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.
Sydney's annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has sparked many a trip to the Harbour City. In recent years, it has also inspired themed flights to the New South Wales capital from New Zealand, Brisbane and Melbourne to enjoy the festivities. Partying in the sky on a pride flight on the way to Sydney's biggest pride party? That's a must for the diary. In 2023, however, all those mid-air shenanigans are levelling up. Next year, Sydney will host WorldPride, marking the huge LGBTQIA+ celebration's first-ever stint in the Southern Hemisphere. The plans for the event are massive — Kylie Minogue headlining the opening concert-level massive. And both Virgin and Qantas want to fly you there to enjoy everything from rainbows aplenty all around the city to a closing gig led by MUNA and G Flip. For Virgin, the pride flights will run for the third year, after first kicking off from Brisbane in 2021, then expanding to Melbourne in 2022. And, they'll add new departure points, letting folks from Adelaide and Perth also hop onboard — and running the airline's first-ever pride flight from the US to Australia, as flown by United Airlines, leaving from San Francisco. Tickets for Virgin's one-way pride trips are on sale now, and will include more than 1000 seats across five flights. From Australia, the flights depart on Friday, February 24, while the US service will leave on Wednesday, February 22 but touch down Down Under on Friday, February 24. The Aussie services will be hosted by RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under stars Coco Jumbo, Karen From Finance, Kween Kong and Maxi Shield, as well as top Australian drag talent like Barbie Q, Penny Tration, Philmah Bocks, Sexy Galexy and Tora Hymen. And, they'll include a pre-flight departure party featuring entertainment by local LGBTQIA+ venues (such as Fluffy, Sircuit, Mary's Poppin' and Connections Nightclub), alongside those mid-air drag performances, DJs and dancing — and bottomless beverages — while you're cruising at 30,000-plus feet There's also a pride flight landing party, too, taking place from 4.30–8.30pm on the Friday at The Beresford. It includes complimentary drinks and entertainment, and is covered by the pride flight tickets. And, $30 from the sale of each ticket will be donated to Australian charity Minus18, which works to improve the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth. For Qantas, you'll be soaring in from Los Angeles, because that's where the airline's first-ever pride flight is departing from. The Qantas WorldPride Flight will also take off on Wednesday, February 22, and will feature Joel Creasey as host. On this US–Australia trip, there'll be live inflight entertainment, food by chef Neil Perry (who is also Qantas' Director of Food, Beverage and Service), and free limited-edition 'rainbow roo' Qantas pyjamas that've been designed specifically for the flight. And, your Qantas ticket will also include general admission to the Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, where none other than Ms Minogue will take to the stage — a gig that's virtually sold-out otherwise. The one caveat on all of the above: passengers will have to organise their own far less glitter-filled flight home following the weekend's celebrations. Tickets for Virgin's past flights have always been snapped up quickly, so it's likely this batch from both airlines will do the same. And if you're a Sydneysider wanting to experience the one-way flights, you can always head to Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, San Francisco or LA prior if that suits your plans, then use the pride services to return home. Virgin Australia's pride flights will fly from Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide to Sydney on Friday, February 24, while its San Francisco–Sydney flight will depart on Wednesday, February 22. Tickets are on sale now from the Virgin Australia website. Qantas' pride flight will take off on Wednesday, February 22, flying from Los Angeles to Sydney. Tickets are also on sale now via the Qantas website. Sydney WorldPride will run from February 17–March 5, 2023. For more information, head to the event's website. Thinking about attending Sydney WorldPride? Check out Concrete Playground Trips' Sydney WorldPride package. It includes tickets to the Domain Dance Party and Live and Proud: Opening Concert, plus three nights at the PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney.
If Tony Montana's "little friend" had instead been a BB gun, would that scene be quite so iconic? Hollywood fears not, it seems, because industry representatives have come out against the new gun control laws in New York, one of the few states to pass sweeping restrictions after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. No, this does not mean that the (in)famously left-leaning film industry has had a sudden change of heart. Rather, the Motion Picture Association of America's complaint is that the new ban on weapons holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition will prevent films and television programs from using modified assault weapons on their New York sets. This means that for the 27 film and TV productions currently being shot in New York state, the machine guns and uzis will have to be replaced by some pretty cool-looking toy guns or the production companies may face legal action when the new legislation kicks in next January. While Governor Andrew Cuomo has previously supported amending the legislation so that Hollywood isn't an accidental victim, the law is unlikely to be changed, due to fears that it may not pass through the legislature a second time around. As such, Democrats have taken a sudden U-turn, now claiming that the new law will have no impact on the film industry. But does it have to be all doom and gloom for Hollywood and their lifelong love of big-ass guns? This could be a perfect excuse for the film industry to get a bit creative with their choice of weapons. If you can't have an AK47, why not try a giant laser? Or if Rambo V can no longer feature Stallone's favourite brand of M60E3 machine gun, maybe he can invest in a lightsaber? Here are five awesomely bizarre movie-gun substitutes in film. You're welcome Weinsten and Spielberg, you are welcome. 1. Point-of-View-Gun - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Even if this space-age weapon didn't make its victims uncontrollably reveal their thoughts and even if it wasn't created by the "Intergalactic Consortium of Angry House Wives" as a means of ending marital arguments, this machine-gun-substitute would still be awesome. Mostly because Zooey Deschanel is wielding it. 2. Sick Stick - Minority Report The perfect weapon for any movie bad-ass who is hoping to incapacitate but not kill their foe. It does exactly what its name suggests: causes its victim to projectile vomit. We tip our hats to your subtle anti-gun weaponry, Mr Spielberg. 3. Zorg ZF-1 - The Fifth Element This gun-substitute, which vaguely resembles your childhood super-soaker, is a total sci-fi nerdgasm. I'm not sure what I like more about it: the fact that it includes a rocket launcher, poison arrow launcher, 3000-round machine gun, net launcher, flamethrower and freeze ray or the fact that it belongs to a terrifically hammy Gary Oldman, sporting perhaps the worst wig ever to grace the silver screen. 4. The AV Arc - Blade Trinity There are two surefire ways to splice up a disappointing threequel: put Jessica Biel in a bodice-hugging leather vest (check) and invent a weapon that uses a beam of UV light that is hotter than the sun to slice up those pesky vampire hordes (check). How this movie wasn't a hit befuddles me to this day. 5. The De-Evolution Gun - Super Mario Bros While video game-inspired films that tanked are not exactly a rarity, few films have done it quite so spectacularly as this shambles of a motion picture. Combined with the ridiculousness of Dennis Hopper playing a dinosaur (yeah, seriously) is the fantastical De-Evolution Gun. As the name suggests, the De-Evolution Gun turns back the evolutionary clock on its victims such that with one twitch of the finger you can turn your mortal enemy into a harmless, albeit quite pissed off, chimpanzee.
Great news, dog lovers of Australia: you can now expect to see more pups at more pubs around the country. When 18 venues around the nation start serving pooches their very own version of charcuterie — adorably dubbed 'barkuterie' — there's bound to be one big result: a flurry of humans bringing their four-legged best friends out for a bite. If you spend your life with a canine companion, you'll be able to take your barking buddy to bars in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia from Saturday, September 16. On the menu: barkuterie boards created in collaboration with online pet supplies retailer Pet Circle, featuring three dog treats from Nature's Cuts and Zignature paired with seasonal fruit and vegetables. So, while you drink and graze, so can your pupper. Just don't go giving your dog any beer to go with their barkuterie board, of course. The canine snack plate comes in at $12, and arrives to celebrate spring. It's a limited-time special, however, getting tails wagging for four weeks — or until stocks last. Of course BrewDog is getting in on the barkuterie spread, which is great news for folks who can hit up the Scottish beer brand's venues at South Eveleigh in Sydney and Murarrie, at its DogTap Brisbane Australian base, in Brisbane. Harbour City residents can also take their pup to The Winery in Surry Hills, while Sunshine State folks can make a date with the Crown Hotel in Lutwyche and Everton Park Hotel. In Victoria, Richmond's Bridge Hotel is joining in — and folks in WA have Victoria Park Hotel and The Bassendean Hotel to choose from. It's a great time to be a dog devotee in SA, with Brighton Metro Hotel, The Duck Inn, Mick O'Sheas, Waterloo Station, The Hope Inn, Robe Hotel, The Colonist, Parkside Hotel, Naracoorte Hotel and The Victoria Hotel in Strathalbyn all on the list. "More Aussies than ever consider their dog as their fur-child and are looking for experiences to do with them. They are taking them to cafes and pubs, and now dogs have their very own menu. They say the way to a dog's heart is through its stomach so we hope all the dogs really love the barkuterie boards," said Pet Circle Head Vet Teagan Lever. 2023 has already delivered doughnut-shaped biscuits for dogs — now this is your next excuse to treat your pet. Pet Circle's barkuterie boards will be available from Saturday, September 16 at 18 venues around Australia — for four weeks until Friday, October 13, or until stocks last.
Your regular commute is now an immersive art experience thanks to Melbourne Art Trams, which has returned for its sixth year as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival. The moving exhibition sees eight trams transformed into moving, public works of art, with seven new commissions and one reproduction of a classic 80s piece. And the first one hit the tracks just this morning. Designed by Gunditjmara woman Hayley Millar-Baker, who hails from southwest Victoria, the train's monochromatic art explores personal and collective connections to country, land, flora and fauna. If you'd like to catch it, you'll find it rolling along the 11 (West Preston to Victoria Harbour Docklands) and 86 (Bundoora RMIT to Waterfront City Docklands) routes. The project is a revival of Transporting Art, a program which, between 1978 and 1993, saw 36 hand-painted trams launch across Melbourne. Among the most memorable was a W-Class tram by the late expressionist artist David Larwill, created in 1986 as part of the United Nations International Year of Peace. This year, it has been faithfully reproduced, with the help of digital photography and adhesive. This one will hit the tracks tomorrow, Friday, October 5. The remaining six trams will be rolled out over the rest of the month. They'll boast art from psychedelic street artist Oli Ruskidd; Year 9 student Valerie Tang; Nick Howson (best known for Richmond's Tigerland mural); creator of Fitzroy's Pool Parade, Stephen Baker; Oslo Davis, whose weekly cartoon Overheard has been amusing readers of The Age for longer than a decade; and Troy Innocent, whose interactive tram design will become animated when viewed through a mobile phone with an augmented reality app. Images: James Morgan
More than three decades since it was first published, the Watchmen series of comics is still considered one of the all-time greats of the medium. Brought to the page by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons, the premise says plenty: in an alternative version of the world we all live in, superheroes definitely exist — but their presence has drastically altered history. Here, the Cold War turned out differently, caped crusaders largely work for the government and anyone else enforcing law and order while wearing a costume has been outlawed. Now, imagine that tale told with a satirical edge that deconstructs the superhero phenomenon, and you can see why it has hordes of devotees. Back in 2009 when comic book flicks were just starting to pick up steam — and when 23-film franchises were a mere dream — Watchmen was turned into a movie by Zack Snyder (who was fresh from 300, but hadn't made the jump to Batman v Superman or Justice League yet). Sequels clearly didn't follow; however, HBO is now hoping that the story will flourish on the small screen, enlisting Lost and The Leftovers co-creator Damon Lindelof to make it happen. Obviously, with Game of Thrones all done and dusted (at least until its prequels start hitting the screen), the network is in the market for a new pop culture phenomenon. This isn't just a straight adaptation. Apparently the ten-part series "embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own," according to HBO. If you're wondering just how that'll play out, the program's trailers might help. Building on the first teaser from a few months back, the latest trailer serves up murky mysteries, complicated heroes and villains, and a fine line between the two — plus "a vast and insidious conspiracy". To help bring the above to the small screen, Watchmen boasts quite the stacked cast, which includes Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, this year's Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner Regina King, Hong Chau, Louis Gossett Jr and Aussie actress Adelaide Clemens. The big names don't stop there, with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross providing the score. Check out the new trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-33JCGEGzwU Watchmen launches on October 21, Australian and New Zealand time — with the series airing weekly from that date on Foxtel in Australia. Image: Mark Hill/HBO
We usually associate the word 'diner' with some kind of hokey themed establishment, probably with singing wait staff, linoleum floors and greasy oversized portions. And though this brand new Windsor eatery may take its name from those other dubious incarnations of the word, Parlour Diner is thankfully nothing like them. This surely stems from the guiding hand of its owner, former Milky Joe's proprietor Adrian Van Lieshout. Choosing the tiny space next to Windsor station as his new outpost, Van Lieshout and business partner Dorian Padgham wanted to create a 'comfortable little space', and those words are crucial to the experience of Parlour Diner. Though the place is almost full to the brim once its few tables are occupied, there's a sense of camaraderie between the patrons, mostly a local crowd. Whilst cafes on Chapel Street have a tendency to be overpriced and overcrowded, Parlour Diner's tiny size keeps it grounded with a sense of community rather than commodity. The menu takes its cues from a 1920s rather than 1950s diner sensibility, which makes for heartier, healthier dining options, even on a meat-drenched menu. Carnivores will find their mecca here with options like buttermilk fried chicken chops (4 for $15) or BBQ ribs drenched in a smoky hickory sauce (six for $22.5). And then there's the burgers. There's a colourful list to choose from, ranging from classic to culturally inspired choices. You could play it safe and choose the simple but excellent Parlour Burger; a rich 8oz beef patty with the usual additions like fresh tomato, lettuce and pickles ($12) or take the road less travelled with options such as the Miss Saigon – which pairs a crunchy handmade fish patty with lemongrass and ginger to pack a spicy punch ($15) – or the Asian Pork Slider, a new take on the former incarnation at Milky Joe's ($12). There's even a tofu Earth Burger ($13) for the vegetarians out there, who could also go for the perfectly indulgent Mascarpone macaroni and cheese ($9). The generous breakfast options (as many eggs as you like, for $9.50) or the flat top hot dogs that feature adventurous toppings like chipotle and celery salt ($10) are worth a visit too. And then there's the onion rings ($5), lightly battered in Pale Ale and thick enough to satisfy as a snacking option. By elegantly tying together the popularity of American style dining with a Melbourne café mentality, Van Lieshout and Padgham have managed to combine the best of both worlds, creating an atmosphere that takes the humble diner restaurant well into the contemporary dining experience.
Earlier this week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) continued its court battle versus Apple; the controversy has been waging since the March release of Apple's latest iPad. Despite product advertising that markets the new iPad as equipped with "Wi-Fi + 4G", it has proven incompatible with Australia's 4G network. As such, the ACCC has asserted that Apple is currently engaging in false marketing and should change the title of the iPad (formally known as the iPad/4G) when it is sold locally. According to the SMH, Apple and the ACCC met on April 16 in Sydney at a mediation session which resulted in "no resolution". The pair were set to meet later that day in Melbourne for a directions hearing to determine the course of action going forward. As of right now, Apple has agreed to refund Australian customers who bought the new iPad under the illusion that they could utilise its 4G network. The company has also posted signage is stores where the device is sold to warn customers of its lack of 4G. The ACCC, however, is still pushing for an official device name change. This case could prove monumental to Apple, the technology company giant which has established a remarkably reputable name for itself. Not only will a court case loss force Apple to admit the shortcomings of one of its most-prized products, but it may set a precedent for how Apple markets is products in different parts of the globe. Already, in the UK, the advertising standards group ASA has begun exploring similar consumer complaints regarding the iPad's 4G capabilities. https://youtube.com/watch?v=BqbRxoF-Oc4
As far as cocktails go, mimosas rank among the easiest to whip up, even if you'll never give Australia's best bartenders a run for their money. But maybe you just never get the quantities of sparkling and orange juice right. Perhaps you always find either champers or OJ in your fridge, but not both. Or, you could love sipping mimosas at brunch picnics and aren't so fond of lugging around multiple different bottles. Whichever fits, new Australian brand mYmosa has a solution. It serves up mimosas in a can, all ready for you to enjoy without doing any mixing yourself. Pick up one of the label's tinnies and you'll be drinking Australian dry white wine paired with natural orange flavours, then carbonated — and you won't be doing any pouring yourself. If it sounds like the kind of tipple you now wished you'd thought of, you won't be surprised to hear that it came about after mYmosa founders Amanda Goddard and Bec Pini went on a work trip to New York City in 2017, found themselves sipping sparkling rosé out of cans — and mimosas at breakfast — and had a brainwave. The two Brisbane marketing and communications professionals then spent five years pursuing their mimosa-in-a-can idea, aided by a lull in work that came with the COVID-19 pandemic. Clearly, we now know how the duo spent lockdown. "Bec and I have always been known as the first to start a party and last to leave a party, so it just feels like a natural progression to create a beverage that can be enjoyed at any time of the day, anywhere and at any occasion," explains Goddard. "We are a classic start-up story, where the kitchen bench, a soda stream, ample variations of wine and orange became our laboratory," adds Pini. "Fast forward, and we have worked with a formulation team, a winery and a manufacturer to create our 'little darling'." mYmosa's 250-millilitre cans are vegan and gluten-free, and currently available via online bottle shop SIP'ER, retailing for $10 a tin or $34 for a four-pack. Or, you can nab cases of 16 via the mYmosa website for $128.40. While the brand has launched with one variety, Goddard and Pini are working through new formulations — so your canned drinks list might soon be growing. There's something to say cheers to, over an Aussie tinned mimosa of course. Find mYmosa cans on sale now via online bottle shop SIP'ER, retailing for $10 a tin or $34 for a four-pack.
After reintroducing stay-at-home orders for ten Melbourne postcodes last week and another two on the weekend — as well as hard lockdowns for nine public housing towers — the Victorian Government has today, Tuesday, July 7, announced that lockdowns will come into place (again) for the whole of metropolitan Melbourne, as well as Mitchell Shire, from tomorrow. The decision comes as Victoria records its highest ever new case totals for two consecutive days: 127 yesterday and 191 today. Coming into place at 11.59pm tomorrow, Wednesday, July 8 for six weeks, the new rules are very familiar. They're very similar to what were in place at stage three of the state's COVID-19 restrictions in late March. So, if you're in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire, you'll only be able to leave your home for one of four reasons: for work or school (if you can't do this from home), for care or care giving, for daily exercise or for food and other essentials. Making the announcement today, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the one difference to the last lockdown relates to daily exercise. There weren't strict limits on how far you could travel for exercise last time, but this time, you cannot leave metropolitan Melbourne. "You can't leave metropolitan Melbourne to get your daily exercise," Andrews said. "You can't be going on a four-hour bushwalk hundreds of kilometres away from Melbourne. You can't be going fishing outside the metropolitan area, down into regional Victoria." Andrews says the reason for this is that regional Victoria has "very, very few cases" and they hope to keep it this way. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1280372803363991552?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet Like last time, businesses in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shires will need to revert back to stage three rules, too. Which means, restaurants and cafes must offer takeaway only, and gyms, galleries, beauty parlours, swimming pools, libraries and theatres will all need to close. As Andrews acknowledges, this has the potential to further cripple many industries — including hospitality, music and the arts — that were hit hard by the first lockdown. "No one wanted to be in this position," Andrews said. "I know there will be enormous amounts of damage that will be done because of this. It will be very challenging. The alternative is to pretend it's over... But we can't pretend it's over. It is not over in so many parts of the world and it is not over in metropolitan Melbourne and to a certain extent right across Victoria." Melburnians and those in Mitchell Shire are now only allowed to leave their homes for one of the four aforementioned reasons and risk an on-the-spot fine in Victoria for going out for anything else. This means, non-essential travel outside of your homes, let alone across the border, is off the cards, but many states and territories, including Queensland, NSW and the ACT, have also recently introduced travel bans for Victorians. If you head into NSW, for example, you risk an $11,000 fine and six months in jail. Stay-at-home orders for all of metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will come into place at 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 8 for at least six weeks. For more information, head to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
A new year has begun, and for us that means one thing — it's time to book new travel destinations for 2020. This time around, instead of searching for things like 'best beaches' or 'best cities', plan your travel from a different angle. An arts and culture angle, that is. Planning your calendar around the world's many festivals is a fun way to change up your regular trip routine. Think a biennale in India, a mountain burning festival in Japan and one celebrating 24-hours-of daylight in Russia. Here are seven lesser known arts/culture festivals to travel overseas for this year. [caption id="attachment_757197" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jirka Matousek via Flickr.[/caption] PINGXI LANTERN FESTIVAL, PINGXI DISTRICT, TAIWAN Taking place just outside of Taipei, the Pingxi Lantern Festival marks the end of Chinese New Year with one stunning illuminated display. Visitors write a message and place it inside a paper sky lanterns, then set it aflame and release it into the night — alongside thousands of others. It's an impressive sight that holds an air of magic around it. While the lanterns float overhead, the streets are filled with folk performances, street carnivals and contests. The annual festival has been taking over Taiwan for over 2000 years, having begun during the Xing Dynasty. We can't think of a better way to ring in the (lunar) new year. When? February 1–8, 2020 KOCHI-MUZIRIS BIENNALE, FORT KOCHI, INDIA Every two years, the charming seaside town of Fort Kochi becomes a mecca for all things art in India. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale showcases contemporary Indian and international art in heritage properties around the city — this year includes a townhouse, project space, art cafe and converted warehouse. Each biennale is curated by an artist who is chosen by a committee of artists, scholars and collectors. Now in its fifth edition, the 2020 curator for the festival is artist and writer Shubigi Rao. She was born in India but is based in Singapore, and is known for her layered installations across mediums like books, etchings, drawings and puzzles. The festival runs for over three months each year, so you have a good window in which to book your trip, too. When? December 2020 – March 2021 [caption id="attachment_757203" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nwhitely via Flickr.[/caption] WAKAKUSA YAMAYAKI, NARA, JAPAN For one seriously fiery sight, make sure you're in Nara, Japan on the forth January of the year. An ancient version of Burning Man festival, the Wakakusa Yamayaki festival sees the dead grass on Mount Wakakusayama set on fire — and that's followed by one big ol' fireworks display. No one quite knows the origin of the festival, leaving it shrouded in mystery. Some accounts claim the mountainside burning began due to boundary conflicts between the Kohfukuji and Todaiji Temples. Others claim the fires are meant to scare away wild boars, and even ghosts. Regardless of the origin, it's an impressive sight. The blazing mountain can be seen from any point in the city — with Nara Park being the best lookout. When? January 25, 2020 [caption id="attachment_757204" align="alignnone" width="1920"] This Is Edinburgh via Flickr[/caption] HOGMANAY, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh really knows how to ring in the new year. While parties happen all over the world on New Year's Eve, no one does it quite like the Scots — their celebration runs for two full days and features street parties, carnival rides, Christmas markets and a full on music festival to boot. The multi-stage festival takes place on December 31 straight into the new year, with at least five bands playing simultaneously. Alongside the festival is a torchlight procession on December 30. Also on the docket is an ice rink, ferris wheel, polar bear plunge in icy waters (dubbed he Loony Dook race) and even an arts festival that takes over nine unusual venues across the city. When? December 30, 2020 – January 1, 2021 ART FAIR PHILIPPINES, MANILA PHILIPPINES The Philippines' vibrant art scene is on full display each February when Art Fair Philippines transforms The Link carpark into a cultural marketplace. The weekend-long festival was only just founded in 2013, and has since become the top art event in the country. A wide range of contemporary art is available to view and purchase, ranging from paintings and sculptures to photographs and more experimental installations. All of the artists are on hand alongside their work, so you can chat to the makers of your favourite pieces. If you're travelling with a friend or partner, it's also a fun way to start out the evening — the exhibition stays open until 9pm each night and there are heaps of food and drink vendors available, so you can peruse with bubbly in hand. And entry tickets cost just a tenner. When? February 21–23, 2020 [caption id="attachment_757202" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sandra Cohen-Rose and Colin Rose via Flickr.[/caption] WHITE NIGHTS FESTIVAL, ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA While images of Russia's picturesque city of St Petersburg often depict a blanket of snow, the summer months actually see nearly 24 hours of daylight here. And the city celebrates these long days for three full months each year — specifically from mid-May through mid-July. Stars of the White Nights is a massive collection of arts and culture events spanning music, film, ballet and opera premieres (including at the Mariinsky Theatre, pictured above) and outdoor festivities. Many of the city's top museums stay open overnight during this period, too. Or simply wander along the River Neva, where gypsy bands, jugglers, fire eaters and other carnival acts can be seen performing all night long. When? May 22 – July 21, 2020 ART BASEL, MIAMI BEACH, USA Started over 40 years ago, Art Basel is considered to be the premiere art event of the year by many. It's held annually across Hong Kong, Basel, Switzerland and Miami Beach. The USA instalment takes place over three days in December and features works from over 250 leading galleries across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and even Australia. It showcases masterpieces from modern and contemporary artists, alongside exhibitions by emerging artists — and this year has partnered with KickStarter specifically to support up-and-comers. Art forms span paintings, sculptures and photographs, as well as large-scale installations films, and editions from master artists. And you have the added benefit of being next to one of the States' best beaches, too. When? December 3–6, 2020 Top image: Jirka Matousek via Flickr.
If you're the kind of beer lover who feels like they've tried every brew ever — or you've made it your mission to achieve that yeasty goal — then you're probably a big fan of the Great Australasian Beer Spectapular. For more than a decade now, since it started off as a Melbourne-only celebration of ales, lagers, ciders and more, the event has been serving up weird, wild, wonderful and inventive varieties, many of which are made exclusively for the booze-sipping shindig. In 2022, that's set to be the case once more, with the beer fest returning for a tour of Australia's east coast capitals in May. GABS is considered to be one of the best craft beer and cider festivals in the Asia Pacific region for good reason, and this year it has at least 120 of them, because that's how many brews will be on offer. Prepare to knock back beers inspired by breakfast foods, savoury snacks, desserts, cocktails and more when the event kicks off its 2022 run at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, May 7, then heads to Sydney's ICC Darling Harbour from Friday, May 20–Saturday, May 21, then finishes up its Aussie dates at the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, over the weekend of Friday, May 27–Sunday, May 29. Some of the foods and drinks that this year's GABS brews are taking their cues from: peanut butter, coffee, earl grey tea, chicken salt, pizza, fairy floss, bubblegum and sour gummi bears. Confirmed highlights include Brouhaha's Baked and Wasted, a sour which uses wasted baked goods; Capital Brewing Co's experimental Smooches, which pairs cocao nibs with a strawberry kick; Mismatch Brewing Co's We Love NY Cheesecake stout, in case you've ever wondered what cheesecake in a glass tastes like; and The Catchment Brewing Co's Ra Ra Raspoutine, another stout that, yes, is brewed from chips, cheese and gravy. The event surveys both Australian and New Zealand breweries, with more than 60 set to be pouring their wares in Brisbane, and 70-plus in Sydney and Melbourne. As well as the aforementioned outfits, this year they'll also include Balter, Range, Otherside, Black Hops, Ballistic, Your Mates, Mountain Culture, One Drop and Little Creatures, as well as Colonial, Mountain Goat and Bentspoke — and NZ's Garage Project and Panhead Custom Ale. Also on the bill: other types of tipples, including non-alcoholic beers, seltzers, whiskey, gin, cocktails and wines (including by 19 Crimes Snoop Dog Cali Red). GABS is known for dishing up a hefty lineup of activities to accompanying all that sipping, too, which'll span a silent disco, roaming bands, circus and sideshow performers, games and panels with industry leaders in 2022, as well as local food trucks and vendors to line your stomach. GREAT AUSTRALASIAN BEER SPECTAPULAR 2022 DATES: Saturday, May 7 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Friday, May 20–Saturday, May 21 — ICC Darling Harbour, Sydney Friday, May 27–Sunday, May 29 — Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne GABS takes place across Australia's east coast throughout May — head to the event's website for tickets and further details.
Smith Street is a constantly evolving entity. From grungy pub times to classy dinners at hip dining rooms to all-in brawls over gelato — it's one of those uber-gentrified areas that makes cynics roll their eyes and excitable hipsters rub their hands together in feverish anticipation. Now that evolution seems to have reached tipping point. The Underground Experiment, the latest addition to Collingwood's small suburban metropolis, opens next week as an experimental cocktail bar with a constantly changing theme. Riding the turbulent wave of global cocktail trends, the first form this bar takes is a strangely alluring mixture of '80s flamboyancy and Prohibition cool. The drinks are odd and outlandish, the tunes are strictly '80s or '90s, and the crowd is sure to be a little confused — but we feel like we need to go there immediately. In the bar's first form, the cocktail list is characterised by old classics with unexpected twists. The much-loved Sex on the Beach is accompanied by edible sand and Chambord caviar — what even? There's a Pina Colada, a Fluffy Duck, and a Blue Lagoon featuring "a swimming fish". Do they mean a live fish?! Who knows. I'm willing to give in to the magic of it and drink some dirty fish water if you are. The team behind this mayhem are Daniel and Kristin Lemura — the same people who launched The Noble Experiment Prohibition-style bar and restaurant just six weeks ago. This latest project sees them utilising the bar's downstairs space. The Underground Experiment is just that, really — a basement space with big and exciting plans. Whatever new themes and trends that are to follow, you can tell the bar's going to be a whole lot of fun. Where you might expect experimental cocktail bars to serve you whiskey in the form of a hand lotion or vodka as a flash of light, this one embraces the novelty of it all and slings you a fishbowl with a rubber ducky instead. The Underground Experiment is at 284 Smith Street, Collingwood and will open Friday and Saturday evenings from June 13.
While some people seem to want to make it harder to be a cyclist in the city (ahem, NSW Government), others want to make it easier. We could point to many European cities — for example, Amsterdam's solar powered bike path and London's cross-city cycle highway — as well these low-cost recycled cardboard bikes and this beautiful fold-up one from Lucid Design. But this time it's IKEA who are getting on board with urban cycling, creating a chainless bike for commuters. The bike, named SLADDA, is designed to be low maintenance so that anyone (i.e. the general population who don't know anything about chains and gears) can use and ride the bike without worrying about all the technical stuff. Instead of a chain it will have a corrosion-resistant, maintenance-free cogged drive belt that, according to IKEA, will be good for up to 15,000 kilometres. The whole concept of the bike, which was created by global design consultancy Veryday and has already won an award, has been "designed to fit an urban lifestyle". The bike's aluminium frame is lightweight, which makes it easier to carry up and down stairs and manoeuvre in and out of your house, as well as scratch-resistant and adjustable. It will also be integrated into a 'click system', which will allow you to buy accessories — like baskets, racks and even a small trailer — that simply 'click' onto the bike. The SLADDA is set to be available from August in Europe, with a worldwide release potentially following soon after. It will cost €699 (or about $1000 AUD). Via Core77.
As the brunch plague engulfs Melbourne further and further every week, it can be tricky choosing a cafe to dine at. Next of Kin makes the decision process easier — for southsiders, at least. Opening up on the quieter end of Glen Huntly Road earlier this year, the Elsternwick cafe is suave yet unpretentious, and it manages to nail the tricky combo while securing some much sought-after individuality too. Envision a culinary cafe built for food and design obsessives: you'll be hugged by lofty seats, overlooked by large copper bowl light fixtures, and a wall of bushy plants make you feel like you're dining in an urban rainforest. While the menu is small, it oozes with modern, healthy variety. Sceptics of fish for breakfast, snap out of it. The cured ocean trout with sweet potato croquettes, pickled beetroot and fennel salad ($19) is one of the cafe's specialties. For something nimbler, the sheep's milk yogurt panna cotta ($11) with summer fruits is one to consider. The lunch favourite is spiced lamb shoulder tacos with manchego, chipotle mayo and lime ($18.50). And it's happy news for coeliacs and gluten-challenged folk too, as half of the menu options are gluten-free. Of course, these creations haven't just appeared out of thin air. Next of Kin is owned by Nick Cocker of South Yarra's Cafe Gaia and headed by ex Press Club sous chef, Lance Mueller. Together they've created a menu that is both tasty and kindly considerate. Don't want the deliciousness to end? There's also a window of takeaway options including bagels, Bircher muesli, and a range of pastries you can carry on home. Naturally, Next of Kin boasts specialty coffee, which comes straight from Fitzroy roasters, Proud Mary. And if coffee doesn't do it for you, a Mork Hot Chocolate, Remedy Kombucha or a cup of Prana Chai will. Otherwise, a spirulina, avocado, kale, Medjool date, brazil nut and — breath — organic orange juice smoothie may entice the nutritiously conscious. Seriously, there couldn't be any more superfoods packed into that thing. Keeping to itself like the shy kid in class, Next of Kin is easy to miss from the outside. But don't underestimate it — because on the inside it's a talented freak, and it will blow you away if you just give it the chance.
Striking feats of cinema by Yorgos Lanthimos aren't scarce. Sublime performances by Emma Stone are hardly infrequent. Screen takes on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein have been a constant since the birth of moving pictures. For Lanthimos, see: Dogtooth and Alps in the Greek Weird Wave filmmaker's native language, plus The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer and The Favourite in English. With Stone, examples come in her Best Actress Oscar for La La Land, supporting nominations before and after for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and Lanthimos' aforementioned regal satire (which made him a Best Director contender, too), and twin 2024 Golden Globe nods for their latest collaboration Poor Things as well as TV's The Curse. And as for the greatest gothic story there is, not to mention one of the most-influential horror and sci-fi works ever, the evidence spans traditional adaptations, plus debts owed as widely as The Rocky Horror Show and M3GAN (Blade Runner, The Fly, Re-Animator, Weird Science, Edward Scissorhands, Ex Machina, Upgrade, Little Joe and The Creator are also on the lengthy list). Combining Lanthimos, Stone and Shelley results in a rarity, however: a jewel of a pastel-, jewel- and bodily fluid-toned feminist Frankenstein-esque fairy tale that's a stunning and dazzling creation. As zapped to life with Lanthimos' inimitable flair, a mischievous air and Stone at her most extraordinary, Poor Things isn't just unique despite building on three shining successes — it's a treasure that's as audacious as it is subversive, and as breathtakingly willing to get wild as it is downright brilliant. Emotions, ideas, empowerment, twisting Shelley and Promethean myth into a pointed skewering of the societal expectations placed upon women, a committed ensemble, entrancing touches in every frame, a score that's equally jarring and jaunty, a dreamily macabre vibe, furious fearlessness: this film is alive with them all. That a tale about reviving the dead to grapple with mortality and the yearning to thwart it keeps inspiring new riffs has always been fitting, with each new storyteller undergoing that same process in their way, but this version is a lightning bolt. With cascading black hair, an inquisitive stare, incessant frankness and jolting physical mannerisms, Poor Things' star becomes Bella Baxter in this suitably weird and wondrous adaptation of Alasdair Grey's award-winning 1992 novel, as penned by Australian screenwriter Tony McNamara (The Great, and another Academy Award-nominee for The Favourite). Among the reasons that the movie and its lead portrayal are so singular: as a character with a woman's body that's been resurrected with a baby's brain, Stone plays someone from infancy to adulthood, all with the astonishingly exact mindset and mannerisms to match. Putting her comedic skills to excellent use but ensuring that Bella is never a joke, she does so while making each move, choice and feeling as organic as birth, living and death. The entire scope of Poor Things' protagonist is the kind of wish that actors mightn't realise they have because it's so remarkable. With Bella all impulses and curiosity at first, then buzzing with sexual desire and devotedly pursuing autonomy — and with a frenetic-but-stiff doll-like gait that's a marvel to watch, plus say-anything speech patterns — Stone turns the opportunity into an exquisite masterclass. The time and place when Poor Things kicks off: a fantastical steampunk vision of Victorian-era Europe. Although the film begins in colour as a woman ends her own life, Lanthimos and cinematographer Robbie Ryan (also back from The Favourite, and also with an Oscar nod to his name thanks to that flick) swiftly switch to black and white to meet what becomes of the suicidal person's body. It's due to the London-based, scar-faced Scottish doctor Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe, Asteroid City) that Bella exists; even if she didn't call him God, he's been playing it, including with household pets and other animals. His new human creature toddles around, aiding with his unorthodox surgeries and indulging whatever takes her fancy — smashing plates, smacking visitors, and enjoying new discoveries and sensations with literal childlike glee. But regardless of her father figure's intentions or wants, freedom, horniness, the quest for independence and agency, wanting to know more than the protective world he's left her in and a lust for adventure all beckon. Accordingly, while Godwin tries to marry Bella off to kind and sincere medical student Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef, Ramy), she hatches other plans. With Poor Things joining Call Me By Your Name in its carnal use of fruit, Bella discovers "working on myself to get happiness" and "furious jumping" — that'd be masturbation and fornication, with her debut experience with the latter returning the movie's hues as well — and runs off to the continent with caddish lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) instead. Lisbon, a cruise that stops in Alexandria and Paris await. So does a survey of all that living can hold for women, both for the feature's reawakened force and viewers. Lanthimos' fascination for tearing into humanity's social constructions and pretences to expose its realities gets electrified again, as does his concurrent obsession with battling such structures and systems by forming insular worlds, and the need to escape that then springs. Portugal brings hot air balloons, a bewitching all-timer of a dance scene, just some of the flick's acrobatic thrusting, an attempt to enforce civic niceties and Bella steadfastly refusing to be anything but herself. The boat ride introduces books, friendship and the first real female advice that she's received via Martha (Hanna Schygulla, who came to fame half a century back for her work with Rainer Werner Fassbinder). It also sees cynicism and the world's suffering enter her understanding courtesy of Martha's companion Harry (Jerrod Carmichael, On the Count of Three). In France, a lack of cash finds her in the employ of madam Swiney (Kathryn Hunter, Andor) and leaning into socialism with fellow sex worker Toinette (Suzy Bemba, Everything Is Well). And when the past makes a comeback, it's with bullying and misogynistic power dynamics (and with Sanctuary's Christopher Abbott in a key role). As in The Favourite, the hefty use of fish-eye lenses has it: this lavish, libidinous and happily lewd deadpan delight isn't interested in the same old view of liberation, sex, life's transience and conflicts, defying the accepted order and patriarchal control that everyone has seen before, let alone a regular coming-of-age jaunt or a by-the-book Frankenstein iteration. While it splices together nods to gothic horror nakedly, it isn't routine or a patchwork there, either. As Bella goes on a radical, rebellious, gorgeously rendered, gloriously funny and generously insightful odyssey, Poor Things doesn't sport a standard perspective on anything, in fact. As seen in the efforts of a tour-de-force Stone, her co-stars, Ryan, composer Jerskin Fendrix (a film first-timer), editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis (Lanthimos' go-to since 2005's Kinetta), production designers Shona Heath (another feature debutant) and James Price (The Nest), and costumer Holly Waddington (also The Great), it eschews sticking with the typical everywhere. Richness abounds, then. The only thing that's paltry: even clocking in at 141 madcap and magnificent minutes, that Poor Things doesn't run forever.
In her book The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron describes meeting people who are concerned about being too old to start learning an artistic pursuit. Her answer to the question, ‘But do you know how old I will be by the time I learn to really write or play an instrument or act?’ is ‘The same age you’ll be if you don’t learn to play at all.’ Hal Lasko is one artist who sees age as no barrier. Having just turned 98, and diagnosed as legally blind, he spends ten hours a day painting with Windows 95’s Microsoft Paint program. This year has seen his debut exhibition, and according to Colossal, his work has been described as a 'collision of pointillism and 8-bit art'. An array of pieces is available for sale online. Affectionately nicknamed Grandpa, Lasko was born in Taledo, Ohio, on July 28, 1915. After commencing work as a graphic designer, he was called to draft directional and weather maps for bombing raids during the Second World War. Once the bombing stopped, he returned to design, working for the likes of General Tire, The Cleveland Browns, Goodyear and American Greetings. Evenings would be spent painting. However, it wasn’t until retirement that Lasko could find enough time to focus entirely on art. And he was in his late 80s before he learnt how to use Microsoft Paint. Vision loss came in 2005, with the onset of wet macular degeneration. In the video below, documentary maker Josh Bogdan takes a journey through Lasko’s creative world. [via Mashable]
No matter where you are in Australia, you probably spent the majority of 2020 in your own state — and in your own bedroom — thanks to interstate border restrictions. Limits on domestic travel have still been popping up in 2021 so far; however, if you're still keen to see more than your own backyard this year, Virgin Australia is selling 1.9 million fares to destinations around the country. And, those cheap flights are starting at $75 for a one-way ticket. Hang on, Virgin? Yes. The same airline that, less than 12 months ago, entered voluntary administration. It has since been sold to US private investment firm Bain Capital, launched a comeback sale in early July and its voluntary administration officially ended on Tuesday, November 17. Virgin's current Let the Good Times Fly flight sale runs until midnight AEST on Monday, February 8 — or until sold out. In the sale, you'll find cheap flights on a heap of routes to destinations across the country, with travel dates spanning from March to September 2021. If you've been waiting to book your first getaway for the year, now might be the time. Discounted flights span both economy and business, and include seat selection and checked baggage. Some of the routes on offer include Sydney to Ballina from $75, Brisbane to Proserpine from $84, Melbourne to Hobart from $99, Brisbane to Darwin from $165, and Melbourne to Hamilton Island from $179. The discounted flight sale is timed to coincide with Queensland reopening its border to New South Wales, which came into effect on Monday, February 1. Virgin is also increasing the frequency of trips between the two states, including between Sydney and the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Hamilton Island and Brisbane. As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying is little different to normal. Virgin has introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and face masks provided to all passengers. Wearing masks on flights became mandatory in Australia in January. Virgin is also waiving change fees and allowing unlimited booking changes between now and June 30, 2021 — extending a scheme that was initially due to end at the end of January. Virgin's Let the Good Times Fly flight sale runs until midnight AEST on Monday, February 8 — or until sold out. Find out more about current interstate border restrictions over here.
2022 marks 90 years since the ABC first started broadcasting in Australia, beginning as a public radio service all that time ago. Over the decades, it has also made the leap of television, and been a source of news, entertainment, after-school kids shows, oh-so-much Doctor Who and late-night music videos to keep you occupied after a few drinks. And, it's home to Spicks and Specks, the Aussie music quiz show that no one can get enough of. So, it's fitting that as part of the network's celebrations for its big birthday, it has confirmed that Spicks and Specks will return again this year for a new ten-episode season. What's better than watching a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about music? Watching them do all of the above while answering questions, competing for points and just generally being funny, too. Yes, that's the concept behind Spicks and Specks. It takes a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, pits Aussie musos and comedians against each other, and has proven a hit several times over. It was a weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011 — and, as it keeps being resurrected. As fans will already know, Spicks and Specks has been enjoying more comebacks than John Farnham of late, although that has meant different things over the years. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it did so with a new host and team captains, for instance. And when it started to make a return with its original lineup of Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough, it first did so via a one-off reunion special. That 2018 comeback proved more than a little popular. It became the ABC's most-watched show of that year, in fact. So, the broadcaster then decided to drop four new Spicks and Specks specials across 2019–20 and, for 2021, to bring back Spicks and Specks in its regular format. In 2022, ten more new episodes await. It's expected that Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough will settle back into their old chairs — new eps, same stars has been a big focus in recent years, of course — but plenty about 2022's run has yet to be confirmed. That includes exactly when it'll start airing, and who'll be hitting buzzers among the program's guests. Still, you can add playing along with the show from your couch — again — to your plans before 2022 is out. Spicks and Specks will return to ABC TV for ten episodes sometime in 2022. You'll also be able to stream the series via ABC iView. We'll update you when an exact release date is announced.
Australia's cities are filled with must-try places for a bite, whether you're seeking out Sydney's very-best restaurants, Melbourne's top eateries or Brisbane's latest openings, but there's still nothing like a home-cooked meal. Alison Roman understands this. The Brooklyn-based food writer and chef may live in New York and have access to its thriving dining scene, but she's a big fan of eating in — and she has viral recipes such as #TheCookies, #ThePasta, #TheStew and #TheDip to prove it. Roman also has two cookbooks currently in bookshops, and possibly on your own shelves: Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes and Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over. Come April in Australia, Sweet Enough: Desserts for People Who Don't Do Dessert will join them. To launch the latter, and to make her first trip ever Down Under, Roman is hitting our shores on a three-city tour to get chatting about home cooking, those internet-famous dishes and why she adores her own kitchen. [caption id="attachment_894215" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chris Bernabeo[/caption] The viral recipe queen and New York Times-bestselling scribe leads this year's Melbourne Writers Festival lineup, which is her first Aussie stop. She'll discuss her career and her journey to the dessert-focused Sweet Enough with Benjamin Law on Friday, May 5 at Melbourne Town Hall — plus her love of culinary imperfection. Next destination: a stint at Brisbane Powerhouse on Sunday, May 7, where she'll be in-conversation with Belinda Sweeney, touching upon everything from having her own CNN cooking show to releasing her first baking book. And, last but by no means least, Sydney Opera House will add Roman to its impressive list of 2023 guests — see also: Michael Sheen during Amadeus, Bikini Kill on their first trip to Australia in more than a quarter-century and the whole All About Women lineup — on Tuesday, May 9. In the Harbour City, she'll be talking with Melissa Leong, and expect her food newsletter A Newsletter and YouTube series Home Movies to also get a mention. "I was scheduled to come to Australia in March of 2020 but the world had other plans, so I am beyond thrilled to finally make it over," said Roman, announcing the tour. "A first-time trip to Sydney was already going to be special, but speaking at such a legendary venue as the Opera House is more than I could have dreamed of. I really, truly can't wait." ALISON ROMAN AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2023: Friday, May 5 — Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne, as part of Melbourne Writers Festival Sunday, May 7 — Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane Tuesday, May 9 — Sydney Opera House, Sydney Alison Roman tours Australia in May 2023. For more information — and for tickets — head to the Sydney Opera House (for pre-sales from 8am AEDT on Thursday, March 23 and general sales from 9am AEDT the same date), Melbourne Writers Festival and Ticketek (from 9am AEST on Thursday, March 23) websites. Top image: Alison Roman by Chris Bernabeo.
Maleficent has a perception problem. Traditionally blamed for Sleeping Beauty's snoozing state, the evil fairy gained an on-screen backstory in 2014, which softened out her edges (but not her razor-sharp cheekbones, naturally). That leaves inevitable sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil in a tricky predicament. The movie's title dials up the character's supposedly unsociable ways; however, if Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) is now happily playing godmother to Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning), how nefarious can she really be? And if she's facing off against a seemingly kindly queen (Michelle Pfeiffer) who actually wants to start a genocidal war against all magical folk, well, she's hardly the most wicked creature in this film. You could say that Disney just chose the wrong name for this follow-up, but the movie's moniker is symptomatic of its generally muddled state of affairs. It's easy to see why this sequel exists — the first film made a quarter-billion dollars at the box office, and Jolie's casting as Maleficent is a dark fairytale dream — yet that doesn't explain why such little thought appears to have gone into it otherwise. Perhaps the powers-that-be assumed that audiences just want Maleficent to be somewhat evil, so they'll overlook the fact that the last flick (and the beginning of this one) establishes otherwise. Or, perhaps it was a case of trying to use the same formula by giving it the slightest of twists. Where Maleficent proved that its eponymous antiheroine wasn't really bad because she has a soft spot for Aurora, Mistress of Evil does the same by saying "hey, someone else is worse!" That someone, Pfeiffer's Queen Ingrith, comes into Maleficent's life when Aurora accepts Prince Phillip's (Harris Dickinson) marriage proposal. While Maleficent is wary at first, she's heatedly flapping her wings with disapproval after an awkward meet-the-in-laws dinner, where she's accused of working her wicked magic on King John (Robert Lindsay). Although Aurora is left distraught and confused, original screenwriter Linda Woolverton and newcomers Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue (TV's Transparent) ensure that viewers don't feel the same, spelling out exactly who's responsible for the sinister turn of events. After a run-in with a colony of fellow dark fairies (led by a wasted Chiwetel Ejiofor), the scene is set for Maleficent to do her worst against Ingrith — for the absolute best possible reasons. With its feuding royals, controversial nuptials and ill-motivated blonde queen, Mistress of Evil takes a leaf or several out of Game of Thrones' book — all while tasking its antagonist with trying to wipe out an entire race. Throwing homicidal xenophobia into the mix is designed to reflect today's times, rebuke toxic political structures and promote a message of harmony, but it's both bluntly and clumsily handled. This is a family-friendly flick, after all, so Disney doesn't seem to want to delve too deeply into such tricky terrain. It's still happy to use holocaust parallels to up the dramatic stakes, though. Under the direction of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' co-helmer Joachim Rønning, the movie's visuals also prove dull and lumbering, unless you like overblown CGI onslaughts. Of course, Mistress of Evil isn't the first big fantasy blockbuster that's forgone subtlety and ramped up its battle scenes, but it never escapes attention that the film didn't need to turn out this way. Jolie is once again a commanding delight as Maleficent, a role she relishes even if it barely stretches her Oscar-winning acting skills. Pfeiffer is equally as mesmerising as her increasingly deranged adversary — and, as she did the first time around, Fanning wears innocence well. After fleshing out its titular figure's tragic past in the initial movie, this sequel could've just let its three main talents go head-to-head. Indeed, Mistress of Evil is at its strongest when Jolie and Pfeiffer are trading withering barbs and glares, or when Jolie and Fanning are exploring their characters' complex mother-daughter dynamic. Cast-wise, it helps that they're in fine company, with Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton and Juno Temple returning as pithy pixies devoted to Aurora, and Sam Riley popping up again as Maleficent's shape-shifting offsider; however the film's three main ladies steal the show when they're just talking to each other. But, then the screensaver-like special effects start screaming for attention. The movie's swooping cinematography keeps repetitively flying over forests and castles, too. And, especially from its mid-point, Rønning repeatedly hits audiences over the head with the film's clunky themes. Instead of enchanting, it all just makes for average-at-best fairytale drama. Mistress of Evil is hardly cursed, but it won't send anyone leaping from their slumber. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU9zRfcTI-k
For all the logicality of urban planners and architects, we often end up with some pretty weird conglomerations of concrete and steel around town. Once in a while, we all end up staring at a nonsensical urban nook while waiting at the traffic lights and thinking, 'why?'. Austrian choreographer Willi Dorner and his company take that reverie one step further with Bodies in Urban Spaces. They see an odd little city space and think: human Tetris. So how does it work? Dorner enlists a group of movement artists (whose skills are not solely focused on dance — he also hires climbers, martial artists and circus performers) and choreographs a performance that sees these 20 human bodies, clad in bright colour-blocked clothes, gracefully shove themselves into any sort of architectural gap they can find, hold their positions for several minutes and then effortlessly wriggle out of the tight spot and move on to the next. What it means for the passer-by is that your eyes fall on brightly colour-blocked human staying perfectly, magically still in an otherwise dead space. "Bodies in Urban Spaces is an invitation to let go, to take the time for a new look at the city, an opportunity to think so that we can form opinions about what makes a city a liveable space, and eventually make changes to achieve that goal," says Dorner. Bodies in Urban Spaces premiered in 2007 and has been co-produced by festivals and venues across Europe and the US ever since. It will be appearing in Sydney for Art & About on Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October 12, from 12.30-2pm. Check out more of their cheeky and surreal appearances around the world in the images below.
For Australian music fans, Triple J's Hottest 100 is the most important event of the calendar year — followed closely by the date Splendour in the Grass tickets go on sale. With so much at stake music-wise, nominating yourself as host for the Hottest 100 party — and deciding what to serve — can be a daunting task. So, we've teamed up with BWS to ensure you snag a sausage that pairs perfectly with your Hottest 100 picks — a banger for your banger, if you will. Plus, if you share a snap of your snags to Instagram (post or story) and tag BWS, the company will donate $1 for every sausage in the picture to GIVIT. How good. So, before you head to the shops to get the supplies, hit this list to make sure you select savoury cylinders that are as tasty as your favourite tunes. 'GET MY OUT' BY KING STINGRAY Fans of this track by King Stingray are likely to have found themselves in one of two circumstances in 2021: a seemingly unending lockdown in one of our major cities or in a garbage job that they were ready to give the middle finger to. In our opinion, lovers of a song called 'Get Me Out' deserve a snag that'll set them free. If that's you, we can't go past the free-range frankfurters from Paddock to Plate. 'HERTZ' BY AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS The high-octane energy of Amyl and the Sniffers requires a snag that'll live up to the band's turbo reputation and gets the job done without too much fuss. And, since we're matching it with a title that measures frequency, we believe quantity is important, too. Our pick for Sniffers fans is a value pack of snags that are a staple at all good sharehouse barbecues and Bunnings sausage sizzles — the 1.8 kilomgram value pack of thin snags from Woolies. These bangers have been proven to satisfy the masses and feel almost as good as fanging down a highway in a Hertz hire car. 'MAREA (WE'VE LOST DANCING)' BY FRED AGAIN.. AND THE BLESSED MADONNA If you voted for 'Marea (We've Lost Dancing)', there's a good chance you're the person at a party who dominates the dancefloor. Considering you'll be spending most of the day hurling your flesh prison all over the backyard, we recommend taking your snags in small doses to avoid tasting them twice. A 16-pack of chicken chipolatas are an ideal bite-size snag that you could probably woof down in one go if you really tried. Plus, given there are so many in the pack, you'll have plenty of fuel to sustain your dancing all the way to number one. 'LIE TO ME AGAIN' BY THE BUOYS If you're someone who wants to be lied to, a pack of the plant-based snags with the adjective 'beefy' in the title seem like the kind of misleading sausage that you'd be into. Unreal Co's six-pack of vegetarian beefy brats are perfect for people who want to feel hoodwinked by a sausage. Go on, gaslight yourself with this irresistible snag. It'll be just like when the person this song reminds you of did it, right? 'KIM' BY TKAY MAIDZA (FEATURING BABY TATE) A track that brings as much heat as 'Kim' by Tkay Maidza and Baby Tate calls for a snag that is as hot and spicy as the song itself. Our solution? The smoked chilli snags from Suzy Spoon's Vegetarian Butcher. These vegan sausages are both super delicious and pack a punch, much like the song in question. Big fan of chilli dogs? These are a quality meat-free alternative with a chorizo-like flavour for an added kick. 'GOLD CHAINS' BY GENESIS OWUSU Fans of Genesis Owusu aren't your run-of-the-mill music lovers. They boast a superior sonic palate and we suspect that this elite taste exists when it comes to the humble snag, too. Lovers of an award-winning artist will want an award-winning snag. And, if Kel Knight has taught us anything, winning sausage competitions is serious business. Our go-to is The Gourmet Sausage Company's award-winning artisanal pork and fennel bangers. 'STAY' BY THE KID LAROI AND JUSTIN BIEBER Voted for a collaboration this huge in the Hottest 100? You'll be needing a snag that has a minimum of three main ingredients in it for the countdown. There are plenty of combination sausages to choose from however we're of the firm belief that it's the chicken, feta and spinach variety that pairs perfectly with this sad banger. It's salty, smooth and surprisingly good — much like the Bieber x Laroi collaboration itself. 'DRIVERS LICENCE' BY OLIVIA RODRIGO So you spent 2021 rinsing Olivia Rodrigo's debut album Sour? Us too. And while we simply adored immersing in the rich teenage angst of the record, a track from an album with a title this tangy needs a sweeter snag to balance things out. We recommend a pack of honey-flavoured beef sausages. And if that's a touch too sugary for you, load them up with onions to ensure you get that all-important cathartic cry while slicing them up and belting out this tune. Want to support a good cause while you enjoy your bangers? Upload a snap of your snags to Instagram (post or story), tag @bws_au and use the hashtag #snagadonation to ensure a $1 for every sausage in the shot is donated to GIVIT. Just make sure your Instagram profile is set to public for your entry to be counted. For more information, visit the website. Images: Elliott Kramer.
This humble family-run bakery has quietly become a powerful player on the Melbourne bakery scene, with five shopfronts now pumping out some of the best bread and pastries in town. Little Sister lives by a simple philosophy: time-honoured recipes, executed with contemporary precision, to create beautiful bread for sharing. Little Sister focuses on classic French baking traditions and locally sourced natural ingredients — combined with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours — to create their signature loaves, rolls, focaccias and sweet and savoury goodies. You can taste the care and time that has been put into each and every product at Little Sister. Whether it's 72-hour fermented sourdough or focaccia baked fresh every day, the proof really is in the pudding (or the bread) at Little Sister, with the consistent and excellent quality of the product proving no corners are cut in this kitchen. While everything at Little Sister tastes as good as it looks, signature items include the seeded focaccia, with an irresistible salty and crunchy exterior, and the Sofia loaf, which is a dark, dense and nutty bread made with wholemeal flour, mixed grains, seeds, fibre and a hint of honey. The bakery is renowned for its loaded savoury pastries and breads. Focaccias are topped with an array of moreish combinations such as cheese, mushroom and onion, zucchini and feta, and tomato and pesto. You can also find shakshuka or sabich (a traditional fried eggplant sandwich) stuffed inside doughy pockets, as well as cheese and za'atar twists, or thick and crusty slices of pizza. On the sweet front, Little Sister excels in everything from croissants to scrolls to cookies. The cinnamon scrolls often sell out before midday, the Portuguese egg tarts are some of the best in town, and the chocolate challah is a favourite weekly special. The bottom line is that while it may be hard to decide, you simply can't go wrong with any choice at Little Sister. Images: Supplied.
UPDATE, SATURDAY, MAY 23: Snowpiercer, the series, will hit Netflix Down Under from Monday, May 25. The below article has been updated to reflect this. On a futuristic earth that's been rendered a frozen wasteland, a constantly hurtling train plays host to the world's only remaining people. Humanity's attempts to combat climate change caused their dire predicament, leaving the speeding locomotive as their only solution — and instead of banding together, the residents of the Snowpiercer have transported society's class structure into the carriages of their new home. That's the story that drives Bong Joon-ho's 2013 film Snowpiercer, which marked the acclaimed South Korean writer/director's first English-language film, and one of the movies that brought him to broader fame before Netflix's Okja and 2019's Cannes Palme d'Or-winning and Oscar-winning Parasite. As well as boasting a smart, immersive and all-too-timely concept — and unpacking its underlying idea in a thoroughly thrilling and involving manner — the flick was a star-studded affair. Among the jam-packed cast: Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt, Ed Harris and Bong's frequent collaborator Song Kang-ho. Given how great its premise is, it's hardly surprising that Snowpiercer has now been turned into a US TV series. First announced back in 2016, it'll finally speed across screens in May 2020 — including Down Under, where it'll drop new episodes weekly from Monday, May 25. While Snowpiercer, the series, doesn't feature any of the film's high-profile lineup, it does include a few big names of its own, such as Oscar-winner Jennifer Connelly and Tony-winner Daveed Diggs. Alongside Frances Ha's Mickey Sumner, Slender Man's Annalise Basso and The Americans' Alison Wright, they inhabit Snowpiercer's new world order. The planet outside the titular train may be a dystopia with a temperature of -119 degrees celsius, but everyone from the wealthy to the poor have been put in their place inside. Of course, that's until matters such as class warfare, social injustice and the politics of trying to survive start to fester almost seven years into the circling vehicle looping journey. Parasite is being turned into an American TV series, too, by HBO; however, that's a little further off — especially with film and TV production currently out of action during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the interim, revisiting the world of one of Bong's other excellent films will help fill the gap. And, if you need to watch or rewatch the original flick itself, Snowpiercer, the movie, is currently streaming on both Netflix and Stan. Watch the Snowpiercer series trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lFMpmwn_hQ Snowpiercer, the series, will hit Netflix Down Under from Monday, May 25, with new episodes airing weekly. An exact start date hasn't been revealed yet — we'll update you with further details when they come to hand. Images: Netflix.
Come summertime, the celebratory spirit is taking over the entire state, thanks to massive events like ALWAYS LIVE. For the third year running, this festival celebrates the diversity of music in Victoria, with a mix of international headliners and local musicians taking to stages statewide from Friday, November 22, to Sunday, December 8. Some of the unmissable (and exclusive) events in ALWAYS LIVE are taking place on the final weekend. One of those is Yerambooee, a unique celebration of First Nations culture and community. This free event on Saturday, December 7 at 7pm, is hosted by elders and performers from Wurundjeri, Woi-Wurrung and Yolgnu peoples. The stage will be a nine-metre sand circle laid down in Fed Square — representative of a meeting ground filled with river sand — for a gathering unlike anything else on the festival program. Beginning with a welcome from Aunty Joy Murphy, performers will take to the stage with song, dance and music for a celebration that encourages the audience to join in — with music inspired by Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) — the final work of the late Yolgnu musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. Yeramboee will take place in Federation Square on Saturday, December 7. For more information, visit the Always Live website.
Drive-in meets rooftop at Melbourne's newest outdoor cinema, opening in Dockland's Harbour Town precinct on Boxing Day. The latest addition to the seemingly endless list of open-air screens around town (not that we're complaining, mind you), punters at The Backlot Rooftop Drive-In will enjoy new release films and 360-degree views of the city without ever having to get out of their car. Operated by the same team behind Backlot Studios, a private cinema and event space in Southbank, this modern-day drive-in will boast two separate screens, with each lot able to accommodate up to 65 vehicles. Tickets start at $50 per car — so depending on how many mates you can squish into the backseat and/or boot, this could prove to be a bit of a bargain. There'll also be a separate 'blue-deck' seating area, for movie-lovers who don't own their own car. Tickets for this section will be sold at $15 per head. The Backlot Rooftop is yet to reveal which movies they'll be showing, although we reckon you can expect blockbusters and plenty of them. Star Wars under the stars, for example, feels like it's probably a given. There'll also be pop-up takeaway stalls on-site, as well as a candy bar stocked with all the usual suspects including choc-tops and freshly popped popcorn. Speaking to The Age, co-founder Tony Ianiro confirmed that the cinema would operate "seven days a week, all-year round," and said they were also scoping out potential sites in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. You can view the program as it's updated here.
There's the truth, and then there's the tale that is told, a divide Kill the Messenger acknowledges. Driven by journalistic duty, Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) unearths a scandal, though once his report is published, the press turns their attention to him over the facts. The surrounding film falls prey to the same trick, presenting an intriguing character study but skirting over the damage done. Webb is a small-time player for a small-time paper, yet unafraid of turning big leads into big headlines. In California in 1996, he receives a tip about a deal involving the nation's intelligence agency and crack dealers in South Central Los Angeles. Covertly supporting the Nicaraguan Contras in their fight against their country's socialist rulers, the CIA is accused of assisting their US drug racket. Webb scours through sources from South America to Washington to substantiate his story, all ignored when governmental denial thrusts him into the spotlight. With Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Oliver Platt as Webb's editors, Rosemarie DeWitt as his wife, and Michael Sheen, Andy Garcia and Ray Liotta as furtive figures, a competent cast fills in the details, in what remains a portrait of Webb's rise and fall. As compelling as he has ever been, Renner retains focus, matching his physicality to the transformative plight of a determined crusader victimised for doing the right thing. Often framed from afar or shown in hand-held close-ups, his recreation of Webb constantly looks over his shoulder with good reason. "We would never threaten your children," he is told in his only official face-to-face meeting with the CIA, and the feature's best display of tension. Based on Nick Schou's 2006 book of the same name, alongside Webb's own 1998 manifesto Dark Alliance, Kill the Messenger harks back to a host of conspiracy thrillers and whistleblower dramas in its newsreel compiles offering background information and incendiary montages setting the emotional tone. Better known for helming episodes of Dexter and Homeland, director Michael Cuesta sticks to the standard in evoking an air of unease and flitting between episodic jaunts in a quest for justice, his feature fervent in sentiment but fleeting in impact. All eyes stay on Renner's rising rage in his potent portrayal; however, the feature's message remains murky, swelling in telling of personal conflict but fading in spanning the extent of the scenario. That the most damning revelations are told as a post-script may indicate the difficulty of condensing the complicated true tale, but it also speaks to the same selectivity the film ostensibly rallies against. Kill the Messenger shouts the story of someone who refused to be silenced, yet favours an impassioned underdog account over a thorough consideration of its central media machinations. https://youtube.com/watch?v=14tFIJIp1bs
It's widely known that New Zealand is a bit of a stunner of a travel destination. Overflowing with majestic terrain, impeccable wine and warm hospitality, there are a few reasons why this little corner of the world makes it onto many a bucket list. Whether you're seeking an adventure or want to wine and dine your way around, the South Island, in particular, is a mecca for visitors looking to indulge in the finer things in life. From helicopter flights over glaciers to sailing day trips, we've rounded up some of the South Island's most luxe experiences for when you're feeling a bit flash. SLEEP IN STYLE AT A LAKESIDE LODGE A great holiday starts with a great night's sleep and Whare Kea Lodge is the perfect spot to catch some quality zs during your South Island adventure. Nestled on the edge of Lake Wanaka, this luxurious, private retreat boasts eye-popping vistas of the lake and mountains. Whare Kea is small but perfectly formed, with each of its rooms offering postcard-worthy views that'll be the envy of all your friends back home. Relax and unwind in the stylish surrounds where you'll find loads of light-filled nooks and cosy spaces. On-site, you'll also find a massage room and an outdoor spa pool, so you'll slip into holiday mode in no time. The lodge offers a full kitchen so you can cook up a storm, too. Otherwise, you can treat yourself to a private chef for a real foodie experience. With its five-star views and home comforts, you won't want to leave. SIP TOP DROPS AT A STYLISH WINERY A visit to New Zealand wouldn't be complete without sampling some of the country's famous vino, and Central Otago is the perfect place to enjoy a grape escape. Head for The Shed, the gorgeous, new cellar door by celebrated winemakers, Cloudy Bay. Located in the heart of wine country, just an hour's drive from Queenstown, The Shed is a stylish sanctuary perched amongst stunning South Island scenery. With touches of rustic New Zealand charm, The Shed blends seamlessly into the landscape, and is an unforgettable spot to discover Cloudy Bay's wine range. Book a private tasting tour to get to know the wines and the story behind them. Take a stroll through the vineyards with a Cloudy Bay ambassador to learn about the terroir and the connection between the land and the brand. Afterwards, settle into the private tasting room to savour some of Cloudy Bay's finest, while lapping up the dazzling vistas of Lake Dunstan and the rugged ranges beyond. FORAGE FOR YOUR LUNCH ON AN EPIC HELI TOUR If you thought the South Island was mind-blowing from the ground, just wait until you see it from the sky. Take your trip to the next level with the ultimate experience for adventurous food lovers — a helicopter and foraging tour through the majestic, untamed landscapes of the remote south with Alpine Helicopters. Begin your adventure with a stop on the edge of Lake Wanaka, where you can try your hand at trout fishing. From here you'll be whisked into the Southern Alps, where you'll land smack bang on a glacier for the ultimate photo stop. After the obligatory selfies, fly out to the wild west coast to gather fresh crayfish for lunch. Next, you'll be flown deep into a lush valley for a lunch stop like no other — a Kiwi bush barbecue, featuring smoked trout and premium Te Mana lamb and washed down with local wine. With happy bellies, enjoy a final flight over more epic nature before returning to base. SAIL AWAY IN THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Marking the gateway to the South Island, the Marlborough Sounds is a sparkling labyrinth of winding waterways and bush-clad hills. With its hard-to-reach bays and beaches, the best way to discover this scenic playground is from the water. Get your sea legs on and sail away for a day on a luxury yacht, hosted by Cloudy Bay. Cruise the turquoise waters of the Sounds, visiting quiet coves teeming with untouched nature. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for dolphins along the way, too. Fancy yourself a bit of a sailor? Get stuck in and be part of the crew. Or if that doesn't float your boat, simply sit back and relax — with a glass of Cloudy Bay vino, of course. At lunchtime, tuck into delicious locally caught seafood with matching wines served against a backdrop of pure New Zealand beauty. GET BACK TO NATURE AT A SECLUDED RETREAT Nestled into a lush hillside, in a remote bay that's only accessible by boat, Bay of Many Coves is the retreat of your dreams. Luxury villas pepper the hillside, offering knockout views of pristine waters and bushy peaks. Stay a night or two to truly experience the magic of this secluded paradise. During the day, go for a dip, dine out on the water's edge, or get your walking shoes on to explore nature trails that teem with wildlife — don't worry, New Zealand's bush is proudly snake free. If that's just a bit too active, take it down a notch, listen to the bird song and relax in the serenity. It doesn't get more zen than this. ADVENTURE OFF-ROAD AROUND ONE OF MARLBOROUGH'S FIRST WINERIES If you're a wine enthusiast there's a mighty good chance you've heard of a wee region called Marlborough. Famous for its top-notch sauvignon blanc, Marlborough is the ultimate destination for any wine lover. Experience a taste of the region by visiting one of the very first wineries to put down roots here. The original Cloudy Bay Cellar Door is a chic spot to try the brand's diverse wines, from the iconic sauvignon blanc to the lively pinot noir and crispy Pelorus bubbly. Taste your way through the range in the spacious cellar door before grabbing a glass of your favourite and settling into a hanging egg chair in the leafy courtyard. For a unique adventure, take a vineyard tour by car — jump into a custom-restored 1985 Land Rover Defender and discover the vineyard sites with the Cloudy Bay crew as you learn how these distinctive wines make their way from grape to glass. Discover more about Cloudy Bay wines and the tailor-made experiences you can have in New Zealand here.
When it comes to art exhibitions, second chances aren't common. A big-name showcase may display at several places around the world, but it doesn't often hit the same venue twice. French Impressionism is an exception, then, returning to the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne in 2025 after initially gracing the institution's walls in 2021. When it was first announced for that debut Australian run, French Impressionism was set to be a blockbuster exhibition — and with 100-plus works featuring, including by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt and more, it's easy to understand why. But 2021 wasn't an ordinary year, like 2020 before it. Accordingly, when this showcase of masterpieces on loan from Boston's renowned Museum of Fine Arts opened Down Under, it was forced to close shortly afterwards due to the pandemic. Cue another season in this part of the world four years later, thankfully, with French Impressionism back at NGV International from Friday, June 6–Sunday, October 5, 2025. This is one of the largest collections of the eponymous art movement to ever make its way to Australia, complete with works that've never been seen here before. [caption id="attachment_977042" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claude Monet, French, 1840–1926, Water lilies, 1905, oil on canvas, 89.5 x 100.3 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Gift of Edward Jackson Holmes Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] Again part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition series, French Impressionism isn't short on gems, especially given the array of artists with pieces on display, which also includes Camille Pissarro and Berthe Morisot. But one certain must-see is the presentation of 16 Monet pieces in one gallery, all in a curved display to close out the showcase — and focusing of his scenes of nature in Argenteuil, the Normandy coast and the Mediterranean coast, as well as his Giverny garden. In total, there's 19 Monet works in French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts' collection (Water Lilies among them), and that still leaves the US gallery almost as many to display in Boston. Another section digs into early works by Monet and his predecessors, such as Eugène Boudin — and Renoir and Pissarro's careers also get the in-depth treatment. As the exhibition charts French impressionism's path across the late-19th century, visitors will enjoy three never-before-seen-in-Australia pieces, with Victorine Meurent's Self-portrait one of them. Ten-plus Degas works, as well as two pieces that were part of the very first exhibition of French Impressionism that took place in 1874, also feature. If you made it along to the showcase's first trip Down Under, you will notice changes, with the exhibition design reimagined for its latest presentation. [caption id="attachment_977038" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Camille Pissarro, French (born in the Danish West Indies), 1830–1903, Spring pasture, 1889, oil on canvas, 60 x 73.7 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Deposited by the Trustees of the White Fund, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] Top image: excerpt of Camille Pissarro, French (born in the Danish West Indies), 1830–1903, Spring pasture, 1889, oil on canvas, 60 x 73.7 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Deposited by the Trustees of the White Fund, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.
If you've been using all these lockdown hours to plot your next regional Victorian escape, here's another reason to pop the Grampians on that itinerary. Up in the region's north, the town of St Arnaud has just unveiled a striking new cultural attraction: a towering silo artwork by local artist Kyle Torney, titled Hope. The latest addition to the renowned Silo Art Trail, the piece pays homage to the town's gold mining history, featuring a design of three faces that was selected by St Arnaud residents themselves. And this giant masterpiece was no mean feat to create, taking the artist over 800 hours from start to completion, and involving around 30 treks up and down the silo each day. The whole silo had to be cleaned and primed, before being decked out with a grid to help guide painting the faces' tricky proportions. Funded in part by the St Arnaud ArtSpace community centre and the Northern Grampians Shire Council, the artwork marks the sixth local mural painted by Torney, who himself is a sixth-generation St Arnaud native. The artist is well-known for his distinctive 'narrative portraiture' style, with works having graced spaces across Melbourne, Adelaide and Ballarat, as well as the walls of an art gallery in New York. It is hoped the new silo art will help boost tourism in the area following the heavy impact COVID-19 restrictions have had on regional travel. "Street art really brings the community together," said Torney in a statement. "I called the silo art 'Hope' which is reflective of the gold mining period but also resonates with the current climate." The Silo Art Trail is the country's largest outdoor gallery, covering over 200 kilometres. With this latest design, its collection now includes nine silo murals, featured in the stretch of towns from the Mallee's Patchewollock to St Arnaud. 'Hope' is located on McMahon Street, St Arnaud, Victoria. To learn more about the full Silo Art Trail, visit the website. Travel is restricted under metropolitan Melbourne's current stage four restrictions and regional Victoria's stage three orders. For the Victorian Government's latest advice, head to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website.
Stories involving someone's testicles (especially engorged ones like this) usually aren't very heartwarming. But 31-year-old Thomas Cantley is currently proving that assumption wrong. Over the course of this month, Cantley has been rolling a giant inflatable testicle across the USA to raise awareness of testicular cancer. Relying on people's kindness and support, he is currently travelling from California to New York and has been raising a lot of eyebrows along the way. Diagnosed with a stage three testicular cancer in 2009, Cantley started his ballsy mission in order to break some of the taboo surrounding the topic. "It's a 96 per cent survival rate if caught early," he told KSBW. "I want to prove you don't need billions of dollars or the promise of a cure to make a difference in the fight against cancer." His mission is instead about creating conversation. With his own cancer currently in remission, he's travelled more than 750 kilometres over the course of the month. People are inviting him to stay with them, buying him meals, and writing their own cancer-related stories on his giant testicle as he goes. With the Ball Push project now nearing its end, he's even earned himself the nickname of Mr Ballsy. Ever since Forrest Gump began running for the sake of running, we've had a fascination with these novel acts of endurance. Frankly, we're personally fascinated whenever anyone completes a regular marathon. What would compel someone to do that to themselves? But in the case of Thomas Cantley, the reason is very clear. Taking advantage of the humour all young men seem to find in their balls, Cantley is tactfully asking guys between 15 and 35 to "go check their nuts". And hey, if a cancer survivor can trek all the way across the USA dragging a very annoying inflatable ball, you can probably muster a quick fondle or trip to the doctor. Follow the rest of the journey via the Ball Push website or Facebook page. For more on the issue, check out the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. Via A Plus and KSPW.
First, there were cat cafes, the cosy spaces where sipping a coffee and getting friendly with some cute felines go hand-in-hand. Next came pooch and pint sessions, where taking your doggo for a drink is heartily encouraged. While pubs that welcome puppers aren't all that rare in general, one US watering hole is taking all of the above concepts, combining them and turning it into their own animal haven. The end result is Fidos, an Oregon establishment calling itself the world's first dog tap house. With the words "Eat. Drink. Adopt." emblazoned on its walls, Fidos is part craft beer tap room, part foster home for shelter dogs, with the ultimate goal of rehoming the canines within its confines. Located outside of Portland, it encourages patrons to come in for a beverage and a bite — and, like a cat cafe, they'll will be able to play with the puppers — then take a new four-legged buddy home with them. Opening back in January, but holding a grand launch on February 13, Fidos boasts 40 rotating taps, a room dedicated to interacting with the doggos — which are provided by Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals — and dog videos playing on the onsite TVs. Events such as art shows and dog training demonstrations are planned, in an environment that's all about having a few drinks, celebrating man's best friend, and supporting dog and animal charities. For more information, visit www.ilovefidos.com. Via PR Newswire.
One-shot movies fall into two categories. Some hide their edits to make it appear as though they've been filmed in one continuous take, such as Alfred Hitchcock's Rope and the Oscar-winning Birdman. Others achieve the feat without resorting to cinematic trickery, including historical drama Russian Ark and Iranian thriller Fish & Cat. Either way, the intended effect is the same. By presenting an unbroken image free from cuts and interruptions, filmmakers try to plunge the audience so deeply into the on-screen action that they simply can't bear to tear their eyes away. Wandering from a Berlin nightclub to a cafe to a life or death bank heist, the adrenaline-fuelled Victoria joins the fold, unfolding in a single, unstaged take. Like all films that employ this technique, there's no denying the underlying technical wizardry on display in this heart-pounding German thriller. But writer/director Sebastian Schipper does more than simply jump on the latest movie-making bandwagon. Indeed, in his skilled hands, Victoria rarely feels like a gimmick. As the titular Spanish traveller (Laia Costa) catches the eye of the flirtatious Sonne (Frederick Lau) during a night out, and then tags along with him and his mates as they make the leap to the wrong side of the law, the uncut footage endeavours to take the audience along for the ride. Describing cinematographer Sturla Brandth Grøvlen's camera as one of the film's characters might be a cliché, but it's fitting. Victoria doesn't just want to make viewers watch its protagonist's wild night. It wants them to feel like they're in the thick of the frenzy, experiencing every single moment along with her. Here, variety and movement is key. While the screenplay crafts its own convincing dramas of the criminal and romantic kinds, it's not just the real-time story and changing locations that offer up a few unexpected elements. Equally unpredictable is the way Schipper uses the frame. Sometimes the visuals are claustrophobically precise and tight, while other times they're coasting and loose. The images lurch and circle, simultaneously going with the narrative's flow and creating their own momentum, and mimicking the feature's freewheeling mood while imparting their own urgency and personality as well. Of course, with the film clocking in at 138 minutes, Victoria's style does eventually threaten to overstay its welcome. Thankfully, Costa's naturalistic performance offers the pick-me-up fatigued audiences might need, even when she appears to be tired herself. The cast's improvised efforts add another layer of realism to a movie that could've just been the latest one-shot stunt. Instead, it's one of the most absorbing, surprising films we've seen in quite a while.
Disney is back in the fairy princess business, and by god it wants you to know it. Except, it doesn’t want young boys to know it, which is why this film is called Frozen instead of The Snow Queen. When Disney finally bought Pixar in 2006, the deal essentially saw Pixar's creative team taking control of Disney’s animated output. Given the strong quality control Pixar has over its products, this was no bad thing. But not all of the experiments worked. Determined to resurrect Disney's tradition of hand-drawn animation, they made The Princess and the Frog in 2009, a tremendously underrated film which moved the classic tale to 1920s New Orleans. The film’s undeserved financial failing made Disney gunshy, and their takeaway was this: stick to computer animation, and no more princesses in the titles. In fairness, this shift didn’t kneecap the quality of the films. 2009’s Rapunzel film Tangled is an outstanding work, with rich characters, beautiful animation and incredibly catchy songs. Tangled really worked, which is why it appears to be the template Disney has used for its newest animated feature, Frozen. Based loosely on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen — a story Disney has been trying to adapt since the 1940s — the film follows Anna and her sister Elsa, two princesses who are left alone when their parents die at sea. The relationship between the two is difficult: Elsa has magical powers, which due to an unsatisfactorily explained plot contrivance, have been wiped from Anna’s memory. To keep Anna safe, Else keeps her at arm’s length as they grow up. But on the evening of Elsa’s coronation, she accidentally creates a permanent winter in the kingdom and retreats to a remote ice palace of her own making. It’s up to Anna to save her sister and her kingdom. The parallels with Tangled are striking. Both changed the name of their original story to a more marketable, generic title. Both feature a similar working-class man developing a love-hate relationship with a princess. Both have a crazy, anthropomorphised horse/moose for company. Both even feature a princess whose power is represented by a streak of colour through the hair. The comparisons, though superficial, reveal an attempt at a modern formula. And although Frozen is enjoyable enough, the characters aren’t quite as engaging as they ought to be, the songs not quite memorable enough. The animation, however, is superb. On a technical level, it’s a marvel. Frozen represent the middle of the bell curve in terms of animated features. It’s a far cry from the insufferable toy-selling, pop-culture spewing, catchphrase-ridden films churned out during at the beginning every school holiday period, but nor does it hit the heights of Disney’s best output. It is admirable, enjoyable, but ultimately unmemorable.
Just a week ago, Molly Rose Brewing announced it was calling in the liquidators, leaving the influential Collingwood spot as just the latest casualty of Australia's struggling craft beer scene. At the time, Founder Nic Sandery offered a glimmer of hope, saying the business would look to negotiate an agreement that would allow it to "continue serving our community with great beer and food." In an Easter miracle, these words have quickly come true, as Molly Rose Brewing has sent the liquidators packing after finding a solution to prevent its closure. While details of this solution are forthcoming, the fact that its doors have reopened is more than enough reason to celebrate. And in true Molly Rose style, this positive news is being met with a long weekend treat. From Thursday to Sunday over Easter, the brewery is pouring non-stop pints of its much-loved Little Hazy for $10. Serving as a "gesture of gratitude to the community," this party is perfect for an Easter catch-up with friends, or a well-earned pint after spending a little too long with the family between egg hunts and long lunches. As for the venue's immediate plans, some minor changes are afoot. Expect shorter hours and an approachable weekend snack menu featuring a new kids' offering. And, of course, the drinks list remains full of the Molly Rose beers you love. According to the brewery, further updates on trading hours, menu changes and upcoming events will be shared in the coming days. But for now, the mood around the place is looking rather bright. "This reopening isn't just about the beer or the food – it's about the people who make Molly Rose what it is. Our regulars, our neighbours, the folks who stop in for a quick sip and end up staying for hours, you!" said the brewery in a statement. Molly Rose Brewing's reopening comes after the business entered liquidation due to a combination of financial pressures, including rising operational costs and delayed expansion projects. With other breweries like Kaiju Beer and Black Hops Brewing having also emerged from the liquidation process in recent times with positive prospects, we're glad to see Molly Rose sticking around too. Molly Rose Brewing has reopened at 279-285 Wellington Street, Collingwood. Head to the website for more information. Images: Sarah Anderson.
Melbourne's CBD is no stranger to a fine diner — where some of the world's best chefs, bartenders and front-of-house staff come together to create spellbinding experiences. And one of the latest additions to this scene is MING Dining. Owner and Director Tony Yan (ex-Botanical Hotel) has set up the new Melbourne restaurant on the corner of Queen Street and La Trobe Street within a vast two-storey space. Entering from the street, you're met with a huge fish tank, projections of Aussie landscapes and a glass-walled vault of wines. Head down the staircase to the large basement dining room peppered with contemporary and traditional Chinese décor. Intricately detailed wooden screens break up the private dining spaces and marble artwork looms over some of the seating to create a sense of total opulence. The bar is huge with space for plenty to gather after work and spread out into the courtyard once the sun properly arrives in Melbourne. Food-wise, expect refined dishes that marry contemporary Australian cuisine and ingredients with Chinese-Canto influences. Pacific oysters are refreshed with an XO butter and kohlrabi dressing or drizzled with umami bitters and a spring onion relish. Among the small plates, chawanmushi is upgraded with Fraser Island crab and Yarra Valley salmon caviar; roasted bone marrow twisted with a ginger salsa verde and crispy shallots; and seared baby abalone served with translucent sweet potato noodles. You also might be fortunate enough to be there when the Hong Kong-style fried chicken is on the specials board. For this, they've taken out the bone, replaced it with chicken mousse and deep-fried it. It's then served with a classic egg yolk sauce that's absolutely divine. Elsewhere on the larger plates, charred Black Angus beef ribs pair perfectly with gochujang and beef tendon chips, while grilled bugs and pipis tossed through an XO sauce are a must-order. The wagyu steak served with a tangy shiitake glaze and pickled mushrooms is also a huge standout. Finish it all with the black sesame panna cotta that comes paired with a blood orange mousse and miso cookie crumbs. It's one of our favourite new Melbourne desserts. As you'd expect with any new fine dining establishment in the city, the wine list is extensive. MING Dining champions Aussie drops as well as a strong selection from both France and Germany. Classic cocktails are up for grabs, but the seasonal Cantonese-inspired offerings are a must-try. The Xuan Wu made with rum, longan fruit, oolong tea and a blooming osmanthus flower is the perfect balance of both light and earthy notes. And the Ivory Tiger could be a dessert in itself, made with whisky, black tea, coffee and a dash of milk and served with a house-made biscuit. Think of it like a clarified whisky and milk punch. And those wanting to lean right into the Chinese spirits can get around bottles of the Moutai. High flyers keen to try the unofficial national liquor of China will need to fork over a hefty $1,888 for the bottle. But you don't need to go full, balls-to-the-walls extravagant at MING Dining. You can easily pop in for some happy hour cocktails and a round of fried chicken or grab the express lunch menu ($38 for two courses and $49 for three courses of yum cha specials). This makes the new city restaurant significantly more approachable for those of us on a budget who still want to dabble in the world of Melbourne fine dining. Images: Jake Roden
