After attracting 286,631 visitors to its inaugural event in 2017, The National: New Australian Art — an epic contemporary Australian art exhibition held across three major Sydney galleries — is back. Due to open on March 29, the program will feature works from 65 emerging, mid-career and established artists at the Art Gallery of NSW, the MCA and Carriageworks. Taking care of the AGNSW's offering is Isobel Parker Philip, Curator of Photographs. "States of suspense and anticipation characterise the exhibition at AGNSW, as 24 artists navigate the boundary between chaos and control in work that is by turns political, poetic and personal," Philip said of the exhibition. Look out for Victorian artist Mira Gojak's sculpture Stops, which brings together steel rods and sky blue acrylic yarn, as well as Rushdi Anwar's Irhal (expel), hope and the sorrow of displacement, 2013–ongoing, which combines burnt wooden chairs, black pigment, charcoal and ash. At the MCA, you'll find works by 21 artists from cities, regional areas and remote communities, co-curated by Clothilde Bullen, MCA Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections and Exhibitions, and Anna Davis, MCA Curator. "We have selected a diverse group of artists whose practices reflect urgent contemporary concerns," they said in a combined statement. "Many pose questions around hierarchies of power and the ways in which different groups are represented, while other artists create new rituals and experiment with improvisational processes." Among these are The Australian Ugliness (2018) by Melbourne's Eugenia Lim — which exhibited in Melbourne earlier this year as part of Open House — a multi-channel video installation exploring our national aesthetic; and Mumu Mike Williams' Kulilaya munuya nitiriwa (Listen and learn from us) (2017), a painting on canvas mail bag, with wood, kangaroo tendon and resin. Meanwhile Daniel Mudie Cunningham, Senior Curator of Visual Arts, has determined the 19-strong program at Carriageworks. "The National 2019 at Carriageworks presents newly commissioned works that map memory and place-making, where the work of art is a form of emotional tourism," he said. "Exploring the boundaries of truth and fiction, the selected artists reflect on the individual's place in an uncertain and ever-shifting world." Tasmanian duo Mish Meijers and Tricky Walsh will be bringing The Crocker Land Expedition, an installation made up of timber, found objects, parachute, plastic and light, while Troy-Anthony Baylis, an Aboriginal artist of the Jawoyn nation, will be continuing (re)presentations of "notions of drag (cultural and gender), landscape and home". The exhibition will run at AGNSW from 29 March–21 July 2019, and at Carriageworks and the MCA from 29 March–23 June 2019. Image: Eugenia Lim, The Australian Ugliness (2018), photo by Tom Ross.
In August of last year, something amazing happened in Tasmania. Tasmania is like that distant cousin you never paid much attention to, but then, when you hit your mid-twenties, you take a second and realise that, hey, they're actually pretty cool. Yep, that's Tassie. While you might not have appreciated your 1999 family holiday to Hobart, now they've got that whole rugged landscape, quality art and bar scene thing going on and, all of a sudden, everyone's totally into it. And to blow your mind that little bit more, the island state did something really, really awesome. They passed in-principle support for marriage equality in the Parliament of Tasmania and, in turn, skyrocketed itself up the ladder of people everywhere to become Australia's coolest state. Both houses passed theoretical support for same-sex marriage (the Lower House passed the motion seventeen months ago) with a vote of 8-5 — which is big deal as Tasmania has traditionally had a pretty conservative government. Tasmania's display of support further erodes the notion that the (super exxy) plebiscite was never a good idea (may the marriage equality plebiscite rest in peace and never, ever rise again as a zombie). Each state has a varied history on support of same-sex marriage, but let's just remember that in March of this year, an Essential Media poll found that 64 percent of respondents agreed that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. Ultimately, it's up to the Federal Parliament to make the call — not the states. The Coalition have proposed a potential plebiscite on the issue, which would have cost Aussie taxpayers anywhere between $158 million and half a billion, was smacked down in the Senate. However, if all states show their support for same-sex marriage, it could have a lot of influence on what happens at a Federal level. Tassie's shown their support, but where's the mainland at on the issue? In partnership with SKYY Vodka, which showed its support for marriage equality throughout March by donating $1.00 from every product purchased in Australia to just.equal, we take a look at where everyone's sitting at the moment. [caption id="attachment_584233" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Parliament of NSW[/caption] NSW In June of 2015, the NSW Parliament passed a conscience vote (unanimously, mind you), calling on the Federal Government to pass the Marriage Equality Bill 2015, showing their support of the issue. In 2013, they nearly passed a bill to legalise same-sex marriage but it fell through at 21 votes no to 19 votes yes. Close, but no cigar. And in 2014 they finally abolished the gay panic defence (pretty late to the game though). The state is generally moving in the right direction and seems to support same-sex marriage, but hasn't been able to coax the Federal Government to do the same. VICTORIA Victoria has just has passed the Relationships Amendments Act 2016 (which came into effect on October 1 2016) that allows immediate recognition of domestic partnerships, de facto relationships and international same-sex marriages and acknowledges civil unions on death certifications (hooray, now you can be yourself in the afterlife too!). While Victoria's government has been generally more liberal than other states, they haven't made huge headway on the marriage equality issue — but they've made a lot of noise about it. According to Australian Marriage Equality, 73 percent of the Victorian House of Reps support gay marriage and 50 percent of the Senate too. Since September 1 2016, Victoria has allowed same sex adoption as well, thanks to the Adoption Amendment Act 2015, a bill that was several years in the making. The Victorian Government introduced a bill in February of 2016 that aimed to crack down on 'gay conversion' therapist. Why on earth, in this state, gay conversion therapists are rampant enough to require a crack down, we'll never know. But from February 1 2017, a new commission has been set up to execute permanent bans on health providers peddling 'gay conversion'. QUEENSLAND In Queensland same-sex activity was considered illegal until 1990, which is disturbingly recent. Further to that, Queensland laws don't allow convictions to be expunged, meaning there are people alive today with a criminal record for being gay (come the heck on, Queensland). But the state has traditionally been incredibly politically conservative, and that's reflected in their stance on gay marriage. One little win of note, however, is the recent abolition of the gay panic defence on March 21 2017. About goddamn time. It only took a petition with 289,000 signatures and the support of Stephen Fry. So, heads up to the terrible people of the world – an 'unwanted sexual advance' from someone of the same sex as you is no longer grounds for self-defence murder. ACT Canberra is the dark horse in the running competition for Australia's best state. The capital briefly passed a marriage equality bill in December of 2013, but it was quickly returned to the earth by the High Court, who deemed it inconsistent with the Federal Marriage Act and hence unconstitutional (boo hiss boo). Since then, they've been pretty quiet on the gay marriage front. WESTERN AUSTRALIA In September of 2015, Western Australia (like NSW) passed a conscience vote calling for the Federal Government to pass the Marriage Amendment Bill 2015, which would grant full marriage rights to same-sex partners. The Feds didn't pass it, but snaps for Western Australia. The recent Labor victory in Western Australia s also a positive sign for the progression of LGTBQI rights. As the incoming party ran on a platform that promised to fully fund the Safe School program, expunge criminal records of consensual homosexual acts, and potentially legislating for civil unions. Let's hope they make good on their promises. NORTHERN TERRITORY Although the NT came to the party on legalising homosexuality pretty early, unfortunately they're pretty backwards when it comes to recognising same-sex marriage. Unlike all other Australian states, the NT government doesn't offer relationship registration or domestic partnerships to same-sex folk, but classifies them as 'de facto unions'. This grants them some of the same financial benefits as married couples but is not equal in any sense of the word. No snaps for the NT. Particularly since in November of 2016 they banned same-sex couples from adopting, while the rest of Australia legalised it. Absolute baloney, NT. SOUTH AUSTRALIA For a southern state with such a banging music scene, South Australia is pretty backwards on gay marriage and gay rights in general. They've shut down several attempts in parliament to consider same-sex civil unions and, despite support from some members of parliament, they still don't even recognise overseas same-sex marriages. And SA is the only to retain the gay panic defence within common-law. Very sad. However, they've made some strides recently. The Relationship Register bill was passed, meaning gay couples can register their relationship all official like (although, let's note that ABS don't count these registered relationships as marriages when totting up the number, boooo). And the bill also allows same-sex couples access to altruistic surrogacy and IVF treatment for the gals. And they've amended their adoption laws to allow adoption for same-sex couples, which went into effect on February 17 of this year. Better. Still not good. But definitely better. So some states are doing well to put pressure on the Federal Government to change same-sex marriage laws, but it's in no way unanimous yet. Ultimately, it's up to the Federal Government to decide if they introduce a marriage equality bill into the House of Reps like every other piece of legislation. If you want to make some noise on the issue, you can go visit just.equal to find out how to best take action. Show some SKYY Vodka support for marriage equality by taking a selfie and tagging it with #CheerstoEquality and #AusPol. Top image: Azhar J via Flickr.
Cinephiles, picnic-lovers and everyone in between, rejoice — the annual combination of movies, outdoor eating and park hangouts that is Moonlight Cinema is back for another round of film-watching fun. Kicking off their 2016-17 season on the first day of summer (when else?), Australia's biggest outdoor cinema returns with all the elements you know and love. Big screen shimmering beneath the stars? Check. Food trucks serving the ultimate movie munchies? Check. Letting super-organised patrons BYO their own snacks? Check. A huge lineup of new releases and cult classics? We'll confirm that when the 2016-17 film program is announced in the coming weeks. Of course, heading to Moonlight isn't just about the movies shown, as fun as getting a sneak peek of upcoming flicks or sharing the joyous glow of watching iconic favourites like Dirty Dancing and Top Gun on a big screen is. It's also about the experience, which is why you're allowed to start getting excited without knowing which films you'll be watching — and why you should be blocking out December through to April in your calendar. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2016-17 DATES: Sydney: December 1 – April 2 (Belvedere Amphitheatre in Centennial Park) Adelaide: December 1 – February 19 (Botanic Park) Brisbane: December 3 – March 5 (New Farm Park at Brisbane Powerhouse) Perth: December 3 – April 2 (Kings Park and Botanic Garden) Melbourne: Dates and venue TBC Moonlight Cinema's 2016-17 season starts screening around the country from December 1. For more information and bookings, visit their website.
We owe more than a tip of our sombreros to the 2 million square kilometres that make up the nation of Mexico. Just try imagining your youth — or your next beachside holiday — without tequila or the mighty margarita. Then there’s the less obvious stuff. Unless you were listening hard during history lessons, it might have slipped under your radar that Mexico's ancient civilisations played a major role in bringing us chewing gum and chocolate. And since then, we’ve been kindly introduced to Frida Kahlo, Gael Garcia Bernal, Guillermo del Toro and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Here are ten excellent things to thank Mexico for. CHOCOLATE From the ancient evidence uncovered so far, cocoa seeds were first turned into drinkable chocolate by people of the Mokaya cultures, who lived in modern-day Mexico between 1900 and 650 BC. In Chiapas, which lies on the Pacific coast, archaeologists have found vessels containing cocoa residue dating back to 1900 BC. What’s more, it appears that cocoa was used not only for its sweet warmth but also for its intoxicating potential. Even back then, the sugars of the seeds were fermented and turned into alcohol. MODERN CHEWING GUM Humans have been chewing bits and pieces of sticky stuff for thousands of years. But gum, as we know it today, was born in the 1860s, when General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, a former Mexican President, took a substance named chicle to New York. The Aztecs had used it, for both chewing and pasting, and Santa Anna wanted to show it to his secretary, Thomas Adams. Thomas decided chicle was best cut into strips, packeted and sold as Adams New York Chewing Gum. Later on, he joined forces with William Wrigley Jr. NACHOS Nachos were created by accident in Piedras Negras — right near Mexico’s border with Eagle Pass, Texas. On an unknown date in 1943, a bunch of American ladies popped into an eatery there. Tired after a day of shopping, they were ready for a feast. The chef-owner, Ignacio Anaya, was about to shut up shop, so he put together a quick snack with what he had left, which happened to be tortillas, cheese and jalapenos. When the customers asked for the dish’s name, Mr Anaya answered "Nacho’s especiales", nacho being a shortened version of his first name. COLOUR TELEVISION Like that of film, the evolution of colour television involved a number of crucial steps, which happened neck-and-neck in various parts of the world. Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena, a Mexican engineer, was awarded one of the most important relevant patents in 1942 for his invention of the chromoscopic adaptor, which could be attached to a black-and-white television. On August 31, 1946, Camarena facilitated his first colour transmission from his laboratory in Mexico City. CORONA It’s now 90 years since the first bottle of Corona was brewed. Now present in 186 countries, Corona is the number one Mexican beer in the world and still to this day every bottle of Corona is brewed in Mexico. It’s become synonymous with sun, surf and relaxation. Usually enjoyed pulled out of an icy bucket, with a wedge of lime in the top and with good mates in tow, it's your little gustatory holiday to the Mexican coast. CINCO DE MAYO This whizz-bang celebration, which happens mainly in the US and Mexico but has been adopted around the world, is held on May 5 every year. In case you’re wondering, Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for fifth of May. Wherever the party occurs, folk dancing, patriotic songs and feasting take over the streets. For school kids in Mexico, it’s a major score, because all the teachers take a day off. Cinco de Mayo is in honour of Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862. It’s not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Since meeting and falling in love at Mexico City’s Casa de Cultura (House of Culture) back in the late ‘80s — when they were just 15 years old — Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero have become international guitar legends. They bring classical virtuosity to a bunch of genres, from flamenco to rock to heavy metal. After moving to Dublin in 1999 and busking about the place, in 2004 they released their debut album, Rodrigo y Gabriela, which smashed its way straight to the top of the Irish charts. These days, they’re no longer dating, but their musical partnership remains in fine form. FRIDA KAHLO Fierce feminist painter Frida Kahlo is undoubtedly one of Mexico’s major contributions to 20th century art. Her bright colours and striking imagery combine Mexican and Indigenous traditions with surrealist influences; Andre Breton, the French writer and poet, described her work as “a ribbon around a bomb”. At the age of 18, she was injured in a horrific bus crash, which left her in immense, recurring pain for the rest of her life — a significant influence on her intense art works. GUILLERMO DEL TORO This film director, screenwriter, producer and novelist has brought us a plethora of darkly beautiful movies, including the gothic horror creations The Devil’s Backbone (2001) and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) and unusual blockbusters Hellboy (2004) and Pacific Rim (2013). Del Toro was born into a Catholic family in Guadalajara, Mexico, and his obsession with filmmaking began when he was just eight. One of his earliest shorts featured a serial killer potato that wanted to take over the world. GAEL GARCIA BERNAL Born in 1978 in the same town as Guillermo del Toro — Guadalajara — Gael Garcia Bernal was a bit of a hit on Mexican TV as a teenager. At 19, he made tracks to London, where he became the first Mexican to study at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Fast forward to 2000 and he (along with Birdman director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu) caught our attention in Amores Perros, followed closely by Alfonso Cuaron's Y Tu Mama Tambien and Pedro Almodovar's Bad Education. Since then, he’s appeared in Babel, The Science of Sleep, Blindness, No and Rosewater, among numerous other films, while taking on a stack of other projects, from directing documentaries for Amnesty International to founding his own film company, Canana Productions.
For most of us, meeting up at your local pub for a chinwag with your mates is always high on the agenda. The only problem is, as the days get colder, it can be tempting to go into hibernation instead. At times like that, it never hurts to fire up your competitive streak — because if there's anything better than catching up with your friends, it's crushing them into submission via a merciless game of Connect Four. With that in mind, here are five of our favourite Melbourne bars where you can enjoy a board game with your beverage. THE FOX As far as we’re concerned, if it’s board games you’re after, The Fox is the Holy Grail of good old-fashioned fun. They’ve got Cluedo, Trivial Pursuit, Mastermind, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and Monopoly for all you (game) players out there. If that isn't tempting enough, they also do a Sunday Roast, Monday Parma night, Tuesday Steak night, and the first Thursday of the month is BYO vinyl night. Perfect. 351 Wellington Street, Collingwood; (03) 9416 4957; thefoxhotel.com.au 29TH APARTMENT While Jenga may be less about brain power than most board games, it certainly requires some serious strategy and self-control. The 29th Apartment in St Kilda has a giant Jenga set which has been known to bring out our competitive nature (and maybe a tantrum or two.) And make sure to grab yourself a James Squire Nine Tales Amber Ale to improve your focus and help keep your hands steady. 29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda; (03) 9534 0485; www.29thapartment.com.au LUCKY COQ Let’s be honest: the start of the week isn't fun for anybody. Thankfully, the good folk at Lucky Coq recognise this, and so have turned Mondays into board game night. Current games include Giant Jenga and a few sets of backgammon; they’ve also had Scrabble, Checkers and decks of cards in the past, but when too many pieces go missing, it’s game over. If all this game playing gets you a bit peckish they also have $4 pizzas all night, plus DJs upstairs if you want to shake you Monday blues loose. 179 Chapel Street, Windsor; (03) 9525 1288; www.luckycoq.com.au KATUK Cosy, quirky and classy are the three Cs we use to describe Katuk (okay, technically that's two Cs and a Q), a gem of a fireplace-flanked watering hole on Chapel Street in South Yarra. Despite their snazzy fit-out, they’re not afraid of a little fun, with Connect Four available for punters any time outside of happy hour. This deceptively simple game is a great way to pass the time, and also helpful in sussing out the kind of person you might be on a date with. For those who like their games to be a little more interactive, they also offer Wii Mario Cart. 517a Chapel Street, South Yarra; (03) 9827 9004; www.katuk.com.au THE ALEHOUSE PROJECT Beer geekery is at its finest at The Alehouse Project, with 12 taps of micro-brewed beers on constant rotation. And if you're interested in continuing the nerd theme, they’ve also got Connect Four and Jenga on demand. For those looking to keep the good times going even further, The Alderman down the road is known to have stockpiled a Scrabble board or two. Looks like East Brunswick is where it’s at for fun and games. 98-100 Lygon Street, Brunswick East; (03) 9387 1218; www.thealehouseproject.com.au Top Image: Dollar Photo Club.
It's the news Australian film and television fans have been dreading ever since they signed for a geododging service and a Netflix account. The streaming media behemoth might've taken your cash and looked the other way for years — even when they launched here in 2015 — but now that they're operating in 190 countries around the globe, it seems like they're gearing up to stop users accessing overseas libraries. In a post that appeared on the Netflix blog overnight, Vice President of Content Delivery Architecture David Fullagar advised, "Those using proxies and unblockers will only be able to access the service in the country where they currently are." Exactly how they'll shut out everyone using VPNs, proxy servers and smart DNS services hasn't been disclosed, though the statement does mention that "technology continues to evolve and we are evolving with it." So, if your account is almost permanently logged into the US service, your viewing options could be about to take a bit of hit. While Netflix-produced fare like House of Cards, Master of None, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, BoJack Horseman, Jessica Jones, Making a Murderer and A Very Murray Christmas are available everywhere, the American library currently has almost three times the number of titles than its Australian counterpart. Plus, plenty of content varies between the two; local comedy is quite popular on the Aussie version — or Netflix sure hopes it will be, seeing that their library is packed with it — for example. If you're a bit puzzled by this turn of events, particularly given that Netflix only recently trumpeted their plans to make sure everyone who subscribes to the service can access the same content regardless of the country they're in, that's understandable. They haven't really changed their tune — it's safe to assume that they're working towards that goal, which involves complex rights negotiations in each territory, by first locking down any loopholes that currently allow customers to circumvent geographic restrictions. Of course, just what will eventuate in the long- and short-term is anyone's guess, because Netflix has promised to stamp out geododgers before and then promptly done nothing about it. All Aussie customers can really do for now is watch this space — and maybe start thinking about signing up to Stan or Presto. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
After a successful debut in Sydney last year, the Lunar Markets are making their way to Melbourne. The Docklands Harbour Esplanade will transform itself into a pop-up food festival of Asian cuisine for 11 nights from Thursday, February 4. Wander through over 20 food stalls, featuring Night Noodle Market regulars like Hoy Pinoy, Everybody Loves Ramen (selling their famous ramen fried chicken) and the always amazing Wonderbao. Black Star Pastry and N2 Extreme Gelato are teaming up to create the mighty 'Gong Xi Fai Cai Cake Smash': strawberry watermelon cake smash with fire crackers, and the 'Hipster Cookies and Cream': almond and pineapple gelato with almond sesame cookie. Paired with live music and roaming performers, this is the perfect Chinese New Year date. The Lunar Markets will run from February 4-14. They'll be open Monday to Wednesday 5-9pm, Thursday to Friday 5-10pm, Saturday 4-10pm and Sunday 4-9pm.
New York's champions of the age-old art of storytelling, The Moth, are headed our way. The podcasters, event organisers and general tale-weavers will appear at Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas and the Melbourne Writers Festival and, following on from that, will be bringing regular, more intimate storytelling nights to both cities. In Melbourne, the beloved weekly podcasters are telling onstage tales around the theme of ‘Between Worlds’ at MWF. In Sydney, they'll be joined on stage by some seriously big brains for FODI. Creator of Bad Kid, Moth StorySLAM host and three-time Moth SLAM winner David Crabb will host a panel of mad chats with Korean-American author of the award-winning novel The Interpreter Suki Kim (also appearing at FODI), one half of The Wau Wau Sisters and brains behind international festival smash Asking For It Adrienne Truscott, and Sydney satirist and A Rational Fear nucleus Dan Ilic. But FODI and MWF isn't the last you'll hear from The Moth — the crew have confirmed they'll be creating an ongoing presence in Sydney and Melbourne. Expect monthly StorySLAM events, so you'll have plenty of Moth outside your daily commute. The first StorySLAM in Australia is happening on August 24 at Melbourne’s Howler and then in Sydney on September 1 at Oxford Art Factory. They're looking for storytellers — so you could be telling your tales as one of The Moth team. GET ON IT. “We already have a strong listener following in Australia for our podcast," says The Moth's artistic director Catherine Burns. "Having a permanent home in Australia is a ‘bucket list’ moment for everyone at The Moth, and we look forward to hearing all the true stories, told live from the amazing people in this part of the world.” SO MANY DATES, JUST TELL ME HOW I TRACK DOWN THE MOTH? Alright, let's break this down. The Moth: True Stories Told Live at Melbourne Writers Festival is happening at Athenaeum Theatre on August 27 at 7.30pm. Tickets from MWF. The Razor's Edge: The Moth is happening Sunday, September 6, at 6.30pm at Sydney Opera House. Tickets from FODI. The first StorySLAM is happening on August 24 at Melbourne’s Howler and then in Sydney on September 1 at Oxford Art Factory. Tickets via Eventbrite and Moshtix. Want more FODI and MWF? Get your nose in a few tomes with our reading lists over here and here. Image: David Crabb, by Christian Leonard.
Ah, the tinnie. The refuge of the second-rate beer, right? Wrong. With improved technology obliterating the old argument that cans damage the taste of beer, more and more craft brewers are moving to the once humble can. Sometimes favoured for their retro feel, cans actually boast both a lower carbon footprint and longer shelf life than their bottled counterparts, making it likely their booming popularity will only continue rising. For many craft beer makers, the tinnie is actually an essential part of their craft; the makers of acclaimed Heady Topper urge their customers not to pour their beer into a glass, lest it lose the carefully cultivated hop aromas the can preserves. Here are ten of the best canned wonders. JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES PALE ALE Named after a convict rapscallion who is believed to have created Australia’s first commercial brewery, Sydney-based James Squire produces a distinctly Australian range which has become synonymous with local craft beers. Newly available in cans, this is an approachable variety which makes an inspired addition to your next beach hang or spring picnic. With a light citrus burst and faint notes of passionfruit hitting the palate first, and the malted wheat giving it a silky smooth finish, it’s an ideal session beer. MOUNTAIN GOAT SUMMER ALE One of the first Australian craft beer makers to stock their product in cans, Victorian microbrewers Mountain Goat initially thought of doing a limited one-off run of these tinnies, but were soon overwhelmed with the response and turned it into a permanent fixture. A gold-hued ale perfect for sneaking into your picnic baskets, this offers inviting citrus and tropical aromas. With no hint of acidity, it’s an easy drinking delight and an ideal choice for the newer craft beer drinker or seasoned hop head alike. BREWDOG PUNK IPA Back in 2007, James Watt and Martin Dickie were two 24-year-olds with “scary bank loans” and a passion project selling their craft beer out of the back of a battered van. Today, they are the kingpins of a Scottish craft beer success story, overseeing more than 350 employees pumping out their abrasively flavoured brews to great acclaim. The Punk Indian Pale Ale is a must, a great introduction to their in-your-face style. Also look out for the mightily bitter Jackhammer, which is about as subtle as its name. HEADY TOPPER Ranked number 2 among all the world’s beers on the encyclopaedic Beer Advocate, Heady Topper is less a beer than a phenomenon. Initially considered unlikely to have widespread appeal, Heady Topper actually became so popular that the Vermont brewery which made it regularly had people cuing for hours and had to limit hordes of customers to one case each. It’s a complex beer with notes ranging from grapefruit to pine and spice and just about the quintessential craft beer tinnie. Image: Carter Brown. SIERRA NEVADA PALE ALE With its instantly recognisable pastoral artwork, Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale has long been warmly regarded as one of the classic craft beers. The pioneering brewery now produces over 50 varieties, but the pale ale accounts for more than half their sales. Famously using only whole cone hops, they have a commitment to quality ingredients that has produced a consistently good and almost universally liked beer. Heavy on the hops, it’s a beer that pairs well with some spicy Mexican. YO-HO TOKYO BLACK PORTER Japan is a relatively new player in the world of craft beers, having effectively legislated against microbreweries until the mid '90s. Now some 200 microbreweries have moved into a once stagnant market. One of the first breweries to spring up when the laws changed were Yoho, who have since been named Japan’s best craft beer brewery. Based in the snowy mountains of Nagano, they produce a nice variety of beers, including this rich black number which draws you in with its treacly aroma, roasty character and a head like foamy coffee. YOUNG HENRYS REAL ALE While the range of craft beers available in cans was quite limited just a few years ago, today there’s an abundance of options and this is a great example of a local take on the traditional British bitter. Made with both Australian and British malts, it’s light but flavoursome and took Young Henrys all the way from their inner west base to the International Real Ale Festival, where this bad boy picked up a gold medal. EVIL TWIN HIPSTER ALE An American Pale ale hailing from (where else?) Brooklyn, Evil Twin market this colourfully packaged beer as a homage to anyone who “feel(s) excluded because you’re hip but your city is not”. Even for those in a cutting-edge hip city, this is a very drinkable ale with some complexity to keep you interested. The colour is like a light honey, and you’ll get notes of everything from biscuits, toffee and caramel to more zesty citrus. FERAL BREWING HOP HOG IPA Credit Feral Brewing company with putting beer on the map in the fabled Swan Valley wine district. This is their most famous product, an American-style Indian pale ale with hops added both during the boil and late in the fermenting. It’s proven a hit both with the craft beer-loving public and the critics who raved about its balance and drinkability and made it the number 1 pick in their Australia’s Best Beers annual roundup. SIX STRING DARK RED IPA Like many craft brewers, Six String began as a couple of friends with a love of beer and a desire to make something better than the mass-marketed product. After lengthy battles with bureaucratic red tape, Chris Benson and Adam Klasterka were able to enlist the support of their community and set up a boutique brewery in the Central Coast. Their beers proved worth the wait. Among their staples is a dark red IPA. It’s full-bodied, really dark and really good. Top illustration by Barry Patenaude.
One of the few elevators in Melbourne with its own security team, the entrance for Naked in the Sky is hot property no matter what the season. Over the summer months gaining entry is a crowning achievement, so get there early to maximise sunset time with minimal disappointment. The joy of being so high is such a natural pleasure. From the balcony of Naked in the Sky, fill your lungs with the clean air Fitzroy never thought it had and take in the lay of the land. It's a refreshing escape from all the sirens and exhaust fumes of Johnston Street, while still maintaining prime position to watch a night of Brunswick Street fun unfold. The top-floor bar is cleverly divided into an indoor dining space and an outdoor drinking area. The partly-sheltered balcony loops the rooftop, making it a revolving conveyor belt of Fitzroy's hip crowd, primed for people watching. The panoramic terrace ensures a visually pleasing view from any perch, whether it is the tower-studded skyline to the south, down to Clifton Hill to the north or east up to the Kew hills. The exposed brick facade, with lanterns strung up high between the gables, gives the air of a Spanish fiesta — perfect for both a troop of 20 or an intimate affair with a backdrop of city lights. A selection of Spanish and Australian boutique beers sit along the 15-metre bar, as well as those brewed exclusively for Naked consumption. True to its origins there is also an extensive selection of house-infused vodkas such as Naked Bitch Chilli & Cherry, the Opium & Rose or the Alpine Chocolate & Sugarcane. To compliment your drinks is a sumptuous menu that puts ground level bar food to shame. Try the crumbed eggplant with honey and blue cheese ($9) or the meatballs in a cherry and thyme sauce ($14). The dining area offers a selection of Basque-inspired peasant comfort food, although there is nothing peasant about dishes such as the pan seared quail with pancetta and mushrooms ($16). Much like distilling batches of clandestine vodka, it can get pretty hot up there in the sky, although — despite the name — getting naked is not encouraged. Best save that for later on in the night.
Tired of grimdark superhero movies and so-called comedies starring a dead-eyed Adam Sandler? We all love a good movie, but sometimes the good ones can be hard to find – especially if you're relying on the latest Hollywood blockbuster at your local multiplex. Luckily for Melbourne movie lovers, this city is full of awesome venues that are committed not just to recent releases but the very best retro films as well. From the freshly resurrected Astor Theatre to brand new spaces like The Lido and Grey Gardens, and ever popular outdoor options like Rooftop Cinema and Shadow Electric, here are our ten favourite locations for enjoying vintage flicks on the big screen. And may heaven help you if you start texting in a single one of these hallowed halls. THE ASTOR THEATRE The crown jewel of Melbourne cinephelia, there's nowhere quite like The Astor. After years of closure scares, Palace Cinemas have taken over management; breathing new life into the art deco picture palace while retaining all the features — the double bills, the atmosphere and the beloved choc-ice ice creams — that make the theatre so unique. The carefully curated two-in-one sessions range from Hollywood classics to little-seen cult curios plus a smattering of recent releases — and rumour is they've got an all-night movie marathon planned for later this year. If nothing else, you have to pay a visit to meet Duke, the newly adopted Astor cat. ACMI Amid the bustle of Federation Square lies a cinematic oasis. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is your premiere destination for hard-to-find gems, with retrospective seasons often programmed around a particular director, actor or theme. If it's not showing in one of their two cinemas, try searching for it in the Australian Mediatheque archives. A visit to the gallery spaces downstairs is always a treat (the current David Bowie exhibition is a must). ACMI is also home to the Melbourne Cinematheque, a weekly members-only film club dedicated to screening rare and significant films in their original format. CINEMA NOVA If you're looking for the best of foreign and independent cinema, you needn't go any further than Carlton's Cinema Nova. Their commitment to screening titles that the major chains won't has long made them a favourite with Melbourne's film loving community (as has their ridiculously cheap Monday ticket prices). The management have dabbled with retro and cult fare over the years, and have recently begun programming a selection of older films under their Nova Iconic banner. Nova is also Melbourne's home of Tommy Wiseau's disasterpiece The Room, aka the best worst movie ever made. KINO Tucked away in Collins Place, Kino's comfy seats and well-stocked wine and espresso bar make it the perfect setting for a weekend matinee. Screening 3pm every Sunday, the Vintage Classic's program offers a welcome respite from the barrage of mindless blockbusters, with iconic titles such as Citizen Kane, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Blade Runner reminding us just how good movies can be. As a plus, entry is only $10 (or $8 for members), making this one of the best value tickets in town. THE LIDO The newly opened Lido on Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn is fast making a name for itself as a must-visit movie destination. The decor (a mix of art deco and uber-modern), the food and drink options (dumplings, cheese platters, local wines, plus a Huxtaburger downstairs) and the diverse range of programming (blockbusters, foreign films and exclusive indie releases) are all big ticks in their favour, but it's the retro lineup that really has us salivating. Every Saturday at midday, a different Hollywood classic whirs through the projector, with a repeat showing the following Wednesday morning. Friday nights, meanwhile, are reserved for the creepiest horror films imaginable, courtesy of the gorehounds at Monsters Pictures. ROOFTOP CINEMA Come the summer weather, there are few things more relaxing than getting together with a few friends and catching a movie under the stars. Melbourne has no shortage of outdoor cinemas where you can while away your evenings, but none are more beloved than the one atop Curtin House, smack bang in the centre of the CBD. Grab a drink from the bar and a snack from one of the food vendors, then stretch out in a deckchair and let the movie play. BEN & JERRY'S OPENAIR CINEMA Nothing says summer like a trip to the beach — but why just go swimming when you can catch a movie as well? This pop-up cinema in St Kilda is a regular haunt of ours — especially on Sunday, when they hand out free Ben & Jerry's ice cream by the scoop. Get there in the afternoon to reserve a spot close to the stage, where they've got bands and DJs blasting out music until the sun dips below the horizon. Once it's dark, the inflatable screen flickers to life with a great lineup of movies both new and old. The sound of waves adds a little extra ambiance (and it doesn't get much better than watching Jaws mere metres from the sea). SHADOW ELECTRIC Located in the grounds of the Abbotsford Convent, Shadow Electric is a bandroom, bar and outdoor summer cinema all rolled into one. Grab yourself a meal from the champions at Lentil as Anything, and then work it off with a few rounds of table tennis. As for the movies themselves, we tend to have the most fun when they play something really off the beaten track (we won't be forgetting '70s sleaze-fest Massage Parlour Murders for a long, long time.) For the less adventurous, they tend to stock up on plenty of '80s and '90s nostalgia, from The Big Lebowski to Stop Making Sense. SPEAKEASY CINEMA After spending the last few years popping up here and there, this lovely little boutique film club appears to have finally found a permanent home within the walls of Grey Gardens, Fitzroy's newest, coolest gallery, performance space, screening room and cafe. The programming here is wonderfully esoteric, with recent highlights including a screening of Thai existential masterpiece Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives with a live score by 30/70, and a retrospective of seven short films from Czech animators Lubomír Beneš and Vladimír Jiránek. Image credit: Tom Ross. SCREEN SECT Held every Monday in the band room above Bar Open, this Brunswick Street movie club is the refuge of Melbourne's most dedicated film nerds. A new program is announced each month curated around a specific theme (last May, for example, the focus was prison films). Honestly, the screening space leaves a bit to be desired, but the movies themselves are invariably terrific — as are the impassioned (occasionally drunken) post-film conversations in the beer garden out the back.
You'll never run out of juice in the Big Apple again, thanks to a new kind of public seating popping up around the city. Over the next 30 days, the Parks Department in Manhattan will unveil five solar-powered park benches that double as mobile charging stations for New Yorkers on the go. Developed by the MIT Media Lab, Soofa Benches come fitted with solar panels and a pair of USB charging ports, where pedestrians can plug in their phone or tablet for a much needed top-up. The first of the three person benches will be installed at Highbridge Park in the Bronx next week, with the rest due to pop-up over the course of the coming month. "We are super-excited about New York City," Soofa CEO and co-founder Sandra Richter told New York Daily News. "People are staying outside longer and using parks as their backyards. The Soofa benches are a perfect fit." Soofa Benches are already in use in a number of US cities, including Los Angeles and Boston. In addition to providing the public with a handy place to recharge, they can also keep track of park visitor numbers by counting Wi-Fi enabled devices as they go by. Via NY Daily News.
Staying at home, binge-watching House of Cards and polishing off a few chocolate bunnies solo is one way of spending the Easter long weekend. But when you're trudging back to work on Tuesday, don't you want to feel like you used the time a little more actively? That instead of lounging on the couch you explored sea caves? Instead of going on a YouTube bender you went paddleboarding in crystal-clear water? That you could have finished Fallout 4 but instead you saw the sun set over stunning snowy mountains? Use those glorious four days wisely, you don't get this time off every week. Look, you don't even have to plan anything. These five Instagram-happy globetrotters have put together the perfect itinerary for five different four-day holidays you could taken over the Easter break. Pick your favourite and get going. FIND WATERFALLS, MIDDLE EARTH AND CHEESE FACTORIES IN AUCKLAND by Nicola Easterby @polkadotpassport. Spend a few jam-packed days exploring Auckland and its surrounding countryside, beaches and bubbling restaurant, cafe and bar scene — and make time for an adventure to the stunning Kitekite Falls. Start your trip by enjoying a cup of New Zealand's world-class coffee at Auckland's Fort Lane and a treat from the cafe's European-inspired patisserie cabinet. Head up Mount Eden, the city's highest natural point. Then get ready for a drastic change of pace from the metropolitan buzz as you head out to West Auckland, with rolling green countryside and the boutique wineries of Kumeu, then up to North Auckland with endless stretches of beaches and picturesque regional parks to explore. Make sure you find the Puhoi Cheese Factory. Then head south of Auckland for two hours and you'll end up at the town of Matamata, home to the one and only Lord of the Rings Hobbiton movie set. For the full four-day itinerary. head over here. RIDE SCOOTERS AND LEARN TO COOK IN BALI by Laurie Young @theruecollective. Bali is one of those enchanting places that will transport you from ordinary life into a world of spiritual culture, vibrant colours, and beautiful people. Whether you're looking for a calming escape, a new adventure or simply a few blissful days in paradise, Bali has you covered. Watch the Nusa Dua sunrise and spend the afternoon lounging on the beach drinking from fresh coconuts and enjoying a massage in your own beach chair. Hire a scooter and drive to Uluwatu Temple. Climb down into ocean caves and let the waves lap at your feet. Eat dinner at Jimbaran's traditional seafood restaurants lined up along the beach. Find infinity rooftop pools in Seminyak, learn to cook a traditional Indonesian or Pan Asian dish and spend the afternoon on the beach watching the surfers. For the full four-day itinerary. head over here. EXPLORE TEMPLES AND SEA CAVES IN PHUKET by Helen Chix @helenchikx. For those who have never been to Phuket and need an itinerary packed with the essentials to get a taste of what this city has to offer, then read on. Be warned though – you may find yourselves booking your return (or perhaps one way?) flights and I take no responsibility for this – or maybe just a little. First-timers should opt for a day tour to check out Phi Phi Island or just arrange transport to be ferried to and from. Visit Monkey Beach, swim at Maya Bay (made famous by the movie The Beach), and explore Phi Phi Island. If you're after a day of pampering, then check out the Darin Massage Spa. Explore the Monkey Cave Temple (Wat Suwannakuha), kayak through the mangroves and sea caves at Talu Island, and visit the Muslim fishing village erected on stilts on Koh Panyee. Head over to Krabi for beachfront restaurants and bars with a view fit to enjoy a sunset dinner. Snorkel just off the beach at Chicken Island – but beware of stepping on sea urchins. For the full four-day itinerary. head over here. FIND A FOODIE'S PARADISE IN QUEENSTOWN by Chrizelle Lategan @chrizellelategan. Roam around the little streets of Queenstown over the Easter break — and we mean walking. Visit cute little coffee shops, invest in homemade woollen products, pig out on pork ribs and nibble on delicious seasonal canapés in front of the fire in the beautiful Bordeau Wine Lounge. And that's just the start of your trip. Take a 20-minute scenic drive to gold mining town Arrowtown and visit The Chop Shop, have modern French cuisine in Wanaka, and take the gondola up to Skyline Restaurant. Visit Milford Sound to experience one of the most breathtaking places in the world, wait in line at Ferburger for a feed you won't forget (choose the Codfather if you know what's good for you), and take a stroll alongside the Lake Wakatipu pier. For the full four-day itinerary. head over here. FIND SMALL SURF TOWNS ON THE GOLD COAST by Brigette Dyer @BlkWhiteBlog. Start big with wine and theme parks in and around Broadbeach and then take (short) road trip just over the New South Wales border to the one and only Halcyon House located in Cabarita Beach, a small town with a renowned surf break. Once a run-down 1960s' motel, Halcyon House has been beautifully renovated into a European-inspired boutique hotel. Only a short drive from the Gold Coast you have Queensland's capital city, Brisbane (Concrete Playground can help you here). Then, make your way down to Tallebudgera Creek. Find a comfortable spot under the trees, hire a stand-up paddleboard, or join the locals in jumping off the bridge into the crystal clear water below. Only a two-minute drive from Tallebudgera you have Burleigh Heads, where you can visit the Heads' very first rooftop bar — and order the Deep Fried Nutella Ice Cream Sandwich. For the full four-day itinerary. head over here. Haven't clicked with one of these adventures? Check out more #4PricelessDays itineraries on MasterCard's website.
Sometimes, the semblance of reality can be just as powerful as reality itself. Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich has put this idea to the test (in the prettiest way possible). He’s built an underground swimming pool that looks like it’s filled with water. Built in 2004, the pool is a permanent installation at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan — after a stint at MoMA PS1 in New York. Standing above it, watching the sunlight filter through what seems to be shimmering liquid, viewers are pretty much ready to jump in. But, stepping closer, they soon discover that, what looks like a deep pool is a 10cm-high layer of water, encased in glass, and suspended over an empty space. Visitors can actually step into this empty space and look upwards — it’s a photographer’s dream. Consequently images of fully-clothed toddlers and adults in business suits seemingly submerged have flooded the Internet. The 21st Century Museum site reads, “While undermining our everyday assumptions about what we think to be obvious, the work invites our active involvement in its spaces — once we catch on to its deception — and produces a sense of connection between people looking at each other.” Erlich was born in Buenos Aires in 1973 and still lives there. He has exhibited all over the world, from London’s Barbican to New York’s Sean Kelly Gallery. Via Fubiz. Images: Leandro Erlich.
Located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, White Tomato is a funky Korean restaurant with lavish bronze barbecues on each table complimenting a stylish, modern interior. The atmosphere here is always bustling and there is often a line out the front, so try to get in a little early if possible. The menu kicks off with appetisers including takowasabi, a raw octopus salad with a healthy dose of wasabi, and deep fried dumplings — either packed with prawns, tofu or mixed vegetables. Vegetarians can opt for a mushroom salad with mixed leaf and balsamic dressing or the deep fried tofu salad with a special dressing. The kimchi pancake is delicious and served with melted cheese while the haemul gyeon is a delightfully flavoursome seafood pancake. While these options are grand, most people come to White Tomato for either the hot pot or KBBQ dining experiences. The hot pot options include a spicy seafood hotpot served with mixed seafood, vegetables, udon noodles in a spicy broth, or a soft bean curd stew with seafood, egg and onions. fter some heat? Try the galbijjim, a super spicy hot pot with beef ribs, rice cakes and vegetables. Make sure you order from the barbecue too, with sizzling options including the bulgogi, marinated beef in soy sauce with vegetables, or the spicy pork with sweet chilli sauce. If you're feeling brave, give the spicy pork intestine a go — served up in a hot chilli sauce with vegetables. Pescatarians can go for the spicy squid in chilli sauce which simply melts in your mouth. It's one of our favourite things on the whole menu. White Tomato is the perfect venue to head to for any occasion, be it a bunch of mates catching up or a spicy date. Just sit back and let it sizzle.
'The Voice' is coming to Bluesfest. Not the Delta kind, the only kind. Bluesfest have announced their second artist lineup for the 2016 festival. Living legend and eternal Sexbomb Tom Jones sits at the top of the bill, alongside Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Memories will be flooding (along with Bluesfest, if it rains again) with the appearance of Jackson Browne, alongside the The Decemberists. Things are going to get real Byron when The Wailers perform all four of Bob Marley’s albums Exodus, Survival, Uprising and Legend in their entirety. Returning Bluesfester Steve Earle is back with The Dukes, alongside Tweedy, Jason Isbell and Grace Potter. Add this motley crew to the first Bluesfest cornucopia of The National, City and Colour and UB40? You've got yourself a humdinger of a muddy, muddy weekend. Enough chatskies, here's who's playing. BLUESFEST 2016 SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: Tom Jones Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds The Decemberists Jason Isbell Sturgill Simpson Tweedy Steve Earle and The Dukes The Wailers Grace Potter Lord Huron Nahko and Medicine For The People Vintage Trouble Lucky Peterson Emdee Blackberry Smoke BLUESFEST 2016 FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT: The National City and Colour UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue Joe Bonamassa Tedeschi Trucks Band The Cat Empire Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real The Word Rhiannon Giddens Janiva Magness St. Paul & The Broken Bones Allen Stone The Selecter Shakey Graves Songhoy Blues + more Bluesfest runs Thursday, March 24 – Monday, March 28 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay. Tickets from Byron Bay Bluesfest. Image: Andy Fraser.
The Albion Hotel is what you'd call a true 'risen from the ashes' story. Two years ago, the historic South Melbourne pub took quite the beating, burning to the ground just ten days before it was due to reopen. Now, its team of owners — which includes ex-Collingwood AFL player Dane Swan and former rugby league players Danny Williams and Robbie Kearns — have brought the venue back to life, this week opening to the public at last. We're told to expect an entirely different offering to any of the pub's many previous incarnations, as it returns to its original name of The Albion. This time around, expect a mammoth three-level space, crowned with one of Melbourne's biggest rooftop bars. Up here, find yourself quaffing gin cocktails and tap beers, matched to sweeping views of the city skyline. One floor below lies a plush lounge bar, decked out with leather booths and brass accents, while a modern front bar takes over the ground level. It's an all-encompassing venue that's been designed to cruise easily from daytime to the after-dark hours, with a state-of-the-art sound system and a nifty 5am weekend licence pegging it as a favourite for late-night dance floor sessions. Meanwhile, the brand new kitchen is plating up a menu that celebrates both local produce and global flavours, featuring the likes of soft shell crab bao, cider-braised pork belly and a seared nori tuna. This isn't the only old pub to reopen — Melbourne University's Prince Alfred is getting a new lease on life too. The Albion is now open Wednesday through Sunday at 172, York Street South Melbourne. For more information, keep checking back here and at thealbion.bar.
Grab your diary. Call your mates. Reserve your horse. Secret Garden has just announced its 2017 dates. And we're happy to tell you that Australia's beloved, grassroots, made-for-mates-by-mates festival will be taking place over 48 hours, across Friday 24 and Saturday 25 February. You have less time, however, to scrape your cash together. Ticket sales kick off at 9am on Thursday, September 29. If you're a regular gardener, you'll know that they sell out pretty damn quickly, so don't dilly dally. Good news is, though, that, were you at the festival in 2014, 2015 or 2016, you're in for a sweet surprise in the form of pre-sales. To find out exactly what that involves and when it'll be occurring, keep a close eye on your inbox. As usual, we won't know anything about the lineup or festival program until tickets are sold out. But, we can tell you that, as always, Secret Garden will bring you an immersive experience, a long way out of the city, within a magical natural setting transformed into a wonderland. You'll find yourself wandering through a forest maze, getting lost in massive installations, discovering unexpected pop-up performances and coming across tucked-away parties in custom-made rave caves. Maybe. All we know for sure? As always, you're invited to wear your craziest, most dressed up fancy dress. Start planning. Secret Garden will run over Friday 24 and Saturday 25 February. Tickets on sale 9am Thursday, September 29. More details on the festival's (insanely awesome) website. Images: Tim Da Rin, Zakarij Kaczmarek.
First there was camping, but nature is icky and the hard ground is no Posturepedic. Then there was glamping, which is certainly a step up but still requires you to be outside with only a thin velour track pant and tasteful white canopy between you and the bugs. But now, thankfully, there's a way to get the best parts of camping (good company and fire-cooked food) without having to leave the city or wear ugly hiking shoes and unflattering shorts. Hunter and Barrel is the new dining concept hitting Sydney and Melbourne. With a menu focused on coal-roasted meats and seasonal vegetables, big barbecued skewers, sharing boards, stews, soups, pies, and generally hearty fare, H&B delivers the sensory experience of camping without the inconvenience of actually, y'know, camping. Think warm, hearty dishes such as slow-roasted beef rib, seafood and pork belly cooked over the restaurant's coal grill (hot tip: order The Hunter's Feast), washed down with your classic craft beer or barrel-aged wine. Although contemporary horror films have taught us to fear the foreboding idea of a remote cabin (thanks Evil Dead and Cabin in the Woods), the primal part of our psyche still longs to get back to nature. Bradley Michael, the CEO of Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group who own Hunter and Barrel, told Good Food the venue had a “sexy camping, hunter’s cabin feel.” The décor at Hunter and Barrel, designed by ODO, features big rocks and rustic pipes — and your drink comes delivered by a suspended wall covered with barrels. Hunter and Barrel is now open at Eastland Town Square, Shop R04, 171-175 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood. Via Good Food.
Need a bit of a break and love your music? Sure you could leave it all behind and head up to Splendour, if you were lucky enough to get tickets. You didn't? Why not look a little further afield for your music festival fix? Festival season is about to kick into action in the Northern Hemisphere. With a plane ticket in your hand, you need never quit the dancefloor. Take a coffee break and take a scroll through some of the world's most incredible music festivals. We've teamed up with NESCAFÉ to help you take the desk break you, as a hardworking human being, deserve. They're events we'd nab an airfare for just for the festival itself — from big name-driven classics like Glastonbury to boutique gatherings in extraordinary settings, like Japan's mountaintop festival The Labyrinth. The lineups are a bonus. [caption id="attachment_569154" align="alignnone" width="1280"] littlebreadtoast.[/caption] PRIMAVERA SOUND, BARCELONA, SPAIN If you were championing Courtney Barnett before anyone else was listening and spend more than your fair share of hours searching YouTube for undiscovered artists, you'll love Primavera Sound. Just a few of the acts to have made their Spanish festival debut here are LCD Soundsystem, Franz Ferdinand, Wilco, Arcade Fire and Bon Iver. Primavera is all about giving stages to indie and alternative music. When the show's over, hang around for a few days at least to explore Barcelona's winding alleyways, sparkling coastline and late, late (lockout free!) nightlife. This year, Primavera's scheduled for June 1-5. [caption id="attachment_569179" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Labyrinth.[/caption] THE LABYRINTH, JAPAN Lovers of mountains and electronica, add this one to your bucket list. Held among the spectacular peaks of Japan's Niigata Prefecture, The Labyrinth is famous for its amazing surroundings, as well as its hours and hours of uninterrupted music. DJ sets run back-to-back, so you'll have to bring a deckchair to catch your breath. Acts to have made previous lineups include Peter van Hoesen, Donato Dozzy, Svreca and Petar Dundov. The only catch is that only 5 percent of tickets are sold outside Japan, so you need to get smart to get hold of one. Labyrinth 2016 is yet to be announced, but you can expect it to happen in September. [caption id="attachment_569170" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Love International.[/caption] LOVE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, CROATIA Started in 2006 as Garden Festival, this event has morphed into the Love International Festival. Lesser known than many listings here, it's a week-long, boutique affair, set in a magical garden in Tisno, Croatia, right on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. In fact, there's even a private beach, so you can cool off after sweating it out on the dancefloor. You have a choice of six stages, including one on the sand, one in an olive grove and two on wooden boats. The program is mainly electronica, with a smattering of live acts. Get to Love International 2016 between June 29 and July 5. [caption id="attachment_569144" align="alignnone" width="1280"] SXSW.[/caption] SXSW (SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST), AUSTIN Back when Bob Hawke was Prime Minister and shoulder pads were boss (we're talking 1986), a bunch of music-loving folks in Austin, Texas, got together to talk about the future. What bothered them most was that so many stupendously talented local musicians were struggling to attract interstate — let alone international — attention. So, they decided that if Austin couldn't get to the world, they'd bring the world to Austin. And in 1987, the first ever South by Southwest Festival was held. 29 years on, the event is one of the planet's most influential tastemaking music happenings, featuring more than 2000 acts, 200+ workshops and over 100 stages. The 30th edition is programmed for 10-19 March, 2017. INTO THE VALLEY, SWEDEN Sweden's Into the Valley might be the only festival in the world held in a limestone quarry, which was formed by a meteorite. Not only does such a setting make for infinite Instagramming opportunities, it's also means cracking acoustics. The organisers get the best out of both, with a solid house and electronic lineup booming through super powerful sound systems, as well as fantastical light shows. Plus, there's a brilliant, turquoise swimming hole. Into the Valley takes place in Rättvik, 280 kilometres north of Stockholm. This year, it'll be on July 29-31. [caption id="attachment_569150" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Douglas Mason/Jazz Fest.[/caption] NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL, LOUISIANA Jazz makes up just one chunk of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (aka Jazz Fest). You can also count on blues, soul, R&B, rock, Latin, rap, country and bluegrass. Take 2016's program, for example — it's spearheaded by Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Neil Young and Snoop Dogg. Running for eight days, the extravaganza takes over New Orleans' every nook and cranny. To keep you fuelled up between sets, there are more than 70 food stalls, serving up soulful nosh — from crab po' boys and boiled crawfish to fried green tomatoes and oyster patties. 2016's Jazz Fest is running April 22 - May 1. [caption id="attachment_569167" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Meadows in the Mountains.[/caption] MEADOWS IN THE MOUNTAINS, BULGARIA If smaller crowds are more your thing, book a ticket to Bulgaria's Meadows in the Mountains. Set high in the Rhodopes Mountains, this four-day festival offers a blend of live acts and DJs — and loads of time to settle into a hammock and relax. There's also a dedicated 'healing field', where you can partake in yoga lessons, meditation sessions, tantra workshops, cacao ceremonies, sound baths and wholesome food. Stay in a genuine Bulgarian rustic mountain hut or a teepee or carry your own tent with you. Meadows in the Mountains 2016 is on June 10-13. [caption id="attachment_569168" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Nat Urazmetova.[/caption] GLASTONBURY, UK Should Byron Bay's Bluesfest fail to deliver your annual quota of mud, you can always try again at Glastonbury. Held every June on a farm in Somerset, this legendary event often cops a good ol' British deluge — but that only doubles the fun. What's more, if you've just hit sunny Primavera, it's a refreshing sequel. Glastonbury's lineup is always littered with massive names — this year, Muse, Adele, Coldplay, Disclosure, PJ Harvey make up just a sprinkling of them. Needless to say, the tough bit is getting your mitts on a ticket — they sell out faster than Usain Bolt can smash 100 metres. Glastonbury 2016 is coming up June 22-26. [caption id="attachment_569176" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Matias Garabedian.[/caption] MONTREAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, CANADA After Glastonbury and a couple of days at Love International, jump the Atlantic for a change of scene. Like New Orleans Jazz Fest, the Montreal Jazz Festival isn't only about jazz, but also covers its close musical relatives. 2016 headliners include Rufus Wainwright, Ben Harper and Noel Gallagher, alongside jazz stars like Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea and Christian McBride. All in all, you can prepare to see 3000 musicians, representing more than 30 nations, across 650 shows (of which 450 are outdoors and free!). The 35th Montreal Jazz Festival is on June 29 - July 9 2016. [caption id="attachment_568795" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Geoff Stearns.[/caption] BURNING MAN, NEVADA Each year, as the Northern Hemisphere's summer draws to a close, tens and thousands of people gather in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, to take part in Burning Man. It's the only festival on this list to create itself as it happens. In other words, all attendees are participants — rather than followers of a neatly organised, timetabled plan. Over the course of seven days, they build art installations, themed camps, mutant vehicles and performances, thereby creating a temporal and ever-changing metropolis named Black Rock City, which vanishes when the event finishes. If you're travelling solo, you can hook up with others by volunteering. Burning Man 2016 is on August 28 - September 5 (and you'd better go soon before Silicon Valley suits eat it up. Top image: The Labyrinth.
Say g'day to the Yarra River's newest resident, Supafish — a 300-capacity floating pop-up bar in the form of a giant futuristic fish. It's the brainchild of DJ Grant Smillie (Melbourne City Brewing Co, and LA's E.P. & L.P.) and Andrew Mackinnon (from marketing communication agency The Taboo Group), and is set to drop anchor just metres from the boys' previous collaboration, Ponyfish Island. Launching early December, Supafish will be settling in for the long, hot months of summer, slinging cocktails and Mexican fare daily up until February 26. At 38 metres long, this one's a little smaller than The Arbory's just-launched floating summer bar Arbory Afloat, though there's certainly no missing it, what with the huge glowing eyes and neon ribcage made from galvanised steel and recycled materials. The team's set out to create an immersive experience, from top to toe. Nick Peters and Matt Lane — who are behind Mexican eateries Hotel Jesus and Mamasita — have taken the reins on the food offering, so you'll be noshing on punchy plates like ceviche and huitlacoche (which is a type of corn fungus) quesadillas. Meanwhile, a range of refreshing tap cocktails run from margaritas and espresso martinis through to signature kombucha infusions, and Smillie himself is curating the summer's music program. A lineup of on-board activities and events will be revealed over the coming weeks. Supafish will open daily from 11am till 1am, from early December until February 26. For more info, visit supafish.com.au.
Staying on a private island seems like something reserved for Beyonce, Jay Z and Blue somewhere in the Caribbean (and most definitely with some kind of a yacht). Because where do mere mortals even access entire islands, anyway? And do you have to be a millionaire to access one? These are all questions people who haven't had the pleasure of erasing all unwanted human contact from their lives for a period of time ask. All we know is that, in the words of Liz Lemon, we want to go to there. Enter Satellite Island. Just off the coast of Tasmania, the small 30-hectare piece of land in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel is every bit the idyllic alpine Tasmanian dream getaway you could hope for. And when you visit, it's totally, 100% only inhabited by you. The island has been owned by the Alstergren family for a few generations, but when Will and Kate inherited it six years ago, they decided to open it to the public for the first time. Which is great news for everyone else, because it's crazy beautiful. Sea cliffs drop down into that clear, fresh Tassie water, blue gums cover the landscape and you can see across to Bruny Island. Just take a look at where you could be sleeping. The island is yours to explore, with walking tracks, kayaks and fishing rods available for use. You can walk around the island in an hour and a half, so do that. Plus, Bruny Island is only a five minute boat ride away, so duck over there for all your cheese, wine and oyster supplies and come back and eat them on the deck as the sun goes down. Oof. Satellite Island is accessible from the Satellite Island private jetty at Middleton, about a 40 minute drive from Hobart. The manager will meet you to take you to the island. For more information, visit their website. Images thanks to Elise Hassey.
Gardening has recently enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, resulting in a cavalcade of young green thumbs. Keeping a lush garden, whether it's indoors or outdoors, is a viscerally satisfying accomplishment. And the benefits of a well-tended garden are manifold: fresh produce (that actually tastes like it should, instead of a pale, near-death supermarket imitation), flavoursome herbs, clean air and a whole swathe of green babies to greet you when you walk through the door. This is not to mention the mental health benefits of gardening, which have been well-documented and even used to rehabilitate young people with serious behavioural or mental health problems. But where do you start when you've never so much as looked at a scoop of soil before? And where can you turn for help? Eschew Bunnings with a firm hand and head on down to these local boutique nurseries for solid advice, rare finds and an abundance of crazy plant-lovin' folk. CERES NURSERY Part the not-for-profit sustainability reserve on Merri Creek, CERES Nursery is the spot to go for all your herbs and produce. While you're there you might want to pick up some non-toxic fertilisers too, because you don't want to be ingesting anything nasty when you finally harvest your produce. The nursery also stocks basic indoor and outdoor plants as well as a hefty range of natives. A trip to CERES Community Environment Park in Brunswick East is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to get into gardening as the centre, which extends way beyond the nursery, is a living, breathing, thriving example of the benefits of ethical agriculture. They also sell their organically grown fruits and veggies at the CERES Organic Grocery Market — and wouldn't you know it, it all tastes like it should. SOUTH MELBOURNE MARKET The South Melbourne Market is the perfect place for a spot of weekend plant hunting as you can graze your way through the food and coffee stalls at the same time. This is a good spot for intermediate plant parents. There are several plant retailers you can haggle with to secure the best price — and if you know what you want (and you vaguely know how to keep it alive), you'll be able to back your car up and quickly fill the boot with all the fiddle leafs and rubber plants to your little heart's desire. Some of the retailers are knowledgeable and willing to field questions, but if in doubt you can always turn to this nifty little online community for all the plant info you could ever need. [caption id="attachment_562299" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Lil'scapes[/caption] FITZROY MARKET The Fitzroy Market is a monthly affair (the third Saturday of every month, to be exact) and has been running for six years. While the stalls change month-to-month, and the focus is mostly on clothes and homewares, it's also an absolute gem for bulk buying succulents and cacti. Some vendors sell succulents as cheap as $1. Make sure you have a plan of attack before heading in though, otherwise you'll be overwhelmed and leave with an armful of mismatched plants. Plan a multi-species succulent tray or have a terrarium ready so your new plant children have somewhere to settle in. MR KITLY If your interest in gardening is for the purposes of home-beautification, Mr Kitly in Brunswick is the shop for you. Hidden away in an upstairs studio, it's a mecca for plant people, boasting a large range of rare and reasonable indoor plants alongside darling ceramics, chic plant stands, weird crafts and beautiful artwork. Owner and operator Bree Claffey has even written a book named Indoor Green: Living with Plants (punctuated by beaut photography by Lauren Bamford), so you can trust that the Mr Kitly crew know their stuff. LOOSE LEAF Last — but by no means least — is Loose Leaf. You may know of them from their prolific Instagram following but it's more likely that you've wandered into the Loose Leaf studio expecting a retail space and found anything but. Their approach to gardening is almost spiritual and an inspiration to anyone wondering what a little greenery could add to their home. The studio specialises in commercial installations and workshops ranging from terrarium building to bouquet arrangement. They're also currently writing and photographing a book. This is the place to come to track down any uncommon plants you've set your heart on (Chinese money plant, we're looking at you) but they also stock plants for all levels of expertise, as well as some sweet ceramic planters that go beyond your stock-standard ceramic pot.
Hold our calls, feed our fish, tell our mums we love 'em. There's a brand new, purpose-built pop-up hotel travelling around Australia called 'The Spontaneity Suite', and it's just landed in Victoria's Yarra Valley. Hotel booking app HotelTonight (which just launched in Australia in June) and Ovolo Hotels (Sydney's 1888 and Blue Hotel and Melbourne's Laneways Hotel) are behind this, teaming up for one jaw-dropper of an activation. This stunning little moveable hotel room, valued at $32,000, is built from — what else — two shipping containers, and will be travelling around Australia. It's a fully-stocked suite with all the trimmings, with interiors designed by Coco Republic. We're talking rooftop hot tub, cocktail station, rain shower, stone bathtub, Egyptian cotton robes, lambskin recliners, terrace and straight-up insane panoramas of the nearby vineyards, framed by a floor-to-ceiling glass window wall. Sick of that horrible, horrible view? The suite's equipped with Apple TV. Available to book exclusively through the HotelTonight app, lucky adventurers can book a stay in The Spontaneity Suite for a one-night stay for just $99, with limousine transfers from Melbourne, a personal concierge, a TarraWarra Estate wine-tasting tour, all your meals and everything from the minibar included. Yep, what the actual. The catch? It's only available between August 27 and 31. There's another night you could aim for on September 1, but the price starts at $32,000, dropping by $1000 every ten minutes until someone snaps it up. All dosh raised from this night and all other nights booked will go straight to OzHarvest, top marks. Sydneysiders, if you can't make it to the Yarra Valley, keep your hat on. The Spontaneity Suite will pack up and move to a secret location somewhere in Sydney next, then head on to other pretty Australian sites. Want to try your luck at booking a night? Download the HotelTonight app via Google Play or iTunes. Via Traveller.
There's a good reason that nearly every tour of Europe stops in Dubrovnik — the city is bloody beautiful. Inside the medieval walls of the Old Town, you almost feel as though you're wandering through a movie set (albeit a sweaty one with a lot of stairs). You can (and should) do the main attractions anyone who's been on a eight-day sailing tour of Croatia can tell you to do — walk around the city walls, have a drink on the cliffs outside the city walls at Buza bar I or II, do a Game of Thrones tour — but there's plenty of ways to do Dubrovnik your own way. We've compiled a list of the best ways to spend your time in the seaside Croatian city to make sure your visit is an unforgettable one. If you've been thinking about booking that European holiday, do it now. Swapping your Australian winter for a European summer is a great way to make your 2017 something to look forward to. In partnership with Topdeck, here is the first instalment of our Less Obvious city guides. Episode two: Dubrovnik. DRINK DINGAC AT D'VINO Unlike France or Italy, you never really hear anyone going on about Croatia's wine — but you should. This little country produces some killer drops, most notably on the Pelješac Peninsula, which just about an hour and a half north of Dubrovnik. Ask anyone who knows even the tiniest bit about wine, and they'll tell you to try some Dingač. Repeatedly. Dingač is the wine region, but generally they're talking about the much-lauded red wine variety Plavac Mali. Best place to try some of the stuff is at D'Vino in the Old Town. You can sit on the stairs, order a cheese platter and try the wine with a Dingač tasting paddle. SWIM IN A HUGE CLEAR BLUE LAKE For this one you'll have to take the ferry over to the island of Mjlet, which takes about an hour and a half. We promise it will take to you the most godly, most serene of waters. A huge chunk of Mljet is taken up by a national park, which includes two lakes. Veliko and Malo Jezero (literally meaning Large and Small Lake) both have incredibly clear blue water which you will definitely want to float around in until infinity. To get there, get the ferry to Polače (not Sobra — it's a big island), buy a ticket to enter the national park, grab a map and hike over to the lake. Once you've made it, you'll probably want to jump into the ridiculously blue water ASAP. Then you can wander around the lake, stopping at suitable nooks to rest under shade and take a dip wherever you please. This one is a day trip, as there's only one ferry (the Nona Ana) in the morning, and one in the afternoon. The timetable is here, but you can only buy tickets at the dock, so best to get there at least half an hour before the ferry departs to do so. SHOOT HOOPS WITH A VIEW OF THE OLD CITY Why pay to walk the city walls when you can shoot hoops from practically the same vantage point? Anyone can wander into this rooftop court — although it's oddly shaped and not at all a regulation-sized basketball court, so you won't be able to hold official competitions. There is, however, a sorta hidden entrance to the Gornji Ugao Tower, a restored medieval fort inside the city walls from the 15th century. EAT CROATIAN BARBECUE ON A ROOFTOP TERRACE If this place existed in Australia, it would get mad hype. It's not trendy by any means, but it's got all the makings of an inner city success: a rooftop, a barbecue and wine by the carafe. They cook basically everything on the charcoal grill here, which (happily for your nose) is located on the open air rooftop terrace overlooking the city you will be dining in. You can't go wrong with seafood, but it's worth trying their ćevapi, which is a minced meat morsel not unlike kofta. There's some epic queues at dinnertime, so it's best to get there really early or really late. Also, the best bit: it's called Lady Pi-Pi because there's a sculpture of a boss lady peeing out the front. See above. [caption id="attachment_590356" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: Peter Northall.[/caption] LEARN SOME VITAL LOCAL HISTORY AT THE WAR PHOTO MUSUEM Your lack of knowledge about Yugoslav history will probably never be more apparent than when you visit Dubrovnik. The city still lives with a vivid memory of the Yugoslav People's Army's two-month siege on the city — it only happened in 1991. The best place to get a sense of what happened is to visit War Photo Limited. Their permanent collection includes images of Dubrovnik under siege as well as iconic work from photojournalists covering the breakdown of Yugoslavia and the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. EAT A BREAKFAST BUREK ON THE ROCKS Look, not all burek were created equal — but pretty much all were created insanely delicious and that's all we need to know. Basically every second person is walking around Dubrovnik eating a burek out of a paper bag, and you should definitely be one of them. Best is the breakfast burek (which is only differentiated from lunch and dinner burek by time of day, not contents) because you get to eat cheese encased in pastry and it's a legitimate breakfast. Buy one (or two) from literally anywhere and walk it out of Ploče Gate and down some stone stairs to eat it on the rocks as the sun comes up. TAKE A DIP AT DANCE While our idea of a beach is one with sand, Croatians apply the definition to basically any bit of coastline you can hop into the water from. Dubrovnik's 'beaches' therefore aren't necessarily known as being amazing, but when the temperature rises and the Old Town becomes a hot, sweaty mess, you'll definitely want to find one. Avoid Banje Beach (it's overcrowded and run by a beach club meaning you have to pay for a chair), and head out of Pile gate to fine Danče beach. It's quiet, traversed mostly by locals and has rocks and slabs of concrete so you can lie down and soak up the Croatian sun. Visit Europe (including Dubrovnik) with a Topdeck trip and make 2017 a year to remember. Book early (that means now) and save up to $999. Top Image: Juan Carlos De Martin via Flickr.
Listen up: Listen Out is back for its 11th year and, after first announcing its dates and venues, it isn't slouching on the lineup front. The just-dropped bill for the touring festival boasts 21 Savage, Skepta, Tyla and Flo Milli among its hip hop and R&B names. On the electronic side, John Summit and Sub Focus feature. Yes, the list goes on from there. Fans of 21 Savage, Tyla and Flo Milli — and of Teezo Touchdown, Jessie Reyez and Jazzy, too — should be especially excited. When they each take to Listen Out's stages this spring for the fest's 2024 trip around Australia, they'll be hitting the country for the first time. Among their company, Lil Tjay, Lithe, Folamour, The Blessed Madonna, Cassian and Disco Lines are just some of the fellow acts that'll have festivalgoers in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth dancing. With Groovin the Moo announcing its dates then cancelling, and Splendour in the Grass sadly doing the same, everyone's plans for 2024 have been missing a few music festivals. But Listen Out is aiming to buck the trend, locking in its return for September and October. Adelaide's Listen In is also taking place this year, and has similarly just unveiled its lineup. 2023's fest was Listen Out's most successful in terms of ticket sales ever, and the crew behind it are hoping to continue that trajectory. Something that might help: turning the fest into a 16-plus event, age-wise, which is a first for 2024. As the roster of names on the lineup demonstrates, the festival's focus is staying true to its niche, filling its stages on electronic and hip hop artists — both international and local talents, too. Four stops are on the Listen Out agenda: Caribbean Gardens in Melbourne, HBF Arena in Perth, RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane and Centennial Park in Sydney. If you've been worried about missing the NRL final in Sydney and the AFL final in Perth thanks to Listen Out's dates, the fest has news there: at both legs, there'll be screens showing the football. Listen In, the condensed version of the fest with a smaller lineup, is headed to Ellis Park in Adelaide. It'll feature 21 Savage, Folamour, Jessie Reyez, John Summit, Lil Tjay, A Little Sound, Skepta and Theodore Kittens. Listen Out and Listen In 2024 Lineups: Listen Out: 21 Savage Skepta Lil Tjay Tyla Flo Milli Jessie Reyez Teezo Touchdown Lithe John Summit Sub Focus Folamour The Blessed Madonna Cassian Disco Lines Jazzy Koven Conducta A Little Sound Ben Gerrans AK Sports Foura B2B Tom Santa Miss Kaninna Djanaba Soju Gang Melbourne: Yo! Mafia Sixten Kelly T J-OK Perth: Sammythesinner Janeethevirgin Dr Pepper Bodie Brisbane: Trance Mums Jacob Tompkins Mikalah Watego Melanin Mami Sydney: Dayzzi Malfunkt x Banno Bodego Collective Bella Backe Listen In: 21 Savage Folamour Jessie Reyez John Summit Lil Tjay A Little Sound Skepta Theodore Kittens Triple J Unearthed winners + more [caption id="attachment_957218" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] Listen Out and Listen In Australian 2024 Dates: Friday, September 27 — Listen Out Melbourne, Caribbean Gardens, Wurundjeri Land / Melbourne Saturday, September 28 — Listen Out Perth, HBF Arena, Mooro Country / Joondalup Sunday, September 29 — Listen In Adelaide, Ellis Park / Tampawardli (Park 24), Kaurna Country / Adelaide Saturday, October 5 — Listen Out Brisbane, Brisbane Showgrounds, Meanjin / Brisbane Sunday, October 6 — Listen Out Sydney, Centennial Park, Gadigal Country [caption id="attachment_957226" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957221" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Venn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Warr[/caption] Listen Out and Listen In's 2024 season tours Australia in spring 2024. For more information — and for tickets from midday local time in each city on Thursday, June 6 — head to the festival website. Top image: Sam Venn.
Dust off your deckchairs and shake out those summer-lovin' picnic rugs because the lineup for A Day on the Green's November/December instalment has just dropped and phwoar, it's pretty darn good. Playing dates at various luxe wineries around the country, alt-rock superstars Garbage will make their triumphant return to Australia, joined by local legends The Temper Trap, The Preatures, Adalita and Tash Sultana in a lineup that champions some seriously killer frontwomen. Picture Shirley Manson, Isabella Manfredi and Adalita on the same stage — fingers crossed for an all-in song. This is the first time Garbage has played in Australia since 2013, and is culminating with their latest release Strange Little Birds. Take a moment to revisit their 1995 hit 'Only Happy When It Rains', because Thursday. The Temper Trap will also be playing their first shows since releasing their third album Thick As Thieves, which has been garnering some widespread airtime both locally and internationally. Early Christmas present anyone? A DAY ON THE GREEN 2016 TOUR DATES: Sat Nov 26 — Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley Sun Nov 27 — Leconfield Wines, McLaren Vale Tues Nov 29 — Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth (*Tash Sultana/Adalita not playing Perth) Sat Dec 3 — Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley Sun Dec 4 — Sirromet Wines, Mt Cotton Tickets go on sale Monday, August 8 at 12pm, starting at $99.90 +BF from ticketmaster.com.
After last week dropping a couple of new tracks from his forthcoming album Starboy, The Weeknd again has fans hopping with excitement, announcing the locations for four new pop-up stores around the world. The Canadian musician took to Twitter to reveal the locations of four more Starboy merch pop-ups: Tokyo, Toronto, Berlin and our very own Melbourne. They follow a round of stores that popped up in Miami, LA, New York, and London earlier this month. SEE YOU IN TORONTO pic.twitter.com/kF42jdlQXn — The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 21, 2016 The Australian outpost will pop up in Melbourne Central this weekend, from November 25-27. Of course, if this retail venture proves to be anywhere near as insanely popular as Kanye's Pablo pop-ups, you'd best start lining up now. Find The Weeknd's Australian pop-up shop from November 25-27 at shop 239, level 2, Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, 211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne. It will be open from 10am - 8pm on Friday, 10am - 6pm on Saturday and noon - 6pm on Sunday.
New York City has the High Line; Paris has the Promenade Plantée; Osaka has the glorious Namba Parks. In dense urban environments, it's always heartening to see green public spaces built on the bones of obsolete industry (both the High Line and Promenade Plantée are built along sections of disused elevated railway tracks). And in 2018, Melbourne will join the list of 'Cool urban metropolises who don't compromise on green space' with its very own elevated public park. Lendlease has announced plans to develop a 2000sqm public park in the heart of the city, bordered by Collins and Flinders Streets (directly across from Southern Cross Station, with a nice view of the award-winning space slug rooftop). Melbourne Skypark (an apt title that really pulls no punches) is part of a larger development, Melbourne Quarter, a brand new city precinct which will include new offices, homes, shops and hospitality spaces across an entire city block. Melbourne Skypark will add a much-needed green space to the south end of the CBD, taking the city's solid rooftop culture and making it greener, bigger and — literally — more alive. The park is designed on the principles of biophillia, which is a fancy way of saying the health and well-being value of public parks stem from the instinctive bond between humans and other living things. Basically, if it's green and alive, we're down with it. Melbourne Quarter — which aims to connect people with nature and improve liveability — isn't just for residents or workers either. Over half of the new 'hood will be free for the public to enjoy, with the Skypark adding sorely needed open green space to the inner city. But it's not the only environmental addition. As well as the Skypark, Lendlease have also announced plans for a new laneway to connect Collins and Flinders Streets, a neighbourhood park and Melbourne Square, a public plaza which will be the most significant public space developed in the CBD since Federation Square in 2002. The world's most liveable city just got a whole lot more liveable. Melbourne Skypark will open in 2018.
Summer may be over, but the sweltering weather is set to keep on rolling in. In any case, any time's a good time to pick up a spoon and dig into a hearty (and perhaps healthy) breakfast bowl. So swap the bacon and thick toast for a bright, light bowl of goodness. Perhaps it's filled with acai, or a Snickers smoothie or chia pudding — whatever your choice of pre-noon poison, these seasonal bowls are always a good, satisfying breakfast open. And they are really pretty. So here are Melbourne's most delicious (and best looking) breakfast bowls. LYCHEE AND PASSIONFRUIT CHAI PUDDING AT MAMMOTH Getting tired of smashed avo? One of the most hyped cafes to open in 2015 features a delightfully creative brunch menu with absolutely none of your traditional lazy morning brunches. Not suitable for patrons averse to change, Armadale's Mammoth dishes out a grilled lychee and passionfruit chia pudding with macadamia, hemp seed crumble and blood orange ($14). [caption id="attachment_562055" align="alignnone" width="1280"] laurafordnutrition via Instagram[/caption] ACAI BOWL AT MONK BODHI DHARMA Gluten free, dairy free and splendidly guilt free, Monk Bodhi Dharma's acai bowl is topped with banana, berries, coconut yoghurt and their Dresden granola. The lack of element don't make Monk Bodhi Dharma's acai bowl any less delicious. And it's just as well — foodies with sensitive tummies are known to eat this breakfast more often than not. [caption id="attachment_562057" align="alignnone" width="1280"] thatfooodie via Instagram[/caption] PASSIONFRUIT PANNACOTTA AT TWO BIRDS ONE STONE Is it a mousse? Is it a custard? Nope — it's a pannacotta. The warm, homely ambience of Two Birds One Stone is created by stained glass tiling and more than a few low-hanging lights, making it the perfect place to enjoy a wonderfully wobbly brunch. Topped with edible flowers, fresh passionfruit, nutty granola and saffron-scented pineapple, this is stuff is delicious ($13). The pannacotta is made with passionfruit and yoghurt, making it the healthy alternative for bright 'n' early sweet tooths. HOUSE-MADE COCONUT YOGHURT AT THE KETTLE BLACK One of Melbourne's best looking cafes also boasts the most photogenic yoghurt ever. With a goodie bowl filled with house-made coconut yoghurt and topped with gluten-free grains, nuts, seeds, chunky fruit and those edible flower petals ($14), this bowl is crammed full of ingredients with absolutely no post-brunch guilt. None. Nada. FIVE GRAIN CACAO PORRIDGE AT BARRY It's a borderline dessert sneakily masquerading as breakfast, but we're certainly not complaining. Barry's five grain cacao porridge with coconut labne, strawberries, goji berries and pistachios ($15) is one sweet — and very healthy — way to start the day. Featuring exposed, industrial-styled ceilings and concrete floors, Barry's cacao porridge is as Instagram-worthy as the cafe's interior. We guarantee you won't regret your choice at Barry – after all, when have they ever led you wrong? [caption id="attachment_562064" align="alignnone" width="1280"] eatmelbs via Instagram[/caption] ACAI BOWL AT LITTLE BIG SUGAR SALT One of Melbourne's favourite cheeky cafes, Little Big Sugar Salt, throws down some of this city's best breakfast bowls. But don't be fooled — this is no ordinary bowl of nuts and grains. Boasting house-made, gluten free, lightly spiced granola paired with creamy coconut yoghurt, pomegranate and a generous serve of fresh fruit ($17), Little Big Sugar Salt's acai bowl is made for summer. PALEO BREKKIE BOWL AT STREET ORGANICS If house-made kombucha, rich nut milks and seasonal, organic produce is part of your non-negotiable weekly grocery shop, Malvern's Street Organics is the mother load. Shelves filled with pantry staples, fresh fruits and a range of organic, biodynamic products are available everyday. Nestled in an alley-like seating area, you can enjoy a well-earned paleo brekkie bowl, post-shopping spree. With frozen banana, blueberries, cashew and almond cream, coconut yoghurt, chia seeds and goji berries ($12), it's packed with enough goodness to keep you going all weekend. [caption id="attachment_562060" align="alignnone" width="1280"] biancabeebs via Instagram[/caption] SNICKERS SMOOTHIE BOWL AT TREI CAFE Glen Waverley might not be Melbourne's biggest food hub, but Trei Cafe's opening on Blackburn Road has got has foodies running southeast. Boasting a clean eating menu options and playful pastel features, order yourself a Snickers smoothie bowl and prepare for the healthiest bowl of chocolate ever. Made with almond mylk, cacao, NuZest protein, peanut butter, banana, rice malt syrup and salted peanuts ($10.50), it's almost certainly the best (and nuttiest) start to the day. BIRCHER MUSELI WITH MACERATED STRAWBERRIES AT MR MISTER From dilapidated brickwork to low-hanging vines, Mr Mister's interior was designed with the intent of blending the cafe's indoor and outdoor spaces. Among their menu of cold drinks, juices and nut milks, you'll find their velvet smooth Bircher with macerated strawberries, vanilla, pomegranate and toasted pistachios ($13). One of Windsor's best low-key brunch spots, Mr Mister is the ideal spot for a big of brekkie bowl action. BLUEBERRY AND RICOTTA HOTCAKE AT TOP PADDOCK One of Melbourne's favourite cafés serves up one of the best breakfast cakes in the city. Their giant blueberry and ricotta hotcake comes with fresh berries, organic maple, seeds and double cream ($19.50). They're fluffy, and the perfect excuse to succumb to sugar cravings this early in the day. And before you ask, yes, it's served in a bowl. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Whether you're on a date, catching up with your friends, or just looking for a way to kill a few hours on a Tuesday night, there are few modern indulgences that beat settling into a dark cinema and letting your worries escape you as you slip into another world. Spies, superheroes, lovers, musicians, presidents, dictators, robbers and cops: you'll encounter them all as the lights go down and the projector begins to whir. There's plenty afoot a the pictures this month, so we're here to give you a little bit of help with choosing tonight's movie. See you at the candy bar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8 AVENGERS: ENDGAME What our critic said: Where Infinity War wrought intergalactic devastation and destruction, Endgame delivers intimacy and an examination of grief, loss and very private regret. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ5X75F1YJw LONG SHOT What our critic said: Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen make a relatable pair in this heartfelt and hilarious political rom-com. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k38zjD2QVSg GLORIA BELL What our critic said: While the plot is straightforward — a woman and a man meet, connect and try to work out if their messy lives fit together — every character, scene and moment is gloriously layered, ensuring that nothing about the picture is simplistic. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI9UYcEwUYA BURNING What our critic said: This South Korean drama is a ruminative mystery, a fine-tuned character study and an intricately observed examination of human relationships all in one. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw5LfaKTKoI 1985 What our critic said: 1985's black-and-white visuals overflow not only with visible texture, but with meaning and emotion — as seen in its loaded shadows, inky contrasts and jittery flecks. Read the full review.
Between the cheesy margherita pizzas, parmesan-doused tagliatelle and ricotta-stuffed cannoli, you'd be forgiven for assuming Italian cuisine is forever doomed to be a vegan no-go zone. But Hardware Lane's vegan resident is here to remind you that's not true. Say hello to Funghi e Tartufo — a laneway Italian restaurant with an entirely plant-based menu and wine list. Named after the Italian words for 'mushrooms and truffle' in a nod to the kitchen's signature dish, Funghi e Tartufo comes from the minds behind Clifton Hill's Osteria Italiana. And it's a dream for vegans, coeliacs and FODMAP folks alike. Following in the footsteps of dietary-friendly local Italian eateries like Farro and gluten-free pizzeria Shop 225, it's taking an inclusive approach to a cuisine that's traditionally not so vegan-friendly. On the menu, you'll find all the Italian classics, with a plant-based makeover. Kick off with antipasto bites like bolognese arancini, lemon pepper 'calamari', vegan meatballs and a Sicilian-style caponata paired with toasted bread. Pasta fiends can get their kicks with the likes of fresh pappardelle in rich truffle and mushroom sauce, lasagne with a vegan bolognese sauce, and even a creamy carbonara situation. Or, try Funghi e Tartufo's take on the classic sorrentina, here matched with vegan cheese and a basil Napoli sauce. Dessert's sorted, too, thanks to sweet creations like panna cotta and a silky chocolate cheesecake. But that's not all. The menu abounds in gluten-free options, and even the wine and cocktail list is an all-vegan affair. Pop by for aperitivo hour, and enjoy your Sicilian snacks and vegan cheese board matched with drops like a negroni or a 2018 chianti out of Tuscany. Appears in: The Best Vegan Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023
People in New Zealand's South Island are generally an active bunch. There is so much adventuring to do that your visit to the Christchurch region will most likely be packed with hikes, fishing trips, seal swims and mountain biking trips. After all of that, you're going to want to wind down, soothe your nerves and relax a little. Luckily the Christchurch region has just as much to offer to those who want to take life a little slower, and enjoy the creature comforts. Whether you're soaking in the warmth of the region's natural hot springs, glamping in luxurious nature at Lavericks Bay or sampling a couple of cheeky vinos at Black Estate, it's easy to kick back and relax in Christchurch. We've shouldered the heavy burden and picked five of the region's most relaxing activities — so you can take it easy. RIDE THE SCENIC TRANZALPINE TRAIN If you're looking to relax and explore at the same time, board the TranzAlpine train at Christchurch and wind your way through towering beech forests, over the Southern Alps and across the sweeping Canterbury Plains. You'll feel at ease in the comfort of the on-board cafe and cabins which are fitted with wide wall and ceiling windows, through which you can enjoy the views of majestic snow-capped mountains. Take the day trip returning from picturesque Arthur's Pass to Christchurch, or ride the whole way and several hours later you'll arrive at unspoiled Greymouth on New Zealand's West Coast, the ideal base from which to explore the world-renowned Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, or perhaps hide away and relax somewhere beautiful and isolated. TASTE TEST LOCAL WINE AT BLACK ESTATE Black Estate has rustic, locally-sourced food, wine made on-site and good times guaranteed, all in a picturesque vineyard setting. Less than an hour drive from Christchurch's city centre, you'll know you've arrived when you see Black Estate's minimalist, black barn cellar door. It's set at the foot of a burnt orange hill covered in dry grass and bordered by acres of lush vines. All wine is made on-site by a fella named Nicholas, who believes in simple winemaking using organic locally sourced ingredients free of unnecessary additives. Nicholas's wife Penelope takes care of the business and restaurant, where they serve rustic country cuisine like Canter Valley duck and organic greens, or Akaroa salmon caught just down the road. Pop in, stay a while and indulge in the best cuisine, wine and hospitality that the Canterbury region has to offer. WARM UP AT THE HANMER SPRINGS THERMAL POOLS A quick 90-minute drive from Christchurch you'll find Hanmer, a small alpine town rich with character. This little region is like the setting of an adventure film, with old Victorian cottages set against a backdrop of rugged mountains and towering pine trees. The town's main attraction is Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa — the ultimate in slow paced, remote relaxation. Dip your tired body into naturally heated water and soothing rock pools, or perhaps treat yourself to a day of pampering at the premium on-site spa. SPEND THE NIGHT IN A PRIVATE GLASSHOUSE If you fancy spending a night stargazing and surrounded by nature in your own private glasshouse, then the completely isolated, sustainable PurePods that are scattered around New Zealand are perfect for you. Each PurePod has walls, a floor and ceiling made of heavy-duty glass, so you can see everything from the stars above you to the nature beneath your feet. The PurePod in Little River (just over an hour out of Christchurch) is a ten to 15 minute bush walk away from reception, so you're sure to get some peace and quiet for a night. Food packages can be ordered when you book, so you won't need to leave for a whole 24 hours — you'll only need to sit back and immerse yourself in the 360-degree views of the beautiful New Zealand landscape. CANOPY CAMP IN LAVERICKS BAY Under the clean white folds of a spacious tent, look out over the lush farmland and rolling waves of Lavericks Bay. This is glamping how it should be, with your own private black sand cove to relax in that's only an hour and 40 minute drive from Christchurch. Bathe and sunbathe at the same time in the outdoor bath on the campsite, or relax with a book on your own private deck. There are exposed rockpools at low tide and the appearance of Hector's dolphins and seals is not uncommon around your 'campsite'. Maybe you've been to New Zealand's North Island, but have you ever ventured down South? Christchurch, and New Zealand's surrounding Canterbury region, is the perfect place for a quick holiday. Use our planning guide to book your trip, then sort out your itinerary with our food, adventure and nature guides. Top image: Black Estate.
When we first meet Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor), it's over a doughnut in a dingy shop on the corner of Santa Monica and Highland, a notorious Los Angeles intersection known for its high numbers of transgender sex workers. Sin-Dee is back on the block after a month-long stint in prison, although she won't be getting back to the hustle right away. First, she's got to track down her pimp and boyfriend Chester (James Ransone), who according to Alexandra has been stepping out behind her back — and with a biological woman, no less. At first description, Sundance hit Tangerine sounds like it could be a bit of a slog to sit through — a micro-budget indie film about people on the fringe of society with no good options and no way out. Thankfully, that could not be further from the truth. What on paper has the makings of a despondent 'issues' movie is instead a loud, stylish, ultra high-energy romp — a film that is both uproariously funny and unexpectedly poignant without ever resorting to cheap tricks, condescension or cliche. Of course the first thing that makes Tangerine stand out is not its subject matter but its style. Director Sean Baker shot the entire film using tricked-out iPhone 5s, a cost-saving measure that proved to be a blessing in disguise. The jerky, unvarnished camerawork suits the film's characters to perfection, while filters added in post-production ramp up the colours to unnaturally vivid level; rarely has LA's ugly side looked so electric on screen. On a technical level alone, this is a truly exciting piece of art, one that raises the bar for low- and no-budget productions while at the same time demonstrating how technology is democratising moviemaking like never before. Still, even more so than its incredible aesthetic, the true success of Tangerine lies in the collaboration between Baker and his two leads. Despite a combined zero hours of screen acting experience between them, Taylor and Rodriguez, who Baker recruited from a local LGBT centre, give two of the best performances of the year. It's hard to imagine 'professional' actors bringing the same levels of authenticity – or attitude – to the film's immensely quotable dialogue, much of which was improvised on set. Indeed, the unvarnished, no-fucks-given edge that both stars bring to the film speaks volumes about the hardships faced by poor transwomen of colour. Tangerine, to its eternal credit, never shies away from these hardships. But it also refuses to paint its characters as helpless victims. These women don't want or need your sympathy, although they certainly deserve your respect. So too does this film. As transgender issues continue to get more of the spotlight, narratives such as this – unflinching and, perhaps more importantly, entertaining – have the power to alter public perception. Frankly, it's hard not to root for characters like these. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALSwWTb88ZU
It's a sad day for Soulfest ticketholders, this year's festival has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Due to kick off for Australia/New Zealand dates with the likes of Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige and Miguel on Saturday, October 24, Soulfest 2015 will no longer be hitting Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne, or bringing sideshows to Brisbane, Mebourne and Sydney. Soulfest International posted this statement on their website and Facebook page this morning: "It is with a heavy heart and great regret that Soulfest International advises that it has become necessary to cancel Soulfest and the subsequent sideshows, due to poor ticket sales. Soulfest was scheduled to take place in Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney, with sideshows in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and was due to commence on October 20th. "Soulfest was launched with the intention of promoting genres of music that are often overlooked commercially in this country, specifically Neo-Soul, RnB and Hip-Hop, and Soulfest 2014 successfully delivered some of the most exciting talent within these genres. Despite a stellar line-up of artists and the best promotional endeavours on Soulfest’s behalf, the event has simply not received the support via ticket sales, and the financial loss that would be incurred by the event if it were to go ahead as planned would be devastating. "There have been many people working behind the scenes, including media partners, artists, sponsors, sub-contracted promoters, communication managers, agents and suppliers who live, breathe and support this incredible genre of music and have worked tirelessly to try and make this event a success. The promoter sincerely apologises to all involved who have dedicated 7 months of their lives to work on this festival, and to the supporters of the event who purchased tickets." Soulfest has confirmed tickets will be refunded. For tickets booked online or by phone, credit cards used to book will automatically be refunded. Soulfest have said refunds could take up to 14 days. Bookings made at outlets will also be refunded, with ticketholders told to return to the box office where they bought the tickets with the credit card they used and photo ID. Soulfest's sideshows, sadly, are also cancelled. Via Music Feeds. Image: Soulfest.
Ring in the Year of the Monkey sipping on whisky cocktails at a custom-built pop-up bar. Presented, appropriately, by Monkey Shoulder whisky in partnership with the City of Sydney, the bar will be open for the entire run of Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival, from February 6-21. To celebrate, we're giving away a sweet Sydney trip, so you can get up to a little monkey business of your own. Valued at $1000, this killer giveaway includes two return flights to Sydney from anywhere in Australia, two nights free accommodation, transport, and entry into the Monkey Shoulder Whisky Bar. Not too shabby, if we do say so ourselves. While in Sydney you can check out the Chinese New Year festivities, including talks, tours, exhibitions, installations, performances and one-off events. Assuming you can drag yourself away from the bar, that is. The Monkey Shoulder Whisky Bar will pop-up in Martin Place from February 6-14, before hightailing it over to World Square from February 15-21. Beverages on offer will include the Monkey's Mojito, the Monkey old-fashioned and a spin on the Pina Colada named Jungle Juice. Visitors to the bar will also receive a fortune cookie, which will hopefully predict good tidings for the year ahead. Thanks to Monkey Shoulder, we have one sweet, sweet trip for two to Sydney from anywhere in Australia up for grabs. The prize includes two return flights to Sydney from anywhere in Australia, two nights free accommodation, transport, and entry into the Monkey Shoulder Whisky Bar (value $1000). To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address. Good luck, whiskey fiends. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
We seriously hope you manage to sneak in a holiday in 2017, because boutique hotel curator Mr & Mrs Smith has compiled the votes from over 25,000 of its luxury-loving users and decided on the world's best accommodation options. These sensational hotels are not only in our most famous cities, but also in areas of remote paradise across the world. In partnership with Mr & Mrs Smith, here are 12 truly incredible, highly individual accommodation options. You'll find treehouses, old relics-turned-hotels and two boutique hotels on Aussie turf (oi, oi, oi!). BEST SMITH HOTEL: HALCYON HOUSE, AUSTRALIA Australia's very own Halcyon House has taken out the top spot in the awards, ushering visitors in with its coastal charm. Luxuriously sited on New South Wales' Cabarita Beach, the hotel opened in 2015 and has already made a name for itself simply by having rooms with stunning decor. Each is decked out in vibrant patterns, often featuring flashes of blue to honour the ocean. Restored vintage bicycles are available to hire, or guests can enjoy a calm afternoon playing croquet, unwinding on candy-striped day beds by the pool, or heading to the hotel's acclaimed restaurant and bar, Paper Daisy, for some "Australian coastal cooking". COOLEST CREATIVE HUB: FOGO ISLAND INN, CANADA Spectacularly perched on a cliff edge (we wouldn't expect anything less from a hotel in Canada), Fogo Island Inn is turning heads. If a wood-fired sauna, rooftop hot tub, art gallery and pastries delivered to your door every morning sounds enticing, then this inn is for you. Managing to pull off grandeur while exercising sustainability, there are rainwater catchment systems and renewable solar and wood-burning energy sources embedded in the inn. The 29 suites are classically and calmingly minimalistic, consisting of white walls, floors and bathrooms that are livened with colourful homewares and furniture made by local designers. BEST DRESSED HOTEL: PALAZZO MARGHERITA, ITALY Dense with soul, grace and opulence, Palazzo Margherita sits in the Italian town of Bernalda, at the arch of Italy's foot. It's fit for a king, and coincidentally restored by film royalty. Director of The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola, sought to refurbish what was a decaying 19th century relic and turn it into a hotel. All nine suites in the palazzo are individually characterised, some with peachy walls and gold framing, others looking onto roof murals reminiscent of Catholic churches. Guests have the option to unwind at the warmly hued family bar, or the cinecitta bar where the walls are lined with glossy photos of Italian celebrities. For explorers, this accommodation could not be more perfectly placed. The Basilicata region is flush with ruins, including those of Metaponto and Policoro, as well as the cave dwellings of Matera. The deserted town of Craco is within reach, too. WORLD'S SEXIEST BEDROOM: KEEMALA, THAILAND You may find it hard to put your phone down and resist the urge to post on Instagram seventeen times a day at Keemala. It's Avatar meets a five-star resort. The pool villas, harnessed in generous, luscious rainforest, may send your followers into an envious spiral. Rooms are encased in woven wood cocoons and beds are gloriously draped with lavish curtains that you can close and shut off from the world. The resort offers an hourly shuttle to Kamala beach, a spa and fitness centre holding yoga and Muay Thai boxing classes, as well as tai chi on the beach. The pool bar whips up innovative cocktails such as a lemongrass-infused Tom Yum cocktail and bittersweet Martinis paired with raw cacao. Intimate dining options can also be arranged, in the resort's plentiful gardens, or on a rocky outcrop. BEST DATE-NIGHT BAR: THE LONDON EDITION, ENGLAND Behind a neoclassical, royal exterior lies the splendour of The London Edition. It's part of the larger group of boutique 'Edition' hotels headed by the Marriott International, which are also opening locations in Abu Dhabi, Reykjavik and Barcelona. At the masterfully designed London Edition though, guests are welcomed by an extravagant lobby made up of ceiling motifs and classic green velour couches, while the rooms mix old and new to create an aesthetically wonderful atmosphere. The rooms are made of entirely timber walls, with refreshingly white bathrooms to contrast. Visitors often flock to the hotel's dining room, Berners Tavern, which is superbly and absolutely packed with 19th Century gilt-framed paintings. Serving high-end comfort food, the tavern is not only popular among guests, but those outside of The London Edition, too. BEST GOURMET GETAWAY: THE OLD CLARE HOTEL, AUSTRALIA The Old Clare occupies the previous headquarters of the old Carlton & United Breweries in Chippendale. It's made up of 62 rooms, which still have their heritage ceilings and panelling. Modern in some places and retro in others, the hotel exudes personality in every crevice. The Old Clare also plays the proud host to two of Sydney's coolest dining institutions — Kensington Street Social, which has a menu that gives a contemporary tip of the to British cuisine, and the refined and brilliantly designed Automata. Both are gloriously sophisticated in their own right. Head to the other end of the hotel (the top) and you'll find a rooftop pool that coolly overlooks Chippendale. MOST SPOILING SPA: AMANEMU, JAPAN You may fall over looking at the entrance pavilion at Amanemu — it's a beautiful, Japanese building enhanced by stunning backdrop of Ago Bay. Fortunately, this spa hotel is built around natural hot springs that are incorporated into treatments and the suites themselves. The rooms are perfectly geometric, drawing on Japanese minimalism to calm patrons even further. Blonde timber is lit by generous rays of sunshine that arrive through the many windows of each room every morning. Step outside and you're treated to an incredible scene of trees and the hotel's spa terrace. If you seek healing and a pure escape, put Amanemu on your list. POOL WITH A VIEW: GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO, ITALY This place is the epitome of la dolce vita. The Grand Hotel Tremezzo is one of the monstrosities gracing Italy's even grander Lake Como. The exterior of the hotel features what we call 'lakeception' — a pool situated on an actual lake. Behind that you'll find guests rejuvenating on sun lounges shielded by white umbrellas, before trickling back through the hotel, through regal red painted walls and embellished columns. Rooms are furnished with gold, paint-framed mirrors and plush furniture resembling that of Italian royalty. Imaginably, the rooms host ridiculous window views of Lake Como's emerald waters and the mesmerisingly large mountains that protect them. Waterside bars and in-house Italian dining top off the stay — anything more you want to ask for? ABOVE AND BEYOND: AWASI, CHILE Among pristine, untouched Patagonia are 14 luxury cabins unlike anything else out there. The Awasi resort champions its surroundings, fitting into vistas of lakes, snow-tipped mountains and forests as seamlessly as a Patagonian puma hiding in the hills. Each cabin is topped off with a hot tub, where guests can admire their unbelievable surroundings. Visitors are also well attended to, with a private guide assigned to customise their experience. That could involve running away to off-the-beat hiking trails that lead to the best wildlife viewing spots the area has to offer. Seclusion and serenity unite at Awasi to deliver an unforgettable Chilean experience. BEST FAMILY HOTEL: TREEHOTEL, SWEDEN If Tarzan opened a luxury group of treehouses, it would translate to Sweden's Treehotel complex. There's something addictively adventurous about hanging among the trees, even when you're an adult. And before you think you'll be doing it tough, know that the cleverly designed pods that clutch the forest trees are filled with stunning Scandinavian-styled interiors. You'll have to monkey down the trees to cook though. There's a restaurant, bar and shared kitchen area, as well as shared bathrooms with a sauna and whirlpool plunge bath. Alongside that is an open-air hot tub, ziplines and an abundance of forest to look at. Each room is accessible by either a ladder or stairs. HOTTEST HOTEL SOUNDTRACK: FAZENDA NOVA, PORTUGAL Fazenda Nova is the love child of London born Hallie and Tim Robinson, who holidayed in Portugal for three years before opening their own accommodation. The pair renovated a 19th-century farmhouse to create a stunning retreat, surrounded by almond, pomegranate and olive orchards. Fazenda Nova encompasses the exuberance Portugal is renowned for, but the Robinsons have slotted in international influences into the grounds including Balinese teak furniture and Moroccan doors that the pair collected during their travels. The restaurant, A Cozihna, preaches the glory of Portuguese cuisine, which is often shadowed by Spanish cuisine (note — the two are exceedingly different). Menu options rotate daily, but often honour local seafood, and dishes are made from the hotel's own produce. LOCAL HOTEL HERO: 11 HOWARD, NEW YORK The romantic 11 Howard hotel proudly resides in Lower Manhattan. You may recognise the 150-foot mural that graces the side of the building from Instagram, where it is shared endlessly. Made up of minimally beautiful rooms, it's not hard to assume that guests struggle to check out of here. Danish design rules the decor; rooms are made up of light oak floors, blush pinks and soft greys to create a calm ambiance. Le Coucou (the hotel's restaurant) is something out of a fairytale, partly evoked by the forest painted walls that surround diners. It's a NYC hotspot, not that we'd expect anything less from acclaimed chef Daniel Rose, who set up La Bourse et La Vie in Paris. After indulging there, trickle over to the hotel's bar, The Blond. By 9pm, the sensual space transforms into a nightclub. There's a strict guest list from Thursday to Saturday, but as a hotel patron you don't need to fret. You'll get in easily.
Korean-style fried chicken and cold beer continue to be a hot combination at SamSam's Swanston Street store, especially among students hunting down cheap eats in Melbourne CBD. Here, every morsel of bird is guaranteed to have that perfect golden crunch thanks to the massive robotic arm that hovers over the deep fryer throughout the day. When it comes to your fried chicken, you can go for bone-in or boneless, and then pick the sauce you want to slather on these bad boys. Hot and spicy is a crowd favourite — SamSam isn't holding back on the heat with this one — but you'll be more than happy choosing soy and garlic, mala-soy, sweet chilli, soy and mustard, lemon mayo, or snow cheese. Baskets of bird come with pickled radish and coleslaw, and can easily be paired with a jug of ice-cold beer and kimchi fries. Beyond serving some of the best fried chicken in Melbourne, SamSam also offers kimchi fried rice, cheese bomb tteokbokki, bibimbap, bulgogi on rice, and a bunch of noodle dishes. These Korean eats are fab, but if we are being honest, you come here for the fried chicken. Images: Julia Sansone.
If you don't own a ute, find a mate who does and get your hands on as many eskys you can find. Because the Moon Dog brewery crew are inviting punters to fill up their ute trays and eskys with as many beers and seltzers they can fit on Saturday, October 21. A small esky will set you back $25, a medium $50 and a large $100. What determines these sizes? That's up to the staff working at the sale. Be nice, and they'll likely do you good. And if you bring a ute, you can fill up the tray for a bargain $500. Depending on how finely honed your Tetris skills are, you can potentially fit a huge amount of beer and seltzers into one of those bad boys. [caption id="attachment_844719" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samantha Schultz[/caption] The Spring Warehouse Sale is running at Moon Dog World in Preston from 12pm–4pm (or until stock sells out), so you might want to get down early and wait in line. It's a first come, first served kind of sale. And even though Moon Dog's only slinging older drinks (to make space for new summer stock) everything is up to code. Expect a stack of favourites, including seltzers, a huge range of beers and a few barrel-aged specialty releases. If you're keen to stock up on drinks ahead of summer, this ain't a bad way to do it. And if the thought of a ute full of beer is too daunting, just team up with a group of mates and share the spoils among you. The Moon Dog Warehouse Sale is running on Saturday, October 21, from 12pm–4pm (or until stock runs out) at Moon Dog World in Preston. Cash payments only.
One of Broadway's hottest and most prohibitively priced tickets of the last five years, The Book of Mormon, is finally getting an Australian staging, making its Australian premiere at Melbourne's Princess Theatre this year. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints, African missions, AIDS, bum jokes and super ironic racism. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards and a Grammy since it debuted in 2011, and has been called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". Directed by Parker with choreographer Casey Nicholaw, the show has a new local cast. If you've been among the throngs to see the musical in New York, Chicago or London, then you'll be plenty excited that your Melbourne friends will now get the chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. If you're still deciding whether or buy tickets or simply waiting patiently for the day to come, get in the mood by watching this clip of Girls star and original Mormon cast member Andrew Rannells singing the ballad of religious faith 'I Believe' at the Tony Awards. UPDATE, JANUARY 6, 2017: The Book of Mormon has announced an additional preview show on Tuesday, January 17, a day before performances officially start. The best part? Tickets are only $20. But to get your hands on them, you'll have to physically get yourself to the Princess Theatre box office from 10am on Monday, January 9. We're betting you'll have to get there real early. All the details are here.
Sydney electronica virtuoso Rainbow Chan's long-awaited debut album Spacings is kind of like listening to pop through an infinity mirror — you can hear it stretching away forever, but you can't touch it, no matter how you turn your head. Give it a try. Staple pop lyrics like "I don't blame you/for treating me so cruel" find new, uneasy galactic life on this album, the very first full-length from one of the city's most inventive, classically-trained producers. Chan's debut album launch tour will see her hit several states in the next few weeks, and she won't be alone. As well as showcasing tracks from Spacings, Chan will be performing as a three-piece with up-and-coming Aussie musicians/producers/buddies Moon Holiday and CORIN. Haven't listened to the album yet? Get on it. Since winning FBi Radio's Northern Lights Competition in 2011, Chan's come a long way from her bubblegum beginnings. She's described Spacings as a pop record that tries to incorporate influences, recordings and samples that are 100 percent not pop. So if your bag is contemplating lost love as your consciousness floats dangerously close to the ceiling fan, this is definitely one for you.
Australia's most sinister festival, Dark Mofo, is back for its seventh year — and it's set to be as boundary-pushing as ever. As always, the festival will take place in the lead up to the winter solstice, exploring connections between old and contemporary mythology through art installations, performance, talks and music — all taking place in the darkness of Tasmanian winter. Hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Dark Mofo will takeover most of Hobart between June 6–23, showcasing a melting pot of artists, creatives and thinkers who dwell in the shadows of mainstream culture. Just-announced musicians include FKA Twigs — who's also bringing her experimental dream pop to Vivid Sydney this year — New York-based composer Nicolás Jaar, American singer John Grant and multi-instrumentalist Roger Eno. Other highlights of the music program include an audiovisual 'soundbath' by Sigur Rós; an international metal program, featuring Brazil's Mystifier; and the return of Night Mass, a ritualistic series of multi-venue late-night parties featuring Sampa the Great, FAKA and Empress Of. These musicians and creatives join those announced in the first lineup drop last week, which included boundary-pushing speakers in the Dark + Dangerous Thoughts program, artists Ai Weiwei and Mike Parr, and singer and actor Sharon Van Etten. The festival's dark and quirky arts lineup has grown, too, with the addition of a latex-filled installation and performance by Japan's Saeborg and an immersive group exhibition — of ten international artists, including Canada's Cassils, USA's Paul McCarthy and India's Shilpa Gupta — inside the former Forestry Tasmania Building. The award-winning building — which once housed its own forest — is just one of many new venues to join this year's program. Come June, revellers will also be able to party inside the Old Hobart Blood Bank, the Avalon and Odeon theatres, the Old Davey St Congregational Church and aboard a floating natural wine bar, dubbed Natty Waves. Of course, all the festival favourites are set to make a triumphant return, too. You'll be able to drink and eat amongst inverted crosses and candles at the Winter Feast, try not to freeze during the very cold Nude Solstice Swim and absolve your sins at Night Mass. Images: Rémi Chauvin and Rosie Hastie.
As well as transforming ACMI into its official hub for this year's nine-day outing, Melbourne Music Week (MMW) has a jam-packed boundary-blurring program in store for 2018. Out to turn traditional live music formats on their heads, MMW is bringing gigs to even more unexpected places, including a revolving musical celebration up on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel. Here, punters and artists will take to the skies together, and be treated to a MzRizk-curated program featuring shows by DRMNGNOW, Soli, Kalala and more. As the city's longstanding temple to rock 'n' roll, Cherry Bar will play host to all-day laneway shindig Civic Sounds, dishing up live tunes from rock royalty Regurgitator and R&B singer Nai Palm (lead vocalist from Hiatus Kaiyote). BATZ, All The Colours and the Girls Rock! crew are also set to make an appearance. Meanwhile, psychedelic experience The Dark Space Project will see The Toff enveloped in darkness, inviting guests to immerse themselves in a soundscape without visual distraction. n keeping with the immersive theme, you can also join your bestie for the two-person, multi-sensory VR experience Want It To End, enhanced by live tunes from progressive rockers Fierce Mild. The nine-day lineup also features MMW: Talks — with chats on everything from Melbourne's late-night economy, to sound healing and music therapy — a huge show by You Am I in the Town Hall (using the historic Grand Organ) and performances at Flemington Bowls Clubs and the State Library of Victoria. Ever-popular all-ages event Push Over will then help wrap things up on November 24, pulling together acts like Ali Barter, Ruby Fields, and legends from Jebediah and Spiderbait for a free, music-filled party in Federation Square.
Prancing through fields laced with the charm of provincial France? Casual summer weekendery. The ever-popular So Frenchy So Chic in the Park is waltzing back to Melbourne's Werribee Park Mansion for its seventh year running. If you haven't been before, expect an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties — think gourmet picnic hampers, tartlets and terrines, offensively good wine, furious outdoor chess, casual gypsy beats. So Frenchy hinges around a solid lineup of eclectic artists you may be yet to meet. Or maybe you have, if you went along in 2012 or 2014 and enjoyed Féfé's beats. Elsewhere, Juniore brings their retro meets modern sound, General Elektriks his keyboard and L.E.J their percussive, harmonic pop covers. Last, but in no way, shape or form least, there's Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains — they will be belting out their unique blend of poetry-infused guitar pop to get everyone up off their picnic rugs. If you're not the most organised of picnickers, So Frenchy is putting on the works again with their beloved picnic boxes and cheese plates from Ed Dixon. Filled with stuffed baguettes, nicoise salad and goose egg meringue, the picnic boxes are one to preorder if you don't want to miss out. But So Frenchy won't let you go hungry; there'll be a huge banquet of seafood, crepes and more available on the day. And of course, there'll be plenty of Laurent Perrier Champagne, French beer, and rosé, red and whites whines as well. Don your best floral-headband-and-sundress-combo and gear up for un merveilleux après-midi.
If you're planning on spending this gig mildly toe-tapping, you might want to wait in the car. Sydney's long-labouring beatsmiths Hermitude have their newest album already sitting pretty on playlists Australia-wide — and another national tour ready to bust a few hard-dancing ligaments. Start stretching y'all. Luke Dubber (Luke Dubs) and Angus Stuart (El Gusto) have plenty to celebrate on this national tour. After nabbing the Australian Music Prize in 2012 for their straight-up killer album HyperParadise, they're riding a sweet wave of toastworthy accolades surrounding their 2015 Dark Night Sweet Light. The LP debuted at #1 on the ARIA chart (a first for Hermitude's label Elefant Traks) and has been featured as album of the week on FBi and triple j, alongside serious airplay for lead single 'The Buzz'. So it goes without saying, you're going to have to get in quick for a ticket to this show. The lads have come a long way from their early days of performing entire shows dressed as neanderthals with their decks covered in vines (actual thing), but the bombastic energy and unpredictable live instrumentation of Hermitude's live shows remains an unmissable combination for longtime fans and newcomers like. Do yourself a favour and don't read the tweets the next day, get to this show.
Since it first hit record stores in 1975, Patti Smith's Horses has regularly been cited as one of the most influential rock albums of all time. Now, some four decades later, its creator's spiritual descendants will show you exactly why that is. Presented by the Melbourne Festival, Australian musicians Courtney Barnett, Jen Cloher, Gareth Liddiard and Adalita will perform Barnett's album in its entirety to a packed audience at Hamer Hall. Tickets to the first show sold out in a flash, prompting organisers to put together a second. Don't miss out twice. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Festival. Check out the other nine.
