In rather epic chocolate news, the Great Ocean Road has scored a 15-acre chocolate and ice cream wonderland. As if you needed another reason to take a holiday, the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is located in Bellbrae, just next to Torquay (which is, just FYI, just over an hour from Melbourne). The chocolaterie is spearheaded by Leeanne and Ian Neeland, who also own the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie — that is, the guys who throw those epic hot chocolate, ice cream and rocky road festivals each year. The new coastal venue features a showroom filled with thousands of chocolates (including a cabinet filled with 7000 truffles) and free chocolate and ice cream tastings. An international team of six chocolatiers are on board to perform demonstrations throughout the day as they craft different chocolates and churn seasonal ice cream and sorbet. There's also be an on-site café that'll serve up grub made with produce from the grounds. So it's pretty much an adult version of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory (but you're less like to be carried away by Oompa Loompas here). And after you've gorged to satiation in the showroom (and maybe have a bit of a sugar buzz on), you can take a wander through the surrounds — 15 acres of lush native garden and orchards. There's even a lavender maze to get lost in. Unsurprisingly, this whole free-tastings-and-abundant-nature formula is one that works, as the Neelands discovered when they opened their Yarra Valley venue in 2012. So if you, like us, are the type of person who makes all your life decisions based on chocolate, you might want to go book some time off work and check the air pressure in your tyres so that, come the weekend, you'll be running through a lavender maze covered in chocolate and blissing out. The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is now open at 1200 Great Ocean Road, Bellbrae. For more info, visit gorci.com.au. Updated: August 29, 2016.
In the on-screen sea that is the never-ending list of films and television shows constantly vying for eyeballs, Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby have frequently proven gem-dappled treasure islands. When the immensely funny New Zealand talents have collided, their resumes have spanned four of the most endearing comic hits of the big and small screens in the 21st century so far, aka Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows, Wellington Paranormal and Hunt for the Wilderpeople — and now, with HBO Max pirate parody Our Flag Means Death, they've given viewers another gleaming jewel. The brainchild of writer, showrunner and executive producer David Jenkins (People of Earth), this show was always going to swashbuckle its way into streaming must-see lists — and into comedy-lovers' hearts — based on its concept alone. The inimitable Darby stars as Stede Bonnet, a self-styled 'gentleman pirate' and a great approximation of Flight of the Conchords' Murray if he'd existed centuries earlier. Meanwhile, Waititi dons leather, dark hues aplenty, an air of bloodthirsty melancholy and a glorious head of greying hair as Edward Teach, the marauder better known to the world as Blackbeard. While the latter is a household name — pop culture has been inserting him into stories for decades: Ian McShane played him in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Hugh Jackman did the honours in Pan, for instance — Bonnet will be a new discovery to most of Our Flag Means Death's audience. Also a real-life figure, he left his life of wealth, privilege and comfort to rove the oceans. That's a scenario that this ten-episode comedy has plenty of fun with, complete with Bonnet's onboard library decked out with classics and summer linens-filled auxiliary wardrobe. In its first three episodes, Our Flag Means Death establishes its fish-out-of-water situation — or its tale about a ruffled shirt-wearing aristocrat seemingly out of his depths while sailing across treacherous waters, to be more accurate. Bonnet is not one for the usual pirate stereotypes, and that takes some adjusting to by his crew. Among those with him on the Revenge: Lucius (Nathan Foad, Bloods), his righthand man and official scribe; Buttons (Ewen Bremner, First Cow), a seasoned seafarer and source of advice; Black Pete (Matthew Maher, Marriage Story), who constantly claims to have worked with Blackbeard; the fire-obsessed Wee John Feeny (Kristian Nairn, aka Game of Thrones' Hodor); and the initially secretive Oluwande (Samson Kayo, Truth Seekers) and Jim (Vico Ortiz, The Sex Lives of College Girls). Scene-setting and ensemble antics abound in the series' opening instalments, including a run-in with a British navy captain (Rory Kinnear, No Time to Die) with ties to Bonnet's past, and another a fellow pirate captain-turned-bar owner (Leslie Jones, Death to 2020) and one of her husbands (Fred Armisen, Los Espookys). But then Blackbeard arrives, taking over the Revenge with his first mate Izzy (Con O'Neill, The Batman) — and Our Flag Means Death starts becoming a rom-com. From the outset, it's already a gloriously inclusive and emotionally astute comedy. Bonnet wanting his crew to be in touch with their feelings, rather than simply solve everything with swords and violence, is one of the aforementioned ways that he bucks expectations. But that trend deepens and grows as its two key swashbucklers gravitate towards each other, riding the waves from adversaries to co-captains to potentially something more. From its first trailer, Our Flag Means Death delivered answers to questions that no one knew they had, such as "what'd happen if Waititi and Darby played pirates?" and "what if Waititi and Darby played pirates alongside Spud from Trainspotting and Hodor?". Now that the results have played out across an entire season — all of which is available to stream in Australia via Binge and in New Zealand via Neon — it's sweeter than a bottle of rum to a buccaneer (or oranges to fend off scurvy, which definitely get a mention in the show). Smartly, Our Flag Means Death doesn't just satirise pirate archetypes. It isn't content with finding easy laughs at the whole 'gentleman pirate' caper, either. Instead, it's a comedy about plundering one's own depths to find out who you really are, where you truly belong and who should comprise your chosen family — whether you've been set up for a life of luxury, you're the world's most fearsome scourge of the seas or you're simply roving the oceans with them. When Waititi's Blackbeard steps into the story, meet-cute and all, less of its focus resides upon its other supporting characters. When you've got comedic greats such as Waititi and Darby bouncing off of each other — as they do from episode four onwards, and with pitch-perfect comic chemistry — you let them have the spotlight. Still, subplots that flesh out the remainder of the Revenge crew's histories wholeheartedly link in with Our Flag Means Death's focus on reinvention and rediscovery, and its open heart. Relationships are laid bare, and secrets, too. In the process, cliches are dismantled, correct pronouns are used, and everyone helps build a thoughtful and sincere comic caper. Indeed, add Our Flag Means Death to the list of delightful sitcoms that beam with warmth, even when it's soaking cat flags (yes, that's a pirate banner adorned with a feline) with blood. Stellar talent doesn't always equate to a must-see, something special or both, of course; however, Our Flag Means Death ticks all of those boxes — and the who's who that is its guest and supporting cast also includes fellow Conchords alum Kristen Schaal, Big Mouth's Nick Kroll, Arrested Development's Will Arnett, and Aussies Claudia O'Doherty (Sarah's Channel) and Angus Sampson (Bump). With Waititi also helming the pilot and executive producing, his winning ways with TV comedies continue, too, after a top-notch few years that've included the What We Do in the Shadows television spinoff and Reservation Dogs as well. Ahoy, streaming lovers — let Our Flag Means Death sail into your queue right now. Check out the full trailer for Our Flag Means Death below: Our Flag Means Death's first season is available to in Australia via Binge and in New Zealand via Neon. Images: Aaron Epstein/HBO Max.
It's no secret that we Aussies are champions in the water and now's your chance to see the champions themselves achieve their goals at the Swimming Australia World Championship Trials — with a prize package that includes tickets, accommodation and dinner for two. Aussie swimmers will be hitting the lanes at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre from Tuesday, June 13 till Sunday, June 18. The aquatic superstars will be battling it out to make it to the World Aquatics World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan in July — you can expect familiar faces like Ariarne Titmas, Mollie O'Callaghan and Kyle Chalmers (to name just a few). Specifically, our winner will receive day passes for themselves and a mate (or date) to the Swimming Australia World Championship Trials on Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18, plus one night at Middle Park Hotel and dinner for two at Chez Bagou on Saturday, June 17. It's the perfect getaway in South Melbourne for any swimming lovers — or those that just love cheering on our athletes. Enter and be in with a chance to see our Aussie swimming heroes in action. [competition]901032[/competition]
Chef Domenico De Marco (Tipico, L'Altro Mondo, Rockpool Sydney) combines his love of cycling with his love for the food of his home country at his new Carlton North restaurant. Giro d'Italia takes you on a tour through Italy, much like the 100-year-old Italian bicycle race the venue is named after, with each dish on its menu representing a different region. The dining room in the Edwardian terrace building on Rathdowne Street is a mashup of old and new. Dark timber panelling runs around the bottom of the room, while forest green leather covers a wall and green felt another. Framed black and white photos of De Marco's cycling heroes sit side by side two colourful photos of his own bike resting nonchalantly against a Melbourne street art-covered wall. Suspended wooden beams house solar-powered strip lighting. Old meets new in more than the decor, too. The drinks list covers the Italian classics — bottles of pinot grigio, valipolicella and sanigiovese line the walls and there's draught Birra Moretti— but you'll also find four wines on tap (two whites, two reds) and a particularly refreshing watermelon martini. After years of working at fine-dining restaurants, De Marco is taking a homely approach to his dishes, some of which reference his Nonna's cooking. Focaccia is baked twice a day, before lunch and then again before dinner, and comes out before the meal with a dollop of fresh tomato coulis for ripping and dipping. The calamari fritti ($21), uses all of the squid — the head, wings and body — is lightly fried and served with squid ink aioli, pickled zucchini and salad leaves tossed in a slightly spicy vinaigrette. It's a great plate to share as a starter, although it's also completely manageable on your own. Made-to-order tortelli ($26) are filled with pumpkin, sealed, cooked and served with a burnt butter sauce topped with crumbled amaretti biscuits, which soak up the butter and add a little almond-y sweetness. De Marco proudly claims that his Filipino sous-chef Ferdinand Malgarejo (who has worked alongside De Marco in various kitchens, progressing through the ranks from kitchen hand) makes the best Italian food in the world. He is certainly quick. Ferdinand can fill and close seven tortelli in 32 seconds. While making the tortelli to order is novel, and ensures maximum freshness, De Marco introduced it for a different reason: to reduce waste."When you make the filled pasta ahead of time and put it in the fridge, you risk wastage," explains De Marco. "And why would I do that when he [Ferdinand] is so fast? You are eating pasta that was closed a minute and a half ago." Desserts also hide much more than their fluffy, chocolate-covered exteriors first convey. The tiramisu ($14), for example, might look like any other tiramisu, but De Marco makes everything from scratch — including the savoiardi biscuits and the mascarpone. He also beats the egg whites with sugar syrup for 45 minutes for extra fluffiness. According to De Marco, "It is like eating a cloud." De Marco is happy at his new restaurant, but he'd hope to be — he lives above it, goes to bed at 2am and gets up at 5am. "I love it so much. This is me," he beams. Images: Parker Blain.
Fans of Instagrammable brunches and all-you-can-eat banquets in Prahran are about to become very happy eaters with the opening of the OTT Grand Lafayette on Clifton Street. The expansive all-day eatery is an Asian-inspired brunch spot by day and an all-you-can-eat Japanese diner by night. It's brought to you by the team behind Port Melbourne's now-closed Café Lafayette, who were known for taking popular brunch dishes to ridiculous levels then topping them off with Asian twists. Existing Lafayette fans will be glad to hear that the signature 'raindrop' cakes ($9) have made their way to Prahran — in matcha, brown sugar, rose and mint flavours. Other brunch menu items include matcha French toast, wasabi scrambled eggs and steamed bao in fried chicken, crispy eggplant, confit pork and beef teriyaki varieties. Legit cuppas by Five Senses are paired with a list of brightly coloured mocktails and cocktails, along with the Freaky Shake — a milkshake which offers toppings like mixed mini cereals, cream cheese and mini waffles. Once the sun starts to set, the 100-seater becomes an all-you-can-eat haven six nights a week, slinging bottomless plates of Japanese food for $32.80 per person. Think karaage chicken, baked scallops and miso-grilled salmon. Plus bao aplenty and the return of the "Freakshii", which is essentially mega-sized platters of colourful sushi. It's a bold move attempting to combine such distinct services, and we're not quite sure how well the two will gel to make one successful restaurant. It's one that will have to be seen — and tasted — to be believe. Grand Lafayette is now open at 9 Clifton Street, Prahran. Opening hours are Monday 8am–3pm, Tuesday–Friday from 8am–3pm and 5.30–9pm, Saturday from 8.30am–3pm and 5.30–10pm, and Sunday from 8.30am–3pm and 5.30–9pm. Images: Griffin Simm
Here are some things that have happened in the stories of American writer David Sedaris: A man goes in search of a stuffed owl to give to his boyfriend for Valentine's Day. Befriending a taxidermist who confirms his interest in formerly alive creatures is strictly non-professional, the man finds himself in a London basement gazing at the 400-year-old preserved head of a 14-year-old girl and the skeleton of a 19th-century Pygmy. They raise questions, uncomfortable ones. Like, 'how much are they?' A man takes a job at Macy's department store as a Christmas elf named Crumpet. He encounters fistfights, vomiting and magnificent tantrums, children with modelling contracts and children with adjectives instead of first names. He tells a child that Santa has changed his policy, and no longer brings coal if you misbehave. Instead he will break into your house, steal all your appliances, and leave you alone, in the dark, with nothing. A father imagines his children forming a jazz quartet. Hoping to make the fantasy reality, the father gifts the son 'that guitar you always wanted'. The son, while regularly petitioning for a brand-name vacuum cleaner, had never mentioned a guitar. He takes lessons from an artistically thwarted midget, until one evening the son admits to his teacher that what we really wants to do is perform a medley of television jingles in the voice of Billie Holiday. David Sedaris has developed a cult-like following for penning insightful, satirical, real-life stories like those above. His latest book is entitled Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls. You could read it, if that is a thing you would like to do. You could also read Naked, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day or any of his other fine collections available at your local bookshop. A regular contributor to This American Life, Sedaris will be touring Australia and New Zealand in January 2014. You can sign up for exclusive pre-sales at his website. SYDNEY Sydney Opera House Saturday 18 January MELBOURNE Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Tuesday 21 January CANBERRA Canberra Theatre Centre Wednesday 22 January BRISBANE Brisbane Powerhouse – Powerhouse Theatre Thursday 23 January PERTH Perth Concert Hall Friday 24 January AUCKLAND Civic Theatre, Auckland Sunday 26 January https://youtube.com/watch?v=1msZQjwlebU
The force is set to be strong across streaming queues in 2023, with another new live-action Star Wars series on its way. Following three seasons of The Mandalorian so far — one of which is airing now — plus 2021–22's The Book of Boba Fett, and also 2022's Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor, Ahsoka will give warrior, outcast, rebel and Jedi her own show. Even better: it now has a trailer and a release month. Rosario Dawson (Clerks III) returns as the limited series' titular figure, after playing the part in both The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. If you're new to the character, she was Anakin Skywalker's padawan before he became Darth Vader — and, here, an ex-Jedi Knight who is determined to battle a threat to the post-Empire galaxy. Her latest exploits will hit Disney+ sometime in August. Ahsoka follows animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the TV series it spawned, too, plus fellow animated show Star Wars Rebels — because yes, this franchise about a galaxy far, far away will keep spreading far and wide in this one. From the latter series, Star Wars aficionados will spot rebel crew member Hera Syndulla and former bounty hunter Sabine Wren. Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)) plays the former in Ahsoka, while Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Guns Akimbo) steps into the latter's shoes. Also among the familiar characters: fellow Jedi padawan Ezra Bridger from Star Wars Rebels, with Eman Esfandi (King Richard) doing the live-action honours. Ahoska's cast includes Ray Stevenson (RRR) and Ivanna Sakhno (The Reunion), and reports have been bubbling for years about Hayden Christensen returning as Anakin, as he did in Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is Disney+'s first series focused on a female Jedi; indeed, as a character, Ahoska has long been one of the few women among the franchise's Jedi ranks, dating back to 2008. Off-screen, The Mandalorian writer/director/executive producer Dave Filoni writes and executive produces Ahoska, with Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson, and Carrie Beck also doing the latter — all seasoned Star Wars veterans. Check out the trailer for Ahsoka below: Ahsoka will stream via Disney+ from August 2023 — we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. Images: ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Rooftop at QT has re-emerged from its chrysalis, and with it comes new drinks, a new vibe and a Mediterranean menu with a fresh coat of inspiration — and the same skyline vistas. After announcing a revamp earlier in spring, the venue relaunched in mid-October ready for prime warm-weather sips with a view. First off, the drinks. Chris Stock, the man who helped Dandelyan in London strut to the number one spot on the World's 50 Best Bars list back in 2018, is at the helm — so you're in good hands. Expect a drink menu that pulls from old favourites but throws in a splash of the new. Fancy a twist on the classic daiquiri? Go for the Son of Man, taking inspiration from Margritte's painting and infusing the drink with basil oil for a hint of aroma. And if you're after an espresso martini (we all love them, don't lie to yourself), there's an interesting variant on offer that utilises rye whiskey and orange and miso syrup. On the food front, Nic Wood has returned to the QT chain after a stint in LA to take the helm of Executive Chef. He brings with him a Mediterranean menu encompassing everything from snacky delights to grand sharing platters that will, for better or worse, end up in a lot of your mates' Instagram stories. Expect snapper cannoli, fried mortadella sandos and lobster cocktails, plus ice cream sandwiches for dessert, to name just a few. As for music, Rooftop at QT is going with day-to-night soundtracks, morphing easy chill daytime tunes into more energetic night-time beats, vintage disco and soul with a twist of the modern. Meanwhile, local artist Dwayne Hutton brings the walls to life with his art all about the space, including cool hand-painted wallpaper. For those keen on ambience and vibe, designer Nic Graham ensured the interior facelift of the joint filled the shoes of its predecessor, and then some. He's serving up private booths, an intimate lounge, an outdoor bar, high banquet seating, a brand-new private dining room and tabletops with custom tiling. Find Rooftop at QT at QT Melbourne, 133 Russell Street, Melbourne. It's open Monday–Wednesday, 3pm–late, and Thursday–Sunday, 12pm–late.
If sitting on the couch is a regular part of your viewing schedule, we now know which big-name films you'll be streaming in 2022. Get ready for eagerly awaited whodunnit sequels, all-star action flicks, Jamie Foxx fighting vampires, futuristic Korean sci-fi and Jennifer Lopez as an assassin — and, because the list of brand-new movies that Netflix will add to its platform this year tallies up at a whopping 86 titles, to see plenty more where they're all about to spring from. As it did for 2021, Netflix has just unveiled its full slate of new films for 2022. It's a something-for-everyone kind of lineup, which the streaming service's catalogue always is, but the rundown of newcomers is also stacked with highlights. One instant standout: Knives Out 2, Rian Johnson's follow-up to his glorious Daniel Craig-starring whodunnit from 2019. Yes, the now-former 007 is back as Detective Benoit Blanc, this time in Greece, and interrogating suspects played by a cast that includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr and Kate Hudson. Netflix subscribers can also look forward to The Gray Man, which sees Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans team up in a thriller about CIA mercenaries; Day Shift, where the aforementioned Foxx plays a seemingly ordinary dad whose pool-cleaning job is a front for staking the undead; JUNG-E, the latest dystopian vision out of Korea from Train to Busan, Peninsula and Hellbound's Yeon Sang-ho; and Lopez's maternal John Wick-esque stint in The Mother, where she's a killer forced to come out of hiding to protect her daughter. [caption id="attachment_841834" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Helen Sloan/Netflix © 2022[/caption] Or, there's also Blonde, a fictional portrait of Marilyn Monroe featuring No Time to Die's Ana de Armas as the real-life figure; acting-focused comedy The Bubble, with writer/director Judd Apatow amassing one of his usual all-star casts; the Jason Momoa-led Slumberland, about a space between dreams and nightmares; and Wendell & Wild, with Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key voicing a stop-motion animation. Fresh from Nightmare Alley, Guillermo del Toro has a stop-motion animation musical version of Pinocchio in the works as well — and, for something completely different, Adam Sandler turns astronaut in Spaceman, from Chernobyl director Johan Renck. Also, White Noise reunites filmmaker Noah Baumbach with both Marriage Story's Adam Driver and Frances Ha's Greta Gerwig in an adaptation of Don DeLillo's book of the same name, while a new take on Roald Dahl's Matilda features Emma Thompson and Lashana Lynch, and springs from Tim Minchin's musical. And, Last Christmas' Paul Feig helms a fairytale fantasy starring Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington with School for Good and Evil. Because we're into February already, some of the flicks on Netflix's list already have release dates, if you're the type who likes plugging things into your calendar. They span films such as The Adam Project, a time-travel effort with Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffalo that hits on March 11; Against the Ice, which sends Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau to Greenland from March 2; Choose or Die, the April 15-releasing horror flick about a curse includes Robert Englund (aka the OG Freddie Kruger) among its cast; and Senior Year, which drops on May 13, features Rebel Wilson and Alicia Silverstone, and follows a cheerleader who awakens after a 20-year coma. There's also a new Texas Chainsaw Massacre arriving on February 18, too. Among the movies that don't yet have set dates, Enola Holmes 2 will get Millie Bobby Brown to do more sleuthing, Interceptor sees Chris Hemsworth dealing with a nuclear missile attack, a new adaptation of Lady Chatterley's Lover stars The Crown's Emma Corrin, and Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello is the executive music producer on Metal Lords, about two kids starting a metal band. Plus, Dev Patel stars in and directs Monkey Man, Dakota Johnson leads a new version of Jane Austen's Persuasion, and Richard Linklater's Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood heads back to the summer of 1969. Netflix usually gives some of its new films cinema runs, as it did with the likes of The Harder They Fall, Passing, Red Notice, The Power of the Dog and Don't Look Up in 2021. So, while we see oh-so-much couch time in your future, you may be able to watch some of these flicks on the big screen as well. Check out Netflix's trailer for its 2022 films below: New movies will hit Netflix every week throughout 2022 — head to the streaming platform for its current catalogue. Top image: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
From the ground level on Swanston Street, you'll see an unassuming black steel door with the words 'Stairway to Meat-Heaven' plastered across it. It's easy to miss, but once you notice it — and the glowing staircase behind it — you'll no doubt feel the allure of the Dexter team's new untraditional meat-focused restaurant, Cheek. To get there, climb the stairs to the dining room, which can comfortably cater up to 70 bums on seats. It's the first floor of what will eventually be a three-level venue — with a bar called Peaches and a rooftop called Cream slated to open in the upcoming weeks. But, for now, it's just Cheek — a narrow restaurant with an industrial aesthetic and strong black and white contrasts with softening pops of light blue. Like Dexter in Preston, it's a bit of a no-rules barbecue joint. The menu here, though, leans heavier on Asian influences, taking inspiration from Korean, Chinese and Japanese cuisines. You'll find Japanese dried powders, miso ranch, sweet and sour flavours of plum, yuzu and smoked hoisin throughout the menu. A carefully curated wine list accompanies the food, and more inventive cocktails are added to Dexter's repertoire, such as the Cheek Fizz with gin, pecan, honey, lemon and fizz, and the PB Oldie with peanut butter bourbon and pickle juice. "Essentially our philosophy hasn't changed, we're just taking the concept further," says Sam Peasnell, who co-owns Dexter, Takeaway Pizza and now Cheek along with his brother Tom Peasnell and old friend Adam Goldblatt. "So we're still very much dedicated to finding the best meat we can and serving it in interesting and complementary ways." "We spent most of the money on the massive dry-ageing fridge," says Peasnell. "So we can control our own in-house dry ageing and butchery, but it's also a big visual part of the restaurant and separates the kitchen from the dining area." Some options on the large-plate section of the menu include a half duck with smoked hoisin, a whole baby snapper and smoked short ribs with sesame caramel. Dry aged steak and pork cuts are expected to fly through the specials board, too. Those looking for something smaller will find mapo tofu empanadas, sweet 'n' sour cauliflower and pork cheek with crisp skin and pickled apples. "It's incredibly buttery and benefits from every second it gets during the 40-minute rendering down process," says Peasnell of the latter. While you're deciding what to eat, start off with the house-made meat bread — made by cooking bone marrow damper over charcoal — served with Cheek's own butter. Or, order a round of the barbecue prawn crackers. When complete, the entire (three-storey) venue will accommodate a generous 220 people — so get ready for some frozen margaritas and peaches and cream cocktails this summer. Find Cheek from today at 1/301 Swanston Street, Melbourne. It's open from 5pm till late, Tuesday–Saturday. Images: Kate Shanasy
Mondays tend to be a day of rest for most restaurants in the Los Angeles area. But for friends Aliza Miner, Savita Ostendorf and Marjory Garrison it's the busiest night of the week. A few months ago the three girls combined their skills as a chef, graphic designer and PR activist for non-profits, respectively, to create Closed on Mondays, a business that hosts fundraiser dinners for charity at empty restaurants on Monday nights. They offer a fixed price menu at $35, hire waitstaff from the host restaurant and serve customers on a first come, first serve basis from 5 to 9p.m. The profits go directly to local food initiatives or community projects. They don't force-feed their guests with information about the charities, they just want people to come and eat. Better yet, the dishes offered will leave your taste-buds begging for more, with choices like Yucatan pulled pork, wild Mexican shrimp with pumpkin seed sauce and stuffed poblanos, kabocha squash and chihuahua cheese in romesco (each served with homemade tortillas). Yum. The first three dinners were hosted at L.A's Canele, which raised $7000 for the Micheltorena School Garden community project in Silver Lake. Although the girls realize that they still have a long way to go to build up the non-profit, other chefs in the area have already approached them about bringing Closed on Mondays to their restaurants. Mondays are soon to be the biggest night out of the week for good food and a good cause.
Jenga's chunky wooden blocks and shifty sense of suspense have been reinvented as furniture. Studio Intussen's 'Pixel Table' functions much the same way as a Jenga tower. Shaped like a cube and comprised of bamboo slats, chunks of the table may be pushed in or pulled out. This creates a nook for storing magazines, and, on the other side, a little side tray for cocktails. If you no longer need the storage or extra space, the slats can be realigned into their original cube form. How convenient is that? Unlike the game which inspired it, however, the Pixel Table offers users some security. There is no need to anxiously await the tumbling demise of your table, for the outer bamboo layer has been secured with glue. Pssst, take that tactical note and save it for your next Jenga match. [via Gizmodo]
A decade ago, Australia's film festival circuit caught a winter chill. Thanks to both the Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival, the country's cooler months were already a prime time for checking out cinema's latest and greatest from around the world, but the Scandinavian Film Festival levelled up the idea. Do you feel welcomely frostier if you're watching flicks set in and hailing from icy climes while the weather is cold? At this excuse to head to the pictures, yes, yes you do. Focusing on movies from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, the Scandinavian Film Festival has spent the past ten years highlighting both the region's big names and its emerging talents. In 2024, cinemagoers are in for the same format; however, every film fest fan knows that no two iterations of any film fest are ever exactly the same. When it tours the nation between Wednesday, July 17–Wednesday, August 14, this year's event has everything from straight-from-Cannes newcomers to a retrospective dedicated to two of the area's biggest icons on its lineup — plus a span of genres from historical dramas and romances to detective tales and sci-fi epics. Making stops in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Perth, and Byron Bay and Ballina, the festival will kick off with The Riot, which relives an IRL battle by miners in the second-largest workplace in Norway against dangerous conditions at the start of 20th century. Still on period-set tales, Stormskerry Maja is the Scandinavian Film Fest's centrepiece flick, with the Finnish movie about a peasant woman married off to a fisherman bringing the book series by Anni Blomqvist to the screen. Also making the leap from the page to cinemas is Boundless, the latest in Denmark's Department Q franchise, which is no stranger to this festival thanks to past entries The Keeper of Lost Causes, The Absent One and Conspiracy of Faith. From Everest, Adrift and Beast filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur, there's also Iceland's Touch, a romantic drama that adapts the novel of the same name, and hops across continents and decades. Elsewhere, When the Light Breaks similarly hails from Iceland — hitting Australia direct from opening Cannes' Un Certain Regard, in fact — alongside thrillers Cold and Natatorium. From Sweden, 2004's King's Game gets a sequel in Kingmaker, Hammarskjöld — Fight for Peace spins a true Cold War tale and Hunters on a White Field heads off on a weekend away in a forest. And Norway's contribution also spans closing night's Songs of Earth, a documentary about the country's wilderness that boasts Wim Wenders (Perfect Days) as an executive producer. The feast of Danish cinema includes Nordic noir Sons starring Borgen's Sidse Babett Knudsen as a prison guard, the Trine Dyrholm (Mary & George)-led Birthday Girl and the World War II-set Before It Ends with Pilou Asbæk (Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom). Or, there's also sci-fi Eternal, about a climate change scientist and a singer falling in love when a fissure splits the ocean floor — and The Promise, about a woman in her car trying to save her nephew's life. 2024's Scandinavian Film Festival's retrospective spotlight is shining on the great Liv Ullmann and Ingmar Bergman, heroing their collaborations, which means screening Autumn Sonata, Persona, the OG Scenes From a Marriage (not the recent American remake) and Cries and Whispers. The fest is also looking backwards with a 35th-anniversary session of Leningrad Cowboys Go America from Finnish auteur Aki Kaurismäki (Fallen Leaves). Scandinavian Film Festival 2024 Dates: Wednesday, July 17–Wednesday, August 7 — Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Adelaide Thursday, July 18–Wednesday, August 7 — Palace James St and Palace Barracks, Brisbane Friday, July 19–Wednesday, August 7 — Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Penny Lane, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor Theatre, Melbourne Wednesday, July 24–Wednesday, August 14 — Palace Norton St, Palace Moore Park, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema, Sydney Thursday, July 25–Wednesday, August 14 — Palace Electric, Canberra Thursday, July 25–Wednesday, August 14 — Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Palace Raine Square, Perth Friday, July 26–Wednesday, August 14 — Palace Byron Bay and Ballina Fair Cinemas, Byron Bay and Ballina The Scandinavian Film Festival tours Australia in July and August 2024. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the festival's website.
Burgers. Giver of life. Mana from heaven. We're pretty keen on this most glorious of food groups — and given how many new burger joints are placed around town, it seems like you are too. Hell, Hank Marvin Market's previous Burger Biannuals have drawn more than 6000 hungry punters. So, really, it's little wonder they're gearing up for another round. Firing up from 11am till 10pm on Sunday, March 11 and Monday, March 12 of the Labour Day long weekend, the event will feature 20 of Melbourne's best burg merchants. There'll be American–Asian burgs from Gorilla Grill, bao burgers from Miso Fresh, Indian-flecked creations from Curry Up Now and the regular suspects from Mr Burger. There'll also be vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, and pup-friendly options. Burgers truly are for everybody. Assuming you have room for dessert, you'll also have the run of a number of sweet options from the likes of Billy Van Creamery, Whoopies Cookies and Downtown Donuts. Point is, you probably won't need to eat for the rest of the week. Image: Shara Henderson.
Uber is expanding its services in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, with new high-end and cost-effective ride options. Launched June 1, the new uberXL service is targeted at groups of up to six people. When requested, users will be picked up in an SUV or van, such as a Toyota Highlander, a Ford Explorer or a Nissan Quest. Alternatively, if you're looking for something a little bit swankier — but aren't keen to break the bank on uberBLACK — you can now order uberSELECT and connect with a driver in an upscale vehicle like an Audi A3, a BMW 3 series or a Lexus RX. Both uberXL and uberSELECT will be charged at 1.5x the cost of an uberX — although especially in the case of the uberXL, that's still a damn sight cheaper than you and your mates ordering two separate cars. In less exciting news, the ridesharing service is introducing a flat 55c booking fee on all rides, and is also raising the minimum fare rate in Sydney ($8 to $9) Melbourne ($6 to $7.50) and Brisbane ($6 to $7.50). "Following our recent roundtable listening discussions with driver-partners, we heard that an important improvement Uber could make to the driving experience would be increasing the minimum fare," said an Uber spokesperson. The booking fee, meanwhile, will be used to assist with "the operational costs associated with providing a ridesharing service."
Each winter Vivid draws Sydney out of hibernation with a festival of light installations, talks, workshops and performances. Now in its tenth year, the festival is bigger and brighter than ever. From the illumination of major city landmarks to international acts and challenging ideas, there's a lot to pack into the 23 nights. With the help of our friends at YHA Australia, we've put together a rundown to help you navigate the festival. From what to see and do and to where best to eat and drink. [caption id="attachment_670002" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sydney Harbour YHA rooftop[/caption] STAY With so much to see and do during Vivid, you'll want to be close to the action. Sydney Harbour YHA in The Rocks is the perfect home base; it's just a stone's throw away from the installations in The Rocks and walking distance to Circular Quay and the Botanic Gardens. It's also right in the thick of some of the most historic pubs in Sydney. The building combines modern comfort with the heritage of the area — it's set above archaeological remains of colonial Sydney. Choose from private or dorm rooms and head to the rooftop balcony to treat yourself to one of the best views in Sydney. From this bird's eye vantage point, you'll have an uninterrupted view stretching from the Harbour Bridge to the Sydney Opera House, Customs House and city buildings, all lit up for the festival. Grab a drink and settle in to soak it all up. If you'd prefer to stay a touch further away from the heaving Circular Quay, YHA also has locations in Sydney Central and Railway Square. Here, you'll be in walking distance of Haymarket (and its many dumplings, noodles and 30c cream puffs), Spice Alley and Darling Harbour's stunning light installations. All three YHAs are offering 20-percent-off during Vivid, too. [caption id="attachment_625341" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bodhi Liggett.[/caption] EAT You'll need to keep your energy levels up in order to fit in everything in during the festival. Luckily, there are heaps of great food options around. Start the day with quality coffee and a beautiful, picturesque breakfast at The Grounds of the City. If you're short on time, though, you can grab a cup of joe and a brekkie burger, bowl or muffin from the takeaway window. For lunchtime refuelling, head to La Renaissance Patisserie for house-made pies, baguette sandwiches and pastries. The tree covered courtyard is a sweet little place to retreat from the crowds for a little while. In The Rocks Centre behind Kendall Lane, you'll also find the Fine Food Store serving up sandwiches, salads and winter warmers like soups and stews. When the sun goes down, check out the new Bar Patrón by Rockpool for authentic Mexican eats, margaritas and views of the Vivid lights. Alternatively, head to The Morrison, located between The Rocks and Wynyard, for a mean sirloin steak or the $1 oyster happy hour from 6–7pm each Wednesday. And if you've really got cash to splash and a burning desire for views with some top eats, head to Cafe Sydney. Found above Customs House (which will be covered in a Snugglepot and Cuddlepie light show), this place serves up Australian haute-cuisine with a killer view. The restaurant also has a dedicated vegan menu for those looking for some fine dining that considers their dietaries. For another prime spot with more casual eats, head next door to Gateway — home to Neil Perry's Burger Project, Din Tai Fung, Four Frogs Creperie and Gelato Messina. DRINK The Rocks area is heaving with pubs — in fact, two of them, The Lord Nelson and The Fortune of War, lay claim to being Sydney's oldest. The best way to fit them all in is to head on a pub crawl — starting at The Lord Nelson, making tracks to the potentially haunted Hero of Waterloo, heading up to The Glenmore rooftop for excellent harbour views, passing by The Fortune of War and finishing up at the newly refurbished Orient. If you're after something more sedate and refined, hit Henry Deane, the rooftop bar at Hotel Palisade which boasts incredible views of the harbour and the lights of Vivid. Otherwise, check out Bulletin Place for intricately crafted cocktails, or cosy up at The Doss House, a new underground whisky bar set in an incredible heritage building in The Rocks. [caption id="attachment_624496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Horan.[/caption] SEE The projections onto the Sydney Opera House have been the crowning glory of the Vivid light display since the festival's inception. This year the sails will feature the work of artist Jonathan Zawada, blending everyday objects with the pictures inspired by the Australian environment. Meanwhile, Skylark makes use of the high rises around Circular Quay, featuring a custom-built laser atop the Harbour Bridge projecting onto buildings in a stunning light show every half hour. The Southern Pylon of the bridge will be lit with Bangarra Dance Company's Dark Emu, melding dance and art and paying homage to the agricultural knowledge of Indigenous Australians. [caption id="attachment_623212" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Horan.[/caption] See bacteria writ large at Beautiful and Dangerous in The Rocks. The work takes you under a neon microscope to explore some of the deadliest diseases facing mankind and what's being done to curb them. While you're in the area, look skyward and see A Little Birdie Told Me — a work depicting the threat to many of our native bird species. The festival of light also makes full use of the glorious Botanic Gardens, with installations dotted throughout. Impressions shows a time-lapse of flora captured from the garden throughout the day, displayed across five huge canvases. Check out The Bloom, a giant metallic flower covered in LED pixels. And hanging in a canopy of trees is Hyperweb, a giant web combining light and soundscape. DO With so many artists and thinkers in town, you might want to extend your stay to fit more in. Top of the ticket is Solange, performing at the Sydney Opera House. Her shows are sold out, but festival organisers recommend checking the website daily for last-minute releases. Also in town are Grammy award-winning singer St Vincent and legendary rapper Ice Cube. There are heaps of local acts to check out too, including No Mono, Middle Kids and Stonefield. For one night only Heaps Gay will host a fabulous, not-to-be-missed fancy dress party, Qweens Ball, at Town Hall. Plus for a change of pace, this year's festival also includes a jazz series for the first time. [caption id="attachment_574541" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bodhi Liggett.[/caption] Vivid Ideas will get your mind bubbling about the big issues. There are talks on everything from building a sustainable future and the threat to democracy to the art of creativity and understanding consciousness. For podcast nerds, the Audiocraft Podcast Festival features a line-up of industry heavyweights in a series of talks and workshops. If you're headed to Vivid this year, YHA is offering 20% off stays for Concrete Playground readers during the festival. The offer applies to all rooms (private and multi-share) at Sydney Harbour YHA, Sydney Central YHA and Railway Square YHA. Use the code VIVID to claim the discount when you book online, valid Sunday to Thursday between Sunday, May 27 and Friday, June 15. More info about the offer and other weekend discounts here. Image: Destination NSW.
Melburnians love to start food trends in Australia. We do, after all, have the greatest food culture in the country. But Sydney got one up on us back in 2019 when Demochi started selling Japanese-style mochi doughnuts out of a food truck by the Banksia Hotel. It was the first place in Australia to sell these glazed bad boys that resemble sugar-coated inflatable pool toys. The sweet masterpieces blend the airy, crispy elements of a doughnut with that unique chewy mochi texture. And Sydneysiders have been going nuts for them ever since the doughnut truck landed in their city. Since then, owners Dennis and Monique Chan (of Dirty Bird food truck) have opened up a permanent spot in Sydney and, as of Tuesday the 23rd of January, a new store in Melbourne's CBD within Midtown Plaza on the Corner of Bourke Street and Swanston Street. Demochi changes up the doughnut flavours fairly regularly, but you might come across flavours like yuzu and mint or matcha glazed dough boys, as well as more traditional doughnut flavours such as strawberry or chocolate glaze. Whackier varieties may include doughnuts frosted with cereal and milk and a cheeky fairybread number. The Chans have also expanded their dessert offerings since opening the Demochi food truck in Sydney. Now, they serve up their own house-made soft serve ice cream topped with toasted meringue and the super fun Demochi Fried Chicken — it looks like a drumette of fried chicken but is actually a crunchy wafer that's been covered in ice cream, dipped in chocolate and tossed in crumbed cereal. It's served in a classic chicken shop takeaway box and is an absolute must-try if sugar is your truest vice. A new cake range will also be available at Demochi's new Melbourne site, including a crispy chocolate coffee cake and the strawberry brûlée mascarpone gateaux. Sweet-toothed CBD workers and locals best add this one to their dessert hit list. You can find the new Demochi Melbourne shop at 246 Bourke Street (inside Midtown Plaza), open 11am–7pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 11am–5pm on Sundays. For more details, check out the venue's website.
Bar entrepreneur Matt Bax (of Bar Americano and the currently hibernating Bar Exuberante) is out to brew the perfect cuppa, as part of a new Japanese-inspired tea experience at Supernormal in Flinders Lane. An idea more than 15 years in the making, Samu is described by Bax as a "contemporary tea meditation...a place where people will have an opportunity to taste real matcha in a unique space". Available as part of the restaurant's regular lunch and dinner service, Samu will see guests seated in a custom-built teahouse complete a with wooden seating bar where they'll enjoy ceremonial-grade matcha and wagayashi-style sweets. "Samu is a one-of-a-kind experience; one I am looking forward to sharing with my guests," said Bax. Running for two weeks only from July 18-29, the service is available for groups of up to five people and costs $9 per tea (and accompanying sweet treat). Expect it to be, like all Bax creations, more than a little weird and wonderful.
If you've ever enjoyed a few drinks and wondered just what impact they've had on your blood alcohol limit, prepare to wonder no longer. Meet Proof, the wearable alcohol sensor that not only tells you how drunk you are — it (somewhat frighteningly) predicts how drunk you'll be later, and when you'll be sober if you stop drinking. Plus, it can also remind you when you're back in the safe realm. This is how it works: the slim band, which looks just like a fitness tracker, reads alcohol molecules through your skin. It then sends those readings to an app on your phone, where you can check whether you're okay to drive, and when you will be. You can also set it up to send vibrations through your wrist and flash an LED light when you reach pre-set blood alcohol levels. The band itself relies upon on disposable cartridges that last for 12 hours, and is powered by a rechargeable battery with a four-day continuous-use lifespan. Proof, which was among the technological advancements featured at CES 2017, has been in development by Milo Sensors for two years, with a crowdfunding campaign planned for 2017 to help it come to fruition. Once it reaches the market, it is expected to sell for US$100 to $150. Milo Sensors CEO and founder Evan Strenk told Mashable that the product aims to "empower people to make educated decision about alcohol," and is on par with consumer breathalysers. The last part is key, and not just in terms of effectiveness. Sure, plenty of blood alcohol testing products already exist; however who wants to blow into a tube when knowing just how those after-work drinks are hitting the spot is as easy as wearing a wristband and checking your phone? Via Mashable.
It has proved a busy year for St Kilda's historic pubs. At the end of November, The Espy reopened after three years behind closed doors and a mighty reno. Now, the new-look Prince of Wales Hotel has just launched its restaurant. In 2016, Melbourne businessman Gerry Ryan and his son Andrew took over management of the pub — now just The Prince Hotel — and have since overseen a multimillion-dollar makeover, in with Melbourne's IF Architecture. Located on the second level of the spruced-up St Kilda haunt, Prince Dining Room has taken over the space previously home to Circa, which closed its doors after 20 years last year. In the kitchen, Executive Chef Dan Hawkins (Stokehouse, Circa and Longrain) and Head Chef Dan Cooper (Circa and Garden State Hotel) are creating a Mediterranean menu, showcasing local, sustainable and ethical ingredients from local markets, the St Kilda Veg Out garden and a network of producers, growers and fishermen. Make your may through a selection of skewers and flatbreads — like Flinders Island lamb with fermented chilli, and prawns with sesame, lemon and coriander — or a main, such as the woodfired turmeric chicken with pickled ginger, and add a bunch of sides. The lineup of smaller bites includes options like baby cabbage with prawn butter, and woodfired zucchini with feta, almond and ras el hanout (Moroccan spice mix). As you can probably tell from the aforementioned dishes, there's an emphasis on cooking with fire in the Prince Dining Room kitchen."Fire causes changes in flavour, texture and appearance, to provide a unique final product that cannot be replicated by other means," said Hawkins in a statement. Cocktails do not use fire, but are instead fruit-driven with colourful concoctions like the Jackie & Jess featuring grapefruit juice and thyme syrup, and the bourbon-heavy Louis Li a mix of Aperol, amaro and lemon juice. A succinct list of local and international beers and wines — including a few quality $10-a-glass drops — rounds out the drinks list. In coming up with the design, IF Architecture wanted to respect the building's Art Deco architecture and historical significance, while also adding more light and space. The centrepiece is an oval black steel bar, while eclectic seating — made by local and Italian artisans from metal, wrought iron and wood — and soft, curvaceous banquettes in brown, pink and green hues surround it. Find Prince Dining Room at 2 Acland Street, St Kilda. It's open from 7am–11pm, daily. Images: Gareth Sobey.
Jacob Elordi returning to Australia. Snowtown, True History of the Kelly Gang and Nitram director Justin Kurzel and screenwriter Shaun Grant reteaming. Richard Flanagan's Booker Prize-winning novel making the leap to the screen. A cast that also includes Belfast's Ciarán Hinds, Olivia DeJonge (Elvis) and her The Staircase co-star Odessa Young (My First Film), Limbo and Boy Swallows Universe's Simon Baker, Heartbreak High's Thomas Weatherall, Love Me's Heather Mitchell and Tokyo Vice's Show Kasamatsu. Combine all of the above and Prime Video's five-part miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North is the end result — and if you hadn't already scheduled it in for a couch date in April, you will after watching its just-dropped trailer. "Are you a gambling man?" Elordi's Dorrigo Evans is asked at the beginning of the series' sneak peek. "Occasionally, yeah" is his response — before wagering on the chances of making it through the year alive. Set to hit your streaming queue on Friday, April 18, 2025, The Narrow Road to the Deep North tells a tale of love and war, and of Evans' journey from a prisoner of war as a Lieutenant in World War II, working on the Thailand-Burma Railway, to becoming an acclaimed surgeon. Elordi shares the show's lead role with Hinds, playing the younger version of the character in a tale that jumps between different time periods — and includes a life-changing stint of falling in love with Amy Mulvaney (Young). DeJonge and Baker feature with Elordi and Young, plus Weatherall and Kasamatsu, in the show's 40s-era timeline, while Hinds hops in when the series gets to the 80s, which is where Mitchell pops up as well. Initially announced a couple of years back, then premiering at this year's Berlinale, The Narrow Road to the Deep North brings its star back to the small screen three years after the second season of Euphoria in 2022 — and a likely a year before the HBO favourite's third season arrives. He's been busy on the big screen since, though, courtesy of Saltburn, Priscilla, Deep Water, The Sweet East, Oh, Canada and On Swift Horses, before what's set to be prime Easter long-weekend viewing drops. Prior to all of the above projects, and also before the three Kissing Booth films helped boost his career first, Elordi scored his first on-screen acting credit beyond short films in Aussie movie Swinging Safari. Since then, however, the Brisbane-born talent has largely focused on working overseas. So The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a rarity of late on his filmography, with the actor heading home to make the drama. Charles An (Last King of the Cross), Essie Davis (One Day), William Lodder (Love Me), Eduard Geyl (Born to Spy) and Christian Byers (Bump) are also among the cast. Check out the trailer for The Narrow Road to the Deep North below: The Narrow Road to the Deep North will stream via Prime Video from Friday, April 18, 2025. Images: Prime Video.
If you had to restrict your menu to just dough, and stuff you can make with dough, what would you serve? There's actually a fairly wide selection: bread, cakes, pastries, pizza and pasta. Everything a growing body needs. This is the general inspiration behind a new restaurant coming to Melbourne's CBD, dubbed ANTARA 128. It's the brainchild of Executive Chef and co-owner of Sunda and Aru, Khanh Nguyen, and it's set to rise in late 2023. While Nguyen's name alone is enough to get Melburnians excited, given the enormous splash that Sunda and Aru have made on Melbourne's dining scene — ANTARA 128 is also backed by the Halim Group, who oversaw the restoration of the Hotel Windsor. [caption id="attachment_825951" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Sunda, supplied[/caption] "With ANTARA, we wanted to look to the dining scene of Europe, but done in a Melbourne way," Group Director Adi Halim says. "I've always liked the feel of European brasseries, places that open from early to late which you can drop in at throughout the day." Details are still sketchy on ANTARA 128, but you can expect a mostly dough-fuelled menu. Fresh-baked bread and pastries each morning, strong coffee for commuters, soft mounds of pizza dough and ribbons of fresh-made pasta, with everything given a dusting of Nguyen's trademark spice. "Follow us as we slowly rise," reads the current website. "We will be bringing the sensibility of that to this venture and depart from our norm, with the food having a European focus with an Asian touch," says Halim. [caption id="attachment_837098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Aru by Ari Hatzis[/caption] Keep an eye out for ANTARA 128 at 128 Exhibition Street in the CBD. We'll provide more details ahead of the launch. Top image: Khanh Nguyen by Ryan Noreiks.
Not content with mastering what he believes to be the perfect burger recipe, Ralph Rashid — owner of Beatbox Kitchen and Taco Truck — turned his attention to sweets with the opening of All Day Donuts. Although it's not open 24-hours, it has extended its hours to seven days a week, selling doughies from the morning until sold out. There are five flavours a day — including lime brûlée and strawberry cheesecake — but our recommendation is the jaffa. Need something savoury to follow these bad boys up? The space also houses Juanita Peaches for post- or pre- doughnut fried chicken.
From the outside, 400 Gradi looks like nothing special. Just another pizza restaurant down the Brunswick-end of Lygon Street churning out Italian food? Best keep that opinion to yourself, otherwise you'll be missing out on some of the city's — and in fact, the world's — best pizza. Soft lighting and dark features make 400 Gradi (Italian for '400 degrees', the ideal temperature at which pizza should be cooked) the kind of spot that calls you for dinner on a rainy night. You know the kind we mean, too: the type you hanker for in the middle of a dreary Melbourne winter, whilst the rest of your friends are off holidaying in the sunny Mediterranean. After owner Johnny Di Francesco's recent win at the World Pizza Championships though, where 400 Gradi's margherita ($20.50) was awarded first prize, you can forget about your friends — you've got the gold standard right on your doorstep. 400 Gradi's quality is due to the fact that it is one of only four Melbourne pizzerias to be a member of the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association. Strict guidelines on ingredients — including the use of '00' flour — means that this pizzeria's game is absolute A-grade. Light, yeasty and lightly charcoaled in taste, each base is cooked to perfection within 90 seconds, making for a menu that is faultless, whatever your inclination. Aside from the margherita, which is the pizzeria's most popular item, the Caserta, featuring san marzano tomato, buffalo mozzarella, rocket and prosciutto di parma ($24.5), is also a close favourite. We dare say you are doing yourself an injustice should you visit 400 Gradi and not sample the pizza. However, for those so inclined, a number of seconds are equally as impressive, including the pappardelle with pancetta, peas, fresh herbs, chilli and parmesan ($23). Of course, Italians are experts at primi. We recommend the arancini ($13) and olive ascolane ($12): green olives filled with veal, crumbed and shallow fried. A terrific combination. 400 Gradi proves that a thoughtful approach to food brings the best results. Nothing less than delicious.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Wotif.com. Adelaide is no stranger to pesky licensing laws impeding the onward march of excellent late-night bar culture, but thankfully in April last year the city’s council saw reason and introduced friendlier regulations. The result? A city that's turning on its charm year-round, not just in February and March when the Adelaide festival and WOMADelaide convert the place into a bohemian heaven. 2014 is Adelaide’s year of the small bar. Here’s a selection of the finest. THE GALLERY ON WAYMOUTH Big, bold and shiny, the Gallery replaces Fad Bar with a more upmarket, suits-friendly offering with two levels of bars to mingle and a middle level for dining. The walls feature a changing gallery of contemporary art, but if that’s not enough to soothe your Friday afternoon exhaustion, get stuck into some BBQ beef ribs and crusty bread ($11) or a heartier main of Saltbush lamb ($27). 30 Waymouth Street, Adelaide UDABERRI Adelaide’s Hindley Street may be one of Australia’s more eccentric red-light main drags, but it has no shortage of laneways like Leigh Street housing civilised bars such as Spanish wine bar supreme, Udaberri. Offering Basque-style bar snacks including an extensive list of Spanish cheeses, it’s all the civility you’ll ever need after a loiter down Hindley Street. Udaberri Pintxos y Vino, 11 Leigh Street, Adelaide PROOF Set on the suitably obscure Anster Street, Proof wine bar is a sophisticated little joint manned by bar staff in waistcoats. Proof will satisfy a hankering for an Old Fashioned or an honest cheese toasty (and by honest we mean beef ragu with Fontina). Proof, 9A Anster Street, Adelaide THE BOTANIC BAR An Adelaide institution, the Botanic on North Terrace has undergone some serious sprucing in recent times. Improvements include spicy chicken wings provided by Golden Boy Thai, who are now serving authentic Thai goodness to thankful Botanic punters as they sip on a luscious Montenegro sour or Rangoon Standard. 309 North Terrace, Adelaide ROCKET ROOFTOP Rocket Bar is Adelaide’s original home of good music. Rocket Rooftop serves serious adult wine from McLaren Vale’s Alpha Box and Dice and also has a solid cocktail list. Rocket Rooftop is the perfect place to enjoy a cool drink on a balmy summer’s night under the best palm tree in the state. 142 Hindley Street, Adelaide THE COLLINS BAR A nod to the roaring 1920s, the Collins Bar shows off some of the state’s best local wines as well as a playful list of cocktails sourced from their extensive, if alarmingly tidy bar. They’re offering the usual suspects in the bar snacks department, such as lemonade-braised pulled pork slider and slaw at a bargain $8. Oh, they also have a fantastically long tequila list. Hilton Adelaide, 233 Victoria Square, Adelaide CLEVER LITTLE TAILOR As its name suggests, the Clever Little Tailor is little and clever. It’s a bonafide small bar — intimate, classy and dedicated to quality booze. Set in an old vintage store on Peel Street, it’s been decorated with old school decor and is serving excellent beers such as Mountain Goat, Feral Hop Hog and Four Pines, along with a selection of charcuterie from Lucia’s at the Central Markets. Clever as they come. 19 Peel Street, Adelaide CANTINA SOCIALE Showing off the best of Adelaide’s boutique wine industry, Cantina Sociale serves authentic, one-off wines not available in any stores, wine lists or bars. Located on Sturt Street, this is a haven for wine lovers to really love their wine. 108 Sturt Street, Adelaide LOFT OYSTER AND WINE BAR The Loft is one of Adelaide’s newest bars located on Gouger Street in the Central Market precinct. With its sparkly new interior, it’s a perfect after-work drinks spot, serving Asian inspired mezze and oysters in every way imaginable. Level 1, 128 Gouger Street, Adelaide STREET-ADL Street-ADL is the first of a two-part venture from chef Jock Zonfrillo. Offering informal dining, cocktails and street food, Street-ADL is all-American with its cheeseburgers and sundaes, and true blue with its Goolwa pipis and lamingtons. Street ADL, 285 Rundle Street, Adelaide
The crew at Beyond Cinema have a knack for turning bedtime stories and big-screen flicks into immersive, larger-than-life adventures. Just look at last year's Great Gatsby-inspired party in a mansion, or the more recent Harry Potter-themed potions classes. Well now, it's the much-loved tale of Alice in Wonderland that gets the Beyond Cinema treatment, by way of an all-new immersive pop-up experience inspired by the nonsensical Mad Hatter. Descending on secret Melbourne and Brisbane locations in February next year, The Alice Bar invites punters to dive through the looking glass and into a fantasy world. Expect things to get curiouser and curiouser across your 90-minute visit, whether you're creating your own liquid concoctions under the guidance of The Mad Hatter, settling in for an indulgent tea party, or getting raucous with the likes of the March Hare and the Cheshire Cat. [caption id="attachment_740466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Wizard's Cauldron[/caption] As always, Beyond Cinema is keeping most of the details scarce until closer to the date, though they're already old hands at bringing Alice In Wonderland to life. The team's earlier Mad Hatter's Tea Party events have proved a hit over the past couple of years. Beyond Cinema's The Alice Bar event will take place at a yet-to-be-revealed Melbourne and Brisbane location in February, 2020. You can sign up for more details here.
We'll be the first to admit that we'd love to get our hands on our favourite chefs' little black books of go-to restaurants. What does Matt Moran have saved in his Notes app under RESTAURANTS TO TRY? Where does Ben Shewry go on the nights he's not harvesting cabbages at Attica? Who does George Calombaris send food emojis to to set up a post-MasterChef feed? We bet it's some dingy, CBD dumpling bar where they let you bring in bottles of vintage from your resto for $1 corkage per person. Or maybe a tiny Italian restaurant in the suburbs run by a nonno-nonna dream team with bad tablecloths and amazing tagliatelle. Right? Evidently, that's what The Australian Financial Review thought too when they set up Australia's Top 100 Restaurants as voted by chefs and restaurateurs last year. But 2016's Top 100 was announced last night at The Star in Sydney, and you know where our top chefs eat? Exactly the same places as us. Taking out top place was the very same establishment that's been named Australia's best in The World's 50 Best Restaurants, Attica. Fellow Victorian Brae came in second for Dan Hunter's regional cuisine, and in third were last year's winners Sepia, which is run by Sydneysiders Martin Benn and Vicki Wild. How surprising. Rounding out the top ten were Sydney restaurants Quay, Sixpenny and the Opera House's Bennelong. Rockpool also got a look in, as did Hobart's Franklin and newcomers Ester and Automata. So either chef's only go to their mates' fancy restaurants, or, if they do go to dingy dumpling joints, they're keeping those ones to themselves.
UPDATE: May 24, 2020: Child's Play is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Black Mirror, meet 80s cinema's favourite flame-haired, knife-wielding plaything. That's Child's Play circa 2019 straight out of its gleaming box. Chucky has never gone away, with the last flick in the initial seven-film franchise hitting home entertainment just two years ago. An eight-part series called Chucky is headed to TV screens next year, too, from the original movie's Don Mancini. But updating the carnage-inflicting toy for today's incessantly-online, internet-of-things environment was always going to happen, jettisoning the notion of a doll possessed by a serial killer for something considerably more high-tech. It's a premise rich with possibilities — dissecting humanity's growing subservience to technology, our fear of artificial intelligence, the reality that all-powerful companies may not have customers' best interests at heart, and showing how increasingly aggressive times can create a dangerous and deadly loop of vicious behaviour. Sadly, although the new Child's Play doesn't shy away from its many timely ideas, it doesn't do anything more than push them through a horror assembly line. A standard slasher flick made from well-worn parts remains just that, even when it has been given a famous name, plenty of topical talking points and a slick visual makeover. In fact, the fact that this do-over tries so hard to pair its murderous robotic figurine with timely observations, while also happily sticking to a bland, broad, surprise-free playbook, is its most grating trait. Perhaps it's simply peddling another piece of social commentary: that movie studios, like toy corporations, can release whatever generic fare they like as long as they make it appear shiny enough, and consumers just have to stomach the resulting havoc and dreck. Whether you're buying the latest gadget or heading to the cinema, that's the cost of making a purchase today. Single mother Karen Barclay (Aubrey Plaza) doesn't actually hand over any hard-earned cash for a walking, talking Buddi doll (which speaks with the voice of Mark Hamill). Instead, the department store employee convinces her boss to let her take one of the returned, malfunctioning toys home as a gift for her hearing-impaired son Andy's (Gabriel Bateman) birthday. Almost a teenager, the boy is hardly overjoyed about his present. Still, he's lonely and in a new city, the computerised plaything clearly adores him like it is programmed to, and it also helps him befriend a couple of neighbourhood kids (Ty Consiglio and Beatrice Kitsos). That said, that something is astray is clear from the moment that Andy's plastic buddy decides its own name is Chucky. As the movie's opening scene shows, a disgruntled sweatshop worker has removed the figurine's appropriate language and anti-violence filters in an act of employee-level corporate vengeance. So while Chucky might seem like little more than an eccentric and clingy android BFF to Andy, the smart doll is willing to do whatever it takes to keep their friendship alive — including slaughter anyone who gets in the way. If first-time feature director Lars Klevberg and debut screenwriter Tyler Burton Smith are trying to pre-empt criticism by having their mechanical villain love something so much that it turns into a toxic fan, slaying everything in its path irrationally and indiscriminately, that's one of their big swings and misses. It's better reading into their other big theme, and one that Chucky demonstrates again and again in trying to resolve Andy's woes with a knife: being careful what you wish for. For material so rife with potential, Child's Play remains content to make the easiest and most apparent statements in routine and uninspired ways. It's also happy to follow cookie-cutter characters, throw in the expected deaths and just generally follow the operating manual. And while there's undeniable pleasure in hearing Parks and Recreation alumni Plaza say the name 'Andy' repeatedly, she headlines an entirely wasted cast. Playing a cop whose mother lives in the same building as Karen and Andy, Atlanta's Brian Tyree Henry falls into the same category. So do Hamill's creepy but never overly menacing vocals. When Chucky keeps killing over and over again with a single-minded focus, Child's Play begins to resemble another tech-heavy, needlessly rebooted, never-say-die franchise: the Terminator. It's not that these sagas don't know when to end; rather, they keep kicking on without justifying why. The same can be said for recent instalments in other long-running series, such as X-Men and Men in Black. But, simultaneously glossy and formulaic where its predecessors were gleefully makeshift and off-kilter, Child's Play couldn't try harder to stress that it's a new beginning. It is, and yet starting over again isn't always a good thing. Credit where credit is due, however. Who dies, and when, never comes as a shock, but this horror flick does value a great bit of gore. While the bloodshed takes time to splatter across the screen, when it comes, it's memorable. If only Klevberg and Smith had expended the same energy and inventiveness on the rest of the film as they do on Chucky's growing pile of bodies. Their one other playful attempt arrives via the movie's blackly comic tone, endeavouring to ape The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and even using clips of the 80s slasher sequel to teach the picture's homicidal robot how to stab, slice and snatch people's faces off. If you're thinking the obvious, though, you're right — whether it's reimagining its source material, adhering to topical and filmmaking trends, or nodding to other genre fare, Child's Play follows poorly in everyone's footsteps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeHNLikDiVw
That beloved, giant yellow legend of a floating rubber duck is missing. The 59-foot, one-tonne inflatable sculpture by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman was apparently swept away by furious floodwaters in China's south-west Guizhou Province on Wednesday. The duck's exhibition team saw our giant inflatable hero unleashed from its ten-tonne metal platform on Guiyang's Nanming River, The Wall Street Journal's China Real Time blog has reported. "The duck flopped over and was flushed away really quickly by the torrential flood," said exhibition co-ordinator Yan Jianxin. "It disappeared right in front of me." Touring hasn't been kind to the giant inflatable hero. Popping up everywhere from Sydney to Sao Paulo since 2007, the team of giant ducks have quite the rambunctious tour diary. Just months earlier, one duck exploded in the middle of a port in Taiwan. Collapsing only 11 days after installation at Keelung, the mystery behind the duck's demise was never solved. "Organisers are unsure as to the cause of its demise, but one theory is that it was attacked by eagles," reported the BBC. Another duck then went on to casually deflate in Hong Kong. But now our noble, buoyant adventurer is nowhere to be found. Local radio stations are rallying local citizens to the hunt — "If you live along the river and see an 18-metre tall big yellow duck, please call 5961027." Like looking for a giant yellow duck in a watery haystack, the search could be a tough one. If only the duck was brightly coloured, able to float and unbelievably oversized. Wait. Via BBC, Gawker and WSJ. Images by Trey Ratcliff, Zuma Press, AP Photo, Kin Cheung, Reuters.
As a 29-year-old red P-plater (don't mock me, I'm quite sensitive about it), I pose a threat to other motorists simply by spending too much time with my eyes obsessively locked on the speedometer rather than on the road. Other times I'm praying for a red light so I can check Google Maps, because I didn't hear its guiding voice give me directions (sometimes it's hard to hear anything over the amazing Ace of Base remixes pumping on my stereo). Worst of all, what the hell do I do in low visibility conditions, like midnight drag races through dense fog along winding country roads? How do I know which way the road is about to swerve, before it's too late and I soar, Thelma & Louisely, off a cliff? If only Google Glass were available to me now, I find myself sighing. Now I discover I need sigh no more, and neither need you, for augmented reality windscreens are finally here thanks to an iPhone app called HUDWAY. The nifty thing about HUDWAY is that it combines digital tech with a totally analogue, pre-existing factor for its interface: to make it work, you simply place your phone on the dashboard, and its display is reflected onto the windscreen. Presto: high-tech heads-up display, with elements like your speed and the distance to the next turn expressed in numerals, as well as a visualisation of the road ahead, showing particularly dangerous turns in red. It's definitely an advance in driver safety, and it also happens to be available for free. Once you enter your destination using an internet-supported map service, the route's loaded and ready to go, so that you needn't remain online while driving. This is great news for those times when you are doing the above-mentioned midnight drag races through internet-free mountain ranges. Check out the video below to see HUDWAY in action as a driver hurtles recklessly through rain-sodden long grasses, anticipating turns and showing nature who's boss. Via PSFK.
In 2017, one filmmaker had viewers around the world swooning. From the moment that Luca Guadagnino's big-screen adaptation of Andre Aciman's Call Me By Your Name premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and then the Berlinale, it wowed audiences, made a star out of Timothée Chalamet and had everyone talking about Armie Hammer's dancing skills. So the news that the acclaimed director is serving up another Italy-set coming-of-age drama is firmly — and understandably — cause for excitement. This time, Guadagnino is doing so on the small screen, courtesy of new HBO mini-series We Are Who We Are. It's set in 2016, and follows two American teenagers living on a US military base with their parents. Jack Dylan Grazer (IT: Chapter Two) stars as 14-year-old Fraser Wilson, a new arrival from New York with his mothers Sarah (Chloë Sevigny, Queen & Slim) and Maggie (Alice Braga, The New Mutants) — while first-timer Jordan Kristine Seamón plays Caitlin Poythress, a veteran of living on the base with her older brother Danny (Spence Moore II, AP Bio), father Richard (Scott Mescudi, aka Bill & Ted Face the Music's Kid Cudi) and mother Jenny (Faith Alabi, Cold Feet). Also featured in this eight-episode tale of friendship, teen angst, first love and finding one's identity are Francesca Scorsese (daughter of iconic filmmaker Martin Scorsese), Ben Taylor, Corey Knight, Tom Mercier (Synonyms) and Sebastiano Pigazzi — with the cast blending well-known names and faces with plenty of newcomers. We Are Who We Are started airing in the US on September 14, but it'll head to Aussie screens via SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand at a yet-to-be-revealed date. If you're in the need of a virtual trip to Northern Italy, as directed by the filmmaker also behind I Am Love, A Bigger Splash and the 2018 Suspiria remake — and co-written by Guadagnino with Paolo Giordano (The Solitude of Prime Numbers) and Francesca Manieri (Daughter of Mine) — then add this to your future must-watch list. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6VAQ6LdnKs&feature=emb_logo We Are Who We Are will screen on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand at a yet-to-be-revealed date — we'll update you with further details when they come to hand. Top image: Yannis Drakoulidis/HBO.
Cumulus Up's City Cellar Door series returns for 2018, once again featuring a revolving door of Australian wine producers all keen to show off their top-notch drops. The event is the perfect opportunity to taste delicious wine, chat directly to the makers and grab your fave bottles at cellar door prices — all without leaving the CBD. And, while Victorian producers will once again sit in the spotlight, the series will also showcase Tasmanian wineries for the first time. The year's first instalment — which will run on the first Saturday of every month until October — kicks off at midday on May 5, this month paying homage to the Mornington Peninsula. Wine enthusiasts will be treated to stellar tipples from the likes of Main Ridge Estate, Prossimo, Allies and Avani, alongside matched snacks available from the Cumulus clan. And what's wine without snacks? To make sure the event has all the trimmings, there'll be plenty to eat, including the bar's suckling pig. Entry is by gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to OzHarvest. This is a not-to-be-missed event for anyone who loves wine.
Let's go party, indeed: Barbie is here, filling Australian cinemas with pink-hued cheer, and slaying both the patriarchy and the Australian box office. Greta Gerwig's Margot Robbie-starring take on the famous doll packed picture palaces not just with every shade of not-quite-red it could, but with people, breaking a Malibu DreamHouse worth records in the process. If you noticed plenty of fellow filmgoers watching this trip to Barbie Land, then Los Angeles, then back with you last weekend, that was the experience mirrored around the country. In fact, Barbie notched up the biggest opening at the Australian box office for 2023 so far, raking in $21.5 million including preview screenings. The stats keep coming, but the best is truly historic: Barbie enjoyed the biggest opening weekend for a film directed by a female filmmaker. It earned that same huge opening weekend title for films with any of Robbie, Gerwig and Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man) involved. Now that's some Kenergy. Also, Barbie helped smash even more records as part of the double feature of 2023: Barbenheimer. Thanks to both Barbie and Christopher Nolan's vastly dissimilar atomic-bomb thriller Oppenheimer, the Aussie box office saw its biggest-ever Saturday and Sunday takings. On Saturday, July 22, $11.1 million spent bested the $10.3 million recorded in April 2019 when Avengers: Endgame released. On Sunday, July 23, the $10.5 million gross topped the $9.96 million taken in December 2105 — on the Boxing Day public holiday on December 27, in fact — as fuelled by Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, plus Boxing Day releases. Specific cinemas also broke past records. At Sydney's Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, the independent theatre scored its highest-grossing weekend in its 88-year history. Oppenheimer in 70mm notched up the cinema's highest-grossing opening ever, while Barbie now sits second in that same category. At Melbourne's Cinema Nova, the also-independent cinema looks set to earn its biggest box-office week of all time. If it does, it'll break the record set in January 2020, when Gerwig's Little Women was playing alongside films like Jojo Rabbit and Parasite. Barbie also took the opening-week record from Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, and might become the first film by a female filmmaker to hit the venue's top ten of all time list. As for Oppenheimer, it's in the top ten biggest opening weekends. It shouldn't be lost on anyone that Barbie and Oppenheimer's successes mean that two movies that aren't part of long-running franchises have audiences flocking in. Neither film comes in as the fifth or 11th or 17th or 31st entries in a long-running saga, and don't we all know and love it. Here's the big takeaway: more of that please, especially given that oh-so-much of what reaches the silver screen is a sequel, prequel or chapter in a sprawling universe these days. Check out the trailers for Barbie and Oppenheimer below: Barbie is showing in Australian cinemas now. Read our review. Oppenheimer is also showing in Australian cinemas now. Read our review, too.
We all love a bottomless brunch — whether it comes in the classic eggs and mimosa form, or the more contemporary lunch adaptation where you get a whole lineup of endless cocktails paired with a hefty set menu. Ming Dining's new bottomless brunch falls into the latter's definition. From Friday–Sunday, the crew is plating up a seven-course Asian-fusion feed paired with bottomless cocktails, beer and wine for only $69 per person — that's a proper bargain. During the two-hour window, that table will fill up with dumplings, spring onion pancakes, Hiromasa kingfish, Taiwanese calamari, beef short rib bao buns, sweet and sour pork, and a luxe black truffle fried rice. When it comes to cocktails, you can try some of its signature Asian-inspired sips as well as your classic Aperol spritz, espresso martini and spicy margarita. Few bottomless brunch spots have such vast offerings (both when it comes to food and bevs), so be sure to take advantage of this one.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Melbourne is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you celebrate the little things that bring a sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Melbourne. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, fight Mondayitis at a trampoline playground, win big playing Mario Kart at Bosozoku and hit the planetarium for a night of films on the big dome. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
Richmond's longstanding Meatball & Wine Bar quietly shut up shop earlier this month. But hey, one baller's loss is a Francophile's gain, with the Swan Street space this week revealing its next tenant — a charming new all-day French bistro by the name of Tartine. The brainchild of chef Andrew Beddoes (Ines Wine Bar, The Grand Richmond, Soho House's French cafe, Café Boheme) and Meatball & Wine's Matteo Bruno, Tartine opens its doors this Thursday, August 25. The contemporary French restaurant comes complete with a takeaway coffee window and onsite provedore. Named after the French word for 'open sandwich', the venue is of course doing some 'delicieux' things when it comes to bread. Developed especially for the restaurant, Tartine's locally-made artisan sourdough is crafted on organic spelt and stone-ground flour, then used as a vehicle for cleverly reworked classic tartine toppings. Expect combinations like pear and roquefort cheese; pork rillettes and cornichons; crab and green apple paired with a crab emulsion; and prosciutto with celeriac remoulade. The bread itself is also available to buy from the provedore, along with a selection of wine and some of the kitchen's own signature toppings. As for the rest of the bistro menu, it'll see you snacking in style, starting off with small bites like pâté en croûte (terrine encased in pastry), hash browns with truffle and foie gras, scallop tartare and a slew of charcuterie options. There's a cheese trolley loaded with international delights, and a caviar service in honour of Melbourne's current favourite culinary pastime. Mains might include a side of pork paired with quince and charred cabbage, and a steak frites with Montpellier butter, while classics like lemon tart and apple tarte tatin rule the dessert list. Natural wines lead the drinks offering, though you'll also find a lineup of oh-so-French champagne cocktails to see you from brunch through to after-dinner sips. Find Tartine at 105 Swan Street, Richmond, from August 25. It's open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday, as well as for Sunday lunch.
Sometimes, you just have to take advice from a pop-culture phenomenon — and if you're wondering whether to see Lin-Manuel Miranda's game-changing musical Hamilton, you need to listen to the show itself. Melburnians, you don't want to throw away your shot to see the biggest show of the past seven years and the most talked-about musical of the decade right here at home while you can. After premiering in Sydney in early 2021, Hamilton has been dazzling Melbourne since March this year; however, its time at Her Majesty's Theatre is limited. The show will officially close on Sunday, January 15, 2023, ready to make the move to Brisbane, letting the Sunshine State be in the room where it happens. That's the sad news — and news that means that you'll need to get as passionate about getting a ticket as Alexander Hamilton was about America if you haven't caught Hamilton's Melbourne run yet. Here's some great news to go with it, though: you can still nab yourself a cheap ticket to see this musical take on US politics in the 18th century. As happened with The Book of Mormon, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Moulin Rouge! The Musical, a ticket lottery is being held for Hamilton's Melbourne season — and, while it started when the show did, it's still going strong. Plus, this one is cheap. Very cheap, in fact. Via TodayTix, you can sign up for your chance to score a ticket for just $10. Yes, that figure is accurate. To take part in the lottery, you will need to download the TodayTix app — which is available for iOS and Android — and submit your entry each Friday. The lottery goes live at 12.01am every Friday morning and closes at 1pm the next Thursday, with winners drawn between 1–6pm on that Thursday. If your name is selected, you'll have an hour to claim your tickets from when you receive the good news. And, if you need a reminder, you'll also be able to sign up for lottery alerts via Today Tix, too. Hamilton isn't the kind of musical you miss while it's in town. After hitting Broadway in 2015, it has won 11 Tony Awards and become one of the Obamas' favourite musicals, too. The critically acclaimed hip hop show, for which Miranda wrote the music, lyrics and the book, is about the life of its eponymous Founding Father, as well as inclusion and politics in current-day America — and in addition to its those Tonys, which include Best Musical, it has nabbed a Grammy Award and even a Pulitzer Prize. While you wait for your lottery shot, you can still watch the filmed version of Hamilton with the original Broadway cast on Disney+ — yes, it's as phenomenal as you've heard. Hamilton's Melbourne season runs until Sunday, January 15, 2023 at Her Majesty's Theatre. Visit the musical's website for further details. To enter the Today Tix $10 lottery, download the company's iOS or Android app, and head to the company's website for more information — and to set up an alert. Images: Daniel Boud, Destination NSW.
If you love meat, smoke and maybe a bit of hot sauce and kimchi, then you're in the right city. In Melbourne, there's no shortage of quality barbecue, whether you're looking for American-style brisket in Brunswick or Korean cuts in the CBD. Our barbecue is so sophisticated that, these days, barbecue had infiltrated fine dining and, at some spots, even vegetarians are fully catered for. One place even has a karaoke room. As luck would have it, these joints have also perfected the art of barbecue drinking — crack a tinnie just like you're in your mate's backyard, order a glass of funky orange riesling or go for soju in every variety available. Here are some of our top picks for all things barbecue (and booze) in Melbourne. Recommended reads: The Best Steak in Melbourne The Best Hot Pots in Melbourne The Best Pubs in Melbourne The Best Restaurants in Melbourne
Reaching the ripe old age of 42 years is no mean feat for an Australian music fest. But beloved bayside celebration St Kilda Festival is doing just that when it returns in February to deliver its bumper 2023 instalment. And yes, it's dishing up a hefty lineup of musical guests to mark the occasion. Already confirmed to be heading along to join the free festivities from Saturday, February 18–Sunday, February 19: big-name Aussie acts Hoodoo Gurus, Confidence Man and Christine Anu. Now, it's confirmed that they'll be joined by Genesis Owusu, Yothu Yindi, Alice Ivy and a whole lot more. [caption id="attachment_885347" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mackenzie Sweetnam[/caption] St Kilda Festival's refreshed 2023 format is set to include the new First Peoples First program celebrating Indigenous music and culture on the Saturday. Anu will take the stage alongside acts like Jem Cassar-Daley, Jungaji, Lady Lash and Dean Brady, while the late Archie Roach is to be honoured with a dedicated musical tribute featuring Emma Donovan, Bumpy, Sally Dastey and others. The following day will fire up for Big Festival Sunday, with multiple stages playing host to artists like ARIA award-winning hip hop star Genesis Owusu, legendary Aussie outfit Yothu Yindi, singer-songwriter Hatchie, electro darling Alice Ivy and longtime Nick Cave collaborator, the multi-talented Mick Harvey, just to name a few. Throw in more live sounds from the likes of Jen Cloher, THNDO, JK-47, Ashwarya and Phoebe Go, plus roving entertainment, dance performances, community activities, market stalls, and scores of food and drink pop-ups, and it's safe to say this fest is celebrating its 42nd birthday in style. [caption id="attachment_839020" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nathan Doran[/caption] [caption id="attachment_839022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nathan Doran[/caption] St Kilda Festival will take over the St Kilda Foreshore and surrounds from Saturday, February 18– Sunday, February 19. Check out the full program over on the website. Top images: Nathan Doran and Andy Swann.
If there's anyone in Sydney who knows where to find the best street art, the smartest galleries and the most fun art gatherings, it's Scott Marsh. Even if you don't know his name, chances are, you know his work. His most famous piece is undoubtedly Kanye Loves Kanye, a seven-metre-tall mural of two Kanyes kissing one another, which appeared in Teggs Lane, Chippendale, in April 2016. Within a month, someone paid Marsh $100,000 to buff (graffiti-speak for paint over) it. Also among his international headline-grabbing works are Casino Mike, a satirical portrait of former NSW premier Mike Baird painted as a protest against the lockout laws, and Tony Loves Tony, an image of Tony Abbott marrying himself. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Sydney, we've called in Scott, whose favourite spots range from Wendy Whiteley's dreamy harbourside garden to the best shops for premium spray paint. A stay in one of Pullman's two locations in central Sydney — Hyde Park and Quay Grand Sydney Harbour (there's also two more at Sydney Airport and Sydney Olympic Park) — will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you contemplate all you've seen in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Scott's perspective on Sydney's artistic hot spots, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. SUNDAY WALLS AT THE LORD GLADSTONE Since June 2015, artists and musicians have been gathering once a month at the Lord Gladstone in Chippendale for Sunday Walls. From 2 until 10pm, an emerging or established graffiti artist works on a temporary mural with a stack of spray cans, while live hip hop DJs provide a soundtrack. Punters hang around to watch, eat $10 fried chicken and share $15 jugs of Frank Strongs. The Lord Gladstone attracts a pretty laidback, eclectic crowd, and watching a new art work appear before your eyes can't not be fun. GOODSPACE GALLERY OPENINGS Goodspace Gallery gives Chippendale a weekly art fix with exhibition openings on Wednesday evenings from 6pm–9pm. Artists score a good deal because the space doesn't charge rent or take commissions. Plus, both local and international talent features. In early November, Sydney-based photographer James Simpson exhibited Endless Summer, a collection of photos influenced by French and Italian cinema of the '60s and '70s. The week before, photographer Joshua Valageorgiou, who splits his time between Sydney and Athens, took over the space with Cluster, a black-and-white analogue series. [caption id="attachment_644404" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Luke Shirlaw[/caption] IRONLAK ART AND DESIGN About a year ago, this graffiti-dedicated retail space opened on the ground floor of Central Park, Broadway. It's the Sydney flagship of Ironlak, a premium spray-paint brand founded in the early 2000s by Australian graffiti artist Luke Shirlaw, in collaboration with brothers Levi and Heath Ramsay, and now sold internationally. Not only is Ironlak Art and Design a great place to check out quality products and meet artists, the walls are covered in street art. Plus, it's open until 8pm 363 days a year, so even if you're in a full-time job, you can drop by and get what you need to start your next project. REDFERN AND NEWTOWN GRAFFITI AND STREET ART There's a few great street art spots around Redfern and Newtown that I check out whenever I can. More often than not, I find something new to see. In Redfern, expect to catch me around The Block or Phillip Lane, where there's a lot of Indigenous street art, including works by Reko Rennie and Hego, telling stories of history, identity and resistance. When I'm in Newtown, I take a wander down Wilford and Gladstone Streets. Young Henrys is nearby, which means it's pretty tempting to stop for a beer sample or two. FINTAN MAGEE'S HOUSING BUBBLE MURAL This is my favourite mural in Sydney. It's called The Housing Bubble and it's on the side of the Urban hotel, on the corner of Enmore and Station Streets. Fintan Magee, an artist who was born in Lismore and grew up in Brisbane, painted it over the course of four days during Marrickville Council's Perfect Match street art festival in July 2015. Every year, the event brings a bunch of new works to Sydney, by providing artists with spaces and encouraging crowds to watch as they sketch, paint and spray. [caption id="attachment_644637" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Newtown Graffiti[/caption] SYDNEY STEEL ROAD, MARRICKVILLE Found just a short walk from Sydenham Station, Sydney Steel Road puts a whole lot of excellent art, colour and vibrancy into an otherwise industrial area. There's everything from realistic portraits to political statements to giant, surrealist murals. When you're done here, wander across Camdenville Park to May Lane, which gives you a stack more work to see. A shopkeeper started a graffiti wall there more than 15 years ago because he wanted to create a space where artists could work legally. May Lane is a fixture on the Perfect Match program, so major new works are added each year. 567 KING Newtown's graffiti writers have been stocking up here since August 2005, and these days, artists of all kinds drop by. Whether you want spray paint, pencils, paints or paper, you can get it. Plus, if listening to a bit of hip hop on vinyl or CD while you're working is your thing, you can make your picks in the shop and ask the crew to deliver them to your door. There's also a handy commissioning service: get in touch with a request for an artwork and 567King will hook you up with the right artist for the job. BRETT WHITELEY STUDIO When Brett Whiteley died in Thirroul in 1992, he left behind this studio in Surry Hills, where he'd worked and lived since 1985. Walking in here is a bit like stepping back in time, into Whiteley's private and artistic life. There are paintings he started but never finished, piles of books that gave him inspiration and quotes scrawled across the wall. In the adjoining gallery, temporary exhibitions showcase works owned by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Whiteley Estate and private collectors, so there's always a new reason to visit. WENDY'S SECRET GARDEN Across the harbour, in Lavender Bay, is the creative work of the other half of the legendary Whiteley partnership: Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden. From 1970, for the best part of 20 years, the Whiteleys lived in a house nearby. When Brett passed away, Wendy coped with her grief by setting to work on the land, which back then, was disused railway property, covered in rubbish and weeds. Now, it's a haven of blood leaf, ginger, angel's trumpets, palms, fig trees and sandstone walls overhung with rambling vines, where I come to escape, sketch and drink coffee. MCA ARTBAR MCA ARTBAR combines art with music and live performance to create something entirely new. The happening takes over various parts of the gallery on the last Friday of every month, and even if you've checked out the program, you never can tell quite what you're in for. In July 2017, Latai Taumoepeau curated Archipela_GO ....this is not a drill, a mix of live performances and interactive works exploring climate change. Before that, in May, Vivid 2017 artist Julia Gorman brought together samba dancers, DJs, artists and a pop-up jewellery stall for a night of colour and light. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
One of the most crippling and persistent of first world problems is the fact that sometimes things remain over there when you in fact want them over here. But now cutting-edge spy technology could change all that. How did we fail to see the answer, when it was right in front of our eyes? All we need is a way to give objects wings, and Dutch designer Jasper van Loenen has already done the bothersome design work for us. Drone It Yourself takes the guesswork out of droning, by using simple components to transform any (lightweight) item into a flying beast of the skies. Channelling our Zeitgeist's motif of personal customisation, anyone can 3D-print the kit's parts, which can also be altered and enhanced with any clamps or other addenda you may wish to incorporate into your quadrocopter. Grab your remote control/pizza/Frankie magazine, and dispatch it on its stealth mission. The kit's four propellors connect to a control unit containing a receiver, bluetooth module, 4 ESCs and OpenPilot CC3D flightcontroller. Presto: next-level convenience — and a springboard for further innovation — is achieved. Check out the video below to see how it looks when drones become tools that anyone can make. Via Mashable.
When you've fought for your life, plus a massive cash prize, while donning a green tracksuit, you're probably not going to shake off the deadly endeavour easily. So shows the latest teaser trailer for Squid Game season two. Lee Jung-jae (The Acolyte) is back as Gi-hun, and there's a familiar face — or mask — at his door, awakening him from a restless slumber. Soon, he's back on bunks as competitor 456. Let the games begin — again. Following a three-year wait since its award-winning first season, and after teasing the show's 2024 return since January, Squid Game will start playing once more on Boxing Day. If you usually spend the day after Christmas shopping, at the cinema or recovering from your food coma by trying to play backyard cricket, you now have other plans if you want to catch the next instalment of the South Korean thriller ASAP. It was back in August that Netflix not only advised when its huge 2021 hit — one of the best new TV programs of that year, in fact — will finally make a comeback, but also announced that there's even more in store. After Squid Game season two arrives on Thursday, December 26, 2024, Squid Game season three will drop sometime in 2025. There's no exact date for the latter as yet, but it will be the final season, closing out the Squid Game story. The streaming platform revealed both pieces of news with a date announcement teaser that featured a running track, competitors in recognisable green tracksuits, and also-familiar folks in red watching on alongside the masked Front Man — and with a letter from series director, writer and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk. Now, Netflix has dropped its next sneak peek at the second season — including at new games. Also back: Gi-hun's nemesis (Lee Byung-hun, The Magnificent Seven). If you're wondering what else is in the works after the hefty gap — Squid Game was such a huge smash in it first season that Netflix confirmed at the beginning of 2022 that more was on the way, and also released a teaser trailer for it the same year, before announcing its new cast members in 2023 — a few further details were dropped earlier in the year. That's when Netflix previously unveiled a first brief snippet of Squid Game season two in a broader trailer for Netflix's slate for the year, as it releases every 12 months. In the footage, Seong Gi-hun answers a phone call while at the airport sporting his newly crimson locks. He's soon told "you're going to regret the choice you've made". Cue his statement of vengeance; Squid Game meets John Wick, anyone? Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) is also back as detective Hwang Jun-ho, as is Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place. A show about a deadly competition that has folks battling for ridiculous riches comes with a hefty bodycount, which means that new faces were always going to be essential in Squid Game season two — so that's where Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) all come in. If you somehow missed all things Squid Game when it premiered, even after it became bigger than everything from Stranger Things to Bridgerton, the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning series serves up a puzzle-like storyline and unflinching savagery, which unsurprisingly makes quite the combination. It also steps into societal divides within South Korea, a topic that wasn't invented by Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's excellent Oscar-winning 2019 thriller, but has been given a boost after that stellar flick's success. Accordingly, it's easy to see thematic and narrative parallels between Parasite and Squid Game, although Netflix's highly addictive series goes with a Battle Royale and Hunger Games-style setup. Here, 456 competitors are selected to work their way through six seemingly easy children's games. They're all given numbers and green tracksuits, they're competing for 45.6 billion won, and it turns out that they've also all made their way to the contest after being singled out for having enormous debts. Netflix turned the show's whole premise into an IRL competition series as well, which debuted in 2023 — without any murders, of course. Squid Game: The Challenge has already been picked up for a second season. Check out the latest teaser trailer for Squid Game season below: Squid Game season two streams via Netflix from Thursday, December 26, 2024. Season three will arrive in 2025 — we'll update you when an exact release date for it is announced. Images: Netflix.
You should cut down on your porklife and get to the Palais Theatre this summer, Damon Albarn is coming to Melbourne. Celebrating the recent release of his critically-acclaimed first solo venture Everyday Roots, the legendary Blur frontman will bring early Christmas presents to Melburnians with an intimate performance on Friday, December 12. Alongside his Blur/Gorillaz escapades, the 46-year-old has casually worked with Everyone Ever — including the late Bobby Womack, buds Brian Eno, Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes), Paul Simonon (The Clash), master drummer Tony Allen, Snoop Dogg and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers). For his Melbourne show he'll be joined onstage with his shiny new live crew, The Heavy Seas, plus a cheeky string quartet and onstage choir. Epic. While the setlist will undoubtedly focus on Albarn's solo material, fingers are crossed for a Boys and Girls Easter Egg or two. Damon Albarn will play the Palais Theatre at 7:30pm, Friday 12 December. Tickets available from Ticketmaster. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ODG3VRkncBc
Snorkelling. Private jets. Quokkas. Go-getters Heineken and boutique experience cultivators MrAristotle are at it again, and this time with a prize so appealing, you’ll want to move to Perth just to enter. To mark the release of SPECTRE — the 24th film in the iconic James Bond franchise — Heineken is celebrating its long-term partnership with the Bond brand to offer a few lucky fans a series of unbelievable and exclusive luxury experiences. Throughout November and December, Heineken have been hosting exclusive SPECTRE 007 events that are so mysterious participants haven't known what’s in store until they’re suddenly whisked away and thrown right into the middle of the action right as it happens. Having already revealed their helicopter pub tour and personal stylist session prizes, Heineken and MrAristotle have now unveiled their latest prize. Forget packing into the stuffy car and spending hours looking for a park, this one’s for the high-flyers... literally. It's a pretty fancy trip to Rottnest Island for lucky Perth people — we're talking luxury private jets, snorkelling in coral gardens, gourmet lunches, quokkas, the works. So what type of mission are you up for? You'll just have to sign up to find out — it could be anything worthy of the world of James Bond. Sure, that could technically mean you have to infiltrate villain lairs and have various tuxedo scuba suits on hand for 24 hours, but we’re pretty confident it’s referring to the fun stuff: parties filled with glamour, prestige, special guests and VIP performances. To be in the running, fans need to sign up via the Heineken's The Catch website and have your mates locked, loaded and ready to move at a moment’s notice. High fashion and jet skis aren’t essential, but they’ll certainly come in handy... Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Whether you're searching for budget skincare solutions, are stuck in a makeup rut or have never quite figured out how to apply eyeliner properly, YouTube has long been a beauty vlogging haven. But what if you're trying to stay glam after nuclear winter decimates the earth, wipes out life as we know it and forces the mutated remnants of humanity deep underground? Only Sarah's Channel can show you how to dazzle in that literally nightmarish situation — and how to make homemade lipstick out of saliva, clay, blood and what seem to be glow-in-the-dark mushrooms. It's set two centuries after a world-ending disaster and, after initially dying along with the vast majority of the population, Sarah (Claudia O'Doherty) has been reanimated. She's supposed to help the planet's waning survivors grow crops, overcome illnesses, restart civilisation and avoid being eaten by a giant monster called Quahmork — just everyday things, really — but the beauty vlogger, influencer, brand ambassador and author would rather keep doing what she knows. In her original life, Sarah had more than 3.5 million subscribers across her various social media platforms, and she's not going to let them down. They're all dead, but what's the point of saving the few not-quite-people left if no one looks their best? That's the idea behind the ABC's hilarious new satirical series, with Sarah's Channel taking amusing and astute aim at influencer culture and manufactured authenticity — all while its eponymous host dispenses beauty advice in a bleak, post-apocalyptic future, of course. Now available on both ABC iview and YouTube, the first season's six five-minute episodes cover everything you need to know if you're having #dystopianworldproblems, including Sarah's favourite products, her daily routine living in a fortified bunker and how to give a makeover to a slimy subterranean creature who has evolved from humanity. If you loved Australian actor and comedian O'Doherty in Netflix's Love — if you thought she was the best thing about the romantic dramedy, in fact — then you'll feel the same about her turn as the relatable yet oblivious Sarah. She stars alongside Sarah's Channel writer/director Nick Coyle (stage production Feather in the Web), who plays terrified mole person Justin. Sarah's Channel is the smart end-of-the-world parody and scathing takedown of online behaviour that you didn't know you needed. Watch the first episode below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deLiDLkQzio The entire six-episode first season of Sarah's Channel is now available to watch on ABC iview and YouTube.
Wiseman's Ferry is a teeny, tiny village perched on the banks of the mighty Hawkesbury River, surrounded by national park and with a population of just 220. The settlement gets its name from one Solomon Wiseman, an ex-convict who, in 1827, organised the first river crossing by ferry. And his service still runs today. A weekend at Wiseman's usually involves hours lolling by, on and in the river; pretty walks through nearby Dharug and Yengo National Parks; some pub grub at Wiseman's Inn and perusing paintings by local artists. On top of that, the annual Return To Rio rolls into town in November for three days to add even more reason to make your way to the idyllic village. This year, Carl Cox and Eric Powell will be powering through their Mobile Disco, a twelve-hour (yep) marathon of funk, soul, disco and classic house, pumped out by a live, twelve-piece band. Also in the line-up are Incognito, Lee Foss, &ME, Fabio and Grooverider, Bedouin, Neil James and loads more dance music legends. When you're not furiously making shapes, you can take a timeout at yoga classes, meditation sessions, markets and swimming holes. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you make the most of your Return to Rio. Here are the best options for what to eat, what to do and where to stay during the festival weekend. EAT AND DRINK At Return To Rio, expect an array of food stalls, peddling all kinds of international cuisines, from steaming pho to massive burgers, designed to fuel all-night dancing. Vegos and vegans, fear not: you'll be well catered for, too. Also, if food options are any worry, you're invited to pack your own steak or haloumi slab and fry it up on one of the barbecues provided. Outside of the festival, no visit to Wiseman's Ferry counts without a visit to Wiseman's Inn. Built in 1827, this sandstone retreat was once Solomon Wiseman's stately home and is now owned by ex-Wallaby Bill Young. On cool days, relax by the open fire; on hot ones, head into the shady beer garden. Either way, keep an eye out for the local ghosts who are said to be roaming the halls of the inn. Meanwhile, you can find coffee, house-made pies and wraps at Wiseman's Ferry Grocer, and a solid modern Australian offering at Busby's Cafe, where dishes include garlic prawns in creamy chive-white wine sauce, as well as baby barramundi fillets with kipfler potatoes and tomato-rocket salad. For a fancier bite, reserve a table at Riverbend Restaurant, within the idyllic, landscaped gardens of The Retreat. The ever-changing menu is big on local, seasonal produce. DO Festival bound? Your first job is to dance until you're wrecked. After that, wander around the Return To Rio markets, relax at a yoga session and restore your energy by the pool, complete with cocktail bar and soundtracked by reggae. Your ticket also gets you access to the resort's facilities, which include a nine-hole golf course, volleyball and tennis courts and plenty of river frontage. When you're ready to find out what lies beyond the festival gates, a bush walk is a good starting point. For a piece of convict history, as well as some stunning Hawkesbury vistas, there's the Old Great North Road World Heritage Walk, a nine-kilometre loop that begins on the river's northern bank (you'll need to catch the ferry). If you're short on time, it's possible to stroll along just one section, such as Hangman's Rock. A more challenging adventure is the 11 Kilometre Walking Track, which takes in ferny forests, friendly creeks and some steep sections. Next up is the question of getting onto the water. Hawkesbury House Boats hires out various vessels, from kayaks to speedboats. Meanwhile, Xterra Adventures offers guided tours in the form of a four-hour escapade up MacDonald River, a tributary of the Hawkesbury that includes morning tea. Keen to meet a few arty types? Wiseman's Ferry's natural beauty and isolation have been attracting them for years. Check out their work at Ferry Artists' Gallery, a community-run venture that exhibits painting, sculpture, jewellery, ceramics and glassware. There are occasional workshops, too. STAY The festival grounds give you pretty much every accommodation option under the sun: camp it (with your own tent), glamp it (with Simple Pleasures providing all your needs) or tipi it (in one of Rainbow Tipis' magnificent creations). Should you seek the protection of four solid walls, book a cabin, lodge or home — depending on the size of your crew. Last, but not least, you're welcome to bring your own mobile digs, be they van, car or motorhome: just make sure you book a spot before leaving home. Like the idea of popping in and out of the action? Get some buddies together and sleepover on a houseboat. Able Hawkesbury River Houseboats have them for all budgets. At one end, there's the five-star Spa, with five queen-sized ensuite bedrooms, a ten-person jacuzzi, full kitchen, lounge room and wrap-around deck. At the other, there's the humble Aquavan two to four berth, with sleeping space for up to four on day lounges that turn into double beds, a shady front deck and a barbecue. The benefit of the Aquavan's littleness is that you can go exploring on the Colo and MacDonald Rivers. Back on land, the aforementioned Wiseman's Inn harbours a bunch of straightforward, affordable rooms. Or, if you want to go all out on a luxe stay, check into The Retreat, a 50-acre property with 54 rooms, including spa suites, as well as a golf course, tennis courts and pool. Return To Rio takes place at Del Rio Resort from November 3 to 5. Personalise your next adventure via The Playmaker, driven by Mazda3.
When the Victorian Government revealed its reopening roadmap to take the state out of its strict current COVID-19 lockdowns, it flagged a big shift for Melbourne's hospitality scene. While outdoor dining isn't an unfamiliar concept, it's a key part of Victoria's plans to allow restaurants, cafes and eateries to start welcoming customers back onto the premises. In fact, when hospitality businesses in the metropolitan Melbourne area are permitted to move away from takeaway and delivery-only operations — earmarked for Monday, October 26, as long as the state has a state-wide average of less than five new COVID-19 cases over the previous 14 days, with less than five cases coming from an unknown source in the same period — they'll be asked to run "predominantly outdoor seated service only". Just what that requirement entails has received plenty of attention over the past few weeks, with both the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne providing some details. Both outlined a similar al fresco approach to the one currently being employed in New York City, which allows food venues to temporarily use sidewalks and curbs for openair dining to cater to more customers within health restrictions — and now the local powers-that-be have unveiled a temporary extended outdoor dining permit scheme, and explained what said permits can be used for. When eat-in service recommences, Melburnians won't just tucking into a meal outdoors — they'll be dining on footpaths, in on-street car parking spaces that have been taken over by adjacent businesses, in laneways and even on the street. All four options are listed by the City of Melbourne as reasons to obtain a free permit, with the plan forming part of the City of Melbourne and Victorian Government's $100 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund. "We're reopening the city for business and will work with venues to find outdoor dining opportunities appropriate for their unique part of the city," said Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp in a statement. "We will continue to advocate for flexibility so restaurants and cafes can open indoors in a COVID-safe way sooner," she continued, while also noting that the city "will balance the expansion of outdoor dining with the needs of our residents" — considering traffic conditions, the safety of patrons, and maintaining access for pedestrians, residents and essential vehicles. [caption id="attachment_697521" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Duke of Kerr by Kate Shanasy[/caption] The Lord Mayor also gave an indication of what street closures could look like, with roadways shut down to create more space for dining and entertainment on weekends. "Temporary street closures would create a festive atmosphere for outdoor dining. We could temporarily close locations such as Bellair Street in Kensington and Faraday Street in Carlton to help businesses trade safely," she explained. Among the other sites that could be temporarily closed for dining, Bourke Street between Exhibition and Spring streets, Russell Street between Lonsdale and Bourke streets, Domain Road in South Yarra and Errol Street in North Melbourne have all been floated. For businesses that don't have access to an outdoor space — that can't trade in front of their premises on a footpath, on-street car parking spaces, laneways and or on the street — the City of Melbourne is also looking to create hospitality hubs a to around town that let these venues come together. Obviously, exactly when these outdoor dining plans will come into effect is dependent on COVID-19 case numbers. That said, businesses can start applying for permits from Thursday, October 1. For more information about the City of Melbourne's extended outdoor dining permits, visit the local government body's website. Additional details about the City of Melbourne's COVID-19 response are also available on its the website. And for more information about the Victorian Government's roadmap, head to vic.gov.au. Top image: Good Times by Kate Shanasy
A film festival that brings the best and brightest new Japanese movies to Australian cinemas each year is a film festival to cherish. Also ace: a film fest that features a solely digital lineup of flicks and TV shows from Japan that you can check out from your couch. So, while it isn't time for the IRL Japanese Film Festival for 2024 yet — it last hit locations around the country across September–November 2023 — the Japanese Film Festival Online will keep you entertained this winter. Both fests serve up a handy way to view the latest and greatest Japanese fare without hopping on a plane, but only the online version lets you do so from home. Running from Wednesday, June 5–Wednesday, July 3, 2024's version will feature 23 films and two TV dramas, the latter serving up 20 episodes. And, you'll be able to check out for four Japanese horror shorts, too, all of which initially debuted in 2023 at the first-ever Horror Film Competition in Japan. The other big drawcard: Japanese Film Festival Online screens its program for free. Accordingly, this lineup won't test your budget, whether you're keen on I Am What I Am, which stars Drive My Car's Toko Miura; Anime Supremacy!, about a new director and a hotshot facing off while making their own competing anime; Single8, a Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans)-influenced picture about Star Wars-loving teens making their own movie; or classic anime Kimba the White Lion from 1966. Film lovers will be catching the movies on the program between Wednesday, June 5–Wednesday, June 19. Fellow feature options include Father of the Milky Way Railroad, a biopic about poet and novelist Kenji Miyazawa; magazine drama Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction; Baby Assassins, where teen assassins are forced to give up the murderous life; and The Handsome Suit, about a magical outfit. TV fans will be tuning in from Wednesday, June 19–Wednesday, July 3, with 2017's Rikuoh starring Kôji Yakusho (Perfect Days), and stepping inside a traditional Japanese sock company — and 2015's Downtown Rocket based on Shitamachi Rocket novels about an ex-aerospace researcher who leads a factor that he inherited. While you won't pay a thing to watch, you do still need to register via the fest's website. Won't be in Australia at the time? The fest is available in 27 countries.
Yearning to create pop music that has a little more depth than your standard dancefloor anthem is Sydney's Catcall. Catherine Kelleher, the woman behind the name, speaks to Kirstie Sequitin ahead of her debut album release and upcoming performance at Surrealism Up Late. How's The Warmer Side coming along? Yeah, it's good! We're kind of in the process of mixing it at the moment. There'll be a new single out in August, September hopefully. How long has that process been going for? It seems like you've been working on it for a while now. I put the EP out around 2008, and then I started writing for the album around the end of that year. Since then I've been kind of writing and recording and working on it. It's just taking a long time for the songs to develop to a point where we're all really happy with them, and then there was a lot of demoing done and a lot of songs disposed of. Then we had to work out how the record was going to be tied together and produced and recorded. All that kind of stuff just took a while to kind of grow into something strong, but now it's all kind of come together quickly in the last couple of months and it's at that point where we're just locking mixes off and whatnot. When it comes down to the writing process - I guess that was a while ago now - but do you focus on lyrics first or do you focus on the backing stuff first? I usually collaborate with people who start off by sending me either a simple thing with a bass line or some keys, and that inspires the vocal melody. They'll normally ask me, "What do you want to make?" and I usually tell them to make whatever they vibe. I don't like sending refs or anything saying "I want you to create me this!" It's not about creating the most interesting or exciting work; usually I just want the other person to do what they do best. They usually send me a beat or something and I'll write something over it and that'll always start with a vocal melody. From there the hardest part is basically just nutting out the lyrics and that's usually where all the time is spent, getting the lyrics perfect, because you need your meanings and you need to sing it and make sure it sounds good. Then we record and mix and get the production worked in. Do you have a specific vision in mind? I know that you said that you don't tell the collaborators what to do but do you have a template of how you want them to sound? Hm… not really - they've usually already heard something I've done. With Youth [Brisbane's Luke Foskey], he knew all of it, so he would just send me stuff. But with more recent collaborations in the past six months they do normally ask for refs and ask things like "What are you listening to at the moment?" and I'll say, "Oh, I'm really into Fleetwood Mac". But you can't get someone to truly create something that's like Fleetwood Mac, so I'll just tell them what I'm listening to, and send them stuff that I've already written and that usually forms what they'll do. Most of the time I just want them to do what they already do, and I collaborate with them because I've already heard their stuff. But they do always ask those kinds of questions like "What are you writing? Are you writing something slow or are you writing something fast?" because they want to know a point to start. Then I think, "Maybe we will go fast, maybe we'll go up-tempo" but usually I stop there because I want them to do what they do, because that's when the most exciting stuff happens. I've read that you have an emphasis on making things imperfect, can you elaborate on that? I don't want things to be necessarily perfect but just as strong as they can be, I guess. In terms of the quality of work, the show… I just want everything to have the best that I can bring it. I don't like the idea of putting something out there that's half-assed. Well, not half-assed but just something that feels like it's not finished, or complete, you know? Because I've already done that, I've put out work that's not complete, I've performed shows that have been really incomplete. Now this is my first record, and I'm going to start putting on a live show and playing regularly. I'm not a complete perfectionist but I just want everything to be the best that it can be. What it seems like to me is that you're trying to work on something that's a little more wholesome than other pop music that's coming out. Yeah, yeah, I want it to be substantial. I was at the APRA Awards the other day and I remember there were eight songwriters on one Katy Perry song and I was like, "That's why these records come out so quickly! There are eight people working on this!" It's like, there's a real formula with the production and it just feels really empty. I just want things to be soulful; I want people to connect with it and I don't think you can just do that if you do it without putting any thought or care into it. It takes a long time to write a really good record. It's so much harder than people assume. Pop records especially. I mean, good pop records. Not really forgettable, flimsy, soulless pop records. You've changed a lot in the past couple of years, how would you describe your developments? Your music style, how has that developed? I think I've become a better singer, a better vocalist, and that's opened up a lot more possibilities for me for what I can write. I've started paying more attention to song lyrics and what makes a really good song. Bry Jones and Toni Toni Lee, I think working with them has really helped me develop, and being open to criticism of what I'm doing and performances and writing. And spending a lot of time rewriting and looking at what I've done and thinking about what I've done and trying to make it better, rather than being satisfied with the first thing I put down, which is what I used to do. I used to be like "Yep, that's what we're going to do" and never edit myself or look back and think, "Hang on a second, there's so many different ways I can make this better". I think that has definitely made me a better songwriter and a better singer and a better performer all round. Catcall plays Surrealism Up Late at the Gallery of Modern Art on July 29. Thanks to GoMA we've got three double passes to give away - e-mail brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au with the subject line 'Water in my veins' by Monday July 25 for your chance to win.
