Name an adored Australian movie or book — or a film that was adapted to a novel — and, in plenty of cases, there's a theatre version as well. The same works vice versa, too. As a result, we've all had multiple ways to enjoy Muriel's Wedding, Moulin Rouge!, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Wake in Fright, Bran Nue Dae, Jasper Jones and more. And, before 2022 is out, the same will prove true of Looking for Alibrandi. Melina Marchetta's beloved book was initially published in 1992, and has been devoured by teenagers for three decades since. In 2000, it hit the big screen, with Pia Miranda as Josephine Alibrandi — and the movie has been given a workout for two-plus decades now. But this year marks the first time that Looking for Alibrandi will make the leap to the stage, with Malthouse doing the honours. Premiering in Melbourne at Malthouse's Merlyn Theatre from Friday, July 8–Sunday, July 31, Looking for Alibrandi will still chart the same multi-generational story it has always told no matter the format, with 17-year-old Sydney student Josie at its centre. She's in her last year of school, dreaming of a bright future and trying to navigate the clash of cultures that comes with being Italian Australian. She also gets to know her dad, and falls in love for the first time. Director Stephen Nicolazzo (Loaded, Merciless Gods) is guiding this stage version of the best-selling book to theatres, as adapted by Vidya Rajan — and starring Chanella Macri (Australian Realness), Lucia Mastrantone and Jennifer Vuletic (Because The Night) as the Alibrandi women. And if you need something to tide you over until the play hits Malthouse and Belvoir, check out the Looking for Alibrandi film trailer below: Top image: Kristian Gehradte.
When restaurateurs Frank Ciorciari and Gian Chiaravalle opened up a European-flavoured wine bar in Malvern East the intention was to keep things casual. But Ciorciari's background of working in catering at Formula's One's McLaren team was always going to bring an influence of the high life, and the local wine bar is better known as a classy place to go for drinks and snacks, rather than a casual tipple. Though, both are welcome. Here you'll find Italian influences across the menu, from the spaghetti vongole served with local clams, chilli and garlic, or the hand-made pappardelle with duck and porcini mushroom ragu, to the desserts — tiramisu, pannacotta and cannoli. But there's also a French accent in items like the slow-braised lamb cigar, pomme frites and baguette with herb garlic butter. It's the same Italo-French influence across the wine list too, though you'll spot a couple of bottles from Germany, Austria, Spain and California, with a few local producers thrown in for good measure. As the bar is also a bottle shop, take a bottle home with you when you're ready to leave.
The AFL season might be drawing to a close, but we've found another very tasty reason for you to be venturing towards the MCG long after this year's final siren sounds. Just opposite the stadium on Wellington Parade, The Cliveden Bar & Dining has opened its doors as the latest part of Pullman Melbourne on The Park's $6 million makeover. Steeped in history, the new all-day operation sits at the East Melbourne address made famous in the '80s and '90s by The Cliveden Room — a fine dining icon and one-time haunt of the A-listers of the era, like Barry Humphries and Bert Newton. Today's iteration has a culinary focus that's equally sophisticated yet thoroughly modern, as executive chef John Ross showcases "a new way to buffet" centred around artisan produce. Within an enormous, 202-seat restaurant space, diners are invited to enjoy five unique buffet menus, running from a European and Mediterranean dinner offering spanning dishes like Spanish chicken pie and confit duck, through to a seafood-heavy Sunday brunch buffet complete with egg station. That's in addition to a lineup of share plates, charcuterie and a soon-to-launch high tea selection. Meanwhile, the bar situation is an exciting proposition in itself, not least of all for the 116-seat designer lounge area. Headlining the drinks list is a range of buzzworthy signature cocktails like the Bloody Aussie Negroni, which is crafted on Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, Red Økar Amaro from South Australia and Maidenii sweet vermouth. The wine list tips its hat to top Victorian talent from across The Yarra Valley and Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas, backed by a curation of European varietals and solid selections of craft beer and cider. Find The Cliveden Bar & Dining at 192 Wellington Pde, East Melbourne, or head to the venue's website or Facebook page for more information.
Stunning acrobatic sights, but on ice: that's Cirque du Soleil's latest spectacular show. Usually when the Montreal-based circus company hits cities around the world, it has audiences rolling up to its big top to see aerial displays and contortionist feats. But CRYSTAL is different — and, sliding into arenas so that it can get frosty, it's proving popular with Australian audiences before it even gets here. Cirque du Soleil's first-ever ice show, CRYSTAL announced its debut Australia run for 2023 back in 2022. Haven't nabbed tickets yet? You now have extra chances. It won't arrive until winter — when else? — but the season has already become a hit, leading the circus to add an extra week of gigs in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth due to overwhelming demand. CRYSTAL still features all the trapeze, juggling, aerial stunts, acrobatics and more that fans have seen and loved across the company's past 41 productions — seven traditional circus acts, in fact, including banquine and hand balancing — but then adds a cold surface rather than its usual stage setup. And, it includes figure skating and extreme skating as well, two disciplines that've never been featured in a Cirque du Soleil production before now. When CRYSTAL heads Down Under, it'll mark Cirque du Soleil's first visit since KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities in 2019 and 2020, although that production's run was interrupted by the pandemic. Also part of CRYSTAL, and another Cirque du Soleil first: remastered pop songs, including Beyoncé's 'Halo', U2's 'Beautiful Day', Nina Simone's 'Sinnerman' and Sia's 'Chandelier', in the company's only touring show so far to use such tracks. CRYSTAL has been doing the rounds worldwide since 2017, with more than 1.8-million people in 115 cities in 12 countries checking it out over the past five years. The all-ages show takes its name from the production's protagonist, who acts as the audience's guide as she follows her destiny to become herself. CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S CRYSTAL — AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2023: Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 30 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre Thursday, August 3–Sunday, August 13 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Thursday, August 17–Sunday, August 27 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Thursday, August 31–Sunday, September 3 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre Friday, September 15—Sunday, September 24 — RAC Arena, Perth Cirque du Soleil's Crystal tours Australia in July–September 2023. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the show's website. Images: Matt Baker / Olivier Brajon.
UPDATE, February 15, 2024: Supernormal Brisbane is now set to open in 2024. Head to the Supernormal website for further details. Big culinary names making a move to southeast Queensland: now that's a trend that Sunshine State residents love to see. In just the past couple of months, Guy Grossi has announced plans to open an Amalfi-inspired restaurant in Brisbane, and Hong Kong's Michelin-starred cantonese restaurant T'ang Court just launched on the Gold Coast. The latest eatery that's set to join them: Melbourne's famed Supernormal. Acclaimed chef Andrew McConnell has revealed that Supernormal will launch a second location in 443 Queen Street, Brisbane, in a new residential tower that's due to open in late 2023. It'll sit on the riverfront, and boast views of the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge — and also be perched between the Queen Street Mall and Howard Smith Wharves. "There is a special combination of relationship, location, environment and architecture at 443 Queen Street that we are seriously excited to be a part of," said McConnell, announcing the news via Trader House — the collective that spans his restaurants, specialty retail stores and events. "For the past seven years, we've welcomed many interstate and international guests to Supernormal in Melbourne. Now, we look forward to contributing to Brisbane's already growing and vibrant food scene." "There's also a bounty of some of the country's best produce available. What a thrill to be able to explore this as we refine our offering," McConnell continued. Supernormal Brisbane marks Trader House's first venue beyond its Melbourne base, and will seat around 120 diners both inside and out — including in a private dining setup. While it's obviously too early to reveal the menu, the Brisbane restaurant will feature a hefty focus on Queensland produce and seafood, while plating up contemporary Australian dishes that also take inspiration from McConnell's time in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. Fingers crossed that Melbourne's marinated claims, New England lobster rolls, Hunan-style beef tartare and whole roasted flounder make the jump. On architectural and interior design duties: Vince Alafaci and Caroline Choker of Sydney's ACME, with the agency also working on the design of Melbourne's Gimlet at Cavendish House — the only Australian venue to make the longlist in 2022 for The World's 50 Best Restaurants, coming in in 84th position. Brisbanites can expect Supernormal Brisbane to link in with the Brisbane Riverwalk precinct — 'tis the location for it — and operate seven days a week, including offering an all-day dining menu. The new venue will start welcoming in patrons 22 years after McConnell opened his first restaurant, Dining Room 211, in Melbourne in 2001. And, it folds into a career that's spanned plenty of other notable Victorian sites, including Cutler & Co, Cumulus Inc, Marion, Builders Arms Hotel, Meatsmith and Morning Market. Supernormal Brisbane is set to open at 443 Queen Street, Brisbane in late 2023 — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced. For more information about Supernormal Melbourne, head to the restaurant's website. Images: Supernormal Melbourne, Nikki To / Jo McGann / Kristoffer Paulsen.
Chef Jerry Mai has been bringing Melburnians top-notch Vietnamese food for years now. She's responsible for the upmarket eats at Annam and casual CBD diners Pho Nom. It's no surprise her restaurants are so good (and popular), having cut her teeth at the likes of Gingerboy and Longrain, as well as London' s Zuma and Michelin-starred Nahm. As of August 1, Mai will be launching her latest venture: Bia Hoi. It'll pay homage to the beer halls of Vietnam, which pour fresh, locally produced brews — just like this new restaurant will. The 100-seat venue is set to open at The Glen's new outdoor dining precinct and will offer Vietnamese bar bites, a daily happy hour and bottomless brunch. The beer list will feature both local and Vietnamese brands, including Dandenong's Kaiju! Beer and Seaford's Mr Banks Brewing Co, along with 333, Bia Hanoi and Saigon Special. Apart from all the brews, there will Vietnamese-inspired cocktails and over 20 wines on offer, primarily sourced locally from small-batch producers like Billy Button, Pinemount and Cloak & Dagger. Head in from 5–7pm daily, when you'll find $4 pots and $6 wines during happy hour. [caption id="attachment_730158" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Render by Architects EAT[/caption] For eats, there will be bar snacks like crispy pork skin, house-made salted peanuts and dried squid, along with a range of rice paper rolls and skewers. The space will also include four barbecue tables, where guests to grill their own meats and build their own rice paper rolls — among the options are wagyu beef and shellfish, served with sauces, herbs, salads and rice noodles. On those cooler winter nights, you'll be able to opt for a 'steamboat': large hot pots for groups of two to four. Choose from the hot and sour canh chua, made with tamarind and pineapple broth and served with barramundi, prawns, rice noodles and greens; or the beef pho steamboat with wagyu sirloin, brisket, beef balls and rice noodles. If you want to try a bit of everything, stop in during the Sunday bottomless brunch. For $55 per person, you'll be treated to two hours of all-you-can-eat snacks — delivered by yum cha-style roving trolleys — along with unlimited beer, wine, mimosas and spritzes. You can enjoy this unlimited eats and drinks in either the large dining room, the U-shaped bar or the outdoor beer garden. Designers Architects EAT are responsible for this multi-space fit-out, which will include colourful hanging lanterns and old wooden shutters, plus red brick walls, rattan and terracotta finishes and concrete floors. Bia Hoi will open on Thursday, August 1 at The Glen, 235 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley. Opening hours will be 11am–late daily, with happy hour 5–7pm each day and bottomless brunch 11am–3pm on Sundays. Images: Architects EAT
There's a lot you can do for $50. A single yellow note can get you two tickets to a movie or a tank full of petrol. But what a pineapple can also get you is a decent amount of food and drink — especially when you think outside of the square a little. Bargain set menu deals can be found around town if you know where to look and what the passwords are (hint: generally it's "feed me"). Melbourne has a staggering number of food and drink options. And, narrowing it down a bit, it also has a heap of set menus for those who like to live fancy but spend less. Live your best eating life and treat yourself to a set menu or a banquet — we've compiled a list of venues for when you feel like a veritable feast. So the next time your stomach is at its very emptiest, browse through. Plus, all these venues accept American Express so you won't even need to fiddle about with cash money at all, just pull out your Amex Card and you'll be good to go. Can't wait to start travelling the world again? American Express has the card for you. Sign up for the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and you'll score 55,000 bonus Qantas Points, plus $450 of Qantas Travel Credit and two passes to the American Express Lounge every year. And you'll earn 1.25 Qantas Points for every dollar spent. T&Cs, minimum spend and eligibility criteria apply.
It's been less than two years since Sophie Ellis-Bextor last played live Down Under; however, when she took to the stage at Summer Camp in Sydney and Melbourne in 2022, and Melt Festival in Brisbane as well, Saltburn hadn't happened. So when the British singer-songwriter performs in Australia and New Zealand in spring 2024, busting out 'Murder on the Dancefloor' is certain to be a whole new experience. The 2001 single has always been an earworm, a delight and a floor filler, but echoing over an unforgettable scene in one of 2023's best movies has made everyone remember that they love it again. Indeed, expect it to be a highlight not just of Ellis-Bextor's set, but of the whole show that's actually a Take That tour with Ellis-Bextor burning the goddamn house right down in support. Those houses: RAC Arena in Perth, Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and Spark Arena in Auckland, all across late October to mid-November. Take That and the talent that also helped make Spiller's 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)' so memorable are also playing A Day on the Green, with Ricki-Lee also on the bill. On those shows, they'll head to Peter Lehmann Wines in the Barossa Valley in South Australia, then Bimbadgen in New South Wales' Hunter Valley and finally Sirromet Wines in Mount Cotton in Queensland. Still touring 34 years after first forming, but now a trio consisting of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald — with fellow OG members Robbie Williams and Jason Orange no longer part of the group — boy band Take That are leading the trip Down Under fresh from releasing their latest album This Life in 2023. Certain to include 90s hits 'Back for Good', 'Pray' and 'Relight My Fire', these gigs will be their first in the region since 2016. Take That This Life Tour with Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Australia and New Zealand 2024 Dates: Wednesday, October 30 — RAC Arena, Perth Saturday, November 2 — A Day on the Green, Peter Lehmann Wines, Barossa Valley, with Ricki-Lee Wednesday, November 6 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Thursday, November 7 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Saturday, November 9 — A Day on the Green, Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley, with Ricki-Lee Sunday, November 10 — A Day on the Green, Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, with Ricki-Lee Thursday, November 14 — Spark Arena, Auckland Take That and Sophie Ellis-Bextor are touring Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2024. Presales start at 3pm local time on Wednesday, February 7, with general sales from 1pm local time on Tuesday, February 13. Head to the tour and A Day on the Green websites for further details. Top image of Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Laura Lewis.
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.
It's been six months since we first heard the goss on the latest plans for The Continental Sorrento, as the pub's owners revealed details of a hefty makeover, complete with an overhauled food and drink offering helmed by Scott Pickett (Estelle, Matilda) and Craig Shearer (The Terminus Fitzroy North, Brisbane's The Plough). Fast forward to now, and we're just weeks away from seeing parts of this grand, six-level redevelopment in action — the first phase of the new-look Conti is gearing up to open its doors from late March. A whole suite of new hospitality spaces are joining the bill here on Ocean Beach Road, with options for post-beach pints, special occasion dinners and everything in between. Named in a nod to Pickett's own grandmother and cooking muse, is Audrey's — a fine diner that fuses old-world charm with contemporary sensibilities. The signature restaurant is set to boast enviable bay vistas, an impressive wine program and a chic seafood-driven menu, even rocking its own marble raw bar. Taking a more casual approach to coastal wining and dining are the modern Public Bar; an all-weather, greenery-filled beer garden; and a sprawling outdoor space dubbed the Promenade. This trio will be heroing Pickett's contemporary spin on classic pub grub, as well as showcasing Shearer's flair for and experience in creating top-notch pub spaces. [caption id="attachment_823638" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Craig Shearer & Scott Pickett; by Parker Blain[/caption] Yet more adventures await you amongst the foliage of greenhouse-inspired diner The Atrium, and the plush surrounds of Coppins Lounge, with its refined booze offering and lobby bar energy. Meanwhile, the late-night crowd will find their haven within the Conti's speakeasy-style haunt, Barlow, which is serving up elevated bar snacks, crafty sips and a diverse program of live entertainment. The heritage-listed site is also set to play host to luxury 108-room hotel the InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula, and an assortment of function spaces will be led by Pickett and Shearer's teams. They range from the grand to the intimate, including the beautifully restored Grand Ballroom, Halcyon Hall, al fresco Sunset Terrace and The Gallery. Hotel guests will also have exclusive access to the Pool Deck, where it's all about holiday-style snacks and fun cocktails enjoyed in poolside cabanas. And, as a bonus for cocktail-lovers, the Speakeasy Group (Eau de Vie, Nick & Nora's) will be serving a slew of its own seasonal concoctions across the entire precinct. Find The Continental Sorrento at 1-21 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento. Its spaces will open in stages over the coming months, starting from late March. We'll share more details as they drop. Images: Renders courtesy of The Continental Sorrento; photos by Jeremy Wright
Celebrate Mexican Independence Day in the heart of the city with great food, live music, and artwork. Despite being a world away from Mexico, Melbourne has some excellent Mexican cuisine aficionados, many of whom will be out in full force for the festivities. Grab a bite from the good folk at Mamasita, Paco’s Tacos, Mesa Verde, South American BBQ, Chilli’s Gourmet Mexican and Guzman y Gomez. Tacos, tostadas and tequila, sounds terrific! To get the party going, mariachi band Los Romanticos will take the Viva Mexico Stage, as will live salsa band Orchestra La 45, The Mexican Music Man & Sin Frontera Band, Mexican rock band Los Mas Altos and the traditional ceremony of ‘El Grito’ to celebrate Mexican Independence. In between sets, feel free to wander the markets filled with crafts and jewellery, as well as popping your head into The Atrium to browse the Mexican artwork display.
One of Melbourne's best new restaurants has suddenly closed its doors. The closure of Restaurant Shik, run by owner and chef Peter Jo, was announced today on Instagram. Opening just over a year ago, the laneway restaurant was known for pairing ambitious Korean fare with an impressive list of natural wines. Jo — who's affectionately known as Kimchi Pete — worked as a sommelier in some of Sydney's top restaurants before he moved into the kitchen. Restaurant Shik was highly reviewed across the board, our reviewer called it "constantly evolving" fare that "can't be pigeon-holed by tradition", and it was nominated for Concrete Playground's Best New Restaurants of 2018. In a post on the chef's personal Instagram, Jo revealed that he had been evicted from the Niagara Lane space and the building repossessed. But, it doesn't spell the end for Shik — instead, it's the "beginning of the next chapter". "Thank you for all the support to all guests, suppliers and friends," says Jo. "Shik will continue." https://www.instagram.com/p/BwGQwvZgifF/ While there's no word yet on what this next venture may be, you might see Jo return to one of his previous stomping grounds — which include Belles Hot Chicken and Sydney's Momofuku Seiobo — or bring back one of his ever-popular collabs and pop-ups. Restaurant Shik is now closed. Images: Kate Shanasy.
Playwright Joanna Murray-Smith and singer Bernadette Robinson, having teamed up in 2010 on the successful cabaret Songs for Nobodies, return with this collaboration for MTC. Again written specifically for Robinson as a showcase for her remarkable vocal talents, Pennsylvania Avenue makes the White House the setting for a nostalgia-fuelled journey through the music of the late 20th century. Robinson stars as Harper Clemence, a staffer in the White House's Social Office, responsible for liaison with entertainers performing at presidential functions. Framed as a memoir of a 40-year career, from the Kennedy era to the end of Clinton' presidency, it acts essentially as a prop for Robinson to perform impressions of a wide array of celebrities, both musical and political. So we hear her whisper 'Happy Birthday' like Marilyn and boom out 'Respect' like Aretha and deliver impressive musical impressions of the likes of Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan and Eartha Kitt. The slick production is worthy of a show about presidents and pop stars — it even boasts a series of digital screens that transform from a White House portrait gallery into images from old concerts and historical events, some with the fictional Harper photoshopped into them. There is nostalgia galore, especially for Kennedy and to a lesser extent Clinton, and musically it stays mostly in the '60s and '70s. If that's your era, this show is playing squarely to your court. As a showcase for Robinson's talent, Pennsylavania Avenue is fantastic. Both as an actor and as a singer, she has tremendous range and power. Her ability to recreate the vocal stylings of such a diverse spread of singers brings a great deal of joy and wonder to the audience. However, the premise of having a fictional character interact with a who's who of American pop music and politics, kind of like a musical Forrest Gump, is hard to do without feeling contrived. This is especially the case when the script tries to incorporate Harper as an active protagonist. At times it achieves the right balance of humour and pathos, at others — such as having Harper first utter words made famous by a president for instance — it takes the theatrical conceit that step too far. Harper doesn't really have enough depth as a character in her own right to be believable, at the same time as the show demands a high level of emotional investment in her personal journey. As a nostalgia trip, Pennsylvania Avenue is inevitably highly sentimental but at times the raw emotion from Harper doesn't gel with the tone of a piece that rides mainly on the strength of celebrity impressions. While the show could have been better served by a script that was either more grounded in reality than whimsy or else more committed to simply being fun, when Robinson sings all else is forgiven. She knocks it out of the park with every song and leaves her audience in awe.
We rang in the year of the pig (goodbye year of the dog, go sleep it off) on February 5, but the festivities are continuing throughout the month. And what's the best way to partake in the celebration? We've got it right here and it'll make you happier than a pig in mud. Dumpling master Din Tai Fung is offering new limited edition 'Piggy Buns' for the first half of February and they are some the cutest dumplings we've ever seen. Just look at them. Din Tai Fung is famous for its dumplings and is known to release beautiful and novelty dumplings for special occasions (check out these adorable little monkey buns from 2016). The pig bao buns are steamed-to-order, stuffed with a sweet filling of chocolate and served on a bed of Oreo 'soil'. The pig buns are available at most Din Tai Fung restaurants and food court outlets in Sydney and Melbourne (full list below) and through Deliveroo in both cities— so you even order them straight to your desk. The only problem we can foresee is that eating those sweet little pig faces may be hard… but we'll probably manage it. If you're in Sydney and decide to head down to the World Square location on your lunch break, you'll also be able pat real life pigs while you're there. Three little piglets will be available for pats on Level 1 between 11am–2pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (February 8–10). Piggy Buns are available for $8.80 for two until mid-February at seven Din Tai Fung Sydney stores — World Square, Westfield Chatswood, Central Park Mall, Broadway, Westfield Miranda, The Star, Gateway and Greenwood Plaza — Melbourne's Emporium store and via Deliveroo.
"I love it here. I fucking love it!" Same, Logan Roy, same. Those words are yelled with fiery passion by Brian Cox as Succession's patriarch, and they're part the first sneak peek that HBO has just dropped at the award-winning series' upcoming fourth season. "This is not the end. We're tearing the opposition. I'm going to build something better, faster, leaner, wilder," Cox also shouts. So, season four will clearly see Logan Roy doing what Logan Roy does, all while navigating the sale of his media conglomerate Waystar Royco to a tech visionary played by Alexander Skarsgård (The Northman). Unsurprisingly, that business move is going to cause some Roy family angst. It was back in 2021 when HBO announced that Succession would return for a fourth run, after its third season proved that exceptional — and popular. Set to arrive sometime in 2023, with an exact date yet to be announced, season four will also see the Roys working out how their lives will look after the Waystar Royco deal goes through. Given that the whole show has always been about Logan's children Kendall (Jeremy Strong, The Trial of the Chicago 7), Connor (Alan Ruck, Gringo), Shiv (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman) and Roman (Kieran Culkin, Infinity Baby) trying to be named his successor, no one is going to adjust to the new status quo easily. For viewers, it'll mean more power struggles — aka more of what Succession has always done best. If you're a fan of twisty TV shows about wealth, privilege, influence, the vast chasm between the rich and everyday folks, and the societal problems that fester due to such rampant inequality, there's been plenty of ace examples of late, including The White Lotus and Squid Game. No series slings insults as savagely as this Emmy, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, Writers Guild and Directors Guild Award-winner, however. No show channels feuding and backstabbing into such an insightful and gripping satire of the one percent, either. HBO's brief sneak peek at Succession season four, running for just ten seconds, can be found in the US network's latest promotional video to showcase its upcoming slate — and there's plenty more to get excited about. That includes The White Lotus' soon-to-release second season, which starts airing on Monday, October 31; game-to-TV adaptation The Last of Us; a four-part documentary about Shaquille O'Neal; and season four of Barry. And, there's The Idol, from The Weeknd and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson; more Perry Mason, Gossip Girl and The Sex Lives of College Girls; another season of Winning Time — The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty; Larry David's latest antics in the long-running Curb Your Enthusiasm; and the Elizabeth Olsen (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)-starring Love & Death. Also on the list: the return of Our Flag Means Death, Starstruck and Hacks, as well as Tokyo Vice and Minx — and newcomer Full Circle, which is directed by Kimi and Magic Mike's Steven Soderbergh. Check out the HBO clip below: I fucking love it here. New originals, returning series, and more are coming soon to HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/7P2oOSu7CD — HBO Max (@hbomax) October 17, 2022 Succession season four will arrive sometime in 2023, including via Foxtel, Binge and Foxtel On Demand in Australia and Neon in New Zealand — we'll update you with exact details when they're announced. Check out our review of season three.
Pot Dispensary offers pottery classes and studio access to the Melbourne community in its bright and airy studio space. The philosophy here is that pottery is like a dance, with the movement of the wheel stopping time around you. And with such wonderful teachers, you'll be glad for the time to go as slowly as possible. The classes on offer here include a one-off, two-hour class introducing novices to the wheel. You'll learn throwing, trimming, and glazing, and by the end of the lesson, you'll have created a cup, bowl or vessel that you'll be able to take home (six weeks later, once they've been fired in the kiln). For those who are a tad more determined, there is a six-week course on offer, too. These courses are designed for everyone, from beginners to seasoned pros. For two hours each week, you'll learn everything there is to know about pottery. By the end of the course, you'll have created items such as salad bowls, serving sets, side plates, candelabras and casserole dishes. Private bookings are available for groups of one to twenty, as well as wheel rental and studio access for those who already have a strong skill set. With friendly teachers and an awesome learning space, Pot Dispensary is just about the best pottery studio in Melbourne.
It was a smash in Australia with Eryn Jean Norvill (Love Me) in the lead. When it made the leap to the UK starring Succession's Sarah Snook, it became the talk of London's West End, and also earned its one and only performer a 2024 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for her efforts. It's been picked up by Cate Blanchett's (Borderlands) production company Dirty Films to get the film treatment. And, now it's heading to Broadway. Sydney Theatre Company's version of The Picture of Dorian Gray keeps doing huge things — and its latest jump to the most-famous stage district there is will also keep Snook at its centre. She's making her Broadway debut playing all 26 of the play's parts, with the production hitting New York from March 2025. When STC's take on The Picture of Dorian Gray premiered in 2020 — and then also played theatres in Melbourne and Adelaide — it didn't just give Oscar Wilde's gothic-literature masterpiece a fresh spin; it turned it into a brand-new stage sensation. Not only does the show feature just one performer playing every single character but, to make that happen, it uses video to help. It's the work of writer/director Kip Williams, it's groundbreaking, and it's been understandably earning audiences raves and winning accolades. On the page, The Picture of Dorian Gray is exceptional, as well as astute and unnerving, as it follows the selling of its namesake's soul in order to keep indulging every corporeal whim, urge and desire. There's a reason that it just keeps getting adapted for the screen and in theatres, after all. But there's never been a version like Sydney Theatre Company's, which Broadway patrons now get to experience. "It was a singular privilege to bring The Picture of Dorian Gray to life in London and I am thrilled we will be able to share this astonishing production with audiences in New York," said Sarah Snook about the news. "From Oscar Wilde's timeless words to the masterful reinterpretation Kip Williams has created, this tale of virtue, corruption, vanity and repercussion is an electrifying journey for me as much as for the audiences, and I am filled with anticipation as we continue on this ambitious creative endeavour." "I was so humbled by the response from audiences in London to The Picture of Dorian Gray, and I could not be more thrilled to be bringing this work to Broadway. It has been extraordinary to witness the way Oscar Wilde's story continues to resonate with people today," added Williams. "I am so excited for audiences in New York to experience our show and to see the tour-de-force performance Sarah Snook gives in bringing to life the many characters in this new adaptation of Wilde's remarkable story." Check out the trailer for the Broadway season of The Picture of Dorian Gray below: The Picture of Dorian Gray will play Broadway in New York from March 2025 — for more information and to join the waitlist for tickets, head to the play's website. Images: Marc Brenner.
The ongoing saga of Federation Square's proposed Apple store has entered a new crowdfunded chapter, thanks to a grassroots effort to buy back the space for the public. The estimated cost for keeping the inner-city area for its residents? A cool $40 million. In an attempt to stop the construction of the technology retailer's potential first global flagship store in the southern hemisphere, a group called Our City, Our Square is aiming to raise the hefty sum. The organisation launched a Pozible campaign on Sunday, February 10, and, at the time of writing, has raised $216,312 towards its target (and received more than 100,000 signatures of support). It came up with the huge amount by examining demolition documents submitted to Heritage Victoria about the site, and making an educated guess regarding the Victorian Government's expected windfall from the deal. While the true figure hasn't been announced, the suggested price is hardly pocket change. But even if Our City, Our Square manages rustle up the huge sum of cash from Melburnians, that's not the end of the matter. The Victorian Government would have to agree to the idea — and the crowdfunding page makes it clear that this isn't expected to happen in any circumstances. As a result, the $40 million target is really just designed to make a statement. The group wants to show the powers-that-be just how much the city's residents are willing to pledge to keep Apple out of the public space, even if folks who commit to donating never actually have to stump up the funds. [caption id="attachment_678380" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] A render of the proposed Apple store.[/caption] Since Apple first announced the project back in 2017, the brand's potential new digs have been marked by controversy. The initial designs were widely panned, and arguments continue to rage over the purpose of the general space — specifically, whether selling off public land to a commercial retailer, demolishing the existing Yarra Building and displacing the Koorie Heritage Trust in the process is acceptable. An interim heritage protection order stopped construction work for four months in late 2018, and permanent heritage status has been recommended, which would throw the whole project into jeopardy. Fed Square's possible inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register is still under consideration by Heritage Victoria, with the Pozible campaign arriving as public submissions about the 16-year-old Yarra Building's heritage application close on Wednesday, February 13. Public hearings are expected to be held in April before a final decision is made. Top image: David Hannah/Visit Victoria.
Google's glasses may be set to bring our eyes back up from the tiny screen, but until then we're happily on the path towards having a permanent earthbound gaze. It is no wonder then that our love for the portable, digital universe has caught the imagination of publishers seeking to enhance the quality of our heads-down attention. Enter Branches Publishing and their freshly sprouted, digital-only anthology of new Australian writing, Cuttings. Having budded from arts app composers The Nest, Branches Publishing launches with a well-designed experience for electronic letter lovers. Cuttings Issue Zero is now available for free on Apple and Android tablets and what you'll download is a time capsule about Australian life in 2013. Editors Angela Bennetts and Alice Fenton (of Even Books) have ensured that this memorial contains the right balance of humour and solemnity from a local suite of talented posteritists*, all presented with wit by senior designer Dave Fernandes. Every work in Issue Zero is shorter than a Borges and kept to its own page (there will be longer pieces from Issue One onwards in May), which is great news for the scrambled brains of overloaded content junkies. Some pieces are presented as contemporary artefacts, such as Sophie Braham's '2012 Job Description', which efficiently captures the plight of every 20/30-something in a 20km radius. Other works act as framing text for a series of curated hyperlinks — Wilfred Brandt's hypothesis of skateboarding as alien technology and Steph Harmon's historiography of dog fashion both succeed as tap-and-swipe pecha kucha equivalents. A result of these short pieces occupying their own pages is that your reading slows down. Your eyes will not melt from the fatigue of gleaning conversation pieces out of cluttered content sewers, and in turn you'll calm down enough to actually meditate on the world observed by Cuttings' contributors. This is a world populated by M.B. Windle's graphic epiphany about Hollywood's lies, Tessa Lunney's nostalgic dancers, and Max Lavergne's suggestion of what might happen should a savvy Mexican girl be dropped into the West Bank. Fernandes and the contributing illustrators and photographers have equally crafted something poetic. Cuttings is attractive in both landscape and portrait, and each piece is augmented by an interface design that reminds readers that they're looking at a tablet and not a print article with some hyperlinks. Two lovely visual effects pop up, for example, in A.H. Cayley's meditation on how ineffectual jacarandas are as barometers, and in Cleo Braithwaite's sketch of impending feline dominion. One slight tarnish is that as several of the articles are hyperlink-enhanced, you will need an active internet connection on your tablet to gain the full experience of Cuttings. Though copyright does make it difficult to include certain things in the downloaded content — such as a Taylor Swift video clip — Matt Roden's fantastic illustrations are bundled with the issue and pop up within the body of his words with an elegance that could ideally appear throughout the whole publication. That said, Cuttings has launched with an auspicious debut and stands to only gain in quality as it opens its submissions to a horde of head-bowed Australian talent. *this will be a real word when the time capsule is unearthed
Our society seems to be developing an obsession for sleeping in places that are not our beds. Are our lives so busy and so constantly on the go that the notion of getting your 8 hours in the quiet comfort of your bedroom sometime between dusk and dawn is becoming impractical, unrealistic and just plain outdated? A range of designs over the past few years seem to be pointing to our desire to harness modcon's to make going to sleep - the concept, the verb - unnecessary and obsolete and instead, in its place, enable us to take sleep with us wherever we go. it seems survival of the fittest is all about adaptation, with new designs allowing our weary bodies to adapt to our demanding lifestyles. Athanasia Leivaditou has added a new incentive to staying late at the office through her latest offering - an office desk that can convert into a bed. The white, seemingly innocuous, everyday office desk masks deep within its belly a 2m x 0.8m x 0.73m escape to the Land of Nod complete with a small flat screen TV. Leivaditou pointed to the contraction of our lives to fit into the walls of our office as the inspiration for her design. If your occupational allegiance is tied not to an office but to mobility, you may want to invest in an OSTRICH. Designer Kawamura Ganjavian states that it is a combination of a pillow, cushion, bed and garment that offers "a micro environment in which to take a warm and comfortable power nap at ease" with a "soothing cave-like interior" into which we bury our heads and hands in mimicry of the habits of the aforementioned large flightless bird. If you want to take the concept of portable sleep vessel one step further, perhaps try out Forrest Jessee's Sleep Suit, which, for all intents and purposes, transforms you into a walking sleeping bag. It was designed as a facilitatory aid to the adoption of an alternative sleep cycle whereby you take frequent naps over the course of a day rather than having a big greedy sleep at night. The pleated foam construction enables the user to hear, eat, breathe and see, as well as, at the user's discretion, keel over whenever and wherever for a comfortable and safe snooze. Mixing literal instrumentality with aesthetic absurdity, these designs simultaneously allow us to adapt to our evolving circumstances as well as, possibly, making us question whether the need for such adaptations is an indication that it is our lifestyles themselves that need changing.
Located just off Collins St in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, Curry Vault offers modern Indian dishes with a special attention to its wine list. It's the perfect place to kick back for a long lunch (Monday-Friday) or a special dinner (Monday-Saturday). Inside, expect a mix of casual art gallery, classic Indian diner and local bar. This is somewhat formal dining but not at the price of fun. There's a casual and relaxed atmosphere where you can easily spend a few hours like they were minutes. The menu kicks off with a handful of hot appetisers, including traditional Nepalese momo made with minced chicken or seasonal vegetables and served with chutney, and govi pakora – deep-fried cauliflower in a chickpea flour batter. Inside the tandoor, king prawns, chicken, lamb cutlets and fish are cooking. Opt for the mixed platter if you can't decide which you'd prefer. The selection of vegetarian dishes runs from the spicy paneer chilli through to the mild and creamy malai kofta. Or if meat is more your thing, there are seafood, chicken, beef and lamb specials to suit everyone. The prawn malawari stands out, a generous serving of king prawns in a coconut cream sauce. As well as being an Indian restaurant, Curry Vault is also something of a wine bar, specialising in pairing your order with a glass of wine. Their list includes a large selection by the glass or bottle and there is something to complement every dish. Top drops include Castelforte Soave from Veneto in Italy and the Argyle Heathcote shiraz. While they offer up serious food and wine to match, Curry Vault is the kind of place to come in and relax. There's no hurrying you out the door here, and there is always another wine to sample.
The summer months are fast approaching, which means it's time to start planning a little getaway (or three). If your idea of a perfect escape is a remote cabin, surrounded by wilderness with no Wi-Fi, this news may have you hitting 'book' straight away. Unyoked, the Aussie startup with six tiny houses currently located around NSW and Vic, has just launched six more remote getaways. If you're one of the patient souls on the company's current 5000-long waitlist, this news will be doubly exciting. Founded and run by twins Cam and Chris Grant, the off-the-grid cabins bring you the convenience and comfort of four solid walls, alongside the adventure, spontaneity and closeness-to-nature of camping. With the help of Archemy Modular and Fresh Prince, the brothers have designed and built the 12 houses — all sustainable and solar-powered. All properties been placed in secret patches of wilderness on private properties, in the middle of nowhere. The three new NSW ones are located 90 minutes from Sydney's CBD, in the north and northwest, located on the Central Coast, in a private valley and in a forest. Two of the Victorian properties are a two-hour drive southeast, while the third is two hours north. These ones have popped up in Gippsland, the Pyrenees Ranges and a pine forest. [caption id="attachment_745748" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luisa Brimble[/caption] The exact locations are still under wraps as Unyoked aims to make sure your stay is a bit of an adventure, by only revealing the address for your chosen house two days before you're due to set off. Bookings for the six new spots open today, Monday, October 18, so we suggest you hover over the website if you're keen to book one in. Once you've booked on in, all you need to do is jump in your car, disconnect and recharge. The six new Unyoked cabins are located across NSW and Vic and are available to book from today, Monday, October 14, via unyoked.co. Looking for more off-the-grid escapes? Check out our favourites in NSW and Vic. Images: Luisa Brimble
You know when you're trying to read on a train but you just can't tune out that other passenger's borezo conversation? Or when you're at a festival and you want to turn up the base? It's these times that you wish you could just flick a switch in your ear and change the levels, but laugh the thought away because we're humans, not robots, and we don't have switches anyway. Well that may be true, but a Silicon Valley start-up have developed wireless earbuds which, when placed in your ear, can give you control over what you hear — and what you don't. It's called the Here Active Listening system, and it's basically a fancy add-on to your actual, working ear. The earbuds are controlled by a smartphone app and, once in your ear, can be used to modify the sounds around you. What does this mean? Well it would allow you to eliminate sounds (say, a crying baby), increase the bass and amplify sounds, such the voice of the person you're talking to — which would be great in loud environments, like gigs and festivals. This last point is probably why creators Doppler Labs have decided to release the product at Coachella this year. Here will be fully integrated into the festival, and will give punters the opportunity to access exclusive 'listening experiences' and audio filters. There will even be presets optimised for each stage. It will be the first opportunity for people to purchase the earbuds since the project raised over $600,000 on Kickstarter last year. There's no set date on when the rest of the us not attending Coachella can try them out, but the price point is set to be around $200-300. Via Mashable.
Perhaps it isn't the most groundbreaking piece of literature, but the D.O.Double G's fans will certainly find inspiration in Snoop Dogg's new book: Rolling Words: A Smokable Songbook. The aptly titled literary work features pages of Snoop's lyrics which double as (what else?) rolling papers. The pages are conveniently perforated and bound by hemp material. Even the book's spine comes in handy, functioning as a match-striking surface. "This thing can also be smoked with some of your finest, where you at or however you at," Snoop says in his promo video. Looks like Snoop still has his mind on his money, and his money on his mind. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HkfC2dfNHGM [via Gawker]
It's the first Cirque du Soleil show that uses a central stage, placing its action in the middle of the arena, meaning that patrons face each other while they watch. It focuses, fittingly for a circus troupe, on a clown. Corteo is the production in question, and is also already proving a hit in Australia ahead of its 2025 season's arrival — with an extra 25 performances freshly locked in due to demand. When a clown ponders its final farewell, what does it see? This show has the answer. When Corteo initially made its way to the stage in Montreal in 2005, it won over audiences by setting its acrobatic feats within a funeral procession imagined by a jester — a carnival-like parade that muses on humanity's strengths and vulnerabilities — in a space between heaven and earth. Two decades later, it's one of the troupe's most-beloved performances. Cirque du Soleil announced earlier in 2025 that it would celebrating that Corteo milestone Down Under this year — and now that a five-city tour of Australia has just gotten bigger. The production's stints at Perth Arena, Melbourne's John Cain Arena, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and Brisbane Entertainment Centre have all been extended by a week, albeit with shows focused around the weekend. Accordingly, Perth will now enjoy Corteo from Friday, August 8–Sunday, August 17; Melbourne between Friday, August 22–Sunday, August 31; Sydney from Thursday, September 4–Sunday, September 14; and Brisbane across Thursday, September 18–Sunday, September 28. Adelaide's dates at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre from Thursday, October 2–Sunday, October 5 remain unchanged. Over its 20 years of life so far Corteo has proven a smash, with over 12-million audience members in 30 countries on four continents seeing it so far. As its clown protagonist conjures up the festive parade that ushers him from this world, attendees witness a poetic yet playful performance — one where the acrobatics are unique, too, and where angels watch over. The show hits Australia after LUZIA was the last Cirque du Soleil production that bounded this way, kicking off in 2024 — and notching up another first, as the Montreal-based company company's debut touring show to feature rain in its acrobatic and artistic scenes. Before that, 2023 saw Cirque du Soleil bring CRYSTAL, its first-ever ice production on ice, Down Under. Cirque du Soleil's Corteo — Australia and New Zealand Tour 2025 Friday, August 8–Sunday, August 17 — Perth Arena, Perth Friday, August 22–Sunday, August 31 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Thursday, September 4–Sunday, September 14 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Thursday, September 18–Sunday, September 28 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Thursday, October 2–Sunday, October 5 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Cirque du Soleil's Corteo tours Australia from August 2025. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the show's website. Images: Maja Prgomet, Johan Persson and Aldo Arguello.
Though your Instagram feed might have been a clogged artery of your mates hanging out on the Amalfi Coast, strolling through Paris or getting sunburnt on a boat in Croatia for the past few months, we can assure you, you're not missing out on that much. There's a lot that happens in our own city that we're often unaware of, or that passes us by entirely while we're busy eating at our favourite trusty old restaurants or drinking at the same old watering holes. Melbourne is a veritable cultural melting pot of art, food and fashion, but it can sometimes be all too easy to forget just how cool our city is when we're living out the same routine day in and day out. So to help you break out of the repetitive work, eat, sleep schedule, we've partnered with Mitsubishi in celebration of its new Eclipse Cross, and created a handy little week guide of the things you can discover in and around the city. Think stuffing your face with banana roti, swapping the gym for rollerskating and shopping with ice cream in hand. We're just making it easy for you to be that person with the enviable Instagram story (even if you're not on a boat in the Mediterranean). MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10: MONDAY BLUES CURE Sneak in a banana roti for breakfast at Magic Mountain Saloon before work. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so Monday's breakfast must be the most important meal of the week since it's what you're kicking everything off with. That said, the folks at Magic Mountain Saloon are here to help you start your week properly and combat any creeping Monday Blues. From the same team that gave us Cookie, Toff, Revolver and Boney, Magic Mountain is a three-level bar and eatery — and the magic certainly comes in spades when it comes to its breakfast. With standard eggs and bacon nowhere to be found, the pick of the bunch might well be their brekkie roti, served with almond butter, grilled banana and condensed milk ($14.50). It's never too early in the day (or the week) for being really bloody decadent. [caption id="attachment_622098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nic Allchin.[/caption] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11: CHEAP LUNCH WITH DOG WATCHING Snag a $12.50 lunch at Moroccan Soup Bar's new takeaway joint. In good news for all those Moroccan Soup Bar goers, chickpea fans and anyone with a pulse who likes to eat, the hugely popular Fitzroy North Moroccan restaurant has opened a second, takeaway-focused offering. Moroccan Soup Bar Two Go rewards those who've come prepared with Tupperware and sends them on their merry way with the same $12.50 lunch packs they've been nabbing from the original restaurant. Head in around lunchtime, get that chickpea bake and go dog watch in the neighbouring Edinburgh Gardens for a spell. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12: SKATES ON Whip your hair back and forth on the rink at a RollerFit. Have you ever wanted to follow Drew Barrymore's advice in Whip It and just "be your own hero"? Well, at RollerFit in Flemington, you can. There's no better way to climb the hump that is Wednesday than in a pair of skates with some funky tunes. Pop into RollerFit in Flemington between 7.30pm and 8.30pm to take a beginner or intermediate class for $30 (including skate hire). With this hour of non-stop good vibes, you'll forget all about tomorrow being a work day. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13: A LAND OF LEGOS FOR GROWN-UPS Meet some mates at a bar made entirely of LEGO. Thought you'd heard all the novelty bar ideas prevalent in Melbourne before? Nah, here's another one for the likes of you and your Thursday night. Head in to The Brick Bar, a pop-up bar in South Wharf, to find a bar made entirely out of LEGO — around a million bricks, according to the creators. Here you'll find DJs all day, huge LEGO sculptures dotted around and a DIY area for intrepid builders. Just make sure to book early so you can get in (how very Melbourne). [caption id="attachment_670755" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy.[/caption] FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14: BUTTERY, FLAKEY FRENCH PASTRY Grab a beauty of a croissant from Penny For Pound and eat it in Citizen's Park. Penny For Pound has Richmond's answer to the perfect croissant, with all its butter, flakes and I'll-have-ten-more-pleases found rife in its Bridge Road digs. If you're really in for a penny, in for a pound, why not get more than one? Grab a couple, head to Citizen's Park nearby and pull up a patch of grass. Who needs to be in Paris eating fancy baked goods under the Eiffel Tower when you could do much the same in Melbourne? Same amount of butter, much less money. That's a win. [caption id="attachment_678433" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas P. Peschak.[/caption] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15: ANIMALS IRL AND IN AR Take a National Geographic exhibition as an excuse to go to the zoo. National Geographic has been taking incredible nature photographs for around 130 years, so as you can imagine, the archive is staggering. Well, in a world first, the archive has been mined for the best bits to make into an exhibition. 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs is showing at Melbourne Zoo this spring and will have you ogling at some of the world's best wildlife shots in conjunction with an augmented reality experience, Air, Land and Sea. Celebrating how great animals are is a pretty great way to spend a weekend, especially when you can virtually interact with those in Africa, too. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16: DESIGN MARKET Grab an ice cream and shop for new pieces from local designers at Fed Square. Melbourne Collective Market's next outing takes place today with its Spring Design Market at Federation Square. Running from 10am to 4pm and with free entry, the market is sure to attract a crowd, so you'll want to get up early to roam and grab something pretty for a loved one — or yourself. A whole ton of Melbourne's small businesses will be around, with artisans and makers in fashion, jewellery, art, ceramics and home decor. There'll also be food (vegan options, too) for your inevitable realisation that you've been shopping for a whole day without sustenance. Where to next? Make the most of every week with Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and navigate to your next destination here.
Affectionately known as T-Recs, this little Thornbury gem has a quality selection of records, assuring us of the discerning taste of the folk who run it. At Thornbury Records, the crew understand their clientele most likely use digital technology alongside vinyl, and thankfully offer vinyl to CD/MP3 transfers for those who want the best music on any platform. Thornbury also do repairs on record players, which we can say from experience has been extremely helpful and efficient.
After more than a year of exhaustive renovations, Rydges Melbourne has been reborn as an entirely new and thoroughly modern hotel in the city's theatre district. From the outside perspective of Exhibition Street it looks like little has changed from the 70s — but the interior has been totally gutted and transformed. You've got a handful of stay options among the 370 luxurious new rooms at Rydges Melbourne. Choose from a classic king room, a larger suite or one of the apartments that come equipped with a kitchen, laundry and heaps of living space. The design is understated, comfortable and chic. And the views aren't bad either, looking out over Chinatown and Her Majesty's Theatre. The latest tech has been installed throughout the hotel to create a seamless guest experience, including an effortless check-in process in which one of the many tablets dotted in the lobby which will spit out your room key for you. The revamped amenities at Rydges Melbourne include the stylish rooftop pool (heated to a pleasant 28-degrees in winter), a sleek new gym with a terrace that's set to be home to yoga classes when the weather warms up, and the Bossley Bar and Restaurant. At Bossley you can feast on the breakfast buffet, grab lunch or dinner, or just pop down for some of the team's signature cocktails. Our pick? The Bossley martini made with Four Pillars Olive Leaf gin, vermouth, sherry and a few drops of miso and saltbush infused olive oil. A carefully curated list of Australian and New Zealand wines also features. In the coming months, Rydges Melbourne also hopes to open another bar on its second-floor terrace where you can sip on negronis while looking out over Exhibition Street and down the red lantern-lit China Town. It's definitely one to watch.
You're likely going to want to touch everything in Muku and no one would blame you. This humble Ripponlea store stocks all kinds of natural products that look and feel lovely — think soft linen cushions and warm cashmere scarves. Since opening in 2008 with a focus on organic clothing and toys for babies and kids, the boutique expanded to cover women's fashion and homewares, taking over the space next door to create twin stores covering all ages. Where possible, the Muku team aims to champion fair trade and eco-friendly products, handmade by local artists, encouraging its customers to embrace a natural and organic lifestyle. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
I have just got back from a 31 day mission around New South Wales as part of a new innovative approach to Tourism Marketing. The campaign took a unique angle for targeting the youth market by inviting four influencers from four of its key target destinations, being UK, US, Canada and New Zealand. We were asked to interact with the Visit NSW Facebook and Twitter communities, asking them where to go, what to do and who to see. Starting off at Mardi Gras in Sydney on March 1, we ended up back in Sydney on March 31 after travelling 3600 kilometres and pulling 56 u turns. All in all, a whole lot of fun was had. And there is more to follow, including a MTV produced documentary due to be completed in May, with a newly revamped youth page for Visit NSW, which will host a lot of the content produced from the trip. In the meantime, having just got back on Sunday, I thought I would take the opportunity to quickly highlight five of the moments that stood out for me from the trip. __________________________________________________ Eating the World's Hottest Chilli The hardest I laughed all trip. We turned up to this little balinese styled villa in the middle of Hunter Valley, after being challenged on the Facebook page to eat the world's hottest chilli. It was hot. Real hot. Quad Biking and Sand Boarding in Port Stephens By far the most fun I had. Over three hours of riding up and over some of the biggest sand dunes I have ever seen. Sand boarding was a classic experience also. #fail Surfing in Port MacQuarie Being a passionate surfer, I was hoping to get plenty of waves in during the trip. This never eventuated due to our schedule not matching with mother nature. However, Wayne from MacQuarie Surf School took me and Ben the bus driver to a nice spot, where we got the only dawnie of the trip. It was pretty magical and reminded me why I loved surfing so much. Guinea Pig Racing in Grenfell (pop 2400) The community of Grenfell reached out to us on Facebook and rallied up enough influence for us to drive in land to the small farming community of Grenfell. In June each year, they have a festival which attracts thousands, and the highlight is always the Guinea Pig Race. Calling a horse race was something I have always wanted to do, this was as close as I will get I think. Filming with MTV As tedious as the back and forth, repeat with more energy became, the opportunity to work on a film set was something I really enjoyed and again, probably will never do again. But who knows.
It's official: for only the second time in the more than three decades that the country's professional Aussie Rules competition has called itself the Australian Football League, the AFL grand final will be hosted outside of Melbourne. The game will move outside Victoria for the second year in a row, too. After flagging last week that Perth's Optus Stadium would hold the biggest match of the 2021 season if the Melbourne Cricket Ground was unable to welcome in spectators, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has now confirmed that the grand final will indeed be held in Western Australia. Given that Melbourne is currently under lockdown for the sixth time during the pandemic, and that those stay-at-home conditions won't be ending this week as last outlined — and, even if Victoria's lockdown does end by grand final day, Melbourne's stadiums may not be permitted to host crowds under post-lockdown restrictions — the news comes as absolutely no surprise. The game will still go ahead on Saturday, September 25, although exactly what time it'll kick off is yet to be revealed. Moving the match to Perth does means that 2020's night grand final won't be repeated, due to the time difference between Australia's west and east coasts — and McLachlan said that the AFL is looking at an afternoon or twilight time slot. Also yet to be announced: the crowd capacity under Western Australia's restrictions. Optus Stadium can host 60,000 people, however. The move comes after the 2020 grand final was held at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, aka the Gabba, thanks to Melbourne's lengthy stint of stay-at-home conditions at the time. This year, Perth will also host a Brownlow Medal function in the lead up to the decider. Still, the grand final won't feature any Western Australian AFL teams, with both the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers failing to make the code's finals season. At the time of writing, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Geelong, Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs remain in the running. [caption id="attachment_823646" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Optus Stadium, Government of Western Australia[/caption] Just like last year, it really shouldn't have taken three decades for a competition that's not only named after the entire country, but that changed its moniker in 1990 to reflect the fact that it was no longer just about Victoria, to host its deciders in other cities. Before 2020, the grand final had actually been played at venues other than the MCG before — but still in Melbourne. The MCG remains contracted to host the grand final for a significant period moving forward, however, with its agreement originally running through until 2057, then extended until 2058 as part of the arrangement to allow the game to be played at the Gabba in 2020. With the move to Perth, that contract with the MCG will be extended again until 2059. If you're a Victorian — whether you've been missing the footy over the past month, or you're not fussed about the sport at all — you might be wondering about the usual pre-grand final public holiday. Although an official announcement hasn't been made as yet, Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula said during the press conference about the move to Perth that he expected that the public holiday will still go ahead, as happened last year when the game was played in Brisbane. The 2021 AFL Grand Final will take place on Saturday, September 25 at Optus Stadium in Perth. For further information, head to the AFL website.
The clue is in the name with this one — The Arborist is a dining room designed and built around a Fraxinus excelsior ash tree. Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, this beautiful Little Malop Street spot is perfect for date night, after-work drinks or even a cheeky afternoon drink and nibble at the ice-green marble bar. The menu, overseen by head chef Michael Welsh, features modern Australian fare with Middle Eastern-inspired twists — think grilled zucchini salad with freekeh, seeds, herbs and parmesan custard, or baked cheesecake drizzled with tahini caramel and topped with peanut brittle, while the drinks program features an international wine list, and a solid selection of bottled and tap beer.
At Bob Hair, just off bustling Toorak Road, things are done a little differently. For starters, all products are zero-waste and eco-friendly, with an enduring focus on ethical and sustainably-sourced materials. This careful and considered approach extends to the dreamy, light-filled salon space, which feels more airy and relaxed than your typical hairdresser. "What we are doing at Bob is simplifying healthy and sustainable living, without it coming at the cost of a great cut and colour," founder and director Charlotte Archer says. "We love sharing knowledge with women and showing them that colouring their hair doesn't need to be an eye-watering, headache-inducing experience." Here, you're invited to reconnect with your best self (and your best-ever hair), free from parabens, ammonia, sulphites and waste. Hair trimmings are repurposed to help soak up oil spills in the Great Barrier Reef, while composting and repurposing means Bob Hair is one of Melbourne's rare zero-waste salons. Yet, there's no compromise when it comes to style. The boutique salon offers the full spectrum of cutting, blow-drying, colouring and treatment services, with cuts for women starting from $130 and for men from $85 — each including a full personalised consultation. Alongside your usual cuts and blows, Bob Hair also offers gentle all-natural colouring which leads to long-lasting results. Escape to this sustainable paradise the next time you're looking for a refresh that's better for you and the environment. Your hair will thank you for it.
Unofficial Bridgerton balls have already popped up in Australia, but now it's time for the real thing: The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience, which comes with the backing of Netflix and Shondaland. After bringing regency-era vibes to Los Angeles, Washington DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Denver and New York in the US, and also to Toronto and Montreal in Canada, the event is finally letting Down Under fans unleash their inner duke and duchess. For a month between Friday, May 24–Sunday, June 23, Melbourne will be doubling for London high society in the early 1800s, in The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience's exclusive Aussie stop. Step inside Fever Exhibitions Hall on Dawson Street in Brunswick and you'll feel like you're stepping back in time — or into the huge Netflix hit series, at least. Lady Whistledown aficionados will be able to head along every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening to promenade around an immersive setup where a string quartet will be playing live tunes inspired by the show, dancers will accompany the music and live theatrical performances will keep you entertained. You'll also go for a spin in the ballroom yourself at the afterparty. Before then, you'll also hit up Madame Delacroix's modiste and an underground painting studio, then visit with the queen. Actors in period costumes will be wandering around, helping to set the mood — and yes, if you'd like to dress to fit the occasion, and the series, that's obviously heartily encouraged. The drinks list, including cocktails, will be Bridgerton-themed. While your sips aren't included in your ticket, a full bar will be available, as will snacks such as chips and lollies to purchase. The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience will unleash its lavishness just after the show's third season arrives, with the first four episodes dropping on Thursday, May 16, then the next four on Thursday, June 13. It also pops up after the New South Wales town of Bowral just scored a week-long Bridgerton-themed makeover, complete with stars Nicola Coughlan (Barbie) and Luke Newton (The Shape of Things) — aka Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton — in attendance. The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience runs from Friday, May 24–Sunday, June 23 at Fever Exhibitions Hall, 62 Dawson Street, Brunswick, Melbourne. For more information or to join the waitlist for tickets — with presales from 6pm AEST on Monday, April 29 and general sales from 6pm AEST on Tuesday, April 30 — head to the event website. To watch Bridgerton in the interim, head to Netflix.
Jumping on a bike and pumping the pedals is one of the best ways to explore a new city; however, usually it's something that only happens on land. Not in Paris if their new navigating gym comes to fruition. Here you won't just ride your way along the city's River Seine — you'll ride on it. To be specific, you'll sit on a stationary bike on a glass-enclosed 20-metre platform that floats down the famous French waterway. And, you'll actually be helping make the vessel move, with the workout-centric boat powered by exercise (plus solar panels for added energy, in case the 45 people on board prefer to cycle at a leisurely pace). Opening its windows to the elements during the summer, and keeping everything closed and warm during colder months, the Paris Navigating Gym will also feature cross-trainers for those keen on a different kind of fitness routine, plus augmented reality screens. That's how you'll keep track of just how much pedal power you're contributing to the vessel's trip, as well as data about the Seine's environmental conditions. The concept is a collaboration between Italian architects Carlo Ratti Associati, fitness equipment manufacturer Technogym, non-profit architecture group Terreform ONE and urban regeneration institute URBEM. At this stage, it's just that — a concept — but fingers crossed that this certain tourist drawcard becomes a reality. Via Inhabitat.
Port Macquarie's Festival of the Sun has been running for 16 years, and the boutique summer music festival is still bringing the goods. The lineup for this December has just been released and it looks like it'll be another doozy. Methyl Ethel and Briggs will headline the three-day fest, with Julia Jacklin, Trophy Eyes, Lime Cordiale and Baker Boy lending their voices too. Amyl and the Sniffers, Tired Lion, I Know Leopard, Nathan Ball and Good Doogs — among others — round out what looks like it'll be a big couple of days of music, with more acts still to be announced. The camping festival is also — excitingly — BYO, so you don't need to spend your hard-earned cash on overpriced UDLs. Alongside the lineup of live music, there will also be a heap of food trucks (serving everything from burgers to vegan fare), silent discos and silent comedy. The festival is themed each year, and this year it's the "ghouls and unicorns" edition — looks like it's time to whip out your Halloween costumes and anything you own that's rainbow-coloured. Festival of the Sun runs from Friday, December 13 to Sunday, December 15. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday, August 8. FESTIVAL OF THE SUN 2018 LINEUP Methyl Ethel Briggs Julia Jacklin Trophy Eyes Lime Cordiale Baker Boy Amyl and the Sniffers Tired Lion I Know Leopard Nathan Ball (UK) Good Doogs Genesis Owusu Milan Ring Arno Faraji JEFFE Tasman Keith Stevie Jean FRITZ Bakers Eddy VOIID Surf Trash Georgia June Johnny Hunter The Buoys Garage Sale
Live local music, the Australian Open and a cold one. If you're a tennis fan, this is the summer trifecta — and Canadian Club is giving Australia's biggest fortnight of tennis a truly epic start from its Birrarung Marr hilltop perch. The Jungle Giants are taking over the Canadian Club Racquet Club sound system with an exclusive DJ set in the ultimate day-one-of-tournament party hosted by Abbie Chatfield. One of the most fun live acts touring right now, they'll be fresh off the back of a massive regional tour and a guaranteed good time. Supporting sets by Brooke Evers, one of the hottest DJs in Australia at the moment, and local indie dance duo Nite Theory will kick off party proceedings in the afternoon. We recommend registering early since this is a line up that promises to go off. Match the blue carpet and don your best blue and white threads. If you really want to get into the tournament spirit, tennis couture is welcome—and encouraged. You'll also have the chance to get up close and personal with the official AO trophies, with the silverware making guest appearances at the event throughout the night. This is the ultimate Sunday sesh, with the party kicking off at 5pm on Sunday, January 12. Headliners The Jungle Giants (DJ set) will play from 7.30pm, with supporting acts Nite Theory and Brooke Evers on at approximately 4pm and 6.30pm, respectively. Canadian Club's Australian Open launch party might wrap at the end of the first day of play, but the good times at the Canadian Club Racquet Club will rally on. Well over a decade into their partnership with the Australian Open, Canadian Club knows exactly how to put on a good time at the tennis. Head to the Canadian Club Racquet Club throughout the Australian Open for refreshing drinks and good times — no tennis ticket needed. Pre-register your interest for the Canadian Club's Australian Open launch party for your free tickets.
A well-known brand among brewery aficionados, Urban Alley has opened a massive flagship drinking and dining destination at 'The Fashion Capital', Chadstone. This latest opening adds to Chadstone's growing hospitality offering, making it much more than just a place to shop till you drop. The $7 million brew pub is Melbourne's largest on-site shopping centre bar and the biggest hospitality venue at Chadstone, with a capacity of 620 people spread across two enormous levels. The new flagship venue brings together dining, drinking and entertainment, with a large beer hall, several bars including a sports bar, an open-air balcony and private dining rooms. Dean Grant, Co-Founder and CEO, says, "This is Urban Alley like you've never experienced it before. We're creating something that reflects the energy and creativity of Melbourne, a space where you can drink beer brewed metres away, eat incredible food and enjoy a world-class hospitality experience, all in one place." Expect pub classics such as parmas, fish and chips, burgers and steaks, a selection of pizzas, snacks such as Korean fried chicken and mac and cheese croquettes, and even healthy salads like ancient grain and Vietnamese calamari. We don't need to tell you that there is a healthy selection of top-class beers to work your way through, so we suggest starting with a customisable beer tasting flight. Chadstone Centre General Manager, Daniel Boyle, says, "Urban Alley's flagship adds a new dimension to our entertainment and dining precinct. Urban Alley is a unique attraction that further strengthens Chadstone's position as a world-class retail and lifestyle hub and will be a unique drawcard for both local and international visitors." Images: Supplied.
It's been almost three years since plans for Melbourne's openair plaza and urban park first dropped. Now, the $60 million Prahran Square is officially open for business, having launched to the public on Sunday, December 1. Transforming the site once home to the drab Cato Street ground-level car park, now a 500-bay underground facility, the City of Stonnington together with Lyons Architecture has gifted the area with an extra 10,000 square metres of public space — more than you'll find at Fed Square. It boasts lush new lawns, an accessible "forest" walk between trees, terraced seating and a big water fountain, all decked out with original public art, more than 130 new trees and around 7200 new plants. It's all built to be as sustainable as possible, too, with rooftop solar panels, rainwater captured and used for watering and energy-efficient LED lighting. A heap of parties, artworks and live music are expected to hit the Square over summer, too. A light and sound installation by Melbourne artist Bruce Ramus, a sculpture combining architecture and native Australian plants by Jamie North and three honey bees by Badtjala artist Dr Fiona Foley will all make their homes here. A free concert with a six-piece Ethiopian jazz ensemble is locked in for Thursday, December 5, too. Originally pegged to be named Cato Square, the project's a hefty ten years in the making. It's also the biggest building project ever undertaken by the City of Stonnington — and, it seems, a necessary one, with the City previously having the second-lowest amount of public open space per capita in the whole state. While it's a big win for the local community, the Square's construction has negatively impacted surrounding businesses, with The Age reporting that a group of nearby traders are planning class against the City of Stonnington to "compensate them for crippling losses caused by nearly two years of construction". Find Prahran Square at Izett Street, Prahran.
It’s a sad news day for all the swashbuckling pirates among you. Australian film company Village Roadshow has started a court action to shut down movie streaming website SolarMovie. After the Federal Government passed a bill to amended Australia’s copyright right laws in June of 2015, we were all expecting the worst. We’re sorry to say that while it’s taken eight months to affect any change, the laws are finally being utilised to our disadvantage. We’re assuming that half of you reading this zoned out, opened IMDB in a new tab and are now slowly finding torrents to download every film in the top 1000 while you still can. Graham Burke, co-chief executive of Village Roadshow told the ABC they’ll be targeting SolarMovie, because they’re a “vicious bunch of thieves.” Burke went on to say the site's advertising was harmful to children “If your kids go to that website, they're encouraged to gamble with no age limit; there's sexual ads there." For the record, it’s called ad-blocker dude, look it up. SolarMovie will most likely be black-listed for Aussies using DNS blocking, whereby the the DNS (domain name system), which connects readable site addresses with their internet address (IP address), is diverted and unable to connect the site name and the IP address. It's the simplest way to block sites but doesn't take the site offline at the source, so thankfully there are some easy ways around it. A VPN will do the trick, or there are more comprehensive (and free) services like TOR, which allows you browse anonymously but can seriously slow down your internet speeds as protects you by rerouting your web browsing over an encrypted network It’s only the first in a series of court actions aimed at decimating our human right to watch Broad City for free. Foxtel is expected to announce in the coming days that they will seek to block four of the biggest piracy websites, including dear friend to all poor students, The Pirate Bay. People around the world are up in arms about harsh anti-piracy legislation, often because it errs on the side of media conglomerates, can strip people of their autonomy and doesn’t address the problem at the core of it all ($14.95 for an overnight release from Blockbuster was too much, damn it). Australians have shown that they’re willing to spend money on legit streaming services (hello Netflix, Stan, maybe Presto) if easy and available and studies keep turning up the same data: people who pirate often spend more on media than people who don’t. Sigh. Guess it’s a good time to start shopping around for a VPN that works, guys. Via ABC.
Uncle in St Kilda is known for its casual Vietnamese fare and rooftop terrace that overlooks Carlisle Street. Its second venue manages to hold onto that same vibe, even though it's located in the middle of the CBD. The first-floor views through foldout windows and leaf-latticed ironwork afford glimpses of the plane trees outside, and the bamboo furniture and tropical lighting ensure the space isn't at all stuffy. Somehow Uncle manages to capture all that is wonderful about Vietnam — the sunsets of Ha Long Bay, the colonial style of Hanoi and the lanterns reflected in the river in Hoi An — and transfer it to the Paris end of Collins Street. This is a magic carpet situation right here. The menu showcases the level of freshness you expect in great Vietnamese food. The dishes feel modern but there's no doubting the origins of these flavours; although chef and co-owner Dai Duong has tinkered with them, they come straight from generations of Vietnamese mothers. We suggest starting in the 'little guys' section of the menu before working your way through to a banh mi or bao and onto the big guys. The $59 'all the best bits' option is a good one if you want to take decision-making out of your meal. Just popping in for a snack? The betel leaf with lime-cured hapuka with coconut, pomegranate and chilli ($6.50) and the smoky wok-tossed edamame with beer nuts and chilli salt ($8) are perfect accompaniments to one of the cocktails that have come into the city from the St Kilda menu. Try the Mekong Splice ($19.50), which is essentially dessert in a glass, as it mixes white rum, mango sorbet, tea shrub, lime, chilli and coconut foam. Otherwise, choose from the list of predominantly Victorian-sourced wine and beer. Burrata is not something you see on Vietnamese menus often, but Duong serves it with heirloom tomatoes, pickled papaya, Thai basil, puffed wild rice and his own experimental whisky barrel-aged fish sauce ($20). It's like a cheeky little Italian man-bun interlude with a Vietnamese twist. Spot on. Uncle's signature crispy pig's ear banh mi with pickles and peanuts ($6.50) is a tasty way to up your pig's ear intake and probably the best way to tick that little body part of your 'things I have eaten' list. Our waiter's favourite dish is the master stock crispy pork hock with banh hoi, lettuce wraps, fragrant herbs and nuoc cham ($39) — and for good reason. Think DIY lettuce leaf bundles of fall-apart meat in its own caramelised sauce, woven rice vermicelli and a slightly spicy dipping sauce. Order this. Save room for dessert or lament missing out on a set Vietnamese coffee with coconut ice cream and sesame for dessert ($12). Either way, you won't regret a visit to Uncle — they take bookings for groups of all sizes, and you'll get a whole lot of kudos for when you suggest it for a mid-week after-work catch-up with mates. Images: Greg Elms and Jo Rittey.
With a whole swag of urban venues under its belt, MoVida has at last ventured beachside. Acclaimed chef and owner Frank Camorra has chosen the ground floor of the Lorne Hotel as the site of his first coastal Aussie outpost. For Camorra, Geelong native and longtime Lorne regular, the new venture is a fitting addition to MoVida's lively, Spanish-inspired family, and follows a successful five-day pop-up at the same pub last summer. While unmistakably a MoVida operation, filled with familiar elements, the sunny seaside locale has also lent this latest venue plenty of its own identity. Buzzy and casual, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach, it's primed equally for post-swim snack sessions as for those festive, big-ticket feeds. "We want it to be a place you can pop in for lunch or dinner, straight off the beach in shorts and a t-shirt and feel comfortable," Camorra explains. "The food's designed so that you can have a glass of wine and a few little snacks and off you go again. Or, if people want to make a night of it, that's fine as well." To that end, expect a generous menu, heavy on the seafood and showcasing plenty of regional produce. A handful of MoVida fan favourites sit alongside plenty of new coastal-inspired bites. Think, corn and manchego croquettes, hand-filleted Cantabrian anchovy croutons, Otway shiitakes in a Spanish-style omelette, and adobo-spiced gummy shark from the Apollo Bay fish co-op, fried crisp in semolina. There's a lineup of both Spanish wines and local varieties, backed by a tight list of simple, yet interesting cocktail creations. And, just as at MoVida's CBD sibling Bar Tini, this venue also boasts its own providore and bottle shop, stocked with an evolving curation of goodies — artisanal Spanish products from Camorra's import business Alimentaria, alongside ready-to-eat meals, supplies from Fitzroy's Meatsmith, smallgoods, wines, and cheeses from both Spain and Australia. There are also plans in the works to launch a take-home paella service, where you can grab a full paella to go and return the pan the next day. "The idea is that if people come down Friday night with the family and the last thing they want to do is to cook a meal, you can pop-in, buy something and take it home," explains Camorra. Find MoVida Lorne at 176 Mountjoy Parade, Great Ocean Road, Lorne. It's open from 12–3pm and 5.30–10pm daily.
Mavis the Grocer is the latest addition to the burgeoning Abbotsford cafe scene. Housed in an old shop on the corner of Nicholson and Vere Streets, the quaintly named Mavis has a strong focus on creating connections with the local community. The team are striving to bring people together over nourishing food and great coffee — and by the looks of it, they're succeeding. The renovation of the corner store has been done well. The interior is fresh and light thanks to large windows that look out onto the street. In fact, it feels a little as though you are entering a big old neighbourhood kitchen with its weatherboard walls, wooden crates of fruit and greenery sprouting from pots. The menu has the usual brunch suspects with a few twists thrown in. Homemade muesli and eggs are breakfast menu staples, but a brown rice, steamed greens and tofu brekky bowl ($16) muscles in on the latest breakfast salad trend. Delicious bread is made on the premises and accompanies several of the dishes, including the slow braised spicy beans with a cheesy herb sourdough crust ($15). Citrus-cured salmon with roast and raw beetroot ($18) is a rich, yet healthy dish, and certainly meets the requirement of being photogenic, as did the flashback to childhood pikelets with sweet ricotta, strawberries and honeycomb ($15). As you move towards lunchtime, there is a selection of sandwiches (fresh and toasted), salads, and a specials board with more European-style slow cooked offerings, such as local mussels cooked in a tomato, fennel, chilli and basil broth, a risotto, and polpette. These reappear with more evening appeal when the sun starts to dip, the candles are lit and a glass of wine or a local beer is possible. Coffee is by Seven Seeds, with a permanent house blend and a single-origin blend that are well executed by knowledgeable baristas. There are also smoothies, cold pressed juices, kombucha and organic tea by Tielka. Co-owners Maurice Manno and Dan Zeidan — responsible for Collingwood favourites Lazerpig and The Grace Darling Hotel — are serious about their philosophy of using seasonal, local, sustainable or organic produce. All suppliers are chosen according to their ethical and environmental practices. The Mavis team want to minimise waste, reduce food mileage and keep their overall environmental impact as small as possible. Food scraps are reused as compost, farming and to feed their chickens. And as well as outdoor pavement seating, there's a heated courtyard out the back with a healthy looking veggie patch, which contributes to the kitchen's creations. In keeping with the grocer aspect of its personality, there is a small range of artisan products are for sale. Organic milk, pasta, olive oil, homemade jam and — intriguingly, but patriotically — jars of vegemite adorn the shelves. There are take home meals available too, making Mavis a bit of a one-stop, wonderful destination for your conscience, your belly and your need for community connection.
Australians throw away up to 20% of the food they buy. That's one out of five of your grocery bags, into the bin. This means Australians are throwing out $8 billion worth of edible food every year, the same weight as three average size fridges. Each. Yeah, WHAT. Anyone who's worked as a function waiter, bakery barista or silver service maitre d knows that the end of the night's waste can be colossal. I've watched an entire trough of fresh king prawns and glistening oysters poured into the trash at a certain five-star Sydney hotel in front of a hungry, underpaid staff. I've seen trayloads of party pies tipped into dumpsters post album launch. I've stared bitterly as bucket after bucket of organic dinner rolls were shuffled into black plastic rubbish bags and carted away for fear of staff food poisoning lawsuits. Luckily, some young New York-based upstart app developers are using their digital talents to combat the globe's atrocious waste problem. Meet PareUp — an app that allows users to purchase restaurant leftovers at the end of the day. Retailers store inventories of their products, set prices and update listings and herald the 'offerings for the day'. The app is similar to Leftover Swap, a development which allows you to snap your food, upload it to the app and let users know where the food is, how cold it is and whether it can be delivered. The app is due to launch in NYC soon, hopefully Australian restaurants will be able to pair up with the app sometime in the near future. Until the app gets here, restaurants should take a look at their hungry, student loan-ridden staff and think twice about chucking those creme fraiche-topped tarts. Via Food Beast and Lost At E Minor.
Looking for a top-quality mind-body experience? F2 Collective has landed in Brunswick East, bringing a boutique approach to pilates. Building upon the exercise's core foundations, expect an upbeat and more fitness-focused schedule that equals extra moving and shaking in every session. Founded by Janelle Williamson, she traded in her decade-long corporate gig on New York's advertising scene to follow her passion into the world of fitness. Designed in collaboration with her architect partner Aaron, F2 Collective is no stock-standard pilates experience. Together, they've shaped Janelle's dream workout studio, featuring moody, ambient lighting that removes distractions and builds self-confidence. Combined with fun-loving playlists and a disco ball in every studio, who said working out can't be fun? F2 Collective has two styles of classes: reformer pilates and mat pilates + TRX. With each offering state-of-the-art equipment and a range of exercises, expect to build strength, balance and endurance in no time. As the vibe picks up, the dimly lit space is intended to make it easier to get swept up in your workout. Alongside area-focused sessions dedicated to individual muscle groups, themed music classes take place every week, ranging from pop diva battles to soundtracked Fridays that put the disco ball through its paces. Best of all, there's a class for every fitness level, so getting started or pushing ahead with your exercise goals won't feel so intimidating. Once your workout is done, the post-class experience rises above most. There are complimentary eucalyptus-scented cooldown towels to leave you feeling refreshed, as well as herbal tea and sparkling water on the house. Plus, pristine shower facilities are stocked with Eleven body care products, while a vanity room features Dyson hair tools, perfect for early morning workouts. Situated amid the East Brunswick Village, there's also no shortage of entertainment and dining spots perfect for hanging out before or after your class. Snag a coffee and New York-style bagel at Bellboy Cafe, slide into Bridge Road Brewers for a meal or catch a classic flick at Fomo Cinemas. F2 Collective is open Monday–Thursday from 6am–8.30pm, Friday from 6am–7.30pm and Saturday–Sunday from 8am–3pm at Suite 105/6 Bluestone Way, Brunswick East. Head to the website for more information. Images: Thick Heart Films.
This year may have gotten off to a chaotic start, but that doesn't mean the country's (or your) cultural calendar is looking too bare. Some of 2022's most exciting and immersive art and museum exhibitions have either just opened their doors across the nation or are on their way before the year is out — which means you've got plenty to see in plenty of places. That's especially exciting now that interstate borders are all fully open across the entire country, and cheap flights keep popping up with frequency, too. So, get out your diaries and plan trips to dive into all things Disney, peer at Yayoi Kusama's finest in two different cities, scope out Picasso's best and fall in love with Elvis paraphernalia — aka some of the art and museum exhibitions set to brighten up 2022. Top image: Raemar, Blue, 1969, James Turrell. Tate: Presented by the Tate Americas Foundation, partial purchase and partial gift of Doris J. Lockhart 2013. © James Turrell. Photo: Tate.
Spend a day meeting and greeting puppies at the Guide Dogs Victoria Community Fair. Not only will you be getting more than your fair share of fluffy cuddles, you'll also be supporting a good cause. The fair is all about sharing the world of guide dogs with the public. On top of meets and greets, there'll be chances to see puppies in training, watch puppy demonstrations and see first-hand the difference that guide dogs can make to people's lives. Plus, there'll be a live performance by singer Rachael Leahcar, who placed third in The Voice in 2012. Other special guests on the bill include Collingwood Football Club's Mason Cox, Carlton Football Club's Jack Silvagni, and comedians Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann and Dolly Diamond. In between all that, wander through market stalls, feast on local eats and check out Guide Dogs Victoria's world-first fully accessible campus. It's a game-changing space for people with low vision or blindness.
