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.
Let out your belt buckle a notch for this one. The mastermind pastry chef behind Agathe Patisserie — whose buttery, inventive croissants and pastries have been filtering into cafes around the city in recent times and popped up at Prahran Market last year — is opening a permanent stall at South Melbourne Market on Friday 31 July. Parisian expatriate Agathe Kerr will make all her pastries fresh in an exposed pastry kitchen behind the market counter, so you can eat with your eyes before you eat them with your mouth. “In France, pastries are always fresh because they are baked throughout the day, and we wanted Melbournians to have that experience, too,” says Kerr. “Our customers will be able to see us preparing the pastries, baking them and adding the finishing touches.” Kerr does danishes, creme brulee, millefeuille and peanut-salted caramel Paris-Brest choux. But she makes her best magic with croissants — infusing them with matcha, pandan or cafe au lait; adding brie and sour cherry for a decadent, uber instagrammable sandwich; or filling each one with salted caramel, nutella or peanut caramel custard and baking them in muffin trays. The resulting tower of gooey croissanty goodness from that last one is called the ‘cruffin’. “What makes our cruffins different is that we fill them on demand, in front of the customer, or ‘a la minute’ as it is known in France,” Kerr says. The Agathe menu will change continuously. Kerr, who has a professional pastry chef qualification from the prestigious Ecole de Boulangerie et Patisserie de Paris, seems to have a thing for experimentation. “The chemistry of baking is a revelation,” she says. “I love seeing the transformation from the raw product to the final product.” So do we, Agathe. So do we. And then we love that other transformation as we pick it up, sink in our teeth, and melt. Agathe Patisserie will be housed in stalls 63 and 64 at South Melbourne Market, which is open every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Victoria's answer to Dark Mofo, WinterWild, is returning to Apollo Bay for two weekends this August. While last year's after-dark winter arts festival was structured around the death and birth, this year's theme is 'visions and ecstasies'. Creeping into the coastal shire on the eastern side of Cape Otway, the festival will take place on the weekends of August 16–18 and August 30–September 1. Each weekend will begin with braziers on the beach, before unleashing a vivid program of music, performances, feasting and workshops — all focused on the idea of peering into the darkness for inspiration, revelations and surprises. Standout events on the program for the first weekend, running from August 16–18, include Visions of Excess, which combines kaleidoscopic visuals with the music of Black Heart Death Cult and Flyying Colours; a suitably psychedelic tribute to Jimi Hendrix; and, following on from last year, another immersive (and haunting) blend of projections, lights and sounds in the quarry. Two weekends later, across August 30–September 1, WinterWild will celebrate the music of David Bowie; pair a definitely-not vegan-meal with burlesque and puppetry at the decadent Feastiality; and make shapes outside, by the water and in the cold evening air, at Moon Garden. For those eager to make the trip twice, The Redemption unfurls across both weekends — with the theatrical production playing for free in two parts, involving the citizens of Apollo Bay, and happening by the harbour. Or, if you're keen to completely dive in, you can opt for the two workshop programs, dubbed 'The Left Hand Path' and 'The Right Hand Path'. WinterWild will run across two weekends, Death from August 10–12 and Birth from August 24–26. To see the full lineup and purchase tickets, head to winterwildapollobay.com.au.
Boozy brunch. Two words every Melbournian loves to hear. And the lofty new oasis Cityfields has just launched a cracker. If you haven't heard of Cityfields before, it's Chadstone's Euro-inspired brasserie coming with some serious pedigree: the guys behind this place are the team who created Half Acre in the CBD. Cityfields has just announced its boozy brunch menu, which is available from 11am every Saturday and Sunday for $69 per person. So what can you get for your $69? Two hours of sourdough focaccia with rosemary and olive oil, smoked heirloom tomatoes, wood-roasted pumpkin dip, seared beef salad with lentils and herbs, and the wood-roasted chicken with lemon, oregano and fennel, which is quickly becoming Cityfields' signature dish. Every meal comes with a big bowl of fries for the table, and you'll also get unlimited cocktails, wine, prosecco and beer for two hours. In other words, you can probably skip lunch and go straight to nap time. Cityfields takes walk-ins on weekends, or you can secure a table over here. [caption id="attachment_897728" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pete Dillon[/caption] Images: supplied, Cityfields by Pete Dillon.
Melbourne's ARU is turning two, which is great for two reasons. First, it's quite fun to say. And second, they're bringing back the famous babi guling — Balinese suckling pig. If you missed ARU's opening in 2021, it launched with a mind-blowing babi guling which quickly became one of the most talked-about dishes of the year. Despite being a sell-out hit, owners Khanh Nguyen and Adi Halim eventually had to take babi guling off the menu because it turns out preparing authentic suckling pig isn't easy, and the pigs were fighting for dry-ageing space with ARU's ducks. The ducks were victorious. [caption id="attachment_837098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ari Hatzis[/caption] But for their birthday celebrations, they're bringing back the pig. Imagine crispy crackling, tender roasted pork belly, finished over a wood fire and served with three kinds of native sambals, fresh herbs and lettuce. It's kind of Bali's answer to Peking Duck. The babi guling special will be running at ARU from June 12 – 17 (dinners only), and no pre-orders are necessary. Just book a table, rock up and point. It'll set you back $80 per pig and that's enough suckling for two average humans. Form an orderly queue for this one. Stocks are limited, and once the pigs are gone, they probably won't be back for a while. Images: Supplied
It goes without saying, Melbourne's characteristically buzzing cultural ecosystem has thrived this year, with the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents taking bold risks in their field. Our bars are more groundbreaking and imaginative, our events more unique and immersive, and our restaurants more inventive and experimental. With new openings left, right and centre, Melbourne is more vibrant, playful and fun than it ever has been. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Melbourne to be a better, braver city. And so, we are very pleased to announce the winners of Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Melbourne's newest restaurants have defied traditional fine dining, turning small dinner clubs into full-blown establishments, reexamining degustation formats and prolifically pedestalling barbecue. Cafes continue to redefine our coffee breaks, building neighbourhood day-to-night warehouse spaces, championing local producers and making an art of vegan nosh. Our bars that have been upping the city's already renowned libation reputation, with countless interpretations of the age-old wine bar. Our new (or renewed) pubs that have the biggest hurdle to face — history. Pub renovations in 2016 moved into more contemporary, fine dining-focused territory with some of the city's best design teams at hand. Melbourne's new event producers that have found new ways to celebrate city life, reinvigorating dwindling or hidden spaces, and creating dedicated festivals from unexpected (and highly niche) themes. This year, we've awarded a People's Choice and Overall award in each of the following five categories: Best New Bar Best New Restaurant Best New Cafe Best New Pub Best New Event These 30 outstanding Melbourne (or Melbourne-based) ventures have been handpicked by Concrete Playground for their combination of originality, innovation, creativity, approachability and sustainability. We straight-up love them. And the winners are... BEST NEW RESTAURANT OVERALL: NORA Up until recently, Nora was a tiny, immaculate cafe in Carlton — from the outside, it looks like an art gallery. The white walls and simple furnishings faded into the calm ambiance and an arrangement of fresh flowers and raw ingredients that sat on a large dining table in the centre of the space. Co-owner and head chef Sarin Rojanametin comes from a photography and advertising background — and it certainly shows. Nora has a reputation among those in the know for being off-centre — as evidenced by the experimental Thai breakfast and lunch menu that earned them big ups in Melbourne's food scene. But it seems they reached the creative boundaries of what can be achieved with a daytime menu. So they've packed it in and reopened as a degustation restaurant. "It's Nora the nighttime girl now," Sarin says. "We started a thing called Small Dinner Club, which was a Friday night event that stemmed from the frustration of the inability to create more." The idea behind the dining club has now taken over, and the Nora team is unleashing their creativity over five courses every Thursday to Monday. PEOPLE'S CHOICE: COPPER POT SEDDON It's a self-described road trip across Europe. A celebration of the unusual and unexpected in cuisine, technique and style. On paper, everything about executive chef Ashley Davis' Seddon restaurant Copper Pot shouldn't work. Instead, the chef — who's previously been awarded two Michelin stars while heading the kitchen at London's Hélène Darroze — proves again why he, his team and menu are worthy of award. The Copper Pot team show a real dedication and belief in their cause. If the produce is not ready to come out of the ground, then they will not use it. You should expect the menu to be malleable as a result, and there's an emphasis on local and gathered ingredients. Copper Pot Seddon is also delightfully unpretentious. The feeling throughout is cosy, and their passionate staff only help to complete the experience. BEST NEW BAR OVERALL: BAR LIBERTY If you've ever wondered what would happen if two ex-Attica young guns teamed up with the guys behind Rockwell and Sons to open their own wine bar, well, you need not ponder any longer. That's exactly the situation at Johnston Street's new addition Bar Liberty, and we can tell you it's working a treat. The boys have taken over the lo-fi corner joint once home to La Condesa, tidying up the exterior only just enough to let you know it's Mexican no longer. The space within is contemporary, but unaffectedly so; they've kept the glitz to a minimum. Sommelier Banjo Harris Plane will wheel around his old-school globe bar trolley to tempt you with the evening's pouring wines. Seasoned beer fans will appreciate the brew selection, which is heavy on the sours. Meanwhile, the food menu is geared towards clever grazing, with shareable small and medium dishes the stars of the show. PEOPLE'S CHOICE: VAPORETTO BAR & EATERY Few of us have been to Venice. But now Hawthorn has its own Venetian bar and eatery, Vaporetto. And it's basically the same thing. Chef Greg Feck and his business partners Kim Coronica, Stephanie Edgerton and David Wickwar love Venice and they've done an excellent job in recreating its vibrant and enchanting atmosphere on Glenferrie Road. Leave Melbourne behind as you step through an old tobacco store shopfront from Venice, and take in the dark timber, marble, aged brass and hand-blown Murano chandeliers. BEST NEW CAFE OVERALL: HIGHER GROUND The team behind quintessential Melbourne cafes Top Paddock and The Kettle Black have finally cut the ribbon on their long-awaited new venue. Located at the Southern Cross end of Little Bourke Street, Higher Ground has been in the works for well over a year, and after a technical fault that further delayed the opening last week, they've finally opened their doors to the public. And boy is it a beauty. The huge, high-ceilinged 160-seat venue sits on the corner of Little Bourke and Spencer Streets in a former warehouse. The venue is serving up the same kickass cafe fare that its two siblings are known for, with the all-day menu including the likes of avo on toast, spiced cauliflower scrambled eggs and semolina porridge with cherry, umeshu, shiso and plum. PEOPLE'S CHOICE: MATCHA MYLKBAR Melbourne has a new vegan eatery — and it's fuelled by matcha. The plant-based café comes from Sarah Holloway and Nic Davidson, the same people that brought you (and basically every cafe in Australia) Matcha Maiden. Dubbed Matcha Mylkbar, the cafe will serve an entirely vegan menu to St Kilda locals needing something new to Instagram. Despite what you might assume, Holloway and her business partners aren't actually vegan themselves. Knowing about the benefits of plant-based eating, they wanted to fuse it with their love of matcha and make it available and affordable to everyone — not just vegans. BEST NEW PUB OVERALL: STOMPING GROUND BREWERY & BEER HALL Melbourne's craft beer scene is a global contender, well deserving of a craft brewery dedicated to its culture. Stomping Ground Brewing Co.'s new brewery and beer hall is just that, and the next great venture by craft beer heroes Guy Greenstone and Steve Jeffares. The duo are well known in the beer scene as two of the originators of craft in Australia — they're the minds behind The Local Taphouses in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as the GABS festival which is now considered one of the best beer festivals in the world. PEOPLE'S CHOICE: GARDEN STATE HOTEL Melbourne's latest CBD pub looks set to tower over the competition. Opening after years of planning, the Garden State Hotel is a sprawling four-storey watering hole complete with public bar, beer garden, private dining room, subterranean saloon and New York-style grill. Garden State is located at 101 Flinders Lane, inside a 130-year-old building that began its life as a saw mill before playing host to Rosati, one of Melbourne's top dining destinations in the '80s and '90s. Now, under the new ownership of Sand Hill Road Hospitality – the same team behind the Prahran, Bridge and Terminus Hotels – the space has been transformed once again. BEST NEW EVENT OVERALL: THE LOST LANDS The cats behind Falls Festival created a brand new two-day festival this year, The Lost Lands, a two-day camping festival that not only featured music, but centred around art, theatre, comedy and outdoor activities as well. It was held over the Saturday and Sunday of the October long weekend just outside of Melbourne at Werribee Mansion, the luxe AF mansion and grounds that has played host to So Frenchy So Chic and the late Harvest Festival (RIP). But the real point of difference for The Lost Lands is that was designed to be hella family friendly. Festival organiser and Falls founder Simon Daly has a family of five, and he recognised the need for a more European style of festival in Australia that not only lets kids attend, but actually involves them in the festival's activities, 'shared experiences' that can be enjoyed by everyone — be that parents, kids, friends, and anyone who rocks up. Think bushwalks, bike rides and even day trips to the Werribee Open Range Zoo. They also offered a range of workshops to expand the mind (such as cooking and songwriting) or lengthen the legs (like circus play and yoga). PEOPLE'S CHOICE: ITALIAN FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL If you're ever uncertain about the massive contribution Italians have made to Australian society, just stop for a minute and think about your favourite foods. Pizza. Pasta. Salumi. Gelato. And don't even get us started on the booze. We found all that and more at the Italian Wine + Food Festival. Taking over the Royal Exhibition Building on Sunday, May 29, this day-long gastronomic bonanza welcomed the proprietors and chefs from some of most beloved Italian eateries in town. We're talking Bar Idda, 400 Gradi and Rosa's Kitchen, to name but a few. There were cooking demonstrations, pasta-making classes and workshops with Victoria's top sommeliers.
Grief can take any number of forms. Yet the same isn't necessarily true of funerals. While coming together with friends and family is a vital part of celebrating a lost loved one, the trappings that surround this process – the hearse, the funeral home, the traditional overpriced coffin – can often seem a little impersonal. It's for this reason that The House has us so intrigued. Co-founded by Kylee Stevens, Morna Seres and Christian Wills, all of whom share a background in design and the arts, this new Sydney-based funeral service is offering an alternative to the industry standard, allowing for a truly personal celebration of a person's life. "We service memory artistically through curated reflection, music, light, sound, performance, food and ritual held within our exclusive venues," reads a mission statement on the company website. "Whether it is a large affair, or a simple gathering of friends and family, The House provides the opportunity to say goodbye in a compelling, cultural and modern manner." "Our way of working with clients doesn't really exist in the industry," Stevens told Concrete Playground. "I believe there's space for tradition, particularly in a moment of grief...but if someone doesn't want something traditional, what are their options?" While The House has only been operating since the tail end of March, Stevens sees a world of "infinite possibilities." Their first service, for example, was held in a gallery, and featured a room full of suspended images and incorporated poetry written by the deceased. Friends and family were also invited to be involved in the planning and installation stages, which in turn became another way for them to process their grief. "I think each family will be quite different, said Stevens. "Some will want to come forward and work [with us], and some won't. It's our role to navigate that." Despite their ambitious and personalised approach, the cost of a funeral at The House is in line with industry standards. "We talk about substituting costs within the traditional framework," explains Stevens. "You can spend $3500 to $6500 on a coffin. Making a more ecologically friendly, better designed choice, you can go as low as $550. So you can substitute out existing cost structures that a traditional model offers, and replace them with things that are more memorable." For more information about The House, visit their website at www.thehouse.global.
As well as transforming ACMI into its official hub for this year's nine-day outing, Melbourne Music Week (MMW) has a jam-packed boundary-blurring program in store for 2018. Out to turn traditional live music formats on their heads, MMW is bringing gigs to even more unexpected places, including a revolving musical celebration up on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel. Here, punters and artists will take to the skies together, and be treated to a MzRizk-curated program featuring shows by DRMNGNOW, Soli, Kalala and more. As the city's longstanding temple to rock 'n' roll, Cherry Bar will play host to all-day laneway shindig Civic Sounds, dishing up live tunes from rock royalty Regurgitator and R&B singer Nai Palm (lead vocalist from Hiatus Kaiyote). BATZ, All The Colours and the Girls Rock! crew are also set to make an appearance. Meanwhile, psychedelic experience The Dark Space Project will see The Toff enveloped in darkness, inviting guests to immerse themselves in a soundscape without visual distraction. n keeping with the immersive theme, you can also join your bestie for the two-person, multi-sensory VR experience Want It To End, enhanced by live tunes from progressive rockers Fierce Mild. The nine-day lineup also features MMW: Talks — with chats on everything from Melbourne's late-night economy, to sound healing and music therapy — a huge show by You Am I in the Town Hall (using the historic Grand Organ) and performances at Flemington Bowls Clubs and the State Library of Victoria. Ever-popular all-ages event Push Over will then help wrap things up on November 24, pulling together acts like Ali Barter, Ruby Fields, and legends from Jebediah and Spiderbait for a free, music-filled party in Federation Square.
Sexy pop-inspired sculpture. Sub-sea level photography. Work by the mother of American Modernism. Whether you're looking to escape the heat or simply looking for something to look at, Melbourne's galleries have something to make them open wide. Swing by Spenceroni's first ever solo show after work one night or block out a day to head to Heide to see the work of Georgia O'Keeffe before the exhibition finishes up — and if you're not into those, one of the other shows on this list should pique your interest. Top image: Who's Afraid of Colour at NGV Australia, photographed by Wayne Taylor.
If ever there's been a time to put aside the man/woman/child breakdown of gift-giving, it's surely Christmas 2015. After a year spent contemplating gender fluidity, superhero marketing and man buns, it makes sense to celebrate the season by just giving beautiful things to beautiful people and enjoying the resulting beauty explosion. Need some help pulling that off? Try putting a bow on one of our suggestions — they're only the best, most innovative and most lust-worthy products we've seen this year. FOR THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE WHO DO EVERYTHING WITH STYLE The Beach People roundie Oh, you didn't get the memo? Beach towels are round now. Round, oversized, luxurious and very giftable. Freed from being a mere drying implement, the roundie is a picnic rug, beach blanket and ultimate Instagram prop. There's a few of these around but our faves come from Australian company The Beach People, where they retail for $110. O Six Hundred flat pack kayak For the one you truly love, there's this $2200 Australian-designed kayak that you assemble from flat pack, much like your Ikea bookcase. Unlike your Ikea bookcase, it's also tough and light (10kg, so any solo voyager can lift it above their head), perfect for taking out on Sydney Harbour whenever the mood may strike. Get it from Sorry Thanks I Love You. ChaBottle from Life of Cha For your friend who loves to tote their own tea or infused water (love you lemon, cucumber and mint), or who seems like they might want to start, there's the ChaBottle. Its 2-in-1 infuser can be used for tea, coffee and fruit drinks. $50 from Life of Cha. Stonemen briefs When you need a gift that says, "your pants contain the world", there's Stonemen briefs. With graphic prints including mountainscapes, skylines and the universe, they're the most epic smalls around. Also available in women's styles, with prices starting at $40 from Etsy. Forbes & Ike salt basin and pepper mill The kitchen benchtop has rarely known such beauty as this Melbourne-crafted pepper grinder. It's hand-poured concrete, New Zealand beech timber and brass, and it's a flinch-worthy $250 from Sorry Thanks I Love You. Sunnylife watermelon beach ball All anyone will see is your giftee blithely throwing around a half watermelon with apparent superhero strength. Only you will know the inflatable truth. For this privilege, you're looking at just $18.95 from Sunnylife. FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GADGETS WITH ALL THE ZEAL OF A CHILD Chromecast Audio The gadget junkie in your life is likely to be all over Chromecast for TV. But do they have the dongle equivalent for audio? Possibly not. Chromecast Audio was released this October and allows you to stream music over Wi-Fi to any speaker in your house. So nice, and just $49 from Google. BB-8 droid by Sphero Just. Look. At. Him. Who wouldn't want to pull the wrapping off this little face on December 25 (aka eight days after The Force Awakens comes out)? Playable through a variety of apps and programmed to "patrol autonomously" when left on its own, the miniature BB-8 is the fun toy/baby robot/substitute pet perfect for all ages. Look at him in action here and buy for US$150 ($205) from Sphero. The Keyboard Waffle Iron You know life is good when you come down to breakfast and are greeted with this syrupy sight. And, since the Keyboard Waffle Iron includes both keyboard and kitchen gadget elements, the tech lover in your life is sure to appreciate this. US$85 ($116) from thekeyboardwaffleiron.com. Moto 360 smartwatch The smartwatch is the wearable of the moment, and it'll be on a whole lot more wrists after Christmas. Different strokes for different folks, but the Moto 360 is a good option when you weigh up nice styling vs old functionality (telling the time) vs new functionality (notifications, battery life etc). Prices start at US$299 ($408) at Motorola. Flic wireless smart button For the person who has everything, get them one little button that lets them do three things faster. Flic can be programmed to play music, make calls, snooze an alarm, turn on lights, share a location, order pizza and a bunch more stuff, all at a light touch. An addictive bit of life-hacking, it's US$34 ($46) from flic.io. FOR THE CULTURE LOVERS WITH AN IMPRESSIVELY CONSTANT FINGER ON THE PULSE The Gramovox Floating Record Player Marry me, Gramovox floating record player. That's what your giftee will say upon opening this package, containing the turntable that took Kickstarter by storm earlier this year. It's the perfect fusion of state-of-the-art technology and aesthetics, and it's US$400 ($555) in walnut or maple from the Gramovox website. Whimsical Miranda July pillowcases Words and phrases on home decor can be hit and miss, but when those words and phrases are filmmaker/artist/writer/All About Women speaker Miranda July's, they're all hit. These wistful pillowcases make the perfect addition to any literati's bedding. $105 from Third Drawer Down. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari with Eric Klinenberg Odds are at least one of your circle is obsessed with Aziz Ansari's insightful Netflix series, Master of None. What they might not have heard of is Modern Romance, the well-reviewed screed on relationship trends he's whipped up with sociologist Eric Klinenberg. Get it in hardcover for $39.75 from Booktopia. Twilight concert tickets The pretty, pretty sights of Twilight of Taronga and Melbourne Zoo Twilights return in 2016 with the likes of Courtney Barnett, Violent Femmes and Jose Gonzalez. Give a loved one the gift of beautiful music, starlit picnics and baby animals. Tickets from $50 at Twilight at Taronga and Melbourne Zoo. FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FOOD ARE THE MEANING OF LIFE A personally tailored spirit by Archie Rose Sydney's distillery bar Archie Rose impressed us a dozen times over this year — and one of those times was with their brilliant idea of a tailored spirits range. That means you can pick up to 3–5 botanicals (think: river mint, dorrigo pepperleaf, blood lime) and the name on the label. Prices are $84 for vodka, $89 for gin or (*gulp*) $2000+ for whisky. So we hope your friend likes white spirits. It's all happening on the Archie Rose website. Bespoke chocolate bar from Chocolab Yet another, perhaps more conventional (but never unwanted) thing to customise. With Chocolab chocolate, you can chuck in confectionary like Nerds, spices like chilli, fruit like freeze-dried acai, biscuits, nuts — almost any foodstuffs your giftee has at some point professed a fondness for. Prices start at $6.75 at ChocoLab. The Great Australian Cookbook Give your friend the gift of cooking you dinner with this epic book compiling recipes and stories from chefs like Neil Perry, Dan Hong, Kylie Kwong and Anna Polyviou. Diverse as it is, the book also includes this country's legendary farmers and producers — as well as Australia’s original cookbook queen, Margaret Fulton. Get it discounted to $42.50 at Booktopia. A subscription to wine-by-the-glass tasting service Secret Bottle By delivering their wines by the glass (in sleek screw-top vials), Secret Bottle lets its subscribers experience a wide range of Australian varietals and get to know what they like. Sign your giftee up as a founding member and they'll get a bunch of bonus gifts along with their subscription, which starts at $24.95/month from Secret Bottle. Sprout coloured pencils Honour your giftee's love of adult colouring in and fresh produce with these pencils that grow into herbs. They just plant them once they've worn down to stubs. €16.95 ($23) from Sprout World. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Fancy spending some time in Latin America? Don't we all. It's not quite the same as a holiday but, thanks to the brand new Cine Latino Film Festival, getting immersed in the sights, sounds and stories of everywhere from Mexico to Puerto Rico is as easy as heading to the movies. Throughout August, the latest addition to Palace Cinemas' ever-growing festival calendar brings the best films from the region to Australian screens, celebrating not just excellence but variety. Come for cinematic poetry from master filmmakers and stay for Peruvian horror efforts — they're just a few of our five must-see pics of the festival. Plus, if you scroll down to the bottom, you can go in the draw to win a double pass to see one of them. NERUDA Curbing one's excitement for Pablo Larraín's latest feature is close to impossible. The Chilean filmmaker hasn't even reached the age of 40 yet, and he already has a number of features under his belt that any writer/director would be envious of. After wowing the Aussie festival circuit with his first collaboration with Gael Garcia Bernal in 2012's political drama No, Larraín tasks the charismatic actor with once again exploring the difficulties of restrictive societies — this time through an examination of the life the poet that gives the movie its name. That Neruda has been called gripping won't surprise anyone, in yet another stellar work from a director on the rise. ENDLESS POETRY When it comes to Endless Poetry, knowing that it is directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky should be more than enough motivation to send you rushing towards your nearest Palace Cinema. After breaking a 23-year directing drought with 2013's The Dance of Reality, the 87-year-old filmmaker behind such brazen, mind-bending cult classics as El Topo and The Holy Mountain offers up another cinematic memoir. In the second of a planned five-feature series, he moves from his youth to the formative experiences of his 20s, chronicling his efforts to become a poet against the wishes of his family. THE WOMB If sitting in a darkened room, staring at a big screen and getting scared is your idea of a good time at the movies, then The Womb should be your type of film. If the fact that it is being billed as Peru's first bona fide horror flick doesn't get your pulse racing, then perhaps its unsettling tale of several layers of motherhood struggles will. Sure, you've probably seen plenty of frightening fare about being a parent lately, but there's a reason filmmakers keep returning to this tried and tested topic. HOW TO WIN ENEMIES You can never have too many offbeat comedies, right? Finding amusement in the quirks of everyday life is always going to strike a chord, with How to Win Enemies the latest Argentinian effort to give it a shot. Focusing on a young lawyer with a fondness for detective stories, it's a love story, a family drama and a mystery all in one. Yes, the sleuthing angle has seen Gabriel Lichtmann's film compared to TV's Bored to Death — so if you're a fan of that show, it can only be a good thing. I PROMISE YOU EVERYTHING Combine a skater film, a crime drama and a queer love story all into one, and the result is I Promise You Everything. Weaving through the streets of modern-day Mexico City, the feature tells the tale of Miguel and Johnny, their stumbling upon a get-rich-quick scheme supplying blood to drug traffickers, and the tumultuous results. If it sounds a little like the early work of Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu, that's not a bad thing. One review has even mentioned the film in the same breath as The Godfather — and while they're awfully big shoes to fill, discovering how it tries to achieve that feat should be intriguing at the very least. The Cine Latino Film Festival screens at Sydney's Palace Norton Street and Verona from August 9 to 24, Brisbane's Palace Centro and Barracks from August 11 to 24, and Melbourne's Palace Como and Westgarth from August 17 to 31. For more information, visit the festival website. [competition]583085[/competition]
Looking for a decent lunch in Williamstown? Pier Farm have just launched a midweek 'Pasta & Pinot' winter warmer deal that fits the bill nicely. If you haven't checked out Pier Farm yet, it's one of the best restaurants in the west, with incredible seafood and show-stopping views out over the bay. It opened back in 2017 and locals have been quietly digging it ever since. Now, onto the special. $39 gets you a choice of three handmade pastas, plus a matching wine. You can pick from slow-cooked Bolognese and house-made tagliatelle (paired with a Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet), creamy rigatoni carbonara (matched with Vigna Stefani Chardonnay) or Gnocchi ala Sorrentina (washed down with a fruity Pasque Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie). Views and great service are included in the price. Pretty good value all round, really. Pier Farm's Pasta & Pinot special runs Tuesday to Friday for lunch seatings only throughout winter. You can take advantage of this delicious deal between 12pm and 2:30pm. Bookings are encouraged for this one: they tend to pack out at lunchtime. Images: Supplied
No, it's not surprising, but it certainly is exciting — after months of deliberation and speculation, Netflix has officially announced it will be launching in Australia and NZ this coming March. The wait is nearly over. In just a few months time you'll be able to stream the solid gold original programming of this American behemoth while being 100 percent within the confines of the law. Get ready for some epic marathons. You certainly have a lot to catch up on. The announcement was made initially this morning by this sneaky tweet: http://t.co/8kKEzEtyq8 ??pu?u?o?x?????N# u??? ???u? ¡ZN & sn? ????W u? no? ??S — Netflix US (@netflix) November 18, 2014 Scamps. The local TV markets have been in a total tizzy since rumours started circulating earlier in the year about this. It's thought that around 200,000 Australians already access the US version of Netflix via cheeky, semi-legal VPN software, and the thought of legitimate and widespread access to the service seemed all-round damning for local competitors. Though Australia has various streaming options like ABC's iView, Foxtel's Presto, Quickflix, and Channel Nine's promising yet decidedly poorly named Stan, none have the same hype or popular appeal as Netflix. But don't go crazy just yet. Though the platform is best known for its critically-acclaimed original shows such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, the full range of our access is not yet known. A press statement released this morning announced that we'd be getting a range of great movie options as well as exclusive Netflix shows such as historical drama Marco Polo and the Will Arnett-voiced cult favourite BoJack Horseman, but it was suspiciously quiet about the better-known flagship titles. In fact, there's not too much we know right now. Though the overseas service costs US$8.99 per month, we're yet to receive a price point either. We know there'll be an option for a one-month trial, but that's about it. You should also be tugging at your shirt collar if you're one of the tens of thousands currently accessing the US service — there's a good chance they'll stop turning a blind eye and pressure you to sign up for the (almost definitely limited) Australian alternative. Don't get us wrong — it's not all doom and gloom. With Netflix officially on the scene, there's bound to be some serious movement on important industry issues like local licensing, fast-tracking of overseas shows, and the quality and price of online streaming. With everyone stepping up their game to compete, we could even see a decrease in piracy and copyright infringement. Despite what George Brandis may say, there's a reason why Australians are among the world's worst offenders. Imagine how good binge-watching is going to be when you don't have to feel guilty about it?
Zip lines, bungee jumping and treetop obstacles are just the start of Australia's newest destination for adventure seekers. Set along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Live Wire Park is Australia's first outdoor adventure park that is completely powered by nature. Located within The Great Otway National Park, it's family-owned and designed with the environmental in mind, which means the park is completely off-grid, fully solar powered and all water is collected on-site — both reducing waste and taking advantage of the natural resources available. Apart from its minimal environmental impact, the park sounds like it packs in some serious fun, too. Set just 900 metres from the Lorne coastline, the elevated park is set among the treetops and boasts a 5250-metre-long zip line, a suspended 120-metre walking circuit among the native blue gums and even a "super circuit" of 53 physical and mental activities that test park-goers while suspended in mid-air. You'll scale trees, swing on ropes and plunge down a bungee jump, all while solving a few puzzles and problems. For kids, the short circuit is a milder version with only 26 obstacles. Plus, you can expect plenty of wildlife sightings among the pristine rainforest and waterfalls. Live Wire Park is now open seven days a week at 180 Erskine Falls Road, Lorne. For more information and to book tickets, head to livewirepark.com.au.
The illustrious restaurant Noma, the same one that consistently tops dining lists across the world, will be closing its doors after one last blowout on New Year’s Eve 2016. It will be a sad occasion, but not to worry; like the phoenix or a feathered Pokemon equivalent, Noma will rise again in 2017 in a new, evolved form. Noma head chef René Redzepi told the New York Times that although business at Noma is booming, it’s time for a dramatic change, and he was not kidding. Noma will move from its cute nook in the middle of picturesque Copenhagen to the outskirts of town where the extra space will be dedicated to an urban farm, a greenhouse, a farming team and a field that floats on a raft. The menu will be have a dramatic overhaul as well. Ex-Noma chef Trevor Moran will return to help with the expansion and commented that the menu will change with the seasons, from game and mushrooms in the fall to a full seafood menu in winter. And, rather poetically, Redzepi says when “the world turns green ... so will the menu”, meaning that, for several months a year, Noma will be a completely vegetarian establishment. If you have fat stacks and want to catch a taste of OG Noma before its closure (without travelling all the way to the Denmark), then get to its Sydney pop-up in Barangaroo, where they’ll be setting up shop for ten weeks in late January 2016. Better get in quick though; the Noma Tokyo pop-up accrued a 60,000-person waiting list, so register your interest on the Noma website ASAP. Via New York Times.
American music legend Prince has just dropped word that he'll be touring around Australia and New Zealand in February. That's right, February. As in the month we're currently in. The shock announcement was made earlier today, with the recording artist sharing the news with fans via his Twitter account. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/WiOKCZtdw8 — Prince3EG (@Prince3EG) February 5, 2016 The 57-year-old recently serenaded audiences in Minnesota with a series of intimate shows dubbed 'Piano and a Microphone', a name that has been adopted for his tour of the southern hemisphere. He was originally meant to perform in Europe in December, but cancelled those plans in the wake of the Paris terror attacks. We're yet to see any details regarding exact dates or locations – the last time Prince visited Australia was in 2012, when he played shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. This will be his first visit to New Zealand. Whatever the plan is, presumably we'll find out soon. UPDATE – The dates and locations for the tour have been revealed. Prince will play four shows at Melbourne State Theatre on February 16 and 17, two shows at the Sydney Opera House on February 20, two shows at Sydney State Theatre on February 21, and one show at Auckland's ASB Theatre on February 24. Tickets for his Australian shows go on sale at midday (AEDT) on February 9, and for his New Zealand show at midday (NZDT) on February 11. For more info, go here.
Anita Sarkeesian is one of the world’s bravest women. One of the key players taking aim at misogyny in the world of video games, Sarkeesian has been both applauded and attacked worldwide for her outspokenness about the gaming industry — she even explained #Gamergate to Stephen Colbert. Her blog Feminist Frequency and video series' Tropes vs. Women and Tropes vs. Women in Video Games have seen anti-feminist trolls sending serious threats her way — Sarkeesian even had to cancel a speaking appearance at Utah State University after terrorist threats. But haters be damned, the feminist critic at the forefront of gaming debates is finally coming to Melbourne. Presented off the back of her appearance at Sydney Opera House's All About Women festival, Sarkeesian will discuss the Gamergate firestorm, Feminist Frequency and her award-winning work within technology, art and pop culture. In conversation at RMIT Storey Hall Auditorium with Private Media editor in chief Sophie Black, Sarkeesian will speak at the Wheeler Centre's new series, The F Word. The new series of talks and events looks at where feminism is at right now, focusing on changing perceptions and speaking directly to the people in the centre of these developments. Needless to say, Sarkeesian is a perfect billing. Anita Sarkeesian will appear for The F Word at RMIT Storey Hall Auditorium, The Wheeler Centre, on Tuesday, March 10 at 8pm. Tickets $20/$12 concession from wheelercentre.com. Image: Alex Lazara.
Another year of the craft beer overload that is the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular has come and gone and many of us are still feeling the aftermath of the Sydney and Melbourne sessions. This year was a strange one, with a beer made from in-house smoked bone marrow, two purple beers, a whopping three Thai inspired beers and a lot of dessert beers. Some were surprisingly tasty and on-point, others were over-the-top flops. Alas, many of the weird and wonderful GABS brews never hit pubs or bottle shop shelves, but a lucky selection of the 146 festival beers do make it to market. Here are five strange, yet peculiarly palatable, new brews to try post-GABS and where to find them around town. PIRATE LIFE BREWING — VANILLA MALT THICKSHAKE SWEET STOUT (7% ABV) Adelaide favourite, Pirate Life, is better known for their big IPAs, but they took a decidedly sweet turn for GABS. A beer thickshake sounds, well, disgusting, but this brew tastes much more like a milkshake than a beer, which is actually pretty impressive. It's cloudy, sweet and creamy with a distinct thickness from the truckload of added lactose. The use of rich Munich malts and real vanilla beans only heightens the decadence of this luscious brew. This is another beer that is only available in limited quantities on tap, so grab some while you still can. Where to get it: On tap at The Quarrymans, The Royal Albert and The Grain Store (Newcastle). BIG SHED BREWING CONCERN — #63 THAI GREEN CURRY SPICED HERBAL BEER (5.5% ABV) There were, somehow, three Thai-inspired beers at this year's GABS, but Big Shed's version, Thai Green Curry, really lives up to its name. The Adelaide-based brewery's pale ale is layered with Thai spices, from basil, coriander and lemongrass to cumin, chili, garlic and lime leaf. The bright chilli and kaffir lime on the nose gives way to a herbal creaminess on the palate, giving the illusion of actually tucking into a steaming bowl of curry. We heard this separately from multiple punters, so we know it wasn't just the sinking-beers-all-day haze talking. It helps that the beer also has a slightly green tint. This one will only be available at Hotel Sweeney's Rooftop, though, so get at it before it's all gone. Where to get it: On tap at Hotel Sweeney's Rooftop. BATCH BREWING CO — A CURRANT STATE OF INFUSION DARK SOUR ALE (6% ABV) This beer is such a mish-mash of styles and flavours that it's a true wonder the Batch boys pulled it off. The brew was first cold-steeped with Campos-sourced, Ethiopian coffee beans that give the beer its deep hue, while also imparting citrus and stonefruit notes. The team punched up the sour, fruity element by adding fresh blackcurrants, giving the brew a slight cherry tinge while still maintaining its rich, malty backbone. The finished product is a well balanced beer of complimentary elements. If you're looking for an extra special taste of it, the beer is also available in nitro cans, but only at the brewery and in very limited quantity. Where to get it: In bottles at Bucket Boys, Steve's Cool Booze, Beer Cartel and Oak Barrel; on tap at The Local Taphouse, Carlisle Castle Hotel, and Petersham Bowling Club (to name a few — check with the brewery for full list). MERCHANT BREWING CO. — FRUIT TINGLE KETTLE SOUR ALE (5.7% ABV) Merchant Brewing Co.'s kettle-soured ale made headlines this year thanks to its purple hue — seriously, it's a violet beer. Named after those bright blue, fruity cocktails, the beer is kettle-soured and infused with raspberry, citrus and pea flower, then dry-hopped to amp up the fruity notes. It's tart and wild — and surprisingly pleasant, with some punters calling it the best sour of the night. We wouldn't go that far, but it's definitely worth a try, or at the very least worth enjoying that surprised look on your friend's face. Where to get it: In bottles at Bucket Boys, Camperdown Cellars on Kingston Road, and The Henson bottle shop, on tap at The Quarrymans. HOPDOG BEERWORKS — PANDAPOPPINFAIRYTURKISHFLOSS BELGIAN IMPERIAL STOUT (7.5% ABV) Man is that a mouthful. HopDog BeerWorks is known for its weirdo beers but this one might take the cake. Despite being brewed with popcorn kernels, fairy floss and Turkish delight, the beer is not overly sweet and takes on more of a chocolaty, malty characteristic. This Belgian imperial stout gains its creaminess from the added lactose, with a deep colour and a roasted, toasty finish. It was a polarising GABS beer, with punters very staunchly on the love or hate spectrum. Lucky for those that missed out, it will be available across Sydney so there's still time to see which side you're on. Where to get it: In bottles at Bucket Boys, Oak Barrel, Camperdown Cellars (Parramatta Road and Kingston Road), Oldfield Cellars and Porter's Balgowlah; on tap at the Basement Brewhouse (to name a few — check with the brewery for full list).
The four-time number one on the World's Best Restaurants list is headed to Sydney Harbour. Rene Redzepi, owner and head chef at Copenhagen's two Michelin starred eatery Noma, will fly his entire team (including 35 chefs and 30 waitstaff) more than 16,000km around the world for an Australian pop-up from January 26 to April 2 — and now we know how to grab one of the highly prized seats in the room. Bookings for all tables will open simultaneously, on Friday, October 30, at 10am AEDT online at the Noma website. You can book for tables of two, four, six or eight, for either lunch or dinner five days a week (Tuesday – Saturday). Start saving your pennies now — the cost per person is $485, plus 1.65% CC fee, with drinks to be paid for separately on the day. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage pairings will be offered, as well as a short wine list. The menu itself is yet to be finalised, although earlier in the year Redzepi said he'll be leaving his regular ingredients back in Copenhagen, and told Good Food to expect locally inspired dishes made with shellfish, sea succulents and native herbs and spices. The team have already made several research trips to Australia to stoke their creative fires. "They’ve visited as many regions as possible, getting a good perspective on the great and diverse produce that is available in Australia," reads a statement from Noma. "Later on, in December, the entire creative team will move to Sydney to focus their energy on creating a menu that will showcase the best of what we’ve found on these trips." The Noma Australia project was inspired by their five week pop-up in Tokyo earlier this year, which Redzepi called "the greatest learning experience of my life." "Australia has always drawn me in; its great cities, its generous people, and of course its ever-present sun," wrote Redzepi in his online statement. "But what really boggles my mind is the differences you find in its landscapes and ingredients, because honestly I have never seen anything like it." Supported by Tourism Australia and property firm Lendlease, Noma Australia will be located on the ground floor of the Anadara building on Wulugul Walk in Barangaroo. The restaurant will serve just 50 people per sitting. Don't expect the cost to deter people. Bookings at the similarly expensive Tokyo pop-up sold out in just hours, with the restaurant eventually racking up a waiting list of over 60,000 people. Demand might shoot up even more vertiginously given that Redzepi has announced Noma in its current incarnation will close altogether at the end of 2016. By Tom Clift with Rima Sabina Aouf.
The Mornington Peninsula's 134-hectare Pt. Leo Estate is expanding its already extensive offering, adding a second restaurant to its arsenal. Meet Laura. Laura is a decidedly more intimate space than the original 110-seat restaurant and cellar door that opened when the estate launched in October last year. The restaurant is named after the sculpture by famed Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, which stands within the estate's impressive 50-piece sculpture park. Culinary Director Phil Wood (ex-Sydney's Rockpool and Eleven Bridge) is of course at the restaurant's helm, offering up set menus of four, five or six courses, ranging from $120–$140 with an optional wine pairing. Curated by head sommelier Andrew Murch (ex-Rockpool), the wine list is 600-labels strong and focuses on local and regional wines, with top bottles from other Australian and international producers also making the cut. The Rockpool recruitment extends to management staff as well, with assistant manager Madeleine Morgan joining restaurant manager Ainslie Lubbock (ex-Attica). Laura's dishes aim to express the cool climate, maritime cuisine of the Mornington Peninsula and focus on six categories: land, ocean, vineyards, livestock, dairy and orchard. To this end, the menu will change regularly depending on available produce. Dishes that are currently in the works include Flinders Island mussels with seaweed butter and local polenta, John Dory with pickled vine leaves and burnt butter, and locally grown lion's mane mushrooms, glazed and served with abalone and Sterling caviar. The fit-out falls in-line with the main restaurant and cellar door, with Laura also boasting floor-to-ceiling views over Western Port Bay and east across the sculpture park. The interior similarly uses a natural colour palette, pale timber and leather-topped tables, along with locally-made tableware and Zalto glassware. They're also following the long-standing open kitchen trend, giving guests the theatrical dining experience that has become the norm. "Laura is a love letter to the Mornington Peninsula," says Wood. "The menu paints a portrait of the region using the highest quality ingredients that I can find. I'm really excited to show people what we've created, and what I've discovered." Laura opens today at Pt. Leo Estate, 3649 Frankston–Flinders Road, Merricks. Open for lunch and dinner from Thursday through Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6pm. For bookings, visit the ptleoestate.com.au/laura. Images: Jason Loucas.
Life moves very slowly on the Con Dao Islands. Lying just 45 minutes by plane from Ho Chi Minh City, the archipelago of 16 mountainous outcrops couldn’t be further away from the hustle and bustle of Vietnam’s frenzied capital. Our destination is Con Son, the largest in the chain, covering roughly 50 square kilometres. Once considered ‘the devil’s island of Indochina’, Con Son is ringed by golden sand beaches and covered in verdant rainforests, and looks anything but intimidating. Now, the island is better known as a luxury spa destination thanks to the arrival of Six Senses Con Dao, named by National Geographic Traveler as one of the world’s best ecolodges. ARRIVE AT THE END OF THE EARTH Described by chief designers Parisian architecture firm AW2 as ‘luxury at the end of the earth’, Six Senses Con Dao is first glimpsed across the waters of a large turquoise bay. Arriving at the property’s front gates, the sleek design lines and playful colour palette of the resort’s 50 villas becomes apparent, with swaying palms framing a scene that’s custom-built for Instagram. Reclaimed teak and sustainably-sourced materials abound but the aesthetic remains a contemporary one; less Robinson Crusoe than other Six Senses properties around the world. We’re quickly introduced to the effervescent Minh, our dedicated ‘Guest Experience Maker’ for the duration of our stay, before being whisked off to our villa in a golf cart. Minh insists that she unpacks our bags so that we can get straight down to relaxing, and we’re not inclined to argue. But with a host of activities, beachside restaurants and bars, an outdoor cinema, private infinity pools, a Vietnamese cooking school and a world-renowned holistic spa all waiting to be explored, it’s hard to sit still for long. SETTLE INTO YOUR BEACH VILLA Our room, the self-explanatory Ocean Front Deluxe Pool Villa, has an open plan layout that proves fluid and functional. Moving from the back to the beachfront, the villa contains a large private garden (complete with a mandatory outdoor shower), an enormous bathroom containing an oversized bath and multiple day beds, a large bedroom and sitting area, and an outdoor sun lounge area that overlooks the private infinity pool and ocean beyond. Rounding out the villa is a Bose sound system, a rather nifty espresso machine (that I have absolutely no clue how to operate), free and insanely fast wi-fi, tablets, and a well-stocked wine cabinet, ensuring that you want for nothing during your stay. All of the resort’s villas come served with stunning views of the sea, and are offered as single-level and duplex standalone structures containing anywhere from one to four bedrooms. An efficient timber frame construction means that each building operates at low energy levels, designed to maximise natural ventilation provided by the prevailing trade winds. Materials and labour for the property were locally sourced, as were more than a quarter of the resort’s employees. Even the drinking water is eco-friendly, bottled to the sound of classical music in a desalination plant on site. Yep, to classical music. PLAY 'FEED THE FISH' GOLF AND STUFF YOURSELF SILLY Minh works with the Experience Team to make sure that the coming days are as full as our oft-fed bellies, and some of the highlights on offer include fishing trips, kayaking, diving, snorkelling, sunset boat charters and ‘feed the fish golf’, a driving range that provides guests with biodegradable golf balls which dissolve into fish food in less than 24 hours. Myriad beach activities are available along the one kilometre stretch of sand too. The heart of the property was dreamt up by AW2, responsible for the design of some of the world’s more opulent hotels. Their intention was for the main collection of buildings to resemble a Vietnamese village-style market, complete with dining, drinks and shopping. The openair Vietnamese Kitchen quickly becomes a favourite pit-stop, where delicious pho, banh mi and rice paper roll creations are the order of the day. At night, we’re talked into the traditional hot pot for two, and we’re blown away by its rich flavours and spices. The transition from our table onto the designer hammocks placed in front of the outdoor cinema screen is not a complicated one, and as we sit back with home-cooked popcorn and freshly-made ice cream (which is on offer for free in the deli at all times of the day and night) the opening credits of Four Weddings and a Funeral start to roll. DISCOVER THE ISLAND'S DARK HISTORY Like much of Vietnam, history is all around you here, and the island is best explored on bike or scooter. We commandeer one of the resort’s bright red Vespas and navigate our way across most of Con Son, winding around spectacular hillside roads that drop hundreds of metres into the waves below. Of most interest is the island's dark military history. Con Son served as a prison island during the French colonial era, then later housed Vietcong political prisoners from the North during the Vietnam War, where inmates were imprisoned in infamous ‘tiger cages’ until 1975. Some 20,000 inmates lost their lives in custody here, and the jails and museums dotted around Con Son town prove at once interesting and eerie. A large group of ex-VC soldiers, on the island to pay their respects to fallen comrades, does little to lessen the intensity as we meander through Phu Hai, the largest of the island’s prisons. PREPARE TO TAKE YOUR NEWFOUND ZEN HOME Before we depart for the Vietnamese mainland Minh makes sure to book us into the Six Senses Spa, recently a winner at the 2014 World Luxury Spa Awards. Sculpted bamboo fences frame numerous indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, pools and salas, and the Six Senses spa menu provides endless ways to spend inordinate amounts of time and money indulging. We meet with Dr Aneesh, an ayurvedic consultant at the Six Senses Spa who originally hails from India, and he takes us through a 60-minute consultation to determine our overall ‘wellness’, providing some tips to help take the slower pace of Con Dao back into our everyday lives. LET'S DO THIS, GIVE ME THE DETAILS: To get there, fly to Ho Chi Minh City — Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), then take a 45-minute commercial or chartered plane to Co Ong regional airport (VCS) for a short transfer to the resort. The distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao is around 230 kilometres or 145 miles. Rooms start at US$428/night and can be booked online at the Six Senses Con Dao website. The writer stayed as a guest of Six Senses.
John Cleese and Eric Idle are silly walking their way to Australia, for a brand new live show premiering early next year. The Monty Python co-founders will visit major cities around the country for a series of one night only performances, combining scripted comedy, improvisation, musical numbers, aquatic juggling and audience Q&As. John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again At Last... For The Very First Time will begin on the Gold Coast on February 25, before travelling to the Brisbane Convention Centre on February 27, Adelaide's AEC Theatre on March 1, Canberra's Royal Theatre on March 5, Perth's Riverside Theatre on March 9 Sydney's State Theatre on March 14, and Melbourne's Hamer Hall on March 18. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10am on Monday, December 21. "Eric and I had huge fun touring the States in October and now we can bring our show to the friendliest people in the world," said Cleese. "No one show will be the same and all of them will annoy the Politically Correct." "Having enjoyed the World Tour of Florida, we were looking for somewhere else large aquatic reptiles of the sub family Crocodylinae also thrived," added Idle. "The Nile was booked, so we are coming to Australia. Having once married a Sheila and as the father of a half Australian son I look forward to touring one of my all-time favourite places." JOHN CLEESE AND ERIC IDLE: TOGETHER AGAIN AT LAST... FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME February 25 — Jupiters Theatre, Gold Coast February 27 — Brisbane Convention Centre March 1 — AEC Theatre, Adelaide March 5 — Royal Theatre, Canberra March 9 — Riverside Theatre, Perth March 14 — State Theatre, Sydney March 18 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne Tickets on sale Monday, December 21 at 10am. Book at venue websites, Ticketek or Ticketmaster.
It seems Christian McCabe and Dave Verheul have been keeping all kinds of busy since closing their much-loved eatery The Town Mouse earlier this year. In excellent news for anyone mourning the loss of the Carlton restaurant, the pair has announced it will be opening a new venture, Lesa, in August. The boys have transformed the space above their Russell Street wine bar Embla into the ultimate escape from all of that CBD hustle and bustle. Oak flooring and exposed bricks lend a warm, rustic feel, while a window at the back of the space looks through to McCabe's prized wine room, its sprawling collection heroing minimal intervention drops and Old World iterations. They'll aim to dish up a slower, more intimate sort of dining experience, with both food and a setting to linger over. A woodfire takes pride of place in the kitchen, so expect plenty of slow-cooked, grilled and smoked creations on the menu. Nab one of four seats perched along the pass for the best view of the fire-driven magic. As far as pace goes, Lesa is keeping things relaxed, forgoing an a la carte offering in favour of a four-course set menu, with a two-course option for those with a little less time up their sleeve. Here, expect to settle in and really savour, with dishes like a salted bergamot, walnut and koji île flottante (French for 'floating island'), and a semi-dried potato cacio e pepe pasta, topped with basil and pecorino. Embla was one of our favourite bars of the year when it opened in 2016, so we're looking forward to seeing what McCabe and Verheul do with Lesa. Lesa will open on level two, 122 Russell Street, Melbourne, from early August. We'll let you know when an opening date is set.
Christmas shopping needn't be a chore. It's your chance to think about a person you care about, think about what element you and only you bring to their lives, mix it all up, and then pop a bow on that beautiful creation. Or, at the very least, make sure it's a good scented candle. Need some inspiration to start you off? Here's a leg up from the Concrete Playground team. It's only the products we've been eyeing off all year. These are the gifts we'd want under our tree, and to leave under others'. For the style savants A maximally minimal watch from The Horse No one does a wrist-dwarfing yet understated watch quite like The Horse. Japanese quartz movement meets gently grainy Italian leather at their Sydney studio, resulting in 12 highly Instagrammable timepieces. $129 from www.thehorse.com.au. Karen Walker's bold gold sunnies To mark ten unconventional years in the eyewear game, NZ designer Karen Walker has released the 'Celebrate' collection, entirely done in gold. This is for loved ones comfortable taking risks on their faces. NZ$399 at www.karenwalkereyewear.com. A reworked vintage Eames chair It's the kind of chair you get and then keep for life, and few do them better than Cast + Crew, who keep the classic shell and upholstery and add new custom legs in neon colours. From $395 at castandcrew.bigcartel.com/products (only some products ship to Australia). This completely perfect water bottle Ignore the gushy high-fashion crap all over the BKR website; these are just the best water bottles, period. They feel good to hold, they feel good to drink from, they're dishwashable and (since they're made of glass with a silicon sleeve) BPA free. US$30 at www.mybkr.com. The Lucy Folk 'Aphrodisiac' necklace It's a pearl. In its natural home. Much harmony, so wow. $750-$850 at lucyfolk.com/shop/. A custom wood keyboard by Oree For the design nerd who has it all: wooden tech. This portable wireless keyboard is made from single piece of wood (maple, walnut or wild cherry), and is customisable down to the key font. £150 from oreeartisans.com. For the food fiends The tiny woodfired pizza oven Yes, this is a legitimate option available to you. Tiny oven, full-size woodfired pizza. Just imagine the camping trip. The Uuni 2 oven is $399 from au.uuni.net. The Thug Kitchen cookbook If only all health food advocates were this sweary. We might be well detoxed by now. The Thug Kitchen cookbook is the perfect gift for friends, lovers, relatives, anyone in the MA15+ bracket. $23.95 at booktopia.com.au. Eau de Vie's small batch cocktails The only acceptable premix to put under someone's tree, from the cocktail masters at Sydney and Melbourne's Eau de Vie. $15 each from www.experimentalspiritsco.com.au. Cornersmith Hamper Hampers can be old hat, but not when they're full of goodies from Sydney's home of pickling, baking and cheese making. If you get the Workshop Wonder hamper, which comes with a class voucher, your giftee can learn to make the whole lot themselves. $40-195 at www.cornersmith.com.au. For the culture munchers The beautiful hardcover Wes Anderson Collection Film critic Matt Zoller Seitz dissects Anderson's aesthetic and idiosyncratic characters over 335 whimsical pages. If you think your giftee already has this one, there are 54 pages of lovingly made Wes Anderson tchotchkes on Etsy. $38.25 at www.booktopia.com.au. A dancing baby Groot Marvel is finally officially licensing these babies — the possible best thing from their possible best movie, Guardians of the Galaxy. The dancing baby Groot boogies in its pot while Jackson 5's 'I Want You Back' plays from the speaker. Stockists are as yet unknown, but Mashable says they'll be on shelves by Christmas. Tickets to one wild outdoor concert The new bookers at Taronga and Melbourne Zoos are magicians; they've got the likes of Bright Eyes' soul-searching dreamboat Conor Oberst, twee monarchs Belle and Sebastian and the one and only Rufus Wainwright playing their summer Twilight series. Tickets from $69 at twilightattaronga.org.au and www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/twilights. This portable speaker that looks like a big iPhone Portable speakers are almost as ubiquitous as soy candles this time of year, but the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A2 speaker stands out for its omnidirectional sound, 24-hour battery life and crazy-good looks. For the fidelity geek $479 at www.beoplay.com. Sydney Festival tickets If your giftee is in Sydney, give them the gift of a dazzlingly cultured January. We've rounded up some of our favourite and most giftable shows over here. From $29 at www.sydneyfestival.org.au. For the sun junkies This meta picnic blanket The seagulls are dive-bombing for your chips forever on this genius 'Mine Mine' picnic blanket. Trust Gorman. $99 at www.gormanshop.com.au A very clever beach bag Beach bags full of stray sand are just a summer reality, right? Wrong. The Shake Tote has a little flap that opens out to ditch those little grains, easy. US$29.99 from www.quirky.com. This semi-sensible rash vest Safety up top, party down the bottom with this cute rashie from new swimwear brand Neon Cactus. Octopus print and maroon are a sincerely underrated combo. $145 from www.neoncactus.com.au. These thongs with built-in bottle opener Look, this isn't the handsomest shoe, even among that dubious category know as 'mandals'. But that moment when your giftee takes off their thong and uses it to open a beer? That will make it all worth it. $69.99 at www.reef.com/au The Phantom 2 camera drone Twenty years ago, a camcorder was a cool thing to take on holiday. Now it's this: a rugged little quadcopter designed for videography whose flight path you can precisely program from your iPad. US$959 at store.dji.com For the stocking Underwater Puppies: The Book Is your giftee the Grinch? Because only the Grinch would fail to enjoy 128 pages of underwater puppy photos. Everyone else: loves them, loves you, loves everything forevermore. $23.95 from www.booktopia.com.au. The Sunscreen Flask Suddenly that extended family gathering is looking a lot more survivable, thanks to this innocuous-looking flask. US$16.99 at www.thisiswhyimbroke.com. The World's Largest Gummi Bear 24cm and 2kg of pure gummi, this is the perfect gift for that friend in your life (rightly) bemoaning the new reduced size of Killer Pythons. US$29.95 from giantgummybears.com. A mould to turn hard-boiled eggs into tiny skulls Who doesn't need this in their life? There's also one for giftees who prefer their eggs sunny side up. US$9.99 at www.amazon.com. Super Soakers Give someone in your life the gift of a very Leo DiCaprio summer by sticking a Nerf Super Soaker in their stocking. Hint to self: make sure you have one of your own to fire back at them. From $7.99 at www.toysrus.com.au.
