesza on the bill. Local favourites like Alison Wonderland, Client Liaison, Roland Tings, Hayden James and masked producer Golden Features will be there, alongside international drawcards like American hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd, LA producer ILoveMakonnen, Lido and Ryan Hemsworth. LISTEN OUT 2015: Childish Gambino SBTRKT (DJ set) Joey Bada$$ Alison Wonderland Odesza Rae Sremmurd Golden Features Dusky Ryan Hemsworth ILoveMakonnen George Fitzgerald Lido Hayden James Client Liaison Roland Tings Halfway Crooks Jordan Burns Triple J Unearthed winner and more to be announced Saturday, September 26 Catani Gardens St Kilda, Melbourne Sunday, September 27 Ozone Reserve, Perth Saturday, October 3 Centennial Park, Sydney Sunday, October 4 Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Tickets on sale Thursday, June 18 at midday. Head to the Listen Out website for more details, tickets and lineup info.
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.
Dumplings are a hot commodity in this city. The ability to encase pure, unbridled joy in an edible cocoon of merriment is an art respected by Melburnians citywide. Select few dumpling palaces are at the top of their game, those you’d happily wait many an agonising minute for. But Sydney has long-hogged one of the best, the formidable Din Tai Fung chain. But start mixing that chilli/soy balance, the dumpling monarchs have opened in Melbourne. In their biggest and most ambitious restaurant yet, Din Tai Fung have opened their their first venue outside of New South Wales. Sitting on level four of Emporium Melbourne, the epic 235-seat restaurant has been a long time coming for the city. "It’s about time we brought our well-loved dumplings to Melbourne," says Australasian director Dendy Harjanto. "I’ve been a visitor to this city for years but we had to wait until the time was right. We feel Emporium, in the heart of the city, is a great location for our world-famous dumplings." Each Din Tai Fung space has its own stylin' interior, and the design brief for the Melbourne eatery has be described by the team as 'yin yang' with a mainly monochrome fitout. The Melbourne restaurant even has three private rooms, a Australian-first for the group. But there are some classic DTF elements of that are making the interstate trip; the chain's signature glass-enclosed dumpling kitchen, as well as their weirdly famous handbag holders. So what of those famous Xiao Long Bao delights? Made to order, each 'soup dumpling' is steamed in exactly three minutes and served moments later. Din Tai Fung pumps out over 6000 dumplings daily, with dumpling training carried out at the World Square HQ in Sydney. It takes two years to become a dumpling master. Two. Years. RESPECT YOUR DUMPLINGS. Din Tai Fung can be found on level four of Emporium Melbourne, 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Open Monday to Wednesday 11.30am–2.30pm, 5.30pm–9pm; Thursday and Friday 11.30am–2.30pm, 5–10pm; Saturday 11am–3pm, 5–10pm; Sunday 11am–3pm, 5pm–9pm. View all Melbourne Restaurants.
Celebrate Oktoberfest like any good German: with beer, pretzels and tiny little sausage dogs racing for glory and gold. That's right everyone: Hophaus Bier Bar are hosting their inaugural Oktoberfest Teckelrennen, also known as the most adorable dog race ever. Never mind the running of the bulls. This is the running of the wieners. Schnell! The high stakes (not really) dachshund race will be held in the Southbank Podium Courtyard on Saturday, September 19. Racer registration is already closed, with organisers reportedly overwhelmed by the number of entries. You can, however, still enter your pooch in the Best Costume Contest — how willingly they'll participate is another matter entirely. Spectator entry to the event is free, while all racer entry fees will be donated to Dachshund Rescue Australia. Those wanting to make a day of it can head back to Hophaus after the race for more Oktoberfest-themed activities, including live German music and a sausage eating competition. Although to be honest, the idea of eating sausages after watching a sausage dog race just doesn't sit right with us. We know they're not actually made of dachshund, but still. And now, as a reward for making it to the end of this story, enjoy these GIFs of dachshunds being awesome. As if they know any other way to be. For more information about the Hophaus Inaugural Dachshund Race, visit their website. Via Beat.
Find true love without ever lifting a finger. A brand new smart watch app is eliminating the most physically arduous part of Tinder by selecting your matches for you based on the beating of your heart. Yep, it swipes right for you. This is isn't just like putting your Tinder profile on auto-swipe (actual thing). Developed by American creative agency T3, Hands-Free Tinder works by measuring your pulse rate. According to T3, "The heart doesn't lie." The display on your smartwatch will show you a potential date’s profile picture and then gauges your physiological reaction. If your heartbeat quickens, it may well be true love/casual sex time. If it slows, it clearly wasn’t meant to be. Check out their classy, classy promotional video, below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkVLJiJj7qQ We’re not buying the whole ‘always listen to your heart’ shtick, but you’ve got to give the company credit for really boiling Tinder down to its bare essentials. You literally have to press one button, and everything else is taken care of. This is especially great news for frequent and/or desperate Tinder users, many of whom have begun to experience the symptoms of repetitive strain injury as a result of too much right swiping. The hands-free functionality also has the added benefit of removing any lingering traces of guilt you might feel for snap-judging a potential match based solely on their physical appearance. After all, it’s not like you can control your heart rate. Just don’t use the app while you’re on the treadmill. Could lead to some pretty awkward, terribly-matched first dates. While the concept video makes specific mention of the Apple Watch, the agency claims the app will be available via both Google Play and the Apple App Store, although no word yet as to when. It’s also worth pointing out that the app isn’t actually affiliated with the creators of Tinder, so there may be some rebranding before it hits stores. In the meantime, we’ll be huddled around our phones, swiping like a bunch of soulmate-seeking Neanderthals. Via Mashable. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
The truth is out there, and this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival is on a mission to hunt it down. The annual boundary-pushing arts fiesta's 2019 program embraces the hard-hitting theme 'in search of the truth'. Descending on the city from September 12–29, Melbourne Fringe is set to deliver its signature diverse spread of talent, this time cramming over 455 eye-opening events into the calendar. It's also debuting its brand-new home at Trades Hall, one of a huge 140 venues playing host to this year's Fringe festivities. You'd best start plotting your festival experience now, because there's a whole lot here to tickle one's fancy. The USA's Cause Collective will be doing some digging with its pop-up photobooth confessional, a live art piece that has visitors responding on camera to the prompt "the truth is…". The oft-revealing answers will then be featured in a public exhibition at Chapel off Chapel. A jam-packed comedic lineup promises to throw down some hard truths of its own, from the hilarious tale of self-discovery that is Mormon Girl, to a stand-up show packed full of fresh material from legendary funnyman Jimeoin. Meanwhile, homegrown burlesque star Moira Finucane stars as an apocalyptic snow queen in internationally-acclaimed show The Rapture Chapter II: Art Vs Extinction. Elsewhere, you can get a little more hands on. Unearth hidden gems as part of roving outdoor audio experience Shrines and Half Truths, or perhaps embark on a smartphone-guided tour of Werribee lead by performance alchemists Binge Culture. Expect party vibes aplenty from heady circus cabaret piece Society, as well as a show-stopping riot of drag, music, circus and burlesque when Yummy Deluxe takes over the Fringe Hub at Trades Hall. The new digs will also play host to a program of lively fiestas, including a fittingly boisterous Janet Jackson tribute night, the city's best choirs singing 1999's best hits and a Fringe-style Grand Final do with the riotous Betty Grumble as host.
Give Melburnians an occasion, and they'll show their love for cheese in all of its creamy, gooey, rare and stinky forms. Add some delicious wine, beer and cider to the table and you've got one heck of an afternoon. Setting up shop at the magnificent Werribee Mansion once again, Fromage a Trois Cheese Festival is back to pair the former with the latter, returning after a one-year hiatus. Here, showcasing Australian artisan cheesemakers is on the agenda — and they'll be displaying their tasty wares for you to sample and inevitably take home by the wheel-load. For those after a filling array of dairy goodness, you'll want to head to the 'Build Your Own Picnic' pavilion. And if you're particularly interested in the process behind the practice, there'll be demonstrations and meet-the-maker sessions, so you can stock up on tips for your own cheesemaking adventures. Fromage a Trois Cheese Festival takes place on April 8, with early bird tickets currently available for $35 (plus booking fee). As well as entry and plenty of samples, attendees will receive their own festival glass to keep. Once the first batch of tix have been snapped up, this cheesy day (in the best possible way) will set you back $45.
For those who haven’t heard, Feast of Merit is a social enterprise restaurant that combines an entrepreneurial spirit with an ethical goal. Operated by non-profit organisation YGAP, all profits from the Middle Eastern restaurant go towards supporting local entrepreneurs in Australia, East Africa, South Africa and the Pacific. Basically, the venue is dead-set awesome. And the Feast of Merit ethos is obviously resonating with the community because they’re expanding their territory, and moving skywards. Yes, the Richmond cafe and restaurant has a new addition: a rooftop bar. Set to open tonight, Tuesday, March 1, the rooftop has been decked out by Richmond and Melbourne locals for an authentic and sustainable fit-out — and with it's laid back vibe and killer menu, it'll top your list of places to visit this weekend. The purpose of the rooftop is clear. With a dedicated snack-sized menu and extensive wine and beer list, the space will cater for the in-betweeners. Groups looking for pre-dinner drinks, colleagues searching for post-work snacks, and those in need of emergency cocktails will fit right in here; the FoM rooftop is good for any occasion too casual for a sit down meal. On the menu you’ll find bites such as cured Tasmanian ocean trout with ras el hanout, spiced organic almonds with chickpeas and merguez sausages with labneh, as well as a strong selection of Australian wineries and craft brewers. The FoM rooftop joins others on the Swan Street strip, including the one above the Corner, the Public House rooftop, and the terrace at Union Dining. And in case you were wondering, the name Feast of Merit comes from a ritual endemic to Nagaland in northeastern India. When a person comes into a position of wealth, the noblest thing they can do is share the fruits of their wealth with their whole community by throwing a huge feast. The feast lasts until all their assets are depleted, then they’re given the highest form of recognition and leave with nothing but the respect and gratitude of the whole village. As the Feast of Merit website says: “We come into this world with nothing. Like the people of Nagaland, we believe merit lies with those that choose to give it away." The Feast of Merit rooftop bar will open on Tuesday, March 1 at 5pm. It will then be open 5pm – late Tuesday to Thursday, and 3pm – late Friday to Sunday. For more info, visit feastofmerit.com. Images: Renee Stamatis
Thousands of punters attending Splendour in the Grass were left stranded for hours at the North Byron Parklands site on Friday evening, with bus and traffic wait times reaching into the early hours of Saturday morning. After The Strokes wrapped up on the main Amphitheatre stage, the masses flocked to the festival's shuttle buses — only to find almost empty bus bays and unbelievable queues. Oh man. #Splendour bottleneck is absolutely burying the vibe of thousands in one fell swoop. NOT COOL @SITG 😭 — Kira Puru (@kirapuru) July 22, 2016 In a pretty chaotic scene that resembled The Walking Dead, punters were jumping ditches, ducking under fences, pissing in fields and flocking to any maxi-cab (or moving vehicle, for that matter) that passed by. Concrete Playground even saw a woman with a walking frame having to walk the 1.25km from the festival entrance to the festival gate and duck under a fence, waved to do so by a NSW Roads and Maritime traffic controller. By 1-2am, many punters even waved $50 notes at passing cars in the hopes of catching a ride back to town. Traffic was no better, with early leavers waiting up to two hours just to leave the festival site, many returning to Byron Bay by 2-3am. The "line" for the buses at #SITG2016 been waiting for 65mins so far. Poor form #Splendour organisers @secretsounds pic.twitter.com/ojhl33RLmM — BrigFee (@boo_indeed) July 22, 2016 NSW Roads and Maritime officers corralled punters down into darker, less busy parts of the pre-highway road — with little time for compassion for the stranded punters. NSW Police rolled out the riot squad, patrolling with formidable casualness. This is not Splendour's first time at the closing time rodeo — so what the heck went wrong? Using data for non-camping ticketholders versus camping ticketholders should have offered a clue into Friday night's logistical nightmare — there were simply not enough buses for the number of non-staying punters. Here's hoping Saturday's three-hour set from The Cure staggers the leaving times. so we'll wait all damn niiight by the big floodlight towers they have the buses and also the powerrrr #SITG2016 pic.twitter.com/6zQvraIz7N — spicy cinnamon taco (@Caitlin_Welsh) July 22, 2016
Start planning a cheeky summer Tassie trip, Hobart's palace of next-level art MONA has just announced the first glimmer of their 2017 Mona Foma lineup. Returning to the Apple Isle's capital from Wednesday 18 to Sunday 22 January 2017, Mofo is one of Hobart's calendar cornerstones — and this year's shaping up to be as weird as ever. First off the rank is the world premiere of tētēma, the newest project from legendary Faith No More frontman Mike Patton. The project is a collaboration between Patton and Aussie experimental composer and pianist Anthony Pateras, who are bringing their ambient, experimental live show to us which explores the theme of displacement. The combo of Pateras' electro- orchestral style with Patton's insane vocal range and a 12-piece band is not to be missed. Second up, MONA has also announced that US comedic, storytelling/musical outfit Puscifer are on the festival bill. They're known for high-energy, narrative driven shows. This is only the first announcement, with the full program set to be announced on Wednesday, October 12. Looks like Mofo is shaping up to be another banger. Tickets go on sale on Monday, October 17, so keep an ear to ground for further announcements. Image: Mofo/Facebook.
Looking for an opulent, world heritage-listed B&B stay in Paris that'll make you feel like a pre-Revolution French monarch? The Palace of Versailles is opening a hotel and restaurant, where you can have your cake and eat it too. According to The Age, the world-famous 17th century palace has hit a spot of financial trouble, and is opening a hotel on the premises to raise much-needed funds. With more than seven million people wandering through the iconic grounds every year, it sounds like they're doing okay. But the state-owned palace has seen funding cuts from €47.4 million (around $70.7 million) in 2013 to €40.5 million (around $60.2 million) in 2015 — a hefty decrease when you're trying to renovate palatial Rococo apartments. Enter LOV Hotel Collection. The French-based hospitality group have just won the tender to transform the three 17th century buildings in the palace grounds right next to Louis XIV's beloved Orangerie into commercial accommodation. The Grand Controle, Petit Controle and Pavillon buildings — former treasurer and officers' mess buildings just 100 yards from the main palace — will be converted into 20 luxest of the luxe boutique hotel rooms. What's more, the 'hotel' — if you can call it that — will also house a world-class restaurant. Renowned Michelin-starred French chef Alain Ducasse is locked in to open a fine dining venue on the premises. Exactly what the restaurant will be like remains to be seen, but we're thinking levels of opulent cakery like this: "There will be no other hotel in the world like this one," according to a Versailles palace spokesman. "This is an emblem of French history and a cultural landmark. It will be an authentically royal experience." Guests will apparently be able to eat cake, drink French champagne and generally live like a House of Bourbon monarch during their stay. One thing you can probably expect? One heck of a price tag, and a tidal wave of cashed-up honeymooners. Renovations are expected to cost upwards of €14 million (that's $20 million plus), and should be finished sometime in 2018. Stay tuned. Updated: April 11, 2016. Via The Age and CTV News. Top images: Dollar Photo Club.
The most excellent folk behind The Social Studio, Northside Records and Three Thousand are joining forces for one of Melbourne’s best free block parties. The Social Studio, a social enterprise that combines a fashion school, designer label, cafe and community space, has a significant bucketload to celebrate. The block party is the perfect opportunity to check out the latest in Melbourne fashion and music; so if you want to know what's up, get down to Collingwood. And what’s a block party without seriously good music? Melbourne darling Banoffee will be leading the charge, with performances by Baro, Queen Magic, High Tea/The Outside Inn, Wantu The One, and DJ sets by MzRizk and Cazeux O.S.L.O. Alongside the aural delights, there will be a fashion show featuring five local and emerging designers, as part of Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF). Finally, there will also be a market with food stalls for you to peruse, and we highly recommend you drop by the Mamma Van to top up your tank. Image: The Social Studio/Liberation.
Virtual reality may finally be about to hit the mainstream, with Sony announcing that PlayStation VR will be on the market by the end of the year. Compatible with the PS4, the long-awaited virtual reality headset will go on sale in October, and is now available for preorder from the PlayStation website for the surprisingly accessible price of AUD $549.95. Expensive gimmick or the future of gaming? Suppose we'll have to wait and see. The company made the announcement at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this morning. According to Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House, more than 230 developers are working on VR games, including a VR version of Star Wars: Battlefront. House expects there will be more than 50 games available by the end of the year, many of which will incorporate both the VR headset and a TV screen, allowing for multiplayer experiences that don't require multiple headsets. While there are still some doubts about the mass marketability of VR technology, Sony's announcement undoubtedly marks a significant step forward — not least because of its relative affordability. When accounting for shipping, both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift — which both require a high-powered desktop computer to operate — are expected to cost more than double that of the PlayStation headset. Although, as the guys at Lifehacker have predicted, to use PlayStation VR to its full capabilities you'll probably need to purchase a PlayStation Camera and a Move controller or two, which will bring the price closer to $700. Those after a bargain basement alternative can always go with Google Cardboard, but we suspect that won't be compatible with your PS4. Via Wired.
JumpFromPaper, a fashion company straight out of Taiwan, want you live out your dream of a Saturday morning cartoon world with their range of trippy accessories that look they’ve have jumped right out of the TV and onto your shoulder. Just look at them. Don't you just want to take this backpack called 'Adventure' and going exploring around the city? And this 'Summer Breeze' rounded bag somehow begs you to put on a crisp white tennis skirt and do some loosely choreographed exercise. You may just give a stranger in the street an existential crisis with this little cartoon-like 'Spaceman' backpack. They've even got a range for you dapper gents out there. Honestly, how are these three-dimensional? Trouble is, once you have one, it may be near impossible to stop holding your own artistic fashion shoots. Look at these whimsical ladies on their way to the movies. And if your girlfriends all get one then there's really no other option but to form a girl band, so you can have whacky photos like this as your album cover. Shipping to Australia you can get anything from wallets for $30 to backpacks for $139. You'll be paying for something that looks like it's made of a single sheet of paper, but we guarantee your inner child will thank you everyday. Images: JumpForPaper.
Hendrick's, the Scottish gin distillers who would have you believe their product is harvested fresh from a Monty Python animation, are embarking on a 'horticultural quest' to make Australia their new veg patch. No longer content to raid Mr. McGregor's garden, the liquidologists and drinkticians at Hendrick's are teaming up with the University of Sydney to create the first truly Australian-grown species of cucumber. Despite the presence of a horticulture professor in their fellowship, Hendrick's are asking the public to head to Facebook and vote on soil ingredients that will produce the most distinctly Australian crop. Day One is a choice between kangaroo and emu poop. There's every reason to believe Day Ten will see Barnesy or Farnesy forced to stand waist-deep in fertiliser for six weeks. Planting begins on October 4 and the harvest will take place in mid-November, with a subsequent soiree for attendees to sample the cucumber from down under. To further celebrate the efforts of their botanical pioneers, Hendrick's are giving a Concrete Playgrounder and ten friends the chance to win a sumptuously provisioned cocktail masterclass valued at $3000. Enter below, and remember, you need to vote for your chosen ingredient on the Hendrick's Gin Facebook page to be eligible to win. [competition]589976[/competition]
They streaked in their Birkenstocks, now they're headed our way. Portlandians Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks are touring Australia this March, hitting Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Wollongong, with guest appearances at Perth International Arts Festival and Melbourne Zoo Twilights and Golden Plains. The band describes their 2015 tour plans to be "a rambunctious and raucous bunch of shows", so gear up for one humdinger of a shindig. Fresh off the back of their most recent (and wonderfully-named) album, Wig Out at Jagbags, the Oregon-based crew are bringing their playful, intelligent rock-pop to your town. Jeff Rosenstock from Alternative Press rated the Wig Out album four stars, stating "this album is full of so much life and melody that it stands as a refreshing alternative to the increasingly homogeneous state of indie rock." Letterman thought they were "lovely" after their debut performance. Fresh from living the range life at the Melbourne Zoo on the weekend, the crew have announced two intimate shows in Melbourne this week — The Gasometer on Thursday, March 6, and the following night at Toff In Town on Friday, March 7 March before the band jettison off to the Supernatural Amphitheatre at Golden Plains. The legendary Dan Kelly will join his idol as the support for the Gasometer, with The Ocean Party setting the vibes at Toff In Town.
The balmy season's about to kick off on a ridiculously blissful foot, with Tame Impala announcing a huge national tour this morning, hitting some of Australia's biggest outdoor venues this November. Following one widely celebrated comeback set at this year's Splendour in the Grass, Perth's favourite psychedelic outfit are doing an epic tour through Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and back to their Perth hometown. Tame brain and frontman Kevin Parker will be teaming up with Dom Simper, Cam Avery, Jay Watson and Julien Barbagello to bring the insanely successful new album Currents to venues like the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Melbourne's epic Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the Brisbane Riverstage. Such big outdoor shows deserve one heck of a support, and you'll get it in Mini Mansions (Queens of the Stone Age bass player Michael Shuman's side project). Tame Impala will also be joined by Fremantle's seven-piece hip hop outfit Koi Child for the Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth shows. TAME IMPALA 2015 NATIONAL TOUR DATES: Saturday, November 7 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Tuesday, November 10 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney Wednesday, November 11 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney Saturday, November 14 — Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth Wednesday. November 18 — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Saturday. November 21 — Riverstage, Brisbane Tickets on sale Monday 31 August, 9am local time, from tameimpala.com. Image: Matt Sav.
Road to Refuge's summer fundraiser is bringing top-notch musical and comedic talent to the Shadow Electric for a very worthwhile cause. Musical delights for the evening will include The Drones' Gareth Liddiard, Ben Abraham, The Harpoons DJs, Nhatty Man, Arthur Penn & The Funky Ten and Cable Ties. There will also be comedic and spoken poetry performances as part of Gimme Shelter!, with Tom Ballard and duo Isabel and Rachel working their hilarious magic. Road to Refuge is an interactive website that allows visitors to virtually go on the journey of a person seeking asylum to Australia. All of the proceeds for the event will go towards the organisation's 2016 projects and workshops. If you're unable to attend the event but would still like to contribute, you also have the option to purchase a ticket for a refugee or person seeking asylum to attend the event, which is a wonderful gift indeed. To learn more about Road to Refuge, we highly recommend checking out their great work.
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.
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.
There's a brand new festival coming to New South Wales, sporting a mini-Meredith lineup, an outdoor cinema and an independent record market. Plus, it's in one of Australia's prettiest coastal towns. Fairgrounds is Australia's newest boutique music festival, coming to the NSW town of Berry this December. It's just two hours out of Sydney on the south coast, so one easy peasy road trip. Pioneered by Handsome Tours, the shiny new festival fuses local food, boutique beverages, markets, movies and music in one sweet-sounding event. Taking cues from the recently-announced Meredith lineup, Fairgrounds' folk, pop and garage-focused lineup will see LA-based crooner Father John Misty headline, with Brooklyn glitchy duo RATATAT and dream pop legends Mercury Rev at the top. San Francisco's quirky characters Unknown Mortal Orchestra will be there, alongside folk-rocker Jessica Pratt, Sydney's immortal Royal Headache and the gospel dancehall blues of C.W. Stoneking. While music is your main drawcard to most festivals, Fairgrounds has given more weight to the in-between elements than many festivals do. Foodies will find a gastronomical paradise at the event, with wines and local nibbles sourced from neighbouring estates. There'll be markets and field games — sounds like someone enjoyed Secret Garden Festival — and the best bit? There'll be an outdoor cinema: Fairgrounds' Cinema Under the Stars, presented by Madman Films. FAIRGROUNDS 2015 LINE-UP (SO FAR): C.W. Stoneking Father John Misty Jessica Pratt Mercury Rev RATATAT Royal Headache Unknown Mortal Orchestra Fairgrounds Festival is happening on Saturday, December 5 in Berry, NSW. Earlybird 'Fairgrounds Founder' tickets are $110 and go on sale on Thursday 20 August at fairgrounds.com.au and moshtix.com.au. Kids under 12 enter the festival for free. You can choose to stay offsite in a B&B, or Fairgrounds offers in-site camping. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
You thought the time for giant slides was through. You thought you'd missed the boat. You thought you'd be doomed to slide down your own shitty bits of plastic soaked with detergent and your backyard hose forever. You're in luck, slider. There's a freakin' huge slide coming to Australia and you can skid right down the middle of it. Slide the City is a multi-city series hitting Sydney, Melbourne and Perth with more national dates to be announced. It's a gargantuan 300 metre vinyl slip 'n' slide that dares to rival the likes of Slide Melbourne, Slidestreet and every detergent-laden giant slide you've ever created in your own backyard. Apparently this is equal to nearly three football fields worth of sliding. Family-friendly and encouraging of dress-ups, Slide the City is so much more than a slide. There'll be live music, food stalls and a bar popping up on the day — all you have to do is bring your water buckets, floaties and super soakers — yep, you're actually encouraged to bring these. Unless otherwise specified, sliding starts at 9am and goes until 7pm. We know what you're thinking (after all the fun sliding bit's done), what about water wastage? In fact, the team are taking great pains to keep the event's environmental impact low, even swinging the whole thing to raise awareness of water conservation. Good stuff, team. SLIDE THE CITY 2016 DATES: MELBOURNE — Sunday, January 10 SYDNEY — Friday, January 15, Saturday, January 16 and Sunday, January 17 WOLLONGONG — TBC SUNSHINE COAST — TBC TOWNSVILLE — TBC GOLD COAST — TBC NEWCASTLE — TBC Register for tickets at the Slide the City website.
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.
Spring has sprung, and for Melburnians this means two things: the weather is about to get even more unpredictable, and the prettiest part of the year is upon us. Serious natural beauty is here (hello magnolia, hello oriental plum blossom) and even though we get teased by the other Aussie capitals for our European climate, we also get some serious seasonal blooms. The best way to see the full glory of spring is to get out of the city and go for a bushwalk. You wont regret it: Australian endemic flora is (*Chris Traeger voice*) literally the most beautiful on the planet. Here are our tips for the best hikes to spy wildflowers. [caption id="attachment_636608" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image via Wikimedia.[/caption] THE GRAMPIANS NATIONAL PARK There are lots of hikes to choose from when you reach the Grampians, and at this time of year, they'll all be awash with flowers and lichen and lush heather. The Mackenzie Falls Trail is a good one to start with — a glorious, cool hike down the falls and alongside the river framed with foliage. Alternatively, try the easy trail that leads to the Balconies. It'll take you through some thick bush with many varieties of wildflowers growing onto the path before you arrive at the stunning views. If you're after something a bit different, head to the Gulgurn Manja Shelter. It's an ancient Indigenous cave art site and the winding path that leads to the sacred place is covered in desert varieties of wildflower. GREAT OTWAY NATIONAL PARK The Great Otway National Park is huge, and spreads across many and varied landscapes. But in spring, the windswept heaths that run between shore and forest are alive with wildflowers. The park is worth a trip in its own right, but make sure you park your picnic rug amongst the flora while you can. There are over 80 types of orchids in the Anglesea heath region alone, so when they say 'sea of colour', they really mean it. LANGWARRIN FLORA AND FAUNA RESERVE If you want to stay a little closer to home, head down the Peninsula to Langwarrin. You'll find the well-maintained nature reserve there comes alive in spring with native wildflowers. Easy, meandering walking trails criss-cross throughout the land which lets you see a lot more varieties than some of the more structured hikes. You'll see lots of weird and wonderful lichen, moss and fungi as well as the blooming orchids and native wildflowers. Just don't forget to bring your own water and decent shoes — it's not a tough walk by any measure, but it can get boggy. LAKE MOUNTAIN The wildflowers on show at Lake Mountain — a snowy peak, just past Healesville — are unlike any of the wildflowers featured on this list. The alpine environment (clocking in at more than 1400 metres above sea level) creates an entirely different kind of wildflower that flood the mountain with fragrance during spring and summer. And with over 40 kilometres of walking trails, you'll see a lot of unique species. To give you an idea of what you're in for, check out this bizarre and charming bushwalking video from one of the lodges on the mountain. Even in spring and summer, the mountain is a bit chillier than most, so be sure to bring a raincoat for extra warmth. Top image: Rexness via Flickr.
It's one of the most popular podcasts in the world, and one that has educated listeners on topics from the inner workings of waterslides to the ingredients that make up Spam. Now, Stuff You Should Know is coming to Melbourne for the first time. Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant are the hosts of the research-based, general knowledge podcast. The pair became friends while working at HowStuffWorks.com and created the podcast as an attempt to repackage some of the website's most popular content. So far they've recorded episodes on everything from disco to the time when Nazis invaded Florida in WWII; wonky stuff like trickle-down economics and voter suppression; science-y topics like the sun, global warming, bioluminescence and willpower; and totally random topics you'd never think could be interesting, like grass, zoot suits and shotgun houses. Since 2014, Josh and Chuck have taken the Stuff You Should Know live show on the road to cities across the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland. Like the podcast, the live experience bundles up learning with laughter. Expect to witness a never-heard-before episode unfold in real time.
As the taxi industry and Uber continue to trade blows, a new app targeted exclusively at women and children could prove safer and more comfortable than either. Mum's Taxi is the brainchild of comedian and single mother George McEnroe, and is currently seeking backers via the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe. Assuming it gets over the line, the service would only be available to women and children, while also providing female drivers employment opportunities in an industry dominated by men. Speaking to The Age, McEnroe said she came up with the idea while weighing up the potential dangers of driving for Uber. ""I registered a couple of times and realised I was just too scared, there are too many risks," she said. "I thought of the name Mum's Taxi, which is a bit daggy, but who else do you want to pick you up?" In addition to offering a safe environment for passengers, the service would provide employment opportunities to female drivers. McEnroe points out that only 12 per cent of rideshare drivers are women, despite the fact that women make up more than half of the casual workforce. The plan is to launch the service in Sydney in October, before eventually rolling-out nationwide. Drivers would be expected to complete police and working with children checks, and in return get to keep 85 per cent of each fare. Once Mum's Taxi is national, McEnroe intends to donate a further one per cent of every fare to a charity that improves the lives of women and children. For more information or to donate to Mum's Taxi, check out their GoFundMe campaign. Via The Age. Image: Splitshire.
Fresh air. Food trucks waiting to fill your hungry stomach. Live music. Outdoor cinema. Sounds like summer in Australia, doesn't? Add in aerial circus, medieval performance fighting and Mexican wrestling, too, and it also sounds like Melbourne's new four-day arts and food truck festival. Taking over Coburg's Velodrome from January 26-29, 2017, the rather descriptively named Velodrome Food Truck Festival promises all of the above and more. And the best part? Not only can you bring your pet pooch, but the whole event is free. Each of the four days of the festival will cram in a lineup of food trucks, several bars selling beers and craft cocktails and an outdoor cinema screening a film each night. Expect a sideshow circus, roaming talent, workshops, visual art installations, a market stall village, eating competitions and more than 30 food trucks, including Messina, Beatbox Kitchen, Taco Truck, Mr Burger, Pierogi Pierogi and Poke Time. "We're dubbing it 'the Glastonbury' of food truck festivals. It's a mixed bag of performance and entertainment," said Velodrome events director, Chris Mitchell. He's one of guiding hands behind the drive to turn the site into a cultural event precinct — and given that, with his partner Gareth Holt, he also helped turn Chapel Street venue Red Bennies into an internationally renowned arts intuition, he certainly knows what he's doing.
Flying might be speedy, in terms of in-air time. But when you add airport transfers, check-in queues, security checks and boarding procedures, the hours start to pile up. A plane flies from Sydney to Melbourne in 90 minutes, but, for passengers, the journey can take up to four hours. Two Aussie aviation experts want to change all that. 28-year-old Luke Hampshire and 32-year-old Alexander Robinson are hard at work getting a startup off the ground, which will give members unlimited flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, for one (expectedly hefty) monthly fee. And you won’t be flying with Virgin, Qantas, Jetstar or Tiger Air, by the way, you’ll be on a dedicated private jet. The company is named Airly and here’s how it works. Members pay $1000 to join up and $2550 per month after that (yep, it's not cheap). There are no maximum rides per month and no minimums, either. You’ll be flying on one of three eight-seater King Air 350s, which will start with 54 flights per week between Sydney’s Bankstown Airport, Melbourne’s Essendon Airport and Canberra Airport. Once things are up and running, Airly intends to cover Adelaide and Brisbane, too. Queueing for hours will look so early 21st century. Instead, you’ll be checking in just 15 minutes before departure in the company’s private terminal, cutting two hours off an average journey with a commercial airline. Meanwhile, both on the ground and on-board, ‘first class’ service is promised, ‘everytime’. Sound like some kind of pie in the sky? Well, it’s actually been done before — and successfully. Over in California, a similar service, named Surf Air, is already flying between twelve cities. In fact, Surf Air’s founder, Wade Eyerly, helped out when Hampshire and Robinson were first getting moving. Six months ago, the two quit their jobs to work on Airly full-time. The first King Air 350 has already been ordered from the United States and Hampshire told the SMH, “We are working off a membership number. We have a lot of people showing significant interest in it now. Once we reach that break-even number, we launch.” Airly won’t own the aircraft — they’ll be acting as a service provider and dry leasing the King Air 350s from an Australian company, the identity of which remains anonymous for now. Not that Hampshire wouldn't be able to do the captaining — he's a former Royal Australian Air Force pilot. Via SMH. Image: Jordan Sanchez.
Way back in the golden year of 2013, culinary wizard and Melburnian hero Andrew McConnell opened Supernormal Canteen, a test kitchen for the permanent (and wildly popular) Supernormal in the CBD, which ran for eight glorious weeks. After a long hiatus, McConnell has decided to resurrect the Canteen at the site of his old joint, Luxembourg — previously the home of McConnell's first restaurant Golden Fields, where he first served his coveted lobster roll. Far from simply copying and pasting Supernormal's success onto a St Kilda location, Supernormal Canteen will look to find inspiration from Tokyo street food, retaining the pan-Asian influences that seep into all of McConnell's restaurants. Similarly, the fitout will reflect the a more casual and inviting approach, with scattered seating and varied furniture being the order of the day. The staff, too, will take a step away from the polished fine dining at Supernormal, and will instead be getting about their business in the far more comfortable uniform of a t-shirt. "We want Supernormal Canteen to be a fun, approachable local, bursting with people," says McConnell. "The kind of place that is just as much loved for the good times as it is for the food and drink. Think izakaya style with a twist." Supernormal's 2IC, Tim Goegan, will be taking the reins as head chef, pumping out a minimalistic menu that will feature tasty treats like garlic clove yakitori, steamed pork buns, and an intriguing yet delicious sounding pig's head bao. There'll also be a whole mess of Japanese beers and themed cocktails, as well as a comprehensive wine list. Slated to open its doors in July, Supernormal Canteen will start its operations as exclusively home delivered for two weeks, giving punters the chance to sample the wares in the comfort of their own home before taking the plunge and actually leaving the house. With a fresh menu, fancy new digs, that extra little something McConnell brings to dining, and the option to never leave home again, there's excitement brewing down south. Supernormal Canteen will open in July at 2/157 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda.
If you're always looking for new opportunities to learn new recipes, mingle with makers or just stuff your face with food, the week-long Darebin Homemade Food and Wine Festival should be on your agenda. Kicking off on Monday, May 29, this year's festival lineup features dozens of events organised by local restaurants, chefs, brewers, winemakers and producers from across the northern suburbs. Free to Feed will host a pop-up Sri Lankan dinner, while Lentil as Anything is launching a new food rescue enterprise Food Without Borders. There'll also be classes where you can learn how to make everything from roti to salami to kombucha. Other standout events include the Meet the Makers showcase, which will feature complimentary wine tastings and cooking demonstrations, and the Darebin Community Welcome Dinner, which connects newly arrived migrants, asylum seekers and international students with established Australians over a meal.
Vivid Sydney is really cranking it up this year. Announcing a kaleidoscopic festival program of light, music and ideas this morning, Vivid's 2015 plans will have you squealing over social and locking in dates. Now staged in four new precincts (Chatswood, Central Park, Pyrmont and expansion in Sydney University), as well as the usual harbourside suspects, Vivid is back for another year of technicolour merriment and reignited appreciation of your city. So what's in store? LIGHT Alongside the predictably mindblowing projections on the Sydney Opera House sails (Universal Everything), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Danny Rose and Rebecca Baumann this time), and Cadman's Cottage (a 20 multiplayer game this year, just casually), Vivid has some pretty talkworthy surprises in store. Chatswood will be turned into an aquatic wonderland with giant 3D sea creature projections, you'll be able to 'paint' the skyscrapers in Circular Quay, and the ever-popular Light Walk will feature glow swings, an interactive game of duck, duck goose, musical 'beat dice', playable piano stairs, floating fibre optic dresses from Korean artist Taegon Kim and the obligatory selfie stage (with a 'You Are Here' arrow sign). At Central Park, artists Rekko Rennie and Beastman will project on to the Carlton and United Brewery Facade, and there'll be silent discos on the lawn every Friday and Saturday night. Martin Place will once again be a super pretty illuminated food precinct, and Pyrmont Park will let you let off 'digital fireworks' and project yourself on the casino singing karaoke. Plus, the BBC's Life Story projected on the Argyle Cut sounds just about as beautiful as a weeknight gets. MUSIC Music-wise, this year's Vivid program is equal parts supersuperstars in supersupervenues to loved and local party nights around the city. For Vivid LIVE, the big names came tumbling out of today's announcement. Joining the already announced king gloomsayer Morrissey, eclectic folk dreamboat Sufjan Stevens, immortal art rockers TV on the Radio, Aussie legends Hoodoo Gurus, gravelly folkster Bill Callahan, new album-touter Daniel Johns, longtime shredders The Drones, Sydney hypecards The Preatures, garage go-tos Royal Headache and electronic powerhouse Mad Racket. Red Bull Music Academy are throwing The Studio's opening night, where Future Classic are set to celebrate their tenth anniversary with Flight Facilities, Seekae, Hayden James, Touch Sensitive, George Maple and Flume's only Australian concert for the year; alongside all the Astral People, Elefant Traks label Studio parties we love. We're a little disappointed to see only super male headliners and about three female artists in the entire Vivid LIVE lineup (Preatures, Drones, George Maple), but here's hoping for a more balanced Music at the House summer lineup. Around the city, there's a whole bunch of luminous shindiggery to be had, with Vivid Music this year curated by Sydney radio host, DJ and all-round legend Stephen Ferris. Modular's hugely successful Modulations mini-festival is coming back to Carriageworks after a huge Pet Shop Boys year in 2014. This time around, the crew are bringing together Sydney club nights Kooky, Motorik and Pelvis and inviting headliner American jazz saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders to make good use of those Carriageworks acoustics. Freda's will see the return of Sydney's favourite twist-happy party Jingle Jangle and the special performance of Andras Fox under his New Age alter ego A.R.T. Wilson. Goodgod Small Club will see newcomer Oh Reach's debut concert alongside Terry Serio's Ministry of Truth and Spookyland, while Oxford Art Factory showcases brand new Sydney label Personal Best Records (including the Personal Best Orchestra, a ten-piece all live disco electro orchestra with vintage sythesisers). One of the biggest Sydney parties around, Heaps Gay will hold an epic bash at Marrickville's Factory Theatre with the likes of KIM from The Presets, Black Vanilla DJs, Catlips and The Magda Subanskis, and Soul of Sydney are set to hold a huge block party just for Vivid (more details to come). IDEAS Switching on your brain as well as the lights, Vivid Ideas has a chockers program of talks, seminars and conferences to get you right into the global creative conersation. 'The Game-Changers' series will see Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, Monocle and Wallpaper founder Tyler Brule and Rolling Stones/HBO designer Stefan Sagmeister chatting about their wildly overachieving existence. There's going to be a huge one-day conference at Carriageworks to examine the key factors needed to create a 'Southern Hemisphere Silicon Valley'. And the ever-popular Vivid Ideas Exchange is back, with Cool Hunting founders chatting about connecting creatively with consumers, Auxilio Venture Lab talking about the ethics of data usage for Australian business and government (timely), Junkee teaching you 'How to Survive Without a Real Job' and MTV asking if boredom fosters creativity. Phew. There's plenty more to Vivid Sydney's 2015 program than we can fit here, running May 22 - June 8. For the full schtick, head to the Vivid website.
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 7, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its third year running. Last year, 415 cafes and 20 coffee roasters raised $120,000 to fund 91 community projects. Not too shabby. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 7 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. Look for cafés posting this little guy today. @StreetSmartAust gives $1 from your coffee to help the homeless. #CafeSmart #drinkcoffeedogood A photo posted by Concrete Playground Sydney (@concreteplayground) on Aug 7, 2014 at 9:02pm PDT CafeSmart is happening around the country on Friday, August 7. Check the website for participating cafes near you. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
How good at Pictionary would Grimes be? Would Mac Demarco's sketches found in an art gallery? How would Future Islands go in a life drawing class? Sydney's FBi Radio intended to find out, by inviting a list of over 30 musicians to try their hand at a handdrawn masterpiece. Bringing back their wildly successful 'Brush With Fame' art auction, FBi asked a serious banquet of bands, rappers, ARIA-nominees, folksters, singers and beatmakers to create drawings on canvas especially for the station, ready for auction from Thursday 10 March (9pm AEDT) until Sunday 20 March (9pm AEDT). All proceeds raise funds for the independent, not-for-profit, top notch station. Kudos to FBi for one of the best group show lineups around, y'ready? You (YOU) can own a handdrawn work by these guys. FULL ARTIST LIST: Alabama Shakes Albert Hammond Jr (The Strokes) Alison Wonderland Benjamin Booker Best Coast Cosmo’s Midnight Courtney Barnett DIIV Django Django Dune Rats Elliphant & MØ Future Islands Grimes Hot Chip The Internet Little Simz Mac Demarco Matt Huynh Metz Neneh Cherry Parquet Courts Perfect Pussy Perfume Genius Peter Bibby Purity Ring The Rubens Run The Jewels* Rustie Thundercat Total Giovanni TV On The Radio Tycho Vic Mensa * Two individual canvases by Killer Mike and El-P respectively, sold together All works are on display over here. The auction will run on eBay from Thursday 10 March (9pm AEDT) until Sunday 20 March (9pm AEDT). Each piece comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity from FBi. Here's a couple of our favourites in the bunch, that you'll have to furiously outbid us on.
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.
Did you spend your childhood wishing that Jurassic Park wasn't just a movie (or a book that spawned a movie and box office-smashing sequels)? Us too. While that dream is yet to become a reality, Queensland University of Technology has created the next best thing. Welcome... to the digital Dino Zoo. It's exactly what it sounds like: a two-storey installation that lets hyper-realistic, full-sized versions of prehistoric creatures roam wild, with the floor-to-ceiling screens acting like a glass enclosure. It's also much, much more than that. Dino Zoo doesn't just offer the world's first ever opportunity to interact with ten dinosaurs — including the largest flying reptile ever to live, and Australian critters with names like Muttaburrasaurus and Australovenator — but combines video game wizardry with scientific knowledge. What does that mean? Well, these dinos not only look the part, but act it as well. They've been designed to simulate real creatures, with each species vested with artificial intelligence. Watch Stegosaurus and Triceratops make their own decisions about moving, hunting, grazing and resting — and, if you're lucky, recreating parts of your favourite film. We can't promise that you'll be fleeing from a Tyrannosaurus Rex, but we can promise that you can pretend to. With data gleaned from real-life fossils instrumental in the project, Dino Zoo also features a digital dig pit that lets audiences uncover prehistoric bones, an interactive Earth timeline that visualises tectonic plate movement throughout history, and an 'Earth mass extinction simulator' — eek. Basically, it's all the virtual dino fun aficionados could ask for — and everyone loves dinosaurs, after all. Yes, yes they do. Just ask all the folks that flocked to see Jurassic World, which mightn't have been the sequel fans of the original were hoping for, but it still made more than $52 million at the local box office. Find Dino Zoo at QUT's The Cube in the QUT Gardens Point Precinct, George Street, Brisbane until January 27. Check out their website for further information. Image: Erika Fish, QUT.
Yes, Rhianna snuffed Big Bird and made an omelette out of him. Yes, Solange looked like she was wearing a Sliders portal. But there were more than just celebrity fashion moments happening at yesterday's 2015 Met Gala — something only the likes of Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton would make you appreciate. Making ordinary people of celebs and stars out of ordinary people, the HONY photographer took the best snaps of the night; bringing that tried and true human interest formula to the most star-studded event on the damn calendar. Waiters become stars, pop singers become regular folk. Slam dunk, HONY. “I tried to prank him one time by putting a tuna fish sandwich in his bedside drawer. But the prank ended up being on both of us because I forgot about it for weeks.” “There’s a secret addict in me that I’m always trying to tame.” “I was too hard on my son because I couldn’t understand why he didn’t love to compete as much as I do.” “I hope to be as selfless as my mother. My father died when I was seven months old. She had to raise five kids on her own, but she made time for all of us. We used to have these days called ‘Mommy Holidays.’ She’d choose a normal school day, wake us up, have us get ready for school, cook breakfast in a hurry, and right before we walked out the door, she’d scream ‘Mommy Holiday!,’ and she’d let us skip school and go somewhere fun.” “They forced me into having an Instagram.” "I'm trying to look at my phone less." “We managed to raise two teenage girls and not get divorced.” “It was hard to see my father not become all that he wanted to be. He brought my family here from Trinidad. He really believed in the marketing of the American dream, and he thought that he’d become a DJ on the radio. He loved music and had the gift of gab. But he didn’t understand the system and he came too late in life to make the proper connections. So he ended up using his gift of gab to sell cars.” “What’s your favorite thing about each other?” “We’re fine with just a picture, thanks.” Images: Brandon Stanton/Vogue.
We don't know what you got out of your last road trip, but odds are it wasn't a 432-page cookbook profiling 100 food heroes and shot through with gush-worthy photography. Acclaimed food writers Helen Greenwood and Melissa Leong are different that way. After six months on the road with a production crew, they've emerged with The Great Australian Cookbook, a document that features recipes from leading chefs like Neil Perry, Dan Hong, Kylie Kwong and Anna Polyviou but also from farmers and producers such as Tathra Oysters, Bruny Island Food and the Pyengana Dairy Company — as well as Australia's original cookbook queen, Margaret Fulton. And how do you visually communicate this breadth of Australiana so the book might be judged by its cover? With a specially commissioned illustration from Mambo artist Reg Mombassa, of course. Topping off this love fest, royalties from the book will go to OzHarvest, the Australian charity distributing unwanted food to people in need. It's a pretty special project, one that meant figuring out what constituted Aussie cuisine in the first place — the modern version, not just sausage rolls and prawns on the barbie. For Greenwood and Leong, former collaborators on The Good Food Shopping Guide, it was a natural progression of their work in recent years. After the success of The Great New Zealand Cookbook, the pair were approached to do the same for Australia. They jumped at the chance. "We loved the idea of a cookbook that reaches into many regions of Australia, showcases many different kinds of cooks and presents a snapshot of how Australians eat today," says Helen. It was also an opportunity to present a contemporary and inclusive picture of Australian cuisine. "Australia has a great reputation overseas for its food," she says. "If we have any problem representing Australian cuisine, it’s that we struggle to define it." The pair set out to speak with foodies both familiar and lesser known. Considering the successes of Australia's produce and cooking on the international food scene, whittling down the 100 contributors to include was not easy. "We had to cover a lot of ground [in the road trip] ... and had to ask ourselves a lot of questions," says Helen. "Have we represented the regions and the cities? Have we covered the country and the coast? Do we have classic Aussie dishes? Do we have people who reflect our Indigenous and migrant heritage? Do we have the legends and emerging talents of food? When we’d answered these questions, we’d check and check again, and fine-tune it some more." The end result marries the recipes with personal reflections from each chef and photos taken in their private homes and gardens. While the co-editors are reluctant to name an all-out favourite recipe in the book, their personal highlights include superstar Aussie chefs like David Moyle (Tasmania's Franklin and Peppermint Bay), Nick Holloway (far north Queensland's Nu Nu Restaurant) and Scott Huggins and Emma McCaskill (South Australia's Magill Estate, the home of Penfolds). But Helen is quick to point out The Great Australian Cookbook is not just about chefs. "This book is about Australians who grow, harvest, cook and eat food for a living — chefs, cooks, bakers, fishers, farmers and more," she says. "It’s a snapshot of Australian food culture today." It's also a personal document in some ways, reflecting Helen and Melissa's years of gustatory discovery. "A lot of my first-time experiences as a food writer are in this book. The first time I tasted Jim Mendolia’s sardines and was transported back to a glorious holiday on a beach in Portugal," evokes Helen. "My first visit to Darwin when I ate at Jimmy Shu’s Hanuman restaurant and experienced his fusion Asian cooking ... My experience of being on the receiving end of a fork loaded with great food, and meeting the people who’ve grown or cooked or sold that great food, has shaped The Great Australian Cookbook." The Great Australian Cookbook is published by PQ Blackwell and distributed by The Five Mile Press. It's in bookstores now for RRP$49.95. Get a taste of what's inside by trying out this spring roll recipe from Angie and Dan Hong. ANGIE AND DAN HONG'S VIETNAMESE SPRING ROLLS Makes: 60 | Prep Time: 30 mins | Cook Time: 20–30 mins | Skill Level: 2 (Moderate) FILLING INGREDIENTS 500g minced pork neck 1/2 cup water chestnuts, finely chopped 1/2 cup of each of the following, all shredded: -wood ear mushrooms -shiitake mushrooms -carrot? -onion -mung bean thread ?(1cm lengths, softened in cold water) METHOD In a mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients with the seasonings and mix thoroughly. Carefully pour hot water into a shallow, wide dish along with the soy sauce. Stir to combine. Take a rice paper wrapper and quickly immerse it in the hot water, then place on a clean, dry plate. Spoon a tablespoon of the mixture into the centre of the rice paper in a sausage shape. Fold the top and bottom ends in, then roll the rice paper up like a cigar. Set aside and repeat until all of the mixture has been used up. Heat the oil in a heavy-based pot until it reaches 180°C. In small batches, fry the spring rolls for 7–10 minutes or until the outside is crisp and golden. Drain onto paper towel and serve hot with your favourite dipping sauce. Images by Lottie Hedley Photography.
Watch great Australian stage productions with popcorn and choc top in hand, when Australian National Theatre Live arrives in cinemas in April. Inspired by the success of the UK's NT Live series, this local endeavour will capture and screen locally made theatre shows in participating cinemas, with the aim of bringing the live theatre experience to audiences who'd normally miss out. Australian National Theatre Live will launch with the Griffin Theatre Company's production of David Williamson's acclaimed satire Emerald City. The show will make its cinema premiere at Melbourne's Lido Cinemas on Friday April 22, followed by Sydney's Ritz Cinema on Wednesday April 27. Further screenings will follow in cinemas around the country. Other shows set to light up the silver screen include Mary Rachel Brown's The Dapto Chaser, Geoffrey Atherden's Liberty Equality Fraternity, and the Sydney Theatre Company's Wharf Revue. "Australia produces world-class theatre and Australian National Theatre Live will give audiences across Australia the opportunity to experience some of the best productions available – good theatre will no longer just be for metropolitan audiences," said spokesman and actor Grant Dodwell. "ANT Live means many more people will get to see plays that usually have a very short season in metropolitan centres." "Our ultimate aim is to stimulate a greater interest in live theatre, to encourage and promote writers, performers and practitioners, and create a resource for students and theatre lovers across the country." For more information about Australian National Theatre Live, visit www.antlive.com.au.
Have you found yourself standing in the Australian breeze lately and thought, "Do I feel in this breeze a touch of whimsy; whimsy and the slight lilt of literary references spoken in Glaswegian accents?" You have? Sure sign that Belle and Sebastian are on their way. After four years the ever-enduring Glaswegian collective, who have long held the title of indie-pop royalty, have released their ninth studio album just in time for an Australian tour. Belle and Sebastian are never a band to ignore their roots, so longtime fans can look forward to performances that celebrate everything from indie-pop classics from early albums Tigermilk and If You're Feeling Sinister to their newest dance-y ventures 'The Party Line' and 'Enter Sylvia Plath' off the new album Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. We caught up with Stuart Murdoch for a chat about B&S's stylistic changes, having cocktails created in one’s honour and putting politics in pop. Check out the interview right here.
Located on level two of QV Melbourne, Sura Korean BBQ prides itself on serving up an authentic Korean barbecue experience using premium cuts of wagyu beef as well as an extensive a la carte menu. The word 'Sura' translates from Korean as a banquet prepared for a king, which has inspired its focus on serving up only the highest quality dishes. Sura's menu features a variety of barbecue options, including the pork set and the wagyu beef set — perfect for those who might get overwhelmed ordering individual items at a Korean BBQ in Melbourne. A la carte options, that are designed to complement the barbecue as well as be enjoyed on their own, include a seafood pancake, kimchi rice and a hand sliced pork belly which is juicy as hell. Side dishes come with unlimited refill guarantee (this is a big win) and include kimchi, lettuce leaf, potato salad and pickled vegetables. The service here is fast and your dishes will generally arrive within minutes of each other. The drink options at Sura Korean BBQ include cocktails playfully names after K-Pop idols such as EXO, BTS and Aesepa, while non alcoholic options include traditional tea and soft drinks. Drop by Sura with a group of mates to celebrate a special occasion or bring a special someone for a sizzling date. They're open for lunch and dinner with a brief break to reset between three and five.
If you're a fan of Chinese-Australian artist Zhong Chen, here's some good news. As of November 22, you'll be able to sleep with his works. The Art Series Hotel Group has just revealed the first images of the latest venture and it's a five-storey, 100-room number dedicated to him. Named The Chen, the hotel is in Box Hill, 14 kilometres east of Melbourne, within Whitehorse Towers, which, at 36 storeys, is the tallest development outside of the Victorian capital's CBD. Architects Peddle Thorp have taken care of the design, inspired by Chen's King Fu series and, as you'd expect, fun, bold, bright colours rule. There's a bunch of digital archival fine art editions of Chen's works, as well as a stack of originals, including Rooster, fitting because Chen was born in the Year of the Rooster (1969) and the hotel will open in the Year of the Rooster (that's this year). There'll be four in-hotel spots for eating and drinking, including a yum cha restaurant, as well as a gym, events space and rooftop pool (which is, unfortunately, only for guest use). You can also count on the Art Series' usual arty facilities and activities, including tours, libraries, television channels and documentaries, as well as Art Series-branded smart cars and Lekker bicycles available for guests. "I have lived and worked in Box Hill for nearly a decade," said Chen. "I am passionate about my community and its emergence as a cultural powerhouse outside of Melbourne. To have a hotel of such significance, opening in the year of my birth sign, is a true honour. I look forward to meeting guests and seeing how they interact with the hotel and my artworks. It is sure to be a surreal experience." The Chen will open at 820 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill on November 22. For more info or to book a room, visit artserieshotels.com.au/chen.
Meredith is a festival where you're guaranteed to have a good time, no matter what. But whatever your reasons for heading to the three-day December festival in central Victoria, you won't be disappointed with the acts Aunty Meredith has lined up for this year. They're absolutely spiffing awesome. Superwoman and curator of all things wacky, Peaches, will be headlining the bill, bringing her extravagant live show to The Sup. Kelela will be coming all the way from Washington to kick off the after-dark vibbes on Friday night, and Geelong boys King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard will be providing that dose of psych rock every weekend at Meredith needs. BADBADNOTGOOD will be fusing jazz and electro, while Angel Olsen will be bringing all them feels and The Triffids will be there for a shot of nostalgia. And that's not even a half of it. Aunty has really covered all bases here. We hope you got tickets in the ballot. Fingers crossed that we can all hang out in The Sup on December 9, 10 and 11. Here's the full lineup. MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP Peaches Sheila E King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard BadBadNotGood Angel Olsen The Triffids Kelela Ben UFO Japandroids The Congos Baroness Archie Roach Jagwar Ma Mount Liberation Unlimited Fred & Toody Cole Chiara Kickdrum Cass McCombs The Goon Sax Ross Wilson CC: Disco! Cable Ties Wilson Tanner Silence Wedge The Sugarcanes Terry Judith Lucy Sheer Mag Dungen
Fans of Roald Dahl who find themselves in London are in for a gloriumptious surprise. To mark the release of Steven Spielberg's adaptation of The BFG, giant six foot dream jars are popping up around the city, filled with the hopes and aspirations of famous human beans. The jars will appear at iconic landmarks around the British capital, from Trafalgar Square to St. Paul's Cathedral to the Tower of London. Inside, you'll find the childhood dreams of prominent artists and celebrities, including director Steven Spielberg, paralympian David Weir, Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams and The BFG illustrator Quentin Blake. The jars will be on display from July 8 until August 31, after which time they'll be sold at auction. Proceeds from the sale will go to Save the Children and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity, which provides specialist nurses to seriously ill children. "I'm excited to join The BFG Dream Jar Trail so we can all share our dreams together," said Spielberg. "The best part of this project is its support of the valuable work that Save the Children does in giving kids across the world their own chances to dream big." For more information about The BFG Dream Jar Trail, go here. The BFG hits cinemas on June 30. https://youtu.be/VG5MtenlP-A
Brisbanites, you’d best start the coffee percolating and put a cherry pie in the oven, because David Lynch is coming to town. Yes, the filmmaker with some of the most strangely sublime sensibilities in the business — and the best hair, too — is making his first trip to Australia, with Brisbane his sole stopover. We know how lucky we are. He’s here to launch the Gallery of Modern Art’s David Lynch: Between Two Worlds exhibition, and though most might know him from his movies and that one certain TV show that some rightfully say is the best thing to ever grace the small screen, this is a whole-of-building affair. You can watch his films, as well as films about his films. You can hear renditions of the music that helped make much of his work so great. You can buy his signature blend coffee from the gift shop. And you can look at paintings, sculptures, carpet and more that only a mind like his could come up with. By now you hopefully have tickets to his sold-out in-conversation event, a busy film viewing schedule mapped out and plans to stare at his artwork more than once. We’ve got a few other things for you to do, too. Let’s call this your David Lynch homework. WATCH TWIN PEAKS We’ve said it before (just above!), and we’ll say it again: Twin Peaks is one of the best shows that has ever been on television. Sadly, GOMA’s program doesn’t currently include the chance to watch its first and second seasons in full, likely due to rights issues, but anyone with even the tiniest bit of interest in Lynch owes it to themselves to do so at home. You can see the pilot as part of the lineup, as well as the scariest horror film ever made — in the form of movie follow-on, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me — but they’re just not enough. Once you enter Twin Peaks’ world of diminutive dancing men and ladies with logs, you won’t want to leave. And if you need any more convincing, consider it preparation for the third season due out next year. LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC Lynch’s movies are inextricably linked with music; what would Blue Velvet be without Bobby Vinton’s title track, Wild at Heart without Chris Isaak’s 'Wicked Game', or Twin Peaks without Julee Cruise’s 'Falling' and composer Angelo Badalamenti’s haunting themes, after all? The director has been instrumental in the creating distinctive soundscapes for his on-screen work, so it should come as no surprise that he has also released his own albums. His 2001 release, BlueBob, was an experimental rock record. His 2011 effort, Crazy Clown Time, featured the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O on one track and favoured experimental electronica. His 2013 album, The Big Dream, was inspired by blues and pop, combining for a dreamy, experimental sound. Noticing a trend here? So are we. And you’ll also notice that listening to his music — much of which can be found on Spotify — feels just like bathing in his film scores. WATCH LOUIE In 2012, Louis CK pulled off what will likely be his best-ever casting feat. Plenty of familiar faces and recognisable names have popped up in his fictionalised TV series, Louie, but when the comedian pursued an arc in season three that saw his on-screen alter ego considered to replace David Letterman as the host of the Late Show, there was only one person to turn to. Well, several actually, because Lynch wasn’t his first choice (Jerry Lewis, Al Pacino and Martin Scorsese all turned him down); however, it is now impossible to see anyone else as the plain-talking Jack Dall, the man who attempts to guide Louie to success over two episodes. It’s as if Twin Peaks’ Gordon Cole left the FBI and got into the television talk show game — and it is just as glorious as that sounds. READ HIS COMIC STRIP From 1983 to 1992, Lynch wrote and illustrated a comic strip. The Angriest Dog in the World appeared in the LA Reader, the Village Voice and other alternative US publications, inspired by a time in the 1970s when Lynch himself was seething with rage. No, we’re not kidding. Yes, Lynch’s life is filled with the kind of stuff that sounds made up, but isn’t. The image in the comic strip never changed, and always featured the same introduction, explaining that the dog is so angry that he cannot move, eat or sleep. Thought bubbles then delivered existential musings as well as puns and jokes, such as “If everything is real… then nothing is real as well.” Only selected strips can be found online, but even a quick glance proves that they’re pure Lynch. WATCH HIS TV COMMERCIALS AND MUSIC VIDEOS When he’s not making films, albums, TV shows, comic strips and artwork, or popping up in ingenious acting roles, Lynch also dabbles in the world of television commercials and music videos. Okay, okay, so do many other filmmakers – but we guarantee Lynch’s creations are unlike anyone else’s. You might have seen the Japanese coffee ads that tie in to Twin Peaks, but he has also spruiked everything from home pregnancy tests to perfume to Playstation, and even made a spooky public service announcement denouncing littering. In the music video realm, among others he directed an alternative video for Chris Isaak’s 'Wicked Game', an animated clip for Moby’s 'Shot in the Back of the Head', and a video for Nine Inch Nails' 'Came Back Haunted' that comes with a seizure warning. David Lynch: Between Two Worlds is on at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art from March 14 to June 7. See the full program of exhibition-related events at the gallery website.
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.
We get it. Everyone loves an espresso 'tini. We've got a bar that even does them on tap — and Sydney recently got a whole venue dedicated to that God-sent concoction of chilled coffee and vodka. And now — not to be outdone by Sydney — Melbourne is getting the country's very first espresso martini festival. Sleep, who needs it? The festival, to be held on Saturday, November 5, is being gifted to our espresso-loving, cocktail-filled city by the fine boozehounds at Mr Black, a NSW-based cold-pressed (and damn fine) coffee liqueur. In short, they know how to capitalise on our weaknesses and we're not even mad about it. The affair will involve some of Australia's best coffee suppliers, cafes and bars, and will come together to create a beautiful array of alcoholic caffienated beverages. As with any festival of this kind, there will be an array of food trucks as well as a game or two of coffee pong (whatever that is). The festival is to be held at North Melbourne's Meat Market and tickets will set you back $25 a pop, which includes an espresso martini and a try of Mr Black's coffee liqueur (yum!), free tastings (yay!) and license to drink espresso martinis to your heart's content (yeah!). The Mr Black Espresso Martini Festival will take place on Saturday, November 5 at Meat Market in North Melbourne. For more info and to buy tickets, visit espressomartinifest.com. Image: Alana Dimou.
A team of hospitality heavyweights is set to shake things up on the fine dining front, with their revamp of Carlton’s iconic Astor Hotel due to open within the month. The project sees head chef Hayden McMillan and restaurateur Darran Smith partnering up to introduce to us a long-planned, interactive dining concept they’re hoping will put some of the fun back into food. Borrowing from the idea that we eat with our eyes, the 50-seat restaurant (fittingly named The Roving Marrow) will feature yum cha-style food trolleys to accompany a seasonal, produce-driven menu; drawing inspiration from Europe, Australia and the head chef’s native New Zealand. "We’re a bit over tablecloths and stuffiness, but we don’t want to move away from exciting food and wine, and great service," explains McMillan. "With this approach, we’re breaking up the dining experience a little bit." We’ve seen a few incarnations of the dining trolley of late — namely, in place of a dessert menu at the likes of Epocha and The Estelle — but it’s awarded a higher billing at this new venture. As McMillan explains, their version will be serving up snack-style items from the moment you’re seated (think freshly shucked local oysters and house-baked bread) as well offering sharing dishes from both on and off the menu throughout your meal. If you’re in more of a mood to interact with a good cocktail, then you’ll feel right at home in the 50-seat front bar — where the menu has been curated by Mike Enright of Sydney's celebrated cocktail bar, The Barber Shop. With this duo at the helm, it’s a project worthy of high expectations. McMillan has been making a name for himself in kitchens across the ditch and overseas, under the likes of Michael Meredith and Simon Wright and as head chef of Auckland’s Tribeca restaurant. Meanwhile, Smith has notched up management time at some of Sydney’s hottest restaurants, including Icebergs and Merivale’s Hemmesphere. Not only do we Melburnians love a new food concept, as we’ve proven plenty in recent years, we’re also just as happy to have our high end food and wine without the side of pretentiousness. So, it seems these boys have found just the thing to whet our appetites. “In a big dining scene like this one, you need to have something different, something original,” acknowledges McMillan. “People here are keen to try new things. This is a concept where we can have a lot of fun and the guests can have a lot of fun too." The Roving Marrow is set to open at 418 Lygon Street, Carlton by mid-April.
If you’ve ever wanted quality restaurant cuisine at 3am because McDonalds and kebabs won’t cut it, your prayers have been answered. With five levels and three outdoor areas, two restaurants, a rooftop bar, a street level food stall, coffee windows and an impressive 42 taps, 127 Brunswick Street combines everything you need into one central Fitzroy location. Formerly the Old Colonial Inn, The space caters for the early birds with breakfast and the night owls with a 3am licence and full menu on selected nights. Yes, you read that correctly — a full menu until 3am. Developed over three years by Vince Sofo and Paul Adamo (brain children of The Espy Hotel, Ichi Ni and Ichi Ichi Ku), the space was designed with artist and interior designer Christo Gillard. The only problem will be deciding which space you’d like to occupy. “We hope people will come and find their own place within the building,” says Sofo, who wants the place to become an institution. That might mean meandering from private booths to sunlit courtyards, or grabbing a coffee to enjoy on the run. One key option if is Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya restaurant, which spans the basement, the pub’s old keg room, the ground floor and the courtyard. It offers dishes with an Australian-Japanese fusion flavour. On the first floor is Village People Hawker Foodhall, a hawker market/beer hall hybrid delivering your fix of Laotian, Cambodian, Indian, Malay, Burmese and Thai. From the street you can find Ichi Ni Nana Street Food Stall and Coffee Stop Window. The focus is Asian brekkies and lunches for busy Fitzroy folk. Beers, sake and soft drinks also available from the bottle shop. The Upside Rooftop Bar is bound to be a popular summer drinking hole, with views across the city. 127 Brunswick Street is (surprise) at 127 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. It's open now.
