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
With Game of Thrones ending its run this year, there's currently a huge fantasy-shaped hole in the TV and streaming landscape. Of course, the beloved show will go on thanks to its own prequel; however plenty of networks and platforms are trying their hands at the genre in the interim — and giving television buffs plenty to watch. Amazon is hoping to fill the gap with its forthcoming Lord of the Rings series, although it isn't due until 2021. HBO's next contender will arrive sooner, courtesy of its adaptation of His Dark Materials. And, while Netflix already has its Dark Crystal prequel launching in August, it'll soon drop new series The Witcher as well. An exact date for the latter hasn't been announced, but the Henry Cavill-starring show has just unveiled its first trailer at San Diego Comic-Con. The witcher of the title is Geralt of Rivia (Cavill, sporting long blonde locks), a monster hunter who prefers to work — aka slay beasts — alone. But life has other plans for the lone wolf, forcing him to cross paths with powerful sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra, Netflix's Wanderlust) and young princess Ciri (newcomer Freya Allan). The latter harbours a secret, because of course she does, with the series blending plenty of fantasy staples such as magic, royalty, fighting factions, battling hordes, fearsome creatures, a heap of sword-swinging and many a scenic location. After stepping into Superman's shoes and facing off against Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible — Fallout, The Witcher marks Cavill's return to TV a decade after starring in regal period drama The Tudors. Behind-the-scenes, the show's eight-part first season is created, executive produced and co-scripted by Lauren Schmidt, who has everything from The West Wing, Parenthood and Power to Daredevil, The Defenders and The Umbrella Academy to her name. If the series' name sounds familiar, that's because The Witcher is based on the short stories and novels of writer Andrzej Sapkowski — and, as well as being turned into comics, it was adapted the video game series of the same name. A Polish film and TV show also reached screens back in the early 2000s, although they were poorly received. Check out the trailer for Netflix's The Witcher below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSqi-8kAMmM The Witcher will hit Netflix sometime later this year. We'll keep you updated with a release date when we have one.
When four playwrights and a composer came together in 1999 to create the distinctly Australian theatre production Who's Afraid of the Working Class?, they produced a cutting critique of how the poor and marginalised are thought of in Australia. Now, two decades later, they've returned with Anthem, a follow-up show that questions whether Australians share the same dream and if we really sing with one voice. Exploring the social and political struggles facing Australia in 2019, provocative vignettes depict various characters from across society, resulting in poignant and occasionally humorous stories that allude to an uncertain future. Reuniting Andrew Bovell, Irine Vela, Christos Tsiolkas, Patricia Cornelius and Melissa Reeves, director Susie Dee joins a stellar cast of local actors. Tickets are available from $49, with shows held daily from October 1–6. Images: Pier Carthew.
The brainchild of cosmic Melbourne trio Midnight Juggernauts, Siberia Records plays host to a swag of electronically-grounded, eclectic artists worth giving a significant damn about. For their highly-anticipated Vivid label party Siberian Nights they're bringing Mancurian electronic wizard Andy Stott and his formidable bass/vox fusion to The Studio on May 23, alongside Sydney threesome Black Vanilla, Forces, Cassius Select (Guerre), DCM and Four Door. Plus, the Middy Juggs will be jamming as well, bringing their fully immersive experience AERIALS to psych everyone out. To psych you up for Friday's highly anticipated Studio party, the dudes at Siberia have put together a playlist of weird and wonderful offerings; from the charismatic strangeness of Kirin J Calinan to the smooth stylings of Cassius Select. So jump in, bliss out and make the trek to Siberia on Friday night. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rUtZOGP8VCA 1. Alex Cameron — Jumping the Shark "Technically this is an album. But one of my favourites this year. An interesting exploration into the down and out world of show business (see video). Alex was self releasing it on his website for free so we decided to press a small run baby blue vinyl for it. It now sits proudly on my shelf, and hopefully yours too. "He's in London right now where he's been playing a few shows with R. Stevie Moore but will be magically appearing at our Siberia show at Vivid, along with the next character — it's a bit of a secret how they'll actually get there..." https://youtube.com/watch?v=ycK1xMEzQeQ 2. KIRIN J CALLINAN - Constant Craving (feat. Sophia Brous) "Kirin also covered 'Apology Accepted' by The Go Betweens a few years ago. Both great Australian covers in my honest opinion. KD Lang might be Canadian but this version slices and dices her into the Southern Hemisphere. "Like I was saying, Kirin will be present in 'some form' this weekend at the Siberia night however, technically he'll still be in London recording his second album." https://youtube.com/watch?v=s9LYXnII_7Q 3. FORCES - Altered States "A classic Australian electronic track. And band. I fell in love with these guys about four years ago when they did a reworking of another artist we were working with. They hadn't released any original material at that point and then they sent me this track, among others. "We ended up bringing them to Sydney to play at a rave in 2012 in an abandoned room in Hibernia House (that we somehow got the keys to). There's a great photo of them almost getting arrested when the cops came and shut it down. You can find it somewhere online." https://youtube.com/watch?v=OZWmYEUoweg 4. SPK - SLOGUN "These guys were quoted to be the inventors of industrial music by Throbbing Gristle. Little do people know, the beginnings of industrial music actually started in Sydney Australia with SPK. These guys were working at the asylum in Balmain (that is now SCA) and they mention in interviews they were influenced by the sounds they were hearing all day, that bled into their first album. They then went onto actually sampling those sounds in subsequent records. "To me they are a great representation of some of the harshness of Australian music. One of them eventually moved to Hollywood and now creates incredible sound design — he did the soundtrack to The Crow in the 90's. This video has a bit of a history lesson on the group if you're interested. I like the quote in the comments: "This is the result of leaving a 56k modem in the microwave.'" https://youtube.com/watch?v=FtH_6fVLHgk 5. CASSIUS SELECT - Judge / Lock "Lavurn Lee's debut video. I've known this guy for a long time through Guerre and now Black Vanilla. His solo material as Cassius Select is incredible. I find it hard to engage with electronic music sometimes but this is totally immersive. It sets such a strong tone; dark and menacing yet in a strange way euphoric and slinky. It's totally fresh. We've just started doing stuff with him and I think he's got a lot of exciting things coming." Siberian Nights is happening in The Studio on Friday May 23 for Vivid LIVE. More details over here.
Lighting up Chinatown as part of citywide arts festival Rising, is the elaborate Golden Square pop-up, transforming Lonsdale Street's multi-level carpark into a multi-faceted homage to creativity and big ideas. For the festival's duration (Wednesday, June 1–Sunday, June 12) the building's normally stark concrete storeys will be reimagined as a dynamic art gallery space, showcasing new commissioned works by legendary artists including Scotty So, Atong Atem, Patty Chang and Paul Yore. Expect everything from performance art to sculptural pieces, speaking to themes of ritual, mythology and digital spirituality — including an extravagant parade of performers marching bi-nightly in honour of the moon (Parade for the Moon) and Lu Yang's giant inflatable head that reflects on the ways the digital age impacts our concept of self (Power of Will — Final Shooting). From the rooftop, you'll get to feast your eyes on I Conjure — a large-scale work by New York icon Jenny Holzer that's being splashed across the facade of the Queen Victoria Woman's Centre. And while the creative juices are flowing, the drinks will be too, with Golden Square's pop-up bars slinging everything from cocktails, to new-wave wines curated by Blackhearts and Sparrows. Golden Square will be open nightly Wednesday to Sunday from 5.30pm–late, with entry times every 15 minutes. [caption id="attachment_856263" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'As She Float', Scotty So, photographed by Christian Capurro[/caption] Top Images: by Remi Chauvin.
Make a splash this New Year's Eve — or watch fish, penguins and plenty of other marine creatures literally splash about. To mark 2018 becoming 2019, Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is hosting a decadent after-dark NYE shindig. Running from 8pm–1am on Monday, December 31, the Sea Life New Year's Eve Extravaganza combines looking at everything from stingrays to crocodiles, a spread of food and booze, plus a party vibe. You'll also be right on the Yarra, and in prime firework-viewing position. Three options are available and, being the biggest night of the year, they don't come cheap — but if you see out 2018 surrounded by seahorses, you'll certainly remember it. Everyone will be tucking into Coffin Bay oysters, plus stations dedicated to antipasto, cheeses of the world and sweets; however just what kind of drinks you'll be downing depends on your ticket. Pay $179 for basic wines, beers, cider, juice and soft drinks; $229 for a broader selection of wines and beers, plus four spirit tokens; and $289 for a platinum range of booze, as well as standard spirits ticket. The latter also gets you access to the balcony overlooking the river.
Give your festive season a Frenchy chic twist at Alliance Francaise de Melbourne's annual French Christmas Market, which is set to take over the organisation's St Kilda mansion on December 9 and 10. They've assembled a lineup to tempt Francophiles, gift hunters and market-lovers alike, showcasing a vibrant array of French homewares, jewellery, artisan goods, food, wine and even secondhand books. There'll be face-painting, balloon twisting and magic shows for the littlies, plus ample opportunity to flex your own creative muscles, with the likes of cocktail demonstrations, polymer clay workshops, and a French spirits and aperitifs masterclass. If it all leaves you feeling extra inspired, you can even get a taste of Alliance Francaise's language lessons at one of the weekend's free trial classes. Entry to the market is free all weekend as well, with the fun running from 10am to 5pm on both days. Image: Alliance Francaise.
Unhealthy habits add up. A soft drink here, a packet of potato chips there, week after week. Before you know it, you've got some serious health problems on your hands. For many people, getting healthy and eating clean means swearing off deliciousness altogether — embarking on the monk-like tedium of a broccoli-watercress-brown rice kind of diet. But we all know what happens here — a day or two of self-inflicted torture later, desperate for a modicum of joy, they tear into the nearest packet of chocolate biscuits. And another. Luckily, it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, pendulum-like feasting and fasting is the most ineffective way of kicking a noxious lifestyle. The trick is baby steps. Swap one ingredient for another, one at a time. New Australian delivery service Youfoodz are pros at this, they're delivering healthy versions of your favourite indulgences every night of the week — from fish and chips to raspberry and coconut protein pancakes. And they make sure the substitutes are tasty, so you don't even notice you're going healthy. Here are ten super easy ideas to get you started — that you'll actually want to give a chance. SWAP VEGE OIL FOR COCONUT OIL Shortly after the UN revealed that bacon had graduated to its cancer hit list, vegetable oil took a beating. Leading scientists told us many vege oils, when heated, contain dangerous concentrations of aldehydes — chemicals linked, not only to cancer, but to heart disease and dementia, too. The good news is that coconut oil isn't anywhere near as nasty — in fact, it can help to sort out cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. What's more, it doubles nicely as a moisturiser. SPREAD WITH AVO SMASH RATHER THAN BUTTER Science's many contradictory studies of butter have left us confused as to just how bad — or good — it is. According to the latest research, it's okay in small doses. But you don't want to go lathering everything in it. So smash and spread an avocado instead. This little green powerhouse is packed with goodness, from vitamins and minerals galore to potassium to fibre. Plus, it tastes mighty, mighty fine. ASK FOR BROWN RICE INSTEAD OF WHITE If you don't ask, most restaurants will pile white rice on your plate. But, in most cases, the brown variety is available. Even if it costs you a little extra, it's cheaper than medical bills from long-term health problems. Brown rice is crowded with nutrition that's been stripped from its white equivalent — Youfoodz do brown rice with their Moroccan chicken tagine. With every cup of brown rice, you'll score 80 percent of your daily manganese requirements (great for your nervous system), a burst of antioxidants, stacks of selenum (keeps arthritis away) and loads more healthy things. GO ITALIAN WITH SPAGHETTI SQUASH RATHER THAN PASTA Spaghetti squash looks, feels and even tastes so much like pasta, it's spooky. All you have to do is buy it, season it and bake it in the oven for 40 minutes or so (until it's soft). Scrape out the flesh with a fork and voila! Your pasta substitute is ready to go. Every serve delivers omega-3, omega-6, beta carotene, potassium, antioxidants, vitamin A and vitamin C. SNACK ON AIR-POPPED POPCORN INSTEAD OF POTATO CHIPS There's no doubting the addictiveness of salty, crispy potato chips. But there's even less doubting their detrimental effects. The low nutrition to high calorie ratio makes them a fast track to weight gain. Add to that their generous doses of sodium and saturated fat and you're in sky-high blood pressure territory. One easy way to break your chip-munching habit is by replacing it with an air-popped popcorn routine. You still get all the crispiness and morishness, but without the baddies. DESSERT ON YOGHURT INSTEAD OF ICE CREAM The unhealthiness of your ice cream does, of course, depend on where you're getting it from. Some scoops are chock-full of sugar and additives, while others are made using clean, natural ingredients. Either way, though, your body will thank you for choosing yoghurt instead. That's not any old, sugary yoghurt laden with gelatine and food acids, by the way, but the high-quality, sugar-free gear. If you're craving creamy satisfaction, Greek yoghurt's the way to go. Whichever you choose, find one that's made using old-school, set-in-the-pot methods. EAT PROTEIN BALLS, NOT CHOCOLATE Of all food addictions, chocolate can be the hardest to kick. In fact, one study at Drexel University demonstrated that, for some people, chocoholism inspires similar reactions to those experienced by drug addicts. If feel like your habit is taking over, get it gone by swapping it for protein ball snacking — and variations like Youfoodz's rocky road protein balls will make you forget they're good for you. When you're feeling tired or low, they pack an energy punch, while reducing cravings. TRAIL MIX INSTEAD OF SWEETS Like chocolate, sweets tempt us when our energy levels are sinking. Ignoring cravings altogether is tough — you'll overcome them much more easily by replacing sweets with fruit and nut mix. You'll get the pick-me-up you need, but without a sugar-inspired crash and burn, and with a whole pack of healthy stuff — like magnesium, zinc and fibre. You can even snack on trail mixes made up into bars if you're on the go, like YouFoodz's supa food bar. ADD VANILLA IN PLACE OF SUGAR This one's for the bakers in the house. Biscuits and cakes packed with sugar and fat can be tasty — there's no denying that — but, to get some sweetness without slowly killing your audience, cut back on sugar and add vanilla. You can use extract or, for a really intense flavour boost, try beans. They're pricey, but worth it. DRINK SPARKLING WATER, NOT SOFT DRINKS When the sun's beating down, we often reach for a soft drink, hankering for its cool, effervescent rush and sugary high. But next time you're feeling hot and thirsty, go for sparkling water. You'll get all the refreshment with none of the calories. If plain water doesn't appeal to you, add a dash of sugar-free juice. Lemon is especially effective in summer. Images: Youfoodz, Dollar Photo Club, Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons, Cary Bass-Deschenes (Flickr).
Daniel Lopatin's 2011 album Replica won him Best New Music, but he was steering analogue synths through unchartered territory long before the tastemakers caught on. Not to suggest Pitchfork was slow on the uptake or anything – Lopatin's first few albums were released on cassette only, making them significantly less RTable than SoundCloud uploads. It's the retro equipment though that makes Oneohtrix (pronounced "one-oh-trix) Point Never's progressive sound so immediate and so immediately recognisable. Droning synths (made on an old Roland Juno-60) are scraped through astral echoes and across jittery chord progressions, giving them an intimacy that's heightened further by the hiss of black thread. He's managed to keep that sound while incorporating both noise and accessible melodies in 2010's Returnal, and venturing into 2011 with an album recorded on studio software. Which is great because, you know, Spotify and stuff. https://youtube.com/watch?v=hiwi7d0f91Y
UPDATE: DECEMBER 2, 2019 — Due to unforeseen events, Fed Square has had to replace its December 22 screening of Home Alone with Arnold Schwarzenegger's 96 comedy Jingle All the Way. The below article has been updated to reflect this. There's nothing like a bit of big screen movie magic to get you into the Christmas spirit, especially when that involves diving deep into some classics. This year, you can get your festive fix courtesy of The Digital Facade at Fed Square, when it screens four much-loved Christmas flicks in the lead up to December 25. For free. Happening as part of the multi-faceted Fed Square Christmas Festival, the movie fun kicks off on Saturday, December 21, with a showing of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Sticking with the theme, the Australian Ballet Company will also be dropping by to deliver a live performance from The Nutcracker, and there'll be complimentary popcorn and sugarplum fairy floss for those mid-movie snacks. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 90s comedy Jingle All the Way will grace the big screen on Sunday, December 22, followed by dark fantasy Edward Scissorhands on December 23, and a showing of The Santa Clause on the night before Christmas. There'll be free popcorn at these screenings, too. We suggest getting there relatively early to snag a primo spot.
UPDATE, October 7, 2020: The Death of Stalin is available to stream via Stan, Google Play and YouTube Movies. "I can't remember who's dead and who isn't," remarks a Soviet minister in The Death of Stalin, in what's actually one of the movie's tamer jokes. Guards tell each other to ignore a noise from the leader's office, because even acknowledging it would likely get them killed. Lackeys remark that all the best doctors are either in the gulag or dead. Generals enter the room asking "what's a war hero got to do to get some lubrication around here?" The list goes on. If you're going to make fun of the titular event and its aftermath, then there's no point being coy about it. And given that Veep, In the Loop and The Thick of It satirist Armando Iannucci is behind this fiercely, blackly funny film, viewers can be assured that it doesn't hold back. It's Moscow, circa 1953. Joseph Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) falls to the floor, and Russia's Politburo don't quite know what to do. Not that deputy Georgy Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor), party head Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi), foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov (Michael Palin) or secret police chief Lavrentiy Beria (Simon Russell Beale) can admit it, either publicly or privately. After three decades of Stalinist rule by fear, intimidation and executing anyone who expresses even the slightest opposition, the country's top brass are only certain of two things. Firstly, they can't trust anyone at all, not even each other. And secondly, if they show any sign of weakness or disloyalty, they'll end up stabbed in the back and six feet under themselves. Hell, the latter will probably happen anyway. So begins The Death of Stalin, a movie that takes inspiration from history, is filmed with the fitting slickness of propaganda, and really couldn't be more timely. It's a political farce about tyrannical leaders, slippery cronies and a nation in turmoil. It's also a portrait of a government wedded to its own version of the truth at any cost, and acting absolutely mercilessly in dispensing with anyone who disagrees. Finally, it's a flick about blustering men pretending they're stronger and bolder than they are, while whipping up paranoid hysteria to hide their failings. This should all sound familiar, and there's plenty more modern-day parallels where they came from. Yes, Iannucci is at it again in his usual uproarious fashion, slinging gags like weapons and flinging devastating one-liners like Molotov cocktails. (If you're wondering, the bomb did indeed get its name from Palin's character). Tackling Stalin's murderous regime, corrupt wheeling and dealing, and crafty offsiders, the filmmaker keeps one eye on the past and the other on contemporary times. Whether he's sticking with fiction or twisting days of old, the British writer-director has always had a knack for mirroring reality. That mightn't appear particularly hard given that Iannucci routinely turns the halls of power into caustic comedies, but no one manages the feat quite like him. He says "fuckety bye" to good taste and a rousing hello to savage parodies that simply wouldn't be as funny if they didn't seem both outlandish and accurate. Provocative, perceptive writing may be a sizeable part of The Death of Stalin's charm, but the film's cast do just as much heavy lifting. In particular, Buscemi's Khrushchev ranks among Iannucci's best characters — think The Thick of It's Malcolm Tucker in a literal life-or-death scenario, with equally oily schemes and rapid-fire insults. That said, the movie is an ensemble affair, including a hilarious Rupert Friend and a stern Andrea Riseborough as Stalin's children, plus Jason Isaacs as a gloriously puffed-up military head. As characters bicker over Stalin's body and banter about allegiance to the state, the corresponding performances prove a masterclass in devilishly, hysterically bleak comedy. If it all seems as brilliant as it does absurd, then this is your kind of film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KWg2nTYmk8
Never meet your heroes. Kill your darlings. A murderous rampage through the Hundred Acre Wood — a slasher take on a childhood favourite, too — Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey sticks its paws in both pots. Based on AA Milne's famed creation, which initially appeared in kids' poetry book When We Were Very Young in 1924, this schlockfest is exactly what a headline-courting low-budget horror flick about a homicidal Pooh and Piglet seemed sight unseen, and in its trailer. Blood and Honey is all about that high-concept idea, and splashing around as many instances of bloody bother as possible, to the point of repetition. It slathers on well-executed gore, but isn't anything approaching good or so-bad-it's-good. That said, it's also a reminder that everything changes, even a cute, cuddly stuffed animal revered by generations — and that carving away cosy notions about comforting things is a fact of life. Commenting on ditching one's safety blankets and inevitably being disappointed by one's idols is an unexpected — and perhaps unintended — bonus here. With so little plot and character development to writer/director/producer Rhys Frake-Waterfield's (The Killing Tree) script, making a statement is hardly Blood and Honey's main meal. This is a film of opportunity. Milne's loveable bear of very little brain entered the public domain at the beginning of 2022, which is what gave rise to this gruesome spin on figures seen on the page, in plenty of cartoons, and also examined in recent movies such as Goodbye Christopher Robin and Christopher Robin. As sure as the titular teddy's historical love for ditching pants and palling around with Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Owl, Kanga and Roo, this Texas Chainsaw Massacre-style Pooh twist primarily exists because the premise was too irresistible thanks to copyright laws. Now gone all lumberjack, Pooh does don dacks in Blood and Honey. He's also fond of sadistically ripping people apart with a range of weapons, particularly inflicting head traumas. Why? To satisfy bloodlust that's sprung from feeling abandoned by Christopher Robin (Nikolai Leon, also Frake-Waterfield's The Killing Tree) when he went off to college, then having to carnivorously rely on a friend to survive. Unsurprisingly, much of the picture is filled with stalking and killing, as the bear and his porcine companion dispense with anyone who dares go down to the woods on any day. Just as much focuses on lingering shots of Pooh and Piglet in all their human-sized, fully clothed glory — their faces rubbery, twisted, grinning and grotesque, and never resembling anything but two guys (Craig David Dowsett and Chris Cordell, both alumni of Frake-Waterfield's The Area 51 Incident) in masks. Often, they lurk in the background like they're Michael Myers, waiting to strike cinema's go-to throwaway victims: out-of-towners on a rural vacation, and women at that. Blood and Honey uses illustration-style animation to set the scene before getting cold-blooded, and to establish not only Christopher leaving the Hundred Acre Wood crew, but also the latter's decision never to speak again after the hunger, resentment and tough decisions that follow. Dubbed "abominations" by the opening narration anyway, they maintain their mute promise even when their former friend returns brimming with excitement to show his boyhood haunt and its residents to his disbelieving spouse Mary (Paula Coiz, Tooth Fairy Queen of Pain) — and when that reunion turns feral, when they spark the torture-porn onslaught. Blood and Honey isn't the product of many savvy decisions past its central idea, and can't even decide whether Mary is Christopher's fiancée or wife in its early dialogue; however, removing the possibility of ill-fitting voices for Pooh and company slicing the mood to pieces is at least one smart move. What's a man-shaped bear and pig to do when Maria (Maria Taylor, Mega Lightning), Jess (Natasha Rose Mills, Return of Krampus), Alice (Amber Doig-Thorne, Summoning Bloody Mary 2), Zoe (Danielle Ronald, Shockwaves), Lara (Natasha Tosini, Quarantine Leap) and Tina (May Kelly, also Mega Lightning) mosey their way not long after Christopher's comeback? Get kill-happy, complete with slaughtering a few other folks who stumble along in Frake-Waterfield's straight-faced, by-the-numbers affair — and prolific producer Scott Jeffrey's latest cheap horror effort, including almost every film mentioned above in the Blood and Honey's cast's previous credits. How are any of the movie's humans supposed to stand out, or make an imprint beyond being grist for the grindhouse mill? They can't, although Maria is introduced as the victim of a prior attack, a background detail that's barely explored and then utterly ignored. Otherwise, two of her friends are a couple, and one likes taking bikini-clad selfies — which is all that the feature shares about them. How's a director meant to find tension in the monotonous array of deaths, and with dispatching with such one-dimensional, forgettable prey? Frake-Waterfield can't, especially given there's zero doubt from the outset that Pooh and Piglet are deranged and demonic, the body count and accompanying splatter will be high, and a sequel will be on the way based on the viral response to the feature's existence alone. Blood and Honey's creative forces are indeed planning a second jaunt for violent Pooh and his pals, as revealed before the first movie hit cinemas. More than that, they have their sights set on other children's favourites now in the public domain, such as Bambi and Peter Pan, all in their own Marvel Cinematic Universe-esque interconnected realm. Like the MCU, DC Comics Extended Universe and the like, they're also clearly fine with filler in their franchise. Perhaps future serial-killer Pooh flicks will find more to bother with. To keep audiences coming back now the 'beloved character gets unhinged' bit has been so dully done, they'll need to. More nods to Milne's pages would be a start, because Blood and Honey plays like a generic slasher with familiar names and a heap of honey thrown in (using Eeyore's detachable tail to get whipping is a rare and welcome touch). Perhaps whatever returns to the Hundred Acre Wood from here will give viewers a reason to care about someone — anyone — and their fates. Maybe there'll be dialogue that actual people would genuinely say, or a much-needed sense of OTT humour. Ideally, there'd be some weight behind the slaying of childhood innocence. If 2023's other big bear-focused release is a hit, though, maybe the best that can be hoped for is Winnie-the-Pooh meets Cocaine Bear — a notion that doesn't sound bad on paper, but neither did Blood and Honey before the movie started rolling.
Over the past decade, Flinders Lane's Chin Chin has well and truly earned a spot among the city's food institutions. And now it's celebrating turning the big one-zero in style with a whole month of tasty birthday festivities. It all kicks off on Wednesday, May 5, when the restaurant fires up for the spice-fuelled Chilli Inferno dinner, matching inventive plates like seafood pad khaprao and a pork belly dry red curry with a special curation of cooling cocktails, beer and wine. On Wednesday, May 12, plant-based feast The Garden of Eatin' serves up a meat-free spread of bold southeast Asian fare with matched drinks, while Wednesday, May 19 sees Chin Chin Executive Chef Benjamin Cooper treat diners to his ultimate dinner — featuring a parade of boundary-pushing dishes that never made it onto the menu. And on Thursday, May 27, Melburnians are invited to one heck of a wrap party, starring a roll call of Chin Chin's favourite collaborators from across the years. Expect a night of high-energy celebrations, complete with tunes from Miss Goldie and DJ Salvador Darling; artistic delights courtesy of I Am Offerings, Bendy Ben and Tanzer; a special birthday cocktail lineup and pop-up food stations slinging some of Chin Chin's finest flavours. Tickets to each of the four events are $165 per person each and they're expected to sell out fast. To book yours, head online.
UPDATE, JUNE 9, 2021: Following Melbourne's lockdown, and taking into consideration the restrictions that'll still be in place when it ends, Emerging Writers' Festival will now be held exclusively online. For further details, head to the festival's website. If you're a devourer of books, chances are you're always on the hunt for some fresh literary finds. And they don't get much fresher than the lineup at Melbourne's esteemed Emerging Writers' Festival (EWF), which returns for a bumper 2021 edition this winter. Featuring 11 days of talks, screenings, workshops and other well-worded delights, this year's festival will descend on venues across Melbourne from Wednesday, June 16–Saturday, June 26. The long-running event not only shines a spotlight on some of the country's hottest upcoming literary talent, but also serves up endless inspiration and great ideas. The 2021 program is packed with events for all varieties of lit-lover — from a night of live performance headlined by emerging stars like Wai-Mun Mah, Christy Tan, Wallis Prophet and Penny Smits, to an expert-led masterclass digging into the future of digital storytelling. The Planetarium is set to host a special screening of the Scienceworks full dome film Starlight, followed by a presentation of two written works created in response to the star-filled flick. And EWF favourite Amazing Babes will see a cast of familiar faces sharing stories about the women, real and imagined, who've helped shape their lives. [caption id="attachment_811529" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sisonke Msimang[/caption] This year's festival will also serve up an extensive offering of digital happenings, including the centrepiece National Writers' Conference. The full-day online event is aimed at supporting and inspiring emerging writers through a program of panels, talks, workshops and pitching sessions. It's also your chance to hear from EWF's 2021 ambassadors, including poet and editor Elena Gomez (Body of Work), activist and novelist Tony Birch (Ghost River), and non-fiction star Sisonke Msimang (Always Another Country: A Memoir of Exile and Home). Elsewhere among the digital program, you'll find bites like A Meal At The Table — an online event featuring a night of cooking, stories and recipes from a lineup of food-obsessed literary stars. This year's Emerging Writers' Festival runs from Wednesday, June 16–Saturday, June 26 at venues across Melbourne and online. Head to the website to check out the full program and grab tickets.
If you're a devout follower of the Church of Bey, you'll be pleased to know there's a twice-weekly service at LuWOW in Fitzroy. The tiki-style bar hosts hour-long Bey Dance classes on Thursday and Friday nights from 6pm. Each class focuses on a different song or dance, so you can pick and choose your Bey best-of, or worship across the board. They cover everything from the Destiny's Child years all the way up to her recent singles and Super Bowl performances. Thankfully, for those among us who are more Chris Martin than Beyonce or Bruno Mars, fear not — Bey Party is a judgement-free safe space. There are no mirrors, no lurking cameras, no dance divas just trunk-junk jiggling, just fun times and Yonce-inspired attire (think spandex, glitter and knee-pads). Bey Party is ideal for limbering up before a big night of dancing — and where else can you grab a tiki cocktail straight after a good workout?
They're the soft serve heavyweights that first landed in Melbourne in April, helped cement the city's reignited love of creamy ice cream, and offered up flavours ranging from the unadorned Milky Way (aka pure, milky ice-cream, without any extras) to the affogato-like Avalanche (which is topped with coffee beans, fairy floss and a double espresso). And now, Milkcow are about to become Swanston Street's newest addition, courtesy of their very first permanent Australian store. With 60 outlets worldwide, Korea's all-organic, all-natural soft serve ice cream chain is a big hitter around the globe; however, Melbourne residents have had only been able to get their fix at a pop-up that ran earlier this year. But as of Monday, December 19, that'll no longer be the case. Once the doors open, expect the usual bunch of exotic flavours and epic add-ons. As well as the aforementioned Milky Way variety, Milkcow's three signature creations include Milky Honey (swirled with 100 percent organic honey) and Milky Cube (laced with honey swirl and honeycomb wedges). All of their soft serve is made with locally-sourced, organic milk, which is churned on-site every morning. For something a little more decadent, try the sweet-yet-salty Black Pearl, the tropical-inspired Santorini or the Oreo-laced Mont Blanc, which features cookie crumbs, chocolate rocks, Italian apple syrup and a cloud of fairy floss. And these are just the tip of the ice cream berg. You can top your soft serve with anything from fairy floss umbrellas and macarons to caramel popcorn and a shot of espresso. In case you're wondering, yep, soft serve is officially a thing. In fact, it has been for a while now. No longer stuck in the realm of 50-cent cones at McDonald's, the sweet treat has well and truly made it to the Melbourne mainstream with the likes of Tuck Shop Take Away pumping out inventive flavours like Redskin, Froot Loops and jam doughnut, as well as last summer's Pierre's pop-up at Green Park, plus Aqua S's first Victorian venture. UPDATE, DECEMBER 19, 2017: To celebrate their opening day on Monday, December 19, Milkcow are going to give away 100 free ice creams from 1pm. Check the Facebook event for more details. Get there early. Find Milkcow's first permanent store at 287 Swanston Street, Melbourne from Monday, December 19. For more information, visit their website. By Jasmine Crittenden and Sarah Ward. Updated: December 19, 2016.
As anyone who's seen the doco Amy knows, during Amy Winehouse's troubled final years, the media was excruciatingly obsessed with her drug and alcohol issues. But, a new exhibition, arriving in Melbourne later this year, is bringing us another perspective. Titled Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait, the show covers four concepts: faith, fashion, music and London life. Expect to see loads of never-before-seen-in-public objects, such as family photos, dresses (including the dazzling Luella Bartley number that Winehouse wore at Glastonbury 2008), cookbooks, stories, records and musical instruments. Acting as soundtrack will be a mixtape Winehouse put together at the age of 13. The exhibition was conceived and curated by Amy's brother, Alex, and sister-in-law, Riva, in collaboration with the Jewish Museum of London. Since premiering in London in 2013, it's travelled to San Francisco, Vienna, Tel Aviv and Amsterdam, and, right now, it's at the London museum, Camden. Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait arrives at the Jewish Museum of Australia, St Kilda, on October 22 and will show until March 22, 2018. Via The Age. Image: Amy.
Like Beyonce, Amaro is having a renaissance right now. Ok, so maybe the bitter and herbaceous liqueur isn't quite as showy as Beyonce, but Melbourne is currently pretty damn obsessed with amaros — enough so for a dedicated amaro bar to have opened in Windsor. And to better showcase this burgeoning Italian liqueur, one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, Navi, is running an Amaro Tasting Flight Experience throughout March. Pop over to the Yarraville restaurant's lounge anytime from 5:30–11:30pm, Wednesday to Friday, or 2 –11:30pm on Saturdays to try one of the two flights on offer — the three-amaro taster going for $35 or the five-amaro option for $50. And the amaros on show aren't going to be the usual suspects you're used to sampling. Most of us know of the always-delicious Montenegro, but there's countless variations of amaros made all over the world that have their own unique flavour profile. Navi's Bar Manager Miriam Wahlhütter has chosen some Aussie options made with native ingredients while adding in some from further abroad. Learn more about amaros here before the drink fully takes flight this year and everyone starts drinking it. [caption id="attachment_871980" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ed Sloane[/caption]
Chapel Street is known for many things. There's the seemingly endless strip of high-end fashion and the yummy mummies that patrol it — all clad in yoga pants and carrying weak decaf soy lattes. Then there's the seedy underbelly. The private school kids let loose on the night, fake id in hand. Good god, there's even Revolver. With all this, it's easy to understand why ol' Chaps doesn't get much exposure in the arts. But as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, this year's Arts Burst Pop Up Festival may be just the thing to rep that creative south-side scene. Including projection art, sculpture, comedy, music, puppets and roving street performers, this year's festival will nearly all take place on the sidewalks of Chapel Street — specifically between the intersection of High Street and Windsor Station. The artworks and performers will be on the streets from 4.30pm to 10pm each night, but there are no specific times or locations confirmed. Your best bet will be to head down for a drink and watch the magic unfold. We suggest somewhere nearby with sidewalk seating — hello Yellow Bird or Borsch, Vodka & Tears. Or, if you're more of a planning type, follow the happenings on Twitter with #artsburst or @whatsonstonnington. May your quest for art be fruitful, and may your night not end at Revs. Happy hunting!
From hotels t0 karaoke bars to surfing carnivals, Australia's dogs can spend their time at a considerable array of welcoming places. And, they can head to their own bakeries and food trucks, eat their own gelato and don their own raincoats, too. Add concerts to the list — and while dog-friendly music festivals are hardly unique, Concert for Dogs doesn't just let humans bring their four-legged friends along. Rather, the show's melodies, frequencies and riffs have been composed specifically for pooches. Eight years after premiering her Music for Dogs piece at the Sydney Opera House, artist and musician Laurie Anderson is heading back to Australia to stage another Concert for Dogs. Taking place on Sunday, June 24 at the Gold Coast's Home of the Arts, the 20-minute show combines low-decibel violin, vocals, keyboards and electronic sounds into a symphony certain to get puppers' tails wagging. Only held a handful of times before — including in Sydney, in New York's Times Square and in Brighton, England — the free event is open to all doggos, although they must play nicely with others and be kept on a leash. For both hounds and humans alike, the concert will be followed by Anderson's Heart of a Dog, her astonishing documentary tribute to her own furry BFF — and to all of dog kind. Anderson is in the country for a number of shows, including a virtual reality experience and a sonic installation at Dark Mofo. On the Gold Coast, she'll become HOTA's artist-in-residence from June 20–24, premiering new music pieces (including Songs from the Bardo, which uses texts from the Tibetan Book of the Dead), presenting multimedia work The Language of the Future, and chatting about stories and language in All the Things I Lost in the Flood. Concert for Dogs takes place at 9am on Sunday, June 24 at the Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise, while Laurie Anderson's week-long residency spans June 20–24. For more information, visit the Home of the Arts website.
When was the last time you scrolled through someone else's social media feed, ogled their happy snaps, envied their existence and felt bad about your own life choices? However honestly you choose to answer that question, we know you know the feeling. You've been there and done that, and probably more than once. What we'll assume you haven't done is move across the country to stalk your Insta girl crush, and then changed your entire identity in order to become their BFF. In a nutshell, that's the story of Ingrid Goes West, a caustic yet relatable comedy that blends a portrait of today's #nofilter world with some Black Mirror-style social satire. It's a film that's all-too-aware that measuring self-worth through likes, follows and shares has become the norm, and is well and truly committed to probing and satirising that fact. If, like most of us, you live large parts of your life online, then you're likely to find this darkly comic tale insightful, amusing and unnerving — not to mention a little close to home. When we first meet Ingrid Thorburn (Aubrey Plaza), she's trawling through a woman's wedding posts while driving to the reception. She wasn't invited, she's furious and the fact that she's only really an Instagram acquaintance of the bride doesn't matter to her one bit. A meltdown, a short stint in a psychiatric hospital and a modest inheritance later, and Ingrid finds herself alone, cashed up and looking for a new pal. Enter LA influencer Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen), who Ingrid spies in a magazine and reaches out to online, eventually abducting her dog in order to spark a connection. Remaking herself in her new bestie's image, Ingrid's efforts initially pay off. Soon she's having dinner with Taylor and her artist husband Ezra (Wyatt Russell), going to parties with the duo, enjoying girls-only road trips to Joshua Tree and filling her own social media feed with proof of her glamorous new life. But then Taylor's snarky, smarmy brother (Billy Magnussen) shows up, and quickly sees through Ingrid's Single White Female-esque obsession. In their first feature film, writer-director Matt Spicer and co-scribe David Branson Smith find plenty of material to work with, both in Ingrid's delusional deception and her inevitable unravelling. In the process, they contemplate and skewer a culture that enables her behaviour with the tap of a screen, and then judges, denigrates and condemns with the press of a few more buttons. It might all seem quite obvious to anyone with a smartphone, but that doesn't make it any less humorous, perceptive or effective. Spicer also deserves credit for finding the right stars for the job, particularly his leading lady. With her expressive eyes working overtime, Plaza flits between sincere, ironic, vulnerable and vapid in an instant, all while making viewers understand Ingrid when they might otherwise just feel derision or pity. Olsen, meanwhile, nails her role as a bohemian social media star, so much so that you'll think you're actually following her on Instagram yourself. Of course, that's the point: the most astute and accurate parodies are often only a step or two away from the real thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n83Za_7AiyY
UPDATE, March 29, 2021: The King of Staten Island is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play and YouTube Movies. Judd Apatow has a length problem. If one of his manchild protagonists said that, they'd be poking fun at his penis size, but we're actually referring to the duration of the filmmaker's movies. His arrested development-fuelled comedies always clock in at around the two-hour mark, minimum. Whether he's laughing at a middle-aged man's lacklustre love life, an unplanned pregnancy, or a comedian and movie star's near-death experience, the director behind The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Funny People never does so with brevity. So, returning to his favourite topic after giving it a slight twist in Trainwreck — which swapped his usual floundering male lead for Amy Schumer — it's hardly surprising that Apatow's latest flick feels protracted. Loosely inspired by Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson's life, including what might've happened if he hadn't made it in comedy, The King of Staten Island definitely, noticeably meanders. Thankfully, it's also candid, raw and funny, as well as exceptionally well-cast. Oozing a different kind of BDE — that'd be big daddy's boy energy here, and even big deadbeat energy — Davidson plays 24-year-old Staten Island resident Scott. He still lives at home with his overworked nurse mother Margie (Marisa Tomei) and his college-bound younger sister Claire (Maude Apatow), and he still can't quite cope with the death of his firefighter father on the job 17 years earlier. A high-school dropout who dreams of opening a combined tattoo parlour and restaurant, he spends his time smoking weed with his mates (Moises Arias, Ricky Velez and Lou Wilson), sleeping with but refusing to commit to or publicly acknowledge his lifelong friend Kelsey (Bel Powley), and inking up anyone who'll let him. Then, after making a particularly poor decision involving a tattoo gun and a nine-year-old, he ends up with irate firey Ray (Bill Burr) first yelling on his doorstep, then dating his mum. Born and raised in Staten Island himself, 26-year-old Davidson lost his own firefighter dad in 2001's September 11 attacks — and, unsurprisingly, he co-wrote The King of Staten Island's script with Apatow and ex-SNL writer Dave Sirus. Hanging out with someone who is playing a part, but has also mostly been there and done plenty of what viewers see on-screen, the movie always sports a lived-in vibe as a result. Indeed, rather than just conjuring up relatable comic scenarios for chuckles, it heaves with extra weight and resonance. Scott's aimlessness, his inability to face his feelings about anything and his juvenile response to almost every situation all feel grounded in truth, then unfurled in the film in an unvarnished fashion. And while few folks watching have been in the exact same circumstances, The King of Staten Island leans into the minutiae of its Staten Island experiences and coming-of-age antics with such commitment that they prove universal. That's what personal, specific stories do when they're told frankly, and with warmth and care — including when they pair a tale about a wayward twenty-something grappling with trauma with a hefty stream of bro-comedy jokes. This is an Apatow movie, though, so the usual manchild escapades and humour do apply. That's especially true when the film indulgently watches on as Scott pals around with his buddies, which is where the feature's relaxed length makes itself felt. But, more importantly, The King of Staten Island is a Pete Davidson movie — and that has a considerable impact. Apatow often shapes his films around his stars (see: Knocked Up and Seth Rogen, Funny People and Adam Sandler, and Trainwreck and Amy Schumer); however Davidson might be his best lead yet. He's lanky and loose, as the comedian always is in SNL. He plays the wayward yet vulnerable slacker role with ease and even confidence, too, as he did in the thematically similar Big Time Adolescence. Plus, with a sense that he's willing to not only step into his own shoes, but also laugh and take a look at himself while he's there, he nails Scott's cruising, childish, often dickish demeanour and behaviour. That he does so while the radiant Tomei, determined Powley and, as another firefighter, a laidback Steve Buscemi all leave an imprint is no minor feat. Here, confronting how easy it is for immature, inertia-riddled men not to grow up makes for a canny and amusing semi-autobiographical comedy, as mixed with another of Apatow's hallmarks since his and Paul Feig's Freaks and Geeks days: sweetness. When the film opens with Scott driving down the highway, shutting his eyes for a second and flirting with death, it hints at a much darker, deeper movie that sadly never eventuates — although the feature that does blaze across the screen is steeped in unmistakable sorrow, Apatow has always loved getting sentimental. Still, The King of Staten Island isn't the by-the-numbers addition to the director's resume that it could've been. It undeniably relies upon a formula, but it benefits from Davidson's rougher edges and brutal self-awareness. And, as shot by Paul Thomas Anderson's regular cinematographer Robert Elswit (an Oscar-winner for There Will Be Blood), it benefits from gorgeous, naturalistic 35mm imagery also — fittingly for a film that tasks its lead with peering back at his upbringing, pain, loss, laughs, learnings, quarter-life struggles and all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQqiDZQScVA&feature=youtu.be Top image: © 2020 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS. All Rights Reserved.
The best of recent Japanese cinema is making the long trip south. With more than 45 films across a bunch of cities including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and now, for the first time, Auckland, the Japanese Film Festival is the single largest event of its kind outside of Japan itself. This year's program is as diverse as ever, showcasing comedies, dramas, horror films, anime, and a rap-battle Yakuza musical showdown. Unfortunately for film buffs in Brisbane and Auckland, that last title, Sion Sono's utterly bonkers Tokyo Tribe, will only screen in Sydney and Melbourne. But there's plenty on the program for everyone to enjoy, including last year's smash hit time travel comedy Thermae Romae, along with its recently released sequel, Thermae Romae II. J-horror fans can check out Ju-On: The Beginning of the End, the seventh entry in the hair-raising franchise better known in English as The Grudge. A live-action adaptation of Kiki's Delivery Service, meanwhile, is the hot tip for lovers of Studio Ghibli's animated original. For the full JFF program, visit their website.
Sydney yacht rock dudes The Holidays have announced a string of huge shows around Australia, following on from their wildly successful album release tour in March. Filling out venues from Sydney's Metro Theatre, Melbourne's Hi-Fi to Brisbane's Alhambra Lounge with hyped up Sydney electronic producer Thief, the threesome will also stop by Newcastle's Bar on the Hill on campus with indie pop maestro Pluto Jonze, Wollongong's Uni Bar with Sydney garage ratbags Step-Panther. The new Groupie Magazine-presented dates coincide with the release of third single 'Tongue Talk', taken from the outfit's super pop-fuelled second album Real Feel. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday 14 May, with more details on The Holidays' Facebook page. THE HOLIDAYS 'TONGUE TALK' TOUR DATES Wed 28 May — Bar on the Hill, Newcastle (with Pluto Jonze). Tickets available from Big Apachee and campus outlets. Thur 5 June — Uni Bar, Wollongong (with Step-Panther). Tickets available from Big Apachee and campus outlets. Fri 13 June — Metro Theatre, Sydney ALL AGES (with Thief). Tickets available from Metro Theatre and Ticketek. Fri 20 June — Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane (with Thief). Tickets available from Alhambra Lounge and Moshtix. Fri 4 July — The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (with Thief). Tickets available from The Hi-Fi and Oztix. https://youtube.com/watch?v=aiHQLvAu2lg
They've changed the home entertainment landscape and monopolise our couch time, but streaming platforms still like to keep everyone guessing. Surprise drops have become the latest trend, especially when it comes to blending movies and music — such as Beyonce's Homecoming documentary and The Lonely Island's Unauthorised Bash Brothers Experience on Netflix, and Donald Glover's Guava Island on Amazon Prime. And that's just this year. Announced this week and hitting your queue in mere days — on Thursday, June 27 — add Anima to the list. It too has a significant pedigree. Sharing the same name as Thom Yorke's third solo album, which'll drop on the same day, it's scored by the Radiohead frontman and directed by Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson. Netflix is calling Anima "a short musical film" and a "mind-bending visual piece" which is "best played loud" — and considering it also stars Yorke, it's safe to consider it a 12-minute music video. In the just-released teaser, the film is dubbed a "one-reeler", which the clip then goes on to define as "a motion picture, especially a cartoon or comedy, of 10–12 minutes duration and contained on one reel of film; popular especially in the era of silent film". Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNYJ_BJJbzI This isn't Anderson's first Radiohead-linked collaboration, with his films There Will Be Blood, The Master, Inherent Vice and Phantom Thread all featuring scores composed by the band's lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. He also helmed 2015 documentary Junjun, about the making of Greenwood's album of the same name, and directed Radiohead's 'Daydreaming', 'Present Tense' and 'The Numbers' videos. Yorke has also been working in film lately — on the score for last year's Luca Guadagnino's 2018 remake of Suspiria. Anima drops on Netflix on Thursday, June 27. Images: Netflix / Darius Khondji.
Section 8, Melbourne's original shipping container bar, is clocking up an impressive 13 years of life. And it's not letting the milestone pass without a proper knees-up, in the form of a free four-day Easter long weekend party. From April 18–21, the famed CBD beer garden will become celebration central, playing host to a huge lineup of 22 great musical acts, with each day's sets curated by a different guest selector or local label. The bar will open at 12pm on the weekend, with live music acts kicking off at 5pm on Thursday and Friday. Entry is free across the whole weekend, and gets you you front row seats to Aussie favourites like Close Counters, Daniel Elia, Horatio Luna, No Name Nath and Walla C. Also on board for the al fresco festivities are our mates at Moon Dog Craft Brewery and Tequila Tromba. This is one thirteenth birthday party you don't want to miss. Lucy Thirteen will run from 5pm–1am on Thursday and Friday, midday–1am on Saturday and midday–11pm on Sunday.
There's no one quite like Frank, the person, and there's nothing quite like Frank, the film. The former, as played by Michael Fassbender while wearing a papier mache mask, is a soul seemingly eccentric but really just looking for the essence of creation and contentment. The latter is quirky by design but beautifully bittersweet by execution, revelling in all life's failures and flaws. Frank leads an experimental rock band with the fittingly unpronounceable name of The Soronprfbs, and that's exactly where Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) finds him. Downtrodden in his dismal everyday routine, Jon wants desperately to be a musician but lacks the opportunity and the ability to extend himself. His unlikely encounter with his new friend with the obscured face brings both, one fruitful, the other less so. As the reconfigured group ventures from the Irish wilderness to the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas in search of musical fulfilment, the solace they find comes from internal, not external, forces. Written by journalist turned screenwriter Jon Ronson (of The Men Who Stare at Goats fame), Frank is inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the comic persona of musician Chris Sievey. Read our full review here. Frank is in cinemas on June 19, and thanks to Madman Entertainment, we have ten double in-season passes to give away in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=IblHV2x64f8
Gin and sunshine go together like cheese and crackers, a pairing so perfect that nobody is really sure where it came from. We just know it works. It makes sense to celebrate all things gin as we approach the warmer season, hence why Four Pillars Gin is celebrating a brand new ready-to-drink flavour across a huge series of live music events. For Melbourne, the action starts at Ponyfish Island in Southbank then spreads to The Royal Hotel in Mornington. This series of events taking place across October to December is putting tins in hands and smiles on faces via the drink itself (which can be described as a classic gin mule in a can). Quality vibes at local venues and entertainment will be provided by local musical talent. From the always-vibey Ponyfish Island in Southbank to the historic hotspot The Royal Hotel in Mornington — each weekend will star new musical acts and offer every guest a way to grab their very own Four Pillars Bucket Hat. Ponyfish Island is a favourite for sunset drinks in Melbourne, with its unique waterfront location making it front of mind for after-work drinks or breezy summer lunches. Gin Tins & Tunes will set up shop on the island on Sunday, October 8 and run every Sunday until October 29. Further to the south in Mornington is the Royal Hotel, a heritage pub that prides itself on royal feeds with top-notch seaside views and vibes. Gin Tins & Tunes will stay from Sunday, November 26 and run every Sunday until December 17. Gin Tins & Tunes runs weekly on Sundays at Ponyfish Island and The Royal Hotel. For more information and to make a booking, visit the website.
"Luke, I am your father" might just be one of the most famous line ever uttered in a movie — except, of course, that's not actually what Darth Vader said. If you're pedantic about the exact phrasing of iconic Star Wars dialogue, or just brimming with Jedi-focused tidbits, then here's your chance to put those skills to the test. Come Monday, February 18, The Mill House will be hosting an evening of fun that no one can have a bad feeling about. The Flinders Lane venue is delving into the series that has not only spanned ten films to date, but also inspired a host of new instalments to come. If you have a Chewbacca costume in your wardrobe, you're destined to be there. As for prizes, they'll be on offer for your mastery of Star Wars info. And, because it's all taking place in a bar, drinks are on the menu, too. Sure, it's not quite the Mos Eisley Cantina, but you can pretend — there'll be $10 Star Wars-inspired cocktails and $12 pizzas to enjoy. A three-hour happy hour with $7.50 wines, beers and spirits will also be running from 4–7pm. The night gets underway from 6pm, but you'll want to arrive early to nab a table — and to start arguing over whether Han shot first. Bookings can also be made via the website.
Heading to the beach is all about sun, sand and taking a dip in the sea — and for Queenslanders this summer, it's now about two types of surfing. Selected spots across the state will be trialling a new system called Life-Fi, which enables sunbathers to connect to the internet for free while they're lazing about between the flags. The real aim of Life-Fi is actually to save lives. It gives beachgoers an incentive to keep close to lifeguards, with nearly 80 percent of the more than 5000 rescues that have taken place since January 2017 occurring outside of the red and yellow flags. The system also allows surf lifesaving clubs to communicate directly with folks sunning themselves by the shore — sending alerts from lifeguards on duty about ocean conditions, currents and marine creatures; conveying weather updates and live UV ratings; and offering general surf safety tips. Spearheaded by Surf Life Saving Queensland, Life-Fi has already been trialled at the Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club, and will now roll out to ten other clubs along the coastline. Four mobile units will also be dispatched throughout the state as they're needed. Exact locations have yet to be announced, although you can expect popular beaches on the Gold and Sunshine coasts to feature. The portable self-contained wireless network is available in six languages (English, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese and Thai), ensuring that overseas tourists making the most of Queensland beaches can still receive safety warnings. Announcing the expanded trial, Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones noted that tourism was a key motivator. "If we can make people feel safe, we know we'll lure more people to the beach." For more information, visit the Life-Fi website. You can also use NetShare Pro.
Ever been shopping for the ingredients for a delicious exotic dish at a supermarket and come up short with finding all you need? With 150 nationalities spread across 200 traders, the Dandenong Market is a multicultural melting pot that will have all your shopping needs — and most unique and hard to find ingredients — sorted in one place. It's a paradise for any food lover looking to find old favourite flavours or try something completely new, and there are also plenty of other stores worth a look-in too.
Stealing from the rich isn't just the domain of Robin Hood. In Hustlers, it's exactly what a group of strip club employees decide to do, too. Fed up with putting up with wealthy, lecherous Wall Street types who happily rip off everyone they can, including ordinary hard-working folk, the gang of gals hatch a plan to even the score. And, they know that if they ring up extra charges on their clientele's credit cards, the fleeced men are highly unlikely to report it. It's the type of tale that can only be true, with Hustlers based on an article on The Cut about the real-life ladies who started swindling white-collar crooks between dances. It's also the kind of story that needs a killer cast to bring it to life, so the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Constance Wu, Cardi B and Lizzo are doing the honours. As written and directed by Lorene Scafaria (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The Meddler), the film's stacked roster of stars also includes Riverdale's Lili Reinhart, Scream: The TV Series' Keke Palmer, The Handmaid's Tale's Madeline Brewer, Parks and Recreation's Jon Glaser, and Luke Cage's Frank Whaley. Oh, and Usher. Check out the trailer below — which, fittingly, is set to Cardi B's 'Money': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_dfc0iqmig Hustlers releases in Australian cinemas on October 10.
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. In past years, more than 400,000 Aussies have taken part, and held more than 18,000 sales. While life is a little different in 2021, a huge array of events are still expected to open their doors to bargain hunters, selling more millions items. And, when the event returns across three weekends between Saturday, November 6–Sunday, November 21, online garage sales will also be part of the trail. According, whether you're buying or selling, you have two options: do so in person, or take the virtual route. It's only the second time ever that the Garage Sale Trail is going digital, too. And, digital tutorials are also on the bill, so you can learn everything from DIY wardrobe tips to hosting the best sale. 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'll be a right slew of sales happening all around Melbourne, so keep your eyes on the event website — or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood. [caption id="attachment_783811" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Jo Lowrey[/caption] Images: Garage Sale Trail.
Greek, Italian, Spanish — if you've got a soft spot for Mediterranean eats, chances are you're an olive oil tragic. The folks at That's Amore sure are, and they're putting on a full-blown olive oil festival to celebrate the first of the new-season oil. Head along to the cheese producer's Thomastown digs from 10am–3pm on Sunday, May 2, and you can pay homage to this globally adored ingredient. On the bill: a day of olive oil tastings, live production demos and, of course, a whole lotta eating. The kitchen will be dishing up a special menu starring That's Amore cheese and Kyneton Olive Oil, including the cult-favourite four formaggi gnocchi which comes tossed in a 40-kilogram wheel of cheese. You'll browse market stalls from the likes of Imbue Distillery and Lello Pasta, sip cocktails and listen to Siesta Cartel's smooth Italian sounds. And, you'll hit the Cannoleria cart for dessert, of course. There are a couple of different ticket prices, so you have options. The $10 general admission will get you entry and your choice of menu item, while a $40 ticket also includes a feast of gnocchi, pasta e fagioli, Italian sausage, focaccia and a cheeky cannolo.
While Melburnians can't currently jump in their car to get out of the city for a night of stargazing without the city light pollution, they can jump online and join a virtual tour of the night sky thanks to Mount Burnett Observatory. The Dandenong Ranges spot has launched a monthly series of astronomical live-streams, kicking off on Friday, September 4. At the first virtual event, you'll learn about Jupiter, Earth's place in the solar system and a bit about the history of the observatory, as well as watching a short documentary about space. The virtual event will start at 7.15pm with the first 100 people allowed in a Zoom chat and the remainder directed to a Facebook live-stream. Those on Zoom will have the chance to ask questions throughout the evening. It's then expected to wrap up around 8.30pm. The best part? The event is entirely free. Top image: Cafuego via Flickr.
Beer and yoga. An unlikely combination, but one that's gone gangbusters across the world. And after a few trials of the concept — including a class at Sydney's Wayward Brewing — Australia looks set to see the trend come out in full force with the launch of BierYoga. Having held weekly sessions across Berlin over the past 12 months, BierYoga has launched an Australian tour with a string of dates for their beer-focused yoga classes in Melbourne and Sydney. Each hour-long session will see punters getting bendy while knocking back brews, with beer-drinking incorporated into each classic yoga pose. Think sun salutations and reverse warriors, interspersed with sips of your favourite ale. BierYoga's team of qualified yoga instructors (and, we're sure, seasoned beer drinkers) will get you loose, limber, and having fun — whether you're a total yoga novice, or a well-practiced pro. The session's priced at a budget-friendly $10 — just bring a towel or yoga mat and you're good to go. You'll need to buy a beer at the bar separately. This class is a special Australia Day edition at South Yarra's Speakeasy Kitchen and Bar, but there's additional classes happening at The Village in February too.
Georgia O'Keeffe, the artist often described as the mother of American Modernism, along with her Australian contemporaries Margaret Preston and Grace Cossington Smith, will be the subject of a four-month exhibition at the Heide Museum of Modern Art. Running from mid October through to mid February at the gallery in Bulleen, O'Keeffe, Preston, Cossington Smith: Making Modernism has been curated by the team at Heide along with Santa Fe's Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, the Queensland Art Gallery, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and will feature more than 30 works by each of the three women created across the length of their respective careers. In doing so, it will showcase both the distinctive styles developed by the artists, as well as the similarities in their subject matter, technique and the ways in which they viewed the world.
Melbourne has been copping some absolute scorchers this year, and there's no end in sight just yet. But at least one of the upcoming sweaty summer days is about to become all the more bearable, thanks to a whole lot of free ice cream. This Friday, January 25, Melbourne's new all-vegan gelateria and patisserie Weirdoughs is promising to help locals beat the heat in style, celebrating its recently expanded opening hours with one very cool giveaway. From 4pm, the Flinders Lane store will be handing out a whopping 1000 free scoops of ice cream — an extra nice move considering Friday's expected to hit the low-40s. You'll have a choice of eleven different 'Weird I-Scream' flavours, from vanilla and croissant dough, to the left-of-field eggplant and lavender, and even the newly hatched espresso martini creation. There'll also be a swag of fancy sauces and fun extras on hand for those wanting to jazz up their scoop even further. If you miss the giveaway, you'll be able to pop-in for a post-work gelato — Weirdoughs is now open late from Wednesday through Sunday. Weirdoughs images: Kate Shanasy.
When The Fast and the Furious took Point Break's premise and swapped surfing for street racing, it seemed like one of those easy Hollywood knockoffs that would speed into cinemas and then race right out of viewers' memories. Eighteen years, seven sequels, plenty of Coronas and a whole lot of talk about family later, we all now know that wasn't the case. It's the high-octane franchise that just keeps tearing up tyres and tearing across silver screen, and it has yet another new addition. The first Fast and Furious spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw reunites two of the series' newer players: Dwayne Johnson's Luke Hobbs, the government agent who has been a F&F staple since 2011's Fast Five, and Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw, the villain from Furious 7 who starts buddying around the gang in 2017's The Fate of the Furious. Directed by John Wick and Atomic Blonde's David Leitch, it's basically an excuse to put the two action heroes in the same movie again, watch as they bicker and banter like a muscular odd couple, and throw in the usual world-saving, car-racing antics. It also sounds like box office catnip —complete with the ridiculous stunts that the franchise has become known for, this time featuring a helicopter, a long chain and a truck in one of them. After releasing a first sneak peek earlier this year, the film has now revealed an extended three-and-a-half minute trailer. Check out the new clip below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ7PAyCDwEg Because two of today's biggest stars isn't enough for this initial foray outside of the main F&F stable, Hobbs & Shaw also features Idris Elba as the flick's villain — plus Helen Mirren reprising her role as Shaw's mother, and The Crown's Vanessa Kirby joining the fold as his sister. Johnson reportedly wanted Hobbs to not only have some family as well, but to have an incredibly high-profile family member; however bringing Aquaman's Jason Momoa on board didn't work out due to scheduling conflicts. Fans of Vin Diesel and the original gang, don't worry. Ninth and tenth F&F films are due in 2020 and 2021 respectively, so Dominic Toretto and company will be back to live their lives a quarter mile at a time once more. Also on the agenda is a female-focused spinoff focused on the ladies of the franchise, because this series remains furious about stretching out its run for as long as possible. Hobbs & Shaw opens in Australian cinemas on August 1. Image: Universal Pictures
Victorians, it's holiday time. After a year largely spent staring at your own four walls, you probably don't need much motivation to head out of town, but the State Government is giving you some anyway. In an effort to encourage everyone to take a getaway within the state, it's handing out $200 vouchers for regional travel. The idea has two obvious aims: enticing Victorian residents to go venturing throughout the state, and helping support regional pubs, hotels, wineries and small businesses. The move was first announced back in mid-November — as part of a $465 million Victorian Tourism Recovery Package — but today, Thursday, December 10, the exact details of what you can spend the money on, when you can spend it and exactly how you can get your hands on the vouchers have been unveiled. The vouchers will be released in three 40,000 batches, with the first lot available to apply for from tomorrow, Friday, December 11, followed by subsequent rounds on Wednesday, January 20 and Tuesday, March 30. This first round can used for travel between December 12–January 22, and additional rounds for travel between January 27–April 1 and April 6–May 31, respectively. [caption id="attachment_704120" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cleveland Winery[/caption] The vouchers can be spent on accommodation, tourism attractions and tours in regional Victoria, the Yarra Ranges and the Mornington Peninsula. But, there's a hefty list of things you can't spend them on, including gaming, alcohol, fuel, food and drinks (unless it's part of a winery tour, for example), groceries, personal items (such as clothing) and transport (such as rental cars and public transport). So, you can't just use the voucher to road trip to a pub, but you can use it to book accommodation at the pub, then spend your own money on food and drinks — which will still make your trip away significantly cheaper. There are some additional caveats, too: the vouchers are limited to one per household (not per person) across the entire scheme; you must first provide evidence of spending $400 on accommodation, attractions or tours before getting your $200; and you must pay for a minimum of two nights accommodation in regional Victoria. Which means, at most, half of your expenses will be covered — but, that's $200 that you won't have to fork out yourself. Yes, it's a little complicated — but the Vic Government has broken it down in more detail over here. It has also given some more examples of what you can use the vouchers on, including holiday parks, camping sites, cottages, farm stays, private holiday rentals, houseboats (yes, houseboats), winery tours, adventure tours and entry fees to regional attractions, such as. museums, water parks and adventure parks. You can apply for the first round of 40,000 $200 travel vouchers from 10am on Friday, December 11 at business.vic.gov.au/travelvouchers. Subsequent rounds will open on Wednesday, January 20 and on Tuesday, March 30. Top image: Otway Fly Treetop Adventures
The local legends behind home-spun Preston bar Hard Rubbish have put out an invitation to all the like-minded aspiring publicans of Melbourne. They're giving away their Plenty Road venue — for free. Having clocked up 6.5 years at the wheel and earned themselves a loyal crew of regulars along the way, owners Charlotte Tizzard, James Tizzard and Katie Smith have decided it's time to pass the baton onto some new faces with the time and energy to steer the bar into its next phase of life. They're not out to make bank off it either. Instead, the trio is offering up their venue free of charge, mainly "because f*ck capitalism", but also so that they and their community can help choose who gets to take the reins from here on out. If you're sitting asking yourself, "what's the catch?", you're probably not alone. So, the Hard Rubbish folk have published a handy guide talking through what they're doing, why they're doing it and exactly how you can apply to be the bar's next head honcho. Basically, while the bar itself is being passed on for free, the new owner will have to take on the payments of its rent, utilities, suppliers and all that jazz, which means demonstrating an ability to handle covering those costs for at least the first few months. It's also a package deal as far as the current staff goes, who the owners describe as being "the reason this place is what it is" — they'll all need to stay on and they'll get a big say in who ends up being their new boss. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hard Rubbish (@hardrubbish_bar) The biggest condition of all, though, is that whoever takes on the task will need to keep this northside drinking destination as cool, laidback and loveable as it always has been. Slick, brightly-lit wine bars and Degani cafes are strictly forbidden. The Hard Rubbish crew are inviting eager prospective bar owners to apply by emailing through a proposal before Saturday, October 15, calling especially on existing regulars and any hard-working folks who have "a cool vision" for the bar's future. Applicants will need to answer a few questions and respond to key criteria to help determine whether they're a good fit, considering things like which direction they'd take the drinks menu in, what hours they'd plan on trading, and what their immediate and long-term vision is for the bar's aesthetic. Shortlisted proposals will then be presented at a Q&A session for locals in November. Find Hard Rubbish at 670 Plenty Road, Preston. If you're keen to be its new owner, check out all the details on the website and email your proposal to Hardrubbishbar@gmail.com.
