It's official: sport in Melbourne is back. After a year of having to watch from afar, fans of all codes can once again turn out in full force to cheer their team on at Melbourne's world-class arenas. And with AAMI Park playing host to a number of different clubs and codes — including the A-League's famous Melbourne Derby — there's usually something on at one of the city's finest venues to watch live sport. It's also a short walk or tram ride to the nearby Swan Street, which in recent years has turned itself into one of Melbourne's buzziest places to eat and drink. We've put together a list of our favourite Swan Street restaurants and bars to head to after the final whistle – win, lose or draw. UNION HOUSE A beautiful heritage-listed pub with hearty fare to match, Richmond's Union House is run by the same team behind Fitzroy's crown jewel of watering holes, the Marquis of Lorne, so you can be sure you're in for a classic pub experience. A balanced tap list covering everything from Moon Dog's crushable lager to Boatrocker's robust, roasty stout will keep beer lovers happy, while an extensive wine list, including some natty orange options, provides something for every palate. Foodwise, expect modern gastropub fare such as a chicken schnitty with baby cos and tarragon aioli ($26), and wagyu rump cap with crumbed bone marrow, caramelised onion, silverbeet and red wine jus ($39). Union House closes at 1am on Saturdays, so you can take your time with the post-match catch-ups. Find Union House at 270 Swan Street, Richmond. [caption id="attachment_807122" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Robenstsone[/caption] NEW QUARTER Part of the Hanoi Hannah family, New Quarter is a buzzy 80-seat restaurant serving up contemporary takes on classic Vietnamese dishes. The menu is designed for sharing, so it's a solid post-game option if you're with a group — and they're also open until 11.30pm on Saturday. The menu includes tasty starters such as the innovative banh mi finger with whipped chicken liver parfait, chicken skin and pickled qukes ($8) and beef tartare with egg yolk, beef pho jelly and anchovy tapioca crisps ($20). There's also larger plates like cha ca barramundi fillet with burnt butter nuoc mam ($32) and grilled short rib with burnt chili and charred betel leaf ($34). Wash it all down with a Stomping Ground pale ale on tap or a selection from the inventive cocktail menu. Find New Quarter at 79 Swan Street, Richmond. PUBLIC HOUSE The team behind this sprawling venue really took advantage of the 2020 lockdown, extending what was initially supposed to be a short upgrade renovation into an 18-month, $3 million overhaul. Spread over four floors on the corner of Swan and Church Streets, the space boasts three separate rooftop sections, offering an internationally inspired menu of street food, craft beer, cocktails and an extensive wine list. The ground-floor bar offers all the comforts of a traditional boozer, with plenty of space for casual walk-ins, while the second floor is geared towards functions and events. The major flex of this venue, however, is the double-tiered rooftop garden, offering spectacular 360-degree views of the CBD skyline and surrounding suburbs, which you can soak up until 2am on a Saturday night. Find Public House at 433-435 Church Street, Richmond. SAINT URBAN Open until midnight on Saturday, the cosy but bustling Saint Urban is a quintessential neighbourhood wine bar. A concise seasonal menu of sharing dishes might include plates like crumbed quail with serrano ham, goats cheese, peas and mint ($24) and the grass-fed Cape Grim black angus porterhouse with chimichurri, persian feta and compressed watermelon ($44). You can also let the kitchen team decide for you with the $75 banquet selection of small and large plates. As for the drinks, wine is the preferred tipple here with some great local and international options available by the glass and bottle, alongside a fun cocktail list of signatures and classics, while a concise list of beers and ciders is also available. Find Saint Urban at 213 Swan Street, Richmond. FARGO AND CO Housed in a former bank, Fargo and Co is an impressive space that exudes both old-world and new-world charm, with a snazzy rooftop bar that stays open until 1am on Saturdays. Comfort food is the name of the game here, with the menu of burgers, bowls, fried and grilled chicken and caviar making a great post-game shout — think Cheezel-crumbed mac and cheese ($12) paired with a whole fried chicken ($38) and a selection of sauces and pickles. There are also a number of plant-based options that are just as indulgent, like roasted cauliflower ($15) with house pickles. Wash it down with a selection from the killer cocktail list, innovative house shots, or one of the 14 tap beers. Find Fargo and Co at 216 Swan Street, Richmond. COCHIN Head to Cochin for French-Vietnamese sharing dishes served up in a setting that manages to perfectly strike a balance between smart and casual, with its mixture of high and low seating, dark wood interior and moody lighting. Start with the tom chien com, prawns in a green rice batter served with pineapple mayonnaise ($18 for three pieces), before tucking into the shaking beef, which sees cubed eye fillet wok-tossed with onion, capsicum, garlic and black pepper in oyster sauce ($38). Sides run the gamut from chilli-dusted french fries ($10) to Vietnamese-style fried rice with shrimp and lap cheong ($16), while an extensive wine list of Australian and French selections will keep the good times going. Find Cochin at 256 Swan Street, Richmond. Head to one of these great Swan Street venue after this weekend's Melbourne Derby. Head here to buy tickets. Top image: Public House
Leave your table manners at the door, as Sydney's beloved crab shack comes scuttling into St Kilda. Dinner at House of Crabs promises to be a messy affair, but then again that's half the fun. We're talking hammers, bibs and seafood straight from the bag, as you suck down shellfish like it's going out of style. Opening March 4 in the basement of The Newmarket Hotel, House of Crabs takes its cues from crab joints in the American south. The menu features a mix of crabs, prawns and mussels served with Cajun, oriental, Mexican or lemon pepper sauce, along with snacks including smocked ocki tacos, lobster fries and Creole corn. They've also got steak and baby back ribs – although if you're in a restaurant called House of Crabs and not ordering seafood, we think you may have slightly missed the point. No word yet on whether the ice cream waffle sandwiches from their Sydney setup will be making the journey south, but we've got all our fingers claws crossed. The drinks list includes a healthy selection of cocktails, including Blackberry Mint Juleps, Alabama Slammers, Hurricanes and Frozen Margaritas. They also serve beer and a small number of house wines. House of Crabs will begin trading March 4 below 34 Inkerman Street, St Kilda. For more information check them out on Facebook or visit www.houseofcrabs.com.au/stkilda. Image: House of Crabs Sydney.
Whenever the Biennale of Sydney hits town, it always makes a splash. Returning for its 23rd event in 2022, the Biennale's next huge celebration of art won't be any different. On the bill this year: portraits made out of grass, mirrored pavilions, a 600-square-metre bamboo structure and the sounds of 15,000 animals. The 23rd Biennale of Sydney unveiled its full lineup at the beginning of February. And as proves the case every two years, it's about to be a great time to be an art-lover in Sydney. Running from Saturday, March 12–Monday, June 13, the complete Biennale program will present more than 330 artworks by 89 participants, plus 400 events, all linked to its central concept — which means 'stream' in Latin. In terms of what you'll be able to check out at venues such as The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Circular Quay, Information + Cultural Exchange, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, National Art School in partnership with Artspace, The Rocks and Walsh Bay Arts Precinct including Pier 2/3 across the city, it's a varied bunch. A huge inclusion on the program comes from multidisciplinary studio Cave Urban, with the Sydney locals creating a work called Flow — which happens to be one of the largest bamboo structures ever produced in Australia. It's the studio's biggest-ever project, and will span 600 square metres through The Cutaway at Barangaroo. If all things shiny and mirrored appeal to you, Irish artist John Gerrard will be displaying a six-by-six metre LED wall on a polished mirrored pavilion, also at Barangaroo. AGNSW will also play host to a wallpaper work in its entrance by Barkandji elder Badger Bates, which'll be based on one of his linocuts of the drying Lake Menindee; and to Naziha Mestaoui's One Beat, One Tree, which made its debut during the United Nations Climate Conference in 2015, and encourages folks engaging with the interactive piece to plant a virtual tree. At the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, there'll be large-scale tapestries from American artist Kiki Smith and the display of a 365-million-year-old fish fossil from Canowindra for the first time, while Pier 2/3 will feature 100 3D-printed replicas of Tasmanian stone tools thanks to Trawlwoolway artist Julie Gough. Entry to the Biennale is free — and the event also includes a program of talks and experiences, called The Waterhouse, at The Cutaway at Barangaroo.
Traditional gardening takes time, effort and a propensity for getting your hands dirty. Saving you on every count, a team of art students from the University of Maribor in Slovenia have developed a CNC (computerised numerical control) machine that lets you print your own garden and pot plants, because art. And because environmental awareness. And because seeing grass grow from a mud outline of your own face is peak eerie. Called PrintGREEN, the printer pipes out a mixture of soil, water and grass seed onto a felt-covered sponge surface in sophisticated shapes — think typography, intricate mandala-like designs and yes, even human faces. For extra cool factor, it can also print along the z-axis, forming three-dimensional mud pots that sprout their own grass. [embed]https://vimeo.com/68193572[/embed] The world needs more greenery. Leaving aside the fact that if we don’t have enough of it life on Earth will literally collapse, studies have shown that trees are nature’s valium and an extra ten on every block can actually calm us down. And they're pretty. PrintGREEN is so far just an art piece, but it’s not the first venture 3D printing has made into the horticultural realm. Thanks to the wonders of technology, you can print your own grow box valve, your own urban farm, and your own hanging window garden. (That last one is also designed by a college student, this time from Philadelphia University. Kids these days.) This kind of technology has been touted as the future of manufacturing. See 3D-printed clothes, 3D-printed furniture and this 3D-printed 80s Knight Rider car. Sigh. We get these little glimpses into the future and it’s scary but beautiful. Via Mentalfloss.
Part of the charm of the Melbourne's wildly successful Flour Market is its unpredictability. We're never quite sure when they're going to announce the next one and we're never certain we'll be able to get there before all the good stuff sells out. Of course, getting up early on a Sunday to queue for croissants is a little overrated — especially when it's electric blanket weather. So in what can only be good news for inner-city pastry fiends, Flour Market has announced they'll be doing a weekly pop-up inside Melbourne Central throughout June. Melbourne Central's level two link bridge above Lonsdale Street might not have as much vibe as Fitzroy Town Hall — but it will certainly have the all the doughy goods. For the five Thursdays in June, Flour Market will be setting up shop on the indoor bridge from 3-7pm. They'll be selling a selection of baked treats from a rotating selection of eight artisan Melbourne bakers each week. All the market regulars will make an appearance, including Shortstop, Tivoli Road, Pidapipo, Cobb Lane, Agathe Patisserie and more. And although the pop-up will technically be trading until 7pm, we recommend getting their early as these precious goods have a tendency to sell out.
A selection of local Melbourne businesses with family ties to Lebanon are coming together on Sunday, December 8 (from 10am–1pm) to raise money for Beit el Baraka — which supports people who are currently suffering in Lebanon. On the day, you can drop by the legendary Lebanese restaurant Abla's to shop for handmade jewellery by Linden Cook, and grab some food from Alimentari (Med-inspired vegetarian salads), Larderfresh (artisanal jars of pickles) and A1 Bakery (bread and savoury pastries). You can either take these bites away with you or head to the back of Abla's for an intimate picnic. [caption id="attachment_981219" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Linden Cook[/caption] Managing Director of Linden Cook Georgie Amad shared, "We have been deeply saddened by the devastating events unfolding in Lebanon. "My grandmother migrated from Lebanon to Australia in 1954 and started Abla's Restaurant. Since then, her nieces have launched Alimentari and Larder Fresh, and my Mum and I founded Linden Cook. "This is about more than just fundraising — it's about coming together as a community to share stories, food, and solidarity. Our hearts are with Lebanon, and we are committed to doing all that we can to help from afar." [caption id="attachment_981221" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alimentari[/caption] Top image: A1 Bakery
The Australian Bar of the Year isn't in Sydney or Melbourne this year. Culinary heavyweights Victoria and New South Wales clean up year after year at the Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards, announced last night at Sydney's Carriageworks, but the coveted Bar of the Year gong was instead nabbed by Queensland, hitherto known as the little engine that could. Perhaps not best known for fine dining, Queenslanders do love a good bevvy so shouldn't come as a surprise Brisbane’s crowd favourite The Gresham won bar of the year. Sydney's gained points for friendliness and food this week, as Neil Perry's Sydney restaurant Rockpool has taken out the Restaurant of the Year title, along with many other impressive wins for the Sydney food scene. Rockpool won out in the end with judges citing reasons such as the luxurious fit-out, inventive food and genuine old-school service from the star sommelier (who is, no doubt, about to get quite a raise). Other Sydney award winners include the just-opened Bennelong, which took out the award for best new restaurant of the year; Billy Kwong took out best wine list (we wonder how they’ll be celebrating the win); Raffaele Mastrovincenzo of Kappo won sommelier of the year and Lennox Hastie of Surry Hills' Firedoor was awarded best new talent. Melbourne was Sydney’s main rival in food and wine stakes and won maître d’ of the year (Vanessa Crichton of Rosetta) and Melbourne legend Joost Bakker (owner of zero waste cafe brothl) was recognised for his service and awarded the outstanding contribution to hospitality. Regional New South Wales and Victoria also got in on the action, with Dan Hunter of Brae in Birregurra winning chef of the year and Byron Bay's new chapter of Three Blue Ducks taking out regional restaurant of the year. And the list of three-star winners (the equally mortgage-your-house-to-eat-here contest of culinary fanciness) was crawling with Sydney royalty, including Sepia, Vue de Monde, Quay, Momofuku Seiobo and The Bridge Room alongside Melbourne’s eternal flame, Ben Shewry’s Attica. Image: Gourmet Traveller.
The world is still reeling from unexpected the death of the Thin White Duke. Many beers have been raised, many toasts have been spoken and many impromptu karaoke sessions have been belted out in cars, bedrooms and showers around the world all in celebration of The Man Who Fell to Earth and graced us with his magic sance for 69 awesome years. Over the next few weeks, official tribute events are happening around the country in droves. Here’s a breakdown of some of the best. SYDNEY Care?-E?-Okay! Six Decades of Bowie It’s exactly what it… sort of sounds like. A free karaoke event celebrating Bowie’s discography in Newtown, starting at 10pm and running til 6am the next morning. Rock on. Where: Tokyo Sing Song, basement 145 King Street, Newtown. When: Thursday, January 14 Vale to our hero: A tribute to David Bowie A free musical and visual event showcasing Bowie’s life and career in the Gallery Bar, kicking off at 10pm. Where: Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford Street When: Friday, January 15 A Special David Bowie Tribute Event The details of the event are still to be announced but in Bearded Tit tradition the event will be free and feature DJ Sveta and surprise guests. Where: The Bearded Tit, 183 Regent St, Redfern When: Sunday, January 17 MELBOURNE Let’s Dance and celebrate the life of Bowie Blasting Bowie classics from 10pm-1am. Entry is $5 or free if you come in dress-up. Where: Ding Dong Lounge When: Thursday, January 14 The Speed of Life: A night of Bowie at The Curtin An all-Bowie DJ set from 10.30pm til late. Free entry. Where: The Curtin, 29 Lygon Street When: Friday, January 15 David Bowie Tribute Screening A screening of Bowie’s 1986 class Labrinyth. The rooftop session sold out but an extra session has been added so get in quick if the Goblin King is your jam. Where: Lido Cinemas, 675 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn When: Thursday, January 28 BRISBANE David Bowie Video Tribute Night From 6.30pm, the New Globe Theatre will be screening a recording of Bowie’s final concert as Ziggy Stardust in 1973 followed by a 90-minute compilation of music vids, performance footage and doco bits and pieces. Free entry. Where: New Globe Theatre, 220 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley When: Thursday, January 14 REBEL REBEL David Bowie Celebration An all-vinyl dance party tribute to the “fallen alien rock god with a red mullet haircut”. The event starts at 8pm and features film and music, with all proceeds from the $10 tickets going to charity. Where: Beetle Bar, 350 Upper Roma Street When: Friday, January 15 Ziggy Played Guitar – David Bowie Tribute Night for Cancer Charity The lineup for this gig hasn’t been announced yet but will be a tribute to the life of David Bowie and feature a solid local crew. Tickets are $12 + booking fee or $15 on the door with proceeds donated to cancer charities. Where: The Foundry, 228 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley When: Sunday, February 21
The legendary, controversial, performance artist who does 'nothing' is finally returning to Australia after a 17-year absence. The subject of two major projects at Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), and an already semi-announced residency at Pier 2/3 with Kaldor Public Art Projects, Marina Abramovic is heading our way this June. Beloved and equally criticised, 67-year-old Abramovic has been invited by both MONA's David Walsh and John Kaldor to create a two experiences for the public — a retrospective solo exhibition at MONA called Private Archaeology, beginning June 13 and running to October 5, followed on June 24 (through July 5) by Kaldor Projects’ Marina Abramovic: In Residence, with a series of exercises from the Abramovic Method happening over twelve days at Pier 2/3 from June 24 to July 5. On the one hand, the MONA show Private Archaeology will be a major exhibition showing her early foundational work with German artist and Abramovic's former lover and collaborative partner Ulay, as well as more recent work. The exhibition intends to anchor the artist's current work in a historic context, featuring those pivotal solo works that brashly explored the artist's physical and mental limits. With Abramovic the main curator of the show, the works are 98 percent confirmed according to Walsh — who apparently wants to be as surprised as the audience when the exhibition opens. "Christ died on the Cross for our sins. So the New Testament tells us. Hopefully, I’ll do something worthy of his sacrifice one day. I’ve got real potential when it comes to sin," says Walsh. "Marina Abramovic seems to operate for all us. Her sins, her excesses, her minimalist, egocentric actions define the boundaries of what it is to be human. I would do the stuff she does if I had the balls. And the brains. And the desperation to understand. I’d rather be represented by a sinner than a saint." On the other, Kaldor Projects’ Marina Abramovic: In Residence, will see the artist present for twelve days of classic Abramovic 'performances' (although she doesn't like to call them that). Leading on from the Serpentine Galleries exhibition 512 Hours, the artist's Sydney project will focus on audience participation with intense works like Counting the rice and her famous 'gaze' work — a play on her work The Artist is Present performed in New York's Museum of Modern Art, where you're asked to sit face-to-face with a stranger for a certain period (apparently Kaldor's still in contact with the stranger he sat opposite at the Serpentine). Abramovic will work with collaborator Lynsey Peisinger to create a series of spaces for exhibition visitors that invoke certain physical and psychological states. "In Sydney, for Marina Abramovic: In Residence, I will be like a conductor in the exhibition space, but it will be the public who take the physical and emotional journey," says Ambramovic. "We constantly like to be entertained, to get things from outside. We never take time to get in touch with ourselves... our inner self. My function in this new kind of performance situation is to show you, through the Abramovic Method, what you can do for yourself." There will also be artist residencies offered to 12 lucky Australian artists for the twelve day exhibition, all of whom will have mentoring from Abramovic herself. Best bit for the public? It's all free. This is a big time pull for Australia, with two of the country's leading private arts patrons, Walsh and Kaldor, both separately approaching Abramovic, and both landing a 'yes'. Kaldor approached Abramovic following her successful involvement in Kaldor Project's applauded group exhibition 13 Rooms at Pier 2/3 — the work, Luminosity, which saw a naked artist wall-mounted on a bicycle seat for long periods of time (and didn't star Abramovic herself). Walsh approached the artist after meeting her over five years ago in Amsterdam. But this isn't the first time Abramovic has been to Australia; before presenting Gold found by the artists with Ulay at the 1979 Biennale of Sydney, the artist spent a cheeky five months with an Aboriginal community in central Australia in the '80s (and raised a baby kangaroo and cuddled this sheep). Private Archaeology opens at MONA on June 13 and runs through October 5. Kaldor Public Art Projects’ Marina Abramovi?: In Residence at Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay opens June 24 and runs through July 5.
When you have a favourite local haunt you usually like to keep it all to yourself. But Mark Zito of Fractures, one of Melbourne's best upcoming experimental bands, isn't greedy like us. After the secret acoustic gig he played last weekend in Melbourne thanks to Cloudy Bay, he took us beneath Melbourne's pretty facade and showed us the wonderful spaces where true locals like him spend their days and nights. From underground places to eat and drink, to secret green spaces and cinematic hidey-holes, you're not going to find these spots in a Trip Advisor top ten. Next time you're in Melbourne, spend a weekend walking in Fractures' shoes. COOKIE, CBD This has been a mainstay for me. The whole building in fact. On a good night, I'd make it up the entire building. Start at Cookie, grab some quality nosh, chuck it down my pie hole, consume with beverage. Perhaps repeat. Then probably skip a few levels up to Rooftop if it's warm enough, worst case would get warmth off a stranger for as long as I could before they realised I was standing behind them. Then down to the Toff for further iced beverages and perhaps an informal dance to loud music. The theme of all venues is 'solid vibe'. They lack pretension. MAGIC MOUNTAIN SALOON, CBD This one came out of nowhere for me. A friend led me in. As obvious as it is once you've been, it doesn't stand out so the secluded feel it has makes sense. Melbourne does pretty well with bars, this one for whatever reason ticks all of my boxes. It's good to start at, good to finish at, and good in between. A classic all-nighter, I'd say. I'm also a sucker for anything with a neon light logo. Take note. [caption id="attachment_582059" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Mick Stanic.[/caption] DIGHTS FALLS, ABBOTSFORD This is a local spot, just around the corner from home. It's a nice spot on the Yarra, usually filled with cyclists and families picnic-ing. So that's when I avoid it. The falls themselves are manmade but they're surrounded by volcanic rock, trees, and nearby is an old flour mill. I've hung down here later at night a few times (with people, I'm not a total shut-in) and it's more or less silent — if you discount the sound of the falls — and people don't tend to pass through. It doesn't involve a whole lot of action, just sitting really, stopping for a bit. I dunno, it's nice. I like it. And also it's very close to my house. UNCLE DREW, CLIFTON HILL Another local shoutout. Without exaggerating, I'd say this cafe is 25 metres from my front door so I was always going to head in there a bit out of laziness. Luckily for them they do a great job. I'm not a foodie at all. Pretty happy to microwave most things and then spoon them into my small mouth and I'm a happy chap upon swallowing, but these guys have all the things you'd want in a cafe — eggs, bread, and the list goes on! Typically I test a cafe with a scramble, they've passed with flying colours every time I've gone in. Next time you're in the area, pop in, tell them 'Fractures sent me' and you will receive a zero percent discount. SHELLEY BEACH, PORTSEA Portsea lifestyle isn't usually for me. There's not much about the polo or the pubs that interest me, and despite my heritage (Italian/Surry Hills), my pasty complexion doesn't lend itself to large doses of the hot Aussie sun. It's a bastard of a thing, excuse my language of course. This beach is a beauty during the day. It's very much a front beach, with no waves, beach boxes, and pretty cut off from the main strip, so it feels a bit like a secret. A sexy secret. I love it at night even more, especially when it's more or less deserted except for the dogs being walked. Ideal for pensive moments/night time love making/petty crime. CORNER HOTEL, RICHMOND I haven't actually played a gig here yet. I'd love to given its a staple of the Melbourne music scene. It's ever-reliable otherwise for that purpose: hosting great gigs. Good for a feed too. A tasty dish known as the chicken parmigiana, which I call a 'parma' just for a laugh with close friends, is a delight. I'm sure their other dishes are great but once I find what I like then you're not going to budge me.
One of Australia's most redeeming qualities is its ability to give good afternoon sun. There's something about its familiar glow that almost demands casual drinks — whether it's cracking open a cold beer after a day out, heading to the pub after a long day of work, or deciding on a whim that your backyard is perfect for having friends over. When you have friends this summer, heed our advice and take it to the next level by implementing a killer theme. We've spoken to a few of our favourite chefs, musicians and artists, to get their insights on creating the perfect balmy afternoon. On this adventure we've spoken to Luke Lucas — uber talented, Sydney based typographer, creative director and co-creator of the now defunct Lifelounge magazine (may it rest in peace). Each issue of Lifelounge was themed, so we thought Luke was the perfect person to ask for some tips. Read these, and get creative the next time you have friends over. THEME COMES FIRST, IDEAS COME SECOND The first step in throwing a next-level summer party is choosing the theme. No exceptions. You'll probably have a million ideas, but they'll most likely be unrelated to each other. Having a theme is a great way to bring everything together in a cohesive format. You could be really into the idea of having a pinata in your backyard. Once you've decided that your party is going to be all about food, you can make it into the shape of a burger. "Coming up with the theme was the very first process we went through for each edition of the magazine," says Luke. "I think if you try to retrofit content to suit a theme then it can feel a little contrived or forced so for us the theme had to come first. For the most part curating content or designing within the bounds of a them gives you the ability to connect concepts and ideas that don't naturally go together but when presented within the theme are perfect partners. It can be lot of fun." IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, CHANCES ARE OTHERS WON'T EITHER Everything in Lifelounge made it in because it was something Luke liked — not what he thought other people would like. "We were mostly creating the magazine for ourselves," he says. "It was a way of expressing thoughts and ideas about things we were passionate about. There wasn't a great deal of thought put into how appealing it might be to others." When you're thinking of a party theme, make sure it's something you're into. Don't go for a double denim theme just because you know your friends will like it. Pick something your passionated about — that could be a 90s theme. You're much more likely to get people hyped up. "I think if you are passionate about something then the way you present that passion is naturally infectious," Luke says wisely. DON'T COPY YOUR FRIENDS Trying to one-up your mates with a better 90s party than they threw last year isn't going to work. You won't be able to do anything new, and everyone's costumes or activities will most likely be the same as last year. Instead, use last year's raging party for inspiration. If they did 90s, shy away from decades and try for something else – a clothing related double denim theme for example. As Luke says, "there needs to be enough of a point of difference between themes so we can create unique content and design treatments for each edition." WHERE TO GET YOUR INSPIRATION "We're influenced by everything we see, hear, touch and experience. Inspiration can come from any combination of those sources but for me it rarely presents itself if I'm searching too hard for it. Ideas present themselves when my mind is clear or I'm doing some kind of activity that involves little thought — like taking a shower or waiting in between sets in the surf." In the words of Mad Men's Don Draper, "think about it deeply, then forget it. An idea will jump up in your face." Enjoy your summer afternoons with the new low-carb Heineken 3 — we're helping you make the most of them. Images: Luke Lucas.
Summer is officially over. We know that not just because Sydney has gone all dark stormy, but because Vivid Sydney has this morning announced their full 2017 program. Get ready to be ensconced in sparkly lights once again — the festival of light, music and ideas will be back for 23 days from May 26 to June 17. The first tidbit from this year's program was handed to us a few weeks ago, with the announcement that indie folk-rock US band Fleet Foxes will bring their bright dance-around-the-forest songs to the Sydney Opera House for four exclusive shows on May 26–29 this year. These will be the band's only shows in Australia — and their first here in five years — so tickets will be allocated via a ballot system. Anyone who sat online to get (or miss out on) tickets to the Opera House's Bon Iver show last year will appreciate this method of allocation. The most overt aspect of the program is the lights, and this year their kaleidoscope is set to extend over to Barangaroo for the first time. A new precinct for 2017, it will extend the reach of the CBD's lights and further light up Darling Harbour with a trail of installations that will wind through the Streets of Barangaroo and along the waterfront. One of the works, A Day in the Light, will be an outdoor theatre of light and sound — getting a seat at one of the area's new restaurants (like 12-Micron or Banksii) will likely be hard to nab. The Sydney Opera House's sails will this year be lit up with imaginary creatures by cinematographer, editor, and graphic designer Ash Bolland. Vivid light hotspots, the Royal Botanic Garden, the MCA, Chatswood, Taronga Zoo and Martin place will all be lit up as well. Vivid Music just seems to get bigger with every passing year — in 2017, there will be over 250 gigs. Joining Fleet Foxes for the Vivid LIVE component of the program at the Opera House will be legendary French electronic duo AIR (for their second Australian shows ever), the ethereal Laura Marling and our own Nick Murphy (Chet Faker's new moniker, ICYMI). The Avalanches will also make an appearance on the Opera House's Northern Broadwalk to perform their seminal album Since I Left You in its entirety for the first time since 2001. The band will be joined by Briggs, Sampa The Great and DJ Shadow. The City Recital Hall has a solid program sorted as well, with Dappled Cities, Dianne Reeves and a party by Paul Mac slated. But not all the gigs will be held at formal venues. The Vivid Music program will this year extend to Carriageworks for an exclusive gig from Goldfrapp and the return of Fuzzy Music's huge party Curve Ball, over to Cake Wines for a rooftop party and Oxford Art Factory for the Women in Electronic Music showcase. Vivid Ideas is, of course, back for the brainiacs among you — and this year it's scored iconic artist Shepard Fairey as its big-ticket speaker. Don't know the name? He's the artist behind Obama's HOPE campaign. As well as an exclusive talk, he'll also create a large-scale public mural somewhere in Sydney's CBD (!!) and exhibit some of his works in an exhibition at Darling Quarter. There's plenty more where that came from, check the Vivid Sydney website for more details.
Tired of the classic drink and dinner date night combo? Us too. That's why we're always on the hunt for new things to do, scouring the city for not-boring Melbourne activities — ones that are guaranteed to take your next date way beyond done-before beers at the pub. Whether you're taking someone on a second date or doing your 100th with your significant other, we've got some killer (and, yes, cute) ideas for dates to go on this week, no matter how much money you've got to spend. Just think of us as your cultural wingman. You're welcome. FREE ENJOY ARTS, MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE AT FED SQUARE'S BUDDHA'S DAY Keeping things fun and casual in the date department? Head along to Melbourne's incredibly diverse Buddha's Day & Multicultural Festival — taking over Federation Square from Friday, May 19 until Sunday, May 21. The event will champion multiculturalism through the arts, music, performances, workshops and Buddhist ceremonies. And for a little extra pageantry this year, there will also be some big fireworks light displays on Friday (7.45pm) and Saturday (8pm). Across the weekend, you and your date can participate in cultural ceremonies, activities and performances — or just watch on from the sidelines. There will be guided meditations, including the popular Ch'an Meditation in the pop-up Lotus Flower Sanctuary. But if that isn't your jam, simply venture into the Mindfulness Forest to find a little inner calm in Melbourne's inner city. UNDER $50 SHOW YOUR ARTISTIC PROWESS AT THIS YOGA CLASS IN A DIGITAL GALLERY If your lover is a lover of art, they're bound to be impressed when you suggest a guided yoga flow class while immersed in large-scale digital art, curated sounds and a bespoke aroma. Multi-sensory art gallery The Lume is currently showcasing the works of Monet and his French impressionist contemporaries via an immersive display of room-sized moving images, aromas and sounds. But head along to one of the bi-weekly yoga sessions and you and your date will get to see the venue in a whole new light (and from a few new angles, too). Running Wednesday evenings (7pm) and Sunday mornings (8am) in conjunction with Happy Melon Studios, the 50-minute guided yoga classes will have you getting centred and zen as immersive large-scale visuals wash over you. The experience for each class will be designed around a different theme (such as Space and Underwater) and will feature corresponding imagery and matching soundscapes. TREAT THEM TO UNLIMITED, FRESHLY SHUCKED OYSTERS AT LILLIAN If you're celebrating something special, or just looking to celebrate your better half — head to Lillian Brasserie this autumn for unlimited oysters. Because a little aphrodisiac never hindered any date. Running every Tuesday to Sunday between 12pm–3pm, this Chris Lucas favourite is serving up bottomless salty molluscs for a bargain $44 per person. Slurp your way into the weekend by digging into as many Pacific oysters as you can handle, all freshly shucked to order. After you've treated yourself to some of the ocean's finest, you can look towards one of Lillian's daily specials, all spiked with European influences and priced at an easy $29.50. There's a confit duck leg with bacon, lentils and crispy kale, or a lighter option that pairs pumpkin, zucchini and ricotta with linguine. UNDER $100 BOND OVER A SEAFOOD TOWER AT ETTA'S NEW SATURDAY LUNCH SERIES The long, lazy weekend lunch is up there among life's greatest pleasures — and it's one that the team at Brunswick East's Etta will be celebrating right through winter. On Saturday, May 20, the renowned eatery kicks off its new Saturday feasting series, dedicated to top-notch seafood and champagne. The food lineup is set to change up weekly, though with shellfish season peaking, you can be sure of some sensational seafood no matter what. Each week's haul will be served as a tantalisingly stacked tower for $70 per person and enjoyed alongside the crackling fire from 12–2pm. And, since seafood and fizz are a match made in culinary heaven, Etta will be pouring out some primo champagne options to complement your lunch. Adding to the regular lineup of by-the-glass gems, there'll be a weekly-rotating champagne special pulled from the cellar just for the occasion. Etta's full wine list will be available, too — perfect in case you're in need of some liquid courage. ONE BIG BLOWOUT SWAP HOME FOR A FANCY MELBOURNE STAYCATION FOR THE WEEKEND If you're looking for a luxe weekend away in Melbourne, you're in luck. Victoria has delivered a swathe of brand spanking new hotels with all the luxe vibes of a southern White Lotus. One such hotel is The Royce, following a two-year renovation of their gorgeous heritage building. The Royce has opened in the most understated way possible – which is perfectly befitting the luxury hotel, formerly a Rolls Royce showroom but now aimed at high-end business clientele and weekend travellers looking for impeccable service, generous rooms and luxe amenities. The Royce is delightfully decadent, but never garishly so – and its spot on St Kilda Road in South Yarra delivers city fringe convenience with excellent location amenity for those keen on a morning run around The Tan or a late night cocktail on Chapel. Their press release may have described the "capacious lounge" adorned with a 2-metre wide chandelier and a 14-metre curved marble fireplace, but this is certainly no Burberry tote housing fold-up ballet flats. Top Image: Lillian, supplied.
Thought Friday Nights at the NGV ended with summer? Nup. They're back. Complementing the new Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Degas: A New Vision, the gallery is inviting visitors to enjoy a jam-packed late-night program complete with food, booze, talks and live performances. The 13-week program will run the length of the exhibition, kicking off on opening night this Friday, June 24 with headliner Clare Bowditch. Other musical guests on the program include The Grates, Augie March, Mick Harvey, The Goon Sax and Kid Congo, amongst others. In addition to the music lineup, other Friday night activities include talks on the Degas exhibition, performances by a jazz quartet and drinks and snacks in the Great Hall. All in all, it should make for many top-notch Fridays at the gallery.
Get food from your favourite restaurant delivered right to your door, courtesy of a premium restaurant delivery service that has just touched down in Melbourne. Suppertime is an online platform with its own fleet of drivers that partners with local restaurants and takes care of home delivery on their behalf. Now excuse us while we delete the Dominos app from our phone. Online takeout services are by no means a new idea, but where Suppertime differs from its competitors such as Menulog or Delivery Hero is that it only partners with restaurants that don't already offer home delivery, using their own drivers to pick up the food from the restaurant and deposit it into your waiting arms. They've been operating in Sydney for some time now, and have already set up partnerships with several dozen Melbourne eateries, including +39 Pizzeria, Nieuw Amsterdam, Thailander, Mr. Big Stuff, Afghan Valley and Mamak. "Melbourne is considered the foodie-hub of Australia," said co-founder Nathan Besser in a statement that accompanied the Melbourne launch. "With so many delicious feeds to be had across this diverse city, launching Suppertime locally is an exciting move for our brand ... We’re continuing to add new partners daily and we’re hoping to further expand our footprint as the business develops a following." For the time being, Suppertime only delivers to the Melbourne CBD, but there are plans to expand into the surrounding suburbs in the near future. To browse the full list of available restaurants, visit the Suppertime website.
It's not quite Melbourne International Film Festival time just yet; however that hasn't stopped Victoria's premiere cinema showcase from teasing movie buffs with a glimpse of the film fun set to come. Think local, sci-fi and delightfully quirky, because this year's fest — MIFF's 65th — is kicking off with the world premiere of The Death and Life of Otto Bloom. There's a reason that the feature's title mentions the character's end before his actual existence; played by Xavier Samuel, he's experiencing his life in reverse. Neuropsychologist Dr Ada Fitzgerald (Rachel Ward) is called in to determine if he's a psychic, time traveller, madman or living proof of Einstein's theory of relativity. We know you're dying to know the answer, and you can find out at MIFF's opening night on July 28. Sure, it all sounds a little like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, however don't expect the first feature from Melbourne writer/director Cris Jones to simply rehash its Brad Pitt-starring predecessor. In fact, 2014's The Infinite Man and Predestination already proved that Aussie filmmakers can handle intriguing concepts like time travel and multiple versions of the same person with the best of them, so consider The Death and Life of Otto Bloom the latest effort in a growing local group of science fiction-leaning content. That's not all the news MIFF has up their sleeve so far, with the full program for their youth-focused Next Gen strand also doing the rounds, as well as details of a special virtual reality storytelling seminar with Eric Darnell, the writer/director behind the animated Madagascar series. With all this on offer — and the complete lineup still more than a month away — we've just got one thing to say: bring on the end of July. The 2016 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from July 28 to August 14. Tickets for opening night go on sale at 9am on May 18, with the full 2016 program revealed on July 5. Keep an eye on the festival's website for further information.
Health nuts have long been singing the praises of kombucha, a fermented Chinese tea with a litany of supposed health benefits. But the rest of us may soon be jumping on the bandwagon as well, now that an ambitious home-brewer has gone and made it alcoholic. The founder of Santa Fe’s Honeymoon Brewery, Ayla Bystrom-Williams has apparently found a way to increase the minute amount of alcohol in current kombucha brews (currently around 1 percent) to levels comparable to beer (around 5-6 percent). With patents currently pending, she’s been keeping mum on the exact details of her fermentation process, although she has revealed it was inspired by the openair process used to create Belgian lambics. Really though, what do you care how it’s made? The bottom line is that in the not too distant future you’ll be able to get drunk in a way that’s actually doing you good. Although we should point out that the benefits of drinking kombucha are still very much up in the air, as outlined in this recent article in the Washington Post. Bystrom-Williams is currently engaged in research that she hopes will bring an end to the ongoing debate and vindicate kombucha drinkers once and for all. Still, whether or not the beverage is actually good for you, there’s no denying that it’s been a massive hit. Analysts in the United States recently estimated that the industry could bring in more than half a billion US dollars in 2015, and that was before we heard about the alcoholic variety. Australian producers have tapped into the craze as well, with a number of different outfits competing in the market — one label even opened up their own dedicated Sydney bar. A notice on Honeymoon Brewery’s website currently alludes to an imminent Kickstarter campaign, with an eye to getting the Kombucha beer on shelves towards the end of the year. The bad news is that it looks like it’ll only be available in the United States. Fingers crossed it’s a hit, and that they think about expanding. Via The Guardian. Images: Mgarten Wikimedia Commons, Iris Photos via Flickr, Wild Kombucha.
No one likes a boring lunch, or spending hours meal prepping — though we all know how quickly the cost of midday food splurges can add up. Those lunch dramas will soon be a thing of the past, with nifty food app MealPal arriving in Melbourne. The brainchild of ClassPass co-founder, Mary Biggins, and Katie Ghelli (formerly of ZocDoc), the meal subscription service has proved a hit across the USA and UK since first launching in Miami, in January 2016. It launched in Sydney in May this year, and now, having dished up over two million meals to time-starved office workers, the MealPal concept is heading to Melbourne. Through the website or app, subscribing members are able to order a daily lunch meal from the huge selection of great local restaurants, schedule a convenient time to skip the queues and pick it up, and enjoy a tasty feed for blissfully minimal effort. Use it Monday to Friday, and the service clocks in at less than $8 per day. More than 100 of Melbourne CBD's lunchtime go-tos are already on board, including Empire Steak, Sumo Salad, PappaRich, Mr. Burger, Belleville, Henrietta's Chicken Shop, Famish'd and more. Sign up here. Image: Empire Steak.
Melbourne's favourite controversial stage practitioners, Malthouse Theatre, have announced an intriguing, weird and broad 2017 program. Malthouse are known for pushing boundaries with their next-level productions but this year is particularly saucy with a big international quotient. They've announced that 13 productions will make up the 2017 program, featuring a mix of Aussie and international talent. Some of the highlights include the spine-tingling The Black Rider, by Matthew Lutton and Tom Waits. The Black Rider is based on the German folk tale of the freischutz, a marksman in contract with the devil for bullets that always hit their mark, and stars Kanen Breen, Paul Capsis and cabaret dynamo Meow Meow (otherwise known as Melissa Madden Gray). We also like the look of Wild Bore, created, directed and starring Zoe Coombs Marr, Ursula Martinez and Adrienne Truscott (so much talent in one play — bring the smelling salts, we're overwhelmed). They aim to turn the tides on critics and criticism they've received over the course of their illustrious careers and give it right back in their characteristically sassy and off-centre way. The Homosexuals, or Faggots, is another not to be missed — it's self-described as "[swerving] across the road like a drunken driver to create a howlingly funny hour of blistering satire". Written by funny man and one-half of theatre group Sisters Grimm Declan Greene and directed by Griffin Theatre's artistic director Lee Lewis, the play explores hypocrisy and political correctness from the point of view of two married gay men. The rest of the jam-packed program includes an exploration of the psychological effects of China's one child policy directed by Wang Chong, an unapologetically furious critique of language, behaviour and feminism written by Alice Birch, and the story of an up-and-coming country music star and her tumultuous road trip love affair by siblings John and Margaret Harvey. Hold on to your butts. Check out Malthouse Theatre's entire 2017 program at their website.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. Last year, more than 8000 garages opened their doors to bargain hunters, and they're doing it for the sixth time on October 24. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. Register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
Renowned Melbourne street artist Rone is no stranger to the intersection of beauty and decay, and you'll find this theme tying together much of what he puts his hands to. But his latest work really slaps you in the face with it — part exhibition, part installation, the artist's newest large-scale works are located inside an abandoned weatherboard house in the Melbourne suburb of Alphington. Dubbed The Omega Project, Rone has transformed each room in the house — including the kitchen, dining room and bedroom — into haunting mini installations. He spent weeks working his magic within an actual demolition zone, given free reign by developers to transform the last remaining house on the former Amcor paper mill site from an early-1900s weatherboard cottage into what he describes as 'a fantasy film set'. In striking contrast with the surrounding destruction, the space features the artist's signature Jane Doe portraits adorning the walls, while interior stylist Carly Spooner has gone all out with the chenille bedspreads and wood-grain telly sets to recreate the look of a classic, mid-century suburban Aussie pad. This isn't Rone's first time at the demolition zone rodeo, either — last year he held a solo exhibition Empty in Fitzroy's about-to-be-demolished Star Lyric Theatre. And, adopting the transience of the street art you spy splashed across the urban landscape, this exhibition isn't sticking around for long at all — catch it from Saturday, July 22 until Sunday, July 30 before it, too, meets the demo crew. The Omega Project by Rone will open to the public from July 22–30. RSVP to have the exhibition's exact location revealed to you via email. Find more info here.
2022 isn't even five months in yet, but the year's slate of festivals is already shaping up to be a winner. We've just danced our way through all the summer fests, of course, and welcomely so. But there's plenty more where they came from across the rest of the year — including the long-awaited return of Listen Out in September and October. Fuzzy's national electronic-meets-hip hop festival will make a huge comeback for its first gigs since 2019 — for obvious reasons, as we all know and have lived through for the past couple of years. And, it's marking its return with a hefty lineup led by Young Thug, Polo G, Disclosure and The Jungle Giants, as well as everyone from BARKAA and Electric Fields to BBNO$ and Tove Lo. Listen Out tours nationally to four of Australia's capitals, kicking off on September 23 and hitting Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane over two weekends. Also hitting the road, albeit just with one stop: Listen In, a condensed version of the fest with a smaller lineup that'll solely play Adelaide. Whichever iteration is coming to your city, add Listen Out and Listen In to your ever-growing 2022 festival calendar, with Splendour in the Grass and Spilt Milk also among the big-name fests finally set to return in the coming months. LISTEN OUT 2022 DATES: Friday, September 23 at Catani Gardens, St Kilda, Melbourne Sunday, September 25 at Western Parklands, HBF Arena, Joondalup, Perth Saturday, October 1 at Centennial Park, Sydney Sunday, October 2 at Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane LISTEN OUT 2022 LINEUP: 24kGOLDN AJ Tracey Anti Up [presented by Chris Lake and Chris Lorenzo] BARKAA BBNO$ Blanke Bru-C Central Cee Culture Shock Dameeeela Disclosure Doechii Electric Fields James Hype The Jungle Giants Kito Louis The Child LP Giobbi Meduza Memphis LK Miiesha Nia Archives Pirra Polo G Pretty Girl Qrion Stace Cadet and KLP Tove Lo Young Thug LISTEN IN 2022 DATES: Monday, October 3 at Ellis Park, Adelaide LISTEN IN 2022 LINEUP: Adelaide: 24kGOLDN BARKAA BBNO$ Bru-C Central Cee Chris Lake Culture Shock Disclosure James Hype Kito Louis The Child LP Giobbi Meduza Polo G Stace Cadet and KLP Young Thug NZ: TBC Listen Out and Listen In's 2022 season tours Australia in September and October 2022. For more information, or to buy tickets from 12/1pm (times vary depending on the city) on Wednesday, April 27, head to the festival website.
Food, art, music and great wine are all coming together over at Earth Angels for just one night — all in the name of celebrating Persian culture. A Taste of Persia, running on Saturday, October 12, is a mega collaboration between social enterprise Welcome Merchant, Persian cooking star Mahshid Babzartabi and North Melbourne's Earth Angels Wine Bar — where the party will take place. Traditional Persian dishes will be pumping out of the kitchen throughout the night — dreamt up by Babzartabi and cooked by Chef Narit Kimsat (formerly of La Pinta). You can expect zereshk polo (chicken barberries with saffron basmati rice), gheymeh (lamb and yellow split lentil stew with saffron and rosewater infusion) and halva for dessert. Beyond the food, Reza Kashi will be playing Persian tunes on the tar, setar and oud, and calligraphy artist Jodi Kashani is taking over the upstairs gallery space. Earth Angels is a fairly small space, but the team manages to fit a lot within it — there's even a cheeky courtyard out back for those wanting to sip and snack in the sunshine before the event starts at 6pm. And as it is with all of Welcome Merchant's events, A Taste of Persia is giving those who identify as a refugee, a former refugee and as a person seeking asylum the opportunity to share their experiences and culture with those who attend the dinner. Funds raised at events like this also go back to people within these communities, empowering them to make the most of life in Australia. [caption id="attachment_974922" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tasha Tylee[/caption]
One big ol’ picnic party is coming to the Mornington Peninsula, with a day-long luncheon filled with great food, wine and music this Sunday, March 29. The Peninsula Picnic will see tasting plates and dishes from some of Melbourne’s best chefs roaming Mornington Racecourse, including The European’s Ian Curley, Terminus at Flinders Hotel’s Pierre Khodja, and Pope Joan’s Matt Wilkinson. But the local culinary wizards are fronting up too — so you can match autumnal nosh with peninsula wines from vineyards such as Terre, Montalto, Circe and Crittenden Estate. But perhaps you're keen to get picnicking early, or want to learn the secrets behind those peninsula nosh offerings? We've coerced the kitchens of Montalto and Terre into handing over their specially created recipes for Peninsula Picnic, so you can make your own delectable picnic food at home. Some of them might seem a bit tricky, but you'll get there. Consider it a culinary challenge. They've even paired a playlist for each cook-up. And if it doesn't all go to plan, at least there'll be plenty of wine. MONTALTO ENTREE Tomato tart with main ridge goat cheese Serves 4 200g of homemade or good quality store-bought butter puff pastry 1kg pulp heirloom tomatoes 250g main ridge goat chevre 80g sugar 80ml red wine vinegar 4 cloves of garlic 10 sprigs of thyme 2 bay leaves olive oil salt and pepper Preheat oven to 130 degrees. Cut tomatoes into halves and remove seeds. Place tomatoes in a bowl and toss with salt, pepper, chopped thyme and sliced garlic, then cover and place in fridge. Heat sugar in a pan over a medium flame until sugar is dissolved and starts to turn golden caramel, then take the pan off the heat and pour in the vinegar. Return back to the heat and stir until all combined. Add your caramel to tomatoes then place on baking tray place in oven for 1.5 to 2 hours. When tomatoes are cooked, grab a baking dish and olive oil the bottom. Place tomatoes on the bottom, arranging them close together. Discard any thyme stalks or big pieces of garlic. Set aside until cool. This can be done up to a day ahead and left in the fridge. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Cut puff pastry to cover tomatoes and then bake in oven till pastry has risen and turned golden brown and 15 to 20 min, let cool for about 5 min then turn out onto a plate crumb over goats cheese and garnish with fresh garden roquette. MAIN Cocotte of free range chicken with cider tarragon jus and autumn vegetables Serves 4 2 x 1kg free range chickens or 1 1.6kg chicken Cider and tarragon jus: 200g unsalted butter 1 bunch French tarragon — picked and chopped 750ml good quality apple cider 30 ml sherry vinegar 500ml veal glaze 200ml chicken stock 1 tsp tarragon mustard 1 carrot 1 celery 1 onion 1 head garlic 1/2 bunch thyme Autumn vegetables: 100g green beans 12 baby carrots 12 baby turnips 6 baby leeks (cut in half lengthways) 12 baby squash 12 baby zucchini Salt To prep the chicken: Remove the breasts from the bone. Remove leg and thigh, remove knuckle from leg then separate leg and thigh at the joint. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Season pieces with salt, then in a hot cocotte, brown off leg and thigh. Once golden, add breast, brown skin side down. Place in oven with 2 crushed garlic cloves and half a bunch of thyme for 8-10 minutes (or until just cooked). Remove, add nob of butter and cover set aside. Important note: chicken is to be cooked after the jus is made. To prep jus: Chop remaining bones into small pieces. Place into hot pan with small amount of oil. Cook until browned and remove excess fat. Place 50g butter into pan and brown until nutty. Add chopped onion, carrot, celery and 2 crushed cloves of garlic, and lightly brown. Deglaze with apple cider, reduce by half. Add tarragon stalks and quarter bunch of thyme, add veal glaze and chicken stock, reduce by half. When reduced, strain through fine sieve and set aside. Before serving bring sauce to boil and add tarragon mustard, sherry vinegar and freshly chopped tarragon. To prep vegetables: Cook each vegetable separately in salted boiling water and warm through with a nob of butter and a splash of jus before serving. To serve: Serve chicken in cocotte, garnish with vegetables and pour over jus. Serve with a side of baby chat potatoes with fresh parsley. DESSERT Lemon and blackcurrant gratin chiboust with green apple sorbet Italienne meringue: 12g sugar 25g glucose 50g water 185g egg whites Cream powder mixture: 60g Flour 30g Corn flour 10g Rice flour 190g lemon juice 125g double cream 7 egg yolks 5 gelatin leaves Blackcurrant jam: 500g blackcurrants 100g sugar 50g water Apple sorbet: 500g Granny Smith apples 90g glucose powder 250g sugar 400ml water 10g sorbet stabiliser mix To prep jam: Put all ingredients in a pot. Cook till you've got a jam consistency. To make cream mixture: Bring cream and lemon juice to the boil. Whisk eggs, sugar and cream powder together. Pour hot cream and lemon juice into egg mix, make into paste, return to pot and cook out until thick. Soak gelatin and add to cream pat mixture, then place mix into large bowl, cover with clear wrap and let cool. To prep Italian meringue: Mix water, glucose and sugar together and bring to 121 degrees. Whisk egg whites in mixer till soft peak and slowly add the hot sugar. Whisk till cool. Fold egg whites into cream, pat mix and fill moulds halfway. Add blackcurrant jam and then fill the rest of the moulds. To make apple sorbet: Mix and boil glucose, water, sugar and stabiliser. Let cool. Blend apples together, then pass through strain and churn. Wine suggestion: late harvest Riesling. MONTALTO'S PLAYLIST Montalto from PeninsularPicnic on 8tracks Radio. TERRE ENTREE Barbecued whole garfish with heirloom tomato, white anchovy and parsley salad To prep garfish: Ensure cleaned well — wipe out belly cavity with paper towel. Drizzle with olive oil and sea salt, especially in the belly cavity. Barbecue over high heat until just cooked through. To prep tomato salad: Chop tomatoes roughly. Tear flat leaf parsley. Cut anchovy fillets in half. Toss together in large bowl with sherry vinegar, sea salt and olive oil. MAIN Slow roasted lamb shoulder with minted yoghurt To prep lamb shoulder: If there's a bone, you'll get better flavour, but if the bone's out that's ok — it's just a shorter cooking time. Trim any large pieces of sinew. Cut a shallow cris-cross pattern into lamb to allow marinade to better infuse. To prep marinade: 3 tbsp pomegranate molasses 2 tbsp ground cumin 2 sprigs finely chopped rosemary 2 cloves garlic, grated 80ml canola oil Sea salt Combine marinade ingredients with a whisk and massage into lamb. Marinate overnight, or at least three hours prior to cooking. Preheat oven to 240 degrees. Place on roasting rack and place in oven for 20 mins. Turn oven down to 120 degrees and continue to roast till meat is falling off the bone (roughly three hours). The outside should be dark and caramelised, but the flesh should still be moist and tender. Cover loosely with foil and allow to rest at least 20 minutes before serving. To prep carrots: If the carrots are very young and fresh — don’t peel them — just give them a good wash to remove any dirt (especially around the tops) To prep dressing: 150g honey 150 whole almonds – roughly chopped 100ml cider vinegar 40ml orange blossom water 150ml extra virgin olive oil 1/2 green chilli — deseeded and finely sliced Combine almonds and honey in heavy based pan over a gentle heat. Cook until the honey is lightly caramelised and the almonds are toasted (roughly 5 minutes stirring constantly). Add the cider vinegar, the orange blossom and the chilli and stir to combine. Allow to cool before seasoning with salt and pepper and then add the olive oil. To prep freekeh: Soak 150g freekeh in 400ml cold water for an hour before cooking. Bring to boil and then gently simmer adding more water as needed. Season towards the end of the cooking process. Cook until al dente and then drain and place on a tray to cool in the fridge. Place the carrots in generously salted cold water and slowly bring to the boil. When the carrots are al dente, remove from water and while warm, toss in the honey dressing. Mix the freekeh with the remaining honey dressing. Place carrots on top and garnish with torn coriander to serve. To prep minted yoghurt: 200ml natural yoghurt 1 lebanese cucumber, diced Mint leaves — chopped Combine ingredients with a good pinch of salt. Allow flavours to mellow at least 1 hour before serving. DESSERT Apple, rhubarb and blackberry pie To make sweet pastry: 250g unsalted butter, softened 250g pure icing sugar, sifted Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 1 egg 60ml milk 500g plain flour, sifted Beat butter, zest and icing sugar until pale. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition until well amalgamated. Add milk and finally flour, beating until combined, do not overwork the pastry. Wrap in cling film and chill for 1-2 hours, or overnight. Roll pastry to 3mm thickness, cut in circles and place in pie tins or on baking tray lined with parchment. Fill as desired, cover with pastry or lattice strips, or alternatively pull the edges of the pastry roughly to centre for a more rustic pie. Sprinkle pastry generously with demerara sugar and bake in a preheated oven at 200° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Dust with icing sugar if desired when cold. Left over dough can be refrigerated for one week or frozen for two months — tart filling can be frozen for two months. To make tart filling, roast rhubarb and apple: 1 bunch rhubarb 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled 200g brown sugar Juice and rind of 1 orange 200g blackberries Slice rhubarb and apples into batons and toss with juice, rind and brown sugar until sugar dissolved. Spread onto parchment paper and bake 160° until just tender, approximately 20-25 minutes. When cool mix with blackberries. If fruit mixture is too wet strain off excess liquid. Serve with clotted cream, mascarpone or good quality vanilla bean ice cream. TERRE'S PLAYLIST: Terre from PeninsularPicnic on 8tracks Radio. Peninsula Picnic is happening this Sunday, March 29 at Mornington Racecourse. More info over here. Words by Hannah Valmadre and Shannon Connellan. Recipes by Montalto and Terre.
It's no surprise that many of us are looking to upgrade our home comfort level at the moment. Aussie furniture brand Koala is keen to help you do just that with its end-of-financial-year sale, where you can nab major discounts on Koala's bedroom range, sofas and even its brand new desk built for WFH. That sturdy desk is made in Ballarat from hand-sanded timber, is easy to assemble and designed specifically with home office use in mind. During the sale, you'll get ten percent off this WFH lifesaver (which brings it down to $360). Other living room products on sale include 25 percent off the two-seater sofa, bookshelf (in three different sizes) and television unit, as well as 15 percent off the three-seater sofa and sofa bed. If it's the bedroom you're looking to elevate, you can also score 15 percent off the award-winning Koala Mattress, the Koala bed base, the gel-infused memory foam pillow and the incredibly silky sheets. The mattress, for the uninitiated, feels a little like memory foam and latex, but without the sink factor. All products come with free four-hour delivery (to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) and a 120-night trial — though, it might be hard to give any of these up after four-months of pure comfort. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Once every year, a different kind of festival is held in Brisbane — one that doesn't market itself on glow sticks, or ironic henna, or even prolific recreational drug use. It's a festival more for the artists, their scene and the Australian industry itself: Bigsound. Over three days in September, an eclectic collection of musicians is given their shot to play not just some of Brisbane's best venues for some of its best crowds, but also for industry professionals, booking agents, and labels; the big-wig types that usually hang out exclusively in Sydney and Melbourne and are always searching for that 'new sound'. For the somewhat isolated arts scene of Queensland, Bigsound is the annual chance of a lifetime, and acts as a cross-section of Australia's up and coming. Although criticised in recent years for pushing a lineup that includes already represented and well established performers, Bigsound's 2016 bunch still has a few untapped talents and diamonds in the rough. Here are five new artists playing Bigsound this year, not to be missed if you want to claim 'knew-them-before-they-were-cool' bragging rights in years to come. MOSQUITO COAST Last year's triple j Unearthed High winners, Mosquito Coast are riding the Australian airwaves to 'household name' status, but given they are both only 18 years of age, they definitely warrant the title of a 'new' band. Playing music so beach-inspired its practically sunburnt, this duo is nothing if not very, very chill. Breezy guitar lines, hard to forget lyrics, friendly drums — everything you'd want on the radio on a day it's too hot to think. Their main track 'Call My Name' hit #101 on triple j's Hottest 100 this year, and if they keep doing what they are doing, they're guaranteed to sneak into Australia's biggest music pedestal next year. Oh Hello! on September 7. BEC SANDRIDGE Listening to Sydney's Bec Sandridge, it's hard to imagine that anyone else playing Bigsound will bring the same charm to the stage. To call this about-to-explode artist a 'girl-popper' is unfair — would you call Anna Calvi the same? Sure, Sandridge's got pop influences, and that makes it so fun. Her music's intrinsically complex and simultaneously easy to dance to. And on top of it all, Sandridge has a set of pipes you could shamelessly compare to Blondie, Nick Cave, Kate Bush, or maybe even Bjork. The Foundry, September 7. GOOD BOY Good Boy are Brisbane boys, and boy, are they good. Doing the whole dolewave thing, this trio unabashedly sing about living hard, below the poverty line, in the northern suburbs. With King Krule-like guitar lines, over Dick Diver-like lyrics, with a bit of that regional Queensland anger and edge to them, the boys know what they're all about. They've only been bumming darbs and singing about it for a year now, but they've already played Laneway Festival, and are looking at being the canonical band for 2016 Brisbane. Who knows, maybe it'll be the start of their career as Brisbane's next Go-Betweens? Oh Hello!, September 8. PRATEEK KUHAD Prateek Kuhad isn't exactly a fresh face — he's played SXSW, opened for Alt-J on tour, and has been a showcased musician not just in his home of India, but abroad. Despite all this, he's a fresh face for Brisbane. His minimalistic folk, and his punchy, almost quirky lyrics, give his songs a cinematic quality — he wouldn't be amiss juxtaposing a wide-shot for Wes Anderson film, for example. His music, be it his minimalistic combination of guitar and vocals, or his somewhat wider pieces — mandolin, tambourine — are all alike in their joyous momentum. September 7, Empire Hotel. MIDDLE KIDS Middle Kids (emphasis on kids, these guys have only been around since late February) are a Sydney trio- all about the music- tight harmonies and chill times. Dropping their EP Edge of Town, a distorted harmony of fragile vocals, steel guitar, and abyss inspired timbres, these kids might be young, but they are being seen and heard all over Australia. Playing Oh Hello! on 8 September, Middle Kids, have a good thing going-it's lo-fi, but it's kinda popping, with a little bit of folk, maybe an aftertaste of punk, there's something in their simple songs for everyone. Bigsound runs September 7-9 across multiple Brisbane venues. Find the whole Bigsound program on their website.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image has announced its latest filmmaker retrospective — and in good news for cinephiles living in other cities, it won't just be screening at ACMI or within Melbourne. Setting their sights on the movie classics crafted by Roman Polanski, they've teamed up with Palace Cinemas to take the eleven-film lineup to Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane too, with the program travelling around the country in November and December. ROMAN: 10 X Polanski will feature ten of the Franco-Polish director's features, ranging from his Polish New Wave debut, Knife in the Water, to his 2010 political thriller, The Ghost Writer. In between, the showcase will also give audiences a chance to see masterpieces such as the film noir-infused Chinatown and supernatural horror Rosemary's Baby on the big screen, which is no mean feat. Plus, it'll step through the British-made likes of Repulsion and Cul-de-sac, as well as the European-set The Tenant, Frantic and Bitter Moon — and present his co-starring role, alongside his late second wife Sharon Tate, in undead spoof The Fearless Vampire Killers. As for that eleventh title we mentioned, it comes in the form of Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, which is clearly the retrospective's way of addressing the director's infamy beyond his helming career. Any celebration of Polanski's work can't ignore his well-publicised flight from the United States in 1978 after being charged with sexually assaulting a minor, aka the main topic of Marina Zenovich's 2008 documentary. Polanski has still worked steadily and even won an Oscar for 2002's The Pianist in the nearly four decades since; however championing his filmmaking prowess is bound to cause some discomfort, even if the touring season does try to put the movies, rather than the man behind them, front and centre. ROMAN: 10 X Polanski screens at ACMI in Melbourne from November 5 to 20, Palace Electric in Canberra from November 24 to 30, the Chauvel Cinema in Sydney from December 1 to 7, and Palace Centro in Brisbane from December 1 to 7. For more information, visit the ACMI and Palace websites.
One of the most significant works in the new Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei exhibition will be staying in Melbourne permanently. Speaking at the opening of the exhibition on Thursday night, Ai donated the major installation Letgo Room to the National Gallery of Victoria. Made from more than two million Lego-like bricks, the piece pays tribute to Australian human rights activists who have become symbols for a broader movement – much like the artist himself. Constructed by a team of nearly 100 local volunteers and artists on directions from Ai, Letgo Room features portraits of 20 Australian activists who have fought for justice and equality on issues including asylum seekers, women's rights, social welfare and freedom of information. Among those depicted in the work are family violence campaigner Rose Batty, barrister Julian Burnside, indigenous activist Dr Gary Foley, journalist Peter Greste, transgender icon norrie mAy-welby and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who Ai met in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London earlier this year. A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Sep 16, 2015 at 10:10am PDT The Letgo Room received considerable media attention ahead of its construction after Lego refused Ai's bulk order of bricks on the grounds that Lego "cannot approve the use of Legos for political works." Many saw the refusal as being itself political, with the artist pointing out that the company had just inked a deal to open a Legoland in Shanghai. The decision sparked outrage on social media, while many galleries and museums around the world set up Lego donation points, where art lovers could drop off their excess bricks for use in Ai's art. Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei at the NGV is now open to the public.
Fairy bread, but make it tropical. Aussie snags, but make them Balinese. Meat pies, but stuff them with beef rendang. These are but a few of the playful dishes that'll feature on a one-off set menu at the CBD's Makan on Thursday, September 5. To make this happen, sisters Tasia and Gracia Seger (Makan) are teaming up with MasterChef Australia's Michael Weldon, together giving beloved Aussie dishes an Indonesian makeover. It's a mashup unlike any other we've seen in Melbourne. For $120, you'll get snacks like keju crackers with Vegemite sambal, batagor dim sims with peanut dressing, beef rendang and jackfruit pies and urutan sausage sandwiches. This is followed by a cohu kingfish and chips, kangaroo satay, babi guling Sunday roast and Indonesian spiced charcoal chicken. Fairy bread served with brown butter ice cream and sri kaya jam rounds out this fusion feast. "We have always wanted to do a collaboration that celebrates both our Indonesian heritage and Australian upbringing, and we couldn't resist doing it in a way that brings together the more playful, nostalgic dishes we grew up on. So, when Michael suggested we do a fresh, spiced-laden take on Bunnings sausage sandwiches, South Melbourne Market dim sims and fairy bread, we instantly got excited," shares Tasia Seger. It's a shame this dinner is only running for one night, but it's sure to sell out. Be sure to score tickets as soon as possible. Images: Kimberly Liew.
The 2017 Melbourne International Film Festival is already slated to start with a Jungle trek, take audiences on a retro sci-fi trip and showcase a hefty dose of Cannes titles. But that's just the first act — there's way (way) more where that came from. Tonight unveiling this year's full lineup, MIFF has announced it will screen 358 films in total, representing 68 countries, and including 251 features, 88 shorts, 17 virtual reality experiences and 12 talks. Phew. Taking over 13 venues across Melbourne from August 3 to 20, the 2017 festival — the event's 66th — also boasts 31 world premieres and 135 Australian premieres. That's quite the batch of numbers, but cinephiles only need remember one more: how many films you can cram in over the fest's 18-day run. Leading the charge among the complete program is closing night's Gurrumul Elcho Dreaming, which will enjoy its world premiere at MIFF. The documentary explores of the life and music of Aussie artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, formerly of Yothu Yindi, and ensures that this year's festival is bookended with local flicks. Elsewhere, fellow Australian picks span street art documentary Have You Seen the Listers?, Melissa George and Ewen Leslie in The Butterfly Tree, and a virtual reality peek into asylum seeker life in VR short Inside Manus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJweqjIWtbg Other new titles include the Jon Hamm and Geena Davis-starring Marjorie Prime, about holographic recreations of deceased loves ones; Beatriz at Dinner, featuring Salma Hayek, Chloe Sevigny and John Lithgow; Lucky, which sees Twin Peaks' Harry Dean Stanton and David Lynch appear together on screen; and Beach Rats, this year's Sundance US Dramatic comp director winner. An IMAX screening of Terrence Malick's 40-years-in-the-making documentary Voyage of Time, the David Wenham-directed walk-and-talk effort Ellipsis, and Swedish indigenous drama Sami Blood are also on the bill, alongside a triple dose of Hong Sang-soo thanks to Yourself and Yours, Claire's Camera and On the Beach at Night Alone, as well as the world premiere of Ben Elton's newbie Three Summers. Of course, MIFF isn't just about screening films — it's also about showcasing the talented folks behind them. One of the best movies of the year so far, the Armie Hammer-starring romance Call Me By Your Name, comes to MIFF with Italian director Luca Guadagnino in attendance, while iconic Aussie filmmaker Jane Campion will introduce a screening of her new TV mini-series Top of the Lake: China Girl. Plus, diving deeper into its themed strands, this year's festival will also feature a program of '80s and early '90s Australian films directed by women, a tribute to The Party filmmaker Sally Potter's cinematic output to date and a selection of animal docos (expect chicken, rats, dolphins and more). Getting into genre territory, MIFF's usual Night Shift lineup jumps from real-life serial killer thrills with My Friend Dahmer to Takashi Miike's Blade of the Immortal to the US-made, Colombia-set The Belko Experiment from Jungle filmmaker Greg McLean, with plenty of others in between. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi2KRS_hinE All of the above joins a sizeable selection of already-revealed, excitement-worthy flicks, including The Killing of a Sacred Deer from The Lobster director Yorgos Lanthimos, '90s-set AIDS activism drama BPM, Palme d'Or winner The Square, Robert Pattinson crime flick Good Time, Michael Haneke's Happy End and the Andy Samberg-produced Brigsby Bear. Plus, more RPatz in The Lost City of Z, Aussie actress Emily Browning playing a Melburnian in New York opposite Jason Schwartzman and the Beastie Boys' Adam Horovitz in Golden Exits, swoon-inducing queer romance God's Own Country, transgender drama A Fantastic Woman, New Zealand horror amusement park-based Spookers, and Aussie efforts Ali's Wedding, Australia Day and That's Not Me are also on the stacked bill. The Melbourne International Film Festival runs from August 3 to 20, with tickets on sale from 11am on July 14. For more information, visit the MIFF website.
Get on down to Melbourne's most iconic retail precinct and party like its 1991. This September, Melbourne Central is celebrating its quarter century — and what better way to do so than by turning back that famous clock? As part of the Rewind '91 festivities, Melbourne Central and Concrete Playground are teaming up on one hell of a promotion. Simply enter below and you can go in the running to win an outrageously decadent prize that includes: - One night's accommodation for two at St Jerome's Hotel on the Melbourne Central roof. - Front of the line access to a new virtual reality experience that takes viewers back to the late 1800s when the iconic Coops Shot Tower was still in use. - A tour of Melbourne Central's hidden nooks and crannies with local history-buff Dale Campisi (September 24 or 25). - Two tickets to Melbourne Central's VIP Birthday Event (September 7). - $250 worth of Melbourne Central shopping vouchers. [competition]586681[/competition] Now you've entered, enjoy this hit of nostalgia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzeqSDvNNm0
Common wisdom tells us that, if you really want to innovate, you need to think outside the box. But it turns out thinking inside the box can sometimes be just as effective. Case in point: Freight Farms, a shipping container farm company aiming to revolutionise urban agriculture. It's the brainchild of owners Jon Friedman and Brad McNamara, and the result of some out-of-the-figurative-box, inside-the-literal-box thinking. As the name suggests, the American company specialises in sustainable farm systems built inside portable shipping containers. The so-called Leafy Green Machines (LGMs) are outfitted with LED lighting that replicates sunlight, a drip irrigation system that uses just ten gallons of water a day, and sensors that balance temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels. Crops such as lettuce and kale are grown in vertical towers to avoid wasted space and ensure the maximum possible yield. "Freight Farms is just a much more efficient use of land," Friedman told The Huffington Post. "You're talking about growing vertically in a very condensed footprint." Apparently, the farms can yield the equivalent of two acres of conventional farmland. "The cost to get a farm right now is right around $80,000" says McNamara. "But the operating cost is going to be under $20,000 a year. We have farmers who are clearing revenue anywhere from $60,000 a year growing certain crop, all the way to $90,000 and above." And according to the pair, the farms don't require a great deal of expertise or in-depth training to run. "We focused a lot on creating a platform that people can use with only motivation — not requiring advanced degrees or advanced schooling or long training." Anyone up for growing their own kale? Freight Farms Allow You To Grow Food AnywhereThis portable vegetable garden's growing inside a 320-square-foot shipping container that can yield as much as two acres of farmland. Posted by The Huffington Post on Friday, January 8, 2016 Via The Huffington Post.
For all of us down here in the southern hemisphere, Christmas has never really aligned with the classic ‘snowy tree, Christmas jumpers, roast dinner and egg nog’ style of celebration enjoyed by the north. Frankly, the thought of eating a hot, greasy wad of ham on a 35-degree day is kind of gross — give us a tinnie and a prawn skewer anytime. But that doesn’t mean we don’t like to pretend, and the Hotham Street Ladies have just the thing. These cheeky Melbourne artists have created a sweet, sweet installation for the iconic Hotel Windsor that features a massive, traditional Christmas spread. There's a fat roast chicken, glazed ham, juicy lobster, baked whole fish (man, we sure eat a lot of meat at Christmas, Gaviscon must rake it in) and not to mention the succulent desserts and sides. This piece of art looks better than any Christmas meal you’ve ever made (hell it looks better than most things) and the kicker? It’s made entirely from icing sugar. The Christmas at The Windsor exhibit (which is on display from December 1 to January 5) took over a month to create and the gals used an incredible range of modelling and piping techniques to work in so much detail. Aren't across these bold, culinary artists? The Hotham Street Ladies are an artist collective of five women — Cassandra Chilton, Molly O’Shaughnessy, Sarah Parkes, Caroline Price and Lyndal Walker — who derive their name from the days when they lived together in a share house in Collingwood. Their mutal passion for cakes, baking, feminism and craft has since informed their work and it’s pretty damned cute (with a big streak of feminist badassery). Check out some of their other work, including a puppy cake covered in iced flowers, candy beards, a table setting designed around leftovers and this gloriously graphic iced period stain installation in the men’s toilets at the Victorian College of the Arts. Christmas at The Windsor is on display at the Hotel Windsor, 111 Spring Street from December 1 to the January 5.
Glamour's the name of the game at Fitzroy's latest late night venue, from the team behind South Yarra's much-loved Less Than Zero. Open as of earlier this week, Glamorama will be serving up tasty food and extravagant beverages from their Brunswick Street kitchens and pumping electronic music well into the early hours. Located at 395 Brunswick Street, Glamorama boasts a beer garden, private booths and a state-of-the-art sound system, through which they'll blast the best in disco, techno and house. Local newcomers will play alongside major international artists, with H.O.S.H and Dense & Pika both booked for the coming months. The drinks list will have a focus on local whiskies, with drops from Sullivans Cove to Bakery Hill. They also offer an extensive range of amazingly named cocktails. Our favourite would have to be Bring Back Savage Garden (Hendricks, cranberry juice, cucumber, basil, celery shrub bitters and soda). That said, Buffalo's of the Caribbean (Angostura and peach bitters, buffalo trace, toasted coconut syrup and lemon juice) doesn't sound half bad either. The kitchen will be manned by head chef Shaun Hansen, whose experience at the now-closed Sweetwater Inn should hold hungry patrons in good stead. Vegan chicken wings may sound like a contradiction in terms, but we can't say we're not curious to give them a try. And who could have any reservations about Tim Tam trifle or lamington fried ice cream? Other options include moussaka with potato, eggplant, zucchini, capsicum, basil puree and red cabbage, and 'Botox' pies complete with syringes full of sauce. Dinner will be served until 11pm each night, while bar snacks will be available until 3am. Glamorama can be found at 395 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Their hours are 5pm – 3am on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 5pm – 5am on Friday and Saturday. For more information visit their website. Images: Eugene Hyland.
Normally the words 'YouTube sensation' trigger an instant shudder of revulsion as the abominable lovechild of Bieber and Nyan Cat twerks into your imagination, but that's where it also began for British trip-hop trio London Grammar who will be gracing our shores in March — after last July's cancellation. Ever since the release of 'Hey Now', which clocked up over a million views in just under a month, the indie darlings have gone from strength to strength. With a platinum debut album If You Wait, three songs in this 2014's triple j Hottest 100 (including a top ten spot for 'Strong') and rave-reviewed appearances at festivals worldwide under their collective belts, the trio are set to continue their love affair with the Australian public when they hit up the Festival Hall on March 14. Fronted by the preternaturally talented Hannah Reid, whose vocal range has seen her compared to the likes of Florence Welch and Adele, London Grammar had to cancel their tour last year after Reid was struck down with pneumonia. This national tour has been long-awaited by Australian fans, many of whom were lucky enough to catch their memorable set at Splendour in the Grass just a few short years ago. Supported by Until the Ribbon Breaks + Wet. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nMEHJPuggHQ
You'll be simultaneously throwing shapes and ramen in your mouth this spring, as Melbourne's Supernormal prepares to host Melbourne's first ever Ramen Rave with New York’s new-wave ramen guru Ivan Orkin on October 28, as part of this year's Good Food Month. Now the world’s largest food festival, GFM will see more than 240 events, masterclasses, tastings and one-off indulgences taking place across the city and regional Victoria from November 1-30, including the highly-anticipated Ramen Rave. For one night only, Orkin will be serving up his signature shio ramen alongside Supernormal's Andrew McConnell, who'll be matching his favourite in-house snacks — including matcha soft serve. There'll be highballs and sake aplenty, karaoke in the basement, while local DJs Andras Fox and Zach PM get the actual rave going. Sweets, lollies, cakes, dessert and all things sugary run the show at this year’s Good Food Month. The toothache begins with Sweetfest, a mini-festival of sugary delights at North Melbourne's Meat Market on November 28-29, featuring Instagram-happy cake monarch Katherine Sabbath, dessert queen Philippa Sibley, confection wizard Pierre Roelofs and more. Plus, during GFM, there are no less than eight hectic high teas to choose from. Hardcore sweet tooths, prepare to meet New York City's Big Gay Ice Cream legends and dulce de leche injectors Douglas Quint and Bryan Petroff, as they launch two new books with an Ice Cream Social and make the ultimate fairy bread ice cream sandwiches with Melbourne food truck My Two Mums at the ever-popular Night Noodle Markets. Due to popular demand, the Birrarung Marr markets have been extended to a whopping 18 nights across November 12-29. Expect old favourites such as Chin Chin, Bao Stop and Hoy Pinoy with newbies. Good Food Month tends to attract some pretty big chef hats, and this year you'll be able to feast on expertly smoked mussels from top chefs David Moyle of Franklin Restaurant and French chef Florent Geradin in Eclade de Moyle. Learn the Peruvian ropes with Diego Muñoz, watch Melbourne's top chefs make their mentors' specialties into Cinema Nova movie snacks, then watch the bigwigs of the culinary industry debate The Future of Food, in a lively panel between editor-in-chief of Lucky Peach Chris Ying, Pulitzer prize-winning LA Times food critic Jonathan Gold and award-winning Attica head chef Ben Shewry. GFM's ever-popular returning event series will be back with plenty of citywide feasting experiences, from Hats Off Dinners to the Eat Art series. Take a culinary tour of the graffiti capitals of the world with Easey's, take an American 'Dude Food' Walking Tour, learn how to make bagels at home with 5 & Dime, see Huxtable take on Ms Collins, see Saint Crispin take on Gelato Messina, then find the very best in food goodness at Australia’s largest charity kitchen in Abbotsford, by FareShare — where you can volunteer. Check out our top event picks of Good Food Month 2015.
Leaving the safety net of university life can be daunting. Taxes, health insurance, budgeting and eating greens are all tricky requirements of adulting, not to mention trying to get a job ("Graduate position, minimum two years of experience required..." what is this madness?). But fear not, there is hope. We've profiled five young go-getters who hit the ground running after uni and achieved their success through unconventional means. They did it and you can too (stop that, yes you can). [caption id="attachment_562120" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: @sedgebeswick.[/caption] SEDGE BESWICK, 26, GLOBAL SENIOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY MANAGER AT ASOS For most of us, using social media is just that a social activity. For others it’s a way of life and a strategic marketing tool; when wielded properly can elevate a start-up and polish a personal brand no matter how small. Sedge Beswick is one such social media maven and part of a young generation of digital natives that are coming up through volunteer positions and internships to absolutely kill it at the media game for big companies. That playful tone you adore on ASOS social media? That’s Beswick. And while managing the global social media for ASOS, she’s also racked up a neat little 11k on her personal Instagram, written a book about using Twitter strategically and designed a line of t-shirts emblazoned with social media slogans. She’s literally #killingit. BECKY SUI ZHEN, 31, MUSICIAN Sui Zhen is one of the many monikers of Melbourne-based musician Becky Sui Zhen who has risen through the ranks of the music scene to be hailed as a 'social media musician' due to her pristine and eye catching artistic vision. She’s put in the hard yards over the years, studying graphic design and Japanese, winning grants, releasing EPs in Japan and doing overseas residencies and all while playing prolifically around Australia. She also produces and edits the iconic film clips for Sui Zhen and has collaborated with artist and photographer Phebe Schmidt. She’s poised to take over the world in 2016 following the late-2015 release her first Australian LP ‘Secretly Susan’. The LP caught the attention of FADER who clocked her as one of 25 international artists to watch and she’s supported Toro Y Moi in Melbourne on his 2016 Aussie tour. We imagine 2016 is only going to get better for this kawaii gem. GERMAINE STATIA, JAMAL OULEL + AYOUB AOURAGH, 23, 25 + 24, FOUNDERS AND DEVELOPERS AT REFUGEE HERO When the Syrian refugee crisis peaked in 2015, Dutch trio Germaine Statia, Jamal Oulel, and Ayoub Aouragh, responded with a contemporary and altruistic solution. Refugee Hero, hailed as the Airbnb for refugees, is a platform that allows people to offer their spare room up to refugees who have just arrived in their country. “We want to give back humanity to mankind,” says Statia. The service is 100 percent free and mobile-friendly. It allows individuals or institutions to offer help and shelter whether or not their government is pro-refugee. The team hopes the service can one day expand to cover all elements of resettling, from applying for passports to finding a new school for children and is a shining example of how modern technology can be used for good in the face of adversity. EMMA MULHOLLAND, 27, DESIGNER There’s something about Emma Mulholland that Australia is crazy for. The young designer hit the ground running after graduating from TAFE in 2010 and hasn’t stopped since. Her latest project, a collaboration with iconic Aussie label Mambo, proves that in a few short years, she’s explored, honed in on and defined exactly what makes her work so popular. The garish '80s and '90s themed prints and icons of our childhood combined with a(h)ctivewear references hit the nostalgia nail right on the head and the collection has resonated with Aussie kidults who grew up wearing bike shorts and climbing trees. Far away from the catwalks of Paris and Milan, Australia often struggles to define itself outside of a European reference and it’s no easy feat to export a uniquely Australian line, but Mulholland has done so with aplomb, straight outta TAFE. [caption id="attachment_562121" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: @louislazarus.[/caption] LUKE HAMPSHIRE AND ALEXANDER ROBINSON, 28 AND 32, AVIATION ENTERPRENEURS AT AIRLY In January, the Australian aviation scene had a sorely need shake up. Two young guns, 28-year-old Luke Hampshire and 32-year-old Alexander Robinson announced their airline company Airly which completely turns air travel on its head. Airly members pay a fee of $2550 (minimum) per month to fly as much as they like on the company’s private jets which operate between Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. For frequent fliers, the minimum waiting time and luxury service is a tasty drawcard. Hampshire, a former Air Force pilot, recognised a gap in the marketplace and despite the pair’s youth, turned an insight into an industry shake-up and paved the way for more options and versatility in air travel. Top image: Sedge Beswick.
Melbourne's annual winter festival RISING sprawls over a lot of the CBD, but the official hub is Night Trade. And this year, the free-to-enter art, food and music labyrinth is taking over the Capitol Arcade and surrounding alleyways from Saturday, June 1–Saturday, June 15. It's where you go to get fed, plan your next move while grabbing some drinks, get a psychic reading, and gawk at incredible art installations, light shows and live performances. [caption id="attachment_958059" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] One standout installation comes from UK artist Jeremy Deller, who has converted one of the laneway shops into an exhibition that's said to made for the goths and ravers. Expect to find a video grotto, spinning druids and other visual artworks within the small space. Next door, you can feed your inner artist at RISING's Sip and Paint ($39 per person) where a different artist will help you sculpt, paint, create and drink the night away. On the calendar is Magic Steven, Sammaneh Poursh, Geoffrey Watson, Xanthe Dobbie, Ned Middleton and Tobias Richardson. Elsewhere at RISING's Night Trade, party-loving healer Sue Thompson is holding psychic readings, LA artist John Kilduff is performing a live version of the cult public access TV show Let's Paint TV — a physical and mental breakdown of painting, cooking, singing and treadmill-based synth workouts — and DJs are playing a huge range of sets. There will even be a pop-up karaoke room where you can sing your favourite hits with a bunch of strangers. Those keen to pay for some live gigs can also hit up Night Trade's Stage Door, where the team are hosting a series of artists and parties. Each of these performances only cost $20, so it's an easy and cheap way to experience some of RISING's best bits. When it comes to bevs, you can hit up the Night Trade lounge bar that's been given an 80s underwater ambient theme. Pair this with Momo Station's Nepalese dumplings; Kim Sing's dim sum and noodles; Union Kiosk's jaffles; Los Amantes' Mexican street food; or The Alley Edition's hot chips and snacks — perfect for a cold night out in the city. Night Trade is always a must-visit at RISING, not only for these formally announced offerings, but because of all the surprise events and pop-up performances that will inevitably grace the space without any notice. [caption id="attachment_958058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption]
Kath and Kim's Kel Knight might be the ultimate sausage creator to many, but there are plenty of local butchers who give the purveyor of fine meats a run for his money. And the Builders Arms Hotel brings a few of them together every year when it hosts its epic Sausage Festival. For its 11th iteration, the pub's Andrew McConnell-run kitchen will be pumping out five specialty sausage dishes from Friday, June 21–Sunday, June 30 — made by butchers local to the Gertrude Street watering hole, with many produced by Troy Wheeler and his team at Meatsmith. Get around a classic merguez sausage served with three fresh oysters and mignonette sauce ($22), a layered mortadella sandwich in a milk bun and finished with salted butter ($14), spicy Thai sausages with green nam jim ($23), a blood sausage loaf topped with a fried egg and relish ($24) and an epic choucroute garnie that includes a heap of sauerkraut topped with smoked frankfurters, lyonnaise sausages and pork belly ($36). Each of the dishes also comes with a suggested wine, beer or cocktail pairing for those looking to take it all to the next level. Plus, if you rock up on Wednesday, June 26, you can join the Builders Arms' special sausage-themed trivia. Snag the win by showing off some of the most obscure sausage facts you know, all while chowing down on some less-than-classic bangers.
When is a hot cross bun not a hot cross bun? When it's a doughnut instead. And of all the sweet treats we've seen in the lead-up to the Easter holiday, this might be the one we want to sample the most. Easter Bunny, consider yourself briefed. The drool-worthy rings of spiced doughy goodness are the latest creation from Shortstop Coffee & Donuts. Alcohol soaked dried fruit is mixed through a sweet and spiced dough, before being fried and covered in a milk and honey glaze. If that's not an Easter miracle, what is? The hot cross doughnuts can be ordered via Shortstop's online store. Alternatively, Prahran-based gift delivery service LVLY have partnered with the intrepid doughnuteers and will happily ferry a box to a colleague, friend or loved one on your behalf, complete with personalised message and an optional floral arrangement. Of course, that's assuming you're not just ordering them for yourself — which, if we're being honest, would be a damn shame. You can currently pre-order through LVLY for delivery between Monday, March 21 and Thursday, March 24. Fair warning though: this probably isn't a great idea for anyone who's given up junk food for Lent, especially so close to the finish line. LVLY deliver to Melbourne's inner suburbs. A box of five Shortstop hot cross doughnuts will cost $38 including delivery, and can be ordered through LVLY here.
It's going to be a battle of bird and Budapest this year at the Academy Awards; the nominations for 2015 have been unveiled this morning. However, the nominations have been met with fierce criticism for a lack of diversity. The big guns at the front of the game: Richard Linklater's Boyhood nabbed six noms as did Clint Eastwood's American Sniper, but right out in front Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman each clocked up nine nominations each. Everyone's talking about the snub to Selma; the Martin Luther King Jr.-focused film missed out on nominations for lead actor David Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay. Bradley Cooper's nomination for Best Actor in Clint Eastwood's American Sniper was another surprise, a nomination omitted from the Golden Globes. There's a few more Easter eggs in there; Jennifer Anniston missed out on a Best Actress nomination for Cake, the spot instead going to Two Days, One Night's Marion Cotillard. Guardians of the Galaxy is nominated for Best Makeup Design (#iamgroot). Christopher Nolan's Interstellar (one of 2014's most talked-about films that was tipped to possibly miss out) nabbed five nominations including Best Original Score. And Studio Ghibli's The Tale of Princess Kaguya nabbed a Best Animation nom, despite terrible box office figures and the closure of Ghibli's feature film department. And The Lonely Island's Andy Samberg was nominated for Best Original Song for The Lego Movie's Everything is Awesome'. So there's that. There's significant debate over the diversity of the Oscar nominations this year, observations that the Academy have been taking great pains to change over the years. It's been brought up by social media that all 20 of the nominated actors are white, leading to the trending Twitter hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. The Selma snubs have been constantly referenced. The dominance of white Academy voters was also pinpointed by this infographic; 94 percent of voters are white and 77 percent of these are male — black and latino voters made up just 2 percent each. Needless to say, debates are swirling webwide. All will be analysed, prodded, celebrated and scorned on February 22. AND THE NOMINEES ARE: Best Picture American Sniper Birdman Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Selma The Theory of Everything Whiplash Best Actor Steve Carell, Foxcatcher Bradley Cooper, American Sniper Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game Michael Keaton, Birdman Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything Best Actress Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything Julianne Moore, Still Alice Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl Reese Witherspoon, Wild Best Supporting Actor Robert Duvall, The Judge Ethan Hawke, Boyhood Edward Norton, Birdman Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher J. K. Simmons, Whiplash Best Supporting Actress Patricia Arquette, Boyhood Laura Dern, Wild Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game Emma Stone, Birdman Meryl Streep, Into the Woods Best Cinematography Birdman The Grand Budapest Hotel Ida Mr. Turner Unbroken Best Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Birdman Richard Linklater, Boyhood Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game Best Original Screenplay Boyhood Birdman Foxcatcher The Grand Budapest Hotel Nightcrawler Best Adapted Screenplay American Sniper The Imitation Game Inherent Vice The Theory of Everything Whiplash Best Foreign Language Film Ida, Poland Leviathan, Russia Tangerines, Estonia Timbuktu, Mauritania Wild Tales, Argentina Best Makeup and Hairstyling Foxcatcher The Grand Budapest Hotel Guardians of the Galaxy Best Original Score The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar Mr. Turner The Theory of Everything Best Costume Design The Grand Budapest Hotel Inherent Vice Into the Woods Maleficent Mr. Turner Best Documentary Feature Citizenfour Finding Vivian Maier Last Days in Vietnam Salt of the Earth Virunga Best Documentary Short Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 Joanna Our Curse The Reaper White Earth Best Film Editing American Sniper Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Whiplash Best Animated Feature Big Hero 6 The Boxtrolls How to Train Your Dragon 2 Song of the Sea The Tale of Princess Kaguya Best Original Song “Lost Stars,” Begin Again “Grateful,” Beyond the Lights “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me “Everything is Awesome,” The Lego Movie “Glory,” Selma Best Production Design The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar Into the Woods Mr. Turner Best Animated Short Film The Bigger Picture The Dam Keeper Feast Me and My Moulton A Single Life Best Live-Action Short Film Aya Boogaloo and Graham Butter Lamp Paraveneh The Phone Call Best Sound Editing American Sniper Birdman The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Interstellar Unbroken Best Sound Mixing American Sniper Birdman Interstellar Unbroken Whiplash Best Visual Effects Captain America: The Winter Soldier Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Guardians of the Galaxy Interstellar X-Men: Days of Future Past
UPDATE: DECEMBER 5, 2018 — Due to popular demand, the NGV and Lululemon have added a heap of new (free!) wellness classes to their Breathe. Sweat. Stretch Free program. With the first round of tickets selling out in 24 hours, we're expecting these will get snapped up quickly, too. To nab yours, head to the NGV website and enter the code LULUNGV. As well as being part of many an art-gazing adventure when it opens its blockbuster Escher x Nendo exhibition this summer, the National Gallery of Victoria will also become a temporary workout destination when it hosts a slew of free wellness classes. The classes come courtesy of Lululemon — the brand is celebrating its 20th anniversary and will take over the gallery's serene Grollo Equiset Garden for a 20-week series of yoga, circuit and meditation classes. And they won't cost you a cent. Kicking off Wednesday, November 14, there are three sessions to choose from, running both in the mornings and after-hours. Punters can reconnect with their flow at a grounding yoga class, build mindfulness with a meditation session, or bump up the heart rate at the all-body 'sweat' class. They'll be led by a team of Lululemon's local ambassadors and fitness experts and will cater to all fitness levels. They're designed to get you bending, stretching, de-stressing and working those muscles, right through the summer months. Classes are free to join, with mats provided, though you'll need to book here (and quick!) to secure your spot.
Facebook and SBS are about to give Netflix, Stan and Presto and run for their money. For the first time ever, an Aussie TV show will premiere exclusively via Mark Zuckerberg’s communications empire — yep, on Facebook. And it’s not just any old show, it’s The Family Law — a six-part series based on Benjamin Law’s smash hit memoir. When the first episode hits screens from 5pm on Friday, January 8, you’ll be watching it on your smartphone, tablet or laptop, rather than your TV. And nowhere else. It’ll be available only on Facebook until midnight, Sunday, January 10, before screening on SBS on Thursday, January 14 at 8.30pm. “Facebook is fast becoming the place where people discover new video content,” says Jason Juma-Ross, Facebook's head of technology, entertainment and communications in Australia. “11 million Australians visit Facebook each day, 91 percent of these via a mobile phone. We are excited to be partnering with SBS on this first look event and to enable The Family Law to be shown on demand to the broad Facebook audience.” Marshall Heald, director of TV and online content at SBS agrees. “As audiences move more freely between platforms and devices, we as a broadcaster have to move with them," he says. "We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to bring SBS content to all Australians, and Facebook offers such a unique one-to-one viewing experience. The Family Law is one of SBS’s most hotly anticipated programs for 2016, and we’re thrilled to be able to surprise our audience by inviting them to meet The Laws early with this Australian-first Facebook premiere.” The Family Law is screening on Facebook from 5pm on Friday, January 8. To let SBS know you’re joining the party, head to The Family Law event page. Image: SBS.
We're just days out from one of the Mornington Peninsula's most hotly anticipated launches, with the team behind Pt. Leo Estate announcing the cultural and culinary haven will open to the public on Wednesday, October 25. Gracing 134 hectares at the Peninsula's southern tip, the multifaceted family-owned property will boast a 110-seat restaurant, an enormous cellar door and a sprawling sculpture park, pegged to be the most significant of its kind in the country. With panoramic Western Port Bay views as the backdrop, the sculpture park will debut with over 50 large-scale works from both Australian and international artists and is set to evolve and grow over the years. Meanwhile, the semi-circular cellar door and restaurant is the work of acclaimed Melbourne architects Jolson, taking pride of place at the property's highest point and featuring sweeping views across the vineyard, the sculpture park and the Bay. The eatery's menus, created by Culinary Director Phil Wood (ex-Rockpool and Eleven Bridge) will centre around seasonal, regional produce, kicking off with dishes like a beetroot pancake with salmon roe and lemon curd, and a wallaby pie. Meanwhile, a central woodfired oven will work magic with quality local proteins like duck and beef. The restaurant's pitched as a comfy, casual venue, with a second more intimate dining space slated to open towards the end of the year. Pt. Leo Estate will open at 3649 Frankston-Flinders Road, Merricks, from Wednesday, October 25. For more info, visit ptleoestate.com.au. Images: Anson Smart.
It's the society wedding of the year, and you're invited. Melbourne socialites Jasper and Jasmine are going to tie the knot at St Kilda's West Beach Bathers Pavilion this May; trotting down the aisle, barking their vows and sniffing each other's butts. Yep, they're pugs. It's a pug wedding. A real life pug wedding. Seems there's a Leslie Knope living in Melbourne. Raising much-needed funds for Pug Rescue and Adoption Victoria Inc. (a volunteer-run, foster care-based animal welfare charity with a focus on pugs), this wedding doesn't have the happiest Disney backstory. Jasmine and Jasper came into the care of Pug Rescue in April 2013, after they were found to be so morbidly obese they could hardly breathe. They were taken from their former home by the rescue team and apparently were turning blue on the car ride, poor little things. But just one year later, Pug Rescue have nursed the pair back to health so they can enjoy a newfound pug life with each other and their new family — together. Take a hike, The Notebook; this is a true love story for the ages. Now, let's get these pugs married already. On Sunday, May 17, Pug Rescue are putting on the works for these pups. Get ready for this; Jasmine will wear an exclusive couture bridal gown designed by renowned Australian designer and Project Runway runner-up Craig Braybrook. A pug in couture. As if you're not locking this in already. Jasper's outfit is yet to be confirmed, but we're predicting mini bowtie at the very least. The whole event will be styled by Christian Wagstaff of Melbourne’s famed Creative Production and the venue will be decked out with flowers by Virginia Chorley of The Bouquets of Ascha Jolie. Tickets to the Wedding of the Year are $60, which we reckon is a straight-up bargain considering all funds raised go to Pug Rescue; helping to fund future pug psychological and physical rehabilitation along with the vet care and specialty surgery. And apparently they're selling fast, so get on it. If you can't make it, make sure you raise a water bowl to Jasper and Jasmine next Sunday; overcoming terrible odds and living a brand new #puglyf together. Jasper and Jasmine's pug wedding ceremony is happening from 1pm on Sunday, May 17, West Beach Bathers Pavilion, 330A Beaconsville Parade, St Kilda. Tickets are $60 per person from jasperandjasmine.com, or 'virtual tickets' are $19.95 — an invitation-only live video stream of the wedding online. Video of the wedding will also be available online for two weeks post-event for virtual ticket holders. Images: Ragamuffin.
If jungle vibes inside an inner-north warehouse sounds like your perfect outing, head along to Rumble in the Jungle on January 27. It's the first indoor plant sale for 2018 from The Jungle Collective, and the Abbotsford nursery is doing more than selling all kinds of weird and wonderful species. They're also turning up the radio and counting down 2017's best tracks. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here — and, from 9am, ace tunes as well. The Hottest 100 will be blaring as you wander through a sea of greenery. Keep your eyes extra peeled, as they'll be releasing some of the rare plants they've been growing over summer. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the day to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. Be inspired by the gorgeous green warehouse and learn to incorporate plants into your home and living spaces while soaking up some tunes. There's even a special deal for those who are keen to mark the occasion by dressing up, with $5 discount given to all shoppers wearing their favourite band t-shirt.
All the countless hours you’ve spent agonising over filters and hashtags are finally about to pay off. In a promotional exercise for their latest production Meme Girls, Malthouse Theatre are giving away free tickets to some of Melbourne’s most influential social media users. The giveaway is open to anyone who has cultivated more than 5000 followers on either Instagram or Twitter. If that’s you, simply email boxoffice@malthouse.com.au with your name and social media handle, and you can bag two tickets to the Wednesday, April 22, show. But you're not just scoring free tickets for nothing. Malthouse will encourage audience members to tweet and Instagram throughout the performance. It’s a bold move, one that theatres have trialled in the past to no small amount of controversy. Malthouse themselves made headlines in 2012 when they designated special 'tweet seats' for social media users. The LA Times technology blog attributes the first instance of live theatre tweeting to a 2009 staging of Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore in Kansas, during which audience members in the 100 special seats of the final performance could access tweets from the show’s artistic director about the production, scenery and story unfurling on stage while tweeting their own questions and comments. Arguably one of its most successful and interesting uses was for director Ivo van Hove's media reportage-inspired Roman Tragedies at Adelaide Festival 2014, where audience members were encourage to tweet and become part of the show — The Lifted Brow even wrote an 'almost live review'. Whether live social media use works for Meme Girls remains to be seen. The show itself is the latest tongue-in-cheek work from actor and theatre-maker Ash Flanders, and has been described by Malthouse as “a love letter to the bizarre and addictive women of YouTube who broadcast their lives into the abyss.” So we're in the right online social territory. It could work. It might even be the best night to see it. Malthouse's season of Meme Girls runs until May 2. People with less than 5000 social media followers are also welcome to attend on April 22 — by buying a ticket at the Malthouse website. By Tom Clift and Rima Sabina Aouf.
Chapel Street's Mr Miyagi is well-known for its crowd-favourite tacos. Unfortunately in the past, most of the best ones have traditionally been limited-edition, event-only specials. Tacos pop-up at Melbourne's annual Night Noodle Markets, people eat them by the truckload, then they're gone. Not anymore. After selling over half a million nori tacos, Mr Miyagi has decided to launch Takosu Tuesdays, meaning keen diners will be able to order some of Mr Miyagi's classic taco hits every Tuesday night. Kicking off on June 20, expect the famous Peking Duck Taco and Spider Crab Taco on the menu at this Chapel Street favourite. There's also a new Takosu Tuesday Trio, which includes three mini taco versions for $19.50. That includes Peking Duck, Spider Crab and Salmon Nori. Wash them down with Mr Miyagi's special O-toso: a traditional Japanese sake, spiced with cinnamon, clove, star anise, apple and white chocolate. Takosu Tuesdays kick off on June 20 and you'll probably want to book for this one. Mr Miyagi tends to get busy, even mid-week. Images: supplied.
Come festive season, finding a happy, willing designated driver is tougher than claiming a square metre of sand to yourself on Bondi Beach. Who wants to be the sober one in the corner, while everyone else is knocking back the boss's free Verve Clicquot at the Christmas party? That being said, someone's gotta do it. So we thought we might cheer you up and take a look at the upside of being responsible. Not only will your mates owe you one for potentially saving their lives and licences, you'll avoid drunken social media fails, have a higher chance of not getting sacked, do your liver a favour and wake up feeling like a million bucks, ready to kick all the goals. In partnership with Coca-Cola and their Designated Driver program that's celebrating us all getting home safe by giving us free Cokes throughout the night, here are eight reasons why it'll benefit you to volunteer to deso over the holidays. DO IT FOR THE HEALTH BENEFITS Apart from your friends, if there's one party that's going to be grateful for your decision, it's your liver. Drinking can cause it all kinds of nasties within your body — especially when you get into having too much of a good time over too long a period. Possible consequences of overdoing it include fatty liver, alcohol-related hepatitis and cirrhosis. But, even if things don't get as bad as that, a liver under pressure can cause fatigue, weight gain, digestive issues and mood swings. The good news is that your liver can repair itself — take on the designated driver mantle for a few weeks in a row and you're likely to have clearer skin, better vision and a more positive mindset. Boom. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT DRUNK TEXTING THING YOU DO The first step to feeling good about being a designated driver is contemplating the things you'll avoid doing. Top of the pile are all the drunken texts and social media posts you won't send if you choose to forego alcohol for the night (or day). You won't message that ex-partner, rant about how much you hate your job or embarrass yourself with obvious spelling mistakes. YOU'LL REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE We recommend using this one to your advantage. When you wake up bright-eyed, recalling with glee all the things you didn't do, your friends will be groggily struggling to put together the pieces — and agonising over what might or might not have happened, with or without who or what, when or where. This is where you can get smug. Knowledge is power. Don't hand over all the details straight away, but parcel them out slowly, like every good story teller does, and, wherever possible, use them as bargaining chips for future payback. (If you're stuck for ideas, see below, under "Your Mates' Worship"). YOU'LL WAKE UP FEELING DAMN GOOD The next day, while your friends are commando crawling to and from the bathroom, you'll be feeling like a million bucks. It's time to squeeze yourself a kale juice and start kicking all the goals. Always wanted to start a start-up? Set up the website and contact a designer. Been trying to get yourself into a consistent yoga routine? Roll out your mat and salute the sun. Been meaning to catch up with your mum for a coffee? Give her a buzz. One of the drawbacks of Australia's passionate drinking culture is the toll it can take on motivation to get things done. THERE WILL BE NO BAD DANCE MOVES, OR KARAOKE ATTEMPTS Now that everyone carries a HD camera in their pocket, one bad dance move can mean a lifetime of ridicule. Yet, even the most self-conscious of us, after a champagne or two, get to thinking we're Prince when the funk hits the airwaves. But not you. The only time you'll be making moves like these will be at No Lycra, No Lights, in the dark. The same goes for karaoke — as strains of Mariah Carey soar across the air, your lips will be firmly, blissfully sealed (maybe, it can be hard to resist the temptation of a Mariah singalong). YOUR FRIENDS WILL WORSHIP YOU You gotta milk this one for all it's worth. Every time you offer to hang out with your mates, while they get messy and you stay sober, you're doing them a major solid by looking after them and saving them a pricey Uber fare. And, we say, don't let them forget it — ever, ever, ever. We're thinking lots and lots and lots of presents, dinners in ferris wheels, sleepovers in luxurious hotels, spa experiences, Facebook pages set up in your honour and altars draped with incense and flowers. YOU'LL KEEP YOUR JOB (AND YOUR DIGNITY) As uncomfortable as this might make you feel, the fact is, employers scour social media accounts. They like to know who their employees (and prospective employees) are outside of business hours. And, by having a quick squizz at how you spend your time, they can work out a bit about your personality, values, family members, friends, opinions and, importantly here, drinking habits. So, creating a feed packed with photos that look like scenes out of The Hangover isn't putting your best foot forward. A shot of you as the designated driver, however? That's practically a job offer or promotion, right there. YOU'LL SAVE YOURSELF SOME MONEY As your friends weep over their empty wallets the next morning, you'll be taking yourself out to breakfast in a fancy, fancy cafe and ordering anything you damn well like. It's no secret that drinking isn't cheap, but once you get to feeling merry, it's all too easy to forget about that and let cash slip through your drunken hands quicker than water. Meanwhile, designated drivers all over the country are amassing fortunes.Become one of them and, when you're jetting off on your next international holiday, the few drunken nights you missed out on will disappear into nothingness. If you're a designated driver over the holiday season, ask a bartender for a driver's Coca-Cola and a wristband — they've teamed up with venues across the city to celebrate the hero of the night and give you free soft drinks from their range. The Coca-Cola Designated Driver program will run until the end of January. For a full list of participating venues, visit the website.
