Lockdown 5.0 might have hampered your annual truffle-hunting efforts, but you can make up for that with a visit to Prahran Market this weekend. Saturday, August 7, marks the return of the precinct's ever-popular Truffle Celebration and Truffle Trail, dishing up an indulgent day of chef demonstrations, market stalls and specialty truffle-infused eats. Two different food 'trails' will send punters adventuring through the market, sampling various truffle dishes and collecting take-home goodies along the way. The $35.50 option includes bites like Farini's truffled mushroom pizza and a savoury black truffle mille-feuille from The Food House Deli, while the $40.50 trail stars the likes of truffle-topped Hervey Bay scallops and Stir The Pot's truffled chicken petite pie. Fritz Gelato's even got dessert covered, scooping a double cream black truffle ice cream for the occasion. Meanwhile, chefs including Tobie Puttock and Joe Vargetto (Mister Bianco) will be hitting the truffle demonstration kitchen to share some of their secrets. The free sessions are currently full, but you can join the waitlist here. Plus, some of the market's favourite traders will be serving more limited-edition truffle-inspired creations — from specialty sausages to truffled bacon and egg pies.
Victoria's major LGBTQIA+ celebration Midsumma is back for 2023 and currently shining its light on just about every corner of the city. And on Friday, February 10, that'll include the Melbourne Museum, which is joining forces with the fest to host a special edition of its famed after-hours soirées. The high-energy, adults-only Nocturnal x Midsumma party will descend on the precinct from 7pm. And you're probably going to want to bring your dancing shoes, with Mardi Gras veteran DJ Kitty Glitter and ARIA Award-winning neo-soul star Kaiit heading the evening's musical bill. For an after-dark cultural fix, you can explore some of the museum's current exhibitions — including tri-nations showcase Naadohbii: To Draw Water and Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs — and check out a series of expert-led talks and tours. Or, unleash your creative side at a badge-making station, plus a friendship bracelet workshop inspired by the flags used by LGBTQIA+ communities and their allies. What's more, the Summer of Play pop-up is still delivering the goods out in the museum's Plaza — head out for a ride on a luminous swing installation, to challenge your mates to a game of ping pong and to sample some playful concoctions from the pop-up bar. Tickets are $39, or $35 for Melbourne Museum members. [caption id="attachment_888093" align="alignnone" width="1920"] J Not Jay[/caption] Top images: Cesur Sanli
Since 2011, DJ Tom Loud's travelling dance party Hot Dub Time Machine has ripped up stages the world over, offering a rolling crossfade of the last six decades of pop-music. And last year he launched Hot Dub Wine Machine, a series of al fresco get-togethers on some of the country's most-loved wine regions. The Hot Dub Wine Machine events were a success and the tour will return to the Yarra Valley's Rochford Wines for a second year on Saturday, March 24. The boutique event will run from early afternoon through to after dark, and feature a hand-picked smorgasbord of Australian talent, including The Kite String Tangle, Touch Sensitive, Haiku Hands and Sneaky Sound System. This will all lead into one of Hot Dub's signature sets, which will see audiences dancing their way from 1954 to today, as the DJ mixes an iconic song from each year. Backing up the tunes, expect a careful curation of eats, craft beer and, of course, some sensational vino from these iconic Australian wine regions. Safe to say, it's probably the rowdiest event these wineries will host all year.
What happens when you combine crepes, cider, live music and the beautiful Yarra Valley? Greatness, that’s what. Kudos to Punt Road Winery for having the forethought to bring these amazing things together for the day. On Saturday October 12, enjoy sweet and savoury crepes, Napoleone Cider — apple or pear — live music from Melbourne band The Scrimshaw Four, cheese platters, tastings and a game or two of petanque. Pick a spot on the lawn, or head over to the Cellar Door for a cider and wine tasting. Anyone and everyone is welcome — the little ones can enjoy a free bottle of water instead of cider. Seems fair. Tickets include two serves of crepes and a cider of your choice. We'll meet you there.
At first glance, mid-week raving and healthy living don’t seem to go hand in hand. The energetic people behind Morning Gloryville are here to turn that preconception on its head with their ingenious way to start your day in style. After a wildly successful launch in Sydney, the London-founded breakfast rave is making its way to Melbourne, launching October 15. From 6.30 to 9.30am on the last Wednesday of each month at 1000 £ Bend, Morning Gloryville will host a monthly all-ages, drug and alcohol free rave to kickstart your day. Music will be pumping with an eclectic mix of '90s dance to jungle beats and soul tunes; you’re encouraged to jump around and shake those cobwebs loose before heading to work. PBS FM's CC:DISCO, Fintan McGivern and Salvador Darling will be storming the decks, along with a dance team to get the party going. But it’s not just the furious dancing that's helping you start your day off on the right foot. The Morning Gloryville sessions will also include yoga, massage, fresh smoothies and healthy food. The recommended dress code is simply 'dress to sweat', but loads of colour and festivalwear is also encouraged — anything to help you seize the day. The only real rule is sobriety; let your inner dance monster show the world what it’s made of unimpeded by plonk. The Morning Glory rave started in London’s Shoreditch — where else — by Sam Moyo and Nico Thoemmes. "We’ve noticed the habit that when people start getting really serious jobs or have a family, or if they want to live free of alcohol and drugs, then they almost stop partying and stop dancing in that way. We thought that was a shame," says Thoemmes. "Morning Glory is a revolution of conscious clubbing. For us it’s really important to get people embodied and dancing and moving freely." It has since gathered a global following with offshoots in Barcelona, New York, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Sydney and now Melbourne. Morning Gloryville is a great alternative for those who truly dread climbing out of bed during to head to the gym before work. If you’re looking down the barrel of 8-12 hours at a desk or in an office environment, this is one sure fire way of getting an endorphins hit. The next Morning Gloryville Melbourne event will be on November 26, entry is $25 for adults and children under 12 rave for free. Get your tickets here.
An abandoned inner-city warehouse is about to get the royal treatment, as it plays host to a dramatic street art exhibition like you've never experienced before. Renowned UK artist Mysterious Al is returning to Melbourne to treat us to his first solo exhibition in three years, and he's chosen this top secret location as the setting. Blinking Into the Sunlight will take guests on an experiential journey from darkness to light, with over 30 new works pulled together to create one multi-sensory live art spectacular. Expect light installations, photo opportunities and a sprawling range of work, from small-framed designs through to large-format murals sprayed onto old barn doors. Hitting the spotlight in the UK's early 2000s street art scene, Mysterious Al's bold designs have earned him plenty of street cred, along with commissions from the likes of Vans, Yahoo!, Adidas, Volvo and Levi's. The show is running for just one weekend, kicking off Friday, May 24, when you'll even have the chance to snap up some of Mysterious Al's never-before-seen pieces for your own collection. If you're keen to check out the show, jump on the artist's Instagram to find out the warehouse location when it's released — 24 hours before opening night.
At the beginning of 2020, Netflix announced news that no fan of The Crown wanted to hear: that, when the royal drama's fifth season hits the streaming service, the show will come to an end. While the revelation didn't mean that the popular series would be finishing up anytime soon — the series' third season only released via Netflix last November — it did cut short creator Peter Morgan's original six-season plan. It also meant that The Crown's storyline probably wouldn't venture too far into the 21st century. Six months is a long time in the entertainment world, though (and it seems even longer during a pandemic, as we all know). Having a change of heart, Netflix has now announced that The Crown will carry on for a sixth season after all. When it airs — after season four and five hit the streaming platform, obviously, so likely still a couple of years away — it really will mark the end of the series. https://twitter.com/NetflixUK/status/1281225790991020032 In a Netflix tweet, Morgan explained the change of plans, noting that "as we started to discuss the storylines for series five, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons". That means that viewers will watch one more season with Oscar-winner Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II, before seeing Downton Abbey, Maleficent and Paddington star Imelda Staunton — an Oscar nominee for Vera Drake, and known for playing the Harry Potter franchise's Dolores Umbridge — don the titular headwear for seasons five and six. Of course, Colman herself took over from season one and two star Claire Foy. With the fourth season in the works at the moment and set to take place during Margaret Thatcher's time as Britain's prime minister — and feature Princess Diana, who'll be played by Pennyworth's Emma Corrin — the fifth and sixth seasons are then expected to follow the Queen as the 2000s arrive. And, while Netflix hasn't unveiled the entire roster of actors that'll be joining Staunton in the show's final two batches of episodes, it has revealed that Princess Margaret will be played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. She'll take over the role from Helena Bonham Carter (in seasons three and four) and Vanessa Kirby (in seasons one and two). In case you haven't watched The Crown's third season yet, check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLXYfgpqb8A The Crown's fourth season is expected to hit Netflix towards the end of 2020 — we'll update you with exact details when a specific release date is announced. Via Variety. Image: Des Willie / Netflix
It turns out the minds behind That's Amore aren't just cheese experts – they also make a mean cannoli. And you can try one of these sweet Sicilian delights for free, next Friday, August 30. Last year, That's Amore cheesemaker Giorgio Linguanti and chef Dario Di Clerico launched Cannoleria. Since then, the stall has popped up at various markets around the city, selling the classic ricotta cannoli, as well as a slew of crafty seasonal versions like pistachio, tiramisu, orange and fennel, panettone and even peanut butter. Now, the duo is gearing up to open Cannoleria's first permanent stall at South Melbourne Market. And to celebrate the new digs, the crew will be handing out a stack of freebies. Simply roll in between 10am and noon on August 30 and you'll score a free mini cannolo for your efforts. As an added bonus, the new store is located just across from Padre Coffee – mid-morning coffee and cannoli fix, here we come.
Richmond's Kong might be best known for its modern, Korean-inspired barbecue fare, but come Sunday, April 29, it's in for quite the culinary shake-up, with acclaimed chef Duncan Welgemoed throwing a little taste of Africa into the mix. Welgemoed is being smuggled away from his usual gig — heading up Adelaide's renowned Africola — to join Kong head chef Benjamin Cooper for this very special interstate kitchen collaboration. On offer for just one lunch service and two dinner sittings, the pair is set to dish up a vibrant, seven-course menu that's packed full of big flavours. We're talking wok-fried edamame and capers teamed with a fiery zhoug, slow-cooked short rib with a traditional African poitje, and a dreamy dessert of smoked chocolate mousse, coconut, banana and dulche de leche. For $75, your feast even includes a cocktail on arrival. Find yet more flavour-packed treats in the specially curated Moondog lineup, featuring beers like the Thunderlips Yuzu Red IPA, limited-edition choc-orange brew The Jaffawocky, and some very wallet-friendly $5 tinnies.
Iggy Pop is a legend's legend. The American juvenile delinquent teamed up with the only other guys in his midwest town who liked the Velvet Underground to form the Stooges. Then the Ramones and a dozen other seminal bands formed based on being the only guys in their town who liked the Stooges. Back in the day, Iggy rolled around on stage, shirtless, covered in honey, peanut butter, and glitter (or all three) and invented crowd surfing (which he did standing up ). Though now much older, the Godfather of Punk still seems largely averse to wearing shirts. This is what he and his band of legends look like rocking out nowadays, with Minuteman Mike Watt on bass. But does their music still hold up? Oh yes. The Stooges are playing the Hordern, and this may be your last chance to see them live in Oz.
The grounds of the historic Abbotsford Convent will be transformed into a bustling bazaar, when the Supper Market returns for 2016. This twilight market will run every Friday evening from January 8 to March 4, starting at 5pm. There'll be food, stalls and live music in the heritage gardens. Because it's too nice a time of year to spend Friday nights indoors. Stalls at the market will have a local, handmade focus, selling jewellery, clothing and homeware products. The food, on the other hand, will have a more international bent, with Nepalese cuisine courtesy of Himalayan Sherpa, traditional Turkish snacks thanks to Mama's Gozleme, and Argentinean street food from the fine folks at Senor Churro, to name but a few. The live music lineup, meanwhile, includes local future-pop shamans Rachel by the Stream, African dance company Asanti Dance Theatre, and self-professed acoustic-zyda-Jug-holy-billy-blues group The Duck Downpickers. Dancing, as you'd expect, will be highly encouraged.
Music, great minds, food and wine are a nice pairing for art, especially exquisite art. Friday Nights at Monet's Garden is doing just that. Monet's Garden is an exhibition that celebrates a collection created from Claude Monet's garden in Giverny, something that was very dear to the man himself. His garden in the north of France was one of his greatest pleasures and he drew much inspiration from this in his work. To celebrate this unique exhibition, showing in Melbourne only, the National Galley of Victoria are making a party out of it with Friday Nights at Monet's Garden. Each Friday until September 6, different DJs, live bands and pop up talks will take place along side food and drink and of course the exhibition itself. Opening night on Friday, July 5, will see Laurie Benson, curator at NGV, and artist Fiona Hall giving talks while DJ Geoffrey O'Connor will be spinning until 8.30pm when musician Vance Joy will be taking over. Other people sharing artistic wisdom in pop-up talks will include Max Delany, senior curator of contemporary art; Jason Smith, director at Heide Museum of Modern Art; and Matt Wilkinson, chef from Pope Joan. Musical sets will see the likes of Robert Forster, blues and garage band rock and roll singer Courtney Barnett, three-piece Sydney band Good Heavens and DJ sets from Simon Winkler and Lauren Taylor. Food and drink will be served up in the Gallery Kitchen for a light dinner, The Tea Room will be serving up a two-course dinner with wine and coffee, and The Great Hall will be dishing up a French-inspired bar menu. So whatever you're in the mood for, they have got you covered. Friday Nights at Monet's Garden offers a rare opportunity to make an evening out of an exhibition.
Playing host to over 200 local and international artists' work, Ballarat has transformed from a sleepy little town into a busy hub of photography over the past few weeks. Running until September 15, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB) is showcasing a vast selection of works — the core program is comprised of the best artists around and the Fringe exhibition encourages the general public to submit their own work to the festival. Over 73 venues and 206 events you can see anything from workshops on night photography to seminars on trends in traditional and alternative photography to guided tours that offer an insight to the history of the surroundings alongside the abundant artwork. The core program includes works from Erika Diettes, Elisabeth Zeilon, John Cato and Doc Ross. Showcasing many artists who might not be receiving the attention they deserve yet, this line up seems to offer an energizing and exciting combination of exhibitions that make it well worth the trip.
Sunday sessions are one of those wonderful things in life. Usually starting during the afternoon all that one needs to do is engage in some lazy hours of drinking with friends. Mr Wow’s on Smith Street in Fitzroy understands the importance of the Sunday session. For this reason they are bringing together two more of life’s pleasures, burgers and Bloody Marys. Burgers will be cooked up by Mr Burger the food truck. They stick to a simple menu of three burgers. One standard, one with more trimmings and one vegie burger boasting falafel. The Bloody Marys will be shaken up by four bartenders. All from different venues, they are coming together for one afternoon. Jake Taylor from Lily Blacks, Josh Crawford from Rum Diary, Chris Amon from New Gold Mountain and Tom Scott from Mr Wow’s itself will all create their own concoctions. Burgers and Bloody Marys, we can’t argue with that.
High Tea rocks. Tiny cakes and sandwiches placed before you at varying heights really is a lot of fun. While tea is lovely, it’s nice to enjoy these small delights with something a little stronger. While champagne is often the poison of choice, gin is an inspired upgrade. From the minds of Young Gun Hospo, with the backdrop of Madame Brussels, gin from Bass and Flinders Distiller and sweets from Alice Nivens cafe, high tea — or high gin as we should correctly call it — is being taken to a new level. Two hours of Sunday fun will start this August, but we hear on the grapevine that there are more events in the works. We’re keeping our fingers crossed. Cheers darlings.
It took 45 years as an actress and 122 credits on her resume for Isabelle Huppert to receive an Oscar nomination, earning the long-overdue nod for her work in the rape-revenge thriller Elle. But the French star is just as deserving of awards and acclaim for her turn in the intimate drama Things to Come. The same matter-of-fact determination shines through in both performances, and yet you'd never mistake one for the other. Part of Huppert's genius is the way every character she plays feels united by a shared humanity, but still utterly distinctive in their traits, and in the way she brings them to life. That's Things to Come's Nathalie Chazeaux in a nutshell. Huppert's protagonist may well make you think of your mother — in fact, writer-director Mia Hansen-Løve wrote the role for Huppert with her own mum loosely in mind. Still, for every aspect that's recognisable, just as many remain unique. A philosophy professor, she's wading through a spate of familiar situations as the years pass by. Her husband decides to leave after a quarter of a century together; her mother requires more of her attention while her kids need less; a cat she doesn't want scampers around; and her professional dealings don't always go as planned. Even if you've never been a just-past-middle-age woman dealing with all of the above, Huppert will ensure you forget that for 102 minutes. Hers is such a fine-tuned and thoughtful performance, one that so effortlessly brings the film's universal themes to the fore, that you'll soon be doing just what her character is doing. No, you won't be quoting renowned thinkers and imparting wisdom to students. Rather, you'll be facing a stark truth about the future: it keeps coming, whether things are changing drastically, or seem to be staying the same. Hansen-Løve isn't one for big revelations and realisations, however. She gets to the heart of what it means to be happy and successful, or to try to be, without filling Things to Come with the kinds of huge moments, altercations and declarations that often find a place on screen. It's the same feat that she achieved with her last film, the Paris-set, electronic music-infused Eden. Daft Punk doesn't show up this time, but both movies convey more than you might expect about navigating the ups and downs of everyday existence by focusing on the minutiae that we all wade through. Indeed, the writer-director's sensitive observational style lends itself to lingering on the details — to building a picture from the smallest elements, rather than the broadest strokes. It's what makes Huppert such a perfect fit, and it's also what makes the filmmaker's patient approach so rewarding. Every close-up of Huppert's face tells a story. Every handheld camera movement does as well. They're small, unobtrusive and delicate ways of painting an involving portrait of life going on, and of all the things that will come.
Odd Culture Fitzroy is teaming up with yakitori specialists Nama to throw a barbecue party in the beer garden on Sunday, November 12. From 3pm chefs will be slinging a heap of yakitori fresh off the grill and dishes like white anchovy and corn tostadas. These will only be available until sold out so you best get in early. And, because this is Odd Culture we're talking about, the drinks are as much of a drawcard as the food. The bar will change things up a bit for the party with a few specialty cocktails made just for the day. Try some old-school Japanese slippers or opt for whisky highballs and umeshu sours either at the bar or out in the sun-soaked beer garden where Japanese disco tunes will be spinning. Odd Culture's usual happy hour will also run from 3–6pm, with schooners for the price of pots, $12 sour negronis and $8 glasses of orange wine and pét-nat — boozy bargains! Sakes and classic cocktails will also be up for grabs throughout the day and night.
When you name your brewery after monstrous Japanese creatures, you're obviously aiming to grab attention. When Godzilla tramples its way across the planet, it doesn't go unnoticed after all. Kaiju! Beer's brews have happily followed in the eponymous class of critters' giant footsteps, too, picking up a huge swathe of accolades — including three consecutive top ten placings in the annual Hottest 100 Australian Craft Brews countdown. If you're going to opt for just one beer, our pick is the Kaiju Krush! Tropical Pale Ale. This is an easy-drinking, super-clean brew that is big on tropical flavours as its name suggests. It's also made from a blend of US, Australian and New Zealand hops — because, if you've seen a monster movie, you'll know that kaiju know no bounds. Kaiju! Beer's brews are only available in stores, and its Dandenong South brewery isn't open to the public — however, if you're a fan, check out its online merch shop for everything from t-shirts and hoodies to sunnies and beach towels.
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 27, 2020 — Due to popular demand, Mamma's Boy Trattoria's bottomless gnocchi has been extended — again. It'll now run until the end of March. If you're partial to a big, cheesy serving of gnocchi, you'll by happy to know that Mamma's Boy Trattoria is dedicating all of January, February and March to bottomless bowls of it. The Brunswick restaurant is dishing up endless gnocchi feasts until Tuesday, March 31. Head in for lunch on Saturday or Sunday or dinner from between Tuesday and Saturday, and you can tuck into unlimited helpings of the classic pasta dish for a tidy $30. With the gnocchi lineup, all palates are covered. There is Mamma's traditional bolognese — which is made with chicken and beef — alongside a simple napoli number, and buttery, creamy mushroom and spinach bowl. To get in on the bottomless gnocchi deal, you need to book in advance (and mention bottomless gnocchi at time of booking). There are two dinner sittings from Tuesdays—Saturdays (5.30pm and 7.30pm), one lunch session on Saturdays (12pm) and two on Sunday (12pm and 2pm). With a two-hour time limit up your sleeve, you should be able to sample them all, no problems.
When October rolls around, movie lovers turn their attention to one thing: films of the spookiest, eeriest, most terrifying and frightening variety. When Halloween is upon us, 'tis the season for bumps, jumps, screams, creepy celluloid dreams and getting scared while sitting in a cinema — but there are halloween marathons, and then there's the Astor Theatre all-night movie-watching extravaganza. Back after a pandemic hiatus, The Great Astor Spooktacular knows how it wants you to feel while you're watching — and this year's event knows that it's been there and done all of this before. So, 2022's festivities have been dubbed The Great Astor Spooktacular — The Sequel, with the program all about follow-ups to some of cinema's most unsettling franchises. And grooviest horror franchises, too — yes, Evil Dead II, screening in spectacular 4K, is on the bill. From 9.15pm on Saturday, October 29, it'll be joined by Scream 2 and Final Destination 2, both on 35mm, plus A Nightmare on Elm St 3: Dream Warriors, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Demons 2 and Jason X. Ash, Ghostface, Freddy, Leatherface, cinema's most famous son of a summer camp cook, bizarre and inescapable accidents, iconic Italian filmmaker Dario Argento: they're all covered. Seven horror movies makes for a hefty marathon, but that isn't all that's on the agenda. This year, there'll also be two secret flicks — sequels, naturally. You can start guessing what they are now. Our dream pick: Halloween III: Season of the Witch, because surely Michael Myers has to be represented as well. Top image: Charlie Kinross Photography.
UPDATE, August 23, 2020: Eighth Grade is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. For anyone who's ever been or known a 13-year-old girl, Eighth Grade can be a cringe-inducing experience at times. That's not a criticism, since the film's protagonist does plenty of cringing herself. In the movie's opening moments, Kayla Day (Elsie Fisher) records her latest YouTube video. Although the teen cheerfully dispenses advice about being yourself, she's still a portrait of awkwardness. In between uttering nervous filler words such as "um", "ah", "like" and "you know", Kayla tells her viewers that "being yourself can be hard. And, like, the hard part about being yourself is that it's not always easy". Her nuggets of wisdom couldn't be clumsier, just as her choice of self-help topic couldn't be more standard. But, as she trains her kohl-rimmed eyes on her webcam and desperately tries to convey an air of self-assurance, Kayla is never anything less than earnest and relatable. Attempting to beam the best version of yourself into the online void while secretly crumbling inside (and barely keeping it together on the outside, to be honest): for most, that's the modern human condition. Starting Eighth Grade with Kayla's gawky, well-meaning, confidence-boosting communique is a smart move on the part of writer-director Bo Burnham, who kicks off his debut movie by showing his audience a version of themselves. He's also playing with something that he knows — not being an adolescent girl, clearly, but rather a youthful YouTuber. Before the filmmaker was earning deserved acclaim for this perceptive and poignant coming-of-age tale (and performing stand-up, starring in a short-lived 2013 MTV sitcom and even popping up on Parks and Recreation before that), he was a 16-year-old uploading his own comic clips to the world. With Eighth Grade charting Kayla's final week before graduating from middle school to high school, Burnham keeps dabbling with scenarios and themes that are familiar to everyone — current and former teens included. Wanting to disappear into your chair out of sheer embarrassment? Tick. Being out of your element in a social situation, but putting yourself out there anyway? Tick again. Making a connection and feeling like you've finally been seen? The ticks just keep on coming. Going on a strained date, babbling at your crush, rolling your eyes at everything your parents say, and coining your own catchphrases are all covered too. And, because this is a thoroughly 21st-century flick, so is the omnipresence of screens and devices. Kayla hovers over her classmates' Instagram feeds, and tries to connect with her peers as they're glued to their phones. She also ignores her kindly dad (played by a pitch-perfect Josh Hamilton) in favour of her own handset, and covets the rush of dopamine that springs from likes, messages and digital attention. Teen movies might be as common as Kayla's cracked iPhone, but the best have always ranged beyond the obvious. In the likes of Heathers, Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You and Love, Simon, to name just a few, the genre doesn't just explore the daily reality of an age group caught between childhood and maturity. It also speaks volumes about emotions and behaviour that can linger with us into adulthood, even if we don't want to admit it. While every frame of Burnham's film plunges deep into Kayla's existence, and that of adolescents circa 2018–19, the picture's insights about coping with life feel far more universal. Burnham realises that everyone has felt as anxious, uncertain and out of place as Kayla at some point. He also knows that, more often that we all might like, we still do. Matching the movie's style to its substance, every aspect of Eighth Grade plants viewers firmly in Kayla's shoes. Visually, the film zooms out from her post-it covered bedroom walls, treating her personal space like a hidden world. It tracks her hesitant footsteps through the school hallways as throngs of other awkward kids gaze her way, and approaches her jittery arrival at a popular girl's pool party like a horror flick. Sound-wise, music drowns out everything else whenever Kayla becomes lost in her own thoughts and feelings — when she's swooning over the hot guy in her grade, for example. Elsewhere, snippets of narration from her YouTube clips act like the inner monologue she wishes she had. As effective as every narrative beat, probing shot and well-deployed blast of Enya (yes, Enya) proves, Burnham's savviest move is also his most straightforward. Actually casting a teenager in a movie about a teenager is much more rare than it should be, and Eighth Grade wouldn't be the success it is without Golden Globe nominee Fisher as its star. Fourteen years old at the time of shooting back in 2017, she lives and breathes Kayla's reality, partly because she just lived through it off-screen. While the film isn't a documentary, her naturalistic performance makes it an astute and authentic slice of teenage life from start to finish. Fittingly, although Fisher has been acting since 2009 and has everything from TV series Medium to the Despicable Me movies to her name, Burnham found her via an online video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoxKy3d7Wno
The Death of Peter Pan tells the story of the real 'Peter Pan', Michael Llewelyn Davies, the favourite adopted son of Peter Pan author J. M. Barrie and part inspiration behind the beloved character. It travels across Eton, Paris and Oxford to tell the tragic tale of his 1920s golden era romance with the impulsive Rupert Buxton, which ended in a heartbreaking suicide pact. Here the Barry Lowe play is reinvented for the 21st century, directed this time around by Robert Chuter, who is no stranger to staging (award-winning) productions. He explores lost childhood, coming of age, the difficulties of parenting and how the adventure to "fall in love, really in love" can sometimes be disastrous. The FLY-ON-THE-WALL production runs for a limited season only — to get there, chase your shadow down to the Chapel off Chapel Theatre, second star to the right and straight on 'til morning.
Bubbly and fashion have always gone well together. Bubbly and Spring Racing? Yes, that works too. The Millinery Association of Australia is bringing these two things together as they rally up of the countries best milliners and put them in the same room to showcase their art – these hats really are art – alongside drinks and canapés. The milliners on show include Felicity Northeast, Lyn Lim, Christine Martin and Robbie Rivett. Twenty-seven Australian milliners will have their own pop up store where guests can try on the designs while they sip their drinks. There’s also a hat parade lined up showcasing the latest trends as well as a jungle-themed performance from DANCENTRE. There’s word of animal inspired hats and all. With a nod to giving back, the events will support Australian Rotary Health’s Hat Day and a percentage of the ticket sales will go towards mental health research. Dress to impress, darlings.
Cosmo Jarvis is one of those artists that is difficult to pigeonhole. While he's well known for his sunny pop track 'Love This', he also gets a lot of attention for songs like 'Gay Pirates', in which he discusses the trouble of hiding his love for fellow pirate Sebastian. Then there's 'Sure As Hell Not Jesus', in which he almost touches on a country twang. He pushes the boundaries and people love him for it. The American/English singer and songwriter is about to drop his new album and with that comes a welcome trip down under. He will hit Melbourne at the Northcote Social Club on October 15 and will be joined by Sydney indie duo Lime Cordiale.
Australian Dance Theatre, one of the longest running companies in the country, is known for its intelligent works and ability to engage audiences on many levels. Proximity, one of the current works is a collaboration between Garry Stewart (Artistic Director) and Paris-based video engineer Thomas Pachoud. The investigation into the body and the way it interacts with the world incorporates dance and video as the nine performers film each other throughout the performance and project and distort the product live on stage. The performance as a whole is said to question the notion of the body and our everyday comprehension of it.
Get your fix of non-fiction filmmaking at ACMI this February. As summer comes to a close, the Fed Square cinema will showcase a trio of critically acclaimed documentary films that pose bold questions about our relationship with art and technology. Screening from February 11-27, Goodnight Brooklyn – The Story of Death by Audio chronicles the nine-year history of the eponymous New York music venue, as director Matt Conboy combines concert footage with interviews featuring indie music legends. In a one-week-only engagement from February 15-22, Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World sees master filmmaker Werner Herzog — a man who, by is own admission, doesn't even own a mobile phone — explore the weird and wonderful world of the internet. Funny and moving, it's a must-see for fans of Herzog's unique and esoteric style. Rounding out the season, from February 23-March 15, Cameraperson offers an intimate look at the work of acclaimed documentary cinematographer Kirsten Johnson, whose 25 year career has taken her all around the world.
If you go nuts for doughnuts, there's only one place to pop on your itinerary for Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5: Queen Victoria Market is throwing a weekend-long celebration dedicated to the world's favourite holey treat. Returning for a huge 2022 edition, the Doughnut Festival is set to showcase a multicultural array of doughnuts and other closely-related sweet treats; from old-school US-style dough balls oozing hot jam, to choc-centred bites and sugar-coated churros. There'll be plenty of vegan and gluten-free goodies among the lineup, which stars names like Bistro Morgan, St Gerry's (syrupy Greek loukoumades) and Shortstop (think, cookies and cream or spiced apple cider). Of course, QVM's iconic American Doughnut Kitchen will also be on hand, slinging its famed sugar-coated, jam-filled creations. And if you're as adventurous as the chefs at Pasta Face, you can even try their savoury take on the concept — a special-release spaghetti doughnut. A matching drinks offering will feature the market's usual coffee and hot choccy lineup, alongside nostalgic 50s-style shakes and spiced apple cider. All to enjoy while feasting your ears on the day's live tunes and roving performances. [caption id="attachment_853638" align="alignnone" width="1920"] St Gerry's[/caption] Top image: American Doughnut Kitchen at the Queen Victoria Market. Shortstop. Bistro Morgan.
Legendary Talking Heads frontman David Byrne is returning to Aussie shores this November. While down under, Byrne will hit up Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast and Adelaide to promote his newly released — and already acclaimed — album American Utopia. Byrne's first solo album in 14 years, American Utopia features songs co-written by Brian Eno and contributions from Sampha and electro producer Daniel Lopatin. As well as songs off the new album, Byrne will perform classics from his solo career and hits from his Talking Heads days — expect 'Psycho Killer', 'This Must Be the Place' and, of course, 'Burning Down the House' to make an appearance. The show is one of Byrne's most ambitious yet, too, with a 12-piece band joining him on stage and choreography by Annie-B Parson, who choreographed the St Vincent and David Byrne collaboration back in 2013. It's expected to be an eclectic and moving performance, with early shows reviewed as "at once novel and oddly comforting" and "a thought provoking example of the power of live music". Byrne performed the show at Coachella earlier this year, where it was a standout. Tickets to the American Utopia tour will go on sale at midday on Monday, June 18.
Back in 1988, a heap of Australian galleries banded together to get everyone looking at and supporting art in Melbourne. That event wasn't just a once-off. More than three decades later, Melbourne Art Fair is marking its 17th edition in 2024, this time with 60-plus galleries and Indigenous art centres taking part. At Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Thursday, February 22–Sunday, February 25, the numbers will paint their own picture. More than 100 artists are involved. Over 50 events are on the program. The lineup includes six performances, two major new commissions and four large-scale installations as well. And, it'll all fill 7500 square metres of space — which means art everywhere you look for four summer days. Focusing on the theme "ketherba/together", 2024's Melbourne Art Fair bill has been overseen by a group of female curators that includes Tamsin Hong, Exhibitions Curator at London's Serpentine Galleries; Shelley McSpedden from Melbourne's Australian Centre for Contemporary Art; and Performance Review director Anador Walsh — and will welcome its first commissioned contemporary dance work, with Lucy Guerin Inc's one-hour performance installation NEWRETRO among the event's must-sees. Also created specifically for the event is SOMOS (Standing On My Own Shoulders), a life-sized bronze sculpture by Julie Rrap, which features a cast of the artist's own body. After its debut, it'll make the Art Gallery of Western Australia its home. Expect to spend time exploring pieces by Melbourne-born artist Howard Arkley in another of Melbourne Art Fair's big 2024 highlights. The exhibition will hone in on rare works hailing from the 70s–90s, complete with Arkley's last painting — which the public hasn't ever seen before. Other talents featured include South-African multimedia artist Buhlebezwe Siwani, plus poet and artist Jazz Money — and galleries involved span not only a wealth of Melbourne sites such as Anna Schwartz Gallery, Void_Melbourne, Station, Sutton Gallery, Neon Parc and Gertrude, but also Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart, Adelaide, Lisbon, and Singapore institutions. And if you're looking for more reasons to head along, an array of video works, honeycomb-esque paper sculptures, Melbourne performance artists pushing boundaries and a series of talks should do the trick — plus a pop-up whisky bar. Melbourne Art Fair 2022 images: Marie-Luise Skibbe.
Pack your overnight bag for a slumber party at Melbourne Central. Organised by STREAT, a local social enterprise that helps tackle youth homelessness by providing support networks and training in hospitality, Sleepless in Central is an all-night sleepover designed to help raise money and awareness for a truly important cause. The free event takes place in the Melbourne Central Level 2 Link Bridge, overlooking Lonsdale Street, from 7pm on Friday night. There'll be arts and craft workshops, group discussions and sets by local musicians, as well as a 'dream book' to which everyone will be invited to contribute. STREAT will provide the food and drink, including an early morning brekky, but you'll need to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow, as well as something warm to wear. To sign up, head over here. Sleepless in Central is the flagship event of STREAT's Sleepless in September initiative. For more information on how you can help, go here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59_S6yqZg10
If you're of an age when you can remember burning your friend's So Fresh CD so you could stay up to date with the coolest songs of the season, congrats. You're old now. But also, congrats, because you will seriously enjoy this So Fresh shindig. The old-school get-together to end all old-school get-togethers is coming to La Di Da on Saturday, January 19, and it'll be playing bangers strictly of the 2000s vintage. You can expect a disturbing percentage of Channel 10 alums (Australian Idol winners/losers and ex-Neighbours actors) as well as way too much Nickelback for polite company. Also, just throwing this out there: we're desperately hoping for a timely comeback of the Duff sisters duet 'Our Lips Are Sealed'. Entry will set you back $10, and of course it's obviously 18 and over — because if you're under 18 you definitely don't know what So Fresh is. Or CDs, probably.
It's no secret that lockdown has put our evening meals into sharp focus. And, although it may be a highlight for some, for others, dinnertime cooking creativity has definitely dwindled. If you're feeling uninspired by your regular rotation of recipes, we've got a little something that'll gnocch your socks off. Starting Thursday, September 9, you can take part in an online gnocchi making class, courtesy of our pals from Pizzini Wines' A Tavola cooking school. The 75-minute interactive workshop will teach you how to make soft, pillowy potato parcels with expert guidance from Katrina Pizzini, who heads up A Tavola. She'll show you how to make gnocchi from scratch — and by the end of the class you'll be serving up delicious plates of potato-y pasta slathered in napoli and burnt butter sage sauces. To make sure you've got all the gear, Pizzini Wines will send you a supply pack loaded with a potato ricer, gnocchi paddle, homegrown potatoes, flour, pasta, fresh herbs, and recipe cards. Plus, you'll also get two bottles of delicious Pizzini wine to wash it all down. All you need to bring are some pantry staples such as eggs, butter, olive oil, sugar, parmesan, salt and pepper. Sound like a top-tier way to level up your mid-week dinner duties? Art of Gnocchi Making will kick off at 5pm on September 9, September 15 and September 16. For more information and to book, visit the website.
Homegrown pop rock crew Ball Park Music are making the rounds in Australia (and probably shouting a few rounds along the way) with their wonderfully-named, national Trippin The Light Fantastic Tour. If you've never seen these Brisbanites live, you're missing out on one heck of a party. A longtime triple j favourite, BPM took home Unearthed Artist of the Year in 2011 and have been frequently nominated in the Hottest 100 countdown — most recently in 2012 with tunes 'Coming Down' and 'Surrender'. The past two years have seen the five-piece delight crowds at Aussie music festivals including Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Southbound, Homebake and Big Day Out, not to mention some pretty kickass US appearances. Hailing from Brisbane, BPM cite the success of their third album Puddinghead (released in April this year) to "twelve months sitting naked before a pedestal fan in a lucid, humid fantasy," having spent one year recording in a cheap tiny shack in the northern suburbs of Brisbane (which they lovingly refer to as a proverbial sauna). Ball Park Music will hit Melbourne on October 4 at the Forum with old favourites, latest singles 'Trippin' the Light Fantastic' and 'She Only Loves Me When I'm There' and dance moves you can only dream of. Counting Millions and Pluto Jonze as supports, BPM are set to crank out their energetic tunes with unpretentious gusto. A breath of fresh air in an often tightly-wound industry, this is music that doesn't take itself too seriously — especially from a band that cites its interests as "pizza and yelling at farm animals". Supported by Millions + Pluto Jonze. https://youtube.com/watch?v=aNZ6Tr3cTT0
If you’re getting a little sick of braving rowdy German bier halls only to vomit up your pretzels and beer on a passing beer wench, the Arbory has a classy alternative to Oktoberfest. It’s called Notøberfest and it’s a slightly more meaningful and mature version of the German bier festival with an emphasis on supporting the arts community instead of inhaling various sausages in bread (although there's always a place for that). The Arbory is that cute little bar down near Flinders Street Station that overlooks the Yarra and they’re really pushing the boat out (pun intended) for this festival. Beloved Australian artist Reko Rennie, an Indigenous installation specialist of the Kamilaroi tribe, has created a series of neon sculptures to represent the gumtrees growing along the river. Other featured artists bring work to the Arbory include Uptown Brown, Jordy Doust and Projectionists and roving artists, as well as music by Citizien Sex, Tommy Showtime X DJ Maars, Vince Peach, Sikander, Chico G and Whiskey Houston. But really the best part of the Notøberfest is the chance to get to Arbory and suck down a nitro espresso martini (which they’ve got on tap because priorities) and catch the wandering Euro Yum Cha trolley (what? What is that? Reveal your secrets to us, Euro Yum Cha trolley). And if you can’t fully let go of the whole Oktoberfest thing, you can take the edge off at the Wurst Yoder Smoker cook-off on the final weekend of the festival. But don’t worry, it’s still fancy — hello nitro-charged beer. Notøberfest runs from October 16 – 25. Open from 7am until late, free entry.
The unrelenting spirit of subversiveness filters through We Are the Best! as limits are pushed, energy is exuded and emotional wounds are exposed. Three teen girls in Stockholm circa 1980 traverse the troubles of their young years, finding solace in a sound deemed uncool by their peers. When everyone else is embracing the new wave, Bobo (Mira Barkhammar) and her best friend Klara (Mira Grosin) only have ears for punk. Swiftly, they enlist the shy Hedvig (Liv LeMoyne) in their cause. In an astute and involving rendering of the female coming-of-age experience, Lukas Moodysson's latest film understands the unease of being an outsider at such a formative age, as well the comfort that comes from escaping into an all-consuming but unpopular passion. The writer/director's effort radiates the same distinctive combination of awkwardness and relief as it crafts a joyous ode to accepting difference whilst navigating the difficulties of adolescence. A can-do attitude and a thumping soundtrack complete the charmingly determined package. Adapting the graphic novel Never Goodnight, a semi-autobiographical effort by Lukas' wife Coco Moodysson, We Are the Best! accordingly charts the awakening that eventuates when Bobo, Klara and Hedvig endeavour to start their own band, much to the dismay of all around them. They chant "hate the sport" in response to disagreements over rehearsal space, they swoon over local boys who share the same interests, and they cycle through the standard rites of passage of their life stage, from drinking to dating to going wherever the moment takes them. Helming his first feature since 2009's English-language outing Mammoth, Moodysson recaptures the verve and perceptiveness that helped him make his name with previous films Show Me Love, Together and Lilya 4-ever, as well as the same empathy for his characters. We Are the Best! is no teen fantasy nor a youth morality play, with the trials and tribulations of growing up devoid of sugarcoating or messaging. His proto-feminist protagonists are plagued by problems and imperfections, but their failings are facts rather than issues to be remedied as they persevere through his jumpy, enthusiastic frames. Excellent casting caps off the earnest journey through turbulent times that We Are the Best! becomes, with performances ripped from reality. That the central trio hails from the same age group amplifies the authenticity that already teems through the film courtesy of its source material, but Barkhammar, Grosin and LeMoyne add their own spin in delicate evocations of both excitement and uncertainty. Theirs are portrayals both genuine and relatable, evoking the complexity of youthful friendship that echoes beyond the screen. These girls just want to have fun as they eke out their senses of selves, an aim and an outcome that the film gleefully copies. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xtd5A9hnjaU
It took more than 25 years for Twin Peaks to revisit its moody, otherworldly and all-round odd small-town mysteries — and if you're not done diving into the television show's wonderful and strange world just yet, don't stress. Whether there'll be any more episodes is anyone's guess, but you can spend an evening with the show's stars in the interim, with five of the series cast members heading to Australia later this year. Although David Lynch famously refuses to talk in-depth about any of his work, including Twin Peaks' three seasons to date and the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, expect Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer), Kimmy Robertson (Lucy Moran), Michael Horse (Deputy Hawk), Al Strobel (Philip Gerard) and Dana Ashbrook (Bobby Briggs) to be much more forthcoming as they chat about their experiences both on- and off-screen. Between August 25 and September 2, they'll be joining forces with Twin Peaks producer Sabrina S. Sutherland for a series of 'Conversation with the Stars' discussions around the country. If you've ever wondered what it was like to be wrapped in plastic, or to line up piles and piles of doughnuts, or to play the other half of the series' evil entity, here's your chance to find out. While Twin Peaks' lead Kyle MacLachlan won't be making the trip, the lineup is still a Peaks-lover's dream come true. Lee played Laura Palmer, the teen sweetheart whose murder sparked the whole series, while Ashbrook swaggered through highs-chool hallways as her boyfriend Bobby Briggs, and then turned unlikely cop in the latest season. Robertson is best known as bubbly police station receptionist Lucy, and Horse played the enigmatic Deputy Hawk — and had one of the most recent series' most moving scenes. As for Strobel's Phil Gerard, he was pals with Bob before becoming a resident of the Black Lodge. If all of the above gets you thinking about damn fine coffee and the Double R Diner's cherry pie, then you'll be keen to nab tickets to the intimate chat, which heads to Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney for one night only. No word yet if the cast members will be sitting in front of red curtains or being interviewed by someone called Diane, but we can only hope. And if you're an absolute die-hard Peaks fan with some spare cash (around $500 in spare cash), meet-and-greet tickets are also available. Twin Peaks: A Conversation with the Stars comes to Melbourne's Palais Theatre on Saturday, August 25, Brisbane's Eatons Hill Hotel on Sunday, August 26 and Sydney's ICC Theatre on Saturday, September 1. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, July 6, with a pre-sale at 10am on Thursday, July 5 — for more information, visit the event website.
Last year, the Fever-Tree Gin & Tonic Festival was an in-person affair, with the huge gin and tonic festival descending upon Sydney's Centennial Park. That was then, though. For 2020, lovers of the classic tipple can look forward to the Fever-Tree Online Gin & Tonic Festival instead. Yes, as the extra word in its title makes plain, it's going virtual. Here, you'll have the chance to sample eight different gins, as matched with top tonics from Fever-Tree's range of mixers. For $55, they'll be sent to your house — in a festival kit that also includes homemade dehydrated garnishes, two glasses, a tasting mat, snacks and a pairing guide, as well as access to the digital festival. Then, all you need to do is hop online from 5.30–7pm on Saturday, June 13, when the fest will unleash a heap of juniper-themed boozy fun. Think guided tastings and gin masterclasses, with bartenders and gin experts on hand. Gins from Adelaide Hills, Bombay Sapphire and Hendrick's will also be on offer — and if you already have enough gin at home, you can join in for free on the night without needing to buy a festival kit. A link to the virtual fest will be made available on Fever-Tree's social media on the date.
Footscray's Mr West is known for many things: its craft beer-packed bottle shop, its dog-friendly bar, its charcuterie boards and its espresso martini and negronis on tap. Previously, you had to visit the Melbourne bar to try said cocktails, but now you can have them delivered to your door. In 1.5-litre 'bagnums', no less. Made with Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, Boston Black cold drip coffee, stout and vodka, the Good Spirits espresso martini packs a serious alcohol- and caffeinated-punch. The Good Spirits negroni is made with Poor Toms dry gin, Campari and Mr West's house-blended vermouth. It's suggested you serve the latter over ice with an orange garnish, but straight-up in a mug is okay, too. Each 'bagnum' (a portmanteau of 'bag' and 'magnum') costs $99 and contains 12 serves of espresso martini and 20 serves of negroni, which works out to be about $8 a serve for the former and $5 for the latter (a bargain). As an added bonus, the espresso martini bag also comes with a mini Parisian cocktail shaker, so you can froth up your drink a little before serving. If you're located in surrounding suburbs in Melbourne, you can get the bagnums delivered to your door within an hour from 1–7pm daily for a $7.50 flat rate. Sydneysiders and Brisbanites can get them shipped in three-to-ten days from $12. Mr West's online bottle shop doesn't just have oversized cocktail bags, either. You'll also find a whole heap of craft beers, natural wines, local and international spirits, sakes and so much more. Those wanting to commit to more regular drinking can also sign up to Mr West's subscription service Good Booze Project, which sees boxes of three, six or 12 wines and beers delivered to your door every month. You can order a Good Spirits espresso martini or negroni bagnums via the Mr West online shop.
Three studio albums in and tUnE-yArDs (real name Merrill Garbus) is still showing no signs of creative predictability. She might have proclaimed to have become "bored with herself" following the 2011 release of breakthrough record Whokill, but listening to new full-length Nikki Nack (released in May) you'd never guess it. Rousing tribal beats and vocal gymnastics of Olympic proportions rub shoulders with lazy Sunday afternoon reggae grooves and no-holds-barred, politicised lyrics. "I don't want to just say, 'Let's dance all night', as if there's nothing wrong with the world," Garbus told The Guardian in a recent interview. "Because that's a big old lie." She certainly doesn't preach, but she does write about things that matter: Western culpability in developing world poverty, racism and disintegrating American neighbourhoods. At the same time, she's all about seeing some serious "arse shaking" at her shows. Winging our way to play Splendour, she'll also treat us to two servings on the side: one at Melbourne's Howler on July 24 and the other at Sydney's OAF on July 28. https://youtube.com/watch?v=jbiFcPhccu8
If there has been a Bluebonnet Barbecue-shaped hole in your life since the cult meat eatery shut up shop in North Fitzroy earlier this year, then we're happy to tell you it's about to be filled. The next iteration of Bluebonnet is on track to open its doors in Brunswick East on Monday, August 27. The Lygon Street venue is its first permanent home after a string of super-popular pop-ups, and the original crew of 2014 are back together to mark the occasion: pitmaster Chris Terlikar, sous chef Eric Baird and bar manager Nate White. And they'll be throwing down their signature low 'n' slow Texan-style barbecue, with crafty cocktails to match. Expect a mix of old favourites and new creations, in a menu that matches expertly smoked meats with clever revamps of traditional sides. The famed beef brisket makes its return, along with the likes of porter-braised beef cheeks and pork ribs, while supporting acts might include fried green tomatoes on whipped goats feta and a black garlic cornbread. And night owl carnivores will find plenty to love about the solid menu of late-night bar eats. The drinks offering has been amped up, now running to a three-part cocktail lineup — classics, lighter signature sips to complement the meat, and a produce-driven rotation of seasonal drinks — backed by a ten-strong Victorian tap list. The space itself is laid-back and rustic, with reclaimed railway sleepers, big retractable front windows and a separate pool room, for those after-dinner sessions. Bluebonnet Barbecue will open at 124-126 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, from Monday, August 27. It's kicking off with just dinner service for the first week, then will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Do you like horror films? Australian director Mark Hartley obviously does. His infectious, gleeful enthusiasm for his popular if sometimes critically reviled genre of horror makes this a blood-soaked treat for like-minded fans. Having previously explored the rich if somewhat forgotten back catalogues of Australian exploitation cinema horror in his excellent doco Not Quite Hollywood, he takes the next logical step here, remaking Richard Franklin's 1978 cult favourite B-movie. The tagline of the original also serves as a neat plot summary: 'He's in a coma…yet, he can kill!' He is Patrick, a patient who somehow maintains his excellent condition while those around him waste away in a vegetative state in a creepy, isolated hospital. When a young nurse makes a ghoulish discovery that leads to her grisly end, the bright young Kathy 'Jac' Jacquard (Sharni Vinson) is recruited to the facility, which is overseen by Dr. Roget (Charles Dance) and his dead-eyed daughter, Matron Cassidy (Rachel Griffiths). Jac has just broken up with her boyfriend Ed (Damon Gameau) and is seeking a clean break. She soon finds an ally in the spirited Nurse Williams (Peta Sergeant), who fills her in on the shady happenings in the facility, a dimly lit Gothic hellhole. She takes a special interest in Patrick, who Dr Roget has adopted as his special project, administering electro-shock therapy and other techniques not prescribed in any medical journal. Alarmed at the bizarre experiments and freaked out that the comatose Patrick seems to be able to communicate with her, Jac confides in Brian (Martin Crewes), a former doctor and writer who advises her to report Dr Roget to the authorities and get out of town. But this wouldn't be a horror film if its hero took the safe option, and as Ed arrives in town to reconcile with Jac, he too gets drawn into the escalating terror wreaked by malevolent forces at the hospital. Patrick rattles through genre tropes (creaky elevator shafts, dirty-looking syringes, zombie-like patients wandering blackened corridors, moments of silence shattered by a pounding at the door) with an expert's assurance and a fan's relish. This is a film that knows exactly what it is, and that recognises that some things are cliches for a reason. Vinson, last seen in You're Next (a more nasty and realist film than Patrick) makes for a plucky heroine, while it's a shame Sergeant's character fades into the background somewhat as Jac delves further into Patrick's story. Their performances form part of an impressive film seemingly destined for cultish devotion. While Patrick may not convince the unconverted, horror fans will lap up every minute of its lean, gore-splattered running time. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0N5iCcPGqoY
Before the division, Terry Hooley (Richard Dormer) was a popular man. But then his native Belfast bitterly split along sectarian lines, leaving the gregarious but staunchly apolitical Hooley to his own devices. He's DJing to nobody at a sad bar surrounded by barbed wire and run by the baleful Pat (Dylan Moran) when he finds a kindred soul in outsider Ruth (Jodie Whittaker). Emboldened by the support of Ruth, Dooley then decides on a whim that what his ailing city needs is a record store and he borrows over his head to set up the shop on a street famously known as the most bombed in Europe. Despite its perilous location, Hooley's boundless enthusiasm for the soothing power of music proves infectious and he watches in delight as it becomes a real cultural hub, quickly expanding into a record label as the city's burgeoning punk scene sparks into life. It's hard to think of another film which captures the fervour of discovery of music as thrillingly as Good Vibrations. As played by Dorman, Dooley is a genuinely fascinating character, flawed but endearingly quixotic. His faith in the music is complete, and completely moving. "These punks aren't the problem with Belfast," he enthuses to a news crew at one point "They're the solution!" After signing proto-punk band Rudi (later Rudi and the Outcasts) to his hastily formed label, he stumbles upon gold when Derry upstarts The Undertones push their demo on him. Initially reluctant to get involved with the brash youngsters, he has his mind changed for him when he hears 'Teenage Kicks', a song to die for. His championing of the song leads to airplay on John Peel, who famously loved the single so much he took the unprecedented step of playing it twice in a row. Despite the stunning cultural impact of both the Good Vibrations label and store, Hooley's complete gormlessness as a businessman means his beloved pet project is forever on shaky ground. Adding to his stress are (largely self-induced) marital woes and growing antipathy from local hoodlums to the store. If there's a downside to Good Vibrations it the story's stubborn refusal to organise itself into anything resembling a neat three-act structure. The final act may neither be thrilling nor as satisfying as the fist-pumping material that preceded it, but it's ultimately hard not to be stirred by the fire and life on display here and won over by this scrappily loveable ode to the energy and abandon of punk rock. https://youtube.com/watch?v=SE17U5ML9dQ
This summer, Melbourne Theatre Company's home at Southbank Theatre invites you to escape to New Orleans' famed French Quarter, via its leafy new al fresco food and drink pop-up. Bar Botanique has set up shop in the theatre forecourt, where it'll be dishing up Cajun eats, Southern-leaning sips and even a spot of live jazz, from now until March 2023. The Fresh Collective (the crew behind Miss Pearl Bar + Dining) have dreamed up a menu of New Orleans-inspired bites; including crispy Cajun-spiced school prawns, Creole-style fries and a buttermilk fried chicken po' boy. Ideal for pre- or post-show sessions, or simply if you're rolling through the area, the matching drinks list includes drops like the NOLA Gin Fizz (crafted on The Melbourne Gin Company's finest), a Pimm's Cup, and a range of brews, vino and cider. And those wanting to treat their ears will find a program of live jazz performances soundtracking the festivities on select nights. Bar Botanique will open Monday to Saturday from 5.30–9.30pm, as well as 11.30am–2.30pm on Wednesdays, and 12–2.30pm Saturdays. Images: Arianna Leggiero
Getting comfy on the couch is nothing new for avid readers. Staying in to attend Brisbane Writers Festival is, though. Like many other events in 2020, the annual celebration of all things literary is going virtual this year, serving up a week-long celebration of the written word that's being delivered digitally. Called Brisbane Writers Festival 2020: Room to Dream, the fest runs from Monday, August 31–Sunday, September 6, with seven events on the agenda. Each day, two artists will respond to the theme as part of a call and response-style presentation that's available to watch via the BWF website. Also, checking out their readings, poetry, art and dance is completely free. First up is poet Alison Whittaker and dancer and choreographer Katina Olsen, offering up a piece that's being described as "a fusion of feelings". Also on the bill: Vietnamese Australian author Vivian Pham's words brought to life with artworks by Vietnamese illustrator Camelia Pham; a collaboration between award-winning novelist James Bradley and writer and video game enthusiast Shastra Deo; and real-life partners Chris Flynn (author of Mammoth) and Eirian Chapman (an illustrator). The list goes on, which is reason enough to tune in each day — and to get your BWF fix before it returns as a physical event from May 7–9, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLEw15OmF0M&feature=emb_logo Brisbane Writers Festival 2020: Room to Dream runs from Monday, August 31–Sunday, September 6 via the BWF website.
It may be a man's world, but these days that man has to be pretty dapper. Channelling Don Draper, the Festival of Steve is back for its second year, to help gentlemen be, well, just that: gentlemen. Held at The Kelvin Club, a gentlemen's club that has loosened the rules a little to allow women and non-members join the fun, the event is a chance for men to learn things about style, fashion, food, drink, sport and even comedy. The day-long, free festival will showcase music from ARIA nominated Jason Walker, as well as keynote speakers discussing Melbourne's fashion scene, including Melbournalia's Dale Campisi (How to Shop), Carl Nave (How To Choose a Suit) and V&J Menswear (Styling and Grooming Through The Ages). Presentations will see The Tailored talk watches with Wristwatch Appreciation 101, while Melbourne City Rooftop Honey will talk bees. Fun will be had by all with billiards classes, poker lessons, cocktail appreciation sessions and lessons on cycling products and technologies from Cycles Galleria. A curated offering of titles from Melbourne's independent bookshops Hill of Content, Classic Comics, and The Little Bookroom will also be available for purchase. Whatever the pace, whatever the interest, the Festival of Steve has you covered (even if your name isn't Steve).
Melbourne's home of the croissant burger is getting in on the dinner game, with White Mojo set to open a third location that'll trade that little bit later. Launching this week in Glen Waverley, the latest member of the White Mojo family offers many of the same mouth-watering menu options as its siblings in Balwyn and the CBD – think sweet and sour waffles with Nutella, lemon curd and toasted meringue, cheese chilli scrambled eggs with smoked belly bacon and ink brioche, and the aforementioned croissant burger with soft shell crab, chorizo crumb and a fried egg. But unlike the other two White Mojos, White Mojo Plus+ is also serving up dinner, with salmon croquettes, fish tacos and Wagyu beef sliders among the standout dishes. If you're feeling especially fancy, you can take advantage of the restaurant's 18-seat private function room. Otherwise, the enclosed outdoor terrace should come in handy as the weather starts to warm. Other features at White Mojo Plus+ include an in-house roastery, as well as a Toast Bar where customers can customise their sourdough, brioche or bagel with such extravagant toppings as chopped egg with babaganoush, whipped smoked eel butter with honey and black Hawaiian salt, pomegranate seeds and dukkah, and fresh banana with peanut butter cream cheese and crisp bacon belly. Find White Mojo Plus+ at 83-85 Kingsway, Glen Waverley. For more information visit them on Facebook.
The next time you go out dining and drinking and get that warm, fuzzy feeling, it might not be because you've had one too many. Hopefully, it'll be because the money you spent on your meal and beverage is being used to support an extremely important cause. That's one of the aims of Scarf's regular dinners, with the proceeds used to provide migrants with training, mentoring and employment in the hospitality industry. The social enterprise works to help refugees, asylum seekers and recent migrants find work by raising awareness and funding barriers to employment. To date, 181 young people have been supported through this program. The next series will run on Tuesdays between September 25 and November 20 at CBD cafe-restaurant Higher Ground. Each dinner features a two-course set menu for $45 a head, complete with some of the restaurant's best dishes, like its ceviche with green tomato gazpacho and 12-hour oyster blade steak. Of course, it'll all be served in Higher Ground's impressive high-ceilinged space, which is a pretty special experience in itself.
The most memorable show we saw at this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival returns to the stage as part of Melbourne Fringe. In a hilarious and occasionally confronting mix of stand-up and performance art, local comedian Laura Davis sits blindfolded, in her bathers, on top of a ladder, where she ruminates on everything from maple syrup to sexual assault. Marco. Polo. feels extraordinarily, even uncomfortably personal, to the point that it's not always clear whether you're even meant to be laughing. But by the time it's all said and done, you'll know you've just experienced something special.
The inner northwest has welcomed a new Middle Eastern hotspot, and it's claiming to have Melbourne's best falafel. Bekka is run by the original minds behind the famed Brunswick Foodstore, Richard and Suzanna Pavlov, who were keen to give Moonee Ponds locals a fun, authentic taste of Lebanese fare. Pulling inspiration from the their recent travels through Lebanon's Beqaa Valley and their own Australian-Lebanese heritage, the pair is now offering a mezza-style dining experience, with Richard stepping back into the kitchen to deliver a menu of lively flavours, with a modern edge. Here, you'll find yourself tucking into vibrant dishes like fried cauliflower with house-made tahini, garlic prawn skewers, char-grilled barramundi served with fattoush, and falafel worth writing home about. Classic kibbeh are filled with minced lamb, pinenuts and spices, and teamed with a creamy labneh, and the humble baklava is reimagined with a filling of vanilla bean ice cream. And, of course, lots of felafel. The space itself takes cues from the Lebanese landscape, the fitout mixing pops of green with warm tan hues and Arabesque tiling. With a handful of industrial elements and some subtle cultural references, it's a meeting point of Melbourne and Lebanon that's sure to charm. Find Bekka at 22 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds. Images: Michelle Broadhurst
Black suits, black shades, futuristic weaponry and plenty of aliens: the Men in Black are back. Because film franchises never die — they just get revamped/remade/rebooted/reimagined — the sci-fi series is releasing its fourth instalment. It's a spin-off, and it features a brand new cast. In Men in Black: International, Thor Ragnarok co-stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson step into the outfits originally made famous by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. The Aussie star plays Agent H, while Thompson plays agent M, a newcomer who nabs a job after tracking down the secretive organisation. Helping them with their London-based efforts are Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson, who are also donning the requisite attire. Two (unrelated) Thompsons are better than one, clearly, and, when it comes to Neeson, why not? Directed by Straight Outta Compton and The Fate of the Furious' F. Gary Gray, Men in Black: International arrives 22 years after the original flick (and the original theme tune that you now have stuck in your head). It follows the new agents as they not only try to keep watch over the world, but attempt to track down a mole inside the Men in Black. If it wipes the franchise's rather average Men in Black II and Men in Black III out of our memories, it'll achieve something. Men in Black: International opens in Australian cinemas on June 13, 2019 — check out the trailer below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gexS_FVXdhk&feature=youtu.be
