Touring to Australia for the first time in more than five years for your first Aussie festival headlining slot since 2011 is one way to celebrate 35 years as a band. The group: Tool. The fest: Good Things. First, Good Things confirmed that it would be back in 2025, and also announced its dates. Then came the next key detail: where the festival is heading this year. Finally, it's now lineup time, starting with Maynard James Keenan and company, and also including Weezer and Garbage among the event's big names. [caption id="attachment_1016515" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Scott Moran[/caption] Get ready to hear 'Sober', 'Forty Six & 2', 'Buddy Holly', 'Island in the Sun', 'Vow' and 'Only Happy When It Rains' like it's the 90s and early-00s again — all on the festival's three annual stops in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The rest of the bill includes All Time Low, Machine Head and The All-American Rejects, as well as Knocked Loose, Lorna Shore, Refused, New Found Glory and Make Them Suffer. And, you can catch Dayseeker, James Reyne, Kublai Khan TX, Cobra Starship, Goldfinger, Tonight Alive and more. In the Victorian capital, Flemington Racecourse is again playing host to Good Things. In the Sunshine State, Brisbane Showgrounds is doing the honours again, too. Sydneysiders are hitting up Sydney Showground in 2025 instead of Centennial Park, in a move made to increase capacity, shelter, transport options and accessibility. As it has in past years, the fest is playing all three cities across one huge weekend. So, mark Friday, December 5 in your diaries for Melbourne, then Saturday, December 6 in the Harbour City and Sunday, December 7 in Brisbane. Good Things 2025 Dates and Venues Friday, December 5 — Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Saturday, December 6 — Sydney Showground, Sydney Sunday, December 7 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Good Things 2025 Lineup Tool Weezer Garbage All Time Low Machine Head The All-American Rejects Knocked Loose Lorna Shore Refused New Found Glory Make Them Suffer Dayseeker James Reyne Kublai Khan TX Cobra Starship Goldfinger Tonight Alive Bad Nerves Civic Dead Poet Society Fever 333 Gwar High Vis Inertia Palaye Royale Scene Queen South Arcade Wargasm Windwaker Yours Truly Good Things plays Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in December 2025, with pre-sale tickets from 10am AEST on Tuesday, August 19 and general sales from 10am AEST on Thursday, August 21 — head to the festival website for more information. Good Things images: Kane Hibberd.
On the hunt for some pre-loved gems? You'll find beautiful bargains aplenty at an upcoming series of flea markets in the heart of South Yarra. Descending on Japanese biker bar Bosozoku, the next treasure-filled market will run on Sunday, April 14. Head along from 11am and prepare for some top-notch rummaging, with each stall featuring two suitcases filled with pre-loved delights. You'll find everything from books, antiques and bric-a-brac, to vintage threads and must-have designer fashion, with a cracking soundtrack to inspire your shopping adventures. Got some vintage gear that needs a new home? You can host one of the suitcase stalls for $45 — sign-up here. CORRECTION: APRIL 2, 2019 — A previous version of this article stated that the market was run by Hawkeye Vintage. Hawkeye is no longer involved in the market — and the location has changed — so the article has been updated to reflect this.
Not to be outdone by The Continental's multi-million dollar renovations down the road, Hotel Sorrento has just announced its own expansion plans. And they are ambitious. As in, shoot-for-the-moon ambitious. For nearly 150 years, Hotel Sorrento has sat on the cliffs overlooking Sorrento front beach. The historic sandstone building has been tweaked and renovated dozens of times, but this is by far the biggest overhaul yet. By early 2023, the Pitt family — who have owned Hotel Sorrento for three generations — want to install 50 luxury suites, a new 30-metre pool, a wellness retreat, a pool bar, a new restaurant, a rooftop yoga studio, a gym and two state-of-the-art conference centres. They're also pulling in some serious culinary muscle. While The Continental has thrown its hat in with Scott Pickett, Hotel Sorrento has teamed up with George Calombaris, who will be managing hospo strategy behind the scenes. "I'm really enjoying working with the Hotel Sorrento team," Calombaris says. "The owners have taken a holistic, root and branch approach, and there's no doubt the Hotel will become a beacon for local and visiting lovers of food, all year round." It doesn't look like Calombaris will actually be heading up the new kitchen – that'll be the job of longstanding chefs Matt Henke and Shane Holt – his role will probably be Bigger Picture. But you can already see his fingerprints, with the Hotel recently launching a Summer Souvas pop-up bar, which will be running throughout summer. "Lounging on the lawn with an ice-cold drink, a magnificent view of the water and a delicious 'souva' in hand, is a great way to celebrate summer," says co-owner Robb Pitt. There's also Cellar Bar: a new wine and cocktail bar set to open in late December. This will be the Hotel's 4pm-till-late venue, dishing up fancy bar snacks and top-shelf booze to Sorrento's clientele. As Hotel Sorrento gears up to celebrate its 150th birthday, it'll be exciting to see these new renovations take shape. The build is expected to wrap in early 2023, but it'd take a brave person to predict anything these days. In the meantime, grab yourself a souva and enjoy the views.
Wednesday nights in Melbourne mean one thing: hitting up the Queen Victoria Market's usual midweek — and after-dark — offering. During winter, it celebrates the frosty season with an appropriate spread. Across spring this year, it's been oozing Euro vibes. Now, with the warm weather upon us for another year, it's bringing back its legendary Summer Night Market. After last running earlier in 2022, from January–April, the event is returning every Wednesday from November 23–March 15. That means that Melburnians can look forward to a fresh 15-week run, and to a heap of places to browse, buy from, eat at and sip drinks from, with more than 125 different shops, stalls and bars on the lineup. Each week, the Summer Night Market will feature a mouthwatering lineup of food vendors slinging street eats from every corner of the globe. We're talking rigatoni al pesto with saffron and stracciatella from That's Amore Cheese, lobster rolls and popcorn prawns courtesy of George the Fishmonger, and The Cypriot Kitchen's famed halloumi chips. Mr Miyagi is also making its Summer Night Market debut, serving up peking duck, soft shell crab and salmon nori street tacos — and so is Ripe Cheese, doing flambéed Milawa camembert topped with biscotti crumble, spiced baby figs and drizzled with brand; and Mr Yes and Mr No, if you're fond of hummus bowls. Similarly on offer: all sorts of spherical sweet treats from the doughnut masters at Taki's Balls, Portuguese tarts via Casa Nata, and cartoon-themed snacks such as fairy floss and mini donuts from Son in Law. To wash it all down and quench your summer thirst, you'll find no less than four dedicated festival bars — one focusing on mojitos, another doing sangria, a dedicated general cocktail spot and a Brick Lane caravan — along with drinks stalls from the likes of Antagonist Spirits. As always, there'll be a program of live, local tunes to soundtrack your food-focused wanderings, including DJ sets and roving performers. And, for a little midweek shopping action, see the diverse range of artisan maker stalls, brimming with an array of handmade gifts, homewares, fashion and more.
When podcasting grasped onto IRL mysteries and the world listened, it started a 21st-century circle of true crime obsessions. First, the audio format dived into the genre. Next, screens big and small gave it renewed attention, not that either ever shirked reality's bleakest details. Now, movies and TV shows are known to spin stories around folks investigating such cases to make podcasts, turning detective as they press record. And, as Only Murders in the Building did, sometimes there's also a podcast venturing behind the scenes of a fictional affair about podcasters sleuthing a case. While Bodkin, which arrived via Netflix on Thursday, May 9, mightn't come with an accompanying digital audio series stepping into its minutiae, it does take murder-mystery comedy Only Murders in the Building's lead otherwise. Swaps are made — West Cork is in, New York is out; deaths pile up in an Irish village, not an apartment building; three chalk-and-cheese neighbours give way to a trio of mismatched journalists — but the shared format is as plain to see as blood splatter. Call that part of the 21st-century circle of true crime obsessions, too, as one hit inspires more. Bodkin is easy to get hooked on as Only Murders in the Building as well, even if it's not as guaranteed to return for additional seasons. Siobhán Cullen (The Dry), Will Forte (Strays) and Robyn Cara (Mixtape) give this seven-part series its investigating threesome: Irishwoman-in-London Dove Maloney, a hard-nosed reporter who just lost a source on a big story; American Gilbert Power, who capitalised upon his wife's cancer for his first podcast hit; and enthusiastic researcher Emmy Sizergh, who wants to be Dove and, much to her idol's dismay, is fine with following Gilbert's lead to get there. They're thrown together in the show's titular town not by Dove's choice, but because she's bundled off by her editor when the whistleblower behind an article about England's National Health Service is found dead. Gilbert and Emmy are well-aware that she's not there willingly — Dove isn't the type to hide her disdain for anything, especially her latest assignment, Gilbert's medium of choice and his approach, and Emmy's eagerness. Bodkin beckons courtesy of a cold case from a quarter-century back when the village gathered for its then-annual Samhain festival (an influence upon Halloween). The last time that the event was held in the scenic coastal spot, three people disappeared, which Gilbert is certain is a killer hook for the next big hit he desperately needs for the sake of both his reputation and his finances. He also has Irish heritage, another angle that he's sure will add audience-courting flavour to the podcast. But the trio have barely arrived, with local twentysomething Seán (Chris Walley, The Young Offenders) as their driver and the eccentric Mrs O'Shea (Pom Boyd, also The Dry) their B&B host, when Dove is adamant that there's much more going on in Bodkin than the narrative that Gilbert has already decided to tell. Through the acerbic and cynical Dove — someone who responds to being considered a role model by telling Emmy to fuck off repeatedly — Bodkin gets its licks in about podcasting's tropes, formula and current oversaturation. Through Gilbert, too, including via his stock-standard and cliche-riddled opening voiceovers that could've been lifted from real-life audio, it also satirises the format that the show puts at its centre. Making his first series after penning four shorts between 2011–2018, creator Jez Scharf largely keeps the show in darkly humorous mode, though, and lets the whodunnit angle play out like a comic-leaning thriller (season two of The Tourist also comes to mind). Although that might seem a tricky tonal balance, it works not just in his hands, but with Nash Edgerton (brother of Joel, and director of Mr Inbetween, Gringo and The Square), Bronwen Hughes (Shantaram), Johnny Allan (The Devil's Hour) and Paddy Breathnach (another The Dry alum) helming. At one point, whether Gilbert, Dove and Emmy's project will be "a podcast that pretends to be about one thing but is really about something else" is raised — a fair comment in general, as regular listeners know. That's also an observation that applies to Bodkin itself, but knowingly. This is indeed a series about podcasters investigating a case, a parody of exactly that and an unpacking of the voyeurism behind the form in its true-crime guise. In addition, it's an exploration of the truth that little neatly boils down to the formula podcasts are chasing. It's a portrait of being caught between tradition and the future as well, which applies in a range of ways — and, especially of Dove, it's a character study. Bodkin is populated by everyone from singing blacksmiths (Ger Kelly, King Frankie) to entrepreneurs trying to set up a server farm (Charlie Kelly, Dublin Murders), and also an island of nuns and a camp of hippies. As becomes apparent early, at the core of much that's occurring usually sits fisherman Seamus Gallagher (David Wilmot, The Wonder). Scharf and his fellow writers have fleshed out their setting Parks and Recreation- and The Simpsons-style with an array of colourful characters that comprise any community, and have let comedy guide some of their choices. When it examines what drives Dove, Gilbert and Emmy as they get immersed deeper and deeper into a mystery that sees them witnessing yoga in a convent one day and hearing about the Good Friday agreement another, however, it is at its strongest. As Dove, Cullen turns in a multifaceted performance to build a series around. Given her raw, thoughtful and caustically amusing work, it's no surprise that that's where Bodkin heads. Forte starts off the show like he's wandered in from The Last Man of Earth, complete with goofy charm and bumbling certainty that Gilbert is on the right path, but is given room to lay bare the character's layers. Cara, too, gets the space to make Emmy much more than a sidekick. Among the supporting players, both Walley and Wilmot leave a considerable imprint. So does the show overall, despite taking its time to settle into a groove — and as a jump into scripted TV by Higher Ground, the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama (which also had a hand in 2023 movies Rustin and Leave the World Behind), it's an effective and quick-to-binge first leap. Check out the trailer for Bodkin below: Bodkin streams via Netflix. Images: Enda Bowe/Netflix © 2024.
Collins Street restaurant Freyja has been doing things differently since it opened in 2022, quickly rising to prominence in Melbourne's dining scene with its unique cuisine that celebrates hyperlocal ingredients and time-honoured preservation techniques. Now, the restaurant has reinvented itself with a new dining concept. Rather than forcing guests to choose from static à la carte or set menus, diners are encouraged to share their preferences with the culinary team, who'll put their heads together to serve a completely bespoke four-course chef's selection depending on each table's predilections, for a fixed cost of $99 per person. This innovative idea is guided by executive chef Jae Bang, the boundary-pushing chef renowned for his fermented, pickled and cured creations. Bang mastered his trade at several Michelin-starred restaurants around the globe, including Norway's acclaimed Re-naa, New York's Daniel and the legendary El Bulli — and for his next trick, Bang is flipping the very concept of dining out on its head. Bang has become known in culinary circles for his distinct approach to ingredients. Working with produce both at the beginning and end of its lifecycle, Bang occasionally puzzles his suppliers with requests for the most unripe fruit available. He also takes extended foraging trips to locations on the edge of Melbourne, gathering wild garlic and other intriguing herbs and edible flowers to elevate his dishes. Freyja's kitchen houses more than 100 fermented, pickled and cured ingredients — and some of these might be the perfect addition to your bespoke menu. As well as the new bespoke journey, Freyja has also introduced new à la carte lunch dishes like cauliflower with hazelnut and cauliflower paste, featuring comte, ras el hanout, kaffir lime oil and a sourdough miso that takes a staggering six months to prepare. Similarly, the market fish with unripe blueberry capers, brown butter and mushroom garum puts unripe fruit through a three-month 'caper' process before it's ready for plating. "Sustainability isn't a trend for us – it's woven into the very DNA of Freyja," says Bang. "It's a fundamental principle guiding every aspect of our operation, from sourcing to kitchen practices. Beyond finding the best seasonal produce that Victoria has to offer, we stay deeply connected to the ingredients that shape the dishes on the menu, honouring every part of it." This progressive ethos is also reflected in how the kitchen operates. No team members work more than four days a week, while hands-on experience is provided in foraging, winery harvests and farming. It's no surprise, then, that Bang is continuing to push boundaries by reimagining the possibilities of dining with the introduction of personalised menus that put the power back in diners' hands. Freyja is open for lunch from Tuesday–Friday from 12–2.30pm and dinner from Monday–Saturday from 5.30–9.30pm, at 477 Collins Street, Melbourne. Head to the venue's website for more information.
Come summer, Melbourne's southwest will boast its own little slice of sunny coastal Spain, when new restaurant Sebastian opens right on Williamstown beach. After opening the doors to Southbank Argentinian grill Asado just last month, co-owner Dave Parker (also one of the names behind San Telmo, Pastuso and Palermo) has announced yet another project. He's teaming up with longtime friend and Williamstown local Alex Brawn to transform the space once home to Shelly's Beach Pavilion, into a breezy seaside bar and grill that nods to the Spanish town of San Sebastian. Slated to open this November to take full advantage of balmy sunset sessions to come, the venue will boast space for 250, complete with dining room, bistro and a sprawling shaded deck that is literally on the beach. Acclaimed design studio Ewert Leaf has taken on the fit-out, which will see the heritage-listed space remodelled into a Hamptons-style vision of white, blue and oak. As for the food offering, expect a range of Spanish-inspired menus catering to the dine-in crowd, as well as a raft of takeaway deli-style options for summer post-swim beach picnics. Sebastian is set to open at 26 Esplanade, Williamstown sometime in November. We'll keep you updated on an opening date.
Festival FOMO is real, and festival sideshows are one solution: the gigs you go to when you're not going to the main gig. Can't make it to Adelaide for two music-filled October days at Harvest Rock II? Loving the South Australia-only fest's lineup? Some of the event's highlights have announced dates along Australia's east coast — and one of them is Sparks. The iconic duo, aka brothers Ron and Russell Mael, will draw upon a whopping 57 years of making ridiculously catchy and smartly funny tunes on their first tour of Australia since 2001. In Melbourne, they'll be unleashing highlights from their enormous back catalogue at the Palais Theatre. Thanks to 2021's double of Edgar Wright-directed documentary The Sparks Brothers and Cannes Film Festival opener Annette, the Maels have been everywhere of late — and, when that includes the Victorian capital on Thursday, October 26, they'll be busting out tracks like 'The Number One Song in Heaven', 'This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us' and latest single 'The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte'. In a glorious move, Sparks have been beginning their recent sets with 'So May We Start' from Annette, too, which won them the Best Composer award at Cannes.
Some things are just so stunning that they need to be seen multiple times, and getting to walk through Vincent van Gogh's dazzling artworks at Melbourne's multi-sensory digital art gallery The Lume is clearly one of them. So, the popular exhibition that it first opened with, and that's also toured a version around the country, is coming alive again in the Victorian capital from Boxing Day 2024. Made your own Lego version of The Starry Night? Next, you can walk through the iconic painting projected large across the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Arriving a few weeks after Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius closes in early December, the timing of the experience's return means that you can pair summer's sunny days with some sunflowers. The big two are back, of course — aka two of van Gogh's most popular works transformed into vivid new guises. Again, when you see The Starry Night, you'll actually be walking through it as it takes over an entire room. Love Sunflowers (the painting, as well as the plant)? Then get ready for the immersive Sunflower room, where golden petals stretch as far as the eye can see. A family-friendly experience, the van Gogh exhibition creates the sensation of diving right into the Dutch artist's paintings — and you definitely won't feel like you're just standing in an ordinary gallery. Attendees encounter van Gogh's world-famous works in fine detail thanks to state-of-the-art technology from the Melbourne-based Grande Exhibitions, which is behind The Lume. Think: high-definition projectors throwing 360-degree images onto four-storey-high walls in a 3000-square-metre gallery, with a classical musical score accompanying the vibrant colours, too, as presented in cinema-quality surround sound. While plenty will be familiar when the experience brightens up Melbourne again — including an immersive cafe inspired by the artist's Café Terrace at Night and an artist studio where you can learn the techniques behind his pieces — Finding Vincent in shared VR is making its global premiere, taking the idea of stepping into van Gogh's creativity up another level.
The war on waste has taken to the skies, with airlines pledging to reduce their reliance upon single-use plastics. Qantas has committed to phase out 100 million disposable items from 2020 onwards, Portuguese charter carrier Hi Fly wants to become the world's first no-plastics carrier within the next 12 months, and now a flight free of the pesky products will make its way to Australia — landing on Earth Day. Departing from Abu Dhabi on Sunday, April 21 and arriving in Brisbane at around 5.30pm on Monday, April 22, the Etihad flight will become the world's first long-haul commercial flight to dispense with single-use plastic items, replacing more than 95 objects — and over 50 kilograms that'd usually be headed to landfill — with environmentally friendly alternatives. It's not the first ever flight to do so, with Hi Fly jetting between Portugal and Brazil sans plastic waste late last year; however it is the first to achieve the feat over such a hefty distance. Eco-conscious cups, cutlery, dishes, headset bags, cart seals and toothbrushes will replace regular plastic versions, and sustainable amenity kits, eco-plush toys and eco-thread blankets will also be loaded onboard — with coffee cups made from natural grain products and nothing coming wrapped in disposable plastic. Where Etihad was unable to find a single-use plastic free alternative to a standard item, it removed the item from the service completely. The move comes as part of Etihad's plan to drastically reduce its use of throwaway items, setting itself a number of milestones. By June 1, the airline has pledged to remove up to 20 percent of single-use plastics from its flights — totalling 100 tonnes by the end of the year. And by the end of 2022, it has committed to reducing its disposable plastics use by 80 percent across the entire company.
Melbourne crew The Altar Electric has been helping happy local couples pull off their own larger-than-life, Vegas-style nuptials for a little over a year. That equates to more than 70 riotous, tradition-bucking ceremonies that have graced partner venues, the CBD's Ferdydurke and Sandy Vee's in Fitzroy. Or, as founders and celebrants Dee Brinsmead, Anthony Cribbes and Sarah Dobson like to call them, "registry-style weddings that rock". And now, there's a whole lot more fun to come, as The Altar Electric unveils its fabulous new permanent digs. With help from interior stylist Kate Forsyth (Good Day Vintage Rentals) the team has transformed a cosy space at Schoolhouse Studios into the wedding chapel of your Vegas-loving dreams. With room for 20 guests, the flexible Collingwood site's been pimped out in a nod to Melbourne's edgy, creative side, where retro rock 'n' roll meets old-school disco in a haze of contemporary colour. Think cherry red modular couch, neon wall art aplenty, sparkly cushions, cowhide rugs and an extra unconventional signing booth complete with disco ball planters. Those wedding snaps are going to be fierce. Dobson says the new venue has given team the "creative license to build a totally rocking and inclusive space for couples of any gender or orientation". Plus, it happens to be right in the thick of it in Collingwood — which she says is "great for after-party options". If you're getting hitched and this sounds like your dream venue, The Altar Electric has a couple of different packages, starting from $650. Find it at 81 Rupert Street, Collingwood. Images: Oli Sansom.
You've binged your way through HBO's excellent Chernobyl mini-series. If you're a Melburnian, or you've taken a trip to the Victorian city recently, you may have wandered through a recreation of the exclusion zone around the exploded nuclear reactor as well. Soon, you also might be able to sip shots of vodka from the region — made from grain from the Ukrainian area that has been off limits for more than three decades. The tipple in question is called Atomik Vodka. Brewed by a team of scientists from the UK and Ukraine, it's part of a three-year research project investigating the transfer of radioactivity from the soil to crops grown in the closed-off spot, as well as in the Narodychi District within the Zone of Obligatory Resettlement. (People still live in the latter location, but the land isn't officially allowed to be used for agriculture.) While the grain itself showed some signs, all traces of Chernobyl-derived radioactivity was lost in the distilling process, which inherently reduces impurities — leaving the vodka with the same level of natural radiation that you'd find in any other spirit. The vodka also uses local mineral water, sourced from a deep aquifer below the town of Chernobyl, around 10 kilometres south of the nuclear power station. It's been found to possess chemistry similar to water from limestone aquifers, like the one in the Champagne region of France, and was used to dilute the distilled alcohol to 40 percent. At present, only one bottle of the vodka exists. And, if you're curious about giving it a taste, it's not for sale. But the team behind Atomik hope that will change, and, that after clearing a few legal hurdles, they'll be able to begin a small-scale experimental run of the grain spirit by the end of this year. If they're successful in their efforts, they plan to donate 75 percent of Atomik Vodka's profits back to the affected Ukrainian community. It's also hoped that the research project will assist residents around the exclusion zone by showing that the land is now safe to be used for agriculture, opening up further investment and economic benefits. For more information, visit the Atomik Vodka website. Via the University of Portsmouth.
Now that the busy harvest season is over, winemakers have a little time to kick back. At Rochford Wines, that means hosting its Rochford Harvest 2025 Festival, a one-day event filled with wine, food and music at its picture-perfect Yarra Valley winery. Held beneath the Rochford Pavilion on Saturday, May 17, settle in to taste the full range of Rochford and Toolangi Vineyard wines. Meanwhile, other local outfits are also getting in on the fun, including Burton McMahon Wines, Timo Mayer Wines and Rob Hall Wines. Leading wine critic and educator Tom Kline will also make an appearance, presenting four masterclasses dedicated to diverse wine varieties and the art of pairing food and wine. Alongside top-notch food trucks, live music and cosy fire pits, expect this family-friendly affair to fill your cup with good vibes. Set an hour's drive from Melbourne CBD, Rochford Wines' 60-acre home offers a stunning backdrop for the day's festivities. Tasting tickets are available for $35, which includes 10 tastings and a fancy Rochford stemless wine glass.
This Easter, Piccolina Gelateria is once again marking the occasion with a new line of limited-edition gelato chocolate eggs — because gelato-filled Easter eggs have well and truly become a thing in Melbourne. Available now in-store and online, you'll find three varieties of the gelato Easter egg, each hand-crafted, hand-wrapped and presented in a cute Piccolina box. Choose from the Milo egg, featuring a malted chocolate gelato layered with homemade milo crumb and a soft milk chocolate ganache centre; the Banoffee, blending banana gelato with pie crust and caramel ganache; and lastly, the Baileys Cheesecake, packed with a decadent assembly of Baileys and cream cheese gelato, cheesecake crumbs and a soft Baileys ganache centre. Each egg clocks in at $39 and is designed to feed two to four people. If you can manage to share these epic Easter treats, that is. Piccolina's three gelato-filled Easter eggs can be purchased from any of its Melbourne stores or online.
As a staple of New Zealand's food scene for more than a decade, Botswana Butchery finally crossed the ditch last year, choosing Sydney's Martin Place as the location of its first Aussie restaurant. Now, having thoroughly impressed our northern mates with its luxe meat-focused offering, the concept is gearing up for a Melbourne debut. Botswana Butchery will unveil its new three-level Flinders Lane restaurant on Tuesday, May 24, giving locals a taste of the brand's signature swanky styling and expansive menu celebrating premium meat and seafood. [caption id="attachment_853148" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Anna Kucera[/caption] With room for 300 punters, the space has a similar look to its siblings, though the Charlotte Spary-designed interiors are also informed by their Melbourne setting. It's a handsome fitout featuring marble-topped counters, sunken dining areas and sumptuous booth seating, as well as two openair terraces. Centrepiece of the ground floor, the kitchen is using a woodfired grill to celebrate a generous array of quality Aussie meat, while premium seafood and artisan charcuterie are heroed via a dedicated raw and cured bar. Ocean-fresh bites might include the likes of torched hiramasa kingfish with eggplant relish and burnt orange dressing; the snapper ceviche is finished with tiger's milk; and Alaskan crab leg is piled into a milk bun with remoulade and iceberg lettuce. There's a caviar service, too, or you can get your charcuterie kicks with options like wagyu bresaola and the house chicken paté. Meat-lovers will find no less than 14 steak — and lamb — cuts sourced from across Victoria and beyond, topping out with the 1.6-kilogram Rangers Valley Tomahawk for $320. Elsewhere, venison tartare is elevated with Tasmanian wasabi; roasted blue eye is matched with a mussel saffron butter; and a Berkshire pork chop stars grilled figs and fennel pollen. There's also a fitting ode to a New Zealand classic in the whitebait fritters. More tough decisions await you over on the 1000-strong wine list, which champions Australian and New Zealand drops, and in the upstairs bar, with its expansive offering of cocktails, top-shelf tipples and rare spirits. Find Botswana Butchery Melbourne at the corner of Flinders Lane and Exhibition Street, Melbourne CBD from May 24, with entrances on Flinders Lane and via Collins Place. It'll open from 11am–late, Tuesday–Saturday. Images: Botswana Butchery Sydney
In 2017, Australia scored a brand-new arts festival: Asia TOPA, aka the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts, which fills Melbourne venues with a banquet of Asian arts and culture. Then came the early days of the pandemic, putting the event on hiatus since 2020. Thankfully, that gap is ending in 2025 — and bringing a lineup featuring 33 performances, 18 of which will make their world premiere, to locations across the Victorian capital. Asia TOPA is announcing its roster for Thursday, February 20–Monday, March 10, 2025 in stages, with its performance strand its headline program, as well as the first to unveil its details. One big highlight, which was revealed in October: KAGAMI, a mixed-reality concert experience that lets audiences watch a virtual avatar of the late, great Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto at the piano. Making its southern-hemisphere premiere at the festival, the production sees attendees don headsets, enjoy ten original Sakamoto compositions and pay tribute to the music icon. KAGAMI heads Down Under after seasons in New York and UK, and also Singapore prior to Asia TOPA. [caption id="attachment_979460" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tin Drum[/caption] Another of the fest's standouts was also unveiled before the full performance lineup drop — and it's another event with an interactive element. Home Bound by Daniel Kok and Luke George is asking a variety of Melbourne communities to come together to make a woven installation that'll transform Arts Centre Melbourne's forecourt. Whether you take part or not, the results will be a sight to see. Just announced in Asia TOPA's opening-night slot: Milestone from William Yang. As he'll also do at 2025's Sydney Festival, the now 80-year-old artist will reflect upon his life at the one-night-only event, with his photos and stories paired with a new score by Elena Kats-Chernin performed live on stage. In Melbourne, Milestone is headed to Hamer Hall — and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will also be part of the show. [caption id="attachment_979461" align="alignnone" width="1920"] George Gittoes[/caption] Dance company Chunky Move joins the lineup with U>N>I>T>E>D, which will take to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl stage, feature techno beats inspired by Javanese trance and gamelan, and feature six dancers wearing exoskeleton costumes. At Arts Centre Melbourne's Playhouse, Yolŋu, Paiwan and Amis artists hailing from North East Arnhem Land and Taiwan will join forces for cross-cultural collaboration Gapu Ŋgupan (Chasing the Rainbow). And Chinese mourning rituals provide the spark for Mindy Meng Wang and Monica Lim's Opera for the Dead (祭歌) at Space 28 at the University of Melbourne. Patrons can also look forward to Ane Ta Abia, a choral concert featuring singers and musicians from Papua New Guinea and Australia; the tunes, lasers and projections of Oblation by Tamil Australian electronic composer Vijay Thillaimuthu; queer Indigenous arts collective FAFSWAG's dance piece SAUNIGA; and an ode to cute animals via theatremaker Ran Chen's Tiny, Fluffy, Sweet. Or, there's also the return of A Nightime Travesty after its YIRRAMBOI Festival 2023 sellout run, Yumi Umiumare's ButohBAR 番狂わせ OUT of ORDER II turning Abbotsford Convent into a nightclub and family-friendly puppet show Goldfish. [caption id="attachment_979462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cam Matheson[/caption] With the NGV about to go dotty for Yayoi Kusama — starting to already, in fact — for it summer blockbuster exhibition, Melanie Lane's Pulau (Island) is another of Asia TOPA's must-sees. Specifically commissioned for the festival, it's a site-specific response that'll be performed beneath Kusama's Dots Obsession installation, and it's only on the program for two days. "I hope this edition of Asia TOPA resounds with the resilience, joy and creativity of the artists from our region. We want the triennial to be a way for people to build new connections and imagine new futures," said Asia TOPA Creative Director Jeff Khan, announcing the performance strand program. "I hope you join us for this celebration of the inspiring artistry, ideas and possibilities that are so unique to Asia-Pacific art and culture." [caption id="attachment_979463" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gianna Rizzo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chen Chou Chang[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979465" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Pham[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dewie Bukit[/caption] Asia TOPA 2025 runs from Thursday, February 20–Monday, March 10, 2025 at venues across Melbourne. Head to the festival's website for more details and tickets. Top image: Samuel James.
Having a bad day? Had a forgettable week, month or start to 2022 so far? Here's something that cures all woes: Nicolas Cage. It's impossible to be annoyed or frustrated when you're watching one of the greatest actors alive make on-screen magic as only he can, whether he's in an excellent or awful movie. And when he's going all in on being himself, as he is in the new trailer for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, it's balm for even the crankiest and weariest of souls. As announced back in 2021, and dropping its first sneak peek last year, too, Cage's new movie stars Cage as Cage — and he's visibly having a ball doing so. Whether the film itself turns out to be any good is clearly yet to be seen, but the Cage glimpsed in the two trailers so far knows everything that's ever been said or written about him, leans in and goes for broke. Serious Cage, comedic Cage, out-there Cage, OTT Cage, short-haired Cage, floppy-haired Cage, slick Cage, gun-toting Cage, every-facial-expression-imaginable Cage: they're all accounted for. There is a story behind the film's excellent idea, obviously. The fictionalised Cage is in a career lull, and is even thinking about giving up acting, when he accepts an offer to attend a super fan-slash-billionaire's birthday. Getting paid $1 million is just too much to pass up, and he needs the money. But when it turns out that he's now working for and palling around with one of the most ruthless men on the planet (played by Pedro Pascal, Wonder Woman 1984), as a couple of intelligence agents (The Afterparty co-stars Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz) eventually tell him, things get mighty chaotic. Also joining Cage playing Cage — not to be confused with his work in Adaptation, where he played two characters — are Sharon Horgan (This Way Up) and Neil Patrick Harris (The Matrix Resurrections). And, Are We Officially Dating? filmmaker Tom Gormican sits in the director's chair, because if there's anything else that this movie also needs, it's the director of a Zac Efron and Michael B Jordan-starring rom-com pivoting to total Cage worship. Again, whether this'll be one of Cage's undeniable delights or pure cinematic mayhem won't be discovered until the film hits cinemas — but seeing him play and parody himself really does demand everyone's eyeballs. And, although we're never too far away from a new Cage project, nothing yet has indulged the world's collective case of Cage fever like this appears to. That's the thing about Cage: when an actor adds new movies to their resume quickly — popping up in new flicks every couple of months or so, and never proving far from their next film — there's a chance they might run out of worthy on-screen opportunities, but that never applies to him. He's prolific, he stars in far too many terrible flicks, when he's at his best he's downright brilliant, and he always has something interesting around the corner. In 2021 alone, he shouted expletives from Netflix, battled demonic animatronics and teamed up with one of Japan's most out-there filmmakers. He also played a truffle hunter on a quest for revenge after his pet pig is stolen, in the aptly named Pig, which was one of the year's definite movie highlights. The latter saw him turn in one of the best performances of his career, in fact, but Cage has obviously been preparing for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent his entire life. Yes, we've seen Cage break out of Alcatraz, sing Elvis songs, run around the streets convinced that he's a vampire, let his long hair flap in the wind and swap faces. He's voiced a version of Spider-Man, driven fast cars, fought space ninjas and stolen babies as well. Staying in his own shoes definitely stands out, though, with The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent hitting cinemas in April. Check out the trailer for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent below: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent will release in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on April 21, 2022.
Hanami and Japan go hand in hand, but what if you could indulge in the art of flower viewing (yes, that's what the term translates to in English) a bit closer to home? Well, that's where the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival comes in. It's a celebration of everyone's favourite pink flora in Sydney's west. Between Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 25, the Auburn Botanic Gardens will transform its Japanese Gardens into a beautiful, blooming wonderland. You'll be able to ramp up your appreciation of the fleeting natural phenomena that is cherry blossom season by attending a massive viewing party in the lead up to spring. Tis the season, after all. And taking in the spectacular scenery isn't the only thing you'll be doing. Over the two weekends of the festival (that is August 17-18 and 24-25), you'll be able to get your fill of Japanese entertainment. There'll be guided shinrin-yoku or 'forest bathing' therapy in the gardens, live Japanese blues music and ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement) workshops. For the kidults, you can also expect a cinema dedicated to one of Japan's most popular characters Gudetama (Lazy Egg), laser tag in an anime-themed arena and Hello Kitty makeovers and stage shows. This year, the festival is ramping up its food offering, too. As well as eating your way through an array of Japanese food trucks, you'll also be able to try a heap of cherry blossom-inspired eats. Former Masterchef Australia winner (and national treasure) Adam Liaw has even created a Cherry Blossom Festival Bento Box for the occasion. A pop-up izakaya will serve up sake and Japanese craft beer, too, and Sydney's Sakeshop will be selling limited cups of Hanamikura Aya sake — which is made from a yeast extracted from the cherry blossom flower. If you've got a day off and want to skip the crowds, it'll also be opening during the week (August 19–23), with Costa from ABC's show Gardening Australia hosting a jam-packed, hands-on gardening day on the Tuesday and an educational day on the Friday. Tickets cost $7.50 for early birds, $10 for general admission and is free for Cumberland residents. Early bird tickets are now on sale for the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival and can be purchased here. Images: Destination NSW.
If you've been looking for an excuse to hit the d-floor, we've found one that's hard to beat. Digital music platform and legendary dance floor filler Boiler Room is descending on Melbourne for what's set to be its biggest Aussie event yet. On Saturday, November 26, Boiler Room: Melbourne (Naarm) will make dreams come true as it takes over a warehouse space at Port Melbourne Industrial Centre For The Arts and dishes up an all-day dance party to remember. [caption id="attachment_868300" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mall Grab, by Rob Jones[/caption] Expect huge energy from this hefty lineup of talented dance music legends, headlined by none other than UK-based DJ and producer, Mall Grab. He'll be joined on the bill by homegrown heroes like Melbourne underground sensation C.FRIM, ever-evolving Adelaide/Tarndanya-based DJ Lakota and rising star producer Pretty Girl. Bringing further international flavour, you've got Afro Pasifika queen Lady Shaka, Manchester-based DJ Salute, and breakout star and 'South-Asian underground revivalist' Yung Singh. You can nab early bird tickets online for $89.90 from 12pm, Thursday, September 8. [caption id="attachment_868301" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lady Shaka[/caption] Top Image: Sugar Mountain x Boiler Room 2018, by Mark Stanjo
Carnivores, you might want to leave your vegetarian mates at home for this one — it's definitely for those who appreciate a fancy cut of meat. The Ultimate Wagyu Experience is a monthly dinner that'll let you live out your sweetest, fattiest, beefiest dreams. Sit yourself down at this dinner at Bendigo's award-winning steakhouse The Woodhouse and prepare for a saliva-inducing showcase of the finest wagyu meat from around Australia. Four courses (steel yourself) should be just enough to explore the various cuts and ageing methods that are used on the meat. Run by chef Paul Pitcher, the experience starts with welcome drinks and canapés by an open fire. You will then move into a private dining area and be treated to some top-notch dishes, including dessert. Each plate will also be complemented with a glass of locally produced wine. The Ultimate Wagyu Experience costs $250 per person. Tickets for the next date (Saturday, April 13) will be released on Thursday, March 7, so keep your eyes on the Bendigo Tourism website.
Maybe you first saw Britain's Penguin chocolate biscuits in the supermarket during a UK holiday. Perhaps you have a British partner or pal who raves about how delicious they are. Or, like almost all Australians, you could just really love Tim Tams — and, as a result, you're eager to give any biscuit that even remotely resembles them a try. Whichever category you fall into, you can now get your hands on Penguins in all their famed glory, as they've just landed on Aussie shelves for the first time. You'll need to head to Coles to pick up a six-pack, which'll set you back $2.80. If you're currently thinking "hmmmm, but we already have Tim Tams", these chocolate-covered, chocolate cream-filled bikkies actually pre-date them. Penguins have even been dubbed "the original Tim Tam", which might sound almost sacrilegious Down Under — but, although they're longer and crunchier than the Aussie biscuit we all know and love, they first debuted in Britain in 1932, more than three decades before Australians started munching on Tim Tams in 1964. Discovering whether another bikkie really is as great as a Tim Tam is probably all the motivation you need to "p-p-pick up a Penguin!", as its slogan encourages, and give them a try. If you need more, though, Penguins also come with penguin-themed jokes printed on the wrapper (maybe keep them away from your dad). And, back in the 70s, the British treats inspired quite the advertisement — which you can watch here. Six-packs of Penguin biscuits are now available at Coles for $2.80.
Master German photographer Sven Marquardt will be the subject of dual exhibitions in Sydney and Melbourne this May. Splitting his time between his art and working the door at Berlin's exclusive Berghain nightclub, Marquardt has become an icon both at home and abroad as a result of his striking black and white photographs, captured exclusively using analogue cameras. Now, thanks to the Goethe-Institut, he's on his way to Australia. Marquardt's first stop will be in Melbourne, where he'll introduce Fotografien, a five-week exhibition of his work at The Substation in Newport. After that it's on to Sydney for the launch of Future's Past, a two-and-a-half week show at Ambush Gallery in Chippendale, co-presented by the Head On Photo Festival. Shutterbugs, don't let this one pass you by.
Now this will make everyone turn up to boring ol' Monday meetings. British furniture designer Christopher Duffy has obviously spent too many meetings in horribly regular chairs, as he's gone and designed this genuinely high-fiveable solution — meeting swings instead of meeting chairs. Meet the King Arthur Round Table — yep, its actual name. Jensen's giving the annual growth report? Stay awake by swinging. Fire drill training? Swing it out. Duffy's straight-up clever King Arthur set is available from 12-seat down to four-seat options, and you can opt for walnut or birch tops. And predictably, the 12-seat will set your boss back a cheeky $16,000 before tax or shipping. But think of the PowerPoint presentations you could swing through. Attendance would be through the roof. "As soon as people sit in it, they instantly open up, their posture changes and they start smiling," Duffy told Fast Company. "There's a different feeling when you're hanging from something than when you're sitting and you're supported from underneath." If you're not content simply swinging your way through daily meetings, Duffy's also designed a whole two-level swing bar set-up, so you can swing through post-work drinks too. Via Fast Company.
Stargazers in Tasmania and New Zealand are happy they didn't skip town for Vivid last weekend. On Sunday night, Aurora Australis made a pretty dramatic appearance, filling the horizon with a spectrum of light. Also known as the Southern Lights, Aurora Australis tends to show up when a coronal mass ejection (CME) occurs. To cut a long story short, a CME happens when the sun releases a bunch of plasma filled with electrons and protons (the bits inside atoms, Year 7). This plasma travels 150 million kilometres before hitting the Earth's magnetic field at a speed of six million kilometres per hour. The result is a wild geomagnetic storm. As the atoms slow down, they send out light of various colours, which we see most easily at the North and South Poles, where the atmosphere is thinnest. In the North Pole, the aurora is called Aurora Borealis. Like earthquakes, auroras are rated according to their power. While most rate around 1 or 2 kp (out of a possible 9), Sunday night's hit 7, making it particularly spectacular. It's difficult to predict when the next Aurora Australis will appear — your best bet is to keep an eye on the official Facebook page, where hopeful activity is reported. If you're keen to cop an eyeful, then you'll need to head as far south as possible. It's also a good idea to get away from towns and cities, so light pollution doesn't corrupt your view. In Australia, that means making tracks to Tassie. On social media, epic photos of Sunday night's show came in from Devonport and Bruny Island. However, the lights were also seen as far north as New South Wales, including in Merimbula, Bawley Point and Williamstown. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the place to be was the South Island. Over the weekend, Aurora Australis was seriously impressive in Lake Te Anau, Dunedin, Invercargill, Waipapa Point and Queenstown, among other spots. Here's a few otherworldly Instagrams to give you an idea: How lucky have we been in #MySouthland this week with this breathtaking #auroraaustralis light show! Spectacular 📷 @the_curious_kiwi #nzmustdo #southlandnz A post shared by Southland, New Zealand (@southland.nz) on May 30, 2017 at 5:19pm PDT Sunday's breathtaking Aurora Australis as captured by staff member @purnellpictures out on the Otago Peninsula.😍#dunnerstunner #OnlyOtago #auroraaustralis A post shared by University of Otago (@universityofotago) on May 29, 2017 at 10:02pm PDT Incredible #AuroraAustralis in Tasmania's skies 😮. Tassie's the best spot in Australia to view the Southern Lights. Basically, the further south, the better. 📷: Sophie Fazackerly A post shared by ABC News (@abcnews_au) on May 28, 2017 at 7:33pm PDT NIGHT LIGHTS. The Milky Way with a hint of Aurora over Mount Iron earlier this week. Wanaka, NZ. #nightsky #milkyway #stars #aurora #auroraaustralis #southernlights #nzmustdo #purenewzealand #landscape #nofilter #astrophotography #stargazing #stars #starlight #lovewanaka #wanaka #mtiron #southisland #newzealand #longexposure #canon_photos A post shared by @the_viewfinda on May 30, 2017 at 7:57pm PDT After posting a photo of the Southern Lights yesterday people have asked me if I could really see them with the naked eye. The answer is YES. For a few very special minutes they danced like laser beams on the horizon line. The Milky Way stole the limelight afterwards. 🌌✨ A post shared by Kyle Te Kiwi | New Zealand (@barekiwi) on May 30, 2017 at 3:04am PDT After posting a photo of the Southern Lights yesterday people have asked me if I could really see them with the naked eye. The answer is YES. For a few very special minutes they danced like laser beams on the horizon line. The Milky Way stole the limelight afterwards. 🌌✨ A post shared by Kyle Te Kiwi | New Zealand (@barekiwi) on May 30, 2017 at 3:04am PDT Top image: Ben (Flickr).
If you haven't been able to book a trip to Spain in 2019, this dinner may be a very tasty consolation — stunning St Kilda bar Pontoon is throwing a paella party by the water. Across three days — Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14 — the beachside bar will be serving up bottomless pans of the tasty Spanish dish. For just $25, guests will have two hours of endless access to three takes on paella. You'll be able to choose form arroz negro, with squid ink black rice, chorizo and squid; a version with chicken, green beans and smoked paprika; and finally a mussel and squid-heavy paella with lots of saffron. Guests might be able to catch Head Chef Rhys Hunter in action, too, whipping up a big pans of paella in the fiery kitchen — which you'll then be able to enjoy out on the beachfront deck. And of course, there's no chance of going thirsty — the bar's lineup of top Spanish wines and jugs of sangria are a perfect match, both to the rice dish and to those stunning beach views. While the bottomless feed will only set you back $25, you will need a minimum of two people to enjoy the deal — so call a mate and make a date ASAP. To make a booking, call (03) 9525 5445 or email ahoy@pontoonstkildabeach.com.au. Bottomless paella is available from midday. Images: Simon Shiff
Austin Butler will be in the building at Sydney Film Festival 2024. After scoring an Oscar nomination and Golden Globe win for playing the king of rock 'n' roll in Elvis, which was shot in Australia, the actor has locked in a visit to the Harbour City to launch his latest movie The Bikeriders at the State Theatre. When the full 2024 SFF program was announced, The Bikeriders was among its big-name titles. It stars not only Butler, but also Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Tom Hardy (Venom: Let There Be Carnage) and Mike Faist (Challengers), so that's understandable. But the movie's place on the lineup is now even heftier with Butler hitting the fest and the country in person. He'll be at the session — complete with a red carpet event — on Thursday, June 6. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, in what marks the Take Shelter, Mud and Midnight Special filmmaker's first feature since 2016's Loving, the picture casts Butler as Benny, a member of The Vandals, a midwestern motorcycle club. It's the 60s in Chicago, and Comer's Kathy is the audience's guide through the movie. She's also Benny's wife. Hardy plays The Vandals' leader, while Benny is the gang's newest member — and if you've seen a tale of a motorcycle club on-screen before (American TV series Sons of Anarchy and Ryan Corr-starring Australian drama 1% might come to mind), you'll know that loyalty tend to play significant parts in the story. Michael Shannon (The Flash), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon), and Australians Toby Wallace (The Royal Hotel) and Damon Herriman (The Artful Dodger) also feature. If you can't make it to SFF, the film will hit Aussie cinemas in general release on Thursday, July 4. On Sydney Film Festival's guest lineup, Butler is joined by the members of Midnight Oil for opening night's world-premiering documentary The Hardest Line, New Zealand director Lee Tamahori for The Convert, Jemaine Clement for The Moon is Upside Down, Rachel House in filmmaker mode for her directorial debut The Mountain and Aussie icon Peter Weir for a retrospective session of The Cars That Ate Paris — and plenty more, of course. Check out the trailer for The Bikeriders below: Sydney Film Festival 2024 takes place from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information and tickets, head to the festival's website. Images: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.
The team behind the famed Wax Museum Records shop that once sat in Campbell Arcade below Flinders Street Station has just opened a hidden live music venue right down the road from their old spot. Head beneath Selina Hotel, just one door down from Degraves Street, to find a crew of Melbourne music lovers curating a set of live gigs every night of the week. Like the old record store, Wax Music Lounge aims to champion Melbourne's diverse underground music scene — this time through hosting gigs rather than selling vinyl. Drop by on a whim and you might come across big acts, DJs or virtuosos who come from all kinds of musical backgrounds. Sometimes, the vibe will be slow and moody. Other nights, you'll be up on the dance floor till early the next morning. It's a mixed bag in all the best ways. But, as founded by Wax Museum Records' Guy Roseby and Tim Bartold — plus Spin Records' Mark Lipshut — Wax Lounge Bar isn't just a live music venue. It also holds up as an excellent drinking den in its own right. Behind the bar, the team is pouring Australian lo-fi natural wines, craft beers and signature cocktails dreamt up by bartender Pita Dixon (Joe Taylor, ex-Toff in Town). It even has a small kitchen pumping out pizzas and empanadas, so you don't have to venture up to Flinders Street for eats. Either grab a seat by the stage or head to the pool table at the back of the bar to have a chill night out with great tunes simply being your background music. Every part of Wax Music Lounge is lit up with a low red glow of light, courtesy of lighting designers James Hebbs and Grace Darling, while the rest of the 175-person space falls into that industrial vintage aesthetic. The basement's concrete walls and floor remain, paired with a few old rugs, some wooden tables and long leather benches. It's not all glam and luxurious like so many other Melbourne CBD bars. It's a live gig space at its core. And it's primed to host a heap of late-night parties with underground musicians and music lovers. Find Wax Lounge Bar at 250 Flinders Street, Melbourne, open daily from 5pm–1am. For more information on the new opening and upcoming live music performances, check out the venue's website.
If we look back to where we were in our early 20s, it was probably still skiving off our parents' health insurance and taking our washing back home every other weekend because we couldn't afford a washing machine. Charlie Carrington, on the other hand, has opened his own South Yarra restaurant, Atlas Dining — and he's only 22. Yep, you read that right. You still haven't bought a washing machine and this kid is opening his own restaurant. And if that wasn't work enough already, Carrington will be doing the cooking too. A trained chef, the 22-year-old has earned his stripes in the kitchens of Vue de Monde and Sydney's Firedoor, as well as a slew of international restaurants. His recent travels around the world are what's led to the decision to not tie Atlas Dining to one cuisine. Instead, it changes with the seasons; every four months the menu switches to a completely different country of origin. The first region Carrington has chosen to tackle is northern Vietnam, honouring dishes from regions like Hanoi and Sapa before moving steadily down the country representing more southern regions as the weather warms up. Carrington picked the Southeast Asian country to kick things off, saying that it felt like a natural fit. "It really worked out well in terms of the fire-cooking we'll be doing," he says. The connection with fire will see him bring techniques he learnt at Firedoor to the plate — and it sounds like tasty, fiery things are nigh. "We've got the same grills, raising and lowering grills, all the charcoal stuff, and we have a woodfire oven too," says Carrington. So bring your meat belly along. What comes after Vietnam? Well, he's heading to Israel at the end of the year, so we know what cuisine #2 will be come 2017. Next stop is Korea (North or South not specified, but probably South) for May to August 2017 and the rest of the trip is as yet unplanned. In the meantime, check out Atlas Dining's Vietnamese fare, continue feeling unaccomplished (we are), and heed his advice for young chefs: go and travel. Definitely words to live by — even if you've never cooked a thing in your life.
As soon as I heard the name of this place, I was already into it. Tipple is just one of those excellent words that conjures images of having one too many afternoon shandies or Pimm's cups. It lends a certain cheeky class to the act of drinking that seasoned souls like myself greatly appreciate. But there's much more to The Tippler than just the name. Setting up shop in the often overlooked streets of East Melbourne, The Tippler has the dual advantage of being incredibly accessible and close to the city, while still feeling like a little local's getaway. Tucked into a small but well-designed space on Wellington Parade, this new bar/restaurant boasts a clean wood-based aesthetic, and a detail-oriented selection of food and drink that somehow feels both innovative and unpretentious all at once. At the bar you can expect a well-chosen selection of local craft beers including Mountain Goat Steam Ale (brewed just a matter of streets away), Coburg Lager and Sydney's 4 Pines, as well as a small (and rotating) selection of classic and original cocktails. Even in their spiffy little aprons, the bar staff are well-versed in all stock, friendly, and happy to talk you through any selections. The same can be said of the wait staff too. Instead of a formal dining experience, staff on the floor offer relaxed table service to anyone that so desires and will cheerily run through the short menu with you. What could at first be overlooked as a small bar menu is in fact a nuanced and varied offering of ornate dishes with both vegan and gluten free options. Just after a few snacks to pick at while enjoying a nightcap? Try out the prosciutto with Mount Zero olives, sesame seeds, soy bean crostini and almonds ($16 or $17 with added goats cheese). After something more substantial, and not in the mood for sharing? There's the pan-fried gnocchi with sweet potato, sage burnt butter, lemon and goats chevre ($19) or the slow-braised lamb shoulder and chickpea stew ($22). But our top pick is the beef short rib. Served with sesame spinach, edamame and apple and daikon slaw (small $22, large $26), the meat in this dish was so tender it seriously just fell off the bone. It feels a little sad to write about The Tippler — I live just around the corner and can still easily get a seat on Friday nights — but credit where credit's due. So, here's the insider's tip: happy hour is from 5-7pm and cocktails are $10 all day Sunday. You're welcome.
This October, your regular commute will turn into an immersive experience when Melbourne Art Trams return for the sixth year, running as part of the 2018 Melbourne International Art Festival. Eight trams will be transformed into public artworks, comprising seven new commissions and a reproduction of a classic 80s piece. The project is a revival of Transporting Art, a program which, between 1978 and 1993, saw 36 hand-painted trams launch across Melbourne. Among the most memorable was a W-Class tram by the late expressionist artist David Larwill, created in 1986 as part of the United Nations International Year of Peace. This year, it's to be faithfully reproduced, with the help of digital photography and adhesive. On top of that, look out for seven brand new concepts. Gunditjmara woman Hayley Millar-Baker, who hails from southwest Victoria, will explore personal and collective connections to country, land, flora and fauna, while psychedelic street artist Oli Ruskidd will be drawing on bright colours and swirling patterns, inspired by Melbourne's powerful creative energy. Other street artists in lineup include Valerie Tang (a Year 9 high school student) ,Nick Howson (best known for Richmond's Tigerland mural) who'll be depicting a tram full of myriad folks and Stephen Baker (creator of Fitzroy's Pool Parade), who'll be interpreting Melbourne as a geometric mosaic. Carrying you from the land-bound to the aquatic will be Oslo Davis, whose weekly cartoon Overheard has been amusing readers of The Age for longer than a decade. His tram will reimagine Melburnians travelling trips the city as swimmers moving through water. Finally, taking things into another dimension will be artist and academic Troy Innocent, whose interactive design will become animated when viewed through a mobile phone with an augmented reality app. The first of the 2018 Melbourne Art Trams will take to the tracks on 4 October, with the others following hot on its heels. Expect to be riding them until early 2019. Images 1-2: David Larwill's 1986 W-Class tram; 3: Valerie Tang; 4: Troy Innocent; 5: Stephen Baker; 6: Oslo Davis; 7: Oli Ruskidd; 8: Nick Howson; 9: Hayley Millar-Baker
It's easy to delay playing tourist in your own backyard. We've all done it, thinking that we'll head overseas now and see Australia's sights later. Looking for motivation to make 2025 the year that you finally visit some Aussie must-sees, wandering around Uluru, relaxing on Hamilton Island or touring Tasmania? Virgin Australia's latest sale on domestic flights is here to help. You've got until Sunday, March 2 to nab a discounted fare — unless they're all snapped up earlier — for flights between Wednesday, April 30, 2025–Wednesday, February 11, 2026. That gives you options for most of this year and the start of next, and across all four seasons, whether autumn, winter, spring or summer getaways best suit your schedule. Prices start cheap at $49. Where can you head? To Byron Bay from Sydney for that low fare, which covers a one-way flight. Other specials include Brisbane–Proserpine from $59, Melbourne–Launceston for the same price, Sydney–Gold Coast from $65, Sydney–Sunshine Coast from $69, Melbourne–Adelaide for $85, Brisbane–Hamilton Island from $105 and Melbourne–Uluru for $109. Or, travel from Sydney–Hamilton Island, also from $109; Brisbane–Uluru from $129; Melbourne–Perth from $189; and Brisbane–Darwin from $195. The list goes on. This sale kicked off on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 — and the cheap fares, which cover both directions between each point in the discounted route, start with Virgin's Economy Lite option. With the travel periods available, all dates vary per route. Inclusions also differ depending on your ticket and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick if you're keen to spend some, part or even most of April 2025–February 2026 anywhere but home. [caption id="attachment_976496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darren Tierney[/caption] Virgin's 'Gotta get away' sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Sunday, March 2, 2025 — unless sold out earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Don't be fooled by the unchanged name — The Carlton Wine Room's had quite the shake-up, reopening today, Monday, February 26, with new owners, a new look and a revamped offering. At the helm is sommelier Travis Howe (Coda, Tonka) and McConnell group alum Andrew Joy, who's had his eye on the space since his days working across the road at the former Three, One, Two (which used to be in the space where The Town Mouse is now vacating). Now, the pair's stripped things back to create the kind of wine-focused haunt that begs to put on high rotation, with fresh, simple styling, an ever-evolving menu and the easygoing feel of a tried-and-true local. In the kitchen, John Paul Twomey (former head chef at Cutler & Co. and Gilson) is also keeping things simple with a pared-back menu of produce-driven modern Australian fare. It's a regularly changing lineup designed to work a treat alongside a glass or two of vino, from after-work snacking sessions to lazy weekend lunches. Fresh ingredients are the focus here, with a revolving pasta special showing off the best of each week's market haul. As for that wine list, it's a cracker, with a 100-bottle rotation Howe's sourced from all over the world. Throw in the option of BYO each Monday night and you've got yourself the makings of an instant neighbourhood favourite. The latest edition of The Carlton Wine Room opens today — Monday, February 26 — at 172–174 Faraday Street, Carlton. It's open midday till 11pm Thursday to Monday and 4–11pm Wednesday. For more info, visit thecarltonwineroom.com.au. Image: Google Street View.
Travelling across Japan via train is a bucket list experience: everyone wants to do it, and for good reason. There's nothing like taking in the country via locomotive, but if you haven't hit their railways yet, you might want to update your plans. You might want to start saving too. The Train Suite Shiki-shima is the type of train that would make all other vehicles quiver with jealousy if we were living in a certain popular children's cartoon series or a car-focused Pixar franchise. Forget whatever glamorous locomotive setups you've seen in old movies — they've got nothing on this. It was designed by man also responsible for luxury cars such as the Ferrari Enzo, the Porsche AG and the Maserati Quattroporte, after all. Venturing between Tokyo and Hokkaido, the ten-car train can accommodate 24 passengers in its 17 opulent suites, with some rooms decked out with baths and fireplaces. Other features include front and rear glass-walled observatory cars, a lounge with a piano, and a dining room. In the latter, the seasonal ingredients cooked up — from a menu by a Michelin-starred chef — change according to the region the train is passing through. In good news, the Shiki-shima is has been riding the rails since May 1, with one-, two- and three-night journeys available. In not-so-good news, due to demand, applications have already closed for trips up until March 2018. When bookings are accepted again, they'll set you back between 450,000 and 1,050,000 yen — or between AU$5,500 and $13,000 — but doesn't it just look and sound worth it? Via Travel and Leisure. Images: Train Suite Shiki-shima
Watching any film by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, it's easy to pick that the Thai director is also a visual artist, even if you didn't already know going in. In every one of his features to play in cinemas, including his Palme d'Or-winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best Film recipient Cemetery of Splendour and the Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door)-starring Cannes Jury Prize awardee Memoria, peering deeply is rewarded. So is soaking in imagery that no other filmmaker could conjure up, as well as being immersed in his movies at a patient, reflective pace. The above films, a trio from among Weerasethakul's four most-recent releases, all had dates with the big screen in Australia — but A Conversation with the Sun (Afterimage), his next creation, isn't heading to a picture palace. Instead, the acclaimed director has crafted the cinematic installation especially for the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney. [caption id="attachment_1013104" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Apichatpong Weerasethakul in collaboration with DuckUnit, A Conversation with the Sun (installation), 2022, installation view, BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY, Bangkok, Thailand, 2022, image courtesy the artist and BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY, photograph: Miti Ruangkritya.[/caption] 2025 marks a decade and a half since Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives collected one of the world's most-prestigious film prizes thanks to its 2010 Cannes victory. This is also the year that A Conversation with the Sun (Afterimage) will grace the MCA, displaying from Thursday, August 14, 2025–Sunday, February 8, 2026. Musing on cinema and its emotional impact, fittingly, as well as memory, making images and time's passing, the large-scale work is a collaboration with Rueangrith Suntisuk and Pornpan Arayaveerasid, who hail from Bangkok-based collective DuckUnit. Inspired by pondering the sun while walking in nature, featuring video diaries projected onto floating fabric, and designed to provide a dream-like experience that appears to fade and return thanks to the curtain, it will take over a five-by-16-metre space in the MCA Macgregor Gallery. [caption id="attachment_1013105" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chayaporn Maneesutham[/caption] Weerasethakul calls the piece "a meditation". The same word applies to every one of his movies — the also Cannes-awarded Blissfully Yours and Tropical Malady, plus the Venice-premiering Syndromes and a Century as well. "A Conversation with the Sun (Afterimage) is a meditation on light, urging us to observe the impermanence of images as they shift, dissolve and reappear. The work explores the nature of projection and perception. Surfaces shift, and meanings transform. The projectors serve as both light sources and vehicles of memory, evoking sunlight, cinema and the passage of time," explains the filmmaker. [caption id="attachment_1013103" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Apichatpong Weerasethakul in collaboration with DuckUnit, A Conversation with the Sun (installation), 2022, installation view, How to Hold Your Breath – 2024 Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan, 2024, image courtesy of the artist, photograph: Apichatpong Weerasethakul.[/caption] "Apichatpong Weerasethakul is one of the world's most-innovative artists working at the intersection of visual art, moving image and cinema. It is a privilege to be presenting his new collaborative work that has been made especially for the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. It is an exciting moment for Sydney and our visitors," said Jane Devery, MCA Australia Senior Curator, Exhibitions. Weerasethakul will also be part of an Artist in Conversation session at MCA Australia on Saturday, August 16, 2025, while a range of his short films from between 2007–24 will screen at the venue on Saturday, October 25, 2025. [caption id="attachment_1013101" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Apichatpong Weerasethakul in collaboration with DuckUnit, A Conversation with the Sun (installation), 2022, installation view, How to Hold Your Breath – 2024 Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan, 2024, image courtesy of the artist, photograph: Apichatpong Weerasethakul.[/caption] A Conversation with the Sun (Afterimage): Apichatpong Weerasethakul in collaboration with Rueangrith Suntisuk and Pornpan Arayaveerasid displays at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia), 140 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney, from Thursday, August 14, 2025–Sunday, February 8, 2026. Head to the venue website for more details. Top image: Apichatpong Weerasethakul in collaboration with DuckUnit, A Conversation with the Sun (installation), 2022, installation view, How to Hold Your Breath – 2024 Asian Art Biennial, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan, 2024, image courtesy of the artist, photograph: Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
Inner city Melbourne just scored a hearty slice of regional Victorian flavour, as Carlton welcomes the arrival of From the Collective. Making its home in a former scrapyard warehouse, this one's both sibling and neighbour to the recently opened Tooborac Pies and Beer — the new city outpost showcasing signature offerings from the Tooborac Hotel and Brewery. At From the Collective, you'll find a bar, eatery, indoor beer garden, bottle shop and food store — all under the one lofty roof and every bit of it celebrating independent, regional Victorian makers. While it's helmed by Tooborac Hotel owners James and Valerie Carlin, what makes it all tick is the community of independent regional producers at its core. The venue's food store and bottle shop are filled with top finds crafted at least 40 kilometres out of Melbourne. Here, you can shop the likes of Locheilan Farmhouse Cheese, condiments from Kyneton's much-awarded Emelia's, smallgoods from Oakwood in Castlemaine and butter from Ocean Grove producer Lard Ass. There's wine from the likes of Armstead Estate and Ranahan's, and craft beers made by regional breweries such as Bells Beach Brewing and Red Duck. Many of these goodies are from the little guys you'll rarely see on shelves in the big smoke, but who now have a home away from home in Melbourne. An online store is also in the works. The rest of the warehouse space has been reimagined as a laid-back, light-filled hangout complete with astroturfed floors, soaring ceilings and lots of cleverly repurposed elements carried over from the site's former life. Up the back, a pint-sized kitchen sees chef Chris Taylor (Vue de Monde, Bangkok's Sweet Poppy) showcasing goodies sourced from the food store in a regularly changing menu. It's simple, but generous, with the likes of cheese and charcuterie boards; a smoked salmon and potato salad; and fettuccini with mushrooms, streaky bacon, and herb and garlic breadcrumbs. Meanwhile, the bar is pouring a rotation of regional brews, wines and spirits, along with a range of flavoured sodas. Settle in with the likes of a saison from Alfredton's Red Duck Brewery, Tooborac's own Texas BBQ smoked red ale, or a riesling from Goulburn winemakers Whistle and Hope. There's also the option to grab a bottle or six-pack from the food store fridge, to enjoy onsite for a small corkage. A mezzanine space is being transformed into a classroom offering workshops on things like cheesemaking, winemaking and charcuterie, and you can stay tuned for a program of booze tastings and region-specific bus tours. Find From the Collective at 139 Elgin Street, Carlton. It's open from 11am–11pm Wednesday–Sunday.
One of the beacons of light on Melbourne's event calendar in a fairly glum cold weather stretch is the Queen Victoria Market's Winter Night Market. And now it's set to return — and with the program just announced, it's bigger and gutsier than ever before. Kicking off on Wednesday, June 7 the market will pull together a global array of eats, a plethora of live entertainment, huge lighting installations and roaring open fires. Centred around the theme of 'fire and lights', this year's market promises to brighten up your winter Wednesday nights like nothing else, thanks to a collection of stunning light displays by creative studio John Fish. As usual, the 30-strong lineup of food stalls will send punters trekking across the world, this year featuring the likes of Austrian-style cheese delights from The Fondue Corner, Taiwanese pancakes from the folks at Butterlake, a debut appearance by MoVida's Paco's Tacos, and That's Amore's legendary pastas, which are tossed in a parmesan wheel before landing on your plate. Of course, there'll be mulled wine from ReWine and steaming hot cider from Coldstream to warm your belly and hands as you browse over 50 carefully curated design and specialty stalls. Top all that off with a dollop of live music and roving entertainment, and you've got one hell of a cosy winter situation. The Queen Victoria Market's Winter Night Market will run from 5-10pm each Wednesday, from June 7 until August 30. For more information, visit thenightmarket.com.au.
If your usual wingman has four legs, furry ears and an often whiffy breath, this one's for you. The Puppy Pub Crawl crew is hosting a new pup-filled event designed especially for dog-loving singles and their best barking buds. Dating With Dogs will take over the Fitzroy Beer Garden on Saturday, October 22 (and again on Saturday, November 26), for a furry and flirtatious afternoon spent mingling with other singles over drinks and snacks. You can bring your pooch along, or just fly solo — but the dogs who do rock up will enjoy puppychinos and treats. There'll be games to help break the ice if you're feeling a little shy, a best-dressed competition for the hounds and a silent auction raising funds for the Malvern-based non-profit, Save-a-Dog Scheme. And hey, even if you don't find true love on the day, at least you got to enjoy bulk pats and make some adorable new four-legged mates. Tickets are $64 and available online. You can even team up with a friend to grab a two-ticket bundle pack for $94 and enjoy a little extra moral support on the day.
If you've got a thing for bouncy castles and the likes, you're going to feel quite at home tripping through the latest immersive installation from Nottingham's Architects of Air. Famed the world over for their glowing, inflatable 'luminarium' structures, the artists are headed to Narre Warren's Bunjil Place to show off their latest creation, Katena Luminarium. Once you enter the maze of geometric domes and tunnels, all bathed in a swirling colour palette of glowing light, the moniker makes perfect sense. It's named after the catenary curve, which is the shape of a chain suspended, and is inspired by Antoni Gaudi's design for the Sagrada Familia. You'll start your journey through Katena in an airlock chamber, opening into a tunnel of domes filled with over 100 catenary curves. The mind-bending main dome boasts an intricate fine mesh shape, ablaze with over 200 colour highlights, including a vibrant green apex. While you can't actually bounce in it, you can wander through, or simply find a curve, settle in and soak up the supposed calming and energising effects of the ambient space. Katena Luminarium is open from Monday– Friday 10am–4pm and Saturday–Sunday 10am–5pm. Images: Alan Parkinson
When Shannon Bennett, the internationally celebrated Melbourne-born chef, returned to the kitchen, it was intended to be a temporary stint. However, it seems that old habits die hard, with news just in that Bennett's residency at Fitzroy's design-forward hotel, the StandardX, has been extended indefinitely. Even after eight years away from the kitchen, Bennett's signature technical nous and creativity, paired with his distinctly laidback bistro style, proved to be as successful as ever. BistroX was intended to be a three-month pop-up, with Bennett reunited with an all-star team of hospo talent, many of whom worked with him at Vue de Monde. Among them were Cory Campbell, Cuisine magazine's Chef of the Year for 2024; Ryan Henley, who steered Christchurch dining room Pescatore to two chef's hats; and Carlos Simeos Santos, one of only 260 Master Sommeliers in the world. They were joined by front-of-house veteran Steven Kirkpatrick, who worked with the StandardX crew to deliver relaxed yet intuitive service. However, it appears that three months was not long enough for Bennett fans. Alongside his superstar team, Bennett is set to maintain his residency in the StandardX for the foreseeable future. BistroX will continue with dinner service, seven days a week, and lunch service from Friday to Sunday. BistroX is a far more casual affair than the team's credentials suggest. The approachable menu puts a modern, hyper-seasonal spin on classic bistro dishes, and will evolve regularly, shaped by both what's in season and guest feedback. "We're here to create something that feels part of the neighbourhood — a place people want to return to," says Bennett. Comfort and simplicity are the through-line of the menu, with all elements, including hand-cut pasta and house-baked breads, made from scratch. Dishes like herb-crusted tuna loin with celeriac remoulade; crayfish and black pudding flatbread; Gundagai lamb hot pot with braised shank and salted tongue baked in puff pastry; and a weekly rotating steak sourced from Victorian producers exhibit pared-back sophistication without ever straying too far from the comforts of a great local. Drinks are also in more than capable hands. Simeos Santos oversees a rotating by-the-glass wine list that's just as accessible — and thoughtfully curated — as the food it's designed to pair with. The extension of its residency proves that BistroX has been a welcome new addition to Fitzroy — and certainly a welcome return to the kitchen for one of Melbourne's most celebrated culinary figures. Images: Supplied. BistroX is now open at The StandardX Melbourne, 62 Rose Street, Fitzroy. For more information and reservations, head to the hotel's website.
With events across the world being cancelled and postponed in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19, the live music industry is being hit hard. According to website I Lost My Gig, as of 11am on Saturday, March 21, approximately 274,000 events and gigs have been cancelled, which has impacted 599,000 artists and crew, and equated to about $300 million in lost income. And that's just in Australia alone. To help raise money for some of those musicians out of work, a group of global volunteers has created Sofa King Fest. Dubbed an "emergency response online music and arts benefit festival", the website is a curation of all the best music live-streams happening around the world — all in one spot, all available to watch from the comfort of your sofa. Musicians are scheduled to perform at hour or half-hour intervals and have included the likes of Willie Nelson, Cypress Hill, Diplo, Big Freedia and A-Trak. On a more local level, all Aussie artists will be curated by the Mary's Group — who are behind cult-favourite Mary's burgers and the revival of two long-standing Sydney live music venues: The Landsdowne Hotel and Mary's Underground (formerly The Basement). [caption id="attachment_757840" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Lansdowne Hotel[/caption] While the artists are playing, you can donate directly to out-of-work musicians or to the artist's charity of choice, with all funds controlled by the artist and their team. Melissa Etheridge, who's performing today, Tuesday, March 24, for example, will be donating her funds to the World Food Kitchen. If you're an artist that's keen to be part of the live-stream, you can signup directly via Sofa King Fest website. As well as raising funds for musicians hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, the website is a great way to get your culture and music fix while also practising social-distancing or adhering to self-isolation measures. Sofa King Fest is now live and accepting donations. Top image: Willie Nelson by BSC Photography. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Whether or not we wanted it to, the pandemic threw a stick in the hamster wheel of life. For some, it caused a permanent change to their 9-to-5s. For others, holidays and plans halted. For many, it meant stepping back and reassessing: with regular life on pause, were there any changes to make before it all starts spinning again? Career and sea changes aside, this could mean choosing to swap the screen for stargazing — or working overtime on the weekend for two days of waterfall chasing — a little more often. In the words of twins Cam and Chris Grant, maybe now's the time to live a life a little more unyoked. The Grant brothers founded Aussie startup Unyoked back in 2017 and now have 15 — soon-to-be 17 — off-grid cabins across NSW, Victoria and Queensland, including one designed by Matthew McConaughey. All properties have been placed in secret patches of wilderness, in the middle of nowhere, allowing you to well and truly escape the big smoke. Each cabin is designed to make you feel like you're part of the surrounding landscape. Think timber, oversized windows, solar power, composting toilets and a blissful lack of wi-fi. At the same time, though, simple comforts are taken care of, so you get a cosy bed, kitchen appliances, firewood, Single O coffee, cocktails made in collaboration with Archie Rose and Capital brews. With its remote cabins, Unyoked encourages Aussies to travel more, log off more and challenge the typical 9-to-5. To help you do just that, the company is giving you the chance to break free from the grind and get off-grid with two-night getaways in a remote cabin — every three months for the rest of your life. Yep, it's the offer of a lifetime. To win, Unyoked needs your help naming one of its new cabins. The company names all its locations after 'unyoked' people Chris and Cam have met on their travels. There's the Lucia, named after a woman they met in London who had quit her media gig to travel; and the Miguel, who was "floating around the jungle outside Chiang Mai" in Thailand when the twins met him. So, if you know a free-spirit who inspires you to live a little more nomadic, you just need to put their name forward. Then, if your suggested name is chosen, you'll be able to escape to any of Unyoked's cabins for two nights, four times a year, every year — and be a little bit more like your nominated unyoked mate. While it's not a prize anyone in metro Melbourne or Mitchell Shire can redeem right away — with the current stay-at-home orders in place, adventuring out of the city is off the cards for the moment — it is a prize that would help sitting tight through the rest of the areas' six-week lockdown 2.0 a little less painful. [caption id="attachment_774963" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maddy Tonks[/caption] To enter, see details below. [competition]777221[/competition]
No, not a bird. Not a plane, but quite close to it. Aero-Train is a new prototype that would eliminate the problem of friction between a train and its tracks by flying extremely close to the ground. A paper given at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation discussed the high-speed, high-efficiency possibilities of the use of levitation in train transport, and sparked the development of the Aero Train concept. This video demonstrates the first version of Aero Train in action. The vehicle would be complex to control, requiring a highly skilled driver or even computer. But so efficient is the design that wind turbines or solar panels could power it. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EaN7Kxk1_e8 [Via Fast Company]
Usually when moseying around Aotearoa in a campervan, tourists and locals alike are more transfixed by the spectacle out the window than the mode of transport itself. But art curator Aimee Ralfini has questioned why you can't have both and curated a whimsical art gallery-inspired campervan to help road-trippers have the ultimate immersive sightseeing experience through New Zealand's Coastal Arts Trail. If you haven't ventured along the Coastal Arts Trail, this art-lover's journey through the Manawatū, Whanganui and Taranaki regions is a must-do this summer. After five years of development, the trail was finished thanks to a funding boost from the government to help communities affected by the loss of tourism during COVID. The easy self-drive route allows drivers to hit over 50 stops along the lower west coast of the North Island, from well-known art institutions to hidden small-town gems off the beaten track. If that sounds like a bit of you, this van-art-gallery hybrid — or "Vallery" as she's affectionately named – is a great way to tackle it. The van itself is a moving gallery of over 50 eclectic works from 26 different artists, collected from the region's galleries and featuring commissions from local artists. Those that stay in the van will get to sleep under a glowing night sky thanks to a ceiling commission from Taranaki artist Gabrielle Belz. The drop-down curtains are embellished with a stunning landscape from Manawatū artist Vonnie Sterritt, meaning even at night or on misty travels you'll be surrounded by greenery. Go on a little exploration around the van and you'll find lots of smaller artworks and sculptures s from galleries along the trail, hidden in drawers and mounted in lightboxes. Even the van's groovy exterior is a work of art. Whanganui ceramic artist Ivan Vostina was commissioned to create a ceramic base made with local beach sand, which was then dipped in an ocean-inspired glaze and photographed to be the outer. It gives the van the look of being a handmade ceramic and is sure to elicit grins from other drivers – maybe when they're passing you, if we're honest. And yes, there are all the creature comforts you'd want in a campervan: comfy bench seats that convert into a bed, a small kitchen, a self-contained water system and solar panels on the roof. Ralfini is the artistic curator of 'Vallery', and says that when she was first approached about the project, she questioned if the two worlds of "fine art meets road trip" could coexist. "In the end, my curiosity got the better of me, and I absolutely love a challenge, so I couldn't resist the opportunity to make it work — I love it when art connects with people outside a traditional white box space," she said. "Vallery is a completely immersive art experience: travellers can sleep under art, dine with art and recline on art, and it's all integrated in a comfortable and practical way. We have carefully sealed and protected works, and we have translated art onto hard-wearing surfaces and fabrics so people can just relax and have fun." Vallery is an automatic, diesel van available to hire now from Quirky Campers NZ.
UPDATE, October 7, 2021: Due to lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne in 2021, Pinot Palooza has postponed its 2021 event until 2022. This article has been updated to reflect that change. Master sommelier Madeline Triffon describes pinot noir as 'sex in a glass'. Winemaker Randy Ullom calls it 'the ultimate nirvana'. Broadway wannabe Titus Andromedon loved it so much he compares it to 'caviar, Myanmar, mid-size car' (see below). No wonder the good folk at Revel — who've also brought Malbec Day and Mould our way — are coming back to town with Pinot Palooza, an epic travelling wine festival celebrating all things peeeno noir. For just two days, Melbourne wine connoisseurs will have the chance to sample more than 100 drops, direct from Australia and New Zealand's best producers. Whether you're a newbie who wants to start with something light and inviting, or a pinot pro ready for the biggest, most complex mouthful on the menu, there'll be an abundance of selections at either end — and plenty along the spectrum, too. If, at any point, you need to take a pause in your tasting adventures, you'll be catered for. Pinot Palooza will hit The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne on Friday, May 6 (from 4.30–8.30pm) and Saturday, May 7 (from 11am–3pm and 4–8pm). Tickets are $65, and include all tastings and a take-home wine glass. https://youtu.be/A6yttOfIvOw
So you've experienced another winter, and it's safe to say we're all ready to shed our layers and head outdoors for some quality time in the sun. Instead of sticking to your favourite beach or local park in the warmer days ahead, why not venture a little further afield and explore NSW's countryside? Spanning ocean and desert, NSW boasts an abundance of local food, live music and breath-taking nature to take in. From the lush Hunter Valley vineyards to the dusty flats of Broken Hill, there are festivals and events for every taste. And it's all happening in spring, the season that isn't as hot or busy as summer. Do you need any more convincing? Without some planning, however, your next three months are going to look a little dull. To help you out, we've pulled off our winter mittens for good, and teamed up with Destination NSW to put together a handy list of road trip-worthy events to attend with your entourage, just in time for the sun to reveal its glorious face.
Melbourne temporarily lost a legendary party spot and uni student haunt when the Hawthorn Hotel closed its doors last year. But now, the long-running boozer has been reincarnated by hospitality giant Australian Venue Co (Fargo & Co, The Smith, State of Grace) — and it's reopening on Tuesday, June 22. The Burwood Road pub is sporting a brand-new look after its recent refurb, so expect a slightly different vibe to what you might remember from those second-year uni nights out. The space has been fitted out with a healthy dose of indoor foliage and exposed brick walls, as well as new TV screens — to show sports — and a revamped all-weather beer garden. Dishing up affordable eats, regular specials and a friendly, neighbourhood feel, the Hawthorn's newest incarnation is set to tempt students and regular pub-goers alike. Even its famous Tightarse Tuesdays are making a comeback, offering a budget-friendly serve of late-night entertainment and happy hour drinks each week — although they won't return until Melbourne's current COVID-19 restrictions ease. From the kitchen comes a strong lineup of pub classics — think: fish 'n' chips, a parma, and a beef pie with mushy peas and gravy — along with newer creations like a lamb and cos salad, pan-roasted salmon, and a whole fried chicken served with both piri piri and gravy. There's a handful of burgers — hello, double beef and bacon burger — while snackers will be chuffed by the likes of barbecue chicken nachos, house-made sausage rolls, and a garlic and mozzarella cob loaf. The usual suspects grace the tap-list and the Aussie wine selection, though you might find it hard to pass up the lineup of $15 cocktails. It features sips ranging from a classic negroni and old fashioned to the signature sour cherry gin smash. Kicking off from Monday, June 28, expect a regular program of weekly specials, live tunes, Sunday roasts, daily happy hours and more, too. Find The Hawthorn Hotel at 481 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, from Tuesday, June 22. It's open 12pm–12am Monday, 12pm–1am Tuesday, 12pm–12am Wednesday and Thursday, 12pm–1am Friday and Saturday, and 12–11pm Sunday.
If you've already worked your way through all the jigsaw puzzles, cryptic crosswords and Sudoku you have at home, then get ready for a new kind of problem-solving game. Australia's iconic cultural institution the Sydney Opera House has just launched a virtual escape room, The Trials of Wisdom, which — as the name suggests — is sure to put your brain to the test. Inspired by Mozart's opera The Magic Flute, the online experience is a collaboration between the SOH and Dani Siller of Escape this Podcast — and is unlike the vampire-slaying, tomb-raiding and treasure-hunting escape rooms you're used to. Instead of being immersed in a world unknown, you'll be entering a place people frequent all the time: the Opera House. Yep, you'll be locked inside the Sydney Opera House overnight — virtually, of course — and you'll have to use some serious brain power to get out. You'll be navigating your way through backstage and off-limit areas of the Opera House, such as the orchestra pit, props room, theatre and costume department. On your journey, you'll be hunting for four clues, from decoding ballerinas' dance positions and unscrambling the ramblings of an orchestra player. Ultimately, the aim is to get out, naturally, so you'll need some lateral thinking up your sleeve, plus a little music knowledge wouldn't go astray. To check out The Trials of Wisdom, head to the Sydney Opera House website. Top image: Hamilton Lund
Cosying up next to your date on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the snow may be Hollywood's answer to a date in winter, but, in Victoria, plenty of romantic adventures in the chilly weather abound. Just an hour's drive from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula has plenty of wintry date activities that trump anything on the flicks. You and your person can go truffle hunting, walk along a sculpture trail or eat some hearty dishes made from fresh, seasonal produce while you sip on cool-climate vinos — there's something for all the couples out there. We've put together a list of out-of-town date ideas to help you woo your significant other. So, turn Netflix off, put on a big coat and grab your date by the hand for an adventure down south. [caption id="attachment_699976" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pt. Leo Estate[/caption] FOR ART LOVERS Wow your date by eyeballing some art at Mornington Peninsula's most impressive galleries and sculpture gardens. Start off at Pt. Leo Estate, where a mammoth cellar door is paired with a restaurant boasting seasonal produce. The estate's rolling vineyards overlook the ocean, plus there's a sprawling sculpture park, featuring 50 large-scale works, with panoramic Western Port Bay views. After you scope out the sculptures, you can have a cosy lunch at the restaurant, which champions seasonal produce. In winter, expect wallaby pies, wood-roasted snapper and quality local proteins like lamb and beef, cooked in a central woodfired oven. Then, head to Montalto for an afternoon tipple in the vineyard's cellar door before strolling hand-in-hand through the Sculpture Trail — a one-kilometre outdoor gallery of over 30 works. Alternatively, escape the winter chill and head indoors at one of Australia's top regional galleries, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery. Here, you will see artworks by both local and international artists. Plus, the gallery hosts both traditional and contemporary works in a variety of mediums — so there's something for every art aficionado. [caption id="attachment_705358" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Red Gum BBQ[/caption] FOR EPICURES For a heartwarming feed, head to Red Gum BBQ, which cooks up local meats barbecued over local wood. Share a plate of beef brisket with potato salad or the slightly spicy, slightly sweet pulled pork with mac 'n' cheese. You'll probably need a caffeine hit while exploring the region with your partner, too. So, stop off at Merricks General Wine Store's cafe to escape the winter air, with a hot mug of coffee and a sweet treat. If you're after something a little more substantial, the space also offers a hearty bistro menu and sells hampers of homemade goodies, too. You can also get your hands dirty on a truffle hunting tour with MP Experience at Red Hill. After digging in the dirt, you'll finish with your choice of a cooking class or a five-course truffle degustation — both equally romantic. And, while you're in the area, it would be remiss not to stop into Green Olive at Red Hill, where you can wander through the farm, snack on tapas at the restaurant and sip wine from the cellar. Cooking classes are also on offer at Green Olive, plus you can even have a cosy overnight stay in its tranquil farmhouse. [caption id="attachment_725741" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Crittenden Estate[/caption] FOR LOVERS OF A GOOD DROP We all know nothing complements a winter date better than a nice glass of red, which is why taking a DIY tour of the region's wineries is a must. Kick things off at Montalto — an award-winning vineyard known for its pinot noir (in a region known for its pinot). You can warm up by pairing your glass with dry-aged duck with burnt onion and quince or the sirloin with oyster cream and wasabi greens, which have been cooked over an asado grill. if it's a sunny winter's day, head to Polperro next and stay nice and toasty next to a heater on the restaurant's expansive outdoor deck. Next up is Port Phillip Estate, where you can drink wines made with minimal intervention. Marked by its sculptural limestone building, Port Phillip has sweeping views across its vineyards and the ocean and houses a cellar door, fine-dining room, a more casual eatery and luxury accommodation. Then, push on to Crittenden Estate, where you and your partner in crime can sip on Spanish, Italian and French varieties as well as the estate's foundation range of pinots and chardonnays and its few vegan vinos. Or, drop into Rare Hare and sit by the indoor central fireplace. If you're more of a craft beer lover or after some good ol' fashioned firewater to warm you up, then follow the Beer, Cider and Spirits Trail. Stop into Mock Red Hill Cider before making your way to some of the region's best microbreweries — Twobays Brewing Co, St Andrews Beach Brewery and Red Hill Brewery, to name a few. Make your own gin at Bass and Flinders Distillery, then sip on some single malt whisky at Chiefs Son Distillery before rounding things off with some rum at JimmyRum. [caption id="attachment_726805" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peninsula Hot Springs[/caption] FOR THE INTREPID Just because it's winter, it doesn't mean all your one-on-one time needs to be spent rugged up indoors. With such invigorating scenery and rugged coastline, the Mornington Peninsula has plenty of sights that'll make you want to embrace the crisp winter air. If you're after some R&R, head to Victoria's Peninsula Hot Springs. Here, you can relax in the warm spring pools and get cosy with your date while still taking in the crisp winter air. If you'd rather stay dry, take a scenic horse ride. Don't worry if you are a bit of a novice — there are trails suitable for all so you can romantically ride side-by-side from the bush to the beach. Alternatively, get walking. Take in ocean views and gaze at basalt cliffs as you stroll along the two-hour Cape Schanck to Bushrangers Bay Track or hike the 26-kilometre Two Bays Walking Track which takes you onto Kings Falls. For views across Port Phillip Bay, amble along the Arthurs Seat Circuit Walk, which is a leisurely 1.8-kilometre loop. [caption id="attachment_725555" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ashcombe Maze[/caption] FOR THE KIDULTS For the couples young at heart, brave the outdoors together and head to Ashcombe Maze. You can get lost in the hedge maze, which will be flowering with hellebores (winter rose), camellias and rhododendrons at this time of year. If you're more of a thrill-seeking duo, take your date to greater heights and go Tree Surfing at Enchanted Adventure Garden. Here, your hearts will race with adrenaline levels as you clamber along the obstacle course through the trees — nothing says bonding like seeing each other's faces as you take a leap of faith, 12 metres up on a glorified Tarzan swing. For more wintry places, spaces and events in regional Victoria, visit Your Happy Space. Top image: The Peninsula Hot Springs.
In April, Australia scored a promise of international hotel luxury, when global chain Waldorf Astoria announced plans to open its first Aussie outpost in Sydney in 2025. Then, we learned famed Marriott-owned hotel brand the Ritz-Carlton is set to open a sprawling property on the Gold Coast by 2026. But before that all comes to pass, it's Melbourne's turn for a slice of the action, with the Ritz-Carlton also gearing up to launch in the Victorian capital in March 2023. Perhaps best known for its iconic Manhattan hotel that overlooks Central Park and has starred numerous times on the big screen, the Ritz-Carlton will now be making its home on Lonsdale Street. And it's on track to be Australia's tallest hotel, soaring high at an ear-popping 80 storeys, with 257 guest rooms and suites. [caption id="attachment_881631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Gabriel Saunders[/caption] The hotel itself will have all the high-end trimmings you could imagine, including marble bathrooms, custom-made leather and velvet furniture, and a heated indoor infinity pool with views across the city. The glam lobby is perched all the way up on that 80th floor, too. It's also set to deliver some primo food and drink offerings, if the newly-appointed culinary team is anything to go by. Taking the reins as Executive Chef is the renowned Michael Greenlaw, who counts stints at London's Bibendum, Gilt in New York and Vue de Monde on his star-studded resume. Backing him in the role of Culinary Advisor is Aussie food legend, and the celebrated chef behind classics like Peninsula Bistro and Marque, Mark Best. The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne's upscale dining offering will include a restaurant perched high up on the 80th floor, open to both hotel guests and visitors. [caption id="attachment_881634" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Best and Greenlaw[/caption] Find the Ritz-Carlton Melbourne at 650 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, from March 2023. We'll share more details as they drop.
