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.
If you’ve ever fantasised about swapping your suit and computer for a smock and paintbrush, now’s the time to do it. Inside Llewyn Davis might not have done much for rosy-ing up the ‘independent artist’ dream, but a new website by the name of Behomm does. It’s an online home-exchange service that’s available exclusively to "architects, filmmakers, stylists, photographers, interior designers, art directors and ceramic artists". Rather than having to write clever things on artists’ residencies applications or scrape together spare pennies to pay for accommodation, visually creative types can now swap their homes with those of others living all around the world. From what can be seen on the site, that means access to some exquisite and quirky dwellings. Think New York loft apartments, mountain-top open plan studios, impossibly cute log cabins and lakeside villas. The range varies from modest cottages to expansive, architect-designed houses. What they all have in common, though, is the beautifying influence of an artistic sensibility — space to work, tasteful objects, inspiring views. Membership, open to full-time professionals only (sigh), is organised by invitation — from either another Behomm member or the site’s founders. Exchanges can be of any length — as brief as a weekend or as long as a year. A 50-day trial is free, after which membership costs 40 euros for three months or 95 euros for a year.
Burger lovers of Melbourne, rejoice — yet another (yes, another) place selling your favourite food is posed to join the culinary lineup. If you've ever been on holiday in Queensland and grabbed a burg on the Gold or Sunshine Coasts, then you might be familiar with our newest resident from up north: Betty's Burgers. After announcing they'd be opening new stores in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane last month, their shiny new burger joint is now open at 97 Elizabeth Street — their first outside of Queensland. So what's Betty's all about? Well they do a range of burgs that have been pretty well received up north. You can except their classic, crispy chicken, pork belly and mushroom signature burgers to make their way to Melbourne, as well as their insane Shake Shack-esque frozen custard concoctions. These are called 'concretes', and you can choose to get things like peanut brittle, pecan pudding, doughnuts and lemon cheesecake mixed through them. A photo posted by Betty's Burgers & Concrete Co. (@bettys_burgers) on Dec 2, 2016 at 12:22am PST The concept sounds similar to Melbourne burger joint Royal Stacks, which also does burgers and frozen custard desserts, although it must be noted that Betty's was first opened in Noosa by David Hales in 2014 (before Royal Stacks' time). He has since opened two stores on the Gold Coast — one at Surfers Paradise and one at Robina. Betty's Burgers is now open from 10am till late seven days a week at 97 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. For more info, visit bettysburgers.com.au. Interior images: Carmen Zammit. Words by Lauren Vadnjal and Sarah Ward.
Pint-sized Maisie (Onata Aprile) has a skewed view of adult life, with slammed doors and whispered rows as much a part of her world as playmates and puzzles. Her parents are Beale (Steve Coogan), a globe-trotting, supercilious art dealer and Susanna (Julianne Moore), a rock star who fails to notice how heavily she is flirting with cliche as a rock star with panda eyes, messy hair and ever-present cigarettes. Their marriage has dissolved into open hostility as Susanna locks Beale out of their luxurious Manhattan apartment. They next meet at divorce court, where both seek full custody of Maisie. The court instead orders joint custody in allotments of ten days for each parent, starting a heart-sinking cycle where both parents fail to keep up with their responsibility to pass the child onto the other, meaning the wide-eyed Maisie is left at school, in a bar, in the lobby of the apartments. Beale quickly ups the stakes, marrying Maisie's somewhat timid but well-meaning nanny Margo (Joanna Vanderham) and setting up house with her. Fuelled by spite, Susanna retaliates with a marriage of convenience of her own, quickly wedding Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgard), a naive bartender who soon develops a bond with Maisie. Both parents continue to throw emotional barbs at each other through their daughter, but as they both start spending more time out of the city for work, Maisie ends up increasingly left in the care of either Margo or Lincoln, or sometimes both. Told entirely from the point of view of the neglected Maisie, this is a fragmented story made up of overheard snippets of conversation, claim and counterclaim. Completely convincing and beautifully nuanced, it becomes an involving affair, all the more effective for taking an unconventional route to your heartstrings and generally eschewing the kind of histrionics or easy sentimentality that could have come with this territory. Based on Henry James' 1897 novel of the same name, the story has been seamlessly moved from the 19th century to the present and from London to New York, suggesting there is something essentially timeless at the heart of this story. Despite the presence of a quartet of first rate actors who nail all the details of their respective roles, the narrative's exclusive focus on the child's perspective of events means What Maisie Knew has to live or die on the performance of Aprile, who was aged just six at the time of filming. Thankfully her performance never hits a false note. Acting as the tale's unlikely moral centre, she is remarkable as a child who maintains her essential goodness in the face of deplorable neglect and selfishness. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GHHt5eYl95c
If you've got to the point in life where your local Thai place is saved in your favourites, they know your order and you don't even bother changing out of your daggy trackies to go pick it up, congrats. You, lounge dweller, are living your best life. But there is an alternate life you could be living, involving less humdrum routine and more exploring; it's the life of stepping out and trying new things. Say "it's not you, it's me" to your usual Wednesday pad see ew and start making a list of what the city has to offer that's new and exciting. We'll even give you a headstart — we've pulled together a list of restaurants that opened in the last few months around Melbourne to try on your next night out. From top-notch noodle joints to a Mexican-inspired pizzeria and tequila bar, if Melbourne's restaurant scene was a dating app, you would never stop swiping. So, start now.
Winemakers of Rutherglen have been doing good things with grapes for a while now out in northeast Victoria. But, luckily for us, they've decided to come city-side again this October for a two-day wine event, Rutherglen in the City. The pop-up cellar door will situate itself inside The Atrium at Federation Square. Sixteen winemakers will take over the high-ceilinged space, transforming it into an inner city 'winery' with over 100 different drops — so you can forget you're sandwiched between Flinders Street and the MCG and dream of open plains and vineyards. For $10, you'll get a free glass and be able to sample the best of the region's wine varieties — including durif and muscat — and a few different wine-heavy cocktails at the bar. The winemakers themselves will also be on-hand for a chat, and, if something takes your fancy, you can even order a few bottles from them direct. There'll be a range of masterclasses you can partake in, too. Full glasses of wine and other drinks can be purchased from the bar, and some nosh will be on sale. The best thing about it is you won't even have to drive home — thanks to trams and trains, you can have as many wines as you like. Rutherglen in the City will run from 12–5pm.
At the box office, a film adaptation of Wicked was always set to defy gravity, as the world discovered in 2024. On the stage, the hit musical had proven a blockbuster for two decades. The realm of The Wizard of Oz has been beloved on the page for over a century and on the screen for over 85 years, too. So when heading back to Oz sparked the fifth highest-grossing movie globally of last year, it wasn't at all a surprise. Can Wicked: For Good top it? Bringing Wicked to cinemas is a two-part affair. The first picture arrived in November 2024, painted theatres pink and green, then won Oscars. The second has a date with the silver screen in November 2025. And if you're wondering how the stage musical's second act will soar at the movies, here's your first glimpse: the debut trailer for Wicked: For Good. When sneak peeks for the initial film started dropping last year, questions such as "are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?" were peppered within them. Now, sentiments like "there's no going back", "think of what we could do together" and "it's time for both of us to fly" echo instead, hailing from Glinda and Elphaba. Ariana Grande (Don't Look Up) and Cynthia Erivo (Poker Face) return to their Academy Award-nominated parts to bring Wicked's tale to its conclusion, and to keep chronicling their characters' paths to becoming Glinda the Good Witch of the North and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively. As the first instalment did, Wicked: For Good boasts director Jon M Chu (In the Heights, Crazy Rich Asians) behind the lens, again taking inspiration from composer Stephen Schwartz and playwright Winnie Holzman. Alongside Grande and Erivo, Jeff Goldblum (Kaos) portrays the Wizard of Oz, while Michelle Yeoh (Star Trek: Section 31), Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), Ethan Slater (Elsbeth) and Marissa Bode (who made her feature debut in Wicked) also co-star. From the first Wicked: For Good trailer, audiences can get excited about more time in Emerald City, flying monkeys, transformations, yellow bricks, grand ceremonies, warnings in the sky and heartfelt messages — and also Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. For those new to Wicked, it focuses on the Land of Oz's witches, with telling their untold tale the musical's whole angle. On the stage, the show has notched up more awards than you can fit in a hefty cauldron over the years. That includes three Tonys from ten nominations, a Grammy, an Olivier Award and six Drama Desk Awards. Check out the trailer for Wicked: For Good below: Wicked: For Good releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Have you ever found yourself in a charming, low-lit restaurant on a Saturday night only to have the ambience destroyed by violent flashes from the table next to you? Perhaps it's happened right in front of you — a date who just had to halt conversation to whip out his iPhone and 'gram both your meals before you could deign to touch it. It's just as bad on the other end too. There's no way his followers at home want to see some poorly framed gourmet blob as they sit down to their own mildly depressing mac and cheese for one. Well, now we have an excuse to send all these terrible snappers on a nice long trip away. In a world first, new London pop-up restaurant Picture House will be letting diners pay for their bill via photos of their food on Instagram. Like a sanctuary for the universally hated, notorious amateur food photographers can snap to their heart's content at this cursed hellhole and get a free two-course meal at the end of it. Unfortunately for patrons and their respective Instagram followers, Picture House is in fact a marketing stunt by frozen food giants, Bird's Eye. Accordingly, the food that will be flooding everyone's newsfeeds will consist of fancy fish fingers and a beige assortment of things that once resembled chickens. Dimly Lit Meals for One should expect a huge influx of submissions in the next week. All in all, the industry is pretty divided on the issue of novice foodie photographers. A restaurant in Cape Town has recently allowed patrons to use the newly-developed #dinnercam in their dining room — a futuristic casing for your meal (pictured above) that creates perfect lighting conditions allowing optimum food wankery. But other establishments like David Chang's Momofuku Ko are outright banning the practice. Still, according to an incredibly impartial survey taken by Bird's Eye, nine percent of Britons can't even go a single day without photographing their meals. Of course, I'm being a little rough. The odd food pic is okay. Of course it is. All I ask is that the food on display should be truly extraordinary. A croque-en-bouche three metres tall? 'Gram that baby. Pasta which the chef has painstakingly arranged into a portrait of your face? That's DP material. But a plate of frocked up chicken dippers with the obligatory hashtag #BirdsEyeInspirations? No thanks. Via London Evening Standard.
When a drought-stricken farming community is shocked by a murder-suicide, Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk is forced to return home for the first time in 20 years — for the funerals, and to investigate. That's the premise of Australian crime novel The Dry, which first hit bookshelves back in 2016, marked the debut novel from author Jane Harper, and was named the British Book Awards' Crime and Thriller Book of the Year and the Barry Awards' Best First Mystery amongst a heap of other accolades. Come New Year's Day 2021, it'll also be the plot of the new Aussie movie of the same name. Australian cinema loves crime flicks, as everything from Two Hands, Animal Kingdom and Snowtown to Mystery Road and Goldstone attests (and Money Movers, Heatwave, Shame and Son of a Gun, too). Accordingly, it should come as little surprise that the big-screen version of The Dry stems from two people with a history in the genre. Director Robert Connolly was the producer of one of the best local crime movies ever made, 1998's unnerving The Boys, while Eric Bana was famously the star of the similarly excellent Chopper. In The Dry, Bana plays the aforementioned Falk, who looks far from happy when he receives a note about his childhood friend Luke — with the latter alleged to have shot his wife and child before killing himself. Falk's homecoming opens up old secrets, including involving his old pal. In a town filled with rage after years of struggle against the titular conditions, Falk soon begins to suspect that a previous death might be linked to the current case, too. As well as Bana, The Dry features plenty of familiar faces, as the just-dropped first trailer shows. They include Animal Kingdom star James Frecheville, Glitch's Genevieve O'Reilly, Fargo's Keir O'Donnell, Mission: Impossible II's John Polson, The Dressmaker's Julia Blake, Occupation's Bruce Spence, 1%'s Matt Nable and Top End Wedding's Miranda Tapsell. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X7KkP68RZE&feature=youtu.be The Dry releases in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on January 1, 2021.
The State Library of Victoria is a pretty magical place. There are huge regal reading rooms with towers of books as old and intricate as anything seen in Harry Potter, and at any one moment you can find hundreds of people feverishly studying, pouring themselves over heavy hardbacks. Now, making it even more interesting, you might also find the work of Nicholas Jones — a man who hacks into books instead of reading them. At first glance Jones' work seems like the most amazing procrastination ever. I'm sure everyone has experienced so much frustration with a book that they've wanted to crumple all its pages up into an unintelligible mess. This is basically what Jones does, but with much more finesse and skill than most could ever fathom. A self-proclaimed 'book sculptor', Melbourne artist Nicholas Jones has been creating these unique and intricate works for a number of years now. This latest exhibition follows on from both a creative fellowship with the SLV and a natural interest in the "topographical contours and line-work present in maps". Each book he touches takes on a new form and with it a new meaning — a transformation of the ordinary to the extraordinary. Definitely worth checking out while on a study break.
Feeling flush? For the first time ever, cashed-up travellers can now book out an entire hotel through Airbnb, for the tidy sum of $15,000. That hotel being the newly opened Little Albion Guest House — a luxurious 35-room operation in the heart of Surry Hills. Launching officially this week, the one-of-a-kind guest house is out to shake-up the luxury travel game, pitched as a fusion of hotel and home. The idea here is to team the comfort of a hotel, with the familiarity and laidback nature of an Airbnb stay. It's the first hotel in the world that can be booked out in its entirety via the app. If you don't have the expendable cash to book out the whole thing, you can also rent out individual rooms in the hotel, which start at around $150 per night. The Little Albion Guest House is the work of boutique accommodation group 8Hotels and talented designer Connie Alessi, and it has designer interiors, a covetable art collection, a rooftop garden complete with an outdoor shower and panoramic city views, and an honour-system bar, where guests can help themselves to high-end nibbles and drinks. There'll also be a team of hosts — headed by Surry Hills local Wendy Morris — on hand at all hours to help out with everything from charging cables to local gym recommendations. It's the latest boutique hotel to join Surry Hills' ever-growing collection, which also includes the newly open Paramount House Hotel. Find Little Albion Guest House at 21 Little Albion Street, Surry Hills
Perth, our most westerly neighbour, has long been celebrated for its natural beauty — the sea, sand and endless sunshine. But, hey, there's a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking. Over the past few years, Perth has switched gears and turned into a vibrant, cultural hub with the personality to back up its good looks. Now it's an ideal destination for a long weekend getaway. So you don't miss out on all that Perth has to offer, we've teamed up with the folks at QT Perth to bring you ten top-notch things to eat, see and do while visiting this magical city. The urban-chic boutique hotel is situated within the heart of Perth and boasts luxe amenities — like something called a 'signature QT Dream Bed', retro-glam black and gold furnishings, a minibar full of surprises and even complimentary pilates classes — all perfect for those explorers who relish the finer things. And what's more, this summer, you can stay at the swish hotel for free. QT Perth is giving away an epic trip to WA, which includes three nights' accommodation for two, plus flights, VIP passes to the Ice Cream Factory Summer Festival and $200 to spend at the festival bar. So, pack your bags; it's time to get acquainted with the new Perth. TUCK INTO PASTRIES AT MARY STREET BAKERY, HIGHGATE Baked goods mecca Mary Street Bakery sits just a 20-minute stroll from QT Perth. With four outposts around the city, the bakery has become a firm favourite among locals and visitors alike. Those with a proclivity for savoury can tuck into slow-cooked eggs with buttery toast ($13) or kimchi pancakes with beef brisket ($22), while the sweet tooths can enjoy some next-level treats, like pandan pannacotta with puffed rice, lime gel, almonds and mango ($16) or perfectly baked escargot ($5) — the pastries, not the snails. Wash it all down with a single origin cold brew or an organic cold-pressed green juice if you want to pretend you're healthy after that hefty dose of sugar. PERUSE THE GOODS AT FREMANTLE MARKETS, FREMANTLE Just 30 minutes from Perth's CBD, you'll find the uber trendy suburb of Fremantle. Renowned for its burgeoning art and music scene, Freo's streets are abuzz with creativity. Arguably the best way to get a glimpse of this vibrant culture is to hit up the Fremantle Markets. Running for over than 100 years, the markets have everything from Aboriginal art and Aussie opals to fresh fruit and coffee beans. There's even a shop which solely sells Barnesy t-shirts, because everybody loves Barnesy. The markets also have a regular busker schedule, so you can shop to the sweet sounds of Perth's up-and-coming musicians. GO GAMING AT PALACE ARCADE, CBD Arcade bars have been popping up all over the Eastern Seaboard — and now the neon-lit trend has spread to the west. Last September, Perth's first arcade bar opened its doors to the delight of all the kidults in WA. Boasting more than 100 machines from the 70s, 80s and 90s, Palace Arcade is a great place to go if you want to play like a kid for the day. There's nothing quite like getting a good dose of nostalgia along with your beer (or Cheat Mode cocktail). Should hunger strike, Mack Daddy's New York Pizza is available whole and by the slice. The best part? It's only a short, seven-minute stroll — or waddle depending on the pizza slices consumed — back to the hotel. CATCH A FLICK IN THE CLOUDS, NORTHBRIDGE As if openair cinemas weren't cool enough — this one's on a rooftop, six levels above the city and with panoramic views of Perth. Rooftop Movies is open now until March 30, 2019, with a program that places new films, like Bohemian Rhapsody, alongside old gems à la The Parent Trap and Romeo + Juliet. They've even dusted off 90s classic Home Alone just in time for Christmas. Grab yourself a Pimm's cup from the bar, settle into your comfy beanbag and watch as a babyfaced Macaulay Culkin physically and emotionally destroys two grown men. Oh, and even if the movie blows, you've got that skyline. [caption id="attachment_701027" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Selwood.[/caption] TOUR THE LITTLE CREATURES BREWERY, FREMANTLE It'd be remiss to visit the West Coast and not have a pint of Little Creatures. The beer was born when a group of mates started brewing in a huge shed (and former crocodile farm) on the water's edge in Freo. Doesn't get more Aussie than that. Touted as the 'Grandfather of Perth's craft breweries', Little Creatures has been slinging beers since 2000 and operates like a well-oiled machine. To gain insight into the inner workings, jump on a brewery tour with a resident 'hop head' and learn about the brewing process, as well as the Little Creatures story. Tours run daily at 12, 1, 2 and 3pm, and cost $20 per person — that includes a guided tasting of the full range of beers. SNEAK INTO SNEAKY TONY'S, NORTHBRIDGE This elusive little speakeasy can only be accessed with a secret password, 'open sesame' style, which immediately makes you feel as though you're in some kind of prohibition-era gang. The bar's dim lights and moody aesthetic further adds to this 1920s underworld vibe; it's at once thrilling and mysterious. Ready yourself for a throng of punchy cocktails that make use of the bar's colossal rum collection. We suggest ordering the Sour Power, a refreshing blend of Cuban rum and watermelon, or the apple pie mojito. Just make sure to check Sneaky Tony's Facebook page to find out the magic word each Friday and Saturday night. Bottoms up, bootleggers. CATCH A FERRY AND HANG WITH THE QUOKKAS, ROTTNEST ISLAND Just look at that little guy, do we really need to convince you? Jump on a ferry to Rottnest Island and see the world's largest population of quokkas. There are thousands of them and, best of all, they're not camera shy. (Get ready for some seriously cute quokka selfies — these guys even smile for you.) Beyond the little brown floofs, 'Rotto' is a pristine, natural wonderland that's ripe for exploration. Go for a surf at one of the stunning white-sand beaches or explore the island by foot via one of the scenic hikes. Once you're tuckered out, catch the ferry back to the QT, enjoy a relaxing rain shower and spend the night curled up watching complimentary in-room movies. GET YOUR AUSSIE MODERN ART FIX AT PICA, CBD WA has a spate of great galleries — big and small — but to see some truly progressive work, head to the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. Housed in a picturesque heritage building, smack bang in the middle of town, PICA has become a focal point for those keen to experience the very best Australian contemporary art. The program extends beyond visual arts to also incorporate performing and hybrid arts. Since it's free entry and only an eight-minute walk from QT Perth, it's a prime no-fuss activity to tackle when you need some downtime. ROTISSERIE CHICKEN AT TINY'S, CBD Perth's food and wine scene has gone into overdrive, with a spate of new venues bursting onto the city streets. And one of the best newcomers has to be Tiny's. Headed up by hospo heavyweights Paul Aron and Michael Forde — the brains behind Mary Street Bakery, Greenhouse, El Publico and Ace Pizza — the multifaceted venue features a restaurant, specialty bottle shop and bar. So, Tiny's is actually rather big. Head along for dinner and opt for the banquet ($54 per person) to sample some top-notch rotisserie meats. The chook, which takes two days to prepare and cook, is served with nduja bread sauce and potatoes roasted in chicken drippings — and it's by far the standout. Oh, and if you enter and win the QT Perth competition, you'll also get a free dinner at Tiny's. GO FOR A LATE-NIGHT BOOGIE AT LUCY'S LOVE SHACK, CBD The folks behind Jack Rabbit Slims opened this venue last September, and it's already won the hearts of Perth's late-night revellers. Lucy's is a bona fide party spot, with a generous daily happy hour, late-night pizza, live music and karaoke. The drinks menu is packed with a whole heap of beer, a few decent wines and a collection of reasonably priced cocktails (from $13). There's even Lucy's take on a Long Island iced tea available on tap. Did we mention it's only a one-minute walk from your home base? Partying has never been so easy. Spend your weekend exploring some of the very best things around Perth, and when you need a place to recoup, find your home away from home at QT Perth. Even better, enter the competition and win a trip to the city and a stay at the hotel for zero dollars. Plus, you'll get access to the most summery of events — the Ice Cream Factory Summer Festival.
The ultimate adult orienteering game, Citydash, is back as part of this year's Fringe Festival, and we can't wait to play. With the aid of a smartphone and your friends, teams must find and unravel clues hidden around the city, all while avoiding capture by patrolling guards. A festival event that actually helps you exercise is a rare thing indeed. Citydash takes place every Saturday afternoon and evening throughout the duration of the festival, starting from North Melbourne Town Hall, Birrarung Marr or the Library at the Docks, depending on the week. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Check out the other nine here.
To be perfectly honest, we knew we wanted to preview this show the moment we saw the title. The latest off-the-cuff production from improv music troup Impromptunes, Puppets! The Musical throws out the script completely, with the performers relying on the audience and each other to conjure up the material for their all-singing, all-dancing show. As if that wasn't challenging enough, they've gone and thrown puppets into the mix – and as everyone knows, puppets are terrible at thinking on their feet. Expect forced rhymes and big laughs. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Check out the other nine here.
When most people think of the St Kilda Festival, the first thing that comes to mind is music. Well, maybe that and beers on the beach. Either way, most people are so pre-occupied they all-together forget about the art. But when an exhibition centres itself on the inner workings of the human body and features illustrative paintings of Tony Abbott's constipated face, people are bound to take notice. In and Out is the latest group endeavour from Project Q.U.A.D. (Quick and Dirty), a local art initiative run by Madeline Sharrock and Stephanie Pirrie. This playful and kooky exhibition seeks to explore the functions of the human body and features the work of ACAB Collective, Emma Barrett, Leon Buynevic, Colby Cannon, Ben Carollo, Nathan Ceddia, Mimi Leung (pictured), Ilya Milstein, Rachel Prince, Isobel Stuart and Sukoe, with Eric Demetriou and Jacqui Moore also performing. The In and Out launch party will feature live music, performances, installations, and dancing. It will coincide with Festival Sunday of the St Kilda Festival (February 9) from 12pm-9pm.
The weird and wonderful combine in Patricia Piccinini's new exhibition at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). Extending across a range of mediums from sculpture to photography, Piccinini presents an augmented vision of reality through an amalgam of science, nature and fiction. Curious Affection features over 70 immersive artworks, and it's the first time GOMA has exhibited the work of a contemporary Australian artist on such a large scale. It features a variety of new commissions and old works in Piccinini's unmistakable hyperreal style, including 'The Field', an installation of more than 3000 flower sculptures. Accompanying the exhibition is a superb film program at GOMA's Australian Cinematheque, which run from science fiction through to horror classics. The gallery is also staying open late every Friday night from June 8 to July 6 with a program of live music and talks. Images: Installation view, 'Patricia Piccinini: Curious Affection' at GOMA (2018), shot by Natasha Harth.
If you're not spending your Saturday morning in bed, then you might be known to start your weekend by hitting up a market or heading out for a mid-morning coffee. Melburnians, if that was you on Saturday, July 17, you could now need to spend a fortnight in self-isolation. Prahran Market has just been added to Victoria's growing list of exposure sites — a list that currently has 385 venues — with a positive COVID-19 case visiting the spot last weekend. It has been designated a Tier 1 venue, so if you were there between 9.40–11.15am last Saturday, you'll now need to get tested straight away and then self-quarantine for a fortnight. The case alert applies to the entire market during that nearly two-hour window. A separate alert has been issued for Market Lane Coffee at Prahran Market, too, between 10.30–11am that same morning. It is also a Tier 1 venue, so the same testing and self-isolation requirements apply. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1418008758295285761 Victoria was already in lockdown on Saturday, July 17, so hopefully that'll minimise the number of folks who were at the market during the identified period. Still, that exposure site list just keeps rocketing up. Back on Friday, July 16, it included 125 venues, and then jumped to 320 on Tuesday, before hitting 385 today, Thursday, July 22. The Victorian Department of Health has been updating its register as new places are identified, as it does during all outbreaks. Given that Victorians can only leave the house for a limited number of reasons during lockdown, it should come as no surprise that many of the new venues being added are markets, supermarkets, cafes and eateries, as well as public transport routes. As always, Melburnians can keep an eye on the local list of exposure sites at the Department of Health website — it will keep being updated as more sites are reported. For those looking to get tested, you can find a list of testing sites including regularly updated waiting times also on the Department of Health website. And, has remained the case throughout the pandemic, Melburnians should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste, symptoms-wise. For further details on the latest exposure sites and updated public health advice, see the Department of Health website. Top image: HappyWaldo via Wikimedia Commons.
After viral leaks of award-winning author Adam Mansbach's new children's book for parents, Go the Fuck to Sleep, created huge hype in recent weeks, the book was finally released today. The book comes with an audiobook version that is narrated by none other than Samuel L. Jackson, and is illustrated with sweet and innocent images by artist Ricardo Cortes. A New Zealand Christian lobby group Family First is already calling for the book to be banned, writing letters to New Zealand's Booksellers Association asking that it not be distributed to retailers. The group is concerned about the effect that the offensive language and negative message could have on aggressive and dysfunctional parents. One verse from the book reads "All the kids from daycare are in dreamland. The froggie has made its last leap. Hell no you can't go to the bathroom, you know where you can go? The fuck to sleep." Most people however, have found the book hilarious, including legendary film director Werner Herzog who also plans to release a recording of the book. Film rights have now also been optioned by Fox and Canongate has already bought the UK title. The book is currently at the top of the Amazon best seller list. You can listen to a sample of the Samuel L. Jackson recording here.
The global pandemic has turned things upside down, but one thing that hasn't changed much is Aussies' love for local, small-batch gin. And, now that the warm weather has arrived, it's well and truly G&T time. For those wanting to become true gin aficionados, though, you'll have to look beyond mixing the stuff with Schweppes. Enter Archie Rose's Virtual Experiences, which is bringing the distillery to your living room. The Sydney-based distillery makes some of the best gin in the country, so expect these online, booze-fuelled adventures to level up your next at-home happy hour. First up, you can partake in a virtual gin and whisky tasting ($80), with a flight of five Archie Rose spirits, as well as some tonic and a tasting mat, all delivered to your door. Or, you can go for its cocktail sessions, where you'll be shaking up two tasty gin-based cocktails. The at-home pack that comes with recipe cards and a prep sheet for $85 and you can tune into a live-stream class, too. There's also the blend-your-own gin workshop for $119, which includes everything you'll need to make your own signature gin, plus delivery and a 45-minute live-stream masterclass with an Archie Rose expert. You can select the infusions that match your gin style and choose from flavours like native river mint or juniper, cassia bark and coriander seed. Archie Rose You can also book in private classes for large groups and parties, just send them an email. If you'd rather skip the work and get straight to sipping, the Aussie spirits label is delivering its four bottled cocktails, too, from its twist on the negroni and espresso martini to its specialty concoctions the Tall Poppy and the Golden Gimlet. Check out Archie Rose's Virtual Experiences program and order yourself some top-notch gin over here.
Compton was the epicenter of West Coast hip-hop in the late 1980s and early 1990s. NWA and then Dr Dre were the gangsta kings of Californian rap, so it’s appropriate that Dre has lent his approval to the new kid on the block, Kendrick Lamar, who hails from the same neighbourhood in Los Angeles. Dre appears on and executively produced Lamar’s second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, and although it’s unlikely Dre will land in Sydney any time soon, Lamar will perform a first show at the Palace Theatre on December 21. A member of LA collective Black Hippy, Lamar released his first album Section 8.0 last year after the obligatory run of free mixtapes. The 24-year-old rapper has already sold out some of his Australian shows, so hip-hop fans are likely to be queuing on Gumtree and round the block come December. Apparently a significant moment of Lamar’s creative life was witnessing Dre and Tupac Shakur film the video for California Love in 1995. Fast forward 17 years, and Lamar is bringing his West Coast love to Melbourne.
Whether you're in Singapore for the first time or are lucky enough to have visited before, there's always more to do, see and experience around the Lion City. Rather than just stop in and marvel at iconic attractions, discover local stories and learn something new the next time you're in the city, with a guided tour by local experts. In partnership with Singapore Tourism, we've pulled together some fascinating tours — many of which are free — where you can get access to insider knowledge to uncover a new side to Singapore. Singapore Walking Tours Kick off your Singapore trip with a walking tour to get your lay of the land. There are several tour operators around the city, but Monster Day Tours is one of the few that offers free daily walking tours through different neighbourhoods. Over two-and-a-half hours, you'll be guided through the historic areas of Chinatown, Kampong Gelam or Little India. If you're more interested in the contemporary side of Singapore, there's also tours of Marina Bay and the Singapore City. You can try your luck joining in on the day, but priority is given to those who have booked a spot in advance. [caption id="attachment_976861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marklin Ang[/caption] Gardens by the Bay With 1.5 million plants from across the globe spread across over 100 hectares, you could visit the Gardens by the Bay many times over and still not have seen it all. That's why the Gardens offers a series of free sustainability and nature tours around the massive park. Every Saturday and Sunday between 8.30–11.30am, you can learn about topics such as water conservation and sustainable design practices, biodiversity and ecosystems, the sensory features of plants, and the impact of carbon on our climate as a guide takes you through parts of the park. Although it's free to join, you'll have to reserve a spot ahead of time to ensure you don't miss out. Mandai Wildlife Reserve Make some new furry friends when you get a close-up look at local wildlife on a behind-the-scenes tour. Mandai Wildlife Reserve consists of Singapore Zoo, River Wonders, Bird Paradise and Night Safari, and each park offers a range of exciting experiences. Explore Asia's first river-themed animal park with a personal guide or embark on a nighttime adventure through the world's first nocturnal wildlife park. At the Singapore Zoo, you can jump aboard a private buggy for a tour of the orangutans, tigers, KidsWorld and Wild Africa, before you get to meet a giant tortoise and participate in feeding the giraffes. Be sure to add on a backstage experience when you book your ticket. Brass Lion Distillery Brass Lion Distillery is a gin distillery known for its flagship Singapore Dry Gin, along with atypical gins that incorporate local flavours and aromatics, such as osmanthus oolong, butterfly pea and jasmine. For an in-depth experience, book in for the 50-minute distillery tour. Not only will a guide take you through the history of the brand and its production process, but you'll also be treated to a welcome drink and tasting flight of three gins in the upstairs Tasting Room. For a bespoke souvenir, choose your own botanicals and make your own gin to take home at the Brass Lion Gin School. National Gallery Singapore Let's be honest — it can sometimes be a struggle to fully comprehend or appreciate complex works of art. Give the artists the admiration they deserve and delve into major works by Singapore, Southeast Asian and international artists with docent-led tours at the National Gallery of Singapore. There are free tours ranging from deep dives into specific exhibitions and artists to a highlight tour of the whole gallery or building tours of City Hall and the former Supreme Court. Some of these tours require admission passes and you can register for a spot once you're at the National Gallery. Peranakan Museum Explore a significant part of Singapore's history and culture at the Peranakan Museum. 'Peranakan' is derived from the Malay word meaning 'local descendants', and the museum showcases the origins of Peranakan culture in Southeast Asia, as well as contemporary expressions of the culture. Peruse historical artefacts alongside textiles, furnishings and ceramics. The museum also offers free guided tours every day, and you can register on the day once you've paid for admission to the museum. Book your Singapore holiday now with Flight Centre.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: when Hans Zimmer composes a film score, audiences remember it. His list of credits is as massive as his love of music, spanning everything from Dune, Top Gun: Maverick and No Time to Die through to Prehistoric Planet, Wonder Woman 1984 and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run in just the past three years alone. Also on the German composer's resume: helping put the bounce in The Lion King's score — both versions — and the droning in Inception's memorable tunes. And, he worked on Thelma & Louise, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, Blade Runner 2049 and more. We could keen naming titles — flicks like Hidden Figures, The Boss Baby, Dunkirk, Widows, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, 12 Years a Slave, Sherlock Holmes, Mission Impossible II and Pearl Harbour, for instance — but all movie lovers know that the best way to appreciate the the Oscar-, Golden Globe-, Grammy- and Tony-winning talent is to listen. And, that's exactly what the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra wants you to do on two big summer nights, thanks to its returning The Music of Hans Zimmer performances at Hamer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday, December 15–Saturday, December 16. [caption id="attachment_724809" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hans Zimmer[/caption] Sadly, especially if you caught his 2019 Australian tour, Zimmer himself won't be there. But Australian conductor and composer Nicholas Buc will lead the charge as the MSO plays through a selection of Zimmer's work, focusing on tunes from flicks like The Dark Knight, Gladiator, Inception, Interstellar, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lion King. Buc is no stranger to Zimmer's tunes, after conducting the world-premiere live concert for The Lion King. And, he's no stranger to this kind of event in general, with doing the same for Beauty and the Beast, and just leading live film concerts around the country and the world, also on his resume. When MSO first performed The Music of Hans Zimmer back in May, Buc was also guiding the orchestra. Returning after those autumn dates sold out, this Zimmer ode will also feature The Art of the Score podcast hosts Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding talking audiences through the music with Buc. The Music of Hans Zimmer will return Hamer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday, December 15–Saturday, December 16. Tickets go on sale from 10am AEDT on Thursday, August 24 — for further details, visit the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's website.
Much of 2020 so far has been all about staying indoors — and you want those interiors to look as great as possible. Art and design lovers, that's where the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art's regular design market comes in. And, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, this one is going virtual. Browse, buy and then prepare to get cosy — or stay that way. You'll be buying things for your home as you sit inside your home. Find jewellery, ceramics, textiles, homewares and more at the 17-day-long maker market, which will feature plenty of creative folks selling their wares online when it runs Friday, May 15–Sunday, May 31. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_i5LbDAJYz/ The QAGOMA Store website will be hosting the virtual design market, and all purchases will be shipped to your door. And while GOMA will likely host another design market once the silly season rolls around — as previously has every year — if you feel like getting your gift shopping out of the way now, it'll make you feel like Christmas has come early.
After taking home an Oscar for his screenplay to 12 Years a Slave, writer John Ridley tries his hand at directing with Jimi: All Is By My Side. Starring Outkast's Andre Benjamin as legendary rocker Jimi Hendrix, the film attempts to break down narrative conventions in the same way that its subject broke down rock 'n' roll. Sadly, Ridley is no Hendrix, and soon finds himself struggling to keep his audience engaged. The film begins with a brief scene in London, where an impatient crowd sits waiting for Hendrix to take the stage. We then flashback to one year earlier, where the guitarist is still playing to half-empty nightclubs in New York. His one lifeline is Linda Keith (Imogen Poots), the girlfriend of Rolling Stone Keith Richard. It's she who introduces Hendrix to his future manager, former Animals bassist Chas Chandler (Andrew Buckley). By focusing specifically on Hendrix's early career, Ridley manages to avoid making the film feel episodic. The downside, however, is that there isn't really enough material to fill the runtime. As such, scenes tend to meander, making it difficult to stay fully invested. Ridley tries to spice things up from a visual perspective, making liberal use of archival footage at seemingly random moments throughout the film. It's an interesting gimmick at first, but the novelty quickly wears off. In the title role, Benjamin's performance is terrific. The problem, though, is that nothing is ever done to make us care about his character. Laid back almost to the point of catatonia, the truth is that Hendrix — at least as he's depicted here — just isn't very interesting. The film touches briefly on racial issues before pushing them to the wayside, along with any and all questions about the pervasive nature of fame. Still, at least you get to enjoy some quality music. Or rather you would, were it not for the fact that Hendrix's estate explicitly barred the movie from using any of his songs. Why they didn't ask permission before they started shooting is something we'll probably never know.
If there's ever been a reason to jump out of bed early on a Saturday morning (or stay up until daybreak after a big night out), it's seeing cosmic history made before your very eyes. The longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century delivered just that when it put on its sky-high show from 3.14am AEST — with the partial eclipse starting at 4.24am, the total eclipse at 5.30am and maximum eclipse occurring at 6.21am. For anyone that missed the event — and the news in the lead-up — this lengthy event lasted 103 minutes in the total eclipse phase, a duration that won't be seen again until the 2100s. It was also the last total lunar eclipse of any length that is visible from Australia again until May 2021. And, thanks to sunlight that was filtered and refracted by the earth's atmosphere, the moon also turned a blood-red share as well. So, in addition to spying a total lunar eclipse and a full moon, sky-gazers also saw a blood moon as well. Last but by no means least, Mars was also seen twinkling in the sky right next to the moon, with the planet at its closest position to earth in 15 years. As always, social media is packed full of stellar photo from those who saw and snapped the astronomical event — so whether you saw it with your own eyes or blissfully slept through it, here are some of the best shots of the lunar eclipse from around the planet. https://www.instagram.com/p/Blv7VuFHds_/?taken-by=seathebreezee https://www.instagram.com/p/Blv6W6klmLn/?taken-by=bodrumlayasa https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwBF0PHUUk/?taken-by=dorpell https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwBAQRlHpR/?taken-by=imikov https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwFT2cntgc/?tagged=lunareclipse2018 https://www.instagram.com/p/Blv4yWnBsC7/?taken-by=daves_snippets https://www.instagram.com/p/Blv2RLhnqqB/?taken-by=evrensongun https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwEgD1H6jO/?taken-by=matthias.hangst https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwHTeTn207/?taken-by=mel_weber_photography https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwFhjXH5K1/?taken-by=milkyway_scientists
We get it. Everyone loves an espresso 'tini. We've got a bar that even does them on tap — and Sydney recently got a whole venue dedicated to that God-sent concoction of chilled coffee and vodka. And now — not to be outdone by Sydney — Melbourne is getting the country's very first espresso martini festival. Sleep, who needs it? The festival, which was initially just a one-day thing, has now been extended to run over three days, from Friday, November 4 to Sunday, November 6. It's being gifted to our espresso-loving, cocktail-filled city by the fine boozehounds at Mr Black, a NSW-based cold-pressed (and damn fine) coffee liqueur. In short, they know how to capitalise on our weaknesses and we're not even mad about it. The affair will involve some of Australia's best coffee suppliers, cafes and bars, and will come together to create a beautiful array of alcoholic caffienated beverages. As with any festival of this kind, there will be an array of food trucks as well as a game or two of coffee pong (whatever that is). The festival is to be held at North Melbourne's Meat Market from 5-10pm on Friday and 2-10pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will set you back $25 a pop, which includes an espresso martini and a try of Mr Black's coffee liqueur (yum!), free tastings (yay!) and license to drink espresso martinis to your heart's content (yeah!). Updated: October 18, 2016.
When Andy Warhol's Jewish Geniuses exhibition was first shown in 1980, people got pretty mad. Though his trademark pop art style was well known by then, critics just couldn't deal with it being used to depict important intellectuals and Jewish luminaries. A critic from The New York Times labelled the show "tawdry" and "offensive". Now, for the first time ever, this beautiful tacky mess is coming to Australia. Featuring ten portraits of 20th century icons such as Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud and Franz Kafka, Jewish Geniuses will be on show at the Jewish Museum of Australia from November 20 until May 24 next year. On loan from the Jewish Museum of Vienna, the artworks will also depict actress Sarah Bernhardt, philosopher Martin Buber, judge Louis Brandeis, composer George Gershwin, literary great Gertrude Stein, ex-Israeli prime minister Golda Meir and The Marx Brothers. Accompanying Jewish Genuises, the museum will also host a larger series of events called Warhol Now. Partnering with the Jewish International Film Festival, the National Gallery of Victoria, Midsumma Festival and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival next year, Warhol Now will combine trivia nights, artist talks and a "Warhol-inspired dining event" to examine the artist's importance and influence on art today. It's all a little ironic, really. Warhol was not Jewish. He didn't have any particular passion for Jewish issues. In his diary he allegedly wrote that he created these portraits "[because] they're going to sell", now they tour Jewish museums all over the world with new meanings and importance. That being said, Warhol had a strange kind of wisdom about him too. "Don't pay any attention to what they write about you," he said. "Just measure it in inches." Touché. Andy Warhol's Jewish Geniuses will be on show at the Jewish Museum of Australia from November 20, 2014 until March 24, 2015. Admission to the exhibition will be free of charge although most events for Warhol Now are ticketed. See the website for more details.
Star Wars Christmas is here for 2024, and may the force be with you on May the fourth. If you're looking for a way to celebrate beyond viewing the many, many movies and TV shows in the space saga, and you're also fond of dancing like no one in the galaxy is watching, May the 4th — Star Wars Rave is your port of call. The cantina to head to in Melbourne: Ballers Clubhouse, with the party kicking off at 10pm. On the right date to commemorate the huge sci-fi franchise on the dance floor, you'll get free glow sticks and lollipops as part of your entry fee — and you'll be able to drink Skywalker Spritzes, Jedi Juice and Darth Drank. This Saturday-night shindig follows in the stormtrooper boot-wearing footsteps of Shrek and Hello Kitty raves, because every pop culture favourite can be an excuse to make shapes in an adoring crowd if you want it to be. Dressing up is encouraged, obviously. Are jedi robes comfortable to dance in? Here's your chance to find out. The best outfit on the night will win a $100 voucher.
We know that we can't grow outwards forever. So coming up with new and better ways of growing upwards is high on the global architectural agenda. That's why, for nine years now, eVolo magazine has been running an international skyscraper competition. Designers from all over the world are invited to come up with groundbreaking visions for vertical living. This year, 525 entries were submitted from 43 nations. Here's what came out on top. First Prize: Vernacular Versatility Designed by Yong Ju Lee, this skyscraper can be built without a single nail. It's based on the Hakon, a traditional Korean housing style known for its curved wooden roofing, which is adjustable according to sunlight intensity. So far, it has only been applied to single-storey buildings, but contemporary software modelling is enabling the exploration of multi-storey possibilities. Second Prize: Car and Shell Skyscraper: Or Marinetti's Monster Envisioned by US-based creatives Mark Talbot and Daniel Markiewicz, the Car and Shell is a city in the sky, planned with Detroit in mind. All the elements of a regular suburb (footpaths, streets and constructions) are contained in a single cube. Third Prize: Propagate Skyscraper: Carbon Dioxide Structure Goodbye, construction team. The Propagate grows all by itself. It's made of hypothetical materials that are able to absorb carbon dioxide and transform it into, well, architectural extensions. Definitely the ultimate in sustainability. Honourable Mention: The Seawer This underwater UFO doesn't house people, but it does capture trash floating in the ocean and recycle it. Honourable Mention: Sand Babel These part underground, part aboveground solar-powered towers present a new way of living in eco-friendly comfort (and style) in the desert. Honourable Mention: Climatology Tower Not only is it the best terrarium ever, the Climatology Tower functions as a research centre where the focus is on healing our sickly environment through the analysis of microclimates and urban meteorology. Honourable Mention: Launchspire It might look like the set for the next Star Wars remake, but the Launchspire is actually an "electromagnetic vertical accelerator to eliminate the hydrocarbon dependency of aircraft during takeoff".
During camping trips, there comes a time when (after getting out all your ‘Kumbuyas’ and soaking up the intimate campfire glow) you face that cold, lonely retreat to your sleeping bag and zip yourself in — realising that after all the team bonding, it really is just you and the stars. It can be a solitary life as a snoozing camper. But Seattle-based designer Andy Storms has realised that humans aren't the only great outdoors enthusiasts and has come up with a remedy — in the form of the BarkerBag. It’s a sleeping bag made for your favourite camping canine friend. Developed after his dog Barker kept hogging his own sleeping bag, Storms decided to make a teardrop-shaped bunk for his (and your) four-legged friend. And as if that isn’t cute enough in itself, it’s fitted with zips enabling attachment to yours. Snuggles ahoy. Not only can you look forward to some loyal company through the long dark night, you also take advantage of your furry friend’s warm-blooded body heat. There’s also the option of slipping him/her between you and your nearest sleeping-bagged human buddy, in a three-bag option. The obvious question is, how do you stop your dog from slipping out and snuffling into the communal food supplies/going chasing wild pigs/leaving you abandoned, cold and sad? Ol' Stormy’s given it some thought and added an entrapment mechanism by way of a reinforced cinchable collar. Storms turned the concept into a reality via a successful Kickstarter campaign. "I was tired of crowding my sleeping bag and actually making my feet colder since over-stuffing the bag compresses the insulation," he explains in the promo video. The BarkerBag is available in three sizes (small, medium and large, catering to pretty much every breed from poodles to border collies and malamutes. There's even a double version, for campers with two outdoorsy dogs in their care. Prices range from US$69 to $89 and the first production run is now underway, with shipping scheduled for July. Via Gizmag.
Music lovers of Australia, and festival fans as well, we foresee trips to the Gold Coast, Cairns, Canberra or Geelong in your future. That's where The Grass Is Greener is heading this year, with the music, food and arts fest expanding beyond Queensland for the first time — and the event has just dropped its impressive lineup. Leading the bill: Ty Dolla $ign, YG, Zhu and Pnau, all hitting up the festival's four regional locations. The event is particularly pumped to have not one but two of the biggest names in hip hop gracing its stages, as well as one of EDM's global stars and some homegrown heroes. And, it's betting that you'll be just as thrilled to check them out live. Of course you will. One Four, Boo Seeka, Side Piece, Alok and Mashd N Kutcher also have spots on the lineup — and yes, the list goes on. As for when you'll be seeing all of the above, The Grass Is Greener is doing the rounds across the last two weekends in October, starting on the Goldie, hopping down to the ACT, zipping back up to its Tropical North Queensland birthplace, then wrapping up its 2022 run in Victoria. Clearly, it's a big year for the fest, which made its debut in Cairns back in 2016. Expanding to two new cities, covering three states and locking in huge headliners for this year's tour is quite the flex. The Grass Is Greener is also jumping into the NFT space in 2022, integrating NFTs into its ticketing with a limited edition 1,111 NFT Collection. As well as nabbing access to the fest, the NFTs also feature special art that you can use onsite to unlock unique and exclusive experiences that won't be available with physical tickets. THE GRASS IS GREENER 2022 LINEUP: Alok Aluna Boo Seeka Brux Crush3ed Little Fritter Wongo Jordan Burns (live) Market Memories Mashd N Kutcher Maya Jane Coles Mikalah Watego Mood Swing & Chevy Bass Onefour Piero Pirupa Pnau Sidepiece Sticky Fingers TDJ Ty Dolla $Ign Vnssa YG Zero Zhu (DJ set) THE GRASS IS GREENER 2022 DATES: Saturday, October 22 — Doug Jennings Park, Gold Coast Sunday, October 23 — Patrick White Lawns, Canberra Saturday, October 29 — Cairns Showgrounds, Cairns Sunday, October 30 — Geelong Racecourse, Geelong The Grass Is Greener will hit the Gold Coast, Canberra, Cairns and Geelong in October 2022. Ticket pre-sales start at 8am on Wednesday, July 13, ahead of general sales from 8am on Thursday, July 14. Head to the festival website for more information. Images: Curdin Photo and Mitch Lowe.
They topped Triple J's Hottest 100 in 2002. They've featured Dave Grohl on drums. Their third studio album Songs for the Death is one of the all-time-great 00s records. They're Queens of the Stone Age, of course, and now they're bringing their latest tour Down Under in 2024, with the band heading our way for the first time in six years. The Josh Homme-fronted group's The End Is Nero tour is their first trip to Australasia since 2018, and comes after their eighth album In Times New Roman... released in June 2023. Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore are giving their latest shows an apocalyptic theme, which fans can look forward to seeing in Melbourne on Monday, February 19. [caption id="attachment_923130" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andreas Neumann[/caption] Concertgoers can look forward to a setlist that steps through QOTSA's 27-year history, including their Hottest 100 winner 'No One Knows', plus everything from 'Go with the Flow' and 'Make It Wit Chu' to 'Emotion Sickness' and 'The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret'. In support at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl: Pond and Gut Health. Queens of the Stone Age formed in Seattle in 1996 after Homme's prior band Kyuss split up, is linked to the Palm Desert music scene and have seven Grammy nominations to their name. Despite the long gap since their last trip Down Under, they're no strangers to playing Australia, including a joint tour with Nine Inch Nails back in 2014. Top image: Wünderbrot via Wikimedia Commons
Come June, you'll be able to enter the gateway to the Upside Down — if you dare. Keep an eye out for demogorgons, mind flayers and, maybe even, Hopper as you head into Melbourne's latest pop-up bar. If you haven't guessed, the new themed watering hole is inspired by Stranger Things, so expect plenty of 80s pop culture references, too, when the Upside Down Bar takes over a secret location on Sunday, June 14. You'll see upturned tables, Eggos on the roof and a room inspired by Joyce Byers' house (complete with an illuminated alphabet on the wall) as you sit down for Stranger Things-themed cocktails. Sip on the likes of the Eleven's Eggos and Demorgorgon slushies, a caramelised pineapple Mouthbreather number and the Snack Pack, made with mezcal and passion fruit. While the bar's location is firmly under wraps for now, we do know that the bar will also have DJs, arcade games and even a "dark and dangerous mission" that you'll have the possibility to complete. The pop-up bar's opening is happening ahead of the much-anticipated fourth season of Stranger Things, which does not yet have a trailer or release date. But, we'll let you know as soon as it does. You can pre-register for tickets to the Upside Down Bar over here.
A good rule of thumb when travelling just about anywhere is to get out of the big smoke, at least for part of your holiday. If you're planning a Euro trip for their summer, don't fall into the trap of hopping between capital cities and competing for selfie space with hundreds of other travellers — slow down a little, and dedicate the continent's magnificent countries the time they deserve. But we get it, finding those tucked away, untapped towns isn't as easy as it looks, so don't be ashamed to enlist some help. Opt for a boutique river cruise and you'll be plodding along from the capitals and onto a trail of some of Europe's quaintest riverside towns and cities. Here are five we recommend visiting. ROUEN, FRANCE If Europe is a landmine of historical gems, then Rouen boasts quite a unique collection. The capital of France's Normandy region is nestled along the Seine and best accessed via a cruise. As you drift towards this vibrant city, you will get a glimpse of the first landmark — the Notre Dame cathedral spire. An elaborate example of gothic architecture, the cathedral contains Richard the Lionheart's tomb and was the subject of a number of Monet artworks. Explore the city by foot to appreciate its picturesque cobblestone streets and timber-framed pastel houses dating back to the Middle Ages, and stop by the market square where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Normandy beaches — the historical site of WWII's D-Day. But if you're not much of a history buff, Rouen's other big drawcard is food (you are in France, after all) — the gastronomic pleasures to be found in the city are as rich as its history. Take advantage by sampling the luxe butter, cream and some of the freshest fish. COLOGNE, GERMANY The biggest mistake you can make is thinking Berlin is the be all and end all of Germany. Dusseldorf, Heidelberg, Dortmund, Dresden, Rothenburg and Cologne will have you charmed by day, sleepless by night and desperate to drag out your Euro trip just that little bit longer — which is mighty easy on this cruise down the Rhine. If you have to pick just one German city to visit though, go with Cologne. It's a party-meets-history hub that gets far less credit than it deserves, and as such, loses a fair slice of the EU-tourist crowd. To get the full Cologne experience drink the city's Kolsch beer, eat hämmche (like corned beef, but pork knuckle) and make sure you check out a local gig. PASSAU, GERMANY For a city otherwise known as the 'City of Three Rivers', the route to Passau seems fairly obvious. Cruise down the Danube, and the river will converge with two others close to the Austrian border: Inn and Ilz. At this intersection sits Passau's Altstadt (Old Town). It's best appreciated from up high, so pop on those walking shoes and hike to Veste Oberhaus ('Castle on the Hill') or the pilgrimage monastery Mariahilf on the opposite bank. Both spots offer panoramic views of the city's Baroque-style buildings, the domed towers of St Stephen's Cathedral and the surrounding Bavarian countryside. Head in to the Old Town to explore the romantic laneways, archways and squares until you stumble upon a classic Bavarian beer garden to rest those weary legs in. DÜRNSTEIN, AUSTRIA Interesting fact: right near Dürnstein, a roadside memorial marks a pivotal defeat of Napoleon I of France by a combined Russian and Austrian army. And it's hard to be even a little surprised at that fact — Dürnstein is like the first episode of Outlander on steroids (for the unfamiliar, this means abandoned castles, high walls, ruins galore, murals and trees older than your surname). Every cobblestone street leads to a different old and incredible building. It's an hour drive from Vienna, but so much easier to get to — and view — via the water. HAARLEM, NETHERLANDS Haarlem is the capital of North Holland, and, though only a 15-minute train from Amsterdam, is best approached by water (like on this cruise) so you can float by endless fields of tulips on your way into town. We recommend going towards the beginning of summer, or even better, in spring because there are two main things definitely worth seeing in this medieval town: the country's largest organ and the aforementioned tulips, tulips, tulips. Haarlem is in full bloom until the end of May, and boy do they celebrate in style — read: an annual flower parade through the streets. If you're after a day of strolling around in search of some A+ cheese and spectacular buildings, Grote Houtstraat is your spot. It's made up of dozens of side streets that peel off into the city's many quiet nooks and crannies. This Euro summer, plan to head off the very beaten path with U by Uniworld and explore your way around some non-capitals.
Come March 31, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (MFWF) will take over the city for ten days of delicious dinners, long lunches, wine weekends, parties, masterclasses and more. And while it's their 25th year, they haven't just rolled out a program of the same old thing. For the first time ever, MFWF will have their own House of Food and Wine, a more concrete answer to the pop-up hub they've had down at Queensbridge Square in the past. When they call it a house, they mean that very literally — the CBD space will be styled to feel like a home, featuring a dining room (the main event space), a lounge room (the bar) and garden in the laneway. Deviating slightly from your average house, it will also feature a gallery of illustrations by Anna Vu (from Good Food Crap Drawing) of some of the city's favourite MFWF dishes from the last 25 years. The lounge room bar will be open every day of the festival and feature a curated list of artisan Victorian wines, while the dining room will play host to a number of special events. Spend opening night (Friday, March 31) at an Italian disco and dining party and closing night (Sunday, April 9) at the Burger Block Party, which will bring together Australia's best burger-makers — think Marys from Sydney, Short Order Burger Company from Perth, and Rockwell & Sons and Beatbox Kitchen from Melbourne. There's also a whole host of exciting events happening outside the House. This year MFWF will coincide with the World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards, which are being hosted by Melbourne for the very first time. They've managed to nab some of the world's best chefs to run some masterclasses at the festival — which is a pretty big deal. Among them will be classes from sensory chef Grant Achatz from Chicago restaurant Alinea (ranked #15), Jorge Vallego from Mexico City's Quintonil (ranked #12) and Australia's David Thompson, who runs Bangkok's Nahm (ranked #37) and is set to open Long Chim in Melbourne next year. On Friday, March 31 the Bank of Melbourne is hosting the annual world's longest lunch on Melbourne's iconic Lygon Street. 1600 diners will sit along a 580-metre tables to enjoy an autumnal Italian menu from Antonio Carluccio. Unfortunately it's already sold out, but if you still want to enjoy a long lunch and don't mind spending it in a vineyard or along a riverbank, there are another 20 happening in regional Victoria. On Saturday, April 8, get armed with a myki and take tram route 72, which will become Melbourne's answer to Burgundy's Route Nationale 74 for the day. It will take you on a tram-crawl of three of the southeast's best wine bars: Milton in Malvern, Toorak Cellars in Armadale and The Alps in Prahran. On Friday, April 7, they're also hosting a culinary tour of the Melbourne General Cemetery. With many of Melbourne's best chefs and wine makers and merchants buried here, chef Allan Koh — from Springvale Botanical Cemetery's cafe-flower shop hybrid Cafe Vita et Flores — will recreate the deceased's signature dishes for guests to sample at notable grave sites. The festival will also host usual favourites like their Crawl 'n' Bite food tours, lunch specials, wine tastings and masterclasses. You can check out — and buy tickets for — the full program here.
Instrumental outfit Grails are bringing their enigmatic live show to the Northcote Social Club. The five-piece are known for skipping around genres, unable to be pinned to any certain classification and yet so eloquently filling many of them. They’ve found inspiration in unexplored terrain, from Japanese psychedelic drone to Turkish ‘60s rock; near-cinematic soundscapes have wooed audiences with playful unpredictability and pinpointed minimalism since the early 2000s. Tickets are still available to this alternative show that will surely prove unforgettable.
Embracing the supposedly most romantic day of the year doesn't have to mean breaking the bank. To the delight of budget-conscious paramours everywhere, it truly is the thought that counts on Valentine's Day. But you can want to woo your boo with your loving gestures and still be keen to give them roses — and a bottle of rosé for you to share together — without being horrified at how much you've spent, especially in these inflation-heavy times. Enter ALDI, favourite of discount lovers not just Australia-wide but overseas, and the source of quite the Valentine's Day bargain. To mark the rose-filled occasion in 2023, the supermarket chain is doing a dozen roses for $25 today, Tuesday, February 14 itself, in case you've left everything to the last minute. Say cheers to those blooms and your significant other with a bottle of $4.99 South Point Estate rosé to go with it — but only if you don't live in Queensland or South Australia, because ALDI's supermarkets in those states don't sell alcohol. Fancy just a single rose? That'll cost you $8, and the chain is also doing other seasonal bouquets for various prices. Who said scoring a bargain at ALDI wasn't romantic? No one. ALDI's Valentine's Day special is available at the chain's stores, with a dozen roses for $25 on offer Australia-wide, and a dozen roses with a bottle of rosé on offer everywhere except Queensland and South Australia.
Always wanted to soar though the air, but never felt the need to jump out of a plane? That's where iFLY comes in. Open on the Gold Coast since 2016 and in Brisbane from last month, the indoor skydiving chain has officially opened the doors to its first Melbourne outpost The $15 million centre is located in a warehouse in Essendon Fields, just off the Calder near DFO. It's hoping to cater to daredevils who like their thrills a little closer to home (and closer to the ground) with a purpose-built vertical wind tunnel that gives you the sensation of free-falling from the sky. (You can also pretend you're reliving whichever skydiving-based movie scene takes your fancy — finding your inner Keanu, Point Break–style, is our pick.) iFLY BrisbaneHere's how it works: the vertical wind tunnel whips up wind from above, which is then pushed down the sides of the structure. Next, the air is channelled up out of the floor, into the enclosed glass chamber. Eager adrenaline junkies then float on the kind of cushion that no one can see — while supervised by a certified skydiving instructor, because safety still matters. You'll be fully briefed on what to do beforehand — and you'll end up riding the wind for around a minute, which is approximately one-and-a-half times the usual tandem skydive length according to iFLY. For two flights (and all the training and gear), you'll be paying $79 off-peak — or $99 on weekends between 9.30am and 5.30pm. For four flights, it's $119 (or $139 on weekends) and family packages start at $365. iFly is open every day of the week from 9am until 10am, so you can fly after work, too. Find iFLY Melbourne at 2 Burns Street, Essendon Fields. Top image: iFLY Brisbane.
Writing a prescient tale is the science-fiction holy grail, and a feat that Philip K Dick firmly achieved. Making a movie that becomes the prevailing vision of what the future might look like in the entire world's minds? That's a stunning filmmaking feat, and one that Ridley Scott notched up as well. The reason for both? On the page, 1968's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. In cinemas, 1982's Blade Runner. And if you need reminding of how stunning a story that the iconic sci-fi author penned, or how spectacular a film that the legendary director then turned it into, look no further than Blade Runner's return to the big screen — with a live score. When Dick pondered the difference between humans and artificial intelligence more than half a century back, he peered forward with revelatory foresight. When Scott followed fresh from Alien, he did the same. Now, in both 2023 and 2024, with the clash between the organic and the digital a daily part of our lives in this ChatGPT-heavy reality, of course it's time for Blade Runner to flicker again. Film lovers, get ready for another dream movie-and-music pairing. Get ready for synths, too. Vangelis' stunning score will echo as Scott's feature screens in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for Blade Runner Live — an event that premiered in London in 2019, made its way around the UK, then hit Japan earlier in 2023. If this sounds familiar, that's because Melbourne's dates were announced earlier this year; however, now Sydney and Brisbane are joining in. The Victorian capital will host four sessions at Hamer Hall, two each on Saturday, November 4–Sunday, November 5, 2o23. Sydney currently has one date at the Aware Super Theatre on Saturday, February 3, 2024 — and Brisbane will welcome the sci-fi magic at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, February 10, 2024. Each session will screen the Final Cut version of the movie. Wondering how it differs from the OG release, and also the House of Gucci, The Last Duel and Napoleon filmmaker's Director's Cut? First unveiled in 2007 for the feature's 25th anniversary, it's the only version that Scott truly had full artistic control over. Blade Runner's narrative, if you're new to the franchise — which also includes exceptional 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049 and recent animated series Blade Runner: Black Lotus, with a new Blade Runner TV series also on the way — focuses on the one and only Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as cop Rick Deckard. His task: finding replicants, aka androids, which turns into quite the existential journey. It's almost impossible to name a movie or TV series in sci-fi that's popped up over the four decades since Blade Runner first arrived that hasn't owed Scott's film a massive debt — and any synthesiser-fuelled score that hasn't done the same with Vangelis. And yes, add Blade Runner to the list of favourites getting another silver-screen run that celebrates their tunes heartily, alongside everything from Star Wars: Into the Spider-Verse to The Lion King to Star Wars and Harry Potter, plus The Princess Bride, Home Alone and Toy Story. Check out the trailer for Blade Runner below: BLADE RUNNER LIVE AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Saturday, November 4–Sunday, November 5, 2023 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne Saturday, February 3, 2024 — Aware Super Theatre, ICC, Sydney Saturday, February 10, 2024 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Blade Runner Live will play Melbourne in November 2023, then Sydney and Brisbane in February 2024. Head to the event website for further details and tickets — with Brisbane pre-sales from Tuesday, October 24 and general sales from Friday, October 27.
If you're on a sugar-free diet, close out of this window right now. Trust us when we say you do not want to know what's going down at the Food Truck Park in Preston from June 16–18. If, on the other hand, you're ready to embrace your diabetic destiny, then, by all means, read on. Kicking off at 5pm on Friday, June 16 before continuing from midday on Saturday and Sunday, the Sweet Tooth Truck Festival is bringing together all of Melbourne's best mobile food vendors for a chocolate-filled, sugar-glazed, ice-cream and crushed Oreo-topped dessert extravaganza. The full sweet, sweet food truck lineup is yet to be announced, but you can bank on all the ice cream, crepes, waffles and cakes you could ever need. Oh, and doughnuts. Lots of doughnuts. Look, it's not exactly the healthiest way to spend a weekend — but there's no way we're missing out on this feast. The festival will be open from 5–10pm on Friday, 12–10pm on Saturday and 12–9pm on Sunday.
With a whole swag of urban venues under its belt, MoVida has at last ventured beachside. Acclaimed chef and owner Frank Camorra has chosen the ground floor of the Lorne Hotel as the site of his first coastal Aussie outpost. For Camorra, Geelong native and longtime Lorne regular, the new venture is a fitting addition to MoVida's lively, Spanish-inspired family, and follows a successful five-day pop-up at the same pub last summer. While unmistakably a MoVida operation, filled with familiar elements, the sunny seaside locale has also lent this latest venue plenty of its own identity. Buzzy and casual, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach, it's primed equally for post-swim snack sessions as for those festive, big-ticket feeds. "We want it to be a place you can pop in for lunch or dinner, straight off the beach in shorts and a t-shirt and feel comfortable," Camorra explains. "The food's designed so that you can have a glass of wine and a few little snacks and off you go again. Or, if people want to make a night of it, that's fine as well." To that end, expect a generous menu, heavy on the seafood and showcasing plenty of regional produce. A handful of MoVida fan favourites sit alongside plenty of new coastal-inspired bites. Think, corn and manchego croquettes, hand-filleted Cantabrian anchovy croutons, Otway shiitakes in a Spanish-style omelette, and adobo-spiced gummy shark from the Apollo Bay fish co-op, fried crisp in semolina. There's a lineup of both Spanish wines and local varieties, backed by a tight list of simple, yet interesting cocktail creations. And, just as at MoVida's CBD sibling Bar Tini, this venue also boasts its own providore and bottle shop, stocked with an evolving curation of goodies — artisanal Spanish products from Camorra's import business Alimentaria, alongside ready-to-eat meals, supplies from Fitzroy's Meatsmith, smallgoods, wines, and cheeses from both Spain and Australia. There are also plans in the works to launch a take-home paella service, where you can grab a full paella to go and return the pan the next day. "The idea is that if people come down Friday night with the family and the last thing they want to do is to cook a meal, you can pop-in, buy something and take it home," explains Camorra. Find MoVida Lorne at 176 Mountjoy Parade, Great Ocean Road, Lorne. It's open from 12–3pm and 5.30–10pm daily.
Some of the biggest names on the Australian stand-up circuit are coming together for a benefit gig in support of marriage equality. On stage at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne on the evening of Thursday, September 21, the Australia Says Yes! Comedy Gala will feature such funny folk as Frank Woodley, Dave Thornton, Geraldine Hickey, Danielle Walker, Kirsty Webeck, Lehmo, and Sammy J & Randy. Together, they'll present their best material while promoting equality and fairness in the lead-up to the government's postal survey on same-sex marriage. The one-off gala is being presented by the Equality Campaign, who'll use the proceeds from the event to help push for a Yes vote. Of course the fact that we're even going ahead with this expensive, unnecessary poll isn't funny in the slightest. Still, this seems like a pretty great way to show the Yes camp some support. Photo credit: Jim Lee.
A few people are saying the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost/Edgar Wright partnership is getting tired. There might be some truth to that, but it isn't tired yet. The World's End — the third film in their 'Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy', a series of comic genre mash-ups that also happen to feature a random Cornetto ice-cream in each one — is a whirlwind of exuberant humour it's easy to get swept up in. Sure, some of the surprise of the mash-up twist has faded since 2004's breakthrough Shaun of the Dead, but the team has also matured as actors, filmmakers and observers of the human condition. The particular human condition they're concerned with this time around is the sad state of being stuck in one's halcyon days, particularly when they're situated in high school, particularly when you're now nearing 40. Pegg plays the thusly afflicted man-child, and it's far from the loveable, self-effacing type of loser character we're used to seeing him be. As Gary King, he is a real loser, still sporting his teenage sludgy black hair and greatcoat, still driving 'The Beast' registered in someone else's name, still embarrassingly overconfident and still sleazing onto women in the loos. He's so close to being unlikeable, yet there's just enough good in him — and just a smidge of relatability — that we want him to win on his ridiculous quest to unite his high school buddies and claim the victory that should have been theirs 20 years earlier: completion of a 12-stop pub crawl known as the Golden Mile. Gary's more capably adult friends — Andrew (Frost), Steven (Paddy Considine), Oliver (Martin Freeman) and Peter (Eddie Marsan) — want out of the caper not long after arriving back in their insular home town, Newton Haven. But then they discover the place has gone Invasion of the Body Snatchers in their absence, and fighting off invading alien robot hordes takes precedence over fighting each other. All the while, following some spectacular drunk-person reasoning, they continue the course of their pub crawl to the mythic World's End bar. In some ways, The World's End doesn't feel like the final movie of the trilogy; it has the anarchic, careening, appropriately drunken energy of an early oeuvre picture, but one suspects that mood is actually harder to control than it looks. The movie is also unexpectedly mature in its human drama, teasing out the fraught relationship we have with our histories and ultimately encouraging us to go a little less hard on our past selves. There's great joy in watching The World's End, and plenty of rewards in the team's signature brand of comedy. Maybe it is time to move on from the genre mash-up, but this is a thundering way to go out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=7ibQvQUpMTg
Melbourne winters mightn't be known for their ice and snow (just yet, anyway), but that doesn't mean you can't slide across a frozen surface in the centre of the city. From June 22 to July 15, a spot along the Yarra will become a winter wonderland thanks to the return of the Skating At Melbourne Festival. With the event heading to Southbank for the first time, the CBD is getting a good dose of frosty fabulousness: ice skating, obviously, but also ice sliding, bouncing, rides, music, food and more. It's the next best thing to heading to Europe when Melbourne's at its iciest. Last year, the food offerings included German sausages and glühwein, so prepare to really feel like you're abroad. Entry to the area is free, but you'll have to pay for all of the fun stuff, with the fest open from 10am–9pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am–11pm on Thursday and Friday, 9am–11pm on Saturday and 9am–10pm on Sunday. The lineup of events includes not only regular ice skating, but a romance-themed 'date and skate' night each Tuesday, plus an 'Ice Ice Baby' disco evening every Thursday. And if you're over St Kilda way, you're in luck — a skating rink is popping up there too.
There's a Woi-wurrung phrase that we all ought to know: Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo, or "what is good for the Yarra is good for all." Those words guide the Birrarung Riverfest, a cultural and environmental showcase that has grown leaps and bounds since it launched three years ago. Now offering over 60 events spread across 23 days, these mostly free experiences are held along the entire stretch of the life-giving Birrarung, also known as the Yarra River. Running from Saturday, September 6–Sunday, September 28, there's no shortage of encounters that make the most of the Birrarung. Think platypus spotting and sunset paddles, upbeat live music and artist-led sensory walks. Plus, a host of family-friendly activities that bring everyone closer to nature. Presented by the Yarra Riverkeeper Association (YRKA), it's all about shaping a healthy, protected and loved river. In 2025, visitors are invited to attend numerous Wurundjeri-led events focused on First Nations knowledge and culture, like finding bush food and bush medicine at Collingwood Children's Farm. You can also plant habitat for critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater birds or gather for a morning stroll through Healesville's Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area. Plus, Birrarung Riverfest culminates with a massive party at Fed Square, featuring a boat floatilla, live music and cultural ceremonies. "After a cold Melbourne winter, Riverfest comes at the perfect time to spring us back to life," says Janet Bolitho, President of the YRKA. "From educational and cultural events to outdoor adventures, the Riverfest program has something for everyone".
Did someone say public holiday? Mr Wow’s Emporium is taking full advantage of the no-work-Monday after the Queen’s birthday. Upstairs on Smith Street, Mr Wow’s is known for good drinks and better times. On Sunday afternoon they are adding to the fun with, cocktails, moustache painting, bocce, swing dancing and circus performers. Weird and wonderful pairings, but it might just work. There will be scones to eat, the Chingon Taco van kicking around and tea cocktails being poured. They are also launching the Melbourne Bocce League, nice. Grab some friends and try your hand at it, old sport. Looks like a pretty good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
