Looking for an excuse to start making holiday plans? A massive flight sale with one million discounted fares on offer will do the trick. For a week, Qantas is slinging cheap tickets across its domestic network, spanning 60-plus routes — and prices start at under $150 one-way on more than 30 of them. Getaway dates vary, but winter is the ideal time to make a booking for one inescapable reason: when we're all spending more time rugged up indoors to escape the chillier weather, who isn't dreaming of their next break away from their own four walls? The sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Sunday, June 30, 2024, but the usual caveat applies: you'll want to get in quickly to nab a bargain (and, as always, if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out). Whether you're a Sydneysider thinking about a Gold Coast jaunt, a Melburnian keen to finally hit or return to Tasmania or a Brisbanite eager to make a date with The Whitsundays, you have options. Indeed, you can get from Sydney to the Gold Coast for $109, Brisbane to the Whitsunday Coast from $129 and Melbourne to Hobart from $149. Other routes and fares include Adelaide to Melbourne from $139, Launceston to the Gold Coast from $199, Sydney to Cairns for the same price, and Sydney to Perth for $339. Business class flights are on sale as well, if your budget can stretch that far. Trips to and from Ballina, Newcastle, Mildura, Albury, Coffs Harbour, Kangaroo Island, Townsville, Tamworth, Rockhampton, Port Macquarie, Alice Springs, Uluru and Darwin are also on the sale list. Inclusions-wise, the sale covers fares with checked baggage, complimentary food and beverages, wifi and seat selection. Qantas' one million seat sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Sunday, June 30, 2024, or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Think about geomagnetic storms and you might think about disaster movies. If you were in a part of Australia where the Aurora Australis was visible over the weekend of Friday, May 10–Sunday, May 12, 2024, the term will now always be synonymous with a stunning sky show. Thanks to extreme planetary conditions, as per the Bureau of Meteorology, aurora sightings lit up the heavens — and widely, including not just in Tasmania, but also in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and even Queensland. If there's ever been a reason to look at the night sky, this was it — and look, plenty of people did. So, whether you slept through the bursts of colour, couldn't see the Aurora Australis in your part of the country or are keen for another glimpse, there's ample photographic proof that inky black heavens gave way to psychedelic hues. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Luke Tscharke | Tasmania (@tscharke) Missed all the details, too? The Bureau first issued a warning for a G4 geomagnetic storm on Friday, May 10, noting that the event — which sees the earth's magnetic field experience fluctuations — could arrive that night. The G4 grading is the second-highest on the G-scale, with G1 considered minor and G5 extreme. The Bureau also advised that a few things can happen, such as disrupting power grids and satellite services, and also creating vivid auroras — including the latter in places normally considered dark-sky locations. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sean O' Riordan | Ireland (@seanorphoto) Then, on Saturday, May 11, the organisation revealed that the geomagnetic storm was a G5 event — the first since 2003 — and that the conditions would continue that day. On Sunday, May 12, it advised that the storm had shifted down to G3, but aurora sightings would still be possible. Cue social-media feeds filled with spectacular snaps — some of which we've compiled above and below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ela / Australia (@sea.of.lights1) Aurora Australis last night at Mentone Beach, Victoria, Australia #AuroraAustralis #aurora pic.twitter.com/0Gb9zEnsEB — Findlay Ferguson (@Findlaybf) May 12, 2024 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eliza Sum 沈韪嫦 (@elizasum) I lived in Finland for 6 years and never thought that the best Aurora in my life I'd see in Melbourne 😳#AuroraAustralis pic.twitter.com/nZ4ulfrHaF — Maria Ermakova (@mary_in_vivo) May 11, 2024 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brent Martin (@brent_martin_photography) I lived in Finland for 6 years and never thought that the best Aurora in my life I'd see in Melbourne 😳#AuroraAustralis pic.twitter.com/nZ4ulfrHaF — Maria Ermakova (@mary_in_vivo) May 11, 2024 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lachlan Gardiner (@lachlan_gardiner) Visible with the naked eye from the far southwest of Western Australia! ⭐️💥⭐️#AuroraAustralis pic.twitter.com/PpsJVE2gbo — Jinni Wilson (@earthseastar) May 11, 2024 View this post on Instagram A post shared by George Berg (@george_berg_photography) For more information about the geomagnetic storm and Aurora Australis, head to the Bureau of Meteorology website. Top image: patrickkavanagh via Flickr.
If you've ever dreamed of your reality aligning a little more closely with that of, say, late-'70's rock band The Runaways or old-school Aussie indie act The Sunset Strip, consider Collingwood's FeeFee's Bar your new happy place. Gracing that eastern stretch of Johnston Street between Wellington and Hoddle, this newcomer clocks in on the glamorous side of grunge, with the spirit of rock 'n' roll coursing through its veins. For owner Fiona Meiklejohn, FeeFee's is the upscale, music-focused bar the area was missing — it's Melbourne's answer to iconic, rock-tinged haunts like London's Crobar, Le Fanfaron in Paris and The Burgundy Room in Hollywood. "It's a place for people to come, sit in a beautiful environment and enjoy a cocktail, whilst soaking up the rock vibes,"" she explains. "A haven for those who love real music." To that end, expect a complete departure from sticky carpets and dive bar shabbiness. Instead, Meiklejohn and partner Jonas Schöfer have gone for what they describe as a '1970s Scandinavian après-ski vibe', with a rock 'n' roll influence. It's a space that speaks to a bygone era of music-inspired revelry, all flocked wallpaper, sexy lighting, and framed portraits of rock gods and goddesses lining the walls. Meanwhile, the bar's slinging crafty cocktails and top-shelf gins alongside all your favourite tinnies, and the soundtrack changes focus throughout the week, gearing up to weekend DJ sets of disco, funk, and old-school rock.
Having launched cafes in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and, most recently, Sydney's Surry Hills, Veneziano Coffee Roasters now has a treat for its local fans, opening its original Richmond headquarters to the public from next week. A bright, new 80-seat dining space now sits alongside the River Street roastery and barista training studio, allowing guests to sip their morning macchiato while watching — and smelling — those beautiful beans roasting. There's a cupping lab, too, for those wanting to get up close and personal with their brew, and an interactive micro-roastery where you'll be able to see the magic unfold. Opening Monday, July 30, the brew bar is set to showcase the label's signature Bond St blend, with a selection of microlots (sourced from one small area of a plot) also on rotation. To match, the kitchen is plating up a modern cafe menu for both breakfast and lunch, designed around local, seasonal ingredients. True coffee aficionados can also get excited for a beefed-up range of barista courses offered in the onsite training studio. "It presents the perfect opportunity to showcase the brand as an end-to-end specialty experience for coffee lovers and those keen to learn more," said Veneziano Managing Director Craig Dickson. Find Veneziano's new Melbourne cafe at 16 River Street, Richmond, from Monday, July 30. It will be open daily from 7am–4pm.
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.
Break out the martinis and prepare for a shaken but not stirred couch session: Bond, James Bond, is coming to your lounge room. Just in time for wintry binge-viewing marathons, the famed espionage franchise has hit Prime Video, spanning every flick in the series from the now 60-year-old Dr No through to 2021's No Time to Die. Sean Connery smouldering his way through everything from that first-ever Bond instalment through to Diamonds Are Forever, Roger Moore stepping into 007's shoes between Live and Let Die and A View to A Kill, Timothy Dalton's two-film run in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill — they're all included. So is Pierce Brosnan's stint as the secret agent between GoldenEye and Die Another Day, and Daniel Craig's five contributions from Casino Royale onwards, wrapping up with what might be the best Bond film yet. Aussie actor George Lazenby's one-movie appearance as Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service is also on the bill. That's all 25 official movies in total covered, but there is also a 26th movie, Never Say Never Again, that you might want to watch. Made in 1983, it stars Connery as the suave spy. But, because it was made by a different company from the rest of the Bond movies, it's not considered part of the franchise itself. If you're a completist, it's also on Prime Video now. Exceptional Bond flicks, terrible ones, everything in-between: if 007 is involved, it's now in this one spot. For everything other than No Time to Die, this isn't the first time the franchise has all sat on one streaming platform, and we've all seen various flicks hop between different services over the years. That said, the Bond movies aren't likely to move from Prime Video moving forward given that Amazon recently purchased MGM, the nearly century-old film studio that's behind all things 007. That deal will see the platform access MGM's 4000-plus films and more than 17,000 TV episodes, spanning the likes of the Rocky and Legally Blonde franchises, as well as other classics such as Thelma & Louise, The Silence of the Lambs, The Magnificent Seven and Raging Bull. For now, though, the focus is on a certain Aston Martin-driving spy — and the villains, women, gadgets, songs and stylishing opening credits sequences that go with him. If you want to don a tuxedo while you watch, well, that's up to you. The entire Bond franchise hit Prime Video on Wednesday, May 11 — and is now available to stream.
This Cremorne plant store is so darn pretty, it doubles as an events space and wedding venue. Step through the doors of Glasshaus Inside and you're met with a sprawling assortment of indoor plants, from wee little devil's ivy, to rafter-kissing fiddle leaf figs. There's big appreciation here for the rare and unusual, so it's a solid choice if you're hunting something a little bit different to add to your collection. Otherwise, you can just wander through the warehouse jungle for an easy dose of nature. And if your house is reaching peak capacity, you'll find a huge range of outdoor plants in Richmond at Glasshaus' Stanley Street outpost. You'll find Glasshaus Outside at 52-54 Stanley Street, Richmond, and Glasshaus Florist at 101 Swan Street, Richmond.
We all have a mate who thinks, talks, and posts stories about eating and drinking. Not that you mind too much. They've always got the best new bar and restaurant recos, and they bring excellent snacks to picnics. When it comes to getting them a gift, buying something they can consume is a pretty safe bet — but you've gotta keep your standards high because theirs certainly will be. So, in partnership with Square, we've picked out nine gourmet gifts for the epicurean in your life. If you're lucky, they'll share some of the tasty goodies with you. And you may even impress by introducing them to a local producer that wasn't already on their radar. If you are a small business owner, Square has the tools you need to to take payments and maximise your sales, including an ebook with tips to help you get started this holiday season. MONTHLY CHEESE SUBSCRIPTION, MOULD ($75 PER MONTH) If you like to remind your mate regularly of just how lucky they are to have you as a friend (even though they are, of course), a subscription gift will do it for you — every month. And a cheese subscription? Well, you may be the best friend ever. Available from Mould, host of our favourite annual cheese festival, each monthly box features four gourmet cheeses from artisans across Australia, like a mature cheddar from Pyengana and camembert from Robe Dairy. Payment is processed on the first day of every month and the box is shipped the Monday following, so you'll know exactly when to show up at your mate's door with a bottle of vino for an 'impromptu' catch-up. [caption id="attachment_729021" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] VOUCHER, BAR MARGAUX ($50–200) If it's been too long between martinis at Bar Margaux, make sure your next catch-up is over steak frites at this basement bistro. Earlier this year, the Made in The Shade collective started offering online gift vouchers to give customers a way to support the French-style diner during lockdown. And when you're buying for someone who has exceptional taste, a voucher for their favourite bar and eatery is a failsafe option. Choose from values of $50, $100, $150, $200 — or a custom amount — then select from two gift card colours. There's even a handy tick box to send the gift directly to your mate's inbox. [caption id="attachment_701672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gareth Sobey[/caption] THE FAMOUS FOUR SET, THE EVERLEIGH ($72) Another Made in The Shade gem, award-winning cocktail bar The Everleigh kept many of us well sauced through the long nights in lockdown. No doubt you're familiar with its bottled cocktail packs, including pocket-sized single and double serve classics, including negronis, manhattans, martinis and old fashioneds. We're here to remind you they make excellent gifts when you're buying for someone who has discerning taste. Go all-out on the Famous Four gift set for $72. Delivery is $9.99 when you spend over $50 and the drinks come wrapped and ready to present. MUSHROOM GROW YOUR OWN KIT, URBAN FARMING COLLECTIVE ($25–40) Know what really gets a food fanatic excited? Growing their own product, expanding their knowledge and ultimately having bragging rights at your next group feast. Plus, growing your own veggies is more achievable than you think, even if you've got limited space and time. Melbourne's Urban Farming Collective helps people grow their own food by offering advice and selling planter kits, like its White Button Mushroom Grow Your Own Kit. Add the hobby-sized kit to your cart and ship it to a friend. In 10–12 weeks, they'll be able to show off up to three kilograms of their own homegrown organic mushrooms. LITTLE MISS YOKO GIN, LITTLE LON DISTILLING ($80) What with bars being closed for a while and many booze brands jumping on the virtual masterclass trend during lockdown, your mate may have gotten pretty skilled in making their own cocktails this year. And one they should certainly add to their repertoire is a lychee martini using Little Lon's Little Miss Yoko Gin. The limited-batch, double-distilled gin gives off notes of vanilla, baking spices and, of course, lychee, making it an excellent year-round addition to their bar cart. According to the Melbourne-based distillery, it also suits a fruity sour cocktail or, if your mate wants to keep things simple, tell them to mix it with elderflower tonic water. WITH GRATITUDE GIFT PACK, LOVE TEA ($55) If there is something your epicurean mate loves more than anything, it's trying new things. So, with over 60 different blends on offer, Love Tea is sure to be right up their alley. Since 2006, Love Tea's founders Emma Watson and Damien Amos have collaborated with growers across the world to source top-quality organic ingredients, before crafting, blending and packing the teas in flavours like dandelion chai, hibiscus and coconut orange in Melbourne. A gift pack is the best introduction to the brand, so thank your mate for another year of friendship with the With Gratitude pack, which comes with white rose and goji, lemongrass and ginger, peppermint and organic chai. Shipping is $9 or free for orders over $65. POUR OVER COFFEE KIT, MARKET LANE COFFEE ($100) Maybe your mate is one of those still working from home for the foreseeable future. Or perhaps their caffeine game is pretty weak whenever you visit. Either way, they need their coffee situation sorted pronto. Market Lane's Pour Over Coffee Kit will have them ditching the freeze-dried nonsense in the pantry and transform an early morning cuppa into their favourite part of the day. This starter kit comes with a pour over cone, filter papers, digital pocket scales, a Pitchii jug and a guide to make the entire process easy peasy. Shipping is free for orders over $40. ESTATE TO PLATE VOUCHER, MONTALTO ($350) For $350, you could get an unforgettable gift for two epicureans in your life. Award-winning winery Montalto runs Estate to Plate experiences that include chef-run kitchen garden tours, wine tastings and a five-course lunch with matched wines at Montalto Restaurant. Which, considering the restaurant has earned 16 Good Food Guide hats since opening in 2002, makes this one very impressive gift. It's an exxy pressie, but the benefits are a memorable and long-lasting gift. You'll receive a PDF voucher instantly and vouchers are valid for up to three years from purchase. CHRISTMASSY FAVES GIFT, HEY TIGER ($45.50) We've consumed enough chocolate on Christmas Day to know two things to be true. One: it's a winning gift idea. And two: not all chocolate is created equal. And it's that second point that really sets Hey Tiger apart. The Aussie brand is dedicated to changing the cocoa industry by ethically sourcing its ingredients and donating a portion of every bar sold to The Hunger Project. But it's not simply making a social impact — it's doing it with some innovative flavours, including a whole range of game-changing vegan bars. The Christmassy Faves comes with a caramel and gingerbread white chocolate, a strawberry trifle milk chocolate, and three mini bars. To make your life easy, it comes in a gift box already and you can add a card for just a buck more at the checkout. Oh, and every order comes with a free mini bar, so you won't even need to drop hints to your mate to share their loot. Find out how Square is supporting small businesses with the tools they need to grow, here. f you are a small business owner, Square has guidance on how best to maximise sales in the run up to the Christmas holiday period in its ebook, found here.
As someone who spends a lot of time indoors (that's where the internet is), I can understand that leg itch, the twitch, that feeling of needing to go outside, and do something that really makes you feel alive. Some people jump out of planes, or wing suit down huge mountains. Those particular activities might be a bit much for some, but to celebrate the release of Berlin Syndrome, a film that really gets the blood pumping, we've come up with a list of activities to get you fired up without the risk of severe injury or death. GET OUT OF AN ESCAPE ROOM The premise of the escape room is simple enough. You're in a room, now escape it. The devil, as always, is in the detail. Escape room themes can be anything from an asylum to a gaol cell or a haunted house — anywhere that's going to get your brain imagining every possible outcome. And you're going to need your brain, if you ever want to get out of the room (jokes, of course you can leave whenever you want, if you're chicken). You and your team solve the clues, and break yourselves out.There are heaps of rooms around Melbourne, like Shutdown by Strike in the Melbourne Central, or Trapt on Lonsdale St. TACKLE A TEETERINGLY HIGH WALL While there are many who would argue that the point of climbing to the top of a cliff that you're just going to abseil down is a little counter productive, these arguments would tend to come from those who've never done it before. Rock climbing gets you going for a number of reasons — the fear of falling, the drive to push yourself to the top, and that feeling of the only other alternative, halfway up, is a leap of faith. Which we all know is a terrible idea. Melbourne Adventure Hub comes to the rescue again, with some great deals on climbs all within an hour from town. SEE A MODERN THRILLER IN A DARK CINEMA Based on a novel of the same name, the film follows Australian photojournalist Clare (played by Teresa Palmer) as she embarks on her first solo trip to Berlin. While travelling, she meets and begins a passionate romance with charismatic local man Andi. Their relationship soon takes an unexpected and sinister turn—she wakes one morning to discover that Andi has left for work and locked her inside his apartment, with no intention of ever letting her leave. Filmed on location in Berlin and Melbourne, the film is a thoughtful, psychological thriller written and directed by Australian Cate Shortland (who also directed the critically acclaimed Somersault). It examines tough topics such as emotional manipulation, gaslighting and Stockholm syndrome in a provocative fashion, leaving the audience with a new outlook on the relationship that can occur between captor and captive. Berlin Syndrome opens in Melbourne cinemas on April 20. GO WHITE WATER RAFTING WITHIN THE CITY There aren't many more things that'll get your heart rate up faster than careening down a choppy river at blistering speed in a boat that's made out of the same material as a raincoat. But don't worry, you get a helmet. While it might not be an activity for the faint of heart, white water rafting is a real thrill, kind of like canoeing but with an insane sugar rush. It's all about working in teams to overcome the problem which, in this case, is water that is trying to kill you (nah, you'll be safe, don't worry). Melbourne Adventure Hub puts private groups through their paces on the King River. GO CANYONING WITHIN A RELATIVELY QUICK DRIVE OF THE CBD There are many ways to the bottom of a canyon, but the fastest is by abseiling down with the assistance of some well placed ropes and a few sturdy carabiners. The real rush comes at the exact moment you step out, backwards over the precipice, and all over a sudden gravity has never been more apparent. Leaning back, you take that first step off the rock face and, boom, that's living. As usual, Red Balloon has some top experiences at Yarra Junction. Berlin Syndrome will be released in cinemas nationally on April 20 — watch the trailer here.
The Perserverance Hotel’s menu might not be a shining example of local innovation, but on the second Sunday of every month you can complement your pub grub with some of the craftiest wares this side of the city. Blackbird Market sees the Brunswick Street establishment get more fittingly Fitzroy with stalls peddling jewellery, bicycle accessories, PJs, zines and vintage clothing. Slide your pins into some reflective legwarmers from Melbourne’s most sartorially discerning cycle store CycleStyle, get an inky hit of culture from the latest copy of Spook Magazine and pick up the requisite nick nacks from grandmas florals, then dump them all into a plush leather satchel by Sarah van Oosterom. Since it’s still technically a bar there will be DJ tunes plus plenty of tasty liquids on tap to encourage financial nonchalance. But at least you’ll still feel good about your purchases later on in the afternoon.
Melburnian burger-lovers, it just became a whole lot easier to get your mouth around an Easey's creation on your lunch break, with the Collingwood cult burger venue launching two new food pop-ups this past month. Just weeks after announcing a kitchen take-over of South Yarra's Two Wrongs, it turns out Easey's has also landed itself some new CBD digs, setting up shop within The Bottom End as part of the bar's recent revamp. The crew's working their magic out of a casual pub-style space on the ground floor, serving up burger-fuelled good times from 11.30am, five days a week. Foodwise, expect a similar offering to what you've been scoffing down at the original Easey's; from gutsy burgers and hot dog creations, through to those glorious sides, and the occasional amped-up special. There'll also be a handful of venue specific additions, including the mi goreng fried chicken sandwich (yep, that's fried chicken, coated in noodles) being given permanent residency on the menu. Of course, if Collingwood's Easey's taught us anything, it's that a can of Melbourne Bitter is the perfect accompaniment to a messy ol' cheeseburger, and they've worked the drinks list here accordingly. Backing up the eats, you'll find a range of easy-drinking tap beers and tinnies, and a lineup of low-key cocktails, with weekday happy hour specials between 4-7pm. Get your Easey's burger fix at The Bottom End, 579 Little Collins Street, CBD, from 11.30am till late, Monday to Saturday.
It was first announced back in 2017 and originally slated to open its doors this March. Now, the three-year wait is over. Society, the much-anticipated venture from Chris Lucas (Chin Chin, Kisume), and Sepia's Martin Benn and Vicki Wild, will make its debut next Thursday, July 22. The long-awaited newcomer has made its home within the 80 Collins dining precinct, sporting a timeless aesthetic courtesy of renowned local architects Russell & George. The interior fuses elements of art deco, mid-century, art nouveau and brutalist sensibilities, with numerous works by Victorian artist David Noonan gracing the walls. Society Dining Room and Society Lounge will be the venue's first spaces to launch, with the second restaurant Lillian Terrace following suit in August. The food offering, by celebrated chef Benn, is a choose-your-own-adventure scenario with a multi-faceted menu of dishes that work as both shared and solo dining plates. The menu is considered, and the food boasts a level of precision inspired by ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging. A strong team of head chefs helps to bring it all to life, including Rhys Connell (ex-Sepia), Luke Headon (ex-The Fat Duck) and Thomas Wooks (ex-Woodland House). At Society Dining Room, you're in for refined creations like albacore tuna matched with shiso and rhubarb, bonito with ume yuzu and roast chicken jellies, and a wagyu beef rib cap starring a Japanese pickle and wasabi butter. Meanwhile, the Lillian Terrace menu nods to the Euro influences of Benn's earlier career, running to plates like a spiced crown of chicken cooked over coals with charred lime and tomato, and a playful riff on the Napoleon mille feuille for dessert. [caption id="attachment_819105" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption] To match, expect a sharp drinks offering, with the headline act an impressive wine curation assembled by Loic Avril (ex-Fat Duck and Dinner by Heston). Think, two pouring lists, cellar displays you can browse before you order and Dom Perignon available by the glass. Even more top-notch drinking can be found at Society Lounge, where a cocktail list by World Class Bartender of the Year Orlando Marzo stars with delights like the caviar-infused martini. Find Society at 80 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD, from July 22. Society Dining Room and Lounge will initially open from 5.30pm nightly, with expanded opening hours to follow come August. Reservations are now open for the Dining Room, while the Lounge will take walk-ins only. Lillian Terrace will launch from August 5. Images: Food by Adrian Lander, interiors by Tom Blachford
You're successful in your career, but your personal life suddenly takes an unwanted turn. Then, your childhood best friend-slash-crush and Keanu Reeves both turn up. That's the premise of Netflix new rom-com Always Be My Maybe, which follows celebrity chef Sasha (Ali Wong), who reluctantly reconnects with her dependable old buddy Marcus (Randall Park) after falling out with him 15 years earlier — only for a slick newcomer (Reeves) to threaten their reunion. If that sounds like your idea of a good night in, that's what the streaming platform is counting on. As well as serving up highly binge-able TV shows and plenty of viewing options with a strong female lead, Netflix loves flicks of the romantic and comedic persuasion, especially among its original content. Clearly audiences love a rom-com too, which is why the service keeps making them. Always Be My Maybe arrives with an impressive pedigree, with director Nahnatchka Khan known for Fresh Off the Boat and Don't Trust the B____ in Apt. 23, and stars Wong and Park co-writing (with Grimm's Michael Golamco) and co-producing as well. Cast-wise, the stacked lineup also includes Lost's Daniel Dae Kim, Broad City's Michelle Buteau, Miracle Workers' Karan Soni and Paper Heart's Charlyne Yi, plus Lyrics Born and Keanu, of course. Check out the trailer below and then watch the film on Netflix immediately. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHBcWHY9lN4&feature=youtu.be You can now stream Always Be My Maybe on Netflix. Updated: June 28, 2019. Image: Ed Araquel / Netflix.
Huge new plans are coming to Queen Victoria Market's Southern Precinct, including a brand new Market Square which is set to include a 1.8-hectare park and green space. The current openair carpark will be converted into a public green space rich in biodiversity, making it one of the largest open spaces in the CBD. The City of Melbourne will partner with Lendlease to undertake this $1.7 billion development, which also includes new apartments, affordable housing, student accommodation and new office spaces. [caption id="attachment_911282" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Render, supplied[/caption] Dubbed Gurrowa Place, meaning place of exchange, the project will be developed by Lendlease in consultation with Traditional Owners. "The creation of Gurrowa Place begins the next chapter in the evolution of Queen Victoria Market. It will celebrate the rich history of the place, while introducing new spaces for the community and a vibrant precinct that welcomes locals and visitors," Lendlease Managing Director Development Tom Mackellar says. The City of Melbourne is aiming high with this one, including targeting 5-Star and 6-Star Green sustainability ratings. [caption id="attachment_894413" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: QVM, Hawker 88[/caption] "Our landmark divestment of the Southern Precinct will transform our city's north with a vibrant new precinct bursting with uniquely Melbourne experiences — creating an enduring legacy for the Queen Victoria Market for generations to come," Lord Mayor Sally Capp says. The news comes as ongoing works on the $450 million Munro Development continues. The Munro Development will play host to a community hub featuring family services, shared work spaces and affordable housing units in addition to a new, rooftop library. Works on the Southern Precinct are expected to commence in early 2024 and will be delivered in stages over five years. Meanwhile, the community will have the chance to have their say on the use and design of Market Square and the Queen's Corner Building in the coming months, so watch this space. Top image: Renders, supplied.
America has discovered what we have known for years — Wally de Backer is pretty much a living legend. The artist more commonly known as Gotye topped the US Billboard Hot 100 charts today with his hit 'Somebody That I Used to Know', featuring New Zealand singer/songwriter Kimbra, which first started receiving crazy amounts of Southern Hemisphere radio play back in 2011. Belgians have already claimed Wally as their own since he spent all of two years living there, but Melbourne is where he spent formative years busting his musical chops. So in honour of this fact — and because it's an excellent excuse to resurrect Savage Garden and watch Olivia Newton-John do sexy aerobics — here are all of the Aussie anthems to have commanded the top spot on the Billboard charts. https://youtube.com/watch?v=hiaKiqIsi2s RICK SPRINGFIELD - JESSIE'S GIRL (1981) https://youtube.com/watch?v=vWz9VN40nCA OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN - PHYSICAL (1981) MEN AT WORK - DOWN UNDER (1983) https://youtube.com/watch?v=w-rv2BQa2OU INXS - NEED YOU TONIGHT (1987) https://youtube.com/watch?v=-ZDMRJXY0nk SAVAGE GARDEN - I KNEW I LOVED YOU (2000) GOTYE - SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW (2012)
In a week that already gave our nostalgic hearts hope for a reunion of The Nanny, here comes an even better piece of news: Daria, your favourite late 90s realist gal, will be finding her way back to our screens thanks to MTV. Big mood. The news comes as part of MTV's announcement that it's launching a new production unit, MTV Studios, which'll be working on a number of reboots. As well as Daria, other past TV hits getting the revival treatment include Aeon Flux and The Real World. The new outfit will also work on several new reality shows, but it's probably safe to say cult fave Daria is the one to get fans most excited. Feminist icon Daria Morgendorffer blessed our screens with smarts, satire, sardonicism and being a general slacker from 1997 to 2002, with the show revolving around her acerbic cynicism and its disconnect with the teenage girl world she lived in. And, even though it's been nearly two decades since the show went off the air — running for 65 episodes, plus the pilot, two specials, and made-for-television films Is It Fall Yet? and Is It College Yet? — she is very far from forgotten if yearly Halloween costumes are anything to go by. Melburnians certainly haven't been letting the character slip from their memories, with not one but two parties dedicated to the series taking place in 2017. The new reboot will be called Daria & Jodie, and it'll follow your gal and her friend Jodie — another character from the original series, and one of Daria's classmates at Lawndale High School — as they "take on the world with their signature satirical voice while deconstructing popular culture, social classes, gender and race", according to MTV. Written by Grace Edwards (Inside Amy Schumer, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), you can probably rest assured that this is one reboot that won't ruin the original (we're looking at you, Charmed — although, to be fair, that new witchy series won't air until later this year). Stay tuned for premiere date information, and start kicking about in those old black Doc Martens again to celebrate. Via Variety.
When Robert Pattinson put on pop culture's most famous cape and cowl, it wasn't a once-off, with a sequel to 2022's The Batman on the way. In the same film, when the latest version of Oswald Cobblepot made an appearance, that wasn't the only time that audiences would see the Gotham crime figure otherwise known as The Penguin, either. Come spring 2024 Down Under, the villainous character will feature in a HBO series that dives into his tale — called, yes, The Penguin. The show has been in the works for some time, and been teased in the US network's promotions for its 2024 slate. Now, it has its own initial trailer. If the Batman nemesis met The Sopranos or The Godfather, this series might be the end result, at least based on this early glimpse. Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin) reprises the show's titular role. In the new footage, his take on Oz waxes lyrical about the command, fear and respect once demanded by another gangster — and how he'd like to have the same status. "Can you imagine to be remembered like that?" he notes of Rex Calabrese, who mightn't be a household name beyond dedicated comic-book fans, but boasts significant ties on the page to a very well-known Batman character. The Penguin is set to span eight episodes, and is obviously designed to extend the Dark Knight's big-screen crime saga. The show doesn't have an exact release date, other than fall this year in the US — which, again, is spring in Australia and New Zealand. Alongside Farrell, The Penguin stars Cristin Milioti (The Resort), Rhenzy Feliz (Encanto), Michael Kelly (Pantheon), Shohreh Aghdashloo (Damsel), Deirdre O'Connell (The Big Door Prize), Clancy Brown (Gen V) and Michael Zegen (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel). Off-screen, The Batman director Matt Reeves is back as an executive producer, while Craig Zobel (Mare of Easttown) directs the show's first three episodes. 2024 is a big year for Farrell fans keen to see him in streaming series. Before his time following in Danny DeVito's footsteps again, Farrell leads Apple TV+ detective drama Sugar, which premieres in April. Check out the teaser trailer for The Penguin below: The Penguin is set to stream in spring Down Under, including via Binge in Australia — we'll update you when an exact release date is announced. Images: Macall Polay/Max.
Disney's latest live-action remake will have you believing that elephants can fly — and, if the just-dropped trailer is anything to go by, it'll have you turning on the waterworks as well. The words "from the imagination of Tim Burton" mightn't elicit as much excitement as they once used to; however Dumbo could just be the film to change that. Based on the 1941 animated effort — which was only Disney's fourth-ever feature — the movie once again tells the tale of a pachyderm who is ridiculed for his oversized ears, but can also use them as makeshift wings. Expanding upon the original story, which was itself based on a tale written for a toy book, Dumbo follows circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito), as well as his former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins). The Farrier family care for the young elephant — but, after entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) takes an interest, they discover the darker side of life in the arena. Eva Green also features as a French trapeze artist and Alan Arkin as a tycoon, although the real star looks to be the movie's CGI. With Disney enthusiastically adapting their animated hits to live-action versions, Dumbo follows in the footsteps of Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book, with The Lion King and Aladdin also on the way. Prepare to get teary over the gorgeous trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NiYVoqBt-8 Dumbo releases in Australian cinemas on March 28, 2019.
Heads up, Mother's Day is just around the corner. (It's happening on Sunday, May 10, in case you temporarily forgot.) You can frantically message your siblings later, there's pressie planning afoot, and we've found quite the showstopper for your dear ol' mumsie this year thanks to Gelato Messina. Never one to miss an opportunity to experiment with new ways to inhale sweets, Messina has been cooking up quite the delicate novelty dessert for Mum: a Italian-inspired box of chocolates. These brownie point-winners launched in 2015 — and have been selling out every year since — are sure to bring it home again this year, just a little differently to usual. While these chocolate bon bons have been filled with gelato for the past four Mother's Days, this year, they're all chocolate (single origin Ecuadorian chocolate, no less) — so they can be shipped to mums across Australia. And, this time round, they come with a stunning bouquet of flowers from Floraly, too. Each box comes with nine handmade chocolate bon bons in five flavours — gianduja, milk choc chew, coffee and dulce, pistachio praline and honey caramel — and a bunch of farm-fresh flowers in an illustrated gift box and a personalised card. The bouquet does require a little bit of constructing, but the flowers come with an easy step-by-step guide as well as care instructions. The Mother's Day boxes are going for $79 a pop and can be shipped across Australia, with the gifts set to arrive between Thursday, May 7 and Saturday, May 9. Gelato Messina's Mother's Day Bon Bons and Bouquets are available to order online now for delivery across Australia.
A massive Gandhi exhibition is on its way to Melbourne's Immigration Museum. Curated from more than 1000 photos, over two hours of footage, an hour's worth of film clips and 20 audio recordings, the show focuses on Gandhi's role in leading India to independence, as well as his travels in England and South Africa. At the same time, it's a celebration of Indian diaspora all over the world. One of the reasons the exhibition is heading for Victoria is that the state is home to more people of Indian descent than any other place in Australia. "Mahatma Gandhi was an inspirational leader and I'm thrilled that Victorians will be able to enjoy this incredible exhibition," said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who's in India this week checking out the show. It's been at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in Delhi since October 2016. "Victoria is home to Australia's largest Indian population and this exhibition is an important way to acknowledge their cultural heritage and build the cultural understanding of India among the wider Victorian community." You'll have until July to head along. The show is just one of many upcoming events celebrating Victoria's Indian connections, following the release of Victoria's India Strategy: Our Shared Future. The Mahatma Gandhi Exhibition will be at Melbourne's Immigration Museum from April to July, 2018.
Smith Street rejoice! The universe has heard your cry for more meat, cheese, wine and all things deli and has answered with an ambitious new butcher shop and eatery named Meatsmith (and politely asks if you would stop sending letters about the matter). Meatsmith is a collaborative effort between chef and restaurateur Andrew McConnell (of Cumulus Inc., Supernormal amongst many) and butcher Troy Wheeler, once of Peter Bouchier. Meatsmith features an in-house deli with a fine dining twist. Alongside the standard deli fare, you'll find pre-prepared, take-home versions of fancy Cumulus dishes, like the whole slow-roasted lamb shoulder and other mouthwatering cuts (hello, braised beef cheeks) that ensure you'll never eat McDonalds on the run again. The eatery also serves up a divine selection of charcuterie, pâtés, house-made preserves and mustards, homemade terrines and lots of French and European style cold-cuts and smallgoods. Wheeler says the point of difference for the Meatsmith butchers is the expertise of the staff, who all have extensive practical knowledge (and more than a little charm) from working in hospitality, as opposed to the classic brusque butcher stereotype. "If you walk in not knowing what you want for dinner or if you want to impress at a dinner party, our staff can help," he says. "We would like to think we're accessible to people who know good food and want good food, as well as people who want some confidence in the staff and want clear information. The design of the shop reflects this idea; we don't have the big high butchers counters and the barrier between us and the customer, so we're accessible."
Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire's highly-acclaimed storytelling event is coming back to where it all began. This Sunday, October 26 letter-lovers young and old will be packing into Northcote's Regal Ballroom for some cozy Sunday afternoon feels. Though things won't quite be as you remember them — this offshoot event of the better known Women of Letters, will mark the fourth time men have been invited to the stage. Once again they'll be penning their letters to the "woman who changed [their] life". Iconic Indigenous actor Uncle Jack Charles will be kicking things off with what will no doubt be a great performance, news presenter Peter Hitchener will be taking a break from his journalistic diction and crime writer Shane Maloney will be keeping everyone intrigued. Other actors on stage will include Alex Papps and Offspring's Patrick Brammall, joined by writer and comedian Paul Verhoeven. Representing their fields alone will be filmmaker Richard Lowenstein, musician Darren Hanlon and chef Shane Delia, but the real highlight of the afternoon will be actor Samuel Johnson. Earlier this year Samuel rode 15,955 kilometres across the country on a unicycle to raise over $1.4 million in support of his sister who was diagnosed with breast cancer. No guesses at who he'll be writing about.
Twenty years after releasing their ninth and most celebrated record, The Soft Bulletin, Oklahoma rock legends The Flaming Lips are heading back Down Under. They're coming to Melbourne and Sydney to play the highly acclaimed album in full, as well as some of their greatest hits. Taking over the Sydney Opera House and Hamer Hall (the latter as part of Melbourne International Arts Festival), The Flaming Lips will bring their signature technicolour shows to life across four nights. Expect elaborate costumes, confetti cannons and even neon unicorns to fill the stages as the seven-piece band performs hits such as 'Waitin' for a Superman', 'Race for the Prize' and 'A Spoonful Weighs a Ton'. Released in 1999, The Soft Bulletin is widely accepted as the band's greatest album, named by NME as the Album of the Year and by Pitchfork as a 'masterpiece' and the third best album of the 90s. As well as playing this seminal album in full, The Flaming Lips will also perform some of their other greatest hits, including 'Do You Realize??' and 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1'. [caption id="attachment_724481" align="alignnone" width="1920"] George Salisbury[/caption] The Flaming Lips — The Soft Bulletin 20th Anniversary will take place at the Sydney Opera House on September 30 and October 1, and at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne on October 3 and 4. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, June 7, with pre-sale starting at 9am on Wednesday, June 5. To sign-up head to the SOH or Melbourne International Arts Festival website. Top image: George Salisbury.
After a couple of years spent staring at screens our brains are pretty thirsty for some lush green scenery. We are in the mood for tumbling waterfalls, secluded swimming spots and remote rainforest hikes that make us feel like we're living in an endless summer. Luckily for us, Tropical North Queensland fits the bill nicely — and you won't have to renew your passport to get there. In this part of the world, summer lives on a little longer with refreshing tropical rains and warm autumn days. The national parks are a little quieter and the waterways run a little deeper during this time of year, making it the ultimate time to explore the rainforest from top to bottom. From canopy walks, to castles and kayaking — there are plenty of ways to experience the rainforest this autumn.
Northside lunch fiends are in for a treat this week, as the buzzy stretch of Smith Street welcomes its newest eatery. From the team that brought you nearby cafes Terror Twilight and Tinker, Hi Fi is set to make its anticipated debut this Thursday, January 27. Kieran Spiteri and Ben Argentino's newcomer is a homage to great coffee, food and tunes; a modern riff on the neighbourhood deli delivering a winning combination of crafty sandwiches and old-school vinyl. The inspiration? That super popular takeaway pop-up Terror Twilight hosted in collaboration with Meatmaiden back during October's lockdown last year. Here, it's imagined as a seven-day, takeaway-only lunch destination, slightly smaller than its Collingwood sibling but rocking a similar look and vibe. Bread-based goodies headline the menu, with a concise yet considered lineup starring the likes of a panko-crumbed fish burger housed in a steamed potato roll, and the wickedly stretchy mushroom and taleggio toastie. A bagel comes stuffed with jalapeno cream cheese, red onion, and salt and vinegar seasoning; and sides include the likes of curly fries and slaw. Plus, you can throwback to childhood with one of the next-level shakes — think, choc sea salt, ginger malt or salted caramel, with a shot of espresso if you're feeling a bit grown-up. Celebrated local producers including Cobb Lane, Five and Dime Bagels, and Dench Bakers will be heroed throughout the menu, and you can look forward to a series of signature house-made sauces making an appearance, too. Meanwhile, Hi Fi's own contract-roasted coffee heads the list of caffeinated options, with a batch brew and cold brew offered alongside a milk blend and a single origin. And your first taste can be a free one, with the venue handing out complimentary coffees right through opening day on January 27. As for the tunes, they'll speak to the owners' shared love of great music, running to an eclectic, oft-changing rotation of vinyl. As Argentino says: "Music is a big part of our hospitality group's tapestry. We're all about good tunes. Our intention was always to make Hi Fi a real muso hang out". Find Hi Fi at 316 Smith Street, Collingwood, from 9am on January 27. It'll open daily from 9am–3pm.
Stepping into Ma Saj, Melbourne's newest wellness studio in Carlton North, feels like entering a realm where time slows down, and the noise of the outside world fades away. It doesn't feel sterile and clinical — it has a welcoming warmth, thanks to Founders Kate Cawley and Sonya Galenson, who have ditched the typical clean, white-surfaced spa vibe for something more akin to a cosy wine bar or a chic 70s lounge room. In collaboration with Ineke Hutter of Studio Co & Co (known for projects like Brunswick's The Sporting Club and Fitzroy's Rocco's Bologna Discoteca), Ma Saj stands out in its approach to design. The space features a soothing palette of neutrals and cool mauve and moss, accented by carefully chosen 70s furniture — notably the Kilimanjaro Table Lamp by Sergio Asti, a vintage piece from 1978 which lights the foyer, setting the mood alongside works from local ceramicists like Cassie Hansen and Hilary Green. "We knew that design was crucial to the client experience and that a physical space can make you feel good (or bad) instantly and wanted to curate a space that was minimal, yet warm and intentionally evoked a sense of calm, introspection and silence," says Co-founder, Kate Cawley. This vision materialised through attention to colour, sound, texture and scent. Every detail, from the aromatherapy to the curated playlists, is designed to transport visitors to a state of calm and introspection. Kate and Sonya, with 30 combined years of experience in natural medicine and osteopathy, ensure that their massages are more than just relaxing. The treatment menu ranges from the 'Euphoria' relaxation massage, blending reiki and meridian therapy, to the more targeted 'Deep Remedy' remedial massage. For expecting mums, the 'Babe' pregnancy massage offers a blend of euphoria and therapeutic touch. Soon, they'll also introduce a facial massage service. If life is feeling a like a lot at the moment, a visit to Ma Saj might just be the perfect rejuvenating break your body and mind have been craving. Find Ma Saj at 635 Nicholson St, Carlton North. It's open Monday, 2pm–8.15pm; Wednesday 3.30pm–8.15 pm; Thursday 2pm–8.15 pm; Friday 10am–6.30 pm; and Saturday 10am–3pm.
Water repulsion is all the rage at General Electric right now. New hydrophobic, durable coatings that repel liquid could increase energy efficiency across all kinds of machine-based industries. While this is a great advance for technology, a pleasant offshoot is beauty: cue mesmerising slo-mo video of glittering droplets, artfully scattering and dancing in unison. To develop a superhydrophobic coating, GE's chemists looked to nature's own superhydrophobicity and specifically the "lotus effect" — the way raindrops stay intact and roll off lotus leaves without adhering or soaking in, thanks to nanoscopic hairs on the leaf surface. If you could harness this water-repelling power of the lotus, what would you do with it? GE's wind turbines and other machinery adversely affected by ice and moisture build-up will benefit from the coating, and a path ahead is also clear for self-cleaning and anti-fouling materials. Below, watch as the cute, scruffy Slow Mo Guys wear lab coats and utter sweet nothings with their British accents, all while applying macro-lens scrutiny to liquids bouncing off a superhydrophobic coating. This bouncing (or "splooshing" as the guys eloquently put it) creates tumbling, flower-like formations that expand and retract. Marvel as they mess around with food dye, back-lighting and ferrous liquid. It's not unlike the famous Sony Bravia bouncy ball ad, enhanced by an emotional synth soundtrack and the shape-shifting elasticity of water. Via Gizmodo.
If you've ever sat down to play Mario Kart on any of the various devices that the beloved game has popped up on over the years — Google Maps, mobile phones and reality also included — then you've likely learned two things. Firstly, rainbow roads are truly something else. Secondly, you can never have too much Mario in your life. The folks at Universal Studios clearly agree on the second point, as everyone should, and they gave us an IRL Nintendo-themed amusement park in 2022 to prove it. Open for the past year, the globe's first Super Nintendo World is part of Universal Studios in Osaka, and it looks glorious — thanks to life-sized recreations of both Bowser's Castle (complete with spiked fences and heavy iron doors) and Peach's Castle, plus Mario Kart rides as well. [caption id="attachment_804547" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nintendo and Universal Studios[/caption] Super Nintendo World was never going to be an Osaka exclusive, though. The Japanese theme park isn't losing its latest attraction, but more were always planned for Universal Studios in Hollywood, Orlando and Singapore. And, come 2023, you'll definitely be able to live out your IRL Mario Kart dreams in Tinseltown, because that's when and where the next Super Nintendo World is opening. Exactly what Universal Studios Hollywood's version will include hasn't yet been confirmed, and neither has an exact opening date — but if a trip to the US is on your agenda next year, it now has a new stop. In a press release announcing the 2023 launch, Universal Studios advised that the new Super Nintendo World will be "a visual spectacle of vibrant colours and architectural ingenuity located within a newly expanded area of the theme park, featuring a groundbreaking ride and interactive areas, to be enjoyed by the whole family", although that's obviously still quite vague. Unsurprisingly, themed shopping and dining will be a big part of the experience, of course. #SuperNintendoWorld is opening in 2023 at Universal Studios Hollywood! Level up with exclusive merch at the Feature Presentation store, opening soon. pic.twitter.com/4qh0bDACGN — Universal Studios Hollywood (@UniStudios) March 10, 2022 If you'd like to try to glean some clues from Osaka's Super Nintendo World, it lets you enter via a warp pipe — naturally — and there's simply no mistaking its Nintendo-themed space for anywhere else. And, Osaka's Mario Kart fix comes courtesy of Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge, where patrons race through familiar Mario Kart courses that've been brought to life. Yes, as you steer your way along the track, you're surrounded by characters such as Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach. You can also throw shells to take out your opponents, because it wouldn't be Mario Kart without them. If you're wondering how it all works, it's a blend of physical sets, augmented reality, projection mapping and screen projection, all designed to make you feel like you're really in the game. Also a highlight in Osaka: Yoshi's Adventure, which lets you climb on Yoshi's back; the world's first Mario cafe, as kitted out with a red and green colour scheme; and wearable wrist bands, called Power Up Bands, which connect to a special app and allow patrons to interact with the site using their arms, hands and bodies (and enable you to collect coins just like Mario does in the Super Mario games). Fingers crossed that they all make the leap to Hollywood, too. Super Nintendo World will open at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2023. For more information, keep an eye on the theme park's website. Top image: Nintendo and Universal Studios.
Well, Sydney suggested it — and for some reason, Transport for NSW has obliged. The city's newest ferry will be named Ferry McFerryface. Proving that the bizarre legacy of Boaty McBoatface will live on for some time, the people of Sydney have decided that names of suburbs and notable Australians aren't the way to go. The government authority threw to the public for suggestions for the new fleet of ferries last year and, of the 15,000 submitted, Ferry McFerryface was one of the most popular submissions. Ferry McFerryface is the last ferry in the new fleet of six to be named, and joins other (more cordially named) vessels named after individuals who have contributed to Australian society like ophthalmologist Fred Hollows, heart surgeon Victor Chang and obstetrician Catherine Hamlin. McFerryface doesn't quite have the same reverence as its counterparts, but the internet, I guess. This new fleet will serve inner city routes and service Watsons Bay, Cockatoo Island and the new Barangaroo wharf. The new ferries will have Wi-Fi on-board, greater disability access and space for bikes. Transport for NSW also plans to acquire four more ferries to service the Parramatta River.
Survivor, but a fictional thriller. Fyre Festival, turned extra savage. The Hunger Games meets Lost. Any survival-of-the-fittest scenario ever seen on screen (and there have been plenty), relocated to kind of scenic place usually reserved for tropical holidays. Throw in a bit of Westworld and The Matrix as well, and all of these descriptions seem to apply to Netflix's upcoming series The I-Land. Here, ten people wake up on an island with no memory of how they got there, or even who they are, only to find themselves forced to work through psychological and physical challenges — or die. Releasing on the streaming platform this month, the limited series stars Kate Bosworth (Blue Crush), Natalie Martinez (Under the Dome), Alex Pettyfer (Magic Mike) and Kyle Schmid (Being Human), and will unravel its twists and turns over seven episodes. It shouldn't come as a surprise that nothing will be as it seems on this mysterious island — that's the entire premise — with the stranded folks all grappling with their best and worst tendencies in their quest to survive. Based on the just-dropped trailer, the show may just continue a trend that seems to be getting stronger on Netflix, taking cues from a heap of other hugely successful movies and TV series, cobbling them together into one new package and endeavouring to attract the widest possible audience as possible. That's not just a cynical view, with the service's algorithm already designed to serve up suggestions based on your viewing habits — and it's obviously using that data to inform what kinds of programs to make next. Given the huge success of Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened when it released on Netflix earlier this year, transforming that concept into a thriller is a logical next step — as the show's first teaser toyed with. Check out the initial teaser online and the new trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxpwiwOdMHk The I-Land hits Netflix on September 12. Image: Courtesy of Netflix.
Since 2007, Korean designer Yvette Yang has been exploring the boundaries between image and text with 'fashion font'. Each year, she creates a new typography out of the season's fashion statements, mixing and matching ideas by hand to maximise the chance of discovering successful graphics. The designs are carefully compiled collages made up of jackets, pants, dresses, skirts, shirts, shoes, hats and jewellery that have been clipped, flipped, cropped and rotated. Yang's project aims to imbue the alphabet with a meaning derived from images, rather than from the arrangement and rearrangement of letters, as well as to record changes in fashion over time. 'Image is message . . . One alphabet delivers various messages,' her website states, 'as it contains many different items and trends.' 'Fashion font' has appeared in a high school textbook in South Korea and in publications far and wide, including Italy's Out of the Box and China's Modern Weekly. Yang has taught 'font image creating' workshops to students in Seoul and collaborated with Vogue South Korea on a font to present Chanel's 2009 collection. All five of the alphabets that she has put together since 2007 can be viewed in detail on her official site. Images: Fashion Font [Via PSFK]
How do you know you're a hip hop prodigy? Well, Jay-Z might feature your music on his Life+Times blog, Dizzee Rascal might ask you to lay down some tracks, or Kendrick may say you're "the illest". Or, if you're UK artist Little Simz, all of these things happen before you've even released your debut album. (And yes, Kendrick did say that.) Now with her first full-length album A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons having been released last September, the rapper and musician is travelling to Australia to perform from it in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. She'll be gracing the stage at Brunswick's Howler on Wednesday, February 24. It may be a school night, but this is one gig worth losing some winks over.
If you're in the market for a fun and immersive experience, head on down to Pop Art, a gigantic balloon art installation and festival being held this winter at Chadstone – The Fashion Capital, from Saturday, June 24 till Sunday, July 9. Come experience one of the biggest balloon art installations ever seen in Australia. Pop Art will take over multiple large precincts at Chadstone. Attendees can take a dive into the Underwater Precinct, located outside Target, where colossal sea creatures await. Expect a giant Kraken, a massive yellow submarine, sharks, sea turtles, fish and coral reefs all made from balloons and stretching over four levels at Chadstone. Then there's the Prehistoric Park, where enormous balloon dinosaurs are coming to life outside David Jones. Be transported to a land lost in time with huge dinosaurs, snakes, ferns, and volcano balloon sculptures. Chadstone's school holiday programs will also take place here with interactive balloon-twisting workshops bursting with activities and games. Learn how to make spectacular balloon animals at the balloon twisting workshops where kids will show off their talents, and the best balloon artist will be awarded a prize. Workshops run daily at 11.30am and 1.30pm. The largest creation will be the brachiosaurus which is made to lifelike proportions and made of 10,000 balloons (nearly half of all the balloons in the entire installation). Or catch a thrilling dinosaur balloon performance held daily at 10am and 3pm. Witness a big, bad t-rex taking centre stage as part of this interactive magic and dinosaur show. Balloon art may be niche, but it's making its mark on the world. The festival's installation will be constructed of more than 25,000 balloons of various sizes, each placed by hand by a talented crew led by renowned balloon artist Chris Adamo — voted Latin America's 'Most Influential balloon artist in 2018' and who specialises in large-scale balloon decor like what's happening at Chadstone. POP ART at Chadstone – The Fashion Capital runs from Saturday, June 24 till Sunday, July 9. For further details on the events in the schedule, head to the Chadstone website.
Been spending the first few months of 2021 pondering the future? Given how the past year has panned out, that's only natural. But tonight, on Tuesday, April 27, you might want to look to the skies as well — and feast your eyes on a luminous lunar sight. For folks located Down Under, this is when you'll see this year's 'pink supermoon'. While super full moons aren't particularly rare — two usually happen each year — there are plenty of reasons to peer upwards this time around. If you're wondering why, we've run through the details below. WHAT IS IT? If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know. As we all learned back in November 2016, a supermoon is a new moon or full moon that occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it particularly bright. They're not all that uncommon — and because April 2021's supermoon is a full moon (and not a new moon), it's called a super full moon. It's also a pink moon, too, which doesn't refer to its colour but to the time of year. In the northern hemisphere, April and spring go hand-in-hand — which means the April full moon usually arrives with the onset of the year's floral blooms, and with the first flowers from the pink-hued wild ground phlox specifically. Of course, it's currently autumn in the southern hemisphere, and the wild ground phlox are native to North America — but the name still sticks. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? If you're keen to catch a glimpse, you'll want to peek outside on Tuesday, April 27. While timeanddate.com notes that the super pink moon is expected to be at its peak at 1.31pm during the day today in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane — and at 1.01pm in Adelaide, and 11.31am in Perth — it's still worth looking up for once evening hits. If you're eager to take some pictures — and see if you can outdo previous supermoon snaps — moonrise is expected at 5.33pm AEST tonight. That's when the moon will first peek above the horizon for the evening, and it'll move higher into the sky across the night. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? You can take a gander from your backyard or balcony, but the standard advice regarding looking into the night sky always applies — so city-dwellers will want to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the absolute best view. Typically, haze is predicted for Sydney, and Brisbane and Perth have partly cloudy forecasts — but the Bureau of Meteorology only tips light morning showers for Melbourne, and sunny conditions for Adelaide. If you miss out tonight, another supermoon is due on Wednesday, May 26 — and it's called the flower moon. Via timeanddate.com / space.com. Image: Andrew C.
Are sick of waiting in line for the bar? Maybe you don't want drunk strangers spilling drinks on you? Does the idea of queuing for a port-a-loo make you feel queasy? Eau de Vie have your back. This NYE you could be sampling a carefully curated degustation menu of cocktails, all delivered to your table with matching food created by head chef John-Paul Fiechtner. Known for their impeccable service, Eau de Vie are sure to deliver a New Years to remember (and brag about to everyone that missed out).
Are you sick of that friend in Docklands talking about their amazing balcony view of the fireworks? Well go one better on them and witness the show from the highest vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere. The Eureka Skydeck is usually the spot to take your out of town relatives but on NYE they will be holding an appropriately named party: Elevation. There will be DJs, roving entertainment, food and arguably the best fireworks view in Melbourne. Canapés and drinks are included with your ticket too, because when you’re up that high you shouldn’t have to worry about a thing.
Did you get a new Pokémon onesie for Christmas? Well you are in luck because this NYE all Melbourne cosplayers will be converging on notoriously loose club Brown Alley for Cosparty 2013. The night will be full of interesting costumes and with a tag line of “rock out with your cosplay out” you know it doesn't take its self too seriously. For those unsure about what to wear, you are advised to dress up as your favourite character from anything – the more elaborate the better. Maybe you'll find your own Nurse Joy or Sailor Moon; a Hermione Granger to your Ron Weasley or some new Adventure Time comrades. Cosparty will be one of the few places (only place?) you'll have a chance of making out with Princess Peach at midnight.
So Brunetti has moved home. What does this mean? Well, it means that it has moved house from Faraday Street in Carlton to the Lygon Street centre, where Borders once used to stand. Before Borders, however, Brunetti started its journey in this exact same location in 1974. With five other locations now across Melbourne, Brunetti is showing no sign of wavering. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, to say the place is filled to the brim would be an understatement. People are searching left and right for a table and the staff are working in overdrive. This, surprisingly, isn't helped by the four or five sections to the venue. A word to the wise, food comes to your table and drinks are collected from the bar. The space is no doubt beautiful. The drinks counter in the centre is a large round bar with hanging lights, while wine barrels cut and hung on the wall make for interesting dining companions. When it comes to the food, you can rest assured all the regulars are there in the cake department. Walls of glass cabinets filled with sweet treats will make you want to skip lunch and head straight to dessert. Lemon tarts, Opera slice, ricotta cannolis, oh my. Good luck choosing just one indulgence. What is a little different is the vast a la carte menu. For something simple you can go for the torchietti alla napoletana with tomato, basil and extra virgin olive oil ($19.50) or for a classic try the linguini alle vongole with clams, white wine and garlic. Pizzas range from traditional with the Margherita (tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil and oregano, $17.40) to the fried with the Di Matteo (salami, broccoli, ricotta and chilli, $20). If you're sticking to the savoury options, we suggest heading to the al la carte menu, rather than the readymade meals, as you are bound to get a fresher, more flavoursome meal if it's being make to order. We also recommend heading in on a quieter night. The sheer size of the place (400 seater) runs the risk of losing that Brunetti charm when it is packed out.
If your state was just weeks away from legalising marijuana for recreational use, what plans would you be hatching? Well, one Californian winery has gone and created the world's first commercially available marijuana-infused sauvignon blanc. The winemakers at Rebel Coast Winery — who produce Californian blends and Sonoma chardonnay — have invented a wine that's infused with THC, the psychoactive element of cannabis. It's all ready to start shipping within California on January 1, 2018, which is when recreational marijuana becomes legal across the state. Infusing wine with cannabis is no new thing, but this is the first time is will be sold by official means. There is a difference though: THC and alcohol can't legally be mixed, so the winemakers have switched out the wine's booze content for 16 milligrams of THC per bottle. Apparently it "smells like weed, tastes like wine" and won't haunt you with a hangover the next day. And the high? As Rebel Coast explains on its website, "after one glass you won't be thinking your couch is a hippo with short legs or anything. Our goal is not to kill you after you've had a few glasses. The goal is to get giggly and naked with someone." Obviously recreational use of cannabis is not legal in Australia or New Zealand, so this sav blanc isn't either. However, both countries have recently legalised the consumption and sale of low-THC hemp food products.
Melbourne temporarily lost a legendary party spot and uni student haunt when the Hawthorn Hotel closed its doors last year. But now, the long-running boozer has been reincarnated by hospitality giant Australian Venue Co (Fargo & Co, The Smith, State of Grace) — and it's reopening on Tuesday, June 22. The Burwood Road pub is sporting a brand-new look after its recent refurb, so expect a slightly different vibe to what you might remember from those second-year uni nights out. The space has been fitted out with a healthy dose of indoor foliage and exposed brick walls, as well as new TV screens — to show sports — and a revamped all-weather beer garden. Dishing up affordable eats, regular specials and a friendly, neighbourhood feel, the Hawthorn's newest incarnation is set to tempt students and regular pub-goers alike. Even its famous Tightarse Tuesdays are making a comeback, offering a budget-friendly serve of late-night entertainment and happy hour drinks each week — although they won't return until Melbourne's current COVID-19 restrictions ease. From the kitchen comes a strong lineup of pub classics — think: fish 'n' chips, a parma, and a beef pie with mushy peas and gravy — along with newer creations like a lamb and cos salad, pan-roasted salmon, and a whole fried chicken served with both piri piri and gravy. There's a handful of burgers — hello, double beef and bacon burger — while snackers will be chuffed by the likes of barbecue chicken nachos, house-made sausage rolls, and a garlic and mozzarella cob loaf. The usual suspects grace the tap-list and the Aussie wine selection, though you might find it hard to pass up the lineup of $15 cocktails. It features sips ranging from a classic negroni and old fashioned to the signature sour cherry gin smash. Kicking off from Monday, June 28, expect a regular program of weekly specials, live tunes, Sunday roasts, daily happy hours and more, too. Find The Hawthorn Hotel at 481 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, from Tuesday, June 22. It's open 12pm–12am Monday, 12pm–1am Tuesday, 12pm–12am Wednesday and Thursday, 12pm–1am Friday and Saturday, and 12–11pm Sunday.
It's a pretty good time to be a fan of rooftop bars, barbecue or both if you live in Melbourne. We announced back in June that the Fancy Hank's BBQ crew were planning to open a dedicated, two-storey barbecue joint on Bourke Street — and it has just opened in doors. Plus, the new rooftop bar we were buzzing about in August is set to join them, possibly as soon as this week. Yep, it's an upstairs/downstairs kind of place, and you can enjoy the former while the Fancy Hank's puts the finishing touches on the latter. The new 100-seat restaurant is basically a bigger, better version of their venue at The Mercat, complete with a two-tonne smoker that had to be brought in through the first-storey window. They'll need it; co-owner Michael Patrick says the menu features their signature smoked meats, as well as a rotating vegetarian main, such as a smoked eggplant or sweet potato, as well as a few more surprises. "The sides will be a bit more considered as well — a bit more seasonal, a bit more made to order, a bit more interesting," he says. "And mains will be served up on platters, family-style — that's the way to go. We'll be adding a dessert cabinet too." Head above, and you'll feel like you're in the heavens — or Good Heavens, as the bar will be called. A whole new concept set to open any day now, it's a casual rooftop bar that's unlike anything the Fancy Hank's guys have done before. The bar has chosen to champion brightly-coloured '80s-inspired cocktails (blue curaçao may be making an appearance), as well as barbecue snacks like spicy southern chicken ribs, chilli nachos and a seared and smoked lamb neck grilled cheese sandwich. Of course, new doors might be opening, but old ones don't have to close. The Mercat still has ties to your beloved Fancy Hanks, but it's now called Knuckles Sandwich Bar. It's a scaled-back version of the original, but still as tasty — and there's no prizes for guessing what they serve. Fancy Hank's is now open at 1/79 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Good Heavens is due to follow later this month. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates. By Imogen Baker, Lauren Vadnjal and Sarah Ward.
Our relationship between food and fiction runs deep. From Alice's poetic musings in Alice in Wonderland, to those surprisingly dark songs of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Oompa Loompas, our relationship with food is evident on the page — as anyone who felt hungry while reading Life of Pi can attest. Pay homage to this rich tradition by pairing it with a soul-warming feast of local produce and biodynamic wine. Held over two nights during the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, it will be a sensory treat for the brain and palate with readings from the world’s best food fiction, a lamb feast from local ethical farmers, biodynamic wines from Delatite, and a chat with winemaker David Ritchie.
If you've spent the past year with your nose buried in a book, that's about to pay off beyond the everyday joys and thrills of reading. Sydney Writers' Festival's 2023 lineup is here another hefty catalogue of thought-provoking events — 226 of them, with almost 300 writers and thinkers involved. From the recipients of the literary world's brightest honours to some of Australia's household names and faces, a wealth of talent is descending upon the Harbour City, and being streamed nationally thanks to SWF's online program. Every writers' festival converges around an annual theme, with Sydney's focusing on 'Stories for the Future' for its 2023 iteration from Monday, May 22–Sunday, May 28 at various venues around the city — and also beamed digitally. Thinking about what's to come has been an inescapable part of living through the pandemic era, which SWF knows, curating a bill of talks that'll contemplate moving through the chaos of the past few years and into in a different tomorrow. [caption id="attachment_893384" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eleanor Catton by Murdo MacLeod[/caption] Today's most current Booker Prize-winner, plus three from past years as well, top the lineup: Shehan Karunatilaka, who won in 2022 for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida; The Luminaries' Eleanor Catton; The Narrow Road to The Deep North's Richard Flanagan and Girl Woman Other's Bernardine Evaristo. Still on highly applauded attendees, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist Colson Whitehead — for The Underground Railroad, which was then adapted into a TV series, and for The Nickel Boys — also leads the bill, arriving between Harlem Shuffle's 2021 publication and sequel Crook Manifesto's arrival this July. Among the international names, the above headliners have ample company. When Trinidad-born UK musician Anthony Joseph isn't talking poetry — he is 2022's TS Eliot Prize for Poetry winner — London restauranteur Asma Khan from Darjeeling Express, and also seen on Chef's Table, will chat about comfort food; Daniel Lavery from Slate, who penned the Dear Prudence column from 2016–21, will run through his best advice; and Vietnamese author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai will introduce her new novel Dust Child. [caption id="attachment_893383" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Colson Whitehead by Chris Close[/caption] On the local front, get ready for two iconic pairings: former Prime Minister Julia Gillard being interviewed by Indira Naidoo, plus Jurassic Park favourite Sam Neill discussing work, life and writing with his Sweet Country, Dean Spanley, Dirty Deeds and Palm Beach co-star Bryan Brown. Also on the must-attend list: Grace Tame chatting about The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner: A Memoir, Heartbreak High's Chloé Hayden doing the same with Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent's guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after, and Stan Grant on The Queen Is Dead. Also, on Monday, May 15 before the main festival, Tim Winton will discuss writing the ABC TV documentary Love Letter to Ningaloo. Under first-time Artistic Director Ann Mossop, opening night will feature Evaristo, Benjamin Law and Miles Franklin-winner Alexis Wright working through the impact that the past has on the present, as well as poet Madison Godfrey performing. At the other end of the fest, novelist Richard Flanagan will look forward, exploring why we need to tell our own tales to shape the future. [caption id="attachment_893385" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grace Tame by Kishka Jensen[/caption] And, if your main relationship with the printed word is through recipe books, the 2023 festival is going all in on the topic for one day at Carriageworks Farmers Market. Stephanie Alexander and Maggie Beer will talk with Adam Liaw, while fixing the food system and family recipes will also nab chats by culinary talent. Capping off the bill will be foodie gala The Dinner That Changed My Life, with everyone from Nat's What I Reckon and Jennifer Wong to Alice Zaslavsky and Colombo Social's Shaun Christie-David involved. Among the rest of the program, other highlights include a tribute to Archie Roach and Jack Charles; comedians Wil Anderson and Laurence Mooney; the All Day YA lineup; a deep dive into crime podcasting with journalists Patrick Abboud, Kate McClymont and Hedley Thomas; and The Book Thief and The Messenger's Markus Zusak on bringing the latter to TV. Adaptations in general earn their own session, Shane Jenek aka Courtney Act is part of SWF's stint of Queerstories, Tom Ballard pops up on an OK Boomer panel, Australia's war on hip hop gets its time in the spotlight, and there's a look at AI in the age of ChatGPT. As always free events are a big part of the program as well, with more than 80 on year. And, also in the same category, the spread of venues is hefty — including Carriageworks, Town Hall, and 25 suburban venues and libraries across the Sydney. Sydney Writers' Festival runs at various venues across Sydney from Monday, May 22–Sunday, May 28. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, March 17 via www.swf.org.au.
It's about time for her arrival: Christina Aguilera's, that is, with the 'Dirrty', 'Genie in a Bottle', 'What a Girl Wants', 'Lady Marmalade' and 'Beautiful' singer heading Down Under this November for a one-night-only gig. Hitting Australia for the first time since 2007, the singer headlines Victoria's statewide music celebration Always Live, which is returning in 2023 for its second year after a successful debut run in 2022. Aguilera will play Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, November 25, in a show that'll also mark 20 years since her album Stripped. One of pop music's former Mouseketeers, the six-time Grammy-winner leads a bill that spans more than 165 artists at 60-plus events — all in Victoria. In other words, she spearheads a lineup that's designed to get the state's residents hitting up live gigs, and to entice tourists from the rest of the country to make music-filled holiday plans. 2023's leg of Always Live runs for 17 days, from Friday, November 24–Sunday, December 10, with a feast of shows — also including Swedish DJ and producer Eric Prydz bringing his HOLO set our way in an Australia–New Zealand exclusive; songwriter and producer Jai Paul also playing his only shows in this neck of the woods; and Jessie Ware putting on two intimate evenings outside her Summer Camp headlining stint. Already on the Meredith bill, Caroline Polachek has added a solo gig at Melbourne's Forum Theatre. Also a huge highlight: BLAKTIVISM at Hamer Hall, with King Stingray, Tasman Keith, Emma Donovan, Uncle Bart Willoughby, Deline Briscoe, Sorong Samarai and Suga Cane Mamas. For Swifties, tribute gig Taylor Made will see Alex The Astronaut, Charley, Clare Bowditch, Emily Wurramurra, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lisa Mitchell and Sophia J Smith shaking off their best Taylor Swift covers. [caption id="attachment_899478" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] Returning from last year, Emma Donovan and Friends will again hero acoustic tunes from First Nations artists, while purpose-built pop-up studio SOUNDBOX will be back at the Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt. The jam-packed program also boasts the Tones and I-curated Music In the Park in Mornington, featuring The Cat Empire, The Veronicas, Budjerah, KAIIT and The Pierce Brothers; the Gonna Be Good series, with everyone from Holy Holy, Aleksiah, ILLY and The Temper Trap to Northeast Party House, Casey Barnes and Ruby Fields; Summer Camp, as already announced; and SOULTRAINS, which is getting Lee Fields & The Expressions, plus Surprise Chef, playing four venues along four Metro train lines. Still on a railway theme, there's End of the Line, a festival popping ip at the end of the train lines in Sandringham and Williamstown. Clare Bowditch headlines the former, and Alex Lahey the latter. And, music lovers can look forward to the Jamaican Food and Music Festival at Seaworks, the Ballroom Mix Tapes series at Brunswick Ballroom — which will launch brand-new releases — and a regional tour by Amyl and the Sniffers. Throw in Peter Garrett and The Alter Egos hitting Wangarratta Arts Centre, Cosmic Psychos marking their 40th anniversary and A.B. Original headlining a free show at Victoria Park Lake, and clearly the list well and truly goes on. In fact, there's so much to fit in that an event called Garage Band will pop up on Saturday, October 14, before the Always Live dates, featuring 25 emerging bands playing an original song each on four stages in Federation Square. Always Live 2023 runs from Friday, November 24–Sunday, December 10, with one pre-festival gig on Saturday, October 14. For more information, and to get tickets, head to the festival website. Christina Aguilera will play Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, November 25, with pre sales from 12pm AEST on Tuesday, August 29 and general sales from 12pm AEST on Wednesday, August 20.
Collins Street's diorama-sporting, museum-themed haunt has been reborn, with a more laidback vibe, as Natural History Public Bar. Opened in early-2018 as just Natural History — a fancy all-day bar, grill and cafe — the revamped bar is keeping its bumper natural wine offering, but that's now backed by a broad-ranging gastropub menu, after-work-friendly specials and a revamped entertainment program. It will now only open on weekdays, too. From the kitchen comes a roll-call of reimagined pub classics, with plates like a spicy beef tartare with cured egg yolk and fermented chilli, buttermilk-fried chicken ribs, and sliders stuffed with soft shell crab. Bigger appetites might meet the likes of a hearty crumbed pork schnitzel, a 500-gram rib eye, or a vegetarian-friendly potato and cashew lasagne. Match that feed with an organic or biodynamic drop from one of Australia and Europe's most interesting small wine producers, or get acquainted with a classic cocktail. The bar also has a killer happy hour, slinging affordable after-work beverages from 4–7pm each weekday. Alongside the regular deal of $7 wine, $8 spirits and $9 pints, the bar has a number of daily specials going on, such as a carafe of wine and a cheese plate for just $35 on Tuesdays. On Thursday evening, pretend you're fancy with a $10 negroni, old fashioned or espresso martini. Images: Eugene Hyland.
Here's a night out to take a chance on in 2023: the return of MAMMA MIA! The Musical. My my, how can you resist seeing this Greek-set onstage party on its latest tour of Australia, whether you're a musical fan, an ABBA devotee or perennially keen to indulge in 70s nostalgia. The stage show's comeback was first announced in 2022 and locked in for a Sydney stop, but now it has just added Brisbane and Melbourne dates as well. By now, the hit production is well-known around the world, including from previous Aussie runs. It has spawned not one but two movies, too. And, its tale of a young bride-to-be's quest to find her father before her wedding will liven up Sydney Lyric from May, QPAC's Lyric Theatre in Brisbane from August and the Princess Theatre in Melbourne from October. Here we go again with one of the biggest jukebox musical hits of the past quarter-century, as seen by over 65 million people worldwide so far. This restaging of the popular 2017 production will unfurl its romantic chaos — and 22 ABBA tracks — with Elise McCann playing Donna Sheridan, after she played Ali in the 2009 season. Sarah Krndija (9 to 5 The Musical, Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical and Friends! The Musical Parody) steps into Sophie's shoes, while Martin Crewes (Handa's The Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour), Drew Livingston (War Horse) and Tim Wright (New Amsterdam) play her three potential dads. The story, as theatre audiences have enjoyed since 1999, follows 20-year-old Sophie, who is about to marry her fiancé Sky on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi. It's her dream for her dad to walk her down the aisle, but courtesy of her mother Donna's old diary, she learns that her father could be one of three men: Sam Carmichael, Bill Austin or Harry Bright. [caption id="attachment_890628" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Bisso[/caption] Calling all dancing queens, obviously — with that track, the titular number, and everything from 'Money, Money, Money', 'Thank You for the Music', 'Super Trouper' and 'The Name of the Game' to 'SOS', 'Does Your Mother Know', 'Waterloo' and 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' featuring (and 'Take a Chance on Me', 'The Winner Takes It All' and, of course, 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do', too). The new Australian run hails from producers Michael Coppel, Louise Withers and Linda Bewick, plus Helpmann Award-winning director Gary Young, choreographer Tom Hodgson and musical supervisor Stephen Amos. MAMMA MIA! THE MUSICAL 2023 DATES: From Wednesday, May 24 — Sydney Lyric Theatre, Sydney From Sunday, August 6 — QPAC Lyric Theatre, Brisbane From Wednesday, October 4 — Princess Theatre, Melbourne MAMMA MIA! The Musical tours Australia from May 2023. For further details or to buy tickets, head to the production's website. Images: James D Morgan.
Kickstart your post-work drinks or wind down in style at W Melbourne's bold Italian eatery Bar Lollo, which is offering a weeknight feast that could prove too tempting to skip. From the hotel's luxe surrounds on Flinders Lane, these 90-minute Sip and Slice sessions feature bottomless wine and beer alongside woodfired pizza for $55 per person. For the hungry office workers who are bound to pour into the venue every weekday evening from 5pm, there are three tantalising pizzas up for order. Served fresh from the oven, you can't go wrong with a classic margherita. Not only does it taste good, but it's perfect for soaking up one too many drinks. You're also welcome to take things up a notch, as Bar Lollo includes two of its more artisan creations in this boozy offer. Check out the pepperoni, featuring buffalo mozzarella, Aleppo peppers and castelvetrano olives; or opt for a prosciutto calzone, decked out with rocket, gorgonzola dolce and honey. As for the beverage offering, choose from sparkling, pinot grigio or shiraz, with each variety hailing from the Yarra Valley. Plus, there's a selection of tinnies that are sure to go down easily after a long day of kicking goals at the desk. For days when the idea of stuffing yourself with bottomless food and drink sounds a little much, these Sip and Slice sessions also invite guests to order pizzas individually for $15. Alternatively, you can match a pizza with any drink on offer for $20. Whether you're heading along to this new weeknight shindig for a one-off feast or making it a routine ritual with colleagues, getting your fill of top-quality pizza, paired with more than a few drinks, is made easy. Bar Lollo's Sip and Slice runs Monday–Friday from 5pm at W Melbourne, 408 Flinders Lane. Head to the website for more information.
When the clock struck midnight on December 31, 2019, this year began in a familiar fashion. All around Australia, beverages were raised in cheers to the next 12 months. But as we all know by now, 2020 hasn't delivered what anyone hoped for. If there has been a silver lining to this tough year, however, it has been the renewed focus on supporting local businesses. As well as spending more time at home, shopping local, eating local and sipping local have all been on the agenda. And that has been essential for two Queensland drinks companies, Brisbane's Aether Brewing and Far North Queensland's Mt Uncle Distillery. They've been forging ahead and doing what they do best — and what their local fans love — even under the most trying of circumstances. Queenslanders have certainly shown them both affection, with Aether and Mt Uncle picked as the Sunshine State's favourite tipples during the BWS Local Luvvas initiative. Aether's brews and Mt Uncle's Botanic Australis Gin will now receive an extra helping hand with getting both products stocked in more BWS stores. And we've spoken to the masterminds behind the two drops about their dream jobs, their love of making top-notch drinks and the importance of homegrown support. WHEN YOUR PASSION BECOMES YOUR JOB With Mt Uncle Distillery based on a farm in the Atherton Tablelands, head distiller and director Mark Watkins doesn't just spend his days making the most of FNQ's sultry weather — he also makes drinks perfect for those tropical climes, too. Indeed, his love of the region's climate is one of the reasons he is doing what he does today. "Given the inability to grow grapes up here, I decided to put my wine science degree to use and make rum," he explains. Watkins started his distilling journey before his studies, as a teenager. "Needless to say, I was popular with my mates," he notes. But when he dived into the botany side of his degree, he "fell in love with Australian native plants, and had the drive to pursue the production of the quintessential Australian gin" — which is where the concept of Botanic Australis began. For Aether's Dave Ward, his move into brewing arose out of a completely different field — fly-in fly-out jobs building gas plants. Meeting and working alongside his now-former business partner, they both realised that "FIFO wasn't exactly the life we wanted to live forever, and the thought of owning a brewery really just fit with what we wanted," he advises. The fact that Ward already had a lifelong passion for brewing and beer helped, unsurprisingly. Ward credits that affection for yeasty beverages, and for making them, to his father. "It is one of my earliest memories as a child, brewing with dad and his friends — the exploding bottles in the laundry, the dodgy stouts from extract and some pretty awful beer," he explains. "Those memories have stuck with me my whole life, and fuelled my love of brewing and great beer. I home-brewed on and off for most of my adult life, and eventually I found my life in a position where I was able to live my dream." GETTING CREATIVE — AND LOCAL Obviously, it takes more than just a fondness for a frothy beverage to make it in the drinks industry. As Ward advises, "brewing for me is an expression of creativity". He's now at the point where, when he's "on the brew floor or designing new beers, it comes naturally" — but he admits that getting to that point required hard work. "The real challenge started when I started studying and I realised that I knew nothing about beer. The more I learnt, the more I wanted to know, and the more I realised that my lifetime wasn't going to be enough for me to learn everything I need to be the brewer I want to be," he says. Perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that when asked to describe a great beer, Ward notes that it "isn't a style, or a flavour, or even a taste". Rather, he sees it as "the ability to make a beer for everyone". At Mt Uncle, Watkins has a firm view of what makes a standout spirit, too. For him — like much of his approach to his work — it reflects his location. While it'd be hard not to love distilling gin in such scenic, relaxed and leafy surroundings, Watkins can't separate his tipples from his home base. "A great spirit should reflect the environment that creates it," he tells us. In practical terms, that means that Mt Uncle sources or grows all of its ingredients locally. It's a great source of pride to the distillery, with everything in its products either stemming from around the distillery or from a stone's throw away. ADAPTING TO TOUGH TIMES WITH HOMEGROWN SUPPORT In Mt Uncle's case, you could say that what goes around comes around — in a positive manner, of course. "We are a very small business and times recently have been quite trying," Watkins says, referring to this pandemic-afflicted year. "Local support is essential and a massive part of our business' DNA. If it wasn't for our local fan base we would not be here." For Ward, the embrace of Brisbane's beer community has been just as pivotal. "Honestly, if it wasn't for the amazing support that locals gave — whether they are in our neighbourhood or we are stocked in theirs — we would more than likely have gone under when COVID-19 hit," he admits. "Over the past few years, we have seen a shift towards local; people want to know who makes their beer, food or products," Ward observes, "and the last 12 months have pushed this further into the spotlight". To find these or other Queensland drinks as part of the BWS Local Luvva's initiative, head to your nearest BWS store.
A spoonful of sugar isn't needed to make this medicine go down: the Mary Poppins musical is coming to Melbourne. Umbrellas at the ready for the most supercalifragilisticexpialidocious news that you'll hear all day, and all year as well, with the tale of the singing nanny set to take over Her Majesty's Theatre from Sunday, January 29, 2023. Mary Poppins comes to Melbourne after its Australian-premiere Sydney season and then a stop in Brisbane, and hails from Disney and theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh. This current version of the show tells the same enchanting tale that everyone knows from the hugely popular, five-time Oscar-winning 1964 film — which, as well as inspiring this stage adaptation, also gave rise to big-screen sequel Mary Poppins Returns in 2018. (Everything to do with the English governess harks back to PL Travers' books about the character, of course, and pop culture has been thankful for and downright delighted with her stories for almost six decades now.) When it soars through its Melbourne season over the summer of 2023 through to Sunday, April 2, local theatre fans can look forward to a new version of the show that last graced Australia's stages — and won eight Helpmann Awards — back in 2011. Since Mackintosh first teamed up with writer Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) to bring Mary Poppins to the theatre in 2004, the production has won four Olivier Awards and a Tony as well. The local cast includes Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins and Jack Chambers as Bert, as well as Tom Wren as George Banks, Lucy Maunder as Winifred Banks and Hannah Waterman as Mrs Brill. Also appearing: Gareth Isaac as Robertson Ay, Robert Grubb as Chairman and Admiral Boom, Cherine Peck as Mrs Corry, Lisa Sontag as Miss Lark, Kade Hughes as Neleus, Stephen Anderson as Park Keeper and Andrew Broadbent as Policeman. If you'd been crossing your fingers that a date with Poppins, the Banks family and their Cherry Tree Lane abode might also come Melbourne's way, consider that wish granted. Consider 'A Spoonful of Sugar', 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious', the Oscar-winning 'Chim Chim Cher-ee' and 'Let's Go Fly a Kite' stuck firmly in your head until January blows in, too. Check out the musical's trailer below: Mary Poppins will play Her Majesty's Theatre from Sunday, January 29–Sunday, April 2, 2023. To sign up for the ticket waitlist, head to the musical's website — with presales from 10am on Monday, September 12 and general sales from 9am on Monday, September 19. Images: Daniel Boud.
With a network of cycling trails that extend the length of the country, New Zealand has recently positioned itself very squarely at the forefront of cycling destinations around the world. And the South Island alone has more fantastic trails than spokes on a wheel, allowing you to discover the stunning and varied scenery that makes cycling in these regions a joy. While there are challenging trails for the bona fide bikers, if you're more into checking out the scenery at a leisurely pace with the wind in your hair and enough breath to chat with your companions, here are some suggestions that don't involve downhill-heart-in-your-mouth type adventures. Here are five scenic cycling trails suitable for, well, pretty much everyone. QUEEN CHARLOTTE TRACK, MARLBOROUGH The 70-kilometre Queen Charlotte Track has long been a favourite hiking trail for locals and tourists alike because of its spectacular beauty, the many accommodation options along the way — camping, bed and breakfast and high-end resorts — and because of the bag-carrying service offered. Though the track was purpose-built for cyclists and walkers, it's a single track, which means that it can be a bit rough in places. Also, you'll need to look out for tree roots, rocks and mud if it's been raining. But don't let that put you off, cycling through native beech forest, stopping in at the many tiny bays along the way and getting up close to New Zealand's fauna is an unforgettable experience. Cycling the whole track can take up to three days, with a boat ride at the end to take you back to Picton, or you can pick and choose sections to easily do in a day. ST JAMES CYCLE TRAIL, CANTERBURY The St James Cycle Trail passes through St James Station, near the alpine spa village of Hanmer Springs. Now a conservation area, this land was one of the largest operating cattle and sheep stations in New Zealand for almost 150 years. The total length of the trail is 64 kilometres, and it offers incredible vistas including mountain peaks, rivers, high-country lakes, alpine meadows, subalpine beech forest and grassy river flats. While this is a mixed grade track and some sections could prove slightly challenging, it's a great way to get a real appreciation for New Zealand's outback. If you have limited time, there are some shorter options within the trail. And with its proximity to Hanmer Springs, what could be better than a soak in the hot springs once you've conquered the cycle trail? CLUTHA GOLD TRAIL, OTAGO The Otago Central Rail Trail was one of the South Island's first great cycle trails — it follows 152 kilometres of the old gold mining railway and is the track everyone talks about. But, there are other neighbouring trails well-worth considering. Slightly shorter at 73 kilometres, the Clutha Gold Trail is a one-way track that starts at the Lake Roxburgh dam and runs through the heartland of rural South Island, along steep gorges, through an old tunnel and ends up in the gold mining town of Lawrence. The track itself is smooth and allows for easy riding, but there are enough ups and downs to work up an appetite for some handmade chocolates and pastries from The Lawrence Mint on the main street of Lawrence. While it's beautiful all year round here, in autumn when the leaves change colour, this trail brings a whole new meaning to the gold in its name. GODLEY HEAD, CANTERBURY With mellow flowing trails and amazing views over Christchurch and Lyttelton Harbour, this half-day ride is super close to Christchurch and an easy way to get a great view of the city. The single track shared with runners and walkers will take you up along the crest of an ancient crater rim and across tussocky grassland towards the headland and the remnants of WWII gun emplacements. There is also the option here to take the Anaconda and do a bit of downhilling if you so desire. On a good day, you can look north along the beach to see the Kaikoura Range. OPARARA VALLEY, WEST COAST About an hours' drive from Westport in Karamea is the entry point for the South Island's West Coast and the Kahurangi National Park — New Zealand's second largest National Park, which features a wide range of landforms and ecosystems you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Here, 27 kilometres of old logging roads have been revamped into the K Road Track — and it feels a lot like the set of Jurassic Park. The verdant nikau palms and towering rimu trees make it easy to believe that this area was once the stomping ground of giant moa and other now-extinct species. Keep your eyes peeled for wekas, one of New Zealand's flightless birds. It has brown plumage and is about the size of a chicken — and trust us, it's super cute. Start planning your trip to New Zealand's south with our guide to the South Island journeys to take here.
