In recent years, Frankston has levelled up its offering for residents and visitors alike with a bigger focus on art and events, becoming a hub of activity for street artists, beach lovers and everyday folk looking for a break from the city. Coming up in 2025 are events for all interests, giving you all the more reason to come down and check out the offerings of culture, cocktails, and coastal vibes. Read on to find out what's happening in Frankston in the coming months. South Side Festival — Thursday, May 8 to Sunday, May 18 The fun seemingly never stops in Frankston, since the community favourite South Side Festival will return in 2025, marking its fourth year of showcasing and celebrating the colourful, cultural core of the Frankston area. The ten-day celebration is set to include playful circus shows from Circus Trick Tease, neon-lit art installations in Beauty Park, a dance performance by the Sydney Dance Company at Frankston Art Centre, a chilly ocean swim, artist residences, film screenings, community workshops and more. Australian Sand Sculpting Championships — Saturday, April 5 to Sunday, April 27 If you're of the opinion that sand is course, rough, irritating and that it gets everywhere, then you need to check out this autumn event. For the month of April, artists from across Australia will make a return to the championships home on the Frankston waterfront and transform it into a landscape of sculptures, recreating iconic villains from throughout literature. Attend the opening weekend to see the designs come to life and see the winner announced, or visit before the 27th to see the designs in full. You'll also get the chance to vote on a winner for the People's Choice Awards or partake in some sand-centric activities — including sand sculpting workshops, sand easter egg hunts, a sand museum and more. Frankston Street Art Festival and Block Party — Monday, March 17 to Sunday, March 23 - CONCLUDED Another popular entry on the Frankston events calendar, these annual festivals showcase the vibrant street art of the area in over a week of celebration. Celebrating the local artistic scene, the Frankston Street Art Festival attracts local, national and international artists to do their thing on the walls and laneways throughout Frankston City. In 2025, the artist lineup includes Aussie creatives like Damien Arena, Jasmine Crisp and Trent Downie, alongside international talents Simon Beuve, Manuel Guiro and Candela Colors. Celebrations kick off with the Festival Launch Party on Tuesday, March 18, with drinks, music and meet-and-greets with the artists at the Cube gallery, plus the chance to get your say in next year's lineup with the People's Choice Award. For the rest of the festival, you can take things as you please from the program. Get hands-on with workshops and speaking sessions, or take advantage of Frankston's street art tours becoming free for the week to see the new murals and maybe meet the artists before it all culminates with Block Party. This free street celebration finale will feature music from DJs Pixleton and CuznMatt, roaming entertainment from the Snuff Puppets and street art workshops popping up in White Street Mall on Saturday, March 22. The Carlsberg Beach Club — Friday, January 31 to Sunday, March 30 - CONCLUDED If you can't justify the cost of a Euro summer adventure in 2025, get a sip of the experience at Frankston Pier instead. The Carlsberg Beach Club will bring a European beach club-inspired experience to the waterfront, inviting guests to sit and take in the coastal scenery with cocktails and summer snacks between 12pm and sunset every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from January 31 to March 30. Access is free but space is limited so you'd best pre-register. Once you've secured a spot, enjoy live music from the likes of Darley, So Frency So Chic, Oil Busta, Alice Ivy, Madame Reve and more, grab a Carlsberg beer or cocktail and wash down a steak sandwich or any of the other tasty treats on the menu. Enjoy the sunset and go for a dip while you're there, too. For more information on any of the above events and to see what else is coming to Frankston in 2025, visit the website.
Travelling to a galaxy far, far away sounds rather nice at this point in 2020. If you're a Star Wars fan, that's actually quite easy, too. While this year won't deliver a new movie in the franchise for the first time since 2014, the second season of TV spinoff The Mandalorian's is heading to Disney+ from Friday, October 30. For those that missed it or need a refresher — the Star Wars universe certainly does sprawl far and wide, both within its tales and in its many different movies, shows, books and games — the Emmy-nominated show follows the titular bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal). In the series' first season, which was set five years after Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi and aired last year, that meant tracking his latest gigs. And, it also involved charting his encounter with a fuzzy little creature officially known as The Child, but affectionately named Baby Yoda by everyone watching. Also on offer the first time around: Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito playing villain Moff Gideon, aka the ex-Galactic Empire security officer determined to capture The Child; everyone from Carl Weathers and Taika Waititi to Werner Herzog playing ex-magistrates, droids and enigmatic strangers; and plenty of planet-hopping. Yes, it was firmly a Star Wars TV series, and yes, it plans to continue in the same manner. As both the previously released first trailer and the just-dropped new glimpse of The Mandalorian's second season shows, it also intends to once again focus on one of television's best pairings. Not only is Mando back, but so is the oh-so-adorable Baby Yoda. The duo's quest to return to The Child's home planet continues, and they aren't parting ways on the journey — "wherever I go, he goes," Mando advises. In addition to showering viewers in Baby Yoda's cuteness, the eight-episode new season will see Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) pop up — it is a show about a bounty hunter, after all — plus Timothy Olyphant and Rosario Dawson join the cast. Behind the lens, directors include showrunner Jon Favreau, Jurassic World star Bryce Dallas Howard, Dope's Rick Famuyiwa, Ant-Man's Peyton Reed and Alita: Battle Angel's Robert Rodriguez, as well as Weathers doing double duty on-screen and off. If you're missing Star Wars on the big screen, don't spend too long stressing. Like any good rebel, this franchise is destined to keep returning. After introducing the world to new lightsaber-wielding characters, farewelling old favourites and delving into stellar side stories for five years straight between 2015–19, more Star Wars movies are planned, because of course they are — but wannabe Jedis won't be watching them just yet. Check out the latest trailer for The Mandalorian below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICuqzhViWAI The Mandalorian's second season hits Disney+ on Friday, October 30. 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. Top image: Disney+
Longrain is no stranger to spreading its wings, with the restaurant not only boasting venues in Sydney and Melbourne, but setting up shop in Tokyo as well. Their latest expansion comes much, much closer to home, and it has been some time in the making — but, as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. Meet Longsong, which patrons will find just upstairs from Little Bourke Street's Longrain, operating from 4pm until late seven days a week. A 250-person space serving up wood-grilled and barbecued food and a diverse arrange of drinks, it's the casual sibling to Longrain, designed for hanging out over a beverage while grabbing a bite to eat. It's also a collaboration between Longrain's John and Lisa van Haandel and David Moyle of Franklin in Tasmania. With Moyle behind the menu, smokey meats, skewers, vegetables and snacks are on offer, plus salads to match, with the eatery placing a particular focus on sustainable produce. Drinks-wise, sipping on more than your standard beverage is on the bill. Think tapped wine barrels, bespoke spirits, and curated picks from local brewers, producers and makers. Unsurprisingly, the space itself is quite the drawcard, taking over a former second-storey horse stable last used in the mid-1900s. While given a modern update, that means exposed brick walls beneath lofty ceilings, an eye-catching bar that draws the light and the original stable floors — when you're not getting cosy in a booth or around a tiny table, that is. "We set about to transform the incredible space above Longrain, creating a new, casual and relaxed bar atmosphere with a lighter palate than many Melbourne offering," explains John van Haandel. "Longsong is a little bit punk, a little bit rebel, a little bit street. It's Longrain's naughty little brother. We are all very excited to open." Find Longsong upstairs at 44 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, or head to their website or Facebook page for further details.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you to the pristine beauty of Vava'u, Tonga and the lush Reef Resort. We love this place so much that we teamed up with the resort to offer an exclusive seven-night travel deal — including a discounted room rate, breakfast and lunch included and a magical five days of swimming with humpbacks. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? If you've found yourself in the tropical paradise of Vava'u, Tonga, you're already set for a spectacularly lush holiday. Pristine natural surrounds, crystal clear waters and perpetually warm temperatures: all the makings of a standout time. But, if you've also found yourself checking in to the understated luxury of Reef Resort, your time here is only going to get better. There's sprawling grounds, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and Polynesian fine dining with a Euro twist. The most special element here, though, is the chance to swim with mighty humpbacks. Big and gentle, the whales play right in front of the resort — pure magic. THE ROOMS There's only five fales (Tongan bungalows) in the resort so whenever you stay here you're guaranteed some secluded R&R. Each is self-contained and comes with a private deck — the ideal spot for a pre-whale stretch and early coffee in the morning light. There are four deluxe bungalows dotted over grounds — two on the beach and two a short walk up the hill. Each of these fales boasts sweeping vistas over the lagoon, a king bed complete with lofty canopy and enough room for three. Then, there's the Honeymoon Villa. Nearly twice the size of the deluxe fales, there's a bigger deck, a second bedroom and a more modern feel in this one (so if you're a lovebird, you'd be silly not to). FOOD AND DRINK The onsite restaurant at Reef Resort will have you savouring the earthy, spicy and fruity flavours of Polynesia. Rich coconut milk curries and ocean-fresh fish, the freshest of produce straight from the markets and sweet treats that hero the juiciest melons and papayas. The kitchen here is always helmed by an expert, with this season welcoming Chef Jürgen who is bringing a wealth of experience from time in fine-dining institutions throughout Germany, Italy and Switzerland. The restaurant and bar (pictured above) is easy breezy, with ocean views from every seat. You can expect a constantly rotating menu that features the likes of parrot fish, snapper and mahi mahi — all freshly plucked from the deep. It'll be here that you enjoy all your meals, including a three-course dinner to see out each day in the tropics. THE LOCAL AREA Vava'u isn't one island, but a group of 55. It's in this archipelago that underwater caves await for adventurous divers, pods of gentle giants swim alongside curious humans and nature-heads come to simply enjoy. Come and charter a sailing trip, go scuba diving, explore the abundant surrounds and hop from island to island before returning to your fale for a refreshing sleep in the tropics. THE EXTRAS In case lazing by the ocean under the shade of a palm isn't relaxing enough, the team's made sure there's plenty of places to plonk yourself when you want to hit the chill zone. There are hammocks and a communal sundeck — where cakes are baked fresh and served every day, and cocktails are served each day to farewell the sun. Although you won't find all-out day spas or a smorgasbord of places to refuel, you don't head to Vava'u to luxuriate in this way. Come to enjoy the untouched perfection of the area and the whales. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
Running on some serious Weetbix numbers, cereal-loving Irish twins Alan and Gary Keery want to bring their childhood love of milk and grain to East London's Shoreditch. Stocking 100 cereals, 12 milks and 20 toppings, the puntastically-named Cereal Killer Cafe sounds like the breakfast bar of our dreams, with cereal cocktails, 18 Pop-Tart flavours, toast variations and local London tea and Saturday morning cartoons on tap. Developing the idea after a huge night out, the Keerys craved that cereal fix of yesteryear but found London wanting for participating breakfast spots. Inspired by existing cereal cafes in the US like Cereality (where counter staff are called "cerealogists" and wear pyjamas as a uniform), the brothers saw a niche in the London market to indulge fellow cereal enthusiasts. "Cereal Killer Cafe will re-imagine how we enjoy our cereal... letting you, the customer, tailor a bowl to your exact taste," say the twins on their Indiegogo site. "And because of our extensive range of milks we will cater to vegans, vegetarians and even awkward children." Hooray! Even awkward children! The Keerys have been working on the business plan for eight months, finding inspiration for the interior design in their favourite breakfast friends. "The whole look [is] based on a bowl of Lucky Charms," they said, further detailing their vision for milky cream walls and exposed brick interiors. "Cereal cafés already existed in America so we have put our own twist to it, presenting the cafe with a vintage style and having it decorated wall to wall with old cereal boxes and memorabilia." The Shoreditch cafe will feature old televisions playing cereal's longtime soulmate: cartoons (showing exclusively on Saturday mornings, as things should be). Stocking every last boxed breakfast favourite from Lucky Charms to Special K, Cereal Killer will serve up small, medium and large bowls, as well as 'combo meals' paired with toast, Pop-Tarts, local tea and juice boxes. Adventurous breakfasters might be up for the cereal cocktails like 'Smore Than Words' (golden graham crackers, mini marshmallows and chocolate milk) and 'Crunchy Nutcase' (Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, Crunchy Nut Clusters, walnuts, pecans and hazlenut milk). https://youtube.com/watch?v=u_h1pHxfnHA Having scrimped and saved their own small dosh hoard, the twins aren't entirely without funding. But London's cafe market runs on a sword's edge (particularly in Shoreditch) so the pair looked to Indiegogo for the final push. "We have already put together 20k of our own savings, but before approaching the banks we want to let our customers be part of the journey. Because we know there are other people out there as passionate about cereal as we are!" Having only raised £785 of their £60,000, the Keerys are hopeful more early-risers and sugar-craving, Saturday morning cartoon-loving Big Kids will invest. But if Crunchy Nut's Londoncentric campaign (below) is indicative of positive market research results, the Keerys will surely find fellow cereal killers around town happy to throw them a pound or two. Via London24 and Buzzfeed. Top image credits Gary and Alan Keery.
Come May, there'll be more than a splash of colour added to your daily commute, with six of the city's trams transforming into giant, moving artworks. They'll be hitting the city's public transport network for the latest edition of Melbourne Art Trams, and they'll be breaking new ground in 2021 — because, for the first time, the trams will only be decked out with designs from First Nations artists. Four of 2021's trams will feature art from creatives who identify as Traditional Owners of Victoria, while two trams will showcase pieces from First Peoples artists who live in the state. The artworks will "respond to Melbourne and the multiple layers of history, country, diverse community and connections across Victoria", and Expressions of Interest submissions are now open, closing at 6pm AEDT on Monday, February 1. Whichever designed emerge victorious, the trams will hit the tracks earlier than usual, too, with their timing coinciding with the new Rising festival — the event that merges Melbourne International Arts Festival and arts all-nighter White Night — which starts on May 26. One tram will launch to mark the fest's opening, while the other five will debut over the following weeks, with each decked-out tram doing the rounds for a 12-month period. "It is exciting that for the first time in Melbourne Art Trams history, the project will be focusing on the talent of First Peoples artists from across Victoria. This shift to celebrate and support First Peoples artists with the iconic program is a recognition of our stories and deep connections to the city and that reach out to the regions," said Art Trams curator and Rising Artistic Associate, Kimberley Moulton. "The representation of First People's culture and voice in public art and celebration of the cultural strength of community is something I am passionate about, so I am particularly proud to be involved in the curation of this project and look forward to working with the community in realising their works in this way for all of Victoria and our visitors to enjoy." Melbourne Art Trams is a collaboration between Rising, Creative Victoria, Yarra Trams and Public Transport Victoria, allowing local artists submit their own original tram-inspired designs — and has run as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival in previous years. The first of Melbourne's art trams will hit the tracks from May 26, with the rest of the fleet joining them in the following weeks and running for 12 months. For further details, or to submit your own design if you're a First Nations artist, head to the Rising website. Images: Melbourne Art Tram, Reko Rennie/James HH Morgan.
Prahran's interior design boutique and gallery Fenton & Fenton is putting on one big ole' sale this weekend from Friday, October 26 through Sunday, October 28. Head in to the Aussie designer's warehouse location in Oakleigh South to nab its range of furniture, decor and homewares at up to 80 percent off. The sale will include discounts on bespoke items from the Fenton & Fenton collection, with a focus on ex-display, imperfect and one-off pieces — think rugs, outdoor furniture, textiles, vintage items and lighting fixtures. They'll still be expensive but, if you're going to splash out, now's the time to do it. Don't forget to RSVP for a specific day over here and get in early to get the best picks of the day. The Fenton & Fenton Warehouse sale is open from 8.30am–5pm Friday, and 9am–4pm Saturday and Sunday.
Melbourne's local gin heroes Four Pillars is getting in on the negroni week action by launching its signature pop-up stores around the country. In Melbourne, that pop-up will take place within the Garden State Hotel on Flinders Lane. It'll offer the gin brand's new range of bottled negronis, which range from a spiced coffee version to a herbaceous number and one that uses Four Pillars' famed Bloody Shiraz Gin. You can enjoy these batched cocktails at the bar, or purchase for takeaway, with a four pack also on offer. For the die hard cocktail fans, the custom built shop will also be selling Negroni t-shirts and Breakfast Negroni Marmalade for the duration of the event. The pop-up bar will run throughout negroni week and the Four Pillars distillery will also be slinging these limited edition bottles — with $1 of every negroni sold at either bar going to Scarf.
For the eighth time, Golden Plains Festival is coming back to the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, and the ballot is open today. 2014's festival goes down from March 8-10 and has announced that the headliner will be none other than the hip hop megastars Public Enemy. The festival is all about a chilled long weekend of camping, picnicking, watching bands and generally loving life. Last year featured the likes of Cat Power, Flume and the legendary George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. Golden Plains Festival promises to be a haven away from your more traditional festivals. No crummy stores, no corporate sponsors and especially no dickheads (they maintain a self-policing 'Dickhead' Policy). You take your own booze, you camp wherever you want and spend the weekend as if you were living in a weird and lovely commune. As per previous years, tickets are being sold in four ways, the first being the ballot. The first round is for existing subscribers, and entries close October 21. Non-subscribers have until October 28. Public sales in selected stores open on November 7, and online sales open on November 8. Each ticket costs $319, plus booking fee and postage. The ticket gets you in on Saturday, gives you free parking and camping, and gets you out again on Monday. So get yourself into the ballot, and don't forget appropriate footwear.
Whether you need one to shield your eyeballs because face masks fog up your sunnies, or you're just a generally stylish and sun-safe individual, the classic bucket hat looks set to score some time in the spotlight this summer. And what better way to jump aboard the train, than with an unashamedly branded little number from your flatpack hero IKEA. Yep, the Swedish furniture retailer has shimmied right on into the accessories game, with its new Knorva bucket hat, priced at an easy $3.50 a pop. The one-size-fits-all headpiece has only just hit shelves, but already has Aussies utterly obsessed, with a hefty 2000 units snapped up in just one day. Crafted from the same durable material used for Ikea's signature blue Frakta carrier bags, the hats are extra versatile, designed to offer your noggin protection from both sun and rain. A year-round wardrobe winner, if you will. As an added bonus, the bucket hats are also low-maintenance, requiring little more than a rinse and dry to keep them clean. Perhaps don one to get you in the mood for whipping up a batch of IKEA's meatballs, or team with your Frakta bag for the ultimate park picnic kit. https://www.facebook.com/ikea.au/posts/10158730361883288 If you're keen to nab a bucket hat, but haven't seen any at your local IKEA store, don't stress — some states are now able to order the Knorva online. Plus, IKEA is hustling to get lots more stock to our shores in time for those hat wearin' days of summer. IKEA's Knorva bucket hats are available in select Australian stores. Otherwise, you might be able to snap one up online.
After success on the south coast of NSW, Home Thyme Melbourne opened its doors in Williamstown in 2018. Inside the cute store on Douglas Parade you'll find on trend homewares and gifts, with a focus on Australian designers, hidden treasures and affordable prices. This place doesn't take itself seriously, with the online store sorted into categories like 'soft stuff', 'scented stuff' and 'other stuff' — that casual vibe extends to friendly service and knowledgeable staff that are happy to help with any styling questions you might have. The range in store is always changing, embracing the seasons with cute croquet sets, picnic baskets and beach pillows, and keeping it classic with stylish homewares staples like candles, flowers, ceramics, art and furniture.
As any design blog will tell you, the future is a land where nature marries technology. Oh yes friends, we will have our green skyscrapers, our moss-festooned techsessories, and our Alderaan-like organic cities full of people wearing microchipped decorative ferns on their heads. Probably. And how will we light the interiors of this utopian Ewok village? With glow-in-the-dark plants, of course. Here's the twist: thanks to biotech company Bioglow, the future is now, except for the head ferns. The secret of Bioglow's glowing plants is autoluminescence, the ability to generate light without any externally supplied substrate. That means no UV lights, no chemicals, no dyes and no electricity. After years of development, Bioglow has now perfected a plant with the power of autoluminescence, a truly exciting advance in the search for alternative and sustainable sources of light beyond electricity. It's also a beautiful idea visually, conjuring images of an Avatar-like world of illuminated foliage. Amusingly, the Biglow autoluminescent plant is actually called the Starlight Avatar. Apparently the strength of its glow best resembles starlight. So how does it work? The Starlight Avatar is just like a firefly or deep sea jellyfish, with light-giving properties embedded in its cellular make-up. Back in 2010, a molecular biologist named Dr Alexander Krichevsky published his research regarding light-emitting plants in the journal PLOS One. Technology entrepreneur Tal Eidelberg quickly got on board, and the collaborators worked on increasing the lumen-power of their prototype. Now you can even score a Starlight Avatar for yourself (if you have a lot of spare change to bid on pioneering technologies) by registering for the early February auction of 20 of the autoluminescent indoor plants. They're available only in the US though, so get your people over there onto it, stat. Via PSFK.
In the latest wave of fast food chains trying to pretend they're not really fast food chains, Domino's has opened a new 'concept store' in Sydney. It seems the global pizza place must have caught a bad case of FOMO from old-time rival Pizza Hut, who opened its own Waterloo concept store back in November. Domino's has been hitting the niche food offering trend hard lately, adding vegan cheese to its menu back in January and opening a similar outlet in Brisbane last year. But whatever the reason, it's happening — and we really don't have a definitive answer as to why. As to be expected, the shop looks absolutely nothing like the regular blue-and-red hole-in-the-wall Domino's store you're used to seeing around. The 30-seat dine-in restaurant attempts to emulate a 1930s Italian pizzeria with retro forest green tiling, pendant lighting and espresso machine, along with a timber counter and an unfinished exposed ceiling. It even has a bookshelf full of succulents. An open kitchen and spot for alfresco dining round out this desperate attempt to be cool. The menu is getting its own upgrade, with "hand-stretched" and "hand tossed" pizza bases replacing the usual. New 'premium' pizza toppings include bocconcini, rocket and prosciutto, duck, blue cheese and chorizo. But we're still left with one question: why? It all sounds — and, we're sure, tastes — just fine, but Domino's is loved because it's cheap and has an easy online ordering system, and it seems odd that it would try to compete with other pizzerias in the area. Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Redfern are already home to so many restaurants slinging legit pizzas, like Maybe Frank, Dimitris, La Coppola and Bar Reggio. Not to mention the city as a whole is chockas with pizza joints we'd highly recommend going to. For us, chains like Domino's and Pizza Hut serve their own purpose — that is, to be cheap, quick and great on a drunk/hungover stomach. But we might see more of these concept stores in the future as they attempt to weasel into Australia's homegrown food scene. The Domino's Surry Hills concept store is now open at 17 Randle Street, Surry Hills. It's open seven days from 11am until late. For more info, visit dominos.com.au. Image: Domino's Brisbane.
Gather your friends and make tracks to your favourite local green space this summer. With weather this fine, it makes sense to enjoy lunch al fresco. And you don't need to spend hours in the kitchen preparing, either — Melbourne's retail scene offers opportunity a-plenty. Curate your own gourmet picnic hampers from scratch, or, pay someone to do it for you. Here's our guide to the what's what of Melbourne's picnic-packing scene. CURED MEATS, MEATSMITH Meatsmith prides itself on sourcing the highest quality meat from dedicated, ethical farmers and specialises in skilled butchery and on-site dry-aging. The selection is what you'd expect from restaurant stalwart Andrew McConnell and butcher Troy Wheeler, whose shared insight ensures consistent quality and lots of options. Cured meats and charcuterie marry well with a wide selection of pantry items, including chutneys, relishes, sauces, olives and pickled goods. Pair some slices of wagyu pastrami and a pot of pork rillette with some house-made chermoula or sriracha, for example. Guests can also browse the wine selection, thoughtfully chosen by Leanne Altmann, sommelier and wine buyer for McConnell's Supernormal. Meatsmith has stores in Fitzroy and St Kilda. CHEESE, THE CHEESE SHOP DELI This South Yarra staple sits pretty within Prahran Market, serving a hearty selection of cheese from all over the world, as well as an impressive local assortment. The Il Forteto, a Tuscan pecorino stuffed with shaved truffle, is a best-seller, while the washed-rind L'Artisan Mountain Man raises the flag for local Victorian produce. If you like a side of conversation with your cheese, you won't be disappointed. Angelo and Diane Polidoras prefer to serve with a smile and are on a first name basis with many of their clientele — "don't brie a stranger", they say. BOOZE, BLACKHEARTS & SPARROWS Food and drink are a social experience in as much as they are a sensory pleasure, and nothing completes a warm afternoon more than a tipple with your close friends. Blackhearts & Sparrows calls itself a "purveyor of unique wine, beer and cider" and was established on the understanding that quality booze shouldn't be intimidating or overpriced. The independent chain now boasts seven stores across Melbourne (Brunswick, East Brunswick, Fitzroy, North Fitzroy, Kensington, Richmond and Windsor), each showcasing weird and wonderful alcoholic produce from local and international makers. THE TRIMMINGS, VARIOUS FARMERS MARKETS Dive headfirst into a world of local produce and pack your picnic with items from some of Victoria's finest farms. There are plenty of farmers' markets across Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs — Carlton, Hawthorn, Abbotsford, St Kilda to name a few. Enjoy fresh fruit and juices, seasonal veggies, fresh bread, artisanal jams and preserves, and sometimes even alcohol. THE WHOLE SHEBANG, THE STABLES OF COMO Settle yourself in the picturesque gardens of Como House and get stuck into a pre-prepared picnic, courtesy of The Stables. For $60 per person, your can enjoy a picnic hamper with all the trimmings — we're talking pastries and quiches, fried chicken, vegetable salads and desserts (and cotton candy). They'll also include picnic rugs, crockery and blankets. For an additional $40, they'll even throw in a bottle of house wine. We'll drink to that. ALL-IN-ONE, FITZROVIA The good folk at St Kilda's Fitzrovia are specialists in the picnic business. If you're pushed for time and can't curate your own hamper, sit back and let Fitzrovia prepare and pack the perfect picnic for you. They'll build a five course gourmet grazing lunch that showcasing items from the current Fitzrovia menu — enjoy pastries, sandwiches, salads, cheese and sweets without a hint of stress. Your hamper will also come equipped with cutlery, crockery, napkins and glassware, as well as soft drinks and sparkling water. All you have to do is return the basket the following day. Hampers cost $150 (enough for two hungry people) and it's suggested you order 24 hours in advance.
The next time you watch two of Disney's best-loved animated hits, you won't be belting out "it's the circle of life" and "let it go" (or trying to resist the urge to sing along while sitting in a crowded cinema). When The Lion King Reo Maori and Frozen Reo Maori hit theatres in Australia and New Zealand in 2022, they'll still include everything that's made audiences adore both movies over the years — and both films will be dubbed in te reo Māori as well. The Mouse House has announced that it's creating and releasing new Māori-language versions of The Lion King and Frozen in conjunction with NZ company Matewa Media, after Moana Reo Māori proved a big hit. Producers Chelsea Winstanley (Jojo Rabbit) and Tweedie Waititi (Moana Reo Māori, Rūrangi) are behind the new releases, and have started work on giving the two Oscar-winning flicks a new voice. "It was always our dream to dub more Disney films that our tāmariki love into te reo Māori. We are extremely thrilled to continue this journey with The Walt Disney Company — it clearly demonstrates their commitment as a company to diversity and inclusion," said Winstanley. It might seem like a straightforward change, but the importance of giving audiences access to beloved tales in different languages — and, for New Zealanders, in the country's Indigenous language — really can't be underestimated. And, it's hardly common practice, but Moana and now The Lion King and Frozen are leading the charge. Viewers will be able to check out the results in June and September 2022, with The Lion King Reo Maori releasing first to commemorate Matariki (Māori New Year) and Frozen Reo Maori hitting cinemas around Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Māori Language Week. Presumably, the films will also then head to Disney+ — which is where you can stream Moana Reo Māori right now. Trailers for The Lion King Reo Maori and Frozen Reo Maori don't yet exist, understandably, but you can check out a video for Moana Reo Māori below instead: The Lion King Reo Maori will hit cinemas in June 2022, and Frozen Reo Maori will follow in September 2022 — we'll update you with exact dates when they're announced.
Even for an industry that thrives on the baffling and the bizarre, Snoop Dogg's recent announcement that he is Bob Marley reincarnated and is changing his name to Snoop Lion is one of the weirder things you're likely to hear in music. But Snoop is not the first and certainly won't be the last celebrity to transform his image and develop an alter-ego. Musicians are notorious for their reason-defying epiphanies that are usually indicative of either groundbreaking creativity or mid-career slumps. Here are seven more wacky, wonderful celebrity musician transformations. David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust David Bowie made a career out of defying audience expectations through his bizarre ensemble of alter-egos and jumpsuits. With Ziggy Stardust and its associated album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie became a sex-crazed rock star from Mars and his popularity hit stratospheric levels. Joaquin Phoenix/Weird Hairy Rapper Phoenix went from being that strangely handsome, Oscar-nominated film star of Gladiator and Walk the Line to being the punchline of every talk show host in Hollywood after his unexplainable foray as a distinctly unshaven rapper as part of mockumentary, I'm Still Here. Bob Dylan/Born Again Christian Bob Dylan's infamous turn as a born again Christian seemed to split fans right down the middle. While Grammys and fawning critics continued to flow, his mid-show preaching and refusal to play any of his old "atheist" music wore thin pretty quickly. Katy Hudson/Katy Perry Katy Hudson was the clean-cut gospel singer, raised by preacher parents and forbidden from listening to "secular" music. In a drastic sexformation she then kissed a girl, married a sex addict and the rest, as they say, is history. Garth Brooks/Chris Gaines Country musician Garth Brooks was not satisfied with multi-platinum success and decided to channel his emo tendencies into his alter-ego, Chris Gaines. After a combination of utter bemusement followed by wild laughter from critics and fans alike, the Gaines experiment was (mercifully) shelved for good. Lady Gaga/Jo Calderone After meat dresses and gratuitous nudity it's pretty hard to be surprised by Lady Gaga anymore. But appearing at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards dressed as a bloke named Jo Calderone and looking distinctly like John Travolta in Grease was pretty weird, even for her. Lizzy Grant/Lana Del Rey Pop music's newest pin-up girl, bringing wide-eyed, vacant heartbreak to the masses, started her career as Lizzy Grant and the far less headline-grabbing stage name, Sparkle Rope Jump Queen. One failed album and a sleepily seductive YouTube clip later, pop-music juggernauts Stranger Records scooped her up and transformed Lizzy into Lana and had radio stations across the globe gossiping about her ad nauseam.
Melbourne's Northbank will blossom on Sunday, September 1, with eco-warrior Joost Bakker unveiling 150,000 tulips along the Yarra River. The designer and activist — who has recently been involved in building the world's most sustainable shopping centre in Burwood Brickworks — has brought in the huge mass of tulips with him from his family's farm in Monbulk. They've been onsite at Seafarers since mid-August, but will be placed along the water, lining the wharf in front of the Riverlee display suite beneath the restored Malcolm Moore Crane and alongside the Goods Shed No. 5, come Sunday when the first day of spring arrives. If the move sounds familiar, that's because Bakker did something similar last year, but in Hosier Lane. It's part of his ongoing quest to raise awareness about the country's flower growers, as well as the impact of imported bouquets. Bakker has a particularly personal connection to the topic, and not just because his relatives have been connected to the tulip trade since the 1800s. Actually, 2019 marks the last year that anyone in the Bakker family will work in the industry, with Joost's brother giving it up this year because it's no longer economically viable. "For the last four of five years, flower growers have struggled to maximise their economic potential due to an industry facing headwinds; imported flowers now account for a large portion of the market, meaning a lot of growers in Australia have gone out of business," explained Joost. "We want people to come and visit the activation, learn about the industry and what they can do to help and take a beautiful tulip home with them." If you're keen to take a look at the sea of flowers — and grab a few beauties for yourself or your loved ones — then head over to the riverfront precinct from early Sunday morning. The installation will stay in place until all of the blooms have been given away, with collections available from Seafarers Bridge along the length of the wharf.
When people think of experimental music, they often imagine Bjork wailing through electronic beeps while peering over an Icelandic cliffside. But somehow, The Instrument Builders Project takes this genre to a new extreme. For the past couple of years a group of Australian and Indonesian musicians and artists have been devising creative new ways to make and experience sound. Now they're inviting you to see what they've come up with. From November 1-23, these artists will be holed up in the NGV hosting concerts, exhibitions, workshops and talks about their work. This includes the strange and fantastical instruments they make — like this multi-coloured Wonka-esque walking music factory — and this live art project that sees participants blindfolded and guided through city streets with what looks like megaphones strapped to their ears. Never a dull moment. Though these works have been developed and exhibited in Indonesia, this will be the first time they've touched down on Australian soil. Be the first to delve into the strangeness.
Ever-fascinated by transforming the human body, Australian artist Lucy McRae has collaborated with biology professor Sharef Mansy to develop Swallowable Parfum, a perfume that isn't applied to the skin but taken as a pill. According to the website, the perfume capsule "enables human skin to emit a genetically unique scent about who we are we are and how we perform our identities." Sounds great, but what if the resulting "unique scent" isn't appealing? The prototype perfume is part of McRae's ongoing exploration of the human body and how it interacts with technology. In addition to a unique scent, "tiny golden droplets" appear on the skin upon perspiration. Wouldn't it be nice if all scents glittered too?
Some scents will always stay with you — and for anyone who grew up eating as many rainbow Paddle Pops as they could manage whenever the weather was warm, that sweet treat's caramel-meets-vanilla aroma is the scent of summer. Now, it can be the fragrance that wafts through your home no matter the season, too, all thanks to a new range of ice cream-flavoured candles and other scented items. The company that's helping turn your home into an ice cream-scented dream: Dusk. Adding to its range of enticingly scented goods, it's now trying to conjure up dessert cravings. Teaming up with Streets, the chain is releasing four different lines all inspired by ice creams, with the full range hitting shelves in-store from Thursday, August 11, and available online now. Obviously, one batch of items is scented like rainbow Paddle Pops, the go-to gem of supermarket freezers. You can choose between two types of candles — one with three wicks, one with two (none with John), and also some misting oil, all of which smells like vanilla bean, strawberry and caramel. Three fellow classic sweet treats are getting the same treatment, too: Golden Gaytime, Bubble O'Bill and Splice. Yes, it's a big time for getting your Golden Gaytime fix in multiple ways, given that Streets has also just paired up with Oak on an Oak chocolate milk-flavoured Golden Gaytime as well. The Golden Gaytime candles smell like toffee, vanilla and chocolate, while the Bubble O'Bill versions will emit the scent of strawberries and raspberries — not bubblegum. As for the Splice, the aroma of pine lime and vanilla will be floating through your home. Dusk's Streets line also includes assorted tealights and melts smelling like all of the above, with prices starting at $14.99 (for a ten-pack of tealights or a four-pack of melts). The oil costs $24.99, the two-wick candles $49.99 and the three-wick candles $59.99. Constantly being hungry for ice cream is about to become your new reality, clearly — and if you also decked out your abode with Gelato Messina candles a few years back, and Tim Tam candles as well, consider this your latest sweet-smelling must-have. Dusk's range of Paddle Pop, Golden Gaytime, Splice and Bubble O'Bill candles, tealights and other scented item hit stores from Thursday, August 11, and are available online now. Head to the company's website for further information.
Pasta and parmesan are one of Italian cuisine's perfect pairings. Eat the former without the latter, and your tastebuds will know the difference. And while sprinkling your spaghetti with fine shavings of hard cheese is all well and good (and delicious), that's nothing compared to devouring a bowl of pasta that has been prepared inside a parmesan wheel. If it sounds like all of your culinary dreams come true, that's because it is — and it's the dish in the spotlight at Cucinetta's returning Parmesan Wheel Week. After a swag of successful previous events, the South Yarra restaurant is bringing this cheesy situation back for 2023, once again serving up the Italian specialty pasta cacio e pepe straight out of a wheel of 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano. And, despite the name, the $39.99 special is actually running across two full weeks. Given that cacio e pepe is a pasta concoction made with parmesan and pepper — think fancier, tastier mac 'n' cheese — the results promise quite the cheesy meal. The dish will be available at Cucinetta for lunch from 12–3pm and dinner from 5pm–close between Sunday, January 1–Sunday, January 15. We'd tell you to arrive hungry, but we're sure that just thinking about it already has you feeling ravenous.
'Fresh' may be what we've been told to go for, with every other cafe and restaurant coaxing us in with the term, but not all things should be consumed according to a 'best by' date; some, dare we say, should have a 'better after' date instead. Really, some things are just better with age (see: wine, whisky, wisdom). So, in partnership with Coopers to celebrate their 2017 Vintage Ale release, we're exploring the lesser-known delicacies which can also improve with a bit of time — like beer. From increasing depth of flavour in drinks to the endless health benefits of ageing certain foods, time can sometimes be of the essence when it comes to the finest things in life. BEER While the idea of a wine cellar is pretty commonplace, far fewer have heard of a beer cellar. Like the ageing of a fine wine, beer too can get better with age. Whether preserved in a bottle or barrel-aged, saving your beer for a later date can often bring out complex characteristics that could not be achieved when freshly brewed. This is true of most darker, bigger beers, like stouts, porters and barley wines (which is actually just a style of ale). They hold deep malt flavours and high alcohol content that has yet to be unpacked when still fresh. Take the Coopers Limited Release 2017 Vintage Ale, for example, which is specifically brewed to be cellared, saved for a later date. This year's recipe balances caramalt with Denali and Calypso hops to bring out a fruity and delicate aroma that gives way to rich, sweet, caramel characters when aged. Many sour beers are also prime for saving, especially those brewed with brettanomyces yeast, notable for its rather funky character. While ageing dark beers generally intensifies flavours, ageing sours normally mellows out the brew, so if you're into a big funky beer, then cellaring it may not be the right choice. Now, not all beer is better when aged. Though Coopers ales have a 'best after' date due to the secondary fermentation that takes place in the bottle or keg, and while their pale ale is better with time and even an aged version of their sparkling ale is starting to pop up on tap at certain bars, IPAs and golden ales will struggle to last if stored away. These beers should be consumed fresh, or they'll lose their hop flavour and often go skunked. And whenever you are looking to save a special bottle of beer, the same rules apply as for cellaring wine — keep in a dark, cool place. Though, unlike wine, beer should be stored upright, or else it can lose its carbonation. TEA Not all teas are created equal. While some teas are meant to be consumed fresh and young, like white, yellow and most green teas, other teas are best consumed once they've been 'rested'. Rested teas are simply those that have been stored away to, well, rest for some time. Much like the contrast of storing dark and sour beers, rested teas can be stored to allow for any sharp flavours to soften, or conversely, to deepen flavours and bring out a richer character. Once a tea has been stored long enough, it can then fall into the 'aged tea' category. While there's no definitive timeframe for when a tea will be officially considered 'aged', generally teas that have been rested for at least five years can receive the title (and in turn a hefty price tag). And as with cellaring wine and beer, you shouldn't store any old tea. Deciding which teas to age depends on the type of tea, quality of the leaves and, most importantly, what will happen with the flavour profile as it ages. BEEF Old meat is spoilt meat, right? Wrong. Pretty much all of the beef you eat is aged because, as it turns out, it actually tastes better that way. Strangely enough, fresh beef actually tastes less like what we think beef is supposed to taste like. So, all fresh beef is aged for at least a few days and up to several weeks in order to allow the natural enzymes to break down the muscle tissue, making for a better texture and flavour. For optimal tenderness, dry ageing is most effective between 14–28 days, while some high-end restaurants age beef for up to 240 days to enhance flavour — they'll charge you a pretty penny for that 'old' meat, too. The general consensus is that 30–40 days of dry ageing will bring you some pretty tasty meat, though. Wet-aged beef is also popular, though less spoken about, and is when meat is aged in a vacuum-sealed bag to retain moisture. SOURDOUGH The pillowy addictiveness of sourdough bread is known far and wide, which is not so much the case for where the 'sour' comes from. This type of bread is made from an aged starter, which begins as nothing but flour and water and is then fermented over time with wild yeast and lactobacillus. That same starter is used time and again, for years and years, because generally the older your starter, the better tasting the bread. Some of the best are over 30 years old, with supposedly some that have even aged over 100 years. And as a bonus, this ageing process doesn't just help make the bread incredibly airy, but also makes it healthier for you. The slow fermentation and long preparation time of sourdough neutralises phytic acid, making it better for your gut to digest, even for those sensitive to gluten. [caption id="attachment_599287" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Steve Woodburn.[/caption] VEGETABLES The idea of aged veggies isn't a very pleasant one. Like meat, we're taught that fresh is the ultimate way to get your greens. Though, that fresh veg crunch is something we crave, and even some raw vegetables are best that way (lettuce), experimenting with the ageing process can enhance the flavours (and health benefits) of your vegetables. The world of fermented foods is pretty vast. You have your known — cabbage into sauerkraut, cucumbers into gherkins — and you have your lesser-known, which includes an extensive list of veg that you can age using various pickling techniques. Fermenting vegetables usually only requires some salt, water and, depending, maybe some whey. Plus, you can pickle almost anything, from the usual cabbage and cucumbers to root vegetables, radishes, string beans, garlic, cauliflower, ginger and even pineapple. Sometimes ageing can be a great thing. Get your hands on some Coopers Vintage Ale 2017 and try it yourself. Words: Marissa Ciampi and Quinn Connors.
Malvern might be accustomed to welcoming new cafes, but Leah Blefari is accustomed to the difficulties of eating out with particular dietary. And this is why, perhaps, her new café Tonic & Grace will stand out from the Glenferrie Road crowd. Open now and nestled in near Malvern Station, Tonic & Grace has a menu almost entirely made up of vegan and vegetarian fare, with the option of adding a sly egg or bit of smoked salmon here and there. All inclusive of vegos, vegans, gluten-free and dairy-free folks, the cafe is doing a couple of things to the beat of their own drum — and it's a worthy drum to be banging. "80 percent [of the menu] is vegan," says Blefari. "So people that are vegan or gluten intolerant don't need to worry about what's in their food. There's still the option of adding different proteins for those who don't have dietary restrictions. The whole idea was to flip the coin — usually people with dietaries have to chop and change; how about we make it easier for them and let everyone else add on what they like?" Blefari's menu includes some of the classic brekky goodness Melburnians have grown to love and demand from their city, including — of course — the omnipotent smashed avocado. This one's vegan though, served with quinoa, beetroot hummus and a sesame crumb, and "people go crazy for it," says Blefari. There are also multiple — six — milk choices, ranging from soy to rice. The cafe's range points to inclusiveness everywhere it can, something Blefari sees as an integral focus. "We want people recognising that everyone does eat differently and that it's ok. I would love to make some waves, seeing that other cafes follow suit and have all the dietary requirements accessible for people," says Blefari. Future plans for Tonic & Grace will stretch beyond breakfast options. Blefari wants the cafe to be a one-stop, on-the-way-back-from-the-train-station effort for the folk of Malvern, and is looking at providing ready-made, fresh meals for those too busy to cook. "Clean, fresh, take home meals, sort of like Hello Fresh… on your way to or from the train station, if you want some dinner, we'll have it there waiting for you — that's the aim." With big goals (and milk selections) abounding, our interest is certainly piqued. The "Nyctophilia" certainly helps: dark chocolate and pea protein pancakes, with strawberries, walnuts, salted caramel and dark chocolate ganache — made from raw cacao — and, of course, all vegan and gluten free. Find Tonic & Grace at 63 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, or visit its Facebook page for further details.
Cadbury, stahp. Cadbury, please staaaahp ruining everything we hold dear. We don’t know who keeps telling Cadbury that we want new, exciting and messed-up chocolate flavours, but they’ve released three new grotesque creations to the coveted Milk Tray lineup and it truly is a sign of the end times. Introducing Kale Crème, Wasabi Crunch and Beetroot Jelly, the next generation’s equivalent of Top Deck, Snack and Caramello. Let’s have a moment of silence to mourn simpler times. Apparently, Beetroot Jelly is meant to cater to health nuts (who will not be eating chocolate anyway, so why ruin it for the rest of us?), while Wasabi Crunch will capitalise on the popularity of "Asian flavours" (because there are apparently no more dessert-appropriate flavours in all of Asia to choose from). Then there's Kale Crème, the most vulgar flavour of them all, which is a response to a demand for savoury tastes. You guyyyys, we meant peanuts. Salt. Maybe chilli. These are the savoury flavours we want, and of all the savoury flavours you had to choose from kale was the winner? It’s not even tasty in its natural form (and don’t you dare pretend it is, health nuts) Unsurprisingly, it was reported that testers found the wasabi too sharp and the kale too bitter, although beetroot did pass (still doesn’t mean it should take up a whole pocket in a Milk Tray though). News.com.au were brave enough to see what lies beneath the new Milk Tray additions, here's their snap: Dramatics aside, Cadbury have been getting fairly… experimental with their flavours lately (need we remind you of Vegemite chocolate?) and this is not the first time the Milk Tray has been changed (RIP lime cordial). But after 100 years, the international confectionery giants are still trying to appeal to a younger audience who apparently can’t get enough of gimmicks. Well, you know what, they’re probably right. We need to try that Kale Crème. Goddammit, you’ve got our number Cadbury. Via The Vine. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
If a mysterious night away from the world you currently inhabit is what you're after, it's one you'll get with Underground Cinema. Known for throwing its participants terrifyingly head first into a live immersive experience, the purveyors of immersive cinema have 40 different temporary worlds under their belts. And their latest effort, running at the end of May, is themed "Delirium". Hints and rumours are all you'll get before you go, with the actual film screening always kept a secret – participants are meant to figure it out as they go, taking part in the interactive experience and collating all the clues. But what we do know is that "Delirium" will involve stepping back in time to the 1950s, into a mystery-thriller, and — as always — being taken to a location that remains secret until just before the event. In the past, Underground Cinema has put its audiences through a zombie apocalypse (28 Days Later), a medieval court (The Princess Bride) and a WWII throwback (Casablanca). What exactly you'll be doing in the 1950s remains to be seen but if past events are anything to judge by, you'll be fully plunged into the world from the get-go. As with all its events, there'll be hot food available and a full bar, so don't worry about getting stranded and hungry. You might just need that drink, too. The night will be sinister, judging by the description: "walk the path of the condemned. Face the hidden insanity. Strive for the unspeakable truth, because when you see a monster you must stop it." Wear some sensible shoes and you'd better keep your wits about you as best you can — looks like there'll be a fight to be fought. Underground Cinema: Delirium will run across four nights, from Thursday, May 24 to Sunday, May 27. Tickets are now on sale, head here to secure yours.
It feels like every second week some huge piece of hardware is unveiled to the world by wireless headset-wearing marketing execs with click-through presentations — indeed, Apple launched their new iPhone 7 in September — and today it's Google's turn. After 18 years in the biz, they're releasing their own phone: the Google Pixel. Now, before you Google what a Google Pixel is (and it comes up as the first result, naturally), you should know that this isn't just another Android phone. Unlike Samsung or Sony phones, which use the Google-developed operating system, the Pixel is the first phone that is fully Google — that is, they've designed it from start to finish, so both the hardware and the software is by them. What does this mean? Well it means everything's a a lot smoother and more integrated because Google has been able to develop both technologies to work closely together. Sort of like how Apple build the iPhone and then develop iOS to go with it. But aside from being the ultimate phone to run Gmail on, the Pixel has a heap of features to give the iPhone a run for its money. These include a camera which apparently wins out against all other smartphones, a super advanced Siri-like Google assistant and unlimited storage. But enough with the brand speak. Here's six details about the Google Pixel in dot point form that you can use for prime water cooler convo at work today (if not just to annoy your pro-Apple colleagues). THE CAMERA IS GOOD — LIKE, REALLY GOOD So good, that it's been given a rating of 89 by DxOMark Mobile, a body that tests and ranks smartphone features and camera. By contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge scored an 88 and the iPhone 7 an 86. So it's just a little bit better, supposedly. It boast 12 megapixels an f/2.0 aperture and a video stabilisation feature that'll really up the ante on your Snapchats. THEY'VE CREATED AN AUSSIE SIRI-LIKE ASSISTANT Just like how Google Maps recruited a local to help give you directions, Google Assistant (which is already being used with other apps like Google Home) will too be an Aussie. That doesn't just extend to its voice though — it will also recognise words that tend to blow tiny robot brains. Google Assistant will hear your "arvo" and "brekkie" and know exactly how to respond to it — with a list of places that do brekkie in the arvo. Assistant makes use of Google's insane web search algorithm, which makes it extremely intelligent. IT'S GOING TO MAKE VR AN ACCESSIBLE THING Come November, you'll also be able to buy a virtual reality headset to go with your Pixel — the Daydream View. The Daydream is like a way more advanced (and ergonomic) version of Google Cardboard. It works in the same way that you stick your Pixel (so far the only Daydream-compatible device) into the front and navigate using a wireless remote. It's also made of fabric and is a lot comfier that other clunky VR headsets — we tried it, and it was one of the better ones we've worn. It's clear Google think mobile VR can be the next big thing, so it'll be interesting to see what they do with it. THE FINGERPRINT UNLOCK 'BUTTON' IS ON THE BACK Pretty much the only thing that distinguishes the Pixel from the iPhone at a glance (while the Pixel is a bit bigger, it's very much the same shape and width as the iPhone) is its lack of home button at bottom centre. That's because Google has put it on the back. Like the iPhone you can choose to use fingerprint encryption (and/or a pattern) — you just use your pointer finger instead. THERE'S NO LIMITS ON STORAGE Because it's Google, it's kind of a given that this phone will be strongly tied to Google Drive and Google Photos. So the good folks at Google (perhaps to make you feel okay about backing up all your data ever with them) are throwing in unlimited cloud storage with your device — which means, unlike a regular free account, you have no limits on the size of the files you're storing. IT COMES IN TWO SIZES AND COLOURS They're very well-named as well. There's the five-inch and the five-and-a-half-inch (the Pixel and the Pixel XL, respectively) and they come in Quite Black and Very Silver. Self-explanatory. The Google Pixel will be available from today, Thursday, October 20. For more info, visit madeby.google.com/phone.
Garlic bread — representing the holy trinity of bread, garlic, and butter — is something created by the gluten gods to make us mortals (sans coeliacs) very, very happy. Welcome to Thornbury is aware of this, as demonstrated by its whole day devoted to your fave carbohydrate situation: the Garlic Bread Festival. But Saturday, March 10 is not just for standard garlic bread, you'll also find genius hybrids such as garlic bread burgers and garlic naan tacos as the High Street digs. So prepare thy tummy — appearances from Mr Burger, SPQR Pizzeria, Sizzling Sausage and Curry Up Now are also on the cards. There is an ATM on-site for emergency carb top-ups. Kids are welcome from noon until 8pm, doggos are welcome all day and all night, and both will probably lose their minds over the tasty scraps. Praise be to wheat.
The only thing better than a dumpling feast is a dumpling feast that never ends. Lucky for us, this just happens to be the situation that now awaits you at POW Kitchen each Thursday night in July. Yep, this is an all-you-can-eat situation — and one that's budget-friendly too. Simply roll into the lively pan-Asian eatery with at least one other person, and you can knock back as many dumplings as you can handle for just $22.50 per head. The lineup's a roll-call of all the classics, from steamed dumplings filled with pork and mushroom or chicken and cabbage, to veggie spring rolls, and even those good ol' dim sims. Back them up with either fried or steamed rice — and cap it all off with some Sriracha, soy, vinegar, or sweet chilli — and you've got yourself a pretty solid midweek dining adventure.
If there's one thing we grew up hearing from our mothers, it's "don't follow strange men you've just met in Mexico into abandoned churches in the middle of nowhere". Or something like that. In any case, you'll be shaking your head just like your mum within the first half hour of Truth or Dare, as you follow the sordid activities of a group of teenagers on spring break as they become embroiled in a ~deadly~ game. Regardless of how your mother phrased her advice, we're sure it was much more sensible and well-intended than this waste of time of a film. Somehow earning the stripe of being from Jason Blum's Blumhouse Productions team (who brought you Get Out, Insidious and Whiplash), we have a feeling this is one movie Blum deigns to forget pretty quickly – as will most people who watch it. The film follows a group of teenagers on spring break (ugh) who, after the standard montage of tequila and bars and hook-ups (uuugh), find themselves playing a game of truth or dare with a stranger who soon gets weird and jumps ship. That leaves Olivia (Lucy Hale) and a bunch of her friends to finish the game, only to realise that the game isn't finished with them. Yeah, that's right – another movie where pretty young people are killed off one by one. This time it would seem a demon curse is the culprit. Unsurprisingly, Truth or Dare is extraordinarily silly, from the setup all the way down to the ridiculous facial effects that look as though they're the result of too many pingers and one of those carnival fun mirrors. It's meant to be scary, and to indicate how dark and terrifying a demon it is we're dealing with here (spoiler alert: not very). More disturbing is how little the characters seem to care when their mates start kicking the bucket. Teens these days, huh? The only semi-interesting story element relates to one character's struggle with how to come out to his strict father. Unfortunately, most everyone is dead before it can really develop into anything worthwhile. Thin in plot, thick in bad acting and dialogue, we dare you to turn your back on this limp sponge of a film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgnk3MLw9TM
It's been a decade since Open House began opening up some of Melbourne's most delightful buildings to the public. In honour of their tenth anniversary, this year's Open House Weekend sports a huge program, featuring over 200 buildings across wider Melbourne. It's all going down on the weekend of July 29 and 30 with a series of talks in the weeks leading up to the open weekend itself. Some highlights of the program include a screening of Citizen Jane: Battle for the City at ACMI (a doco about a Jane Jacobs, a pioneering but untrained American city planner who championed sustainable activism, and whose work is seminal today in planning blueprints), a panel talk on 'high density happiness' discussing pedestrianising our cities, and a screening of Modern Melbourne, a series of interviews with and archival material from some of Australia's most prominent designers and architects. Also on the program is the Living Cities Forum, featuring award-winning architects and urban planners from around the world, and a free walking tour exploring the CBD's currently under construction metro tunnel. Not to mention the buildings. It might be a good idea to start planning your weekend now because it'll take some military precision to get around to all your favourites. You can plan you itinerary on the Open House website but here are our not-to-miss selections. Hassell Studio — a converted 1880s loft for the architectural firm. Old High Court of Australia — an art deco interior and Beaux-Arts exterior makes the old court very pretty indeed. RMIT Design Hub — designed by famous architect Sean Godsell, the unique façade of this alone makes it worth a visit. SIGNAL — the last surviving signal box of Flinders Street Station is now a creative arts studio for young people. State Library of Victoria — get up in the library's nooks and crannies before its big renovation starts. Substation 'J' — although it's been converted into a residential apartment, large elements of the substation remain. They're offering guided tours, but be warned: there's limited mobility access (meaning no prams, children under 14 or wheelchairs, unfortunately). Council House 2 — a world famous building, known for its sustainable functionality. The tour includes views from the rooftop. Cox Architecture Studio — it's the workspace of a premiere architectural firm, so you know it's going to be good. And while there's too many to list, don't forget to check out a few residential buildings as the weekend is probably the only time you'll be able to play house in someone else's beautiful, architecturally ambitious home. Image: Earl Carter.
Morris Jones, one of Windsor's popular restaurant-bar hybrids before closing for renovations earlier this year, has thrown open its doors again — as something a little different to what it was before. The restaurant has had a facelift, a full body reconstruction and learnt another language, too — the new version focuses on both Japanese and Californian dining. Founder Hayden Burbank wants Windsor – and the rest of Melbourne – to get to know Morris Jones all over again. "It wouldn't be Morris Jones if we didn't continue to innovate, elevate and keep it fresh," Burbank says. And fresh it is, both in terms of food and fit-out. Morris Jones 2.0 now plays host to three different bar areas – there's the central bar with a sushi station, an open-air courtyard bar and a secretive concealed "attic" bar, to be launched later on in the year. Responsible for the new look is designer Alex Zabotto-Bentley, director of AZBCreative, who has combined marble, black and bone décor with plenty of vines and foliage. Art featured throughout the restaurant is by local and international artists and curated by Zabatto-Bentley together with David Bromley. Now, to food: head chef Matthew Butcher has combined elements of Japanese cuisine with Southern Californian dining. Try crab nachos made with uni (sea urchin) queso and dashi, or a sweet braised short rib with kelp caramel mustard and watercress. Alongside these creative dishes are a range of dumplings and sashimi. Adventurous eaters will do well here, as will sushi lovers – but so will vegetarians (hello, leek, tofu and white soy dumplings). And to wash it all down? Specialty Japanese beers on tap, a whole bunch of tequila, mezcal, sake and cocktails — including he Yuzu Pina Colada, which combines yuzu sake, coconut cream and vodka. All this innovation, Burbank thinks, points to the fact that Melbourne and California share "many parallels". "[Melbourne] isn't afraid of having fun and making a splash," he says about the city. Fun and splashes seem high on the agenda, here – and judging from the sea urchin nachos alone, we think the re-opening will manage both. Morris Jones is now open at 163 Chapel Street, Windsor. It's open Tue–Thu 4pm–11pm and Fri–Sun 12pm–1am. To make a reservation, call (03) 9533 2055. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
Come the first sign of sunshine, Carlton locals flock to Johnny's Green Room. Negroni in hand, they angle for a perch overlooking the bustling Lygon Street. But since last year's facelift — which expanded the seating capacity and added a semi-retractable roof for the option of shade — there's been less jostling and a lot more room to soak up the gloriously warm afternoons to come. Now, it's upgrading its Sundays with a creative new series. Once a month, the rooftop bar shakes off the scaries with cheffy snacks from Melbourne's favourite restaurants and local winemakers cracking open unreleased lo-fi drops — which will be reimagined as Campari-infused wine spritzes for the day. The music program is curated by the pros at Hope St Radio themselves, so you're guaranteed a good boogie. This Sunday, energetic beats from Māori producer Kuzco will accompany bold Indian bites like skewer kebabs with mint chutney and housemade paneer and capsicum tikkas from Mischa Tropp of Kolkata Cricket Club and Toddy Shop, plus fresh riesling releases from Bridget Werkstatt. Can't make it? Pencil in October 12 for a taste of Fitzroy's hard-to-book backstreet restaurant Carnation Canteen — Audrey Shaw will whip up some spring plates to complement GUM's 2025 rosés, soundtracked to warm-weather sets from Ewan Sutardy. Or swing by on November 9 for Greek-inspired snacks from Stavros Konis of Kafeneion and Salona, washed down with a glass of Stefani Wines' signature sangiovese.
You've done your CrossFit and F45 this week, enjoyed some early morning yoga and a green juice, and almost kicked your weekly burger habit. But what about when it's time for weekend drinks with the crew? Enter FAIR Açai liqueur, which turns the superfood staple into booze. Launched in Australia at Melbourne's Good Food & Wine Show on June 2, FAIR Açai liqueur is made using ethically grown and sustainably farmed handpicked açai berries from the Amazon rainforest, which are then pressed to extract their essence to form the base of the beverage. This maceration process also harnesses the qualities that make the berries so healthy — aka all of those antioxidants, fibre and heart-healthy fats. As you're sipping away, you'll be kick starting your metabolism and helping make your hair and nails shine. Basically, it's a beverage filled with all the things you need to look your best on a night out and easily digest that 'cheat meal' 3am kebab. As well as being good for eager drinkers, the liqueur is good for the environment, with FAIR ensuring that every bottle made follows rigorous sustainability and ethical agriculture protocols. Plus, in addition to supporting farmers in the region, they're also donating a portion of the profits to sustainability programs in the developing world. With flavours of red berries, cherry, blackcurrant and cranberry just bursting through on the palate, you wouldn't be blamed for wanting to pour it on your morning yoghurt and muesli combo. But for a more traditional way to drink the liqueur, try a twist on a gimlet. Shake up some gin, lime, sugar syrup and ice with a splash of this, and you'll be feeling those antioxidants working in no time.
Brain freeze or caffeine hit? Sweet, sweet sugar in ice-cold slushie form, or a soul-warming cup of joe? Melburnians, you have an important decision to make on Tuesday, November 7: would you like a free slurpee or a free coffee? Pay particular attention to the date, not just to put in your calendar, but to explain why you're scoring freebies. It couldn't be the more perfect time for 7-Eleven giveaways, on a day that the convenience store chain has dubbed 7-Eleven Day — and the celebrations will be running at the brand's 740 stores Australia-wide. Here's how it works: head to a 7-Eleven store all day — so, from 12.01am–11.59pm —then purchase anything other than tobacco or tobacco-related products to receive your choice of either a free regular coffee or a large slurpee. In more great news for your wallet, you can spend as little as 25 cents on a lollipop or 50 cents on a chocolate to still score a free drink.
If your Uber Eats order history is looking rather bleak — read, heavy on the burgers and fried chicken — you might be thinking it's time for a freshen-up. Enter, Lentil As Anything. Sure, the Melbourne-born social enterprise has been offering its tasty, affordable vegan fare through the delivery app for a while, but now the two have partnered up on a nifty new initiative that'll take your conscious dining habits to the next level. Namely, you can now order a six-kilogram box of rescued food to your doorstep, filled with all fruit, all veg or a mix of both, plus three other grocery items (think, a rustic loaf of bread, or some canned peaches) all perfectly fine to eat, but that would otherwise be heading to landfill. And it's an easy way to help fight waste, with one of these all-vegan boxes setting you back just $25 via Uber Eats, or $20 if you pick it up from Lentil As Anything in Thornbury. The products have been rescued by the team at Food Without Borders, collected from stores, restaurants and cafes that can no longer sell or use them, or donated to the cause. With Aussies binning around 20 percent of the food they purchase each year and contributing roughly four million tonnes of food waste to landfill in the process, food rescue initiatives like this have never proved so important. The new food box program comes after Lentil As Anything opened Victoria's first pay-as-you-feel supermarket back in July, staffed by volunteers and stocked with goods rescued through Food Without Borders. Lentil As Anything rescued food boxes are available to pick up from Lentil As Anything, 562-564 High Street, Thornbury, from 11am–8pm from Friday–Monday, or via Uber Eats between 11.30am–2.30pm and 6.30–8.30pm.
Australia has always championed innovation in its agricultural pursuits, with our land — and its unique flora and fauna — intrinsically linked to our national identity. Indeed, geographic isolation has meant that the over one million different native species of flowering plants are unique to our landscape and unlike plants in any other part of the world. It's this innovation that distillers from all around the country are tapping into, creating bespoke and limited-edition spirits that are uniquely Australian in flavour. With that in mind, here's five gins from around the country you should try before they're gone for good (or until next year's plants are in season). ARCHIE ROSE x HORISUMI WINTER GIN The second release in the Archie Rose x Horisumi collection, this winter gin conjures up the essence of winter through its grassy and herbaceous notes, while also showcasing slightly sweet hints of jasmine, white grapefruit and a delicate line of sea spray. It's a harmonious unification of Japanese and Australian flavours, highlighting locally grown ingredients including Tasmanian kombu and Fuji apples, and also using sencha and genmaicha teas in the distillation blend. "We experimented with a wide range of ingredients that included trialling multiple varieties of seaweed distillate including nori, wakame and different types of kombu before settling on a Tasmanian harvested and cured example," explains Archie Rose master distiller Dave Withers. Like its previous release, only 2000 bottles have been made, with the first 200 hand wrapped in a traditional Japanese furoshiki wrap featuring the individual bottle number and winter kanji script. FOUR PILLARS BLOODY SHIRAZ GIN 2017 Can't decide if you want a glass of red wine or a gin and tonic tonight? Don't worry, Four Pillars is familiar with this common dilemma and has come up with a solution. Meet the Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, a rare dry gin blended with premium shiraz grapes from the Yarra Valley. With the 2017 wine vintage in the Yarra proving particularly cooler, this has created a more savoury aromatic style of gin, along with a lighter, more ruby-like colour than its previous incarnation. Expect flavours of fresh pine needles and incredible spice, and a peppery, dense raspberry character. The palate is lovely and sweet, with long juniper and spice characters to finish. DASHER AND FISHER MOUNTAIN, OCEAN AND MEADOW GIN Based in north-western Tasmania, Southern Wild Distillery is the new kid on the block but has come out in full force, with three very unique expressions of the Tasmania landscape: Mountain, Meadow and Ocean. The gins are named after the two wild rivers, Dasher and Fisher, and are carefully crafted by local distiller George Burgess. Each gin is uses anywhere between 11 to 15 individual botanicals sourced from passionate local growers, with all three gins featuring the 'Tassie trio' of botanicals: native pepperberry (Mountain), lavender (Meadow) and wakame (Ocean). The Mountain gin is earthy with hints of pepper and licorice root, the Meadow tipple conjures up images of springtime with lavender, rosemary and just a hint of sage, and rounding out the trio is Ocean, which is like plunging your head straightforward into the sea thanks to its flavour profile of sea salt, nori and hints of jasmine flower. KANGAROO ISLAND SPIRITS OLD WHISKY BARREL GIN Love whisky? Love gin? You're in luck. Kangaroo Island Spirits have taken their most well-known gin, the Wild Gin, distilled it using native Kangaroo Island juniper (myoporum insulare) and aged it for two months in Australian whisky barrels. The process gives the booze a softer mouthfeel, with vanilla, persimmon, clove and amber flavours on the tongue. Making all of their projects in small batches, with every one of their spirits hand bottled and labelled, attention to detail shows in the quality of the KIS range. Think cold nights by a warm fireplace sipping this neat — or with one big ice cube — and you're headed on the right track for a great winter's night in. MARGARET RIVER DISTILLING CO. GINVERSITY BOTANICAL GIN Established in 2015 as the sister distillery to the famous Limeburner's Distillery in Albury, the Margaret River Distilling Co. created their first gin using carefully selected and handpicked botanicals. The likes of eucalyptus, lemon myrtle and boronia were chosen to reflect a unique native Australian recipe. What makes this gin special and unique, however, is that every time it's made, each botanical is individually distilled and then infused together to create a distinctive aromatic style that is quintessentially Australian — like the smell of gumtrees or the fact that magpies always attack you in summer. This is your classic gin and tonic style tipple, perfect for sitting on a balcony trying to capture those last moments of the sun's rays listening to the kookaburras cry into the twilight.
There's no shortage of delicious Asian cuisine in Melbourne; however there's always room for more. Especially if it's street food, and even more if it dons the word 'hawker-style'. Enter Junk, a Queensland favourite that is making its first venture down south. Heading to Punch Lane from February 22, Junk is bringing its melange of flavours and styles to Victorian stomaches — and the menu looks a treat. Hungry diners will find a food lineup filled with Korean fried chicken wings, crispy Peking duck spring rolls, and four varieties of steamed bao (soft-shell crab, pork, pork gyoza and chicken katsu). Yes, one of those options really does include dumplings on bao. Dumplings. On. Bao. Crispy fried gunpowder chicken ribs and Vietnamese noodle salads will also be ready to treat tastebuds, as will Gangnam fries (covered in house-made kimchi, nacho cheese sauce, nori and spring onion, and certain to get a K-pop song stuck in your head). Basically, expect to be spoiled for choice. "Every single dish on the menu is prepared by world class cooks using only the best local ingredients available. Our sauces and curry pastes are all made from scratch in-house, and our broths are cooked for two days," says Scott Hoskins, one of the folks behind the venture. The Melbourne joint will be Junk's fourth, joining three in Queensland. Back up north, Hoskins and his business partner Tony Kelly have not only been slinging Asian street food, but doughnuts and burgers as well. They're the duo behind Donut Boyz and Hello Harry, two other brands that have made the leap to the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane and beyond. Junk opens on February 22 at 22 Punch Lane, Melbourne. For more information, check out their website.
It's a long journey from the laneways of Melbourne to the coastal highways of Hawaii. Or at least it used to be. But come Thursday, May 4 the tropical vibes and fresh flavours of the Pacific archipelago will wash over the CBD with the opening of Hana on Little Collins Street The latest venture from The Meatball and Wine Bar owner Matteo Bruno, Hana is billed as a raw seafood and cocktail bar, and takes its name from the scenic Road to Hana on the island of Maui. "It's sort of the equivalent to the Great Ocean Road," explains Bruno. "It traverses through mountainous jungle before it opens up to the coastline, and lands at a little town called Hana. It's that journey, that adventure, that inspired me to pursue this restaurant." The kitchen will be manned by Hawaiian-born chef Mario Manabe, who has devised a menu that will showcase Australian seafood. According to Bruno, standout options include tuna with watermelon, coconut and lime, and kingfish with jalapeño and lemon ice. He also highlights a pair of cooked dishes, in the grilled lobster tail with shiitake mushrooms and cardamom and carrot puree, and the katsu-style pork shank with apple and cabbage. The lunch menu includes a number of poke salads, featuring salmon, charred tuna and kingfish with citrus, watercress and snow peas. For dessert you can feast on pineapple and rum tart as well as frozen chocolate haupia, a traditional Hawaiian dessert made with coconut milk. Although dishes look technically complex, the kitchen utilises subtle touches to "elevate the natural product". As for the drinks list, the bar boasts eight signature cocktails named after Hawaiian beaches or waterfalls on the way to Hana. The Twin Falls Junglebird combines rum and Campari with lime and fresh pineapple, while the Tequila Hoki is a mix of tequila, mezcal, ginger, lime and mint. We'd also be remiss not to mention the Honolua Bay Sharknado, a dark rum, Cointreau, orgeat, passionfruit and citrus concoction served in a vessel that looks an awful lot like the head of a shark. A number of Hana's cocktails can also be upgraded to a 'volcano', which are designed to be shared between two and four people. "We want you to feel like you're on a bit of a holiday when you turn up," says Bruno. "Especially coming into winter. We'll have the heater on, the candles on, so you can sit back with a piña colada in your hand and relax." Hana will open on Thursday, May 4 at 212 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. For more information, visit hanarestaurant.com.au.
What if Quentin Tarantino made spaghetti and meatballs? Or Wes Anderson made s'mores? They're not questions most people ponder — but food artist and commercials director David Ma did. In his new Food Film series, he offers up cooking tutorials made in the style of famous movie directors. When it comes to the Kill Bill filmmaker and making bolognaise, for example, expect plenty of blood. So far, Food Films features not only juicy Italian and intricately created marshmallow and cracker combinations, but also a Michael Bay-esque take on making waffles and Alfonso Cuaron-type interpretation of pancakes. As well as coming up with an artistic and clever concept for revitalising the rather routine recipe video trend, Ma has savvily matched his chosen filmmakers with his food dishes. S'mores are perfect fit for the creative mind behind the visual precision of The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel, of course, and you can't make waffles without some machinery, which the Transformers-directing Bay clearly loves. A second series is currently in the storyboarding phase, which means more stylised culinary cinema fun will be coming our way soon. Just who he'll be emulating, and what meals he'll be shooting, hasn't been revealed — but surely a David Lynch-style cherry pie or doughnut video (or something with creamed corn, thanks to Twin Peaks' darker side) would go down a treat. Check out QT's take on a pasta staple below, and head to Ma's website for the full series. Via Fast Company.
"Most people say don't meet your heroes, but she exceeded all my expectations," Cailee Spaeny tells Concrete Playground. The Priscilla star's idol? Sofia Coppola. In the Devs, Mare of Easttown and The Craft: Legacy actor's biggest role yet, and the Lost in Translation, Somewhere and On the Rocks' filmmaker's latest moving, mesmerising and meticulously made picture, Spaeny plays the movie's namesake for the director that she's loved since she was a teenager. Winning her Venice International Film Festival's Volpi Cup for Best Actress, she's teamed up with her dream helmer to explore the teen experience and beyond of one of the most-famous women in the world, who was also in one of the best-known romances, marrying and divorcing a music superstar whose celebrity is virtually peerless: Priscilla Presley. Coppola knows how to bring tales about teenage girls to the screen, and to do so with the emotion, care and lived-in specificity that makes audiences feel like they're being seen — as Spaeny once did. Priscilla joins a directing resume that initially moved into features with 1998's The Virgin Suicides, and has spanned The Bling Ring and The Beguiled as well. In Marie Antoinette, the filmmaker's only other biopic to-date, she also took a name that everyone knows, jumped into her story when she was just 14 years old, then charted her complicated time by the side of a man with influence and power. Spaeny co-stars with Marie Antoinette's lead Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog) in the upcoming Civil War, in fact, and suspects that she put in a good word to help her get her Presley part. A performer who made her film debut in 2018's Australian-shot Pacific Rim Uprising, which was one of four movies that she had in cinemas that year (the others: Bad Times at the El Royale, On the Basis of Sex and Vice), Spaeny also believes that the right work finds you at the right period. That's especially the case with leading Priscilla, where Jacob Elordi (Saltburn) co-stars as Elvis, and which sees the two portray the blue suede shoes-wearing singer and the woman who fell for him when they were in West Germany — she was a schoolgirl residing there because her dad was in the army, while Elvis had been drafted — so swiftly after Baz Luhrmann's Elvis had Austin Butler (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Olivia DeJonge (The Staircase) do the same. "I always think roles come to you in your life at certain times to sort of help you in your own personal life, in your own journey," Spaeny shares. "I was just getting out of a really intense relationship that went on for about five years. I was in it very young. And I was trying to process those emotions and where I gave a piece of myself up, and how I grew from that. I processed all that and put it into the movie and her story, and the decisions that she made, and the mistakes she made, and where she got it right, where she got it wrong. It's always cathartic playing roles, but this one especially hit me in a real way that I'll always take with me." What was it like to physically transform into Priscilla? "It was something. I didn't look like myself. I think I just looked at myself in the mirror and I went 'okay girl, get it together, you've got to pull this off," Spaeny advises. "Everyone had put so much hard work into it. You see the hours and the sleepless nights. All the blood, sweat and tears that goes into every department: costumes, hair, makeup, production design. All the work Sofia put in, that Jacob put in. So when I saw myself in those costumes, I think it's just like 'okay, it's game time'." "It was fun. It was stressful. It was life-changing. There were lots of tears. There were lots of laughs. It was an experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life, and it's given me so much — much more than I ever thought it would. And I feel really lucky and I hope that everyone enjoys it when they go and see it, and they see all the heart that we put into our film," continues Spaeny. The movie opened in Australia on Thursday, January 18, then does the same in New Zealand on Thursday, February 1. Also covered in our round-table chat with Spaeny: preparing to play Priscilla, including meeting the woman herself; getting the part, and her past experiences auditioning for the filmmaker; why Coppola is her dream director; being born to love Elvis by being born in Tennessee; and seeing Priscilla for the first time while sitting next to Presley. ON HOW SPAENY PREPARED TO PLAY PRISCILLA PRESLEY "I tried to do as much as I could do preparing for this role. Taking on playing a real person, especially one who's still around, there is enormous responsibility. And also working with my dream director Sofia Coppola — she's been my dream director since I was 14 years old — I felt a lot of pressure. I mean, I always I hope that I always work hard on every project that I do, but this was another level. So you just do everything you can. You have as many conversations as you can with the director. The script is based off of her [Priscilla Presley's] book that she wrote in 1985, and I had that on me the entire time. Then I got the honour to sit down with Priscilla Presley herself, so I got to take in the woman herself and look into her eyes, and hear her tell these stories about this chapter in her life. That gave me more than I could have ever imagined. Taking that with me, and also having her support and having several conversations down the line during prep, and asking her all different kinds of questions and just getting to be around her in general, gave me so much. And then, taking time to have conversations with Jacob Elordi, who plays Elvis, and making sure we were on the same page and just making sure we felt comfortable around each other — that was a big part of the process, too. You just try to get everything you could possibly get into your brain in the amount of time you have, and you've got to cross your fingers and jump out of the plane and hope for the best, hope that you'll land on your feet. But also to have the level of collaborators and artists that we had on this set in terms of cast and crew was extraordinary. I think anyone who works with Sofia, because of the environment she creates, everyone brings their A-game and wants to work really hard for her and do their best. I think you really see that in this film." ON WHAT MAKES COPPOLA SPAENY'S DREAM DIRECTOR — AND THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH HER ON PRISCILLA "I think the thing that really struck me, especially living in the Bible Belt in America being a young girl, a church girl, trying to navigate myself and my emotions — you've got so much going on inside you when you're a 14-year-old girl, and I think I'd never seen teen girls depicted in the way that Sofia represents them. The way that she doesn't underestimate young women, and how she gives them a voice to have wants and needs, and dark sides and be sexual — I just felt like everything that was in my brain just got unlocked, and that I had permission to be complicated. I think that was something that really stuck with me and cracked me open. I think that working with her was just a lot of pressure to get it right. I'm thinking in my head 'am I going to be the reason this is going to be the first bad Sofia Coppola film?'. I mean, it's just very overwhelming, but she's kind and had my back every step of the way." ON GETTING THE PRISCILLA ROLE AFTER AUDITIONING FOR PAST SOFIA COPPOLA FILMS "I know that Sofia wanted to find one actress who was going to be able to play from 14 to 27 — and I was 24 when I filmed the movie, but I look really young. I think that it was really important. You see it sometimes where you see films push the age, like they don't really look that young, but it's fine. Or they really don't look that old, but it's fine. But I think it was really important, especially in the beginning, for her to feel 14. I think she had to genuinely feel that age. So I think from a casting standpoint for Sofia, that was something that she was looking for. It's not really something I think about too much, but I'm glad it worked in my favour. I've been auditioning for her — she gave me my one of my first callbacks ever when I was 16 years old. So I think her casting director knew of me for a long time, and Sofia knew of me for a bit. I don't know if she even remembers that. I don't know. But I knew her casting directors remembered me and one of her producing partners remembered me. And then I auditioned for two other things for Sofia. Then this project came up and I got a call [saying] 'hey, can you meet Sofia in New York for coffee?'. Didn't know what it was, met her there, was really nervous. We started talking and I had no idea — I was just like 'what is this about?'. Then she pulled out her iPad and started showing me photos of Priscilla Presley, and asked me if I knew the story. I didn't, which was surprising because I was such a huge Elvis fan growing up. But then I went away and I was filming a movie with Kirsten Dunst, and Kirsten is such a longtime friend and collaborator and muse for Sofia. And I think Kirsten put in a good word for me. So there were talks about maybe doing a chemistry read with whoever was going to be playing Elvis, but that didn't end up happening. She just locked this in. She locked me and Jacob in, and said 'we're going for it'. We didn't have any read. We didn't do any sort of chemistry test. We just hit the ground running. I think that's the one thing about Sofia: she's really soft-spoken and kind, but when she knows what she wants, she knows what she wants. And when she sees it, she has it in her head. Everything is in her head. That's what makes her so brilliant and also exciting to work with." ON THE CHALLENGES OF STEPPING INTO PRISCILLA'S SHOES — AND WHAT MAKES HER STORY SO RELATABLE "The biggest challenge for me, obviously, is having to play a real person who at the end of this is going to watch the film. I had that time with Priscilla, and something funny happens — it's like at first, the movie's first, [and] how you're going to play this, [and] making this movie for Sofia. Then you sit down in front of the woman herself, you're right across from Priscilla, and almost all of that goes to the back burner. You just are like 'I want to protect this person. I want them to feel safe. I want them to feel like they identify with this story. I just want to protect them'. She's been through so much in her life, and you just want this to be done right by her. So that was the biggest challenge. In terms of the things that I related to, I think that what's so interesting about this story, and what I found so surprising, is that you think 'well, I'm not going to relate to Priscilla Presley, she's lived this one-of-a-kind life that no one could ever really compare with' — but she goes through such an emotional journey. Falling in love and doing everything she can, giving everything up to try to make that work, and [being] desperate to find a path and a way out to be with the love of her life, and then realising that that's not going to happen, and all the pain that he's going through and the confusion he's dealing with, and how that then transfers to her, and then she realises she wants something more for her life — I think those moments are universal. And there's some milestones that she goes through that I think a lot of young women can relate to. I think that's why it's gotten the response that it has, is because of that — because I think young women or women in general, or anybody, can see this story and find themselves somewhere." ON FIRST DISCOVERING ELVIS "I think the second I was born, Elvis was just playing. My mum had a shrine of Elvis in her home. She named one of her kids' middle names after Elvis. We went to Graceland growing up. We had his number-one hits on the CD in the car. It was just always around. In America, Elvis really is such a symbol — especially, especially in the South. And I was born in Tennessee. You just know Elvis. You're born, you know Elvis. I think especially where I came from, you just didn't have a choice: it was Jesus and Elvis." ON SITTING NEXT TO PRISCILLA AT THE FILM'S WORLD PREMIERE AT THE VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL "I had a couple opportunities to watch the movie before Venice, but I was just too nervous to watch myself in this movie. There's too much pressure and I just knew that if I would see the film, I knew I was going to spiral, so I didn't want to. I kept putting it off. Then I got to Venice and I asked them 'hey, can you pull me out when the movie starts? I don't want to see it'. And then I just had a voice in my head and I'm going 'Cailee, what are you doing? You're at the Venice Film Festival. You're with your dream director. Priscilla's here. You're celebrating this movie with these people that you care about. This is such a dream come true'. I brought my sister with me. I'd never been to Venice before. I'd just rode a gondola earlier in the day. It was such a dream moment. And I was like 'what am I doing? I'm going to not watch the film cause I'm scared? That's so lame'. So I told them 'okay, yes, I'll watch it'. But then they sat me right next to Priscilla Presley. Then I'm watching the movie going 'oh my god, what have I done? How am I going to watch this film while I'm sitting right next to the person who I'm playing?'. It was so bizarre and so surreal, and I was white-knuckling it the entire time I was watching the film. Sometimes I'd close my eyes during some scenes. But then the movie ended. We got the reception that we did. Then it was the first time that Priscilla turned to me and said 'you did it, that was my life and that was a great performance'. So to get that feedback from her was everything." Priscilla opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, January 18, then does the same in New Zealand on Thursday, February 1. Read our review.
Australia's latest environmental protests will span an entire week, featuring rallies, marches, flash mobs, sing-alongs and more. Organised by Extinction Rebellion Australia — which has been ramping up its actions around the country over the course of the year — the co-ordinated series of national events is once again designed to demand government action on climate change. Running until Sunday, October 13 in Australia's major cities, the protests form part of the group's international Spring Rebellion campaign. The rallies kicked off on Monday, with different activities planned each day in each location. Reports from the Spring Rebellion's first two days include inner-city road closures, groups of 'dead bees' blocking major thoroughfares and meditation sessions outside Victoria's parliament. They also include plenty of arrests — Victoria Police reports that, along with yesterday's arrests, 59 people were taken into custody in Melbourne today, as was a protestor who suspended himself from Brisbane's Story Bridge in a hammock. Like September's Global Climate Strike, which was overseen locally by School Strike 4 Climate, the current events aim to draw attention to the changing state of the global environment — drastic changes that've caused soaring temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and the horrific bushfires that plagued Queensland and NSW last month. Extinction Rebellion's Aussie protestors are also focusing on three demands: that the government declares a climate emergency, and urgently communicate the need for change; that state and federal governments commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025; and that a Citizens' Assembly on climate and ecological justice is convened. As always, disruptions and delays are expected as a result of the protest actions, including possible road closures and traffic diversions. If you're planning to join the crowds or need to consider your transport options for the week, here's how the events will go down in your city. [caption id="attachment_735589" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Extinction Rebellion SEQ[/caption] SYDNEY Extinction Rebellion's Sydney activities will change daily, with flash mobs meeting at Belmore Park at 9am tomorrow, Wednesday, October 9, before hopping on trains from Central Station and spreading their message through the rail network. From 12.30pm on Friday, October 11, protestors will literally place their heads in the sand (in holes that still allow enough room for them to breathe) on Manly Beach. At 9.30am on Saturday, October 12, they'll amass on the Coogee Beach Esplanade wearing blue and green, all to highlight the impact of climate change on the seas — and then, from 10.30am on Sunday, October 13, they'll descend on Bondi Beach to form a huge hourglass near the Icebergs end. For public transport and traffic updates each day, check Transport NSW and Live Traffic Sydney. MELBOURNE Melburnians can stop by the week-long family camp at Carlton Gardens, which forms Extinction Rebellion's local hub — it'll be holding arts and crafts, philosophy workshops, family-friendly Q&A sessions, music and performances throughout the week. From 3pm on Wednesday, October 9, they'll head to RMIT to rally, with traffic disruptions along Swanston Street likely. Then, from 7.30am on Friday, October 11, they'll perform a dress rehearsal for one of the group's next big actions — a blockade of the International Mining and Resources Conference between October 28–31 — by protesting outside of BHP's offices. The week culminates on Saturday, October 12 with the Nudie Parade, with folks stripping down to their underwear, painting their bodies with messages and marching from Carlton Gardens from 10am. For public transport and traffic updates each day, check Yarra Trams and Vic Traffic. BRISBANE Setting up shop in Queens Gardens on George Street, Brisbane boasts a jam-packed protest schedule — with flash mobs starting from outside the casino each morning until Friday, October 11. They'll gather from 7.30am, with sing-alongs taking place from noon each day, speakers hitting the microphone from 1pm daily, market stalls selling arts and crafts from 9am–5pm and a photobooth onsite as well. Live performances will also take place from 5pm, featuring bands on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a freestyle rap battle on Thursday. Tuesday will also see a public rally demanding action from the gas industry, which'll take place from midday at 32 Turbot Street, plus slam poetry in Queens Gardens from 7pm. On Wednesday, there'll be a weaving session at 10am in Queens Gardens, then a zero-waste gathering at the same site from 3pm. Come Thursday, protestors will stage a funeral procession down William Street to Parliament House from midday. And, on Friday, the group will occupy the William Jolly Bridge from 10am. For public transport and traffic updates each day, check Translink and Qld Traffic Metro. Extinction Rebellion's Spring Rebellion protests will take place at various times until Sunday, October 13. For further details, visit the organisation's website. Image: Extinction Rebellion Victoria
Street art enthusiast and fine art teacher Lou Chamberlin has spent a good part of the last decade documenting the creative work that has graced laneway walls all over Melbourne. Her latest book, Street Art: Melbourne, includes photographs of everything from stencils to yarn bombing. The street art movement has not blossomed in Melbourne alone, of course; it has become a global phenomenon that shows no sign of slowing down. Lou believes that this positive reaction has a lot to do with the accessibility of this type of art. "It has been likened to pop art and how that was a reaction to the very intellectual and academic art that was being put in galleries," she says. "I think the same thing was happening with postmodernism, it was becoming difficult for people to understand. That's why I think street art is such a revolution; it's giving art back to the masses." Lou also believes that the temporary nature of this art form is also very appealing to both passers-by and artists alike. "The artists do not have a sense of preciousness. Their work is expressive and serves a purpose, but when it's gone, it's gone." Street Art:Melbourne is not Lou's first book dedicated to street art photography; she has previously released Street Art: Rio and Street Art: Valparaiso. She has recently returned from a trip to New York, where Banksy is currently working as an artist in residence, selling his stencils for $60 a pop and driving around in a livestock truck filled with wailing stuffed toy animals. "I was three blocks away when that happened!" says Lou. "I'm working on a book for New York now. I think I'll do one for Berlin soon; there are some absolutely enormous walls with the best artists working there.” Lou’s favourite street art lane in Melbourne is Hosier Lane, but she also recommends that we keep our eye on Artists Lane in Windsor for some exciting new pieces. Out of the hundreds of street artists work she has snapped, she has her favourites both from the local and international scene. "I love TWOONE, I like the quirkiness of Ghostpatrol. I love Ears, he's a Sydney-based artist. Internationally I like Herakut, and Blu." Lou says that she has noticed a change in practice and in quality of street art in Melbourne over the last eight years. "It's become more complex," she says. "I think it's become more collaborative, as there are more groups of artists working together on particular walls. And the quality has become a lot stronger, a lot better." We had Lou tell us about six or her favourite works of Melbourne street art that no longer remain. All the photographs are from her book Street Art: Melbourne, out on November 1 through Explore Australia Publishing, RRP $39.95, and used with permission. "This stencil is one of the first to pique my interest. I photographed it in Rutledge Lane in Melbourne's CBD in 2006. I was so impressed by it that I used it in a secondary school art textbook as an example of contemporary art borrowing from the past to make a social comment." "This glorious work by German duo Herakut was painted in Union Lane in Melbourne's CBD in February this year. It has since been slowly covered by tagging so that only one eye and the top of the head remain. Herakut were in Melbourne painting an enormous wall as part of their global Giant Storybook Project." "This collaborative piece by Ears and Adnate adorned the wall of a small lane in Fitzroy for a short time. I love the way it fragments and reassembles the features of the face. It's almost a 21st-century twist on Picasso's Cubism." "Ghostpatrol has painted some wonderful commissioned walls in Melbourne's inner suburbs. I photographed this one in 2008. It was repainted by the same artist in 2012. It's very interesting to see how artists' styles and subject matter change over time." "Owen Dippie (known internationally as OD) painted this portrait of Heath Ledger as The Joker in Hosier Lane in 2012. I've just been to New York where I saw an enormous piece by OD at the fabled (and soon to be demolished) 5Pointz in Brooklyn. His photorealist style is readily recognisable." "It doesn't get much more transient than this! I was fortunate enough to be walking down Swanston Street one night when the Taiwanese artist who uses the title Splash Baron was painting in water. His animal characters lasted about 10 minutes before disappearing forever." Street Art: Melbourne by Lou Chamberlin, published by Explore Australia Publishing.
You might not know that noted film banger of the 00s Bring It On has been made into a stage musical — and, having already done the rounds on Broadway in 2012, and hitting Melbourne last year, it's going to cartwheel back into the city this July. Responsible for the phrase "cheerocracy" and your unrealistic expectations of high school, it seems the original movie still has some decent cultural capital to give. If you've been wondering, in the last 19 years, what exactly the world of competitive cheerleading might have going on with it these days, this musical is for you. If you had a Kirsten Dunst poster on the back of your childhood bedroom door, this musical is for you. To be honest, if you've watched the film even just a few times, it's probably for you too. With music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (of Hamilton fame) and the stage adaptation by Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), the musical is only loosely based on the original film of 2000, which starred your girls Kirsten and Eliza Dushku. Unlike the five sequels that followed the movie — all of which went directly to VHS — the musical looks like it has a refreshing amount of sass, cutthroat rivalry and aerial stunts. Bust out your best spirit fingers and get them tapping on your keyboard if you want tickets — Bring It On: The Musical is making its way back to Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre in July, but it's only going to be step-pivot-split jumping around town for a strictly limited three-week run. Sign up for the waitlist before tickets go on sale to the general public at 11am on Thursday, March 21.
The Premier's Active April is here once more — a whole month-long bonanza of free classes, discounts on sportswear and sport programs, and some pretty great deals that'll have you rediscovering your inner kid and the energy you once had (you can go to Legoland, you're never too old). A yearly campaign run by the Victorian Government, Active April encourages Victorians to do 30 minutes of physical activity every day during the month of April. To take part, you just need to register online — it's free and you can download an app to log your progress and explore what's going on in your local area. Just to start, you get heaps of free stuff, including ten free passes to participating YMCA facilities, free tennis court hire, free croquet coaching sessions and five free dance lessons at Dancesport Victoria. There are also a heap of discounts, including 15 percent off at Sportsmart — so you can stock up on activewear — and a two-for-one offer at Golf Victoria courses. Then there's the two-for-one Otaway Fly Treetop Adventures scenario, plus 30 percent off entry at the Legoland Discovery Centre and Melbourne Aquarium, too. By signing up and participating, you also go into the draw to win a slew of prizes, which include tickets to the 2020 Australian Open finals. As well as snaggin' some sweet discounts, you'll be able to prove your "drunk talking New Year's Eve post-midnight" self right – you will get more fit this year. Head online to register for Active April — you have until April 30 to signup — and start popping squats all over the place.
While it feels like it was only yesterday that we were eating boozy Christmas pud with nan, it's somehow already December (again) — which means, yes, we're almost at the end of 2019. And Melbourne's bar scene has continued to grow at an impressive (alarming?) rate. Not only have new drinking holes popped up across the city — opening everywhere from CBD rooftops to former mechanics warehouses in Abbotsford — these libation stations are multi-faceted, doubling as breweries (with indoor lagoons), nightclubs with 24-hour licences and record shops. So, here are our favourite ten bars to throw open their doors in 2019. Add them to your list. Tick them off. Just as Santa's doing now.
Get ready to hear "wackadoo!" constantly, and "for real life", too. Come spring 2024, Brisbane will welcome a new immersive installation that lets you step inside one of the River City's and Australia's biggest hits of the past six years: the award-winning animated favourite that is Bluey. Missed out on staying in a replica of the Bluey house when it was temporarily up for rent in the Queensland capital in 2022? The home of the family-friendly animated phenomenon is now getting a Bluey attraction so that you have another chance to experience the global sensation beyond the TV. Announced in 2023, originally to open this August, but now welcoming fans in from Thursday, November 7, 2024, Bluey's World will get you walking around life-sized sets that recreate the beloved series. Yes, the Heeler house and backyard are part of the setup. Maybe you'll be taking your little ones along, or your nieces and nephews. Perhaps you know that appreciating the adorable Aussie show about a family of blue heelers isn't just for kids. Either way, this is set to be big — including literally. Opening at Northshore Pavilion in Northshore Brisbane, the space itself will be sizeable, spanning across 4000 square metres. When Airbnb listed its Bluey abode in 2022, the response was massive. Expect the reaction to Bluey's World to be the same. Bluey and Bingo's bedroom, the family's living room and kitchen, the poinciana tree in the backyard: they'll all feature, of course. So will recreations of recognisable scenes, characters and even games from the show. And yes, as seen in the series, you can arrive via CityCat. Visitors can expect to spend 70 minutes bounding through the experience — and will also find a playground and a cafe onsite, with interactive play a focus, taking cues from Bluey episodes in the process. There'll be a soundscape to match, plus a gift shop, all in a purpose-built venue. And, for big Bluey birthday celebrations, the site will host parties as well. Bluey's World is exclusive to Brisbane, making it a tourist attraction to fans not only locally and nationally but worldwide. Unsurprisingly, that's a big part of the push from both the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, who are supporting the BBC Studios- and HVK Productions-produced experience. "Bluey is globally adored and arguably our most famous Queenslander, from her Brisbane home and beyond, it's such a treat seeing our state's landscape immortalised in Bluey's adventures, episode after episode. Bluey's World will be truly captivating, giving fans an unforgettable and immersive experience, it is such a drawcard to drive visitation to Queensland," said Queensland Tourism Minister Michael Healy. "We're a family-friendly destination and we know that once the family have lived and played like our favourite Heelers at Bluey's World, that they'll get out and explore our state, which is Bluey's world — for real life." "This special event is so highly anticipated on our calendar, we expect more than 200,000 visitors will enjoy Bluey's World in its inaugural year, injecting more than $18 million into the local economy," Healy continued. Bluey's World will open at Northshore Pavilion, 281 MacArthur Avenue, Northshore Brisbane on Thursday, November 7, 2024 — head to the attraction's website for more information and to join the waitlist, and for tickets from Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Luke Jerram's giant glowing moon installation was supposed to make a special guest appearance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in May, as part of the now cancelled Rising Festival. But for a brief time instead, Museum of The Moon has descended on the Plaza at Bunjil Place, where you can see it in all its intricately detailed glory, until Sunday, July 4. The UK artist's renowned moon replica is set to impress audiences with its shimmering presence, clocking in at seven metres in diameter. The well-travelled artwork was constructed using real NASA imagery of the lunar surface, with each centimetre of its face representing five kilometres of the actual moon. Complementing the internally-lit orb, expect a striking musical composition created by BAFTA- and Ivor Novello-award winning composer Dan Jones for a truly multi-sensory moon-gazing experience. You can catch Museum of The Moon for free — it'll appear daily at Bunjil Place from 11am until 9pm. [caption id="attachment_699961" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Museum of The Moon[/caption] Top Image: Museum of The Moon, University of Bristol, 2017
Scribbling on the walls used to be a top ten reason for grounding. Now the NGV wants you to scribble all over their White Cube. Design duo Matheny Studio have created a brand new kids space at the National Gallery of Victoria called Pastello Draw Act — without a fun-quashing parent voice (or airport official) in sight. Kids can gear up in futuristic crayon-studded helmets and crayon-soled shoes and let the rainbow destruction run rife; allowed to colour, scribble, sketch, draw and obliterate every surface in the space with whatever hue's on the menu. Tables aren't safe. Walls can't run. Footstools quiver in fear. It's not every day kids are allowed to make as much mess as they want. "Pastello Draw Act is a new immersive kids space focused on transforming perception surrounding the simple act of drawing," say Matheny Studio on Vimeo. The studio designed the space and crayon accessories specifically for NGV, seeing an opportunity for unbridled artistry by our most abstract expressionist of citizens: children. Pastello Draw Act will be open at the NGV until August 31.
