It's been less than a year since Scottish craft beer giant BrewDog made its much-anticipated Australian debut, opening the doors to its hefty Brisbane brewery DogTap last November. But already the team's looking to ramp up that local presence, announcing ambitious plans to open more flagship venues across Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney by the end of 2021. While the company's keeping hush for now on exactly where these new bars will be located, it has confirmed it's already started searching for sites between 300 and 1000 square metres, in each of the three above cities. It seems the choice to kickstart Aussie operations in the Queensland capital has proved a smart move for the brewery, especially given the extra COVID-19 fallout some other states have had to endure. "The continued success of our DogTap taproom has convinced us that the time is right to start the search and find exciting locations to join the fold," said BrewDog's Head of Australian Operations Calvin McDonald in a statement. Already operating in over 80 countries, the company plans on snapping up 25 more sites worldwide before the year's out. [caption id="attachment_751726" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pandora Photography[/caption] BrewDog's ambitious expansion plans come off the back of a few news-filled months for the brewing company. Just recently, it claimed the distinction of becoming the first carbon negative international beer brand in the world, removing twice as much carbon from the air than it emits. BrewDog plans to open more sites in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in the coming 12 months. We'll share more details as they're confirmed. Images: DogTap Brisbane by Pandora Photography
First, the bad news for Marvel Cinematic Universe fans: the reports about the big- and small-screen franchise starting to space out its output are coming to fruition with its next big streaming series Echo. Now, the good news: the five-part miniseries just released its first trailer, and promises rage, darkness, focusing on a superhero who is deaf, bringing back Kingpin and also dropping its entire season at once come January. Echo was previously locked in for a November release, as one of two MCU shows due to stream this spring. While the first series on that list, the second season of Loki, did indeed arrive as planned, Echo has now been pushed to 2024. Hopefully good things will come to those who wait, with this Hawkeye spinoff slated for Wednesday, January 10. While Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is at Echo's centre — as first seen in Hawkeye, she's the gang leader who is deaf that had Clint Barton in her sights for a stint of revenge — the show's debut trailer gives narrating duties to Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio, Dumb Money) to set a brooding tone. "You have so much pain in you, so much rage, that you can't contain it," says the character also seen in Hawkeye, and before that in Daredevil as well. "You and I are the same," Kingpin continues amid sound design that lives up to the show's moniker. When all five instalments of Echo hit at once, the series will enjoy a first for the MCU on streaming. As viewers who've been watching along since WandaVision's small-screen arrival know, Disney+ usually drops a few episodes at once for each MCU entry, then unfurls the rest weekly afterwards ‚ but this one will arrive all at once on the same day. Story-wise, Echo follows Maya as Kingpin's criminal empire chases her down — and as the initial sneak peek illustrates, that ties in with her past. So, yes, this is an origin story. Also featuring alongside Cox and D'Onofrio: Chaske Spencer (The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Run Woman Run), Graham Greene (The Last of Us) and Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds). Check out the trailer for Echo below: Echo will stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Images: Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.
It takes a lot to make great wine. It also takes a lot to successfully run a business and a happy family. So, what about when all three things are put together? We chat to three wineries in Victoria's north east that are managing to nail all three. Here are a few stories from their journey through wine, family, tradition and hard work. Brown Brothers Winery – Stories and Shiraz An old lady is fussing about in her kitchen, many moons ago. She takes four teacups and places them in the oven, just until they are too hot to touch. She takes them carefully out of the oven and places them on the table, next to a steaming hot pot of tea. In walk four of her sons. They take a chair at the kitchen table as their mother pours them a cup of tea in the scorching cups. The cups are too hot to touch. They stay that way for a while. The boys linger, telling storing, sharing tales of the family business — tales of the winery. The woman is happy. Her plan to keep them there long enough for their tea to be drinkable is working. The hotter it is, the longer they stayed. A brilliant plan. She is the mother of the Brown brothers and grandmother to Katherine and Caroline — the fourth generation of Browns and the next to take over the reigns of the well-known Brown Brothers family winery. Now picture this: three young, beautiful and driven Brown daughters are sent off into the big bad world. They must complete the non-negotiable task of working outside the family business for four years before being allowed to work within the winery. A beautiful clause, it encourages hard work and avoids entitlement. And it's worked. The daughters ooze with appreciation of the business and a keenness to continue the legacy. Brown Brothers have just relabeled their 18 Eighty Nine range, each fit with a different chair from their family table and a different tale of the family. This dry range includes a fruity Chardonnay, a Shiraz made in Heathcote and a savoury Cabernet Sauvignon. 239 Milawa Bobinawarrah Road, Milawa VIC 3678, brownbrothers.com.au Dal Zotto Wines – Practice and Prosecco Otto, Eleanor, Christian and Michael Dal Zotto are sitting around the large table in their trattoria in King Valley. While Italian voices are coming from one end and Australian accents from the other, there is no denying they are related. Mother, father and two sons. As the kitchen serves up divine, simple, sharing style Italian cooking, the wine begins to pour. A Prosecco to begin, of course. The two wine glasses in front of each person are instantly filled. Then the gentle bickering begins. Where are the rest of the wine glasses? After all, it is only right that each guest have the opportunity to taste all the wines on the table at once. After lunch, stuffed to the brim, they take their guests outside for a throw of the bocce ball, a run with the two dogs in the kitchen garden and to play with the many grandchildren that live just next door. What began as Otto and Eleanor's business — pioneering Prosecco in Australia — is now strongly ingrained in the lives of their children. Michael takes the reigns as the winemaker while Christian looks after the marketing. Spend an afternoon in their trattoria with them if you get the opportunity. The passion is tangible. 4861 Wangaratta-Whitfield Road, Whitfield VIC 3733, dalzotto.com.au Pizzini – Community and Chardonnay Roberto and Rose Pizzini, along with their three children migrated from the Northern Italian Alps to Australia back in 1955. Lost for what to do, digging potatoes became their bread and butter. This later turned into tobacco growing. None of these felt quite right to the Pizzinis. It was only when Brown Brothers planted their first grapes in the King Valley in 1978 that the Pizzini family began farming grapes. A collection of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Shiraz were farmed by Alfred and Katrina and sold to different winemaking companies around Australia. Over the next twenty years Alfred Pizzini began trying his hand at two relatively unknown Northern Italian red grape varieties — Nebbiolo and Sangiovese — and later the white Italian varietals Verduzzo, Picolit and Arneis. It was only in 1994 that Alfred and Katrina Pizzini began the Pizzini label with their signature chardonnay. As they began to build their business they realised they needed to help build up the local area as well. After a cellar door was created from tobacco drying kilns, the Pizzini's invested in three local hospitality venues around town. A little restaurant in Oxley, the Mountain View Hotel in Whitfield and finally they renovated a cottage on the property and turned it into a self-contained B&B. Fast forward to today, Katrina Pizzini running a thriving cooking school, the winery is one of the biggest in the area and the King Valley is never short of wine enthusiasts. The winemaking is now in the capable hands of their son Joel. 175 King Valley Rd, Whitfield VIC 3733, pizzini.com.au
The Act of Killing is one of those movies that in its very form is something new. While filming survivors of the 1965-66 Sumatran massacre, Joshua Oppenheimer discovered that the perpetrators, now elder statesmen, remain openly proud of their crimes — and eager for fame. So he takes the project in a new direction (the survivors, for good reason, weren't keen to appear on camera anyway). Oppenheimer has the perpetrators join the film, scripting and starring in re-enactments of their murders. They jump at the chance; they're fans of American movies. The Act of Killing then becomes a documentary with fictionalised elements that, by virtue of what they reveal about their subjects, are a mode of deep-digging documentary in themselves. It's chilling but also achieves a surprising effect, leading Werner Herzog to say "I have not seen a film as powerful, surreal, and frightening in at least a decade...it is unprecedented in the history of cinema." He signed on to executive produce, along with documentary king Errol Morris. No synopsis can quite convey how extraordinary this all is. We in Australia, Indonesia's closest neighbours, have barely any memory of the genocide that took 1 million lives. The current Indonesian government still has links to the militias of 50 years ago, and in a speech by a senior politician, we see him further the ideology of the 'gangster', a libertarian delusion that alleviates the war criminals' consciences. They're welcomed on a daytime TV show as if they were pop stars, while the cheery host recognises their achievements in finding "a new, more efficient system for killing Communists". There are so many of these extraordinary scenes — too many, probably. It's hard to figure out what could have been cut, but there is a point in the middle at which it becomes a catalogue of bewilderment rather than a purposeful trajectory — and the running time is 159 minutes, so. US-born, Copenhagan-based Oppenheimer's real strength is his knowledge of Indonesia — he's spent a lot of time there, speaks the language without an interpreter and was able to really relate to his subjects as human beings. They're comfortable and candid around him, without his having to trick them into participating. He's also proved to have a great eye for character, as his main focus, Anwar Congo, is both charismatic and very easy to empathise with. Those spotlighted around him, too, serve to elucidate other sides of his character. It's challenging. We're made to wonder, who is more evil, the murderer who is an ostentatious true believer in the cause? The pragmatist quietly living out his days in great wealth? Ultimately, it's hard to believe there are evil people at all — just crazy, heightened situations with patterns that repeat all over the world. The Act of Killing is deeply humanist that way. There's no point dwelling on some minor drawbacks; The Act of Killing is the film of the year, if not the decade, if not documentary history. Just go see it already. It's simultaneously being disseminated in Indonesia via private screenings and sparking, you can imagine, a big conversation. Proof that sometimes, art changes everything. Read our interview with director Joshua Oppenheimer here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=zJ5_JAgoZ5Q
Like karaoke? Fond of singing along to well-known songs, whether you're solo or in a group? Happy to belt out a tune from your couch? If you answered yes to all of the above questions, then it's time to up your crooning game during Australia's Biggest Singalong. If you love singing when you're in a pub with a beer in your hand, too, then you'll want to join in as well. Since early 2017 in Brisbane, Pub Choir has been amassing brew-loving music fans in venues around the city. The regular event asks its attendees to learn a particular song in three-part harmonies, with talented professionals on hand each time to show everyone the ropes and lead the way. Every evening then culminates in a big boozy singing session, with the event making its way to bigger Brissie locations over the years, as well venturing around the country. Now, it's heading to television. Set to air on SBS, NITV and SBS On Demand at 8.30pm AEST on Saturday, June 5, Australia's Biggest Singalong transports the Pub Choir format to TV — with a few adjustments, obviously. While still feeling like a far more organised version of exactly what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the pub jukebox, it'll have big-name hosts in Julia Zemiro and Miranda Tapsell — and it's asking for viewers at home to record their own videos in advance, upload them and hope they'll be screened during the two-hour-long special. Multiple songs will be covered, but Hunters and Collectors' 'Throw You Arms Around Me' is the big track that eager crooners can film themselves singing in advance. Entries close on Monday, May 17, with all of the details available on the Couch Choir website — which belongs to Pub Choir's pandemic-era spinoff from last year, as you might already be aware. Hunters and Collectors lead singer Mark Seymour will be part of the broadcast, and Pub Choir co-founder and choirmaster Astrid Jorgensen will be guiding the singing, too. So, you just need to decide whether you're fine to take part from home while pouring yourself something cold from your own fridge, or if you'd rather head to the pub and sing with your mates during the show. Pub Choir's IRL events are mighty popular, with tickets getting snapped up very quickly each time, so that's something you don't have to worry about in this format. Australia's Biggest Singalong will screen on SBS, NITV and SBS On Demand at 8.30pm AEST on Saturday, June 5, Australia's Biggest Singalong. For more information, head to the SBS website. To upload your own video before Monday, May 17, visit the Couch Choir website. Images: Jacob Morrison.
In any other year, the songs of the summer are those that have been heard blaring from car windows, festival stages and nightclub speakers. While we've had a few songs take on this energy despite the circumstances ('Blinding Lights', 'Heat Waves' and 'WAP' to name a few) for most of the year, it's just been us and our Spotify accounts. Now, as we head into what we are all hoping to be an action-packed, smoke-free and dance floor-heavy summer, it's the perfect time to refresh your summer playlist. Here are ten tracks you may have missed this year that are bound to give you those summer warm and fuzzies, primed and ready to soundtrack your road trips, bushwalks and pool parties. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmsvhQNuO-E GOLDEN VESSEL: MIDWEST Dive headfirst into the feeling of a summer road trip with this track of the latest Golden Vessel album colt. Each song on the album is primed for stares out of a car window, which the creative force behind the project Maxwell Byrne seemed to know, releasing it alongside a road trip-themed visual album titled eyes on the road. 'Midwest' encapsulates this the best. As soon as the first note hits and Byrne's deep baritone vocals kick in, you can see the trees passing by your window, stereo up, snacks on hand. The gentle instrumental plays off the persistent bass to create a sense of forward momentum. It's an anthemic ode to hitting the road with your crush and, while we may not be able to drive across the midwest right now, it's the perfect time to take to the road and explore regional Australia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc50wHexbwg KHRUANGBIN: TIME (YOU AND I) Like their music, the cover of Khruangbin's fourth studio album Mordechai explodes with colour. They're a group built on bringing forward the brightest and bounciest sounds of past generations into today. The highlight of the album is 'Time (You and I)', an easygoing soundtrack fit for any summer occasion. Sunshine exudes from every second of its five and a half minute run time. Over a smooth disco-heavy instrumental Khruangbin come to the conclusion that nothing is perfect and everything comes to an end, but that's ok. They're along for the ride, one full of baselines and dance floors. Towards the end of the track, the band recite the phrase 'that's life' translated into various languages. Turkish, Korean, Hebrew — it's universal. We're all here living our lives, just trying our best to have fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPgPHTZsGbU LIL SPACELY: STILL TRAPPIN' (FEAT. ELIJAH YO) 2020 was a landmark year for Australian hip hop. Artists like The Kid Laroi, Onefour, Sampa the Great and Tkay Maidza saw overseas success previously unseen in the local scene. The area undoubtedly leading the pack has been Western Sydney, catching the attention of US rap superstars and international record labels. Among it all, Lil Spacely, one of the area's rising stars, released 'Still Trappin', a sonic victory lap for Western Sydney. Bursting at the seams with sunshine, the track's beat glistens as Spacely tells us of his come up, ambitions and his love for his hometown of Blacktown. The track's biggest pitfall is that it was released during a winter lockdown. There couldn't a song more suited to a summer party — and luckily we have all summer to enjoy it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr_1pDBL0uc BIG DOG: FIGHT IT NOW 'Fight It Now' is the debut single from Sydney band Big Dog. Written during the devastation of the 2019/20 bushfire season, the song conceals a thread of climate anxiety under rich guitars and gentle melodies. Wrapped in warm Australiana reminiscent of Paul Kelly or The Go-Betweens, the track is filled with nostalgic energy. This warmth softens the blow of its cautionary lyrics, warning of future smoke-filled summers without immediate climate action. Musically, 'Fight It Now' conjures feelings of sitting on your porch on a balmy afternoon, but, lyrically, it's a sombre reminder of the country's climate crisis, and as a new summer begins with more extreme weather events, the song remains as relevant as ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUVcZfQe-Kw DUA LIPA: LEVITATING Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia was created for late nights and bustling dance floors, two things that seemed like distant memories throughout the majority of 2020. Despite this, the album managed to blaze a global trail of feel-good pop energy. Any of the singles from the 80s-tinged dance-pop album could fit snuggly into your summer playlist (especially as dance floors and nights out return across the country) but 'Levitating' is the most joyous of the bunch. The anthemic chorus, punchy bassline and Dua Lipa's electric vocals radiate fun. It's overflowing with the energy we've been missing in 2020 and everything we're hoping 2021 will be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ej2BiNFFgM STEVAN: WARM True to its name, 'Warm' is a sunny slice of bedroom pop. Wollongong artist Stevan lays his heart on the line over twinkling synths and a subtle bass groove. Sporadic drums run through the song providing momentum. Completing the wholesome summertime energy of the track is the video, starring Stevan and his new best friend Tilly, a blue heeler cross border collie, and their adventures checking off classic summer bucket list activities: exploring the beach, hanging out at the park and eating rainbow Paddle Pops. Whether your partner in crime is human or dog, 'Warm' will help fill you with adventurous and heartfelt energy you're in need of this summer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw0zYd0eIlk PHOEBE BRIDGERS: KYOTO Phoebe Bridgers' take on the world struck a chord with many this year, with the singer going from underground singer-songwriter to Grammy-nominated Tik Tok sensation. Her music is effortlessly relatable and realistically bleak without ever slipping into overbearingly sad. She approaches topics like loneliness and anxiety with a sense of humour and wit. In a difficult year full of isolation, this perspective was comforting. 'Kyoto' served as Bridgers' breakout hit and an endearing ballad that refuses to get tired. Its bright guitars and horn section are contrasted by the track's dark lyrics of travelling through Japan while dealing with persistent calls from your ex. In Bridgers' world, just like in real life, everything can get pretty overwhelming, but we'll get through it all if we just don't take ourselves too seriously. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhS5MB9cLY8 BANOFFEE: TENNIS FAN (FEAT. EMPRESS OF) A typical element of the Australian summer is the Australian Open. The sight of an international tennis star out on a sweltering Melbourne day is as engrained in the fabric of this time of year as much as an icy pole or overcrowded swimming pool. Banoffee's 'Tennis Fan' builds itself around a series of tennis samples from umpire calls to balls being struck. Somehow, she weaves the samples into a metaphor for social anxiety and loneliness, lamenting on not being invited to a tennis match or the movies. It's layered songwriting, but, most of all, the song's a fun summer bop filled with dance grooves and high school nostalgia. With 'Tennis Fan' and its subsequent album Look At Us Now Dad, Banoffee marked herself as one of Melbourne's most exciting young artists and the queen of the tennis court, no matter what her crush says. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdvxzc7FLow THE AVALANCHES: MUSIC MAKES ME HIGH Throwing back to their classic 2000 album Since I Left You, 'Music Makes You high' throws together an eclectic collection of samples in the process of building a kaleidoscopic collage of sound. Through the magic of The Avalanches, it bottles the energy of being in a buzzing crowd hanging on every note of the music. It's the sound of a packed 1am DJ set at Freda's or an overflowing side stage, late afternoon at a music festival. The song's distant crowd noises, energised dance groove and 1980s disco sample transport you to possibly the closest thing to a dance floor many of us experienced this year. Like so many great Avalanches tracks, 'Music Makes You High' takes pieces of music history and compresses them into three minutes of joy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osz9DyfbjyQ FLEET FOXES: SUNBLIND Fleet Foxes returned in 2020 with their sweetest, most assured album yet. In many ways, it felt detached from the year's doom and gloom, preoccupied with its own journey of growth, as lead singer Robin Pecknold reckons with life and growing older. Of all the songs on the record, 'Sunblind' feels the most in touch with the year we've had. Partnered with triumphant instrumental, Pecknold sings of finding comfort in the works of late musicians (Bill Withers, John Prine, Jeff Buckley) and in nature, specifically water. While it may not have been intentional at the time of writing, when he sings "but I'm loud and alive, singing you all night", it's a perfect soundtrack to riding off into 2020's sunset. Everything may not be perfect but we're moving forward into brighter days. Listen on Spotify below. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23TLh9PrnatiOBetr1PuNL?si=P0ohy4QnToGrceEJmvNR2g
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. More than 8000 garages opened their doors to bargain hunters in previous years, and they're doing it for the seventh time on Saturday, October 22. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There's a right slew of sales happening all around Melbourne, with everyone from frankie magazine to Pascoe Vale Costumiers joining in on the festivities. You can views the best Melbourne sales here, or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
By now, we thought we'd seen it all by way of food pop-ups. In the last year alone, Melbourne has hosted a pop-up whisky bar in a jail, a floating pop-up bar on the Yarra and a pop-up entirely dedicated to lobster rolls. But nope, there’s still something we haven’t seen before, and that's an immersive, post-apocalyptic themed food and drink pop-up. The Richmond Yard will see a humble Cremorne carpark transformed each Saturday into a creative installation that explores a post-apocalyptic world — presumably one that ensues after Melbourne implodes from one too many food pop-ups. The zany idea comes from creative production team The Seven, who were behind epic Melbourne Music Week venues Where?House and Kubik. The post-apocalyptic theme will be played out with multiple installations in The Garden, and a mock-trailer park in the Residential zone. Here they'll have eight trailers stationed for public use — you'll be able to book them out for two hours so you can sit back with some food, booze and your mates and avoid the hustle for seating space. The outdoor dining area, The Commons, is where everyone else will be hanging out though. Each week, five food vendors will join the party; Easey's, Mamasita and Burn City Smokers have already been locked in, with more to be announced. The bar, which will operate out of a vintage Airstream-style trailer, will stock the likes of Handpicked Wines, Flying Brick cider, Quiet Deeds beer, and a selection of summer cocktails. Things kick off at 4pm and will kick on until midnight, with DJs playing throughout the night. The Richmond Yard is also super sustainable (hurrah!), making use of renewable energy, food composting, an onsite vineyard display and no disposable food service wares. The pop-up is the first in a series of activations from the creative team, so expect to see more things like this in the future. A post-post-apocalyptic food installation, anyone? The Richmond Yard launches this weekend, and will pop up every Saturday from 4pm - midnight until February 20, 2016. It is located in the carpark at 55-67 Cremorne Street, Cremorne. To be the first to check it out on opening night, you can book a free preview ticket here. Image: Steve Walser, Flickr CC.
A weekend getaway is always sweeter when it's a prize. This one should particularly appeal to lovers of both bourbon and honeybees. We've teamed up with the champions over at Maker's Mark and Beechworth Honey to create an exclusive Beechworth getaway. It's all in celebration of Maker's Mark's new Gold Rush cocktail: a symphony of Australian honey, fresh citrus and the bold flavours of bourbon. At first glance, one might think that there's not much in common between an American bourbon brand and an Australian beekeeping family. Scratch under the surface and you'll find they aren't so different. Two multi-generational family-run businesses with links to gold on both sides of the planet, both work with a natural product, champion craftsmanship and have a shared commitment to sustainable practices. Lucky winners of the competition will receive a two-night stay at the historic Hive Apartment located in the heart of Beechworth — the ideal hub for discovering the town's unique dining, retail and historical streetscape. The building that houses the apartment was originally built in 1865, making it one of the oldest bank buildings in Victoria. It once operated as the 'Gold Office' and stored bars of gold for the bank. Now it is a homage to a liquid gold: honey. Not only will winners stay at the Hive, but they will also take part in a unique one-on-one honey-tasting experience at the Beechworth Honey Shop where they will learn all about honey and the importance of honeybees from the staff. Plus, they will be greeted with a bespoke Gold Rush gift basket with all the ingredients they need to make the cocktail yourself: a bottle of Maker's Mark bourbon, a jar of Beechworth Honey, and a cocktail shaker. You don't even need to worry about travel costs — the prize includes travel (either flights or car hire) up to the value of $1000). [competition]898062[/competition]
Sometimes the only way to break the chaotic cycle of inner city living is to ditch it all for a weekend away in nature. Whether you're after a coastal getaway or a hinterland escape, camping is your answer to a rejuvenating, back-to-basics holiday. Though you'll be swapping solid bed for solid ground, camping doesn't mean you have to rough it. In fact, you can take a little bit of home comfort with you without disturbing the wildlife or ruining the fun. To help inspire you, we've partnered with Jim Beam to bring you three camping must-haves to make your nights under the stars all the more special. UPGRADE YOUR BREKKIE WITH A WAFFLE MAKER Gone are the days of charring a piece of bread on a stick and calling it breakfast. When you're next setting off on a canvas adventure, pack a Davis & Waddell Square Waffle Maker (available from Bunnings for $29.95) and you'll really impress your camping buddies come sunrise. The waffle maker is best used on gas or electric cooking tops, and you don't have to stick to the recipes included in the pack. If waffles aren't your thing, use it to heat up banana bread or get creative come dinner time with this recipe for pizza. The waffle maker's compact size makes it a handy cooking device without taking up too much space in your snack compartment. BRING THE TUNES, WITHOUT BRINGING DOWN THE VIBE Yes, looking out over serene landscapes and settling into a good book by a campfire are all part of the appeal of camping. But sometimes you want to soundtrack that natural setting with a few sweet tunes of your own. No camping trip would be complete without a bluetooth speaker and a banging summer camp playlist. We think this mini bluetooth speaker by Lexon ($59.94 from Top3 by Design) is just the right size to fit into your tent for listening to spooky mystery podcasts or placed on a small camping table for when you're cooking over flames. It's rechargeable with a USB and you can control it via bluetooth up to ten metres away. Pro tip: download your playlists and podcasts before heading to your campsite, in case you're caught with patchy wifi reception. [caption id="attachment_796860" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels[/caption] PACK A QUICK AND EASY DRINK FOR SUNSET SESSIONS Refreshments are essential to a good camping trip, and after drinking agua all day you'll want to enjoy something a little stronger come sundown. Bring a bottle of Bickford's Peach Iced Tea cordial, a bottle of Jim Beam and soda water and you'll have the necessary ingredients to whip up a quick beverage for the whole crew when you're relaxing by the campfire. It's super simple, perfectly balances the flavours of the bourbon and you don't need to haul any fancy equipment with you. Each Jim Beam and Peach Iced Tea is made with 15ml of cordial, 30ml of bourbon and topped up with soda. If you're fancy enough to be camping with a bag of ice, add it to your cup before topping up with soda and give it a quick swirl. Otherwise, it's ready to enjoy, fireside. Top image: Unsplash
Never has the vegan lifestyle seemed quite so doable as right now. Chefs across the world are doing incredible things with meat-free menus, the move towards conscious fashion has spawned vegan threads that you would actually wear out of the house, and now you can even take a jaunt on the world's first all-vegan ocean cruise. Run by a company called Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV), the 100 percent vegan cruise pulls out of London at the end of this month, setting off on a week-long journey through the Norwegian fjords. On board, guests have all the ingredients for a luxe, plant-based vacation, right at their fingertips. Chefs will whip up gourmet vegan eats for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the bar will pouring a range of vegan wines from across Europe alongside plant-based cocktail creations, and even the cabins are stocked up with organic vegan body products. Along with organised activities, spa facilities and onshore excursions, there's also a hefty program of lectures and classes, hosted by a lineup of doctors, nutritionists and other vegan experts. The vegan voyagers will be given free reign to chat about all things vegan without one eye-roll in sight. CMV also runs cruises around Australia and New Zealand so, who knows — it could be just a matter of time before the concept comes here.
While it might feel like we're awfully far away from warmer months, there's nothing better than making plans to spend more of summer soaking up live tunes to ward off the cold. And here's some more musical goodness to add to your hit-list: ARIA award-winning DJ Dom Dolla will play his largest-ever hometown show this summer at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. The hypnotic house music producer recently played at Coachella, and headlined local festivals including Brisbane's Wildlands and Beyond the Valley. The DJ also thrilled Sydney festivalgoers on New Year's Eve at Field Day. Now, he's bringing his dance tunes to Melbourne's iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl. [caption id="attachment_900753" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Beyond the Valley, Chloe Hall[/caption] "I've dreamt about hosting a show at the bowl since I was DJing in my bedroom. I've lost count of the amount of huge shows and festivals I've attended there over the years growing up in Melbourne. I never thought something like this would really be possible, this really is a dream come true and I can't wait to show you what we have in store for it," Dom Dolla says. [caption id="attachment_900755" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Beyond the Valley, Chloe Hall[/caption] Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday, May 18 at 12pm. Presale registrations are open now, with tickets going on sale on Wednesday, May 17 also at 12pm. Top image: Ash Caygill
There's a certain NSW coastal town that's caught the attention of travel-deprived Aussies this spring. Maybe it's the primo surf beaches and plethora of restaurants and bars. Maybe it's the fact that both NSW and Queensland residents can currently visit without quarantining. Or maybe it's the Zac Efron sightings. Whatever the reason, Byron Bay is, more than even, the place to be. You can join the fun and visit the celebrated beachside spot for zero dollars. Yep, fashion retailer Surf Stitch and Aussie seltzer brand Delvi are giving away a luxury holiday to Byron Bay. And to enter, you just need to sling 'em your deets over here. No 25-words-or-less-answers, just your name and contact info. Pretty darn easy. If you're chosen, you'll get two return flights from anywhere in Australia, two nights of luxury accommodation, a fridge full of Delvi seltzer — because, it's set to be the summer of seltzers, after all — two $1000 Surf Stitch vouchers and an ultimate beach pack for two. A runner up prize of a 'summer worth of seltzers' will also be given out. Nothing to sniff at. Don't win and still want to visit? We've rounded up 20 of our favourite Byron Bay getaways for couples and groups. Enter the Surf Stitch x Delvi competition to win a free trip to Byron Bay here. 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.
Slipping, sliding and splashing are familiar parts of every Australian summer, thanks to the nation's water parks. But Queensland's Wet 'n' Wild, Sydney's Raging Waters, Melbourne's Funfields, Adelaide's Semaphore Waterslide Complex and Perth Aqua Park — and all the other H20-filled, slide-heavy attractions around the country, too — could all soon have some hefty competition from the southern hemisphere's biggest indoor-outdoor facility of the same kind. Called SurfnPlay Aqua Park, it's due to open in Melbourne by 2024 as part of a four-hectare development in Dingley Village. Almost half of the park will be dedicated to indoor pools and recreation — 1.82 hectares, in fact — while another 1.3 hectares slides and pools will sit outdoors. Outside, there'll also be a beach pool that'll be able to generate 1.8-metre waves (so you'll really feel like you're swimming and surfing at the real thing). Also part of the current plans: an indoor wave room, water-jet powered slides that'll let you slip your way up an incline rather than just down, and a 250-metre stretch that's been dubbed a 'lazy river'. Basically, whether you like hitting a board, hurtling through water-filled tubes or just floating around, it'll be on offer at the facility, which is being developed by Pellicano. SurfnPlay Aqua Park has actually been in the works for the past couple of years — with initial plans submitted to the City of Kingston back in March 2019 — however it's now seeking final approval. Construction is expected to start within 12 months of the latter. If it comes to fruition, it'll become Melbourne's latest manmade site to catch a few waves — with not only the aforementioned Funfields featuring a heated wave pool, but surf park Urbnsurf pumping out waves since January 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BlEQt3PckY For more information about SurfnPlay Aqua Park — which is due to open in Dingley Village, Melbourne, by 2024 if it is approved — head to its Facebook page. Via Pellicano / The Herald Sun. Images: SurfnPlay Aqua Park
Just one of the ways we see the patriarchy manifesting in modern life is in the gender information gap — only 18 percent of biographies on Wikipedia are about women and only 16 percent of the online encyclopedia's contributors identify as female. Under representation and misrepresentation can go hand in hand, which is why an intersectional feminist organisation was created to change the stats. Art + Feminism is all about teaching people of all gender identities and expressions to edit Wikipedia. Since 2014, the group has facilitated the creation of more than 58,000 articles over hundreds of worldwide edit-a-thons. You can get involved this International Women's Day at NGV International at a day dedicated to increasing the online presence of women artists and creators, with the help of the Women's Art Register, Wikimedia Australia and WikiD: women, Wikipedia and design. There'll be people on hand to help get you registered with an account and show you the ropes. Just bring your laptop down to the NGV International Great Hall from 11am–2pm on Sunday, March 8. The Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon is free to attend, but it's recommended that you book through the NGV website to secure your spot.
If you've been making an effort to be kinder to the planet, chances are your daily coffee habits have had a bit of a shakeup of late. Maybe you've said farewell to your last takeaway coffee cup, switched to drinking only fair-trade beans, ditched environmentally harmful coffee pods, or all of the above. Well, now local company Pod & Parcel could just see you change up your coffee game once again. The start-up is the brainchild of three Melbourne business consultants, Ben Goodman, Elliott Haralambous and Jai Felinksi, who wanted to combine the ease of a coffee pod with the quality of specialty coffee — without leaving a nasty impact on the planet. The trio developed a special plant-based pod that is fully biodegradable and compostable, taking just six months to break down, as opposed to the 500 years of its competitors. With an estimated two-to-three million coffee pods consumed daily in Australia alone, that's a whole lot of reasons to switch. Another is the coffee itself. Far from skimping on quality, the trio has collaborated with local coffee roasters to develop its product, so you can enjoy that cafe-level cuppa from the comfort of your home. Choose from a single-origin Guatemalan — with notes of creamy vanilla and blood orange — or a toffee-noted blend of Colombian and Tanzanian beans, among many others. Because it's specialty-grade arabica coffee, it has a back-story, too. Consumers can find out where it came from, how it travelled and exactly when it was roasted. Consider this a budget-friendly alternative to those exxy brews from your local specialty coffee shop, that also challenges big name pod manufacturers like Nespresso. Pod & Parcel's creations come in a swag of different flavours and intensities, available online from around 86 cents per pod. If you fancy saving even more, you can sign up to its Coffee Club, which delivers pods straight to your door.
Think of live music and you invariably think of one of our rich and diverse capital cities — but there's plenty going on beyond the big metropolises. From renowned multi-day festivals to the regional town that turns itself over to celebrate an enduring cultural icon once a year, there's something to tempt every music lover away from the city this autumn. Ready to reconnect with your love of music, dance under the stars in the outback and experience those heart-swelling, foot-stomping, feel-good moments that live tunes provide so well? We've teamed up with Destination NSW to pick a half-dozen events that'll satisfy your cravings for a live gig and a road trip in one go.
Starting out as a late-night snack stop for nightclub punters in Perth, Pretzel has just opened the doors to its first two Melbourne outposts making baked-to-order pretzels loaded with tasty toppings. The biggest and brightest of the two is in South Yarra — and you definitely won't miss this vibrant store as you make your way down Chapel Street. Pink from floor to ceiling, the colour blocked shop plays with velvet chairs, neon signs and numbered doors with a wall of retro motel-style keyrings (that, yes, you can purchase). Inside, you'll see staff swiftly rolling dough and shaping them into pretzels that are cooked to order and topped with the likes of cheese, bacon, chilli and chocolate (thankfully, not together). After making pretzels for five years, owner and founder Brittany Garbutt decided to venture out and expand the flavour horizons of this humble snack. While the classic cinnamon is a crowd favourite, flavours like The Lot with three cheeses, pepperoni and bacon ignite the taste buds in a similar way to a cheesy pizza, but with the added layer of enjoying it on more soft, doughy pastry. [caption id="attachment_758354" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] Those looking for something slightly more adventurous can try the Chipotle & Cheese pretzel loaded with a jalapeños and a smoky chipotle sauce. Or, if sweet is more your thing, order the salted caramel, coconut or mint slice glazed numbers. If you're thinking these salty, doughy numbers would go down a treat after a beer or two (or ten), you'd be right. And, thankfully, they're available late, with the shop opening till 2.30am on Friday and Saturday. While pretzels are popular food overseas, the team at Pretzel say they hope to popularise the oft-forgotten-about soft pretzel here in Australia. If you're not down south side often, Pretzel also has a newly opened store in ELLA Melbourne Central. Images: Julia Sansone
This Is Not Art is Newcastle's premier independent arts and media festival, where the emphasis is on collaboration and experimentation. It is a testing ground for new ideas, an opportunity to mingle with industry professionals and fellow artists in order to re-invigorate your artistic passion and develop new skills. An umbrella sheltering a number of festivals, this year TINA is home to the Crack Theatre Festival, National Young Writers' Festival, Critical Animals and Electrofringe. Between, the festivals boast workshops, performances, round table discussions, interactive events and a sleepover. A forum for showcasing, networking and inventing, TINA is a festival targeted at launching a generation of aspiring artists and fostering the creativity of local communities. Capping off a weekend of bold and dynamic events, don't miss the epic closing party hosted by Electrofringe and featuring a swag of emerging electro artists from Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle spinning danceable tunes and experimental beats.
Where some of director Alkinos Tsilimidos’s previous works for the Melbourne Theatre Company have been highlights of the company’s seasons — shows like Red and The Mountaintop — Glengarry Glen Ross is flat and unaffecting. By the time the cast leaves the stage before their second curtain call, any world they’ve created is long gone from our minds and hearts. It’s difficult to point to what precisely makes this production such a depressing experience; the feeling is pervasive, running through the listless ensemble, the fact that it was programmed in the first place, and even David Mamet’s acclaimed 1984 script itself. Much is made of Mamet’s burst-fire dialogue and invective — but what is it actually doing? The play’s Chicago real-estate salesmen, backed up against a wall by their company’s relentless demand for sales, descend into conniving manipulation and vicious diatribe. But what this production highlights is that for all Mamet’s facility with language, it is also, at its most basic level, just one man swearing at another. It’s testament to Greg Stone’s abilities as one of the country’s most consistently fine stage actors that he at least can wring many satisfying moments out of the text as Moss. That said, Stone’s prowess is only made starker by contrast with the rest of the ensemble, with the exception of Alex Dimitriades, who makes the role of Roma his own, unencumbered by Pacino’s definitive performance in the film. The language of playwrights with far more draconian notation allows their work to endure today (think of Beckett, with his commands for every shake, breath and turn of the head in Happy Days). Here, indulging Mamet’s fastidious attention to punctuation and rhythm has the effect of locking this production firmly in its mid-'80s context, but perversely without allowing a 2014 Melbourne audience a way into this world. It’s been 30 years since the MTC presented their first production of the play. There’s nothing intrinsically bad about choosing to program what is essentially a period piece, but there is in a production that offers nothing more. There is so much that only live performance can do. Theatre interacts simultaneously with both the minds and hearts of an audience; it makes our world bigger, more full, because it lets us strain our lives past what we know. But watching this show was an hour and a half of the world just getting smaller.
As soon as last year's Indonesian action thriller The Raid: Redemption hit cinemas, you knew Hollywood would be scrambling to develop a remake. By contrast, when 1995's Judge Dredd hit cinemas, you simply couldn't imagine a time when anyone would ever deem it worthy of a second chance. Tinsel Town's hard to read that way. Some might call the phenomenon 'predictable unpredictability', but an easier term would just be 'Dredd 3D' — where novel idea meets stale disaster in a surprisingly successful union. The film's central character, Dredd (Karl Urban), hails from John Wagner's dark and dystopic graphic novel in which the police have become judge, jury, and executioner all in one. Dredd and his fellow ‘judges’ are the sole symbols of authority in a gritty metropolis beset by gangs and drug syndicates, coldly enforcing the law and upholding ‘justice’ with near-fascist ruthlessness. When he and his rookie partner (Olivia Thirlby) find themselves trapped in a high-rise apartment block controlled by drug czar 'Ma-Ma' (Lena Headey), their only option is to wage war on the gang, one floor at a time, until help can break through. Helloooooooooo Raid: Redemption. Plot, however, is not their only similarity; the bloodshed in Dredd 3D is both frequent and highly graphic, often delivered with such rich slow motion it plays like the most violent Schweppes commercial ever made. Coupled with the 3D, Dredd serves up a relentless visual feast of shiny gold bullets that tear through enemies' flesh and send specks of blood and bone gently tumbling towards your eyes like James Cameron butterflies from Avatar. It’s also probably the highest body count for a movie not featuring an atomic bomb, at least since Commando, yet it’s precisely that stylised and completely-over-the-top violence that elevates Dredd 3D above the run-of-the-mill. Action movies are rarely about plot or dialogue, so it’s in the manner and aesthetic of the carnage where they can best define themselves, and in that respect, Dredd 3D delivers. It's certainly not for the squeamish, but the stunning visuals, inventive action, and warped sense of humour make this one of the better heart-pumpers of 2012.
Ghostface Killah constantly features as an 'honourable mention' in countless publications' lists of the greatest rappers of all time — perhaps perceived as almost too smart a lyricist for his own good to attain too many top billings in his own right. Just as RZA’s overall production vision for the legendary Wu-Tang Clan has been the sonic foundation to the diverse crew’s raw power, Ghostface has been credited with holding the at-times fractious group together over twenty years at the cutting edge of the game. The 44-year-old New Yorker is the kind of rapper who's more at home sampling You Roam When You Don’t Get It At Home (from his acclaimed solo record Supreme Clientele) than repeating the mantra "Everyday I'm hustlin'". More recently he's embraced rap's intertwined foundations in classic soul even more fully, collaborating with Black Dynamite composer Adrian Younge and the Delfonics on Twelve Reasons to Die (soon to get a sequel) for a time capsule-like recreation of live 1970s instrumentation that spawned a series of unlikely singles, capped by 'Murder Spree'. Fresh off the back of a headlining slot at Meredith — where he invited Australian paralympian Dylan Alcott onstage for 'Protect Ya Neck' — Ghostface is playing an unmissable sideshow at St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel.
It's never too cold to party. At least, that's what the guys behind Snowtunes say. And for its third year, this Snowy Mountains music festival is coming back even bigger — twice the size actually. With the addition of a second night of festivities, the party people have also added a second stage so punters can enjoy live music at one and dance it out at the other, dedicated to EDM. And with our Snowy Mountains giveaway, you could be right there listening, dancing and partying with the snowy revellers. Who's expected to take to the stage at the festival? Plenty of Aussie-born talent, including L D R U, Gang of Youths, Nina Las Vegas, Mashd N Kutcher and Tigerlily, plus New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Mitch James and French DJ Klingande with some tunes from abroad. Mark your calendars and find some snow gear, because you could win a double pass to both days of Snowtunes on September 1 and 2, plus two nights accommodation in your own studio apartment. Enter your details below. [competition]631762[/competition] Image: Perisher Ski Resl.
South Melbourne Market has long been an integral part of the fabric of Melbourne's food culture, having been churning out fresh produce, top-notch seafood and much-needed flat whites for nigh on 150 years now. So the time is ripe for a big ol' party to say well done, you old thing. To celebrate the market's milestone, Saturday, May 6 will see a barbecue-heavy street party take over Cecil Street. From 10am until 10pm, pop-up stalls, live music and games will ensue — if you've got kids with you, you'll be able to drop them at the jumping castle while you head off in search of serious adult entertainment like the giant Connect Four and Jenga games on offer. Celebrate and eat yourself silly with barbecued Spanish chicken, Polish deli foodstuffs, spanakopita, haloumi souvlakis and barbecued pork belly tacos. But just leave room for some cake — there'll be a huge one on display made by the market's traders (150 years is a lot of candles, so it's bound to be big). The street party is just one of the events being put on by the South Melbourne Market to celebrate their 150th anniversary, others of which include an exhibition, tours and three new mural commissions. You can view the whole calendar of birthday events here.
Christmas isn't the only source of cheer in Sydney this month, especially if you like heartwarmingly endearing baby animals. After introducing the world to its new koala joey and lion cubs earlier this year, Taronga Zoo has just unveiled footage of its pygmy hippo calf, which was born at the zoo on Monday, November 22. The calf doesn't yet have a name; however, Taronga visitors will get to see her in the flesh in the coming weeks — with the adorable critter set to make her public debut just in time for the upcoming school holidays. She was born to parents Kambiri and Fergus, and marks the first calf born at the zoo in more than four years. At the moment, the calf's day involves spending time in an off-exhibit nursery den with Kambiri — suckling, getting energetic in short bursts and napping. And, learning how to navigate the water, because pygmy hippo calves aren't born knowing how to either swim or hold their breath. So, that's something that Kambiri is teaching her offspring. Once the calf masters splashing around, she'll be able to enter the public hippo exhibit, which has had its pond floor raised so it's easier for the calf to access. The new calf will call Sydney home but, in the wild, pygmy hippos are native to West Africa's forests and swamps. Only around 2000–3000 are estimated to remain outside of zoos, which makes the species endangered. And, in the wild, they only tend to come together for breeding. That's enough words about this new cutie, because we all know that you're here to get a glimpse. Check out Taronga Zoo's footage below: [video width="1080" height="1920" mp4="https://cdn.concreteplayground.com/content/uploads/2021/12/HippoAnnouncement.mp4"][/video] [video width="1080" height="1920" mp4="https://cdn.concreteplayground.com/content/uploads/2021/12/Pygmy-hippo-antics.mp4"][/video] Taronga Zoo's new pygmy hippo calf will make its public debut sometime in the coming weeks. For further information, keep an eye on the zoo's website.
Margaret River is a wine tourism hotspot for good reason. It produces 20 percent of Australia's vino, features more than 95 cellar doors and is home to some of the best grapes in the country. And it does all of that amid a scenic trifecta of beautiful white-sand beaches, rugged bushland and sprawling vineyards. Good wine demands good food, and Margs has never been a slouch in that department, boasting many small farms and boutique producers. There are markets and food trucks galore, but to truly experience what can be done with Margaret River's finest produce, you have to head to the region's restaurants. Given the ingredients they're working with, it's hard to find a place that isn't serving up delicious food, whether it's in a theatrical open kitchen, a rustic farm-to-table eatery or a cute cafe. With many wonderful spots to choose from, the tricky bit can be narrowing it down to one holiday itinerary's worth of eating. So we've put our heads together with Virgin Australia to do just that and picked five places that stand at the summit of any Margaret River food adventure. BREW SHACK Tucked away on a small street off Margaret River's main shopping and dining strip, the Brew Shack makes quite possibly the best coffee in town. The cafe's cosy space is well utilised, with rustic wooden decor and bright pops of yellow and blue creating a warm atmosphere that's only improved by the 'no wifi' rule that, via chalkboard, asks customers to "pretend like it's the 90s and talk to each other". When you're not engaging your mouth in conversation, direct it towards one of the cafe's acai bowls for a taste of the region's finest fresh seasonal fruit. 2/124 Bussell Highway, Margaret River BUNKERS BEACH HOUSE There's so much more to Bunkers Beach House than just the pretty beachfront view — although we have to admit that is a pretty big bonus. Scenery aside, the Bunker Bay restaurant offers the perfect opportunity to kick back and relax while you enjoy some sensational modern Australian cuisine. Seafood dishes are the standouts of the menu. Melt-in-your-mouth options like charred Busselton octopus with XO sauce and blood lime or grilled Shark Bay scallops with seaweed and miso butter lure in diners again and again. If you love a long lunch, then this is the place to indulge. Farm Break Lane, Naturaliste BURGER BABY Sometimes all you want is a big juicy burger. If you find yourself feeling that way in Margaret River, the place to go is Burger Baby. Opened at the end of 2017, it's quickly made a name for itself as the best burger joint in town. The menu covers all the bases, offering everything from a vegan spicy lentil burger on buttery brioche to a finger-licking-good Korean-inspired pork belly creation topped with kimchi and slaw. Locals love it as a chilled hang spot, with couches, fireplaces and a range of beers from some of the best breweries in the area. Give the hand-brewed Cheeky West Coast IPA a go. 117 Bussell Highway, Margaret River ARIMIA No visit to Margaret River could possibly be complete without a stopover at Arimia. Set on a sprawling countryside estate that doubles as a working farm, the award-winning restaurant takes sustainable food to a whole new level without compromising on taste. Pigs that are raised on-site are used to make succulent braised pork leg ragout, while olives grown on trees you can spot from your table provide sharp bursts of flavour on the shared plates — pretty incredible, right? We certainly think so. 242 Quininup Road, Wilyabrup MIKI'S OPEN KITCHEN What's in a name? At Miki's Open Kitchen, everything. It's unassumingly located at the back of a small shopping arcade, but inside, this degustation-oriented Japanese restaurant isn't scared of putting on a show. For the best seats in the house, make sure to book ahead so you can sit at the counter. It offers the best vantage point to watch in awe as owner-chef Mikihito Nagai and his team use ingredients like Margaret River Wagyu and Exmouth Rankin cod to take you on a tour across Western Australia without you ever having to leave your seat. 131 Bussell Highway, Margaret River If you're now eagerly planning a visit to Margaret River, check out Virgin Australia's holiday packages — which offer everything from chilled-out cottages to massive resorts.
Nine months after the original controversy, the Chaser team will watch the ABC apologise to conservative commentator Chris Kenny, after the political satirists suggested he had sex with a dog. We realise that's a ridiculous sentence for a number of reasons, nonetheless today it's where we find ourselves. As part of the settlement proceedings for Kenny's defamation suit, an apology will be aired on ABC1 at 9pm tonight. However, the Chaser team will not apologise to Kenny whatsoever, instead sticking to their guns. This is understandably a bitter pill to swallow for the much-loved comedians who have railed against both the lawsuit and the resulting decision. After refusing to apologise and instead launching an internal review into the skit, the members of the Chaser were actually cleared of fault according to ABC editorial policies. Of course, this did little to resolve the issue. In an act of appeasement, ABC managing director Mark Scott issued a personal apology earlier this year. But the Chaser team were quick to offer their opinion. Re ABC statement today: http://t.co/uKfKMggo76 pic.twitter.com/L5mAFEtlbP — Jules Morrow (@julesmorrow) April 14, 2014 As part of the settlement proceedings for Kenny's defamation suit, the ABC's apology tonight is to be free of outside commentary and the Chaser team are explicitly prohibited from making public statements that detract from its sentiment, or republishing the sketch. The settlement also comes with substantial compensation for Kenny. The ABC are paying all of his resultant legal costs as well as an undisclosed amount in damages. As the Chaser crew continue to claim the original skit meets the editorial standards for satire, I wouldn't expect to see any remorse from the controversial comedians. Via The Daily Telegraph. UPDATE: In our first version of this article, we incorrectly stated the Chaser would be forced to apologise to Chris Kenny. It is the ABC, in fact, who will be apologising to Kenny and paying the settlement — The Chaser team have no intention of doing any such thing. We sincerely make apologies of our own to The Chaser, we should have know you wouldn't cave.
Whether you're catching up with mates or planning a casual date, Richmond's longstanding Prince Alfred pub is a pretty solid go-to. And now, on top of its usual pub grub, the hotel is offering up Bottomless Wagyu dinners every Sunday evening. Because who doesn't love a good Sunday session with plenty of food and cold bevvies? For two hours, you can fill up on as much wagyu beef as you like for just $35. Plus, you'll be loading up your plate with a bunch of sides — think beer-battered fries, fresh bread and creamy mash. There are two sessions available every week, so you can opt for either a 5pm or 7pm dinner. If you feel like taking things up a notch, you can make things boozy for an additional $20, which will get you unlimited drinks over the course of your sitting, with bourbon, house beer and wine on offer. Want to head down to the pub early? From 4pm onwards you can nab an Aperol spritz or an espresso martini for $15 a pop. If you're keen to book, head here — you'll want to get in quick to nab yourself a table.
For an art gallery that has garnered recognition by showing the remnants of a suicide bomber made from dark chocolate and X-rays of people having sex, it seems unsurprising that the first art and music festival from Hobart's Museum of New and Old Art would be entirely unconventional and a bit of an enigma. Dark MOFO is an 11-day celebration of art in its many splendid forms. You could describe it as a world-class music festival featuring such local and international superstars as The Presets, Martha Wainwright, You Am I and The Drones. But Dark MOFO is much, much more than your garden-variety music festival; MONA is offering a full-on assault of the senses with a smorgasbord of concerts and performances, interactive artworks and giant installations popping-up all over Hobart. There is Canyons and visual artist Daniel Boyd's audiovisual extravaganza 100 Million Nights, a curated film festival at the State Cinema, the new MONA exhibition Red Queen and even a massed nude swim on the night of the Winter Solstice. According to creative director Leigh Carmichael, these performances and artworks will celebrate the very thing Hobart is most reviled for: the cold and dark. Oh and did we mention that MONA is offering $100,000 worth of free flights? In order to attract interstate visitors, MONA have promised to pay for roughly 600 return flights to Hobart, ensuring that this groundbreaking new festival can be enjoyed by art enthusiasts across the country. Dark MOFO will run from June 13-23, with new exhibitions, performances, locations and general mayhem being announced almost weekly from the Dark MOFO website. Check it out to find out more about the festival and apply for your own free return flight to Hobart.
Winter weekends haven't looked this wonderfully packed for many a cold, cold week. There's plenty of Bastille Day treats to be eaten, films to be snuggled into and live music to warm your hands on, doonas have never looked so unappealing. Get out there, put a dumb-looking animal beanie on and lap up that wintry goodness — there's plenty of time to worry about prepping for bikini season later. Thumpers According to The Guardian, Thumpers "make spiritual feelgood music for people who don't necessarily want to go to church". In January last year, the London-based indie-electro-pop duo made the UK media institution's prestigious 'new band of the week' page. Since then, they've released their debut studio album, Galore, in both the US and the UK via independent Seattle label Sub Pop Records. That's the very same legendary platform responsible for first bringing Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney to your ears. And just in case you're wondering, the name has nothing to do with Bambi. When: Friday, 11 July - 8:30pm Where: Northcote Social Club , 301 High St Northcote VIC 3070 How much: 33 +bf All This Mayhem A thrilling sports film, heartbreaking drama and eye-opening cautionary tale all rolled in to one, All This Mayhem will transcend your expectations of its subject matter. Ostensibly a documentary about the rise and fall of two former skateboarding champions, in execution the Australian-made production bears closer resemblance to (in the words of its director) a modern-day Greek tragedy, full of hubris, temptation and a reckless disregard for long-term consequences. In what is shaping up to be a banner year for Australian cinema, this wild and powerful doco has officially stolen the lead. When: Thursday, 10 July - Wednesday, 6 August Where: Cinema Nova How much: $14 - $19 Domestique Tour de France Pop-Up Bar Is your sleep schedule still ruined from the FIFA World Cup? Are you gradually making your way to being fully nocturnal? Good news, sleepyheads: the Tour de France is about to touch down on the streets of France (and late night SBS), and we have the perfect place to huddle up and watch it. Presented by the legends from The Shadow Electric, Domestique is a pop-up bar now in its third annual form. Far from the bogans that pack our your local while the footy's on, the organisers of this slick little happening knowingly describe it as "a sports bar for those who prefer bars to sport". Domestique will feature a live feed of the mountain stages and time trial via HD projection, music, drinks, food, heating and ping pong. Friday and Saturday nights will offer food from Fancy Hank's BBQ and DJs, and every other night you can snag yourself some Polish dumplings from Peirogi Peirogi. Domestique will be open 7pm till late on select dates of the Tour de France. Head to their Facebook page for more details. When: Saturday, 5 July - Friday, 25 July Where: Domestique Pop Up Bar , 83 Kerr Street, Fitzroy How much: FREE Greg Sestero Presents The Disaster Artist Oh hi Mark! Best known for his immortal role in Tommy Wiseau's cult classic The Room, actor Greg Sestero is headed to Australia. Part of a publicity tour to promote his tell-all book, The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside the Room, Sestero's visit will hopefully shed new light on what is undoubtedly one of the worst films ever made. Sestero (or 'Sestosterone', as he is affectionately known) will be in Melbourne on Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12, for a special event at Cinema Nova that includes an interactive script reading, an audience Q&A session and a behind-the-scenes documentary that explores the making of this unintentional comic gem. Whatever you do though, be sure to leave your stupid comments in your pocket. When: Friday, 11 July - Saturday, 12 July Where: Cinema Nova How much: $23 - $25 The Preatures The most talked-about band Australia's seen in recent times since The Jezabels, The Preatures have unveiled their latest single 'Two-Tone Melody' and have announced their highly-anticipated upcoming debut album with accompanying national tour. Signing to Mercury Records in 2012 with a whopping five album deal, the Sydney fivesome's success snowballed in 2013 after the release of their second EP and ultra-catchy single 'Is This How You Feel?', prompting international touring and national high-fivery. The easily replayable single nabbed an ARIA nomination for Best Pop Release, number nine in the triple j Hottest 100 and just today nabbed a top five nomination for APRA|AMCOS Song of The Year. The Preatures will tour the US and Canada during June, make their way over to festivals in Europe and the UK before venturing back home for an Australian tour, stopping by Splendour In The Grass this July alongside fellow Sydneysiders RÜFÜS, The Jezabels and Sticky Fingers. When: Saturday, 12 July - 8:30pm Where: Corner Hotel , 57 Swan Street, Richmond How much: 30 +BF Bakehouse Studios Open Day Think about your favourite musician. Now, have a little ol' fantasise about where they rehearse, record and hang out with your other favourite musos. If you can't get a clear image in your head of such a heavenly place, relax. The legendary Bakehouse studios are throwing open the doors for an open day at their Richmond digs. With musicians the likes of Nick Cave, Tool, Beck, The Cat Empire, The Drones, Paul Kelly, Ladyhawke and a bucket-tonne more to have played within these walls, Bakehouse is a pretty special place. The Hoddle Street staple will be opening their glorious doors for the first time ever and to celebrate, Leaps and Bounds Festival are throwing a street party with plenty of music and frivolity. There's also going to be enough contemporary Aussie art to poke a metaphorical stick at, and Bakehouse have also let loose their artist buds to create innovative and immersive installations within the rooms of the studio. When: Saturday, 12 July - 11:00am Where: Bakehouse Studios , 27-29 Hoddle St, Richmond How much: FREE Henry V - Bell Shakespeare Battles will be had, blood will be shed, and brothers will unite on stage in this Bell Shakespeare production of Henry V, but not quite as you remember it from high school lit. Shakespeare's tale tells the story of King Henry V who, having ascended the throne following the death of his father, promptly — after a few people tell him he should probs do something else — declares war on France. In this production, director Damien Ryan is bringing the story to life with a contemporary take, inspired by a true story. During the London Blitz in 1941, a group of young men, bored and stuck in a bunker, started a club, where they would rehearse and perform plays to others in the shelter. When: Tuesday, 1 July - Saturday, 12 July Where: Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio How much: $65 - $79 Bastille Day at Albert St Food & Wine A Francophile is many things. They are passionate about France, bang on (and on) about French food, French wine and French country houses, and seem to know exactly how to piss everyone off with their incessant French-ness. It's enough to ruin friendships — except when it comes to Bastille Day. Commemorating the storming of the Bastille, the 14th of July is a celebration of everything French that everyone can get on board with, particularly foodies. And all you have to do its travel to Brunswick, not Bordeaux. This year Albert St Food & Wine is celebrating Bastille Day on the Sunday prior with a hunter's feast, inspired by chef Jason Rodwell's own travels through regional France. When: Sunday, 13 July - 12:30pm Where: Albert St Food and Wine , 382 Sydney Road, Brunswick, 3056 How much: $75 Scandinavian Film Festival Step into your local arthouse theatre these days and you'd be hard pressed not to find a regional film festival going on. In 2014, the line-up is getting that little bit more crowded, with the inaugural edition of a brand new festival highlighting the films from Europe's frozen north. Covering Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, the first annual Scandinavian Film Festival is set to put the kvikmynd in kvikmyndahátíð. For more information about the Scandinavian Film Festival, visit their website. When: Thursday, 10 July - Sunday, 27 July Where: Palace Cinemas Melbourne , Melbourne How much: TBC Abundance Fundraising Party Strength in numbers works a treat for fundraisers and benefactors alike. St Kilda's Theatre Works are putting on a fundraising party for four of Melbourne’s leading independent theatre companies and their latest productions. They aim to raise $20,000 for Elbow Room’s The Motion of Light in the Water, Uninvited Guests’ I Heart John McEnroe, Dirty Pretty Theatre’s Thérèse Raquin and Little Ones Theatre’s The House of Yes. Set to be a night filled with quirky and playful performances, this collaboration marks the second annual Abundance Fundraising Party. Hosted by Present Tense's Bryce Ives, expect comedy, cabaret and musical performance from a lineup of very special guests, including acclaimed US actress Jane Badler and Grammy award-winner Jeff Bova alongside Virginia Gay, Roderick Cairns, Beau Heartbreaker, Nicholas Renfree-Marks, Angela Hogan, Joseph Chetty and Luisa Hastings Edge. When: Saturday, 12 July - 7:30pm Where: Theatre Works , 14 Acland Street, St Kilda How much: $40 - $50
It's become the question of the week: can you drive to go exercise if you stick within your approved five-kilometre radius of home? Just a few days ago, Victoria Police doubled down on the DHHS' original directives forbidding driving to exercise during stage four restrictions. Now, health officials have loosened the rules ever so slightly, with new guidelines brought into effect overnight. On Monday, August 17, a post to the Eyewatch - Port Phillip Police Service Area Facebook page provided a firm reminder that "travelling in a vehicle to exercise is NOT permitted." Victoria Police made the announcement after noticing widespread misunderstanding of the rule by residents, aiming to clear up confusion by reiterating the DHHS' own words and warning of potential fines for anyone flouting the directives. The response was heated, with the post quickly garnering over 4200 comments from locals, many of which voiced their dissatisfaction with the no-drive mandate. Many commenters seemed to be discovering the rule for the first time, while others were quick to criticise it, saying it was "ridiculous" people could drive five kilometres to shop, but not for exercise. Now, it seems the wave of opposition has not only caught the attention of Victorian health experts, but prompted them to revise their original advice. "Every Victorian must follow the directions of the Chief Health Officer — that includes taking your daily exercise at the closest practicable location within 5km of home," a DHHS spokesperson said in a statement today. The Eyewatch - Port Phillip Police Service Area Facebook page has removed its earlier post and published a new one confirming the rule revision. It says the move came after the Chief Health Officer discussed the rule changes with Victoria Police. https://www.facebook.com/eyewatchportphillip/photos/a.125432814799143/589435825065504/?type=1&theater On the DHHS' Q&A-style factsheet regarding exercise during stage four, it has updated its response to the question, "Can I drive to a park within 5km of home for exercise?" The answer, as of this morning, Thursday, August 20: "Yes, you can drive to a location such as a park or running track within 5km of your home to exercise. You cannot drive more than 5km from your home to exercise. You can exercise with one other person. This can be a person you live with or a friend or family member." Earlier, the department's response was a firm no. Police will stop enforcing the previous no-drive rule immediately and the Chief Health Officer's Direction is set to be updated from Friday. For more information about exercising during stage four, head to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website.
Online retail giant Amazon has finally hit Aussie shores, just in time for the mass shopping frenzy that is the month of December. Funny that. And if you're the kind of Christmas shopper that rates online stores over jam-packed shopping centres, well, amazon.com.au will most likely become your best mate during the festive season. The just-launched local website features a huge range of products across a number of categories and it's promising quick and convenient delivery on all purchases. So how will it work? Will it be heaps cheaper? Here's how Amazon's Australian presence will change the way you do your Christmas shopping. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ORDER (PRETTY MUCH) EVERYTHING IN ONE SPOT While Amazon's Australian offering doesn't quite have the full gamut of services that it does elsewhere, the website boasts 'millions of products' across 20 categories — so it's still one seriously well-stocked online store. The lineup features well-known local brands, alongside smaller Aussie businesses and it's mind-blowingly broad. Find sports and outdoor equipment, video games, electronics, books, home improvement items, beauty products, tools, music, fashion, toys and Amazon's own devices, like the Kindle E-Reader and the Fire TV media streaming stick. You can shop with the Amazon Shopping app or online at amazon.com.au. And, you can trawl the growing Amazon collection, track your orders and read customer product reviews all in the one place, rather than switching between windows and suppliers. YOU'LL SAVE MONEY — BUT ONLY ON SOME THINGS There's been plenty of talk about how Amazon's price points will be way lower than elsewhere on the interwebs. While there are pretty low prices across the site, you're not going to be scooping up the savings with every last item you click on. In fact, some may even be more expensive. Still, you might save a few dollars buying things like kitchen appliances, clothing and beauty products here, rather than from competitors or even direct from the brand's own online store. But the really big wins are the ones you'll find in the technology department, where you can save yourself up to a couple of hundred dollars buying products like laptops, speakers and camera gear. We found a HP Laser Jet Pro printer for $666.95 on Amazon, which HP itself sells online for $899, while the Sonos Playbase speaker is going for $80 less than it is elsewhere. An online tools retailer is even selling a hydraulic rivet nut tool for a tidy $600 less as an Amazon seller than it is on its own website. ORDERS WILL BE SHIPPED FROM MELBOURNE In some metro areas of the US, Amazon offers free same-day delivery to its Prime members, made possible thanks to the huge collection of warehouses it has located throughout the country. Australia's currently got just the one Victorian fulfilment centre, but with Amazon's local expansion, we'll probably see delivery times shorten here as well. Although, it's hard to say how Amazon will be able to service Australia's vast spread. Right now, shoppers will score free delivery on eligible orders over $49 that are sold by Amazon, which ain't too shabby at all. Orders will be packed and shipped from the company's new Melbourne fulfilment centre in Dandenong South, so they'll be in your hands pretty soon after purchase. One-day priority delivery — for a $9.99 to $19.99 fee, regardless of how much your order comes to — is even available in some parts of the country.
Since late in 2019, when Disney launched its own streaming platform, fans of its animated classics, beloved hits and many, many super-popular franchises have been able to binge their way through the Mouse House's back catalogue from the comfort of their couch. Later this year, however, movie buffs will be asked to leave their houses to check out a selection of the company's famed titles — all thanks to the new pop-up Disney+ Drive-In that's coming to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Yes, a streaming service is running a drive-in. Or, to put it another way, a product designed to get everyone watching on small screens at home is now endeavouring to lure viewers out to watch its flicks on a big screen from their cars. That's a very 2020 situation, with Disney+ teaming up with Openair Cinemas to make it happen. The drive-in will kick off in Brisbane, at Northshore Hamilton — in the event space next to the Brisbane Cruise Terminal, to be specific — on Thursday, September 17, screening films every night (except Tuesdays) until Sunday, October 18. Brisbanites with a long memory might remember that the stretch along the river has been used as a drive-in before, with the Brisbane International Film Festival doing so back in 2011 and Eat Street Northshore also screening movies. As for what'll be screening, the Disney+ Drive-In is theming its various evenings, with double features on offer on most nights. That means on 'Star Wars Wednesday' you'll catch The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker and Rogue One; and on 'Throwback Thursday' there'll be a focus on nostalgic movies like 10 Things I Hate About You, Mrs Doubtfire, Mighty Ducks and Edward Scissorhands. Then there's 'Disney Super Fan Friday', serving up both live-action and animated versions of Aladdin, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast; and 'Sing Along Saturday', where Moana, The Greatest Showman, The Little Mermaid and both Frozen films will screen. Next comes 'Pixar Sunday', including everything from Cars and Ratatouille to Inside Out and Wall-E — and, finally, 'Marvel Monday' will feature the likes of Black Panther, Thor: Ragnarok and Captain Marvel. The pop-up will then head to Sydney from Thursday, October 22–Sunday, November 15, with both its program and its location yet to be revealed. Lastly, it'll hit up Melbourne, too, with both dates and the venue still under wraps. Folks interested in either season can sign up for updates via the drive-in's website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue80QwXMRHg Popcorn, snacks and drinks will be available onsite — or you can bring your own. It's strictly a no-alcohol affair, though. And, ticket-wise, you'll be paying per car; however, prices vary depending on a number of factors. For a single film, you'll pay $42.53 if there's one or two people in your car, and $52.75 if there is three or more. For a double feature, that changes to $73.74 and $84.51. Disney+ Drive-In presented by Openair Cinemas kicks off in Brisbane, at Northshore Hamilton, on Thursday, September 17 — with its season running until Sunday, October 18. It'll then head to Sydney, at a yet-to-be-disclosed location, from Thursday, October 22–Sunday, November 15. Lastly, it'll hit up Melbourne, with both dates and the venue still under wraps.
If your blood's boiling over human rights abuses, inequality or environmental destruction, there's never been a better time to let the world know. As of yesterday, your activism can not only help the cause, it can also get you access to free concert tickets. That's because Danny Rogers has launched Global Citizen Tickets Australia. Even if you don't know Danny Rogers by name, chances are you probably like him already. Or like what's he done. His achievements include co-founding both St Jerome's Laneway Festival and And Publishing and managing Gotye. Here's how it works. You choose a cause and get active online. You might give time, donate money, write letters, sign petitions, start protests or spread the word via social media. Every action earns points and, once they've accumulated, you submit an entry to win a pair of tickets. An array of bands has signed up, including big names like Bruce Springsteen, Cold Chisel and Pearl Jam, and medium-sized names such as DD Dumbo, Tigertown and Asta. "More and more people are coming on every day," Rogers told themusic.com.au. "Bernard Fanning reached out to Hugh [Evans, Global Poverty Project CEO] about a month ago, putting his hand up to be an ambassador. But it’s not really about how big you are, the idea is that anyone can be a part of it ... I think it’s got such a great message and it’s also a really positive way for the music industry to work together on something.” Via themusic.com.au.
Your mates grabbed the snags, sauce, bread and all the extra trimmings for a successful Aussie barbecue. There's just one thing missing and it's up to you to supply it: the beer. There's quite a lot of pressure when you're tasked with bringing the booze. Do you go for the safe mainstream beer at the risk of looking painfully boring? Or do you grab the most expensive European craft beer you can find in the hopes you'll seem interesting (and clear out your bank account in the process)? The answer: find something that sits perfectly in the middle. We've teamed up with BWS to showcase a bunch of Aussie craft beers that will have both your VB-loving mates and your spent-two-years-abroad-in-Berlin buddies nodding along in approval. Cheers to being the favourite person at the party. XPA — BALTER Since launching on the Gold Coast in 2016, Balter has cemented itself as one of Australia's most successful craft beer labels. The cans alone will up the aesthetic stakes of any outdoor soiree, but it's what's on the inside that counts. Good thing its flagship brew, XPA, lives up to the hype. Snagging top spot on the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Beers list for two consecutive years (2017–2018), this fruity extra pale ale is as easy-drinking as they come. You can thank the brand's commitment to quality for that, or you can just say the beer is damn good and get on with it. WATERMELON SMASH SOUR BEER — STOMPING GROUND BREWING CO If you've ever enjoyed the Watermelon Smash Sour Beer at the Stomping Grounds Collingwood brewery, you'll already know how well it goes down on a sunny afternoon. So, chuck some in the esky and bring it to your next outdoor gathering. This one is sure to impress the craft beer snobs — but it's also inoffensive enough to give your mum a taste test without her screwing up her nose and saying "that's different". If your guests are new to the world of sours, the Watermelon Smash is a good way to ease them in. It's a gose-style beer, which means it's both a bit tart and salty but, thanks to being packed with real fruit, it's also refreshingly sweet and bright, too. BIG HEAD NO CARB LAGER — BURLEIGH BREWING CO Craft beer often brings with it high levels of carbs and calories, so it's not a terrible idea to have a lighter option in the esky to help minimise the post-barbecue bloat. Well never fear, 'cause Big Head No Carb is here. This lager may have zero carbs — the first in Australia to do so — but it certainly doesn't lack flavour. This light, clean and dry brew is ideal on a hot day and will go well with any feed — and even your Tooheys-loving dad will like it. PALE ALE — COLONIAL BREWING CO It's not an American Pale Ale and it's not an Australian Pale Ale — it's a little from column A and a little from column B. The team at Colonial brewed this bad boy to celebrate both styles, with a blend of American Tomahawk and Simcoe hops with Galaxy and Astra hops from Australia. The result is a smooth and approachable beer that's golden in colour. The tropical fruit aromas are balanced with a slightly drier, piney quality, so it won't completely overpower the palate — a pretty important consideration when you're pairing it with a huge feed. SINGLE FIN SUMMER ALE — GAGE ROADS BREWING CO Single Fin Summer Ale celebrates Australian summer in a bottle (or can). The beer is brewed near Gage Roads in Western Australia, the strip of ocean between Rottnest Island and Fremantle. So it makes sense that Gage Roads Brewing Co team makes beers with this beautiful and relaxing location in mind. Blow the froth off with this slightly bitter, clean and light-bodied brew at your next barbecue. BEECHWORTH PALE ALE — BRIDGE ROAD BREWERS This American style pale ale is crisp and aromatic. Although part of Bridge Road's core range that's brewed all year round, Beechworth Pale Ale is tweaked from season to season with New Zealand and US hops, so there's no chance of getting bored of it. The team recommends enjoying this one with oily foods — we think juicy burgers would be a stellar pairing. It works well with spicy food, too, if you know the chef has a cheeky habit of going hard on the chilli in their marinade sauce. Update: Due to the current situation, we understand that throwing or attending parties may not be a possibility right now. But there's a silver lining — you can still order all of these drinks online to enjoy at home. Head to the BWS website to browse the full range.
Whether you're travelling for work, leisure or something in-between, if you're a Sydneysider who has been in Victoria lately — and will still be there after 4pm today, Thursday, May 27 — you've probably been happy to venture further than your own city. But, with the southern state currently experiencing its second lockdown for 2021, the New South Wales Government will require anyone who has visited Victoria from this afternoon to also abide by the same stay-at-home conditions. Yes, you should be feeling a bit of deja vu. Exactly the same thing happened when Brisbane went into lockdown twice earlier in 2021. NSW isn't closing its border to Victoria, but it has put a new isolation requirement in place for anyone in NSW who has been to the state and then enters NSW after the above time. As announced in a NSW Health public health alert released today, if you fall into that category, you're required to isolate under the same conditions that will be in place if you were to stay in Victoria. The rules are the same as during NSW's March 2020 lockdown, which means that you're only allowed to leave the house for select reasons. So, you can only head out for work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. Victoria's lockdown will come into effect at 11.59pm tonight and run through until the same time on Thursday, June 3. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1397752475097042945 The one exception to NSW's stay-at-home requirement for folks who've been in Victoria: residents in border communities. You'll only need to stay home if you head outside the border region in Victoria after 4pm today — as per the map that's been used for previous bubbles. NSW Health is also advising people in the state against non-essential travel to the Greater Melbourne area at present. If you do travel and then come back to NSW while Victoria is in lockdown, you'll be subject to the above stay-at-home conditions upon your return. Victorian residents are advised not to travel to NSW after lockdown begins, unless they're permitted to do so. As always, the usual general advice regarding hygiene and social distancing applies in NSW, as it has throughout the pandemic. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. For further details about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria, check out the Victorian Department of Health website.
There's nothing like a flight sale to spark holiday plans, but the offer that Cathay Pacific is about to drop isn't your regular airfare special. Fancy a Hong Kong holiday without paying to get there and back? That's what's available for 6020 round-trip getaways. The caveat: the airline and the Airport Authority Hong Kong will cover the cost of your base fares, but you need to pay taxes and surcharges. The drastically discounted airfares form part of the Hello Hong Kong campaign, which was announced back in February with an aim to help the Asian destination kickstart its pandemic-era tourism industry. It was originally revealed as a massive flights giveaway, with the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Airport Authority Hong Kong joining forces with local airlines Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Express and Hong Kong Airlines; however, it operates slightly differently in various parts of the world. In March, the focus was on tourists heading to Hong Kong from southeast Asia. Then, in April, attention shifted to travellers from mainland China in April. Now it's the rest of the globe's turn — and for Australians, that means this once-in-a-lifetime arrangement for trips out of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth to the busy city. From 12pm AEST on Monday, May 29, you'll be able to head over to Cathay Pacific's campaign website to score your fares. There are a few more rules, though, including the fact that you'll need to be a Cathay member — which you can sign up for online for free — and be logged in when the crucial time hits. There's also only one adult Economy Class fare per person for the 6020 lucky folks, offered on a first-come, first-served basis until they're all booked out. And, again, you do still need to pay those taxes and surcharges. Still on terms and conditions, you must be an Australian resident aged 18 or over to take up the deal. Once you've nabbed a ticket, they're non-transferable, non-reroutable and non-exchangeable. You'll be able to travel between Monday, May 29, 2023–Wednesday, February 28, 2024, staying for at least two days and at most a month. There are blackout periods, however, which'll limit your travel periods. Free flights are just one aspect of the overall Hello Hong Kong promotion. Another: free drink, dining, shopping and transport vouchers, with at least a million up for grabs from 16,000-plus outlets. Dubbed 'Hong Kong Goodies', these freebies will be available to folks visiting Hong Kong for 90 days or less — and you'll have to pick just one offer. So, you can choose between a welcome drink valued at more than HK$100 at one of more than 100 bars, restaurants and hotels; a HK$100 cash voucher to use at 140-plus restaurants, shops or attractions; or a gift worth more than HK$100 at a heap of Hong Kong attractions and museums. With the current exchange rate, whichever of these three goodies you pick equates to around AU$18 / NZ$20 — but it's still a freebie. [caption id="attachment_887783" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hong Kong Tourism Board[/caption] There are caveats for these vouchers, too. First, you have have to have a non-Hong Kong mobile number to obtain them. Also, there are rules about collecting and redeeming them. Visitors to Hong Kong have until December 31, 2023 to enjoy their goodies — and once you have chosen your coupon, you can't swap it. Cathay Pacific's discounted Hong Kong flights in conjunction with the Airport Authority Hong Kong are available from 12pm AEST on Monday, May 29 until sold out from Cathay Pacific's campaign website. Top image: Hong Kong Tourism Board. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
There’s plenty of chill in the air this season, but if you're looking for chills of a different nature, take a trip into the The Bloody Chamber at the Malthouse. It is based on a truly classic serial killer story, the 17th-century fairy tale Bluebeard. The story of a damsel who marries an aristocrat only to find the wives who have come before her are many and murdered, it has appeared in a host of different versions over the years. This play is based on an erotic reworking of the story by British feminist writer Angela Carter and has been adapted for stage by Van Badham, known for her politically charged dark comedies and romance novels about witches. It stars Alison Whyte, playing multiple roles both maidenly and monstrous, and with a live music score by a trio of harpists, it will be sure to set your spine a-tingling.
After ten successful years running The Gertrude Street Projection Festival, The Centre for Projection Art has decided to try something new: the MiNi Festival, a mini but mighty nocturnal playground of projection art and installations. Running for two nights, from September 21–22, the free community-driven event will showcase spectacular light compositions from local artists. Local artist Kate Geck, recognised for her incredible kaleidoscopic projections, is the festival's feature artist. Geck's immersive and constantly changing images will be projected across the gardens. It will also respond to interaction so the audience has an opportunity to participate. Also exhibiting will be emerging artists from Yarra Youth Services. Working collaboratively with a moving screen and storytelling machine, the artists will utilise cutting-edge animation software to transform the public space into captivating works of art. The MiNi Festival will be held in the Atherton Gardens Precinct, a public housing estate in Fitzroy. So, while it's nice to see pretty colours projected onto otherwise lacklustre bricks and mortar, there's a little more to the story. After lots of careful research, creative development and consultation with the community, the organisers decided to highlight this location and help reduce the stigma around public housing. A little food for thought while you're basking in those beautiful lights.
If you've ever seen Nick Cave play live, you'll know he's not just a musician — he's a storyteller. And a powerful one. His shows have always given fans a glimpse into the highs and lows of his life — including the suffering that came with 2016 album The Skeleton Tree — with performances that are moving, intense and masterful. So it's not hard to see how the Aussie music legend created his newest show: Conversations with Nick Cave. Performing without his band the Bad Seeds (with which he's produced 16 albums), Cave will take the stage for an intimate show of conversation and pared-back solos of his most prolific songs on the piano. Ever wanted to ask him a question? These shows will give you the chance. Cave says that the conversational nature of the shows enables people to open up easily. "The audience tends to ask more challenging, revealing, playful and ultimately serious questions," he says. "You never know what you are going to get. They can be fearless and they can go deep." It's already toured the US and Ireland and will make its way around smallish venues in Australian and New Zealand throughout January next year. The show will start in rural Victoria before making its way down to Hobart, up to the Sydney Opera House (for his first show there since 2013) and then the Gold Coast and Brisbane. It'll then finish off the national tour with stops in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. CONVERSATIONS WITH NICK CAVE 2019 TOUR DATES Saturday, January 5 — Performing Arts Centre, Wangaratta Sunday, January 6 — Odeon Theatre, Hobart Tuesday, January 8 — Sydney Opera House, Sydney Friday, January 11 — HOTA, Gold Coast Saturday, January 12 — Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane Saturday, January 19 — Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne Tuesday, January 11 — Adelaide Town Hall, Adelaide Wednesday, January 23 — Perth Concert Hall, Perth Conversations with Nick Cave will tour Australia in January 2019. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Thursday, October 18 (Sydney here and everywhere else here). Image: Christie Goodwin.
Think about your life. Think about everything you have and everything you hold close. Now think of matcha. Do you even own one measly tin of the stuff? Well, buddy, the end is coming — the end of your world without matcha. Widely used in Japanese desserts, ice cream and snacks (including Pocky) and completely westernised by Starbucks in concoctions such as the Green Tea Latte and Green Tea Cream Frappucino, matcha is a Japanese gem, rich in history as well as antioxidants. And so, Smith Street’s specialty tea room Storm in a Teacup, is organising a tea party to end all tea parties: Matchageddon. A five-day tea festival focussing solely on matcha, Matchageddon is for both lovers of the green tea powder, and those that are still a little confused. For five full days, Storm in a Teacup will become one big teapot of celebration, including tea ceremonies, workshops, demonstrations, tastings and performance art. To kick things off, book yourself into The Green Beam: Matcha 101 for the Party People workshop on September 11, or head along to the GraffiTEA ceremonies or a very special Butoh performance on Saturday night. The Matchageddon menu will also be special, with matcha infused sencha, sweet matcha juice, matcha cocktails and matcha desserts. Also available for sale will be matcha kits, whisks and bowls. It’s really all the matcha you could ever need.
There's no denying the appeal of Victoria's High Country for foodies and outdoorsy types, but what about history and culture buffs? As it turns out, the northeastern region is an all-rounder destination — and, yes, that covers art, too. There are museums, studios and cultural landmarks dotted across these mountainous plains, showcasing the rich heritage and creative outlook of the region. Here, you'll find everything from bushranger folklore and Olympic alpine history to galleries with an emphasis on Indigenous artworks and art displayed on grain silos. Don't know where to start? With the help from the folks at Victoria's High Country, we've it narrowed down to six top-notch arty spots, so you can get straight to it. [caption id="attachment_806386" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria / Robert Blackburn[/caption] BENALLA ART GALLERY For your first art-fuelled adventure, head west of Wangaratta to the small rural town of Benalla on the edge of the Broken River. Situated among lush botanical gardens, the Benalla Art Gallery is one of the best regional art spaces in Victoria. Its collection covers Australian art dating back to the early 19th century with an emphasis on traditional and contemporary Indigenous art, including works by Albert Namatjira, Destiny Deacon, Gordon Bennett and Emily Kame Kngwarreye. On display, expect to see paintings — on bark and on canvas — as well as weaving, textiles, printmaking, sculpture and photomedia. Once you're done admiring the exhibitions, take some time to enjoy coffee and cake in the cafe overlooking Lake Benalla. Time your visit right and you might be able to attend one of the gallery's workshops or talks, too. [caption id="attachment_806456" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist Tim Bowtell; photo by Delta Charlie Images[/caption] ST JAMES SILO ART Part of Australia's largest outdoor gallery, the northeastern section of The Silo Art Trail stretches from Benalla to the Winton Wetlands. There are several noteworthy murals that have been created through the project but, if you can only visit one, we'd suggest the silo in St James. Built in the mid-1900s, the silos in St James were constructed for the bulk bushels of wheat originally delivered to the site via horse and cart. Artist Tim Bowtell has skillfully depicted this motif on the silos' exteriors, along with a painting of local Sir George Coles, founder of the Coles supermarkets. Stop to marvel at the sheer scale of the artwork, while also appreciating the agricultural history of the area. [caption id="attachment_806377" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria / Peter Dunphy[/caption] CRAIG'S HUT If you like to combine your cultural appreciation with the great outdoors then Craig's Hut, located on Mount Stirling, is the perfect landmark for you. Built for the set of The Man From Snowy River back in the 80s and then reconstructed in 2008 after bushfires destroyed it two years prior, the log cabin serves as both a piece of Australian film history and a way station for hikers and cross-country skiers. To reach it, you can either tackle the 19-kilometre track from Telephone Box Junction Car Park or drive up to Circuit Road Picnic Area and walk a shorter (but still very steep) 1.6 kilometres to the cattleman's hut. If you have a car suitable for off-roading, you can head on the 4WD track. No matter how you get there, you'll find the breathtaking view is more than worth the effort. [caption id="attachment_806371" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria / Peter Dunphy[/caption] NED KELLY GUIDED WALKING TOUR As one of the preserved 19th-century gold mining towns, Beechworth has a history worth knowing. For example, did you know Ned Kelly — one of the country's most well-known outlaws — won a bare-knuckle boxing match in Beechworth that lasted 20 rounds? Well, now you do — and you can learn much more about the infamous bushranger and his connection to the town on a Ned Kelly Guided Walking Tour. Starting from the visitor centre at 1.15pm every day, the tour will talk you through many of the trials, tales and tribulations of Ned Kelly, his gang and what they got up to in town, including at the old courthouse and the site where the aforementioned boxing match took place. Afterward, if you're still keen on learning more about some of the area's colourful past, pay a visit to the Beechworth Historic and Cultural Precinct and the Old Beechworth Gaol. [caption id="attachment_807489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Ashkanasy[/caption] THE NATIONAL ALPINE MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA Mount Buller's National Alpine Museum of Australia (NAMA) was established to preserve and display the rich cultural and environmental heritage of the country's alpine regions. Starting out with just 60 donated items, its collection now houses over 15,000 objects and materials that reveal the region's cattle, mining and timber history. It also looks into the fast-paced action of snow sports in Australia that goes beyond Olympic glossings. With objects from the late-19th century through to the present, NAMA's collection also tells many of the unsung stories and achievements of alpine personalities. TONY PRIDHAM FINE ART GALLERY If you have any interest in ornithology then you may already know of Tony Pridham. But for those left wondering, he's Australia's leading bird artist — and lauded Aussie artist Sidney Nolan's grand-nephew — so, a trip to his gallery is worth the 15-minute drive from Mansfield. Pridham's work hangs in galleries all over the world and his realist and hyperrealist artworks come from careful observation of wildlife in Australia, Africa, Europe and the USA. The Tony Pridham Fine Art Gallery exhibits limited-edition prints, sketches and original oil paintings and you might even catch the artist there while sitting behind his easel amid the gallery's gardens. Discover more and plan your next arty adventure at Victoria's High Country. Top image: Benalla Art Gallery, Visit Victoria / Robert Blackburn
Across Australia, tactics to stop the spread of the coronavirus are implemented at a state-by-state level, which means that different parts of the country have been navigating the situation in different ways. That's where the nation's varying, seemingly ever-changing domestic border restrictions come in — and why hopping across the country has been a rather complex task for much of the past 12 months. In Western Australia, the state initially implemented a hard border and strict quarantine requirements with the rest of the nation. WA's border system then changed late in 2020, moving to a controlled interstate border that classifies other states according to their COVID-19 risk and puts restrictions in place accordingly. But if you live in or visited a state that's deemed medium risk or higher, it has still meant that you can't go to WA unless you receive an exemption. Victoria has been in that category since January 1; however, come 12.01am on Monday, January 18, it'll revert back to the low risk category. So, as announced on Friday, January 15, Victorians and those who've been in the state in the past 14 days can now head west — although there is still a quarantine requirement. https://twitter.com/MarkMcGowanMP/status/1349997552918175746 Low-risk states have had fewer than five community cases per day across the past 14 days — but travellers from the area are still required to self-quarantine for 14 days. You'll also need to get a health screening at Perth Airport if arriving via air, and take a COVID-19 test on the 11th day of your quarantine no matter how you've arrived in WA. If you don't have somewhere to self-quarantine, you'll have to do so at a government-approved site at your own expense. And, you'll still need to apply for a G2G Pass, which is mandatory for everyone entering the state. To move down to the very low risk category, WA requires Victoria to have no community cases for at least 28 days. Currently, as at Saturday, January 16, Victoria has hit ten days. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Western Australia, and the state's corresponding restrictions, visit its online COVID-19 hub.
On the page and the big screen, Scott Pilgrim vs the World told the same story. Its namesake (Michael Cera, Barbie) fell in love with Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ahsoka), but there was a roadblock on the way to the pair dating: her seven evil exes that needed defeating. On streaming from November, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off will also cover those details in anime; however, that's just the beginning of the tale. One, two, three, four: Sex Bob-Omb! are back, and everything Scott Pilgrim with them, thanks to this animated Netflix series. First announced earlier in 2023 and dropping its teaser trailer in August, the new take on a bass player fighting the object of his affection's past boyfriends isn't just hitting the small screen as a streaming series — as the new full sneak peek stresses, it has amassed the entire Scott Pilgrim vs the World cast back in their roles. Obviously, a lot can happen in 13 years — and for the cast of 2010's page-to-screen favourite Scott Pilgrim vs the World, much has before Scott Pilgrim Takes Off reaches screens. Michael Cera kept returning to Arrested Development's George Michael, made a stunning appearance in the Twin Peaks revival and featured in Barbie. Mary Elizabeth Winstead added everything from Fargo and 10 Cloverfield Lane to Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) and Ahsoka to her resume. Chris Evans became Captain America, Kieran Culkin killed it with insults in Succession and Anna Kendrick had the whole Pitch Perfect franchise. Brie Larson slipping into Captain Marvel's shoes, Aubrey Plaza's The White Lotus stint, Jason Schwartzman still showing up in Wes Anderson films aplenty — that's all occurred as well. Now, more Scott Pilgrim has come all of the above actors' way, too. The movie that started off as a series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley, and also hit video games, will live on again from Friday, November 17. When a film becomes a streaming series, that doesn't always mean that the OG stars return with it — but it does in this case. As well as Cera and Winstead, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off boasts Culkin as Wallace Wells, Kendrick as Stacey Pilgrim, Larson as Envy Adams and Plaza as Julie Powers. And, yes, Evans, Schwartzman, Satya Bhabha (Sense8), Brandon Routh (The Flash) and Mae Whitman (Good Girls) are all back as Ramona's evil exes. The list doesn't stop there. Alison Pill (Hello Tomorrow!) as Kim Pine, Johnny Simmons (Girlboss) as young Neil, Mark Webber (SMILF) as Stephen Stills, Ellen Wong (Best Sellers) as Knives Chau are reprising their roles as well. While Scott Pilgrim Takes Off still sees its namesake swoon over Ramona, then tussle with her former paramours, this is more than just a do-over. "I knew that a live action sequel was unlikely, but I would usually defer by suggesting that perhaps an anime adaptation was an interesting way to go," the original film's director Edgar Wright told Netflix back when the series was first announced. "And then, lo and behold, one day Netflix got in touch to ask about this exact idea. But even better, our brilliant creator Bryan Lee O'Malley had an idea that was way more adventurous than just a straight adaptation of the original books," Wright continued — and he's back as an executive producer. Check out the full trailer for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off below: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off streams via Neflix on Friday, November 17.
Last night, Yarra City Council passed a motion to ban alcohol consumption from all public parks and spaces this New Year's Eve. Unsurprisingly, this move comes in response to the gargantuan, national news-making, free-for-all rave that took place in North Fitzroy's Edinburgh Gardens last year. A largely unorganised event that completely trashed the parklands, the party sent 20 people into the care of emergency services and gave 10,000–15,000 local residents an amazing night to remember. It also somewhat memorably gave the Herald Sun another reason to get mad at "hipsters". Though the motion was not passed unanimously, this New Year's Eve will see public alcohol consumption banned from 9pm until 9am the following morning in the areas of Richmond, Abbotsford, Collingwood and Fitzroy (AKA everywhere you were planning to go). Mayor Jackie Fristacky stated the ban will discourage "anti-social behaviour" and be a great step in ensuring the safety of all residents in the area. Though councillor Stephen Jolly who voted against the measure claims the motion is extremist. "It's outrageous and it's actually going to just drive the problem underground," he said. "What they're doing now is going from one extreme to another and they're treating the young people that go down to Edinburgh Gardens as if they're al-Qaeda." Al-Qaeda! Hey, we like drinking in the park as much as the next inner-city hipster but that's a big call. Regardless, a lot of this talk isn't new. NYE alcohol is already banned in all public spaces in the inner Melbourne region, Port Phillip, and all of the Mornington Peninsula and Surf Coast. It's safe to say people are well-trained at swigging from covert flasks these days. The main sticking point of the ban is the huge cost involved in implementing it. Though the cleanup for last year's disgraceful mess — don't get us wrong, it really was awful — cost a whopping $30,000, the Council has said this year's efforts including security, cleaning and ground staff are estimated to cost $180,000. The Age are even reporting this figure could go as high as $250,000. Both fearful residents and frustrated partygoers are now left to question if the new benefits now outweigh the monumental cost. If we're going to fork out that much money to create a safe and respectable environment on NYE, you'd think we'd at least deserve a cheeky glass of bubbles as the clock strikes midnight. Via ABC and The Age. Top image licensed under GNU Free Documentation License 1.2 via Wikimedia Commons.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." They're words famously spoken by Hippocrates, way back when, and lived diligently by so many foodies, even today. They also sum up the concept at the heart of bright new Prahran café Market on Malvern, which opened its doors in October. The brainchild of Dr Anthony Yeuong, who's also behind adjoining health practice Beingwell Healthcare, MOM was dreamt up in response to a growing number of patients with dietary dramas and allergy issues. Dr Yeuong has long been a champion of food that both tastes good and feels good afterwards, and now he's treating the good folk of Melbourne with a bit of pre-emptive edible 'medicine', Hippocrates-style. With an ex-Nobu chef helming the kitchen, MOM's catering to clean eaters and flavour seekers alike; its thoroughly-researched menu is packed full of paleo, vegan, allergen-free, and FODMAP-friendly goodness. Dishes are categorised according to their specific properties and benefits to the body. You might find yourself boosting those energy levels with the caramelised sweet potato and hemp protein hummus, or you might opt for the red rice and miso eggplant, to help soothe any digestive issues. Backing up all those healing food options, there's a slew of juices and smoothies, coffee by Allpress, and a list of caffeine-free lattes that runs from beetroot right through to mushroom. Market on Malvern is open daily from 7am till 4pm at 388 Malvern Road, Prahran. For more info, visit momcafe.com.au.
As most visitors to the city will notice, Tokyo is home to many unique and wonderful quirks, from specialised bars to subcultures within subcultures. Tokyo's food scene is no different; however one of the city's most interesting dining experiences actually comes from Australia. Meet OUT, the concept restaurant that was conceived in Australia, inspired by Italy and executed in Japan. Built with the aim to create a carefully curated moment of complete gastronomic and sensory satisfaction, OUT is a truffle and pasta bar that serves one dish of buttery truffle covered pasta, one type of red wine and plays music by one artist, Led Zeppelin. This full-body culinary experience was created by Melbourne restaurateur David Mackintosh, entrepreneur Tom Crago and Tokyo-based gastronomic consultant Sarah Crago. "The idea started as a joke during a boozy dinner party back in Melbourne," says Sarah, who decided to take the gag one step further. Now, just a few years later, she finds herself running the popular Tokyo dining spot. https://www.instagram.com/p/BWuQw82Addy/?taken-by=outrestaurant Why choose Tokyo out of every city in the world? Given the sheer ubiquity of high-quality eating establishments already scattered throughout the city, it seems like a competitive scene. "We could only do something like this in Tokyo," Sarah explains. "Tokyo is all about pursuing true craftsmanship and perfecting technique." Opening in Shibuya in June this year, and seating 13, the restaurant has already welcomed a wide range clientele interested in trying the OUT experience. "We get all different people in," says Sarah, "but we do have regulars." As the seasonal ingredients change, many of them notice the subtle differences. "Some of them even noticed when we changed the shape of our pasta." "I moved to Japan two and a half years ago to start the project and it's been hard," Sarah shares. "Because we're completely independent, we don't have any Japanese companies propping us up, so everything has been a lot more difficult." That hard work has paid off, and lucky patrons can now find the eatery up and running six nights a week until late. If you find yourself in Tokyo, it's a fascinating way to dine. Find OUT at 〒150-0002 Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Shibuya, 2 Chome−7−14, Vort Aoyama 103, Japan or visit www.out.restaurant.
The second relatively prominent Aussie horror film of the year, Damien Power's Killing Ground sits alongside Hounds of Love in terms of brutality, bone-chills and its capacity to inspire feelings of nausea in its viewers. Where it doesn't match up, however, is in doing something new with the disturbing violence that it pedals. The film tells the story of a camping ground from three different perspectives. First up is a young couple, Ian and Sam (played by Ian Meadows and Harriet Dyer), who embark on a New Year's Eve jaunt away from the city, only to find there's already a tent set-up in the remote place they thought they'd have to themselves. Number two are the owners of said tent: a family of four complete with teenager and a toddler named Ollie. Three is a pair of reprehensible men, German and Chook (Aaron Pederson and Aaron Glenane). By the time the penny drops and Ian and Sam figure out that the tent is empty, the audience has already cottoned on: the three storylines aren't happening consecutively, and bad things have already occurred. It's a clever plot device, but the cleverness runs out there. The film succeeds, in part, in setting up an environment that for all its sun and lake views will make you feel bitterly cold inside. Aaron Pederson's German is a terrifying, unpredictable vision of unhinged male violence, and the sight of a distressed Ollie wandering around alone is both sickening and chilling. Once Sam and Ian have gauged that all is not well with Ollie's parents, the film quickly descends into a tale of violence, rape, and a whole lot of frustration on the part of the audience. The couple take a truly infuriating amount of time to realise they should just leave and call the police – Ian even willingly accompanying Chook on a search mission to the nearby falls which will "only take 15 minutes", even though there's a sign that says the falls are 4km away. I mean come on Ian, you're a doctor, you're supposed to be smart. But even more frustrating is that ultimately, it all feels as though it's for naught. For all its atmosphere, the film ends up being an unrelenting exercise in gratuitous violence with no apparent novelty or meaning. By the time the gruesome two hours are up, viewers will be left with not much more than a funny tummy and a reluctance to go camping for a while. Although if you do head out into the woods after this film, you'll be sure to check any neighbouring tents. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3ePiwb0NxQ
The emerging riverside suburb of YarraBend might have slipped under your radar so far, but that's all set to change as more details are revealed about its much-hyped food precinct, curated by acclaimed Melbourne chef Scott Pickett. The mind behind culinary hits like Estelle Bistro, Matilda 159 Domain and Saint Crispin, Pickett has jumped on board to help shape this new artisanal food district, as the suburb pushes to become one of the world's most liveable. YarraBend's planned food offering incorporates 2000 square metres of space for new restaurants, cafes, bars, providores and gourmet grocers, as well as indoor and al fresco dining areas unfolding onto parkland. And, it seems, Pickett has grand plans for the project saying, "We're going to create a new foodie precinct and could end up giving High Street, Northcote, a run for its money." As well as the food precinct, Yarra Bend will also be home to apartments, townhouses, workshops, art hubs and community facilities, such as bike paths, pools, gyms and parks. The new development on the banks of the Yarra — bordering Alphington, Ivanhoe and Kew — was first announced back in 2016, billed as a world-first 'Tesla Town'. What this means is that Tesla Powerwalls, which allow energy to be stored during off-peak times, will be built into every home along with solar panels and electric car recharging points. A global report released by British trends forecaster The Future Laboratory last month predicted YarraBend could become the World's Most Liveable Suburb by 2025, and highlighted food as a major liveability factor. The YarraBend development is expected to be completed by late 2020. Image: Dominique Cherry
