Have you ever wanted to have the choice between 160 different bitters? If your answer is yes, we're here to tell you that Lily Blacks is your bar. Tucked into Meyers Place off the top end of Bourke Street, this little gem means business. Lily's is run by Lachlan McAllister and the team behind many a great Melbourne bar, including recent Smith Street addition Mr Wow's Emporium. Like all of McAllister's venues, anyone and everyone is welcome to sip a tipple with Lily. In the early hours of the evening, you'll find yourself rubbing shoulders with the after-work crowd, and the hospo crew often pop in for a pre- or post-shift beverage, too. Lily's channels 1920s glamour and exudes that speakeasy vibe with a little extra cheek. When it comes to the drinks list, aside from the wall of bitters, they pride themselves on knowing a thing or two about gin. On their cocktail list classics sit comfortably next to original creations that are all carefully labelled with their key flavour: sweet, dry, boozy, tall, sweet, sour, and bitter are all descriptions you'll have to choose from. Try Lily's decadent Eton Mess made up of Larios gin, lavender, strawberries and fresh lime ($18). Or perhaps stick with something stronger, like the Japanese Cigar made from Courvoisier VS Cognac, Ardbeg Whisky, Hickory-smoked Orgeat, and bitters ($18). If the trusty Old Fashioned is your thing, however, it's time to get excited. There are six on the menu, with an array of weird and wonderful bitters. Try Matusalem clasico rum with Bob's chocolate and house-made cinnamon and fig bitters ($19). Taking care of the beer and wine drinkers among us, craft brews like the Hawthorn pale ale is on tap ($6 a pot), and you can get a Bai Ha Noi from Vietnam ($10) by the bottle. Eight wines are available by the glass — two sparklings, three white, and three red. If you're in a celebratory mood, you can also splurge by getting the Bollinger 2002 by the bottle ($295). And if Lily Blacks wasn't already enough fun, they also run monthly Iron Bartender competitions, where Melbourne's finest bartenders go head to head in an Iron Chef-inspired battle of the shakers. Secret ingredients and an enthusiastic crowd are guaranteed to follow.
Get your hands on some high quality art, craft and furniture, via a new online auction service that donates all of its proceeds to charity. Created with Care is the result of a partnership between maker community marketplace Handkrafted and artist-to-buyer platform Bluethumb. Launching earlier this month, the online auction room has recruited a select number of Australian artists and furniture makers, who are auctioning off unique, handmade pieces for charities of their choice. Visitors to Created with Care can currently place bids on five different items, including a 3D artwork by Erin Nicholls and Lars Laug, and a hand painted wooden bowl by Stephen Ziguras and Anne Ellison. A number of additional pieces will come up for auction in the coming weeks, with bidding on all items closing at 5pm on Friday, June 10. Nominated charities range from bushfire relief to animal rescue to asylum seeker aid. Current bid only $525... Furniture maker Ben Percy @benpercydesigns and artist Salleigh Olsen @salleigholsenart collaborated to produce this beautiful work of art - with all proceeds of it's sale to be donated to StreetWork, a charity helping young troubled teenagers turn their lives around. You can place your bid and explore more of the #CreatedWithCare16 collaborations we have curated together with @bluethumbart at www.createdwithcare.com.au Made by re-sawing solid American Hickory (donated by @britton_timbers) and as the seat and backrest are separately supported, the laminated legs 'flex' as individuals sit down. A photo posted by Handkrafted (@handkraftedco) on Apr 25, 2016 at 12:49am PDT "Every day I look at incredible art, yet these pieces are beyond my greatest expectations," said Bluethumb co-founder Edward Hartley. "They have set the bar for future artists and crafters." To see what's up for auction and to place a bid, visit www.createdwithcare.com.au.
Clear your calendars, art lovers. We're coming up fast on the end of the year, and that means Midsumma is right around the corner. Melbourne's largest queer arts and culture bash, the Midsumma Festival has showcased the talents of local creatives from within the city's LGBTIQ community every year since 1988. Tickets to Midsumma 2016 are due to go on sale later today, meaning it's time to start poring obsessively over this year's program and seeing how much stuff you can fit in. Running for three straight weeks from January 17, Midsumma 2016 will be spread across more than 80 different venues, and will cover everything from visual art and performance to community events and parties. As has become tradition, the festival's centrepiece event will be the annual Pride March along Fitzroy Street in St Kilda. This year, the march will put an emphasis on the fight for marriage equality. The Pride March is one of three major flagship events on this year's program. The Midsumma Carnival and TDance will once again kick off the festival with a five-hour lineup of free live music and entertainment in Alexandra Gardens. We'll also see the launch of the first ever National Water Polo League Pride Cup at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, in which the Victorian Seals National League will take on the Brisbane KFC Breakers. The night will also feature an exhibition grudge match between Australia's only LGBTIQ clubs, the Melbourne Surge and the Sydney Stingers. Carn the Surge! Other standout events on the program include the DRAGNATION drag competition, the Lesbian Comedy Gala and the Yass Pride! party at Luna Park. A performance from award winning cabaret singer Michael Griffiths looks set to be pretty great and the premiere of a new multimedia art exhibition Company of Men is another of our must-see events. Tickets for Midsumma 2016 will go on sale today. For more information about the festival including the full program guide, visit midsumma.org.au
Radiating sunshine from its pint-sized digs overlooking Lincoln Square, Hareruya Pantry is a takeaway-only hole-in-the-wall created by Kantaro Okada, who also brought us other Japanese gems, 279 and North Melbourne's Le Bajo. The tiny Japanese convenience store-meets-cafe specialises in bento and gelato, its name translating to 'sunny shop'. And indeed, it's as cheery as they come, drawing queues from breakfast till dinner. Shelves are stocked with a neat array of takeaway treats and snacks, while at the counter, staff scoop from shiny tubs of gelato. Vibrant, loaded bento boxes are brimming with various osouzai (side dishes), teamed with meat and egg, the fish of the day, or vegetarian options. Savoury snacks might include the likes of onigiri, sandos and chicken karaage tossed in dashi amazu (a sweet vinegar), while during colder months, you'll find oden boxes (a Japanese stew), served with the broth ready to pour over the dry ingredients. Sweet-toothed visitors to Hareruya will delight in the rotation of house-baked pastries — think, castella, miso brownies and matcha cookies — and the drinks offering runs to freshly-pressed juices and lattes of both the caffeinated and matcha-infused variety. House-made gelato fills the Italian Pozzetti freezer, the rotating lineup fusing classic Japanese flavours with Italian techniques. Shirogoma (white sesame), sweet potato, and red fruits with elderflower and yuzu are just some of the varieties being scooped of late. Get yours in a cup or take-home tub, daifuku-style (wrapped in mochi skin), or sandwiched between rice wafer crisps like a traditional monaka. The petite Hareruya store boasts a couple of bench seats, though if the sun's a-shining, you'll find the adjacent grassy park is the ideal setting to hoof down your bento and gelato.
Internet radio station Hope St Radio found a new permanent home in 2021, opening the doors to a wine bar and kitchen within the revamped Collingwood Yards. Also dubbed Hope St Radio, the venue boasts an expansive space beside the precinct's central courtyard — its bright, roomy interiors decked out with timber booths and fun mural art by Peter Cole and Alice McIntosh. Food-wise, it's all about the after-work snacks and dinner options; best enjoyed alongside some local beers, sustainably-produced wines, or serves of Fernet and coke. The menu changes regularly, though expect to find options like rigatoni all'amatriciana, focaccia with whipped garlic and tarragon butter, and creamy burrata teamed with artichokes and a vibrant nettle oil. Unsurprisingly, music is a big part of the bar's DNA, with a custom sound set-up courtesy of Hot Wax Sound Systems featuring tunes from Hope St Radio's expert curation of musicians and artists. A live broadcast keeps the venue buzzing right through the end of each week. [caption id="attachment_812441" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Tom Blachford[/caption] Top images: Tom Blachford and Natalie Jurrjens Appears in: The Best Wine Bars in Melbourne for 2023
It's been a great 12 months for queer-themed cinema. Moonlight won last year's best picture Oscar, Call Me By Your Name had everyone swooning and transgender drama A Fantastic Woman not only wowed festival crowds, but also picked up this year's best foreign-language Academy Award. They're just the big players, however. There's plenty of other top LGBTIQ+ cinema where they came from. And, in even better news, much of it is heading to Melbourne for the 2018 Melbourne Queer Film Festival. Running through the numbers, it's shaping up to be another impressive fest when MQFF hits up ACMI, Kino Cinemas and Cinema Nova from March 15 to 26. Across its 12 days and 85 sessions, film buffs can expect 38 features, 14 documentaries and 72 shorts. That includes two world premieres, 12 Australian premieres and 21 Melbourne premieres — and, from all of that, we've selected our five best picks of the bunch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIqwrEtTw-A IDEAL HOME What happens when a couple suddenly meets the grandson they never knew they had? Plenty — and when that hard-partying pair is played by Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd, expect plenty more to occur as well. It's not the first time they've starred together, nor the first time they've shared the screen and pondered the meaning of family, with 2011's Our Idiot Brother also featuring on their respective resumes. Here, however, expect a warm queer comedy about the the connections of kin (be it of blood or of choice) of all shapes and sizes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h6Zwdi86Nw THE CAKEMAKER A sensitive, involving and exceptionally acted German drama that'll tempt your tastebuds and touch your heart, The Cakemaker explores the aftermath of a chance meeting, a passionate affair and a tragic accident — all while acknowledging the many complexities that exist when it comes to love. Berlin-based pastry chef Tomas (Tim Kalkhof) not only falls head-over-heels for Israel businessman Oren (Roy Miller), but is driven to act when their romance is cut short. Tracking down Oren's widow Anat (Sarah Adler) in Jerusalem, Tomas finds a new bond forming over unspoken grief and appetising baked goods. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBGLipbSi_M MANSFIELD 66/67 Never far from the headlines in both life and death, '50s and '60s star Jayne Mansfield was an actress, Golden Globe winner and Playboy playmate. She was also accused of being a Satanist, and became the subject of a persistent myth that she was decapitated in the car accident that claimed her life. Focusing on her final years, Mansfield 66/67 touches on all of the above — and includes interpretative dance sequences in its camp compilation, because why not? John Waters, Kenneth Anger, Peaches Christ and Tippi Hedren rank among the interviewees in a documentary that definitely isn't your standard behind-the-scenes effort. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuIpb6Z6Tuo TORREY PINES From its style of stop-motion animation to its heartfelt true coming-of-age tale, every inch of Torrey Pines should feel hand- and homemade. That's because it is. An autobiographical effort from trans animator Clyde Petersen, the film dives into his '90s upbringing as a Star Trek fan with a schizophrenic mother, takes viewers on their road trip across the US, and explores everything that arises when you're with grappling with identity and sexuality. It's also stuffed full of pop culture references, including pop to Australia's own Crocodile Dundee. SO LONG Enjoying its world premiere at MQFF, So Long has a stronger Aussie connection — made in Melbourne by filmmakers Caitlin Farrugia and Michael Jones, it adds lesbian mumblecore to the country's cinematic output. You might recognise the general story of two just-single twentysomethings navigating life and love might, and there's no doubting that we've all seen that scenario many times before. Familiarity doesn't always breed contempt, however, particularly when it's both realistic and relatable. Keen on more MQFF highlights? Check out Freak Show, A Moment in the Reeds, Signature Move and Sensitivity Training from our 2018 Mardi Gras Film Festival picks, and Desert Hearts, Love, Simon, The Feels and After Louie from our 2018 Brisbane Queer Film Festival selections. There's also I Dream in Another Language from our 2017 Sundance Film Festival list, and BPM (Beats Per Minute) from our Alliance Francaise Film Festival rundown. Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2018 runs from March 15 to 26 at ACMI, Kino Cinemas and Cinema Nova . For more information, visit the festival website.
Dumpling Empire prides itself on giving guests a culinary tour of China. From Shanghai, you can enjoy handmade xiao long baos. From Sichuan, there are spiced noodles. And from Guandong, you can sample bamboo steamed rice dishes. It is the kind of joint with a team of chefs from all over, so you know whatever you order is going to be authentic and traditional. There interior here is simple yet elegant, with your typical unassuming furniture dressed up with lanterns and splashes of red. The service is welcoming and kind but the focus is definitely on the food before anything else. The menu kicks off with light snacks to get the mouth watering, including pork xiao long baos and spring onion pancakes. The dumpling menu includes classics such as prawn and chicken dumplings and pan-fried steam buns, while vegetarians can order the vegetarian option. If you're after noodles, there are steamed pork and fish meatball soups, along with pork tripe or stewed lamb noodle soups. Rice dishes include deep fried chicken with special sauce or the classic bamboo steamed black bean and fish with chilli rice. The mains are where Dumpling Empire really shines, with perfectly balanced flavours and very generous servings. The pick of the bunch is the stir-fried grab which is lightly flavoured with ginger and spring onions. Pair this with a serve of Chinese broccoli and you are well on your way to one of the best Chinese meals you've had in your life.
If you've been to Sydney, the Night Noodle Markets or spent some time on Instagram any time in the last few years, you've probably seen Black Star Pastry's strawberry watermelon cake floating around in the hands of hungry sweets fiends. You'll also know it's not just any cake — no, it's a thing of intense beauty that catches the eye (and heart) of anyone who as much as glances at the pink flower-topped cube of pastry. Just look at it. A photo posted by ROBBIE (@itd_be_rude_not_to) on Sep 14, 2016 at 5:36am PDT If your sweet tooth is aching just looking at that pretty hunk o' cake, you'll be delighted to know that the Sydney-based bakery yesterday announced via Instagram that they'll be coming down south to Melbourne for a three-month pop-up. They'll be setting up shop on University Street in Carlton from in late February with a selection of their incredible cakes — and yes, their signature aforementioned strawberry watermelon doozy will be there. Other favourites include the lemon pistachio zen cake, the strawberry lychee cake and the vegan chocolate popcorn cake. They'll also open up online orders to Melbourne so you can order a huge one for an "occasion". Until now Black Star's goods have only been available at their three Sydney locations and, for the last two years, the Night Noodle Markets. The lengthy pop-up hints at the possibility for a permanent store to open here in the future — but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Be sure to make the most of all that glorious, glorious cake while it's in town. The Black Star Pastry Pop-Up will open in late February and run for three months. It will be open Monday to Saturday 9am – 8pm and Sunday 9am – 3pm. For more information, visit blackstarpastry.com.au.
Laneway has come a long way since the early days of '05, spreading good vibes and great tunes from Melbourne to Singapore. Now it's back for yet another summer, with arguably one of its most eclectic lineups in years. From Tycho to Chet Faker Nick Murphy, we're feeling seriously spoiled for choice. Of course, with so much going on, figuring out what to see (and what to eat) can be a bit of a challenge. That's why we've put together a quick and easy guide to this year's Laneway Festival. Whether you're in Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, these tips should hold you in good stead. [caption id="attachment_559317" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Andy Fraser.[/caption] LISTEN Well, you're at a music festival, so chances are you want to catch a few of the artists. Up-and-comers Julia Jacklin, Genesis Owusu and Tash Sultana seem destined to hit it big in 2017, so get in while they're still (relatively) unknown. Sampa the Great, Koi Child, Clams Casino, Mick Jenkins and the UK's Glass Animals all front one heck of a live set, and we guarantee NAO's 'Girlfriend' will go off. Speaking of which, expect Briggs and Trials of the excellent A.B. Original to have plenty to say, especially with the Brisbane festival falling smack bang on Australia Day. And whatever you do, be sure to catch D.D. Dumbo, whose album Utopia Defeated was named best Aussie album of the year by triple j — and quite rightly, too. [caption id="attachment_607112" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Laneway Festival.[/caption] EAT When it comes to grub at Laneway you've got plenty of options, with some of the best food vendors in each city jumping on board. In Brisbane, you can chow down on German sausage courtesy of Brat Haus, feast on vegetarian soul food from Govindas, and mack on mac 'n' cheese by Mac from Way Back. In Melbourne, your options include American-style barbecue from the teams at both Bluebonnet and Burn City Smokers, plus cheese from Milk the Cow and fucking hot poultry from Belle's Hot Chicken. Belles will also be on hand at Laneway Sydney, along with pizza from Happy as Larry, paella from Paella Time and sangas from Boon Café. That's just the tip of the iceberg, by the way: for the full food lineup in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney go here, here and here. [caption id="attachment_510542" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Andy Fraser.[/caption] EXPLORE There's plenty to discover at Laneway this year, no matter which city you're in. Each festival leg will feature a pop-up market and vinyl store, with scheduled signing times by various Laneway acts. In Brisbane, they're also hosting a Hottest 100 backyard party with Violent Soho and DZ Deathrays in attendance. In Sydney, meanwhile, a contemporary art exhibition will showcase the work of current and recently graduated students from the Sydney College of the Arts. There's even a festival podcast, if you want to get in the Laneway frame of mind ahead of schedule. LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2017 DATES Brisbane — Thursday, January 26 Melbourne — Saturday, January 28 Auckland — Monday, January 30 Adelaide — Friday, February 3 Sydney — Saturday, February 4 Fremantle — Sunday, February 5 Check Laneway Festival's website for more details and tickets. Top image: Andy Fraser.
Come summer in Melbourne, you won't just see stars on cinema screens — you'll sit beneath them while you're watching a movie. That's what Rooftop Cinema promises each and every year, and the first part of its 2017–18 program certainly delivers. First stop: Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford in Blade Runner 2049. Kicking off on December 2 and running through until March 2018 (with the second half of the program still to be announced), there's plenty more movie fun where that came from. Haven't had a chance to see one of this year's most hyped films, Baby Driver? Keen to check out comedian Kumail Nanjiani's based-on-real life The Big Sick? Want freak yourself out with Get Out? You'll find them all on the lineup. Don't forget that checking out classics on the big screen is all part of the Rooftop Cinema experience as well, though. This year's retro contingent includes tributes (Labyrinth, The Goonies and Stand By Me), all manner of Christmas hijinks (Love Actually, Home Alone and Elf) and two nights of Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Back to the Future). If there's ever been a reason to spend your evenings outdoors for the next few months, this is it. Rooftop Cinema takes place in the Melbourne CBD, on top of Curtin House, Swanston Street (between Little Bourke and Lonsdale Streets). The bar opens daily between 11am and 1am, with films starting at 9.30pm in December and January. The February and March program will be announced in late January.
You can spend this summer immersed in legendary Japanese artworks at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Its upcoming blockbuster exhibition, dubbed Japan Supernatural, is set to open on November 2 as part of the tenth Sydney International Art Series. Made up of more than 200 works from all over the planet, it's an exploration of the spirit world in Japanese art. Expect an immersive experience involving paintings, sculpture, prints, film, animation, comics and games. Leading the show is a monumental piece by Tokyo-born Takashi Murakami. He's a bit of an international rockstar, renowned for bringing together high and low art — much like Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol. Chances are, you first heard of him in the 1990s, when he launched the inaugural Superflat exhibition. Since then, he's been a prolific creator of paintings, drawings, sculptures and animations, and collaborated extensively with Louis Vuitton. Representing a much earlier era will be Katsushika Hokusai, born in Edo in 1760. His best-known piece is Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, a series of wood block prints that includes the now iconic Great Wave off Kanagawa. While can't reveal, yet, which of his pieces will be travelling to Sydney, we're hoping we get some of the works that were at Melbourne's NGV in 2017. Look out, too, for works by historical artists Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi and Kawanabe Kyosai, as well as contemporary pop artist Chiho Aoshima and photographer Miwa Yanagi. The artworks are expected to be announced in early 2019, but, in the meantime, you can check out the ninth Sydney International Art Series, which includes paintings by Monet, Matisse and Picasso and a retrospective of South African photographer David Goldblatt's work. An installation view of the exhibition Japan Supernatural at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, November 2, 2019 until March 8, 2020. Photo: AGNSW/Jenni Carter
Nearly 400 films reached cinemas in this part of the world in 2017. That's not going to change in 2018. Whether you're the kind of cinephile that heads to the movies several times a week or you'd rather save your big-screen viewing for the flicks you're most excited for, the result is the same: you're spoiled for choice. Indeed, whether you've worked through all of last year's great movies or you're still playing catch-up on some you might've missed, a new annual calendar means a whole new batch of must-sees. In the twelve months ahead, that includes the usual onslaught of sequels, remakes and ongoing sagas, plus plenty of movies that have been winning awards — including recent Golden Globes recipients The Shape of Water and Lady Bird. And then there's these, our ten picks for 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89OP78l9oF0 ANNIHILATION No longer one of the sci-fi big-screen highlights of 2018, the second film from Ex Machina writer/director Alex Garland is heading straight to Netflix in this neck of the woods. And while it's incredibly disappointing that audiences won't get to see this journey through an environmental disaster zone in a cinema as it was meant to be seen, it still looks like it'll be a thrilling, unnerving, immersive treat no matter how you watch it. Based on the novel of the same name, the movie follows a biologist, Lena (Natalie Portman), who goes searching for answers when her soldier husband (Oscar Isaac) returns injured from his own jaunt. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez and Thor: Ragnarok scene-stealer Tessa Thompson also feature, and we're guessing Isaac probably won't tear up the dance floor in this. On Netflix in early March. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhZ56rcWwRQ A WRINKLE IN TIME After giving quite the inspirational Golden Globes speech, everyone's talking about Oprah. Expect it to continue come March. She mightn't take acting roles all that frequently, but playing a celestial being in the long-awaited adaptation of 1962 science fantasy novel A Wrinkle in Time seems the perfect part. As directed by Selma's Ava DuVernay, and also featuring Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Andre Holland, Zach Galifianakis and Aussie Levi Miller, the film focuses on Meg Murry (Storm Reid), who has to save her astrophysicist father (Chris Pine) from a distant galaxy. Sure, there's another Star Wars movie out this year — but notch this one up as a different type of space story. In cinemas March 22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt__kig8PVU ISLE OF DOGS Wes Anderson making a stop-motion animated movie about a dystopian future where dogs have been quarantined on their own Japanese island? Shut up and take everyone's money. Four years after The Grand Budapest Hotel, the American filmmaker is back with what might be his cutest flick yet — and given how gorgeous his general aesthetic is, including his previous animated effort Fantastic Mr. Fox, that's saying something. A high-profile roster of Anderson regulars and other famous names voice canines and humans alike, such as Greta Gerwig, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton and Frances McDormand. And as for Isle of Dogs' story, it centres on a boy who makes his way to the island in search of his beloved pet pooch. We can already hear you saying awwwwwwwwwwwww. In cinemas April 19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLjLbl4G1wA OCEAN'S 8 Most franchises, as the chapters roll on, aim for bigger and better. Don't mistake Ocean's 8 smaller number for doing the opposite. This all-female heist flick doesn't need 11, 12 or 13 folks to pull off the ultimate job: at the Met Gala. Leading the formidable gang of law-breaking ladies is Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean, while Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Helena Bonham Carter and none other than Rihanna are also among the cast. And, given the setting, expect more than a few high-profile cameos. Given the gender-swapped premise, expect an entertaining new instalment in the series as well, as directed by The Hunger Games' Gary Ross. In cinemas June 28. [caption id="attachment_653695" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Juno Temple in Vinyl[/caption] UNSANE Steven Soderberg mightn't be sitting in the director's chair for the latest Ocean's effort, but the ever-prolific filmmaker has something else up his sleeves. For part of last year, it was his iPhone — which the Logan Lucky and The Knick director used to shoot his latest flick, a mind-bending psychological horror flick. Called Unsane, it's unsurprisingly set in a mental institution, though that's probably the last part of the movie that'll play to your expectations. As for everything else, it was filmed in secret so much is clouded in mystery, although The Crown's Claire Foy and Vinyl's Juno Temple star, and the narrative revolves around a patient forced to face her greatest fear. Release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_529773" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Rachel Weisz in Yorgos Lanthimos' The Lobster[/caption] THE FAVOURITE If Yorgos Lanthimos knows just how to press your buttons — and if The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer managed to do exactly that — then pencil his 2018 release into your diary. With The Favourite, the acclaimed Greek filmmaker appears to be in new territory, though you can bet his biographical drama about Anne, Queen of Britain won't be the usual monarchy-focused effort. Joining him in this exploration of the 17th- and 18th-century sovereign are The Lobster's Rachel Weisz and Olivia Colman, plus Emma Stone and Nicholas Hoult. With Lanthimos proving a director that's continually fascinated with the transactional nature of our society, setting his sights on royalty seems an absolutely natural fit. Release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_629012" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Robert Pattinson in Good Time[/caption] HIGH LIFE 2018 is shaping up to be a great year for sci-fi fans. Case in point: High Life. It's not what you'd expect from almost everyone involved — other than Robert Pattinson, who has well and truly been filling his post-Twilight resume with interesting and downright excellent choices. He's among a group of criminals sent towards a black hole, all as part of a quest to find an alternative energy source. And, he's starring alongside French great Juliette Binoche, A Cure for Wellness' Mia Goth and Outkast's Andre Benjamin, under the direction of iconic filmmaker Claire Denis (35 Shots of Rum, Bastards, Let the Sunshine In), who is making her first English-language feature. Release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_653679" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Suspiria (1977)[/caption] SUSPIRIA Horror remakes aren't always met with excitement, particularly when a classic of the genre gets the second go-around. Suspiria, however, shouldn't earn your caution — thanks to Call Me By Your Name's Luca Guadagnino sitting at the helm. The original is the darkest dance-related movie you're likely to see, as well as a wonder of Italian giallo cinema, delving into the sinister secrets behind a prestigious dance academy. Living up to it is quite the task, but the I Am Love and A Bigger Splash director has been on a very impressive streak of late. On-screen, Dakota Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz and Tilda Swinton are among the stars sashaying (and screaming) their way through the end result. Release date TBC. PSYCHOKINESIS There's no shortage of superhero films due on our screens this year, including Black Panther, Venom, Aquaman, a couple of X-Men-related efforts, Daredevil 2 and more. Yes, the list goes on. And yet, a Korean black comedy about a man who discovers he has superpowers might be the one to beat. Seeing something other than the fiftieth instalment in a cinematic universe is always welcome, and director Yeon Sang-ho already turned his take on one busy genre — zombies — into an engaging thrill ride courtesy of Train to Busan. Fingers crossed Psychokinesis make the big screen on our shores, but if not, look for it to stream on Netflix. Release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_653694" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Happytime Murders concept art[/caption] THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS There aren't enough movies about puppet private detectives. Really, there isn't. This adult-centric film comes with quite the pedigree, however, with Bill Henson — son of The Muppets puppeteer Jim Henson — in the director's chair. A comedy and a thriller all in one, it's set in a world where people and puppets live (and kill) side-by-side. Only one can hunt down a serial murderer targeting the cast of a famous '80s TV show, and that'd be ex-cop Phil Phillips (Bill Barretta). Amongst the mountains of felt, Melissa McCarthy stars as his ex-partner, Maya Rudolph as his secretary, Elizabeth Banks as a former flame and Joel McHale as an FBI agent. Release date TBC.
While Reykjavik is praised for its "ability to make the most of an inhospitable climate", Auckland for its "unbelievably friendly folk", Budapest for "music... not just concerts, but in the streets, on the radio, and in cafés," and "wonderful pubs filled with laughter", Sydney has taken out the top spot as the friendliest city in the world. Run as a Reader’s Choice award by Condé Nast Traveler and focused on how a visitor feels in each city, the Friendliest and Unfriendliest City in the World poll asks readers to submit reviews of each city with a focus on the overall warm fuzzies generated by their experience. “Everything from location (no one likes an airport city) and political perception (everyone watches the news) to size and basic language barriers can make a destination unattractive to tourists and be a factor in their evaluation of a place’s ‘friendliness’," according to CN. Sydney's been praised for its people skills, regardless of what you might see on George Street any day of the week. "Such friendly people," enthused one voting reader. "So much so that after we met an Australian woman on our flight there, she offered to pick us up at our hotel and spent a whole day showing us her favourite parts of the city." Sydney earned snaps for the Bridgeclimb, the Cruise Like a Local Sydney Harbour boat tour, and Bonza Bike Tours got a big ol' high five as "a great way to see some of the lesser-known sights." Overall, readers found simply "nothing to not like" in Sydney, although importantly, all mentioned experiences are tourist-focused. Last year's friendliest winners were tied: Melbourne and Auckland. Sydney came in at number five; tied with Dublin, who just narrowly missed out on the top spot this year. Of course, Sydney was supremely modest about it. Ha! IN YOUR FACE @dubcitycouncil!! We're the friendliest city in the world! http://t.co/T1WgOPUVu7 via @CNTraveler pic.twitter.com/9rIafVZ59o — City of Sydney (@cityofsydney) August 18, 2015 Australia and New Zealand have done pretty nicely on worldwide city rankings of late — the Great Barrier Reef nabbed #2 on Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travelist and Melbourne ranked #1 Most Liveable City on the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) liveability survey. So Sydney's apparently the friendliest, Melbourne's the most liveable, what do you reckon? CONDE NAST'S 2015 FRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD: 10. Reykjavik, Iceland 9. Auckland, New Zealand 8. Budapest, Hungary 7. Kyoto, Japan 6. Edinburgh, Scotland 5. Bruges, Belgium 4. Kraków, Poland 3. Queenstown, New Zealand 2. Dublin, Ireland 1. Sydney, Australia But what of the jerks? The Unfriendliest Cities in the World side of things is a little hairier, with no Australian or New Zealand cities making the cut for another year. Up high. Cannes was dissed for being expensive and "bloated simply by the prestige of its famed film festival," while Jakarta was called "dirty and congested," despite gaining praise for its food.” Moscow got a bad wrap for "dour, unfriendly people" and "deplorable traffic", while Nairobi was flagged as "dangerous and volatile". But Caracas, Venezuela took out the top unfriendly spot as a place of "rampant crime, a scarcity of basic necessities, and a poor quality of life." CONDE NAST'S 2015 UNFRIENDLIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD: 10. Cannes, France 9. Jakarta, Indonesia 8. Moscow, Russia 7. Cairo, Egypt 6. New Delhi, India 5. Nairobi, Kenya 4. Guatemala City, Guatemala 3. Guangzhou, China 2. Casablanca, Morocco 1. Caracas, Venezuela Via Condé Nast Traveler. Image: Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel.
Having moved into the heritage-listed Masonic hall in 2012, The Hall at Welcome to Brunswick (formerly known as The Brunswick Mess Hall) is a bit of an all-rounder. The beer barn has great food and a historic atmosphere — with a young, vivacious vibe. It's the kind of place to can head to for either a quiet mid-week date (it's not open on weekends) or a big gathering with mates. Upon entering the unassuming building on Sydney Road, you'll immediately appreciate the atmosphere and beauty of the space: exposed beams, huge arched windows, greenery-lined walls and an atrium perfect for a pre-dinner drink. The dining experience is just as relaxed. Asian favourites abound, featuring the likes of pork belly baos, salt and pepper tofu, red pumpkin curry, pad Thai and crispy pork belly served with apple salad — all fab for sharing. On weekends (especially when the weather heats up), you best head next door to Welcome to Brunswick's beer garden — home to stacks of 4 Pines beers, food trucks and friendly dogs. It's slightly more laidback than The Hall and significantly bigger — BYO big group of mates and settle in for some long days and nights of drinking and eating.
The Wheeler Centre is renowned for their innovative programming, but the project they're cooking up now is a doozy. Named after that most endearing punctuation mark, The Interrobang: A Festival of Questions is a festival that is calling on you to decide the topics of conversation. The idea behind the festival is a democratic one: using crowdsourcing techniques, the program is being written around questions submitted by the public and presented to a Brains Trust of writers and thinkers over the two-day festival in Melbourne on November 27-28. Emily Sexton, the head of programming at The Wheeler Centre, says that as well as creating a festival made from publicly sourced questions, she also wants us to question the question. What makes a good question? Can the right question change the landscape of discussion for the better? As well as submitting questions, the public are invited to vote for the best questions. “The way we imagine it is a combination of very potent, political, urgent questions of our time, like 'what is the future of European democracy and what will happen to organisations like the UN or the EU that were founded on a collective idea? Is that still relevant for contemporary life?' But also really inconsequential, playful questions like 'where are all the baby pigeons? Why don’t we ever see them?' I hope there’s a really great mix of personal or political questions,” she says. “There’s no question too big or too small.” There’ll be no shortage of answers either. The Interrobang has assembled a Brains Trust of 25 artists, thinkers, writers and doers from around the world to tackle the questions posed. Included is Wild writer and 'Dear Sugar' advice columnist Cheryl Strayed, cult sci-fi author and tech activist Cory Doctorow, Australia’s sweetheart Benjamin Law, the former Greek Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis, playwright and Twitter hero Nakkiah Lui, journalist Geraldine Brooks, broadcaster Mark Colvin and chef and presenter Adam Liaw. The prerequisite for all the panellists was the need for pluralism and enthusiasm about a range of topics. Don’t expect any sales pitches or pre-made answers here; with such a diverse panel, the aim is to explore the topics from every angle. Emily promises that every question, big or small, will be used in some way in the program. “It’s a significant democratic exercise in a way of handing over control and exploring what people really want to know,” she says. We, for one, are intrigued and would very much like to know where the baby pigeons are. We’ll have to wait until November to find out. Submit your question to The Interrobang via the event website. Tickets for the festival go on sale October 12.
Get outside for a little fresh air and exercise with a pack of marauding, flesh-eating zombies snapping at your heels. After pulse-racing chases around the US and Asia, undead obstacle course Run For Your Lives is headed to Sydney and Melbourne. Halfway between a marathon and a Romero movie, the rules for the event are relatively simple: participants navigate various obstacle, including a blood pit, a ropes course and even a Resident Evil-style 'laser grid', while trying their very best not to be eaten tagged. Every survivor gets three lives, represented by blood coloured flags tied to their waist. Lose all three lives and it's game over. You can also choose to play as a zombie, with a hair and makeup team on hand to help with your ghoulish transformation. Regardless of which team you’re on, don’t wear anything you won’t mind getting damaged, and make sure you bring a spare change of clothes, shoes... and a towel. And before you get any bright ideas, this is strictly a weapons free event, so leave the sawn-off shotgun at home. After the race, players will be able to attend an apocalypse afterparty, with dance music, live entertainment and zombie-themed activities. You'll probably need to let off some steam after this. Run For Your Lives hits The Dairy in the Western Sydney Parklands on Saturday September 5, before heading to a yet to be confirmed location in Melbourne on Saturday October 24. Tickets to the Sydney event are available now and start from $59. For more information, visit www.runforyourlives.com.au. View all Sydney Events.
Looking for a fancy new dinner destination? Perhaps you've got a hot date lined up, have guests in from out of town or are looking to impress the in-laws. Whatever the reason, if it's stylish surrounds you're after, the winners of the fourth annual Eat Drink Design Awards have it in spades. Revealed yesterday at a ceremony in Melbourne, the awards celebrate the very best in hospitality design across Australia and New Zealand — although this year, the podium was crowded with Aussies alone. From a shortlist of 88 venues, eight took home gold while a further 26 received high commendations. Best Restaurant Design was awarded to Italian eatery Beccafico in Sydney, with the panel of judges citing "the unfinished joinery of recycled and fire-charred hardwoods, a sculptural beauty to the circular neon tubes that line the walls [and] a resort-like feel to the slatted boardwalk that bisects the space with wire-brushed timber banquets". The Best Cafe Design was shared by The Kettle Black in South Melbourne, described by the judges as "the apotheosis of cafe design right now — light, airy, spacious, where everything is carefully considered yet it all comes across as insouciant in the extreme," and Abbots & Kinney in Adelaide, commended for "the play between the radical simplicity of the overall concept and the extraordinary accomplishment of the execution and finish". Best Bar Design, meanwhile, went to Smalls in Melbourne, where judges highlighted "the colour and materials palette — moody, muted putties, flat blues and concrete greys offset by the occasional glimmer of glassware and brass," as well as artisanal touches such as "handmade ceramic tiles" and "open joined banquettes," and fine detailing seen in "marble tabletops, aged black leather and charcoal velvet upholstery". The remaining awards included Best Retail Design, awarded to The District food court in Sydney's Chatswood Interchange shopping mall (home to Tim Ho Wan and Hello Kitty Diner); Best Identity Design, awarded to casual Bangladeshi restaurant Bang Street Food in Sydney; and Best Temporary Design, awarded to the Australian Pavilion Installation at Cafe di Stasio in Melbourne. Last but certainly not least, Bondi's Icebergs was inducted into the Eat Drink Design Hall of Fame. Have a flick through the gallery for some serious hospitality design porn.
UPDATE: April 25, 2019 — On ANZAC Day, Arbory Afloat will be open from 7am, serving up two breakfast burgers (one with mushrooms and pesto, the other with terrine and fried eggs), breakfast pizza topped with egg, cheese and porchetta and Gunfire Breakfasts. The latter are hot mugs of black coffee spiked with plenty of rum — you do have the day off, after all. 'Melbourne's famed floating bar is back for another spring and summer season on the Yarra. And this time, it's bigger and better than ever before. Arbory Afloat, which made its debut in 2015, has reclaimed its prime position in front of on-shore sister venue Arbory Bar & Eatery on the Yarra. But this year it has gained a considerable extra 19 metres in length — that's on top of the 50 metres and 407-person capacity it had last year. The temporary bar and restaurant has again been designed by Lucienne Hemmingway of Curious by Design, and is inspired by train trips through the Cinque Terre, where the beaches and cliffs are surrounded by citrus and fig trees. And real citrus and fig trees you will find on the floating bar, nestled amongst lush garden beds, white furnishings and pops of green and orange. It also has a second-storey rooftop bar with a lengthy magnum menu, featuring rosé and Champagne aplenty. Dubbed Upper Deck, the 116-seater bar has panoramic views of the river and day beds, so you can spend lazy summer days making your way through dozens of oysters, woodfired pizzas and 1.5 litres of something pink (with a friend or two to help, of course). It's also available to be hired out, if you're planning a party for a special occasion. Chef Nick Bennett has designed the menu, which is also inspired by the seaside villages on the Italian Riviera. A woodfired pizza oven, taking pride of place in the open kitchen, will be pumping out Neapolitan-style pizzas, including the Suina topped with buffalo mozzarella, porchetta and crackling, and the Lele with cime di rapa, prawns and chilli. You'll also find lots of seafood, pasta, light salads and sandwiches stuffed with cured meats and cheeses on the menu. Would it be a visit to seaside Italy without spritzes? We think not. And luckily, there'll be plenty. Blood orange and Aperol spritzes will be on tap, sitting pretty on the drinks menu alongside less-Italian cocktails such as piña coladas and watermelon sangria. Those wanting something simpler can choose from one of eight different G&Ts. Arbory Afloat is open from 11am–1am daily.
One of Broadway's hottest and most prohibitively priced tickets of the last five years, The Book of Mormon, is set to get an Australian staging. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement today on his Facebook page, saying "I'm thrilled we're bringing the most successful piece of theatre in the world today to Victoria." The musical will make its Australian premiere at Melbourne's Princess Theatre in early 2017. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints, African missions, AIDS, bum jokes and super ironic racism. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards and a Grammy since it debuted in 2011, and has been called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". Directed by Parker with choreographer Casey Nicholaw, the show will have a new local cast. Parker has commented on the team's enthusiasm for the Australian production and then made a Tasmania joke: "We can't wait to get started. Everyone says we should look to Tassie for casting so that's where we're going first." If you've been among the throngs to see the musical in New York, Chicago or London, then you'll be plenty excited that your Melbourne friends will now get the chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. And because this is the most exciting piece of musical theatre news since Matilda, the waitlist for tickets has already opened. Sign up at the Book of Mormon website for priority ticketing information. Whether the show will tour outside of Melbourne is yet to be confirmed. In the meantime, get in the mood by watching this clip of Girls star and original Mormon cast member Andrew Rannells singing the ballad of religious faith 'I Believe' at the Tony Awards. UPDATE MONDAY, DECEMBER 7: Priority tickets for The Book of Mormon are now on sale via Ticketmaster. GO.
Today a brand new sleek restaurant and bar opens — but it's not where you'd expect. MPD Steak Kitchen isn't located in the CBD, or the inner suburbs. It's in the outer southeastern suburb of Berwick. And not only that, the new 200-seater has an ex-Vue de Monde chef and a former Attica sommelier on board. Not bad for Berwick. MPD — which is a nod to the Meatpacking District in New York City — is a concept from Victor and Robert Zagame, who are the same siblings behind Spice Market and that suburban family bistro chain Zagame's. As the name suggests, it's a venue with a very specific focus. Steak. Really, really nice steak. Taking charge of the kitchen at the two-storey venue is Chris Bonello, former executive chef at the Vue Group, which includes Vue de Monde and Bistro Vue. He'll be in charge of sourcing prime cuts of beef, including Cape Grim sirloin, Rangers Valley pope's eye and rump from Blackmore Wagyu. Side options range from hand-cut chips to truffle mac and cheese and honey-glazed brussels sprouts with pancetta. If, for some inexplicable reason, you don't feel like steak at a steak restaurant, other mains include John Dory with char-grilled lettuce, olive tapenade and pearl barley, and Flinders Island lamb with radish, sunflower and quince. That said, we do have to admit that we're quite taken by a couple of the dessert options, like the burnt mandarin mousse with dulce de leche, basil sorbet and dehydrated milk, and the white chocolate parfait with pistachio aero, lemon curd and bitter chocolate. The wine list includes an impressive 250+ options chosen by ex-Attica restaurant manager and young gun sommelier Banjo Harris Plane. Not into wine? They've also got craft beer and cider, a selection of bourbons and scotches, plus a number of adventurous cocktails made with liquid nitrogen. MPD Steak Kitchen is now open on the corner of Greaves Road and Clyde Road, Berwick. For more information visit mpdsteakkitchen.com.
Spring is in the air and that means festival season is upon us. We've just wrapped up Fringe and already we're on to the next one. Spanning two and a half weeks, this year's Melbourne Festival lineup includes 70 events, including 17 Australian premieres, featuring artists, musicians and theatre makers from all around the world. Here are just ten of the festival events you should go out of your way to make time for.
Have you ever watched Groundhog Day and found yourself thinking, "this is all ace and amusing, but I wish a masked murderer was running amok?" Have you ever settled down for Edge of Tomorrow and decided that the whole thing really could use some spooky college hijinks? If your answer to either of those questions is yes, then horror-comedy Happy Death Day just might be the film you're looking for. Here, reliving the same day comes with laughs, scares and a very determined killer. Sorority sister Tree (Jessica Rothe) is the character caught in a loop, but becoming a better person or stopping alien invaders isn't her aim. Instead, she just wants to work out why she keeps ending up dead — and, obviously, to figure out how to avoid it. Each day plays out the same way: she wakes up in the dorm room of a classmate, Carter (Israel Broussard), who she assumes she drunkenly hooked up with, before shuddering when her roommate Lori (Ruby Modine) tries to give her a birthday cupcake. Going to class, house meetings, ignoring her dad, getting ready for her own surprise party — nothing is particularly out of the ordinary. Or rather, it seems that way until she's brutally attacked, then finds herself doing it all over again. Given Hollywood's fondness for repetition, it's surprising that a film like Happy Death Day didn't happen earlier. There are plenty of elements here that movie fans will recognise — and that's not news to director Christopher Landon (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse). This is a flick that's well aware that Groundhog Day exists, and that the slasher scenario has been done to death (note the sly references to "Monday the 18th"). It's also knows that the Scream franchise has already found the thrilling and funny side of calling out and exaggerating genre tropes. Still, don't underestimate how far a playful tone and knowing approach can go in this situation. Producer Jason Blum is something of a horror maestro these days, backing the Paranormal Activity and Insidious franchises as well as this year's hits Split and Get Out. Keeping that successful run going, his latest takes to its satirical task with glee — think slick, montage-heavy visuals, an upbeat vibe and soundtrack, and absolutely no misapprehensions about the sort of entertaining, tongue-in-cheek movie that it wants to be. Thanks to the great work of Rothe, Happy Death Day also boasts an impressive central performance. Focusing on an attractive young woman fending off a bad guy is hardly new territory given the picture's chosen genre, but the actress last seen in La La Land portrays her protagonist as more than just a victim in waiting. After starting in Mean Girls territory, her zest and take-charge attitude matches that of the movie. As such, audiences should have no qualms about watching her experience the same day again and again — even if the film itself doesn't necessarily warrant repeat viewings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ENyivsLb_g
Most people dislike the daily grind, but can art tell us what sort of impact our professional lives actually have our psyche? That's what Mark All As Read sets out to explore at Blindside Gallery with the exhibition presenting a critical gaze into the physical and virtual space of the office and the world of productivity. Taking over both galleries at Blindside, local artists Nick Modrzewski, Nabilah Nordin and Katie Paine show through a variety of creative mediums and expressions the effect of work on the body, and what might be gained or lost from working within a professional space. Each artist offers their own perspective on the subject, with Modrzewski combining exploring power hierarchies through painting, sculpture, performance and more, while Nordin works with various found and discarded materials. Finally, Katie Paine's work features installation and collage to create immersive artworks reimagining the office experience. Mark As Read is on now at Blindside Gallery, showing until Saturday October 21.
Gauchito Gil is Argentina's Robin Hood. As such, it seems fitting that Australia's own Malbec World Day has been borrowed from the South American country, where the majority of the world's malbec comes from. If this day is a donation from the grape god, it's one we're happy to accept. After a successful four years, Gauchito Gil is once again bringing Malbec Day to Melbourne with a five-hour wine bonanza at North Melbourne's Meat Market on Sunday, April 23. The event comes from the organisers of the Pinot Palooza and Game of Rhones, and mirrors the free-reign tasting set up. Your $60 ticket will include a wine glass, and from there you'll be able to move around, sampling over 60 Australian, French and Argentine Malbec varietals. Other events have been known to get a little boozy, so to soak up all that wine there will be top-notch empanadas from Rockwell & Sons, San Telmo, The Mill House, Gertrude Street Enoteca and Alejandro Saravia's soon-to-open CHE — all vying for the prestigious Golden Empanada award. It really doesn't matter if you know everything there is about Malbec or if you don't know much at all, because Malbec World Day is about education and celebration of the Argentine grape. And what better way to celebrate than with an bottomless glass of wine?
You may have thought your days of hanging out in car parks were over, but this Melbourne music event aims to change that. Play On brings a unique combination of live classical and electronic music to the underground car park at the Collingwood Housing Estate and, after launching late last year, they are back for three Friday nights on March 24, March 31 and April 7. The event presents classical music outside of traditional performance venues, making it both an accessible and pretty magical experience in a space that welcomes music lovers from all walks of life. The first event will see Tchaikovsky's joyful 1980 work Souvenir de Florence played by the Play On Collective, followed by a DJ set from local producer Prequel. Tickets are $15 presale or $20 on the door. Images: Alan Wheedon.
It just wouldn't be a celebration of Melbourne food culture without a big ol' BBQ feast and this year's Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is set to play host to a very special, low-waste porcine project. For a while now, the sustainable food warriors at Grown & Gathered have been raising a pig on scraps from the Fancy Hank's kitchen and grain by-product from their local brewery. Fast forward to April 3, and this little pig is going the whole hog, as the Fancy Hank's team prepares a feast using the entire animal, cooked over charcoal and open flame. That'll be teamed with a hearty spread of sides, salads, and preserved goodies from Grown & Gathered's own cookbook, natural wines from their farm, and even a brand new seasonal beer from a Melbourne brewery.
For those who like their comedy tinged with a little melancholy, Michael Workman is the stand-up for you. Over the past couple of years, the West Australian comic's strange and occasionally bleak (but always entertaining) sets have been amongst the best things on offer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. His latest routine is titled Nothing You Do Means Anything, and is billed as "manic", "frightening" and "the most iconoclastic show" of his career. In other words, don't expect his outlook to have gotten any sunnier. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll question your place in a cold, unfeeling world. Sounds like a fun night out, right?
There are some shows that you know you need to see based purely on the name. Assisted Suicide: The Musical is one of them. Written and performed by disability rights campaigner and actor Liz Carr, this "TED talk with showtunes" arrives on our shores following sell-out engagements in the UK, at a time when Victorian state parliament is gearing up for a conscience vote on euthanasia. Carr's toe-tapping production for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival will provide a personal, entertaining perspective on a controversial subject, and may well force a few audience members to confront their own beliefs and prejudices.
My yoga studio has a basketball court below it. During a calming session of yoga, it is not uncommon to hear the piercing screech of a whistle, frequent cheering and the intermittent shrieks of "Great shot Mike!". One time, I kid you not, there was a marching band procession going down, and the instructor had to calmly try and talk over the incessant drumming. Quite un-zen. Flow After Dark Silent Disco Yoga seeks to give yoga enthusiasts the exact opposite experience. How exactly does one silent disco yoga? Quite easily with the introduction of wireless headphones. These bad boys give participants a one-on-one with instructor, Flow Athletic co-founder Kate Kendall, while simultaneously pumping out beats from Sydney DJ James Mack. Also, they're neon. This one-off, 90-minute Vinyasa yoga session will see a whopping 400 yogis come together at Melbourne Town Hall It's probably your best (possibly only) chance to show off your best warrior pose while simultaneously listening to some seriously smooth music. Silently.
Odds are you might not have heard much about director Meera Menon's latest film, Equity. It's a story about the plight of women on Wall Street, written by and funded by women. It's not as glamorous as The Wolf of Wall Street, nor as dramatic as Wall Street. But then again, maybe that's the point. Anna Gunn plays Naomi Bishop, who is basically just Skylar White if she was on Wall Street instead of the Albuquerque 'burbs. The story begins just after Bishop botches a major IPO ('initial public offering' for your info – don't be that guy, Googling during the movie). Bishop is a ball breakin', money lovin' banker who needs a big win to secure a promotion and gain back her colleagues' confidence. Her specialty is finding Silicon Valley tech start-ups and hand holding them through their IPO. It's slow burning narrative, with a focus on the developing relationship between Bishop and her protégé Erin Manning (Samantha Megan Thomas). All the while the fabric is being poked by Samantha Ryan (Alysia Reiner), a detective looking into allegations of insider trading. Don't be deceived by the Wall Street veneer. At the heart of this film is a tale as old as time – women getting dicked around at work. The story is about gender politics, morality, feminism and the difficult paths that women tread while navigating a world dominated by men. It's gritty in the sense that it's often ugly and mundane. Anna Gunn is great – although not particularly sympathetic – as the picture's driven protagonist. The rest of the cast, meanwhile, offer subtle and realistic representations of womanhood that are so sorely lacking in other films. With an all-female production team, including its trio of writers, Equity circumvents other problematic patterns too. You won't find any romantic dramas at the centre of the female character's lives. There's no pointless nudity, and we're glad to say that the film passes the Bechdel test with flying colours. But perhaps most refreshing, Equity doesn't use the female cast and crew angle to drum up any brownie points. Instead it just walks the walk, unapologetically giving jobs, screen time and funding to a mostly female cohort. It's a feminist film in every sense of the word. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg2TSp5tJy4
With a lot of the shows at Melbourne Festival, it's hard to get an idea what to expect from the name alone. But that's certainly not the case with Haircuts by Children, in which brave volunteers (if you're one of them, you can register online) will be placed at the mercy of pre-teens with scissors. Conceived by Canadian artist Darren O'Donnell, the work explores the extent to which we are willing to trust and empower future generations. Held over two weekends, the first pop-up haircut station will be held at Razor Dolls in Windsor on October 15 and 16 before it moves to Fur Hairdressing in Fitzroy for October 22 and 23. The upside? You get a free haircut. The downside? There's no guarantee it'll be any good. Image: John Lauener.
Contemporary dance meets figure skating in this critically acclaimed show from Canada's Le Patin Libre. Five skaters will take to the rink at the O'Brien Group Arena (aka that ice skating rink in Docklands), where they'll trade sequinned outfits for streetwear and a pulse-pounding soundtrack. On ice from October 15, Vertical Influences shapes up as one of the most intriguing dance works on the program at this year's Melbourne Festival. Just make sure you bring a coat, because things could get a wee bit chilly. Image: Zoé Anne.
Join the salami army at the 2016 edition of this gastronomic gathering at Northcote Town Hall. Now in its fifth straight year, think of the Melbourne Salami Festa as Woodstock or ComicCon — but for salami. So way better, is basically what we're saying. Running from 10am until 10pm on Saturday, October 8 and 10am to 6pm the next day, the event — a bona fide cured meat carnival — will include workshops, demonstrations, DJs and bands, as well as a Grand Salumi Hall featuring dozens of producers from far and wide. Meatsmith and D.O.C. are just a few of the locals who'll be carving up their wares. Wander between the stalls and sample what's on offer, before returning on the Sunday to cast your vote in the highly coveted People's Choice Awards. Image: Brown Shoes Productions.
To celebrate the launch of their brand new exhibition Fashion Artists — which features more than 35 of their most iconic haute couture creations — master fashion designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren will appear in the flesh for one night only at the National Gallery of Victoria. Set to take place at 6.30pm on the evening of Friday, October 21, Victor&Rolf in Conversation will see the Dutchmen weigh in on their work in a discussion with the exhibition's guest curator, Thierry-Maxime Loriot. Expect the conversation to cover the duo's passion for 'wearable art' as well as some of their most memorable shows from the course of their illustrious two-and-a-half decade career. Tickets to this exclusive event will include entry into the exhibition itself, which runs from October 21 until February 26.
ACMI is unveiling a spooky new virtual reality experience just in time for Halloween. Premiering on Saturday, October 29 as part of Melbourne International Games Week, Ghosts, Toast and the Things Unsaid forgoes the traditional VR headset in favour of a ghost costume, as viewers peer into the corporeal world from beyond the grave. A partnership between Google's Creative Lab, Sandpit and Grumpy Sailor, the 16-minute piece puts you inside a haunted house…one that you yourself are haunting. There you'll learn the deepest darkest secrets of Steve and Maude, a couple whose relationship is slowly falling apart as a result of the desires they can't bring themselves to share. Deep and spooky stuff. Entry into Ghosts, Toast and the Things Unsaid is free, however bookings are highly recommended.
Towards the end of Victoria and Abdul, Judi Dench's face fills the frame during an extended speech. For the second time in her career she's playing Queen Victoria in a film about the British monarch's relationship with a servant. Whereas 1997's Mrs Brown saw her bonding with Billy Connolly, this time the 19th century sovereign has forged a strong platonic bond with Indian Muslim clerk Abdul (Ali Fazal), but her son (Eddie Izzard) and staff are none too happy about it. Cue a memorable dressing down delivered by a figure well-aware of her power and responsibilities, as well as the type of scene designed to garner awards nominations. That's Victoria and Abdul in a nutshell. The latest regal flick from The Queen's Stephen Frears, it's the kind of film that knows where its strengths reside, and how viewers are likely to react. That's not to downplay Dench's formidable talents, or her ability to inhabit Queen Victoria's many shades and depths. Indeed, she's the best thing on screen. But there's no ignoring the fact that Frears has plunged the beloved actress into a decidedly average historical drama that isn't always worthy of her talents. Despite taking its inspiration from real life, Victoria and Abdul sticks closely to a familiar culture-clash formula. Typically, one of two things happen when folks from different stations in life meet in a movie. Either they get along nicely, but their connection isn't met with the same fondness by those around them, or, after a rocky start, they're forced to learn from their differences. When Abdul is picked to journey to Britain to present the queen with a ceremonial coin during her Golden Jubilee celebrations, the film seems destined to take the second path. Then he breaks protocol by making eye contact with the monarch, she's intrigued by the good-natured newcomer in her midst, and before long they're facing off against institutionalised racism. While Dench plays Queen Vic with considerable texture and nuance — more than early scenes seem to indicate, in fact — the feature around her doesn't share the same fortune. There's a difference between probing engrained prejudices and just presenting a scenario filled with them, with Victoria and Abdul taking the easier, latter option. Adapting the book of the same name by Shrabani Basu, screenwriter Lee Hall (War Horse) keeps things light and simplistic when it comes to scheming naysayers, cultural disharmony and Abdul himself. Given that the film supposedly sets out to dispel racist stereotypes, the fact that Abdul is portrayed as a jovial, exotic outsider who helps Victoria get her groove back is more than a little bit troubling. Where the film succeeds is as a misty-eyed ode to friendship. As Rose-tinted as much of the lavishly shot movie proves, it thoughtfully and tenderly conveys the effect that having someone to talk to, and to listen back, can have. The rapport between Dench and the spirited Fazal helps, ensuring that Abdul remains an engaging presence, even if he's flimsily written. Their time together mightn't delve deep into the intricacies surrounding their characters, but Victoria and Abdul is at its best when its stars share the screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtC8jNHSxgQ
A singles party, you say? Sounds like something your well-meaning friend drags you along to, that always goes awfully and ends in you getting Lord of the Fries on your own. However, Punch, Drunk, Love is a singles party with an integral twist: it's a ladies-only affair with the intention of meeting new mates, rather than dates. Hosted by event curators The Lonely Hearts Club, the event will run on the afternoon of the AFL Grand Final public holiday. Things will kick off with a 45-minute boxing class, closely followed by boozy times, a cheese platter picnic and talks on Love and Life. It's the ultimate you-day, combining exercise, relaxation, inspiration and a few new gal pals. Speakers will be love expert Emily Chadbourne, life and relationship coach Megan Luscombe and wellness/lifestyle/meditation guru Sam Tallent. It'll be a day of advice, stories, and like-minded ladies for you to find your chillest self with while knocking back some vinos. You (single ladies) will be putting your hands up as high as you can.
Victoria has a brand new winter festival — and it'll deliver both brightness and darkness. The first comes courtesy of the town of Bright and its source of tasty brews, Bright Brewery. The second stems from dark beers, their beverage of focus on July 1. At Darker Days, you'll head to one to enjoy the other. Enjoying the best tipples the craft brewers of the High Country Brewery Trail have to offer is the aim of the afternoon festivities, running from 1pm to 10pm, with Black Dog Brewery from Taminick, Blizzard Brewing from Dinner Plain, Bridge Road Brewers from Beechworth, Sweetwater Brewing Co from Tawonga South and Nightingale Alpine Cider all be in attendance. As well as bringing together quite the range of beverages, there'll also be warm foods, roasted chestnuts, gooey marshmallows, live music and maybe even ghost stories. Plus, making sure everyone is really feeling toasty, there'll also be a ceremonial bonfire, burning a giant wooden structure in the shape of the brewery's logo.
Looking for new threads? Sure, you can head to plenty of markets around town and trawl through food, homeware and other objects, or you can mosey along to Melbourne's dedicated ladies fashion get-together. Round She Goes does one thing, and it does it well. If it's clothing, accessories and jewellery you're after, you'll find it here. Filled with preloved designer and vintage fare, the one-day happening will take over Coburg Town Hall from 10am on June 4. This edition will boast 60 stalls, all specially curated by organisers to deliver reasonably priced, high-quality bits and pieces, and ranging from beloved brands to handmade items to clear-outs by some of Melbourne's most fashionable women. Entry costs $2, and when you're finding that shiny gold coin to get you in the door, make sure you did up some other cash as well. Cold, hard currency is preferred here, and parting with it will be worth it. Your wardrobe will thank you for it.
Winemakers of Rutherglen have been doing good things with grapes for a while now out in northeast Victoria. But, luckily for us, they've decided to come city-side this August for a three-day, one-off wine event, Rutherglen in the City. The pop-up bar will situate itself in Driver Lane, which is just off Little Bourke Street behind Emporium in Melbourne's CBD. Winemakers will take over the whole laneway, transforming it into a 'winter winery' — you can expect fairy lights, free wine tastings and live music. So you can forget you're sandwiched in between shopping centres and dream of open plains and vineyards. You'll be able to sample the wine varieties of the region (Muscat and Durif), meet the winemakers themselves, and maybe even order a few bottles from the cellar door. The best thing about it is you won't even have to drive home — thanks to trams and trains, you can have as many wines as you like. The pop-up cellar door will be open Friday from 5–10pm, Saturday from 12–11pm, and Sunday from 12–6pm.
In 1947, one country became two and the world was forever altered. Following centuries of governance by the British, India was divided into distinct, independent territories along religious lines. One would still be known as India. The other would become Pakistan (and later, Bangladesh as well). Unsurprisingly, it was a massive task requiring significant contemplation and causing considerable repercussions, both for the officials charged with overseeing the partition, and for the locals who would be forced to live with the change. Such a chapter of history seems an obvious candidate for a dramatic film treatment — and that's just what Bend It Like Beckham's Gurinder Chadha delivers, stepping through the upheaval and exploring just how the two groups coped in such a turbulent period. But while she focuses firmly on the emotional toll of the partition, it's hard not to think that the director has actually missed the best story. Viceroy's House concludes on a rather touching personal note, explaining that Chadha's own grandmother lived through the events depicted on screen. Frankly, you could be forgiven for wishing she'd told that tale instead. Instead it's the last British head of India and his staff that drive the narrative of Viceroy's House. Accompanied by his wife Edwina (Gillian Anderson) and daughter Pamela (Lily Travers), Lord Louis Mountbatten (Hugh Bonneville) tries to negotiate an arrangement for the future of the sub-continent that keeps the various conflicting parties and his English superiors happy. Meanwhile, within Mountbatten's luxurious Delhi mansion, servant Jeet (Manish Dayal) yearns for his childhood sweetheart Aalia (Huma Qureshi), a situation complicated by the fact that he's a Hindu and she's a Muslim. Accordingly, a quest to determine the shape of two nations and a Romeo and Juliet-style affair combine, albeit somewhat awkwardly at times. Jumping between bureaucratic manoeuvring and matters of the heart isn't always packaged with the smoothest transitions, and doesn't give either side of the story much depth. Nevertheless, Chadha's main aim, of examining the ramifications for the country as well as its people, is successfully achieved. The film wrings most of its feeling from its many contrasts, be they ideological, political, religious or romantic. Standard as it all might be, Viceroy's House still proves a handsome effort. Think lush visuals and a rich score, plus fine performances. Downtown Abbey's Bonneville stays nicely in familiar territory, while Anderson couldn't be more enjoyable to watch. She mightn't be the movie's main star, but she's given the job of embodying its chief message of rising above prejudice and finding the right path in times of turmoil. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4ZnofZJCD8
Are you looking for an opportunity to battle with your friends, but lack the stamina for a high octane game of lawn bowls? In the answer is yes, sedentary friend, we've got a Good Beer Week suggestion that we reckon will be right up your alley. Kaiju! Beer is teaming up with CBD Japanese restaurant Izakaya Chuji for an evening of board games, beers and delicious Japanese food. From Risk to Settlers of Catan, there'll be games of every persuasion, and, of course, you're more than welcome to bring your own. No flipping the board in a drunken rage if you lose though.
Burgers. Giver of life. Mana from heaven. We're pretty keen on this most glorious of food groups – and given how many new burger joints we've seen pop up around town, it seems like you are too. Hell, last year Hank Marvin Market's first ever Burger Biannual drew more than 5000 hungry punters. So, really, it's little wonder they're gearing up for round two. Firing up from 11am on the Monday, March 13 Labour Day public holiday, this year's event will feature more than a dozen of Melbourne's best burg merchants, including Fancy Hanks, Kustom Burgers, Mr Burger, Brother Burger, Gorilla Grill, Sliders on Tyres and Burn City Smokers. They'll even have a vegan burger courtesy of the crew at Rawbeet. Burgers truly are for everybody. Assuming you have room for dessert, you'll also have the run of a number of sweet options from the likes of Little Big Sugar Salt, Whoopies Cookies and Pop-Up Crepes. Collingwood's Stomping Ground will be pouring beers and Canine Wellness Kitchen will make sure your pooch is fed too. Point is, you probably won't need to eat for the rest of the week. Image: Shara Henderson.
UPDATE, March 8, 2021: Hidden Figures is available to stream via Disney+, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. Every parent tells their child to dream big. Unfortunately, for many people, a world of factors conspires to stop their hopes and aspirations from coming true. For the three women at the centre of Hidden Figures, the forces blocking them from fulfilling their potential aren't just obvious — they're quantifiable. Faced with both institutionalised sexism and institutionalised racism, friends Katherine (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy (Octavia Spencer) and Mary (Janelle Monáe) know exactly what's holding them back. But, as smart, savvy human computers at NASA's Virginia headquarters in the segregated 1960s, they're also driven to find a solution. Based on a real-life tale that most won't have heard before, and sending its spirited leading ladies on a fight for equality, Hidden Figures is exactly the kind of movie that you think it is. It's warm, broad and certain to please. It's designed to rouse and entertain as it sheds light on an overlooked part of history, with soft colours and an upbeat soundtrack. It brings together an engaging cast who prove endearing individually and even more so when their affectionate rapport is in the spotlight. Most of all, though, it combines all of the expected elements together just as anyone could easily predict, and still manages to be a thoroughly good watch. Katherine, Dorothy and Mary crunch numbers in the same department, share rides to work and spend time together with their families after hours, but it's ambition in the face of oppression that truly unites them. On any given day, they're expected to be grateful for their jobs, while constantly being underestimated, undermined, ignored, overlooked, and made to use separate bathrooms and even coffee pots. That's a struggle, especially in a place that wants to defy the accepted order by putting a man on the moon. Each of the three have their own goals: Katherine wants credit for her crucial efforts when she's moved into the team trying to send an American beyond the earth; Dorothy seeks the supervisor title and pay raise that goes with the tasks she's already doing; and Mary is trying to take the classes she needs — at a white's-only school — to become an engineer. There's not much surprising about the way that writer-director Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent) brings Margot Lee Shetterly's non-fiction book to the screen, but honestly that's fine. In fact, it's rather apt. It's the sparkling individual components that comprise the ideal equation here, rather than any attempt to craft a new formula. Besides, just the fact that this story is being told at all is kind of revolutionary. Space movies and films about maths geniuses are a dime a dozen, but they're usually about one type of person: white men. Not here. A few pop up — Kevin Costner is memorable as Katherine's boss, while Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons plays the colleague constantly putting her in her place — but, refreshingly, this isn't their movie. Instead, it belongs to the women of colour at its centre. Played with vibrancy that matches the feature's own mood, there's nothing hidden about the core trio of black female mathematicians. Their real-world determination, infectious spirit, and the fine performances behind them, ensures that Hidden Figures adds up to something really special.
Mindfulness practice — achieving the mental state of focusing on the present moment — is gaining popularity as people attempt to regulate their stressful lives. People have turned to everything from meditation to colouring books to achieve mindfulness, but perhaps few people would think of doing a triathlon to achieve inner peace. Take three activities that promote mindfulness — specifically running, yoga and meditation — and you've got yourself a 'mindful triathlon'. Wanderlust 108 has been running these triathlon festivals since 2014, and the standard day has a few main components. First, there's the five kilometre run, although the site reassures you that you can walk instead of running — or even "prance, skip, stroll or strut" — as long as you reach the finish line. After that, theres 75 minutes of yoga accompanied by a DJ set, and finally 30 minutes of meditation to round out the whole-group activities. Once the structured section of the day has wrapped up, participants can also head to activities such as aerial yoga, acroyoga and hooping, or to lunch. It's part exercise, part dance party, part fest — and 100% focused on helping attendees feel great inside and out. Also on the agenda: walking meditation, essential oil classes and the Mindful Marketplace, which will help you take your new blissed-out state home with you. By Siobhan Ryan and Sarah Ward.
Peel off your socks — it's grape-stomping time. The crew at Noisy Ritual, Melbourne's first urban winery, are celebrating the start of another wine season with their very own festival. We're talking five straight weeks of eating, drinking, live music and winemaking, otherwise known as four of the great things life has to offer. From Saturday, March 4, Noisy Ritual HQ in Brunswick East will throw open their doors to the wine-loving public. Join founders Alex and Cam for a free hands-on tour between 6pm to 8pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays throughout the festival, when you'll be able to help out with the winemaking process. Then swing by Saturday night for live music acts including Jess Ribeiro, Jess Cornelius, Leah Senior and Davey Lane. They're also extending their cellar door opening hours, giving you extra time to knock back the 2016 vintage. As for food, you can order pizza courtesy of Mankoushe up the road, or feast on cheese until you can barely get out of your chair.
Catch all seven-and-a-half hours of the newly minted Best Documentary Oscar winner on the big screen at ACMI this weekend. Screening just once, at 2pm on Sunday, March 5, as part of this year's Australian International Documentary Conference, O.J.: Made in America has been called "a masterwork of scholarship, journalism and cinematic art" by the LA Times. Directed and produced by Emmy Award winner Ezra Edelman, the ESPN documentary chronicles the rise of fall of O.J. Simpson, from his legendary career as a quarterback to his notorious murder trial, while also exploring what his life meant for race relations and celebrity culture at the tail-end of last century. Better yet, the screening is absolutely free and Edelman will appear in person to introduce the film. To secure your seat, go here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrB3rOcrJxg
If the smack-in-the-face chill of Melbourne town is getting you down — and we haven't even got halfway through winter yet — here is some small solace for you. Melbourne's new Boho Luxe Market (their words, not ours) is determined to make you remember those times when you could dip your toes in the ocean without them falling off and take you to a sun-dappled place of dreamcatchers and flower crowns. Because these things are apparently synonymous with Byron Bay, the market's goal is to bring "that Byron Bay vibe to Melbourne" — so expect all of the above except for the beach bit. It'll be in town on Sunday, July 9, when you can treat yourself to a day of 'winter wanderlust' in the Atrium at Federation Square. There'll be heaps of stalls featuring bohemian fashion, jewellery, homewares and kids stuff for tiny people too. There are even some complimentary workshops on offer for idle browsers and live music will amp up the anti-winter vibes.
