Australia has a penchant for good food, an adventurous spirit and a willingness to try the new and exciting. It's a combination that makes for a pretty stand-out culinary scene, as local chefs continue to push boundaries, flex creative muscle and hit reset on the latest and greatest food finds. Shifting philosophies and changing attitudes have spawned a whole wealth of food trends across the past decade, from the fun, to the health-focused, to the wildly inventive. Some of them were even started by TV shows — specifically MasterChef Australia, which is celebrating ten successful, and influential, years on the screen. Together, we've pulled together a list of the top ten trends that have shaped Australia's dining scene in the past decade, covering everything from diet trends and insects to one very special (Snow Egg-shaped) dessert. [caption id="attachment_658869" align="alignnone" width="1930"] Pezzo, Giulia Morlando[/caption] RIFFS ON OLD-SCHOOL FAVOURITES A healthy dose of nostalgia, mixed with a splash of creativity and a dash of daring attitude. It became the recipe for success as chefs began to revamp the classics and rejig those childhood favourites into modern masterpieces. Sydney cafe Dutch Smuggler had people scrambling for its new-school jaffle creations, rocking an unlikely, but addictive filling of Mi Goreng noodles. Bad Frankie led Melbourne's jaffle renaissance with its now iconic lamington version. Guy Grossi's Pezzo brought the pizza pocket back into our lives, and Matt Wilkinson took on an Aussie staple with his Brunswick East spot, The Pie Shop. And no one could forget Bar Liberty's opening attraction — a white bread, chicken-skin crackling, tomato and lettuce homage to the classic BLT. [caption id="attachment_598217" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jethro Canteen, Jo Rittey[/caption] INSECTS In the name of sustainability, insects, bugs and creepy crawlies have marched their way into the culinary world, appearing on menus and embraced by top chefs the country over. Kylie Kwong showed her love for insect dining back in 2013, adding creations like cricket and prawn wontons, and stir-fried crickets to the lineup at her acclaimed Sydney restaurant Billy Kwong. Melbourne's now closed zero-waste cafe Silo also flew the flag for edible crickets, with chef Matt Stone enlisting the help of a horticulturist to grow and harvest the venue's own supply. And the trend's stuck around — famed Melbourne restaurant Attica turned heads with a black ant lamington, and today, you'll even spy roast crickets sprinkled onto a noodle salad at Richmond's Jethro Canteen. [caption id="attachment_601490" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Saint Peter, Nikki To[/caption] SEA URCHIN It might be considered a pest of the ocean, but the humble sea urchin has become a hero of the fine dining scene, dressed to impress, in elegant dishes at some of the country's hottest restaurants. The sea urchin's (this little creature) popularity in Japanese cooking lent plenty of influence here on Aussie shores — we saw it teamed with wasabi and caviar, atop rice crackers at Chris Lucas's Kisumé, and regularly crafted into stunning creations by acclaimed sushi master Koichi Minamishima at his namesake Richmond restaurant. But leave it to our own seafood king Josh Niland to plate up urchin with an Aussie twist — the chef's beloved Saint Peter serves the delicacy cradled in its spine, teamed with a warm, house-made crumpet. [caption id="attachment_662760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mjolner, Kate Shanasy[/caption] DIET TRENDS As diners embraced a whole plethora of modern-day diets, the wellness craze trickled beyond gyms and home kitchens, onto menus, and even spawning a new breed of healthed-up, diet-centric eateries. One second veggies were king, and the next the paleo movement had us all getting back in touch with our prehistoric selves, heroing meat and celebrating fats. Mjølner — in both Melbourne and Sydney — puts meat front and centre. Patch Cafe landed in Melbourne's Richmond with an entire offering dedicated to the primal-style diet, from 'bulletproof' coffee jazzed up with coconut oil and butter, to pasta crafted from zucchini. And Sydney haunts like Proteini also painted healthy eating fun, with colourful, flavour-packed dishes centred around nature's best. Cornersmith, Steve Woodburn FERMENTS As pickles, cultures and funky ferments made their way into the collective consciousness, they inspired chefs across the country to have a crack themselves, incorporating those gut-healing powers and that microbial magic into all kinds of dishes. Fine dining degustations and cafe menus alike began to incorporate house-fermented goodies, from sourdoughs and sauerkraut, to Korean-style kimchi. As with lots of other foodie trends, this craze also sparked plenty of DIY action, as everyday home cooks clambered aboard the fermentation train. Experts have been more than happy to share their secrets, with a host of classes offered by the likes of Marrickville's Cornersmith, The Craft & Co in Collingwood, and the Melbourne-based Wild Ferments. [caption id="attachment_671361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Double Good[/caption] CHARCOAL Black became the new black as the culinary world embraced all things charcoal, as much for the purported health benefits as for that dramatic, head-turning colour. Kitchens everywhere got creative with the chemical-absorbing ingredient. Port Melbourne cafe Long Story Short made waves when it added activated charcoal fish and chips to the menu, though the presentation of black logs on a plate raised its fair share of eyebrows. Ink-coloured charcoal tarts starred in the adventurous lineup at Carlton cafe's now-closed Nora, and Brisbane punters went nuts for the Black Elvis charcoal soft serve at Eat Street's Double Good. [caption id="attachment_549358" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Snow Egg, Quay[/caption] STAND-OUT DESSERTS These days, the dessert game is all about leaving a lasting impression — not just on the person holding the spoon, but on our whole food-obsessed country. Wow factor became the go-to ingredient in this battle of the sweets, with each new creation vying to become the stuff of legend. Simplicity got the boot in favour of memorable extravagance. Peter Gilmore's famed Snow Egg stole the show in the Season Two finale of MasterChef Australia, and at Gilmore's restaurant Quay. Punters were happy to queue for an age to get their hands on one of Rustica Sourdough's famed cronuts, and Dan Hunter created an unlikely smash-hit with his oyster ice cream at Brae. [caption id="attachment_647927" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hawker Chan[/caption] STREET FOOD Tucking into street food overseas can be a gamble, so we'll be forever grateful for Australia's multiculturalism and the young gun chefs bringing incredible street eats from all corners of the globe, to our own backyard. Fast, fun, and creative, street food has become a staple of our casual dining scene, even inspiring home-grown versions of international casual dining experiences. In Melbourne, the neon-drenched HWKR is delivering a modernised riff on the hawker centres of Southeast Asia, its four kitchens playing host to a globe-trotting rotation of buzz-worthy eateries, including Chanteen by Diana Chan. Chan is the winner of MasterChef Australia Season 9 and her pop-up eatery is currently serving up a slew of Singaporean and Malaysian street foods such as char kuey teow and soft shell crab sliders. You'll also find Michelin-starred Singaporean street food at Hawker Chan. Meanwhile, Sydneysiders have scored a swag of cuisine-specific street food restaurants, offering authentic flavours straight from the likes of Bangladesh (Bang) and India (Delhi Streets). [caption id="attachment_670959" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fred's[/caption] SMOKE & FIRE Another hot foodie trend saw a barrage of chefs getting back to basics, turning to fire and smoke to bring their dishes to life. The wood-fire grill became star of many a high-end kitchen. Geelong fine diner Igni, fittingly named for the Latin word for 'fire', has quickly built a shining reputation on its devotion to the humble flame, as chef Aaron Turner's sharp technique and beloved wood grill put the tiny regional restaurant on the map. Fire's also been the force behind Adelaide's famed Africola, where Duncan Welgemoed is grilling and smoking in homage to the flavours of his homeland, South Africa, and at Sydney's Fred's where Chez Panisse alumnus Danielle Alvarez cooks most ingredients on an open hearth. [caption id="attachment_660428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark + Vinny's[/caption] VEGETARIANISM Slowly but surely, vegetarianism has shed its dowdy, ugly duckling image and became one of the cool kids, as folks everywhere started to pay a little more attention to the planet. Menus across the globe came to the party and it opened up the door to some seriously creative plant-based dining offerings, the international charge led by the likes of Israeli-British chef Yotam Ottolenghi and his stunning cookbooks. Closer to home, Melbourne's Transformer matches a vegetarian menu to fine dining sensibilities, and vegan-friendly pasta bar Mark + Vinny's became Sydney's new millennial hotspot. Catch the latest season of MasterChef Australia from Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten.
You might not be able to flit away to Europe this weekend, but you can soak up a taste of German festival culture right here in your own backyard. It's all thanks to electro production crew Flow Music, who have rounded up a top-shelf lineup of international dance acts for a rollicking party at North Melbourne's The Third Day. Kicking off from 1pm, this day festival promises a thumping dance floor guided by Berlin-born house sensation Madmotormiquel, German producer Seth Schwarz, Amsterdam-based DJ Franca and Dutch star Joep Mencke. Also hitting the decks will be Melbourne's own Deep Ghosh going back-to-back with Sriracha. It's a whole lot cheaper than a plane fare, too — tickets clock in at just $30. [caption id="attachment_887279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sriracha[/caption] What's more, you'll be grooving for a great cause. The party was originally set to take place aboard floating club ATET before it was damaged in a fire earlier this week. In support of the venue, all profits from this event will now go towards helping ATET rebuild. Top image: Joep Mencke
Australians, if you thought you had a lot of food delivery options at your fingertips before, consider yourself even more spoilt for choice now. DoorDash, the US's biggest on-demand food platform for door-to-door delivery, has arrived Down Under, taking on Melbourne, Geelong and Sydney in its first expansion outside of North America. Thousands of restaurants are set to jump on board as DoorDash rolls out its platform locally. And yes, that means dinnertime decision-making just got a little more interesting. Which can't be a bad thing, given that stats show a lot of us — two million of us to be exact — use meal delivery services at lease once every three months. Even more so now, with many Australians practising social-distancing or self-isolating in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DoorDash has introduced no-contact delivery (and will leave your food at the front door) and is waiving delivery fees for a heap of restaurants, so they can generate a little more money in these uncertain times. Big-name restaurant brands available on the delivery service in Melbourne include Betty's Burgers and Nando's, along with a diverse spread of well-loved local eateries like Red Sparrow Pizza, Le Bon Ton, Huxtaburger. In Sydney, you can order from the likes of Grill'd, Restaurant Moon, Huxtaburger, Lukumades, Mr Crackles and Thirsty Bird. The app works much the same as competitors, like UberEats and Deliveroo, though it also has a 'pick-up' and 'group ordering' options — the latter making it a lot easier to coordinate big groups. DoorDash is by no means new to the game. Having launched back in 2013, it now operates in over 4000 cities across all 50 states of the USA and Canada. If you're keen to check out the new service, DoorDash is currently offering free delivery for a heap of restaurants. The DoorDash delivery platform is now available in Melbourne, Geelong and Sydney over at doordash.com. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
After introducing Australian tastebuds to the double cheeseburger pie — and Tasmanian scallop pies, bangers and mash pies, and chicken parmigiana pies, too — the team at Banjo's Bakery Cafe has launched another culinary hybrid. Pastry is a feature, as usual. This time, though, it encloses layers of pasta, beef mince, tomato, vegetables and cheese. Yes, lasagne pies are now a real thing that exists on the bakery chain's menu. Melbourne's Pie Thief has been doing them since 2019, but now Banjo's is serving up its own version. And, yes, they're exactly what they sound like. The aim: to satisfy your cravings when you just can't bring yourself to choose between a pie and a slice of lasagne. If you're a little indecisive when it comes to choosing what to eat in general, you're probably already a big fan of food mashups that find ways to combine two popular dishes — and you'll likely want to add this one to your must-try list. The lasagne pies have joined Banjo's signature range, alongside the aforementioned other creative varieties. They'll be available from the company's stores from today, Wednesday, May 5, as well as via online click-and-collect orders and Uber Eats deliveries. In NSW, you'll need to head north to Glendale to get your fix. In Victoria, stores are located in Mornington, Traralgon and Mildura. Queenslanders can pick from ten spots, including Darra, Cleveland, Park Ridge and Redcliffe, while pie-loving SA residents can hit up Glenelg — and there's 29 stores in Tasmania. Banjo's Bakery Cafe's lasagne pie is currently on the menu at the chain's stores nationally. To find your nearest location, visit the company's website.
Step into the strange and seductive world of Greek cinema as it lights up the screen at Palace Como and The Astor, as well as locations around the country. Now in its 23rd year, the latest edition of the Greek Film Festival boasts an expectedly eclectic program, ranging from fiction features to documentaries and a couple of Australian productions as well. The festival will begin with an opening night screening of Worlds Apart, a romantic anthology film from writer-director-actor Christopher Papakaliatis co-starring Oscar winner J.K. Simmons. It's one of a number of critically acclaimed contemporary films on the bill, with skewering social satire Chevalier and darkly comic thriller Suntan both deserving of a look. Other highlights including a pair of local productions by Greek-Australian filmmakers, in bold religious drama Sacred Heart and medicinal marijuana documentary A Life of Its Own. Audiences in Melbourne will also get the chance to delve into the back catalogue of 'weird wave' master Yorgos Lanthimos, in a retrospective stream featuring his films Kinetta, Dogtooth, Alps and The Lobster.
If trams are a part of your everyday commute, the concept might have lost its shine a bit. But get ready to rekindle the romance because there's a Yarra Valley getaway where you can spend the night in your very own, very comfy, refurbished 1930s-era tram. You'll find The Oaks located on two leafy acres in Lilydale, right at the doorstep of Yarra Valley wine country. The property boasts three accommodation options, including two quaint heritage-style cottages, but there's no denying the star of the show is Doris. She's an 86-year-old W Class Melbourne tram that's been carefully restored by her new owners and transformed into a cosy suite with space to sleep up to four. The fitout is cheerfully retro, with chequered floor and vintage furniture pieces, and vinyl tram seats in place of a couch. The two double bedrooms sit at either end in their own carriage compartments, while the outdoor deck areas have been designed to look like Doris has just cruised into the tram stop. She's held firmly onto her roots, too, decked out with plenty of yellow and green trimmings, and with her handles, poles and sliding doors kept intact. The tram's even sporting a fresh exterior paint job, resplendent in glossy green and yellow. Of course, guests won't be stuck dealing with 1930s-era mod-cons — the stay features all the usual luxuries, including air-con, heating, a full bathroom with proper shower and toilet, a TV, a kitchen and even an outdoor fire pit. Find Doris at The Oaks Lilydale Accommodation, 500 Maroondah Highway, Lilydale. Prices start from $450 per night for four guests. After more unique stays? Check out our roundup of extraordinary escapes around Australia.
Melbourne sourdough bakery and cafe chain Rustica has just opened the doors of its fifth location in the beachside burb of Brighton. When it comes to baked goods, punters can expect all the Rustica classics — buttery flaky croissants, Portuguese custard tarts, maple glazed crullers and a heap of other seasonal sweet and savoury pastries. The sourdough loaves will also be just as good as those you've had from the CBD shop (or any of the other locations scattered across the city) because they're all made in the flagship South Yarra store. But this haunt is also big on the brunch game. The kitchen team in Brighton, led by Head Chefs Sidney Tor and Sam Tacussel, will serve up a few familiar brekkie dishes alongside some new creations made to work with the coastal location — that means light and zesty flavours throughout. The lobster and prawn eggs benny is a truly luxurious way to get your day started, as is the lemon curd french toast. Pair it all with some coffee from the First Love Coffee crew, choosing to either dine in or it take out for a stroll towards Brighton's famed beaches. The 125-seat space is serving coastal cafe realness thanks to architect Fiona Drago, who's collaborated with the Rustica team for quite some time. For this venture, she's decked out the space with light timber furniture, earthy and pastel hues and stacks of other natural finishes. A few outdoor tables out on the corner of Hampton Street and Pine Street are also ideal for Brighton people watching when the sun's out. Rustica Brighton is open from 7am-4pm, Monday–Friday, and from 8am–4pm on weekends. For more details, visit the venue's website.
Ever since the Mulberry Group (Hazel, Dessous, Lilac Wine, Liminal, Common Ground Project and Heidi Kitchen) announced it was opening two new venues in Abbotsford, we've been impatiently waiting to try them both out. That's because the team behind the new spots — named Molli and Little Molli — are absolute pros who've been at the forefront of Melbourne's hospo scene for decades. Even though he doesn't own them now, The Mulberry Group's founder Nathan Toleman started up Three Bags Full, Top Paddock, The Kettle Black and Higher Ground. These were and continue to be some of Melbourne's best brunch spots. Hazel also makes our list of the best restaurants in Melbourne, Dessous is one of the city's top bars, and Lilac Wine makes a strong case for our favourite Melbourne wine bar. With such impeccable credentials, the expectations for Molli and Little Molli are incredibly high. And the Mulberry Group seems to have absolutely delivered with both. Little Molli is a neighbourhood deli and cafe, open from 8am–5pm every day of the week and serving a regularly rotating selection of loaded sandwiches on To Be Frank focaccia and ciabatta, fresh pastries from Backhaus Bakery, as well as coffee from Square One Coffee Roasters. Cured meats, cheeses and a huge spread of antipasto goodies fill the deli cabinet, for you to take home or have in — either on one of the tables inside or out on the tree-lined street. Mini martinis and wines will be even available for those seeking to fashion their own aperitivo sessions. Right next door, Molli serves bigger bistro-style meals alongside a stacked drinks menu. Former Hazel Head Chef and Abbotsford resident Aleksis Kalnins is running the kitchen here, plating up contemporary Australian fare. Plenty of produce is sourced from the building's own rooftop garden, as well as the group's regenerative farm in Freshwater Creek. The menu heavily features snacking plates like pork neck skewers with date pûrée, potato rosti with sour cream, smoked eggplant with chickpea miso and seaweed crackers with mushroom ketchup. You can come in for a little sip and snack session with these or dive into the more substantial dishes. Two pastas — made fresh on-site every morning — will always feature on the menu, plus there'll be wagyu rump steak, whole alpine trout with horseradish and pork crackling, spatchcock with preserved lemon and Portarlington mussels with nduja. Kalnins is big on technique but is keeping deceptively simple at Molli. Instead of overloading a dish with ingredients, only a few thoughtfully selected ingredients will feature in each playful but approachable dish. Kayla Saito — the brains behind Hazel's and Dessous' ever-changing beverage lineup — has designed a drinks list that's described as "relaxed but thoughtful", with a deep sustainability ethos. Saito collaborates closely with the kitchen when formulating the funky tipples, which celebrate small-batch, local spirits. The cocktail menu includes a rotating offer of seven cocktails in core styles — such as a spritz, a sour and a house martini — as well as seven zero-proof alternatives like water kefir and kombucha. Punches served in vintage bowls are also available for groups. The wine list, which comes courtesy of Andre Magneklint (ex-Bahama Gold and Old Palm Liquor), showcases a broad yet accessible selection of vinos. You'll find familiar varietals from well-known regions as well as plenty of hidden gems that you're unlikely to have tired before. Craft spirits and draught beer from Clayton's Two Rupees round out the stacked drinks lineup at Molli. And to set the vibe within the bistro and bar, the team has enlisted the help of local record store Dutch Vinyl to curate a monthly-changing vinyl soundtrack. But cue the steak knives, because that's not all. Between the two venues sits a private dining room, plus there's a large rooftop space that can also be booked for private events. The rooftop has its own bar and kitchen, making it primed for summertime parties in Abbotsford. Abbotsford locals should be rejoicing now that they've scored Molli and Little Molli, and everyone else should rightfully be jealous. You'll find Little Molli at 66 Nicholson Street, Abbotsford, open from 8am–5pm every day of the week. And Molli is located next door at 20 Mollison Street, Abbotsford, open 5–11pm on Wednesdays, 12–11pm from Thursday–Saturday, and 11.30am–5pm on Sundays. For more information, visit the venues' website. Images: Tim Harris and Kristoffer Paulsen.
Lune's legendary croissants have long been a weekend staple, the original Fitzroy bakery pulling its heftiest queues every Saturday and Sunday. But now, Kate Reid's internationally renowned, French-style pastries are set to become part of many a workday routine, too, with Lune's second store opening in the heart of the CBD this week. The standing-room-only Collins Street space will be open and baking buttery delights from 7am to 3pm weekdays, kicking off this morning, Tuesday, October 2. The ovens are set to keep firing right through each day, offering a selection of five Lune staples — the traditional croissant, a pain au chocolate, a ham and gruyère savoury number, a lemon curd cruffin and the cult-favourite, twice-baked almond croissant — along with a few surprise appearances here and there. But if you're worried about your weekend pastry fix, don't be — Reid assures it'll remain business as usual at the original store. At the new store, top-notch coffee will again come courtesy of Small Batch, with Patrick Janowicz (Patricia, Coffee Supreme) heading things up front of house. Visitors will be able to grab a coffee and croissant to go, or indulge in a bite at the espresso bar, while watching some magic unfold through the bakery's viewing window. Design-wise, Lune 2.0 takes plenty of inspiration from its sibling, referencing the sleek concrete and dramatic black accents, though the new semi-subterranean bunker space taps into plenty of its own personality as well. Swing by the CBD store during the first two weeks and you'll be able to see Reid herself working the new bakery, alongside what she calls "Lune's crack team" of pastry masters. Find Lune Croissanterie's new CBD space at Shop 16, 161 Collins Street, Melbourne (enter via Russell Street). It's open from 7am till 3pm (or sold out) Monday to Friday.
Freedom Time, the masters of the outdoor dance party, are at it again, with a follow-up to their massive New Year's Day party planned for Saturday, June 3. As with January's event, this shindig is set to take over the Coburg Velodrome, counteracting that wintery Melbourne weather with what promises to be Freedom Time's biggest undercover dance floor yet. Beneath three big top tents, punters will be treated to a swag of visual and musical treats, across an impressive lineup of DJ sets, art projections, installations, and performances. Of course, under the guidance of Freedom Time, Wax'o Paradiso and Crown Ruler, you can expect the tunes to pack a serious punch; the lineup features the likes of LA's DJ Harvey, Kim Ann Foxman, and Melbourne's own utterly dance-worthy CC:DISCO. Image: David Boyd.
When the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras arrives each year, picking your parties becomes everyone's new pastime as the LGBTQIA+ celebrations take over the city. Is going all out both at the parade and afterwards your kind of shindig? Do you want to hit up a vogue ball? Enjoy a pool soirée? Dance on a beach? Get glittery in a laneway? They're all options — including from Friday, February 16–Sunday, March 3 in 2024. Who you'd like to listen to as you get into the Mardi Gras spirit inspires another set of questions — and the answers for this year, aka the event's full lineup, have just been announced. Adam Lambert, Ultra Naté, CeCe Peniston and Slayyyter all feature, as do Cub Sport, MAY-A, Keiynan Lonsdale, Melissa Tkautz and the cast of & Juliet. In total, more than 150 performers are on the bill across 100-plus events. [caption id="attachment_938201" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joseph Sinclair[/caption] Lambert is at the top of the list for the ten-hour, 10,000-capacity Mardi Gras Party, taking to the stage at Hordern Pavilion. That's where Ultra Naté will also bust out 1997 anthem 'Free', on a roster that also spans ONYX, Brett Austin, Patrick Mason, DJ Monki and Mark Alsop. The same event will feature Peniston giving an Australian-exclusive performance that will have everyone singing along to 'Finally', but in The Forecourt. Also on the bill: Lonsdale, Miss Katalyna, Shigeki and Bobby Blanco, as well as SGT Slick and Ebstar. Elsewhere, Mardi Gras Party lineup's includes DJ Naian, Lisa May and AK Sports among the talents at Liberty Hall, which will be going for a boiler room-style vibe; a roster featuring DADSMAYO, Charlie Villas, Mary Kiani and more at The Big Top; Diva Cups, Mama de Leche, Dyan Tai, Drag Kings and others at Watson's; and Mary's EQ and The Entertainment Quarter hosting food trucks and bars. If revelling on the sand at Sydney WorldPride's Bondi Beach Party was one of your 2023 highlights, it might earn the same status again this year. While Sydney WorldPride was a once-off, its surfside shenanigans are returning. This time, the event will welcome in 15,000 attendees to see Slayyyter in an Aussie-exclusive performance — plus Jay Jay Revlon, Lagoon Femshaymer, Corey Craig, Josh Harrison, Tyoow, Mama de Leche and Beth Yen. Mardi Gras 2024 is similarly giving Sydney WorldPride's Ultra Violet a second run, celebrating LGBTQIA+ women in an event that takes place as day turns to night at the National Art School. MAY-A will headline, with Estée Louder, DJ Sveta, Gemma, Kinky D (UK), BVT, Jacqui Cunningham, Mirasia and Kilimi on the bill as well. The free Fair Day is where Tkautz will break out 'Read My Lips'; stage talents riffing on Shakespeare will perform; and LION, Paul Capsis, Royston Noell and DJ Nate will also be take to the stage. The doggywood pageant, karaoke cave, drag king games and First Nations circle are all also on the agenda. Gender-diverse celebration Hot Trans Summer on floating venue Glass Island will feature DJs Neesha Alexander, Yvngcweed, and Victoria Anthony, plus Fetu Taku, Bluberry Bakla and Willow Ick performing. Paradiso Pool Party's lineup at the ivy Pool Bar is bringing together Beth Yen, Enn, DJ Dolly Llama, Haylee Maree, DJ Sveta, Axl Rod, Rocky Stallone and more. And at the other excuse for a splash, the Kaftana Pool Party, Texas Gold, Miss Rosie Rivette, Sideboob DJ Hamo are among the DJs. Cub Sport lead the charge at Laneway at The Beresford to wrap up the fest, with Atomic Kiss, Amanda Louise, Dan Azzo and Jesse Boyd for company. Before then, DJ Colin Gaff, GI Jode, Kevininthecity, Faustina Agolley, John Glover and Rosie Piper are among the folks who'll be helping set the mood at the parade's viewing areas. The full 2024 Mardi Gras rundown also sees Zoë Coombs Marr host Laugh Out Proud at the Enmore Theatre, where St Clair, Wandi Cao, Steven Oliver, Michelle Braiser, Eli Matthewson, Bob Downe and AJ Lamarque will pick up the microphone. At the Sissy Ball, Jack Mizrahi will be commentating, while Legendary Tamiyah 007, Joel Bueno, Steva 007 and Daniielle Juicy Gorgeous Gucci are judging. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2024 runs from Friday, February 16–Sunday, March 3, 2024. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website. Select images: Jeffrey Feng Photography, Lexy Potts.
Tokyo might be filled with dotty creations thanks to its Yayoi Kusama museum, not to mention gorgeous animation at its Studio Ghibli museum; however that's just the beginning of the Japanese capital's immersive creativity. From June 21, it'll become home to a new digital art museum — the city's first, and one that'll dedicate its more than 10,000-square-metre space to interactive, kaleidoscopic artistry. While one-off Tokyo events have combined multi-course dinners with multi-sensory projections and turned a greenhouse into a light and music-filled garden patch, Mori Building Digital Art Museum: teamLab Borderless will offer up those kind of attractions all year round. In fact, it's a collaboration between interdisciplinary art collective teamLab, aka the folks responsible for the aforementioned animated meal, and urban developer Mori Building, whose sky-high gallery in the city's Roppongi district hosted a giant game of Space Invaders 52 storeys above the ground last year. Set to feature more than 50 works, the museum will be split into five different areas — but, as the site's name indicates, there won't be any walls or borders between each space. Instead, visitors will roam from through a gallery where art works blend into each other, communicate with each other, move across installation rooms and even fuse with other pieces. Highlights include installations that'll make you feel like you're wandering through lily pads, sliding through fruit and sitting in an aquarium; a tea party that pairs real-life cuppas with virtually blooming flowers; and a forest of lamps that respond to human interaction, spreading their light as people approach each bulb. Still on the garden theme, the museum will also feature an 'athletics forest' complete with spaces for jumping, hanging on swinging bars, navigating a weightless space and climbing on gradients of different elevations, bridging the gap between the artistic and the physical. Plus, the site is located in Odaiba — which means travelling over the city's famous Rainbow Bridge to get there, and adding some extra brightness to your visit. Due to open on June 21, the museum will operate seven days a week, all year round. For more information, visit the Mori Building Digital Art Museum: teamLab Borderless website.
Thanks to the events of the past year, you've probably forgotten what an overseas holiday feels like — unless you've either already taken advantage of the newly opened trans-Tasman travel bubble with New Zealand, or you've made plans to hop across the ditch sometime soon. Don't go pulling out a map of the rest of the globe just yet, however, because the folks at Qantas and Jetstar have just announced a delay to their plans to start flying to other international destinations again. Initially, the airlines were hoping to begin soaring to a number of overseas spots in October. Qantas had outlined plans to recommence flights to 22 of its 25 international destinations — including London, Singapore and Los Angeles — while Jetstar was intending to resume trips to all of its 13 international routes by the same projected date. The Qantas Group, the company behind both carriers, has since updated that timeframe, announcing that it's now hoping to restart its international flights to places other than NZ in late December this year. The change follows recent forecasting by the Federal Government, which noted that Australia's borders wouldn't reopen to international travel until at least mid-2022 — as well as the fact that the nation's vaccine rollout hasn't been proceeding as quickly as originally advised. So, a lot still needs to go to plan for the two airlines to have you jetting off to foreign lands this summer. That's Qantas and Jetstar's current target date, though. It has been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic first forced Qantas and Jetstar to suspend international flights, which happened back in March 2020. There has been talk of other travel bubbles, however, including a possible one with Singapore — with Qantas Group saying that it remains "optimistic that additional bubbles will open once Australia's vaccine rollout is complete to countries who, by then, are in a similar position." The airlines will contact anyone who has already booked flights from October onwards, but notes that "recent levels of uncertainty meant international booking levels were relatively low." When overseas flights to spots other than NZ do resume, you might not be able to fly until you've received your jab, with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce previously stating the airline would only allow vaccinated passengers to travel on international flights. The airline is also currently trialling digital health pass apps, such as Common Pass and IATA Travel Pass, which contain information about a passenger's COVID-19 status, testing and vaccinations, on current international repatriation flights. Of course, even once international flights are up and running again, you can expect a much lower capacity than pre-COVID travel — Qantas previously said that it's not anticipating a full return to normality until 2024. To find out more about Qantas and Jetstar's international travel plans, visit the Qantas website.
If you're headed to Mexico, then you probably have two things on your itinerary: seeing the sights and sipping tequila. And while you can do both in the usual fashion, travelling from place to place, soaking up the scenery, and stopping for a few drinks here and there, combining them on the Jose Cuervo Express really is the ultimate holiday dream. Move over, Hogwarts Express — this is your new favourite train trip, and while it isn't fictional, it does still sound magical. Run by the Jose Cuervo tequila brand, this regular venture takes patrons from the city of Guadalajara to the aptly named town of, you guessed it, Tequila. You'll visit agave fields and take a tour of the Jose Cuervo distillery once you arrive; however, the journey really is just as important as the destination. On the eponymous locomotive, you'll down the spirit in question along the hour-long trek, all thanks to an all-you-can-drink tequila selection. There are three types of tickets available, with the open bar included in the most expensive tier — 2500 Mexican pesos, or around AU$182. While you're chugging along, a range of Mexican snacks and cocktails are also on offer, as well as boozy beverages other than tequila (i.e. rum, vodka and whiskey), should you feel the need to mix up your drinks. Off the train, you'll watch an agave harvesting demonstration, take part in a professional tasting session, wander through the distillery and cellar, and have time to explore the town at your own leisure. You'll also head to a Mexican show, but just what that entails has been left vague. Running most weekends — typically on Saturdays, but sometimes on Sundays instead — the Jose Cuervo Express offers two timeslots. Although the departure time only varies by half an hour (9am versus 9.30am), the 'sunrise' tour takes you on the train during daylight, then brings you back via bus, and the 'sunset' tour reverses the two, so you're on the train come evening. Both take a minimum of ten hours return, making for one hefty tequila-filled day. We're assuming that lemon and salt will also be included in the ticket price. For more information or to make a booking, visit the Jose Cuervo Express website. Images: Jose Cuervo Express.
One of today's most exciting directors adapts one of the great novels of the past two centuries, all with a lineup of stars that should make all other movies envious. That's the new version of Little Women in a nutshell. Greta Gerwig writes, directs and takes inspiration from Louisa May Alcott's classic of the same name, while Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, Timothée Chalamet and Bob Odenkirk all feature among the cast. After nabbing Oscar nominations and widespread acclaim for Lady Bird, her solo filmmaking debut, Gerwig once again turns her attention to the trials and tribulations of young women. It's clearly a topic of great interest to the actor-turned-writer/director. She co-wrote Frances Ha and Mistress America with Noah Baumbach (as well as starring in them both), and did the same with her first joint stint behind the camera, Nights and Weekends, which she co-directed with Joe Swanberg. If you haven't read the book, or perhaps you just need a refresher, Little Women steps into the lives of the March family in 1860s New England in the aftermath of the American Civil War. It's a time when gender roles are clearly demarcated, but that isn't going to stop the spirited Jo (Ronan) from chasing her dreams — while her sisters Meg (Watson), Amy (Pugh, worlds away from Midsommar) and Beth (Australian actress Eliza Scanlen, who started her career on Home and Away) all have their own plans for their futures. Dern plays their mother, Streep pops up as the girls' aunt, and Chalamet once again has his sights set on Ronan, as he did in Lady Bird. This marks the eighth big-screen adaptation of Little Women, with Gillian Armstrong's 1994 film — starring Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, Susan Sarandon and Christian Bale — the most recent version of note. Watch the first trailer for Gerwig's take on the tale below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AST2-4db4ic Little Women releases in Australian cinemas on January 1, 2020.
Last time Ben Caplan was in Australia, he was accompanied by a band called the Casual Smokers — a motley crew who helped their frontman spark a gnarly jamboree of pluck-and-twang folk ballads. But, after a stint at Sydney Festival, he's fired the band, kept their instruments and taken up acting (beard in-tow). Old Stock is being billed as a refugee love story and, with a multitude of instruments strewn about the stage, there's no chance this is going to be a spoken word gig. Seizing upon the Jewish musical tradition of the klezmer folk tale, Caplan will set about rattling off the tale of two Romanian Jews looking to make a new home in Canada in the early 20th century. If you're desperate for a seat in the front row, some sort of face-protector wouldn't go astray — Old Stock's won a bunch of plaudits and when Caplan dances, Edinburgh Fringe Awards tend to fall out of his trousers. Caplan will do just five shows at the Arts Centre between January 29 and February 2. Image: Stoo Metz Photography.
Hurdle Creek is typically known for its gins, such as the Powder Monkey Navy Strength Gin. It's a distinctive rye character crafted from triticale, malt and barley, and loaded with locally sourced botanicals, including pink peppercorns, cinnamon and eucalyptus leaves picked from the ribbon gum outside their Milawa-based stillhouse. But we'd predict most bougie dinner party guests would welcome its local take on the iconic French aniseed aperitif, pastis. Traditionally made with the root of liquorice, star anise and oh-la-la botanicals, Hurdle Creek has adapted the classic spirit starting with its own grain spirit, and have given it a true Australian character with the addition of native aniseed myrtle and mintbush. The cellar door is open on the Milawa property every day except Wednesday.
The world has witnessed pizza spinoffs aplenty since the first pizzeria supposedly opened in Naples back in 1738. But if there's one thing most pizza lovers can agree on, it's that cheese makes everything a whole lot better. So, you can imagine the cheesy grins all over Melbourne as 400 Gradi this week announced the addition of a 150-cheese pizza to its Melbourne menus for one glorious day. Don't go assuming that the number 150 is hyperbole — this pizza will have literally 150 cheeses of varying textures and tastes in both the cheese base and the extra cheeses on top. Created by 400 Gradi owner and winner of the world's best pizza title Johnny Di Francesco, the hallowed pizza will only be available from Wednesday, September 5, to Sunday, September 8 in celebration of America's National Cheese Pizza Day (apparently that's a thing). The current world record for the cheesiest pizza — well, officially, the Greatest Variety of Cheese on a Pizza — goes to one topped with 111 different varieties, and Di Francesco has smashed this record. It's not the first time Di Francesco has brought an over-the-top cheese pizza into reality — he's twice created a 99-cheese pizza, once in 2016, and once in 2014 to coincide with the release of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the animals who dreamed up the idea of the 99-cheese pizza) movie. Since then, he's been hard at work, nipping, tucking and experimenting with cheese ratios to ensure this latest iteration is truly a cheese lover's dream personified. The 150-cheese pizza is $25 and will be gracing the menus at Gradi restaurants across Melbourne until Sunday, September 8, including the original 400 Gradi, Brunswick East; Gradi Crown, Southbank; Gradi Eastland, Eastland Shopping Centre, Ringwood; and 400 Gradi, Essendon. If you, like us, fancy yourself a bit of a cheese fanatic, you're probably curious as to what the 150 cheeses are. Well, here's the full list. Agour Ossau Iraty 12 month Alba Ricotta Ambrosi Grana Padano 18 month Aphrodite Feta Barrel-Aged Artemis Kefalotyri Asiago Pressata Berrys Creek Riverine Blue Berrys Creek Moss Blue Berrys Creek Tarwin Blue Will Studd Brillat Savarin Snow White Goat Cheddar Casa Madaio Canestrato Casa Madaio Il Cinerino Casa Madaio Paglierino Chabert Emmental Savoie NYD Coolea NYD Cornish Kern Cropwell Bishop Shropshire Chevrefeuille Crottin C/Grove Lamb Chopper C/Grove Midnight Moon Berthaut Epoisses AOP K/Swiss First Konig Kuh St Mamet Cantal Aop Cravero Parm Reggiano 24 month Haxaire Munster Petit Heidi Tilsit Il Fort Cacio Di Bosco Il Fort Pec. Toscano Dop Jacquin Pyramide De Chab. Jean Faup Chevre Fromager Des Clarines Perrin Secret De Scey Perrin St Vernier Kefalograviera Lartisan Fermier Portion Lartisan Fromage Blanc Lartisan Mountain Man Lartisan Petite Rouge Lartisan Tome Fraiche La Peral Blue Cheese Germain Langres Plateau Larrikins Bocconcini Le Conquerant Pont Leveq Le Conquerant Camembert Le Dauphin Double Creme Le Dauphin Soumaintrain Secret De Lys Monterey Jack Jalapeño Monterey Jack Plain Will Studd Comte La Couronne Mauri Gorgonzola Dolce Mauri Gorgonzola Piccante Mauri Fontina Meredith Chevre Meredith Curd Goat Meredith Feta Marinated Milawa Blue Milawa King River Gold Rnd Mimolette Aged Losfeld Occelli Testun Di Barolo Onetik Bleu Des Basque Onetik Bleuette Onetik Chabrin Onetik Chebris Onetik Ossau Iraty six month Papillon Roquefort AOP Pave Daffinois Pecorino Romano DOP Perenz Formajo Ciock Perenz Millefoglie Perenz Montasio 15 month Perenz Ubriaco Di Capral Valpad. Provo. Picc. Dop Pyengana Mature Cheddar Merco Mahon Curado 6mth Merco Iberico Merco Manchego six month Merco Murcia Al Vino Merco Valdeon Quickes Devonshire Red Quickes Smoked Cheddar Ricotta Salata Rouzaire Coulommiers Rouzaire Fougerus St Agur Blue Portion Schulz Quark Organic S&B Chevrot S&B Mothais Sur Feuille Shaw Rvr Annie Bax Shaw Rvr Buffalino Shaw Rvr Buffeta Shaw Rvr Buffalino Smk Swiss Gruyere K/Swiss Nufenen K/Swiss Blumenkase Tatura Cream Cheese T/Amore Scamorza Smoked T/Amore Scamorza Bianca Chabert Beaufort Alpage Capitoul Caprinelle Chevre Uplands Pleasant Ridge Vacherin Le Duc Nyd Wensleydale Will Studd Stilton W/Side Charleston Tiny Wbye Truffle Triple Brie Yvd White Savourine Log Yvd Black Sav Pyramid Yvd Fromage Frais Cow Yvd Le Jack Yvd Yering Yvd Persian Fetta Jar Heidi Raclette T/Amore Squacarone T/Amore Stracciatella Milawa Camembert Goat Merco San Simon Smoked Mauri Formaggella Capra Cabot Cheddar Clothbound W/Side Goat Hot Tin Roof Jacquin Rond Du Cher Cashel Blue Crozier Blue Garrotxa Pecorino Toscano Pecorino Romano Pec Roredepienzo Gorgonzola pricante Gorgonzola dolce Provola cheese Sovrano di bufala Grana Padano Parmigiana Fiordilatte Bufala Raspadura Toma Pecorino Siciliano Pecorino Emilia Goat cheese italiano sardegna Goat cheese spagna Stravevcchio friuli (cow's milk 30 months old) Cacioricotta Primo sale Stracchino Smoked bufala Buffola ricotta St Angel Triple Creme Blue Taleggio
There's always something happening in New South Wales, no matter what time of the year. So whether you're a local looking for extravagant summertime surf carnivals on the coast or an interstater on the hunt for cosy winter festivities, there's something for everyone. So why not get a weekend getaway on the books? We've scoured the calendar for festivities taking place across the state, and here's our round-up of the outdoor events. Depending on where you go, you'll need some sunscreen, a good jumper or a couple of napkins. Adventure awaits.
Hailing from hilly Tasmania, Melbourne-based architect Andrew Maynard welcomes the flat, 'blank canvas' that Melbourne's landscape provides. Allowing his design to dominate the landscape and tapping into his ingenuity, Maynard designed his incredible 'Hill House' incorporated into the side of - you guessed it - a hill. Intended to be a "celebration of the synthetic, the manufactured", the house features a modernistic interior within a "reoriented" layout design. Visitors are ushered into the kitchen, as opposed to a traditional living or sitting room, and the lucky kids get an entire little 'home' of their own. [Via Lost at E Minor]
When summer comes, it's important to get away. At least for a few days. Sometime between December and March there inevitably comes a time when your house is insufferably hot, your office is way too air conditioned or you just need a break from the sweaty tram commute. And because sometimes the Fitzroy Pool just doesn't cut it, here's our pick for the best summer getaways — from the Peninsula to the Twelve Apostles to inland waterfalls — all comfortably driveable from your pocket of the city. RYE See: At Rye, it's all about the beach. And being located in a central position on the Morning Peninsula, Rye is a sweet spot from which to explore all the best bits. Jump off the pillars into clear blue water at Mount Martha, indulge in lunch by the bay down at Portsea or head to the back beaches for a look at the surf. (Our pick is Bridgewater Bay.) Plus, this summer Uber are down the Peninsula too, so you can get around even without a set of wheels. Stay: They say once you go glamping, you never go back. It's easy to see how that would be true. Organise a week or a weekend with Happy Glamper, and all you have to do is book your camping site at the Tyrone Foreshore — they'll set up your luxe bell tent, complete with a real bed, chairs and bunting before you arrive. Drink: The one thing you do have to remember, however, is the alcohol. Especially if you want to be sipping on a Mary Pickford outside your tent when the sun goes down. This Havana-inspired cocktail blends pineapple, rum and sweetness into the perfect peninsula drink. Combine 60ml Appleton V/X, 45ml un-sweetened pineapple juice, 5ml Maraschino liqueur and 5ml grenadine into a cocktail shaker with ice, then shake and strain into an ice-filled glass and top with a Maraschino cherry. GIPPSLAND LAKES See: If you don't associate Gippsland with soft sand and crashing waves, that's okay, neither did we. But then we found that Gippsland's beautiful lake district is about so much more than green and marshy land — in fact, the three lakes are separated from the ocean by only a thin arm of coastal park. Sail along the calm waters of Lake Victoria, head to Ninety Mile Beach for some beach action, and be sure to stop at Paynesville for a coffee and some lunch on the water. Stay: Rent a boat and sail the days away like you're on the Whitsundays — and chances are, you'll be so relaxed you won't even notice the difference. None of your mates have a boat licence? Not even a problem. Because the lakes are free from tides, rocks and nasty ocean weather, anyone can hire a boat from Riviera Nautic. They'll teach you how to handle the boat, and will be on-call 24 hours a day in case you need any assistance when traversing the waters of Gippsland's calm lakes, rivers and waterways. Drink: Off land it seems only fitting to be swilling rum. After you've moored your vessel, it's time to break out the brown liquor and put together a traditional rum punch. Just as the British sailors did while travelling back through East India on their way home, you too can enjoy the Planters' Punch on the high sea. Combine 15ml of fresh lime juice, 30ml of sugar syrup (or 15ml of grenadine and 15ml of sugar syrup), 45ml of Appleton V/X, 60ml of water and a dash of Angostura bitters into a punch bowl, add your ice and garnish with slices of lime. BENDIGO See: Sometimes you need a beach holiday, and sometimes you just need to get out of Melbourne and your old terrace house that's holding the heat of four 35 degree days. For these times, Bendigo, less than two hours from the city, is a prime destination. You can get on the Calder for an easy drive, or take the air-conditioned V/Line. A weekend is the perfect amount of time to visit the Bendigo Art Gallery, brunch at Percy and Percy or go for dinner and a drink down View Street. Stay: You're coming to Bendigo for city comfort in a country setting, so there's really no better place to stay than the Schaller Studio: the Art Series Hotel that opened just last year. The rooms are called 'workspaces', the linen features positive affirmations and everything feels just right. Drink: You're in a hotel, you're feeling the high thread count sheets, and you're feeling a little fancy. All you need is a fancy cocktail. Try a Treacle. As a take on a traditional Old Fashioned, this drink is smooth, a little sweet and full-bodied. Add 60ml Appleton 8yr old, 10ml sugar syrup, two dashes of Angostura bitters and ice slowly to the serving glass a little at a time, constantly stirring. Float 15ml freshly pressed apple juice over the drink and add orange zest for garnish. Perfect for sipping while in-robe. JOHANNA See: Camping at Johanna — one of the lesser known beaches between Lorne and Warrnambool — allows you to wake up with the sound of waves crashing into shore and go to sleep with the smell of salt on your skin. If you're a surfer, this is the place for you. If not, take in your surroundings and walk to neighbouring beaches or explore the Great Otway National Park. Stay: The Johanna campsite sits up on the cliffs looking out over the beach. If you get in early, you might even be able to nab a spot with an ocean view. Even so, the beach is only a quick walk away — perfect for sunrise and sunset swims alike. You can book here. Drink: Camping at Johanna is simplicity at its best, and all drinks should be the same: easy to mix and smooth to drink. A Dark & Stormy will do the trick — with only three ingredients, you'll only need a glass and something to stir it with (note: can be your finger). Combine 60ml Appleton 8yr Old, 90ml ginger beer and 15ml lime juice into the glass with ice, stir and serve. Image credit: Rob Young via Flickr DAYLESFORD See: Summer isn't all about salty water and sandy skin — it's just as much about golden country landscapes, shady gum trees and cool earth. In Daylesford, there's a lot of this. You can find solitude in the hills, walk around the lake, read a book in Wombat Hill Gardens or grab a coffee at Larder. If you're looking for a body of water though, you don't have to go searching very hard — head to Hepburn Springs, Trentham Falls or even Turpins Falls just outside of Kyneton. Stay: For optimum solitude, rent a luxury tent in the Hepburn Hills. More like a B&B than a campsite, Cosy Tents supplies the tents, beds, 1200 thread count linen, lighting and outdoor seating. There's even hot water to shower and somewhere to charge your phone — although, we recommend skipping that last luxury. Drink: Feel like you're living in a novel? Sink even deeper into the fantasy with a literary classic, the Hemingway Daiquiri. Initially made for Hemingway while he was living in Havana during the early 1920s, this daiquiri was made sans-sugar at his request. It's full of citrus, and perfect as a pre-dinner cocktail at camp. Combine and shake 60ml Appleton V/X, 15ml maraschino liqueur, 20ml lime juice and 15ml grapefruit juice in a cocktail shaker with ice, strain into a cocktail glass and top with a Maraschino cherry. WILSONS PROMONTORY See: There's so much to see at the Promontory that you're going to have to accept that you won't see it all in a weekend. But if you only have a few days? Squeak on down to the stunning Squeaky Beach (pictured above) for a surf or swim, hike up Mount Oberon for some amazing views, get amongst some rainforest on the Lilly Pilly Gully walk, hope to see a wombat. Stay: The Prom's all about camping. Most people camp at the Tidal River campsite, and if you're looking for an easy spot to access the National Park, you'd be best to as well. They even offer cabins for up to six people if you're looking for a step up from slumming it. Grab a group of mates, take supplies for a cook up, and you've got a perfect weekend on the Prom. Drink: Warm nights sitting around a campsite call for one thing: rum. Or rum punch, more specifically. Fish House Punch was first created in 1732 in a Philadelphia fishing club, and for summer, this fruity punch is spot on for any time of the day. Mix up a batch for the team and settle in for the night. Shake 45ml Appleton 8yr, 15ml cognac, 5ml peach brandy, 20ml lemon juice, 45ml water and 10ml sugar syrup and strain over ice in a short glass. If you would like to make a punch bowl to share, simply multiply everything by 10, and adjust the lemon, water and sugar syrup to taste. Image credit: Colin J via Flickr. DUNKELD See: Without venturing in to camp in the Grampians National Park, Dunkeld is pretty much as close as you can get to this beauty of an area. If walking's your go, take the Picaninny trail up to the summit and look back over the town, or drive further north and trek to Mackenzie Falls or climb The Pinnacle. Don't feel like exerting yourself? The charming town has an art gallery, a cute bakery and views wherever you stand. Stay: Got some extra cash in your piggy bank from an over-generous relative at Christmas? Need some serious time out before you go back to work for a whole other year? If you want your piece of rural paradise this summer, stay in one of the Mt Sturgeon Cottages. Situated at the bottom of the mountain, you'll feel secluded as part of the landscape. Oh yeah, and the cottages are part of The Royal Mail Hotel, so save some of the dosh for a fancy meal while you're at it. Drink: When staying in a 19th-century cottage, you've got to drink the classics. The Hurricane was first concocted when New Orleans locals would take shelter from the impending hurricane in a bar, and while you probably (hopefully) aren't sheltering from any major weather threats, the Hurricane seems perfect for the setting. Combine 60ml Appleton V/X, 20ml passionfruit puree, 30ml orange juice, 15ml lime juice, 5ml grenadine and 5ml sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice, then shake and strain straight into an ice-filled glass. TORQUAY See: The first stop along the Great Ocean Road, Torquay is one of those amazing spots that you don't even have to go searching for. Sure, it gets busy over summer, but there's plenty of good stuff to go round. The surf, for example — there's more of it than you know what to do with. Find a decent cup of coffee and brunch at Pond just on the Esplanade and fill up on supplies at Torquay Larder. They even have a mini Wholefoods. Stay: Getting a house with some friends should be no problem if you organise in advance, but if you're looking for something a little bit spesh, spend a few nights at The Woolshed. An old converted woolshed, this provincial place sleeps up to six — and there are hens outside who might just lay your eggs for breakfast. Drink: Nothing is quite as satisfying as a big ladle of punch after a day in the sea — particularly if someone else is mixing it up for you. So bring a blender and get a mate to whip this one up. There's a lot of components, but the end result is worth it. It'll keep you going all weekend. Put 30ml Appleton V/X, 30ml Appleton 8yr old, 25ml lime juice, 15ml grapefruit juice, 45ml unsweetened pineapple juice, 7.5ml Falernum, 10ml Maraschino, 5ml grenadine, 2 dashes Angostura bitters and 2.5ml Pernod into a blender with a cup of ice and blend at high speed until the ice is crushed. Pour into glasses, add extra ice cubes, and garnish with pineapple, orange, cherries and mint. Image credit: Michael Coghlan via Flickr PHILLIP ISLAND See: The penguins, duh. But when you're done with that take a walk along the magnificent boardwalks at The Nobbies and take a head down to Cape Woolamai for a swim in Phillip Island's loveliest beach. The island has so many nooks and crannies to explore, and the best part is, you can easily travel from corner to corner by car. Stay: Cape Paterson Caravan Park's Beach View Villas would probably have to be one of the best value ocean views in the state. Not only do you get a great view of the waves crashing below, there's a covered outdoor deck and a barbecue. Prawns at sunset? Yep. Drink: As it was born on the sands of Tahiti, this short and sharp rum sour is best digested with a killer ocean view. Hence, the Mai Tai is just the poison for picture perfect Phillip Island. Mix 30ml lime juice, 15ml orange Curacao, 7.5ml sugar syrup, 7.5ml orgeat, 30ml Appleton V/X and 30ml Coruba dark together, shake and strain into a short glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime and a sprig of mint. Image credit: Abir Anwar via Flickr ST ANDREWS See: St Andrews beach — across the other side of the Mornington Peninsula from Rye — is one of the less-frequented beaches of the area, affording a bit of seclusion and quiet. Similarly, neighbouring Gunnamatta Beach is much the same. Take the opportunity to go horse riding along the beach, while away the afternoon at lunch in Flinders or soak at the Peninsula Hot Springs. Stay: Find yourself at Big Blue Backyard and things have — unsurprisingly from the list of activities above — turned a little romantic. It's your own private cabin (seemingly) in the middle of nowhere, with an adorable courtyard and prime posi right next to the beach. Drink: The sun's going down, you're sitting in your romantic little yard — you need a drink that's easy to throw together but still completely classy at the same time. That's pretty much how the Daiquiri came to be, so enjoy this three-ingredient cocktail for its simplicity and sweetness. Add 60ml Appleton V/X, 40ml fresh lime juice and 20ml Sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake very hard and strain. Drink up.
Being a music fan frequently involves envy. That singer or band that you're obsessed with is touring elsewhere? Cue the green-eyed monster. So, you're a Swiftie and you didn't get tickets to Taylor Swift's February 2024 Eras tour in Melbourne and Sydney, aka her only gigs Down Under? You know all about jealousy and FOMO, then. Enter Taylor Swift: The 'Eras' Tour Concert Film. Look what the world made Swift do: turn her current smash-hit tour into a movie that's releasing in cinemas. That's the wonderful news, complete with a just-dropped trailer for the film; however, the announcement might still get you envious for now. At the moment, only North American screenings have been announced so far. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) Accordingly, yes, Taylor Swift: The 'Eras' Tour Concert Film exists, giving Swifties a cinematic view of the pop superstar's massive show. No, there's no news yet on when it will arrive in Australia or New Zealand. It wouldn't be surprising if the concert movie shakes off Down Under cinema stints until after February, when Swift has made it to our shores, played her shows, then headed elsewhere to do the same. Australia and NZ aren't the only places without big-screen dates locked in — nowhere other than North America has them, which coincides with the fact that that's the only place that the Eras tour had been to so far. In the US, the film will arrive on Friday, October 13. Whenever it does drop locally, fans will be in for a money-can't-buy view of the 'We Are Never Getting Back Together' and 'Bad Blood' musician's gig — working through her entire career so far, playing tracks from each of her studio albums in a three-hour, 44-song, ten-act spectacular. The Eras Tour kicked off in March in the US, ending that run in August. Swift also headed to Mexico last month. Brazil is her last stop in 2023, before playing Japan, Singapore, France, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, Poland, Austria and Australia until August 2024. She'll then return to the US, and then visit Canada next November. Check out the trailer for Taylor Swift: The 'Eras' Tour Concert Film below: Taylor Swift: The 'Eras' Tour Concert Film will hit cinemas in the US on Friday, October 13, but doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you if and when one is announced.
When Moonlight Cinema returns for its 2019–20 season, the annual feast of outdoor movies will give film fans exactly what we all want. Sure, we're all keen to roll out our picnic blankets, sit under the stars and stare up at the big screen — but, given that this openair cinema launches at the end of each and every year, we also want Christmas movies. In the week leading up to the big festive day, Moonlight will screen Last Christmas, Die Hard, Home Alone, Love Actually and Elf. Yep, all the basics are covered. They're not the only highlights from the just-dropped November, December and January program, but they sure do twinkle brightly among a heap of other movie standouts. If you're wondering what else will tempt your inner cinephile from November 28 in Sydney and Melbourne, November 30 in Perth and December 14 in Brisbane, it's a lengthy list. With recently or newly released movies a big part of Moonlight's lineup, expect to watch Rocketman, Hustlers, Joker, Ford v Ferrari, Knives Out, Cats, Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker and Charlie's Angels — and, in some cities, to see Brad Pitt twice thanks to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Ad Astra. Moonlight also showcases advanced screenings of upcoming films, so add the Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie-starring Bombshell and Tom Hanks in It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood to your must-see pile. Going retro, the outdoor cinema will mark 20 years since Bring It On first waved its pom poms, step back into The Matrix in some cities, and revisit last year's A Star Is Born — as well as Bohemian Rhapsody in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Dirty Dancing is also on the bill, like every year — it wouldn't be a Moonlight without it. The February and March lineup will be announced on January 15, so there are even more movies to come. As always, Moonlight will also boast its usual food truck and licensed bar offering, and its reserved bean beds. You can also BYO booze everywhere except Brisbane — and bring your dog everywhere but Perth. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2019 DATES Sydney: Nov 28–Mar 29 (Centennial Park) Melbourne: Nov 28–Mar 29 (Central Lawn at Royal Botanic Gardens) Perth: Nov 30–Mar 29 (Kings Park and Botanic Garden) Adelaide: Dec 13–Feb 16 (Botanic Park) Brisbane: Dec 14–March 29 (Roma Street Parkland) The Moonlight Cinema kicks off on November 28. For more information and bookings, visit the website. Top image: Moonlight Cinema Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
While Melbourne isn't known for its inner-city snow, there are plenty of ways you can embrace the wintry weather this year. You can spin around a pop-up ice skating rink, eat chocolate fondue inside 'igloos' and, now, go zooming down a giant ice slide. The District Docklands will once again play host to a 15-metre ice slide over the cooler months, which will pop up in The Square next to Uniqlo from June 29 till July 14. Each slide down the icy slope will cost you a gold coin donation, which will go straight to Kids Under Cover, a non-profit supporting young people at risk. As you're sliding for a good cause, you have a great excuse to go down again and again and again — your inner child will thank you for it. The ice slide is open daily from 11am–5pm, but there are two adults-only, after-dark sessions lined up, too. On Friday, July 5 and Friday, July 12, the pop-up will open from 6–8pm for sliding free of little 'uns. During these two hours, you'll also be able to buy hot chocolates, beers from Urban Alley and try free Spanish doughnuts from San Churro. These sessions are free, but numbers are limited, so you'll need to sign up here if you want to head along.
Erotica fans Australia-wide are celebrating the return of World Movies Channel's adults only program, Summer of Sin. Starting in December, it's a 62-night festival of all things intimate, with a sexually charged film screening at 9.30pm every single night until January 31. Before you ask, yes, Christmas Day's included. 2011 Spanish film The Sex of the Angels has that one covered. Moreover, New Year's Day will see a coital marathon kicking off at midnight, with 24 hours of films played back-to-back. In December 2012, the initiative saw a 49 percent increase in the channel's audience. This year, the formula that proved so irresistible to so many is being reapplied — a combination of classics and new international films, never-before-seen in Australia. In the words of the organisers, "We've scoured the darkest and dirtiest corners of the cinematic world for a line-up of the sexiest premiere films." Pretty much every fantasy or fetish gets a look-in, from swingers' parties to alien abduction. Here's our top 5. Young and Wild (Chile, 2012) When: Friday, 13 December 2013 (Australian television premiere) & Wednesday, 15 January 2014 This playful, raunchy, stylish film centres on 17-year-old Daniela (Alicia Rodriguez), who can't stop thinking about sex. Raised in a strict, wealthy, religious family, she expresses herself through her blog, Young and Wild, where she records her most outrageous desires and experiences. Call Girl (Sweden, 2012) When: Wednesday, 18 December 2013 (Australian television premiere) Inspired by true events involving Swedish politicians and prostitutes, this crime film is one of the more serious items on the Summer of Sin menu. A teenage girl's entry into prostitution exposes widespread hypocrisy at governmental level. Intimacy (France, 2000) When: Thursday, 26 December 2013 (Australian television premiere) & Saturday 18 January Every Wednesday afternoon, Jay (Mark Rylance), a failed-musician-turned-bar-tender, meets a woman (Kerry Fox) for brief, rough, wordless sex. One day he follows her home and discovers more than he bargained for. Kiss Me (With Every Heartbeat) (Sweden, 2011) When: Wednesday, 8 January 2014 Mia has always lived a straight life, and is about to enter an engagement with her partner, Tim, when she falls in love with her stepmother's gay daughter, Frida. An irrepressible mutual attraction develops between the two women, leading to a sensual affair. Elles (France, 2011) When: Friday, 31 January 2014 (Australian television premiere) Obsessive, middle-aged, unhappily married journalist, Anne (Juliette Binoche), receives an assignment that carries her into the risky yet seductive world of Parisian student prostitution. She gets to know two independent young women whose erotic adventures carry them into dangerous and unpredictable territory. Read our review here.
If you're looking for a way to extend your summer this year, there is no better place to escape to than the Great Barrier Reef. From first-time snorkellers to diehard divers, everyone will find an experience off the shores of Tropical North Queensland to get pumped about. You can meet green turtles and manta rays, peep an abundance of mesmerising coral and give a little wave to Nemo in his natural habitat. So, consider this your sign to finally tick off this bucket list trip to witness the magic of the reef this autumn. [caption id="attachment_830381" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] GO DEEP INTO THE SEA WITH FIRST NATIONS GUIDES If your idea of a perfect day in the ocean is seeing beautiful reefs and getting an insightful connection to the sea, put Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel on your itinerary. Offering a unique experience, this local team will invite you to step into the Great Barrier Reef's Dreamtime. Visiting an array of reefs unique to Tropical North Queensland, you'll be accompanied by First Nations sea rangers who are passionate marine lovers, prioritising reef preservation and sustainable tourism. With Dreamtime, you'll spend the day snorkelling in some of the world's best reefs and learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island traditions and cultural connections to the region. [caption id="attachment_829681" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] BLAST OFF TO VLASOFF CAY FOR AN EXCLUSIVE REEF ENCOUNTER An exclusive experience awaits with this lush trip to Vlasoff Cay — a jewel in the crown of the Great Barrier Reef. This sandy cay, with 360-degree views of the world famous reef, is also accessible via boat, but the luxe experience is from the air. To see the sights from above, book a full-day return helicopter trip with eco-certified reef lovers Nautilus Aviation. You'll get to spend hours with the sand between your toes, snorkelling and indulging in a gourmet picnic hamper as you drip-dry in the balmy tropical air. The cay is a popular destination, so take advantage of the off-peak months and beat the crowds. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE WITH AROONA LUXURY BOAT CHARTERS Grab eight of your closest mates and jump aboard Aroona for a totally luxurious reef experience. Whether you're exploring the reef on a day trip, or escaping the mainland for a seven-day soiree, Aroona Luxury Boat Charters is the choose-your-own-adventure experience of your dreams. Want a jam-packed escape featuring fishing and kite-surfing, or a calmer pace with snorkelling and sipping cocktails on the top deck? Thankfully, Aroona boasts flexibility and an abundance of options that is synonymous with the area. And there's no better way to watch tropical rainfall over the rainforest than from the deck as you cruise towards Fitzroy Island. [caption id="attachment_830344" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] SET SAIL TO GREEN ISLAND Green Island is the quintessential destination for the rainforest and ocean combo for which Tropical North Queensland is famous. As the name suggests, it's the only cay in the Great Barrier Reef that boasts a rainforest as well as pristine sands. Plus, Ocean Free is the only tour operator in Cairns that offers a personal sailing reef and island tour. Ocean Free provide a tour with an exclusive reef mooring at the island. Taking a highly personalised approach, Ocean Free lets you decide how to spend your day. Snorkel straight off the boat, try your hand at an introductory dive or spend the day exploring the island's rainforest. Then, return aboard Ocean Free to relax and marvel at Green Island over a smorgasbord lunch. EXPLORE THE REEF FROM TROPICAL ISLAND SHORES A day tour on the Frankland Islands Reef Cruises will take you to more places in one day than you could visit in a week anywhere else in the world. And, its tour features the shortest open water crossing to the reef in Cairns — ideal for those who are prone to seasickness. Start the day with a quick coach trip from Cairns through UNESCO World Heritage-listed rainforest mountains to the Mulgrave River. Here, the luxurious riverboat will carry you downriver and across the sea to your base at Normanby Island. Then the day is yours to explore this secluded National Park island. You can snorkel right off the beach or explore the reef and marine life a little further afield on a guided snorkel safari experience. Be sure to take a walk around the island with the tour's marine biologist who'll help you discover the diverse wildlife that flourishes in the island's rainforest and rock pools. [caption id="attachment_829683" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] STAY DRY AT CAIRNS AQUARIUM If it's childhood wonder and extensive marine knowledge you're after, then the Cairns Aquarium is ideal. Home to more than 16,000 specimens and ten different ecosystems, the aquarium is a window into the flora and fauna that call the Great Barrier Reef home — and it's only a stroll from the bustling Cairns Esplanade. Get inspired by daily ecosystem talks, animal presentations, live diver feeds and marine touch 'n' talk shows. Or, if a day of underwater wonder sets your stomach rumbling, head to the aquarium's Dundee's Restaurant to enjoy a delicious meal on the Daintree Deck and watch the warm tropical rain fall in an afternoon shower. [caption id="attachment_830353" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] CATCH COLOURFUL SEA CREATURES OFF THE COAST OF PORT DOUGLAS If you're a diehard snorkelling fan, jump onboard Calypso Reef Cruises for an unforgettable and environmentally friendly experience off the coast of Port Douglas. Relax on Calypso's dedicated snorkelling vessel, offering comfortable day beds and spacious decks, before popping on your gear and meeting some of the most exquisite marine life in the world. The vibrant coral gardens and diverse marine life at Opal Reef are visible within a couple of metres from the water surface making it accessible for most levels of swimming skill. The trickiest part will be keeping count of how many giant clams, stingrays, green turtles and clownfish you'll spot. SPLURGE ON A MULTI-DAY DIVING TRIP This multi-day live-aboard experience is the ideal ocean getaway for accredited open water divers. Offering three-, four- and seven-day trips, Spirit of Freedom will whisk you away to Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs and Osprey Reef — some of the most impressive dive destinations in the world. Experience shark dives, sheer walls laced with soft corals, manta rays, and bright, abundant tropical reefs rich with biodiversity paired with hotel quality amenities and first-class meals on this lush escape. And, did we mention the boat's three decks you can relax on? They're perfect for an afternoon kip before heading out for a twilight dive. Ready to dive deep into the reef? For more information and to discover more about a holiday in Tropical North Queensland this autumn, visit the website. Top image: Tourism and Events Queensland
As part of her first headlining tour of Australia, Solange (also known as Solange Knowles, aka Beyoncé’s baby sister) has announced Falls Festival sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne. This will be the first time the Texan-born Knowles has ever treated fans Down Under to a live performance of her 2012 dance-friendly EP, True. This comes in the context of eager anticipation of her long-coming third studio album, on which she apparently collaborated with Aussie dudes Midnight Juggernauts. It's due for release sometime next year. Perhaps as famous for being the offspring of the fabulous Mrs. Carter as for her music, Solange has steadily been earning cred as a singer-songwriter in her own right. She certainly can churn out a catchy pop hit, as her successful single 'Losing You' proved last year. Recalling her elder sibling vocally, it managed to step away from her stylistically and embraced a much splashier, synthy '80s pop feel. The sideshows should be a fun choice for anyone craving a night of uncomplicated, playful, upbeat music. Pre-sale tickets for the Melbourne show go on sale at 10am on Wednesday, 9 October, at the Prince Band Room. Sydney tickets go on sale at 10am, Wednesday, 9 October, at Metro Theatre and Ticketek. Tour dates: Melbourne: January 7 – Prince Band Room Sydney: January 8 – Metro Theatre
To ring in the year of the tiger, dumpling master Din Tai Fung created cute chocolate and biscoff tiger buns, continuing its annual tradition of welcoming the Lunar New Year with an adorable addition to its menu (see also: ox buns from 2021 and pig bao from 2019). But creative dishes aren't just a once-a-year thing here. Now that Easter is almost upon us, the chain is serving up something else to tempt your tastebuds: hot cross bao. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like — and the bao is only available for a limited time. On the outside, each one looks like a hot cross bun, but they're made with fluffy steamed bread. And, you won't find any raisins or sultanas inside — instead, they're filled with gooey molten Nutella. The hot cross bao are available at all Din Tai Fung restaurants and food court outlets in Sydney, so you'll want to hit up its World Square, Westfield Chatswood, Westfield Miranda, Westfield Sydney, Broadway Shopping Centre, Gateway Sydney, The Star, Greenwood Plaza and MLC Centre venues. In Melbourne, you have one spot to head to, with the bao on offer at Emporium Melbourne. If you'd rather have them brought to your door, they're also available for delivery in frozen form. If you're keen to stock your freezer and enjoy them once Easter passes, that's an option as well. The only problem we can foresee with this Easter hybrid dish? Wanting to devour as many as possible. They'll cost you $6.80 for two in-store, and $10 for a three-pack of frozen dumplings. Hot cross bun bao are available for $6.80 for two at all Din Tai Fung stores. They're also available for delivery, for $10 — plus a $10–20 delivery fee.
Film festival opening nights aren't just about red carpets, a jam-packed guest list, plenty of photo opportunities and oh-so-much buzz. They're also about launching a cinema celebration as the event means to go on. So, with SXSW heading Down Under for the first time in 2023, hosting SXSW Sydney from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22, exactly which flick gets pride of place at the fest's Screen Festival is a particularly massive deal. The pick: The Royal Hotel, the latest film from Australian director Kitty Green. Green will bring her second fictional feature and fourth full-length effort to the Harbour City's first-ever SXSW, with the movie enjoying its Australian debut fresh from world-premiering at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. The Royal Hotel also marks the second collaboration in a row between Green and star Julia Garner, who was as stunning in the filmmaker's The Assistant as she was in Ozark and Inventing Anna. This time, the Casting JonBenet helmer and her current go-to star are teaming up on a tale about US backpackers who get jobs at an outback Australian pub — and also stay there. Amid the heat, the lack of wifi and drinking wine out of a cask, Hanna (Garner) and Liv (Jessica Henwick, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) also cross paths with the town's male residents, including Hugo Weaving (Love Me) as the watering hole's owner, plus Toby Wallace (Babyteeth) playing charming and Daniel Henshall (Mystery Road: Origin) getting chilling. "Kitty Green's The Royal Hotel is a deft reworking of the Aussie outback thriller, reoriented with a female gaze, and we could not be more thrilled to open the inaugural SXSW Sydney Screen Festival with Kitty in attendance," said SXSW Sydney's Head of Screen Ghita Loebenstein, announcing the opening-night selection. "The film takes deliberate stabs at the more toxic shadows of the genre, and our culture, in sophisticated but ever entertaining ways. Kitty is a local luminary gaining international acclaim as a writer-director with a fearless vision for nuanced storytelling and this film is the perfect opener to the Screen Festival, which seeks to amplify and celebrate bold voices in film." The Royal Hotel joins ten previously announced titles on the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival lineup from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21, with more to come. Also a big local title on the bill: documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, which will enjoy its world premiere at the fest. And, among nine flicks revealed in July, everything from flicks starring Indonesian rappers and documentaries about Tokyo Uber Eats rider to movies featuring viral Chinese dance crazes will pop up. Can't wait to watch your way through the fest? SXSW Sydney Screen Festival wristbands go on sale on Friday, August 25, starting at an early-bird price of $240 and getting people wearing one into unlimited screenings. [caption id="attachment_910715" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] The SXSW 2023 Sydney Screen Festival also features an array of speakers, with Queer Eye star Tan France set to hit Australia to get chatting. Indigenous filmmakers Leah Purcell (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson), Kodie Bedford (Mystery Road: Origin) and Jub Clerc (Sweet As) will also take to the stage; Osher Günsberg is on the SXSW Sydney bill recording an episode of his podcast Better Than Yesterday with a yet-to-be-announced special guest; and Gone Girl, The Nightingale, The Dry, Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers producer Bruna Papandrea and Binge's Executive Director Alison Hurbert-Burns will also appear. As well as showering viewers with movies and TV shows, with more titles to come — including First Nations Screen Festival programming by Winda Film Festival founder Pauline Clague — SXSW Sydney's film- and TV-focused strand will feature red-carpet premieres; digital and social content; an XR showcase; Q&As and panel discussions; parties and mentoring; and a screen market for industry deals. Free outdoor screenings are also slated, alongside indoor sessions at The ICC's Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and other yet-to-be-advised venues. SXSW Sydney will run from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues, with the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival running from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21 at The ICC's Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and more venues to be announced. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, gelato for dogs, and ginger beer, Weet-Bix, fairy bread, hot cross bun, cinnamon scroll, chocolate fudge and bubble tea gelato. Most recently, it made its own spin on Caramilk gelato, too. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is taking inspiration from another beloved foodstuff — and from the current time of year. Can't choose between devouring Easter eggs or licking your way through a few scoops of ice cream? Gelatissimo has the solution. Yes, that very combination will be on the menu from Friday, March 26, with Easter egg-filled mint chocolate gelato earning the honours as Gelatissimo's next flavour of the month. Only available while stocks last until Thursday, April 22 — so for Easter, but not just until Easter — the flavour starts with mint-choc gelato, then adds in those round pieces of chocolate. It also features cookie crumbs, which add to the chunky texture. You can get it in stores Australia-wide, or via delivered take-home packs through services such as UberEats, Deliveroo and DoorDash. And yes, you can add it to your indulgent Easter list — alongside everything from boozy coffee liqueur-filled Easter eggs to hot cross bao (but you'll only be able to nab the latter if you're in Sydney or Melbourne). Gelatissimo's mint-choc Easter egg gelato is available from all stores nationwide from Friday, March 26–Thursday, March 22.
Forget been-there-done-that road trips — this is the year you start taking the road less travelled. You need something new. Something special. Something delicious worth making the turnoff and tracking down. With a little inspiration from Empty Esky and Canadian Club, we've got your next off-the-beaten-track road trip all planned — right down to the coffee stops, long lunches and one-of-a-kind gourmet country pies. Starting in Canberra, your foodie stops will take you to Braidwood, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla before finishing up in Milton. Along the way, you'll eat local, drink well and get cosy in some hidden country gems. Best of all, you'll help independent venues in communities still recovering from the bushfires — and, you know, everything else that happened in 2020. These pretty little places haven't had the easiest time lately, but still have so much good country hospitality to offer. [caption id="attachment_750222" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Canberra[/caption] BARRIO COLLECTIVE COFFEE, BRADDON We're kicking things off in Canberra, and you can't leave the capital without visiting Barrio Collective Coffee in Braddon. Industrial chic meets Japanese modernism in this friendly neighbourhood coffee shop, with an eclectic and ever-changing brunch menu. Regular additions include fancy tacos and tostadas, chazuke, gooey Spanish tortilla, big toasties and baguettes stuffed with the best seasonal produce. And there are always freshly baked sweet treats, like cardamom buns and jammy donuts, which make for excellent car snacks. There's in-house roasted coffee all day, plus fine wines in the afternoon (for your passengers). Love Barrio's brew? Grab an Aeropress and a bag of freshly roasted beans to keep you going all journey long. [caption id="attachment_802004" align="alignnone" width="1920"] crissouli, Flickr[/caption] THE ALBION CAFE, BRAIDWOOD Forget the drive-thru, go locavore. In the charming country town of Braidwood, The Albion Cafe offers healthy, seasonal specials based on the best local produce. A stylish but cosy set-up in the historic Albion Hotel building, this family business welcomes everyone with good old-fashioned country hospitality. It's wholesome through and through, and it caters for all dietary needs. That means you can expect nourishing soups and slow-cooked stews in cold weather, an abundance of salads in summer and toasties all year round. Grab some gourmet tidbits or fresh meals to-go from the little shop for a picnic later — artisanal sourdough and homemade hummus will hit the spot better than a packet of chips. CLUB CATALINA, BATEMANS BAY Congrats, you've made it to the Bay. Now, it's time to think outside the seagull-swooping chip shop. Catalina Country Club has a hundred-year history serving the folks of Batemans Bay. Don't worry, you can still hit that craving for a pub-style feed, but with a bit more refinement. Enjoy panko-crumbed chicken schnitzel and parmas, juicy wagyu burgers and artisanal pizza, served fresh from a woodfired oven, with a refreshing Canadian Club and Dry. Or, live the seaside high life and opt for the signature seafood platter and fresh oysters. [caption id="attachment_802671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emma Joyce[/caption] HAYDEN'S PIES, ULLADULLA What's better than a fast food cheeseburger? A gourmet cheeseburger pie. Turn off the Princes Highway for a pastry pit-stop at Hayden's Pies, which has been perfecting the pie since 2003. Choose from solid classics like chunky steak or hefty vego options like mushroom, spinach and goat's cheese — or take a chance on one of its intriguing specials. Give alpaca chilli con carne a go. Or, what about camel, chickpea and coriander? Even kangaroo, wallaby and the occasional croc make it into the oven. Stop by on Sunday for the roast-inspired pie, featuring pork or lamb with peas, potatoes and gravy. It even has dessert covered, with specials like vanilla slices and portuguese tarts. You owe it to yourself to make this epic pie pilgrimage. [caption id="attachment_801304" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Something's Wild Photography[/caption] SMALL TOWN, MILTON Celebrate the journey's end with a bit of Small Town charm. From the owners of former Milton fine diner St Isidore, this sleek bistro offers a prix fixe and a la carte menu, both designed to pair elegant snacks and share-style plates with (mainly) small-batch Aussie wines. Small Town spins clever twists on comforting classics, like yorkshire pudding with sea urchin and egg yolk sauce; delicate prawn, scallop and chicken skin dumplings; and sourdough pici pasta with corn, kale, manchego and sorrel. And, as always, it's hard to pass up a fresh lobster roll. After your meal, pop next door to Small Town Provisions, the restaurant's new deli and shop, which sells cheese, cured meat and fresh bread — basically, all the trappings for a next-level picnic. For more road trip inspiration, check out these guides from Canadian Club and Empty Esky. Top image: Barrio Collective Coffee, Visit Canberra
Releasing its latest film schedule last night, St Kilda's legendary Astor Theatre has sadly and quietly announced its impending closure. "The Astor Theatre regretfully announces that this is our second last calendar," a note at the top of the schedule reads. "Come and celebrate the best of the Astor Theatre 1982-2015." This monumental loss to Melbourne's film scene comes as a result of the end of their tenancy agreement with the building's landlord. Though the theatre has occupied the space since 1982, operators were unable to reach viable terms for a new lease and all cinema operations will cease as of early 2015. "We do not know what the landlord has planned for the future of the building, only that we are not included in those plans," read the back of the film calendar. This isn't the first time the legendary venue has weathered trouble either. In 2012, then owners St Michael's Grammar School faced enormous community backlash for considering the venue's closure. A petition spearheaded by dedicated community group, Friends of the Astor asked them to relinquish the site and garnered the support of 13,000 signatories. But troubles this year seemed too much to overcome. Feuds over the lease have been reported since April and, when speaking to The Herald Sun, current owner Ralph Taranto openly derided theatre operator George Florence. "We're gonna kick him out. He thinks he owns the place," he said. This morning the iconic venue posted this message on Twitter and the news has trended all over Melbourne. It is beyond difficult to deliver news that we will close our doors in 2015. We hope you will help us celebrate what the Astor is until then — Astor Theatre (@astor_theatre) August 23, 2014 Of course, reaction has been understandably gloomy: When the @astor_theatre closes it's doors in 2015, cinema in Melbourne will lose it's heart. — Luke Preston (@LukePrestonInk) August 23, 2014 Gutted by @astor_theatre news. First time there, saw THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY. Blew my 13 year old mind. Who else remembers their first? — Tom Clift (@tom_clift) August 22, 2014 @LordMayorMelb @Vic_Premier The last great picture house in Melbourne @astor_theatre is set to close it's doors. Can nothing be done? — James Matthews (@pomandaussie) August 23, 2014 Heartbreaking. MT @astor_theatre: It is beyond difficult to deliver news that we will close our doors in 2015. — Marieke Hardy (@mariekehardy) August 23, 2014 The Astor is one of Melbourne's few remaining independent theatres and the very last single-screen cinema in the city. Renowned for its dress-up screenings and penchant for classic film, it's undeniably both an Australian cultural institution and the best possible place to see a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It has graced the glossy digital pages of Concrete Playground a lot over the last few years and will be missed dearly. Make sure you catch a film before they call it quits. Our tip: keep it classic. Kick back and get weirdly sentimental over a screening of Pulp Fiction, The Blues Brothers or Texas Chainsaw Massacre. We know Jennifer Lawrence is great and all, but the new Hunger Games is hardly the best way to farewell this much-loved regal screen. Via The Age and Junkee.
At a time when every second movie seems to feature caped crusaders, you can be forgiven for thinking Gifted might fit the usual bill. Captain America aka Chris Evans leads the cast, The Amazing Spider-Man's Marc Webb sits in the director's chair, and, based on her off-screen interviews, Jenny Slate is the smart, spirited actress superhero we all need. Their collaboration doesn't involve spandex or fighting crime, however, but rather championing strengths and recognising truths of another kind. This precocious, kid-centric film makes no attempt to hide its efforts to tug at your heartstrings. But memorable performances and a refreshing perspective ensure that it's a winner nonetheless. In a tale of brains rather than brawn, seven-year-old Mary Adler (Mckenna Grace) is the smartest student in her new Florida school, and her teacher (Slate) wants to do something about it. But Mary's uncle Frank (Evans) disagrees, having seen her genius mathematician mother follow a similar path only to end up taking her own life due to the pressure. When the headmistress calls in Frank's own estranged mother (Lindsay Duncan), a tug-of-war ensues over the girl's future. He insists that Mary should have a normal childhood, while his mum wants her granddaughter prodigy to realise her potential as soon as possible — regardless of the consequences. What's the best option? With its allegiance firmly with the likeable Frank, Gifted plays up the contrasting parenting styles for drama, rather than delving too deeply into the question. And yet, as Mary gets stuck in the middle of a very predictable custody battle, the film makes a crucial case: that being normal and special aren't mutually exclusive. Don't underestimate this viewpoint, and the alternative it offers to almost every other message that movies thrust our way. Seeing a constant parade of superheroes on screen can cast everyday existence in a pretty dull light, but Gifted celebrates the idea that life and people can be both extraordinary and average, and that that is perfectly okay. Perhaps that's how Webb approached making the film as well — sometimes it's great, sometimes it's simply good, but it comes together nicely overall. It's easy enough to see where the by-the-book plot is going, although thankfully it's all engaging enough that viewers won't really mind. The score lays the sentiment on a little too thick sometimes, and the Florida setting is given quite the sunny hue, but ultimately the film never veers into territory that could be called grating or cloying. Still, blending all of the above together mightn't have worked as well if Gifted wasn't so superbly cast. Pay attention to young Grace, a veteran of 42 roles at the age of just 11, who makes Mary feel like the type of kid everyone can relate to — even if you don't share the same exceptional math skills. Elsewhere, Evans gives his conflicted character ample emotional range, while Slate makes her kindly teacher more than just a helpful love interest. As a feisty neighbour, Octavia Spencer mightn't have quite as much to do, but she's as warm and enjoyable as anything else the movie has to offer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDgOnFH_KEo
It's nice to escape out of the big city sometimes. Just a hop, skip and a jump (90 minutes) from Sydney, the Pullman Magenta Shores Resort is a worthy way to exit hectic Sydney and get a little quality R&R in. Beachfront and with numerous, luxurious pools, the resort is nestled in between Tuggerah Lake and the sea, so swimming is probably #1 on your holiday priorities list. For those who can drag themselves away from their sunlounger, the resort is the perfect gateway to the New South Wales Central Coast. Around summer, this area is your go-to for outdoor adventures ranging from surfing and paddleboarding to quad biking and ziplining through the treetops. Take your pick from beaches like The Entrance, Bateau Bay, Shelly Beach, Copacabana or Macmaster's, enjoy your cold-drip coffee barefoot in the cafes of Avoca and Terrigal, and breathe in a big gulp of fresh air at Bouddi National Park. So you can further remind yourself that you're out of the city, all rooms at the Pullman Magenta Shores (choose from a studio apartment up to a three-bed villa) have relaxing nature views, just so you can remind yourself that you're out of the city. You can kick back in the Lagoon Pool, the heated lap pool indoors if it's a bit nippy, or even the beach rock pools if you want to go crab-watching. The Resort is also home to the Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club, designed by Ross Watson and 18-holes long to fully occupy your vacation days. You're only allowed on this private green if you're staying at Pullman Magenta Shores, or if you've invested in a pricey membership, so take advantage. If you're tuckered out from the activity time or golf isn't your bag, head to the on-site Vie Spa to pamper yourself in one of their five treatment rooms. Once you're hungry from all the relaxing, head over to the resort's fine-dining Barrett's Restaurant, or Shallows Bar – there's a tasting menu as well as a wood-fired pizza oven and a range of share plates on the menu, so your belly will be just as happy as your relaxed muscles.
Fancy Hank's is getting in the mood for International Brisket Day — that's Wednesday, May 28 — with a hearty giveaway that might just make your month. Celebrating the occasion with a one-day-only special from 12pm, the Bourke Street HQ is serving up free takeaway brisket sandwiches until they're all gone. Up for grabs is Fancy Hank's signature 12-hour smoked 'Wanderer' brisket — a low- and-slow-cooked creation made to be super rich and tender. Stacked high on an American-style Martin's potato roll, this wallet-friendly deal is bound to put a little more flavour in your lunch break. "As far as we're concerned, there's no better way to honour Brisket Day than with the thing we do best! We've been continuously smoking brisket for 13 years next month and we're immensely proud of the craft we've perfected," says Fancy Hank's co-owner Mike Patrick. "From the time and care that goes into every cut to the unmistakable flavour from our custom-built, two-tonne smoker 'Puffing Billie' — it's what keeps people coming back." Making this bargain even better, each free brisket sandwich also comes with a complimentary drink voucher redeemable right next door at sister venue, Springrock Public Bar. Meanwhile, those feeling extra famished are invited to order a side of Fancy Hank's fries for $5, with a thick coat of chicken salt taking their deliciousness to greater heights. "Brisket takes time, but the reward is in the patience," adds Fancy Hank's Head Chef Jarrod Di Blasi. "The secret starts with selecting a quality cut, which we source from an incredible, local Victorian producer, to ensure it's full of flavour. We season our brisket generously and then smoke it low and slow over Aussie hardwood, delivering meat that is melt-in-your-mouth tender with rich, deep flavours straight from the pit." If you're keen to dine on more brisket — and who could blame you — Fancy Hank's have also announced a new Bottomless Barbecue dining experience, launching on Monday, June 2. Running every week from 5pm on Monday–Wednesday, guests can indulge in a premium barbecue platter with unlimited top-ups from $69 per person, featuring buffalo wings, pulled pork shoulder, free-range chicken thighs and loads more. Fancy Hank's is serving free brisket sandwiches from 12pm on Wednesday, May 28, until sold out at 1/79 Bourke St, Melbourne. Head to the website for more information.
That moment when you don't know if a film franchise has become more juvenile, or whether it's you that's grown up. This was the uncomfortable experience of watching Kick-Ass 2, and after days of quiet contemplation, I've come to the conclusion: it's not me. Based on the comics by Mark Millar and brought to the screen by Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust), the first Kick-Ass film was a high point in the 'real superhero' wave — a funny counterpoint to the likes of Watchmen. Catching bits of it on TV recently, I thought it seemed only more razor-sharp. The new Kick-Ass 2 disappoints by pitching way too low. There is, for starters, an insane number of dick biting jokes. And it's not a running gag. It seems almost unbelievable that an objective party read the script and didn't think to say, 'hey, how about we stop at separate dick biting joke no.3'? Impotence, race and sexuality are also targets of choice. It seems new writer and director Jeff Wadlow has decided his audience is teenage boys, and no one else. Plot-wise, Kick-Ass 2 picks up about three years after its predecessor. Dave Lizewski (previously weedy, now hunky Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has hung up the Kick-Ass wetsuit, while the orphaned Mindy MacCready (Chloe Grace Moretz), aka Hit Girl, keeps her ongoing training a secret from her guardian, her dad's good friend, Sergeant Marcus Williams (Morris Chestnut). But when Dave gets restless and Mindy gets obedient, their crime-fighting status is reversed, and for camaraderie Dave instead joins the superhero team calling themselves 'Justice Forever' (led by a well prosthetised Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes) to rid the streets of evil. The devoted amateurs are no match, however, for the coming storm from Dave's spoilt and abandoned schoolmate Chris D'Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), who's graduated from being Red Mist to the moniker the Motherfucker and who has Kick-Ass obsessively in his sights. It's a unique mix of unimpressiveness at work in this film. On top of the lumpen humour, there's also extreme violence and schlock sentimentality that together are supremely weird. Kick-Ass 2's one redeemer is Hit Girl. If the whole film had been 'Hit Girl Goes to High School', it would have been great. She's always been a special character that challenges every idea we have of girlhood, and the Professional-meets-Mean Girls-like scenes of her dealing with dating, dance club, the popular crowd and bullying are smart, fresh and compelling. The film also deals well with her sexuality, now she's 15. Her costume remains fabulously unsexy and practical, so that's how we view her fights, but she's given room to explore some of her own sexual feelings. In what's possibly the film's best scene, a One Direction replica band plays, and we see that even the disciplined teen warrior is unable to resist their charms. Later, she has a quick perv at a shirtless Dave. This is a character whose impact will carry on, even if there's no Hit-Girl movie in multiplexes. https://youtube.com/watch?v=YWozxV3fsAU
If you've been to Sydney, the Night Noodle Markets or spent some time on Instagram any time in the last few years, you've probably seen Black Star Pastry's strawberry watermelon cake floating around in the hands of hungry sweets fiends. You'll also know it's not just any cake — no, it's a thing of intense beauty that catches the eye (and heart) of anyone who as much as glances at the pink flower-topped cube of pastry. Just look at it. If your sweet tooth is aching just looking at that pretty hunk o' cake, you'll be delighted to know that the Sydney-based bakery is coming down south to Melbourne for a pop-up. They'll be setting up shop on University Street in Carlton from Monday, February 20 with a selection of their incredible cakes — and yes, their signature aforementioned strawberry watermelon doozy will be there. Other favourites include the lemon pistachio zen cake, the strawberry lychee cake and the vegan chocolate popcorn cake. They'll also open up online orders to Melbourne so you can order a huge one for an "occasion". Until now Black Star's goods have only been available at their three Sydney locations and, for the last two years, the Night Noodle Markets. The pop-up runs until June 30, so make the most of all that glorious, glorious cake while it's in town — although they're also hinting at the possibility for a permanent store to open here in the future. Don't worry, the hope of more dessert to come isn't their only goodbye gift, with all pre-order cakes receiving a 10% discount with the code 'byefornow', and a farewell party planned. At the latter, there'll be free skewers, cake and booze from noon until 6pm on July 2 at Hoy Pinoy. Parting is such sweet sorrow indeed.
Sydney's CBD has landed a major dose of the Tokyo-esque practical and compact, with the former Bar Century space reopening in May as The Capsule Hotel, a three-storey, luxury boutique stay. The George Street cheap drinks den, which closed in 2016, was taken over by developer Walter Guo, who invested a massive $5 million on a full interior refurb, carried out by interior design consultants Giant Design. The heritage building has somewhat retained its vintage fit-out but with more of a nod to the futuristic space-like capsules of The Fifth Element. The bar and hotel are running as separate entities, with the first two levels acting as The Century Bar, while the top three floors of the building are dedicated to the capsules. Each of the 70 capsules contains a large flatscreen TV and entertainment system, Wi-Fi, and a climate control panel. Guests can choose from single or deluxe beds with entry from either the side or the end of the capsule. The communal facilities include a kitchen space, breakfast bar, lounge area, rooftop terrace and individual bathrooms. If you're worried about security, don't be — each capsule is fitted with a secure lock and the security desk runs 24-hours. But let's set the record straight — The Century is not a hostel, and it's not aimed at overindulgent locals that can't seem to make it back home. "The accommodation, which is not quite hotel nor hostel, is aimed at solo travellers looking for something more private than a typical backpackers and those who want the designer hotel experience on a budget," says Christopher Wilks, an associate at Giant Design. It's set to sit well within your budget, with prices ranging from $50-90 a night. Which, depending on how far from the CBD you live, could be a lot cheaper than a cab home at 1am. Find The Capsule Hotel at Level 3, 640 George Street, Sydney. For bookings, head to the website or call (02) 8957 7763.
UPDATE: NOVEMBER 14, 2019 — Last month, Urbnsurf pumped out its first waves — and today, the first pro surfers rode them. That means the park is one step closer to its slated January 2020 opening. Memberships have also just gone on sale, if you're itching to get on the surf. Landlocked surfers of Melbourne, rejoice — Australia's first surf park is finally makin' waves and one big step closer to opening. It's also a whole lot closer to the city than Torquay or the Peninsula. Urbnsurf Melbourne will open in Tullamarine, near the airport, just 16-kilometres north of the CBD. Plans for the park first surfaced way back in 2016 and, while the team was initially hoping for a spring opening, Urbnsurf is set to open its doors to the public this summer. And today, the two-hectare space, has started to pump out its first waves. It's just testing things out at the moment, but when running at its full potential, it'll power up to 1000 waves per hour, day and night. And you'll get a choice of waves. Want to ride nothing but perfectly-formed right-handers for an hour? Or would you prefer a random selection, like what you'd experience in the ocean? You'll be able to take your pick. According to Urbnsurf founder Andrew Ross, "every wave has six different take-off spots", which equates to 3600 surfable positions every hour. The ability to create waves means that the park is built for both pros who are looking for steep, barrelling waves and novices looking for a safe place to get their start in the surf. At Urbnsurf, Ross predicts, most novices will stand on their board within an hour and ride across the green face within two. And not only will you get guaranteed waves — you won't be fighting for them. The park holds 84 riders per hour. And, should you get seriously hooked, you'll be able to enter amateur competitions, maybe with (or against) your mates. [caption id="attachment_750759" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Gibson[/caption] To kick things off, Urbnsurf has started to test out a few different wave types, including the Malibu, which is perfect for beginners, the intermediate-appropriate Turns and the Tubos — steep, barrelling waves for all you expert surfers out there. Also on the testing lineup are Giros I and Giros II, described as "performance turn waves" perfect for those wanting to carve and cutback. So how does it manage to create all these waves? Basically, they come from an 85-metre pier that runs down the centre of the lagoon. A series of pistons located on the pier then push the water to the left, then to the right, to create the waves. Ross likens the movement to "moving your hand back and forward like a shark's tail". If you need a break between sessions on the water, Urbnsurf will also be home to hot tubs, beach cabanas and a new two-storey restaurant by the owners of Sydney's Three Blue Ducks. And it's hoping to host a heap of live gigs, art shows and cultural experiences, too. If you're not in Melbourne, you'll be happy to know that a second Urbnsurf is set to open at Sydney Olympic Park in 2021. Urbnsurf is due to open in January 2020 near Melbourne Airport. You can still sign up to test out the surf park before it opens on the website — but get in quick. Images: Courtesy Urbnsurf, Ed Sloane and Adam Gibson.
At last, we can take a peek at what's promised in epic new film Tracks, with the release of the first online trailer. It’s not only the panoramic desert shots and solitary-road-trip-by-foot concept that are garnering attention, but the undertaking by the lead actor, Mia Wasikowska. No doubt the experience of immersing herself in Tim Burton's weird and wild wonderland gave the Canberra-born 24-year-old a head start, but even that wasn’t sufficient preparation for the adventure of making Tracks. Based on Robyn Davidson’s memoir of the same title, the film depicts the intrepid writer’s 1977 journey from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean — solo (well, except for three camels and a dog) and on foot. She covered 2700 kilometres in nine months. Upon publication, the book was a bestseller, turning Davidson into something of a celebrity. In making the film last year, director John Curran (The Painted Veil) shot Wasikowska and co-star Adam Driver at various sites in South Australia and around Uluru. The screenplay is an adaptation of Davidson’s story, put together by Marion Nelson, and the production team is the one that brought The King’s Speech to the big screen (winning an Oscar in the process:), Emile Sherman and Iain Canning. Having premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September, Tracks is due for release on 6 March 2014.
You know that feeling when you're loving an exquisite meal so much that you don't want it to end, and you're also content in the knowledge that there's still plenty more in store? That now applies to The Bear. Season one of the hit restaurant dramedy left everyone ravenous for season two, then that second effort did the same for the upcoming third instalment. Season three hasn't aired as yet — it's due in mid-2024 — but fans can rest assured that season four is reportedly also already in the works. As per The Hollywood Reporter, season three and season four of the series — which was one of the best new shows on television in 2022 and one of the best returning shows on TV in 2023 — are being filmed back to back. So, while there was no big announcement about The Bear getting a fourth season, it's being shot straight after season three. The reason? To ensure that new seasons can keep airing annually now that its cast and crew are in demand thanks to the series' massive success. Accordingly, after The Bear season three arrives this winter Down Under, season four will be dished up in 2025. As for where both seasons will take Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White, The Iron Claw) on his quest for culinary perfection, you'll have to wait until they each make their way to your streaming queue to find out. Season three hasn't locked in its exact launch date as yet, other than June in America. Fingers crossed that the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning series returns in Australia and New Zealand at the same time. In the past, there have been delays for Down Under viewers. Season one hit in June in America, then in August in Australia. With season two, US audiences still had a June date, while Aussies and New Zealanders had to wait till July. If you've missed The Bear so far, its first season jumped into the mayhem when Carmy took over the family diner in Chicago after his brother's (Jon Bernthal, We Own This City) death. Before returning home, the chef's resume featured Noma and The French Laundry, as well as awards and acclaim. In season two, Carmy worked towards turning the space into an upscale addition to his hometown's dining scene, with help from the restaurant's trusty team — including Ayo Edebiri (Bottoms) as fellow chef Sydney, plus Ebon Moss-Bachrach (No Hard Feelings) as Richie, aka Cousin, aka Carmy's brother's best friend. Also key to The Bear: truly conveying what it's like to work in the hospitality industry and weather a restaurant kitchen's non-stop pressures. In both of its seasons so far, The Bear's creator Christopher Storer (who also has Ramy, Dickinson and Bo Burnham: Make Happy on his resume) has expertly balanced drama and comedy — and, in season two, he also delivered spectacular self-contained episodes that featured everyone from Olivia Colman (Heartstopper) and Will Poulter (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) to Bob Odenkirk (Lucky Hank) and Jamie Lee Curtis (Haunted Mansion). Guest stars aside, The Bear's regular roster of talent also spans Abby Elliott (Indebted) as Carmy's sister Natalie, aka Sugar — plus Lionel Boyce (Hap and Leonard), Liza Colón-Zayas (In Treatment) and Edwin Lee Gibson (Fargo) among the other Original Beef staff. There's no sneak peek available for The Bear season three or four yet, but check out the trailer for season two below: The Bear streams via Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand. We'll update you with an exact season three release date when one is announced — and the same with season four. Read our review of season one and review of season two. Via The Hollywood Reporter.
Opposites attracting is a basic romantic-comedy staple. When it comes to folks from different worlds falling head over heels even though they're told they should stay apart, Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story have long been singing that tune, too. So, focusing two different elements — the fiery Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis, Nancy Drew) and go-with-the-flow Wade (Mamoudou Athie, Archive 81) — who cross paths and enjoy sparks flying, Pixar's upcoming Elemental obviously follows in some hefty footsteps. "Elements cannot mix," Ember is told sternly in the animated flick's just-dropped full trailer, which arrives after a first sneak peek back in late 2022. From there, of course Ember and Wade keep floating and sizzling in each other's orbit, all while living their daily lives as Captain Planet-like characters in the gorgeously rendered world that is Element City. The setup is classic Pixar, however, because the Disney-owned animation studio knows what it likes and what it does well — usually to heartfelt and delightful effect. So, add this to the pile of movies about whether toys, fish, monsters, feelings and more have feelings. The question this time: what if the elements, aka fire, water, land and air, had emotions? The film dubs its characters fire-, water-, land- and air-residents, but getting big Inside Out and Soul vibes comes with the territory. That said, the new full trailer plays up the romance angle, including walk-and-talks that could've jumped straight out of the Before franchise. So far, it all looks as adorable as you'd expect, too, even if you've ever just seen one frame of a Pixar picture. Big on pastel hues, that animation springs from director Peter Sohn (The Good Dinosaur), and hits cinemas on June 15. Literally a story of water and fire trying to get along — maybe Pixar is staffed by George RR Martin fans? — Elemental also features Ronnie del Carmen (Soul) as Ember's dad Bernie, Shila Ommi (Tehran) as her mother Cinder, Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs) as Wade's boss Gale, Catherine O'Hara (Schitt's Creek) as his mum Brook, first-timer Mason Wertheimer as Ember's neighbour Clod and Joe Pera (Bob's Burgers) as city bureaucrat Fern. And, when it hits the big screen, it'll come with a Pixar short that links back to 2009's Up. In Carl's Date, it's time to catch up with Carl Fredricksen (the late Ed Asner) and his talking dog Dug (writer/director Bob Peterson) after the former reluctantly agrees to go on a date, but is out of practice and needs the latter's help. Check out the first trailer for Elemental below: Elemental releases in cinemas on June 15, 2023. Images: © 2023 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Melbourne may be the world's most liveable city, but according to travel website Babble, it doesn't even make the top ten when it comes to sustainability. The City of Melbourne Council is keen to change that, though. They're aiming to make Melbourne one of the world's most sustainable cities by 2020, and this exhibition might just give them some inspiration. The Liveable and Sustainable exhibition will feature artworks by University of Melbourne students and photojournalist Andrew Brownbill that were all inspired by the question, how would you depict a sustainable and liveable city and lifestyle? The artworks will consist of a range of photos, paintings, sculpture and mixed media works, and two winners will be selected by a panel of judges. There'll be cash prizes for the winners, and their works will be displayed at one of the galleries in Federation Square.
Matt Wilkinson's iconic cafe Pope Joan spent years as an inner-north culinary go-to, before a new building development forced a move and it settled into its current CBD digs in 2019. These days, the venue is continuing its original legacy in a Collins Street home, now steered by Danish Head Chef Bente Grysbæk. Her reinvigorated breakfast menu features a slew of familiar favourites alongside some creative newcomers. The popular rhubarb-topped rice pudding ($12) remains, as do the elevated boiled eggs with soldiers and bacon bits ($13). But you'll also find additions like a Danish-inspired breakfast hash starring Warialda beef rump, fried eggs and potato gems ($25), the Milawa chicken schnitzel sided with dashi-dressed cabbage salad ($28) and hero veg plates like the Romsey pumpkin with toasted seeds, hummus and spiced agave ($24). The sandwich game here is as strong as ever, with signatures like the Pope Joan brekkie roll ($14) and the reuben ($19) now joined by the likes of a roast cauliflower pita wrap ($16), and a Danish open rye sandwich featuring smoked salmon, crudités and a mustard sauce. The cake trolley has also made its return, loaded with sweet things you can match to an Allpress coffee or house chai. Come afternoon, you're in excellent hands with snacks like Port Phillip sardines and free-range chicken liver parfait, plus cheese and charcuterie platters, to enjoy alongside classic cocktails or a glass or two of vino. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Live music, good wine and food – what more could you ask for? At Innocent Bystander's Vegan Garden Party, the cellar door and restaurant will be debuting a new vegan menu curated by the establishment's very own head chef. The delicious spread will consist of charred broccolini with almond cream and mushroom ketchup, crispy Kipfler potatoes with mustard sauce, and salsa verde and pickles. Topping it off is a sweet vegan raspberry chocolate dessert. [caption id="attachment_876618" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Innocent Bystander - Supplied[/caption] But that's not all. Local musicians Malcura will be gracing the party with their signature acoustic flamenco sounds from 4-7pm. To complete the evening, a selection of vegan wine will be offered at Innocent Bystander's new Refillable Station. Simply save your empty wine bottles and get $5 off your next purchase when you're in need of a refill. Top images: Innocent Bystander — supplied.
It's your saving grace when you're designated driver. The dash you can't do without in any manhattan or whisky sour. Yet, Angostura bitters has long been relegated to play the bittersweet supporting role. But, trust three ex-MasterChef contestants (and culinary champions) to look beyond the old fashioned and take bitters from cocktails to cooking. Far from bitter that they missed out on the top spot, MasterChef runners-up Ben Ungermann, Matt Sinclair and Georgia Barnes accepted the challenge to create three unique recipes featuring one unlikely ingredient — Angostura bitters. From entree through to dessert, the three chefs prove that bitters complements both sweet and savoury dishes that, luckily for us, you don't need to be a MasterChef to cook at home. ENTREE: ANGOSTURA-POACHED COD WITH FENNEL AND ORANGE SEGMENTS While bitters and fish may seem like an unlikely combo to us amateurs, Ben Ungermann found multiple ways to hero bitters in his Angostura-poached cod entree. First by using the ingredient in the marinade for the cod, and then as a bittersweet vinaigrette to match the tartness and zest of the accompanying orange and fennel salad. Angostura Marinated Poached Cod with Fennel and Orange Salad For the vinaigrette 1 tsp Angostura aromatic bitters 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp white wine vinegar Pinch of salt and pepper For the fennel and orange salad 1 handful shaved fennel 1 small handful of bean sprouts Orange segments from one orange For the Angostura-poached cod 150g cod 1 tbsp Angostura aromatic bitters 100g unsalted butter Zest from one orange Salt Pepper Method Vinaigrette Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together. Set aside for serving. Fennel and Orange Salad With a mandolin, shave the fennel into thin strips. Take an orange and remove the skin. Cut the orange into segments, then vertically cut the segments to make small triangles. Toss the fennel and orange through bean sprouts and set aside. Angostura-Poached Cod Cut fish fillet into 4–6cm pieces. Place fish in foil along with butter broken into small pieces, Angostura aromatic bitters, orange zest and seasoning. Tightly wrap and place in oven at 120 degrees Celsius until steamed. Check fish every 10 minutes until cooked through. MAIN: ANGOSTURA BEEF SHORT RIBS WITH OLD FASHIONED GLAZE When a single ingredient added to an orange glaze helps to achieve what Matt Sinclair describes as "a liqueur-like intensity that complements the richness of short ribs", there's no questioning that bitters has found a new calling as the secret ingredient in your new favourite dish. Seeing bitterness as a "vital aspect of a balanced dish that's just as important as sweet, sour and salt", Matt brings all these elements together, turning an old favourite into new in his recipe for Angostura beef ribs with old fashioned glaze. Angostura Beef Short Ribs with Old Fashioned Glaze For the beef ribs 2kg beef ribs 1l master stock or chicken stock For the glaze 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup bourbon 6 tbsp Angostura orange bitters 4 tbsp vinegar Zest and juice of two oranges 1 cup sugar 2-inch piece of ginger, thinly sliced 6 cloves of garlic 4 star anise For the crystal cucumber 2 lebanese cucumbers 1 tsp sea salt 2 tsp caster sugar, plus extra 1 1/2 tbsp rice wine vinegar 2 tsp sesame oil 2 tsp soy sauce 1 tbsp olive oil 2–3 garlic cloves, finely grated 1–2 birdseye chillies, finely sliced 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds 1/2 cup fresh mint, leaves picked Method Ribs and Glaze Preheat oven to 150 degrees Celsius. Place ribs in a deep oven tray, bone-side up and cover with master stock or chicken stock. Cover with foil, and cook in the oven for 3.5 hours. Remove from oven, and transfer ribs to a wire rack over a roasting tray, bone-side down. Cover with foil. Increase oven temperature to 220 degrees Celsius. While ribs are cooking, in a medium saucepan add all glaze ingredients and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer glaze until a syrup-like consistency is reached. Pour 1/3 cup of the glaze over the ribs, and place them back in the oven, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Remove ribs from the oven and place onto a platter. Pour over any remaining glaze. Serve with steamed jasmine rice and crystal cucumber on the side. Crystal Cucumber Cut cucumber in quarters lengthways, and dice into 2-inch pieces. Place the cucumber in a colander, add a pinch of salt and sugar and toss to coat. Then place the colander over a bowl and allow to drain in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, add salt, sugar and rice wine vinegar and whisk to combine, until sugar and salt are dissolved. Add sesame oil and soy sauce and mix through to combine. To serve, remove cucumbers from the refrigerator and transfer to a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat before adding garlic, dressing, chilli and mint. Mix together well, garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately. DESSERT: ANGOSTURA LEMON, LIME AND BITTERS TART When it comes to bitters, it'd be remiss not to mention the sweet, refreshing flavour combination of a lemon, lime and bitters. So rather than break away completely from something that's already so damn good, Georgia Barnes opted to reinvent the iconic soft drink as an Angostura lemon, lime and bitters tart with a thick, buttery pastry base and sweet, creamy filling. Garnish the tart with edible flower petals and plate with precision, and you'll do a convincing job that you too could be a MasterChef contender. Angostura Lemon, Lime and Bitters Tart with Brown Sugar Shortcrust Pastry For the pastry 2 cups plain flour 4 tbsp brown sugar 1/2 tsp salt 150g unsalted butter, cold and chopped 3–4 tbsp ice cold water For the tart filling 100ml lemon juice 100ml lime juice 1 cup caster sugar 2 tbsp corn flour 4 free-range eggs 4 free-range egg yolks 100g butter, chopped 2 tbsp Angostura aromatic bitters To serve 100ml dollop cream Lemon zest Lime zest Edible flower petals (optional) Method Grease and line a 23cm springform tart tin. For the pastry, place flour, sugar, salt and butter into a food processor, and pulse until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Slowly add the iced water until mixture forms a soft ball of dough. Place a large piece of baking paper onto a clean, dry surface. Sprinkle baking paper with a little extra flour. Place dough onto baking paper and roll to 2–3mm thick using a floured rolling pin. Carefully turn the sheet of pastry onto the tart tin, pastry side down. Peel away the baking paper. Gently press pastry into the sides of the tart tin. Place tart shell into the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius. Remove tart shell from refrigerator. Using a sharp knife, trim excess pastry away from the edge of the tart tin. Using baking paper and pie weights or uncooked grains, place tart shell in the oven to blind bake for 20 minutes. Remove tart shell from oven. Carefully remove baking paper and weights and return to the oven for a further 5 minutes, or until the base of tart shell is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool. To make the filling, place lemon juice, lime juice, sugar, corn flour, eggs and egg yolks into a saucepan and whisk together well. Place saucepan over medium heat and continue to whisk until the mixture reaches boiling point and has thickened. Remove saucepan from heat. Strain hot filling through a fine sieve into a bowl to remove any lumps. Add butter to filling, and continue to stir until butter has melted and the mixture is smooth. Add Angostura aromatic bitters and mix well. To assemble the tart, pour lemon, lime and bitters filling into the cooled tart shell. Place tart in the refrigerator to chill for 1–2 hours or overnight. To serve, carefully remove the tart from the springform tart tin and place onto a serving plate. Sprinkle tart with lemon and lime zest and drizzle with cream. Garnish with edible flower petals. Using a sharp knife, cut tart into even pieces. Best served chilled. Now that you've got this secret ingredient on your radar, move your bottle of Angostura bitters from the drinks cupboard to the pantry, and try your hand at cooking some of these deliciously bittersweet recipes.
Do you have the time to listen to Green Day live? Do you now have 'Basket Case' from the California-born band's iconic 1994 album Dookie stuck in your head? To celebrate three decades since releasing one of the records that defined the 90s, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool are returning to Australia to play it in its entirety — and to also bust out their American Idiot album from 2004 in full as well. If you're a Green Day fan, welcome to paradise come March 2025, when the band will hit up stadiums in Sydney, Melbourne and on the Gold Coast. We hope you have the time of your life getting a blast of 90s and 00s nostalgia, complete with 'When I Come Around', 'Longview', 'She', 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams', 'Wake Me Up When September Ends', 'Holiday' and, yes, 'American Idiot' echoing through Engie Stadium, Marvel Stadium and CBUS Super Stadium. [caption id="attachment_972774" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alice Baxley, Apple Music[/caption] While the visit is part of the group's global The Saviors Tour, which is named for their 14th studio album Saviors, they're clearly happy to keep working through their best-known tunes — and, while they aren't on either Dookie or American Idiot, 'Minority', 'Brain Stew' and 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)' have been on Green Day's recent setlist overseas. "We've never been more excited to unleash new music than with Saviors, a record that's meant to be rocked live, together. And we can not wait to return to Australia, it's been way too long. So let's thrash," said Green Day, announcing their Down Under visit. [caption id="attachment_972776" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Flickr.[/caption] In support, also bringing the 90s and 00s to mind, fellow California-born group AFI will share the stage on Green Day's three Aussie gigs in 2025. It's currently a great time to hear beloved albums in full live in Australia, given that Green Day's tour comes just days after The Killers announced their own trip for late 2024, including playing Hot Fuss from start to finish at some gigs. [caption id="attachment_972775" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alice Baxley[/caption] Green Day The Saviors Tour Australia 2025 Saturday, March 1, 2025 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Monday, March 3, 2025 — Engie Stadium, Sydney Wednesday, March 5, 2025 — CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast Green Day are touring Australia in March 2025, with presale tickets available from Monday, September 16 (at 1pm for the Gold Coast, 2pm for Melbourne and 3pm for Sydney) and general sales from Friday, September 20 (at 12pm Gold Coast, 1pm Melbourne and 2pm Sydney). Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
If you're looking for your latest glimpse of the next Star Wars movie, there's no need to travel to a galaxy far, far away, because the full final trailer has just dropped in this one. Two months before the main franchise's ninth episode (and 11th theatrical flick overall) hits cinemas, Disney has delivered its last sneak peek of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker — as well as reiterating the claim that this flick will end the whole Skywalker saga. Don't worry — more Star Wars movies are definitely in the works, courtesy of two big-screen spinoff trilogies by Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi helmer Rian Johnson and Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, respectively. Just next month, new TV series The Mandalorian will start screening on Disney's new streaming platform as well. An Obi-Wan Kenobi-focused television show is also in development, with Ewan McGregor returning as the beloved Jedi master. And, even if The Rise of Skywalker wants to tell us otherwise for now, we have a good feeling that we won't see the last of all of the other Star Wars characters that everyone already knows and loves. Given The Rise of Skywalker's title, the way that The Last Jedi wrapped up and the theories that have been swirling around Daisy Ridley's Rey since she was first introduced in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, it should come as no surprise that the scavenger-turned-pilot takes centre stage in the new trailer — as she did in the first teaser earlier this year. Also popping up are Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron and John Boyega's ex-stormtrooper Finn, helping out the film's plucky heroine once more; Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, wielding his red lightsaber for the dark side yet again; and long-standing series favourites Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO, of course. The late Carrie Fisher features as well, with the actor's appearance as General Leia Organa made possible by using previously filmed footage. And two other familiar characters also rejoin the fold, including Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian and a sinister figure who's once again heard rather than seen. The huge cast list keeps going, with Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran and Lupita Nyong'o all returning, Mark Hamill also included, and Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell and Naomi Ackie among the Star Wars newcomers. As he did with The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams also sits in the director's chair. Feel the force with the full final trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qn_spdM5Zg Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker releases in Australian cinemas on December 19. Images: (c) 2019 and TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
Brisbane's premier destination for all things art, the Gallery of Modern Art is showcasing the 30-year trajectory of a culture that knows a thing or two about unique fashion design. Now showing, Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion will chart the transformation of Japanese fashion design from the 1980s until today. We're talking the weird and the wonderful, from street wear to haute couture. These are the cutting-edge Japanese fashion designers who experimented with genres and influences to create a sartorial scene quite unlike any other. Thanks to Brisbane's Airtrain, we are offering one lucky entrant two free return flights to Brisbane from either Sydney or Melbourne. Included is return travel with Brisbane's Airtrain, the premier rail link connecting Brisbane Airport to the city; two nights of accommodation; and two guest passes to see the one-of-a-kind exhibition at GOMA. Airtrain is the fastest, most efficient and affordable way to get from Brisbane Airport to the heart of the Brisbane CBD, and it takes you there in 20 minutes flat. Hard to beat in terms of simplicity, comfort and punctuality, Airtrain runs every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during non-peak periods. To ensure bookings runs smoothly, Brisbane's Airtrain has introduced an iPhone app for travellers on the go offering easy access to mobile tickets when entering and exiting an Airtrain station. To sweeten what is already a pretty sweet deal, there is a 10 percent discount for all advance online bookings, as well as great web group fares offering substantial discounts for groups of two or more. Your accommodation for this trip is a one-bedroom apartment at sleek, four-star Mantra on Edward, located only 200 metres from Central Station, where you'll hop off the Airtrain in Brisbane's CBD. You will be on the doorstep of some of Brisbane's best cafes, restaurants and bars and a short walk from the Brisbane River at Eagle Street Pier as well as the shopping district Queen Street Mall. Or you can just stay in your hotel and enjoy the pool and sauna. Future Beauty: 30 years of Japanese Fashion will be running from November 1, 2014, until February 15, 2015 at the Gallery of Modern Art. Thanks to Brisbane's Airtrain, Mantra Hotels and GOMA, one winner will get to go on this holiday with a friend, enjoying: A double pass to the Future Beauty exhibition or Future Beauty Up Late at the Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane Return flights to Brisbane per person from either Melbourne or Sydney Two-nights' accommodation in a one- bedroom apartment at Mantra on Edward Return travel with Airtrain so you can fast-track your trip to and from the airport To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and address. Entry to the competition constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Image: Broken Doll, performing at Future Beauty Up Late.
