Great news, budding entrepreneurs. We've found a very simple equation for immediate business success. Okay, not really. The truth is there is no such thing. In most cases, it takes a pinch of courage, a splash of creativity and a dash of good timing to make it happen. But, there's always something to be gained from hearing the stories of those who've taken the plunge and pulled it off. As far as restaurant groups go, Three Blue Ducks is becoming an Australian powerhouse. But, its success hasn't cost the guys behind it their down-to-earth attitude. Since launching the first Bronte cafe eight years ago, the team has grown to six co-owners (or 'ducks' as they're affectionately named), employing over 240 people across four venues in NSW and QLD (with a fifth slated to open in Melbourne later this year). We sat down with one of the original ducks, Mark Labrooy, to talk about (realistic) business growth, the importance of avoiding trends and why data is helping to improve resourcing and reduce waste. We've teamed up with Westpac to bring you some of Labrooy's top tips to celebrate its Presto Smart payment terminal, which seamlessly connects to a range of point-of-sales systems. Presto gives small businesses a leg up and makes payments and reconciliations a breeze so they can achieve scale — just Three Blue Ducks has done. ESTABLISH YOUR OWN VOICE What do your mum's famous lasagne recipe and your favourite pair of jeans have in common? They're classics that have stood the test of time. Every bite reminds you of childhood meals spent around the dinner table, and every wear confirms that you'll never find denim that feels as comfy as this. The same principle goes for any successful business. To stand out from the pack, it's important to create a product that's unashamedly one-of-a-kind. For the folks behind Three Blue Ducks, their shared passion for ethical and authentic food has been the foundation of the business from day one. "We thought we should do the food we like to eat at home in the venues, and that started to become the ethos around what we do," explains Labrooy. "I think that's what makes you authentic. If you just run with the pack and do what everyone else is doing, I think you lose your voice." USE POP-UP VENUES TO TEST THE WATERS Stepping outside our comfort zone is daunting, whether in work or life. Once you've hit your stride, it's tempting to sit back and let things happily tick away. But to stay relevant, businesses should be prepared to pivot and evolve so, once the Three Blue Ducks team had consolidated their Bronte outpost, they saw a chance to try something new. "The first new venue we did was a pop-up in the snow at Falls Creek, and it was sort of a nudge along," explains Labrooy. Opening a new location is always a risk. What if the market doesn't embrace your venue? Is this the right time to make a move? Are there strong competitors you'll need to contend with? But with risk comes reward. Plus, creating a temporary pop-up means you can experiment with new concepts and ideas without the commitment of a permanent store. "We opened this new venue and we did really well, and it gave us a boost of confidence," tells Labrooy. [caption id="attachment_663257" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] EMBRACE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR ETHOS As cheesy as it sounds, sometimes things do happen for a reason. It could be spotting a 'For Lease' sign in your dream neighbourhood or meeting another like-minded entrepreneur looking to embark on their next project. When unmissable opportunities arise, jumping in can keep you ahead of the game. "We had an opportunity that presented itself with The Farm in Byron Bay, and that was a really big play for us," tells Labrooy. He reveals this venture was the business's most challenging to date. However, creating a farm-based restaurant with unlimited access to fresh local produce was always something the team wanted to pursue. "We had the opportunity to design a restaurant and kitchen completely to our specs," Labrooy explains. "We had access to all the farmers that were growing produce on the property. We used to think about ordering eggs, but now we have 500 chickens giving us fresh eggs daily." [caption id="attachment_693841" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY Whether you're creating a coffee bar or launching a boutique, connecting with your customers is key to success. As a bricks-and-mortar store, you become part of your local area — and you should use those community relationships to your advantage. This insight continues to inform every Three Blue Ducks venue as the team prioritise giving back to the local areas they call home. The Byron Bay location is a testament to this, as Labrooy tells, "there's no business in the Northern Rivers that even remotely comes close to what we're doing. There's around $4 million dollars of wages that go back into the local economy, plus $4.5 million of produce purchased from local suppliers… we don't use big companies, we use local people with small businesses instead." LEVERAGE DATA TO TEST, LEARN AND GROW Launching a new business is full of unknowns. When are the busiest parts of the day? How many staff should you hire? What quantities of stock do you need on hand to meet demand? In most cases, the first couple of years are about trial and error. For Three Blue Ducks, understanding customer behaviour has always been a valuable resource. By analysing data trends, the team is able to make informed business decisions to maximise profitability and reduce waste. "In Bronte, for example, in November, we know that there is the Sculptures by the Sea and we have thousands of visitors... So we know that's going to be a really busy time of year for us. We order more produce and roster on more staff so we can accommodate," tells Labrooy. "It's all about understanding when are our peaks and troughs and how we manage our restaurants in terms of staffing, food costs and ordering, so we can really reduce our waste." Now that you have some top tips, it's time to take the first steps towards scaling up your business. And when it comes time to set up your payment technology, look to Westpac's Presto Smart terminal. It's made for speedy payments, busting queues, reducing keying errors and seamlessly connecting to a range of Point of Sales systems to help you keep track of cashflow. Please note that the above information is intended to be general in nature and should not be relied upon for personal financial use. Request more info and speak to Westpac here. Top image: Nikki To.
When Disney revealed that it was moving into streaming, it also announced a slew of high-profile titles designed to keep everyone's eyes glued to the company's new platform. Naturally, that included Marvel, with a number of new Disney+ series commissioned to broaden out the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If you loved Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Vision (Paul Bettany) and Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) on the big screen, you'll now get to enjoy more of each in a variety of spinoff shows. So far, in typical Mouse House style, details have been kept close to Disney's chest. We know that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision are due to release later in 2020, with Loki set to follow in 2021. Thanks to their titles, we obviously also know who they're about. And, we know that they'll all star the familiar faces that brought the characters to big-screen fame — and that they'll each run for six episodes apiece. Broadly, we know the premise for each series, too. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will take place after the aforementioned huge blockbuster, following its eponymous characters as they team up in the aftermath. As for WandaVision, it's a sitcom-style series exploring the home lives of Wanda and Vision, although there's undoubtedly more to it. And when Loki hits next year, it'll see the God of Mischief return — and it'll be set after Endgame. Until now, however, we haven't seen any footage from any of the three shows — but, during this year's Super Bowl, Marvel dropped its first sneak peek. The company released a combined teaser for the trio of series, so there's still not much in the way of substantial detail. That said, if you've been hanging out to see what's in store post-Avengers: Endgame, a quick glimpse is better than nothing. Check out the teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=62EB4JniuTc&feature=emb_logo The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision will hit Disney+ sometime later in 2020, with Loki due to premiere in 2021 — we'll update you with release dates when they're announced.
You're successful in your career, but your personal life suddenly takes an unwanted turn. Then, your childhood best friend-slash-crush and Keanu Reeves both turn up. That's the premise of Netflix new rom-com Always Be My Maybe, which follows celebrity chef Sasha (Ali Wong), who reluctantly reconnects with her dependable old buddy Marcus (Randall Park) after falling out with him 15 years earlier — only for a slick newcomer (Reeves) to threaten their reunion. If that sounds like your idea of a good night in, that's what the streaming platform is counting on. As well as serving up highly binge-able TV shows and plenty of viewing options with a strong female lead, Netflix loves flicks of the romantic and comedic persuasion, especially among its original content. Clearly audiences love a rom-com too, which is why the service keeps making them. Always Be My Maybe arrives with an impressive pedigree, with director Nahnatchka Khan known for Fresh Off the Boat and Don't Trust the B____ in Apt. 23, and stars Wong and Park co-writing (with Grimm's Michael Golamco) and co-producing as well. Cast-wise, the stacked lineup also includes Lost's Daniel Dae Kim, Broad City's Michelle Buteau, Miracle Workers' Karan Soni and Paper Heart's Charlyne Yi, plus Lyrics Born and Keanu, of course. Check out the trailer below and then watch the film on Netflix immediately. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHBcWHY9lN4&feature=youtu.be You can now stream Always Be My Maybe on Netflix. Updated: June 28, 2019. Image: Ed Araquel / Netflix.
A theatre experience unlike any other, Flight shapes up as one of our most anticipated works on the 2018 Melbourne Festival program. Adapted by Oliver Emanuel of Scottish theatre company Vox Motus from Caroline Brothers' novel Hinterland, the play tells the story of Afghan brothers Aryan (aged 15) and Kabir (aged eight) as they make their way across Europe in search of a better life. The subject matter is timely, but it's the method in which the tale is told that really makes it stand out, with each audience member sitting in their own private booth as the story unfolds via a series of immaculately crafted dioramas. Image: Mihaila Bodlovic.
Stepping into Berlin's Markos Dance Academy on a grey, rainy 1977 day, Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson) is a picture of nervous excitement. The former Ohio Mennonite clutches at her meagre belongings with equal parts eagerness and apprehension, her eyes darting keenly. But once she's through the school's doors, she's willing to surrender to whatever comes her way. It's an attitude that everyone watching Suspiria should take note of, for Susie is the perfect viewer surrogate in this delightfully dark, seductive, twitchy and witchy remake. Like the American in Germany pursuing her dream and accepting everything that happens next, giving yourself over to the movie's horrors and charms is truly the audience's only option. If ever a remake yearned to be judged on its own merits, it's Suspiria. After the sun-dappled Italian vistas and melancholic romance of his sublime Call Me By Your Name, filmmaker Luca Guadagnino takes Dario Argento's iconic 1977 film — and really takes to it. Made with evident love for the original, but never trying to slavishly recreate it, Guadagnino's Suspiria is a new dreamlike interpretation of an already dreamlike classic. It's the feverish nightmare you might have after letting the initial flick needle its way into your brain and mix with your own subconscious. Perhaps that's what happened to Guadagnino and his second-time screenwriter David Kajganich (A Bigger Splash). Either way, their protagonist also experiences her own disturbing nocturnal visions, and they're gloriously unhinged. In a city still grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic conflict three decades on, where Red Army Faction terror attacks have become a daily occurrence, bad dreams are the least of Susie and her fellow dancers' concerns. Amid preparations for the academy's latest show — a re-staging of a piece created by head teacher Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton) after the Second World War — their star goes missing. It's with an air of unease that the unsettled group moves forward after Patricia's (Chloë Grace Moretz) disappearance, which the school's teachers link to the far-left RAF's disorder in the streets. Thankfully, newcomer Susie is both willing and able to step into Patricia's shoes, with her breathy passion more than catching Madame Blanc's eye. While Argento's Suspiria teased out its big twist, Guadagnino's version lays it all out on the dance floor from the outset. Rather than a company of dancers, complete with experienced instructors overseeing the next generation, this is a coven. Rather than training for their next recital, they're readying their new sacrifices for a ritual. Removing the mystery around the film's otherworldly elements doesn't remove the mystery from the film, however. With an elderly psychiatrist (an actor credited as 'Lutz Ebersdorf') searching for Patricia with the eventual help of Markos dancer Sara (Mia Goth), there's intrigue aplenty. The intense teacher-pupil, pseudo mother-daughter bond between Susie and Madame Blanc also keeps everyone guessing. Scored to Thom Yorke's moody tunes and edited with a sense of anxiety, Suspiria isn't a character study. It doesn't probe the recesses of Susie's mind to explore what makes her tick, or delve deeply into Madame Blanc's motivations. Instead, it largely leaves its key duo at the mercy of the movie's macabre plot. That's what horror movies typically do, as seen in this year's other dance-horror flick, Gaspar Noe's Climax. Nonetheless, Johnson and Swinton instantly demand the audience's attention, drawing viewers in in much the same way that their characters are drawn to each other. The combination of vulnerability and determination that made Johnson the best thing about the Fifty Shades trilogy is firmly on display, as is Swinton's well-established allure in multiple guises. Everything else that Guadagnino and Kajganich place within Suspiria's frames is also designed to reel the audience in; to encourage surrender, if not willingly then by force. A movie as densely layered as the rhythmic yet jarring dance moves that it thrusts to the fore, Suspiria is laden with intoxicating, inescapable detail. Thematically, it delves into the scars of war, the historical subjugation of women and the way that one childhood moment can shape someone's life. In its aesthetics, it's an all-out horror onslaught that evolves from creepily atmospheric to violently sensual to gleefully bloody (oh-so-bloody!) across its 152-minute running time. The film's strong visuals shouldn't come as a surprise, although not for reasons that original Suspiria fans might expect. Where Argento's movie glowed with deep jewel tones, Guadagnino favours grim shades enlivened by more than a dash of red. With a filmography that also includes Swinton in I Am Love, and both Swinton and Johnson in A Bigger Splash, Guadagnino has long known how to throw gorgeous pictures across the screen. He's not the first filmmaker to demonstrate that horrific imagery can also be bewitching but, aided by the suitably restless camerawork of cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (Call Me By Your Name), he makes the case in a stunning fashion. Two scenes stand out — Susie's telekinetic audition, and the movie's over-the-top climax — but the entirety of Suspiria stamps itself onto viewers' eyeballs. Perhaps Susie and her cackling company won't be the only ones having lurid, disturbing and spellbinding dreams. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q6jwH5_MKQ
"If any one unwarily draws in too close and hears the singing of the Sirens, his wife and his children will never welcome him home again, for they sit in a green field and warble him to death with the sweetness of their song." With The Odyssey, Homer essentially created the epic. But with the above passage, he also created something much more insidious — the femme fatale, a stock female character who tempts men with the ultimate goal of destroying them. Victorian Opera's latest project, Lorelei, shoves a cabaret skewer through this idea and roasts it over an operatic blaze. Sopranos Ali McGregor and Antoinette Halloran with mezzo-soprano Dimity Shepherd have been spicing up the classics for a while as the Opera Burlesque collective. Now, they take to a cliff-top on a tricky bend in the river Rhine to explore how women are represented in literature and opera. But wouldn't you know it — just as they're getting down to business, a ship begins to approach. And it seems to be having a little trouble on those bends. Part cabaret, part opera and with a stinging libretto by Casey Bennetto (Keating! The Musical) and Gillian Cosgriff (8 Songs in 8 Weeks), Lorelei takes its cues from the sirens of German folklore. It's happy enough to toy with the trope — but it's not going to stop until it's smashed to matchsticks on a rock. Lorelei will run from November 3–10 at The Coopers Malthouse, Merlyn Theatre. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Victorian Opera website.
From humble food truck beginnings, Melbourne Greek doughnut-slinger Lukumades opened its first bricks-and-mortar spot in West Melbourne in 2017. Now, it's brought its deliciously chewy on the inside, golden and crispy on the outside dessert to Windsor. The second Melbourne outpost will be located on a buzzing section of Chapel Street, dishing up a modern spin on traditional Greek loukoumades. Cult favourites such as the Oreo Balls smothered in white chocolate and served with a scoop of cookies and cream gelato, and the White Nutella Balls — topped with salted caramel sauce and crushed biscuits — will be on the menu, as well as more traditional doughnuts dusted with icing sugar or dipped in honey and cinnamon. New flavours on rotation will include matcha and jaffa, too. Lukumades is not just expanding to Windsor, either. As well as openings in Perth and Sydney, the brand has its sights set globally — thanks to its recent franchising — with stores in the United States and Cyprus anticipated to open by the end of the year.
Melbourne, Sydney's favourite providore is coming your way — armed with dry-aged T-bone Florentina, Venetian doughnuts and house-churned gelato. Yep, we're talking Fratelli Fresh, the original gurus of fresh produce and authentic Italian goodness from up north. With five restaurants currently operating in Sydney, the Fratelli folks haven't settled for just any old place for their Melbourne debut. They're arriving with a bang, having taken over the stunning, two-storey, heritage-listed building in Alfred Place that was most recently inhabited by Stokehouse City. The expansion down south comes just a few months after the Fratelli Fresh chain was bought by the Urban Purveyor Group. On the ground floor, you'll find Fratelli Fresh's famous red and white décor. Nab yourself a seat at the marble-topped pizza counter and wait for your 48-hour, naturally-fermented, hand-stretched, thin-crust pizza to emerge from the wood-fired oven. Alternatively, hang out in the laneway with a friend and order the signature abbacchio alla Romana, which is Roman-style lamb on the bone with parmesan crust. Or you can always go with some antipasti or pasta, the wood-grilled fish or the aforementioned t-bone. Dessert will include Fratelli's famed tiramisu, and that's really all you need to know. The menu is wallet-friendly too, with more than 25 dishes for under 20 smackaroos and a six-course banquet for $55. Swing by during aperitivo hour between 3pm and 6pm, for $5 wine, beer and spirits, and $10 spritzers and Negronis. A photo posted by Fratelli Fresh (@fratellifresh) on Oct 12, 2015 at 4:46pm PDT But that's not all. Up the spectacular staircase, on the first floor, you'll find another Sydney export: The Cut Steakhouse. Sink into an ocean-green leather banquette and take your pick of ten beef cuts from five fancy, fancy farms. Extra posh cuts include Cape Grim's 36-month grass-fed beef, Black Market's 270-day grain-fed beef from the Rangers Valley, John Dee's 150-day grain-fed scotch fillet and a full-blood wagyu from Robbins Island. Match 'em with one of eight sauces and your pick of ten sides, including buttermilk onion rings and slow-roasted leeks. Meanwhile, in The Cut's bar, The Library, you'll be exploring a 300-strong, international wine list, more than 80 whiskies, a slew of craft beers and a bunch of signature cocktails. To celebrate this mammoth double opening, the two restaurants will also be running a giveaway in the funnest way possible — by dropping teeny-tiny prize-bearing parachutes from the building's rooftop. Fifty parachutes — containing prizes from free coffee for a week and pizzas for year, to dinners, lunches and bar tabs — will be dropped from 7 Alfred Place from 4.30pm this Friday, July 15. Start practicing your catching skills. Fratelli Fresh and The Cut Steakhouse will open this Friday, July 15. For more info, visit fratellifresh.com.au/the-alfred and thecutbarandgrill.com/melbourne.
Repertoires of Contention sees Mexico City-based artist Joaquín Segura team up with local artist Tony Garifalakis for a fascinating exhibition that considers the global role of artists, and the cultural institutions that challenge perceptions and encourage public debate. The unlikely duo first met at the International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York and found they share a similar outlook on global power structures and the way they are encouraged and simultaneously resisted. Repertoires of Contention features textile, video, installation, photographic and intervention works and explores the similarities in the pair's ideologies, despite their vast geographical differences in the place they live and work. Named after a social theory that describes the tools organised groups can use to protest and resist, Repertoires of Contention presents this interconnectedness in an exciting and enlightening exhibition. Repertoires of Contention is on now at Gertrude Contemporary until Saturday, November 4. Image: Curator Ivan Muñiz Reed with artists Joaquín Segura and Tony Garifalakis, courtesy of Joaquín Segura.
Melbourne might currently be enjoying a somewhat mild start to the new year, with temperatures in the mid-20s on January 1 and forecast to stay below 30 degrees until Thursday; however a blast of extra sizzling warmth awaits come the end of the week. Indeed, finding some frosty air-con or a shaded pool is recommended on Friday, when the city is predicted to swelter through a day-long spell of 42-degree heat. The Bureau of Meteorology expects the mercury to soar across Victoria on January 4, hitting the 40–42 range in Melbourne and throughout the state's south, and reaching 44–46 in the north. While that's a whopping 16 degrees above Melbourne's average top January temperature according to Weatherzone, it's still lower than the city's highest recorded January maximum of 45.6 degrees back in 1939. https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1079983551989329921 The particularly hot spell comes after several similarly baking days last month, although the temperature will exceed the 38-degree maximum experienced in the brief early-December heatwave. It'll also top Melbourne's efforts post-Christmas, when the mercury climbed to 37.4 degrees on December 27. Thankfully, the scorching summer blast will be short-lived. BOM expects a gusty southwest change to arrive late on Friday, heralding a return to mid-20s temps. A cloudy few days will see Saturday peak at 24 degrees and Sunday hit just 22, before Tuesday climbs back up to 27. Image: udeyismail via Flickr.
The annual Orange Wine Festival is back for its 11th run, with ten days of events highlighting the region's sophisticated winemaking from October 13 through October 22. Patrons can expect wine shows, tastings, dinners and educational workshops, all of which showcase the rich diversity of Orange's rich culinary culture. This year's packed-out program includes over 90 events, which are open to all wine lovers, from the connoisseurs to those still getting to know their palate. The region is known for its cool climate which creates wines with bright fruit and deep, balanced flavours, making them some of the best drops in the country. While there are events on every day of the two weeks, signature events include the Festival Night Market, the Orange Wine Show Tasting ($50-$70) and Wine in the Vines ($145).
In true 2020 fashion, AFL Grand Final celebrations are set to look very different this time around. The game itself has been shipped interstate, the pubs are closed and even the classic backyard barbecue with mates is a no go. But that doesn't mean you need to let Saturday, October 24 pass without indulging in a proper footy feast, worthy of Melbourne's famous sporting clash. Diehard footy fan or not, there's no better time of year for some pub grub and finger food, matched with a few bevvies and scoffed in front of the telly. To save you from kitchen duty, we've found a stack of finals-friendly food and drink bundles, most of which you can get delivered to your door. And, of course, there are plenty of pies in the mix. Dust off that merch and elevate your at-home Grand Final experience with these eight footy packs. PRAHRAN MARKET x MOON DOG POUR 'N PLENTY PIE & BEER BOX Those game day pie cravings are in solid hands with this limited-edition pack from the Prahran Market and Moon Dog Brewery, celebrating that time-honoured footy pairing of hot pies and cold beer. Seven market vendors have each created their own signature party pie for the occasion, with inventive fillings ranging from lamb kofta to peking duck. The $55 pack comes loaded with 13 ready-to-heat pies, as well as a mixed four-pack of Moon Dog brews and a mini Sherrin footy. It also comes with tasting notes and the option to experience a virtual pie tasting session. How much? $55 HAND PICKED ULTIMATE FOOTY FEED Graze your way through Grand Final Day with the Ultimate Footy Feed selection from Australian Venue Co's new at-home menu. The pub group's chefs have dreamt up a roll-call of reimagined footy snacks, which you can have delivered straight to your door on October 23 (Grand Final Eve) for an easy $5 fee. Choose six snack dishes for $30, or eight options for $45, and get ready to sink your teeth into creative bites like boozy barbecue sausage rolls, ramen-fried chicken nuggets, and lobster mac 'n' cheese bites matched with truffle mayo. Orders close at noon this Thursday, October 22, so don't muck around. How much? $30–40 HOP NATION x PIE THIEF GAME DAY PACKS Can't fathom a footy final without some form of pie? Well, there'll be no Four'N Twenty pastries scoffed at the 'G this year, but Footscray pie shop Pie Thief and craft brewery Hop Nation have teamed up to deliver the next best thing. The duo's new Game Day bundles come in either six- or 12-pack form ($45/80), matching a selection of mini pies with signature Hop Nation brews and tinnies from their newly launched seltzer range, 'Ray. Get excited for pie varieties like chunky steak and spag bol, paired with drops like The Chop IPA, The Damned pilsner and summery peach seltzer. Deliveries will be running to a bunch of central and western postcodes on October 21 and 22, so that your fridge is all stocked come game day. How much? $45–80 ATTICA FOOTY LOAF Yep, even Ben Shewry's fine dining icon Attica is getting into the Grand Final spirit. The Ripponlea restaurant is shaking things up with a special at-home offering available only on October 23 and 24 — a family-friendly nacho-style footy loaf. For $85, you will get to enjoy a feast Shewry's own kids have labelled their "favourite ever Attica meal", starring a full loaf of bread with a swag of accompaniments for dipping, ripping and/or filling as you see fit. There's a rich beef and black bean chilli, corn chips, jalapeños, guacamole, pepperberry pickled onions and two varieties of sour cream. It's all available for pickup, or delivery to select suburbs, with pre-orders open now. How much? $85 400 GRADI GRAND FINAL PACKS The pizza maestros at 400 Gradi are slinging not one, but three different AFL Grand Final packs, catering to the full range of footy feasting preferences. You can opt for a grazing-style combination of cheese and prosecco ($70), or go for gold with one of the group-friendly spreads, featuring salumi, pizza, focaccia, a full lamb shoulder, tiramisu and more. Each pack is designed for two, but if you want to upsize, you'll find plenty of choice add-ons available in 400 Gradi's online food store. Delivery's available all across the state, with fees varying depending on how far out you are. Just be sure to get your pre-order in before the October 21 cut-off. How much? $70–170 SAN TELMO x FUTURE MOUNTAIN BREWING PARTY PACK Promising to lend a little South American flair to the footy finals experience is the new limited-edition party pack from the San Telmo Group. One of three bundles created in collaboration with the folks from Future Mountain Brewing, this should answer all your food and drink cravings. You'll score a one-litre serve of Future Mountain beer — perhaps the old-world farmhouse ale or an oak-aged golden sour — along with a lineup of Argentinian eats ready to heat and eat. We're talking empanadas, cured meats, chimichurri and a couple of classic choripan (chorizo rolls). You can pick up your feast from one of three locations, otherwise delivery is available to select suburbs near the Reservoir brewery. How much? $90–122 EASEY'S x THE EMERSON FOOTY BUBBLE PACKS Easey's kitchen residency at The Emerson means good things for any southsider with a burger craving this finals season. The pair is dishing up three different Bubble Packs, perfect for devouring in front of the telly while cheering on your team. There's a solo pack featuring a cheeseburger and a couple of cans of Splash vodka ($29), and a two-person bundle packed with two of Easey's signatures and a celebratory one-litre cocktail serve ($79). Need a footy feast for four? You'll also find a $99 family pack in the mix, loaded with four burgers and a four-pack of Splash. All three options are available daily from noon till 7.30pm, though you'll have to pick-up from the venue. How much? $29–99
Terms like #BlackLivesMatter and alt-right didn't exist in 1967. As such, they're not mentioned in Detroit, a film based on the infamous race riots that gripped the titular town 50 years ago. Instead, we hear other telling words and phrases. Words like "you people". Words like "them". When a racist cop compares the city to 'Nam, when offensive slurs flow freely, and when scared black men openly pray for their lives in front of white police officers, there's no mistaking the climate of hatred and fear they're all inhabiting — or the parallels with the United States today. In a film of talk as much as action, these moments shudder with significance. Often, they make the audience shudder as well. Director Kathryn Bigelow, who remains the only woman to win an Oscar for direction, wants the violence, the slurs and the sense of anxiety to stand out. At the same time, she demonstrates just how commonplace it all was — and still is. As they did with The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, Bigelow and writer Mark Boal serve up an eye opening account of how America operates. Only this time, as they delve into racial, societal and institutionalised conflicts, they're working on home soil. Accordingly, Detroit pieces together a picture of a city and a nation seething with disharmony, weaving seemingly disparate stories together to recreate one specific incident. On the night of July 25, 1967, cops respond to reports of a sniper at the Algiers Motel, but can't locate the culprit or a weapon once they arrive. Already full of bluster from an earlier altercation, Officer Krauss (Will Poulter) and his colleagues (Jack Reynor and Ben O'Toole) aren't prepared to leave empty-handed. So the trio interrogate and intimidate a group of black men, plus two young white women, determined to put somebody in handcuffs. Among their detainees: The Dramatics singer Larry (Algee Smith) and his pal Fred (Jacob Latimore), who are staying the night en route home from their cancelled gig, and happen to cross paths with the attractive Julie Ann (Hannah Murray) and Karen (Kaitlyn Never). They're in the vicinity of the shots simply because they've followed the girls into their friend Carl's (Jason Mitchell) room. He's hanging out with a few mates, while returned soldier Greene (Anthony Mackie) is also down the hall. Arriving with the national guard, part-time security guard Melvin Dismukes (John Boyega) tries to assist in the aftermath. Detroit lets viewers get to know these characters — and to know them well. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they react when times get tough, and everyone here is swimming in pressure. After backstories are laid out in the film's first quarter, the movie spends its terse, tense mid-section in the hotel, watching the various figures face off. The camerawork is jumpy, intimate and urgent, as are the performances. Poulter is unnerving in his venomous conviction, while Smith is heartbreaking as the aspiring talent seeing his dreams fade away. Boyega, meanwhile, is a ball of internalised turmoil as the man caught in the middle. With the aforementioned war films as well as Point Break and Strange Days on her resume, Bigelow has consistently proven herself to be one of the best action directors working today, and Detroit only solidifies that status. Just as the film initially bounces around the riots to establish Detroit's volatile intensity, it also gets up close and personal with its main players, crafting a brutal snapshot not only of the events in question, but the city at the time and America as a whole. In the process, it serves as both an immersive picture of history and a horrific cautionary tale. Archival footage is used to amplify the grim mood, but it isn't really needed. Detroit would be a stunning piece of cinema either way. https://youtu.be/yv74LqiumXE
Laure Calamy doesn't star in everything that's hitting screens big and small from France right now, but from Call My Agent! and Only the Animals to Full Time and The Origin of Evil, audiences can be forgiven for feeling otherwise. Calamy isn't new to acting, either, with a resume dating back to 2001; however, her in-demand status at present keeps showering viewers with stellar performances. Indeed, The Origin of Evil is a magnificent Calamy masterclass. She's playing a part while playing a part, and she makes both look effortless. The Antoinette in the Cévennes César Best Actress-winner is also a picture of unnerving determination and yearning, and resourcefulness and anxiety, too, as a seafood-factory worker usually tinning anchovies, then packing herself into a mix of Knives Out, Succession, The Talented Mr Ripley and Triangle of Sadness. Unleashing in-fighting upon a wealthy family residing on Côte d'Azur island Porquerolles, this instantly twisty and gripping thriller from Faultless and School's Out writer/director Sébastien Marnier (who collaborates on the screenplay with Amore mio scribe Fanny Burdino) takes a setting that'd do The White Lotus proud as well, then wreaks havoc. On the agenda in such lavish and scenic surroundings, which come filled with an unsettling menagerie of taxidermied animals: witnessing savage squabbling over who'll inherit a business empire, bathing in the kind of bitterness that only the bonds of blood among the affluent and entitled can bring, more than one person wishing that patriarch Serge Dumontet (Jacques Weber, The World of Yesterday) would shuffle off this mortal coil and, just as crucially, not everything being what it seems. First, The Origin of Evil sees the mundanity of Stéphane's (Calamy) life on the mainland, as she works the tinning assembly line, is stood up during a visit to her incarcerated girlfriend (Suzanne Clément, STAT) and gets kicked out when her landlady decides to reconcile with her estranged daughter. It's after the latter news that she picks up the phone, makes a call and locks in a date for her own reunion. Soon, Stéphane and Serge are getting acquainted — but when the restaurateur takes his long-lost daughter from a fling decades ago back home to his palatial abode, the welcome is hardly warm. His shopaholic wife Louise (Dominique Blanc, Syndrome E) is largely obliging enough, but his daughter George (Doria Tillier, Smoking Causes Coughing) couldn't be icier, her daughter Jeanne (Céleste Brunnquell, Fifi) can't understand why anyone would want in on a clan she can't wait to get out of and light-fingered maid Agnès (Véronique Ruggia, Loving Memories) is also far from friendly. Stéphane isn't the only reason that affection among the Dumontets is as dead as the stuffed critters filling their airy, stately but jam-packed abode. His health may be ailing, but Serge still has a bite regarding work, ruling the roost and being threatened as the head of the family. George says that she's been running the company since her father's stroke, and is taking him to court to gain full control — which he'll do anything to stop. Accordingly, the joy that Serge splashes around over Stéphane's sudden appearance and the misgivings that are directed her way by George are both saddled with ample history. Whether she's claiming to own the fish factory, advising that all she wants is to get to know the dad that she's grown up without, or ignoring George's cold demand that she go away and never come back, Stéphane's time with this battling brood also has its own knotty backstory. With his School's Out cinematographer Romain Carcanade, Marnier makes The Origin of Evil a visually exacting and foreboding film, even as its vibe is laced with black comedy. Nudging viewers to spot firearms and knives isn't by accident. Ramping up the tension by having the audience primed for a body count isn't as well. Playfully clever use of split screens when everyone in front of the lens is in the same room helps reinforce the Dumontets' divisions, with and without Stéphane — and stresses her outsider status among them, alongside a heavy everyone's-a-future-suspect air. In its imagery, The Origin of Evil is as busy as the central villa that Louise has stacked with everything that she can possibly collect (one notable instance: a wall of VHS tapes of recorded TV shows). The switch of hues from grim to bright whenever Porquerolles beckons is telling, too. Watching along is like playing detective, then, scouring the sights, scenes and details for tell-tale tidbits. It might sport a title that could grace an entry in the Evil Dead, The Conjuring or IT franchises (most scary-movie sagas, really), but The Origin of Evil isn't a horror movie — traditionally, at least. As told via savvily suspenseful scripting, where constantly waiting for new revelations doesn't mean being ready for everything that spills, it's scathing about the ghastliness of money, privilege and expectation, and also misogyny. Snaky doesn't only sum up the plot, though. Where allegiances and sympathies land at any given moment is equally as zigzagging. And, as the story keeps spinning, Calamy's bobbing and weaving efforts as Stéphane are nothing short of phenomenal. Marnier and Carcanade regularly catch reactions from the newcomer in the Dumontets' midst that her hosts cannot see, each one adding new layers to this star performance. As riveting as she proves at every moment, Calamy also has excellent company, including the rest of the female-heavy cast. Blanc, Tillier, Brunnquell and Ruggia's characters mightn't receive as much time on-screen to demonstrate as much depth, but the quartet still ensures that they each make a sharp impression. Blanc is a barbed yet smiling gem, in particular. Together, around Weber segueing from affable to monstrous, the four women unpack the many imperfections of a life that glitters only on the surface — aka the flaws in the gleaming prize that Stéphane is so eagerly chasing. Again, however, Calamy is The Origin of Evil's jewel. If France's film and TV output wants to keep pushing her to the fore again and again, its movies and television shows will only be better for it.
Calling all Scandi cinema diehards, Nordic noir buffs, fans of the region's oft-icy climes, and lovers of mythology and folklore: the 2023 Scandinavian Film Festival has something on its lineup for you. When it gets frosty in Australia each year, this big-screen showcase celebrates titles primarily hailing from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden — and its latest lineup is full of must-see highlights. Screening from Thursday, July 13–Wednesday, August 2 at Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor Theatre in Melbourne, the fest's latest program will kick off with the Australian premiere of Let the River Flow, which won the Audience Award at this year's Göteborg Film Festival. Based on a true tale, it tells of a young woman who unintentionally becomes involved in a protest against a dam, with the new structure set to possibly flood Indigenous Sámi land. The standouts keep coming, such as Godland from Icelandic filmmaker Hlynur Pálmason (A White, White Day), which gets the festival's centrepiece slot — and Fallen Leaves, the latest from Finnish great Aki Kaurismäki's (The Other Side of Hope). Both hit the Scandi Film Festival after bowing locally at other events around the country. Also boasting a high-profile name is Burn All My Letters, which follows the consequences of a love affair, and stars Barbarian and John Wick: Chapter 4's Bill Skarsgård. Or, there's Swedish thriller Shadow Island, Darkland sequel Darkland: The Return and psychological drama Copenhagen Does Not Exist for devotees of Nordic cinema's dark side. If that's your favourite way to get a Scandi film fix, you'll also be in your element with Scandi Screams, the fest's six-movie retrospective. That's where that focus on myths and eerie tales comes in, and of course Let the Right One In is on the lineup. So is Ari Aster's Midsommar, the Oscar-nominated Border, Mads Mikkelsen in Valhalla Rising, twisted Christmas flick Rare Exports and the fantasy-heavy Troll Hunter. Back to the event's slate of recent releases, comedy lovers can get excited about Iceland's dinner party-set Wild Game, Denmark's Fathers & Mothers and The Land of Short Sentences, the new film in The Grump franchise, and absurdist-leaning period piece Empire. Also on the lineup: Unruly, another 2023 Göteborg Film Festival award-winner, this time for Best Nordic Film; documentary The King, about Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf; Munch, a dramatisation of the Norwegian artist's life; coming-of-age drama Norwegian Dream; One Day All This Will Be Yours, about a Swedish cartoonist and her siblings dividing up the family farmland; and polyamory love story Four Little Adults.
There are plenty of ways to mark a movie milestone. Whenever one of your favourite flicks notches up five, ten, 20, 30 or more years since first hitting screens, watching it is the easiest way to celebrate, of course. That's definitely in order when the original animated version of The Lion King — not the recent live-action take — hits three decades in 2024. How to truly do justice to the Disney smash that spawned a musical, ample sequels and oh-so-much enduring affection? Seeing it show at an in-concert session with a live orchestra playing its songs and score. Yes, The Lion King in Concert is coming to Australia, with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra doing the honours. The blockbuster movie-and-music performance was announced as part of MSO's just-unveiled 2024 season, and will take over The Plenary at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, February 3. This is an Aussie premiere, too, featuring Hans Zimmer's score and Elton John and Tim Rice's songs performed live as the movie once again graces a silver screen. As Nicholas Buc conducts, audiences will be feeling the love that night — and day, thanks to both 1pm and 7.30pm sessions — and celebrating the circle of life as well. Just can't wait to commemorate 30 years since the film debuted, instantly becoming an all-ages favourite? Add this chance to revisit Simba's journey to your calendar. Both John and Rice's tunes, and Zimmer's music, won Oscars. The former were nominated three times in the same field, in fact, with 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight?' winning out over 'Circle of Life' and 'Hakuna Matata'. So, yes, seeing any film as its score is played live is a rousing experience, but this one will feel particularly powerful. There's no word yet whether The Lion King in Concert will be a Melbourne exclusive in addition to being an Aussie premiere, or if it'll make the rounds of other city-based symphony orchestras. Some such shows hop around the country, as Star Wars, Harry Potter and Zimmer-focused gigs have. Others have stuck to one place, as seen with past The Princess Bride, Home Alone and Toy Story performances, and the upcoming Black Panther. Sydneysiders, Brisbanites and folks elsewhere, perhaps cross your fingers while you channel a "hakuna matata" mindset. You can always stream the sing-along version while you wait for local dates. Check out the trailer for The Lion King below: The Lion King in Concert will play The Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, on Saturday, February 3, 2024. Head to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra website for further details, and tickets from Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
The Night Poodle Markets is making its grand debut at this year's Melbourne Night Noodle Markets. So, if you've got a fur baby you'd like to flaunt, this is your pup's chance to shine. Hosted for one-night-only on Sunday, November 13, the inaugural Paw Parade – presented by Scratch – will feature a dazzling pink runway for all adorable canines to walk down. All doggos will be judged on character, costumes and cuteness by none other than Drag Queen, Sam T. In addition, dogs and their owners will be treated to a mini photo session at the dedicated photo wall, as well as free samples of Scratch's dog food and treats presented in a limited-edition doggy noodle box. Keeping in theme with the family-friendly occasion, Night Noodle Markets will also launch its first Family Day on Saturday, November 19 at 4pm. For three hours, the event will include a bubble artist, a magician, stage entertainment, yard games and a free kids' face painting session with Sparkly Sue. To register your pup for the Paw Parade, head over to this link for more details. Do also check out the Night Noodle Markets 2022 website to see what to expect from Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 27. [caption id="attachment_876884" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Night Noodle Markets - Supplied[/caption] Top image: Night Noodle Markets — supplied
Internationally renowned sculptor Ken Unsworth was born in Melbourne, but, during his 50-year career, he's not had a major exhibition in the city. Until now, that is. This spring, he'll be bringing skeletons, crying babies and a grand piano to the National Gallery of Victoria, for Ken Unsworth: Truly, Madly. The free show will feature key works spanning Unsworth's past. Among them are When the angel of the lord came down, a tribute to his late wife, Elisabeth Unsworth, who was a concert pianist, and Mind games, in which two skeletons face one another across a table. Look out, too, for brand new pieces, including When snowflakes turn to stone, an oversized skeleton encircled with stones, and Alphaville, which immerses you in five-metre high buildings and their sounds – from barking dogs to prayer rituals. Now 87, Unsworth worked as a high school art teacher before becoming a full-time artist. He exhibited at the 1976 Sydney Biennale; numerous Australian Sculptural Triennials; Biennales in Paris, Venice and Istanbul; and several other major international shows, including Magiciens de la Terre, curated by Jean-Hubert Martin at The Pompidou Centre in 1989. Images: Mind Games 2014, Ken Unsworth; When snowflakes turn to stone 2018, Ken Unsworth; In concert (1983-84), Ken Unsworth; Below the horizon 2017, Ken Unsworth. All photos by Eugene Hyland.
Yoga is good for us, we all know that. Yogis can live to be 400 and are known to look fresh as a daisy at 5am, and a daily or weekly regiment of yoga can seriously aid your mental health. But really, that pan-pipe music can be so annoying — not to mention that it's never loud enough to stifle the occasional fart. But all those troubles are behind you now because you can get limber among your people at Bey Yoga. Every Sunday from 3pm, you can channel your inner Beyonce while enjoying Bey and Bey-inspired music with nary a pan-pipe in sight. The class is designed to work your core strength and flexibility as well as mindfulness — and no doubt all this conditioning will help you nail the moves at your next Bey dance class. If this is your jam, make sure to book ahead as spots are limited and coveted.
UPDATE, October 23, 2020: Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is available to stream via Netflix, Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube, iTunes and Amazon Video. The film that inspired DC Comics fans to ridiculously call for Rotten Tomatoes' closure, 2016's Suicide Squad was many things. Filled with nefarious characters forced to band together to save the world, it was supposed to be a Joker-led villainous team-up flick — and, while it ticked that box, it was also formulaic, bloated, unsubtle and overflowing with ugly CGI. As a result, it was mostly just dull and a slog to watch. And while the anti-hero onslaught is still getting a sequel in 2021, only one element truly stood out. That'd be Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, the Arkham Asylum psychiatrist who jumped into a life of crime when she became the jester of genocide's main squeeze. From the moment that Robbie stole the show in Suicide Squad, a Quinn-focused spinoff was always inevitable. So, knowing when they're onto a good thing — and witnessing their now Academy Award-nominated Australian star keep rising in fame via I, Tonya, Mary, Queen of Scots, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Bombshell — the folks behind the DC Extended Universe have gone and done the obvious. Thankfully, the powers-that-be learned a few lessons along the way, leaning into everything that first made the anarchic character attract so much big-screen attention. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is vividly stylised, irreverently upbeat, and both frenetic and fluid. To the benefit of every fight and chase scene, it's also more concerned with eye-popping action choreography than overblown special effects. The movie's riotous mood, lurid colour scheme and kookily comic sensibilities can't smooth out all of its bumps, though, but put it this way: Suicide Squad, this definitely isn't. After breaking up with the Joker (Jared Leto's awful green-haired version of the villain is nowhere to be seen, luckily), Quinn finds herself at a crossroads. Just like anyone who's newly single, she's not quite sure what to do with herself, other than drinking, downing comfort food, cutting her hair and getting a pet. Just when she's starting to reclaim her havoc-wreaking spark, she also discovers an unexpected consequence of changing her relationship status. Now that she's no longer the clown prince of crime's other half, every lowlife in town wants to settle the score for all the times she's done them wrong. One of them is psychopathic nightclub owner Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor) — and, in trying to save her alabaster skin from her new number-one nemesis, Quinn gets caught up with a posse of other feisty Gotham gals. Enter: Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), a hard-nosed detective constantly overlooked by the brass; Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), a singer at Sionis' club with a helluva voice; and the crossbow-wielding, vengeance-seeking, leather-clad Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Light-fingered teen Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) actually brings them all together, with Sionis' goons chasing her, too. These ladies comprise a disparate bunch throughout much of the movie, but — because this flick is based on and named after a comic-book superhero team — becoming a girl gang is blatantly on the agenda. Yes, even with candy-coloured trickster Quinn leading the charge and grinning away as she's doing so, Birds of Prey brandishes a familiar caped crusader template. Besting Suicide Squad is an incredibly low and easy bar to conquer, which Birds of Prey does. Completely finding its own groove is a trickier task and, despite the best efforts of director Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs) and writer Christina Hodson (Bumblebee), it proves harder to master here. Sporting a punk-ish, perky, peppy attitude, Birds of Prey feels unique in the DC movie realm, even against other standout franchise entries like Wonder Woman and Aquaman. But its goofy, off-kilter vibe also feels just a few shades away from Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok on occasion. Quinn's cheeky, knowing, mile-a-minute narration, as well as the playful plot structure that comes with it, can also veer too close to Deadpool territory. That makes Birds of Prey fun, purposefully chaotic and mostly entertaining, but also sometimes struggling to keep it all together. That's Quinn herself in a nutshell, though — and while this isn't a case of a film perfectly aping its protagonist in every possible way, there's still some nice symmetry at play. And, there's always something enjoyable going on on-screen. Often, it's the kinetic fight scenes, with credit to second-unit director (and John Wick franchise director) Chad Stahelski. At other times, it's the dazzling, glittering production design, or a memorable dream sequence that casts Quinn as Marilyn Monroe. Usually, it's the cast, which firmly pushes a diverse array of girls to the front. An over-the-top McGregor relishes his rare cartoonish bad guy role, but Birds of Prey's motley crew of female stars soar highest. Robbie most of all, unsurprisingly — and just as Joaquin Phoenix's take on the Joker looks likely to nab him an Oscar, it's a delight to see Harley Quinn still stealing the spotlight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygzqL60kvwU
As one of the past year's most anticipated venue openings, multi-level party playground HER (from the Arbory and Arbory Afloat crew) got a serious workout in 2022. And if you figured those four storeys would be teaming up to host one giant New Year's Eve celebration — well, you'd be correct. In fact, guests at HER's upcoming NYE party will have free rein of the entire venue — as well as enjoying one-night-only access to a secret, never-before-seen fifth floor. The building's Lune Rouge NYE party promises to dish up an enchanting night of art, performance, glamour and debauchery, with ticket packages starting from $275. From 8pm–12am, guests are in for free-flowing champagne and cocktails, plus bottomless bites — from BKK's punchy Thai dishes to the caviar and French fare of HER Bar. [caption id="attachment_842092" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] You can groove to tunes from the likes of JNETT and Alton Miller, explore numerous art installations, drop by BKK for a sit-down feed and unleash your best dance moves immersed within HER Bar's sultry red glow. Meanwhile, the secret space on Level Two will be making a debut of sorts, with an avant-garde disco and cabaret party hosted by experimental artists and performance duo Discordia. Guests are encouraged to don their best red outfits for the festivities — and dancing shoes are definitely recommended. Images: Griffin Simm and Parker Blain
Melburnians are set to score a brand new place to get a culture fix this winter, when Science Gallery Melbourne opens its doors as part of the University of Melbourne's new innovation precinct. Celebrating the intersection of art and science, the 3800-square-metre site is slated to welcome its first visitors in June, showing off a state-of-the-art gallery complete with a theatre, learning centre, workshop facilities, social areas and a range of exhibition spaces. It'll be the first permanent home for Science Gallery Melbourne, which has hosted various exhibitions and programs at public spaces and pop-up sites all over the city for the past four years. This major new addition is set to showcase a calendar of immersive, interactive exhibitions and events, and will also feature a significant educational hub in its STEM Centre of Excellence. It's one of a whole suite of Science Gallery museums located in universities around the world, which are dedicated to exploring a fusion of scientific theory, new technology and creativity. The purpose-built museum has been designed by award-winning architect William Smart of Smart Design Studio, and its fitout is inspired by the hidden forces of nature. Inside, it boasts a dramatic ceiling that appears to warp as you move beneath it, while at the front entrance, the gallery's facade has been constructed from Venetian glass bricks, each housing one of 226 touch-enabled screens, creating a changeable digital canvas for future works and collaborations. Helping to launch the museum in June, will be opening exhibition Mental: Head Inside, which is set on exploring the societal bias about mental health and diving into the spectrum of our lived realities. It'll showcase 25 new projects and installations from artists local and international, along with a calendar of performances, panel discussions, workshops and public art. Science Gallery Melbourne is slated to open at the corner of Grattan and Swanston streets, Parkville, on June 15. For further details, head to the museum's website. Images: Peter Casamento
British and Mediterranean Easter traditions are well-known and celebrated all over Melbourne. You'll find hot cross buns at most supermarkets, bakeries and cafes. Greek Easter egg smashing is well-loved by many who aren't Greek Orthodox. And Italian Colomba is looking like it will soon be as famous as its sibling the panettone. But Brunswick East's Eat Pierogi Make Love is keen to teach Melburnians about Polish Easter festivities. And, of course, it's doing this through food. What better way is there to pique our curiosity than appealing to our appetite? Pop over to the Lygon Street restaurant on either Friday, March 29 or Saturday, March 30 to get a food-filled education. For $149, two people get a traditional Easter soup made with fermented rye flour, smoked meats, and marjoram; a sharing platter loaded with pickled herring, baked pork and beef pate; sausage and sauerkraut pierogis; plenty of bread for mopping up all the sauces and ferments; and a Polish cheesecake. Chef Ola Gladysz is known for her generous portions, but there's always the option to add more a la carte options during the night if you so wish. Our recommendation? As many pierogis as you can manage.
So there's a play called Mein Kampf. A comedy, in fact. Undoubtedly someone’s outraged already, just reading that. Adolf Hitler's notorious manifesto certainly seems like unusual fodder for comedy, but the play has been a perennial success since its first staging in Vienna in 1987. Written by Hungarian-born Jewish playwright George Tabori, who was himself an exile from the Third Reich, it casts the young Hitler in a farcical role as a penniless and pitiful wannabe artist. While staying in a seedy hostel, young Hitler strikes up a friendship with an old Jewish man, who becomes his inspiration for everything from the title of his book to his style of moustache. Both a fast-moving lampoon and an exploration of the origins of evil, Mein Kampf promises to be outrageous in every sense of the word. After a hit season in 2013, this production returns for an encore season in July 2014.
It's a pretty good time to be a fan of rooftop bars, barbecue or both if you live in Melbourne. We announced back in June that the Fancy Hank's BBQ crew were planning to open a dedicated, two-storey barbecue joint on Bourke Street — and it has just opened in doors. Plus, the new rooftop bar we were buzzing about in August is set to join them, possibly as soon as this week. Yep, it's an upstairs/downstairs kind of place, and you can enjoy the former while the Fancy Hank's puts the finishing touches on the latter. The new 100-seat restaurant is basically a bigger, better version of their venue at The Mercat, complete with a two-tonne smoker that had to be brought in through the first-storey window. They'll need it; co-owner Michael Patrick says the menu features their signature smoked meats, as well as a rotating vegetarian main, such as a smoked eggplant or sweet potato, as well as a few more surprises. "The sides will be a bit more considered as well — a bit more seasonal, a bit more made to order, a bit more interesting," he says. "And mains will be served up on platters, family-style — that's the way to go. We'll be adding a dessert cabinet too." Head above, and you'll feel like you're in the heavens — or Good Heavens, as the bar will be called. A whole new concept set to open any day now, it's a casual rooftop bar that's unlike anything the Fancy Hank's guys have done before. The bar has chosen to champion brightly-coloured '80s-inspired cocktails (blue curaçao may be making an appearance), as well as barbecue snacks like spicy southern chicken ribs, chilli nachos and a seared and smoked lamb neck grilled cheese sandwich. Of course, new doors might be opening, but old ones don't have to close. The Mercat still has ties to your beloved Fancy Hanks, but it's now called Knuckles Sandwich Bar. It's a scaled-back version of the original, but still as tasty — and there's no prizes for guessing what they serve. Fancy Hank's is now open at 1/79 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Good Heavens is due to follow later this month. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates. By Imogen Baker, Lauren Vadnjal and Sarah Ward.
Always on the lookout for your next photo op? Wanting a fun way to escape your reality? Make sure to have your cameras at the ready because Honey House is about to hit Queensbridge Square (and have Melbourne feeling a little topsy-turvy — in a good way). Courtesy of Honey Insurance, the bold building is here to help you up your know-how on protecting that home of yours with seven interactive rooms (think mirrored illusions, misplaced furniture in candy-bright hues and photo spots aplenty). Want to know the best part? The part-photo-studio-part-art-installation is completely free for everyone to enjoy. Once you're in, you'll have plenty of time to explore, play and get the perfect shot — check out the Honey Instagram for a sneak peek. Running from Thursday, June 2 until Monday, June 6, this surreal experience is not one to miss. Reserve your tickets in advance, because it's sure to draw some serious crowds. Head to the website to reserve your spot. Top images: Scott Ehler
Glittery mirror balls, synth-heavy disco tunes and pizza — it's a Saturday night match made in heaven and it's the combo that's going to end your year right at Connie's Italian Diner. On December 31, the modern trattoria and much-loved party spot is combining its favourite things for a NYE party to remember. The venue's opening its leafy rooftop terrace, firing up its dance floor and inviting you to spend your final evening of 2022 getting down to a soundtrack of Italo-Disco tunes. Nab yourself a $125 ticket and you'll enjoy four hours of free-flowing drinks to match — including beer, vino, bubbles and a slew of aperitivo cocktails. Because what's a rooftop party without a few spritzes or Americanos? To fuel you up for all that dancing, they'll also be rolling out lots of Italian-style snacks; from mozzarella sticks, to arancini, to Connie's signature pizza varieties. And we reckon that terrace will offer a pretty good peek of the midnight fireworks, too.
As one of Melbourne's largest Chinese communities, Box Hill will celebrate the turn of the season with a marathon 12-hour festival that stretches from 1pm until well into the night. Local vendors will serve some of the city's tastiest Chinese cuisine, while traditional lion and dragon dancers entertain the masses. The highlight will be the Parade of Choi Sun, the Chinese God of Fortune.
A quarter-century since the world first met Monica, Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe, TV's most famous friends are never too far from anyone's thoughts. When the sitcom's catchy theme tune promised "I'll be there for you", it seems these New York pals really meant it — not just about each other, but for the legions of viewers who watched their antics between 1994–2004, then kept rewatching them afterwards. Over the years, you've probably caught reruns on television, binged your way through boxsets or let episode after episode play on Stan — but you probably haven't enjoyed a marathon of standout eps on the big screen. To celebrate the series' 25th anniversary, a heap of Melbourne cinemas are letting Friends fans do just that. There mightn't be an orange couch for you to sit on, but you'll want to gather the gang regardless. Prices and session times vary per cinema, but the lineup remains the same. On the bill are 12 of the show's classic episodes, including The One With The Black Out, The One With The Prom Video and The One Where No One's Ready — plus The One With Chandler In A Box, The One Where Everyone Finds Out and The One Where Ross Got High. Running for five hours, the screening will also feature new footage, interviews and bloopers — so you'll get an extra dose of Friends fun.
It's been a long wait in Melbourne if you want to rock 'n' roll with AC/DC live. 2025 marks ten years since the iconic Sydney-formed band last took to the stage Down Under. It's also the year, thankfully, that they're making their Aussie concert return. After kicking off in 2024, the group's Power Up tour will play Australian dates, with Brian Johnson, Angus Young and company hitting up Melbourne on Wednesday, November 12 and Sunday, November 16. Let there be rock at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, then. This is the first time that the legendary Australian rockers have toured Down Under since their 2015 'Rock or Bust' world tour. In November in Victorian capital, Amyl and The Sniffers are onboard in support to make this massive concert even more so, and to give attendees a taste of two different generations of Aussie rockstars. This tour isn't just a fitting homecoming for AC/DC, but comes more than half a century since the band played their first-ever show in Australia. This 2025 gig will be just over a month and a half short of 52 years since that 1973 Sydney debut. Power Up is also the name of the group's 2020 album, their most-recent record — which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, made multiple best-of lists for that year and scored Grammy nominations. For those about to rock, AC/DC's high-voltage current set list spans their entire career, however, including everything from 'If You Want Blood (You've Got It)', 'Back in Black' and 'Hells Bells' to 'Highway to Hell', 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' and 'You Shook Me All Night Long'. Images: Christie Goodwin. Updated: Thursday, June 26, 2025.
Multicultural Melbourne is Melbourne at its best. There aren't too many cities where you can find authentic Vietnamese, exquisite Japanese, along with sweet Grecian delights and gutsy African within the space of a hundred or so metres — but Smith Street is one such location. Nestled in the heart of this inner-city high street is The Cutting Table. The cafe space of social enterprise The Social Studio, The Cutting Table brings together a variety of individuals from different cultures to learn, design and create as members of the one community. Serving an authentic selection of East and West African dishes, as well as ethically sourced and locally roasted coffee, The Cutting Table is known for its inclusive and welcoming environment. The cafe’s latest endeavour is Revolving Cuisine, held every Friday night at the Smith Street space. A celebration of diversity and culture, guests are welcomed to a banquet dinner from a different, exotic destination each week to learn and enjoy food in the company of others. We spoke to The Social Studio’s development and operations officer Susan Yengi, about the growth of the concept. Tell us a bit about The Social Studio. The Social Studio was established in 2009 and supports people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to gain qualifications and employment in the fashion, retail and hospitality industries. We came about in response to the difficulties that people from refugee and migrant communities have experienced in Australia's education system, and as a means of helping them get a 'foot in the door' into entry-level employment. We run three major training programs. Certificate III in clothing production is in partnership with RMIT TAFE, and Certificate I in vocational preparation and Certificate II in Hospitality are in partnership with William Angliss Institute. We have our cafe, The Cutting Room, as well as a retail shop and digital fabric printing studio that provides a seamless opportunity for The Social Studio to offer training and work placements to young people from refugee and migrant communities. At the completion of their certificate training we try to offer entry-level employment to students within our organisation, and if we are unable to, we help students securing meaningful permanent employment within other organisations that share similar values to ours. How did the concept for Revolving Cuisine come about? In our quest to create opportunities to facilitate cross-cultural exchange and build a more inclusive society, the concept for a 'revolving cuisine' came to fruition. We thought, what better way to share the rich cultures of the communities we work with than through food? Food is the one thing that can bring people from all walks of life together. So, Revolving Cuisine began, and it has now been running since May. How are the cuisines and guest chefs selected each week? The cuisines are come about in two ways. They are either nominated by a staff member or one of our students, and then discussed and agreed upon as a team, or one of our hospitality graduates offers to put on a dinner. We’ve been fortunate thus far to have had some incredible cooks wanting to be involved in the concept. Graduates of our hospitality program have enlisted their culinary expertise to work up some tantalising dishes for diners. How has the concept been received? What do you think people enjoy most about it? Our guests who have participated in Revolving Cuisine have walked away talking about how much they loved the food and the warm atmosphere. Our chefs have also been great in facilitating this — they often come out of the kitchen and interact with our guests as well, which I think many people enjoy. This feedback is important to us as we would love to make sure as many people know about the concept, and come in to experience the many cuisines and cultures on offer. What are your future plans for the concept? On the first Friday of every month we run 'African Night'. It’s a special night of African food and music, and there are normally a few performances. This has been quite successfully and normally results in a full house. We'd love to build up our revolving cuisines and cultivate them to be as popular as the African night. Doing this would mean we could potentially increase employment opportunities for young people and for other up and rising chefs from the communities we work with. Revolving Cuisine runs every Friday, with the first Friday of each month dedicated to a delicious celebration of African culture. For more information and bookings visit thesocialstudio.org
It's no secret that most new year's resolutions fall by the wayside by mid-January. But there's one goal that's worthy of a year-round effort — and that's to cut back on meat. It's well documented that eating less meat is good for the environment, so that should probably be reason enough for most of us to introduce more plant-based meals into our lives. But the truth is that most of us need a couple of selfish incentives to really get the ball rolling — thankfully, vegetarian options have plenty of those, too. Firstly, plant-based meals are just as tasty as their meat-laden siblings (we promise), but they're also often a bit cheaper and, anecdotally speaking, fill you up without giving you that too-full bloat we know all too well. To get the creative juices flowing, we've teamed up with Yumi's to put together a list of cracking plant-based dinner ideas that you can easily whip up mid-week, or as a weekend feast with friends. [caption id="attachment_817040" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melanie Dompierre (Pexels)[/caption] EGGPLANT PARM Heading to the pub for a parmi or parma (depending on where you are, of course) is one of life's little joys, but did you know you can make an eggplant version at home that pretty well involves the same ingredients you know and love in the pub staple (minus the chicken) but stays true to its Italian roots? Essentially a layered Italian bake (picture a lasagne without the heavy lifting), an eggplant parm sees slices of grilled eggplant sandwich a fresh tomato pasta sauce and finely-grated parmesan, and is topped with mozzarella and pangrattato to add some crispiness. Alternatively, you could even try this fun mushroom-based parm for something a little different. Of course, if you want to go vegan then you simply need to switch to a dairy-free cheese alternative — vegan parmesan definitely stacks up against the real deal. [caption id="attachment_817045" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alesia Kozik (Pexels)[/caption] SOUTHERN-STYLE CAULIFLOWER Cauliflower is a perfect gateway for any person considering a plant-based lifestyle. Its ability to soak up flavours and maintain its structural integrity during the cooking process makes it a no-brainer when making vegetarian versions of fan favourites, including Southern-style wings. You have a couple of options when making cauliflower 'wings' and your decision will largely depend on how much effort you're willing to put in. If you've got some time or are cooking up a feast for your mates, then whipping up a sweet and smoky marinade to mimic a buffalo wing is a great shout. For a simpler take, these sriracha-spiced spiced cauliflower bites are ideal, and can be eaten for lunch the next day on a sandwich, salad or even as a taco. [caption id="attachment_817052" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ketut Subiyanto (Pexels)[/caption] MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE Did you grow up with a weekly spag bol night? We all love mum's (mom's?) spaghetti, but just because you're going meat-free you don't need to miss out. Adapting your bolognese to be vegetarian every once in a while is perhaps one of the easiest and most satisfying meat-to-vegetable swaps you could make. The combination of the meaty mushrooms and fragrant herbs sitting pretty on a pile of comforting spaghetti will always be a thing of pure joy. Of course, it's going to taste a little bit different when you swap meat for lentils and mushrooms (so you can't trick your mates into thinking they're eating meat) but at its heart, this version is just as delicious and warming a dinner. FALAFEL BOWL Gone are the days of having to hunt down falafels from a specialty store (or even making your own) — Yumi's are serving up a great range of ready-to-eat falafels, which you can find in all major supermarkets. Falafel bowls are the probably simplest plant-based meal to prepare, and a great jumping-off point if you're new to the meat-free world. Simply fill a bowl with all of your favourite salad ingredients (fresh herbs, tomato, cucumber and olives, for example) and top with falafels, which are best enjoyed after a 30-second zap in the microwave. We also highly suggest you mix through a generous dollop of Yumi's Classic Hommus or flavoured dip to amp up your dressing. After something a little more indulgent? Trade the HSP for an FSP — a smashed falafel snack pack that will satisfy at any time of the day. [caption id="attachment_817058" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Alesia Kozik (Pexels)[/caption] CHICKPEA AND TEMPEH CURRY A curry is perhaps the quintessential winter dinner. Not only are they often nice and spicy, but they're also loaded with flavour and warm you from the inside out. Choosing a curry that combines filling vegetarian ingredients like protein-rich chickpeas and tempeh with a flavoursome sauce is the key to creating a satisfying dinner you'll want to make again and again. For the uninitiated, tempeh is similar to tofu in the sense that it's made from soybeans, but unlike tofu, it's much firmer and is made from fermented soybeans. The firmness and nuttier flavour are what makes tempeh ideal for curries because it won't disintegrate into mush when you cook it in the sauce, and. You can grab it at your local supermarket and simply cut it into cubes before adding it to your favourite curry recipe. JACKFRUIT TACOS The best gotcha in the vegan world is making jackfruit tacos for a friend who vehemently believes a meal isn't a meal unless there's a truck-tonne of meat. From the same family as the fig tree, jackfruit is native to the Western Ghats of southern India, Sri Lanka and the rainforests of Malaysia, so it's fairly common in these nations' cuisines. Arguably the best way to trick your friends into thinking they're eating pulled pork, though, is to whip up a batch of jackfruit tacos. You'll struggle to come by a jackfruit in the produce section of your supermarket, but you'll definitely find canned unripe, green or young jackfruit in the canned vegetable section, and it works best for this recipe anyway. The main difference between preparing jackfruit (versus pork) is that you drain the can and shred it prior to cooking it in your sauce. If you find any large, woody chunks, simply chop these up before cooking. For more meat-free dinner inspiration, check out the full range of Yumi's falafels, veggie bites and dips.
As a five-year-old in India in 1986, Saroo Brierley didn't expect to be whisked nearly 1,500 kilometres away from his family, and not be able to find his way back. Then, after being adopted by an Australian couple, he definitely didn't expect that he'd have a date with Google Earth as an adult, trying to locate the place that sparked so many memories. This stranger-than-fiction tale inspired a book, and now a movie too. And while a big screen adaptation of his life story might be the latest thing the real-life Saroo didn't anticipate, it's audiences that are in for the biggest surprise. If you didn't know that Lion was based on actual events, you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was simply a feel-good fantasy. First-time film director Garth Davis (TV's Top of the Lake) and writer Luke Davies (Life) recount Saroo's story faithfully, including its well-publicised ending. Yet despite the twists and turns having played out in the media, the Australian duo still manage to deliver a thoughtful, sensitive and emotional viewing experience. Yes, you'll know that tears are coming. But they'll still feel well and truly earned. Aerial shots of the Indian landscape immediately set audiences on a journey, with a charming little boy (newcomer Sunny Pawar) their guide. Tagging along as his older brother Guddu (Abhishek Bharate) seeks work to help their mother (Priyanka Bose) with the family finances, Saroo falls asleep on a train. By the time he awakens, events have been set in motion that will see him fending for himself on the streets of Calcutta, before eventually being adopted by Tasmanians Sue (Nicole Kidman) and John Brierley (David Wenham). It's two decades later, as an adult (now played by Dev Patel), that Saroo turns on his computer and begins his search for home. Sometimes, it's the simplest things that have the strongest impact: a child's warm, cheeky smile; the pain of a lost past lingering in a man's eyes; haunting visions of familiar places embedding themselves in the mind. Saroo's quest owes a lot to a certain search engine, but that's neither the most interesting thing to watch nor the most important part of the narrative. Crafting a highly personal story that conveys universal themes, Davis and Davies ensure that Lion doesn't forget this fact. Even as it balances several competing elements — the two countries Saroo calls his own throughout his life, his feelings for his two families, and the push and pull between old-fashioned human connection and the influence of modern technology — the film never loses its footing Indeed, the key to the movie is people. Or, to be specific, one person and two shining performances. Pawar and Patel each possess the naturalistic spark that keeps viewers along for the ride — one innocent and endearing, the other oozing inner conflict and yearning. As a result, Lion does exactly what it needs to make hearts soar and tears swell. It might do so in a standard fashion, but, boy does it do it well.
Thirteen years ago, Korea's cinema standouts scored their own showcase Down Under, with the inaugural Korean Film Festival in Australia debuting in 2010. Since then, the festival has kept returning — and expanding — to celebrate both the latest and greatest flicks that South Korea has to offer. It was playing Bong Joon-ho films before Parasite swept the Oscars. It was revelling in Korean thrillers prior to Squid Game becoming an international success, too. It loved Korean genre fare before Train to Busan as well. And, KOFFIA will keep the nation's must-see titles in Melbourne this spring. 2023's festival has a date with ACMI from Thursday, September 7–Monday, September 11. Across five days, it'll endeavour to give audiences a new Korean favourite, or several, from a selection that spans everything from murder-mysteries and detective dramas to revenge thrillers and musicals. There's no such thing as a standard Korean film, which is true of every country's movie output; however, this national cinema is mighty fond of twisty tales. Accordingly, it should come as no surprise that Confession and Gentleman are both on the 2023 bill. The first is a locked-room mystery with an IT company CEO suddenly finding himself the prime suspect, while the second involves a private detective agency's head honcho being falsely accused of a crime. Also on the lineup: The Devil's Deal, which sees a political candidate disqualified, then out for revenge; and The Night Owl, about an acupuncturist who is blind in daylight, can see clearly at night, and witnesses a tragic event one evening. The latter opens the festival, and the directors of both films — The Devil's Deal's Lee Won-tae and The Night Owl's An Tae-jin — are coming to Australia for KOFFIA. Elsewhere, comedy 6/45 hits the Korean Film Festival after proving a box-office smash at home, focusing on soldiers from both North and South Korea finding a windfall; Hero heads back to 1900s Korea to hone in on independence activist Ahn Jung-geun's plight battling Japanese colonial rule; musical drama Life Is Beautiful sees a husband trying to locate his wife's childhood sweetheart; and Next Sohee, which played Cannes 2022, is all about an exploitative work situation. Or, the standouts also include Switch, where a celebrity wakes up one morning to discover that he's living a completely different life — and romance Nothing Serious, about an aspiring novelist who writes a sex column.
Of course Tim Burton did a Dumbo remake. How could he not? For a director who's built his career around tales of misunderstood misfits, outcasts and oddities, an orphaned and absurd-looking circus elephant must've been all but irresistible. 'Edward Aero-Ears', if you will. And yet, this is more of a reimagining than a remake, melding modern themes of gender equality, animal welfare and anti-corporatisation with Burton's trademark touch of the macabre. The first notable difference between this version and the animated original from 1941 is its timeline, set now in post-war 1919. Burton certainly doesn't shy away from the bleak realities of the WWI era. His protagonist, Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell), is a traumatised veteran who's lost an arm to the War and a wife to influenza. Finding work scarce and his injury an added obstacle to employment, Holt rejoins the old circus where once he dazzled as a horseback entertainer, but now merely shovels elephant manure. It's there, though, where he and his children (Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins) discover Dumbo, the baby elephant with enormous ears, whose appearance sees him mocked by audiences and dismissed by the circus owner (Danny DeVito). In one of the film's more heartbreaking scenes (and there are few; this is definitely a tissues-at-the-ready situation), Dumbo's mother Jumbo is wrenched from her son and hauled away after she kills her torturous trainer and handler (a suitably loathsome Phil Zimmerman). It's not the only grim moment in the film, either. With his mother now gone, and amidst grief and despair, Dumbo's miraculous ability to fly becomes apparent, launching him into stardom and attracting the interests of an unscrupulous Walt Disney-esque theme park owner named V. A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton). From there, predictably, the circus's seemingly golden ticket reveals itself to be a far darker deal from which escape offers up all manner of perils. The live-action remake is Disney's new cash card (as if it needed one). Having already made bank with Beauty and the Beast, the studio is now poised to release both Aladdin and Mulan, followed later in the year by the Lion King, which will doubtless eclipse all manner of box office records. Where Disney has been successful so far is in melding human actors with their digital counterparts, and Dumbo, if you'll forgive the pun, soars in that respect. His enormous blue eyes and delicate expressions imbue him with almost more emotion than any of the actors given speaking parts, and when he flies so too does the film. Sadly, however, too much of the remainder feels entirely lacklustre, despite its exaggerated colourful palette. The characters, aside from DeVito and, to a lesser extent, Farrell, are woefully underwritten, while the performances are borderline pantomime. And in a movie named after him, not nearly enough focus is placed on Dumbo himself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocWpGdITSR4
Beechworth mainstay Bridge Road Brewers have operated out of their regional Victoria brewhouse for over 18 years, collecting a stack of craft beer awards and recently landing in the top ten hottest Australian craft beers. Now, the beer experts are set to open their first Melbourne outpost this September on Nicholson Street. The new 350-seat brewery and dining hall is set to welcome beer lovers within the East Brunswick Village development, sitting alongside a suite of other hospitality and retail offerings. The new brewhouse will boast multiple dining spaces, each with a distinct culinary offering, along with two sprawling outdoor areas perfect for summer sipping. [caption id="attachment_850725" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Bridge Road Brewers' Cardboard Pop-Up Bar, Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption] Co-founders Ben and Maria Kraus are out to smash some brewpub stereotypes with their second outpost, promising a thoughtful and sophisticated take on the classic brewery. The food offering will lean local, focusing on seasonal produce and modern Australian fare. "We were excited to embrace the opportunity that building something from scratch gave us, catering for not only the changing perceptions in beer but also trends in hospitality and design," co-founder Ben Kraus says. "We're approaching this holistically, where detail and love is poured into all aspects of the venue. It's all about getting the balance between approachability, aesthetics and making a fun and unique offering." A working brewery will sit centrestage at Bridge Road Brewers' new venue, churning out venue-exclusive tipples across 30 taps and two bars. To the delight of wine-lovers, an intimate cellar bar showcasing drops from regional Victoria has also been teased. [caption id="attachment_709794" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: Bridge Road Brewers Beechworth[/caption] "We have an obvious connection and passion for wine from our hometown and region and look forward to collaborating with drinks producers to further celebrate the northeast," Kraus says. Bridge Road Brewers is set to open within the East Brunswick Village development in September. We'll bring you more details as they drop.
It has been 12 years since RuPaul's Drag Race first premiered in the US, and its mission to unearth the next drag superstars shows no signs of stopping. Currently, the original series is reaching the pointy end of its thirteenth season, while international versions also exist in the UK — also hosted by RuPaul — plus Thailand, Holland, Chile and Canada. Next, it's finally making the leap to Australia and New Zealand. RuPaul's Drag Race already airs locally, but now it's being made here as well. The eight-part RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will focus on Aussie and NZ drag queens battling for supremacy, and will air on Stan in Australia and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand. That was announced back in January; however, now you can mark your calendars for the show's debut on Saturday, May 1. While not all overseas iterations of Drag Race are hosted by RuPaul, RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under definitely is. RuPaul is also taking on judging duties, alongside show veteran Michelle Visage and Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson. If you're wondering just who'll be competing, too, that was unveiled back in March during the 2021 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Ten contenders will strut their stuff for drag supremacy, spanning seven Australians and three New Zealanders. So, prepare to see plenty of Art Simone from Geelong, Melbourne's Karen from Finance, and Sydney's Coco Jumbo, Etecetera Etcetera and Maxi Shield. Newcastle's Jojo Zaho and Perth's Scarlet Adams round out the Aussie queens, while Auckland's Kita Mean, Anita Wigl'it and Elektra Shock comprise the NZ contingent. Fans already know the format, which features fashion challenges, workroom dramas and lip sync battles aplenty. If you're a newcomer to all things Drag Race, you'll watch these Australian and NZ competitors work through a series of contests to emerge victorious, and join the likes of US contenders Jinkx Monsoon, Sasha Velour and Sharon Needles in being crowned the series' winner. Until next month hits, you can check about the RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under cast reveal video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSLPdMi0b8U&feature=youtu.be RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will start streaming via Stan and TVNZ from Saturday, May 1, with new episodes airing weekly. Top image: RuPaul's Drag Race.
After a hefty two-year hiatus, one of the bright sparks of Melbourne's frosty winter has made its way back onto the social calendar. You'd best clear your hump day schedule for the foreseeable future, because Queen Victoria Market's beloved Winter Night Market is set to return next month, running from June 1 to August 31. From 5pm every Wednesday, the QVM will be transformed into the kind of winter wonderland worth getting excited about, tempting you off the couch with a cosy program of street food, pop-up bars, live entertainment and artisan market stalls. What's more, come the middle of the season, the Night Market will be sating all your Euro winter holiday cravings with a special run of Christmas in July-themed nights, complete with festive decorations and gently-falling snow. As always, the Winter Night Market is set to serve up a tantalising assortment of street eats each week, with a huge array of food vendors repping dishes from all corners of the world. You can get excited for bowls of cheesy pasta, piping-hot dumplings, barbecued meat dishes and things grilled on sticks, perfectly paired with warming sips like mulled wine, hot gin toddies and spiced cider. The full culinary lineup will be dropping soon, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, as you're filling your belly with tasty winter fare, you'll be kept entertained with a rotation of live gigs and roving performers. After all, what better way to warm your cockles and work off a big serve of caccio e pepe, than a cheeky dance floor session? If you're a longtime fan, you'll know market stalls are also a big part of the offering here. This year, expect as vast a lineup as ever, with vendors slinging everything from jewellery and art, to skincare, homewares and books. The Winter Night Market will return to the Queen Victoria Market, corner of Queen and Therry Streets, Melbourne, running Wednesday nights from June 1–August 31. We'll share the full lineup of entertainment and food vendors as it drops.
After bringing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban back to the big screen with a live orchestra soundtrack, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is giving the fourth film in the franchise the same movie-and-music showcase. Across five sessions between August 15–18, the Sydney Opera House will come to life with the sights and sounds of the Yule Ball, the Triwizard Tournament and the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, because JK Rowling's boy-who-lived and his pals are never far away from a theatre — or a concert hall. This time around, viewers can expect something a little different. While the event will run as usual, it's the score itself that'll stand out. After doing the honours on the first three HP flicks, veteran composer John Williams stood aside for the fourth film, with two-time Oscar nominee Patrick Doyle (Hamlet, Sense and Sensibility) in charge of whipping up a wondrous wizarding soundtrack. Tickets for the Sydney shows are now on sale — and if you're a Melburnian or Brisbanite muggle keen to catch the next film in the series, watch this space (or, to be exact, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Queensland Symphony Orchestra websites) . Although screenings haven't been announced in Melbourne or Brisbane yet, they're bound to follow, complete with live scores by each city's symphony orchestra. In fact, that's exactly what has happened with the first three movies to date. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert teams up with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House from 15–18 August 2018. For more information, head to the SSO website.
If you're the kind of person who picks their getaway spots based on great travel prices, then we come bearing important news: you're going to Australia's Red Centre. That's a worthy holiday destination regardless of whether or not you can nab a deal, but Webjet's current flight sale is likely to get you packing your bags ASAP. Until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, August 18, the travel site is slinging one-way flights to the Northern Territory from just $15 one-way — at a discount of up to $200 off in total on some fares. Of course, that first figure is just the starting point, so you mightn't score such a cheap flight depending on which day you're planning to travel, but there are still some mighty cheap prices available. The sale covers trips to Uluru and Alice Springs, for travel between September 2022 — yes, next month — through to March 2023. Fancy a spring jaunt to the middle of the country? Making summer plans to help cope with the last of the winter chill? Know that you'll be craving an early-autumn break next year? They're all options. One key caveat: the discounted prices are available for inbound flights only, so you won't receive the same discount to come home. [caption id="attachment_773731" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NT by Tourism Australia[/caption] As always, the prices vary depending on where you're leaving from, too — but, at the time of writing, $16 tickets from Sydney to Uluru, $15 from Melbourne and $17 from Brisbane are available on select dates. A variety of airlines are covered, too. Wondering what to do once you get there? Uluru's incredible Field of Light installation is a permanent recommendation — and you can also check out our guide to visiting the Red Centre. [caption id="attachment_773730" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Field of Light by Tourism Australia[/caption] Webjet's Red Centre sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, August 18.
Prepare to say "accio remote!" and get comfier than Hermione Granger in a library. In the latest news that'll keep you glued to your couch this summer — and your latest fodder for an at-home movie marathon — everyone's favourite boy wizard will soon be working his magic on Netflix. You won't need the Marauder's Map to find these enchanting flicks. Come Tuesday, January 15, all eight movies in the Harry Potter series will hit the streaming platform, bringing their Hogwarts-set adventures to both Australian and New Zealand audiences. If you've watched your DVD copies from the 2000s so many times that they're showing a little wear and tear — or your laptop no longer has a disc drive — this is butterbeer-worthy news. Yes, everything from Harry's (Daniel Radcliffe) first visit to Platform 9 and 3/4, the Yule Ball, the Triwizard Tournament, many a fluttering snitch and He Who Must Not Be Named will be at your fingertips. Prime viewing for wizards, witches and muggles alike — all 19 hours and 39 minutes of it. The Fantastic Beasts films won't be joining them, with this journey through JK Rowling's wizarding world keeping its focus on the original franchise. The news comes hot on the heels of Stan's announcement that it's now home to a hefty batch of Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and Disney movies and TV shows. If you're thinking that a time-turner might come in handy over the next few months, we completely understand. Find Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2 on Netflix from Tuesday, January 15.
If you're a fan of tasteful tunes and exuberant summer vibes that don't bruise the budget, the annual St Kilda Festival should be at the top of your summer bucket list. The nation's largest free music festival returns to St Kilda's foreshore for its 38th year, bringing seven stages of live music and a tonne of food stalls and interactive workshops. On the music front, pop-rock band The Jezabels, soul singer Dan Sultan, Melbourne locals Architecture in Helsinki (DJ Set) and electro duo Electric Fields are just some of the 60-plus artists that will be performing throughout the day. They'll jam on one of nine stages scattered along the beachfront — stretching from Catani Gardens to the south end of Acland Street. As well as bangin' tunes, the air will be filled with the scent of delicious eats emanating from more than 100 food vendors. There'll be everything from curry to burgers, ribs and sushi — providing plenty of sustenance for all that dancing. You'll also need energy if you plan on attending one of the festival's free workshops, which include bubble soccer, yoga hip hop and dance classes (and a less strenuous selfie station, if that's your thing). For more information on activities and to see the full lineup, visit their website. Images: Nathan Doran
Whisky lovers, you're going to want to sit down for this. Beloved, accolade-winning and straight-up cocktail monarchs Eau de Vie are opening a brand new bar in Melbourne's CBD — with 700 whiskies behind the bar. Seven hundy. Dubbed Boilermaker House, Eau de Vie's second Melbourne venue will take over 209-211 Lonsdale Street in the CBD. If the name didn't already clue you in, Boilermaker House will be home to those 700 whiskies, ten tap beers and 70 bottled beers — you'll be spoiled for choice to craft your perfect Boilermaker combo. With plans to open doors by early April, Eau de Vie are adding Boilermaker House to their existing EDV venues in Sydney and Melbourne, following the opening of Sydney's Eau de Vie Apothecary last year. Via Australian Bartender.
Running from May 4–20, the High Country Harvest explores innovative food, wine, craft beer and spirits in Victoria's spectacular north-east. With more than 50 outdoor and culinary adventures to experience during the festival, curated around seasonally specific produce, there's no better time than right now to visit the Victorian High Country. On Friday, May 4, Yackandandah Organics' Farm Ramble and Feast lets you feast on food dug up, picked and plundered from the earth under your feet. You'll explore the market garden and orchard before sitting down to a long-table lunch with produce provided by Yackandandah growers Gena and Steve Cavini and prepared by the plant-focused chefs from Saint Monday. Also on May 4, you have the opportunity to get to know Shiraz in a whole new way. At Shirazzle Dazzle the Senses, Valhalla Wines' Anton Therkildsen will blindfold you before guiding you through a wine tasting with your remaining senses, encouraging you to focus on its smell, feel and taste. For the meat lovers, on Saturday, May 5, Dal Zotto winery is hosting their annual Salami Sessions, where you get hands-on experience in making traditional Italian salami with James Mele of the Meat Room Bespoke Butchers. You might have to learn one-handed as you hold a Dal Zotto wine in the other. More of an outdoor adventurer? Explore the ever-changing landscape of the High Country in autumn on horseback during the To Lunch on Horseback adventure. The Baird family (and their horses) from Bogong Horseback Adventure will guide you through the Alpine National Forest on a half-day horse ride, discovering native flora and fauna, exploring caverns and plodding through fern-filled valleys. Then enjoy a campfire feast made from local and native ingredients (along with some hay and carrots for your trusty steeds). Get prepped for the array of autumn events in the High Country and explore more of what's on your doorstep at the Wander Victoria website.
For many, it's not really Easter unless you've scoffed your bodyweight in hot cross buns in the lead-up. And, thankfully, you don't have to forego that tradition this year, either. A stack of local Melbourne bakeries are here to fix your cravings, self-isolation or otherwise, launching handy hot cross bun home-delivery services all across town. Jump on the phone or the web to make an order and within hours you'll be tucking into some handcrafted Easter buns, plump with fruit, loaded with spices and slathered with lashings of butter. From the traditional glazed version, to some crafty new-world remixes, here's our pick of hot cross buns you can now get delivered straight to your door. If you are going out to pick up takeaway, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health. ORGANIC VINE FRUIT HOT CROSS BUNS FROM PHILLIPPA'S With a handful of stores across Melbourne, long-running bakery Phillippa's is here to ensure all your hot cross bun cravings are fulfilled this Easter, even if you're stuck at home. Its chewy glazed buns are a perennial favourite, crafted with slow-fermented dough, house-made candied peel and loads of organic vine fruit. A box of six will set you back $18, with Australia-wide shipping available for a flat-rate of $9.95. And, if isolation's left you feeling a little creative, jump over to the website to find a couple of crafty recipes to put any extra buns to good use. Toasted hot cross bun ice cream might just be the Easter treat you've been waiting for. How? Phillippa's hot cross buns can be picked up from the Armadale and Brighton stores or delivered. Order online. MORK X BUNS FROM MORK Artisanal hot chocolate maker Mork has created its own indulgent riff on the hot cross bun, perfect if you're in the mood to shake things up a bit this Easter. A reworking of the brand's much-loved Swedish-style cinnamon bun, the 'Mork X Bun' takes the form of a sticky, spiced scroll held together with plenty of butter, chock full of dried fruit and boasting warm orange aromas. Topped with the requisite cross, of course. A box of six of these pimped-out treats clocks in at $30 via the online store, with $5 delivery available to a selection of Melbourne suburbs. How? Pick up from the North Melbourne store with $5 delivery available to select suburbs. Order online. CLASSIC HOT CROSS BUNS FROM CAVALLINI Fitzroy North's Euro-inspired bakery and patisserie is one that's sure to win over any Easter traditionalists. As always, it's whipping up batches of classic hot cross buns on the daily, fat with vine-ripened fruit and infused with plenty of aromatic spices. Only this year, you can get them dropped straight to your door, thanks to Cavallini's new free, contactless delivery service, available to surrounding suburbs including Collingwood, Fitzroy and Northcote. Order before 3pm and you'll receive your freshly baked buns between noon–3pm the next day. They're taking minimum orders of one dozen, though we're sure you're up to the challenge. How? Call (03) 9486 3883 to order delivery for suburbs surrounding Fitzroy North. More details here. SOURDOUGH HOT CROSS BUNS FROM DENCH BAKERS Having earned a cult following for its artisan baked goods, Dench has long been a northside staple. And its signature sourdough hot cross buns have fans coming back year after year, each batch stuffed full of Aussie vine fruits, made on organic flour and a secret blend of spices. Plus this year, Dench is also whipping up a lush choc-orange version, starring fresh oranges and couverture chocolate. Both are available now for delivery ($7.50 flat rate), with next-day drop-offs happening Tuesday through Sunday for orders placed before 9am. Six-packs of the traditional buns are included in some of Dench's curated 'Bread Box' packs, or you can customise your own order by shooting them an email at info@denchbakers.com.au. Minimum order is $35. How? Order delivery via the Dench Bakers website. [caption id="attachment_766535" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Griffin Simm[/caption] CHOC XXX BUN FROM BREAD CLUB The new kid on Melbourne's bakery block, Bread Club is getting into the Easter spirit by dishing up two styles of decadent hot cross bun. The traditional version is a 24-hour-long labour of love, fermented overnight and stuffed with currants, cranberries, citrus, ginger and spices, and lashings of Pepe Saya butter. And for the sweet tooths, the 'Choc XXX Bun' features a fluffy brioche-style base pimped out with cocoa and 70 percent Birdsnake chocolate chunks. A $5 delivery service on Fridays runs to north and west Melbourne, with more suburbs to follow soon. Takeaway in store is available daily. What's more, the pre-COVID-19 packaging should supply a few much-needed giggles. How? Pick up from the North Melbourne store or pre-order for Friday delivery online. GLUTEN FREE HOT CROSS BUNS FROM CERES FAIR FOOD Online organic grocer and carbon neutral food delivery service CERES Fair Food has a hefty selection of gluten-free goodies in its bakery range, year round. But come Easter, it's all about those dietary-friendly hot cross buns. This year, its slinging traditional, fruity buns, handcrafted daily by baker Gluten Free Precinct in Cheltenham. The seasonal treats swap out the regular flour for a blend of potato starch, rice flour, tapioca starch and organic flaxseed, and are available for $16.95 for a six-pack through CERES, with a delivery fee of $6.95 for orders under $75. To place an order, you'll need to become a CERES Fair Food member, though that's free and easy to do online. How? Order delivery online via CERES Fair Food. SPICED HOT CROSS BUNS FROM ALL ARE WELCOME This Northside viennoiserie has kicked off a new delivery service, dropping off baked goods to doorsteps across Clifton Hill, Northcote, Thornbury, Preston, Fairfield and Alphington. And, yes, that includes All Are Welcome's traditional hot cross buns, loaded with fruit and candied orange, and spiced with ceylon cinnamon and jamaican peppercorn. A box of six of these beauties will set you back $20, along with a $5 delivery fee, with drop-offs now happening every Wednesday and Saturday. Follow the pre-order instructions on the website and order by 5pm the night before, to have fresh Easter buns in your kitchen the following day. How? Order online via the All Are Welcome website. Top image: Bread Club by Griffin Simm
Did you get a new Pokémon onesie for Christmas? Well you are in luck because this NYE all Melbourne cosplayers will be converging on notoriously loose club Brown Alley for Cosparty 2013. The night will be full of interesting costumes and with a tag line of “rock out with your cosplay out” you know it doesn't take its self too seriously. For those unsure about what to wear, you are advised to dress up as your favourite character from anything – the more elaborate the better. Maybe you'll find your own Nurse Joy or Sailor Moon; a Hermione Granger to your Ron Weasley or some new Adventure Time comrades. Cosparty will be one of the few places (only place?) you'll have a chance of making out with Princess Peach at midnight.
Concrete Playground talks to Melbourne street artist Baby Guerilla about her catchy alias, latest work and what art means to her. At the unveiling of her newest commission at Union Dining, Baby Guerilla summed up her take on art in one sentence, "I want more art everywhere". Baby Guerilla works purely for the love of art and the hope that she can inspire others in what she does. Why the name Baby Guerilla? It's the name my dad used to call me, my nickname. It was his running joke that I couldn't be domesticated; couldn't be tamed. It was his way of showing affection. It is exactly who I am. I changed the spelling to reflect the political component of street art. It also keeps my identity hidden. Tell me about how you have come to be the artist you are today. I guess I always wanted to be an artist ever since I was young. I went to the Victorian Collage of the Arts and studied fine arts with a major in painting. I've exhibited pretty widely, had pieces in the National Gallery of NSW had solo shows. Street art started out as a hobby for me, kind of my second life. Then I started to become more experienced, I got bolder. I love art in whatever form. But at the moment I'm obsessed with street art and doing large-scale murals. I still love galleries and I know at some point in my career I'll go back. But for the moment there is still a lot I'd like to do outside. What is your creative process and who's your audience? Ideas often come to me when I'm listening to music, out walking the dog. It feels like the scene in Billy Elliot, when he is jumping on the bed? That's how I feel. I like street art, as it's a great leveler. It comments on the type of society we live in. We are often powerless as we are surrounded by billboards and advertising. I love that you don't need to have money to have a voice with street art. How would you describe your work to someone who had never seen it before? I think it's detailed and probably a bit surreal. I've been told its feminine; which I would probably agree with. What motivates and inspires you? I'm motivated to always try to be better. I want to inspire people. Put something out there in the world to share with other people. I'm always inspired by others and at the moment it's instillation artist Anish Kapoor. The internet has also made it easier to connect with other artists and inspire each other across the world. How does your work fit into the broader context of Melbourne's street art scene? I think there is a renaissance in street art at the moment. It's such a diverse scene. So many different motivations and sub cultures. Anything you say; the opposite is also true. Lots of people love it and follow it and that's exactly what artists want. It's incredible and exciting and encouraging. I don't know exactly how I fit into it. I just do. I think street art is a brilliant way of testing an idea. You do something a couple of times on the street you get better at it. It's a great way to practice. A lot of people say what can you do to help street artists? I think you just have to go out and do it. Your latest work was a site-specific piece commissioned by Union Dining for a space on their terrace wall. What's this work about? It is somewhat of a self-portrait. The eagle represents life and the journey that we go on. The force of nature. It can fuel the best and the worst of life. It can be so beautiful, and cruel at the same time. Where to now for Baby Guerilla? I want to continue doing large-scale public art work and I want to incorporate more colour so I'm working out the logistics for that. My focus has changed a little bit from street art to commissioned large-scale pieces. You can do a better job if it's commissioned. They take time and machinery. Images courtesy of and all rights reserved by artist.
One of the sharpest political satirists in the business, UK comedian Andy Zaltzman is best known as the host of The Bugle, a weekly podcast that specialised in fake news long before Donald Trump started tweeting about it. He was also the guy in last year's Great Debate wearing cricket gear arguing with a cauliflower. His latest show promises to tackle "the biggest questions facing our very naughty planet" — although, knowing Zaltzman, there'll also be a fair amount of nonsensical sporting trivia as well.
You can encounter the weird and wonderful within the crisp white walls of one of Melbourne's major galleries, but the Melbourne Fringe Festival's open program is where the city's art scene truly gets down and dirty. Just announced, this year's massive lineup is brimming with fearless, independent shows, from one-on-one encounters to large-scale outdoor spectacles that take pleasure in the experimental and unusual. Running from Tuesday, September 30–Sunday, October 19, the Melbourne Fringe Festival 2025 offers more than 500 events. Presented in theatres, laneways, living rooms, beaches and carparks, nowhere is too strange to stumble upon a stage. Stacked with local and international talent, expect three weeks of singing, dancing, comedy and circus — often at the same time — performed in fascinating ways. [caption id="attachment_1019290" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Credit: Carlin and Camera[/caption] As always, theatre is a rousing highlight, with two shows exploring Australian identity at this year's festival. Award-winning comic and broadcaster Sammy J presents Fiasco: A Burke & Wills Musical, a satirical reimagining of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition as a raucous live concert. Meanwhile, The Lucky Country sees director Sonya Suares explore what it means to belong through an original score paying tribute to Aussie musical greats, from Jimmy Barnes to Baker Boy. Of course, live music is also a major focus. Making the journey from NYC, the iconic basement piano bar, Marie's Crisis, is popping up for three nights only at Trades Hall, with Broadway pianists Adam Tilford and Kenney Green-Tilford leading showtune sing-alongs. Lung Swara is another must-see, featuring renowned Indonesian artist Cahwati Sugiarto and local experimental musicians Aviva Endean and Matthias Schack-Arnott, as they blend Javanese song and dance with visceral sonic textures. [caption id="attachment_1019293" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Credit: NickMickPics[/caption] There are also genre-defying works that refuse expectations. Comedian Tom Ballard returns to Melbourne Fringe Festival with Jks: A comedy? — taking audiences behind the scenes on the bizarre night a comedy legend died. Plus, celebrated Hawaiian-Australian performer Lilikoi Kaos presents Too Much, a one-woman cabaret show blending circus, comedy and storytelling that details her life growing up in the circus, her Pasifika heritage and the contradiction of being too much, but not enough. "Melbourne Fringe Festival is the city's creative playground, a place where anyone can share their art, from first-time makers to some of Australia's most celebrated artists," says Melbourne Fringe Creative Director and CEO Simon Abrahams. "It's democracy in action: no invitation needed, no permission required. This is Melbourne's independent arts scene in all its bold, brilliant, messy glory." [caption id="attachment_1019292" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Credit: Duncographic[/caption] Melbourne Fringe Festival is happening from Tuesday, September 30–Sunday, October 19, across multiple venues and locations. Head to the website for more information. Top image: Max Roux.
Located in the heart of Victoria Street — affectionately known as Melbourne's Little Vietnam — Thuy Lu and Thy Vo's new casual mod-Viet restaurant has quite the family history. The sisters' parents Trang Le and Van Ho opened both the original Thy Thy and Thy Thy 2 on Victoria Street in the 80s, and Thy Thy Counter and Canteen now sits in the very same corner site that once housed their third venture, Tho Tho. This new incarnation celebrates the family's South Vietnamese heritage, while also embracing other regional flavours encountered on more recent trips through the country's north. In the role of head chef, Mum Le is deftly blending the traditional with the modern, with plenty of long-held family recipes getting a spin. It's all being plated up in a light-filled, minimalist space, featuring a contemporary mix of polished concrete floors and generous pops of colour. Classics are in strong supply on the menu, with options like bo bop thau (wagyu beef salad) ($22), banh hoi (rice vermicelli cake) ($18–20), Vietnamese-style slaws and a range of goi cuon (rice paper rolls) ($12). You'll find a swag of stir-frys, vermicelli bowls and signature rice dishes, while a special beef pho ($14) heads the selection of noodle soups. Wash down your feed with a Vietnamese 333 Beer ($9), a local wine, or perhaps a sweet Viet-style coffee ($6). Keep an eye out for a weekly-changing lineup of specials, too — think, bun bo hue (Hue-style spicy beef noodle soup), traditional broths and a rotation of banh mi rolls. [caption id="attachment_830385" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pete Dillon[/caption] Images: Pete Dillon
