There's a reason that galleries favourite white walls and cavernous halls: they're a canvas to fill with exhibition after exhibition, and with the glorious art that comes with them. At Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, that setup has seen its central atrium play host to everything from Yayoi Kusama's kaleidoscopic finest, Chiharu Shiota's red wool webs and Patricia Piccinini's inflatable pieces through to a black cube playing David Lynch clips and an ode to Marvel — and, next, 13 floating mirrored spheres. Those reflective orbs are part of GOMA's next must-see showcase, and the next reason for art fans both in Brisbane and further afield to make a date with the South Bank gallery. Across summer 2022–23 and into autumn, running from Saturday, November 26, 2022–Sunday, April 23, 2023, the venue will play host to Air, which ruminates on that very topic. Back in 2019–20, during the same time slot, GOMA pondered water in an exhibition called, yes, Water. Consider this the sequel. GOMA isn't merely filling its spaces with the life-sustaining substance — it already has, obviously — but is concerned with pondering air's cultural, ecological and political dimensions. [caption id="attachment_677199" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gallery of Modern Art, Exterior, South & East face, James Turrell artwork[/caption] Those aforementioned globes are part of newly commissioned showcase piece Drift: A cosmic web of thermodynamic rhythms, which hails from Argentinian-born, Berlin-based artist Tomás Saraceno. The 13 spheres will be suspended in the atrium, at different heights, to get audiences contemplating the poetry if air and its imaginative side. Looking up at them, you'll see yourself looking back — and you'll also witness them move gently, like they're breathing. Where Water set up a huge indoor riverbed, Air will feature volcanic mounds and clouds of pigmented dust instead, thanks to fellow highlight Origins I–III by Dora Budor. Also set to be a standout: Chalk Fall from UK artist and filmmaker Tacita Dean, with the multi-panel drawing resembling England's Cliffs of Dover — but in chalk. [caption id="attachment_876732" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mona Hatoum / Lebanon / United Kingdom b.1952 Hot Spot III 2009 / Stainless steel and neon tube /234 x 223 x 223cm / Installation at Fondazione Querini Stampalia Onlus, Venice /© Mona Hatoum / Courtesy: Fondazione Querini Stampalia Onlus, Venice / Photograph: Agostino Osio.[/caption] Or, there's also Hot Spot, a neon-lit sculpture by Mona Hatoum that's about the planet's burning political turmoil, but also fits the globe's environmental situation. Bird-like sculptures will feature via Jonathan Jones's untitled (giran), which is accompanied by a soundscape created with Dr Uncle Stan Grant Sr AM — and black moth and butterfly silhouettes are a focus of Carlos Amorales' Black Cloud. Fancy seeing air? Anthony McCall's Crossing uses shafts of light and smoke haze to allow that to happen. Similarly — but in a completely different way — Rachel Mounsey's photography series displays the perilous red skies of Mallacoota's horrific 2019 bushfires. [caption id="attachment_876733" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rachel Mounsey / Australia b.1975 /Mallacoota fires in the sky 8 (from 'Mallacoota fires in the sky' series) 2020 / Inkjet print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag paper / 50 x 75cm / Purchased 2022. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Rachel Mounsey.[/caption] Air will also see plant-filled twin concrete towers pop up via new commission Portal from Jamie North, plus a cloud of air created from a collage of images in Jemima Wyman's Plume 20 — with everything in the exhibition fitting into chapters called Atmosphere, Shared, Burn, Invisible and Change. Clearly, it's a hefty showcase, complete with major works by more than 30 Australian and international artists. Air also comes with a film program in the Australian Cinémathèque, plus an opening weekend filled with artist talks, discussions, pop-up performances and drop-in workshops. [caption id="attachment_876731" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jemima Wyman / Pairrebeener people / Australia b.1977 / Plume 20 2022 / Handcut digital photos / 450 x 530cm / Courtesy: Jemima Wyman, Milani Gallery, Brisbane, and Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney / In memory of Mark Webb (1957–2022) For the complete title of this artwork please visit: https://qago.ma/plume20 / © Jemima Wyman / Photograph: Ed Mumford.[/caption] "At this moment in history, as global temperatures rise, we are sensitive to air as never before: alert to airborne threats and aware of our reliance on this precious mix of gases," said Geraldine Kirrihi Barlow, QAGOMA's Curatorial Manager of International Art. "Air asks us to consider how we share oxygen with all other life, reflect on what it means to breathe freely and examine air as a metaphor for change," she continued. Air kicks off what's set to be a huge new year for GOMA, complete with a blockbuster fairy tales exhibition — and a twisted woodland with it — in the summer 2023–24 slot. [caption id="attachment_876734" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yhonnie Scarce / Kokatha and Nukunu peoples / Australia b.1973 / Cloud Chamber 2020 (installation view, 'Looking Glass: Judy Watson and Yhonnie Scarce', TarraWarra Museum of Art, Healesville, Vic. 2020) / Collection: TarraWarra Museum of Art, Healesville, Victoria/ © Yhonnie Scarce / Image courtesy: Yhonnie Scarce and THIS IS NO FANTASY, Melbourne / Photograph: Andrew Curtis.[/caption] Air displays at Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art from Saturday, November 26, 2022–Sunday, April 23, 2023. For more information and tickets, head to the GOMA website. Top image: Tomás Saraceno / Aerocene 2 and Aerocene 1.2 2016 (installation view, '163,000 Light Years', Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey / ©Tomás Saraceno / Photograph: Studio Tomás Saraceno.
You might have heard of Ippudo — perhaps on your travels to Japan, or just when you've been in Sydney. The legendary ramen chain can be found around the world, but it's finally expanded to Melbourne, having just opened up some new soupy digs in the QV building. So start planning some long slurpy city lunch breaks, because there's be a lot to get your stomach around. But first, a little background. Ippudo has long been a reigning global gold standard of the Japanese dish (and a winter go-to the world-over). Since Shigemi Kawahara opened his first humble ramen store in Hakata, Japan in 1985, he's splashed out and launched scores of stores across Japan, the US, and Europe. It arrived in Australia in 2012 with one Sydney restaurant, before adding three more outlets in the same city. And now, six years on, Ippudo has opened two new fronts: one in Perth and Melbourne. So what's happening in the shiny new Melbourne restaurant? The emphasis is on the tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen that has garnered Ippudo legions of fans — but there's also a variety of equally as tasty options for those who want something else. You've got the signature Shiromaru Motoaji, creamy tonkotsu ramen ($15), but you can also opt for Karaka-Men, mixing things up with spicy miso paste topping ($16). If you're not up for ramen (for some reason), you can go for the beef sagari yaki served with fried enoki mushrooms ($17.50) or the grilled eel don for $13.50. Also, don't leave without giving the global best-selling pork buns a red hot go or three ($5 each, or three for $13). The interior is all clean wooden lines, red and white accents and warm, lantern-esque lighting, making your heart feel as warm as your soup-filled belly. The ramen king Kawahara has said that Ippudo just wants to "spread smiles" with his fare — and if this ramen can't do that, nothing can. Interior shots: Simon Shiff.
UPDATE: MAY 27, 2019 — Due to an overwhelming response, Matty Matheson's Sydney and Brisbane shows have been moved to bigger venues. The former will now take place at Marrickville's Factory Theatre (previously Oxford Art Factory) and the latter at Newstead's The Triffid (previously Brightside). All tickets already purchased will be valid for the new venues. New tickets for Sydney can be purchased here and Brisbane here. Chef Matty Matheson is stepping out of the kitchen and onto the stage, heading Down Under for an expletive-laden speaking tour next month. Known for his hit TV shows Dead Set On Life and It's Suppertime — and his new New York Times best-selling book, Matty Matheson: A Cookbook — the culinary star and award-winning author will hit up Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. A colourful character famed for his larger-than-life personality, Matheson will be dishing up a his cooking (and life) tips, with an audience Q&A and a meet-and-greet session, too. He's set to serve his home truths on topics like addiction and mental health, the #MeToo movement and its impact on the food industry, and a few of his own life's ups and downs, as well as talking about his new web series, Just A Dash. https://www.instagram.com/p/BjKhY6iHrRZ/ Audiences will be treated to a true taste of this foodie legend, as Matheson tweaks each show to best represent himself, even down to the soundtrack plucked straight from his own playlists. MATTY MATHESON 2019 DATES Perth — Rosemount Hotel, Saturday, June 22 Sydney — Factory Theatre (previously Oxford Art Factory), Sunday, June 23 Melbourne — Corner, Tuesday, June 25 Brisbane —The Triffid (previously Brightside), Thursday, June 27 Tickets are $49 and go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, May 21 via the Secret Sounds website.
Animal lovers of Melbourne — the hunt for pet supplies that are both stylish and sustainable just got a whole lot simpler, now that a sweet little store called Nice Paws has set up shop in Fitzroy. Off the back of a successful online store, the Smith Street pop-up is open now until the end of March and it's got just about everything you need to keep that four-legged mate of yours living the good life. Inspired by their own pooch Wanda, Nice Paws owners Bec and Nelson have sourced a careful curation of pet-focused wares that are both good-looking and good for the planet. There's a focus on clever, contemporary design as well as sustainably produced pieces, with most products either extra durable, made from recycled materials, handcrafted, small batch or all of the above. It's the sort of gear that'll go the distance, while totally complementing the rest of your home. You'll find elegant feed bowls, boutique grooming products, handmade toys, a range of dapper leads and collars, and pet beds that won't ever look scruffy. Nice Paws even has feed-time sorted, slinging a selection of 100 percent Australian owned, sourced and produced pet food and treats. Find Nice Paws at 65 Smith St, Fitzroy, open Wednesdays through Sundays until the end of March. Image: Howlpot via Nice Paws
The annual celebration of independent music merchants, Record Store Day, is back this Saturday, April 22, and there are a heap of exciting activations across the country hoping to draw patrons out to their local shop and have them flicking through stacks of vinyl. One such activity is a nationwide record treasure hunt being held by the Australian Music Vault. If you want to take part in the hunt and possibly get your hands on a free record from a beloved Aussie artist, all you have to do is head to your local record store and keep an eye out for releases marked with special Australian Music Vault branding on the front. If you find one of these gems, flash it at the counter where they'll confirm it's a winner and you can take it home to spin on your turntable, free of charge. [caption id="attachment_782966" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Created by the Arts Centre Melbourne, the Australian Music Vault celebrates contemporary Aussie tunes by exhibiting and archiving important pieces of music history and working with artists to facilitate the growth of the country's music scene. All of the vinyl available as part of the Record Store Day treasure hunt will be from featured Australian Music Vault artists. While the exact location of these freebies are being kept under wraps, hints will be given over on the Australian Music Vault Facebook and Instagram pages on the day. "There's a magical energy about Australia's music culture. Record stores are often a meeting place of inspiration for creatives, and we can't wait to see stores full of activity for Record Store Day," said Australian Music Vault Senior Curator Carolyn Laffan. "It's a treat to be a part of this amazing initiative and good luck to all on the lookout for hidden Australian Music Vault gems." Alongside the treasure hunt, you can also expect limited-edition releases from the likes of Bluey, Ball Park Music, Foals and Groove Armada, plus Confidence Man, Peking Duk, Orville Peck and Loyal Carner to be available on the day. And the celebrations don't stop there, with performances from Ella Thompson, Close Counters, Redhook and Tropical Strength; Peking Duk's in-store signing at Beatniks on the Gold Coast; and a stack of MTV specials and giveaways among the other activations popping up across the country. Record Store Day will be taking over record stores across the country on Saturday, April 22. Head to the Record Store Day website for the full list of special-edition releases. Top image: Destination NSW
A city break in Aotearoa New Zealand's biggest city, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, has never offered more. There's an itinerary to suit all timeframes and holiday personalities — from the city-slicker to beach-goer, the shopping-focused traveller to the foodie whose appetite leads the way. It's a city constantly evolving its offerings, with hospitality joints popping up left, right, and centre. So, we've scoped the best experiences and places to note with 100% Pure New Zealand to help you make the most of your Auckland break. Add an extra car ride out of the city or linger a little longer in the big smoke — it's over to you to indulge your whims. What we can promise is all roads lead to a memorable stay. One with world-class views, innovative foods or even dramatic black sand underfoot. [caption id="attachment_929906" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Hotel Britomart[/caption] Stay: The Hotel Britomart The Hotel Britomart pulls out every stop for a distinctly Aotearoa New Zealand stay in downtown Auckland. Exposed timbers and brick nod to the building's past life as a factory and Masonic house, while modern luxury oozes from local artisan-crafted furniture, recycled glass chandeliers and crockery. Inside the rooms, minibars are filled generously with local treats. The 99 sustainable rooms are categorised by their views. Generous windows offer direct glimpses of the Waitematā Harbour, the CBD's skyline, or the vibrant laneways. The Wairoa Suite, the largest of the five Landing Suites, offers sprawling rooftop views framed by architecturally designed wooden details. Downstairs, the all-day restaurant kingi focuses on elevated seafood, with a sommelier-curated wine library showcasing local terroirs. Tucked away in the on-site lane are a fleet of complimentary vintage bikes, ready for adventures. Stay: Mövenpick Hotel Auckland Auckland is a food-lovers paradise, and now you can stay at a hotel where food is the focus. Mövenpick Hotel Auckland's daily Chocolate Hour indulges guests with a complimentary daily buffet of truffles, cakes and fondue between 3.30–4.30pm. When it's time to break the sugar rush, on-site restaurant BODA offers panoramic harbour views, Korean-New Zealander cuisine and inventive cocktails. Or retreat to the sleek, monochromatic suites, knowing the 24-hour ice-cream sundae service means that your next sugar hit isn't far away. A central location makes Mövenpick Hotel Auckland the perfect base for urban adventures. Step out from the lobby to Auckland's main Queen Street or explore the local boutiques and eateries in the adjacent Commercial Bay. For adventures further afield, Auckland's main Britomart Train Station is on the same block to connect you to most mainland suburbs, while the main ferry terminal — the gateway to wine-mecca Waiheke Island and bird sanctuary Tiritiri Matangi — is just a few metres beyond. See: Ever-Changing Landscapes with GO Rentals As exhilarating as city life is, renting a car, even for a day, is your ticket to seeing Auckland in all its glory — and fast. After all, you're never more than 45 minutes away from a beach. Jump in a GO Rentals four-wheel-drive to venture through the bush, to wineries and eventually to the surf-ready black sand beaches of west Auckland. Closer to town, soak up all dimensions of Auckland through the skyroof of a climate-friendly GO Tesla. Cruise through the bustling beach strips of the eastern suburbs like Mission Bay and Kohimarama along Tamaki Drive. Drive up one of Auckland's many maunga (mountains) for quintessential Auckland views. Mt Eden and Mt Albert offer panoramic views, and the nearby townships are brimming with artisanal bakeries and cafes for picnic essentials. Round out your journey by offsetting emissions with CarbonClick, and you'll feel just as good as you did driving breezily behind the wheel. See: Explore the City's Seaside You can't come to Auckland without experiencing it from its most impressive vantage point: the glittering Viaduct and surrounding Hauraki Gulf. If you stay in Auckland's city centre, you'll be a short walk from Te Wero Island — a nook in the Viaduct that houses many of Auckland's bustling harbourside bars and restaurants like St Alice, Dr Rudi's and it-bistro, Soul Bar. It's an ideal spot to rug up and maximise your culinary experiences. Otherwise, the area's public transport and ample roads make it accessible from all directions. The nearby New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa runs harbour cruises on the beloved wooden boat, Breeze, for a different vantage point of the city too. [caption id="attachment_929939" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] ai_yoshi via iStock[/caption] See: Nature and Heritage Your Way at Auckland Domain Auckland's sprawling park is home to 150-year-plus trees as well as a stunning winter garden that's well worth the visit on any trip to Auckland. It's New Zealand's oldest public park, 200 acres in size and has four kilometres of walking tracks that can be used to explore the scenery and peaceful vibes above the city. It's serene surroundings can be enjoyed year-round, but if we're being honest, it's particularly magical when temperatures dip in the city. The gardens' sculpture walk takes on a new dimension when experienced with a bite in the air, with the cool metal of the sculptures in stark contrast to the grassy greens of the park. Taste: Exquisite Pacific Fusion at Metita At the newly opened Metita restaurant in SkyCity, explore the urban ritual that Aucklanders love most: indulging in new fusion cuisines. Offering contemporary Pasifika cuisine, Metita explores the intricate flavours of the many island cultures that call New Zealand home and chef Michael Meredith's Samoan roots. Dishes include inventively garnished meats, caviar and corned beef buns, and the signature oysters cooked in marrow. There's no shortage of things to do, see, drink, and eat here. Being Auckland's largest entertainment precinct, SkyCity houses 15 bars and eateries as well as the iconic Sky Tower and its 350 metre-high city views. There's also the award-winning East Day Spa (home to the nation's only marble lounger tepidarium) and two hotels. Taste: Authentically Loved Auckland Eats Aucklanders have solidified their love of eating into a collaborative list of must-try dishes: Auckland Iconic Eats. This list is updated yearly by public vote, and the quality is consistent. Favourites include the chicken parfait from Britomart's Mr Morris, succulent fish sliders from SkyCity's Depot and Gochu's pork and kimchi-stuffed milk buns. Consider it a starting point for your next sit-in menu, or treat it as a bar-crawl-like mission to tick off as many as possible and test the limits of your belt buckle. Taste: New-Wave Māori Flavours at Ada Adding to the list of cuisines that are hard to find outside of New Zealand is Ada, where Chef Kia Kanuta prepares elegant Māori comfort kai (cuisine). Rewarewa fried sourdough is topped with a bespoke mushroom grown only for Ada, paua (abalone) gets a vongole and chilli-infused twist, while snapper is battered whole and served with his iconic Marmite béchamel. Everything is harvested sustainably and served with the finesse of Chef Kanuta's French training. Ada is in The Convent Hotel, located in the trendy suburb of Grey Lynn, 15 minutes from downtown and easily accessible by bus or car. Lovers of interiors and architecture will appreciate the space's sleek transformation from a former 1922 Spanish-revival nunnery to a boutique hotel. Find your very own Aotearoa New Zealand here.
Zip lines, bungee jumping and treetop obstacles are just the start of Australia's newest destination for adventure seekers. Set along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Live Wire Park is Australia's first outdoor adventure park that is completely powered by nature. Located within The Great Otway National Park, it's family-owned and designed with the environmental in mind, which means the park is completely off-grid, fully solar powered and all water is collected on-site — both reducing waste and taking advantage of the natural resources available. Apart from its minimal environmental impact, the park packs in some serious fun, too. Set just 900 metres from the Lorne coastline, the elevated park is set among the treetops and boasts a 5250-metre-long zip line, a Tarzan swing, a 10-metre bungee, a suspended 120-metre walking circuit among the native blue gums and even a "super circuit" of 53 physical and mental activities that test park-goers while suspended in mid-air. You'll scale trees, swing on ropes and plunge down a bungee jump, all while solving a few puzzles and problems. Plus, you can expect plenty of wildlife sightings among the pristine rainforest and waterfalls. The park's newest attraction — launched just in time for summer holidays — is Spring Circuit, a five-zone circuit suspended five metres off the ground. Here, you can dive into an elevated ball pit, throw giant blow-up giant objects at each other and escape inside hanging black pods.
Nothing says summer for Melbourne film fans like a cold drink and a big outdoor screen. Located within the grounds of the Abbotsford Convent, The Shadow Electric offers both. Now in its third year, the two-month long film season will be preceded for the first time by 10 nights of live music. Starting on November 1, The Shadow Electric Bandroom will showcase a variety of local acts such as Citizen Sex, The Bombay Royale and Courtney Barnett. Then, beginning November 21, you can crack open the popcorn for the main event. This year's film program combines a bunch of recent releases with an eclectic mix of classics. Highlights in the former category include Gravity, Frances Ha, Blue Jasmine and Before Midnight, while cinephiles should jump at the opportunity to catch old favourites like Top Gun, Clerks and Lolita under the stars. Select Mondays, meanwhile, will be dedicated to the weirder side of cinema, with cult creepers like Massage Parlour Murders and Night Train to Terror screening for just $10 a pop. Screenings are currently scheduled from November 21 till late January. For tickets and the full 2013-14 program, see the website.
Tired of your post-work pub? Quarterhouse is here to breathe new life into your pint, making its grand arrival opposite Southern Cross Station on Wednesday, May 14. Spanning three huge levels with enough space for 1,400 patrons, expect the venue to become a bustling destination for after-work bevvies, corporate functions and weekend get-togethers. And, of course, pre- and post-game drinks are made easy considering Quarterhouse's proximity to Marvel Stadium. So, what's in store for punters? The ground floor, aka the public bar, adds just a little more sophistication to the quintessential pub-going experience, with hearty meals, cold drinks and live sports displayed on a four-metre-wide screen. Slide into a comfy banquette or head outside to soak up the city's atmosphere with street-side dining and drinks. On level one, versatile function spaces provide the ideal setting for private and corporate events, with capacity for 240 guests. Lastly, the rooftop bar features an open-air, wrap-around terrace, primed with laidback vibes perfect for mid-week or weekend gatherings. Looking out onto Sky Park, you'll have the ideal vantage point to admire this elevated patch of greenery perched above Collins Street. "Quarterhouse is exactly what this part of the CBD has been missing," said venue manager Luke Bottoms. "It's everything Melbournians love about a pub; casual and with something for everyone, whilst also offering something unique with our rooftop bar overlooking the Sky Park." When it comes to food, Quarterhouse has two curated menus, one for each level. Going beyond the usual pub grub, the venue brings a slight European gastropub flair, with thoughtful dishes that still hit the mark. In the public bar, start small with fried squid paired with pickled fennel, lemon and aioli, then move on to classic chicken parmas or the Quarterhouse Burger, featuring bacon, blue cheese mayo, pickled onions and more. There's also a selection of steaks, served with skin-on fries, salad, umami butter and jus gras or peppercorn sauce. On the rooftop, share-style dishes include wagyu beef skewers with a pepperberry jus gras and roast shallots. Meanwhile, seven wood-fired pizza options offer plenty of variety. For something fancy, order the crumbed pork ribeye with a lemon caper beurre noisette and chives, or the pan-fried barramundi served with salsa verde. Complementing the cuisine is a weekly entertainment lineup, with highlights including free all-day pool in the public bar on Mondays. On Thursdays, dine alongside a live acoustic soundtrack from 5pm, then get down on Friday nights for Sunset Sip DJs on the rooftop. Then, Sunday brings a rotating roast lunch special, while trivia takes over the public bar from 3pm. With plenty more to explore, Quarterhouse might just become your new post-work or game-day hangout. Quarterhouse opens Wednesday, May 14, at 693 Collins St, Docklands. Head to the website for more information.
Jackson Pollock's Blue poles (1952), Sol LeWitt's Wall drawing No. 380 a-d (1982) and Jon Schueler's The first day (1956), as well as works by Andy Warhol, James Turrell, Yoko Ono and Mark Rothko will all be available for your viewing pleasure this spring. The world-famous works will take over Canberra's National Gallery of Australia for American Masters 1940–1980, a free blockbuster exhibition showing more than 150 works by over 70 artists. Every piece comes from within the NGA, which impressively holds one of biggest collections of post-war American art outside of the US. Most purchases were made back in the 1970s and 80s, under inaugural director James Mollison — before the gallery's 1982 opening — and, at the time, were considered rather controversial. The show takes you on a chronological journey, beginning with abstract expressionism, which spawned Pollock, Rothko, Willem De Kooning and Frank Stella, before moving onto its many progeny, from colour field and pop to photo-realism and conceptual art. Images: Jackson Pollock, 'Blue poles' (1952), oil, enamel, aluminium paint, glass on canvas, National Gallery of Australia, © Pollock-Krasner Foundation; Installation view.
When the 2019 Archibald Prize was announced last year, it made history, with a portrait of an Asian Australian taking out the award for the first time in the event's then 98-year run. Now in 2020, the delayed gong has also secured a first — with Vincent Namatjira winning for a portrait of champion AFL footballer Adam Goodes, and his prize marking the first time that the award has gone to an Indigenous artist. Namatjira's piece, entitled Stand strong for who you are, was chosen from 55 finalists, which were whittled down from a record 1068 entries. Among the other contenders was Wongutha-Yamatji artist Meyne Wyatt's Packing Room Prize-winning self-portrait, which actually became the first work by an Indigenous person to win any of the Archibald's prizes. In Stand strong for who you are, Namatjira depicts multiple versions of Goodes, including two in his Sydney Swans colours. The artist himself also appears, clasping hands with Goodes. During the latter's AFL career, he played 372 matches for the Swans, kicked 464 goals, won two premierships, earned the code's highest individual honour (the Brownlow Medal) twice and was even anointed Australian of the Year. As his highly decorated time on the field came to an end, however, he was also the subject of merciless booing and verbal attacks by both spectators and high-profile media figures alike — and placed under immense scrutiny for celebrating his Indigenous heritage both on and off the field. That's a topic explored in not one but two documentaries that were released last year: The Final Quarter, which received a standing ovation at last year's Sydney Film Festival, and The Australian Dream, which opened the 2019 Melbourne International Film Festival. The Mparntwe-born Namatjira actually took inspiration from The Final Quarter. "When I saw the documentary about Adam's final season of AFL, my guts were churning as I re-lived Adam's experiences of relentless racism on and off the field," he explained. "Memories of my own experiences were stirred up and I wanted to reach out and reconnect with Adam." He continued: "When I was younger and growing up in the foster system in Perth, Indigenous footballers were like heroes to me. Goodesy is much more than a great footballer though, he took a strong stand against racism and said, 'enough is enough'. I stand strong with you too, brother". Accepting the award in a virtual ceremony, Namatjira also advised that "this is a really special moment for me" — while noting that "it only took 99 years" for the Archibald to award its first Indigenous winner. "I feel like this is a very important moment in Australian art. It's an honour to be the first, but I also want to acknowledge all of the Indigenous finalists and Indigenous sitters for the Archibald this year and in past years," he said. In a statement, Goodes similarly said that he was "thrilled that an Indigenous artist has won the Archibald prize for the first time", and that he was "so pleased that it shines a light on all Indigenous art". He continued: "we have a 60,000 year history of art and culture in our people, and we share this knowledge and gift of culture with all Australia". [caption id="attachment_784400" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Archibald Prize 2020 winner. Vincent Namatjira. Stand strong for who you are. Acrylic on linen, 152 x 198 cm. © the artist. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling. Sitter: Adam Goodes - former professional Australian rules footballer.[/caption] In the main field, Tsering Hannaford also received a prize in her sixth time as a finalist, with her self-portrait Allegory of Painting highly commended. The colourful work was inspired by Artemisia Gentileschi's 17th-century portrait, where the artist used two mirrors to observe herself in the act of painting. The winners of the Wynne and Sir John Sulman prizes were also revealed today, spanning a number of other pieces. Western Aranda artist Hubert Pareroultja took out the former — which awards the best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figure sculpture — for Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges, NT). The striking work "represents the story of the giant caterpillars called the Yeperenye that became mountain range". [caption id="attachment_784408" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Wynne Prize 2020 winner. Hubert Pareroultja. Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges, NT). Acrylic on canvas, 183 x 244 cm. © the artist. Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling[/caption] This is the fifth year in a row that an Indigenous Australian artist has been awarded the Wynne prize, with the category also handing out three other gongs. Nyunmiti Burton was highly commended and received the Roberts Family Prize for Seven Sisters, while Julianne Ross Allcorn won the Trustees' Watercolour Prize for triptych Mollitium 2, which celebrates the resilience of the Australian bush. The Sir John Sulman Prize goes to the best mural, subject or genre painting, and was this year awarded to Marikit Santiago's work entitled The divine. Describing the piece, the artist explained that it "considers what is inherited by our children". [caption id="attachment_784409" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sulman Prize 2020 winner. Marikit Santiago. The divine. Acrylic, oil, pen, pyrography and 18ct gold leaf on ply, 179.5 x 120.5 cm. © the artist. Photo: AGNSW, Jenni Carter[/caption] The winning portraits and finalists will be on display at Sydney's Art Gallery of NSW from tomorrow — Saturday, September 26 — up until Sunday, January 10. If you do't agree with the judges, you can cast your own vote for People's Choice before Sunday, December 13. ARCHIBALD PRIZE 2020 DATES Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney — September 26–January 10 Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, NSW — January 22–March 7 Cairns Art Gallery, Qld — March 19–May 2 Griffith Regional Art Galley, NSW — May 14–June 27 Broken Hill Regional Art Galley, NSW — July 9–August 22 Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, NSW — September 3–October 17 Penrith Regional Gallery, NSW — October 29–December 5 If you can't make it to any of the above dates, you can check out the award winners and finalists of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes on the Art Gallery of NSW website. Top image: courtesy of the artist and Iwantja Arts.
It's been an absolute age since it was first announced back in January 2018, but Chadstone Shopping Centre's much-hyped five-star hotel is finally open. Dubbed simply Hotel Chadstone Melbourne, it's the work of MGallery by Sofitel — and it has hosted its first guests this weekend. The latest drawcard for Australia's biggest shopping centre, the $130 million hotel has 250 rooms and suites, a sleek rooftop pool and conservatory bar, its own day spa and wellness retreat, an LED-lit yoga studio, a lounge bar and a couple of top-notch restaurants. It's also set to be Melbourne's only five-star hotel located outside the city centre. The suites are all kinds of opulent, too, featuring a clever design by multiple world-leading studios, including Australia's own Bates Smart. Think, contemporary blush pink and teal hues, custom lighting and a range of specially commissioned designer furniture inspired by trunks from luxury European fashion labels. The ritziness continues upstairs on the roof, where you'll spy private cabanas, a pool ringed with loungers and incredible panoramic views to match. At rooftop bar and lounge Altus, you can sip classic cocktails beneath a custom-made, seven-tier wine glass holder chandelier, while the dining room is set to be a striking vision of mirrored arches and plush velvet banquettes. In a win for foodies, Hotel Chadstone is also home to Pastore, the latest venture from acclaimed chef Scott Pickett (Estelle, Matilda, Lupo). Fusing the classic flavours of Italy with a distinct Australian edge, this contemporary all-day diner and bar has a menu that heroes woodfired dishes and handmade pasta. Expect sophisticated plates like the wood-roasted king prawns with fermented tomato, 'nduja and capers, and an 1.2-kilogram, 35-day dry-aged bistecca alla fiorentina, served against a plush backdrop of dusty pink hues, warm timber and brass. Meanwhile, the wine list favours Italian varieties from local producers and a cocktail lineup reworks Italian classics with Australian botanicals and spirits. We expect it'll be a popular go-to for post-shopping snacks and drinks. If you're staying in the hotel, you'll also be able to have Pastore favourites delivered to your room, too. Find Hotel Chadstone at 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone. Rooms start from $269 a night.
Almost three decades since Snoop Dogg released his first single, the rap star's career has evolved in a variety of ways. He's dropped hits like they're hot, collaborated with seemingly everyone in the music industry, and popped up on both the big and small screens. He's also taken on MC duties at wrestling matches, released his own wine and adopted aliases. And, in 2018, he shared his cooking skills with the world. That's when Snoop unveiled his own cookbook, From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from Tha Boss Dogg's Kitchen. Within its pages, fans can find recipes for everything from 'billionaire's bacon' and 'Bow Wow brownies and ice cream' to, of course, gin and juice. Yes, that means that you can listen to Snoop's tunes while whipping up his dishes and sipping the drink he'll always be synonymous with. Or, thanks to Menulog, you can just order in a feast based on the rapper's favourite meals. Until Friday, July 3, the food delivery service is serving up a Dogg's Diner menu, which is exactly what it sounds like. In collaboration with select restaurants around Australia, it's delivering a number of dishes from From Crook to Cook, helping to satisfy your 'mack & cheese', 'OG chicken and waffles', 'DOGGs in a blanket' and 'Rolls Royce PB-chocolate chip cookies' cravings. In total, nine items are available, with American-style eateries such as Down 'N' Out, Milky Lane and Meet Patty doing the cooking. While all of the aforementioned dishes are rather self-explanatory, they also include fried chicken wings sprinkled with potato chips, plus fries loaded with chunky ground beef chilli and cheese. Different items are available from different restaurants — so, depending on where you live, you mightn't have access to the whole range. And, while you're feasting away with 'What's My Name?' stuck in your head, you can start wondering whether the other '90s rap star turned cookbook author will ever get the same treatment — aka Coolio, who, in 2009, released Cookin' with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price. For more information about Menulog's Dogg's Diner menu — or to order a dish before Friday, July 3 — head to the Menulog website or app.
If you're dieting or dodging cakes, don't go to Millstone. Upon entering, a gang of flawless patisseries immediately stare you down, and it's near impossible to resist the sugary temptation. The cafe is renowned for churning out classic and innovative French pastries. They rotate at the discression of owner Alice Wright, who studied in Paris as a pastry chef. Wright proves that Zumbo and Purchese aren't the only cake masters on Melbourne's southside. There are usually around eight exquisite delights on offer at a time. Choux puffs pumped with hazelnut cream or chocolate mousse sit next to passionfruit meringue tarts; often there is a pavlova tart or a Snickers dome available ($7.50-9). By the afternoon however, they've all disappeared — so be sure to visit before 3pm to avoid disappointment. And it gets better. How? All day breakfast. Although it may not be the first reason you visit Millstone, its food menu sings a similar deliciousness. A coconut chia pudding with stewed rhubarb and cacao granola ($14) is part of the menu, alongside a pulled jerky ham hock eggs Benedict, splashed with harissa hollandaise ($17). For lunch, a wise choice is any of the scrumptious salads that stand proudly next to the cakes. It could be a charred broccoli, parmesan and garlic salad, or roasted baby carrots with hazelnuts and honey. You can get two salads for $12.50, or three for $21. If your salads need accompaniment, add a lemon and garlic chicken breast, or some sticky Asian-style beef short rib. A protein and salad plate goes for $23. Hanging on whitewashed walls are illustrations of cheese, fruit and cured meats created by Melbourne-based artist, Alice Oehr, reiterating Millstone’s warm appreciation for food.The vibrant yellow stools and monstrous coffee window might make your forget you're in Melbourne. You may just be down the road from Malvern station, but dining amongst the pastries at Millstone, you might just be transported to a Parisian boulangerie.
It seems like every group has one person who knows how to host. With what can sometimes seem like zero effort, some people just know how to make nights in come together perfectly. But if you want to be the host with the most and don't know where to start, we've got you covered. We've teamed up with American Honey to ask Concrete Playground staff for easy tips for turning your pad into the designated group hangout spot. [caption id="attachment_862460" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taryn Elliott (Pexels)[/caption] LIGHTING The importance of good lighting cannot be underestimated — it is, perhaps, the biggest mood-setter in any room. Which is also probably why so many of our staff nominated it as the most important thing to keep in mind when hosting. While it might take a bit of tweaking to get the balance between too bright and too dark exactly right, your efforts will be well worth it should you get it just right. Rule of thumb, according to Branded Content Manager Courtney Ammenhauser, is to "keep it low and warm". Our NZ Editor, Sarah Templeton, agrees: "Lamps and candles only. There's nothing worse than walking into a 1000W halogen-lit situ." Making sure your room is illuminated by lamps and candles is a surefire way to keep the vibe is cosy and intimate. And, let's be real, this is far more flattering than bright ceiling lights. Nobody wants to feel like they're in the office while hanging out with mates. Small table lamps like this Setago piece and this Hay number are easy to move around if you need to, while also making for interesting focal points. [caption id="attachment_862458" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Svitlana (Unsplash)[/caption] SCENTED CANDLES If you want your place to be the Monica and Rachel's for your crew, you'll want to create a full sensory experience. Sure, you could whip up a batch of cookies to have a toasty, heartwarming scent floating through your home, but scented candles are a far less labour-intensive way to up the olfactory factor. And for some of us, like Client Services Director Sami Zoratto, there are practical reasons for keeping things lit. "Because my house can smell of dog so I need to drown that out with candles. I am known for a nice-smelling house." As an added bonus, you'll also be hitting the low-and-warm lighting brief at the same time. We love the range by Sydney brand Hunter. GLASSWARE AND DRINKS Going for that mi casa es su casa energy? That's where a bit of prep — or at the very least, keeping on top of your housework — can go a long way. "Always have a good lineup of glassware ready to go, out of the cupboard," recommends Editorial Director Suz Tucker. "Set your glasses up at a table or bench or a bar so people naturally feel like they can make themselves a drink. It stops you having to be the bartender and really adds to the vibe being more casual." Whether it's a selection of tumblers for short drinks — like these from Sydney brand No.22 — or highball glasses ready and polished, a considered selection of drinking vessels shows that you're taking your hosting duties seriously. Having a good variety of drinks on hand can also do a lot of the work for you when it comes to creating the perfect entertaining-at-home moment — and if you want to go the extra mile, think about a simple signature serve that guests can make themselves, too. Our go-to: a deliciously smooth American Honey, soda and fresh lime — the perfect drink to enjoy over an intimate catch-up with close friends. [caption id="attachment_862459" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Libby Penner (Unsplash)[/caption] TABLE DECORATIONS A thoughtful table decoration or centrepiece is one of those things that really makes it look like you've got your shit together, even if the opposite is true. It doesn't take too much to add some colour and texture to your coffee or dining table — Partnerships Coordinator Lexi Wright recommends colourful tablecloths, placemats and napkins as subtle ways to establish a theme or colour palette, while Partnerships Manager Cinzia Giacchi makes sure her hang-out spaces feature candle stands and holders to add height and elegance. And an easy centrepiece of a fruit bowl, filled with fresh citrus fruits, adds a fresh pop of colour and shape. [caption id="attachment_862494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sarah Brown (Unsplash)[/caption] SEATING It goes without saying that when you're sitting down, you're generally more relaxed than when you're standing up. So, rather than having some people standing and others sitting like it's your Year 10 social, you need to make sure there are enough seats to go around. Tucker is a big advocate of considered seating arrangements. "Have a selection of seating at different heights and configurations. A stool anyone can pull up anywhere. A couch for three. Dining chairs that can easily be moved. An ottoman. The best parties involve changing seats, swapping your conversation partners and literally and figuratively taking in different perspectives. It creates a lack of symmetry in a good way — it helps people loosen up." [caption id="attachment_862495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Godfrey (Unsplash)[/caption] FLOWERS AND PLANTS If it's freshness you're after in your hangout space, it doesn't get much fresher than flowers and indoor plants. Not only do they add colour, natural scents and liveliness to any space, but greenery has also been shown to boost mood, energy and creativity while purifying the air. And because they come in all shapes and sizes, flowers can also complement the design elements of a room, or create all new talking points. There are plenty of incredible florists in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, but these aren't your only options. A tip from Branded Content Producer Grace Mackenzie: "If you're looking to be thrifty, go for a walk with secateurs and sneakily snip foliage to pop in vases." [caption id="attachment_862472" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luisa Brimble (Unsplash)[/caption] SOFT FURNISHINGS Sure, a comfortable couch or armchair is great, but soft furnishings can take the comfort to the next level thanks to their ability to bring relaxation, warmth and volume to a space through different fabrics, colours and patterns. We're talking cushions, blankets, throws and the like — basically anything that can help you and your mates get as cosy as can be. Branded Content Manager Nik Addams reckons it's not just about the comfort factor, though: "Rugs can also be a great way to demarcate different zones, especially in a smaller space" he says. [caption id="attachment_862479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Noman Shahid (Unsplash)[/caption] INSTANT CAMERAS Those of us of a certain age would remember that a digital camera was a must-bring item on any night out — and still have the cringy Facebook albums to prove it. And while we still love a little photo moment, you don't need to dust off the old Canon PowerShot to help your crew create a keepsake of a great night in. Instant cameras by the likes of Polaroid or Fujifilm are an easy way to add an element of interaction and keep the vibes high. Or, as Tucker says: "It's like a silly alternative to a photo booth at an event, except it's a bunch of your favourite people making faces in front of the fridge." [caption id="attachment_864739" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cottonbro (Pexels)[/caption] GAMES Whether you're hosting mates who've known one another for years or people who don't know each other too well, games are "natural conversation starters in any home social setting", according to our National Branded Content Editor Melanie Colwell. And even if the whole night doesn't revolve around the wheelings and dealings of Monopoly or deciphering the scribbles on a Pictionary board, breaking up an evening with a round of cards is a great way to keep things flowing, while also providing an opportunity to create new memories with your people. Need some ideas? Opus has a heap of games that are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. For more inspo on how to create your own golden moments with mates, head to the American Honey website. Top image: Cottonbro (Pexels)
Australia's just scored what looks set to be its most inclusive music festival yet, with sports and radio legend Dylan Alcott announcing a strong lineup for the debut of his event Ability Fest. Helping to launch the Paralympian's charity, the Dylan Alcott Foundation, next month, the festival's being co-helmed by Untitled (the entertainment group behind Beyond The Valley and Pitch Music & Arts) and it's one that caters to everyone, regardless of gender, disability, age or race. With Ability Fest, Alcott's set out to both normalise disability and help boost inclusivity across all areas of the music industry. With 20 percent of Aussies living with a physical or intellectual disability, it's high time an event like this was added to the festival calendar. A massive lineup — including Zimbabwean-born singer-songwriter Tkay Maidza, disco guy Harvey Sutherland and a back-to-back DJ set with Flight Facilities and Client Liaison — has dropped today, with all artists donating their time. Melbourne's Coburg Velodrome is being transformed into a fully accessible live music venue for the event, complete with a bunch of viewing platforms for those in wheelchairs and AUSLAN translators for all acts on the main stage. Ability Fest is hoping to raise $300,000 through ticket sales and donations, with all of it headed directly to the Dylan Alcott Foundation. This will then be used to offer mentoring, scholarships and grants to marginalised young Australians with disabilities. Ability Fest will take over Melbourne's Coburg Velodrome at 30 Charles Street, Coburg North, on Saturday, April 7. You can register here for discounted pre-sale tickets before 4pm on March 15 — otherwise general release tickets are on sale from 10am on March 16. Image: Freedom Time at Coburg Velodrome.
When it comes to Melbourne's bars, there's a lot on offer, including glorious views of the water from various locations across the city. From the beach to the river, bars across the city have positioned themselves to take advantage of the stunning aquatic landscape while serving up some stellar food, drinks and chill vibes. To make sure you don't miss out on these marvels, we've put together a list of the best Melbourne bars offering cold brews and spectacular views.
Melbourne's CBD is packed full of burger joints. It's pretty much the epitome of good fast-food dining in Australia. But Royal Stacks' new two-storey flagship store has got to be one of the biggest burger spots in Melbourne. Set to open on Monday, March 11, the 280-square-foot space set within a heritage-listed building on Bourke Street (towards the Spencer Street side of town) will be home to some Royal Stacks signature burgers as well as plenty of new and exclusive creations. Being the flagship store, the crew kind of has to do something a little different here. The huge space has been designed to fit the brand's signature contemporary design and aesthetic, with plenty of exposed brickwork, graffiti and neon lights spread out among both floors. But at the end of the day, you're not going for the interior design. You're here to grab some burgers to take away or eat in, potentially nabbing a comfy spot in one of the booths. Expect crispy chicken and beef burgers, onion rings, potato gems, mac and cheese croquettes, shakes, sodas, beers and cocktails. Basically all the delicious sometimes-foods. To hoax customers in during the first month of opening, Royal Stacks also promises to run some special offers — we have our fingers crossed for free burgers — but it's yet to announce exact details. Be sure to check its socials for the most up-to-date information. The new Royal Stacks CBD site is set to open on Monday, March 11, at 670 Bourke Street. For more details, head to the venue's website.
No fancy metaphors, clever pop culture references or humorous double entendres here — just an exclamation of something to which most Melburnians can relate. I Love Dumplings is certainly not trying to be coy, and if you do indeed love the steaming hot morsels of flavour, then this is the place for you. Sure, there are a myriad of dumpling houses in this city. But it's not often you find one this good beyond the CBD with a BYO license to boot. This little gem, tucked inconspicuously on the Kensington-Flemington border that is Racecourse Road, is relatively new to the fairly unexciting strip, but already proving to be a neighbourhood favourite. It strikes a great balance between the no-frills, frenetic-paced, plastic plates style of some dumpling houses and the high-end, high-price style of others. The pan-fried pork option is always a winner, and the steamed prawn in a rice paper casing offers some freshness to the table, but if you want a bit of variety, the menu holds all the regular Chinese dishes, as well as traditional Liao Ning-style cuisine. Push the boat out and try the stewed preserved Chinese cabbage with sliced pork belly in umami flavour soup or the stir-fried pork liver with carrot, capsicum and onion if you're feeling adventurous. There's more to love here than just the dumplings, but they are worth the trip alone. A solid, well-priced local haunt for the inner west, I Love Dumplings is consistently busy (always a good sign), so book a table to ensure you're not left out in the cold, staring longingly at the steaming hot plates of food flooding out of the kitchen.
As spring does its thing, you won't find a much better setting for weekend lunch than a table overlooking the rolling green vines of Mornington Peninsula wine country. Especially with Avani Wines' new lunch series, which sees chef Harry Mangat (Biji Dining) return to the Red Hill winery for a weekly pop-up feast, joined by a lineup of Melbourne food stars. The Australian-Indian flavours for which Mangat is known will drive the new weekend lunch menus, on offer Saturdays and Sundays from September 3 until the end of December. Plus, there'll be some big-name guests dropping by throughout the series, including IDES' Peter Gunn, Zackary Furst from Bar Liberty, Hope St Radio's Jack Shaw and Ellie Bouhadana, and Charlie Carrington of Atlas Dining fame. Full lineup here. Get excited for four-course shared feasts ($95), starring plates like chana dal and methi roti (whole wheat) matched with cashew cream and masala; Kashmiri-style lamb with pine nuts, pickled currants and smoked capsicum; and yoghurt custard parfait served with burnt ginger marshmallow. Mangat will be foraging ingredients like nasturtium, wattleseed and wild garlic from right there on the property, and of course, Avani will have lots of great pours to pair with the eats. The regular weekend lunches will clock in at $95, with the guest chef dates priced at $120. Images: Parker Blain
When you're looking to add something tasty to a humble slice of bread, plenty of toppings will do the trick. Even if you limit yourself to spreads and only spreads, everything from Vegemite and peanut butter to Nutella and Biscoff exists. But what if you're hankering for a doughnut and don't have any on hand, or you want to tuck into something more than a little healthier? To the delight of your tastebuds, that's where The Wholefoods Refillery's cinnamon donut spread comes in. A smooth concoction that features plenty of cinnamon — obviously — the spread has been available for around a year; however, since late June, The Wholefoods Refillery has been selling it online. That means that you can order a jar, or several, and have it sitting in your cupboard for whenever you need to turn any piece of bread into dessert. Then, just get slathering. The spread is vegan, as well as gluten free and dairy free. It isn't made from doughnuts, of course, but from cashews, peanuts and coconut. Sadly, if you have a nut allergy, that means you'll just have to stick to actual pastries. Because it uses birch xylitol, which is derived from birch, it isn't suitable for dogs either — so don't go sharing your spread with your four-legged best friend. A 375-millilitre jar will set you back $14 and, if you're wondering how else to put it to use, the folks at Wholefoods Refillery have whipped up recipes for apple rings and scrolls. The latter will help tame your Cinnabon cravings, too. And, if you'd like to try the brand's cashew coconut and Not Tella spreas as well, you can nab the trio in a three-pack. The Wholefoods Refillery's cinnamon donut spread is available to purchase for $14 per jar via its website.
If you have a little (or a lot) of pent up rage after spending two months in lockdown, here's a safe outlet: Melbourne's axe-throwing joint Maniax has reopened, and it's offering a sweet deal for a limited time, too. The Abbotsford joint usually charges $55 a head for its two-hour public sessions — but, until June 30, you can get a public session plus pizza plus a beer for $70. That's $15 for beer and pizza. At the moment, Maniax is accepting bookings of up to ten people. For the uninitiated, Maniax gives you the chance to very safely hurl a hunk of sharpened steel attached to a flimsy handle, and compete with your friends to see who has the most Viking blood coursing through them. Hurl those hatchets, sink a bullseye and calm down after all the axe-lobbing excitement with brews and pizza. Top image: Cole Bennetts
Last month, Ian Strange turned a Richmond house into an artwork, to explore urban isolation, vulnerability and the universal need for shelter. Now, a bunch of teachers from Swinburne Uni have similarly treated the home as canvas. But, this time, they've plastered it with mirrors. Every square centimetre of wall surface on the dwelling at 27 Dorset Road, Ferntree Gully is covered with mirrored bricks. There are over 1800 altogether. Called Untitled House, the project is part of Knox City Council Immerse Arts Festival, which runs 11 November to 11 December. "The Great Australian Dream of home ownership is being challenged in contemporary Australian life," artists Roh Singh, Larry Parkinson and Morganna Magee explain on the festival website. "[It's] becoming an ephemeral idea, one that many are watching slip from the horizon. The concept of the tangible disappearing out of sight and out of reach is one of the central intentions." The mirrors represent this ephemerality. As the house occupies a high position, they mainly reflect the sky and distant views of the Dandenong Ranges. "This clad structure reflects and absorbs the changing ambience of its surroundings," the artists write. "We hope to echo a sense of disappearing, bringing a symbolic impression of the house being lost to the environment." Meanwhile, the interior has been transformed into a gallery. A series of artworks draw on installation, sound art, photography and architectural interventions to explore notions of home and place, compelling viewers to reflect on their memories and ideas. The house is open on Wednesdays (10am – 1pm) and Saturdays (10am – 4.30pm) between November 15 and December 9. Admission is free but you should book a spot through the website in advance. Images: Rhiannon Slatter.
If you've ever dreamed of packing in the nine-to-five life, moving to the beach and running your own eatery with a view, here's your chance — Island Wholefoods Cafe, situated on Victoria's Phillip Island, is being raffled off. It's the kind of shortcut to completely changing your life, owning your own business and living by the seaside that everyone dreams about, and it's on offer for just $15. To enter, you need to buy a 'golden ticket' chocolate bar before midnight on Tuesday, October 16, with all entries going into the draw to become the new proprietor of the plant-based and plastic-free cafe. The winner will also receive $10,000 in cash and $4000 in stock, all fixtures and business assets, and rent, body corporate fees and council rates paid up until March 4, 2019. Valued at $187,439 in total, the prize includes all of the relevant taxes, duties and costs involved with transferring the business and lease as well. Current owners Laura and Matt McNamara opened the site back in 2015, but now they're keen to move onto the next chapter of their lives — which involves travelling around Australia in a caravan with their young family, still living a plant-based lifestyle and focusing on zero waste, all as part of a project they're calling The Avocado Tribe. And if they're off on a new adventure, they're keen to give someone else one too. Plus, as well as gifting the lucky winner a debt-free, profitable and already established business, the McNamaras are donating $2 from every chocolate bar to charities Take3 for the Sea, Plastic Free Phillip Island and Boomerang Bags Phillip Island. As for the $15 caramel chocolate bars themselves, they're made from mylk chocolate, including fair-trade and organic ingredients such as virgin cacao butter, coconut nectar, raw cashews, coconut, raw cacao beans, buckwheat and pink lake salt — and they're also dusted with 24-carat gold. Of course, if you'd be willing to buy absolutely any old chocolate bar for the chance to win your own cafe, that's understandable. Image: Island Whole Foods.
Remember how good it felt to run around barefoot as a kid? The team at Sole Mechanics want to give you back that feeling by helping you reinstate natural movement, starting from the soles of the feet. Offering an extensive range of natural movement shoes (which basically feels like you're wearing nothing at all), the brand aims to help customers naturally increase lower limb strength, improve posture and increase efficiency and performance. You will have heard the phrase 'move it or lose it', but the talented bunch behind Sole Mechanics knows it isn't always that easy. That's why they stock a wide range of natural motion footwear to help your body get back on track.
By now a familiar face to Aussie bubble tea aficionados, Taiwan-founded chain Chatime boasts over 120 local venues. And these guys aren't mucking around when it comes to options, either. Not only will you find a sprawling lineup of drink styles, but also a hefty selection of mix-ins to jazz up your tea — from classic tapioca balls and popping pearls, to jellies, coconut bits and creamy matcha mousse. Pick your favourites and get busy customising your ultimate blend. There are milky concoctions made on all array of different tea varieties, fruit-infused black and green tea blends, and even a series of sparkling tea fusions for something a little bit fancy. While this store is located on Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn, you can find a Chatime basically within a five-kilometre radius of wherever you are in Melbourne. Without mentioning them all, the chain has stores in the CBD, Brunswick, Sunshine, Broadmeadows, Epping, Doncaster and Glen Waverley.
Things are about to get loud at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Busy, too. Thanks to Melbourne's six lockdowns, the city spot hasn't been hosting gigs or welcoming in music lovers for most of the past 18 months or so — but come Saturday, October 30, that'll change when Play On Victoria takes over the venue. The site's first big event in months, this one-day music fest was first announced earlier in October, although it didn't have a name back then. A couple of weeks back, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews revealed that Sidney Myer Music Bowl would host a gig for a solely double-vaccinated audience. The reason: to test the state's reopening settings in the period between hitting the 70-percent double-jabbed mark and coming out of lockdown — which is happening at 11.59pm on Thursday, October 21 — and relaxing even more restrictions at the 80-percent double-vaxxed threshold. Now, further details have been announced. If you're double-jabbed, get ready to see King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Baker Boy, Amyl and the Sniffers, Grace Cummings, and Vika and Linda Bull all take to the stage. Everyone performing and working the event will be double-vaxxed, too, in a sign of how things in Victoria are expected to operate as the state opens back up. Play On Victoria will welcome in 4000 patrons, with tickets costing $29.90 each. You can nab yours from 3pm on Friday, October 22, with tickets limited to folks in metropolitan Melbourne. Attendees will need to wear masks at the gig, and will be allocated seats. You'll also be spread across the venue for social-distancing purposes, and to test how concerts can work safely moving forward. [caption id="attachment_829284" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tim Sabo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] In terms of proving that you're vaxxed, you can display your COVID-19 digital certificate via the Service Victoria app, the Medicare app or your smartphone's wallet — or present a printed version of your certificate or immunisation history statement, or provide evidence of a valid exemption. Back when Play on Victoria was first announced, the Premier said that the gig is "incredibly important for them and for the live music scene. We are the live music capital of our nation that has had it very tough. We have been there to support them all the way through, but they want to get out and perform and do what they do best. That's two entertain and inspire, to question all of us, to be that incredibly soulful part of our city and state. That's 30 October." Other smaller gigs are also set to be held around the state to help test the reopening settings, with further details yet to be announced. Play On Victoria will take place at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, on Saturday, October 30. For further information or to buy tickets from 3pm on Friday, October 22, head to the Ticketek website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Victorian Government's website. Top image: Piknic Electronik, Wade Malligan.
There's no doubting that Death and Other Details loves whodunnits, or that it's made with a murderers' row of them in mind. Playing "spot the nod" is one of this ten-part Disney+ series' games. Sleuthing along with its plot is the other, obviously. So, as an odd couple with an age discrepancy team up to attempt to solve "a classic locked-room mystery" — the show even calls it such — among the preposterously wealthy on holiday, and on a boat at that, where everyone has a motive and a battle over who'll seize control of a family business is also taking place, gleaning what creators and writers Heidi Cole McAdams and Mike Weiss (who also worked together on Stumptown) have been reading and watching isn't a puzzle. Nudges and references are regularly part of the murder-mystery genre anyway; here, they sail into a tale that's also about what we remember and why. Recalling Agatha Christie's oeuvre, its movie adaptations — complete with Kenneth Branagh's recent spate — and especially Death on the Nile is as blatant as knowing that no one onboard Death and Other Details' SS Varuna will be exactly who they appear. Thinking about Only Murders in the Building, Knives Out, Poker Face and The White Lotus is also instantly easy. So is pondering Succession, with narratives about business empires passing down the reins bound to pop up as frequently as detective capers even now that the HBO hit is over. But when other films and shows earn a wink here, Death and Other Details also digs into the purpose behind the minutiae that sticks in our memories. It's a savvy yet risky gambit, getting viewers ruminating on how they spy patterns and filter their perspectives, too, while chancing coming off as derivative. Mostly the series bobs in the first direction; however, even when it sways in the second, it still intrigues its audience to keep watching. That seemingly mismatched pair: Imogene Scott (Violett Beane, God Friended Me) and the Hercule Poirot-esque Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin, Homeland), with the second regularly dubbed "the world's greatest detective". Most folks might believe that label, but Imogene does not. The duo shares a history spanning two decades, from when she was a child (Sophia Reid-Gantzert, Popular Theory) mourning the shock killing of her mother that he couldn't solve. Back then, Rufus was on the case at the behest of the wealthy Colliers, who work in textiles, employed Imogene's mum as a personal assistant to patriarch Lawrence (David Marshall Grant, Spoiler Alert) and took the girl in when she had no one else. Now, both Rufus and Imogene are guests on a cruise chartered by them — she's there as basically a member of the family; he's accompanying the Chuns, with whom the Colliers are in the middle of a billion-dollar business deal. The entire decadent jaunt is in aid of getting crucial signatures, securing the Colliers' future and anointing Lawrence's daughter Anna (Lauren Patten, a Tony-winner for Jagged Little Pill) as the next CEO — she hopes. Death and Other Details doesn't lack in people taking to the seas, though, not only including the aforementioned characters. Chun matriarch Celia (Lisa Lu, American Born Chinese) and her granddaughter Eleanor (Karoline, Dead Ringers), Lawrence's dutiful spouse Katherine (Jayne Atkinson, Baby Ruby) and coked-up son Tripp (Jack Cutmore-Scott, Oppenheimer), Anna's paranoid former-journalist wife Leila (Pardis Saremi, Hell of a Summer) and the Colliers' slimy long-serving manager Llewellyn Mathers (Jere Burns, NCIS: Los Angeles) are all onboard. So is ship owner Sunil Ranja (Rahul Kohli, The Fall of the House of Usher). The unruly Keith Trubitsky (Michael Gladis, The Company You Keep) is also among the passengers, until he's found dead via a harpoon in his cabin. Everyone is eventually a suspect, from a pool that features Washington Governor Alexandra Hochenberg (Tamberla Perry, They Cloned Tyrone), the politically influential Father Toby (Danny Johnson, The Equalizer) and his social-media star son 'That' Derek (debutant Sincere Wilbert), Jules (Hugo Diego Garcia, Touchées) from the vessel's security outfit, and hospitality head Teddy Goh (Angela Zhou, Promising Young Woman) and her sister Winnie (Annie Q Riegel, Kung Fu) as well. But fingers initially point in Imogene's direction, after she's caught on camera in the victim's room not long before he met his end. Rufus, who she's furious to see but has been tasked with looking into the matter until Interpol arrives, can assist — and wants her help cracking the mystery in turn. No one needs to be badged "the world's greatest detective" to pick that their current situation and Imogene's mother's murder have connections. "Pay attention: details matter," advises Rufus early, with Death and Other Details endeavouring to fill its frames with tidbits that prove that notion. And there are tidbits; just like the lengthy list of folks associated with the show's two cases, there's no shortage of backstories, links, twists, detours, motives, secrets, lies, affairs, clues and other finer points. Although not everything convincingly earns its place, the non-stop flow gives Imogene and Rufus plenty to dive into, in the present, common past and much in-between. And while the extravagant ocean liner that the bulk of the current-day timeline is set upon doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get anywhere, the series' plot is pacy and bouncy, never letting a moment drag. Death and Other Details' jumps backwards are always tied to memories and, in another choice that could've sunk or swum — thankfully, it's the latter — often insert Imogene into the recollections. Accordingly, the act of scouring one's brain and scrutinising someone's story for aspects that've might've been overlooked receives a visual representation. The underlying idea isn't just a passing theme, either. That almost everything is subjective isn't a unique revelation, but examining the distortions of our minds, what we choose to see and to block, and what recurs again and again, is particularly potent in unpacking grief and trauma. Such is Imogene's tale, which Death and Other Details never forgets even as it luxuriates on an opulent ship, splashes around sunnily and glossily shot sights, and also steams into the eat-the-rich realm. As the investigators sifting through a motley crew of players with their own idiosyncrasies, Patinkin and Beane unsurprisingly leave the biggest imprint among the cast. Ever-reliably great, he's in classic gumshoe and Columbo-type mode, while she's shrewd and determined. The contrast — as familiar as it is — works a charm. Indeed, as the series coasts entertainingly along, wanting more of Rufus and Imogene sleuthing together, and more of them stepping beyond their present boat-bound scenario, is the main takeaway. For now, their maiden Death and Other Details' voyage boasts much to keep audiences wanting to continue breezing along with them. Check out the trailer for Death and Other Details below: Death and Other Details streams via Disney+ from Tuesday, January 16. Images: Hulu.
After chowing down on the salty and spicy flavours of Box Hill's many eateries, sweet cravings can be seen to with a trip to Wallies Lollies. Within the purple walls of this shop you'll find every sweet imaginable, enough to make you the most popular aunt at the Christmas lunch, and then fill up the drawer full of treats you keep secret from the rest of the office with the leftovers. Fulfil your gothic dreams of an all-black lolly jar, or take your commitment to a colour scheme to the next level — this place has a huge selection of confectionary sorted by colour. Wallies Lollies also has party supplies of the non-edible variety and everything needed to become a cake decorator worthy of the Australian Women's Weekly birthday cake book. Images: Tracey Ah-kee.
MasterChef Australia fans — we know there's a heap of you out there — are in for a real treat in May when four of the show's former contestants take over Crown Melbourne's Evergreen space overlooking the Yarra. The ALUMNI pop-up restaurant will feature Kishwar Chowdhury, Callum Hann, Khanh Ong and one mystery chef who is yet to be announced. Each will have their own three-week stint at Crown, sharing some of their signature dishes and other eats from the cuisines they are best known for. The four-course set menus will cost diners $150 per person, while kids get their own $75 feast. Kishwar Chowdhury kicks off the MasterChef festivities with a menu inspired by her Bengali background, running from Thursday, May 16–Thursday, June 2. Chowdhury has a passion for sourcing rare ingredients and growing hard-to-find produce, so we are expecting a few surprises here. She's followed by Callum Hann, who placed second in the 2010 competition after cooking Peter Gilmore's famous snow egg, and will run the pass from Thursday, June 6–Sunday, June 23. Hann is a champion of sustainable cooking practices and will use his menu to showcase local farmers and discuss issues surrounding food waste. Khanh Ong, known for sharing the flavours of his native Vietnam and for his new cookbook A Gay Guy's Guide to Life Love Food, will then take over the kitchen from Thursday, June 27–Sunday, July 14. We're yet to know anything about the fourth chef but have been told their residency will be properly announced on Tuesday, June 25. Let the wild speculating begin. The ALUMNI 'MasterChef Australia' residencies begin on Thursday, May 16, at Crown Melbourne's Evergreen events space. For more information and to book a spot, visit the venue's website.
The inevitable robot uprising is one step closer to becoming a reality, with Domino's completing what they claim to be the world's first ever pizza delivery by drone. The store-to-door aerial pizza man was unveiled in New Zealand back in August, but this week successfully completed its first pie in the sky mission in Whangaparaoa, just north of Auckland. The order — a questionable combo of peri-peri chicken and chicken and cranberry pizzas, FYI — was delivered to two happy customers around lunchtime on Wednesday, and of course the Domino's team who were there to capture the whole glorious thing. The delivery was made by unmanned aerial vehicle DRU Drone by (U.S. drone developers) Flirtey, which was autonomously controlled by a team of drone experts and a drone pilot. Domino's is calling it the world's first commercial delivery of food by drone to a customer (although 7-Eleven did deliver their first Slurpee by drone back in July). "We invested in this partnership, and technology, because we believe drone delivery will be an essential component of our pizza deliveries, so even more customers can receive the freshest, hottest pizza we can offer," Domino's Group CEO and Managing Director, Don Meij said in a statement. "DRU Drone by Flirtey offers the promise of safer, faster deliveries to an expanded delivery area, meaning more customers can expect to receive a freshly-made order within our ultimate target of ten minutes. They can avoid traffic congestion and traffic lights, and safely reduce the delivery time and distance by travelling directly to customers' homes. This is the future." According to Domino's, the drones will be used as a delivery method alongside the existing fleet of human couriers (well, until they outlive their usefulness) and will eventually be "fully integrated into online ordering and GPS systems". Expect the drones to make short distance deliveries in fine weather, because the last thing we need is pizza falling from the sky. …actually, scratch that. That sounds excellent. The successful pizza run looks set to see drone delivery integrated into the delivery repertoire of more New Zealand stores, and Domino's is looking at starting drone delivery trials in Australia, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Japan and Germany. By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal.
If you're of the opinion that the only thing better than a sandwich is a free sandwich, you're in luck. In celebration of National Sandwich Day, Nico's Deli and Toyota Australia have joined forces to give away 200 free sandwiches. Why the collab, you may ask? Because not only is the classic sanga an Aussie staple — it's also the perfect snack to bring on a road trip. But not all sandwiches are made for driving on the road, which is why Nico's has created a limited-edition combo that is packed with flavour and mess-free. Dubbed the Sarni, the sandwich's base is a crusty sourdough that is filled with smoked ham, sweet mustard relish, vine-ripened tomato, butter lettuce, cave-aged cheddar and a soft-boiled egg. And don't worry veggo pals — a meat-free version is available upon request. To claim your Sarni, head over to Nico's Fitzroy location at 10am on Thursday, November 3, where the team will be handing out 100 free sandwiches until they run out. If you miss out, you can quickly make your way to the deli's Brunswick spot at 11.30am, to find the other 100 free sandwiches. If you don't get the chance to get your free Sarni, you can always try the combo throughout the month of November at all three Nico's branches — and nab a cheeky 20 percent off your order by following Toyota Australia on Instagram. Top image: Nico's Deli - Supplied
Not everyone is a sports fan, but if you like live tunes, the Australian Open should still be on your radar even if you care little about on-the-court action. Only one music event in the world takes place as part of a Grand Slam, and that's AO Live. On the lineup for 2025's iteration: none other than Kesha, Armand Van Helden, Kaytranada and Benson Boone. Game, set, match, music: that's what's on offer when the Australian Open returns in January 2025 with two jam-packed weeks of tennis, plus a few aces for music lovers in the form of its three-day festival. It was back in 2023 that the annual Melbourne sports event launched the AO Finals Festival, getting a heap of talents taking to the stage. Unsurprisingly proving a hit, the fest returned in 2024, and will now be back again in 2025 under a new name. [caption id="attachment_975223" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brendan Walter[/caption] The venue: John Cain Arena, where AO Live will run from Thursday, January 23–Saturday, January 25. 2025's version features the event's biggest lineup so far — and while only the headliners have been announced at the moment, there's special guests to come. The fest kicks off with Boone on the Thursday, followed by Kaytranada on the Friday. Both days will span 5–9pm. Come Saturday, coinciding with the women's finals, Kesha will make her first visit to Australia in seven years, joined by Van Helden. Wrapping up AO Live, the day will kick off at 2pm and finish at 7pm. Expect plenty of company, with the 2023 fest selling out, then 2024's moving venues to John Cain Arena to take advantage of its 10,000-person capacity. AO Live ticketholders will also get a ground pass to the Australian Open, so you can watch the tennis as well as catching live tunes. As always, there'll be scores of food and drink pop-ups scattered throughout Melbourne Park, as well as big screens showing all the on-court action. AO Live 2024 Lineup Thursday, January 23: Benson Boone + special guests Friday, January 24: Kaytranada + special guests Saturday, January 25: Kesha Armand Van Helden + special guests AO Live hits John Cain Arena, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne, from Thursday, January 23–Saturday, January 25, 2025. For tickets from Thursday, October 10, 2024 and more information, head to the festival website. AO Finals Festival images: Ashlea Caygill.
The Union Club Hotel is a Fitzroy stalwart. Walk into any of its rooms, any day of the week, and you'll see a steady collection of loyal locals knocking back pots. While it's a traditional Aussie pub, it has adapted to the times. It's lineup of good pub grub (parmas, burgers and steaks) come with considered gluten-free and vegetarian alternatives (eggplant parma, felafel burger and Nepalese dahl). It's walls are covered with music posters from yonder, but other walls adorn more recent street are, and the sprawling, heated beer garden downstairs is spotted with lush fig leafs. There's another option for outdoor dining, too, a rooftop deck — perfect for sunlit after-work drinks.
At the CBD's newest breakfast destination, Cafe Lafayette, the morning meal takes a verge from the well-worn eggs and avo on toast. But that should come as little surprise, given it's the brainchild of the same minds behind Prahran's adventurous all-day diner, Grand Lafayette. Already known for its OTT Japanese-inspired brunch plates, the cafe has spawned its first sibling and is now taking on the city from the laneway space once home to Restaurant Shik (which sadly closed its doors last April). And the 60-seater is clearly out to draw attention to itself with a dramatic design by award-winning firm Hassell. The cafe isn't light and airy by any means — the moody backlit walls and black tables are matched with shiny surfaces that reflect pink, blue and orange neon lights to create the effect that you're in a bar after work, not eating brunch at 10am. An all-day brunch offering has a soft spot for theatrics, filled with clever reworkings of the classics. And if you're going to break out of your eggs-on-toast comfort zone, how better to do it than with some bolognese-topped panko-crumbed eggplant, teamed with mounds of parmesan and a poached egg? Otherwise, stick with the somewhat familiar with Lafayette's take on eggs benny, which matches braised pork belly with a cod roe potato croquette, sautéed kale, hollandaise and a balsamic dressing. There's also fried chicken — here served with a squid ink waffle, maple syrup, cheese sauce and wild honeycomb — and an elegant bird's nest-inspired creation featuring Japanese okonomiyaki with bacon, tonkatsu sauce, yuzu mayo and a 62.5-degree egg. Or, you might want to sink your teeth into the charcoal grilled eel hotdog, starring Japanese omelette, kale, picked onion and yuzu mayo, sided with crisp seaweed chips. [caption id="attachment_757998" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The unagi hot dog[/caption] The situation gets just as wild over on the drinks list, where the signature sip is a 'technicolour latte' — essentially a full-fat white coffee jazzed up with a rainbow of colourful latte art. Elsewhere, you'll spy turmeric lattes, a series of supercharged shakes and an iced green tea latte made on top-quality Japanese matcha. Find Cafe Lafayette at 30 Niagara Lane, Melbourne CBD. It's open 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. Images: Griffin Simm.
In the years since Bar Saracen sadly closed its doors, former Head Chef Tom Sarafian has become king of the food pop-up, lending his prowess with modern Middle Eastern flavours to guest chef series and popular kitchen residencies across Melbourne. And now, it's Cumulus Inc's turn. For two weeks next month, Sarafian will take over the Flinders Lane restaurant's upper dining room for a memorable feasting series guided by his signature bold, aromatic cooking. Dinners will run Wednesday to Saturday from March 2–12, clocking in at $85 per person for a sumptuous shared menu and with bookings available from 6pm. You'll sit down to dishes like heirloom tomatoes with homemade shanklish, octopus batata harra (spicy potatoes), and plenty of that beloved signature hummus. Meanwhile, two extended Sunday lunch editions are also happening, with limited spots available from 12pm on March 6 and March 13. The first is set to hero Sarafian's charcoal-grilled fish fatteh as the centrepiece ($100pp) while the second will showcase his duck fesenjoon — a Persian dish traditionally slow-cooked with walnuts and pomegranate ($120pp). The drinks list also embraces a Middle Eastern lean — expect a range of Armenian wines, Sarafian's Lebanese lemonade and an arak service. [caption id="attachment_843020" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption]
Based on the number of people I know who haven't been to Adelaide, I'm assuming that if you weren't born in the South Australian capital there's only a 1 in 50 chance you've visited. The city of churches doesn't exactly have the exotic pull of Perth or its own city-transforming gallery a la Hobart, but, even so, it's a destination that will both surprise and delight you. We might be able to convince you with one word — that word is 'wine' — but with its lush green valleys, killer coastline, small bar scene and self-confessed 'Melbourne-esque' cafes, when you think about it, winter weekends are sort of made for Adelaide. You could actually spend your whole weekend eating and drinking, but there is plenty more to do, see and conquer. Here's our guide to a pretty perfect weekend in Adelaide. SATURDAY EXPLORE THE CBD You've just touched down? Great! Time to get acquainted with the city centre, which, granted, is a relatively easy feat. The grid-like layout and the fact that the CBD is surrounded by a ring of interconnecting parks means that you can't wander too far and finding things is easy, peasy, Adelaide. If you're after locally made stuff to take home and show all your friends, JamFactory displays and sells pieces from local artists, craftspeople and designers. Otherwise you can peruse a curated collection of South Australian homewares at the Council of Objects in Ebenezer Place, shop for fashion at Rosa House or find jeans that fit like a glove from denim purveyors Right Hand Distribution. The Art Gallery of South Australia is open every day — with an upcoming Dorrit Black retrospective set to run from June — and a trip to Magazine, which doubles as both a cafe and gallery, is a cosy option for coffee, reading material and a bit of art of the walls. HAVE LUNCH IN NORWOOD Just east of the CBD, Norwood is an easy half-hour walk and a good retreat for lunch. Located on The Parade — generally busy with shoppers and alfresco diners, which isn't meant to put you off — The Grace Establishment is a nice option for a sit-down lunch without being too pricey. Relatively new and still very shiny, the Grace lets you sit indoors or out for a charcuterie board, plate of Kinkawoona mussels or a hearty SA sirloin. Want somewhere that serves your food in little plastic baskets instead? Head down to Nordburger for some of the city's best burgers and 'dogs. [caption id="attachment_205983" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Jocey K via Flickr[/caption] VENTURE DOWN TO SOUTH PORT Adelaide boasts some killer beaches and just because you can't swim in 'em during winter (unless you've got serious game), you can still get amongst their beauty. About 45 minutes down the coast near Port Noarlunga is South Port, a clean, blue beach with a high tide for surfing as well as bays and rocks to walk all over, take melancholic Instagrams and breathe in the sea air. Hiring a car is your best bet for this one, but you can still get there with a train-bus combo (again, if you're game). It might be a bit chilly, but you get something special from icy wind whipping your face and tangling your hair. You'll see. HIT THE CITY'S BEST BARS Forget what you know about Adelaide's bar culture (which is probably not much at all) and you'll find that the loosening of liquor licensing laws a few years ago has spawned a small bar culture and enabled bigger venues to flourish. Want to drink wine straight from the barrel? Cantina Sociale serve all their vino sans bottles. Love gin? Take a visit to bar-cafe Howling Owl for a choice of over 20 different types of gin and a Sylvan Berry Gin Fizz made with Kangaroo Island gin. And if you're just after a good, stiff drink, 1920s-style Clever Little Tailor is a small drinking den doing everything right. One of the newer additions to Rundle Street is Street ADL, who specialise in pretty tasty 'Australian street food' like pulled kangaroo sangas with fancy cocktails. Press* Food & Wine is an upmarket option for dinner (whole suckling pig, anyone?) and Udaberri is good for a late night drop-in for pintxos and Spanish wine. SUNDAY GRAB YOUR MORNING SPECIALTY COFFEE Sunday morning coffee exists even in Adelaide, so you'll have no problem finding a proper brew. Pop by Exchange Specialty Coffee (they use beans from Melbourne's Market Lane), Penny University, Leigh Street's Coffee Branch or Peel Street for coffee and a baked good you can't refuse. TAKE A DAY TRIP TO THE ADELAIDE HILLS OR THE BAROSSA A trip to Adelaide just wouldn't be a trip to Adelaide if you didn't drink your water weight in wine. The best part is that you don't have to suffer a long drive if you don't want to, with the Adelaide Hills just half an hour from the city centre. Grab a car and head into the hills; you'll have a wine glass in hand before you even know it. If you have a sweet tooth, your first stop should be Hanhdorf Hill Winery, where they'll match wine — including their signature Gruner Veltliner — with chocolate for around $20 per person. Don't want to head back into the city for the night? Stay a little longer (and drink to your heart's content) at Longview Vineyard; their six apartments feature floor-to-ceiling windows of your surrounds and are conveniently (or is that dangerously?) located walking distance from their cellar door. If you're willing to venture a little further, the Barossa is a no-brainer. Known for its full-bodied reds, the Barossa is made for shiraz lovers, but has over 50 wineries so you're not limited to taste or preference. Head to Hentley Farm Wines for 'The Beast' shiraz from their cellar door or to Henschke, where you should most definitely do a tour and tasting of one of the region's best shiraz vineyards, Hill of Grace.
What's better than knowing that Studio Ghibli has a new movie directed by the one and only Hayao Miyazaki? Knowing when it will hit cinemas so that you can see it. Ghibli fans Down Under, mark your calendars: The Boy and the Heron will release on the big screen in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, December 7. For some time, news around this film has sat in a specific category: news that can't really be believed until viewers can watch the end result with their very own eyes. That's understandable given that Miyazaki released The Wind Rises a decade ago, and it was expected to be his last film at the time. The movie maestro even announced his retirement. Then, he changed his mind quickly — but it's still been more than half a decade since that welcome revelation. The Boy and the Heron not only exists, but has been playing at international film festivals, already released in cinemas in Japan and boasts not one but two trailers to give audiences a sneak peek at it magic — all before the latest news of its summer arrival Down Under. Viewers can look forward to the story of Mahito, a boy pining for his mother and experiencing the realm where the living and the dead converge — and, naturally, stunningly gorgeous animation that will spirit audiences away. The My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle icon's latest was confirmed back in late 2022 for a 2023 release. Back then, it was known as How Do You Live, but has changed its title since. The official synopsis describes it as "a semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death and creation" — and yes, plenty of Miyazaki's trademarks already exist in that short blurb. The Boy and the Heron will release in Australia and New Zealand in both Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English. For the latter, the film's English-language voice cast spans the starry likes of Christian Bale (Amsterdam), Robert Pattinson (The Batman), Florence Pugh (Oppenheimer), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Gemma Chan (The Creator), Willem Dafoe (Asteroid City), Mark Hamill (The Fall of the House of Usher) and Karen Fukuhara (The Boys). There's nothing quite like a Miyazaki movie. While Studio Ghibli isn't short on on-screen wonders hailing from a range of filmmakers, the Japanese animation house's best-known co-founder truly does make films like no one else. The Boy and the Heron already looks spectacular — unsurprisingly — in its initial glimpses, complete with lush greenery, mysterious spaces and floating critters. And, of course, with Mahito and the picture's titular bird making appearances. The Boy and the Heron marks Ghibli's fifth film since Miyazaki's last movie, following Isao Takahata's The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, page-to-screen treat When Marnie Was There, French co-production The Red Turtle and the CGI-animated Earwig and the Witch. Check out the trailer for The Boy and the Heron below: The Boy and the Heron will release in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, December 7.. Images: © 2023 Studio Ghibli.
Yabun Festival is held annually on January 26 at Victoria Park in Camperdown, Sydney, on Gadigal Land. Yabun — which means "music to a beat" in the Gadigal language — features a wide range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent. Each year, Yabun consists of Corroboree, performances from First Nations musicians, a marketplace, discussions and speeches. This year, for the festival's 20th anniversary, the festival is running little differently, with three different ways for you to experience all the action — including from anywhere you like. The first is in-person at both Victoria Park and the Seymour Centre. Over at its usual home in Victoria Park, attendees can watch Indigenous cultural performances, wander through the marketplace and grab a bit to eat at the food stalls. Across the road at the Seymour Centre, the Yabun Stage will host musicians including rapper Kobie Dee, indie-pop group Pirra, the Gomeroi Dance Company and the Sounds of Freedom musical group which features survivors of the Stolen Generation and descendants including Vic Simms, Nadeena Dixon & Johnny Huckle. If you want to attend the 500-capacity Seymour Centre event, you'll need to apply for your free tickets online. If you can't make it to the city, don't feel comfortable attending in person or you live in regional NSW or interstate, you can also watch via a live stream on the festival's website or tune into the yearly broadcast of the festival on Koori Radio 93.7fm. It all kicks off at midday and will run until 10pm.
Sweet news: this spring and summer, your lips can taste like Gelato Messina no matter what you're eating. We can't all devour ice cream all day and night, sadly, but we can all slather our smackers with Messina's Lanolips collaboration — especially now that it comes in a dulce de leche version. Back in 2021, Messina and Lanolips first teamed up on their debut gelato-flavoured balm — a salted coconut and mango sorbet number that, yes, was always going to give you a constant craving for a few scoops. The pair have brought that popular version back in 2022, too, as well as the new dulce de leche balm. We said it a year ago and we'll say it again now: if you start eating more gelato as a result, you'll know why. How do you make a dulce de leche balm? It takes its cues from Messina's signature in-house Argentinean caramelised milk gelato flavour, and was inspired by a gelato-tasting session, naturally. As for the salted coconut and mango sorbet flavour, it still nods to Messina's most popular coconut milk sorbet — a flavour that features Murray River salt and Australian Kensington Pride mango salsa. In balm form, the two Aussie-made products are infused with lanolin from local sheep's wool, as well as coconut oil, vitamin E and natural flavour. You'll find the lip-smacking products in all Messina stores, Messina's online store, at Lanolips' website and at Mecca. And, while they're perfect for that obvious purpose, Messina and and Lanolips also advise that the multi-balms have one hundred other uses. Head to Messina to pick some up today, on Tuesday, September 27 — or buy one from Messina's website — and you'll also nab a free scoop while stocks last. For more information about Gelato Messina's new Lanolips balm — and to buy some — head to the chain's website.
It's no secret that small businesses have copped it particularly hard in the past couple of years. So, this holiday season, American Express is encouraging Aussies to shop small to help these local businesses recover from the COVID-19 blow. To do so, it has teamed up with Gill Minervini, the newly appointed Festival Director of the much-loved Sydney event, Vivid Sydney. In the spirit of the season, Minervini has created spectacularly festive installations in shop windows in the hopes that it'll get people out stomping the pavements for a dose of festive joy — and shopping up a storm at their local bricks and mortar stores while they're at it. One of the lucky small businesses chosen for these luminous displays is Handsom. The independent clothing brand is known for its timeless pieces — think denim utility dresses and impeccably tailored pants. Head down to the chic flagship boutique on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy from Monday, December 6 to check out the brilliant installation. Each display was conceived to incorporate facets of the brand, owners and local community, so take time to explore it in great detail and see what you can find. Then, head inside to pick up some summer essentials for your siblings, a face mask for your mum and a snazzy pair of sneakers for your dad. Or, just stock up on some gift cards if you're no good at making decisions.
Oh happy day. All things creative that formerly posed technical challenges to the layman are coming closer and closer to the layman's eager hands — from Instagram to 3D printing to Canva, the democratisation of creative industries is exploding all over your face. But for the more luddite individuals among Gen-Y nerds and Nintendo nostalgists, the really hot ticket will be Pixel Press. Forget lines of code; now all that's needed to create a fully interactive digital world is a humble 2B and a gridded sketch sheet. Much like the Lego Architecture Studio, which helps budding architects concretise their lofty imaginings, Pixel Press could be the perfect starter for anyone who fancies getting into the game design industry. In their backstory, the platform's creators describe using pencil and paper to track treasure locations in '80s video games. Such nerdery could only be destined for greatness. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Pixel Press is currently in development with a beta release slated for later in the year, for mobile, desktop and web. What's the process? Simply print out the sketch sheet template, create your unique, five-level pixel world with tortured Picasso-esque etchings in pencil, then photograph it using the Pixel Press app on your iPad. This original version can then be manipulated with more complex design features — like which perilous pillar moves up and down when you jump on it — and shared with your friends, who will probably soon be trying to outdo your design. Though quite basic at present, as the app undergoes further development and users contribute and share their own designs, it's likely this tool will lead to ever-more innovative games for everyone to enjoy. Sign up with your email address here to be part of the A team. You will be richly rewarded by a Chuck Norris gif, throwing you a thumbs up for subscribing to updates on this cool initiative. Check out the team's Kickstarter video explaining the app below. Via PSFK.
What happens when a 20th-century pizza delivery guy gets cryogenically frozen for a thousand years, defrosting when 2999 is flicking over to the year 3000? Futurama has been telling that tale for a quarter of a century now. The animated series hasn't spent the full 25 years since its 1999 debut on-screen, weathering a chaotic run; however, it's been back again, baby, since 2023. The latest comeback's second season — dubbed the show's 12th overall — arrives from Monday, July 29, 2024, and it has a trailer. As always, shut up and take our money. This time, viewers can expect robot villages, a world dedicated to coffee and the survival of Earth under threat. Birthday party games to the death, AI proving both friendly and villainous, cute beanbags, the Planet Express team's usual interplanetary antics: they'll all feature, too, when Futurama returns to Disney+ Down Under. The Matt Groening-created show about life in the 31st century was in vintage form when it dropped its ten-episode 11th season, which embraced the fact that anything and everything can and will happen as it always has. When Futurama's return was first announced in 2022, it was for a 20-episode run, so season 12 was always going to follow. Then in 2023, the show was also renewed for two more seasons beyond that, so season 13 and season 14 are also on the way — taking viewers back to the future for even longer. Both soon and in years to come, get ready for more time with Philip J Fry (voiced by Billy West, Spitting Image), distant uncle to Planet Express cargo company Professor Hubert J Farnsworth (also voiced by West), plus the rest of the outfit's crew: one-eyed ship captain Turanga Leela (Katey Sagal, Dead to Me); fellow employees Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMarr, Craig of the Creek), Amy Wong (Lauren Tom, Dragons: The Nine Realms) and Zoidberg (also West); and everyone from self-obsessed starship captain Zapp Brannigan (West again) and his amphibious 4th Lieutenant Kif Kroker (Maurice LaMarche, Rick and Morty) through to scheming corporation owner Mom (Tress MacNeille, The Simpsons). Bender Bending Rodríguez is causing more mayhem as well, with John DiMaggio (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) also back with the cast when season 11 arrived. When the revival was first announced, that wasn't the case — but it wouldn't be Futurama without its constantly sauced robot exclaiming "bite my shiny metal ass!". You can put a beloved show into suspended animation, but someone is going to thaw it out one day — and more than once, as fans have experienced for decades now. Initially airing from 1999–2003, the futuristic series then returned from 2008–2013, before now being given another run. Check out the trailer for Futurama season 12 below: Futurama streams Down Under via Disney+, with season 12 arriving from Monday, July 29, 2024. Read our review of season 11.
Instruction manuals are often hard to read while trying to complete a task such as fixing a car or, perhaps, (on a more delicate scale) fixing a human. But multitasking may become much easier for surgeons, and the rest of us, as we'll soon be able to see instructions and displays by just putting on Freaunhofer's new data glasses and looking up. The days of rummaging through the pages of a mechanical handbook while belly-up under your car could be over. For those of you who read M.T. Anderson's, Feed, your worst nightmare is coming true. (Okay, this is a slight exaggeration, seeing as the glasses are not implanted within our brains. Still, our techonology is closer than ever to the power the 'feed'.) OLED microdisplay allows you to see not only the real world but also a wealth of virtual information completely controlled by your eyes. The photodiodes work as a camera, tracking the user's eye movement, while the OLED pixels display the document within the glasses. A simple glance at the back or forward arrow will change the page to the users liking. The page is displayed to the user at about 1 metre in height. Researchers presented the system at the electronica trade fair in Munich in November 2012. Fraunhofer Institue for Optronics developed the device with COMEDD and near-the-eye technologies specialist TRIVISIO.
The brightest offering of the bunch, Windsor Castle, comes from the same school of thought as the Carlton Club — everything looks better with taxidermy. Sporting a kooky exterior coat of pink and lime-green paint, and a kookier interior of antlers, tusks and peacocks, this southern gem is really trying to make you take notice. That's not a bad thing though — you should. Come summertime, you'll want nothing more than to abscond to its suburban wilderness and bask in the light of its neon pink elephants.
While Fitzroy's Johnston Street stretch has no shortage of options for working out and getting fit, its newest addition promises to be a little different to most. Nestling into a light-flooded space above The Cruelty Free Shop, Universal Practice is an all-encompassing yoga, pilates and meditation studio with a scientific edge, run by a team of fully qualified physiotherapists. In Universal Practice's second venture, the main studio boasts both a collection of pilates reformer beds and an assortment of specialist physio equipment, while the yoga room features a ropes wall — allowing students the use of props to deepen their focus on alignment. In addition to physiotherapy treatments and individualised pilates sessions, a broad range of classes is on offer, spanning from yoga asana and ropes yoga to reformer pilates, meditation and even deep-focus Yin sound bath sessions. Designed by Genevieve de Campo of de Campo Architects, the new space has a similar look to the team's original Richmond studio — which opened in 2016 — but with a more relaxed vibe to suit its Fitzroy address. Expect a feel-good vibe, fitted out with soaring warehouse ceilings, pale oak finishes and huge windows overlooking Johnston Street. Plus, to celebrate the launch, Universal Practice is offering a week of free reformer pilates, yoga and meditation classes to all visitors at their new Fitzroy digs. Jump over to the website to check out the timetable and reserve your spot. Find Universal Practice at Level 1, 124 Johnston St, Fitzroy, or check out their website.
Mirada in Spanish means a glance or gaze and it’s certainly worth running your eye over this year’s La Mirada Film Festival program. The festival brings a scintillating selection of new release Spanish and South American films to ACMI and Cinema Nova this week. From a romantic comedy with UFOs (Nacho Vigalondo’s Extraterrestre) to a thriller about a beauty queen caught up in Mexican drug wars (Gerardo Naranjo’s Miss Bala), to a quest to capture the essence of haute cuisine through music (Felipe Ugarte’s documentary Mugaritz BSO), the program is full of surprises and delights. There is also a bit of celebrity sheen to proceedings, with sessions selected by international luminaries such as Wes Anderson and Gael Garcia Bernal, and a retrospective of Spanish film curated by Pedro Almodovar. With Spanish music and tapas too, La Mirada is making a serious tilt at the title of coolest film festival in town.
The UK city of Kingston upon Hull (better known as Hull) made big news this weekend as over 3000 locals and visitors walked the streets naked, painted in four different shades of blue. While this sounds like something Tobias Fünke would inadvertently find himself in the middle of, the nudity was all in the name of art — specifically, for New York-based artist, Spencer Tunick's latest installation. The artwork, appropriately titled Sea of Hull, is a celebration of the seaside town and its relationship with the sea. The 3200 blue participants, which came from 20 countries, traipsed across many of the city's most historic sites for installation and photographing. They even posed on the Scale Lane Bridge, an award-winning swing bridge that crosses the River Hull. The installation is the largest of its kind to be staged in the UK, beating Tunick's previous installations in Gateshead (2005) and Salford (2010). A photo posted by The Best Picture of the Day (@zumapress) on Jul 10, 2016 at 12:09pm PDT A photo posted by La Vanguardia (@lavanguardia) on Jul 9, 2016 at 9:53am PDT Tunick's newest piece was commissioned by Hull's Ferens Art Gallery, who will highlight this piece in their 2017 program. Next year will be a big one for the city, as Hull has once again secured the bid for UK City of Culture, which they also hosted in 2013. The award is given every four years to a city that demonstrates the belief in the power of culture, and Hull City Council is promising to deliver a 365-day program of transformative cultural activity in 2017. Having staged over 90 installations, Tunick's art has encouraged mass nakedness worldwide, including his nude shoot for diversity in front of the Sydney Opera House back in 2010. Other such locations — apart from New York, of course — include the Dead Sea, Mexico City and Cleveland, Ohio. Via SMH.
