Catching a blockbuster or indie flick beneath the stars is already pretty special. Yet part of the reason so many people love Moonlight Cinema is that you can bring your dog along for the ride. Good luck finding a conventional cinema with that perk — unless Yarraville's Sun Theatre and their doggy day sessions are within reach. Now the experience for your pooch is getting even better, as Moonlight Cinemas across the country (except Perth) are adding exclusive Lyka doggie bag meals to the menu for the first time. So, when it's time to hit up the kitchen and bar for your movie night snacks, pet parents can also grab some dog-friendly goodies to keep their pup occupied. While you get stuck into the popcorn and perhaps a wine or two, your dog could be munching on a tasty kangaroo meal. Served as part of a goodie bag for $17, it comes with a handy DOG by Dr Lisa Lick Mat and a Turkey Dental Jerky Treat, perfect for times when your dog grows a little restless. And with everything handed over inside a convenient Lyka cooler bag, it's easy to keep the doggy snacks chilled on a warm evening. Ready for a night out with the fam — pets and all? Moonlight Cinema's 30th season kicks off on Friday, November 21, in Sydney, with Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne soon to follow.
From futuristic Supertrees to idyllic beaches and tropical gardens, Singapore weaves leafy stretches of nature throughout its bustling urban landscape. But reconnecting with nature doesn't have to mean trekking through forests or sleeping in a tent — it can also be farm-to-table dining with local produce, urban parks and luxe hotels with verdant spaces. In partnership with Singapore Tourism, we've pulled together a few imaginative ways to eat, stay and play in nature around Singapore, without straying too far from the middle of the city. [caption id="attachment_976861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marklin Ang[/caption] Play Known as the Garden City, Singapore is home to both hidden pockets and wide expanses of greenery, even in the middle of the city. Take the iconic Gardens by the Bay, which boasts temperature-controlled conservatories filled with exotic plants and flowers from around the world, towering Supertrees, freshwater wetlands and a Japanese zen garden. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens is equally impressive with a more classic slant — think elegant swans, a heritage museum and bandstand, and a national orchid garden with over 1000 species. [caption id="attachment_980992" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danny Santos[/caption] For a dose of history on your outdoor adventure, head to Fort Canning Park to explore nine historical gardens, a spice garden dating back to 1822, two informative galleries and various colonial monuments. Fort Canning was home to the palatial resorts of Malay kings during the 14th century, before it was used by the British as military headquarters until WWII. As you exit to Penang Road near Dhoby Ghaut station, be sure to admire the sunlight and foliage streaming in from the top of the Fort Canning Park Tree Tunnel. If you're looking to get out of the city for a day, hop on a 15-minute ferry ride to Pulau Ubin from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. One of Singapore's former kampongs (villages), the island still retains some of the landmarks from its rich history, including a model kampong house, Fo Shan Ting Da Bo Gong Temple and the German Girl Shrine. For wildlife lovers, Pulau Ubin is home to a diverse range of native plants, birds and animals, many of which cannot be found on the mainland. Discover these critters at sites such as Butterfly Hill, Chek Jawa Wetlands and Sensory Trail Pond on foot or by bike. Eat and Drink You don't have to venture out to get a taste of the great outdoors. Sample fresh local produce while paying respect to the land at these sustainability-driven restaurants. Located a short distance from Orchard Road, Open Farm Community's menu focuses on produce sourced from its very own urban farm, along with local suppliers. Visitors are welcome to join in on a farm tour before enjoying farm-to-table fare with locally inspired flavours. Kaarla also boasts its own urban farm — at 51 stories high, the 1-Arden Food Forest is the tallest urban farm in the world. The restaurant prepares Australian cuisine on a wood-fired grill, with produce sourced from the surrounding farm, as well as Singaporean and Australian producers. Helmed by chef LG Han, Labyrinth's new Singaporean cuisine and sustainable efforts have been rewarded with a Michelin Star and the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award. Han takes inspiration from hawker fare and traditional Singapore flavours to create his innovative dishes, using locally sourced ingredients and carefully utilising all parts of the produce. Influenced by Danish principles of sustainability, FURA is a sleek cocktail bar that uses environmentally friendly ingredients with a low carbon footprint, such as insect proteins, invasive species or produce that is widely available throughout Asia. For a picturesque dining experience among the trees, look no further than 1-Flowerhill. The elegant chateau houses three restaurants — Camille, Wildseed Cafe, and Wildseed Bar and Grill — and sits atop Sentosa's Imbiah Hill with views across the island. Stay Bring nature to you at one of these luxe hotels in the heart of Singapore, which champion sustainability and integrate greenery into their design. Aptly named, the ParkRoyal Collection hotels in Pickering and Marina Bay incorporate environmentally conscious processes, including solar panels, filtered water systems, biodegradable amenities and rooftop urban farms. Similarly, The Pan Pacific Orchard adopts sustainable practices throughout the hotel, such as energy-saving glass, motion sensors and integrated energy, water and waste systems. The hotel also features four nature-inspired terraces — the Forest, Beach, Garden and Cloud Terraces — with abundant tropical foliage. You can't miss Oasia Downtown amongst the Singapore skyline — the 27-storey building is wrapped in over 20 species of plants woven throughout the aluminium mesh exterior. As the plants continue to grow across the building, they provide shade and a cooling effect throughout the building. The greenery continues inside, with 33 species of plants in communal areas such as the lobby, rooftop pools and Sky Terrace. A short stroll from the Singapore Botanic Gardens, The Singapore Edition is a tranquil retreat with lush tropical plants, a rooftop pool and trendy bars. The hotel's eco-friendly initiatives include using carbon-neutral and biodegradable room keys, recycled materials and green cement. The hotel restaurant, Fysh, is also acclaimed Australian chef Josh Niland's first international foray, with an emphasis on sustainable seafood and responsibly sourced produce. Book your Singapore holiday now with Flight Centre. All images courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board.
Garden State Hotel, the reliable, always-bustling, fuss-free Flinders Lane pub, is set to get an upgrade with a new two-level rooftop bar coming soon. The massive, four-storey, sprawling venue will add to its huge digs, which already have space to host more than 800 people. Garden State is located at 101 Flinders Lane, inside a 130-year-old building that began its life as a sawmill before playing host to Rosati, one of Melbourne's top dining destinations in the '80s and '90s. In the centre of the building, punters gather at the multi-level beer garden built around several large ficus trees. Lush greenery and a seamless indoor-outdoor feeling help transport patrons away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD. The Public Bar is a favourite post-work hangout for many city workers who come here for a care-free, good time. Pub classics like chicken parmas, pizzas, burgers and fish and chips are complemented by elevated snacks such as grilled haloumi with capsicum relish and kingfish crudo with pickled zucchini, as well as dishes including oven-baked ricotta gnocchi and salmon Nicoise salad. On the basement level, you'll find The Rose Garden, a vibrant, late-night cocktail bar, accessible through AC/DC Lane and Duckboard Place. Find live music and DJs on the weekend, or consider hosting your next dynamic event here. The options really are endless at this sprawling pub. Step through the yellow-framed doorway to find Tippy-Tay, a love letter to the coastal cities of Italy. Tippy-Tay is a relaxed, eccentric and chaotically welcoming Italian restaurant that loves to see a celebration coming. Whether it's a midweek catch-up or a weekend hens party, you can't go wrong with the generous feed me menu, especially when you go for the matched wines options, which include three wines plus a Limoncello for just $50 per person. Now, Garden State Hotel is set to improve its already sprawling offering with a 300-seat, two-level Rooftop Garden to be unveiled later in 2026. With sweeping views of the CBD, the rooftop will be a natural extension of Garden State's signature upbeat, social energy. Easy-to-drink herb and floral-inspired cocktails, craft beers, approachable wines, and non-alcoholic drinks are set to draw even more post-work punters for relaxed city drinking at its best. Designed by Melbourne-based architect Telha Clarke, the new space will feature layered greenery, banquette seating and soft lighting. "The rooftop will be a true extension of what people already love about Garden State," says Garden State Venue Manager Scott Woods. "With a retractable roof, it will be the perfect place to gather all year round. Images: Supplied.
Bar Carlo is all about distinctive drinks and that tasty Italian tradition of cicchetti. This dimly-lit bar is tucked into Meyers Place in the CBD, and features a long bar for you to claim your spot on. Behind the bar you'll see the walls are lined with bottles upon bottles of Leone, an aperitif of North Italy rarely found outside of it. This exclusive aperitif is similar to Aperol and Campari — and, likewise, you can have it in a spritz or with a splash of tonic or soda water as a mixer. Whichever way you choose, this drink is perfect accompany to the panini, croissants and the topped crostini cicchetti available each day — think crostini topped with prosciutto, mushrooms, and tomato and mozzarella.
When it comes to decking out your home with impressive but affordable homewares, Kmart has been giving IKEA a run for its money in recent years. Indeed, if you're already a convert, you probably know just how popular the Aussie department store gets whenever it drops a new range — or, you've likely seen everyone else's Instagram snaps that prove it. Spent too much timing staring at your same old furniture this winter, thanks to the cold and the pandemic? Wish you were somewhere beachy? Always wanted to kit out your place with a bohemian vibe? Today, Thursday, July 28, Kmart has just unveiled its latest home-focused lineup, and it takes care of all of the above. Expect it to fly off the shelves as always. With prices starting at $1.75 — for bowls, should your kitchenware need a revamp — the August Living range goes heavy on pastel hues, natural materials and coloured glass. There are two main themes: timeless and urban. The former skews soft, delicate and homely, with curvy shapes, chambray fabrics and pops of block colour. The latter, which is still designed to mix-and-match with the rest of the range, is where bold silhouettes and gleaming surfaces come in. Covering items for the dining room, bathroom, bedroom and living room as well, Kmart's current drop spans everything from fringed cushions and swivelling single-seater couches through to coastal pics, palm tree-adorned bed linen and cane bathroom furniture. Yes, it's all very 70s chic, too, especially the pink, brown, mustard and other earthy colours. Among the standout pieces: two-packs of cute sea shell-shaped candles for $5, shaggy cushions for $14, cane chairs to pop them on for $149 each, and wicker lampshades and bases ranging from $39–59. If you'd like to throw in some marble, there's three different tables, all with metal bases, including a $49 side table, $69 hallway table and $89 coffee table. And white-panelled bathroom storage starts at $69. You know how they say that change is as good as a holiday? It isn't, obviously, but swapping your home decor to the kinds of items that you might find in a Byron Bay beachhouse should help lift the vibe at least. The August living range is on sale online and in-store from Thursday, July 28–Wednesday, August 17, and also includes wallpaper, flooring, curtains and blinds, as well as a new DIY line. Kmart's August Living range is on sale online and in-store from Thursday, July 28–Wednesday, August 17.
What does Brisbane have in common with music superstars Beyoncé, Björk, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, and also Oscar-winners Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton? An appreciation for fashion designer Iris van Herpen. The avant-garde Dutch talent has dressed them all, including creating the breathtaking Heliosphere dress that proved a showstopper on Beyoncé's Renaissance tour. The latter gigs haven't made it Down Under, but the Australian-exclusive Sculpting the Senses exhibition at the Queensland capital's Gallery of Modern Art will take you into the world of the haute couture figure who played a part in it. Fashion lovers have until Monday, October 7, 2024 to explore one of GOMA's big showcases for 2024, which continues to plunge the South Brisbane site into an enchanting and ethereal realm after Fairy Tales, its huge summer exhibition, did the same. Pieces by van Herpen can't be mistaken for designs by anyone else, sitting at the intersection of couture, art and design, while also exploring technological advancements such as 3D printing. In that field, she's widely considered the first to make a garment this way. [caption id="attachment_966401" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including Fractal Flows dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Perry Hall; and Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] From gowns to accessories, a massive 130 of van Herpen's pieces are now on display in the River City. Across nine chapters — some nodding to the dreamlike sheen that accompanies the designer's pieces, others focusing on skeletal structures, inspirations, and how the sea and the cosmos are an influence — Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses steps through the work of a creative who boasts stints alongside Alexander McQueen and Claudy Jongstra on her resume. It was almost two decades back, in 2007, that the Maison Iris van Herpen came to life in Amsterdam. Evoking her studio, complete with a cabinet of curiosities, is also part of GOMA's celebration. In this section of the exhibition, attendees will also see a space dedicated to fashion shows and unpack the various development stages of a dress. Hitting Brisbane after a run in Paris, co-organised by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and boasting the organisation's Dr Cloé Pitiot and Louise Curtis on curatorial duties alongside QAGOMA's Nina Miall and Jacinta Giles, Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses takes its name seriously. This is a feast for the eyes, clearly, but also comes paired with a soundscape by Dutch sound artist Salvador Breed — not just a collaborator of van Herpen's, but her partner — to enhance the experience. [caption id="attachment_966406" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] Among the specific fashion gems featured, the exhibition draws from 2010's water-themed 'Crystallization' collection, which took its cues from water being splashed at models; 2020's 'Sensory Seas', with hydrozoa such as the bluebottle an influence; and 2012's 'Micro' and 'Hybrid Holism', each teeming with microscopic detail that mimics the natural world — just for starters. Elsewhere, van Herpen's designs use X-rays, MRIs, neuroscience, mythology, alchemy, biotech, NASA's James Webb space telescope and more as guides. In one clear highlight, 2019's cape-slash-dress Hypnosis, she deploys a kaleidoscopic pattern in inky black to touch upon the mind's movement between the conscious and unconscious — and, in the process, also fashions up an optical illusion. [caption id="attachment_966399" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Philip Beesely (Collaborator) / Canada b.1956. Hypnosis cape-dress, from the 'Hypnosis' collection 2019 / Laser-cut duchesse satin, mylar, tulle. Radiography dress, from the 'Magnetic Motion' collection 2014 / Laser-cut and thermally expanded PETG, silicone, microfibre. Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Shift Souls dress, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 / Laser-cut Komon Koubou, silk organza, mylar. Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] Visitors will equally spy a range of complementary pieces surrounding van Herpen's designs, weaving in Yayoi Kusama, Cai Guo-Qiang, Japanese art collective Mé and Kohei Nawa, for instance. Megan Cope, Philip Beesley, Anne Noble, Damien Jalet, Casey Curran, Rogan Brown, Ren Ri and Courtney Mattison also have works in Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses, as does the Living Architecture Systems Group. Natural history objects add yet another layer. The dramatic staging, especially when van Herpen's work is set against a black background, achieves the same. Similarly featuring: installations, videos and photographs. Designs by van Herpen are unsurprisingly no stranger to galleries and museums, with New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Paris' Palais Galliera and Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria among the institutions to include her work in their collections. [caption id="attachment_966414" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Shelee Carruthers (Collaborator) / Australia b.1977 / Hydrozoa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 / PETG, glass organza. (r) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Hydromedusa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 / Printed organza, laser-cut Komon Koubou, mylar, tulle. Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966412" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of the Cabinet of Curiosities in 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses', Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: J Ruckli © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966409" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including: Tim Walker (Photographer) / United Kingdom b.1970 / Iris van Herpen (Designer) / Netherlands b.1984 / David Altmejd (Sculptor) / Canada b.1974 / Duckie Thot (Model) / Australia b.1995 / Kiki Willems (Model) / Netherlands b.1996 / Fashion: Iris van Herpen 2018 / Exhibition print / Courtesy: Tim Walker Studio. Kohei Nawa / Japan b.197 / PixCell-Double Deer #4 2010 / Mixed media / Purchased 2010 with funds from the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Diversity Foundation through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation. Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Airborne dress, from the 'Aeriform' collection 2017 / Laser-cut crepe, mylar, tulle / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier. © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966411" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Iris van Herpen: Runway films 2017-23 (installation view, 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses') / Video, colour, sound, 57:51 minutes (total, looped) / Editor: Simona Gol / Music selection: Salvador Breed / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen Atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966407" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Water dress, special project 2010 / Heat-moulded PETG / Collection: Groninger Museum, Netherlands / © Iris van Herpen. (r) David Spriggs / Canada b.1978 / Origins 2018 / PET film, acrylic Plexiglas, LED, acrylic paint, metal / Collection: Dr Pierre Miron / © David Spriggs. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966405" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Haruka Kojin / Japan b.1983 / Contact Lens (installation view, 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses') 2023 / Acrylic lenses, wire / Courtesy: The artist and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Tokyo / © Haruka Kojin / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966400" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including: Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Kim Keever (Collaborator) / United States b. 1955 / Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 / Organza, tulle / Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Azari dress, from the 'Carte Blanche' collection 2023 / Laser-cut crepe de Chine, silk organza, tulle. Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966396" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (l-r) Foliage dress, from the 'Ludi Naturae' collection 2018 by Iris van Herpen with collaborators Delft University of Technology and Stratasys Ltd.; Gaia gown, from the 'Roots of Rebirth' collection 2021 and Ammonite dress, from the 'Seijaku' collection 2016 both by Iris van Herpen; and Explosion Process Drawing for Dragon or Rainbow Serpent: A Myth Glorified of Feared: Project for Extraterrestrials No.28 1996 by Cai Guo-Qiang / © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966410" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (front) Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966397" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Entangled Life gown, from the 'Roots of Rebirth' collection 2021 / Hand-pleated silk organza, embroider thread, tulle, wire / Worn by singer-songwriter Lorde performing at Radio City Music Hall, New York, 2022 / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen Atelier / © Iris van Herpen. (r) Yann Arthus-Bertrand (Director and photographer) / France b.1946 / Michael Pitiot (Director) / France b.1970 / Wim van Egmond (Photographer) / Netherlands b.1966 / Terra 2015 / Video, colour, Dolby Digital, 98 minutes, France, French, English subtitles / Music: Armand Amar / Voice: Vanessa Paradis / Production: Hope Production / Courtesy: Hope Production. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966408" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (l-r) Contact 2023 by 目[mé]; Hydrozoa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Shelee Carruthers; Mirror of the Mind dress, from the 'Micro' collection 2012 and Hydromedusa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 both by Iris van Herpen / © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption]Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses displays at the Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane, from Saturday, June 29–Monday, October 7, 2024 — for more information, head to the venue's website. Top images: Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Daniel Widrig (Collaborator) / United Kingdom b.1977 / Materialise (Collaborator) / Belguim est.1990 / Crystallization top and skirt, from the 'Capriole' collection 2011 / 3D-printed polyamide using selective laser sintering, eco-leather, cotton, nylon thread / Purchased thanks to the patronage of Doctor and Madam Léon Crivain, 2018 / Collection: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. // Courtney Mattison / United States b.1985 / Malum Geminos 2019 / Glazed stoneware and porcelain / Courtesy: The artist. // Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Nicholas Koscinski (Collaborator)/ United States b.1992 / Futurama gown, from the 'Meta Morphism' collection 2022 / 3D-printed Bluesint (upcycled polyamide) using selective laser sintering, silver, silk, organza, tulle / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier. // © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (front l-r) Symbiotic asymmetric dress, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen; Fractal Flows dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Perry Hall; and Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Holozoic dress, from the 'Hybrid Holism' collection 2012 / Eco-leather, Swarovski crystals / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen. (r) Tim Walker (Photographer) / United Kingdom b.1970 / Iris van Herpen (Designer) / Netherlands b.1984 / David Altmejd (Sculptor) / Canada b.1974 / Duckie Thot (Model) / Australia b.1995 / Kiki Willems (Model) / Netherlands b.1996 / Fashion: Iris van Herpen 2018 / Exhibition print / Courtesy: Tim Walker Studio / © Tim Walker. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l)目[mé] / Japan est.2012 / Contact 2023 / Mixed media / Courtesy: The artists. (r) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Shelee Carruthers (Collaborator) / Australia b.1977 / Hydrozoa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 / PETG, glass organza / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (front) Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.
You already know that drops by way of Central Otago, Marlborough and Hawke's Bay deliver the goods, but when was the last time you sought some vino from beyond the big three New Zealand wine regions? Believe it or not, Gisborne is actually the country's third largest plonk-producing region — perhaps that's because Kiwis have a profound love for the cheap and cheerful east coast native, Lindauer. Elsewhere, the winterless north is home to some of the country's first grape plantations, North Canterbury sets the scene for 90 vineyards and over 20 cellar doors, and a cluster of pioneering vineyards sit less than 30-minutes from Auckland's CBD. [caption id="attachment_782157" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Milton Vineyard.[/caption] GISBORNE You've likely sampled the goods of premier east coast wine region Hawke's Bay, but how about vino from 200 kilometres up the road in Gisborne? Like its east coast neighbour, the high and hot sunshine hours and fertile soil make Gizzy the ideal location for growing and making world-class wine. It's the country's third largest wine-producing region and is best known for bottling aromatic chardonnay, gewurztraminer, viognier, pinot gris and malbec. Big name bubbly label Lindauer was born here, but a visit to the region might also see you swirling drops from Milton, the country's first organic and biodynamic wine estate. Award-winning producer Matawhero Wines can also be found up the road and the single-vineyard wines of the family-owned Bushmere Estate. Wine (and RTD) lovers can even party between the vines at the largest music festival in the country, Rhythm and Vines. [caption id="attachment_721838" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matakana Estate.[/caption] MATAKANA Wine lovers visiting New Zealand's biggest city are truly spoilt for choice. A cluster of award-winning and family-owned vineyards sit less than an hour's drive from the CBD. Dotted among the hillsides and bays of northern Auckland, Matakana has a warm climate that produces elegant reds — there are 28 varieties planted in the region, which makes it one of the most diverse wine growing areas in New Zealand. Here you'll find French-inspired creations and an elaborate 'if you build it, they will come' sculpture park. Heron's Flight is the only vineyard in New Zealand to specialise solely in Italian grapes, including sangiovese and dolcetto. Matakana Estate has been around since the boutique wine region first sprung to light more than 30 years ago, and Runner Duck Estate is a vineyard specialising in small quantities of French-inspired syrah, Bordeaux blends, pinot gris and rosé. [caption id="attachment_669900" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marsden Estate.[/caption] NORTHLAND The winterless north is where the country's first grapes were planted over 200 years ago. The wine region spans nearly 300 kilometres from Karikari in the north to Mangawhai in the south, with its subtropical climate creating full-bodied and rich wines. It's here you'll discover tropical chardonnays, vibrant viogniers, merlot blends and peppery pinotages. If you have an afternoon to wile away, Marsden Estate is found a short trip from Kerikeri airport. At the winery you can enjoy an educational wine tasting before settling on your preferred varietal. Afterwards, take a stroll around the subtropical vineyard gardens with another glass of vino. Once off the car ferry en route to Russell, make a short detour for Paroa Bay Winery, a property set against the rolling hills and overlooking its namesake watery cove. The boutique vineyard has a big focus on sustainability, using techniques of dry-grown vines across chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, syrah, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, malbec and merlot. Go for a tasting flight and stay for the Mediterranean and European-inspired menu at the onsite restaurant. [caption id="attachment_782115" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Westbrook.[/caption] WEST AUCKLAND West Auckland is host to a range of first-rate wine producers — some of which have been pumping out the goods for more than 100 years. A short drive from the CBD in and around Kumeu Valley is where the historic grape-growing region lies and where most of the vineyards were founded by families of Dalmatian (Croatian) origin. In just one day you can hop between cellar door tastings, private wine tours and full pairing degustations. Best known for chardonnay and pinot noir, the region is also ushering in a new era of wine production with aromatic grapes like the Spanish albarino. Pioneering winemaker Babich Wines has been operating out of Henderson Valley since 1916, Coopers Creek is a family-owned winery in Huapai with a reputation for producing classic regional wines, and The Hunting Lodge is an 80-acre estate featuring a lawn bar and cuisine from celebrated chef Des Harris. Elsewhere, you can't beat the output of boutique Waikoukou Valley producer Westbrook, the chardonnay of the Brajkovich family's Kumeu River, and the personal wine tours of Soljans Estate. [caption id="attachment_782156" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Black Estate.[/caption] NORTH CANTERBURY Just outside of the South Island's largest city is a destination renowned for its wine and food. The North Canterbury wine region is home to some 90 vineyards and over 20 cellar doors where you can sample interesting and expressive wines. Drops range from chardonnay and riesling to the lesser-known varietals like albarino and saint laurent — the 'wild cousin' of pinot noir. Waipara family-run vineyard Black Estate is famous for its organic and biodynamic wines, and its restaurant is often considered one of the best winery offerings in New Zealand. Elsewhere, Terrace Edge is an award-winning organic vineyard and olive grove on the Waipara River, pioneering winery Pegasus Bay offers drinkable riesling and pinot noir, and Greystone Wines dishes up a menu of organic and foraged produce. Also worth noting is Theo Coles' The Hermit Ram label which produces unfiltered and unrefined natural wine out of Omihi. Top image: Black Estate.
In 2019, just one Australian bar made it into the World's 50 Best Bars list: Maybe Sammy. This year, not only has the innovative bar in The Rocks made the list again, it has jumped 32 places to number 11 — and it's joined by two more Sydney spots. Laneway mezcal bar — and one of Concrete Playground's favourite openings of 2019 — Cantina OK! came in at number 28, while Bulletin Place, which has made the list many times during its eight-year life, came in 39. If you've been looking for an excuse to spend a night drinking cocktails in the city, this is it. With many Sydneysiders WFH during the pandemic, CBD bars have done it tough, with some venues reporting drops in revenue of 40 percent and more. Now, it's more important than ever to go out and support them (in a COVID-safe way, of course). For those yet to be acquainted with Maybe Sammy, its luxurious styling nods to old-school Vegas glamour, all blush pink velvet banquettes and lush indoor greenery, while the list of theatrical signature drinks pays homage to the classics. Cocktails are served with the likes of scent-filled pillows, hand cream and rosemary bubbles. The latter, comes atop the much-Instagrammed Dunes cocktail, pictured below, which is a delicate balance of gin, fino sherry, watermelon and agave. [caption id="attachment_788842" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dunes cocktail at Maybe Sammy by DS Oficina[/caption] While Sydney cleaned up in the top 50, only Melbourne venues (from Australia) featured in the 51–100 list, which was announced late last week. Fitzroy bar The Everleigh snagged the 73 spot, while newer CBD haunt Byrdi came in at 80. Petite Collingwood bar Above Board followed not too far behind at number 84 and the long-running Black Pearl — which has scooped a spot in the Top 50 list numerous times throughout the award's 12-year history — was voted in at 98. The annual World's 50 Best Bars awards are voted on by over 540 bar industry experts from around the world, including bartenders, consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists. You can check out the full lineup of the World's 50 Best Bars 2020 here, and see 51–100 here. Top image: Cantina OK! by Kimberley Low
The Grace Darling has been a staple of Smith Street for a long, long time — built in 1854, it's apparently the second oldest pub in the city. Regulars will have clocked plenty of hours knocking back drinks in the footpath beer garden out front, but when it's cold, we'd rather be indoors near one of the two blazing fires. The food is classic pub fare on the fancy side, while the candlelit bar has a dozen local draughts on tap. Add to that an atrium restaurant out back plus two separate bandrooms, and it's clear why the Grace Darling Hotel is still standing after all this time. If you're swinging by for a feed, its menu is divided up into six sections. Snacks include the likes of smoked avo guac with vegetable crisps, fried vegan mozzarella sticks, a charcuterie board with house terrine, salami and pickles, as well as crispy chicken tenders and slow braised lamb ribs. There are two parmas on the menu — chicken and eggplant with vegan cheese. Elsewhere, you'll find burgers, salads and desserts, as well as mains, including everything from pan-fried potato gnocchi to 300-gram scotch fillets with red wine jus. For drinks, it's got 13 beers on tap and a good two dozen in cans, while the wine list is approachable and well-curated with a good selection of oranges thrown in, including the Margaret River Skin Contact Jumping Juice. If you're keen to rock out, there are regular gigs at the Grace Darling, as well as a monthly Soap Box comedy night featuring local talent and a life drawing session on Tuesday evenings from 7pm–9pm. Top image: Julia Sansone
Whether you love the olive garnish that comes with a classic martini, or opt for the dirty variety where brine goes straight in the drink, there's no doubt that olives play a big role in this enduring tipple's sharp, herbaceous appeal. To celebrate one of the world's most iconic cocktails, Four Pillars is bringing back its Martini Collective for the next month or so, teaming up with much-loved bars and restaurants across Sydney and Melbourne for an aperitif-style sip and snack pairing. Running until Sunday, June 22, at a host of stellar venues, the drink at each venue is the same wherever you decide to visit — a mini martini made with Four Pillars' bright and savoury Olive Leaf Gin. However, the snack that adorns your beverage changes up from place to place, ensuring you can explore the full spectrum of pairings to see which leaves the biggest impression on your palate. In Sydney, there are ten venues taking part in the third edition of the Martini Collective, with several returning favourites to explore. For instance, Shell House is serving up a cruller topped with whipped fish roe and white anchovy; The Charles is offering a white anchovy gilda; Le Foote is plating a tartine featuring smoked peppers, sheep's yogurt and sauce vert; and NOMAD is presenting a green olive and pumpkin seed tartlet. As for the Melbourne lineup, the series is back in town for its second year, with newcomers like Hazel, Society, Grill Americano and Bar Liberty joining previous hosts, including Bar Bellamy, LUI Bar and Reine. Head to Flinders Lane to see how Hazel's fish cake complements your mini martini, or wander up to Society on Collins Street to experience its smoked tomato sourdough crostini. Who knows — maybe this carefully balanced umami bomb will provide the dream pairing with your aperitif. With this first-class selection of venues getting in the mood for Four Pillars Martini Collective over the next month, there's plenty of time to sample each and every pairing. Plus, with the Martini Collective running through World Martini Day on Saturday, June 21, it's the perfect way to celebrate your love of this timeless cocktail. The Four Pillars Martini Collective is running now until Sunday, June 22 at various venues across Sydney and Melbourne. Head to the website for more information. Images: Declan Blackall / Chege Mbuthi.
Get ready to do more bargain hunting, as TK Maxx has just revealed its first Australian flagship store. Launching in the heart of Melbourne CBD, the ribbon for this brand-new Bourke Street location was cut at 9am on Thursday, October 16, giving shoppers plenty more reason to delve into this bustling part of town. While there are already dozens of TK Maxx locations around Australia, more than a few things set this landmark storefront apart. For instance, TK Maxx Bourke Street is the brand's first two-level retail experience in Australia, offering customers an even greater selection of well-known brands at discount prices. Perhaps more importantly, TK Maxx Bourke Street is also Australia's top store for attention-grabbing Gold Find products. Spanning men's and women's apparel alongside footwear and beauty goods, these sought-after deals feature products from high-end designer brands stripped of the sky-high price tag. "The team are busy helping to ensure this will be our best opening yet with plenty of Gold Finds and big brands at small prices to discover. We can't wait to welcome both new and existing shoppers into our biggest store in Australia," says TK Maxx Australia spokesperson Tony Dunseath. Having become a leading name in off-price retail since TK Maxx launched in the UK over 30 years ago, its department stores have become much-loved for their assortment of leading brands and up-and-coming labels. Thanks to proudly opportunistic buying and a no-frills shopping experience, customers can expect to walk out with hefty savings. Since launching in Australia in 2017, the brand has expanded around the country, now offering 80 stores nationwide. Yet this flagship arrival might be its most major opening to date. TK Maxx Bourke Street is now open Monday–Saturday from 9am–9pm and Sunday from 9am–7pm at 235 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Head to the website for more information.
Less than a couple of weeks out from the anticipated grand debut of arts and culture festival Rising, organisers have announced another multi-faceted, large-scale piece set to join the packed program. I Conjure delivers a thought-provoking work by celebrated New York-based artist Jenny Holzer, in the form of soaring six-storey tall projections splashed across the historic facade of Melbourne's Queen Victoria Women's Centre. Across each night of the festival, from May 26–June 6, the text-based work will present a curation of statements plucked from Holzer's Truisms series, along with a few new works. All will be emblazoned proudly on the 19th-century building. In line with the award-winning artist's anonymous street posters, which first appeared in the late 1970s, I Conjure's proclamations are witty plays on commonly held truths and recognisable cliches. Numbering close to 300, the various texts offer thoughts on creativity, art and activism. The project's lineup also includes words from renowned artists like Tracey Moffatt, Agnes Martin, Grace Hartigan and Nikki Lam. [caption id="attachment_812428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jenny Holzer's work You Vote 2020 (Detroit, Michigan) © Jenny Holzer, member Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Photo: Mark Rutherford.[/caption] A pioneer of text-based public art, Holzer's powerful messages have graced everything from baseball caps to giant LED sculptures over her decade-long art career. In recent years, the artist's statements have appeared on the likes of Switzerland's Gstaad Palace ("Hiding your motives is despicable"), New York City's Rockefeller Centre ("I feel pain with each step I take but to feel pain is better than to not feel pain at all, so above all things I am grateful") and the Wawel Royal Castle in Poland ("And now I don't know what in all that was real"). Catch I Conjure at the Queen Victoria Women's Centre, 210 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, nightly from May 26–June 6. For more details, check out the Rising website. Top images: Jenny Holzer's work A Little Knowledge Can Go A Long Way 2019 (Gstaad, Switzerland) © Jenny Holzer, member Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Photo: Stefan Altenburger.
When you need to put your mind at ease, trading the big smoke for the winding road can offer the relaxation you need. But with countless others thinking the same, sometimes that coastal adventure or countryside escape still means navigating backed-up traffic and small-town cafe queues. So, whether you're loading up your own wheels or hiring a car, these off-the-beaten-track destinations are made for escaping the crowds. In Victoria, the Twelve Apostles are among the most famous coastal stops. For those keen to experience a similar vibe but without the tourist buses getting in the way, the lesser-known Bay of Islands is just 30 minutes further along the Great Ocean Road. With a series of limestone stacks poking up through the waves, time your visit with sunset to catch the softest of light dancing across the water's surface. For even more peace, the also impressive Bay of Martyrs is just around the corner. [caption id="attachment_923802" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Watson for Visit Victoria[/caption] Heading to Western Australia? Considering the size of the place, you won't struggle to find a spot to experience some alone time. However, that means you'll have to bypass bustling destinations like Ningaloo Reef. Instead, make the left-field decision to head inland to explore the spectacular gorges of Kalbarri National Park. Featuring an 80-kilometre gorge carved through red and white sandstone, the Kalbarri Skywalk offers an unmatched vantage point. If you're dreaming about cruising the NSW coast, know some incredible experiences await beyond Byron Bay. Sure, stop in for a pint at The Beachy. But just an hour's drive away, the untouched rainforests of Nightcap National Park make for a memorable experience. Likewise, breathtaking waterfalls dot the Sunshine Coast hinterland; Kondalilla and Gardner's are popular for good reason, but head to Booloumba Falls for a true oasis. [caption id="attachment_999895" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Scrub Tree Walking Track, R Brand[/caption] Taking a road trip through Tasmania probably feels quite remote for most mainlanders. Yet the ever-growing obsession with the Apple Isle makes it easy to get caught up in a crowd. The East Coast is basically made for world-class road trips, thanks to Freycinet and Wineglass Bay. But for something a little different, the old mining towns in the West — Strahan, Queenstown and Zeehan — present a different, more rugged perspective of Tassie. For many a road trip, the destination is wine country — and South Australia's is a standout. But if you're looking for an adventure away from the main tourist trails, the Flinders Ranges is your best bet. Flush with rugged gorges, spooky ghost towns and awe-inspiring natural landmarks like Wilpena Pound, this remarkable place can keep you occupied for days. Plus, you can always pack a bottle of vino to share at an opportune moment. Need more travel inspiration? Check out Australia's top foodie road trips.
Throughout a fruitful international career, German-born photographer Francis Reiss produced many iconic photographs of both landscapes and people. Working extensively around the world for numerous acclaimed publications — in particular LIFE and Time Magazine — Reiss became enamoured by Australia, eventually becoming a citizen in 1989. In was then that he set about capturing the many eccentricities of Australian culture and lifestyle, which have since become important collections for institutions such as the State Library of Victoria and the National Library. People I Have Met: Portraits by Francis Reiss presents many of Reiss' most famous images, many of which feature leading Australian artists and personalities such as John Perceval, Inge King, Chris Wallace-Crabbe and many others. This free exhibition runs until April 29 and is presented at the Whitehorse Art Space in Box Hill. Image: Francis Reiss, Inge King (detail) (1996).
Two years ago, the site at 300 Smith Street, Collingwood was a thoroughly modern Italian affair, operating as Scott Pickett's new northside diner Lupo. Now, after a COVID-related hiatus, the space is set to be reborn with an unmistakable French accent, as the renowned chef-owner (Estelle, Matilda, Pastore) begins its transformation into Parisian-inspired newcomer Smith St Bistrot. Slated to open this summer, the bistro and bar will celebrate the French chapter of Pickett's own culinary training, as well as that of new right-hand man, Head Chef Daniel Southern (Bar Margaux, Vue Group). It'll open from 11am for those chic lunching, sipping and snacking sessions, with a rotating menu du jour showcased come dinnertime. Expect plenty of classic European flavours, across finely-tuned dishes like tuna tartare matched with pommes gaufrette, a chicken and tarragon fricassee for two, whole flounder with gribiche sauce and the classic creme caramel; here done a la Southern's recipe. You'll be just as happy dropping by for a steak baguette and pommes frites on your lunchbreak, as you will be celebrating with friends over an evening of lobster thermidor and armagnac souffles. [caption id="attachment_828038" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Southern and Scott Pickett, by Alex Squadrito[/caption] A matching wine offering promises options for all occasions and budgets, favouring local and international winemakers taking a hands-off approach to their art. That means biodynamic, organic, sustainable and natural drops are in strong supply. There'll be boutique beers and a handful of cocktails, too, revamping familiar favourites with a few new-world twists. The space itself has been reworked under the eye of Anthology Studio's Sarah Townson, with rich green velvet and burgundy leather played against exposed brick in a nod to both gothic and art deco stylings. Expect a heady vision of brass chandeliers, antique mirrors and wrought iron balustrades, complete with a spiral staircase leading to a new mezzanine level and second private dining space. Find Smith St Bistrot at 300 Smith Street, Collingwood, from this summer. We'll share more information as it's available. Images: Alex Squadrito
The strip that houses 50-seater Coburg wine bar Gemini hasn't traditionally been home to such establishments. But Gemini is part of a wave of wine bars that are coming to Sydney Road, started by Coburg-based Geminis Tresna Lee and Shane Farrell. There's a true community spirit at the crowd-funded Gemini, which pays it forward by hosting local gatherings, tastings and co-working sessions while defying easy categorisation. It's an all-day eatery that doubles as a pantry and bottle shop. You're as likely to get a perfectly brewed coffee as you are a hand-selected wine. [caption id="attachment_1017721" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saskia McCormack-Kuijpers[/caption] The European-leaning menu includes a daily-changing Gemini bar sandwich. By night, the menu has share plates that spotlight the likes of skewered octopus in sweet gochujang, wagyu beef carpaccio, delicata squash with Mount Zero beluga lentils and miso-candied walnuts. Wines mostly feature local producers, with a smattering of French wines, while beer, cider and non-alcoholic drinkers are well-catered for. If you fancy a cocktail, there's the house negroni and tommy's cocktail or what's fashioned a 'flawless' martini with milk and honey vodka. Sit amid Gemini's exposed brick walls and warm timber and feel at home in a space that's a true local. Third top image: Grace Petrou.
It's long lived up to its name as one of the west's most respected live music haunts, but Footscray's Reverence Hotel is gearing up to call last drinks, set to shut its doors for good in March 2019. Owners, Matt and Melanie Bodiam, took to Facebook in November to deliver the blow to the pub's many fans, thanking everyone who's supported their venture in its impressive six and a half years of life. Unable to secure another long-term lease on the site and with the current month-to-month operations putting a damper on any long-term plans, they've announced Saturday, March 2 as The Reverence's last hurrah. "Looking back we are really proud of our achievements, the community that has congregated, and the memories that have been made are immense," the owners say in the post. "What we've created here has far surpassed our expectations!" https://www.facebook.com/reverencehotel/posts/1333743773434885 As well as giving a shout out to the community, past and present staff, and all who'd given help and support, the owners hinted that the venue won't be going out without a sufficient bang. A massive 14 gigs will take place over the pub's last three weeks of operation, with a lot of regulars coming in to see it off, including Melbourne faves The Smith Street Band and locals Camp Cope. A few shows have already sold out, so make sure you snap up some tix for one last gig at the Rev. And keep an eye on the Facebook page for details around the final on Saturday, March 2 — it's set to be an all-timer. REVERENCE HOTEL FINAL GIGS Thursday, February 21 — Space Junk, Wicked City, Claws and Organs + Shane and the Dog Hunts Friday, February 22 — Hard Aches, Nothing Really, Premium Cable + Yo Lande (SOLD OUT) Saturday, February 23 — Camp Cope with Drmngnow + Hexdebt (SOLD OUT) Saturday, February 23 — Mount Defiance, Squid Fishing, Luke Seymoup + Eaglemont Sunday, February 24 — Wil Wagner and the Dead Salesmen Duo Tuesday, February 26 — Secret (TBC) + Taco Tuesday Wednesday, February 27 — Foxing + trivia Thursday, February 28 — Pridelands, The Gloom in the Corner, Caution: Thieves + Setmeonfire Friday, March 1 — Post Truth, Extinct Exist, Fourteen Nights at Sea, Diploid + Excircling Sea Saturday, March 2 — Secret (TBC) The Reverence Hotel is located at 28 Napier Street, Footscray. It will close its doors for the final time on March 2, 2019. Updated: February 19, 2019.
A new chapter is being written in the annals of Melbourne cafe culture. On High Street in Prahran, Fourth Chapter is serving up breakfast and lunch every day of the week, and boasts a menu we can't wait to try. The sunny new spot is owned by chef Sarah Whitfield, whose other venture, Trei Cafe, has become a Glen Waverley staple. This time she's teamed up with her sister, Jessica, and the results look absolutely stellar. Their all day breakfast menu includes such appetising options as baked rhubarb, apple and blackberry porridge, paleo toast with avocado and lemon, and that old Melbourne favourite, smashed avo, served on pumpkin sourdough with pesto and haloumi. Of course those all pale in comparison to the standout items: peanut butter s'more waffles with salted caramel, grilled banana and marshmallow. In addition to their sizable list of breakfast options, Fourth Chapter also offer a small number of lunch dishes from 11am. Think Southern fried chicken bao with pickled cabbage and sriracha aioli, and a pulled beef brisket cheeseburger with chilli mayo, American cheddar and sweet potato fries. Their beverage fare includes the usual mix of coffees and teas, along with kombucha and an array of extravagant smoothies. We're particularly taken with the strawberry shortcake variety, made with coconut mylk, almond crumble and strawberries, along with maca, chia, maple and whipped coconut cream.
The multi-level CBD space once home to Cheek and Peaches has been reborn post-pandemic as Dom's Social Club — a casual three-storey haunt championing classic drinks, top-notch charcuterie and handmade pizza. As sibling to Preston's Dexter and Takeaway Pizza, it's no surprise the venue is doing the latter exceptionally well, with an offering of light, puffy woodfired pizzas crafted using a three-day slow fermented sourdough. Choose from toppings like mortadella with fermented honey and thyme, a cured pork cheek and pumpkin number, and veg-packed combinations like the one with green pea and snow pea tendrils. On the second floor, a warm RSL-style space features plenty of nostalgic memorabilia and a free-to-play pool table, with a fridge full of dry-aged meats showing off the owners' penchant for quality charcuterie. And upstairs, a cheery, modern rooftop bar proves the perfect setting to enjoy a few gems from the venue's expert curation of local spirits and classic cocktails. For example, try the Slowgroni — a blend of Brookies slow gin, Campari and Punt e Mes vermouth. The Dom's Social Club team is also set on spreading some love for lambrusco, with an entire page of the drinks list dedicated to reviving the infamous sparkling red wine. Apparently, the drop is an absolute winner when paired with pizza — head on in and try it out for yourself. Images: Julia Sansone Appears in: The Best Bars in Melbourne for 2023
When you're really looking to treat yourself, a steakhouse that serves a top-notch ribeye is bound to hit the spot. Yet in big beef news, there's a rare upcoming chance to experience Matsusaka wagyu — the cut that is widely considered the best of the best in Japan, and perhaps the entire world. Who do you have to thank? That'd be the Wagyu Ya Group, who sent a representative to secure the goods at the launch of the World Wagyu Auctions in Tokyo on Friday, April 3. Now, this ultra-exclusive cut is headed to a restaurant near you, arriving in Melbourne in the coming days before it hits the grill. According to the experts, Matsusaka wagyu is among Japan's most tightly held beef categories, admired for its extreme marbling, low yield and limited domestic distribution. What's more, international access is extremely rare, with only a small number of markets gaining access to date. In large part, that's due to the cows themselves being extremely rare: only about 2500 Matsusaka cows are reared annually, and each takes three years to mature. And the standards are super strict, with each cow given a 10-digit ID to document its age, location of birth, shipping information and more. Ready to experience something truly exclusive? The Wagyu Ya Group is set to allocate its limited portions across its collection of venues. That includes Niku Ou, Wagyu Ya, Wagyu Ya Teppanyaki and Yakikami. Just know, there are also daily limits in place, so plan ahead to avoid missing out. Following this major success — it's the first time the cut has been brought to Australia via this global auction channel — Melbourne now finds itself among a select group of cities worldwide with access to genuine Matsusaka wagyu. Now is your chance to be among the first locals to experience it. Matsusaka wagyu will be served at Wagyu Ya Group restaurants in strictly limited quantities from mid-April. Head to Instagram for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Sorry coffee lovers, becoming an adult is realising that water is actually the ultimate drink. And for one day only at Yo-Chi stores around the country, you can fill up for free and score yourself a sweet two-for-one treat at the same time. Taking place on Wednesday, March 25, Yo-Chi is inviting everyone to fill a reusable bottle or vessel at each store's free water station. Sparkling or still, the choice is yours. But just know plastic isn't accepted — this promo is all about saying goodbye to single-use bottles. View this post on Instagram As your reward for getting hydrated and making an eco-friendly move, the free froyo that comes with your feel-good refill is more than a small bonus. It's buy-one-get-one-free, with the Yo-Chi of lesser value complimentary up to $12. Back in 2022, Yo-Chi stopped selling bottled water, recognising its significant environmental impact. Despite up to $10 million in lost sales, the company turned to free water stations, where every refill means less plastic waste going to landfills. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Bring a little more colour to your winter, as acclaimed New York-based Australian artist CJ Hendry presents her Lost & Found exhibition at Chadstone. Spanning three sites, original artwork, large-scale interactive installations and kid-friendly activations ensure this playful experience transforms the shopping centre into a veritable creative wonderland. Running until Sunday, July 20, expect Hendry's trademark designs, where luxury and everyday objects are shaped with a hyper-realistic, meticulously crafted edge. Stepping into this experiential world, the foremost encounter at Lost & Found is The Maze — a sprawling block-coloured labyrinth that asks guests to rummage through the padlocks searching for one that matches their key. Keeping with the theme, The Vault is a dedicated luxury installation, featuring an exclusive presentation of CJ Hendry artworks inspired by locks. For those who want to adorn their own space with a colourful design, this is the place to purchase original works alongside special collectible merch, like leather key chains, canvas totes, caps and colouring books. "I'm so excited to be bringing an exhibition to Australia after so many years — it's a place that has always fueled my creativity and inspired my work. Art should be for everyone, and I love pushing the boundaries to make it more engaging in fresh and unexpected ways," says Hendry. "It's all about breaking down barriers, inviting people into the world of art, and letting them curate pieces that truly speak to them." For those unfamiliar with Hendry's work, trust that Lost & Found will be popular. Over the years, her interactive art projects have drawn massive crowds, with the NYPD abruptly shutting down her Flower Market exhibition in 2024 due to its mega turnout. A self-proclaimed natural marketer, Hendry's HOOPS sculpture at Art Basel Miami also captured widespread attention, with a $1 million USD prize offered to anyone who could sink 34 baskets in a row. "CJ Hendry's art is bold, thought-provoking and impossible to ignore — it challenges perspectives and sparks conversation," says Daniel Boyle, Chadstone Centre Manager. "We're thrilled to bring such a dynamic and immersive experience to our visitors, giving them a chance to engage with art in a way that's both inspiring and accessible." CJ Hendry's Lost & Found is happening at Chadstone Shopping Centre until Sunday, July 20. Head to the website for more information.
In a perfect world, all films would get a run on the big screen everywhere that shows them. Alas, that isn't the world that we live in. But just because a feature misses a season at the cinemas in Australia — playing at film festivals before hitting digital, perhaps, or made for and only ever set to stream — that doesn't mean that it can't be a gem, as our picks for the 15 best straight-to-streaming movies of 2023 makes plain. Indeed, the finest films of the year didn't only play on the silver screen. See: Michelle Williams' latest stellar performance, an Oscar-nominated documentary and a playful vampire effort from the director of Spencer, plus new treats from Wes Anderson, inventive horror movies, standout biopics and revived franchises, too. In fact, even cinephiles who basically live at their local picture palace know that theatres aren't the only place to catch the year's standout flicks. After we surveyed the best straight-to-streaming movies of 2023's first half in June, we've now done the same from across the entire year. Make your own popcorn, grab a drink, get comfortable on your couch, and there's your next at-home movie night — or 15 — taken care of. (And yes, we're bunching Anderson's recent shorts together and counting them as one project, because that's how they are best watched.) SHOWING UP Kelly Reichardt and Michelle Williams are one of cinema's all-time great pairings. After 2008's Wendy and Lucy, 2010's Meek's Cutoff and 2016's Certain Women, all divine, add Showing Up to the reasons that their collaborations are an event. Again, writer/director Reichardt hones in on characters who wouldn't grace the screen otherwise, and on lives that rarely do the same. With her trademark empathy, patience and space, she spends time with people and problems that couldn't be more relatable as well. Her first picture since 2019's stunning First Cow, which didn't feature Williams, also feels drawn from the filmmaker's reality. She isn't a sculptor in Portland working an administration job at an arts and crafts college while struggling to find the time to create intricate ceramic figurines, but she is one of America's finest auteurs in an industry that so scarcely values the intricacy and artistry of her work. No one needs to have stood exactly in Showing Up's protagonist's shoes, or in Reichardt's, to understand that tussle — or the fight for the always-elusive right balance between passion and a paycheque, all while everyday chaos, family drama and the minutiae of just existing also throws up roadblocks. Showing Up couldn't have a better title. For Lizzy (Wiliams, The Fabelmans), who spends the nine-to-five grind at her alma mater with her mother (Maryann Plunkett, Manifest) as her boss, everything she does — or needs or wants to — is about doing exactly what the movie's moniker says. That doesn't mean that she's thrilled about it. She definitely isn't happy about her frenemy, neighobour and landlord Jo (Hong Chau, Asteroid City), who won't fix her hot water, couldn't be more oblivious to anyone else's problems and soon has her helping play nurse to an injured pidgeon. Reichardt spins the film's narrative around Lizzy's preparations for a one-night-only exhibition, including trying to carve out the hours needed to finish her clay pieces amid her job, the bird, advocating for a liveable home, professional envy and concerns for her alienated brother (John Magaro, Past Lives). The care and detail that goes into Lizzy's figurines is mirrored in Reichardt's own efforts, in another thoughtful and resonant masterpiece that does what all of the filmmaker's masterpieces do: says everything even when nothing is being uttered, proves a wonder of observation, boasts a pitch-perfect cast and isn't easily forgotten. Showing Up streams via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. ALL THAT BREATHES Pictures can't tell all of All That Breathes' story, with Delhi-based brothers Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud's chats saying plenty that's essential. In the documentary's observational style, their conversation flits in and out of the film — sometimes, there's narration, too — giving it many meaningful words. Still, the images that Shaunak Sen (Cities of Sleep) lets flow across the screen in this Sundance- and Cannes-winner, and also 2023 Oscar-nominee, are astonishing. And, befitting this poetic meditative and ruminative doco's pace and mood, they do flow. All That Breathes' main pair adore the black kites that take to India's skies and suffer from its toxic air quality, tending to the creatures' injuries. As Sen watches, he adores them as well. Viewers will, too. Indeed, if there wasn't a single syllable uttered, with the movie just leaning on cinematographers Ben Bernhard (Talking About the Weather), Riju Das (14 Phere) and Saumyananda Sahi's (Trial by Fire) sights, plus Niladri Shekhar Roy ('83) and Moinak Bose's (Against the Tide) sound recording, the end result still would've been revelatory. This film trills about urban development, its costs and consequences, and caring for others both animal and human — and it chirps oh-so-much. It notes how everything that the earth's predominant inhabitants do has environmental impacts for the creatures that we share the planet with, including quests for economic dominance and political control. All That Breathes peers on as its subjects' tasks get harder even as they earn global attention, receive more funding and build their dream hospital. It sees how they put the majestic kites' wellbeing above their own, even as the numbers of birds needing their help just keeps growing. This is a documentary about animals falling from the skies due to pollution, two siblings trying to help them soar again, why that's so vital and what the whole situation says about life on earth — and it's vital and spectacular viewing. All That Breathes streams via Binge. THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR, THE SWAN, THE RAT CATCHER AND POISON Fresh from stepping into a play as a live production in a TV show in Asteroid City, and also flicking through a magazine's various articles in The French Dispatch before that, Wes Anderson now gets an author sharing his writing in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. The 39-minute short film features Ralph Fiennes (The Menu) as Roald Dahl, who did indeed pen the tale that gives this suitably symmetrically shot affair its name — the book it's in, too — with the account that he's spilling one of several in a film that enthusiastically makes Anderson's love of layers known in its playful structure as much as its faux set. So, Dahl chats. The eponymous Henry Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) does as well. And, Dr Chatterjee (Dev Patel, The Green Knight) and his patient Imdad Khan (Ben Kingsley, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) also have a natter. The stories within stories within stories (within stories) share the fact that Khan has learned to see without his eyes, Chatterjee couldn't be more fascinated and Sugar wants to learn the trick for himself — to help with his gambling pastime. In his three decades as a filmmaker, Anderson has only ever made both features and shorts with one of two people responsible for their ideas: himself, sometimes with Owen Wilson (Haunted Mansion), Noah Baumbach (White Noise), Jason Schwartzman (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and/or Roman Coppola (Mozart in the Jungle) contributing; and Dahl. With the latter, first came Anderson's magnificent stop-motion Fantastic Mr Fox adaptation — and now The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar sits among a series of four new shorts based on the author's work. This is still a dream match, with the director's beloved jewel and pastel colours, dollhouse-esque visuals, moving sets, love of centred framing and dialogue rhythm all proving a treat in this account of personal and spiritual growth. The cast is as divine on-screen as it sounds on paper, too, especially Cumberbatch and Patel. The next in the set, the 17-minute The Swan, pushes Rupert Friend (High Desert) to the fore in a darker tale about a bully. Throw in The Rat Catcher (about a small village with a vermin issue) and Poison (charting a life-and-death situation in British-occupied India) — each similarly 17 minutes in length — and there's only one thing to do: package them together as an anthology film. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, The Rat Catcher and Poison stream via Netflix. Read our full review. EMILY THE CRIMINAL Enterprising, astute, intelligent and accepting zero garbage from anyone: these are traits that Aubrey Plaza can convey in her sleep. But she definitely isn't slumbering in Emily the Criminal, which sees her turn in a performance as weighty and layered as her deservedly Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated portrayal in the second season of The White Lotus — something that she's been doing since her Parks and Recreation days anyway. Indeed, there's more than a touch of April Ludgate-Dwyer's resourcefulness to this crime-thriller's eponymous figure. Los Angeles resident Emily Benetto isn't sporting much apathy, however; she can't afford to. With $70,000 in student loans to her name for a college art degree she isn't using working as a food delivery driver, and a felony conviction that's getting in the way of securing any gig she's better qualified for for, Jersey girl Emily breaks bad to make bank when she's given a tip about a credit card fraud ring run by Youcef (Theo Rossi, Sons of Anarchy). Her simple task: purchasing everything from electronics to cars with the stolen numbers. Writer/director John Patton Ford makes his feature debut with this lean, sharp, keenly observed and tightly paced film, which works swimmingly and grippingly as a heist thriller with plenty to say about the state of America today — particularly about a society that saddles folks starting their working lives with enormous debts, turning careers in the arts into the domain of the wealthy, and makes even the slightest wrongdoing a life sentence. Emily the Criminal is angry about that state of affairs, and that ire colours every frame. But it's as a character study that this impressive film soars highest, stepping through the struggles, troubles and desperate moves of a woman trapped not by her choices but her lack of options, all while seeing her better-off classmates breeze through life. As she usually is, Plaza is mesmerising, and adds another complicated movie role to a resume that also boasts the phenomenal Ingrid Goes West and Black Bear as well. Emily the Criminal streams via Binge and Netflix. EL CONDE What if Augusto Pinochet didn't die in 2006? What if the Chilean general and dictator wasn't aged 91 at the time, either? What if his story started long before his official 1915 birthdate, in France prior to the French Revolution? What if he's been living for 250 years because he's a literal monster of the undead, draining and terrifying kind? Trust Chilean filmmaking great Pablo Larraín (Ema, Neruda, The Club, No, Post Mortem and Tony Manero) to ask these questions in El Conde, which translates as The Count and marks the latest exceptional effort in a career that just keeps serving up excellent movies. His satirical, sharp and gleefully unsubtle version of his homeland's most infamous leader was born Claude Pinoche (Clemente Rodríguez, Manchild), saw Marie Antoinette get beheaded and kept popping up to quell insurgencies before becoming Augusto Pinochet. Now holed up in a farm after faking his own death to avoid legal scrutiny — aka the consequences of being a brutal tyrant — the extremely elderly figure (Jaime Vadell, a Neruda, The Club, No and Post Mortem veteran) is also tired of eternal life. The idea at the heart of El Conde is a gem, with Larraín and his regular co-writer Guillermo Calderón plunging a stake into a despot while showing that the impact of authoritarianism rule stretches on forever (and winning the Venice International Film Festival's Best Screenplay Award this year for their efforts). The execution: just as sublime in a film that's both wryly and dynamically funny, and also a monochrome-shot visual marvel. A moment showing Pinoche licking the blood off the guillotine that's just decapitated Antoinette is instantly unforgettable. As Pinochet flies above Santiago in his cape and military attire in the thick of night, every Edward Lachman (The Velvet Underground)-lensed shot of The Count — as he likes to be called by his wife Lucia (Gloria Münchmeyer, 42 Days of Darkness), butler Fyodor (Alfredo Castro, The Settlers) and adult children — has just as much bite. El Conde's narrative sets its protagonist against an accountant and nun (Paula Luchsinger, Los Espookys) who digs through his crime and sins, and it's a delight that punctures. As seen in the also magnificent Jackie and Spencer, too, Larraín surveys the past like no one else. El Conde streams via Netflix. FLORA AND SON No filmmaker believes in the power of music quite like John Carney. In Flora and Son, the Once, Begin Again and Sing Street writer/director again lets his favourite refrain echo, this time with an Irish single mother, her rebellious teenage boy and the American guitarist who she pays to give her lessons via zoom. The eponymous Flora (Eve Hewson, Bad Sisters) feels like she's never had an adulthood of her own after falling (swiftly, not slowly) pregnant at the age of 17 to musician Ian (Jack Reynor, The Peripheral) — whose big claim to fame is that his band once opened for Snow Patrol — then being a mum through their relationship highs and lows. When she salvages a thrown-out instrument for now-14-year-old Max (Orén Kinlan, Taken Down) but he doesn't want it, she decides to give it a try herself. It's an escape from simply getting by, arguing with Ian, coping with Max's run-ins with the law and young mother-style existential malaise. It could be a path to a new future, too. And, with her teen also into music — but hip hop, rap and EDM, or whatever will impress his crush (feature first-timer Alex Deegan) — it's a way to bring Flora and son closer together. Music is in Hewson's blood given that she's the daughter of Paul Hewson, aka U2's Bono, with the Behind Her Eyes and The Knick star well-cast — and magnetic, and also endlessly charismatic — as the forthright, sweary, just-trying-to-get-by Flora. There's both yearning and energy in her electrifyingly lived-in performance, and in the melodic and soulful tunes that her character pens with teacher Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Poker Face) via video chats as they reflect upon their lives, loves, hopes and dreams via songwriting. Flora and Son boasts lovely performances all round, in fact. Kinlan is a dynamic find who deserves many more credits on his resume, Gordon-Levitt charms quietly and softly, and sparks fly when Carney gets the latter in the same space as Hewson through an easy but nice visual touch. The movie's moniker makes plain where its heart belongs, though, as Flora and Max learn not just about themselves but about their complicated bond with each other by making music. As always with this filmmaker's work, the original soundtrack is sublime. Also, the mood feels like a warm but clear-eyed hug. Flora and Son streams via Apple TV+. RUSTIN After Selma, One Night in Miami and Judas and the Black Messiah arrives Rustin, the latest must-see movie about the minutiae of America's 60s-era civil rights movement. All four hail from Black filmmakers. All four tell vital stories. The entire quartet boasts phenomenal performances, too — complete with a Best Supporting Actor statuette for Judas and the Black Messiah's Daniel Kaluuya, plus nominations for his co-star Lakeith Stanfield and One Night in Miami's Leslie Odom Jr (Selma's David Oyelowo was robbed). Colman Domingo, an Emmy-winner for Euphoria and Tony-nominee for The Scottsboro Boys, deserves to join that Academy Awards list for his turn as Rustin's eponymous figure. His performance isn't merely powerful; it's a go-for-broke portrayal from a versatile talent at the top of his game while digging into the every inch of his part. Domingo doesn't only turn in a showcase effort in a career that's long been absent on-screen leading role, either; he's everything that Rustin hangs off of, soars around, and lives and breathes with. Focusing on Bayard Rustin, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom director George C Wolfe's latest feature already had a riveting and important tale to tell, but Domingo proves its stunning beating heart. Rustin's namesake holds a place in history for a wealth of reasons, but here's one: it was at the event that he conceived, organised and gave almost everything he had to ensure took place that Martin Luther King Jr have his "I Have a Dream" speech. That moment at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in August 1963 will never be forgotten. Nor should Rustin's efforts in ensuring there was a protest — a historic demonstration with more than 200,000 attendees, in fact— to begin with against overwhelming pushback. Dr King (Aml Ameen, I May Destroy You) is a supporting player in this film, which explores the behind-the-scenes hustle and bustle from idea until the day, as well as Rustin's fight not just against racism but also homophobia as an openly gay Black man (including the battles he's forced to wage among his fellow crusaders for civil rights). Even while only covering a sliver of his subject's life, Wolfe largely takes the traditional biopic route, working with a script by Julian Breece (When They See Us) and Dustin Lance Black (an Oscar-winner for Milk); however, the potency of the Rustin's deeds and struggles, the importance of everything that he was rallying for and Domingo's electrifying lead performance all make his movie anything but standard. Rustin streams via Netflix. EARTH MAMA Add Savanah Leaf's debut feature to 2023's phenomenal first films from female directors, slotting in alongside Aftersun and Past Lives. Earth Mama mightn't riff on her own story as those two movies do for their filmmakers, but the former Olympic volleyballer and Grammy-nominee for Best Music Video (for Gary Clark Jr's 'This Land') does still draw upon reality to potent and empathetic effect. In 2020, Leaf and actor Taylor Russell (Bones and All) co-directed documentary short The Heart Still Hums, which dedicated its frames to single mothers forced to interact with the child welfare, fostering and adoption systems. In fiction, focusing on one young mum with two kids that she's desperate to reunite with and a third on the way, that's Earth Mama's story as well. Leaf won Best Debut Director at the 2023 British Independent Film for the confident and revelatory end result, which feels as initiate and raw as cinema gets — and, while firmly telling a social-realist tale about the plight of women in its protagonist's situation, balances its bleakness with hope, a sense of community, and astute and insightful doses of magical realism. Tia Nomore also makes a staggering debut herself as Gia, the 24-year-old whose pain at being away from her son Trey (Ca'Ron Jaden Coleman, This Is Us) and daughter Shaynah (Alexis Rivas, another first-timer) seeps from her pores. Getting their family back together isn't simple, though, as the authorities splash their disapproval at everything Gia does: her history wth drugs, which she's in recovery for; her new pregnancy, especially given that she isn't in a stable relationship; and being late to her supervised once-a-week sessions with kids, despite the fact that she's doing her best to meet all of child services' demands while also keeping her job. In some of the movie's visually brightest moments that come tinged with the surreal, Gia works in a mall photo store helping to take happy snaps of beaming couples and their offspring; immortalising their perfect dream is how she makes a living, while constantly chasing her own. There's poetry to Leaf's imagery, anger in her survey of how Black women are treated and defiance in Gia's determination — plus both complexity and compassion everywhere. Earth Mama streams via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. HUESERA: THE BONE WOMAN The sound of cracking knuckles is one of humanity's most anxiety-inducing. The noise of clicking bones elsewhere? That's even worse. Both help provide Huesera: The Bone Woman's soundtrack — and set the mood for a deeply tense slow-burner that plunges into maternal paranoia like a Mexican riff on Rosemary's Baby, the horror subgenre's perennial all-timer, while also interrogating the reality that bringing children into the world isn't a dream for every woman no matter how much society expects otherwise. Valeria (Natalia Solián, Red Shoes) is thrilled to be pregnant, a state that hasn't come easily. After resorting to praying at a shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in desperation, neither she nor partner Raúl (Alfonso Dosal, Narcos: Mexico) could be happier, even if her sister Vero (Sonia Couoh, 40 Years Young) caustically comments that she's never seemed that interested in motherhood before. Then, two things shake up her hard-fought situation: a surprise run-in with Octavia (Mayra Batalla, Everything Will Be Fine), the ex-girlfriend she once planned to live a completely different life with; and constant glimpses of a slithering woman whose unnatural body movements echo and unsettle. Filmmaker Michelle Garza Cervera (TV series Marea alta) makes her fictional narrative debut with Huesera: The Bone Woman, directing and also writing with first-timer Abia Castillo — and she makes a powerfully chilling and haunting body-horror effort about hopes, dreams, regrets and the torment of being forced into a future that you don't truly foresee as your own. Every aspect of the film, especially Nur Rubio Sherwell's (Don't Blame Karma!) exacting cinematography, reinforces how trapped that Valeria feels even if she can't admit it to herself, and how much that attempting to be the woman Raúl and her family want is eating away at her soul. Solián is fantastic at navigating this journey, including whether the movie is leaning into drama or terror at any given moment. You don't need expressive eyes to be a horror heroine, but she boasts them; she possesses a scream queen's lungs, too. Unsurprisingly, Cervera won the Nora Ephron Award for best female filmmaker at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival for this instantly memorable nightmare. Huesera: The Bone Woman streams via Shudder. ROBE OF GEMS In the very first moments of her very first feature as a director — after working as an editor on films such as 2012's Post Tenebras Lux and 2014's Jauja — Natalia López demands her audience's attention. She earns it and ensures it as well, and looking away while Robe of Gems unfurls its story is impossible afterwards. To kick things off, a patient and painterly glimpse at the rural Mexican landscape comes into sight, fading up and bringing more and more dusty grey details with it with each second. Then, without the frame moving, a frenetic man is seen bashing and slashing through the plants. Next, it becomes apparent that there's a reflection as part of the image. And, it's also quickly evident that viewers are seeing someone else's vantage as they look on at the landscape. In fact, a couple peers out, in the middle of getting intimate (and immediately before flinging wooden furniture around, strewn pieces flying everywhere). With the 'start as you mean to go on' maxim in mind, it's a helluva opening. López does indeed begin as she goes on, in a film that scored her 2022's Berlinale's Silver Bear Jury Prize. The pivotal villa belongs to Isabel's (Nailea Norvind, Julia vs Julia) family, and offers somewhat of a respite from a marriage that's splintering like that thrown-about furniture, with the clearly well-to-do woman settling in with her children Benja (first-timer Balam Toledo) and Vale (fellow debutant Sherlyn Zavala Diaz). But tension inescapably lingers, given that the onsite caretaker María (newcomer Antonia Olivares) is unsettled by the disappearance of her sister, a plot point that makes a purposeful statement. The police are investigating, the cartel has a local presence, corruption is an ever-present force, and the gap between the wealthy and not-so is glaring. Progressing carefully from that powerhouse opening, Robe of Gems quickly seeps under your skin — and as its first visuals make abundantly clearly, every second is a marvel to look at. Robe of Gems streams via Prime Video and Madman on Demand. CASSANDRO The story of luchador Saúl Armendáriz hits the screen in Cassandro, which takes its title from the American-born Mexican performer's ring name. As writer/director Roger Ross Williams (Life, Animated) works through with help from his charismatic star Gael García Bernal (Werewolf By Night), Armendáriz first came to wrestling in a mask — as an amateur living in El Paso but heading over the border to Juarez to get scrapping — then made a big switch to take on an exótico identity. That's where the openly gay competitor not only found himself, but also earned fame. He takes convincing, however, as this affectionate and thoughtful feature unpacks. Of course he wants to be able to express himself, bounce between the ropes with glamour and joy, carve out an accepting space and have crowds showering him with love. But exóticos have been traditionally positioned to lose. Dressed in drag, they've been used to show up the masculine strengths of their opponents. That homophobic situation isn't one that Armendáriz wants to embrace, but trainer Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez, A League of Their Own) thinks that he could make a difference, subvert the trend, stand out and become a better wrestler. Frequent documentarian Williams, who won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short for Music by Prudence, knows a great story — and stellar talent. Cassandro has both, including Armendáriz's rise to become the 'Liberace of Lucha Libre', the many ups and downs on that path, his relationship with his mother Yocasta (Perla De La Rosa, Villa, itinerario de una pasión), and Bernal's layered performance in his shoes and spandex. There's both passion and heartbreak in the actor's portrayal — shyness as Saúl and blossoming confidence as Cassandro as well — in another of Bernal's big career highlights. Indeed, he puts in a tour-de-force effort as the film explores Armendáriz's devotion to his mum; his complicated feelings about his absent, disapproving dad (Robert Salas, Family Portrait); his secret liaisons and not-so-clandestine love for married fellow luchador Gerardo (Raúl Castillo, The Inspection); his flirtations with the assistant (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio aka Bad Bunny, Bullet Train) to his key promoter (Joaquín Cosio, Narcos: Mexico); and what it means to get a shot in the ring with icon silver-masked El Hijo del Santo (as himself). Cassandro streams via Prime Video. THEY CLONED TYRONE Jordan Peele's Get Out and Us would already make a killer triple feature with Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You. For a smart and savvy marathon of science fiction-leaning films about race in America by Black filmmakers, now add Juel Taylor's They Cloned Tyrone. The Creed II screenwriter turns first-time feature director with this dystopian movie that slides in alongside Groundhog Day, Moon, The Cabin in the Woods, A Clockwork Orange, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and They Live, too — but is never derivative, not for a second, including in its 70s-style Blaxploitation-esque aesthetic that nods to Shaft and Superfly as well. Exactly what drug dealer Fontaine (John Boyega, The Woman King), pimp Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx, Strays) and sex worker Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris, The Marvels) find in their neighbourhood is right there in the film's name. The how, the why, the specifics around both, the sense of humour that goes with all of the above, the savage satire: Taylor and co-writer Tony Rettenmaier perfect the details. Ignore the fact that they both collaborated on the script for the awful Space Jam: A New Legacy, other than considering the excellent They Cloned Tyrone as a far smarter, darker and deeper exploration of exploitation when the powers that be see other people as merely a means to an end. On an ordinary day — and amid vintage-looking threads and hairstyles, and also thoroughly modern shoutouts to SpongeBob SquarePants, Kevin Bacon, Barack Obama, Nancy Drew and bitcoin — Fontaine wakes up, has little cash and doesn't win on an instant scratch-it. He chats to his mother through her bedroom door, tries to collect a debt from Slick Charles and, as Yo-Yo witnesses, is shot. Then he's back in his bed, none the wiser about what just happened, zero wounds to be seen, and going through the same cycle again. When the trio realise that coming back from the dead isn't just a case of déjà vu, they team up to investigate, discovering one helluva conspiracy that helps Taylor's film make a powerful statement. They Cloned Tyrone's lead trio amply assists, too, especially the ever-ace Boyega. Like Sorry to Bother You especially, this is a comedy set within a nightmarish scenario, and the Attack the Block, Star Wars and Small Axe alum perfects both the humour and the horror. One plucky and persistent, the other oozing charm and rocking fur-heavy coats, Parris and Foxx lean into the hijinks as the central threesome go all Scooby-Doo. There isn't just a man in a mask here, however, in this astute and inventive standout. They Cloned Tyrone streams via Netflix. NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU Thanks to Justified, Short Term 12, Booksmart, Unbelievable and Dopesick, Kaitlyn Dever has already notched up plenty of acting highlights; however, No One Will Save You proves one of her best projects yet while only getting the actor to speak just a single line. Instead of using dialogue, this alien invasion flick tells its story without words — and also finds its emotion in Dever's expressive face and physicality. Her character: Mill River resident Brynn Adams, who has no one to talk to long before extra-terrestrials arrive. The local outcast due to a tragic incident from her past, and now living alone in her childhood home following her mother's death, Brynn fills her time by sewing clothes, making models of her unwelcoming small town like she's in Moon and penning letters to her best friend Maude. Then she's woken in the night by an intruder who isn't human, flits between fighting back and fleeing, and is forced into a battle for survival — striving to save her alienated existence in her cosy but lonely abode from grey-hued, long-limbed, telekinetic otherworldly interlopers with a penchant for mind control. With Spontaneous writer/director Brian Duffield's script matched by exacting A Quite Place-level sound design and The Witcher composer Joseph Trapanese's score, this close encounter of the unspoken kind is a visual feat, bouncing, bounding and dancing around Brynn's house and the Mill River community as aliens linger. Every single frame conveys a wealth of detail, as it needs to without chatter to fill in the gaps. Every look on Dever's face does the same, and every glance as well; this is a performance so fine-tuned that this would be a completely different film without her. Bringing the iconic 'Hush' episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to mind, No One Will Save you is smartly plotted, including in explaining why it sashays in silence. Just as crucially — and this time recalling everyone's favourite home-invasion film, aka Home Alone — it's fluidly and evocatively choreographed. There's also a touch of Nope in its depiction of eerie threats from space, plus a veer into Invasion of the Body Snatchers, all without ever feeling like No One Will Save is bluntly cribbing from elsewhere. The result: a new sci-fi/horror standout. No One Will Save You streams via Disney+. RYE LANE When Dom (David Jonsson, Industry) and Yas (Vivian Oparah, Then You Run) are asked how they met, they tell a tale about a karaoke performance getting an entire bar cheering. Gia (Karene Peter, Emmerdale Farm), Dom's ex, is both shocked and envious, even though she cheated on him with his primary-school best friend Eric (Benjamin Sarpong-Broni, The Secret). It's the kind of story a movie couple would love to spin — the type that tends to only happen in the movies, too. But even for Rye Lane's fictional characters, it's a piece of pure imagination. Instead, the pair meet in South London, in the toilet at an art show. He's crying in a stall, they chat awkwardly through the gender-neutral space's wall, then get introduced properly outside. It's clumsy, but they keep the conversation going even when they leave the exhibition, then find themselves doing the good ol' fashioned rom-com walk and talk, then slide in for that dinner rendezvous with the flabbergasted Gia. It's easy to think of on-screen romances gone by during British filmmaker Raine Allen-Miller's feature debut — working with a script from Bloods duo Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia — which this charming Sundance-premiering flick overtly wants viewers to. There's a helluva sight gag about Love Actually, as well as a cameo to match, and the whole meandering-and-nattering setup helped make Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight an iconic trilogy. That said, as Rye Lane spends time with shy accountant Dom, who has barely left his parents' house since the breakup, and the outgoing costume designer Yas, who has her own recent relationship troubles casting a shadow, it isn't propelled by nods and winks. Rather, it's smart and savvy in a Starstruck way about paying tribute to what's come before while wandering down its own path. The lead casting is dynamic, with Jonsson and Oparah making a duo that audiences could spend hours with, and Allen-Miller's eye as a director is playful, lively, loving and probing. Rom-coms are always about watching people fall for each other, but this one plunges viewers into its swooning couple's mindset with every visual and sensory touch it can. Rye Lane streams via Disney+. CONFESS, FLETCH Since Mad Men had Don Draper want to buy the world a Coke to end its seven-season run back in 2015, comedy has been Jon Hamm's friend. He's the ultimate TV guest star, building upon stints in 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation while Mad Men was still airing with Toast of London, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Curb Your Enthusiasm, on a resume that also includes The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, Childrens Hospital, Medical Police, Angie Tribeca, The Last Man on Earth and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp as well. So, casting him as the new Irwin Maurice 'Fletch' Fletcher couldn't be an easier move. Having fellow Mad Men standout John Slattery (The Good Fight) also appear in the latest flick about the investigative reporter, and the first since the Chevy Chase-led movies in the 80s, is another winning touch. Even if that reunion wasn't part of the film, Hamm is so entertaining that he makes a killer case for a whole new Fletch franchise — on whatever screen the powers-that-be like — with him at its centre. Hamm clearly understands how well he suits this type of character, and the genre; he's a comic delight, and he's also one of Confess, Fletch's producers. Superbad and Adventureland's Greg Mottola directs and co-writes, scripting with Outer Range's Zev Borow — and ensuring that Hamm and Slattery aren't the only acting highlights. Working through a plot that sees Fletch chasing a stolen artwork, discovering a dead body, and both looking into the crime and considered a suspect himself, the film also features engaging turns by always-welcome Twin Peaks great Kyle MacLachlan and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar gem Annie Mumolo. There have been several attempts to revive Fletch over the past three decades, including separate projects with Ted Lasso duo Bill Lawrence and Jason Sudeikis — on the page, the character spans nine novels — but viewers should be thankful that this is the action-comedy that came to fruition, even if it skipped cinemas everywhere but the US. Confess, Fletch streams via Paramount+ and Binge. Looking for more viewing highlights? We also rounded up the 15 top films of 2023, and another 15 exceptional flicks that hardly anyone saw in cinemas this year — plus the 15 best new TV series of 2023, another 15 excellent new TV shows of 2023 that you might've missed and the 15 best returning shows as well. And, we've kept a running list of must-stream TV from across the year, complete with full reviews. Also, you can check out our regular rundown of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.
Hayao Miyazaki is back to spirit audiences away — again. Ten years ago, the Studio Ghibli great released The Wind Rises, which was expected to be his last film. The movie maestro even announced his retirement. Thankfully, however, he changed his mind quickly. Now, more than half a decade after that welcome news, his next film exists, has hit cinemas in Japan, is doing the rounds of the film festival circuit and just dropped its first trailer. Prepare to be enchanted: this sneak peek at The Boy and the Heron is pure Miyazaki magic. The My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle icon's latest was confirmed back in late 2022 for a 2023 release, at least overseas. Back then, it was known as How Do You Live, but has changed its title since. In what's described as "a semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death and creation" in the official synopsis, The Boy and the Heron follows a boy called Mahito. Pining for his mother, he experiences the realm where the living and the dead converge — and yes, plenty of Miyazaki's trademarks already exist in that short synopsis. While The Boy and the Heron hit the big screen in July in Miyazaki's homeland, it did so without the usual promotional campaign, which is why a trailer is only dropping now. Indeed, the subtitled teaser is part of the movie's US release, which is slated for December. At the time of writing, the feature doesn't have a release date Down Under — but it'll obviously get one. There's nothing quite like a Miyazaki movie. While Studio Ghibli isn't short on gorgeous on-screen wonders hailing from a range of filmmakers, the Japanese animation house's best-known co-founder truly does make films like no one else. The Boy and the Heron already looks stunning — unsurprisingly — in its debut glimpse, complete with lush greenery, mysterious spaces and floating critters. And, of course, with Mahito and the picture's titular bird making appearances. The trailer opens with a city on fire, too, then includes beckoning frogs and a figure made of flames. A traditional Japanese home, a lit-up corridor, swords and arrows, a blazing sky: they all pop up as well. The Boy and the Heron marks Ghibli's fifth film since Miyazaki's last movie, following Isao Takahata's The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, page-to-screen treat When Marnie Was There, gorgeous French co-production The Red Turtle and the CGI-animated Earwig and the Witch. Check out the first trailer for The Boy and the Heron below: The Boy and the Heron is already open in Japan, and will release in the US on Friday, December 8, 2023. The film doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced. Images: © 2023 Studio Ghibli.
Goodbye traffic, hello impressive views while zooming around Brisbane: within the next decade, that might become a reality. Yes, it sounds like something out of a futuristic movie. Yes, it'd help you ditch the dreaded peak-hour crawl. And yes, there is indeed a plan to bring self-flying taxis to the Queensland city's skies — and within the next decade. As every Brisbanite knows and won't be able to forget in their lifetimes, Brissie is hosting the 2032 Olympic Games — news that was announced exactly a year ago, in fact. As a result, the city is set to get a whole lot busier, and there'll be plenty of people trying to get from point A to point B during the huge event itself. One potential solution: those automated aerial taxis. Back in June, southeast Queensland's Council of Mayors signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wisk Aero, which has been developing all-electric self-flying air taxis in the US. It's now setting up an Australian base, and working with SEQ's Council of Mayors with a hope to introducing "safe, sustainable and scalable autonomous air taxi services" to the region. Exactly where those taxis could fly from and to, how often and what it'd cost haven't been finalised or revealed yet, obviously, with the arrangement still in the planning phase. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said that the world expects "to see the emergence of advanced air technology in places like Singapore, Paris and Los Angeles, and by 2032, I'd love to see it supporting new and innovative experiences for tourism and travel right here in southeast Queensland." "While there's still plenty of work to do around regulation and safety, the prospect of having autonomous air taxis operating throughout our region and between venues during the Brisbane 2032 Games is really exciting," Schrinner continued. Wisk Aero was created in 2019 as a joint venture between aviation companies Boeing and Kitty Hawk — and the latter has been exploring the self-flying air taxi space since 2010. In 2017, it tested and successfully flew an autonomous aircraft designed for passenger use in America. Kitty Hawk, which is supported by Google co-founder Larry Page, also did some testing in New Zealand in 2017 and 2018. Uber was also flirting with the same space via Uber Elevate, with plans to test flying taxis in Melbourne in 2020; however, the company was sold to Joby Aviation that year. In southeast Queensland, KFC has been trialling delivering chicken by drones — so people taking to the air to get around town was always the likely next step. For more information about Wisk Aero and the plans to bring self-flying taxis to southeast Queensland, head to the Wisk Aero and Council of Mayors websites.
The location: a picturesque Hawaiian resort. The clientele: rich and mostly loving it. The vibe: largely demanding, entitled and oblivious that their attitude isn't everyone's idea of normal, at least when it comes to the bulk of the guests staying on the premises and expecting the hotel's staff to cater to their every whim. That's where The White Lotus finds its setting, and the type of folks the HBO series places in its suitably sun-dappled frames as well. But there's an anxious, dark and complex undercurrent pulsating beneath every gorgeous beach, luxurious suite and cashed-up patron — and a strong awareness of the chasm between the well-to-do customers and the struggling and striving hotel staff, too. The latest series from writer/director Mike White (Brad's Status), The White Lotus splits its time between some of the resort's current crop of guests and a selection of its employees. Business hotshot Nicole (Connie Britton, Bombshell) is on holiday with her husband Mark (Steve Zahn, Where'd You Go, Bernadette), teenage son Quinn (Fred Hechinger, Fear Street), college-student daughter Olivia (Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria) and the latter's pal Paula (Brittany O'Grady, Little Voice), but tension keeps festering — Nicole can't help working, Mark receives some unexpected news, Olivia keeps kicking Quinn out of their room and Paula hits it off with Kai (Kekoa Kekumano, Aquaman), one of the staff. Newlyweds Rachel (Alexandra Daddario, Songbird) and Shane (Jake Lacy, Mrs America) are on their honeymoon, but he's too fixated with the fact that they didn't get an even fancier suite, to the point of constantly harassing the hotel's Aussie manager Armond (Murray Bartlett, Tales of the City). Meanwhile, Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge, Promising Young Woman) just lost her mother, is working through her grief and leans heavily on spa manager Belinda (Natasha Rothwell, Insecure). Back in 2011–13, long before The White Lotus became one of 2021's best new shows — and best shows overall as well — White spent two seasons crafting Enlightened, the excellent two-season Laura Dern-starring comedy-drama that was cancelled much too soon. It followed an executive who broke down at work and, when she stepped back into her life, wanted something completely different not just for herself, but for and from the world. It isn't linked, narrative-wise, to White's latest TV miniseries. The same mood flows through, however. And, in terms of sinking its claws into the affluent, eat the rich-style, The White Lotus also pairs nicely with the White-penned Beatriz at Dinner, especially as it examines the differences between the haves and the have nots. The result: a perceptive, alluring and excellently cast satire that hooks viewers from the outset, and then keeps them both guessing and obsessed. In its opening scene, the series shows Shane accompanying a body on the way home, so the audience know this'll end with a death — and wondering who, how and why is one reason that The White Lotus is so compelling. But as each episode unfurls, it's clear that these characters are reassessing what they want out of life as well. The privileged aren't doing it willingly, unsurprisingly, but those at their beck and call definitely are. Here, a glam and glossy getaway becomes a hellish trap, magnifying glass and mirror, with everyone's issues and problems only augmented by their time at the eponymous location. This twisty, astute, savage and hilarious storyline will wrap up after six episodes, in what was meant to be one of HBO's many miniseries. That's the only bad part about the show — but, ahead of its final instalment, HBO has just announced that it's going to bring The White Lotus back for a second run. The next batch of episodes will tell a different chapter in a new place, focusing on a fresh group of holiday-goers at another White Lotus property. Just when they'll arrive hasn't been revealed as yet. Fingers crossed that it's as engrossing and biting as this initial season, though — and that it sports a score of tunes that are just as enticing and also eerie, too. Check out the trailer below: The first five episodes of The White Lotus season one are available to stream via Binge, with the sixth episode dropping on Monday, August 16.
Sydney hospitality giant Merivale has opened the fifth outpost of the group's much-loved Italian eatery, Totti's. Launching on the Ground Floor of the Lorne Hotel as the group's first Victorian opening — and the first-ever outside of New South Wales — the restaurant is helmed by Merivale Executive Chef (and Totti's creator) Mike Eggert, along with Lorne Hotel Executive Chef and Surf Coast local Matt Germanchis. The venue plates up the faithful interpretation of Italian fare that's earned Totti's its cult status up north, though with a few twists and new creations courtesy of the local chef. Familiar favourites are in strong supply, including their famous puffy wood-fired bread ($16) and a range of antipasti which run to prosciutto ($21), kingfish crudo ($15), burrata ($15) and melon ($8). Freshly made pasta dives into new territory with campanelle paired with a spicy milk-braised pork sauce ($31), garlic shiitake mushrooms layered on bucatini and vongole ($35) and a prawn alla vodka which is a must-try ($38). Wood-roasted fish (MP), fillet (MP) and crumbed King George (MP) in the mains section shows off plenty of locally sourced ocean-fresh inclusions — a fitting nod to the hotel's location. Similarly, the drinks list zeroes in on Victorian and Italian winemakers and producers, across a broad-ranging lineup of drops for all tastes. A glance at the cocktail menu reveals some favourites have made their way south, including the signature bellini with salted peach, lychee, lemon myrtle purée and prosecco ($17). The restaurant embraces its coastal setting, with a space well suited to long weekend lunches and thirsty walk-ins, strolling fresh off the beach. Expect foreshore views from every seat in the house. Totti's has proved a winning concept in Sydney since the opening of its OG Bondi outpost. The stable has expanded to include venues in Rozelle, the Sydney CBD and, as of August, Allianz Stadium, where Merivale has taken over the entire food and drink offering. The expansion into Victoria was initially announced back in May of 2021, with the news it had purchased the historic Lorne Hotel to play host to Victoria's first Totti's. Images: Ashley Ludkin
Charcoal chicken, hot chippies, and a mean garlic sauce. The holy trinity, one perfected in its deliciousness by the beloved Lebanese-style charcoal chicken chain El Jannah. Best enjoyed in a wrap, burger or with your bare hands — it's as versatile as it is tasty, and from right this second until sold out, it won't cost you anything. Today marks the conclusion of summer, and you might be feeling a bit glum. Well, El Jannah's grandmothers (aka Taytas) are worried about you; "you too skinny," they said, "you need to eat whole chicken now". Maybe that's why they said it's okay for their grandkids to run this deal, which is estimated to see $2 million worth of chicken leave the kitchens and enter Australian stomachs without a dollar spent. View this post on Instagram A post shared by El Jannah (@el__jannah) More specifically, it's 100,000 whole charcoal chickens, each with a side of the top-secret-recipe garlic sauce, redeemable in every El Jannah store from today until stocks run out. Considering the brand — which started as a lone chicken shop in Western Sydney back in 1998 — now operates almost 50 stores in three states, we wouldn't wait too long to go and get yours. To redeem the offer, you'll need to download the El Jannah app and join the Legendary Rewards program, then simply redeem in-store to claim your juicy, smoky delight and its tangy accompaniment. If you're already a legendary rewards member, don't panic; you can refer a family member or friend to redeem your portion of the goods. El Jannah's 100,000 free chickens offer is only while stocks last, T&Cs apply, find out more on the website and find your nearest El Jannah store here.
It may get passed over for some of its more glamorous neighbouring towns on the Mornington Peninsula, but Cape Schanck is a great spot to check out for your next road trip. The charming seaside region is located at the southernmost point of the Peninsula and is home to great food, excellent wine, idyllic coastal scenery and even a cool old-timey lighthouse, making it a perfect base from which to access all the wonders of the region. We've teamed up with our Victorian road trip partner RACV to bring you a selection of incredible ways to experience Cape Schanck and its surrounds. And don't forget: if you're planning on having a drink, make sure there's a designated driver to keep you safe on your travels. [caption id="attachment_845440" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Tarasiuk, Visit Victoria[/caption] VISIT THE CAPE SCHANCK LIGHTHOUSE RESERVE That old-timey lighthouse we mentioned? Well, it's one of the main landmarks of this part of the Peninsula, so if you're visiting make it an essential stop. While you might not find RPatz and Willem Dafoe in a brain-bending psychological thriller inside, there's plenty of rich history to be discovered. The dressed limestone and sandstone structure that was built in 1859 still has its original mechanisms in place so it's a bone fide architectural relic. Learn more about its significance and history at the on-site museum, then stick around for a stroll of the grounds — the lighthouse is situated at the edge of a stunning national park full of walking tracks, breathtaking coastal views and endemic plants. [caption id="attachment_845442" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] WALK THE BUSHRANGERS BAY TRACK Bushrangers Bay is a quiet, secluded beach that offers a contrasting beauty to the brooding, craggy headlands, thick banksia groves that envelope it and the wild crashing waves that break on the shores. Due to the latter, swimming is strongly discouraged here, but the stunning walk and bewitching scenery more than make up for that. There are two walking tracks that you can take to access the wild beauty of the bay, either from the Cape Schanck car park, or the Boneo car park along Main Creek, both of which are less than three kilometres long. [caption id="attachment_845455" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] RECHARGE AT THE PENINSULA HOT SPRINGS All that walking got you feeling the need to relax? Then make a beeline to the award-winning, naturally forming Peninsula Hot Springs. With its series of pools and private baths filled with natural geothermal mineral waters, this renowned wellness centre has everything you need to relax and recharge, right down to the idyllic background of gently rolling green gardens. Dining and accommodation options are also available if you find yourself wanting to extend your stay — and you might just want to, thanks to the retreat's excellent range of spa and wellness treatments. [caption id="attachment_760242" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fred Laures[/caption] SAMPLE LOCAL PINOT AT NAZAARAY ESTATE The Mornington Peninsula happens to be home to one of Victoria's best wine regions, with the cooler climate offering and especially perfect conditions to nurture pinot noir varietals. The picturesque Nazaaray Estate, owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Param and Nirmal Ghumman since 1991, is the place for cracking drop of pinot, with a number of vintages and varieties to sample (with lovingly prepared Indian tasting plates to match) at the charming cellar door. Honourable mention must also be given to the estate's chardonnay which blends bright fruit notes with subtle but complex oakiness. [caption id="attachment_845444" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Derek Ross, Visit Victoria[/caption] PLAY A PICTURESQUE ROUND OF GOLF AT THE NATIONAL GOLF CLUB Golfer? Be sure to check out The National Golf Club, with scenery so heavenly you might just forget how bad your short game is. The grounds here encompass four world-class courses (including one designed by Greg Norman), with the sprawling greens and fairways punctuated with thickets of local foliage which give way to awe-inspiring coastal views. There's only one catch: unless you're a member, Victorian visitors need to be invited by a current member if they wish to play (interstate and overseas members of other clubs can book via the website). After a turn around the course, though, you'll more than likely be looking to apply for your own membership. EXPLORE THE PENINSULA'S STELLAR DINING SCENE It's not just wine that the Peninsula does well — the food in this part of Victoria is some of the best in the state. Start your day at bona fide McCrae institution Merchant & Maker, an award-winning cafe that features an in-house roaster to prepare ethically sourced, sustainable beans from sibling store Commonfolk Coffee. Pair your brew with a selection from the stellar brunch menu, which includes dishes like the Porky Pork Benny with bacon coffee jam, seeded mustard hollandaise, green apple and pickled fennel, a vegetarian okonomiyaki or a dark chocolate and coconut panna cotta. The Peninsula is also home to a number of terrific fine diners. In Flinders, Moke is all about super-fresh, local and seasonal produce creatively served up in a relaxed setting. The menu changes weekly, sometimes even daily, depending on the spark of inspiration that might seize head chef Michael Cole when scouting for the freshest produce. You can pair your tasting menu with a drop from the impressive wine program curated by Redhill Wine Collective, or a sturdy selection of local beers and spirits. The nearby Donna Maria, as the name might suggest, serves up cleverly contemporary Italian in a stylishly laidback setting. Dishes here — which include beef carpaccio with black garlic aioli and charred eggplant with a raisin and oregano braise, pine nuts and ricotta — are complemented by a foolproof wine list, divided into sections with names like 'chardonnay would go well with what we're eating' and 'I love medium bodied reds like valpolicella'. [caption id="attachment_845445" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Tarasiuk, Visit Victoria[/caption] CHECK OUT SOME LESSER-KNOWN BEACHES As the annual summer influx of city-dwellers attests to vividly, the Mornington Peninsula is home to some of the best (and most easily accessible) beaches in Victoria. Our tip: make a pitstop at one of the more expansive (and far less crowded) beaches in the region. With its nearly four-kilometre stretch of idyllic white sand and calm, crystal-clear waters, Capel Sound, set between Rosebud and Rye, is perfect for a relaxing dip against the backdrop of colourful beach boxes. Ocean beach Gunnamatta, meanwhile, is far more exposed and boasts deep blue cascading waves (with an average height of nearly two metres) perfect for surfing. Still ocean-side, Rye Ocean Beach is another favourite for experienced wave riders, and features natural sand dunes, walking tracks and opportunities to encounter native wildlife. [caption id="attachment_845448" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mattyv.au (Flickr)[/caption] SEE THE NATURAL WORLD AT ITS FINEST AT THE DRAGON'S HEAD AND FLINDERS BLOWHOLE While The Dragon's Head sounds like a brilliant name for a pub, the natural phenomenon is arguably more impressive. The seaside formation is named for what it resembles: a jagged pile of rocks rearing out of the sea atop a shelf that has been mostly worn away, in the shape of, you guessed it, a dragon's head. Completely naturally formed, this spot is just one of many fascinating formations that call Number 16 Beach home — though this one looks particularly impressive as the white waves crash around it. So if you're after a great photo op — or if you've always fancied yourself a Daenerys Targaryen type — then this is a must-visit. Similarly impressive is Flinders Blowhole (which, we admit, would also make quite a good pub name). This geyser, located at the end of a winding wooden boardwalk, puts on a show when the sea shoots up through it as the waves strike the headland. The area also home to some amazing birdlife — on certain days, you may be able to catch glimpses of mighty sea eagles soaring majestically through the skies. UNWIND IN STYLE AT RACV CAPE SCHANCK RESORT With its easy access to and from the city, the Mornington Peninsula is a day-trip favourite for many a Melburnian. But with so much to do, it's well worth a full weekend. Rest up in style at RACV Cape Schanck Resort, a luxurious retreat that's home to a spa, golf course and a number of top quality restaurants and bars championing regional produce. It's right in the heart of Cape Schanck, too, making it the ideal location from which to set off on your adventures. Planning a road trip? Get RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance before you head off. Top images: Visit Victoria
If you're looking for somewhere new and exceptional to eat, drink or sleep, where in the world should you head? That's the perennial question, whether you're keen to make the most of your own city, visit somewhere else around Australia or venture overseas. Here's one way to make your next pick: by working through the selections on Condé Nast Traveler's 2025 Hot List, four of which you'll find right here Down Under. Two Aussie restaurants made the list of top new eateries. Two hotels did the same on their corresponding rundown. The 2025 Hot List features venues from all around the globe; think: eateries in Paris, São Paulo, Girona, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Kigali, St Moritz and more, and hotels everywhere from Botswana, Seychelles, Japan and Austria to Belgium, Greece, Mexico and Grenada. Among them, locations in Sydney, Brisbane, Yamba and Melbourne also carved out a spot. [caption id="attachment_986313" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christopher Pearce[/caption] First, where to dine. Sydney's place on the restaurant list won't come as a surprise. Adding to the many accolades notched up by Josh and Julie Niland, the pair's Saint Peter at the Grand National has earned Condé Nast Traveler's attention. "This is where the who's who of Sydney are keen to dine right now," said the publication of the relocated restaurant. "With traceability at its core, straight from sea to store, Niland's whole-fish cooking remains a trailblazer worldwide, and the new outpost of Saint Peter is proof," it also notes. Brisbanites, you also have a Condé Nast Traveler-approved eatery at home, with Supernormal Brisbane making the cut. Restaurateur Andrew McConnell brought the Melbourne-born chain to the Sunshine State in 2024, to a prime waterfront spot in the state capital's CBD. As the publication notes, though, he "doesn't do cut-and-paste jobs". It continues: "McConnell has taken one of his most beloved outlets — a neon-lit Melbourne laneway diner — and given it a tropical makeover to suit this riverside setting". If you're eager to book in your next getaway without leaving the country, Yamba and Melbourne are your destinations. So, you have coastal town and bustling city options. With the first, the New South Wales spot's Il Delfino Seaside Inn made the list. "Perched on the cliffside and peering over the Pacific Ocean, the original 1940s wave-lashed building has been transformed into a chic seaside inn that feels snatched from the Mediterranean," Condé Nast Traveler advises. In the Victorian capital, Melbourne Place on Russell Street nabbed a spot — and a glowing description. "This striking rust-coloured 191-room hotel built from local bricks, concrete and hardwood is a distillation of what makes this thrumming city tick," the publication notes. Also getting some love in the process: the hotel's sky-high offerings. "The rooftop, with its bar and retractable-rooftop restaurant Mid Air, is encased by a soaring brick wall and feels like a floating fortress with dramatic portholes that look like giant eyes watching over the city. It's here where everyone from guests to locals gather, casually lounging on sofas and seated at tables, with some of the best views across the city." For more information about Condé Nast Traveler's 2025 Hot List, head to the publication's website. Top image: Earl Carter.
Emily and Roy Yu are no strangers to plating up top-quality produce with a Japanese-accented finesse, as you'll know from their restaurants Wagyu Ya and Niku Ou. And the duo are throwing their hat into the same ring, albeit with a little extra fire, for their latest flame-focused eatery Yakikami. Now open in South Yarra, the 70-seat diner is delivering two different upscale food experiences, both embracing Japanese barbecue and built around some pretty exceptional meat. It's a study in Japanese flavours and technique, with more than a little French influence as far as the sauce game goes. Yakikami's menus are the work of Head Chef Hirokazu Sasaki, who hails from Michelin-starred Tokyo restaurant Niku Kappo Black. And the Yu's are among just two Aussie restaurateur groups to hold the Kobe beef Golden Calf certification, named as a preferred supplier of the famously premium marbled meat. Diners in the market for some of that top-grade beef will want to make a beeline for the chef's table offering, which sits just 10 at a time over two nightly sessions. Here, you'll get a front-row seat to the action as Kobe beef is cooked on the Josper grill, the high temperatures of which are thought to best bring out the meat's umami flavour. It starts on a $285 set menu, alongside plates like the A5 Wagyu tartare with smoked caviar, Japanese snow crab paired with hapuka, grilled wild mushrooms, and a nine-hour chicken bone ramen with ox tail and clams. Meanwhile, Yakikami's izakaya-style component centres around a yakitori station and heroes Nomad's premium pasture-raised Sommerlad Heritage chicken (Adelaide) beside an array of other quality proteins. You'll find a slew of things cooked over binchotan — think, garlicky wings, ginger chook hearts, chicken fillet with leek and spicy miso, and king oyster mushrooms finished with unagi tare. Kingfish carpaccio is dressed in yuzu, 'chicken skin rice' comes with sugar snaps and an onsen egg, and there's a hefty range of top-shelf steak and seafood options; from lobster in a 10-hour slow-cooked sauce to a $185 Kagoshima sirloin. If you were hoping to match your deluxe feed with some equally memorable tipples, you're in luck. A wide-ranging vinous selection has been curated by wine expert Phillip Rich, while the sprawling sake lineup tops out at a cool $1350 for a 1.8-litre bottle of the Juyondai Honmaru. Signature sips like the Sayo's Delight — a riff on a whisky sour starring Nikka From the Barrel, passionfruit and sake — is well worth a look-in. Find Yakikami at 150-152 Toorak Road, South Yarra. It's open from 3–10pm Wednesday to Sunday. Images: Griffin Simm
Here's something for Lady Whistledown to write about: for a week right now, running until Tuesday, April 23, 2024, one Australian town has been given a makeover that'll get visitors to the New South Wales Southern Highlands thinking that they've stepped into Bridgerton. Bowral is your current destination for regency-themed fun, with the country locale's homes and boutiques embracing the transformation (and its manicured gardens helping make the spot an ideal destination for the celebration). The reason for turning Bowral into Bridgerton is the upcoming arrival of the Netflix hit's third season, which is on its way in two parts. The first four episodes arrive on Thursday, May 16, then the next four on Thursday, June 13. The streaming platform's Bridgerton in Bowral festivities also include eight free screenings of the first episode of the new batch across Monday, April 22–Tuesday, April 23 at Empire Cinemas. Expect tickets, which are available online, to go quickly. A limited number of walk-in spots will also be available on each day. First announced at the beginning of April, then kicking off on Tuesday, April 16, the temporary Bowral takeover doesn't just span watching the show early if you're lucky enough to score a seat, and also seeing what this patch of regional Australia looks like when it's harking back to the regency era. A range of places around town have received the Bridgerton treatment, with local businesses joining in on the fun. The idea is to make you feel like you're getting the full ton experience. If you want to dress up to fit the part, that's obviously up to you. Some highlights for your promenade include taking in the florals at The Press Shop, then popping behind the cafe's blue door for some tea; spying the carriage outside boutique spirits supplier SoHi; and hitting up Coach House Collective, which already boasts ivy-covered doors, to peruse furniture and other treasures. Vintage lovers will want to walk through the wrought iron gates at Dirty Janes, where fashion that that takes its cues from regency times awaits. And at outdoor arcade Green Lane, you'll see topiary and other greenery — plus art if you have lunch in the library at Harry's. Romance novels are in the spotlight at Books Ever After, as accompanied by classical string music performed live on the Saturday. Bespoke Letterpress is hosting a letter-writing society, Bowral's Sweets and Treats has regency confectionery — think: violet and rose creams, as well as lemonade fizz balls — on offer, and Gumnut Patisserie is also nodding to the period in a sweet treat. Plus, you can also enjoy a picnic under the floral rotunda at Corbett Gardens, or take a drive to the pink-hued estate that is Retford Park. The latter is opening from 10am–4pm daily for the occasion (with a $15 entry fee) to let visitors explore its hedge mazes, water features and sculptures; mosey around its gardens; and play croquet and skittles on its front lawn. A garden party at Milton Park will close out the week, but tickets to that have already been snapped up. If you're going to treat yourself to a getaway this month and you love Bridgerton, you clearly need to make it this Bridgerton-loving getaway. And if you're a Bridgerton obsessive who lives in Bowral, prepare for plenty of company. Of course Netflix is bringing the series into real life to celebrate season three. This is the streaming service that set up public toilets based on Squid Game, Heartbreak High and Emily in Paris back in February, after all. In the past, all in Sydney, it has also opened a Stranger Things rift on Bondi Beach, unleashed the Squid Game Red Light, Green Light doll by Sydney Harbour and a had pop-up Heartbreak High uniform shop slinging threads in Newtown, too. [caption id="attachment_950838" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bridgerton S3 - Bowral Town Takeover, AustraliaApril 16th 2024[/caption] The town of Bowral's Bridgerton-themed makeover runs until Tuesday, April 23. For seats to screenings of the first episode of the show's' third season across Monday, April 22–Tuesday, April 23 at Empire Cinemas, head to the ticketing website. Bridgerton season three will stream via Netflix in two parts, with four episodes on Thursday, May 16, 2024 and four on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Images: Liam Daniel/Netflix.
Therry Street, on the southern end of Queen Vic Market's Dairy Hall, has become a mini food and drink hub of its own. It recently welcomed a St Ali outpost, Brick Lane Brewery's new site overlooking the market, and the Japanese-inspired brunch spot Operator San. It's a really short street, but more shops are still popping up — most notably, Romanello. This Italian takeaway spot is baking Tuscan-style bread (schiacciata) and pizza by the slice from Tuesday–Sunday. The schiacciata bread is similar to focaccia, but it's thinner, airier and crispier. When used to make loaded sandwiches, it's a whole lot easier to eat and isn't quite as heavy. It's also baked fresh every day on-site. Be sure to watch the bakers do their thing through the street-side windows before heading in. The schiacciata slabs are then sliced up and stuffed with a stack of produce that's mostly sourced from the Queen Vic Market. The cotoletta sanga is a fan-favourite, coming with breaded chicken, creamy red peppers, pistachio pesto, onions, spicy provolone and rocket. The Cheeky Beef is another winner, loaded up with handmade beef carpaccio, stracchino soft cheese, truffle paste and rocket. Then come the pizzas, served on a very similar base to the sandwiches. Instead of being really doughy like your usual pizza, these are on the crispier side (but not super thin). Our favourite has got to be the Mortazza, topped with mortadella, pistachio paste, crushed pistachios and a mini burrata ball — that you rip open yourself. This is so satisfying to eat. Other classic pizza toppings and seasonal creations also grace the cabinet each day. You can grab these bites to go or sit at one of the tables on Therry Street, right across from the busy market. These might be pricier than your $5 market boreks, but these fresh sandwiches and pizzas are generously loaded with top-notch produce. Check Romanello out next time you pass by QVM.
Development of inner city suburbs means that the classic Aussie pub — much like the endangered corner store or a Paddle Pop in the sun — is at risk of disappearing. Like many Melbourne pubs, The Corner Hotel underwent a refurb a few years back — but, unlike some, it emerged all the better for it. The respectful renovation and careful design of the rooftop bar left local fans happy and no doubt introduced a new generation of pub-goers to one of the city's best live music venues. Overlooking the Richmond Station train lines, The Corner's indoor-outdoor rooftop bar has an air-conditioned area for hot days, a large smoking area and an even bigger heated non-smoker deck for any weather. It also boasts a private bar and function space and the rooftop is also completely wheelchair accessible, a rarity in Melbourne. With all this new space to play with, it's worth getting a pint of one of the many craft beers on tap and taking a moment to explore. To match the space, The Corner Hotel has created a fresh menu of premium pub food with a new focus on shared dishes. This sees pub classics rub shoulders with modern dishes — for example, a parma with chips and salad sits alongside pan-fried barramundi with pearl cous cous, eggplant kasundi and fried curry leaves. Our pick is the pumpkin and sage risotto with toasted walnuts, blue cheese and fried sage leaves — we were thinking about it days after the fact. Alternatively, there's a high chance you'll find yourself here looking for a pre-gig snack. If that's the case, the old-school five-spice fried chicken ribs with pickled cucumber and yuzu glaze or the sweetcorn arancini should do the trick. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options on the menu, too. As well as great food and drinks, the Corner Hotel in Richmond has made a name for itself by hosting gigs since the 1940s. Artists who've appeared there include the likes of the Violent Femmes, The White Stripes, Public Enemy, Joan Jett, Joe Strummer, Crowded House and the Deftones. Even Mick Jagger and Pink Floyd have graced the stage, as well as a surprise gig by Billy Joel. They still put on great acts to this day, with plenty of big local names taking the mic.
Among the many things that cinema's various bleak visions of the future have taught us, the need for sturdy footwear is right up there. Who wants to be caught wandering through Mad Max: Fury Road's apocalyptic wasteland with flimsy shoes? And, although Blade Runner's 2019 setting has been and gone, who wants to be bathed in its neon lights or Blade Runner 2049's orange haze without their toes covered? Consider Dr Martens' new Warner Bros-inspired range the perfect kicks if dystopian times come, then. Some are best worn if you're feeling shiny and chrome, others will suit you if you wonder whether androids dream of electric sheep. The iconic footwear label has teamed up with the movie studio to celebrate the latter's 100th anniversary, paying tribute to Mad Max: Fury Road and the OG Blade Runner specifically across four pairs of docs. There's two types of shoes for each, with both films scoring their own riff on Dr Martens' 1460 boot and Jadon boot. Here's one way to choose which kind you want: via the thickness of the soles, with the Jadon's platform base adding to your height. For Mad Max: Fury Road devotees hanging out for prequel Furiosa, the 1460 version comes with "what a lovely day" printed on the back of old harness leather, and also features a harness over the shoes, plus laces with a spearhead charm printed with Immortan Joe emblem. If you opt for the Jadon boots, you'll get chrome-plated shoes that feature the skull emblem stamped on a metal plate, a zipper to match, red rubber and a chain threaded around the back, gear-inspired eyelets and a skeleton arm pointing towards the toe. The Blade Runner kicks both feature four unforgettable words: "like tears in rain". With the 1460 boot, the phrase repeats along the welt. With the Jadon, it's printed on the backstrap. The 1460 also includes a grid print, a strip of reflective tape on the backtrap, a Tyrell Corporation stamp and lace charm to match, as well as a dog tag. With the Jadon, it boasts red stitching, multiple Tyrell Corp nods — including via embossing — and an origami unicorn charm. When you're getting decked out to worship your favourite sci-fi classic, there's also Blade Runner-inspired bag if you're a matchy-matchy sort. Dr Martens new Warner Bros anniversary range is available from Thursday, November 16 online and in stores — head to the brand's website for further details.
Yellowjackets wants viewers to be its bloody Valentine in 2025 — and more cannibalism, more haunting reminders of what it takes to survive in the wilderness after a plane crash, and more hunting in both of the hit thriller series' timelines are in store. In November 2024, not only was a Friday, February 14, 2025 return date locked in for the show's third season, but fans scored a first glimpse. Now comes a proper trailer, complete with chases, the faces of the dead popping back up and pondering who should be eaten (or should've been by now). Two years after its second season, Yellowjackets will make is comeback on Valentine's Day to kick off its latest round, again following its characters both in the immediate aftermath of their traumatic accident and when the past keeps intruding on their present after decades have gone by. As viewers discovered when it debuted in 2021 and became one of the best new shows of that year, the instantly intriguing (and excellent) series follows a New Jersey high school's girls soccer team in the 90s after their plane plummets into the forest, and also checks in with everyone that's made it out alive 25 years later. Across two seasons so far, life and friendship have proven complex for Yellowjackets' core quartet of Shauna (The Tattooist of Auschwitz's Melanie Lynskey as an adult, and also No Return's Sophie Nélisse as a teenager), Natalie (I'm a Virgo's Juliette Lewis, plus Heretic's Sophie Thatcher), Taissa (Law & Order's Tawny Cypress, and also Scream VI's Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Misty (Wednesday's Christina Ricci, as well as Atlas' Samantha Hanratty). The latest trailer for season three puts it this way: "once upon a time, a bunch of teenage girls got stranded in the wilderness — and they went completely nuts." The full setup: back in 1996, en route to a big match in Seattle on a private aircraft, Shauna, Natalie, Taissa, Misty and the rest of their teammates entered Lost territory. The accident saw everyone who walked away stranded in the wilderness — and those who then made it through that ordeal stuck out there for 19 months, living their worst Alive-meets-Lord of the Flies lives. Thanks to the new sneak peek at what's to come, get ready for howling, masks, more fighting, ghosts and the present-day crew trying to work out who is after them. After swiftly getting picked up for a second season because its first was that ace, Yellowjackets was then renewed for a third season before that second group of episodes even aired. In Australia, viewers can watch via Paramount+. In New Zealand, the series streams via Neon. In season three, the returning cast — which includes Simone Kessell (Muru) as the older Lottie and Lauren Ambrose (Servant) as the older Van, characters played in their younger guises by Australian actors Courtney Eaton (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Liv Hewson (Party Down) — will be joined by Hilary Swank (Ordinary Angels) and Joel McHale (The Bear). And from season two, Elijah Wood (Bookworm) is also back. Check out the latest trailer for Yellowjackets season three below: Season three of Yellowjackets will start streaming from Friday, February 14, 2025 via Paramount+ in Australia — and streams via Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season one and review of season two, plus our interview with Melanie Lynskey. Via Variety.
Champagne, cognac and caviar. This is what Melburnians can expect from the CBD's favourite new cocktail bar, Nick & Nora's. The bar is the brainchild of the Speakeasy Group, the owners of cocktail classic Eau de Vie, Viking luxe bar Mjølner and whisky-serving Boilermaker House. Like Mjolner, Nick & Nora's will be a Sydney import — the group opened its first Nick & Nora's in Sydney in October 2018. The Melbourne outpost swung open its incredibly opulent doors in July 2023 for a very short time, then reopened them at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday, October 27, when restrictions were eased. Like its Sydney counterpart, the venue is inspired by Dashiell Hammett's novel The Thin Man and its fictional crime-solving team, Nick and Nora Charles. If you're not familiar with the book, expect a roaring 30s vibe befitting a most glamorous party. The sprawling venue boasts five distinct spaces (a main bar, salon, champagne parlour and a VIP lounge), three balconies, green marble, gold and dark wood finishes and a whopping 400 bottles of champagne on display. The latter is housed in a five-metre-long climate-controlled display case and features rare vintages alongside bubbles by the glass. For cocktails, the manual is organised by taste — a Speakeasy Group signature — but with venue-themed list names like The Femme Fatal, The Hollywood Starlet and The Snitch. Think martinis, champagne cocktails, punches and sours aplenty. [caption id="attachment_787583" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pinkerton Punch by Brook James[/caption] If you can't be bothered to read through the entire book of drinks, we suggest going for the smoking Cafe Noir (aged rum, cold drip, coffee liqueur, sweet sherry and vanilla mousse, served chilled with liquid nitrogen, the Doin' Time (Woodford Reserve rye whiskey, marmalade and amaro, served with a pinot noir float or the four-person Pinkerton Punch (gin, Cynar, elderflower, celery shrub and bubbles. For nibbles, while you drink, there are French-inspired snacks and share plates, including smoked eel blinis topped with caviar, confit duck with fermented chilli, chicken liver parfait with brioche and lamb tartare topped with macadamia cream. Plus a full caviar service and a sizeable selection of cheese and charcuterie. Nick & Nora's is located in the high-end restaurant precinct within the 80 Collins Street building. It's shaping up to house some big hospitality names, with highly anticipated new venues from Sepia's Vicki Wild and Martin Benn and Pastuso's Alejandro Saravia already locked in. Images: Brook James Updated Tuesday, March 21 2023. Appears in: The Best Bars in Sydney
Opening its doors in June 2025, Wellness Social Club is a beautiful space that combines state-of-the-art technology and more traditional modalities with a communal — dare we say, a social — approach to wellness. Whether you're stopping in for a spot of yoga and contrast water therapy with mates, or channelling your inner biohacker with a session in the in-house hyperbaric oxygen chamber, the venue offers a wide range of services and treatments designed to help you recharge and reconnect. There's a fair bit packed into this labyrinthine space, but thanks to a considered design featuring clean lines, soft archways, ambient lighting, and earthy tones and textures, it never feels cramped, but instead invites you to slow down. "Think of it as a health club meets a high-end lounge," says Co-Founder Tamara O'Dowd, who developed the concept alongside her son Ayman O'Dowd and business partner Ben Gunning over three years. "We wanted to create a place that doesn't just look after your physical health but supports your emotional and social wellbeing too. It's a place to unwind, catch up with a friend, and reset — all in one visit." There's an impressive range of services available here. In addition to traditional and infrared saunas and magnesium-infused hot and cold plunge pools, you'll also find full-body red-light therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, lymphatic compression therapy, BrainTap tech featuring advanced neurostimulation technology and a medical-grade hyperbaric chamber that supplies you with 100 percent oxygen. More of a wellness lover than a biohacker? Wellness Social Club offers yin yoga, breathwork, IV vitamin drips and sound healing for those looking to dive into inner healing. [caption id="attachment_1010907" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption]
After closing down its Daylesford location earlier in 2018, Kazuki's opened the doors to its new restaurant — bringing its Japanese fine dining from regional Victoria to Melbourne. That year, Japanese-born Chef-Patron Kazuki Tsuya and his wife and business partner Saori launched Kazuki's in Carlton. It's a case of new surroundings, but same approach, for the flagship eatery, in a split-level site that seats 30 downstairs and 18 on the second floor. Design-wise, with a calm, serene feeling all part of the eatery's vibe, the interiors feature timber screening, rich carpets and naturalistic lighting — and an overall colour palette that heroes grey with accents of Japanese elm, granite and leather. As for the menu, it continues the fusion of Japanese and European flavours that Kazuki's is known for, paying tribute to the chef's heritage as well as his French training. The menu oft changes, but diners can expect dishes such as kingfish sashimi with buttermilk, finger lime, white soy and ginger, plus sea urchin with russet potato chips, beluga caviar and cultured cream. The wagyu flank is cooked over coals and comes with a smoked eel and port wine reduction — while desserts may include a dark chocolate tart with gianduja ganache, hazelnuts and miso caramel and yoghurt sorbet with yuzu curd and Anzac biscuit crumbing. Japanese sake, whiskey and spirits feature on the drinks list, as does wine from Japan and Australia among a hefty international selection at Kazuki. Images: Peter Tarasiuk.
From luminous coral to majestic jellyfish, the deep blue ocean is home to no shortage of natural masterpieces. And some of its most luminous critters are about to be celebrated with their own dedicated digital exhibition when Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium unveils its latest multi-sensory attraction: Submerged. The aquarium's debut outing into the digital realm, Submerged will run from mid-February until December, taking centre stage while Sea Life's sprawling Oceanarium display is undergoing renovations. The immersive all-ages exhibition invites you to explore the fascinating depths of the bioluminescent underwater world, where organisms produce and emit light using chemical reactions. Expect breathtaking, hyperrealistic displays of colour and light, depicting phenomena like glittering beaches scattered with spawning creatures, and the tiny firefly squid that light up the deep waters off Japan. The aquarium's offering will look a little different in 2023 thanks to the Oceanarium's upgrade works and closure, though this striking interactive exhibition will be here to offer a big dose of ocean magic in its place. Alongside Submerged, you'll also be able to catch numerous other displays and installations, starring creatures like fish, turtles, penguins, jellyfish and sharks. Pinjarra the saltwater crocodile will also remain on show for those who want to say g'day. Access to Submerged is included in the cost of a general aquarium ticket. Submerged will be on show at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium from mid-February until December. You can find out more and grab tickets over at the website.
Nobody's Baby made its quiet yet confident arrival on Toorak Road in South Yarra back in April 2025. The dimly lit, alluring venue from Tim Badura (who came across from Young Hearts) and Gustavo Prince (of Pizza Meine Leibe and Joe's Shoe Store) is a neighbourhood favourite that feels both sophisticated, with complex cocktails, and laidback, with easy-listening vinyls spinning in the background. Nobody's Baby is part of a pioneering group of venues trialling a residency-type program in which rotating chefs take over the kitchen for a period of time (such as the innovative Residence at the Potter). Badura says this model "keeps things fresh, gives our guests new flavours to explore and lets us collaborate with restaurants we really admire." First up in the kitchen were the crew from Very Good Falafel, who brought Middle Eastern-influenced snacks and plates all the way from Brunswick. There were sumac-cured sardines, Hawaij-spiced chicken and olive skewers from the hibachi and pita pockets stuffed with lamb meatballs, grilled onions, sundried tomatoes, and pickled mango condiment. Of course, they also showcased their eponymous very good falafel balls with pickles, tahini and zhough. Up next were the easygoing and flavour-focused pair from Rocco's Bologna Discoteca, Zoe and Emilio. When the Fitzroy fave took up their residence at Nobody's Baby, Southsiders were thrilled that they could finally get their hands on the crowd-pleasing, stomach-filling, juicy meatball sub on the south side of the river. Their snacky menu lent itself to a footloose and fancy-free night of drinks and nibbles. Think whipped goat's curd with agrodolce, roasted bullhorn peppers with hazelnut vinaigrette, marinated anchovies with nduja mayo, and beef tartare with tonnato sauce, all mopped up nicely with pillowy focaccia. As with previous residencies, Nobody's Baby stayed only three short months. In that time, diners enjoyed playful cocktails designed to complement the Italian fare. There was the Baby Misu — tiramisu in drinkable form — and the Emerald Green, a blend of basil, honey, Montenegro and gin. Now, Nobody's Baby has welcomed their next guest chef to the kitchen. From Friday, January 23, Chef Aitor Jeronimo Olive brings Basque Txoko (pronounced "chock-o") to the South Yarra bustling bar. Growing up between Southern Europe and Melbourne, Aitor has developed an avant-garde approach to cooking that he has taken to all corners of the globe, including opening Singapore's first Basque-inspired restaurant. Now, Melburnians are in for a taste of Aitor's authentic, Basque Country cooking. Badura and Prince say, "We're so excited to have Aitor at Nobody's Baby for the next three months. A number of cuisines and pop-ups have rotated through our kitchen – from Italian, to Middle Eastern, to the Basque Country –, and no matter the style of food, we love being a vessel for anyone to showcase their cuisine, and our hospitality remains the same – warm, welcoming, and ensuring every guest leaves feeling like they've made a friend in us. The convivial nature of Aitor's rustic Basque cuisine fits so perfectly with what Nobody's Baby is about, and we're stoked to be his first home in Australia." While working your way through Badura's Basque-inspired drinks list, snack on gildas and oysters with pickled Basque chillis, rye bread with smoked whipped butter, and pickled white anchovies with garlic and olives. More substantial plates include charcoal-grilled eye fillet with veal jus and a fish of the day with salsa verde and clams, served alongside Basque favourite confit piquillo peppers and papas fritas. Finish on a sweet note with Frank Camorra's creme caramel, or a classic burnt basque cheesecake. Aitor says, "After a career of cooking all over the world, I'm so looking forward to settling back into Melbourne, and sharing the food from the other country I call home. Nobody's Baby feels like a natural fit for Basque Txoko, which literally translates as "nook" or "cozy corner" in the Basque language, but more generally in the Basque region, it's a space where food, friendship and tradition converge. Tim and Gustavo have been so generous with their space whilst I look for a permanent home for my next restaurant in Melbourne, and I couldn't think of a more perfect place for the pop-up." Images: Basque Txoko images, Mads Rehorek.
UPDATE, November 23, 2022: Festival X has announced that Megan Thee Stallion will no longer be headlining the festival. This article has been updated to reflect that lineup change. It's been three years since the Australian music festival scene welcomed Festival X, which debuted back in 2019 with Calvin Harris leading the bill. We all know why the event hasn't been able to return since, but it's remedying that absence in Melbourne on Saturday, November 26 with Harris as one of its headliners again. That's fantastic news if you're a fan of the Scottish DJ. Also topping the bill: Don Toliver. If you're keen for a hot girl summer, Festival X's 2022 comeback was due to feature Megan Thee Stallion as well, who was set to head to Australia for the first time ever; however, she's sadly no longer coming Down Under. Festival X will take over Flemington Racecourse, with Boys Noize, Green Velvet, John Summit, Luude and MaRLo also doing their thing onstage — and, yes, the list goes on. Festival X hails from quite the list of industry big guns, with Onelove (Stereosonic), Live Nation (Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival) and Hardware (Piknic Electronik, Babylon) behind the touring event. FESTIVAL X 2022 LINEUP: Calvin Harris Don Toliver Boys Noize Green Velvet John Summit Luude MaRLo Nina Kraviz Sub Focus (DJ set and ID) Tchami Wilkinson (DJ set) Anna Lunoe Babyface Mal Badrapper Blastoyz Choomba Cosmic Gate Franky Rizardo Haliene Key4050 featuring John O'Callaghan and Bryan Kearney Laura King Len Faki Nifra Nora En Pure Prospa Sunset Bros Taglo Tyson O'Brien
When the 2025 FORMULA 1® SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX races on the Marina Bay street circuit from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5, it's not just the drivers who'll be getting in on the action. For ten days straight from September 26, Grand Prix Season Singapore takes over and the entire city transforms into a hub of parties, dining experiences, concerts and one-off events that orbit the main race. Between the on-track events and the city's best food, culture and nightlife hot spots, there's more than enough to fill a week-long stay. So, if you're making the trip over, here's your ultimate bucket list to check out beyond the track. Singapore Sidecars If you're going to navigate Singapore during race week, you might as well do it in style. Singapore Sidecars runs 60-minute vintage Vespa tours that give you front-row access to the city's hidden laneways and street food stops. For the GPSS, the rides get an F1 twist, guiding you past iconic landmarks and F1 party venues while you ride shotgun in an old-school sidecar. This year, you can even end your ride at Prego's Italian restaurant for a post-track night out. Book it here Eat. Play. Race at Harry's Race week is all about stamina, and that starts with where you refuel. Local favourite bar collective, Harry's, is getting into the spirit with an 'Eat. Play. Race.' challenge for F1 fans. To get involved, you can dine at Harry's Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and South Beach locations, collect a digital stamp card and test your skills on the virtual F1 tracks to earn your place on the leaderboard. With heaps of exclusive gifts and prizes on offer, it's the perfect place to kick off race week. Explore it here Don Diablo at Zouk Singapore's nightlife is always energetic, but it gets even buzzier during the Grand Prix. Zouk is one of the city's longest-standing music institutions and nightclubs, featuring a rotating lineup of international talent. This year, Dutch DJ Don Diablo is on the decks for one night, playing tracks from his futuristic third album, *FORΞVΞR*. The multi-hyphenate artist is known for collaborating with Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and Justin Bieber. He is sure to keep your adrenaline pumping long after the last lap. Book it here Grand Prix Concert Lineup One of the worst-kept secrets about the Singapore Grand Prix? The concerts are just as big a drawcard as the race itself. Each year, the organisers book international A-listers who turn Marina Bay into a full-blown festival precinct. Previous years have seen everyone from Robbie Williams to Blackpink, and the 2025 lineup is promising another mix of global superstars, including Elton John, Lewis Capaldi and Crowded House. Even if you don't know your pit stops from your paddocks, these gigs are reason enough to buy a ticket. Explore it here Singapore Oceanarium After a few nights of partying, you might want to slow the pace with a visit to the Singapore Oceanarium on Sentosa. Recently reopened after a massive revamp, it's one of the world's largest oceanariums, home to more than 100,000 sea animals and immersive digital exhibitions. Wander past towering tanks, learn about ocean conservation, or book a seat at one of its underwater dining experiences. It's a chance to swap the roar of engines for the quiet hum of the underwater world. Explore it here New Bahru If you're looking to experience a different side of Singapore, make time for New Bahru. This creative hub is a cluster of design studios, galleries, boutiques and food pop-ups, all housed in what used to be a girls' school campus. It's where you'll find emerging fashion labels alongside artisan roasters, art collectives and indie events. While the Grand Prix is about the global stage, New Bahru proudly shows off local talent, brands and creativity. Explore it here PERFORMA at Plaza Singapura This year, a series of premium fitness and lifestyle events are popping up at Plaza Singapura for a first-of-its-kind experience. Across the ten days of GPSS, you can wander around the curated line-up of performance gear, join upcycling workshops that turn reclaimed plastics into racing-themed accessories, and squeeze in short, high-intensity workouts at the Speed Series sessions. There's a Refuel Bar for post-sweat refreshments, a gamified Mystery Garage Locker Wall with hidden prizes, and race-themed photo booths where you can walk away with a personalised driver profile card. Explore it here Whether you're an F1 super fan or just along for the ride, the Singapore Grand Prix gives you a chance to tap into one of Asia's most dynamic cities. Between the ten days of culture and music programming and the ever-growing list of new attractions, there's no excuse not to extend your stay. Can't make it in 2025? The 2026 Singapore Grand Prix is on October 9 – October 11. Book your limited release early bird tickets here from 13th October. Regular tickets go on sale from 3rd November
Having brightened the workday week in the CBD for some time now, Cuff is now opening on Saturdays. Head in between 8am–2:30pm for a three-course brunch with the option of bottomless drinks. For a fancy take on the humble scrambled egg, go for the spicy chilli scramble. Your eggs will come peppered with chorizo, lashed with basil pesto, given a creamy touch with togarashi aioli, and finished with parmesan – all served on a flaky croissant. Sweet tooths might be more interested in the waffle crunch. It's a liege waffle plus a croissant, smeared with lemon curd, layered with raspberry coulis, and topped with strawberry wafers, fresh berries and a Drumstick. There's also a few lunch-y offerings, including seared crispy skin salmon with watercress green goddess sauce and a colourful red quinoa salad, as well as a decadent seafood risotto. To make a real occasion of it, add the Spritz and Giggles package, which gives you unlimited drinks for just 35 bucks. As always, Zest coffee is on brew, and you'll be soundtracked by a party-starting playlist.
Sometimes life challenges your worldview. Normally, if I saw someone eating McDonald's while in line for ramen, I'd be inclined to think this person has no respect for the edible artform they are about to indulge in — save some room you maniac. But in the case of Mensho Tokyo, whose two-hour-plus line snakes all the way down Russell Street, wrapping around Bourke Street and past Bourke Street McDonald's, such an act of blasphemy makes sense. Hell, it's kind of genius. Mensho Tokyo is the new kid on the Melbourne ramen block, and as far as debuts go it's made quite the splash. Two-hour lines are not hyperbole, they're par for the course if you want to nab one of the 28 seats available inside. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mensho Melbourne (@menshotokyo.au) Still, people are happy to wait to get their hands on a bowl from the renowned ramen chain. Mensho opened its first store in Tokyo in 2005, and has since gone on to open 15 more locations spanning the US, Thailand, and India — with Melbourne being its first venture in Australia. Once inside, expect to be greeted with the warming collective greeting of "Irasshaimase!" — synonymous with any ramen joint worth its miso. Every seat in the house is a front-row ticket to an exclusive ramen-making masterclass as the kitchen is completely visible to all patrons — unless you happen to be assigned a seat upstairs. Seating is luck of the draw, and while the handful of tables upstairs aren't bad, the atmosphere is not on par with downstairs. If you're willing to wait longer for a spot downstairs, staff are willing to accommodate. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mensho Melbourne (@menshotokyo.au) SO WHAT'S ON THE MENU? The menu features six types of ramen, including the elusive and premium wagyu ramen (limited to 20 bowls per day), the powerful GKO (garlic knockout ramen) which features three types of fried garlic, and, finally, the aesthetically stunning matcha ramen. The menu also features an assortment of classic ramen sides (the karaage chicken and spicy corn 'wings' are to die for). It was hard to choose — it all sounded enticing. But in the end I went with the signature bowl: the toripaitan ramen. It's a creamy chicken broth that's let to simmer for six hours before another 24 hours in the fridge to develop depth of flavour. This is then topped with duck char siu and served with fresh noodles that are made right upstairs. THE VERDICT Overall it was a nice experience. But is a Michelin star on the resume really worth the cold and tedium of spending two hours shuffling outside a city block on a mid-winter Melbourne night? The short answer is no. Look, it's good ramen. But it's not dunking over the heads of what's already on offer in Melbourne. Then again, it's not exactly easy to open a new location in a brand new market, build a new team, and have them open to the baptism of fire that is a ramen-hungry Melbourne public, willing to wait in rain and cold for hours ensuring an unrelenting onslaught of customers from door open to door close every night. It's an impressive feat, and one the team at Mensho Tokyo manages to achieve with a smile. I'm looking forward to coming back in a couple of months, once the lines (hopefully) die down, and the undeniable might that is the Mensho Tokyo machine is well and truly oiled. Mensho Tokyo Ramen Melbourne is open Tuesday – Sunday, 5pm–10pm Images: David Allegretti
The days are getting longer, after-work swims are back, frangipanis scent the air, and we've officially completed the switch to iced drinks only. That can only mean one thing: summer has arrived. Like clockwork, MILKLAB's Summer Sensations program is back for another year to help us kick our coffee ruts aside with a season-defining new drop of drinks. Each year, the number one plant-based barista milk brand officiates the start of summer with a curated lineup of summer-approved drinks. Each drink has been developed with specialty coffee roasters Golden Brown Coffee to be equal parts delicious and aesthetic. If 2024 was the year of strawberry matcha and adding sparkling water to espressos, yuzu, and cold brew, what's in store for summer 2025? We asked MILKLAB for a sneaky first look at this summer's trending drinks, from matcha to coffee and beyond. Glazed Doughnut Iced Latte Hailey Bieber may have made us temporarily think of skincare when we think of glazed doughnuts, but this summer, that's about to change. Why? Because we're set to see the Glazed Doughnut Latte pop up on cafe menus everywhere and become your new summer sweet treat. Think espresso, white chocolate, and caramel shaken over ice until frothy and served alongside MILKLAB Macadamia on a hot summer's commute. If you've ever wanted to turn a doughnut into a drink, this is absolutely for you. Mango Matcha If matcha has become a part of your daily routine — and your entire personality — you will be thrilled to see the Mango Matcha popping up everywhere this year. Yes, it's time to bid farewell to the 2025 zeitgeist's favourite drink, the humble strawberry matcha. Just like your beloved iced matcha, this one comes with a hefty dose of everyone's favourite summer fruit, mango. Perfectly whisked matcha poured over ice, the right balance of MILKLAB Oat, vanilla, and a punchy layer of mango purée make this drink the perfect way to welcome summer. Who knows, you might even like it better than the strawberry version. Ube Matcha Ube has taken the drinks world by storm in Asia, and now it's Australia's turn. If you haven't seen it on menus yet here, prepare for its total takeover of cafes this year. The bright purple drinks are made with ube, a technicolour sweet potato native to the Philippines that has a nutty, earthy vanilla-like flavour. The ugly-on-the-outside and purple-on-the-inside vegetable is boiled down and turned into a delicious syrup, perfect for drinks. Think of it like one of nature's prettiest and tastiest sweeteners. This summer, find it adding a purple punch to your regular matcha — perfect if you're not a fan of overly sweet drinks. Almond Iced Pistachio Latte Pistachios have had one of the biggest years on record, soaring in popularity and becoming an ingredient in just about everything. Now that summer has arrived, you can expect to see it added to coffees. Different from the in-your-face flavour profile of Dubai chocolate, here you'll find the pistachio (and white chocolate syrup) whisked vigorously and dissolved into your espresso shot, meaning each sip tastes of the delicious ingredient we all can't get enough of. Then, it's topped with MILKLAB Almond and garnished with crushed pistachios and pistachio spread. Coconut Mango Frappe Just because you don't drink coffee doesn't mean you should miss out on having an ice-cold drink at a cafe this summer. Frappes are back in a big way this year, so prepare to see them on cafe menus across the country, and even bars for the sober-curious among us. Think of the Coconut Mango Frappe as the piña colada's daytime equivalent, but with mango. Mango, MILKLAB Coconut, coconut cream, ice and sugar syrup are blended up and served topped with shredded coconut and a lime wedge. Best enjoyed from a glass dripping with condensation when the mercury rises. Find your new summer obsession in store at your favourite cafe now, or head to MILKLAB's website for more inspiration.
