The year that Adam Elliot's Mary and Max reached cinemas, Sarah Snook earned her first on-screen credit in an episode of All Saints. A decade and a half later, the Oscar-winning Australian animator and the Succession star have joined forces on Memoir of a Snail. Elliott finally has a new stop-motion feature sliding into picture palaces, with Snook lending her voice to the lonely Grace Pudel, the coming-of-age tale's protagonist with a story to spin. Fresh from locking in its Australian premiere as the opening-night flick at the 2024 Melbourne International Film Festival, Memoir of a Snail has just dropped its first trailer to give audiences a glimpse at what's in store. Get ready for Elliot's distinctive animation style — because no one makes clay in shades of brown, black and grey look as expressive as the Melbourne talent — bringing Grace's existence to life. Get ready for snails almost everywhere, too, including as clocks, music boxes, hats and ornaments. "Dad used to say that childhood was like being drunk: everyone remembers what you did except you," explains Snook as Grace to begin this debut peek at Elliot's long-awaited sophomore feature. "But I remember everything," she continues. As Grace talks through the details, snails don't merely feature heavily, clearly giving the picture a metaphor for its lead character — in the movie, the book-loving, shy and anxious Grace is also relaying her experiences to a snail called Sylvia. As it charts a trail of loss, angst, friendship and learning to embrace life, that Memoir of a Snail is bowing on home soil at MIFF couldn't be more fitting. It's "about Melbourne, made by Melburnians and voiced by Melburnians," said Elliott when the festival revealed the flick as its launch pick. To make that connection clear even just in this initial teaser, the trailer includes St Kilda's Luna Park. Joining Snook in the voice cast is a who's who of Australian talent, such as Kodi Smit-McPhee (Elvis), Eric Bana (Force of Nature: The Dry 2), Tony Armstrong (Tony Armstrong's Extra-Ordinary Things), Nick Cave (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain), Jacki Weaver (Hello Tomorrow!) and Magda Szubanski (After the Trial) — and also French actor Dominique Pinon (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon). After playing MIFF, Memoir of a Snail will hit Australian cinemas in general release on Thursday, October 17, 2024, with this year not only marking 15 years since Mary and Max, but 20 years since Elliot won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Harvie Krumpet. Check out the trailer for Memoir of a Snail below: Memoir of a Snail releases in Australian cinemas on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
Fresh from being named the Festival of the Year for the fourth time at the 2025 Queensland Music Awards, The Big Pineapple Festival has announced the news that every fan of dancing in the shadow of a giant piece of tropical fruit wants to hear. Come spring, the beloved event will return. Not only has the fest locked in its date, but organisers have also revealed that this'll be a big tenth-anniversary celebration. Diaries out: Saturday, November 1, 2025 is when you'll be hitting Pineapple Fields in Woombye. There's no lineup details as yet, or an exact timeline outlining when the fest's acts will be announced, but The Big Pineapple Festival crew is promising a "blockbuster event" — and its usual Aussie focus. "When we started this festival years ago, our goal was to put Australian artists front and centre, and create an unforgettable experience for fans," said Mark Pico, The Big Pineapple Festival's Founder and Festival Director. "To be here over a decade later with the festival stronger than ever and even earning industry awards again ... is incredibly humbling. It's a testament to the amazing community of artists, attendees and partners who have believed in The Big Pineapple Festival from the start." On Australia's list of big things, the Big Pineapple is among the most famous. It's big. It's a pineapple. It's heritage-listed Queensland icon. It's surrounded by pineapple fields. Basically, what's not to love? It's not merely a reason to head to Nambour to gawk at over-sized fruit, though. Back in 2013, it also became home to a music festival, which ran annually until taking a break in the early years of the pandemic — as every similar fest did. The Big Pineapple Festival's COVID-19 hiatus came to an end in 2024, with help from The Amity Affliction, Tones And I, Bliss n Eso and Peking Duk. In years prior, everyone from Violent Soho, The Veronicas, Rufus Du Sol, Hayden James, Example, Alison Wonderland, Birds of Tokyo and Grinspoon have taken to the event's stage, as have Vera Blue, Ball Park Music, Illy, Dune Rats, John Butler Trio and Ocean Alley. While waiting for this year's lineup, fans can start getting excited now about one new part of the fest in 2025: a performance by whoever wins the Rising Star award at this year's debut Sunshine Coast Music Awards. The Big Pineapple Festival will return on Saturday, November 1, 2025. We'll update you with more details when they're revealed — keep an eye on the fest's website, Facebook and Instagram in the interim. Select images: Claudia Ciapocha / Charlie Hardy.
So, you're an actor and you want to win an Emmy? Based on the just-announced 2022 nominees, here are a few ways to go about it. First, star or guest star in Succession, the HBO behemoth that just nabbed 25 nods, including 14 for acting. Or, appear in the US cable network's fellow recent hit The White Lotus, which scored 20 noms, eight of which were for its cast. Being on Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso works, too, given that it just picked up 20 nods for the second year in a row — and ten of them went to its on-screen talent. Yes, they're the big three shows that scooped the pool at this year's Emmy nominations. All three are competing in different categories — Succession in the drama field, The White Lotus in the limited series section and Ted Lasso in comedy — so they don't have to battle it out among themselves. That said, plenty of each series' individual actors are nominated against their co-stars, although that's a bit of a trend in 2022. Announced in the early hours of Wednesday, July 13 Australian and New Zealand time, the list of shows notching up the nods also includes Hacks and Only Murders in the Building with 17 each, Euphoria with 16, and Severance, Squid Game, Barry and Dopesick with 14. Squid Game also became the first-ever drama series nominee that isn't in the English language. Ozark collected 13 nominations, as did the fourth season of Stranger Things — but, bucking the trend, none of the latter's nods came for its performances. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel nabbed 12, while Pam & Tommy collected ten. That means it's been a great 12 months for eat-the-rich dramas, wild based-on-true-story miniseries (with The Dropout and Inventing Anna), returning favourites that've been off the air for a few years (including Better Call Saul and Barry) and former Saturday Night Live stars (Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis, specifically). Seeing excellent new thrillers Severance and Yellowjackets earn some attention is also fantastic — and What We Do in the Shadows should just have a standing nomination in the Best Comedy category. Who'll emerge victorious will be announced on Tuesday, September 13 Down Under — and plenty of exceptional shows and actors are in the running. But, you can't have a hefty rundown of nominees without a few glaring gaps. Pandemic series Station Eleven deserved more than just one acting nomination. The wonderful Reservation Dogs was somehow thoroughly overlooked, as was the stellar We Own This City and the second season of Girls5Eva. Plenty of folks were recognised for Only Murders in the Building, but not Selena Gomez. And the astonishing Pachinko only nabbed an Outstanding Main Title Design nomination. The 73rd Emmy Awards will take place on Tuesday, September 13, Australian time. Here's a rundown of the major nominations — and you can check out the full list of nominees on the Emmys' website: EMMY NOMINEES 2022 OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES Better Call Saul Euphoria Ozark Severance Squid Game Stranger Things Succession Yellowjackets OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES Abbott Elementary Barry Curb Your Enthusiasm Hacks The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Only Murders in the Building Ted Lasso What We Do in the Shadows OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES Dopesick The Dropout Inventing Anna Pam & Tommy The White Lotus OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers Ray Donovan: The Movie Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon The Survivor Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Jason Bateman, Ozark Brian Cox, Succession Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul Adam Scott, Severance Jeremy Strong, Succession OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Jodie Comer, Killing Eve Laura Linney, Ozark Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets Sandra Oh, Killing Eve Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show Zendaya, Euphoria OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Donald Glover, Atlanta Bill Hader, Barry Nicholas Hoult, The Great Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant Elle Fanning, The Great Issa Rae, Insecure Jean Smart, Hacks OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Colin Firth, The Staircase Andrew Garfield, Under the Banner of Heaven Oscar Isaac, Scenes From a Marriage Michael Keaton, Dopesick Himesh Patel, Station Eleven Sebastian Stan, Pam & Tommy OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Toni Collette, The Staircase Julia Garner, Inventing Anna Lily James, Pam & Tommy Sarah Paulson, Impeachment: American Crime Story Margaret Qualley, Maid Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Nicholas Braun, Succession Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Kieran Culkin, Succession Park Hae-soo, Squid Game Matthew Macfadyen, Succession John Turturro, Severance Christopher Walken, Severance Oh Yeong-soo, Squid Game OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Patricia Arquette, Severance Julia Garner, Ozark Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul J. Smith-Cameron, Succession Sarah Snook, Succession Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Anthony Carrigan, Barry Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso Toheeb Jimoh, Ted Lasso Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Henry Winkler, Barry Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Janelle James, Abbott Elementary Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live Sarah Niles, Ted Lasso Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary Juno Temple, Ted Lasso Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus Jake Lacy, The White Lotus Will Poulter, Dopesick Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy Peter Sarsgaard, Dopesick Michael Stuhlbarg, Dopesick Steve Zahn, The White Lotus OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Connie Britton, The White Lotus Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus Alexandra Daddario, The White Lotus Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus Sydney Sweeney, The White Lotus Mare Winningham, Dopesick OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Hope Davis, Succession Marcia Gay Harden, The Morning Show Martha Kelly, Euphoria Sanaa Lathan, Succession Harriet Walter, Succession Lee You-mi, Squid Game OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Adrien Brody, Succession James Cromwell, Succession Colman Domingo, Euphoria Arian Moayed, Succession Tom Pelphrey, Ozark Alexander Skarsgard, Succession OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Jane Adams, Hacks Harriet Sansom Harris, Hacks Jane Lynch, Only Murders in the Building Laurie Metcalf, Hacks Kaitlin Olson, Hacks Harriet Walter, Ted Lasso OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Jerrod Carmichael, Saturday Night Live Bill Hader, Curb Your Enthusiasm James Lance, Ted Lasso Nathan Lane, Only Murders in the Building Christopher McDonald, Hacks Sam Richardson, Ted Lasso
Cacti lovers, take note: Madrid is now on your must-visit list. While there's no shortage of reasons to head to the Spanish locale, those fond of spiky succulents will want to flock to Desert City, a massive biotechnology nursery dedicated to cultivating, researching and showcasing cacti and other xerophytic plants. Located 20 minutes out of the city at San Sebastián de los Reyes, and transforming a highway-adjacent spot that was once an industrial wasteland, the educational ecological complex features everything a site devoted to cacti should. That includes a huge greenhouse, a nursery for those keen to take some greenery home with them, exhibition space and a restaurant. And, yes, it also boasts plenty of the plant life in the spotlight — more than 400 xerophytic species across 16,000 square metres, with 5,000 square metres taken up by an experimental botanic garden. While many of the cacti within its garden are native to the area, Desert City also includes dedicated spaces for species from other continents, aka the equivalent of globe-hopping one succulent at a time. The entire place is also designed to put the principles of 'zerolandscaping' — low water, low maintenance gardening — into practice, creating sustainable gardens that optimise natural resources. Images: Desert City / ImagenSubliminal
The laughs are served up a little differently at The Arbory's annual MICF series, the Silent Comedy Festival. Returning for another round of hilarious stand-up showcases from Thursday, March 25, the fan favourite event sees some of Australia's top comics taking to the riverside stage to perform...in total silence. Or at least, that's how it appears from the outside. Rather, audience members enjoy the stand-up acts through noise-cancelling headphones, in a similar vibe to what you'd expect from a silent disco. Running Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights throughout MICF (until April 15), the Silent Comedy shows will each feature a trio of side-splitting comedians, with the likes of Jimeoin, Dolly Diamond, Lawrence Mooney and Katie Burch included in this year's lineup. Tickets are $25, which gets you an evening full of chuckles, plus a pair of headphones to use for the night. And if you fancy some refreshments, you'll also find a $25 MICF burger and beer special, teaming your pick of Arbory burger with a schooner of Mountain Goat summer ale. [caption id="attachment_804282" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jimeoin, photographed by Simon Shiff.[/caption] Images: Simon Shiff
With pubs, restaurants and cafes closing around the country forced to close comes the loss of many hospitality jobs — and it's all happened very, very quickly. According to website I Lost My Hospo Shift, at last count, 2294 Aussie hospo workers had lost their jobs and 11,709 shifts had been cut, which equates to around $2 million in lost wages this week alone. To help those impacted by the sudden changes, Pernod Ricard is offering $100,00 worth of free meals via Deliveroo to out-of-work hospo workers, including bar staff, waiters, managers, suppliers, cleaners, owners and chefs. From 12pm today, the new initiative called Meals for Mates will see thousands of free meals delivered across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. There'll be a total of 4000 $25 meal voucher codes available via Deliveroo for hospo workers now out of a job or just getting by on reduced hours. As an added benefit, when the hospo workers use the vouchers, they'll also be helping those venues still open for takeaway and delivery. Basically, it's a small win-win situation in what is an incredibly tough time for the industry. While there's a whole host of eateries where workers can spend their vouchers, some of them include cult-favourite burger joint Mary's (Sydney), Italian restaurant Salt Meats Cheese (Sydney, Brisbane), Sydney's retro-Aussie pub The Unicorn and St Kilda's PB's Bar & Eatery. Out-of-work hospitality workers can snag their voucher by emailing a copy of their RSA and the venue they last worked at to MealsForMates@pernod-ricard.com. Then, you'll receive a Deliveroo code, which can be redeemed anytime over the next three months. [caption id="attachment_766230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's Newtown by Maclay Heriot[/caption]
For much of the past six months, audiences worldwide have spent their movie dates watching Sydney on-screen. When two big Hollywood productions transform the Harbour City into their production playground and setting, as both Anyone But You and The Fall Guy did, cinema's spotlight shines bright and wide. Now, for 12 winter days between Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16, Sydney Film Festival patrons can turn the tables, watching the world via almost 200 flicks gracing local silver screens and fluttering before their eyes. Again curated by Festival Director Nashen Moodley as every fest since 2012 has been — which gives him that honour on 13 of the event's 71 festivals across its entire run so far, too — SFF's 2024 lineup also guides its gaze towards Sydney. Opening with a tribute to the power and the passion of Midnight Oil, with the band formed in the New South Wales capital more than half a century ago, is only one example. So, to be more accurate, this year's Sydney Film Festival continues a trend that started on Boxing Day 2023 as well as its usual annual tradition: surveying everywhere from Sydney itself to the edges of the earth, space and time. Maybe you're keen to keep a homegrown flavour to your SFF schedule this year. Perhaps you're eager to roam anywhere that you can from your cinema seat. Whether a dose of weirdness is your ideal film fest flavour, or you're buzzing to catch the latest titles that've been getting the international festival scene talking, they're all on the program. And, you'll also find all of the above among our 12 suggestions below to help you narrow down your choices. Kinds of Kindness Since winning the 2012 Sydney Film Festival prize with Alps, Yorgos Lanthimos has technically bid the Greek Weird Wave goodbye by making his movies in English. That's one clear trend among his five features after nabbing SFF's prestigious award in Moodley's first year at the helm. Another pattern applies to his last three flicks, and it's a killer move: teaming up with Emma Stone, a collaboration that scored her her second Best Actress Oscar earlier in 2024 for the Frankenstein-esque delight that is Poor Things. Kinds of Kindness isn't a Poor Things repeat, just as that wasn't a do-over of The Favourite. This time, Lanthimos and Stone have teamed up on a triptych fable that tells the tales of a man without choice, a policeman with a wife who returns after going missing and a woman on the hunt for a spiritual leader. In a feature that also stars Poor Things' Willem Dafoe (Asteroid City) and Margaret Qualley (Drive-Away Dolls), plus Hong Chau (The Menu), Joe Alwyn (Stars at Noon), Mamoudou Athie (The Burial) and Hunter Schafer (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), the picture's three-time creative partners are still making accolade-garnering magic, however, with Jesse Plemons (Killers of the Flower Moon) picking up 2024's Cannes Best Actor award. The Seed of the Sacred Fig The Seed of the Sacred Fig isn't merely another must-see SFF 2024 title, but also another new work by a Sydney Film Festival prizewinner. Mohammad Rasoulof's There Is No Evil took home the Berlinale's Golden Bear in 2020 before winning the Harbour City's ultimate movie gong in 2021 — and, as it told four stories connected to the use of the death penalty in Iran, it haunted and broke the hearts of everyone who saw it. Watching the Iranian writer/director's work has always been essential (including 2011's Goodbye, 2013's Manuscripts Don't Burn and 2017's A Man of Integrity), but more so since then. Even before playing to audiences in Sydney, The Seed of the Sacred Fig is impossible to forget due to the situation surrounding the picture off-screen. When the movie was selected by Cannes this year — where it won the Jury Special Award — Rasoulof was sentenced to a flogging and eight years in prison, sparking him to flee. On-screen, the film doesn't shy away from Iran's legal system or political unrest, following a Revolutionary Court investigator and his family amid protests sweeping the nation, and as fighting back against oppression isn't only on display on the country's streets. The Pool It's far too cold in Sydney in June for dive-in movies, but playing The Pool in its namesake location would've been a dream pairing of a film and its setting if the season had been right. SFF cinemagoers will instead get cosy indoors rather than splash around in their bathing costumes at Bondi Icebergs, but stepping through the swimming spot's history, allure and place in the Harbour City is on the itinerary regardless. Here's one guarantee: given how photogenic that the famous venue is anyway even just in everyday snaps, as everyone in Australian can instantly recognise, this documentary about it isn't going to be hard on the eyes. Filmmaker Ian Darling has a thing for chronicling Sydney icons in his two recent docos to wash across Sydney Film Festival's screens. The other: The Final Quarter, about Sydney Swans legend Adam Goodes and his treatment by the press and fans towards the end of his career, which earned a standing ovation at its State Theatre SFF world premiere in 2019. With The Pool, Darling switches from unfurling details through media clips to enlisting Icebergs regulars to share their recollections — and likely another warm hometown response beckons. Copa '71 SFF 2024 kicks off just two days after the Matildas took to the turf in Sydney to play their 14th soldout game in a row in Australia, notching up a 2–0 win over China in a friendly. It runs at the same time as Vivid is welcoming Mackenzie Arnold and Tony Gustavsson as speakers. And, it arrives almost a year after the Harbour City was one of the host spots for the 2023 Women's World Cup. So, the timing couldn't be better for Copa '71 to sit in the festival's program. This documentary jumps five decades back and heads to Mexico, to the 1971 Women's World Cup. If you think that you should know more about this event than you currently do, that's one of the movie's points as well. Filmmakers Rachel Ramsay (a producer earning her first directing credit) and James Erskine (Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard) share the competition's story. They unpack how 100,000 fans can fill a stadium to support women's football but the tournament can fade into history, too. Also, the vast disparity between how men's soccer is managed, marketed, treated and regarded compared to women's is also on the doco's agenda. The Substance It was true of 2017's Revenge, her exceptional debut feature, and the word out of Cannes is that it's also true of her seven-years-later sophomore effort: French talent Coralie Fargeat is a helluva filmmaker. Matching style with substance and a feminist statement worked strikingly in her blood-soaked vengeance movie. Now, she's in sci-fi body-horror territory as a celebrity attempts to address the warring forces of time's inevitable passing and Hollywood's obsession with youth by opting for an experimental medical treatment. (Fargeat also just received the Cannes Best Screenplay award for her efforts.) Whether or not you've ever thought that Margaret Qualley, an actor with multiple appearances on SFF 2024's lineup, resembles not only her mother Andie MacDowell (her Maid co-star) but also Demi Moore (Feud), Fargeat draws the latter connection. Qualley is Sue, Moore is Elisabeth Sparkle, with one the younger version of the other. In a film that also enlists Dennis Quaid (Lawman: Bass Reeves) as a television executive — with the actor stepping in after Ray Liotta (Cocaine Bear), who was originally cast, passed away — messing with the natural order of things via a temporary clone has consequences. The Moogai Indigenous horror film The Moogai is making its Australian premiere at 2024's Sydney Film Festival, but the pair are no strangers to each other. Before writer/director Jon Bell, a creator of Cleverman and a scribe on the Mystery Road TV series, helmed his first feature with this name, he made a 2020 short of the same moniker that played SFF (and SXSW, and was nominated for an AACTA Award). It too starred Shari Sebbens (Her Dark Reflection) and Meyne Wyatt (Strife). Expanding that short film to full length, Bell's second take on The Moogai did the rounds of both Sundance and SXSW — the Austin version — earlier this year before heading home. In the two flicks, a malevolent spirit awaits and the trauma of the Stolen Generations fuels an eerie flick. Sebbens plays Sarah, a young mother who has just had her second child with Watt's Fergus when the movie's titular figure makes its presence known. The Moogai is also a contender for Sydney Film Festival's brand-new First Nations Award, which is offering a prize of $35,000 for the winning First Nations filmmaker, with ten flicks competing for that honour. The Outrun Since the 2020s arrived and her third decade as a actor began, Saoirse Ronan has played a young wife who falls in love with fossil collector Mary Anning in Ammonite, a showgirl in The French Dispatch, a police constable in See How They Run and a woman trying to find a path through a dystopian future in Foe. Variety has always been the spice of the Irish actor's on-screen life. In The Outrun, the four-time Oscar-nominee (for Atonement, Brooklyn, Lady Bird and Little Women) is Rona, who is trying to move past a history of addiction. Ronan's involvement in any film is enough to put it high on the must-watch list, but she isn't the only drawcard here. The Outrun adapts Amy Liptrot's 2017 memoir of the same name, about the Scottish author and journalist's experiences returning to the Orkney Islands. Liptrot also co-wrote the screenplay. Hitting the keyboard with her is director Nora Fingscheidt — who might've first followed up her excellent 2019 feature System Crasher with the mixed Sandra Bullock (Bullet Train) vehicle The Unforgivable, but is a helmer to watch nonetheless. The Contestant Films about people trapped in a sole space aren't rare. But no matter what Cube or Buried or Devil conjured up, or everything from Oldboy to Bodies Bodies Bodies as well, the scenario at the heart of The Contestant stands out because it actually happened. In 1998, Tomoaki Hamatsu aka Nasubi became a TV star by doing nothing more than existing in a single room alone and sans clothing on reality series Susunu! Denpa Shōnen. To survive, he had to win competitions to obtain the necessary supplies. Also, he had no idea that audiences were watching. Of course a documentary was eventually going to to chronicle this months-long ordeal, how it happened and the repercussions, with Clair Titley (One Born Every Minute) examining the reality of a situation that could've come straight from a horror movie in The Contestant. Nasubi became immensely famous in Japan for his role in the show — footage from which is included in the doco — but as a result of a Faustian bargain with a television producer that he didn't really know that he was making. If you're not already a fan of the format at its far less extreme, this film definitely won't change that. I Saw the TV Glow In Jane Schoenbrun's We're All Going to the World's Fair, a screen became a portal to another world when its teenage protagonist embraced an online trend by playing a virtual horror game. I Saw the TV Glow, the filmmaker's next feature, also gets young eyes trained at a small screen and plunging into what they find awaiting. If you've ever loved a television show so much that you felt like it completed you, saw you and understood you far more than anything flesh and blood around you ever could — and you also couldn't stomach that series coming to an end — then you'll understand Owen (Justice Smith, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves) and Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine, Atypical) in one of the most-talked-about flicks out of 2024's Sundance and Berlinale film festivals. That pop culture, including the screen dreams that we eagerly insert ourselves into in our minds while watching, is an escape isn't a new revelation. But after exploring the digital allure in We're All Going to the World's Fair, Schoenbrun now brings their perspective to a tale of connection through the broadcast stories we take into our heads and hearts. The writer/director makes deeply layered films about the loneliness and isolation of growing up, and working out who you want to be, the relationships with screens that we all have, and gender dysphoria — and their latest has Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst (Y2K) among the cast, plus Emma Stone (The Curse) and her husband Dave McCary (Brigsby Bear) as producers. Dahomey 2024's Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear-winner shares a name with a West African kingdom that existed for three centuries, on land now situated within the Republic of Benin — a place that earned the great Werner Herzog's attention in 1987's Cobra Verde and also provided the setting for 2022's The Woman King. The focus of Dahomey for Both Sides of the Blade actor and Atlantics filmmaker Mati Diop in her latest directorial effort: 26 royal treasures taken from the country in the 1800s by French colonial troops, plus their journey home now. How do these statues and objects feel about their their path? One of Diop's creative touches is to give the artifacts a voice and turn them into characters, rather than keep them as mere items discussed by everyone else. It's a telling choice in a documentary that traces the treasures' repatriation and unpacks the bigger picture not just surrounding the contents of museums around the world, but the impact of colonialism, especially in North Africa — all within 67 minutes. All We Imagine as Light Love and hope flow within All We Imagine as Light, and also in nurse Prabha (Kani Kusruti, Poacher) and her roommate Anu (Divya Prabha, Family), who are each grappling with affairs of the heart in their own ways. So unfurls this sensual film that bases its characters in Mumbai, then takes them on the road to an otherworldly beach town. The romantic drama has earned love itself off-screen and proven a beacon of hope IRL as well, as writer/director Payal Kapadia makes her first fiction feature. Kapadia's full-length debut came via 2021 documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing, which premiered at that year's Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight and picked up the Golden Eye for Best Documentary. Before that, her short Afternoon Clouds also played the fest. Kapadia's ties to the French event continue with All We Imagine as Light, which made history just by being selected in competition — a feat an Indian film hasn't achieved in three decades prior. And while it didn't take out the Palme d'Or, it came as close as anything could, earning the Grand Prix, the festival's next gong, which Oscar-winner The Zone of Interest received in 2023. Problemista It's currently a great time to be a Julio Torres fan. That's been true for almost a decade thanks to his work as a writer on Saturday Night Live — 2017's famous 'Papyrus' sketch with Ryan Gosling, which earned a sequel also starring the Barbie and The Fall Guy talent in 2024, was penned by him — and then due to two seasons of glorious HBO comedy Los Espookys in 2019 and 2022. 2024 brings two treats, however, and both at the same time if you're heading to Sydney Film Festival. On the big screen, Problemista sees Torres write, direct and star, making his feature debut as a helmer and acting opposite none other than Tilda Swinton (The Killer). On the small screen, his comedy series Fantasmas will debut on Binge on Saturday, June 8. Accordingly, after you watch Problemista you can start Fantasmas, or vice versa. With Torres' new movie, he plays a man who wants to design toys in New York, then loses his job and looks set to be deported, with a job working for Swinton's demanding art collector Elizabeth his possible lifeline. Wu-Tang Clan's RZA (Minions: Rise of Gru) also pops up. So does Past Lives star Greta Lee. And narrating the whole thing? The iconic Isabella Rossellini, who also appeared in Los Espookys, and hasn't been far from screens of late courtesy of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Cat Person, Julia, La Chimera and now this. Sydney Film Festival 2024 takes place from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information — and for tickets — head to the festival's website.
Meet Australia's next homegrown franchise: after 2019 film Top End Wedding proved a huge hit, striking a chord with lovers of big-screen rom-coms, Aussie fare, Miranda Tapsell (The Surfer) and seeing the Northern Territory splashed across cinemas, streaming series Top End Bub is set to give fans of the movie more on the small screen. And, the new series now has a trailer. When the newly engaged Lauren (Tapsell) and Ned (Gwilym Lee, SAS Rogue Heroes) made a whirlwind visit to Darwin in the successful flick, it was to get married. Six years later, the two key characters are now heading back to the Northern Territory capital. In Top End Bub, Top End Wedding's central couple enter their next chapter — and a child is indeed involved. Tapsell not only starred in Top End Wedding but co-wrote the script. With Top End Bub, she's in both roles again — and also co-created and executive produced the series with fellow returnee Joshua Tyler (100% Wolf: Legend of the Moonstone). Their new story: sending Lauren and Ned to the NT once more, away from their settled life in Adelaide, to become the guardians of their orphaned niece Taya (debutant Gladys-May Kelly). First confirmed in 2024, Top End Bub is set to span eight episodes — and you'll be watching it soon. The series hits Prime Video from Friday, September 12, 2025. Ursula Yovich (Troppo), Huw Higginson (Ladies in Black), Shari Sebbens (The Moogai), Elaine Crombie (Invisible Boys), Rob Collins (Austin) and Tracy Mann (Home and Away) are also making the leap from Top End Wedding to its new spinoff — and Sebbens and Christiaan Van Vuuren (The Office) direct Top End Bub. In a series that promises banding together for family, grappling with what it means to be a parent, onstage antics and even football — as seen in its just-dropped sneak peek — you'll be watching Brooke Satchwell (Triple Oh!), Guy Simon (The Secrets She Keeps) and Clarence Ryan (Territory) as well. Check out the trailer for Top End Bub below: Top End Bub streams via Prime Video from Friday, September 12, 2025. Images: John Platt / Prime Video.
Independent art and design festival Finders Keepers is back for another season. The twice-yearly fair is a calendar staple for those on the hunt for unique, quality wares. Plus, there's an added bonus: the market supports local and emerging artists. This year, the Melbourne event will run from Friday, October 19 to Sunday, October 21, and oh boy, is the lineup looking good. With 270-plus vendors planning to set up shop in The Royal Exhibition Building, we wouldn't blame you for getting overwhelmed by all the choices. Rather than letting you walk around aimlessly, we have narrowed down the list to give you our top five favourite stalls. Make a beeline to these vendors to discover a bevy of bold, quirky and, in one case, tasty finds. And then you're free to explore the rest — truthfully, they're all stellar. [caption id="attachment_688003" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samee Lapham.[/caption] GARDENING: THE LITTLE VEGGIE PATCH CO. If you fancy yourself someone with a green thumb, or you would if you had the space, go and have a chat to the team at The Little Veggie Patch Co. Aiming to help budding gardeners, regardless of their living situations, the business created 'instant gardens', made to order from recycled fruit crates, which can easily fit into the pokiest of apartments. Design your own patch from the extensive range of heirloom seeds, including basil, beetroot, parsley and peas — or pick up one of the seasonal starter kits. There's also gardening tools, books and planting calendar posters if you need a little extra guidance. Think how much better dinner will taste when you use produce you grew yourself. [caption id="attachment_688004" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samee Lapham.[/caption] QUIRKY JEWELLERY: CHLOE MCCOLL JEWELLERY If your favourite part of visiting a local artisanal market is picking up pieces that are completely unique, Chloe McColl Jewellery will fit the brief. This range of jewellery takes inspiration from the label's home on the Mornington Peninsula coast, and each piece is handcrafted, meaning they all have their own individual touches and organic quality to them. Stop by the stall to find rings, earrings, cuffs and necklaces punctuated with ocean-toned gemstone clusters and textured gold and silver metal. [caption id="attachment_688005" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Lobo.[/caption] SNAZZY ACCESSORIES: PEGGY AND FIN Crazy things happen to our social calendars when spring kicks off: engagements, weddings, garden parties and even more weddings. Basically, the warm weather signals the arrival of occasions in which you're expected to don the glad-rags and, for most, it's inconceivable to buy an entirely new outfit every time. If we've learned anything from Tan on Queer Eye (aside from the 'French tuck'), accessorising is the secret, and this is where Peggy and Fin come in. The creative duo behind the brand creates cufflinks and wooden bow ties made from recycled timber, plus an extensive selection of fabric ties and pocket squares that'll help spruce up any spring wardrobe. FUEL: GRANDMA'S GIRL Shopping can be tough work and, given the monumental size of the markets, you'll definitely need to refuel at some point. When the tummy grumbles get a little too much, head to Grandma's Girl for a hearty feast that'll put the pep back in your step. We're talking cheesy, potato-filled pierogies doused in butter. These tasty little morsels are a twist on the traditional Eastern European delicacy with dashes of unexpected ingredients — think pine nuts, marinated feta and even figs. You'll be tempted to return for round two. KITCHEN NEEDS: LITTLE BUMBLE Living sustainably can be tricky: on one hand, you don't want to waste leftover food, but on the other, you're conscious of how much plastic pollution is created in doing so. Enter Little Bumble. This Gippsland-based brand sells beeswax food wraps, a great reusable replacement for the old cling film dispenser. The all-natural wraps are handcrafted using cotton, organic Australian beeswax, coconut and jojoba oils and pine resin. They're available in a variety of sizes and arty designs (so your fridge will look better as well) and can be washed and reused for up to 12 months. After that, you can order a top-up pack or make your own using Little Bumble's DIY kit. For more information about the Melbourne Spring/Summer 2018 Finders Keepers market and for the full list of vendors, head to the website. Top image: Samee Lapham.
After four years off the scene, The Espy — St Kilda's legendary waterside music pub — flung open its doors on Friday, November 23. But, rather than giving us everything at once, new owners Sand Hill Road opened it in stages. Which is fair, considering the sprawling establishment has 12 bars, two restaurants and three live music stages spread across six levels. The first eatery to open was the 450-seater Espy Kitchen, which is serving up pub classics and share plates, overseen by Executive Chef Ash Hicks (Circa, Garden State). Now, new Cantonese Restaurant, Mya Tiger and its accompanying cocktail bar have joined the action. Located on The Espy's (also new) fifth floor, this warm, welcoming space has dazzling vistas of Port Phillip Bay. The design — a collaboration between Sand Hill Road, Techne Architects and stylist Eleisha Gray — takes inspiration from two sources: St Kilda's 1850s Chinese cook-shops and the airy colonial architecture of Singapore's Raffles Hotel. Think plush gold and green velvet, lots of tassels, dark timbers and old-school fans. Expansive windows make the most of the watery views and, in warm weather, coastal breezes. Hicks put together the menu with Head Chef Sarah Chan (Longrain and Lotus Dining). At its heart is traditional Cantonese cooking, designed for sharing. Start out with sesame prawn toast and ginger chicken dumplings, then move onto roast duck and crispy pork belly, with a generous side of veggies, such as honey caramel eggplant or fried green beans with chilli and cashews. It's also a bit hard to go past the super-fresh seafood, be it XO pipis or typhoon king prawns. On the dessert menu you'll find mango coconut pudding, red bean pancake and an ice cream sandwich. These sweet, salty, sour and spicy flavours are well matched with the wine list, put together by sommelier Matt Skinner. It's big on fragrant whites and light reds, with a particular focus on riesling and pinot noir made by local producers. Following suit is the cocktail list, created by bar manager Kevin Peters in collaboration with Chan. On a summery evening, try the Beijing Peach, a heady concoction of Jasmine-infused vodka, lime and peach. Or, if you're in the mood for a harder hitter, there's the Chinese 5 Spice Highball, infused Havana Especial, Pepsi and citrus. Or help yourself to a craft brew from the self-serve beer fridge. Mya Tiger is now open on Level 5, The Espy, 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda. Images: Simon Shiff.
Life is a bit of a rollercoaster ride at the moment. Yes, that's an understatement. Lockdowns, restrictions, new community cases, growing exposure sites lists — they're all providing quite the ups and downs, and have been throughout the pandemic. Prefer to ride the peaks and troughs on actual theme park attractions? We all do, and now Disney+ has a new series about just that. Across ten episodes — the first five of which will drop on the streaming platform on Wednesday, July 21 — Behind the Attraction covers exactly what's on the label. It heads to the Mouse House's sprawling theme parks, checks out some of the popular rides found within them and tells their tales. Disney loves an origin story, after all, and it has the Marvel and Star Wars movies to prove it, so of course it's now giving its real-life attractions the same treatment. Viewers can find out more about Disney's Haunted Mansion attraction and Space Mountain ride, as well as The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Star Tours that form part of the recently launched Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. And, Jungle Cruise also earns some attention, complete with Dwayne Johnson lending a hand — with the movie of the same name, starring Johnson, due in cinemas from Thursday, July 29 and on Disney+ on Friday, July 30. As well as talking heads expressing their enthusiasm for these attractions and explaining how they work, the series features archival and never-before-seen footage and photographs that step through the rides' histories. Explaining how they've evolved, and how technology has assisted, is a part of the show as well. Clearly, Behind the Attraction is basically an advertisement for Disney's theme parks. Physically hopping on a rollercoaster hasn't been high on most folks' to-do lists during the last year or so — and definitely isn't right now if you're a Sydneysider or Melburnian currently in lockdown — so consider this a way to scratch that itch from home. Check out the trailer below: The first five episodes of Behind the Attraction will be available to view via Disney+ from Wednesday, July 21.
There's not a souvlaki in sight at this Oakleigh eatery, which is a pretty rare occurrence — the area is generally dry of non-Greek eating options. Instead, Cote Terra is a beautiful café, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the southeastern suburb's Eaton Mall. The establishment serves breakfast all day, with dishes coming in the form of chia and quinoa pudding with stewed apples ($12), and the hearty twice-cooked French toast with peanut butter mousse ($17). Not savoury enough? Then maybe the roasted button mushrooms with goats' curd, radish, dukkah and poached eggs on sourdough will satisfy you ($16). If you make it in time for lunch, you'll discover things such as a soft-shell crab burger with chips ($17) among other sandwiches and salads. And before you ask, serving sizes are generous here, so don't even think about having a bite beforehand — you'll regret it. As for coffee, the cafe serves pour overs of Proud Mary beans and also does a filter coffee using the AeroPress. If you've exceeded your caffeine count for the day, alternatives include Prana Chai, Dutch cocoa, juices and milkshakes. The cafe is also (surprisingly) licensed, serving beers and wines from both Europe and Australia. With a pared back fit-out — including cosy banquettes and warm lighting — and a relaxed vibe, Cote Terra lets the food speak for itself. On a beautiful day, you may want to relocate to the courtyard out back. It's also a stone's throw away from Oakleigh station, making it a prime option for a pre-commute meal or takeaway coffee. One thing to note before visiting though — the kitchen closes one hour before closing each day. So make sure you leave enough time to order. You don't want to be stuck with sub-par souvlaki.
Renowned for its martinis, late night snacks and popularity with both insomniacs and Melbourne's hospitality crowd, it's a great location to bag a bartender after a long shift. Rich, luxurious and flush with cushioned surfaces and secretive enclaves, it almost begs for a sneaky pash on a dim corner lounge. Ever better, escape with your date to the hidden, fairy-light-lit den that links the venue to Bar Ampere next door...
We all enjoy a quiet night at home every now and again — but we never expected this year to involve quite so many. So, if you're starting to feel a little restless, we've teamed up with Miller Design Lab to highlight some alternatives to spice up your next night indoors. Miller Design Lab is the home of creativity and self-expression built by Australia's leading minds in design, art, technology and fashion (and now you). Together, we're celebrating our nightlife and its impact on culture with exceptional moments brought to you at home. Keep reading to discover four ways you can easily experience parts of Melbourne's epic nightlife — from live music and cultural events to world-class food and drinks — without leaving your pad. LIVE-STREAM A GIG FROM A LOCAL DJ When you're confined to the same four walls for most of the day, you can spend an awful lot of time sitting down. Rather than spending another evening working on that imprint in the couch, get on your feet and turn your lounge room into a makeshift d-floor. Sure, the feeling of being out at a club surrounded by all your mates is pretty hard to replicate, but there are some positives — for starters, nobody can judge you for your terrible moves. Have a crack at creating your own playlist or, if you want to leave it to the professionals, check out one of the virtual club nights that are happening online. For a dose of nostalgia, tune into Hot Dub Time Machine's biweekly parties, which cover six decades of musical bangers, from mid-50s rock 'n' roll to the latest dance hits. And, if you've been a regular attendee of gay club night Poof Doof, you'll be pleased to hear it's now jumped online, too, with a weekly live-stream. See also: Room 2 Radio's Friday night streams and Club Quarantine's nightly offering. For a night of throwing shapes, you'll want to prep with something filling but not too heavy. Vegetarian joint Sister of Soul is a worthy contender with a selection of hearty delivery dinners that are loaded with veggies and grains — like a bibimbap nutrition bowl loaded with marinated tofu, shiitake mushrooms, seaweed salad and brown rice. Pair your dinner with one of the epic 1.5-litre bagnums of espresso martini from Footscray bar Mr West to get the party started. [caption id="attachment_710997" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Lidmila[/caption] LEARN A NEW PARTY TRICK We can only hope that when normal life resumes, there'll be an onslaught of parties and nights out. So, if you want to have something to show for your time in isolation, use this downtime to pick up a new party trick. If the above DJ live-streams have inspired you, head over to Ableton's website. There, you'll find a bunch of free resources to kick off your music making journey, including ebooks and a 90-day free trial period of its Live 10 interface. Or, if you're more concerned about improving your moves, try an online dance course. Sydney Dance Company has currently shifted its entire class program online, including hip hop beginners classes, and they cost just $12 a pop (or you can get an unlimited membership for $28 a week). Or you could check out Groove Therapy's online courses. There's a very suitable Party Dance course (USD$89), which includes bite-sized video tutorials, curated playlists and bonus resources on dance history. Whichever you choose, it'll add a little flavour to your house parties — both pre- and post-lockdown. To keep you both well-fuelled and inspired while you study, order in some class party staples. Order a woodfired pie from 400 Gradi, which has been consistently voted to have some of the best pizza in Oceania, to keep you striving for greatness and wash it down with an easy-drinking beer like Miller Genuine Draft. VIRTUALLY CELEBRATE YOUR MATE'S BIRTHDAY Poor ol' autumn babies. They're currently all experiencing one of childhood's biggest fears: nobody coming to their birthday party. So, make sure the birthday guy or gal's special day isn't forgotten in all the madness by organising an isolation-style bash with the entire crew over Houseparty. Play some games that'll get everyone up and moving — think good ol' charades or Heads Up — or challenge yourselves with a virtual escape room. And end the evening the way every birthday night out should end: karaoke. You can blame your bad vocals on your mate's shitty laptop speakers. Of course, it isn't a true birthday party without some cake so splash out on the Celebration Cake from award-winning fine diner Attica — it's a rich vanilla cake filled with white chocolate ganache cream and topped with whipped yoghurt cream icing and berries. And you'll need a drink to raise a toast to your mate, too. So get some cocktails delivered, like the freshly shaken Silver Fox, with gin, amaretto, lemon and vegan egg white, from The Everleigh. The Fitzroy bar has hot buttered rum and a selection of classic bottled cocktails — think negronis, manhattans and old-fashioneds — available, too. [caption id="attachment_767870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Reuben Gibbes[/caption] CREATE YOUR OWN LIGHT FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE INDOORS While small gatherings and dining out may return to our lives in the near future, it's looking like we'll be waiting a little longer for large-scale cultural events. But even though Vivid, Sydney's legendary festival of lights, art and ideas, isn't happening this year, there is a movement swelling to recreate the magic on a smaller scale. Kicking off on May 22, DIY Vivid will encourage Aussies to transform their isolation pads into a makeshift light festival using coloured light bulbs and strobe machines. There'll also be a DJ simulcast stream happening on the launch night. You could take it a step further and — just like the epic animated light projections that happen on buildings across Sydney during Vivid — project one of Nema Adel's digital art loops onto your living room wall, or tune into Hobart museum Mona's live-stream of Ryoji Ikeda's Spectra. It's a 15-kilometre tall tower of beaming white light that stands over the city's skyline, and the stream is accompanied by music specially curated for the exhibit. In homage to the buzzing festival, pair your arty activities with some colourful tipples and street food. Check out Mexican joint Trippy Taco, which has vegetarian tacos, burritos and quesadillas available for takeaway and delivery from its Fitzroy and St Kilda stores. Team your feast with some readymade cocktails, like the peach negroni or passionfruit daiquiri from CBD spot Romeo Lane. For more ways to celebrate your city's nightlife and recreate its energy in your own space, head this way. Image: Reuben Gibbes
The late, great Jim Henson gave the world many things, including the Muppets in general, Sesame Street's loveable puppet characters, Kermit the Frog's memorable voice and all things Fraggle Rock. He also turned filmmaker three times, creating three of the great puppet movies of the 1980s — The Great Muppet Caper, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. While Labyrinth still earns plenty of attention for plenty of reasons — David Bowie being one of them, obviously — The Dark Crystal also deservedly holds a place in fans' hearts. Co-directed with his Muppets colleague Frank Oz, the fantasy-adventure flick follows a Gelfling called Jen, who is trying to bring back balance to his own world by finding and returning a broken shard from a powerful gem. Henson and Oz also worked their puppeting magic on the movie, of course. Over the years, a sequel has been mooted more than once, including one with Australian Daybreakers, Predestination and Winchester filmmakers Michael and Peter Spierig at the helm. No follow-ups have ever come to fruition, but Netflix has done the next best thing, reviving the beloved film for a ten-part series. Set to release at the end of August, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is a prequel to the movie — and yes, it uses puppets for its protagonists, not CGI, as the just-dropped first teaser shows in stunning detail. Seemingly picking up where the film left off, it's based on Dark Crystal companion novels Shadows of the Dark Crystal and Song of the Dark Crystal. Age of Resistance also boasts quite the cast, with Rocketman's Taron Egerton, Glass' Anya Taylor-Joy and Game of Thrones' Nathalie Emmanuel voicing three elf-like Gelflings. They're joined by a hefty list of names, so prepare to hear the vocal tones of Helena Bonham Carter, Natalie Dormer, Eddie Izzard, Theo James, Toby Jones, Shazad Latif, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mark Strong, Alicia Vikander, Mark Hamill, Jason Isaacs, Keegan-Michael Key, Simon Pegg, and Andy Samberg as well. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KYLwTGx7uU The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance hits Netflix on August 30.
UPDATE, May 14, 2021: American Utopia is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. There may be no catchier lyric in music history than "same as it ever was", the five words repeated in Talking Heads' 1981 single 'Once in a Lifetime'. As uttered again and again by the band's inimitable frontman David Byrne, it's a looping phrase that burrows into your skull and never leaves. It's a line that, apropos of nothing, starts echoing through your brain at random moments as well. It's also the type of lyric that, when the above situation happens, no one protests. So when American Utopia opens with the musician sat at a table holding a brain and talking about what its various parts do, it feels as if Byrne is acknowledging what everyone already knows in the deepest recesses of their consciousness: that Byrne long ago got cosy in our craniums and has been nattering away to us ever since. As he stares at grey matter while wearing a grey suit — a perfectly fitting one, unlike the famed big number he wore in iconic 1984 Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense — Byrne has something else on his mind, though. American Utopia starts with the part of our bodies where we all mentally reside, but slowly and smartly evolves from the cerebral to the communal. It segues from one man alone on a stage lost in his own thoughts to 12 people singing, dancing, playing instruments and connecting, and also pondering the state of the world and how to better it in the process. And it takes its titular concept seriously along the way, confronting America's political and social divisions in Byrne's witty, wise and impassioned between-song chats, but never satirising the idea that the US could be improved to the benefit of everyone. American Utopia is a concert film like its predecessor; however, as that masterpiece proved, the whole notion means more to Byrne than merely standing in front of a camera and busting out well-known hits. From the sublimely soothing 'This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)' to the punchier 'Burning Down the House', plenty of Byrne's best-known songs do grace American Utopia. 'Once in a Lifetime' is among them, of course, as are 'Road to Nowhere' and 'Everybody's Coming to My House', with the film's playlist spanning his career with Talking Heads and solo. Across a range of styles and tempos, each track is a wonder, and not just in the way that fans already know. As should be obvious from the fastidious fashion in which Byrne has conceptualised this stage performance — which he toured in 2018, then adapted for Broadway in 2019, and has now turned into this standout movie directed by Spike Lee — this is a meticulously crafted work. Basking in the glory of Byrne and his band is inevitable and would happen regardless, but soaking in everything that American Utopia does is another marvel entirely. It shouldn't be so striking to notice that Byrne and his colleagues are doing their thing completely untethered, for instance. The stage they stand on is bare except for a shimmering grey chainmail curtain that wraps around three sides, and their instruments and microphones are powered by packs so there are no pesky cords all over the place. Even percussion instruments are strapped to the folks playing them, with absolutely nothing touching the floor other than dancing (and in Byrne's case, bare) feet. It's freeing, not just for Byrne and his band, but to watch. Every move made is immaculately choreographed, but without all the wires and big equipment that's usually part of every concert experience, the performers can simply interact. And as they do, the audience engages on a deeper lever as well. Stop Making Sense devotees, which should include everyone given that it's the best concert movie ever made, will spot that Byrne has reversed his strategy from that earlier film. There, he walked onto the stage with a tape deck, pressed play, grabbed the microphone and kicked off by singing 'Psycho Killer'. When it came time for the next song, another bandmate joined him with their instrument of choice. The cycle repeated with the next track, and the next as well. It was a playful and also probing approach to the genre that made viewers confront its literally staged nature, which American Utopia achieves in the opposite manner and with broader aims — because, other than Byrne's presence, nothing is the same as it ever was here. Before Byrne forces you to do so, you probably won't have realised how enlivening, wondrous and cathartic it is to see the act of connecting so firmly thrust to the fore. It takes an incredible amount of work to make something so tightly constructed seem so loose and natural, and that's just one of the reasons that American Utopia is yet another of the star's masterpieces. The other sizeable factor: Lee, who is on quite the hot streak via BlacKkKlansman, Da 5 Bloods and now this. Like Byrne, he doesn't just want to plonk the performers in front of a lens, with his energetic directorial choices designed to complement the show and make the audience feel as if they're in the room. American Utopia, the stage production, already celebrates intimacy. At its core, it features a dozen people turning a semi-enclosed cube into an inviting space for collaboration and togetherness. Sometimes peering down on the action from above, sometimes weaving between band members, Lee and his 11 camera operators find the exact right shot for the exact right moment in every instance — and prove inventive and creative as they're doing so, too. Although it comes early in the film, when Byrne sings "home is where I want to be", another of his earworm lyrics, everything about what's easily the most joyous cinematic experience of the year instantly makes you feel that he's talking about exactly where he's standing at that very second. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97nnV0fNd30&feature=youtu.be
Most filmmakers are considered prolific if they make a movie every two years. Since leaping onto the scene in 2005, Joe Swanberg has made 18. One of the leading figures of the mumblecore movement (an American indie film subgenre characterised by microscopic budgets and heavily improvised dialogue), Swanberg most recently earned plaudits for his charming romantic dramedy Drinking Buddies, starring Olivia Wilde and Anna Kendrick. We now know Drinking Buddies was scarcely in theatres before Swanberg began work on his next project, one that sees him re-team with Kendrick, along with New Zealand actress Melanie Lynskey and Girls creator Lena Dunham. Shot in Swanberg's cosy Chicago home, Happy Christmas chronicles the rocky yuletide holidays of new parents Jeff and Kelly (Swanberg and Lynskey) after Jeff's irresponsible sister Jenny (Kendrick) comes to stay. As with most of Swanberg's movies, the film had almost no scripted dialogue, and relied instead on the improvisational talents of the cast. We chat to Swanberg about the origins of the story, as well as his decidedly laidback approach to feature filmmaking. Is it true that the original script for Happy Christmas was only 15 pages long? Yeah that's right. It was in paragraph form, sort of a breakdown of what I thought would happen in each scene. What is it about that approach to storytelling that you like? Well there's a couple of things. I really love the fact that as a writer, I'm not putting dialogue into character's mouths, and that I'm having the actors own their characters and bring all these different viewpoints to them. I also like showing up to work each day not sure what's going to happen, and having those scenes be a true collaboration between myself and the actors and my cinematographer and my producers ... having ten smart people solving a problem rather than me sitting at a laptop trying to write a screenplay. So where do your films tend to start, if not a full script? Sometimes it's a theme that I'm interested in, and other times it's a character, but either way I tend to cast pretty early in the process. I want to know who I'm going to be working with, and then that collaboration with the actor is there at the beginning of the process, and I can work with them to flesh out that character. By the time we get there to shoot the movie, I have a pretty good sense of the arc of it, but it's really all the nuances and all the personality that we find on set. If you were ever to look at one of my outlines, it would read like the finished movie, but missing everything that makes the movie good (laughs). https://youtube.com/watch?v=A3OhjYvyC0c And in the case of Happy Christmas, what was your creative inspiration? It was two things, actually, both of them autobiographical. It was my younger brother coming to live with my wife and I soon after my son was born, and the experience of starting my own family and having a sibling in the house, which was wonderful and terrible, depending on the day. So I kind of took that feeling and tried to put it in there. And then there were conversations I was having with my wife about motherhood and about her kind of identity crisis she was having as an artist and an independent person, wrapping her head around the idea of being a stay-at-home mum. Just circumstantially we found ourselves in these very conservative, classic gender roles of the bread winner and the stay-at-home mum, which is not something that we really identified with. So it was a weird period of time for us. And I didn't feel like I had seen that in a movie before. So I took these two life events that in reality happened a year apart from each other, and then just crashed them together into a movie. One of the things I really appreciated about the film, and about a lot of your films, is the attention given to female characters. Is that something you're particularly conscious of? Yeah, it's important for me. Just as a person, I feel like I know what it's like to be a man, whereas I have no idea what it's like to be a woman, so it's subject matter that I'm just drawn to through my own curiosity. And also it's just so underrepresented in the movies. It's sadly pretty rare to have interesting, strong female characters. I've always wanted to make movies in territory that's underexplored, and where there's still room for discovering. So I feel like again and again I keep getting drawn back there because there's so much undiscovered country. And it's a chance to work with great actresses who don't get offered leading roles all that often. Given how much improvisation happens in the your films, how much footage do you usually end up with? There have been movies where I've ended up with mountains of footage, and others where we shot almost everything in the movie. It really depends. With Happy Christmas we shot on 16 millimetre [film], so I budgeted a 4:1 shooting ratio, and I think we stuck pretty close to that. Certain scenes we only shot once or twice, other scenes we shot ten times. It ended up being not that much footage. I think when you shoot film you have to be smart about preplanning in a different kind of way. When I shoot video I'm a little more apt to just shoot a lot on set. On my previous film Drinking Buddies, I probably shot about thirty hours of stuff, and with Happy Christmas I probably shot five or six. It really just depends. And why did you shoot on film? I went to film school and my whole education was on 16mm, so I was excited to try that again in a professional context. And also I'll admit I was a little bit worried that film was going to disappear and that I was never going to shoot a full feature on film. So there was a bit of fear and nostalgia going into that decision. But it felt right for the project, and I think I was just waiting for the kind of movie that felt like it wanted that texture and that kind of visual look, so it all lined up. The Christmas season, and the fact that it focused on a family; I think I wanted that warm, grainy, old home movie look that only film can provide. Are you often surprised by what your cast improvises on set? Definitely. It's one of the fun things about working this way. In almost every scene there's some moment that I feel like I never could have written. It's too human and too spontaneous to have been generated in the screenplay process. That's kind of what keeps me going every day. I show up to set each morning hoping that we get something like that and that I'm surprised by what happens. I want to make sure that the movies are flexible enough that if something really exciting happens that wasn't in the outline, there's room to incorporate that, and that the movie can follow what's actually happening, rather than following some predetermined game plan. And in the case of Happy Christmas, what's one example of that kind of moment, something that got you excited to be there? I had this idea that I wanted the women to write this 50 Shades of Grey-style erotic novel, and so those are scenes in the outline where I didn't write anything other than 'the three women sit in the office and write the book', because I really wanted Anna and Melanie and Lena to improvise that stuff. I wanted to be surprised by the story they came up with, and how crude they got with it. So that stuff was really fun; it was all just totally playing around and letting them run wild. I was also really proud of and excited by this central conversation in the middle of the movie where again the three women are sitting down in the basement drinking beers together and talking about motherhood and responsibility. That was a really important scene for me because thematically it's a big shift moment in terms of the story we're telling, and also it was a big impetus for wanting to make the movie in the first place. I think they did such a great job, and I think those three actresses are so smart, and such great writers. You hope it's going to go that well, but it still feels really good when you finish at the end of the day and you feel like you actually got the thing that you were hoping to get. Happy Christmas is available now on DVD and digital download.
UPDATE Wednesday, January 19: Boiler Room x Sugar Mountain Festival has been postponed and will now take place in the same location on Saturday, February 26. Find updated ticket info here. If nothing says summer to you quite like dancing in a crowd, here's another event for your calendar: the return of Melbourne's Boiler Room x Sugar Mountain Festival. It's coming in hot on Saturday, January 22, 2022, to its brand-new home in Williamtown's Seaworks Maritime Precinct. Complete with its famed 360-degree stage and a supersized lineup of acts, no less. Welsh techno producer and singer/songwriter Kelly Lee Owens leads the bill, in what'll be her first-ever Australian performance — and she'll be joined by London-based Aussie DJ HAAi, Brisbane Spotify favourite jamesjamesjames, European-based Aussie Lauren Hansom, and locals Darcy Justice, C.FRIM and Bertie. If you can't make it along, the fest will also be broadcasting live from 3–10pm. Tickets go on sale at 2pm AEDT on Tuesday, November 23. [caption id="attachment_833149" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Stanjo[/caption] BOILER ROOM x SUGAR MOUNTAIN 2022 LINEUP: Kelly Lee Owens HAAi jamesjamesjames Lauren Hansom Darcy Justice C.FRIM Bertie Top image: Mushroom Creative House.
If you're in need of some rejuvenation, a weekend in Mansfield among stunning vistas and beautiful vineyards could be just for you. That's where Delatite Wines will be hosting its first Harvest Moon Festival from Friday, May 13–Sunday, May 15. Get ready to feel energised under a full moon — or, an almost full moon — as harvest comes to an end. The three-day event will be held at Delatite's new cellar door and restaurant. Kick off the festivities with a hot air balloon ride, then spend the weekend doing yoga among the vines, meditating and even indulging in a cold water submersion in the dam. There'll obviously be plenty of drops going around for tasting, plus a good balance of local produce markets and food trucks. And, you can also some fine dining with a fire-roasted feast by Pope Joan's Bente Grysbaek. The program also has a strong focus on sustainability through exploring all the natural elements, curating a wholesome experience that marries nature, wine and wellness. If you're keen, you can delve into the world of regenerative and open-gate farming, sustainable architecture and biodynamics thanks to the festival's seminar program. Then, to wrap things up, you can end the weekend with a free tree planting session. Some sessions are free, others are ticketed — and you can find the full program on the festival's website.
If you'd like to tuck into a burger created by famed chef Heston Blumenthal, you'd usually need to head to one of his restaurants. But that's no longer the case thanks to a new collaboration with Grill'd, with the British culinary whiz whipping up two new plant-based burgs for the chain. These combinations of bread, salad and mushroom-based meat use Fable, the brand that turns shiitake mushrooms into a meat alternative (and a product that's obviously gotten Blumenthal's tick of approval). And, because there's a couple of options, burger lovers also have the chance to sink their teeth into a limited-edition version that's only available for two weeks this August in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth — and after lockdown in Sydney. The special burg in question? That'd be the Heston Fable Burger, which is made with a Fable patty, tofu, cucumber, fresh slaw and hoisin sauce, and then topped with Fable's plant-based version of crispy beef — and served on a brioche bun. Only 4000 are available, and one will set you back $35. That said, that price includes a serving of Grill'd's chips with white miso mayonnaise, as well as choice of pinot noir, chenin blanc, a local beer or a non-alcoholic drink. If your tastebuds are now well and truly tempted, the Heston Fable Burger is only available from Grill'd for dine-in sittings at the chain's Hawthorn and Windsor stores in Melbourne, Carindale and Wintergarden shops in Brisbane, and Scarborough outlet in Perth — with Sydney details to be announced post-lockdown. You can book now, though, with reservations available online from Tuesday, August 3 by visiting the eatery's website. Folks in New South Wales can also register their interest online. If you're keen to take a bite of a second Blumenthal-created burger — and to do so whenever you like — that's where the Fable Spicy Cheeseburger by Heston comes in. It too is made with a Fable patty, as paired with aged cheddar, Spanish onion, dijon mustard, dill pickles, egg mayonnaise and Heston's fire roasted spicy tomato sauce. And, this one is available on Grill'd's regular dine-in, takeaway or delivery menu at all stores — and for $14.50 — from Tuesday, August 3. The collaboration between Blumenthal and Grill'd is part of the latter's broader range of Fable burgs, with two more varieties also joining the menu. The Fable Truffle features a Fable patty, aged cheddar, cos lettuce, fresh basil and truffle mayonnaise, while the Fable Southern BBQ features a Fable patty, cabbage slaw, shredded carrot, Spanish onion, egg mayonnaise, dill pickles and native Davidson plum barbecue sauce — and they're both available now on the regular lineup as well. Heston Fable Burgers are available from Grill'd for dine-in sittings at the chain's Hawthorn and Windsor stores in Melbourne, Carindale and Wintergarden shops in Brisbane, and Scarborough outlet in Perth — from Sunday, August 8–Sunday, August 22, with bookings available from Tuesday, August 3 by visiting the eatery's website. Folks in New South Wales can also register their interest online, with the burgers set to become available in Sydney after lockdown. The Fable Spicy Cheeseburger by Heston is available on Grill'd's regular dine-in, takeaway or delivery menu from Tuesday, August 3.
Maybe you recall first seeing Rebel Wilson two decades back in Fat Pizza. Perhaps her part as "girl in alley" in the Nicolas Cage-starring Ghost Rider initially caught your eye. Or, it might've been her two big Hollywood breaks: Bridesmaids and the Pitch Perfect franchise. Whichever fits, the Australian actor has charted quite the path over the last 21 years — and she's keen to share a heap of stories about it. That's happening in two ways: her new book Rebel Rising: A Memoir and a tour of the country's east coast to chat about her career so far. The printed tome fuels the in-person conversations, of course, with the former due to hit shelves in April, then the live sessions happening in May. An Evening with Rebel Wilson has the right moniker, then, with the event heading to the Sydney Opera House, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and Hamer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne. In taking to the stage to reflect upon her journey, Wilson follows in the footsteps of everyone from Henry Winkler to Tony Hawk so far in 2024. That said, no one has taken the same route to fame as the Sydney-born actor, with dog shows, creating TV's Bogan Pride and winning an acting scholarship launched by Nicole Kidman just some of the steps along the way. As well as talking through time in the spotlight that's seen her feature in Cats, Isn't It Romantic, Senior Year and Jojo Rabbit as well — plus How to Be Single, Pain & Gain, Grimsby and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, too — Wilson is set to reflect on her personal experiences. Expect a behind-the-scenes glimpse, then — apparently with a Brad Pitt tale thrown in, and details about martial-arts tournaments and an Oscars hallucination induced by malaria. An Evening with Rebel Wilson 2024 Australian Dates: Thursday, May 9 — Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney Sunday, May 12 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Tuesday, May 14 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne An Evening with Rebel Wilson hits Australia's east coast in May 2024, with ticket presales from 10am on Wednesday, February 21 — head to the tour website for further details.
With everyone spending more time at home — and zero time eating out at restaurants and cafes — we're betting that you've probably cranked up your oven and put your baking skills to the test in recent weeks. Unfortunately, though, we are not all destined to be Betty Crockers. Next time you want to get creative in the kitchen, you don't have to resort to a packet mix — even if you're a bit of a novice in the kitchen. A bunch of Aussie bakeries, cafes and restaurants are adapting to the current situation and one thing we're seeing more of is bake-at-home cookie dough. And it's safe to say these top-notch spots know what they're doing in the kitchen — so you don't have to. Here are some of the best you'll find in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, which you can pick up or get delivered. Then, soon enough, you'll be feasting on gooey, chocolatey cookies straight from the oven. SYDNEY Home of the cookie pizza, Bennett Street Dairy is selling its handmade chocolate chip dough and offering citywide delivery within two business days. The old school-inspired joint sources its ingredients straight from the farm, with its dough containing big chunks of chocolate and no raw products. You can get 500 grams of the goods, which will make about six to eight large biscuits, for $12. You can store your roll of dough in the fridge for or up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for 3 months, so you can stock up and have cookies on-hand for a while to come. To order, head here. Firedoor has also jumped on the cookie wagon, offering pre-made dough through its new online grocer Fireshop. The online store has a bunch of 'almost-ready' dishes, pantry staples and produce, which you need to order between Thursday–Tuesday for pick up on Friday between 2–4pm. In your virtual basket, you'll want to throw in at least one 400-gram roll of native cookie dough ($20). Made with white chocolate and native Australian fruits, this cookie is for those who like the finer baked things in life. Sydney's king of desserts Andy Bowdy is slinging some top-notch dough, too. Head down to Saga between 9am–4pm any Tuesday through Sunday, and nab yourself a roll of salted chocolate chip or peanut butter — or both. Each comes in 480 grams and costs $12.50. MELBOURNE Shannon Martinez and Mo Wyse's spin-off vegan New York-style delicatessen, Smith & Deli, is selling frozen dough. So, if you're vegan — or just looking to get your hands on some high-quality cookies — look no further. The dough is frozen fresh, loaded with chocolate chunks and will make ten to 20 biscuits, depending on size. A roll costs $15 and can be ordered via Mr Yum for pick up and delivery. Earl Canteen is selling two different types of cookie dough through its online shop Earl at Home. There's a Callebaut chocolate, sea salt and walnuts one or one filled with raspberry and pistachio — both will make about 20 deliciously chewy cookies and cost $22. To order, head here. The choc chip dough comes in its Favourites Pack ($125), too. Delivery is available within 20 kilometres of the CBD and is free for order amounting to $125 or more. Contactless pick up is also available from Earl's head office at 15–17 Cubitt Street, Cremorne. BRISBANE Brisbane's go-t0 for baked goods, Jocelyn's Provisions, is now selling 'take & bake' kits, including a choc chip cookie kit ($18.50), featuring 500 grams of ready-to-bake dough, which is enough to make 24 cookies. Kits are available for pick up only — with orders taken online, and collection available from Jocelyn's Provisions' stores on Sandgate Road in Albion, James Street in New Farm and Samuel Street in Camp Hill. If you're a cookie fiend and want more, Flour & Chocolate — as the name would suggest — is also selling some choc-filled dough for $15. You can pick them up from the Morningside patisserie every Tuesday to Saturday from 6.30am–2pm. To preorder, email morningside@flourandchocolate.com or call (07) 3161 6246. If you do go outside to pick up cookies, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
When it comes to comfort food, there's no doubt gnocchi is an all-round star player. When nailed, the Italian dish has that perfect fusion of carbs and flavour that's like a big cosy hug on a grizzly winter day. Traditionally, it features delicate dumplings crafted from potato and flour, though these days you'll spy all sorts of crafty variations made with different cheeses, vegetables and grains. But whether you're a purist hunting that generous bowl of classic, Italian-style gnocchi, or you're after a more inventive, new-school riff, Melbourne's got you covered. From long-standing Italian restaurants paying homage to the traditional, to hole-in-the-wall lunchtime takeaway joints, our city's dishing up some mighty fine specimens of this globally-loved dish. Here are some of the best spots to head to when that inevitable gnocchi craving next hits.
Up-and-coming craft brewery Fury & Son opened the doors to its on-site taproom in early 2018. It was a much-anticipated move for the label, which set up shop in Keilor Park back in 2016, and has been winning fans and busting onto beer lists ever since. Now, punters are able to get an insight into the team behind the brews, as they sample beers like the pale ale and the IPA fresh from the source. It's open every Friday, serving an eight-strong tap list featuring six house creations alongside a couple of rotating guest beers. It's also be the number one spot for fans to get their hands on Fury & Son's special-edition releases, with the first keg of any new seasonal beer pouring here for free. Taking care of the food side of things is the team from Houston's BBQ, armed with a rotating menu of treats cooked low 'n' slow. Expect everything from US-style hot dogs, chicken wings and pulled pork burgers, plus veggie dishes like smoked cauliflower and capsicum. Working to the motto of "welcome to the family", it's the kind of joint that'll feel like coming home.
A Separation is an Iranian drama film that revolves around the divorce of Nader and Simin, who have been married for fourteen years and share an eleven-year old daughter, Termeh. Simin wishes to move the family outside of Iran in light of the turbulent conditions, while Nader wishes to stay in the country to care for his elderly father. A rapid series of events takes place following the separation, which lead to accusations of violence, theft and murder. What results is a fascinating insight into gender customs and religious devotion in Iranian society. Moreso, it unfolds as a story which explores the global themes of guilt, self-reflection and responsibility in a fascinating environment. The film has garnered unanimous critical acclaim since its original release in 2011, which has been solidified with a plethora of awards. These include Best Film at the Sydney Film Festival, a Golden Berlin Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, the esteemed Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globe Awards, and, as of today, the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Critics have praised the film for its fast pace, weaving complexity and bravery for commenting on themes which have been kept hidden to much of the Western world. A Separation is a gripping film that raises more questions that it answers, leaving viewers meddling in thought and contemplation. Thanks to Hopscotch, Concrete Playground has five double passes to give away. To win tickets to see A Separation, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=B2Sswx_vrWk
The Botanical Hotel on Domain Road is your one-stop shop for eating and drinking. The venue serves as a brasserie, bar, wine store and has private event spaces. It is equal parts post-run pit stop and a place to watch the footy on a Saturday night. The average South Yarra local can keep fed and watered without even having to venture to Chapel Street. The local joint opens at 7am seven days a week, serving up grab-and-go meals for breakfast. You can choose between bircher muesli, banana bread, bacon, egg and cheese on an English muffin, Penny for Pound croissant, Wonder Pies and more. Come lunch or dinnertime, punters can make their way to the brasserie for a modern Australian bar and grill. Highlights include 28-day aged (in-house) Aussie beef, local seafood platters, substantial sides (like lobster americane mac 'n cheese and beer battered onion rings) and unique desserts like deep fried coconut and passionfruit ice cream, pineapple tarte tatin and lemon bombe Alaska. All are paired with an award-winning wine list, a range of cocktails, craft beer, and local and imported spirits. The main marble bar is in the heart of the venue, serving up a wide selection of drinks — there's also a Happy Hour from 4pm–7pm, Sunday to Thursday. During the warmer months, the leafy courtyard is heaving with punters. During the wintertime, they cosy up with a rum by the fireplace. The cocktails range from the classics to house versions, like the Southside Sunsets with Beefeater gin, Joseph Cartron apple, lime, cranberry and mint. If you can't stay a while, the Botanical Winestore and Grocer offers a selection of pre-batched cocktails, wine, beer, spirits, coffee and even butchered meats. You can also order Grab and Go meals online for pick up, which is ideal for locals' quick lunch runs or post-work quick dinners. Updated October 25, 2023
Venturing through Melbourne's southeastern suburbs can be a testing experience — especially if you need to pass through the public transport black hole between the Glen Waverley and Pakenham–Cranbourne lines, which has no train or tram services. But that could soon change, with the Victorian Government proposing a new tram that will run all the way from Caulfield to Rowville. The new route would potentially reduce congestion and speed up commutes for many in the area, which is home to a bunch of destinations that really need accessible PT, like the Monash Medical Centre, Monash University's Clayton campus, the Australian Synchrotron and the future Victorian Heart Hospital. At the moment, these institutions are only accessible by bus or bus links. The first stage of the proposed project would link Caulfield Station with Monash University via Chadstone Shopping Centre. Then the government plans to extend the route on to Rowville, running via Waverley Park. "This is the missing transport link for the southeastern suburbs," Premier Daniel Andrews said. "It will connect some of our most important education, employment and shopping precincts and boost the local economy". The government has committed to providing $3 million in the Victorian Budget 2018/19 for the design and planning works for the new tram line. The budget will be delivered on May 1 and, if all goes to plan, works are set to begin straight away, though there's no word yet on how much the project will cost, how many delays it will cause and when it's expected to be completed.
From towering silos to inner-city suburban landmarks, Melbourne-based street artist Rone has always been pretty creative about where he paints his large-scale murals. But for the last 12 months, he's been hiding away in the lush community of Sherbrooke, in the Dandenong Ranges, transforming the dilapidated art deco mansion Burnham Beeches into an artsy dreamland. Famous for his massive portraits that combine elements of beauty and ruin, alongside concepts of new and old, Empire is Rone's most ambitious project to date. It's set in the 'decaying glory' of the 1930s estate, which has periodically acted as a family home, research facility, children's hospital and luxury hotel. The mansion is now owned by the Vue Group but has been vacant for over 20 years. Empire spans 12 (previously empty) rooms over multiple storeys and centres around a series of the artist's signature 'Jane Doe' monochrome portraits — the muse for which is actress Lily Sullivan (Mental, Picnic at Hanging Rock). Apart from the murals, the art deco-era furnishings are courtesy of interior stylist Carly Spooner (Fitzroy's The Establishment Studios), who also worked on Rone's The Omega Project. The rooms have been furnished with over 500 antique pieces, including a moss-covered grand piano — which was left exposed in the open garden for several weeks to attain an aged effect. The four seasons play a major role in Empire, and this varying atmosphere was accomplished by a team of specialists — flairs of art, vision, sound, light, virtual reality, scent and botanical design will take visitors on an immersive multi-sensory experience. Expect a hauntingly beautiful vibe of an era-gone-by, as Rone seeks to create an ambiguous storyline that can be felt by each guest individually. Rone takes personal inspiration for the space from the Mark Romanek-directed music video for the Johnny Cash cover of Hurt (originally by Nine Inch Nails) — which should give a sense of what you're in for. Empire will run from Wednesday, March 6 to Monday, April 22 at Burnham Beeches. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased here.
Before getting a glimpse into everyone else's lives was as simple as logging into your social-media platform of choice, a game arrived that let its players do something similar with computerised characters. A spinoff from SimCity and its city-building follow-ups, The Sims allows whoever is mashing buttons to create and control virtual people, then step through their existence. First hitting in February 2000, it has spawned three sequels, plus a whole heap of expansion and compilation packs for each — and online, console and mobile versions as well. A quarter of a century since its debut, The Sims still keeps dropping new releases. To mark its 25th birthday, there's now The Sims: Birthday Bundle. That's one way to celebrate the game's latest anniversary. Here's another: stepping inside a three-day Australian pop-up dedicated to the beloved life simulator, which is heading to Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image from Friday, February 21–Sunday, February 23, 2025. Despite The Sims' more-recent titles, thinking about the game usually means thinking about the 2000s. So, this pop-up is taking that truth to heart by celebrating the Y2K era, too. Going along involves entering inside a 2000s-era pre-teen bedroom that's been decked out by Josh & Matt Design with all of the appropriate touches. Yes, it'll be nostalgic. Yes, there'll be CD towers and blow-up couches, just to name a few decor choices. The pop-up will also feature free stations where you can play The Sims: Birthday Bundle, if the best way for you to commeroate the occasion is by diving into the franchise virtually. In addition, there'll also be a free panel about the game on the Saturday, with speakers including Josh & Matt Design's Josh Jessup and Matt Moss — who are big The Sims fans — and EA/Firemonkeys' Simulation Division General Manager Mavis Chan.
Japanese food is one of the most popular cuisines worldwide, and it's no wonder. It's flexible, healthy, often served fresh, presented beautifully and perhaps most importantly, it tastes fantastic. You can get a box of takeaway sushi or a bowl of ramen all over the world, but certain elements and specialties of Japanese cuisine have yet to take off worldwide. Whether it's down to unique ingredients, well-guarded local knowledge or a certain…flair that turns away more conservative palates, these dishes you need to seek out in the land of the rising sun itself. So, should you be planning a Japan jaunt, save this guide for some of its lesser-known treats and where to find them. Goya Chanpuru, Okinawa Prefecture Starting in the summery and tropical south of Japan, we have the regional specialty of goya chanpuru hailing from sunny Okinawa. Chanpuru itself is an Okinawan stir fry of vegetables and fresh tofu, but the most popular variety comes with a helping of a bitter gourd called goya. The summer vegetable is sliced and stir-fried in oil with pork, eggs and, crucially, Okinawan tofu (which is prepared differently from other tofu). The result is a bitter but healthy meal, rich in vitamin C. [caption id="attachment_991975" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Hanasunrise via iStock[/caption] Buri Daikon, Kagoshima Prefecture Moving north to the island of Kyushu and Kagoshima Prefecture, a popular at-home winter dish made with vegetables and fish, takes our eye. Buri daikon is specifically made with yellowtail, commonly fished in Kagoshima Prefecture, and thick slices of daikon, a Japanese radish — especially a sweeter cultivar called Sakurajima daikon. The daikon is chopped and stewed with yellowtail, sake and ginger, then served with shredded ginger — making for a fantastic winter warmer. [caption id="attachment_991976" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Stossi Mammont via iStock[/caption] Horakuyaki, Ehime Prefecture Ehime Prefecture is home to one of Japan's three major tidal flows, the Kurushima Strait. The fresh seafood that's the main ingredient in horakuyaki is almost exclusively caught in this very strait. Popular in Imabari, horakuyaki is a luxurious dish that's innately connected to the rich maritime culture of the region and is fairly simple to prepare. Commonly made with bream, octopus, shrimps and clams caught in the strait — the catch is prepared, lightly salted, then steamed and roasted in a flat pan called a horaku nabe. It's tender, rich in seafood flavour and a common sight at banquets and celebrations year-round. [caption id="attachment_991978" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] ES3N via iStock[/caption] Fuku Sashi, Yamaguchi Prefecture Fuku sashi is Yamaguchi Prefecture's regional spin on the internationally known dish of fugu, sashimi of the highly poisonous pufferfish. It's a dish that can only be prepared by accredited chefs since one wrong cut can make the meat of the fish fatal when consumed. When a chef in Yamaguchi Prefecture is qualified to serve fugu, it's used in this locally popular dish. The fish is sliced so it's translucently thin, then served with ponzu sauce — made with soy sauce and citrus juice. It's also popular with sliced chives or grated radish. While popular, a decline in fugu stock has made the dish reserved for special occasions. [caption id="attachment_991983" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] TokyoViews via Flickr[/caption] Tekonezushi, Mie Prefecture Local meals often have a simple origin, and that's the case with tekonezushi, tracing its origins to being a simple meal that fishermen could prepare while still out on their boats. Not far from Japan's largest cities, the waters of Mie Prefecture are busy with fishing boats, often hunting skipjack tuna. Hence, local fishermen and now restaurants often prepare tekonezushi. All it takes is tuna or bonito sashimi marinated in soy sauce and placed on a bed of vinegared rice with a sprinkle of nori (dried seaweed) and shiso (perilla) on top. [caption id="attachment_991985" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Hideya Hamano via Flickr[/caption] Hotaruika no Sumisoae, Toyama Prefecture In central Japan where the mountains meet the Sea of Japan, Toyama Bay is home to a population of stunning firefly squid, which is the centrepiece of hotaruika no sumisoae. Traditionally residents of deep water, these luminescent cephalopods make quite the sight in the shallows. Often served in early spring, coinciding with the fishing season, this dish is prepared by boiling the squid in salted water and then serving with leeks and a generous pour of vinegared miso (miso, vinegar, hot pepper and sugar). Kiritanpo Nabe, Akita Prefecture Nearby in Akita Prefecture is kiritanpo nabe, a local take on hot pot that dates back to when loggers used to climb the region's mountains in search of timber. The key carbohydrate base is kiritanpo — rice that has been boiled, mashed and grilled on a cedar skewer. Cooked in a cylindrical shape, they're added to a boiling hot pot with chicken bone broth and a mix of ingredients. Typically, you'll see sliced root vegetables, mushrooms, thin noodles and chicken as well as sake, salt and soy sauce. It's often served for celebrations and is the star dish in local festivals in the region. Milk and Dairy Products, Hokkaido Prefecture Japan's northernmost island (and prefecture) of Hokkaido might be most famous for its snow resorts, but the area is also home to Japan's dairy industry. The climate is ideal for dairy production and is where over 50% of Japan's milk originates. Supposedly, the milk has a rich, vanilla-esque flavour. As such, there are all sorts of treats to try. Lavender soft serve ice cream, cheese, butter, bread and milk jam (the Japanese equivalent of dulce de leche) are some of the most popular treats, all served in restaurants and the regions working dairy farms. Discover more and start planning your trip to Japan at the Japan National Tourism Organization website. Header image: Green Planet World via iStock. Body images courtesy of the Japan National Tourism Organization unless specified otherwise.
Jenga's chunky wooden blocks and shifty sense of suspense have been reinvented as furniture. Studio Intussen's 'Pixel Table' functions much the same way as a Jenga tower. Shaped like a cube and comprised of bamboo slats, chunks of the table may be pushed in or pulled out. This creates a nook for storing magazines, and, on the other side, a little side tray for cocktails. If you no longer need the storage or extra space, the slats can be realigned into their original cube form. How convenient is that? Unlike the game which inspired it, however, the Pixel Table offers users some security. There is no need to anxiously await the tumbling demise of your table, for the outer bamboo layer has been secured with glue. Pssst, take that tactical note and save it for your next Jenga match. [via Gizmodo]
Third Drawer Down is nothing if not bold. Its flagship Fitzroy store has a yellow rubber ducky out the front that's bigger than the doorway and now, its new Greville Street location is painted like a liquorice allsort. Though it opened just a matter of days ago, this enigmatic homewares, gift and novelty store is already hard to miss. Like its exterior, the contents of this store have a penchant for the absurd. Enjoy a healthy bento lunch while day-dreaming about hamburgers. Organise your desk at work with some post-its that tell it how it is. Or slow down your schedule with a 365-day clock. For Christmas last year, I bought my dad an egg cup in the shape of a dachshund's head from the Fitzroy store. There's no rhyme or reason in truly excellent gift giving, and Third Drawer Down's new location will be a godsend for Southsiders come Secret Santa time. However, as much as everyone loves novelty, the store also offers a curated selection of homewares and everyday items that are useful all-year round. With a vested interest in art and design, most offerings double up as artworks in and of themselves. For instance, a humble tea towel could turn into a reaffirming wall-piece from David Shrigley; your coffee mugs are also a canvas for Louise Bourgeois, and Ai Wei Wei's beautiful silk perspective scarf is almost too stunning to scrunch up and tie around your head. When compared to its Northside counterpart, this new store in Prahran is a little smaller. It's lost the secret little nooks and crannies, and given way to an open-plan design characterised by purposeful displays and bright, vivid colours. However it also has a secret little artists' space in the adjoining room, and word on the street is that it'll be home to a series of bi-weekly workshops with creative types. No exact dates yet, but we hear it'll be a great chance to rub elbows with some beautiful artsy people while drinking wine, eating pizza and learning new skills (AKA all of our favourite things). It seems the traditional North v. South rivalry may be drawing to a close. As long as we both have immediate access to giant paintbrushes, we can surely have a lasting peace. The new Third Drawer Down store is located at 155 Greville Street, Prahran. It's open 11am - 5pm Monday - Saturday, and 11am - 4pm on Sundays.
In what might be the bravest marketing move of the decade, ice cream manufacturers Ben and Jerry's are rumoured to be creating a new flavour called 'Schweddy Balls' based on an incredibly popular Saturday Night Live skit from 1998 involving Alec Baldwin. In an interview last night former SNL cast member Anna Gasteyer said of the Schwetty Balls skit "It has this crazy, massive popularity that's kind have had a half life since I left the show. Ben and Jerry's is coming out with a Schwetty Balls ice cream for Christmas this year." Bowery Bogey claims this delicious dish will be available to consumers as soon as September. A Ben and Jerry's representative has refused to either confirm or deny the sweaty speculations, instead choosing to say "we like all our new flavours to have an element of surprise." Surprise indeed, one can only imagine what constitutes a Schweddy Balls flavour. And while this all might seem too be good to be true, it wouldn't be the first time that Ben and Jerry's have released a pop culture inspired flavour. Previous flavours include Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream, Cherry Garcia, in honour of Grateful Dead singer Jerry Garcia, and Yes Pecan in honour of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential victory. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yVChao15oDw [Via Gothamist]
Home to the famed Penola, Coonawarra and Robe wine regions — as well as an array of natural wonders — the Limestone Coast lies four hours' drive southeast of Adelaide. More than 40 cellar doors peddle some of Australia's best cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlot, while laidback eateries serve up fresh dishes, packed with local produce and fresh seafood, straight out of the Southern Ocean. Together with southaustralia.com, we've created this comprehensive guide to the coastal wine region — featuring plenty of drinking and feasting, alongside diving in impossibly clear waters, strolling around a dazzling blue lake and diving into a sinkhole. If you have the time, immerse yourself in the Clare Valley and the Fleurieu Peninsula, too. Or explore Adelaide — there are plenty of underground bars and fairy light-lit rooftops to uncover. [caption id="attachment_681383" align="alignnone" width="1920"] No.4[/caption] EAT Begin your adventures in Coonawarra, a pint-sized region known all over the world for its cracking cabernet sauvignon. At Drink Ottelia + Eat Fodder, you'll taste your way through several drops, while feasting on sourdough pizza and creative dishes, such as wood-roasted whole prawn with nasturtium leaf butter and salt and pepper squid with black pepper sauce and spring onion. Next up is Penola, a 1500-person town dotted with heritage-listed buildings, found 15 minutes' drive south. Among these dwellings, there's a white weatherboard church by the name of Pipers of Penola, where husband-and-wife duo Simon and Erika Bowen dish up decadent combinations. Start with duck liver pâté, grilled brioche, cornichons, mustard fruit and apple remoulade; end with Valrhona guanaja 70 percent dark chocolate terrine, spiced Jamaican rum genoise, dark chocolate glaze and orange sabayon. Match your picks with a few local drops along the way. [caption id="attachment_681429" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mayura Station, Mike Annese[/caption] When you're ready for salty air and crashing surf, you'll find the coast 45 minutes' drive west. Your first stop should be the Irish green hills of Mayura Station, a Wagyu beef farm that has been raising cattle since the 1850s. In the Tasting Room, a true paddock-to-plate experience is on offer. While you sit at a sleek stainless bench, chef Mark Wright will slice premium cuts in front of your eyes, before preparing them in a variety of fashions – from paper-thin carpaccio to charcoal-grilled pieces to perfectly melty steak. The adventure comes accompanied by museum release Coonawarra wines, which you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Stay coastal to visit Robe, a 1200-person town that lies an hour's drive north. In the 1850s, this was South Australia's second busiest port — a wander among the old buildings feels like a journey into seafaring history. For a light, breezy brunch, grab a table at No. 4, and feast on local rock lobster with scrambled eggs, pickled seaweed salad and house-made lavosh or some other locally inspired creation. [caption id="attachment_681000" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cape Jaffa Wines, Adam Bruzzone[/caption] DRINK Don't leave Robe without swinging by Robe Town Brewery, home to the only woodfired brewing kettle in Australia. Its in-depth flights cover anything and everything from the Midnight Smooch, made with liquorice root, to The Magic Mulberry, infused with hand-picked wild mulberries. After that, it's a half-hour drive to remote Cape Jaffa Wines, to immerse yourself in vineyards, backdropped by the Great Australian Bight. Couple Anna and Derek Hooper moved here after falling in love with the area's wildness and deciding to dedicate themselves to making wines that reflect the elements. Their experiments have resulted in some unusual drops, such as the Samphire Skin Contact White, made using traditional Eastern European techniques, and the experimental Mesmer Eyes Red and White Blend. [caption id="attachment_681015" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wynns, Mike Annese[/caption] Return inland to find out where Coonawarra and Penola get their mighty reputations. Wynns is a name you've no doubt seen on many a bottle shop shelf and, right here, you can see its home. Take this opportunity to sample the Single Vineyards and Icons ranges. Just a hop, skip and jump away is St Mary's, where every grape in every bottle comes from the winery's vineyard and every step in the winemaking process happens onsite. Leave yourself time to wander around the four acres of 70-year-old landscaped gardens, before moving on to Majella. For more wines deeply expressive of their terroir, head to Bellwether Wines, where the reserve series is up for tasting in an 1868 shearing shed. [caption id="attachment_681002" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kilsby Sinkhole, Alex Wyschnja[/caption] DO One of the Limestone Coast's best-known spots is Blue Lake, Mount Gambier — around 50 minutes' drive south of Coonawarra. Occupying a massive crater formed by a volcanic eruption anywhere between 4300 and 28,000 years ago, the lake turns a magnificent cobalt blue every summer. The 3.7-kilometre walking trail lets you explore up-close. Before setting off, drop into Mount Gambier's Saturday morning Farmers' Market, to pick up supplies. [caption id="attachment_681009" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Obelisk, Ben Goode[/caption] Another natural phenomenon nearby is the Kilsby Sinkhole. Divers have been travelling here from all over the planet since the 1950s to plunge into its crystal-clear waters, which you can experience on a tour with an approved operator. Then, if you happen to be travelling in May or June, wait until after dark to drive 16 kilometres northwest to Glencoe, to wander along Ghost Mushroom Lane, a walk dotted with mushrooms that glow in the dark. Note, these are not part of your foodie experience: the very chemical that gives them their luminescence can be poisonous. If you're looking for adventures around Robe, check out The Obelisk, Cape Dombey. Built in 1852, this landmark helped sailors to safety, firstly, by assisting with navigation and, secondly, by providing a place to store lifesaving gear. When a ship got into trouble, this gear would be shot out by rocket and grabbed by thankful travellers. [caption id="attachment_681014" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bellwether Glamping by SATC[/caption] STAY To sleep surrounded by red gums and bird song within a Coonawarra winery, book a bell tent at Bellwether Glamping. The cellar door is just a stumble away and, during vintage, you can get involved in wine making. If glamping is too fancy-pants for you, you're welcome to bring your own tent. Another option for snoozing among the vines is The Menzies Retreat, a warm, cosy, timber-filled bed and breakfast at Yalumba's Coonawarra home. Alternatively, stay in town at A Coonawarra Experience. This two-bedroom cottage with queen-sized beds, heated floors and a Nespresso machine, is in Penola, so restaurants, cafes and bars are close by. To stay closer to the sea, reserve The Bush Inn, Robe, an 1852 inn that once welcomed sailors and merchants. Now, it offers ultra-comfy rooms to travellers of the food-and-wine tasting kind. Expect polished timber floors, exposed stonework, open fireplaces and baths – surrounded by bushland. There's room for up to nine guests across four bedrooms. Or, to sleep near Mount Gambier's wonders, check into The Barn, where the Premier King Suites are luxurious, open-plan numbers with Sealy Dynasty plush king beds, massive Caesar stone bathrooms and private patios. To discover more of Adelaide and South Australia, head to SATC. Top image: Cape Jaffa Wines, Adam Bruzzone
If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, we can only imagine the results when you step things up a notch and tuck into a table laden with Mary Poppins-inspired treats. That's the premise of Sofitel Melbourne on Collins' latest themed high tea series, which has just kicked off to coincide with the hit Mary Poppins musical currently enchanting audiences at Her Majesty's Theatre. Sofi's Lounge is the setting for this supercalifragilisticexpialidocious spread, available from 2–4.30pm every Saturday until June 10. Served buffet-style and clocking in at $125 per person, it'll see you digging into a whimsical parade of sweet and savoury bites inspired by the magic of the classic tale. You're in for some exclusive, aptly named creations such as The Tu'ppence Coin — a layered dessert of apple emulsion, salted caramel parfait and caramel chocolate — and A Spoonful of Sugar, featuring an unexpected explosion of matcha, white chocolate and passionfruit served atop a teaspoon. There's the Dingley Dell Shepherd's Pie, a range of themed finger sandwiches, an opera cake inspired by Bert's jacket, profiteroles decorated with mini Mary Poppins hats and even a pink chocolate fountain. And of course, in the most delightful way, there's a nod to that British classic, scones with jam and cream. Free-flowing tea and coffee is included with your high tea, though there's also a slew of wine, champagne and cocktails available to add on.
Have you always dreamed of having your name in lights, your face on a billboard, people screaming out your name? Usually you'd have to become mega famous to get anywhere near that level of fanfare — but at this year's Melbourne Fringe, you could get your 15 minutes of fame for very little work. This September, an ordinary Melburnian will become they city's latest celebrity in this bold and ambitious new real-world performance work from art collective Field Theory. The person — picked at random from a lottery — will have their face on the digital facade at Federation Square every day during the festival, taking the public into the lives of the mysterious individual. The piece is designed to build an icon from the ground up. ICON will come to a head on the final day of the festival, with a special finale event where you'll be able to do everything from eat the icon's favourite food to dance to their favourite music. If you can deal with that level of attention, you can put your name into the lottery until September 12.
Each year, the team behind Vivid Sydney clearly asks itself a question: where else can we dazzle with lights next? Ranging from gardens and tunnels to buildings and bridges, the answers brighten up not only the festival's annual program, but the Harbour City. Letting a train lit up with an immersive glow and pumping techno tunes loose on the New South Wales capital's rails is a new answer for 2024, however. Meet Tekno Train. This isn't your ordinary, everyday, average commute — this is a 60-minute trip filled with lighting and music that changes to match the train's speed and the landscape outside. And the tunes? Like the event itself, they hail from Paul Mac. The result is a 23-night-only railway experience that's an Australian first, with its music newly composed specifically for what promises to be a helluva ride. Here's how it works: between Friday, May 24–Saturday, June 15, you'll hop onboard a K-set train at Central Station, either opting for a scenic route to North Sydney and then Lavender Bay via a secret spur line (the slower, more family-friendly trip), or hitting up City Circle and South Sydney (which'll be the livelier and faster-paced journey). Whether you pick The Scenic Route or Tech Express, as the two choices have been named, you'll see Tekno Train's custom lighting beam and hear its electronic dance music soundtrack pulse through all of the locomotive's carriages. "Trains have always fascinated me. Their mix of rhythmic clicks and clacks, the screech of metal on metal, and the sound and smell of brakes are all interesting sensory experiences that everyone can relate to," said Paul Mac about the new addition to the Vivid Sydney 2024 lineup, which has been announced just days ahead of the fest's kickoff. "Tekno Train will take things one step further. It will drive the music and lights, turning a commuter journey into a sensory rollercoaster." If you're wondering how it links in with this year's Vivid theme of 'humanity', Tekno Train puts the power of music to unite — even when people are doing something that they don't normally think twice about — in the spotlight. It also celebrates public transport, mass transit and community. And, of course, it'll get you seeing riding the rails in a whole new light, literally. In 2024, other responses to the Vivid challenge to put lights anywhere and everywhere include the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, where Lightscape will again get radiant; the Sydney Opera House sails, the city's trusty large-scale canvas; facades including Customs House and the Museum of Contemporary Art; the Sydney Harbour Bridge; Barangaroo; and Sydney Tower, which will project a fan of 40-kilometre-long laser beams. And, for the second year running, Dark Spectrum will return to Wynyard's railway tunnels with a one-kilometre trail featuring eight chambers, 300 lasers and strobe lights, 500 lanterns, 250 search lights and 700 illuminated arrows. Tekno Train departs from Central Station, running for 23 nights during Vivid Sydney — which takes place from Friday, May 24–Saturday, June 15. Head to the festival website for further details and tickets. Images: Destination NSW.
Every day is like a party at Moon Dog's sprawling Preston venue Moon Dog World, so expect big things for its New Year's Eve celebrations. If you're partial to an early kick-off, the doors will be open from 11.45am for lunch, with appearances from all the usual gang, including the barbecue bacon burger and the charcoal chook with chips and gravy. The bar's going to be slinging $15 jugs of the new Fizzer seltzer, as well as whipping up special Fizzer slushies to help you keep your cool while kicking back by that indoor lagoon. And, of course, there's the bar's hefty lineup of house beers on tap, available throughout the day. Come 5pm, the DJ decks will be firing up the sounds of Total Giovanni, Close Counters, MzRizk and Melburnerz, spinning until the wee hours. [caption id="attachment_744574" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] Entry to this one is free, with both bookings and walk-ins available. At 12,000 square metres, there's plenty of space here to see out 2020 with a bang. Top image: Kate Shanasy
Recently, a wave of international hotel chains have been choosing Melbourne as the first spot to drop their luxury accommodations in Australia — Lanson Place and The StandardX. And the latest to join the fold is 1 Hotels, which is preparing to open a luxury hotel at the newly revitalised Northbank Precinct in May 2025. Located right on the Yarra River, the pet-friendly hotel will be home to 277 guest rooms and 114 hotel-branded residences, a slew of drinking and dining destinations, a resident-only rooftop and a lavish day spa. The level-five spa will have a large sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and swimming pool, plus its own gym with in-house trainers. As with 1 Hotels in London, Hollywood and New York, this Melbourne site will include swathes of reclaimed and recycled materials as well as stacks of plants and other natural elements. All in all, you'll find over 2000 plants scattered throughout 1 Hotel Melbourne, plus there'll be direct access to a 3500-square-metre riverside park. This park is part of the new Seafarers Rest precinct, which sits within the broader Northbank Precinct. This oft-forgotten wedge of land between Flinders Street and the river — located opposite Southbank and accessed via the Seafarers Bridge — is preparing for a massive glow-up. And 1 Hotel will be one of its main attractions. 1 Hotel Melbourne is slated to open in May 2025, and will be found at 9 Maritime Place, Melbourne. For more information, you can check out the hotel's website.
These days, there probably aren't too many people who'd rush to take a dip in the Yarra River. But that's all set to change, as the team behind community-led project Yarra Pools continues its push to create a river pool and water precinct right on the banks. In 2016, Melbourne non-profit Yarra Swim Co first released plans for a pool in the river. They've since spent two years consulting the community and finessing the concept, and this time round have teamed up with local firm WOWOWA Architecture. The newly proposed water park precinct would transform the riverbank area adjacent to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium and make the Yarra swimmable once more. The proposal features a 50-metre in-river lap pool, a kids pool and a natural leisure pool, all located amongst lush wetland areas. The precinct would also boast its own kayak launch point, outdoor pavilion, lookout platform, multipurpose room and on-site cafe, as well as a drop-off zone for shuttles headed to the aquarium. The proposed site stretches along the Yarra's northern riverbank and beneath the existing raised rail line, though incorporates a stack of natural plant life to help take the edge off the very urban setting. Of course, the Yarra water needs to be made swimmable for all of this to work — it's filthy (thanks to that time it was a dumping ground for industrial run-off) and that water needs to be filtered. According to the project's website, they are looking into locally developed technology that may allow river water to supply the pool. If you're keen to see the project kick off, you can submit feedback via the website and donate.
Crustless finger sandwiches, tiny ornate cakes, buttery scones, bottomless tea, sparkling wine: we all know and love the classic high tea experience. But the folks at Balgownie Estate in the Yarra Valley have teamed up with Mary Eats Cake to level up the whole high tea affair for two days this summer. On Saturday, January 13 and Sunday, January 14, diners can hit up the Balgownie Estate to try out a seafood-focussed high tea under a marquee by the rolling vineyards. Gorgeous. Guests will sit around a large shared table on the estate's grounds while DJs set the vibes for a summery day of indulgence. Mary Eats Cake has designed a not-your-average high tea menu featuring oysters with chimichurri and lime, a tuna sashimi tart and a mini prawn loaf alongside a series of desserts — think a fruit-laden pav and freshly baked scones. The $189 per person high tea will also include unlimited tea and two specialty cocktails made with the vineyard's wine. Get around the cuvée limoncello and rosé iced tea during the afternoon. A private bar will also be set up in the marquee for those choosing to sample more of the estate's wines.
A Taiwan-born tea store with over 50 global outposts under its belt, The Alley LuJiaoXiang has made a name for both its slurpable drinks and those all-important 'beverage aesthetics'. Not only do these sips have serious swagger, but ingredients like the sugar cane syrup and signature tapioca pearls are made in-store from scratch. Sample those house-made orbs in the likes of a milk-infused black tea blend or tea latte, or go for one of the popular fruit tea concoctions, best enjoyed topped with some 'snow velvet' cheese foam. And if you fancy a bit of a mouth party, opt for something featuring The Alley's special brown sugar pearls. These rich little gems are served warm, making for an extra treat when mixed through cold milk. You can also find The Alley in QV Melbourne, Highpoint Shopping Centre, and on Bourke and Elizabeth streets in the CBD.
As it continues in a push to produce more inclusive exercise gear, Lululemon has this week launched a new range of workout hijabs across selected international stores. The performance and lifestyle hijabs come in two styles available to buy now across New Zealand and Australia, with a third set to launch later this year. Each hijab is made using the buttery soft, sweat-wicking fabric Lululemon is famous for and offers a series of adjustable fits suited to the gym, a home workout or just those humid days of summer. The pin-free Performance Hijab ($55 AUD/$65 NZD) comes in both black and blue, and features an adjustable drawstring so it stays fitted into place while the user is working out — perfect for runners and HIIT lovers. The more traditional Scarf-Style Hijab ($49 AUD/$55 NZD) comes in soft jersey fabric and can be worn tied, twisted or tucked depending on preference. This one might be more suited to lower intensity styles, like pilates and walks. Lastly, the OTM Pull On Hijab ($49 AUD/$55 NZD) which is set to launch later this year, also has an over the head design and can be worn wrapped around the shoulders or tucked into the front of the shirt. Luluelmon certainly isn't the first activewear company to produce a hijab suited to exercise: Adidas has an option available to purchase online with its famous three stripe logo and Nike also has a monochromatic range. Under Armour also has an option with built-in headphone access. It would be great to see more brands follow suit, including locally made and designed options. The Lululemon performance hijab range launched Monday, June 6 and can be found now in select stores across Australia and New Zealand. For more information, head to the website.
Blessed be the TV screens — because on April 26, The Handmaid's Tale is back. After becoming 2017's number one must-watch show with its compelling first season, everyone's favourite dystopian drama returns for a new 13-episode round of bleakness. Yes, that means more time trawling through the oppressive society of Gilead and watching women forced into child-bearing servitude, thanks to this grim but gripping adaptation of Margaret Atwood's iconic 1985 novel. It also means once again trying to shake the feeling that this fictional future really isn't all that hard to imagine. Elisabeth Moss putting in another fierce performance, Alexis Bledel stealing every scene she's in, the all-round stacked cast showing why the series won eight Emmys and two Golden Globes: yep, that's all on the agenda as well. It's enough to make you cancel your plans every Thursday night for the next 12 weeks, with this season airing weekly on SBS and SBS On Demand after the two-part premiere. Sure, that means that you can't binge it all in one sitting — but, it also means that your time with Offred and company will last even longer. If you're eager to extend the experience further still, then get a jump start by working through our five pieces of Handmaid's homework. Praise be, obviously. RE-BINGE THE FIRST SEASON It's an easy starting point, we know, but the best way to prepare for the new season is by rewatching the first. Also, it's something else for you to watch if you've already replayed the season two trailer over and over and over again. Scour for clues about what might come next, and come up with theories about Offred's fate; given that the show left audiences with a cliffhanger, there's plenty of questions to ponder. Or, see if there's anything you missed the first time around (like Atwood's early cameo), or introduce all things Handmaid's to your friends that were clearly hiding under a rock last year and somehow haven't seen the show. They're all great reasons to dive back in again, not that you need them when a program is as engrossing as this. As it was last year, the full first season is currently available on SBS On Demand. READ (OR RE-READ) THE NOVEL Maybe you were already a fan of Atwood's 33-year-old book long before the TV version was announced. Maybe you segued from watching the first season of The Handmaid's Tale to devouring the novel. Maybe you meant to get around to pouring over the text (you really, truly did mean to), but life just got in the way. Whichever category you fall into, now is the perfect time to read or re-read the piece of fiction that started it all — and, to set the scene for what might happen in the television program's second outing. As thorough as the first series was, it doesn't include everything that Atwood initially dreamed up. We won't spoil the details, but if you don't have time to stick your nose in the printed tome, here's a rundown. There's also an audiobook version too, if you'd rather listen, as read by Claire Danes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTnhx_N7nro WATCH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TAKE ON THE TALE The Handmaid's Tale that we know and love isn't the only screen version of the story. In fact, if the timeliness, insightfulness and hugely enthralling nature of the show got you thinking "why hasn't the book been adapted before?", well, the short answer is: it has. Back in 1990, German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff joined forces with poet and Nobel laureate Harold Pinter on an American film based on the novel, starring Natasha Richardson at Offred, Faye Dunaway as Serena Joy and Robert Duvall as Fred. Saying that it's completely different to the current take is quite the understatement, right up there with saying that Gilead isn't the best place to live if you're female. If you're keen to seek it out, it's available to watch on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-fofQ9VpPQ SEEK OUT LAST YEAR'S OTHER GREAT ATWOOD ADAPTATION 2017 didn't just deliver one adaptation of Atwood's work, but two. Yep, when it rains, it pours, as the saying goes. While Alias Grace didn't attract anywhere near as much attention as The Handmaid's Tale, the Netflix miniseries is definitely well worth your time. Directed by American Psycho's Mary Harron and starring Sarah Gadon (11.22.63), Zachary Levi (Chuck), Anna Paquin (True Blood) and legendary The Fly filmmaker David Cronenberg, the six-part show takes inspiration from famous 19th-century murders. Gadon plays the real-life figure of Grace Marks in this somewhat fictionalised version of true events, with the series exploring a question that has been pondered for nearly two centuries: what was Marks' actual involvement in the crime? GET COOKING Food has special significance in The Handmaid's Tale. No, we're not talking about the "blessed be the fruit" greetings exchanged by handmaids — it refers to the children they're supposed to be bearing, rather than the goods they're often seen shopping for — but, rather, the way it's used to denote status. Handmaids buy it for the household, Marthas prepare meals and the Gilead elite eat fancy spreads while everyone else tucks into something much less appetising. In one first-season episode, for example, a macaron is used to signify the divisive role that food plays, with Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski) offering Offred a rare treat. There are plenty more instances where that came from, and it's enough to make you both horrified and hungry. Unsurprisingly, there's no shortage of Handmaid's-themed party menus floating around, but if you whip up something crimson red (cupcakes with red icing are a favourite), then you're on the right track. Or, you could turn your hand to something particularly elaborate. When season two started filming, Elisabeth Moss received a cookie shaped like a music box — something else of significance within the series.
All the young'uns know by now that the smiley-dreadlocks-guy in Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' music video has a long and venerable history of bringing feelgood vibes to the discotheque. That's because he's Nile Rodgers of Chic, legendary hitmaker, and he'll be headlining the 23rd Meredith Music Festival. Chic was formed in 1976 and at 60, Rodgers is still at the centre of the music biz. After recently rocking Glastonbury with Daft Punk and moving Golden Plains Sixxx to the core last year (prompting Nile to say, "Every show we've had a special connection to the crowd but oh tonight was spiritual"), Chic will get the crowd grooving at the Meredith Supernatural Theatre with their epoch-defining tunes, as well as classics produced by Nile for other colossal artists. 'Le Freak', Good Times, 'Everybody Dance', 'Let's Dance', Like A Virgin, 'Original Sin': are you sensing a theme here? A theme of awesome? Two hours of mirrorball-spinning sounds will ensue. If you can't make it to Meredith, fear not — Chic is touring Australia and will perform at the Sydney Opera House on December 7, sure to be a sultry Saturday night, as part of the Music at the House program. Meredith Music Festival runs over three days from December 13–15. To go in the ballot for tickets, visit the festival website and subscribe before 11.23pm on August 12.
In a stark change from last year, 2021 is shaping up to be quite the magical time for Australian musical theatre fans. The country is finally getting a shot to see Hamilton right now, everyone will be able to swoon over Moulin Rouge! from August and making a date with one of popular culture's most famous masked men, The Phantom of the Opera, is on the cards from September. And, as just announced, Cinderella will be riding a pumpkin carriage into Sydney when November hits, too. First premiering back on Broadway in 2013, this version of the beloved fairy tale features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a couple of the best-known names in musical theatre history. The pair actually wrote their songs for a 1957 television production, which starred a pre-Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music Julie Andrews. (If you've seen the 1997 TV movie with Brandy and Whitney Houston — which remade that original small-screen flick — then you've already seen a version based on Rodgers and Hammerstein's original efforts.) Now, the Broadway production is finally making the jump Down Under, debuting locally at Sydney's Capitol Theatre at a yet-to-be-revealed date in November, as presented by Opera Australia and the Gordon Frost Organisation. The two organisations recently teamed up on The King and I, another Rodgers and Hammerstein hit, but this time they're all about glass slippers and masked balls. Whether Cinderella will make its way to other Aussie cities hasn't yet been announced either. Don't expect the exact same story you're used to, though — as you read as a kid, and saw in Disney's classic animated film and its live-action remake. Here, Cinderella is a contemporary figure, but living in a fairytale setting. She's still transformed from a chambermaid into a princess; however, the tale has been given a firmly modern spin. Just who'll be starring in the show when it makes its way to Sydney hasn't yet been revealed, but they'll be working with a production penned by playwright Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, Sister Act) based on Hammerstein's work — which was, of course, adapted from the fairy tale about a young woman dreaming of a better life. The Broadway production was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won one, for Best Costume Design. In the US, Carly Rae Jepsen played Ella for a stint, while The Nanny's Fran Drescher also took on the role of Madame, Ella's stepmother, for a period. If you're wondering how the musical works its magic, check out a clip from the original Broadway show below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wypPkiBW1Z4 Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella will hit the stage at the Sydney's Capitol Theatre in November 2021, with exact dates yet to be announced. Tickets will go on sale on April 30, with pre-sales from April 26 — for further details, or to join the waitlist, head to the musical's website. Top image: Original Broadway production of Cinderella by Carol Rosegg.
If you've ever enjoyed a few drinks and wondered just what impact they've had on your blood alcohol limit, prepare to wonder no longer. Meet Proof, the wearable alcohol sensor that not only tells you how drunk you are — it (somewhat frighteningly) predicts how drunk you'll be later, and when you'll be sober if you stop drinking. Plus, it can also remind you when you're back in the safe realm. This is how it works: the slim band, which looks just like a fitness tracker, reads alcohol molecules through your skin. It then sends those readings to an app on your phone, where you can check whether you're okay to drive, and when you will be. You can also set it up to send vibrations through your wrist and flash an LED light when you reach pre-set blood alcohol levels. The band itself relies upon on disposable cartridges that last for 12 hours, and is powered by a rechargeable battery with a four-day continuous-use lifespan. Proof, which was among the technological advancements featured at CES 2017, has been in development by Milo Sensors for two years, with a crowdfunding campaign planned for 2017 to help it come to fruition. Once it reaches the market, it is expected to sell for US$100 to $150. Milo Sensors CEO and founder Evan Strenk told Mashable that the product aims to "empower people to make educated decision about alcohol," and is on par with consumer breathalysers. The last part is key, and not just in terms of effectiveness. Sure, plenty of blood alcohol testing products already exist; however who wants to blow into a tube when knowing just how those after-work drinks are hitting the spot is as easy as wearing a wristband and checking your phone? Via Mashable.
2023 marks eight years since one of the greatest living American directors last released a film. While he did direct an episode of Tokyo Vice's first season in 2022, Michael Mann hasn't had a movie flicker across the big screen since 2015's Blackhat. Thankfully, that's changing with a picture that also gives the world Adam Driver as a race car driver-turned-sports car entrepreneur: Ferrari. Mann adds Ferrari to a resume that also includes 80s masterpiece Thief, The Last of the Mohicans and Heat in the 90s, plus Collateral, Miami Vice and more. For Driver, the film proves another case of living up to his name on-screen. He's played a bus driver in Paterson, and piloted a spaceship in the Star Wars sequel trilogy as well as 65. So, zipping through the Italian streets here fits easily. As both Ferrari's first teaser trailer and just-dropped new full sneak peek show, Driver is behind the wheel in a film that focuses on its namesake when he's an ex-racer. As adapted from Brock Yates' book Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Races, The Machine, Mann's movie hones in on specific chapter of Enzo Ferrari's life: 1957, as potential bankruptcy looms over his factory, his marriage is struggling after a heartbreaking loss and his drivers approach the Mille Miglia race. Accordingly, Ferrari promises to peer behind the Formula 1 facade, into Enzo's relationship with his wife Laura (Penélope Cruz, Official Competition), the death of their boy Dino, and the son Piero with Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley, Robots) that he doesn't want to acknowledge. If you know your racing history, you'll also know that 1957's Mille Miglia — which spanned 1000 miles across Italy — was its last due to multiple deaths during the event. So, that race won't be an insignificant part of the film. Set to release at Christmas in the US and on January 4, 2024 Down Under, Ferrari also stars Patrick Dempsey (Disenchanted), Jack O'Connell (Lady Chatterley's Lover), Sarah Gadon (Black Bear) and Gabriel Leone (Dom). Check out the trailer for Ferrari below: Ferrari releases in cinemas Down Under on January 4, 2024. Images: Lorenzo Sisti / Eros Hoagland.
