2024 was a year of heartbreaking cancellations in the Australian music scene. Not every festival that took some time out has returned a year later, but 2025 has thankfully seen more than a few comebacks. Here's the latest: Harvest Rock, the Adelaide event that cemented itself as a fest worth travelling to in its 2022 debut and 2023's second spin, has locked in a two-day 2025 instalment in October. It was in August 2024 that Harvest Rock revealed that just two years after initially popping up, the decision had been made to postpone that year's event. The news came after Splendour in the Grass announced its 2024 dates and lineup, then ditched its plans — and following Groovin the Moo going through the same cycle of reveals and cancellations. Spilt Milk, Summergrounds Music Festival and Dark Mofo also sat the year out or said goodbye permanently. Dark Mofo returned for 2025, as is Spilt Milk — and now Harvest Rock is joining them. Only Teenage Joans have been named on the lineup for this year's stint at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina so far, but you can pop Tuesday, August 12 in your diary, as that's when the full roster of acts that'll be taking to the stage will be unveiled. Also crucial, dates-wise: Saturday, October 25–Sunday, October 26, when the festival is taking place. When Harvest Rock was first born, hailing from the Secret Sounds crew — who were also behind Splendour in the Grass — it aimed to get everyone dancing in a park in Adelaide each spring, including interstaters heading to South Australia to enjoy the fest's visitworthy lineups. The first year welcomed Jack White, Groove Armada, The Avalanches, Crowded House and Courtney Barnett, for starters. 2023 backed that up with Jamiroquai and Beck doing Australian-exclusive shows, plus everyone from Sparks and Nile Rogers & Chic to Bright Eyes and Paul Kelly. A two-day blend of music, food and wine — well, it is in SA — Harvest Rock also spans Adelaide's top restaurants and eateries serving up dishes, a culinary-focused stage and wine tastings. 2025's iteration will include Wildwoods & Cellar Door by Duncan Welgemoed and Nick Stock, for starters. "We're thrilled to see Harvest Rock return to its Adelaide home to deliver a festival that brings global stadium-sized artists to South Australia, while also championing the region's world-class food, wine and culture for interstate guests. Harvest Rock not only drives tourism and benefits local businesses, but offers a unique festival experience for all ages across the local community and beyond," advised Festival Director of Harvest Rock Ryan Sabet. "Music to the ears of festival lovers and our hospitality and tourism operators, Harvest Rock will return to Adelaide this October. The beauty of this festival is that it combines what we do best in South Australia — offering premium food and beverages and delivering memorable events," said SA Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison about Harvest Rock's comeback. "Held in 2022 and 2023, Harvest Rock has contributed a combined $34.5 million to the state's economy. We continue to see the impact major events like this deliver to our economy, while reinforcing our state's reputation as the ultimate destination for bucket-list events — whether you are a sports fan, art lover, foodie or just enjoy a good festival." Harvest Rock 2025 is set to take place across Saturday, October 25–Sunday, October 26 at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina, Adelaide. Head to the festival's website for further details — with presale tickets available from Tuesday, August 19 and general sales from Wednesday, August 20. And check back here on Tuesday, August 12 for the lineup. Image: Ian Laidlaw / Mitch Lowe / Zennieshia Butts.
Japanese minimalist homeware wizards Muji are moving into the architecture game with a series of new flat-pack houses that are giving us some serious FOMO and YOLO and all manner of acronym envy and inspiration. The best part? They’re economical in both price and space, giving hope to the current generation that perhaps we won’t always have to deal with landlords. Praise be to Muji! Unfortunately, for now, they’re only available in Japan. However, Muji have recently opened stores in Melbourne and Sydney, so surely it’s only a matter of time before they ship em’ into our waiting arms. The houses are incredibly cute and, in classic Muji style, effortlessly minimalist. There are three designs to choose from, starting at US$150,000 for the ‘Wooden House’, US$160,000 for the ‘Window House’, and US$215,000 for the tall, Tokyo-inspired ‘Vertical House’. Incredibly reasonable. The finishes are all white and blonde wood with elegant staircases and cosy nooks. And hey, it may be a bit cookie cutter but moving to Japan is surely better than selling all your internal organs to afford a house in Toorak or Double Bay right? The real estate game is a-changin’ though and other retailers are starting to cater for the penny-saving generation (i.e. us ;_; ). Ikea are experimenting with movable walls (not set to hit the market for a few years but keep at it Ikea) and there are many innovative Aussie architecture firms experimenting with non-traditional and environmentally friendly ways to bring down the cost of building a new home. Firms like iBuild (punny) and the slightly more upmarket modscape design, construct and deliver modular homes and extensions which cost much less than a contractor. And of course, there’s the shipping container community who do some spectacular things with discarded shipping containers. Then there's the slightly earthy young buyers and the Earthship movement, slowly but surely making its way through all the red tape into the Australian construction landscape. Earthship structures use passive heating and cooling techniques, are constructed from indigenous or local materials (including old tyres and glass bottles) and feature an in-house sewerage treatment system, making them somewhat off the grid and cheap to run in the long term. So have faith guys, there are houses in our future, don’t you worry. They just might not be the classic two-windows-one-door type most of us drew in preschool. Via Domain.
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and discover the hidden wonders of the Macedon Ranges as it plays host to the Macedon Ranges Wine and Food Budburst Festival across November 17–18. Over the weekend, uncover the region's best drops as 30-plus wineries fling open their cellar doors and put more than 100 different wine styles up for the tasting. Most of these wineries are family owned too, which gives you the chance to meet the makers behind the magic and to learn first-hand from Victoria's finest artisans of wine. Situated between 350–700 metres above sea level, The Macedon Ranges is Australia's coolest mainland wine region. The area is known for the Macedon Sparkling, which is made using only locally grown pinot noir and chardonnay grapes. But, with more than 40 vineyards located in the region, there is lots of room for variation and plenty of diverse drops for you to try. Accompanying all the great vino will also be live music and your choice of different winery lunches and dinners. From cheese platters and Turkish meze to woodfired pizzas and lamb shoulder sliders — you'll be more than covered food wise. Grab a weekend Festival Pass for just $22.50 online or $25 at the cellar doors — we recommend buying online as they are expected to sell out. This includes your own tasting glass and a Festival Passport guide so you won't miss any keys activities. The festival has pre-planned transport for you too, with a number of bus options available, so you don't have to think about logistics over the wine-filled weekend. For more spring places, spaces and events to discover in regional Victoria visit Your Happy Space.
More than 18 months after the Australian Government introduced an indefinite ban on international travel, holidaying overseas will be back on the agenda in some parts of the country in mere weeks. From November, when each state hits the 80-percent doubled-vaccinated threshold, they'll be permitted to reopen to overseas trips — but, if you're now eyeing off a jaunt to the UK, one popular route to London is undergoing a considerable change. Back in September, Qantas announced that its direct Perth-to-London route probably wouldn't be able to return until April 2022 due to Western Australia's strict border rules. Now, the Aussie carrier has confirmed that that's the case, and that it'll be temporarily heading non-stop from Australia to the UK out of Darwin instead. Accordingly, if you're the kind of traveller who likes fewer stopovers, and can also cope with spending almost a whole day on a plane non-stop, you might have a visit to the Northern Territory in your future. The flight from Darwin to London will take 17 hours and 20 minutes to travel 13,800 kilometres, and will actually initially originate in Sydney — departing from New South Wales five times a week from Sunday, November 14. "The Kangaroo route is one of the most iconic on the Qantas international network and we are delighted that Darwin will play a vital role in Australia's post pandemic reopening to the world," said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce in a statement. "Qantas has been flying repatriation services from London to Darwin as part of the airline's efforts to help bring Australians home over the past 12 months, so our pilots already have extensive experience operating this particular route," he continued. The super-long flights are slated to run out of Darwin until April, when it's expected that the direct route from Perth to London will be able to resume. That said, the airline's statement does also flag that "while this is a temporary change to the route, Qantas will watch how it performs and is open-minded about what it could lead to down the track." Also, travellers will have a different experience flying in and out of Darwin depending on whether they're keen to jet off as soon as the international travel restarts, or if they wait until a bit later. The arrangement is being rolled out in two stages, with the first step allowing transiting passengers from all Aussie states, or returning from London, to visit the international lounge and shops at Darwin Airport. It isn't till the second phase that transiting passengers will also have the option to leave the terminal and visit Darwin, however. When the Perth-to-London flights first launched back in 2018, they were obviously a big deal. Taking one is certainly an experience, from the layover time spent in the Perth airport if you're starting out from another city, through to what it feels like to sit on a plane (or get up and walk the aisles every now and then, for exercise) for that very lengthy spell. You might remember that, pre-pandemic, Qantas was contemplating starting non-stop routes from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to both London and New York, too. In fact, it had even run two trial journeys, and was poised to announce whether it was feasible in March 2020. We all know what happened to international travel then, though, so clearly the topic hasn't been a priority since. Qantas' direct flights from Darwin to London will take to the air in the week beginning Sunday, November 14. For more information, head to the Qantas website. Images: Qantas
Film festival opening nights aren't just about red carpets, a jam-packed guest list, plenty of photo opportunities and oh-so-much buzz. They're also about launching a cinema celebration as the event means to go on. So, with SXSW heading Down Under for the first time in 2023, hosting SXSW Sydney from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22, exactly which flick gets pride of place at the fest's Screen Festival is a particularly massive deal. The pick: The Royal Hotel, the latest film from Australian director Kitty Green. Green will bring her second fictional feature and fourth full-length effort to the Harbour City's first-ever SXSW, with the movie enjoying its Australian debut fresh from world-premiering at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. The Royal Hotel also marks the second collaboration in a row between Green and star Julia Garner, who was as stunning in the filmmaker's The Assistant as she was in Ozark and Inventing Anna. This time, the Casting JonBenet helmer and her current go-to star are teaming up on a tale about US backpackers who get jobs at an outback Australian pub — and also stay there. Amid the heat, the lack of wifi and drinking wine out of a cask, Hanna (Garner) and Liv (Jessica Henwick, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) also cross paths with the town's male residents, including Hugo Weaving (Love Me) as the watering hole's owner, plus Toby Wallace (Babyteeth) playing charming and Daniel Henshall (Mystery Road: Origin) getting chilling. "Kitty Green's The Royal Hotel is a deft reworking of the Aussie outback thriller, reoriented with a female gaze, and we could not be more thrilled to open the inaugural SXSW Sydney Screen Festival with Kitty in attendance," said SXSW Sydney's Head of Screen Ghita Loebenstein, announcing the opening-night selection. "The film takes deliberate stabs at the more toxic shadows of the genre, and our culture, in sophisticated but ever entertaining ways. Kitty is a local luminary gaining international acclaim as a writer-director with a fearless vision for nuanced storytelling and this film is the perfect opener to the Screen Festival, which seeks to amplify and celebrate bold voices in film." The Royal Hotel joins ten previously announced titles on the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival lineup from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21, with more to come. Also a big local title on the bill: documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, which will enjoy its world premiere at the fest. And, among nine flicks revealed in July, everything from flicks starring Indonesian rappers and documentaries about Tokyo Uber Eats rider to movies featuring viral Chinese dance crazes will pop up. Can't wait to watch your way through the fest? SXSW Sydney Screen Festival wristbands go on sale on Friday, August 25, starting at an early-bird price of $240 and getting people wearing one into unlimited screenings. [caption id="attachment_910715" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] The SXSW 2023 Sydney Screen Festival also features an array of speakers, with Queer Eye star Tan France set to hit Australia to get chatting. Indigenous filmmakers Leah Purcell (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson), Kodie Bedford (Mystery Road: Origin) and Jub Clerc (Sweet As) will also take to the stage; Osher Günsberg is on the SXSW Sydney bill recording an episode of his podcast Better Than Yesterday with a yet-to-be-announced special guest; and Gone Girl, The Nightingale, The Dry, Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers producer Bruna Papandrea and Binge's Executive Director Alison Hurbert-Burns will also appear. As well as showering viewers with movies and TV shows, with more titles to come — including First Nations Screen Festival programming by Winda Film Festival founder Pauline Clague — SXSW Sydney's film- and TV-focused strand will feature red-carpet premieres; digital and social content; an XR showcase; Q&As and panel discussions; parties and mentoring; and a screen market for industry deals. Free outdoor screenings are also slated, alongside indoor sessions at The ICC's Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and other yet-to-be-advised venues. SXSW Sydney will run from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues, with the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival running from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21 at The ICC's Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and more venues to be announced. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
2025 marks once, not twice, but three times in a row now that winter in Melbourne is being bookended by major arts festivals. RISING kicks off the cooler weather, then Now or Never helps farewell the frostier temperatures. As the former was as well, the latter is back in a big way this year, whether you're keen to witness one of the city's key spaces undergo a spectacular transformation just for the fest, fill 11 days and nights with live tunes, hear more about astronauts and astronomy, see where the lines between cinema and real-time performances blur, or celebrate queer Black excellence. Now or Never packs its lineup with arts, ideas, sound and technology events. From Thursday, August 21–Sunday, August 31 around Melbourne, 2025's fest features more than 140 free and ticketed sessions, which are the products of 285-plus local and international artists. Whatever else you head to, making a date with the Royal Exhibition Building — the venue that hosted its first large-scale live music performances in over 20 years at 2023's debut Now or Never — is a must, however, if you want to step inside a pink bubble. Free, running for the first four days of 2025's festival, and both an Australian premiere and a Melbourne exclusive, MATRIA looks set to prove quite the stunner. The installation's aim: to turn the Royal Exhibition Building, its temporary home, into a womb-like space via a recycled pink inflatable. Courtesy of Barcelona-based collective Penique Productions, translucent membrane will wrap around the venue's wooden interior skeleton — and breathe. The accompanying soundtrack, complete with a solo vocalist, will get it vibrating. Dancers will also help the installation's skin move and stretch, and you can expect to see futuristic art feature as well. Inside MATRIA, you'll be cocooned — and you'll also engage with more of Now or Never's program, because the site is still hosting shows and gigs within the installation. Dancer and choreographer Amber McCartney is teaming up with DJ Shapednoise on one, composer Alex Zhang Hungtai is in the spotlight on another, and rRoxymore is also doing the honours one evening. Or, get inhaling and exhaling along with MATRIA thanks to The Breath Haus and its meditation and breathwork sessions. For more music, Melbourne Town Hall will feature four nights of acts spanning Marie Davidson, DJ Python, DJ Logic1000, Young Marco and Yarra — plus Japanese visual and sound artist Ryoji Ikeda bringing ultratronics and its blend of minimalistic light and sound to Australia for the first time. Also engaging multiple senses in the same venue is Einder, a 20-metre-long light and sound installation by Dutch artist and composer Boris Acket. For one evening only, you can also feast beneath it, with Julia Busuttil Nishimura in charge of the multi-course menu. For a memorable outdoor installation, Dr Christian Thompson is on the case at the Evan Walker Bridge. Burdi Burdi (Fire Fire) is all about quiet reflection, and will be the Bidjara/Chinese Australian artist's largest such work. Hit up State Library Victoria instead and you'll spy DELIRI from the Barcelona-based Hamill Industries, a large-scale projection musing on understanding and deconstructing reality that's taking over the building's facade. Thinking about the cosmos is on the bill when Aussie astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg and astronomer Dr Tania Hill team up, complete with a screening of a short film commissioned by the Australian Space Agency. For more folks chatting, former Australian of the Year Tim Flannery will contemplate facing the future as the climate changes. Plus, the Charting the Future: First Nations Knowledges and Artificial Intelligence session will examine Australian innovation, not just looking at machine learning now and beyond, but also at knowledge in First Nations cultures — and neuroscientist Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston is digging into potentially living forever. If you're all about the big screen, ACMI is presenting Rashaad Newsome's documentary Assembly, which steps behind the scenes of his installation at New York's Park Avenue Armory. With this year's Melbourne International Film Festival, it's also screening VR documentary The World Came Flooding In. Or, drop by for PARA.CINE's merging of where cinema and real-time virtual performances intersect. One world-premiere piece is giving picture palaces a zoological spin. The other boasts New York's Team Rolfes, with speeding jockeys at its centre.
Back in March, Victoria implemented a State of Emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a move it has extended monthly since. So, while originally due to expire at midnight on Monday, April 13, the State of Emergency has been prolonged until May 11, June 20, July 19 and August 16 — and, now, until September 13. With the state currently subject to stay-at-home requirements — including stage-four lockdowns in the metropolitan Melbourne area, which are also slated to run until September 13 — this is hardly surprising news. Victoria is in a declared State of Disaster as well, which gives police additional powers to ensure Victorians are complying with public health directions. Announcing the extended State of Emergency on Sunday, August 16, Premier Daniel Andrews noted that the State of Emergency is separate to the State of Disaster. "The State of Disaster also works over the top of that, so between both of those frameworks, that means there is no doubt as to the authority and effectiveness of all of the different measures we have put in place, none of which we take any enjoyment from having to impose," he explained. The State of Emergency declaration allows the state's authorised officers to "act to eliminate or reduce a serious risk to public health" as directed by Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. That means restricting movement, preventing entry to premises and venues, and detaining people — measures that have been in place over the past five months as the state responds to the coronavirus. Fines continue to be handed out to folks who breach the restrictions — with the state's on-the-spot financial penalties spanning up to $4659 for individuals if you test positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms and are awaiting test results, but fail to isolate at home. these isolation orders. People who repeatedly break the rules can also be sent to the Magistrates Court and fined up to $20,000. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria and how to protect yourself, head to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website.
To be released December 24, 2012, The Kombi Trail is a tale of nine students fresh out of university who embark on the journey of a lifetime with the Cold War as a backdrop and a VW Kombi as means of transportation. This book tells of who they met, where they went and what they experienced. Among bizarre and sometimes frightening circumstances the young men encountered. Written by Robert Cox, Roger Sherwin, and Tony Thompson, this is tale straight out of 1961 and over three different continents. It's an entertaining tale of the relationships between these men and those they meet. Sharing a home and life-changing experiences, these men and their VW Kombi conquer treacherous mountain passes, severely unstable roadways, and river crossings. The young men travel to Anatolia, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Here are some pictures (via Retronaut) of their travels, the people they met and of course, the VW Kombi. take a look at these photos and keep your eyes peeled for the release of the book.
What better way to dive into the pleasures of Phillip Island than by taking a quick drive south through the picturesque plains to Phillip Island Winery? From here, you'll experience stellar panoramic views from the winery's vantage point, which you can make the most of by sitting outside next to the roaring fire pit and sipping a shiraz. If you're keen to sample a few vinos, head to the cellar door for an expert-led tasting session, where you'll try everything from sparkling to pinot gris, chardonnay, rosé, pinot noir and a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon. The cellar door allows walk-ins, but bookings are a must for large groups. Good wine calls for good cheese, naturally, so be sure to order a charcuterie board ($39) or vegetarian grazing platter ($35), both of which come with a bunch of regional cheeses. If you're after a a full-fledged feed, then book a table in the on-site restaurant. The menu changes seasonally, but you can expect the likes of pizzas, house-made gnocchi, curries and salads. [caption id="attachment_722675" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] UPDATE: JULY 24, 2020 — Due to COVID-19, Phillip Island Winery is currently operating with reduced opening hours. Be sure to check the website before heading there.
Writer Osamah Sami draws on his real-life misadventures in Ali's Wedding, a film that's been billed as Australia's first widely released Muslim rom-com. It's an intriguing hook, but one that belies just how good the end product really is. Yes, it's about a Muslim-Australian protagonist, and that's absolutely worth highlighting. It's also warm, smart, hilarious, and one of the most enjoyable movies to come out of Melbourne in years. Set in the northern suburbs and in part at the University of Melbourne, the dings of the Sydney Road tram are a regular feature on the soundtrack, as Sami and director Jeffrey Walker craft a confident feature that knows how to combine comedy with heart, without having to resort to cheap or lazy laughs. Ali's Wedding tells the story of Ali (Sami), a uni student attempting to get into medicine in order to make his father, the local Muslim cleric, proud. The only problem? He's not any good. So when he flunks the entrance exam he decides to pretend that he didn't – a not-so-white lie that ends up resulting in a chain of "oh no" events for him, his family and his mosque. Along the way he does manage to stumble across something real though: love, in the form of actual medical student Diane (Helene Sawires). But love is not what others have in mind for Ali, with his parents planning to marry him to the daughter of another family from the mosque Sami is well supported by the rest of the cast, including Don Hany as his dad bringing the perfect mix of fatherly authority and dagginess. Sawires, meanwhile, is fantastic as Diane, who proves far more than just a love interest. She's a fully formed character; a cool, kick ass gal full of exasperation and self-assurance, who isn't afraid to tell Ali when he's being an idiot. Pleasingly, the film refrains from dipping into farce. Instead, Sami and company provide an entertaining but still insightful look at the stereotyping of Muslim people – seen most blatantly in a sequence in which the mosque's theatre group attempts to perform their play about the life and death of Saddam Hussein in the United States. The movie also serves as a feel-good representation of modern multiculturalism, with scenes jumping from traditional tea ceremonies to eating icy poles and watching AFL. That Ali's Wedding manages to combine all of these elements joyfully, without ever becoming saccharine, helps turn a true tale into a bloody good film. Osamah Sami may have never gotten that medical degree, but he sure knows how to tell a story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEMeZDmvYhs
Next time you sip a G&T, or whichever other gin cocktail takes your fancy, you could be drinking a new Australian label that puts homegrown ingredients to great use. That'd be Taka Gin, a brand that's just hit the market thanks to Melbourne's Niyoka Bundle — who has branched out into the world of spirits from her Indigenous-fusion catering company Pawa Catering. Like plenty of recent new businesses, the idea behind Taka Gin came about in lockdown, with Indigenous woman Bundle and her husband Vincent Manning inspired to take on a new project — and to continue to highlight First Nations people's native foods in the process. That's why their tipple heroes lemon-scented gum leaf and native lemongrass, two plants that the duo consider underutilised. They're paired with a base of seven other botanicals: juniper, coriander, angelica root, cassia chips, finger lime, orris root and desert lime. Taka Gin's key ingredients have been foraged from around Melbourne, and sourced from Indigenous wild harvesters, including via Natif Super Foods and Warndu. The gin is then distilled by Gypsy Hub at Collingwood's Craft & Co, and sold online via the brand's website, with a 700-millilitre bottle costing $90. In terms of taste, this is a smooth gin. Expect soft citrus flavours, as well as a fragrance that helps bring out the tipple's flavour. The brand takes its name from the Gunditjmara language, which hails from southwest Victoria, with 'taka' meaning taste. And, its eye-catching labels are designed by Bundle's mother and Gunditjmara Keerray Woorroong artist Vicki Couzens. Against a white background, the minimalistic images represent the phytochemical molecular components that comprise Taka Gin's flavours. Handily, Taka Gin is doing free shipping Australia-wide, too, if you need another reason to expand your gin shelf. For more information about Taka Gin, or to buy a bottle, head to the brand's website. Images: Marcie Raw Studio.
It might've taken three years, but Netflix has finally produced its first original Aussie series. Shot entirely in Queensland, and providing fuel for late 2018 binge-watch sessions, Tidelands is a supernatural crime drama series about a fictional fishing village, dubbed Orphelin Bay, with strange inhabitants: a group of dangerous half-Sirens, half-humans called 'Tidelanders'. Cal McTeer (Charlotte Best), a young women who returns to the small village after a stint in jail, discovers the body of a local fisherman and must navigate the town's drug smuggling history while also investigating the Tidelanders, who are led by Adrielle Cuthburt (Elsa Pataky). After revealing its first sneak peek teaser back in October, the series now has a full official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhsjoQLKaiY&feature=youtu.be Eight episodes, each running for 50 minutes, have been made by Brisbane's Emmy Award-Winning production company Hoodlum Entertainment. And Tidelands won't just gift Australian users with a new favourite series, with the show set to land in all 190 countries that Netflix is available in. Thinking you've seen plenty of Aussie stuff on Netflix already? You're not wrong, however, there's a difference between throwing old sitcoms and standup specials into a range inexplicably overflowing with new Adam Sandler movies, and actually funding brand new Australian material. Last year, it was announced that they'd join forces with the ABC to co-produce a second season of Glitch, which showed them dipping a toe in the water — but now they're completely diving in. Tidelands will join the platform's hefty stable of original series, which started back in 2013 with House of Cards, and just keeps growing (Orange Is the New Black, The Get Down, The OA, Wet Hot American Summer, Master of None, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Dear White People, BoJack Horseman, four Marvel series with one more to come — the list goes on). Given the premise, here's hoping it'll be the next Stranger Things, and not the new Hemlock Grove. Tidelands will be available globally on Netflix from December 14, 2018.
Among the many ways to decide which wine next swirls around your glass, then across your tastebuds, Australia's Young Gun of Wine stands out. Since 2007, the awards have thrown some love at up-and-coming wine labels and winemakers across the nation, and not just because they make top-notch vino. These accolades take into account the whole story behind their tipples of choice each year — and 2024 now has its top 50. "Every year, we're seeing new ideas from the emerging talent, and they're shaping the environment that we get to enjoy. It's also not just about the products — it's the learnings that peers can take from their adventurous winemaking. It's also how they're presenting, labelling and talking about their work — how they're connecting with wine professionals and consumers," said Rory Kent, who founded YGOW, about 2024's picks. "That's why, uniquely and since day one, the wines for the Young Gun of Wine Awards are not tasted blind. These awards are as much about vision and leadership as they are about the quality of wine in the glass." 2024's top 50 spans drops from around most of Australia. Victoria is home to more spots on the list than anywhere else with 20, followed by South Australia with 17. New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory account for six wine labels and winemakers, Western Australia for four and Tasmania for three. The range also goes big on new names, which covers half of the finalists. This is the 18th year that YGOW has taken place, with the top 50 just one element. Now that Kent and his fellow 2024 judges — Jeremy Shiell from Winespeake, winemaker Meg Brodtmann, wine critic Nick Stock, Atlas Vinifera's Abby Moret and Orbis Wines' — have shared their favourites, winners of the accolades' six annual trophies will be unveiled on Tuesday, June 18. [caption id="attachment_681000" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Bruzzone, South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] The Young Gun of Wine is the overall prize, while the Winemaker's Choice is a peer-chosen gong, Best New Act goes to a first-time finalist, Danger Zone to a boundary-pushing wine product, and The Vigneron to makers who show love in tending to their land and vines. The People's Choice award is self-explanatory, and currently open for votes until Tuesday, June 18. [caption id="attachment_773167" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] Young Gun of Wine 2024 Top 50: New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory: Agitate (Andrew Ling) Aristotelis Ke Anthoula (Tony Zafirakos and Maddison Park-Neilson) Intrepidus Wines (Chrissie Smith) Linear Wines (Nathan Brown) M&J Becker Wines (Meagan and James Becker) Sabi Wabi (Peta Kotz) South Australia: Agricola (Callum Powell) Alpha Box and Dice (Sam Berketa) Cape Jaffa Wines (Giulia Fiorovic and Federico Pezzino) Curator Wine Co (Daniel Zolotarev) Guthrie (Hugh Guthrie) J & S Fielke (Jemma and Steven Fielke) Jean Bouteille Wines (Jean-Baptiste Courdesses) Kenny Wine (Andrew Kenny) Mountadam (Caitlin Brown) Parley Wine (Melissa Woods and Sarah Feehan) Poppelvej (Uffe Deichmann) Saltfleet Wines (Kyle Egel and Jonny Cook) Scanlon Wines (Harry Scanlon) Turon Wines (Turon White) Wangolina (Anita Goode) Worlds Apart Wines (Louis Schofield) XO Wine Co (Greg Clack and Kate Horstmann) Tasmania: Aunt Alice (Alice Davidson) Marco Lubiana (Marco Lubiana) Utzinger Wines (Matthias Utzinger) Victoria: Alessandro Stefani (Alessandro Stefani) Alkimi Wines (Stuart Dudine) Allevare (Lucy Kendall and Alysha Moscatt) ECK Wines (Emily Kinsman) Gum Wine (George McCullough) Honky Chateau (Chris Ryan) Jones Winery & Vineyard — J6 Wines (Benjamin Jones) Juliard Wines (Jules Morey and Bernard Morey) Little Frances (Erin Frances Pooley) Mac Forbes Wines (Hannah Maltby) Meredith Wines (Ben Luker) Mise En Place Wines (Doug Lilburne) Musical Folk (James Becker) Nomads Garden (Ben Dahlenburg) Patch Wines (Matt Talbot) Port Phillip Estate (Tim Perrin) Portsea Estate (Matt Lugg and Will Ross) Scion (Rowly Milhinch) Tillie J Wines (Tillie Johnston) Werkstatt Wine (Bridget Mac) Western Australia: Fervor (Callum Garland) Chalari Wines (Alexi Christidis) Mon Tout (Nic Bowen and Richard Burch) Vallée du Venom (Rhys and Emma Parker) For more information about Young Gun of Wine, head to the awards' website. 2024's winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 18.
Maybe your 21st birthday was the best night of your life. Or, perhaps you're still planning for the 21st to end all 21sts. Apologies to everyone in those two categories, plus everyone in general as well — because Splendour in the Grass' just-announced 21st-birthday lineup with Lizzo, Flume, Mumford & Sons, Lewis Capaldi and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has all other 21st shindigs beat. Lizzo was first unveiled as one of this year's Splendour headliners back in March, and now she has some good as hell company on the full — and huge — bill. When the fest returns to the North Byron Bay Parklands stage from Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23, the US rapper, songwriter, singer and flautist will top the Friday night, with Flume doing the same on the Saturday and Mumford & Sons following on the Sunday. Flume's set is an Australian exclusive, celebrating ten years since his self-titled album and coming after his recent Australian tour in late 2022. Mumford & Sons are also doing an Aussie-exclusive gig, after last heading our way in 2019. Among their ample company, Lewis Capaldi will take to the stage on the Friday night, while the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will play Saturday — making the trip to Australia after initially headlining 2022's Splendour in the Grass lineup, but cancelling in the lead up. Music lovers hitting Byron Bay can also look forward to Hilltop Hoods, Sam Fender, J Balvin, Slowthai, Little Simz, Idles and Tove Lo, plus Arlo Parks, Ball Park Music, 100 Gecs doing another Aussie exclusive, Pnau and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard — and more. Enough talk — here's what you're waiting for: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2023 LINEUP: Lizzo Flume (Australian exclusive: ten years of Flume) Mumford & Sons (Australian exclusive) Lewis Capaldi Yeah Yeah Yeahs Hilltop Hoods J Balvin Sam Fender Idles Little Simz Slowthai Tove Lo 100 Gecs (Australian exclusive) Arlo Parks Ball Park Music Iann Dior King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 070 Shake Pnau Ruel Loyle Carner Benee Marlon Williams Rainbow Kitten Surprise Hooligan Hefs Peach PRC Palace Dune Rats Tkay Maidza Noah Cyrus Skegss Sudan Archives Cub Sport Meg Mac X Club. Claire Rosinkranz Jack River The Smith Street Band Lastlings Jeremy Zucker Young Franco Sly Withers MAY-A The Vanns Telenova Vallis Alps Jamesjamesjames Kaycyy RVG Teenage Dads Balming Tiger Automatic Harvey Sutherland Gali Del Water Gap Royel Otis Shag Rock Big Wett Mia Wray Memphis LK Gold Fang Milku Sumner Forest Claudette Full Flower Moon Band William Crighton Hellcat Speedracer Triple J Unearthed Winners Mix Up DJs: Tseba Crybaby Latifa Tee Foura Caucasianopportunities Luen Mowgli DJ Macaroni Crescendoll Splendour in the Grass will take over North Byron Bay Parklands from Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23, 2023. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, April 14 — head to the festival website for further details. Top image: Charlie Hardy.
For decades, matching wine and food has been a favourite pastime, and a skill set that any true modern foodie should have up their sleeve. Now, gin has made its way back onto the scene and, armed with a complex flavour profile and botanical characteristics, has opened our eyes to a whole new world of food pairing potential. In addition to the main player, juniper, today’s gin varieties can comprise of any number of natural flavouring ingredients, also known as botanicals — from cinnamon and orange peel to nutmeg and cardamom. The newfound art of pairing food with gin – or ginstronomy, for those in the know - is all about picking out these specific botanical notes and highlighting or balancing them with the food on your plate. Bombay Sapphire, the globally renowned gin brand largely credited with the spirit’s reinvigorated image, has taken up the ginstronomy charge with gusto. Infused with ten of these botanicals — orris root, almonds, cassia bark, liquorice, cubeb berries, angelica root, grains of paradise, lemon peel, coriander and juniper — the drink lends itself brilliantly to the food-pairing concept. After the success of their Project Botanicals pop-up last year, Bombay is returning to Melbourne from June 24 to July 11, again teaming up with celebrated chef Gary Mehigan from MasterChef Australia and some of the city’s most savvy bartenders, for a flavour celebration, delivering a new batch of finely tuned food and gin pairings. Each of the ten cocktails and tapas-style dishes have been carefully crafted not only to showcase a specific Bombay Sapphire botanical, but to enhance or play off each other for a well-balanced taste sensation in the mouth. CASSIA BARK For example, in celebration of cassia bark, which is cinnamon’s more delicate cousin, you’ll find coconut poached chicken laab teamed with a cassia Indian Milk Punch. Created by the team at 1806, the rice milk cocktail carries a sweet touch of condensed milk, plus warming infusions of autumn tea and star anise that marry perfectly to the cassia bark. Meanwhile, the punchy Asian flavours in that chicken laab are designed to cut through the drink’s sweetness and milky mouth feel, elevating the botanical’s presence. ANGELICA ROOT Angelica root’s time in the spotlight comes courtesy of a riff on the negroni, which has been teamed with a mushroom tartine and garlicky parmesan custard. While Angelica is considered the earthy botanical of the Bombay bunch, it’s also responsible for holding all of the others in balance, and this is perfectly mimicked in that bitter, sweet and sour equilibrium of a negroni. The pickled and exotic mushrooms in the tartine, the garlic and the parsnip crunch on top of the dish all mirror the Angelica root’s earthy tones, while that silky custard softens the drink’s strong flavour. GRAINS OF PARADISE One of the dessert combinations highlights West African grains of paradise, with a luscious warm cocktail of vermouth, ginger syrup and chocolate butter, beside a decadent hazelnut and brown butter friand. Created by the Gin Palace crew, the drink picks up on the botanical’s exotic flavours, particularly its dark chocolate notes. Foodwise, the buttery friand softens the dryness of the cocktail’s vermouth, while an Oloroso ice cream, raisins and black sherry syrup add dark fruit notes to complement the grains of paradise’s dark chocolate bitterness. With tasty food and cocktail pairings like these, Project Botanicals 2015 looks set to push our love affair with gin even further. Head along for a botanically inspired flavour celebration and to get your own taste for this hot-ticket art of ginstronomy. The pop-up will be open from June 24 to July 11 (Wednesday to Saturday) at 64 Sutton St, North Melbourne. Tickets $45pp (plus booking fee) via Eventbrite.
There aren't too many ways you could improve on a decadent cheese-filled lunch. Except, perhaps, if you kicked it off with a hands-on cheesemaking workshop so you can learn to recreate the magic at home time and time again. Well, cheese fiends, it's your time to shine – legendary mozzarella producer That's Amore is teaming up with Windsor restaurant Tipico to deliver the cheesiest of afternoons on Saturday, September 14. First up, one of That's Amore's cheesemaking experts will school guests in the art of whipping up fresh, creamy mozzarella. Then, with those cravings sufficiently piqued, you'll tuck into a four-course lunch courtesy of Tipico's head chef, Daniele Columbo. As you would expect, each of these dishes hero some of That's Amore's signature Italian-style cheese — think fresh burrata with potato cream and mussels, an indulgent four-cheese pizza, and ricotta cannoli to end. There are four sittings to choose from, kicking off at noon. Tickets clock in at a reasonable $55, which gets you a four-course cheese lunch and a front-row seat to that cheesemaking action. First image: Julia Sansone.
Snow place like home, right? Here at CP, we're excited for winter playtime. Whether you can't wait to hit the slopes again or you're a curious first-timer, we know just the snow-covered playground that will hit the spot: Thredbo. Just a 5 and a 1/2 hour drive from Sydney, winter holiday goers congregate to the alpine village in their masses for the longest ski runs in Australia (when the mountain is fully covered in snow). And we've got the lowdown: where to stay, where to re-fuel, and where to party in your snow boots. Athol Got a lot of friends? This cosy, rustic self-contained chalet sleeps up to 12 people with a perfect communal layout for a big group. Gather round the open fire, sprawl out on the balcony and dig in to some hearty food at the canteen-style dining table. Diggings Terrance, Thredbo Village; Athol website Banjo Townhouses Each townhouse is a modern apartment with one or two bedrooms and beautiful views of the mountains. Loft units have their own slow-burning wood fire: lush! Banjo Drive, Thredbo Village; stayz.com.au/93085 Bernti’s Mountain Inn Bernti's is restaurant, hotel and nightlife all rolled into one. This European-style boutique inn has 30 rooms (and a rather entertaining host in Donna), gourmet food and a popular al fresco deck. Why would you ever leave? 4 Mowamba Place, Thredbo Village; (02) 6457 6332; berntis.com.au Black Bear Inn In the heart of Thredbo, and at the centre of all the action, this traditional lodge and restaurant has rooms to rent from single to family-sized. It’s a stone’s throw from the shuttle stop, plus never-ending German beer at the Inn. 30 Diggins Terrace, Thredbo Village; (02) 6457 6216; blackbearinn.com.au Thredbo Alpine Hotel Thredbo Alpine Hotel is boutique accommodation with the pick of rooms or chalets for an easy, comfortable stay at the base of the Kosciuszko chairlift. Thredbo Resort Centre, Thredbo Village; 1300 020 589; Thredbo Alpine Hotel Moonbah Hut A short 30 minute drive from Thredbo, and 15 minutes from Jindabyne town, Moonbah Hut is in a whole world of its own. This completely isolated, unique stone hut is fully equipped with underfloor heating, a rocking chair and fluffy robes for a romantic getaway. Jindabyne; (02) 6457 8311; moonbahhut.com Paringa Self contained, all the mod-cons and a shuttle bus on your doorstep, Paringa apartments are two bed units plus loft space, the obligatory balcony BBQ and a Swedish sauna. (02) 6457 7030; skiinskiout.com.au River Inn Priding itself on being a ski-in, ski-out hotel, River Inn has modern rooms and suites with plenty of extras, like wireless, a heated indoor pool and laundry service. 4 Friday Drive, Thredbo Alpine Village; (02) 9369 3010; riverinn.com.au Rockpool Lodge Like a little luxe? When only 5 star will do, Rockpool Lodge is a good pick. It’s got the spa, faux fur throws, sauna and champagne on chill (okay, we can’t guarantee the last one, but you get the picture). (02) 6457 7132; rockpoollodge.com.au Kareela Hutte Breakfast, coffee, champagne or cellar door, Kareela Hutte is a well-loved haunt for skiers and boarders on their up or down the mountain. On the Supertrail at 1810m altitude; (02) 6457 6099; kareelahutte.com.au Merritts Mountain House On-slope marketplace dining, from fresh juices and salads to stews, soups and strudel. Merritts uses artisan produce to create lovingly homemade food, conveniently located between slopes. Top of Merritts chairlift at 1660m altitude; (02) 6457 6084; merritts.com.au Black Sallee's Nestled amongst the gum trees off Crackenback Supertrail, Black Sallee's is famous for its hot chocolate, European beer selection (try the Maisel's Weisse) and schnapps. The service is quick, so you’ll be shoop shooping again in no time. At the top of Snowgums chairlift; (02) 6457 6439; Black Sallee's Bullwheel Bar & Bistro Laying claim to being Australia’s highest bar and bistro, Bullwheel has quick snacks and warming drinks, as well as German wheat beers, gluhwein and schnapps. At the top of Kosciuszko chairlift at 1937m altitude; (02) 6457 6019; Bullwheel Bar & Bistro Bernti’s Tapas Bar Serving a gourmet selection of international tapas, from smoked trout bruschetta to veal schnitzel, Bernti’s has al fresco dining and plenty of wine and beer to wash it down with. 4 Mowamba Place, Thredbo Village; (02) 6457 6332; berntis.com.au/tapas-bar The Knickerbocker Pan fried market fish, duck confit, spinach and ricotta dumplings... Yum! Riverside Cabins, Diggings Terrace, Thredbo; (02) 6457 6844; theknickerbocker.com.au The Terrace Relaxed fine dining: head chef Karen Forsstrom, formerly of Sydney’s Kingsleys restaurant, cooks up the finest ingredients to serve up her handcrafted menu. The Denman Hotel, 21 Diggings Terrace, Thredbo; (02) 6457 6222; thedenman.com.au The Wildbrumby Open daily for breakfast and lunch, the kitchen at Wildbrumby schnapps distillery door has a hearty selection of soups, pates, sandwiches and burgers - all created using local produce. Cnr of Wollondibby Rd and Alpine Way, Jindabyne; (02) 6457 1447; wildbrumby.com Apres Bar For a sophisticated start to the night, head to Apres Bar at The Denman. Cocktails, retro decor and tapas. The Denman, 21 Diggins Terrace, Thredbo Village; (02) 6457 6222; thedenman.com.au/bar Schuss Bar A little more laid-back, the Schuss Bar has live music and entertainment every night throughout winter. Threadbo Village Resort, Alpine Way; (02) 6459 4200. Thredbo Alpine Lounge Bar From 12 noon to midnight, the Alpine Lounge Bar is the place to kick-back and enjoy a coffee (or something stronger) beside the fire. Relaxed vibe, live music and great views. Thredbo Village Resort, Alpine Way; (02) 6459 4200. The Keller Looking to party late into the night? Revellers migrate to Thredbo’s famous nightclub. Thredbo Village Resort, Alpine Way; (02) 6459 4200.
Modern Japanese restaurant Tokyo Tina is bringing big noodle energy to Windsor this winter, with a brand new ramen menu running until the end of August. It follows the success of the Commune Group's Rubbish Ramen Soup Shop, an experimental pop-up that transformed produce originally destined for landfill into a ramen feast. Head into Tokyo Tina from Sunday to Thursday to slurp on a soy-rich shoyu ramen number, served with a soy egg and spring onion, or a vegetarian-friendly miso ramen paired with mushrooms, corn and bamboo. Other new, limited-edition menu favourites include a pork, char-siu don with kimchi rice and pickled carrots, or a mushroom-loaded bibimbap. Expect classic add-on extras like pork belly char-siu, nori, soy eggs and extra noodles for an easy $3. Images: supplied.
The Bright Autumn Festival is a ten-day celebration of the changing of the seasons and the explosion of colours and flavours that accompany it. The festival, on from April 27 to May 6, brings together a programme of events dedicated to the autumnal produce of the High Country's valleys and the alpine scenery as the trees change from green to vivid gold and amber. Are you nuts about nuts? Then the Wandiligong Nut Festival is your opportunity to join in with the growers celebrating the harvest. On April 28 you can wander their market stalls picking up new-season nuts, fruit, wines, oils and other treats. It's the only nut festival in Australia, and the smell of the ultimate autumn nut — the chestnut — fills the air as it roasts on open cookers. Not sure what to do with your Wandi nut haul? The festival also hosts talks on how to peel and cook chestnuts, how to make chestnut hummus and pancakes, and lots of other nut-related topics. Any good road tripper knows you need souvenirs for family, friends and your fine self. For that, the Wandiligong Autumn Craft and Produce Market has got you covered. Open every day of the festival between 10am and 4pm, it showcases locally grown produce and handcrafted goods — think hand-dyed scarves, cushions, blankets, handmade cards and jewellery, along with edible souvenirs (which somehow never seem to make it home?) like homemade jams, preserves and fudges. For a real country experience, get along to the Gala Day on Saturday, May 5, when the streets of Bright are closed for one of the region's biggest community festivals, or wander 17 of the area's usually private gardens, which are opened up from April 27 to May 6 so you can appreciate their autumnal aesthetic. To plan your trip to the Bright Autumn Festival and the High Country region beyond, head to the Wander Victoria website and explore what's on this season.
No one's denying a meat pie and a box of chips hit hard at the footy. But that doesn't mean you can't indulge in something a little more refined from time to time. Enter Stoke-Grill, the latest addition to the Premium Members Dining offering within the Medallion Club at Marvel Stadium. Guided by the same team behind beachy dining institutions Stokehouse and Stokehouse Pasta & Bar, expect bold flavours and premium produce as you catch the game. Centred on flame-kissed cuts and fresh seafood, the menu resonates with the heat of the grill, designed to pair perfectly with the stadium's prime-time energy. Even budding grill masters who usually fire up the barbecue in the backyard for the big game will have to admit the grill-led cuisine at Stoke-Grill rises above their efforts on the tongs. With a host of signature dishes to explore, Stoke-Grill's concept focuses on bringing the surf to the turf of Marvel Stadium. "Creating a concept specifically for Marvel Stadium has been inspiring. Around the world, stadiums are delivering world-class, premium dining experiences, so we're excited to be a part of that at Marvel, and to deliver a dining experience that matches the excitement of what's happening out on the field," says Stokehouse Precinct Executive Chef Jason Staudt. Highlights include a 300-gram whole prime rib roast with smoked bone marrow and salsa verde; seared John Dory with leek top mustard and caviar butter sauce; a 500-gram grain-fed bone-in dry-aged sirloin; and half or whole southern rock lobster tail served with chilli and lime butter. Plus, the sides take a soaring grab above the usual footy fare, with shoestring fries paired with tarragon aioli, and triple-cooked potatoes matched with burnt oregano. The smaller plates hit the mark too, with Stoke-Grill bringing match-winning dishes from Stokehouse to the stadium, including its iconic saltbush and vinegar potato cake; mixed crudo, tuna, kingfish, market fish with olive and marjoram dressing; and a spanner crab dog with lime and coconut. Before the siren sounds, dig into crowd-pleasing desserts like the Stokey date pudding, served with vanilla ice cream and butterscotch. "Stokehouse is one of Melbourne's foremost dining institutions and is synonymous with premium fine dining — making it right at home within the Medallion Club. We couldn't be happier to welcome the team to Marvel Stadium, collaborating with us to create a memorable dining experience in Stoke-Grill that I know our members, guests and partners will love," says Scott Fitzgerald, General Manager of Marvel Stadium. Stoke-Grill is now open at Marvel Stadium's Medallion Club. Head to the website for more information. Images: Arianna Leggiero
Wine is a good time. Whether you're cracking a bottle of bubbly to celebrate something big or sipping a glass of red as you cook a midweek dinner, grape juice is a solid booze option. With so many wineries, grape varieties, styles, vintages, terroirs and tannins, the world of wine is both fascinating and exceedingly overwhelming. At the end of the day, though, you just want a tasty wine that'll suit your current scenario, which is where we come in. For the sake of journalism (and our love of wine), we teamed up with Vivino to chat about the wines we've been drinking, sipping and sinking this season. From juicy pink-hued pét-nats and stone fruit-forward skin contact vinos to zippy whites and inky Aussie reds that pair exceptionally well with spag bol, these bottles are the ones we reach for time and time again — and we reckon you will, too. Need to know even more about the drop you're about to drink? Then take a snap of the bottle in your hand — or simply search for it — in the Vivino app. There, you'll find zero-bullshit reviews, ratings, taste characteristics and prices from more regular wine drinkers. And, if you can't be bothered to track down a bottle IRL, you can also purchase some of them from Vivino, too, and get it delivered straight to your door. 2020 UNICO ZELO ESOTERICO SKIN CONTACT BLEND It's extremely rare that I buy the same wine more than once — I am, after all, an attention span-lacking millennial obsessed with the next shiny new thing. So, for a drop to have a permanent spot in my liquor lineup is a big deal. Enter Esoterico, from Adelaide Hills-based winery Unico Zelo. This amber-hued drop, made from a blend of fiano, zibbibo, moscato giallo, gewürztraminer and greco, is a real all-rounder. It carried me through some pivotal 2021 moments; its decent level of texture and funkiness made all those lockdown loungeroom parties a little more fun. It has notes of citrus and stone fruits, particularly mandarin and apricot, so it was the perfect drop during the picnic era. And it's acidic — almost spicy — so it has served me well over summer, too. Want more reviews? Check them out on Vivino, then buy yourself a bottle. Melanie Colwell, Branded Content Editor [caption id="attachment_833746" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samantha Teague[/caption] 2020 BODEGA ALBAMAR ALBARIŃO At an early Sunday dinner at recently opened wine bar La Salut, in Sydney's Redfern, I had a delightful glass of albariño from the Rías Baixas region in Spain (an area famous for that particular grape type). This wine is all bright, vibrant, delicate citrus vibes — extremely non-intimidating — and was the perfect bedfellow to the salty flavour-packed Catalan-inspired bites. It's like the white wine equivalent of running through a sprinkler after an innings of cricket on a hot summer day. But with alcohol! You can read more reviews of Albamar Albariño on Vivino. Suz Tucker, Editorial Director 2021 EXPRESS WINEMAKERS L'ORANGE SKIN CONTACT WHITE Hailing from a single vineyard in the deep south of WA, the amber-hued L'Orange from Express Winemakers brings sunshine straight to my hand. The skin contact white — mostly riesling, with a dash of semillon — is bright, juicy and sends off the same vit C vibes that its namesake fruit does. Ryan O'Meara, the young and fun gung-ho winemaker, kept those precious skins on for six days to deliver a tart, textured drop that's everything you'd expect from a skinsy sip. I'm a pét-nat lover at heart, but this white is the perfect go-between. I've got a bottle sitting tight for my upcoming weekender in western NSW, and I'll be pouring an ice-cold glass for my whole gang before we watch that golden sun set and breathe in the fresh country air. Want to nab yourself a glass too? You can purchase it from Vivino. Grace MacKenzie, Junior Staff Writer 2020 ARFION FEVER SKIN CONTACT BLEND Whenever I feel like drinking wine, I like to leave it to the experts. This includes when I'm at my local bottle-o, where most of my interactions with the staff usually go something like this: they see me staring in the skin contact wine section, they sniff out that I'm clueless, they ask me what I like, then they recommend a drop — and they always get it right. A recent delight was the 2020 Arfion Fever from the Yarra Valley. This bright, refined orange wine is a blend of five varieties — pinot gris, chardonnay, gewürztraminer, pinot noir and savagnin — that are fermented on skins, and the result is criminally delicious. It's one of those wines where, after the first sip, my partner and I gave each other an involuntary and knowing nod to say we'd be buying another bottle of this moreish nectar. And that we did — twice. Check out more reviews of Arfion Fever on Vivino. Courtney Ammenhauser, Branded Content Producer 2021 BRAVE NEW WINE NAT DADDY PÉT-NAT Brave New Wine's Nat Daddy pét-nat became my go-to drop for the wave of picnics that hit during that two-week period last year when al fresco hangs were the only way you could see your mates. The fizzy and fruity blend of shiraz and sauvignon blanc basically begs to be drunk on a warm afternoon in the park. Brave New Wine has been producing vibrant, highly drinkable wines out of Western Australia's Great Southern wine region for the past five years. Each bottle is created with minimal intervention, is naturally fermented, and comes adorned with a fun eye-catching label that sets the tone for the light and breezy pét-nat. While variety is the spice of life, I keep coming back to Nat Daddy — and it's sure to feature heavily in my plans throughout 2022. Want to know more about this bottle of bubbly? You can read more reviews of Brave New Wine Nat Daddy on Vivino. Ben Hansen, Staff Writer 2019 GRANT BURGE BAROSSA INK SHIRAZ As the only New Zealand-based team member, I should absolutely be advocating for any of the world-class Kiwi drops. Instead, I'm risking my citizenship and coming in hot with this big, bold South Australian number, which has received cult-like status in recent years (it actually took home the top gong for wines under $25 in Australia's Vivino Community Awards). This wine has been named Ink Shiraz as it's so rich and full-bodied that it almost has a Ribena-like quality, making it the best accompaniment to a giant steak or a table full of Italian food. I know what you're thinking — a rich red, Sarah? In summer? But hear me out. Book in a night to yourself at home, turn the air-con as low it can go, and enjoy a large glass of this with a giant bowl of spag bol and the latest episode of Succession. Instant happiness. So, buy yourself a bottle of Grant Burge Barossa Ink Shiraz from Vivino, stat. Sarah Templeton, New Zealand Editor 2020 KERRI GREENS PINOTS DE MORNINGTON ROSÉ If you're after a vino primed for catch-ups, this unfiltered drop from the Mornington Peninsula's Kerri Greens will definitely be your groove. When it comes to pink wine, the Pinots de Mornington rosé is my go-to. It's dry and moreish, with good texture and creaminess, and a taste that's reminiscent of fresh strawberries and cream. The blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier and pinot gris grapes also delivers some fun forest fruit flavours. It's also the kind of sip that stands up well alongside food — a handy trait if you like to snack your way through a Sunday sesh like me. Hot tip: match it with some fresh prawns and you'll be one happy chappy. All up, this drop is essential summer quaffing, and a primo accompaniment to beach picnics, barbecues and park sessions alike — and that's coming from a diehard beer fiend. Sound good? You can read more reviews of Kerri Greens Pinots de Mornington on Vivino, too. Libby Curran, Staff Writer Download the Vivino app and start discovering more ideal summer sips to stock up on — then buy them straight from the app. For more wine inspo, check out this year's Vivino Community Awards. Top image: Winona, Kitti Gould.
Kicking off a new side hustle or small biz idea can be a challenging quest, but with the right connections and resources it doesn't have to be. In partnership with Fiverr, we're spotlighting budding entrepreneurs who are getting their businesses off the ground in style. Like most of us, Amy Silver vowed to use her time in lockdown productively. But unlike most of us, Amy actually followed through, launching The Dough Co with her dad, Mark. The pair's successful side hustle serves up ready-to-bake cookie dough to people living in and around Melbourne and, after numerous on-again off-again lockdowns, the business is one sweet win that's come out of the pandemic. Amy is in her sixth year of a double degree — Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts — at Monash University, and works as a paralegal one day a week. Mark, on the other hand, runs a corporate catering company that services businesses located in Melbourne's inner suburbs. When the pair suddenly found themselves with more time on their hands, they passed long days at home devouring books and podcasts about successful entrepreneurs and startups. The idea for The Dough Co was sparked when Amy, inspired by the home baking craze that swept the globe (and social media), found her local supermarket shelves devoid of packet bread and DIY cookie mixes. "I came home and said to my dad, 'I've got it! Let's make cookie dough," Amy told Concrete Playground. [caption id="attachment_817446" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark and Amy Silver. Photo: Melanie Desa[/caption] While it's no Betty Crocker (yet), Amy and Mark had all the right ingredients to put this half-baked idea into action — the business concept, a captive audience in locked-down Melburnians and, as it happens, a commercial kitchen staffed with chefs. It was a rare opportunity, and one they used to funnel their time and resources into developing their chocolate chip cookie dough recipe. "The chefs started experimenting with the cookie dough and, every night, Dad and I would bring it home… We'd all stand around — me, my dad, my mum and my brother — and taste the cookies, then circle back the next day with our feedback," Amy told CP. "By the time we came out of [lockdown], we had everything ready to go for the launch." Amy's foray into baked goods is rather ironic, describing her own baking abilities as "quite hopeless". But, making a fresh batch of baked deliciousness from packet-mix brands — and having that sweet scent wafting through the house — was something she enjoyed between online classes and exams. She figured other people were probably seeking the same kind of pastime — and comfort food. She figured right. Launched just three months ago, The Dough Co already has hundreds of Melburnians placing orders for ready-to-bake dough through its e-commerce platform, or purchasing in-person at farmers markets around Melbourne. And, after "a lot of really good feedback [and] a lot of return customers", The Dough Co is, much like a perfect soufflé, on the rise. [caption id="attachment_817445" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melanie Desa[/caption] It's fortunate, then, that The Dough Co is supported by a $5000 grant from Fiverr as part of a competition run by Monash University, which Amy won through her participation in The Validator program run via Monash University's central startup hub, The Generator. Hold up, Fiverr? For those not yet in the know, Fiverr is a freelance marketplace that connects experts from a range of disciplines with businesses requiring their services. Its user-friendly design and global database of freelancers makes it simple-as to get started and give your side hustle a leg up. Thanks to the grant, Amy scored thousands to put towards her and her dad's biz. When The Dough Co was still baking in the proverbial oven, Amy did all the marketing herself. "I have next to no business experience… and obviously my degree is very different to business — and cooking," says Amy. Now, the business plans to use Fiverr's grant — and its network of freelancers — to "completely overhaul" its website and merchandise offering, as well as improve discoverability and attract even more cookie-loving customers. "A big problem we had when we first started was that we were on the third page of Google, so we had to pay to advertise at the top. Getting an SEO specialist will definitely help." On top of that, Amy and Mark have got a freelance videographer/animator working on an animated, step-by-step video of how to make The Dough Co cookies, and, in the future, hope to get someone designing some sweet merch. [caption id="attachment_817435" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melanie Desa[/caption] Currently, The Dough Co has four flavours: classic choc chip, chocolate orange, choc mint, and white chocolate and raspberry. The OG is the fan favourite but, if you're struggling to pick just one, you can opt for The Dough Co's bundle pack and taste 'em all. And, with the more nitty gritty side of things now covered thanks to Fiverr, Amy and Mark are busy developing new cookie dough flavours, along with vegan and gluten-free options. Sure, many Aussies share Amy's affinity for fresh-baked cookies. But there aren't many people her age with a law degree and a burgeoning small business under their belts. With her dad's support, she plans to defer her degree to focus on The Dough Co full-time for the first half of 2022, although still has ambitions to get qualified and work as a lawyer in the future. Her long-term plan? Establish The Dough Co as a self-sufficient business so she can focus on the most important part: "I'd like to stick to being the taste-tester." Have your own booming side hustle — or need a hand getting it off the ground? Check out the Fiverr website and connect with freelancers around the world, all just a click away. Images: Melanie Desa
Lego has come a long way since I was a kid. For me, the brightly coloured plastic bricks didn't transcend their basic wall-building function much more than serving as useful things to throw at the cat when I wanted her to get off the bed. Over the years though, they've grown and expanded to include intricate Harry Potter, Star Wars and Ninja sets, as well as other more grown-up ranges for construction geeks everywhere. Now, as part of Lego's crazy-popular Architecture Series, in which there are already eleven projects, the Danish company is kicking off the month of March by launching their twelfth project, The Sydney Opera House. The series already features Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's iconic Farnsworth House and Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum, as well as Seattle's Space Needle and the Empire State Building, so the national landmark is in very distinguished company. Conceived and built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the Opera House opened in 1973 after winning a design competition sixteen years earlier in 1957. Not only is the Sydney Opera House the city's most distinctive landmark, but it's also one of the most innovative and applauded examples of modern architecture. Upon being awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2003, judges said "It is one of the great iconic buildings of the 20th century, an image of great beauty that has become known throughout the world – a symbol for not only a city, but a whole country and continent." The 270-piece model will be on sale this month, containing a step-by-step instruction guide for budding architectects, designers and engineers, as well as a full archival history and message on the Reconciliation Action Plan completed in consultation with Sydney Opera House. You can pick it up online from the Lego Store or buy locally at the Sydney Opera House shop. [Via Sydney Opera House]
2023 was huge for women's soccer in Australia. 2024 mightn't boast the World Cup rolling out Down Under, sadly, but with the Matildas competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics, it's still a massive year for fans of the country's national squad. 2023 also brought documentary Matildas: The World at Our Feet to streaming queues, too — and 2024 is following suit there as well thanks to Stan's Trailblazers, which was announced earlier in the year and now has a Tuesday, June 4 release date. While The World at Our Feet chronicled the current team's path to the 2023 Women's World Cup, Trailblazers is taking a broader look at the Tillies' story and also at women's football in Australia, as the trailer for the doco makes plain. Sam Kerr, Steph Catley, Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter, Katrina Gorry and Teagan Micah all feature as interviewees — but chronicling the Matildas' journey before their current success is also in the documentary's remit. If your obsession with the Tillies started in July 2023, this is your chance to dive into the first FIFA-recognised game in 1979, the team's 2015 strike for equal pay and its fortunes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics — and to reflect upon the the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, plus the squad's qualification for Paris. So, you'll hear from and about earlier players, such as first-ever Matildas captain Julie Dolan, alongside Kerr and company. The Matildas' first Indigenous female player Karen Menzies also features among the discussions, as do fellow past players Melissa Barbieri, Kate Gill and Moya Dodd. Tommy Sermanni, who coached the Tillies from 1994–97 and 2005–12, similarly gets chatting. And, so does ex-Socceroos captain-turned-commentator Craig Foster. Stan is dropping Trailblazers not only in the lead up to the Paris Olympics, which take place from Friday, July 16–Sunday, August 11, but also just after the Matildas play two warmup friendlies in Australia on Friday, May 31 (in Adelaide) and Monday, June 3 (in Sydney) against China. Behind the scenes, Maggie Miles (Dare to Be Different) and Maggie Eudes produce, write and direct the documentary — aka your next chance to revel in all things Tillies. If you want to wear green and gold while watching, or the recently released (and soldout) purple Mackenzie Arnold goalkeeper kit if you got your hands on one, that's up to you. Check out the trailer for Trailblazers below: Trailblazers will stream via Stan from Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
When you're a former child actor turned Transformers star turned performance artist and activist, it's pretty easy to make a statement. With his various performance projects around the world, Shia LaBeouf has been doing just that. Alas, his efforts to mount a four-year protest against the current President of the United States haven't gone smoothly, with #HEWILLNOTDIVIDEUS shut down for the fourth time. Liverpool's media arts centre FACT has ended the project's current run based on police advice after "dangerous, illegal trespassing," according to a statement on their website. It lastest a mere three days in its latest iteration, which involved flying a white flag emblazoned with the project name and live-streaming the results. #HEWILLNOTDIVIDEUS moved to the UK after three attempts in the US, including hoisting the flag in an undisclosed location. https://twitter.com/FACT_Liverpool/status/844939997363015682 LeBeouf actually started the four-year-long anti-Trump-focused piece in New York in January, using a different concept: a camera was mounted on a wall outside the Museum of Moving Image, below a printed version of the titular phrase. Participants were asked to stand in the requisite spot and repeat those words as many times as they liked, and for as long as they desired. The project started at 9am on January 20, 2017, timed to coincide with the day of new US President Donald Trump's inauguration, with LeBeouf intending keep a live-stream going 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the four years that followed — or the duration of Trump's time in office. While designed to act "as a show of resistance or insistence, opposition or optimism, guided by the spirit of each individual participant and the community", and garnering plenty of interest — including from the project's first participant, Jaden Smith — #HEWILLNOTDIVIDEUS quickly started to attract not just attention but opposition, leading the Museum of Moving Image to abandon the work on February 10. Eight days later, the piece was relocated to a wall outside the El Rey Theater, Albuquerque, before moving to its latest version in March. https://twitter.com/thecampaignbook/status/822443598771785732
After a run of successful kitsch Disco Yoga events — Michael Jackson and Woodstock themed — pink-haired Disco Yoga Queen Nickie Harding is holding a Halloween-themed yoga night sporting her unique blend of novelty, Vinyasa flow and dance. It’s like a party, but rather than boozing you get amazing core strength. If you like your yoga classes silent, conservative and you like to hide in the corner, probably give this one a miss. If your idea of a good time is dressing up and finding your inner peace to the soothing sounds of ‘ The Monster Mash’, ‘Time Warp,’ and ‘Thriller' then this one's for you. In a recent Queen Victoria Market Week Disco Yoga event, Nickie encouraged strangers to hug, hold hands and support each other through poses. Massive balls bounced around the marketplace and a live DJ played Top 40 and classic dance tracks. Expect more of that in this two-hour event surrounded by zombies, witches and vampires on Saturday, October 31.
This weekend sees the opening of Marquee Sydney, the city's brand new superclub, brought to us by The Star. It's well known that The Star, formerly Star City casino, has been attempting to rebuild its image over the past year. They want you to see it as the kind of classy place jet-setters hang out at, as opposed to the image people had previously - over-priced drinks and square-eyed gamblers mechanically pressing buttons on pokie machines in a vast room that reeks of Brut and broken dreams. Marquee is the most anticipated part of their grand plan to erase that image. Marquee Sydney is being brought to us courtesy of nightlife operator Tao Group, which operates a number of superclubs in the US including the Marquee Nightclub and Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. Marquee is promising to bring "a monumental change to Sydney's nightlife landscape." It's an unusual claim to make, given that Sydney's nightlife over the last few years has been focused on improving and innovating the small, boutique bar scene and creating the kind of places people can sit around in black skivvies reading books and drinking chardonnay - like Melbourne, if you will. And everyone has very much enjoyed the explosion of small bars, which provide a welcome alternative for those not so keen on side-stepping the drunken punch-ups outside Kings Cross nightclubs at three in the morning. Marquee is set to take up the entire top floor of the reinvigorated Star's new harbourside entrance. 20,000 square feet of floor space will host a 30-foot projection stage with an LED DJ booth and two dance floors, a "stylish library-style" lounge complete with a working fire place, a seperate DJ area on a patio, a chillout area and a unisex "bathroom lounge," which will surely be the most wholesome spot in the club. The VIP launch party this weekend will feature will.i.am and Afrojack of The Black Eyed Peas playing to 'celebrities' such as Nick Lachey, Ashlee Simpson and Paris Hilton.
Whistler is most famous for the mountains that surround the village, Whistler and Blackcomb, and in turn the eponymous ski resort that just so happens to be the biggest in North America. But there's much more than ski runs to explore. To begin, the scenery is jaw-dropping in every direction, and you can take it all in from way above or by getting in the thick of it. Soar over all the snow, trees and idyllic scenes via helicopter or gondola, or get up close on foot, along lakeside cross-country ski trails. And when you're looking to relax after a day of exploring, you can kick back in Scandinavian-inspired hot pools or friendly boutique hotels laden with private baths, day spas and mountain views. Meanwhile, the food and drink scene is all about local produce, independent brewers and, thanks to the cold climate, comfort — think delicious bakery treats, melted cheeses, handmade pastas and tasty ales. The trick is avoiding the tourist traps and making tracks for the locals' favourites. Luckily, we've done some research for you, and with a little help from Tourism Whistler, have developed a full guide to doing Whistler like a local. [caption id="attachment_632302" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @PurebreadWhis.[/caption] EAT AND DRINK When there's some serious, snowy adventuring ahead, it's important to start the day right: with a massive, hearty breakfast. Make your first stop Elements, where you can choose from seven different benedicts (including one with crab meat) or one of the most decadent French toasts we've ever heard of, stuffed with honey ham and double-cream brie. If your cholesterol levels are threatening a heart attack though, then head to The Green Moustache for a just as delicious brekkie, like their superfood-charged, all-organic Buddha bowl with quinoa, veg, sprouts and avocado. And if you're on the move or in need of a warming snack with your coffee, look to one of Whistler's best bakeries, Purebread, for their buckwheat sour cherry scones. [caption id="attachment_632434" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Facebook/Bar Oso.[/caption] When the midday stomach rubbles start up, set your sights on Ingrid's Village Cafe. The delicatessen has been nourishing Whistler locals and visitors for over 20 years, serving up burgers, salads, sandwiches and a daily selection of soups. And come evening, after a day out and about, the most satisfying way to refuel is with a bowl of house-made pasta and a good Italian wine at Pasta Lupino. Otherwise, it's Bar Oso for excellent tapas, including wild chilli-garlic prawns, scallop crudo and hearty fresh and cured charcuterie boards. Plus, Bar Oso has an extensive cocktail menu, with a whole section dedicated to gin and tonics using gins from around British Columbia. Finally, it'd be plain rude to visit Whistler without finding out what the local brewers have been up to. Swing by Coast Mountain to sample the signature IPA and Whistler Brewing, where, in case you're feeling homesick, you can sip an Aussie Sparkling Ale. [caption id="attachment_632417" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Whistler/Mike Crane.[/caption] DO It goes without saying that most holidays in Whistler involve a bunch of skiing, boarding, snow shoeing and dog sledding in nearby mountains. But, there are plenty of less obvious escapades to be had in and around town. To get some perspective, take a helicopter tour. You'll soar over the region's famous peaks, valleys and rivers, and fly scarily close to a glacier. You can even book into a tour that'll take you on an exploration of ice caves, ending with a dip in some natural hot springs. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF7DJBGk2U8[/embed] Another ethereal experience is the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Instead of taking the Whistler Village Gondola up to then ski back down with everyone else, head up and stay at the summit to take in the views and enjoy the idyllic, snowy surrounds from a journey on the PEAK 2 PEAK. As you ride over the Fitzsimmons Valley, you'll get a full view of the snowy dreamscape below from this extraordinary feat of engineering. Linking Whistler and Blackcomb summits, the PEAK 2 PEAK holds three world records: longest continuous lift system, highest lift of its kind (436 metres above the ground) and longest unsupported span for a lift of its kind (3.024 kilometres). If you prefer to see some spectacular scenery with your feet firmly planted on the ground, a snowshoeing journey around the lesser known sights for Whistler will have you feeling like a local. Transporting you to a time before Whistler existed, Parkhurst sits on the banks of Green Lake, where it started life as a logging town in the 1920s, but was emptied out by the time the '60s came around. [caption id="attachment_629882" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @katstjames.[/caption] As you wander through, you'll come across derelict cabins splashed with street art-style paintings, collapsed houses, rusty cars and a mammoth-sized tractor that looks like it froze mid-use decades ago. Snowshoe to Parkhurst from Whistler Village along the Sea-to-Sky Trail to discover the eerie, abandoned town. And to keep up the adventure, you can hoof it to Rainbow Park, Cheakamus River and the Train Wreck, featuring box cars from a 1956 wreckage that have become works of art among the trees. [caption id="attachment_632415" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Whistler/Justa Jeskova.[/caption] Meanwhile in town, there's the Audain Art Museum. Opened in March 2016, the understated building made of local materials holds a huge collection of British Columbian art, beginning with works by First Peoples and culminating in those of contemporary artists. Architect John Patkau designed the building to feel like a part of the surrounding spruce forest. "The feeling is that the museum will be quietly inserted into a void within the forest," he says. And within you'll find an exhibition program that changes three times a year, as well as 200 permanent works depicting the history of art from coastal British Columbia. [caption id="attachment_632422" align="alignnone" width="1922"] Nita Lake Lodge.[/caption] STAY There's only one stay in Whistler right on the waterfront, and that's Nita Lake Lodge, 500 metres from Whistler Mountain and the Creekside Gondola. If you choose this lakeside retreat during your time in Whistler, you'll be snoozing in a mega-sized villa on a king-sized bed, relaxing your tired muscles in a private hot tub and hanging out in front of your very own gas fireplace. There's also an onsite day spa, yoga studio and an outdoor plunge pool by the lake. The best news of all? Your dog is welcome with open paws. [caption id="attachment_630995" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Summit Lodge.[/caption] Another boutique hotel to check out is Summit Lodge, smack bang in the middle of Whistler Village. Another pet-friendly stay — in fact there are two Rottweilers among the staff members — the wintry lodge holds rooms varying from deluxe studios to one-bedroom suites. All come with kitchenettes, hot tubs and bright design features, including walls covered in colourful geometric shapes, hand-knitted toys and art works. There's also an outdoor pool, hot tub, cedar sauna and an onsite day spa. [caption id="attachment_632419" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whistler Platinum.[/caption] Another option outside of the boutique hotel is, of course, to hire your own chalet — preferably with a few mates as a lot of these places can hold ten or more people. There are many lovely accommodations to find on Whistler Platinum. Go for rustic with the warm and cosy log-walled Horstman 4590, which comes with sleeping room for ten across five bedrooms, plus awesome panoramas. And if you're keen to wake up, strap on your skis and hit the slopes immediately, book into Kadenwood 2939. Located in one of Whistler's swishest on-snow villages, this accom has its own forest-encircled hot tub, as well as five ensuite bedrooms, a log fireplace, massive windows looking onto the mountains, a pool table and floor heating. Plan an adventure into the great Canadian outdoors, and discover all Whistler as to offer here. Top image: Tourism Whistler/Mike Crane.
With some supermarket shelves proving to be a lucky dip situation and social distancing top of everyone's mind, grocery shopping sure ain't what it used to be. But South Melbourne Market is here to help you keep your fridge full and your human contact to a minimum, this week rolling out a new order and collect system. The site remains open as usual, but if you'd rather avoid the crowds you can now order supplies from a range of market traders, pay online and then pick up your haul from the York Street Carpark on Thursdays. The order cut-off for most of the traders will be midday on Wednesdays. You'll find a hefty list of participating traders online, including fresh meat and seafood from the likes of Kirkpatrick's Meats and The Fish Shoppe, deli goods from vendors like La Central and Vangeli's Deli, and other specialty groceries from sellers including Agathe Patisserie, South Melbourne Market Organics, The Fresh Pasta Shop and Swords Select Wine & Beer. Heck, you can even stock up on things like board games, fashion and gifts, courtesy of traders like Ruby & Sky, Suki McMaster and Elementary Skincare. [caption id="attachment_738064" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tracey Ah-kee[/caption] The collection point will operate a bit like a drive-thru, so you won't even need to get out of the car. It'll be operating between 2–7pm on Thursday with service areas sanitised regularly, and is set to be completely cashless. If you're self-isolating or don't want to leave the house at all, a number of South Melbourne Market traders are also offering home-delivery services, covering everything from fresh produce and ready-to-eat meals to booze. See the full lineup and ordering instructions over at the website. Melbourne's other major markets Queen Victoria Market, Prahran Market and Preston Market continue to offer a range of products for home delivery via YourGrocer, though some are only available to existing customers. South Melbourne Market's drive-thru is open from 2–7pm on Thursdays. Pre-order over here.
When bushfires swept through the Snowy Mountains in January 2020, Selwyn Snow Resort in Cabramurra sustained extensive damage. Unsurprisingly, the facility didn't operate during winter, spending the past focusing on clean-up and redevelopment efforts instead — and it has just announced exactly what's in store as part of its rebuild. A reopening date hasn't yet been set, but work has now started on the site, after planning approval was received last month. Also pivotal: the signing of a new 40-year lease between the New South Wales Government and the Blyton Group, the venue's owner. Accordingly, the resort is sticking around for the long haul, and it has big plans. That includes a new L-shaped Selwyn Centre, which'll house all guest facilities and services in one building — spanning ski and snowboard hire, lockers, ticketing, food and drink venues, seating and the kids club. There'll also be a new resort operations centre, where mountain staff will be based, complete with a new ski patrol setup. The staff accommodation will be moved, the chairlift will be upgraded and extended, and the snowmaking infrastructure will get a makeover. [caption id="attachment_802692" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Render of new Selwyn Centre[/caption] Also on the agenda: two new snow carpets just for perfecting turns — and, as part of a bigger and relocated toboggan park, another 150-metre snow carpet. The latter facility will also score a platform atop its slope, and the snow sports learning area will move into the toboggan park's former space, giving it more room. Mainly aimed at children but also bound to welcome the young at heart, a Winter Wonderland will join the resort, too. Taking pride of place will be a skating rink that can operate in all conditions, and also double as a bumper car arena. Visitors will be able to walk through a miniature enchanted village, and take snowshoe walking tours of Kosciuszko National Park. Strictly for the littlies, there'll be a tubing carousel and kid snowmobiles. Selwyn Snow Resort will implement a new ticketing system as well, when it's ready to reopen. Announcing the rebuilding plan, Blyton Group Chairman Kevin James Blyton noted that "in the aftermath of the fires, we committed to building a bigger and better Selwyn and we meant it. I'm very pleased that the long-term future of Selwyn Snow Resort has been secured. Selwyn Snow Resort has been the place for thousands of families to learn to ski or snowboard over the years and I'm very pleased that this will continue for generations to come". Selwyn Snow Resort is rebuilding at its existing site at 213A Kings Cross Road, Cabramurra, New South Wales. A reopening date hasn't yet been announced — head to the resort website to keep an eye on the project's progress.
Move over The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros Movie — when it comes to turning video games into TV shows and films, there's another must-see dropping our way in 2023. This one focuses on a button-mashing favourite that also drips with tension and boasts a ridiculously catchy theme tune. That title? The one and only Tetris. The king of all puzzle games, the best way to spend your time obsessing over tumbling blocks and an addiction for many, Tetris first arrived in 1984 courtesy of Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov. How did it become the global phenomenon it is and always will be? That's the tale that the movie also called Tetris will tell when its line itself up on your streaming queue via Apple TV+ on Friday, March 31. This film knows the truth about Tetris, too: that once you play it even for a few minutes, it haunts your brain and never departs. Early in the just-released trailer for the flick, star Taron Egerton (Black Bird) gives voice to something what every Tetris player has experienced. "I still see falling blocks in my dreams," he says as Henk Rogers, the man who secured the rights to the title for distribution on video game consoles like Nintendo's Game Boy. The path from Pajitnov (played by Six Empty Seats' Nikita Efremov) creating the puzzle favourite and everyone everywhere playing it isn't straightforward or smooth. In fact, Tetris, the movie, looks set to unfurl as a wild Cold War-era thriller. When Rogers discovers the game, he makes the trip to the Soviet Union to meet Pajitnov — but the story from there involves far more than just four-piece blocks raining down on a screen. Filmmaker Jon S. Baird (Stan & Ollie) directs, working with a script by Genius' Noah Pink, while Toby Jones (The English) also features among the cast. To answer three crucial questions about the film flick from its trailer: yes, it features the requisite music; yes, it'll get that tune stuck in your head; and yes, you'll want to play Tetris ASAP. Check out the trailer for Tetris below: Tetris will be available to stream via Apple TV+ from Friday, March 31.
Aussie hospo mainstay Maurice Terzini (Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, RE and Jackson on George) teamed up with Joe Jones to open this sleek new bar in Melbourne's CBD at the end of 2023. The duo took over the underground space at Queens and Collins — where Reine & La Rue recently opened to huge acclaim — and are serving up some pretty damn good cocktails. Each of Jones' creations is next-level, but we have been enamoured by his martinis ever since Purple Pit opened. We frequently head straight here for a dirty gin variety when in the CBD. It's got to be Melbourne's best. But there is a lot more to Purple Pit than its martinis. Here, an extensive selection of Euro-centric cocktails and "champagne food" are served in a lavish brutalist space where post-punk tunes roar late into the night. What exactly is "champagne food"? For Terzini and Jones it's small aperitivo-style dishes and luxe late-night bites that you want to nosh on while sipping on fine wine and cocktails. This includes house-made calzones filled with either mortadella, ricotta and fermented chilli or a playful take on the Big Mac flavours. These are great, but Purple Pit's food shines brightest with the smaller dishes. You'll be calling for more hot and salty focaccia when mopping up every last bit of burrata and seasonal accompaniments, and the scallops are a must-order. Feeling a little fancy? Pair your cocktail with a bump of caviar and some fresh oysters. You won't be filling up on food here, as it is more of a sip-and-snack situation where drinks are the heroes. Either drop by before or after dinner in the CBD for some of Melbourne's best cocktails.
When last year's Dark MOFO program dropped, House of Mirrors immediately rocketed to the top of everyone's must-do list. Created by Australian installation artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney, it's exactly what it sounds like: a walkthrough space filled with reflective surfaces that will not only strands you in a maze of your own image, but turns your likeness into a kaleidoscope. Since then, the installation has made its way to Brisbane, Sydney and Bendigo. And now, eager Melburnians will soon get the chance to wander through the disorienting, perception-altering, panic-inducing, optical illusion-based labyrinth for themselves. From October 5–22 for Melbourne Festival (which just announced its full program this week), the mirror maze will take over the Arts Centre Melbourne for 18 days of reflective roaming, with the modern, minimalist twist on the fairground classic featuring 40 tonnes of steel and 15 tonnes of mirrors — and no added gimmicks, no special effects, no special lighting, no soundtrack or soundscape. It'll be the first time House of Mirrors has come to Melbourne, and it will be open 4–10pm Monday to Friday and 10am till 10pm Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will be $10 on the door. We suggest going at sunset so you can see it while the sun's still up and when it's lit up after-dark. The House of Mirrors will be in the forecourt of the Arts Centre from October 5–22. For more information, visit their website.
This Summer is shaping up to be a cinematic treat for movie buffs. The latest Bond film hit cinemas last week, Peter Jackson's The Hobbit will be clogging theatres come Boxing Day and for those who like their movies filled to the brim with obscure pop culture references, gratuitous amounts of stylised violence and a pumping soundtrack, then there is Quentin Tarantino's latest offering Django Unchained. But if you are too busy to get to the cinemas this Summer or you like your pop culture in bite size pieces then check out this awesome video by YouTube aficionado Jonathan Keogh of the "IMDB Top 250 in 2 1/2 Minutes". This manic and masterful mash-up of everything from Gone With The Wind to Fight Club to The Lion King will have you reliving all your favourite movie moments and reenacting history's most iconic movie scenes in front of your bedroom mirror. Set to a remix of The Beatles, Joan Jett, Cypress Hill and House of Pain we must warn you that this video will have you fighting the urge to re-account yourself with your local video store and crying "You can't handle the truth!" at unsuspecting passersby.
It has finally happened, Melburnians. After two prolonged periods spent empty this year, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Melbourne picture palaces are back in business. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made over the past three months, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer from this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_jjELPpKkk HAPPIEST SEASON Heading home for the holidays and stepping into a sea of interpersonal dramas is a familiar on-screen set-up, as a new movie every Christmas or so reminds us. By now, then, we all know the formula. Adult children make the pilgrimage to their parents' place, rivalries and animosities flare up, secrets are spilled, chaos ensues and, by the end of the film's running time, everyone has learned something. Happiest Season fits the template perfectly. With the merriest time of the year in full swing, the Caldwells converge on the Pennsylvanian family home, with their celebrations given an extra edge due to patriarch Ted's (Victor Garber, Dark Waters) mayoral campaign. His fastidious wife Tipper (Mary Steenburgen, The Book Club) insists on snapping every moment for his Instagram feed, all as stern eldest daughter Sloane (Alison Brie, GLOW) arrives with her husband (Burl Moseley, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), two children (Asiyih and Anis N'Dobe) and plenty of unspoken tension in tow; zany middle sister and aspiring fantasy writer Jane (Mary Holland, Between Two Ferns: The Movie) is largely ignored; and Pittsburgh-based political journalist Harper (Mackenzie Davis, Irresistible) returns with the girlfriend, Abby (Kristen Stewart, Charlie's Angels), that none of her relatives know about because she hasn't come out to them yet. If someone other than The Faculty, Girl, Interrupted, Veep and The Handmaid's Tale actor-turned-filmmaker Clea DuVall had made Happiest Season, the above paragraph would accurately reflect the feature's character hierarchy — because Sloane would take centre stage, and Harper and Abby would hover around the narrative's edges. But DuVall did make Happiest Season and, with co-writer Holland, she flips the movie's focus, even while still sticking with a well-worn general premise. Accordingly, this festive flick resembles a comfy sweater that often gets a wear, but seems welcomely different on this particular occasion. It shouldn't be so subversive to take an overused genre that's heavy on recognisable tropes, then strip away the engrained heteronormativity, but it is. Amid the sibling struggles, the re-emergence of old flames both male (Jake McDorman, What We Do in the Shadows) and female (Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation), and the always hectic whirlwind that surrounds every seasonal family affair — and every attempt to run for political office, too — Happiest Season also explores two crucial themes in a meaningful way. First, it unpacks the performative nature of human existence, where too often we're all trying to match other people's perceptions and expectations without consistently remaining true to ourselves. And, it also interrogates how coming out isn't a simple or straightforward act, even in seemingly loving circumstances. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97nnV0fNd30&feature=youtu.be AMERICAN UTOPIA There may be no catchier lyric in music history than "same as it ever was", the five words repeated in Talking Heads' 1981 single 'Once in a Lifetime'. As uttered again and again by the band's inimitable frontman David Byrne, it's a looping phrase that burrows into your skull and never leaves. So when American Utopia opens with the musician sat at a table holding a brain and talking about what its various parts do, it feels as if Byrne is acknowledging what everyone already knows in the deepest recesses of their consciousness: that Byrne long ago got cosy in our craniums and has been nattering away to us ever since. As he stares at grey matter while wearing a grey suit — a perfectly fitting one, unlike the famed big number he wore in iconic 1984 Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense — he has something else on his mind, however. American Utopia starts with the part of our bodies where we all mentally reside, but slowly and smartly evolves from the cerebral to the communal. It segues from one man alone on a stage lost in his own thoughts to 12 people singing, dancing, playing instruments and connecting, and also pondering the state of the world and how to better it in the process. And it takes its titular concept seriously along the way, confronting America's political and social divisions in Byrne's witty, wise and impassioned between-song chats, but never satirising the idea that the US could be improved to the benefit of everyone. American Utopia is a concert film like its predecessor but, as that masterpiece proved, the whole notion means more to Byrne than merely standing in front of a camera and busting out well-known hits.From the sublimely soothing 'This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)' to the punchier 'Burning Down the House', plenty of Byrne's best-known songs do grace American Utopia. 'Once in a Lifetime' is among them, of course, as are 'Road to Nowhere' and 'Everybody's Coming to My House', with the film's playlist spanning his career with Talking Heads and solo. Across a range of styles and tempos, each track is a wonder, and not just in the way that fans already know. As should be obvious from the way in which Byrne has conceptualised this stage performance — which he toured in 2018, then adapted for Broadway in 2019, and has now turned into this standout movie directed by Spike Lee — this is a meticulously crafted work. Basking in the glory of Byrne and his band is inevitable and would happen regardless, but soaking in everything that American Utopia does is another marvel entirely. Before the film forces you to do so, you probably won't have realised how enlivening, wondrous and cathartic it is to see the act of connecting so firmly thrust to the fore. It takes an incredible amount of work to make something so tightly constructed seem so loose and natural, and that's just one of the reasons that American Utopia is yet another of the star's masterpieces. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFqCTIdF7rs&feature=youtu.be POSSESSOR In Possessor, technology permits assassins to hijack the bodies of people close to their targets, letting them assume not just their identities but their physical presence to fulfil their murderous missions. Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough, The Grudge) is one such killer, and she is so exacting and accomplished at her job that her no-nonsense boss and handler Girder (Jennifer Jason Leigh, Annihilation) keeps trying to push her further. Such work comes with consequences, though, with Tasya slowly estranging herself from her husband (Rossif Sutherland, Catastrophe) and young son (Gage Graham-Arbuthnot, Becky). During the luridly shot undertaking that opens the movie and the assignment that the often neon-hued flick spends the bulk of its time on, Tasya also begins to realise that separating herself from the folks she's temporarily inhabiting is becoming difficult. In the first job, Tasya's consciousness takes over a woman called Holly (Gabrielle Graham, On the Basis of Sex) to gun down a high-flying lawyer at a swanky hotel party. Every mission should end with extraction via suicide — the possessed person's, as forced by the possessor, who then returns to their own bag of bones, flesh and blood — but Tasya can't pull the trigger on her host body. When she's later sent into Colin (Christopher Abbott, Vox Lux), the fiancé of the daughter (Tuppence Middleton, Mank) of a ruthless business mogul (Sean Bean, Snowpiercer), she similarly struggles to retain control. As depicted in gory detail, being able to stick a probe into your head and mind-hop into someone else's may be pure science fiction, but writer/director Brandon Cronenberg intentionally apes The Matrix when he shows how the tech behind his premise operates. Our present analogues to Possessor's body-jumping concept exist in the online world, virtual reality, avatars, catfishing, trolling and even just anonymous commenting while you're tapping at your keyboard or phone, and this film makes it ferociously clear that it all has a significant cost. Cronenberg isn't just taking cues from his father David — whose 1999 film eXistenZ, also starring Jason Leigh, toyed in somewhat similar territory — or from a beloved sci-fi franchise. As many works that reflect upon humanity's true nature via dystopian futures tend to, the writer/director adds an entry to both the body horror and science fiction canons that seems like it might've appeared in a feverish dream after a life spent consuming those exact types of tales. But Possessor also always feels like a unique creation, and never a film puppeteered by its influences in the same way that Tasya pulls the strings of her marks. Cronenberg's feature boasts far too much of its own chilliness, daring and determination, as well as the filmmaker's fondness for particularly gruesome imagery, to merely be the sum of its various sources of inspiration. Possessor also has its own wellspring of nihilism pumping through its veins, not only tackling big notions in a bold and ultra-violent way, but proving deeply, gut-wrenchingly, existentially dark. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp3WjuJJYB8 MISBEHAVIOUR The fact that it took 50 years to bring Misbehaviour's true tale to the screen is nothing less than remarkable. Following the protests staged by the women's liberation movement at the 1970 Miss World Pageant in London, it harks back to a noteworthy and important chapter of history — so much so that you would've expected filmmakers to have been clamouring to give it the cinematic treatment. A plethora of compelling topics are baked into this story, after all, including calling out the gross sexism inherent in objectifying women and ascribing their worth according to their looks, questioning society's narrow view of beauty and making plain the racial prejudice that's also frequently in play. But you don't need a movie about all of the above to tell you the obvious, and also the reason that a film about this incident hasn't existed until now. Much may have changed in the past half-century, but the feminist quest for recognition, fairness and equality in every way isn't over yet. Indeed, it's galling how many of Misbehaviour's observations about the way women are treated — and how women of colour fare on top of that — continue to ring true in 2020. Director Philippa Lowthorpe (Swallows and Amazons) and screenwriters Rebecca Frayn (The Lady) and Gaby Chiappe (Their Finest) are eager to pay tribute to pioneering feminists, but they're also very keen to make a feel-good, cheer-inducing movie that fits a clear formula. So it is that a seemly mismatched group comes together, united by the shared goal of improving how women are regarded by society, and decides to target the giant, glitzy and televised spectacle that is the Miss World Pageant — which 100 million people will watch. The two main instigators, aspiring history academic Sally Alexander (Keira Knightley, Official Secrets) and graffiti-spraying anarchist Jo Robinson (Jessie Buckley, I'm Thinking of Ending Things), are initially worlds apart, but squaring off against a common enemy has a way of bringing people together. Also earning the film's attention: contestant Jennifer Hosten (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Farming), pageant founder Eric Morley (Rhys Ifans, Berlin Station) and the year's host Bob Hope (Greg Kinnear, Strange But True). The result is a rousing, overt and easy movie that ticks all the boxes it has placed on its own checklist, but doesn't do anything more — and it definitely could. Getting caught up in Misbehaviour's plot, purpose and impressively staged climax is almost a foregone conclusion. Being happy that it's hitting screens and telling this tale at all after all of these years is as well. But so is knowing that this is the most standard and clearcut rendering of this story possible. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tibarzGOUSk LET HIM GO Hell hath no fury like a grieving mother and grandmother in Let Him Go, an involving drama that shows that few actors can convey quiet anger and unflinching determination quite like Diane Lane. The Unfaithful and Under the Tuscan Sun star plays Margaret Blackledge, a Montana rancher with a way with horses, and with strong, silent ex-sheriff George (Kevin Costner, Yellowstone) for a husband. Soon after the family's rural idyll is first established, she not only loses her adult son (Ryan Bruce) to a tragic accident but, just a couple of years later, is shocked to discover that her newly remarried daughter-in-law Lorna (Kayli Carter, Bad Education) has left the local town in a hurry one night with Margaret's three-year-old grandson Jimmy (Bram and Otto Hornung). Determined not to see more of her family members ripped away, she convinces George that they should set off on their trail. Complicating their plans is he fact that Lorna has wed into the Weboys, who hold significant — and criminal — influence over their patch of America's north. As the Blackledges learn after finally tracking down their new relatives-via-nuptials, brash Weboy matriarch Blanche (Lesley Manville, Misbehaviour) isn't keen to relinquish her claim on the only link Margaret has left to her dearly departed child. Adapted by writer/director Thomas Bezucha (screenwriter of 2018's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society) from the novel of the same name, Let Him Go follows a straightforward narrative with a smattering of hits and misses — but its two main female roles are so superbly cast, and the film's handling of tension so finely tuned, that it proves gripping for the bulk of its running time. The last time that Bezucha dabbled with complicated family antics, in 2005's The Family Stone, he was in far lighter territory; however, he's more than adept at handling the fierce confrontations, simmering and overt suspense, and pulpy revenge-fuelled setpieces that are pivotal here. And, he does so in a fittingly pared back but forceful manner; Let Him Go takes its time and doles out only the necessary details, butt does so with maximum emotional impact in mind. While Costner is also solid as a man trying to deal with his own heartache and disappointment in his own way, and Booboo Stewart (The Twilight Saga) leaves a lasting impression as a Native American teen the Blackledges cross paths with on their journey, Let Him Go is at its best when it cedes the screen to the potent Lane and the gloriously overt Manville. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-Z90SEqGQ&t=20s CORPUS CHRISTI No one wants to live in a world where Parasite, the best movie of 2019, doesn't exist. But if it didn't for some reason, it's highly likely that Corpus Christi would've been this year's Best International Feature Film Oscar winner, rather than just a nominee. This Polish drama also focuses on people pretending to be something they're not. As directed by Warsaw 44 and The Hater's Jan Komasa, and written by the latter's screenwriter Mateusz Pacewicz, it casts a wry eye over much about life in its homeland today, too. And it isn't afraid to call out hypocrisy, societal divisions and greed, either — literally, in the latter case, with its protagonist making a speech about it at the local sawmill. There are few other similarities between Corpus Christi and the movie it lost to, but perhaps the only one that really matters is how blisteringly and rousingly it unfurls its on-screen gifts. Well that, and how striking every second of the film looks, pairing its grey, hazy aesthetics with its complicated account of an ex-juvenile delinquent who poses as a small-town priest. The imposter's name is Daniel and, as played with soulful intensity by Bartosz Bielenia, he's a complex figure. First seen serving out the final days of his reform school sentence, he has made a fan out of the facility's head priest Father Tomasz (Lukasz Simlat). In fact, if his criminal record didn't preclude it, he'd follow in the elder man's footsteps and join the seminary. Instead, he's released to work in a sawmill. Through a series of events that never feels convenient or strained, however, he's soon welcomed by the locals as their new spiritual advisor. Daniel genuinely has faith and believes in his task, so the jump from playing lookout as his fellow inmates dispense a brutal beating to endeavouring to help his congregation is easy. Loosely inspired by real-life details, Corpus Christi gifts its young protagonist an unexpected second chance — and an unlikely opportunity to follow his heart and make a difference to an insular community — but he's not the only figure within its frames with a troubled past to overcome. As a film about a masquerading cleric, tension and foreboding seethes through every second, but it's the bubbling and brooding movie's contemplation of what redemption and benevolence really means that hits the most potent notes. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THXebxAFCzY THE TRANSLATORS Like Agatha Christie and Knives Out before them, the makers of The Translators know that a good whodunnit serves up two major joys. That'd be the puzzle and the journey — because whichever intriguing narrative is being thrust their way, audiences want to sleuth along with the characters, piecing clues together in their heads; and, they want to enjoy each and every one of the story's many ins, outs, twists and turns as all the details unravel, too. In fact, this French film embraces those truths heartily. Writer/director Régis Roinsard (Populaire) and his co-scribes Romain Compingt and Daniel Presley even go a little heavy on convoluted minutiae and attempts to keep everyone guessing. Still, they mostly deliver an entertaining thriller — and, as always proves the case in this genre, if you enjoy the game and the ride enough once, it doesn't really matter if you won't be clamouring for a second helping The Translators' premise is killer — in a film that doesn't shy away from a body count, but is actually more concerned with stolen pages from the yet-to-be-released last book in the bestselling The Man Who Did Not Want to Die series. The latest novel has only been seen by its secretive author, arrogant French publisher Eric Angstrom (Lambert Wilson, The Odyssey) and the nine translators the latter has assembled to prepare the text in multiple languages for a simultaneous worldwide debut. The enlisted team of experts are working in a bunker under stringent conditions, however, so when Angstrom receives an email threatening to leak the new book unless a huge ransom is paid, he's both perplexed and angry. Also starring Olga Kurylenko (The Man Who Killed Don Quixote) as a Russian translator who purposely dresses to resemble the fated heroine in the novel the group is working on, as well as Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World) as a noticeably young Brit, The Translators isn't big on depth but still keeps viewers engaged. Hurtling forward like someone furiously thumbing through an airport novel, and offering a slick, swift-moving affair that ticks all the whodunnit basics (even as it gets a little too carried away with the exaggerated drip-fed clues, surprise reveals and reversals) will do that. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTxobgjD3hE CITY OF LIES It has been almost a quarter-century since Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace (aka the Notorious BIG/Biggie Smalls) were gunned down in separate incidents within six months of each other — and, over that time, fewer films about either or both have reached screens than one might expect. Known not only for their music but for being the focal points of the supposed East Coast-West Coast hip hop feud, the pair's plights have inspired exactly zero worthwhile movies, though, and that includes the long-delayed City of Lies. Based on the non-fiction book LAbyrinth by Randall Sullivan, this conspiracy thriller views the deaths of two of the 90s' biggest stars through the efforts of LAPD detective Russell Poole. There is real-life grounds for that angle, and the on-screen Poole (Johnny Depp) is constantly noting and fighting against the racial prejudice that existed in the Los Angeles police department at a time just after the Rodney King assault, trial and riots, as well as the OJ Simpson case. But there's no escaping the fact that the film approaches some of the most momentous events in rap history through a white cop. In 1997, Poole is assigned to another shooting — of a black officer by a white officer — just days after Notorious BIG's death. Soon, however, his investigation of the former leads him to the latter, and to the conclusion that the LA police were involved in killing Biggie, all as his superiors demand he ignore the evidence. Decades later, long after he has resigned from being a cop, a journalist (Forest Whitaker) wanders into Poole's apartment for a 20-year piece on the rapper's murder — and the writer might've been accused of dredging up the past if Poole's walls weren't covered in case details and materials. Where director Brad Furman turned legal thriller The Lincoln Lawyer into a slick and entertaining affair, almost everything about City of Lies is misjudged, and it drags on rather than drawing viewers into its theories or even the cases it covers. Depp plays crusading but hard done by with little discernible effort, and the decision to film the movie's 90s scenes with the same type of hues and lighting usually reserved for 70s-set features smacks of the same. And while Whitaker is the best thing about City of Lies, his determined performance isn't enough to salvage the film. If you're wondering what else is currently screening around Melbourne, we've also picked the 12 best flicks that started gracing the city's silver screens when indoor cinemas were given the green light to reopen. When outdoor cinemas relaunched before that, we outlined the films showing under the stars, too. And, we've run through all the pictures that opened in the city on November 12 and November 19 as well. You can also read our full reviews of The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves, The King of Staten Island, Babyteeth, Deerskin, Peninsula, Les Misérables, Bill & Ted Face the Music, An American Pickle, On the Rocks, Antebellum, Kajillionaire, The Craft: Legacy, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Radioactive, Brazen Hussies, Freaky, Mank, Monsoon and Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt) all of which are presently showing in Melbourne. And, you can check out our rundowns of the new films that released in other cities over the past few months — on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30; August 6, August 13, August 20 and August 27; September 3, September 10, September 17 and September 24; October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22 and October 29; and November 5 — as a number of those movies are now showing in Melbourne as well.
This month at Urbnsurf, you'll be able to catch both waves and live tunes, as the surf park kicks off its new series of openair waterfront gigs. Running Saturdays and Sundays from now until December 10, the Acoustic Music Series celebrates an all-Aussie lineup of musical talent, best enjoyed under the sun with a cold bev in hand. From 6–9pm each evening, settle on the lawn to hear acoustic sounds from homegrown acts like Jack Boots, Dusty Boots, Maddy May, Scott Darlow, Immy Owusu and more. Supported by YETI and Live Music Australia, it's a very affordable live music session, with spectator passes priced at an easy $5 and free access for Urbnsurf guests who are already inside the park. To match the tunes, Three Blue Ducks will be slinging drinks from their bar from 3pm each day. But of course, you can get there even earlier to make a day of it — Urbnsurf's waves are pumping from 6am daily, with a variety of surfing sessions and lessons on offer. [caption id="attachment_843078" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Urbnsurf - Supplied[/caption] Top images: Urbnsurf - Supplied
Cairns is a jump-off point for so many of the region's highlights with bustling markets, stunning tropical beaches, a world-heritage listed rainforest and luxury hotels. And now, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef is a competition entry away. Be in with a chance to win a two-night stay for two guests in one of those luxury hotels courtesy of Concrete Playground and Crystalbrook Collection Cairns. The Crystalbrook Collection hotel group has three stunning (and sustainability-minded) hotels and resorts in Cairns, and the lucky winner can choose which of the three they would like to spend their two-night stay with their plus one. Crystalbrook prides itself on its eco-conscious philosophy of "responsible luxury". There are mindful choices throughout the hotels from wooden key cards to locally sourced produce. You'll also find glass water bottles instead of plastic, 100% recycled cardboard hangers in your wardrobe and much more. Not sure which to choose? If you are a social butterfly, Crystalbrook Flynn is your spot. It's mere steps from Cairns Esplanade boardwalk and close to all the main attractions of the city as well as having two onsite restaurants — Flynn's Italian and Boardwalk Social — and a contemporary bar and balcony Whiskey and Wine. For relaxed resort vibes, the five-star Crystalbrook Riley is the perfect place to escape. There's an onsite restaurant Paper Crane, rooftop bar Rocco and a relaxing Eléme Day spa for chilling out at the end of the day. Or tap into your inner artist at Crystalbrook Bailey. A dog-friendly hotel with a rooftop bar, an award-winning restaurant CC's Bar and Grill and a wine bar Arte where you could discover your new favourite biodynamic wine. Not only will the winner enjoy a two-night stay at the hotel, but they and a plus one will also receive welcome drinks on arrival at Whiskey and Wine, daily breakfast for two, wine and dinner for two at the award-winning CC's Bar and Grill and flights for two from Melbourne or Sydney. All you'll have to do is pack. If Cairns has been on your bucket list for a while, it's well past time to scratch it off. Shake off your winter thermals and slip into your swimmers and thongs to enjoy a bevvie by the pool in one of the hotels. Keen to nab this incredible tropical holiday? Simply fill out your details below for your chance to win. [competition]910681[/competition]
How do you solve a problem like the dreaded middle seat, everyone's least-favourite spot to sit on a plane? While Qantas is letting customers pay extra to have no one next to them, Virgin has taken a different approach: hosting a Middle Seat Lottery to encourage passengers to nestle in, with a heap of prizes on offer as incentives. One such reward for slotting into the middle? Limited-edition Virgin bar carts. If you've always wanted your own at home — and, based on how quickly Qantas' fully stocked versions sold when it put them up for grabs during the pandemic's early days, you do — you just have to agree to sit somewhere you usually wouldn't by choice to go in the running. There are four money-can't-buy Virgin bar carts on offer, all with a different theme. These ones don't just come stocked with booze, either, with each hand-refurbished cart filled with goodies focused around either disco, day spas, watching flicks at home and sports. The first cart, which is the prize for whoever wins the lottery for flights between November 14–20, includes a spinning mirror ball, cocktail shaker, Bluetooth speaker and smoke machine. That'd be the disco fever cart, clearly, and it's all shimmery on the outside as well Exactly when the other carts will slot into the Middle Seat Lottery's prize pool hasn't yet been revealed, but they're all similarly packed. The day spa cart comes covered in rattan, and features a robe, eye mask, slippers, aromatherapy diffuser and candles, while the at-home cinema cart includes a customisable cinema-style letter board, a popcorn maker, candy bar and movie projector (and it's upholstered in red velvet). Or, sports fans can enjoy a cart with a removable esky, drinks coolers, a Marshall speaker, an AFL Sherrin and a pop-out basketball hoop. Running since late October until Sunday, April 23, 2023, the Middle Seat Lottery is as self-explanatory as it sounds. Plonk yourself down in the abhorred seat — with a ticket, of course — and you could score goodies for your trouble. The freebies change each week, but there's more than $230,000 in prizes on offer across the six-month competition — only if you either select the middle seat or you're assigned it. As well as the bar carts, those prizes span Caribbean cruises with Virgin Voyages, complete with flights to and from the USA; a helicopter pub crawl in Darwin, again with flights there and back included; and a Cairns adventure package, which covers flights, accommodation, bungy jumping, river rafting and other activities There's also flights and tickets to your AFL team's away games in 2023 — and, still on Aussie rules, an AFL Grand Final package, covering a lunch, tickets to the game, being on the boundary line before the match, merch and an after party. One prize will be given out each week, with 26 prizes in total across the competition's duration. And if your week doesn't coincide with a holiday giveaway, platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer status with one million points is also on the freebies list. An hour or so in a seat you wouldn't normally pick for the chance to win holidays, heaps of footy or frequent flyer points to book more holidays? Worth it, probably. To go in the running to win any of the above, you do need to be a Velocity Frequent Flyer member over the age of 18. And, you'll have to fly somewhere within Australia, on a Virgin Australia-operated domestic flight, during the competition period — in a middle seat, obviously. Also, to enter, you then need to use the Virgin Australia app within 48 hours of your flight's scheduled departure time, tapping on the Middle Seat Lottery tile, finding your flight and entering your details. From there, winners will be drawn each week and contacted if they're successful. Virgin Australia's Middle Seat Lottery runs until Sunday, April 23, 2023. For more information, head to the Virgin website. Images: Carly Ravenhall. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
If you spent a few days this winter attending a Twin Peaks-inspired ball and seeing a giant teddy bear with laser eyes — watching a stunning new take on Dante's classic examination of hell, purgatory and paradise, too — then you went to Dark Mofo's 2023 run. Organised by Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art, the winter arts festival fills Hobart with all manner of weird and wild surprises every year. In 2024, however, it's pausing its usual sprawling event to plan for the future. The fest's team has announced that it'll largely sit out next year, after celebrating its tenth year this year. Apart from its beloved Winter Feast and Nude Solstice Swim, Dark Mofo will take a break in 2024 in order to work out what the next decade looks like for the fest. "Dark Mofo has always been dedicated to enriching and transforming lives through ambitious art and ideas. We want to make sure that we have a festival that continues to deliver incredible art and artists, that continues to expand its artistic boundaries and remains a beacon of creativity, innovation and cultural significance," said Dark Mofo Artistic Director Chris Twite. "While this was a tough decision, it ensures we move forward in a viable manner. The fallow year will enable us to secure the future of Dark Mofo and its return at full force in 2025." The moves comes after a hit year that saw Dark Mofo smash it with attendances and at the box office — notching up record figures, in fact. Despite the most event's success, the crew behind it will now work towards "a more sustainable model for a full return in 2025, and set the foundation for the next ten years", taking rising costs and other changing elements into consideration. So, no full Dark Mofo is the not-so-great development for your winter 2024 plans. That the culinary-focused Winter Feast and the frosty Nude Solstice Swim will still take place next year even without the broader festival around it is better news. "We are excited that in June 2024 — amidst the rebirth and renewal of Dark Mofo — that Tasmanians and visitors alike will still be able to meet and commune around the fires of Winter Feast and cast off the weight of another year at the Nude Solstice Swim once more," said Twite. This year's Winter Feast was headlined by Chef's Table alum Ana Roš from two-Michelin-starred Hiša Franko, cooking up fare inspired by her homeland but made with Tasmania's top seasonal produce with help from The Agrarian Kitchen's Stephen Peak and Rodney Dunn. Exact details for the 2024 food-centric event, and for the next chance to bare all and brave the cold while taking a dip, are yet to be announced. Dark Mofo won't take place in 2024 — apart from the Winter Feast and Nude Solstice Swim — with plans to return in full from 2025 onwards in Hobart, Tasmania instead. Head to the festival's website for further details. Winter feast images: Jesse Hunniford, 2023, courtesy of Dark Mofo 2023. Nude Solstice Swim images: Rémi Chauvin, 2023, courtesy of Dark Mofo 2023.
You might think you know Victoria inside out but do you really? Sure, you might've taken a couple of road trips, hightailing it out of Melbourne for the weekend, but there's a good chance you ended up at the same spots as everybody else. Hidden within its tiny towns and tucked away in its national parks are adventures of all kinds, many of which don't make their way onto typical travel itineraries. And because this list could probably go on forever, we've focused on the great region of Gippsland, particularly East Gippsland, which is still recovering from last summer's bushfires. We've scoured the region to find the most exotic experiences, from camel rides on windswept beaches to strolls through 400-million-year-old caves and seafood feasts whipped up by award-winning chefs. From coastal getaways to outback adventures, Australia is home to a wealth of places to explore. Every trip away offers the chance to not only reconnect and recharge, but also to support the communities that have been affected by bushfires. Your visit plays an important role in Australia's recovery, which is why we've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your next Holiday Here This Year. Some of the places mentioned below may still be closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check websites before making any plans. [caption id="attachment_641679" align="alignnone" width="1980"] Visit Victoria[/caption] STAY ON YOUR OWN PRIVATE ISLAND If you want to live out your baller fantasies, head four hours east of Melbourne, and you can hire an entire island for just yourself and your mates. This 30-hectare paradise lies within Gippsland Lakes, a short ferry ride from Lakes Entrance or Kalimna. Your accommodation is Fraser Island Retreat on McAuliffs Island, a gorgeous 100-year-old homestead, with 11 bedrooms, a shady verandah, an oversized kitchen and a pool surrounded by landscaped gardens. There's also a cabin on site. [caption id="attachment_693015" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] EXPLORE A 400-MILLION-YEAR-OLD CAVE Around 400 million years ago, most of East Gippsland was under the sea. At some point, the earth started to rise, causing rivers, streams and waterfalls to develop. These water bodies cut through limestone deposits and, near what is now the little town of Buchan, transformed into the Buchan Caves — a honeycomb-like formation of caverns filled with dramatic stalactites, stalagmites and tranquil pools. You're welcome to wander freely around Buchan Caves Reserve, but to enter the caves you'll need to join a guided tour, which travels daily through Royal Cave and Fairy Cave. GORGE ON VUE DE MONDE-LEVEL FARE Since 2017, the people of Gippsland have been feasting on the finest seafood — prepared by an ex-Vue de Monde chef, no less — thanks to hatted restaurant Sardine Eatery and Bar. Head chef Mark Briggs creates a continually changing menu driven by the availability of local and seasonal produce. One week, you might be lingering over roasted bug tails with miso and pickled cabbage, and the next, tucking into Bushy Park beef short rib with asparagus and pomme souffle. His partner, Victoria Hollingsworth, takes care of the front-of-house, where beachy, breezy blonde timber and splashes of blue overlook Raymond Island within Gippsland Lakes. RIDE A CAMEL ON THE WORLD'S FOURTH LONGEST BEACH With sand dunes on one side and crashing waves on the other, you'll feel a long, long way away from Melbourne when you climb aboard a camel at Ninety Mile Beach. As the fourth-longest beach in the world — and the second-longest in Australia — this epic stretch of sand spans from Lakes Entrance in the north to Reeves Beach in the south. To book a camel ride, which takes place at the northern end, get in touch with Camel Connection. SLEEPOVER IN A VINTAGE FRENCH CARAVAN If you're craving a break from the city mayhem, make tracks to Wild Valley Gippsland. Here, you can stay in a robin's egg blue 1976 Viscount caravan surrounded by panoramas of bushland, fertile valleys and the Strzelecki Ranges. This super cute sleepover is the work of designer Samantha and her partner, Eric, a landscape gardener, who share a love of curious and beautiful objects. The caravan is decked out with vintage treasures collected in op-shops and antique stores in both Victoria and France. There's a snug queen-sized bed, an outdoor shower beneath gum trees and an alfresco barbecue area. If that's not available, there are other vans available — 70s Retro or Tropicana, if you fancy — as well as luxurious bell tents for glamping. Whatever option you choose, you'll be spoilt with stunning sunsets and sweeping views over the valleys of Budgeree. It's the perfect place to let your worries subside. HEAD TO THE DESERT (SORT OF) An adventure that'll have you feeling like you're in some exotic desert is hiking the Big Drift. This incredible natural phenomenon is a series of giant sand dunes, located at the entrance of Wilsons Promontory National Park. Once you enter the dunes, be sure to mark your trail so you can find your way home (Hansel and Gretel-style) — it's all too easy to get lost when your only points of reference are endless sand and sky. The moderate two-kilometre hike will take you across breathtaking terrain as you bask in the vastness. If you wake up early, it's possible to visit the Big Drift on a day trip from Melbourne. Alternatively, pitch your tent at Stockyard and take your time. SIP GIPPSLAND PINOT You might not think of Victoria's eastern coastline as a wine-growing region, but pay a visit to Dirty Three Wines, and you might think differently. This pioneering wine label, run by husband-and-wife team Marcus and Lisa, is dedicated to turning Gippsland's coastal dirt into excellent pinot noir. The duo produces three pinots, made with grapes from three different vineyards — Berrys Creek, Tilson and Holgates Road. Sample them all at Dirty Three's tasting room in the scenic coastal town of Inverloch to get a real taste of the region. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions.
The global pop icon — known for massive hits like 'Tik Tok', 'We R Who We R' and 'Joyride' — will headline Mighty Hoopla's Australian debut when it lands on Bondi Beach on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Expect an explosion of sequins, pop nostalgia and unapologetic joy, as the cult festival makes its long-awaited leap from London to our shores. "We're honoured to bring Mighty Hoopla to the other side of the world," said co-founder Jamie Tagg. "After Kesha's incredible headline performance with us in London earlier this year, we knew she was the only artist we wanted to make our Australian debut with." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mighty Hoopla Sydney 🦘 (@mightyhoopla_sydney) Since launching in 2016, Mighty Hoopla has become the UK's biggest pop festival — a kaleidoscopic celebration of inclusivity, freedom and pure fun, with past lineups featuring Nelly Furtado, Kelly Rowland, Sugababes, Years & Years and Jessie Ware. The Sydney edition promises the same mix of pop icons, drag royalty, DJs and queer collectives from both the UK and Australia, with the full lineup still to come. "To finally bring the Hoopla magic to Sydney is a dream come true," added founder Glyn Fussell. "Expect joy, chaos and the campest day of your life." Tickets go on pre-sale from 10am AEDT Wednesday, October 22, with general sale from 10am Thursday, October 23. Prices start at $169.90 + BF, with concessions available. For more information or to sign up for pre-sale tickets, visit the Mighty Hoopla website. Images: Supplied
The folks over at Gelato Messina know how to whip lovers of all things sweet and frozen into a frenzy, and they've done it again, announcing that their Sydney degustation bar will be venturing south to Melbourne. The Messina Creative Department will be setting up shop in a secret room at their Windsor store for five nights only, from August 23-27. An offshoot of the famed gelato parlour, the Messina Creative Department offers an epic seven-course degustation, complete with non-alcoholic drink pairing. Since opening next door to their OG Darlinghurst venue in April to rapturous response, the tiny eight-seater space has proved to be immensely popular, with places booking out almost as soon as they're released. So it's no surprise that the announcement that Messina would be bringing their Creative Department to Melbourne has already seen a massive response. With three sittings per night (at 5.30pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm) and just eight seats available per sitting, Melburnians booked out those $130-per-head spots at the ice cream sorcery table in record time. And judging by their previous creations, it's not hard to see why. Their Sydney dessert dinners have seen the likes of garlic gelato, a sugar egg filled with delights and an amazing matcha and pistachio cake concoction. Their latest offering included a lemon-like globe filled with liquorice gelato, yuzu curd and olive oil pastry accompanied by a muscatel grape, dill and black pepper oil cold pressed juice. It's dessert meets art meets one helluva tastebud adventure. If you didn't manage to get your sticky gelato fingers on a ticket, be sure to keep your eyes on the Messina Creative Department page and hope like hell they release some more sittings. But, either way, you can leave your details on the waiting list.
Pull out that old Discman, break out the cargo pants and start practising your smoothest early noughties dance moves — the pop tour of your wildest teenage dreams is hitting Aussie shores this summer and it's got more stars than a TV Hits sticker collection. Next January and February, the inaugural So Pop festival is set to deliver a huge serve of nostalgia to stadiums across the country, pulling together an extra juicy lineup of old-school icons, headlined by none other than Aqua and Vengaboys. Stages in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Auckland will be transported back to the 90s and 00s for one glorious night each, playing host to the pop-drenched soundtrack of your youth. Heading up the show are Danish group Aqua, who promise to leave tunes like 'Barbie Girl' and 'Doctor Jones' firmly wedged in your head, and from the Netherlands, Vengaboys, with party-starting smash hits like 'Boom Boom Boom Boom!!' and 'We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)' — and none other than Lou Bega with, of course, 'Mambo No.5'. Relive more of the glory days with sounds from Irish legends B*Witched — who gifted us with the likes of 'C'est La Vie' and 'Rollercoaster' — UK heroes Blue, of 'All Rise' fame. Italy's Eiffel 65, dance pop act Mr. President ('Coco Jambo'), the USA's Outhere Brothers and The Netherlands' 2 Unlimited ('No Limit', 'Get Ready') round out the throwback showdown. SO POP 2019 DATES Perth — HBF Stadium on Wednesday, January 30 Sydney — Qudos Bank Arena on Friday, February 1 Melbourne — Melbourne Arena on Saturday, February 2 Adelaide — Entertainment Centre on Sunday, February 3 Auckland — Spark Arena on Tuesday, February 5 Brisbane — Eaton Hills Outdoor on Saturday, February 9 So Pop pre-sale tickets are up for grabs — on the concert's very retro website — for 24 hours from 11am AEDT this Thursday, October 11, while the rest are on sale from 10am AEDT on Tuesday, October 16.
If you're feeling stressed, but the standard 'sit still' meditation practice just isn't for you, try embracing some meditative movement instead with a little help from dance studio Moving Essence. The group has been running its popular 5Rhythms dance classes for years, but thanks to a certain pandemic, it has made the switch online and is now bringing the dance floor to your living room. Normally held at Abbotsford Convent, the Sunday Sweat edition is one that's been reimagined as a Zoom class, running for two hours from 10am, one Sunday a month. Sign up, clear a four-metre space in your house and prepare to sweat out all that extra tension. Participants will dive into a one-hour free-form dance session, guided by the music, followed by a second 60-minute experience that's usually shaped by a more specific intention or theme. The idea is that as you lose yourself in the tunes and let your body follow the rhythm, you'll give expression to your feelings and sink into a restorative moving meditation. And if ever there was a time for that, it's right now, during lockdown 2.0. Images: Mischa Baka
UPDATE, October 22, 2021: The Suicide Squad is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video, and is also screening in Melbourne's outdoor cinemas when they reopen on Friday, October 22. New decade, new director, new word in the title — and a mostly new cast, too. That's The Suicide Squad, the DC Extended Universe's new effort to keep viewers immersed in its sprawling superhero franchise, which keeps coming second in hearts, minds and box-office success to Marvel's counterpart. Revisiting a concept last seen in 2016's Suicide Squad, the new flick also tries to blast its unloved precursor's memory from everyone's brains. That three-letter addition to the title? It doesn't just ignore The Social Network's quote about the English language's most-used term, but also attempts to establish this film as the definitive vision of its ragtag supervillain crew. To help, Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker James Gunn joins the fold, his Troma-honed penchant for horror, comedy and gore is let loose, and a devil-may-care attitude is thrust to the fore. But when your main aim is to one-up the derided last feature with basically the same name, hitting your target is easy — and fulfilling that mission, even with irreverence and flair, isn't the same as making a great or especially memorable movie. A film about cartoonish incarcerated killers doing the US government's dirty work — one throws polka dots, one controls rats and one is a giant shark — The Suicide Squad is silly and goofy. Welcomely, that comes with the territory this time. In another OTT touch, if these fiends disobey orders, no-nonsense black-ops agent Amanda Waller (Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) explodes their heads. And yet, even when a supersized space starfish gets stompy (think: SpongeBob SquarePants' best bud Patrick if he grew up and got power-hungry), this sequel-slash-do-over is never as gleefully absurd as it should be. Again and again, that's how The Suicide Squad plays out. It's funny, but also so enamoured with its juvenile humour that it tickles the same beats and spits out the same profanities with repetition. It sports an anarchic vibe, yet sticks to a tried-and-tested narrative formula. It ruthlessly slaughters recognisable characters, while also leaving no surprises about who'll always remain its stars. Visually, it's flashy and punchy, and never messy or overblown, but it splashes similar flourishes across the screen like a pattern. The Suicide Squad screams "hey, I'm not that other movie!!!!!!!!!". It's right, thankfully. But simply not being that other film earns far too much of its focus. Mischief abounds from the outset — mood-wise, at least — including when Waller teams up Suicide Squad's Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman, The Secrets We Keep), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney, Honest Thief) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie, Dreamland) with a few new felons for a trip to the fictional Corto Maltese. Because this movie has that extra word in its title, it soon switches to another troupe reluctantly led by mercenary Bloodsport (Idris Elba, Concrete Cowboy), with fellow trained killer Peacemaker (John Cena, Fast and Furious 9) and the aforementioned Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian, Bird Box), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior, Valor da Vida) and King Shark (Sylvester Stallone, Rambo: Last Blood) also present. Their task: to sneak into a tower on the South American island. Under the guidance of The Thinker (Peter Capaldi, The Personal History of David Copperfield), alien experiment Project Starfish has been underway there for decades (and yes, Gunn makes time for a butthole joke). Waller has charged her recruits to destroy the secret test, all to ensure it isn't used by the violent faction that's just taken over Corto Maltese via a bloody coup. Jumping to DC in-between Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 — a move sparked when Disney temporarily fired him from the Marvel realm after tasteless old tweets resurfaced — Gunn pens The Suicide Squad's screenplay, too. Plot isn't the film's big drawcard, with the writer/director sketching out a threadbare setup that lets his main players bust out their key traits and lets him display his playful action-filmmaking skills. Cue scant backstories to give Bloodsport and company some depth, just as cursory nods to western intervention in other countries, plenty of frays littered with viscera and peppered with gross-out sight gags, and a movie that's all about surface pleasures. Whenever a character strikes a chord emotionally, Gunn is happy to tap that note briefly but repeatedly, for instance. Viewers keep being reminded of the same basic attributes and themes over and over, but wrapped in spirited and eye-catching visual slickness. Some touches are pitch-perfect, like the floral aesthetic evident during one of Quinn's killing sprees. Others are stylish padding, as seen in her dalliance with Corto Maltese's new dictator Luna (Juan Diego Botto, The European). The pervasive sensation: that witnessing these characters crack wise and spill guts in a showy, anything-goes fashion is meant to be something inherently special. Sometimes, Gunn's gambit works in the moment. Overall, however, The Suicide Squad's charms are fleeting. It's the better movie of its moniker, it never manages to match Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) for fun, and it isn't ever as enjoyably ridiculous as fellow DCEU flick Aquaman, either. Of course, superhero stories are always about polarised extremes, even now they're Hollywood's favourite big-screen format. They pit the very best against the absolute worst, with names on both sides standing apart from regular ol' humanity due to supernatural forces, genetic enhancement, experiments gone right or wrong, or otherworldly sources. These figures tussle over the fate of the world to save it for normal folks in movie after movie, but little attention is paid to anyone that's just ordinary. Being standard and average is something to fight for and then sweep past, even though that's where so many superhero and supervillain movies ultimately land themselves. Indeed, a film can be funny and lively, use its main faces (that'd be Elba and Robbie) well, have a few nice moments with its supporting cast (Dastmalchian, Melchior and Stallone, particularly) and improve on its predecessor, and yet still fall into a routine, unsuccessfully wade into murky politics, never capitalise upon its premise or promise, keep rehashing the same things, and just be average, too — and right now, that film is The Suicide Squad.
Warm fires, candlelight, thick knitwear and curling up in a contented glow amid the winter chill and dark. By now, you're probably familiar with the Danish idea of hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) — it's an exquisite state of perfect cosiness and positive feeling. Well, 'tis the season. As winter draws in, it's high time to harness the power of hygge and treat yourself to the holiday equivalent of hot chocolate and warm fluffy socks. You've earned some Danish-style R&R to beat the cold weather blues, so here are our top picks for cosy country Victorian getaways — complete with suitable red wine pairings to snuggle up with. TWILIGHT COTTAGE A sweet little old-world getaway in the Yarra Valley, the wine-heart of Victoria, Twilight Cottage feels like a fairytale home. In addition to a crackling fire you can cosy up to, there's also a glass ceiling over the bedroom spa bath, so you can watch the stars as you relax — nothing beats the contrast of being hot and toasty down to your very bones, looking out at the chill you're escaping. You won't have to venture out in the morning either. Lay a rug by the fire and enjoy the continental breakfast basket from local caterer Sassafras Providore. And for a bottle to enjoy by the fire, day trip to one of the vineyards nearby — Seville Estate, Elmswood Estate and Six Acres are all less than a 20-minute drive away. CLIFFTOP AT HEPBURN You might not think the words 'luxury accommodation' and 'shipping container' go hand in hand, but allow us to blow your hygge-hungry mind. The Clifftop at Hepburn offers a range of ultra-luxe, ultra-modern getaways. Rustic timber walled shipping containers make for cosy, but surprisingly airy, interiors. Chic fireplaces illuminate intimate corners by night and, in the morning, you can watch the sunrise over native bushland through floor-to-ceiling windows. Clifftop will soon have micro-cabin glamping options, too, for more options to keep you snug as a bug in a rug. And, if the complimentary Champagne isn't a warming enough libation for a winter's eve, make sure to stop by Wine and the Country on your way through and pick up a rich red drop. THE KILNHOUSES Nordic-chic design makes a perfect setting for tapping into hygge, so consider a stay at one of the three Kilnhouse venues. Located at the base of Mount Buffalo, near the town of Bright, these cottages showcase contemporary architecture with new and recycled materials. With rustic interiors of corrugated iron and natural timber, plus window views over a working cattle stud and vineyard, you'll really feel the serenity. Traditional Italian cooking classes are offered through the accommodation — with wine pairings, of course — and take place in Bright or at the Kilnhouse itself, so you don't even have to leave your woodfire cosiness. If you did want to venture out, complete the three-kilometre Bright Canyon Walk, then treat yourself to cake and coffee (or wine) by the fireplace at Ginger Baker, CAMP KULNING Maybe you dream of going off-grid somewhere unexpected, getting away from it all and heading to the woods. Well, we have a funky, unique wildcard option for you — stay in this 1920s tram, which has been converted into a bushland hideaway. You'll love the retro vibe, from the eccentric 60s and 70s decor pieces to the private tiki bar. With an indoor fireplace, outdoor fire pit and barbeque set beneath strings of hanging lights, there's plenty of ways to keep you warm. For a getaway with friends, you can also rent the sweet, rustic neighbouring cottage on-site. You're still conveniently close to town, as well as vineyards such as the Kyneton Ridge Estate, so stocking up on gourmet food and wine is a breeze. All in all, this will probably be the most fun you've ever had in a tram. DULC CABINS For a low-impact, high-hygge housing option, head to Hall's Gap in the Grampians National Park. DULC cabins are spacious and comfortably simple eco-builds designed to blend with the natural environment. Pale, neutral wood tones and floor-to-ceiling windows create a calming, light-filled space and a gas log fire will keep you cosy and content throughout the cold winter night. The Mountain View cabin even has a bathroom skylight so you can bask in mountain solitude and a beautiful vista as you soak in the tub. The Fallen Giants Vineyard is so close, you won't be able to resist dropping by for its boutique cellar door experience. It's been planting shiraz grapes since 1969, so it's really mastered a delicious dry red. ACRE OF ROSES The Miners Cottage at Acre of Roses is a great option for luxury solitude. Built in the 1860s and refurbished in 2018, this historic cottage has every modern convenience — including a rainwater-filled cedar hot tub — with the classic old world charm, including a roaring fire you can enjoy a complimentary glass of port beside. If the wood fire in the stately little home merely whets your appetite for flames (and treats), head down a short way to the Passing Clouds vineyard for a family-style meal cooked over Prometheus, the half-tonne fire-pit. Pit-cooking and pinot noir? Count us in. ROSS FARM CABIN The cabin at Ross Farm in Meeniyan showcases craftsmanship in every aspect. From a restrained design of mingled Danish and Japanese influence to the experimental, locally hand-crafted features, this is a cabin for people who appreciate skill and beauty. A colour palette of soft greens, cypress timber and black matte metal make this a stylish but unassuming cabin, so you'll feel instantly comfortable and at home. In addition to the cosy interior, there's a rustic outdoor stove fire, so you can stargaze in the open fresh air without forsaking the warmth of the indoors. And, be sure to stop by Dirty Three Wines in nearby Inverloch for a tasting. Pick up one of its three specialty pinot noirs, each made from a unique soil type — or go for a blend if you can't decide. [caption id="attachment_724037" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Glen Barry[/caption] ILUKA BLUE You'll find this beautiful home in Wye River, along with The Cube and At Wye Eyrie II. All three were rebuilt following fires in 2015, and provide luxurious waterside locations for your next getaway along the Great Ocean Road. The houses can sleep anywhere from six to ten people, so it's perfect for when your ideal hygge requires the loving warmth of company. Oh, and a flickering fireplace, which each of the homes has, of course. Each well-appointed holiday home has spectacular coastal views framed by floor-to-ceiling windows. As you drive out along the Great Ocean Road, make a day trip to one of the exquisite cellar door experiences in the region. Bellbrae Estate has free live music sessions on Sundays — and a delicious syrah worthy of a mention — while Otway Estate boasts both wine and a craft brewery outlet — plus, another wood fire, of course. Top Image: Ross Cabin Farm.
The 40th parallel is much more than simply a line of latitude spanning the distance of America from East to West; and Bruce Myren's photographs of it are much more than just photos. The line N 40° 00' 00'' bisects the country from New Jersey's shore crossing through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, over the border between Nebraska and Kansas, following on past Colorado, Utah, Nevada and finally finishing in California. Myren is not only capturing the stunning surroundings of these landscapes, but is trying to understand and portray the "human desire to create systems and then locate ourselves within them". The fortieth parallel north is a tool for measurement, as well as acting as the baseline for creating homesteads and townships, functioning as a useful marker during Western settlement. The project began as a fairly small and basic undertaking, using maps to identify the areas because GPS's were not widely available during that time. However, as geographical technology began to grow and develop, so too did Myren's photo series. Using an 8 x 10 Deardoff camera and colour transparency film, Myren produced panoramas by snapping three shots moving from left to right then adding them together during editing. The photographer is aiming to take a landscape panorama shot at every longitudinal point along the line, adding up to a total of 52 locations and images, spaced roughly 53 miles apart from each other. So far he has captured 28 stunning images of these locations. Here are 10 of the inspired images from his series, aimed to make you "consider the history of landscape photography, American development , but most importantly [your] own relationship to place." N 40° 00' o0'' W 109° 00' 00", Rangely, Colorado, 2000 N 40° 00' 00" W 108° 00' 00", Meeker, Colorado, 2000 N 40° 00' 00" W 101° 00' 00", Ludell, Kansas, 2011 N 40° 00' 00" W 98° 00' 00", Webber, Kansas, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 97° 00' 00", Hollenberg, Kansas, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 95° 00' 00", Fillmore, Missouri, 2007 N 40° 00' 00" W 93° 00' 00", Winigan, Missouri, 2011 N 40° 00' 00" W 81° 00' 00", Belmont, Ohio, 1999 N 40° 00' 00" W 76° 00' 00", Gap, Pennsylvania, 1999 N 40° 00' 00" W 74° 03' 32", Normandy Beach, New Jersey, 1998
Need a new lunchtime ritual? Spice Temple Melbourne might have the perfect option, putting a special spin on yum cha traditions at its refined Southbank digs. Drawing on Hong Kong's storied dim sum culture, the long-standing Crown Melbourne favourite adds its own rendition, with bold spices and vibrant ingredients brought together from China's diverse provinces, from Sichuan to Xinjiang. Executive Chef Andy Evans leads this assortment of elegant miniature servings, now available every day from 12–2.30pm. Designed for sharing, this generous spread fuses considered technique and Spice Temple flair, where the spirit of yum cha combines with communal dishes made for tight-knit gatherings. Celebrating texture, tradition and flavour, the menu is one hit after the next. Ease into the feast with cold cuts and salads like hiramasa yellowtail kingfish and bang bang Hazeldene's chicken. Then delve into six elevated dumpling options, spanning golden wagyu bao and prawn wontons dressed in aged black vinegar. Alongside a pair of pickle options, a selection of hot entrees is bound to entice. Fried silken tofu, crispy eggplant, and fried Corner Inlet calamari, finished with typhoon shelter-style dry dressing, are just some of the highlights. Whether you're heading along for a sharp workday luncheon or a weekend feast, expect to depart Spice Temple stuffed. And while this yum cha experience might not be exactly traditional, it hasn't overlooked the fundamental role top-quality tea plays in the ritual. There are eight to explore on the menu, with herbaceous options like chamomile and yuzu or classic peppermint delivering an intense finish. Remember, yum cha means drink tea, so don't skip a fresh brew. However, if you're keen to level up your lunchtime session, Spice Temple also has a stellar wine list designed to complement Chinese flavours, with 100 bottles to consider. Plus, there's a concise cocktail list, with 12 creative drinks themed around the Chinese zodiac. With 2025 being the year of the snake, now is the ideal opportunity to sample the matching cocktail, featuring an effervescent blend of house-infused Skyy pear vodka, yuzu, agave and ginger beer. Spice Temple's daily yum cha experience is available now from 12–2.30pm at 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank. Head to the website for more information.
Despite the public holiday, Melbourne's got plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants that are opening their doors to help make your first day of the year a great one. Perhaps you had an especially celebratory New Year's Eve and a swift recovery is at the top of your to-do list. Or, maybe you're just keen to start off 2022 how you wish to continue it — with good mates, a solid soundtrack, and some top-notch eats and drinks. Either way, outsourcing your January 1 festivities — and the associated cleanup — is always a good idea. Here are all the Melbourne spots open and serving up the goods on New Year's Day. CAFES [caption id="attachment_671311" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bentwood, by Kate Shanasy[/caption] Tall Timber, Prahran: 7.30am–3pm Bentwood, Fitzroy: 7.30am–4pm Glovers Station, Malvern East: 7am–4pm Juliette Coffee & Bread, Malvern East: usual Saturday hours RESTAURANTS [caption id="attachment_764371" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Firebird, by Jana Langhorst[/caption] Cappo Sociale, Fitzroy: from 5pm Pidapipo, various locations: open until 11pm Longrain, CBD: 5pm–late Prince Dining Room, St Kilda: 12pm–late Firebird, Prahran: open from 5.30pm 400 Gradi, Brunswick East: open from 12pm HuTong, Prahran: from 12pm Entrecote, Prahran: 12pm–late PUBS [caption id="attachment_829814" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Builders Arms, by Julia Sansone[/caption] The Rochester Hotel, Fitzroy: 3pm–3am (three-stage DJ party — nab tickets here) The Botanical, South Yarra: 12pm–late The Empress, Fitzroy North: 12pm–late The Local Taphouse, St Kilda: 12pm–12am Builders Arms, Fitzroy: 12pm–late BARS [caption id="attachment_605215" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Section 8[/caption] Section 8, CBD: 12pm–1am (free day party headlined by MzRizk) Prince Public Bar, St Kilda: 8am–late Bourke Street Courtyard, CBD: 12–9pm (DJ party — get tickets here) Pontoon, St Kilda: 3–11pm (beachside DJ party headlined by Feenixpawl — grab tickets here) Arbory Afloat, CBD: 12–5pm (pool party with a range of ticketing options available) Welcome to Thornbury, Northcote: 12pm–2am (four-stage DJ party with food trucks — nab tickets here) Fargo & Co, Richmond: 12pm–1am The B.East CBD, CBD: 12–9pm Loop Roof, CBD: 1–4pm (bottomless brunch party — grab tickets here) Top Image: Arbory Afloat, by Parker Blain
