Its usual mission is to help optimise your lounging time, by hooking you up with comfy, affordable beds and sofas. But from this week, Aussie online furniture brand Koala wants to see you launching yourself off the couch instead, and into a heart-pumping living room sweat sesh. Yes — that same living room you've been seeing a lot of during lockdown. Koala has teamed up with Retrosweat — masters of the vintage-inspired workout — to bring you an at-home aerobics program doused in plenty of 80s Australiana, fittingly dubbed The Great Australian Workout. Best break out the leotards and leg warmers because this is the time-tripping exercise class your dance floor-deprived iso self has been waiting for. Across 12 fun, high-energy episodes, Retrosweat founder Shannon Dooley guides punters through a series of nostalgic workouts they can smash out in the comfort of their own home. With or without a healthy dose of spandex, of course. Expect plenty of old-school ocker lingo, a heap of 80s Aussie references and a fair dinkum retro workout wardrobe that promises to send you straight back to the days of Scott and Charlene's wedding, and Olivia Newton John's Physical. Clocking in at around three minutes each, the free live workout videos have just dropped over at the Koala website, so you can attack one each day or sweat your way through the whole bunch in one go. Plus, those following along on Tik Tok will have the chance to score some sweet prizes. Share a glimpse of some of your own 80s moves and blast-from-the-past workout threads, and you could win some Ken Done artwork or a Koala sofa for your efforts. Clear out that coffee table and get ready to throw down some moves. You can farewell lockdown boredom and catch The Great Australian Workout here. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Hamer Hall's culinary offering has scored a major boost with the arrival of Pawa Cafe and Bar, a new all-day eatery heroing sustainably produced indigenous ingredients. Named for a Gunditjmara word meaning 'to cook', it's the brainchild of a husband and wife duo: Gunditjmara and Yuin culinary entrepreneur Niyoka Bundle, plus Head Chef Vincent Manning. A permanent home for the pair's Pawa Catering brand, the venue is serving up a fresh take on modern Australian cuisine — not only celebrating native ingredients, but working closely with farmers and foragers that are dedicated to ethical and sustainable practices. Bundle's inspiration comes both from the classic Aussie comfort food of her youth, and childhood camping trips spent hunting animals like emu and kangaroo. Expect Indigenous flavours with a twist of nostalgia and a good whack of creativity. By day, Pawa plates up a cafe-style offering featuring Seven Seeds coffee alongside the likes of strawberry gum brownies, lilly pilly croissants and roo meat pies. Drop by later for grazing platters loaded with native additions like red wine kangaroo salami, paired with Victorian vino and cocktails made on Pawa's own Taka Gin — a drop infused with native lemongrass and lemon scented gum leaf. There's plenty of innovation on show along the way, from the use of lilly pilly as a tart sweetener to the substitution of saltbush or warrigal greens for salt. And you'll find scores of local suppliers championed throughout the menu, with offerings from the likes of Cobb Lane, Home Grown Cocktails and The Everleigh Bottling Co. Find Pawa Cafe and Bar at 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne — open from 8.30am–3pm Tuesday, and from 8.30am–10pm Wednesday to Sunday. Images: Jake Roden.
Westgarth's newest cafe might be small, with space for just 46 seats, but its attention to detail is downright mighty. Called Little Flock, it's a passion project for local couple Miroslawa Kotowska and Michael Coates, named in a nod to the pair's own family of backyard chooks. This well-treated flock of feathered friends was also the inspiration when Coates and Kotowska were sourcing producers and plotting their cafe menu. It means the eggs are from Gippsland Pastured, where there are just 16–21 chickens per hectare, and the bacon's free range and traditionally smoked by the team at Uncles Smallgoods. The couple even bakes their own rugbrød, a Danish rye sourdough that takes three days to make. It's a thoughtful menu filled with things the owners like to eat themselves — think apple caramel waffles, buckwheat crepes stuffed with masala potatoes and a grass-fed Cape Grim beef burger. Coffee comes courtesy of North Melbourne's Small Batch roasters, via a customised La Marzocco or batch brew, and served in handmade cups by local ceramicist Yesha MacDonald. The space itself is equally charming, sitting on the High Street site once home to Merricote. There's sunny street seating, a covered courtyard tucked away out back, and a cheery feel throughout. Find Little Flock at 81 High Street, Northcote. For more information, visit the Facebook page.
When a new festival is announced, it brings several rounds of excitement. First discovering that you have a new excuse to party? Getting drip-fed the details? Diving into the full lineup? The event itself actually rolling around? They're all thrilling. That's the path that Melbourne's new Now or Never fest has been taking since it was initially announced in November 2023, with that journey now at the complete program drop stage — unveiling exactly what'll be filling the Victorian capital for 17 days from Thursday, August 17–Saturday, September 2. If you're a fan of Melbourne's other citywide festivals, both past and present — such as White Night, RISING and Melbourne Fringe — then you'll be primed to hop around town to enjoy everything from art to tunes. The whole Now or Never bill spans the work of more than 300 local and international artists, composers, change makers and innovators. It also includes 18 Australian premieres and 20 commissions exclusive to the fest. And, it's expected to attract north of 200,000 people. [caption id="attachment_907551" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michaela Gleave. 'Messages of hope, messages of love' 2020, as part of 'Archie Plus', 2020 © Michaela Gleave. Photo: © AGNSW, Diana Panuccio.[/caption] Before now, organisers had revealed that Melbourne's historic Royal Exhibition Building will host its first large-scale live music performances in over 20 years. And, Never Permanent — a one-day Semi Permanent spinoff that'll be headlined by Roman Coppola — was also announced. From there, get ready for a 1.2-kilometre art trail through Docklands, a 360-degree cinema dome in the Melbourne Museum forecourt, 70-plus music performances in two days in a heap of other notable Melbourne spots, sculptural illuminations and projections over the Shrine of Remembrance, and more. The art trail is being curated by the Southbank-based Experimenta, which hones in on the future of art. So, unsurprisingly, it describes the outdoor gallery as aiming "to spark ideas and conversations around the challenges, possibilities, and complexities of imagining and shaping a world of tomorrow and our place in that future". Seven Australian and international artists will provide pieces — think: public storytelling, text-based animation and floating fog-filled bubbles — all backdropped by the promenade's lights, each blurring the boundaries of the physical and digital, and the whole thing paired with food trucks and brews by Moon Dog. That cinema dome? Meet the Neversphere, which'll play full-dome films about everything from the cosmos to labyrinthian streets — and Indigenous Australian song and dance as well — on its massive curved surface. To watch, you'll sit in beanbags, look up and revel in a screen that isn't a rectangle. Or, for the kind of meal you definitely can't get every day, you can head to the same orb for a four-night 360-degree dining spread. It'll feature unique dishes and cocktails by Supernormal, projections from Ryoichi Kurokawa, and a collaboration between electronic music producer Pantha du Prince and video and installation artist Natalia Stuyk. Those 70-plus gigs — which are in addition to the Royal Exhibition Building's music program — have been dubbed NONSTOP WKND. Sites like Miscelania, Sub Club, The Toff, Section 8, John Curtain Band Room and Max Watts will get in on the action, their stages welcoming in artists after artists after artists. And Now or Never's time at the Shrine of Remembrance? It's a world-premiere work by Hungarian artist and 3D-mapping pioneer Laszlo Bordos. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the design competition behind the spot, the piece will highlight its cultural significance. Also included: a sonic landscape designed by Czech composer Ondřej Skála. If that's not enough to get you out of the house in the last few weeks of Melbourne's winter — and greeting the first two days of spring as well — Now or Never will also span Dr.David Suzuki livestreaming into IMAX from Canada for National Science Week, a fusion of live and digital dance at ACMI, virtual reality that'll transport you to England's 80s-era rave scene, and Nap Bishop Tricia Hersey spruiking the benefits of rest. "Now or Never is an unmissable addition to our enviable events calendar this winter — cementing Melbourne's reputation as Australia's cultural capital while also boosting our local economy through a traditionally quiet time of year," says Lord Mayor Sally Capp. "This inaugural festival will showcase Melbourne as a place to discover, learn and play — with daytime programming seeping into late-night culture, digital musings, adventurous performances, one-of-a-kind culinary experiences and more." Now or Never runs from Thursday, August 17–Saturday, September 2 around Melbourne — head to the festival website for further details and tickets.
Australian playwright Van Badham is known for her political, sometimes violent plays. Now, after a relationship breakdown and drawing on inspiration from a relic of Ancient Greek pottery in the Ashmolean Museum, she has written a romantic comedy. Based on the Minotaur myth, The Bull, the Moon and the Coronet of Stars is the story of two museum staff whose romantic frisson gets them into a bit of a tangle. With a mix of wordplay, humour and romance, Badham believes she's found a feminist way into a traditionally fluffy genre. This co-production between Merrigong Theatre and Griffin has already received glowing reviews following its premiere in Wollongong and is set to woo Sydney audiences in early May. We chat to Van about feminism, classics and the Minotaur. So, you wrote a play! I wrote a play! Tell me a bit about it. So, about two years ago, in 2011, I was asked to write an audio play based on a piece of pottery held in the collection at the Ashmolean Museum. It was an extraordinary commission; it was funded by the Onassis foundation, which supports a program at Oxford that promotes classical Greek literature and drama. I got this piece of pottery that had a man and a bull and I thought 'wow, that's pretty interesting', because I was mad about Greek myth as a child and I decided I would write something about the Minotaur. So you pulled a whole play out of a shard? The hook with the story was the idea of a museum and what a museum represents, which is the bricolage and mess of the past, the discarded remnants. And it's the discarded remnants that tell you a lot more about a civilisation than its official history. I was in the dying days of a long-term relationship at the time so I was thinking about relationships a lot and it all coalesced into this story, about two people who work in a museum, one of whom is married, and the attraction between them conjures a monster. That is what the Minotaur represented to me, a symbol of misplaced desire and a transgression — a mythological exploration of the Minotaur. So can we talk a bit about myth and classics more generally? Obviously in your case you were commissioned to write a play about a Greek myth so there's a clear starting point, but I have a suspicion that playwrights use classics as a way of tacking on intellectual heft to their plays. No, it's not about intellectual heft. The reason why theatre makers do revert to classical drama and adaptations is that it's very fucking hard to write a play and it's hard to write a play structurally. It's very hard to get it right where you combine spoken verbal language that has semiotic heft as well as create that uncanny valley of interpretability for an actor in performance as well as hooks, mysteries, stories and climactic patterning. So using classics is fine then as a helping hand? Yeah, investing an original structure in any form of literature is very hard. That's the actual challenge. And there's that theory that says there are only nine stories and everything else is a variation. Okay, but shouldn't that be taken as read? That classics will inform all new original works, rather than explicitly basing dramas on classics? Yeah, but realistically, one of the reasons that adaptations are so popular is that they sell tickets. I think that's what Australian audiences adore, going to a show and going 'great, I'm getting cultural cache because one, it was entertaining and two, it ticked the intellectual box of being based on a classic.' Well, this is the thing. Now that I work in programming, I can really see that brand recognition is how people make buying choices and the theatre is not spared from that. I wonder if that makes Australian playwrights scared of doing a straight-out original work that could one day be a classic in its own right. I don't think that's the issue at all. I think it gets back to fact that it's really damn hard to write a very good play. I mean my job at the Malthouse is to read plays. And good writing, brilliant writing is rare. In the time that I was at the Finborough, of the two thousand plays I read I recommended three for production. Three! It's really hard to write a classic. So knowing how hard it is as a playwright, what drives you? You're known as a political playwright, but this play is a romantic comedy... Yes it's a romantic comedy but it's a feminist play. It's about a woman whose real journey is about surviving desire and I don't think I've let women down by writing a play about that. It fulfills all the genre obligations of a romantic comedy but at the same time, I hope, based on my rather extreme level of knowledge in terms of the number of plays I've read in the past few years, I'm pretty close to something that is original in form and content. Ariadne is the female romantic lead in your play and she's defined by her romantic relationship first with Theseus and then with Dionysus. How do you balance this identity with your feminist project? Do you know what's amazing? Is that feminists, some of them, have relationships with men! And they can be really complex. And if you look at the genre of a romantic comedy in a patriarchal paradigm, generally it works with a woman having to make herself more attractive to the masculine ideal of what women should be like. And you've found a way around that? Well, this is what I try to do. My feminist project is to attack that [patriarchal] narrative whilst at the same time working within genres that are associated with women and women's enjoyment. It's romantic and funny, there are some language games in it that are clever and funny that I'm really proud of. It's about the subjective experience of desire and of love and that is quite intoxicating. The Bull, the Moon and the Coronet of Stars is at Sydney's SBW Stables Theatre from May 2 to June 8. More information and tickets here.
If you think attending a film fest is just about sitting down with your popcorn in a theatre and watching movies on a big screen, think again. At this year's Byron Bay Film Festival, they're throwing an alternative way to consume films into the mix — they're going virtual. Rest assured, coast dwellers: going to the cinema to catch a few flicks is still well and truly part of BBFF's tenth year. But if you're looking for something a little less traditional — or you want to find out why everyone is talking about virtual reality headsets Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR — then prepare to enter the virtual realm. If Cannes, TriBeCa and Sundance can tackle this new technological frontier, so can Byron Bay. Given that the festival doesn't take place until October, the full details of their VR program, called Ncube8, are still being finalised — however, you can expect head-mounted displays to be a prominent feature. A handful of mainstream movies already have VR components, such as The Martian, The Hunger Games and Star Wars, but BBFF will be encouraging the creation of fresh content. Not only will the fest host virtual reality workshops, but they'll help eight creatives take the leap into this new kind of storytelling, and offer awards for interactive and immersive experiences. The artistic possibilities are endless. That's great news for filmmakers, and for audiences as well — it will be a whole new way to experience a film festival. And given that Festival Director J'aimee Skippon-Volke and Technical Director Osvaldo Alfaro are also the driving forces behind nearby production house Greenhouse FX 3D|VR, expect BBFF to remain active in embracing VR technology. The 2016 Byron Bay Film Festival runs from October 14 to 24. For more information, keep an eye on their website.
Imagine a world where totalitarian forces rule the United States, women are subjugated to the point of being deemed property, protestors rally in response and the authorities try to keep everyone in line. Okay, imagine a fictionalised version of the above dystopian society — or let The Handmaid's Tale help you. Margaret Atwood's book has been doing just that since 1985, but has had a resurgence in popularity since the Elisabeth Moss-starring Hulu series came out last year. Now, the second season is set to air on SBS tonight, and a group of red-clad ladies have been seen on the streets of Sydney to promote it — and it's freaking people out. The handmaids were seen around Park Street and the Sydney CBD and at Sydney University. It's a very similar promo to one that happened at SXSW last year before the first season premiered. As you may know, handmaids walk in pairs, don't say anything, and generally unnerve everyone around them. If you don't, you have some homework to do. If you're up for even more anxiety-inducing tension, cancel your plans — the first two episodes are released on SBS On Demand at 5pm.
If you've ever dreamed of being a muse or walking artwork, the 19th Biennale of Sydney might just be your chance. Artist Deborah Kelly is on the hunt for 19 life-sized nude portraits to come from the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane public. As part of an exhibition series entitled In All Our Glory, the portraits will be fashioned through a series of collage workshops through mid-October. The Aussie artist is known for politically motivated works that explore notions of power, and In All Our Glory should be no different. So, thankfully, you needn't be Miranda Kerr to fit the bill; Kelly is scouting portrait subjects of varying ages (18+), colours, sizes, genders and abilities. But there's still room for the camera shy to contribute: Kelly's also seeking donations of unwanted picture and reference books in any condition, in colour or black-and-white. So let the wind through your pubes and make the world take you in all your glory for the 19th Biennale of Sydney, themed You Imagine What You Desire for 2014. You'll be scoring the chance to catch yourself — an artwork — in the series from March 21 until June 9. To be the next Mona Lisa all you need to do is volunteer yourself as a portrait subject by shooting a pic of your face (just face) over to kellyproject@biennaleofsydney.com.au by Friday, 11 October 2013. Drop a line to the same email if you’d like to donate books, or join in on the collage workshops by contacting frances@biennaleofsydney.com.au.
With living costs still through the roof, many venues around Melbourne are coming up with special deals to help you get out and about. Cuff in the CBD is doing bottomless drinks for $35 with Saturday brunch; Lucia in South Melbourne will sling you a mid-week main and a drink for $40; and Bang is offering three courses of Thai delights with Chandon Garden Spritz for $66. Now, if you head along to Moonhouse in Balaclava on a Wednesday evening, you'll find yourself at Fish Night. For $30, you'll be feasting on a market-fresh catch, either steamed or pan-fried, alongside your pick of two broths: the hot and spicy Firewater or the more relaxing and fragrant Shaoxing. On top of that, you and your dining partner can choose two sides to share: Chinese broccoli with sesame, kung pao Brussels sprouts, fried rice or steamed rice. Should Fish Night be so tasty that you can't wait to get back to Moonhouse, return on a Thursday night for $2 oysters and $10 sparkling, happening every week from 5.30pm.
Having been a stalwart of the Fitzroy community for 32 years, Gertrude Contemporary is upping sticks to a new location in Preston South. But before closing their Gertrude Street doors for the final time, a new exhibition titled The End of Time. The Beginning of Time. pays tribute to the building, the community and numerous talented artists that have all contributed to the organisation's admired legacy. This homage includes the re-presentation (or restaging) of admired exhibitions dating back to the 1980s, which trace the history and continued evolution of the gallery space. The tribute will reflect Gertrude Contemporary's rich and diverse history, while also utilising the gallery's expansive architectural and spatial arrangements. Artists featured in the include Marco Fusinato and Mutlu Çerkez, DAMP, Geoff Newton, Noriko Nakamura, Anthony Hunt and Stephen Honneger, Nat and Ali, Natalie Thomas, Reko Rennie, Rose Nolan, Blair Trethowan, Mark Hilton, The Telepathy Project, Jon Campbell, Elizabeth Newman, Danius Kesminas, Sanja Pahoki, Nicholas Mangan and Damiano Bertoli. Image: AND, Mutlu Çerkez and Marco Fusinato, courtesy Anna Schwartz Gallery.
If you've been making plans to revamp your style, but haven't been able to rustle up the coin or are sick of online shopping, here's your chance. Hugo Boss is hosting a mega sale at its outlet stores. You'll be able to score a further 50 percent off menswear, womenswear, footwear and accessories. Whether you're after a suit for a special occasion or looking to level up your work wardrobe, Hugo Boss's mid-year outlet sale will have you sorted for a fraction of the fashion label's usual prices. You'll have to get in quick to score a bargain though, with the sale running from Wednesday, July 7 until Sunday, July 11 (or until stocks last). To get stylish new threads, Melbourne mates can head to the Preston Boss outlet (Friday–Sunday only) or Essendon DFO, Perth pals to Perth DFO and Gold Coast friends to Harbour Town. The Hugo Boss mid-year outlet sale will run from Wednesday, July 7 till Sunday, July 11, or until stocks last. To find your closest outlet, visit the website.
Over a decade ago, Nick Savaidis founded Melbourne-based Etiko, the ethical, fair-trading, vegan and organic-focused Australian clothing brand. Now, Etiko is hosting its first-ever pop-up shop in the South Melbourne Markets from September 6 - 17. With products ranging from printed t-shirts to hoodies to shoes for both men and women, there's quite the diverse range of products available. What makes Etiko unique is that it makes 100% sure that all of its products are created in fair and ethical methods, whilst also giving back to the communities whose livelihood relies on the clothing industry. Here, you're getting more than just some threads, footwear or a sporting ball. With their already-existing fair trade models with factories in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, your purchases also assists workers with lessening risk and vulnerability, and improving household income, which ultimately helps break their cycles of poverty. Opening times are Wednesdays (8am - 4pm), Fridays (8am - 5pm), Saturdays (8am - 4pm) and Sundays (8am - 4pm).
Plenty can happen in five years — and, across a time that saw a worldwide pandemic hit, shutdowns and lockdowns sweep the globe, life as everyone knew it change and then normality largely return, plenty did. Something that hasn't occurred Down Under since 2019, however, is music festival Rolling Loud. That'll change in 2024. The world's biggest hip hop fest has finally locked in a return trip to Australia, after debuting on our shores with a Future-led lineup in Sydney in pre-COVID-19 times. Obviously, the delay in coming back is understandable. In good news for festivalgoers, Rolling Loud is doubling its Aussie footprint when it makes it second trip, expanding to Melbourne as well. This is still a summer event, starting at Sydney's GIANTS Stadium on Friday, January 26 before hitting Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday, January 27. As for who'll be on the bill, that news is coming on Wednesday, October 25. "We are hyped to come back to Australia for the first time in years," said Rolling Loud co-founders Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, announcing the event's Aussie return. "The Sydney fans were so passionate in 2019, so we are eager to return Down Under, and bring Rolling Loud to more cities this time. The Aussie shows will be a unique Rolling Loud experience, and we're excited for everyone to see what's in store." Since its first outing in Miami back in 2015, Rolling Loud has expanded to Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, and also to Thailand, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands and Portugal as well. Past sell-out events have seen names like Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, Lil Wayne, Young Thug, Post Malone and Migos all grace the festival's stage. At 2023's Miami event, Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti led the bill, with Lil Uzi Vert, Ice Spice and 21 Savage also on the roster — and Turnstile becoming the first-ever rock band to hit the fest. Whoever is on the Aussie 2024 lineup, they'll be part of a ten-year celebration for Rolling Loud — a period that's seen the brand also span streetwear and merchandise, as well as spreading fests across four continents. ROLLING LOUD AUSTRALIA 2024 DATES: Friday, January 26 — GIANTS Stadium, Sydney Saturday, January 27 — Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Rolling Loud will return to Australia in January 2024. For more information — plus pre-sale tickets from 10am AEDT on Monday, October 23 and general tickets from 10am AEDT on Thursday, October 26, head to the festival's website. Images: Beth Saravo and Sebastian Rodriguez
Brisbane's craft beer scene is about to score a very high-profile new addition, with legendary Scottish brewer BrewDog opening its state-of-the-art $30 million brewery and taproom in Murarrie next month. First announced in February last year, these new riverside digs, dubbed DogTap Brisbane, are set to be nothing short of grand. As well as a brewing and canning facility, the space will be home to a 485-square-metre patio, a taproom, an arcade games area, a beer cellar in a shipping container, a beer shop and a restaurant. Inside, you'll find blue leather booths and high wooden benches, while a giant wraparound artwork by artist Craig Fisher will star on the building's exterior. The brand's first brewery outside of the USA and the UK, the Brisbane operation will be crafting all of BrewDog's core beers — like the Dead Pony Club pale ale, the Jet Black Heart and the Punk IPA — alongside a selection of small-batch creations designed especially for local beer drinkers. A barrel-ageing facility will also be on site, where a number of Australian-only, wood-aged brews will be created. While the taproom is expected to open in November this year, BrewDog's first Australian-made beers aren't expected to hit the shelves until January 2020. But you won't find just BrewDog at the sprawling riverside spot. Across its 28 taps, the DogTap will also showcase plenty of locally grown hops, including brews from Range Brewing, Currumbin Valley Brewing, Balter, Aether, Brouhaha and Black Hops. A solid lineup of all-Aussie wines will be available, too, as will some local spirits and soft drinks. Alongside the booze, there'll be BrewDog's classic American diner food, such as burgers, hot dogs and buffalo wings, as well as a Brisbane-only selection of Korean-style chicken wings, calamari and barramundi fritters. And, as it's Australia, the brewery will also serve brunch — with the likes of chicken waffles and eggs benny expected to make the cut. DogTap Brisbane is slated to open this November at 77 Metroplex Avenue, Murarrie, Queensland. Its first beers are set to hit the shelves in January 2020.
Every Wednesday and Thursday night this autumn and winter, Handpicked Wines is hosting a series of Raclette Suppers at its cellar door in the CBD, bringing a taste of Europe's après-ski culture to Melbourne. Melted cheese, served fresh from the wheel, is poured over plates of potatoes, confit mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, cornichons and rocket. Cured meats such as Prosciutto di San Daniele and Jamón Ibérico de Bellota are optional extras. With the Handpicked Wine Maker's Flight, visitors can pair their cheese with wines from some of Australia's most renowned wine regions, including Margaret River, Coonawarra and Yarra Valley. According to Handpicked's Sydney Cellar Door Manager Andrew Robinson, the events "bring our team's passion for regionality onto your plate, with cheese and meat sourced from some of our favourite producers around the world. Combine it with our incredible wines from some of Australia's best-loved wine regions, and it's a match made in heaven." The dining event runs from 5.30–8.30pm every Wednesday and Thursday until the end of winter, and costs $20 per person without any additions. Walk-ins are welcome, but bookings are recommended at the website.
Whether you're hopping over the ditch for a winter or summer escape, Queenstown has no shortage of sights and activities to create a jam-packed itinerary. It might be called New Zealand's adventure capital, but that doesn't mean your next holiday needs to be based around high-flying thrills and snow sports — the region is also known for its postcard scenery, backcountry cycle trails, bustling weekend markets and delicious wine. We've done a good ol' search in the area and found the following six activities that are sure to jam-pack your holiday full of fun, flavour and adventure. SHOP LOCAL AT THE REMARKABLES MARKET An unmissable Queenstown weekend destination is the Remarkables Market. Just ten minutes from the city in Frankton, the market is where you'll find locals stopping in for a caffeine hit and lounging about on the grass. Shopping-wise, you can pick up everything from chopping boards crafted out of French wine barrels to the famous Gibbston cheese and handcrafted jewellery. Zamora is one of the most popular stallholders at the market with its infamous pork belly sandwich. We suggest grabbing a spot at one of the communal tables and finishing off your experience with one of Plantera's vegan sweets. FLOAT TO 6000 FEET ON A HOT AIR BALLOON TOUR Sunrise Balloons is a family-owned operation that has been flying in the Queenstown region since 1998. The company's hot air balloon tours rise to altitudes as high as 6000 feet, drifting over the rugged terrain that makes up the incredible region around Queenstown. Expect to see filming locations from The Hobbit and majestic landmarks like the Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range. You'll get to help inflate the balloon and then pack it way, before finishing with a celebratory muffin and champagne in the landing field. Flights depart at dawn and last three to four hours. [caption id="attachment_687194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julian Apse.[/caption] EXPLORE MORE THAN 75 WINERIES IN GIBBSTON VALLEY A short drive from Queenstown is Gibbston Valley, a region which is home to more than 75 wineries and cellar doors. For great wine in a picturesque setting we recommend dropping by Chard Farm. A visit to the family-owned winery in the Kawarau Gorge will lead you up a windy dirt road that was once part of the main coach link between Queenstown and Cromwell. The vineyard sits at the top and specialises in complimentary pinot noir tastings. Across the road is Penegrine, which feels more like steeping into a futuristic wine lab. Here, tastings are also complimentary and come with the option of choosing particular vintages or leaving your destiny in the hands or the host. If you'd rather leave the car at home, Alpine Wine Tours specialises in personalised excursions. Tours include a three-hour hop between cellar doors and a full-day trip through local vineyards and the Cardrona Distillery. Water, cheese tastings and transport to and from your accommodation are all included. COSY UP WITH A DRINK BY AN OUTDOOR FIREPIT Holiday Inn Express & Suites arrived in Queenstown earlier this year, bringing 227 spacious rooms to the heart of the picturesque resort town. The property's prime central location means that you're never short of breathtaking views and within easy reach of iconic attractions, from popular ski destinations and the Central Otago wine region to extreme outdoor adventures like mountain biking and bungee jumping. The hotel's outdoor firepit lounge is the perfect spot to unwind after a day of exploring — just sit back with a glass of Central Otago pinot in the modern and comfortable lounge and soak in the views of Queenstown's surrounding mountain range. The unlimited, uncapped free wi-fi will also come in handy when planning your next big adventure. [caption id="attachment_688737" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Miles Holden.[/caption] HIT A BACKCOUNTRY CYCLE TRAIL FROM ARROWTOWN TO QUEENSTOWN To really get your legs working, Around the Basin is a company offering both self-guided and supported cycle tours through the Gibbston wine region and backcountry. The Arrowtown to Queenstown tour is a 35-kilometre ride from the historic gold mining village back to the city. After shuttling from Queenstown you'll be left to make your way along the Arrow River Trail along the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers to the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The trail is recommend as a full-day ride, which allows plenty of time for exploring, photo opportunities and refreshment stops. On the trail you'll cover everything from isolated country roads and dirt tracks to swing bridges and pine forests. EXPERIENCE A MODERN INTERPRETATION OF NZ CUISINE AT AMISFIELD Amisfield executive chef Vaughan Mabee enlists expert foragers and charcutiers to ensure he's only using the freshest seasonal produce in his three-hatted restaurant. That dedication to championing the Central Otago region has seen the restaurant use backyard endemic ingredients and produce found no further than 250 kilometres from its dramatic stonework bistro. Previous hyperlocal creations have included everything from paua salami to kawakawa parfait and manuka-smoked blue cod pie. Diners are invited to build their own degustation from a selection of dishes. For lunch, that might mean a starter of eel on toast, smoked raw wild deer with local chocolate or a wild apple and kawakawa tart.
In case you needed a reminder the chain was still around and going strong, Victoria is home to eight TGI Fridays, NSW has a store in North Ryde and the chain's first Queensland store just opened in Robina. The American-inspired diner's mac 'n' cheese bites and loaded potato skins have probably always been at the top of your must-eat list, which is understandable — but on Thursday, April 2, its peanut butter and jelly waffles are what you'll be wanting. On this day, dubbed 'National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day' of course, each and every TGI Fridays is giving away free stacks of this delicious waffle combo to the first 100 people to order $20 worth of food via UberEats, Deliveroo or takeaway in-store. The stacks star a belgian waffle layered with raspberry jelly and peanut butter, and topped with ice cream and chocolate fudge. You'll want to hope you're not located too far from the store for this giveaway. As you do need to spend $20 to get a free waffle stack, here's your chance to try those aforementioned snacks if you haven't already — they're all available for delivery. TGI Fridays' free peanut butter and jelly waffle snacks are available on Thursday, April 2 to the first 100 people to spend $20 at each store via UberEats, Deliveroo or takeaway.
A documentary that's deeply personal for one of its directors, intensely powerful in surveying Australia's treatment of its First Peoples and crucial in celebrating perhaps the country's first-ever Aboriginal filmmaker, Ablaze makes for astonishing viewing. But while watching, two ideas jostle for attention. Both remain unspoken, yet each is unshakeable. Firstly, if the history of Australia had been different, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta man William 'Bill' Onus would be a household name. If that was the case, not only his work behind the camera, but his activism for Indigenous Aussies at a time when voting and even being included in the census wasn't permitted — plus his devotion to ensuring that white Australians were aware of the nation's colonial violence — would be as well-known as Captain Cook. That said, if history had been better still, Bill wouldn't have needed to fight so vehemently, or at all. Alas, neither of those possibilities came to a fruition. Ablaze can't change the past, but it can and does document it with a hope to influencing how the world sees and appreciates Bill's part in it. Indeed, shining the spotlight on its subject, everything his life stood for, and all that he battled for and against is firmly and proudly the feature's aim. First-time filmmaker Tiriki Onus looks back on his own grandfather, narrating his story as well — and, as aided by co-helmer Alec Morgan (Hunt Angels, Lousy Little Sixpence), the result is a movie brimming with feeling, meaning and importance. While Aussie cinema keeps reckoning with the nation's history regarding race relations, as it should and absolutely must, Ablaze is as potent and essential as everything from Sweet Country, The Nightingale and The Australian Dream to The Furnace, High Ground and The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson. As the last filmic ode to a key Indigenous figure within cinema also did, aka My Name Is Gulpilil, Ablaze has a clear source of inspiration beyond the person at its centre. Appearing on-screen, Tiriki begins with two discoveries that put him on the path to making the movie: finding a suitcase filled with Bill's belongings, which included photographs of Indigenous boys in traditional paint peering at a film camera; and learning that the National Film & Sound Archive was in possession of footage of unknown origin that it believed to be linked to Bill. Accordingly, Ablaze is as much a detective story as it is a tribute, with Tiriki puzzling together the pieces of his grandfather's tale. Structuring the film in such a way is a savvy decision; even viewers coming to Bill with zero prior knowledge will want to sleuth along to solve the feature's multiple mysteries. Connecting the dots starts easily, after Tiriki spies the boys in Bill's photos in the NFSA's nine-minute reel — footage from which it's an enormous treat to see in Ablaze. From there, though, the what and why behind the material takes longer to tease out. So too does exactly why Reg Saunders and Doug Nicholls — the first Aboriginal officer in the Australian Army and the famed Aussie rules footballer-turned-pastor, respectively — appear in Bill's silent footage. Also an opera singer, Tiriki guides Ablaze's viewers through the answers, while delivering a biographical documentary-style exploration of Bill's existence along the way — from being born in 1906 at the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve, on the Murray River in New South Wales, through to his passing in 1968 following the successful 1967 referendum on counting Indigenous Australians as part of the population, for which he spearheaded the campaign. As is any fascinating doco's curse, much in Ablaze could fuel several movies. Bill packed plenty into his time, although filmmaking, activism, and sharing his culture far and wide are recurring themes. Before shooting the reel that helps spark Ablaze sometime around 1946, Bill had gleaned how influential cinema could be to spread a message. And, from working on other productions — such as Charles Chauvel's Uncivilised in 1937 and Harry Watt's The Overlanders in 1946 — he was intent on using that power to tell the world about Indigenous Australians and their plight. In addition, with the same quest, he took to the stage. As Ablaze shows among its treasure trove of archival materials, white Aussies were flocking to a horrendously offensive-looking production called Corroboree, starring white performers in hand-stitched blackface bodysuits — which Bill set to counter. Even the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II was among Corroboree's audience, as seen in another of Ablaze's impressive compilation of clips from decades back. Contrasting that fact with glimpses of Bill's White Justice, his theatre piece inspired by the 1946 Pilbara strike by Indigenous workers — a show that was filmed and forms part of that unearthed reel — is just one instance of a trend that keeps popping up throughout the documentary. Each time that Tiriki unfurls a new strand to Bill's story, more infuriating horrors come with it. When Bill travelled overseas to attend a peace festival East Germany to draw global attention to the situation back home, he was reportedly surveilled by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. When he received an invite from Walt Disney to go to America, ASIO helped put a stop to it. The atrocities go on, and aren't always personal. As explained by actor and now-elder Jack Charles (Preppers), even the traditional act of making possum skin wraps that chronicled the wearer's life was banned by white Australia, with the animal fur commandeered for fashion instead. With its mix of archival footage, motion graphics made from old photographs, animation and interviews — plus Tiriki's travels — Ablaze has a wealth of other threads weaved through its frames. As they're all stitched together, another truth solidifies: this film, and its wide-ranging examination of how Indigenous Australians have been treated since colonisation, is exactly what Bill was dedicated to bringing to the screen. Its moniker also feels extra apt, even after being outlined early (we have a caravan fire to thank for its subject's prowess behind the camera, and what he shot, being so little-known). Scorchingly obvious in almost every second of Ablaze, Bill was aglow with fiery determination. There's little that's remarkable about the way this cinematic homage to his efforts is put together but, given who it focuses on and his tireless crusade for equality, this doco was always going to burn bright.
Dust off your petticoat and get your doublets out of the attic, because London's historic Globe Theatre is popping up in Melbourne later this year — well, sort of. Pop-Up Globe is the world's first, full-scale replica of the historic theatre, which was built by Shakespeare's playing company and housed his greatest works. Melbourne's version will set up shop at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl from September 21 until November 12 this year. History buffs and Shakespeare enthusiasts alike will have the opportunity to soak in plays As You Like It, Henry V, Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, and a special performance titled Around the Globe in 60 Minutes, which details the theatre's colourful history (it famously burned down in 1613 and was reconstructed a year later). It will be the first time the Pop-Up Globe has travelled outside of Auckland. With the round, 900-seat, three-storey venue, no member of the audience will ever be more than 15 metres from the stage, and all performances will be conducted without the use of mics, just as it was in 1614. Also keeping with tradition, tickets will offer the "groundling" option – standing room only, directly in front of the stage. Organisers promise that Pop-Up Globe won't host 'dusty' versions of Shakespeare — rather, performances will be more like a party.
Twenty-five years after a Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette-starring film about small-town murders thoroughly revitalised the slasher genre, the Scream franchise is back to take another stab at cinema glory. Because some things just won't die in the horror realm (see also: the Halloween, Saw, The Grudge, The Ring and Child's Play sagas), the Ghostface killer will once again be stalking Woodsboro, and also terrorising a scary movie that mixes slasher thrills with self-aware laughs. An instant classic ever since the first movie became a box office smash back in 1996, the franchise has already delivered three sequels so far courtesy of 1997's Scream 2, 2000's Scream 3 and 2011's Scream 4 — plus TV spinoff Scream: The TV Series. Now, as announced back in 2020, it's returning with a flick that blends the old and the new. While a different bunch of teenagers are in Ghostface's sights this time, Campell's initial target Sidney Prescott, Cox's reporter Gale Weathers and Arquette's former deputy-turned-sheriff Dewey Riley all feature in this new version of Scream, too. The series' latest flick is keeping things simple with its title, and betting on bringing back original cast members — both of which turned out rather nicely for fellow horror effort Halloween back in 2018. Yes, this series has always had a thing for Sid, and it still does. However, the new Scream is also putting The Boys' Jack Quaid, In the Heights' Melissa Barrera and You's Jenna Ortega in Ghostface's path, as well as Dylan Minnette (13 Reasons Why), Jasmin Savoy Brown (Love), Mikey Madison (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), Mason Gooding (Love, Victor) and Kyle Gallner (Interrogation). With filmmaker Wes Craven — who directed all four original Scream films — passing away in 2015, Ready or Not's Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have taken the helm. Based on the just-dropped first trailer for Scream circa 2022, they've also taken more than a few cues from Craven. No one asks if someone likes scary movies in the initial sneak peek, but answering the phone while you're home alone definitely proves perilous. Rules for surviving are also mentioned, and it won't come as a surprise to anyone if the new killer is linked to either one of the past culprits or victims, or to the feature's new characters. Story-wise, this iteration Ghostface brings Sid, Gale and Dewey back together to both confront the mask-wearing murderer and their past. As for where the film goes from there, that'll be revealed when it hits cinemas Down Under on January 13 next year. Check out the Scream trailer below: Scream releases in Australian cinemas on January 13, 2022.
If you've ever felt uncomfortable in Sydney at night, you're far from alone, with a new study by Plan International Australia finding a huge 90 percent of the city's young women share those fears. Of course, this won't be all that surprising to those who've been subjected to some kind of street harassment. But it's statistics like this that have spurred the creation of the NGO's new Free To Be map, which has just launched in Sydney. The interactive map feature is aimed at 15 to 25-year-olds, and allows girls and women using the app to drop 'bad' pins on spots around the city where they feel unsafe. 'Good' pins are also used to show locations they consider safe. While the responsibility to prevent street harassment shouldn't land on the victim, Plan believes, by giving young women a platform to anonymously report incidents and collecting that data, that it can help make Sydney's streets safer. "This data will be provided to city planners, public transport authorities, police and groups responsible for urban safety, so they can make positive changes to make cities safer places for women," said Plan International Australia CEO Susanne Legena. The map is now open for submissions — and while it looks like most people have been taking it seriously, there's already a number of entries that appear to have come from trolls. Plan is now working with police, local councils and Metro trains in tackling issues of harassment head-on. The findings will also be shared with local businesses in an effort to instigate change at that level and make more of the city's spaces safer. The Free to Be map can be found here. You can add to it up until May 28, 2018.
Last year, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced that it would start making space dreams come true, and not just for astronauts. As part of the organisation's increased commercial push, it revealed plans to allow tourists to spend time on the International Space Station. If you've ever wanted to hang out in an artificial satellite that's orbiting the planet — and you have spare piles of cash secreted away to pay for it, of course — you no doubt started getting excited. Now, NASA has unveiled further details, naming just who'll be making the ISS's first habitable commercial module. And, that company — Axiom Space — has announced that it'll not only be creating its own commercial space station at the ISS, but also launching the first fully private human spaceflight mission to the station. Folks with hefty bank balances who like staring down at the earth while travelling in luxury are in luck, with said space digs looking rather luxe. As approved last month, Axiom Space's ISS module is designed by French designer Philippe Starck — and while he actually revealed just what they'd look like back in 2018, now his vision has officially been given the go-ahead. Think gold and cream hues, ample padding and exactly what everyone paying to holiday in space wants: a window with a helluva view. The designer said he wanted a fetal-like space that resembles "a comfortable egg, friendly, where walls are so soft and in harmony with the values of movements of the human body in zero gravity". Axiom Space's ISS pods will host both professional astronauts and ordinary folks, attaching to the station's Node 2 forward port. They're due to join the ISS from the second half of 2024 and, when the ISS reaches its retirement date, Axiom's additions will be able to detach and fly free as its own commercial space station. Also slated as part of Axiom's complex: an observatory with 360-degree views. If you're going to rocket into space, you'll really want to make the most of the view, after all. While Axiom's Starck-designed module isn't due to be completed for four years, the company is aiming to launch its first private spaceflight mission to the ISS — the first ever by a commercial entity — by the second half of 2021. The flight's crew will live onboard the existing station for at least eight days. Afterwards, Axiom is planning to offer up to two flights per year, catering to both professional and private astronaut flights, all as the company builds its own private space station. When NASA's ISS tourism scheme was first announced, it revealed that private astronauts will be able to spend up to 30 days on the station — and that two tourists will be allowed onboard at any one time. Cost-wise, visitors will need to pay US$11,250 a day for use of life support and bathroom facilities, plus an extra $22,500 per day for food, air and medical supplies. They'll also need to fork out for the presumably ultra-expensive trip to actually get there. As for NASA's broader commercial approach, other than opening the ISS to commercial ventures in general — including to private tourist outfits like Axiom Space, who'll arrange the privately funded, dedicated commercial spaceflights for eager visitors, take responsibility for flight crews, and ensure that private astronauts meet the necessary medical and training requirements — the idea is to create "a thriving commercial economy in low-earth orbit". Ideally, businesses will be able to operate out of the station. While more than 50 companies are already involved with the ISS, their work is currently restricted to research and development; however that'll no longer be the case. Images: Axiom / Philippe Starck.
Deck your halls with holly, then leave them immediately for a nice holiday. If there's one festive season motto that stands out to us, it's celebrating with family and friends and being thankful for the company. If there's another one, to be honest, it's leaving all that behind and escaping on a holiday on your own, or with a single loved one instead of your entire extended family. Nothing beats the sounds of silence, a cold dip in a pool, and the knowledge that you'll be able to remove your pants immediately after eating a huge Christmas-time meal and nobody will be there to mind. In partnership with Mr & Mrs Smith, here are ten getaway options for the Christmas / New Year period — and if you're stuck for present ideas, you can use the suggestions below (or 1000 more boutique hotels) on a Get a Room! gift card. Strongly suggest they take a you-shaped friend. COMO THE TREASURY, PERTH Como the Treasury was voted the second best hotel worldwide by the Condé Nast Traveler's Reader's Choice Awards this year, and its palatial rooms and incredible views of Perth clearly show why. The building may be 140 years old but the facilities aren't — there's a swimming pool, spa, and full fitness centre including yoga and pilates studios to really wave bye-bye to life stress. The top-floor restaurant Wildflower presides over the eating side of things, touting a menu infused with indigenous ingredients. Can't shake the kids while you're dining and yoga-ing? There are even babysitting facilities available. EMPIRE RETREAT AND SPA, MARGARET RIVER The Margaret River isn't a well-kept secret of a holiday destination, but it's a worthwhile Christmas drive just to stay at Empire Retreat and Spa. A lovely old stone farmhouse, it'll be like going back in time while simultaneously hitting an 11 on the luxury scale: the rustically modern rooms have everything you could need, and there's an on-site vineyard as well as the spa, so you should really consider kicking Christmas on for a few weeks more. Stay in a Luxury Villa, complete with sunken lounge and fireplace, or a Deluxe Balcony Suite – attached to the main lodge by a timber boardwalk. SAL SALIS, NINGALOO REEF Sal Salis is the type of place you evacuate to when your cat has knocked down the Christmas tree for the sixth time and you've lost your car in the car park again. A bush camp by the beach in Cape Range National Park, it's a safari by the sea but not without the trimmings: you might be sleeping in a tent but they're moored on timber platforms with own ensuite and deck, 30 metres from the sea. Sal Salis concentrates on eco-friendliness so expect composting loos and solar power — and unforgettable manta ray hangs when snorkelling. PRETTY BEACH HOUSE, CENTRAL COAST If eucalyptus is your calming scent of choice, consider coming to Pretty Beach House on the Central Coast to get your fix. Beautiful wood-panelled lodges make up this ideal holiday escape – a home away from home among the gumtrees, throwing in a private terrace and plunge pool for an extra warm welcome. There's a resident bar and an Italian restaurant by Stefano Manfredi complete with pizza oven so you'll be well fed and watered, too. For even more serenity there's a spa on premises and no children under 15 allowed — this is one for couples. ALILA MANGGIS, BALI If the options are "go to Bali or don't go to Bali" you should always pick "go to Bali". Find yourself surrounded by coconut groves at the Alila Manggis — a beachside resort located next to the sacred Mount Agung. There's a beautiful pool, a spa, and even the chance to be a mature age student: there's a cooking school on-site. The Alila Manggis also has its own organic veggie garden for extra goodness, so your body and mind will both say "thanks for taking me to Bali". BISMA EIGHT, BALI Another reason to up and get yourselves to Bali, if you needed more incentive, is the Bisma Eight resort in Ubud. A concrete oasis, the modern design isn't what you'd expect from a jungle paradise in Indonesia — but paradise it is. Aussie chef Duncan McCance run the restaurant on-site that puts to good use the hotel's organic garden. There's a pretty fancy pool and all rooms come with a Japanese soaking tub; plus, there's a fiery hot cocktail menu in the bar, so what are you even waiting for? THE CHEDI CLUB, UBUD Excuse us, but there's a butler service over here and also a 35m Balinese water palace pool. "Where do I book", you ask? If you're a guest at The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah in Ubud, you can stay in a Spa Villa, which has your own private spa room and massage beds. There is some mighty interesting culinary goodness happening over here with Singaporean chef Dean Nor working with "Mama Bali" and her local bumbu spices. All the rice comes from the nearby rice paddy fields; tours of these also run, as does the occasional Balinese dance performance. Off you trot, then. SALA, PHUKET Who says you can't relax in Phuket? Sala Phuket is making this a very valid reality for you in your time of need over Christmas and New Year, simply by providing you with a haven featuring multiple pools and much relaxation. Sala Pool Villas have enormous "merman sized" bathtubs, private pools and tropical gardens of their own; you're located near the beach and there's a spa, too, so the beautiful bodies of water never end. The champion of Sala might very well be the bar, with daybeds big enough to sprawl on while drinking a burnt lemon and vanilla margarita. Mmm. THE SAROJIN, THAILAND For a more secluded yet equally as tropical getaway, The Sarojin is a boutique hotel on the coastline of Phang Na set on 10 acres of garden. There's an infinity pool that is infinity types of inviting and has it's own pavilions at its edges. With a cosy seafood shack as well as a restaurant nestled under the huge fig tree that is the centerpiece of the gardens, you'll eat well — or can even charter a cruise to a private island for a romantic dinner for two. A seven-night minimum stay is required over Christmas, so we guess you guys will just have to suck it up. ZABORIN, JAPAN Japan — land of the best things in the world (sushi, good public transport, an island full of cats). It's also home to Zaborin Hotel in the Hanazano woods in Hokkaido, a 15-villa wonderland. Each villa has it's own indoor and outdoor onsen (bath) filled with volcanic water, and once you've soaked to your heart's content head along to the restaurant for a traditional kita kaiseki meal — an 11-course set menu differing with the harvest. Ski slopes are nearby, but we wouldn't be surprised if you lounged around at Zaborin forevermore (or as long as you can get off work). Grab someone you love a Mr and Mrs Smith Get a Room! gift card and send them on a summer holiday — available from $50.
When stationery brand Moleskine opened its first permanent cafe in Milan back in 2016, it shot to the top of every notebook lover's must-visit spots. Given the popularity of their products, it should come as no surprise that opening additional eateries is on the company's to-do list, bringing its minimalist aesthetic to more places around the world. First, Moleskine has opened the doors on its second digs, in Beijing in the city's Taikoo Li shopping centre. Boasting neutral colours, plenty of space and ample natural light, as you'd expect given their clean design-loving ways, the open-concept 150-square metre space features both individual and communal tables — both indoors and in an al fresco area as well. Like its Milan predecessor, it's part cafe, part gallery, part library and part store; the kind of place where you can marvel at the decor while you're sipping tea and leafing through a few pages, and then pick up a notebook on your way out. Next on the agenda are cafes in Hamburg, London and New York, which are all due to open in 2018. Digital Arts Online reports that the eateries' menus will combine Italian and local cuisine across breakfast and lunch options, and showcase creativity through exhibitions dedicated to architects, designers, illustrators and film directors. A roster of events, talks and workshops will also be offered. Via Digital Arts Online. Image: Moleskine.
Pearl Diver Cocktails & Oysters has landed on Little Bourke Street, freshly shucked from the minds of The Speakeasy Group's (Eau de Vie, Nick & Nora's, Mjolner) Alex Boon and Pez Collier. The focus here is memorable, produce-driven cocktails and oysters sourced from the country's best-growing regions. Steering the ship is former renowned bar gun Boon, whose menu of libations is filled with his signature respect for individual ingredients and penchant for creativity. Among the lineup are sips like the Coconut + Yuzu — a blend of coconut-washed pisco, yuzu verjuice, vanilla, passionfruit and pink peppercorn — and a reworked sazerac starring peanut butter and jelly. An oft-changing wine list has been carefully chosen to represent only that which is 'fun' and 'delicious', with a good 50 varieties pouring at any one time. Meanwhile, in the food corner, oysters are the headline act. You'll find them showcased in three different ways, served au naturale, dressed (think, creme fraiche and caviar, or a lemon granita) or cooked. Then there's the signature creation, the Drunken Oyster: an icy-cold fusion of natural oyster and house Pearl Diver martini. Other bites might include the likes of a duck terrine ($28), salt cod beignets with garlic butter ($15) and waffle fries served beneath a mountain of comté ($10). Grilled buffalo halloumi is made in-house ($15), while steak tartare is matched with artichoke and an oyster cream ($22).
Pare back the impressive special effects and constant wisecracking in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and you soon come to realise...there's not a great deal of story to speak of. After a lifetime of searching, Peter Quill aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) finally finds himself face to face with his estranged father, Ego (Kurt Russell), from whom he quickly learns the truth about both the power and importance of his lineage. The question, though, is what's driving Ego's sudden appearance in Quill's life after such a long absence? Beyond that, there's actually very little going on in the film, aside from an entirely superfluous secondary plot involving a genetically-engineered race of conceited aliens (led by a gilded Elizabeth Debicki) who are hell-bent on killing the Guardians over a tiny spat from the opening scene. In the absence of plot, then, what drives this film and keeps it (for the most part) engaging are the relationships. For Quill, that means both a developing closeness with his father and an ongoing attempt to progress what he terms his 'unspoken thing' with the green-skinned warrior Gamora (Zoe Saldana). Gamora, in turn, is preoccupied with the increasingly complex and fractious relationship she has with her vengeful sister Nebula (Karen Gillan) – by far the movie's most compelling and nuanced dynamic. Close behind that comes the foul-mouthed Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), whose proclivity for sabotaging friendships and avoiding emotional closeness comes under the microscope in a surprisingly tender way. Less moving, but always entertaining, are the two remaining Guardians: Drax, the forever-literal powerhouse (Dave Bautista) and Groot, the tree creature turned sapling (voiced by Vin Diesel). Groot proved a fan favourite in the first Guardians film, so naturally he has a bigger role here. With those enlarged Disney ™ eyes and a propensity for dancing at inopportune moments, Groot represents at once the film's most consistent comedic device and tweaker of heart strings. To say his merchandise will sell well after the film's release might prove the single largest understatement of 2017. Of course, a review of a Guardians movie wouldn't be complete without mentioning its soundtrack. As in the first film, here we find a compilation of '80s tracks that well and truly earns the 'Awesome Mix Tape' tag. 'Mr. Blue Sky' by ELO, 'The Chain' by Fleetwood Mac and 'Surrender' by Cheap Trick are just some of the album's top-to-bottom highlights, used throughout the movie with such design that it's almost a character unto itself. Then there's Cat Stevens' 'Father and Son'. Already one of last century's most moving ballads, its deployment in the final stages of the film hits you in the feels so hard that you stand zero chance of wrenching your tear ducts shut in time. Admittedly, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 feels less innovative than its predecessor, with writer-director James Gunn mostly expanding upon existing plot lines, jokes and action sequences rather than inventing new ones. Still, it's an enjoyable ride, and there's clearly more to come (be sure to stay through to the end of the credits through which you'll catch a full five additional scenes and teasers). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hdv_6gl4gk
The cutest little Jedi in a galaxy far, far away is back — and the most adorable one in our own on-screen realm as well. Although The Mandalorian won't release its third season until 2023, Disney+ has just unveiled the first sneak peak at the Star Wars spinoff's upcoming batch of episodes. The best and most important news? Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, returns (and obviously remains as charming as ever). If you've somehow missed it before now, the Emmy-nominated show follows the titular bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent); however, it's his encounter with a fuzzy little creature first known as The Child, affectionately named Baby Yoda by everyone watching, and officially called Grogu, that's always had everyone talking. So, it comes as zero surprise that one of the Star Wars universe's best-ever double acts is pushed into the spotlight in the debut glimpse at The Mandalorian's third season. In fact, the trailer confirms that Mando, aka Din Djarin and Grogu's big reunion, picking up where The Book of Boba Fett left off. But the events of the pair's past streaming adventures have consequences, including seeing The Mandalorian disowned by his fellow Mandalorians. It wouldn't be a Star Wars series if everyone got along — the 'wars' part is right there in the franchise name, after all. Accordingly, this first sneak peek teases the obligatory battles, as well as the fallout when its namesake doesn't actually have that title any more. Oh, and plenty of Grogu, naturally. Yes, the Star Wars universe certainly does sprawl far and wide these days, both within its tales and in its many different movies, shows, books and games. When this one first arrived in 2019, it started five years after Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi. Also on offer across its run so far: a cast that's included everyone from Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), Carl Weathers (Toy Story 4), Taika Waititi and iconic filmmaker Werner Herzog through to Timothy Olyphant (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), Rosario Dawson (DMZ), Katee Sackhoff (Another Life) and Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett. While The Mandalorian fans will have to wait till next year to see what comes next, the Star Wars franchise has already delivered Obi-Wan Kenobi to streaming already in 2022 — and Rogue One spinoff Andor arrives on Wednesday, September 21. Check out the latest trailer for The Mandalorian below: The Mandalorian's third season will hit Disney+ sometime in 2023 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced. Images: ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
It's the festive season, which means good food, good times and presents — giving and receiving. If you're struggling to think about what to gift your loved ones this season, we've made things easier with a shopping guide to Chadstone — The Fashion Capital. Whether you're shopping for the wellness warrior, beauty buff, fashion fanatic, fitness fiend, flavour-seeking foodie, or even shopping for kids, we have got you covered with this guide. WELLNESS WARRIOR Suppose you have a wellness enthusiast in your life who loves relaxing, meditation, and multi-step skincare routines. In that case, you can't go wrong with a luxe at-home spa set from Endota Spa or brand-new yoga tights (Lorna Jane has you covered) — yogis can be particular about their mats, so you can't go wrong with a trip to Lululemon. Wellness doesn't just cover yoga and meditation. In this fast-paced world, we all need a little space from our computers and phones. What better way than with a good book from Dymocks, a good bath and luxe new bedsheets or bathrobes from Bed Bath N' Table, add a festive candle scent from Peter Alexander and a new notebook for journalling from Kikki K, and you've gifted the ultimate at-home wellness session. BEAUTY BUFF Do you have a mate who could legit be the next big beauty influencer? Do they rarely leave the house without the perfect skincare, lip liner, nails and contour? For beauty enthusiasts who adore experimenting with new looks and beauty products, there's so much choice out there that it can be overwhelming. However, come the gifting season, and it all becomes so much easier. Jurlique and Kiehls are your go-to for skincare gifting this Christmas. The biggest celebrity names in make-up will likely drop a holiday-themed gift set or palette that your makeup-loving mate will adore. Stop by Mecca to check out its advent calendars and Sephora for its holiday gift sets. FITNESS FIEND If you're buying for someone who spends their mornings in the gym and the weekends trekking up hills, you know what they genuinely might love? Socks. Grippy socks for pilates, hiking socks for their bushwalks and quality ankle socks for running. Check out any number of fitness stores like Nike, Rebel, LSKD or Adidas to stock up on what your fitness fiend bestie needs. And don't forget recovery. Your mate is probably in the market for equipment like foam rollers, massagers and exercise bands for stretching so they can keep their fitness going through the holiday season. FLAVOUR-SEEKING FOODIE For those who have a refined palate and love to explore delicious flavours, the best gift during the holiday season is a chocolate truffle box from Koko Black or pastries and cakes galore from Black Star Pastry. For your coffee-loving loved ones, look no further than new coffee machinery and fresh coffee beans from Industry Beans. Thinking of taking your bestie/mum/sister for a Christmas date? Visit UA Brewing Co. FASHION FANATIC Australia is home to some of the best fashion designers and stylists in the world. If you know your mate has a good eye, go window-shopping with them and take note of what they like and then race back and snag a quality piece that they will adore you for when they open their gift. Furla is a great choice for a timeless bag, and Oroton's new jewellery collection is a gift any fashionista will love. Myer and David Jones are your go-to for variety. You can't go wrong with high-quality, timeless pieces like leather RM Williams boots (if you know their size). GADGET GO-GETTER For the gadget go-getter in your life, consider wireless headphones for top-tier sound from Bang & Olufsen (and a polite way for them to let people know they do not want to talk), a Samsung smartwatch for multifunctional convenience (gotta reach those step goals), or a gaming console or VR headset for immersive entertainment from JB Hi-Fi (if you want to absolutely bust your budget). For practical gifts that provide the gadget go-getter with some convenience, why not go for an external storage device for securing all their selfies or a portable power bank so they stay charged on the go? KIDS (BIG AND SMALL) We haven't forgotten about the little ones on your list. The holidays are always a fun time with little ones running around. For the young bubs, stock up on adorable, breathable, cosy clothing that is suitable for summer at Purebaby. For the not-so-young, kick it old school with board games and games like ring toss so you can have fun no matter the weather from Gamesworld. For the older kiddies, pick up art supplies, books and stocking stuffers to make the holiday season extra special. If you're on the hunt for the perfect gifts for your loved ones, look no further than the largest shopping hub in Melbourne (and Australia): Chadstone – The Fashion Capital. Discover extended hours, real-time parking info and shopping guides on the Chadstone website.
The Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), curated by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin, are annual awards for First Nations artists from across the country. Due to the ongoing effects of COVID-19, the 2021 Telstra NATSIAA award winners will be announced via the Telstra NATSIAA website — and all Australians can get to know the finalists and winners via a virtual gallery, which will go live from 6pm AEST on Friday, August 6. Each year, the awards celebrates contemporary artworks across a broad range of disciplines. Think paintings, craftsmanship, photography and textile works. There are 65 finalists from across the country, and what makes the awards so special is the diversity in storytelling; there are perspectives from coastal regions, desert towns, cities and everywhere between. For 38 years, Telstra NATSIAA has represented the art of the nation — culturally, geographically and historically, as well as looking to our future — with 2021 marking 30 years with the awards' long-standing partner, Telstra. For those who plan to visit the Northern Territory, you can also experience the artworks in person at the Telstra NATSIAA Exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory from Saturday, August 7 right through till Sunday, February 6, 2022. And it's good news for those of us who'd usually miss out on the awards ceremony, as this year's presentation (usually held on the grounds of the Museum) will be broadcast online. You can join host Rachel Hocking on Friday, August 6 to find out which artists have won by visiting the website from 6pm AEST. While you're there, check out the fully interactive, virtual gallery and chuck a vote in for your favourites in the Telstra People's Choice Award, too. Head to the NATSIAA website on August 6 at 6pm AEST to catch the announcement of this year's winners. Images: Charlie Bliss and MAGNT
Captain Sustainability and brains behind Silo Joost Bakker has relaunched his cafe as a soup kitchen. Of course, it's no ordinary cooking-with-groceries soup kitchen; the stocks for the soups are made from bones that go unused by high-end eateries such as Rockpool, Attica and the European. It's called Brothl, the kind of pun that might have been best made and forgotten but is now the legitimate name of a place we'll be spending plenty of time in. Bakker, originally a florist and a designer, had been doing the flowers at Rockpool for years when he finally asked Neil Perry if he could take the discarded bones for soup stock. Perry did not hesitate to give them away. The result is four nutritious broths packed full of flavor: A Cape Grim beef stock simmered for 48 hours, a 24-hour chicken stock, 12-hour seafood stock made from marron and crab, and a vegetarian stock made using kelp foraged from the Bellarine Peninsula. On top of that, all of the broths are made with rainwater from Monbulk. If that’s not some thrifty practice, we’re not sure what is. For those who are both sustainability- and health-conscious, the menu includes details of which nutrients, vitamins and minerals each broth will bring you. Getting involved with this Brothl is going to be good for you in more ways than one, it seems. It will cost you a tenner for a hearty bowl of broth, and once you’ve got the base down you can add extras, such as sea bounty muscles, poached chicken, house-made soba or spelt noodles and seasonal vegetables. They even have chicken feet if you’re craving it. If you want to know more on this no-waste venture, just make sure you type Brothl exactly like that into your Google search; it will save you from seeing all the things you can’t unsee.
Ever since news broke that The Cure, The Strokes and The Avalanches were coming to Australia for Splendour this year, every punter and his dog have been trying to predict when and if The Cure would be announcing solo sideshows to coincide with the festival (unlike the other two bands, they didn't have a big fat 'only Aus show' next to their name). And today they've gone and done it, with Live Nation announcing this morning that the iconic British band will be touring to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth later this year. Just like in 80s rock heaven, The Cure will be playing full-set arena spectaculars. Their retrospective shows have been known to go for two hours plus, so if you can't make it to Splendour, this really is the next best thing. It's the first time the band have toured Aus since 2007. The dates for Sydney and Melbourne have been locked in: Monday, July 25 at Qudos Bank/Allphones Arena and Thursday, July 28 at Rod Laver Arena, respectively. However, the Adelaide and Perth shows are still being finalised and will be announced at a later date. You're going to have to get your best ticket-nabbing game on though, because these babies are going to wildly sought after. The Melbourne and Sydney shows will go on sale next week. There will be a Telstra customer pre-sale at 10am on Tuesday, May 3, followed by a Live Nation pre-sale at 10am on Thursday, May 5, and general tickets will finally go on sale at 10am on Friday, May 6. Phew. THE CURE 2016 TOUR DATES Monday, July 25 — Qudos Bank Arena (formerly Allphones Arena), Sydney. Thursday, July 28 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. Adelaide and Perth dates to follow. To keep up to date and to buy tickets, head to livenation.com.au.
Winter can breed a very scary version of ourselves. For months we sport a wayward side ponytail and we wear the 'private time' tracksuit pants. Time and time again, we huddle over the flickering old gas heater and tell ourselves it's much too cold for dinner and drinks. The rigmarole of getting skinny jeans on over two pairs of woollen tights is rarely worth the reward. Spring, however — spring is the time for fluro footwear and decorative paper pineapples; it is the season of champagne and sequins, and trying to not get champagne on sequined dresses. It is the season of fashion. Melbourne Spring Fashion Week has ushered in this beautiful season for the past 19 years, and this time around it is proving to be no disappointment. Of course, there are the obligatory runway shows — the ones that inevitably leave you thinking 'Yeah, I could so pull off that look'. But there are also a huge number of special events that cover more than just the catwalk. The work of Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck will be on special exhibition for Dream the World Awake at RMIT Design Hub; the iconic designers of Gorman are teaming up with installation artist Kit Webster to transform Fort Delta into an "electric wonderland"; and Melbourne Town Hall will be showcasing the work of our best local designers for the duration of the festival. There are some more hands-on events too. Get started in the industry with a sewing workshop, put your best foot forward with a shoe-making intensive, or come hash it all out with a talk about fashion in pop culture. I know winter is hard to give up. There's going to be a serious lack of mulled wine, and yes — the tracksuit pants will be put away. But there's a whole new world out there. It's a world with sun, models, and pop-up markets from local designers. I think we'll be okay.
Folks, it's time to whip out your console of choice and start practising — QV Melbourne and its surrounding laneways are about to be transformed into an old-school arcade wonderland for its new retro gaming festival, Game/On. Taking over the precinct from August 31 to September 23, the festival will feature a jam-packed program of pixelated fun, for every level of gaming enthusiast. A live competition will pit everyday gamers against professionals, across a four-week Friday night knockout series. Three-minute combat game heats, played on an enormous video screen, will be held each week, with the best performing amateurs from each night earning a spot in the September 21 grand final. The big-screen will also be open daily from 11am, if you want to practise before the heats. There'll also be an augmented reality scavenger hunt which will see you navigate through the QV laneways collecting tokens, with up to $10,000 worth of prizes and gift vouchers available to be won. Those feeling a little less competitive can hit the pop-up gaming arcade. It's open daily from 11am–7pm throughout the festival and stocked with all the favourites. Finally, rounding out the fun every Friday night from 4–7pm, there'll be a pop-up gaming-themed candy bar, retro tunes and an art installation painted live. Images: Nicole Cleary and Bartronica
Lena Dunham has announced a return to filmmaking. At the 15th New Yorker Festival, held over the weekend, she spilled the beans on her plans to adapt and direct Karen Cushman’s coming-of-age novel Catherine, Called Birdy. “I’ve been obsessed with it since I was a kid,” Dunham told author Ariel Levy on Friday night. In fact, in a 2012 interview with the New York Times, she identified it and Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita as the “two best books about girls” she had ever read. It's a project that will allow the Girls creator to extend her voice well beyond beyond her generation. Narrated as a diary and set in England in the 1290s, Catherine, Called Birdy recounts a 13-year-old girl’s struggle against arranged marriage. “[She] gets her period and her father basically says, 'Well, it's time for you to get married,' and she's like, 'Uh, no,'" Dunham explained. “It's hyper realistic and really pretty and it's full of incest and beatings, but it's a child's story.” Fortunately there were no Q-Tips in the 1290s, so audiences will at least be spared that Dunham-patented horror. The writer-director is intending to produce the film via her production company, A Casual Romance, which she set up with Jenni Konner, executive producer of Girls. However, they’re still in need financial support from “someone who wants to a fund a PG-13 medieval movie.” In the meantime, she is busy promoting her debut essay collection, Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s 'Learned'. Via Indiewire.
Since Australia started easing out of COVID-19 lockdown, the country's internal border restrictions have earned plenty of attention. With tactics to stop the spread of the coronavirus implemented at a state-by-state level, each Aussie state has navigated the situation in its own way when it comes to letting non-residents visit. In Tasmania, that has meant strict quarantine requirements — which, for non-Tassie residents who aren't classified as essential travellers, entails spending 14 days in government-designated accommodation. If you're entering from a location considered high-risk, such as Victoria, it also requires pre-approval from the Deputy State Controller. As announced on Friday, October 2, Premier Peter Gutwein revealed that Tasmania will start to relax its border restrictions, with changes set to come into effect from Monday, October 26. As part of step two of the state's current three-step plan for reopening, it'll allow travellers from "low-risk COVID states" to enter under eased conditions — although it's yet to spell out exactly what that'll involve for those visiting. Still, Tasmania has advised exactly where it'll be opening up to. If you're eager for a holiday that definitely involves crossing a body of water — or you're thinking about attending Mona Foma in January — the state will open its borders to most of the country. It currently considers Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory to fall in the low-risk category — and has noted that New South Wales might possibly be on the list, too, depending on case numbers in the state. https://www.facebook.com/petergutweinmp/photos/a.1710247719193660/2691774364374319/?type=3&theater Premier Gutwein advised that "low-risk jurisdictions are determined by Public Health [Services] based on a number of factors, which include the period of time they have gone with low or no numbers of cases, and the lack of community transmission occurring in those jurisdictions". With that in mind, the state will "review the situation in New South Wales over the next week". If you're in Victoria, sadly the changes won't apply to you just yet. Premier Gutwein also noted that "border restrictions will remain in place for the foreseeable future with Victoria until we are satisfied that the risk has reduced to a lower level". Of course, Tasmania's reopening to any state is dependent on case numbers remaining low. "If at any time the situation changes in these states and the advice is that the risk is too high — then I won't hesitate to change this decision," the Premier said. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Tasmania, and the state's corresponding restrictions, visit its online COVID-19 hub.
If you're always trying to stay up-to-date with all of the new shows and movies hitting Netflix, but you're also attempting to do so on the cheap — by borrowing a pal or your parents' login details — you might soon have to change your viewing strategy. Some of the service's subscribers have started reported receiving warning messages about using other people's accounts, with the platform currently testing a new feature to block password sharing. "If you don't live with the owner of this account, you need your own account to keep watching," states the message, which then gives users a few options. If you are indeed watching via your own account, you can get a verification code sent to you via email or text. If not, you can sign up for a 30-day trial. There's also a 'verify later' option, which'll let you keep watching — but only for a short but as-yet-unspecified amount of time — and then verify later. Images of the message have started appearing on social media, and Netflix has confirmed the move to media outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter and ABC News. THR reports that how the feature is being rolled out varies per country, and that protecting accounts from unauthorised use is one of the reasons behind it. To ABC News, a Netflix spokesperson advised that "this test is designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorised to do so." Converting folks who use other people's passwords to access the platform into paying customers is obviously one of the strategy's aims, too, especially as more and more streaming services pop up in competition. And, after most folks have just spent more time at home than usual — and more time streaming Netflix, too — the company is likely looking at ways to keep growing its numbers. Whether the password-sharing block will become a permanent feature is yet to be seen, but it isn't the only thing that Netflix has been testing of late. The platform is also working on a shuffle function, that'll automatically pick your next thing to watch and save you from scrolling for hours and hours — which is expected to be rolled out in the first half of this year. Netflix's new password-sharing block is being tested now — we'll update you when more details are announced. Via The Hollywood Reporter/ABC News.
Returning for its fourth iteration, The Fork Festival sees top restaurants across the country offering sit-down meals for up to half the usual price. Yep, up to 50-percent off your total food bill, folks — think of it as the proverbial carrot luring you out of the house. Up and running as of today, Friday, April 22, the offer is a blessing for those feeling a little light-pocketed after Easter — or thanks to the spate of long weekends we're currently enjoying. To snag a half-price meal (or, in a few cases, 30-percent off), you just need to make a reservation through The Fork website or app at one of the participating eateries for any service (breakfast, lunch or dinner) during the six-week period. There are some great venues coming to the party, too. In Sydney, you'll find cheap eats at the likes of Kings Cross Distillery, Monopole, Sydney Brewery in Surry Hills, Diana at Potts Point, Bentley Restaurant & Bar in the CBD and Cirrus Dining at Barangaroo. Victoria's lineup includes Brunswick Mess Hall and the Sarah Sands Hotel in Brunswick, Gasthaus on Queen, Amazing Graze Tea Rooms, and everywhere from Korr Jee Chicken and Lezzet to Neo Lemonade and Scarpetta. In other states, the list is much smaller — so you'll need to head to TGI Fridays Robina in Queensland; the brand's outposts in WA as well; The Pelican Place in the ACT; and spots such as Pier Bar and Grill, Christies Beach Hotel, Sammy's on the Marina and Red Ochre Barrel and Grill in South Australia. You might want to revisit an old favourite or you could get a little adventurous and road-test somewhere new. Either way, there's ample time to squeeze in a fair few discounted feasts before the festival wraps up on Sunday, May 29. The Fork Festival runs from Friday, April 22–Sunday, May 29 at select restaurants nationwide, excluding the NT and Tasmania. Top image: Sarah Sands Hotel.
Melbourne's darling of modern Southeast Asian cuisine — and home of that famous Vegemite curry — is set to gain a sibling, as Sunda's boundary-pushing chef Khanh Nguyen reveals plans for his next restaurant venture. Slated to open its doors on Little Collins Street before the year's out, the as-yet unnamed eatery will be delivering something a little different to most — it'll be inspired by the early days of trade between Indonesian seafarers and the Indigenous groups of northern Australia. "We started looking into the whole idea and history of Asian Australian cooking, back when trade with Australia first started in the 1700s," explains Nguyen. "And into the cooking methods they were using, like fermentation, a lot of smoking, roasting, preserving — that's also the style of cooking I really enjoy." Back in the day, a booming Asian Australian maritime trade saw local Australian delicacies like sea cucumber exchanged for rice, tea, palm sugar and spices from the east, with groups also swapping and sharing food preparation methods. [caption id="attachment_663227" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sunda's roti with Vegemite curry by Kate Shanasy[/caption] It's these flavours and techniques, as well as the relationship between the Makassan people (from what is now called Indonesia) had with Indigenous Australians, that have influenced Nguyen's new project. In the kitchen, he's hoping to embrace the same ingredients and methods, but reimagined with a modern edge. The menu's still a work in progress, though you can expect plenty of fire, house-cured dishes galore and a healthy contingent of fermented elements bringing it all to life. Word is, the humble sea cucumber may also make an appearance. Whatever Nguyen ends up plating up, you can expect it to be good — Sunda took out People's Choice for Best New Restaurant at Concrete Playground's Best of 2018 Awards. The space itself is being created by Kerstin Thompson Architects and Figurehead Architecture, whose work you'll have spied at sibling Sunda. It's set to be an all-day venue that's both casual and refined, with a stronger focus on snacking and sharing than its sister. "My whole vision for the place is that people can order multiple dishes, have a table full of food and share it with their loved ones, enjoying different things all at once," says Nguyen. "Just like how I would eat at home." Khanh Nguyen's new restaurant is set to open at a Little Collins Street site in the last half of 2020. We'll let you know more info as it drops. Top image: Sunda by Kate Shanasy
Good Things in South Yarra are getting into the Christmas spirit the only way they know how. Hosted by Supersmall this Friday night, Mariah Carey's Xmas Party will bring the cheer with festive beverages, decorations and holiday pop covers galore. Kicking off late on the night before the night before Christmas, Supersmall will be blasting Mimi's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' every hour on the hour, alongside yuletide bangers from Britney, One Direction, Justin Bieber and more. Entry into Mariah's Christmas bash is free, because lord knows we've all spent enough on presents this December already. They'll also be offering a variety of Christmas-themed drink deals, including $10 gingerbread espresso martinis and $10 candy cane shots.
Two friends want to open a creative space, so they go ahead and do it. Sounds easy, right? Probably not. But Laura Rose Main and Jacqueline Smith did it anyway, and are opening Enough Space in Prahran this week — and you can help them celebrate at the launch this Friday. The small Greville Street space, which has been designed by The Company You Keep, will act as a creative space and gallery, holding exhibitions, workshops, pop-up shops and installations. Plus, it just seems like it'll be an all-round sweet place to access some great local art and meet some likeminded people creating kickass stuff. The launch will also kick off their first show, a group exhibition aptly named Hi, We're New Here. It will feature a collection of varied works from Australian creatives, and will include stuff from Sarah Kelk, Cat Rabbit, Emilie Ristevski, Sarah Bahbah, The Seven Seas, and more. The exhibition will run until December 29, and there's a full roster of shows planned to the new year, so keep an ear out. Enough Space is launching on Friday, December 4. For more information, visit their website.
Right now 3D printing is best known for its fun applications, such as making action figures of yourself or of your foetuses. But 3D printing is also a technology that's hugely useful and has the potential to reshape many industries. Somewhere in between is the 'Landscape House', the first 3D printed house, to be built in 2014. The house, by Janjaap Ruijssenaars of Dutch architecture studio Universe Architecture, has a two-storey design in the form of a single, flowing Mobius band. The architect worked with mathematician and artist Rinus Roelofs to develop the design, which will be printed in pieces and then assembled (ruining our daydream of a giant, multi-storey printer that spits out houses existing somewhere in the world). The Landscape House is part of the Europan competition, which gives 15 architects 15 blocks of land and two years to create something impressive with. Via 3ders. Images from Universe Architecture. Read more about 3D printing in our interview with The Beehive.
There’s an adorable, somewhat maternal trend emerging on the Melbourne restaurant scene. Our favourite eateries have been creating mini-me versions of themselves — snack bars, cocktail lounges, take away windows, food trucks — that channel the same vibe but are the antithesis of chain expansion. Mr Miyagi, Chapel Street's incredibly cute Japanese eatery, is following this example and opening an even cuter little cocktail bar next door. Yukie’s Snack Bar (named after Mr Miyagi’s eternal love Yukie, nawww) is opening next Tuesday, December 15 in the space next door to Mr Miyagi. The pair will work in harmony with each other, sharing opening hours — which, just FYI, are 5pm till late, seven nights a week. Yukie’s will serve bite-sized counterparts of the food you know and love at Mr Miyagi (think along the lines of the Nori Taco people lose their shit over). There'll be kingfish cured on a Himalayan rock salt slab with green chili, coriander cream and crispy quinoa, and Applewood hot smoked salmon tostadillas, served with fennel, apple, coriander, with yuzu shoyu dressing (mmmf *drools*). Yukie's will also offer a unique and extensive cocktail menu including a raspberry and tonka bean margarita with black lava salt (what even is that?) and a salted watermelon martini garnished with Midori-infused 'faux' olives (very intriguing). Yukie’s is designed as a self-contained bar offering lighter snacks while you pound drinks, or as a destination for a post-Miyagi meal cocktail. Welcome to the family, Yukie. Yukie’s Snack Bar, 99 Chapel Street, Windsor, opening on Tuesday December 15. Images: Simon Shiff and Timothy Grey
For half a century now, The Rocky Horror Show has been astounding. And, with the Richard O'Brien-created production lasting that long, perhaps time really is fleeting. Either way, whenever this sci-fi/horror musical hits the stage — and wherever — a glorious kind of madness takes its toll. In 2023, Australian audiences will be able to listen closely — and watch Jason Donovan as Frank N Furter take a jump to the left, then a step to the right, too — when the famed musical heads around the country on a huge 50th-anniversary tour. The Rocky Horror Show's brand-new Aussie run will kick off at Theatre Royal Sydney in February, with other stops and dates yet to be announced. On offer: the tale that theatre audiences have loved for five decades — and movie-goers as well, thanks to 1975's iconic big-screen release The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For the uninitiated, the story involves college-aged couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss getting a flat tyre, then wandering over to an old castle to ask for help. That's where they discover an extra-terrestrial mad scientist from the galaxy of Transylvania, plus his staff and his Frankenstein-style experiments — and, yes, doing 'The Time Warp' is essential. As well as Donovan slipping on Frank N Furter's fishnets (fresh from popping back up in Ramsay Street to farewell Neighbours), the new Australian tour will star Myf Warhurst as The Narrator. Also set to feature: Ellis Dolan (School of Rock) as Eddie/Dr Scott, Darcey Eagle (Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical) as Columbia, Ethan Jones (9 to 5 The Musical) as Brad, Deirdre Khoo (Once) as Janet, Loredo Malcolm as Rocky (Hamilton) and Henry Rollo (Jagged Little Pill the Musical) as Riff Raff. Since first premiering in London in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has played in more than 30 countries — and over 30 million people have seen songs like 'Science Fiction/Double Feature', 'Dammit, Janet!', 'Sweet Transvestite', 'Over at the Frankenstein Place' and 'Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me'. If you haven't been before, this is your turn to join in. The Rocky Horror Show's 2023 Australian tour kicks off at Theatre Royal Sydney in February, with tickets on sale from 10am on Monday, October 17. Head to the production's website for further details. We'll update you with information on seasons in other cities when they're announced. Images: Richard Davenport, The Rocky Horror Show UK tour.
Girls to the front — Bikini Kill are coming to Australia. The iconic Kathleen Hanna-fronted, Washington-formed band instigated the Riot Grrrl movement, and will perform their first Australian shows in more than 25 years on a seven-date 2023 tour. On top of already-announced appearances at Mona Foma and Golden Plains, the trailblazing trio have now dropped the dates for a series of headline shows, appearing in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney throughout March. The solo shows will kick off at Brisbane's The Tivoli on Friday, March 3, before moving onto Lion Arts Factory in Adelaide on Sunday, March 5. They, they'll hit up The Forum in Melbourne on Wednesday, March 8, and the Sydney Opera House on Monday, March 13. In good news for the next generation of riot grrrls and underage rockers, all four of these headline shows will be all ages. Plus, Bikini Kill have also been added to the Perth Festival lineup, where they'll perform previously announced headliners Bon Iver and Björk — with the latter bringing her Cornucopia tour to Western Australia for the 2023 festival. [caption id="attachment_874299" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Debi Del Grande[/caption] "The quintessential band that blends activism and extreme fun, Bikini Kill, will take their rightful place on the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage for one of the most anticipated shows of the year," Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall said. "Kathleen Hanna, Kathi Wilcox and Tobi Vail are feminist performance-art punks whose moment never went away and are arguably needed now more than ever. Mesmerising, clever and surreal, this is a rare chance to see this legendary, razor-sharp live band that will blow you away, while revealing the constant struggle that animates them." Tickets for the Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne gigs will all go on sale at 9am local time on Monday, October 31. As for the Sydney show, tickets will be available for Sydney Opera House Insiders from 9am on Tuesday, November 1, followed by a What's On pre-sale at midday on Wednesday, November 2, and a general sale at 9am on Friday, November 4. Yes, either watching or rewatching the exceptional documentary The Punk Singer, about Hanna, should be on your must-do list right now. Fun fact: when Hanna spray-painted "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit" across her pal Mr Cobain's wall, the name of a certain grunge anthem was born. And, if you're in Sydney in any point leading up to the tour, drop into the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo, where Bikini Kill is currently being featured in the exhibition UNPOPULAR. The exhibition dips into the musical archive of entrepreneur Stephen 'Pav' Pavlovic to unveil never-before-seen photographs and footage of legendary and beloved musicians taking to Australian stages. Hanna, Wilcox and Vail appear alongside other decade-defining artists like Beastie Boys, Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Hole. [caption id="attachment_875372" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Unpopular exhibition view featuring Video, No Alternative Girls, directed by Tamra Davis, 1994. Courtesy of Tamra Davis, credit Zan Wimberley[/caption] BIKINI KILL 2023 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES: Sunday, February 26 — Mona Foma, Hobart Wednesday, March 1 — Perth Festival Friday, March 3 — The Tivoli, Brisbane Sunday, March 5 — Lions Arts Factory, Adelaide Wednesday, March 8 — The Forum, Melbourne Saturday, March 11 — Golden Plains Festival, Victoria Monday, March 13 — Sydney Opera House Bikini Kill will tour Australia between Sunday, February 26–Monday, March 13. For all the details on when tickets go on sale in each city, head to the band's website. Top image: Debi Del Grande
If you like scary movies, then you've likely watched a Scream film or five over the past quarter of a century. And, across that period — ever since the OG flick became a box-office smash in 1996, then delivered 1997's Scream 2, 2000's Scream 3, 2011's Scream 4 and 2022's Scream, plus TV spinoff Scream: The TV Series — you've seen the saga's mask-wearing killer Ghostface slash his way through the fictional Californian town of Woodsboro multiple times, as well as a college in Ohio and then Hollywood. Until now, viewers haven't witnessed the series' villain follow in The Muppets' footsteps, though. But thanks to Scream VI, which arrives in cinemas in March 2023 and just dropped its first teaser trailer, that's changing. This time around, Ghostface is getting slashy while taking — and terrorising — Manhattan. No, everyone's favourite felt characters didn't quite do that, but they did galavant across the New York City borough first. When the first Scream VI trailer begins, it's clearly Halloween, and costumes abound on a NYC subway. Among all that spooky attire: more than one black-clad person in a Ghostface mask, making passengers and franchise returnees Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera, In the Heights), her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega, Wednesday) and their film-obsessed pal Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown, Yellowjackets) more than a little distressed. Scream VI's trailer doesn't provide any other story detail, but it does still love scary movies, riffing on Alien's famous "in space, no one can hear you scream" tagline. It's also set to bring a few other familiar Scream faces back — sadly not Neve Campbell, after the actor turned down a reappearance after a salary dispute, but seeing Courteney Cox (Shining Vale) return as TV reporter Gale Weathers, Mason Gooding (Fall) pop up again after the last flick and Hayden Panettiere (Nashville) rejoin the fold following Scream 4. Will this make Panettiere's Kirby Reed the killer this time around, because this franchise does love links when it comes to Ghostface's identity? At this stage, we can only guess. What anyone who has even just heard of the Scream flicks does know, of course, is that stabbing murders and horror movie fandom will combine no matter who's wielding the knife. Ready or Not's Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return to helm Scream VI, as they did with 2021's Scream. And yes, why the franchise's titles have gone from Scream to Scream 2, Scream 3 and Scream 4, then back to Scream, and now to Scream VI, makes about as much sense as running up the stairs when someone should be heading out the front door. Also set to feature in Scream VI: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and The Other Two's Josh Segarra, Servant and The Grand Budapest Hotel's Tony Revolori, and Australian Nine Perfect Strangers and Ready or Not star Samara Weaving, plus Dermot Mulroney (Umma) and Henry Czerny (another Ready or Not alum). Check out the first Scream VI teaser trailer below: Scream VI releases in cinemas Down Under on March 9, 2023.
When life moved indoors in 2020, viewing adorable animals via streaming became a key coping mechanism. Now that Melbourne has emerged from three separate lockdowns over the past 12 months, you're probably keen to get your cute critter fix in-person, rather than through a screen — so one of the city's most popular tourist attractions has reopened to let you do just that. Shut since the beginning of the pandemic, the St Kilda Pier Breakwater is finally welcoming back visitors. Yes, that means that its penguin parade has just reopened as well. The beloved spot is home to around 1400 Little Penguins, with the colony calling the location home for decades — since the harbour was built for sailing for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The blue-feathered creatures roost in the Breakwater's rocks, and Melburnians can see them three times a night. Between now and April, hour-long self-guided viewing sessions are being held at 8.30pm, 9pm and 9.30pm, with staff on hand to answer any questions. If you're eager to check out the Little Penguins — which every Melbourne resident should at least once — booking in for a free tour is the only way you'll be able to. While there'll hopefully be plenty of aquatic flightless birds to see, you won't have too much company. Under COVID-safe arrangements, tours are limited to 30 people per session. And if you need any further motivation to head along, Little Penguins are the smallest species of penguin in the world, and only grow to around 33 centimetres tall. So yes, they really are adorable. To enhance viewing conditions in the future, the St Kilda Pier is slated to undergo a $50.3-million development, with a specific focus on providing a better place to watch the Little Penguins. First announced in 2019, construction on the rebuild is now set to start this year, working towards a 2023 completion date. The St Kilda Pier Breakwater is located at Pier Road, St Kilda. Penguin-viewing sessions are being held at 8.30pm, 9pm and 9.30pm each night from now until April — with bookings available online.
Clear your midweek calendars and dust off your beanies — one of the bright sparks that helps us get through the city's frosty winter has made its way back onto the social calendar. Queen Victoria Market's beloved Winter Night Market is heating up your hump day schedule from June 5–August 28. From 5pm every Wednesday, QVM will once again transform 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. As always, it's serving up a tantalising assortment of street eats each week, with a huge array of food vendors repping dishes from all corners of the world. Get excited for the likes of That's Amore's cheese wheel pasta, The Black Sheep's spit-roasted lamb, pork and chicken platters, Lui Boss' Korean fried chicken and corndogs, Casa Nata's famed Portuguese tarts and stacks more. They'll all be perfectly paired with warming sips like mulled wine, butterbeer, spiced Milo and hot gin toddies. As you're filling your belly with tasty winter fare, you'll be entertained with a rotation of live gigs, roving performers, Korean-style photo booths and open fires. Plus, the silent disco is also returning this year, because what better way to warm your cockles and work off a big serve of cacio e pepe than with 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 over 60 vendors slinging everything from jewellery and art, to vinyl records, vintage fashion 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 5–August 28. For more information, head to the market's website.
It has been 23 years since Mecca opened its first store in Melbourne, with the beauty retailer expanding to more than 100 Australian and New Zealand shops over that time. But none of its locations so far can match the company's soon-to-open latest addition — a huge new site in Sydney, which not only marks Mecca's first flagship store, but will also become the biggest dedicated beauty store in the southern hemisphere. Slated to open on Friday, November 27, the new shop will take over the heritage Gowings building on the corner of Market and George streets — sprawling across four levels and 1800 square metres. That's where Topshop used to sit and, if you're wondering how it compares to Mecca's other digs, it'll be more than twice the size of its current largest store at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Melbourne. It'll also span over 20 times more space than its very first store did two decades back. All that room means plenty of space for beauty products, of course — including a heap of new brands that the retailer hasn't stocked before. You'll be able to pick up Tom Ford, Moon Juice and Resorè items, which will join a curated lineup of more than 200 brands. Returning favourites range across everything from Nars and Shiseido to Drunk Elephant and Sunday Riley, plus Mecca's own signature lines Mecca Cosmetica and Mecca Max. As well as shelves upon shelves filled with foundation, lipstick, face creams, mascara, masks and more, Mecca's flagship store is dedicating more than a third of its floorplan to beauty services, too — such as naturopath Anthia Koullouros and hair salon EdwardsAndCo. Jewellery designer Sarah & Sebastian will also be on hand, doing piercing and bracelet soldering. Mecca's dedicated labs — for skin, makeup and brows — will be a feature, as will its biggest perfumeria yet. And, there'll be a Mecca gift-wrapping bar, which'll be present all-year-round but is obviously perfect for end-of-year shopping. Plus, the Mecca concierge will help point you in the right direction as you're wandering around the revamped, colour-heavy space, as designed by Sydney's Meacham Nockles. You'll be shopping while surrounded by neon yellow lifts, mosaic walls and a beauty chute — which transports products between levels. Find Mecca's new flagship store at 45 Market Street, Sydney, from Friday, November 27. Top image: Maksym Kozlenko via Wikimedia Commons.
Every year, the Japanese Film Festival, presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney, takes over cinema screens across Australia. But, thanks to the global pandemic, the annual cinematic event will look a little different this time around, returning for its 24th year as a digital festival called JFF Plus. So, warm up the popcorn and get ready for ten days of Japanese flicks that you can catch from the comfort of your couch. If there's one thing that Japanese cinema is known for, it's variety. So, expect everything from heartfelt anime to time travel adventures and geisha-inspired musical comedies. Overall, there'll be more than 25 films in this year's online program, covering feature-length flicks, documentaries and shorts, with a mix of new titles and cult classics. Highlights include quirky rom-com Tremble All You Want, family drama One Night, a documentary on the on the world-famous Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo and legendary director Yasujirō Ozu's 1952 film The Flavour of Green Tea Over Rice. Oh and did we mention it's free? [caption id="attachment_788623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Tsukiji Wonderland', 2016 Shochiku Co., Ltd.[/caption] To check out the full program, head to the Japanese Film Festival website. Top images: 'One Night', 2019 'One Night' Film partners; 'The Flavour of Green Tea Over Rice', 1952/2017 Shochiku Co., Ltd.; and 'Tremble All You Want', 2017 'Tremble All You Want' Production Committee.
The most famous of the Greek islands are wonderful to visit, of course, but they are almost perpetually swamped with tourists. Plus, large swathes of them have been totally redeveloped — they paved paradise and put up a bunch of luxury hotels. Not your vibe? Skip the likes of Santorini and Mykonos (or just stay there briefly), then sail off to more remote islands throughout Greece, where local culture is thriving hand in hand with tourism. Check out our list of recommendations so you can find your own island paradise off the beaten track. [caption id="attachment_876183" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Apostolos Zafeiriou (Unsplash)[/caption] MEGANISI, IONIAN ISLANDS We would describe this as yacht country. So few people come here by ferry and stay on the island, but it is encircled by small yachts throughout the summer. That's because this part of the Ionian Sea is full of beautiful little islands that are hard to get to with ferries — our other favourites being the nearby Kastos and Kalamos. When staying on Meganisi, spend your days laying on empty sandy beaches or snorkelling around the clear waters before heading into one of the three towns (Spartochori, Vathi, and Katomeri) for dinner and drinks. Alternatively, hire a yacht with a skipper and explore this region of the Ionian Sea from the comfort of your own wind-powered boat. That's the best way to experience Greece's lesser-known islands. Try sites like Sailogy, Boataround and Borrowaboat for decently priced yachts that come with skippers. [caption id="attachment_876198" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Johnny Africa (Unsplash).[/caption] ANAFI, CYCLADES If you're wanting a chiller version of Santorini, then check out neighbouring Anafi. Here, you'll find long stretches of sandy beaches as well as countless monasteries and churches located atop mountains. Split your time between hiking up to views of the surrounding Aegean Sea and lazing about on the beaches below. But, to get around with ease, be sure to hire quad bikes or a car. You'll stay in the village of Chora (the only village on this small island) which is built onto the slopes of the mountain. It's a quiet town that still has enough bars and restaurants to get you by. Wander up and down the winding streets to see all the locals going about their daily business, warmly welcoming you to their lesser-known Greek island paradise. [caption id="attachment_876187" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petar Lazarevic (Unsplash)[/caption] PAXOS, IONIAN ISLANDS Paxos (also known as Paxi) is a small island famous for its steep cliffs that drop right down into crystal blue waters. See also: quaint little villages that have not lost their charm to tourism. We recommend you spend a few nights in Lakka, the northernmost town, located within a cove surrounded by hills covered in pine trees. This laidback town has a few shops and restaurants located by the two beaches, but you can easily wander off to find your own secluded swimming spot. Alternatively, try the slightly larger town of Gaios for colourful architecture as well as more bars and tavernas. While you're here, be sure to take a boat tour down to Antipaxos island for even more hidden beaches sitting below chalky cliffs (no one lives on this island, so it is pristinely preserved). [caption id="attachment_876188" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Angela Kidman (Unsplash)[/caption] SYROS, CYCLADES We still don't know why this hidden gem hasn't gone the way of other tourist-heavy islands. It is super easy to get to — it has its own airport and is only a short ferry ride from Athens — and is full of locals going about their daily lives. Tourism isn't everything here. The bustling port town of Ermoupolis should be explored and lived in for a while. Yes, you can find beautiful beaches and hikes around the hills but you can also expect more culture and history. Admire the Venetian architecture, spend nights out at small local bars that sprawl out onto the streets and eat all the best fresh seafood. Enjoy the bustling island village life on Syros before exploring other nearby islands. [caption id="attachment_876189" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Despina Galani (Unsplash)[/caption] KIMOLOS, CYCLADES A few years ago, Milos was the perfect unknown island that you had to visit. But, as it goes, the word got out. That's why we recommend you get on a short ferry ride to the lesser-known Greek island Kimolos instead. This nearby island is much smaller but has the same natural landscape and still has plenty of good places to go out for dinner and drinks. Also, those who aren't keen on hiring a car or quad bike can still get around by taxi and local bus. It isn't so remote that you have to do it all on your own. You can easily get to stacks of quiet beaches (with a cheeky goat or two wandering around) or over to walking trails around abandoned monasteries and windmills overlooking the sea below. Picturesque doesn't even begin to describe Kimolos' beauty. [caption id="attachment_876190" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Apostolos Zafeiriou (Unsplash)[/caption] ITHACA, IONIAN ISLANDS Located a short ferry ride from the more popular Kefalonia is the island of Ithaca. Most accommodation on Ithaca is in the main town of Vathy, so this will likely be your base of operations. During the day, the town feels fairly quiet and deserted as everyone runs away to the many hidden coves dotted about the island. But, at night, the locals and tourists return, flooding the small streets with a lively atmosphere. It's a great place for people-watching. If you have the time, make your way to the sleepy fishing village of Kioni to experience even more of traditional life by the water. Stone homes with balconies adorned in colourful flowers as well as the small cafes and tavernas make this one of our very favourite towns to visit. [caption id="attachment_876192" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Dimitris Kiriakakis (Unsplash)[/caption] ANTIPAROS, CYCLADES Celebrities have discovered Antiparos, meaning the ferry loads of tourists can't be too far off. You should get here ASAP, to not only do your celebrity spotting but also to take in the sites before it gets too busy. It won't be a lesser-known Greek island for long. Set yourself up at a beach bar, laying in a hammock with cocktails or ice-cold beers in hand and let this become your next happy place. When you're back in the office, this is where your mind will wander. If you are looking to get a bit more active, then hike around to some of the island's caves full of stalactites and stalagmites, or wander off to the monasteries and churches located atop hills and down on beaches (like the Church of Agios Ioannis Spiliotis). You can also take a day tour to the uninhabited Despotiko Island to feel even further away from the rest of the world. Feeling inspired to book a getaway unlike anything else out there? Only through Concrete Playground Trips, our new travel booking platform, can you now purchase holidays specially curated by our writers and editors. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips to destinations all over the world. Top image: Dragos Gontariu (Unsplash)
