Australian politicians, you'd better go incognito for the next few months. British-born, American-based comedian John Oliver is heading to Australia for a string of stand-up shows this August. The Emmy and Writer’s Guild Award-winning writer, comedic actor and politically-outspoken satirist is taking a short break from his Peabody-winning HBO show, Last Week Tonight, to jump on a plane and scatter truth nuggets around our shores. Heading back to his political stand-up roots, it's Oliver's first stand-up tour in Australia. Of course, this isn't his first time fiercely focusing on our great southern land; dropping plenty of not-so-flattering Australian takedowns on his own show and while guest hosting on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Expect uncomfortable Australian realities aplenty, with deep burns like this Tony Abbott roast: Or the time Oliver referred to Australia as 'comfortably racist' on his hugely popular, weekly satirical podcast The Bugle: But there was that one time we were praised for our gun control laws: And our plain packaging laws for cigarettes: This is Oliver's first ever Australian stand-up tour, so expect these tickets to go quicker than Australia's political credibility on late night American television. JOHN OLIVER LIVE DATES: Thursday, August 27 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne Sunday, August 30 — State Theatre, Sydney Tickets go on sale Monday, May 11 at 9am from Ticketmaster.
Of all the gin pop-up bars with bespoke cocktails and seasonally-crafted tapas pairings in all the world, you have to walk into this one. Bombay Sapphire, touchstone of the gin world, has returned once again with their pop-up bar and gastronomic experience Project Botanicals. The project is back, following the roaring success of last year's pop-up, to be held over three intoxicating weeks from June 24 to July 11. Where? Why, at a bespoke location of course. The newly-established warehouse digs are being taken over by guest DJs and lush live botanical walls for the event at 64 Sutton Street, North Melbourne. Project Botanicals is a collaborative effort between some of the finest gin bars in Melbourne; Black Pearl, Eau de Vie, 1806, Union Electric and Gin Palace have all created unique (and devastatingly indulgent) cocktails to feature on the menu alongside ten food pairings. MasterChef's Gary Mehigan will be whipping up textured, complementary tapas dishes to accompany each cocktail (post-first mouthful dramatic evaluation optional). For a genuinely reasonable ticket price of $45 you can sample two cocktails and two dishes from the menu. To give your tastebuds time to prepare, here's a little preview. Eau de Vie have created the 'Eastern Coriander Fix', a mix of Bombay Sapphire, fresh lime and pineapple juice, coriander syrup, Fever-Tree soda infused with Sencha tea and served with a dehydrated orange wedge; paired with crispy fried pork belly, chilli caramel and pickled daikon radish. That's just one pairing. Five of the most popular pairings from last year are returning to the menu and with plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options, there's something here for all gin-lovers. Project Botanicals will be open from June 24 to July 11 (Wednesday to Saturday) at 64 Sutton St, North Melbourne. Tickets $45pp (plus booking fee).
The future of museums is a bit William Gibson. As in, "the future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet." One place with a pretty uneven head start — bringing the future to now — is the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York City. A branch of the Smithsonian settled in a former mansion of the late magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Its head start comes from being closed for renovations for three years. This gave it the chance to completely reinvent a lot of the things it did from scratch. Not least that whole internet, digital thing. For its Sydney-raised director of digital and emerging media, Seb Chan, that was the appeal. Chan had been in a similar role at the Powerhouse Museum (now the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences) and was very much attracted to "a chance to reboot" a whole museum and think "what could this be?" JUST A PEN The Cooper Hewitt answers this question mostly with some pens. Visitors get handed a special black, rubber pen. Its smartphone-friendly tip lets you draw on interactive tables. The button on the other end lets it save the stuff you like. That's about it. "There's no screen. There's nothing to learn," Chan says. You can click the eraser end against little information cards and use the pen to bring up more info on the tables. When you leave, you look up a web address on your ticket and all the things you looked at are collected for you. 8KB FUN Seb hands me one he has with him. It feels good. "The pen itself is a capacitive stylus, with an NFC antenna and some memory. A small amount of memory: 8KB of memory. It doesn't have to be a lot." It is nicely weighted and well built. "It's a bookmark" he continues, "you're bookmarking the museum. That's all it is." That's not what you notice when you hold it. You want to point with it and you want to click. It feels built to just the right size. The idea is to make the physical and the digital sides to the museum mix effortlessly. "We're at a moment where, just like the internet in your pocket, digital is not something special." The museum is following suit, trying to "embed digital within the fabric of the museum visit [in a way] that normalises it. That naturalises it. And makes it feel like it should be there." By the time people reach the second floor, they've stopped being amazed by the pens, by the interactive tables. They just use them: "That's success." YOUR PUNY SCREENS The pen gets all the attention at the Cooper Hewitt, but its not the only direction that museums are heading in. The smartphone is one of the fundamental shifts museums are just beginning to get their heads around. Why wouldn't people just look things up on their phone at home instead of coming in to see your stuff? Like a cinema's giant screen to your puny big screen, museums are moving on to experiences that you can't get at home. Some of that is tech. Chan tells me about an exhibition he took his daughter to at New York's Museum of the Moving Image, Sensory Stories. The exhibition showcased 12 immersive, 3D documentaries using a virtual reality headset, the Oculus Rift. And then there's room-sized, "remote sensing" setups. These spaces let you explore sites not safe to visit in person. I suggest to Chan that Palmyra might be that sort of site. "Or a world heritage site that's too fragile to visit. Or maybe the international space station. Or maybe the surface of Mars," he says. Some of these not-at-home experiences are social. "That's one of the big shifts, I guess, in museums, is that they're now social venues." Most of these fixes are low-tech, like fixing the quality of coffee in the cafe. And the tech follows along. While the new Cooper Hewitt's interactive tables are 84", 4K high-definition screens, it's also important that they're big: "You can have as many as 12 people gathered around them. And when there are 12 people gathered around, you can bet they're talking." CHEAP JEANS AND CENTRIFUGES Where does this take us over the next ten years? Chan seems excited about the future of virtual reality, but sanguine. "VR is always an interesting piece with museums. And every ten years, there seems to be a new peak around this, and then it drops off again, and comes back again." Then there's the issue of what to collect. Chan wonders. "What should we be collecting from now that's gonna be as important as, you know, the cuneiform tablets?" He's interested in software and code. Maybe financial code, "collecting the algorithms — the quants used — that triggered crashes [from high frequency trading]" or even Stuxnet. How to do Stuxnet: The source code? A copy of the virus? "Ideally, what you would want to collect is one of the Iranian centrifuges that was knocked out by it." He points to Britain's Victoria & Albert Museum, whose experiments in "rapid response collecting" have seen it display a smashed Guardian laptop to talk about Edward Snowden or Primark cargo pants as a response to the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh. YOUR DATA IS HERE, NOW There's also a long game here. Museums have new tools in the shape of analysing visitor movements from new tech like Cooper Hewitt's pens or even just free museum Wi-Fi. How does ten years of that add up? "Ten years of understanding it." Though Chan adds, "The challenge with analytics is that you're often collecting the wrong information. What I would hope is that it's ten years of people realising that we need to be thinking about how people behave and coming up with ways of understanding it." Seb Chan is in Sydney to talk at REMIX Summit, where he'll be giving Wednesday's keynote 'No Boundaries - The Museum of the Future.' Concrete Playground is a partner of REMIX Sydney.
Good Food Month is set to hit Melbourne for yet another chock-a-block November. This year's hot ticket lineup pulls together a host of local, interstate and international culinary wizards, with events both big and small promising to send those tastebuds of yours to foodie heaven. The al fresco feast that is the Night Noodle Markets will return to Birrarung Marr, bringing with it the usual smorgasbord of live entertainment, chef appearances and well-loved food stalls, as well as a few tasty treats not seen before. New additions to Melbourne's Good Food Month calendar include a couple of buzz-worthy parties, like the Spring Social — a croquet and Pimms-infused picnic on the grounds of Rippon Lea Estate, featuring bites from the likes of Fergus Henderson (author of The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating), Pope Joan's Matt Wilkinson, and Tivoli Road Bakery's dessert masters. Those keen to get their hands a bit messier can get stuck into a fried chicken feast at the Belles Hot Chicken Party, while ping pong fiends can grab tickets to a table tennis party of epic proportions at Supernormal. Aptly named Beer Pong, May Chow of Hong Kong's Little Bao, will be heading up the snack menu, and a couple of Australia's table tennis titleholders will be bringing their A game. Meanwhile, Mike Patrick, Duncan Welgemoed and Belles' Morgan McGlone will christen the new Fancy Hank's rooftop bar Good Heavens with their Southern Sunday Sesh, complete with a DJ, Coopers brews and some clever cocktails to wash down all those glorious Southern-style snacks. As usual, the Good Food Month program also boasts sit-down feasts aplenty, including Oter's five-course Young Chefs lunch, a pop-up from Brisbane's Gerard's Bistro at MoVida Aqui, and From The Vault — a Yalumba-matched dinner featuring dishes from six of Melbourne's most influential food legends. For the full program, visit goodfoodmonth.com.
Shopping for wine can be a complicated, overwhelming experience. There are often just too many shelves, labels, varieties and styles to choose from. When you don't know a lot about wine (or even when you do), picking a good bottle is a difficult job. We asked sommelier and wine expert Eddie Schweitzer from online wine store Vinomofo for some advice. How do you find out what style of wine you like? How do you get a decent bottle at a reasonable price? When is a bottle worth more than $100? And most importantly, should I be swirling the glass? Hi Eddie, I know nothing about wine — how do I shop for it? "Taste a few wines until you find a region or variety that you know you like, then take little steps to try new things. If you like a Pinot or a lighter-bodied red, ask the bottle shop what other wines they have in that style. If you can find somebody in a good wine store that you trust, that's fantastic because you can ask them for advice. Don't just go in and say, 'I want a good wine at this price,' or just buy what's on special for the sake of it — work with what you know you like." How do I buy a decent, relatively cheap bottle? "Australian consumers are shy of blends for some reason, we really like having one variety on the label. But often at a lower price point, you can get much better wine that's a blend of different varieties. A GSM — a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre — is a fantastic, crowd-pleasing, easy drinking wine that a lot of people don't pick up because they think winemakers are just putting the cheap bits together, but that's very rarely the case. Steer away from anything that says 'Wine of Australia' or 'Wine of South Eastern Australia' because Southern New South Wales all the way through to South Australia is a big area. It's big, bulk wine that's very commercial. Instead, get a wine that has a specific region. If you like bigger, richer reds, go for a wine from a warmer climate region. Lighter-bodied reds, like a Pinot, should be coming from a cooler climate region." Is bulk wine automatically of poorer quality? "It doesn't mean it's not a good quality wine, but people drink wine because it has personality. That's what makes wine different from a VB or a Carlton, it's talking about a vintage or a specific place. If you buy bulk wine, it could be fine, but it will usually be pretty boring and bland. A $6 bottle might be fruity and drinkable, but it's not going to give you much of an experience. We don't sell anything 'Wine of Australia' because it usually lacks any interesting flavour." What's worth paying a little more for? "Pinots and Chardonnay are only made well in cool climates, are a little harder to grow and are in high demand. If you want a good bottle of either of these types you'll have to spend a little more — probably about $15-25. Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz on the other hand is made in much bigger volume, and has a lower production cost, so you can get a good value wine in a lower price range." When is a bottle of wine worth more than $100? "There are a few things that can make a bottle of wine expensive. The first is the cost of production. Some wines are expensive because the vines only produce a few grapes, and the grapes are really sought after. Other production costs like how long it spends in oak and how long it's aged for can affect the price. Tasmanian wine tends to be a little bit dearer, because they don't produce a lot of grapes, and they're doing great things with food and wine at the moment so they're in demand. You'll spend a little bit more, but whether it's worth it or not is up to you." So if I buy a Pinot Noir in Tasmania that costs $100, and one in South Australia for $30, there's no guarantee that the more expensive option is going to be better? "No. It's about the enjoyment you get out of the bottle, not the price. At Vinomofo we're all about connecting people to really good wine, and good wine is personal. First and foremost, it's about what you find enjoyable to drink." I'm scared of wine tastings — how do I do one properly? "When I taste wine, I'm tasting it so I can describe it to people, so I'm paying attention to acid levels and alcohol percentage and other things. But you should be just smelling and tasting the wine to see if you enjoy it. Most of your perception of flavour comes through smell. Your brain puts the smell and taste of the wine together and decides if you like it or not. Have a smell, and a taste and think 'Hey, do I like this? Or don't I like this?' Then you can ask, 'Why do I like this? What is it about this wine that I'm liking?' Maybe it's a little bit lighter, or fruitier, or maybe it's got this really interesting herbal flavour. Or maybe it has something that you don't like. The more you pay attention to what you're tasting and what you like, the easier it will be to shop for wine." Should I be swirling the glass? "Yes. While the wine is in the bottle think of it like it's in bed, asleep. Giving it a swirl is like throwing it in the shower and waking it up, so then it can really come to the party and let you know what it's all about. On a technical level, by taking the wine out of the bottle and swirling the glass you're exposing the wine to oxygen, which releases the aroma of the wine. Then you can taste the wine properly." Any final advice? "Wine is a very personal thing. Just because someone says a wine is really good, that doesn't mean you're going to like it. Get a mixed case from Vinomofo and sample a bunch of different wines to find out what you like. Don't be scared to ask for advice — ask someone at a boutique bottle shop, or give us a call and tell us what you like and what you don't and we'll help you out." Visit Vinomofo and delve into a world of wine. Use the code 'CONCRETEPLAYGROUND' at checkout to receive $25 off your first order. Images: Chris Middleton.
It's that time of year where you should probably start getting your New Year's Eve plans in order. To help you out, Beyond the Valley has a killer lineup for their celebrated four-day festival in Lardner, Victoria and it's pretty.bloody.good. Just two years old, the Victorian festival is fresh on the New Year's circuit, starting out in 2014. Despite this, they've managed to secure a rather colossal lineup featuring Hudson Mohawke, Phantogram and ZHU among plenty of others. The lineup has some solid Australian flavours, including festival favourites Sticky Fingers, Safia, Dune Rats and Alex Lahey, who absolutely killed it when she opened up Splendour in the Grass earlier this year. BEYOND THE VALLEY 2016 LINEUP: Alex Lahey Bag Raiders Bakermat Chance The Rapper Dena Amy DUNE RATS DZ Deathrays Eats Everything Emma Louise Giraffage GoldLink Harts Hermitude Highasakite Hot Chip Hudson Mohawke Japanese Wallpaper Jarryd James Jme Kllo Kölsch Ladyhawke Lastlings LUNICE Montaigne Motez MSTRKRFT Oliver Huntemann Paces Pachanga Boys Hippie Dance Phantogram Running Touch Ryan Hemsworth Safia Skream Slumberjack Sonny Fodera Sticky Fingers Thundamentals TOKiMONSTA Total Giovanni Vera Blue Wafia What So Not ZHU
The Harbour City doesn't lack art highlights all year, every year, but every two years the New South Wales capital plays host to the Biennale of Sydney. 2024 is one such year, with a hefty lineup taking over the city from Saturday, March 9–Monday, June 10 under the theme Ten Thousand Suns. White Bay Power Station is opening to the public for the first time in over a century for the Biennale, which is a huge highlight of the program. Of course, so are the 96 artists and collectives contributing 400-plus pieces across the event. Australia is represented, naturally, as is everywhere from Aotearoa New Zealand, Indonesia, India and Japan to Ukraine, Brazil, Mexico, the UK and the US. International talents include Andrew Thomas Huang, Adebunmi Gbadebo, Pacific Sisters, Martin Wong, Frank Moore, Maru Yacco and Anne Samat. Among the Aussies: Gordon Hookey, Tracey Moffatt, Serwah Attafuah, William Yang, VNS Matrix, Kirtika Kain, Joel Sherwood Spring and Juan Davila. Also, 14 First Nations artists have been commissioned by Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, one of the Biennale's partners, to make new works just for the event: Mangala Bai Maravi, Doreen Chapman, Megan Cope, Cristina Flores Pescorán, Freddy Mamani and Dylan Mooney, as well as Orquideas Barrileteras, John Pule, Eric-Paul Riege, Darrell Sibosado, Kaylene Whiskey, Yangamini, and Nikau Hindin in collaboration with Ebonie Fifita-Laufilitoga-Maka, Hina Puamohala Kneubuhl, Hinatea Colombani, Kesaia Biuvanua and Rongomai Gbric-Hoskins. [caption id="attachment_945078" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Citra Sasmita, Timur Merah Project X: Bedtime Story, 2023, acrylic on traditional Kamasan canvas, oak dowels. Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from the Australia-Indonesia Institute. Timur Merah Project IV: Tales of Nowhere, 2020, acrylic on traditional Kamasan canvas, oak dowels. Commissioned by UOB for Children Art Space MACAN Museum Jakarta, Indonesia 2020. Courtesy the artist and Yeo Workshop, Singapore. Photo by David James.[/caption] Expect to enjoy Mooney's mural tribute to Malcolm Cole, the queer queer First Nations dancer and activist who created history by leading the first-ever Aboriginal float at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in 1988 — and also Sibosado's riji (aka pearl shell) designs in neon. Both feature at White Bay Power Station, as does VNS Matrix's exploration of women and technology via banners. Chau Chak Wing Museum joins the Biennale of Sydney footprint for the first time, which is where Mangala Bai Maravi and Wong have pieces — one continuing to preserve tattooing patterns used by her people, India's Baiga group; the other being celebrated posthumously with nine paintings that focus on queer sexuality, as well ethnic and racial identities. At White Bay Power Station and Artspace, Indigenous weaving and jewellery making are in the spotlight via Riege. Also at the latter venue, Gbadebo is displaying new ceramic works that continue her interrogation of her family's past and America's history of slavery. And over at the Art Gallery of NSW, Hookey and Yacco will have works on offer. The lineup also spreads over to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, which is where pieces by Moore and Kain feature — and to UNSW Galleries, where Sherwood and Elyas Alavi will be found. Whoever is showcased where, they're pondering heat, power, light, summer, joy, strength, the changing climate and everything else that the sun brings to mind. And, they're part of a lineup that also includes artist talks, art tours, workshops, music and more. [caption id="attachment_945080" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] Top images:Installation view, Ten Thousand Suns, 24th Biennale of Sydney 2024, Art Gallery of New South Wales, featuring art by Pacific Sisters (foreground) and Robert Gabris (wall) photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Christopher Snee // Daniel Boud.
This year's West Projections Festival is lighting up with the literary theme of 'non/Fiction'. Running every night from August 17–26, the annual after-dark festival will see an entire area bathed in breathtaking light as more than 36 unique spaces around Footscray play host to specially commissioned works of pop-up public art. Supported by Victoria University and Maribyrnong City Council, this year's festival promises to be the most expansive yet. Sites include Harley & Rose, Mr West, SIMS Supermarket, Seddon Wine Store and Chambers Street. Forming the spine of the festival are seven hour-long art walks, each of which will take participants on a different route around the suburb and end at a participating bar. There'll also be spoken word performances, roving projections, a VR dance party and a pop-up bar – and don't be surprised to see a convoy of food trucks rolling around the neighbourhood, either. The festival will kick off with a launch party at Nicholson Street Mall on Friday, August 17, from 6–9pm, which will feature plenty of food, art and live music. This year, the festival spreads across the inner west, too — with a pop-up in Seddon's Victoria and Charles Streets running across two nights, August 3 and 4; and West Footscray's pop-up in Barkly Street running from August 10–11. Images: Shuttermain.
Ever been gettin' loose out on the town and thought, “I could destroy a round of mini-golf right now.” Procure an Argyle-patterned vest and beige slacks immediately, because the good folk at Howler are bringing us a custom-made nighttime mini golf course to conquer. The Howler Mini-Golf-O-Rama, which will feature nine holes each complete with a classic theme (think windmills, volcanos and jungles, classic mini-golf), is opening on Sunday, July 26 at Brunswick’s beloved bar and will run until August 3. To use the course, all you have to do is turn up to Howler after 5pm, buy yourself and/or your golfing buddies a drink and choose your putter. The course will be set up in what was once Howler’s bandroom, and to keep the good times flowing, guest DJs will pump up the jams (and hopefully play a non-stop dubstep remix of Lee Carvallo’s putting challenge. In fact, consider this an official request). The course will also be open from 1pm on Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August for those who enjoy a spot of weekend afternoon putting. Now, let's all dig out our Happy Gilmore VHS's and prepare to just taaaap it in. Find Howler Mini-Golf-O-Rama at 7-11 Dawson Street, Brunswick. Open from 5pm July 26 to August 3, and from 1pm August 1 and 2. Golfing is free if you buy a drink from the bar. Image via. Marcus Hansson.
Time is running out for those of you us who are yet to organise a present for Father's Day. Yes, you could go with socks, but that's kind of a cliché, and frankly he might be getting sick of all those Bunning's Warehouse gift cards. Instead, why not treat your Dad to the kind of classy gift he deserves, in the form of a limited edition ice cream cigar from the team at Gelato Messina. Let's see your stingy siblings do better than that. Available from Monday at select Messina locations, the Juan Hernandez Big Smoke package is named after Messina's head chefs Nelson Hernandez and Juan Camelo. Each box contains four hand rolled ice cream cigars in two extravagant flavours. The Sugar Daddy is full of salted caramel and orange gelato plus whisky cream and maple syrup honeycomb, while Fidel's Fatty consists of chocolate gelato, rum anglaise and coconut biscuit. The 'smokes' are wrapped in chocolate paper, and should make for a truly spectacular Father's Day gift – assuming you can resist devouring them yourself. Of course, you can always tell your Dad the box was only meant to contain three cigars. Not that we'd ever suggest anything so sneaky. Messina has only produced a limited number of these sweetened stogies, and as with everything they make you can expect them to sell out fast – especially if people order multiples which, full disclosure, we might be planning on doing ourselves. Each box of four costs $39 and is available from Messina's Darlinghurst, Miranda, Parramatta and Rosebery stores in Sydney, as well as Fitzroy in Melbourne and Coolangatta in Queensland. You can reserve yours online starting Monday, to ensure that you don't miss out.
A new craft gin distillery in Sydney has begun production with a bang, after its Pozible crowdfunding campaign drew in $25,000 in under a day. The initial run of Poor Toms Gin sold out less than 24 hours after their Pozible page went live in mid-June, with pledges exceeding the label’s initial target by a whopping $5000. A second batch is currently available — although if recent history is any indicator, it might not be so for long. “We were really surprised,” admits Poor Toms co-founder Griffin Blumer. “We thought that we would sell the first batch over the month. But to sell the first batch in a day was really shocking, and exciting. We’re happy to see that there are lots of people out there in Australia who want a new, sophisticated gin.” Operating out of a rented warehouse space in Marrickville, Poor Toms produce a gin they describe as “distinctively Sydney". Distilled under veteran gin maker Marcel Thompson, it’s made using Australian wheat infused with ten botanicals, including green apples, lemon myrtle, camomile, and native strawberry gum. Poor Toms isn’t Pozible’s only boozy success story in recent times; last year Blood Moon tonic syrup took less than three days to hit $10,000. “Craft spirits have always done really well,” says Pozible spokesperson Claire Merquita. “But even so, it's rare to see a campaign hit its target as quickly as Poor Toms did!” “Pozible was a really good platform,” says Blumer. “Apart from a couple of my grandmother’s friends who keep emailing saying they can’t make it work, everyone else seems to understand what crowdfunding is, and see it as a way of giving a boost to a brand they want to see more of.” With fourteen days left to go on their campaign, Poor Toms currently sit at more than $48,000. Pledges of $71 will get you a 700mL bottle, while $136 gets you two bottles plus a Poor Toms legionaire hat. For the time being Poor Toms can only be purchased through the crowdfunding platform, although Blumer and his co-founder Jesse Kennedy plan to start approaching bars and bottleshops in the near future. To purchase your own bottle of Poor Toms Gin, head on over to their Pozible Page, which will be live until July 16.
Weekend mornings are made for aimlessly wandering around garage sales. But when it comes to Third Drawer Down's annual clearout, there's no mucking about. The annual Third Drawer Down Garage Sale is about so much more than simply picking up a bargain. Taking place from 10am–6pm on Saturday, March 16, this year's event includes prizes, competitions, racing around with your pals in a pair of the world's largest underpants (with a $500 gift voucher up for grabs), and snapping a selfie with a giant walking, talking poop. And that's all before you peruse the shelves and crack open your wallet. Sales-wise, your budget will thank you for the bargains, with a minimum of 30 percent off all Third Drawer Down products, plus a discount of up to 75 percent on a heap of other wares. So, like most garage sales, it's best to get in early to ensure you get the goods. And if you're tied up on Saturday, whatever is left will be on sale in-store on Sunday, March 17 — but without the added garage sale fun.
After a year full of lockdowns and restrictions, travelling around Australia is finally possible again. Now, the bumper-to-bumper summer season of the country's top galleries is within reach to out-of-town art lovers too. We've pulled together a taster of major exhibitions that span both new and recognisable art and will encourage reflection on this crazy year. Each state is offering something unique, from an expansive all-women artist exhibition in Canberra to shows revealing the diversity of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from across the country. Join us in celebrating culture and open borders with an Australian summer full of art, performance, community talks and tours.
For a fourth consecutive year, the team behind the Emerging Writers' Festival will host an online festival aimed at digital writers in Australia and around the world. The Digital Writers' Festival will bring together more than 120 storytellers to explore the future of writing in the digital era. Over 11 days, there will be live-streamed events focusing on new forms, content trends and digital literacy, as well as seminars, panel discussions and interactive projects. The festival is designed to foster new relationships between writers and connect likeminded individuals from all over the world. Learn to pitch stories, watch an editor in action, discover self-publishing or even explore writing for games. Plus, in an effort to transcend geographical boundaries, the entire festival will be broadcast on the website, but city-dwellers will also be able to attend a select few events in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. The IRL events include: The Future of Storytelling — Tuesday, October 24 (Melbourne) Mapping Ecologies of the Digital — Saturday, October 28 (Perth) West Meets West — Tuesday, October 31 (Melbourne and Sydney) QUT Lit Salon — Wednesday, November 1 (Brisbane) Inside the Publishing House — Thursday, November 2 (Sydney)
Žalec, Slovenia just jumped right to the top of the list of our must-visit holiday destinations. Located roughly an hour outside of the capital of Ljubljana, the small town of just under 5000 people is known for its natural wonders including an underground waterfall, and historical sites such as an ancient Roman necropolis. And yet we kind of suspect these attractions will be somewhat overshadowed by the local government's latest plans to bring tourists to the area: Europe's first ever public beer fountain. The €340,000 fountain, which currently has no set completion date, will reportedly spout a variety of Slovenian beers. For six euros, visitors will be able to try three 300mL samples, served in a commemorative mug. The project was apparently inspired by a drinkable mineral water fountain in the nearby town of Rogaska Slatina (whose own local government members must be kicking themselves for not having thought of this clear improvement first). The fountain did face some opposition from people who thought that taxpayer money could be put to better use. Thankfully, common sense prevailed, and a motion to cancel the project was defeated in a two-to-one vote last week. Democracy wins again! Via Fox News. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
It's 3pm. All you want right now is another a coffee. Or maybe a cronut. Or a freakshake, dammit. Or maybe, like, ten Arnott’s biscuits. Nope, can’t do that. Already had five. Is that the post-3pm slump blues whispering – nay, bellowing – in your ear? Really, by now, you should be kicking back at some secret swimming spot or under a waterfall. Especially in this hectic summer weather. We know. We know! But capitalism dictates you’ve another two hours to go before your boss is going to lay down that whip. So, you have to find a way to keep going. All that sweet, sugary, deliciousness might be looking like your only job-quitting-preventative-measure right now, but it’s a bad, bad idea. So, we’re riding to your rescue with five jack-jumping, healthy, healthy snacks. And it’s not all gustatory doom and gloom. We’ve picked these babies for their tastiness, not just their nutrition information panels. BANANA AND TAHINI This God-sent duo has all the creaminess and sweetness of ice cream but none of the refined sugar or saturated fat. Spread it across a piece of toast, throw it in the blender to make a smoothie or just eat it straight, dipping the banana in the jar. Tahini's got more goodness than Mother Teresa (go with it) — from calcium, magnesium, lecithin, potassium, protein and iron to Vitamins E, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B15. If you've had a big night out, it'll help you liver to cope better, thanks to the detoxifying powers of methionine. And everyone knows bananas make you happy. PROTEIN BALLS Available in stacks of different flavours, the mighty protein ball can give any conventional, packeted treat a run for its money, taste-wise. And it also comes with a big ol' dose of protein, which does heaps of good stuff. Like building and repairing muscles, making enzymes, producing hormones and making sure your hair and nails grow (in fact, they're nearly all protein). YouFoodz makes an especially lip-smacking version, a salted caramel version that's actually good for you. It's packed with apricot, sultanas, dates and dark chocolate and coated in crispy bits of waffle wafer. FROZEN FRUIT Regular, room temperature fruit is an excellent substitute for lollies and biscuits. But, with a freezer, you can take things to a whole new, more satisfying, longer-lasting level. That said, you have to make sure you're freezing the right kinds. Grapes are a winner — they become firmer on the outside, yet stay relatively soft in the middle (depending on the temperature of your freezer). So, eating one's a bit like biting into a soft-centred jube or toffee. Bananas, oranges and mangoes are crackers, too. Apples and strawberries don't go so well, as they to get too hard, all the way through. Raspberries can work if left to thaw for a while. DIY TRAIL MIX Plenty of peanut-heavy, packeted trail mixes aren't too appetising — even if they are salutary. Others are peppered with sugary bits and bobs, like choc buds. So, go ahead and make your own. That way, you can tailor it to suit you and, at the same time, make sure there's nothing in there undoing your healthy intentions. Don't forget to add some seeds — sunflower ones give you Vitamin E, B1 and B6, copper, selenium and manganese, while in teeny-tiny sesame seeds, there's CoQ10, which helps keep your heart working and your energy levels booming. No time to DIY? Have a stash of pre-made bars ready to go — Youfoodz does a pretty top notch Supa Food Bar. KALE CHIPS Potato chips one of your go-to snacks? Break that salty, fatty habit with kale chips. You can even make them yourself, without too much hassle: toss a bunch of kale in a minimal amount of olive oil and pop it in the oven till it's crispy. Unless you've been under the Rock of Gibraltar, you'll know this superfood's many benefits by now. There's bucket loads of beta-carotene to help your eyesight, Vitamin C to fight bugs, Vitamin K to make sure your blood clots and Vitamin E, an antioxidant. Images: YouFoodz and Dollar Photo Club.
Because you're reading this, we know you're not someone who received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. We understand your yearning, and so does the RSPCA. And, to find permanent homes for pups, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs and ponies surrendered into its care from all over the state, it's lowering the adoption fee to $29 this weekend. The weekend-long initiative is called Clear the Shelters and will run from Friday, February 23 until Sunday, February 25. Although you can't put a price on the happiness a new four-legged friend will bring, it's hoped that the low adoption fee will encourage people who have been thinking about adding a pet to their fam (and have considered it thoroughly) to make the commitment this week. Last year, the RSPCA found new homes for 793 pets in NSW through the campaign. This year, Clear the Shelters will run across Australia in all states except WA and Tasmania. The adoption fees — which usually range from $20–600 — help cover some of the costs of vaccines, training and microchipping for the animals. Whether you're in NSW, Victoria or Queensland, there are hundreds of animals that need a new home full of love and pats. There's more to pet adoption than overdosing on cuteness, of course, with making the commitment to care for an animal is serious business. For further information, read RSPCA's FAQs and head to a shelter this weekend.
Throw those GoPros, bubble bottles and novelty gumboots in your rucksack, Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year of festival merriment. As usual, speculation has run wild in anticipation of the lineup announce — will Kendrick and the Arctic Monkeys make an appearance? Will there by more than three females on the lineup? — but the details for Splendour 2018 are finally here. And we're happy to report that some of the rumours were true. There will be no Arctic Monkeys, but King Kunta himself, Kendrick Lamar, will be Splendouring. The lineup also doesn't state that Splendour is his only show, so stay tuned for news of a national tour (hopefully). The other huge name is Lorde, who will be doing her only Oz show at the Parklands — better get practising that 'Green Light' hair flip now. She leads a female contingent — that is kick-ass but still nowhere near as big as the pool of male performers — which includes Amy Shark, the Lauren Mayberry-led Chvrches, Sampa The Great, Alex Lahey, Jack River, Anna Lunoe, Stella Donnelly, female four-piece All Our Exes Live in Texas and Wafia. Also doing their only Australian shows at Splendour will be Vampire Weekend, Khalid and Girl Talk. The lineup seems to go on forever, including The Wombats, Gang of Youths, Franz Ferdinand, Superorganism and MGMT. Anyway, we know what you're here for. We'll cut to the chase. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2018 LINEUP Kendrick Lamar Lorde (only AUS show) Vampire Weekend (only AUS show) Khalid (only AUS show) The Wombats Hilltop Hoods Chvrches Miguel Girl Talk (only AUS show) Angus & Julia Stone Gang of Youths Franz Ferdinand MGMT Ben Howard Dune Rats & Friends James Bay PNAU Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite The Avalanches DJ set Chromeo DMA'S Ball Park Music Henry Rollins (only AUS show) SAFIA The Jungle Giants Lil Xan Methyl Ethel Amy Shark The Bronx Ocean Alley Carmada (L D R U & Yahtzel) DZ Deathrays Lord Huron Middle Kids Hockey Dad Towkio Cub Sport Touch Sensitive Sampa The Great Dean Lewis Skegss Albert Hammond Jr Mallrat Marmozets Alex Lahey Riton & Kah-Lo Jack River Superorganism Anna Lunoe Lewis Capaldi All Our Exes Live In Texas Alex The Astronaut Yungblud Crooked Colours Nina Las Vegas Soccer Mommy (only AUS show) Elderbrook Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Tim Sweeney Stella Donnelly Bully Baker Boy Wafia No Mono Waax Angie McMahon West Thebarton Eves Karydas G Flip The Babe Rainbow Haiku Hands Didirri Alice Ivy Amyl & The Sniffers Ziggy Ramo Fantastic Man Lo'99 Human Movement Manu Crook$ Kasbo Madam X Andras Alta Ara Koufax Two People B Wise Made In Paris Jensen Interceptor Woodes Teischa Antony & Cleopatra Muto Elk Road triple j Unearthed winners (TBA) Mike Gurrieri Love Deluxe Lauren Hansom Poolclvb Godlands Nyxen Emma Stevenson Ebony Boadu Splendour will return to North Byron Parklands on Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July. Onsite camping will once again be available from Wednesday, July 18. Image: Justin Ma.
Australia's creative industry is about to get pretty damn employed — the new Alien and Thor movies will be filmed in Australia. Announced by the Federal Government in a press conference broadcast on ABC News 24 today, the films will start filming in 2016. The Australian government is fronting $47 million so the two films can be made in the country. "What it means is 3000 direct jobs for Australians," said senator Mitch Fifield. "This helps develop skills, skills that couldn't be developed on smaller budget productions." When briefing the cabinet, Senator Fifield apparently got pretty excited about the fact that Prometheus had a character called Fifield, until ol' mate industry and innovation minister Christopher Pyne piped up, "He died." Sir Ridley Scott's new Alien film and Marvel's new Thor film will start filming in 2016. We're pretty sure the casts of both movies will be advised to leave their dogs at home. Via SMH.
Hey there, lonely freelancers working in cafes, on couches and in front of Netflix worldwide. Want some company? We've got a big ol' warm fuzzy home for you. Well, someone else’s home to be specific. Meet Hoffice, the social site dedicated to connecting you with people who've turned their houses into fun, creative workspaces. Whether you've only just quit your nine-to-fiver or you've been cruising solo for quite some time, chances are you're familiar with the challenges that come with the crazy world of freelancing. On one hand, taking charge of your career gives you loads of freedom — you can work in your pyjamas, clock on and off when you want to, and enjoy strictly virtual relationships with your bosses/clients. On the other hand, it's not all strawberries and cream. Unless you became a freelancer mainly because you hated group work at school (and you’re a misanthrope), you might feel a little lonely every now and again. You're productive, sure. But you probably look as relaxed as this: That's where Hoffice steps in. If you’re a freelancer, simply register and start searching your area for a host, who’s set up their home as a place for you to treat as your office. As far as we can see, this new service only has limited Australian/NZ options but we're sure there'll be a few as Hoffice picks up. While some hosts have an open policy, inviting everyone in, others just accept newbies every now and again. If you’d like to offer up your home, find out how right here. On top of mediating between space owners and freelancers, Hoffice also suggests a schedule. Designed to help you get the most out of your workday, it includes time for meeting and greeting, taking breaks, eating and partying. Of course, you don’t have to stick to it if you'd rather not — or you're between projects. Right now, Hoffice is operating in Europe, the States, Brazil, India, China, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia (Melbourne). No network in your area? Start one yourself. Via PSFK.
The stage has been set and the battlelines drawn. People of Melbourne, prepare yourself for war. This Saturday, hundreds of combatants will descend upon Flemington Racecourse for an afternoon of drinking, dancing and tomato-hurling mayhem. It's our very own version of Spain’s La Tomatina, with a little bit of Oktoberfest thrown in. Participants in Melbourne's inaugural Tomato Battle will pelt each other with upwards of one hundred thousand kilograms of over-ripe Roma tomatoes, in an event that will probably end up being marginally less messy than the Spring Racing Carnival. Everyone involved will be expected to play by the rules, which explicitly forbid profanity, unsportsmanlike behaviour and nudity. You'd think that last one would go without saying, but we suppose it's better to be safe than sorry. Gates open at noon for preregistration, while the fruit starts flying at 4pm sharp. The main event will be preceded by a lineup of live music, headlined by local favourite Some Blonde DJ.
A London architecture outfit has devised a smart, affordable housing option to help aid the city's homeless population. Occupying a previously vacant lot in the south London suburb of Mitcham, George William Court consists of 36 brightly coloured, prefabricated units stacked one on top of the other via crane. Throw down some wooden decking and hey presto: instant apartment block. The 26-square-meter, single-person residences were designed by Richard Rogers' award-winning architecture firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, who were commissioned by the YMCA. Construction took place in a factory in Derbyshire at a cost of between £30,000 and £35,000 per unit. Each apartment features a combined living and kitchen area, a bedroom and an en suite bathroom, and can be relocated to another site should the need arise. Hopefully that won't be necessary, however, since the tenants – mostly young people from YMCA hostels and the local authority housing list – have already begun moving in. According to Dezeen Magazine, Rogers believes there is space for as many as half a million prefabricated houses in unused spaces around London. " We've been failing to build enough housing," he said at the opening of George William Court. "The supply lags behind demand and buying becomes ever more unaffordable... We need to unleash similar building innovation across the capital or the same old business model will cause us to stay in the same old housing crisis." Rent will be set at 65 per cent of the local market value, which comes out to around £150 per week. It's still not what you'd call cheap, but by London standards it could be a lot worse. Speaking with Dezeen, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' Ivan Harbour said that "the principle here is to minimise people's outlay for their rent so that they can afford to save and eventually get on the more conventional housing ladder." Images: Grant Smith via Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Via Dezeen.
Break out the cheese, Wallace & Gromit fans, then put on the right trousers and prepare for what's bound to be a very grand day out indeed. As part of the Victorian Government's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image has announced a massive exhibition dedicated to everyone's favourite stop-motion-animated, dairy-loving inventor and his kindly claymation canine pal, as well as the broader Aardman world they hail from. Taking over ACMI from June 29 to October 29, 2017, Wallace & Gromit and friends: The magic of Aardman will showcase more than 350 items, spanning original artworks, sketches, storyboards, hand-made sets and set pieces, character studies, puppets and more. Specific items such as the flying machine from Chicken Run and the five-metre tall ship from The Pirates! Band of Misfits will also feature. In short, if it's related to the Oscar, BAFTA and all-round award-winning animation studio's beloved were-rabbit chasers, escaping chooks and swashbucklers — and their other flicks such as Flushed Away, Arthur Christmas and Shaun the Sheep — you'll find it here. Of course, ACMI being ACMI, you can expect to see bits and pieces of Aardman's shorts, television work, advertisements, music videos and movies too, though an accompanying big screen lineup hasn't yet been announced. And the timing really couldn't be better. While their highly anticipated next effort Early Man won't release in cinemas until 2018, the exhibition will include concept drawings from the Stone Age versus Bronze Age caper, which will feature the voices of Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston. Curated by Art Ludique-Le Musée, Paris, where the exhibition premiered in 2015, Wallace & Gromit and friends also marks more than four decades of Aardman goodness — and its Melbourne run will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the first Aardman short, 1977's Animated Conversations: Down and Out, in fact. With Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art opening its doors to a Marvel showcase in 2017, next year sure is shaping up to be a mighty fine time for pop culture-filled galleries — and for travelling around the country to peek behind the scenes of your favourite screen content, perhaps? Wallace & Gromit and friends: The magic of Aardman exhibits at ACMI from June 29 to October 29, 2017. Tickets go on sale from Monday, November 21, 2016. Visit the ACMI website for further details. Images: Aardman.
Your days of stealing liberating those tiny IKEA pencils may soon be coming to an end. According to reports, the Australian arm of the Swedish furniture giant will launch its online store by the end of 2016, ahead of a global e-commerce platform in the next two years. About damn time. Now here's hoping it's less stressful to navigate than their actual physical locations. Due to go live in the next six months, the online store will let shoppers order IKEA's unpronounceable furniture from the comfort of their MALM bed frames. The company plans to trial various pick-up methods, including smaller physical stores that double as pick-up points, as well as the use of third party depots. IKEA Australia hopes the web initiative will help boost profits, which, as it stands, are expected to pass the $1 billion mark for the first time later this year. Their online store in the UK is the most popular IKEA outlet in the country, presumably because you don't need to pack a week's worth of provisions to make it to the checkout. Speaking of provisions, it is currently unclear whether you'll be able to use the online store to order IKEA's meatballs. Fingers crossed though. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
Film festival season is well and truly upon us, with the Scandinavian Film Festival the latest to unveil their 2017 lineup. Taking place across July and August, the Nordic-focused movie showcase will bring 20 new features to Palace Cinema screens around the country. Heading to the festival after its Australian premiere in Sydney Film Festival's official competition, The Other Side of Hope will kick off the Scandi cinema fun with a big-hearted look at one refugee's attempt to start a new life in Finland. Directed by Aki Kaurismäki (winner of the Silver Bear for best director at this year's Berlinale), it's an amusing yet insightful look at an important topic — as well as an enjoyable way to get the Scandinavian Film Festival underway for its fourth outing. With the 2017 selection also boasting titles from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland, other highlights include World War II drama The King's Choice, which was shortlisted for this year's best foreign-language film category at the Academy Awards; biopic Tom of Finland, about one of the country's unorthodox international heroes; and closing night's A Hustler's Diary, which follows a petty criminal in the suburbs of Stockholm. Bittersweet romance One-Two-Three-Go!, Copenhagen-set arts scene satire The Man, stunningly shot coming-of-age effort Heartstone, and a theatrical version of popular Danish TV show 1864 also feature, as does Sami Blood, which explores the cultural oppression of Sweden's Sami people. Of course, because Nordic noir is everyone's insatiable genre pick since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo became such a literary and film hit, the festival will also delve into darker territory. Audiences can get their brooding mystery fix with crime action-thriller Darkland, which has been compared to the films of Nicolas Winding Refn; black comedy Small Town Killers; and A Conspiracy of Faith, the third feature in the Department Q book-to-screen adaptations following The Keeper of Lost Causes and The Absent One. The Scandinavian Film Festival tours the country between July 11 and August 6, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton Street and Palace Verona from July 11 to August 2, Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay and Palace Westgarth from July 13 to August 2, and Brisbane's Palace Barracks from July 20 to August 6. For the full program, visit the festival website.
Want to sample some of Australia's most unique cocktails, rub shoulders with the bar teams that made them and feast on delicious canapes in one of Sydney's glitziest inner city bars? Australia's obsession with bar teams and their unique concoctions has been realised in a nationwide competition run by Auchentoshan, dubbed Distilled Different. Twelve of Australia's best bar teams have created a cocktail incorporating Auchentoshan American Oak — the only triple distilled Scottish single malt whisky in the world. They're going head-to-head to win bragging rights and a huge team trip to Glasgow. Before the winner is crowned, all 12 bar teams will appear in the national Dare to be Distilled Different photography exhibition. Their talented faces and creative cocktails have been captured by three up-and-coming photographers, all chosen by Art Pharmacy. It's a photography exhibition centred around bartenders and cocktails — of course there's going to be a big party. Auchentoshan are throwing a big launch for the exhibition on Tuesday, October 18 at Sydney's swish Gilt Lounge at the QT, and we're giving away 20 VIP double passes. You'll get to sample unique Auchentoshan cocktails, enjoy delicious food, experience the photographic exhibition, as well as the chance to rub shoulders with the crew associated with the project — including some of Sydney's best bartenders. Enter below. [competition]591029[/competition]
Good news for those into theatre of the irreverent and independent persuasions. Just announced, the program for the third annual instalment of the NEON Festival of Independent Theatre is here— and it's the kind of staged indie gold we’ve come to expect at this time of year from the normally more mainstream-bent Melbourne Theatre Company. NEON 2015 runs from May 14 to July 25. Like its previous iterations, five independent theatre artists/collaboratives are invited to commandeer the Lawler at Southbank Theatre with a work of their own, for ten days apiece. Aussie theatre mavericks and champions of new, alternate voices in theatre MKA are first up with Double Feature, a two-for-the-price-of-one, booze-soaked tirade. Tobias Manderson-Galvin's post-punk prison fantasy Lucky is double billed with Morgan Rose’s Lord Willing and The Creek Don't Rise — a "broken kitchen-sink drama of carnivals and cannibals". Next up, The Zoey Louise Moonbeam Dawson Shakespeare Company presents Calamity. This part musical, part western, part biography tells the story of Calamity Jane in a way that's a lot less Doris Day circa 1953 and a whole lot more gun-slinging, foul-mouthed, alcoholic cowgirl — apparently a much more accurate depiction. Long-time collaborators Susie Dee and Patricia Cornelius like female characters you don’t often see on stage. Their play SHIT is about Billy, Bobby and Sam — girls who spit, swear, scream, shout, flash, fight with fists and moon pedestrians from cars. SHIT's creators say they wanted to empower their female characters, to give them "the chance to come back at a world which despises them". If recreations of classics are your thing, check out Dirty Pretty Theatre’s The Lonely Wolf, an anarchic, dance-theatre version of Steppenwolf; or Elbow Room’s We Get It, a retrospective of history's great heroines of the stage. NEON is all part of MTC's aim to strengthen its ties with the independent theatre landscape and the artists that make it tick. "The previous two NEON Festivals have brought audiences works of great integrity and variety, and the discussion that ensued has been inspiring, saysBrett Sheehy, MTC’s artistic director. "I have no doubt NEON 2015 is going to do the same." In addition to the five new works comes NEON EXTRA (think masterclasses, workshops and open rehearsals), NEON READINGS (readings of brand new plays) and the special closing night event Pimp My Play, presented by The Last Tuesday Society. It promises to put a pretty raucous end to the festivities, using a simple formula: take boring old play, give collaborators scene each, put pieces back together, and present resulting miscreation to horrified/delighted audience. Sounds like a suitably Frankensteinian way to end a jam-packed, raucous couple of months. NEON 2015 runs from May 14 to July 25 at Southbank Theatre. For more info or to book tickets, head over here.
Every day, worldwide, McDonald's feeds approximately 1% of the earth's population. Like a partially-digested chicken nugget entering your bloodstream, we'll just let that sink in for a moment. The Founder, by writer Robert D. Siegel (The Wrestler) and director John Lee Hancock (Saving Mr. Banks) tells the true story of Ray Kroc, a milkshake mixer salesman from Illinois who in 1954 stumbled across an innovative hamburger joint run by the McDonald brothers (Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch) and convinced them to franchise it into the 92nd largest economy in the world. Again, just let it siiiiink on in. Played magnificently by Michael Keaton, Kroc presents as a ruthless and relentless businessman for whom 'no' is just a soft yes waiting to be solidified. "Contracts are like hearts" he explains at one stage to the brothers, "…they're meant to be broken". And so it was that the McDonalds empire began to form, with or without the support of the two men to which everything was owed. It's a fascinating, heartbreaking story to behold. Offerman and Carroll Lynch are perfectly cast as a pair of brothers whose steadfast belief in the importance of authenticity and quality seems at once admirable and naive - not to mention antithetical to the very ideas that would eventually turn each of them into multi-millionaires. Of course, the fact that they only make millions, and not billions, is what forms the bulk of the film's story, as it catalogues the means by which Kroc manoeuvred himself into a position of unmatchable power over the pair via manipulative and underhanded yet entirely legal means. By the time "gentleman's handshakes" are being proposed, you already know how things are going to end, just as you lament the feeling that there's nothing else the brothers could have done to stop it. This is a slick production from top to bottom, beginning with Siegel's superb script and its equal measure of laughs and wince-inducing severity. The direction, too, is impressively restrained, allowing the performers and script to shine without embellishment. As in the recent Birdman, Keaton is the standout in a field of outstanding actors, bringing similar levels of narcissism to the role. His serpentine smile and darting eyes betray much of the Kroc personality before he ever opens his mouth. Do not be surprised to see Keaton's name appear on the nomination roll for next year's awards season. In all, The Founder is an admirable piece of cinema that's at once a character study and a history lesson, just as its lead offers an uncomfortable mix of bastardy and astounding foresight. You won't like much about Ray Kroc by the end of this film, but you'll be hard-pressed to deny his determination, business acumen or impact upon a world in which 62 million customers eat at McDonalds every day. 62 million customers. That's more than the population of Great Britain. So yeah…just let that sink in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX2uz2XYkbo
To welcome winter for another year, the team at Welcome to Thornbury is bringing back one of its most intuitive warming weekend events — a mini festival dedicated to mulled wine and hot cheese. Following successful runs last year, the party returns to the High Street food truck park from noon, Saturday, June 1, pulling together a selection of hot, gooey creations from some of the city's favourite cheese-slinging vendors. This is where all your cheesiest dreams come true — and while the food lineup hasn't been announced as yet, last year's menu included lush cheese fondue, mulled wine doughnut balls, cheesy pierogi and a raclette burger. Of course, you won't find a better drink match to all that rich, melty dairy than some hot, spiced booze, so the bar will be rounding out its usual offerings with five different mulled wines. Available all day, you'll be apple to pick from mulled wine spiked with apple pie, chilli chocolate, cherry or sticky date pudding — amongst others.
Weekend mornings are made for aimlessly wandering around garage sales. But when it comes to Third Drawer Down’s annual clearout, there’s no mucking about. The Annual Third Drawer Down Garage Sale Gala Day (yes, that is quite a title) is about so much more than simply picking up a bargain. Illustrator and cartoonist Oslo Davis will be drawing portraits from 11-1pm, or you and your prized pooch, goldfish or iguana can get your photo taken by the good people from Dog Photog. Brands like Lucy Folk, Third Drawer Down Studio and Seletti will be selling their wares for up to 60 percent off — so like most garage sales, it's best to get in early to ensure you get the goods. Nab yourself a bargain, and a freshly fried spring roll from the Phamily Kitchen's Fitzroy store and you’ve officially won the weekend.
Out to bridge the gap between quickly-scoffed lunchtime sushi and expensive Japanese fare, best mates Edward Teh and Jason Tan launched Fremantle restaurant The Modern Eatery in 2014. Specialising in aburi sushi — that is, where the fish is partially scorched and partially raw — the Japanese-inspired haunt has since become a WA favourite, loved for its clever flavour pairings and dishes that are almost too pretty to eat. Having also added a Mount Lawley restaurant to the family, the boys now have their sights set on Melbourne, next week opening the doors to a Richmond outpost — and the first east coast edition of The Modern Eatery. The two-level, 90-seat Swan Street space has been designed by Studio Equator (who've previously lent their talents to Chalawan and Glamp), and its interiors offer a relaxed rendition of their signature Japanese sleekness. From the open sushi bar, diners can expect a similar food offering to the one winning fans out west, from classic uramaki rolls, melt-in-your-mouth sashimi and nigiri through to a range of hot dishes, and oshi (or compressed sushi). Meanwhile, a line-up of 'craft' rolls is more like edible art than anything else, featuring creations like the Chasing Sunset with garlic mayo, spring onion, and tiny sweet potato fries atop a mix of salmon, cucumber and egg, and the green leaf roll, which rocks a combo of deep fried zucchini, cream cheese and a lotus chip. While the restaurant will open officially on Monday, August 14, they'll be holding a soft launch this weekend (August 12 and 13) where they'll be doing all food at half price for lunch and dinner. The Modern Eatery opens on Monday, August 14 at 176 Swan Street, Cremorne. For more info, visit themoderneatery.com.au.
Winter dining deals are popping up all over Melbourne right now, as restaurants work hard to coax us out of our homes during these colder months. And one of our favourites is Lagoon Dining's special noodle-centric dinners — running on Tuesday, June 18, Tuesday, July 30 and Tuesday, August 20. For these three nights only, diners can order a $50 set menu that includes four warming noodle dishes. But don't expect to find the classics here. Lagoon Dining is known for being super playful with its flavour combos, serving up clever and inventive riffs on Chinese cuisine. The menu is likely to change a little each month, but the first Chow Down Tuesday dinner will include scissor-cut noodles with spring onions and jalapeño oil; jap chae with sweet potato noodles, soy marinated beef, red peppers and toasted sesame; mee goreng topped with squid, turmeric chicken, bean shoots and tofu puffs; and a crispy egg noodle chow mein with scallops, prawns, spring onions and red chilli. Getting all this for just $50 is a definite bargain. But if you can't make it down on any of these days, Lagoon Dining still serves up one of Melbourne's best-value set menus every day of the week. The $78 dinner includes six to seven dishes that showcase some of the Lygon Street restaurant's greatest hits. It's an excellent intro to Lagoon Dining — our pick of one of the best restaurants in Melbourne. Images: Nikki To
This autumn, Melbourne's Noir Restaurant is going to make your nights out a whole lot sweeter. As of April 8, the team are dedicating an entire bar to dessert. And not just any dessert, mind you, but Noir's utterly beautiful, perfectly-composed, hat-winning creations. The Noir Bar, as it's to be known, will bring its taste revolution to the space above the Noir restaurant; formerly home to the Swan Street Social. The menu is based on French classics, made prettier and more delicious with the addition of original, 100 percent Instagrammable touches. Examples include signature vacherin, with raspberry parfait, meringue and rose cream; poached black figs with black olives, pinenuts, red wine sabayon and Pedro Ximenez ice cream; and rhubarb soufflé with ginger ice cream and puffed rice. Noir's traditional-yet-contemporary approach will also apply to the drinks list. Cocktails are to be founded on old-school digestifs, sweetened with creative splashes — and there’ll be an ample supply of wine and craft beers, of course. Open between 5pm and 1am, Tuesday to Sunday, the bar will be headed by Noir chef Peter Roddy, with the help of master pastry chef Jerome Soubeyrand —whose CV includes Dinner by Heston, Hélène Darroze and Daniel Boulud. Expect weird things. Find The Noir Bar above Noir Restaurant at 175 Swan Street, Richmond. Open from April 8. Noir's new dessert bar will be contending with Melbourne's best ice cream and frozen dessert joints. Check out our list here.
You might've missed out on a Splendour in the Grass ticket in yesterday's ticketing tornado, but that doesn't mean the show's over. This morning, ten Splendour artists announced sideshows in cities around Australia. For a start, Sigur Ros will be touring the Australian debut of their show, An Evening with Sigur Ros. There's no support act, which means you're in for two sets, covering material old and new. Catch the Icelandic trio at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion on Tuesday, July 25 and Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena on Thursday, July 27. Meanwhile, Two Door Cinema Club will be hitting Australian capitals with their third studio album, Gameshow, recorded in Kopanga Canyon, California with producer Jacknife Lee. Get a dose of their electro-indie-pop at Metro City, Perth, on Wednesday, July 19; Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, on Friday, July 21; and Festival Hall, Melbourne, on Tuesday, July 25. Supporting them will be triple j favourites Last Dinosaurs and The Creases. To catch HAIM outside of Splendour, you'll have to get yourself to Sydney's Enmore Theatre on Thursday, July 20 — it's the only show they're doing. Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana scored a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist for their 2013 release, Days Are Gone, and have been working on their hotly anticipated follow-up. 23-year-old English singer-songwriter George Ezra is returning to Australia after selling out his 2015 tour here. His debut album, Wanted on Voyage, sold three million copies and, yes, you can expect to hear hits 'Budapest' and 'Blame It On Me'. Ezra will be at Sydney's Enmore Theatre on Tuesday, July 18 and Melbourne's Forum Theatre on Wednesday, July 19. Another songwriter to catch is Sweden's Tove Lo. She's been writing hits — for both herself and others — for more than ten years and inspired one million album sales in the process. Her latest album Lady Wood is best known for single 'Cool Girl'. She's also lent her pen and ear to a bunch of chart toppers, including Flume's 'Say It', Coldplay's 'Fun' and Broods' 'Freak of Nature'. See Tove Lo in Sydney at the Metro Theatre on Wednesday, July 26 and in Melbourne at the Prince Bandroom on Friday, July 28. English blues man Rag 'n' Bone (Rory Graham), who mixes the blues tradition with hip hop and beats, will be making his Aussie debut at Splendour, before setting off for Sydney's Metro Theatre on Friday, July 21 and Melbourne's 170 Russell on Monday, July 24. Meanwhile, Maggie Rogers, discovered by Pharrell Williams at an NYU masterclass last year, will be playing her headline shows at the Corner Hotel, Melbourne, on Sunday, July 23 and the Factory Theatre, Sydney on Tuesday, July 25. Her debut EP, Light is Fading, is out now and its single 'Alaska' has racked up 31 million views on YouTube. LA-based songwriter Bishop Briggs, known for her gritty vocals and unique songwriting, will be at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on Thursday, July 20 and Melbourne's Howler on Friday, July 21, while rock 'n' roll duo The Lemon Twigs will be landing in Australia after appearances at Coachella and Glastonbury, to play the Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, on Saturday, July 22 and The Curtin, Melbourne, on Tuesday, July 21. Finally, catch LANY from LA, whose track 'ILYSB' won hearts and minds online, at Max Watts, Melbourne on Friday, July 21 and Metro Theatre, Sydney, on Saturday, July 22.
If you've ever eaten a lobster doughnut burger from Mammoth or brunched on hotcakes at Barry, you'll be very happy with the news that the crews behind these two cult Melbourne cafes are opening a newbie. Husband and wife team Jamie and Loren McBride, who are involved with Northcote's Barry, Malvern's Mammoth and Touchwood in Richmond, have paired up with Jemma Richards and Iza Dawkins of Shawcross Pizza to bring a touch of New York to Northcote. This collaboration has culminated in the opening of a brand new Westgarth Village eatery, Primo, which opened last week. "Westgarth Village is such a great neighbourhood," says Loren. "We are in our mid-early thirties with young kids. we wanted to make a place us and our friends would love to go to. Primo is the sort of place you can take the family, meet friends on Friday night for pizzas and drinks, catch up for a casual lunch on weekends." The menu will feature New York-inspired pizzas and soft serve, which is a pretty tight business plan, if you ask us. "Soft serve has so many fun elements to it — the option to be creative with flavours is endless," says Loren. Of course, they won't be the only players in the soft serve game. Sydney's Aqua S has just opened up shop in Melbourne's CBD with their famous sea salt soft serve, and Tuck Shop Take Away has being doing flavours like Redskin and Milo for a few years now. Primo will take the soft serve idea all the way though. "We are going to have soft serve floats on the menu, sundaes, affogatos — it's a classic combo. We will play with classic Italian ingredients and flavours; think zabaglione, olive oil, panettone, tiramisu." So it's kind of like Pizza Hut — but with soft serve and way classier — and all of the ingredients will be locally sourced in an effort to keep Primo's environmental footprint as low as possible. "We want to keep the produce seasonal. A lot of pizza joints promote imported product, which is great and often desirable, but we have brilliant local producers doing great things." says Loren. "Our menu will speak to what is good now and celebrate the type food we love eating." And good news for Northcote locals who like to eat pizza in their pyjamas: their nosh is available to order through Menulog. Primo sounds as though it will be a welcome addition for those wanting to eat casually (and well) without straying from High Street — or home. Primo will is now open from midday seven days a week at 104 High Street, Northcote. For more information, check their Instagram. Updated: September 12, 2016.
Heads up, Mother's Day is just around the corner. Yep, you can pucker up on our tootsies later. But there's pressie planning afoot, and we've found quite the showstopper for your dear ol' Mumsie this year thanks to Gelato Messina. Never one to miss an opportunity to experiment with new ways to inhale gelato, Messina have been cooking up quite the delicate novelty dessert for Mum: a Italian-inspired chocolate box of gelato-filled nibbles. These brownie point-winners launched in 2015, and are sure to bring it home again this year. Each box comes with nine handmade chocolate and gelato bon bons; best enjoyed with opera blaring in the background, with a strong, black cup of coffee and a shoulder massage. Go on, your mum put up with you through puberty, you owe her one massage. So which crazy tell-your-friends flavours have Messina come up with for their bitty bon bons? There's five in total, each more decadent than the last. Ready? There's orange custard gelato, Baileys and caramel milk chocolate fudge in a dark chocolate shell with ruby pearl dust. Shut up. There's gianduia gelato with caramelised banana and lime sable in a milk chocolate shell with gold dust and hazelnut praline. Huh? How about blood peach and marsala sorbet with pistachio ganache in a dark chocolate shell rolled in crushed pistachios? NUP. Or cream cheese gelato with blueberry gel, almond crunch in a white chocolate shell and wrapped in gold foil. If you can find us something that says 'perfect Mother's Day gift' better than cream cheese gelato covered in gold, we'll eat this empty bon bon box. The Messina chocolate and gelato bon bon boxes are going for $35 a box, available to order now. They're available for collection from May 5-8 from Rosebery, Darlinghurst, Bondi, Miranda and Parramatta stores in Sydney, as well as the Fitzroy and Windsor stores.
Scientifically, the only way to watch the entire Academy Awards sober and survive is if you actually win one on the night. For everyone else, there's booze. Presenting our best shot at a Best Original Screenplay: Concrete Playground's 2016 Oscar Drinking Game. Remember to always drink responsibly and don't forget to thank your fellow nominees. One Sip Jack Nicholson wears sunglasses. Harrison Ford wears an earring. Diane Keaton wears gloves. Jennifer Lawrence does something adorably "real". Three drinks if she trips and falls. Leo’s date is his mother. Host Chris Rock makes three or more jokes about the Oscars’ diversity problem. A non-human presents an award. Three drinks if it’s Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2 or BB-8. Winner thanks God or Jesus. Winner pays tribute to their "extraordinary" fellow nominees. Winner is played off by the orchestra. Winner describes their film as "important". Winner describes their film’s director as "a genius" and/or "visionary". Kate Winslet talks on the red carpet about how happy she is for her "best friend" Leo. Two Sips Chris Rock dresses up as the other black storm-trooper. Sylvester Stallone wins for Best Supporting Actor in Creed and delivers his speech using only the ‘A’ and ‘O’ vowels. Chris Rock asks if Meryl Streep wouldn’t mind giving Kanye a few of her Oscars to melt down and pay off some of his debt. Winner describes their film’s director as "a high-functioning sociopath". Travolta jokes that Scientology documentary Going Clear was "the best comedy of the year". Tom Cruise and Will Smith laugh heartily. Paul Haggis does not. Ryan Reynolds arrives dressed as Deadpool, just so no one forgets he’s finally had a hit. Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson perform a scene from Ex Machina dressed as Poe Dameron and General Hux. You’ve actually heard of one of the nominees for Documentary Short Subject or Foreign Language Film. Three Sips Bryan Cranston wins Best Actor for Trumbo. Pulls face mask off to reveal he’s actually Dalton Trumbo. Chris Rock explains how he thought The Big Short was just a Tom Cruise biopic. Joaquin Phoenix comes dressed as a 19th century blacksmith. Winner thanks Allah or Mohammed. Jennifer Jason Leigh begins her acceptance speech with "REMEMBER ME!?" and then cackles maniacally until she’s forcibly removed from the stage. Kate Winslet’s accent changes markedly throughout her acceptance speech in a nod to her performance in Steve Jobs. Having scored acclaim for his last two roles as a cosmologist with a motor neurone disease and a transgender artist, Eddie Redmayne asks if anyone wants to cast him as an electrician or a plumber. Ridley Scott and/or Harrison Ford offers a plausible reason for making a sequel to Bladerunner that doesn’t include the words "pay cheque". You’ve actually seen one of the nominees for Documentary Short Subject or Foreign Language Film. Finish Your Drink DiCaprio declines to accept his award. God appears and says he can only claim credit for the Best Sound Editing winner. The performance of 'Earned It' from Fifty Shades of Grey features five minutes of graphic S&M on stage. Winner for Spotlight thanks the Catholic Church "for making all of this possible". Peter Jackson announces plans to turn his valet parking receipt into an epic nine hour trilogy. Chris Rock doesn’t mention the Oscars’ diversity problem but performs a song and dance number in white face.
Aussies are usually hard-pressed persuading overseas visitors to sample anything more than a smidgen of our beloved Vegemite. But that's far from the case with Heston Blumenthal and Dinner by Heston group executive chef Ashley Palmer-Watts, two Brits who are so taken by the iconic yeasty spread that they've made it the star of their latest ambitious dessert, a dinky di-ce cream which will launch this Australia Day. Dinner by Heston's 15-month-old Melbourne outpost has seen the chef duo spending significant time on Australian soil and, with both fascinated by the cult product, a Vegemite dessert was always on the cards. "I had never really eaten Vegemite until I came to Australia," explains Palmer-Watts. "Heston was intrigued by the flavour immediately and pretty insistent for some time that we explore a dessert dish based on the spread." Blumenthal and Palmer-Watts have been in development mode these past six months, exploring the spread's unique (and polarising) flavours and translating them into a sweet concoction that's both worthy of the Dinner by Heston menu and respectful of Vegemite's long heritage. And it seems they've hit the nail on the head, the dessert already passing muster with the brand's Category Manager, Tania Trapla. "To have their innovative take on our famous Australian spread was truly remarkable," she says. "They've managed to take Vegemite to another dimension." While the dessert's being dubbed 'Vegemite Ice Cream', it's not exactly what it sounds like, instead featuring a riot of textures and tastes — teaming sourdough crumble base, verjuice curd, and barley chocolate ganache, with the ice cream element perched right in the middle. There'll even be a drizzle of decadent caramel sauce, poured from a Vegemite jar at the table. Now that's 'Modern Australian' cuisine. The dish will be unveiled as part of Palmer-Watts' special Australia Day lunch on January 26, alongside a raft of other innovative, Australian-inspired bites and cocktails. Read our review of Dinner by Heston.
So, you've binged on The Jinx and Making a Murderer, and now you need another outlet for your factual film and television fix. Announced back in February, the brand new Australian offshoot of Hot Docs promises to take care of your need to consume compelling real-life stories — and they've just announced the program to prove it. Packing quite the punch in their first year, Hot Docs at Palace Cinemas will bring 24 films from 15 countries to Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra in June and July. If exploring the story of James Foley, the journalist murdered by ISIS in 2014, piques your interest, or if finding out how the humble VHS helped defeat Romanian communism takes your fancy, then the likes of Jim: The James Foley Story and Chuck Norris Versus Communism well and truly have you covered. Elsewhere on the lineup, League of Exotic Dancers pays tribute to burlesque, What Tomorrow Brings explores the fight to educate young girls in Afghanistan, and Raving Iran looks at a couple of DJs working the country's underground techno music scene. Plus, two Aussie-made films will receive their world premieres: Charlie Hill Smith's Motorkite Dreaming, which focuses on a microlight aircraft adventure, and Helen Kapalos' A Life Of Its Own, which delves into the topic of medical marijuana. If that doesn't get you excited, perhaps a bit of background info about the original Hot Docs will. Also known as the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, it isn't just a small-scale event. Screening more than 200 films, it's actually North America's largest doco-focused showcase, and has been running for 23 years. Until now, it had limited its factual film smorgasbord to the nation in its name; however, with this Australian leg, that's no longer be the case. Hosted by Palace Cinemas and curated by Aussie artistic director Richard Moore, the local run really is everything documentary fans have dreamed of (as long as they dream about spending a week or so holed up in a cinema, that is). And it's just the latest new film fest to reach Australian screens, too. Palace just keeps building their annual calendar of events, with the cinema chain hosting another new festival dedicated to American independent cinema this month. Hot Docs at Palace Cinemas screens Sydney's Chauvel Cinema from June 21 to July 3, Melbourne's Palace Westgarth from June 14 to 26, and Canberra's Palace Electric from June 15 to 26. Check out the full program by visiting the festival's website and Facebook page. Image: Motorkite Dreaming.
Headphones aren't your crappy, service station-bought, tinny pieces of shit anymore. They can help you get high, they can edit the sound around you, they can even respond to your own damn ear. An Australian-based startup called Nura has raised over a million bucks on Kickstarter to develop a new pair of headphones that respond to the listener's various ability to perceive sound — and they casually tailor your music to fit your inner ear perfectly. The project has just hit an unbelievable AUD$1.2 million on Kickstarter (people reeeaaally want a good set of headphones) and is headed up by a Melbourne-based team. Kyle Slater, Luke Campbell and Dragan Petrovic dreamt up the scheme before teaming up with engineer Wilson Shao. Together, they're the A-Team of futuristic cochlear science. Slater has a PhD in psychoacoustics, human machine interfaces and helped design the first bionic eye. Campbell is an MD who's spent his life studying the mechanics of hearing, performing surgeries (on, you guessed it, ears!) and has a PhD in hearing science. Dragan is an electrical engineer from Berkeley with experience in product management. What a dream squad. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXU3cZSJ2wg[/embed] So how does it work? "Some headphones sound tinny and lack beat, others have too much bass which drowns out the detail," says the Nura team on Kickstarter. "The acoustic separation of Nura's design allows for the deepest bass and clearest tones. "The over-ear cup delivers bass you can feel through your skin. The earbud prevents the bass from drowning out the detail and delivers crystal clear notes directly into your ear. Your brain combines the sensations into a fully immersive experience — you hear and you feel the music." The laundry list of achievements is probably one of the reasons their Kickstarter went off — these boys aren't playing around. But they're not the only ones getting serious (and weird) about audio quality. The future is now, so go right ahead and throw away your $2 pair of temporary headphones and prepare to hear a whole new woooooorldddd. Uh. Sorry. EAR-FREE HEADPHONES Earlier in the year, Sony unveiled their latest gadgetry: ear-free headphones. Concept N (very sci-fi name, you guys) sits around your neck and, using a series of multi-directional speakers, directs sound up towards the ears. It's a device for people who don't want to zone out completely, but still want to listen to their tunes. HEADPHONES THAT GET YOU HIGH Then, of course, there's the offering from Nervana, a startup from San Diego — a pair of headphones that gets you high. A low-power electric stimulation is synced up with whatever music you're listening to, triggering the release of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin in the brain, which sounds like the perfect way to listen to music. The product has also been crowdfunded and isn't quite on the market yet, but testing is going well. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzpqWMM_HrY[/embed] SOUND-PERFECTING HEADPHONES Finally, there's Doppler Lab's crowdfunded Here earbuds. They're not exactly headphones, but 'sound perfectors'. The technology aims to equalise the noise of the world and perfect your experience of sound without the noise. They allow you to turn up the volume, bass and treble, mute sounds you don't want to hear (like crying babies on planes). Best bit? There's an 'Instagram your ears' function with premade filters to overlay your hearing with selective enhancements. Only in 2016.
It'd be to rude not to start Melbourne Music Week with the festival's massive opening night at Fed Square. Featuring an all-Victorian and utterly danceable lineup with the likes of Ara Koufax, Sui Zhen, ALTA and DRMNGNOW, the party is all-ages and free for all. Each year, MMW takes over a new venue for its hub. This year, it's chosen ACMI — and this is where you can head after the opening night celebrations for a killer after party. Curated by Sydney-based queer party crew Heaps Gay, the night features an all-inclusive lineup of killer bands and DJs. With accompanied visuals across two stages and open till dawn, the $45 ticket seems a pretty good deal to us.
Vivid Ideas is bringing innovative humans from all over the world to Sydney stages. Championing change-making creative voices, you can hear Troye Sivan explore beauty and fluidity, delve into the experiences of those who were raised in cults with filmmaker Sarah Steel or listen as experts discuss the ethics and potential ramifications of a future reliant on artificial intelligence and QR codes. Joining a lineup that's not lacking a lick in talent is Gretchen Carlson in conversation with Lisa Wilkinson. The prolific journalists and media personalities will dissect power (specifically the fallout when it's out of balance), toxic workplace culture and finding the courage to expose wrongdoing. As well, the pair discuss the intricacies of what's needed to make it easier for people to come forward after experiencing sexual assault. In 2016, Carlson — the highly respected and acclaimed US journalist and ex-Fox News anchor — successfully sued Fox founder and CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. This win, which inspired 2019's Bombshell, saw Carlson receive an unprecedented apology and settlement. The landmark case laid the foundation for the #MeToo movement's catapult to the global consciousness, as well as take down a predator who was in a position of immense power. [caption id="attachment_813274" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivid Sydney 2019, Destination NSW[/caption] Bound by an NDA, Carlson has tirelessly fought to break the culture of silence and remove protections from perpetrators — working to ban NDAs, enact legislative change and encourage survivors to share their experiences of harassment (which has resulted in the most significant changes to labour laws — passed by Joe Biden in March, 2022 — in over 100 years). The trailblazer was also named in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World (2017). With a social climate that's been immersed in the courage of those sharing their stories of trauma in the quest for justice and a safer existence — the Grace Tames, the Brittany Higgins, the Saxon Mullins — the pair will discuss the shifting media and legal landscapes both here and in the US. They will look at what still needs to change so survivors are encouraged to draw upon reserves of bravery and resilience to keep pushing forward — for the good of others, for safer communities and to upend the status quo. Sydney's Town Hall will host Gretchen Carlson and Lisa Wilkinson on Speaking Out on Sunday, May 29 at 1pm. Head to the website for details. Top image: Destination NSW
Fuzzy's national electronic-meets-hip hop festival Listen Out is back for another round and this year's lineup is a humdinger, topped by California's inimitable Anderson .Paak, with his live band The Free Nationals. He's joined by UK beatsmiths Gorgon City, big trap fiend Baauer, AV-happy producer Claptone live, Harlem Trap Lord A$AP Ferg, LA young gun Jauz, grime newcomer Stormzy, Swedish rap phenomenon Yung Lean and more. There's plenty of homegrown love on the bill this year, as always, with festival favourites Rüfüs marking their final Aussie shows of 2016, alongside the likes of Cosmo's Midnight, Ngaiire, L D R U, JOY, Sui Zhen and Willow Beats. Listen Out tours nationally to four of Australia's capitals, kicking off on September 24 and hitting Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane over two weekends. Tickets are on sale from midday on Thursday, June 23 from the Listen Out website. LISTEN OUT 2016 LINEUP: Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals A$AP Ferg Claptone Immortal Live Cosmo's Midnight Gorgon City DJ Set Baauer JAUZ JOY. L D R U Ngaiire Rüfüs Stormzy Sui Zhen DJ Set Tash Sultana Tchami Willow Beats Yung Lean LISTEN OUT 2016 DATES: MELBOURNE — Saturday, September 24 at Catani Gardens, St Kilda PERTH — Sunday, September 25 at Western Parklands, HBF Arena, Joondalup SYDNEY — Saturday, October 1 at Centennial Park BRISBANE — Sunday, October 2 at The Sporting Fields, Victoria Park All shows 1-10pm Image: Listen Out.
There's nothing better than treating your grumbling stomach with greasy cuisine after a late night of shenanigans. While a liquid diet is enough for some, for many a night on the town is not complete without tucking into something on the way home. The only criteria? Deep fried and crunchy. But where can you go after midnight without resorting to a soggy 7/11 sausage roll in desperation? Thankfully, a host of greasy do-gooders keep their doors open and deep-fryers switched on long past midnight. You'll never have to go to McDonald's again. CHILLI CHEESE FRIES AT LE BON TON A touch of class in Melbourne's late night greasies, this New Orleans-style eatery offers beautifully candlelit shelter from the night, complete with an oyster saloon, smokehouse, cocktail bar and an absinthe den. Fully licensed around the clock, the Collingwood favourite runs a limited menu until 6am — thankfully including all the deep fried snacks you desire. Try their legendary Texas-style chilli cheese fries, crisped to perfection with a very excellent cheddar dipping sauce that will definitely hit the spot. PICKLE DOG AT MASSIVE WEINERS After a 12 or a six-inch? Or perhaps you can only manage a three-inch Little Pecker? For some late night schoolboy humour, hot dog style, Massive Weiners is a crowd-pleaser — and they're open until 4am Fridays and 4.30am on Saturdays. The delicious hot dogs come with a range of extras such as sauerkraut, cheddar cheese, beef and bean chilli sauce and jalapenos. And while size isn't important, Massive Weiner does care for its non-meat inclined eaters and offers soy hot dog options as well MARGHERITA PIZZA AT CAFE ROMANTICA On the Brunswick end of Lygon Street, this late-night haven serves delicious and traditional pizzas right 'round the clock — in fact, the only time they close is between 5pm Monday and 5am Tuesday. Styled like an Italian version of an American diner, it's a family-run business that — perhaps unlike your own family — will welcome you with open arms regardless of the ungodly hour you decide to waltz in. For a token greasy meal, try one of their 27 homemade pizzas with plenty of toppings and a whole lot of stringy cheese. LAMB GIROS SOUVLAKI AT STALACTITES Some things taste better in the wee hours of the morning, and the humble souvlaki is one of the foods that transform into a magical sensation for your tastebuds when consumed past midnight. For a top melt-your-mouth souva, Stalactites is a 24/7 Greek institution that has been making a many late-night reveller happy since 1978. Expect a generous portion of Greek goodness, enriched in good ol' Vitamin G (that is, grease). PAN FRIED DUMPLINGS AND PORK BUNS AT CHINA BAR While other Chinatown restaurants sadly shut-up shop by 11pm, this bustling franchise continue to cater to your fried dumpling and pork bun needs until the after-clubbing hours of 5am. This enormous buffet-style eatery has every Chinese culinary delight to poke a chopstick at, from steaming plates of curry chicken or deep-fried dim sims. While the dumplings may not be as cheap as hidden-alley dumpling joints, they are still hot, fried and delicious. CHICKEN POPS AT BAM SAE NIGHTBIRDS With a menu section titled 'fried' you already know you can't go wrong here with your selection of oily noms. This aptly named 'Night Birds' Korean restaurant continues serving masses of night owls until 4.30am in laid-back surrounds, mixing fried treats with house-special cocktails. Chicken Pops proves a popular snack: deep fried chicken complete with a mixed salad dripping in sweet chilli and chilli mayo sauce. If a simple snack won’t cut it, the $29 all-you-can-eat buffet promises the ultimate greasy feast from spicy octopus, LA beef ribs and spicy chicken with cheese. CHARCOAL CHICKEN AT BELLEVILLE For a hot chicken hankering that no KFC outlet can ever fill, venture to Belleville, hidden upstairs in Chinatown. Cooked traditionally on a huge Brazilian-style rotisserie, this high-quality chicken will raise the bar on your bird expectations. Enjoy a quarter, half or full chook smothered with a delicious sauces in the bar and restaurant until 1am. MIXED KEBAB AT TOWN HALL KEBAB Perfectly located between the best drinking holes in Brunswick, this semi-permanent kebab stand offers a no-frills and no-nonsense approach to the delicious kebab. The one-manned hole-in-the-wall knows how to make a tasty kebab, pleasing late night stragglers with wrapped up salad and slow-cooked meats until 2am. As well as being enough to make your heart sing in delight, the obvious signage (reading 'Kebab & Coffee') is also a bonus for your tired eyes. Plus, Bordain went there. PIZZA AT LUCKY COQ After late night frivolities southside, duck into the cheap and cheerful Lucky Coq for an equally as cheap and cheerful pizza. With dim-lighting, electronic tunes and kitsch furniture, it's a pleasant venue to stop and recharge the batteries by hoeing into some greasy tucker. While the pizzas triple in price from their dirt cheap $4 price tag earlier in the evening, it's still the best place in Prahran for a vegetarian, meaty or seafood pizza right up until 2.30am. THE CLASSIC BURGER AT EMBASSY CAFE Park yourself in a plastic seat alongside cabbies, ravers and shift workers, and get your late night burger fix in this 24-hour retro-style burger joint. Praised widely for being a hangover cure, their burgers are also believed to be a hangover preventer — on par with water and Panadol. Treat yourself to the classic with the lot, topped with tomato, delectable beef patties, and rashers of bacon that are the perfect mix between sweet and salty. Images: Dollar Photo Club, Alpha via Flickr, kelami via Instagram, fatboo via Instagram.
If you think you’ve missed your chance to nab tickets to an epic New Years' music festival, think again. Jump across the Tasman and head to the unassuming vineyard city of Gisborne for three days of pumping beats and good vibes this December. Now in its 13th year, Rhythm and Vines has roped in some of the globe's best and brightest international and local artists to welcome in the first sunrise of 2016. From hip hop heavyweights to smooth electro sets, you’re guaranteed to be making at least one solid resolution after seeing this year's huge lineup. Heading up the bill on opening night, Pittsburgh-based rapper Mac Miller will be delivering tracks fresh from his latest record GO:OD AM after playing to sell-out crowds across the States earlier this year. Night two sees local rascals Sticky Fingers take the stage, along with iconic Canadian dupstep/house duo Zeds Dead. Throw in killer DJ sets by Grammy award-winning electro trio Nero and English producer Sub Focus and you'll be throwing shapes long into the night. Rounding off the festival, siblings Angus and Julia Stone will put their serenading skills to the test, before the ever-epic Pendulum kick things up a notch alongside NZ DJ Sir-Vere, plus many more legendary acts. Phew, it’s going to be a hell of a ride. If the thought of forking out the funds for an airfare is dampening your spirits, we’ve got some good news. Thanks to the crew at Air New Zealand, you and one lucky music-loving mate could be jetting off to Rhythm and Vines in A-class style. With return flights, a four-night stint at the Quality Hotel Emerald Gisborne and Vintage Club VIP access to the entire festival, you’ll be the envy of all your pals. Did we mention you’ll even score stageside access to Peking Duk’s opening night performance? Our Concrete Playground NZ team will host you on a backstage tour of the festival before getting side of stage to Peking's highly-anticipated set. Talk about a party to remember. To land a spot to this ripping NYE bash, click here to enter the Party with Peking competition. Image: Nick Gee/Paul Hoelen.
Have you ever wanted to run away and join the circus? Well now it looks like you finally can. Cirque du Soleil, the world famous circus troupe, is heading to Australia, and they're inviting all of us to audition. What could possibly go wrong? Preliminary auditions will take place in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth throughout the second week of February, with talent scouts on the lookout for artists, acrobats, sportspeople, singers, musicians and dancers, as well as "everyday Australians" who are looking to show off their "creative performance talent." We don't know about you, but that description sounds just vague enough to mean pretty much anything. Time to bust out the hula hoop people! If it all sounds a bit like an episode of Australia's Got Talent, you're actually not that far off the mark. Turns out the audition process is part of an as-of-yet unnamed reality show. A selection of talented and/or ridiculous candidates from each city will be flown down to Melbourne for a second audition on February 14. Hurrah! If you dream of being the next Philippe Petit or are just happy to make an idiot of yourself on TV, you can register for an audition in your home city at the following website. Registrations close at 5pm on Monday February 8.
Debauched banquets from Bompas and Parr, giant industrial fire organs and all the demon purging and ceremonial death dances you could want in a festival. Now in its third year, Dark Mofo continues to evolve to be darker, weirder and wilder than before. Aligned with the winter solstice and run from June 12-22, MONA’s annual June festival celebrated the Neolithic tradition over ten hedonistic days of eclectic and unpredictable art, performance, music and happenings around Hobart, concluding with the annual nude solstice swim at dawn after the longest night in Australia— yep, people actually swim nude in the bloody freezing Derwent River. Programming for Dark Mofo seems to be a deliberate descent from free-spirited, easily digestible art to uncontrolled, freakish insanity — from loveable Sydney fivesome The Preatures to Japanese eight-laptop conductor EYE. This year's citywide festival had thousands huddled ritualistically around fire bins in the waterfront arts precinct Dark Park, roasting giant marshmallows, chowing down on Pacha Mama wallaby burritos, Quiet Deeds Lamington Ale and Bruny Island oyster-garnished Bloody Marys at the Winter Feast and absorbing all the doom sludge metal, splintered electronic feedback ambience and Marina Abramovic performance art they could guzzle. We put our hands into mystery boxes at Hendrick's Gin's pop-up Parlour of Curiosities (which was wonderfully Sleep No More meets The Blair Witch Project), we made forcefields out of Anthony McCall's stunning Solid Light Works, avoided bodily injury by skipping Byron J Scullin and Supple Fox's Bass Bath and inhaled Aesop's olfactory soap-mist room — all while artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's beam of light towered over the city, pulsing with punter heartbeats. And then there's the event with a safe word (it was 'bananas'). Creative team Supple Fox created the mysterious, epic Blacklist party, a heaving, nightly end-of-the-world art rave taking over Hobart Town Hall until the wee hours. While most might want to abide by the rule 'what happens at Blacklist stays at Blacklist', we can divulge that there was more revolving pink Christmas trees made out of plastic bodies, silent drag shows, star sign-based floor huddles, melancholy poetry readings, Retrosweat-style dance demonstrations, silver balloon drops and car engine bonfires than we've seen at other, less apocalyptic parties. But the best bit about Dark Mofo? For an incredibly niche, dark and avant-garde festival that should be overwhelmingly pretentious, it's probably the most accessible and widely-attended (demographically) festival we've seen in many a day. Toddlers, nannas, teenagers, twenty-somethings, older humans; they all show up and have a grand ol' time. Maybe it's a Hobartian thing. Or maybe there's something about the end of the world that makes us lose our inhibitions and just run with it. Images: Andy Fraser. Words: Shannon Connellan.
Your everyday wine drinker probably knows popular Victorian wine regions like the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Rutherglen — but what about Beechworth? Few folks know that this part of the state has a stack of stellar wine producers, and the crew at Bridge Road Brewers is keen to change that by holding a massive one-off wine tasting at its brewery bar in Brunswick East. From 2–5pm on Saturday, November 30, vignerons from across the region will spend the afternoon pouring tastings of their own drops to curious wine lovers. Who's going to be there? You can expect to find a selection of wines from A.Rodda, Baarmutha, Castagna, Fighting Gully Road, Granjoux, Indigo Vineyard, Juliard, Little Frances, Sentiõ, Schmölzer & Brown, and Willem Kur. It's a truly stacked lineup of Beechworth winemakers, many of which don't have their own cellar door. That means this is your only chance to sample drops from a bunch of these folks. Tickets to spring Tasting in the City are going for $65 per person, and include all your tastings as well as a bunch of snacks. And if you rock up the night before, on Friday, November 29, you can join the team's Beechworth Wine Pairing Dinner — $150 for six shared dishes and six paired wines. Both of these events offer up a brilliant opportunity to explore a lesser-known Victorian wine region without leaving Melbourne.
