Folks can't stop talking about Christy Tania. Not only is the renowned dessert chef set to bend minds with her 'Floating Ice Cream' creation on tonight's episode of MasterChef, she's also preparing to launch her own permanent dessert shop, Glacé, in Melbourne's Windsor this August. And, as a teaser for the sweetness to come, Tania's treating both Sydney and Melbourne to a sneak peek, hosting dessert pop-ups in each city, from May 25–28. Across four days, sweet tooths will be able to get their hands on two variations of that magical Floating Ice Cream number — one vanilla and cherry cognac, the other chocolate and cherry cognac — when Tania takes over the Omega and Neil Perry Kitchen at the Prahran Market. The chef first popped up in 2013, after famously steering Melbourne dessert bar Om Nom into its first chef's hat within just two months of heading up the kitchen. Since then, her inspired sweet treats have continued to dazzle and astound, both out of the Om Nom kitchen and during a host of MasterChef guest judge appearances, making jealous messes of audiences across the country. As Tania's first permanent solo venture, Glacé promises to be every bit as impressive as the rest of her artisan treats, the contemporary space set to offer a hefty range of frozen desserts and innovative ice cream flavours, crafted with local ingredients. Make a date with Tania's trademark ice cream push pops, with their layers of cake sponge and ice cream. Find Christy Tania's Glacé pop-up from May 25 until May 28, at the Omega & Neil Perry Kitchen, within The Prahran Market, 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra. The Floating Ice Cream will be available each day, from 11am until sold out. Sydney details are yet to be confirmed.
Colourful anime hits, intriguing murder mysteries and moody yakuza thrillers — they're all on the lineup at this year's Japanese Film Festival. Throw in a rom-com about renting a friend, a musical-comedy starring a former J-pop idol and a live-action version of a best-selling manga, and Melbourne viewers will have plenty to watch at the Treasury and Capitol theatres between Thursday, November 21 and Sunday, December 1. It all starts with opening night's Masquerade Hotel, which tasks a detective (Blade of the Immortal's Takuya Kimura) with going undercover at a swanky Tokyo establishment. The reason? He believes that a murder is about to take place within its walls, and he's determined not only to stop it, but to solve three other seemingly unrelated killings. From there, standouts include Little Love Song, about Okinawa high schoolers in a pop band; family reunion drama Born Bone Born, as set on the island of Aguni; and Melancholic, which follows a new university graduate who takes a job at a bathhouse, only to find himself working for dangerous mobsters. On the animated front, Ride Your Wave takes to the sea on a surfboard, because Japanese animators can make surfing movies too. Final Fantasy fans might want to catch Brave Father Online, given that it focuses on a father and son reconnecting through their love of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, while Dance With Me takes its characters on a singing and dancing road trip — and And Your Bird Can Sing gets atmospheric with three friends over a long Hokkaido summer.
When the end of July hits, the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games will kick off, with the finest athletes from Commonwealth countries competing to take home shiny medals. That's all well and good and interesting; however, we've found a much cuter display of sportsmanship that's also popping up this July. At 1pm on Thursday, July 21, viewers can watch four adorable guide-dogs-to-be participating in their very own Puppy Games. Yep, that's a thing and we're definitely here for it. If it sounds familiar, that's because it has been held for the past two years, too — but clearly this is the kind of adorable event that needs to be held annually. Once again, the folks at Seeing Eye Dogs have teamed up The Petbarn Foundation to host the canine-centric games — and, this year, with pet food brand Royal Canin as well. The results will be streaming on a device near you via the event's website. No matter where you're located in Australia, it sounds like perfect lunchtime viewing. How do the Puppy Games work, you might be asking? The event will see young trainee guide dogs Sandler, Tambo, Rani and Tom tackle a series of skill-testing challenges, with their every move captured on camera. They'll be helped through their tasks by their trainers — Abi, Jack, Lina and Paige, respectively. Accordingly, you can watch the young pups hurtle through a time trial, take on a 'puppy patience' food bowl challenge and battle it out for glory in the 'dogstacle distraction course'. And they are very much just pups — Tambo and Tom are the youngest at 11 weeks old, while Rani is the comparative veteran of the competitors at 15 weeks old. The project aims to support fundraising efforts for the annual Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal, of course, but also promises a much-needed boost of dopamine and general happy feels all round. Viewers can donate to the cause by hitting the link on the event's website. This year, the appeal is shooting for a goal of $1 million to help cover the costs of breeding, training and caring for at least 20 Seeing Eye Dogs. Can't make Thursday's viewing? Fear not, the full event will be up on YouTube to rewatch any time you need a mood boost. The 2022 Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs Puppy Games will stream via the event's website from 1pm on Thursday, July 21.
It's little surprise New Year's Eve celebrations are set to look a little different for 2020, thanks to a certain global pandemic. But if you've got a thing for good food, you're sure to be pretty chuffed with the brand-new event helping Melburnians wrap up the year in style. Descending on popular dining precincts across the CBD and beyond on Thursday, December 31 and Friday, January 1, is the inaugural New Year Street Feasts. The event is a collaborative effort between the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Government and Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (MFWF), which was itself postponed and then cancelled this year due to COVID-19. Featuring offerings from dozens of local bars and restaurants, it promises to help you make up for lost time on the wining and dining front. [caption id="attachment_791281" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jake Roden[/caption] Eleven outdoor dining precincts will be created for the festival, appearing in top culinary spots like Flinders Lane, Little Bourke Street and Domain Road. Nearby venues from each precinct will be on board, serving up a jam-packed program of special menus and feasting experiences. Pulling inspiration from the famed piazzas of Europe, the pop-up outdoor dining set-ups will see thousands more restaurant seats added to Melbourne's streets for the occasion. You might find yourself tucking into a six-course unauthentic Indian feast at Jessi Singh's Daughter in Law, a Spanish-inspired Bomba dinner complete with heirloom tomato gazpacho and buttermilk-braised lamb shoulder, or perhaps a Bar Margaux soiree featuring champagne cocktails and roast duck. Though, with a wide lineup of venues involved, including everyone from Pellegrini's to Sunda, you might find it hard to pick just one feed. Stock up on stretchy pants and dive right in. Image: Bar Margaux, Kate Shanasy
Winter is upon us, the gloves and beanies are out of storage, and it's time to start loading up on sweets and carbs. That's how every June starts — and, every year, Krispy Kreme wants to help with the latter. How? By giving away an extremely excessive number of doughnuts. You're probably now wondering what constitutes an excessive amount of doughnuts. No, polishing off a packet by yourself doesn't count, at least in this instance. Krispy Kreme's giveaway is going big, with the chain slinging 100,000 original glazed doughnuts in conjunction with National Doughnut Day. Whether or not you're a big fan of food 'days', we're guessing you are quite fond of free doughnuts. To snag yourself a signature glazed freebie, head to your closest Krispy Kreme store in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia on Friday, June 2. That gives you more than 40 places to flock to, with Sydneysiders able to hit up 15 stores stretching from Penrith to the CBD, Victorians needing to visit nine locations from Chadstone to Collins Street, and Queenslanders given eight different doughnut shops to pick from (with the most central in Albert Street in the CBD). And, in Adelaide you have eight stores to visit, while residents of Perth can make a date with one of four Krispy Kreme locations. The National Doughnut Day deal isn't available at BP outlets, 7-Eleven stores, Jesters or Woolworths, or via online orders or third-party deliveries. There's also a limit of one freebie per person, and the giveaway only applies to the original glazed variety. The 100,000 doughnuts will be spread across the participating stores, so you'll want to get in relatively early if you want to kick off your Friday with a free sweet and doughy treat. Obviously, whether you nab one or not is subject to availability. Krispy Kreme's free doughnut giveaway is happening in the chain's stores around the country on Friday, June 2. To find your closest shop and check its opening hours, head to the Krispy Kreme website.
Two Australian music legends, one must-attend 2022 tour: now there's some news to come sail your ships around. In November and December this year, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis will bring their Carnage tour home — although if you subscribe to Cave's perfectly named The Red Hand Files emails, you should already know that. An official announcement is bound to arrive sooner rather than later with crucial details such as cities, exact dates and venues, but for now, Cave has shared the tour news himself. "I can see, glowing lovely, glowing redly, a Nick and Warren Australian Carnage tour that has been recently added. This has not yet been announced — and I will no doubt be reprimanded for doing so here on The Red Hand Files — but I can see it there, that bright, red block, beginning mid-November and ending mid-December. This new addition makes me very happy. In fact, quite literally, it brings tears of joy," Cave wrote in the fan email's 184th issue. [caption id="attachment_716220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matthew Thorne[/caption] The upcoming Australian Carnage run earned a mention amid musings on Cave's other tour dates this year — first overseas on the American Carnage tour with Ellis, and then with the Bad Seeds in Europe. "I am sitting here looking at this year's calendar. My assistant, Rachel, has helpfully laid it out in various child-friendly, primary-coloured blocks. A red block means touring, a blue block means other extracurricular creative stuff, and a yellow block means time off. The year is largely big, red blocks, with some sudden moments of blue, and a little lonely threadbare patch of yellow," Cave explained. Bandmates across several projects since the 90s — including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Grinderman — Cave and Ellis are Aussie icons, with careers spanning back decades. Together, they also boast more than a few phenomenal film scores to their names, including for The Proposition, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Road, West of Memphis, Far From Men, Hell or High Water and Wind River. When Carnage released back in early 2021, it actually marked Cave and Ellis' first studio album as a duo — and picked them up an ARIA nomination, naturally. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' Australian Carnage tour will run throughout November and December 2022, with cities, exact dates and venues still to be announced — we'll update you when more details are revealed. Top image: Kerry Brown.
With Australia banning non-essential events with more than 500 people due to COVID-19 — and mandating that everyone arriving from overseas self-isolate for 14 days, too — Melbourne's arts and cultural scene has started to go into shutdown mode. The city's major institutions have already announced temporary closures, and now the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is joining them. But musicians at the latter won't be putting down their instruments just yet. While MSO has announced that it's suspending all concerts with audiences in attendance from Monday, March 16–Monday, April 13, it's planning to still play some gigs behind closed doors. And, it'll live-stream them for free — because, even if audiences can only watch and listen online from their couches, the music must go on. Kicking off the series is tonight's (Monday, March 16) performance of Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade at Hamer Hall. Other live-streams are slated for MSO's Beethoven & Mendelssohn gig on Thursday, March 19 and To Bach and Back on Thursday, March 26 at this stage. It's also planning to live-stream Melbourne Ensemble and its school-focused Curriculum Concert, with dates still to be advised. Music lovers can check out the performances via MSO's YouTube channel, with Scheherazade streaming from 7pm AEDT. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCBYvd5LKa4 MSO has cancelled some concerts that it won't live-stream, and plans to reschedule a number of gigs — check out the full list below: LIVE-STREAMED MSO CONCERTS Scheherazade, 16 March — streaming on March 16 at 7pm Beethoven & Mendelssohn, March 19–20 — streaming at 7.30pm on Thursday, March 19 Melbourne Ensemble, March 22 — streaming date and time TBC Curriculum Concert, March 26 — streaming date and time TBC To Bach and Back, March 26–27 — streaming on 26 March, time TBC CANCELLED MSO CONCERTS Jams for Juniors, March 21 Peer Gynt, April 6 Metropolis, April 8 RESCHEDULED MSO CONCERTS Ben Folds, March 22 — replacement dates TBC Skyfall in Concert, April 2–4 — replacement dates TBC Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has cancelled all public performances between Monday, March 16–Monday, April 13, but will start live-streaming select concerts from Monday, March 16. For more information — or to find out about refunds if you're a ticket holder — visit the MSO website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
The quest of Neil Young to revive the magic that has been squeezed out of digital music has now been realised with the launch of his portal listening device and digital music service called Pono [meaning righteous in Hawaiian]. Young has been working on the service and music player for last several years, chasing the goal of restoring music to its original artistic quality – as it was in the studio. The 128GB triangular, touchscreen gadget named PonoPlayer makes use of zero-feedback circuitry, a minimum phase digital filter and a whole lot of other technical stuff to eliminate the “unnatural pre-ringing” that can often be heard on digital tracks. The PonoPlayer comes alongside the online music store PonoMusic.com , which will offer downloads of songs formatted from artist-approved master recordings. Young officially launched both products at the South by Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas with a Kickstarter campaign complete with video endorsements from a plethora of music stars and offering preorders of the PonoPlayer at a discounted price. Pledgers are given the option to purchase a special edition “Artist Signature Series” PonoPlayer with autographs from the likes of Young himself, Arcade Fire, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, as well as being pre-loaded with the artist’s all-time favorite two albums. Just don't ask Mr Young about what cut he gets, things will just get awkward.
Let them entertain you: with Better Man, the Robbie Williams biopic that takes its name from one of the British singer's tunes, filmmaker Michael Gracey and actor Jonno Davies have a clear mission that's shared with the man in the spotlight himself. The Australian-made, 16-time AACTA-nominated movie tells the warts-and-all tale of the boy from England's Midlands who has become an international superstar. It charts Williams' path through a complicated childhood, teen boy-band fame, relentless press attention, struggles with drugs and alcohol, tabloid-fodder relationships, a well-publicised reputation for partying, going solo, huge hits, sizeable scandals and plenty of reinvention — and, while never shying away from the tumultuous times that its subject has endured, it matches its unflinching view of his ups and downs with his love of monkeying around and putting on a show. The simian aspect of Better Man is literal. More than 20 years after 'Me and My Monkey' was a track on Williams' fifth studio album Escapology — a record that skewed personal to explore his experiences with pop stardom, and made hits out of 'Feel' and 'Come Undone' — his story reaches the screen with the former Take That member portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee. The approach renders Williams both a cheeky monkey and a performing monkey, and also reflects a journey that's had him swinging from limb to limb in life's jungle. The conceit was Gracey's choice, but based on the musician's own descriptions when chatting the Australian filmmaker through his existence. Better Man's helmer and subject first met when the director needed the singer's assistance with the former's debut feature. One of The Greatest Showman's original tunes won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar; however, star Hugh Jackman (Deadpool & Wolverine) had doubts about the songs going in — and, because the actor kept referencing Williams as a touchstone for his lead portrayal in the movie, Gracey hit him up for his thoughts and powers of persuasion. From there, the pair kept talking, then started recording Williams recounting his life story in the latter's studio. Next sprang the idea to make Better Man, which is how an Aussie talent came to craft a homegrown flick about one of the UK's biggest music figures of the past three decades. The film was initially announced in 2021, and news of Davies playing Williams arrived in 2022. That Better Man was going ape remained a secret until initial viewers cast their eyes on the flick at its world-premiere at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, which was no easy feat. "I was astounded, because we really didn't want people to see any images from the film, and it blew me away that we managed to keep that under wraps for so long — just because we did scenes where we had 2000 extras, so at any point someone could've even given away shots of Jonno in the motion-capture suit. Or some image from the work that Wētā were doing could've found its way online. And it just didn't," Gracey tells Concrete Playground. "We tried really hard to make that the case because we wanted it to land in a way that was a very unique way to lens this story. And also having pitched it unsuccessfully for many years to financiers, I also knew that it would never make sense until people got to watch it," the filmmaker continues. "So there was really no point having chatter about an image and the conversation of whether that looks like Robbie or doesn't look like Robbie. I think that the most overwhelming response has been from people who are even sceptical about the conceit, that once they watch the film, they understand. And so I just desperately wanted to get in front of people before the conversation about 'why the monkey?'." [caption id="attachment_985602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures[/caption] A decade on from his screen debut in British TV's Casualty, Kingsman: The Secret Service and Hunters alum Davies has notched up what might prove the most-unique role of his career: playing Williams via motion-capture, and also voicing him in his younger years (Williams lends his own vocals to the movie, too). For his efforts, he's among the AACTA contenders for Best Actor. A fan going in of the man that he's portraying and of The Greatest Showman, Davies was instantly keen to take on the part, and has been revelling in the reactions that the movie has been earning since. "What's brilliant is seeing different audiences respond to the movie, whether that's an age thing, whether it's different continents, people that are Robbie Williams fans, people that have never heard of Robbie at all, and seeing how different people respond to it in different ways," Davies shares. "And seeing it being universally accepted — I think that was something we always wanted to focus on, is that Robbie is an everyday man. There's something in him, whether it's the relationship he has with his nan, whether it's his fear of imposter syndrome, there's something in him that anyone can relate to. There's something there that people connect [to]. I know Michael's had people coming up to him and saying 'I spoke to my dad for the first time in seven years' or people watch it and go 'you know what, it's made me want to ring my mum more or get in touch with the people I love'. Having those different connections and different responses is why you want to make cinema, why you want to make a film — is to affect people. It's been a joy." Down Under, Better Man was already making a splash before it reached Aussie cinemas on Boxing Day 2024; breaking the record for the most AACTA nods in a single year will do that. In a country with well-known fondness for Williams — if a biopic wasn't going to come out of Britain, Australia always seemed the next logical place for it — its main man has been popping up headlining the ABC's New Year's Eve coverage and doing a free gig in Melbourne's Federation Square, helping to give the movie a push, too. For viewers not instantly enticed by its subject or approach, the flick's biggest enticement sits within the feature itself, though. When 'Rock DJ' breaks out in a sequence filmed on London's Regent Street, it's a spectacular movie-musical moment. Gracey and Davies are relaying the tale of another great showman, after all, although that standout scene almost didn't happen. We also spoke with Better Man's director and co-writer, plus its star, about that unforgettable segment of the film, stepping into Williams' shoes — or a chimpanzee's feet, to be more accurate — and why monkeying around was the best way to tackle Williams' tale, as well as fandom, resilience and the full impact of Hugh Jackman's Williams obsession on The Greatest Showman. On Davies Playing the Man Responsible for One of His First Music Memories Jonno: "I was definitely a fan growing up. I saw him concert when I was nine with mum and dad. It's one of my earliest music memories, really. And when you're a child, you have no idea what your identity is, you're just in for a good time — and seeing this rock star on stage, peacocking about like he does, connecting with an audience, seeing how he's there to entertain the crowd rather than entertain himself. So then to 25-odd years later to be the one to play him is quite a pinch-me moment. I think it helped being from the UK, understanding the peak of his fame, how heavily, heavily documented his life was — much to his detriment, the lack of privacy there when he was suffering — I think that was a nice insight to have. But then also meeting in-person when we were in Melbourne when we first started, and then getting the rest of the story and sitting down with him, and him sharing some of his more vulnerable parts of himself — because he wants to make sure that this was an honest depiction. It takes someone very brave to allow themselves to be painted in quite a bad light a lot of the times in the movie. And so the fact that he then gave us his trust to collectively tell his story in a very honest and truthful way, I think it shows a calibre of a person." On How The Greatest Showman and Hugh Jackman Helped Bring Better Man About Michael: "It all stems back to working on The Greatest Showman with Hugh Jackman. Whenever we would talk about PT Barnum and what it was to be a great showman, he would always reference Robbie Williams — which used to make me laugh, and then after a certain period of time really annoyed me, because it was just always his go-to reference. Whether he was talking about music, whether he was talking about his swagger, or his charisma, or whether we were talking about choreography, he's like 'you know, the way that Robbie sort of moves' and I was like 'you know, every reference can't be Robbie Williams'. So at a certain moment when we were close to going into production, Hugh had a lot of voices in his ear about the music not being good enough, and he started to question the music. And at that point, we'd been working on the film together for six years, so I'd lost a lot of weight in my voice — because I was always the boy who cried wolf, who was like 'no, it's going to be great. This'll be the year we make it'. After six years, people start losing faith a little bit. So in a moment where Hugh felt that we should start again on the music, and I knew that that would mean the end of the film — and this is the music that is in the final film that Benji Pasek and Justin Paul wrote — I got in touch through my lawyer, because his daughter is friends with Ayda [Field], who is married to Robbie Williams. You know how you're always just like three people away from the person you want to get to? So I got a meeting with Robbie on a Sunday at his house, where I told him the story of The Greatest Showman, and then I played him the music. And at the end of the meeting, I said 'look, the only thing more bizarre than me showing up at your house on a Sunday is what I'm about to ask you now. It's one thing for me to tell Hugh Jackman what you think of the music. It's another thing for you to tell him entirely. So if you don't mind, can I just video you and you just talk into the camera as if you're talking to Hugh Jackman?' And that's what he did. He did this video message, which, to this day, if I'd written the script and said 'can you please read this to convince Hugh that this music is going to be great?' — what he did off the top of his head with ten-seconds' notice is why he is such an amazing showman. He was so compelling, the way he spoke about the music, he basically said to Hugh 'I've spent the last year working on my new album. I would scrap that album to sing these songs'. He literally was that effusive about how great the music was for The Greatest Showman. And he was right. The music was great. And history went on to prove that. But in that moment, that's exactly what Hugh needed to hear to have the confidence to move forward and make the film. So in many regards, there would be no Greatest Showman if there wasn't that video message from Robbie Williams. That's how we started then talking, and I just really enjoyed whenever we would talk, when he would tell me stories about his life. And with no intention to make a film — because unlike Jonno, I didn't grow up a Robbie Williams fan. Obviously growing up in Australia, you can't escape him. He's everywhere, but it's not like I listened to him. [caption id="attachment_985603" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures[/caption] But what I really did love is I loved the way in which he talked about his life — and not just the events, but actually his delivery. I really enjoyed the manner in which, whether he's writing lyrics as a storyteller or telling you a story, he's a great storyteller. So I then just asked, knowing that he had a recording studio, when I was in LA, I would just drop over to his house and we would just sit in his recording studio and just chat. And those conversations took about a year and a half, and at some point during that, I started thinking 'wow, I could probably chop these up and make a radio play'. Then I went from there to 'actually this could make a really powerful film'. And in fact, those some of those recordings are in the actual voiceover of the film — those original recordings. But it was never the intention to make the film. It all stemmed from him and me just sitting in a studio just talking." On Why Portraying Williams as a Chimpanzee Was the Right Way to Tell His Story Michael: "I think that creatively, I just wanted to come at it with a unique angle. And also, I knew that narratively I wanted to explore both his internal life and his external life. So it was trying to find a device that would allow us to step between those two worlds, the world of the imagination and the world of reality. I think in a musical you're already in a heightened reality, because people are breaking into song, but I wanted something creative that would allow us to see more of Robbie than if it was just an actor playing him. And when I went back to those original recordings and I was listening to them, just time and time again Rob would refer to himself as a performing monkey. He would just say things like 'I was just dragged up on stage to perform like a monkey' or 'I'm up the back dancing around like a performing monkey'. And he said enough times that I was like 'there's definitely something to this performing monkey'. And when I looked at his story, whether it's him pretending to be tougher than he is in front of the kids in Stoke-on-Trent, where he grew up, or whether it's jumping up in front of the TV hoping that his dad would look at him the same way that he looks at Sinatra, there were just all these moments within the story that I was like 'he's always been that little performing monkey'. And the moment that I framed the entire film in that conceit, it just made me smile. I just thought 'this is going to work and it's going to work unbelievably well'. Convincing other people of that was the difficult part, but not convincing Rob. Rob was onboard in two seconds. I literally went to him and said 'if you're an animal, how would you see yourself?'. And he immediately said 'lion' and looked very proud. Then I sort of went 'really?'. And after about 30 seconds, he went 'nah, more of a monkey'. On Davies' First Reaction to Such a Unique Part Jonno: "There are so many challenges in this thing for an actor that every one is like 'oh my god, another reason to do it, another reason to do it'. One: motion-capture. Two: you are telling someone's story that's still alive, and someone that has many predetermined opinions on them, and so it's kind of up to you to try to shift those things. And I think that's what's useful about the monkey, is it separates people from Robbie Williams, and you follow this monkey story rather than necessarily this global superstar that people think they already know. But I was blown away by the concept. And I was I was blown away by the dream of it really. That's one of Michael's best assets, is he sells you the dream — but unlike many others, you get to actually go along with it. You get to join it. I was a massive fan of The Greatest Showman. I have always loved musicals. I love dancing, I love singing, but never thought I really had the chops to be a part of that world — certainly not a Broadway or a West End singer. So to be able to have Rob do the singing and me do the dancing, I was like 'how could I possibly not try to make this mine?'." On the Film's Celebration of Resilience and Persistence — and What That Concept Means to Davies and Gracey Jonno: "Resilience certainly comes in with the life of an actor. You are told 'no' many more times than you are told 'yes.' And you often value yourself on your last job, or the last job you did not get. I think it's about trying to stay resilient and trying to remember that you are authentically you, right? And so even though you're getting your nos, it doesn't mean you're crap, it means that you're just not right for this opportunity. It's a hard memory to keep inside, but I think it's one that is premier above all else. Otherwise you start to lose your identity. If you start thinking that 'I'm getting nos because I'm not good enough' or 'I'm not the right person', you start shifting your identity. Then you don't become what makes you, and that's essentially your best asset. And so resilience for me is about staying true to yourself, and if you're going to do something — Guy Chambers says it in our film, he says 'own it'. If it's crap, make it your crap. And I think that's a form of resilience that we can all take onboard." Michael: "Resilience is my entire life, because you have these grand ideas and it's up to you to continue to believe in them year after year after year. Showman took seven years to make, and at one point or another every single person involved in that project gave up hope — and you as the director cannot. Everyone else can lose faith, and you just have to keep on, you have to stand in that burning building and tell everyone it's going to be okay. This took six years. It was a high-concept idea that scared a lot of people, because the concept of the monkey immediately doubled the budget of the film. It made it a much more risky prospect. And it scared a lot of financiers away. The number of meetings that I had to do where people would just flat-out, the moment the monkey was mentioned, were like 'what are you talking about?' — and 'this is the end of the meeting'. That was the much more common response to that idea. And yet, I knew if there was a way to bring it into reality, it would be unique and it would be something that I'd be incredibly proud of. And so resilience is my entire career, and I would not be a director if I did not have that resilience. I think the joy you get as a director is finding other people to believe in that impossible dream, who stand alongside you and make it a reality, and that is the greatest privilege that you have as a director." On What It Took to Make the 'Rock DJ' Scene a Reality Jonno: "A lot of pogo-stick practice. It was the pinnacle of joy, right, in the film. It's the one moment that Robbie and the audience gets to really just live in dreamland, and there's no darkness that encases it, there's no version of himself telling him telling him he's rubbish. And so we were determined that when we arrived on Regent Street, that would be the feeling that we would feel. And, of course, you can only have that joy if you've put in the graft beforehand. And that's not just Michael. It's every department. It's Ash and Jen [Ashley Wallen and Jenny Griffin, both returning from The Greatest Showman], the choreographers, making sure that not only us, the Take That boys, but the 500 dancers were drilled so that we were never getting a bad take because of the dancing. You only have a set amount of time on Regent Street, so everyone had to just be shit hot, for want of a better term. We taped out a hangar, so the minute details, so every bush, every lamp post, was in its exact spot, so that when we arrived on the street, we were ready to go. It wasn't figuring out any proximity, etcetera. But it was a joy. It was one of my favourite experiences on set. I think you see it on our faces when we when we do Regent Street. I think you can probably see it in our pupils as well. There's kind of joy, combating a bit of 'we've got to get this done'. But it's such an iconic street, and it demanded an iconic routine — and I think Michael has delivered with that. Michael: "The practicalities of pulling that off were enormous. It was a year and a half in the planning. As Jonno mentioned, we rehearsed in a hangar the week before with the entire cast and crew, and double-decker bus and taxi, all those elements — only because the moment we got on the street, we had to start shooting, and we had very limited time overnight where we could lock down the entire street and film. It was shot over four nights, but after that week of rehearsal in the hangar, literally the day before we were about to start filming, the Queen passed away. And so we got shut down. There's ten days of mourning after the death of the Queen. Regent Street is crown land. So it was devastating because we paid out all of the costs to shoot. We'd locked down all those stores for those dates. We'd booked all of those dancers. So we lost all that money. There was no insurance for the death of the Queen. At that point, there were a lot of very serious conversations about cutting the number from the film. And I was like 'we've got to go out, we've got to raise that money again, we've got to get back onto Regent Street and we have to shoot this number — it is absolutely a cornerstone of this story'. It took another five months to find a window where we were allowed back on the street, and to raise the money again. And so every time that number plays, I just go in my head 'we were this close to that never happening' — but that comes back to your question about persistence. Better Man opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, December 26, 2024. Michael Gracey will chat about the film at the 2025 AACTA Festival, which runs from Wednesday, February 5–Sunday, February 9, 2025 at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast.
If the Venice Film Festival can dedicate an entire island to virtual reality, and Brisbane can host its own VR festival, then Melbourne's year-round cinema hub can make the interactive technology a permanent part of its collection. As well as launching a new limited-offering VR commission, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image is adding a VR Lounge to its screen-filled spaces. Come September 23, ACMI will not only say hello to Prehistoric VR, a free two-week step back in time, but will also ask visitors to get comfy in their newest addition. The former, called the first 360-degree VR puppetry experience of its kind, comes from performing arts company Erth Visual & Physical Inc and award-winning visual artist and filmmaker Samantha Lang, while the latter will showcase a rotating array of VR works. The third ACMI commission that has asked established performing artists to turn a live stage work into realistic 360-degree virtual reality, where Prehistoric VR is headed isn't a surprise — when it comes to interacting with creatures that no longer roam the earth, life finds a way. Until October 8, the immersive experience dives onto the ocean floor, and back 200 million years, to encounter the aquatic critters from the Ediacaran to the Cretaceous periods. On the permanent front, ACMI's new ongoing VR Lounge will form part of its free Screen Worlds exhibition, kicking off with mystical fairy tale The Turning Forest. Created by Melbourne-based VR company VRTOV, who also have space at ACMI's co-working space ACMI X, it premiered to rave reviews at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, even earning comparisons to The NeverEnding Story. ACMI's commitment to virtual reality isn't new, with the centre premiering the spooky Ghost, Toast and the Things Unsaid and immersive dance experience Stuck in the Middle With You in 2016. As ACMI Director and CEO, Katrina Sedgwick explains, "as the national museum for film, TV, games digital culture and art, ACMI is fascinated by the rapid evolution of VR and the new ways practitioners are engaging audiences through this platform." Image: Renee Stamatis Photography.
Come the really raw bits of winter, our gut instinct generally tells us to bunker down in our own homes with blanket forts and hot comforting stews. Nothing says 'let's stay home in our pyjamas tonight' like frosty air and something trashy on TV. But don't fret — mini-holidays are still achievable (even in winter) and in Melbourne weekends away are at your fingertips. All you have to do is jump into your car and go for a little spin. Cold places can make for beaut weekends away, and Melbourne's Dandenong Ranges are a very valid option. Only 35 kilometres east of the CBD, The Hills, as they're affectionately known, will make you feel like you're in a tiny European village at the best of times, or lost in the forest at the worst (hint: take a map with you). Stretching from the southern ranges to Belgrave, the foothills and hilltop villages like Sassafrass and Mount Dandenong, here are some tips for a weekend away in the area filled with woodfires, ferns and a plethora of dessert options. [caption id="attachment_581918" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Hideaway Cottage[/caption] STAY Heading up to stay a few nights? Feeling cosy in Airbnb cottages are what it's all about up there, so have yourself a gander at this one. Hideaway Cottage is right up the top of the mountain in the area actually called — fittingly enough — Mount Dandenong, and it's a sweet little stone cottage house embodying all things quaint. There's a loft bedroom up a spiral staircase, a fireplace for those wintry times and even a veranda as an added bonus. You'll be sitting out the front wrapped in your blanket cocoon saying things like "this is what life is all about" before you know it — not even minding that your toes have gone a bit numb. If you want to step it up a notch and go full forest, head up to the Linden Rainforest Retreat; it's also in Mount Dandenong, but a whole level above when it comes to indulgence. You can choose from one of four 'designer suite' retreats, there's room service, and you can even pre-order a cheese platter and/or rose petals to be strewn about your bed before you arrive. It's prime fare for a couple celebrating something special, or just for a single really going for it in the treat yo'self stakes. 100 points for you. Alternatively, just go bush and camp somewhere in the basically enormous expanse of green camping possibility that the Dandenong Ranges are. There are a bunch of well-equipped camping grounds dotted around the ranges — here's a list to start you off. But a warning to you, the Dandenongs do tend to hover a few degrees lower than the mainland down below at all times, so nights outdoors in winter will be frosty indeed. [caption id="attachment_581920" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ripe Sassafrass[/caption] EAT AND DRINK Contrary to popular opinion, it's not all about scones up here. Okay, it is a little bit. A hot tip is avoiding the over-touristy and over-priced Miss Marple's Tearoom in Sassafras and heading a few doors down to Ripe. The café has a produce store attached, a heated deck so you can sit amongst the ferns, and a Devonshire tea that includes a hot drink in the price (unlike Miss Marple's). For those who aren't all about lashings of cream and jam, Ripe also does a solid baguette menu — and it almost goes without saying that the prosciutto, quince paste and brie is the winner over here. [caption id="attachment_581922" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Cafe de Beaumarchais[/caption] If you've done a fair whack of walking around the mountainous surroundings, it could be high time for some sweet treats. Café de Beaumarchais (also in Sassafras) has you sorted with a fairly hectic cake display and great coffee, and a general vibe making you feel like you're in a tiny village in France. For heavier fare head to Woods Sherbrooke — the Sri Lankan chef and owner's contemporary Asian menu will warm your belly on a cold winter's night. Drinking holes are a little harder to come by in the hills, so our first suggestion would be to make a big vat of your own mulled wine and drink it by the fireplace in your cottage. If you're very keen to venture on out, Belgrave is probably the place to go. Sooki Lounge on Burwood Highway isn't the hallmark that the bar it replaced, the famous Ruby's Lounge, once was, but it still does live music and organic tapas. Oscar's Alehouse, also just down the road, is a bit of Brunswick in Belgrave — there's a heap of different craft beers and you can even BYO pizza in. [caption id="attachment_581933" align="alignnone" width="1280"] RJ Hamer Aboretum, Matthew Paul Argall via Flickr[/caption] SEE AND DO Getting around in the Dandenongs can be slow-going — thanks to the one-lane Mount Dandenong Tourist Road starting at Tremont and running all the way up to Montrose — so don those old runners, flex your feet and set off on foot. It's like the hills are urging you to go a-hikin' through them, and there's plentiful walks to be done. A tip is avoiding the tourist-saturated 1000 Steps Walk on a weekend because it ends up being more of a shuffle/whoops-avoid-the-family-of-five-plus-their-dog type affair. Instead, head to the huge RJ Hamer Arboretum in Olinda. Here stand over 150 different types of trees and, when the leaves start to fall in cold weather, it has a real resemblance to Narnia. The National Rhododendron Gardens nearby are also beautiful, covered in colour, and quite hilly so you can get a bit of cardio in at the same time. [caption id="attachment_581935" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ashim D'Sliva[/caption] Rainier days might see you heading into Belgrave's Cameo Cinemas, an eight-screen effort showing arthouse and cult hits as well as blockbusters, with an outdoor cinema in the warmer months. But if you want some more R&R (that is, if watching the new Tarzan isn't relaxing enough for you), the Japanese Mountain Retreat in Montrose has more mineral springs and massage therapies than you could have time for over a single weekend. Shopping-wise, Sassafras has options that range from homey and fragrant (Tea Leaves) to tasty pantry things (Cream), to kooky wooden puppets (Geppetto's), if that's your jam. Or, if you're up there between November and April, take home some edible souvenirs from Blue Hills Berries & Cherries by picking your own strawberries, raspberries, or cherries as fresh as they come. [caption id="attachment_548957" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sherbrooke Falls Trail[/caption] ALRIGHT, LET'S DO THIS Public transport is sparse, but you can jump on a train and take the Belgrave line out to Upper Ferntree Gully Station, then wait for the 688 bus (every half hour or so), which runs along the Mt. Dandenong Tourist Road up the mountain. The drive is quicker — about 50 minutes from the CBD. The Burwood Highway and Mount Dandenong will take you up there pretty swiftly. Top image: Adrian Mohedano via Flickr.
Don't give a shit about what Justin Bieber is tweeting these days? Stick it to social media by ordering toilet paper rolls printed with your Twitter feed. Matt Delprado, a creative director at Profero Sydney, along with David Gillespie, created Shitter. The company's motto, "Social media has never been so disposable", says it all. Place your online order and have four rolls delivered to your doorstep so you can literally flush all the hashtagging and online ranting down the loo. It's much better revenge for an obnoxious tweeter than an 'unfollow'. #dontgiveashit [via Lost at E Minor]
New restaurants and takeaway joints open every week in Melbourne — so much so that it's hard to keep up, let alone determine which ones to visit. But you know what gets our attention? Free stuff. That's why we're pleased to tell you that, to celebrate the opening of their first Melbourne store, in Moonee Ponds, Zeus Street Greek will be giving out free souvas to anyone who visits the new location on Saturday March 17. All you have to do is walk into the Hall Street store between noon and 3pm on Saturday and you'll score yourself a free pita. These are ZSG's version of a souvlaki, which you can get filled with chicken, pork, lamb, falafel, haloumi or soft shell crab. Only chicken and lamb varieties will be available for free on the day, but for each pita given away, ZSG will donate $2 to TLC for Kids, a charity that supports provides assistance for sick children and their families. In case you haven't heard of ZSG, they've been taking over the rest of the country at a steady rate. Melbourne marks their 20th digs, with the chain boasting 14 stores in New South Wales, three in Brisbane, and others in Canberra and Perth. Zeus Street Greek Moonee Ponds is now open at 21-31 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds. To celebrate the opening, they will will be giving away free pitas on Saturday, March 17 from 12–3pm. For more info visit zeusstreetgreek.com.au. Images: Zeus Street Greek / Dominic Loneragan.
An artist turned filmmaker, Julian Schnabel largely specialises in films about visionary artists, however he can't be accused of settling into a comfortable niche. Whether he's focusing on American painter Jean-Michel Basquiat in Basquiat, exploring the life of Cuban poet and playwright Reinaldo Arenas in Before Night Falls, or examining the experiences of French writer Jean-Dominique Bauby in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Schnabel does more than present straightforward biographical dramas. Rather, his pictures are dedicated to channelling their subject's mindsets with every stylistic touch — to steeping viewers in each real-life figure's perspective as deeply and immersively as possible. There's no formula at play, just an unflinching dedication to capturing each artist's essence. And with the writer-director turning his attention to Vincent van Gogh, At Eternity's Gate hits the mark perfectly. To many, van Gogh's name inspires three well-known details: his Sunflowers still-life paintings, the moody blue swirls of The Starry Night and the liberation of his ear from his head by his own hand. All three rate a mention in At Eternity's Gate, though they're hardly the most crucial aspects of the film. With Willem Dafoe plays the artist with urgent, revelatory intensity (and earning a much-deserved Academy Award nomination for his troubles), Schnabel seeks to understand rather than faithfully chronicle. As written with Jean-Claude Carrière and co-editor Louise Kugelberg, his movie happily draws upon not only van Gogh's personal letters, but on fiction, myths and speculation, including about the artist's death. A suitably post-impressionist portrait of the iconic Dutch post-impressionist, At Eternity's Gate recounts van Gogh's final years — a period of challenge, pain and immense productivity. Feeling adrift in the Parisian art scene, where galleries remain uninterested and his art-dealer brother Theo (Rupert Friend) can't sell his work, van Gogh decamps to the French town of Arles upon the advice of fellow artist Paul Gauguin (Oscar Isaac). But if van Gogh hovered on the fringes of his chosen community in the city, he's an outright pariah in his new small-town setting, with his drinking, temper-driven outbursts and psychological unravelling grating against the locals. While Theo arranges for Gaugin to join his sibling's sojourn, the solace of good company proves merely a temporary fix to van Gogh's inner woes. It would've been a revolutionary move, but Schnabel could've trained the camera solely at Dafoe for At Eternity's Gate's entire running time, and he still would've crafted an exceptional film. There's such power to the actor's performance — the power that springs not from force, or from seeing every ounce of effort, but from so convincingly stepping into someone else's shoes. van Gogh's work has always seethed with both passion and fragility. In every stroke, even in his most striking compositions, it seems as if he's feverishly exorcising the visions that are haunting his mind. In the movie's finest accomplishment, its commanding leading man gives flesh, heart and soul to that sensation. Although Isaac is memorable as Gauguin, and both Mathieu Amalric and Mads Mikkelsen make an impression as a doctor and a priest, respectively, Dafoe conveys both the emotional delicacy and the damning turmoil that made van Gogh who he was — and made his art so astonishing. Of course, Schnabel doesn't just train the camera at his star, and his film is all the better for it. How the filmmaker composes At Eternity's Gate's frames is as important as what's within them, with cinematographer Benoît Delhomme wielding the lens almost as if it's a paintbrush. There's rarely a still moment, with the image swirling, roaming and playing with focus in the same way that van Gogh's artwork does. The movie also borrows the artist's use of colour, particularly when gazing upon the French landscapes that he frequently committed to canvas. And yet, Schnabel never forgets that film is an audio-visual medium. His potent visuals say plenty about his complicated subject, but so does his layered soundscape. Staring into Dafoe's penetrating blue eyes, peering at every fleck of dirt and grass that marked van Gogh's life, and marvelling at the painter's pieces only feels complete when the artist's words float like the wind — and when the wind itself conjures up his deep-seated struggle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcPLAz1LG1U
Winter is upon us, the gloves and beanies are out of storage, and it's time to start loading up on sweets and carbs. That's how every June starts — and, this year, Krispy Kreme wants to help with the latter. How? By giving away an extremely excessive number of doughnuts. You're probably now wondering what constitutes an excessive amount of doughnuts. No, polishing off a packet by yourself doesn't count, at least in this instance. Krispy Kreme's giveaway is going big, with the chain slinging 10,000 original glazed doughnuts on Friday, June 7 in conjunction with National Doughnut Day. Whether or not you're a big fan of food 'days', we're guessing you are quite fond of free doughnuts. To snag yourself a signature glazed freebie, head to your closest Krispy Kreme store, with Melburnians able to hit up nine locations from the airport to the city. The National Doughnut Day deal isn't available anywhere other than Krispy Kreme stores, or via online orders or third-party deliveries. There's also a limit of one freebie per person, and the giveaway only applies to the original glazed variety. The 100,000 doughnuts will be spread across the participating stores around the country, so you'll want to get in relatively early if you want to kick off your Friday with a free sweet and doughy treat. Obviously, whether you nab one or not is subject to availability.
Their impressive 2023 Women's World Cup efforts mightn't have ended in a medal, the 2024 Paris Olympics sadly didn't turn out as planned and the next Women's Asian Cup, which Australia is hosting, isn't until 2026 — but the Matildas have an opportunity to emerge victorious on the international stage in 2025. The contest: the SheBelieves Cup, a four-nation annual competition that's been held by US Soccer for a decade now. This is the first time that Australia is taking part, and you can watch along between Friday, February 21–Thursday, February 27. Australia's national women's soccer team will play three other squads that also competed in Paris: Japan, the USA (unsurprisingly) and Colombia. First up is the Japan match in Houston, then battling it out with the contest hosts — and Olympic gold medal-winners and world number-one team — in Glendale, before facing Colombia in San Diego. While the time difference means that none of the games are being played in Aussie prime time, they're still on in Australian-friendly slots — all mornings. On the east coast, you might want to go into work late on Friday, February 21 (8.30am AEDT / 7.30am AEST / 8am ACDT / 5.30am AWST) and Monday, February 24 (8.30am AEDT / 7.30am AEST / 8am ACDT / 5.30am AWST), or have an early lunch on Thursday, February 27 (11am AEDT / 10am AEST /10.30am ACDT / 8am AWST). To watch, Paramount+ is your destination, showing the games live exclusively Down Under. For this batch of matches, Steph Catley is donning the captain's armband, with Ellie Carpenter and Emily van Egmond as her deputies. After Tony Gustavsson left following the Olympics, the Matildas don't yet have a new permanent full-time coach, so Tom Sermanni — who did the job between 1994–97 and 2005–12 — remains at the reins, after stepping in temporarily in late 2024. Mary Fowler is back in the squad after sitting out the Matildas' last 2024 games to put her mental and physical health first — and, as well as Catley, Carpenter and van Egmond, she has plenty of company. The team also includes Mackenzie Arnold, Caitlin Ford, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Alanna Kennedy, Hayley Raso and Tameka Yallop. As for Sam Kerr, she hasn't yet returned to the field following her ACL injury last year, so isn't taking part in the SheBelieves Cup. The Matildas 2025 SheBelieves Cup Games Friday, February 21 — Matildas v Japan at 8.30am AEDT / 7.30am AEST / 8am ACDT / 5.30am AWST Monday, February 24 — Matildas v USA at 8.30am AEDT / 7.30am AEST / 8am ACDT / 5.30am AWST Thursday, February 27 — Matildas v Colombia at 11am AEDT / 10am AEST /10.30am ACDT / 8am AWST The Matildas' SheBelieves Cup 2025 games take place between Friday, February 21–Thursday, February 27 — and you can watch via Paramount+. Images: Tiffany Williams, Football Australia.
Before 'indie' meant more than 'independently signed', Neutral Milk Hotel fit the term by all accounts. Reaching cult status only after their 1999 breakup, the American outfit have since inspired Tumblr posts the world over with angst-soaked lyrics such as "How strange it is to be anything at all." As part of their reunion tour, Neutral Milk Hotel were set to headline the dust-biting Harvest Festival, but made sure to remember their generation-spanning fans here in Aus. Yep, for their first Aussie shows ever, the full lineup from everyone's favourite record — 1998's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea — will be brought to The Forum Theatre on November 15 and 16. The once-in-a-lifetime shows will see NMH joined by M. Ward and Superchunk. So c'mon fanboys and girls, grab the last of the tickets that went on sale Friday October 11. One show has already sold out!
CONCRETE PLAYGROUND: In The Guest Edit, we hand the reins over to some of the most interesting, tasteful and (or) entertaining people in Australia and New Zealand. For this instalment, we've enlisted help from Sheet Society founder and interior design extraordinaire Hayley Worley. The Melbourne-based owner and creative has put pen to (digital) paper, outlining the biggest colour and pattern trends of the year, as well as tips on how to incorporate them around your home. HAYLEY WORLEY: The best part of my job is that I get to surround myself with inspirational fashion, interiors and design. While I'm a big fan of staple colours that will never go out of style, I'm equally excited by new, fresh and fashionable prints. It's really important to me and for my creative and design process, that I love and find joy in the things I surround myself with. There's nothing quite like putting on your favourite dress or jumping into a new bed of fresh sheets as a moment of pleasure. My picks for Concrete Playground are all things that have recently made me happy — including making my kids happy too! CHECKERBOARD PRINT This is a huge trend that we don't see going anywhere, anytime soon. If you're looking for an easy place to start, the Sheet Society Margot print is the perfect fashionable update to your bed in a really easy-to-style Camel colour. I've got lots of Sheet Society colours (as you can imagine!) and Margot pairs with pretty much anything. I've currently got it on my bed with Sage and Blush. HAND-PAINTED MOTIFS Sheet Society collaborated with Annie Everingham last year on a beautiful bedding collection, and her latest collaboration with Alemais is such a goodie. Her hand-painted motifs have been used across a wide range of fashion styles and I wore this pink one to my birthday a few weeks ago. It's currently out of stock on Alemais, but is available on Selfridges & Co here. Sheet Society also releases a limited edition collaboration each year and this year we partnered with local artist Lahni Barass, on a collection called Sleep Patterns. It's available here. BLUSH We have a one- and a three-year-old and it's often hard to find kids clothes that are bright or have loud prints. I adore the Aussie brand ByBillie, they've got a really great palette to choose from and a strong range of styles. I recently bought both kids matching Joey Jackets in blush and they are just so adorable. SAGE I've currently got our Sage blanket on, which not only looks great, but it's the extra cosiness I need (and grab for) in the middle of the night. Right in the middle of Melbourne winter, I definitely need to add a few extra layers. It has two layers of our French Flax Eve Linen with a plump quilted wadding inside and feels super lush. Pictured here with a divine Ella Reweti vase. OFF-WHITE I had an absolute blast picking out furniture for our new store in Armadale. Our interior designers, Golden, worked really well and collaborated closely with us to develop a soft furnishing plan that spoke to the Armadale customer, while staying true to Sheet Society. This Gatto lamp, designed by Floss, was one of our 'splurge' items. We also used it in our latest winter campaign, styled with our new-season teal colour. Perfection!
If you could only use one word to sum up 2023 at the movies so far, that word would be Barbie. If you had to use a colour instead, it'd be pink. And the filmmaker of the year to-date? None other than Greta Gerwig. Why? Because the rosy-hued, Gerwig-helmed doll-to-screen flick has been everywhere — getting everyone buzzing via its many, many trailers before it arrived; packing in picture palaces once it officially released; breaking box-office records aplenty; and now becoming the highest-grossing title of 2023. First, a recap. Do you guys ever think about how well the film has been doing at filling cinema seats? Barbie really has been smashing it at bringing in audiences. In Australia, the movie made history almost instantly, notching up the biggest opening at the Australian box office for 2023 so far by raking in $21.5 million including preview screenings over its first weekend. In the process, it earned the biggest opening weekend ever for a film directed by a female filmmaker. That was in July. Then, in August, Barbie became the first movie by a solo female director to make $1 billion at the global box office. When it achieved that feat, the feature did so in just 17 days from release, earning that massive stack of cash faster than any other movie from Warner Bros (even beating Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2's 19-day run). So, Barbie now surpassing The Super Mario Bros Movie as the highest-grossing film of 2023 is hardly surprising — but it is still glorious news that calls for a giant blowout party with all the Barbies, planned choreography and a bespoke song, Also, Barbie is the biggest box-office hit worldwide, and also in each of Australia and New Zealand, of this year to-date. And if you're wondering how its Barbenheimer pal is going, aka Christopher Nolan's vastly dissimilar atomic-bomb thriller Oppenheimer, it sits third worldwide — separated by The Super Mario Bros Movie. In Australia, it's fourth after Avatar: The Way of Water. In NZ, Avatar: The Way of Water is second, the Moana re-release third, then The Super Mario Bros Movie with Oppenheimer at fifth. Making so much cash — over $1.3 billion and counting since mid-July — has also rocketed Barbie into the top 15 among the highest-grossing movies of all time globally. And, besting Avengers: Age of Ultron at 14th, Frozen II at 13th and Top Gun: Maverick at 12th isn't out of the question, with all three between the $1.4–1.5-billion mark. If Barbie tops Frozen II, it'll become the highest-grossing film ever by a female filmmaker. It's already the highest-grossing by a solo woman helmer, with the Frozen sequel co-directed with a male filmmaker. Yes, as the Margot Robbie-starring flick makes plain with its frames, Barbie really can be anything. The famous doll can be President, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, a diplomat and a Supreme Court justice. It can be a mermaid, doctor, lawyer and Pulitzer-winner, too. Off-screen, Barbie the movie definitely is a helluva pioneer in breaking records as well. Back to 2023's box office, the Robbie- and Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man)-led film sits above not only The Super Mario Bros Movie and Oppenheimer worldwide, but also Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Fast X, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Little Mermaid, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, Elemental and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Check out the Barbie trailer below: Barbie is showing in Australian and New Zealand cinemas now. Read our review. Via Variety.
If you've wandered around South Melbourne Market, Preston Market or Queen Vic Market lately, you've likely seen long lines of folks hunting down Cannoleria's ricotta-filled pastry shells. Its Sicilian-style cannolis are no joke, made with That's Amore ricotta and delicately crunchy pastry. But wherever you've bee getting your fix so far, it's been a purely takeaway affair — you either have to rush home before the cannoli start getting soggy, get the filling sold separately so you can pipe them later, or scoff the cannoli right after ordering. That is until now, as the team is bringing its first dine-in venue to town — and it'll be opening soon on Lygon Street, no less. While we're still awaiting details about an opening date, what we do know is that come late July or early August, Cannoleria will be setting up shop on the unofficial home of Melbourne's Italian dining and cultural scene, which has hosted countless Italian restaurants and gelato joints for generations. The new site will seat 18 cannoli lovers, allowing them to take their time savouring these sweet Sicilian treats. Moka Pot St Remio coffee and other hot and cold bevs will also be available. There's no word yet on whether the site will be stocking its epic pistachio spreads, cannoli-scented candles, cannoli cakes and merch, but we're quietly hopeful. To celebrate the new opening, Cannoleria will be giving away 1000 mini cannolis on its launch day, so watch this space for more details once we have them. You'll soon find Cannoleria at 334 Lygon Street, Carlton. For more information, visit the venue's website.
During the summer season, Fargo & Co's sun-drenched rooftop is a go-to for spritz-sipping sessions and bottomless brunches. But from Thursday, June 2, thanks to a nifty makeover, it's set to prove itself as a top-notch winter destination, too. The beloved terrace is being transformed into a wintery paradise, with apres-ski vibes in abundance. Included in the new look is a collection of pop-up cabins or mini ski lodges, which you can hire out for a private sesh with your crew. From Friday to Sunday, you've got a choice of two different packages, which'll see your group enjoy a three-hour stay in your private ski chalet, with boozy hot chocolates, shared snacks, a pink chocolate fondue fountain, and a bottle of Grey Goose with mixers. The 'Basic B*tch' package comes in at $400 for 3 to 6 guests, while the 'Boss B*tch' edition also features a private cocktail fountain, totalling $680 for groups of 6 to 8. If you book a cabin on Wednesday or Thursday, you can forgo the packages and enjoy your winter oasis a la carte-style, with a $50 per person minimum spend.
Bluesfest has lifted the lid on its first artist announcement for 2019, the festival's 30th anniversary, and heading the stampede are famed American singers Jack Johnson and Ben Harper, who will play with his band The Innocent Criminals. Both artists will be performing exclusively at Bluesfest, with Johnson making his third appearance at the festival after first appearing in 2001 and again in 2014. Speaking of the noughties, both artists are sure to bring hefty dose of nostalgia along with them — expect both 'Diamonds on the Inside' and 'Banana Pancakes' to make an appearance. Other acts taking to the stage at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm over the weekend include Aussies Kasey Chambers and Richard Clapton, six-piece soul band St. Paul and The Broken Bones and Grammy Award-winning jazz and funk collective Snarky Puppy. American singer and record producer George Clinton will perform one of his last live shows ever, before retiring in May, alongside his funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic. Anyway, here's the full lineup (so far). Better start making Easter plans because tickets are already on sale. BLUESFEST 2019 LINEUP Jack Johnson Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals Ray Lamontagne George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic Snarky Puppy Kasey Chambers St Paul and The Broken Bones Nahko and Medicine for the People Tommy Emmanuel Colin Hay Arlo Guthrie Keb' Mo' Tex Perkins Allen Stone Richard Clapton Russell Morris Kurt Vile and The Violators Vintage Trouble The Black Sorrows The California Honeydrops Trevor Hall I'm With Her Larkin Poe Irish Mythen Elephant Sessions Greensky Blugrass Rockwiz Live + more to be announced. Bluesfest 2017 will run April 18 to April 22 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay. More details and ticket info here. Image: Gavin Conaty and Andy Fraser.
Since emerging out of Byron Bay in 2006, Afends has made a name for itself through its creative and eco-friendly blends of street- and surfwear. Founded by Declan Wise and Jonathan Salfield as a way of producing merch for local punk and hardcore bands, the brand now boasts stores across NSW and VIC, as well as shipping its inventive range of products worldwide. Collaborations have always been a big part of the Afends brand and the latest is possibly its most fun yet. The northern NSW brand is coming together with female-led cannabis-loving media agency Broccoli for a trippy new summer collection. Broccoli runs a thrice-yearly magazine, podcast and twice-weekly newsletter all based on content related to weed and weed-adjacent topics. The marriage of the two brands is a match made in heaven with Afends making use of marijuana's non-psychedelic sibling hemp in their clothes in order to make them more environmentally sustainable. The Afends x Broccoli collab prominently features an optical illusion by Byron Bay artist Josh Galletly. The psychedelic pattern is sure to be a real treat for those that might engage with Broccoli's favourite subject. Highlights from the collection include a huge beach-ready tote, the hemp-based wide-leg pants and unisex collared shirt, and a one-piece bathing suit made from recycled nylon. To explore the full slate of clothes, head to the Afends website, and to stay up to date with all of Broccoli's weed-based conversations, head to the Broccoli Mag Instagram page. The Afends x Broccoli collection is now available from the Afends website and offers worldwide shipping.
Since hitting Broadway five years ago, notching up 11 Tony Awards, nabbing the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and just becoming an all-round pop culture phenomenon, Hamilton was always going to make the leap to cinemas. So, it's no wonder Disney has leapt at the opportunity, bringing Lin-Manuel Miranda's historical hip hop musical to the big screen in late 2021 — albeit via a filmed version of the stage production, rather than a traditional stage-to-screen adaptation. Miranda has talked about turning his acclaimed show into a movie, and apparently the first draft of a script has been written, but while a film version of his earlier musical In the Heights will reach cinemas in mid-2020, a feature adaptation of Hamilton isn't happening just yet. Everyone still wants to see the tale of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton on the big screen, though — if you haven't been lucky enough to catch the popular musical in New York, as it toured the US or on London's West End, then you probably just want to see it, period — so this "live capture" version is here to fill the gap. Shot at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway back in 2016, this cinematic screening of Hamilton is still a big deal. Actually, given the fact that it features the original Broadway cast — including Miranda in the eponymous role — it's a huge deal. Everyone who missed out on the opportunity to see the musical's initial run live will be able to do the next best thing, with Hamilton jumping on the popular trend of screening filmed versions of plays and musicals in cinemas. https://twitter.com/Lin_Manuel/status/1224377343126462466 As noted in Disney's US press release, only American and Canadian seasons have been announced so far, kicking off from October 15 in 2021— but with something as huge as Hamilton, it's safe to assume that these "live capture" screenings will make their way Down Under as well. The stage production finally arrives in Australia in March 2021, so if you miss out on tickets (or can't afford to buy them) this could be a nice consolation prize. In addition to Miranda — who stars, and wrote the musical's music, lyrics and book — this filmed version of the production features Daveed Diggs (Velvet Buzzsaw) as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, Leslie Odom Jr. (Murder on the Orient Express) as Aaron Burr, Christopher Jackson (When They See Us) as George Washington, Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter) as King George, Renee Elise Goldsberry (The House with a Clock in Its Walls) as Angelica Schuyler and Phillipa Soo (the Broadway version of Amelie) as Eliza Hamilton. Hamilton will screen in US cinemas from October 15, 2021 — we'll update you with a local release date if and when a Down Under run is announced. Via Variety. Top image: Hamilton, Broadway. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Cinemas may be closed around the world at present but, thanks to the proliferation of streaming platforms over the past few years, film buffs can still get their movie fix from the comfort of their own couches. If you're a fan of going to your local picture palace for more than just the flicks, though, you might be currently missing some of the other elements that come with heading out to see a movie — enjoying the communal viewing experience, attending premieres and listening to Q&A sessions afterwards, for example. Enter FanForce TV, the new streaming offshoot of theatrical distributor FanForce, which usually organises screenings of new films as driven by community demand. If you're part of a local group looking to screen a particular movie to support a specific cause, it also helps you host your own sessions. Like plenty of other businesses, FanForce has been forced to adapt to the current COVID-19 situation — so it's now shifting its setup online. Just launched — and available not just Down Under, but globally — FanForce TV lets you rent movies you'd like to watch on a pay-per-view basis. So far, so standard; however the streaming platform will also live stream Q&As, complete with live chats so you can join in from home. You'll be able to talk to fellow viewers, and direct your questions at filmmakers and expert panellists — and, if you're still eager to host your own virtual screening of a specific flick for a particular group, you can do so via FanForce TV's 'Home Premiere' function. Film-wise, the current FanForce TV range includes Oscar-winner Parasite, eco-conscious documentaries 2040 and The Biggest Little Farm, and Aussie music flicks Mystify: Michael Hutchence and Gurrumul — plus Adam Goodes-focused doco The Australian Dream, the puppy-fuelled Pick of the Litter, eerie true-crime tale Ghosthunter and even Banksy's Exit Through the Gift Shop. The list goes on, spanning docos on college sexual assault The Hunting Ground, organ transplant Dying to Live and outback dirt-racing Finke: There and Back as well, among other titles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmahNqD3Dvw More films are set to join the service, too, such as Sydney-shot comedy Standing Up for Sunny, whales in captivity documentary Blackfish and — with accompanying Q&A sessions — moving Aussie doco In My Blood It Runs. If you not only like watching movies, but recommending them, FanForce TV also boasts an affiliate program that'll pay customers cash for directing their friends to watch a particular film. For further details — or to stream a movie or organise your own online community screening — visit the FanForce TV website.
As the federal government continues to drag its feet resettling refugees fleeing the Syrian conflict (Australia had managed about 6000 by last November — Canada by comparison, was at well over 30,000), it falls once more to the non-political professions to show the government where the hands go on the 1humanitarian clock. This time, it's hospitality's turn. On March 6, UNICEF Australia will partner with 11 of the country's best chefs for a charity dinner celebrating Syria's strong culinary tradition. The Point Albert Park will host the posse of gastronomers as they prepare a banquet comprising their signature dishes with a few Syrian flourishes. If you've never been at the mercy of za'atar, pomegranate, Aleppo pepper or tamarind, this could well be a revelation. Tickets are a steep $329 per person (plus booking fee), but 75 percent of the proceed will go to UNICEF's Syria Crisis Appeal. The price includes canapés, cocktails on arrival, a shared Syrian-inspired feast and wine. It may seem on the surface like you're paying for the food, but ten professional chefs jammed into a single kitchen also suggests a night of great theatre. Movida's Frank Camorra and Lee Ho Fook's Victor Liong will be in the fray, with David Thompson of the newly opened Long Chim and Anchovy's Thi Le contending for next use of the colander with equal ferocity. If you've ever wanted to see Karen Martini trying to slice potato with steel wool or fighting a pitched battle for the top shelf of the oven, this could well be your chance. Other chefs rounding out the impressive lineup include Lûmé's Shaun Quade, Maha's Shane Delia, Embla's Dave Verheul, The Point's Andy Harmer, Jacques Reymond and David Moyle of Hobart's Franklin and soon-to-open Melbourne restaurant Longsong. While the top guns will have their turn on March 6, UNICEF Australia is encouraging anyone with passing knowledge of an oven to contribute. Restaurants and cafes can produce a limited edition 'Syria' version of a favourite dish throughout the month, of which a portion of the proceeds will go to UNICEF. For those who deal in culinary delight on a slightly smaller scale, bake sales are your recommended course. While you're waiting for the oven to pre-heat, there's more information here. The #CookForSyria charity dinner will take place on Monday, March 6 at The Point Albert Park. Tickets are $329 each and are available here.
It's named after an Italian dog breed that's famed for its truffle-hunting abilities. So it's only fitting that Carlton North eatery Lagotto is embracing truffle season with a series of Italian feasts dedicated to the famed fungus. Held across four Thursday nights (July 14, July 28, August 4 & August 11), each of the Truffle With Friends dinners will serve up a generous shared spread centred around seasonal produce and premium fresh truffles. They'll also offer an insight into Lagotto's new winter menu. [caption id="attachment_860811" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anson Smart[/caption] Expect to tuck into some clever reworkings of classic Italian dishes, courtesy of Head Chef Matteo Fulchiati (ex Osteria Ilaria). We're talking, fermented potato bread matched with malted truffle butter; eye fillet done with egg yolk and a truffle jus; fried potatoes in wagyu fat and thyme; and tortellini starring fontina, chestnuts and truffle foam. You'll even find a truffle and amaretti tiramisu for dessert. Tickets to the dinners come in at $125, with bookings available from 6.30pm each night. Top Image: Jana Langhorst
Cycling escapades through artsy neighbourhoods, banquets in medieval castles, kayaking expeditions through incredible scenery to local breweries, cocktail masterclasses and late-night parties in century-old spa baths. Cruises may've once been targeted at retirees, but they're not anymore. U By Uniworld, a branch of global river cruise company Uniworld, has waterborne odysseys for all ages — and the ships, where you'll spend a good chunk of your time, aren't just ships. They're part floating boutique hotel, part restaurant, part yoga studio, part night club. And, as moveable hotels, they can also park in the heart of some of Europe's most exciting cities. Still don't believe us? We're willing to help you change your mind. We've joined forces with U By Uniworld to give away an eight-day cruise for two people. Worth up to $7,598, the prize gives you a choice of four cruises leaving port in 2018. To see France from a whole new perspective, jump aboard The Seine Experience. You'll spend eight days on the river that travels through the heart of Paris. Possible adventures include a foodie tour around Paris's secret laneways, paragliding through a nature park, a small bar crawl in Rouen's magical old city and a visit to a cider farm in Normandy. More in the mood for beer? Opt for the Germany's Finest, which meanders along the Main and the Danube. You'll take a midnight walking tour of cosmopolitan Frankfurt, a visit to Germany's biggest beer-producing region where more than 400 drops are up for tasting, a bike ride around Nuremberg and a visit to the world's oldest sausage restaurant. Meanwhile, a multi-country experience can be had on the Danube Flow. It begins in southeast Germany with a night out in mysterious, medieval Regensburg, and finishes in Budapest, Hungary, where the ship's chef will take you on a tour of a local market. Finally, you could win a spot on Rolling on the Rhine, which starts with a night out in Amsterdam, travels through The Netherlands — where you can go sea kayaking and visit the Church of Beer — and ends in Frankfurt, Germany. Whichever you choose, your prize includes accommodation, activities, port taxes, gratuities and meals for two. It doesn't, however, include flights so keep a keen eye out for any specials — this may be the perfect excuse to book that Europe tour you've been talking about for months. To enter, see details below. [competition]650728[/competition]
The past two years have been chaotic for Australia's theatre scene — but thanks to big-name productions such as Hamilton, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Come From Away, Jagged Little Pill the Musical and Girl From the North Country, the show has gone on when it could. Big-name musicals have kept echoing, clearly, with another high-profile show soon to hit both Melbourne and Sydney: four-time Tony-winner An American in Paris. The Broadway and West End smash already kicked off its Aussie shows in Brisbane in January, and now it's set to sing and dance its way to Melbourne and Sydney, with a Perth leg also locked in and Adelaide dates set to come. This vibrant production adapts the 1951 film of the same name to Australian stages — so yes, if you're a fan of classic movies (and classic big-screen musicals starring none other than the inimitable Gene Kelly at that), then that's why the show's name sounds familiar. Story-wise, the musical follows an American soldier in Paris — because its moniker is that straightforward. Set at the end of the Second World War, it charts US GI's Jerry Mulligan's exploits as he falls for a French woman. Well, he is celebrating the end of the combat in the notably romantic city, after all. [caption id="attachment_828886" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tristram Kenton[/caption] Bringing the Oscar-winning 71-year-old film to the stage, this version of An American in Paris is directed by acclaimed contemporary ballet choreographer Christopher Wheeldon — and adapted for theatre and choreographed by him, too. The Aussie run is also being staged in collaboration with the Australian Ballet, so expect to see some of their dancers helping to bring the musical to life. George and Ira Gershwin's songs make the leap to the theatre as well, including 'I Got Rhythm', 'S Wonderful', 'But Not For Me' and 'They Can't Take That Away From Me'. Initially, An American in Paris debuted in Paris — where else? — in 2014, before hitting Broadway, Boston and West End. 'AN AMERICAN IN PARIS' AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2022: Friday, March 18–Sunday, April 24 — State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Friday, April 29–Sunday, June 12 — Theatre Royal, Sydney Saturday, July 9–Wednesday, July 27 — Crown Theatre, Perth Dates TBC — Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide An American in Paris will continue its Australian tour from Friday, March 18, 2022. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the musical's website. Top images: Darren Thomas.
The team at Everyday Coffee is getting into the pastry game, with the opening of a brand new bakery cafe on High Street in Northcote. The invitingly named All Are Welcome is a collaborative effort between Everyday's Mark Free and Aaron Maxwell, and Californian baker and pastry chef Boris Portnoy. Carbs and caffeine? Sounds damn good to us. Just don't expect anything half-arsed or run-of-the-mill. Portnoy has crafted a menu packed to the brim with lesser-known baked-goods, including medovnik (Czech honey cakes), ensaïmada (Spanish spiral pastries) and khachapuri (a savoury cheesy bread from the Republic of Georgia). This is in addition to a number of tarts and tartines, and sourdough, rye and heritage grain breads. The pastries are paired with Everday's menu of espresso and batch brewed coffees. "We're looking forward to presenting outstanding coffee and pastry together in a context where one or the other is so often an obligatory side note," said Free. They're selling a wide range of roasted coffee and brewing accessories, along with cheeses, chutneys, pickles and house-made preserves straight from the All Are Welcome larder. Located directly opposite Northcote Town Hall, All Are Welcome is housed in what was once a Christian Science Reading room, which Portnoy says has influenced the décor. "I'd like to be playful with making the bakery 'cult-like' through recycling the altar and pews from the church, the lighting, and the graphic identity," he said. Images: Christian Capurro.
As anyone who's ever ridden a bike that's too big or too small for them knows, it inevitably ends in bruises and/or some kind of chronic knee problem (and you just look kinda silly). The problem is that, unlike clothes, bikes usually operate on a two-size scale — so if you don't fit into the pre-defined categories of small or large, you're going to have a bit of a problem finding an affordable two-wheeled baby to comfortably ride around in. To combat this problem, Hungarian designer Tamás Túri has come up with the 3BEE: a bicycle that can be fully customised to your body and its abilities. By using a 3D printing technique, he's able to personalise the bike to your height, measurements, age and physical abilities. So it's made just for you. And before we forget to mention it, this bike is bloody beautiful. It's sleek like a racing bike, but operates as a functional fixie commuter. Its frame is actually hollow, so it's super lightweight, and the curved design means it's easy to pick up and put over your shoulder if you need to carry it inside or up some stairs.
Working from home has its perks, like more snacks on-hand and wearing your comfy clothes. By now though, wearing the same baggy tee and pyjama pants day-in, day-out might be growing a little old. Plus, as we move into cooler autumn days, a new cosy jumper and some non-threadbare trackies are pretty much essentials. Online shopping go-to The Iconic has put together a collection of its best loungewear and accessories, so you can upgrade your wardrobe without leaving the house. Because dressing up with nowhere to go is the new norm — and you might as well be comfy. For clothes, you'll find a bunch of Aussie labels all known for their super-comfy athleisure and loungewear. Camilla and Marc and its elevated streetwear label C&M currently have some super-warm knitwear and pullovers available via The Iconic, alongside wardrobe staples such as t-shirts, denim and tailored pants. Sustainable brand AERE has a bunch of flowy linen items for both men and women, including shorts, shirts and dresses. And menswear labels Staple Superior and Academy Brand have a range of hoodies, tees, chinos and track pants. If you're wanting to stock up your own balcony-gym or living room-yoga wardrobe (or another WFH outfit, if we're totally honest), you'll also find a bunch of fashionable activewear. Expect leggings, shorts, crops and more from local labels such as P.E. Nation, eco-conscious label Nimble, Jaggad and Cotton On Body, plus international brands Champion and Puma. And, if you've recently taken up running (or plan to), you can buy some running shoes here. You'll also find everything from slippers to sleek sneakers. Ultimate cosy shoe brand UGG has several styles of slippers, including some extra-fluffy yellow ones, as does Birkenstock. Sneaker-wise, there's an extensive selection of Veja and Puma designs, from simple white leather to multicoloured ones. Or, if you feel like walking around in a pair of stilletos for whatever reason, there are those, too. Best of all, The Iconic is giving Concrete Playground readers $30 off on all orders of $120 or more. All you have to do is head here then enter CPLOUNGE at checkout. The Iconic's loungewear range can be found here. For $30 off your order, enter CPLOUNGE at checkout (offer available until Sunday, April 26). FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
The ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come are set to descend upon Australia — just as things are getting merry, of course. After haunting Ebenezer Scrooge on the page since 1843, and sparking the miserly Charles Dickens-penned character's change of attitude on stages for almost as long, they'll work their magic Down Under courtesy of The Old Vic's version of A Christmas Carol, which is heading our way for the first time. While A Christmas Carol itself has been delighting theatre audiences for close to two centuries — the first stage production reportedly debuted in the UK mere weeks after Dickens' novella was published — this new take on the tale initially premiered in London back in 2017. It has proven a huge smash since, including picking up five Tony Awards for its Broadway run. Next stop: Melbourne from November. Just in time for festive season, A Christmas Carol will enjoy its first Aussie season at the Comedy Theatre, kicking off on Saturday, November 12 and playing till Saturday, December 24 (of course). Whether it'll also hit up other Australian cities yet hasn't been revealed — but tickets to see it in Melbourne would make a mighty fine early Christmas present. This version hails from two Tony-winners, too: director Matthew Warchus (Matilda the Musical) and playwright Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child). The list of impressive talent involved also includes Aussie actor David Wenham, with the Lord of the Rings, Seachange, Goldstone, Lion, Top of the Lake and Elvis star playing Scrooge. "A Christmas Carol is a ripping yarn, this production is as compelling as it is surprising. I'm counting the days to get back on the stage in the role of Scrooge. It's a story of hope, redemption and community. I guarantee the audience will leave the theatre feeling better about themselves and the world at the end of the show. A perfect story to be told at Christmas time," said Wenham, announcing the show's Australian debut. The rest of the local cast is yet to be revealed — and, story-wise, the production obviously still focuses on its selfish and greedy central character that's become synonymous with curmudgeonly behaviour, his Christmas-hating ways, and his journey of compassion and redemption with help from the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. Not only does the play work through that beloved story, but it also incorporates 12 Christmas carols, including 'Joy to the World' and 'Silent Night'. The words you aren't looking for: "bah humbug!", unless you truly do despise Christmas — and haven't yet been given your own ghostly reasons to rethink your stance. A Christmas Carol will host its Australian premiere season in Melbourne, playing the Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, from Saturday, November 12–Saturday, December 24, 2022. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, September 16 — for more information, or to join the ticket waitlist, head to the musical's website.
Want to get back to nature without actually having to rough it? Lucky for you, you can now take in the rolling hills of Mudgee in New South Wales, with the region's first ever luxury glamping service. Now taking guests, Sierra Escape is located 20 minutes drive from Mudgee's town centre, some 260 kilometres north-west of Sydney. The 280-acre property boasts spectacular views and is home to wildlife including kangaroos, deer and a variety of native birds. So yeah, basically it's paradise. The $350 per night tent — if you can even call something this opulent a tent — includes floor-to-ceiling windows, a king-sized bed, a camp stove and fridge, an ethanol fireplace and a separate bathroom complete with freestanding bath, shower and flushing toilet. It's insulated for all seasons, and there's even a deck out front where you can kick back and watch the sunset. "Sierra Escape aims to provide off-the-grid accommodation for those who love the outdoors but still enjoy the comforts of a luxury hotel," said co-owners Cam and Tasch D'Arcy. "Sierra is close to wineries and restaurants, but far enough from it all that it's the perfect retreat. We're excited to share Sierra with visitors to the area and hope their glamping experiences inspire a new way of travelling." For more information visit www.sierraescape.com.au.
Pizza and beer are a timeless combo — one that is miles ahead of bread and butter or even salt and pepper, in our opinion. This Good Beer Week, the kind folks at Collingwood's beloved Lazerpig pizza parlour are teaming up with Thornbury's 3 Ravens Brewery to bring you the best-of-the-best of this winning pairing. They've searched the globe over and have created a craft brew that perfectly pairs with Lazerpig's woodfired pizza. The brewery's beer is hand-crafted and small batch, which already pairs nicely with a pizza that is made from a house-made sourdough culture, proved for 72 hours, then hand-stretched. The beer will launch on Saturday, May 12, and the unveiling will be to the tune of a guest DJ — and the pizza joint certainly gets in some good'uns. What will this beer taste like? Will it really be the ultimate pizza pairing? And who will this "very special secret" DJ be? You'll just have to go along on the night to find out.
If you're walking through the aisles of raw meat, cheese slabs and miscellaneous Aussie paraphernalia at the Queen Victoria Market in June and happen to think 'gee, I could really do with some truffles', there's a chance you might be in luck. On the third weekend of the month, the market will host the Truffle Melbourne Festival. No longer just the terrain of your posh great aunt and people at fancy French restaurants, truffles are more accessible that ever (albeit, with a price tag). The Truffle Melbourne Festival has been the biggest event on the truffle calendar for the last four years, and after initially starting out at Prahran Market, it's returning to the Queen Vic Market for the second time — for two days on June 16 and 17. The free-to-attend festival will see live chef demos and all the truffle-related produce for sale you could think of, including truffle raclette, truffle pizzas, a truffle mac 'n' cheese doughnut, truffle beer, truffle sparkling and truffle cocktails. There'll also be sampling and tastings to be had — we'd be making the most of that.
The latest production from the Melbourne Theatre Company takes the groundbreaking ideas of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House and injects them into a contemporary comedy about our views of modern motherhood. AACTA Award-winning actor Susan Prior stars as Bea, who returns to the UK after her marriage in Melbourne falls apart. At least she has her friends to support her. Or at least she does, until she reveals she wants her children to stay with their father on the other side of the world. Written by UK playwright Deborah Bruce and directed by MTC Associate Director Leticia Cáceres, The Distance probes the way in which our culture sanctifies mothers while condemning women who don't live up to our heightened expectations. The MTC season co-stars Martin Blum, Joe Klocek, Nadine Garner, Katrina Milosevic, Ben Prendergast and Nathan Page, and runs from March 5 to April 9 at the Sumner in the Southbank Theatre building.
Your flights are booked, your bags are packed and your holiday excitement/anxiety has begun. And the last thing you want to be doing is dropping a stack of spending money on getting to the airport, either in a cab or — for those lucky enough to have an airport rail link this century — on the train. So, you'll be happy to know that, on Friday, July 26, ride share service Ola is offering its customers a pretty sweet deal. It isn't just reducing the price of trips to major Australian airports, as it has done before. This time, it's making the journey for free, up to a total value of $30 per ride. Customers in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and the Gold Coast can score the budget-friendly trip all day, as long as you're one of the first 1000 rides booked using the Ola app. If your journey clocks in at over $30, the extra distance will be charged at the usual price. You'll be given an estimate of your fare when you book, and tolls will also be at an extra cost. Depending on how far away from the airport you live, the $30 deal mightn't get you all the way there; however it will still save some precious cash from your travel budget — or let you use those funds for something more fun than transport. It's worth noting that the offer only applies to journeys to the airport, so don't count on it after you disembark at the other end. To take advantage of the special, you'll need to sign up to Ola and download the app, and use the code OLAVFF. And if you're wondering why Ola is feeling so generous, that's because it has just teamed up with Velocity Frequent Flyer. If you're a member of the latter, you can now earn points on every Ola ride — one point for each $1 spent on everyday rides, and two points for every $1 you fork out on rides to and from the airport. Ola's airport offer is valid for the first 1000 rides booked on Friday, July 26.
Missing travel during the pandemic? If you've been vaccinated against COVID-19, you can enter an array of different competitions and giveaways that'll help you get back to doing what you love — that is, roaming far and wide — when that's permitted again. Been hanging out to attend big gigs again over the past 18 months or so? Yes, we all have. So, three of Australia's huge tour promoters have teamed up to launch a 'Vaxstage Pass' contest. If you've had your jabs, you can enter to win a heap of free tickets to a heap of live shows in 2022. Live Nation, Frontier Touring and TEG are the trio of live entertainment companies that've joined forces, and they're focusing on their stadium and arena shows — yes, their big gigs. All three companies have quite the array of talent heading our way next year, so you could be seeing My Chemical Romance, Snoop Dogg, Lorde, Tyler, The Creator, Alanis Morissette and more. Obviously, you will need to have rolled up your sleeves first, and twice. Before you enter — with the contest open from today, Wednesday, September 15 until 11.59pm AEDT on Tuesday, November 30 — you must've had your jabs, in fact. And, when you complete the online form, you'll be asked to also come up with a 25-word (or less) answer about which live event you're most looking forward to seeing and why. [caption id="attachment_749351" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] My Chemical Romance[/caption] In total, five winners will be picked — and they'll each nab a double pass to every stadium and/or arena show promoted by Live Nation, Frontier Touring and TEG in 2022. You will just get one double pass for each artist, though, so if someone is doing multiple shows in one spot, you can only go to one performance. You'll also need to be over the age of 18 and an Australian resident. Also, everyone can only enter the comp once. If you're wondering about proving that you've been vaccinated, you will need access to your Medicare certificate saying you're fully vaxxed; however, only winners will be asked to supply this when they're picked. Add free gigs to the list of things you could score for getting vaccinated, which also includes free beers and discounted sneakers — and also helping Australia reach its 70-percent and 80-percent fully vaxxed thresholds, which is when a heap of restrictions are set to be eased. For more information about Live Nation, Frontier Touring and TEG's 'Vaxstage Pass' competition, or to enter, head to the Vaxstage Pass website.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinemas. With music by day, movies by night and all of the ice cream you could possibly inhale, St Kilda beach will be your go-to hangout all the way up until Christmas, thanks to the folks at Melbourne's most buzzworthy outdoor cinema. From a solid lineup of live gigs to your favourite Hollywood musicals, here are three ways to enjoy music at Ben and Jerry's Openair Cinema. LIVE MUSIC PROGRAM While the screen doesn't flicker to life until sundown, there are plenty of reasons to head down to the esplanade during daylight hours. Get there early for a kickass music program headlined by Melbourne's own Husky, who'll kick off the season's opening night on November 30 with a show in aid of WWF - Australia. Other must-see artists on the lineup include Sierra Jane, Iris, Reuben Stone and more. RETRO CLASSICS Dust off your spandex for a pair of '80s music-fuelled classics. David Bowie's codpiece stars in Jim Henson's Labyrinth on December 2, although in terms of sex appeal, the Diamond Dog might just be outdone by Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing on December 16. Either way, as movie soundtracks go, you can't get more iconic than these. SING-A-LONG SESSIONS Of course, true music lovers aren't content to just sit back and listen. Belt out your best rendition of 'Greased Lightning' at a sing-a-long session of Grease, and then 'Let It Go' with Frozen the weekend after. Just remember: we make no apologies for the musical 'talents' of the Idina Menzel imitator sitting next to you. Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema runs from November 30 to December 21 at South Beach Reserve, next to the St Kilda Sea Baths. For the full program see their website.
If war is hell, then military boot camp is purgatory. So told Full Metal Jacket, with Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece making that observation echo and pierce with the relentlessness of machine-gun fire. Now, The Inspection stresses the same point nearing four decades later, plunging into the story of a gay Black man enlisting, then navigating the nightmare that is basic training. This too is a clear-eyed step inside the United States Marine Corps, but drawn from first-time fictional feature filmmaker Elegance Bratton's own experiences. New Yorker Ellis French (Jeremy Pope, One Night in Miami) is the Pier Kids documentarian's on-screen alter ego — an out queer man who has spent a decade from his teens to his mid-20s homeless after being kicked out by his ashamed mother Inez (Gabrielle Union, Strange World), and pledges his post 9/11 freedom away for a place to fit in, even if that means descending into a world of institutional homophobia and racism. It would've been easy for Bratton to just sear and scorch in The Inspection; his film is set in 2005, "don't ask, don't tell" was still the US military forces' policy and discrimination against anyone who isn't a straight white man is horrendously brutal. Life being moulded into naval-infantry soldiers is savage anyway; "our job is not to make Marines, it's to make monsters," says Leland Laws (Bokeem Woodbine, Wu-Tang: An American Saga), Ellis' commanding officer and chief state-sanctioned tormentor. And yet, crafting a film that's as haunting as it is because it's supremely personal, Bratton never shies away from Ellis' embrace of the Marines in his quest to work out how he can be himself. There's nothing simple about someone signing up for such heartbreaking anguish because that's the only option that they can imagine, but this stunning movie is anything but simple. Gulf War veteran Laws is indeed The Inspection's own R Lee Ermey type, seeing Ellis' sexuality as his major malfunction — as do many of the privates training with him, plus Inez. The latter's derision gives agonising context to Ellis' eagerness to don the uniform; being dismissed and denigrated for being gay started at home long before he's at the recruit depot on South Carolina's Parris Island. In fact, Inez's abode, with religious iconography everywhere and her prison-guard hardness festering, is where she unburdens her disappointment during her son's early visit. Unlike for audiences, this isn't the first time he's hearing it. Ellis needs his birth certificate, Inez is as malicious with her words while handing it over as the military's worst, and having a parent who won't accept you for who you are is hell as well. Under the abhorrent Laws, nothing about boot camp in The Inspection comes as a surprise. Played with can't-look-away menace by the ever-reliable Woodbine, he doesn't just set the tone for his charges to follow — he makes punishing any derivation from his perceived norm a cruel and compulsory sport. Accordingly, when Ellis' sexual orientation becomes apparent, it's hazing open season among his peers and superiors. Only drill instructor Rosales (Raúl Castillo, Cha Cha Real Smooth) offers sympathy and kindness. And, in a place where every difference stands out, Muslim enlistee Ismail (Eman Esfandi, King Richard) is largely the only other target. Second-generation Marine Harvey (McCaul Lombardi, Patti Cake$) couldn't relish being a bully more, but it isn't difficult to get the bulk of the cadets sharing his hostility. Writing, directing and also ensuring that cinematographer Lachlan Milne (Minari) shoots with the raw intensity of a memory so unshakeable that it always feels fresh, Bratton stares head-on at his protagonist's distressing ordeal. The physical training is gruelling and grinding, and the abuse fierce and ferocious — but Ellis' determination to stick it out, retain his place and continue asking his mother to attend his graduation is equally as resolute. So is Bratton's, actually, with The Inspection grappling with the contradiction that is shaping one's sense of belonging around an institution that so overtly doesn't want you as you are. His feature is all the better because it refuses to make obvious and unchallenging choices, even when it's at its most arduous and depicting one of cinema's most well-documented routines; IRL, as informs this flick, the filmmaker patently never did either. There's a thick and lingering feeling to The Inspection, too, that peering at this time in Bratton's life was always going to be a thorny process. Based on the details, how could an autobiographical affair like this have proven anything else? His movie depends and thrives on that air, with every move made behind the lens — including whether skewing poetic and dreamlike, or seeping the picture in pain and grimness — letting the knottiness of what he went through, and what Ellis now endures, swish and swirl. Cue those inescapable Full Metal Jacket vibes and the terror that comes with it, but also nods to Moonlight in how The Inspection examines what it means to be Black and gay. Cue, as well, a kindred piece at times to Claire Denis' Beau Travail in visually surveying its military figures and honing in on stolen glances. Bratton was already a talent before The Inspection, and already directing his gaze inwards in a way, earning the Film Independent Spirit Awards' Truer Than Fiction prize in 2021 for Pier Kids and its focus on Black and homeless queer and trans NYC youths. Backing that gong up with a Best First Feature nomination at the same awards in 2023 isn't just his feat alone, however. A contender for two 2019 Tonys for Choir Boy and Ain't Too Proud, and for a 2020 Emmy for Netflix's Hollywood, Pope has also been receiving deserved attention for his debut feature lead portrayal — a simmering, sinewy and soulful turn that nabbed him a Golden Globes nod (albeit losing out to Elvis' Austin Butler) and is as magnetic as performances come. He's powerfully supported by the fear-inducing Woodbine, the subtle work of Castillo and the blistering efforts of Union. Bring It On isn't just the name of a movie she's still well-known for, but a description of how she commits to an emotionally strenuous part in a beautifully complicated film.
First, it was a popular 80s comedy starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Then, it became a five-season television sitcom led by Parton's real-life younger sister. In 2009, 9 to 5 made the leap to the stage too, because you just can't stop a good story about female empowerment in the workplace. Revived in the West End back in 2019, it's still a huge hit — and now, the stage production will head to Melbourne from July this year. Just by reading the show's title, we know that you already have Parton's catchy song of the same name stuck in your head. Pour yourself a cup of ambition, because that tune isn't going away anytime soon. Indeed, you'd best get ready to exclaim "what a way to make a living" more than once when 9 to 5 The Musical hits the State Theatre at Arts Centre Melbourne from July 10. Ahead of its time when it first reached cinemas, this tale of three women who take on their sexist, egotistical and all-round despicable male boss is obviously still highly relevant today. Before #TimesUp and #MeToo, workmates Doralee, Violet and Judy decided to turn the tables by kidnapping their supervisor and reforming their office. Expect the same story in 9 to 5 The Musical, as penned by the original film's screenwriter Patricia Resnick — just with more songs. The Australian version stars Caroline O'Connor (a veteran of the movie version of Moulin Rouge!), Marina Prior (The Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera), Casey Donovan (Chicago, We Will Rock You) and Erin Clare (Heathers the Musical, American Idiot), as well as Eddie Perfect as the workplace's controlling boss. With Parton herself writing the score — and earning Tony and Grammy nominations for her efforts — expect plenty of feel-good music as well. Although she doesn't appear on stage, the famous country star is still involved with the show, and with bringing it to Australia. 9 to 5 The Musical was initially meant to premiere in Australia in 2020, hitting up Sydney first and then heading to Melbourne, but was delayed due to the pandemic. Now, it's still debuting in Sydney before playing Brisbane, then finally making its long-awaited arrival in Melbourne. Still singing 9 to 5 to yourself? Of course you are. And you can also check out Parton's Sydney announcement video below: 9 to 5 The Musical will hit the State Theatre at Arts Centre Melbourne from July 10. For more information, to join the waitlist or to nab seats — with pre-sales from Monday, February 7 and general ticket sales from Friday, February 11 — visit the musical's website. Images: Pamela Raith Photography.
After headlining the post-parade party at the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and then bringing her Future Nostalgia tour Down Under in 2022, Dua Lipa is coming back to Australia in 2025. The Grammy-winner's massive Radical Optimism tour is rolling into Melbourne for its time under lights — and to turn the rhythm up — on Monday, March 17, then Wednesday, March 19–Thursday, March 20, then again across Saturday, March 22–Sunday, March 23, at Rod Laver Arena. 2024 has been a huge year for the singer, with her third studio album Radical Optimism releasing in May and then the artist headlining Glastonbury. She also popped up in Argylle in cinemas. 2023 was no slouch, either, given that 'Dance the Night' graced the Barbie soundtrack and Dua Lipa featured in the film as a Barbie. But with her new tour, 2025 looks set to be even bigger. As well as Radical Optimism and Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa has tracks from her self-titled 2017 debut record to bust out, including 'Be the One', 'Hotter Than Hell', 'Lost in Your Light', 'New Rules', 'IDGAF' and 'Blow Your Mind'. Initially, there was just one Melbourne gig on the agenda — but due to demand, the 'Don't Start Now', 'Physical', 'Break My Heart', 'Cold Heart' and 'Houdini' talent expanded her time in the Victorian capital. Images: Raph_PH via Flickr.
Public transport just stepped up a notch in France. Are you done with hair-pullingly long off-course commutes, but don't have the sweet funds for a ride of your own? The French city of Grenoble has found the perfect middle ground between two evils — electric, tiny, publicly-owned car sharing. Driven by Toyota's brand new, three-wheeled, Tron-like i-ROAD electric vehicle, the French city is trialling a new car sharing program called Smart City; designed to bring public and private transport together in one big planet-saving exercise. The City of Grenoble has teamed up with Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, EDF Group, Toyota and Citélib to put these ultra-compact, sustainable automobiles on the road amongst its current car sharing program. Basically, Grenoblians (yeah? Maybe Grenoblites?) pick up the Toyota EVs at one station and drop it off at another, kind of like NYC's Citi Bike or London's Barclays for cars. The tiny, tiny electric cars take up less space than those terrible, terrible pollution-happy 4WDs, so parking and traffic congestion loosen up while air quality increases. Two people can sit in tandem, if you're feeling like giving the Goose to your Maverick a lift. Even if you already own a car, the initiative is meant to get commuters to switch vehicles for the last leg of the journey into the CBD problem zone. Nice one, Grenobliers. The Toyota i-ROAD cars will zoom around Grenoble within the car sharing program for the next three years. Plans to bring the cars to Japan are underway, but no talks for programs in Australia or New Zealand have been had yet. And although these gloriously '90s-looking colour ranges... ...are slightly too similar to this... ...we're all for investing in sustainability, saving the planet one multicoloured faddish gizmo at a time. Via Inhabitat.
Just a matter of months after Windsor's Saigon Sally was transformed into bustling Thai joint BKK, owners at The Commune Group have again hit reset on the Duke Street space, this time making way for a fresh concept in Alter Dining. Slated to open its doors on April 26, the new venue marks a change of pace for the hospitality group, best known for the likes of Tokyo Tina, Hanoi Hannah and Neptune. Here, they've stuck with a more considered approach, as chef Sean Judd (Longrain, Chin Chin, Nahm) heads up a modern Australian food offering, celebrating clean, contrasting flavours. The focus here is on making memorable dining experiences, rather than just packing in the crowds. Backing up the a la carte menu, a $65 tasting experience promises plenty of culinary wins, strolling through dishes like a slow-cooked duck leg with pickled shitakes and hand-rolled tapioca noodles, and whipped cod topped with a chilli chicken skin crumble. Meanwhile, BKK's neon-soaked interiors have also been replaced by something a little more refined, with a sleek central bar, an open wine cellar and a floor-to-ceiling monochrome mural the main features. Alter Dining is set to open at 2 Duke Street, Windsor, from Thursday, April 26.
Good Beer Week, the yearly celebration of all things hoppy and frothy in Melbourne since 2011, has announced that it won't be running in 2024. It's taking the year off to step back and reassess how it can keep hosting the annual event as running costs keep rising. Announcing the news, the team noted how 2023 has been tough for independent brewers, and that it is looking for better ways to support them through the beer festival and other events. [caption id="attachment_894583" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carmen Zammit[/caption] "As an avid beer fan, you'll understand the industry's challenges right now. We get it, times are tough, and prices have climbed but our Australian independent beer industry is at risk," the crew said in an email to its mailing list. "So instead of being able to support Good Beer Week, we really need you to act now, seek out your local brewery or beer venue, and to look for the independent seal when buying your next beer." [caption id="attachment_621653" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Shiff[/caption] But it's not all bad news. Good Beer Week usually partners with two other beer festivals around the same time of year, the Great Australasian Beer Spectapular (GABS) and Pint of Origin, and these will still take place in May 2024. Exact dates for Pint of Origin haven't been released yet, but GABS has already confirmed that it will be running from Friday, May 17–Sunday, May 19. Good Beer Week has also teamed up with The Crafty Pint to support Local Beer Day in 2024, an independent brewery festival that takes over pubs, bars and bottle shops all over the country. This will be running on Saturday, February 24. So, even though you won't be able to hit up Good Beer Week in Melbourne next year, beer lovers still have stacks of opportunities to sample local beers and support independent brewers. [caption id="attachment_806494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ryan Wheatley[/caption] Good Beer Week won't take place in 2024. To keep an eye out for future plans, head to the festival's website.
Riddik is a pretty spot-on moniker for the gutsy new all-day eatery that's landed itself in Templestowe. Largely because the menu is downright huge — you're going to want to leave your indecisiveness at home for this one. Elsewhere, things are equally big and bold. The lofty former bank is decked out with statement street art and lots of leafy green touches against a black-and-white colour palette. It's a hard task to master, but it's the kind of space that holds up well from early morning Code Black coffees to those after-dinner cocktails. By day, you're faced with a sprawling mix of cafe classics and clever adaptations, with breakfast running until 3pm and lunch on offer from noon. A winner at either meal is the slow-cooked lamb, piled atop thick-cut sourdough and teamed with grilled asparagus and mint-laced hollandaise ($18) — just one of six different varieties of eggs benedict flying from the Riddik kitchen. Also in excellent supply here are burgers. The five-strong lineup stars buttermilk-poached fried chicken, coffee-rubbed beef and everything in between. The fish version ($22) ticks all the right boxes, stuffed with a crunchy panko-crumbed fillet, cut through with a pea smash and served with a side of chips you'll only want more of. A dive into more virtuous territory will leave you no less spoilt for choice, with options like the ancient grains bircher with chai-infused yoghurt ($16), a signature smashed avo finished with fig, spiced shanklish (a Levantine cheese) and pomegranate molasses ($19), and three on-trend breakfast salads. Some daytime offerings reappear with the dinner service, though overall the influence here is a little broader. Make a proper feast of it with dishes like truffled cauliflower and seared scallop risotto ($21) or the lime and ancho chilli pork cutlet ($24). Or paddle happily up the snackier end of the menu while you breeze through some after-work drinks. To match, there's a decent crop of largely local wines and a lineup of cocktails that runs from the classic to the more creative. For a tasty caffeine hit, see the Cold Drip Martini with brandy liqueur, Mr Black and house-brewed cold drip ($19) — you'll have earned it after navigating that ridiculously hefty dinner menu. Images: Phoebe Powell
Two big-name Hollywood stars. One movie. One helluva face off. If that setup didn't exist, there'd be far few action-thrillers reaching screens — and Netflix's latest, the Ryan Gosling- and Chris Evans-starring The Gray Man, wouldn't exist either. Based on the novel by Mark Greaney, The Gray Man follows CIA operative Court Gentry (Gosling, First Man). Also known as Sierra Six, he was once the agency's most skilled killer — after being recruited out of a federal penitentiary — but now he's on the run after discovering secrets that his employer doesn't want anyone to know. That's where his ex-colleague Lloyd Hansen (Evans, Free Guy) comes in, putting a target on his head, sparking a manhunt by international assassins, and leaving Gentry fighting for his life with only the help of Agent Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas, No Time to Die). It all sounds as standard as action-thrillers go — and the just-dropped first trailer for the flick, which'll hit cinemas on July 14 and Netflix on July 22, is filled with exactly the kinds of things that all action-thrillers are. Gosling runs, Evans taunts, everyone smoulders and brood, things explode, fists are thrown and chases ensue. Gosling chats about his ego getting hurt, too, and Evans also gets saddled with quite the moustache — and quite the cheesy line. So, if you've ever wanted to hear the former Captain America say "if you want to make an omelette, you've got to kill some people", then this is for you. From its first sneak peek, The Gray Man also looks moodily shot — and, as the John Wick franchise and Atomic Blonde have both proven, an ace cast and style for days can be huge assets in this genre. Indeed, oh-so-many action-thriller flicks have served up a premise so familiar that audiences have seen it countless times before, but made up for it in the way it all comes together. Fingers crossed that The Gray Man is one of those movies. As well as heralding Gosling's first film since 2018 — so if you've been missing him in movies, that's why — and Evans getting villainous, The Gray Man also features Bridgerton's Regé-Jean Page, plus Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath), Jessica Henwick (The Matrix Resurrections), Indian star Dhanush, Wagner Moura (Shining Girls) and Alfre Woodard (The Lion King). Behind the lens, the movie marks the latest directorial effort by Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame filmmakers Anthony and Joe Russo — and reportedly didn't come cheap, costing $200 million and ranking as Netflix's most expensive production to-date. Check out the trailer for The Gray Man below: The Gray Man will screen in cinemas from July 14, and will be available to stream via Netflix on July 22. Images: Stanislav Honzik and Paul Abell/Netflix © 2022.
Uber apparently just wants Australians to be effortlessly happy and righteously lazy, and nothing says bliss like enjoying a few cheeky brews in your underwear. If last year's introduction of UberEATS hasn't already made us lazy enough, the company has just announced that, as of today, March 23, they'll be delivering booze too, starting with Melbourne. As part of the launch, UberEATS has partnered with Carlton Draught to release their alcohol delivery service just in time for the start of AFL season tomorrow. On Friday, March 24 from 12pm, the general alcohol service kicks off, and from 5pm, Melbournian's can choose one of the nineteen $30 plus meal deals on their app and receive a free four pack of the specially brewed Carltons to enjoy with (or without) the game. After supplies run out, normal hours of alcohol service are midday to 9pm. Thirty liquor license holding restaurants across Melbourne's city and inner city suburbs are participating so far, and we're pretty confident the service will quickly spread to the rest of metropolitan Australia as well. There are a few things to note before rushing to your app — alcohol will only be delivered with a food order and only a bottle of wine or six pack of beer is permitted per order. The drivers won't deliver to intoxicated folk either, so if you answer the door looking like a hot mess you'll be denied your booze. Under 18s shouldn't be cheering either — you'll need proof of ID to accept the delivery. Obviously the service isn't meant to completely replace bottle shop runs, but is more about bringing a 'complete restaurant experience' into your home — something existing booze delivery services will need to consider. It comes well timed with the turn of the season as well, as the Melbourne winter sure doesn't promote outdoor activity. So go ahead and order from your favourite dumpling joint, pop open that delivered brew, turn on Netflix and let the pants-off binge-watching commence.
